Up All Night: Chapter 6

Charlaine Harris owns almost everything. I own the rest.

All mistakes are my own.

What’s that you ask? Is this chapter NSFW too? Of course it is!

________________________________________________________

Chapter 6

Eric’s POV

Eric stopped at home to change before heading to the bar. As he pulled on a fresh pair of jeans, he caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror. He looked happy. It had been years since he’d felt like that.

When he came in the back door, Pam turned toward him, looked him up and down, and laughed. “What happened to you?”

He smiled. “Sookie.” Her name came out on a sigh.

“Did you talk?” she asked.

“A little.” His smile grew. “I’m going back tomorrow.”

“Of course you are.” She turned back toward the customer in front of her and mixed his drink. “Does this mean I’ll be eating alone?”

Eric nodded. “Yes.” Saturday nights were always the best to find easy meals, especially when they provided alcohol, but easy meals weren’t necessarily his favorite. “Although, I might be home before you finish.”

“I’ll keep the party small,” she promised.

* * * *

Sookie’s name was on Eric’s lips the next evening when he awoke. He showered and dressed quickly, bumping into Pam as he left.

“Have a good time tonight,” she said.

“I will.”

His stomach tightened as he drove down Hummingbird Lane. Why am I so nervous? And then he saw Sookie standing on the front porch in a tight white dress, her hair bouncing against her shoulders as she came down the stairs to greet him. His nerves settled and were replaced with desire. He moved out of his car quickly, surprising her.

“Oh,” she said. “I didn’t know you could move so fast.”

Instead of answering her, he kissed her. She kept her hands up, against his chest, separating their bodies, pushing away from him after a few moments.

“My gran is inside, waiting to meet you.” Sookie smoothed the front of her dress and tucked a blonde lock behind her ear. “Won’t you please come in?” She smiled wryly.

He touched her hand as he followed her inside, and she reluctantly took it, but as soon as they entered the front room, she pulled away from him, putting distance between them.

“Gran, this is Eric Northman.” She gestured to him, and then said, “Eric, this is my gran, Adele.”

“A pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Stackhouse,” Eric said as he bent over and took Adele’s frail hand in his, kissing her papery skin. “Sookie speaks fondly of you.”

Adele blushed and smiled at them both. “That’s kind of you to say, Eric. My you are a tall fella, aren’t you?” Her eyes swept up the length of his body. She sat down on the couch and said, “Can I get you something to drink? Sweet tea or coffee, perhaps?”

“That’s kind of you to offer, but no thank you.”

Adele smiled. “Sookie, honey, would you get me a glass of sweet tea?”

“Coming right up, Gran!” Sookie said and then darted out of the room.

Adele patted the couch. “Sit with me. Tell me about yourself.”

Eric smiled and joined her.

“Where do you live, for starters? Sookie has been very tight-lipped about you. She didn’t even mention she had a boyfriend until yesterday!” She whispered the word boyfriend and blushed a little. “Of course I worry about her when it comes to men, but I know she’s a smart girl with her head straight on her shoulders.” She seemed to be talking to herself, but directed the next question to him, “What do you do for work?”

“I own a bar in Shreveport.”

“Oh? Is that where you met?” Her cloudy eyes narrowed.

“Sort of…” Eric looked up at Sookie who had just come in with a glass for her grandmother. “I had seen her around. But when she came into the bar, that was the first time we talked.”

Sookie sat on a chair next to the couch and played with the eyelets that patterned her dress.

“You have a beautiful home.” He looked around at the hodge-podge collection of things, all put together with great care. “Has your family always lived here?”

“The Stackhouses have lived in this house for over a hundred and fifty years.” Adele straightened her back and smiled. “We have quite a bit of land. Years ago, we used to manage it for lumber and livestock. But most of it has returned to heavy woods.”

“I could show you around, if you like,” Sookie offered, casting a hopeful glance at Eric. “There’s a path the deer use that’s fairly easy to walk at night.”

“Won’t you be too cold, honey?” Adele frowned.

“I’ll wear a shawl. Eric, would you like to see it?” She stood and offered her hand.

Eric took it and said, “Thank you, Adele. I hope we get a chance to talk again.”

Sookie tugged him toward the door, her palm slick with sweat, and then released his hand to grab a shawl on her way outside. She walked briskly toward the edge of the woods, talking about the house and the property quickly.

“Why are you so nervous?” he asked once they were away from the house a bit. The ground under his feet bounced as he stepped on a carpet of fallen leaves and branches.

She took a deep breath and smoothed her dress and adjusted the piece of material covering her shoulders. “I’ve never brought anyone home to meet her. There was a lot riding on tonight.”

“How did I do?”

She laughed, making her shoulders relax. “I wasn’t worried about you. She was way too excited to meet you.”

“She is a lovely woman.” He tried to put his arm around her, but she pulled away and started walking again.

“Plus,” she said, wringing her hands. “I was nervous for you to be in my house. It’s not like your house, all modern and tidy.”

Eric touched her arm so she would turn to look at him. “It is beautiful all the same. It’s old and filled with memories. My house isn’t like that. I’m quite comfortable in your house, perhaps because I’m old too.”

She sighed. “I was worried.”

“No need to be.”

“Thanks.” She took another deep breath. “I love walking out here.”

“It’s so serene.” That time, when he took her hand, she laced her fingers through his. As they walked away from the house, Eric felt something in the air, a heaviness that he couldn’t quite explain. Within a few steps, the sensation disappeared.

“Come on, I want to show you something.” She smiled and pulled him behind her. She wound through the trees until they came to a clearing. “This is one of my favorite places. Jason I and I built it when we were kids.” She let go of his hand and started climbing a worn wooden ladder leading to a small platform wedged in a massive tree.

“Who is Jason?” he asked, watching her ascend the ladder.

“My brother.”

He took a step closer and looked up, getting a spectacular view up her knee-length dress, where her golden thighs disappeared among folds of bright white fabric.

Once she got onto the platform, she turned around and said, “Are you coming up?”

He grinned and practically flew up the rungs, making the journey quickly.

Her eyes went wide. “Whoa, you’re fast.”

He shrugged. “So this is your tree house?”

“I used to spend hours playing up here.” Her eyes swept across the wood floor lovingly. “I still come up here sometimes, to think. It’s hard being around people sometimes. That’s why I love my job. Everywhere else, I hear things I shouldn’t.”

“You can’t block it?”

“It’s like a radio playing in the background all the time, sometimes it’s louder than others, but it’s always there. Except when I’m with you.” She smiled at him. “I like being around you.”

“The feeling is mutual, although, apparently for different reasons.” He leaned against the trunk that jutted up through the middle of the platform.

Sookie clicked her tongue. “That’s not what I meant.” She dropped her shawl and then shuffled over to him and put her hands on his chest. “Your silence is wonderful, but that’s not why I like you.”

“Why then?” He wanted to hear her say why.

She inhaled. “You smell good, you feel good, and the way you touch me…” A tremor moved through her body. “I guess I should be afraid of you or something.”

“Perhaps.”

“Because you’re so big and bad,” she said, smiling.

“You’re partially right.” He wiggled his eyebrows at her.

She blushed. “Eric, I—”

“Say it again,” he whispered, weaving his fingers through her soft hair.

“Eric, Eric, Eric.” She punctuated each repetition with a kiss, moaning into his mouth.

He widened his stance and spread his hands out along her back, pulling her hips firmly against him, her warmth enveloping him. His cock, already straining against his zipper, twitched against her heat.

“Oh god.” Her face contorted with pleasure and she tilted her face skyward.

He rolled his hips, earning another moan as he rubbed against her clit. He sucked on the side of her neck, fighting the urge to sink his fangs into her flesh.

She moved her hands up, encircling his neck, pressing her breasts against his chest. Her breath came out as quick gasps, synchronized with his dick pressing against her sex. She hung onto him tightly, and began matching his movements with her own.

He dug his fingers into the folds of her dress, holding her gyrating body tightly against his. As they writhed together, her hem lifted, giving his fingers a much softer plane to explore. He sighed as the warm globes of her ass filled his hands.

Sookie dug her fingernails into his shoulders as he caressed the edge of her panties. Her entire body tensed and then she cried out, her muscles quivering. Her head lolled backward and she took great gulps of air. “So good.” She kissed him and smiled. “How do you do that?”

“Do what?” He kissed along the edge of her jaw.

“Make me feel so good?” She blinked slowly, almost drowsy.

“Just wait.” He spread his fingers out, cupping her ass and moving toward the center of her body. He caressed her slit through her damp panties. She jerked and moaned and then he pushed the material out of the way. He nearly came when he stroked her swollen lips, but before he could push inside, she stopped him.

“No.” Her eyes focused on his. He could tell she was fighting to speak. “I want you, but not like this.”

His movements stopped, but he couldn’t pull his hand away from her.

“Not here. Not now.” She touched his wrist. “If we go any further, I’ll regret it. I don’t want to regret anything with you.”

He clenched his jaw and forced his hands to retreat.

“Please don’t be angry with me,” she said, speaking into his chest in a soft voice.

“I’m not angry … just frustrated.” He sighed. While he respected her decision to say no, it wasn’t a word he was used to hearing.

She looked at him through her eyelashes. “Frustrated because you didn’t get to…” She blushed instead of finishing the sentence, and then she slid her hand down his chest and brushed against his hard-on.

A shudder moved through his body.

She hesitated. “I don’t know how to—”

He interrupted her with a kiss and then put his hand on top of hers, guiding her touch. He thrust his tongue into her mouth each time her hand caressed him, and came within seconds. Convulsions radiated through him.

Sookie had a satisfied smile on her face when they pulled apart. She gave him one last squeeze before removing her hand, bringing his cock to life once again. “Better?”

“A little,” he admitted. What he really wanted to do was push up her dress, rip her panties off, and fuck her for the rest of the night.

As if she could read his mind, she said, “I’m sorry, I—”

“Don’t be sorry,” he said, lifting her chin so she would look at him. “I can be patient.” He gave her a tight smile. “I don’t like being patient. But it’s what you need.”

She laughed. “Thank you.” She paused and then opened her mouth to say something, but nothing came out. Eventually, she sighed and repeated, “Thank you.”

“Are you going to show me around still?”

“Sure.”

Eric went down the ladder first and then watched her slow descent with hungry eyes. When she stood next to him, she laced her fingers through his and led him down another path.

They turned around once they got to the road bordering her property and made the slow walk back to her house.

She pulled him toward the front steps, standing one step higher than him so she could kiss him.

Perfect height. She moaned into his mouth and her heady scent assaulted him. He growled and pulled away. “I should go.” Before I fuck you and eat you. He smiled, showing his fangs.

“Thank you for … everything.” She looked over her shoulder. “My gran is still awake. She’ll want to say goodbye too.”

He straightened his back and forced his fangs to retreat before following Sookie inside, making sure Sookie’s body blocked the wet spot on his pants. “Mrs. Stackhouse, thank you for letting me steal your granddaughter for the evening. You have a lovely home.”

Adele hobbled toward them and smiled. “You are most welcome. I hope you’ll visit again.”

“You can be sure of it.” He bowed. “Good night, Sookie.” He kissed the top of her head and then headed for the door.

Sookie watched him leave, the bright lights from inside spilling around her, making her dress slightly transparent.

Eric groaned quietly and got in his car. Even after he had driven for some time, Sookie’s scent lingered, driving him mad, until he remembered where it was coming from. His hand. He pulled over and sucked his fingers into his mouth, savoring the hint of her sweetness. Instead of sating his hunger, it only ignited it, transforming his desire into craving. He needed her more than anything.

* * * *

Up All Night was still open when he got back to Shreveport, and after changing, he went into work. Pam was leaning across the counter, flirting with a woman with short brown hair and tattoos on her upper arm.

Pam blinked at him in surprise and excused herself from her fling for the night. “I thought you would be busy tonight.”

Eric sighed. “You and me both.”

“I already found someone for tonight, but if you want, I can ask if she wants to invite her friends.” She nodded at a table of men and women enjoying their drinks and talking loudly.

“I’ve lost my appetite.” That wasn’t completely true. Eric had never been hungrier in all his life, but only one person would satisfy him: Sookie.

“Your loss.”

“You can leave now, if you want, I’ll close.”

Pam beamed. “Thanks.” She whispered to the woman at the bar, and she in turn told her friends she was leaving with Pam. Before long, Pam was ushering the woman through the back door.

* * * *

When Eric got home after closing the bar, there was still a strange car in their driveway, clearly indicating Pam’s friend hadn’t left yet. Sure enough, as he made his way down the hall, he could hear moans and sighs coming from Pam’s room.

An hour before sunrise, Pam’s room opened and their voices filled the hall.

“Can I see you tomorrow?” the woman asked.

“I’ll be working. You should come by.” Kissing sounds filled the silence.

Eric’s eyebrow rose. It wasn’t like her to see someone a second time.

The woman sighed. “Night.”

The front door closed. Eric put his book down, got out of bed, and waited in his doorway for Pam to return. “You like her, don’t you?”

When Pam smiled, it was genuine. “I do.”

“Good.”

“What happened with Sookie?” She frowned.

He shrugged. “She’s not ready. So I’m waiting.”

Pam snorted. “Not your strong suit.”

“I’m aware.”

“At least one of us got some,” she taunted.

Eric glared at her. “Sometimes I don’t like living with you.”

She stuck out her tongue and then said, “I’m going to bed.”

“Me too.”

* * * *

When Eric woke that night, he was tempted to stay in bed so Sookie would find him again, but changed his mind when he thought of how uncomfortable she had been the night before. At least I’ll get to see her on camera. He smiled.

He watched the clock over the bar and went to his office at eight.

“I’ve never seen this kitchen so clean,” Beth said.

“I guess they didn’t have a party last night.” Sookie smiled at the camera.

“Thank goodness. My head is killing me.”

“You should go home and rest.”

“I’m not leaving you.”

“I can do it myself. You did forever!” Sookie replied.

“I know you can, but I feel guilty. This won’t take me long, then I’ll head out, okay?”

“Deal.”

“You promise you won’t be mad staying here alone?” Beth grimaced.

“I promise.”

Sookie had only just finished cleaning Pam’s room when Beth said goodbye. Alone in the house, Sookie turned toward the closest camera.

“I don’t know if you’re watching me, but I’m going to assume you are.” She walked into his bedroom and faced the camera on his bed stand. “I wanted to talk to you about last night. Explain myself.”

Eric sighed. “You don’t need to explain anything,” he whispered to the monitor.

Sookie went on, “I never thought this moment would come until I met you. You changed everything.” She crawled onto his bed and unbuttoned her shirt until her breasts peeked out. She lowered her prone body and spread her legs. “I can’t stop thinking about you.”

His mouth went dry at the sight of her writhing on his bed. Her shirt inched up to expose the swell of her hips and ass.

“I want you.”

The moment he heard those three magical words, he turned off the monitor and bolted out of his office. “I’m leaving,” he shouted at Pam as he left through the back door. He took off into the air the second he was alone, Sookie’s words echoed in his head, in her sweet, breathy voice: I want you. The wind whipped around his face as he flew, and then, he was home.

____________________________________________________________

On to Up All Night: Chapter 7