A Mate for Lance (The Program Book 5) (19 page)

“We fuck,” Amber blurted. “A lot…at least…we were. It’s sexual. You’re right, he’s in love but not with me, he’s in love with my vagina.”

Becky burst out laughing. “He’s in love alright and I don’t doubt that he loves your vagina but it’s not all he’s in love with.” The doctor looked at her like she felt sorry for her. “He went into protective mode snarling at anyone who came near you. He even snarled at me when I put the IV needle in your arm. He insisted on sleeping with you so that he could keep an eye on you; only, he didn’t sleep. Not one little wink. I checked on you every hour and he was awake…don’t get creeped out…he was staring at you. Stroking your hair. He spent every minute of every hour making sure you were okay. That’s not normal behavior. He did not want to leave just now either.”

“He didn’t put up much of a fight.”

Becky gave a humorless smile. “His hands were fisted, his jaw clenched, everything in him was tense. Lance had to force himself to go and”—she glanced at her watch— “we only have a few minutes before he’s back. Trust me on that. He’ll stay away the fifteen minutes and not a second more. He can’t, because his instincts are riding him hard.”

“What instincts are those?” Her voice was a mere whisper.

“His instincts to protect his mate.”

Amber gasped. No. It wasn’t true. She shook her head.

“Yes. You both may not have wanted it to happen but it has. You both seem to be in major denial and that’s not healthy. Not with a male like Lance.” She chewed her bottom lip, her frown was deep. “You said that you had your first date last night but you also said that your interaction is purely sexual. Are you exploring a relationship?”

Amber shook her head. “We aren’t planning on pursuing any type of real relationship. It’s not like that. It’s stupid of me but I didn’t want everyone to know that we’re…that, well…” She couldn’t seem to spit it out.

“That you’re fuck buddies?”

Amber winced. “Yeah, except we aren’t really even buddies, we just…” She couldn’t say it.

“Fuck.” Becky looked amused.

Amber nodded. Her cheeks felt so red that she was sure she was about to self-combust at any minute.

Becky made a humming noise. “Yeah…it may have started out that way but things have changed. Lance may not even realize it but he sees you as way more. Which leaves you with a decision to make.” She paused. “Either you feel the same way, in which case you need to tell him. You’ll probably scare the crap out of him but he’ll come around…eventually…or you need to leave him the hell alone. This whole just fucking thing, it has to stop.”

“I still think you’re mistaken.” The woman had to be. There was just no way.

Becky stood up. “Use it, don’t use it. Lance has been through a lot. He’s just starting to come out of the hole he was in and I don’t want to see him fall back in. Moreover, I don’t want to see you or anyone else hurt when he goes over the edge again. This time, there might not be any coming back.”

She had to be over-exaggerating.

Becky glanced at her watch. “Right on time.” She tapped her watch face and gave a knowing smile.

There was a knock at the door.

“Come in.” Becky rolled her eyes.

Lance walked in. His shoulders were tense and his jaw clenched. His stare softened the moment it landed on her. Amber felt something inside her shift. It couldn’t be but there it was. She’d
seen
his demeanor visibly change. She was reading too much into this. As was Becky.

“Like I was saying…” Becky pulled on some latex gloves. “Take it very easy for the next twenty-four hours. Don’t hesitate to call me if you are concerned about anything.” She looked pointedly at Lance.

Becky moved to her arm, the one that was still hooked to the IV. She carefully pried the tape from the needle and slipped it free, holding a wad of cotton wool to the small bleeding spot.

Lance’s top lip pulled away as he flashed a fang. He looked angry, his gaze was on her arm. His hands were fisted at his side. Becky was wrong. She had to be. He felt responsible. That was it.

“Push down on this.” She gestured for Amber to take over the pressure on the cotton wool.

“By take it easy, I mean no sex.” Again she looked pointedly at Lance, whose face was an unreadable mask. “Your medication is in here.” She looked at Amber but handed Lance the paper bag. “A new auto injector and an antihistamine prescription. Everything is labeled. I’ll see you again tomorrow for a follow up.” She returned with a small piece of tape which she put over the cotton wool ball. “Call me if you are worried about anything. I’ll organize a wheelchair.”

“That won’t be necessary.” Lance’s voice was deep. “I’ll carry Amber.”

“You don’t—”

“I insist,” he said, cutting her off and it was final. “Also, she will be staying with me in my suite.”

She noticed how Becky chewed on her lower lip to try and hide a smile. Amber locked eyes with Lance. “My room is fine, I—”

“No!” he asserted, gruff and clipped. “My room is closer to medical. It’s not a discussion. You are staying with me until you get a one hundred percent clean bill of health.”

Becky shrugged, casually. “He has a point. You could have another episode. It’s been known to happen days later.”

Amber gave her doctor a hard stare down. “It’s never happened to me before.”

“It could happen though,” Becky insisted, she raised her brows.

“I doubt it,” Amber insisted. “I have my EpiPen so I’m sure I’ll be just fine.”

Lance clenched his jaw so tight that she could actually hear his teeth grind together. “Amber.” He growled her name in such a way that it had the hairs on her arms rising and her heart sped up. It was a ‘do not fuck with me’ type of tone to his voice that made her want to instantly obey.

“Okay. Fine.” She held up a hand. “You win.”

“I’ve organized to take the next few days off.”

“You don’t have—”

“It’s done.” He glowered at her, his eyes boring into hers. Then, just like that, they softened. “This is all my fault so I have to do what’s right.” He threw her a half smile.

“My job here is done. I’ll see you tomorrow.” Becky winked at Amber.
Winked
. She also gave her a knowing smile. With a tiny shake of the head, she picked up the file. “See you tomorrow. And Lance?” Her whole expression was humor-filled. “Stop being so possessive and overbearing. Amber is going to be fine.”

He offered a surly glare. “Hardly. Amber is my female…” His eyes darted to the floor and then back to Becky. “We are dating and exclusive. I am permitted to react in this way. The human nearly died. You weren’t there when she was losing consciousness.”

Becky gave a shrug. “You have a point…
I guess
.” Then she strode from the room.

After about a half a minute, he sucked in a breath. “Don’t listen to her. She is insinuating that I have feelings for you that are making me act irrationally.” He locked eyes with her. “I feel responsible. I didn’t like seeing you that way. Nothing has changed though. I will look after you so that you can get well.” He paused, watching her. “I look forward to being inside of you again. To hearing you scream my name. To feeling your tight as fuck pussy squeeze me. I can’t have you until you are better.” His eyes narrowed. “I’m still that same asshole I always was. Do not misinterpret my actions for affection. Not a damn thing has changed. You understand that don’t you?”

She nodded, too afraid to speak. Why did she get the feeling that he was trying too hard to convince her? To convince them both.

“Good.” He picked her up and pulled her close. His nose seemed to linger in her hair. Like he was smelling her or something. She felt a feather light touch against her cheek. His lips. He’d kissed her. It was a total contrast to his words.

Shit. Her doctor had been wrong. She had to have been.

Two days later…

Lance put a glass of milk and some cookies on the coffee table next to her feet. Homemade marshmallow biscuits with chocolate chips.

Amber had to suppress a moan. They smelled delicious and looked even better.

“What would you like me to order for dinner? A steak? Pizza?” He leaned over the back of the sofa, his entire focus on her.

“You need to stop.” Amber shook her head. “I’m fine. You heard Becky. I’m back to normal. You can quit babying me.”

After leaving medical, Lance had brought her back to his place. Then he’d packed a bag for her. He’d organized all of her meals, even insisting on preparing everything himself because he couldn’t trust the chefs. He had sponge bathed her the first day and had insisted on showering with her on the second. He’d washed her back and had shampooed her hair. If it was up to him he would have carried her to the bathroom and back. He insisted that she share his bed so that he could keep an eye on her.

It was wonderful and it was terrible.

He held her hand and brushed sweet kisses on her shoulder or her temple. He hadn’t tried to have sex with her even once. It was making her nervous. Becky’s words kept running through her mind. Over and over.

“Eat your snack.” Lance sat down next to her. He picked up a cookie and held it to her mouth. “They’re still warm. Fresh out of the oven.”

She ignored the cookie. “You’re worrying me.”

“Don’t start up on me again. Humor me please. One more night of pampering and then it’s back to normal tomorrow.” He sighed. “I should have double checked with the kitchen.”

Amber had to chuckle. “You didn’t even know about my allergies. It’s what happens when two people go at it instead of talking.”

“Well…” He looked her head on. “We will be making a point of talking about important things going forward. This can’t happen again. I should have checked your file.”

“My personal file?” Amber shook her head. “Remember, not so long ago, how you berated Brynn for stalker behavior? I’m afraid you’re starting to sound like one.”

“Bull-fucking-shit! It has to do with your safety. I’m responsible.”

“No, you’re not.”

“I am while we’re dating.”

“We’re not really dating.”

He made a noise in the back of his throat. “I know that. It would look bad if you died while I was fake dating you though. I have a reputation to uphold.”

“Reputation. Really?” Amber had to laugh. Lance didn’t so much as blink. Just kept that beautiful blue gaze on her. His t-shirt pulled tight over his chest. His tattoo was all over the place. “You have a reputation as a manwhore, yet you haven’t so much as laid a hand on me. I was good to go yesterday.”

“No you weren’t.”

“Forget yesterday. Becky left almost three hours ago. I’ve been given a clean bill of health and you haven’t even tried to touch me. Why is that? What’s going on with you?” Maybe Becky was right.
Please no
. No. This couldn’t go anywhere. Could it? Of course not. She didn’t like Lance. Maybe she didn’t hate him anymore but she sure as hell didn’t like him. Did she? Maybe just a little. A girl couldn’t help it. He was being too nice. Way too nice.

Lance narrowed his eyes. She could see him thinking it over. “Are you sure you’re fine?” He looked uncertain.

“Yes, I’m completely back to normal.” She turned to face him and pulled her feet underneath herself.

“I didn’t like seeing you like that, Amber. You scared me half to death. I…” He swallowed thickly, confused and not his normal cocky, arrogant self. It was completely disarming “I don’t know…”

There was a knock at the door.

A dark cloud descended over Lance. His whole body tensed. “Damn.” He shook his head. “Ignore it. Maybe they’ll go away.”

“I take it that you’re not expecting anyone.” She couldn’t help but smile.

His frown deepened. “No.”

There was another knock, louder this time.

Amber sighed. “We both know they’re not going away.”

He ran a hand through his hair. “Fucking wish they would.” He implored her with his eyes. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s not your fault. Well, it’s mostly not your fault.” She smiled wider. His visitor should piss her off, even just a little, but it didn’t.

“It’s
not
my fault.” He stood in one graceful motion and was at the door before she could blink. “What?” he bit out.

She heard someone speak. It was definitely feminine although she couldn’t make out what the person was saying.

“Not interested.” Lance practically snarled. There was a loud slam as the door banged shut.

Amber had to giggle as she took in Lance’s angry expression. “It’s your own fault. You have a certain reputation.” This was the second time, that she knew of, in the last two days that a woman had arrived at Lance’s door. “They know where to come when they want no strings, hot sex.” He didn’t look amused. “I’m right aren’t I?”

Lance’s throat worked. “That would be correct, yes. At least, it used to be.” Then he leaned in and kissed her. On the lips. Soft at first and then he devoured her mouth. There was something erotic about being kissed with such ferocious abandon without being touched. Not a single finger. Just his mouth on hers. His breath mixed with hers.

Amber was getting ready to climb onto his lap. To take things into her own hands when he gripped her waist. Lance picked her up. Easily. He got up off the sofa and cradled her in his arms, his mouth never once leaving hers. It felt like seconds and they were on his bed. The soft mattress at her back. His hard body pushed down on her. His mouth, his lips, him.

Lance clasped her face with both his hands. Her skirt rode high around her hips. She wound her thighs around him feeling him hard against her.

Amber moaned as he rubbed himself against her with a slow roll of his hips. Then he did it again. He could really move. He sat up and pulled his shirt over his head. He bit down on his bottom lip, as his eyes roved her body. There was more to the look he gave her than just lust. His gaze had a focus and an intensity that hadn’t been there before. She looked away from his stare, concentrating instead on his body, nothing but power and strength. His tattoo did things to her that she never thought possible.

They needed to have dirty sex. Now. Get back to how things were. She seriously needed to stop reading into things that probably weren’t there.

Amber pulled her own top off and unclasped her bra. Lance kept his gaze on hers. Shit! It was like he was looking into her damned soul. As hard as she tried, she couldn’t look away.

“Beautiful,” he murmured. He rubbed his hands up and down her thighs, the touch sending shivers coursing through her. He wrapped his hands around her ankles and lifted her legs, putting them both over one shoulder so that he could slide her thong down her legs. His nostrils were flared and his eyes were the most brilliant and perfect blue.

Damn.

So pretty.

Too pretty.

It was true on any day, but right now, with his focus completely on her. His movements slow and soft, he was utterly breathtaking.

“Lance,” she whispered.
What is this? What are we doing?
The words were on the tip of her tongue.

He pulled her panties free and opened her legs, placing one on each shoulder. Her hips came up off the bed. His eyes stayed on her as he lowered himself between her thighs and then she was incapable of speech. Lord help her but she was incapable of coherent thought.

She gave a startled sound.
Oh.
Why it sounded that way, was beyond her. Especially considering she knew exactly what Lance was capable of. His mouth and hands had been made to please a woman. Not to mention other parts of his anatomy.

She couldn’t take her eyes off of him, as she watched him lick her clit using the same soft caress. He licked, she squirmed; he licked, she mewled; he licked, she groaned.

His hands stayed on her thighs. His tongue stayed on her clit. Slow, soft, excruciating. Amber clutched at the sheets. She tried to rock her hips, to fuck his face but he wouldn’t let her.

“Lance,” she panted. A desperate sounding plea.

His eyes crinkled. The bastard was smiling, all the while continuing his assault on her. His hands tightened around her thighs as his hot mouth moved to her ultra-sensitive clit. He suckled her softly. A feather light touch that elicited another startled,
oh
, deep from within her throat.

Lance nipped the bundle of nerves. It stung, making her grit her teeth. Then he all out sucked on her. She wasn’t sure but the vibrations from his mouth indicated that he was growling. She couldn’t hear a thing. Not with an orgasm of that magnitude rushing through her. Not with every muscle tensed. She bucked against him. She groaned as her senses slowly returned. All the while, Lance kept sucking on her flesh, softer and softer until he finally let up. His eyes stayed on hers as he slid over her. He was kicking off his pants.

Then he was inside her. Easing into her, using slow, steady strokes. His mouth was on hers. She could taste her own musk. She held her breath as he slid all the way home. His hips hitting against hers.

Lance stopped moving. His cock felt like it was throbbing inside of her. She was oversensitive after that orgasm. Just having him inside her was enough to have her panting. Her hands clutched at the muscles on his back. Her thighs were spread impossibly wide. His kiss stayed soft. His eyes stayed on her.

They were filled with such tenderness, such… This wasn’t fucking. This was so far from fucking that she felt herself tense. She felt her eyes go wide. He began to move. Slow and deep. She groaned and her eyes pretty much rolled back in her skull. Damn him. Slow and tender quite possibly felt better than hard and fast.

They were making love.

Making love.

His hand clasped her chin as he deepened the kiss. His thumb traced her jawline as his cock thrust back into her. Hard and yet tender. So slow as his breath mingled with hers. So slow as her cries of ecstasy collided with his low moans. Nothing had ever felt this good. She doubted that anything ever would. They were making love. This wasn’t fucking. It wasn’t.

It had to stop.

It had to stop right now.

****

He had almost lost her. This ravishing creature. This force of nature. This female. This human. Her.

It had been a long time since he’d felt this sense of calm. A long fucking time. He squeezed her thigh as he pushed back into her, pausing to enjoy the connection before pulling back. Groaning as he found solace within her welcoming flesh once again.

Amber.

This female.

Beautiful beyond compare.

It wasn’t that her pussy was so wet. It wasn’t that her flesh was so damned tight. It wasn’t her sweet scent. It was the way she could bring him to his knees with a look. How she wasn’t afraid to lash out at him or to call him out on his shit. She didn’t want anything from him. In fact, he’d been the one that had chased her. Every goddamned step of the way. He still was if he was honest with himself.

Lance felt a pang he could only call sorrow at the thought of growing tired of her. It would happen soon and it would be for the best. Until then, she was staying right fucking here, in his bed, underneath him. If she tried to leave him first…no…not fucking happening.

Amber’s eyes opened really wide. Her panting turned ragged. It was almost like she was about to orgasm or panic, which didn’t make any sense. Why was she panicking?

Using strength he didn’t know she possessed, she clasped him tighter with her thighs and whipped him onto his back. Amber put her hands on his chest and began to ride him. She flung her head back and thrust onto him in hard fast strokes. She looked wild and beautiful. She moaned while arching her back.

“Yes,” she hissed. “Oh god!” He should love it. The way she fucked him was unreal yet, it irritated him. The way his balls tightened just watching her, irritated him.

Not a fuck.

As much as he was enjoying having a sweet, innocent thing like Amber ride him, he wasn’t having it. She’d just been through a major ordeal, she shouldn’t be exerting herself. Besides, he was enjoying her more where she’d been. Lance flipped her back, loving the soft huff of air that left her lungs.

“No… I…” He kissed her before she could say anything. He positioned her legs higher on his body, angling his dick until he felt her shudder.

The spot.

Right there.

Another shudder.

Yeah!

Slow and easy. They had all fucking day as far as he was concerned. All fucking day. She tried to flip him back but he held her down with his hips, his dick buried deep inside. Her pussy fluttered but then his dick throbbed. She tried the move again so he kissed her harder.

The little minx bit his tongue which made his balls pull right up. Made his stomach tighten and in short, he came so hard that he struggled to breathe for a few seconds. He roared as his seed shot out of him and groaned as a second, bigger load erupted. His balls hurt. It felt like a vein might burst in his head. Both heads for that fucking matter.