A Love For Lera (Haikon) Read online

  Did I really think there was no emotion in those eyes? Or that voice? Her throat felt uncomfortably dry and tight. She could feel her heart pounding, and there was an ache in the pit of her belly.

  “You can dish it out, I can handle it,” she informed him.

  Lera knew he wanted her to say no, and truth be told, were it anyone else, she would have most likely said no. Although, anyone else also would have gone straight to her father. But it wasn’t anyone else; this was Cormac MacLochlainne. And it was for Rissa.

  “We’ll see, mo chara,” he purred.

  Unable to continue holding his gaze, Lera walked with shaking knees to the bathroom where, once behind the closed door, she settled, quaking, to the lowered toilet seat cover. She stripped off her gloves and clenched and unclenched her fingers a few times.

  “Hang on, Rissa. I’m coming,” she whispered to the room.

  With a determined breath, she washed her face and hands, dried them, and had her gloves back on before she opened the door. Kori leaned against the wall, those roped muscular arms still crossed.

  Lera gave him a dismissive glance and strode to the door. “I’ll see you tomorrow then.”

  “Where are you going?”

  She paused with her hand on the knob. “My hotel room.”

  “And the bar?”

  Lera opened the door but peered briefly over her shoulder at him. “You said you’d help me find her. I won’t go back there without you.” She walked through and pulled it shut behind her. Heading down the steps to her bike, Lera could feel his eyes on her but she never looked back, just got on and drove off.

  Cormac “Kori” MacLochlainne shook with need. He stared out the window and watched Lera vanish into the night on her motorcycle. He’d been up in Canada when he felt her presence. The one who was created for him and he for her. His mate. Valera Grace Sidorov. A fact he was sure she didn’t know. No one did; no one aside from him.

  But he’d known since the day her young mind screamed out and reached him in agony at the injustices she suffered. From that moment, he’d become her angel. Unable to be there and physically save her, he took her mind to a safe place. Eventually, he told her about Dane when he headed that way, knowing full well Dane would do as he did. Take her in as one of his own. Kori avoided her until she turned thirteen, which was when they’d first met face to face. Unlike she did with everyone else, she didn’t call him by his first name, but used his nickname. He liked that; it made him feel special. Kori kept their interactions to a minimum and ensured his emotions weren’t present on his face. When she was nineteen, the urge to claim her then had flown powerfully through him but he’d ignored it. Lera was now twenty-five, and he was ready to make his declaration on her. She was scared, and he knew he needed to go slowly. But he also knew she was his future.

  He’d tracked her here and had almost come unhinged when she entered the small dive of a bar. Lust and a roaring need for her had blindsided him. She’d strode in wearing black leather pants along with a silver and charcoal gray leather race-fit motorcycle jacket which covered her shirt. Her thick black hair now had some copper highlights through it. He had seen the heel of her boot when she’d swung her leg over her bike and he shook his head. She would be riding in heels.

  His wolf had risen protectively within him like it always did in regards to her. When she’d tossed back the shot like it was water, he’d wanted to kill whomever had taught her to drink. Still, he was arrogantly proud when she cocked that sexy brow of hers without so much as a wince from the drink. Fighting Cock was 108 proof, and she acted as if it were water. But when those three surrounded her, Kori acted. He knew she was frightened, he knew she hated to be touched, but it never showed on her face. Her expression remained composed in a mask of disdain and boredom. And she’d been more than ready to defy him, too, until he allowed her to see the wolf in him. She’d deferred to him but it took a moment, and he knew she wouldn’t have done so with anyone else.

  Which is fine since no one else should be near her.

  “Then, she goes and climbs on a bike. Not a nice safe one, no, a sleek silver and gray Suzuki Hayabusa, a racing bike,” he muttered as his cock got even harder.

  Watching her firm legs straddle the bike had been like a wet dream. Add to that the fact she had touched him, and he couldn’t do anything but offer to help. If he was smart, he’d ignore the deal and send her packing home to Daddy.

  “I must be a dumbass then, because I’m keeping her here with me. And I know Dane would rip out my throat, for more than one reason.”

  He paced for a while, but two hours later, Kori ran a hand down his face and found himself outside in a heartbeat. The urge to see her again overwhelmed everything else. The dark of the night covered him like a lover and concealed him until he reached her hotel. Searching, he found her scent, fresh and pure, and another round of lust pounded him. Lera didn’t wear perfume or scented lotions, and he loved her natural smell.

  Before he realized it, he’d picked the lock and slipped into her dark room. His rapid reflexes were the only reason he wasn’t bleeding. He jumped back as the material of his shirt parted courtesy of the blade she’d swiped at him. Two more quick and precise attacks came before he opened his mouth.

  “Stop attacking me, Lera.”

  “Kori?” Her voice was sleepy but hard.

  A glow filled the room as she turned on the light. And he lost what little breath he had left. Her hair was tousled; a light gray sleeveless tatty t-shirt hung from her shoulders and black lounge pants rode low on curvy hips. And around her neck sat a silver necklace, one he knew well for he’d given it to her when she was thirteen. A silver oval with the Ogham letter “C” marking on it in jet. Need, raw, hungry and angry roared through him. He could feel the wolf pushing through.

  “Are you insane?” she snapped. “Why would you sneak in here? I told you I wouldn’t go back to the bar without you.” Lera raked a hand through her hair, and the light in the room glinted off the silver rings on her hands. “Sweet goddess, do you know what my daddy would do if I had to tell him I killed you?”

  Kori fought the urge to smile. He couldn’t begin to explain how grateful he was by her not even thinking he was there to hurt her. “Yeah, I can imagine how bad my death would be for you,” he drolled, cocking a brow at her.

  Her face scrunched up, and he had this overwhelming urge to kiss her senseless.

  “Did you just crack a joke? The ever serious Cormac MacLochlainne cracked a joke?” Lera smiled, and he felt his knees weaken, even more so with the way his given name rolled off her tongue, spoken like a true Irish lass. “I think the world just shifted on its axis.”

  He knew his reputation. More than that, he liked it. But he was suitably pleased by the look on her face. The happy, relaxed look normally reserved for her family, her immediate family; for while she loved her extended family, he could tell she didn’t totally relax around them. This look was one he’d not been privileged to receive, not before today. And she was right; the world did shift, at least for him. Her smile packed one hell of a punch.

  “I know how to joke, beag amháin” he said.

  “Sure you do,” she retorted in a patronizing tone. Lera sat on the edge of the lone bed, and his mind took him down a road he knew she wasn’t ready for. “Sorry about your shirt.”

  Kori glanced down at the diagonal tear in it. “Better the shirt than my chest.” He frowned and stared back at her. “What the hell was all that?”

  She rolled her shoulders. “I told you I wasn’t helpless. Besides, you were the one breaking and entering. I was merely defending myself. I would think you’d be happy to know I don’t have the habit of letting men walk willy-nilly into my room at night.”

  His wolf snarled, and he admitted she had a good point. “Let me see your weapon.”

  Lera reached behind her and threw him a black cylindrical tube of about three inches long. Lightweight and, by all appearances, harmless.

  “This is what yo
u used?” he asked doubtfully.

  “Yes.”

  “Show me.” He tossed it back to her.

  Lera snatched it out of the air, and before he had time to breathe, a black point was aimed directly at his jugular. She had that defiant look in her eyes, and it made him even hornier. Lera moved it back and held it between them. Another point extended from the other end, turning it into a staff. Then, just like that, it was gone, and Lera had hidden it on her body.

  He was definitely impressed. “Who gave you this?”

  “Uncle Dak made it for me.” She tucked her necklace back under her shirt. “I’m not helpless, Kori. I have skills and items to make me stronger.” Lingering in her tone was something he couldn’t quite identify.

  Uncle Dak. Hunter Adamek Nervig.

  “I’m beginning to see that.” He sat in the chair and looked at her. “Are you sure you want to do this, Valera?”

  Her gaze snapped to his. “What are you talking about? Would you let someone you cared about remain in danger if you had the opportunity to help them?” He frowned, and she continued, “Of course you wouldn’t. I’ll do whatever it takes to save her.”

  “Including agreeing to be mine?”

  “Whatever it takes.” She shrugged. “Besides, it’s not real anyway.”

  Oh baby, it’s so very real. Kori could see she was desperately holding onto her control. He got up and moved to her side, hating how her body was tense. “Look at me, Lera,” he murmured. Her brown eyes met his. “You know I won’t hurt you, right?” I would sooner die than hurt you.

  “I know. It’s just…” She looked away.

  “I’m going to touch you, Lera,” he whispered. “Look at me, mo anam.”

  Her gaze lifted back to his, and he could see her hiding behind her walls of armor. Kori reached out with one hand and touched her cheek. Emotions flared hot and powerful within him at the contact of her smooth skin. He longed to slip deeper into her thoughts from where he hid in the corner of her mind and assure her she was safe with him, but he couldn’t. He wouldn’t. Not yet. Kori wanted her to come to him of her own volition.

  “Are you going to be okay sharing a room with me?” he asked, refusing to allow her gaze to drop from his.

  “My father trusts you, Kori; therefore, I know I’m safe with you. I will do whatever I have to in order to find out what happened to Rissa. I just need to wrap my head around it.”

  I don’t think your father would trust me with you if he knew. Reluctantly, he dropped his hand from her face; it was like a knife cutting out his heart at the relief which filled her eyes. He wanted to touch her all over, strip her naked and teach her what it was like to be a mate to him. He longed to please her, in and out of bed. Keep her safe; give her his child to carry within her.

  “Okay. Tell me about this bike of yours.”

  Her smile returned, brilliant and intoxicating. Yep, I’m officially jealous of a motorcycle.

  “My gift to myself when I graduated from college. A Suzuki Hayabusa, 1340cc, DOHC liquid-cooled 16-valve engine. Twin swirl combustion chambers and six speed transmission. A friend of mine painted the tags on it; I got the gray and silver finish because I love the sleek look.” Her voice filled with pride and joy as she spoke about her ride.

  Yeah, me, too. “Friend? Male friend?” Anger and possessiveness rose fast, nearly overwhelming him.

  Her smile slipped slightly. “I don’t have many male friends.”

  “You have at least one, Lera.” He reached out and tucked a piece of hair behind her ear, contrite for how harsh he’d sounded. “At least one.”

  “Kim is amazing with a brush, so he did it for me.” She didn’t even flinch from Kori’s quick touch, and it pleased him to no end.

  He remembered the markings on her bike. One he recognized, one he didn’t. “What made you decide to have a torc put on it? And what’s the other symbol?”

  “You knew it was a torc?”

  “I’m Irish, lass, o’ course I’d recognize a torc,” he said with a deep brogue.

  “I like that voice on you.”

  He quirked a brow. “I’ll remember that.”

  Lera looked away, her cheeks taking on a faint blush. “The other is a tiger leaping. You can see it if you know what to look for. Otherwise, it’s just cool. And as far at the torc, I’ve always found them fascinating.”

  “Do your parents know about the bike?”

  “Yes. And no, they weren’t happy. Mom thinks I’m going to hurt myself. I think Daddy understands.”

  Kori found himself almost smiling again. She had that effect on him. He clenched his hand so he didn’t touch her again. Getting to his feet, he looked down at her. “I’ll be here in the morning; we’ll discuss how this will play out over breakfast.”

  “Okay.” She narrowed her eyes. “You didn’t drive, did you?”

  “No.” Pain flickered in the depths of her eyes before she could mask it. “Lock the door behind me.”

  “Fat lotta good it did me last time,” she muttered with a pointed look, getting to her feet and pacing him to the door.

  Good point, it didn’t keep me out. He didn’t want to leave her. He longed to sweep her off her feet and carry her back to the bed, even if it was only to hold her in his arms.

  “Good night, Lera,” he murmured.

  “Night.”

  She reached out to him but stopped before she touched him. Kori didn’t move, let her decide if she would complete it or not. His heart quadrupled in speed when her bare hand landed upon his forearm. He swallowed against the pulses that coursed through him at the contact. Lera’s eyes widened, her pupils dilated, and he knew she felt the same thing. Her heart pounded hard.

  “Thank you,” she whispered.

  Kori couldn’t help it. He placed his hand on her jaw. “Sleep well, mo anam.” His fingers trailed softly along her skin before he pulled away. Then, he walked out of her hotel room.

  Back at his hotel, he stood under the cold spray of his shower, willing his body to calm down. It throbbed, and Kori struggled to stay in control. He was still aroused when he got out and dried off. His skin continued to tingle from where her small hand had rested against him.

  “Lera,” he ground out.

  The night wasn’t a comfortable one; he woke up just as painfully hard as he’d been when he’d gone to bed. Sliding behind the wheel of his truck, he muttered, “Did I say how stupid this is for me to do? Talk about tempting the devil.”

  Chapter Two

  Lera raced along the road, shrouded by the pre-dawn, her bike hugging the curves easily and like a lover at ninety miles per hour. A huge smile in place, she revved the engine and asked for even more speed. Drawing to a halt at the top of a hill, she sat there, straddling her now silent bike, and watched the sun’s first rays begin to peek over the horizon through her mirrored glasses.

  She tried to think about Rissa but her mind kept going back to Kori. The man had been present even in her dreams last night. It didn’t make sense. Men she kept at a distance—it was safer that way—but with Kori, she had begun to realize there were other feelings within her. From the very first day she met him, he’d been different to her. Unlike others she met, he didn’t reach for her hand, just held her gaze with those incredible eyes and nodded.

  He looked so much like her angel she almost broke down and cried. But her angel was comforting; Kori was aloof. There was this intense vibe she got from him. It didn’t seem to matter if they were in the same group or not, she always felt his gaze upon her. And, instead of creeping her out, it made her feel safe and protected. She couldn’t explain the turmoil seeing him created within her.

  “Twice, I touched him twice.”

  And it had seemed the right thing to do. It had been just something that happened, no thought at all. Lera knew he’d been hurt by her stiffening up before he touched her, but it wasn’t for the reason he thought. Not by a long shot. She didn’t want him to know how he affected her.

  Cormac “Kori�
�� MacLochlainne made her think about things she put with couples who didn’t have a damaged person, like her. Undamaged people like her parents, whose love for one another was as strong as she’d ever seen it. And Kori made her think about something other than a lonely, solitary life.

  Pulling back the sleeve of her riding jacket, she glanced at her black Suunto watch. Time to go. I don’t think Kori will be happy if I am not there when he arrives. Staring out over the open expanse of road, Lera sighed. She started the bike and readjusted her glasses. The powerful machine purred beneath her, and she drove off, going faster and faster until the landscape flew by.

  Cresting a small rise, Lera was in high spirits until a figure in black appeared on the road a distance from her. Shit! Slowing the bike down, she came to a halt before the scowling man. Shutting off the motorcycle, Lera removed her glasses and ran a hand through her windblown hair before hooking the shades on the front of her jacket.

  “You do know hanging out in the road isn’t very safe, don’t you? Especially wearing black this time of the day.” She arched a single brow with her statement.

  Kori’s jaw was clenched, and his eyes burned with fire as he stared down at her. “What exactly are you doing, mo chara?”

  Despite his stance, his words were rasped and husky. Lera felt a flutter in her belly. One that chased away deep-rooted memories of fear. Doing her best to ignore it, she shrugged easily.

  “Well, I was on my back to my hotel to meet this man for breakfast but I got sidetracked by this one who was standing in the middle of the road like he has every right to stop traffic.”

  “You drive without regard to your safety. Why do you not wear a helmet?”

  Lera rolled her eyes. “I know how to ride my bike, Kori. Been riding for years now.” She ignored his question about the helmet; it was none of his business how it made her feel claustrophobic. His gaze swirled, and she shifted on the seat, suddenly uncertain about the look he gave and the way it was making her feel. “So,” she said, trying to have something else to focus on, “where are we eating?”