“It’s the safe word I was told to say if you end up…if you…you know.” She shrugged, suddenly not feeling so amused anymore.
“Your safe word is funny. What is it?” Then he choked out a laugh of his own putting his hand up. “Don’t say it or our session will be over before it begins.”
“Don’t worry, I won’t.” She smiled. “Unless of course…” She let the sentence die as she watched his eyes cloud for a second.
He looked away and when his gaze turned back to her, his eyes were more the color of the depths of the ocean. Dark, brooding, they radiated immense power. “You need to know that you are safe with me. I will not harm you in any way.”
“How can you be so sure?” Her voice sounded a little croaky. It wasn’t lost on her how her very life stood in the balance. There was a reason they were being paid so much money. Danger pay was the correct terminology.
He shrugged using just one shoulder, a half smile played with the left side of his mouth. His bottom lip was full. It had the kind of lush softness a girl could suck on or bite into.
Bite.
Head in the game, Cassidy.
York gave a knowing smile. He had caught her checking him out. Her cheeks heated, which irritated her. It had been a very long time since a man had, had this kind of effect on her. Who was she kidding? No man had ever had this kind of effect on her. Then again, York was not a man.
The vampire in question all out grinned, making her knees feel a little weak. “I would never hurt you, Cassidy. Do I look weak to you?”
She found herself running her gaze down the length of him and shook her head. There was nothing but raw power. “You are far from weak, that’s the problem. You could snap me like a twig.”
He laughed. “No, a female like you”—his eyes seemed to heat—“should be treasured and protected. It will be an honor to take your blood. I will not hurt you.” His eyes dipped to her chest for the briefest second before moving back to her face. “You might want to lose the blouse.” He pulled his own shirt over his head.
Her mouth dried in an instant and she found herself taking a sip of the juice. She had to force herself to relinquish her severe hold on the glass.
Thankfully, he didn’t seem to notice how shaken she was or that she was staring. He turned to throw his shirt over the back of one of the sofas. York had a six pack that looked like it had been carved from granite with that whole vee at the hips thing going on. His back was a wide expanse of hard muscle. He had those bulging muscles at the top of his shoulders. They ran down from his neck. The word yummy came to mind. Her tongue suddenly grew a mind of its own wanting to lick them…him…all over.
York turned to face her and flexed his pecs. Cassidy put a hand out, clutching for the edge of the sofa closest to her to steady herself.
His eyes dropped back down to her chest area. “You really should take that off, wouldn’t want to ruin it.”
“I…it’s fine…it’s old anyway.” She was stuttering and stammering and still struggling to inhale sufficient oxygen into her lungs to be able to think clearly.
He frowned for a few seconds before nodding. “Maybe if we loosened the top two buttons.” In less than two strides he was at her side.
It was probably her imagination, but she was sure she could feel heat radiating off of him. Heavens above, she could definitely smell his manly, musky scent with a hint of soapy, clean undertones. If cologne companies could bottle it, they’d make a small fortune.
“I’d be happy to help if—”
“No.” It came out a little too harsh. “I’ve got it. Are you sure that I need to?” It would be better if she kept as clothed as possible and looked at him as little as possible. Her panties were distinctly damp and he had yet to lay a finger on her.
“I need to get to the base of your neck. Right about”—he lifted his hand placing two fingers at her pulse just below the neckline of her blouse—“here.” Her heart rate sky rocketed at the simple touch. She may not have been able to breathe earlier, but right now, her breathing was too labored. Her chest rising and falling quickly.
“Hey…” His deep voice abraded her senses. “You’re in good hands. Please calm down. I won’t hurt you.” Only then did he allow his hand to fall away from her. He looked down at her with such focus and intensity. Like she was the only person that existed in the world, or at least the only one that counted, which was crazy because they had only just met and this was a business arrangement.
“I know.” She answered without thinking.
His eyes narrowed for a second. “Why are you so afraid then? I can scent your fear.” His nostrils flared. “It’s pungent.”
“I’m sorry.” Her cheeks heated and she looked away, feeling more vulnerable than she ever had before.
“You have nothing to be sorry about. If you truly believe that I mean you no harm, why are you still so afraid?” He paused.
How the hell did she tell him that she was attracted to him and afraid of becoming so aroused that she would do something that would embarrass the hell out of her? Images of straddling his lap, of his hands on her, rose up in her mind. Cassidy didn’t do things like that with total strangers and wasn’t about to start now. The problem was, she didn’t think she was going to have much say in the matter, so maybe it was best that they discussed it now.
York cupped her chin, lifting her gaze to his. “Tell me.” He released her.
Cassidy licked her lips. “I’m a little worried about my reaction to you when you drink from me.”
His lip twitched.
“I’m worried because I’ve been told that we humans react quite heavily to being bitten.” It came out rushed and high pitched, but at least it was out in the open now.
York nodded once. “Yeah…you will become aroused and will need to be touched.”
His candid matter of fact approach had her taking a step back. She’d expected him to play it down or deny it flat out, but not this.
“Maybe take off the stockings and your underwear.” He went on. “I am very good with my hands. I’ll make sure that it is good for you.”
Cassidy sat down on the sofa, landing heavily. He was being totally honest, which she appreciated. She shook her head. “No, it won’t be necessary.”
No way in hell!
Glancing down at her watch, she noticed that they had five minutes left before their session ended.
York gave her a cocky half smile, hooking his fingers into his jean pockets. He was big, built and entirely hairless. Sexy wasn’t nearly a good enough description. “It is a simple fact that when I sink my teeth into your honeyed skin, you are going to go out of your head with need. Your pussy will be wetter than it’s ever been in your whole life. It will be like someone lit a match inside you. Your womb will scream to be filled. Your clit will throb. It will be torture to try and abstain and there is no need to.”
She shook her head. Horrified at how turned on she was. How close she was to agreeing to everything. She hadn’t had sex in a year. Right now that felt like a very long damned time.
York sat down next to her. “Climb onto my lap. Open your legs just a little. No one will see anything because you will be covered by your skirt.” His voice dropped about a hundred octaves. “I will make you come multiple times in half a minute. It would be my pleasure.”
He made it sound like he would be doing her a favor. Then again, he probably would be doing her a favor. Who was she kidding? Just look at the guy, there was no way he was interested in her in a real way.
She tried to eat healthy but the fact of the matter was, she enjoyed her food and wasn’t about to give it up so that she could be a stick insect. As a result, she had some flesh on her bones, cellulite had become a factor as well as she neared thirty.
Her hair was just past her shoulders. It was so dark brown that it looked black. It also had the tendency to be a little frizzy so she washed it daily using a special conditioner that you left in. It helped tame the frizz, mostly. Her boobs were a
decent size but they were a little droopy. Thankfully her nipples still faced forward, so not too bad. She really couldn’t complain. Her eyes were probably her best attribute. Somewhere between a light brown and green.
There was also nothing extraordinary about her. She’d had friends in school, but she was not one of the popular girls. She’d dated guys but never one of the really good looking ones. None like York. Guys like York were always into the supermodel types like the ones she’d seen around the castle. She was sure that the women they picked to enter the breeding program would be much the same. He is not interested in you Cassidy, the delicious looking vampire is just being polite.
“Can I help you undress?” York asked, bringing her back. “We don’t have much time left.”
“No, I’m good. Thanks.” There was no way she would let him touch her out of some false sense of owing her. Or pity or whatever it was that was driving him to have made the offer in the first place. Forget it.
York sighed loudly. “If you change your mind…”
“I won’t,” she snapped.
He held up his hands in mock surrender. “If you do by any small miracle decide that you need me to touch you, all you have to say is tiger and I’ll come to your rescue.”
“Another word to remember.” She had to laugh. “Thank you, but no.”
“Just say the word and I’ll ease you…” He winked at her. “I’m pretty sure that I can make you cum even through all those layers of clothes. We have less than a minute so please get on my lap.” He tapped his meaty thighs.
An argument was on the tip of her tongue but they were out of time. She was about to lose herself fifteen big ones because of her fear of arousal.
Not happening.
Cassidy slid onto his lap and he steadied her by closing his hands on her hips. Oh god, he was big and built and yummy.
“The blouse,” he growled. “The buttons,” he added when she looked at him stupidly. His eyes were glowing and his voice was so deep. Even deeper than before. Her hands shook as she undid the top two buttons opening up her blouse to expose her neck.
“Relax and just say tiger when it gets too much.” His words were growled rather than spoken. Like his voice box was damaged or something. It was sexy as hell. When she looked down, she noticed that her silky blouse clung to her breasts. That her nipples were so hard that they poked right through her bra. How embarrassing! Note to self, wear padded bra next time.
York was the first vampire that was drinking from her today. There were two more to come. Just as she sucked in a deep breath, he bent down and sank his teeth into her.
There was a pinch, much like the feeling you get when a hypodermic needle breaks your skin. She made a squeaking noise followed by a low moan as he closed his mouth on her. His lips were hot and soft. His touch felt so sensual and intimate, it made her drag in a rugged breath.
His hands clasped her tighter, pulling her against his chest. Her own face was buried into the crook of his neck. His delicious, manly scent wrapped itself around her as his warmth seeped through her. When he sucked for the first time, her hands automatically closed on his arms trying to find purchase. She tried to pull away but he held on tight. He groaned loudly, ending on a deep growl which vibrated against her, making her nipples pebble to the point of pain.
When he sucked again, her back bowed and her girly bits turned wet. York had been right, dripping wet, wetter than ever before. She mewled like a kitten. Her grip on his arms increased but there was very little give because his muscles were so rock solid.
York growled loudly when he sucked again. The need to cum became all consuming. It did feel like someone had lit a match inside her. She was burning with need.
Cassidy moaned. She could hear that her voice was dripping with sheer frustration. Panting, she pushed her thighs together to try and stop the ache. It only worsened the problem. On the next long pull, she cried out. This time her voice belied a need so consuming that it physically hurt.
Tiger.
One teeny, tiny word. No way was she letting him give her a pity orgasm.
Pumpkin.
If she shouted that word then the Calvary would come in and York would fail and be booted from the program. She couldn’t do that to him. He’d been nothing but polite. Even his dirty talk had cut through the bullshit. It had been straight down the line honesty which was more than she had been afforded by a man in a very long time.
It only left one other option. She would wait this out. This torture, this bliss, this nightmare. It would all be over soon. She only hoped that she could stay strong.
Chapter 5
Blood.
Hot, thick, so sweet it had his muscles bunching and his dick turning rock hard. The female sitting on his lap had his blood boiling and his synapses firing on all cylinders. Her scent was beyond intoxicating. The taste of her blood was utter ecstasy.
In this moment, with her soft curves mashed up against him, with her gentle moans and whimpers in his ears, York was finally able to understand why bloodlust existed. He understood only too damned well what brought it on and why. He took a deep pull on her neck, his mouth filled with her rich blood. She moaned.
Any second now…
If he wasn’t careful he could lose ahold of reality. If he didn’t keep his wits about him he could lose himself in her taste, in the feel of her. Become swept away. What York had told this female was the truth. He would never harm her…not ever. Another deep suck and his cock actually twitched as she cried out. The sound a mixture of pleasure and pain.
Any second now…
His hands itched. His cock throbbed, wanting out of the tight confines of his jeans. It wanted to be buried deep inside this female. He longed to feel her wet heat. Her hands held him tight. Her little fingers digging into his biceps. She rubbed her thighs together, no doubt trying to ease the pressure that was building between them. It wouldn’t help. Nothing would. He couldn’t wait to touch her. Wished he could fuck her. The scent of her arousal had him groaning his own note of frustration. Another pull, this time he sucked deep, knowing that she would feel the pull in every erogenous zone in her body.
Any second now…
Her back bowed and she made a keening noise that almost made him throw her down on the sofa and rip her clothing to shreds. How was she holding out? When she’d first walked into this room, he had scented her fear, he had also scented her arousal. It had oozed from her pores from the moment she had laid eyes on him. The fear had come and gone as they initially talked, the arousal had only blossomed further. The female in his arms wanted him. She should not be able to fight this.
York wanted her right back. The need to ease her was almost overwhelming. He wanted so much more than just a simple touch. Needed things that were not possible. He wanted to make her come. Hear her cries of pleasure. Why was she being so stubborn? Another long, hard suck had her holding her breath. He heard her heart stop for a few beats before starting back up again.
Give in…
Say it!
Another hard pull. He felt her little teeth sink into his flesh and he snarled. Need intermingled with frustration rode him hard. Her little teeth bit hard enough for him to feel but not hard enough to break the skin. Desire and longing took ahold of him like never before.
It happened so quickly. One minute they were in an embrace and the next he was being pulled away from her.
Fuck!
York snarled in frustration as he caught a look of fear on her face. She was pale. One of the guards, he couldn’t remember the fucker’s name, had his arms around her slight shoulders.
“Mine,” York snarled. His voice was so thick with rage that the word was mostly unrecognizable.
Cassidy shrieked in terror. She was afraid of him. The other two guards held onto him, one guard on each arm. Adrenaline coursed through his veins. His vision narrowed until only she remained. He had to get to the female. Had to show her that he meant her no harm, that she was safe.
He ripped
his right arm free. Then, he elbowed the guard on that side. There was a sound of something cracking. More than likely the male’s jaw. Then he punched the male on his left who staggered back. Unfortunately, he could see from the corner of his eye that the guard wasn’t injured enough to stay down. He loathed to take his eyes off the female but tore his gaze away long enough to punch him in the throat. There was a sickening crunch as the male’s eyes bugged out of his skull. The guard would not die but he would back the fuck off, which was what York needed.
The stupid fucker that was touching the human pushed her behind him. “Don’t do this, York.”
“Fuck off,” he growled.
“York, you are going to hurt the female.”
There was no way he would ever hurt even the tiniest hair on her head and he was about to express this to the male that was in his way. He took a step towards them, preparing to remove the irritating fuck when a bolt shot through his body, it had muscles seizing. He fell to his knees.
“That should’ve knocked him out,” a voice said. “I’m going to shoot him again.”
“Wait.” It was a voice he mildly recognized but couldn’t place.
His eyes stayed locked on the human who stared at him from behind the guard. Her eyes were big, so fucking beautiful. On a loud grunt, York began to rise back to his feet.
“Do it again.”
His brow creased as he tried to place the voice but another bolt raced through him. His teeth clenched so tight that he tasted blood. His muscles tightened till they burned. His fingers curled until they resembled claws. It fucking hurt. He could feel the dark descend but fought it. He needed to speak to the female. Needed to tell her…
****
“This is the first fucking day,” a voice said. “The first day and I’ve already got shit of this magnitude.” It was Brant. What was Brant doing in his room?
York struggled to wake up properly. His body felt heavy. His muscles ached.
“Nothing happened. We managed to contain it.” The same voice he couldn’t recognize earlier. His memories came crashing back. The human female, Cassidy, he needed to see her. Needed to explain. She was fucking terrified of him.
A Mate for York (The Program Book 1) Page 4