Chapter 19

Sookie woke up the next morning with a smile on her face. She stretched and felt her well-used muscles and the tenderness between her legs. She smiled a little wider and thanked God she was on birth control.

She wasn't even sure if a vampire could get her pregnant or not. Of course, she couldn't be sure he was a vampire. If so, a pregnancy sounded like an even more terrible idea. She was glad she didn't have to worry about that. He hadn't seemed concerned, so she didn't think she had to worry anyway. He wasn't the sort of guy who'd want to be tied down. With silver chains, she presumed.

He had stayed most of the night and they'd made love two more times. It had been incredible. The whole night had been. She noticed he'd left with plenty of time to get back to Shreveport before sunrise.

If he was a vampire, he was a gentle one, except when she hadn't wanted him to be. He'd been attentive and sweet and the sex had been far better than she ever would have imagined.

Now she just had to keep him away for three nights the following week. Vampire or not, she wasn't going to let the werewolf out of the bag and tell him about her own little affliction.

She was sleep deprived but she drove to Merlotte's with a smile on her face. It lasted until she saw Sam waving to her before disappearing through the employee entrance. She'd known, of course, that they would have to have a conversation. She'd just been very successful at keeping it out of her mind.

And maybe she was out of her mind to have made the choice she had. But, frankly, she didn't care. But she did care about hurting Sam.

It took a good bit of the wind out of her sails but she was afraid that she wasn't going to be able to keep the smile off her face, all because she was well fucked and kind of head over heels.

She parked her car and took a deep breath before going inside.

"Hey there, Sookie."

He stopped and looked hard at her. His nostrils flared a little and his face hardened. Any vestige of a smile fell off her face.

"Sam, I-"

He cut her off.

"No, you know, never mind, Sookie. It's fine. I hope you'll be happy. I really do."

He went into his office and closed the door. She paused, wanting to shrivel up and die. Had she been that blatant? She went back outside and locked her purse and jacket in her car and stuck her keys in her pocket. She blew out a deep breath and walked back inside. She went straight past Sam's office and into the bar and got started on prep.

Sam left to run some errands a while later. When he got back, just after the lunch rush, he looked pretty much back to himself again. He even smiled at Sookie when he took his place behind the bar. Her shoulders fell in relief. She thought that maybe it would be okay.

After she'd handed her tables off to Arlene, she smiled at Sam.

"Bye, Sam. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Bye, Chère."

She walked to the back, towards the employee entrance. She was nearly there when he called out, "Hey, Sookie. Hold on a second."

She stopped and turned to look back at him. He caught up quickly.

"I'm really sorry I behaved the way I did earlier."

She shrugged a little.

"It's okay, Sam. I get it."

He sighed.

"So, you've decided, then?"

She nodded.

"I guess I have. I'm sorry…"

He smiled and cut her off.

"No need to be sorry, Chère. I wish things could be different, but I get it. It was maybe a bad idea in the first place, with you working here and all."

She smiled at him.

"I hope we can still be friends."

"Of course. Of course we can. I'd be upset if we couldn't. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Thank you, Sam. Bye, now."

She heaved a sigh of relief when she made it out to her car. She thought that things might still be a little awkward going forward, at least for a little while, but she was pretty sure things were going to be okay.

When she got there, she was glad to be home. She didn't know if she was going to see Eric later on that night but she hoped so. She really enjoyed spending time with him and the sex had been mind blowing. She decided to have a shower first thing, just in case, even if she didn't expect him until well after sunset.

She wondered if he was going to tell her what he was, if he even was a vampire. She hoped so, although it made her kind of a hypocrite. Her telepathy was sort of an open secret, so she wasn't too concerned about him finding that one out. The lycanthropy, though… She was keeping that one under wraps.

After her shower, she had a quick bite to eat and turned on the TV. She still didn't have his number, so she couldn't even call to invite him over. She was going to have to rectify that the next time she saw him.

She heard the car's wheels crunching on the gravel driveway close to nine o'clock and followed the void of his brain up to the front door. She couldn't contain her goofy smile. She ran and opened it. He pulled her in for a kiss right away and she pushed herself against his cool, hard body. He cupped her face in his hands and she kissed him back. Eventually, she pulled away.

"Hi."

He laughed. "Hello. May I come in?"

"Of course."

She took his hand and closed the door and led him to the couch in the living room. They sat down.

"Can I get you something to drink?"

He didn't notice her shiver.

"No, my lover. But you can give me another kiss."

He leaned down to kiss her again. She swiped her tongue against his teeth, enjoying the feeling, but also checking for fangs. She didn't find any.

After a few minutes of making out, he pulled her up onto his lap and she swung her leg over and straddled him. Soon, her shirt hit the floor, and then his did. He buried his face in her neck and inhaled and she broke out in goosebumps. What would she do if he bit her? Part of her wanted to find out.

She ground herself against him as they kissed. He had his hands on her ass and squeezed, pulling her against him even harder. After a few long moments, he pulled away.

"I want you."

She wanted him, too. She hoped their relationship was going to be more than just sex but, right then, sex was number one on her priority list.

Her chest heaved as she caught her breath and he took her breast in his hand. She pushed it harder into it before climbing off. He'd already popped her bra open and she let it fall to the floor. She pulled down her pants and he scooched his jeans over his hips and off. She climbed back on and kissed him hard before reaching down between her legs and taking his cock in her hand. She aimed at her centre and slid down on top of it. His hands skimmed from her hips up to her breasts and he cupped them and then moved his mouth to one and then the other. When he pulled his mouth away, his hands quickly took their place again.

She was rocking her hips and, after a few minutes, he slid his hands back down and helped. She moaned into his mouth and bucked, and then bucked again. She was already chasing her orgasm and he was getting close, too.

He kissed down to her neck and sucked the skin above her pulse point into his mouth. Her heart beat faster and her breathing stopped for just a second in anticipation. Bracing for a bite that never came. He scraped his teeth against her throat and she reached her peak just as he met his. He exploded inside her and she could feel his cool semen splashing against her cervix.

She leaned forward against his body, spent. He rubbed her back slowly and smiled. After a few moments, he pulled away and kissed her softly. She kissed him back, almost chastely, as unchaste as the last few minutes had been.

She noticed he wasn't out of breath at all. She wanted to ask him what he was but she also didn't. She took his cool hands and wound her fingers through his. His soft cock was beginning to harden again inside her but she wasn't quite ready to have sex again. She pulled herself off just enough until his cock popped out of her. She leaned forward and gave him another light kiss.

When she pulled away, they both laughed a little. She climbed off his lap and got dressed again, leaving her bra on the floor for the time being. He put his jeans back on but left his shirt off. Sookie enjoyed the view.

"Can I get you something? I have water and sweet tea, or I could make you some coffee."

He shook his head and smiled.

"I am fine."

"Well, I think I need a drink. I'll be right back."

She used the bathroom and then drank a glass of water, standing at the sink.

Sookie went back to the living room and sat down next to him on the couch. He took her hand.

"How did it go with Sam? Did you tell him?"

She shrugged.

"I didn't have to. It must have been written all over my face. He figured it out right away. He was upset at first but he left for a while and seemed back to his old self once he got back."

Eric had to meet with Sam later that night and he was looking forward to showing up bathed in her scent. It certainly wasn't why he'd come, but it was a hell of a fringe benefit.

"I am sure he'll get over it eventually."

"I hope so. I really like Sam, as a friend. I wouldn't want to lose that."

He no longer wanted to talk about Sam. Neither did she. She had thought earlier that she wasn't just interested in having sex with Eric but, on the other hand, she wanted to have sex with him again. Already. She stood up and offered him her hand. He raised an eyebrow. She shrugged.

"Sorry. I just thought that this would be a whole lot more comfortable lying down."

He laughed.

"I think that is an excellent idea."

He took her hand and allowed her to lead him to bed.