TRUST

Eric sprinted forward, leaping into a tree, climbing to sit on a limb that he was sure faced her window. He looked inside, past the thin, white curtains that floated lazily in the subtle breeze, eyes locking on to her as she looked around her room. He could see her face perfectly, her cheeks flushed, her chest heaving.

God he wanted her to drop the sheet that she clutched so tightly to her chest, to see her breasts quiver as she breathed, a shudder rippling through her gorgeous little body, her hand shooting to cover her mouth as she tried to stifle a moan. The sound still hit him full force, his eyelids sliding closed for a moment as it filled his ears.

He forced them to open, watching as she lay back. If he needed to breathe, his breath would have hitched as she slipped her hands beneath the sheet, body arching as she fondled her breasts in slow, precise movements.

What he would have given to have her arching beneath him.

He rubbed a hand over his mouth, knowing that he should turn and run, that he should just wait until the next night to talk to her. If she were to discover that he was watching her, she would never forgive him.

But the issue down south was not getting any better, the ache growing. He rubbed his demanding erection from the outside of his pants, regretting the action a moment later when the friction sent a wave of heat searing through him.

He kept his gaze locked on her, palming his erection as he watched her hand move lower. Was she really going to…?

He almost fell out of the tree when her knees fell wide beneath the sheet, her hips jerking, back arching as her hand moved slowly between her thighs. She was preparing herself, teasing herself.

And fuck, he almost couldn't stand to just sit back and watch.

But he wouldn't move, a groan erupting from his body as a little cry escaped her lips, her hand moving just a little quicker.

Is she rubbing her clit or delving her fingers into her flesh?

When her hips started to rise with the movements of her hand, he hand his answer, her breath coming in gasps as she thrust her finger inside.

He unzipped his pants in an instant, hand gripping his shaft as it sprang free of the fabric, fist tight around the throbbing length as he started to stroke, moving his hand in time with the thrusts of her fingers, imaging that he was buried within her heat.

How tight would she be? He could guess that she was not a virgin, but even then, she was so small. He'd have to prepare her so that she would be able to accept him, before he could show her pleasure beyond even the imagination she was no doubt utilising now.

Is she thinking of me?

He hoped so desperately that she was, that he could be the one responsible for the climax she neared, in her imagination at least. If not for the fact that his mind was focused on the sensations of his hand sliding up and down his shaft, he would have been able to stop himself long enough to consider leaping through her open window.

But he would stay, sitting in the tree. He would wait until the coming night and talk to her politely, show her that he could be kind and considerate.

Show her that he didn't mean to hurt her.

Sarah rubbed her eyes, stifling a yawn as she untied her apron. She ducked into Sam's office to grab her handbag, hoping to find the illusive owner of Merlotte's at his desk. Maybe he could give her a ride home?

But he was absent, just as he had been the night before, leaving Tara to run the bar, meaning that she had to find a lift home or walk. Neither option seemed thrilling, seeing as most of her co-workers – much as she loved them all to pieces – drove like maniacs. She also couldn't call Jake, though that was her original thought before she remembered that she had seen him off on the road to his dream that morning.

That left walking.

Admittedly, she could defend herself if she had to and her house wasn't that far away, but Bon Temps was a creepy place at night, with no streetlamps of security lights to keep the darkness away. The constant light of London was one of the few things that she missed.

'I'm leaving Arlene, I'll see you tomorrow night.'

'Are you sure you don't need a lift?' she asked, tucking a few strands of her bright, red hair behind her ear as she wiped down the last table.

'Yeah, I'll just walk.'

'Oh honey,' she said, hands on her hips. 'I wish you wouldn't. It's awful dark out.'

Sarah smiled reassuringly at her as she walked towards the door, hitching her handbag higher on her shoulder. 'I'll be fine.'

She breathed a sigh as she walked outside, pausing for a moment just so that she could breath fresh air. It had been a busy night, and without Sookie, it had been a boring one. Even though she was only gone for a night, and she deserved to have time off with Bill, Sarah enjoyed laughing and joking with her best friend while they worked. It helped keep her sane.

She looked over her shoulder as bushes rustled close by, almost laughing at herself as a dog appeared, looking up at her for a moment before it trotted off.

Why am I so paranoid tonight? she asked herself, oh right, I'm walking home in the dark and–

'Can I talk to you?'

Sarah yelped before she could slap a hand over her mouth, eyes wide as she stared at him. After that initial moment of shock though, her fright turned to anger.

'What do you want, Eric?' she asked, stepping back to put some distance between them as she straightened her shoulders. He tried to speak but she put a hand up, scowling. 'And if you try to tell me that I'm yours, I'll burn you to a crisp faster than you can say 'great balls of fire'.'

He held out his hands, palms facing out in a non-threatening gesture. 'I just want to talk to you, Sarah,' he said, taking a half-step forward.

She took two steps back, sweeping her hand out in a line in front of her, flames sprouting from the dirt. She watched frustration and another emotion that she couldn't place flicker over his face. 'Okay,' she said, crossing her arms over her chest, eyes locked on him. 'Talk.'

He almost seemed to growl at the flames, preparing to take a step forward until they rose to his full, towering height, only lowering when he took a step back. 'You have made your point,' he said, unclenching his teeth with difficulty.

'What do you want?' she asked again, unable to keep her voice as controlled as she had hoped, because despite all of the bad things that he had done, he was still gorgeous to a heart-stopping degree.

'Sarah, I'm sorry that I didn't tell you about the effects that my blood would have on you.'

That, she wasn't expecting, especially in such a humble tone, his usual strong, demanding attitude gone in an instant, but his apology seemed to be only the beginning.

'I should have told you that there were certain side effects of drinking my blood, but my judgement was…' he glanced down for a moment. 'Clouded, to say the least. I couldn't get past my own desires to consider what you had been through, nor what I was demanding.'

'Why are you saying this now?' she asked. 'Why not last night instead of trying to pull out the property card. That whole possessive thing is not a turn on.'

He seemed to flinch a little at that, as though the reminder somehow pained him. But she didn't dwell on why, her emotions warring inside her as he folded his hands behind his back, bowing his head a little.

'I have been a vampire for a very long time, and the culture I come from before my turning is far different than the one here and now. Sometimes it is hard to forget your upbringing, despite how wrong those values are deemed in this day and age.'

Shit, she thought, he's not supposed to be this charming. He's not supposed to make me want him again.

'Tell me more about what your blood does.'

He stiffened a little. 'What makes you think there is more?'

'Bill was a bit too angry at you last night. That suggests that vampire blood has some kind of effect on me other than healing me, making my senses better and increasing my libido.' She bit out the final words, being sure to show him just how angry she was at that fact. 'I think that effect has something to do specifically with your blood.'

'That's true,' he said. 'Because you drank my blood, you will be attracted to me and I'll be able to feel your emotions.'

She pursed her lips for a moment. 'Right,' she said, voice calm and quiet. 'So, what am I feeling now?'

Eric leapt back to avoid the flames as they surged higher, shooting towards him. Her arms dropped from over her chest, the need for the comfort they offered gone as she stared at him, watching as he glanced from her to the flames. Her hand shot up and the fire was around him in an instant, trapping him.

He looked at her, eyes a little wide as the flames rose higher. 'I have a feeling that you're angry.'

'No shit, Sherlock,' she growled, forcing the flames to move in, enclosing Eric until he had to tuck his hands at his sides to avoid being burnt. 'Of course I'm angry. You should have told me as soon as I woke up.'

'You were scared, Sarah. I was going to wait until I was sure you were okay before I revealed something like that to you.'

'And when did you think I was going to be okay? You wouldn't let me leave, you walked in on me while I was standing in the freaking shower when I was already feeling more vulnerable than I ever had in my life,' she said. 'Oh, and then you gave me a choice between being a meal against my wishes or, oh, being a meal with my wishes.'

'I know, okay!' he exclaimed, eyes darting to the flames as they flickered ever closer to his jacket. 'Listen, Sarah. As soon as I saw you, I wanted you. Not because of what you can do or because of your blood, though it is the most exquisite I have tasted for centuries. I wanted to get to know you, as in who you are and what you love, but despite everything I tried to do to keep myself from hurting you, I'm a possessive, horny vampire for fuck sake!'

The flame faltered at his outburst, her hand dropping slightly as she stared at him, shocked. Why the hell would Eric Northman want her, when he could have any woman he desired with a small twitch of a beckoning finger or a quick, dazzling smile?

What was even more puzzling was that he would want to get to know her.

'Something inside me wants to believe you Eric,' she said, voice low, 'but you kept things from me, things that were important for me to know.' She glanced away for a moment, making the flames flare to block her as she wiped away a tear. 'Why should I trust you now?'