Disclaimer: The characters depicted herein are the sole property of Charlaine Harris and HBO.

A/N: Sorry about the delay with this update; a few people requested that I make the chapters a little longer. Since I don't have a lot of time this week, longer chapters will mean a *slightly* longer wait. Bill fans: next chapter, I promise. As for those of you who requested a little Eric/Sookie excitement; enjoy.

Chapter 14

At the sound of someone knocking, Eric hopped out of the shower and went to look through the peephole, naked.

"Sookie, it's just Bill and Pam. I'm letting them in." Eric said.

I guess he wasn't too concerned about them seeing him in the buff, because he didn't so much as grab a towel before opening the door. He did, however, close the door to the bathroom so that I wouldn't be disturbed while getting ready. I'm not sure why it didn't bother me that he was entertaining guests naked, especially since I knew he was only doing it to irritate Bill, but I actually found it kind of amusing. I guess spending so much time with Eric was starting to alter my sense of humor. Or perhaps I was only feeling his amusement through the bond. Either way, I laughed the entire time I dried off and got dressed. After spending a long night in an expensive gown, I was totally ready to go casual. I selected a pair of old Levi's which fit perfectly around the hips and were faded in all the rights places, to wear with a white stretchy tank top which accentuated my breasts and tan. Overall, I looked like a normal girl in her twenties on vacation. Yeah right. Quickly towel drying my hair and applying some light makeup, I picked out a cute shell necklace and was ready to go.

When I stepped out of the bathroom, I noticed that Bill, Pam and Eric, who was now dressed in dark jeans and a black fitted tank, were all sitting at the table near the window talking and drinking True Bloods. I guess Pam or Bill had brought them thinking Eric might be hungry as he might not have had time to feed on me before we left for the questioning. I also noticed, to my relief, that Eric had been smart enough to quickly place the manila envelope on top of the dagger before answering the door.

As soon as they saw me standing in the room, they all stopped talking instantly. Great, after everything we've been through they are still keeping secrets. Sensing my growing frustration, Eric got up and walked over to me. I got a quick glance of us standing next to each other in the mirror and the strangest thought came over me. Eric and I are starting to look alike. There I was in light jeans and a white tank, with a tan and blond hair in waves since I hadn't styled it. There he was in dark jeans and a black tank, pale with blond hair, also wavy and gorgeously unkempt. I was getting healthier all the time from drinking Eric's blood, and he was looking flush from our shower together. Seeing us standing next to one another I felt like we were two sides of the same coin. We shared emotions now, I shared his thoughts from time to time…it was a strange image to see staring back at you from a hotel mirror. I think Eric noticed it too; he looked sideways at our reflection for a moment before finally speaking.

"Sookie, we were just discussing the most effective way to go about questioning Felipe, and have decided it is in everyone's best interest to keep you here in the room. Preston will send guards to stand outside your door while we are gone. Besides, you can order yourself some dinner while you wait. We shouldn't be long." Eric said, and looked at me desperately. His eyes were begging me not to argue.

"Absolutely not" I started, refusing to give in to Eric's command "I will be safe at your side, Eric." I looked at him straight in the eyes with as much authority as I could manage.

"It is not entirely about safety, lover. Felipe is still a king, a vampire king. We must, as you said earlier, approach this situation the right way." He looked at me again, and this time I saw something else in his eyes. He was straining to project.

Sookie, when we leave you must call Niall. Inquire about the dagger; find out what else he knows. I will be back as soon as I can. Stay here. Under no circumstances can you leave this room.

"Alright master" I said sarcastically to Eric, so that Pam and Bill wouldn't be as suspicious about my willingness to comply.

Eric visibly relaxed, and turned back towards the table.

"We are meeting Preston on the 11th floor in five minutes. Are we all clear on the plan?" He asked Bill.

"Yes, Eric." Bill spat out Eric as though it were an awful taste in his mouth. He then got up and walked out of the room, ignoring me completely.

"Pam?" Eric asked.

"Of course, master" Pam said with an evil smile, her fangs extended.

"Let's go then." Eric said.

Pam then walked over to us, stopping for a moment on the way out.

"See you soon, Sookie." Pam said, giving me a quick kiss on the cheek, and left closing the door behind her.

"I won't be long, dear one, do not worry." Eric said, and bent over the kiss me. When he pulled away, I noticed that his fangs were extended as well. As he left the hotel room, I wondered what kind of questioning required fangs.

* * * * *

Well, I guess I'm stuck here. I thought, looking through the peephole to see two armed guards similar to the ones who stood outside Preston's restaurant. I might as well order dinner like Eric suggested…and eat it alone. Some holiday. Grabbing the small menu on the bedside table and looking over the selections, I realized just how starving I actually was. Maybe I should be grateful for having an opportunity to order room service and eat a real meal. Now that I wasn't being watched hungrily by Eric and Preston, it was a good opportunity to have that steak I had originally wanted last night. I dialed the kitchen and ordered it, along with a bottle of Shiraz, a fully loaded baked potato, and a side salad. It would be arriving in half an hour; just enough time to call Niall. Fishing through my purse for his card, I found it and suddenly felt a little anxious. I never really knew what to say to Niall. Taking a few deep breaths, I picked up the receiver. After a few rings, someone answered.

"Hello, umm…this is Sookie, uh, calling for Niall." I said nervously.

"Hold please" said a very operator-sounding woman. Or operator -sounding fairy, I guess.

"Certainly" I replied. I guess Niall was too important to answer his phone. Or perhaps he was somewhere fairy-like and had to be summoned or something. I didn't know a whole lot about what he did during the day, or night, and I certainly didn't know where he was.

"Child" the light and resonant voice of my great-grandfather said "I am pleased that you have called me. I take it you received the parcel?" He asked demurely.

"Yes, I have. Thank you so much. I am calling to ask you if you know anything about De Castro's plans. I assume you already know he is here, or you wouldn't have sent me the beautiful dagger." I said.

"Beautiful? I hadn't really thought of it like that, but yes I suppose it is beautiful. As much as a weapon can be." He answered, without actually answering anything at all. I decided to indulge his manner of speaking and discuss the dagger a little more. Clearly he wanted to.

"By the large engraved N, it seems you sent me your own personal weapon. I am very touched. Eric could sense the fae from it, from me after having held it. Have you had it for a long time?" I asked him, curious.

"I had intended it to be for your eyes only, but alas, I suppose it is inevitable that the Viking know of it as well. Yes, child, I have possessed the dagger for over eight centuries. It doesn't surprise me that Eric could sense the fae from it. After many years in my hands, spilling the blood of my enemies, it has developed an essence of fairy magic. It was difficult for me to part with it, but your need is greater than my own. I would ask, Sookie, that you keep it with you at all times until you return to Bon Temps. If something were to happen to it, I would be terribly aggrieved." He said solemnly.

Oh no. Eric forbid me to wear it, and now I have to promise Niall that I will.

"I will guard it with my life." I said, sweetly.

"Actually, great-granddaughter, it will guard you." Niall said cryptically. I decided to change the subject.

"Well, again thank you. So do you know anything about De Castro?" I asked hopefully.

"I'm afraid not. I could sense you were in danger; that is all." He said gently.

"Oh, okay. Well I won't take up any more of your time." I said.

"Child, I would have you call me as often as you like. If you need my assistance, I will be there." Niall said simply.

"I'll let you know. Thank you." I said, and we both hung up.

Well that was odd. Then again, most conversations with Niall are. I walked back over to the dresser where I had laid the sheathed dagger, and picked it up. Running my finger along the hilt, I felt an unusual thrill. I am not one for violence, and I know nothing about fighting or battles or war, but holding this made me feel awakened with new strength. I laid it back down quickly. If I take this with me wherever I go, I'll be losing yet another fraction of my humanness. Is that what I really want?

Before I could contemplate the matter any further, there was a gentle tap on the door and the guards called out to say room service had arrived. I went over to the peephole once more, to be safe. Seeing the cart, I opened the door and pulled it inside. Thanking the hotel attendant and guards, I closed the door behind me and locked it again. If I'm going to break one promise to Eric, then I would keep this one. He would come back and find me inside, waiting. As much as it irked me to be barred up like some pet.

I rolled the cart over to the table near the window and sat down. I pulled the top off of the serving tray, and my mouth started to water instantly. The steak looked perfect. Opening the bottle of wine and pouring a glass, I dug in.

It was the best meal I had ever eaten alone.

* * * * *

By the time I had finished eating every speck of food on the plate, and drank a generous glass of wine, it was just after 8:30pm. Eric, Pam and Bill had left the room around 7:00, and I was getting a little anxious. Eric promised they wouldn't be long, but then he couldn't have known how it would go with Felipe. I hoped everything was okay. I assumed it was, given what I had heard of Felipe's intentions. The other vamps wouldn't be arriving until tomorrow night I thought, and De Castro wanted to offer his apologies and friendship to Preston first. If he stayed true to plan, everything should be okay for tonight. So then, why am I feeling scared all of a sudden? Just nerves, Sookie, relax.

Trying to keep myself busy, I turned the television to a music channel and decided to take in the fantastic view while dancing around a little. There was still the issue of the dagger, and what I would tell Eric. I knew he was going to be mad, but I made a promise to Niall and I intended to keep it. All in all, though, I didn't really want to think about it tonight. I wanted to have fun with Eric, walk along the beach, and make love under the moonlight and stars. Instead I was stuck in a hotel room alone worrying about an impending war and how to conceal a deadly weapon. Shaking it off, I let myself get into the rhythm of the song. I didn't know what Eric planned for us to do tonight, if anything at all, but for right now I was going to enjoy the luxury of the suite and dance. I might even have a second glass of wine.

Swaying to the music, and letting my mind relax, I started feeling a little better. Sometimes you just had to remind yourself to enjoy the moment. In the last couple of years, my world had become so unpredictable and crazy that my sanity depended on it. I felt a small flush of pride. Twice today I had been able to appreciate the gifts that life has given me, without constantly wishing things were better or different than they are. Gran would be pleased.

Suddenly, I got a rush of excitement through the bond. Eric must be getting ready to come back. I had to discover a way to hide the dagger on my body, and quickly. I would tell Eric about it later, but I promised Niall I would keep it with me and I couldn't let Pam, Bill, or Preston see it at all. Since they might be coming back with Eric, and all five of us might be leaving immediately after that, I had to put it on now. The shirt was too tight, so my only option was to strap it to one of my calves under my lightly flared jeans. I remembered the dress that Eric had ripped in half yesterday evening before we went to Eventide. I hoped it was still in the wastebasket. Of course it is no one has been in the room for a turndown service! I thought excitedly. Rushing over to the wastebasket and seeing my dress on top, I grabbed it and ripped off a long strip. Folding it in half widthwise so it was a thin strap, I secured the sheathed dagger to my leg with the fabric and tied it in a tight knot. Pulling my jeans down over it, I noticed it was totally hidden. I would just have to make sure I didn't draw attention to it. As soon as I had taken a few steps to make sure it was fastened properly, the door opened and Eric strode in contentedly, alone. I guess it will just be Eric and me after all! I thought happily. He walked over to me without saying a word, and grabbed me in a tight embrace.

"Thank you for staying here, dear one, I know you didn't want to." He said into my neck, kissing me hotly.

"How did everything go?" I asked him, starting to feel myself weaken at the knees.

"Shh, we will talk about all that later. For now, I want to touch you and make you moan." Eric said softly.

"But Eric, I need to tell you something first. I spoke to Niall." I said, lifting up the leg of my jeans and exposing the fabric-fastened dagger nervously. At that, Eric picked me up and quite literally tossed me on the bed.

"You've been bad, lover." He said, staring at me smolderingly. I noticed his fangs had run down. This was not the reaction I expected at all. But then, Eric did surprise me from time to time. Vampire, I reminded myself yet again.

"Does this mean you aren't mad?" I asked him.

"Oh yes. You will pay for disobeying me, Sookie. Also, I seem to recall you teasing me endlessly on the flight over. I warned you that you would come to regret it. The time has come for me to exact my revenge." He said, and walked over to the television to turn up the volume on the music channel.

The room filled with rhythm and blues. I instantly knew where he was going with this. Eric was about to tease me until I begged him to stop. I could feel his bloodlust, his hunger, his lingering excitement from undoubtedly having 'questioned' Felipe. This was a 1000 year old Viking vampire who knew how to make a girl scream, and I was about to get the full extent of his arsenal.

"While you look so dangerously delicious with a fairy weapon, lover, I would ask that you remove it." Eric said, looking at me intensely "for now." He finished. I immediately obeyed, and placed the dagger on the bedside table. Eric walked over to me and picked up the piece of fabric I had used to bind it to my leg. Without asking permission, Eric lifted up my head and blindfolded me with it. Maybe I really had bitten off more than I could chew that night. If I hadn't been feeling his incredible arousal and anticipation in the bond I might have been nervous. As it was, I was already panting with lust and knew I was getting wet. I could feel him close to me, but I could no longer see a thing. Eric crooned into my ear "don't worry lover. I will make you come, and come, and come. But first, I am going to play." He said in a whisper, and licked the lobe of my ear. I was already shaking with desire.

I could hear him taking off his clothes, and I wished desperately that I could see his perfect muscular body. A few seconds later he pulled off my jeans and tank top, leaving me in a white lace bra and panty set.

"You look amazing" Eric said to me, while tracing a line down my body with his fingers. "You must promise me not to touch yourself when things start to get intense." He then said sensuously.

I nodded, but I was already getting frustrated with need.

"I will not bind your hands, as I would like you to touch me" he said coyly "but do not give in to your body. It is for me to decide when you release." He said finally, and then started running his fingers over my panties. I could feel him moving down the bed, and then feel his face near my mound. He licked my panties, deliberately not touching actual flesh. He ran his hands down my thighs and then up my chest to my breasts. He put a hand underneath my bra and flicked my nipple gently while running his tongue over my nub though my panties. I could feel a pulse generating from my nub as though all my blood was rushing to my groin. He pushed the fabric to the side for a second only, and pushed two fingers into my wetness, testing me. Satisfied, he then pulled them out immediately.

A few moments passed, and he didn't touch me at all. He just lay by me and waited. I was in total agony. A few more moments passed, and I started to squirm on the bed. Was he just going to leave me here like this? Another moment, and then he bit my breast, letting the blood tricking down my chest without sucking from me. I was moaning, now. Eric, baby, please. I thought to myself. He then moved back down to my mound and bit my groin, letting the blood trickle again. I screamed out for him to take me but he ignored me. And then, when I couldn't take it any longer, he was licking me from head to toe and taking every drop of blood he had spilled into his mouth. He was kissing me, he was touching me, and he was licking me. Before I knew it he was on top of me, and I was running my nails down his back. I think I was screaming, but I don't know for sure. All I knew was that Eric then ripped off my bra and panties and slid himself into me. I may have died at that moment because I could no longer think coherently. Eric oh God, please stay inside me. I thought desperately, but he didn't. As soon as I started to shake underneath him, he pulled out. By now, Eric was moaning just as much as I was but I knew he wouldn't give in. I felt him rub himself directly over my nub, over and over until I was on the brink of climaxing. We were both consumed with ecstasy and the bond was filled with out lust and our love. At that moment, I had to see my Viking. I reached up and pulled off the blindfold and stared into his eyes.

"Please, Eric." I begged "I love you, please." I said, in clear pain.

"Yes lover" he replied, and entered me.

As he filled me up and touched me and kissed me, I ran my hands through his hair and down his back and over his gorgeous bum. We moved in perfect sync with one another, staring at each other passionately with every thrust. Eric's torso was aligned in such a position that he was rubbing my nub with his groin while he entered me, and hitting me perfectly on the inside too. He was yelling my name; I was nearly crying from the build up and from the way the moonlight entered the room through the window and landed on his gorgeous hair. I was with Eric; I never wanted to be without him.

TBC – Thank you all so much for your interest in the fic and your kind words. As always, your feedback is appreciated and keeps me writing!