A Mate for Lazarus (The Program Book 3) (5 page)

“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.

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.

“My eyes are up here, honey.” He said with that deep
baritone of his. “You’re lucky that vampires don’t mind when females check them
out. So please, don’t stop on account of me.” He flexed his pecs and rolled his
hips and her mouth went dry. Her tongue stuck to the roof of her mouth.

Alex took a sip of her water. “I wasn’t checking you
out.” She lied through her teeth. Again. This really couldn’t become a habit.
“I was looking at your…weapons.”

“That’s a new one, my dick has never been called a
weapon before.” He rolled his hips again. “Then again, it might just kill
you…from sheer fucking pleasure. You weren’t checking me out, huh? If you say
so.” He smirked, looking so cocky that it irritated the hell out of her.

Her cheeks heated and it pissed her off. “I do say
so.” She tried to keep her voice even and failed. “You have too many…weapons
that is. I’m not talking about your damned cock or anything else for that
matter…” Then again, he didn’t have too many muscles. No way José did he have
too many of those. In the muscle department, things were just right. Big, hard,
sculpted. His cock was also damn fine, it…
head out of the damned gutter,
Alex.

“Stop stalling and get over here.” Still leaning on
his elbows, he lifted his hands and gestured with his fingers.

Hell no
! “Let me get this
straight.” She could feel everything inside of her tense and she folded her
arms. “Not only do you want me to kiss you, but I’m also expected to go over
there as well?”

He gave the tiniest nod of the head. “It would be
difficult to kiss me from over there.”

“You can come to me and then we’ll see.” He needed
to meet her half way. Hold up. Why was she even considering this?

“You need to come to me. You also have to mean it.”

She rolled her eyes. “Let me guess, you’re one of
those guys that can tell when a girl is faking an orgasm?”

Lazarus raised his brows and shook his head. A look
of disbelief crossed his face. “You human females have it tough. No need for
that particular skill since there is no need for faking an orgasm with me.” He
said it so matter-of-factly that she swallowed her flippant reply.

After a few beats, she leaned forward. “This whole
kiss thing, is it the condition you were referring to earlier? If I prove that
I’m into you, are you going to take me into the next round?”

Lazarus smiled. It was feral and really attractive.
Since when did she find him attractive? Mean, scary, muscular, bossy…sure, a
hottie…maybe a little, but all out attractive…surely not? Then his smile died
and his eyes darkened further if that was even possible. “Definitely not. That
will come later.”

She had to pull a face. “Is the whole blood drinking
thing the condition then?” Just thinking about anything to do with blood made
her stomach turn.

A half smile formed. Unfortunately for her, she
definitely found him attractive. “That’s a deal breaker but it’s not
the
condition.”
He shook his head.

She let out an exasperated breath.

“All this would be is you proving to me that you really
do find me attractive so that we can move forward. In hindsight, it doesn’t
make any sense that you would agree to the terms that Brant put forward. You
knew me all of five minutes yet you wanted me to pick you to go into the next
round.”

“So that we can get to know one another.” She
blurted. “You never know.”

“I don’t buy that. You could’ve waited a couple of weeks
and had a whole room full of vampire males to choose from, yet within five
minutes you decided that you wanted me. Why?”

“Look, let’s get something straight. I hadn’t
decided that I wanted you. From what I’ve gathered, we’re not guaranteed a
place in the next round. You seem to…like me, which hopefully will guarantee me
a place…with you.”

“What you’re saying makes no sense. You seem more
hung up on a place in the next round than on finding a vampire mate. This whole
program is about the latter.”

She was blowing this. Alexandra sucked in a deep
breath. The more she talked, the deeper the shit pile became. Maybe she wasn’t
such a great liar after all. So she said the one thing that was true. “I do
find you attractive.” She put down her plate of food on the blanket next to her
and scooted forward. Then she leaned down and brushed her lips against his.

Damn
. They were softer than
she had imagined.
Much softer
. He groaned. A deep rumble that resonated
from his chest.

Feeling flustered, she pulled away almost
immediately. This was not going according to plan.

“That’s not going to cut it.” He said as his lids
cracked open. They stayed half-mast. His nostrils flared. His jaw was tense.

She could feel how her chest rose and fell in quick
succession. “I kissed you. You have your proof.”

“That was a kiss between friends,
Alex-an-dra
.”
Each syllable was drawn out. “A chaste kiss between friends. I told you that I
wanted more than just a friendship with you.”

“Look, I’m not sure exactly what you are playing at.
I don’t know…” She stuttered and spluttered.

“My sentiments exactly. What are you playing at?
Either you are here for
The Program
…for me, or you’re here for a whole
nother reason. For your own unknown agenda.”

Damn, he was questioning her motives for being here.
Not the big, dumb hunk of muscle that she thought he was.

His eyes hooded further. “If you want to stay in
The
Program
, I need you to prove that you are attracted to me. I want you to
fuck my mouth.”

Her clit actually throbbed when he said the word
fuck. Little traitor!
Was this guy for real?
“P-pardon me..?” More
stuttering. “Did you just say that you want me to fuck your mouth?” More
spluttering. She didn’t stutter and splutter dammit. She was a strong woman.

He smiled. “You heard me. I thought humans enjoyed
kissing. Do it, Alexandra, put your mouth against mine. Fuck these lips with
your lips or go and pack your bags. I don’t want a half-assed kiss. I don’t do
half assed.”

She couldn’t believe the nerve of him. Alexandra
made a croaking noise, belying the frustration that she felt inside. She was
horrified to realize that it wasn’t just frustration at being made to do
something though, it was also the realization that she really wanted to do it.
No!

A drawn-out groan drew her attention and she turned
her head to the couple on the lawn to the right of them. He was dry humping
her. Now his hand was up her skirt and she was moaning. Alex averted her gaze,
feeling her cheeks heat…just a tad. It’s not like she was a prude or anything,
but hell.

Shit balls!

Her eyes widened. Things were heating up other there.
She was unable to stop herself from looking back at the other couple. Although
she could only see him from behind, it looked like the guy was lowering his
zipper. That was just plain rude. They weren’t all that close and there was no
one else around, but people didn’t go around screwing each other in public. Did
they? Okay, now he was lifting her legs over his shoulders. The girl on the
ground groaned as his hips thrust forward. They were all out fucking.

Her eyes felt as wide as saucers in her skull. “No
way!” she huffed as the guy’s jeans peeled halfway down his ass. They were
definitely going at it. No doubt about it.

“Look at me,” Lazarus growled. It sounded deep and
vicious and yet didn’t scare her…not in the least. “Forget them. That’s Lance.
He’s a colossal dickhead. The female he is with is Vanessa…” He shook his head.
“Just so that you know, we don’t normally rut in view of others…”

“Like animals.” She said, her eyes still on the
other guy’s ass as it moved. By the looks of things, he was going at it pretty
hard. By the sounds of things, the woman was loving every moment of it.

“No, we rut like animals but usually not in public
view.”

Everything in her tightened.
Animals
. Alex
looked back down at him. She could imagine a guy like Lazarus fucking like an
animal. Unfortunately, she could imagine it all too well. Alex licked her lips,
unable to tear her eyes away from the couple.

“A simple kiss, Alexandra. One. Simple. Kiss.”

“Simple.” She snorted, turning her gaze to him.
“Hardly. I’m supposed to fuck your mouth.” Her traitorous clit throbbed…again.
She had to stop herself from squeezing her thighs together, which would have
been a dead giveaway.

“Sit here.” He rubbed his lap.

The woman across the lawn was shrieking now.
Probably in time with each of his thrusts. She sounded like she had died and
just about gone to heaven. Alex was sure that she could hear the vampire grunting
as well. They were too far away to tell for sure though. She tried to ignore
it. This situation had gone from difficult to all out impossible.

“Please try and ignore them.” Lazarus said, his
voice low.

“I am.”

“No, you’re not,” Lazarus growled. In one swift
really graceful move, he leaned forward, gripped her by the hips and picked her
up. Just like that. Picked her up so that her ass was floating above the
ground. His face was the picture of calm. No strain lines at all. Next thing,
she was straddling his thighs. They were just as hard as what they looked. She
gasped and placed her hands on his chest. Wow! All she wanted to do was to move
her hands over them. To trace the hard valleys and peaks across his chest and
abs. To clutch at his biceps. To explore.

His hands threaded into her hair. Such a gentle
caress for such a giant of a man. She could smell him. If raw aggression had a
scent…this was it. Raw aggression wrapped in fresh, earthy tones. With maybe a
hint of soap. In short, he smelled good, really good. The urge to bury her face
in his neck and to run her tongue along his collarbone reared its ugly little
head.
Not happening.

Lazarus leaned all the way forward, putting his
mouth about an inch away from hers. “Kiss me, Alexandra.”

Her breath came in short pants as she looked down at
his soft lips. Alex forgot her reason for being there. She damn near forgot her
name as her mouth collided with his. His lips parted and she moaned as her
tongue found his.

He groaned, drawing her closer. He tasted good. Oh
so very yummy. The guy could damn well kiss. Hot and hard. Their teeth clashed
a few times but she didn’t care…not one little bit. The only thing she cared
about was getting more.

His cock was hard against her core. The soft leather
a minor barrier for her soaking panties. Alex ground herself up against him and
they both moaned.

A loud, eardrum shattering scream stopped them in
their tracks. Alex pulled away from Lazarus. The scream went on and on and on.
Just when she thought it was over, the woman started up again.
No way!

“Oh God,” Alex said. “Is she dead?” Another loud
very feminine moan sounded. “Or at least dying? She sure as hell sounds like
she’s dying.”

Lazarus smiled. “No. He drank from her, which has
heightened her pleasure. She will have come several times.” As if on cue.
Another loud, toe curling, panty wetting—it sounded that good—scream pierced
the tranquil setting.

“So damned rude…” Alex muttered. Then she realized
that she was still straddling Lazarus. Her thighs were wrapped around him
tightly. Her dress rode high on her thighs. Her pussy was flush against his
cock. It all out begged to have the barriers removed. It screamed to be fucked.
To have the long length of him buried deep inside of it. To have him thrusting…
no
way in hell
. She had a job to do and her job did not entail having sex with
Lazarus. It was both fortunate and very unfortunate that she found him so
attractive. Fortunate because she wouldn’t have to fake it and unfortunate because
things could get complicated…fast…but only if she allowed them to.

It wasn’t happening
.

Her hands were buried beneath his shirt. His skin
was hot and smooth. Again, the urge to run her hands up and down him seized her
but she ignored it. Instead, she quickly pulled them away and got off of him
trying hard not to flash him while she was doing it.

His gaze moved to between her thighs just before she
snapped them shut.
The pig
. His eyes turned smoldering. “Mmmm.” A deep
rumble. “Pink and wet.”