Charlaine Harris owns almost everything. I own the rest.
hurley1215 and uvgottobekidding, thanks for the awesome ideas for Billâs continued punishment. You are twisted and hilarious!
Even though we are separated by 7,000 miles, SeriousCrush still lets me use her brain on a regular basis, and this time, she got me past a block that had stopped this story cold. I will never be able to express my gratitude enough for the time you have sacrificed for me. I love you so!
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The Tilted Kilt Chapter 8
Ericâs POV
Eric could still taste Sookie on his lips. She was sweet with a hint of bitterness from the wine. It had been years since he had enjoyed a kiss so much. He never allowed himself to get close enough to humans to share moments like he had with Sookie. Every time he was around her, he had a difficult time controlling his fangs. The blood he licked from her wounded hand was the last meal he had, and although he wished it were enough to satisfy him, it only piqued his appetite. He wanted more and he hoped she would give it to him. Eventually. She was nervous and inexperienced, and he knew exactly what she needed: time.
He had time. He just hoped his patience would last.
Eric was frustrated by having to go to New Orleans again, and he wished the Queen had discussed all the business at their meeting last night, but that wasnât her way. The position of Sheriff brought with it the necessity to deal with the Queen as often as she wanted. He knew it was an especially important meeting because she had called him herself. Of course, she apologized for forcing him to make the drive for the second time in as many nights, but when she mentioned the nature of their meeting, he understood her urgency.
Nearing The Tilted Kilt, he decided to stop in and tell Pam what was going on.
The crowd was unusually loud for a Sunday night, and as Eric made his way through the dining area, he figured out why. The Kilt had a new mascot: Bill.
Pam was grinning from ear to ear as she gave him directions. Bill was not happy about any of it, but clearly knew his place. Bill marched up to Eric and said, âWelcome to The Tilted Kilt, would you like a booth or a table?â
Eric had to force his mouth shut. Bill was wearing a Tilted Kilt uniform, and it was very short. Bill looked grotesque in the normally sexy bikini top, with bits of dark hair curling around the edges of the red plaid. Eric shuddered.
Pam laughed. âWhat brings you in tonight, boss? I thought you were going out this evening.â She looked past Eric.
âI have business Iâd like to discuss with you.â Eric nodded toward his office.
âBill, be a good pet and stay. You know what will happenâŚâ
Bill nodded and smiled wide. He teetered for a moment, and it was then Eric realized he was wearing high heels.
Pam patted the top of Billâs head and then followed Eric to his office.
âI see youâre enjoying yourself.â Eric flipped through a pile of papers on his desk, signing forms quickly.
âTremendously. What do you think of my new Jimmy Choos? Bill is very generous, isnât he?â Pam kicked her foot up, showing off her shiny blood-red shoes.
Eric smiled. âTheyâre stunning. Now, the Queen asked me to meet with her tonight.â
âAgain? Werenât you just there last night?â
âYes. She explained sheâs having problems with our investment.â
âI see. What does she need your help with?â
âIâm not sure, but all the Sheriffâs will be there, and I donât think it would sit well with her if I declined because I was on a date.â
âGive Arla a slap on the ass for me.â Pam winked and turned to leave. âIâll hold down the fort, even if we run out of booze.â
âExcellent. Iâll be back as soon as I can.â
*******
Eric pulled up to the Queenâs mansion just as the meeting was getting started. Eric joined Sophie-Anne, Arla, Cleo, and Gervaise, representing all five Areas.
The Queen stood and straightened her back. âThank you for coming on such short notice. I have called you all here for two reasons.â
The small group remained silent and waited patiently for her to go on.
âOne, the clans are nearly unified in our choice to go public.â She narrowed her eyes at Gervaise, who was rolling his eyes. âTwo, the local resistance to the movement lies with a problem with TrueBlood, the synthetic blood being manufactured here, in the United States.â
âWhat kind of problem?â Eric asked before anyone else could.
âContamination. We believe someone at the research and development facility is tampering with the formula. None of the batches produced this month have passed inspection.â Sophie-Anne started pacing. âObviously, if weâre going to go through with the Great Revelation, we must have a supply of synthetic blood or humans are going to panic.â
âYes of course. This contamination, is it being caused by humans or vampires?â Eric leaned toward her.
âHumans. Iâm certain of it.â
Cleo interrupted, âSo just kill the lot of them, and get new ones.â
âThat isnât very progressive, is it?â The Queen touched Cleo on the shoulder. âIf weâre going to mainstream, we canât go around killing humans left and right. What I need is for someone to put in the hours needed to find the source of the problem.â
Eric immediately thought of Sookie and her gift. He wondered if she would be willing to help him, and then spoke before he thought of how she might answer. âIâll take care of it.â
Sophie-Anne gave him a gracious bow. âThank you Sheriff Northman.â She returned to her chair and went on with the meeting.
The Great Revelation was going to take place in one week, as long as Eric could take care of their little problem at the research and development facility in Alexandria. She continued to stress her interest in the success of the plan and reminded everyone of her financial investment in the lab. After the general meeting, Sophie-Anne pulled Eric aside.
âI canât tell you how much I appreciate your willingness to handle this situation. I have tried to deal with it myself, but my position here does not allow me time for a full investigation.â
âRemember, I have an interest in the success of this plan as well.â Eric invested in the Alexandria lab at the same time the Queen had. âYou can trust me.â
âI know I can. Thank you.â
Just as Eric was getting ready to leave, Cleo stopped him. âI like your skirt.â
âItâs an Orkney tartan from the seventeenth century.â He never liked Cleo, and his opinion of her wasnât getting any better.
Cleo scoffed. âTry not to torture and kill everyone at the lab. The Queen wouldnât be happy with that.â Her face contorted with mock concern. âEveryoneâs gone so soft these days.â
Eric smiled. âI have other ways of getting the truth.â
Now, he had to convince Sookie to go with him. He checked the clock on his phone. He had just enough time to get back to Shreveport before sunrise. As he passed Arla, he remembered Pamâs request and smacked her ass. âThatâs from Pam,â he said over his shoulder as he left.
Eric drove by the facility in Alexandria, which was dark and deserted during the middle of the night. He rehearsed his conversation with Sookie during the rest of the drive and got home just before the sun made it above the horizon.
*******
âWell? How was your meeting?â Pam was waiting in Ericâs office Monday evening.
Eric looked around. âWhereâs your new toy?â
âChained up at my house watching OWN. If any woman can knock sense into that old-fashioned head, itâs Oprah.â Pam nodded her head and smiled. âI wouldnât dream of bringing him to work tonight. Sookieâs on the schedule.â
âThank you for not subjecting me to seeing that again.â Eric grimaced.
âThe meeting?â Pam raised her eyebrows.
âChow needs to be here too.â Eric called for him and a split-second later Chow was in his office. âThe Queen informed me they are going through with the plan in one week.â
Pam rolled her eyes. âIâve heard that before. She said the same thing last month.â
Eric put his hand up to stop her. âOnce I take care of a little problem with the Alexandria lab, the Queen will give the green light. We need to be prepared for the repercussions. Pam, I need you to discuss the possibility of closing the restaurant with the servers. Chow, have you finished the security upgrades we discussed?â
Chow nodded and crossed his arms over his chest.
âWe have one week. Next Monday everything will change.â
Pam cocked her head to the door. âGinger just got here.â
Before she could leave, Eric added, âSend Sookie to me as soon as she gets here.â
A knock on the door was exactly what heâd been waiting for. Eric inhaled and picked up the faint fragrance of Sookie from the other side of the door. He opened the door and smiled when she squeaked in surprise.
âYou wanted to see me?â Sookieâs hair was in a French braid and the end rested against her neck. She was playing with the elastic tied around the end.
âYes, please have a seat.â Eric waited for her to move into his office, and then he locked the door.
Sookie shifted on the edge of the chair, making the material of her skirt scoot up her legs. She didnât seem to notice how much skin she was showing, but Eric did. It took everything in his power to focus on the conversation he had practiced in his mind.
âI need your help.â
âWith what?â Sookie tilted her head and frowned.
âI need to get information from someone, and I cannot do it myself. I need you to use your gift.â He could sense her hesitation.
âWhat kind of information?â Sookie leaned back in her chair.
âVampires are coming out, so to speak. There is a lab in Alexandria developing synthetic blood, and someone there is tampering with the recipe. If we do not have a reliable synthetic blood supply, the majority of the human population will not accept us. Please, Sookie. I need your help. There isnât much time. You will be compensated for your work.â
Her mouth hung open. âLike all vampires, everywhere?â
Eric nodded. âThere will be a synchronized press conference with vampires all over the world. Monday at six a.m. Eastern Time.â
âWhy are you telling me all this?â
âIf all goes as planned, youâll know anyway, but I need you.â He needed her in more ways than one.
Sookie smiled. âWhen do we leave?â
âThe sooner the better.â
âI have an outfit in my car, Iâd like to change before we go.â
She was back in a couple of minutes, and despite his desire to stay and watch her change, he stepped out and gave her the privacy of his office. When she opened the door, Eric couldnât take his eyes off the sleek black pants and tight pink shirt she was wearing, or rather, what he knew was under the fitted clothes.
Once they were in his car, Sookie turned to him and gasped. âI didnât even think about my area, is someone going to cover for me?â
âI took care of it. Donât worry.â Eric smiled and brushed a strand of hair off her cheek.
Sookieâs mouth opened and closed a few times, as if she were going to say something to him, but no words came out. In a move that surprised him, she lunged across the armrest and locked her mouth on his. Her lips were hot and demanding, and soon her arms wound around his neck, pulling him closer. She pushed her tongue into his mouth, overwhelming his senses. She opened her eyes slowly and moaned softly. âSorry, we can go now. I just had to do that. Itâs all Iâve been able to think about.â
âI hope you had sweet dreams after I dropped you off last night.â
She blushed. âYou could say that.â She pressed her lips together and nodded toward the steering wheel. âWe should go.â
âMm hmm,â Eric answered absently. His mind filled with visions of Sookie stretched out on her bed, with him nestled between her legs. He shook his head. âYes. We need to go.â
Ericâs mind wandered during the drive to Alexandria, which was made worse by Sookie wiggling in the low seat.
âIâm glad Iâm wearing pants this time, it was so hard to get in and out like a lady last night.â Sookie flashed him a smile.
âNo one said anything about you needing to act like a lady.â
Sookie swatted his arm playfully as her heart raced. âDo you know more about what is going on in this lab?â
Eric shook his head. âNo. All I know is that it is a human causing the problem.â Before they could discuss much more, they arrived at the facility. âFollow my lead.â
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Whoâs ready for more?
On to The Tilted Kilt: Chapter 9
With her painful detox behind her, Sookie and Eric finally leave the cabin on Willow Bend Road. In New Orleans, she sees the city for what it really is: a vampire oasis. When she meets the queen of Louisiana she’s offered a job that will be tough to beat, but she’s not so sure she wants it.
MySecretOFanFiction 