Chapter 10 – Glitter in the Air.
Bill's POV
"Damn it Victor," I hear someone's voice. "Why did you have to have them hit him so hard?"
I try to open my eyes, but they still feel heavy. My arms are pulled back behind me but I can't seem to move them.
"Shut up, Lorena," I hear a man say. "If you had stuck with the plan, this would never have happened."
Plan, what plan?
"It was a stupid plan," I hear her growl. "How did you think I was going to get that money from him, huh?"
What is she talking about?
"It was your idea to get the money after you found out he took it from the blonde bimbo. You were supposed to get his trust fund. It was your idea to go after the money he stole."
I try to open my eyes but a shooting pain runs up the side of my face. I let out a groan that alerts them to me.
"Well, good morning, sleepy head," I hear someone say. "I thought you would never wake up."
I feel someone touch the side of my face. I pull away when the pain increases.
"Stop it, Victor," I hear someone say. She comes into my line of vision. It's blurry, but I can make out that it's Lorena.
"Ar…Are you..you okay?" I ask her. It sounds funny. Almost muffled and the pain is unbearable.
She looks away from me. "You idiot, she growls, "I think the broke his jaw."
"Oh knock it off, Lorena," I hear a man say. "Someone will think you care."
He moves back into my sight. My vision is becoming clearer. I blink a few times as he comes into view.
"Vi…Victor?" I say just above a whisper.
He smiles at me. "Hello there sunshine. Fancy seeing you here."
I see his hand but I'm not quick enough. I feel something slam into the side of my head and then everything goes dark.
***0***
SPOV
I lean up slightly to see the clock. I've got to smile. It may not have been the way Eric had envisioned our first time together but it was sure as long as he said it would be. We were making love up until two hours ago.
Thinking about all he made me feel sends shivers down my spine. I never knew that making love could be so passionate, so loving, and so perfect. All the years I waited, were so worth it. I don't think that I could have ever even imagined a night so perfect.
I trace my finger over his strong broad chest, up his neck to his cheek. I cross over his upper lip and trace down the other side. I see a smile creeping across his face. His arm pulls me tighter to his side and I lean in closer to his chest.
"You can't possibly be awake yet," he says softly to me. "We've only been asleep an hour."
"Two, actually," I say and move just a little closer to him. "I'm sorry I woke you."
He moves me a little so that I'm looking at him. His eyes open and smiles wider. "You can wake me anytime, Love," he says and leans in for a kiss. What starts as a chaste kiss starts to build. My hand begins to trace over his chest again as his arms move across my back. Soon, he is lifting me to straddle his waist
I feel his very alert member just above my opening as I lower onto his lap.
"I thought you were still tired," I say softly as I begin kissing down his neck.
"Love, there are parts of me that will never be too tired when you're around," he growls. I lift my head to look at him and I see the same deep need that I've seen several times since we entered the house last evening. Damn, talk about stamina. This man is like the energizer bunny.
I lift myself as Eric places a hand on either side of my waist, helping me to lower myself onto him. Once I feel him at my entrance I want to plunge myself onto him. But he seems to have other plans. Slowly, he lowers me onto him. With every inch he allows me, he stretches and fills me. Until, we are completely attached. My head falls back at the feeling of being so completely and utterly filled.
"Eric, Ahhhhh," I moan out.
"You are perfect…" He whispers as he starts to move me up and down on him. The sensation of him in me like this has me almost completely unable to move. I'm so glad that he has retained some muscle coordination.
"It…OH…GOD…ERIC…I…SO…." I moan out to him. Words have escaped me.
Without warning, Eric rises so that our chests are now pressed against one another's from hip to shoulder. He begins to move back and forth and encourages me to do the same; with his help, of course.
"Look at me," he says.
My eyes immediately pop open and I stare into his beautiful blue ones. There are so many emotions swirling around in them. If I had been in my right mind, I could probably read every thought he is having just by watching them flow across his eyes.
I lean back a little and press my hands down on his legs. Changing the angle, I begin to move up and down his glorious cock with more leverage.
The burning that I've felt low in my center several times in the past hours, starts again. Okay, he's turned me into an orgasm machine. But I don't care. If all I can do from now on is cum for this man, I'll be a very happy girl.
"Eric…UH," I feel my walls pulsing around him.
"Let go, my sweet girl," I hear him say between his teeth. I can tell that he's holding on by a thread.
I move just a little further back and "AHHHHHHHHHHHH!" I didn't even get a chance to prepare for it this time.
I'm screaming out his name as I feel him push into me once, twice more and over the edge he comes with me.
Falling forward, I wrap my arms around his neck as he pulls me in closer to him.
Our breathing, though heavy, matches as we come down and back to ourselves.
"Is…Is it always like this?" I ask him.
"I…I don't know," he says as he pulls away slightly.
I look at him and I know he sees the confusion in my eyes.
He touches the side of my face lightly with his fingertips and smiles. "This is the first time I've ever made love to someone," he says.
I shake my head slightly trying to clear my head. He couldn't have said what I think he has. "But…Felicia, Soph…"
He cuts me off with a kiss. I swear I feel him twitch were we are still attached. I let out a soft groan at the feeling.
He pulls back and looks at me. "It will be like this for us, My Love, always." He says softly.
***0***
EPOV
I thought I was dreaming for a moment when I awoke to find my beautiful angel staring down at me. The light from the window behind her caught in her hair and I could have sworn that a Goddess herself was lying next to me. I had to touch her. I needed to make sure she was real.
I thought that this morning she would be unsure of what we did last night. I was sure that she would tell me that it was a mistake. That it was too soon. That we were responding to the drama at the club and that it wasn't right.
Contrary to what I feared, Sookie looked at me with such loving and comforting eyes. I needed to make love to her. I needed the connection back. Okay, I had that connection over and over again until we saw the sun coming up; but needed it again.
After another round of showing Sookie what exactly she means to me, we fell back to sleep for a few more hours.
We were rudely awakened by her cell phone going off. Since neither of us knew where it landed last night, we were forced out of bed to find it. It took her phone going off twice and mine once until we located them.
I picked mine up first.
"Hello," I say.
"I got him Am," I hear in the background. "What the hell are you two up to, asshole?" I hear my sister ask me.
"Well hello to you too, Sister of mine," I look at the clock. "Isn't it a little early for you?" I knew for a fact that Pam wouldn't have gotten out of the club before four and it was just nine now.
"Yeah, well," she huffs. "Am is been up since dawn working out this shit for Sookie."
"Shit," I pause, "what shit?"
"She'll tell you when she gets off the phone with Amelia. Put her on fuckass," she says. Boy she's colorful this morning. "I would like to get at least an hour's worth of sleep before all this goes down."
She hands the phone off.
"Eric?" I hear Amelia say.
"What's the problem, Amelia?" I ask her. I can see Sookie's worried face so I pull her close to me.
"Let me talk to Sookie, first," she says. "Then I'll let her talk to you. If you have any questions after that, we can talk before the press conference."
"What.."
"Eric, let me talk to Sookie, first. Okay?"
I huff. I know that there is no use trying to pry the information out of her. For one, Amelia is as tough as Pam and there is no way you're getting anything out of her unless she wants to give it. And two, Sookie is already pulling on my arm to get the phone.
I smile at her determination to move my arm and lower it to give her the phone.
***0***
SPOV
"Amelia," I say as the phone reaches my ear. "What's going on? Is it the DA? Did Elizabeth do something else?"
"Sookie," she says. "Calm down, hun."
I take a deep breath and wait to hear what she has to say.
"First off, I've been on the phone with Laf and the publishing house since six this morning."
"Six, oh Am…"
"Hush and let me finish." He says with that stern, do what I say, voice.
"Okay," I say.
"Good," she pauses. "Okay, Laf wanted me to let you know that the DA's office is sending someone out to get that tape today. They need it to go to the judge."
I nod. "Okay," I say softly, knowing that, that's not the end of it.
"Okay, we are trying to figure out what to do about the CMO and their announcement yesterday. We think the best thing for you to do is hold a press conference to combat anymore problems." She says.
"Oh, Amelia, I don't…"
"Sookie," she says. "It's the only way to denounce their claims on you." She pauses. "Laf and I both agree that the questions should be kept to just the allegations and your books. If the question about Bill and what the DA is doing, you can say that you aren't at liberty to say anything. If you're asked about Eric, well that's up to the two of you. You can tell them that's it's none of their business or you can say that you are in a relationship, your choice."
I look up at Eric who hasn't let me go from his grip yet. I can tell that he's picking up part of the conversation.
"I…I'll have to talk to Eric about the last part." I say to her.
"Okay, well, whichever you decide, we'll stand behind you." I can hear her shuffling papers. "We are meeting the press at Fangtasia at noon. Then we can all go to Jason's barbeque. He is going to be there as well as me, Pam, Alcide, Sam and of course Lafayette to back you up. Tara and JB will stay with Crystal. She wanted to be there too. But Jason thought it best that she stay in bed. Guess she was having some contractions last night."
"Is she okay?" I ask. It's still too early. The babies need to stay where they are just a little while longer.
"Everyone is fine, Sookie." She laughs. "Good God, Sookie. You have the Colligate for Moral Order breathing down your back. You have Elizabeth Compton threatening you and you're worried about Crystal."
I huff. "Well of course I am," I say. "Those bastards are attacking my books. I mean I hate it, but it's a book. The DA is going to deal with the Compton issues. There is nothing I can do about that. Crystal, well that's real, ya know?"
"Yeah, I know, honey." She pauses. "Okay, you need to get your fine ass in gear. Hop off the sex-god on two legs and get ready. We will meet you at the club at eleven-thirty."
"You sure the club is the best place to do this?" I ask her.
She laughs. "What better place to have a press conference of a Vampire writer than a Vampire Bar?"
I guess she has a point there. We say goodbye and we hang up.
I turn to Eric who is desperately waiting for me to tell him what's going on.
When I reiterate the conversation, he goes very quiet.
He touches the side of my face when I'm done. The touch alone sends shockwaves through my body. I know he can feel it too because he gets this silly grin on his face.
"What do you want to do, Sookie?" He asks me.
I touch my hand to his. "About what?" I ask.
He sighs. "Sookie, I know this whole thing with Compton is, well, complicated," he looks slightly down. No longer meeting my eyes. "I'll understand if you want to wait to tell people about us."
I can feel the pain, the longing, the oh, I don't know what you would call it. But I don't like it. Touching the side of his face, I bring his eyes back to mine. I see such hurt and confusion in them. All I want to do is take it away.
"Eric," I say softly. "I would yell it from the tallest rooftop if I could." I say and I see the light returning to his eyes.
"What?" He asks.
"Eric Northman, I'm with you. You are my life. We are going to have such a wonderful future. I can't wait for it to start," I kiss him quickly and pull back. "That future is going to start today. When those people leave the club this afternoon, they will be sure of three things."
"What is that, My Love," he says and kisses me just as quickly.
"One, that my books are here to stay. Two, Bill Compton is history and Three…"
I pause. "And three?" He asks.
"And three, that I am in love with Eric Northman and no one else."
After what can only be described as an unbridled make out session, we finally make it into the shower and dress with very little distraction. Oh hell, we were both distracted, but we knew that if we were late, Pam and Amelia would tan our hide.
Standing in my closet in a bra and panties, I look at my closet for what to wear. First we have to deal with the press, and then we were going to Jason's. After that, not sure what we were going to do.
I hear Eric walk in behind me and before I can turn around, he's slipped his very long arms around my waste and pulled me close. Pulling my hair to the side, he leaves a very warm open mouth kiss on my exposed neck. Closing my eyes, I sigh into the feel of it as I wrap my arms around his.
"Love, if you stand here like this much longer, we are going to need another shower," he growls into my neck. The vibrations of it send shivers all over my body. Who knew there was a nerve that went from my neck to between my legs? I will have to remember that for another time.
"I think I would be okay with that." I move closer to him.
"MMMM, I would as well," he kisses me again. "But I've seen Pam mad. I have a feeling that Amelia would be a force as well."
"Worse," I sigh.
"Ahh, now I wouldn't want the both mad at us." He giggles softly. "I believe, we would be licking our wounds for some time after a beating from them."
I turn my head and look up at him. "I haven't done many press conferences," I say to him. "I'm a little worried."
He turns me in his arms and looks down at me. "Don't you worry about anything, My Love. We will all be there for you, showing a united front." He gets very serious for a moment. "You will never feel like you are alone again."
The sincerity of his words sings to my heart. I can feel the tears welling in my eyes and the knot forming in my throat. I nod my understanding to him because I don't exactly trust my voice.
He smiles, reaches behind me and pulls something toward me. "I think this would look beautiful," He says and passes a black and white flowered dress to me. It has a soft pink belt and matching shrug. It was from the "Elizabeth approved" side of my closet. But I had to admit, it was one of the only ones I liked.
I nod and smile at his choice.
"Good," he says and kisses my nose. "Don't forget to bring something for after and oh," he says and starts to back out of the room. "Pack and overnight bag."
I tilt my head in question to him. He smirks that panty dropping smirk. Yeah, wouldn't mind taking another shower.
I can tell he knows what I'm thinking because the smirk becomes a smile. "Later, I promise, My Love," he says. "But as for the bag, I would like it if you would let me show you my place tonight?"
He says it as a question, but I know I really have no choice. Oh come on, that face, that body and KNOWING what he has in store for me. Yeah, I don't stand a chance in hell.
I nod and he leaves to let me finish getting ready.
Twenty minutes later, I am dressed, quaffed, and heading out of the bedroom with two bags in hand. Dropping them and my four inch peep toe pumps at the door, I go in search of my beautiful man. Boyfriend sounds too simple. Soulmate sounds more precise. But you can't walk around introducing someone as your soulmate. People would look at you funny.
I find him in the family room, flipping through channels. He is dressed in a pair of worn jeans and a cotton top. He looks up and smiles at me. "You look beautiful," he says.
I return the smile. "Thank you," he says.
"I've already had some clothes delivered to the club," he says pointing to his clothes. "I planned for the barbeque not a conference."
I nod my understanding and head toward the kitchen.
I had made up a few items to bring to Jason's so; I pull out the three salads, chocolate cake and pulled pork I had in a crock pot. Checking to make sure I have everything, I run to the mudroom to grab a cooler. When I return, Eric is there to help me gather everything.
Just when we pack up the last item, the doorbell rings.
I go to answer it and Eric is close behind me. I don't think he is too sure that Elizabeth is not above coming out here to give me 'what for.' Truthfully, neither am I.
I open the door to see two people standing there. The gentleman is tall, but not as tall as Eric with sandy blonde hair and blue eyes. He looks pretty built under his suit jacket but his face shows years of hard times. Like he's seen more of life than he ever wanted too.
The second person is a woman with short brown hair and matching eyes. She is slim build and a shorter than I. But I have a feeling that she could take me in a fight. Hell, she may be able to take Eric in a fight. She smiles slightly, but it doesn't reach her eyes. I think she could be friendly but her life has given her many things that keep her up at night and untrusting.
Granted this only my first impressions of these people and I could be very wrong.
"Ms. Stackhouse?" The woman asks.
"Yes?" I answer here.
"I'm Detective Maria Westford," she says. "This is my partner, Detective Monroe. We are here from the DA's office." She says and each of them shows me their badges. Eric and I look at them and I nod. Detective Westford nods. "I believe you have a tape for us."
I nod.
"I'll get it, Sookie." Eric says. I smile my nod to them.
"Would you like to come in?" I ask them.
They both decline. "No ma'am," Detective Monroe says, "but thank you."
Eric quickly returns with the device and hands it over to Detective Westford. She nods and places it in a clear plastic bag, peels off some adhesive at the opening and seals it. She pulls out a pen, writes something on the front and tears off have the sheet, handing it to me.
"That is proof that we've taken this into evidence," she says. "I'm sure ADA Mason will be in touch if she has any questions." She says.
I nod. "Do you," I point to the tape. "Do you know what's going to happen now?"
"The ADA will assess the issue and speak to the judge tomorrow," Detective Monroe says. "But from what I understand of the case," he looks to his partner, "Mrs. Compton broke a restraining order by calling you. It was very smart of you to start the recording. Otherwise, we may only have the phone records to prove she called."
"That was Eric," I say and l turn slightly to look at him. "I was a bit in shock."
"Understandable, Miss," Detective Monroe says.
I almost want to tell him to call me Sookie. But I've spoken to enough officers for research for my books and seen enough cop shows on TV to know that it wasn't appropriate.
They thank us for our time and leave quickly.
Eric and I watch them pull out of the drive and when they are gone, we get back to our tasks at hand. If we don't hurry, we were going to be late. Or on time, rather and that, to Amelia, is late.
We quickly pack up all the food, grab it and my bags and are in the car before too much time passes.
We pull out of the drive and head toward the interstate. We are quiet but it isn't an uncomfortable silence. Just quiet. I appreciate it as I'm trying to get my thoughts together. Eric soothes me further by rubbing the back of our entwined hands with his thumb. If it was any other time, the feeling he was creating in me would be doing things to my lower region once more. However, the closer we get to Shreveport, the more nervous I'm becoming.
I've only had to defend my books once in all these years. Not surprisingly, it was to a group of religious leaders that were attacking not only my books, but several others in the genre of supernatural and fantasy. But that time, I was with about a dozen other authors and all I really did was stand there. Others spoke up and answered questions.
Bill was away on his first campaign trip at the time and when he got back, he was furious that I had participated in the interview. My only saving grace was that I didn't actually speak and stayed in the background. After that, when Elizabeth introduced me to anyone, she would just say that I did a little writing on the side as a hobby.
"Campaigning for Bill and being there for him is a full time job," I can hear her voice ringing in my ears. The sound of it is like nails on a chalkboard.
Quicker than I expected, Eric pulls the car up behind the club and is out and helping me with my things. We are silent all the way in and up to the small bedroom he'd shown me only days before. Everyone is there waiting for us.
Amelia turns when she hears us walk in. "Oh good," she says. "You're here. I thought I would have to come and drag you both out of the house."
I shake my head. "I know better than that, Am," I say and hug her.
Eric kisses my head and shoots off the bathroom. I'm assuming to change. On his way he kisses Pam's cheek softly which makes her smile.
"How you doing, hon," Laf says.
I nod and tell him about the two detectives. He nods at me. "Good," he says. "I spoke to Ana this morning. She has already spoken to the Judge. They are presenting the tape to him first thing tomorrow morning. I believe, out of courtesy of her husband's position, they are offering for her to come in herself to meet with Ana and the judge. But if her attorney doesn't contact them by tomorrow afternoon, an arrest warrant will be issued."
I look at him and I know he can tell I'm in shock.
He laughs. But it isn't his fun laugh. "Sookie, they broke a restraining order. Elizabeth is lucky she didn't find herself in jail last night. If it was any other case, she probably would. Ana is playing this one close to her vest. She is doing everything by the book with the judges and her boss' approval. She wants no surprises when it's time to prosecute."
I sigh. "You think it's going to come to that?" I ask him. "I mean, they have to know you will find the money, right?" I ask.
He nods. "Yeah, but it may be out of our hands, Sook," he says. "The foundation spans across several states. There is federal funding and grants involved. The Feds may take over if Ana can find enough evidence to support it. Right now, she says, she has enough to prosecute on about six charges and can prosecute his father and four others just by association alone. If she pushed it, she could prosecute the whole firm. Elizabeth wouldn't have seen anything but humiliation. That is, until she called you." He smirks. "That woman does think she walks on water, now doesn't she."
I shrug. "She thinks her husband's power and name gets her a lot."
Eric comes out in a black suit with rose colored shirt and tie. I smile at him. Damn he looks good.
He comes back over to me as I'm being hugged by my brother.
"Hey man," he says to Eric and shakes his hand.
Alcide is embracing me and then turns to Eric and gives him a man hug.
"Okay," Amelia says and we all turn to her. "Sookie, this is what Laf, the publishing house and I came up with. But you have final say. I want you to read it and see if you feel comfortable with the wording."
I take the paper from her, sit down on one of the very white chairs in the middle of the room and begin to read. Eric takes up a position next to me, leaning on the arm of the chair and everyone else takes seats around us.
It takes me a few minutes to read it all the way through. I read it once again and then look up at Amelia.
"I think it's fine," I say. "Are we going to give them time to answer questions?" I ask.
She nods. "We will. But if anything goes off topic, you can do what we said on the phone. Laf and the DA don't want you to say anything about Bill and the case." She looks back and forth between Eric and I. "So, are we going to go public?"
I look up at Eric and smile, "definitely."
He pulls me close and kisses my forehead. I could get lost in his eyes right now and I wouldn't care.
"Good," Pam says, pulling us out of our little lovefest. "Because these went viral this morning." She tosses a folder on the table.
Eric leans down and picks it up. Opening it, I see the first picture of Eric and I entering the Club the night before. Okay, that's not bad. Then there are several of us in the club dancing. Still not too bad. Then there are few of us at dinner in Shreveport the night Eric took me out and us leaving Fangtasia after practice. That seems a little off. There are pictures of me coming and going from Jason's office and doing some errands around town. There is even a picture of Eric dropping me off at the house, kissing me goodbye and leaving. Then there were pictures of Eric and I leaving the club last night, the photographer getting physical and Eric's angry exchange with him.
I look from the pictures to Eric then back to the room. "Okay, I can understand the pictures from last night. But these," I point to the others, "don't make sense."
"It means," Amelia says. "Someone knew that the two of you were getting close. Or at the very least, someone was put on your tail when you left New Orleans."
I shake my head. "Why would anyone want to follow me around?" I ask them.
"Well the tag line says something," Amelia points to the top of the picture.
I read it: "Puritan Senator hopeful's Fiancée gets caught Vamping around."
I shake my head. "This is ridiculous!" I scream. "Eric, I'm so sorry. I didn't know any of this would happen." I start pacing the floor. "God, what are your parent's going to say?" I start pacing the room. "What about the people that work for you? Oh, and Jason's clients. This is just…."
"WOW!" Eric says, putting himself in front of me. "Sookie, calm down," he says. "Nothing has happened." He turns to Amelia. "Tell her that nothing's happened."
I try to move around him but he won't let me go.
"Sookie, STOP!" Jason says. "This affects no one. So you got someone new in your life. It means nothing to anyone else, unless you make it matter."
"He's right," Amelia says. "All it shows is that you aren't in New Orleans and you have been seen with someone. You've already said that you aren't with Bill any longer. Someone is just trying to stir up trouble."
I shake my head. "But Eric's business, the Foundation…"
"None of that is affected at all, Sookie," Eric says to me, rubbing my arms. "All it shows is that you and I are together. We are going to go downstairs as a united front. You are going to dispel these rumors about you denouncing your books and that you have no intention of changing your genre."
"He's right, Sook," I look over to see Sam next to Lafayette. "Someone was trying to make you seem like you were stepping out on the ass. Since you are no longer with him, it doesn't matter at all. Why are you so worried about how this looks to everyone?"
I sigh. "Because, Eric's father owns NorRav, we need to deal with the Foundation. Eric's business may be hurt by all this and I…"
"Hey," Eric says to me, kissing my temple. "All this shows is that we have been seen out together. That we went to the party last night and that you are milling around Bon Temps and Shreveport." He says. "Whoever took these," he points to the table, "was trying to cause trouble. They failed."
I allow him to pull me into his arms. I still feel like this is going to be bad for everyone involved. But I seem to be the only one that thinks so.
***0***
William's POV
I sit at the end of the table looking all the paperwork. Well, I should say, the lack of paperwork. There are about a hundred documents not present for these cases. Not only has William failed to file appropriate documents for the Stackhouse Estate, there is a misappropriation of funds from the state.
Jason Stackhouse was issued his part of the Estate and their parent's estate. Documentation is there. All the right signatures are in place. But for Sookie, yeah, the numbers are grossly inaccurate.
"How did he think he would get away with this?" I ask Carter who is sitting on the other side of the table from me.
He shakes his head. "I don't know. But if the DA has this stuff," he waves his hand. "She knows that the Firm stole from the young Miss Stackhouse," he says. "Where's the money, William?" He asks.
I look up at him. "How the hell am I supposed to know?" I ask.
"Because," he pulls out a document. "This affidavit states that you issued the check to one Jason Corbett Stackhouse. Now where is the documentation on his sister's half."
I shake my head. "Bil…Bill said he was going to take care of that. Later that day, he said something about her making him power of attorney and that everything was good."
Carter looks in another file and pulls out two papers. He tosses them in front of me. "What do you see here?" He asks me.
I look at the two documents. One is for the codicil to the Stackhouse Farmhouse. The other is a Power of Attorney. Both have the signature of Sookie Stackhouse. The problem; well they aren't even close to matching.
"I don't understand why…"
Carter pulls out two more documents. I don't take the time to read through them but I can tell that they are for the Foundation.
"These are documents for different decisions regarding the Foundation," he says. "Bill had diverted over ten thousand dollars to a discretionary fund for promotion," he says. "This is his signature. But the documents signed, allowing him to request this on Sookie's behalf, are missing." He says. "That is a lot of money and the Foundation as well as the Feds are going to want to know where it is."
I shake my head. "Wh..why would he do this?" I ask.
Carter pulls out another file. "This was in his office," he says and drops it in front of me.
I open it but shiver at thinking of what I'm going to find. "One of the documents is a prenuptial agreement. Basically, it says that when Sookie and Bill marry, all her assets become joint. His, however, baring his trust, can't be touched," he says as he pulls out another document. "This is documents pulling Sookie's name from the Foundation." He pulls another one. "This is a letter to her editor, calling for the retraction of all her books."
I look at every single one of them. Each have a signature but none are even close to the one I witnessed her sign so long ago.
"Why…" I close the file. I take a few deep breaths. "What does all this mean?" I ask. "What could my son be facing?"
Carter shakes his head. "He could be looking at twelve to fifteen years, if he's lucky. If the Fed's decide to do something, well, he could be looking at longer."
I shake my head. "Why would he do this? He had his whole life ahead of him. He was going to…" I shake my head.
"There are a few million reasons why," Carter says.
He stands and goes to the windows. "Any luck getting him home?" He asks.
I shake my head without looking up. "They can't seem to track him down," I say. "I've got some of my best investigators looking for him."
"Yeah, well," he says. "You best get him back here as soon as you can. Boy is in a heap of trouble. If they decided to indict, they are going to want him in the state. He's lucky he hasn't been arrested yet."
I huff. "Well then the police can try to track him down," I stand, pushing my chair out behind me. "This is a disaster!" I scream and start pacing the room. "Bill has not only screwed up his life, but he's brought me and his mother down with him."
"You got that right," Carter says. "You could be looking at ten years yourself."
I stop and look at him. "For what!" I scream.
"You are the only other partner in this firm, William. If they hold the firm liable that would be you." He says. "I could argue you had no knowledge of your son's actions. But with Marcome on the bench, I'm not sure he will even listen."
"Then get another judge," I say. "One that we can reason with."
Carter shakes his head again. "That will all depend on if you and Bill are being tried separately or co-conspirators."
"Conspirators, I'm..I…" I throw my hands up and walk past him to the bar. Pulling out the good stuff from the cabinet below, I slosh some golden courage into a glass and gulp it down.
I close my eyes and take a few breaths. I see my life slipping away from me. Everything I've worked for. Everything I've done to get ahead, to provide for my family. All of it, is shot to hell because of my son's greed.
I have no idea why he would force Sookie to resign from the Foundation as well as giving up her books. It seems so, well, controlling.
Every part of his life is calculated and precise. His mother taught him that. Every little thing was accounted for and considered before doing. Why, then, would he so blatantly forge legal documents and leave them for others to find.
The answer is simple, he never meant anyone to find them.
I hear Carter's phone buzz. He looks at it and then looks at me. "They want Liz in the DA's office tomorrow morning. If they aren't satisfied with her reasoning for breaking the restraining order, she will be up against the judge." He puts the phone in his pocket, walks over to the table and grabs his briefcase then turns to me. "Come on," he says. "We need to prep your wife."
I say nothing as I grab my own briefcase and walk to the doors. What can you say at a time like this? Yes, it's best to say nothing.
***0***
SPOV
My family has sufficiently calmed me down. Pam and Amelia help me fix my hair and makeup. Now, it's time to head downstairs.
I hear Amelia speaking to someone on her phone. I'm assuming that they are aids from the publishing house.
The doors opened to the press twenty minutes ago. Amelia thought it a good idea to wait until they were all seated and ready before we came in. I had been half listening when she started telling everyone what news outlets were represented. I think I heard a few of the local papers, a few national ones as well as every news show in the area. I think she said something about representatives from MSNBC, CNN, Fox and even InStyle Network were here. Why this is such a big deal, I don't know. But if there is one thing I know is that angst and controversy sells.
We walk in and I can hear the murmurs and then I can't see much do to the flashes going off.
As preplanned, Amelia and Laf walk up to the podium set up by the little rise to the VIP area. Eric takes my hand and stands on my right as Jason stands to my left. Sam, Pam and Alcide are near Eric.
Amelia waits a moment for everyone to quiet down before she begins. "Good Afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of Ms. Stackhouse, Dillard House Press and myself, we would like to welcome you to Fangtasia. We thought there no better place for Vampire and Fantasy writer to speak than a Vampire Bar." She pauses and we hear some laughter.
"At this time, I would like to introduce you to the Author of the best-selling Vampire series, Savannah Blue Vampire TALES, Ms. Sookie Stackhouse."
Amelia steps back with Lafayette as I move to the microphone.
I smile at the room. "Good afternoon, everyone and thank you for coming on such short notice," I pause. "I wanted to speak to you today to confront the rumors and alleged announcement concerning my books and any future publications of the Vampire TALES," I pause for a moment looking around and then I continue. "The has been some talk that I am planning to not only announce the discontinuation of my stories as well as asking the publishing company to pull them from circulation. Nothing can be further from the truth." I pause again. "I've never spoken, discussed or agreed to do any of the things the Coalition for Moral Order claims I have," I wait a moment as there are some people whispering back and forth. "In fact, other than seeing the spokes people for the Coalition on the news, I've never come into contact with any of them. The thought that this type of organization has the right or privilege to speak on behalf of me is just absurd. I understand that a request has been made to them, asking for full retraction of their statements."
I look out to the crowd. "I understand that some people may not like my novels. I don't expect everyone to enjoy them. They aren't for everyone. It doesn't give anyone the right to force an author to stop writing. Freedom of speech allows them to say whatever they want. It also gives me the right to write anything I want. I would never stand in the Orders way of voicing their opinions regarding my books or the genre in which I write. That is their right. What they don't have the right to do is to speak on my behalf, regardless on whose authority they say they have."
I look around the room. "I thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to come here today so I can set the record straight. The TALES series is not being abandoned or retracted. I intend to continue writing until Savannah has nothing left to say."
Laf moves up to the podium. "Ms. Stackhouse will now entertain some questions."
Hands shoot up all over the room. Laf points to one.
The young woman who couldn't be any older than I, stands and smiles. "Ms. Stackhouse," she says. "Alisha Greene, Wakeup Louisiana," she pauses. "Do you have any idea why the Order issued that statement regarding your books?"
"I'm sorry, I think you would have to ask them," I say to her.
Hands shoot up and Laf picks another one. "Ms. Stackhouse, Brandon Johnson, CNBC," he says. "A follow-up to the last question. Isn't it true that William Compton has allegedly received the support of the Order for his race for the junior senator of Louisiana?"
"I wouldn't know. Clearly, I'm not on the campaign trail with Mr. Compton nor am I part of his campaign."
"But haven't you been linked to Mr. Compton, socially. In fact, wasn't it reported that you are engaged." He says.
I shake my head. "Mr. Compton and I did have a relationship but it is over. As for the reports that we were engaged, I assure you that they were just rumors. I've never been nor do I ever intend to be engaged to William Compton."
Hands go up again. Another woman stands up. "Ms. Stackhouse, Bridgette Blaze, Faith TV, isn't it true that you were just recently seen in the company of other men and that could be the underlining reason that Mr. Compton suggested you should denounce your books?" I look at her. How would she know any of this?
"Ms. Blaze," I say to her. "Who I see socially is my personal business. What Mr. Compton thought regarding my books and what he wanted me to do about them, no longer interests me."
"Ms. Stackhouse, isn't it true that your books have been labeled no more than pornography with a plot?" She presses on.
I could feel Eric move a little closer to me and I also know that Laf and Amelia are willing to jump in anytime I need them. But that isn't who I am. I'm Sookie Adele Stackhouse and I'm proud of my books.
"Ms. Blaze," I say to her. "As I said, it is your first amendment right to say whatever you like about my books. You have the right to buy it or don't buy it. You have the right to read it in a book club or even line your bird cage with it." Several people laugh. "That is why we have such a wonderful country. I'm free to write what I want and you are free to not read it."
There are several people laughing when Ms. Blaze tries to speak up once more. "But don't you think you have a moral obligation to the young people who pick up your book or to the woman who romanticize just blatant evil and debauchery?"
"Careful, Ms. Blaze, you are starting to sound like a sound byte for the Order." I say to her.
"You have no response for me, Ms. Stackhouse?" She says.
I sigh. "I refuse to get into a debate here and now on what my obligation is or isn't." She goes to say something else but I put my hand up to stop her. "I will say that my books are not geared toward anyone under the age of eighteen. I would expect parents to know what their children are reading and make decisions that are right for their families. Also, my books are fantasy. In saying that, it isn't real nor do I ever expect anyone to think that they are reality in any form. My books are written solely for entertainment purposes."
I point to another person. I can tell that Ms. Bridget with the fake smile and equally fake boobs doesn't get dismissed very often.
"Ms. Stackhouse, Brett Parker, New York Times, what do you have to say regarding accusations and charges being brought up against Mr. Compton and his law firm for among other things, misappropriation of funds for the Stackhouse Foundation."
Before I can say anything, Lafayette is beside me. "I'm sorry, Ms. Stackhouse is not at liberty to discuss anything pertaining to this or any other charges."
"Ms. Stackhouse," another woman stood up. "There were pictures circulating the internet this morning. Would you and, ah, Mr. Northman like to comment on them?"
"I…" I'm about to say something but Eric interrupts me.
"I would like to answer that, if I man?" He asks and looks at me. I smile and nod to him. He turns around to the woman. "Ms. Stackhouse and I are currently in a relationship. The pictures you saw were of us going about our day, enjoying a night out and celebrating this clubs Anniversary."
"What do you think Mr. Compton is going to say when he sees the pictures?" Another asks me.
I shrug. "Again, that is none of my concern. Now," I say looking around. "Does anyone have any other questions regarding my books or the publication date of the upcoming release?"
A few more questions regarding the books, the websites dedicated and of course someone wanted to know if we were seriously thinking of turning the series into a movie.
"I would love to work on a movie script based on the books," I say with a smile. "But it would have to be for the right reasons and the right time. We are currently talking to several producers but nothing has been decided yet."
"Ms. Stackhouse," another asks. "One other question," she pauses. "How to you feel about the rumors that Mr. Compton has been having an affair with his longtime press agent and campaign coordinator Lorena Ball-Madden?"
I stand there stunned for a minute. I mean yeah, why wouldn't he be having an affair with Lorena. Hell, he was with her and not me all the time. She's with him on every trip and most events. That would really make sense. Then why stay with me? The money, he stayed for the money.
"Ms. Stackhouse has no knowledge of this and can neither confirm nor deny that rumor," Laf says for me. "Now, we would like to thank you for your time. Food and refreshments have been set up for you. Please help yourself."
Lafayette turns to leave and Eric takes me by the waste and we follow. No one speaks as we get into the elevator and head back upstairs. We walk in and go to sit down on one of the couches. Pam has had a late lunch setup for us in the mini apartment.
"Sookie, you okay hon?" Lafayette asks.
I nod. "He really is a son-of-a-bitch, isn't he?" I ask the room. No one answers me. They don't have to. It wasn't a question I really needed answered.
At that moment I know that Bill Compton will be part of my past and the past of my family and friends as soon as possible. Never again will I allow him access to my life, my head or my heart. My name is Sookie Stackhouse and I've got the love of a good man and a great family. That asshole is nothing to me anymore.
***0***
Elizabeth's POV
I watch the news cast but I really don't understand why this is such a big deal. Why didn't she just let it lie? Is she trying to destroy my family? Is that it? Is she trying to destroy any hope that my son has to ever be elected? Even if these outrageous charges are dropped, how will he get elected now? The media is fickle, however. Perhaps this little incident will just be swept under the rug. Well, they would have if that little hussy didn't open her mouth and say she had left my son. Why does anyone even care?
The phone rings and I go to answer it.
"Yes?" I ask.
"Lizzy," I hear, "this is Sarah Newlin. I was wondering if you would like to tell me what it is I'm watching on the afternoon news cast?" She asks.
"Sarah," I say. "I thought you were still in Colorado?" I ask her.
"No, we came home yesterday afternoon. Steven and his father wanted to be here for the press conference. Now, I turn on the TV and see this, well, woman, basically denying everything your son told us yesterday. So I'm asking you, why is it that my husband has received a call from a Lafayette Reynolds indicating that if a formal apology isn't made to Sookie Stackhouse in the next forty-eight hours that we are going to find ourselves up against a slander and defamation of character lawsuit? Why is it that your son assured nine men that Miss Stackhouse would be denouncing her books and that she would soon be Mrs. William Compton? Why is it that she is standing on stage with Eric Northman? Do you know who his father is? William assured my husband that Sookie felt the same way as he did on a number of issues. Now we hear that it was all lies? Do you know how this makes us look?"
I sit down as I watch the questions being asked. "Sarah, I don't think…"
"Lizzy, my husband would like to speak to your son." She says.
The phone goes silent for a moment.
"Mrs. Compton," I hear. "This is Steven Newlin. I would appreciate it if I could speak with your son."
"I'm afraid he isn't here, Reverend," I say to him. "You may want to try his cell phone."
"Yes, well, we've tried that. I also know that he left no information on where he was going this week. I understand that he and Mrs. Lorena Ball-Madden have not been in touch with the campaign office. I would think, at a time like this, he would have let you know where he is."
"I don't think I know what you are going on about, Reverend."
"It's simple, Mrs. Compton. I received a call yesterday from ADA Anabeth Mason. She asked me several questions about your son and his whereabouts. Considering me and my father were the last people to speak with him. She also asked me some very disturbing questions regarding finances and if I received any donation from Mr. Compton in the last year."
"I don't think that would be any of her business." I say to him.
"Yes, well," he says. "I've heard some unsettling rumors about your son being brought up on charges very soon. As you can imagine, we cannot be associated with him if it will look poorly on the Order."
"Reverend Newlin," I say standing up. "I assure you that this is all a huge misunderstanding. I'm sure that Ms. Mason will make a full apology to my son once this is all cleared up."
"Be that as it may, Mrs. Compton. My father and I recommended him to the members of our Order. We have a great many ties to political figures and business men throughout the country. We can't, in good conscious, encourage our members and associates to support a man who is in trouble with the law."
"Reverend, please," I say to him. "We don't even know what this is all about yet. Just…just give us a week to work through this before you make any decisions. I know my son was thrilled to work with you. I know his ideas are similar to your own. Trust me, in a week, everything will be cleared up."
He is silent for a moment. "Fine, Mrs. Compton. I will give Bill a week to sort this mess out. However, we are up against a lawsuit. So I am sure you understand that we will need to do something to appease Ms. Stackhouse."
"I…I will talk to her. I will let her know that this could potentially harm more than just my son. I assure you, Reverend, we will fix this."
He laughs. "From what I saw of that little spitfire on the news, I don't think you will have much in the way of persuasion with her. But I will give you the week. I'll also contact her attorney to see if we can come up with something to delay the situation."
"No, I'll take care of it," I turn to see my husband and Carter standing in the doorway.
"Who are you speaking to, Lizzy?" Carter asks me.
"Can you hold on a moment?" I ask the Reverend.
I put my hand over the receiver. "It's Reverend Newlin. He is going to pull his endorsement. William this is a nightmare." I say to him.
Carter comes over and takes the phone from me. He starts speaking to the Reverend as William moves me out of the room.
"Elizabeth, did I hear you correctly? Did you just tell the Reverend that YOU would be speaking to Sookie to put a stop to this?" He asks me in very strong but silent tones.
I nod. "What was I supposed to say to him? I couldn't very well tell him that I can't speak to the girl. He's ready to pull his backing on a rumor. If I said…"
"Elizabeth, do you know what is at stake here?" He asks me.
"What are you talking about? This is just a misunderstanding. Sookie is trying to hurt our boy. I told him that she wasn't good for him. Did you hear the press conference? Did you hear what they said? And what is this about Lorena? I know she's angry but I would think she would have the decency to not slander my son's name."
He shakes his head at me. "You don't get it, do you? Bill is guilty of a lot of things…"
"William, how can you say that?" I scream at him. "Our son deserves the benefit of the doubt from us. How could you…"
"Elizabeth, Carter and I have gone through all the documents. He's stolen money, he's misappropriated funds from her father's foundation. He's forged her signature on legal documents. He's failed to file documents on her behalf. What's more, he's set it up to take everything she has once he marries her."
I shake my head at him. He's just trying to anger me. "None of that is true. I know that this foundation is run by others, not Sookie. How could he misappropriate funds? Why would he want to? Those places are just," I shake my head. "They shouldn't be in our communities. Sarah Newlin says…"
He grabs my arm again. "I care nothing for what Sarah Newlin says. You and Bill have harmed that girl in ways I'm only now realizing. But be that as it may," he shoves my arm away. "Bill is looking at over a decade in jail. I'm look at that in half because of the Firm. You my dear are looking at a bench warrant for violating a restraining order. Our life as we know it is over!" He screams at me.
"You need to calm down, William, before you have a heart attack." I hear Carter say from the doorway.
William turns around and looks at him. "What did the Reverend say?" He asks.
"He's going to hold off saying anything about the Order's endorsement for a week. That should give us time. I'm not sure what can be done, but we'll see." He looks at me. "Elizabeth, I want you to promise me that you aren't going to make contact with the Stackhouse girl. I can argue your state of mind wasn't sound when you called her yesterday. If the judge hears you call her again, well." He shrugs.
I wave my hand at that. They aren't going to put me in jail for calling the girl.
"What are we going to do about Bill?" I ask him. "This is just a nightmare. He won't be able to recover from this. What will the public say? He has to do something to spin this so we can save face."
Carter laughs. "Lizzy, I don't think you realize what is going on. It's going to take all my connections to keep your husband out of jail. Never mind your son continuing his campaign. The boy will be lucky if he can run for anything other than inmate of the year."
I look at both men. They have to be kidding. This has got to be a dream. Our life, our whole life is falling down around us.
I slowly sit in a chair, I know is behind me. "Wh…Why would she do this to us?" I ask William. "Af…After everything I did for that girl. Wh..Why would she deliberately try to destroy us?"
"She isn't doing anything," William says taking my hand in his. "Bill did this."
I pull my hand from his. "My son wouldn't do what you say he has."
I stand and go upstairs. There is no way I'm listening to any of this. My son has done nothing wrong.
***0***
Bill's POV
"You didn't have to hit him," I hear Lorena as I start to come around. I'm still in the same seat. My hands are still behind my back.
"Shut up, Rena!" I hear Victor. "If you had stuck to the plan, none of this would have been necessary."
Okay, that's the second time he's said something about a plan.
I open my eyes. Victor is standing near the couch on the opposite wall. Lorena is curled up in the oversized chair to the left of him.
"But you didn't have to hurt him. We could have gotten the money. You just had…"
He turns and hits her before she can finish the sentence. I try to get up. But the way I'm tied leaves me little to no room to move.
"Don't touch her Victor!" I scream at him. "Leave her alone."
He turns when he hears my voice. "You shut up!" He screams to me. Looking past me, he nods. I feel a hand on my shoulder and know it must be one of the men that were at the door.
He turns back to Lorena. "I'm warning you, Rena, don't make me hurt you." He says.
I can hear her soft cries and know that she is trying to be quiet.
"You want to tell me what's going on?" I ask him. "What are you doing here? How did you know where to find us?"
He laughs and turns to me. "Oh, you want answers? Well let's start with the last one, hmmm?" He pulls at Lorena's arm. She gives it to him and he turns to show me the watch she always wears. "See this?" He asks. "It has a built in GPS. I always know where my Rena is." He kisses her hand. She tries to pull it away and he laughs. "Stop acting. You know you love it."
He moves toward me and pulls one of the other kitchen chairs to sit beside me.
"Shall I tell you a story, old friend?" He asks me.
I nod and he smiles.
"Okay." He says with a smirk. "Once upon a time, there was a girl and boy who met one night in Miami. The girl was hustling some old dude and the boy was watching her. He found her to be beautiful. He knew that she couldn't have been any more than eighteen at the time. But it didn't matter," he says and looks at Lorena. "He knew that he was going to make her his." He pauses for a minute. "The boy followed the girl outside. The old dude started to get, well, the boy saved the girl that day. She was so thankful that she went home with him that night. Now the boy was working his own con on a bunch of bored old men with a lot of money to burn. They actually thought themselves some sort of a mob of something. Anyway, I needed a girl to help me. The little sprite of a girl offered her services and well, they left Miami with over two million dollars.
They then went to Dallas, New York and Philly. Each time, they would find a mark and make them. Then they hit DC. You see, the girl never spoke about her youth. But he knew that she was from New Orleans and that she had lost her father and then mother. What he didn't know was why. Evidently, the girl's father had been the fall guy to some up and coming attorney. They were in a land deal together. Or so she thought. When the thing went bust, her father was the fall guy. The lawyer got off with nothing. Her father went to jail. Six month later he died in a riot. Her mother couldn't handle the pain and killed herself. The girl was only five years old and was sent away." He stops and looks over to Lorena. "Three guesses who the scum lawyer was, first two don't count."
I shake my head. I don't want to think that Lorena wanted, no, she couldn't.
"Once the boy figured out what had happened. He decided that they needed to come up with another plan. Initially they thought that they would come into town. Seduce the lawyer and then blackmail him. But then, well, we thought that we would hurt him the way he hurt her. They would hurt his family. They came up with a plan to swindle the son out of his inheritance, taking the old man's money with it." He laughs. "It was a good plan. They both got new identities and enrolled in law school with him. It's amazing what you can do on a computer. We were several years in, when the girl wanted to get married. She thought that the idiot son, with all his postulating, would find being with a married woman intriguing. A year into it, she decided that she would never get the money. So we divorced thinking that she could marry him and get the money. Once the divorce was final, she thought it would be easy. But the son's mother wouldn't allow him to marry a divorced woman. That is when this little blonde tart came on the scene. The girl knew all about the money the son took from her. She knew that she had to bide her time, but she could get it. All she had to do is be patient. Or that is what she had the boy believe. In truth," he looks back at Lorena again and then back at me. "She fell in love with the son and didn't want to hurt him. She told the boy that she wanted to give up the con and focus on making a life with the son." He laughs. "Like that was ever going to happen." He looks back at her. "She belonged to the boy and he was never letting her go."
I shake my head. This can't be the truth. "Lo…Lorena?" I say her name.
He laughs. "That isn't her real name," he says. "Shit, girl do you even remember your name?"
She nods but says anything. "Well, your better than me," he says and turns back to me.
"So this is how it's going to go," he says. "We are going to head into town and you are going to contact that bank you have all the pretty money in. You are going to wire it to an off shore account and that will be that. We will leave and no one gets hurt." He says with a shrug.
I shake my head. "I can't," I say.
"What do you mean, you can't." He says. "Billy boy you are lucky I'm only taking the money you stole. With all the footage I have of you and miss slut over there, I could ruin both you and your family," he says with a growl. "So I'm not asking you, I'm telling you. The money is being transferred."
"He's telling you the truth, Vic," Lorena or whatever her name is, says. "The bank locked it down."
I nod and tell him about the call. He listens to everything and stays silent for a few minutes.
"Have they ever seen the Stackhouse woman?" He asks.
I shake my head.
"Who signed the papers?" He asks.
I look at him, "Lo…Lorena."
He smiles. "Okay, then we can alter that plan," he says looking at Lorena.
He gets up. "Give me your papers," he says. Lorena doesn't move. Victor huffs and goes to find her purse.
"What's going on, Lorena?" I ask her. I can tell by the way she stiffens that she hears me. But she doesn't say a word.
Before I can say anything more, Victor walks in with her wallet and papers in hand. "I need to go down to the town to make a phone call and get these documents changed."
Lorena shakes her head. "Can't we just end this?" She asks him. "We can go anywhere. You're a lawyer now. We can…"
He spins on her and leans over her. She shrinks back into the chair. "We need that money, babe," he says and kisses her. "Remember you place," he growls. "I let you do things your way up until now, because it was your dad. But this is where I take the control back. You are still mine, don't forget that."
He turns and walks back over to me. "Get comfortable. It's gonna take a few days to get the papers changed. Then we'll go back to New Orleans. My sweet little vixen over there," he points to Lorena, "will get the money. I will be able to pay off these gentleman's employer and that will be that." He say with a smile. "No hard feelings, right Bill?" He laughs at me. "After all, I'm the one that's been sharing my wife with you."
He walks over to the door. One of the two men I saw last night opens the door for him and they both leave.
I look back at Lorena. She isn't looking at me. In fact, she's trying to make herself as small as she can.
I just stare at her. How could she have played me for so many years? Shit, I'm such a fool.
***0***
EPOV
We eat a little something, but mostly because we are waiting for all the press to leave. We don't want to be bombarded with more questions when we leave. Everyone leaves except Sookie and I. She wants to change and I want some time with just the two of us to make sure she was alright.
I pull her close to me. "You okay?" I ask her.
She nods. "I'm fine, Eric," she says with a smile. "I wasn't expecting that last question, but it sort of fits." I shrug. "He never wanted me, but didn't mean he didn't want someone."
I touch the side of her face. "He was a fool not to want you," I say to her. "I've no idea how he kept his hands to himself, but I'm glad that he did." I kiss her forehead. "I'm glad you are mine."
She smiles up to me. "I love being yours," she says softly.
I kiss her once more. We get up and start to change. It's taking everything in me not to jump her. But I don't want to make us late to the party. It isn't easy when she bends over in her boy shorts and bra to pick something up.
I let out an involuntary moan. She turns her head and looks over your shoulder.
"You okay?" She asks with a smirk.
I growl and move behind her as she straightens up. I wrap my arms around her. "Woman, you can't do things like that," I growl into her neck. "It's all I can do to not take you right here, right now."
"Well," she moves her bottom a little on my now, very large problem in my pants. "What if I want to be taken?"
All thoughts of getting to the barbeque quickly go out the window as I sweep her up in my arms and rush to the bed. Oh hell, we can be late.
***0***
Jason's POV
The last people have just left. I knew when we left the club, Eric and Sookie would be a while. I didn't want to think of what they were doing. She is my sister, after all. But I knew that she would need some time with him.
That press conference was hard on her. I knew it would be. But she showed the old Sookie without missing a beat. I smile thinking of how strong she looked. It gave me hope that this whole ordeal isn't going to leave to much of a scar on her.
"You okay?" Crystal asks me.
I nod. "Yeah, just thinking."
"She's going to be fine," she says.
I smile at my beautiful wife. "You a mind reader now?"
She shakes her head. "No, just know you all too well, husband of mine."
"Well, there ya go," I say and lean over and kiss her. Then I lean down and kiss her belly.
She laughs at me. "You are nuts," she says.
I nod. "About you," I say.
She touches my face. "But in all honesty," She says to me. "Did you see her tonight? Our Sookie is back. She was laughing and singing and did you see what she did to Laf?" She laughs again.
Sookie had snuck up behind Laf and got him with a pot of ice cold water. He took off after her and chased her right into the lake. When she came out, she jumped into Eric's arms and got him all wet as well.
I smile. Not at her antics but because of how she looked. God, she looked like the little girl I remember.
"He's good for her." She says.
I nod to my wife. I've got to admit. If I was to fasten a man for my sister, I couldn't have done much better than Eric Northman.
"This will be behind us soon," she says. "And then Eric and Sookie can get on with their lives. I think we will be having cousins for these two before too long." She says rubbing the side of her large belly.
"Crys, please don't talk about my sister and babies. I'm begging you. I'm having a hard enough time trying not to think about what Eric and her are getting up too."
She laughs again. "She isn't a baby anymore, Jas." She says.
I sigh and lean into my beautiful wife. "I know," I say. "I know."
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