The Games We Play – 2/4

"So, was it as good for you as it was for me?"

Disoriented, and slightly buzzed from the drinks she's consumed, Sookie still thinks she's dreaming - until her eyes lock with Eric's. Her brain finally registers the arrogant smile on his face, and she realizes this is no dream.

Sprawled on the bed next to her, his one leg covering her lower body, Eric is studying her with his trademark smirk on display.

"Or, maybe," he continues, grazing her neck with his thumb, "I'm asking the wrong question. You sounded like you enjoyed yourself a lot. Did I?"

She shoves him away; he looks amused by her feeble efforts. As if to indulge her antics, he shifts over and simply lies back on the bed, his fingers linked together behind his head. Sookie's eyes are instantly drawn to the tight fit of the suit jacket stretched over his taut arm muscles, but she chastises herself for the indecent thought right away.

"I always expected you to be a screamer," Eric taunts. "And you didn't disappoint. Even when you're dreaming."

Humiliated, she sits up and scoots over to the farther corner of the bed away from him.

"There's no need to be embarrassed, Sookie."

"Shut up, jerk!"

"I think your enthusiasm is quite charming."

Fed up of his taunts, she slides off the bed and is walking to the door when Eric suddenly jets past her. In the blink of an eye he's standing in front of the door, blocking her way.

It's maddening how utterly relaxed and amused he appears by her predicament. Her cheeks are flushed, she can barely look him in the eyes, and he's just leaning back against the door, casually undoing the top button of his jacket.

"Get out of my way, Eric."

"You're cute when you're turned on."

"And you're an asshole when you don't keep your mouth shut."

He cocks his eyebrow. "My mouth, huh? You seem very infatuated with that part of me."

Sookie closes her eye and counts to ten in her head. She can inot/i lose her temper with him, it would mean giving him the upper hand and she'll be damned if she does that again. Plus, she may still need his help when it comes to Jason.

The instant the fabric of his suit brushes against her skin, however, her resolve breaks down. He's close. Too close. Oh, God!

1… 2… 3… 4…

Sookie practically jumps out of her skin when the tip of his tongue strokes the sensitive spot just below her ear. She's never allowed him to be this intimate with her, not in reality anyway. And this, this intensity, is exponentially worse than what she experienced in her dreams.

5… 6… 7… 8...

Her heart's pounding in her chest; her nerves are acutely aware – and responding – to his touch.

1…4…2…7…5…

Fuck. It's not working. She's used the same technique to drown out other people's thoughts for years, but it's completely useless against Eric.

"Relax," he whispers.

As if she possibly could, especially when he doesn't sound the least bit comforting.

Sookie exhales a sharp breath when his hands encircle her waist, his fingers playing lazily with the cotton fabric of her black dress. Her eyes remain tightly shut; she refuses to look at him. If she does, not only will he be aware of how close she is to her breaking point, but he'll delight in throwing it in her face.

"I am curious, Sookie," he murmurs seductively. "Is it just my mouth or the whole package that captivates you?"

Eric's smug words are exactly what she needs to hear to snap out of her daze. Without any thought of consequences, she reacts instantly and knees him in the groin.

"Fuck!" he growls.

Sookie knows she doesn't possess the physical strength to hurt a vampire, let alone one as old and powerful as Eric. Her violent outburst would only serve to irritate him, but at least it's something. By looking at him though - he's on his knees on the floor, swearing and groaning with hurt – one would think she practically circumcised him.

"You can stop the act now, Eric. I know you're faking it."

The painful look dissipates and a sly grin curves across his face. Removing his jacket and throwing it to the ground, he rises to his full height. "I was hoping you would offer to heal my wounds."

"I'd rather watch you die."

"Too little too late."

"Unfortunately."

"Your violent streak is quite amusing."

"I hope you still find it entertaining when I take silver to you."

The change in his expression is subtle, he's still smirking, but there's a definite hint of menace in his eyes now. "Vampires don't take threats of silver very lightly."

"Then stop provoking me."

"Violence is never the answer, Sookie," he chastises her in a mocking tone.

"When it comes to you, it's the only one," she bites back.

Despite already starting to experience guilt about threatening him, her anger comes back full-force when he laughs condescendingly at her. As Eric strolls over to the couch, she watches hesitantly and contemplates his next move. She knows he has something up his sleeves, she can practically see the wheels turning in his head.

Eric lies back on the sofa, resting his weight on his elbow, his long legs dangling over the edge. His piercing gaze roams her body in a lazy, languid manner before finally settling on her face.

"I asked you to wear white."

"I'm not good at following orders."

"Not an order, just a simple request."

"There's no such thing with you," she counters.

"You presume to think you know me, Sookie Stackhouse. That would be a grave mistake."

Sookie finds herself at a loss for words as fear creeps in about the reality of her situation. Just because she discovered he's capable of love and emotions toward Godric doesn't mean he would ever be more tolerant of humans. And that's exactly what she is to him, a lowly human. If Eric decides to attack her at this moment, there isn't anything she can do to stop him.

"Don't worry, your skills are valuable to us," he reassures, sounding anything but. "For now."

"Why am I here, Eric?"

"I believe you and I had a deal."

"As long as nothing happens to Jason."

"He's still alive, isn't he?"

"How do I know that vampire isn't going to go after him later?"

"Unlike you, Sookie, Charles does know how to follow orders. Even if it means losing his human to another."

"I only have your word on Jason's safety."

"It's more than enough."

Sookie waits for him to make his demands the way he always does, but he simply sits back and watches her. Like a predator stalking his prey. With each minute that passes, her anxiety grows. Finally, she has enough. "Tell me what you want, Eric."

"You're already aware of my conditions."

"We never reached an agreement."

"Didn't we?"

"You said you were open to negotiation."

"I changed my mind."

"I didn't. I'm not going to be at your beck and call whenever you need something."

"Alright. I will consider us even if you do one tiny thing for me."

Not fooled by his sudden agreeable attitude, she waits for him to elaborate. He doesn't. "Don't keep me in suspense, Eric. What do you want?"

He flashes a wicked smile in her direction. "Your blood."