Blood & Secrets: The Night Movers Vampire Series Book 2

by Helen Bright

  “Joshua does not like this sort of thing, Keeley,” Gregor stated.

  “I know that, Gregor. We have already had this discussion. But he did say that he would be willing to try a few things if I wanted to. But if Josh wanted to do this with me I would be more than willing. It wouldn’t affect any other aspect of our relationship if we did do it. He would still have the same respect for me, just like I would for him too.”

  He started pacing the room anxiously.

  “Gregor, I saw you flirting with Chloe from the flower shop the other day. She’s a nice woman from what I know of her. Are you going to ask her out?”

  He stopped pacing and looked at me before saying, “Maybe. Why?”

  “Well just say you take her out somewhere nice, for a meal maybe, and you have great conversation and find you are really attracted to her. If she agreed to come down here with you afterwards would that mean Chloe wasn’t a nice person because she came here with you?”

  “Keeley, I understand what you are saying, but I find it hard not to separate the two. Yes, I do love the company of women. I love everything about them and always treat them well. But I find that once I have a sexual relationship with a woman, and she submits to me completely, then my interest wanes.”

  “So, you are a love them and leave them type, just like my ex was with me,” I said sadly.

  “No Keeley, I am nothing like your ex. He left you pregnant and alone and even now refuses to acknowledge his child. I would never do that. I would have made sure you were cared for, both of you. You would have never wanted for anything.”

  “Except for you in my bed. I’m right aren’t I?”

  He just stared at me, as if he was trying to figure me out.

  “I enjoy getting total sexual submission from a woman; their blood always tastes so delicious when that happens. It becomes addictive, but then anything other than that starts to bore me. I lose interest quickly, and they will only ever see me as their dominant after we have sex.”

  “Gregor, women of today are much savvier and aware of all things sexual. Women work hard at their jobs, at being a housewife and bringing up kids. Don’t you think that it’s possible that this kind of sex would be an outlet for some of that hard work and stress they go through every day? We are expected to be able to do it all, so can’t we have it all and be it all too? We can be the nice girl, kind girl, and supportive girl. Mothering, generous, sexy, kinky, submissive or dominant. We should be allowed to be whatever we want to be, instead of just having one or two labels or roles in life. How many labels and roles do you have Gregor?”

  He was quiet for a moment, so I answered for him.

  “Businessman, friend, boss, generous, kind, thoughtful, dominant, that’s a good start, but there are lots more. So why do you expect women not to have more and embrace them all?”

  “I see what you have been trying to do her, Keeley, but I have been this way for so long, and I enjoy what I do. Why should I change?” he almost huffed out his defensive words.

  “Because I think you want more than that. I will be living with Josh, soon, and Freya has Daniel now. Freya and I will always be your friend, but I know that no matter how much our other halves know what you mean to us I don’t think they will appreciate us sat holding hands with you as we watch a movie for instance. But that’s something you may be able to do with Chloe, either before or after you have been down here with her.”

  “I will miss spending so much time with Freya. I wish there had been more to our relationship, but we were better as friends. I wanted to want more, and so did she. But it didn’t need to be anything more, and Freya would not have let me have free reign with my dominant nature. But I have always been very close to her, and I am starting to feel the same type of attachment with you too.

  “Sometimes immortal males can have that with a female and love them dearly, and it doesn’t need to be anything physical. I have a feeling that Sergei has the same sort of thing for Gina. Why this happens to us, I do not know, but human males do not seem to have the same kind of relationship with women.”

  “I feel that same pull towards you, Gregor. I do find it strange, and you are right in saying it wouldn’t happen to human male and female friends. It does feel deeper than friendship somehow.”

  I didn’t understand this thing that we had going on, but I found it very comforting to know that I had Gregor in my life.

  “I will try to have more of a relationship with someone, Keeley. I am very set in my ways, but for you, I will try.” He said this with a very determined voice, but the look on his face told me he didn’t think he could do it.

  But there was nothing more that I could do. Any changes that Gregor made to the way he viewed women had to come from him and no one else. Of course, that didn’t mean that Freya and I couldn’t secretly help along the way.

  “Let us go back upstairs, Keeley, and take pity on Joshua and invite him in for a drink. You will need to take a shower and dress in different clothes, though. My scent is all over you, and you were very aroused earlier. Joshua will know this.” He gave me a very sexy smile when he said this, and I was highly embarrassed.

  After showering, I joined Gregor and Josh in front of the TV. Gregor had brought up more champagne, and we all settled down together like a family would. I sat between two of the greatest guys ever on the sofa that night. I know they both cared about me in very different ways, but it gave me comfort to know that I had each of them in my life.

  Josh didn’t go back to his cottage, and neither did I stay on my own in the guest bedroom next to Gregor. Instead, Josh and I stayed together and made love until the sun began to rise. It was a beautiful experience, full of love and acceptance, and I never wanted the night to end.

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Keeley

  While going through business with Gregor in his office the next morning, I received an email telling me that the Volvo’s we had ordered were now at Luxury SUV’s ready to be delivered. I rang them and arranged that they could bring them to the Manor and take back the other vehicles that were on loan to us, at around two that afternoon.

  Gregor arranged with Yuri that he should bring back the one that he had been driving around midday. Yuri had been down to Southampton to try and track Maxim from his last known whereabouts but had returned to the Red Lion late last night. Josh said the sale of the pub was going through swiftly, and Yuri would become the new owner in around four weeks.

  Just after I had hung up the phone, it rang again. This time, it was the rehab clinic where my dad was staying. They informed me that dad’s treatment was going well and said that they had relaxed the contract stipulations they first set out, so Dad had written us a letter. They were going to post it that afternoon. They said if we would like to write one back to him and send it they would pass it on to him. I thanked them for their call and soon as I hung up I rang Dan to let him know. He didn’t answer, and I began to worry, but Gregor assured me that I was probably worrying for nothing, and they were most likely out of cell service on one of their many jaunts with Daisy.

  Gregor was probably right, but the mother in me still wanted them to have answered straight away and let me know my baby was okay.

  We also had an email detailing set meetings that were taking place in Rothley town hall starting next week. They were brought about by the request of local businesses to see what impact the new supermarket may have to the economy in the area. It was expected to have more of an impact on the food shops in Barrowfield and Rothley, rather than any other business, but all local businesses had been informed and asked if they would like to attend.

  Gregor and Alex would be going and as Gregor’s P.A it would have been beneficial for me to attend, but it was summer time and would still be daylight at seven thirty pm when the meeting was due to take place, so that ruled me out.

  I tried Dan once again at twelve thirty when Gregor and I broke for lunch and still got no answer. I called Freya and had the same again. I was anxious and fr
ustrated when Yuri arrived with fish and chips from Barrowfield chippy, but I agreed with Gregor that I would wait until after lunch until I called again.

  Josh had left to sort some things out at the Night Movers depot, so Gregor and Yuri kept me entertained by trying to teach me a little Russian. Sergei had once tried that on a night out around Barrowfield, but I didn’t trust the phrases he taught me weren’t rude in any way.

  To say hello would be ‘Zd`rastvuyte’ and how are you is ‘Kak de`la’.

  This went on for nearly an hour and my attempts at proper pronunciation had provided quite a lot of laughter for Gregor and Yuri.

  When we heard two vehicles pull up the driveway I assumed it was the SUV guys, so while Gregor and Yuri went to sort that out, I stood up to wash up and clear away our plates. Just a few minutes later I heard Josh say my name as he came into the kitchen, and at the same time, I heard the one little voice that was guaranteed to make me smile.

  “Daisy’s here,” I said, shocked and panicked that I hadn’t prepared enough to see my little girl. “Did you know they were coming today?” I asked suspiciously.

  “No Keeley. When I told Freya what you had decided yesterday, she said she would bring her over in a couple of days, but apparently Dan was upset with your decision and had wanted to talk to you about it.”

  I couldn’t believe this was happening. I hadn’t even decided what to tell Daisy yet.

  “Don’t let them in yet, please Josh. Give me a chance to think of something to say to her.”

  Josh pulled out his phone and sent a text to Freya. Seconds later he received one back, then informed me that Gregor was taking them on a walk around the secret garden to give us some time, and also so that he could get to know Dan a little better.

  I walked into the sunroom and watched Daisy through the French doors. Thank God for the special tint that Gregor had put on the windows making them safe for made vampires, because, due to this, I was able to watch as Yuri swung my little girl high in the air until he carried her on his shoulders.

  “Don’t cry, Keeley, everything will work out okay for us soon, I promise,” said Josh as he wiped my tears away.

  I wasn’t even aware that I was crying until Josh had mentioned it, but that was probably because I suddenly felt numb. Like my body was made of stone and the only way to get any feeling back was to be cuddled by the little girl on Yuri’s shoulders.

  “Are you expecting visitors?” asked Josh as the sound of vehicles pulling up the driveway seemed to jolt me out of my daydream.

  “That will be the SUV’s,” I said flatly. “I’m sure Gregor’s heard them pull up but could you just go out front and greet them until he gets there please.”

  “Of course,” Josh replied. “Do I need any paperwork?”

  “On my desk in my office, it’s all in a blue folder with the Volvo emblem on it.”

  I didn’t even turn to watch Josh leave. Instead, I looked towards the secret garden where they had taken Daisy. A few seconds later I saw Gregor and Yuri re-appear and make their way to the front of the Manor.

  I was trying to think of what I was going to say to Daisy about why she had to stay with Freya when I heard her scream, “No, please, get him off me,” and my first thought was that Maxim had attacked her.

  Without even thinking of the consequences, I opened up the French doors and ran with vampire speed towards where my daughter was still screaming. Even though I heard Josh and Gregor call my name, I didn’t stop. It only took a few seconds to reach her, but it felt like everything was happening in slow motion.

  I saw Dan and Freya holding on to Daisy’s arm as they looked up at me in horror, and when I grabbed Daisy and held her close, Freya and Dan both threw themselves on me, covering me as much as they could. But I couldn’t see what was wrong with Daisy that way, and I quickly threw them both off me, before looking again at my daughter’s arm.

  “What happened, Daisy?” I sobbed as I looked into her tear filled eyes.

  “Mummy, a buzzy wasp, stinged me, look,” she said in a baby like voice as she pointed to her arm.

  “Kiss it and make it better for me Mummy and stop it hurting,” she wailed.

  I felt something cover my head and for a moment, I couldn’t see Daisy. I reached up to throw the item away only for it to be replaced by something else before Freya said, “Stop it she’s fine, the sun isn’t affecting her, Josh.”

  As I looked around, I saw Josh picking up his and Gregor’s shirts that I had thrown on the ground and trying to cover me again with them. Gregor, Yuri, Freya and Dan just stared at me, their mouths hanging open in shock. Freya stepped forward and took the shirts away from Josh, and he finally stopped to look at me.

  “How do you feel, Keeley?” Freya asked curiously.

  “I’m alright,” I answered truthfully. “I heard Daisy scream, and I thought that maybe Maxim had come back, so I ran out to get her away from him.”

  “I don’t understand this, Keeley, I mean I’m so glad you are okay, but you shouldn’t be able to tolerate any sun at all,” said Freya as she touched my face and arms.

  I bit into my finger until it bled and told Daisy to kiss Mummies finger better because I had a poorly too. When she complained that my finger tasted funny, I took it away, satisfied she’d had a couple of drops of blood to take away the nasty looking stings that the wasp had given her.

  Sure enough, a minute later her pain was forgotten. Daisy began to tell me about all her adventures this past week with Auntie Freya and Uncle Dan. As per what usually happened when Daisy was over excited she didn’t seem to take a breath in between sentences, and everything came out jumbled up and too fast for most people to fully understand.

  Not that anyone other than me was listening to her anyway. No. They were all still staring at me until all of a sudden, Josh dropped to his knees at the side of Daisy and me.

  “It was your mother, Keeley,” he said as he looked from me to Freya. “The woman that the vampire Brandr forced to bond with him must have been your mother. He said he knew she was pregnant, but she disappeared, and he couldn’t find her, so he didn’t know whether he had a son or daughter. But she was pregnant with you and Dan. I can’t believe we didn’t think of it earlier.”

  “Josh, I don’t know what you are talking about. What has my mother got to do with this?”

  “Yeah Josh, and who is this Brandr bloke?” Asked Dan.

  “Yuri, take Daisy into the house and get her a drink of juice,” said Gregor.

  Yuri took Daisy’s hand, and I reluctantly let her go with him. Freya had taken Dan’s hand before she spoke.

  “Brandr was the man that Alex and I thought was our father. He was a true Viking warrior. Tall and handsome with blond hair and blue eyes, a bit like you Dan. He was married to my mother although as I remember he had many affairs. But my mother was sleeping with my real father, who was a born immortal vampire, and he used mind control to stop Brandr from being with her. Brandr sailed to England with my father, and other men from my village so they could build a settlement for us to live in when they came back to bring us over.”

  “So what has this Brandr got to do with our mum? I still don’t understand,” said Dan.

  Josh spoke this time. “Before they could return for their families, Freya and Alex’s real father, Sebbi, attacked Brandr and turned him into a vampire. He bound him and left him weak, so that when the sun rose he would burn in the daylight from the inside out. But before that could happen, a warrior that had been loyal to Brandr saved him and took him to safety. He came back to take revenge on Sebbi years later but found that he had already been killed.” Freya looked away at this and Dan took her hand, offering her comfort.

  Josh carried on. “Brandr then decided to take revenge on Sebbi’s children, Alex and Freya. But Freya had lost her family so he couldn’t make her suffer any more than she already was. Brandr decided to wait until Alex had found someone to bond with, then he would take them away, just like Sebbi had taken away Alex and
Freya’s mother.”

  I recalled the rest of the story from what Josh had told me before and was starting to piece together the significance with my mother.

  “As you know, Alex didn’t bond with Julia until last year, so Brandr kept coming back and finding Alex over the years wherever he was at that time, which brought him to Barrowfield twenty-five years ago. He was fed up of waiting for Alex to find a woman, so decided to force a woman from the village to bond with him.

  “Apparently, she was already married, and her new husband had been working away at the time that Brandr took advantage of her. He said the woman reminded him of Freya’s mother as she had the same blond hair but this woman’s eyes were blue and not grey like Alex and Freya’s mother had. Through mind control, he forced her to bond and have sex with him repeatedly, and eventually the woman ended up pregnant.

  “But Brandr had to leave the village for a while and when he returned the woman had left, and he couldn’t find her. He said because he was still classed as bonded with her, he felt it when the woman died years later. If I am right, and I do genuinely think that I am, then that woman was your mother, and that means that Brandr was your father. That makes you both born immortals, like Freya, Alex, and Gregor, and that’s also the reason why the sun isn’t affecting you Keeley.”

  Everyone was quiet for a moment, not knowing what to say, but Gregor spoke up next.

  “When Maxim had attacked you and Gina staked hi, she was giving you her blood when I arrived. She had cut her wrist too deep and almost died with the amount of blood she lost. If Gina hadn’t had made you swallow her blood, you would not have been able to make the transition, and you were very nearly dead, so our vampire blood may not have been enough to save you without Gina’s, because a born immortal cannot make the change without human blood.”

  “Where is this vampire that raped my mother,” asked Dan angrily.

  “He’s dead, Dan. That’s the guy that tried to kidnap Julia. He wanted to do with her what he did with our mum, but he was killed last year before he could do it. Am I right, Josh?” I asked.