The Continuation of Hold Back The Dawn
Chapter 11
I opened one eye and leaned forward slightly peeking at the digital clock on the lamp table next to the bed. Three thirty-six. Two and a half hours before dawn. Good Lord. Please hold back the dawn…
I sighed deeply and nestled my head back onto Bill. My nipples pressed into the cool, hairiness of his chest. I felt full and sensual against his skin. And dog tired.
I was still straddling his torso, my arms up across Bill's shoulders, my thighs still clamped down across either side of his mid-section, his manhood still buried deeply inside me.
I don't know about Bill, but I was exhausted. We had collapsed together and not moved, both of us falling asleep in that position. Me on top.
The two pillows behind Bill were positioned upright supporting his back as he leaned against the silk-covered headboard. We had made love, with me on top, Bill in a seated position, until he scrunched down, lying flat on his back with me, still sitting up.
Bill's sinewy legs were stretched out along the mattress underneath me. My butt was still in the air.
And that's how I had fallen asleep, completely satisfied and delightfully spent. My legs still firmly around him, my mind traveling back to the earlier frenzy of my orgasms.
How I, in the throes of my passion, had pressed my lips to Bill's shoulder in an failed attempt to stifle my own moans of pleasure, fearing that McBee would hear me down the hall somewhere.
And Bill, amused at my efforts, had found my mouth with his and kissed me, his tongue probing languidly into my mouth, his arms supporting me, holding me, his nimble fingers pressing in underneath my bottom, his steel hard manhood rising up, tunneling up, up inside of me, my flesh welcoming his flesh. Bill's hands, fingers spreading my sheath, stretching me, up and down over his rod, driving me out of my mind with pleasure and still my moans going on and on, only now continuing into Bill's mouth. Well, that was one effective way to shut me up. Until the moment when we both release and we are coming so hard together at the very same time.
"Sookehhh…." I heard Bill mumble my name very softly;"…I cannot fuck you again…" All of a sudden our moans had changed into the laughter we shared as he closed his arms around me, pressing me to his chest and we drifted off into a happy unconsciousness together. The last thing I remember thinking before falling sleep is how was it even possible that I had managed to tucker out a big old powerful vampire? I don't know.
But, I guess I did it. In just a few minutes we were both dead to the world.
And what was so unusual about it is, Bill never goes to sleep. Not in Bon Temps anyway. Of course it's a fact I have always had to accept. I guess most women would like that.I used to hear women at Merlotte's complaining all the time about their husbands and boyfriends, drifting off to sleep after sex. And how much they hated that.
The women claimed that in the after glow of lovemaking, they still wanted to cuddle and talk. Of course, I never understood it back then. I was still a virgin. I had not met Bill Compton yet. Bill falling asleep is a rare happening. Very rare.
Most times, my vampire is usually waiting for me to awaken. I am the one who cannot stay awake, not Bill. Semi~conscious, I know Bill is there. Loving me. Protecting me. He looks into my face. He strokes my back, my hair. He cradles me and gently kisses and caresses my shoulders, my arms, burying his nose into the hairline behind my ear before I fall all the way asleep.
Bill told me once, that he drinks in my scent, the essence that is uniquely me. Vampires have this crazy, out~of~this~world, keen sense of smell. Bill says, I am a creature unlike any other. Bill says I have the most delicious blood he has ever tasted. All I know is, just like the rest of my body, my blood is here only for him. He can taste it any time he wants it. I want to be his pleasure. His need. Bill says, my throat is a type of irresistible goblet that holds a special elixir. I gladly and willingly give it to him.
Some time during the night, I squeeze his waist and Bill knows I am awake again.
We smile at each other. "I adore you..." he whispers into my hair. And just like that, I am back in paradise again, consciously lying there against Bill. And happily knowing that everything that has happened in my entire life has led me to this moment.
My second morning in New York, when we awoke together, me and Bill decided we would stop humping each other just long enough to formulate the details of a plan…
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We had decided what we perceived as the best course of action to get the most information in the shortest amount of time. Obviously, I had to be where I could hear people's thoughts. The AVL dinner that night. The AVL conference on Tuesday.
Two things. First, Nan Flanagan called me a distraction for Bill. Well, maybe I was. But it's a distraction he wants. I could probably serve as a distraction for her, too!
Second, I'm in New York for Bill. To help him all I can. How could I have ever believed that all of this vampire business could go on under my nose and my holiday with Bill would never be touched by it? Bill said the same thing. I guess we were just being cock~eyed together. But now, Bill had agreed to let me help him, in some way. To use my gift to try and extract as much information from the mortal dignitaries at the conference that I could.
So Nan Flanagan can take a long walk on a very short pier. I really don't care what she thinks of me or my being at Bill's side. Bill is working for something he truly believes in. Something he believes will make a difference in this world. I still remember the look in his eyes, all those months ago, right before we went to Dallas. He was talking about Jessica and how much he had envied her freedom as a vampire then.
Bill had mused, "It's so different for her." Bill had talked about the truth of his horrible existence in the shadows. His inability to have any other choice but to live as an outcast because he is vampire.
And how before modern times, it had been impossible to even dream of a better existence. Mainstreaming was just a dream back then. And so were vampire rights.
The Fellowship of the Sun and many other hate groups, had made it abundantly clear that the Vampire Rights Amendment and the American Vampire League were going to be systematically dismantled, squashed down. Thwarted at every turn. They wanted vampires back in the shadows. Back in their coffins. Actually they wanted to stake all vampires. The True Death, as Bill says. They will stop at nothing to accomplish that goal. Bill said inspite of some people being openly active in bringing about the AVL's destruction, there were plenty of other people, like me, who were working fervently behind the scenes to help and promote a peaceful co~existence for mortals and vampire kind. But the pipeline in government and in big business, in clandestine places, to bring down the movement was fierce. The AVL could not identify those who they were working against the movement. Not without a lot of help. They did have many leads though. Bill said there are traitors and instigators among the AVL that needed to be exposed for who they are. Bill said the problem was deeply rooted, with cells of defiance to the VRA all over the world!
Bill said he had worked with foreign factions nearly every day since coming to New York. Many treaties and charters were being drawn up almost daily from other countries, trying to solve the problems, come up with solutions that were submitted to the AVL council for their consideration. I knew that. Bill was the public face and the spokesman, the liaison between the AVL and the 'friendly' factions that wanted a 'piece of the action,' a position in the New World Order, as the vampires rights take a foot-hold in society. No body, no country wanted to be left out. It was all about the power ... and the money to be made.
Bill's charm, his intelligence, his agreeable nature and his striking sex appeal were all assets for Nan Flanagan and The Authority for both the foreign and the domestic allies. Bill Compton was the vampire that the AVL wanted the general public to think about and see as they negotiated and input money for the mainstreaming effort.
That is where Colonel Adibisi and Anqelique come in. They are only two foreign factions that had become intrigued with the possibilities of the AVL world wide. There are many others, too. Many politicians in our own country, as well. And everyone of them will attend the AVL conference, Bill said.
But what surprised me most ~ and Bill had not told me until that morning~ is that sometimes he worked even during the daylight hours! Bill told me that the amazing, all-encompassing Sanctuary Vampire Hotel, has several light~tight rooms in a penthouse suite, just above Bill's suite of rooms. Conference facilities. So when diplomats, heads of state, prime ministers and their emissaries come to New York from overseas during flight hours that do not accommodate vampires, Bill has on occasion met with these dignitaries in one of the Sanctuary's penthouse conference rooms!
The last time Bill had had one of these daytime meetings had been the day before I came to New York City.
"Bill, you must have got the bleeds then?" I said. The bleeds only happens when vampires don't get enough rest. They can start bleeding from their ears or their noses... It's pretty awful to watch. No doubt, not anything a vampire wants to experience.
"I had not rested in a while, yes," Bill said.
"Bill, that's so bad for you! What did you do?"
Bill shrugged. "I had a handkerchief in my pocket during the meeting," he said. I looked at him incredulously. I could not believe that Nan had Bill meeting people in the day time. God knows, he needed his rest, what with this high~profile job she expected him to give his all for. It just was not right that he had to forego sleeping during the day, too.
Bill must have seen the steam coming out of my ears. He could feel I was so irritated by this information.
"Sookie, these talks are very sensitive," Bill said; "They involve contracts, treaties, negotiations. I cannot very well excuse myself For the bleeds."
"Well, where was Nan while you were negotiating in the daylight?" I asked sarcastically. As if I didn't know.
"Resting peacefully, I'm sure." Bill said.
"That bitch!"
"Nothing new there," Bill said.
It was 1982 in London when Bill said he first met Nan Flanagan. She was fascinated by Bill because he did not kill the humans he fed from. Bill said, he had no interest at that time in vampire politics. He had always thought, like many other vampires who longed for a better existence, that the struggle for vampire rights was just a pipe dream. 'Mainstreaming?' A death wish, Bill said. He never thought it would go anywhere.
Bill said he had been moving around from place to place, just trying to survive and not draw any attention to himself, Nan Flanagan approached him one night, informing Bill that she had been watching him for quite some time. Bill said that annoyed him to no end. But Nan had made several interesting proposals. Bill had agreed to become a vampire spy. An undercover operative for the AVL. Sort of like James Bond, I thought.
For the next thirty~ five years, Bill said, he played a dangerous game that eventually led him to his service in Queen Sophia-Anne Monarchy and then back to our little hometown of Bon Temps. And me! Bill said, falling in love was the last thing he ever expected to do.
I had laughed to myself earlier, about the 'James Bond-nesque' feel of this whole thing. The New York Connection. But really, after Bill had told me all about his past with the AVL and Queen Sophie~Anne, I had no idea how involved or how long in duration Bill had pursued these goals. And now we both of us were sitting in the middle of it.
Me and Bill together. It was like …the ninth inning in baseball for Bill.
Or the very last two~minute warning buzzer sounding in basketball. Football?
Anyway, everything hinged on the AVL Conference on Monday night. If things didn't come together then, it might take weeks or even months before Bill had another chance to seal a concrete deal. But perhaps with my help, here was a viable chance to find out who was behind all the opposition.
Bill said he had personally 'glamoured' as many foreign and domestic allies as he dare to, without disabling their ability to function in the real world. Glamouring can have a devastating effect sometimes. Major memory loss. Incoherency. Bill said, he was loathe to keep doing that, because he knew those people had to go home and be able to function there. Kings. Sheiks. Prime Ministers. Buill said he felt bad about interfering with their ability to govern their own lands after glamouring. Especially when he was not finding out anything that the AVL or The Authority could use. To no avail. Every lead had turned into a dead-end. Only Bill Compton would feel bad about that. I knew at Bill's core, his humanity was still very much in tact In his heart. I can feel it. I don't care what anyone else says or thinks. I am the closest person to Bill. Except for his daughter Jessica, that is. And I know him.
My mouth had fallen open when Bill told me all these things. Everything was now crystal clear for me. All the pieces of the puzzle finally fit. And when Bill had shared these things with me, it solidified our trust in each other. And we were in bed together.
The most intimate place he could have ever shared this knowledge with me. It is so ironic. More than our lovemaking, Bill talking to me about so many details of his vampire business, made me feel even closer to him. I felt like we were truly partners in this.
"Sookie," Bill looked at me seriously, squeezing my hands;" I tell you all these things because to have your trust again means everything to me."
I smiled at him. "Bill, I am so happy. I do trust you Bill, you know that," I said; "And tellin' me all this stuff really helps because...now I know what I need to be listenin' for when I read these people's thoughts."
"I don't want you to worry, Sookie. I have arranged it so you will always be at my side," Bill said sternly; "I won't let you out of my sight, Sookie. I promise."
His brows knitted together in great concern.
"Bill," I said, lacing my fingers through his; "I am not afraid," I said gently.
"I haven't been at liberty to tell you everything that passing from The Authority chamber, sweetheart," he said; "Just know, I am sharing with you everything that I can."
I nodded. "I know you have good reasons for not tellin' me everything," I smiled;
"Don't feel like you are bein' dishonest for not doing that. Everything is different between us now. I understand. You've shared so much with me already. Bill, I love you so much. And I know I can get a lead for you on the people who are screwing things up. It won't take me very long. All I have to do is listen."
Then his face relaxed and he smiled that amazing smile of his. The smile I want to see for the rest of my life. His blue eyes danced with love when he looked at me.
"Sookie, you cannot know how happy you have made me. Just...just by joining me here in New York. Having you here with me….it's made all the difference. I feel like I can accomplish anything with you by my side. I feel rejuvenated. But, my greatest goal is to finish this and get back home with you, sweetheart. I want nothin' more than time with you. We have other things, personal things to discuss."
I dropped my eyes from his face. "I know what you're talkin' about. You mean your engagement ring, don't you? I whispered; "We'll get back to that. I feel so close to you, Bill. Closer than I ever thought we'd be, ever again. Life is so funny, isn't it?"
"Life is incredible. Life is surprising," Bill said; "Sookie, I love you. You are my life-" He seemed to hesitate. I looked back up into the blue eyes. There was a question in his handsome face. I never wanted to be able to read his mind more than at that moment. But I didn't have long to wait to know what was on my vampire's mind.
"Sookie...it's been a long time since we discussed the ring. Sookie, please say you will marry me," he said, his thumb rubbing the palm of my right hand; "I love you more than I can ever say. I love you. I cannot even express how much. You know I want you to become my wife. I want you with me always."
I looked down at his long, slender fingers. That gorgeous yellow gold engagement ring was tucked safely back in Bon Temps, into my jewelry box at home, hundreds of miles away. Bill had insisted that I take it back ,the night we reconciled, and before we went to Merlotte's together for our last good~bye before he left for New York. It was killing me to say farewell my love. I could not even watch him walk away back then. I remember I had turned away, so I could not see him as he left me.
Earlier, when I had been so angry with him still, walking into his house unannounced and uninvited, Bill had said the ring belonged to me...no matter what happened between us. I had reluctantly taken it back, holding the ring in my palm at the time and I never dared put it back on my finger. So much had been spinning around in my head. Just like the last time Bill proposed to me. That night, at the La Maison restaurant.
After considering everything ~ and running into the ladies room where I thought I might calm down and think clearly ~ I had run back into the room and I knew my answer to Bill's proposal was yes! If only Bill had been there. If only he had not been kidnapped by those werewolves back then. Me and Bill would probably be married now. We would have taken that plane ride to Burlington Vermont, where humans and vampires can legally get married. Things would have been so different. But an unexpected turn in the road had changed everything.
"Bill, I-I"
"If you are not sure, Sookie, don't say anything just now," Bill said quickly. His response startled me a bit . I looked at him. Bill swallowed hard; "Just wait. Wait until after the conference. Until we are finished with all of this turmoil. Please wait, Sookie."
I could see that he really did not want me to answer him right then.
"Okay," I said quietly; "Let's take one crazy thing at a time, right?"
"Damn, I shouldn't have said anything. I'm not tryin' to put any pressure on you, Sookie."
"Bill, I know you aren't. Here we are talkin' vampire business… and marriage in the same breath," I smiled;"I knew we'd get back to talkin' about the ring one day. But, I never thought I would actually enjoy talkin' vampire politics with you, Bill Compton. But it's alright. I don't feel pressure talkin' about either one. Not at all."
"I certainly hope not."
"Bill, I swear, everything's fine," I said; "Tomorrow we start the first part of our plan. You know, I'm kind of excited about it. I mean, going into this thing...with you."
"Excited is not the word I would use," Bill chuckled; "but as long as we stick to our plan, I believe we most certainly will accomplish our goal." Bill gave me a sly little grin.
"Bill? We're goin' to do a lot of things together. I promise."
Bill bent his head, brought my hand up and he kissed the back of it, then he turned my hand and tenderly placed a little kiss in the middle of my palm.
Now Bill had proposed to me twice.
I've known for a long time there was no way I wanted to live my life without him.
No way.
Bill reached out and tenderly touched my cheek, our eyes locked. We had had a lovely evening out, the night before, which had turned into a lovely morning where we had made love until dawn. Bill had told me again, all that was in his heart… and vampire business, too. Now, we were on the same page with absolutely everything.
And I could not wait to help Bill by reading the thoughts of all these unusual and intriguing characters.
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My cell phone rang after I had eaten some lunch.
"Jason!"
"Sook, hey! How you doin', sis? Everythin' goin' okay for ya?"
"Oh, Jason, I'm havin' the time of my life! ! How are you doin', honey?"
"Aw, same ol' same' ol...just showin' up for work everyday. So...all is good with you?"
"All is truly fabulous!"
"Well, you always wanted to see the Big Apple, Sook, so I'm glad you finally got to go."
"Jason… It's … just amazing! But, I'll hafta tell you all about it when I get back home."
"Yeah. I bet Bill's been wining and dining you all over the place, huh?"
"Mmmmm...we've gone out a few times to a couple of really interesting places. It's been wonderful. The bright lights. The people. It's just like we see on t.v."
"Well, good. Good. I certainly hoped you wouldn't be disappointed, Sook. I mean, I hoped Bill wasn't just gonna suck down your blood 24/7 and sex you up every chance he gets. Although, I know there's plenty of that goin' on!"
"Jason."
"I'm sorry, Sook. I have to admit, I've been kinda worried about ya up there."
"Why? Well, I'm fine. Better than fine. Is that why you called? To see if Bill had drained me? Or had me chained to his bed?"
"Hell no, Sook. Come one. I was just wonderin' about you, is all. If everything's alright, you know? I'm glad you're havin' a good time gettin' all the sex you need. God knows, I can't judge you for that! I'm the last one to object to that. Just want you to be safe."
"Jason, two facts. I'm here with Bill. And you know nothin' bad is gonna happen to me."
"You two are really somethin' you know that?"
"I know that. Well, tell me what's happenin' in Bon Temps? Anything I should know?"
"Shit. Ain't nothin' goin' on down here, you know that."
"Nothin'?"
"Practically nothin'. Oh, the other day I heard old Doc Bessemer is thinkin' about retiring. So, now we only got two doctors left in town."
"Oh, hell. That's not good. But I do wish him all the best, Jason."
"Whatever."
"Have you seen Tara?"
"Yeah. Sure. I saw her at Merlotte's yesterday."
"I haven't called her. How is she doin'?"
"She still thinks you're fuckin' crazy to forgive Bill and run off to New York to be with him. Nothin' has changed there."
"Well, please tell Tara I am okay. Tara does not have to live my life. Neither do you.
I have to live my own life. I love Bill. And he loves me. And that's all there is to it. What the fuck? Ya'll just keep soundin' like broken records. Me and Bill have put the past behind us. Ya'll should do the same!"
"Yeah, I got that, Sook. Believe me."
"Bill asked me to marry him again."
"Holy shit. He did? Did you say yes, girl?"
"Not yet. But in my heart, that's what I truly want. We're going to talk about it some more, later."
"Sook, you used to say your whole life was at night. Well, if you marry Bill, that's all your life will be about. Night time and darkness. And staring at the moon for hours. Are you ready for that?"
"Jason Stackhouse, that's bullshit! And you know it! Don't be fucking ridiculous! Now you sound just like Tara. Only dumber."
"Listen here, Sook. You just met that vampire, not too long ago. I been your brother longer than Bill's been your boyfriend. I love you, Sook. And I'm gonna talk plain to you."
"Well. I love you too, Jason. We've been close all of our lives. I appreciate you talkin' plain to me, Jason. But, Jesus Christ, any fool knows that just because I marry Bill doesn't mean I will spend all my time at night. Or just staring at the moon. That's stupid~ass shit. Me and Bill are goin' to make it work. Humans and vampires are gettin' married all the time now. Everyday in Vermont. You know that, don't ya? It's in the news!"
"Yea. I know. What about babies, Sook? Hmmm? I ain't never gonna be nobody's uncle?"
"Jason, this is not about you! I know we can never have biological children. Do you think I haven't thought about that? There are other ways to have kids."
"Sounds like you made up your mind already. Are you really prepared for that one, Sook? That's a big one. I mean...your intimate female space...your womb...that's part of your body, never used?"
"This is none of your fucking business, Jason. Why am I talkin' to you about this now? And long distance? I gotta go. Or you gotta change the subject."
"O.k., Sook. Guess you and Bill got things all figured out Damn! My sister married to a fuckin' vampire! It's gonna happen so I might as well accept it."
"By no means do me and Bill have everything figured out. But, if two people love each other enough, anything can be worked through. Jason, please don't make me sorry you called."
"Alright, I'm done. I was just checkin' up on you, is all. You think you might be home early?"
"Early? Hell no. I'll be here until Friday, just as I planned."
"Well, how much longer is Bill's vampire business gonna take up there, anyway?"
"Jason, I don't know. Not too much longer I hope."
"Well, as long as you come home. You are comin' home, aren't you, Sook?"
"What are you talkin' about? Of course, I'm comin' home. Why would you even think I wouldn't?"
"Bill Compton, that's why. You are so crazy for Bill, I'm sure if he asked you to...you'd probably switch zip codes in a heartbeat! Am I wrong?"
"There you go again, Jason, makin' those stupid~ass assumptions about Bill. Bill wants to come home too, Jason! As soon as possible. You are thinkin' about this way too hard."
"Alright then. Don't call me back later and tell me you're stayin' up north!"
"Jason Stackhouse, for God's sake."
"You and me are family, Sook. I love ya. I really want you to be happy. Even if that means Bill."
"I love you, too, Jason. I am so happy to be here with Bill, I can't even put it into words. But I only have one week off from work. So you tell Sam that I'll be at work on Saturday night. And hug Lafayette, Arlene and Tara for me and tell them I'm o.k."
"I got it. O.k. You continue havin' a good time. Tell Bill... tell'em, I appreciate that he is takin' real good care of you, Sookie."
"Jason. That is so sweet of you. I am sure that will make Bill's day. Really, it will."
"And tell Bill I said to be sure to let you come up for some air every once in awhile."
"Oh, Jason! Bye!"
End of Chapter 11.….To be continued….