A/N: As promised I have posted the links for Eric's tux and Sookie's dress on my profile.
I did not mean to hold this chapter so long on you; it was in the process of being proofread. I did however mess with it a bit afterwards so any remaining mistakes are mine all mine.
Thanks for all your support and continual commitment to my story.
Disclaimer: I don't own these characters, Charlaine Harris does.
EPOV
Pam came by the office about an hour after Sookie stormed off. Which only made me feel fucking worse; especially since she noticed the hole I punched in the wall and the tiny bruises on both of my eyes.
"She fucked you up nice, huh. Good for Sookie." she exclaimed.
"Not now, Pamela." I growled.
"I told you not to scare her off."
"I'm not in the mood for your shit."
"You talked didn't you? You asshole." She scoffed.
She would have never let it go. So I explained what happened to her and how I was still a confused mess over the shit.
"You are an ass." She laughed. "The great Eric Northman reduced to forcing a girl into a date." With that she laughed hysterically pissing me off even further
"She had to go anyway. For the auction." I stated.
Shit!
In everything that had happened I had forgotten that one, albeit a mountain, detail. I had spoken with Mayor De Castro and offered to auction off one of our kitchen staff for a dinner to the highest bidder in order to raise money for the charity.
I am so fucking screwed.
Even if it was for a great cause, I don't think this would sit too lightly with Sookie, seeing as how she gets angry over every fucking thing. Some things of which I still don't have a clue.
Pam must have noticed my revelation.
"You didn't tell her?" she yelled. "You fuck! So not only are you making her go with you, you are going to sell her without her permission." She smirked. "Oh, this is priceless."
"I don't think she will have a problem with it, it is to raise money for the Save the Children fund. Sookie just didn't give me the opportunity to tell her."
"But you will?" she said though it wasn't really a question as much as a demand.
"Of course." As soon as I find my balls, I added silently.
Pam left shortly after that, informing me she would get my tux and not forgetting to tell me I was going about Sookie all wrong.
No shit! Thank you captain obvious!
This was not at all going how I had planned it to. I thought Sookie wanted to go with me; well I wanted her to want to. And now, like the ass that I am, I am forcing her. Not to mention the fact that she will have to be auctioned off. Well, that is if I don't bid on her myself.
Sookie was foremost in my thoughts for the following days. I wanted to go to her and talk to her. But I knew if I did I was going to have to explain the auction to her. And quite frankly I was at a total loss on how to do that.
When Sookie came into the office on Friday, I had planned to tell her about it then. But I was so distracted by the excitement I felt at seeing her, I lost all coherent thoughts. I had forgotten how truly breathtaking she was.
After I gave her the details of the event, I tried to reassure her that I wanted tomorrow to be an enjoyable experience. Even the sound of her tinkling voice was enough of a distraction to send shivers down my spine.
What the hell Northman?
Her response made me feel like a child at Christmas, and I could not stop the embarrassingly huge grin that spread across my face. When she turned to leave and broke the hypnosis I was under I remembered what I needed to tell her.
"Sookie," god just saying her name made my dick twitch.
She turned and caught my eyes with her own, my head turned to mush, yet again. But I did get out that I wanted her to go with me somehow. She then took my hand in the both of hers.
I wanted her mouth on mine so bad at that moment, just the simple touch of her hands and I was a squirming, bumbling idiot. And then she said she wanted to go with me and I felt my pulse soar.
Somehow this woman is able to turn me into a nervous, horny teenager. I didn't even want to let go of her hand, that's how attached I was to this woman. But I did eventually. I felt the warmth of her touch for the rest of the day.
As soon as she left, I remembered that I had forgotten to tell her, yet again. I got trapped in the office for the remainder of the day with a slew of work orders needing attention. I would just have to speak with her tomorrow.
When I woke in the morning, I went to Sookie's apartment but, she was not there.
Shit!
I needed to tell her before I seen her this evening. I don't know what she would be wearing, but if I loose ability to think when she is wearing a fucking chef's coat, who knows what will happen to my head when she is in a dress. Just the thought of it causes my dick to throb. I was so screwed.
The entire day passed and I had still not gotten the chance to tell her. It was time for me to get ready, so I decided that would have to be the first thing out of my mouth when I saw her in a few hours.
Getting cleaned up and dressed to the nines always does something to boost your ego. And I felt like a fucking god. Pam has exquisite taste.
My last thought while looking in the mirror was that maybe I could affect Sookie as much as she affected me. Boy was I dead fucking wrong.
I arrived in the lobby at twenty minutes 'til. My damn palms were sweating and my hands fidgeted nervously. I was like a teenage boy all over a-fucking-gain.
When the bell chimed signaling the arrival of the elevator, I shot up off the bench like a damn rocket. I smoothed my tux out in preparation for her arrival.
Get a fucking grip Northman.
The doors opened and I swear my heart stopped mid-beat. My jaw hit the floor and I could not remember how to inhale.
My Sookie was floating towards me like a goddess in gold.
Her dress came low in the front teasing me with the curves of her ample breasts, and the golden fabric draping her curves seem to move like a gentle caress across her skin. Taunting and teasing me, oh how I wished to be a thread of that fabric.
Sookie gave a little spin to give me the full effect of the dress. And had my jaw not already been on the floor it would have been just then. If my mouth had not suddenly become so dry, I believe I might have been drooling.
The back of the dress, or the lack thereof, scooped so low I could see the delicious curve at the small of her back hinting at the dimples of her glorious ass.
My now raging boner threatened the seams of my pants and I think I let out a low growl as she spun to face me again. This was going to be a painfully long night.
I pasted, what I thought to be a charming smile on my face, before I spoke. While my head was repeating…
Keep your dick in your pants. Dick in your pants. Dick in your pants.
SPOV
I grabbed my handbag while Pam and Lafayette gave me a once over, before making my way downstairs.
The elevator seemed to move at an excruciatingly slow pace just to torture me further. My hands were sweating and I could not stand still. I shifted nervously from foot to foot. When the bell finally dinged signaling my floor, I closed my eyes and took a deep breath before I stepped out the doors. In attempt to calm myself, a failed attempt of course.
There standing, in all his magnificent glory, near the doorway, was Eric. The little devil on my shoulder did a happy victory dance, at the thoughts that ran through my mind at that moment.
His tux was made of what appeared to be black silk that fit all his lean muscles in an obscene way. The shirt, left unbuttoned, hinted at the perfectly sculpted chest beneath. And the vest sat snugly atop his slender waist, landing strategically at the waist of his slim pants. Eric's hair swung loosely, seeming to frame the perfect sculpture of his face.
I am pretty sure my mouth was open as I approached him, but I tried to keep a smile pasted on my face. How in the world I was going to keep my hands off of him tonight, I didn't know.
You know you're screwed.
I swallowed the huge lump that had suddenly developed in my throat and took the chance to spin around myself. Not only to give him the benefit of seeing the whole dress, but I desperately needed an 'Oh,My,God!' moment, so I could fix my expression.
I heard a low rumble escape his throat as he took in the seductive lines of the dress. And I felt my insides flipping around in excitement and nervousness. I was glad that I seemed to be having some sort of affect on him as well.
"You look…" Eric started seeming to find the words "…Beautiful. Wow!" his voice thick and oddly uneven.
Wow? Did he just say wow?
I smiled internally as I spoke "You too." I was surprised at how smooth my voice sounded.
He seemed to be waiting for something. The look in his eyes a mixture of pain and awe. I felt all kinds of excited about that. He seemed to be struggling as much as I was. So I took the lead.
"Shall we." I said in a professional tone.
Eric cleared is throat before speaking. "Ah…Yes. After you." As he gestured his hand for me to go ahead.
I felt his large hand cup the flesh at the small of my back and I nearly jumped out of my skin at his touch. My pulse soared and my breath caught in my throat. I think, I can't be sure though, I may have sighed audibly. My whole body seemed to be humming with excitement as we walked towards his shiny red corvette.
I hope I can get in that thing.
The thought of being anything less than lady like seemed threatened by the lowness of the car. But I think I managed quite gracefully, considering.
Eric closed my door and slid in effortlessly in the driver's seat.
We rode in silence until the tension seemed to grow to an extreme forcing me to speak. I said the first thing that came to my mind.
"So what is the charity?" my voice was shaking more than I would have liked. The warmth coming off his body seemed to hum through mine in the small confines of the car.
"Save the Children they help to raise money for children not only in other countries but in ours as well." He stated proudly.
I had to admit, I was impressed anyone who wants to help children is all right in my book. But the way he spoke was as though he really did care. We arrived at the convention center only a few moments later.
We pulled into the entry that manned by a valet. Eric was out of the car so fast and over to my door he nearly knocked the poor guy down. I barely had time to register that the car had stopped.
Holy crap!
Eric took my hand and lifted me effortlessly from the car. I hooked my arm in his as we made our way through the doors.
In the entryway of the large banquet room hung a banner with the organizations logo on it. The tables were donned completely in white linens completed with assorted red flower arrangements in the center. The tables were lined up to the sides of the large room and in the center was a beautiful polished wood dance floor. Near the back of the room was a raised platform with a podium and various posters congruent with the organization. It was breathtaking, but my company was even more so.
I kept my body in near attachment to his as we made our way through the crowded room, only breaking the contact to shake hands when called for. However if I broke contact I was happily pleased that his hand found its resting place on the small of my back, as if he didn't want to take his arms off me either.
I think I had drunk two glasses of the delicious champagne as we made our way through the crowded room. I am not much of a drinker, but I know good champagne when I taste it.
When Mayor De Castro approached us, I groaned internally, the man made me extremely uncomfortable. Eric must have sensed the tension in my body because his hand came around my back and he pulled me to him, in a sort of possessive way, but I found comfort in the act.
"Ms. Stackhouse, you are breathtaking this evening." He purred.
I could tell what part of my body he found 'breathtaking' for his eyes never left my chest.
Pig!
"Thank you, Mr. De Castro." I said with a slight nod.
Hey, I know when to keep my mouth shut. Sometimes.
"You will have to save me a dance." He said while licking his lips.
Gross.
Before I could think of an excuse Eric chimed in. "I don't know if I will be willing to let her go this evening." He said while pulling me closer still.
Mayor De Castro just laughed and raised an eyebrow to meet Eric. And Eric scowled down in a defiant manner.
Men.
We finished our 'pleasantries' and I offered to try to save a dance for him, before we made our departure.
"Would you like to dance?" Eric asked. His accent was more apparent when being proper.
"With whom?" I asked with a grin.
He just smiled and snickered as he spun me to the dance floor.
With one hand resting on his shoulder and the other secured in his large grip, he grasped the small of my back and we began to waltz.
Being so large, as he is, you would think that he couldn't move as gracefully as he does. I found my self spinning right along as he gracefully led me about the smooth floor. My feet felt as if they were moving of their own accord and I began to laugh out of sheer enjoyment. I looked to his face and, although he was not laughing, he seemed to be having as much fun as I was. The music slowed to a stop as he spun me away and back towards his hold. I grinned at the thoughts of a king and queen dancing the waltz.
The next song began a bit slower than the last and Eric pulled me tight against his chest. I rested my cheek against the muscle there and inhaled his scent deeply. I thought I felt him do the same as his face grazed the back of my head. It felt so good there in his arms. So right, and yet so wrong, I knew I had to tell him the truth. I wanted this feeling. I felt I belonged there in his hold. The warmth coming from him radiated through me and I felt the urge to look up to him and kiss him.
Too much champagne Sookie.
Just then the song ended and Eric dipped me backward while his body leaned like a tower over mine. I found my breath coming in gasps as the urge to kiss him grew to a desperate level. Just as I was tilting my head towards his he spoke breaking the spell momentarily.
"You really do look breathtaking tonight, you have made me the envy of every man in this room." He said breathlessly as he righted my position.
I blushed and broke the gaze of his beautiful eyes before I spoke. "I guess that means that I am the envy of every woman in this room, because you're not half bad yourself." I finished before I could say something that sounded too girly.
"I really want to kiss you right now." He said with a strangely intense and serious face.
Hoo boy! Me too!
I softened my gaze as I let my fingers push a stray lock of his hair behind his ear and his face pushed against my hand like a cat being patted. I parted my lips slightly to wet the soft flesh there and signal my consent.
Eric lowered his lips to mine in a gentle caress. They moved fluidly across my own in a rhythmic pattern. The heat in my core rising as the heat from the kiss intensified. His hand gripped the small of my back firmly as he pulled me tighter to him.
Tell him you chicken.
My conscious chimed in causing me to pull away from his delicious mouth. I looked to his face and he seemed just as breathless as I.
Now I don't know if it was the kiss or all the champagne or a combination of both, but I was suddenly light headed and I rested my hands against his chest for support.
We spoke at the same time which caused my words to falter. So what I actually meant to say was 'I need to tell you something', but what came out was…
"I'm a virgin." I gasped.
"I need to tell you something." He said simultaneously.
"What?" he said as we both stiffened.
Did I just say…?
Shit.
A/N: Uh-Oh!
Please don't be too angry with me, I will update soon I promise.
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Did you know?... That 34% of Americans are obese, where as, over 12 million children, all over the world; go to bed hungry every night. Sad, but true.