Free Bliss (The Custos) by Melanie Walker

broke."
     
                  I recoiled and sucked in a deep breath. "What? When?" What the hell was wrong with me if it wasn’t Infatuation?
     
                  He scrubbed his hands over his face and I knew he was keeping something from me. "I'll explain later."
     
     
                  "Fine then why are you being nice to me."
     
                  He actually looked hurt for a split second but he recovered quickly. "I’m not a dick London. I’m short with you because you think I’m a fiend from hell, that I am a broker for the devil and a Mother Fucker. I wish I could tell you why I act so cold but it's for your benefit not mine. I think it's fair to say that though you want to fuck me, you still hate me and I don’t ever go where I’m not wanted, no matter how evil you perceive me."
     
                  "Is that what you want?" I couldn’t stop the words as they came out at their own volition but I wanted to know. This no infatuation sucked, it was a good fall back. "Is this because of the bathtub?"
     
                  I saw the heat flash in his eyes and my body responded. "God you don’t get it do you?" He said his voice calm but his eyes were strong and angry. "But why would you...." He said barely a whisper.
     
                  "You didn’t answer my question, is that what you want?" My celibacy be damned but I knew I would let him have me.
     
                  He said nothing for like for-ev-er, but when he spoke his voice was deep and laced with need. "More than I should Princess."
     
                  Those words stopped me in my tracks and I leaned towards him open to whatever he would give. I didn’t know where it came from or why I needed him to touch me but I knew if he did I wouldn’t yield. I would welcome it. With my guard down for a brief second it hurt when he leaned away from me, slamming the van door and locking me inside.
    *
     
     
    Cacius
     
     
                  "Damit!"
     
                  "What now?" Preacher asked even though I knew he heard it all, such manners.
     
                  Fucking Preacher.
     
                  "Don’t play dumb Preach." I said before storming inside. He knew me to well; he knew what happened before we knew she was the mark. That night in the club he seen it, I like a fool told him I wanted her, to feed and fuck. Before I made it to the bar Preacher was at my back.
     
                  "You’re a damn fool to not try Cash. Kill the lust with a bottle of your bourbon and talk to the girl, she's sweet."
     
                  This night couldn’t get worse, oh how the mighty have fallen. I a powerful Vampire was being advised by a near hundred year old Vampire Priest on how to get a girl. Oh god how the mighty have fallen. I clasped him on the back, "Thanks Preach I'll do that." And like that I set him off.
     
                  It was nothing to be tossed on your ass twenty feet from your opponent in less than a second at mock speed in a Vampire bar, try that shit in a human bar and you'll be wiping minds for a week. I stood, teeth bared at Preacher who lunged through the air at the same time as I did, our bodies clashed as we both fell to the floor. This would be a doozy, fighting with Preacher always was but before I could throw the first punch he spoke, well more like hissed, "You damn yourself here Cacius Troy, you damn yourself but don’t damn her in the process."
     
                  And it ended as quickly as it began. Preacher honored his nickname because he always said the right thing to make you open your eyes. I let him go and watched as he rubbed his neck where I held him with force to the ground. "I know." I said and walked to the bar.
     
                  Preacher still on my ass sat beside me and continued. "Well what you gonna do bout' it? Let