A/N: As I'm writing this, I'm lying in a hammock in my favourite campsite with my oldest friend. The full moon is peeking through the trees and I am full of s'mores and pleasantly stoned. Tonight, all is right with the world.

Chapter 14

When the door closed, Danielle, the other waitress on shift, fanned her face with her hand.

"I don't know who he is, but he sure is gorgeous "

Sookie smiled.

"He sure is."

She ignored Danielle's mental rumblings about how much he seemed to like Sookie. Him and Sam and Eric. And just how weird that all was.

She gave Sookie an appraising look.

"I think he was the one Holly said was sitting with that other big guy the other night, right before close. You know, the one you left with last week?"

Danielle was fishing for details but Sookie didn't bite. She was too busy wondering if Sam and Eric and Alcide were all working together and why. At the end of her shift, she was glad to be done with two days off — and two busy nights — ahead of her. She headed home to get ready for her date.

She heard the Corvette come down the driveway and park outside right at eight-thirty. She followed the void of his brain up onto the porch and wondered once again what he was. She blew out a big breath to centre herself. He knocked and she opened the door almost immediately. She had tucked her ID and some cash in her jeans pocket, so she was ready to go.

When she stepped out onto the porch beside him, he leaned down and kissed her.

"Hello, Sookie. You look beautiful."

She had gone for natural-but-better makeup and had taken extra time with her hair, which hung loose and wavy down her back. She smiled shyly.

"You look very handsome, too."

And, boy, did he. He was dressed in a nice sweater that set off his eyes rather than the t-shirt and jeans he usually wore. There was a bit of a breeze and a piece of his long hair blew across his face. She swept it away and leaned up for another kiss. He obliged and then took her hand and led her to his car. He helped her in and they headed for Shreveport.

He took her hand again once they hit the highway and he no longer had to shift gears. He kissed it and she shivered a little at the touch of his cool lips. She liked that he was a little bit romantic. And she reveled in how incredibly freeing it was to hear nothing but blessed silence when he touched her. Being touched had never felt good before Eric and touching him felt wonderful.

She wondered once again just what in the world he was. Was he a vampire? The idea seemed preposterous but her doctor had seemed very confident that vampires exist. Unless vampire blood was some kind of new medication she'd never heard of. She didn't think so, but it wasn't the time to worry about that.

"Where are we going tonight?"

He looked at her and smiled.

"There is a new nightclub on the waterfront I wanted to try."

"Another one of yours?"

"No. A… competitor."

They rode a bit longer in silence. She blew out a breath.

"You and Sam both own bars. Does that have something to do with your business together?"

He paused for a moment.

"Yes. I guess you could say that."

In for a penny, in for a pound.

"I heard Alcide was working with you and Sam. Does he own a bar, too?"

Eric hadn't known that she'd met Alcide, or even knew that he existed. He glanced over at her again, quickly scrutinizing her face. There was a bit of a blush there and he knew he needed to close the deal later that night before she started dating the wolf, too. The shifter was bad enough.

"No."

The curt answer ended that conversation. She could ask Alcide more about himself another time. She was sure she'd see him again, even if he didn't call

And she was pretty sure he'd call.

Eric found a parking spot down the street from the nightclub and took her hand to help her out of the low sports car. It was a gorgeous night and there was a bit of an autumn chill in the air. She leaned into him and they walked hand in hand along the Red River.

He smiled down at her.

"It isn't a long walk on the beach, I'm afraid, but it will have to do."

She laughed.

"I'll give you a B for effort."

She leaned up a bit and he kissed her, just as she'd intended. A couple of weeks ago, she wouldn't have believed that future-her would be confident enough to kiss a man, let alone one who looked like this. So many things had changed since then. Least of all, her.

The bouncer at the door let them through immediately, not making them wait in line. Eric led her to a table in the corner of the bar and they sat down. He lifted his hand and a server hurried right over. He looked at Sookie and raised his eyebrows.

"I'll have a gin and tonic."

"And a red wine for me."

The barmaid dropped off their drinks a couple of minutes later. Once again, Sookie was impressed by the quick service he received. She took a sip but then downed the rest.

"C'mon. I want to dance."

He was happy to follow and left a twenty — and his wine — on the table. He pulled her against him on the dance floor and she wrapped her arms around his neck. He leaned down for another kiss. It deepened and they got lost in each other until a girl bumped into Sookie and jostled her. Sookie was glad, embarrassed by her brazenness to make out with him in front of God and everyone. Eric shot the woman a dirty look and kissed the top of Sookie's head. She felt him sniffing her hair.

He held her and, once again, they danced for hours. She closed her eyes, enjoying the quiet in the loud nightclub. She almost felt drunk, even though she didn't have another drink. Touching him even seemed to dull the worst of the mental racket of the people nearby. She could still see that some of them were jealous of her but she just smiled and held him a little closer.

When the lights turned on at two, she was surprised at how quickly the night had passed. She'd had such a good time. Eric nodded at a large man standing by the bar on their way towards the exit. The man nodded back. Sookie noticed that his mind was red and snarly, kind of like Sam's and Alcide's. And, just like Sam and Alcide, she could get his feelings more than his thoughts. She could tell that this man did not like Eric much, but he didn't seem aggressive. He sure was big, though, with a bald head and pretty eyes.

On the walk back to the car, Sookie was glad she'd taken a couple of Tylenol after she'd gotten home from work. It was wearing off and her leg throbbed. She knew she'd be hurting the next day, but that night had been so worth it.

"You are limping."

She'd thought she'd been masking the pain well.

"Yes. I was in kind of an accident a month or so ago. My leg still bothers me sometimes, but I'm okay."

She didn't want to address the werewolf in the room and mention the dog-attack-that-likely-wasn't behind the Grabbit Kwik.

He knew what had happened but didn't speak to it. They mutually decided to let it go.

Instead, he scooped her up into his arms. She squeaked and then laughed at him.

"Hey! Let me down!"

He didn't and carried her back to the car. She certainly wasn't fat but she wasn't stick-thin, either, and it had seemed to take no effort. It was as if she weighed nothing, even when he reached into his pocket for his keys and opened the door. He deposited her — gently — into the Corvette's low seat. Whatever he was, he was pretty strong. Strong and sexy as hell.

If he was something like a vampire, would she still want him so much? The idea sort of thrilled her and terrified her at the same time. She was pretty sure she would. She trusted him, even if it was a terrible idea but she didn't think he would hurt her, regardless. As crazy as that might be.

He helped her out of her seat once they got back to Bon Temps and followed her up onto the porch. He was disappointed when she turned around instead of opening her door once again. She smiled up at him.

"I had a really nice time."

"As did I. When can I see you again?"

She would be happy to see him the following night, but she was already going to the fair in Monroe with Sam.

"I have plans for tomorrow but, other than that, my nights this week are free. Likely most of next week, too. Sam still has me working days."

After that, though, she had a three day appointment with the full moon.

He wanted to ask her about tomorrow's plans but decided against it. He had plans for that evening himself.

"How about Monday?"

He couldn't wait longer than that.

She smiled. She didn't want to, either.

"I'd like that."

Her gaze fell from his eyes to his lips and he kissed her hard, fisting her hair. She kissed him back, swiping her tongue against his and wrapping her arms around his waist.

From there, things heated up quickly. One of her hands strayed from his back around to his chest and didn't notice the lack of a heartbeat. The other hand crept lower, gently skimming his ass before giving it a tentative squeeze. He moved his mouth down to her neck and nibbled her gently and then scraped his teeth across her throat to the other side. He kissed her neck again and then up to her ear.

Her hand dipped under his shirt and caressed his abdomen, skin to skin. She was very aroused, as was he, and her scent was driving him crazy. She lifted his shirt up as high as she could and he pulled it over his head and threw it down on the porch swing.

Her hands explored his chest and back. He took her breast in his hand and cupped it gently, her nipple pushing into the palm of his hand through her layers of clothing. He reached around and expertly popped her bra open and she let him glide his hand up under her shirt to touch her. It wasn't enough. He pulled her shirt up slowly, afraid of spooking her and scaring her away. It didn't. He peeled it off and threw it on top of his.

She let her bra fall to the porch floor and they pressed close together, chest to abdomen. As much as he liked the feeling of her breasts pushed up against him, he wanted to see her. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath he didn't need in anticipation. Just as he was about to pull away, he heard a vehicle turn onto her driveway and, a few seconds later, they were spotlit by the pickup truck's high beams. Sookie screamed and covered her breasts quickly. She turned her back to both Eric and the dooryard and grabbed her shirt off the porch swing. She quickly pulled it back over her head and handed Eric's to him. She gave him a look that said put it on.

Her eyes darted around and she kicked her bra behind a planter, hopefully out of sight. She crossed her arms tight across her chest and shrunk in on herself in embarrassment.

Jason stopped in front of the house and jumped down from his truck.

"Hey, Sis. I called a couple a times and you didn't answer. I was worried. But I guess you was out on a date."

Her heart was still pounding but there was a hint of relief on her face. She seemed almost grateful for the interruption. Eric certainly wasn't. He was tempted to make the brother leave but there would be no way to hide it from Sookie. There was a possibility that she couldn't be glamoured and he couldn't take that risk.

What was she?

She replied, "Yeah. Uh… we just got home."

There was an awkward pause.

"Three in the mornin' is awful late to be out…"

She closed her eyes.

"Go home, Jason."

"You sure, Sookie?"

"I'm sure."

He gave them one last look and got back in the cab of his truck and drove up the long driveway.

Sookie looked up at Eric.

"It is pretty late. Um… I guess I'll see you on Monday?"

He was seething and would have delighted in torturing the brother for all eternity.

"Let me stay."

She shook her head and then looked away before he could really catch her gaze. Glamouring her seemed to be off the table.

"Goodnight, Eric."

He kissed her one more time but she didn't let it evolve past that.

He made sure to keep the frustration off his face.

"Good night, Sookie. Remember. Monday at nine."

She nodded.

As she watched his car head up the driveway towards Hummingbird Road, she was horrified and relieved that Jason had come when he had. She hoped he hadn't seen too much. And too much meant pretty much anything. But God, Eric had felt good in her hands and against her body. His mouth on hers. His hard cock, making its presence known between them all night long. She shivered, remembering.

She hadn't felt out of control but she was surprised at herself for letting it go so far. On the other hand, she was surprised she hadn't yet dragged him to her bed and taken him over and over again.

And she was afraid she wouldn't have Jason to stop her the next time.

She picked up her bra and went inside.