Eric

Chapter Thirty

Reflexively my grip tightened around my wife and I fully absorbed the heat and weight of her beside me. In a crowded room I could pinpoint her scent. Blind, I would still know her face. I never understood why Pam asked to be woken early before this moment. It was because despite the sun, you didn't want to wait another minute for what you lived for. For Pam it was being a lecher, for me it was Sookie.

"Hi sweetheart," she said turning to face me. "You want a blood?" she asked stroking my cheek.

"I want you," I said.

"No," she said pulling back. "You need a drink and I know I don't supply you with nearly enough. I'll go get you a blood. Pam says adding a shot of red wine makes it taste better."

I rolled my eyes at her concern and the fact that Pam would forever be a pain in my ass. "It doesn't make it better," I corrected, not letting her go. "It makes me drunk off my ass." which of course was the only reason my child shared that bit of information. She laughed long and hard. It was such an adorable sound that I couldn't help but smile. Making her happy did that to me.

"I should probably stop listening to her huh?"

"Absolutely," I agreed. "There is nothing she finds more amusing rattling my cage."

"I guess we have that in common," she said flashing me a vixen-like smirk. It made me want her all the more.

I rolled and pinned her under me. With my knees I nudged her legs apart. She didn't resist. "Say yes," I begged, rubbing the proof of my desire between her legs. She bit her lip and I knew I was tempting her. "Say yes to me, I'm hurting." It was the truth. I'd been hard for her the instant I woke to her beside me. It wasn't going away.

She cupped my face. "Tell me you love me," she said tracing my lips with her thumb.

I stopped and looked at her unsure as to why she needed to reassurance but I gave it to her anyway. "I love you," I replied, kissing her palm. "I love you always."

She smiled sweetly. "I love you too."

It was like everything I never dared to hope for because I knew it would never be mine. All the things I never thought she could give me, I had it there and then, not just her body but a place in her heart. It was a feeling of victory, not of conquest but the feeling that I'd won something of immeasurable value. In truth I had. I'd won the one thing I could never buy. It had taken time and patience. Doubt had plagued me every time I told her I loved her and she remained silent but no more. She loved me. I saw the truth of her words in her eyes. Suddenly, I was overtaken by an irresistible urge to possess her.

"Tell me again," I growled. "Tell me you love me,"

I felt her body heat and her desire flare. Thankfully I was already naked but I didn't have the self-control to remove them, so I ripped them off. The only thing I was thinking was how quickly I could get the both of us naked. I was throbbing and erect to the point of pain and needed to be inside her. I didn't have it in me for foreplay or teasing and tasting.

She gasped in shock as her clothes were torn away but she didn't shirk away. There was no fear no matter what state I was in, she knew she was safe. She surrendered to me, parting her legs and cradling my hips, holding me closer as if she was loathe to let me go.

"I love you, Eric." She repeated. Her eyes were on me; smoldering, anticipating, pleading.

Delving into her sheath provided a feeling of bliss so complete it was almost painful. I gave her more deep strokes. I loved how I well I'd come to know her body. When she wanted me to add a little more pressure or handle her rougher, she would try to squirm away. When she was fighting the pleasure of her body she would bite her lower lip and beg me for a reprieve though we both knew she didn't want it, not really. I loved to watch her lose her fucking mind.

The grip she had on the sheets was firm but unlike every other time when she had screamed for me, this time she let me hear it. She begged me not to stop. My name, mixed with urgent pleas, escaped her lips. She told me she belonged to me, she told me she loved me. Every single word of her surrender drove me crazy. I pushed on her back to arch her the way I wanted then I gave her all that I had been holding back. Her legs shook so badly she struggled to stay in position.

Suddenly she pulled away and all but pounced on me. She was sliding her tight wet pussy down on my length. She brought my hands to cup her breasts and placed hers over mine. She threw her head back and her mane of long blonde hair almost brushed my knees as she utterly let herself go. Her fingers were in my hair and her lips teased my ear in a sinful caress. Her confidence and dominance as she rode me thoroughly was enough to have me losing control. She was letting me know I belonged to her and I didn't fight it. I knew I did. I have, for so very long now.

"I can't take anymore," I groaned. I didn't know if I'd given her hers but I couldn't hold back anymore. The pressure from not coming was too much. "I have to..."

She let her body lean forward and sought out my lips without breaking her rhythm. I wrapped my arms around her and clung on helplessly. She smelled so good. Just a trace of it even when she wasn't around was enough to get my blood boiling but this close, with my face buried in the crook of her neck, in her hair, was exhilarating. When we made love and her sweat and arousal mixed with my scent it became intoxicating.

"I love it when you come inside me," she whispered.

I was in her so deep. I felt her body tense as her pleasure built. In concert with her desperate command it was too much. I made a noise from deep inside my chest like someone who was being thoroughly worked over, and in fact, I was. It was a noise of passion, pleasure, and sweet pain. I found my release and it was utterly sublime.

"Lover," I murmured.

"Hmm," she hummed.

"You need to tell me you love me every day."

She laughed so hard she did that little snort thing. "You're a dirty old man."

I grinned wickedly and made no move to deny the accusation. She threw a pillow at me for my lecherous behavior, which only made me laugh.

"I see where your kid gets it from," she commented getting out of bed.

There wasn't a single shred of fabric that was left intact but the bed sheets and that was what we wore up to our bedroom. Hand in hand we moved through the house in nothing but sheets.

"Speaking of our anniversary," my wife commented as she ate. "I have some requests,"

There was nothing that made me happier than lavishing her. Having her request it of me was a first and I had to admit it pleased me.

It was as if she knew what I was thinking. "Hold your horses," she said waving her fork at me.

I sighed I should have known better. "You don't want me to get you anything," I guessed.

"Nope," she replied, "But you leave the planning to me, deal?"

As if I could tell her no. "If you insist,"

"I do," she blew me a kiss, gathered her plate and my bottle of blood and left.

~ooooo~

As I knew she would, Sophie-Anne had given my case priority. She uncovered evidence leading to my assailants in only half the time I'd allowed her. It was amazing what people could do with the proper motivation. Sophie-Anne was married to Peter Threadgill, the vampire king of Arkansas. With me moving into her area she was growing financially stronger than he was, tipping the balance of power.

The regents of this country thought it was only a matter of time until I dethroned Sophie-Anne. I was sure she thought so too, but I paid my taxes and I was in the spotlight so she deemed me worth the risk. It was going on two years and I never so much as spoke out of turn and I minded my manners and followed her laws. Even after I set the clock against her to find my attacker, I still showed her due respect in the open.

Threadgill thought sending baby mercenary wannabes to attack me in my backyard was a smart thing do with his limited resources. Actually it wasn't that stupid. There was no way he would have succeeded in ending me no matter who he sent but that hadn't been his aim. He wanted to turn me against Sophie-Anne because their marriage documents protected her from an open attack. Just when I'd forgotten how seedy the game of thrones could be, I got a blunt reminder.

"I suppose you will not be bringing him before the Pythoness," said the Queen. She sounded more than pleased and a little hopeful at the prospect of becoming a widow.

"No I am sure we can reach an agreement," I said vaguely. "Bobby," I called. "Get me one of Peter's people."

I drummed my fingers and waited as the call connected. "This is Eric," I said blandly. "Put Peter on the phone, now."

"You do not command me," he growled in greeting.

I rolled my eyes. I didn't command him but he was definitely on the phone as I told him to be. "Tomorrow, a vampire by the name of Thalia will knock on your door, she will ask you to be her friend and you will agree. For being on the receiving end of her undivided attention you will pay her double what you paid your assassins. If you do not comply I will be forced to come looking for you." Then I hung up.

Thalia wouldn't kill him. In the event that Sophie-Anne was framing him I wouldn't give her that satisfaction. Ending Threadgill would also bring me to the attention of the Pythoness and I didn't want that, no matter how right I was. My solution would punish Peter, reminding him and everyone else to leave me out of their petty games.

"Thank you Sheriff, for your devotion to duty," I told Sophie-Anne with a deep nod of my head.

I didn't move until she dismissed me. I wasn't above playing her game as long as she adhered to the rules. The minute I left the royal estate I forgot about all the scheming and conniving that went with it. In the main courtyard, my wife was behind the wheel of a sports car I'd bought for her as a wedding present. My guards took the normal convoy of vehicles and headed home. Tonight was date night.

"You so owe me for this detour," Sookie huffed as I slid in beside her.

"I'm willing to pay in any way you deem fit," I said looking her over. She was delectable.

Her dress was short satin number the color of sea foam. The neck was low and offered a tantalizing view of her cleavage from my angle. Her hair was pulled away in a neat chignon displaying the delicate arch of her neck. Around said neck sat a sapphire and diamond necklace that matched the color and sparkle of her eyes. I'd had it made just for her.

She smiled as we pulled away. "I'll remember that. So how'd it go?"

"Fine," I replied. "Though I wished you'd come with. You are my wife, not some nonentity."

She took my hand. "So long as I know I'm important to you, I could care less what anyone else thinks. Plus André creeps me out and Sophie-Anne wants to jump your bones." I laughed and she stuck her tongue out at me. I loved her possessive streak, though she would emphatically deny she had one.

There was good, better, and then there was the absolute best. That is what life was for me as of late. Even with the loss of Illeta things haven't been this good and I haven't been this happy since meeting Pam. Hearing my wife tell me she loved me made the time I spent waiting so very worth it. I'd been right. She'd just needed time and patience.

To Batanya's dismay I was now resting in the master bedroom during the day instead of my day chamber. I woke to the scent and feel of my wife. Some nights the passion between us unfurled, consuming more than our bodies. I had everything I wanted since I realized I loved her. It didn't make her happier about me splurging on her but she told me she loved me anyway no matter how much I irritated her.

It has been a long time since I found myself actually looking forward to a particular day but I was looking forward to our wedding anniversary. My excitement built when she began acting suspiciously. When Pam showed up at the house I knew they were up to something and despite my best efforts of persuasion, I couldn't get her to tell me what. Two days before the date Sookie kicked me out of the house under pain of grave bodily harm if I should return before I was summoned.

I knocked on the front door exactly at eight the evening of our wedding anniversary. Trying to cheat was something I'd promised myself I wouldn't do because I knew Sookie was going through a lot of trouble to surprise me. I would still act surprised, I reasoned. From my place on the steps, I was trying to catch scents and sounds. Other than the scent of slow burning wood and several human heartbeats, I didn't get much.

"Cut that out," Sookie said opening the door.

My wife was in a skimpy bikini with sheer red sarong around her waist. Her body was adorned in gold jewelry including frilly gold anklets and a thin body chain. I stared, wondering how I could talk her into giving me a quick taste before the evening actually began. If all that wasn't enough, there was a blindfold in her hand.

I arched a brow. "This evening is off to an interesting start," I said with a grin.

She snorted. "This is part one. I might save the blindfold for part three."

I chuckled and crossed the threshold to kiss her. "I've missed you," I murmured.

"Nice try," she said slipping deftly from my hold. "Turn around."

I obeyed and she covered my eyes and led me through the house.

"Time and place," she said opening the back doors that leg into the garden. "Bulgaria before the Ottoman empire."

I'd told her that story and many others but Pam must have told her this was my favorite. I couldn't see but the scent alone thrust me back in time. The unique blend of the flowers and sand that populated the country greeted me. The smell of sandalwood, candles, and jasmine scented lamp oil brought back memories of sailing the Black Sea so many centuries ago.

Sookie untied the blindfold and it was eerie. It was better than what my memories could conjure. In the distance a red and gold tent stood with servants to attend it. They were in the traditional garb of the time. The singers sang, drummers drummed, and the dancers danced around the roaring flame. To the side was a bed of pillows meant for us to sit comfortably and watch.

My wife looked at me trying to gauge my reaction but I was so thoroughly awed that I couldn't say a single word. It made her nervous.

"You don't like it," she said. "That's okay. It was dumb…you might not have wanted to go back. I'm sorry." She took my hand and began trying to pull me back inside. There was no look of hurt or disappointment that her effort might have gone to waste. In her eyes I just saw worry that I was unhappy. Wrong, she was very wrong. "We'll go out and do something else, anything else you want."

"Anything I want?" I questioned.

She nodded. "Anything."

"I want to stay right here until the shock wears off. Then I'm taking you for a swim. We'll watch the dancers and at some point we'll put that blindfold to use once more."

She smiled. "That sounds like a plan."

A/N: If you are waiting for the shoe to drop...it will. Dum...dum...dummm...