A/N: SVM is owned by Charlaine Harris. FiniteAnarchy is the beta for this story, which is pretty cool for me (and you) because she's awesome. Thank you to both!

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Chapter 18 - Liberty in a Vampire Bed

By Thursday I'd hit my stride on my little research project. I was scouring the online archives of the British Museum when the phone started ringing. They've got an impressive collection of clothing dating back to the Middle Ages, which is absolutely amazing when I think about it. I've had clothes and shoes that didn't last a year.

With the wereseals, there's a nearly ubiquitous reference to the "sealskin" that would be shed when they took on their human forms. It would be easy to dismiss that as just a phrase used to describe the change from animal to human form; shedding one's seal-skin, but by all accounts it's a literal garment. There are stories about them being carried, lent, stolen, and so forth, which all point to something tangible. My strong suspicion was that it was some kind of clan designator, kind of like the Highland tartans, maybe? They seem to have originated from that general area; northern Scotland and the many islands in the vicinity. It wasn't unreasonable to assume there'd be some cultural overlap.

I made another quick note before sliding off my stool and going over to pick up the phone by the door.

What I'd really love is to be able to travel to some of these places and try to meet people who could tell me more. Maybe the seals themselves, if there are still any living up there. Because that's a great idea, right? I could go next week. I'll just hop on a plane, seek out any strange supes I can find, and ask if I can have a peek at their family heirlooms. Yeah, I don't think so.

"Lab," I answered.

"Sookie? Your cousin Hadley's here, could you come up?"

My eyes swiveled up as I breathed a sigh.

"Sure, be right up," I said cheerfully.

It was late to go to lunch but I grabbed my purse and coat anyway. If she wasn't hungry she could just have a drink or something.

My cousin, dressed in tight jeans and a tight shirt with a low scoop neck was chatting amiably to Holly at her desk when I came up.

"Sookie, I didn't know you had a cousin!"

"I sure do," I smiled, because what else could I say, really? I turned to Hadley and asked, "Did ya eat lunch yet?"

"No. Gran lent me her car so I could come up and see about putting in applications at places."

I nodded. I did approve of her finding a job as quick as she could. It was a good indication that she planned to stick around. Someplace up here would be a bit of a commute from Gran's house, but I couldn't deny she'd have more options for finding a position here than around Bon Temps.

"Where'd you try?"

I gave a little wave to Holly and pointed Hadley around back towards the doors. I narrowed my eyes at Tray as we passed. He smirked. He'd been checking out her breasts.

"I went over to the casinos."

I nodded. That wasn't a bad option for her, really. She could probably do well serving drinks or waiting tables. She had her father's dark hair, but our blue eyes. She wasn't wearing any makeup and her skin was clear. There was an indefinable quality about her that hinted at the hard life she had led; something in her eyes and the set of her mouth. Still, she was lovely. Hadley had always been beautiful.

We ended up just pulling through the Sonic and driving over to Veterans Park where we could sit in the car with a view of Red River.

"So," I began. "You dated a Were?"

Hadley was relieved that was the point at which I chose to start.

"Yeah," she said.

"How'd you find out about her? Did she tell you?"

"Yeah...after..."

Damn it. "Hadley."

"God, could you not do that?"

"Then tell me."

"Fine, just..."

"Hadley!"

"Okay. I told her, about you and your mental condition, and she took it as, I don't know, proof, that I'd be okay with her. She's got a big family... Well, it's weird. She's got a lot of relatives, lots of half-siblings and cousins... Her mom has kids from like... four different guys. Anyway. She was always talking about her family, and always pressing to hear more about mine. I didn't... I don't like to think about most of them. Daddy's side was never interested in knowing me and...I just... I talked about Jason and you a lot.

"I told her about when we were kids and how we had to make up games so you couldn't cheat and stuff, and she was interested. She said there's a lot of stuff in the world that we don't know about, or can't explain, even now that the vamps are out... a few days after that, she changed in front of me."

"And, how did you handle that?"

"Freaked the fuck out!" she blurted.

I couldn't help but laugh, and in a moment she did too.

"But, when I calmed down... I was kind of okay with it," she said. "I mean it's weird as hell, but except for the full moon nights, she was just a regular woman."

"And she was good to you?" I asked. To say that Weres in general can be prone to temper problems is a little bit of an understatement.

"She was until..."

"Until you cheated on her?"

"No! It was before that. She started saying that she wanted to have a baby, and I... ever since with Remy... it's just too hard. It's too hard to raise kids and do right by them. I don't want any. Not ever."

"So you started having problems then?"

"It wasn't even just that she wanted to get pregnant, but she had a man in mind to be the father. She said it was just going to be a sperm donation, but she was so set on it being this one guy. She didn't want to go to a fertility place or something."

Between what she'd said, and what I could tell from her thoughts, it was pretty clear that while Hadley's ex-girlfriend had revealed something of her own nature, she had not given a very thorough explanation of Weres in general. What she'd described, her mother having kids from multiple fathers, the girlfriend's desire to have a child by one particular man; it was obvious to me that this was breeding. Any given coupling of two full-born shapeshifters can produce one child, the first born child, who will grow up to be a shifter. Hadley's ex-girlfriend, though a lesbian, was evidently still beholden to her pack to produce offspring.

"Did she ever explain to you why she insisted on this particular guy?"

"She said something about a family obligation, but that was bullshit. She was going to leave me for him. For a man."

"So you got her first."

Hadley hung her head. "She was off doing... it was the full moon. So I went out, and I saw this girl I'd seen before, and she was just so hot, and so eager to get to know me...I took her home. I didn't think Cami would be back. Most of the time she stayed out past dawn."

I could see the woman as she pictured her, with beautiful auburn hair and lovely alabaster skin. She looked a bit like she'd raided Pam's closet, at least the one that contained her work clothes. Gloves that covered past her elbows, a boned corset, a short black skirt. Hadley had always liked the goth look.

Passing over the sordid details of my cousin's indiscretion, I pressed Hadley to tell me more about what the ex, Camille, had told her about being a werewolf. I was right that it had been basically nothing. Why Camille had felt the need to tell my cousin she was a wolf in the first place, I'll never know. Actually that was a flat out lie. I knew exactly how it felt to want to tell people who and what you were, to not have to hide things from the people you are closest to.

I did the best I could to console my cousin, picking up the "family obligation" line and trying to associate it with being a Werewolf in a vague sense, rather than trying to explain the specific details about the breeding habits of pack wolves. It's not every pack of course, but those with low numbers...yes. They'll do what must to ensure survival. Those were not my secrets to tell, and frankly my cousin was better off well out of the supe world. On the subject of secrets though, I did take time to impress upon her that my little secret had to be kept.

"It's not a joke, Hadley. Unless you're looking to get me kidnapped and forced to do what it is that I do against my will, you will keep your mouth shut."

"I get it Sookie... but are you sure you're not overreacting? I won't say anything. Most people wouldn't even believe..."

She was speaking from experience.

"I am deadly serious Hadley. I live here. I'm a real person here, not just some name in your stories. Don't talk about me. Please."

"Okay, okay. I won't say anything. I promise."

"Good."

I had to get back then or risk running a little long on my lunch hour. I told Hadley I'd see her on Christmas Eve. Gran had decided that we'd be going to the eight o'clock church service as she wanted to see the kids in the pageant.

"Sookie?" she asked. I'd just pulled back into Splendide's parking lot. She'd been quiet while I chattered away about our Christmas rituals at Gran's house.

"Yeah?"

"Uncle Bartlett won't be there, will he? For dinner?"

My hands tightened on the steering wheel.

"No," I said flatly.

Gran had stopped speaking to her brother shortly after Jason and I moved in. That had been the best day of my childhood; the day I told her what Uncle Bartlett had done and what he'd been thinking of doing, to me. Gran, unlike my mother, had believed me. She'd abjured him. That wasn't a term she would have used. It's a Were term referring to cutting someone out of your life completely, breaking any and all ties. When I'd first heard about it, I couldn't help thinking of Gran and her brother. I never told Gran about the word though, because we don't talk about Uncle Bartlett. I guess there are an awful lot of things that we don't talk about at the Stackhouse homestead.

"Good," Hadley breathed. By then I'd slipped my shields back up but even they couldn't keep out the powerful and singular feeling of relief that washed over her.

"I never knew it was you too," I said quietly.

"You weren't the only one who was special," she said, so bitterly that I winced.

"I'm sorry that happened to you."

"Me too."

We sat in cold silence for a long moment before Hadley pulled herself together and told me she'd better get back. I watched her get into Gran's car and drive out of the parking lot before going inside.

On the way home that night I stopped at the mall and got a few last minute presents for Hadley, a set with a hat, scarf, and gloves, a gift card to a discount store, because the money would go furthest there, and a silver necklace with earrings to match. I didn't spend a whole lot, but I wouldn't turn up with nothing for her.

The next day Brenda had to drag me away from the lab to attend the catered lunch. It was fine. Brenda really liked the necklace I'd picked out for her. I enjoyed it for an hour and came away with a gift card to one of the casinos. I guess you can run it through a little machine and they'll give you chips. Tray had gotten one to a salon that did haircuts, nails, and tanning. We traded.

On Christmas Eve I woke up early and busied myself with cooking and baking. I was expecting Niall for dinner, and wanted to put together a nice meal. I roasted a chicken and made stuffing with apple and cranberries, glazed carrots, and some Brussels sprouts with brown butter and lemongrass. I also made two sweet potato pies, one to take to church.

My great grandfather turned up late in the afternoon in one of his perfectly tailored suits, donning the silly snowman tie I'd given him a couple of years ago. I practically threw myself into his arms on the porch and felt the immediate flood of peace and contentment that came from being near him. I might have held on to that hug for an extra-long time, but he didn't seem to mind it.

"Great granddaughter, Merry Christmas," he said, bending to kiss my cheek once I finally let him free of my embrace.

"Merry Christmas, great grandfather. Thank you so much for coming."

"I know that it is important to you, and I can smell that you have been cooking. May I come inside?"

"Oh course! I'm so sorry, do come in. May I get you a drink? I have wine or mulled apple cider?"

He considered for a moment and then seem to remember, "I do like apples. I would be happy to try some of the cider."

I heated some up on the stove for both of us, and got right down to telling him about Hadley's return. His response was predictably neutral. I knew that it would be of interest, but I did not expect much more than that. He nodded throughout as I relayed her story and asked only after the werewolf.

"Do you believe the Were woman will be angry enough to seek further vengeance?"

"Hard to tell from what Hadley has said, and what I've heard. She got real angry when she walked in on them, but that's a pretty normal response from any female."

"Hmm."

"Any human female. Or Were female who is human most of the time," I amended.

Niall and I have had some excruciatingly awkward discussions about coupling in the past and I'll just say that the fairy view of things pertaining to sexuality is a lot closer to that of the vampires than it is to humans. Suffice it to say, he finds our conventions of monogamy and even basic modesty completely baffling.

"Fairy women can be strongly opinionated on matters of partnership," Niall conceded. I nodded my agreement. Close enough.

Over dinner, Niall happily told me all that he knew about the selkies of the North Sea and I was positively elated to have guessed right about the sealskin. There were different cloaks worn by the different families given to the shifters upon their comings of age. Instead of "family" though, Niall had used the word "bob," which made me laugh, but apparently it was closest to the old word they'd actually used to refer to their groupings.

Though Niall complimented the meal I'd prepared for us, he did not ask for seconds. He examined the Christmas cards I had hung up as I cleared away the dinner things.

"These drawings are nothing like what it looks like in this part of the world," he observed.

"No," I agreed. "I guess the cold winter night and snuggling up by the fire are sort of the idyllic images of the holiday. It's a good thing I knew Santa wasn't real right from the start. I'd have been all hung up on how he gets his sleigh around with no snow in Louisiana," I chuckled.

Niall made the agreeable noise that he often makes when it's clear that while he has understood each of the words I've just spoken, he has no idea what I've said. It brought me to a full and mirthful laugh. Well how about that, Sook? Getting the 'merry' part of the affair in good and early.

Once I'd got the food put away, we exchanged our presents. Niall was very pleased with the watch and examined it quite carefully before tucking it into his pocket. I received a golden hairbrush with bristles so soft that I knew they could not have come from any creature in this world.

"When you use it, your hair will shine like the gold of the handle, not that it is not already very beautiful," he smiled.

"It's wonderful," I said, testing it out. To my surprise, it flowed smoothly through my hair. It felt so nice that I almost did not want to stop brushing, but personal grooming in front of an audience does not appeal, so I stopped myself. Niall continued to smile fondly.

"And now I think that you have something more to tell me."

"Yes," I agreed. "I've told Eric Northman about our family, or at least, that I am related to you."

"I know."

"How?"

"He contacted me. He was displeased to have been kept in the dark."

If Niall was aware of the double meaning in his words, he didn't let on.

"Has he asked anything of you?" I inquired.

"No, he has not asked for anything. Like you, he informed me that you have taken his blood."

Something of the loving air had fallen away from his tone, and before me suddenly sat the prince, and not the grandfather.

"And...may I ask your response, sir?"

"You are my blood, and the only thing that survives of my Einin. I do not wish to lose you."

"You wouldn't lose me," I frowned.

"That was my response," he agreed.

"Do you object to... my being in contact with him?"

"You were right in regards to his usefulness as an ally. Should he protect you, I do not object."

'But should he harm you, it's curtains for him,' was the unspoken end to my great grandfather's statement.

For some reason what he said gave me a weird sort of pleasure. No, not because I delighted in the idea that Niall would stake Eric faster than you can say Jack Robinson if he should harm me. Rather, what I gleaned from the exchange was that Niall had served the role of older male relative in a conversation with a prospective suitor of mine about his good intentions. I'm sure it was more along the lines of "don't drink all her blood," than "don't keep her out past curfew," but still. I was strangely tickled.

That seemed to be the end of the subject of Eric, and I took it as my cue to serve dessert. I didn't want to rush Niall of course, but I would have to leave soon to make it to church on time. Thankfully, he excused himself to leave before I had to drop any hints. I took the time to freshen my makeup and use my new hairbrush before I left. I studied myself in the mirror, swishing my head back and forth. It really did seem to shine a bit more. John Frieda's got nothing on fairy magic.

Free spots were a hot commodity in the parking lot of the Methodist church, but I managed to find one down at the end. I passed Jason's truck as I walked to the door, and my brother himself was outside talking to his buddy Hoyt Fortenberry while Hoyt smoked a cigarette. Jason leaned over and gave me a one armed hug in greeting.

"Hey sis."

"Hey brother. Hey Hoyt. Gran and Hadley here yet?"

"Not yet."

"Is your momma around Hoyt?" I said, holding up the pie I'd brought. If Maxine was not in charge of running the reception that would follow the service herself, she would certainly be able to point me to the woman in charge.

Why did I have pie with Niall if I knew there'd be dessert again after church? Because it's Christmas, that's why.

Hoyt pointed me inside and I went looking for the kitchen, following the dimly lit corridor leading away from the main sanctuary. The kitchen was on my right and there were several older gals doing what they could to get the giant urn of coffee to percolating and taking cookies out of Tupperware containers and putting them onto platters. I took a moment to say hello to those I knew, most of them, and to thank Maxine for the card she'd sent me.

This is a small town and I vaguely recognized most of the people here by sight, and most of them recognized me. I was happy, when I dared to listen, that most were of the opinion that college and living in Shreveport had improved me from the strange and unnerving child they had known. I must be looking nice tonight since that seemed to be on plenty of people's minds when they saw me as well.

For goodness sake Mike Spencer, we are in church.

I made my way back to Jason and Hoyt just as Hadley turned up laden with the giant punch bowl that Gran would be loaning to the evening's festivities. Hoyt took it and thrust it into my brother's arms so he could scoop Hadley up in a hug, spinning her around.

"Hadley Delahoussaye as I live and breathe," he beamed. No one saw the need to correct him about her name.

Gran came on the group then, and shooed Jason inside to deliver the punchbowl and the two bottles of coke she'd brought along. Once we moved inside again it was Hadley who became and remained the center of attention. No one said a word about where she'd been or how she'd left; everyone in the congregation was just pleased to see her. I knew that was mostly on Gran's account. Hadley looked fleetingly overwhelmed at the attention but adjusted quickly. Before her downward spiral had started, Hadley had been a popular girl and a cheerleader in high school, and that's the version of her people chose to remember. I hoped this acceptance would do her some good.

Predictably, the Christmas pageant was very cute. Though they were supposed to be solemn, the kids were all grinning and proud, which was fine. I enjoyed the music and the sermon and the joyful feeling that permeated the atmosphere. I even let my shields down enough to take more in. It was a rare treat.

After the service we all gathered to drink coffee out of Styrofoam cups and nibble on wonderful sweets. The man stuck out in the crowd because he was very handsome and unfamiliar. I would have remembered seeing him around before, any girl would. He had fair skin and reddish-brown hair that hung below his ears, pale eyes, and a perfect pouting mouth. Even from across the room, I could tell that his body was strong. He was tall, over six foot, I thought, but not quite as tall as Eric. When I first spotted him, he was talking to Gran. Later on he was with Hadley.

I couldn't seem to make my way over. I wasn't trying to horn in or anything, I just wanted a better look. Nothing wrong with looking. I kept getting waylaid by people wanting to wish me a Merry Christmas or share their happiness about Hadley's homecoming, and then I'd lose sight of the man.

When the crowd thinned out a bit, I suddenly realized that I alone of my family remained in the room. I quickly found Gran in the kitchen, busy helping to pack up. She wanted to, as she hadn't been there to set up. I went off looking for Hadley and Jason and found them right outside the doors. Jason had a grip on Hadley's arm and was speaking to her in a low, but unmistakably angry voice.

"It's Christmas, goddammit, you don't go off with no strange man!"

"I wasn't, I -" she tried to argue.

"I don't want to hear it. Now Gran's been through hell and back these last few years and you're not gonna turn up here again then start right back with your old ways."

He gave her arm a little shake then, emphasizing his point, and I was torn between stepping in to intervene and cheering him on. The decision was taken out of my hands when he looked up and saw me standing there. He dropped Hadley's arm then stepped back inside without a word.

"Everything okay?" I asked hesitantly.

"Yeah, it's fine. Jason just misunderstood, is all."

"Alright..."

"We were just walking, it got crowded in there."

"Who was that guy?"

"I don't know," she shrugged. "Just some guy who was talking to Gran."

We headed back to help with the cleanup. Jason moved a couple of tables before he decided he'd done his part. When Gran asked me if I was planning to spend the night, I told her I wasn't about to impose and would see her tomorrow. Normally I would have slept at her house, but with Hadley here I wasn't about to inconvenience her with getting one of the upstairs bedrooms habitable. When she realized I'd be driving back to Shreveport, she swatted me on the butt and told me to get a move on then. She didn't want me out driving late.

It was barely past eleven by the time I got home. My house was warm and it smelled of cinnamon and cloves. I'd had two cups of coffee and was anything but tired. I switched the television on and found the remake of Miracle on 34th Street. I was barely settled when the knock came at the door. I hit the mute button.

Eric was there in jeans and a t-shirt. I suddenly felt overdressed in my velvet skirt and satiny blouse.

"Hey," I greeted.

"Hello."

"Want to come in?"

He stepped inside and stilled as he scented the air. I watched cautiously as he processed the aroma of fairy that lingered in the air after Niall's visit.

"It smells wonderful in here, Sookie," he said huskily.

"Yes, gingerbread and sugarplum fairies."

Since he appeared to be simply reveling in the scent rather than preparing for a murderous rampage in the direction of yours truly, I walked past him into the living room and sat back down. He appeared at the doorway a moment later and looked me over before approaching.

"Your hair looks lovely tonight."

"Thank you. Niall gave me a new hairbrush."

"I've brought you something as well," he said, and handed me a small box, plainly wrapped. I'd noticed him holding it, but I didn't like to presume.

When he sat down beside me I asked, "Should I open it now?" and he nodded.

It was a slim brown leather case with a small feather embossed on the top. Opening it, I saw that it was silk lined with two narrow slots, one of which was occupied by the silver knife that he had borrowed, the other would fit the gold knife currently residing in my nightstand. I smiled at him.

"It's perfect, thank you. I'm sorry, but I don't have anything for you. I didn't think you would celebrate Christmas."

"I don't."

I smiled again. Just for me, then.

"Well aren't you just the sweetest thing?"

"I assure you that here and now, that is you."

I managed to shake my head out of the little trance I'd fallen into. Overt references to the taste and smell of your blood will tend to do that, but I didn't lose my smile.

"Do you know the meaning of the embossment?" He asked. I'd closed the case and was tracing the smooth leather with my fingertips. Nervous energy, I suppose.

"It's for Amun, right? That's the clan territory we are in?" I was pretty sure, but he confirmed it with a nod and I set the thing down on the table.

"So, how did it go in New Orleans?"

He took my hand and held it in his far hand, effortlessly maneuvering his near arm around me. Along with his touch came the enveloping silence of his mind and I made a soft noise of contentment. I think I must like that as much as he likes the fairy smell. I settled back against him comfortably and he let his fingertips trail up and down my arm as he talked.

"Clancy is dead. At one point I feared she would not do it simply to show that she would not bend to my wishes, but it was really the only apt judgment that could have been made." After a moment, he continued, "She did enjoy trotting me out as an underling, but in the end I got my way. As you said, it is a small price to pay for relative autonomy."

"And you've re-upped on the deference for a while, I guess."

"Yes."

"How was Arkansas?"

Eric let out a derisive snigger. "He is a very ambitious vampire. He is eager to win the Queen's affection."

"What's she like?" I asked.

"Shrewd, clever. Calculating. Sentimental," he answered without hesitation. "She seems to inspire devotion, which is a useful thing in a monarch. She has managed to keep all of her children close throughout their lives and that is rare."

"You sound like you admire her."

"I respect her." After a moment he asked, "And what about you, what did you do this week?"

I told him about Hadley.

"This is the daughter of your father's sister?"

"Yes." The smooth rhythm of his fingers faltered slightly before it resumed. "Speaking of my relations, I understand you've talked to Niall."

"Yes," he agreed, and offered nothing more.

"And you met with Cataliades too."

"I did."

"Why?"

"When he came to me with the offer to take money to keep your secret, I saw no reason to refuse it."

"And now?"

"Now, it has occurred to me that my taking payment inhibits your ability to trust me."

"You want me to trust you, why?"

"If I am to give you protection, you must feel confident to approach me with information, pertaining to either the threat or yourself. Beyond that, fucking you will be far more enjoyable for us both if you are neither reserved nor frightened of me."

I laughed.

"You say that like it's a foregone conclusion."

He caught the side of my breast with his fingertips on his next pass. He didn't linger, but I had my answer. I suppose it was a silly question.

"Are you going to bite me?" I asked quietly.

"Yes."

He turned, and also turned me toward him then, pulling my hair out of the way and started to kiss my neck. Was he going to do it now and then the sex would come after? I tensed up and was met with only a playful nip from his blunt teeth.

"Calm," he whispered, as if soothing a frightened animal.

His kissed and nuzzled his way up my jaw, stroking with more certainty at my shoulders and across my chest. I pressed my hand to him tentatively, and began to let it run across the contours of his own chest and shoulders, then down and up his arms. When both of us were craving more contact he dropped his hand to my knee and ran it up the outside of my thigh, dragging my skirt along with it. As he reached my hip he pulled me across him so I sat straddling his lap.

He bent his head to my chest and I barely realized he was working at removing it before my shirt was slipping from my shoulders, and then he removed my bra. He murmured in appreciation and then looked back at me. I saw his fangs were completely down again and reached up to touch them lightly with my fingertips. I brushed across his lips and he kissed my hand before bending his head to what he assured me were beautiful and perfect breasts.

I let my fingers run through his hair. My nails grazed lightly across the back of his neck. I felt my hips rock against him slightly as he finally circled my nipple with his tongue and that seemed to do it. Before I could blink, he'd swept me up bridal style and was carrying me to the bedroom. I scooted back when he placed me on the bed, pushing the covers down around me and he took that moment to rid himself of his own clothes. When I realized he was naked, I pulled the zipper and started to push down at my skirt and panties but in short order he was there, crouching over me and whisking them away. He gazed down at me appreciatively. I didn't think I'd ever been so grateful as I was in that moment, to have no idea what he was thinking.

His hands slid up my thighs and he pulled me back towards him. His mouth found mine again and his fingers found their way to my center, matching the rhythm of his lips on mine. I moaned under him, spreading my legs further. I clung tightly to his neck when I started to shudder.

"Thank you," I whispered. He'd stroked me slowly as my breathing came down.

"Don't thank me yet, lover. I am not done with you," he purred.

I followed his hand with my eyes as he let it run down his chest and grip his own length. I hadn't really looked before, and he was... I swallowed. Watching him touch himself was so erotic I almost didn't want to stop him, but that thought was overruled by my desire to touch him. I leaned forward letting my fingers wrap around him, mimicking the motion I'd seen him use. After a few moments I got a little adventurous on my own, encouraged by his moans. He hissed when I dragged my nails across his taut nipple. When I nipped it with my teeth that seemed to ignite him.

He was on me in a blink, hand back between my legs. When he found me slick he replaced his fingers with his penis, rubbing up and down until I was desperate to have him inside me. I clutched at his arms and told him I was ready. I was sure that I was. When he pushed in I cried out and he stilled. I was gasping, trying to relax myself and adjust to his size, when he pulled out again. I whimpered. I wanted him to stay.

Then he was kissing down my body again and I watched in fascination as his mouth reached my sex. He was just as talented kissing me down there as he was everywhere else. More so really. I closed my eyes and let my head fall back and he stopped just as abruptly. When I looked back at him, his eyes were shining and he started to kiss me again. This time I kept watching him. I felt his fingers enter me again, finding that spot that when he pressed and stroked I couldn't help but moan. I felt wanton and sexy and knew I was coming to the brink again. His mouth moved to my thigh, his thumb replacing his tongue on my pleasure center, and just when I was right there, I felt him bite down and this time when I sang out it was in pure ecstasy.

He was inside me again while I was still shivering from the aftershocks and his mouth found mine. I could taste myself on him and another powerful wave of lust and abandon shot through me. Our kiss went on and on as he drove into me, until finally he was coming and I was right there with him. I thought maybe I had never left that golden abyss. He shouted something in a language I didn't know, didn't even recognize, as he let his own eyes close and let his weight fall on top of me.

It felt wonderful to have him there, all around me. He was so still, but I could feel him; feel the life in him, even though he wasn't panting, as I was. When he finally rolled away, he brought me with him holding me close, seeming unwilling to let me go.

I had been dead on right about my ability to enjoy sex, given the right partner. I giggled at the thought.

"What has you laughing, my lover?" he asked softly. I liked the way it sounded when he called me that. He might be the only man in the world who could get away with it.

"I never thought...that was just wonderful, Eric. You did such a good job."

He laughed too then, and I loved the sound. "I'm glad you approve."

I looked down the length of his long body, all sculpted muscle and faintly glowing, then back to his face, still painted with a contentment I'd not yet seen there.

"You're really beautiful," I told him. He looked at me with such surprise that for a second I felt uneasy. "I know you know it. I just wanted you to know that I thought that."

He kissed me again and started to stroke lightly across my hair, my cheek, my body, my breasts.

"You are gorgeous," he said between kisses. "And delicious. Alluring. Sensuous. And mine," he told me. By the time he'd finished he was pulling me up to straddle him again.

I was tempted to argue a couple of those points but I overruled the impulse. I settled over him with my hands pressed to his chest and silently shushed the rest of my reservations in favor of enjoying the moment.

A/N: Who doesn't like a little Christmas in July, right? ;)