A Mate for York (The Program Book 1)

by Hartnady, Charlene

  Cassidy shook her head, giving Griffin a hint of a smile. “I think you’ll manage.”

  Thank the gods up above, she sat down next to Griffin instead of sitting on his lap and turned her head away from him. Her legs were crossed at the knee and her hands were clasped in her lap. There was no sign of the sensual female he had caught a glimpse of the night before.

  It should’ve helped to make him feel a bit better about this whole thing. Should’ve had his heart slowing down, should’ve stopped the adrenaline that coursed through his veins. It didn’t. He still felt like he was slowly suffocating. Like a great weight was coming down on him.

  York didn’t want Griffin to touch her. Not a hair on her head. Not so much as a chaste touch with the tip of a single finger. He most definitely did not want the male drinking from her.

  “Ready?’ Griffin asked.

  Cassidy nodded.

  When Griffin leaned forward and buried his head in her neck, York not only growled but he snarled as well causing both Lea and Sasha to gasp.

  Cassidy’s eyes widened for a quick second before clamping shut. Another even louder snarl was torn from him as he watched Griffin’s throat work as he swallowed the first mouthful of her blood.

  York didn’t think. If he had allowed rational thought to enter his mind, he would’ve stayed right where he was and dealt with his feelings, instead he acted. Within seconds he had busted the door to room B clear off its hinges and ripped Griffin from Cassidy.

  That was not where it ended, he punched the male in the face three times. The first one pulverized his nose, the second cracked his jaw and the last split both his top and bottom lips in a spray of blood. York was just moving into position to kick Griffin in the ribs, trying to aim correctly for most impact. A broken sternum was one of the most difficult bones in the body to heal. It hurt like fuck. Unfortunately, the guards outside chose just that moment to rain on his parade and pulled him back.

  Three of the fuckers.

  York still managed to land a few punches while they worked to secure him. Griffin was dazed and bleeding. Red and wet looked good on the fucker. He only wished he’d had a bit more time to make him pay for touching his female. The female. He had no hold over Cassidy. He didn’t even know her.

  When he turned to her, she was pale. “What’s wrong with you?” She looked away as she reached for her bag.

  “Let me explain,” York growled.

  “I think you’ve done enough explaining. Please leave me alone. You’re ruining my life.” She put the purse strap around her shoulder and practically ran out of the room.

  The ache in his chest was back. He didn’t know how to get rid of it. Hitting Griffin had only made him feel worse. York put a hand to his chest, the sad look on Cassidy’s face had physically hurt him. He didn’t know how to fix this.

  Chapter 10

  “I cannot believe that you went against my orders within an hour of my giving them.” Brant smashed his fist into the table. It cracked, right down the middle. He cursed. “Look what you made me do.”

  He pushed a button or two on his phone and held the device to his ear. “Allison…” It was Brant’s personal assistant. “Please order another boardroom table.”

  There was a chuckle on the other end. And Allison said something back. York was too deep in his own thoughts to pay much attention.

  “Yes”—Brant growled—“another one.”

  “This will be the second one you’ve ruined this month,” Brant’s assistant said.

  “Get me a stronger table then.” He ended the call.

  His king sucked in a deep breath. “What the fuck am I going to do with you?” He rose to his feet and moved to the other end of the room, running a hand through his hair. “There is a reason why you head up the elite team, York.” He paused for a few beats. “Yeah sure, you’re fucking strong. One of the most capable warriors in battle, but you are more than just those things.” He turned to face York, his eyes were blazing. “You are responsible, you keep your cool in the most difficult situations. I needed a level headed leader and I thought I had one in you.”

  Brant didn’t say anything for the longest time. York had to work to keep from fidgeting.

  “Where has my sensible leader gone? I don’t even fucking know you. Sneaking around in order to get into some human female’s pants. Breaking rules. Not to mention that you fucked Griffin up royally. Might have even killed him if the guards hadn’t pulled you off and for no reason other than that he was touching that human. Do you know how this looks?”

  His king didn’t wait for a reply. “Bad, York. Fucking bad. I should demote you and kick you out of this program but I’m going to give you one last chance. I must be mad.” He mumbled.

  York wanted to thank his king. Brant was not one for granting favors…ever. He couldn’t though, the words stuck in his throat.

  “I’m sending the human away.”

  “No.” York growled, earning himself a hard slap. He didn’t flinch, didn’t move a muscle. He welcomed the sting. The taste of his blood from his inner cheek as it was crushed against his teeth by the force of the blow.

  “Yes,” Brant growled back just as harshly. “She is making you crazy for whatever reason. She goes…today…right fucking now and as we speak. I will pay her out in full since this isn’t her fault.”

  “Thank you.” He meant it. At least Cassidy wouldn’t be punished for his fuck up.

  “This is for the best. Trust me. Once she’s gone you can go back to being my dependable leader again.” He walked the length of the room before turning back to York. “Stay away from her. The humans intended as future mates will be here within a few days. I am sure that there will be one amongst them that draws your attention.” Brant smiled. “It was your first taste of a human. They are sweet and will fire a vampire’s blood. I don’t really blame you for getting carried away, but it stops now.”

  Brant was probably right. Although he hated the thought of Cassidy leaving, it was for the best.

  “One of the other females will be just as delicious, you will see.” Brant smiled.

  What his king said made sense.

  York nodded and took a deep breath. “I am ready for my punishment.”

  Brant raised a brow. “You will still get twenty lashes.”

  York felt his brow furrow. Brant’s eyes darkened. Here it comes. There has to be more. His king would never let such a blatant ignoring of orders go unpunished. “Sasha and Lea will join you. I’ve decided to go easy on them…five lashes each.”

  York couldn’t help the low growl that erupted. It was very rare that a vampire female was ever punished in such a way. “No,” York growled. “It’s my fault. I talked them into letting me watch.”

  “They broke the rules and need to make amends.”

  “There has to be another way, my lord. Five lashes is too much.” York implored his king with his eyes. Surely Brant would not be that cruel.

  “It should be more than five, I am going easy on them and you know it.”

  Like hell.

  “They are going to be fucked off at you. That’s for sure.” There was no humor in Brant’s expression, or in his voice for that matter.

  “No. It is too much for a female. It’s not right.” York growled. “I will take their punishment for them.”

  “Thirty lashes will put you down for a while.” Brant’s eyes darkened.

  “I don’t care. It is my fault, therefore I will accept the punishment. I insist.”

  Brant kept his eyes on York, his expression was unreadable. “Fine.” He finally shrugged. “Whatever makes you feel better. This is that last time I let you off easy.”

  Easy.

  Hardly. Thirty lashes would leave his back a raw, bloody mess. There was one thought that would get him through the next few hours of excruciating pain though, he had hurt Cassidy. He hadn’t meant to do it, but he had. York couldn’t help but to feel that he deserved everything he had coming.

  ****


  Another loud crack sounded. It caused her to start, it had her breath seizing in her lungs.

  “Please don’t tell me…” She let the sentence die as her voice hitched. York may be a jerk but he didn’t deserve such harsh treatment. It was downright barbaric.

  Gideon sighed loudly. He moved Cassidy’s bag from one hand to the other. “Yeah, I’m afraid that it’s exactly what it sounds like.”

  Another hard crack. Louder this time.

  Cassidy held her breath. The harsh noise was followed by eerie silence.

  “Thirty lashes.” Gideon sighed again. “York will take a day or two to recover.”

  Crack.

  “I thought he was only getting twenty,” Cassidy blurted.

  “Only…?” Gideon raised his brows. He choked out something that sort of resembled a laugh.

  “I didn’t mean it like that.” Cassidy turned her eyes to the ground.

  Crack. She swallowed hard, hugging herself with her arms. She’d never heard anything like it before, was sure that the noise would haunt her dreams…make that, her nightmares.

  Gideon nodded. “I know you didn’t and I’m sorry. It’s a harsh punishment and all of us are on edge right now.”

  Crack.

  The big vampire visibly started, it was weird to see such a strong man affected like that.

  “Why doesn’t he react? He should scream or groan or something. Surely?” Her voice was a little shrill. She noticed that they had both picked up the pace. She couldn’t stand to hear it any more. The noise seemed to reverberate through her bones.

  “York is a great warrior. The best we have. The elite pride themselves on their control…at all times. By doing what he did with you, he showed a total lack of control. It is his way of making amends. Besides, only pussies show pain. York is no pussy!” He growled the last.

  Crack.

  Cassidy sucked in a deep breath, holding it inside herself for a few beats. Vampires were harsh, base creatures. It was one of the things that had attracted her to York in the first place. Right now she hated that side of them though. Needed to get as far away as possible.

  “Please do not try and contact York again.” There was a hard edge to Gideon’s voice. “A relationship between the two of you is forbidden. Any type of contact would only end in heartbreak.” He swallowed hard, his throat working overtime. For a second, a look of sadness crossed his face. It was gone almost as soon as it had arrived. “That type of suffering is not worth it in the long run. Please take my word for it. The two of you have not spent much time together, it is still possible to go your separate ways.”

  She wasn’t really sure what he was talking about. Gideon spoke as if there was genuinely something between her and York, which was not true. He had used her plain and simple. Unfortunately she was wired to feel something for someone she had slept with so she did harbor feelings for him but after just one night together, those feelings were nothing. Less than nothing.

  Crack.

  Cassidy squeezed her eyes shut, trying not to picture York’s bloody back, his anguished face and failed dismally. “You have it all wrong,” she finally said. “It was just sex.” She shrugged. “I was curious and he had something to prove…simple.”

  Gideon nodded, his eyes held a glint of…humor. Like he didn’t buy it. Well, let him think what he wanted, she knew better. There was no rational explanation for York tearing into Griffin like that, but she was not going to fool herself into thinking it had anything to do with her.

  Crack.

  Vampires were no better than animals. They probably went at each other all the time.

  They made it to her beat up little car and she found herself praying it would start. The good news was that she had money. Lots of it. True to his word, Brant had deposited the agreed upon sum into her account.

  Cassidy should be happy. She’d essentially earned money for doing nothing. Instead, her heart felt heavy. Her mind worked overtime, dissecting all the events of the last two days.

  Crack.

  “Thank you for everything.” She said, trying to move as quickly as possible.

  Gideon deposited her bag in the trunk. “Please take my advice.”

  Cassidy nodded. “You have nothing to worry about.”

  Gideon closed the trunk “I’m not worried for myself…nothing good will come of it. Trust me…I know.” He sounded like he spoke from experience. A look of hurt crossed his face again.

  “I’m leaving, not only here but Sweetwater. I’ll be gone within a day or two. York and I don’t have each other’s contact info. I told you it wasn’t like that…at least not for him.” She sucked in a breath. What had she just said? “Or for me.” She quickly added. “It wasn’t like that.”

  Crack.

  The sound ripped through her and tears welled in her eyes. Why was she feeling like this? Over a guy that had used her…hurt her.

  Crack.

  The falls of the whip were coming faster now. Her tears threatened to fall and her lip wobbled so she bit down on it. “I really have to go now.” She whispered while getting into the car and rolling down her window.

  Gideon nodded. “Good luck. Don’t worry about him, he will be fine.”

  Crack.

  Her whole body jumped and she put a hand to her heart, quickly starting up her engine. It clanked and rattled but it turned over and continued to run even when she revved it a few times.

  They said a quick good bye and she pulled away slowly.

  Crack.

  A loud anguished growl had her pushing on the breaks. She looked in the rearview mirror. Gideon looked shocked, his head was turned slightly to the direction where the sound had come from. To where York was being beaten. A tear fell but she wiped it away, pushing down on her accelerator. The engine roared and clanked back to life as she continued to move.

  Crack.

  A tormented wail tore through her, making her whimper. The tears fell freely and she struggled to see the road ahead but she kept her foot pressed down. Kept on moving away.

  Chapter 11

  One week later…

  York pulled up to the club. Although humans were not permitted in Aorta, a long, thick queue of them wrapped half way around the block. Most of those trying to get in were females. When Brant’s club had first opened a year or two ago, humans had tried to get in all the time but after a few months of failing, the attempts mostly dried up. It was only when word got out that one of the kings was in attendance that things became a little chaotic. Thankfully that wasn’t very often any more. Not since they had mated Tanya and not at all since the royal heir had been born. York had to smile just thinking of the little tyke. Those chubby little hands and cheeks were the cutest things ever. His favorite was when little Sam was tired. Those big, gummy yawns made him feel all warm inside.

  A group of females surged forward as they caught sight of his SUV, pulling him out of his thoughts. Word was out about the breeding program and the opportunities it afforded human females when it came to mating with vampire males and boom…things were back to being an utter mess outside Aorta.

  He was glad that he didn’t have to control the chaos. Gideon would have his hands full. The male could be seen talking and listening on an earpiece. There was a whole bevy of guards outside the club and he knew there would be many more inside.

  This was the first time the ten elite were meeting with the chosen human females. York glanced at his watch, already knowing what he would see. He was late by about a half an hour. Tough fucking luck. At least he was here. His mind wandered to little Sam and his own drive to have a family. It was something he felt on an instinctual level. The need to procreate.

  Yet, after dreaming of this moment for months, he felt completely deflated. There were human females inside. Ones he was actually permitted to touch, yet the thought left him cold.

  You haven’t even seen them yet.

  Maybe one of them would spark the same interest he had for Cassidy. Don’t dwell on recent events. Move f
orward.

  Taking in a deep breath, he pulled his SUV into one of the reserved parking spots. Three guards approached the vehicle, holding a group of human females at bay. The humans were of various ages from barely legal to ‘hello granny.’ Didn’t they have anything better to do?

  “About damned time.” Gideon growled as he exited the vehicle.

  For a second, York thought to apologize but in the end he let it slide. “Have all the best females been taken?” He’d hoped to sound light hearted but failed dismally.

  Gideon smiled. “Glad to see that you are doing better. How’s the back?”

  York shrugged. “No big deal. It healed quickly enough.” He hadn’t seen the male since that day in the boardroom.

  Gideon chuckled. “By the way you howled like a baby, I would’ve thought you’d be down a lot longer.”

  Clenching his teeth, he didn’t answer for a few beats. The males had given him huge slack for not remaining silent during his beating. Hearing Cassidy start her car, hearing her leave. It had cut him deeper than any silver spike ever could. He didn’t understand it. Lust could turn even the hardest male into a blithering idiot but that wasn’t it. Maybe it was because it killed him that she thought the worst of him. That she felt he was ruining her life. Cassidy thought that he had used her to get back into the program. He wished he could go and see her to explain…just one damn time but she was right, so far his meddling had caused shit for her. For them both. He really was a sadist because he’d lifted her file, had looked up her address even though he never planned on ever actually using the information. Regardless of how much he wanted to.

  Gideon must have seen something written on his face because he tapped him on the shoulder. “I’m only joking around. I know your whining had nothing to do with receiving those lashes.”

  York scowled at the male. He didn’t particularly feel like discussing it with him. They both moved to the front entrance of the club. The guards did a good job of keeping the females away.