EPOV:

I was tired, that much was clear to me. Having such a mixed-up schedule thanks to Sophie-Ann messing Sookie's hours about constantly, meant my hours were messed around too. While things had been a lot calmer between Sookie and me in previous weeks, there was always that underlying tension that we both knew was there but refused to acknowledge. We were ignoring the kiss—as if it never happened—and honestly, it was such bullshit. But I went along with it because talking to her peacefully was better than not talking to her and having weird angry vibes floating around us forever.

I'd still been living under the pretense that I was seeing other people, date night was Saturday night when all it was, was extra work and maybe sleeping at the office - night. Did it make me chicken shit? Of course it did. But, it was all in the pretense that things were fine. Things weren't fine.

Pam was pissed at me since my mind wasn't 'in the game' anymore. She was picking up my slack at work, leaving me as the paperwork slave stuck in the office most of the time. I loved being on the floor, being part of the atmosphere—meeting the customers, talking, flirting—it's what I did well and I knew it. Pam knew it too, but apparently, my drowned cat routine was doing no one any favors and making the bar look bad. Or so she said. So, I was relegated to the office for my crimes. Really, there were times when I questioned who was boss here, me or Pam.

When I got home that night to find Sookie a mess on the couch with a sobbing red-faced Jessica beside her, my first thought was that the baby was ill. Turns out she was just being a baby and needing to cry, since neither of us could find anything wrong with her. It led me to be more worried about Sookie, if I was honest. There was nothing worse than that constant whiny cry coming from a baby when you couldn't do a thing to stop it. I understood her frustrations, but it wasn't until she told me why she was thinking what she was thinking that I understood her sadness, as well as that fear of never being good enough for Jessica. Suddenly it all made sense, at least a little, though how someone could take that knowledge of what happened to her and use it against her as an insult like Bill had—well, it was despicable. As a last ditch attempt at getting Jessica to sleep, I tried an old trick my dad used to do with me—or so my mother would tell me. Humming. It had worked weeks before when she was cranky and wouldn't nap, so I tried it again with the same amazing result. She was quiet and Sookie was stunned. Sookie looked so lost and dejected that the idea of any of us sleeping alone that night didn't sit well with me. It wasn't about sex, it wasn't about wanting to kiss her—though those two things were definitely on a 'want' list—no, this was simply about comforting her the best way I knew how. So I took her into my arms and into my bed as I continued to hum. Feeling her relax in my arms, as well as seeing that Jessica was drifting off to sleep, were the two biggest accomplishments of my day. They were my girls, whether they knew it or not. They were my family and this was one family I was determined not to screw up.

I had finally caved and called my mother, thankfully and not all that shockingly, I got her voicemail. I told her what was going on and if she wanted, we could talk sometime. I'd called Niall right afterward, and he was a little shocked—and rightly so. Lots of questions were asked, but he seemed to understand the situation, promising as always, to calm my mother down from the rafters if she went off on one of her rants. My mother liked to rant. We blamed it on her English upbringing, and we also blamed my blunt nature on her, too. The woman never ceased to say what she thought, and it got her into more trouble than not.

I'd woken up again around six a.m., finding both girls still sound asleep. I managed to pull myself from a very cozy bed and showered. I had hoped to shower when I got in from work, but other things took over. The shower did very little to wake me up since I was running on five hours sleep, so I just crawled back into bed again. Jessica was between Sookie and I, her hand twisted in Sookie's hair—she liked to twirl her hair, we couldn't figure out why either. I must have fallen asleep again because I was woken up with warm breath in my face—Jessica's breath. I opened my eyes to see nothing but her face, right up against my face.

"Hi, Dada," she said sweetly, standing on my bed both her hands on both my cheeks, curiously looking into my face.

"Hi," I said grabbing her to sit her down. I spied Sookie, awake and suppressing a giggle.

"She's been standing over you for like five minutes. She couldn't understand why you weren't talking to her."

"You feeling better?" I asked Sookie.

"Much. Thank you again for… whatever magic that was with her last night." I knew how screwed I was when a wrecked Sookie, with her hair sticking out all over the place was still beautiful to me.

"Anytime."

"Hopefully she won't pull that again, but I hold little hope. I'm really sorry I freaked on you, Eric."

"It's fine."

"No, it's not. I was a mess and I'm sorry you had to hear my stupid sob story… and God only knows you must think you're living with a complete head case… I just…"

"I don't. For the record. Sookie, everyone has a past, and it was a horrible thing that happened to you and something you're obviously still holding onto. But, I don't think you're broken. If anything, walking away from that proves to me how strong you are."

"Even if I can't have kids?"

"Even if you can't have kids," I agreed. "There are a thousand other ways to go about being a mother, Sookie. I mean, look at her." I motioned to Jessica. "Yes, you didn't give birth to her but you are now, and will always be, her mom. You're raising her, just like if you wanted to, you could raise more kids—kids who don't have parents. You could get a surrogate, you could foster… I mean, just because they told you it might not be possible the old fashioned way doesn't mean shi—" I stopped myself, remembering our company who was now holding onto the headboard and bouncing on the bed.

"Thank you… I keep saying it, but, I really do mean it. I don't know what I would have done without you last night," she said sincerely before she ran her hand down my arm. The gesture was probably meant as a pat, or an acknowledgement of her thanks but all it served to do was give me goosebumps. And thinking that all I wanted to do was kiss her. Bad idea, Northman.

So as I tried to will my morning wood to cease, I simply accepted her thank you and bolted from the bed.

"I'm gonna … go… the …" I pointed out my door.

"The bathroom?" she offered.

"Yes. The … I'll be right back."

Smooth, so smooth.

It had been weeks since I'd had any kind of sexual satisfaction so I was like a teenage boy all over again. The littlest, most stupid thing was getting me turned on, it was so not acceptable. I mean, all she did was run her fingers down my arm, for fucks sake. This was getting ridiculous. I wanted her, and I was pretty sure she thought I was hot—hell she told me she thought I was hot—and she kissed me back. She can ignore it all she wants but she wanted me to kiss her in my office as much as I did. That has to count for something right? Then why couldn't I just stop being a chicken shit and make my move?

Sometimes I wanted to slap myself for being such a damn idiot. There was a hot girl in my bed looking all cosy, and warm and soft and faceable and what was I doing? Whacking off alone.

Classy.

Five years ago this would never have happened… of course, there wouldn't have been a baby either, but that's not the point. My point was, I was done being a douche. Things were going to change, and they were damn well going to change soon.

SPOV:

Waking up next to Eric was odd, but also not entirely uncomfortable. His bed helped this feeling I suspected. So big, so cozy, and it smelled like Eric and fabric softener.

It was comforting.

As was he the night before. When I told him I didn't know what I would have done without him, I really did mean it.

Jessica was like a new baby. Gone was the whine monster from the night before only to be replaced with giggles and smiles. It was odd, but something I wouldn't question.

I'd managed a morning run on the treadmill before I got myself showered—after Eric returned from his mysterious trip to the bathroom—and our day began all over again. I had work for a few hours, then the party to prepare for. It was never anything fancy since my apartment was so small and my neighbors were such whiny bitches. This year though, Tara wanted to go all out, and I couldn't say I blamed her since we had a huge house to work with this time. I trusted her decorating skills not to fail me. I returned home after four to find no one but Tara and Amelia in the living room hanging 'spider webs' on the ceiling.

"Hey?"

"Oh, hey! Eric let us in. I hope you don't mind," Tara said with a smile.

"Of course, I mind. We have a 'no bitches' before six rule. Sorry."

"Bitch," she said still smiling.

"Tara, you will help me clean this shit up, right?"

"Of course, don't I always?" She did, I'll give her that.

"I have some bad news guys."

"What?" they both asked, stopping what they were doing.

"Sophie's coming to the party."

"WHAT?" Tara yelled and Amelia just rolled her eyes.

"I know, I'm sorry but she heard me on the phone ordering the drinks and the catering and she sort of invited herself. I'm sorry. I tried to put her off… but…"

"Well that bitch can just un-invite herself…" Amelia spoke up finally.

"Ames, I can't do that. She's hard enough to work with as it is."

"I wouldn't know. She fired me."

Still a sore spot.

"I thought you liked working for Eric?"

"I do," she admitted. "I really do. I just … she's still a bitch. I can still hate her, and I miss you guys."

"We miss you too, but it's still good at Eric's, right?"

"Yeah, I mean it's great. The staff is wonderful and so friendly." I could have sworn she blushed. "And Eric, he's a really great boss. Not that you weren't great, Sookie." She smiled. "But he's just very chilled and very Zen about everything and it shows."

"Where is the Zen master?" I asked.

"He's getting Jessica ready for trick-or-treating," Ames commented.

I clapped my hands and she looked at me oddly.

"Oh, good! I didn't miss it then! I have to get the camera."

Sue me. It was her first trick-or-treating, I was excited.

"Sookie, you sure have changed."

"What? It's a milestone."

"She's one. You know she won't even be able to eat most of the damn candy," Tara continued.

Yeah, I knew that.

"I think it's mostly so Eric can get free candy."

"But we have candy here?" Amelia pointed out.

"Yep, but apparently it's 'not the same.' I don't know what his deal is."

"His deal is, it's fun..." I heard from the staircase. Down came a very dishevelled looking Eric and a little baby vampire Jessica with her pacifier in her mouth—only it wasn't her regular passy. This one had cartoon vampire teeth on it. He really had thought of everything. Her little cape and ears were too adorable.

"Hi baby!" I said taking her from him for a closer look. "So, not so much gay Vulcan. She actually looks like the Count."

"What? You doubted my costume picking skills? Have you met Pam?"

Again, Amelia blushed. What the hell…?

"No… well, kind of. I mean, what are you, a homeless guy?"

"No! I'm a …" He turned around in a circle to face us again this time with skinny vampire teeth in. "I'm a vampire. Brad Pitt circa Interview with the Vampire. Not that sparkling, glittering whatever that they have now." He kind of did look the part. He had makeup on which made him look pale and red rimmed eyes. While his hair wasn't as long as Brad's, he had gone for the dishevelled scruffy look, and his clothes matched well with the time period. They too were all scuffed up. He looked good; he looked hot.

"So, Sook, what's your costume?" Eric asked, for the millionth time that day.

"She's a fairy!" Amelia shouted from the kitchen coming in with a diet coke.

"Thank you, Ames." I rolled by eyes. I wasn't going to tell him till I had it on, but there went that plan.

"What? He's going to see it. I got it for her since she's been so busy."

"I hate it by the way."

"Blah blah, blah…" Amelia mocked me. "It's hot and you'll look hot in it, trust me, Tinks."

"So, you're Tinkerbell? How cute." He teased.

"Shut up, I have food to cook." I kissed Jessica and gave her back to Eric. "Don't leave till I get a picture."

"Yes, Ma'am." He smirked.

They left after many cheesy photo opportunities were taken, with all of us jumping in for a group shot. Jessica, it seemed, was a ham for the camera.

It had taken the three of us well over a couple of hours to organize everything. Well that, and gossip. Eric had taken Jessica over to see Pam so she could see Jessica's costume before Maxine agreed to babysit her. She said she and her husband were more dinner party people but hoped we'd have fun. She was really a sweet woman, a little nosy, but sweet.

"Okay, we have hot food, we have sandwiches—if Amelia would stop eating them," I pointed out. "We have chips and dip, we have so much alcohol it could sink a ship… I think we're good."

"And you just walked out?" Ames asked, since we were mid-conversation about Sam.

"Yeah, I mean, I didn't know what else to say. He agreed we should take some time and reassess everything and see where we're headed. I just … I thought he understood what part Eric played in this whole thing by now, that's all."

"And that part would be?" Tara dragged out.

"Jessica's dad."

"And that's it?"

"Well, who else's dad would he be?"

"No, Sookie, I mean is that all that's going on here. You two seem to have gotten real... comfortable with each other lately."

"We live together. It was bound to happen eventually," I shrugged.

"What was?" Amelia wriggled her brows.

"Oh my God, you two, seriously. Get your heads out of the gutter please? Nothing like that is going on. If I've told you once I've told you a thousand times. Eric and I, we're just … not that way."

"God, how do you do it, or not do it? He's all hot and topless just swanning around being all hot. Really, if I were you, I'd have jumped him months ago," Amelia commented. "And besides, Eric really, really needs to get laid."

I scoffed.

"What? Because once a week with someone new—every week might, I add—isn't good enough for him?"

"What?" Amelia asked, looking very confused.

"He has a date every week, without fail, and it doesn't take a genius to guess what he's up to on those dates, Ames. Really."

"No, he doesn't."

"Yes, he does. He goes out on Saturday nights and comes home Sunday morning. He told me he's dating."

"Um, Sookie, are you sure? Because well, I work most Saturday nights… and Eric is always at work. He sleeps in his office."

What the hell?

Before I could answer, Jessica and Eric came through the door with a big bag full of what I assumed was her candy. Or should I say his?

She was covered in chocolate.

Poor Maxine.

I snapped myself out of the shock of Amelia's revelation to focus on Jessica.

"So, how'd it go?"

"She made bank. They loved her cause she's far too adorable. Oh and mountains of free candy—some of which she's had—but we had actual food at Pam's. So don't worry, she's fed," he said holding up the bag of candy.

"Well, I'm very happy for you, and your free candy."

He just smiled like a giant overgrown man-child. A man-child who was lying to me. For months.

EPOV:

Jessica's costume was a hit, and it seems some of the moms, kind of thought mine was a hit, too. I'd spent most of the time explaining who I was in costume, and who and what Jessica was. They were won over though, and I might have flirted a little bit. I couldn't understand my free candy obsession anymore than the next person. It just tasted better when it was free- it always had.

Of course, Pam loved Jessica's outfit. She squeezed herself into a leather Cat Woman costume and mocked mine for making me look like homeless Joe who lives on the interstate.

Guests started arriving after nine, and since we were Jessica-free for the night, we'd all started drinking around eight thirty. The party was in full swing by ten, everyone dancing around the house, or talking in corners—all drinking, snacking and generally happy. I was well on my way to buzzed when Amelia and I got to talking. She was a cool chick, and she seemed to make Pam more … well, less dramatic, which was always welcomed.

"So you still haven't told her?" I asked Amelia once we were out in the hallway alone.

"No. Look, it's not just something you bring up, okay? I need the right time."

"But if you and Pam are still together, and you are, right?"

"Yeah."

"And it's dating? Or…"

"Mostly sex. But we have dinner twice a week, which I guess is dating?"

For Pam, that was dating.

"She's happy," I admitted to her, "when she talks about you. She tries to hide it but I know her too well, and she's happy… you make her happy. I want you to be that happy too, and you won't be until your friends know the truth."

She nodded in agreement. "I could say the same thing about you, though. Lying to Sookie like that for all this time?"

"What?"

"Date night? She thinks you're out screwing around every week when in reality, you're working your ass off in the bar. What the hell, Eric?"

Oh, that.

"Look, she can think what she likes about me and she thinks I'm a whore, so why not let her just … think it?"

"You know why… Because, Pam told me what happened on her birthday. I'm pissed Sookie didn't tell me… but I get it. I'm guessing things changed?"

"No, things just got awkward for awhile. She's still with Sam so what does it matter? I've tried showing her I'm not this horrible guy and it doesn't work. She still wants him."

"Not really…"

"What do you mean?"

"They're sort of on the outs. Well, I mean they're on a 'break' right now. Apparently, he doesn't get her life and she's mad, and I think she's going to dump him so…"

"Something tells me you shouldn't be telling me this?"

"Maybe not, but I thought you should know. It might sway any decisions you might have been wanting to make…"

I smiled.

"We'll see."

"Don't leave it too long now, ya hear?" she winked at me before making her way back to Pam, both of them still pretending to be the best of 'friends'.

Just as Amelia walked away, Sophie-Ann came sauntering up. She dressed as a queen for the occasion—her air of snobbery befitting her costume.

"Eric Northman, it's been a long time."

"Hi, Sophie."

"Hi yourself. Now, I knew Sookie was playing house, but I had no idea she was playing house with you. Color me shocked. I never saw you as the paternal type."

"Well, people change."

"That they do." She looked me up and down. "Where is the little rugrat?"

"Jessica," I corrected her, "Is with her babysitter for the night."

"Oh... so, you're off duty, then?

"Something like that." I drained the last of my beer.

"Care to give me a tour of this amazing house then, Eric?" she asked as subtle as a brick with her arm on my bicep.

"Not right now, Sophie. There's a party going on."

"So? This is Sookie's little shindig, no one will miss us…"

"No."

"You sure?" She pouted, and I looked behind her to find Sookie standing at the other end of the hall. The costume was amazing. She clearly wouldn't have chosen it herself. It was far too short for even Sookie to consider. But it was beautiful. Her dress was a dark shimmering green cut out in a pixie style with skinny straps that matched the color of her shoes—a silver tone—with a lighter green mesh over the top. She'd worn pixie ears and her hair up to show them off. As comical as it all was, she looked sexy as hell.

"Uh, Eric?" she asked unsure of what was going on. I knew by the look on her face she was shocked to see Sophie and I so… close. Even though I hated her with every fiber of my being, Sophie and I did know each other, briefly. I'd met her at a party Pam had thrown a few years before. I hadn't known her last name then, or even until Pam pointed out to me recently who the other Sophie was. I was stunned, and felt instant sympathy for Sookie since I knew she really WAS a bitch.

"Yeah?"

"I need your help in the kitchen for a second. Sorry for interrupting."

"No, not at all."

Sophie and Sookie merely exchanged looks while we walked into the kitchen.

"It's stuck." She pointed to the bottles of wine stacked in the fridge and they'd gotten stuck together rather well. I lifted the top shelf slightly, sliding one bottle out, freeing up the rest of them for easy access.

"Thanks. You can go back to flirting with my boss now," she snipped, turning to open the bottle of wine.

"Excuse me?"

"Sophie. I'm sure she's waiting on you, so you can just go."

"You know Sookie, for such a smart girl, you can be a real idiot sometimes."

She furrowed her brows at me leading me to continue.

"Really, you see me talking to her and you assume I'm flirting? You think so little of me?"

"No, I know you."

"Like shit you do."

"Oh, that's right I don't know you at all, do I? Like I didn't know you knew her even though you listened to me bitch about her FOR MONTHS and never said anything; or like how I thought I knew you were out dating, being a guy around town with all those women when, in fact, you were lying to me and going to the office to work… Why would you do that, Eric? I mean, not only is it chicken shit but it's just too ridiculous for words!"

I was so glad we were alone in the kitchen at this point.

"For the same reason you didn't tell me you and Sam were on a break."

She was fuming, but I didn't give a shit.

"Sookie! Wine, hello?" Tara called through the door. Sookie merely brushed past me with one opened bottle in her hand and another unopened in the other. I guess the fight was on hold.

SPOV:

"He knows her! All this time and he's known who she was, like they're friends."

"I doubt they're friends, Sook," Amelia said passing me my glass.

"Why?"

"Eric doesn't have too many friends that are complete psycho bitches, that's why."

"I just can't believe he lied to me about his imaginary dates, too. I mean, how fucked up is that? I thought we were friends. Friends don't lie to their friends."

"Um, Sookie, in the spirit of friends not lying… I have something I need to tell you."

Amelia and I had escaped to my bedroom for a much needed vent fest. We'd stolen some wine and some chips too. I kicked off my shoes and sat up on my bed next to her.

"Sure, what is it?"

"Sookie, I'm bi-sexual."

I laughed, because really, Amelia was slutty for guys, not girls.

"Oh honey, I think that's the wine talking."

"No, Sookie. I'm being serious here. I am."

She looked it too.

"I… wow. When… I mean… how… I mean… ?"

"I kind of always thought I was, but… it wasn't until I met this woman I realized it was for real. That I was... That I am."

"Wow."

Stunned was a kind way to put it.

"Well, that's… I mean, are you happy?"

She smiled and I could see it in her eyes, too.

"Yeah, I am. Really happy. I mean it's new, but I really like her."

"Her who? Who is she? Do I get to meet her?"

"You already have. It's Pam."

I may have spat my wine.

"PAM?" I shouted and just as she poked her head around the door.

"You hollered? There you two are…" she said walking in her heels too high to even balance in but somehow she managed it. Her black leather cat suit clinging to her svelte figure as she sat down.

"I told her, Pam."

"Oh, thank Christ, it's about time. I thought we'd have to be friends forever," she grinned. "You know, like how you and Eric are 'friends.' Seriously, will you two just fuck each other and get it over with? I am sick of watching him be a lovesick puppy, Stackhouse."

"He's not a—"

"He is. Or he's a horny puppy. Either way, put him out of his fuckin' misery."

"His misery is all his own fault," I protested. "He lied to me. Twice. About two really important things and that's just not fair. I thought we were making progress."

"He's a guy, Sookie, and he has his pride. You picked the doctor that can't make you cum over him. It hurt him. So, yeah, he lied. Give him a break will you?"

"Who told you Sam can't make me… do that?"

She looked to Amelia.

"AMES!"

"What? Tara told me and I needed someone to tell!"

I just rolled my eyes.

"Bitches." I sassed them both before I took my wine and I left.

Sometimes I really hated parties.

By the time everyone left, I was drunk, then sobered up again. The house was an absolute mess but I had roped Tara, Ames and even Pam offered to come over and clean up.

Eric was throwing some paper cups in the trash.

"Leave it. We'll take care of it in the morning," I said throwing my wine in the sink and my glass in the water.

"Fine. We need to talk. Now."

I scoffed.

"No, we really don't. I'm going to bed," I said taking off my pixie ears and letting down my hair.

"No. We're doing this now. You getting all pissed off that I was talking to Sophie, then pretending not to give a shit when you clearly do. What's up with that, huh? If you don't care like you say you don't, why would it bother you?"

He'd grabbed my upper arm to stop me from leaving, letting go once he said what he wanted to say. I just walked out into the hallway.

"Sookie, answer me, dammit!."

"I don't know why!" I yelled back "It just does. Okay?"

"Why?"

"Same reason why me being with Sam makes you jealous, I guess."

"I'm not jea—"

"Oh really?" I was feeling bold, or maybe it was the wine. I didn't know. All I knew was I wanted the truth, some real reaction out of him. "So you don't get pissed off thinking of us together? Thinking of how I kiss him and not you; how I fuck him and not you? How I let him touch me, and not you?"

"Shut up," he said in a low dark tone that had it come from anyone else, might have scared me.

"No. Tell me it doesn't piss you off to know he's with me when you're not…that he's—"

I couldn't finish because he'd pushed me against the wall by my waist.

"I said, shut up." He said it slowly, deliberately.

Before I could say another word, he kissed me, and not too shockingly—I let him.

"Are you drunk?" he asked, parting from my lips after what seemed like decades. His voice was still tinged with that amazingly sexy lower octave.

"No? Why?"

"If you're drunk, we're not doin' this. I don't do that."

"You work in a bar. You mean to tell me you've never banged a drunk girl?" I said, trying to hold back the moans as his lips made their way back to my neck.

"Long time ago…" was all he got out before he kissed me again, and again came the lightheadedness.

He backed me up against the wall at the foot of the staircase, his hands going straight into my hair and damn, that felt good.

We tried to make our way up the stairs lips still on lips, but that just wasn't going to work. We kept missing steps and landing on our asses.

"I'm going to bruise so bad tomorrow," I giggled into his neck before he lifted me up like I weighed nothing. My legs flanking either side of hips, he carried us both up to the top of the staircase. That was new.

I learned very fast that Eric's height and size was extremely attractive to a somewhat vertically challenged person such as myself, though I'd never fully taken into consideration what it would be like to be taken by such size and height… Except that one time in the shower when I was … well, that's neither here nor there.

"Your room or mine?" I asked.

"Both have beds. I don't really give a shit."

Of course he didn't, I thought as I steered us towards my bedroom.

"Are we really doin' this?" I asked as we made our way—one item of clothing less per step—towards my bed.

"Looks like it." He smiled, his eyes twinkling as he yanked my dress up over my head throwing it behind him as he slid both hands behind my back and unhooked my bra—first try… I tried not to think how many times and on how many women he'd done that to before, though, seeing this new side to him, so assertive and demanding? I'm woman enough to admit, it was turning me the fuck on.

Oh God! Eric and I were going to see each other naked… I was going to see Eric naked. Oh shit, he was going to see me naked!

Thank God I remembered to wax…

Yes, my mind was racing, and yes it was all pointless shit, because I thought if I focused too much on how he was looking at me and how turned on I was, I might combust. And he'd barely touched me.

I pushed off my opened bra, leaving me in only my underwear, which thankfully were not my Spanx or my laundry day underwear. He pushed me back onto my bed but not before grabbing my foot and spreading it so my legs parted before his lips met my ankle, moving up to my calf, and then to my inner thigh.

Holy…

His scruff rubbing against my sensitive skin was making me more than a little anxious for him to stop teasing, when I got the feeling he'd just begun. He pulled off his shirt and his vest before going back to working his way up my body with his wet, warm, soft, scruff covered mouth.

When he got to my bellybutton I started to squirm. I tickled easily and he seemed delighted to know this.

"No… don't tickle, okay? I don't want to play anymore, Eric."

Then he stopped, slid up my body and met me face-to-face. With a dangerously sexy look in his eyes he asked, "Then what do you want?"

Truth was, I didn't know exactly what I wanted, but I knew what I needed there and then. And that was him, inside of me. I made this more than obvious when, instead of speaking my desires, I simply took action. Popping the button on his distressed pants and freeing him to slip them off, I then grabbed his shoulders—his very toned and lick-able shoulders—and pushed him back on the bed.

For a few minutes we just sat there, me straddling him, him holding me close to his chest, running his fingers up and down my naked back, just kissing. Fantastic kissing before Eric decided he and I weren't close enough and grabbed my hips, helping me grind on him.

The noises he was making, as well as the fact that I seemed to make his eyes roll to the back of his head—for a better reason than usual this time—was exhilarating, not to mention sexy.

Just as I was about to protest that I wanted more than just simple teasing, he seemed to think the same thing. He moved and flipped me onto my back, landing us in the middle of my bed.

"We need—" I attempted to say something, but he was flicking his tongue out as he kissed my jaw line and it was very distracting.

"Eric…"

I was breathless.

"God, I love hearing my name from you like that," he admitted.

I was so wet that my underwear was starting to make me uncomfortable. Enough foreplay was enough. I needed him. All of him.

I pushed him back as I turned toward my bedside table. I'm sure I looked a sight with my ass in the air as I dug around in the bottom drawer until I found the little unopened box and pulled out what we needed.

"You really do have an amazing ass, Sookie," Eric said with a cheeky grin.

"Well, you spend enough time looking at it…."

"Like you don't look at mine."

"We going to do this now? Or are you going to shut up and fuck me like I know you want to?"

Yeah, maybe those tequila shots hadn't quite worn off yet.

Suddenly the playfulness was gone, as was his underwear. And can I just say thank you, Sweden?

Next thing I knew, he'd grabbed me and positioned us both at the head of the bed, sliding expertly between my thighs. Feeling his hard dick rub against my own scantily covered sex made it difficult to suppress the moans. Both of us tried to ignore that awkward moment when the guy you want to have sex with rolls away from you to slap a little piece of rubber on his dick. Though in Eric's case, maybe 'little' wasn't the best choice of words.

I knew something was up when he stalled.

"What's wrong?" I asked and he looked hesitant. "Eric?"

"It…" He furrowed his brows, "It won't fit. It's too small."

And I knew he meant the condom.

"It… oh."

That, had never happened before. He huffed in frustration before grabbing the box from my opened drawer.

He sighed. "Yeah, those won't fit."

"What? Don't be ridiculous. It's rubber, it stretches!" I said with more force than necessary. I was more than a little too turned on to care about the stupid condoms and their stupidity! As I grabbed the box from him reading, "It says 'average' size for—"

I found myself on my back again, him on top of me—smirking.

"What?"

"Haven't you learned, Sookie?" he asked in that lower octave sexy voice. Some people had bedroom eyes, I realized Eric had bedroom voice. Equally if not more sexy.

"What's that?"

He kissed me hard, long and slow.

Damn.

"I am anything, but average."

I just rolled my eyes, even if I was seeing that he wasn't just being a cocky shit. He might just be that good.

He got off the bed, stark naked and not a hint of shame at it. I felt myself blush, even though I was laying there with only thin white panties covering what was left of my dwindling modesty.

He made it to the door before I heard him mutter a low 'fuck it,' before he stalked back to the bed where he went for my arm, pulling me over his shoulder in one swift hike.

I screamed in protest but he just ignored me, laughing. Between the dips, the chips and the alcohol I wasn't feeling the best to be thrown up so high.

"What are you doing?" I demanded.

"My room has what we need and I didn't like the idea of leaving you on that big old bed all by yourself," he teased, his hand caressing my ass as we made our way into his bedroom across the hall.

I almost asked if he was afraid I'd chicken out, only I didn't have time. He threw me down on the big, soft bed with a small bounce, before he rooted around his top drawer and found what he was looking for.

"Now, where were we?" he asked and I had a momentary guilt trip.

Whether it was the was mass of alcohol dimming my guilt switch, or the fact that Eric was standing over me naked, hard and with a very naughty look in his eye, the guilt was soon forgotten.

I was so nervous I was shaking just a little. If he noticed he didn't call attention to it. Instead, he focused his attention on sliding us up the bed till my head hit the pillow, then his lips were on my neck again. I felt his fingers slip into my panties and inside me—and holy shit I was lot more sensitive than I thought. He mumbled something into my neck before he pushed a little deeper inside me with his second finger and needless to say, he had me in the palm of his hand—literally. His free hand worked on sliding my underwear down my thighs, and off my legs completely.

Never one to be selfish, I blindly trailed my hand down his stomach, grasping what I wanted. He gasped with eyes closed and it told me perhaps I wasn't the only overly sensitive one in the room. We both wound each other up, fighting for dominance and control over who pushed who further over the edge with our hands. By the time we were both a red-faced panting mess, I was more than ready for him to fuck me like I knew he wanted. And when we finally got there, feeling him stretch me for the first time was overwhelming. I was so close to losing it and feeling him fill that void so completely without even moving, I felt the tiny signs of my orgasm creeping up on me. It would have been so embarrassing to come right then, though thankfully I didn't. Then he moved—once, twice, slow, quick, quick, slow. The teasing was driving me crazy.

"Please… just…"

"Just what?" he asked, going even slower than before.

"Just do it. Stop being an ass and do it."

"Do what?" he whispered above me forcing me to open my eyes and look at him before I grasped onto his headboard for leverage. "Do what, Sookie?"

I decided to be as blunt as I possibly could.

"Stop being a cocky son of bitch and just fuck me, Northman!"

He smiled, a cocky smile, one I both loved and hated at that moment, before he whispered, "As you wish," raising his brows at me.

Hiking my legs up, laying one on his shoulder—holy shit this was new—I felt him slip deeper; deeper than even I thought possible. The overwhelming feeling of being so full overtook me before he started to buck his hips hard and fast, and without much mercy. I just grasped onto that banging headboard for dear life. I felt my orgasm hit me but he didn't stop. If anything, he went harder and I lost all power over my legs and my screams. His name was beginning to sound like a prayer being chanted as he kissed and sucked and fucked me though his mattress.

Why the hell had we waited so long to do this?

A/N: Good morning, how are feeling about this chapter? How I pumped out 18 pages in a day, I'll never know… but somehow you go them. What did we think? *wriggles eyebrows*

Big thank you to my beta vikinglover_elle for betaing this monster so quickly lol.