Love Bites

A New Familiar

"John." Beau whispers, glancing at the bronze skin and striking features of the woman grinning at us. Long straight black hair frames her face and swishes around her waist with her movements. "Have I met her? She looks familiar." I just chuckle softly and Cleo answers him leaning closer, her breasts looking as if they'll spill out of her top.

"I'm sure you've seen my bust in museums, young man." Cleo giggles.

"Your bust?" Beau gives her a disgusted look, shaking his head. "I'm sorry, I'm gay. A woman's bust has never caught my attention." And with that, Anthony, Cleo, and I all burst into laughter. I pull Beau closer and kiss his cheek as he blushes. "Shit, you mean the partial statue kind. Ahem. Yeah, probably have. So that means... Queen of the Nile Cleopatra?" His eyes widen in shock and he glances at Anthony. "Does that mean?"

"Nah. I'm not that Anthony. It's just a coincidence my queen found humorous." Anthony says, as Cleo strokes his hand on the bar. "I'm younger than your gramps here." He grins, winking at Beau and trying not to laugh at my pout.

"Only by a decade or so, brat." I say grinning. "So, Cleo?" I start, but she puts her arm around my shoulders smirking.

"I'll definitely help you kid." Cleo says, clenching her jaw. "But you need to promise me something in return."

"Okay, what? I'll do anything if you train me." I say hopeful she won't ask for something crazy.

"You need to kill him." Cleo says and she's dead serious. "And take back the ring. No good will come from someone like him having it. Until you reclaim it, I'll give you a gift." She grins mischievously and looks to Anthony. "Give him the warehouse address love." She looks back at me and glances at Beau, shooting daggers at her arm around me. "Tomorrow after sunset, we'll begin your training." She kisses my cheek and begins to saunter away in laughter. "You can bring your little lover, he might get jealous. By the way John, you ever think of getting a piercing?" She winks.

"Uhm, not really. Maybe an ear? Anyway, I should've known she'd be close if I found you." I turn to Anthony chuckling softly as he writes an address on a napkin. Beau is fuming beside me and I find it so adorable. "Sweetheart, she's just teasing. She's so in love and protective of this bear, it's kind of funny." I say, Anthony glancing up and trying to hide his darkening cheeks.

"So, when I become your familiar, will you be as possessive?" Beau teases, snuggling close as I sigh and Anthony's eyes widen.

"You've never had a familiar." Anthony says, sliding the napkin across the bar to me and smiling. "Then again, you've never had a proper relationship either." He winks at Beau and moves down the bar to serve other customers.

"Beau, I..." I don't want to hurt him, but I just don't know if I can do it before I take William down. I hear him sigh and slip off his barstool.

"Alright. Let's go home. We shouldn't discuss it here anyway." Beau says, looking dejected as he turns for the door.

"Beau wait!" I hurry after him, taking his hand. I hate that my concerns for him are causing him pain. I also hate not knowing what he's thinking.

   He's quiet, as we walk the two blocks back to his bar. Just before he unlocks the door, he squeezes my hand and gives me a weak grin. We head inside, locking up behind us and I'm a bit shocked as he moves to grab a partial bottle of whiskey from behind the bar before heading upstairs. He unscrews the top and tosses it aside, taking a huge swig from the bottle.

"Beau! Sweetheart, talk to me. I'm sorry if I upset you, I'm just worried about you." I say frantic, as we enter the apartment.

"I'm okay." Beau says, taking another large pull from the bottle. He sits it on the counter and strips out of his shirt, his face reddening from he alcohol. "John, let me make love to you, please?" He looks so vulnerable and sad, I cross to him immediately. "Feed from me like that time I got so excited. Just let me get lost in loving you for awhile."