Thankfully, Alex had figured that something like this would be the case since no contact by the women had been made with the outside world since the start of The Program. A sure sign that there was a crackdown on communication.
“I have my cell phone.” She pulled the device out of the big purse on her shoulder. Suddenly the additional small device pushed between her breasts felt like a throbbing beacon. She only prayed that it wouldn’t be found. No one would find it there unless she was made to strip. No, it would be better not to think along those lines. She concentrated on keeping her breathing even and her demeanor relaxed.
Allison took the device from her. “Do you have anything else that you need to disclose?”
Alex nodded. “I have my 3G device for my laptop computer.” She pointed towards the guardhouse.
Allison nodded. “Don’t worry, I will personally look through your possessions. Let’s get you to the human accommodations first though. I’m sure that you don’t want all your items laid out for everyone to see.” She pointedly looked at the guard who pretended to be interested in his shoes all of a sudden.
“One last question.” Allison raised her brows. “I just need to confirm that you are on birth control. You would have been briefed during your training on the fact that this is a requirement. You would also have seen the clause about it in the contract.”
Say what?
Lazarus had been quick to point out that this was a breeding program, yet they were expected to be on birth control? Go figure. She was sure to keep her expression neutral even though there were major question marks flying around in her brain. “Yes, of course.” She lied. At this rate, lying through her teeth was becoming a habit. One she didn’t particularly like.
It had been about a year since her and Phillip had broken up, so there had been no need to be on the pill. She already established that there was no way she was having sex with anyone so a little white lie wasn’t going to hurt anyone either. Besides, it was a little late to try and see a doctor.
Allison nodded, once again ticking in her book. “Good. Let’s go then.” She walked over to the waiting SUV, opened the door and leaned in. “Titan, will you please fetch the female’s luggage from inside the guardhouse?”
A big, serious looking guy stepped out of the SUV. He nodded once in her direction and proceeded to the guardhouse, returning moments later with her suitcase and laptop bag. The bag was freaking heavy but you would never say so by the way he carried it.
She heard the rear door slam just as she was climbing into the SUV. This seemed too easy. They were just letting her in. This woman, Allison, seemed to buy all of her answers. It nagged at her. What was she missing?
Breathe, Alex.
Relax. You’ve got this. Just as long as they didn’t strip search her, she would be home free. There was a little voice inside her that told her she was wrong to do this but she tamped down on it. The world had a right to know what was going on behind these walls. So far, she had enjoyed her dealings with the vampires. What she was doing was essentially wrong but if she played her cards right, the vampires might actually end up thanking her in the end.
****
Fuck!
Lazarus was screwed. At least he hoped he was screwed and soon. The female was a vision. An absolute utter, fucking vision.
He growled low and deep as his eyes tracked the lush curves of her body. The pink dress she wore stopped at mid-thigh. Her legs were short and her creamy thighs plump. He longed to squeeze them, moreover, he longed to part them. His nostrils flared as he took in her scent, chili and chocolate. Defuckinglicious. Her mammary glands were barely contained. Her red tinted hair had a light curl making it a little wild and untamed just like the female herself. Her cleavage was deep, his hands itched to touch. His mouth…
“Stop that!” She snapped.
“You shouldn’t have worn that scrap of material if you didn’t want me looking.” His gaze moved to hers. Icy blue yet so fiery that the depths of hell would look like a picnic in comparison. He loved her sass. Fucking loved it.
“It’s a summer dress. Everything is covered. We’re going on a picnic or something.” Alexandra made a flourish with her hands and gave him a dirty look. “You would swear I was in a bikini or something.”
Lazarus bit back a groan as he imagined her curves straining to break free against a tiny, string bikini. “I will need to speak with Allison about including swimming on the itinerary. I would pay huge sums of money to see…”
She held up a hand. “Spare me. It aint gonna happen, buster, so you might as well just forget about it. This is the most you are going to get to see of me, so get used to it.”
Lazarus had to frown. “You do realize that this is a breeding program? We’re expected to date and to fuck and not necessarily in that order.”
Her mouth fell open and her eyes widened.
“It’s a breeding program, Alexandra.” He emphasized her full name because there was no way in hell this female was remaining a mere fucking friend. “Why do I keep having to remind you of that very important fact?”
Her mouth rounded for half a beat before she composed herself. “I thought we agreed that we would get to know each other better. That means we date, and we date, and we date some more, and then maybe, just maybe”—she made a flourish with her hands again—“the other stuff will happen.”
He grinned. “We will get to know each other…”
He noticed how her body language gave away the relief that she was obviously feeling at his statement. Her breath came out in a huff and her muscles relaxed. Especially the ones around her shoulders.
Lazarus had to smile before he continued. “We will get to know each other really, really well. Intimately…”
Her eyes widened and her shoulders squared. “You have more chance of me wearing a string bikini than that happening, and since I didn’t bring one you’re plum out of luck.”
What was she playing at?
“Why are you here then?” He took a step towards her. “You’re acting like it was never your intention to get to know me…to possibly take this further. To simplify things, let’s call this a dating program. That implies spending time together with the intention of a relationship. You act like it’s a foreign concept to you. So, I’ll repeat my initial question…why are you here?”
Alexandra’s eyes widened before she schooled her emotions. Whether intentional or not, her hand moved the tie between her breasts. The ribbon in question caused the material to gather beneath her breasts, thus enhancing their exquisite curve. Her mammary glands were plump and milky white. Her nipples would be a pale pink like her lips. Fucking exquisite.
She swallowed thickly and he watched as her long, pale neck worked. “Let’s go sit over there. Under the trees.”
Lazarus nodded. This female was clever. That was for sure. It was clear that she had purposely drawn his attention to her breasts, thus making him forget his train of thought momentarily. If she thought for one second that he was dropping this though, then she was seriously mistaken. “Tell me one thing, Alexandra.” He spoke once they had spread the blanket and had sat down. Lazarus paused, watching her closely.
She shrugged. “Go for it. Ask away.” The human opened the basket, and the scent of fresh bread and other enticing aromas, escaped.
“Do you at least find me attractive?” He kept his eyes on her.
Alexandra cocked one of her brows but didn’t answer. Instead, she continued to unpack the basket. Sparkling water, wine and glasses followed by plates and napkins. Then she unpacked the delicious smelling bread, an assortment of cheeses and spreads as well as pieces of cold, roast chicken.
“I ask, because it is important. There is very little chance that one of the other males would select you at this stage. They all have their sights set on a human female already. I can safely say that I am the only one…for lack of a better word…available.” It was bullshit. A number of the males would be as interested as fuck, but he wasn’t about
to tell her that. No fucking way.
Alexandra continued to remove items from the basket, glancing up every so often and looking at him from under her lashes.
“You see…if you don’t find me attractive then we’re wasting our time. It won’t work between us. If that is the case then I will plead with Brant to allow you to be accepted for the next heat. You can leave vampire territory right now.”
She picked up the container with the chicken sealed inside and placed it on her lap. “I think that the more important question is, do you find me attractive?” Her legs were tucked beneath her, her blue eyes were wide. Her hands were white knuckled on the container.
Lazarus chuckled. “You’ve threatened to poke my eyes out and have complained, on more than one occasion, about the way that I look at you. I have already said that it is my intention to get to know you…intimately.” He took a deep breath. “I would be more than happy to explain in great detail the things I would like to do to you. Things that would require you to be naked, writhing, sweating.”
Her eyes stayed on the bottle of wine for a few seconds before she picked up the sparkling water. Then she smiled. “You want to do Pilates with me? How did you know that I enjoy being naked while working out?”
Lazarus smiled right back. Alexandra may have responded with a flippant remark but his words had affected her. He could tell by the way her pupils dilated, how her breath quickened and her heart rate sped up. Even her cheeks were flushed, a deep, rosy pink. “Call it what you will, Alexandra. Pilates, a workout…I don’t give a fuck. Just know that my dick will be deep inside of you when it happens.”
“When I said not to bother with the romance or charm, I didn’t give you carte blanche to be vulgar.” She narrowed her eyes at him.
Lazarus could scent her arousal, thick and heavy. The female might have stated that she was offended by his words but her body said otherwise. He decided not to call her out on it. At least not yet. He wanted to hear her say the words. Needed to hear them before this went any further. “Are you attracted to me? A simple yes or no will suffice?”
She shrugged as she placed the food container back on the blanket. “I wouldn’t be here if I wasn’t.” She grabbed a glass and poured some of the sparkling water into it.
Lazarus had to shake his head. “That’s not much of an answer.”
“Well it’s all you’re going to get.” She downed half the glass, all the while keeping her eyes firmly on his.
Alexandra may have been aroused by the things that he had said, but that didn’t mean that she was aroused by him. He was dying to fuck her but the problem was that even though he didn’t know her very well he found himself liking her. There was something there…at least, there was for him. He needed to know if she felt the same. This wasn’t a game to him.
Yet, he wasn’t quite ready to put it all on the line either. One step at a time.
“Prove it.” He lay back, using his elbows to support himself.
Alexandra gasped. Her eyes widened for a second before they narrowed, turning dark and stormy. “I don’t have to prove anything. I’m here and that’s proof enough.”
“You do need to prove it. At least, you do if you want to stay.”
“Why are you being such a dick? Can’t we just relax,”—she looked around them—“enjoy the scenery and get to know one another a little? I don’t even know your middle name. What’s your favorite color? Do you have any brothers or sisters? This is moving way too fast.”
“I don’t have a middle name. Pink and yes I do…ten of them.”
She gasped again. Louder this time. “Seriously? You have ten brothers and sisters?”
Lazarus chuckled. “What can I say? My parents were highly fertile. It is rare so they were expected to reproduce.”
“That’s crazy. You said were instead of are. Does that mean that they are…?” Her eyes filled with concern.
He nodded. “Yeah, my mother died birthing my youngest brother and my father died in the Great War.”
Her eyes clouded with genuine sadness and she even touched his arm for a second. “I’m so sorry. I lost my father some years back so I know how hard it is.”
He nodded. Lazarus felt for her, he knew what it was like to lose someone close to you. “The Great War took many of our elders. It was a terrible time.”
“I heard something about the war. It happened years before I was even born.” She paused. He could see that she was in thought. “It was between the two covens…something about the kings both wanting the same woman. The details are sketchy. There are different versions of the story.”
He nodded. “That’s right. When a vampire finds his mate, that’s it. It’s sometimes like being hit over the head. There is no changing his mind, that is for sure. The kings both decided on the same female and chaos erupted. Thankfully the covens are united now and it is no longer just the kings that are permitted to take human females.”
“About that.” She took a sip of the water. His eyes were drawn to her throat as it worked. “What do your vampire women think about us being here? Essentially taking their place.”
Lazarus shrugged. “It is a very good question. One I have not given much thought to. At this stage, only a select few males have been granted permission to take human mates. However, there are plans to roll out The Program more extensively. To include more males in the future as well.” He sucked in a lungful of air. “I don’t think I would like it if it were me on the other side. At the same time, I would understand and would be willing to sacrifice for the greater good of my species. Our breed is dying, Alexandra. If we don’t take human females, we will be finished.”
She seemed to think on this for a few moments. “What about you? What about the guys, I mean?”
“What about us?”
Her stunning blue eyes stayed on him. “You also are kind of being forced into this. Having to sacrifice by mating with lowly humans, for the greater good.”
Lazarus had to laugh. “Sacrifice?” He snorted the word. “There is nothing more enticing to a vampire male than a human female. You are lush, curvy, so damned soft…”
And just like that the fire in her eyes was back. She narrowed them. “Are you saying that we’re fat? That we’re—”
Lazarus choked out a laugh. “Fat….no stop…no…you are tiny and soft. Delicate. Many of you have rounded hips. Lush asses that are made for holding onto during…” Hard rutting sessions. He swallowed thickly. “Your mammary glands are succulent and ripe. Yours are particularly…”
“Eyes up here, buster. Human women don’t like it when you speak to their boobs instead of their faces. You should look me in the eyes when you talk to me.” Although she sounded angry, he could see by the gleam in her eyes that she was secretly happy about the things that he had said. Maybe there was hope for them after all. She picked up one of the plates and opened several containers.
“I assure you, Alexandra. It is no hardship. Even your blood is an aphrodisiac…the ultimate indulgence.” He watched as she scooped up a spoonful of bean salad. “The scent, the taste. It is why some of our males suffer from bloodlust.”
Her hand paused midway between the container and the plate. “What the hell is bloodlust?”
Lazarus felt himself frown. “I thought you attended the training.”
She dropped her eyes back to the food, putting the bean salad onto her plate and returning for another spoonful. “I did. I don’t have great memory. Remind me please.” Using her hand, she grabbed two pieces of chicken and put them on the plate as well.
Weird. This was the one part of the training that most human females remembered since the act of blood drinking scared them. Then again, Alexandra was not like most women. “A few of our males suffer from an affliction called bloodlust. When these males drink from a human, they enjoy it too much. So much so that they are unable to stop and would continue to drink until the female died. It is not something that they would have control over.”
“How did I miss
this part? Shit! You are not serious. Good thing you’re not going to be drinking any blood from me then.”
“Like fuck,” he growled. “I will be drinking from you. Most fucking definitely.”
“No damned way. No. Just no.” She even scooted back a little on the blanket.
They had been warned that some of the human females would be against blood drinking despite the training. “Listen to me, Alexandra. Listen very carefully. I do not have bloodlust. I was tested and I do not have it. None of the ten elite suffer from the affliction. You will be safe with me. I will drink from you and you will fucking love it. Do you hear me?”
She shook her head and swallowed hard. “No. Way. You are hard of hearing I see.”
Lazarus stayed in a semi reclined position. “Let’s forget about the blood drinking…at least for the moment.”
The tension around her shoulders disappeared in an instant.
“It will happen, but I don’t want to argue about it right now. The whole blood argument is moot because if you don’t kiss me you’re leaving anyway.”
The little human pulled her shoulders back and he had to work hard to keep his eyes locked with hers instead of dropping to her bountiful cleavage. If she refused, he would force himself to let her go. He had to. Either she wanted him or she didn’t.
Chapter 5
Alexandra couldn’t help the irritated little snorting noise that escaped. This guy was just too much. Too damned much. His dark eyes were intense. They seemed to bore holes right through her but only when they weren’t smoldering hot as they raked over her body.
He wore leather pants. Honest to god leather pants. They looked soft and molded to his rock hard thighs, his narrow waist, his humongous…she chewed on her lower lip, trying to pull her gaze away from his impressive package. Alex was sure you needed a license to sport something as big as that. Then there was the T-shirt. Plain and white never looked so good. Size triple…possibly even quadruple…XL: and it still pulled tight around his biceps. She could see his abs through the thin cotton. Could make them out and in all of their glory.
A Mate for Lazarus Page 4