The last thing she remembered feeling was embarrassment so complete that she was sure she would never be able to move past it and then her world went black.
****
Present Day…
The entrance to the club was humming. The exclusive vampire haunt hadn’t been this chaotic since Brant first opened the place.
It was damned crazy. Didn’t these humans realize that their endeavors were wasted? Vampires were not permitted to mate with humans. Even this whole breeding program was strictly controlled, from who was allowed to participate and the initial introduction, to the dates that would follow. The human females had signed contracts, they had been in extensive training. So had the vampire males for that matter. The females would also be required to sign a mating contract should they decide to settle down with one of the males.
Strict controls. Every step of the way.
Gideon shook his head. A group of females became excited when they caught him looking at them. The one female even lifted her top. As if showing him her mammary glands would make him defy the rules. It wasn’t happening. That particular path brought only heartache and regret.
Crippling amounts of the stuff.
An SUV approached, slowing down as it neared the club. Gideon gestured to three of the guards to standby. The females would need to be held at bay. There were also a couple of males in the group, either with their human females or as a part of the crowd looking to land a vampire.
“I want to date a vampire!” An elderly female screamed, cupping her hands around her freshly painted lips.
“Me too!” Someone towards the back shouted.
Gideon ignored them, watching instead as the vehicle pulled into one of the reserved spots.
“About damned time.” Gideon growled as he watched York exit the vehicle.
The male sucked in a breath as if he wanted to say something and then seemed to change his mind. After a beat or two, York locked eyes with Gideon. “Have all the best females been taken?” He gave a half smile that looked tired rather than happy.
Gideon smiled. “Glad to see that you are doing better. How’s the back?” The male didn’t look his casual self. Gone was his normal air of confidence coupled with a cocky smile. York had developed feelings for one of the human females and in an act of defiance had rutted her, knowing full well that a shit-storm would rain down on him. The whole little exercise had earned the male thirty lashes with a silver tipped whip.
York shrugged. “No big deal. It healed quickly enough.”
No big deal his ass. York’s back had resembled a tenderized steak when Brant was finished with him. Yet, being the badass leader of the elite team that York was, he shouldn’t have made a single sound during the beating. Thing was, York had.
Gideon hadn’t seen York for a few days and chuckled. “By the way you howled like a baby, I would’ve thought you’d be down a lot longer.” He was just giving the male shit. Gideon knew full well that York hadn’t cried out because of what was happening to his back but rather because his female was leaving. Cassidy had been expelled from the trial phase of the program. Brant didn’t tolerate such blatant disregard for the rules.
York clenched his teeth, his eyes took on a faraway look for a time.
The male actually looked…sad. His eyes were clouded and his shoulders sagged. Gideon felt for him. He had an idea of what the male was going through. Knew only too well how hard this was on him. He slapped York on the shoulder. “I’m only joking around. I know your whining had nothing to do with receiving those lashes.”
York scowled at him. His jaw looked tense, hell, his whole frame radiated tension.
Gideon felt bad for giving him shit. “I was with the human when she left. It wasn’t lost on me how you didn’t make another sound after she was gone.” Gideon shook his head, it would do no good to remind him of the female he couldn’t have. That door was closed. York had to move on, just as he had been forced to move on over a year ago. “The humans inside are stunning, or so I have heard, you need to give it a chance. Maybe you will meet the right one.”
“You haven’t seen them yet?” York asked, a deep frown marred his forehead.
Gideon shook his head. “It’s been hectic out here since early evening. Somehow, information about tonight must have leaked despite the heavy confidentiality clauses. I have my hands full.” He shrugged. “Besides, it’s not like any of them are here for me, so what’s the point?”
They arrived at the large double doors of the club. “Why didn’t you try out for the program?” York asked. “You could easily have made the top ten.”
Gideon shrugged again. Like fuck! There was only one human female he had any interest in and since she was not available, he wasn’t interested…period. “I’m not the settling down type. I don’t particularly want a mate or children for that matter.” He felt everything in himself tighten. If only…he quickly moved away from the thought. It fucking killed him to think about her.