Unspoken Feelings Ch. 12

Chapter Twelve: I Promise

~ “I can’t believe you’re actually serious about this,” Godric was still stunned by his brother’s declaration.

“Why is that?” Eric asked as he began putting away the tea set. His sister was still holding her cup to her mouth in shock.

His siblings both sputtered a moment before Pam pointed out, “You’re leaving for college in three months!”

“So?” Eric snatched Pam’s teacup from her hand and put it on the serving tray to return to the kitchen.

Pam was about to continue her protests, but Godric placed a hand on her shoulder, “Eric’s always done exactly what he’s wanted. If he’s made up his mind, Sookie’s the only one that can stop him now.”

“Are you guys that worried?” Eric demanded.

“For Sookie,” they replied in unison.~

Thankfully, Eric had achieved what he wanted out of that fatiguing conversation a week ago. Godric and Pam had decided to spend the following weekend in New Orleans, and Eric had the house to himself. With a little help in the kitchen before they left, Eric had a pleasant dinner set up when Sookie rang the bell.

“Hi,” Eric greeted her at the door nervously. She tilted her head at his worried expression, but still gave one of her dazzling smiles. “I’m glad Godric could drop you off before they left for their trip.”

“Why aren’t you going?”Sookie asked as she came into the house.

“Because I’m going off to college soon, and I want to spend as much time with you as possible before that happens,” Eric explained as they walked to the dining room together.

“Not eating in the kitchen?”Sookie asked as she saw the place settings.

“No,” he was growing more and more nervous, and Sookie wanted to soothe his tension.

She wished she could say that he didn’t have to go through all the trouble of a romantic dinner just to have sex with her. She was ready! She was primed! Let’s do this! She excitedly thought.

Eric pulled her chair out for her and Sookie glanced back to make sure he wasn’t about to keel over before she sat down. He was up and down from his chair a half dozen times before they even managed to cut into their dinner.

“Eric, calm down,” Sookie comforted. “You don’t have to try so hard!”

“Can I get the hard part out of the way now?” Eric asked suddenly.

Sookie’s eyes widened. What? Is he going to push all the dishes away and do me on the dining room table? She wondered but was a bit aroused with the notion. So, with mixed expectations, Sookie nodded her head in agreement.

Letting out a relieved breath, Eric stood from his seat and came over to Sookie. When he lifted her from her chair, her heart began to race. “One day, I’ll do this more formally, but for now, I only need you.”

Sookie was stuck on the word ‘formally.’ Is he planning on calling in a group of witnesses and a notary over our sex life?

“Sookie, it’s not much, but it’s what I have right now,” Eric told her as he took her hand in his own. “You don’t have to wear it until after you graduate, but will you accept my ring and agree to be my wife?”

His girlfriend’s jaw slung open in surprise as Eric’s free hand opened a small, black box dexterously. Inside was a ring far grander than anything she would have expected ever to receive. Wait, this whole night has nothing to do with sex!? Sookie stared at him in wonder.

“Sookie, I know this thing doesn’t look like it weighs much, but it feels like a boulder right now,” Eric whispered. “I need you to answer.”

YES! She frantically nodded as she pushed her left hand at him and brought her right palm to her mouth in an attempt to stifle her sob.

Eric let out a long breath as he slid his ring onto her finger. She immediately grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled him in for a deep kiss. “Dinner,” he mumbled against her mouth, and she pulled away to shake her head ‘no.’ Sex was happening, and it was happening this instant!

Still holding the front of his shirt, Sookie led Eric toward the stairs, but it was obvious that whatever nerves had been wracking her boyfriend- No! Fiancé! She thought delightedly- were no longer an issue.

Before her foot could touch on the first step, Eric scooped her up and began bounding up the stairs. Sookie grinned as she clung to him excitedly. When they arrived at his bedroom, Sookie felt her first burst of nervousness as she was laid out on the bed. With only a few crummy romance novels to guide her, she was finally feeling the distance between her level of experience and Eric’s.

Mercifully, Eric merely layered himself over her and began kissing her deeply. Okay, I know how to do this. Go with the flow. Pretend it’s like learning to dance. Let him lead and pay attention how to follow-OH! His hand cupped her breast and gave her nipple a sharp tug. The sensation caught Sookie off guard as having her breasts played with didn’t typically send a shock wave to her sex, but this time, the edge of roughness caused a deep thrum to echo inside her womb.

Eric grinned against her mouth, finally having unlocked the attention her breasts needed to stir a response. The tempting globes weren’t overly sensitive, and that meant he could be firmer than he was accustomed.

As his hand squeezed and plucked at her breast, Sookie found her hips wanted to move as well. Just as she was beginning to calm down, Eric pulled away and smiled at her. At her curious look, he gave her a quick peck on the mouth before rising and heading to the CD player. He pushed play on the tape deck and began padding back to the bed while removing his shirt.

Sookie’s lip found its way between her teeth as she watched his bare chest appear. She’d only seen him a few times with his shirt off, and the most recent time had been when they went swimming while staying in Texas. The sight was a glorious one to behold, and Sookie felt the last of her nerves melt away. Pretty soon that tempting torso would be mashed against hers, and his perfect butt would be within her hands’ reach. Her fingers itched to give his rear a good squeeze, but she remained still on the bed as he returned to her with another kiss.

Once more she was beneath him, and their kisses began anew as Jimi Hendrix sung about being Bold as Love. Over the past months, Eric’s mixtape had become the soundtrack of their lives, and seventeen songs that crooned through their experiences together played an infinite loop in Sookie’s head.

“I love you, Sookie. I love you,” Eric told her as he began lifting the hem of her sundress. Sookie arched so he could push it from under her bottom and then sat up so it could come over her head. When she sat in front of him in nothing but her lacy, soft pink underwear set, Eric knew that his fiancée had arrived with expectations for the evening. She’s my fiancée! He thought happily.

As Eric reached for her, Sookie took a steadying breath. When his hand snaked behind her, she had no time to be curious because the clasp of her bra immediately came undone. I guess those jokes about men and bras is not a universal truth, Sookie realized as she sat bare-breasted in front of Eric.

“You have no idea how long I’ve wanted to suck and nibble on these,” he told her as he leaned in to do just that. Admittedly, Sookie found it a lot more enjoyable than she thought she would. His touch was solid, and she felt pleasant little aches shoot from her nipples once more to her sex as his mouth sucked one nipple and his fingers tugged the other.

Soft noises began to tumble from Sookie’s lips, and she found herself laying on the bed as Eric licked and sucked his way down to the border of her panties. With a short hesitation to give her time to stop him, Eric proceeded to remove the last scrap of her clothing. Sookie glanced down at him as he pushed her legs open and groaned pleasurably as his tongue began to caress her pussy. She reached down to bury her fingers in his hair, and her knees bowed a bit wider as she enjoyed the building tension in her womb.

She could feel her climax growing after a short while. She wasn’t sure how long Eric had been licking and pushing his fingers inside her, but she knew that the edge of her orgasm was on the horizon.

“Ahh,” her mouth uttered as she found the precipice, but before she could tumble over, Eric pulled away.

“Wait for me,” Eric whispered as he ran his hands up and down her thighs. “I don’t think I’ll be able to last long… It’s been a while,” he confessed as he began removing the remainder of his clothes. Sookie panted as she felt her proximity to bliss grow more distant, but the sight of Eric’s cock as he dropped his jeans and boxers caused a whole new pulse inside her.

Oh, she stared at the beast that had been poking her for months beneath the cover of his clothes. Okay, he’s had other girls take it. I can take it… Right? She found herself breathing harder as anxiety and anticipation ran rampantly through her body. Delving deep, Sookie found her resolve, and the part of her that had no fear.

Sookie reached for him as she found her confident side, and took him boldly into her hand. Eric was surprised as she began to stroke him, and secretly thanked God he had the presence of mind to jerk off earlier in the day.

Her exploratory touches and intense observation filled Eric with a combination of affection and amusement as he watched her explore him. Relief came as he realized she wasn’t getting nervous.

Oh, God, stop staring at me! Sookie thought as she glided her hand up and down over his cock. His stunned gaze was making her self-conscious, and she was starting to worry he wasn’t liking what she was doing. With the only course of action, she could think of, Sookie put her hand above her eyes as if she were blocking out the sun. Phew, just the loss of him in her peripheral eased some of her jitters.

She focused her attention back to her exploration. A bead of fluid had begun to drip from the tip of her fiancé’s shaft, and Sookie ran her thumb over it, curious about the consistency. Her thumb glided over the slit, and she was captivated by the spongy head of his cock. As she grew more emboldened without feeling his gaze on her, her stroke became more self-assured. Then, without warning, Eric’s hand took hers and made her release him. Oh! Was I doing something wrong? She softly moaned as she was drawn back until she lay on the bed.

“Sookie,” Eric’s voice was considerably lower than usual, “I don’t want to rush you, but you’re driving me crazy. If you keep stroking it like that, I’m never going to get inside of you!” His hand slid between her thighs to pump his fingers a bit longer into the space he wanted to explore most of all. “I think tugging on me got you even wetter.” Sookie’s cheeks glowed at his observation.

As his fingers dipped in and out of her passage, she felt the heel of his palm rubbing carefully over her clit. Sookie found the sensation to be a teasing one and shimmied her hips in search of a more fulfilling experience.

Sookie never found the angle she was looking for because Eric’s hand left the space between her legs so that his hips could settle in their place. As his body lowered over hers, and his arms formed a cage on either side of her head, Sookie felt his length come to rest against her pelvis.

“Feeling alright?” Eric asked, and for the first time since his proposal, Sookie could feel his nervousness. For some reason that made her feel better. Knowing that he was uncertain made her feel like he had more consideration for her. Not preoccupied with what he was doing, Eric was concerned about pleasing her. He wanted this experience to be perfect for her, and at that moment it was.

Sookie nodded as she raised her knees and gently pinched Eric’s hips with them. He smiled down at her and captured her mouth for another kiss. One of his arms reached between them, and she felt him tracing the head of his shaft against her slit. The way it glided smoothly against her opening made Sookie relax further. That soft, liquid sensation assured her that they were meant to join like this.

Tilting her hips, she felt him begin to slip inside and instinctively held her breath. His hand was back at her clit, rubbing gently as just the head of his cock slid in and out at the very edge of her opening.

“Mmm,” she simpered as a breath of air escaped.

More of her juices began to coat him as he rocked and rubbed. His movements became more comfortable, and his stroke became deeper until he reached a point that made Sookie let out a surprised ‘ah!’ and grasp him.

“I got you,” Eric assured her as the arm by her head bent to support him on his forearm and press their bodies closer. “Are you alright?” Sookie nodded with a deep breath. “Do you want me to stop for a minute?” he asked, and she shook her head. “You’re sure?” She nodded and used her knees to give him a gentle tug. Soon he was buried to the hilt inside her and sought her lips for another long, calming kiss.

Eric remained relatively still as he began rubbing her just above where they joined. Sookie was breathing normally again and was staring at him wondrously. She wanted to tell him how good he felt, how good he made her feel. Every little movement inside her was easily distinguishable, and Sookie desired to hold him there always.

“I’m going to start moving, Sookie,” Eric whispered as his hips began to draw away. Sookie moaned from the loss, but let out an approving noise as his member slid back in. “Give me your hand,” the love of her life encouraged as he stopped rubbing her to reach for her right hand. Sookie opened her eyes as she felt her arm raise and bashfully watched as Eric ran his tongue over her fingertips, “Show me the right way to touch you, Sookie,” he told her as he placed her hand over her pleasure point and waited with intense curiosity.

Eric sighed with a bit of relief as Sookie’s hand went to work on her clit. The loss of the task made it easier to concentrate on keeping his orgasm in check. It was hot to watch her rubbing herself, but he could enjoy it with a more detached marvel. I got this, he thought with an essence of alleviation.

Just as Eric was able to start enjoying himself, and discovered a sense of confidence that he wouldn’t go off too early, Sookie surprised him by twisting her hips beneath him as if she were trying to get away. Eric looked at her face worriedly and found her looking away with a glazed, panting expression. Her walls tightened down on him, her hips arched harder, and Eric found his fingers digging into her hips to try and grasp onto the control that seemed so well within his reach. I don’t got this! He realized as she cried out with an orgasm and her tight, squeezing walls milked him for his climax.

“GOD, FUCK!” Eric shouted as he slammed his hips tightly against Sookie’s and let out a regretful snarl as his release shot deep inside. I’ll get better, he promised himself. She’ll loosen up, and I’ll get better, he reasoned as his cock experienced intermittent tremors that seemed to synchronize with her own.

Sookie stared dazedly up at her fiancé until her body began to calm down and she ran her hand briskly over the arm that kept him suspended above her. He seemed to realize he’d frozen above her and finally fell to his side to pull her against his chest.

“I like holding you like this,” he mumbled as he hugged her tighter. “Rub my arm for ‘yes’ and tap it for ‘no,’ okay?” She rubbed his arm. “You feeling okay.”

“Yes,” She wiggled back contentedly.

“He’s not waking up for a while,” Eric laughed. “You’ll know when he’s ready again,” he promised. “Do you hurt anywhere?”

“No.”

“I’m glad,” Eric sighed as he kissed the back of her head. “I love you, Sookie. Thank you for agreeing to marry me.”

How the heck do I respond yes or no to that! Sookie thought in bewilderment as she tried to turn over in his arms.

“No, stay just like this,” Eric whispered. “I want to tell you something important, but I can’t if you’re looking at me.” Sookie remained still as her future husband built up his nerve. “You know how I feel about your voice. You know that it’s never mattered to me how you tell me your feelings so long as you do. The other day when I told you that I loved you, and I saw how much it hurt you not to be able to say it back… I’m sorry… But I’m sorry that I’m not sorry for that. Sookie, have you loved me for a long time?” he asked. She rubbed his forearm slowly. “I fell in love with you on Christmas Eve,” he told her, “and it wasn’t because you made me jizz in my pants.” Sookie snorted with a laugh. “It was when we were driving, and you were listening to the tape I made for you. You fell in love with the music, and I fell in love with you.”

But so many of the songs were love songs, Sookie considered. Was he already feeling all that, and seeing my reaction just cemented what he already felt? She pulled at Eric’s arms, forcing him to hold her tighter. After he was asleep, she’d be able to sit down with a pen and paper. She’d be able to express everything she felt. She’d be able to ask all the questions to which she desired answers.

Soon.

{†}

Admittedly, it was much harder to get out of bed with Eric than to get into it. She wasn’t talking about the fact he was nearly laying on top of her, and that his weight was like an immovable boulder. Sookie was observing that his warmth was welcoming, and she wanted to stay right where she was.

Still, she had a million questions running through her head. What did he mean by not wearing his ring until after I graduate? How long does he want to be engaged before we get married? Sookie wasn’t a big fan of long engagements. If people were so unsure about their relationship, then they probably should have waited to get engaged. Then again, if financial or health-related problems come up, I can see wanting to wait it out…

Shaking off her derailed train of thought, Sookie finally shimmied out of bed and went to Eric’s desk. There was a pen resting on the table top, and she grabbed his decommissioned notebook to start her list of inquiries.

“Mmm, what are you doing? Come back to bed,” Eric mumbled as he sat up twenty minutes later. Sookie didn’t even have the chance to turn and look at him before a strong arm had snagged her around the middle and began dragging her back to bed. “What are you writing?” he blinked several times when he discovered his old physics notebook had come along with Sookie.

Sookie handed him the notebook, and he began reading, “Oh, is this like the sex page you gave me last month?” Eric asked as he pushed his pillows back to prop himself up. He pulled Sookie into his side, draping his arm over her as the other held up the questions. “‘What do I tell Gran?’,” he read. “Well, you don’t have to tell her much more than that you said ‘yes.’ I already asked her permission, and considering you’re not coming home tonight; I think she can guess what your response was.” Sookie’s eyes widened, but she was too stunned to hear that Gran didn’t object to Eric asking her to marry him. Gran had always been a somewhat idealistic blend of traditionalist and modernist.

“Let’s see, what’s next? ‘Why can’t I wear your ring until after graduation?’” Eric glanced at her. “Do you want to wear it now?” Sookie nodded. “Then wear it. I just thought you might not like being the center of attention being the only engaged woman in school.”

Oh, that makes more sense, Sookie smiled sheepishly.

“As for how long we’re engaged,” Eric considered, “I really wouldn’t mind getting married next summer, but I don’t get my inheritance until after Pam gets at least a four-year college degree. I might not make any real money until after I finish college. We were given tuition stipends, and a small allowance for the time we’re in school. It’s generous, but it’ll be tight with two people living on it.”

“How much would we need to balance?” Sookie asked. Gran had taught her to be thrifty, so she had hopes that she could keep their budget-

“Two grand a month for living expenses,” Eric told her.

Though Sookie wasn’t aware of the costs of apartments in or near New Orleans, she had a feeling that a young couple could manage three years in a one bedroom or even a studio apartment. The odds of that costing even a grand seemed unlikely. She felt confident that she could manage that sort of budget between the two of them.

Maybe I can find a job in the city. My signing is getting better, she considered as Eric read on.

“Yes, Sookie, you can definitely visit me at school. Any time,” Eric smiled at her. “You can even drop in for surprise inspections if you want.”

“I trust you.”

“Well that’s a relief,” Eric laughed. “’I want ba-‘” Eric stopped reading the next question. It wasn’t a question at all. It was a declaration. “Sookie, you’ve told me that babies are important to you.” She gestured for him to read on. “’Is five okay!?’” he asked anxiously. “You want five!?”

“At least,”she told him happily.

Eric stared at the paper as if she’d just handed him a positive pregnancy test. He knew with his split of the inheritance, being financially responsible for five children was more than within his means, but the idea of five little Eric and Sookie Juniors looking to him for love and attention was daunting.

“Uh, can we negotiate the numbers later?” Eric asked. “As long as I accede to two now?”

Sookie smiled as she reached her face upward for a kiss.“That’s fine for now,” she told him as she pulled away.

“I know we can’t plan for everything, but can we try waiting until I finish college before we start working on that?” he asked. Sookie nodded in agreement and Eric went back to reading her questions. “‘Where will we live after you finish school,’” he read. “I don’t have my heart set on any particular place. I think we can leave that one for later. Unless you had somewhere in mind? Did you want to come back to Bon Temps?” He was well aware that a few months ago, she was certain she wanted to live anywhere but Bon Temps. When she shrugged disinterestedly, Eric decided it was a conversation for much later. After all, they easily had four years to come to a decision. “Is that it for now?” Eric asked in surprise.

Sookie pointed to her ring, “With this, that’s all I need now.”

Eric smiled and threw his notebook on the ground before turning to layer himself over his fiancée. “In that case,” he whispered, “are you up for a little more celebrating?”

Her reply was to smile and pull him in for a kiss that quickly evolved into so much more. “Will you take my name when we get married?” Eric asked as he began kissing down her throat. He pulled away long enough to see her nod, and it made him smile. “I’m glad.”

Why wouldn’t I take your name, Silly? Sookie looked into Eric’s eyes with fondness as his kisses intensified. The warmth of their skin, the heat of his breath, and that excited glint in his eyes when she agreed to take his name were all seductive in their own ways.

“I would stay in this room with you all summer if we could,” Eric whispered as he gave the space between her thighs a soft nudge with his hardening member. Sookie gave him a why-am-I-not-surprised look, and he smiled. “Not just for the sex,” he laughed even as he rocked his hips and let his shaft become coated with the wetness she was producing in response to the fact he was sliding tauntingly against her clit. “I mean just being left alone to be together, and forgetting the world for a while.”

Sookie considered his point a moment. In August she would be back in school. She had no classes with Pam, and would only see her at lunchtime. Eric would be in New Orleans. For the first time since meeting the Northmans, she would be alone throughout most of her day. The thought made her sad and a little anxious.

She could do with turning off the world for a while as well. That was why she reached between them and placed the head of his cock against her opening before wrapping her limbs securely around his torso. Eric groaned as he began to slip back into his new haven. Pressing her into the bed, Eric kissed and licked her throat as he tried to find just the right angle to allow one of his hands the opportunity to explore. The young man ran his hand up and down her side. On the upstroke, he would squeeze her breast, and then he would pull her in for a tighter collision of their sexes when his fingers dug into her hip. Sookie grunted passionately at his thrusts but occasionally felt him so deeply that it was almost painful.

As their bodies smashed rhythmically to some natural beat within them, Eric wrapped his arms tightly around his future wife as he pushed in close and deep. Sookie was gasping with every thrust, and he felt like he wanted nothing more than to crawl as far inside her as possible. Eric captured her mouth and tangled his tongue with hers. His fingers dug into the softness of her body, but he just couldn’t get as close as he wanted. When his body began to tense with an impending orgasm, he felt her legs tighten around his sides. He felt her fingers twist in his hair. Finally, she was holding him how he needed, and it was that sensation which brought him over the edge. Feeling like one giant being. Feeling whole.

On to Chapter Thirteen!