10. Dearly Departed

Sky woke in the early evening. The first sensation she had was something heavy lying across her. And something hot and large lying against her. But the room was cool, so she found herself naturally drifting toward that radiant heat.

Her eyes opened and she found herself looking into brown eyes as deep as the ocean and even more beautiful. She still felt the strange effects of Eric's blood, but it was muted now, the distant roar of the same seaside that his eyes brought to mind.

She generally woke slowly, so it would have come as no surprise to anyone when she realized quite suddenly that she was naked and pressed very intimately against Alcide, and that he had most certainly noticed that state of affairs well before she had.

She gasped and her eyes flew to his face. He looked perfectly calm, serene even. As if he woke up naked and tangled up with a woman every day.

"Oh god, I'm naked!" she said. Her mind refused to explain why she was naked. All she knew was that she was in bed, and he was in bed, and they were both naked. Oh, and he was really, really hot.

She scrambled away from him, trying to think of why she was naked. And why he was naked. Just how badly had she humiliated herself even after she had thrown up all over everyone. Oh god, had she thrown up on him and then... Sadly, she could imagine herself doing exactly that.

She got up, then realized she was naked still and standing up. She grabbed the comforter off of the bed and wrapped herself in it. During that, though, she realized that she was sore. In... certain places.

It all flooded back to her. She had pressured him into bed!

She caught his eye even as realization hammered through her. He lay watching her calmly, his arms crossed under his head.

"I'm sorry," she muttered. She started searching for her clothes, dragging the comforter with her.

"What for?" he asked. "Freaking out?"

"I am not freaking out!" She bristled, irritation making it come out sharper than intended.

She found her shirt and jeans, then her bra. But the comforter had gotten hung up in the bed and wouldn't stretch far enough to reach her panties. She got down on her hands and knees and stretched for them. If she could just pull it another three or four inches...

He got up and picked them up, holding them with a finger looped through them. She looked up, only to find herself staring straight at his penis as it jutted unapologetic from his body. Memories once more replayed in her mind and she remembered how soft the skin was, how long and smooth and hard it was.. and how wantonly she had touched and... she tried to turn the memories off, but she felt scorching lust ignite between her legs.

He twitched as if he knew her thoughts and she stood up hastily, grabbing her panties. "Thank you," she choked out.

"Are you angry with me?" he asked her.

Her eyes flew to his face. "At you? No. I'm the one who... who pushed myself on you." She felt her face redden at the admission.

"I wouldn't exactly call it that," he told her, stepping closer.

She retreated until she felt the bed behind her. "I remember what happened, Alcide. I acted like... like..like a... a hooker. Or something."

"Actually, I have it on good authority that hookers are far more mechanical, and not nearly so appreciative as you were," he told her. "You acted like a woman who is genuinely attracted to the man she was with and cared for his pleasure."

"Oh god, I can't talk about this right now," she objected, mortified.

"Sky," he said quietly, so close to her now that she could feel his body heat and smell that masculine scent that was distinct to him, and only him. "I work hard to keep my body in good shape. It's nice to have a woman genuinely appreciate it as you seemed to do."

She chuckled at that, a bit shrill and panicked sounding though it was. "I'm sure that's not true."

"It is," he said softly.

Now that distracted her. "What the hell is wrong with Debbie?" she demanded. "She hasn't got the good sense god gave a termite. If you were my boyfriend-"

She stopped. Why, oh why, must she eat her foot every time this man was around!

"I'm not usually like that!" she told him.

He had worked his way closer to her, and he wrapped his arms around her. "That's too bad," he murmured as he pulled her against him, nuzzling into her neck and turning her knees to jelly. "You're a fantastic lover."

"I was high," she argued weakly. "I'm not usually a lewd person, I..."

"Unfortunate," he answered, his lips and his beard ticking along her shoulder. "Though I think I prefer the word 'sensual'. Or maybe 'sexy'." His hand on the flat of her back pressed her firmly against him.

She clung to her clothes desperately, the last line to what dignity she could muster after turning into a complete, mindless hussy the night before. But his lips found hers and the clothes slipped from her grip, her arms entirely disobeying all of her commands to stay and curling around his neck instead.

A sudden, sharp banging on the door dragged her mind back to the present.

"Werewolf? They need you. They think the witch is trying something."

"When are these people going to remember that I have a name?" he muttered against her lips. "On my way," he said out loud toward the door.

"Hurry."

He sighed. "Hold this thought, okay?" He ran a gentle finger down her cheek, then kissed where his finger had been.

He dressed quickly, and she tried hard not to watch him as she picked up her own clothes.

He stepped close to her one more time, kissing her deeply. Then he whispered, just below her ear where the skin was surprisingly sensitive, "I could be, you know." As he disappeared out the door, she tried to figure out just what he could be.

She dressed quickly, distracted by the images running through her head. Then she realized that she was pretty much useless here, and changed her mind. She didn't want to stay, but since she was here now, she was going to use the shower again and change into her own clothes.

When she was done, she slowly left her room, uncertain and even rather afraid. As she made her way down the hall, feeling lost and uncertain, she saw the flicker of motion ahead of her. Then Eric was standing in front of her, looking down at her.

"He could kill you again, you know," he told her.

She crossed her arms and glared at him. "Oh no. You can't blame that on him. You did that. That was your fault, and you know it, or you wouldn't have saved my life."

"We needed you to sew up the witch," he sallied.

"Oh, bullshit. You and I both know that you could have yanked a real doctor out of his or her bed. You don't need me any more than you need the dirt outside. You vampires can play political games all you want, but despite the romantification, we're just food to you."

"So jaded," he muttered. "Who would have expected it of you. You hardly strike me as practical."

"You don't know me at all, now do you. You should before you judge someone."

"Hypocrite. You've judged me. I hardly think you're in any position to complain if it's done to you." At the look on her face, he raised an eyebrow. "Mmhmm."

"How is it that men can always turn things around and upside down? A minute ago you were trying to blame Alcide for you shoving me into the room with his angry, terrified wolf."

Eric raised his eyebrow again. "Terrified? Why would he be terrified?"

"How should I know? When Alcide is done with whatever he's doing, I'll ask."

Eric's brows drew together. "You don't blame him at all for ripping your throat out?"

"You don't blame a frightened animal for biting you when you add to his fear. How many times do you think I've been bitten and clawed and even nearly lost an eye? You can't explain to an animal that you're helping them. I don't know how much presence of mind his wolf retains when he's forced to shift, so I assume that he's like any other frightened and angry animal. You should, too."

Then she told him, "I'm hungry. Is there a kitchen here?"

"There is a kitchen. There is no human food in it. Apparently Bill is not used to human guests despite being married to a human."

She blinked in surprise. "He's married to a human?"

"Mmmhmm. Sookie."

She chuckled before she could stop herself. "Poor guy."

Eric laughed, and she was surprise. "She can not read his mind."

"Ah. No wonder he could stand her for longer than ten minutes."

"Harsh," Eric said.

She chuckled. "I was joking. Mostly."

"You sound jealous. Would you like to be married to a vampire, too? I could help you there, if you really want. It would be good for my image, being married to a human." He smirked at her.

"I think you might be the anti-christ," she told him. "And no, no thanks. You're already exactly like an angry husband."

"How's that?"

"Well, just imagine a woman married to you, 'He's so charming and handsome and sweet when he's not terrorizing me or getting my throat torn out by angry wolves!'," she said it in a dreamy, goofy voice.

"Ah, yes. I see what you're saying," he said. "But in my defense, I didn't know he would do that. And you did puke on me. And yet, I still offered you my hand. I'm quite a catch, you know."

"You only offered because you knew I would say 'no'. I should have said 'yes' just to watch you backpedal," she laughed. "Now, on to the business of the night. What do you want from me?"

He looked surprised. "Why would you ask me that?"

"You're going out of your way to be charming. You want something."

"That's terribly unjust. I'm always this way." Eric spread his hands innocently.

"With humans?"

"Only the useful ones," he smirked.

"So, what do you want from me?"

"Nothing, I swear. You were scared, I decided I would walk you out and show you where your car is and make sure that you understand that you will be staying here for the time being."

She rounded on him in anger. "You can't keep me here!"

"We can," he answered. Now all pretense of charm was gone and his face was cold and uncompromising. "And you will say nothing of that witch being here, nor about werewolves, to anyone."

"Ah," she said. "Now we get to the heart of things. You want to know if you can trust me to keep my mouth shut about your kidnapping and whether I will protect Alcide's secret. See, I knew you wanted something. Don't worry," she said bitterly, "I'm excellent with secrets. I won't say anything to anyone about it."

He stepped very close to her and gripped her chin and turned his face up to look into her eyes. "I think you understand what will happen to you if you do." Then he kissed her on the cheek as if they were simply saying good-bye after a stroll in the park and as if he weren't holding her chin with bruising strength.

He stepped back. "Go get yourself something to eat." Then he flitted away and she was left feeling angry and a little frightened. As well as strangely wounded that he had felt a need to threaten her even after she had given her word.

She got in the car and went to Merlotte's to eat. It was a quiet evening and to her regret, Sam wasn't there. But fortunately, neither was Sookie, so she could sit and brood in peace.

When she ordered the pie with caramel sauce again, she was surprised when Lafayette brought it over himself. He draped himself in the seat across from her.

"I'm gonna talk to Sam and tell him we needs ta make that a regular dessert up in here," he told her.

"It's delicious, and you are a great cook," she answered him.

"Now, you gonna tell Lafayette what's botherin' you, hooker?"

She stopped with the fork halfway up, her mouth hanging open. Was it written all over her? Did she look different? Was she dressed slutty? She could feel red flowing over her face.

He laughed. "It's just an expression, girlfriend. Calm down."

She sighed. "It's a guy, naturally. I moved to Bon Temps for a simple, quiet life-"

He started laughing. "That was a mistake."

"Yes, so I've noticed. It seems to be Grand Central Station for drama. Anyway, I met a guy and through a series of events, I got high. Which is something I've never done before-"

"You're missing out. You should do it more often."

"Yes, well. So anyway, I got high and I pressured him into having sex with me."

Lafayette gasped, widening his eyes and dramatically putting his hand on his chest. "You didn't? That poor, poor, poor man! How will he ever survive such trauma?"

She tried not to grin. "That's not funny, Lafayette. He was trying to protect me from making a mistake while I was not myself."

"That's noble," he said. "So do you regret it?"

She shook her head. "Not really. Sort of. I... I was sort of... inappropriate."

His eyebrows shot up. "Did you pee on him or something?"

"What? No! Ewww!" She sighed. "Although the puppy peed on him earlier. But not me."

"Well, if you didn't do anything that extreme, then you probably didn't do anything he didn't like. He's probably sitting at home right now trying to think of a way to get you high again," Lafayette told her.

She shook her head. "He's not like that. Besides, in my experience, most men sit at home trying to find a way to avoid answering the phone when you call."

"I doubt he's doing that. If he was trying to protect you from yourself, he'd not trying to get out of your phone calls," Lafayette reassured her. "You don't know much about men, do you?"

She laughed. "What I know about men could fill a book. But only if it was about two inches by two inches, with jumbo writing, and three pages."

"Well, if he could tell you 'no' when you were trying to get him to have sex wi' you, he either ain't straight, or he really likes you. So I wouldn't sit there worryin' he is gonna run off on ya."

She smiled at him. "Thanks Lafayette."

"You're welcome, hooker. Just don't be tellin' nobody."

"Don't worry," Sky replied, recognizing the irony of saying the same thing in the same night for such different reasons, "I'm good with secrets."

He got up and strolled nonchalantly back to the kitchen. Sky finished her pie and paid her bill, leaving extra for the waitress.

When she got back, she found Alcide standing at the door of her room. He was leaning back against the wall, his arms crossed. The stance showed off the muscles of his shoulders and arms to great advantage, and she was struck with how he could take her breath away simply by showing up.

He looked up, his eyes dark and broody. A shiver of discomfort slithered up and down her spine, curling in her belly and boiling into full-blown anxiety when he didn't smile.

She knew what was coming. But she wasn't going to make it easy for him.

"Would you like to come in?" she asked, not really wanting to make this a public affair.

He nodded and followed her inside her room.

"I almost killed you," he said. "If Eric hadn't been there-"

She was relieved. She'd thought he was going to tell her he couldn't see her anymore. "Alcide, Marrok almost killed me, and it wasn't his fault-"

"It was," he said, fiercely. "He turned on you like some savage... thing! He acts like he loves you, but-"

She took his cheeks in her hands and turned his face to hers. "He does! Alcide, if there's one thing I am certain of, it's that it was an accident. His affection for me is that of an animal. It's simple and uncomplicated, and real. I know that. I lived with you while he was dominant for weeks. What you should be asking yourself is-"

He took her hands in his. "He can't love you and turn on you like that. It isn't possible. He nearly killed you—I-I nearly killed you! I can't protect you from him—from me! And you can't protect yourself from us, either!"

She stepped back, wrapping her arms around herself and closing her eyes. "So you're leaving."

"What choice do I have?" he asked. "I could kill you. If Eric hadn't been there, I already would have." He stepped up to her and grasped her arms. "And when I saw you out there with Eric, I wanted to hurt something, someone-"

She glared at him. "'Saw' me with Eric? Saw what?" She shook her head and stepped back. "You know what, forget it. Fuck you. Get out. If you wanted to leave, you should have just been a man about it and left, not made up excuses and tried to make wild claims about me and Eric. Just fucking go."

"Sky, I-"

She slapped him with all of her strength and was shocked when it staggered him. But she hardened her heart and girded herself for the pain that was coming.

"You got what you want. Now get out. You are no fucking different. You're a fake. Get. Out."

He grabbed her arms again, though still gently. "Please, Sky, don't-"

She lost emotional control and jerked away from him. "Get out!" she screamed in his face. He took a step backwards. She pushed him, rage and pain flowering in her heart and flooding her senses.

Eric was there, just like that. "What's wrong?" He rounded on Alcide, "What have you done to her?"

"Get out, both of you!" she shrieked. She picked up a lamp and threw it at the wall. It shattered completely, pulverizing into tiny fragments. She stared in surprise.

Eric turned to Alcide and grabbed him by the arm.

"Wait," Alcide told him. "She doesn't understand."

"Now is not the time to try to make her understand," Eric told him. "Live a little longer and you'll realize that."

Sky was shaking so hard she could barely stand. When they got out the door, she walked over to it.

"And Alcide? Maybe, just maybe, instead of using him as your excuse to bail on me, you should ask yourself why he was so scared to begin with!" She slammed the door in his face, staring at it in shock as it, too, broke spectacularly. "Wow, that's a shitty door."

Eric's voice came from the hallway, "Actually, my blood enhanced your strength. You might want to take it easy on the furniture. It enhances your emotional states, too," he added.

"Great. That's just great!" she yelled. "Thanks, Eric! Thanks for nothing!"

No wonder she'd never been so angry—or so hurt—in her entire life. Not even when Mitch had run off with Kaitlin the night after she finally had sex with him.

She paced, fury and pain burning in her with no outlet.