The next evening I woke up alone. Eric always left me some kind of note when He did that, but when I looked around for it, I didn't find one. Then I noticed it was eleven o'clock, way late for me to sleep in. After taking a shower and dressing, forgoing Master's collar since we were going to look at the house, I headed downstairs to the kitchen to get something to eat. If Francesca was worried about me not eating enough, I'd make sure to eat more. There's no harm in that.

Sitting and eating the meat left over from the morning before, I was getting excited about looking at the house. But I was apprehensive, as well. Everything was moving so fast, too fast. I had gotten up to get a TruBlood when I heard Eric's voice in the house. "Would you two keep it in the bedroom, please," He begged as he passed the living room, where Pam and a woman were getting busy.

"What male doesn't like to watch females making out, Eric," Pam replied sourly. "It's not like we'll have any babies."

"You with a baby, that would be something," Eric retorted.

"They're tasty, aren't they?"

What the hell?

"Yes, but that's not the point," Eric said.

What the double-hell?

I sat back down and watched Eric come into the kitchen first, followed by Pam and the woman, who was practically attached to her hip. "Hey," I croaked.

"What's wrong?" Eric asked.

"I, uh, nothing," I told Him with a smile.

"What? You knew I prefer women, didn't you?" Pam inquired.

"I, yeah, but I'm a little slow." How did I not know she was? She was with me, but I thought she did that because Eric told her to.

"You're not eating that, are you?" the human woman asked disgusted.

Okay, I didn't like her, either. Even though Pam allowed Eric and me to stay at her home, it didn't mean I'd have to like her. "Yes, I am. You want some?" I asked, pushing the plate towards her. I knew it was mean, but I was in a bratty mood. I saw Eric grin before He grabbed a TruBlood from the refrigerator and nuked it.

Pam gave me a dirty look before she said, "Liz, have a seat. Connee, just so you know, I don't appreciate the fact that I have to share my human."

It dawned on me I was to feed from her. "Don't worry, Pam. She's not classy enough to have sex with me, anyway." I heard a sputter come from Eric and turned to see Him almost choking on the swallow of blood. I still had the power to shock the crap out of Him. I was pleased as punch with myself.

"Hurry it up," Pam retorted.

Looking at Liz, who had just sat down, I went to her, scooted the chair so that her back was to me then dove into her neck. No questions, no warning. By that point, I had become numb to the ritual, and it's what they wanted anyway. Give and take. She moaned and squirmed as I fed from her, not caring how messy I was being. Finally, I pulled back and went to the sink to wash my mouth, but Eric grabbed my waist, pulled me to Him hard and kissed me. At first I was grossed out with the exchange of blood, but His tongue swirling around my mouth made me forget quickly.

"Oh, hell. Come on, Liz," Pam muttered.

We were still kissing when I heard them leave. Only then did Eric break the kiss. "That was awful naughty of you."

"Couldn't help it. Would you have done the same in my situation?"

"Yes, but I'm just surprised my little angel did." I giggled. "Had enough to eat?"

"Yes."

"Okay. Let's go check out the house."

A few minutes later we were driving to our new prospective house. "Eric, did you and Pam have a sexual relationship after you changed her?" He nodded. "But, she's a lesbian."

"She wasn't when she was with me." I bust out laughing. "What the hell is so humorous?"

"I just can't believe you turned her into a lesbian."

"That is so not funny!" He said sternly and angrily, but then He smiled.

"What did you mean when you and Pam said babies were tasty?" I didn't want to ask, but I had to know.

"Vampires rarely get the opportunity to have infant or young human blood. Their blood is so clean and fresh; not polluted."

"Have you?"

"Yes." I grew sick to my stomach and was instantly sorry I even brought it up.

A moment later He pulled onto a dirt side road and followed it to the house surrounded by huge trees, enough to provide ample shade. It was a simple one-story rambler, built probably in the mid-1950's. A porch covered the entire front with a rocking bench by the door. There were huge plate-glass windows, but the shutters were odd somehow.

"There he is," Eric said, drawing my attention to a man standing by his car. "He's the leading real estate agent in the area for vampires. He's human, and his companion is vampire."

"Is that what you referred me as when I was human, your companion?" I asked as he had stopped the car and turned off the engine.

"Among other things," He replied then winked.

"Hello, Mr. Northman," the man said as we approached him. "Ma'am." He nodded to me.

"Connee Byers."

"Roger Parker." We shook hands. "I'm excited for you to see the house, since Mr. Northman was so adamant that you will like it. The shutters were installed to allow you complete, one hundred percent light protection. The home's empty, so you can get a feel for how your furniture will fit in the rooms." He opened up the front door and we stepped into a huge living room with a fireplace. Roger spoke the entire time while he showed us around, and I was sizing up the other rooms. I could feel Eric's eyes on me, knowing he was wondering what I was thinking. With three huge bedrooms, two baths and sufficient kitchen, it was plenty big for the both of us.

"Let me show you where your day beds are," Roger said after we were done looking at the master bedroom with its own bathroom. He went to the gigantic walk-in closet, stepping all the way to the end. I followed. "There's a hidden compartment that no one will find. You will be safe. The last owners had it built, along with the shutters."

Since Eric had already seen it, I let Roger show it to me. A panel at the very end popped out when he hit a particular spot then stepped aside so I could see it. It was a hole in the wall big enough for Eric and me to sleep side by side. Whatever He found adequate, I could hardly argue.

Roger took us outside to the back porch with a view of the woods then left us to talk about the house. "We can knock out the wall in the kitchen and expand the bathroom, since most of you females could live there." I smirked at Him. "What do you think?"

"I think ... it's my first house, Master. I don't know what ..." I turned to look at him. "Hon, if you are happy with it and feel safe during the day, I love it."

"Good." He kissed my forehead. "And I won't hire Pam to decorate."

"Oh, thank God!" I exclaimed and we both chuckled.

As Eric walked me back inside the house, He went off to the kitchen to talk to Roger about signing all the papers. I sat on the hearth and looked around the living room – my living room. I hardly had enough money to furnish it. And I wouldn't paint it purple. I knew Eric wouldn't like it. Maybe a deep, earthy green or a sapphire blue. My thoughts were interrupted when keys on a key chain were dabbled in front of my face. Master sat down beside me and pressed His shoulder into mine playfully. "Done. It's ours. Care to break it in?" He asked, flexing an eyebrow.

"Roger's right outside!"

"He's gone."

"Tell you what: Since I'm leaving the night after tomorrow, wanna try the dungeon again?"

"That's not very wise."

"I trust you. And I'm not talking about anything too intense."

"Oh, really?" He asked, leaned in and nibbled on my neck. "What exactly did you have in mind?"

Tilting my head, I pulled back a little and started working on His ear before I whispered, "For one, I'm not talking about you Domming me."

He growled. "What makes you think I'll allow that, slave?"

Like I needed a reminder. "Well," I replied, flicking my tongue over His ear lobe, "That's your decision, of course, but if you don't want me to paint every single wall purple, you would be wise —"

Master grabbed me and threw me on the carpet while I cackled the whole way, and He lay on top of me. "I don't take kindly to threats, little girl," He warned.

I wasn't worried, though. As He spoke, He pulled up the skirt of my sundress while I unzipped His jeans. Before I knew it, He held my arms above my head and entered me. I gasped before I said, "I give myself to you now, then I have you tomo ... hmm ..."

Well, Eric Northman got what He wanted that evening, as He had every night. He did promise me my little fantasy of Domming Him, but that it wouldn't become a habit. Little did He know, that's what I wanted.

The following night when I awoke, I was again alone. There was a single rose on Eric's pillow because that's the first place I look when I wake up. I recognized it as the same shade of red from the vase in the foyer. Pam's latest flame, Liz, appeared to be a keeper, and Pam had planned on giving her the bouquet on their date that night. What mattered was that the rose was from Eric, along with a note. 'Call me when you're ready to come to club. xoxo'

The only problem was that my stomach was cramping up again, though the pain wasn't as intense as it was before. It was more of a full feeling, like when I had a bladder infection when I was human and felt pressure against it. My stomach growled, though, so I headed downstairs to eat. That time, I ate the whole twelve ounces of meat, as well as three bottles of TruBlood, and I was still hungry. Something was wrong, I just knew it. I thought of no one to call. Master would flip out and rush right here, taking Him away from work; I wouldn't ask that of Him. Sylvester didn't like Eric, since he accused Him of hurting me once before. The only person I had left was Francesca. She was Bintaur and vampire. Maybe she had an idea of what was going on. I figured I'd start there. "Hi, Mom."

"I was going to call you. I'm looking forward to you coming to spend time with me."

"So am I. Look, um, after you were changed, did you have any ... unusual aches and pains or whatnot?"

"No, I didn't. Before I could answer, she asked, "Are you having tummy pain again?" I didn't like the tone of her voice.

"Yes, but nothing like before."

"You've had your first meal of the night?"

"Yes, yes. I totally pigged out, but I'm still hungry."

"Where's Eric?"

"He's at work. What do you think it is?"

She was silent for a moment. "I want you to call him. You need his blood."

"But I'm not—"

"Listen to me. Do not leave the house and stay off your feet. I'll call him if he gives you any trouble."

"Why would He? Why do I need—"

"Baby, something is going on, but I will need to confirm it when you get here tomorrow. Get Eric home. I do not want you to be alone. And no sex."

"Mom, please tell me what it is," I whined, trying not to cry from fear.

"I don't want to worry you."

"I'm already worried."

"When I learned you were weak, when you shouldn't be because you are vampire now, I wanted you to have more blood and protein. If Eric's blood took your pain away, I thought that would do it. But not now. I think you are bleeding internally."

"How can that be possible?"

"Go on now and call Eric, and have him bring another human. I want you to feed every hour, on top of his at least twice. I will call you around four."

"What is it?" I demanded. But the phone clicked before she even answered.

It took me a few minutes to control myself to even speak to Eric. I finished one more TruBlood, settled on the couch and called Him. "Why aren't you here yet, Mistress?" It was so quiet I knew He had to be in His office.

I told Him what Francesca had said, minus the no sex part. I then heard music blaring in the background, He spoke Swedish, to Pam, I assumed then it was quiet again. "I'm fine, Sir. I'll be fine until you get here. She wasn't too, too concerned." He didn't speak a word. "Eric, are you there?"

"Yes. Have another drink."

"I just finished one, right after I got off the phone with Mom. I'm kinda bummed, though."

"Why?"

"Because she said we couldn't have sex."

"Damn," He said, but I could hear a smile.

"I've been thinking: I don't want to stay with Mom longer than a week."

"You know what she said. You'll be safe with her."

"I know, I know. Do you realize I've never really been away from you for any length of time?"

"We can talk every night—we will talk every night."

"I'm scared, Eric."

"There's nothing to worry about," He said, but His voice filled the room instead of my ear. He buried His lips in my neck from behind the couch. "I'm here now."

I turned my head, flew onto my knees and wrapped my arms around his neck, crying. He picked me up, sat on the couch and held me in His lap, my head resting in His neck. He let me cry until I calmed down a little.

"Did you just ramble so I'd stay on the phone with you?" I finally managed to ask.

He said, "No," but I could feel Him nod. "Feed, baby."

He'd never called me baby before. He had to have been scared, too. I pierced His flesh on His neck at the vein and drank slowly. After only a minute or two He put His hands on either side of my head and pulled back. I quickly wiped my mouth. "Has that helped any?"

"Not really." I could see fear in His eyes.

"Pam is bringing someone for you to feed for the night. Francesca said nothing as to why you're not well?"

"No. Why can't this all be simple?"

He pushed my head back to His collarbone. "What do you mean?"

"Everything I have I've had to fight for. You just bought a house. It's supposed to be a good thing."

"It is, sweetheart. Both the queen and I want you well, that's all."

"What if she ... can't be trusted?"

"Where did that come from?"

"Everyone I have ever trusted has betrayed me, in one way or another. What if she wants me for some other reason?"

"I don't think that's the case."

"You've betrayed me, too, although you've made up for it." I wasn't trying to hurt Him, just making a point.

Pam interrupted us when she came in the room with Liz and another female. "I'm not happy about this," she whined. "Sit." The other woman sat on the chair, looking scared. "And I know you took a rose," she accused me.

"Shut up, Pam," Eric barked. "I took the damned rose. Get over it."

Pam huffed and left with Liz. "Sir, may I go to bed?" Before I could even finish my sentence, I was lying in bed with Eric propped beside me. Snuggling closer to Him, I said, "I don't want anyone else to take care of me."

"And I want to be the only one that takes care of you."

"Why can't you come with me?"

"Because the queen didn't request my presence."

"So?"

"You'll be fine, Con. She's your mother. She is genuinely concerned about you, and she is the only other being I would trust with my little one."

"I love being your little one, and your sweetheart, and your Con."

"Okay, I can only take so much flattery. Now get some rest."