My Cadence

I knew she was watching me. I could feel her stare despite the number of people crowding the room. I sighed, took a sip of my drink and scowled at the burn in my throat as if I hadn't expected it. 1

I refused to turn around and search for those dark eyes that were making my shoulders blades itch.2

"What's wrong, Nicky? I thought you came here to party." Eddie sighed, annoyed. "Come on, man. Cut loose, chase a tail or two. You're drowning yourself in top shelf liquor instead."3

I glanced up, shrugged at the exasperated face of my best friend. Eddie was a good pal. I was feeling low, so he'd decided to bring me out, get me liquored up, and possibly laid. 4

I'd tried to get into the spirit of things, knowing that the previous chapter of my life was over. A closed book. Done. But with her watching, it was impossible.5

"Yeah, maybe I'm just not the club-hopping guy anymore," I mumbled, not caring whether he could hear me over the bone-jarring music.6

"I don't believe that! You? Nah, you're the guy who can charm tbe panties off of the coldest hot girl in the room. That's you."7

"Not anymore," I replied tiredly.8

Eddie rolled his eyes, took his drink in one shot, and slammed it down. "Goddamn it! Fine, man. There's no helping you. You're determined to go mooning around all heart sick-"9

"I'm not heart sick-"10

"I don't even know what the hang up is! I mean, she was hot, yeah. Too hot for you, but-"11

"Shut up, Eddie," I growled, the warning thick in my voice.12

"I wish you could just put that bitch, Cad-"13

"Shut the fuck up!" I interrupted sharply. "Don't say her name."14

He grimaced, but simply turned and watched a gaggle of girls pass by in a flurry of cheap silk and obnoxious perfume. "Fine."15

"I'm outta here." I patted his shoulder in empty apology and nudged my drink towards him. "Thanks for the night out. See you later." I didn't think I would, but it seemed a nice thing to say.16

I moved quickly out of the club, ignoring the tiny hairs on my neck standing up. I knew she was there, knew it with every atom I owned, but I could ignore it.17

I shrugged my jacket tighter against the frigid breeze as I stepped onto the empty, lonely street. I only lived four blocks from the club, and I wondered if I'd be able to make it home without Her catching up to me. 18

I made it three blocks.19

"What's the hurry, sweetheart?" a breathless, velvety voice asked in my ear.20

I spun, flailing out with my surprise, but she moved too quickly, dancing out of my reach. Her eyes laughed at me, twinkling in the dark. 21

She had a way of looking at me, even in the most serious of moments; almost as everything was amusing to her inside her head. 22

I'd always thought those limpid chocolate pools she called eyes were deep and dark enough to drown in and never climb back out of. As beautifully serene and dark and deadly as twin tar pits.23

"Leave me alone, Cadence," I said softly.24

"You don't really want me to."25

"Oh yeah. I really do." I stuffed my hands in my pockets to avoid reaching out to touch her velvety golden skin. It hurt, literally hurt me inside to be this close to her and not touch her. I was a junkie with a jonesin' and Cadence was my drug.26

I knew for a fact that her skin would make my fingers tingle, like touching a contained fire that seared without actually damaging the skin. Cadence was the ultimate in temptation. A fire to warm yourself against, luxuriate in, and then get burned by.27

She tucked her chin in defensively, trying to look innocent. She wasn't really good at it. She was a lot of things, but I wasn't sure she had ever been innocent.28

She reached one hand out to brush against my cheek and I took a big step back. She didn't look hurt by it. She looked determined.29

"You've missed me," she murmured, sure of herself. She was always so damn sure. I hated the fact that she was right too.30

I spun on my heel, determined to march my way home. She was faster than me and was instantly in my way again. Dark eyes burned into me. "Leave me alone. We're over. I thought that was clear."31

"It's not clear. We both know it."32

"Well, aren't you arrogant?"33

She smiled a little, a vixen in a perfect package. "Fine. You want the truth, lover? I miss you too. Are you happy?"34

I chortled. "No." I looked away from her. "I'm not sure I know what happy is anymore."35

She moved close to me suddenly, grabbing the lapels of my jacket and holding on when I tried to shuffle away. She was surprisingly strong, those thin arms belying the strength they held.36

"We belong together, Nicholas. You know that." She closed her eyes, shuddering as I did at the effect we both had on each other.37

Feeling things had never been a problem for me and Cadence. We both felt everything too strongly with each other. "You lied to me," I murmured, trying not to breath in the coconut smell of her dark, silken hair as she leaned close to me.38

"I told you the truth." She looked up and I fell deep into those dark orbs she called eyes. Backlit now, like a cat's eyes shining in the dark. Glowing a fierce, beautiful gold from within.39

"I really don't know if I can handle your truth," I managed.40

She bit her bottom lip, worried it for a moment. And I clamped down on the thought of how cute she was when she did that. It wasn't fair. How could she be so sinfully beautiful and still innocently cute at the same time?41

"I was trying to forget about you."42

She shook her head, leaned her forehead on my chin, inhaled deeply. "You can't. Or at least, I hope you can't. Because I can't get you outta of my system." She hesitated, then looked up, showing me her vulnerability. That more than anything made me hold my breath and begin to actually hope. 43

Cadence was a lot of things. Vulnerable wasn't one of them. "I need you," she whispered.44

I stood there for a long time. Let the brutal wind play in my hair and numb my face. She stood close, waiting. And I somehow knew that if I told her no right now, she would leave. She would be leaving with half my soul. Forgiveness was possible, right? If you loved someone.45

I gave in. Rubbed my face against her hair and felt her shudder and sigh. "I love you, Cadence," I whispered. The wind snatched the words away, but I knew she heard them.46

She felt my acceptance. Her smile was sweet, joyous. Not triumphant like I imagined. I let her tilt my neck to the side. Let her press a sweet kiss against my jugular. Felt her murmur that she loved me too. That we'd be together forever.47

Then she reared back and struck me with sharp fangs. Pain came and went fast. Pleasure flooded me and I held her close. As she made me hers. 48

I looked up into the sky and said goodbye to my old life. And welcomed my new one with my vampire lover. My Cadence. 49