A Mate for Lazarus(17)

“We just shared a moment.” He gave her a ghost of a smile. Then his eyes moved to her mouth. “Now kiss me, Alexandra.”

“No.”

He sighed. “Do you need me to bend down so that you can reach?”

Alexandra snorted. “No. That’s not it. I don’t think that it’s fair that I have to keep kissing you. Is this how it’s going to be because if you expect me to do all the work…you can forget about it?”

Lazarus chuckled. The sound was rich. It warmed her from the inside. Then he turned serious and a furnace switched on inside of her. His eyes darkened and his jaw clenched and poof…on switch and ignite furnace.

“I would be more than happy to kiss you. The last kiss we shared was me kissing you…if you remember correctly. Care for a repeat? I know that I—”

Oh hell no. She couldn’t take a repeat of that. It was just too much. His mouth, his hands, his hard body against her. She would beg and it wouldn’t be pretty. She slanted her mouth over his and kissed him like her life depended on it. She fisted his shirt and dragged him closer. His hands slapped the wall on either side of her. His mouth was hot, sinful…the guy could kiss. Those soft lips of his felt good against hers. They felt even better when she sucked on them, nibbled on them.

He groaned loudly as he broke the kiss and far too soon for her liking. Alexandra was tempted to pull him back, to demand more but his chuckle stopped her flat.

“I was expecting a soft, easy kiss.” His gaze moved to her mouth before locking with hers.

“Oh.” Her breath came out in ragged pants. “You weren’t looking for a mouthfuck?”

He shook his head. “You can mouth fuck me while we’re fucking, if you want to fuck or if I ever need you to prove to me that you mean it. A sweet kiss is for when we say hello or good morning or if we have just shared a moment.”

“All these rules. Is this a part of our agreement?”

His eyes darkened. “You make it sound like a business arrangement. Forget about our agreement.”

He was confusing her…again. “You told me earlier that we were exclusive and that you want to get to know me and that well…” She felt her cheeks heat.

“That I like you. That I feel there is something between us and that other males anywhere near you makes me jealous.” He nodded. “All true. Don’t be afraid. I know humans become afraid when we move too quickly.”

“I told you that I’m not afraid of you.”

He narrowed his eyes. “Yeah, I’m a fucking teddy bear.”

Big, scary but at the same time soft and cuddly—at least on the inside. Lazarus was a big softy. She nodded. “Yes, you are.”

He looked at the ceiling for a second before looking back at her. “I’m not talking about that kind of fear. Don’t look at this like a business arrangement.” He shrugged. “Let’s just enjoy this.”

“You are the one who keeps referring to conditions and deal breakers. You’re the one throwing rules at me.”

His eyes softened. “Let’s just forget about all that stuff…okay? No more conditions or deal breakers. The kissing me often rule does apply though.”

“Do you mean that?” She felt relief flood her system.

“Yeah. I like your lips. I’m going to be kissing them a lot. I will also be kissing every other part of your body.”

Heat raced through her as she pictured his mouth on her…everywhere. “Um...” What had they even been talking about? Oh yeah. “Do you mean it about there not being any more conditions or deal breakers, about us just being able to relax and enjoy this?”

He nodded. “I do.”

“What was it?” The burning question of the hour.

He frowned. “What was what?”

“What was the condition?” She had to know.

“Don’t worry about it.” He unlocked the door.

“Tell me. I really want to know.” I have to damn well know.

He shook his head. “I will tell you, Alexandra, but not today. I’m really hungry.” Her heart raced a little faster as his eyes moved to the pulse at the base of her neck.

“Me too.” She smiled, ignoring how her heart fluttered.

Stepping to the side, he gestured for her to leave the room, following closely behind her. It looked like everything was going her way. At this rate, Lazarus would take her into the next round for sure. It was a pity he was such a nice guy. She didn’t want to hurt him. She couldn’t let herself fall for him either. The lines were all blurred. It was a mess. She could still pull this together though. She just needed to dig really deep.

****

The next morning…

There was a knock at the door followed by a shout that was filled with excitement. “They’re training.”

Animated squeals sounded from down the hall. Then someone else pummeled on her door. “It’s on. It’s freaking happening.”

Alexandra looked down, she’d overslept, had missed breakfast and was still wearing her crumpled pajamas. They’d arrived back at the table in time for dessert. Lazarus had insisted she go ahead of him and he had arrived ten minutes later. That girl, Jenna, Lazarus’ friend was AWOL.

Alex had ended up downing two glasses of wine, which wasn’t a great idea on a practically empty stomach and she was feeling it this morning. Maybe it was the sugar in white wine but she never slept well after drinking the stuff.

She opened the door, it was mayhem. There were women everywhere, at least it felt that way to her sleep deprived, headache riddled brain.

“What’s going on?” She asked one of the women. She had dark curly hair and big brown eyes. She wore tiny shorts and a tight white t-shirt. The leopard print heels were a little over the top, but hey who was she to judge?

“The itinerary changed…” Then she gave Alex the once over. “You look like shit.” Then she smiled brightly like Alex looking like shit had just made her day. “The elite are fighting each other. They do it from time to time and we have been invited to watch. We were warned that it can be gruesome and bloody.” Her eyes rolled to the back of her head. “I can’t wait to see them go at each other.” Then she gave Alex another once over and shook her head. “You had better hurry up or you’ll miss out.” Using just one long, manicured nail…talon…she waved and sashayed away. As quick as her high ass heels would allow.

A blond head caught her attention. “Hey, Sarah.” Alex yelled over all the commotion. The other woman kept on walking like she was on a mission. She probably hadn’t heard Alex over all the commotion. Alex closed the door and leaned back on it.

Violence, bloodshed…she shook her head. How sick was the world anyway that a bunch of women could become so excited over something so base and barbaric? Men, torsos bared, going at each other with their bare hands. It was so primal, so aggressive. The whole thing made her give a little yell of excitement. It might be seriously wrong but she couldn’t wait to see it firsthand.

Alex flung her closet open and pulled out a pair of skinny jeans and a tank top. She dressed quickly. After a once over with her toothbrush, a splash of water on her face and a half assed attempt to tame her rat’s nest hair, she ran from her room and headed in the direction of the noise. Thankfully, a ton of the ladies had chosen really high heels and were damned slow so she caught up in no time.

Although Sarah wore slip on ballerina type shoes, she trudged so slowly that Alex caught up with her easily. Her hands were in her pockets and her eyes were downcast. In short, she looked really upset about something. Alex sighed. Probably that dick, Lance. She’d only ever actually seen his ass. Maybe Sarah could point him out to her so that she could at least see firsthand what all the fuss was about.

“Hey, Sarah.” She walked up next to her and gave her shoulder a bump with her own.

Sarah’s mouth tightened and she didn’t so much as lift her chin even a smidgen, her eyes stayed glued to the ground ahead. “Don’t you have somewhere to be?”

Say what?

Sarah sounded annoyed. She’d used pretty much the same line that Alex had used the night before when she’d thought Lazarus was with Jenna and that Jenna was the woman that he had slept with. Not that she was jealous or anything. Just annoyed that he…moving on.

She turned to Sarah. “What’s going on?”

“I want to be alone…that’s all.” Still no eye contact. Sarah’s shoulders hunched even further.

“What did Lance do this time?” Alex asked, disliking this asshole more and more even though she had yet to meet him.

Sarah turned and glared at her for a few seconds before looking up ahead of them. At least she was standing more upright. “He didn’t do anything.”

Alex didn’t like the way she said he, it implied that Alex had done something wrong.

“Don’t look so confused. I asked you to stay away from him. At least half the women here are all over him. I specifically asked you to stay away and you didn’t. Isn’t one vampire enough? Most of us would kill to have one.”

“I’m a little in the dark here.” Alex held up her hands.

Sarah stopped walking and turned to face Alex. She looked around them. “The whole putting your shoe on thing. That was him going over to you but you didn’t need to go sit with him…to flirt with him.”