Save the Last Dance

by InLoveWEric

Sookie, writer and dating Senator hopeful Bill Compton, finds herself in need to learn to Waltz. Enter Eric Northman, Professional dancer, watch how Eric Spins Sookie into a new world she just doesn't want to leave. E/S - AU M for a reason.

3. Chapter 3

A/N I own nothing – I just like taking the characters out to play in my own sandbox.

Again – thank you for reading this. Lilgray26 and I are pleased to death at the response we are getting to this story. Now – we want to assure people that I (we) are not abandoning the other stories. Just when you get a bug in your ear about something – you have to go with it. So that is what we are doing. This story is slotted to be about 20-25 chapters with 2 sequels already planned. But if you read any of my other stories, you know that could change. I tend to write long chapters.

Pictures for this story – there is a link on my profile. I will add as the story goes forward.

Now – if you like this story – please let us know. Like I said before – this was the original brain child of my wonderful, beautiful beta, Lilgray26 and I am not making a plot move on this one without her. So show her some love for a wonderful idea.

Links to the songs used as inspiration for the chapters are found below.

Thank you again for reading – now on with the show!

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Chapter 3 – Damn, I wish I was your Lover

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SPOV

I look up at Eric. "Would you like me to change into something more appropriate?" I ask him.

He looks at me kind of strange. "Appropriate?" He asks me.

"Well, I brought a few dance sets. I wasn't sure what you'd want me to wear, same with the shoes." I say motioning to the two on the floor.

He looks at me for a moment. His face is lost in thought. Like the decision on what I should wear is comparable to the national debt.

"What you're wearing is fine for now," he says. "Why don't you put on your slippers for now? We'll work up to heels." He looks down my legs and trails back up my body until he reaches my face and smiles. God this man can render me into a pile of goo with just a look. What will his touch do to me? Especially if he touches me like I want him too.

Okay, it's official. I have known this man, what, fifteen minutes and already I'm ready to jump his bones. Hell, I will do anything he wants as long as he has his hands on me. Jimminy Crow, Sookie, get a grip on yourself or you just might orgasm when he touches your hand. Well, maybe that wouldn't be a bad thing.

"Okay, Sookie," Eric takes me out of my internal monologue. "Come stand beside me." He says.

"Beside you?" I ask him.

He nods. "Yes, we're going to use the mirrors and work the steps. Once you have the basics, we'll move on." He says.

I nod my head. Of course, I'm here to learn to Waltz, for my boyfriend's big night. You know, the night I'm supposed to be the good little china doll, let the old men tap my bottom and laugh at all the awful jokes and sexual innuendos that are thrown my way. Ah yes, that's why I'm here. To learn yet another trick for William Compton's dog and pony show. But if learning this allows me to spend the next five weeks in the presence of this Adonis, then so be it. I'll rid myself of William Compton as soon as he decides to come back to the state that he is suppose to be running for and then I'll think on what to do next. Maybe I'll take Pam and Amelia up on their offer. I look into the mirrors and take in the whole room. I take a deep breath and smile. God I've missed everything about a working studio.

I get up to stand next to Eric and look around. I smile when I remember the first time I could touch the 'big girl' bar as we called it. Or the first time I sat and watched the older children rehearse for Sleeping Beauty and Swan Lake. Or when I was moved to tears for the first time by my own emotions during a dance I was doing. I take a deep breath. Wondering where in God's name that girl went. I will tell you where she went, into William Compton's pocket. Held onto like a dog on a leash until she learned to heal properly; to listen and obey like a good little girl. But no more, I want me back and I am going to get it. Starting with this; I want to dance. Not for Him but for ME.

Granted I had kept a little of myself by writing. But I couldn't celebrate like I wanted. I didn't do interviews or anything like that. I would do some book appearances. But they were only in the surrounding states. Bill didn't want me too far. I had given up most everything else. My dreams, my friends, even my beloved home. Bill was very put out when I hired a contractor to fix up my house. He wanted me to sell it once we left for DC. But I will never sell the house. It's my home. He wanted me to give up my friends. He wanted me to stop working. He was embarrassed by my books. And I stepped in line, just like I was supposed to. God, I hate who I've turned into, really.

I take a deep breath again. No, this stops now. Sookie Stackhouse wants to live her life. Not live a fabrication of someone else's imagination.

"Are you okay Sookie?" Eric looks at me as I get in alignment with him.

"Everything is perfect, Eric." I try to smile at him but I know it doesn't reach my eyes.

"Don't be nervous," he says." I'll never let anything happen to you."

I turn to look into his eyes. I know with all that I am that he's telling the truth. That he means those words on so many levels.

"I know, Eric." I say softly.

"Okay, let's get to work."

*****************0*******************

EPOV

I watch Sookie as she comes to stand by me. I see the thoughts float quickly across her face; the pain and sadness that creeps into her eyes. The suffering of something, I don't know what it is but I want to erase that pain. I want to hold her and make all the sadness disappear. I want to hold her and keep her safe.

Maybe I'm making this into more than it is. Maybe she's just nervous. I mean, from what Pam told me, she's expected to be perfect. But in my eyes, she already is. I'll need to show her that perfection while I'm showing her where she belongs. Because with everything that I am, I know she belongs here, on a dance floor and in my arms.

I need to calm her somehow.

"Don't be nervous." I say to her. "I'll never let anything happen to you."

I mean that. With everything I am. I hope my eyes show my sincerity. I want her to know that she's safe with me. That she'll be protected and guarded as the jewel she is.

God damn it. What is wrong with me? I've known her less than an hour and I'm already thinking of her as something to guard and protect? What's gotten into me? I know exactly what's gotten into me. Sookie Stackhouse has bewitched me.

She looks right at me. I can see her trust. Is it in me? God I hope it's in me. I'll melt at her feet for one touch from her, one moment with her in my arms. I will do anything for this woman; anything, including saving her from herself.

She looks at me like she sees everything I'm thinking.

"I know, Eric." Is all she says.

I want to reach out and touch her. But not yet; it's too soon. I must show restraint and patience. It will be worth it. I know it will.

"Okay, let's get to work." I smile and hit the remote to start the music.

*****************0*******************

Bill's POV

"Yes mother," I say as I look across the room at my beautiful dream, my forbidden vixen lying on my bed, naked.

"William you need to speak with her. She is going to ruin everything. You need to make her see reason." My mother says.

"Mother, you are being irrational. Nothing is going to go wrong." I say to her. Indeed nothing should go wrong. I have the Governor in my back pocket. He will indorse me. Even if he or his aid have yet to give me a formal answer. Who else will he back, that twit Jessica Carter? She hasn't lived in the state long enough for anyone to take her seriously. Who cares that she was the Deputy Governor of Arkansas? It isn't Louisiana and the memories of people around here are large and long. No, I have nothing to worry about. Sookie could wear a gunnysack as long as she shows up. I might not need her for the Governor but there will still be a lot of political and business people in attendance that will benefit from Sookie's wiles.

I look at Lorena again. God she is the perfect woman for me. Just as driven, just as focused. If it wasn't for her little indiscretion several years ago, we would have been together in this in every way. Why did she need to get married to that fool Victor Madden when we were in law school? And better yet, why didn't she get rid of him instead of getting a divorce? My parents would forgive much but a divorce, no, never.

That is when I met Sookie. I wanted to keep on with Lorena. Hell if truth be told, we never stopped. Not even when she was married. She was committed to Victor for a whole week before she came running back to me. There is no way I am ever letting her go. I may have to marry the insipid eye-candy. But I will be with Lorena. After awhile, Sookie will just come to accept that.

"Mother, everything will be fine." I say to her.

"William, have you even spoken to her?" She asks me.

"I spoke to her after your initial call that she left New Orleans." I say to her. "There is no need to call her. She is in one of her moods. By the time I return, all will be fine." I say to her.

"Bill, you need her to come back here. People are asking questions. What should I tell them?" She huffs.

"Mother, just tell them that Sookie is working on a book." I sigh. "Most of them know she is an author. Leave it at that." I say to her.

"And you know I do not wish to discuss Sookie's obsession with that dime store trash." She says. "Honestly, Bill, how do you allow her to indulge in such juvenile tendencies? I mean this with all sincerity; you need to put your foot down on this. You can't have her running around like a common, well; proper society regards what I was going to say as inappropriate. But you get the idea. It is downright indecent." I can almost hear her tapping her finger on the table.

She always tapped her finger on the table when she was annoyed when I was a boy. She was usually annoyed at my father.

"Mother, I am sure you can figure out something to tell them." I say.

"Just get her back here before her face becomes splattered over some tabloid for dancing at that rundown bar in her backwater town." She says.

It was some time ago but Sookie will never be allowed to live that night down in my mother's eyes. I must admit that I was not happy that she went out with those two women. But we took care of the pictures and the story never hit the press. It took a pretty penny, I am sure. But there was no way my parents would allow anything to harm my chances, not now.

****0*****

I still remember the night she called me in hysterics. I had just finished making love to my sweet Lorena and I was not happy to hear my phone ringing.

"Bill, umm…I think I may have a problem here." She says to me.

"What is the matter, Sookie? You know I have a meeting in the morning then I need to do a taping in the afternoon. Lorena has me quite booked." I smile at my love lying next to me.

"Well, you see…I …um…I went out with Pam and Amelia tonight." She says quickly.

"Sookie, I thought we agreed that wouldn't be beneficial. I mean you did say you needed to write. That was the reason you were unable to meet my mother in New Orleans, am I correct?" I ask her sitting a little straighter. If she is admitting she went against my wishes then something happened.

"Bill, I miss my friends. Amelia and I have spoken maybe three times in the last month? I'm used to speaking to her three times a day. And now that she's with Pam, I want to be her friend too. I mean I never see anyone anymore." She says to me.

That is because her friends are not worth my time.

"What happened, Sookie?" I ask her.

"Well, I was coming out of the restaurant in Shreveport and there were a few photographers. But they really didn't pay me much mind. So we decided to go to Merlottes." She says.

"You went where?" I ask her now standing and pacing the room. This is just getting better and better.

"Bill please." She begs. "We went to go do some dancing. I told you Sam opened a dance area last fall?" She says. I say nothing so she continues. "Anyway, I was dancing with Pam and Amelia and all of a sudden we saw the flash of a camera." She says. "They said that we would look great on the cover of SEE magazine." She says.

We both know what that means. SEE magazine is a trashy tabloid that I have seen the worst possible pictures of people in the worst possible positions. I don't know how they get these pictures but they do. Their photographers mustn't have any shame.

But then it dawns on me, why would Sookie be worried. So I ask her.

"Well, we were dancing, well, really close and well, we were dancing on the bar." She says.

I growl. "I will take care of this. Do you know what pictures like that will do to me?" I ask her.

"Honey, I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to cause trouble I just…"

I cut her off. "You just wanted to be a silly girl doing what she wants when you know it is against my wishes." I yell at her.

"Bill…I…" I can tell she is crying.

"I don't want to hear it. I will call you when your mess is cleaned up."

I slam the phone shut and throw it across the room.

Placing my head in my hands I let out a deep sigh. That is when I feel the tender hands of my love on my back. "We will figure this out, Bill." She says softly.

I turn and take her in my arms.

*****0****

"Mother, it will be fine." I say to her coming out of my memory. To this day, I am not sure how the press knew where Sookie would be, but something tipped them off. Maybe one of her so called friends let it leak. But I never took the time to find out. It was easier to make Sookie stay in New Orleans as much as possible and forbid her from going to Merlotte's. She was so shaken up she just conceded to my wishes.

But it didn't stop her friends from calling her. It's no secret that they do not care for me. But would they go so far as to try to ruin my career? I don't think they would, but then again, I don't know.

"See that you fix this William. Sookie needs a short leash. Like an untrained dog, you will need to break her in to your way of doing things. Don't forget that." She says hanging up without saying goodbye.

I roll my eyes. My mother hates Sookie. I think that is partly why I chose her. She hates that she's southern. She hates the fact that she was born and raised in Louisiana. She hates that she was not brought up with classical refinement. She despises the fact that Sookie never went to college. But mostly she hates Sookie because I chose her and my mother didn't.

It wasn't like I wanted to hurt Sookie. She is a fine, simple girl. But all I really need is someone to take suspicion off of Lorena and me. It's that simple.

But Sookie never caught on. I have never given Sookie any reason to doubt my intentions and I am not going to start now. This little scam is going to work, it has to. I am not giving up my dreams and I am not giving up my love. Sookie will just have to deal. When she finally figures it out, we will figure out a way for us both to be, well, satisfied without letting on that our marriage is just for show. But when she does find out, it will be too late.

Keeping her in the dark has been quite easy, actually. Sookie never accompanies me on the campaign trail. Lorena is always with me and people know her as my campaign advisor. Sookie shows up here or there on my arm and the press has printed blurbs on her being my girl. I bring her around just to keep the photographers happy. She also has not pressed for us to expand our personal relationship.

I'm a rather intelligent man and am well aware that Sookie is a virgin. I knew it when I met her. And after the first few times we had gone out, I knew that she is not very worldly when it comes to anything to do with men. When her brother informed me that she hadn't really dated, I knew I would have an easy time of it.

But still, she would want something at some point, wouldn't she? Lorena has been adamant about me not having any kinds of relations with Sookie. But how can I stay away from her if she begs me for it? I've certainly admired Sookie's physical appearance. The woman is breathtaking. Every man lusts after her when we entered a room. Why would Lorena think me any different?

I will have to bed her on our wedding day. I can't have her announcing to everyone that I couldn't perform. I will have to take care of business. And who knows, maybe Sookie will be into sharing.

I look over at Lorena lying there so perfectly.

"Trouble in paradise?" She laughs.

I climb onto the bed and bury myself in her luscious breasts. "Why can't it be just us?" I ask her.

She brushes my head. "Because your parents would cut you off." She tugs on my hair slightly so I look up at her. "And you my sweet do not do poor." She laughs at me.

She is right and she knows me so well. If I insisted on marrying Lorena, my parents would cut me off in a heartbeat. And as much as I love Lorena, I need the constant cash flow.

"I wish there was another way." I say to my vixen goddess.

"Come here my love," she says. "Let me show you how much I love you."

She pushes me down to straddle me. I let her take the reins. She just loves to be in control.

"I will take care of everything. Don't you worry your head about it." She says and lowers herself onto me. What else is there to say?

*******0**************

EPOV

"Excellent," I say to her. "Now try this."

I take a few more steps and Sookie follows me flawlessly. She's a complete natural. I can't get over how perfectly she's been following me step by step. Not even Felicia could ever do that.

"Very good, Sookie." I say looking up at the clock. It's nearly five. We've been going at it for quite a long time and she doesn't seem tired at all.

"We can stop for the day." I say to her.

The look on her face is one of disappointment. But what I want to know is if it's disappointment to leave me or the studio? I have never seen anyone so at home in a single place in my entire life.

"Oh, okay." She says to me and goes to move toward her bottle of water.

I don't want to leave her yet. I need to be in this angel's presence a little longer.

"What's your schedule for the week, Sookie?" I ask her.

She turns around. "I'm pretty much free." She gives me a smile.

"Well, I know you're writing right?" I ask her.

She gets a look on her face that I can't explain. It's almost like she's seen something that she's never seen before. My heart swells and breaks at the same time. I just can't understand it.

"Yes, I need to write, but I can work around your schedule." She says.

I smile at her again. "Well does this time work well for you?" I ask her.

She nods.

"Okay, why don't we plan on you coming about one every day? I plan on teaching you several waltzes. We will continue with the basics tomorrow." I say.

"That sounds perfect, thank you for taking the time, Eric. I'm sure you are very busy." She turns to start putting her things away.

Not too busy for you.

I walk up to her as she is putting her things in her bag. All I've wanted to do all afternoon is touch her. I want to pull her to me. But I don't trust myself. I need to get a handle on this or I won't keep my promise to be patient.

"Have dinner with me." I say to her.

Her head shoots up. "What?" She asks.

"Have dinner with me." I say again, staring at her eyes through the mirror.

"Eric," she pauses. "I…I didn't bring anything appropriate to wear." She says.

Nothing, on my bed while I eat strawberries off of you would be fine.

"Well, why don't you go home and change and I will come and get you." I say to her.

"Oh, well." She looks down. "I, well…" She starts to blush.

"You must eat." I say to her. "You'll be burning a lot of calories dancing," I pause to look at her body. Not that she needs to worry about food intake. "I insist. We can even go somewhere local."

She laughs. "The only place in Bon Temps to eat is Merlotte's." She says.

"Fine, we can go there." I say moving to take off my own dance shoes. "I'll pick you up at seven." I say to her.

"Ummm, okay." She says softly. "I…I live…"

I put my hand up. "I know where you live, Sookie." I say to her.

She looks at me puzzled. I give her one of my evil grins and I can see a shiver run through her spine. Oh yes, little girl, soon, very soon, you will be mine.

"Pam told me." I say to her.

I can see her shake her head gently. "Oh, yes, of course." She says to me.

I laugh a little to myself. This little girl will not know what hit her. I will make her mine and worship her every day of her life like the Goddess she is.

"Come, let me walk you out." I say, motioning her to the door.

She grabs her bag, taking a deep breath and walking past me to the elevator.

We make it down to the first floor, when I do something I've never done. I reach to take her bag from her. The moment I make contact with her shoulder, I feel a current running from her to me. Like someone has hit a switch between us. I stop for a moment and she gasps. She must have felt it too.

"Allow me." I say to her.

She looks into my eyes. It may have been only a second but it feels like eternity when she looks into my eyes. "Thank you." She whispers out.

I carry her bag out to the car and wait for her to find the keys. I take a moment to admire her car. I am impressed, a Mercedes CL63, black with what looks like all the extras.

"Impressive vehicle." I say to her.

"What? Oh, yeah, it was a present to myself after my second book hit the top 10." She smiles at me. "My brother helped me pick it out. I wanted something understated. You should have seen what he wanted me to buy." She laughs.

"And what was that, Ms. Sookie." I say her name with a little growl and I'm rewarded with that shiver again.

"Oh, first it was a Porsche, then a Lamborghini, then a Corvette. The only one I liked was the Vette and I was afraid of the speed. He finally showed me this one, and I have to admit I fell in love with it." She says with a laugh.

"You don't like sports cars?" I ask her.

"No, I think they're a lot of fun." She rushes to say. "It's just…well…it just wasn't right for the time, you know?"

I don't need to hear any more. That snake, Compton wouldn't have approved. I wonder if he will approve when I take her on the hood of my Vette. Or up against my Mercedes? Or on the back of my Ducati? Oh the places I will have her. I lick my lips thinking of all the ways.

Sookie stares at me as I'm thinking. But her eyes aren't on mine. They're on my lips.

I step a little closer and take the keys from her. Breaking us out of this trance, I turn to unlock her vehicle and open the door for her. Handing her bag to her I smile again.

"I'll see you at seven, Sookie." I say.

She shivers once more. "Okay, I'll be ready." She says.

I hope in more ways than one. I think to myself.

I nod and watch her get in and pull out of the parking lot. The moment she's out of sight, I get a pain in my chest. Yes, it's good I'm seeing her again tonight. I don't think I'd ever be able to make it until tomorrow afternoon.

I walk back into the club and make it to my office before the phone rings.

I look at it and shake my head. I answer it on the second ring.

"Yes, Pam." I say to her.

"Well?" She says.

I sit back and close my eyes. My sister, how did she know?

**********************0***********************

SPOV

I don't really remember my ride home. Though it's a good 45 minutes from Shreveport to Bon Temps, it took me no more than 30. This means that one there was absolutely no traffic and two I was totally speeding.

I pull my car into the garage, grabbing my things, I run into the house. Just as I'm dropping my bag by the door, my phone rings in my bag.

"Hello?" I ask.

"So, how did it go?" I hear my best friend sing song her question.

"Hello to you, Amelia." I say with a smile on my face.

"Yeah, yeah," she says. "Tell me how it went."

I smirk. "He's a very good instructor." I say.

"Instructor, huh?" She asks.

"Oh, yes. I've already learned a great deal from him. Our next session is tomorrow afternoon. You must tell Pam that her brother is a wonder addition to the studio." I say with no inflection in my voice. "He really knows what he's doing. I'll learn how to dance in no time." I try to stifle the giggle.

"Sookie?" She says quietly.

"Amelia," I say as softly as she did.

"Stackhouse, cut the crap. I want details!" She yells.

I start to laugh. "I knew you wouldn't be able to hold out."

"Yeah, yeah, you know me so well. So spill girlfriend." She says.

I start to laugh. "Why didn't you tell me that he's a walking sex God?" I ask.

"Because my dear beautiful friend, in case you don't remember, I haven't swung that way since High School." She says.

I do remember. Her last male date was senior year. She went to the homecoming dance with Tray Dawson. She also lost her v-card to said football jock in the back of his supped up Chevy. A week later, Amelia informed me that she was no longer interested in guys.

"Whatever they can do, a woman can too, with the right toys. And women have a whole lot more to play with." She told me, wiggling her eyebrows.

I laugh again. "I don't care Amelia. You could be into sheep and you would still notice that this man is a sex God." I say. It's true. I may not be a lesbian but I do appreciate the female body. Case in point, Tara, Pam and Amelia are all super hot females.

"I know. I just wanted you to see for yourself." She brushes off the fact that she didn't mention the total hotness that is Eric Northman to me. "What I want to know is how you two got along?" She asks me.

"Well…um…" I try to begin. How do I start.

"Oh Christ! What did he do? What did he say?" I can tell that she's walking into the other room of the house she shares with Pam.

"Amelia, calm down. He didn't say or do anything. He was a perfect gentleman." Well, for the most part.

"Sookie Stackhouse, I don't know if Eric knows how to be a gentleman when presented with a beautiful woman."

"Look, I…ummm." I say to her. "Ummm, look can we have this conversation tomorrow morning?" I ask her.

"Why, what's wrong?" She asks me in a panic.

"Nothing," I pause. "It's just well…Ihavetogetreadyformydate." I say as quickly as I can.

"I'm sorry, it sounded like you have a date?" She asks.

"Well, I do." I say to her.

"WHAT!" She screams. "I thought the fucker was in California or Colorado. What the fuck! The moment you try to do one thing for yourself, Just ONE and he is back. FUCK! Does he have like GPS on you or something? Does he know when you take a step away from what he deems proper?

"Wow, Amelia, calm down. Just take it easy. He isn't that bad, you know. But, I don't have a date with Bill. Umm…well….I'm going to dinner with Eric." I say.

I wait for it – 5,4,3,2,1….

"Oh MY GOD!" She screams. "He asked you out? He really really asked you out?" She asks.

"What, like I'm such a bad date?" I ask defensively.

"Sookie," she says, "you don't understand. Eric doesn't date, like ever!" She says. "He had a girl a few years back, his partner I think. Anyway, they broke up but still danced up until recently. But other than her, he has never dated. Hook up, yes, date, no." She says.

"I…I don't understand." I say to her.

"Sookie, I think you are the first date Eric has had in a long time." She squeals again. "So where is he taking you? What are you wearing? And don't even think you're getting out of telling me what happened this afternoon, because I want details, babe." She says.

"Okay, okay," I laugh, "relax." I pause. "I didn't bring any street clothes with me to Fangtasia, so I needed to come home. He offered to take me someplace local. Which of course you know is Merlotte's. He'll be here at seven." I pause again. "Now, about the session, it was awesome. Eric is a fantastic instructor and an even better dancer. I can't wait for him to teach me more. I can't describe it, Am. But it was like coming home to be in that studio." I laugh at myself. "It was the most amazing feeling."

She's quiet for a moment. "Okay, I will address the last part first. As for you and the studio, I think that's a sign. Sookie, you have always danced. Since you knew how to walk, you danced. Just because you couldn't go to classes or Julliard, you still trained and practiced. I think it's wonderful." She says.

Amelia is one of only three people that know I got into Julliard. But money was not there and then Gran died and I just couldn't go. I was numb for so long and when I finally woke up, I was so deep into Bill's life, that my dreams were nowhere in sight. If it wasn't for Amelia submitting my story, I don't know where I'd be right now. I know, probably living in New Orleans taking orders from the Queen Bee herself.

"Now speaking as your editor, I am very happy you turned your creative juices to writing. But Sookie, you're a born dancer, we all know that."

"Amelia, I know I can dance but…" I try to say.

"No buts, Sookie Stackhouse. You don't just dance, you come alive on a dance floor. I can't describe it. I mean I've even seen you dance in your studio. Babe, you breathe life into music. You move people with your dancing. From what I understand, so does Eric. Together, you'll take peoples breaths away." She says.

"Amelia, he's only teaching me how to Waltz." I say. "I'm sure…"

"Sook, tell me you couldn't have watched an old Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers movie and known how to Waltz in an hour?" She asks me.

"Amelia, the Waltz is…you need a partner to learn properly." I say.

"You keep telling yourself that Stackhouse." She says.

I huff. "Okay, fine, I'm totally attracted to him. There I admit it, okay. But who wouldn't be?" I ask her.

"How attracted, Sookie?" She pauses. "I want the truth."

I look out the back windows as I make my way down the hall to my room. "Amelia, I have…I have never…the feelings I had when I met him… I don't know where they came from. I…I…just…I don't know. I looked into his eyes and…ugh…and his touch. He didn't touch me until he was helping me with my bag. Am, it was like someone hit me with a cattle prod. I was completely full of energy and all my thoughts were focused on him." I sigh. "I don't know what to do." I say softly.

"Sookie, let me ask you this. Did you ever feel this way for Bill?" She asks me.

Had I? No, I've never felt this way for Bill. Hours, days, weeks have gone by without so much as a phone call from him and I've never really missed him. Just less than an hour away from Eric and I'm yearning for him.

"You know the answer to that question, Am." I say.

"Then you know what you need to do." She says.

"I know, but I still can't do it when he's on the other side of the country." I say.

"Okay Sookie, without stating the obvious, why the HELL NOT!" She exclaims.

"Amelia, please. I don't know what to do." I say to her.

"You get your ass off the phone with me, call that asshole and tell him to pound sand." She says in a huff.

"Amelia, I can't do that. Look, I know I'm going to be rid of him. Truthfully, I'm not sure I've ever really had him. In my heart, there is no longer love, only obligation. And I don't want to live my life with an obligation. But I have to go to this Gala. I promised and I made a commitment. If I don't go, it could wreak havoc on his campaign. Not that I care, I like the other runner anyway. But a promise is a promise. I'll go, smile, and then walk out for good. I just can't do it over the phone." I pause. "Four years, Amelia we have been together four years." I sit down on my bed. "I owe him a face to face sit down." I say.

"Sookie, you don't owe him anything, and you know it." She says.

"All the same, contrary to what the Compton's think of me, I was brought up to be a lady and that is how I will act.

"Does that mean you're not going to pursue a relationship with Eric?" She asks me.

"Amelia, why would a guy like him want anything to do with me?" I ask her.

"Sookie, you're smart, funny, beautiful and quick with wit." She pauses. "I don't know why you can't see yourself clearly." She says to me.

"If that's true, I would have had a least one date in high school." I mumble.

"You had no dates in High School because you have an over protective brother that thinks no one is good enough in this town for you. He loves you too much to allow you to be with anyone that is 'unworthy of the greatness that is Sookie Stackhouse'." She laughs. "Those are his words, not mine."

"AMELIA!" I shout at her as I go to look into my closet. Casting my eyes away from the Bill approved clothes to my favorites.

"What? It's true. Sookie, you know how many guys look at you when you walk into a room? I can't tell you how many. But no one in their right mind was going to cross Jason Stackhouse when it came to you." She laughs again. "Alcide said once that he would rather go up against a pack of wolves than face Jason if you were ever hurt." She says.

"He doesn't like Bill." I say in a huff.

"Sookie, please don't take this the wrong way but none of us like him. Now, I'm sure he's a decent enough of a guy, but he just, well Sookie, he doesn't treat you right." She says.

I nod. "Okay, Am, got the point. Bill bad, Eric good." She laughs at me. "But even if I know all this, it doesn't mean that Eric would want to have anything to do with me." I say.

"Does he want to see you again?" She asks.

"Well, yeah, we're meeting tomorrow afternoon." I say.

"And he's seeing you tonight?" She asks me.

Again I confirm this information.

"Then at the very least, he wants to get to know you better. But Sookie, I need to warn you, Eric isn't the type of guy that doesn't give his all at everything he does." She says. "Don't be surprised if…well, let's just say, Pam has told me that he never does anything small."

I don't say anything for a moment.

"Okay, now tell me what are you going to wear?" She asks.

***0***

I hang up with Amelia after she gives me the run down on what I should and shouldn't wear. First suggestion was to stay away from the "boring" side of my closet, Amelia's words.

Merlotte's isn't the fanciest of places, so I thought casual would be in order. After some deliberation, I decided on a pair of acid washed skinny jeans and a ruffled halter top in black. Because my 5'6" size doesn't quite match up to Eric's 6'5", I decided on my favorite pair of Jimmy Choo strappy four inch sandals. I grab a strapless bra and thong set and lay everything on my oversized king bed and head to my oasis, my ensuite bathroom. This was one of the first things I decided to redo when I looked into getting my home remodeled. I sent my ideas to a few designers and architects and the best price came in from ENG Designs. The Architect worked directly with Alcide, my friend and contractor. I actually never met the brilliant person behind the ideas. Alcide said that he was out of town and was really doing this between jobs. He didn't design much anymore and was doing this as a favor.

I just shrugged it off. I've known Alcide since I was in diapers and he was one of mine and Jason's best friends growing up. I trusted him to make my home beautiful and he did.

Since Pam and Tara were so design and fashion conscious, I asked them to help with the interior design of my home. I must say that I really like how everything came out. The house is the perfect combination of old and new and fits me perfectly. But my utmost favorite place is my garden tub.

Looking at the time, I decide that I have just enough to soak in a hot tub for a bit. I spent a great deal of time on my feet today and I want to make sure that I'm not sore for tomorrow. I'd hate to waste Eric's time and have him decide I'm not worth it. I know how to take care of myself after dancing and I intend to show Eric Northman that I'm not just some girl that needs to know how to dance. At best, I may catch his eye. At worse, I will hopefully gain a friend. I'm truly hoping for the former.

I huff turning on the water. Now how am I going to get rid of Bill? Checking the water, I go to take off my sweaty clothes and grab my favorite lavender scented bath oil.

Bill and I have dated for four years. Well, I'm not sure if you'd call it dating, but we've been connected for four years. Before he started campaigning, I would see him no more than twice a week. We would go to dinner or to an event. He would send a car for me early in the afternoon and I would head down to New Orleans. I would stay the night in his house (in a separate room, of course) and then head home when I woke up. It was all very, well sterile. The only difference in our routine was if he was working on a case.

Once he started campaigning, I was expected to be in New Orleans for any major event. I was called to be there for anything that needed him to have anyone on his arm.. My family is old and has many large roots in Louisiana. My father especially had a lot of friends. Being a doctor of his caliber meant that he had a great many friends. His untimely death left many holes in many lives. And he wasn't ready to go either. That was evident in the life insurance he had on himself and my mother. It didn't last very long. Even with Gran being as frugal as she always was. But our name is well respected, which assists Bill in his endeavors. It doesn't matter to his mother though, we're not money and we never will be.

Once he started making headway, I was expected to attend several lady's functions a week, usually with Elizabeth. William Sr. spent most of his time at his law firm. Being head partner of Compton and Crow is a very demanding job, or so I've been told. It was just about then that I started staying weeks at a time in New Orleans. It isn't like I disliked the city, I just missed my home.

In fact a lot of the reconstruction of the old farmhouse was going on when I was dealing with Bill's stuff in New Orleans. Since he didn't approve of or understand the need to redo the house, he was not understanding about me commuting back and forth. So for the longest time, I relied on photos taken by Amelia and Alcide. When I did get time to go home, it was very short and I would get constant phone calls from Elizabeth reminding me of this event or that. It wasn't like anyone would miss me anyway. I rarely got spoken to at any of the lady's events.

And then when Bill started traveling, I was expected to work with Elizabeth on urging the high society women in the great city to have their husbands endorse him. Uggh! I don't even know if I endorse him. I feel like such a fraud.

This is the first time I rebelled against their wishes. This is the first time in years, I'm not living by their plan and it feels wonderful!

I climb into the bath and lean my head back. The hot water around my aching muscles feels wonderful. I hit the button for the jets and just try to relax. I guess I can leave a message for Bill asking him to contact me when he has a few minutes to spare. I don't want to do this over the phone but maybe I should give him some warning that I no longer wish to pursue this relationship, if you can call it that at all. I can seriously count on one hand how many times he has given me anymore than a peck of a kiss. The few times we got into a heavy petting session, it was abruptly stopped by him, not wishing to make me feel uncomfortable. The one time he went a little farther than normal, he blamed it on the double scotches he was downing all night and consequently stayed as far away from me as he possibly could for a month. I mean, am I that horrid that he couldn't bring himself to touch me?

But the truth is I didn't get a chance to feel uncomfortable that time or any other, because, that feeling of need and want never appeared. Not like it had with Eric.

Just thinking about him is getting me excited to see him. Hell, thinking of him is getting me excited, period, so much that my hands start to softly trail down my body. I may be a virgin, but it isn't by choice and it doesn't mean I've never pleasured myself. I let one of my hands trace my now pebbled nipple while the other trails south to my very sensitive center. Eric has given me no more than a brush of his hand on my shoulder so I have to use my imagination.

I trace my pert nipple imagining it's his large strong hands on me while the other one starts to stroke my lower lips. I close my eyes thinking of Eric kissing and stroking me down below. The thought of his strong body laying on me, holding me down while we both fall into the pleasure we're giving each other causes a burning in my center, one that's traveling right to where my hand is moving. The thought of him on me makes me stroke harder and faster, pressing on my swollen clit thinking of him entering me and calming the storm between my legs. Faster and faster I stoke thinking of his eyes, his face, his shoulders and his voice. And just like that I'm falling apart screaming his name.

When I regain my wits about me and open my eyes, I take a deep sigh. If only it can be reality.

Finishing my bath, I proceed to the stand up shower in the corner to wash my hair. Once done, I check the time and hurry myself to get ready for Eric.

Hair, makeup and clothes on, I am putting on my shoes when I hear a car coming up the drive. I smile in spite of myself. I'm going to do everything I can to make Eric see me as more than a student. And tonight is the first chance to make that happen.

***********0********

EPOV

"Pamela Louise Northman." I say to her closing my eyes.

She giggles. "Eric Godric Northman." She says in return.

"Why didn't you tell me that Sookie is an accomplished ballerina?" I ask her.

"Accomplished, eh?" She asks. "Did she give you a private showing?"

I guff, I wish. "No but she did tell me how long she's danced." I say. "So why didn't you mention that to me?"

She sighs. "Because, Eric, you would have probably said she didn't need your help." She says.

"She probably doesn't. She picked up every step I showed her." I say. "Tomorrow we're going to work on couple dance space." I say softly. Tomorrow, tomorrow I will be touching that Angel.

"You haven't touched her yet, have you?" I hear Pam's smirk through the phone.

"What game are you playing, Pam, because, I'm really not in the mood." I say.

"I am not playing any game. I just think…well…we think…Fuck! Eric she's perfect for you! She's beautiful and smart. She's so talented on so many levels and she has a passion inside of her that rivals your own. She's kind and gentle and fiercely loyal to anyone she cares about. She loves to dance, Eric, LOVES it! I won't tell you her story because that's what she needs to do. But Eric, she should never have stopped. I know that Amelia is going to kill me because she's really a talented writer, but her passion is in her dance." She says.

I close my eyes again. "I know she's a good writer." I say. "Great even."

"You read one of her books?" She asks me.

"I did. But that isn't the point. The point is, you should have told me. It would have made a big difference in how I saw these lessons going." I growl.

"You aren't mad I didn't tell you." She says.

"I'm not?" I ask.

"Nope!" She sings.

"Then why am I mad?" I ask her.

"Because Amelia and I waited so long to introduce her to you." She laughs.

"Fuck, Pam…what…what are you two trying to do. Does Sookie know what you're doing? Is she in on it?" I ask her.

"Sookie is in as much of the dark as you are." She says. "You both went in blind." She pauses. "Eric, I want the truth. What was the first thing that you felt when you saw her?" She asks.

I felt like I had just found my home. But she has a boyfriend. I'm bound and determined to make her mine. But am I ready to talk to Pam about this? Am I ready to enlist her help to end that relationship? Can I do that to Sookie?

"Eric, I know what you're thinking." She says to me.

"Oh, you're a mind reader now?" I ask.

"No, I just know you. You're thinking about that rat fink that she's attached to." She says. "But don't let him stop you. Believe me, he has really been nothing to her for ages. I have no idea why she stays with him. But I can tell you right now, she doesn't love him."

"How can you be sure?" I ask her.

"Because, dear brother of mine, I recognized her as your soul mate as soon as I met her." She laughs again.

Can it be so obvious? Can I be that desperate?

"You think I'm that desperate?" I ask her.

"No, Eric. You need to find love." She says softly.

I sit and ponder that for a moment. I do need love, passion, and need. I want it. I want to feel love and be loved. I want my world to shatter when I'm inside my love. Stroking her pleasure and getting my own simply from the sounds of her moans. I want my whole body to shiver when she enters the room. I want to sit and hold her. I want to fall asleep with her in my arms. I want to dance like we're making love. I want everything. I want it all. But, can I have that with Sookie?

"Oh, by the way," Pam says. "Just a heads up, the parental units are coming back to town next week." She says.

"Really, well thank you for telling me." I say.

My parents, or rather my father and I don't see eye to eye on my career choices. My mother, well she just wants to keep the peace. They have been traveling, but I knew my father would be back before the month is out. He does have a fortune five hundred company to run, alone; a fact that he never gets tired of reminding me. I don't think he minded so much that I didn't want to get my MBA. But it does bother him that I dance instead of concentrating on my 'real' career. I wish I could make him understand.

The first time I see them, will be interesting. They honestly thought I was coming to Shreveport to start my firm. But really, I came to support Pam and her venture. Contrary to my father's demands, I'm not going to live my life based on his thoughts on what is an acceptable career. I decided a long time ago that my life was going to be just that, my life.

"I will come over the day they want to visit you." She says to me.

"Pam, I don't need to hide behind your skirt. I AM the big brother, remember. Believe me, it will be fine." I sigh. "Now if you will excuse me. I have to get home. I'm meeting Sookie for dinner." I say.

"You…you asked her to dinner?" She asks me.

"Yes, as a matter of fact, I did. Do you have a problem with that?" I ask her.

"Oh, SHIT you really do have it bad." She laughs. "I hope you ask her to be your partner soon. Shit you guys are going to shine." She screams. "And don't forget Momma's party, you have to bring her. Oh ERIC!"

"Who said anything about me asking her to be my partner?" I ask. "And why would I bring her to that circus of a party?"

"You didn't have too. I know you and I know how your brain and heart work. Your heart is singing, I can tell. Eric you have more love and passion in you than I ever had. So does Sookie. Oh, I can't wait for you to get to know her. I knew it. I knew you would be perfect for each other." She stops for a moment. "Eric, I know you. Please, don't let your head get in the way of your heart. You have been looking for her for a very long time. Don't fuck this up!"

We say our goodbyes as I head out of my office, locking it behind me and head downstairs. The cleaning crew is already here so I just nod at them on my way out.

Once in the parking lot, I look back at the building. It is an amazing site, if I do say so myself. It's one of the most innovatively designed buildings in all of Louisiana. At least that's what Architectural Today said. I just look at it and smile. It's definitely a fun building.

Shaking my head, I turn to my car, getting in; I speed to my place to change.

****0****

My place happens to be in an old converted warehouse. The bottom few floors house offices and work space, while the whole top floor is my loft. Well a huge open concept industrial inspired area. That is what the books call it. The word 'Loft' seems to be just outdated and it make people think SoHo or Tribeca in Manhattan. When I hear the word I think open, airy and free. I love my new space. There's a cat walk that's similar to the one in the club that runs all the way around the place. The kitchen is industrial and full of stainless steel. The bedroom area is off the catwalk area and was custom designed. Three of the walls are glass, including the ceiling, making almost a dome over the room. But since it's on the roof of the warehouse and there aren't any other buildings around as big, it makes for a perfect place to sleep.

The bathroom is stark white with a fabulous whirlpool bath and standup multi-head shower, which is where I am heading at the moment.

Since this is going to be a casual dinner, I'm going to settle on a pair of jeans and a red silk t-shirt. I smile at my closet, looking at all my suits and costumes. I make myself a promise that the next dinner out with Sookie will be something to knock her socks off with.

Smiling, I pull my clothes out and head to the shower.

Thinking of Sookie makes parts of my body wake up and take notice. I growl at myself. I haven't touched her yet, and already my body is yearning for her? Can this really be happening to me? I mean is this all just an infatuation? Something put there for me to lust after? Am I that lonely, or is what I'm feeling real? God it has to be real. I no longer think I can live without her smile. Never mind, the rest of her. I need her.

Fuck, I am so fucked!

I look down as I enter the shower. My cock is so hard it could cut glass. I am going to have to do something about this or I might jump her bones the moment I see her. Taking the situation in hand I think about her. How her nose crinkles when she laughs. How her eyes narrow when she's concentrating. How her lips curve when they speak my name. Fuck her lips. God I want them on me; kissing me, licking at me, taking me into her mouth. God I know her mouth will be extraordinary around me; licking me, circling my head, taunting me to come.

I can feel my cock getting harder. How that's possible I don't know. But imagining Sookie kneeling in front of me taking me into her delicious mouth in the shower is just UHHHGGG! I imagine her looking up at me as she continues her ministrations and I come undone. I scream her name as I shoot streams of my seed into the waiting drain.

Leaning up against the back of the shower, I open my eyes. Fuck that was the best orgasm I've ever had and I haven't even touched her yet.

I right myself and get started on my shower. While I take stock of the situation, I come to several conclusions.

Sookie Stackhouse is a vixen waiting to come out. The passionate look in her eye is waiting for someone to show her how to use it. And I'm the perfect person to show her. I want it and she will give me everything she has.

Sookie's a wonderful dancer and will make the best partner I've ever had. We'll make people stand up and take notice. She's going to bring people to tears.

Bill Compton is history. Sookie will be mine.

Finishing up, I head back into my bedroom to dress and finish up.

Heading down the stairs, I check the time. I have just enough time to get to Sookie's if I hurry. The last thing I want to do is be late.

Making my way to Bon Temps, I hit the GPS to find my way. I do know she lives in Bon Temps but I have to search for her address. Luckily, there are only two Stackhouse families in the area. That's good and sad all at the same time. Where is the rest of her family? Who does she have to turn to? These are questions I will get answers to. I want to know everything there is to know about Sookie Stackhouse.

I look at the list. One Stackhouse is in Shreveport, which I know can't be her. And the other one has a post address of Hummingbird Lane in Bon Temps. I take a chance that's it.

As I race down the road to Sookie's place, I can't help but think about the future. Something I haven't allowed myself to do in a very long time. Making plans seems futile when you aren't sure what you want. Now, well, now I know. But regardless if I change my mind again, one thing is for certain; Sookie Stackhouse will be in the center of that future.

*****0*****

I pull into her driveway to see a beautiful home in front of me. When I thought of Sookie's house, I thought of a place that was at least 100 years old, with an old porch swing and working shutters. But this, this house is massive. Still looking sweet and country like, you can tell that everything is new. Well, newer than a 100 year old farmhouse would display. I'd really love to hear the story behind this home. The lines are so simple and clean. Old world style but with a new edge to it, it seems familiar in a way. I'm not sure why. I know that Sookie is a writer and that her books are selling off the shelf. That bit of information was given to me by both Pam and Amelia. But between her Mercedes and this house, she must be doing very well.

I make my way up the front steps to the door. Ringing the doorbell, I am actually a bit nervous. Me, Eric Northman am nervous about picking up a woman. This so can't be me.

Get a grip Northman, when was the last time you actually picked someone up for a date? Yeah, thought so.

That inner voice is really starting to piss me off.

I wait, holding my breath for Sookie to answer the door. Once she opens the door I see that smile. That perfect smile that could brighten any day. Once I travel down her body I get a load of her street wear.

FUCK ME! She looks hot and I mean real hot.

"Hi Eric." She says with a smile.

"Hello, Sookie." I say trying to will my growing erection down. "You look wonderful." I say looking her up and down one more time.

"You don't look half bad yourself." She says to me.

Pulling the door closed, she follows me down the stairs. I notice her steps slowing when she takes in my car for the evening.

"Nice car." She says.

I chose to try and impress her with my classic Corvette. From our conversation about her own car, I thought she may appreciate a sportier car. You couldn't really get sportier than my cherry red 1970 Corvette. As long as she doesn't make any prince jokes, we'll be all set.

"I thought it would be nice to have the top down." I say to her. And I didn't think she would agree to ride on the back of my Ducati, at least not yet.

Late August in Louisiana is still warm so the open roof shouldn't be a problem.

I help her into the car and wait for her to give me directions to the only game in town.

"So how was the rest of your afternoon?" She asks me.

"Uneventful," I lie, "I spent most of it speaking with Pam." I say.

"Oh, yeah," Sookie laughs, "I had a long talk with Amelia too."

I can see her smiling out of the corner of my eye. I would love to know what her and my sister's partner talked about. I know Sookie and Amelia have been friends for a great many years, but I know probably without a doubt that the conversation was about our afternoon together. We had two wheeler and dealers working on us. I don't think anyone would stand a chance against those two, really I don't. But as much as they're pushing and prodding to get us together, secretly I will need to do something nice for them. Because if this works out, I'll be happier than I ever dreamed.

I decide to change the subject to something a little safer.

"You have a lovely home, Sookie." I say to her.

"Thanks." She says. "I used a chunk of my income from the books to redo the house." She says. "It was really old and had a lot of problems. So I decided to rebuild. I love my house a lot. When we get back, I'll take you on a tour." She says.

"I would love that." I say.

We make our way through the sleepy town of Bon Temps to the outskirts where we find Merlotte's. Again, I am surprised by what I see. I had expected it to be some kind of a honky-tonk. But this place could pass for someone's home. Granted a big home, but it looks like a home; all except for the sign out front.

I look over to Sookie when we stop. The old southern style building has a wraparound porch complete with a gazebo on the end. I can tell that there's a lake out back and I see lights on the deck. There must be outdoor seating as well.

"This is the only place in town." Sookie says. "So a lot of people use it for parties and such." She shrugs.

I help her out of the car and we make our way up the stairs and thru the front door. I see that the place is separated into two sides. One is a standard looking bar. The other has tables for dining.

"Hey there, Sookie," I hear from our side closest to the bar. I turn to see a redhead walking our way. I say redhead because that is what she dyes it. It isn't a very good dye job. She's wearing a shirt that announces that we're at Merlotte's that is incidentally a size too small and shorts that are the same. The outfit is completed with a pair of open toe four inch heels. She looks at Sookie and then at me.

"Decided to grace us with your presence, I see." The redhead says.

"Yes, it's been a long time." Sookie responds at little curtly.

"Who's your friend?" She asks, looking me up and down.

"Arlene, this is Eric. Eric, this is Arlene." She says with a tone that almost sounds irritated.

"Well, it's very nice to meet you." She smiles at me and then looks back at Sookie. "Bar or table?" She asks her.

"Ummm," She looks at me.

"I don't mind sitting in the bar." I say.

She turns and nods at Arlene who we follow to a booth in the back end of the bar.

We sit down and Arlene hands us our menus. "You two know what you want to drink?" She asks.

"Gin and Tonic?" Sookie asks.

"Just bring me something blonde on tap." I say to her.

Arlene takes another moment looking me up and down before she takes off.

Once she is out of earshot, Sookie lets out a sigh. "Sorry about that." She says.

I laugh a little. "Is she always like that?" I ask.

Sookie shrugs. "Yeah, for the most part; Arlene Fowler has been married 3 times and is always looking for husband number four. If she gets too over the top, I'll have a talk with Sam." She says.

"Sam?" I ask.

She nods. "Yeah, Sam Merlotte, he owns the place." She smiles and then she looks around the bar.

"Something wrong?" I ask her.

She shakes her head. "Just a lot of memories." She smiles. "This used to be my station." She says softly.

"You used to work here?" I ask. Well of course she worked here. There aren't too many places to work in a town this small.

"Yeah, when I needed to go to work, I wasn't of age yet." She pauses. "So Sam would have me work in the back. Then I started working the restaurant part and finally went to work in here." She says. "I…it wasn't really what people wanted me to do. But well, Gran was not well and I needed the money. Then she passed away and I had to wait to see if my book took off. Once it did, I stopped working here." She says looking around.

I sit back. I can't see Bill Compton allowing his girlfriend to work in a bar. No matter how nice it is. It doesn't matter to me. I mean I own half of Fangtasia. So working in a bar doesn't seem too out of place for me. But for him, yeah he doesn't seem the type.

Sookie has yet to bring him up. I'm sure she knows I know she needs to learn to Waltz for a Gala. But she's never brought up the boyfriend situation and I really don't think it will do me any good to bring it up now. I should wait a few more days. Feel her out. But I'm noticing that she doesn't act like a woman who has a boyfriend. Maybe I should speak to Pam about this?

"Hey Sook." I hear from the bar. I look up to see a man, medium build with Shaggy brown hair walking toward us with a big smile. Sookie gets up to hug him and he spins her around. All I want to do is pull her behind me and get her away from him.

"Hey there Cher," he says. "Jason said you were in town." He hugs her back and puts her down. "Please tell me you cut the noose that was around your neck?" He asks.

"Working on it." She smiles and turns to me. "Eric Northman, I would like you to meet Sam Merlotte." I stand to shake his hand.

"Nice to meet you." I say to him. "Like your place."

He smiles. "Thanks." He says. "Good to meet you. Wait, Northman, your Pam's brother, right?" He asks.

I nod. "Well, it is nice to meet you. Pam and Amelia are really great friends of ours." He says.

Ours, what does he mean ours.

"Sam, get your fine ASS back here. I have two orders up and Arlene is on another break." I hear yelling from the back.

"Be right there." Sam yells back. "When you got a moment, come on out here." He says.

"Why, I know all the fools that are out there tonight." He says.

"Well there's a little blast from the past that's been away too long out here and I know you'll be madder than a hellcat if you don't get to see her." Sam laughs.

"What in blazes are you…SOOKIE!" I hear someone yell. Looking past Sam I see a very large black man coming towards us.

Taking three steps to get across the bar, he too grabs Sookie and swings her around. She seems to be everyone's toy around here.

"Laf, put her down!" Sam yells.

"Ohhh, I have missed you sweet girl." He says.

"Lafayette, I was only gone like six weeks." She says to him.

"Yeah, well that dud ball and chain you have on your neck won't let you have no fun, now does he? When was the last time you were in here, Sookie Stackhouse?" He puts a hand on his hip.

"Okay, I get it. I've been away too long." She laughs.

"Eric, this crazy loon, is Lafayette Reynolds, Chef of this fine establishment and the maker of the Lafayette Burger, which I highly recommend." She turns to Lafayette, "Laf, this here is Eric Northman." She says.

He takes my hand and turns to Sookie. "Ooohh, child, if you have traded up to this fine specimen of a man I will be nothing but joyous for you." He looks back at me. "Shit, if I didn't have my hands full with Sammy over here, I'd give you a run for your money with this one." He trails his eyes up and down me again. "mmmm, child very nice."

"Okay, okay, don't scare Sookie's new friend and get back in the kitchen." Sam says pushing Lafayette back toward the kitchen.

"MMMMM, Sookie you and I are going to talk later girlfriend." He says.

"Sorry about that." Sam says. "Laf can be, well over the top." Sam shrugs.

"Oh, and you love it." Sookie smiles at him.

"Yeah, I guess I do." Sam says softly. "But don't tell him that."

They both laugh as I start putting together the situation in front of me. I have to smile because a moment ago I thought I'd have two people I need to fight for Sookie's affections.

"Eric, it was really nice to meet you." Sam says. "Treat our girl right, she deserves it." Then he turns to Sookie. "We'll catch up soon?" He asks.

Sookie just nods but I can see her getting red.

Once he leaves, Sookie sits back down. "ummm, sorry about that." She says.

"Sookie, it isn't the first time I've been hit on by a gay man." I say to her. "I am a professional dancer."

"I..no..um…I mean…oh forget it." She looks back down at her menu.

I can't resist, she looks just too cute. "Are you referring to the fact that they all think we're a couple?" I ask her.

She shrugs but doesn't look up.

"Sookie, look at me." I say to her in a very commanding voice.

She snaps her head up to look into my eyes. "I'm fine with their train of thought. I mean, I did ask you to dinner, didn't I?" I ask her.

She nods.

"Should I tell you now that it would be very acceptable to me if people thought the way your friends seem to think?" I ask her and her eyes go wide.

She opens and then closes her mouth. I smirk at her. "Perhaps this is a discussion for another time." I say as I see yet another person heading toward our booth. Does Sookie know everyone in this town?

"Hey Sis." He says.

"Hey Jason." She says. "What are you doing here?"

"Oh, one of the new hotshots on the High School team blew his knee out in yesterday's game. Coach asked me to come by and help him out." He smiles. "And you know how Crystal loves Laf's chili cheese fries. If I go home without them, I'll be in a world of hurt." He laughs and then turns to me. "Hey there."

"Jason, this is Pam's brother, Eric." I say. "Eric, this is my brother, Jason Stackhouse."

Jason puts his hand out to me. "Nice to meet you man. I've heard a lot about you. Pam's great. We have a ton of fun with her. So glad I can finally put a face to the name, ya know?" He asks me.

"Nice to meet you Jason." I say shaking his hand.

He looks back at his sister. "I would love to stay and hang, but I need to get home to Crystal." He says turning to me. "Eric, hope to see you again soon." He says. Then he turns to give his sister a kiss on the cheek. "I'll call you tomorrow, okay?"

She nods. "Give Crystal a kiss for me and I'll try to stop out there in the next day or two."

"She'll love it. The twins are really getting active. She said they bounced all over the place after your last visit. They must like the sound of their Aunt Sookie's voice." He laughs.

We say our goodbyes as Jason makes his way to the bar and grabs his order. Nodding in our direction he takes off.

"Jason's wife is pregnant with twins. But she's been on bed rest for the last few weeks." Sookie explains.

"Are the babies okay?" I ask her.

She nods. "Yeah but Crystal's blood pressure was going through the roof. She has like three more weeks until it's safe to deliver the babies. They want them to hit 37 weeks. The babies are happy and healthy but running out of room. I can't wait until they're here." Sookie beams.

"How is Jason taking all of this? I'm sure having a bed ridden wife is tough." I say. I don't know what I'd do if Sookie was suffering during pregnancy.

Wait, what? Where did that thought come from?

You know where it came from. You want blonde hair blue eyed babies with this Southern Belle.

Damn inner voice, shut the hell up.

"He's an amazing husband and is going to be a wonderful father." She says with tears in her eyes.

"He seems to be a nice person. What does he do?" I ask.

She explains that Jason is a physical therapist and also works with the surrounding towns' teams to educate them in preventative exercise." She says.

"Preventative exercise," I look at her. "What's that?"

She goes on to explain how he helps them to do strength training to prevent injuries.

"You see, Jason was big man around here when he was in High School. Though he's seven years older than me, they were still talking about him after he graduated. He did it all. Perfect grades, president of the class; he played baseball, basketball and football. He was Bon Temps golden child. That is until he hurt his knee.

It was the last game of the football season his senior year and we were down by a field goal. Anyway, Jason was the quarterback and we were in range for a field goal. But Jason wanted to win, not tie. So he faked the snap and went to run it in. Just as he jumped over the goal line, an opponent hit him hard with a delayed hit. I still think I heard the snap of his knee from the stands."

She shakes her head. "Anyway, they rushed him to the hospital. He had an ACL tear and needed surgery. But after the accident, he knew he was never going to be 100% again. So he turned down his sports scholarships to Tulane and Texas State and enrolled in the PT program at LSU." She says.

"He's super good at it. I think because he focuses on mostly athletes, he can relate to them. They trust him." She says.

Just then, Arlene finally comes back to give us our drinks and take our order. I decide to go with Sookie's suggestion while she decides on a Caesar Salad and a bowl of soup.

Arlene eyes me one more time and then goes back to put our order in.

I look around. The place isn't packed but there's a decent amount of people around. But it is a Sunday. Fangtasia is closed as is most places. But Merlotte's seems to be a family type place. Everyone knows everyone here. It's, well, nice.

"So, do you think I'll be able to learn the Waltz?" She asks me.

I smile at her. "I think I can teach you a great many things if you'd like me too." I say to her staring into her eyes, hoping she's getting my meaning.

"You mean it?" She looks excited.

"Of course, Sookie, I'd love to teach you." I say. Oh how I'd love to teach her exactly what makes me go wild. Oh, yes, Sookie soon.

"I…I'd like that." She says.

I smile as our food comes and we make idle chit chat as we eat.

As soon as we're done, I can hear music coming from somewhere.

"What's that?" I ask.

"Oh, that's the dance floor back there." Sookie points through the restaurant. "Sam put it in about 3 years ago. It isn't Fangtasia, but we have fun." She smiles at me.

I nod to her and get Arlene's attention for the check.

Once she hands it to me, I give her a hundred dollar bill and tell her to keep the change without looking at the bill.

I stand and take Sookie's hand and lead her back to the music. I feel the current between us but I don't let it deter me. I want to be close to her and this is a perfect way to do it.

"Eric, what…" She says to me.

I walk through the doors to see about thirty people in the room. There's another small bar and a dance floor. Like Sookie said, nothing fancy, but I can tell that it would easily turn into an event hall when needed. The back windows face the water and one whole wall is French doors that go out to a deck with tables. Yes, this isn't Fangtasia, but it's very nice.

Without saying a word, I lead Sookie onto the dance floor. I turn to look at her. "Dance with me."

The song changes to one that's old but it's absolutely perfect. I pull Sookie to me and we both start swaying to the song. The moment our bodies touch I feel that current increase between us. But instead of rendering me motionless, it almost spurs me on. Willing me to move with her, forcing me to connect to her anyway I can.

That old dog has chained you up alright
Give you everything you need
To live inside a twisted cage
Sleep beside an empty rage
I had a dream, I was your hero

Every move I make Sookie copies. I pull her hands above her head clasping our hands together, never taking my eyes off of her.

Damn, I wish I was your lover
I'll rock you till the daylight comes
Make sure you are smilin' and warm
I am everything, tonight I'll be your mother
I will do such things to ease your pain
Free your mind and you won't feel ashamed, oh, oh
Open up on the inside, gonna fill you up, gonna make you cry

Pulling her hands down I put them behind her making her come closer to me. God this woman is so warm.

This monkey can't stand to see you black and blue
Give you somethin' sweet each time
You come inside my jungle book
What is it just too good?
Don't say you'll stay 'cause then you go away

She smirks at me and turns in my arms placing her back to my front but not missing a beat, she keeps up the rhythm.

Damn, I wish I was your lover
I'll rock you till the daylight comes
Make sure you are smilin' and warm
I am everything, tonight I'll be your mother
I will do such things to ease your pain
Free your mind and you won't feel ashamed

Shucks, for me there is no other
You're the only shoe that fits
I can't imagine I'll grow out of it
Damn, I wish I was your lover

I look over to one of the doors and see Sam and Lafayette standing there smiling at us.

If I was your girl believe me
I'd turn on the Rollin' Stones
We could groove along and feel much better
Let me in
I could do it forever and ever and ever and ever

She moves a little closer raising her arms over her head and back to wrap them around my neck as I trace my hands down her arms, then her sides to rest on her hips moving her slower in time with the music.

Give me an hour to kiss you
Walk through Heaven's door I'm sure
We don't need no doctor to feel much better
Let me in
Forever and ever and ever and ever

I sat on a mountainside with peace of mind
And I lay by the ocean
Makin' love to her with visions clear
Walked the days with no one near
And I return as chained and bound to you

Damn, I wish I was your lover
I'll rock you till the daylight comes
Make sure you are smilin' and warm
I am everything, tonight I'll be your mother
I will do such things to ease your pain
Free your mind and you won't feel ashamed

I pull her closer against my bulging erection. I want her to feel what she's doing to me. And I think I hear her gasp and I whisper the next part of the song into her ear.

Shucks, for me there is no other
You're the only shoe that fits
I can't imagine, I'll grow out of it
Damn, I wish I was your lover

Just open up I'm gonna come inside
I wanna fill you up I wanna make you cry
(Damn I wish I was your lover)
Gettin' on the subway and I'm comin' uptown
(Damn I wish I was your lover)
Standin' on a street corner waitin' for my love to change
(Damn I wish I was your lover)

Feelin' like a school boy, too shy and too young
(Damn I wish I was your lover)
Open up I wanna come inside, I wanna fill you up, I wanna make you cry
(Damn I wish I was your lover)
Gettin' on my camel and I'll ride it uptown, ooh
(Damn I wish I was your lover)
Hanging around this jungle, wishing that this

I turn her around and look at her. I see want and need in her eyes that I can only hope matches mine.

We dance to a few more songs but I can't tell you what they were. I couldn't get enough of Sookie in my arms.

Just when I think I am going to grab her and run her out the back door and take her up against the side of the building, my angel speaks.

"Maybe…maybe…we should go?" She says.

I smirk at her. "As you wish."

I motion for her to leave the floor first and then I follow. She waves off Sam on our way out. I nod and he smiles at me. Well I see that Sookie's friends may be a helpful hand in getting her in my arms. At least I hope.

We make our way to the car and I help her in before running around to my side.

The ride home to Sookie's house is quiet but not in an uncomfortable way. The silence is welcoming, peaceful if you will.

Once in front of her house, I again run around to help her out. This is also something that I've rarely done for anyone outside my family.

I walk her up to the door as she looks for her keys.

"Would…would you like to come inside?" She asks me.

I look into her eyes. I see the want and need from before but I also see a little confusion. No, I won't come in tonight. When I do, I want nothing but want and love in her eyes. When she is over her confusion, then I'll take her up on her offer.

I take another step closer to her. "Another time perhaps," I say softly. "I have a busy day tomorrow and I need to get to…bed." I say the last word with a little more passion and I can feel the shiver through Sookie's body. Yes I'm pleased how her body responds to me.

"I will see you tomorrow?" I ask her.

She nods.

I move closer to her for just one more moment. I see her eyes closing like she's waiting for me to kiss her. I want to kiss her so badly. But I want that confusion gone before I do.

I take a step back and wait for her eyes to open. The look on her face is a mixture of confusion and disappointment. She's disappointed that I didn't kiss her.

I smile. "Bring a nice set of clothes to change into tomorrow." I say to her.

"ummm, why?" She asks.

I smile at her again. "Because I'm taking you out after our lessons." I say. She looks confused. "You can change upstairs and then I'll take you out in Shreveport." I say.

She nods again as I back off the porch. "Sweet dreams, Sookie." I say to her.

She smiles. "Thank you for a nice evening Eric."

I stop for a moment. "The pleasure was all mine, Sookie."

I wait for her to open the door before I get into my car. Yes tonight was a good start.

*********0*********

SPOV

I walk into the house and close the door, sliding down to the ground behind it.

"OH MY GOD!" I scream out loud.

Can you say hot, I mean fuck hot! I've never felt this way, never in all my years. I …oh my God, I thought I was going to orgasm on the dance floor. This man is a walking sex God.

And what did he mean he doesn't mind people thinking we're together? Does he mean what I think he means? Could he…could he really want me?

I shake my head. There's no way I'm going to sleep now. If this is how I act just from him being close to me, how am I going to act if we do anything else?

He's going to drive me crazy. I swear.

I take my shoes off and pad back to my office. Opening my computer, I take out my notes for the next few chapters. I look over my characters and I can't help but smile. I think I know who my blonde vampire is supposed to be. I knew him before I met him.

I sit down to change some things in my notes. My heroin has been hedging her way toward a suitor. Well I'm thinking I just made up her mind for her.

I start writing.

The next time I look up it's three in the morning and I've written over fifty pages.

I smile to myself. Yes, Eric Northman is very good at waking up my muse, among other things.

************0***********

Jason's POV

"Baby, what's wrong?" Crystal asks me as she eats her fries, cold. Three am cravings are not always my favorite. But she is carrying our kids so I'll do anything I can for her.

I look over to her. "I saw Sookie at Merlotte's tonight." I say.

"Really, the warden let her out, huh?" She asks. "That's a surprise, I thought she wasn't allowed there anymore."

I have to smile. I don't think one person I know likes Bill Compton.

"I don't know about that, but she was with Eric Northman." I say.

"Northman, Pam's brother?" She asks pulling her brown hair behind her ear. I swear my wife is more beautiful now than she was the day I married her.

"Yeah, they were having dinner." I say to her.

"Does this mean what I hope it means?" She asks.

I shrug. "I don't know. All she told me is that she had a fight with his mother, again." I sigh. "I hope she's dumping his ass or maybe she already has." I say.

"Call Amelia in the morning, she'll know." Crystal says. "Or I will."

I look at my wife. "Oh don't look at me like that. I hate the way Bill treats her. It's like she's a toy or something. A little china doll he brings out to show off at parties. You think Gov Brigant would be giving Compton the time of day if it wasn't for our girl?"

I have to nod. I know he wouldn't. The Stackhouse name still holds weight in Louisiana and I fear that Compton is capitalizing on just that.

"I know for a fact they've never gotten past heavy petting and they've been going out for years." She says.

"Well that's not a bad thing." I say and pout. I so don't want to think of my baby sister and some dude doing the nasty.

"Jason Corbett Stackhouse, Sookie is 25 years old. Don't you think it's damn time you let someone get close to her?" She asks me.

"Yeah, well I think this Northman guy is trying to." I say and roll my eyes. "But Baby, please I really don't want to hear about my sister's love life."

"Jason, would you rather your beautiful sister be in a loveless relationship with a passionless man. Or do you want her to have the kind of love we have." She asks pulling me to her. "Baby, I just want her to be happy."

"So do I," I say, "but I don't need to know things like that." I kiss her. "But when someone good enough comes along, then I will give my stamp of approval." I say.

"Baby, no one is ever going to pass your inspection when it comes to Sookie." She kisses me. "But what I've heard from Pam and Amelia, Eric is damn close." She says.

I look at her. "You've talked to Pam and Amelia about Sookie?" I ask her.

She rolls her eyes. "Of course we have you silly man. How else are we going to get her away from that stick in the mud?" She sighs. "Jay, Bill Compton is slowly killing your sister. He hates her friends, he forbid her to go to Merlotte's never mind work there. He has no idea about her dancing and is ashamed of her books." She puts the food down. "Do you know she did most of the work on the house without him even knowing and when he did find out, he was not very pleased." She says.

I look at her. "Tell me he didn't do something to her." I say. If that man ever lays his hands on my baby sister, they will never find the body.

"I don't think he touched her." Crystal says. "I think he was just really mad and tried to convince her to sell."

I laugh. "You have a better chance in hell freezing over than for Sook to sell the homestead." I say. I know my sister. She plans on dying in that house. It may not look all together the same as it did when we lived there with Gran, but you can still feel her there. No, Sookie will never sell.

"Yeah, well I think that was last month. He's been gone so long." She says.

"Maybe this will be it." I say.

Crystal shrugs. "Amelia said she has some shindig to go to with him in little over a month. But she doesn't plan on going back to New Orleans until then. Five weeks, Jay, we have five weeks to convince her that this is where she belongs. Maybe Eric will help spearhead this notion in her head. Jay…I..I don't want to lose my sister. Not again."

I look to see Crystal with tears in her eyes. I pull her close. She loves Sookie so much. We all do. I know she misses her sister and so do I. "Baby, shhh, I will do everything I can to make sure that doesn't happen. I miss her too."

I hold my wife as she cries. I know that most of this is hormones. But that is only the half of it. Sookie is so much a part of our lives. I have a feeling that this is the last chance we have to keep her. If Bill gets a hold of her again, she'll be lost to us forever.

Once Crystal is done with her cry, I help her back to bed and stroke her chocolate brown hair until she calms and starts to drift off. Once I know she's asleep, I make my way into my home office and shut the door.

I sit in my chair, looking at the pictures on my desk. One is from our wedding. Crystal looked so beautiful that day. Just thinking of that beautiful sunny day at the homestead, brings a smile to my face. Crystal agreed to be married at the lake behind the house. Hoyt, Sam, Alcide and I spent weeks constructing a Gazebo and path big enough for the ceremony. I know that Crystal has roots in Hotshot, the town next to Bon Temps, but the lake means so much to me. It's where my father taught me how to fish before he died. It's where Sookie and I would ice skate and swim every summer. My father may have bought a house in Shreveport to be closer to the hospital and the clinic that he ran but Bon Temps was my home, it always was. When Crystal agreed to the wedding at the homestead I thought I would bust out of myself.

Crystal and I met the summer before Gran passed. I was working really hard in getting my business up and running. She was looking for a job. I hired her as my receptionist and office manager and the rest is history. She stood by me through Gran's death. I was dead inside for years. But she never faltered. Crystal was the strong one. She kept me above water until I could start swimming again. I fell in love with her for that and so many more reasons. She is my lifeline and I will literally die without her now.

I never thought I would love anyone close to the way I love Gran and Sookie. That was until I met Crystal. How a heart can love three women so completely, I will never know. But there are now three women I love more than anyone else. That is until my girls are born. Damn, just my luck I'll be surrounded by all females, though part of me doesn't mind.

The other picture is of me, Sookie and Gran right before she passed away. We're standing by the lake on a crisp fall day. You can tell the trees are changing and the sun is shining off the water. I remember that day. We were having a BBQ and everyone came. Sookie decided we needed to have one last hurrah before it got too cold and all of our friends agreed. Lafayette did most of the cooking and Sam provided most of the refreshments. Alcide and Hoyt came with racks of ribs and Tara and Amelia helped Sookie and Gran in the kitchen with the salads and sides. It was an old fashion party complete with bonfire and singing. We were having so much fun. Sookie would laugh and it would sound like angels singing. I haven't heard that laugh in a long time. I thought I heard it tonight, but I'm not sure. I hope to God it wasn't my imagination.

Everyone always loved Sookie. Some guys more than others. I know that Alcide would have loved to date her. But he's my friend and I don't think he'd ever do anything against my wishes, at least where Sookie is concerned. But I've seen him suffer in silence for many years. If truth be told, he's one man I know would treat her right. But Sookie's special. She always was. When she was born, Momma and Daddy told me it was my duty to protect her. It's my job to make sure she's protected.

After they died, I took that responsibility seriously, maybe too seriously. If I wasn't so over protective maybe just maybe she wouldn't have turned to Bill.

It took everything I had to keep the scum away from her. Crystal was right. I will never think anyone is good enough for Sookie. But when Gran died, I was just as lost as she was. I didn't see Bill Compton for what he really is. He's so much older than Sookie. I thought he was just helping her with the estate. I never thought he had designs on her. But when I finally got out of my fog, it was too late. He had his claws in her and she didn't seem to care. Once she started to fight back a little, he seemed to use some voodoo on her to keep her in place.

Sookie is a violently faithful person. I have no idea what she sees in him. But maybe Crystal is right. Maybe we have this time to get our girl back. And if Eric Northman is going to give her back to us, maybe, just maybe he'll be good enough for her.

I pick up my phone. Finding the number I need, I dial it.

"Do you know what time it is?" I hear the receiver say.

"I need your help." I answer her.

"Tell me you didn't do something stupid and you need bail money." She says.

I laugh. "No, this is about Sookie."

"Is she okay?" She asks. The humor leaves her voice immediately.

I nod. "Yeah, but we need to do something and fast."

For the next hour I get the skinny on what's really going on. I smile. I should have known the ladies in my life would have it under control.

"What do I need to do?" I ask.

She spends the next few minutes explaining what their next move is.

I'm all in. Operation Eric/Sookie is on the way and I'm all on board.

*****************0*********************

A/N Title song: Damn, I wish I was your lover – Sophie B. Hawkins

http:/www(dot)youtube(dot)com/watch?v=Lt6r-k9Bk6o&ob=av2e