NATURAL
Eric knew in that instant that if he wasn't careful, he would fall for this woman.
But part of you already has…
This was beyond the possessive thing, beyond wanting her, beyond wanting to get to know her. They barely knew each other and already he felt so comfortable, as though he'd known her for over a century.
And she seemed to know so much about him, was so perceptive of him. With just those little words, she had completely summed up what he was feeling, why he was so confused about his emotions and the strange feelings that flooded through him every moment that he was with her.
Sometimes, he had wondered if he were feeling her emotions, though it seemed strange after the pain he had caused her.
Did she feel the same way about him?
Part of him had to believe that she did, even if only a little. He wanted her to like him. Just the idea of her wanting to be with him, of her wanting to spend time with him like this thrilled him.
He couldn't stand being so far away from her anymore. He had to have her in his arms, he had to hold her little body close and feel the warmth of her skin. He slid out of his seat, coming to stand beside her as he offered his hand, pulling one of his charming smiles over his lips. 'Will you dance with me?'
Just like before, her hand slipped into his. He felt that strange little flutter in his chest again as he led her to the dance floor, everyone clearing a path for them as they moved to the very centre. He didn't release her hand. Instead, he held it tightly in his, holding it against his chest as his other hand came to rest on the small of her back, drawing her closer, her body instantly moulding to his.
Such a perfect fit.
Her heartbeat kicked up again and he hid a smile, brushing his lips over her ear just to feel her shiver. He breathed in her delicious scent as he swayed with her, bodies moving in harmony. Nothing had ever felt so right, so natural.
And they were just dancing.
'Can I ask you a question?'
'Sure,' she said, glad for the distraction, her mind too focused on the feel of his body against hers, the way his shirt was fitted so perfectly to the broad chest beneath…
'Why did you move to Bon Temps?'
She hadn't been expecting that. 'Why do you ask?'
'Well, this is a date. I thought that people were supposed to learn about each other on a date, ask questions, all that sort of thing,' he said, pulling back a little to meet her gaze.
She nibbled on her bottom lip and he just resisted the urge to lick his lips.
Then hers.
'Well,' she said, pulling him from his musings. 'Ever since he was little, Jake has wanted to act, theatre, TV, whatever he could get into.'
'So you came to Bon Temps?'
She smirked. 'Well, we couldn't afford to move to LA, and I had a pen pal here that I met through an art website. She really loved this place, so I told Jake about it and we decided to move here first.'
'Where is she now?'
She glanced down, his heart wrenching a little as her smile disappeared. 'She's dead. Her name was Dawn. She was one of the girls that Rene killed.'
'I'm sorry,' he said brushing away a tear before it could fall. He trailed his finger over her cheek and down her jaw, tipping her chin up, forcing her to look into his eyes. He heard her breath hitch as he leant a little closer, placing a light kiss on her forehead, her eyes sliding closed for a moment as his lips brushed her skin.
Damn, she thought, trying to keep her breath even, trying to control the rapid beat of her heart.
She failed of course, but she thought that she deserved points for trying.
He held her gaze as he brushed his fingers over her hair, tugging at the little clip that held her braided fringe aside, pulling it from her hair. He dropped it to the floor, curling the lock of hair around his finger as it unravelled, watching it fall over her eyes before he swept it aside.
Heat returned to his gaze and she felt his eyes burn a trail over her skin, settling on her lips. She'd never wanted a kiss more as he stared, especially when she remembered – vividly – what he tasted like, how his mouth had moved over hers in desperation, so hot and demanding.
She clutched his shoulders, feeling his muscles tense beneath her touch, his arms wrapping around her, his towering body seeming to surround her until all of the sound around them dulled, her whole being focused on him as he bowed his head.
The closer his lips got, the harder it was for her to breathe.
Don't faint, don't faint, oh God…
'Eric.'
Thankfully, he ignored the voice, still creeping closer. Just an inch, just a little further and she'd get another taste of those sexy lips.
'Eric.'
A low growl rumbled deep in his chest, his heated blue gaze still locked on hers as he said. 'This had better be good, Pam.'
'We caught someone feeding on a human in the bathroom,' she said.
'Why can't you deal with it?' he growled, switching to Swedish.
'You have to take care of it, Sheriff.'
He finally looked at him, glaring for a moment. 'Fine,' he bit out before turning to look at Sarah, eyes softer. 'I have to attend to this. You keep dancing and have fun. I'll be back as quick as possible. If anyone tries anything, you tell them that they will have to deal with me. If that doesn't scare them off, you say my name nice and clearly and I'll be out here in a second to…take care of them.'
The possessive flare returned to his eyes as he brushed his fingertips over her cheek, seeming torn between her and his duties. His lips neared hers again and Pam cleared her throat, making him roll his eyes. He placed a swift kiss on her forehead before he turned, leaving her on the dance floor.
She watched him leave; feeling like a little piece of her had gone with him as he disappeared through a door at the back of the club, feeling her heart sink. She didn't really want to dance without him, but she figured that she could use the time to work up some courage. Maybe she'd even be able to get her heartbeat down to a less dangerous rate.
Yeah right, she thought, still dancing, though it didn't hold as much appeal now that Eric had left.
It hadn't been a minute, and already, three guys had approached her. She watched out of the corner of her eye as another approached, a vampire wearing tight jeans and a sleeveless shirt, showing off his large tattooed arms. He wasn't quite as tall as Eric, but he was broader, though not fat. On any other day, his hard features and wicked smirk might have made her gaze linger.
But that wicked smirk didn't belong to Eric.
So? She thought. Why does that matter? He's cute.
But he's not Eric.
So?
He's not Eric.
She ignored the vampire that inched into the space beside her, yes widening as she thought, Shit. I'm falling for him.
Her head screamed in protest at her irrationality. She'd only known him a couple days, and she'd been furious with him for a good part of that time…
But she couldn't deny the attraction she felt towards him or the disappointment that had flooded through her when he'd had to leave. She had a feeling that she wasn't the only one though. She'd seen the torment in his eyes, the fight to walk away. He'd wanted to kiss her, and she'd wanted it just as much.
She tried to ignore the man as he inched into a space beside her. She could deal with that, but when he placed a hand on her hip, she stepped from his grasp, levelling a cold glare at him.
'Don't you want to dance?'
'Not with you,' she said, taking a few steps away before continuing to dance, wishing more with every second that Eric would return.
He appeared beside her again and she rolled her eyes. 'Unless you'd like to deal with Eric, you'd better run along,' she warned, turning away from him.
She gasped as hands gripped her hips, wrapping tight around her waist to draw her back against a hard chest, one that she did not want to get better acquainted with. She tried to pull away, but he held tighter, making it a little hard to breath. 'This is your last warning. Let go of me.'
'Why should I?' he asked, making himself a little too cosy against her, his lips brushing her neck. 'Eric's not here right now.'
He licked her neck as she shivered, disgust washing through her as she realised his intent. There was only one person who she'd ever allow to get dental with her again, and it was certainly not the creep that had latched onto her waist like a parasite.
'Doesn't matter,' she said through clenched teeth as she tried to pull away again, making about as much progress as a mouse would if it were trying to pull a truck. 'Either way, I'm his.'
'Of course you are.'
She closed her eyes for a moment, drawing a breath, staring straight at the door that Eric had disappeared through, making her voice strong as she said, 'Eric.'
A path cleared in front of her and a gush of wind tossed her hair, the grip around her waist disappearing. She blinked before she turned, eyes wide as Eric tightened his hold on the vampire's neck, ignoring the hands that tried to loosen his fingers. Eric flashed his fangs, growling at the man as he held his arm straight up in the air. A strangled noise came from his throat as Eric lowered him to eye height, the man's feet still dangling above the ground as he growled, 'for your sake, you'd better not have hurt her in any way, though I still think I'll keep you locked up in the basement for a few months just for touching her.'
'Stop.'
Eric didn't turn to her, his eyes fixed on the very frightened man as he said. 'Why?'
'He's not worth it.'
'Oh, but I think he is,' he growled, something of a smile coming over his lips as those brown eyes bugged, fear rolling off of him like water.
'Eric.'
He fought the urge to rip his throat out, though he wanted to so badly, every fibre of his being begging for the feel of his bones breaking beneath his hands, but he lowered the man to his feet.
She would never see that side of him.
Eric kept his grip around the scum's neck for a moment as he leant a little closer, their noses almost touching. 'If I ever see you here again…'
He nodded, needing no further warning, disappearing out the front door to Fangtasia as soon as he was released, though Eric did so reluctantly.
He stilled himself, trying to calm down even as his muscles continued to coil, ready for a fight, fangs digging in to his bottom lip until he tasted blood, the liquid taunting him, urging him on, to follow the kill…
A hand touched his face, caressing his cheek, bringing him out of his bloodlust. He started straight into her eyes, her scent surrounding him as she took a step forward, fitting perfectly into his arms, giving him the strength to hold onto the humanity he had thought long gone.
Until her.
'Did he hurt you?' he said, forcing his voice to be softer.
'No. He just overstepped his bounds.'
'But he touched you–'
She put a finger to his lips. 'And now he's gone,' she said, watching as a slight amount of frustration played across his face at her silencing gesture. She knew that he liked to be in charge, but for now, she seemed to have the upper hand. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him close again.
He glanced at the patrons who had stopped to watch. A quick flash of his fangs had them turning away, and he focused back on her, letting himself dive deep into her embrace, returning the smile she gave him as she brushed her nose against his, her lips so close as she whispered, 'now, where were we?'