Detox: Chapter 8

Charlaine Harris owns almost everything. I own the rest.

Thanks to GabbieAnnie for the inspiration and encouragement to write this! Here’s the full chapter I promised you. All mistakes are my own. It’s a little NSFW and a rollercoaster of emotions. Keep your hands and legs inside the ride at all times and have fun!

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Chapter 8

Sookie’s POV

Sookie took a deep breath of the still summer air once she got onto the front porch. She leaned against one of the pillars and took another breath. What was I thinking? I’m playing with fire. She looked down at her nearly naked body and laughed. I wouldn’t even know what to do with him! I mean, I should know in theory, but that doesn’t really help me right now. Oh shit. Here he comes. She gave him a weak smile as he stepped through the front door.

“Beautiful night,” he said, standing next to her, casually.

She nodded, rubbing her head against the column of wood. The dim bulb hanging overhead illuminated half of his body, the other in shadow. She forced herself to keep breathing, even though it was low on her list of priorities. Kissing him was at the top, but after the fiasco of her indecisiveness earlier, she remained frozen in place.

“That bench?” he asked, pointing out into the meadow of yellow flowers, emitting only an echo of their sunshiney color in the dark.

She nodded.

He hopped off the porch and circled it before returning to her. “Looks uncomfortable.” He stopped in front of her, the ten-inch drop making them the same height. They stood facing each other.

Her heart threatened to leap out of her chest as she contemplated what she should do next. She closed her eyes and leaned forward, moaning when her mouth found his again. When her breasts pushed against his cool chest, she sighed. Here had been her cure for the heat all along. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pushed her tongue against his teeth, avoiding his fangs.

His arms coiled around her waist, pulling her firmly against his body.

A burst of electric energy zinged through her. She pulled away to breathe and was about to kiss him again when he stopped her.

“Sookie, I shouldn’t…” He squeezed his eyes shut.

She tore out of his grasp and stepped backward. “I’m sorry. That was stupid. Again.” She turned and went inside, but he stopped her when she got to the half-wall between the front room and kitchen.

“It’s not stupid, and there’s no need to apologize.” He loomed over her.

She sucked on her bottom lip. It still tasted like him. She stood on her tiptoes and kissed him again, sighing when he yielded to her and offered his tongue. She pressed her body against his and smiled when he groaned. The edge of the wall dug into her back, so she hopped up onto it, using it like a seat … a seat that happened to be the perfect height.

She wrapped her legs around his waist and straightened her back, pulling him toward her. His hard dick pressed against her covered sex and stole her breath. She spread her hands out across his back, holding him in place while she gulped for air. His mouth moved down, grazing against her jaw and then her neck. Her body jerked, bumping against his length again. “Yes,” she hissed and he sucked against her throbbing skin. He wiggled away from her and then thrust against her. Her breath caught in her throat. She closed her eyes and waited. He rolled his hips, and she was ready. “Yes!” she breathed as her entire body shuddered around him, every nerve exploding as she came. He held her tightly and his body seemed to vibrate back.

She gasped for air, and when Eric pulled away from her, only tiny slivers of blue remained. He inhaled deeply and his entire body quivered.

“You should get dressed,” he said, his voice hoarse.

“Eric,” she whimpered, kissing him again.

He pulled away and shook his head.

She breathed hard. She’d never wanted anything so much in all her life. “But, I…” She dug her nails into his bare back and pulled him closer again.

“I can’t.”

Two words had never hurt so much before.

He stepped backward, her arms falling to her side. He hid his face and disappeared down the hall, his door closing seconds later.

Sookie slithered off the half-wall and picked up her clothes. Lust, anger, disappointment, and wanting battled inside her. She dressed quickly and considered following him, but decided against it. She grabbed a towel and went outside again. She covered the bench with the plush terry cloth and sat down, facing away from the house and the source of all her emotions.

What was I thinking? He’s just like everyone else. She buried her face in her hands and cried. As she cried, her feelings poured out of her, leaving her tired and empty. She curled up on her side and let the chorus of crickets lull her to sleep.

* * * *

Sookie jerked awake when she rolled and nearly fell onto the ground. Something rustled nearby. She sat up.

“Sometimes, if I get outside quickly enough, I can smell the sun on the petals of flowers.”

She frowned and turned to face Eric, who stood nearby. Her heart ached all over again.

“It’s never very strong, but it’s enough. I miss it: the sun.” He moved toward her slowly, circling the bench. “May I?” He motioned to the spot next to her, but wouldn’t look at her.

She nodded numbly, unable to trust her voice.

He sat down and plucked the stem of one of the yellow flowers, inhaling when it got close to his face. “It’s been too long.” He rolled the stem between his fingers, making the flowers dance.

She looked at his face and tears rimmed her eyes.

“I made a promise,” he whispered, finally looking at her, answering the unspoken question that filled her brain.

She tilted her face. “A promise? To whom?”

“My boss. I promised her you would be untouched.” He said the last word through clenched teeth.

She blinked, sending a rivulet of tears down her cheek. “I thought you didn’t want me.”

“Nothing could be further from the truth.” He swiped at her tears with his large thumb and then cupped her chin.

“So I shouldn’t have kissed you, or done the, um, other stuff?” she whispered, heat creeping up her neck.

“I wouldn’t have been able to stop. You smell so good, and you’re so soft and warm.” He licked his lips.

“I didn’t want to stop,” she admitted.

“I know.” He smiled. “That only makes it more difficult.” A dry laugh escaped his lips. “That means I have to be the one who says I can’t. I hate that word. Can’t. You know what’s better?”

She shook her head.

He traced his thumb across her lips. “Yes. That’s my favorite word.”

She closed her eyes and focused on the tingling sensation burning her mouth. Wanting filled her again. Consumed every inch of her. “Yes,” she repeated, opening her lips and sucking his thumb inside.

He squeezed his eyes shut and moaned.

She swirled her tongue and then released his thumb. “I shouldn’t do that, should I?”

“No.”

“Because you promised.”

“I promised,” he copied.

She took a deep breath. “So now what do we do?”

He leaned backward and tilted his face toward the sky. “We watch the stars.”

She mimicked his posture and gazed at the sky. “I used to know all the names. I had a book when I was a kid.” She smiled. “They looked so close, I thought I could touch them.”

He laughed.

“But I could never get close enough, never lean out of my window far enough.”

He looked at her and stood, holding his hands out to her. “Come on.”

“Where are we going?” She frowned and got to her feet.

“To touch the stars.” He took her hands and pulled her toward him. “Stand on the bench and put your arms around my neck.”

She obeyed and her body responded. Their faces were inches apart again. His strong hands held her, making her body sing.

“Wrap your legs around me,” he said, and she complied.

“But your prom—” Before she could finish, he took off into the air. She squealed and held onto him tightly, her rising lust replaced with exhilaration. The wind whipped at her face, sending her hair streaming behind her, stealing her voice and stinging her eyes. Her mind raced faster than they flew. I’m flying! Eric can fly! She buried her face in his hair and took a deep breath.

Once they left the earth behind, Eric slowed. She opened her eyes and smiled. The river flowed under them so small it looked like a vein running down a massive leg. She relaxed her death grip a little and looked at his face. “You can fly!”

“I can fly.” He smiled and spread one hand out across her back, the other gripping her ass. “I’ve got you. Go on, touch the sky.”

She lifted her hand away, one finger at a time, and reached out over her head. The air whooshed around her, making her skin cold. They rose farther and farther into the darkness, the stars getting brighter, and when she opened her hand, it felt like she was holding them. She grinned and looked at Eric. “I got one,” she said.

He smiled and said, “Hold on.”

She had just gotten her arm around him again when he dove, dropping out of the sky like a stone. “Eric!” she shouted, but the wind stole her voice.

“I’ve got you,” he said again, slowing their descent and following the path of the churning river dotted with trees.

Everything looked closer, but she couldn’t begin to guess how high they were still. She hesitated before stretching her arms out, but Eric’s strong hands comforted her. It was better than any dream. It was like being a bird, her fingertips waving against the invisible currents around her, guiding their bodies as Eric flew on his back. She squealed and smiled so hard her face hurt, and when he circled around and landed in front of their house, she hugged him tight.

“Thank you,” she said, looking into his eyes.

“The pleasure was all mine.” For a moment, it looked like he might kiss her, but then he put her down on the ground, the soft grass brushing against her feet.

In the buttery glow of the front porch light, she noticed the paleness in his face. “Are you okay?” she asked.

He nodded slowly. “Hungry.”

She raced ahead of him and warmed up another bottle of blood. It’s the last one. She sighed. I guess we won’t be here too much longer anyway. She touched it to the side of her neck to check the temperature and then handed it to him where he sat on the couch. “Drink.”

He swallowed and grimaced, and she remembered how he had described the taste. A bit of color returned to his face by the time he finished it.

“Better?” she asked as she stood in front of him.

He shrugged. “A little.”

“I didn’t realize it would drain you so much. Maybe we shouldn’t have…”

He interrupted, “I made a choice. A conscious one. I would gladly sacrifice to see you so happy.” He smiled.

“It’s your last one.”

His smile faltered. “I could always have Pam bring more.”

“Or you could bite me,” she whispered, surprised the words actually came out of her mouth. Since the night she cut her hand, she wondered what it would be like to be bitten by him. He didn’t respond, so she added, “If you want.”

“I want … but I don’t think you know what you’re offering,” he said.

“Consider it payment for the ride. I’m willing to sacrifice too.” She sucked in her cheeks and scrunched up her nose. “Does it hurt?”

“It doesn’t have to,” he said, reaching out to take her hands. “Are you sure?”

She nodded. “How should I…”

He started pulling her onto his lap. “If you’re enjoying yourself, it won’t hurt.”

She blushed at the thought of how much she would enjoy being on his lap. A little too much. She scooted closer and then straddled his legs. She tucked her feet under her and sat back on her heels.

“First, I need you to relax.” He smiled when her shoulders lowered. “Good, now put your arms around me.”

Sookie put her arms around his neck, making their mouths impossibly close again.

“There’s an anticoagulant in my saliva, so I’m going to kiss you to help get that flowing,” he explained, as if he were giving a science lesson, which involved making out.

She closed her eyes and reduced the gap between them.

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I think Eric’s going to enjoy himself tremendously, don’t you? Find out now in Detox: Chapter 9