BITB Chapter 23

Disclaimer: Oh, how I love to play with the Viking! Sadly, he’s not mine. I’m not affiliated with True Blood, the Southern Vampire Mysteries or their creators. No profit is being made and no copyright infringement is intended.   However, Cricket & JP belong to me.  😉

A/N: Sorry for the delay.  Technology has not been my friend in the last week.

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Chapter 23

I opened my eyes to a pitch black room. I was disoriented at first, not knowing if it was day or night due to the lack of light. Then I remembered the window blocking shades and a smile grew on my face as memories of the night before flashed through my mind.

My smile grew wider when I felt a cool arm snake around my waist, pulling me close. A low purr rumbled in the chest pressed against my back as soft kisses ran along the back of my neck and shoulder. I felt a whisper of breath in my ear as a wet tongue lightly licked along the shell. I turned onto my back as the kisses continued to my neck, cheeks, and finally, my lips.

Without my sight, all my other senses heightened, recognizing the delicious scent emanating from Eric’s body and the sweet taste of his mouth as well as the fingers ghosting along my skin. The lips were soft, but the kiss was firm, and quickly grew heated when I felt the arm that had been around me slide under my back to pull me closer.

The kiss continued until I needed to take a breath, and I pulled back to give my own licks and nips along a dimpled chin and strong jawline. I felt teeth barely scrape along my neck and a mouth moved down to my collarbone to suck on the soft skin there. I moaned breathlessly.

“I believe this is my favorite spot on you,” Eric’s husky voice whispered in the dark.

Fingers trailed up my side, across my stomach, and continued up between my breasts, rubbing and massaging until they reached my neck. I realized there was no discomfort at all, which meant any bruises Fuckface may have caused were gone from my chest. I pushed those thoughts aside because I definitely did not want to be thinking of that douchebag in this perfect moment that I had waited so long to have.

His fingers moved to the back of my head and fisted into my hair, holding my head in place as his tongue licked along my bottom lip causing my lips to part. The sensuous way his tongue caressed mine was delicious and caused goosebumps to erupt all over my body, making me shiver. He pulled back slightly.

“Are you cold?” he whispered.

“Far from it,” I replied in kind.

I heard him chuckle softly as he moved to hover over me, licking up my neck to suck my earlobe into his mouth and biting it gently.

My body moved on its own and my legs spread open wantonly as he settled between my thighs. I felt his hard cock against my heated center. My back arched, and I wrapped my feet around the back of his legs. pushing myself against him. He circled his hips, pressing more firmly into my damp pajama pants.

My hands moved to the hem of my shirt and began to raise it above my head. He moved to his knees, pulling me with him, and removed the offending garment. Once my chest was bare, he was pressing me into the mattress once again, and he continued his ministrations on my neck beginning to move slowly downward. He moaned when my hands slid around him to squeeze his taut, round, perfect ass while rotating my own hips.

I felt his hands glide down and move under the waistband of my pants, cupping my own ass as he growled into my chest. He bucked against me with a grunt and I felt his mouth cover one of my nipples, sucking and teasing it as it hardened. Giving equal attention to the other nipple, he licked with his cool tongue while pinching the first and rolling it between his fingers.

I gasped at the slight sensation of pain and the thrill that ran through me. My hands fisted in his hair as my body writhed underneath him.

I felt him smile into my breast, then roll us over so I was lying on him. His hands squeezed my ass again and slid to my back, pulling me down his body slightly so he could kiss me. Our tongues fought for dominance while I ground my hips into him seeking friction.

He thrust against me and I groaned, feeling him slide against and between my labia through my soaked pajama pants.

I kissed his jawline, licking and biting my way down his neck and sucked on his Adam’s apple, nipping it, and eliciting small noises of pleasure to spill from him. I felt his strong fingers massage my back and spine as they ran down to rest on my hips pressing me harder into him. I kissed down his chest and rolled my body up so I was straddling him.

He moved his hands to grasp mine and laced our fingers together, steadying me as I ground against him. The darkness of the room and the sounds he made nearly overwhelmed me as his scent permeated the room. He lifted up and pulled my chest flush against his, wrapping his arms around me and sucked on my collar bone, then licking up the side of my neck. I leaned my head to the side giving him more access.

“Please,” I whispered.

I wrapped my arms around his shoulders pulling our bodies close together. His hands moved up my back and wrapped around my shoulders as he thrust against me.

“I can feel your heartbeat through every part of you, my beautiful girl.”

“Bite me,” I said quietly, knowing that I was close to my orgasm and that would push me over the edge.

One hand moved to my head, tilting it further while the other pushed my hair out of the way. He inhaled my scent as he ran his nose along my neck. He moaned in pleasure and I heard his fangs snap down. He teased me with his fangs, nipping my neck and laving it with his cool tongue to alleviate the sting.

My pants were soaked and the feeling of him hard beneath me was almost too much to bear. I could feel my stomach begin to tighten, and the sensation was moving toward my pussy with every nip of his fangs and thrust of his hips.

“Oh God, Eric, now, please.”

I felt him pull back slightly before he attacked my neck.

~~~

My eyes snapped open and I gasped as I sat up, straight awake. I was breathing heavily and my heart was pounding. Moonlight streamed through the window. It took a moment to get my bearings in the somewhat darkened room. I shook my head back and forth, clearing it. When I began to move, I realized I was still completely dressed.

It was a dream? Why did I have another dream? Eric was right there with me!

I reached to the side of the bed to find it empty. I glanced at the clock to see it was nine p.m.

“Eric?” I called.

I was met with silence.

“Eric?” I called a little louder.

Nothing.

I turned on the bedside lamp and looked over to see the other side of the bed perfectly made. What was going on? Was last night all a dream? No, he was here! There was no way I had dreamt it all. I mean, granted, he had said everything I longed to hear, everything I never thought I would hear from him, but that didn’t mean it didn’t happen. I couldn’t have dreamt it!

I walked to the bedroom door and opened it. The main room was empty. I went to the balcony, but no one was there. Where was he? I knew we had more to talk about, but so much was said between us and the way he took care of me… No. I didn’t dream it all. There was no way!

As I was walking back to the bedroom, I saw a folded letter on the kitchen counter next to the note Godric had sent to me with the wine. It was propped up and my name written across the front. OK. I was right. He had been with me. I knew I wasn’t going crazy! I let out a sigh of relief. The letter would explain his departure. I walked over and picked it up. I shook my head and chuckled at myself for my insecure overreaction.

It was sweet that he would have let me sleep. I hadn’t had much rest in days. It made my heart flutter to see that he had left a letter for me. We were past what had happened and our stupid misunderstanding that had left me so confused and heartbroken. When I opened it, the letter written on hotel stationary, the words made my heart drop.

‘I am sorry.’

I turned the note over. There was nothing else written. It wasn’t even fucking signed. What the Hell?

“Are you fucking kidding me?!?!” I yelled to no one.

He’s sorry for what? Was he sorry because he had to go? Did he have to go because of Godric? Why didn’t he wake me before he left? What happened in the hours that I slept? Did he even bother to stay while I rested or did he leave as soon as I fell asleep? Where did he rest?

Or…

Was he sorry about what was said between us? For what he said to me? Did he realize I was too needy? Too demanding for his explanation? Was he placating me? Was his explanation a lie? He seemed so sincere. I bought into it again!

He couldn’t have been just trying to get in my pants the night before. We hadn’t even done anything! Why did he bother to heal me? Why did he give me more of his blood? Damn, I shouldn’t have taken it!

I knew there was still a vampire missing. I knew Godric was at the nest and he more than likely was with him. I knew he would need to be there. Did he think I would try to stop him from going? That was ridiculous. I understood. I didn’t have had a problem with that. In fact, I would have encouraged him to go. It was probably related to the phone call he was on when I entered the bedroom. I had already felt guilty the night before that he wasn’t there with his Maker. He should have been there helping them instead of wasting his time with me.

I tried to think rationally. I tried to calm myself, but all I could think was that he fucking left without an explanation…AGAIN! It didn’t matter that he had a good reason. I knew he did, but it wasn’t worth his time to tell me? What the fuck?!

I thought we were done with all of the miscommunication. He was so adamant to tell me what Pam had said was wrong. He was so insistent that I believe him, and I did. However, here he was again, doing the exact same fucking thing, only this time he didn’t send anyone to tell me. He left a fucking note. I was right next to him and he didn’t bother to say anything. Instead he left a fucking note!

“Fuck this!” I shouted.

I was pissed.

Just then my phone rang. Finally! He was going to man up and talk to me. I looked at the caller ID. Sookie.

“Hello?” I said in a clipped tone.

“Cricket?”

“What do you want, Sookie?”

“You sound off. Are you OK?”

“I’m fine. Why are you calling?”

I knew I was being rude, but I wasn’t in the mood to chat.

“Oh, right. Eric called me…”

“Of course he did,” I spat, interrupting her.

“Sorry, but I don’t have much time to talk. Are you sure you’re OK?”

“I said I’m fine.”

“OK. Well, anyway, Eric’s here with me at the aviary, but…”

I interrupted her before she could say anything else. I wanted to know where he was and then I did.

“Is Godric OK?”

“Yeah, he’s fine. Anyway, Eric wanted…”

“Is Fu…Bill with you?”

“What? Oh, no, he’s…”

My irrational jealousy reared its green-eyed head and I cut her off again.

“I have to go,” I said and hung up.

~~~

Why was she calling? Maybe I should’ve listened. No, screw that. If he had something to say to me, he should have said it to me before he left.

I threw my phone on the bed. Of course he called her. Of course she knew what was going on. Of course she was there with him. She was there to help him. He hired her. He didn’t want her. He told me. I knew that. In my head, I knew that, but it didn’t ease the hurt in my chest.

My phone rang again almost instantly. It was a number I didn’t recognize. Probably Eric. I guess Sookie didn’t relay whatever message he had intended for her to tell me. How sad for him that he had to make the call himself when his ‘Girl Friday’ didn’t accomplish her task.

I ignored it as I picked up my suitcase and tossed it on the bed. There were already some clothes in it, but I dumped them out and gathered what was in the closet, tossing them on the bed next to it. I intended to re-fold everything and pack it neatly so everything would fit.

My phone rang again and again, I ignored it. If I wasn’t worth his time before he left, then he wasn’t worth mine before I did.

I went to the bathroom and began to throw my toiletries into their bag when my phone rang again. I already knew where he was and why he was calling. There was no reason to answer. He had more important things to do than to waste his time talking to someone who wasn’t worthy of more than a fucking note. ‘I am sorry.’ What-fucking-ever! It might as well have been a God damn Post-it!

I heard my phone indicate a new text. I went to the bedroom and picked it up.

• Answer your phone!

The phone began to ring again and I returned to the bathroom. I brushed my teeth violently before covering the bristles with their holder and tossing the brush and paste into my bag. I heard another text come in. I couldn’t stop myself from going to read it again.

• Stop acting like a CHILD and answer your fucking phone!

Oh Hell no! He did not just send that to me!

He was right, of course, I was acting like a petulant child throwing a tantrum and I knew it, but I was so done with everything. So fucking done! All he had to do was add one more sentence to that stupid note saying that he was going to the nest, or to see Godric, or anything else at all! Yes. I was being childish, but Jesus, I fucking deserved more than being an afterthought. Oh, no, I better call Cricket to tell her because I didn’t take the time to do it before…or better yet, I’ll have Sookie do it.

The phone rang again, as if he really expected me to answer after that text! Again, I returned to the bathroom and turned on the shower, adjusting the temperature. I ignored the sounds of more texts coming in and more ringing as I washed my hair and body. I dried off quickly and zipped my toilet bag closed after towel drying my hair.

I returned to the bedroom and dressed in comfortable jeans, a tank top, and a zip-up sweatshirt. I heard another text come in and decided to check them. There were three more missed calls and five texts.

• I apologize for that last message. It was rude. I know you are there and I would like to speak with you.

Good. He should apologize. Whether it was accurate or not, it was a dick move.

• Perhaps you have turned off your phone?

No, but I probably should have. Then I wouldn’t be feeling the guilt that was creeping into my head. Why was I being such a bitch? Sure, he left a shitty note, but he was trying to contact me. Even if he tried through Sookie first. Maybe he asked her because he was tied up.

• I know you are upset that she is here with me. I am fairly certain you are angry that I asked her to call you, but please believe what I told you last night.

Good. He knew why I was upset and I guess was trying to make it right, maybe? How was it that he already knew me so well? If there was this connection or whatever, why didn’t I know anything about him? Oh right…the blood. He knew my feelings because he could feel them from me. Well, that’s not very fucking fair!

• I realized what you must have thought when you read the letter I left for you. It was not intended how you interpreted, but I was unable to call you the moment I felt your anger spike. I truly am sorry.

So, I was right. It was the blood. That’s why he knew I was upset. That’s why he tried to contact me or have her do it.

• Please call me.

Great. Now I felt guilty. He was trying. He realized he made a mistake and I was acting like a baby. I was the one not communicating and he was making an effort. I carried my phone with me to the kitchen and poured a glass of moonshine. I chugged it down followed by two more. When I started to feel a slight buzz, I took a deep breath, and blew it out as I sat on the sofa, and dialed his number. He answered before the first ring had ended.

“Min Sǫngr,” he sighed, sounding relieved.

“I’m sorry,” I said.

I heard him moving and soon it was silent in the background. He spoke quietly as if he wanted to make sure no one heard our conversation.

“No, it is I who owes you the apology.”

“It’s OK, Eric.”

“It is not. It was my thoughtlessness that put us in the same position we found ourselves in before.”

“Yeah, but I’m the one who overreacted and had a tantrum about it. I was just upset with the way you left. It was too familiar even though I knew where you were.”

“I am sorry I am not there.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. You are where you should be, where you need to be. They need you there. If nothing else, Godric needs you with him. I’m fine, really. I feel stupid for the way I acted. I shouldn’t have hung up on Sookie.”

“I never should have asked her to call in the first place. I should have anticipated how it would make you feel.”

“Yeah, you shouldn’t have, but I understand why you did. You have things to do. In fact, I should let you go. I know you’re busy.”

“I do not want you to let me go,” he whispered.

I was momentarily stunned into silence by his words and the intensity at which he said them.

“However, I do have things to do at the moment. I am sorry. May I come to you tonight?”

“Um, no.”

“It is because Godric wishes to see you,” he said in a tight voice.

“Oh My God! Really? You’ve got to get over this jealousy thing. He’s my kid brother,” I said, chuckling.

“I do not understand.”

“You need to ask him. Anyway, it’s not because of that. In fact, I won’t be talking to him tonight either. Please tell him I forgive him and I’m sorry for my behavior the other night. I don’t think I’ve acted like a child this much since I was a child…maybe not even then. Just remember what I told you last night and fix it.”

“Leave the balcony unlocked and I will come as soon as I can when my business is completed here.”

“No, Eric.”

“I know you are upset with me, but I want… I need to see you.”

“I’m not upset anymore. I just have some things I need to figure out. It has nothing to do with you.”

“May I see you tomorrow night?”

“Listen, you need to go and anyway, I can’t see you tomorrow either.”

“Why? If you are not upset, then I do not understand why you will not see me. I believe things will be resolved here, and you and I have more to discuss.”

“You can call me, if you want. I promise I’ll answer.”

“Tell me why,” he sounded as if he was getting frustrated.

“I’m leaving.”

“What!? I thought you and I were… I… Why?”

“We are, and now that we are, you know…whatever we are… I have some things I need to work out for myself.”

“Do not leave. There are things you and I need to talk about.”

“I know, but… I just… I don’t know how to explain.”

“You do not need to explain. I believe I know. I spoke to my Maker.”

I froze and I was sure the blood drained from my face. What did Godric tell him? He knew I was a Siren? He knew I was a Muse? Why would Godric tell him anything? He said he hadn’t told him anything I confided in him. Was it a technicality because I didn’t actually tell him, but he had told me? Damn you, Godric! Fucking loopholes!

I didn’t say anything. I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t know what he knew. We were both silent for a moment before I found my voice.

“Eric, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“I told you I would not lie to you. Please do not lie to me.”

“I… There are things you don’t know, but that doesn’t mean I’m lying. I just… I don’t know what he told you.”

Another moment of silence passed.

“I can feel your heartbeat through every part of you, my beautiful girl,” he whispered.

I heard a sharp intake of breath and realized it was me.

What the ever-loving fuck?

“Do not leave, Chelsea.”

“How did…?”

Does that mean…? It’s true?

“You know how. Do not leave.”

“OK.”

I felt myself nodding, even though I knew he couldn’t see me.

“I will come tonight.”

“OK,” I said again.

“I do not understand this, but I know we need to talk.”

“OK,” I was in a daze sitting there on my sofa, nodding my head, and agreeing with everything he said.

“I must go. They are calling for me.”

“OK.”

He chuckled lightly.

“Breathe, Min Sǫngr. We will figure it out.”

“OK.”

~~~

 

Aurelia Gliwiski as Chelsea ‘Cricket’ Kerrigan

Alexander Skarsgård as Eric Northman

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A/N: A HUGE hank you to the incomparable MsBuffy, my friend and editor! She is a Godsend! Thanks to American Android for the fabulous banner!

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