A Mate for Lazarus(5)

“Do you know of anyone, Lazarus?” He asked.

The big guy…Lazarus…swallowed hard. He didn’t look convinced. Maybe he hadn’t been as into her as what she had thought.

Shit!

Lazarus moved his gaze to her, this time giving nothing away. Oh hell! To think that her future rested in the hands of this big hunk of muscle. Alex crossed her arms across her chest. Her mouth suddenly felt dry so she licked her lips, before chewing on her bottom lip. It looked like she was going to have to spell it out to him. “You’re one of them aren’t you? One of the vampires from The Program?”

The brute nodded once, face still a mask.

The other guy that had arrived with the king stepped forward. He was frowning and he looked really stressed as he spoke. “Surely we should have her meet with all the males. You never know, maybe one of them would choose her.”

Lazarus and the other guy had a staring competition for what felt like a long time. Then the other guy gave an almost unnoticeable shake of his head. It was as if he was trying to tell Lazarus not to do it. What did it have to do with him? Why wouldn’t he want Lazarus to pick her?

The king stepped forward. “I don’t think she should be allowed in on this round. Period,” Brant growled. Nice, he was talking about her like she wasn’t there. Dickhead! “I have a feeling it would cause shit.” He turned his gaze to Lazarus. “According to the feedback I’ve received, you don’t plan on choosing anyone in this heat. Is this true?”

“He spent the night with a female last night,” The other guy growled. “Maybe Lazarus will choose her. You plan to, don’t you?” So that was why he was acting like this. Maybe Lazarus had made a commitment to this other woman.

Damn!

There was only one way to find out. “Shit!” Alexandra took a step towards Lazarus. She huffed out a breath. It looked like the big brute was all that stood between her and the pavement. Between her dead end job and a headline story. A story that would put her name on the map. “Sorry I called you an idiot and a moron.” She swallowed hard. “I know you’re not deaf or brainless. I’m really hoping you’re not spineless.”

He frowned. “I have a spine.” Lazarus put his hand to his back as if she had meant it literally. These vampires were hilarious.

Moving on. “Good. Look…” She licked her lips. A bottle of water would have come in handy right about now.

His eyes tracked the movement of her tongue. One thing was clear, he might have spent the night with another woman but this big guy was definitely into her which meant that last night couldn’t have been serious. Since she didn’t plan on getting cozy with him, she didn’t particularly care where he had just put his dick. “Urm…this is awkward.”

Though, he had in fact still had sex with someone else just hours ago. Maybe it meant something in his mind. She rubbed the toe of her sneaker into the dirt, trying not to think about it. This was a bit of a bitchy move. Normally she would never lead a guy on or play in someone else’s sandpit but desperate times called for asshole moves. “I don’t mind that you spent the night with another woman. I really don’t. I need you to please guarantee that you’ll choose me though. We get along”—Not at all—“mostly. We could get along.” It didn’t matter either way. She wasn’t here for a relationship of any kind.

His nostrils flared. His eyes moved down her every curve and back up again only to move back down again.

Alex had to work hard not to growl or smack him. “What?” She cocked her head. This was total bullshit. Last time she checked she was more than just a piece of meat. A tight…okay not that tight…piece of ass. “You look like you’re sizing me up and finding me lacking.” Alex hated that her cheeks heated under his scrutiny. Hated it!

His eyes finally lifted to hers. “I have a condition.” Lazarus quirked an eyebrow.

What the...?

This sounded like a challenge. Alex never backed down from a challenge. “Name it.” She couldn’t help but to smile.

The other guy with the king snarled, drawing her attention. His eyes blazed and his muscles bunched. In short, he looked really pissed.

“What the fuck crawled up your ass?” Brant asked the other vampire.

“Nothing,” he said. “I’m fine.” Bullshit. Smoke was practically coming out of his ears.

It wasn’t her business. Vampires were definitely strange creatures. “What’s your condition?” She asked, locking eyes with Lazarus. It had better be something above board.

“Let’s just agree upfront that if you can meet my condition, I’ll choose you to go through to the next round.” He raised his brows.

Like hell.

“That’s bullshit.” She snorted. “Complete and utter bullshit. What if I don’t meet this condition of yours? Surely I need to have some sort of an idea of what I’m up against? What if it’s impossible?” It probably was. He was just toying with her.

“I’m sure you’ll do just fine.” He looked sincere. “You’re a strong, feisty female in her prime.”

What the…? Alex had a feeling she was going to hate this condition of his.

“What does that have to do with anything? This is complete bullshit.” She muttered while shaking her head.

“Fine.” Brant smiled. He actually looked pleased. Sadist. “You”—he turned to her—“get to stay for two days but should Lazarus decide not to take you through to the next round, then you are out and forfeit any involvement in The Program going forward. Do you agree?”

At least she was in with a chance. It might not be exactly what she had envisioned, but hell. Alexandra smiled. “Yes, I do.” She would make this work.

One minute, Lazarus was smiling like an idiot and the next he was staggering backwards. His face covered in blood. It was a miracle he didn’t lose his footing as one times enraged vampire punched him.

“Fuck you!” The pissed vampire snarled. Then the guy turned and stormed away. The king had been right on the money when he had asked what had crawled up that guy’s butt. There was definitely something bugging him and in a big way. Maybe he didn’t like that Lazarus was interested in pursuing her. Why though?

Despite the blood that poured from his broken nose, Lazarus still smiled. Go figure!

“You.” King Brant gestured to Lazarus. “Go and get cleaned up. And you…” His dark eyes moved to Alex. “I’ll call my personal assistant to escort you to the female accommodations.”

“Thank you.” She nodded in Brant’s direction before turning to Lazarus. “Before you go.” She held up a hand. “When are you going to tell me about this condition of yours?”

Lazarus raised his brows. “All in good time.”

“The clock is ticking.” The vampire king looked at the watch on his arm. “Don’t take too damned long, there are only three days left of the first-round.” Then he pulled his cell phone from out of the inside pocket of his suit jacket and requested that someone by the name of Allison drop everything that she was doing and immediately come to the front gate.

With extravagant flare, King Brant clicked twice drawing the attention of the guard. “Stay with the female until Allison arrives.” He ordered before turning his indifferent gaze on her. “Good luck.” He sort of smiled before turning on his heel and walking in the direction that the pissed off guy had gone in.

Lazarus kept his gaze on her. “I will see you later, female.” It came out in a deep, spine tingling growl. This guy had one helluva deep voice.

“Um… My name is Alexandra…best we get that straight before this goes any further.” She put her hands on her hips.

“Alexandra.” Another ridiculously deep rumble. She doubted it was her imagination when his eyes seemed to heat as he said her name. “I will see you later, Alexandra.”

She had to smile at how formal he sounded. “My friends call me Alex…since we are going to be…seeing each other…” Best she play the role. “…you can too.”

He chuckled, a deep rich sound. Then shook his head. “We are not going to be friends, Alexandra.” He pulled his bottom lip between his teeth and for just a moment she was mesmerized all over again by how soft his mouth looked. Not that she wanted to go anywhere near it or anything. It was just such a contrast to the rest of him.

Then what he had just said registered and she felt herself frown. “Of course we’re going to be friends.”

“This is a breeding program, Alexandra. I plan on doing things to you that pass the realm of friendship by a long damned shot.”

For just a few seconds she was at a loss for words. “A…um…breeding…no…” The last word came out in a huff. “It’s a dating program…dating.” She pronounced the word carefully.

Lazarus shook his head. His eyes crinkled as he smiled. “We changed the name to The Dating Program and then to simplify things to just The Program. It was done because humans are timid. Yet you don’t strike me as timid, Alexandra.” He paused. “It concerns me that you have been misinformed. Did you not attend the training?”