Chapter 21

Sookie woke up early the next morning, even though she'd had another late night. She stretched and hummed happily before getting out of bed. Her muscles felt well-used once again and she was just the right amount of tender between her legs. Enough to be able to feel him and remind her what a wonderful night they'd had, with no real pain.

She was disappointed that she wasn't going to see him that night, but they had a date for the next one. It would be nice to go and do something other than just fooling around, but she was all on board to fool around with him afterwards. They were going dancing again and that sounded wonderful. Like several hours of foreplay. She couldn't wait.

She sat on the porch swing to sip her coffee and eat a couple of pieces of toast before work. She was still in a great mood and didn't even think about the upcoming full moon.

She walked into the bar an hour or so later and gave Sam a big smile.

"Good morning, Sam!"

"Hey there, Sookie."

He looked at her for a moment or two.

"You look happy, Chère. I'm happy that you're happy."

She felt a twinge of guilt but not enough to stop her.

"I really am. Thanks, Sam."

Sookie couldn't keep the smile off her face, even though she was working with Dawn, who was less than pleasant.

Just after the lunch rush, Alcide walked in. He smiled when he saw Sookie, who was taking an order. She caught his eye and smiled back.

Dawn's eyes lit up and she walked over to him and gave him a big smile of her own. She tried to lead him to a table across the bar from Sookie. Alcide was gruff.

"I want to sit in Sookie's section."

Dawn frowned.

"Sit wherever you please."

She walked away. Alcide sat down at the same table he'd sat at the two times he'd been there before. Sookie dropped drinks off at a booth nearby and walked over, smiling.

"Hey there. Welcome back."

"Glad to be back."

She handed him a menu.

"The special is a club sandwich and fries. Can I get you a drink?"

"I'll take the club and a draft."

"Budweiser okay?"

"That'll do."

Sookie took the menu and sent the order back to the kitchen, and then went to the bar to get Alcide's beer. She noticed Sam wasn't nearly as angry to see him as the last two times Alcide had been there. She considered it a win. She smiled at him.

"A Bud, please, Sam."

"I'll take it over. I need to talk to him anyway."

Sam poured the beer and took it to Alcide's table. He sat down across from him.

"You still just in the area?"

Alcide smiled.

"Yup. I have a construction job over in Clarice. I figured it wasn't too far. I can still look — and smell — even if I can't touch."

"And I suppose it doesn't hurt to get in her good graces for when Eric breaks her heart."

Alcide shrugged.

"That, too. Like you're not thinking the same thing."

Sam chuckled.

"Guilty."

Sookie frowned across the room. It seemed that Alcide already knew that she was with Eric. She didn't like their conversation, but thought that it was her own fault for eavesdropping. But it was easy when her hearing was so acute.

She brought out Alcide's sandwich and set it down in front of him.

"Can I get you anything else?"

Alcide laughed.

"Nope, I guess not. Not now that I have your phone number."

Sam raised an eyebrow and she blushed.

"About that… I'm kind of seeing somebody."

"Kind of?"

She shook her head.

"No. I am. I'm just not really used to it yet."

"Ah, well. Maybe another time."

Alcide left shortly after and the rest of the shift was uneventful. The time seemed to fly by, but she was glad when Arlene showed up at five. She handed off her tables and headed for home.

She heated up a frozen pizza and spent the rest of the night watching TV, kind of hoping Eric would show up, even though she knew he wouldn't. He didn't. She went to bed early.

She spent the next morning cleaning and the afternoon lying on her chaise lounge, basking in the sunshine. She was pleased with the effects when she looked in the mirror later on that evening when she was getting ready for her date with Eric. Her stomach was all fluttery and she was excited to go dancing.

She didn't hear the purr of the sportscar's engine so the knock was almost a surprise. She ran to open the door and then kissed him.

When she finally pulled away, Eric laughed.

"Hello, lover."

"Hi."

"Are you ready? Or do you want to kiss me again?"

She laughed too and leaned forward to give him another quick kiss.

"I just need to grab my things."

He stepped into the entryway while she ran into the kitchen for her purse and sweater. They kissed again on the walk to the car. He opened the door for her and she sat in the low seat. He sat beside her and they headed up the driveway.

Lit by the dashboard lights and his skin's own luminescence, she could see how handsome he looked. His hair was pulled back and he was wearing a blue sweater the same colour as his eyes. She touched his arm. It was cashmere. She ran her hand down past his wrist and took his hand. She kissed it and then laced her fingers with his, reveling in his quiet mind. The butterflies in her stomach fluttered their wings. She was afraid that she was falling in love with him.

He looked at her and smiled.

"I missed seeing you yesterday."

She couldn't help but blush.

"I missed you, too. Seeing you, I mean."

His smile widened.

They chatted easily on the way to Shreveport. She was glad there was more between them than just sex. As good as the sex was, she didn't want a relationship just based on that.

They arrived at the club and she let him open the car door for her. He took her hand again and led her inside, skipping the long line. It was dim and the music was loud, the bass vibrating in her chest. He had to raise his voice to be heard.

"Would you like a drink?"

"Maybe later. I want to dance."

He smiled.

"That is an excellent idea."

They did stop for a drink after a couple of hours — she noted he didn't even taste his wine — but they spent the rest of the night on the dance floor. They kissed more than once and his body against hers made her want to ravish him. She couldn't wait to get him back to her house, but she also wasn't ready to stop dancing.

They left just before closing. He kissed her hard outside the car and then held her hand all the way back to Bon Temps. The sexual tension was heady. He looked over at her and caught her staring. She blushed and looked away. He smiled. She smelled even better than usual and he was very hard. He couldn't wait to have her again.

He opened the car door for her and helped her out of the low seat. She dug around in her purse for the keys and let him into her house. He kissed her as soon as they crossed the threshold. She managed to get the door closed behind them. He kissed down to her neck and she shivered. Her hands, buried in his hair, moved down his body until she got to his belt. She opened it and then unbuttoned his fly. He wasn't wearing any underwear. She was, and he ripped them off her after he picked her up and pushed her against the wall, kissing her mouth again. He was inside her within seconds. She moaned into his mouth. He was so strong and he was pounding her, holding her like she weighed nothing. She wrapped her arms around his neck, loving every second of it.

She pulled away and tilted her head back, showing her throat in invitation. He obliged, kissing her ear and then jaw before he stopped at her neck. She shivered and pulled his mouth closer. It felt so good. All of it did.

She was getting close, murmuring to him how much she loved it and how good it felt and how strong and hot and sexy he was. When she reached her peak, she cried out, "Bite me, Eric. Please."

He paused his hips for just a moment, wondering how she knew and why in the hell she wasn't afraid of him. Still, he didn't need to be asked twice. He closed his eyes and bit. Her sweet blood filled his mouth and he couldn't help taking another swallow. She was the most delicious human he'd ever tasted.

They both came hard. He pulled his mouth away and yelled out when he did, in a language she didn't understand.

She buried her face in his neck, trying to catch her breath. She kissed the skin in front of her lips. Finally, he let her down.

"I am sorry about your panties."

She chuckled.

"I'm not. That was hot as hell."

They both laughed and then, for the first time that night, there was an awkward pause. Eric sighed.

"I think we need to talk."