I had a normal and busy day at work, but Amelia didn't have any special chores for me afterwards, so I took a very long, hot shower and went home.
I washed my clothes out and sat on the porch steps in my dress working on my letter in the last of the daylight. I explained all I knew about the True Blood being tainted and about Bill's death. I didn't mention Eric's poisoning and draining—no need for anyone to go poking around Fangtasia. I named Shreveport's D.A. as well as the BVA as conspirators and asked for an investigation into the death of the man accused of draining Bill.
Then, I gave a stern warning about the safety of the reporters and explained how the Shreveport Times had been bombed on the same day I'd given this information to their reporter who covered vampire news.
I listed all the newspapers and TV networks who were getting a copy of the letter, hoping that the scope of the investigation would be the protection of the individuals who were doing the investigating.
I started addressing the envelopes, but it got too dark, so I put all my paperwork back into my Target bag.
I heard the door behind me open and turned to see a shirtless Eric smiling down at me.
"No bad guys for me to bite tonight?" he asked with a tease in his voice.
"Not tonight."
He sat on the steps beside me and I was struck by how beautiful he looked in the moonlight.
"How are you feeling?" I asked as I began to unbutton my dress. I held one side open so he could bite me.
He looked down at the bare skin of the top of my breast and licked his lips. "Better." He leaned down to my chest and said, "Thank you," just before he bit me. I wasn't sure if he was thanking me for inquiring about his health or for offering myself to him.
I closed my eyes and wondered if I was perverted to enjoy this. As soon as Eric had licked the little wound, he buttoned my dress back up.
I opened my eyes and he was smiling at me. He asked, "Would you like to go for a walk?"
I wasn't expecting that question. "Are you sure you're feeling up to it?"
"Yes. I think the fresh air will do me good."
Eric stood and offered me his hand to help me stand. He didn't let it go when we started to walk away from the house and towards the woods.
"Would you like to get your flashlight? Can you see well enough?" he asked.
"No, I'm okay. The moon is really bright tonight." I looked up to see that it was quite full and glowing.
"Beautiful," he said.
"Yes, it is." I looked over to Eric, but he wasn't looking at the moon. He was looking at me.
"So, how was your day?" he asked.
I was glad he'd changed the subject. I told him the mundane details of my day at work. It was good to talk about something so unimportant. I was so tired of worrying about what was going on out there in the real world.
I asked him about Fangtasia and how he had come to open it. Then I listened as he recalled happier days of starting a business. But when he began to talk about Pam, his enthusiasm waned and he became very quiet for awhile.
We just walked and held hands in silence until I suggested we head back to the house.
Eric turned us down towards the creek and we walked along its banks. When we came to a large rock, Eric stopped and offered for me to sit. I did and he sat beside and a little behind me and began to run his fingers through my hair. I closed my eyes.
"I want to ask you something, Sookie." His fingers didn't stop combing through my hair.
"What is it?" I didn't open my eyes.
"I'd like for you to take my blood."
I opened my eyes and looked at him. "Why?"
"I want to be able to feel you—to protect you. Last night, I heard the man trying to hurt you. But if something happened and you were too far away for me to hear …. I just want to make sure you're safe."
"Will it weaken you?" I asked.
"No. You only need a drop."
I looked out to the water. "It makes sense, I suppose. If something were to happen to me, you'd be stuck here with no one to feed from."
"Yes, that's true," he said.
I closed my eyes again and felt sad that we were in this predicament. I imagined it was hard for a vampire like Eric to admit he needed a human.
"But that's not why I want to protect you," he added.
Eric put his finger in his mouth and then put his arm around me and placed his finger in my mouth. I tasted the blood.
"It's because I care for you," he said as he kissed my neck and I sucked on his finger.
I felt his body shiver as he pressed himself into my back and held me to him. When he removed his finger, I turned my head and kissed his mouth. It was nothing like the blood-lust kiss from the night before. It was still passionate, but it was also gentle and slow. Our tongues lightly touched and then he pressed his lips firmly into mine.
I broke the kiss and faced the water again. Eric's lips found my neck again and his arms held me close to his body.
We sat like that for a long moment. It was the first time in a long time I'd felt really good and hopeful, and I wondered if it was because of the vampire blood I'd just ingested. I knew that people became addicted to it, and I could see why. But then I also wondered if I was feeling real feelings for Eric.
I was slightly shocked at myself and felt guilty because Bill had just died and I'd loved him. But then I thought that life is short and for the living and that almost made me laugh because the man who was holding me was not among the living.
"Is something funny?" Eric asked as he sat back a little. He kept his arms loosely around me.
"Not really," I answered out to the water. "I just feel good. Is that because of the blood?"
"I'd like to think it's because of the company."
"I need to get back and finish my envelopes." I decided I should change the subject.
Eric helped me off the rock and we started back towards the house again. He held my hand again.
When we neared the house, I said, "I'm going to brush my teeth and … um … use the … uh … bush. I'll meet you inside."
Eric went towards the house and I walked down to my bush.
When I got to the basement, Eric had lit candles and was sitting on the sofa reading my letter.
"Should I add anything? Change it?" I asked.
"No. It's good."
"I need to finish addressing the envelopes, but I'm tired. I'll do it tomorrow."
Eric stood and folded the letter, putting it back into my Target bag that I noticed he'd placed on the washing machine.
I sat on the sofa and watched him blow out the candles. It was pitch black but I sensed his coming to the sofa and I adjusted myself as he lay down with me. I found my usual position on top of him and he pulled the quilt over us and kissed the top of my head.
"Good night, Sookie."
"Good night, Eric."
I closed my eyes and inhaled his scent that I had grown accustomed to and soon found myself fast asleep.
