Chapter Three:
It was Christmas Eve and I found myself forgetting about Eric Northman, at least for one night.
I loved Christmas. It was the one time of the year that I felt like a kid again, that I could forget about the world around me, all the stress of school, and just enjoy time with my family. It was only me and my mom now, her parents dying when I was only a little girl. My father had left us when I was a baby, forcing my mom and me to grow a close knit bond early on. She had tried so hard to give me the life she thought I deserved. She worked double shifts at the hospital as a nurse most days of the week, and it was rare when we were both awake at the same time. But Christmas was the one time of year that we came together, even just for a few hours before she had to rush off to work. Christmas season was one of the busiest times of years in the emergency room after all, and everyone who worked got a nice chunk of a Christmas bonus for giving up their holiday with family to work. We weren't exactly poor, but I relied on my scholarship to Yale to pay for my schooling, and even then I occasionally worked odd end jobs to give myself some extra money.
You know, in case I had to pay cover at a vampire bar or whatever.
"I'm off to work kiddo." My mother popped her head into my bedroom, causing me to freeze in the middle of dancing to the Christmas music playing on the radio. What could I say; I just loved this time of year. "I'll leave you to it."
I rolled my eyes and hugged my mom before cranking the music even louder. "I'll see you tomorrow afternoon?"
"You bet. Don't forget to put the turkey in. And try not to burn it this year."
"It was one time, mom." I groaned, sticking my tongue out at her. "And I was like what, eleven?"
"Still." She ruffled my hair. "Try not to stay locked up in your room all night."
"Sarah might come over after she's done visiting her family."
"Good, someone needs to straighten you out." She teased. "I'm off, kiddo."
"I'm twenty one now, mom, you can't call me that anymore."
"You'll always be my baby girl." She pecked me on the cheek before zipping up her jacket over her scrubs. "Love you sweetheart."
I waved her out of the room and waited until I heard the front door open and close before beginning to dance around the room again. I was dressed in a pair of loose pyjama bottoms and a Christmas t-shirt that fell to my thighs. I wasn't dressed for a visitor, and I certainly wasn't dressed for the unexpected guest that I received when I least expected it.
"Well isn't this amusing."
I let out a high pitched girly scream that I felt ashamed of. I twisted around, quickly turning off the radio before starring wide eyed at my open second story bedroom window. My mouth dropped open in shock as I found Eric Northman hovering just outside my window. Was he flying? Vampires could fly? That hadn't been in the literature, that's for sure.
"Are you...are you flying?" I tried to keep my composure by not running over to the window, but wasn't able to keep up the charade and darted over to it, staring all around, as if expecting there to be some sort of attached strings as an explanation. I had truly seen it all now. Vampires that could fly, who knew!
"Are you impressed?" he looked amused at my reaction.
"I would be lying if I said no." I looked down at the ground, amazed that he was literally hovering in the air. If blasting Christmas music hadn't assured that I was wide awake, I would have been certain I was dreaming. I knew vampires existed, meaning there were bound to be more supernatural beings out there. But not once did I think that anyone could have the ability to fly, and definitely not vampires! Oh Sarah was just going to love this. "So, do unicorns exist too then?"
He frowned, sending me an odd look as if I just suddenly sprouted two heads.
"You can fly, something I never thought was possible. So Unicorns must obviously exist." I shrugged, resting my hands on the side of my open window.
"Unicorns are only a myth, Savannah." He shook his head as if he was talking to a little child and just told me Santa Claus wasn't real.
"Well that sucks, I was hopeful there for a minute." I glanced up at the vampire, cocking my head to the side. "So you can fly."
"I can." He nodded, clasping his hands behind his back. He looked absolutely comfortable just hovering there, as if he was instead lying in a bed relaxing. I had to blink a few dozen times, just to make sure I wasn't seeing some sort of illusion. But no, this was very much real.
"What else can you do?" I wondered.
"Wouldn't you like to know?" and there was that smirk again.
"Actually yes, I would." I crossed my arms over my chest, just realizing I was wearing a very embarrassing shirt. My cheeks burned a bright red, but I didn't make any moves to hide the very large frosty the snowman that was on my shirt. Whatever, hot sexy vampire or not, frosty was awesome.
"Invite me in and I can show you my talents first hand." He licked his lips, hunger seeping into those orbs that looked nearly pitch black as he hovered just outside of my window.
"Yeah I go to Yale, I'm not that stupid." I snorted. "Good try thought, I'll give you a B+ for effort and creativity. If you did a cute little trick, maybe I would give you an A-."
"You are a strangle little human." He frowned, not understanding a word I was saying.
"You're the one hovering outside my window where anyone could see you." I pointed out.
"And you're wearing a very...interesting shirt while dancing around your bedroom alone. I can be very good company, Savannah." He hovered closer to the window, his hands resting on the window frame.
I stepped back, my frown deepening as I considered what I should do. I could close the window on his face, pull across the drapes, and return to my typical Christmas Eve traditions while waiting for Sarah to pop over. Or I could humour this vampire and invite him in.
Ha!
Like I would do that. I wasn't an idiot. If I invited him in, then he could come and go as he pleased and only when I rescinded his invitation would he be forced to leave. Of course, I didn't even know if that was completely true. It was just another thing written about them on the internet. But the websites had said nothing about vampires flying, so who knew what was right or not.
But I would be lying if I said I wanted Eric to leave. I hadn't thought about him all day, but I had also kept myself busy so I wouldn't. It had been three days since I last saw him, since I hurried out of his bar, wondering what in the world he meant. He had gone to great lengths to find out where I lived, though then again, he could have just looked it up in the phone book. But he was still here, and that both intrigued and worried me. If I stepped out of this house, would he attack me? Would he pressure me for information that I knew I couldn't give him because not even I knew what he was looking for? Would I regret sending him away, wishing I could see him for just a little bit longer?
I already knew the answer, and I hated myself for it.
"I'm not inviting you inside, Eric." I shook my head. "This is a very vampire free house."
"For now."
"For always." My eyes narrowed. "But..."
"Oh, there's a but?" His smirk returned to his lips as if it had never left. "Personally I would rather your butt..."
"If you keep talking like that, I won't meet you out there," I pointed to the small fenced in backyard. "Keep your dirty talk to yourself. Or will that be too hard for you?"
"I give you my word." His smirk widened. "Shall we?"
He held out a hand to me and I took another step back. "I think I'll take the stairs, but thanks."
"As you wish." And just like that, he was gone.
I shook my head as I peeked out of the window, catching a glimpse of him standing in the middle of the yard, looking around almost in disgust, before stepping up onto the porch and taking a seat in one of the comfy chairs. He looked so out of place, almost like the setting didn't fit him. He certainly wasn't the suburban type, that's for sure. It didn't help that he looked like he was going to break the chair, the small thing barely even holding him. I laughed to myself as I closed the window to keep the heat in and searched for a more appropriate zip up sweater to throw on over my t-shirt. I found a matching bright green one and tossed it on, zipping it nearly all the way up before inhaling sharply and stepping out of my room. I almost ran right back into my room and locked the door, but I knew Eric would continue to pester me until I went outside. Of course, once I did step out of the house, Eric could do whatever he liked to me. That thought alone almost made me reconsider.
But my feet seemed to have a mind of their own and carried me down the stairs and to the back door. I slid open the glass door, Eric raising his gaze to meet mine as I hesitantly stepped out onto the back porch.
"I won't bite." He flashed me those fangs of his.
"I doubt that." I rolled my eyes, slowly closing the door behind me and shuffled to the only other remaining chair on the porch. I had to pass by Eric's lounging form in order to get to the chair, and he made sure make it as uncomfortable and awkward as he possible could, stretching his legs out, his knees brushing mine as I moved past. I felt his hands on my waist, and I slapped them away, only for them to reach for my ass. I shot him a dark look and quickly slipped into the chair, though I inched it a few feet away from him, wanting as much distance as possible. This put me the furthest away from the door, and I didn't like that one bit. I should have stayed standing. It would have been the safer bet.
"Am I really that horrible to be around?" he pouted at me.
"I honestly don't know you well enough to make that judgement. You've very close though." I crossed my arms over my chest. "So why are you here? I was a little busy."
"Ah yes, with your...dancing, is that what you call what you were doing?" he snickered to himself. "My apologies for ruining your evening plans."
"It's Christmas Eve, I have certain traditions." I defended with a frown. "So hurry it up and say what you want to say so I can get back to them."
"Christmas Eve. Has it never bothered you that Christmas is a useless holiday that has no meaning whatsoever besides humans buying pointless gifts for one another?" he raised an eyebrow at me.
"Has it never bothered you that you're a jackass?"
"No."
"Same here." I clicked my tongue against the top of my mouth in annoyance. "If you're just going to insult what we humans do, then you can just leave."
"Ah, but I'm not in your house, you can't rescind your invitation to your shabby little porch." He looked around at the porch barely even large enough to fit the two of us. "You live in a very tiny shithole."
"And now you're insulting my home." I shook my head and stood up. "I've had enough."
"But I've only just begun." He too stood, though he towered over me as he stepped forward, causing me to back up into the porch railing. He took advantage of the fact that I had nowhere to go and rested both of his hands on either side of my body, ensuring I was effectively trapped between him and the porch. He drew even closer, his body pressing against the thin layers of clothing I had on. I bit my bottom lip, trying to not let the vampire get to me, to distract me with his body. I was sure he had done this countless of other times with women and they would just fall at his feet. But not this girl. I went to Yale; I studied amongst some of the brightest students in the nation. I wasn't going to bow down to anyone, and certainly not Eric friggin Northman.
"Eric let me go." My voice didn't sound as steady as I wished it did. But I had a vampire, one very gorgeous and dangerous, pressed against me. How else was I supposed to act?
"I don't think I want to." his voice lowered as he nuzzled his nose into the curve of my neck, causing my eyes to flutter close.
"I don't know you well enough for you to be doing that." I felt out of breath.
"I could kill you, just like that." his fangs grazed against the base of my neck, and I was cursing myself for putting my hair into a ponytail. "Who would miss you if you were gone?"
"A lot of people." I whispered in response, my heart beginning to race in my chest.
"Your heart." He raised a hand up to lie over my pounding heart, his hand large and cool even against the fabric of my sweater. "It sings to me. I want nothing more than to taste that sweet blood of yours."
"Please I..." I trailed off, not knowing what to say. Pleading Eric for my life wouldn't save me. It would be futile. All I could do was stand there and wait for him to kill me. I still had that feeling in the pit of my stomach that he wouldn't, but he was just too close that I wasn't entirely sure I believed that feeling anymore.
Maybe I should have, because after a long passing moment, Eric straightened and pulled away from me.
"You are too tempting." He licked his lips as he stared down at me. "Why is that?"
"I don't know." I shook my head. "I'm sorry?"
He laughed darkly. "Humans apologize for the strangest things."
"I'm sorry?" I apologized again, not sure what he expected me to say.
He laughed again as he raised his hand, his fingertips caressing my cheek. I tensed at his touch, but couldn't move away, not that I had anywhere to go.
"You've intrigued me since the moment you stepped into my bar and I caught you staring at me, and I don't even know why." He looked at me with a contemplating expression on his face, like he wasn't even sure why he was here himself. Had I really intrigued him to the point that I fascinated him without him even understanding why? I couldn't even understand why. I was just some studious girl that went to Yale. I wasn't anyone special.
That look on his face didn't last for long however, and soon the smirk had replaced his confusion.
"I could offer you myself as a Christmas present." He winked down at me, his hand slowly sliding down my arm seductively. "I have many different talents."
"I'm afraid I'd have to return you. I just hate having gifts lying around that aren't wanted." I shot back, trying to decide if I should climb over the railing to put some space in between us or not.
Eric thankfully must have gotten the hint and returned to his seat, giving me a moment to catch my breath. I didn't sit back down however, and felt better just standing there. I couldn't outrun a vampire, but it made me feel better to know that I would only have to climb over the railing and run the short distance to the gate to escape. Of course, I'd likely be caught by that point, but it was the thought that that counted.
"Is there a reason you came here tonight, Eric, or did you just want to annoy me?" I asked after an uncomfortable silence crept over us.
"I came to invite you to my bar on the night of New Years Eve. Pam insists that humans celebrate years different than vampires do. It's been our busiest night of the year since we've opened." He looked up at me. "You're friends are welcome, though I would enjoy another night alone with you. Perhaps you'll change your mind."
"I doubt it." I rolled my eyes. Though I couldn't deny that the thought of getting down and dirty with Eric wasn't exactly a terrible thought. Actually it was a rather enjoyable thought.
"Consider my invitation at least." He stood once again, brushing off the imaginary dust from his jeans. "I'll leave you to your...traditions if you agree."
"I don't know..."
"You and I both know you haven't thought of anything but me for the past 72 hours." He flashed his smirk at me. "I know you're attracted to me. I can smell it. I can feel it. I can taste. It. You can't lie to me; you can't hide how you truly feel."
"I don't even know you, Eric." I tried to reason, hugging my arms around myself as if it would help rid myself of the very thoughts I knew I had about him. I wished I didn't think about him, I wished his voice didn't haunt me, that every time I closed my eyes, I didn't see those beautiful blue eyes of his.
"But I know you." He stepped closer and I had to press myself against the porch to achieve some personal space. "Savannah Kingsley; senior at Yale University, studying journalism no less; you mother is single and raised you alone, she works at the Shreveport Memorial Hospital; you've only broken two bones in your life, you have no criminal record, no father in the picture, friends that care deeply about you. But no boyfriend. Now how can a beautiful girl like you not have someone using this body of yours like I wish to?"
"Eric." I would have slapped him if I didn't think that I would probably end up breaking my hand. "That was rude."
"Not as rude as the things I wish to do to you, to this body." He slid his hands around my waist as he closed the gap between us. "Why deny yourself something that I know you desire."
"I'm not that kind of person."
"Everyone is that kind of person underneath it all. And I want nothing more than to see what's underneath all of this." He toyed with the hem of my sweater.
"Eric, stop." I tried to push at his chest, but he didn't budge an inch. "Eric stop this, please."
He smirked down at me but ceased his movement. He didn't move away from me, but at least he hadn't gone any further.
"I'll think about it, okay?" I offered him, hoping it would be enough. "If I don't have any other plans, I'll go to Fangtasia New Years Eve. Are you happy?"
"Very." He nodded, dipping himself down until his lips brushed across my cheek, a chill running right up my spine. "But I expect to see you there, Savannah. Don't disappoint me.
I never even had the chance to utter another word before he had vanished into thin air. I swallowed back the rising lump in my throat, my eyes closing as I slid down the railing and to the wooden planks of the porch, relieved that I would live to see another Christmas.
New Years Eve approached far too soon, and before I even knew it, I was standing outside of Fangtasia, trying to find any excuse not to enter. I was alone tonight, and that scared me more than the thought of being around Eric. Sarah had plans with her family, and Ashley and David were having their own special night. They had offered to cancel, to come with me tonight, but it was New Years Eve, I didn't want to spoil their evenings by accompanying me to a vampire bar of all places. So I was utterly alone, and I knew that wouldn't bode well for me tonight.
"I'm surprised you came." Pam was smirking as usual as I strode the long line of fangbangers waiting to enter. Dirty looks were thrown my way, and I wanted to assure them that this was the last place I wanted to be. But I knew Eric would only grow more annoyingly persistent if I didn't appear tonight. Thankfully I would be returning to the little hole I had dug for myself in a few days, returning to Yale and throwing myself into my last semester of school. Though, knowing Eric, he would find out where I lived and show up there one night. And that was the last thing I wanted. This would be the last time I would ever see Eric Northman again, or at least I desperately hoped so. I had to make it count or else I would never be free of the vampire.
And god knows I wanted that.
Please lord, be on my side tonight.
"I didn't have much of a choice." I shrugged my shoulders, goose bumps rising on my bare arms.
Pam stepped to the side, waving her hand at the door. She was staring at me the entire time, her gaze roaming over the light blue dress that almost looked silvery grey in some lights. The dress matched my eyes perfectly, and had been the reason Sarah had forced me to buy it. I knew I would stick out like a sore thumb tonight, and as I glanced around at the bodies as I stepped into the bar, I knew I was right. Everyone was in black leather, maybe a few splashes of red here and there. And there were of course those that hardly wore anything, but I tried not to stare too long at those few people. I wasn't a prude, but I wasn't exactly used to seeing flesh being flashed around so freely.
I chewed on my bottom lip as I stood near the door as it closed behind me, smoothing down the skirt of my dress as I tried to search for Eric through the large mass of bodies. If possible, it had grown even busier that the last two times I had been here, but that was to be expected. It was New Years Eve after all; this was the party night of the year. My dress clung to me like a second skin around the bodice, making me feel uncomfortable as I began pushing my way through the sweaty bodies. The dress flared out in light layers of fabric that almost seemed to glitter in the light, though I wished there was more of the dress to cover my legs. It only stopped mid thigh, and even though I was standing in the middle of the bar wearing the most clothes, I still felt naked and exposed. I should have chosen jeans, but Sarah had all but forced me into the dress. And she was right, if I was going to get Eric off of my back, then I was going to have to give him a show tonight. Maybe if I satisfied him enough (not in that way of course) then he would leave me alone after tonight.
I hoped so anyways.
"Well don't you look exquisite." A voice sounded in my ear.
I jumped, twisting around, though I nearly tripped over my own silver glittery heels. Hands grasped onto my hips, steadying me on my own two feet. I stared up into that smirking face of Eric Northman and couldn't help but get lost in those blue orbs that seemed to twinkle mischievously. I remembered to look away quickly however, no wanting a repeat of the last time I had looked into his eyes, and instead lowered my focus down to those perfect lips. They were twisted into a smirk, but looked soft to touch. My hands seemed to have a mind of their own, one beginning to rise to brush across those desirable lips. I had to stop myself at the last minute, and tried to pass it off as flicking my curled hair out of my face.
"You shouldn't look so appetizing in a vampire bar, Savannah. It could be dangerous." He raised a hand up, the backs of his fingers caressing my cheek before sliding across my jaw and down to my neck. He brushed the hair off of my shoulder and began running his cool thumb up and down the curve of my neck. He paid special attention to the sensitive skin over my pulsing vein, my eyes fluttering close at the feel of his soft and cool touch. An arm slid around my waist, tugging me against his front, and I let out a small gasp as I felt his body pressed against mine. My hands rested against his toned chest beneath the dark maroon shirt under his leather jacket. My hands wanted to explore, they wanted to run across his chest, over his arms. My nails wanted to dig into his back as he hiked up my dress and...
"You can let me go now." I whispered to the vampire, my eyes flying open as I tried to rid myself of the dirty thoughts running through my head. My heart was pounding in my chest, and I was certain he could feel it as he pressed himself even harder against me. My cheeks were flushed as he clasped a finger under my chin and forced my gaze up to meet his. I tried to look anywhere but into those deep vibrant orbs, but it was too difficult not to stare into those beautiful eyes. "Eric..."
"Am I exciting you, Savannah?" he asked in a husky voice, his thumb brushing over my bottom lip so lightly I almost thought it hadn't happened at all. But my body knew the truth. I shuddered, the hairs on the back of my neck standing at attention as the goose bumps multiplied.
I hated myself for reacting like this. Maybe I needed to go out on dates more often. Maybe I needed to care more about social relationships than I had in the past. Maybe that's why Eric was affecting me in this way. I had been holed up in my own little world for so long, and while there were the occasional dates or days of my unfocused attention, there had just been nothing like this, not ever. Eric Northman was one of a kind, and there was no doubt that he seemed to be a sex god. Not even I would be able to hold him off for much longer, and I hated that. I was a good girl. I wasn't innocent, and I wasn't entirely naive. I wasn't even a virgin. But I didn't want to be this girl who went home on Christmas break and came back as some kind of whore. Eric only wanted one thing, and that was sex. Maybe he wanted to break some sort of mystery he thought surrounded me, but he was a man and a vampire. He wanted two things, and that was blood and sex. I wasn't going to be that girl for him. I didn't want to be anyways.
But I only had so much self control.
And Eric was...God, Eric was just out of this world.
I wasn't sure how much longer I could play this game without losing.