SPOV:

For almost a week Eric and I danced around our issues. We went to work, came home, did all our normal things and we ate dinner. But no, we avoided the issue of, 'Hey remember when you licked my neck? What was that about?'

Nope, not a peep.

There were various peeps though. Sam and I had another date. This time we just did a movie and a light dinner followed by some light petting in his car. When I wasn't worried that Eric was going to walk in, or the baby would be needing me, I was able to relax with Sam. While my feelings for him weren't red hot, they were developing slowly, I guess. I liked him. I knew he liked me and for now, that was more than enough.

When he walked me to my door the night before my birthday things got kind of awkward.

"I don't know if this is the right thing to do or not, but I got you something for your birthday tomorrow."

"How did you-"

"I noticed it on your file info for Jessica. Is that weird?"

"A little, but it's not so weird that I'd be worried." I smiled. "Sam, you didn't have to -"

"I know, but it's just a little thing." He produced a box.

Inside said box was this …thing.

"It's …"

"It's a bee. You know, like a honey bee."

"Oh, that's … sweet?"

"Well, I liked it because it made me think of you and how you could maybe …be my honey."

I cringed so hard I think I broke something internally.

"Oh, Sam, that's so sweet."

He smiled. I smiled and as he went in to kiss me good night the front door opened.

"Hi neighbour." Came Eric's loud and obnoxious voice.

"Eric, something wrong?"

"No, no." He said casually "I just heard muttering at the front door. I thought maybe you were drunk again."

AGAIN? It was one time!

"Eric, that was one time."

"Yes, and it could have been two. Whatever, you're not drunk just … awkward, so I'll leave you two kids to it." He grinned, enjoying this far too much. "Sam." he nodded before he slammed the front door.

"Ignore him, he's just… being Eric."

"I always do." He smiled before kissing me sweetly once. "I'm sorry I can't be around for your birthday, but you've got plans right?"

"Yep, me and my girls. It's a tradition. Men or no, our birthdays belong to the girls. So really I'd just have been turning you down." I grinned.

"Well, I'm glad. And the present it's…."

Something I'd never wear.

"So sweet. I'm not good with accepting gifts, I never have been. They make me feel all jittery and weirdly emotional. That's weird right?"

"No, that's normal for some people. It shows you appreciate what you get. It's a good thing. Some people are just spoiled."

That was true- Sophie-Ann for instance.

"Have a good night, okay? And take a few shots for me. Being on-call sucks."

"I will. Text me if you need to. I mean, I can't promise I'll make sense, but…"

"G'night Sookie."

"Night Sam."

I walked in to find Eric sprawled out on the couch in nothing but his navy basketball shorts a bowl of popcorn in his lap.

"Hey."

"Hey. You know you could try being nicer to him." I said taking off my shoes, because damn did my feet hurt.

"I could. But I won't." He said with a smile. "I'm about to watch a movie, you wanna?"

"What is it?" I asked, to which he replied with two of my Gran's favourite old movies. The thought of just sitting down, watching movies I knew like the back of my hand seemed oddly comforting. "Sure."

EPOV:

I'd heard this rattling at the front door. I mean, I knew it was them. I'd seen the lights of his beamer in the driveway as they pulled up. They'd spent ages in the damn car though. What they were doing, I did not want to think about.

I knew I'd successfully annoyed her when she came through the door with the scowl attached. I hadn't assumed she'd be back. I mean, this was their third date in as many days. I was sure Sammy boy would have attempted to seal the deal with this one. Guess not.

I was both annoyed and relieved at that development.

Well that, or they'd fucked in the car?

Ew, God, the visuals.

Since I was slowly allowing myself to descend into Loser Town, I had movies- old movies- I knew by heart. I wanted something comforting. Of course now that she was here, I just felt like the biggest loser on the planet having an old Hollywood movie night- alone. But she didn't seem to judge. In fact, she seemed pleased.

"Uh, well, we have a choice of two. We can watch Casablanca, or we could have 'An Affair to Remember'?" I'd said it before I'd caught on to the double meaning of the end of my sentence.

Thankfully she just giggled at me as she pulled her feet up under herself.

"Let's have an affair to remember, then." She winked at me, still giggling.

We sat a decent enough distance apart on the couch, but when Sookie pulled down the fleece throw and threw it over both of our legs, I felt the need to move a little closer. I mean it was only so the blanket wouldn't stretch out, of course.

"You know, my granddad could quote these old movies."

"Really?" She beamed. "What's his name?"

"My granddad? Niall. He's my mom's dad."

"And he liked old movies?"

"Yeah, the 'classics.' It's all I knew as a kid. I can't argue with him though; American movies helped me with my English."

"Oh, that's cute."

"Cute?" I laughed. "Oh, he'd love you. He's an old charmer."

"Where is he now?"

"He moved over with us when we came from Sweden, but he moved to California with my mom when I was seventeen, I didn't want to go, so … I didn't."

"Why not? Hollywood not your thing?" She teased.

"Not exactly."

Her brow was raised. I knew she'd want to know more. I knew she'd been wanting to know about my family for a while. It's not like there was this big, huge family secret or anything, it just wasn't everyone that I let into my whole life, you know?

I rolled my eyes at myself and continued, "The reason why we moved here was because of my Mom. She met this … doctor."

She nodded smiling, as if she'd finally pieced a puzzle.

"A doctor huh?"

"Yeah, after my dad died…"

"I'm sorry." She touched my hand and the last thing I wanted was her sympathy.

"It's fine."

"It's not. Losing someone like that it's hard and you were just a little kid."

"Anyway, after that she was a mess. She met this American doctor through some of her friends and next thing I know, we're here. Only not here: Boston, New York, then here. They got married and stuff but he never warmed to me, and I never made the effort to make him."

"That sucks."

I shrugged. "It is what it is."

"And your mom?"

"They're still together. Of course now she's got more Botox than Cher, but yeah. They're happy."

"Do you ever see her?"

"She visits a few times a year; brings Niall. Nothing too over the top."

"Does she know about Jessica?"

"I… not exactly."

"Eric!"

"What? Look, okay, it's not like she'd care. Believe me, she was more than happy to get rid of me when they moved. Why would she care if there was kid now?"

"People change."

"Trust me, she doesn't."

"Don't you think Niall would want to know? I mean, she's sort of his great granddaughter now."

"No."

"N-"

Before she could probe me any more, I told her that we should actually watch the movie and we did. Shockingly, she didn't push for any more answers and for that, I was thankful.

By the time the two doomed lovers were in the same room once more, it was just after 1am and Sookie was passed out on the couch. I was just barely awake and the idea of climbing the stairs seemed like a chore. Why was I doing this again? Pining and allowing myself to wallow in my own self pity, when it would have been so easy to find a girl, take her out, get us bother liquored up and get laid.

But no, I chose this.

As I looked at Sookie's sleeping self laying on the couch all curled up into a little ball, I realised it wasn't those girls I wanted.

It was this girl.

But I couldn't make the move because she wasn't one of the girls I was used to. We had a house, a kid to consider, and there was the fear. I'd never had to fear fucking up before. In fact, it was to be expected. But with her, there was that definite possibility and it made me stall. It made me not want to rush in to screw it up. My body hated me for it.

"Sookie?"

"Hmmm."

"You should go up to bed. You'll be hurting in the morning."

"Mmm, comfy." she pushed herself further onto my shoulder.

She looked so peaceful, and I did hate to wake her. So, that's how she and I first slept together. Not exactly how I'd imagined it but nothing's perfect, right? Needless to say, it wasn't my usual way of getting a girl to sleep with me, but there was a first time for everything. So I simply cuddled up next to her, made sure the blanket covered more of her than me and did my best to drift off to sleep.

SPOV:

I was wakened by the smell of coffee. Looking around, I realised I wasn't in my room but in the living room under two of the fleece blankets we used when Jessica took her naps on the couch.

Right, an affair to remember. I took a quick peek at my watch; it was just after eight.

The idea of working was just not appealing to me at all. Normally, I loved getting to grips with everything and having fun with all the staff. I actually enjoyed the customers too, but lately everything had become a chore- a monstrous chore- thanks to Sophie.

"Mornin." I said to the back of Eric, who was up awake and cooking.

"Oh, hey, sleep okay?"

"Uh, yeah. Did we fall asleep… together?"

"Must have." He shrugged "My back hurts like a bitch today."

Yeah, my neck was feeling it and I was the right size for the couch. Lord knows how he felt.

I inhaled my coffee as Eric set food in front of me.

"Pancakes?"

"I'm at home a lot during the day. The Food Network is kind of addictive."

"Thank you. They look awesome, by the way."

And they tasted even better.

I got the baby up, washed and dressed. She and I were off to a good start. There was no whining and she let me dress her without wriggling. Maybe this birthday would shape up better than the last. It had involved Bill and a horrible attempt at a dinner before drinks with the girls- which he disapproved of, of course. It had ended in a disaster of an argument about me choosing my friends over him. His possessiveness was a little too smothering, even then.

"Okay baby, you be good."

"I'm working tonight you know that right?"

"Yeah I do. Maxine agreed to take her tonight. I have plans with the girls."

"Oh?"

"Yep. Just a thing." I didn't know if we were doing a big deal over birthdays or not, and I didn't really want to draw attention to mine.

"A thing. Well, that's cool. Girls night?"

"Yeah, sort of, I think...anyway. Just a dinner and drinks. I'll probably be home before you are. I'm such a lightweight."

"Well, have a good time whatever you all get up to." He smiled.

I knew he'd be working from early evening till very late, or early, however you looked at it. Saturday nights where his busiest night and Pam demanded his presence. I could see why. He oozed charm by the bucketful when he felt like it, and if it was making him money by getting girls drunk while he flirted, it was a win win for him.

There was a rapping at my office door around three thirty. I thought for sure it was just another one of the new wait staff with yet another problem. But no, it was a messenger boy, box in hand.

"Yes?"

"Sookie Stackhouse?"

"Yes."

"Delivery." The guy said handing me over the rather large box. A box that smelled amazing. There was a note attached to the top.

"Uh, thank you?"

He smiled.

"Enjoy, ma'am."

I tore open the envelope before I opened the box.

"I thought you could use something a little Nordic inside you on your special day.

Happy Birthday, Sookie.

E.

I blushed at his double-entendre as I opened the box to see blue, white and yellow cupcakes spelling out 'Happy Birthday,' and a few with a tiny Swedish flags sticking out.

Nordic indeed.

Needless to say, I dove into one right there and then, and it was beyond delicious. One was my limit, however, since I did have a body-conscious dress I was aiming to fit into in a matter of hours.

I dialed his cell phone and he picked up on the second ring.

"Hello, birthday girl."

"You didn't tell me you knew."

"Eh, I wanted to surprise you. They did come, right?"

"They did, and might I just say, your little note was mighty suggestive for three in the afternoon." I laughed.

"Well, it's a true statement."

I scoffed.

"I mean the little edible flags, of course."

"Oh, of course." I smiled "Thank you. It was unexpectedly sweet."

"Try not to sound too shocked. I am, after all, awesome." He laughed.

"Fine, Mr. Awesome, how's Jess?"

"She's currently working her way though some Jack Daniels. She's hardcore."

"Eric."

"She's napping. Maxine is picking her up in an hour or so."

Oh, I realised I wouldn't see her till the next day. It made my heart ache a little.

"Okay, at the risk of sounding overly 'motherly' or whatever, just … give her a kiss from me. And don't forget the rabbit."

"I won't."

"Okay. Cool. I guess I'll see you later then, or something?"

"Or something." I could almost hear the smirk. "Happy birthday, again."

I blushed, even though I was alone. "And thank you, again."

Before I finished my shift I walked into the kitchen to say goodbye. Lafayette spotted the box.

"Cupcake?" I offered.

"Swedish cupcakes? What the hell?"

"Eric's idea of a joke." I said offhandedly as Lafayette snatched the note on top.

"LAF!" I tried to snatch it back, but he was a good foot taller. It was no use.

"Sookie… Sookie, have you been holding out on me, darling?"

"No."

"So your baby daddy is just sending you dirty cupcakes on yo' birthday for no reason?"

"It was a joke."

"You sure?"

"Yes, now shush. Are you meeting up with us tonight or not?"

"Don't I always? You want me to come over before and make you a princess?"

I batted my lashes at him. "Don't I always?"

I kissed him on the cheek, promising to see him holding booze in a few hours. I grabbed my dirty cupcakes and headed home, determined to make this a birthday to remember.

EPOV:

"Da-ric" She threw her monkey at me again. Was that her monkeys name? I had no idea.

"What was that?" I asked her again. It was the second time she'd said it, but I couldn't make out if it was an attempt at 'dadda' or 'Eric', maybe it was both? Was I her dadda now? Was that okay?

I'd just finished calling the bakery to confirm they had, in fact, delivered the package. It was a rule of thumb, in my book, that everyone should have cake on their birthday. Even tiny cupcakes would do, and since neither she or I got to taste her baking skills the other night, I felt it was only right. I did owe her, after all.

When I got her call it made me ridiculously happy that I could almost see the blush in her cheeks at my double meaning in the little note I'd attached to her cakes. I really, really enjoyed flirting with Sookie. Almost as much as I enjoyed arguing with her. I loved watching her get all flustered, blushing and trying to sarcastic-speak her way out of every little thing.

Maxine and Hoyt came for Jessica a little after four. She seemed to like Maxine, although she did, of course, fuss since she seemed to still like me more. I was kind of glad she did, to be honest. With all the seemingly unrequited feelings flying around this place it was nice to know at least one woman in the house wanted me there for her.

It left me just enough time to make something to eat, shower and get ready for my shift. We were a barmaid down and I was sure the new order of beer had arrived, which meant I'd be needed in the cellar loading and storing for most of the evening.

Saturday nights were our busiest night, thanks to Pam and her highjinx ideas. We had drink promotions, free entry for the ladies before eleven, a live band most weekends and private parties booked in the VIP area every weekend. It wasn't that I doubted Pam's genius, it was just sometimes her cockiness drained me. Of course, she'd say she learned at the feet of her Master, but I didn't think I was that bad.

Was I ?

By the time I'd seen to the invoices, signed off on the pay cheques for the staff, signed off on the food order for the next month, carried in six barrels of beer from the alleyway down to the basement and helped Pam choose a new colour for the remodel of the ladies room… I was beat. But my night was only really beginning since we didn't get busy until after eleven anyway. By midnight, the bar was packed. We were overrun with orders and I was breaking my back trying to keep up with them and flirting my way through the females … and a few male customers.

It was kind of fun and Pam assured me that a 'personal touch' never steered me wrong. Just as long as the personal touching was kept to minimum. I made it a rule never to date, screw around with or fuck my customers. My business and more to the point- my business reputation- was more important to me than that.

"So what does a birthday girl get around here?" came the flirty question from my left.

"Sookie!" I said and she smiled. She was standing there off to the side of the bar, flanked by Amelia and Tara, both dressed to the nines. She ,on the other hand, was dressed to the twenty nines. She was in her sex dress and she definitely noticed that I noticed. Her makeup was just as sexy. Dark eyes, glossed, red tinted lips and her hair was in big loose curls swept around her shoulder. Was it just me or were anyone elses pants tight?

"Hi. What can get you ladies?"

"Something a little Nordic would be nice." Amelia flirted and Tara just laughed. Sookie still didn't take her eyes off me.

"Where are you all sitting?"

"Third table by the windows. Your baby mamma likes the view." Tara pointed.

The view was pretty great. We were high up so the entire city could be seen from the windows in the front.

"How about I bring you over some champagne on the house?"

"And why would you do that?" Sookie asked, still smiling. I assumed she had a few drinks in her already and I didn't mind one bit.

"Well, it's not every day my co-parent/baby-mamma has a birthday is it?" I raised a brow at Tara's term, which cracked her up.

"White boy, please don't ever say that again. Please?"

I nodded.

"Thanks."

"Oooh, Eric!" Amelia piped up before they turned to leave. "Yeah, could we maybe have three daiquiris and a Cosmo for Lafayette too? Pretty please."

Sookie slapped her arm. "Eric, never mind her. We so didn't come here for free drinks."

"No, we came because I made them. She wanted to- OW! Sookie, stop pinching me!" Amelia blabbered.

"It's more than fine. I'll have someone bring them right over." I nodded to a blushing Sookie.

I watched them, and her ass in that dress, walk back to their table.

Damn.

"Who are you looking at?" Pam appeared by my side. Her black leather dress whoring out her boobs like, wow.

"Sookie's here."

"Ohhh. Interesting."

"What? No, it's her birthday, they're… she's having drinks with her friends."

"Right, and she didn't come to see you."

"She said she's been meaning to check out the bar." I shrugged her off, taking a few more orders before I made up the round of cocktails myself. I found the champagne I'd been looking for and four flutes and loaded them on the tray before Thalia appeared by my side.

"Want me to take these, boss?"

Normally, yes.

"No I got it. Can you go check on the order of wings and dip table six ordered? Thanks."

"Eric Northman, I swears boy, you get mo' fine each time I see you." Lafayette was the first to spot me coming to the table. The girls 'ooh'd' over giant cocktails placed in front of them, as I unloaded the tray onto the table.

"Thank you." Sookie said with a smile, sipping her pink drink.

"So, Eric, this place is booming. I came here a few times last year. You guys have amazing bands on Friday." Tara added and we made small talk about her favourites. Amelia kicked in about it being busy too, and how she'd have this place orders up in no time if she worked here. Sookie was just shaking her head.

"Can you join us for a drink?" She asked.

"No, I wish I could but we're swamped at the bar tonight. We're a waitress short. One of the girls had to quit last week because she's moving to New York with her loser boyfriend." I rolled my eyes, her romantic notions had left me short.

Amelia was practically bouncing in her chair and Sookie just laughed. I remembered then about Sookie telling me Sophie fired Amelia the previous week.

"Hey, Amelia, you have bar experience right?" I looked between her and Sookie. Sookie clearly knew what I was up to.

"Yes, lots actually, and waitressing, hostessing... is hostessing a word?" She turned to Sookie.

"If you want it to be, sweetie." she replied in a tone I'd only heard her use on Jessica.

"Do you want a job?" I asked.

"AAAAAAHHHHH! Oh my, God, Eric, I love you! No, really, I love you right now! I was so worried about rent this month, but yoou! You giant, Swedish, sexy man you." She stood up and wrapped her arms around me, doing a happy dance as she did so. All I could do was laugh, just like the rest of them.

"Okay Ames, let the man go." Lafayette spoke.

"Sookie, he's so awesome. You're so awesome. I love you."

"Okay, well, that enthusiasm will be appreciated. I promise." I laughed again.

She was a hoot.

"Sook, he's awesome. You have to be, like, super nice to him from now on!"

"Come by on Monday and we'll show you around. I've got to get back to work, but enjoy." I said to the table and got thank you's from everyone- a very loud one from Amelia.

A little over an hour later I saw that Amelia had met Pam. Sookie was obviously introducing them before she seemed to excuse herself from the pow wow.

I slid out of the other side of the bar, cutting her off on the corner towards the ladies room.

"Oh! Hey!"

"Hey yourself. Having a good birthday?"

"Yes! Thank you for the champagne, it was very sweet. Your bar is beautiful. I can't believe I haven't been here before now."

"Well, you're here now right?"

"Right."

"Amelia has met Pam. I think they're drooling over some designer shoe, or paint, or something. I lost track."

"Yeah, I'm letting Pam redecorate a few things here. Why, I have no damn idea."

She nodded smiling.

"Hey, could I … would you come into my office for a second? I have something I want to give you, but I don't want to … not out here."

She raised her brow at me, hand on hip.

"That's sounds vaguely ominous, Eric."

"It's not, I promise."

We walked into my office and I noticed her looking around at all the photos on the walls and the newspaper clippings about the bar over the years.

"How come your apartment was so bare but in here it's like Memory Lane?" She asked, taking note of some of the goofier photos on the wall. I saw her zone in on a few with Alcide and Hadley.

"This place was more my home than the apartment. Hell, that couch turns into the most comfortable sofa bed ever."

"So you lived here."

"Basically."

I got the small blue bag out of my desk drawer and walked over to her with it.

"This is so stupid, but I… I got you a birthday present."

Her eyes widened.

"The cupcakes and champagne wasn't my present?"

I'd gone over kill. Oh God, she was going to think I was a weirdo.

"Um. No? It's just this."

"Tiffany's? Are you kidding me?"

She opened the bag and the tiny box quickly.

"Oh my Goodness."

"It's lame, you hate it." I went to snatch it from her.

"Oh, hell no you don't." She turned to stop me. "Eric, it's so, so beautiful. I… no one's ever gotten me something like before. It must have been SO expensive. I can't let you do this. It's far too much." Still her words didn't mean much because she was sliding it out of the box to admire it, her eyes wide and her mouth smiling.

"Can you?" She handed me the long necklace before she turned around. I obliged her, certainly. I'd wanted to see it on her since the second I bought it. I stepped closer to her, catching a whiff of her perfume in the process. Mix that with the smell of her shampoo, and I was on sensory Sookie overload. Looping in the chain so it sat on her neck, she turned to me with a smile even bigger than the one before.

"I love it so much. It's stunning. But now you have to tell me when your birthday is so I can spoil you for a change."

"No, no need."

"Every need, thank you." She leaned in slowly to kiss me on the cheek and as she moved out again, my brain shut down. It's the only explanation I had. It just shut right down because instead of being gracious I slid both of my hands in her hair, holding her in place before I swiftly kissed her, backing us both up against the office door.

SPOV:

"Sookie, drink it!"

"Ames…"

"Nope, I won't hear it. It's your birthday, the kid has a sitter, Eric's gone to work. You drink that champagne, girl, and you drink it now!"

So I did, and it was yummy.

"Rockin' dress Stackhouse!" Tara said from the doorway.

"Thanks! I've had it for ages but just haven't had the excuse to wear it."

"It's a pity Sam isn't around tonight. He's missing you in this." Amelia commented.

"How are things with him?" Tara asked, taking her glass from the top of the island.

"Good, I think. We're taking it slow."

"How slow?" Tara continued.

"Slow." I widened my eyes so she'd get the point.

"And Eric?"

"What about Eric?"

"Sookie, the man is … fine. That, and he had you aflutter and glowy all day, and all he did was send you some cupcakes. By the way, you never told me what the deal was with that."

"It was just this stupid joke. We were fooling around the other day with some cake mix and things got a little out of hand is all. I guess he was… I don't know, thinking about that, or whatever."

"What you mean out of hand?" Lafayette asked, appearing with my hot rollers.

"N-nothing. Just …it's not a big deal. We just had a mini food fight."

"And?"

"And that's it?" Tara pressed.

"Lying! Look at you, you're blushing." Laf chimed in.

"Hesortoflickedmixoffmyneck. So the red shoes or the black?"

"He LICKED YOU?" Tara's eyes bugged.

"It was just fooling around." I protested.

"Sure, I mean I know when I bake I like to just lick it off my housemate. Perfectly acceptable." Lafayette glared at me, not believing a word.

"Are we getting me hot, or not? Red shoes or black?"

He tapped the black ones before starting on my hair.

"Amelia!" Tara called out, "I think we need more booze."

We made it to dinner on time. Lafayette surprised me with a spa day for my birthday gift. It was amazing and I knew he'd pulled some strings, but it was definitely appreciated. I'd enjoy the relaxation of it all. Amelia decided she was going adopt a dolphin for the year for me. His name was Angus. It was kind of awesome. Tara being Tara, she got me a box full of toys. And when I say 'toys' I don't just mean the kind for Jessica.

By the time dinner was over we were all more than three sheets to the wind. We ended up in a dive bar for an hour before Amelia had the bright idea of 'visiting Eric.' I, of course, didn't want to. He was a busy guy. He didn't need us loitering around his bar, but her mind was made up. She informed me in her best drunken, motherly voice that it was a 'damn shame' I'd lived with Eric for weeks now and never seen his place of business. She'd been there before and said nothing but good things. I had to admit, I was curious.

Piling into a cab, Lafayette demanded to know more about the 'licking incident,' and I ignored him. Then they all told me that I needed to get licked, and often. I'm pretty sure the cab driver thought we were all perverts.

Seeing his bar, it was truly beautiful. It was up on the top floor of one of the nicest buildings in Louisiana and it had the best views I could remember seeing of the city. There was stain glass just about everywhere. The views and amazing mood lighting made the place look like a million dollars.

It was packed to the brim with people but we finally found an empty table, and then we found him. In watching him work behind the bar I saw he was confident, fast, strong and sexy as hell. I was pretty sure my drunk was wearing off but I'd still allow myself to look. His dark wash jeans clung just right and his black button up was unbuttoned just enough to make me want to lick his clavicle.

What was it with us and licking?

Several free drinks and one snapped heel later, I left Amelia pouting over her broken shoe while talking up a storm with Pam. I'd introduced them and it seemed like they knew each other for years, the way they connected. It was nice. Amelia needed more friends outside of our little group. It was then that I ran into Eric, and I mean ran into as I rounded the corner. I didn't know if it was the setting, the fact that every woman- single or not- was looking at him like he was lunch on a diet day, or the fact that he was looking at me like he really was trying to see if I could wear underwear under a dress this tight….whatever it was, I followed him into his office without much cause for concern.

The necklace was stunning. I'd never seen, much less been given, something so beautiful before. I often salivated over the Tiffany window display, but knowing their prices it was a luxury I seldom indulged. But to have something so beautiful and I hadn't even picked it out was wonderful. If I had the funds to buy it myself, Eric's present was exactly what I would have picked.

I had intended to kiss him on the cheek- just the cheek- as a thank you gesture since my words felt so empty inside my mouth, but things slowed to a halt as I did so. I noticed his sharp intake of breath as I got closer to him and the fact that his eyes seemed to almost darken in colour. So when he kissed me, I had no fight in me to really protest.

I had wanted to kiss him- I knew that much- and not just a sweet thank you kiss either. I'd more than once thought of what it might be like, particularly over the previous week. Just how good a kisser was he, anyway? And when his lips touched mine, a million things ran through my head. I needed to stop. So me being me, I did what I do best- I pulled away.

He wasn't having any of that bullshit, though. He simply grabbed my face, threading his fingers in my hair and backed us up against his office door, forcing the kiss deeper than before.

I gave in without much of a fight, mainly because it felt like I couldn't fight. I felt too much like goo to fight back. Feeling him push up against me felt heavenly. His hands were still threaded in my hair and gripping my scalp as he tilted my head while his mouth moved on mine. He sucked my lips one by one into his mouth. First the top, then the bottom, gently and quickly tasting me and allowing me to taste him. Then I felt his tongue and I'm ashamed to say I instantly allowed him in. I might have let a moan or two escape in the process.

His height over me was intoxicating. I felt his warm breath on my face as he broke us apart to do nothing but smirk at me. It was then that I attempted to put up a fight. I shouldn't have been kissing him. I shouldn't have been kissing anyone. But instead of listening to me, he held my hips in place, his fingers running along the fabric of my dress as he held me against the door. I could have walked out of his grasp, quite easily, but I didn't. Instead I let him kiss me again, and this time I felt my knees go a little weak as he ground himself into me.

"Eric…we have to-"

"Shh. Just shut up and enjoy this okay?"

"But-"

I gave up and wrapped my arms around his neck, allowing him to lift me up against the door so our heights were more evenly matched. Good God it was like I could get pregnant from just kissing him, it was that good.

He went for my neck and I definitely let a moan loose, as he just spoke a breathy 'Oh, Jesus' into my neck. I could feel him. He was hard- even through his jeans that much was obvious- and I swore if he had touched me where I needed it most right then, it wouldn't have taken much to bring me over the edge.

I heard my cell phone buzzing inside my purse. That snapped me out of it. I pushed him back and he went willingly. Both of us standing there a mess, our breathing out of control.

"I didn't mean to do that." He confessed, his face looking as flushed as mine felt.

"Me either. I don't … I don't' know what came over me. I …"

I ignored the bulge in his pants, and the fact that his lips were so swollen and red I just wanted to kiss him all over again. Instead, before I time to even think, Pam walked in.

"Well, well, well. This place stinks like sex." She smiled at me, then looked at Eric.

"Sookie, your friends are getting worried. They think you're trapped in the ladies room or something. Of course you're just…here." she raised her perfectly waxed brow at me.

"We were just talking…" I attempted to bullshit.

"Right, sweetie, you might want to save that for someone who doesn't see your lipstick smeared all over your face."

My hand went to my mouth automatically. Shit.

"Is that Tiffany's?" She eyed my necklace.

"Yeah, it is."

Then it was her turn to glare at Eric. He just pretended to shuffle some papers on his desk.

"Well, isn't that interesting?" She looked me up and down again. "I'll give you two a minute. Then the cavalry might come looking for you."

I think he and I would be needing more than a minute to figure this mess out, don't you?

A/N: *Waits nervously* Hi, sooo what did we think?
P.s Much big thankies to the writing machiiiine that is Makesmyheadspin for being a swift beta on this one :D x