Connee's POV:

The rest of the week went by quietly, and quickly. I wore my collar every night, as instructed. But I dreaded leaving. Eric was right: Women were always sitting at His feet, and it took all of my control not to kick them in the ass. And what made it worse was that He would always catch me glance His way. The only comfort I had was that Eric never seemed to give them any attention—none that I could see.

We'd discussed when we'd talk to Daniel, and it would be the following night, on Saturday. I was nervous as hell. I had to think about exactly what I wanted to say. I wrote the words on a piece of paper, didn't like it, so threw it away. The trash can ended up with paper balls of crap.

I had trouble sleeping Friday night when I came home from work, not because of meeting Daniel the following midnight—he was working the afternoon night shifts—but because I had a date before that, a double date. With Eric. And Sookie. And Bill. Little Miss Connee was becoming quite the socializer.

Under bribery, of course. I was really treating Sookie and Bill for all they'd done for me. Neither vampire liked it. But us two humans threatened our vampire boyfriends—hmm, Eric my boyfriend?—if they didn't come with us that we'd eat garlic for a month and they would be forced not to touch us the whole time. Bill laughed. Eric, my Dom punished me. Okay, scratch Eric off as my boyfriend.

Eric was to pick me up at nine-thirty then meet Sookie and Bill at ten at Carla's Bistro, right off the interstate. I started primping at three: shaved the legs and armpits, got a manicure and pedicure, had my hair curled in thick waves all over, and all the other girly things girls have done before a hot date.

I wasn't sure what to wear, but I wanted something I knew Eric would like. I chose black slacks with a light green blouse. Real classy, huh? I threw them on the bed in a huff. I picked out a purple, short-sleeved dress that came just above my knees and put it on. No, didn't like that, either. I went back to the closet and saw the perfect outfit, a navy blue, flower printed cotton sundress that I knew Eric hadn't seen me in. I'd never worn it at work because I thought it showed a little too much cleavage. A woman can show a little cleavage on a date.

I then made myself a sandwich because ten o'clock was hours away, cleaned the kitchen, straightened the living room, and had planned on dressing right before Eric came to pick me up. That's not what happened. I had put on a short, revealing robe, rested my head on the arm rest of the couch so I wouldn't flatten my hair, and fell asleep.

I was pleasantly awoken with a cool fingernail tracing down between my breasts and a wet, cold tongue lapping at my ear. Without opening my eyes, I mumbled, "Hmm, Hugh Jackman, is that you?"

He promptly jerked back, and I opened my eyes. He was angry. "Who the hell is this Hugh Jackman?"

I smiled and looked at Him. "He's an actor that I've never met, nor will ever meet."

He narrowed His eyes at me before He finally smiled. He looked really good, too. He must have just eaten. And He looked sharp in His suit and tie, which, I'd have to admit, would take some getting used to.

"I really hope you aren't wearing that." He glared down at my cleavage.

"Of course not. I'll go change," I said as I stood, but then noticed the time on the cable box. "Sir, it's only eight. Why are you here—" I got my answer when He whisked me up and rushed me to the bedroom. "Sir, Eric, I don't want you to mess up my hair."

That fell on deaf ears when he set me on the bed and hid His face in my chest, nibbling and groaning His way to a nipple. I laughed for no reason. I think it was because He was actually playful. With His lips glued to my breast, somehow He ripped the robe off of me, His hands exploring my entire body. I was no longer laughing.

Before I realized it, His pants were off, I tore His shirt off, and He climbed on top of me. Because He is so much taller than I am, He put His elbows by my forearms and entwined His fingers in my hair. I had to tilt my head back to kiss Him, and we did, passionately. While our lips were locked, His hand caressed every inch of my body He could reach, except for where I really wanted Him. Apparently, He wanted me as badly as I wanted Him when He grabbed my legs, wrapped them around His waist, and held my hands above my head. Then He slid the tip of His penis inside me. I gasped loudly into His mouth and He immediately stopped.

"Am I hurting you?"

"Hmmph, no Sir. Hardly," I replied breathlessly.

I started to kiss and lick His neck, nibble here and there, when he thrust His entire length inside me. I was so wet for Him, even if there was hardly any foreplay. Panting, He took His time penetrating me, and He invaded my very soul. This was the first time we'd ever been alone, and I loved it.

"Sir, can you ... hmmm ... let go ... I want … I need to touch you."

He did, and I was able to put my arms around Him and ran my fingernails from the small of His back to His shoulder blades. I knew it wouldn't hurt Him if I used more pressure than I should. I was right. His throat rumbled against my chin and I kissed His Adam's apple before He'd almost pull out completely then pushed back in, hard. I screamed, but not too loud, while He'd alternate that for a while. I was on the edge, but I wanted to feel Him for as long as I could.

"Are you ready to cum for me, sub?" He grunted loudly.

"N ... no Sir," I managed to tell Him.

"What?" He asked angrily, looking at me harshly.

I didn't answer Him, but tightened my PC muscles around His expansive penis and He grunted again. He began driving His cock harder and faster until He finally came, His body tense, groaning and growling and kissing my forehead.

But He wasn't done with me, yet. "You aren't ready to cum yet, huh? Let me take care of that."

In a second, He was standing by the foot of the bed, grabbed my legs forcefully and pulled me to Him. I squealed in surprise. Grabbing both breasts, He started to suck and flick my clit so fast I was clawing at the quilt and thrashing my head back and forth.

When He had my clit in between His fangs and licking up and down with His tongue, that was all she wrote. "Edge, EDGE!"

Thankfully, He didn't stop. With my legs shaking violently, my toes curled, I screamed as I came, my body spasmed like it'd never had before. My heart pounded so hard it felt like the bed itself was moving ... the earth moved ... oh, my god! Forget I said that.

It took me forever to control my breathing and bring my body back to me. With the help of Eric's voice in my ear and His body curled against mine, it didn't take too long. "Hmm, Eric, Sir," I mumbled, running my fingers through His hair.

"Hey! Don't mess up my hair!" He protested, but a smile slowly rose from His lips.

"You messed—" He looked at me harshly. I didn't finish speaking.

"What did you want?"

"I ... I want to give you something."

"You already did," He said devilishly.

"You've eaten before you came over?" He nodded. I turned my head to expose my neck. "Just a little."

"Are you sure?"

I nodded. "Absolutely."

He smiled, kissed me softly on my lips before He traced His fangs to my neck, ever so slowly, and pierced my skin at the vein. I whimpered softly, and surprisingly came again. Surprise, surprise. It was only about thirty seconds, but He pulled back and looked over my face. Blood covered His fangs, but there was hardly any on His lips. He did have control.

"Are you okay?"

"Oh, yes."

"Then get yourself together, woman! You're a mess." He grinned devilishly.

As it turned out dinner was a major mistake. On top of Bill never actually eating, after all, TruBloods were not exactly what I meant to pay him back, Sookie and I were the only ones that did. Eric sat tensely beside me, barely saying a word, which only made me nervous. The looks the two vamps gave the other were far from friendly. It never dawned on me that Eric and Bill were not exactly friends, though I didn't understand why all the tension. Even Sookie was a little on edge, and she's usually cool as a cucumber.

Sookie must have read my mind, which I would have to work on when I was around her, but she pulled me away from the table and she led me to the bathroom. "Connee, there's something I need to tell you." I stood against the sink, after making sure we were alone, and waited. "Eric tricked me into drinking his blood. We were in Dallas and he was hurt ... protecting me."

Looking at her dumbfounded, I wanted to hear more.

"You must know when humans drink vampire blood, they then know what the human is feeling, all the time." I nodded. "And we, uh, have sexual feelings towards them." I didn't move. "Bill knew what Eric was up to. That's why it's so tense out there. But I never ... Eric and I were not ..."

The bathroom door burst open. "Oh, you were right, Bill, this isn't the men's room."

"Out, guys," Sookie snapped.

"Oh, no," Eric snickered, "not when there's gonna be a chick fight!"

"ERIC!" Both Bill and Sookie screamed at Him.

"Don't bother," I huffed as I headed towards the door; the vampires moved out of my way, which was rather smart on their part. I went back to the table, threw cash on it for the bill and stormed out to Eric's car.

It took forever for Him to come out. Without a word, He unlocked the passenger door. I slipped in the He closed the door and got in on the other side. "You're angry," He stated correctly, turning to look at me.

"And confused." I stared out the windshield. "Are you using me to get Sookie?"

"No, I am not."

"Why not?" I saw His head flinch. "You've already lied to me once."

"Because I said so."

"It's not enough."

"It'd better be."

"Take me home."

"What about Daniel?"

"I said take me the fuck home!"

He didn't say a word but started the car and drove the thirty minutes back to my apartment. It was the longest thirty minutes of my life.

We pulled into the parking lot, and I was out of the car before it was even stopped. I had only reached the bottom stair when He grabbed me, twirled me around, grabbed my elbow and led me to the edge of trees. He dragged me in further until we were safe from wandering eyes and threw me to a tree, securing me with His hands on my shoulders. The impact knocked the breath from my lungs, and the tears started to flow.

"Did you forget yourself?" He said, and He was angrier than I'd ever seen Him.

"Let. Me. Go," I sobbed.

"I have not invested my time ... you will show me respect, as your Dom."

"Maybe I ... don't want ..."

He smirked evilly, brought His face closer to mine. "Is that what you want, Ms. Byers?"

I couldn't answer that. I didn't know what I wanted at that point.

"As you wish. But we have a date with your Master Daniel, and we will do so."

He let go of me and I fell weakly to the grass. The roots bit into my ass, which hurt. I pulled my knees up and buried my face in my hands. And I cried for what felt like hours. My whole world was shattered. I didn't want to lose Eric. He'd put me through hell, but I found more strength in myself than I ever imagined I could possess.

"Connee," Eric said softly above me.

"Leave me," picking up my head, I narrowed my eyes at him, I threw my arm out, full of anger, and shouted, "aLONE!"

Eric went flying back at least fifty feet, His arms flailing to grab onto anything He could; there was nothing. My eyes flew open when He crashed onto layers of dead and dry leaves. I was so shocked I couldn't move. But before I could rush to Him, He'd risen, come back to me and held onto my arms tightly. "How did you do that?"

"I ... are you okay?" I stuttered. I was more in shock of what I did to him than He was.

He shook me roughly, which only made me start to cry again. "Connee, tell me how you did that!"

"I ... I don't know," I told Him, shaking my head disbelieving at what happened.

"But I do," came a voice beside us. We both jumped at the voice. Eric immediately stood up, barring His teeth at Daniel, who was holding his hands up defensively. "I would do nothing, if I were you, Mr. Northman," Daniel threatened. "I can do so much more than Ms. Byers can."

I found myself standing beside, almost behind, Eric, who was as stiff as the tree He just had me against.

"We should get inside. It's beginning to rain," Daniel said calmly. "I have a lot to explain to you, Connee."

Eric took a step closer to Daniel. "I don't give a shit if ..."

Daniel waved his arm out towards Eric, and He flew up in the air before flying back, landing hard against a tree about ten feet up. The tree cracked from the impact before He slid down in a crumpled heap.

"Eric!" I cried out, running to Him. When I reached Him, I knelt beside Him and took His head in my arms. His eyes were closed, and He seemed to be knocked out cold. "Talk to me, you jack ass!"

"Hmm," Daniel said callously. "He allows you to talk to him like that?"

Ignoring Daniel's comment, I kept all of my attention on Eric. I smacked Him in the face, knowing it wouldn't hurt Him, but only wanting Him to come around. "Damn it," I said, making my voice soft, although it cracked. My vision became blurry from my tears, and I felt the first raindrop break through the branches.

"I'll let that ... little term of endearment ... pass," He grumbled.

"Oh," I sighed with relief. "I can call you lots more names if you don't look at me!" His eyes fluttered open. "That's much better. Sit up." He groaned and grunted as He did, and slowly seemed to come around. "Eric, do you need my blood to get your strength back?"

Shaking His head, He looked up at Daniel, who was just watching us. There was no expression of anger on his face, or hurt at seeing me with Eric; no look that he was going to kill us. "I'll meet you at your door, Connee, Eric." He turned and walked away.

I fell on my ass beside Eric, shaking badly. Eric looked at me apprehensively then wrapped His arms around me and squeezed gently. "I knew you loved me." I pulled back and looked at Him alarmed. "Come on, Connee. Let's go see what this crap is all about."

"No, I'm okay," I told Eric while we walked back to my apartment. He'd been trying to put His arm around me, or pick me up and carry me, but He never said a word.

Just because it was raining, I certainly wasn't going to melt. Actually, the cold rain helped bring me around from what happened in the woods: I'd been confronted with Eric admitting He liked Sookie. I sassed back to my Dom—that Dom was a vampire, by the way. I told I didn't want Him as one anymore. And I attacked Him.

But at the moment, I was aware Eric was staring at me oddly. Without looking at Him, I said, "Sir, I know I'm going to get my ass whipped, but I'm really, truly sorry for what I did to you."

"Hmm, you'd risk punishment to say the one word I hate?" He commented, completely missing my point.

"Yep, I'm a glutton for punishment."

"So, that whole part about me not being your Dom ..." When He spoke, He circled His forefinger, as if that would finish His sentence.

He was really egging me on! When we were in view of my apartment building, I grabbed His arm and stopped Him. "Eric, the evening started off so great, don't ruin it." I was referring to Him making love to me before the date with Sookie and Bill.

"We'll talk about the punishment later." He winked. That couldn't mean anything too bad, could it?

Daniel, my prior Master, who'd thrown me out of our home months earlier with no explanation, opened the building door for us. My mind was numb as we walked up the staircase, not even caring that we were leaving a wet trail on the carpet. I fumbled around in my purse looking for the door key. Eric stood on one side of the door while Daniel stood on the other. I couldn't have been more uncomfortable if I tried.

I unlocked and opened the door. Daniel was the first one in. Eric hesitated. I wondered why. I said hello to Heather, who'd jumped off the carpeted window ledge I'd gotten for her and stood at my feet. Putting my purse on the floor and stepping out of my sandals, I turned to see Eric still standing in the threshold.

Then I noticed Daniel eyeing Him curiously. Eric smiled at him wickedly, showing His fangs. He then walked inside, like He owned the place; technically, He had. Ah, from the expression on Daniel's face, Eric wanted it be known that I had given Eric my permission to enter whenever He chose. That meant another thing: ownership. I got a happy little feeling in the pit of my stomach.

I didn't say anything when I went down the hall, grabbed two towels from the hall closet, gave one to Eric then threw one to Daniel, then went to my bedroom to change. I figured Eric wouldn't kill Daniel without hearing the truth, and Daniel could protect himself if Eric did.

In the master bathroom I undressed, dried off my body and hair, and put on my favorite men's flannel lounge pants and matching flannel shirt. Only then did I finally warm up.

Going to the kitchen, catching the two in the living room, both standing their ground, I fed Heather. "Sir Eric," I said, emphasizing the name so there wouldn't be any misunderstanding, "Do you mind if I get drunk?"

He answered a second later when he mysteriously appeared beside me. "Yes, I would."

I was disappointed, but accepted His answer. "Would you like a drink?"

Smiling, He replied, "Yes, I would."

I grabbed a bottle from the refrigerator, heated it in the microwave and handed it to Him. "You may have one drink."

Oh, just one? That can't get Heather tipsey. But I thought of a plan. I took a juice glass, the bottle of Scotch that I drink from only every New Year's Eve, and filled that sucker up almost to the top.

"Brat," Eric chortled.

"Yep, but I'm smart," I said then took a long swallow, coughing and sputtering from the burn.

"Serves you right," Eric grinned.

Once I could talk, I hollered out to ask if Daniel wanted anything. He declined. "Well," I said as we headed to the living room, "Let's get this over with."