A Mate for York (The Program Book 1)

by Hartnady, Charlene

  At first he thought of giving her a flippant answer but he couldn’t, not after she had just bared her soul. “I really want a family…children. A female to love who will love me back. Hot, sexy nights and fun filled days. I want the sound of children’s laughter to fill my home.” York took a deep breath realizing that he had gone off on a bit of a tangent. Said more than he had planned.

  When he focused back on Cassidy, her eyes had a faraway look. There was a definite look of longing on her beautiful face. Then her normally bright eyes turned murky, they flashed with pain that tore at him.

  Then she smiled and it was gone. “Wow…I’m sure you’ll get it in the end. Maybe Brant will give you a second chance. If anyone can convince him, it’s you.”

  He shrugged. “Maybe. I don’t want to think about it right now. That’s something to worry about tomorrow. Right now…” He could feel how his fangs ached in his gums. Longing for a taste. His eyes even drifted to the pulse at the base of her neck. Two pairs of small red marks marred her perfect honey soaked skin. There would be no biting. “Get onto your knees, Cass.”

  She did as he asked, giving him a perfect view of her stunning ass and her glistening pussy.

  “Grab a pillow to stifle your cries.” He growled softly, a sense of urgency clawed at him.

  Swallowing thickly, she did as he said, the scent of her arousal filled the room. Cassidy was his for tonight and he planned on making the most of it. For whatever reason, it was important to him that she never forgot him or their time together.

  Chapter 8

  So this was what it felt like to be treated like a criminal. Guards flanked him on all sides. He was outnumbered, so it wouldn’t help to try and fight his way out. Except for Gideon, the males were not from his elite team, so it wouldn’t help to try to talk his way out either.

  York had purposefully turned up before breakfast in an effort to see Brant before Cassidy left her room anyhow. Once the vampire guards caught her scent they would know exactly what had gone down. That was why he was here in the first place. To sort shit out before it became Cassidy’s problem.

  By then, he wanted everything out in the open. The ass whooping he was about to receive would be long over.

  They kept moving, the guards were leading him into the belly of the castle. Gideon’s jaw was set, he walked on ahead of the formation. “Fucking insanity,” he muttered as they rounded the last turn. The male pulled open a door and gestured for him to enter. “Good luck.” He growled softly as York was about to enter the room. There was a ghost of a smile toying with Gideon’s lips. If he didn’t know better, he would say that the male was on his side or at least that he had some sort of understanding for his predicament. Gideon had been promoted to head of security for the breeding program. He was the most straight and narrow, controlled, reliable vampire he knew. It didn’t make any sense that he would have any understanding. York had broken some serious rules and crossed some serious lines. Gideon never put a foot wrong…not ever.

  “Get your ass in there,” Gideon growled.

  York realized that he had been staring at the other male.

  Both Brant and Zane sat at the same side of a long mahogany table. They both had their arms folded across their chests and they both looked pissed. Brant’s hair was mussed, when he ran a hand through the unruly mess, York realized why that was.

  “You had better have a fucking good explanation.” Brant’s eyes blazed and his jaw ticked.

  York folded his arms in front of him, he didn’t even try and take a seat.

  “If you say that you tripped and fell and your dick happened to slide into her pussy, I might just kill you with my bare hands.” Zane sounded and looked the picture of calm. It made York distinctly uncomfortable.

  York shook his head. “I went over there to apologize. I hadn’t planned on rutting…or even on touching the female, for that matter.”

  “Last I heard,”—Zane’s eyes darkened—“you didn’t need a dick to apologize. You could’ve just said the words and left.”

  Brant leant forward. “Firstly, I told you to stay the fuck away from her and secondly, I told you to stay in your room which inadvertently meant to stay the fuck away from her. What part of that didn’t you understand?”

  “I didn’t agree with the part where you told me I had bloodlust. I had upset and terrified the female. I needed to apologize…I’m sorry for disobeying direct orders.” He clenched his teeth.

  “How did you get out of your room and more importantly how did you get to her room without anyone knowing?”

  York had to work to keep himself from rolling his eyes. “With all due respect, my lords”—he looked at them each in turn—“the guards you posted are a joke. I climbed out my window and walked to the building housing the females. All I had to do was bide my time until the guard moved to the other side of the building. Their movements are predictable. They patrol along the same path at a slow walk. I timed it so that I had thirty seconds to scale the building. The human, Cassidy, had left her window open just a crack…” he shrugged.

  “You scaled a three storey building in thirty seconds using just your hands?” Brant narrowed his eyes, clearly not believing him.

  “Yes, my lord. I would be happy to demonstrate. I’m tall and strong…it is my belief that many of the males would be capable. I was almost caught when the female woke up when I pulled her window wider. She got up and went to the bathroom. Thankfully, I had scaled the wall in under thirty seconds and she didn’t take too long to leave the room. I was able to enter before the guard made it back to that side of the building.”

  Brant cursed. He held up a hand while pulling his phone from his pocket. “Get in here.”

  Gideon entered, standing next to York. The male looked pissed.

  “Did you hear that?” Brant asked.

  Gideon nodded. “There are holes in our system. I will ensure that they are fixed.”

  Brant nodded. “You’ll need to put guards outside each of the females’ rooms. This can’t happen again. We need to discuss the night patrols…all the fucking patrols for that matter.” He glanced at Zane.

  Zane leaned back, putting his hands behind his head. “We need to get Sweetwater Security back. I’m thinking motion sensors at all the doors and windows as well as surrounding the building. We also need more cameras…should’ve fucking known this would happen. I didn’t expect it from you.” The male smiled. “Then again…if anyone was going to get in and out of that building without anyone being the wiser and then turn themselves in, in the morning it’s you.” He choked out a laugh.

  “This is no laughing matter.” Brant looked pointedly at Zane before turning his eyes back on York. “You put my program in jeopardy for a quick fuck. What if it had gone wrong?”

  “I didn’t go there to rut her. I knew that I didn’t have bloodlust so there was no risk. I’m ready for my punishment.” He worked hard to keep the growl from his voice. “All I ask is that you leave the female out of it. I talked Cassidy into letting me rut her. It wasn’t her fault…she didn’t stand a chance against my touches and advances.”

  “Fuck that,” Brant snarled. “She signed a contractual agreement and an example needs to be made. She is being sent here as we speak.”

  Zane chuckled, it turned into a yawn. “All I can say is that you could not have done a very good job if no one heard you with her. I’m disappointed. My top elite warrior doesn’t know how to make a female scream. She’s a human at that.”

  York clenched his jaw. He was tempted to tell his king where the fuck he could get off. Not because he felt undermined as a male but because he didn’t like them talking about Cassidy like she was just a piece of ass. What they had shared may have only been for one night but it was special. She was special and didn’t deserve this treatment.

  In the end, he ignored Zane and turned to Brant. “I assure you that the female is mostly innocent in this. When a vampire male wants a female…when I want a female…I get her. Cassidy didn’
t stand a chance against my advances.” He had to try and change Brant’s mind about making an example out of her.

  There was a knock at the door. “That will be her now,” Brant growled.

  Cassidy walked in, she was wearing more of her shapeless clothing. This time it was a loose dress that went to just below the knee, another pair of leg coverings and a buttoned up jacket. She couldn’t hide the plump swell of her breasts but you would never know that she hid a gorgeous body underneath those clothes.

  Cassidy held her head high.

  “Good morning.” York grinned at her. He couldn’t help himself. It was so good to see her. After they had rutted a third time, Cassidy had fallen into a deep sleep. He didn’t have the heart to wake her. York had watched her sleep for a while and then had quietly left through the same window that he came in once the coast was clear.

  She gave him a quick half smile before turning to face Brant and Zane. York noticed that her suitcase was on the ground next to her and her large purse was slung over her shoulder.

  Brant breathed in a lungful of air, letting it out slowly. “You will be paid out for yesterday. Last night you were in direct breach of contract when you had sexual relations with York, a vampire male.”

  Cassidy took a small step forward and licked her lips. “Can I say something please?”

  “Don’t try and deny it.” Brant growled and York was tempted to growl back.

  Cassidy didn’t even flinch. It made his heart warm just watching her stand up to the male. Brant and Zane were fear inducing males, even to vampires, let alone to a small, human female.

  Cassidy licked her lips again. York could see her visibly square her shoulders and lift her chin a touch higher. She shook her head. “No, York and I had sex…” She said matter-of-factly. “Several times in fact.”

  The tick was back in Brant’s jaw.

  Cassidy paused for a few beats. “What I wanted to say is that I’m not in breach.” She pulled the contract out of her big purse. It was a wonder she could carry the thing, it was so damned big.

  “Bull-fucking-shit.” Brant leapt to his feet, knocking his chair back which fell to the floor with a crash. “You let York fuck you, that’s sexual relations spelled with a capital S.”

  This time York couldn’t help himself, He stepped in front of Cassidy and growled. In that moment, he forgot who he was, and who Brant was. He would’ve gone at the male if he took even a step towards Cassidy.

  Zane rose to his feet. “Let’s all calm down.” He motioned for the chairs. “Sit.” Next he picked up Brant’s chair.

  His king’s eyes had turned a depthless black. “Don’t get ahead of yourself, York, or I’ll have you tossed in the dungeon for the remainder of the program. You are the Elite Leader…I thought you had a little more control than this.”

  York had to force air back into his lungs, had to force himself to unclench his fists. Gideon took a seat. Turning, he took in Cassidy’s too pale face and shaking hands. York pulled out a chair for her and gestured for her to take a seat.

  “Thanks.” She whispered, barely looking at him.

  “You said you trusted me.” He said, not caring about the others in the room. “I meant what I said.”

  She nodded but her face was still grave. York meant every word.

  ****

  A booming voice from across the table almost had her wetting her pants.

  “If you are not in breach then bacon sandwiches can fly and not only will I let you stay but I’ll pay you double every time a vampire drinks from you for the remainder of your stay. You have six sessions scheduled so that’s a lot of cash up for grabs.” King Brant somehow managed to look bored while speaking. Like there was no way in hell that he was going to lose. It made her feel foolish for even bringing it up.

  She wasn’t a lawyer. What did she know? For a moment she was tempted to put the contract away and to leave as quickly and as quietly as possible. The thing was, her and York were both consenting adults. Although she understood why the kings were so pissed, nothing had gone wrong in the end. It had been her risk to take and she would do it again in a heartbeat. Also, she had woken up early and pored over this document. She knew what she had read. She’d gone over it fifty times and looked at it from every angle. According to the contract, she was not in breach. She just had to prove it to the kings.

  “The clause specifically states that sexual relations are forbidden during the trial phase of the program.” She swallowed thickly. Her mouth felt a bit dry. “It refers to this twice.” She looked down at the document in her hand and at the passage in question. She had underlined those specific parts of the document.

  Brant sighed, sounding like he had pretty much had enough of this whole thing. “We are in the trial phase. That puts you in breach.”

  “Yeah, but if you refer to the contact document page”—she flipped through the contract several times before she found the right page—“five. Clause 8.1b. Specific Trial phase sessions are referred to.” She mentioned the three time slots of half an hour each before turning the page. “On page six…um…clause 10 it mentions that the trial phase will take place in the West block in room A and room B.” She went on.

  “Look…” Brant sounded irritated. He shoved a hand through his hair. “I’ve had just about enough of this. Get to the point. As far as I can see, you are in breach. Done freaking deal and enough said. You have even admitted to having sex…several times…with a vampire. You have one minute to make your point or I’m having you physically removed.” His eyes were dark and intense. His voice, deep and commanding. For just a second, she was tempted to apologize and be on her way but she knew she was right about this. It wasn’t even about the money anymore. King Brant was a dick and she’d had just about enough of him. King Zane wasn’t much better since he just sat there yawning every few minutes like he couldn’t wait for this to end regardless of who was right and who was wrong.

  “I’m not one of your vampires. You can’t order me around and treat me like a piece of dirt under your boot. Quite frankly, I don’t understand why your people haven’t kicked you off your throne and your high horse.” Oopsie. She hadn’t meant to say that, but quite frankly he deserved it.

  His face turned ruby red and his eyes blazed.

  Zane burst out laughing. “I like you, human.” He turned his gaze to York. “I can see what you saw in her.”

  “Shut the fuck up!” Brant roared.

  “We’re all ears, human. This had better be good.” Zane rose up in his chair and she felt like cowering on the ground in front of him. She turned to face Brant, seeing his hard eyes gave her the push she needed to continue. This asshole needed to be brought down a couple of rungs. It was clear that no one ever stood up to him.

  Cassidy licked her lips. Crunch time. “York and I had sex in our own personal time. The document specifically refers to no sexual relations during the trial session, it then goes on to define what times trial sessions occur and even gives the location of the trial sessions. I was not in breach. We had sex outside of the trial sessions as specified in here. We weren’t anywhere near the building in question.” She picked up the document.

  Brant’s eyes narrowed on her. “Give me the contract.” He held out his hand. For a second she was afraid that if she gave him the document that he would tear it up. With a shaking hand, she finally handed it to him. It wasn’t like she could prevent him from doing it if he really wanted to.

  Brant spent a few minutes paging and reading, paging and reading some more. Then he grabbed the phone on the table in front of him and pushed a few buttons. After a few beats, someone on the other end answered.

  “Carlyle, would you care to explain a few things to me?” Brant paused while someone talked on the other end. He went on to explain the situation and read out the clauses to the person on the other end.

  “What do you mean it’s a loophole?” he growled. After a moment, he cursed loudly and more than once. “I know we agreed to tweaking the document, b
ut this is more than a fucking tweak.” He listened for half a second. “Don’t tell me to calm down.”

  Brant’s eyes were glowing, belying his emotional state. Arousal was obviously not the only catalyst. “You will fix it today and at your own expense or I’m firing your fucking ass. Am I clear?” He listened to the reply. “Good.” He snarled, dropping the phone on the table. It was a wonder the screen didn’t shatter it fell so hard.

  He ran a hand through his hair. Brant pointed at her. “You get to stay on a technicality, under the new terms of payment.” He sounded like he was choking on the words. Like it was hurting him to say them.

  Cassidy had to force herself to hold in a smile that threatened to crack her face in half.

  “The loophole is being rectified as we speak. Everyone will be expected to sign the amendment. If the two of you so much as fucking look at one another again, so help me…there will be hell to pay. Contracts aside, you need to agree to stay away from York for the duration of this trial?”

  Cassidy nodded grudgingly. “Fine.” Even though she and York had agreed that it was only for one night, she still struggled to separate sex from emotions. They’d always gone hand in hand before. If she was honest with herself, she liked York and wanted to spend more time with him. She realized it was better if it didn’t happen though. It wasn’t like they could be together.

  “York…I’m not asking you, I’m telling you”—Brant narrowed his eyes—“stay the fuck away from this female.”

  Zane made a grunting noise. “I’m curious.” He paused. “Did you drink from the female last night?”

  Cassidy could see York hesitate to answer. He glanced at her and then back at the kings. “Two smalls sips.” He looked like he wanted to say something else but refrained.

  “Twenty lashes, York.” Brant said while rising to his feet. “You can’t get away with this. An example needs to be made one way or the other.”

  Cassidy gasped. “What? Lashes?…As in across the back? You can’t be serious?”