Lazarus just smiled at her.
Jenna gasped. “A different partner every week?”
He raised his eyebrows and crossed his arms across his chest.
“Oh my god…” She shook her head. “You have sex with a different woman every few days?”
“It’s not like that.” He shrugged. “We have sex often…yeah…and often with different partners but we also have our favorites. Those we are compatible with physically but not that we see as mate material. Most of us have rutted many different partners.” He gave a feral grin. “Sometimes even more than one in one day.”
Her mouth fell open but she quickly closed it, putting her napkin against her lips. She went from feeling a little ill to feeling a little annoyed. Jenna blew out a breath through her nose as she started to feel downright mad. If Gideon was here right now, she would let him have it. She’d been with a hand full of men in her whole life. Too few to count on one hand. Yet he was mad at her and he’d been with tons of women? Whole strings of them by the sounds of it. The knowledge made everything in her tighten. It made her want to throw things.
Lazarus must have sensed her change in moods because he turned more towards her and even touched her arm lightly. “We also mate for life, Jenna. Once we have found the right partner, we never let go, are very loyal and protective. There are no half measures. It’s all or nothing with us. Any previous partners we have had pale in comparison. Our mate becomes our everything.” He said it with such heartfelt emotion.
Something in her softened. There was still a part of her that was feeling pretty mad though. “I just don’t like double standards. I’m sorry.”
“What do you mean by double standards?” His brows lifted.
“Nothing…it’s nothing. You’re really sweet. Why aren’t you chatting with any of the ladies here?” She forced down all the confused emotions that coursed through her and smiled at him.
“I am.” He smiled back. “I’m talking to you.”
“Yeah, but”—she looked back down at her plate—“you should really be speaking to someone you can actually have.”
His face clouded and his Adam’s apple worked as he swallowed hard.
“I didn’t mean it like that.” She touched the side of his arm.
He shrugged. “It’s fine. I know there is nothing more than friendship between us…I was only joking around. Thing is…” He paused, sucking in a deep breath. His big chest lifted. “You are the only female here that isn’t petrified of me. Also, you do know this is a breeding…dating program right?” He rolled his eyes at the use of the word ‘dating’. “You are supposed to be available, yet I don’t see you trying to win any of the males.”
“None of them are my type.” She chewed on her lower lip. “I guess I don’t want a guy that wants a girl who throws herself at him. I hope that makes even the tiniest bit of sense.”
Lazarus nodded. “Yes it does, although I must admit that I would love a human female to throw herself at me. Looove.” He rolled the word off his tongue.
Jenna had to laugh. She gave his arm a little slap. “You might want that for a quick roll in the hay but not as a long term relationship…come on, admit it.”
“A roll in the hay? Have you lost your mind? I wouldn’t roll in any hay with her. I would bend her over and—”
“Okay already, I get the picture.” Jenna had to laugh some more. “A roll in the hay is a human saying for having sex.”
His eyes lit up. “Then I would very much like it if a human female threw herself at me so that we could roll around in hay.” He groaned loudly.
“Talk to one of the ladies then.”
“I’ve tried. They’re all scared of me.” He rolled his very broad, very muscular shoulders.
“You shouldn’t wear all those knives to the table.” She pointed to the one on his thigh and the other one on his belt. Judging by the bulges on his ankles and various other places on his person, she suspected he had many more concealed weapons as well. “Human women are not into violence and aggression.”
Lazarus’ eyes narrowed. “I won’t take them off after last night. No fucking way. I need to be able to protect you humans.”
“You are so sweet.” She put a hand on his arm. “I am sure that once these ladies get to know you, they will see you in a whole new light.”
“I’m not any prettier in different lighting.” He shrugged. “This is me.”
Jenna covered her mouth, trying hard to hold back a laugh. “I don’t mean a change of lighting. What I mean is, they will like you lots once they get to know you.” She kept her hand on his arm. They had established that what they had was a friendship so she wasn’t worried about him getting the wrong idea. “For the record…you are an attractive guy. A woman would have to be crazy to not want a built and seriously badass vampire like you.”