A/N: Alright, I know the last chapter was short, but I swear I don't plan them that way. I let the story tell itself and go for the natural chapter breaks. This next one is much longer. Thanks again to KCP for beta-ing and, to the women (and men) of LTAE. You guys rock! I also wanted to thank all of you for your reviews, support and comments! I wish I could respond to each of you, but then you'd come after me with pitchforks because I wouldn't have time to write anymore of the story! Keep feeding me my crack and I'll keep writing. I promise some lemons in the future.

Chapter 4

Before any of us could react, Felipe de Castro was in front of me.

"Ah, the lovely Miss Stackhouse," he intoned in his accent. "I am so glad you could come on such short notice." He turned to Amelia. "Miss Broadway, a pleasure to finally meet you. I have had the pleasure of meeting your father. Unfortunately, he was not able to join us this evening."

I heard Amelia whisper a prayer of thanks in her head.

I felt Eric's presence as he loomed behind de Castro. I looked up but he refused to meet my eyes. It stung me worse than I would have liked to admit and, I found myself gripping Craig's arm a bit tighter.

I returned my gaze to the king. "Thank you for your invitation, and for offering us Mr. Sutherfield's services. You are very kind." Gran would be so proud of my manners just now.

"Come Ms. Stackhouse, there are some people I would love for you to meet," drawled de Castro.

I knew he meant he wanted me to read them, so I plastered on my smile and took his arm. I looked at Craig. "Until later?"

He smiled and nodded. As I walked away with the king, I felt anger slither across the bond, and I chanced a look at Eric. His eyes were nearly black with fury and, at that moment, I was very, very happy to realize that he was most likely able to suppress some of his emotions. Otherwise, I have no doubt, I would have been knocked right on my ass by what Eric was feeling.

I spent the next few hours at the king's side as he wined and dined the various businessmen and politicos at his home. By the time we were finished, I had discovered that the councilman for one district was having an affair, a businessman de Castro considered working with was hoping the king would turn him, another councilman was going to ask the king for more money before throwing his support behind a new construction project and, the wife of another businessman was secretly supporting the FotS, even her husband did not know.

I listened to her more intently, and realized that she was not as bad as some of the other members I had met, but she was a hypocrite. I did not "hear" her advocating any violence, but she definitely was worried about me being "tangled up with" all these vampires. How sweet, except that she did not seem to mind her husband being involved with those same vampires if it meant he could keep buying her the diamond jewelry which she had become accustomed to.

All in all, by the time the evening was winding down, I was once against feeling the dirty stain of my fellow humans. They never seemed to stop letting me down. Craig spotted me and came over.

"Are you ready to get out of here?" He asked conspiratorially.

Before I could answer, I heard Eric's voice. "Unfortunately Mr. Sutherfield, Sookie and I have some business to attend to. Perhaps you two could reschedule your . . . plans." The disdain on that last word was not lost on me.

I spun to face Eric, fully prepared to unleash my ire on him, when I heard Craig reply, "Of course sir." He turned to me, "Ms. Stackhouse, another time?" His words were polite, but underneath I felt an undercurrent of anger and, for the briefest moment, a surge of white hot fury from his mind. It was a momentary blip and, frankly, I was too caught up in my own anger to pay it much mind.

I looked at Craig and politely agreed, but I could tell there would be no "another time." Eric made sure of that.

When Craig had walked away, I hissed to Eric, "Just who do you think you are?"

"We must talk," was all he said before gripping me just above my elbow and propelling me towards the king.

"Your highness, if you have no further need of us, I have business to discuss with Ms. Stackhouse."

I wanted nothing more at that moment than to tell Eric that I had absolutely no desire to discuss anything with him, however, I knew how precarious his position in the new regime was and, despite the fact that I was angry with him, I did not want to see him killed because he could not control his "asset." So I plastered on my fake smile, made my goodbyes, and let Amelia know who I was leaving with.

Eric helped me into a car, and then drove off like a shot. I said nothing. What was there to say? If this was business, then he had to tell me what it was about. After about twenty minutes I realized we were heading out of New Orleans. What the hell? My curiosity got the better of me.

"Eric, where the hell are we going?"

"There are some people I would like you to meet. Some investors would like to open more Fangtasias . . . franchise them if you will. I need you to listen to them," he said, but he looked at me, pointed to the dashboard, and then pointed to his ears.

Okay, so he thought someone might be listening in. I have to give vampires props. In Dallas they had not even understood the possibility of bugs, now they assumed they were there. They learn fast.

We pulled up to a lovely house and, Eric even came around, opened my door and helped me out of the car. The touch of his hand sent shivers through me and I silently cursed my body for betraying me.

I followed Eric into the house, and before my eyes even had time to adjust to the lighting, he'd slammed the door shut behind me and had me up against it, his lips crushing mine.

...[EDITED]

He pulled away, his eyes dark with lust and, no small amount of anger. I watched as he clenched and unclenched his fists in an effort to gain control of himself. Frankly, I don't think I've ever seen him have so much trouble before.

"You can't do this to me Eric. It's been almost five months. Five months Eric! Not a visit, not even a phone call in five months and now you think you can just whisk me off for a tryst in the middle of nowhere?" I could tell that I was picking up a full head of steam, but I'd been holding it all in for too long.

"How dare you! How dare you barge back into my life like that? What gives you the right to change my social plans at your whim?" At that last comment, I heard Eric snort. Yes, Eric the one-thousand year old Viking vampire snorted in disgust. I probably shouldn't have, but I was so angry I just reacted and my hand shot out to slap him.

It met his cheek with a satisfying "crack" and, without even thinking about it, went up for another one. This time, however, a very large hand caught me at my wrist.

"Are you quite through?" Eric spat out through gritted teeth.

I nodded silently. I was a little terrified at the look on his face. He dropped my wrist.

"I am sorry I bothered you. Clearly this was a mistake. I shall return you to your human escort." He turned to the door and I was hit with a wave of regret, sorrow and jealousy through the bond.

"You're jealous!" I blurted out.

He turned around to face me. "Why do you sound so surprised?"

"Why am I surprised? Eric, you have ignored me for nearly five months. That may not be a long time to you when you have forever, but to us mere mortals it is. Not even a word Eric. Not one word. You didn't even send Pam with a message! What was I supposed to think?"

"Did it not occur to you that I was protecting you?" He answered.

"Protecting me? From what? I already have the king's protection!"

He stepped forward and cupped my face with his large hand. "Sometimes I forget just how naive you are," but before I could go off on him for calling me naive, he continued. "I could not let de Castro, or any of his lieutenants know how I felt about you. I will not have you used by one of them to get to me. It is bad enough that the king knows we have a blood bond."

Something clicked in my head. "What do you mean 'how you feel' about me?"