A Mate for York (10 page)

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, but 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?”

York
actually looked relieved, like he had gotten off lightly. He nodded, giving her
a reassuring smile. “Twenty lashes is for pussies. It’s like a scratch for us
vampires. I’ll heal in ten minutes. Don’t worry about it.” He winked at her.

“Careful,
I might double it.” Brant turned his hard eyes on her. “It will take longer
than ten minutes to heal and it will hurt like a bitch.”

York
growled next to her, she even saw a flash of a fang but he kept his eyes
averted.

“There
are silver spikes on the end of the whip. As most humans are aware, silver is
toxic to us non-humans. His back will be a bleeding mess, the silver will slow
the healing process.”

Brant
was a sick bastard, he actually took pleasure in telling her all this knowing
that she would be affected. Cassidy worked hard to keep a handle on her
emotions.

Zane
turned to Brant. “York doesn’t have bloodlust. He said he would prove that he didn’t
have it and he did.”

Something
didn’t sit right with her about that statement. She wasn’t exactly sure what it
was. The conversation continued before she could put her finger on it.

“He
disobeyed an order. He doesn’t deserve a place in the program.” Brant raised
his brows.

“We
said we wanted proven warriors, only the best to continue our line. I hate to
tell you but that’s him” Zane said as he gestured to where York was standing.

Brant
let out a huff of air. “Twenty fucking lashes and you stay away from the humans
during the next two days. You can rut all you want when the chosen females
arrive. Keep it in your pants until then. For a second there I thought you were
turning soft.” Brant actually smiled, looking anything but happy. “I thought
you really went to see this female to talk with her…to apologize.” He was
talking about her like she wasn’t even in the room. “When your main reason was
to prove that you didn’t have bloodlust. That’s why you rutted her and why you
turned yourself in. Fucking genius.”

The
nagging feeling she couldn’t put her finger on. Brant voiced it, summing it up
perfectly. Anger and hurt warred inside her. That would explain why such an
attractive, out of her league guy was interested in her.

What
hurt the most was how he had faked being so turned on by her. How he genuinely
seemed to enjoy her company when it was all an act to ensure that he got enough
of her scent on him and vice versa. She felt like a fool for sharing so many
private details from her life when in the end he only wanted back in the
program. It was all about using her so that he could still get one of the chosen
humans so that he could start a family. It was never about her. Never genuine.

“That’s
not true.” York said, but they were just meaningless words. She knew better.
People lied and broke trust all the time. Sean had taught her that. It was all
about number one in the end, that was what her ex boss Mark had always
maintained. He said it all the time, only she chose not to believe it and she
was a fool.

The
joke was on her.

Cassidy
turned away from York, not wanting to see him. Trying hard not to cry. “If
that’s all, I’ll be leaving now.”

Brant
didn’t move a muscle. “You’ll receive your contract amendments before close of
business. Be sure to sign them.”

She
nodded, not trusting her voice.

Brant
looked at his watch. “You’ve missed breakfast, your first session starts in
twenty minutes.”

Cassidy
nodded again while biting onto her lip to try and stop it from quivering. She
was such an emotional idiot. It wasn’t like she even knew York. There was no
way she had any real feelings for him. What was wrong with her? Why the hell
was she on the verge of tears? She shouldn’t let this get to her.

“Cass…”
York said from behind her, his deep voice washed over her, making her feel so
much worse. He had really hurt her. There was no way to stop the feelings of
betrayal that coursed through her. At least he wasn’t allowed anywhere near her
again. She just had to make it out of this room.

Don’t
cry, Cassidy.

“I’m
going now.” Her voice came out sounding hard and cold. She didn’t even look
Brant’s way, just turned for the door and began to move.

A
warm, calloused hand closed on her wrist. It was a touch she knew all too well.
For just a second she allowed his heat to seep into her skin and then she
yanked her arm free and fled from the room, sure to slam the door behind her.
Cassidy broke out into an all out run, praying that York would not be permitted
to follow her. The tears began to flow even before she made it to her suite.

It
must have been all the old memories of Sean, of how badly he had hurt her. This
whole ordeal had brought things to the surface that were best left buried. She
wished she had never met York, that she had never come here in the first place
and if she had any other choice she would leave. As it stood, she was sorely
tempted to do just that regardless of consequences.

Room B
loomed ahead.

It was
one minute before ten. Cassidy didn’t want to linger around, she’d timed this
perfectly.

The
vampire head of security, his name was Gideon, stood to the left of the door.
He nodded in greeting and gave her a small smile. His eyes filled with what
looked a lot like sympathy mixed with what she could only describe as pity.

Looking
away, she held on tighter to her purse strap, she really didn’t need this. Not
after she’d only just managed to pull herself together. Her eyes were a bit
bloodshot and a tad puffy, but mascara and concealer could work wonders. She’d
even put a bit of blush and lipstick on to try and appear fresh and upbeat.

“You
did good in there earlier,” he said as she approached.

When
she looked back up, the pity had been replaced with a genuine smile.

“Thanks…I
guess.”

“No,
really.” His face turned more serious. “There are very few people that have
ever dared to stand up to Brant. Aside from his mate and one other female, you
are the only human that’s ever done it. You deserve to still be here.” He looked
around them, speaking softly. “York pulled a serious dick move. I’ve never
known him to act in such a way. I know that he really wants a family. I just
can’t believe he would treat you so badly in order to reach that end. It’s not
on you though and I want you to know that. I plan on having a talk with him
about it.” He took a step closer to her, again looking around to make sure that
no one was listening in. “I know how emotional human females are when it comes
to sex. The only consolation I can give you is that he doesn’t realize how bad
this has made you feel and if he does, he doesn’t fully understand why. I don’t
believe he intended to hurt you.”

“I’m
not hurt,” she blurted. “I hardly know him.” She tried to play it down.

“I
could scent how hurt you were. I can still scent it on you even though it is
underlying.”

Fuckity
fuck.

That
meant that they all had smelled it on her. She’d prayed that she had looked and
seemed more together than what she actually was, not thinking for a minute that
her blasted scent had given her away. Vampires sucked!

“I
felt used. Like an idiot. I’m fine now. Thanks, I appreciate it.” Maybe they weren’t
all so bad.

Gideon
nodded. “I will keep a close eye on you. Just shout if you need anything. Do
you still remember the safe word?”

Cassidy
nodded. “As if I could forget.” Just thinking of it made her heart squeeze and
her eyes feel watery. It made her think of last night, reminded her of York.
The big, fat jerk. If she ever saw his face again it would be too soon. “Can we
maybe use another word?”

Gideon
looked confused for a second, and then he shrugged. “Sure, what did you have in
mind?”

“Um…noodles…maybe.”
Pumpkin.
She’d never been overly fond of vegetables.

Gideon
broke out into a smile. He nodded once. “Noodles it is then. I’ll just brief
the guards as well as the ladies in the comms room and we’re all set.”

“Thanks
again.” She did feel a little bit better.

“Anytime.”
Gideon pulled out a two way radio. “Be safe in there and don’t forget the new
safe word.”

“I
won’t.” She said as she continued towards the door.

“Comms
room B, Comms room B come in…” There was a clicking noise and the sound of static
before a woman’s voice crackled over the system.

Cassidy
couldn’t make out what she was saying because she entered the room and closed
the door behind her.

The
vampire was sitting sprawled out on the sofa. Although very tall, he wasn’t
nearly as built as York.

Stop
it.

She
had to try and get that asshole right out of her head.

He
moved swiftly to his feet, rubbing his hands on his jeans. By now she was
getting used to how attractive vampires were and wasn’t affected at all by his
wide, dimpled grin. He looked a bit younger than the others she had met. There
was an air of mischief about him. “Hi, I’m Griffin.” He extended a hand which
she took.

Not
nearly and big or as warm as…

Stop
it.

“It’s
really nice to meet you, Griffin.” She found herself smiling despite the
nervous tension.

He
raised his brow, his lips still turned up at the edges. “You have amazing
eyes…though I’m sure you’ve been told that dozens of times.”

“Thank
you.” Although she had received a ton of compliments over the years, she hadn’t
had many recently. These vampires were all a bunch of charmers, that was for
sure.

“You
don’t have to be nervous.”

“That’s
what the big, bad wolf said to little red riding hood and he tried to eat her,”
she muttered.

Griffin
chuckled. “I don’t know much about girls wearing red hoods and I’m not a wolf
shifter.” His voice was a low growl. Not nearly as deep and gruff sounding as…

Stop
it.

Dammit,
she was getting irritated with herself.

Griffin
winked at her. “I’m a vampire which means that if I wanted to eat you I
wouldn’t have to try, I would just go ahead and do it.” His nostrils flared and
she realized that he could smell what had gone down last night.

It
made her blood heat and not in the way he was hoping. Cassidy put her hands on
her hips. “Like hell you would. You probably think I’m some easy, idiot human.
Well…I’ve got news for you, if you think that I’m letting you or any of your
kind anywhere near me again, you’re deluding yourself.”

Griffin’s
eyes widened and his brow creased. He put up his hands. “I didn’t mean anything
by it. I’m sorry if I offended you.” He looked genuinely sorry. Even had the
whole puppy dog look down pat.

“It’s
fine, it’s just I’m not used to everyone knowing my very private business. I
don’t like it.” She mumbled the last.

“Just
so you know, vampires see rutting as just one of those things. We view it as
something that needs to happen, like breathing or eating. It’s not a big deal.
I thought you would’ve received this information in your training.” He hooked
his thumbs into his jeans.

“Not
really since we weren’t actually allowed to have sex.”

Griffin
chuckled. “York has big balls to have touched you. He will be sorry later when
he goes under the whip…I’ve only ever had ten lashes and that was bad enough.”

Don’t
feel sorry for him Cassidy. Don’t you dare feel sorry. He used you.

“I
can’t believe you’re not up for a round two though.” Griffin lifted his brows,
that mischievous glint was back. “He can’t have done it right if you don’t want
more.” It was delivered so innocently that she had to laugh. “Not that I’m
suggesting anything.” He quickly added, a big grin on his face. “I swear.”

Despite
his words, she did notice that his eyes dipped to her breasts before returning
to her face…make that her mouth. He was checking her out. God, these vampires
were certainly an oversexed bunch. “Um…” He lifted his eyes to meet hers. “Do
you want me to touch you while I…” He rubbed a hand through his hair.

****

Motherfucker!

York
was going to punch the shit out of Griffin directly after this session was
over. If he so much as laid a finger on her, he wasn’t sure he could wait until
the session was over. His hands clenched at his sides and he suppressed a
growl.

“What
are you doing in here?” Sasha asked as she swiveled in her chair to face him.
“This is a restricted area.”

Lea
glanced at him over her shoulder, a small smile toyed with the corners of her
full lips. “Hey, York. I haven’t seen you much lately.” Loosely translated, he
hadn’t rutted with her in a while.

He
smiled back. “Hi, Lea.”

Her
smile grew. “I can scent that you have been playing with the humans. You
naughty thing you.” She licked her lips. “I hear you are getting twenty lashes
for it as well.” She pulled a face for a few seconds before smiling again. “You
should come to me later…I’ll fix you right up.”

“Yeah,
sounds like a plan.” Normally he would’ve jumped at the opportunity. Lea was
attractive and they were highly compatible. The thought didn’t appeal to him at
the moment as much as it should have though.

“You
can leave now.” Sasha turned her hard eyes on him.

“Please,
let me stay.” York tried not to sound desperate.

“Males
are not permitted to watch. Humans become embarrassed when our males ease
them.”

The
thought of Griffin’s hands on Cassidy infuriated him. Schooling his expression and
working hard to get a handle on his emotions, York nodded. “This female will
not let Griffin touch her.”

Lea
laughed. Even Sasha cracked a smile. “They all let the males touch them. Every
single human, every single time without fail,” Lea said.

“It’s true,”
Sasha added. “The agreement was that we could monitor them so long as it is a female
who does the monitoring. That means that you have to leave…now.” Her voice held
a hard edge.

“I
will leave if she allows him to touch her.” He could barely get the words
around the lump in his throat. “I am merely concerned for her safety. Griffin
is still young.” That was it…yes…her safety was at the forefront of his mind.

Lea
gave a quick laugh. “That’s the human you rutted? Am I right? Please don’t tell
me you have feelings for her.”

York
scowled. “No way. I guess I feel I owe her. I don’t want to see her hurt. That
is all.” The female was really sweet. Brant had gone and fucked everything up.
Cassidy had been badly hurt. He owed her this much.

“There
are three guards outside that room. You really don’t need to be here.” Lea
glanced at him before returning her gaze to the screen.

York
shrugged. “Humor me…please.”

Sasha
grinned. “I guess it’s nothing you haven’t seen before anyway.” She too put her
focus back on the screen.

“Keep
quiet and no one finds out about this or we will all be in serious trouble.”
Lea didn’t look comfortable.

Tough
luck, he was staying. York felt his blood boil as Griffin alluded to eating
Cassidy. Little dickhead was going to cry like a baby by the time he was done
with him. He almost laughed out loud and fist punched the air when Cassidy put
him in his place even though her words didn’t sit right with him.

She’d
said that she wasn’t going to let him or any other vampire near her again. The
pain in her voice and her eyes was evident. He wished he could see her and
explain things but that’s what had caused all this shit last time. He was back
in the program and forbidden to see Cassidy. It would be better if she finished
up here and moved on with her life.

In
order for that to happen, he would make sure that she got through the next six
sessions alive and well. York didn’t care who he needed to bribe or beg to make
that happen, only that it would. He wasn’t technically in breach of his
agreement with Brant since he wasn’t in the same room as her.

He
narrowed his eyes at the screen. The little fuck was mentally undressing
Cassidy. Griffin’s eyes were glued to her breasts. By the way Cassidy squirmed,
he could see that she was uncomfortable under the scrutiny.

Um…”
Griffin lifted his eyes to meet hers. “Do you want me to touch you while I…” He
ran a hand through his hair.

Little
shit didn’t just say that?

York
knew he was being irrational, it was the exact same question he had asked the
previous day. Problem was, he couldn’t seem to help himself.

“No…thank
you.” Cassidy quickly answered and he was able to take a breath into his
starving lungs. Thank the gods.

Griffin’s
beady little fucking eyes lowered back to her chest for half a beat. “Are you
sure? It might get a little difficult for you. I wouldn’t mind at all.”

I’m
sure you fucking wouldn’t!

Cassidy
threw Griffin a small smile that looked sad. York felt it inside himself. A
funny feeling in his chest. It didn’t feel good. He really liked Cassidy, she
was a good person that had been hurt before. York hated that he had been the
one to hurt her this time around. Fucking hated it!

“No…I’m
good thanks. I assure you that I won’t need you to”—she paused—“to touch me in
any way.”

Griffin
shrugged. “Suit yourself. Let me know if you change your mind.”

She
won’t.

Lea
turned her head slightly, still keeping her eyes on the screen in front of her.
“Shhhh.”

York
realized that he had spoken out loud and pressed his lips together to prevent
any further outbursts. He also shoved his hands in his pockets.

Griffin
removed his shirt and sat back down on the sofa. “Get more comfortable and take
a seat.” He gestured to his lap.

Cassidy
removed her jacket, turning and folding it neatly before bending to place it on
top of her purse.

There
were several cameras in the room, placed in various positions. York ground his
teeth together watching how Griffin checked out Cassidy’s ass as she bent down.
The male even repositioned his dick in his pants. The fucker was hard for her.
York had to close his eyes for a few seconds in order to keep himself under
control.

“You
might want to lose the dress.”

York
shook his head, running a hand over the buzz on his scalp. The neckline on
Cassidy’s dress was a little lower than the blouse had been yesterday. Not low
enough to reveal even a hint of cleavage but low enough that her neck was
sufficiently exposed. The little fuck was trying his luck, plain and simple.

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.