The Continuation of Hold Back The Dawn
Chapter 14
I told Bill everything.
All about the conversations I had had with The Countess Magdelina. And with Mack Bloom. About Mack's unwelcomed, unwanted advances. About the lovely Colonel Adibisi and his impertinent and nasty thoughts. I told Bill everything I had heard him thinking! Andhow the Colonel is opposed to me and Bill as a couple. How he thought I was a gold~digging prostitute at first. Now he only thinks I am a gold~digger.
I sure had Bill's undivided attention, to say the least. He silently listened to every word I had to say. It was windy but quiet up there on top of the Empire State Building. All of my words just came tumbling out. I was so comforted by finally being alone with Bill, so I could tell him all of what had happened. The things he had not seen at the AVL Banquet. Although, as strange as it may seem… I knew Bill could feel part of what I had been going through at the banquet. Through the bond that we had together.
Bill listened to all I had to say, without interrupting me. He was weighing every single word I spoke. His blue eyes were intent, never wavering from mine. I could not read his thoughts, but I could almost see the wheels turning in his head. He just listened though, without saying anything or asking me any questions.
It seemed as though we were standing together on top of the world. The observation deck at the Empire State Building is not a tiny space. It's very spread out. Eighty-six floors high, overlooking the splendor of New York City. I had turned to face Bill as I talked, my arms round his waist. Bill's hands firmly holding my shoulders, his head bent forward slightly, our foreheads almost touching.
There were a few people strolling by us at times on the deck, but we scarcely noticed their presence. Every now and then, as I explained what had happened to me at the banquet, Bill would bring his hand up and lightly touch my face, stroking my cheek with his thumb as he looked deeply into my eyes. I love when he does that. He could not hold me then… but he could hold me now. And that was all I wanted.
It somehow reminded me of the very first time we had made love. Not the content, but just how seriously Bill was looking at me. I thought about the time we had just stepped into that warm and wonderful bath together in Bill's great claw~foot porcelain tub. Bill was looking at me in the exact same way. Listening as I had recounted for him my Uncle Bartlett's despicable behavior. And how my own mother had been afraid of me as I was growing up. Because of my telepathy… all the extraordinary and horrible episodes of my childhood, I had shared with Bill that night. Yes, Bill had exactly the same expression on his face. Concern. Empathy. I knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that Bill's first priority was to always protect me. To always have some real regard for me, as a person.
Bill would focus like a laser on any wrongdoings aimed against me. I finally had come to realize that, as a vampire, Bill would make it his priority to snuff out any threat or injustice that would ever happen to me. Vampire-style. At first, I had not understood it. But it was a part of his nature. Bill had tried so hard in the past to not act on many things that were a part of his vampire consciousness. But protecting me and always being my champion was something I knew would never change. I had given Bill a hard time about it in Bon Temps. Especially when we first met. Part of me had shuddered at his coldness.
His ability to strike without regret. Even for my sake.
But part of me was comforted by his abiding devotion. I know all too well what Bill is capable of as a vampire. While we were in New York, if Bill had wanted to, he could have let his baser nature as a vampire take over. And he did, briefly. But we'll get to that … later.
For the most part, Bill's humanity always wins out over his darkness. At least I am 99.99% sure about that. We were in a very civilized setting in New York City. But I still had a real fear of being the catalyst that might ruin anything for Bill in the American Vampire League. I needed to share with Bill all that had happened that night. But I did not want Bill to feel that he needed to avenge for me any of the behaviors of these people.
As I shared my thoughts and perspectives about that evening with Bill, I knew exactly what his position would be. But still I censored nothing. Not my general frustration and anger at the Colonel. Not my relief and hopeful anticipation that The Countess Magdelina would somehow become an ally for us. Not my pathos for Victor Buono being so preoccupied and miserable on this business trip without his wife. And finally, not my consternation and disgust at Mack Bloom, for believing he could hit on me and glamour me while Bill's back was turned. That was a pretty bold move by ol' Mack.
Earlier I had entertained thoughts of not being completely honest with Bill about all of this. But I had wisely thought better of it and changed my mind.
After so much upheaval in the past, the peace and the trust that me and Bill had achieved together was too important for me to ever take it for granted. No matter Bill's initial reaction to everything, I thought, we had the obligation to talk things through and continue to be completely honest with one another. I wanted us to stand tall together. With no shadows between us.
I had to level with Bill first. And then I could deal with whatever mood he might have later. It was the only way. It is so important. We had almost lost each other once. Our happiness together had been hard won. Our physical relationship had never been a problem. We had always been in perfect harmony there.
Even being drawn back into the midst of this vampire business, I was still so happy.
It was a whirlwind around us. And as Bill had said long ago, vampires are always in some kind of trouble. But he preferred to be in it with me.
At that time, Bill was living hundreds of miles away from Bon Temps in the Big City. The most exciting, intriguing city in the world! And I only joined him for a few, short days. Our future together was still so un~chartered. We had not even begun to talk about our lives together. Our engagement, that neither of us had talked about in any great length yet. But no matter. In spite of all the uncertainty, all the things we still had yet to discuss, I was very happy. It was not the happiness I had dreamed about or expected before I met Bill. But something had deepened between me and Bill.
I knew then, more than ever, that Bill had always been my Destiny.
Finally after flying to New York, I felt like our relationship had definitely taken a turn in the right direction. We had both learned from the past, but in very different ways, trust in each other is the foundation of a good relationship. So, feeling the way that we do about each other, there really was not any other choice except for me to tell Bill everything.
"Sookie...you think I am not aware of how difficult this evening has been for you?" Bill said, after I finally took a breath and stopped talking; "I never wanted you to go through that strain and upset in the first place."
"I know you didn't," I said shaking my head; "Please don't start feelin' guilty about it. I wanted to do it, Bill. You know I did. I do. I want to try and help you. I thought I could just go in there, read a couple of thoughts and that would be the end of it. Easy peasy. Of course, things are never as simple as we want them to be, are they? I really should have learned that by now, I guess."
"From the start, Sookie, I knew better," Bill said; "Be you insisted. It was against my better judgment. I was being too optimistic when we began this plan. I think because the AVL banquet is a very public affair. But Sookie, I do not want you exposed to that kind of environment, ever again. Too many unforeseen things can happen."
"Bill, what are you saying?" I reached up and drew his fingers down my cheek.
"You're done," he simply said. I looked at him in disbelief.
"Bill, I-"
"It's over, Sookie. I mean your involvement in this, " he said; "Don't be stubborn now, Sookie. Listen to me. It's my fault that you were even there so Mack Bloom had access enough to make a move on you, in the first place. You were not supposed to be out of my sight this evening, remember?"
"You can't follow me into the ladies room, Bill Compton!" I protested.
"That's not what I mean, Sookie. And you know it." Bill looked down at me intently and his tone of voice was as if he were scolding a child. I always hate when he does that.
"And as for Colonel Adibisi. He is a very lucky mortal," Bill's tone grew more emotionless; "I still have half a mind to confront him about his total disrespect of you."
"Bill, please don't!" I insisted quickly; "The Colonel has no idea I'm a telepath and we definitely want to keep it that way, right? What about the Countess Magdelina? She's goin' to help us. I feel sure about that."
"Sookie, we cannot depend on The Countess for anything."
"Bill, I think we can."
Bill went back on his heels. But he still held my shoulders.
"You really think the Countess will remain an ally, Sookie? That even if she could produce a valid lead, she would share it with you. With us?"
"Well. That's what we've been hopin' for, isn't it? I think it's possible, Bill. She likes me. And I like her. I really get a good vibe from The Countess, Bill. Besides, I read her mind and there's nothin' evil in her thoughts. I know she's telling' me the truth. And she thinks quite a lot of you."
"Does she?" Bill looked over my head and out into the darkness of the night.
"Yes. She does," I said. "The Countess believes that you have a very bright future in politics, Bill."
"Good to know. Alright," Bill gently squeezed my forearms. "Fine. I will glamour The Countess again the first chance I get. She may know something new over time."
"I don't think that's even necessary. I don't think you need to glamour her, Bill. I'll talk with her again-"
"No!" Bill said emphatically. "Sookie. I appreciate what you have done already, sweetheart. But I want you out of it now. Please. No more. Honey, I don't feel good about it."
I shrugged my shoulders. "Bill. I haven't done anything...really."
"You have accomplished more than enough, Sookie," he said firmly, framing my face with both his hands;" The Countess promised that she'd give you some information, if she by any chance comes across anything that she deemed important to our cause. Which probably means that she already knows some new information. I'll get it out of her.
That's a very good lead that I would not have had without you."
He lightly kissed the tip of my nose.
"Why do I get the feelin' like you are just tryin' to appease me then?" I smirked.
"I'm not." He shook his head. "Honestly."
"Yeah. Isn't that what we're supposed to be doin' here? Honestly?" I tilted my head back.
Bill smiled. "24/7. Sookie… you have helped me immeasurably, my sweetheart. Now, it is unnecessary and unwise for you to pursue this any further. I do not want you in harm's way. I want you to thoroughly enjoy the reminder of your vacation up here with me. For you, vampire business must take a back seat now. No more cloak and dagger.""
I let out a long sigh, because I knew whenever Bill started talking about keeping me safe, that was a sure fire attempt from him to end any further discussion on the matter.
"I know. " I said after a moment. "But it has been kinda… fun."
"Sookie. Please, do as I ask,"Bill said more gently; "We have only a few days left to be together before you have to go back home. And I hate that you have to make the trip alone, just as much as I hated that you had to get here alone. I want to spend every moment I can with you, my darling. And the less drama, the better."
The sincerity in Bill's voice could never be mistaken. I looked into his eyes and I knew I had done the right thing telling him all without censoring anything. Again, I shrugged my shoulders.
Of course, Bill knew best regarding these matters. How could I have involved myself anymore than he thought was prudent?And above anything else, I did want to concentrate on having a good time with him. After a moment, with no more protests from me, Bill put his arm round my shoulder.
"Now come here," he said softly; "I have something to show you..."
Bill led me over to the left of where we had been standing. We watched as the saxophonist walked past us, giving us a little wink of his eye as he kept playing his tunes.
Ironically, he was now playing the exact same song on his sax that we had heard at the banquet dinner while on the dance floor. Some people who had been on the observatory deck before us, where getting back onto the public elevators to exit. Undoubtedly, the smell of rain in the air and the wind slightly picking up was making a lot of visitors anxious to leave. Bill and I took a very few short steps over to one of the huge nickel-plated sight-seeing telescopes that were anchored to the marble ledge.
"I want you to see something," Bill said; "It will be challenging in the darkness, but let's try it."
Bill reached into his pocket and retrieved a few coins.
He inserted them one~by~one into a slot on the side of the telescope and he dipped the scope around, pointing it eastward. Then he positioned the telescope downward so I could see through the lens.
"What am I looking for?" I said, holding onto the side grip and looking in the direction that Bill had turned the telescope.
"Do you see that tower blinking off in the distance?" Bill said, standing very close behind me; "Look just above the horizon, Sookie. It's the one with the red light atop it? Do you see it, darling?"
"Yes. I think so..." I said, squinting with one eye closed, looking down into the lens; "There. I see it. I see the light blinking, Bill. What is that?"
Bill put his arms around me from behind. "That's Vermont, Sookie."
I bobbed my head up from the lens and turned slightly towards him. "Vermont?"
"Yes. Burlington is up there somewhere," Bill said; "Not very far from here actually. Maybe a two-hour drive. Even less by plane."
I turned towards him a little more until I was facing Bill again. He looked down at me with those incredible blue eyes of his. Now they were the deepest shade of navy blue. We stood together in an embrace, the telescope just behind me on the ledge.
"Let's do it," he said quietly, earnestly.
"Get married?" I said hoarsely.
"If you'll have me," he teased. I raised my arms up until I could place my hands round the back of his collar.
"I'll have you alright, Bill Compton..."I said; "I'll have you over and over and over again..."
Bill bent his head and thoroughly kissed me. His mouth came down over mine urgently and with much passion. I sigh with unfeigned pleasure when we paused for a moment. I welcomed his lips again as they consumed my own. His tongue probing entry, exploring, fully possessing my mouth. I melted against Bill, lost in the moment. He exacted our kiss by positioning his palm at the back of my head, fusing our mouths together even further. Our arms wrapped tightly around one another.
'And when two lovers woo...
They still say I love you,
On that you can rely.
The fundamental things apply,
As Time Goes By...'
I knew the familiar lyrics of the song in my head, the saxophonist walked up just behind us as we were kissing. I remember Bill nodding at him, very tersely, as he gave the saxophonist a fifty dollar bill to go away. He quickly left us.
We looked around and saw one last couple in our view heading for the elevators. The air was beginning to cool down even more, almost chilly and there was a slight mist lowering across the vista of tall building. When we were very still, I could faintly hear the sounds of the traffic on the streets far below us.
We casually strolled down the observation deck together, a few more feet away, stopping between two other telescopes. We stood very close at the marble ledge.
Me and Bill turned towards each other and continued kissing until we could not stand it anymore. As Bill pulled me against his jeans, I was so glad that he had had the presence of mind to bring along the long black trench coat that he was wearing. Bill slowly turned me around. Now I was facing the millions of twinkling lights stretching away into the city, the wind blowing gently back onto my face. I watched as the mist began to thicken and the clouds full of unshed rain cast a hazy over the tops of the many skyscrapers in front of us.
I fell Bill standing behind me. My back and my bottom touching him. He brought his arms round my waist and held me closer to him. I spread my legs apart and Bill had spread his legs further apart than mine. As he pressed up against my bottom, I could feel the rock hardness in his jeans. He bent his head, his lips gently brushing the side of my face, his left arm firmly around my waist, as I heard the sound of his zipper unzipping.
Bill kissed my temple, my cheek, then he nibbled tenderly on my earlobe, kissing, placing mock little bites along the back of my ear.
"Sookie…I want you so badly...right now… " he whispered raggedly.
His words made me weak in the knees. I felt my heart rate increasing. My blood racing wildly through my chest. Bill moaned in my ear, as I knew he definitely felt my blood stirring and my excitement building. His left hand moved firmly across my tummy, but his right hand was doing something altogether different. Were we going to have sex, in the rain? Standing up, at the top of the Empire State Building, I thought? Were we going to do this? Right here? Yes. Yes we were.
I writhed like a flame, backing up under the cover of the black trench coat Bill was wearing. He had opened the coat, I don't know when. The lightweight coat was hanging on either side of me down to my calves, like a makeshift curtain. Bill's aim was unerring as always. I reached out and braced my hands onto the wet marble ledge as Bill hiked up, bunching my little khaki skirt, moved it aside with his deft fingers. Then he found the bit of lace that was my panties, moving them aside as well, and entered my already wet sheath from behind. Just thinking about Bill taking me, fucking me, on the observatory deck had made me wet. I felt an aching, a longing for him inside my nether lips. There was a stirring in my belly and all the way around to my bottom felt heavy and aroused.
Bill was pure perfection as always. He knows every inch of me so well. The head of his manhood felt soft and cold at first. But not for long. As he drove the rest of his hard shaft up into me, it took my breath away. I warmed him. I welcomed him. The lips of my vagina covered him, bit by bit. The fingers of his left hand had found their way down into the front rim of my skirt and brushed over the warm, plumpness of my mons. Two of Bill's slender fingers ran straight down and firmly separated the divide to my delicate lips. He helped himself by pressing his fingers upward and inward and making me take all of him. I was breathing in gasps by then, my mouth open, as I leaned back against him, my knees braced against the wall of the ledge, moving my hips backward as Bill thrusted upward. I received my vampire's powerful lance. This wanton and risky thing we were doing felt so naughty and so good.
At first, I looked out over the city, the mist covering everything as the building seemed to disappear inside the clouds, the slightest tiniest droplets of rain tapping onto my forehead, my cheeks. Then I closed my eyes. I drew Bill even closer, my hands sliding down his taut, damp jean~covered thighs. I felt him filling my wet channel. He hovered over me and I did not want him to stop. I did not even care if someone was looking at us. My lust for Bill, once again, had been unleashed. I gyrated my hips, bringing my right arm and hand back to draw his head down closer to my throat. And to Bill's delight, we found a rhythm together that satisfied him enough to make his fangs suddenly drop. That only excited us more. Bill secured the trench coat around me. He was making sure my backside remained covered. But it was fairly dark in the position where we were standing. I wanted Bill to bite me. It had been a long while since he had. He pushed forward into me and I rewarded him by tightening my bottom and pressing my legs together like a vice, holding his thick and lengthy manhood inside me as he stroked.
"Ohh, Sookie. You are so hot. So sweet. So wet ,"Bill groaned his pleasure into my ear.
"I need you, Sookie…"
"Bill…bite me…fuck me...bite me, fuck me, ooh Bill!" I was totally breathless and going into a frenzy of passion My mind spinning with excitement as Bill moved back and forth, up and down inside me. I felt Bill's left hand grab my ponytail and anchor it around his hand. He pulled my head to the left side as he continued fucking me harder and hander.
I could not get enough of him. Then Bill sank his fangs into my throat! I was overcome with a dizziness as the wind blew back across my face, through my hair. The tiny raindrops had started falling faster now. But in that moment, nothing else mattered except the friction, the heat that Bill and I created near that ledge as we had glorious, crazy sex. He rocked me as he was feeding. I grabbed the back of his neck letting Bill know I he could have all of me, whatever he wanted, for as long as he wanted it. Our lust for each other has no boundaries. We only reached a new height. Literally.
My passion for Bill can never be quenched.
As I encouraged him, he kept shattering me with his rod, again and again and again as my feet almost left the slate deck and he held me tightly by my ponytail and fed on my blood. The angle of his sweet assault brought about a pain and a pleasure that melted into one pleasurable sensation after another. I was incoherent, no longer altogether conscious of our surroundings. I just wanted it to go on and on. I felt my orgasm peaking, carrying me over, Bill, thrusting deeply and sucking my blood. My entire body was helpless, captive to the feelings that Bill was eliciting in me.
"Awhh! Bill!" I cried out as I came, trying to form my words.
Bill slowed his rhythm when he knew I had crested. I knew he was preparing to give me his last stroke. Wantonly, I wiggled my bottom, coaxing the ultimate response from his tension~filled body. His fingers gripped my hip. He pumped me for the last time.
Our ecstasy mingling together as Bill came only moments after me. He had both arms around my waist, my knees were pressed firmly against the side of ledge. Bill stopped moving. But he continued to hold me tightly, his shaft still buried deep inside me, his fangs still in my throat. We were both just motionless for a few minutes.
Finally I felt his body relaxing, the tension in the muscles in his arms slacked a bit.
My heart was still pounding, the little aftershocks of pleasure still electrifying my swollen, throbbing sheath. It was always easier for Bill to get all the blood he needed and more quickly when my heart was pumping, with so much blood moving really fast.
I listened to Bill's moans of satisfaction behind me as he sucked, sucked at my skin. I felt good when Bill was enjoying my body and enjoying my blood at the same time.
My head still bent to the left side, my eyes still closed, I felt the rain drops from Bill's hair falling onto the front of my pink sweater. Bill had carefully folded me into his trench coat, up to my neck to guard against this, but some small pool of water still slipped inside. I squeezed the water from his hair. I did not care. I did not care.
It was a long moment, neither of us spoke or moved. I wanted Bill to keep his fangs inside me. But, with a tiny pinch, Bill slowly took his fangs from my throat, meticulously slurping up any latent blood drops off my skin with his wonderful tongue. Then he disengaged his manhood from inside me, too, but still he held me with one arm. I heard his zipper again. Both his arms came back protectively around me. He relaxed his forehead at the back of my head. I relaxed my entire body back against him, letting my head fall back, my chin up, until Bill could reach my mouth and kiss me.
A fine bloody kiss.
A damned good fuck.
A dark rainy night.
Eighty-six stories high in New York City.
I felt so fucking good.
"Bill?"
"Hmmm?"
"What time is it?"
Bill looked at his watch. "Just after one-thirty."
"You know what I want now?"
"I cannot imagine."
"Think they make a decent gin and tonic somewhere in this town?"
Bill gently turned me around to face him.
He smoothed back the wet hair atop my head with his palm.
He had a wisp of a smile on his lips.
"I think… in this town…we might be able to find one," he said; "Let's go."
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By 2:15 am, me and Bill were in a taxi and on our way to Rockefeller Center.
Bill said he knew a fantastic place where I could get a pretty decent gin and tonic-or so the locals swore by it. Our destination really wasn't that far away, but I could not talk Bill into another subway ride. Before we left the Empire State Building, I managed to buy a few little gawdy souvenirs from the gift shop on the first floor before it closed at 2 a.m. Although, I tried to find Tara something really special because I knew Tara would not want a piece of junk. She had already told me that.
Then we stepped out onto Fifth Avenue. The drizzling rain had stopped and to my surprise, there were enough people walking around on the street to make you think it was two in the afternoon and not two in the morning.
Before Bill hailed a taxi cab at the corner, we had walked across a huge subway grate on the sidewalk. I paused over the grate and the warm air from the subway below filtered up under my skirt. I laughed. Bill's black trench coat billowed out as he took my hand and I was reminded of that movie with Marilyn Monroe...the one where she stood on the subway grate and the warm air went between her legs, flaring up her very revealing white dress. The sudden gust of warm air felt really good as we still a bit damp from being out in the rain on top of the Empire State Building. And I will never look at that building in quite the same way ever again. Not after that night. Oh, my stars…
We listened to the subway trains roaring by and felt the slight vibration underneath us.
But Bill and I slipped into the back seat of the taxi and snuggled close together.
"Thank you sweetheart," I said, holding onto Bill's right arm as the taxi sped through the streets.
"What for?" he smiled slyly.
"Why, my New York adventure, Mr. Compton, of course," I said; "I'm just havin' myself one helluva wonderful time up here, is all." I winked at him.
Bill kissed my forehead. "My sweet love..."he whispered; "I have needed you and wanted you so much, Sookie. I have been incredibly lonely here without you. I did not realize how much until you got here. Now, I am looking at New York through your eyes."
I sighed and nuzzled my nose against Bill's jaw. "Well, Bill, you know I haven't seen a whole lot in this world, so you might get over excited while doin' that."
Bill chuckled. "Any adventure is better when you can share it with the one you love," he said.
The taxi delivered us to Rockefeller Center. We stepped onto W.45th Street and into Club Caliente! A Latino night club. Bill said he felt like going someplace different.
It did not make any difference to me. Everything was new!
Strewn about with festive streamers and with loud music, splashes of interesting colors and lights everywhere, the bar/restaurant/club was alive! A band located to our left with horns and drums made conversation a complete challenge. The huge red bar wound away from us and around a corner to our right with a crowd of people vying for the bartenders attention.
Drinks of every description, size and color were being carried by waiters- all dressed alike in white shirts and black pants- to the many free-standing tables, that had no rhyme or reason as to how we would navigate our way round them. Bill had me by the hand and we just pushed our way around people and into the crowd headed for...two chairs? Certainly not a table, as there didn't seem to be any unoccupied.
The dance floor was overflowing with patrons enjoying the music. All sort of bodies flailing, swaying, circling and jumping in time to the intricate and lively beat. The lead singer of the band sometimes singing in Spanish, sometimes singing in English:
'One, Two, Three, Four! Uno, dos, tres, cuatro!
I know you want me! You know I want cha!
You know you want me...you know I want cha!
One, Two, Three, Four! Uno, dos, tres, cuatro!'
The music was at a fever pitch and so were the dancers, whooping and hollering, every one of them totally into their movements. The salsa rhythms climbing and reaching a certain crescendo that satisfied the masses.
Somehow Bill and I managed to swim upstream and we made our way to the bar. Bill raised his arm and momentarily a bartender appeared in front of us.
"Ginebra e tonico," Bill said;" por favor!"
I looked around and did not see any place for us to sit down. Bill looked over at me.
"Ready for another adventure?" he said.
"Oh, sure!" I smiled, standing very close to him.
He reached out and pulled me over in front of him so I was standing directly in front of the bar with Bill standing behind me. There was precious little space for anyone standing there and trying to order another drink. My gin and tonic finally came in a highball glass and I greedily sucked it down through the two tiny orange-colored straws. Bill looked down at me, shook his head, then ordered another.
"That one must have been good," he said smiling, his voice elevated over the music.
"It was," I said loudly; "I am so thirsty!"
My second gin and tonic arrived. I tried to drink it more slowly , but the drink was so refreshing and mixed very well. I didn't taste the liquor very much at all. Standing behind me, Bill put his arms around me. There was a mirror across the bar. We gazed into it together, looking back at our own reflections. Bill squeezed me, bringing his head down along side mine, so our cheeks touched.
"I'll never look at the Empire State Building again and not think about us," he said close to my ear.
I smiled. "Me neither," I said holding my highball glass with the straws at my lips;"...Bill, that was soo good."
"You mean the drink?" he teased.
"No," I said giving him a very knowing look; "...I mean you!" He squeezed me again and I thought about how insane it was, having sex on the observation deck. Before I realised it, my second gin and tonic was gone. Now I was starting to feel the effects of the drink. The music seemed louder...the bar seemed brighter. I turned around quickly and kissed Bill. He held me tightly and we stood there, a public spectacle for the next few minutes, just enjoying each others mouths.
"Danza! Danza!"
We were suddenly startled apart by a little man standing next to us at the bar who had started shouting at us! He was waving his hands wildly, popping his fingers to the music and smiling at us with a little gold tooth in his mouth. He patted Bill's shoulder and kept smiling and laughing at us.
"Danza! Danza! Danza!" he shouted again. Then he said in broken English; "It's chaotic, yes! Love?! It's chaotic!"
l smiled, still holding on to Bill. "I think that's all the English he knows. I think he wants us to dance!"
Bill took off his black trench coat and tossed it at the little man. He took the high ball glass from me and placed it on top of the bar.
"He's right of course," Bill said, pulling me by my hands toward the dance floor; "Love is very chaotic!"
The other dancers made a little room for us on the edge of the dance floor. And much to my surprise, Bill was taking me by the waist and then he stepped into a little salsa move. I had no idea Bill could even dance like that! We had never danced like this before! I was giddy with my two gin and tonics. Bill whirled me around and eventually we were integrated in-between the other dancers, getting pulled into the middle of the floor. I picked up the sides of my skirt, moving it around, like the other dancing girls were doing... Bill moved around me, watching me move my hips! He was such a good dancer! The horns were blaring, the drums keeping time. Caliente! Caliente! we heard some dancers calling to each other. The colored lights were spinning and I was having a wonderful time!
At some point, Bill scooped me up and we were back at the bar. I had a third gin and tonic. Bill ordered himself a TruBlood but I don't remember him drinking it. I remember dancing at the long red bar, throwing my arms up into the air and pressing myself up against Bill. Who needs the dance floor? We can dance right here! I took my hair out of my ponytail...then I lost the hair band somewhere on the floor. Oh, sh*t! I couldn't be bothered with finding it. The music was so exciting! I put my hands in the air and just let the beat of the music take me away!
At some point during the night, I switched from gin and tonic to draft beer...it was ice cold and delicious. It got so hot in Caliente! I took off my pink cardigan and I felt much better in just the short-sleeved sweater. I remember twirling the cardigan over my head. Bill laughed at me and caught it. He placed it on the bar stool. Bill was standing. There was only one bar stool empty and Bill let me sit down. But I didn't want to sit down! I wanted to dance! I picked up the plastic cup and I took another big mouthful of the draft beer. What brand was it? I don't know. Bill and I went back to the dance floor. We danced for a little while. Then I turned and Bill wasn't there... There were only a bunch of girls dancing together! And I was one of them!
"Macarena!"
All the girls were on the dance floor and we were dancing the Macarena. It was so much fun! I saw Bill standing just off to the side of the dance floor smiling at me. All the guys were standing around looking at us. We girls danced and pranced around together! I couldn't remember all the moves. We rolled our hips, clapping... performing very provocative moves for our boyfriends... I piled my hair up on top of my head and danced straight over to Bill! Everybody cheered! It was crazy! Bill, where are my boots? At some point, I had taken off and lost my little boots! Oh, Bill knew where they were all the time. Right next to the bar. I put my arms around Bill. The night whirled by...we were dancing, laughing. I was drinking again.
And then it seemed all too soon, we were somehow back on the street. When did we leave the bar? It felt wonderful outside, though. Cool and crisp! Bill was holding his trench coat, my cardigan, and my little ankle boots. I looked down at my feet, wiggled my toes and started laughing! I was totally barefoot!
Bill put his arm round me and suddenly I was sitting on a bench near the street. Bill sat next to me and pulled both my legs up across his lap. He was helping me into my ankle boots. So sweet of him. I tossed my head back and looked up into the inky, dark sky. Then I looked back at Bill. My legs were still across his lap. My head was spinning.
"Bill Compton, I love you!" I said.
"I love you too," he said. 'Very much."
"Am I drunk?"
"Maybe… just a little," he said.
I started laughing. "Now you know I should have had something to eat, Bill Compton, after we left the observation deck. You know why?"
"Why?" he asked.
"Because you know I get very hungry after sex!" I said, still laughing. Bill pulled me to my feet and carefully placed my cardigan round my shoulders. He nodded lifting one eyebrow.
"Oh yes... I do know that. Let's take care of that right now, shall we?" he said, his arm around me.
I don't remember walking there... I'm pretty sure Bill didn't carry me...but in the next few minutes we were on the other side of Rockefeller Center and sitting at a booth in Harry's Italian Pizza Parlor. I had one enormous slice of pepperoni and sausage pizza and I washed it down with a bottled water. Bill was sitting across from me. He looked at me amusingly.
"Sookie, would you like another slice?" he asked me.
"Nope," I shook my head vigorously.
I was trying to sober up. Really I was. I had a tiny headache from all the gin. And everything was still spinning… only slower after I ate the slice of pizza.
Bill and I were sitting at a booth that looked out onto the street. I slowly sipped my bottled water looking out of the window. Then, just down the block, I watched as a man was opening his newspaper stand. He took a key from his back pocket, unlocked the huge tri-fold door and pushed it back and locked it into place, exposing all the newspapers and magazines that were covering the many shelves. Another man came behind him in a little cart and started helping him as he lay out fresh newspapers for the day. I looked down the street...the sky wasn't so inky black as it had been before...the sky was starting to get lighter and lighter some places.
I sat up in the booth with a start, almost knocking over my water bottle!
"Bill! Bill!" I grabbed his arm across the table; "w-what time is it?!"
"Five-thirty."
I stood up. "Five-thirty? Bill, we have to go!"
"Sookie, I have plenty of time," Bill said; "the hotel's just a few blocks from here."
"No, no," I shook my head; "no! I don't like it, Bill. I don't like it. We gotta go!"
As usual, just like in Bon Temps, Vampire Bill was taking his sweet time. How did we stay out all night long? Bill knows how crazy this makes me! Bill was going to wait for the waitress to come back to our table. But I said no, let's go up to the counter.
"Sookie, it's alright," Bill said as we left the pizza parlor.
"It is not alright," I shot back; "what do you think is quicker? A taxi or the subway?"
Oh my stars! I knew Bill wouldn't go back down into the subway, although, that's probably where he should have been.
We got into a taxi that Bill had hailed from the curb. Bill told the driver we were going to the Sanctuary Hotel.
"The Sanctuary?" the driver asked, curly his lips; "that's a vamp place."
Bill looked at the driver's eyes through the rear-view mirror. "So?" Bill said coldly.
"So. I don't go there," said the driver; "I don't go anywhere near there. Ever."
I could not believe this! We were in the taxi of a bigot. In New York City. At five-thirty in the fucking morning.
Bill stared at the driver as I tugged on Bill's shirt. "Bill! Let's just get another cab!" I said urgently. "Come on, Bill!"
"No, Sookie," Bill said calmly, sitting up near the glass divider; "I want this cab."
"Bill! Please!" I pleaded with him in the lowest voice I could manage.
"You need to listen to your girlfriend, Bud," said the cabbie; "I own this cab. And it does not go to the Sanctuary Hotel. Not this morning. Not ever."
OH, now you've done it, you crazy ass piece of shit! I thought to myself. I pulled on Bill's arm in vain. Bill glared angrily at the cabbie. Bill's nostrils flared. Bill was so agitated his fangs dropped. Oh, fuck! These bigots were so ridiculous! Did they not understand how dangerous a vampire can be, especially when angry and insulted?
"Does this cab go to the Waldorf Astoria?" I said quickly; "that's just across the street."
The cabbie adjusted his baseball cap. He continued looking at Bill. "Yeah...yeah...I'll drop you two off at the Waldorf. But not that vampire shit hole."
"For the record," Bill said glaring at the man; "We do not shit."
I placed my palm on Bill's chest. 'Please Bill. Don't. This makes me so nervous."
Bill slowly sat back in the seat next to me. I started breathing again.
The cabbie reached up and slid the glass divider closed. He put the car in drive and started down W. 45th Street.
I patted Bill's chest with my palm. "Bill, please... you know there isn't time to argue. It'll be daylight in a few minutes! We know it. And he knows it!"
There was murder in Bill's eyes.
"It always amazes me, this kind of discrimination," Bill said, with his jaw clenched; "when I can easily take this vehicle away from this asshole and leave him headless on the side of the road and drive us both to the Sanctuary Hotel. No problem."
"Bill!" I put my arms around him as we sat back into the seat; "I know you won't do that."
The asshole cabbie didn't drive at break~neck speed like his brethren are famous for doing. The asshole actually slowed down.
At 5:55 a.m. the taxi finally pulled up to the Waldorf Astoria and dawn was breaking.
I was opening my door almost before the taxi stopped. Bill got out of the other door, on the cabbie's side. I rushed around the back of the car and came to stand next to Bill. I took Bill's hand. I looked out across the avenue. The Sanctuary Hotel stood about 50 feet away, tall and silent with its light-tight rooms for vampires. The morning traffic had started to pick up and we had eight lanes to cross over to get to our hotel. I looked nervously at Bill, as the muted, misty clouds began to break from inky darkness to a grayish blue...
Bill continued staring down at the cabbie who was sitting in his taxi with his hand out of the window.
"O.k. Mr. Vampire," he called to Bill; "That'll be $28.00 even. And I do expect a tip."
It happened so fast, I almost didn't see it at all.
At vamp-speed, Bill turned off the engine, pulled the cabbie out of his taxi cab window, knocked him into unconsciousness with a right hook, opened the trunk and tossed him inside!
It all happened in about three seconds! Then I was up into Bill's arms. He carried me across the eight lanes of traffic, in about another two seconds. Long enough for me to blink about four times! It seemed we were inside the revolving door to the Sanctuary Hotel before I knew it.
The lobby was quiet as a church as we walked past the front desk, across the lobby and made our way into one of the elevators. The elevator doors closed. I stood next to Bill. We both were silent. I stole a glance over at him. Bill was still so very angry, his expression was brooding and dark. If I had not been with Bill, there is no telling what would have been the fate of that stupid taxi cab driver. Bill had his key this time. As he opened the door to his suite, the dawn was breaking through the front room windows which faced eastward.
The brilliant sun was just peeking over the horizon. The room immediately lit up. The darker clouds had rolled away and in its place was a splash of gold streaming in through every window in the huge living~room.
Bill had already disappeared down the hall and into the master bedroom.
I followed him down the hall very slowly. I heard him closing the light-tight panels over all the bedroom windows. I arrived at the bedroom door just in time to see him squinting his eyes as he pushed the last panel into place at vamp~speed too, effectively shutting out the morning sun and any light whatsoever. Bill switched on the table lamp next to the bed. He then turned and looked at me, as I closed the bedroom doors behind me.
I walked over into his waiting arms. I wanted to somehow comfort him.
"I'm going to take a quick shower and then get into bed," he said; "you wanna join me?"
"Yes." I looked up at him.
He was still agitated. His voice was clipped and tense. But I knew part of Bill's anger and disappointment was in himself. As a mainstreaming, AVL spokesman, he could not afford to have anybody see him acting like a some random, feral vampire. I knew Bill was going to beat himself up now about his behavior. I just knew it.
The effects of the alcohol I had had were pretty much gone. That dumb~ ass cab driver's attitude had sobered me up pretty damned quickly. I had been so worried for Bill.
Bill gave me a quick kiss on my forehead. He looked briefly down into my eyes. He looked tired. I knew he did not want to talk about what had just happened. Not right then. Without another word, Bill let go of me and strode into the bathroom. I heard him start the water flowing in the shower. I couldn't wait to stand with him in the warm water.I wanted to comfort him somehow. I started undressing myself. I stepped out of my boots, skirt, panties, bra, sweater.
I left everything right there on the floor near the bed. Then I heard Bill calling to me.
"Sookie?" he said from behind the bathroom door; "what are you thinking about?"
I saw the warm steam rising, coming out of the doorway as I walked towards it.
"Oh... just thinkin' about that funny little man in the bar last night," I said; "He only knew two words in English, remember? Love and chaotic."
End of Chapter 14 …To Be Continued…