Up All Night: Chapter 5

Charlaine Harris owns almost everything. I own the rest.

NSFW yet again. All mistakes are my own!

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Chapter 5

Sookie’s POV

Sookie took a stack of dishes to the sink, nearly dropping them.

“What’s gotten into you, honey?” Gran asked as she handed Sookie the pans from the stove. “You’ve been fidgeting all day.”

She glanced at her. “Um, I have a friend coming over later.” Since she knew nothing about him, could she really call him friend? She frowned. “I’m not sure when he’s coming, exactly.”

“Do I get to meet this friend?” Gran smiled and made her eyebrows dance.

“It’s not like that, Gran.” She exhaled. What is it like? No answer came from inside her head. “He’s different. I can’t quite put my finger on it.”

“Different can be good.” Gran winked.

“We’ll see. You should rest before your meeting. I’ll get these dishes done and then I’ll drive you.”

“I’d rather meet this young man of yours than go to a Descendants of the Glorious Dead meeting,” Gran said without moving away from the stove.

Sookie stared at her. “I told you, it’s not like that.” She sighed. “If it turns into something more, you can meet him, okay?”

Gran pressed her lips together and then nodded. “Okay.”

* * * *

Sookie’s headlights illuminated a bright red sports car in her driveway as she pulled up to her house. Better yet, a gorgeous man leaned against the drivers’ door. Her heart nearly stopped when he smiled at her. After she turned her car off, it sputtered a couple of times. She slammed the door hard and walked around toward Eric, smoothing her button-down shirt, which had gotten crumpled during her trip into town.

“Have you been waiting long?” She tilted her face up toward his, trying to see him in the darkness.

He shrugged his large shoulders. “A few minutes.”

Sookie swept her hand toward the porch where two lights hung over the chairs she and Gran sat in when they wanted to watch the stars. She checked her watch. “I’ll need to leave in an hour to pick up my gran from her meeting.”

Eric moved gracefully into the chair Sookie pointed to, never saying a word.

She perched on the edge of the seat and said, “You wanted to talk.”

“I did.”

She lifted an eyebrow and laughed. “You’re not saying much.”

He smiled. “Where to begin?”

“Why don’t you tell me what you know about me?” She crossed her arms over her chest.

“You’ve been cleaning my house for a couple of months now. You’re single. Beth doesn’t like to clean bedrooms, so you always do them. You are quick, methodical, and always do a great job.”

Sookie beamed. “Thank you.”

“You are also careful and respectful of my belongings. I never got a chance to thank you for saving my father’s crown.”

“Your father’s crown…” Her eyes went up into her head trying to find the memory, nodding when she got it. “Oh, the one Beth knocked off the shelf?”

“Yes. It means more to me than I can say, so thank you.”

“That is your father’s?”

Pain flickered across his face and then he looked away. “It’s a long story.” When his eyes met hers again, they were all business. “You’re not afraid of hard work, and you’re always willing to lend a hand to your friend.”

“Thank you again.” She blushed.

“Also, I really enjoy when you change my bed.” He leaned closer to her, his eyes fixed on hers.

“Everyone likes clean sheets,” she added.

“No. The way you move, the way your smell lingers…” He inhaled and held it. “The way you sound as you work.”

Her cheeks burned as she realized he wasn’t complimenting her work ethic anymore. She had been objectified by men her entire life, but somehow, it felt different with him.

“Now you tell me what you know about me,” he said, leaning on the arm of the chair, tucking his long legs under him.

Sookie tried to focus her thoughts, and after a minute, succeeded. “You work at a bar, you have good taste, you have a nice car, your room is always clean, your clothes are organized by color, you smell really good, and your bed is super soft.” She looked down at her hands as she said the last one.

Eric chuckled. “Thank you. My bed is even softer with you in it.”

Head flooded her body and her heart raced. She swallowed hard and whispered, “You’re also a great kisser.” She looked at his mouth. What was I thinking inviting him here? I’m such an idiot! “I need a drink,” she said as she sprang to her feet. “Do you want anything?” she asked from the open front door.

“Yes.” Eric stared at her. “You.”

“Um.” She laughed nervously. “I’ll be right back.”

She gripped the edge of the counter in the kitchen, taking deep breaths, glancing over her shoulder every few seconds, waiting for Eric to follow her. He never did, which gave her time to compose herself and get a drink before heading back outside. What am I going to say to him? I have no idea what he’s thinking. He said he wanted me. What am I supposed to say to that? She was so caught up in her own thoughts, that she didn’t notice Eric blocking the open front door until it was too late.

She hit him, knocking herself backward. As she fell to the floor, she watched him try to reach out for her, but something stopped him. His fingers crumpled against an invisible barrier between them. She landed on the ground hard, a muffled grunt forced from her lungs. “Ow.”

“I’m so sorry. Sookie, are you okay?” Eric stood frowning a few inches away, his hands clenched into fists at his side.

She tilted her head. “Why can’t you touch me?”

His eyes darted away.

“When I fell, you tried to grab me, but you couldn’t. I saw it.”

He wouldn’t look at her.

“What’s going on?” she asked as she scrambled back to her feet. She stood just inside the threshold of her house and pushed on his arm and then let her hand fall by her side again. No barrier. “Am I going crazy? I thought…”

“You’re not crazy,” he said, putting his hands in front of him. She could see the muscles in his arms flex as he pushed against the invisible wall. “You must invite me in.”

“Why?” She frowned. “You really can’t touch me?” Maybe he’s just messing around with me. She unbuttoned her shirt slightly, giving him a better view of her cleavage. He’s a man. Men like this sort of thing. If he’s messing around, this ought to snap him out of it.

“No,” he ground out between clenched teeth.

“But I thought you wanted me,” she teased, fanning herself with the edge of her shirt.

He growled. “I do. Invite me in.”

“Why can’t you just walk through the door, like anyone else?”

“Because I’m not like everyone else.”

“You’re different,” she said. “What is it about you that’s so different? It’s been driving me crazy.”

He stopped pushing and stared at her. “You said that before. You asked what I am. How do you know I’m different?”

Oh shit. This wasn’t how it was supposed to go. “You look different,” she said and then added, “Your skin kind of glows.”

“You’ve never seen a Swede before? We’re pale.” He smiled a sly smile. “I think you’re not telling me something.”

Sookie put her hands on her hips. “Maybe, but neither are you. You go first. You tell me why you can’t reach through the air and touch me.”

“And then you tell me how you know I’m different.” A smug look took over his face. “I’ll bet you have no idea.”

“Don’t presume to know me. That pisses me off.” Sookie scoffed. “Go on, I’m waiting.”

Eric took a deep breath and said, “I’m a vampire.”

Sookie laughed and then it was as if a light bulb went off. “That’s why I can’t hear you! You’re dead. It all makes so much sense now!”

“That wasn’t the reaction I was expecting,” Eric said, frowning. “What do you mean, hear me?”

She smiled. “I know you’re different because I can’t read your thoughts. Turns out vampires don’t have brainwaves.” She wanted to add, in your face, but didn’t think that would be a classy move.

“You’re a telepath?” His mouth hung open.

She nodded and sighed. “Yes. The world is a very noisy place, except around you, and the woman you work with.”

“Pam.”

“Is she a vampire too?” Her eyes widened.

“Yes.”

“Wait, does she live with you? The pink room?”

“Yes.”

“Everything makes so much sense now! The boarded over windows, the blood stains on the sheets, the empty cupboards in the kitchen,” she whispered.

“I knew you weren’t telling me something.”

Sookie’s head spun. “Vampires are real?” She was breathing too fast and before too much longer, shadows crept in from the edges of her brain, pushing out all other thoughts. She was falling again.

* * * *

When she woke, she was in Eric’s lap. He was sitting on the front porch, his legs dangling down the stairs, and his fingers combing through her hair.

“That was the reaction I was expecting.”

Sookie gave him a weak smile. “I don’t usually faint.”

“I don’t usually tell humans my true nature.”

“I don’t tell anyone about my curse either. Too dangerous.” She reached up toward his mouth. “Where are your fangs?” She ran her fingers across his blunt teeth and gasped when his fangs appeared out of nowhere.

I wonder what it feels like to be bitten by them. She traced the edge of his sharp teeth and felt desire stir deep inside her. She wanted to kiss him, but a question nagged at her.

She sat up. “Is Pam your … girlfriend?” Leave it to me to find out the only guy I can actually stand to be around is unavailable.

Eric laughed. “No. She’s my … daughter.”

“Beth said you were really old, you don’t look old.”

“For paperwork purposes, it made sense since I have an adult daughter, although I’ve never met anyone from the agency in person besides you.”

“How old are you?”

“Centuries and centuries.”

Her mouth hung open. “I can’t even…”

“You can’t read my mind?” he asked, interrupting her thoughts.

She smiled and relaxed. “Not even a little bit. Not a single word or picture.”

“Picture?”

“Some people think in images. Especially men.” She rolled her eyes. “That’s why I quit my last job. I’d seen too many pictures of myself naked coming from them.”

“It must be a glorious sight,” Eric said, caressing the side of her neck and following the edge of her open shirt, stopping when his fingertips brushed the top of her breasts.

Sookie shrugged, trying to ignore the feeling growing between her legs. “No one has ever had the chance to find out.”

His hand froze. “You have never…”

She shook her head. “Never. You are only the second person I’ve ever kissed. You and Marc from tenth grade.”

“Marc from tenth grade didn’t get any further than a kiss?” he asked as his hand cupped her breast.

She shook her head again slowly, trying to remember to breathe. “He kept thinking about Becky Miller.”

“He sounds like a fool.”

“He was.” She leaned toward him, focused on his mouth again. His thumb ran a circle over her nipple. Even through her clothes, it took her breath away. She closed her eyes and let the pleasure wash over her. His lips descended just as she moaned, and then his tongue thrust into her mouth. She arched her body, forcing her breast harder into his hand. “You’re cold,” she said as his other fingers alighted on her knee, dancing slowly up the inside of her thigh.

He paused, licked his lips, and whispered, “Is this okay?”

“Mm. Yes.” She watched with hooded eyes as his fingers finished the trek up her leg, hovering over her zipper. Her breath came out in ragged pieces; she inhaled erratically, hoping to avoid passing out again.

He massaged her breast again and then caressed her slit through her jeans. “So hot.”

She reached a tentative hand toward the bulge in his pants, and gasped when he bucked under her fingers. His mouth devoured hers as they touched each other, building toward something wonderful. She squeezed her thighs together and moaned when she came. A moment later, his dick twitched under her hand and his groan reverberated through his entire body.

Sookie pulled away from him, breathing heavily. What did I just do…with a vampire…out in the open? Her thoughts and feelings jumbled together in her brain until her guilt and pleasure intertwined. She had never experienced anything like that with someone, and despite the warnings going off inside her head, it didn’t feel wrong.

Eric kissed his way down her neck, sucking on the skin as he went. His hand spread out on her back, supporting her body.

She closed her eyes and whimpered, but before he could explore new areas, the phone rang. Sookie tensed, debating whether it was worth it to get up, but the answering machine made the decision for her.

“Sookie? Honey? My meeting is done. Are you on the way?” Gran clicked her tongue. “I hope you didn’t have car troubles.” She trailed off and disconnected.

Sookie sighed and checked her watch. “I’m late. I need to go pick her up. She gets worried.”

“Of course,” Eric said and then kissed her neck. “And I’m not in any shape to meet your grandmother.” He motioned to his pants.

Sookie blushed and laughed. “You want to meet her?” Maybe it is like that between Eric and I. She grinned. “Do you want to come back tomorrow night?”

“I would like that very much.”

“We could talk again,” she said and then bit her lip as she looked down at their disheveled clothes. “Or not.”

“Until tomorrow.” He stood on the step below her, pulling her to her feet, and then he kissed her, hugging her body against his.

Her brain turned to mush as their bodies fit together. Perfect height. “I should go.”

“Yes. Until tomorrow.” His words caressed her lips, and then he walked her to her car.

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Mmm, tomorrow… on to Up All Night: Chapter 6