My apologies for not posting too much lately, I hope this makes up for it.

Again I own nothing. All credit for these characters belongs to Charlaine Harris.

Chapter 14 Too hot to handle

"Sookie! Sookie!" She heard Eric's voice calling to her from a distance.

Why is he shouting? She wondered, irritated, can't he see I'm sleeping here? She turned her head away from the sound of the voice, wanting to slip back into the quiet darkness.

"Sookie! Wake up!" his voice was closer now and someone was shaking her, but it couldn't be Eric, his voice was still too far away.

She moved to swat away whoever was shaking her but her hand was too heavy. Something about that seemed odd, but she couldn't focus on what.

Then something wet and icy covered her forehead and her eyes popped open at the shock. Eric's face was inches from her own, concern furrowing his ageless brow.

"Sookie, are you alright?" he asked, he shifted his hand from her forehead to her cheek and the cold and wet followed.

She looked around as the room came back into focus. She realized he was sitting on the bathroom floor, his feet still in the tub, she was spread out across his lap, naked and dripping. They were making a huge puddle.

"Eric, we're getting the floor all wet." she protested as she tried to move into a sitting position.

"Fuck the floor." He spat, although the lines of concern were softening to relief as she seemed to come around. "Are you alright?" he repeated, his arms tightening so she couldn't get up.

"I think so." She said slowly. "What happened?"

"We were kissing and you passed out." his mouth curled up a little at the corner. He seemed to have impressed himself with his ability to make her swoon.

"I passed out?" she asked dumbly.

He nodded, the hand that had been on her cheek shifted to the back of her head, running along the scalp as though he was searching for something. "You didn't hit your head, did you?"

She shook her head and realized that hurt, but more from within. "I think I got overheated in the water." She realized she was very thirsty. She suddenly felt embarrassed. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to frighten you."

"Here." He reached behind her and she could hear the sound of water and ice, he handed her the champagne flute but she could see that it was now filled with water and half-melted ice, she put it to her lips and drank. The cold liquid was marvelous, at this moment she felt it was better than the champagne. "Lie still until you feel better." He took the empty flute and refilled it.

She shifted slightly, embarrassed at her fainting spell, she was feeling more like a delicate southern belle at the moment than the warrior woman he had dubbed her. "I'm okay to sit on my own."

His arms tightened slightly, stilling her. "I like you where you are." He said with a lustful smile. His hand on her legs began to trace light paths on her thigh. The leg under her back shifted slightly to support her in more of a sitting position, he brought his hand up to brush the hair out of her face. "I should have realized you were getting too hot, but you always feel so warm to me, like the sun on my skin. I almost feel on fire when I'm inside you."

She was taking a gulp of water when he said that and it was an effort to keep from choking on it. The thought of him inside her again and the trail his hand was leaving were setting a new fire in her core. She squirmed slightly as she felt a wetness that was not water growing between her legs. Breathlessly she watched his hand for a moment, before looking at him with a coy smile. "That's not helping me cool down, in fact, I'd say it was having the opposite effect."

He stilled his hand, "Well we can't have that, is this better?" He pulled her wet hair up and away from her neck and blew gently on the damp skin. She shivered and goosebumps ran along her skin, but it wasn't from a chill.

"Nope," she said with a slight smile. This could be a very entertaining game. She took another sip of water. "Try again."

He, too, seemed to enjoy the challenge of the game, mischief entering his eyes. He leaned in and trailed a line of kisses on her shoulder, with each his tongue lightly touched her skin leaving a droplet of moisture. Pulling his head back he again blew softly across her damp skin. He looked at her questioningly.

She shook her head and took another long drink of water, anxious to see what he would try next, and wanting to cool off before he heated her up again.

His arm came up behind her back to wrap around her shoulders, pulling her closer to him. His skin, which had been the temperature of the water, was cooling off, it felt chill against her overheated flesh. He locked her gaze with his, she saw a blur of motion in her peripheral vision but his look was so intense she couldn't pull her eyes away.

"Maybe this will help." he said softly, his lips twitching to fight a smile. Then his fingers tightened on her shoulder as his other hand covered her breast. She shrieked and tried to jerk away but his hand on her shoulder held her in place as his other hand circled her nipple with the ice cube he must have snuck from the champagne bucket.

The cold was so overwhelming that her nipple peaked immediately, pulling into such a tight bud that it ached. As she squealed and squirmed trying to escape the cold she managed to splash herself with the water from her flute. She dropped the delicate crystal in shock, but his hand with the ice darted out to catch it and place it safely aside. His eyes never left hers, but hers were flickering from meeting his to following his hand as he slowly brought the ice cube back to her sensitive bud, until she was only watching his hand. "Eric..." she began her voice a mix of fear and anticipation.

He leaned his head in to whisper in her ear. "If you really want me to stop say Fangtasia." Her head turned back to look him in the eyes, did he just give her a safety word? She had never thought she would do anything that would need one but she realized that while a part of her wanted to tell Eric to stop, deep down she really didn't want him to, she wanted to know what the icy coldness felt like in other places. She nodded her understanding and he winked at her, his eyes then going back to his hand slowly bringing the frozen cube back to her tender skin. She shrank from it, her breath catching in anticipation.

Just before it touched her skin she shrieked "No!" despite a part of her wanting to experience the sensation. But Eric took that as a signal to go for it and he brought the dripping cube to her hard rosy tip. She shrieked playfully again as he circled the peak with the rapidly melting cube. Once the cube was gone and only his fingers traced her nipple, he lowered his mouth to it.

Circling it with his tongue she marveled at how even his mouth seemed warm after the ice. She hummed in pleasure. "That seems to be working." He murmured against her breast. She heard his hand rustle in the ice and her body tensed again. He raised his head to grin wickedly at her. "I'll have you cooled down in no time."

She expected him to apply the ice to her other breast but instead he brought it up to her neck and traced from her pulse point to her ear. She gasped and giggled and tried to push his hand away. "Stop!" she urged playfully. He dropped the ice cube so it landed between her breasts and grabbed both her wrists in his icy fingers.

"Ah ah ah!" he chided, "This is for your own good." In one lithe motion she was over his shoulder and he was striding into the bedroom. She shrieked and struggled to get free, but froze when he gave her a light swat on her bare ass. "You're going to get yourself all heated up again." He scolded with a chuckle in his voice.

She expected him to throw her down on the bed, so was surprised when he strode across the room to the opposite wall. She heard a cabinet open that she didn't even know existed, but couldn't turn to see what was in it. "Eric, what are you doing?" She asked nervously.

"Making sure that you'll be a good girl and take your medicine." He closed the cabinet and turned to the bed. Sookie could not see what, if anything, he had taken out.

He put her down on the bed and in a blinding flash of movement she found her wrists bound in leather manacles attached by a chain which Eric was attaching to a loop on the headboard. Her eyes got wide. "Eric?" she asked, tugging on the chain and trying to pull out of the manacles.

His fingertips ran down her arms from the manacles to her shoulders which he gripped gently as he leaned down and kissed her. "Do you trust me?" he asked softly looking into her eyes.

She relaxed a little then. Yes, she did, foolish as that might be. But Eric didn't need chains to make her helpless. He was strong enough to take anything he wanted. She nodded, and breathed "Yes."

"If you want me to stop just say the word." he looked at her for understanding and she gave another little nod, surprised at her own daring.

He rose from the bed and returned to the cabinet that was built to blend into the wall. He opened the door just enough to take out another set of manacles, Sookie couldn't see inside. He walked to her side slowly and then ran a finger down the inside of her leg to her ankle which he then captured in the manacle and attached its chain near the foot of the bed, he repeated this with the other side so that her legs were open to him. She pulled lightly to see how much slack was in the chains and it wasn't much. She squirmed a little, she felt helpless under his hungry gaze, but instead of frightening her, she found it exciting.

"I'll be right back, don't go anywhere." He teased and he padded out of the bedroom towards the hall. Sookie admired the view as he walked away, the muscles flexing under his alabaster skin. Once she was alone she tested the chains again and found them solid. She couldn't believe she was doing this. This was one of those nasty sex games she had read about and caught fantasy snippets of in guys' heads and always thought she was above them. But from the moment Eric asked if she trusted him, she was okay with it. More than okay, the more she thought about it the more aroused she became. He could do anything to her and she couldn't stop it, except she knew that she could and that was what made it okay.

He came back in with a large bowl. He walked directly to the foot of the bed, climbed on and made his way between her legs on his knees. He sat the bowl down on the outside of her leg. "They're not too tight?" he asked glancing at the restraints.

She shook her head, but shifted a little in anticipation.

"Good, now let's get you cooled off." He reached into the bowl and took out a large ice cube. He looked her over, "Where to begin?" he asked rhetorically. She was practically shivering with anticipation. He leaned over her, supporting himself with one hand as his eyes continued to roam over her body looking for the perfect spot. He brought the hand with the ice cube up slowly, and she realized she was holding her breath. Just as she let it out he locked eyes with her and she couldn't look away. He dipped the ice into her navel and she bucked and let out a little shriek.

"Oh god, that's so cold!" she tried to squirm away as it also tickled, especially now that he was tracing the edge of her bellybutton, but the chains did not have enough slack, and she was at his mercy. She tried to fight it back but began to giggle from the sensation. He began to widen the circle he was tracing into a growing spiral on her stomach. As the ice touched her warm flesh she squirmed. Just as his path would have met the top curls that covered her sex, and she held her breath in anticipation, he pulled his hand away. She let out a sigh that was a mixture of relief and disappointment.

"That one is getting too small." He murmured, he put it into her navel and left it there as he reached into the bowl for another piece. He locked eyes with her again, somehow keeping her from looking away to follow his hand. So when the ice touched her nipple she squealed.

"No!" she shrieked only half meaning it. This was the sexiest thing she had ever done and she didn't want it to stop.

"Oh yes." he replied with a wicked grin, seeing the pleasure in her eyes. He ran the cube around her nipple which quickly puckered at the cold, she thought it had never been so hard and aching. She moaned as the melting ice sent little drops of frigid water down the sides of her breast. When she thought she wouldn't be able to take it any longer he trailed the ice across to the other rosy bud which had already hardened in sympathy for the first. Even though she knew it was coming, and watched its slow approach, she gasped when it arrived. As he twirled the shrinking cube around she realized she was flexing her fingers, trying in vain to grab at him. Needing to hold on to something she grabbed the chains that were attached to her manacles.

The ice had melted to the point that his fingers were brushing her skin, as always his touch sent little flames of heat straight to her core. She writhed a little with the need for more contact with him, but she could barely move and he could easily avoid her. When the ice was gone, he pulled back slightly to admire his handiwork. "Well you look cold." he said wryly. His empty hand covered a breast and she arched into it. "Hmm, you seem cold," he leaned down and ran his tongue over her icy peak. She cried out at the contact and pulled on the chains, she wanted to touch him, hold him there. But she was helpless when he raised his head.

"I think it's working. Let's see if you need cooling off anywhere else." He started to kiss his way up her chest to the column of her neck, continuing on to right beneath her ear. That sent goosebumps across her skin, but it wasn't from the cold. Kissing along her jawline, he finally met her lips and she brought her head up to kiss him hungrily. Her tongue invaded his mouth, seeking out his and battling it, she was trying to exercise some small control, drive him as crazy as he was making her.

But he was still in control and when she paused the kiss to breathe, he lifted his head and smirked down at her. "No, I'm afraid you're still hot." He said wickedly, turning slightly, he dipped his hand into the bowl, seemed to be searching for just the right piece, then brought his hand slowly to the column of her neck. As she watched it approach she scrunched down her neck, shaking her head in silent protest. His other hand grabbed her chin, turning her face to meet his gaze and exposing her throat to the frozen crystal. Her eyes sparkled with anticipation.

He brought the ice to the sensitive flesh right behind her ear and she sucked in her breath while reflexively trying to move her head away from the cold, but his hand on her chin held her firm. "Ah, ah, ah." he chided with a smirk, as he traced the vein on her neck with the ice.

She stuck her tongue out at him, too caught up in the sensations to speak. He moved the ice to her mouth. "I did notice your tongue was hot too." She started to pull her tongue back at the cold, but then traced the melting cube with it seductively, meeting his eyes in challenge. Lathing it as she would the head of his manhood, her tongue brushing his fingertips, her eyes burning into his. His eyes widened at her actions and she could see the muscles in his jaw tense. The cold felt good on her tongue, she raised her head to wrap her lips around it, sucking slightly. It was his turn to be tormented, she could tell he was imagining her mouth on him, licking and sucking and his hips thrust in response, his hard shaft moving across her stomach. Her eyes twinkled in triumph at his reaction. She pulled back slightly and let her tongue circle the end of the ice. A low growl built in his throat and he threw the ice aside and covered her mouth with his, his tongue seeking out hers. His tongue was the warmer and it felt wonderful to her, she sucked it deeper into her mouth. She rubbed against his length that was pressed between them and the growl grew stronger and he pulled back, raising himself on his knees and looking down at her.

She tried to reach up to him, the chains stopping her as she flexed her fingers at him. "Please." she begged, "I want to touch you."

He shuddered trying to get himself back under control. How could she make him come undone as helpless as she was? But she wasn't helpless, she arched her back to him, moving seductively, trying to get him to touch her again. Straining she was able to brush her inner thigh against his leg. He brought his hand down and caught it, his fingers stilling her while his thumb brushed back and forth across her skin. Breaking eye contact he grabbed her other thigh and looked down at his hands. "You're still burning up." he observed, moving his hands slowly up her thighs, but stopping just shy of where they met. She moaned, willing his hands to continue. Then his hands were gone and he was reaching into the bowl with both, pulling out two dripping pieces of ice.

She bit her lip in anticipation of the cold, but still arched and gasped as he started by her knees and followed the path of her arteries up her legs. Her reflexes tried to pull her legs away but the restraints prevented it. She wanted him now, but she didn't want to spoil the game, the cold she could stand, the sweet torment was driving her crazy. She bucked her hips at him, trying to coax him into touching her, driving her to release, but he smiled mischievously, his eyes sparkling. He ran the ice back and forth across her thighs, tracing patterns only he could see, until it was gone and his cold fingers sent lightning across her skin.

"Please!" she begged.

"Are you all cooled off now?" he asked in mock concern.

She nodded, swallowing hard. "I need you now." she demanded.

He let his hands move up her thighs until his thumbs were stroking her outer edge, she groaned at the contact and tried to force herself down onto his hands, but couldn't.

"Yes." she encouraged. Sighing as his thumbs parted her and began to stroke her inner folds. She was wet for him, had been since he had chained her here, and now she was hoping to get some release. One thumb covered her nub which jumped under his touch as he slid two fingers inside of her. She was sure nothing had ever felt so good, then abruptly his hands were gone. Her eyes popped open and she looked up at him.

He was shaking his head, "You lied to me. You're not cooled off everywhere." He said with mock seriousness, the corners of his mouth were twitching, despite his obvious attempts to keep a straight face.

She tried to pull back from him, "No, not there." she said hesitantly. It seemed like too much, she was so aroused and hypersensitized. Eric watched her as he reached for the ice bowl, and either her anxiety was making time crawl or he was moving in slow motion. She was sure he could see the conflict in her eyes, because a part of her wanted to see this game through to the end, plus she was curious despite herself on what it would feel like. She tried to keep her eyes focused on his, but she kept stealing furtive glances at his hand. His hand rose from the bowl, a large, glittering, frozen crystal in his hand. She licked her lips nervously as his arm moved the ice closer to her, she squirmed back imperceptively, her hands tightening on the chains.

"Sookie," he said softly. With effort she pulled her eyes away from the ice dripping in his grasp to his face. His eyes were serious. "where did we first meet?"

She felt her brow furrow in confusion. He knew where they had met and that was hardly the point now. Then it occurred to her that he was reminding her about her out, the safe word. "At that dive you call a vampire bar." She said defiantly, her eyes blazing in challenge.

He smiled broadly, and he brought the ice to her outer lips. She squealed and bucked at the contact. That seemed to spur him on and his other hand parted her.

"No!" she begged, not really meaning it, she had seen it through this far. As soon as the ice touched her inner folds she gasped in shock. "Oh God! That's so cold, I can't stand it!" she panted as his hand slowly moved the ice towards her nerve center.

"You're so hot the ice is melting too fast." he observed. He switched to a larger cube so fast she could barely see his hand move. When he brought it back he took it straight to her nubbin and she groaned at the new sensation. She could feel it convulsing trying to move away from the cold. Her whole body broke out in goosebumps and she couldn't make an intelligible sound, she was so overloaded with stimulation. Then he slid two icy fingers into her and she cried out. Her muscles tightening around him trying to stop him from going further.

"Eric!" she cried out.

"Yes?" he looked at her innocently, his fingers moving within her.

"Please, now."

"Please what?" Laughter was dancing in his eyes.

"I need you." she writhed before him.

"To do what?" His fingers driving her to the edge, but leaving her hovering there.

"Augh!" she cried out in frustration.

"More ice?" he suggested helpfully.

"No." she gasped.

"Shall I go get your champagne?" he offered.

"Dammit Eric, fuck me!" she shouted in frustration. Then her eyes grew wide and she flushed at her brazenness. She would have covered her mouth if he could.

"Miss Stackhouse, such language." he admonished her, with a look of triumph. He withdrew his hands and leaned over her, supporting himself with one arm as he positioned himself at her entrance with the other. Kissing her as he slowly filled her, she groaned into his mouth. He broke off the kiss to watch her face as he thrust deeper.

Her eyes were rolling up as the sensation overwhelmed her. "Oh yes, thank you." she murmured, so relieved yet she felt ashamed of her wantoness.

He smiled down at her, marveling at the emotions crossing her face. "It is I who should thank you." he protested, "I cannot remember being so happy."

She could see the earnestness in his eyes and swallowed hard. She wanted to hold him and strained at her bindings. "Please let me touch you," she paused then added huskily. "Master."

His face darkened and the smile vanished. "No! This wasn't about dominating you." She had obviously upset him, but she didn't know why. She thought that was a part of the game. Her confusion must have been visible, because his expression softened. "Making you seem helpless allowed you to do, and enjoy something you didn't think you should enjoy. Something that was a little wilder than you had done before. Even though a part of you knew you could stop it, you didn't because you could feign resistance."

She thought about that for a moment and realized she probably would have stopped it. Without the safety word when she had protested she was sure Eric would have stopped, which only the prim and proper part of her had really wanted. She smiled up at him "You are too clever." She tried to buck against him, but could barely move in the restraints. She wanted her legs around him and to pull him in closer, her lip came out in a pout when she couldn't. "I need my legs free to wrap around you." She squirmed under him.

"Well, when you put it that way." He grinned hungrily at her. He reached back and must have undid a release on each cuff so that the chains fell away. Immediately she entangled him in her legs and pulled him against her, forcing him in further, causing them both to moan. Reaching under her he inched her towards the headboard so her arms could relax and then raised her hips. He stayed kneeling, thrusting into her with increasing vigor. Supporting her hips with one hand he brought the other to her stomach, his fingers fanning out as his thumb found her clit and rubbed it in tempo with his movements. His eyes drank in her face as ecstasy took her, only closing as he too found his release.

He sank back on his haunches and gently lowered her hips. Unwrapping her legs, he straightened one up, so her foot was near his head and unfastened the restraint, kissing her foot before letting it go. She stretched the leg languidly before lowering it, then she brought the other leg up to him for him to release.

He kissed this foot too, but instead of releasing her leg he began to kiss his way up (down?) the inside of her leg. "Mmmm." she purred, but then rattled the chains still holding her wrists. "Ahem." she cleared her throat to attract his attention. "I need my hands," she shifted slightly, "plus the sheets are wet from the ice."

He stretched over her and unhooked the chain from the headboard, then released her hands from the leather bindings. "Good thing it's a big bed." he said with a smile as he tossed the restraints aside and rolled with her to the other side of the bed, coming to a stop with her on top. She sat up straddling him and stretched her arms and shoulders. He watched her breasts as they moved with the motion but rested his hands gently on her hips. His face became serious. "You were okay with that, right?"

She blushed, "I didn't think I would be, but I think it was the sexiest thing I have ever done." she admitted embarrassed. He smiled broadly. "Would you have been upset if I had stopped it?" She asked hesitantly.

"No, if ever you want to stop anything we're doing I want you to tell me." His hands tightened momentarily on her hips for emphasis. "I won't pleasure myself at your expense." She leaned forward, her chest against his, and kissed him lightly. As she continued kissing him the kiss grew more passionate until she broke it off breathless, and began kissing along his jaw, then down his neck. His hands moved over her back, tracing her spine and moving down to grip her bottom. She pressed back against his hands scooting down his body so she could kiss his chest. She covered a nipple and sucked on it slightly, before biting it, remembering how much he liked that. He moaned and tangled his hand in her hair holding her there. She pinched his other nipple while continuing to suck and bite, she could feel him hardening again beneath her. Releasing his nipple, she resumed kissing her way down his body.

He released her hair, and propped himself up slightly with the pillows, watching her. She wrapped her hands around his cock, looking up at him before she licked his length and covered the tip with her mouth. A purring growl built in his chest and he gripped the sheets to keep from grabbing her head and thrusting into her mouth. She was working to take him in, his size a struggle, but she continued to stroke his base as she cupped and fondled his balls. She tried to relax her mouth and throat as she raised her head, up and down on him, each time trying to take him in a little more, running her tongue along the underside of his shaft. She could taste herself on him and found it oddly exciting.

He mumbled something in that language she didn't know, looking up at him without stopping her movements, she could see the ecstasy building on his face. He saw her watching him and switched to English. "You're so hot, I'm on fire." but he definitely did not sound like he wanted her to stop. She reveled in the power to bring him so much pleasure and would have smiled in triumph if she could. Instead she just hummed around him, the vibrations moving through him and he tightened his grip on the sheets. His hips were thrusting slightly, though she could tell he was trying to hold back but she increased her pace. He was making throaty noises, before suddenly moving to sit up. "Sookie," he breathed, "I'm going to..." he reached for her, trying to stop from coming in her mouth, but she spread one hand out on his taut abdomen and pushed him down. He laid back and gripped the sheets again, his hips thrusting more as he neared his release. She adapted to his rhythm and felt his balls tense just before he cried out and shot into her mouth. Swallowing around him, she didn't move off until he relaxed against the sheets. Releasing him, she swallowed fully before licking him clean, which got his barely softening shaft stiffening again. Smiling at him, she crawled up his body to kiss him, stretching out to cover him like a blanket.

His hands came up to hold her hips and steady her as he kissed her gently. She broke off the kiss and grinned at him. "Good thing I have such a big mouth."

"I think it's perfect." He murmured as he traced her lips with his thumb. She shifted to playfully bite it. His other hand was stroking her back lightly, barely touching her, but reigniting the passion in her none the less. She shivered slightly, her eyes must have shown her rekindled arousal because his relit and he slid his hand to the back of her head to pull her in for a passionate kiss. The hand on her back slid down, covering her ass and kneading it. Her legs parted so she was straddling him, helping her balance. Since she was so much shorter than he, she was actually at his waist, though she could feel his arousal rubbing up against her backside as it grew. She raised herself slightly so her nipples were rubbing against his chest, he brought his hand from behind her and slid it between them to slide inside her and tease her nerve bundle.

She made a small noise of pleasure and pushed back against his fingers. I am not going to be able to walk tomorrow, she thought, but knew that was not going to get her to stop. His other hand found her breast, squeezing it gently and pinching her nipple. She slid one hand between them to give his nipples equal attention. Her breathing was becoming more erratic as his fingers brought her close to yet another orgasm. She rocked forward so his gracious plenty slid down to her opening, Eric's fingers shifted to part her and she rocked back onto him, sliding back slowly until she was impaled on him. She paused for just a few seconds to adjust to him filling her, before pushing against his chest so she could rise up and rock against him.

She had her eyes closed as she was concentrating on establishing a rhythm, changing the angle slightly to find the one that took her breath away as she sighed raggedly and increased the pace he whispered, "Open your eyes."

She let them flutter open and found him staring at her. Drinking in every expression as one hand moved to her hip to steady her and the other moved to cup her cheek. Her cheeks burned at the intensity of his gaze, it never wavered from her face, not to look at her body, not even at her breasts, which were bouncing quite a bit. "Why..." She started to ask, but the hand on her hip shifted so his thumb pressed against her nub and she couldn't speak, only swallow convulsively as the sensation whisked her over the edge. As her muscles milked him he thrust against her to arrive at his own completion.

She collapsed onto him and he rolled them gently so they were laying on their sides and pulled out of her. She stretched her legs, then curled into the circle of his arms. "Why do you like me to look at you while we're...?" letting it trail off.

He smiled indulgently at her shyness, she was one of the most sexually responsive women he had ever known and yet she was too embarrassed to vocalize it. "Because, like I told you before, when you are in rapture you are breathtaking. And I stopped you from asking then because I knew you would protest at the compliment and it wasn't the time." He smirked at her indignation. Which drew a smile from her.

"You're right, it wasn't the time." She fought back a yawn.

"You need to sleep." he said looking guilty, "I've been keeping you up too late."

"No, it's okay, I..." And she fell asleep in mid sentence.