Chapter - 9 I wish I was the moon.

Last time….

I have no idea what go into me. I head across the room. I see nothing but her lips on my man.

I stop not a foot away from them as Eric pushes her away.

"You want to keep you skanky hands off my man?" I ask her.

She looks at me and then at Eric. She lets out a laugh that sounds like a chicken being choked.

"Oh Eric," she laughs. "You found a new toy?"

"Sophie," he says, "this is Sookie."

I look at her as she takes in the sight of Eric pulling me closer to him.

Her laugh stops almost instantly.

"You have got to be kidding me?" She says not looking at me at all.

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SPOV

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"Excuse me?" I ask the woman standing in front of me.

Her dress, if you can call it a dress is black with a plunging neckline down to her belly button and the bottom is not much longer than that. Her legs are perfect. She's tall, taller than me with auburn red hair and pale green eyes. If she just didn't have her lips wrapped around the love of my life I would consider her pretty. But now, well the skank better just back the fuck up.

She looks to me and then back at Eric. "Is this the reason you haven't returned my calls? Seriously Eric, I've known you to play but not at the detriment of your career."

"Sophie, what are you doing here?" I ask her.

"Well, we were invited of course," she laughs. "I know it's a long ride up from New Orleans," she waves her hand. "But you know me, float the way the wind flows." She looks down at me. "Now excuse us Snookie, I have important things to discuss with Eric."

Okay this bitch is going down. Eric pulls me a little tighter. I'm not sure if it's to show that I'm not going anywhere or to stop me from lunging at this bitch.

"Sophie, her name is Sookie, Sookie Stackhouse," he pauses. "Sookie, this is Sophie-Anne LeClerq. She is a dancer in the competition. Her partner, Andre is her step-brother." He says with a sting in his voice. I look up and see that his jaw is locked and he is staring over Sophie's shoulder to the door where a very large man with long brown hair is standing. But even though his expressions are ridged, his voice was just flat. Like he's trying to make sure that every word comes out without any inflection in his voice.

"Well, he is for now," she says with a smile. "Honestly Eric, I want to discuss a business arrangement with you." She lifts her arm toward him. I swear I feel Eric flinch.

"I don't think so, Soph," he says.

Soph, that sounds very familiar. The way she is looking at Eric, I wonder if she has known him, well biblically. I'm not stupid. I know Eric has been with women, a lot of women. But to think of him with this, well words escape me. Just thinking about it literally makes my skin crawl.

"I'm sure your little," she pauses, looking me up and down, "Sookie wouldn't mind sharing you for a minute, Eric. Really this is important. I heard about Felicia…."

"There is no need to have this conversation, Sophie. I've already found a new partner." He says and pulls me a little closer.

She looks at me when she sees Eric's hand pulling my waist closer to him.

"What do you mean you've found another partner?" She asks me.

"I don't think it could be any clearer. I've found an amazing partner and I can't wait to show her off at the next showing." He says and looks down at me. I feel his gaze on me and I look back to him.

"You are telling me that you are going to dance with her!" She points at me. "This little, little girl?" She spits at us.

Okay, Adele Stackhouse may have raised a lady but this bitch is getting on my last nerve. I may need to show her that Jason Stackhouse taught his baby sister how to defend herself.

Instead of slapping her across her pretty little made up face, I place a smirk on my face. One that I held in reserve for all the bitties I had to endure at all those countless teas and hat society parties. "I'm sorry, Sally, is there something wrong with me dancing with Eric?" I ask her.

She looks at me as if she is actually surprised I'm speaking to her. "It's Sophie," he pauses and looks at Eric. "Eric, you can't be serious." She says. "What is she, twenty? You have got to be kidding me. She has no idea what she's getting herself into. I know you needed a partner, but couldn't have found someone that you would at least have a chance to win with." She snickers at us. "I mean really Eric. It was bad enough you stayed with Felicia for so long. I mean so many people were just talking about what she did and you still continued to dance with her. But we all just thought you were getting your fun, well elsewhere. She was a decent dancer." She smirks, "not the best, but still." She giggles. "Come now, Eric, you know that Andre wants to return to Europe. You are in need of a partner as so am I. We have been gooood together." She dips her eyes down and looks at him. "You know we would be perfect for each other." She turns to me. "She just doesn't have what it takes."

Before I can say another word, Eric steps slightly in front of me. "Sookie is the best dancer I've ever had the privilege to work with. She is grace and beauty and can sweep the floor with you." He takes a step so that he's slightly in front of me. "As for the rest that you are insinuating, Sookie is more of what I need than you ever will be. Now I suggest you appolgize for acting like a fluzzy around my lovely lady."

She puts her hand on Eric's chest. He grabs it and pushes it away.

She rolls her eyes. "Really, Eric, you have never been one to give false compliments. At least you didn't need them to get me into bed." She smirks at him. "We all know how you roll Eric Northman." She sighs. "When you're done playing with your new toy, you know where to find me." She turns.

The man in the doorway hasn't said a single word but I'm sure he has heard the whole transaction. The look on his face is a cross between rage and constipation. If I knew him better, I may actually say he's in pain. But that kind of emotion is hard to pinpoint on a person. Sophie sasheys over to him and touches the side of his face with one long finger.

"Come Andre, we need to leave." She says looking back over her shoulder. "Remember what I said, Eric."

As soon as she's gone, Eric turns to me. "Sookie, I had no idea she was going to be here." He pulls me over to one of the sofas in the corner. "I've not seen her in almost a year. She called me the other day and I ignored her call."

I close my eyes for a moment and start counting backwards from ten. When I reach one, I still need another moment. My breathing isn't exactly back to normal.

"Sookie, say something." He says to me.

I have to ask. I don't want to ask, but I'll ask anyway. As much as I want to live in a bubble where Eric's concerned, it just isn't possible. "Eric, I …can you…did…did you sleep with her?" I ask him softly.

"Sookie, I never loved her. She…."

I put my hand up. "Eric have you slept with her?" I ask him again.

He sighs. "Sookie, it was a very long time ago. I just found out about Felicia and I…it was stupid and reckless. Her brother and her have a weird connection and I…He made advances on Felicia and she didn't seem to mind them. I was so angry because….Shit I really don't want to get into it. I'm not proud of what I did. I'm not proud of a lot of what I've done in the past. But you have to believe me, Sookie, she means nothing to me."

"Why would she come here now?" I ask him.

"Sophie is…okay she's as crazy as a loon. I don't know why she all of a sudden is been trying to get in touch with me. All I know is I have not wanted anything to do with her for a very long time." He says.

I look around the room. Everyone is trying not to look at us while we are talking but I can see the looks on their faces. Everyone is waiting for me to crumble.

"Would you take me home?" I ask him.

"Sookie, please, let's just finish the night with our friends. She means nothing to me, Sookie. She's gone and she isn't coming back." He says. "We can go out, dance and forget she was ever here. Please, don't let her ruin our night." He pulls me closer. "I love you, Baby. You are it for me."

Until you get tired of this. My head says.

I close my eyes again and sigh. "Eric, it's been a long day." I say to him. I open my eyes and look at my watch. "It's already after one in the morning, can we please just go back to the homestead. It's loud out there and the crowd is big. I really don't…"

Tears are welling in my eyes.

"Okay, Sookie, we can go." He says looking around the room. Is he upset that he has to take me home? Does he see that what Sophie said is right? Shit, this can't be happening. Please don't let this be happening..

"If…if you want to stay, I can get Jason to come get me." I say softly.

There is a long silence. Longer than I would anticipate. Maybe he's thinking he can catch up with Sophie. He didn't have any trouble bedding her. Maybe that is the type of girl he likes. Well if it is, I'm glad I found that out now. There is no way I could ever be like that woman. I love me and I love to have fun. But there is no way I could act as trashy as that woman did this evening. Adele Stackhouse would come out of her grave and slap me bald head if I did.

"Is that what you want?" He asks me softly.

I shake my head. "I just don't want to ruin your night. There are a lot of people here. A lot of people who would love to dance the night away with you. I don't want to ruin your fun." I say as quietly as I can.

"Sookie…" He says. "Sookie, look at me." I don't want to look up. Finally he places his fingers under my chin and forces me to look at him. I see tears in his eyes as well. "The only place I want to have fun is anywhere you are. Let me take you home, please?" He asks. The pleading in his eyes is almost painful.

I study his face for a moment before I nod my acceptance. He stands and takes me with him. Wrapping me under his arm, I feel safe and secure. I get a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach that it isn't going to last.

Eric walks us over to Pam and Amelia who have taken up residence on a smaller sofa directly across from where Eric and I had been sitting.

Seeing us coming they both stand and make their way to us.

"Eric, I'm sorry, she was on the guest list but wasn't supposed to be back here." Pam says.

"Honey are you okay?" Amelia asks.

I just nod at her. "I'm just tired. I want to go home." I say to them.

"Okay, sweetie," she says to me. "Pam and I will see you at the BBQ tomorrow, okay?"

I nod again and start to walk away.

Before I get two steps, Pam pulls me to her and crushes me in a hug. "He loves you," she whispers to me. "Don't you give that skank one little thought."

I pull back and look at her. I try to give her a smile but I know it's not hitting my eyes. Right now, all I want to do is get out of here.

Eric guides me through the throngs of people until we make it to the front door. He says something to the bouncer who answers his quickly.

"We need to get through," Eric says. The bouncer nods and moves us toward the door.

"Sookie," Eric says.

I look up at him. He has yet to take his death grip off of me. "The paps are still outside, waiting to see one of us come out," Eric motions to the door. "This is Alec," he points to the big mountain of a man. I think the guy would give "The Rock" a run for his money in build. Even through is black, standard issue t-shirt, I can tell that the man was racked and stacked. His face is handsome enough but the stoic look on it, would scare anyone.

I try to smile and say hello. He just nods in my direction.

"Honey, Alec is going to help us get to our car. Please stay between us and you will be fine, okay. Evidently they have been getting a little restless trying to get someone to talk to them. The Shreveport Police have already been notified but just make sure that you are between us at all times."

I just nod to him. I've never really needed to deal with the press like this before so I figured I would follow his lead. Hey, it may not be the best plan, but it's the only one I got right now. Once we get home, I deal with the shit-storm that just blew up. Right now, my only goal is to get to the car without getting mauled or tripping. Either way, I bet it would make good copy in the morning addition.

Eric nods to Alec to move forward. He grabs the handle to the swinging door and takes one look back to us to make sure that we were all set to hightale it out of there.

Eric squeezes me just a little bit tighter and we wait for the door to be open enough for us to get through.

When the door opens, Eric helps me through and the booming music from the club is replaced with our names being shouted. I can't tell where they are but they sound like they're coming from everywhere.

"Eric, what is going on with you and the Senator's fiancé?" One shouts

"Sookie, do you think that this is good for his campaign?" Another shouts

"Eric, how do you feel about your arm candy heading to DC?" One shouts.

"Sookie, do you know where Mr. Compton is right now?" Another shouts.

"Eric, can you tell us why Sophie LeClerq was here tonight. Could there be a love triangle brewing on the dance floor? Is it going to be reminiscent to the scandals with Felicia Moore?"

"Eric, since Felicia and Sophie were here tonight, could you two be having a reunion or is there something else going on?"

"Sookie, our sources say that you have contacted an attorney about something to do with how Compton and Compton has dealt with your foundation. Care to comment?"

"Come on guys, give us a kiss." I hear one shout.

Alec is trying to clear the way through to the car, but he is having words with a reporter to get him to move off the red carpet. I look around to see that the ropes that were in place earlier seem to have disappeared. I'm just about to ask Eric what happen to them when a guy jumps in front of us and tries touching me to get my attention.

At that, Eric let's go of me and launches himself at the photographer.

"Keep your fucking hands off of her," Eric shouts at him.

"Eric!" I scream. Alec is at his side and is moving the guy away from Eric.

"You stay the fuck away from us!" Eric yells. "Sookie has nothing to say about Bill Compton. If you want to ask her any questions, contact her lawyer or the DA in New Orleans!" He screams at them. "As to what is going on with Felicia Moore and Sophie LeClerq, the answer is simple, NOTHING. If you want another sound bite, you're out of luck. Now move before I slapped lawsuits on the lot of you!"

Grabbing me, he shoots us to the car, getting me in; he slams the door and makes his way to the driver's seat. Putting the car in gear, he leaves rubber heading down the street.

Eric is silent all the way to the highway. I can barely stand it. I never minded silence. I actually enjoyed it. But this, this was just way to much.

"Eric, you …" I start to say.

Eric pulls the car over just as he did on the way over to the club. This time, the road is deserted enough that we aren't serenaded by superlatives and honking horns.

He just sits there for a moment without saying anything but I can see him breathing very deeply. He moves his hands to the stop of the steering wheel. I watch as he grasps and releases the leather wheel. God, is it wrong to be turned on by something so simple? Oh who am I kidding every time I see Eric, hear him or even think about him, I'm turned on.

I am just about to break this little, well whatever it is when Eric speaks out.

"Sookie, I'm so sorry." He says softly.

What is he saying sorry for? Does he not want me, us, me to dance with him, taking me to the club, what?

"Eric, I understand," I say softly. "If you need to find another partner, I…I understand. Also if this is to much for you I can…" I'm not sure where I'm going with this. Where would I go if he didn't want me anymore? I don't know.

He turns to look at me. "No, baby, that's not it. I….I shouldn't have touched that guy. I just made the media circus for us that much more." He says softly. "The coverage of you and me would have probably died down in a day or two. But now…now, they are all going to want to get our story. I know better and I'm so sorry."

He's sorry for jumping ugly at a photographer.

"Eric, it's fine. I know this is a lot. Maybe you should…" I trail off.

"Let's get home so we can talk." He says. It almost sounds like a question.

I nod and he puts the car back on the road.

Before I know it we are outside my house. Eric comes around to help me out and we head in.

I motion for him to sit down on the couch as I go to get us some water.

I hand him his and we sit there for a moment.

"Sookie, say something." He says to me.

I shrug. "Eric what do you want me to say? Sophie-Anne wants you." I say to him. "She would probably be a better choice to dance with too." I sigh. "I hadn't seen Felicia tonight and had no idea she was there. I'm sure that she…"

He puts his bottle down and moves onto his knees in front of me.

"They're not what I want." He says to me as he places his hands on my waist. "You are what I want, Sookie. I told you I wanted forever. You are my whole reason for being now." He says with such conviction I think he believes himself.

How could he give up all those women? Sophie was acting like a skank but I bet she is damn good where it matters. I have nothing to offer him in that area.

"Eric, up until a few weeks ago, I thought my life was going to be teas, galas and an empty, sterile marriage. I know nothing about relationships or love. I don't know how to keep you happy or satisfied. What if you get tired of me and want what you had before? What if you want women like Sophie? I can't bear to have my heart broken like that." I feel the tears trailing down my cheeks.

He reaches up and cups the side of my face forcing it up to look at me. What I see in his eyes is so intense that it scares me. "You are who I want Sookie. Every day for the rest of our lives, I want you. I want your warmth, your love, your passion, you frailties. I want your determination and your little pout." He smiles at me softly. "I want to watch you write and dance. I want to be there for the good times and the bad. I want to hold you when you cry and celebrate with you your triumphs. I want you to be with me at the unveiling of another building or in my arms after we've danced a competition. I want to own your heart the way you own mine. I want to know your thoughts before you think them. I want it all Sookie Stackhouse." He lifts up so that he is eye to eye with me. "And one day, if I'm lucky enough, I will give you my name and we will start a family."

My eyes go wide.

"You don't get it, do you?" He takes his other hand to my face. "I want it all with you. I want everything, including little girls you can teach to be faeries and boys you can jump into puddles with. I want it all, if you'll have me."

I sit there for a moment as he wipes the tears from me face. "That..that was one hell of a proposal." I say softly.

He smirks. "Will you have me, Sookie?"

I nod to him. "I want all of that." I say softly.

He smiles. "I'm going to show you every day how much I love you, starting tonight." He says.

Leaning in, he captures my lips with his. The feeling of it is like nothing I've ever felt. I thought I would never again feel his lips to mine.

Eric stand and I follow him. But before I can say anything, he has me in his arms bridal style and heading back the bedroom.

Eric puts me down next to the bed and touches the side of my face. "I wanted…I wanted to wait, but I…Sookie, please I need you so bad." He says.

The need in his eyes is only comparable to the love I feel for him right now.

"I…want this, please Eric, please take me."

Eric smiles and leans in to kiss me. Licking my lower lip, I open my mouth for him and am instantly assaulted by his tongue as I feel his hands reaching behind me and the zipper of my dress is now down. Eric lifts his hands to my shoulders and peels the dress off me. As it hits the floor I step out of it. I'm standing before Eric in nothing but my thong and heels.

I look into his eyes and he rakes his eyes up my body. "You are a goddess, Sookie," he says to me.

Without any trepidation, he attacks my mouth as he hands explore me.

I, on the other hand, am trying to make quick work of the buttons on his shirt and am failing miserably. I finally decide I'll just buy him another one a pull on the two pieces. I hear a slight chuckle from him as the buttons hit the floor.

"You're as eager as me, my love." He says to me.

Lifting me, he places me on the center of the bed. Without much effort, Eric loses the rest of his clothes and starts to work on my strappy shoes. As he removes one, he starts to kiss each of my toes, then my ankles and works his way up my calves until he reaches my thighs. Brushing past my very wet and eager core, he moves down and repeats the ministration.

Making his way to my thong, he pulls both sides at the same time, splitting it in two. I really thought that only happen in movies.

Brushing over my core once more I let out a moan as I arch my back.

"Baby, what do you want? If you want me to stop…."

"Eric, please," I beg him. "I…I need you."

He doesn't ask again. Spreading my folds he lays several long and deep licks from my center all the way to my clit.

"Eric…" I moan.

"I love hearing my name on your lips." He growls as he starts his ministration with his tongue.

He has done this twice before, but oh god, is it miraculous.

I feel the tension building in my center as he starts to suck on my ball of nerves and enters me with not one but two of his fingers.

"Eric…I…oh god…" I moan and move around slightly.

Taking his free hand, he moves it over my middle to keep me confined. That simple gesture sends me into a state I've never been in. Without being able to move, I feel the pressure so much deeper.

"Eric…I..I'm going to…"

He releases me for a moment. "Sookie, let go, I want to feel you, please."

With his words, I let go. I can feel myself pulsing around his fingers. All the tension from the night leaving my body with his attention.

As I start to return to myself, I feel him climbing me and position himself over me.

"Sookie are you…"

I touch a finger to his lips. "I want this. Please, Eric; make love to me."

He smiles at me and leans down to kiss me. Our kiss is full of passion, lust, love, desire and a hundred other emotions.

Moving his gracious plenty into position, Eric moves it through my folds to entice me.

"Eric…please oh god please." I beg him as I lift my legs and wrap them around his middle.

"Sookie, it will hurt." I say to her.

"Eric, I need you in me, please."

He lines himself up and starts his descent into my hot and wet core. Slowly, oh so painfully slow he moves until he reaches my barrier.

He pauses for a moment and brushes the hair out of my eyes. "You okay, baby?" He asks me.

I nod.

"Okay, tell me if it's too much." He says and pushes through.

Stars, heat, pain, sparks, you name it and I saw it and felt it.

I knew Eric was huge, but damn did he not feel like he was ripping me in two.

I wait a moment to get used to him. Within a few moments, the pain begins to recede.

Lifting my legs higher on him, I begin to move my bottom half against him.

"Sookie, are you okay?" He asks me.

"More…please…more." Is all I'm able to get out.

Eric places both hands on the side of my face and he starts his ministration on me.

"Look at me, Sookie. Don't take your eyes off me. I want to know that it's real."

I nod as he starts to move in and out of me. God the feels is incredible.

"Sookie, you are the only one I see." He growls.

"You…all..all I want…is…is you." I moan out.

Eric picks up his pace and I swear every nerve ending I have has taken up residence between my thighs.

"So…so tight…so…so wet." Eric pants.

"For..for you…..only…only for you."

"Sookie, please….I need…I need you to come with me." He barks out.

I feel the coil once again in my belly and lower areas. Pulling tighter, unbelievably tighter.

"Sookie….please." He begs.

I tilt my pelvic just slightly and wham. The wave hits me and I'm over the golden edge. I see stars, I literally see stars.

I hear someone calling Eric's name and it takes me a moment to realize that it's me."

"Sookie," He screams and meets me over the edge.

Once we are both calming down he pulls out of me. I whimper slightly at the separation. He smiles at me.

Pulling me close to him I feel his warm attentive arms around me. "I…I love you." He says to me. "You are the only woman that I've ever made love to."

I look up into his eyes. They have bled back to normal and I see all the honesty and love they are expressing.

"I know, I….I love you so much." I say to him.

He pulls me closer to him. As I fall asleep I think I hear him humming a song. I will have to remember to ask him what it is when I wake up.

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Bill's POV

I hear pounding on the cabin door and run to open it. I look over the stove to see the clock blinking three in the morning. Who the hell would be banging on our door in the middle of the night. Especially, when no one knows that we are up here.

Shit it took a lot of planning, bribing and everything else to get us to this small cabin in the foothills of Oregon.

I pull the bathrobe a little tighter as I swing open the door.

"Mr. William Compton. Jr," the man asks.

"Who wants to know?" I ask.

Three men stand in front of my door. None of them are less than six foot two and no one weighs less than two hundred and fifty pounds.

"Mr. Compton, your father sent us to find you." The one in the center says.

"What's your name?" I ask him.

"Jackson, Myles Jackson, sir," he says. "Your father wishes we escort you back to Louisiana." He says to me.

"Look," I say, "until you tell me what is going on…"

I don't get to finish.

Two things happen. One, Lorena comes out of the bedroom to see what is going on. The second thing, I've experienced the warm hands of a man twice my size and weight pulling me through the door.

Lorena screamed and then, well nothing, everything turns to darkness.

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