Updated: 8/15/11

CAUTION: This chapter contains adult content.

PART THREE

Instinctual

Sookie could've kicked herself for not waiting to bring up Eric until they were home. She closed the door to Sam's office and turned to face Preston.

Instantly, her brow arched.

Preston's eyes were feral.

Her pulse quickened.

The untamed wildness in his gaze startled her and at the same time it excited her. He seemed to be taller than she remembered. His ears that he usually kept rounded, were now curved to elegant points.

He was beautiful. Dangerous.

Something quiet and powerful was happening.

"This isn't the first time I've been summoned by the vampires," she stated. Her voice betraying what her body was feeling.

Preston's mating instincts had kicked in. His body had released a pheromone, which filled the space between them. Unknown to her or Preston, almost instantly, Sookie's body processed the pheromone, accepting him. The stimulation began to awaken her instincts.

"And I don't keep Niall apprised of my itinerary," she added as she studied him, her pleasure at seeing Preston so feral, increased. He was fuming, and he made it look sexy.

"What does he want?" demanded Preston feeling himself distracted. The quiet changes taking place in Sookie's body were exciting him. Her chest rose in sync with her quickening breath; her pupils dilated. Preston watched as her lips swelled and reddened to perfection. Her eyes, lips and body enthralled him.

"Preston," she said his name like it was a promise of possession. She stepped closer to him. His eyes trailed over her exposed skin, along the slop of her neck toward the dip where her polo shirt was unbuttoned. He could see her skin glistening with excitement.

Sookie's attention focused on the handsome features of his face; from the heat in his soulful and wild eyes to his perfectly chiseled lips.

A flash flood of sensations swept them away.

Greedily Preston bombarded Sookie's mouth. With a ravenous appetite, she returned his kiss with a fervor that rivaled his. "Agh," he groaned into their wild kiss. Sookie's fingers dug into his shoulders. But he didn't stop the onslaught of his tongue over hers.

As their kiss went on and on, desperately Sookie grinded her self against him.

Animalistic sounds permeated the air around them. Preston grabbed her tightly by her arms, yanking her closer and forcing her to her toes. His grip glided in a downward motion as he allowed her to raise her arms over his shoulders. She tangled her fingers through his dark mane, pulling him deeper into their passionate kiss. But even Preston needed air as much as she. There seemed to be no time to breathe and conquer at once.

When the lack of air was too much, they broke their unbridled kiss. Sookie's chest heaved as she gasped for air.

Before she could recover Preston's strong hands tore at her polo shirt. Drunk with both her lust and Preston's, she watched helplessly as he yanked her bra down, folding it onto itself. Her breast spilled over; ripe for the taking. Savagely, Preston's mouth consumed her tender flesh.

"Ouch," Sookie shrieked, digging her nails into the backs of his arms. Preston's teeth around her breast hurt and fueled her hunger. Her body writhed with pleasure and pain. She panted for air, swallowing her cries. Mercilessly, Preston's onslaught went on and on. As her body pulled away to gain freedom from his savage feeding, her hands cupped his sensitive pointed ears, keeping his mouth locked over her throbbing breast. Low toned moans, yelps, and groans escaped between her lips.

Under Preston's attack, the source of her searing lust grew wetter; the flesh between her legs more swollen and hungrier. She couldn't ignore the throbbing. Releasing one hand from Preston's ear, her fingers greedily searched for her core; moaning.

"No," Preston snarled, sending a spine-tingling pulse down Sookie's back. He gripped her by her hips and turned her to face the desk.

"Oh sweet Jesus," Sookie panted. Reaching out, she gripped the edges of the desk and braced herself. Delirium raced through her veins.

In front of her, was the small unopened black velvet box. She stared at it, her eyes glossing over. She had no idea what was inside it. Her only coherent question was how much longer did she have to wait before Preston would be inside her?

"Ahh," she grunted.

Preston mercilessly yanked her pants down, tearing the delicate fabric of her panties. Sookie trembled with fear and ecstasy. "Not here," she rasped. "Please hurry." Her body vibrated with yearning.

A barrage of erotic sensations assaulted her, making her fear for her soul. She braced herself for what she prayed would come next. Sookie was too eager to be desecrated by him. She arched her back, her hips rising, offering herself to him.

Standing over her like a predator his chest heaved as his eyes raked over her creamy and firm round flesh.

A low rumbling vibrated from the depths of Preston's chest. His senses were assaulted by Sookie's wet arousal. He inhaled deeply her sweet muskiness as his hands caressed her vulnerable flesh, eliciting a seductive moan from her.

With one fleeting thought Preston conjured a "Stay away" spell over the office.

"Open your legs more," he demanded and Sookie did as he said. With shaky legs she stepped out of her pants and parted her legs.

She trembled.

Sookie inhaled sharply. The sound of his zipper opening sent a quiver of anticipation washing over her.

"Na," she gasped. "Yesohyes." With one thrust, he plunged inside her wet hot core. "Please," she groaned; both in protest and in approval. Two sides of her competed for dominance; decorum verses abandonment. "Presst," she hissed. Her back arched and her body pleaded for more of him, smacking her bottom against his hips. "Oh god," Sookie groaned. Swimming in the raw erotic haze Preston created for her, Sookie could sense that she should pull herself together before someone walked in on them, but she just couldn't muster the strength or care. "Oh sweet Jesus," she whimpered. Twisting. Wiggling. Both vulnerable and desperate. Her hips frantically reached for Preston's thrusts.

"That's it," he groaned as he felt himself wrapped completely inside her. Crouched over her, his feral eyes relished in the wild fit Sookie's body made. Her hips seductively rolled; swayed; dared the animal in him to find his fulfillment.

"Don't stop," her voice shook. "Don't ever stop." She heaved her pelvis toward his onslaught.

"Mine," an animalistic growl rumbled from deep inside his chest. She was so tight; so wet. His cock grew in berth inside her, stretching her, readying them both for his seed.

The weight of her body was becoming too much. She writhed and convulsed under Preston's ministrations. She dropped her chest, only to feel the velvety texture of Eric's box against her forehead. The soft yet rough texture grazed her skin as her head rubbed against it, with each demanding thrust of Preston's hips.

Sookie was inebriated with the licentious act that Preston was performing on her.

Desperate for room, she shoved the velvet box away from her. It fell behind the desk and to the floor. Sookie dropped forward and buried her titillating cries into her hands, muffling the sounds she couldn't help but make.

"Shhh," Preston cautioned her before she could be heard down the hall. "You'll be the sweet end of me," he admitted. Under his hands, Sookie was so soft and her scent so alluring. Preston was not immune, nor did he ever want to be unaffected by the maddening sweet aroma of her arousal.

For a fraction of time, consumed by his instincts to protect her from being taken from him, he had let his guard down. It had been just long enough that Preston had marked her with his scent.

From the moment he first saw her, he had wanted to mark her as his mate, but he had restrained himself. Eventually, he would have done this with her consent. Now it was too late. It was something that couldn't be taken back.

They were now on a path with only one outcome.

Suddenly Sookie's body pitched and for a split second everything went silent.

"I love you," she cried out as she swiftly fractured. Her walls clamped around Preston possessively. In a flash she had exploded, her body pumping Preston's hard rod.

He increased his efforts, as his hands hungrily caressed her waist, rocking her and helping her ride the sweet wave of her pinnacle. His eyes were transfixed on the creamy contours of her back, her sensuous hips, and the round spheres of her bottom. Her form captivated him; drew to the surface his most primitive side. He increased his efforts, pounding into her soft body.

At any moment Sookie was sure she would split.

"Ahh," she groaned. Preston's fingers dug into her hips, his own hips slamming against her. "Yes," she grunted feeling another orgasm rushing to take her captive. "Faster," she demanded. With white knuckles she held firmly to the edges of the desk and shoved her hips to meet his assault. He impaled her further with his manhood. Her back arced and she was lost again to another orgasm.

With an earthy groan Preston joined her; his hot seed exploding deep inside her. Her body pulsated, pumping, demanding every ounce of his life force. Completely drained, Preston's knees buckled. Swiftly he reached out and braced himself against the desk on either side of Sookie's body.

Panting, they laid still, wordlessly, lost in the erotic aftershocks that had swept through them.

It took several long moments before their breath returned. And it took a few more for Preston to regain his strength. Once he had, he leaned down and tenderly he began to trail kisses along the delicate slope of Sookie's back. His lips worshiped her.

Sookie was his mate.

In his fae tongue, Preston pledged himself to her.

Sookie could hear him chanting something in a foreign language. It seemed like a prayer. She didn't know what he was saying, but the feeling he conveyed in his touch and in his voice told her that she belonged to him, or perhaps that he belonged to her. He seemed to touch her as if she were God herself. His caress was reverent. Sookie felt his devotion in each kiss, each touch, and each word that he spoke. For a split second she wondered if it was blasphemy.

"Did you like that?" he whispered huskily, returning to her neck.

"Yes," she breathed relishing the heavenly feeling he bathed her in.

"Tell me how much you liked it," he gently spoke into her ear, pulling her lobe between his lips.

Sookie inhaled. Soft moans escaped her lips.

At the height of her passion, she had confessed her new love. She was stunned at hearing her own admission. "Was it possible," she wondered, to love someone so passionately after only a few months?

All she was certain of was that the words had felt true. And she was right.

With one last kiss, Preston helped her up. As he tugged his pants up, Sookie drew up her bra from around her torso. Her polo shirt was ruined, and for a flash she was thankful that Sam kept the extra uniforms in the office closet. She reached to the floor and carefully stepped back into her pants. The zipper was a challenge. She struggled to pull it up. Preston replaced her trembling hands with his own and zipped her up.

"Thank you." Sookie smiled shyly before relaxing into his arms. "You smell so good." She sighed. His musky and earthy scent reminded her of the woods during a heavy rainfall.

She didn't understand the power that had gripped them, or the reason behind the sudden passion they had just shared. All she knew was that with Preston's arms wrapped around her everything was right with her world. And for a split second she hoped that her Gran had felt the same happiness in Fintan's arms.

"I'm sorry," Preston whispered. "I…I…" He was at a loss for words, for fear that she would reject him if she understood what they had just shared.

"What ever for?" she asked allowing her head to remain resting on his chest.

"For marking you—I mean," he quickly added. "I'm glad I did, but I'm sorry for not asking before."

"What are you talking about?" Sookie lifted her chin and looked up at him. His expression was apologetic.

"It happened before I realized it," he hesitated. "I marked you."

"Marked me?" Sookie's brow arched.

"When fairies mate, they mark each other with their scent," he explained. "It lets other fairies know that you're taken."

"Oh," Sookie breathed. The idea that she was off the market wasn't offensive to her, because the way she saw it, she was off the market. However, the mating part, she wasn't sure what to make of that. Not because being someone's mate would be degrading, but because she wasn't sure if it had the same meaning to fairies as it did to humans. "Mate?" she asked. "What exactly does that mean?"

"When fairies mark each other, it signifies that we'll only breed with that one."

"Oh," Sookie breathed. Her eyes studied Preston. "I thought it was practically impossible for a human and a fairy to…you know…breed." She cringed at the word. It made it sound like they were animals though their performance only minutes ago would beg to differ.

"It's rare, yes," he said. She knew it was uncommon; Niall had explained that to her once. The fact that Einin had conceived and that Fintan was able to father children was extraordinary. It was like winning the lottery.

"So what does it mean, I mean for us—the marking thing?" Sookie watched him attentively.

"I would never hold you to this if you didn't want to." He needed to get that out first though silently he would definitely demand that other fairies honor their ways when dealing with Sookie.

"Well—what is it?" she breathed, batting away the frustration she felt coming to the surface. She was also trying to keep herself from jumping to conclusions. She didn't want to assume that mating meant to Preston what it meant to her.

"Well." He grinned and slowly began. "When two fairies meet." Sookie bit her lower lip immediately catching the humor in his tone. "And they're attracted to each other, and they aren't closely related, they fall in love, and then they decide to build a nest."

"That's not funny." She pouted. Preston chuckled.

"When two fairies decide to mate, they mark each other," he said. "This lets others know that we're taken."

"So…taken…what does that mean?" she asked. Preston sighed. Sookie wanted to make sure she didn't misunderstand anything. Mating could mean a few different things. It could mean marriage or it could simply mean breeding. She just wanted to make sure she understood what it all meant and more importantly, she wanted to make sure they were both on the same page.

"It means that we've paired up for life." He studied her expression. "I won't mate with another and vice versa."

"Oh." It felt like her stomach did a summersault. "Does it mean the same when a fairy marks a human?" she asked wistfully. Preston nodded his head in the affirmative answering her question. "We haven't really talked about that." Inside she was leaping with joy, but forced herself to keep her composure and not to assume too many things about what he was saying.

"No, we haven't." He held her gaze.

A silence fell between them.

Looking into his eyes, Sookie contemplated the significance of this marking and mating thing. Especially because it happened in the heat of the moment, and she felt it would be wrong to hold him to it. But this didn't mean that she hoped he wouldn't change his mind. Staring into the warmth of his tawny colored eyes, she saw nothing that would indicate that he regretted what had happened or that he would take any of it back.

Preston anxiously waited for Sookie's disapproval. Marking was a mutual act between fairies, something that a couple consented to. Sookie had not agreed to take such a step with him. Though for him, he knew the moment that he had seen her that she was the one. The one he wanted his life to revolve around. The one he hoped would fall in love with him. The one he wanted in his bed forever. The one he had hoped to have a child with.

"What now?" she asked.

"For now." His tone was casual though his soulful eyes revealed how vulnerable he was feeling. "It doesn't have to mean anything."

"I…" Sookie's voice trailed off. "I…" She didn't know what to say. She felt somehow let down by his answer. His words 'for now it doesn't have to mean anything'. The space between her brows wrinkled. Though she wasn't ready to walk down the isle, she had wanted it to mean something despite the fact that only seconds ago she told herself she wouldn't hold him to it. "What does that mean exactly?" she hesitated.

"That I want a lot of things with you." Preston exhaled. "Whether it happens now or later, I'll wait."

"Oh," she breathed. "Well," she paused, a smile spreading across her face. "Ok." She could live with that. Just the realization that Preston was thinking about their future brightened her mood. "So we're taking things one step at a time?"

"We can do that." Preston's arms were still wrapped around her. She turned her head and rested her cheek against his chest. The sense of security she felt in her relationship with Preston was new, and she treasured the sensation. "So," Preston started cautiously, "you're not upset that I marked you?"

"No," she said. Preston marking, the way he had explained it to her, indicated that not only did he love her and wanted her, but that he saw a future with her, one perhaps with children if it was possible. In her mind she saw what Preston did as a promise, a promise of a future together. For the first time ever, she had what she mused was a relationship roadmap. Knowing where their relationship was heading and his intentions with her was liberating. How could she not possibly be happy about that?

Quietly, they stood wrapped in each other's arms. Preston pressed soft kisses into her hair.

A sparkle of light drew Sookie's eye to the floor.

Under Sam's desk, almost against the baseboard, she saw something reflective just barely in view from inside the velvet box Eric had delivered. Her brow wrinkled slightly.

"Hmm," she privately thought. "What was Eric up to?" A tiny nagging feeling crept up. She wasn't exactly sure what the shiny object that was barely visible from inside the box was, but knowing Eric, it was probably something gaudy. She had a sneaky suspicion that Eric was up to something. And that something she was sure wasn't good for her.

"I'm not going." Sookie's quiet voice broke their silent embrace. She drew her eyes away from the black velvet box on the floor. She hadn't told Preston about it. "I told Eric's day man that I wouldn't be able to join them for the 'sit down' this evening."

"Do you know what this meeting is about?" Preston didn't like the idea of Sookie being summoned by anyone except Niall.

Fairies considered themselves superior to vampires and most other creatures for that matter. It was difficult for them not to. They were among the first beings to roam the earth and heavens. Their genealogy spanned millenniums, beyond the first humans.

So though fairies had the capacity for humility, it's logical considering their origin, that this trait would come difficult to them. So for one of their kind, even a changeling with as little a spark as Sookie's, to be ordered by a vampire was somewhat offensive. Especially when protocol, one that vampires were well aware of, dictated that they send a request for an audience first. If an audience was granted, then at that time, and only then could they make their request in person.

"No," Sookie admitted. "I don't know what it's about, but I have a feeling it's not to discuss a job." She paused. "Pam, his second, came by several days ago. She was asking questions about us." She felt Preston stiffen. "She didn't ask about You. She was just checking to see if the rumors of me having a new lover were true."

"What difference would it make to them if you did?" Preston questioned. The annoyance in his voice didn't go unnoticed by Sookie. She wasn't sure if her body, despite its eagerness for a repeat, could take another delicious pounding so soon. "You don't belong to them," he growled.

"I know," Sookie said. "When Eric and I," her voice went soft and low, "had our affair. He didn't know who he was. A Witch had cast a spell on him. When she was killed, he regained his lost memories, but he couldn't remember our time together. That is until two months ago."

"What happened two months ago?"

"I'm not sure," she said. "During the Nevada takeover, Eric and Bill were inside my house. I guess being surrounded by my things and my scent; it somehow triggered something in his head. He regained all his memories of the time we spent together."

"I see." Preston had never considered himself a jealous male, but at that moment, he felt something very close to it.

"Our relationship ended because he couldn't remember that we had one." Sookie paused. She looked up and studied Preston's expression. "This was a year ago and two months ago he remembered and said he wanted to talk about it."

"But you never did 'talk about it'." Preston's jaw tightened.

"Right." Sookie averted her eyes. "I never heard from him again until Pam showed up and now this." She failed to mention the box again. Sookie figured it was a present from Eric; an attempt to woo her. However, the part about her having to return it had her stumped.

"What do you think he wants?" he asked.

Sookie raised her eyes and met Preston's gaze. She truly believed that Eric wanted to pursue her; convince her to take him as a lover. Though she found Eric attractive, any healthy female would, she wanted more….more than being someone's lover. But more than that, though she lacked the self awareness to admit this truth, Eric represented many things Sookie hadn't learned in her short acquaintance with vampires, to accept.

"It doesn't matter what he wants," she firmly stated. As far as she was concerned, Eric could send her all the gifts in the world. It wouldn't change anything. "I'm with you. I'm not the kind of girl who sleeps around. If I'm with you, I'm with you. I won't share my bed or my heart with no one but you." Sookie studied Preston's expression and felt herself breathe a sigh of relief when he smiled at her.

"You're with me," he stated.

"Well, yes." Sookie smiled. It was obvious after all she thought, he'd marked her. "I'm your woman."

"Good." Preston leaned forward and kissed her. "And I belong to you."

"Yes you do." Sookie grinned as she squeezed his right butt cheek. "I gotta get back to work."

"Oh, I forgot about that."

"I wonder why?" she teased. Her eyes darted to the clock. At least thirty minutes had passed. Silently, Sookie hoped Holly wasn't upset.

"I'll see you when you get off," he said. Sookie nodded. Preston reluctantly released her from his embrace. Sookie went over to the closet in Sam's office and pulled out a fresh polo shirt with Merlotte's logo embroidered on it. She would have to make sure to let Sam know she ruined one of her shirts in the wash and took an extra one.

Meticulously, Sookie tucked her new shirt under the waistband of her pants. Seeing that she was missing a button on her pants, she reached into the bottom drawer and reached for her purse. Inside she found a safety-pin, which she used to fasten them.

"Sorry for ruining your clothes." Preston handed her two pieces of fabric that use to be her panties.

"It was worth it." Sookie smirked, slipping the fabric into her pant pocket. She opened the door of Sam's office, glancing back. Her eye's again caught the velvet box on the floor. She'd have to make sure to send whatever was in it back to Eric. It would give him the wrong impression if she kept it regardless of his message to return it.

Leaving the small velvet box laying on the floor beneath the desk, Sookie led Preston into the hallway and to the back door.

"I love you Sookie," he whispered in her ear.

Her chest fluttered. Looking into his eyes, her heart swelled with warm sensations.

"I love you too," she admitted. A sense of freedom uplifted her. Reaching up, she kissed him.

She stood at the door and watched him disappear between the trees. With a smile on her face she returned to the bar just in time for the lunch rush. ~

A/N: I so love this new song by Seal. I listened to it over and over again as I edited the first three chapters of Part Three. Go check it out. Here's the link (but with no spaces): www . youtube . com/watch?v=NDm4CQydktc

Click the link below and leave me a Review. :D