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I’m a little nervous about Pam’s idea for Eric and I to attend a movie premiere together, but she insists that it’s going to be a mostly casual affair so I don’t have to worry about getting a ball gown or something. I’m not suiting up for the Oscars or anything. That takes a little pressure off, but not much. Being friends with Eric has prepared me, at least a little, for being around other famous people. He’s just a person like anyone else, and it’s the same with any other celebrity. Pam’s sending us to a movie that’s supposedly making a buzz with the Sundance people. I’m not really sure what that means, but I’m sure Eric can explain it to me.

Take two on the soup works out much better and I’m able to keep that down. I’ve gotten used to going to bed around nine, so when it gets to be close to eight, I start to get a little sleepy. Eric and I are just sitting together on the couch, watching TV when I start to nod off a little bit.

I jerk awake, which startles him.

“Sorry,” I apologize. “I should probably go up to bed. I’m usually asleep by now back home.”

“It’s okay,” he says. “Go on to bed, I’ll be up in a few hours for the sex.”

I laugh and then take a chance by leaning over to kiss his cheek. “Goodnight, Eric.”

“I’m totally serious,” he smiles up at me.

“Oh I believe you. That just reminds me to lock my door,” I tease, and then turn to leave the room.

“That’s just another obstacle if you have to puke in the middle of the night,” he reminds me.

“Damn. Guess I’ll have to leave it open then…” I smile at him over my shoulder and head for the stairs.

Up in my room I change into my nightgown and then go across the hall to the bathroom so I can brush my teeth and wash my face. Once I’m settled on the bed, I grab my What to Expect book from my bag and flip open to where I left off on the fourth month. It’s kind of exciting, the things that will be happening soon. I’m hoping the morning sickness will start to fade, but Dr. Ludwig has warned that may not happen.

Maybe that’s my real punishment for fucking Jake’s best friend.

I push that thought out of my mind and read until I can’t keep my eyes open. Once I have my page marked in the book, I set it on the nightstand and turn off the light. I sink down against the pillows and turn onto my side, moving around until I find a comfy position. Not long after that, I’m sound asleep.

I’m not sure how long I’m asleep for before I feel the mattress sag a little and heat at my back. Then there’s a hand on my leg, slowly moving up under my nightgown. I knew Eric was serious, but I’m still surprised he’s following through.

“Sookie,” he whispers in my ear, and kisses my neck.

“Mmm sleeping,” I whisper, although I doubt it’ll do me much good with the way his hand is moving.

“You could be having much more fun,” he says as his hand reaches my panties.

“No, you could be having much more fun,” I smile and slowly roll onto my back.

“It’s not fun unless you’re having fun too,” he smiles down at me and dips his hand into my underwear.

I close my eyes when his fingertips find my clit and then his head dips down to kiss my neck. My body reacts to him immediately, and my legs part all on their own without me having to tell them to. It’s almost embarrassing how quickly my body gets with the program where he’s concerned. If he wasn’t such a dillhole to me before I might seriously consider wanting something more than just being co-parents. Of course that would mean he’d have to want to be a full fledged adult and form an emotional attachment to someone. Oh, and God forbid he make a commitment to something other than his penis, but whatever…

Eric kisses his way to my lips and I kiss back, slipping my tongue into his mouth as soon as I get the chance. He shifts on top of me and my legs open wider to make room for him. His fingers keep moving expertly until he’s able to get two of them into me. I moan and my back arches. I tug on his hair a little to break the kiss so I can breathe, but Eric doesn’t seem to mind it one bit.

He smiles and asks, “Can I rip your panties off?”

“I’d prefer if you didn’t. I didn’t bring spares,” I tell him.

“I’ll buy you more,” he says, and then I feel the fabric being ripped away.

I gasp, but don’t admonish him for it. Before I can say anything else his lips are back on mine. His hips flex against me, letting me know that he’s getting as excited as I am, and I wonder if he’s brought a condom with him because there’s no way we’re having sex without one. If he didn’t do such a high volume and I knew for sure he was clean, then I wouldn’t need it. But since I don’t know for sure, and I’m betting he doesn’t either, I’m not willing to take any chances. I push his shorts down and reach between us to stroke him. I don’t get very far before he’s pulling back and tugging at my nightgown to get it up over my hips.

I have to sit up so he can get it the rest of the way off of me, and as soon as it’s sailing through the air he’s diving face first into my almost obscene amount of cleavage.

“Not too rough,” I tell him. “They’re sore.”

“Sorry,” he mutters, and goes easier on them.

I fall back against the pillows again and after another ten minutes or so of making out and pawing at each other, I’m sure we’re both ready for more. Hell, I think Eric was ready for more when he got into bed with me.

I pull away from the kiss we’ve got going and whisper, “Condom?”

“Yeah,” he says, and reaches over to the other nightstand to grab it.

Eric ends up on his back so he can get the condom on, and I decide to climb on top of him. Once he’s ready I lift myself up and he positions his cock just right. I slide down on it easily and brace my hands on his chest. His eyes roll a bit, but I don’t take my time with things. I’m not rough, but I don’t want to be doing this all night either. I lift up and down, finding a good rhythm quickly. I put his hands on my chest, and he gently plays with my nipples while I ride him.

To change things up, I swivel my hips a few times and then switch to rocking back and forth. Eric groans and then rolls me under him.

“You are so fucking sexy,” he practically growls in a sex voice as he starts to thrust into me faster.

I want to tell him that he’s just horny and I’m willing a body, but I keep it to myself. My hips rise to meet his and a short time later I feel his thumb moving between us, trying to get me to come before him. It’s definitely helping. My muscles start to flutter and I feel the pressure building in my belly. My nails dig into his back and my hips move a little faster.

“That’s it,” he pants, and kisses my neck. Apparently Eric likes to talk dirty during sex. “I love the way your pussy feels when you come, Sookie. Do it for me.”

Apparently my body likes being ordered around by him because I do. I know I scratch his back and his name definitely leaves my lips loudly, and my hips stop moving as the pleasure works its way through me.

Eric lets out a noise that’s a cross between a grunt and a groan and thrusts into me a half dozen more times as he finds his own release.

It scares me a little bit to think this way, but I could get used to this.

Eric lingers on top of me for a minute, but then slowly pulls out of me and rolls to the side to get rid of the condom. I lay there panting, trying to get my heart out of my throat. I feel like I need another shower.

“You’re fantastic,” Eric tells me when he lays back down.

“Thanks,” I smile a little. “You’re pretty great yourself.”

“Do you ever find it weird that people compliment each other after sex?” he asks. “You got me off in less than ten minutes, I’d say you’re okay to assume you’re good at it.”

“Is less than ten minutes good?” I ask him.

“It can be. Tonight, it’s a damn good thing,” he says. “Some girls just want to make it take forever because they want to drag it out, and that’s annoying. Sometimes I just want to get off.”

It shouldn’t, but for some reason that last comment bothers me. Fuck, this is exactly why trying to have casual sex with him repeatedly is a bad idea. But since I don’t really know what I’m thinking or feeling right now I just keep quiet and wonder if he’s planning on sticking around. Under normal circumstances there would probably be snuggles and we’d fall asleep, but that’s not what this is.

For him, this is just about getting off.

“You okay?” he asks after a moment.

“Yeah, just tired,” I say as convincingly as I can. I’m not awake enough to have a long discussion, and my gut tells me Eric wouldn’t want to have that talk either.

“Alright,” he says, and kisses me one more time. “I’m going back to my room. I’ll see you in the morning.” He climbs out of bed, and then says, “Oh, and Stan gets here around nine tomorrow, so you might want to be wearing a bra or something. I’m not sure how much you like to have hanging out around people.”

“Thanks for the warning.”

“Yup,” he says. “Goodnight.”

“Night,” I say, and roll onto my side.

I hear my bedroom door close and as soon as I hear his close, the tears start. I’m not disappointed that he left, exactly. I think it’s just closeness that I miss in general. What we’re doing isn’t about closeness, but I can already tell that it’s going that way for me and that’s a problem. Shit, shit, shit.

xXx

I get to sleep until about five before the morning sickness starts. It seems Damian is an early riser, too. I spend a good half hour in the bathroom throwing up before I get to drag my ass back to bed. I go back to sleep for about two hours, and then head downstairs for breakfast. A bowl of cereal with a banana sliced into it seems like a safe option, so I sit at the breakfast bar and eat before going back upstairs to put my bikini on. I grab my pregnancy book and sunglasses, and then head out to the pool to take advantage of it.

I’m getting to the sixth month when Stan pops his head out of the house to let me know he’s arrived. I wave to him, but then he goes back inside to do whatever it is he does for Eric on a daily basis. I read for a while longer, and then decide to go for a swim. I’m on my fourth lap when the nausea hits so I get out of the pool just to be safe. My towel from the day before is still on the chair, so I wrap it around me and dry off a little before going inside. My stomach turns as I’m going up the stairs, and I make it to the bathroom just in time.

Since his bedroom door is still closed, I’m sure Eric is still sleeping. Twenty minutes later I’m okay to get in the shower, so that’s what I do. We’re supposed to be going to some place called Joan’s On Third for lunch today. I’ve never heard of it, but according to Pam it’s a place that’s pretty well monitored by photographers. I tell myself it’s good practice for the premiere on Friday. After my shower, I towel dry my hair and put my makeup on.

I get dressed in my room. I wear my black leggings with a cute mauve top that’s not too clingy and has these pearly white circle appliques up near the neckline. There’s no cleavage involved with this top, and that’s quite a feat given my condition lately. I put on the flats I was wearing the day before and then pull my hair back so it won’t be in my face all day long. I’m just coming out of my room all dressed for the day when Eric comes staggering out of his room, scratching his balls.

Classy.

“Oh hey,” he says. “Morning.”

“Morning.” I close my bedroom door and head for the stairs.

“You look nice,” he says as he follows behind me.

“Thanks. You look… sleepy,” I say as we walk downstairs.

“You wore me out last night.”

“What’d you guys do last night?” Stan asks. Shit.

“Oh, uh, we went for a long walk,” I say. That’s true, at least.

“Uh huh,” Stan says with a smirk. “I know that look on his face. He got lucky.”

“Sorry man,” Eric says, but he doesn’t sound very sorry.

Stan looks back and forth between us, or at least that’s what I think he does from my peripheral vision since I can’t seem to look up at him. Then he turns and goes off to do whatever he’s supposed to be doing. I sigh and continue on to the kitchen. I can practically feel Eric gloating behind me.

There are piles of mail on the breakfast bar now. I move right past them to the fridge to get myself some juice, and Eric grabs the coffee to make a pot. Stan moves around the house like a ninja and doesn’t stop to chit chat with us. I don’t know if that’s because he’s just busy, or if he’s pissed about what happened.

“What time do you want to go out?” Eric asks me.

“I’m ready whenever, so it’s up to you.”

“Alright, I’ll go up and get dressed,” he says, and leaves the kitchen with his coffee.

EPOV

I drive us to Joan’s and hold Sookie’s hand as we walk in. It’s not a typical restaurant where you sit down and get menus. You order it like fast food, then go wait at a table. I like it that way though, and the food is excellent. Sookie finds a soup she thinks she’ll like, and I order a sandwich. We go to a table outside, which I’m sure will please Pam, and are brought a bottle of water and cups.

“Just so you know, we’re probably getting photographed right now,” I tell Sookie.

“Yeah, I figured,” she says, her eyes shifting to where there’s a group of photographers with their cameras trained our way.

“Not even just them,” I say. “They like to park up and down this street and take pictures from their cars. Seeing them out doesn’t happen too often.”

“That’s… really fucking creepy.”

“Pretty much.”

“Don’t you get sick of it?” she asks. “I never understood why anyone would care if you’re buying groceries or going out for coffee. I have more important things to do than worry about what gym you’re coming out of.”

“Yeah, I do. I wish it wasn’t like this, but it’s part of this career whether I like it or not. I’d happily support that changing, but as long as people keep buying tabloids it won’t.”

“Lame-os,” Sookie says, and sips her water. “On the bright side, at least it’s a pretty day.”

“Yeah it is. I like being able to sit outside to eat here. Can’t do that much in Louisiana.”

“Not unless you want a side of mosquitoes to go with your meal.”

“Exactly,” I smile. “Did you sleep alright last night?”

“Until a big horny giant invaded my bed,” she smiles a little.

“You liked it,” I grin.

“Never said I didn’t.”

“I liked it too. Might do something like that again when we get back from lunch.”

“You go right ahead, but I don’t know if I’ll be up in bed when you get there,” she smirks, and leans back in her chair.

“That’s just mean.”

“How is that mean? Mean would be parading around your house naked and still not letting you get any,” she says.

“You pretty much already are because I picture you naked most of the time.”

“That’s your problem, buddy,” she says without any sympathy. “Man, it’s going to suck for you when I leave.”

“I’ll just fly back to get laid,” I shrug.

“Seriously?”

“I mean if it becomes unbearable, yeah.”

“Wow.”

“You’re not surprised, are you?”

“Uh, yeah.”

“Why?” I chuckle.

“Because that’s a long, and expensive, way to go just for sex.”

“I have frequent flier miles,” I grin. “And it’s not just any sex, it’s fucking fantastic sex.”

“So it’s not just about convenience then.”

“What do you mean?”

Sookie leans forward and speaks softly. “I just figured you were interested because it’s your only option right now.”

“That’s not it,” I say. “Sex with you is awesome enough to want more than once. Flying to you to get some is probably a little more about you being my only option, but if the sex sucked I probably wouldn’t do it.”

“Got it,” she nods and leans back in her chair again.

“Are you okay with that, or am I being an ass again?”

“No, you’re not being an ass,” she says.

“Okay,” I say, and then our food comes.

xXx

I decide to show Sookie around some of my favorite places to shop and end up buying her a purse I saw her admiring. She’s at the front of the store, looking at shoes, and I pick up the purse and ask the shopgirl to wrap it up for me. It’s Chanel, so Sookie might kill me, but I think she deserves it for putting up with me.

“See anything you like?” I ask when I join her again.

“Lots of things,” she says with a smile. “All way beyond my price range.”

“Just wait until Pam gets you here with my credit card,” I chuckle.

“Oh, you don’t need to–”

“You’re going to that premiere because of me, requiring you to buy new clothes, because of me. I’ll pay,” I insist.

She debates with herself for a minute before saying, “Okay.”

The shopgirl comes up with the wrapped up purse in a bag, and hands it to me, along with my card.

“Here you go, sir,” she smiles.

“Thank you,” I tell her, and then hand the shopping bag to Sookie.

“What is this?” she asks nervously, like she thinks it might explode.

“That purse you were admiring,” I smile.

Her jaw drops. “Eric, you didn’t have to do that,” she says, but digs into the bag anyway. “Thank you,” she smiles when she sees it nestled inside.

“It’s worth it to see you smile like that,” I say, and it’s complete honesty. I haven’t seen her smile so big since Jake was still here.

She lowers the bag and kisses my cheek, but then pulls back quickly. She’s got a little bit of a blush on her cheeks and she quickly turns and heads for the door. I follow her and take her hand again once we’re outside.

“You ready to go home?” I ask.

She nods, but doesn’t verbalize anything.

We walk back to my car and I open the door for her and help her in before going to the driver’s side. She’s quiet on the drive back to the house, and I don’t try to push for her to say anything. When we get to the house, I go into the kitchen to go through the piles of mail Stan made for me that morning.

Once I get through it all I realize Sookie hasn’t come back down from her room yet. I wage a little battle with myself, but ultimately decide to go check on her. I pause outside her room and knock on the door gently.

“Sook?”

I hear her sniffle and then say, “Come in.”

“Are you okay?” I ask as I open the door. She’s sitting on the bed with a box of tissues in her lap.

“Yeah, just having one of my moments,” she says. “I’ll be out in a few minutes.”

“Is it something I did?” I ask, and walk over to her.

“No, just the hormones,” she says, and takes a fresh tissue from the box.

“Why are they being assholes then?”

“I don’t know. It just happens.”

“Is there anything I can do?” I ask.

“Nothing you’d want to do,” she says, and sniffles again. “I’m fine, really. I’ll be laughing and sarcastic again before you know it.”

“I’ll do whatever it takes,” I smile. “I don’t like dealing with leaking women.”

That makes her smile, at least. Sookie sets the tissues aside and then asks, “How do you feel about snuggling?”

“I feel like you’ll have to show me how to do it right,” I chuckle.

“It’s a lot like last night, only you don’t put your hand in my panties,” she instructs, and lays on her side.

“I think I can manage that,” I say, and kick off my shoes before climbing up behind her. I spoon her and wrap an arm around her stomach. “Like this?”

“Perfect,” she says, and pats my hand.

“Do you feel better yet?”

“Not yet,” she says.

I’m not totally sure what the point is of snuggling. I’ve had to do it for filming before, but there’s usually dialogue to deliver and people standing around. It’s a little uncomfortable, but if it’s what Sookie needs to feel better, I’ll do my best to give it to her. She doesn’t say anything, just lays there. About fifteen minutes later I notice her breathing has become deep and even. She’s asleep.

Huh. Maybe this is the trick after all.

As carefully as I can, I remove myself from the bed. She’s still sleeping soundly, so I quietly sneak out. I don’t really have anything else to do, so I put on my gym shorts and hop on the treadmill. I’m about twenty minutes and two and a half miles into a kickass run when my phone goes off.

“Hello?” I answer it while trying to catch my breath.

“Did you enjoy your first outing together?” Pam asks.

“Yeah, it was good,” I say. “Did we do good by your standards?”

“You can be a little more affectionate with each other in the future, but it was fine,” she says.

“I held her hand, is that not good enough?”

“It’s a start.”

“I’m not going to full on PDA with her, Pam. That’s a bit too obvious.”

“Well I’m not saying throw her down on a table, although I wouldn’t blame you if you did,” she says.

“You do realize she likes dick, not pussy, right?”

“She told you this? Also, I can be extremely convincing when I want to be.”

“I knocked her up, I don’t think she has to tell me she likes dick.”

“That proves nothing,” Pam says. “My reason for calling is the ring on her left ring finger. She needs to eighty-six it.”

I know the ring she’s talking about, and I don’t want Sookie to have to get rid of it.

“Jake gave that ring to her,” I say.

“Then she needs to put it on her right hand,” Pam says.

“That’s not going to stop engagement rumors.”

“Then see if you can talk to her about not wearing it in public. If you don’t, I will,” she warns.

“Let me,” I say. It’s about Jake, she doesn’t need to hear it from Pam.

“Fine.”

“When are you coming out to take Sookie shopping?” I ask.

“The day after tomorrow.”

“Alright. Any photo ops tomorrow, or can we stay in?”

“Your choice.”

“I think we should stay in. Today was a little hard on her, I think.”

“That’s fine. I’ll see you the day after tomorrow then,” Pam says, and then grumbles. “Shit, other line. Gotta go.”

The line goes dead.

I take a deep breath and get back on the treadmill. It’s going to be a hard conversation to have when Sookie wakes up.

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