A Love For Lera (Haikon) (7 page)

She faced his direction again and began walking.
Her hips swayed in a natural and unintentionally seductive manner with each
step she took. Lera had her hair in an updo, and he could see silver dangling
earrings in her ears. There were rings on her right hand, but tonight, on her
left arm, the bare one, she wore something else. His sharp gaze could see it
was a Celtic Kells and trinity knot wolf slave bracelet, the artwork
unbelievable.

Fuck, if I get any harder, I’ll split my
pants.
He was one breath away from dragging her out of here, away from
prying eyes and up to his room where he would make her understand she was his
mate.

All lust was shoved back when Murdock
Denton—whose image he recalled from Butch’s memory—headed toward her. Kori
wasn’t positive what he expected to happen. But the smile which turned up her
lips wasn’t it. He could see her face and knew the smile didn’t extend to her
eyes. From the gleam in Murdock’s eyes, Kori would bet his entire fortune the
man didn’t notice.
Of course it’s hard to notice what’s in her eyes when
you’re focused on her breasts.

A deep, dangerous rumble grew and rose within his
chest. Possessiveness hit him like a ton of bricks. Lera lifted her head and
scanned the room briefly before putting her attention back upon Murdock.
Almost
like she heard me.
Kori saw red when Murdock gestured toward the garden and
placed his hand on the small of her back.

Kori wanted to maim, to kill. And he would start
with Murdock Denton for daring to put a hand on
his
woman. Blending into
the shadows with ease, Kori headed for the door leading out of the gardens.
Some of the sights he passed made his stomach twist with disgust. It didn’t
help matters that Lera walked by the same images and didn’t even flinch.

Have I said today that Dane is going to kill
me?

The garden area was beautiful. Dimly lit and lots
of places for people to sneak off for a moment of privacy. Kori’s hands
clenched as he scented through the overpowering perfumes, colognes, and the
smell of sex to find the freshness attached to Lera. Grasping it like a
lifeline, he followed it. Toward the back of the gardens. Each step he took
fueled the fury simmering just below the surface.

“Oh, excuse me,” Murdock Denton said after almost
running into him.

“My fault,” Kori said. “I wasn’t paying attention
to where I was going.” Ripping Murdock from limb to limb was a viable option in
Kori’s mind.

The man’s smile was more like a lewd leer. “Yeah,
there are a
lot
of distractions around here.”

“Sure are,” he agreed.

“Enjoy.” Murdock walked away.

Kori didn’t respond. He continued on his way and
walked around a corner expecting to see Lera there but there was no one. He
snarled as the beast shifted angrily within him.
Where is she?
His skin
prickled, and he turned to find a tall, voluptuous blonde woman in a red
catsuit behind him. The zipper on her outfit was almost to her bellybutton.

“Looking for someone, handsome?” she purred,
trailing a finger down her exposed skin.

“Actually, yes.”

She pouted. “Well, from that tone, it ain’t me.
But, since it’s just the two of us here, how about we wait for her…or
him…together.”

Kori could smell the desperation on her, and it
repulsed him. He fought back his initial response. “As tempting as the offer
is, I really need to find her.”

The blonde sighed. “Who are you looking for? I’m
here a lot, maybe I can help.”

Not sensing any malice in her, Kori told her.
“I’m looking for Lera.”

She snorted. “Figures. She was over by the statue
in the water, that mermaid one. Not sure if she left or not.”

“You know Lera?”

“Yes. She hasn’t been to these parties in a long
time but she used to come all the time. Murdock has a thing for her. Bad.” She
shrugged. “Well, if you decide you want a woman and not a cock tease, come find
me.” The blonde vanished from sight.

Used to come all the time.
I’d say you’ve
heard more than the name Murdock Denton, Valera.
There had better be one
hell of a reason for her lying to him about how well she knew him.

Kori walked in the direction he’d been pointed.
There was an exit by the corner, and he took a deep breath before moving
closer. He halted near the stone wall surrounded the small pond. She wasn’t
there. There was, however, a large man at the rear gate.

On the wind came her voice, and he sat on a bench
to eavesdrop.

“You can’t provoke him like that, Kim.”

Kim. A male. One she considered a friend.
Jealousy reared its head and Kori walked away from the gate to a dark place
then jumped the wall with ease. Cloaked by more shadows, he headed back to
where her voice had come from.

“I can’t do nothing,” the male snapped.

The wolf growled at the man’s angry tone toward
Lera.

“You also can’t do this, Kim. I’m not saying I
don’t believe you. I do. But I also know if you piss him off, Rissa could be
the one to suffer. If I make him mad, he’ll just be mad at me. And I’m used to
guys being mad at me. I don’t care.”

Kori stepped from the shadows. “You
really
should care, Valera.”

She jumped and spun toward him, eyes wide with
surprise. His gaze fixated on the hand she held even as he recognized the fact
in her other was her weapon, no blades drawn, but ready. That made him proud to
know she was alert.
Also makes me wonder where she had it hidden on that
damn dress.

“Kori,” she whispered.

“Let go of him,” he ordered.

Lera lifted her chin and narrowed her eyes at
him. “Go to hell, Kori. This has nothing to do with you.”

He could feel the fear she did her best to keep
locked away. The fear wasn’t for what he may do to her, but it had to do with
him, and for the moment, the majority of the anger was as well.

“You’ve never been more wrong,
mo anam
.
Stop touching him.”

“Kim is my friend, Kori.”

It hit him. She was protecting Kim, unsure what
Kori would do to him if she did let go and got out of the way. Who was this man
to her to warrant such a staunch defense? It wasn’t easy but Kori reined in his
anger.

‘I won’t hurt your friend, Lera. But I need
you to let go of his hand.’

He grumbled when she squeezed Kim’s hand but
stopped when she released it. Kori walked toward them. Lera stepped back by her
friend, and Kori finally got to see the one she referred to as Kim. A
good-looking Asian male who sat in a wheelchair. Kori slanted his gaze back to
Lera. She still watched him with suspicion.

“Who are you?” Kim asked.

Tearing his eyes from Lera, Kori stared at him.
“Cormac MacLochlainne.”

Kim stuck out his hand. “Kim Chang.”

Kori didn’t normally shake hands but he did this
time. “Nice to meet you.” He looked at Lera. “We need to talk,
mo ghrá
.”

In the muted light, he saw a defiant glint burn
brighter in her brown eyes. He held her gaze, challenging her, well aware Kim
watched their interaction. Lera didn’t back down. If anything, her defiance
grew. In that moment, Kori realized how loyal she was to those she called
friend.

‘Don’t make me force your compliance, Valera.
Say goodnight to your friend.’
Kori would have sworn she bared her teeth at
him. It made him hard.

Putting her back to him, Lera crouched before
Kim, her hands on the seat beside his legs. “I’ll see you home.” Lera got to
her feet and waited for Kim to turn around.

“What about your friend?” Kim asked.

“He’ll follow.”

Damn straight I will.
Kori remained
silent, just walked behind Lera, almost mesmerized by the sultry sway of her
hips. He stood near at the bus stop and grumbled as they were loaded on. He
paid for them all and sat one seat behind where she sat with Kim. Most of the
men ogled her in the dress she wore, and he felt his wolf near the surface.
Lera paid no attention; she and Kim had their heads together. It rankled to see
her interact with a person she didn’t seem to mind touching her, especially
since it was a male and not him.

The bus stopped, and a group of men got on. Even
more alert, Kori kept an eye on them. Gang bangers.

“Whooee, lookie at what’s we gots here,” the
first one back said, swaggering toward Lera.

Kori watched as Lera shifted slightly but she
never looked away from Kim. He knew she was aware of them and would fight if
the need arose. Which for her, it wouldn’t. A group of four humans was not
anything Kori would consider a threat to his ability.

“Why don’t you leave the cripple and hook up with
a real man?”

“Why don’t you sit down and learn some fucking
manners?” Lera bit off, lifting her head finally.

Kori could hear her accent with her sharp words.
The leader sneered at her and grabbed his crotch before reaching for the pole
near her and sliding around it.

“See, you should be a bit nicer. I mean, I’m the
one who decides what condition you get off the bus in. Or if.”

Kori had had enough. He pushed to his feet and
stepped up behind her. The yellow bandana wearing male looked at him.

“Back off,” Kori said in a near growl.

“Fuck off, man. I saw this piece of ass first.
This ain’t got nothin’ to do with you.”

The snarl couldn’t be stopped, and Kori snatched
out with one hand and lifted the guy straight up so only his toes remained on
the floor. And that just barely. Kori was inches taller than him but now they
were eye to eye.

“That piece of ass, as you put it…she is mine,” he
growled, seeing red. The man’s face paled. Kori squeezed harder. “I suggest you
and your
boys
stay away from both of them. She walks by, and you look
the other way.”

“Right,” he gasped.

The urge to end his life was strong. Kori
tightened his hold even more.

“Enough.” Lera’s voice calmed him enough so he
could release him.

The man scrambled back through his crew and
rasped, “She ain’t worth it.”

Kori held his gaze until he looked away. Then, he
glanced down at Lera who watched him with uncertainty.

‘How much farther until his home?’
he
asked with his mind for he needed the contact with her but knew if he
physically touched her he’d most likely lose the thin control. If he gave in
and touched her, he’d mark her; the urge was so strong and powerful within him.

‘Fifteen minutes or so.’
She faced away
from him.

It didn’t matter suddenly. All he knew was her
touch was needed. A physical one.
‘Come to me, Lera.’

He watched her stiffen before muttering to Kim.
Then, she stood and walked to stand before him. Kori ran the backs of his
fingers down her face and struggled not to kiss her.

‘I need to sit with Kim, Kori.’

Dropping his hand, he stepped back and returned to
his seat. He went with as she and Kim headed to his apartment building but he
remained outside while she went in.

Chapter Five

Lera walked slowly out of Kim’s apartment,
trepidation filling her. Murdock Denton was one thing, and she could go toe to
toe with him any time, but that wasn’t who she had waiting for her. She had to
face Kori. And she knew he wasn’t happy. Lera paused at the entryway door to
the building. Her hand rested on the knob.

Buck up, Valera,
she admonished herself.
Kori
may very well be pissed but he’ll never lay a hand on me in anger.
So why
was she hesitating?
Why am I?

She stared at the hand on the doorknob; the dim
lighting glinted off her slave bracelet. She’d had it specially made. Almost
all the knots were Kells except for the one surrounding the single wolf
engraved on each bracelet and the ring. Those were surrounded by a trinity
knot.

Licking her lips, she turned the handle and
pushed through. Kori leaned against a cement wall, appearing deceptively
relaxed and at ease. The night air sizzled with his barely restrained energy.
His gaze zoomed in on her as she headed over the walkway toward him, even
though the only thing on him moving was his hair, courtesy of the wind.

Lera paused before him, keeping some space
between them, and stared in his eyes. Her belly clenched at the mass of
turbulent emotions in them. She could see more than a hint of his wolf and knew
he was seriously close to losing control.

“You know there’s a park that leads into the
countryside two blocks away if you need to run.”

“And while I did that, where would you be?” His
question was more growled than anything.

“Waiting in the park.”

He pushed off the wall with a ripple of power and
was before her in less time than it took her to blink. “And I would believe
that why?”

It took a lot for her keep the snarl contained
behind clenched teeth. With an unconcerned shrug, Lera turned away. One step.
That was as far as she got. His hand curled around her covered arm like a steel
vise.

“Where are you going?”

“Back to the party and eventually then to bed.”

“No party.” There was nothing but finality in his
tone as it cracked through the air like a whip.

She did snarl then. Jerking her head to glare at
him, she found Kori right up in her personal space. He stared at her, his gaze
hard and uncompromising.

“Don’t try to stop me from getting to Rissa,
Kori.” Her fingers flexed, and she felt her weapon in the palm of her hand.

He pulled her in closer and had them chest to
chest. “Do
not
push me, Valera. We deal with this now.”

Lera didn’t back down from his angry gaze. “No.”

Her heart began to pound harder. In the back of
her mind, she knew she really didn’t stand a chance against him. Kori could
keep her from going but she wouldn’t give up without one hell of a fight.

“Yes.”

Lera secured her weapon and brought her hand up
to poke him in the chest. “No, Kori. I know you can force me to go with you,
but I swear I will make you bleed.” She licked her lips. “And I will hate and
loathe you for the rest of my life.”

He dropped his hand like he’d been burned and
raked it through his hair. When he looked at her again, she found herself faced
with the blank, emotionless face she was used to on Kori. For a brief second,
she wished he would show more feeling. Then, she shoved it away. There was no
time to dwell on her own wishes. Rissa needed her.

Swallowing, Lera turned and walked toward the bus
stop. Kori’s intense presence was behind her but he never touched her nor
spoke. She hesitated when a taxi pulled up but Kori held the door, and soon,
they were on their way back to the party. At the hotel, Kori paid and held the
door for her again.

She walked to the elevator to take her the second
floor where the party was. Her sole focus on getting to Rissa. Back in the
ballroom, it didn’t take long for her to find Murdock. Or he found her.

“Lera darling,” he said, reaching for her hand.
“Where were you?”

Forcing a smile, Lera squeezed his hand. In her
mind, she heard a low, deadly growl. Dampening her lips, she said, “I saw Kim
home.”

“Him. I’m glad he’s gone. Come with me, Lera.” He
stepped close. “We can skip the party and go to my room and catch up.”

The growl in her head grew louder. Lera smiled
gently. “As much as I’d love to, I’m still exhausted from my drive. I just got
here today. We’ll meet tomorrow.”

“I don’t like to wait, Lera.” Warning laced
Murdock’s tone.

One final squeeze, and she dropped his hand. “And
I
want to see for myself Rissa’s okay.” Her tone was cold, and she knew
he knew it was nothing but business now.

“And when she is?”

Lera glanced across the room to where Kori stood
against the wall and back to Murdock. “I have a friend who will take her away,
and I remain with you.”

The slimy smile he had filled her with loathing.
“I will see you tomorrow then.”

“Yes, you will,” Lera responded.

With a calm she far from felt, Lera headed back
to the staircase and the door. At the top, she looked back and saw Murdock with
his hands all over another woman, but his eyes were on her. She looked away and
walked out. Lera wanted a shower to get the feel of Murdock off her skin. At
the elevator, she was in with four others, and at the last minute, Kori walked
on.

Immediately, her pulse raced. She could hear the
other women’s intakes of breath. Staring from lowered lashes, Lera took in the
man that was Cormac MacLochlainne. Dressed in all black as was his forte. This
time it was jeans, which emphasized his strong legs, and a thin shirt, which
attracted attention to his muscular upper body. Draped over one arm was his
black leather trench coat. Kori’s hair, sexy and rakish, made her want to touch
it.

Please. I want to touch his whole body.

Although he never directly held her gaze, Lera
knew he watched her. At her floor, she expected him to exit first. He didn’t.
Kori held his hand out to her and said, “Come,
mo ghrá
.” An action which
claimed her all over again to those in the elevator with them.

Amid envious sighs, Lera put her hand in his and
walked out with him. She struggled to ignore the pulses which coursed through
her. It didn’t work. When he followed her into the room, Lera didn’t bat an
eye. Even so, the click of the door sounded so final. Free from his grip, Lera
made her way to the king-size bed and sat on it, beginning to unlace her shoes.

“Start talking,” Kori commanded.

“I don’t know why you’re so upset, Kori,” Lera
said, stopping in her task and looking up.

Flames flickered in the depths of his gray eyes.
“Really? Can’t think of one damn reason why I would be pissed?”

“Don’t cuss at me.” She turned her attention back
to her shoes.

“You are seriously pushing me, Valera Grace.” His
words were hard and forced out.

Shoes off, Lera stood. “Then, leave, Kori. I
already told you I would do whatever I had to in order to get Rissa back.”

“Explain yourself, Lera. All of it.”

Staring at him, Lera couldn’t understand why he
was so angry. Some she could explain, but the amount of rage he had, she
couldn’t. But she did understand he was at the end of his rope of patience.

She nodded. “Fair enough.”
Guess the shower
will have to wait.
Lera moved past him to the sitting area of her suite.
Sitting on a loveseat, she tucked her legs under her. Kori stood behind a tall
wingback; his strong hands gripped the sides.

“I’m sorry for slipping out like that. It was
poorly done. Especially since you did say you would help me.”

“Then why did you?”

“You agreed to help me in Washington, not
anywhere else. And when Murdock’s name came up, I knew I was done in Winthrop
for a while. And technically, I only agreed not to go back to the bar without
you. I didn’t say anything about going elsewhere.”

“And you didn’t think I’d help?” He took a deep
breath while the fire in his eyes flashed hotter.

“I don’t know, Kori. I do know I wouldn’t presume
to assume you would.”

His lip turned up in a feral snarl. “Fine. Let’s
clear the air on that. You need anything,
anything at all
, you come to
me, Lera.”

Shaking her head in bewilderment, Lera plucked at
the pale platinum jacquard pattern covering the loveseat. “I don’t need a
keeper, Kori.” She looked up at him. “And I don’t need you making such offers,
but thank you.”

Kori’s eyes narrowed, and he muttered in a
language she didn’t understand. “Murdock Denton?” he asked, once again speaking
English. “I think there’s a bit more there than you’ve merely heard of him.”

“Murdock Denton is a man I met in college. I
spent my spring breaks out here.”

“And?” Kori paused before his jaw clenched. “Is
he one you tried with?”

The anger and possessiveness in his tone threw
her. “As if I’m going to tell you. Why are you so interested in my biz?” His
eyes shifted to wolf and back. Lera pushed up from the seat and walked to where
he stood behind the chair. Kneeling on the cushion, she stared at him. “What’s
wrong, Kori? I’ve never seen you like this before. Do you need to run? I can
give you a shortcut to the edge of town.”

“I don’t like you putting yourself in danger.”

That’s not what’s riding you so hard, Kori. It
may be part of it, but definitely not all.

“Well, then I suggest you go get it out of your
system because I know you’re not going to like what happens next.”

Kori snapped his gaze to her. “And that would
be?”

Lera gave in to the urge to touch him. She
reached up with one hand and moved a thick lock of hair away from his face. It
was so soft and made her tingle. Kori held still and stared at her, unblinking,
but the fire in his eyes raged even hotter. With a sigh, she dropped her hand.

“Tomorrow, I meet Murdock. He brings Rissa, and I
bring you.”

“I have a feeling we’ve yet to reach the part I
really
don’t like.”

Lera got off the chair and walked toward the
bedroom. “I want you to make sure Rissa is put somewhere safe.”

“Lera.” The word was so much more than her name.
Within it laid the command to stop, face him, and explain.

Pausing at the doorway to her bedroom, she
glanced back at him. “What? It’s the only way I can save her. I know you’ll
keep her safe, Kori, and be able to fight off whatever or whoever else he sends
to try and get her back. Because he
will
try to get her back.”

“And you?”

Her fingers tightened on the frame for a fraction
of a second, but she knew he saw it. “Why, I’ll be with Murdock…waiting on you
to come save me.”

Lera faced forward and headed for the shower.

Kori felt lightheaded. He had no clue on the best
way to proceed. With a groan, he sat on the chair once he heard the water start
in the shower. All his years and he felt like a wolf cub bumbling about at his
first hunt.
Does she really think I am going to let her go with a man who is
rumored to do such things?
He closed his eyes and dropped his head in the
palms of his hands.
I should have stopped her from doing this at the very
beginning.

Why hadn’t he? Easy answer. Valera Grace Sidorov.
If he forced her to stay out of this, she would feel worse about herself than
she did now. And he fully believed she would hate him. That was something he
couldn’t bear.

Lera wasn’t helpless and could defend herself.
Doesn’t
make me want to stop protecting her, though. She’s my mate, and I will always
protect her.

Kori figured once Rissa was safe, Lera would be a
bit more cooperative. All her reckless behavior was to save her friend. He
understood what he should do. It was right before him. He should send her home
to Dane where she would be safe, then he could get Rissa out for her. Just as
surely as he was sitting there, Kori
knew
that was what he should do.

He squeezed his eyes tighter as the image of Dane
watching over his eldest child flashed in his mind. There was so much love and
protectiveness in those tawny-green-gold eyes.

“He is going to feed me my liver,” Kori said on a
groan.

“Who’s feeding you your liver?”

Lifting his head, Kori promptly lost his breath
at the sight before him. Lera stood there scrubbed clean, her thick hair free
around her shoulders. She wore pale blue lounge pants and a white camisole.
Swallowing back his lust, he shifted on the chair.
Oh hell, I’m in trouble.

“Kori? Who’s threatening your liver?”

Was it his imagination or was there a bit of
protectiveness in her tone? “Your father.”

She frowned. “Why?”

Kori sighed and pushed to his feet, dwarfing her.
To his pleasure, she didn’t move back. In fact, she never looked away from him.
Giving into the urge riding him, Kori ran his fingers down a section of her
hair.

“Because I’m agreeing to this asinine plan of
yours instead of sending you home like I should.”

“Thank you, Kori,” she said solemnly.

“One thing, Valera,” he uttered, his hand still
in her hair.

“Yes?”

“No more disappearing like that or I send you
home.” He paused and made sure she was watching him. “And we remain in mental
contact at all times.” Her thin brows furrowed a little, and he shook his head.
“This is nondebateable,
mo ghrá
.” His body was aflame for her, and it
was like she had no clue in the slightest what she did to him.

Lera licked her lips and nodded. “Fine,” she
whispered.

There was a slight hesitation before she reached
for his face. He could feel every cell in his body gravitating toward her. Somehow,
he remained still and let the decision be entirely up to her, despite how
desperate he was to feel her touch on him. Their gazes locked onto one another
as she combed her hand into his hair and ran her thumb along his cheek. There
was such innocence in her touch. His wolf howled and strained to get closer.