Here you are my sweets, a short chapter but a fun one because I was an awful updater before! I hope you enjoy it. Thank you all so much for the great review, it's definitely a big motivation for me to see that there are still people reading this! I love you all so much and hope you have wonderful holidays if by any chance I don't update by then (which I most probably will but just in case) Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah, Happy New Year, Joyeuse Saint-Sylvestre, whatever it is you celebrate, have fun, spend good times with your families and friends and take a deep breather! Holidays are stressful nowadays when they really shouldn't be :) play in the snow if you have some in your area of the world (I know I do... 30 centimetres in two days, my friends, THAT'S Quebec :)!) or make a sand castle whilst thinking of me and my poor little nose that turns red from the cold. If you have a chance to come to Canada some day, it's really magical during the Holiday Season with all the lights everywhere and the snow :)

Anyhow, hope you enjoy the chapter! As a reminder, the next one will be the meeting with Niall! And then the fun shall begin AKA Shopping + Rhodes :)

Wishing you all the best, I thank you once again for the fabulous reviews which really do encourage me a lot! Enjoy!

As we lay in bed entangled, my sweaty body pressed against his unfairly still cool one, I couldn't help but relax in his hold, brushing his hair away from his face which was nuzzled on my stomach right below my breasts. Lifting his gaze to meet mine, my Viking smiled the most adorable smile. I couldn't help but blush at his examination of my face. I must have looked like a total havoc with my hair all messed up and tangled from our sexy acrobatics – trust me, with Eric, screw the missionary unless he's in the mood - my makeup a mess and beads of sweat on my forehead. Yet, he smiled like a content little cat.

'I must look like hell…' I muttered.

'You look delicious. In fact if it were in a world where I was king, I'd order you never to wear clothes again.' He all but purred. I giggled and sighed.

'I meant looking all so… human. It's unfair really how you barely break a sweat at all whilst I end up looking like I just ran all the way from Shreveport.' I whined, gazing at the ceiling.

He instantly became very serious and plopped himself up on his elbow, gazing at me.

'You only have to say the word, Sookie, and I'll turn you and you'll never know the pains or troubles of being human anymore.' He said, his voice low and seductive. I looked into his beautiful blue eyes, two dark pools in the dim light of my bedroom and smiled softly.

'As tempting as that may be, you very well know I wouldn't like it. I'd have to watch all my loved ones die and then I'd be alone…' I muttered. He caught my face in his somehow warm palm and lifted my lips to his, kissing me softly yet passionately.

'Never alone. You'd have me. And Pam.' He said, releasing me. I rolled my eyes.

'Makers and their Children never remain together long… You'd tire of me and leave me.' I said, teasing him.

'I never tired of Godric.' He simply responded, studying me. I suddenly understood he was extremely serious about this: as much as he could pretend to know me, Eric was delusional if he thought I'd ever considered even for a second abandoning my humanity to live forever. Forever seemed way too long a bargain for me – an eternity of hearing other people's thoughts, if my powers remained, an eternity of solitude, of change, of hiding, of fear, of plotting and politics and guizmos. No, not something I desired in the least.

'Eric.' I said. But he'd felt it through the bond.

You'd make a wonderful vampire, Sookie.

'Still. I love my humanity. And now I cannot contemplate being anything else than human… well also part-fairy, but that's already plenty on my plate.'

'Alright. But if you ever change your mind, you know where I stand.' He said, kissing me to seal the deal.

'Would you prefer me if I were vampire?' I asked him, slipping my fingers through the golden strands of his hair as he drew little patterns on my stomach. He pulled his gaze away from his ministrations and locked eyes with me, as if he was trying to decipher the best answer to such a tricky question.

'I like you the way you are.' He finally said. 'Even though you will change and weaken, even if you are vulnerable and need my protection, I like what you are and will cherish it for as long as you will have me.' He said. And for some silly reason, these words from his beautiful lips made my eyes fill with tears.

'Have I said something to upset you?' He asked me, his voice filled with concern.

'No, no. These are tears of joy, you silly big hunk.' I murmured, pressing his mouth to mine in a desperate kiss. I couldn't help myself but think about what I would be if one day he tired of me and decided he'd had enough. What would happen to me then? Life to me was Eric now. And I realized that it had been that way for a while – I simply couldn't picture a life without Eric in it because he took so much space, was just so overwhelming that anything or anyone else would feel or seem insufficient. Eric was my sun, ironically enough since he hadn't seen the sun in a millennium except for his brief visit when he'd risked his life to kill Russell. Life without Eric would leave me empty, incomplete. I needed him. And I feared that he might not need me just as much.

'What is it, love?' He asked, kissing the tears away.

'Nothing, I'm happy here in your arms.' I said, nuzzling deeper in his embrace. We remained silent for a while and I suddenly wished I had a fireplace in my room so we could lounge together in bed, watching the crackling wood and the flames dancing atop. As dangerous as fire was for vampires, I knew for a fact that Eric loved a good fireplace. It could have been mere seconds or an eternity but he finally broke the comfortable silence.

'We do need to talk, Sookie.' He said, serious. I gazed up at him and widened my gaze, waiting for him to go on.

'Tonight is our last night together until Rhodes. I'll be busy in Shreveport assuring that the bar and the Area is well cared for and properly attended to. Pam however will be with you most of the time since she expressed the desire to bring you… shopping.' He finished, amused. I rolled my eyes.

'Is my wardrobe so inappropriate for Rhodes? What are people going to be wearing? Ball gowns?' I said, sarcastically.

'Amongst other things. Most supernatural creatures are quite old-fashionned when it comes to celebrations. For the most part, everyone is dressed in evening wear the entire week the Summit lasts.' He said, evasive.

'For the most part?' I asked.

Let's just say most of the gowns don't last the night… Nor will yours I assure you.

I scoffed.

'If Pam brings me shopping you can be sure as hell I'll care for my dresses…' I said.

I meant that the orgies are rather…wild and amusing at the Summits.

I must have blushed all shades of red because I heard Eric's fangs click in place and he smiled deviously.

'I am not having sex in public, Eric… You can be sure of that!' I mumbled, eyes wide as he brought his mouth down on mine.

'We'll see about that…' he breathed on my lips before capturing them for a second round of two curling fun. I pulled back reluctantly because I had other questions for him.

'About Niall tomorrow…'

'Yes?' he hissed as his mouth discovered my throat languidly.

'Why would he want to meet us about my protection in Rhodes if he's going to be there himself?'

'Because the Faes do not reside in Rhodes during the Summit. They use a porthole that's heavily guarded to cross over to our realm.' Eric supplied, grabbing my earlobe between blunt teeth. I moaned loudly and slid my hands out of his hair and down the length of his back to his firm and sculptural ass, pinching it playfully. Eric growled and gave me a dangerous look through his eyes which were two dark blue slits, studying my breasts.

'Woman, you must learn to behave…' He taunted, licking his bottom lip slowly as one of his hands slid down my belly towards my womanhood. I gasped silently as he started rubbing my most sensitive nub slowly and teasingly, his mouth looming dangerously close to my breasts.

'Behave? Like I'm the one who can't behave in public you – oh – uncivilized – oh god – sex… crazed – oh god, Eric – Viking.' I gasped as he studied my face, my teeth biting in my bottom lip as he pleasured me.

'In Rhodes you will have to set your temper aside and allow me to present you as mine. To most supernatural creatures, you are nothing but a mere human, if part-fairy.' He purred, his erect length rubbing against my thighs which had spread to give him better access. The man surely knew how to sugar the pill.

'Does this mean…' I tried to say but coherent thought and phrase was just out of reach for me at the moment.

'Open your eyes and look at me.' He ordered, his voice dark and velvety. I obliged him with heavy lidded eyes as my hips arched against his hand.

'Eric…' I moaned.

Let me make love to you some more and then we can talk.

'Yes, yes…' I murmured and then he slid in me in a swift move, our bodies moulded perfectly. My lips parted on a silent 'O' and I tried my best to keep my gaze on his, my head lolling from side to side as he thrust in me faster and faster.

'Bite me…' I managed to gasp when I felt I was nearing completion and he bared his fangs. He bent towards my throat but didn't bite just yet.

'You are perfect.' He murmured and the next thing I knew, his fangs slid like a warm knife in butter right on my artery, sipping at my blood as colours exploded around me and I gasped loudly, my whole body shuddering.

We lay there entangled once more, me trying to regain my breath and him, leaning on his back, his hand behind his head, smiling smugly.

'That was… quite something.' He purred, winking at me. I slapped him on the stomach, barely making him wince as he chuckled.

'I can't move my legs…' I whined, giggling.

'Then, perhaps I should take advantage of you…' Eric suggested, wiggling his eyebrows playfully without moving from his position, sprawled on his back like a king.

'Again?' I teased, pulling myself up on my elbow to give him a mischievous grin. His eyes became slits and he hissed disapprovingly.

'You are one little tease… I would love to do it again, but we really must talk about Rhodes.' He said, seriously.

'Pam already told me it's this big thing with all the Supes.' I said, grabbing an elastic on my nightstand to tie my hair, but Eric stopped me.

'I like it loose.' He said, rolling on his side.

'Fine. So tell me, what's the drill, what should I know? Do I need to curtsy? Dance the waltz?' I giggled.

He starred at me seriously.

'Oh no, oh HELL no. You have to be kidding!' I barked, my eyes narrowing.

'I told you they're old fashioned.'

'Yet they do orgies?'

'The Ancient Greeks and Romans held orgies…' Eric retorted, a hint of a grin on his lips.

'I guess I can manage the waltz… if you help, but curtsying? No way! When hell freezes over, will I curtsy to some pompous asses…' I retorted, stubborn. Who the hell did these people think they were? It's not because they ruled over the supernatural world that I had to submit to them simply because I had been dragged in this messy universe of theirs.

'Pam hates it too. Perhaps you two can come up with some fancy way around it…' Eric mused, twirling one of my curls around his finger.

'Damn right we will. Now what should I know? Perhaps if you'd just tell me what to do and not do I'll be able to keep myself off the burning coals?' I offered, lazily combing my hair off my face with my fingers.

'Will you promise to do what I tell you?' Eric askes, his face void of any emotion.

'Depends what you ask of me.'

'Obedience for one. I know what is expected of you and obedience to me is one of those things. I know you won't submit willingly, but trust me, it's for your own safety.'

'Obedience?' I scoffed. 'Last thing I knew Sam was the only person who could turn into a DOG in this town…' I snarled, annoyed before rolling on my side. Of course, Eric isn't exactly one to play fair so he nuzzled my neck and started planting wet curl-your-toes kisses down the side of my neck, causing me to squirm in his hold.

You are such a proud little hen… but deep down, I know you like it when I boss you around…

'In bed maybe…' I muttered, a small grin on my lips.

'I wish I could glamour some sense into you sometimes…' He teased, suckling on my earlobe.

'You're not being fair here…' I giggled.

'How's that?' He breathed on the delicate shell of my ear, causing my skin to cover in goose bumps.

'You're distracting me!' I mumbled, slipping out of his hold. 'If we are to have a proper conversation, I can't be in your arms otherwise you'll cheat. You may not be able to glamour me, but you have one naughty mouth, Mr Northman and long years of practice using it. I'm pretty sure you could make a girl do just about anything with the mere power of your lips.' I said, grabbing my robe and wrapping myself in it before plopping down on the antique sofa I had in the corner of my bedroom. He sat up on the bed and regarded me with a smirk.

'Except you. You are the most stubborn breather I've ever met, Miss Stackhouse.' He retorted, standing up to stretch in all his naked glory. I covered my eyes and chuckled.

'There, AGAIN! You're cheating!' I cooed.

'How's that?' he purred, a knowing smirk on his pouty lips.

'You're naked and parading around!' I chortled.

'I was born naked. I don't know about you, but I feel pretty fucking good prancing around on the nude.' He said turning around to bend over the bed for God knows what reason – deep down I knew it was just to show me his delectable, most decadently perfectly shaped ass.

'ARGH!' I yelped. 'I'll go hide in the bathroom if you don't stop now.' I said, throwing him a pillow, which he caught and placed strategically in front of his hips.

'There, you can uncover your blushing eyes, Miss Stackhouse.' He said, sitting on the edge of the bed with the well-placed pillow still in place.

'Alright. What should I know about Rhodes, Sir?' I said, crossing my legs and making sure my robe slid up on my thigh. Eric eyed the procedure and made a move to pull the pillow away but I raised my eyebrows, daring him to do so.

'Fine. What did Pam tell you?'

'She said there was a Council and not just the Authority which is only for the vamps. She said there are angels, demons, fairies, witches, shifters, weres. Are there really trolls?' I asked, dumbfounded.

'Trolls?' Eric chuckled. 'No, no trolls..'

'Thought so. And she said there was the Prophet, a human who doesn't die.'

'No one knows if it's a she or a he. Though my bets are on a female.' Eric said, amused.

'Why is that?' I asked, curious.

'Her smell.' Eric said.

'So what you've met her before and just sniffed her?' I said, crossing my arms on my chest, annoyed.

'Apparently the Prophet is supposed to be the most beautiful human ever to walk this earth… You've got to understand my curiosity.' He said, teasing me.

'You are such a pig!'

'Angels are beautiful too. I remember back in the days when I met Gabrielle…'

'As in the angel Gabriel? Isn't it a man?' I asked, dumbfounded. So much for Bible time in church…

'Oh I can assure you she was everything but a man. Angel blood is quite… peculiar. Extremely spicy, not every vampire likes it. Most vampires prefer fairy blood because it's addictive. Demon blood is a crime against humanity, but they are quite pleasurable in bed. They run pretty warm.' He continued, clearly toying with me.

'You are insufferable. Have you really slept with one of each kind?'

'Not a shifter or a were… They are the… lower species. But I've had witches, a couple of them, Gabrielle was my only angel since they rarely pay a visit to our realm, as for demons… those are more… common.'

'And elves? Have you slept with elves too?'

'Only once, not a pleasurable experience as I recall…' He shrugged.

Don't pout, you know I just love to make you jealous…

'Fine. So what of all those creatures? How do I recognize what they are?'

'Oh trust me, you'll be able to tell, though demons look strikingly human when they want to. Angels have a sort of glow…'

'Like vampires?' I asked, cocking my head to the side.

'Vampires don't glow. Not to human eye at least.' Eric said, frowning.

'Good thing I'm not entirely human than.' I said. 'Because you damn well glow. Not much, not in a glitter kind of glow, but you do glow. That's how I could tell about… Bill, the first time. Before people noticed, I could simply tell he was different.' I said. I'd never confessed this to any vampire, but it wasn't exactly a great big secret either, still, Eric looked very intrigued.

'Do fairies glow to you?' He asked me.

'Sort of. A different glow. But they glow for pretty much everyone don't they?'

He shook his head.

'You can't see a fairy's glow?'

'Supernaturals can. Not humans.'

'Well I'm not entirely human.' I sighed. As if I needed a reminder.

'For the most, you are. But you have this little something that's different from other breathers, not just the fairy powers and the most decadent taste' he said, eyes glazing with lust at the thought 'but your character…' He continued, studying me.

'Okay we're really off subject now… Can we get back to Rhodes? What's going to happen there?'

'Tribunals, weddings, discussions, parties… The usual stuff.' Eric said, dismissive.

'What is expected of me? Of you?'

'Of you, to follow me, do as I say – which I know will piss you off so I'll try to keep it to the strict minimum. For me, to attend ceremonies and such.'

'Doesn't seem all that complicated…' I shrugged, approaching him to sit next to him on the bed.

'Hopefully you're right…' he said, tracing patterns on my back with his fingers. He then started massaging my sore muscles and slipping my robe off my shoulders.

'Are we already done?' I asked, closing my eyes in delight as his strong thumbs pressed my sore muscles and loosened the knots in my shoulders.

'The rest can wait.' He purred, slipping my robe entirely off to reveal my bare back to his skilled hands.

'This feels amazing.' I murmured. Before I could stop him, his mouth had joined his hands and as he massaged my sore muscles, he kissed my neck until I was no more than putty in his hands. I felt the need to show him just how good he was to me and I decided to reciprocate.

'What are you doing?' He asked, cocking an amused eyebrow at me as I took the pillow off his thighs. And there was Mr Happy, ready for some action.

'Seeing as to give you a massage I'd probably need a hammer so that you'd feel anything at all, I thought I'd give you a little something else.' I said, kneeling in front of him.

You little minx…

'Sookie…' he sighed when my lips closed around his length. I pulled back and blew cool air on the tip.

'Shut up and enjoy.' I said, my heavy lidded gaze locking with his. He smiled like a dangerous cat.

Oh trust me, I will.

Muhahaha and enjoy, Eric will :)!