Quick Recap: They are midway through moving in!

The trip to the new house took a lot longer with the truck than it did with Eric's driving, especially as Tweedledum and Tweedledee were incredibly slow in the van behind us. I had to call them something and Tweedledum and Tweedledee was the politest thing I'd though of! I was stressed out on the journey but began to get a little excited as we pulled up outside the security house where Eric and I had met the estate agent just over a week ago. We were met by two security guards who were thankfully ready and waiting for us.

Matt was Head of Security maybe about thirty and Michael was I guessed early twenties. Both were built like you'd expect security to be built, tall and broad. No where near as tall as Eric but tall enough for me to worry about getting a crick in my neck if everyone around here was this size. They wore a casual uniform of black trousers, dark grey polo shirt and both seemed very calm which after the stress of moving out was wonderful!

Matt made polite introductions, nodding to Rob and Simon who I'd driven with and he set out the plan for the next stage of the move. He was going up to the house with the movers and opening up so they could start unloading. I could take a look round the security place, get a break and a cold drink and head up to the house with Michael when I was ready. A break sounded like a fine idea!

I was offered a fridge full of cold drinks, got a water and sat on the bench on the front porch. It was pretty quiet and peaceful around here. This was the most fresh air I'd had in quite a while. I asked Michael about the other houses he said most were moving in next week so things should get busier. Security had been there for a couple of days, four of them lived together on the estate, Michael included. He waved down the hill in the direction of their place. "It's chaos down there at the minute, but I'm sure we'll get settled eventually. I certainly sympathise with moving stress."

We went back inside and Michael showed me what could be seen of Eric's house and garden on the security cameras. I explained it had been late when I'd first seen the house and I'd not taken much notice of the grounds. It seemed like so long since we'd taken that look around.

The pool was now full, I got really excited looking at the black and white version and couldn't wait to see it all beautiful and blue! I was thinking that we needed pots of plants or flowers on the decking. There was a lot of decking and we needed something to break it up other than the tables and chairs Eric had. As the camera shot changed to the front garden I realised just how much outside space there was. "Big garden!" I muttered. "Do you think I could get one of those lawn mowers you can ride around on?"

"You're all signed up for the gardener, you won't have to worry about that." Michael laughed.

"Gardener? That's a relief!"

"It's a new company, nice guy, just retired from a stressy office-type job and now he's looking after half a dozen gardens up here. His name's Mr. Preston, the type of person you wouldn't feel right calling him by his first name. He's got a bit of help, they'll do the pool too. He's really enjoying his new job. Talk to him about what you want out there and he'll get it organised for you." He added slyly, quietly, "It's a shame a few of the owners won't ever see the gardens in the sun!" Michael was flicking through channels on the security monitors, but he saw my jaw drop! He grinned. "We do know who we're looking after out here!"

I was a bit embarrassed. "I didn't realise. It seemed best not to assume that you knew."

"Not everyone's up here's a Vamp. There's some ordinary folks too or, at least, ordinary folks with money who want to be safe." I was never especially good at first impressions but this Michael seemed like one of the good guys. Very relaxed and calming with an easy smile. Good guy to look at too, short dark slightly scruffy hair, very dark brown eyes, and the kind of suntan you get from spending all day outside. A very good looking man so long as you weren't comparing him to a Viking.

Michael showed me the storage room where the deliveries were stored. The kitchen stuff I'd ordered had arrived and it was already loaded into the flashy black car we were taking up to the house. "This storage is kept pretty cool, so any food deliveries will be fine down here for a while. We'll show you the security panel at the house, if you get a delivery we set a little light flashing. You click when you want to accept the delivery and we'll bring it up. No worries about being at home or awake at the right time."

"I do have pretty odd sleeping times." I admitted.

"I bet!" He hesitated, maybe wondering if he should ask. "Have you been with him long?"

I really didn't want to say a couple of weeks so I fluffed a bit. "I met him a couple of years ago..." That was actually true!

"A couple of the guys recognised him from Fangtasia, they say he's supposed to be a thousand years old?"

"Yup, he's a Viking alright! Wait 'till you see him, he really couldn't be anything else!" I smiled at the thought of Eric. Then I registered what Michael had said first. "How do you mean recognised him?"

"He collected the key from the two who worked last night."

"He's here?" We were back by the security TV's I could see the "lifters" carrying the garden chairs around the back of the house. That skinny runt who'd opened that coffin could not be anywhere near Eric.

"He arrived... " Michael started to say.

"Eric can't be at the house with them. Can we go up there now?" I interrupted, trying not to panic but not doing a very good job.

"What's the problem?" Michael was calm whilst I was dithering about what to say. "If it's a security issue you need to tell me. We don't know this removal company."

It seemed like telling tales but I wasn't exactly at school any more so I blurted out the story in a garbled rush. I pointed at the screen. "He kicked Eric's coffin, opened it to the sun. He can't be near him while he's sleeping!"

"OK, OK. You're right. Let's go... get in the car, I'll call Matt." He beeped the car door open for me and was on the phone finishing up with "See you in a sec" when he got in.

I was too stressed to realise right then but Eric would have appreciated Michael's driving. He kept talking, trying to calm me down. "The room your Vampire is in is totally impenetrable. He's safe. Try not to worry. Matt wouldn't let these guys anywhere near even if we hadn't warned him."

When we reached the house Matt was by the front door talking to Rob the removal supervisor. Rob passed on the new plan to Tweedledum and Tweedledee as Matt and Michael spoke quietly together inside the front door. From what I could see the two lifters were now only unloading and putting stuff by the front door or side kitchen door depending on where it was supposed to go. Matt, Michael and Rob were collecting from either door and putting everything in whichever room it was supposed to go in or putting the bedroom stuff at the bottom of the stairs. I was pleased to hear the coffins had been unloaded first by Rob and Simon, not the lifters, and they were in the garage as per Eric's instructions.

I escaped to find Simon, who was doing the computer stuff in the office. I looked around to try and spot the secret door to the room below but I had no idea where it was! I wondered if I'd ever find out from Eric?

One high point of the day was that my new lime green laptop was beautiful! It was charging at the minute.

Simon asked me to let him know when the TV was unloaded so he could start there. I left him to it thinking he wanted to be alone with the gadgets.

I unpacked a few kitchen things and realised the fridge was full of bottled water, beer, juice, a couple of bottles of white wine and some milk. Welcoming gifts I supposed. There was a full fruit bowl on the side and a covered box of bread and pastries. I had some frozen stuff to unpack so I would be OK if I didn't get a food delivery sorted for a while. I distributed water to the workers and used the freed space to get a few bottles of blood in fridge.

While handing over water bottles I overheard Matt say to Michael "You're shift is over. You should go, let the next shift help up here." I didn't hear anything else but Michael stayed around.

Things seemed to be getting sorted out downstairs, Simon had the TV on and I had the kitchen was pretty settled. I decided that it was time to head up to the bedroom just to check I hadn't imagined that en-suite. I practically ran through the bedroom, the bathroom was still there, still beautiful! The biggest decision was jacuzzi or shower first! I'd let Eric decide!

As I left the bathroom I notice a stunning piece of furniture that had not been there before, a glorious, dressing table. It was a bright, polished wood, fancier than normal wood, walnut maybe with a large central mirror and two smaller mirrors either side. It was so much more than what I'd hoped we'd be able to buy. I was in front of the table stroking the top when Michael arrived with a trunk. He glanced around saying, "Wow, nice space."

"Isn't this beautiful?" I couldn't help but say. It probably didn't go with the rest of the room but it certainly added something. I liked the contrast.

"Looks good, but I don't really know much about furniture unless it's flat packed." Michael was laughing as he left the room but stopped as he reached the top of the stairs. I went out with him and we both clearly heard from Tweedledum below...

"Ah, come on... Let me see the Vamps bedroom. What does he need it for anyway? Doesn't he just fuck the little slut in his coffin?" Matt grabbed hold of him and propelled him towards the door. The lifter shouted louder, "She might as well stay in the fucking coffin, won't last ten minutes with a blood-sucker!"

I was so close to running down the stairs to confront the piece of scum or at least scratch his eyes out but Michael stayed calm and stopped me. He held onto my arm saying "Stay up here, don't let him see he's got to you," and he shot off downstairs. I stood on the landing practically stamping my feet in frustration and trying to hold in the angry tears that were beginning. Matt had grabbed the lifters arm and forced him out of the house. That was where Michael seemed to be heading too so I peered out of a bedroom window to see what was going on in the front garden. The sound proofing was pretty good on these windows. Tweedledum was yelling at Matt who was frog-marching him down the garden path towards the van. Michael was keeping an eye from a distance but he got closer as Tweedledee came to Matt's other side.

My guess is that Matt told Dee to keep out of it and as spoke he turned away from Dum a little bit. Tweedledum was angry enough or actually really dumb enough to throw a punch at Matt. He took his opportunity as Matt was turned away from him, but he missed because Michael grabbed his clenched fist, then twisted it up and around the guy's back and rammed face first into the van. I couldn't hear the shouting through the windows but I could hear that thud!

Maybe my speed perception was off as I'd been watching Eric zip around the place but Michael seemed fast, nowhere near Vampire fast but seriously quick! Matt was speedy too, he grabbed the other lifter and the pair of them were held against the van while Matt used his phone.

This had all happened really quickly and I admit that now I was pretty glad I wasn't down there. Rob and Simon popped out the front door to see what was going on, they must have thought they were best out of the way too and they came back into the house to carry on working as far as I could tell.

Two more security guards turned up in another flashy black car and the lifters were bundled into the back and the car sped off. Was that a kind of citizen's arrest? Could they actually be arrested for insulting a coffin and me? I assumed they could be arrested for trying to hit someone but somehow doubted that Matt was bothering to press charges.

Matt and Michael returned to the house and carried on bringing the trunks upstairs. I dithered about whether to mention Tweedledum and Tweedledee to them but decided to leave it for the time being and began to find work for myself making the bed and getting the bathroom stocked a little. I really needed a shower after this day!

Simon called me downstairs to hand me a list of temporary passwords for the computers and let me know the main TV and the little one in the kitchen were all set. I didn't know we had a TV in the kitchen! It was one of those that flipped down from under the cabinets. Very swanky! I thanked Simon for showing me the screen explaining I might have never found it otherwise!

Simon and Rob were on their way, probably very relieved to get out of the house. I offered them another drink but they gave excuses about getting the van and truck back and practically ran out of the door. I realised it was getting close to sundown so that was probably another reason to get out of here. Who would want to stick around a Vampires house when your colleagues had been insulting him?

Matt and Michael came through to the kitchen as Simon and Rob left. Matt explained he needed to see Eric and asked if it would it be OK if he stayed around as he assumed Eric would be here pretty soon. That seemed fine to me so I offered them more drinks. Matt was still on duty so he took another water and agreed with me that Michael should take a beer if he wanted one as he was off duty now. We sat out in the garden making chit-chat. Matt had lived in Shreveport forever, Michael had lived here as a kid and returned when this live-in job turned up.

After sitting watching the sun get lower I realised I should probably warn Eric that two blokes were sitting, drinking in his garden before he found them there. I got Michael another beer, checked Matt was OK, then I hovered around in the kitchen. I could see Eric's office door easily from there and munched on an apple. I'd worry about eating later.

Eric came out of the office looking fantastic as always in just a pair of jeans. "Are the movers still here?" I suppose I shouldn't have been surprised that he knew someone was around.

"The movers have just gone but two security guards are in the garden. They helped a lot today and needed to see you."

"Yes," he remembered "I'm meeting Green, Matt Green, about security. He's here already? I didn't realise he'd be so eager."

"They brought a lot of things inside as there was a bit of a problem with the movers. We've not long finished so I said he could take a break here while waiting for you. One of the other guards is off duty now, he's still here too. I offered them a drink. Is that OK?" I was rambling a bit, my concentration not helped by him winding his arms round my waist and pulling me to him.

"Slow down, Victoria." He took a long inhale of my neck. "You've had a stressful day. Why were the movers were a problem?"

I wasn't too keen on explaining all about Tweedledum and Tweedledee! "It was a bad day but it's all great now though. This house is so beautiful. Matt will probably want to fill you in on the movers thing..." I was distracted running my hands up his chest and he let me pull him towards me for a long kiss. I was incredibly aware that I was hot and sweaty, and not in a good way! I needed to get out of these jeans and into a shower as soon as I could.

"I'll go talk to him then." He let me go.

"I put a few Fangtasia t-shirts on the shelves in your office." I hinted.

"Are you trying to cover me up?" He grinned and went back into the office, grabbed a T-shirt and strolled across the lounge pulling it over his head. I followed unable to take my eyes from him, I just loved watching him move!

Matt and Michael stood and nodded as he reached the decking and Eric switched on his charm. "Gentleman, I'm Eric Northman, pleased to meet you. I understand you've been a great help today."

"Matt Green, we've spoken on the phone." This is where I would have expected them to shake hands but they didn't. Matt carried on. "This is Michael Flood. He helped out this afternoon too." Another nod from Michael and he sat back down.

"I thought four men would have been enough, what was the problem?" Eric asked Matt.

"Two of them were not suitable." Matt slid a glance towards me, I realised he wasn't going to talk about this in front of me. Eric realised too.

"Do you need to show me the security panel inside? You can fill me in while we go through that." At least he wasn't pretending to avoid this conversation in front of me. Eric gestured towards the house and Matt headed indoors. Eric dropped a kiss on my cheek, said quietly "Don't get cold out here," and left me in the garden with Michael.

After a long pause Michael said quietly, "I suppose he does look like a Viking's meant to." He took a long swig of his beer. "I'm working tomorrow. I can show you the security panel too, how to switch off the cameras and anything else you might need."

"A basic lesson would be best!" I admitted. "I really don't want to know all the technical stuff."

"No problem, there's a red call button at the bottom of the panel. Just press that once when you're ready tomorrow afternoon and I'll come up here. Try not to hold the button down, that's for emergencies and you'll have all of us running up here!"

"Just one press of the red button," I promised. "How many guards are on at one time?"

"So far just four of us at a time, that will increase once everyone's here." Michael finished his beer. "Thank you for that, I'd better go and let you get inside." He had heard Eric's hint.

"Thanks so much for everything today. Have a good night."

"It was fun. A little bit of trouble always keep things interesting. Nice to meet you." He headed off around the side of the house to the driveway.

I sat back for awhile watching the sky and trying to decide which was more urgent food or shower. My growling stomach claimed my attention but the food was in the kitchen and the security panel with Eric and Matt was in the utility room next door. I really didn't want to disturb them. I decided I had to put the beer bottle away so headed to the kitchen thinking that if I was obviously interrupting I would just leave the bottle and grab a shower.

After the indecision it didn't matter, Matt was alone sitting at the breakfast bar, he explained Eric was on the phone in his office. I made a quick sandwich, grabbed pastries and drinks, then wished Matt "Good Night" and asked him to let Eric know I had gone upstairs.


I ate my sandwich sitting on the little balcony watching the stars above and woods below. It was very peaceful out here, I tried to see the other house which I knew was on the right somewhere but couldn't see a thing.

The shower was stunning, I put it on way too hard at first and staggered a bit under the water pressure. I didn't take too long, it seemed a bit odd to be able to see myself washing in the reflection of the tiles but it was great to be clean and fresh again. I couldn't just wait in there until Eric arrived, he could be another hour for all I knew so I got out of the shower. I would be more than ready to get back there in no time at all if Eric wanted me to.

I towel dried my hair and wondered where I might have packed the hair dryer. I was sure it was in my main trunk so I started opening it up. I put on the first silver thing I spotted thinking it was a short little nightdress but it was a fancy long silver nightdress that I had never gotten around to trying on. It had a long, large split to one thigh and wrapped silkily around my legs as I went from bedroom to walk-in wardrobe to trunk on the landing. It felt wonderful, it help rejuvenate me and I was actually getting things unpacked. Considering I only had a rucksack full of clothes and a large delivery of underwear my walk-in wardrobe still looked a little bare once I was done. But I was getting organised.

I was holding up the green and yellow patterned dress that I hadn't worn yet trying to work out if it would go with the silver Manolo's when Eric wound his arm's around my waist and growled "Bed!" He just about gave me chance to get the dress back on the rail before he picked me up, sped through to the huge bed and dropped me on it! I actually bounced before he was naked on top of me, covering me, running his hands over the silver silk. It seemed like so long since I'd kissed him I just had to concentrate on that for a while, running my hands through his hair and over his shoulders. He pulled back away from me and was knelt up above my thighs. He looked hungry, incredibly dangerous, incredibly sexy and incredibly hungry. He gripped either side of the split of my silver nightdress and split it further, all the way to the neck. He moved back above me, fingers teasing me, fangs at my breasts. I was panting now, desperate again as he slid inside me and I tried to squeeze him, scratching at his beautiful butt. I probably came way too quickly, I couldn't hold back when he wanted me, as I came, he bit and the after-shocks rolled on and on. His release came after mine, with a low growl that would have had me quaking if I had any sense. He was much more relaxed now as he licked at my breast, sealing the wound and he moved to my side.

"Apologies My Pet, I didn't plan on our first time in this bed to be a rough quickie. I was running a little late tonight!"

"Ahh," was all I could say in reply. Breathe Victoria!


I hope a few people are enjoying reading this as much as I'm enjoying writing it!

Thanks to everyone who has reviewed. Sorry that I haven't been replying directly but I've been concentrating so much on writing this week. I hope this is OK but I'm going to reply to the recent questions and queries all together on the review page...