“It’s my blood type. Good to know that you have it on hand for just in case.”
He looked excited for a second. “Why? Do you want to try some?”
She made a pained noise. “No way. Just no! I’m talking about if I hurt myself and need a transfusion.”
His jaw tensed, like the thought of her hurting herself was abhorrent to him. “You’re not going to hurt yourself, Alexandra. I’ll look after you. The guards are all here to ensure your protection as well.” His eyes turned really dark and his shoulders tensed. “If anything should happen, I will feed you my blood and it will help you to rejuvenate.”
She gasped. “Would I become a vampire?”
Lazarus looked amused. “I’m not sure where you got your information…maybe I should call it misinformation, but no, you would not become a vampire.”
She breathed out a sigh of relief. Good to know. Not that she planned on drinking his blood or anything…that was never going to happen.
“You look relieved.”
“I would hate to have to depend on others for my survival. To feed off of others.” She shook her head. “I don’t like the idea.”
“You are dependent on animals for your food source. It’s not so different, we are just more evolved.”
She folded her arms. “You think so, huh?”
Lazarus nodded. He stepped in next to her and the air seemed to thin. She could smell his clean just showered scent. It was yummy. Although she hadn’t been complaining earlier when he smelled of sweat either. There weren’t that many that could pull off being dirty and sweaty and still being incredibly attractive.
“I take it that you are hungry,” Lazarus said.
She nodded. “I’m starving.”
“Me too,” he growled. His eyes were firmly on her neck.
Alex felt heat rise in her face. “Can’t you drink from one of the guys?”
Lazarus looked so horrified that she had to laugh. “It’s not fucking happening. I’m not into males. I have nothing against male on male action. What others do is up to them but it isn’t for me.”
“You said that blood drinking is always sexual for you.”
“It is,” a low growl.
“Well”—she sucked in a lungful of air—“it wouldn’t be sexual if you drank from a guy.”
“It’s always sexual for me, Alexandra. Fucking always. The last thing I want is to get a hard on for a guy. I drink and I fuck…there is no other way for me.”
“Oh,” a squeak. Stuff clenched and puckered. Her lady bits did all the other things you read in those dirty, romance novels she loved. Her clit throbbed. Her nipples tightened. It all happened and all at once.
Lazarus made a low growling noise. His nostrils flared and it sounded like he was sniffing the air. Then he stuck his head inside the refrigerator and pulled out the makings for a ham and cheese sandwich. “I’m going to feed you and then I’m going to make you come.”
“Excuse me?”
“You heard me, Alexandra.” Lazarus’ voice had turned gravelly.
He grabbed some bread out of a cupboard and began lathering mayo onto some slices.
“We should…” Definitely do that. Her heart raced. Her body continued to react to his body in the most inappropriate ways. “…talk a bit. You shouldn’t have touched me yesterday.”
“Why the hell not?” He growled.
“It gets in the way of conversation.” A ridiculous excuse but she couldn’t really think of any good ones. Not when her body was fully on board with his making her come plan.
Lazarus spread mustard onto the bread. “We will talk while we eat. We are talking now. There is only so much talking we can do.” He slapped a slice of ham down. “Besides”—he stopped what he was doing so that he could look at her—“you really need to come badly.”
“No, I don’t.”
He snorted. “You fucking do, now stop arguing. He handed her a plate, which she took from him.
Lazarus gestured towards the table. “Let’s sit.” He took his own plate and followed her. “You can start by telling me what you do for a living.”
Alex tripped on the rug. She grabbed the back of a chair to keep from falling. By some miracle, her sandwich didn’t go flying. Oh hell! She had known this question was coming. She was the one that continually harped on about getting to know one another. What had she expected, that he would keep talking about himself and not expect anything in return?
Alex had decided to be honest. To stick to the facts as much as possible. “I’m such a klutz.” She said as she put down her plate and took a seat at the table. Lazarus did the same.
“You were saying.” He took a big bite of his sandwich.
“I’m a journalist. I write for the local Sweetwater paper.”
He stopped mid chew. “Oh.” He nodded a few times, chewing furiously and then he swallowed. “That’s interesting. What all do you write about? I don’t think I’ve ever seen the paper. We tend to stay away from that sort of thing. Although, Brant has been taking a vested interest lately with all the publicity surrounding The Program.”
“Yeah, I noticed the lack of media. No magazines, no television. You guys pretty much live in a bubble. If you want to get to know humans better, you should really look into that sort of thing.”
Lazarus cocked his head. “You’re right. I will bring it up with my kings. It is certainly something to consider.”
“Do you think your kings or a vampire representative would ever consider doing an interview?” A girl had to try.
His eyes widened. “Not a fuck. We prefer to keep to ourselves.”
“You do realize that things have changed? By introducing The Program, you are integrating with humans. There is just a slew of bad press and speculation. It would be so much better if you would agree to a press release or an interview…something.”
“It’s not going to happen.” His jaw tensed and he put the half-eaten sandwich down. “I really hope you’re not here to try and snag yourself an interview with one of the vampire kings. I kind of got the feeling that there was an ulterior motive. Is this it?”
Fuck! She’d gone and said too much. What an idiot! “No.” She shook her head. “I’m here to be a part of The Program but that doesn’t mean that I can change who I am. Would I like an opportunity for an exclusive? Hell yes. I’m not going to lie to you.”
The tension in his shoulders eased. “Thank fuck and thank you for being honest with me. For a second there…” He shook his head.
He gripped the base of her chair and pulled her around so that she was facing him. His big thighs slid around either side of hers. “You’re the kind of female I could really fall for. It excites the fuck out of me but it also scares me.”
It was so refreshing to see a big, badass alpha admit that he was afraid of something. It was also endearing. It made her feel like the worst person alive.
Argh! She had to force herself to maintain eye contact.
“What is it?” He slid his hands up her thighs.
“It’s nothing.”
“Are you afraid?” He asked.
Alex nodded. “Yes, this is moving really quickly.” It shouldn’t be moving at all. It was pretend. She was on the job. It was nothing.
“You have nothing to be afraid of, Alexandra.” Lazarus leaned forward. A beautiful smile graced his soft lips. “I will always be honest with you. I will never intentionally hurt you.”
It was all pretend.
Just a job.
Nothing.
Oh crap! She was in such deep trouble. His whole demeanor turned serious. “I think we just experienced a moment.”
She nodded and swallowed hard. “I think we might have.” All true. She was in such deep shit that it was scary.
“It is your turn to kiss me but what the hell.” He closed the small distance between them and gently brushed his lips against hers. The kiss was ever so sweet. Ever so soft. It could even be referred to as tender. It also made her heart beat faster. It made her want more.
Lazarus pulled away ever so slightly. This time, Alex kissed Lazarus. Her kiss was not as soft or as tender. She crushed his lips. Nipped them. Sucked them, all out fucked them.
She felt him smile against her. A chuckle sounded from somewhere deep inside him. “Alexandra.” He mumbled her name against her lips. “So demanding.”
He picked her up as he stood. “I like demanding.” He crushed his lips to hers and she straddled him. Then he was peeling her off of him and placing her on the sofa.
His mouth was back on hers. He cupped one of her breasts through her shirt. His chest vibrated with a deep groan. Lazarus squeezed her nipple and it was her turn to moan a little. Make that a lot. He squeezed and pinched, squeezed and pinched. He could work magic with those hands of his. Utter magic. She whimpered and tried to shamelessly dry hump him. His other hand held her in place, making it difficult to create any sort of real friction though. She made a sound of frustration.
Lazarus finally slid his hand down her belly and cupped her mound through her jeans. “Is this okay?”
“Not really.” She groaned, pushing his hand away so that she could undo her pants. “My jeans are totally in the way.”