A Mate for York (The Program Book 1)

by Hartnady, Charlene

  “Someone threw a pig carcass onto the pavement in front of Aorta followed by a bucket of blood. The pig’s heart was stabbed with multiple silver tipped stakes.” The male looked grave. “Just a bunch of haters causing shit.” He then turned to Jenna. “You have nothing to fear. We have the situation under control.”

  She swallowed thickly, nodding once but her face still looked pale and hers eyes wide.

  “It’s them.” Lazarus’ hard eyes landed on him. He kept his comment cryptic not wanting to frighten the little human any more.

  “We don’t know that.” York worked to keep his voice even.

  Lazarus snorted. “It’s them. I fucking know it is.” He moved to the bar gesturing for the barman to give him his weapons.

  “Who’s them? Is everyone okay? Did anyone get hurt?” Jenna looked panicked. Her heart still raced and she clasped and unclasped her hands.

  “A few people in the crowd got splashed by the blood but everyone is fine,” the guard said. “It’s nothing to worry about.”

  Jenna nodded again, some of her color returning.

  “Can I have a quick word?” He looked pointedly at Lazarus who nodded. They moved to a quieter part of the club. The guards were being questioned and the human females reassured. York hoped that enough of the attention was on other things and that no one would be focused on them or their conversation.

  “What’s up?” Lazarus growled under his breath.

  “I’m leaving.”

  Lazarus didn’t look shocked. His face remained completely neutral. “Are you sure you want to risk everything?”

  “I’m just going to talk to her. I need to set the record straight. How did you know that’s where I was going?”

  “You have a thing for that female.”

  “I don’t,” York growled. “Okay maybe I do, but”—he shrugged—“it’s complicated. I just need to sort things out with her before I can move on. That’s all.”

  “If you go, you will end up fucking her and if you end up fucking her you risk being booted from the program. You need to be very sure that you’re okay with that.”

  Since when did Lazarus turn into a fucking shrink? “I have more willpower than that.” York clenched his jaw. “Give me a little more credit.”

  Lazarus grinned, his teeth gleamed, making him look more murderous than humorous.

  “Jeez, bro, don’t smile like that around any of the females, they’ll run a fucking mile.”

  His smile widened even further. “Then they must run. My mate will like that I am built like a brick shithouse, she will love the fact that I drink blood. She will love my smile. When I am with her, I will smile often so she had better love it.”

  York found himself smiling as well. “You’re right my friend. A mate should love everything about you…the good…the bad and the ugly. Even if the ugly outweighs everything else.”

  His eyes hardened and his mouth became a thin white line. “Are you saying that I’m ugly? I can show you ugly.”

  “Wouldn’t dream of it.” York put up his hands, laughing hard. He felt so much better now that he had decided to go and see Cassidy. “I need to get out of here while the attention is diverted elsewhere.”

  Lazarus shook his head. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

  “I’m only going to talk with her.”

  Lazarus choked out a laugh. “If you say so.”

  Chapter 12

  Cassidy looked at her bags. They had been packed for days and yet she still hadn’t left. Damned if she knew why she hadn’t taken the plunge yet.

  She’d given notice on the apartment and her lease was paid up. All loose ends had been taken care of. The only thing left to do was to leave. Get in her newly serviced car and hit the road. Destination unknown…the world was at her fingertips with so many opportunities and adventures ahead of her. What the hell was wrong with her?

  Right, she was going to shower and hit the sack early so that she could leave in the morning. This was it. Decision made, she waited for the excitement to bubble up inside of her but instead she got…nothing. Not a damned thing. Maybe she was fearful. That was probably it. It wasn’t every day a girl got to start over. It was a major life change. It was normal to drag her feet like this. Normal to feel a little apprehensive.

  There was a knock at the door.

  It must be Mrs. Simmons from next door, she thought. She probably needed to borrow a cup of sugar or some eggs again. The old woman was mostly just really lonely and would make up any excuse to pop in for a quick chat.

  “Hi Mrs…” The rest of her words died a quick horrible death on her tongue which chose that moment to become paralyzed. Her whole mouth fell open, so the paralysis extended itself to her jaw as well.

  It was the last person she had expected to see. York leaned in against the doorjamb. He was wearing a stylish button down shirt and black jeans, sporting a six o’clock shadow that made him all the more attractive. Bastard! She didn’t want to be attracted to him. It irritated her how his shirt pulled tight across his chest. How his jeans encased thick, mouthwatering thighs. Damn him! Cassidy hated the knowing look on his face followed by a half smile that could ignite panties. Not hers thank you very much. Not again.

  She somehow managed to get her mouth to close.

  “Can I come in?” Deep and velvety. His voice was like rich, dark chocolate. Melted and dripping in thick rivulets. It made her hungry for things she couldn’t have…make that didn’t want!

  “No.” She tried to close the door but he put a boot in the way. “I suggest you move it or lose it.” Her voice sounded really confident. Way to go Cassidy.

  “I need five minutes…please. I need to explain.” His eyes shone with sincerity and his voice was filled with remorse.

  For a second…just one…she was tempted to let him in. Then she remembered how he’d used her. Lied to her. Made a fool of her. Her resolve hardened and she shook her head. “Like I said before, I don’t want your brand of apology. Please just go away.”

  His jaw clenched and he sucked in a breath through his nose. For a brief moment it looked as if he was going to back off. Instead, he took a small step towards her, putting him mere inches away.

  She had to crane her neck to maintain eye contact. “Go…as in leave…as in turn around and walk away. I’m not interested in what you have to say.” Please go.

  “What Brant said was bullshit! That’s not why I went to see you that night.” Again, he looked so honest. Like every word was heartfelt. She wasn’t buying it. No way.

  Cassidy shook her head. “Look…I don’t know why you’re really here, maybe you get off on messing with people’s minds or something. Maybe you’re some sadistic fuck. I don’t know. You’ve said your piece and now you can go.”

  “You don’t believe me,” York growled. “I’m not leaving until you hear me out. I’ll camp outside this door if I have to.”

  “Good luck with that since I’m leaving in the morning. My bags are packed and everything.” She blurted, feeling like an idiot.

  A pained expression crossed his face for a second before he schooled his features. His eyes burned with an intensity that scared her. “I will follow you, Cassidy. Wherever you go, so you might as well hear me out now so that we can both move on.”

  “That’s stalker behavior. You sound like one of those crazies.” A seriously gorgeous stalker. In fact, he was the one that should have stalkers not the other way around.

  York smiled and gave a small shrug. “I don’t like the way things ended between us. I’ve done a couple of crazy things since meeting you so one more won’t matter.” He reached out, almost touching her arm but pulled back at the last second. “I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t mean it. Why would I care enough? Brant is full of shit. Think about it. Please let me in. I never used you, I swear.”

  Cassidy rolled her eyes and sighed heavily before looking him in the eyes for a few beats. This was a bad idea but what he said made sense. Why would he care enough to be here
if he had used her? Unless he needed something more from her. Maybe he had something else to prove. She started shaking her head.

  “I fucking loved our night together,” he growled. “It had nothing to do with the program or Brant or anything else. The only thing that mattered was you…our attraction. The pull I feel for you…” He ran a hand over his head. “I know you feel it too. It’s why…” His eyes moved to the side. Someone walked by, slowing down as they neared her door so that they could gawk at what was happening.

  Once the person was out of earshot, his eyes moved back to hers. “That’s why I’m standing here…like a big fat loser…at your front door begging to be let in.”

  “You’re not a loser.”

  “I’ve never had to beg a female so much in my whole life.” He was grinning. “Never.” He shook his head. “Maybe I should go.” York shoved his hands in his pockets and stepped back far enough to allow her to close the door.

  She didn’t move.

  His eyes softened. Turning from stormy blue to the color of the sky on a sunny day. “I hope you believe me. It was never my intention to ruin your life or to hurt you.”

  “You didn’t ruin my life…that was a bit overdramatic. It did hurt just a tiny”—she held her thumb and index finger a few millimeters apart—“teeny bit to think that you had used me, that’s all.”

  “I didn’t use you. I wanted you...” It looked like he wanted to say something more but swallowed the words. His Adam’s apple worked. “I’ll go now…I’m sure that—”

  “Come in.” Cassidy interrupted him, stepping back, she held the door open. “Stay for a drink,” her eyes flashed to his. “I have tea, coffee, water…I don’t have much I’m afraid.” She quickly added, sure to let him know that her blood was not on the menu.

  York chuckled. “A coffee would be great.” He stepped inside and her small apartment suddenly became even smaller. Then he tensed up and stopped midstride. “Look, I think I should probably go. I said what I needed to say. Fuck, Cassidy…” His eyes lifted to the ceiling for a few beats. “You’re beautiful and intelligent. I wanted you more than I’ve ever wanted anyone. I really hope that you believe that.”

  When he put it that way, it made her want to jump him all over again but she held back…only just. “I wouldn’t have let you in if I didn’t believe you.”

  “Good.” His voice was low and deep. It sent shivers down her spine and had her toes curling into her cheap linoleum floor.

  His eyes were so blue, so intense they had her mesmerized. It was then that she realized how close she was to him. Her breath became a little erratic and she swallowed hard. The attraction that flared up between them was so strong that it was practically tangible.

  His nostrils flared. “I think I’d better go now.”

  She felt herself frown. “I thought you wanted a coffee. I can brew us a cup in no time.” Cassidy didn’t want him to leave…not just yet.

  York’s nostrils flared a second time and she could see his jawline tense up as he clenched his teeth. He shook his head slowly. “I wasn’t lying when I said I wanted you that night.”

  She could feel how her frown deepened. “I know. I said I believed you.”

  “I would be lying if I said I didn’t want you right now,” York growled. “I think you should ask me to leave now, Cassidy. Kick me the fuck out. I’m about to do something we might both regret.”

  “Oh.” Such an eloquent thing to say.

  York took a small step back, keeping his eyes on hers. They were burning up with a need that took her breath away.

  “Urm…” She wanted him more than she had ever wanted anything before. The problem was that she already had feelings for him after one night. They couldn’t be together, so sleeping with him again would only amplify her feelings and hurt her more in the long run.

  York gave her a half smile, actually managing to look forlorn and lost. “All of the best. Don’t let some guy mess with you again. You deserve the best, Cass…the best. Don’t you dare settle for less.”

  She nodded, unable to trust her voice.

  York turned. Her heart felt like it was beating right out of her chest. “Please, don’t go,” she whispered.

  His whole body stiffened, his neck muscles became distinctly corded. He turned his face ever so slightly. “I should…leave…right now.” He sighed. “It’s for the best.”

  “Okay.” It came out sounding like a breathy sigh loaded with disappointment.

  “But I can’t.” He pushed the door shut and turned to face her.

  If it weren’t for the desire in his eyes, she would’ve thought that York was angry. His whole body radiated raw tension. His muscles bulged, straining the fibers of his shirt. He even growled flashing a long, ivory fang as he advanced on her.

  Her heart leapt to her throat and excitement coursed through her veins. He picked her up, as in off the floor and with no trouble at all.

  The little gasp she made was swallowed as his mouth covered hers. His tongue clashed with hers and the sound of ripping filled the room. Cool air abraded her very wet pussy just as his hard cock rubbed up against her. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled her knees up.

  There was no time to think or even to breathe as her back hit the wall. “Put your legs around my hips. I need to be inside of you.” He nipped at her lower lip, sending shock waves through her body. Her clit throbbed. Her breasts felt heavy.

  She did as he said, locking her ankles behind him.

  “I need you so badly.” York growled as he pushed his hand between them using a finger to rub on her clit. It was at total odds with what he had just said but she didn’t care because his touch felt so damned good.

  Her breath came in rugged pants which turned to a loud moan when he pushed a finger inside her.

  “You’re so fucking wet.” He growled in irritation when his shirt tails got in the way of his hand and ripped it open. Buttons went flying, making soft noises at they hit the ground around them. York didn’t seem to notice.

  It turned her on seeing the desperation etched into his features and actions. This time he breached her with two fingers, pushing in and out of her in slow even strokes that made her cry out.

  “Are you ready for me?” he growled.

  She looked down, seeing the head of his thick cock pressed between them. She could feel it hard against her stomach. “Yes.” A needy cry was torn from her lips.

  York growled, sounding frustrated and he continued to finger fuck her. She could sense that he was holding back.

  Cassidy was panting hard. Her orgasm, hovering somewhere just below the surface. “What’s wrong? I’m ready.”

  He growled again, his eyes went from desire filled to pained. “I don’t want to hurt you. I haven’t had sex since I was with you.”

  And one week without sex was a long time?

  Some of the training resurfaced and she remembered them mentioning how sexual vampires were. “Wait a minute.” She held onto his hand so that he would stop touching her for a second. “Is that unusual? I mean, is it unusual to go a week without sex?”

  York nodded. “Yeah. I’m feeling really turned on right now. I want you so badly…to be inside you…really deep. It’s just…” He clenched his teeth and shook his head.

  She moved his hand away from her opening and grabbed ahold of his cock. York’s eyes drifted shut and he made a growling sound that she’d come to recognize as arousal.

  Cassidy closed her hand around his thick girth. “Take me then.”

  York crouched down a little so that she could position his head at her opening.

  “Maybe it would be easier if we went to my bedroom.” She licked her lips.

  York shook his head. “I’m too desperate for you.” He pushed his tip into her.

  Cassidy’s head rolled back against the wall and she made a whimpering sound.

  “Tell me if I’m hurting you,” he growled.

  “Feels good,” she somehow managed to grind out.
<
br />   He thrust into her again, deeper this time and she cried out. It stung a little but it mostly felt really fantastic.

  “You good?” His eyes were filled with both concern and lust. His jaw was tense, his whole expression told her that he was on edge. His brow was deeply creased.

  Cassidy somehow found it in her to smile. “I won’t break. Fuck me already.”

  It was all that York needed because he shoved her up against the wall on a deep growl. Hard enough to maybe cause a bruise or two but she didn’t care because he thrust into her again and kept on going. Hard and deep. Giving her everything he had. His eyes were locked with hers. He grunted every few strokes. It was cute, it was seriously hot. A sheen of sweat gleamed on his brow. His neck muscles were all over the place.

  His dick hit nerve endings inside her that she never knew existed. She moaned as his pelvis ground against hers, as his hips rocked with hers. As his breath mingled with hers.

  “Come for me, gorgeous.” York’s eyes glowed, while his body demanded. He clenched his jaw and his hands tightened on her.

  It was useless to fight it even though she wanted this moment to last. Wanted him joined with her for longer than one more stolen night. In the end, it was useless to hold back.

  Everything in her tightened as she felt herself free fall. Cassidy moaned his name. York jerked against her. She could feel his heat erupt inside of her. He groaned her name as he leaned into her neck.

  A pinch.

  Blinding pleasure.

  A second even more powerful orgasm was pulled out of her as York clamped down on her neck. She could feel her blood rushing through her veins. Cassidy sucked in a deep breath and screamed. It felt so good that it almost hurt as her muscles spasmed over and over as wave after wave crashed through her.

  Thankfully, he released her within a few hard pulls or she wasn’t sure that she would have survived it. It was too powerful, too consuming for a mere human.

  Cassidy slumped onto York’s shoulder. She couldn’t seem to catch her breath.

  His chest heaved against hers. Not nearly as labored for the amount of work it must have entailed to have sex with her while holding her up.