Midnight Secrets: A Dark Vampire Romance (Secret Series Book 2)

by Ditter Kellen

  She attempted to lift her arm, her mind homing in on the pain in her chest. Why did she hurt so much? Memory came flooding back with a vengeance.

  Madison jerked upright in the bed, ignore the agony that movement brought her. “Svetlana—”

  “Is dead,” Simon assured her, taking a seat on the mattress near her hip.

  “But…” Madison glanced around the room at all the expectant faces; some she recognized, others, she didn’t.

  Her hand unconsciously lifted to her chest. “Svetlana ripped out my heart. I…I know I didn’t imagine that?”

  “Don’t think about that right now,” Simon suggested, drawing her attention back to his worried face. “It’s over. She’s in hell where she belongs.”

  Memories of what took place in that cemetery assailed Madison. The demons, warlocks, and the desperation in Simon’s eyes as he fought to protect her.

  She moved her gaze around the room, taking in the unfamiliar faces staring back at her.

  A beautiful brunette with kind, hazel-colored eyes stepped forward. “I’m sorry we had to meet under these circumstances. My name’s Ember. I’m Angel’s mate.”

  “I’m Nita,” a gorgeous dark-haired woman with mocha skin announced. “I’m mated to Vlad. And the pretty blonde standing next to me is Shon’s mate, Laura.”

  Madison noticed the pain in her chest was becoming more tolerable. She attempted a smile. “I don’t know how you knew where we would be, but I’m grateful you showed up when you did.”

  Vlad ran a hand down his face. “Mates will always hold the ability to find one another. No matter how much one wishes not to be found.”

  Nita narrowed her eyes. “Suck it up, buttercup.”

  Laughter erupted throughout the room.

  Shon clasped the Impaler on his shoulder. “Come on, buttercup. Let’s give them some alone time.”

  “Where is Sam?” The question came from Simon.

  Madison raised her eyebrows. “Who is Sam?”

  “The warlock whom I owe a debt of gratitude. You wouldn’t be alive right now, if not for him”

  Madison’s heart stuttered at Simon’s words. “The warlock from Florida? The one Sawyer told us about?”

  “Sam isn’t your average, evil scumbag,” Sawyer admitted from his position by the door. “He’s…different.”

  Madison scanned the room in search of her savior.

  Sawyer shook his head. “He’s gone.”

  “I never got a chance to thank him,” Madison whispered.

  Simon reached over and took hold of her hand, drawing her attention back to his beautiful face. “I have a feeling he knows.”

  The sound of feet filing out of the room as everyone dispersed caught Madison’s attention, but she couldn’t look away from Simon’s eyes. “It’s really over? You’re finally free of Slutlana?”

  Simon gifted her with a heart-stopping smile. “I’m finally free.”

  “How did she die?”

  “By Vlad’s hand. He took her life in the same fashion that she took yours.”

  Madison thought about that for a moment. “A fitting end for her.”

  “Madison…I’m so sorry I couldn’t protect you. I—”

  “You’re apologizing?” She leaned forward and cupped his face. “I’ve never had anyone fight for me as hard as you did tonight. Ever.”

  “I would have followed you into hell if that’s what it took.”

  Butterflies took flight in her stomach. Though it had taken death for her to realize her feelings for Simon, Madison accepted that she’d always harbored some sort of an attraction for him; even when she’d emptied a round of silver bullets in his chest. “I don’t know where I’m supposed to go from here. I only know that I want you by my side while I figure it out.”

  Cheering erupted from the living room, eliciting a chuckle from Simon. “Shall I shut the door?”

  “Would it do any good?”

  He leaned in and brushed her lips with his. “Not in the slightest.”

  The cheering quickly turned to laughter until Madison could hold back no longer.

  Though it hurt to do so, she dropped her forehead against Simon’s and joined in the merriment coming from the assortment of creatures in the condo’s interior. “Jesus Christ, I’m so screwed.”

  Simon burst into laughter as well, his beautiful blue eyes crinkling at the corners, giving him a boyish appearance.

  God, he is gorgeous, Madison thought, unable to look away. And he’s all mine.

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Simon stood in the courtyard of Roman’s compound staring out over the expanse of trees in the distance.

  They’d arrived back in Atlanta the night before, spending hours filling Roman and Lydia in on everything that had happened in New Orleans.

  The back door opened and Roman stepped outside. “How is Madison doing?”

  Simon met his gaze briefly before turning back to watch a lightning bug dance around the yard. “Her body is healed, but I’m not so sure about her mind.”

  “Madison’s strong, Simon. She’ll pull through this.”

  “She died,” Simon responded, unable to disguise the pain in his voice. “What she experienced, the devil himself shouldn’t have to endure.”

  Roman pressed at the grass with the toe of his boot. “I know. And I hate like hell that it happened to her. But it did, and there’s nothing you can do about it but be there for her.”

  Simon wanted to believe Roman’s words. “I hope you’re right, because I can’t live without her. I won’t.”

  “You love her.” It wasn’t a question and Simon knew it.

  “More than I’ve ever loved another. I don’t know how it happened or even when. I only know that it did.”

  Roman cleared his throat. “But does she know…”

  Simon opened his mouth to answer when he realized he’d never told Madison how he felt. He’d just assumed she knew. He hurried back inside and blurred his way down the hall.

  Coming to a stop outside Madison’s apartment, he lifted his hand to knock.

  “You may come in,” Madison called out before his knuckles touched the door.

  Simon entered the room and closed the door behind him. “How are you feeling?”

  Madison stood next to the bed wearing a short, sheer gown that left little to the imagination. “Take off your clothes.”

  Simon nearly swallowed his tongue. His shaft instantly filled with blood to throb in time with his rapidly beating heart. “Are you sure?”

  “I need you,” she whispered, reaching for the hem of her gown. She lifted the sheer material over her head and dropped it at her feet.

  Without taking his gaze from her beautiful body, Simon toed off his boots and divested himself of his clothes. He wanted her in such a way, he couldn’t form the words to tell her.

  “Make me forget.” She took a step toward him.

  As much as Simon wanted to do just that, he needed to know that he was something more than a diversion for her memories. But she was suddenly on her knees before him with his erection in her hot mouth.

  His hands sank into her hair, and his head dropped back on his shoulders. The feel of her warm, wet tongue bathing his aching shaft nearly crossed his eyes.

  He could hear his pulse beating in his ears, or was that hers? He wasn’t sure. All that mattered in that moment was Madison and how she made him feel.

  Her hand came up to close around his length. She applied pressure with her fist, following the pattern of her mouth as it slid up and down his rock-hard erection.

  “Slow down,” he rasped, tightening his hold on her hair.

  She only sucked him harder and faster until he could hold his seed back no longer.

  A shout burst from him as he exploded inside the hot cavity of her mouth; his knees locking to prevent him from crumpling to the floor like an infant.

  His fangs shot down, and a red haze settled over his eyes. He reached beneath Madison’s arms and jerked her to h
er feet.

  Spinning her around, he backed her against the wall, gripped her thighs and wrapped them around his waist. “You better fucking hold on.”

  Simon thrust upward, taking her in one swift motion. He turned his head to the side, snarling between clenched teeth. “Bite me!”

  Madison struck, her fangs sinking into his flesh even as his cock drove into her depths.

  Nothing had ever felt as incredible as Madison, wrapped around him, feeding from him, taking him into her body.

  “You’re mine, Madison!” He powered into her again. “Only mine.”

  She moaned against his throat.

  “Tell me you’re mine,” he demanded, his hips slamming her against the wall. “Tell me!”

  She broke free of his neck, her choppy breathing, echoing in his ear. “I’m yours.”

  “Say it again. I need to hear it again.” Simon wasn’t sure what had come over him. He only knew that he needed to hear her confession, her admission that she belonged to him and him alone.

  A gasp left her lips with his next upward thrust. “I’m yours. I’ve been yours all along.”

  He slowed his movements, lifting his head to look into her eyes. “Madison?”

  Blood began to pool in her whiskey-colored orbs. “I don’t know when it happened, Simon. I never wanted this, never wanted to become what I am now. But I want you, and if being vampire means more time with you, then I’ll take it.”

  Simon leaned in and licked a falling tear. “I love you, Madison. God, but I love you.”

  Her eyes slid shut before she opened them once again. “Show me.”

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Madison was on fire. The feel of Simon, sliding in and out of her body, stretching her with tortuously slow strokes had to be the single most amazing sensation she’d ever experienced.

  He pulled her away from the wall and trailed across the room to a straight-back chair in the corner.

  “Follow my lead.” He disengaged her legs from his waist, pulled from her body, and turned her to face away from him.

  He took a seat in the chair. “Don’t turn around. Back up a step and straddle my lap.”

  Madison did as he instructed, taking a seat on his lap and opening her legs over his thighs.

  He spread her wider, lifting her enough to enter her from behind. “Now, reach between your thighs and touch yourself for me.”

  Her fingers trembled as they came in contact with her most sensitive flesh. It felt swollen and warm to the touch.

  “Feel how wet you are,” Simon rumbled next to her ear. His hands slid around her hips to lift her slightly before lowering her onto his length once again. “Slick and hot.”

  “Y-yes.”

  He continued guiding her hips, each time, penetrating her a little deeper. “I want you to come on my cock, Madison; over and over. When you think you can take no more, I’ll pull out of you and fuck you with my tongue.”

  The continuing movement of his thick erection, coupled with his incredibly hot words, sent Madison over the edge.

  A hoarse cry flew from her lips with the first contractual convulsions that tore through her body.

  She had no power over the sensations, no control over the outcome. No, Madison was along for the ride with Simon controlling their destination.

  “Son of a bitch,” he snarled, jets of his hot seed bathing her insides.

  Madison’s entire body seized with the orgasm slamming into her; made sweeter only by the mutual release of Simon.

  The next hour went by in a blur of climaxes, each one more intense than the last until Madison thought she could take no more.

  She suddenly found herself on her back, her legs over Simon’s shoulders and his mouth closing over her center.

  “Ah, God,” she moaned, certain her body had gone into sensation overload. There was no way she could come again.

  Madison came screaming.

  Epilogue

  “Aunt Maddie,” Jacie called, chasing her wolf, Maxine, through the courtyard. “My birthday is tomorrow!”

  Madison laughed, loving the excitement in Jacie’s voice. “I know. You’re going to be nine!”

  It had been a year since Madison had survived her death in that cemetery in New Orleans; a year since she’d confessed her feelings to Simon.

  She’d grown accustomed to being a vampire and had even grown to love it.

  Madison and Simon spent every waking second together when he wasn’t helping Sawyer attempt to locate the last warlock that had escaped in Louisiana.

  Sawyer and Simon had become close since the New Orleans trip. Of course, Madison understood why. Had it not been for Sawyer, Sam would have never appeared in that cemetery…and Madison wouldn’t be here now.

  Vlad, Angel, Shon, and their mates had visited often over the past year. Simon and Madison had visited them in Alaska as well.

  A smile touched Madison’s lips as she thought of how much her life had changed since mating with Simon.

  “A penny for your thoughts?” Simon stepped in close behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist.

  She leaned her head back against his chest. “I was just thinking about how lucky I am to have you.”

  “I’m the lucky one, Madison. You’ve given me another chance at life…a chance to get it right.”

  “I love you, Simon Le Blanc.”

  Simon kissed the top of her head. “Show me.”

  Madison’s laughter rang out through the courtyard, startling Maxine. Life doesn’t get any better than this…

  Read Below for a Sneak Peek into the Pages of Turn the Page. Book one in the Time Travel series.

  Chapter One

  Catherine Grier buttoned her coat and slipped on a pair of worn green gloves she’d gotten for Christmas some years back. The forecast was calling for sleet that morning, and she had a six-block walk to work ahead of her. She dreaded the cold almost as much as she dreaded her birthday.

  An image of her college sweetheart’s laughing face floated through her mind. “Come on, Cathe. It’s your birthday…it’ll be fun. I’ll be careful.” If only she’d said no and insisted they wait for the storm to pass before climbing on the back of his motorcycle, maybe he’d still be alive…as would their unborn child.

  Jeff and Cathe had been inseparable as only first loves could be, and not a day went by that she didn’t miss him. The unplanned pregnancy had been a shock, but they’d been determined to keep the baby and had even begun picking out names.

  A wave of sorrow passed through her with the memory of waking in intensive care only to realize that Jeff was gone and she no longer carried their child. Cathe hadn’t celebrated her birthday since their deaths on that very day, twenty-seven years ago.

  Forcing her thoughts aside, she checked her appearance in the mirror on her way to the door. At forty-seven years old, she was still very attractive. Her blonde hair hung in layers to her shoulders, and aside from a few small laugh lines, her face was devoid of wrinkles. She’d managed to keep her girlish figure and received compliments daily on her striking blue eyes.

  The icy wind stung her cheeks as she made her way outside, dipping her chin deeper into the pale green scarf wrapped around her neck. Puffs of smoke escaped her mouth with every breath she took, only to be swept away on the frigid February wind.

  With a slight wave of her hand, she hailed a taxi and climbed into its warmth without apology. It was bit too cold to walk to work that morning.

  Winters in Florida were usually mild, requiring only a light jacket. But not this winter. Temperatures had been dropping into the low twenties and even the mid-teens for weeks now.

  “Where to?” The cab driver checked his mirrors before pulling out into the busy Pensacola Beach traffic.

  “Fisher’s Bookstore on Warrington.”

  “That building is still there? I heard they’d demolished it awhile back.”

  “They were going to before I bought it. It’s being renovated now and will be as good as new in no
time.”

  Cathe had moved to Pensacola Beach, Florida from St. Augustine shortly after Jeff’s death. With nothing left for her back home, she’d decided to finish school and obtain her law degree somewhere that didn’t remind her so much of what she’d lost. Besides, she’d spent several summers growing up in Pensacola up and had always loved the place.

  After retiring from family law where she’d been an attorney since graduating from college, she’d decided to purchase the old bookstore and restore it back to its original state.

  “That’s great. My wife has been buying books from there since she was a teenager,” the cabbie remarked, weaving in and out of traffic.

  Cathe smiled at his reflection in the rearview mirror. “Books are magical. They provide an escape from a world full of sorrow and pain.”

  The driver laughed. “Sounds like you love to read.”

  “More than anything.”

  Fisher’s Bookstore came into view a few minutes later. Cathe paid the driver and climbed out into the blistering cold with keys in hand. She shivered and let herself inside, turning the Open sign on before making a beeline toward the old thermostat on the far wall.

  It would take at least half an hour for the temperature in the room to raise enough to warm the place and another half an hour for her body to thaw.

  The bell over the door chimed, letting her know she had an early customer. “I’ll be right there!” Cathe called, switching on the lights to the back of the store.

  “Take your time. I’m just looking.”

  Making her way back to the front, Cathe turned the small key on the register until it clicked, unzipped the blue bag she’d removed from her purse, and took out an assortment of bills to fill the cash drawer.

  She glanced up, acknowledging the woman perusing the romance aisle. “Good morning. Let me know if I can help you with anything.”

  “Thank you. Do you have any historical romance?”

  “I sure do.” Cathe meandered over and pointed out the meager selection. “Someone traded in a box of romance books yesterday, if you’d like to look through them.”