"Welcome back, Ms. Connee!" Doug said excitedly as he approached me and gave me a hug, which was completely unexpected.

I returned his hug. "Thanks, Doug. It's good to be back."

And I meant it. I had stayed away from work through the weekend so I could get myself back on my feet, but I didn't need that long. I had gotten all of my strength back and then some. I took the time to clean my apartment, and I got Heather back. If it weren't for her to take care of, I would have lost my mind.

Eric and I agreed that I needed time for myself, and that we were not to talk or see the other. God, I missed him terribly. At night, I found myself jumping at every noise outside my window, thinking Eric was there waiting for me to invite him in. He turned the ownership of the apartment over into my name so I had the right to kick him out when, and if, I ever needed him out. And every time the phone rang, I expected it to be Eric, even if it was daylight. It never was.

That night, my first day at work, I headed to my office, expecting piles and piles of paper on my desk. I was shocked to see none when I turned on the light. I sat behind my desk, locked my purse in the bottom drawer, and only then noticed a piece of paper staring at me. What was he going to throw at me then? apparently, nothing. It simply said, 'Glad to have you back,' in Eric's neat handwriting. 'I'll see you at ten.'

My heart pounded in my chest. Since I'd taken his blood again, I'd been having some wild sex dreams about him—on the beach, in the back seat of a car, anywhere two bodies could fit together. And every time I woke up I promised myself I wouldn't bring myself to orgasm, although it was very, very difficult. I wanted our first time back together to be special.

I turned on the computer and threw myself into work to keep my mind off of Eric. It was difficult, though. I couldn't wait to feel his hands around me, take in his smell and feel him inside me. That thought alone kept me distracted for hours.

"Well, well, couldn't keep the little busy bee away, I see."

I jerked my head towards the door so startled that I was relieved to see it was only Pam. She was wearing a black, lace corset with tight, leather pants and high, high heels. And she looked ... different. It must have been Eric's blood that I saw her in a new light, not that I complained. She looked amazing, and I was a little jealous. "Oh, hi."

"Hello," she replied with a half grin.

"I see all of my paperwork was already done. Did you do that?"

She laughed long and hard, her head thrown back in hysterics. I didn't understand her reaction. "You're kidding me, right?"

"Uh, I guess I was. Did you need something, Pam? The inventory is backed up."

She shook her head. "No, I just wanted to see you. I missed you," she said evilly.

I didn't know if that was a good thing or a bad thing. "Thank you for ..." I couldn't find the words to explain my gratitude for all she'd done for me.

"No problem. But you owe me." She winked, turned and walked out.

I swallowed hard. What the hell did that mean? Okay, so, Pam was here. Did that mean Eric was, too?

I had to wait another hour for my lunch, er, dinner break to find out. Being in the office for so long I needed some fresh air badly. I grabbed a bottle of iced tea, the sandwich and chips I'd brought and went outside. I was happy to find a small two-person table with two chairs.

I was halfway done eating when I heard someone step close to me, and my heart fluttered. It was Eric. He didn't say a word as he sat down and stared me down. He looked angry, though I couldn't understand why. "What's wrong?" I finally asked.

"Nothing," he simply answered.

He watched me while I nervously finished eating, making sure not to choke on my food. I leaned back, folded my arms across my chest and looked him over. The longer I stared into those luscious eyes the more I had to force myself not to squirm in my chair.

Several minutes went by before he huffed, "Aren't you going to thank me?"

I smiled in relief. "Thank you, Eric, for everything you've done for me. I—"

"That's not what I meant," he stated harshly. His eyes became narrow slits, a tell-tale sign he was angry. "I didn't get this table and chair for just any human."

I finally started to breathe again. "Oh, I didn't realize. Thank you, kind Sir," I said teasingly with a fairly acceptable British accent.

He smiled; his fangs were not exposed. "Okay, promise me you will never do that again."

"Hey, that was good."

"If that's the way you heard it."

I relaxed. "Eric, seriously, I owe you a lot."

"Yes, you do," he replied sternly, his smile gone.

"And I will pay you back two-fold." I had to get some things out of the way. "Can I ask you a question?"

"Yes, my Queen." He smirked.

"Did you ... did we ... Did you take advantage of me the night I left Daniel?"

"No, I did not," he answered firmly.

I squinted my eyes at him, trying to figure out if he was lying. "Then why did you tell me we did?"

He shifted nervously in the chair. "I wanted to get your reaction."

"Was it what you expected it to be?"

"Spot on," he said in an English accent.

We laughed. "Okay. And secondly—"

"There's another question?" he huffed.

"Yep, sorry, but this one you can handle. How did you know lavender is my favorite color?"

He shrugged his shoulders. "Sookie told me."

"No, Eric," I chortled. "You painted my bedroom walls lavender. You got me lavender roses, which were beautiful, by the way, and the purple wrapping paper with Heather."

"I, uh, Daniel told me."

Then my suspicion grew. "Why?"

"I'm done with this conversation," he said as he rose.

"I'm not," I told him curtly. Boy was I ever pushing his buttons.

He turned and looked at me sharply. "I went to see him."

"Oh, while we ... before Daniel and I first came here?" He shook his head. "After?" I asked nervously. He nodded. "But why?" I repeated.

"Well, I had to make some kind of impression with you."

I didn't know what to say. Should I be mad that he went to Daniel, that Daniel actually told Eric, or ... "Why didn't you just ask me?"

"I don't know."

God, he was so freakin' cute! I mean, for a vampire. "Eric? Will you ever talk to me?"

"Eventually."

That was good enough for me. "Well, I've got to get back to work." I stood, grabbed my garbage and walked away from him.

In mid-step Eric was standing in front of me. "I'm not done talking with you."

My neck was tilted back to look into his gorgeous face. I felt like a school girl waiting for a boy to ask me to a dance.

"What adjustments do you require on the Contract between us?" he asked, a single eyebrow rose with curiosity.

I'd thought a lot about that while I was off work. I shook my head. "The only thing I ask, Mr. Northman, is when we are at the club, with Pam around, I will be your obedient submissive and employee. But when we are in private that I may speak my mind, or ask any question, with your permission, of course."

"Hmm, I'll have to think about that."

"Okay," I answered happily.

I turned to walk away, but he stopped me again. Looking around anxiously, he said, "And the only thing I ask of you is this: While I don't want to ever put you in the way of harm—of myself—again, will you allow me to feed on others?"

My eyebrows furrowed deeply at his comment. I'd thought about that, too. I put my hand over his heart, well, where it would have been and told him, "You have to eat. I would never, ever ask you not to, phttt, like that ... But since I'm so irresistible to you," I said with the cutest grin I could give him, "could you save yourself for me?"

He threw his head back and laughed so loud the echo came back to my ears almost deafening. It was joyous to hear. He put his hand on my cheek. "Ms. Byers, you're about a thousand years too late for that."

I was confused, not knowing what he was referring to. Then it dawned on me, and I cracked a smile, too. "I meant since the urge is so intense for you to uh, you know, after you feed, could you uh, you know." Why I was so bashful was beyond me. He'd already had me once and done things to me, but they were under completely different circumstances.

He bent down so his lips were an inch from mine. I wanted so badly to bury them with his, my heart started to race. Closing my eyes, I waited for his kiss, but he moved his mouth to my ears. In the softest whisper, he said, "Say it." I swallowed hard. "Say what you want from me, Connee Byers."

My heart dropped to the pebbled parking lot. "If you can control the urge ... once you've eaten, could you come get me and ... take me?"

"Take you where?"

He cannot be serious, I thought to myself. "Have sex with me, Eric, only me."

"Here? Now? I don't think—"

I pushed him away from me rather roughly, and we stared at the other, neither one of us breathing. He was quiet for way too long. I wished I could have known what he was thinking. "Agreed. And with that, I am now your Dom, Ms. Byers. I have control over you and myself. And I agree to your terms." I finally exhaled. "Now get back to work. You're wasting my money."

His face might have conveyed anger, but His voice didn't. I walked to the back door, but before I could open it, Eric had it open and staring down at me. He winked. Then He smacked my ass.

I smiled. "Thank you, Sir."

Later that night ...

"Well, boss, I'm going home for the night," I told Eric tiredly.

He was sitting in a booth, a change for Him. He'd been looking through a catalog with great interest and enthusiasm. I couldn't see who the vendor was, but I could see the photos—dungeon equipment. I gulped, growing anxious when He didn't reply. He just marked off items, absent-mindedly it appeared to me.

After a moment, I realized He was going to continue to ignore me. I turned to leave. "Where do you think you are going?" He asked tersely.

Turning back around, I took my submissive pose: Standing straight and tall, my arms behind my back, my head bowed. He continued perusing the booklet for at least five minutes, and I was beginning to get drowsy.

"So, who said you could address me with such insignificance?" He never raised His head as he spoke.

"I'm sorry, Sir, please forgive me."

I stood for another five minutes. God, I was so exhausted. It was my first day back, and with the two major traumas to my body I just wanted my bed, and Heather to cuddle up beside me. Well, truth be told, I wouldn't have minded Eric cuddling up beside me. I still had His blood in me, and I was curious why I felt this drained.

"Answer me!" Eric bellowed, and I noticed the couple in the next booth glance at me, but not Eric. Smart humans. I never heard the question He asked me.

"I'm sorry, Sir. It's been a long night. What did You ask?"

"Do you think I care?" He paused a moment, still not looking at me. "I asked how you were feeling."

I sighed in relief. "I am extremely tired, Sir."

"Sit," He said, with no comment about my admission.

I squeezed onto the bench across from Him, resisting the urge to rest my chin in the palms of my hands. But now I had the chance to look over His face. He looked exhausted, and seemed to have aged years ... well, I should say centuries.

Another five minutes passed, and He seemed to become bored with the book. He closed it, clasped His fingers together and looked at me. "And why are you so worn out?"

"Let's see: I've been stabbed, stomped on, attacked, drained ... does that cover everything?"

He glared up at me and looked at me so harshly it scared the shit out of me. "Do you have any idea how disrespectful you are being to me right now?"

I nodded, closing my eyes slowly and drowsily. I was ashamed of myself. I knew better. My hands were shaking under the table, and no matter how hard I tried to keep them from doing so, they still trembled. I didn't want to cry yet a single tear burned down my cheek, and my chest shuttered trying to hold back the sobs.

"Sub?" I quickly opened my eyes. "Go home, get some sleep."

I waited for more, but there wasn't any. "Yes, Sir."

"Will you ever talk to me like that again?"

I shook my head emphatically. "No Sir."

"Good." He stood up and towered over me. "There is something waiting for you on your bed. You will wear it for me tomorrow night, and every night you work, or whenever I tell you to wear it."

I thought it was Chitty or Nipsey, and I didn't want to go there again, not after what happened last week. Reluctantly, I nodded.

He bent down, his mouth just inches from my ear. "You will not see me the rest of the week, little one. No matter how wet you get, no matter how swollen and hurting your lovely nob begs for attention, you will not bring yourself pleasure."

I gulped hard. "No Sir."

"Good. Hmm, I'm hungry." I knew what that meant. "Get lots of sleep, my lover," He cooed into my ear. "You will need your strength for me."

He walked away, and I watched Him do so. His jeans were so tight against His ass that I found my eyes glazing over, wanting oh, so much to touch him.

"Ahem!"

I heard it and recognized it was Eric. When I refocused, I was looking at His crotch. His manhood—vampire-hood?—protuded against the restraint of the pants. I looked into His face, against my better judgment. He was beyond pissed. 'Go home,' He mouthed. His eyebrows were deeply creased, the lines on His forehead covering every inch. His gaze beamed harshly into mine.

I jumped up, grabbed my purse and ran the hell out of there. The drive home was torturous, and I dreaded finding what was on my bed.

But when I got home, I found it was nothing more than a collar on my bed. I sighed with major relief. Wearing His collar was something I would be happy to do, and be proud of it. I loved the feeling of 'being' His, to satisfy His every whim, because I always was on the better end of it.

I fed Heather, changed for bed and stared at the ceiling for what felt like hours. As tired as I was I couldn't fall to sleep. Mr. Eric Northman had power, control, and money. Did He have to be in charge of everything? After having Susie in my power, I understood the thrill of having a body and mind do what I want, when I wanted. What happened to Him that made Him need the power, thrive on it?