Grasping at Impossible
Chapter 6:

I woke up to the feel of a hand running over my chest. I could feel the warmth of a body next to me, and smell the faint scent of strawberries. I moved my head towards the smell and buried my nose in it, breathing in deeply, and sighing contentedly. This scent was one I could never get tired of. I opened my eyes to see Sookie curled up on her side next to me, her arm draped over my chest, her hand moving over my muscles. She had a faint smile on her lips, and though her eyes were closed, I could tell she wasn't sleeping. With the arm that was around her, I tightened my grip on her, closing the few inches between us, and bringing her closer. She looked up, opening her eyes to me. I smiled down to her, and her cheeks turned a faint pink. I wonder what she is thinking, I silently mused to myself. Her smile in return was sweet and enduring, just as she was.
"Hi."
"Hey," I said back lamely. I felt like a teenager, trying to court the girl I had a crush on in grade school. That would have gotten on my nerves at one time, but with her, I welcomed it. "Did you sleep well?"
She let out a loud yawn. "I did some. You snore, did you know that?" she giggled, cuddling closer to my side.
I snorted. "I do not snore," I said, pretending to be hurt. Really, I had no idea if I did or not. I never had a woman sleep next me, so I never heard that I snored from anyone but Sookie. Lafayette always remarked that I did when we were growing up, but I never paid any attention to him.
"Yep, you do. But it was cute, so its all good," she said, and I couldn't help but smile back at her. She was beautiful, laying there with her hair splayed half across the pillow and half mingling with my own.
"Feeling better?" I asked her.
"Getting there," she sighed, looking at me with her baby blue eyes.
I reached over and touched her cheek, brushing my fingers across it, feeling her soft skin. We didn't say anything for a while, and I could tell she enjoyed being in my arms almost as much as I liked having her in them. "I think we need to get up. It's already dark outside."
I looked towards the window and saw the darkness. Wow, I hadn't known we had slept that long. Normally I would have shied away from being this close and vulnerable to someone, but with Sookie, like I had discovered before, everything was different. She sat up and looked at me, and I felt something stir in me. I realized right then I wanted to stay with her, but I doubted she would allow it. Her grandmother was not in the right condition to be doing this. Especially not in her house. The girl needed some serious release from all the craziness going on in her life. I wanted to be the one to give it to her, and I could only hope she would welcome it when the time came.
I sighed, "You're right. I guess I need to get back. The bar is calling for me tonight."
"Oh, you are going straight to work?" she asked, biting her lip.
"Yes..."
"That is fine. I can get Pam to take me back to my grandmothers car."
"No, I can take you," I said firmly, and much too quickly. Her eyes danced, seeing how much I wanted to be around her.
"Are you sure? I mean, you don't have to if you don't want to. I can get a ride if..." she continued to ramble on, her cheeks becoming a delicious shade of red. I leaned in and captured her lips mid sentence, and she responded, of course. Her tongue demanded entrance into my mouth, and I allowed it. She tasted so sweet, how could I deny her? I pulled back after a moment, and kissed her nose. She was panting slightly, and her eyes were still closed.
"I will take you," I reassured her, and she nodded.
She hopped off the bed and went over to her drawers, pulling out a long sleeved shirt and putting it on. I got off the bed and righted myself before we walked out into the hallway, where we were met with the eyes of her brother and the woman named Pam that I had met that night in the bar. She seemed to be gleeful about something, though I had no idea what. I liked her from the start, but the way her eyes were going back and forth between us, and her constant smirk, made me want reprove her. I could feel Sookie cringe beside me from her looks, and that made me more protective.
"Hello dear Sookie," she purred, rising from the couch. "What do we have here? Jason said you were in your room with some man, but I didn't know it was this fine man."
Jason cleared his throat. "Sooks, you could have a little more respect for Gran. Doing god knows what while she is..."
"Shut up Jason," Sookie snapped at him, and he didn't comment further. If she hadn't said anything to stop him, my fist would have gotten the job done. Come to think about it I might meet up with him later, just to have a talk with him. "We all know you are no saint, but that is beside the point. We fell asleep."
Pam snorted. "I'm sure you did," she coyly said, and Sookie gave her a withering glare. They stared at each other for a while, and I wondered if they were having a silent conversation in their heads. Pam finally held up her hands in mock defeat and pulled her into a hug. "I am sorry I wasn't here earlier," she said sincerely this time, and Sookie returned the hug.
They parted soon after, and Sookie directed her attention to me. "Is it ok that Pam comes with us? I have an errand I need to run before coming back home."
I was about to offer to go with her myself, not ready to let her leave my side for the night, but I had to remember why I was here in the first place. "That is fine. Ready now?"
"Yeah, let me go tell Gran I am going and will be back later," she said, and passed by me to go down the hallway.
I took that chance to get out of the room with her obnoxious brother in it, seeing that I was only moments from beating him to a pulp. The man apparently treated his sister like this all the time, and to me that wasn't going to fly for much longer. Once I was on the porch I could hear footsteps behind me, and there appeared Pam to my right. She sat on the step while I went ahead and took a seat next to her. She looked deep in thought, so instead of interrupting her I pulled out a cigarette out of my pocket, and lit it up. She smirked and took it from me before returning it, puffing the smoke into the air.
"Sookie hates it when I smoke," she said absently.
"Well, that's too bad for you," I replied tartly.
"She has always been...different," she said quietly, and I handed her the cigarette, watching as she took another drag and returned it to me.
"She is..."
"What do you want with her?" she asked, and I was caught off guard. I coughed the inhaled contents, and she shook her head as I tried to compose myself.
"That bad, huh?"
I cleared my throat. "I want what any other man wants."
"I see....and that is?"
"I like her."
"And?"
"I want to get to know her while she is here," I remarked, and the smile that was adorned on her face was gone, and now replaced with a murderous glare. I was taken aback. What did I say to get that look? "What?"
"You hurt her, and I will kill you," was all she said before Sookie came outside.
"Y'all ready?" she asked sweetly, and I threw my cigarette on the ground, putting it out with my shoe. I saw her frown from the corner of my eye, but she didn't say anything. We walked over to my Impala, and Pam climbed in the back as Sookie took a seat up front with me. I reached over and took her hand once we were on the freeway, giving it a gentle squeeze. I really wanted to have her come to the bar tonight and spend more time with me. My thoughts took me to a place of Sookie in my office, her legs spread for me to see. Her face flushed and small pants coming from her, as her chest heaved with every breath she takes...
"Eric?" her voice calls to me, and I am broken free from my thoughts.
"Hmm?"
"I asked you if we could stop by the bar later. Pam seems to want a drink before we head back to Bon Temps."
I brought her hand up to my lips and place a kiss in her palm. "You are welcome anytime, dear one."
Pam snorted from behind me and when I gave her a look she only shook her head, a small smile playing at her lips. I could tell she was going to be trouble. I pulled into the parking lot of Ernie's and stopped next to her car. Pam got out quickly and went over the passenger side of Sookie's vehicle. I was about to open my door to help her into her car, but she stopped me by tugging on my hand. When I looked at her she seemed timid and shy. This Sookie didn't look sure of herself, not like the one I had met at this same place a few hours ago.
"I wanted to thank you for being there with me today. I know you didn't have to, but I appreciate it all the same."
I placed my fingers under her chin and raised her eyes to mine. I leaned in and captured her lips with my own, slowly and gently pouring the new found reverence I had developed for this woman into the kiss. She was beginning to mean something more to me than the others. I pulled away, but not too much, to place my forehead against hers.
"Anytime Sookie," I huskily said, and was rewarded by her kissing me once more. This time she ran her hand up in my hair, pulling and tugging as she roughly kissed my lips. I was getting more and more turned on, and was beginning to fear I would actually fucking do her in the car. I would have, that is, if Pam didn't take that moment to knock on my side of the door. Sookie pulled back from me, but I went with her, kissing her lips and massaging her chest at the same time. She moaned into my mouth, grateful for the sensations I was giving her. Her hands roamed over my body, and as I felt her fingers touch the outside of my fly. The knock came again, but this time it didn't stop. I growled when she separated from me, and she looked at me sheepishly.
"Thanks for the ride," she whispered, leaning in once again, and kissing me quickly. She got out of the car, and I rolled down my window, watching her tight ass move in her skirt and her hips sway to her own beat. Damn, this woman was going to be the death of me.
"I'll see you later?" I asked her, and she nodded, her face turning pink again.
"Yes, I will be there."
"See you then."
She hopped into her car and waved as she drove off, onto the feeder. I sat there for a moment, really missing her. What the fuck was going on? She was gone maybe sixty seconds, and already I was becoming a sissy. I jerked my car into first gear, and headed in the direction of my club. I couldn't wait to see her later tonight. I licked my lips, thinking about our last kiss. The girl was becoming something I was starting to crave. I had never felt this way, and yet I was doing nothing to stop it either. Maybe I should sit back and see where this goes. Maybe it won't be so bad, she will leave eventually, it isn't like she's going to be around forever, I thought, and I felt a tightening in my chest. It wasn't something I had ever felt before.
I pulled up to the club and walked in, going straight to my office. I threw my jacket down on the couch, and took a seat behind my desk, resting my head on the wood. I heard the door open and close, and could feel a presence, even before I heard the voice.
"Northman," the voice said, one I would never forget, and would rather never hear again. I sighed, and raised my head.
"Victor," I said, nodding. "What do I owe the pleasure of you being here?"
He smiled crookedly. "I came to see how my old buddy was doing."
I scoffed. "I am not your buddy, remember that," I said, turning on my computer and picking up a few of the invoices that were left on my desk by Bill.
"Oh, but we go way back, so there is no need to ignore it," he commented, and I rolled my eyes. We did know each other from college, but it wasn't for friendship. We were in the same fraternity house, so we were technically brothers, though I refused to claim him, even now. We went way back, but never had anything good between us. We had claims and stakes on girls, but we never really got along. I guess you could call him my rival in the house, though I preferred to forget all about that time. Especially when he was involved in anything.
"I would prefer to forget anything that has ever happened, if you catch my drift."
"I do, but I want something in return," he said, and I knew it was coming. He wasn't a man that did things without getting something in return.
I waved my hand, acting as though I was uninterested in his offer, when in truth I was. Anything to have him go away and not come around would have sealed the deal with me. "And that would be..."
He leaned forward, and grinned. "I want something you have. Something that will bring me much pleasure."
I cringed. "Go on."
"I want some of the women that come here, to instead come to my co-owned club. I think you can arrange that."
I let out a dry laugh. "I don't own them Victor. I cannot sell them to you. If you want them there, go ask them yourself."
He sat back in his chair and shook his head, his eyes having no amusement in them. "That is not the method I wish to have them come to me."
I started back at him, and it clicked in my head what he was saying. No way in hell was I doing that shit again. If he came here a few weeks ago, I might have, just out of sheer boredom, but not since Sookie was in my life. I told her I would, in a sense, keep my dick in my pants, and that was what I planed on doing.
"I don't do that anymore," I said through clenched teeth.
"It would only be one night."
"I can't. I..."
"What? You have a woman now that won't let you? The mighty Eric Northman? That is rich," he taunted me, and I stood, snapping the pencil in half that was in my hand.
"I don't have to explain myself to anyone, least of all you."
"Oh, but you feel like you do, don't you? Admit it, you miss the games we used to play."
I sighed, running a hand through my hair. I did like it at one time, but thinking about it now...I didn't know what to think. "Victor, it isn't going to happen. I don't do that anymore, even if I did, I wouldn't be bringing you into my soiree's."
"Hmm... Eric, I think you have lost your touch. I have many of these...parties. Surely you cannot be out of touch with yourself," he remarked, looking me over. I sat back down in my chair, ignoring his words.
"I do not host parties anymore, that was back in college. I abandoned that lifestyle a long time ago, when we all graduated."
Victor stood and picked up his coat, draping it over his arm. I was happy he was leaving, but felt somewhat down because of the conversation. Did I really turn into a goody-goody when I left? Maybe I was out of touch. "Call me if you want to reconsider," he said. Just before he walked out he held the door open. "Care to have a drink with an old school buddy?"
I mumbled something intelligible under my breath. Was he ever going to leave? But from what we just talked about, I could use something strong. I stood up, and walked over to him, gesturing with my hand in an "after you" sort of wave. He smiled and laughed at that, and we walked over to my booth. I saw Bill over in the corner next to the stage, Lorena on his arm. She was always here with him, that bitch. If I had any say in it, she would be on the next flight to the other side of the country. I couldn't stand her for the life of me.
One of the waitresses, Elvira; the one that I liked the most for the past few weeks came over. Being new, I felt it in my right to...break her into the way of things around here. She swayed her hips to the music as she came over, and placed my drink in front of me before turning to ask Victor what he wanted. He ordered a rum and coke, and turned to me as Bill made his appearance at the table. He took a chair from one of the nearby tables and sat it facing towards us. Lorena was still with him, and he quickly had her leave, stating he needed her to finish some documents in his office. She looked upset to be dismissed, but didn't fight him about it. She was a smart girl.
"Bill," Victor said, nodding his head in his direction.
"Victor."
Elvira then came back with Victor's drink and also one for Bill. She gave me a flirty look, that would have made me reciprocate, but I found myself not wanting to. Not even the compulsion to do so. Very strange...
"So Bill, Eric tells me he has changed. Is this true?" Victor asked Bill innocently, and Bill almost choked on his drink. I grimaced at the thoughts of what he was no doubt thinking. Has Eric changed? Up until two days ago, he was still a man whore, but now? I think he can thank a woman for that. But not any woman, the woman... I shook my head, wondering where that thoughts had come from. Sookie was beautiful, but I didn't have only one woman. I wasn't the settling type, and she knew that from the start. But there was something undoubtedly different? Good? about her, that drew me to her. As though she could hear me thinking about her, there she stood in the doorway of my bar, walking in and looking around, no doubt for me. When she locked eyes with me, her face turned a light pink, and she licked her lips. Fuck me sideways; she was a fucking sex kitten. I wanted to drag her into my office from just that one innocent look, and make her scream my name in throes of passion. I quickly realized that she was a creature to be worshiped, and wished the realization had come quicker.
She walked over, and I held out my hand to her, which she took in hers. I gave her a gentle squeeze and moved over so she could take a seat next to me. I wrapped my arm around her waist, and forgot there were other people at the table. I leaned in and gave her a peck on the lips, letting them brush against hers for a moment, wanting her to need me as much as I craved her.
"Hi," she said as she pulled back, her breathing coming out uneven. I smiled and leaned in once again, but that was the time we were interrupted with someone clearing their throat.
I looked over to see Bill sitting there, minding his own business like a good cousin would, but Victor looked like he just caught me with my hand in the cookie jar. His lips were turned into an evil grin, one I had seen before. "And who is this?" he purred, looking at her good. His eyes rested on her ample breasts a little too long for my liking.
"This is Sookie. Sookie, Victor," I said by way of greeting. Victor looked at her like she was a piece of meat, while Sookie looked back at him warily. I was happy she wasn't quick to trust him. He was a snake, and as bad as they come. This coming from one himself, my mind commented, and I smacked my head with my free hand. Like that was going to help me any right now.
"Where is Pam?" I asked her, and that received a sort of envious look from Victor. I guess he thought I was with both of them.
"She had to go somewhere to meet someone that I have never met before," she said sheepishly, then leaned in closer to me. "Actually, I wanted to be alone with you a little longer. She is coming here in an hour."
"That is always a good thing," I said, kissing her nose, causing her to give me a gentle look. It made my stomach feel strange things. Things that I pushed aside at one time, that I ignored growing up.
"Is this your girlfriend, Northman?" Victor asked as though it was a disgusting topic. Sookie was the one that spoke up. Thank god she did, cause I really didn't know what we were.
"We are seeing each other, yes."
"For how long now?" he asked, and I wondered why he thought he had the right to. He was no friend of mine, not anymore. Bill took that moment to change the conversation, thankfully asking about Felipe and how the business was going between the two of them.
"I am his second, I guess you could call me. He is the main owner, and I only own a third of it, though it is going well. I mainly take care of the manager duties, and he does the rest. I will tell him you send your regards if you would like William," he replied.
"That will be fine. If you will excuse me, I have something that needs to be taken care of," Bill said, glancing over to me. I nodded that he could go to Lorena, and gripped Sookie tighter to my side. She was sipping her drink, ignoring Victor from across the table, listening to the music while her hand rested on my knee. It was so natural, and I welcomed the feelings it brought to life in me.
I glanced in Victor's direction, and shot him a look. His eyes were focusing on Sookie's chest, and while she wasn't paying attention to him, I still didn't like him looking at my woman that way. "Is there anything else I can assist you with tonight Victor," I seethed in his direction, happy that he, for once, looked abashed for a few minutes. He had to remember what happens when he tries to take my toy away, especially when he had tried it a few times before.
He winked. "No, I believe you will call me with your decision. I need to get back to the club anyway," he said, standing and holding out a hand to Sookie. She placed her hand in his, and she shivered beside me when his lips touched her palm. "A pleasure meeting you Sookie. Perhaps we will meet again in a more… pleasurable situation." Before I could say anything in response, he was walking out the door. I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding.
"Eric, I don't like that man," Sookie said beside me, and she looked so lost. I pulled her tighter into my chest, and enjoyed it when she laid her head on my shoulder with ease.
"I don't either." I kissed the top of her head, and we sat there, unaware of the eyes surrounding us. The eyes of other women that were becoming more and more heated as they watched us. They all looked at Sookie with contempt and I made a mental note not to let her go to the ladies room by herself, or else there might be a cat fight ensuing.
"Will you dance with me?" she asked quietly, and I nodded, happy to have any chance to have her body close to mine. I waved my hand at the DJ to play a slow song, one that I thought was good for the moment. I had a list of them for him, and I had added this one on the day I met her. When I saw her again, I knew we would dance to this, and she would be in my bed. The melody entered the speakers and waved through the bar. All the women there sat up straight and watched as I stood, took Sookie's hand in mine, and led her out to the dance floor. I pulled her close to me, and was thrilled when her hands came up and rested on my chest, fistingher hands on my shirt, breathing deeply. I could feel myself becoming aroused as she pressed her body's full length to mine, one leg between mine. and I started moving us along the dance floor. She moved gracefully with me as I swayed her along withthe music. I lay my head on the top of hers, enjoying the moment between us. It was in that second that I knew, without a doubt, she had me ruined for all others, and as much as it would hurt everything I had built in the past years, and as much as it be bad for business, I wanted her. I wanted her to want me too. She tilted her head and kissed my neck softly, and I groaned from the contact. She was going to be the death of me, and at that moment, I really didn't care.
When we finally parted we walked Sookie uncomfortable back over to the booth, and there was another person sitting there as well. Pam was making her appearance after all. Sookie went over and slid in the booth across from her, making me smile inwardly. She wanted to sit next to me and not her friend. Since when did I become a boy with a schoolgirl crush? I scooted in next to her, and she leaned into my embrace once more as my arm wrapped around her small waist. She was becoming a distraction for me, but not an unwelcome one.
"Look at you two, all cozy like. And here I thought you only knew each other a few days," she teased Sookie, and she made a move to lean away from me. I turned and glared at Pam. If she did anything to make around me, and not wanting to be close, she was going to regret opening her mouth.
"I think the bar is calling for you," I said, trying to hint that her presence was ruining the moment between us. This woman was becoming insufferable the more time I was around her. I wondered who that reminded me of...
"Oh, I think I am fine right here, master," she sneered, taking a sip of her drink.
I continued giving her a hateful look, hoping she would get the point and run off, but she only stared back. I was becoming frustrated and Sookieseemedto notice. She downed the last bit of her drink, sucking a piece of ice into her mouth.
"I think we need to get going anyway. I need to call my publisher before I go to bed, and it's getting late," Sookie said, and Pam nodded.
"Yes, Sophie wouldn't want you to take forever to call her. You know how impatient she is," she commented, her face turning into a bland look. This woman was hard to read, but something about her made me want to like her. Both these women were becoming pains in my ass, but only one of them I really didn't mind.
"Yes, yes," Sookie said, nodding her head, "that is true. I will have to call her from my phone on the way home to tell her I am going to call her." Sookie looked up, and had a smirk on her face. "No, my assistant will call her."
Pam groaned, taking the last gulp of her drink. "Lets get that over with then." She stood and waited for Sookie to get up and follow her out.
I reluctantly got out of the booth, but held her close to me still. Something about her made me want to always hold her. She wasn't weak or dainty, but I felt safer myself having her in my arms. I was becoming a sap for sure. "Will you call me when you are done?" I asked her, and she nodded.
"As soon as I can," she said, reaching up on her tiptoes, and kissing my nose. Without another word, she walked out of my arms, and out the door with Pam.
The other women around the bar took that as their chance to flock, and show themselves on the dance floor, hoping I would be looking and ask them to go out back with me. Filthy, disgusting creatures, who now held no desire from me. I wanted only one woman, and she left to go call someone. When did this happen? When did I go from wanting to bed her one minute, to actually caring for her? I had no clue, but I was sure Bill might know. I got up to head over to his office when my phone suddenly beeped. I had a text message, and it was from Sookie.
'I miss you already'
I was so fucked.