by Helen Bright
“We are going with you Alex,” Freya told him adamantly.
“No Freya, It’s too dangerous. I don’t want either of you hurt.”
“What the fuck Alex, you don’t get to decide what I do. I will keep Julia safe don’t worry.”
Alex just looked at us both and shook his head before bending to kiss me.
“Just stay far enough back, please.”
“Of course we will, but that goes for you too,” I said as we rushed along together to the cars. We could already hear the sirens going as we neared the vehicles, and Josh called Nik to let him know what was happening.
Gregor insisted Freya and I got in his car, and Alex and Sergei got in Josh’s SUV.
Chapter 24
Julia
The fire seemed to light up the small village of Barrowfield and its surrounding fields. The police and fire brigade had cordoned off a large area surrounding the fire and only when Alex explained about the delivery invoice, and its potentially flammable products did they lead him up to the nearest fire engine where he spoke to someone in charge.
Phil Jones was sitting with the paramedics, an oxygen mask covering his nose and mouth. Josh went straight over to him to ask what had happened.
I heard him say that he was driving down the road and noticed that a there were about ten sheep in the middle of the road and the gate to the field was left wide open. He left his hazard lights on and went over to them to try and get them through the gate. He managed to herd five of the sheep back into the field when her heard a whoosh, and saw the back of the trailer go up in flames. He ran back to the cab of the lorry to get his mobile phone to call the fire brigade.
He was shaking his head saying he should have took the phone with him when he first got out but Josh just shushed him and said he did a brave if stupid thing going back to the cab because nothing was more important than his life and we were all happy that he was safe.
I felt Freya tense up beside me and look around quickly.
“Gregor do you feel that? Can you scent anything strange?”
“Yes it’s another vampire, and they are nearby.”
As quick as a flash Freya took off to wherever she thought the vampire was and Gregor spat out “Foolish girl, it could be a threat.”
He shouted Sergei over to stay with me before he took off after Freya.
I wondered if it was the same one Alex had mentioned this morning, and I began to get a little freaked out about it.
I yelled for Josh and explained what Freya had said before she left and he called Alex.
Around ten minutes later Alex, Freya and Gregor came towards us and all three looked puzzled.
“I’m going to stay and sort out the removal of the trailer and cab. It’s probably going to be late by the time I get back so Freya can stay with you at the cottage Julia.”
“No Alex I’m going home tonight. I’ve got some things I need to discuss with my mum and dad.” Alex wasn’t happy about it but he didn’t argue, just nodded his head and walked away.
When I thought about explaining what bonding with a vampire meant I decided that it wasn’t a conversation I wanted to have with my parents at the moment, not without Alex with me anyway. It was easier to tell them that I was going to move in with him.
They were worried that it was too soon but didn’t object too much. To be honest it wouldn’t have made a difference to me anyway at this point. He was like an addictive drug to me and I found that I craved his presence.
Alex called me later that night. He sounded exhausted and was also really worried. The police thought that vandals had started the fire in the lorry trailer, but it seemed pretty obvious that the mystery vampire was the one to blame, although he couldn’t tell the police that. Apparently Freya had also thought she recognised the scent but couldn’t place it, so they needed to find the vampire, and soon before someone associated with Alex or Freya or the business got hurt.
We decided that I would move in with him on Wednesday, so as the next day was Sunday it didn’t leave me much time to sort out the things I wanted to take with me.
Most of my items I had from the time I was married were still in boxes so it wasn’t going to be hard to transport those, but I didn’t want a lot of those things. They were reminders of my past, of sadness and failure and I wanted to look forward to a future filled with hope and love.
The anxiousness I had felt before about rushing in to a new relationship had been replaced with excitement and longing. I felt lucky to have been given a second chance at love and I was determined to take it.
Chapter 25
Julia
Monday brought fog and rain to our little Yorkshire village. Everyone was talking about the lorry fire and Mr Singh in the post office had taken it upon himself to find as much information as possible to help with the police enquiry. This meant that my popping in for a few stamps took forever as he had found out from someone I was starting work there today. I felt he had missed his calling in life because when I left the shop I felt like I had been quizzed by an overzealous detective.
When I got into work my dad was already there and he came up to the offices with me. Alex was nowhere to be seen which I was grateful for. I didn’t want my dad to be asking him questions about us moving in together while we were at work.
Maggie got me settled and went through some basic health and safety stuff, like where the fire escapes were and where the fire alarms were situated. The fire yesterday had them all really shaken as it was the first time the company had experienced sabotage of any sort.
My shift was six pm until six am Monday to Thursday with Friday, Saturday and Sunday off. I was grateful for the long weekend due to what Alex and I had planned.
To be honest the job was much harder than I thought it would be. Due to the trailer fire yesterday evening, Alex had organised extra drivers to follow the trailers from the Barrowfield depot for 10 miles and the extra logistics of that had everyone busy.
Maggie was very patient with me though, and seemed happy to have another woman in the office with her.
Josh and Nik were in and out of the office all evening helping with new security measures and Alex didn’t come in until after midnight.
He looked really stressed, which was making his grey eyes look darker than normal, but as soon as he saw me he smiled and let out a huge sigh.
“Hi Alex, how are you?” I asked trying to look as concerned for him as I was. But for some reason I was unable to stop the huge smile that was spreading across my lips.
“Much better for seeing my beautiful woman,” he said giving me a look that told me he was thinking of doing anything but work with me tonight.
He made my knees weak, my cheeks flush and my breathing quicken just by a look. I reacted to him like a teenager with a crush on her favourite rock star and it made me want more, from him and from life itself.
“Well Alex now you are here I can take off for my break if it’s ok with you,” said Maggie, already gathering her coat and bag.
“Yeah Mags, the lads in the yard said the girls are serving a really good curry in the canteen.”
“Alex I keep telling you to stop tempting me with stuff. Not now I’m back on my diet again.”
Alex groaned before telling Maggie, “Don’t replace the proper biscuits with those low fat ones again please. It was like dunking cardboard in my tea.”
Maggie just laughed gave me a wave before she closed the door.
“Honestly Julia don’t eat the biscuits if she’s changed them,” he said going over to the place where the tea and coffee making facilities were and looking through the cupboard.
“Josh walked in the room and was quickly followed by Nik. “I will have a cup of tea if you’re making one,” said Josh. “It’s getting really nippy out there now.”
“I was checking the biscuits,” replied Alex as he filled up the kettle.
“Oh fuck no,” said Nik making his way over to Alex and grabbing the biscuit tin. “Maggie better not have
swapped the biscuits again,” he whined as he opened the tin and began sniffing a biscuit before deciding it was safe to eat.
“Was everything alright on the roads,” asked Alex as he made his way over to my desk.
“Not a peep, or sheep,” smiled Josh. But the smile didn’t quite reach his eyes and the worry in them was plain to see.
“Have you had any more luck identifying the vampire,” I asked as I got up out of my chair to make everyone their tea.
“No, and it’s really starting to grate on my nerves now. Josh, Nik and our Russian friends felt no familiarity but Freya and I did, so that tells us whoever this vampire is, they are likely to be pissed off with either me or Freya. I’m assuming it’s me because Freya hadn’t experienced this vampire before, and it must be from our past before Josh, otherwise he would have got the familiar feeling that Freya and I had.”
“You told me that only born vampires can walk in the sun, and each time you have sensed them it was dark, so do you think it’s a made vampire.” I enquired, trying my best to understand all this vampire stuff.
“Not necessarily. Although we do have more deliveries leaving the depot in the daytime, so they could have had their pick of Lorries if they could be in the sun. It would be easier for someone, anyone really, vampire or not, to get away without being seen at night.”
Josh leaned forward and spoke directly to me. “I am a made vampire, and after I reached my two hundredth year I found I can be in the sun for a couple of hours without it harming me. Although I would feel really exhausted and would need more blood than I would normally have to get me back fighting fit again.
I couldn’t risk it any longer than that, but a made vampire who was much older than me could stay longer in the sun.”
“So we can’t really narrow it down to one or the other then?” I asked, understanding their frustration.
Nik took a drink of his tea then said, “Alex we know it’s at least two hundred and seventy one years old whichever type of Vampire it is because that’s how long Josh has been with you. We know that it didn’t come here through our transportation so at some point it could have been exposed to daylight for travel purposes so I would say, if it’s a made vampire it’s probably at least five hundred years old, unless of course, it has a human who can bring them here, like in the old days.”
“Or it could just be a born vampire,” Alex sighed, covering his face with his hands.
“Can you think of anyone that you have had a major disagreement with recently, someone you have known for centuries that could want to harm your business?” I asked, although I know he must have been asked these sorts of questions by everyone else.
“Vampires tend not to keep a feud going. If it was a major disagreement then it would be sorted one way or another, but it would not last for centuries.”
The way he said one way or another made me wish I had never asked the question. I knew he meant that one of the parties would be dead.
I tried to keep up with the conversation, but after that, I kind of shut down. I was in a room with three vampires who were strong and powerful and I felt small and inadequate in their presence.
After a while I heard “What do you think Julia?” which interrupted my thoughts.
“I’m sorry Alex, I had kind of a blank moment there. What were you saying?” He came over and knelt beside me. “Are you ok sweetheart?” “First night shift I’ve ever worked Alex. I think I’m starting to flag a little.” I wasn’t totally lying but I didn’t want Alex with anything else on his mind.
“Welcome to the vampire shift,” said Josh as he bared his fangs and laughed, but I tensed in my seat. It was the first time I had seen anyone else other than Alex bare their fangs, and it unnerved me.
“Put them away Joshua Bubbles,” said Alex with a smirk.
“Piss off Alex, there’s only my little Daisy can call me that.” “It’s like working with school kids,” said Nik shaking his head whilst trying to avoid the bubbles that Josh was sending his way from the little pink my little pony bottle in his desk.
“Maggie walked back in the room with a sandwich, and immediately yelled “Joshua York put them away.”
“Aaww come on Mags, lighten up. It’s only a few bubbles,” he said blowing them over to her desk.
“I swear to you Josh, if any of those bubbles get on my monitor screen again you are doing the cleaning. You put too much washing up liquid in those bubble bottles.”
“But that’s how you get the best bubbles,” said Alex, both Josh and Nik nodding in agreement.
“Julia, why don’t you take your break? I’m sure you have earned it having to put up with these numpties.”
“Good idea Mags. I’ll take Julia for a quick bite to eat while you stay with the numpties.”
“I included you in the numpties too Alex.”
He just laughed and shook his head whilst helping me into my coat and leading me to the door.
“Now you know I’m your favourite Mags so don’t try and deny it.” “Bullshit Alex we all know I’m her favourite,” said Nik with a pout.
“Now, that’s just where you are both wrong. It’s just so obvious that it’s me, and you’re both just jealous,” beamed Josh, with a really smug look about him.
“See what I have to put up with Julia, they don’t pay me enough to work here I swear.”
Chapter 26
Alex
Gregor and Sergei had reluctantly flown back today.
Gregor wanted to stay and help find the identity of the mystery vampire but I didn’t want to involve any more people in this than necessary.
Freya stayed on because she also sensed some familiarity to this vampire and was determined to find out who they were and what they wanted.
She was staying with Josh at his cottage as Julia was moving in with me on Wednesday, and to be honest, that seemed to be the only thing keeping my head together at the moment.
I had spoken to the farmer whose sheep were in the road, and he told me that the gate was securely fastened and he had passed the area two hours before the incident, and the sheep were definitely in the field when he left them.
I looked all around the vicinity of the fire in the daytime to see if I could find any clues, but came away with nothing. This was the Yorkshire Pennines and had many rocky outcrops in the hills and dales. It made for a beautiful vista but could easily hide someone if needed, still I could scent nothing.
I took Julia back to my cottage and offered to make her a quick stir fry.
What I really wanted to do was throw her on the bed and bury myself balls deep inside her, but she was a little tired on her first night shift and I wasn’t going to add to that.
We talked a little about work and what she had been doing in the office with Maggie. I got the impression that she was a bit overawed with the amount of work, so I reassured her that we were busier than normal due to the fire yesterday.
She seemed out of sorts but when I asked he what was wrong she said nothing, she was just tired, but I knew it was a lie. I felt a bit helpless but didn’t push her and we ate our stir fry in silence.
She stood to wash up and I put my hand on hers to stop her. She took in a breath and looked down at our joined hands.
“What’s wrong Julia? And don’t tell me ‘it’s nothing’ this time.” She took another deep breath and then looked up at me, coming around the table to stand in front of me.
“I know I’m technically at work, but I also want to....you know.”
Was I getting this right? Did Julia want to fool around with me? I cupped her face in my hands and kissed her before saying, “Why don’t you show me what you want.”
Julia pulled her sweater over her head and removed her bra before pulling my head down to her breasts.
I didn’t need any further instruction so I began to draw her nipples into my mouth. Julia let out an almost pained cry and panted “Alex I need you.”
I was immediately hard as a rock and started to unbutton her tr
ousers. When they dropped to the floor with her panties she kicked them and her high heeled shoes away before starting to unbuckle my own trousers.
When she dropped to her knees and took me in her mouth I forgot all my worries completely.
God she was good at this.
I tried not to grab her hair and pull her forward so I could plough deeper into her mouth, really I did, but I failed miserably. She was just too tempting and too quickly I felt that tingling sensation rising up inside me.
Although I would have loved nothing better than coming hard with my cock in her mouth, I knew my woman needed something more. So after one more pump of my hips, well maybe two or three, I pulled her head away and dropped to the floor and laid her flat with her legs wrapped around my neck.
If I though her mouth was heaven I was so wrong, her tight wet sex was so heavenly I could hear angels singing every time I thrust deep. I had only been inside Julia for about ten seconds before she came the first time.
Apparently giving me a blow job had really turned her on.
I was such a lucky bastard.
The kitchen floor wasn’t the best place to fuck but the pure spontaneity of what was happening blew my mind and when Julia’s next orgasm came I was right behind her and the noises coming from me were twice as loud as hers.
I lowered her legs and collapsed on top of her. Both of us were panting and sweat rolled from my forehead into my eyes.
“Now there’s nothing wrong,” she said with a sexy grin.
Yeah it was good to be me today.
Chapter 27
Julia
The week was rolling on quickly.
Wednesday came, and along with Gina and my parents we moved most of my things into Alex’s cottage. It was mine now too as Alex kept saying, but I couldn’t get my head around that just yet.
Mum was impressed and I was glad that Alex wasn’t around when mum was having a good look about the home I was sharing with him from now on.
I left the boxes in one of the spare bedrooms and said I would go through them at the weekend, which gave me an excuse to say I was busy. Alex said we wouldn’t be able to stay away from each other when we first bonded so I didn’t want any surprise visits from my parents at that time.