RESIST

Eric was pacing. He never paced, or so he thought.

He glanced at the time, the clock on his lounge room mocking him with its slow ticks as it neared ten past twelve. After living for so long, time always seemed to fly past, years turning to decades in a blur.

Tonight was different.

He was anxious, more so than he'd ever been in his entire existence. He had to make a good impression, had to prove to her that he was a decent guy, that despite his many flaws, he only wanted to make her happy.

And really, that was all he wanted. It was a strange notion to him, to place someone above himself, especially a human. In his thousand years, he had only created room in his silent heart for two people: his sire, who despite the fact that he had left him, he would never cease to love, and Pam, his childe who had stayed by his side, her loyalty never faltering.

He glanced at the clock, standing up and walking to his front door, straightening his collar as he went. He ran his fingers through his hair, shifting through the strands until they sat where he wanted them. He would be a good man, and hopefully, she would see him that way.

He stepped outside, shooting into the air before his front door could close behind him.

'If he tries anything, you throw a fireball or freeze him,' Sookie said as she clipped the braid in Sarah's fringe to the side before sweeping the dark strands over her shoulder.

'Yes mother,' she laughed, just managing to keep the nervous stutter from her words. 'Do I have a curfew?'

'Don't tempt me.'

Sarah laughed again, but Sookie just quirked an eyebrow as though saying 'you think I'm bluffing?'

'I'll keep him in line, Sook. I do have experience with men, remember?'

'Eric's different. He may not be able to glamour you, but if he wants something, he'll stop at nothing to get it.'

'He's not getting anything until I decide to give it to him.' She flushed suddenly, hearing the underlying meanings in her own words. 'I didn't mean like that, I mean he's not going to charm me or anything. But he won't get the other stuff either,' she added hastily, dropping her gaze.'

Sookie laughed. 'That's my girl.' She brushed a stray hair from Sarah's eyes before stepping back, smiling as she held up a compact mirror. 'My work here is done.'

Sarah looked at her reflection, eyes widening as she stared at the sight before her, wondering what kind of magic her best friend had worked to make her look so…sexy.

'I didn't do much. I barely used any make up at all. Not even foundation because you don't need it. I just highlighted you're sexiest feature,' Sookie said before adding, 'you're eyes.'

Sarah jumped up, pulling Sookie into a tight hug. 'Thank you.'

'Despite my feelings towards Eric, I want you to have fun,' she said, hugging back. 'You deserve it.'

Sarah placed a quick kiss on her cheek as she stepped back, eyes darting up to look at the clock. 'Oh! He'll be here any second,' she said, gathering her purse as she stood. 'Can you drop my bag at home tonight?'

'Go,' Sookie said, rolling her eyes before she shooed her from Sam's office, all but kicking her out of the door.

The door closed behind her, giving her no other option but to head out to the main part of Merlotte's and to the door. She smiled as she passed Lafayette and Terry, giving them a wave. 'I'll see you boys tomorrow.'

'Hold up there,' Lafayette called, throwing a tea towel over his shoulder before he leant on the counter, looking her up and down. 'Well damn, honey, you clean up nice,' he said, smiling, dark eyes playful. 'Give us a twirl and show me what you've got.'

Sarah smiled, spinning on her toes. 'How do I look?'

'Wherever you're going, I think I should come to help carry the burden of all the salivating men that will follow those hips,' he said.

'They wouldn't dare while I'm with her.'

Sarah felt a shiver sprint down her spine at his voice, the deep rumble like velvet as it rolled over every inch of her skin like a caress. She turned, feeling like she was moving in slow motion as she looked up to meet his gaze for a moment before allowing her eyes to sweep over him, to see the tight black shirt beneath the leather jacket before following the hard contours of his body to his jeans.

How did lungs work again?

She forced her eyes to lock onto his gaze, the blatant appreciation within the blue sending heat rushing through her body like fire. Her legs were turning to jelly and she'd only looked at the man.

'Are you ready?' he asked, his gaze never leaving hers as he held out his hand.

She gulped, feeling the now familiar race of her heart as it increased, thumping hard against her chest, making a wave of dizziness wash over her. She nodded, unable to find her voice as she reached out, taking his hand. He bowed his head, bringing her hand to his lips to place a light kiss on her fingers, making her want to sigh.

She almost shook her head. No, he's just trying to charm you, stay strong.

But it feels so nice…

And it did, especially when he linked his fingers with hers, holding her hand tightly as he lea her towards the door and out into the parking lot. She kept glancing from their joined hands to his face, heart still beating like crazy as she saw the little smile on his lips grow, his grip on her hand tightening.

She heard a door open and managed to draw her eyes away from him, only to have her jaw drop as she looked down at his car.

Jake had always had a poster in his room of a 1971 Dodge Challenger, a car that Sarah had loved since she'd laid eyes on it. Despite how little she knew about cars, she could appreciate a classic when she saw one, and the car that Eric was helping her into was definitely a classic, the black paint polished to perfection.

Shit, she thought as he appeared in the driver's seat, revving the engine, its roar rumbling through her as he took off, sending little tingles over her skin as she sank a little further into her seat. She could have purred with satisfaction as the cool leather caressed the skin that was revealed by her dress.

'You have to stop doing that,' he said, his voice rough, sending a little chill down her spine just like when he'd first entered Merlotte's.

She looked at him, feeling that chill again as his eyes locked with hers, the blue heated as his gaze raked over her body, coming to rest on her legs as she shifted on the seat.

He closed his eyes for a moment, holding his breath, trying to block out the sight of her skin as she crossed her legs, her skirt riding higher on her creamy thighs.

'Doing what?'

He snapped his eyes open, trying not to breathe in her delicious scent as he said, watching as she trailed her hands over the leather. 'That.' She opened her mouth to ask why and he added, 'I can hear your skin rubbing against the leather. It's very hard to concentrate on the road when my thoughts are becoming far from chaste, especially when it's making your dress hitch.'

'Oh,' she said, her cheeks flushing as she adjusted her skirt, though she felt a little thrill of satisfaction. It seemed that he was just as affected by her as she was by him, and she'd done nothing except settle into her seat.

It was going to be a fun night.

But it was going to be hard to keep her guards up when just the sound of his voice made her want to let them down. As if that wasn't bad enough, when he'd taken her hand, she'd wanted so desperately to melt into his arms, barely resisting the temptation.

It was also going to be a long night.

He pulled up in front of Fangtasia, gripping the wheel tighter, resisting the urge to reach out and run his hand over her thigh, to feel her creamy skin in just that simple caress. The thought was making him mad, his lust barely contained. If he wasn't careful, his fangs would flick out, and he didn't want to scare her away, to give her the wrong impression.

Besides, this date wasn't about getting her sexually, though after the little taste of her passion that he'd had, he would endeavour to do that soon. Very soon.

But first he wanted to get to know her mind, her heart, to gain her trust so that one day he could convince her to stay with him.

Whoa, hold your horses there! What are you saying? Some part of him asked, shocked by his thoughts.

Well, I've already declared that she is mine, and I plan to keep it that way, and not just because I'm being possessive, but because I want her, another part reasoned, and it wasn't a lie.

But did he really think that he could be with a human?

It that human was her, then yes, he really could.

He darted to her car door, opening it and offering his hand before she could even reach for the handle. He smiled at her as a little flush of pink crept over her cheeks, making his still heart flutter, a strange feeling that almost made him rub his chest in confusion. He didn't know what was happening to him, but it felt good.

She took his hand without hesitation, letting him help her from the car. He placed his hand on the small of her back, making sure to keep in the frame of space that would assure her that he wasn't going to try anything.

And he wasn't. He had pushed her the other night. He wouldn't do it again. He would only act upon his more…primal desires when she wanted him to. Even then he would take it slow, he would let her set the pace, only doing the things she asked of him directly.

He would never hurt her again.

Pam was at the door, as she often was before he arrived at Fangtasia. She smiled at him before her eyes wandered to Sarah, her gaze lingering far too long for his liking. He let a low growl rumble in his chest, one far too low for Sarah to hear, flashing his fangs at her in warning.

'She's mine,' he growled in Swedish so that only Pam could understand. 'You would be wise to keep your eyes to yourself.'

The smile that had been on her lips dimmed a little. She replied, 'this one is quite pretty. What do you plan to do with her?'

'This is just a date,' he said. 'You will not question me further,' he added when her lip curled in a smirk.

He stepped past her, flashing his fangs again as he led Sarah through the door.