A Love For Lera (Haikon) (6 page)

“Address?”

Lera reached into her jacket and handed it to
him. Her belly clenched when his fingertips flitted across her skin. Kori opened
it and frowned.

“What?”

“This is out in the middle of nowhere,” he said.

Leaning against the door, Lera stared at him.
“Have you looked around?
We’re
in the middle of nowhere.”

“I don’t like it.”

Lera reached for the paper, only to have him draw
it back near the driver’s window. If she wanted it, she’d have to go over him.
That immoveable look was on his face. She sighed heavily, not at all in the
mood to play games.

“Then, don’t go, Kori. I’ll go.”

He stared at her.
Does she really think I’ll
let her go alone?
Lera’s entire body was tense and he knew she was nearing
the end of her control.

“Not an option,
mo ghrá
. I just meant we
needed to be careful.”

Her form relaxed entirely. “Oh. I’m sorry, I’m
just…I’m really worried about her. Rissa is such a gentle soul, and I’m fearful
what this will do to her.”

Kori leaned across the seat and pressed his lips
to hers, no asking, no warning, just did it. He sighed as her lips parted
beneath his. With a growl, he slipped his tongue deep into her mouth and swept
through, doing his damndest to keep it gentle.

Anáil de mo anam.

Breath of my soul.

And as soon as the words came to him, Kori knew
they were true. Lera was the breath of his soul, and he was never letting her
go.

She whimpered and pressed closer; her hand touched
his arm and shot electricity all the way through him. Lust slammed into him,
and his free hand curled into a fist.

“We need to go now,
mo anam
. Or the next
place I’m taking you is back to the hotel room where I’ll show you exactly what
you do to me,” he whispered against her mouth.

Her slender body shook. Lera’s eyes were wide as
she stared at him, lips full and inviting. His cock swelled when she licked
them and nodded. “Right. Rissa.” She slid back and hooked her seatbelt. “I need
my bike, Kori.”

His beast pounded so hard he barely heard her.
But he did and headed back to the hotel, watching her jump out swiftly and head
to her bike. He ogled her as she swung a leg over the Hayabusa, zipped up her
jacket, tugged on her gloves, and put on her glasses. Kori shifted when his
shaft throbbed as he witnessed the sensual look which passed her face as she
started the motor.

“She loves that damn bike. Fuck, I’m so hard I
could pound nails. That look on her face should be outlawed.”

Lera turned her head in his direction and
grinned. Then, she gestured for him to go. All Kori wanted to do was haul her
off that damn bike and drag her up to the hotel room and teach her how it
should be between two halves of the same whole. Instead, he shoved his
overwhelming need for her back and pulled out of the parking lot.

He watched her in the rearview mirror as he led
them to the address they’d been given. She would drop back then come flying up
on his ass, slow down and do it all over again. For the moment, she remained
close behind him. Riding with one hand on the handlebar with the other upon her
thigh and looking somewhat relaxed. Focusing back on the road, he realized he
longed to take her out for a real date. Someplace nice. Lera deserved that and
so much more.

Glancing back in the mirror, he frowned when he
saw her back on the road, paused at an intersection. Kori braked and looked
over his shoulder. Lera stared off to the left, her feet bracing the bike. His
heart stuttered when he heard her rev the engine.
She wouldn’t.

He breathed a bit easier when she followed him
again. But before he could feel better, she whipped around and gunned it. His
heart clenched when he watched her take the corner without slowing and vanish
from sight. Muttering a round of curses his father would beat him for, Kori
squealed his tires as he spun around and headed after her.

‘Lera!’

‘Why am I not surprised to hear you back in my
head, Kori?’
Her tone was calm and slightly amused.

‘Where the fuck are you going?’

‘I have to check something out. Let me do
this, Kori. Please, go to Butch; don’t let that lead get away.’

‘Get back here to me, Lera.’

‘Kori, please.’

Her tone amplified her desire for his compliance,
and he pulled alongside the road and smacked the steering wheel. “Damn it!” ‘
You
will
not
put yourself in any undue danger, Valera.’

‘Thank you, Kori. I’ll just look. I’ll meet up
with you.’

He didn’t like this, but he was doing his
damndest to not demand her compliance. Lera was a hardheaded, strong woman. A
survivor, who at the moment was desperately searching for her friend.

‘One more thing
—
’

‘I’ll be careful, Kori. Promise.’

He smiled over her need to finish his sentences
even through his mind. With a deep breath, he turned his Humvee around again
and headed off. About thirty minutes later, he pulled up before a rundown shack
with rusted cars in the front yard and a few bathtubs as well. There was a nice
bike that he parked by.

Two big ugly dogs came up snarling and barking.
Kori jumped out of the cab and growled at them, smiling in perverse pleasure
when they ran off, tails tucked between their legs. Then, he headed for the
door and stepped up cautiously on the porch before knocking.

A brunette with not much on answered the door, a
lit cigarette hanging out of her mouth. “Yeah?” she snapped.

“I need to see Butch Caine,” he said as a rank
odor poured from the house to cover him.

“Butch!” she hollered. “Some man’s here to see
you.”

“Who the fuck is it?”

“I don’t know. Get your fat ass up here and see
for yourself.” Her eyes traveled over Kori one more time before she walked
away, leaving him alone in the doorway.

Okay, now I know what it feels like to be
looked at like a piece of meat.

‘Got yourself an admirer do you, Kori?’
Lera’s arousing voice floated in his mind.

‘Jealous,
mo chroí
?’

‘No.’

He knew she lied.
‘I thought motorcycle chicks
were possessive of their men.’

‘I’m not a motorcycle chick, Kori. And you’re
not my man.’

‘We can agree on one of those statements and
disagree on the other.’

He felt her snort of amusement.
‘Have you found
out about Rissa?’

‘No, he’s on his way to me now. What are you
doing?’

‘Looking at a quarry.’

A large, unwashed man walked into view, and Kori
stared at him.

“Butch Caine?”

The biker grunted and scratched himself. “Who’s
asking?”

“Mine name isn’t important. I want to know what
you know about a young woman named Rissa.”

He shot a stream of brown juice onto the porch
floor. “Don’t know no Rissa.”

Kori was agitated for being away from Lera so he
wasted no time. His wolf at the surface, he snarled at Butch. “Tell me what you
know, human.”

The man’s eyes grew wide, and he began to
blubber. With an angry snap of his jaw, Kori grabbed him around the neck. He
invaded his mind and found the information he needed. The vile things this man
had done sickened him. Kori tightened his grip.

‘Kori?’

‘Yes,
mo anam
?’

‘You can’t kill him.’

‘The hell I can’t.’

‘Kori, they’ll come after me. I was looking
for Butch Caine.’

He growled dangerously. Releasing the man, Kori
stepped close and glared down at the fat man. “Listen to me, human. I will be
watching you. You even
think
of doing anything close to what you’ve done
before, and I will find you. I will find you and peel your skin off layer by
layer.
Then,
I will start to torture you.”

The man’s eyes grew even bigger. “What are you?”

Allowing his wolf to seep through, he peeled his
lips back, exposing lengthened canines. “Pray you
never
find out.”

Kori turned around and headed for his vehicle,
just wishing the man would take the opportunity of his exposed back. The
thought of making Butch Caine bleed brought a feral smile to fill his features.
There was no attempt. Stepping up into his vehicle, Kori looked at the
dilapidated house.

“What’d he want?” The woman’s shrill voice
reached him.

“Shut up, woman, and get your ass in the house,”
Butch said before actually shoving the woman back inside then shutting the
door. Kori heard the click of the lock and shook his head.

Like that would stop me if I wanted in.

Kori started the Humvee and ignored the bickering
which filtered to his ears. Backing up, he drove away from the house and
sighed.

‘Where are you,
Lera
?’

‘I jaunted off to the Bahamas.’
Her tone
smacked with sarcasm.
‘Where do you think I am? And what did you find out?’

‘At the hotel, we’ll discuss it.’

He could feel her sigh.

‘Fine. I’ll be there in a while.’

Not what he wanted to hear. Kori wanted her in
his arms, to be able to put his eyes on her and ensure she was fine.
‘Not
long,
mo ghrá,
and—’

‘Be careful. I know, I know.’

A smile curved up his lips.
‘Exactly.’

Her amusement could be felt. He relaxed a bit and
headed back to the room. His calm didn’t last, and he paced while waiting for
her to return. Anxiety hovered around him like a dark cloud.

“Okay, so I don’t want to be separated from her,”
he muttered, flopping back on the bed. He started up at the ceiling and allowed
himself a fantasy or two about Lera.

Chapter Four

Lera backed her bike in beside Kori’s Humvee and
shut it off. For a moment, she stared at it.
I’d like to drive this. I bet
it has some awesome power.
Then, she transferred her gaze from it to the
second floor where the room was. The room she would be sharing with Kori
tonight. She couldn’t forget what he had told her in his Humvee. Lord help her,
she wanted to experience it with Kori. She knew he would be gentle and amazing.
Breathing deeply, she got off the bike and headed up the cement steps, noticing
the chips in them. Anything to keep her mind calm. Pushing open the door to the
room, she stepped inside.

Kori reclined on the bed, flipping through a
magazine. He didn’t get up but his gray eyes stared at her. Lera held out the
bag before her.

“Hungry?” she asked.

Heat flared briefly before it was contained. “For
something,” he muttered softly, making her wonder if she wasn’t on his menu.

Lera moved to the table and put the bag down
before removing her riding gear. “Well, I brought you a burger and fries.” She
withdrew two canned drinks and said, “And your choice of drink.”

Her pulse increased when he pushed effortlessly
to his feet, left the magazine and prowled toward her. She fought the urge to
lick her lips and ask him for another kiss. Instead, she focused on removing
the food from the bag and slid his toward him.

“Thank you, Lera.”

He reached out and, with two fingers beneath her
chin, he guided and brought her head up so she could see his eyes. For the
first time in her life, Lera wasn’t sure about anything. Kori created such a
tempest of emotions within her. So she pasted on a smile and tried to pretend
he was just a regular guy. It didn’t work.

Toying with her food, Lera looked at him. “What’d
you find out?”

His deep sigh did not reassure her in the
slightest. “Do you know of a man named Murdock Denton?”

Her heart nearly stopped at the mention of that
name. Lera somehow managed to swallow and strove to stay in control.
I have
to go. I can’t stay here now, not knowing he’s involved.
Gathering the rest
of her food, she scooped it up and put it in the bag. She no longer had any
appetite. Kori watched her with an unflinching gaze.

“I’ve heard the name,” she hedged, devastation
filling her more and more with each passing second.

“Tell me what you know, Valera,” he ordered as if
knowing she lied.

“What I heard about him was sick perversions.”
Her stomach knotted up at the thought of Rissa within his clutches.
I have
to get to her.

She pushed to her feet. Kori’s gaze sharpened,
and she knew he was well aware of her intent. He said, “Not quite, Lera. I want
to know
all
you do about him.”

She was hesitated, unwilling to share it. As if
somehow, if she didn’t speak the words, Rissa may not be exposed to such filth.
Lera fought back her revulsion and called on her icy composure. Her mind worked
fast; if she left now, she could be to where she
knew
Murdock would be
soon. It was less than twenty-four hours away, if one drove the speed limit,
and this was one time when she definitely wouldn’t be. And while she didn’t
like with how lying to Kori sat with her, she refused to risk her friend’s
safety because he would want to keep her safe. This was her only option.
Wasn’t
it?

“I did tell you, Kori. I just…I’m having a hard
time imagining Rissa with him if the rumors are true.”

Glancing at her watch, she saw it was after
eleven. Shaking with tremors she could no longer control, Lera stumbled to the
bed and curled up on her side.
I’m so sorry, Rissa.

Closing her eyes, Lera stifled a whimper as tears
threatened. She barely moved when she felt Kori touch her leg, just opened her
eyes and watched him pull off her boots. His eyes and hands were gentle, and
she experienced a momentary pang of guilt for what she was about to do.

“Rest,
mo chara
. We’ll figure it out in
the morning.”

Not trusting herself to speak, she merely nodded.
Her breath caught a few minutes later when the suddenly too-small mattress
dipped in the dark room with the addition of Kori’s weight. She stiffened,
unsure, but relaxed when he didn’t move. There was space between them, and she
thought about curling up to him and soaking up his strength.

“Good night,
mo ghrá
,” he said softly.

Whatever he called her in Gaeilge made her heart
get all soft and mushy. The words made her feel cherished and special. All of
them and he used a few phrases.

“Good night, Kori,” she returned.

Two hours of rest and I’ll get going.
Lera
sighed deeply and tried to rest. Tried to forget the mouthwatering specimen of
a man who shared the bed with her. So close she could touch him if she chose.
Clasping her fingers together under her chin so she kept them to herself, Lera
fell into her usual light sleep.

Her internal clock woke her, and in silence, she
slid from bed, grabbed her bag and boots before heading the bathroom. She
changed quietly and slipped from that room, heading for the door. Snagging her
jacket, Lera crept out the door and down the steps. Securing her bag on the
bike, she rolled it a bit before starting it and roared off into the night.

Murdock Denton. The name alone made her sick.
How
could I have missed it? He even said he would do whatever it took to get at
least one of us.
Anger seeped in and took over the fear for Rissa.
I should
have killed him when I had the chance.

Lera revved the engine and shot off even faster.
She had barely a day to arrive, buy a dress, and go to the weekly party Murdock
threw for himself.
Overly self-absorbed motherfucking bastard!

It was early morning when she first stopped for
gas. Standing at the pump, she trembled from the force of anger that filled
her. Kori had found out she’d left him there.

Lera waited for him to yell at her but he said
nothing along the link which existed between them. All she felt was cold, icy
cold, fury which moved through her like unfurling tendrils. Despite the miles
between them, her hand actually shook when she replaced the gas nozzle. She’d
never gotten that emotion from him before. Not to this extent. He was extremely
pissed.

Lera paid for her fuel and walked back to her
bike. One final glance in the direction she’d come, almost expecting to see
Kori standing there, and she continued on her way. She pushed hard and, by the
end of the day, had reached her destination. After getting a room in the hotel,
Lera walked up the boulevard to a nice boutique and entered. The saleslady
looked at her with flat eyes until she pulled out her credit card. A black
credit card. Suddenly, the lady and the two others pulled in, couldn’t do enough
for Lera.

After finalizing her purchases and ensuring they
would deliver them to her room, Lera walked out and headed up the street to get
a layout of the area. It had been quite a while since she’d been here.
I
also need time to gather myself.
With Denton involved, the game had
changed.

Back in her room, she stood under the set of four
overhead, rotating shower panels. The spray as hot as she could take it, Lera
let it work away the soreness of her muscles. Clean and almost relaxed, she got
out and wrapped herself in the thick dark gray robe the hotel offered.

Kori’s eyes are similar to this.

Shudders overtook her at the thought of Kori
waiting for her on the other side of the door. Shaking it off, she wrapped her
hair and walked into the bedroom of her suite. With a sigh, she moved to the
bed and dug through the purchases she’d made for the bottle of sesame oil. She
rubbed it in all over her skin then waited until it all soaked in.

In her matching sapphire blue bra and panties,
Lera stood before the mirror and stared at her reflection. She picked up the
pendant and kissed it briefly before taking a deep breath. Lera got ready, and
after her hair was done, she sat on the side of the bed. Dropping her head, she
whispered, “Please let me be on time.”

Lera reached for her shoes and took her time
wrapping the satin ties up to mid-calf. Shoes on, there existed nothing else to
delay her going to the party. Lera put her ID and keycard in a secure spot on
her body and got to her feet. One final deep breath at the door, and Lera
walked out then headed for the elevator.

Staring at a spot on the red wall, Lera made sure
to lock her emotions behind a composed façade and a cool smile. Murdock would
take great pleasure in knowing his effect on her. She exited the elevator and
headed for the room the party was in. Her gaze skimmed over other people, both
singles and couples, heading in and out of the door.

“Ms. Lera, so good to see you again,” a man’s
said in a smooth voice.

“Hello, Jonathan.”

She smiled politely. Jonathan “JJ” Johnson
followed Murdock Denton around like a puppy. She wished he could truly see what
kind of person Murdock was but there existed such a case of idol worship, Lera
realized it would never happen.

“Murdock didn’t say you were coming.”

“I just got into town today. Didn’t know myself
until a bit ago. Have you seen him?”

“He’s out in the gardens.” Jonathan’s eyes
sparkled. “He’ll be so glad to see you.”

I bet he will.
“Well, don’t tell him you
saw me. I’d like it to be a surprise.”

Making the motion of locking his lips and
throwing away the key, Jonathan smiled at her. “Secret is safe with me. I’ll
see you in a bit. I have to grab something from my room.”

“Of course,” Lera said.

She paused slightly before the open double doors
which led to the man she needed to find. Lera forced her hand, which balled
into a fist, to relax. Then, she walked in. The room was crowded, loud, and
full of people who lived to party. Some she recognized, some she didn’t. Moving
down the stairs, she smiled and chatted even as she made her way toward the
doors which would lead her to the gardens.

Right before she got there, Lera saw him out of
the corner of her eye. He was standing with a blonde and a brunette, both
skimpily dressed, and both seemingly fawning over him. His back was to her but
she knew it was him.
Some things never change.
Spinning her ring, Lera
walked toward the trio.

“Hello, Murdock,” she said from behind him.

The women shot her evil looks even as he turned
toward her. His head cocked to the side as if unsure he were truly seeing her.
Then, a slow smile lifted the corners of his mouth. Murdock stepped away from
the two women and reached for Lera’s hands. At the contact, she locked her
emotions behind her wall of ice and made sure to keep a soft smile on her face.

“Lera,” he murmured. “It’s been far too long. Let
me get a look at you.”

She stared at his black Armani suit and moved her
gaze to his face. He hadn’t changed. Smooth shaven with a light olive tint to
his complexion. His brown hair was kept short and his hazel eyes stared at her
with that same cool, calculating look he’d always had.

“You are looking wonderful,” he said, kissing her
cheek.

“You haven’t changed.” Squeezing his hands, she
released them. “I hope you don’t mind me dropping by without notice but I had
heard Rissa was here.”

“You did, did you?” His gaze grew hard.

“I did. But I can see you are busy, so I’ll go
mingle with some others and we can meet up a bit later.”

The two women slid their arms through his and the
blonde said, “Yes, you were talking to us, Murdock.”

“Don’t leave, Lera,” he spoke even as his gaze
raked up and down her body.

“Wouldn’t dream of it.” She turned and walked
away.

The desire to go grab a drink hit her hard but
she knew it wouldn’t be wise to deal with Murdock with impaired judgment. Out
of her peripheral vision, she recognized something else which made her heart
drop.
Shit! What is he doing here?
Lera headed for him and intercepted
him before he could get to Murdock.

Kori was anything but happy. He woke to find himself
alone in the room. Moving to the window, he frowned when he saw Lera’s bike
gone, until he remembered her perchance for riding to greet the new day. He
calmed a bit right up until he saw her bag was gone. Rage tore through him, and
he fought the wolf. He knew she could feel his anger but she didn’t say a word.
Neither did he.

This is a conversation we’re having face to
face. And apparently, I need to tie her to me at night.

Grabbing his bag, Kori stuffed his few items in
it and headed for his Humvee. He had a long way to go and not much time to do
it in. After Winthrop vanished in his rearview, Kori focused on Lera.

What the hell was she thinking?

His mood hadn’t improved any when he tracked her
down. So,  he waited in the shadows at eleven at night for her to make an
appearance. The hair on the back of his neck stood up, and his gaze slashed the
room. Kori knew full well she was there.

Fuck me!
All the blood rushed to his cock.
Lera walked across the floor, heading in his direction.

Gone was the casually attired, yet definitely
hot, Lera, and in her place was this cock-hardening sexy vixen. Her black dress
ended just above her knees. It had a one-shoulder neckline with cutout detail
on her right shoulder. The right sleeve was long but sheer so he could see the
enticing brownness of her skin. The outfit had a natural waist and a straight
skirt. The same sheer material was above her breasts obscuring her pendant.

Lera paused and turned around when she spoke to
someone. Kori groaned again. There was more skin exposed courtesy of the back
cutout detail. And there was an asymmetric back zipper. He could see a zipper
at each end near her left hip and he longed to pull the top one down and expose
her skin. Her gorgeous, toned legs led his gaze to her four-inch heeled shoes
with black ribbons which crisscrossed up to mid-calf.