A Mate for York(12)

“You said to surprise you, now drink up.” York gestured to the glass in her hand.

Looking down at the beverage, she swallowed thickly feeling a fissure of fear. If he went into bloodlust she was a goner. Three seconds suddenly felt like a long time. She wondered if she would even be able to say the word pumpkin.

At the thought of the ridiculous safe word, she choked out a laugh.

York cocked his head. “What is it?”

She shook her head. “Nothing.”

York scrutinized her for a second and she could almost physically feel his eyes on her. Stroking her flesh in the softest, most tantalizing way. She had to suppress a shiver.

“It’s the safe word I was told to say if you end up…if you…you know.” She shrugged, suddenly not feeling so amused anymore.

“Your safe word is funny. What is it?” Then he choked out a laugh of his own putting his hand up. “Don’t say it or our session will be over before it begins.”

“Don’t worry, I won’t.” She smiled. “Unless of course…” She let the sentence die as she watched his eyes cloud for a second.

He looked away and when his gaze turned back to her, his eyes were more the color of the depths of the ocean. Dark, brooding, they radiated immense power. “You need to know that you are safe with me. I will not harm you in any way.”

“How can you be so sure?” Her voice sounded a little croaky. It wasn’t lost on her how her very life stood in the balance. There was a reason they were being paid so much money. Danger pay was the correct terminology.

He shrugged using just one shoulder, a half smile played with the left side of his mouth. His bottom lip was full. It had the kind of lush softness a girl could suck on or bite into.

Bite.

Head in the game, Cassidy.

York gave a knowing smile. He had caught her checking him out. Her cheeks heated, which irritated her. It had been a very long time since a man had, had this kind of effect on her. Who was she kidding? No man had ever had this kind of effect on her. Then again, York was not a man.

The vampire in question all out grinned, making her knees feel a little weak. “I would never hurt you, Cassidy. Do I look weak to you?”

She found herself running her gaze down the length of him and shook her head. There was nothing but raw power. “You are far from weak, that’s the problem. You could snap me like a twig.”

He laughed. “No, a female like you”—his eyes seemed to heat—“should be treasured and protected. It will be an honor to take your blood. I will not hurt you.” His eyes dipped to her chest for the briefest second before moving back to her face. “You might want to lose the blouse.” He pulled his own shirt over his head.

Her mouth dried in an instant and she found herself taking a sip of the juice. She had to force herself to relinquish her severe hold on the glass.

Thankfully, he didn’t seem to notice how shaken she was or that she was staring. He turned to throw his shirt over the back of one of the sofas. York had a six pack that looked like it had been carved from granite with that whole vee at the hips thing going on. His back was a wide expanse of hard muscle. He had those bulging muscles at the top of his shoulders. They ran down from his neck. The word yummy came to mind. Her tongue suddenly grew a mind of its own wanting to lick them…him…all over.

York turned to face her and flexed his pecs. Cassidy put a hand out, clutching for the edge of the sofa closest to her to steady herself.

His eyes dropped back down to her chest area. “You really should take that off, wouldn’t want to ruin it.”

“I…it’s fine…it’s old anyway.” She was stuttering and stammering and still struggling to inhale sufficient oxygen into her lungs to be able to think clearly.

He frowned for a few seconds before nodding. “Maybe if we loosened the top two buttons.” In less than two strides he was at her side.

It was probably her imagination, but she was sure she could feel heat radiating off of him. Heavens above, she could definitely smell his manly, musky scent with a hint of soapy, clean undertones. If cologne companies could bottle it, they’d make a small fortune.

“I’d be happy to help if—”

“No.” It came out a little too harsh. “I’ve got it. Are you sure that I need to?” It would be better if she kept as clothed as possible and looked at him as little as possible. Her panties were distinctly damp and he had yet to lay a finger on her.

“I need to get to the base of your neck. Right about”—he lifted his hand placing two fingers at her pulse just below the neckline of her blouse—“here.” Her heart rate sky rocketed at the simple touch. She may not have been able to breathe earlier, but right now, her breathing was too labored. Her chest rising and falling quickly.