Relapse: Chapter 4

Charlaine Harris owns almost everything. I own the rest.

All mistakes are my own.

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NSFW! Like really, really NSFW.

 

Chapter 4

 

Sookie’s POV

 

As per usual, Sookie’s bladder woke her. She wiggled away from Eric’s body and slid off the end of the bed. After a quick trip to the bathroom, she grabbed blindly at the pile of clothes just inside Eric’s room. She ran her fingers over the soft material of his shirt and pulled it over her head, marveling at how much of her body it covered. She dropped the rest of the clothes, which thudded dully against the ground. What was that? His phone! I need to call Sam. By the time she retrieved Eric’s phone, her eyes had adjusted to the dim light spilling down the hall. Eric remained still, frozen for the day. She laughed at the memory of climbing inside his coffin at the cabin in search of his keys and finding something much better instead.

She closed the door behind her and made her way to the front room. A stripe of sunlight came through the windows in the living room, warming her toes as she gazed outside. She dialed one of the Chinese restaurants out of the phone book, placed her order, and waited. She paced back and forth in front of the window, waiting anxiously for the delivery guy to show up with her dinner. She also thought about what she was going to say to Sam. Fifteen minutes later, a dumpy old car pulled up outside Eric’s house.

Sookie grinned and grabbed money off the counter before opening the door.

“That’ll be…” the young man trailed off, taking in every inch of her bare legs.

“Eleven fifty, right?” Sookie asked, thrusting a ten and a five toward him.

“Um, yeah.” He blinked slowly. She didn’t have to be a mind reader to know what he was thinking.

“Keep the change,” she said before closing the door.

“Thanks,” he mumbled through the door before taking off.

She ate over the sink, wondering why Eric didn’t have a table in the dining area. She laughed. Why would he need a table? She cleaned up, tucking the leftovers into his nearly empty fridge and washing the wooden chopsticks. She put them into the empty drawer where silverware would normally be.

Next, she dialed the number for Merlotte’s and smiled when Lafayette answered.

“Merlotte’s bar and grill,” he sang.

“Lafayette! It’s Sookie.”

“Damn girl, Sam’s about gone nuts here without you!”

She laughed. “I know. That’s why I’m calling.”

“When are you coming back?”

“I’m not,” she admitted.

Lafayette let out a long slow breath. “You gotta tell him that, not me.”

“I miss you.”

“I miss you, too, sugar.” The phone creaked in his hand and the sound became muted for a moment. “Sam wants to talk to you.”

She didn’t have much of a chance to say goodbye before Sam started firing questions at her. She laughed again. “Slow down. You sound like my gran!”

“Sookie, where in the hell have you been? You’ve been gone for over a week. Adele called and said something about a vacation with Bill, but that didn’t sound like you, especially considering what happened. I’ve been worried sick.”

“I know. Listen, everything is okay.”

“Have you been with Bill?” his voice took on a sharp edge.

“No.”

He sighed into the phone. “Thank goodness. His house burned to the ground.”

“What?” She gasped.

“Yeah. I was worried he had you tied up somewhere in there when it happened and that you barely managed to escape with your life. They’re still investigating, so no one was sure.” He lowered his voice and went on, “You know how Bud talks when he drinks? Well I’ve been giving him drinks on the house to get him to drop details, but he hasn’t mentioned a body count, not that there’s be anything left from a vamp.”

“It burned to the ground?”

“Yeah. It was arson. Bud’s sure of that. They’ve got a perp in lockup.”

“Who?”

“Renee. Someone saw him fleeing the scene and he admitted to it, saying he’d done the world a favor.”

“Oh no. How’s Arlene holding up?”

Sam clicked his tongue. “It shook her up real bad. But that’s not the worst part.”

Sookie’s stomach clenched. “What’s the worst part?” she asked, afraid of the answer.

“He admitted to killing Maudette and Dawn.” His voice trailed off at the end. She knew he’d been sweet on Dawn, and her death had dealt a nearly lethal blow to his heart.

“Oh my god.” She covered her mouth. “Renee? How could it be him? I know him. Hell, we all know him.”

“I guess we didn’t know him all that well. You should hear some of the stuff Bud tells us. Actually, I’m glad you’re not here to hear it. It’s awful. He hates vamps and thinks anyone who consorts with them deserves to die.”

“Oh.” She blinked. That could’ve been her. She could’ve been next. Perhaps that’s why he targeted Bill’s house, assuming they’d been there together. Two birds with one stone.

“I’m just glad they caught the son of a bitch. I hope he rots in there.”

She was still too stunned to speak.

“Without Dawn, Arlene, or you, I’ve had to hire a few new servers. But don’t worry, you’ve always got a place here.”

That did it. She snapped back to reality. “Yeah, about that…”

“You’re not coming back, are you?”

“No. A lot happened, and it all started the night the Rats attacked me. To make a long story short, Bill’s out of my life and I’ve been offered a job in New Orleans.” It didn’t feel like lying. She had been offered a job … she just didn’t want to accept it. Regardless of her decision, she couldn’t face waiting tables again. “This is the earliest I could call to let you know.” Sookie took a deep breath and strained to listen. She could hear Sam breathing and the chatter of patrons around the bar. “Are you mad?”

“No. I’m not mad. I figured you were destined for greater things, I just thought I’d have more time to get to know you.” He sighed. “I suppose you’re glad to be gone.”

She laughed. “Don’t say that.”

“So you’ll be back?”

“Of course I’ll come visit.” How could she walk away from her hometown for good?

“We all miss you around here,” he whispered.

“I miss you, too.” She smiled. “Take care of yourself, Sam.”

“You too, Sookie.” He disconnected.

She snapped the phone shut and nearly jumped out of her skin when she caught a glimpse of Eric standing by the edge of the doorway. “Sweet Jesus, you scared me.”

“Who’s Sam?” he asked, hidden in shadow.

“My boss … and friend, I guess. I just quit my job in Bon Temps. I also ordered take-out. Chinese food. Yum.” She got up and walked toward him, putting his phone down on the table in front of the couch. “I hope it’s okay that I used your phone.”

“It’s fine,” he said, not looking at her.

Panic gripped her. Is this when he’s going to tell me to leave? That he’s done with me? But as she approached him she noticed every muscle in his body was tight and his hands were clenched into fists.

She put her palm on his bare chest and the other on his cheek, turning his face toward her. His perfect eyebrows were furrowed together. She gasped. “You’re not jealous, are you? Of Sam?”

He narrowed his eyes.

“You are!” She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him into a kiss. “Please don’t be jealous. I’m yours … if you want me.”

His eyes softened and his hands relaxed. He cupped her ass and pulled her toward him, crushing her body against his. “Say it again,” he demanded.

“I’m yours,” she said just before kissing him again. When she pulled away to breathe, he undressed her with one quick movement.

“Mine,” he whispered as he caressed the round globes of her breasts.

Her breath caught in her throat when he dipped his hand between her legs.

“Mine,” he repeated when he pushed his finger past her curls and inside her.

A moan escaped her lips and because she didn’t trust her knees, she leaned against the doorjamb. Eric followed, his face hovering over hers.

“Mine,” he breathed against her lips before capturing them, thrusting his tongue inside in time with the movement of his finger, which brought her closer to release with each passing second.

She gulped for breath as Eric kissed his way along her jaw and down her neck. He nuzzled the base of her throat, grazing her skin with his fangs. “Yours,” she murmured, pressing his head toward her, encouraging him to bite her.

“Mine,” he mumbled before his teeth pierced her flesh. He swallowed and moaned, their bodies vibrating in unison.

Sookie held her breath as her orgasm ripped through her. Her pulse pounded against her lips and drummed in her ears. Her world began to spin and then she gasped for breath, filling her empty lungs. Her next breath took the edge off her dizziness making everything come into sharp focus again. Eric’s face was the first thing she noticed. Bloodstained mouth and furrowed brow.

“Are you okay?”

She smiled and nodded. “Just forgot to breathe.” Her knees wobbled when he withdrew his finger and sucked it clean.

“Fuck,” he whispered and then he licked his lips.

“I need you. Please,” she added. “Now.”

He nodded and then hoisted her up against the wall. The velvety head of his cock pressed impatiently at her entrance. He seemed to be waiting for something.

“Please?” she begged, tightening her grip around his neck. She planted kisses along his shoulder.

Seemingly satisfied, Eric pushed inside her slowly, filling her and stretching her until nothing else mattered. She opened her mouth and bit hard as euphoria washed through her. Eric howled and slammed into her over and over. Her mouth slid against his skin, and only after she licked her lips did she realize she’d drawn a tiny amount of blood. She almost apologized and then she licked her lips. Another wave of pleasure coursed through her. She licked him clean trying to sate her ravenous hunger. His blood pinged around inside her, infusing every cell in her body with his power and appetite. She bit him playfully. “Mine!”

“Yours.” Eric kissed her, their tongues mingling.

“So good.” She arched against the narrow piece of wood knocking them off balance. Eric spun on his heel and guided them toward the couch. It scooted across the hardwood floor when they collided with it, but that didn’t stop his unrelenting thrusting. Sookie sat on the arm of the couch, locked her ankles around his body, and fell backward, letting her head rest on the cushions.

Eric gripped her breasts and drove into her until they both came again.

Sookie panted hard and finally opened her eyes. “I want more.”

Eric grinned and began spiraling his hips.

With more strength than she normally possessed, Sookie pushed herself up, gripping his arm with one hand and the back of the couch with the other. She needed to get closer, to feel him deeper. He pushed inside her and tilted his hips, crushing her clit. “Yes.”

He did it again, and she cried out again.

“Yes. More!”

Instead, he pulled out all the way, encircling the base of his shiny cock, and began rubbing it against her clit. Sparks of desire shot through her body. Her head got all swimmy again, reminding her to breathe despite the maddeningly pleasurable tease Eric was engaged in. Rubbing her bundle of nerves and then dipping just inside her. Again and again. She wanted him to fuck her hard, but she also wanted him to keep touching her clit. Her breathing became erratic as she fought to hold onto sanity.

Watching her face, Eric rubbed his dick up the length of her slit, parting her lips and nudging her clit over and over. His mouth fell open, revealing his wicked sharp fangs. She wanted to kiss him, to lick his fangs, to bite him again, to have him fill her up again. She wanted everything.

When her orgasm hit, she screamed, and while her pussy contracted, Eric pushed inside her all at once. Her pleasure intensified beyond what she thought was possible and only increased when he grunted and growled as his cock swelled inside her.

Her entire body shook for a full minute, and when she finally came back to earth, she no longer had the strength to support herself. Eric held her gently and bent to kiss her.

“I think I lost you for a minute,” he murmured against her lips.

She smiled. “Mm hm,” she hummed. “I’ve never… I had no idea…”

“The sex or the blood?” he asked.

“Both. Together! Why did your blood make me feel like that?” Bill’s blood had made her feel strong, but none of the hunger, desire, and power she had just experienced.

“Because of how you took it.”

She focused on his face and she knew how he felt, what he wanted: her. It filled her with deep satisfaction. She nodded and then frowned. “I never knew Bill’s feelings.”

“He forced himself on you,” Eric ground out. “You took from me. That’s the difference.”

She looked away too ashamed to hold his gaze. I took from him. He didn’t offer.

As if he could read her mind, he said, “I would’ve offered, but I didn’t think you were ready. Especially after what you went through at the cabin.” His voice trailed off.

“So you’re not mad at me? It was an accident, I swear, I didn’t even know I’d broken your skin.”

Eric cupped her chin. “You make me happy.”

She could feel it, coming off him in waves. Now she knew for sure how he felt about her. She nodded. “Me, too.”

“I happen to like being bitten,” he added.

“Me, too,” she whispered. She kissed him and licked his fangs. His cock hardened inside her. “So does this mean you’ve claimed me?”

“We claimed each other,” he said. “That’s what the queen was telling you about before. An exchange can change your feelings.”

She shook her head. “I don’t feel any different about you. Just more.”

He held her carefully and started moving his hips again.

“My fee-lings for yo-ou are dee-per,” she said, her words coming out in fragments as he awoke her nerves again.

“Deeper,” he repeated pushing into her to the hilt and rocking back and forth. Their mouths met and the sounds of their pleasure mingled on their tongues, finally reaching a crescendo when she came and drew another orgasm out of him.

Sookie sighed. “I want more, but at this point, I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to walk again.”

Eric gave her a fangy grin. “I can always carry you.” He wiggled his hips.

His phone vibrated against the table, but he didn’t show any signs of interest in answering.

“Your phone is ringing.”

He shrugged and caressed her breast.

She squinted, reading the letters and numbers on the tiny screen. “Who’s QSA?”

He stilled his movements. “The queen.”

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What do you think the queen wants? On to Relapse: Chapter 5