Valentine Chapter 2
SPOV
I awoke with my head pounding. Damn, why didn't I ever remember how bad champagne makes me feel? Even on the special occasion of last night, I should have just said no. Pfft, who was I kidding. First, I could never say no to Eric when he'd gone to so much trouble to make the night special. Second, never in a million years would I, frugal Sookie, let an expensive bottle of booze go to waste. After our intense lovemaking, Eric had brought the bottle and our glasses to the bed, and, between the two of us, we'd made short work of it. It certainly hadn't been a problem then, we'd gone on to enjoy each other's charms for quite a while after finishing the bubbly. I was paying for it now, though. I had no idea what time it might be either. We'd gotten to the hotel around midnight, but it must have been three or four o'clock before we slept in each other's arms. I forced one eye open. A thin sliver of daylight came through the slightly parted drapes. I reached across the bed for Eric, not finding him.
"Awake, lover?" he asked quietly, probably remembering the state my head would be in. He knew me better than I knew myself sometimes. "I've ordered coffee."
"Uuuhhh, thanks," I moaned, moving as little as possible. "You're too good to me," I whispered as he slipped back into the bed and took me in his arms.
"Being good to you is my latest special project," he spoke into my ear as he placed soft kisses along my neck and up my cheek, "and you know how obsessed I get with my projects."
"Mmmm, I like being your project. Maybe I'll get to see you sometimes. Usually when you start a new one, I'm reduced to only texts and phone calls. At least you don't ever forget those," I answered teasingly.
"Yeah, well…" he began just as there was a knock at the door, "Uuuhhn, what timing."
He climbed out of bed, grabbing the hotel robe to pull on, and answered the door. The bellman rolled in a cart with coffee, croissants, and an assortment of fresh fruit. Eric tipped him, and closed the door behind him. He poured coffee for both of us and brought it back to the bed. "Can you sit up by yourself, or do you need help?" he smiled evilly at me.
"I can manage, smartass, thanks," I answered, pulling myself into a sitting position, propped against the pillows, and reaching out for the cup. "Just give me the damn coffee!"
"As you wish, madam," he said, making a little bow.
Maybe I'd had a better-tasting cup of java before, but I really couldn't recall it at the time. It was a dark, rich blend, piping hot, and just exactly what I needed this morning. Seeing the blissful look on my face at the first delightful sip, Eric pouted, "I had rather hoped to evoke that expression myself, but I guess I just can't compete with caffeine."
"Not this minute, love, no, and it's all your fault with that expensive champagne, which I couldn't pass up. Don't worry, you'll still get your chance, but right now, Joe and I need a little alone time."
He laughed and sipped at his own cup, never taking his eyes off me. As the caffeine worked its way through my bloodstream, I started to feel alive again. Finally, I smiled up at Eric and said, "Good morning," as if I had just opened my eyes, which in a way was exactly the truth.
"Good morning, my love. Do you remember anything from last night?" his voice was full of mischief.
"Well," I forced a puzzled look onto my face, "I seem to remember someone asking me to marry him, but, surely that wasn't real!"
"Is that real?" he asked, lifting an eyebrow and pointing to my left hand.
I looked down, as if surprised to see the sparkling ring on my finger, "Better be!" I said, placing my cup on the bedside table and reaching up to him, beckoning him to join me. He put his own cup down on the cart, ditched the robe he wore, and eagerly climbed back into the bed. Again he gathered me into his arms and resumed his trail of kisses. Reaching my mouth, he claimed it completely, causing the familiar stirring deep in my stomach. I gladly returned his kiss, feeling his response against my thigh. As we tightened our hold and began the exploration of each other, my cell phone began to play my mother's ring tone from my purse. "Ooohhh, not now," I groaned, making a move to get up.
"Fuck, Sookie, let it go to voice mail!" he said against my neck.
EPOV
When I woke up it was already well into the morning. Sookie was still fast asleep beside me. She might be that way awhile. We'd been up late, very late, and had polished off the whole bottle of champagne. I cringed to think about the pain Sookie would feel when she did wake up. She wasn't much of drinker, and champagne always nailed her ass. I should have insisted she stop, but we were celebrating, after all. I couldn't help but smile when I recalled how perfectly the evening had gone. Sookie had even said it was the "perfect Valentine's Day." Well, that had been my goal, so I guess I could give myself credit for a job well done. I looked back at Sookie and silently renewed my vow to spend every day for the rest of my life giving her the best I possibly could. I never would have thought that I, Eric Northman, could be so in love with someone. Snapping out of my reverie, I knew what I needed to do to make Sookie feel better this morning. I picked up the phone and pushed the button for room service. After I'd ordered the coffee I knew she'd want, make that need, I sat down to watch her sleep, an activity I never tired of. As I watched, she began to stir slightly, then opened one bloodshot eye. When I spoke to her, she moaned. Just as I thought, hung over, headachy, ready for coffee. She was aware enough to be grateful when I let her know I'd anticipated that need. When I climbed back into bed and pulled her close, she eagerly offered her neck for my kisses. We snuggled and teased each other. As I was about to take it to the next level, there was a knock at the door. With a groan I got up, put on a robe and let the bellman in with the cart. Even more gratitude came my way when I handed Sookie the hot cup of coffee. Her ecstatic look at the first sip made me jealous, and I told her so. One of the things I love most about Sookie is her ability to admit her frailties. She makes no bones about the fact that she can't function without her caffeine.
Once that first cup was behind us, she invited me back to bed. I was so ready to continue the after hours activities of last night, that I dropped the robe unceremoniously and joined her. Taking her in my arms and getting back to kissing her neck and face, I felt, rather than saw, the blush rising in her. When I arrived at her mouth, pulling it hungrily to my own, her arousal was building as steadily as mine. I pulled her even closer, pressing my swollen penis against her, and began moving my hands over her warm, supple body. Maddeningly, she moved her hands along my sides and over my back. Ahhh, at last, I thought, when, oh, fuck, her phone. Even though I pleaded with her not to answer it, it was Sunday, it was her mother, and she always talked to her mother on Sunday, even if they'd talked every day that week.
It was bad enough that she left the bed to answer the fucking phone. The conversation that ensued was even worse.
"Morning, Mama, what's up," Sookie answered. After a pause she smiled into the phone, "It was great, Mama, you would never believe how great. But, can I tell you about it later? Eric and I were about to have breakfast together." Another pause, and then, "At six? Sure, and, Mama, I'm bringing Eric too, okay?" Listening. "Well, I knew you wouldn't mind, but, just wanted you to be prepared for one more. Okay, see you tonight. Love you. Bye."
She closed her phone, set it down, and stared down at it for a minute before turning to face me. I had spent most of the phone call with my face buried in the pillow, lamenting the interruption, resenting, for a change, the closeness Sookie enjoyed with her family (another of the things I usually admired about her.) I fell in love with her all over again when she turned around, put her finger in her mouth coyly and said, "Umm, Eric, we're having a family dinner tonight. I thought it would be a perfect time to let them know. About the engagement, I mean. Okay?"
For the second day in a row, I was reduced to The Great Gutless Wonder in the face of doing what was necessary to secure the woman I loved. Talking to the parents, oh, crap. I had met Sookie's parents, of course, had spent plenty of enjoyable times with them. I like them, they like me. So, what's the big deal? You are asking to marry their only little girl, stupid, that's the big deal!
"Eric, are you okay? You look a little green around the gills," Sookie said after I'd been silent for too long.
Grow a set, Northman. "Oh, yeah, sure, sorry. Guess I just sort of freaked there for a minute thinking about the parents and all. No, it'll be great to go and tell them tonight."
She squealed and skipped, I mean literally skipped, back to the bed, jumped in, and started planting kisses all over my face, "Ready for 'breakfast'?"
I took her face in my hands and brought her lips back to mine. Giving it all I had, I ensured that we both quickly returned to our previous state of arousal. This time, we would not be denied. I stroked her body as she arched against me, coaxed her nipples into erection with fingers, tongue and teeth, and rhythmically massaged her throbbing clit. She, in turn, ran her hands over my body, all the way down, taking my hard cock in her hand and moving her fingers up and down its length. When we could wait no longer, I moved above her and we joined, our eyes locked on each other's. She rose to meet my thrusts, and I drove myself into her over and over as she moaned and cried my name. Somehow I managed to hold back until I felt her walls tighten around me, and her body convulse below mine. I surrendered to the waves of pleasure and joined her in rapturous release.
As we clung to each other, sweating and panting for breath, our lips still sampled the taste of each other lazily. Not really wanting to, but knowing the time was getting near, I whispered into her ear, "Sookie, I think we have just enough time to try out that great shower in the bathroom before checkout. You game?"
SPOV
When Mom called I didn't really want to answer. For one, I was really in the mood to stay right there in bed with Eric, and also I didn't know exactly what to say about last night. I knew, though, if I didn't answer, she'd just keep calling until I did. We always talk on Sundays, always. As it turned out, I was able to put her off about last night's date, and when I came back to the bed, Eric was more than happy to continue. I think he might be a little nervous about seeing Mama and Daddy tonight, though. He had a very strange expression on his face when I told him my plan to take him to the family dinner. Any trepidation he felt didn't affect his lovemaking abilities, thank God. He was always so good, always knowing what to do to make me feel good. After we'd both enjoyed an amazing climax, he suggesting taking a shower before we had to check out. I'd noticed that shower last night. It was very tempting, even while I changed to join him in bed. It was one of those kinds that had the shower heads coming from different directions, and was plenty large enough for two. Mmmmm, sounded so good, for so many reasons. So when he asked me if I were game, my answer was, "Just try to keep me out, Northman!"
We both jumped out of bed and raced each other to the bathroom, laughing and pushing each other like a couple of kids trying to be first on the swing set. I, for one, wasn't disappointed in the experience. Not only was the water wonderfully steamy, but the size and setup of the shower were ideal, not only for getting squeaky clean, but also for our continued enjoyment of each other. Eric took the creamy, scented soap and lathered my body thoroughly. The feel of his hands all over my body got my juices flowing again. Picking up the shampoo, he put a dab in his palm and began working it through my wet hair. His hands massaging my scalp felt so luxurious. Then it was his turn. When I turned around to face him, so that I could return the favor, it was obvious he was enjoying this as much as I. As I reached behind him to lather his world-class butt, he pulled me close, rubbing his erection against my stomach. Happily, the shower was also equipped with little seats built into the walls. Boy, did one of those come in handy just then! I gently pushed Eric back to the seat, and he sat down. He pulled me on to his lap, straddling him. He caught my bottom lip with his mouth and sucked it as his hands began to stroke my back. I lifted myself and he positioned me so that I could accept his cock. I moved, slowly at first, and then with more force and more speed, up and down, as his massive hands guided my hips. Neither of us lasted long this time, coming together, with our mouths joined in a kiss. God, I hope there isn't a lifetime limit on the number of orgasms any one person could have, because if we kept up this pace, we'd be overdrawn soon!
After rinsing ourselves off, we exited the shower and dried each other with fluffy, white, extra large towels. That was pretty sensual in itself, but we didn't have time to explore that right now. It was time to pack up what little we had and get out of here. I only had the dress I wore last night to wear home, so I put that back on and packed up the slip Eric had given me to sleep in (not that it stayed on long), and my toiletries. Eric carried the bag, while I picked up the vase of roses that he'd had sent to the room. At the door, I looked back at the room. This was where we'd spent the first night as an engaged couple, and I wanted to remember every single detail.
"Forget something, Sookie?" Eric asked me. I guess he was in a hurry to leave.
"Yeah," I answered, standing on tiptoe to kiss him, "I forgot to tell you how much I love you."