Bliss (The Custos) Read online

  Preacher made sense I was sure of it but my thoughts were a mile a minute. "It was just the Infatuation; he told me none of that was real, anything else is lingering effects."

  "Yea?" Preacher asked and raised his eyebrows. "He's full of shit. You drank enough of his blood, Infatuation was gone the minute you did. He can read your thoughts in moments of weakness on your part but any little girlie feelings you have are yours and yours alone."

  "Oh God the bathtub." I breathed the words as my cheeks flushed in horror.

  "Trust me cookie, it was a treat for all of us."

  "Oh God." I cried and buried my face. This couldn’t get worse. Then his words from earlier hit me. ‘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, regardless of how you perceive me.'

  "I was awful to him." I said more to myself than to Preacher who obligingly agreed.

  "I need a minute Preacher go away." I flinched as I said the words scared he may attack me but he only laughed and left me alone with my thoughts.

  Time I didn’t need, I knew I wanted him and he told me he wanted me, seconds before locking me in the damn van. Well the big bad Vamp had another thing coming because as crazy as it sounded I wanted him, I didn’t fear him and I knew based on what Preacher showed me he would not hurt me. I grabbed the bag of makeup from my purse and pulled the tiny mirror out.

  He wanted to play hard to get, well I invented that game.

  London

  I walked in the bar and still briefly losing my cool when the tenor flailing of Steve Perry sang 'Oh Sherry'. "Shoot me now." I muttered to myself and walked to an empty booth and sat alone. Oh I had him in the bag; I had every eye in the place on me. Sure some wanted to bite me others fuck me but there was only one in particular I wanted.

  I saw Cash sitting at the bar and Preacher at his side. I knew the minute that Preacher told him I knew everything because Cash seemed to relax which shocked me. I didn’t need any favors though, I knew all I needed to know and I would be the one charging this crusade.

  The waitress, a cute little blonde with big curls and brown eyes came by to take my order. I asked for a large Miller draft and a shot of Jim Beam black on the side. Cash knew what I ordered and he watched me when the waitress came back with my order. I looked at him dead in the eye before taking the shot, it burnt like hell but I looked petal soft on the outside. I had to match him step for step.

  I walked to the Jukebox, rocking my hip while I looked for a song. It was time to dance. The box had been updated to my surprise and I found a song that would do the job on its own.

  Melanie Fiona started singing ‘Give it to me right' and I walked out to the small wooden dance floor, alone just how I wanted it. I started slow waiting for the beat to kick in where I needed it. I could feel Cash's eyes on me and it made this so much better knowing he was already affected. I folded my arms over my chest before slipping my hands free and tracing my hips and rolling them to the beat.

  Preacher nodded and smiled, he was on board with the task at hand and that made me work harder for it. I rolled my neck, letting my dark hair sway against my body before bringing my arms up under the back of my neck, lifting my hair as I rose my arms just so, making it fan out before falling back down my back.

  The chorus of the song came and as I slowly made my way towards Cash and Preacher a man, tall and handsome came up behind me and took me by my waist. I felt his arms and seen the fire in Cash's and knew at that moment I had him hooked. They said I was bait but I had him hook line and the sinker came when I spun and met my dance partner and pulled him close.

  I let my hips roll way too close to my partner making him use both arms to pull me closer. We swayed, extremely close, his hands inching closer and closer to my ass. I needed to pull back, this guy was nice to look at but my target was drooling at the sight of me with this guy. In that second I tested the waters and leaned in to him catching his scent and breathing deep. I was way into this and he smelled so good, like fresh cut lawn and cedar.

  It hit me fast. This guy was a Vampire. Exhile or Nex didn’t matter because I had my back up. I said I trusted Cash so I would. Pulling him closer I picked up the rolling of my hips and I could feel how bad this guy wanted me, literally it was pressed against my stomach and I tried not to blush. I waited until I could see Cash. Seconds before he was drooling, now he was on guard, any signs of lust gone he was ready to attack. I had only one shot hear and I willed him to hear my thoughts.

  'I’m fine Cash, make sure Preacher knows it. Let me finish the dance and I will get him to follow me outside.' I couldn’t finish my thought because he immediately shook his head no. I was glad that it worked and it would come in handy but right now I was the bait again and I was doing my job.

  'Trust me. I know he is a Vampire he smells like fresh grass and cedar. The songs almost over make sure you follow us.'

  I spun to avoid facing him. I wondered for a second if he could get in my mind but it was silent and the song was ending. As if on cue my partner asked if I wanted to get some fresh air.

  "I would love to." I said and followed him outside.

  The second we made it out the door he went from gentleman to Vampire and I was pretty certain he was a Nex and threw me against the brick wall. "Damn your stupid human."

  "Yeah? Well your dead." It was childish I know but if a human was around they would have laughed.

  "No shit. You should know that when you open your mind to a Vampire, it's not selective. We all hear it."

  Busted.

  Luckily I saw Preacher and Cash walking towards us, though slow I was glad all the same. "Yeah well your about to be real sorry Fang Boy."

  "Fang boy?" He looked over his shoulder and laughed when he seen my unconcerned protectors. "Is she serious?"

  WTF? They knew one another....... Before I could ask Cash spoke up. "Princess meet Leushus, our boss for all intents and purposes."

  "Oh god" I moaned to myself. While trying to win a losing battle with Cash I proceeded and succeeded in getting his boss hard.

  Nice!

  "Dam it Princess block, we all heard that!" Cash said but the look he gave me was sympathetic.

  "God, I’m sorry." I ran my hands over my hips and extended my palm to Leushus. "Seriously. My name is London not Princess and yeah.....sorry."

  Luckily he laughed and drew my hand up and kissed it palm up. "I enjoyed it really." He said with a smile before looking at Cash. "Had I known you wanted Cash as your mate I would never had danced with you."

  "My what?" I screeched while Cash coughed nervously.

  "Well she was dancing for you." He motioned between Cash and I. “She can’t block me so when I saw her trying her best to get you worked up I figured it would go much faster if I stepped in." He looked at me and smiled as he leaned in. "Male Vampires are very aggressive over their mates." He stood back and smiled again looking at Cash who looked like he had seen a ghost. "She was gonna go all night and if I wanted a chance to tell you what I found out I had no choice."

  Cash ran his hands through his hair and down his face before dropping his arms and laughing. But he didn’t think this was funny. His laugh was more like...'what else is gonna happen tonight.' "Well she is not my mate she just wants to fuck me and it's for me to handle later." He glanced at me briefly before continuing. "For now what’s up why ya hear?"

  Leushus laughed again and clasped Cash on the shoulder. "Well Viccini made a move a big one and it involves your girl there." He said and pointed at me. "Your Daddy put the hit out on you but not for shits and giggles. Your contract was faxed over about an hour ago and ....." He paused looking at Cash then at me. "Maybe you should sit down London."

  I laughed." Maybe you should just spit it out." I snapped. What was
it about Vampires that made them think they were superior?

  "Because we are now sit." Leushus said, voice firm and by force from three feet away he made me.

  I sat because I had no choice but I made sure he knew I wasn’t happy about it. "She uh....She hates being bossed around." Preacher said referring to my outburst from earlier.

  "Get used to it when I’m around." He said laughing.

  "OK enough what's going on?"

  "The contract states that once you’re in captivity a Nex named Conlin will be called to retrieve you. Once he does I believe he plans to turn you."

  "Oh shit." I said as my breath left in a gust. "Oh God." Before I could go into full on panic Cash sat down beside me.

  "Breathe. Remember what I said earlier, me and Preacher will never leave your side. we're trained to kill the Nex, this Conlin means nothing, a Vamp with a hard on."

  I know he meant well but right now the idea of someone making me a Vampire was terrifying, but to be a Nex Vampire? I couldn’t think about it, the idea was too much. I knew I had a choice, stand up and face it or crawl into a hole. Honestly a hole looked good and even better when Leushus spoke again.

  "Not exactly Cash, you’re coming with me for a few days."

  Cash paused, briefly but he paused all the same. Maybe he hated leaving me just as much as I hated the thought of it. I heard Leushus laugh and I knew he could hear my thoughts so I decided to think of books and movies that made him laugh harder. "The harder you try to keep me out, the deeper you pull me in London. Don’t bother."

  I wanted to scream. "Where are we going?" Cash asked.

  "To look at the contract, her Father placed one with both sides; whoever finds her turns her over to Conlin."

  That had Cash off his feet and fast. "No way Leush, not gonna happen, I will not turn her over to a fiend."

  Leushus nodded but said nothing while Cash continued. "I can’t believe you are ok with this?"

  He looked at Leushus until Leushus finally spoke. "Are you finished?"

  Cash said nothing only nodded. "I’m glad. And no we are not turning her over. Nobody seems to know where the contract came from, looks like a mole in the mix. You are coming with me because I need no bullshit on this and Preacher is more than capable of keeping her safe for a few days."

  "I'll be fine." I said.

  "Glad to hear it." He said with a smile before looking at Cash as if they were leaving now. "I have a few more stops tonight but I will be by Preachers tomorrow at nightfall."

  Before Cash could answer Leushus disappeared right before my eyes.

  Cash turned around ignoring my shock and smiled. "Time to drink." he said and walked back in the bar.

  *

  Chapter Nine

  Cash

  I meant what I said to Leushus outside. I knew she was dancing for me, I knew she wanted me to fuck her and I would handle it. Before I left I would get her in bed. I had given up on fighting my attraction to her. Crazier things had happened. It would be difficult being with a human, there was so much power that I would need to leash to keep from hurting her. But I wasn’t fighting my want any longer.

  She wasn’t the only one who had game though. I didn’t need infatuation to get her, though it would help in proving my point. If I wanted her I would have her. Sitting at a small booth I smiled by fiercest smile and made her catch her breath. I loved that sound, and so did my cock.

  "Princess?" I asked making her pull her gaze from Preacher.

  "Hmm?" She batted her eyes.

  "The human you loved once? What happened?" I had picked up this man from her mind time and time again. Every time she thought of me she would get flashes of her former lover, made me hate him.

  Just sayin'.

  She cleared her throat and flipped her hair over her shoulder. I caught a whiff of her shampoo, and though the scent was entwined with the musty bar and stale tobacco it still made my cock jerk.

  Down boy.

  "Well?" I asked knowing I was pushing.

  "His name was Mark. He was a financial adviser fresh out of college. We met during the summer before my first semester in college. He was tall dark and handsome and I truly thought he loved me." She took a deep breath. "He said he loved me and everything about me. He didn’t know a damn thing though, but he played me like a harp. Turns out he knew who I was and my Father. He manipulated me into getting him a job with my father’s company."

  She started laughing and my heart broke for her and how hard it must be to tell me how she had been played. "The two of them would tease me, jokes always at my expense, but my Father seemed to like him and I had hoped Mark would have brought us closer." Another deep breath. "So one day I went to the apartment we shared, I had skipped my classes that day. I wanted a little afternoon delight but when I got home.... Let’s just say sky rockets were already in flight."

  "Jesus he was with another woman?" I asked. I was stunned; if I had her I wouldn’t look at another woman for all of my days, or nights as it was.

  "Yeah, my friend Chelsea, you met her at the bar that night."

  "What in the fuck do you still hang out with them for?"

  "Honestly? I mean do you really not get it?"

  "Guess not Princess. Where I come from we avoid poison."

  She looked at me, a look of complete.... realization. "Well where I come from poison is all we have. I grew up with snakes as friends. I knew they were poison and I knew they bit."

  "Sorry Princess." I felt for her I did and not just because of how badly I wanted her. She grew up with nothing good. She had been given everything but what mattered most. She had taught herself to bite back, to accept the worst in others. She had protected herself so well I wondered if I had the fight inside of me to try and let her see. But I would fight for her; I would fight for her to see what I was. I wanted her, not her money and not her status.

  "Why be sorry? I mean really why?" She just didn’t get it.

  "Because, after all is said and done you don’t see what I see." I leaned in close hoping that my nearness made her heart speed up. It did and I smiled, loving that sound. "You don’t have to watch your back with us; we will watch it for you."

  She smiled and looked like a ghost walked through her. Good. It was time she was able to breathe without fear of the next attack.

  *

  London

  Preacher was funny. A vessel as full of faith as his you think would hinder him from a lot of things. But it didn’t. I watched as Preacher talked up the cute waitress, he had her smiling and laughing and the signs of the Infatuation were clear. She was leaning close and taking every chance to touch him she could. I had to smile.

  "It's weird, I figured he would abstain from sex like he does with alcohol and vengeance and...mirrors."

  Cash laughed. "He's vengeful let me make that clear, mirrors.... well keep working on it, as for sex, he's still a man Princess, his needs are the same and it was the first pleasure he sought out when he became Immortal."

  "Tell me what it was like, what you were like when you were human."

  He looked at me but said nothing and I wished I could read his mind. "Tell me, please."

  As if he took a second to think it over he finally spoke. "You think it'll make it easier, that it will be ok to want me if you know that I was human once."

  I recoiled but he was right, it would make it easier. "Yes." I said figuring there was no point in hiding it.

  He took a sip from his bottle of Bud and shook his head no. "It won’t. I was a drunk and had debts up to my ears. My wife left me and took our son James with her. I would steal to survive, and spend my nights in brothels and bars drinking till I passed out." He paused to laugh. "Divine intervention, I became a Vampire and learned I had to drink to keep from killing innocent people."

  "What made you want to be a Vampire? Preacher said everyone had a reason."

  "I didn’t chose it, it chose me in the back of an alley, she was beautiful and she turned me and I never saw her again but
I learned fast."

  "I think it's fascinating that you have watched the hand of time change the world, I can’t imagine what it must have been like."

  He nodded and looked at Preacher who was now going outside with the waitress. "Will he feed from her?" I asked my voice low.

  "Probably, but Preacher will give her the choice, same as fucking it will all be her choice, the humans mind is masked by Infatuation but we know what the truth is, he'll know beneath the Infatuation if she wants what he offers. Some say yes some say no and he will listen and she will say yes."