Relapse: Chapter 9

Charlaine Harris owns almost everything. I own the rest.

 

All mistakes are my own. Thanks RedJane12 and MsBuffy for your help catching my mistakes last time! NSFW.

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Chapter 9

 

Sookie’s POV

 

Niall? Sookie’s heart thrummed against her chest. He looked like an angel, surrounded by a faint glow.

“I have been anxious to meet you, Sookie.”

“You know who I am?” Sookie asked. “Where did you come from?” She looked past him at the endless woods from which he had emerged.

“There is a portal nearby. It is the one Fintan used to visit your grandmother.” Niall responded. “The same one I have used over the years to watch you grow.”

“Wait a minute,” Sookie said, frowning. She looked at Eric and then at Niall, who both seemed perfectly at ease. “Do you know him?” she asked Eric.

Eric nodded. “I met him centuries ago. We fought together.”

Niall smiled. “He is strong and courageous.”

Eric bowed slightly at the compliment.

“You never said you knew him!” Sookie poked Eric’s chest.

“I only said I couldn’t answer your questions about him. I didn’t mean to mislead you, I only told you what I knew for certain,” Eric replied.

“That we are acquaintances is irrelevant,” Niall interjected. “I apologize for not making myself known before now, and I also apologize for interrupting your…”

Sookie’s face burned with embarrassment. Her great-grandfather had walked in on her in process of undressing her lover.

“Conversation,” he finished politely. “Is there a place we may go to have a more civilized, private discussion? I don’t have much time.”

“My gran is still awake, otherwise I’d offer our house.” Something about Niall’s words made her think he didn’t want to include Gran in their conversation.

“I can take care of her,” Eric said, and then darted through the trees in a blur of movement.

“What’s he going to do to her?” Sookie asked while her forehead furrowed.

Niall touched her shoulder reassuringly, his skin impossibly smooth and warm. “He is probably glamouring her.”

“What’s that?” she asked.

“Vampires can persuade humans to do their bidding. It’s harmless … most of the time.”

Her frown deepened. Had he tried it on her? Had the queen?

“It’s ineffective on fairies, and fairy descendants, yourself included.”

With a great whoosh of air, Eric returned. “Your grandmother decided to go shopping. The house is ours.”

Sookie tilted her head. “Did you glamour her?”

“Yes.” He looked at Niall and then back to Sookie. “I gave her money for groceries.” Sure enough, Gran’s pickup started a minute later and the faint sound of flicking gravel followed.

“Shall we?” Niall asked.

They walked together toward the house with Niall a few steps behind them. “Have you tried that on me before?” she asked Eric, keeping her voice low.

“Yes. It doesn’t work. I should’ve known you were part-fairy from the first moment we met.” He grinned. “You wouldn’t shut up, no matter how hard I tried.”

Sookie scoffed and then laughed. “That’s all you wanted from me?”

“At first,” he whispered, giving her hand a squeeze.

The yellow glow from the porch light surrounded them. Sookie took a deep breath and led the way into the house. “Well, here we are.” She offered a chair to Niall on one side of the table while she and Eric took the other.

The kitchen, while functional, seemed downright dilapidated next to Niall. Sookie thought he would look right at home in a palace made of gold. She cleared her throat. “Can I offer you anything? Coffee? Lemonade?”

Niall gasped. “No, thank you though.”

“Lemons are fatal to fairies,” Eric whispered to her.

“Oh. I’m sorry. I didn’t know.” Lemonade always made her tongue a bit raw, but she’d never died from drinking it.

“Iron is also very dangerous,” Niall said. “Which is why I have designed a protective skin that I wear when I visit your realm.” He pinched the skin by his wrist and lifted a silky, transparent material.

“That explains why you’re not all fangy,” she said to Eric.

“Yes.”

“I just found out about you,” Sookie said to Niall.

“I know. I heard your conversation this morning. I have been waiting for the perfect opportunity to introduce myself, and after your discussion this morning, I know this is it.”

Sookie shrugged. “As good as any. Honestly, I wish I’d met you before. I wish I had known the truth about my past.”

“It wasn’t my place to discuss those details with you. My son Fintan tried to keep his relationship with Adele a secret. No one was supposed to know. But now it doesn’t matter.”

“What happened to Fintan? My gran said he just stopped coming one day.”

“He went to the Summerlands.” A single tear rolled down his glossy cheek.

“Is that far away?” she asked.

“He died.” Niall straightened his back. “It was terrible. He and his cousin fought to the death.”

“They both died?”

Niall nodded gravely. “So much loss.”

“I’m so sorry,” Sookie said, overcome with sorrow at never meeting her real grandfather.

“Thank you,” he said, patting her hand across the table. “Northman, how did you come into my great-granddaughter’s life?”

“The queen of Louisiana asked me to watch over her.” Eric didn’t elaborate.

“Loyal to a fault,” Niall remarked.

“Not to the queen,” Eric specified. “To Sookie.” He put his arm around her shoulder and squeezed it.

“Fairies and vampires have had a very interesting past. I suppose it’s fitting that you’re together. Uniting the two races.” Niall looked between them and smiled. “You have chosen wisely,” he said to Sookie. “Although, if I had my say in things, I would’ve chosen a fairy for you.”

“I’m capable of making my own decisions,” Sookie stated.

“I see that,” Niall replied.

“What’s it like? Where you’re from?” Sookie asked, her curiosity getting the best of her.

“Beautiful. I’ll have to take you to Faery some day so you can see it for yourself.”

“Really? You’d do that?”

“Yes, but only you.” Niall glanced at Eric.

“Right, because fairies are so irresistible to vamps?”

“Yes.” Niall lifted his eyebrows. “I can’t stay much longer. Do you have other questions?”

“My telepathy is not a fairy trait, right?”

Niall shook his head, his hair swaying. “Demon.”

“Demons are real?” Sookie’s mouth hung open. “Fintan was friends with a demon?”

“Yes to both.” Niall narrowed his eyes and directed the tiny slits at Eric. “You haven’t told her anything?”

“There hasn’t been time.”

“If her safety is your first concern, you need to have that discussion now.”

“What discussion? What’s he supposed to tell me?” Sookie said, demanding to be kept in the loop.

“About the other races,” Niall said. “Your world is at the center of many realms, which means there is a variety of beings who reside here. Why is your queen interested in Sookie?” he asked Eric.

“She’s not my queen,” Eric corrected.

“She wants me to work for her her as a telepath,” Sookie answered even though no one had asked her.

“Are you considering it?” Niall asked.

“Kind of. I’m not sure. Why? What should I do?”

Niall smiled. “You’re capable of making your own decisions.”

“Why do I have the spark of magic but none of my relatives do?”

“You were born with it,” Niall said. “Fintan knew the minute he saw you. He told me before… That’s why I’ve been watching you.”

Sookie nodded. “So they don’t have it, and they’re never going to get it?”

“No.”

“Have you been watching Jason and Hadley, too?”

Niall shook his head again. “No. They do not interest me.”

Sookie sighed. “Dang, I was hoping you’d be able to tell me what Hadley’s been up to. She disappeared a while ago.”

“She clearly has ties to the queen. You should ask her.” Niall shrugged. “I overheard this morning, remember?”

“Right.”

Niall pushed away from the table and stood. “I’m sorry to cut our meeting so brief, but I should return. I will be in touch. Northman, it was a pleasure, as always.”

“Wait!” Sookie stood, too. “I have one more question.”

Niall paused. “Yes?”

“Do you really have tiny feet?”

Niall smiled and lifted the hem of his flowing white robe revealing miniature feet. He leaned across the table and kissed her forehead. “It was delightful speaking with you. I look forward to our next meeting.”

“Me too,” she said smiling. He seemed to float to the door, and then waved before going through it. A royal, official wave. She wouldn’t expect anything less from him. “Bye!” she called out long after he had left.

She exhaled slowly and sank into her chair. “Whoa. I think my brain might melt. There are demons?”

Eric nodded. “And shapeshifters, maenads, mermaids, trolls, werewolves… The list goes on and on. As long as they can blend in with the humans, they’ve been able to live here successfully.”

“And I thought vampires were weird!”

“Hey,” he said, feigning hurt pride. “You wouldn’t think that if you saw the mating ritual of trolls. There’s a lot of mucus.”

“Ew. I don’t need to know that.”

“They need it because they have barbed penises. I’ve heard sex with a troll is quite painful.”

“Oh good, you’re still talking.” Sookie pinched the bridge of her nose.

“I wouldn’t know though. I’ve never been fucked by a troll.” He smiled.

“That’s a relief,” she said, playing along. “How about demons? Do they have freaky parts, too?”

“I steer clear of demons. Their blood is quite toxic to us, and you know how I enjoy blood and sex together. Not as much as maenads, though. Maenads are insane and always make a huge mess.” He rolled his eyes. “You wouldn’t believe what they’re capable of. They are beautiful. Just like mermaids. But mermaids aren’t as common as they once were. They’re a delicacy in parts of the world.”

She grimaced. “Okay. I’m done learning.”

“Are you sure? There’s a lot more.” He seemed to be thoroughly enjoying himself.

“How about you tell me about vampires since that’s who I really need to be worried about right now. I need to make a decision about the queen’s offer.”

“What if I demonstrate the mating ritual of vampires instead?” He put his hand on her leg and slid it up and under her dress.

“My gran could come home any minute!”

“She’s shopping,” he said reassuringly.

“There’s a portal outside where fairies can spy on us,” she said, suddenly feeling a thousand eyes on her. “We’ve already been caught once tonight!”

Eric stood and pulled the curtains over the widow. “Better?” She stood next to him, making sure there wasn’t a crack anywhere. He kissed along her neck and then pulled the front of her dress down, sliding the skinny straps over her arms. The elastic neckline moved over her breasts with ease. When he rolled one of her nipples between his thumb and finger, the rest of her resolve evaporated. He lifted her off the ground, his fingers digging into her ass, so she wrapped her legs around him, gasping when her swollen sex rubbed against the bulge in his pants. He pushed her against the kitchen wall and started lifting her dress.

“My bedroom,” she commanded.

He carried her down the hall, kissing her as he walked. She kicked the door closed and then he put her down on the edge of her bed and nuzzled the crook of her neck, but she stopped him.

“Window,” she said, pointing to the opposite wall and covering her exposed breasts. Who knew what lurked outside?

Eric snapped her curtains into place, removed his shirt, and then stalked over to her, wedging himself between her legs. He bent over her and his mouth moved back and forth between her nipples and then up to her lips, leaving cool kisses across her heated skin.

She unbuttoned his pants and pulled his dick out, making him groan. She nibbled on his lip and sucked it into her mouth. He lowered her down on narrow bed, with her ass hanging off the side, and then pushed her dress up until it pooled against her belly. His hands roved over her body, rolling her nipples and then massaging her ass as if they had a mind of their own and couldn’t decide what they liked better. “Is this part of the ritual?”

“Worship is always part of rituals.”

She hooked her feet around his legs and pulled him closer. “What happens next?” She lifted her hips, trying to align their bodies. Of all the fantasies of having sex in her bedroom she’d had as a young woman, none featured anyone as glorious as Eric.

He gripped his cock by the base and manipulated it against her opening.

She closed her eyes and concentrated on the pleasure building inside her, but opened them abruptly when his phone rang.

Without checking the screen, he silenced his phone, tossed it onto the table next to her bed, and picked up right where he left off, rubbing the velvety head of his dick up and down her slit. “Where was I?” he asked. “Right here.” And then he pushed inside her.

“Ugh.” She moaned and pushed against the wall, holding on tight to ride out the first wave of euphoria. “Yes,” she hissed.

Eric caressed her legs and spiraled his hips, driving into her slowly. Sookie whimpered.

“Tell me what you want me to do,” he said, sucking his thumb into his mouth and then rubbing it against her engorged clit.

She lifted her head and focused on his cock disappearing inside her and the electric sensation of pleasure building under his thumb.

He stopped moving his hips, but continued to manipulate her clit. “Tell me,” he murmured.

“I want you to fuck me,” she whispered, heat spreading across her cheeks at her bold statement.

He grinned and then he gave her what she wanted. Fucking her hard and fast, his hips slamming against the inside of her thighs. A scream escaped her throat as she came again, and that time, he grunted and came inside her.

He moved their bodies so they could share her skinny bed. Half-dressed and out of breath, Sookie could only smile to acknowledge the way he held her tenderly.

“Was that all part of the vampire ritual?” she asked, struggling to breathe.

“No, that was just so I could hear you say you wanted me to fuck you.”

“You accomplished your goal.” Sookie grinned. “Are you going to tell me about vampires now? Besides their mating rituals,” she added quickly.

“I think you’ve earned it,” he said, kissing her. “I’ll begin with politics.” He went on for nearly an hour, discussing how vampires had divided the United States into the four clans: Moshup, Amun, Zeus, and Narayana. He explained that most vampires were loyal to a king or queen, and if they wanted to run a business, they needed permission from the ruling body to do so.

“So Pam had to get permission to open Fangtasia?”

“Pam should’ve gotten permission,” Eric corrected.

“Oh.” Realization dawned on her. That must’ve been Pam’s debt. “So you’re loyal to the queen of Louisiana?”

“No. We had an unusual circumstance. I live in her state, but only because I had to. Things are different now that she’s released me.”

“So that means you can do whatever you want?”

“Yes.”

Sookie frowned. “So if I worked for her, would you stay or go somewhere else?”

“I would stay, but not for her.” He smiled and kissed her again.

She sighed. “What should I do? I don’t really like her, not that I have to like my boss…”

“You should consider other options.”

“You keep saying that! What does that mean?”

Eric picked up her hand and kissed the middle of her palm. “Do you think Sophie-Anne is the only vampire who would like you to work for them? She’s gone to great lengths to find you and keep you to herself. Everyone in her inner circle knows about you, but that’s where the knowledge ends. If more vampires knew what you can do they would all be interested.”

“Are you suggesting I tell the entire vampire world about my gift?” Her mouth hung open.

“No, I think you should let me do it.”

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Eric always has the best ideas…but will Sookie agree? Find out in Relapse: Chapter 10