Lorn Read online

  They all entered his house and flipped on lights. Lavos and Kar searched the rooms for any danger as Lorn assessed Kira. She seemed interested in taking in every detail of the living room.

  “What do you think? This is your home now too.”

  “I like it. It’s a little cold though. You need some throw pillows on the couch with some color, maybe some paintings on the walls, and the empty bookshelves need to be filled.”

  He had to agree. “I mainly live in my bedroom while I’m here. It’s got more furnishings and personal touches.” He remembered something then, and bit his lip, wondering how he’d get rid of the things stashed in one drawer before she found them.

  Kira noticed. “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing.”

  “Don’t lie to me.”

  “Wait until we’re alone.”

  She nodded.

  Kar and Lavos came back into the living room. His brother spoke. “It’s clear. No one has been there. We checked the locks. It’s all secure. We’ll be outside.”

  “Thank you.”

  He bolted the door after them and motioned Kira to follow him. She did. He hoped she liked his bedroom. Lavos had left the lights on and he moved out of the way, watching her reaction.

  She smiled, seeing his large king bed, the fireplace in the corner, and a few paintings he had on the walls of wild wolves. One was a forest scene, while another featured a waterfall and large pool of water.

  “I like it.”

  He walked up behind her and she turned, peering up at him. “I’ve never had anyone here.”

  “You mean women?”

  “Yes.”

  “Were you worried I’d hate your furniture or something? I like dark wood.”

  “That’s not it.”

  She turned away, studying the room. She spotted the mantel and walked over to it. Her fingers traced over a fist-size stone placed on top of it. “I know this.”

  “You should.” He came up behind her again but stayed a few feet away.

  “I found this in the river and thought it looked like a sleeping bunny. The shape of it still reminds me of one. You kept it.” She stopped touching it and turned to him, smiling.

  “I might as well show you what I think you’ll find anyway, once you start exploring my house.” He spun and walked over to his closet, pulling open the double doors, and then crossed to the tall dresser against one wall, opposite where he hung his clothes. He slid the bottom drawer open and picked up the photos. He returned to her and held them out.

  She couldn’t hide her surprise as she accepted them. She flipped through the ten photographs he’d had blown up into five-by-sevens. “These are all of me.”

  “Lavos took photos for me when Decker sent me on trips. I wanted proof you were alive. There are more stashed around here that you might come across. I had some prints made.”

  Tears filled her eyes as she stopped looking at the photos. “You thought Decker sent you away so he could kill me?”

  “It was possible. I had my brother watching out for you while I was gone. He swore he’d grab you and take you somewhere safe until I could come home, if anyone made a move to do you harm.”

  She put the stack of photos on the mantel next to the rock and placed her hands on his chest. “You really do love me. Some of those are years old.”

  “I’ve always loved you, Kira.” He reached for his shirt and started to take it off. “Strip down for me.”

  “I’m going to use your bathroom real quick. My feet are dirty.”

  “Hurry.”

  She disappeared into his bathroom. He used the time she was in there to remove his clothing, and then light a fire. He even turned down the bed, hating how he suddenly felt nervous. To mate Kira was something he’d always wanted to do, ever since that day at the river when he’d pulled her out of the water and realized they’d both matured enough for it to be possible.

  What if he frightened her? Became too rough?

  The water in the bathroom shut off and he licked his lips, inhaling a few deep breaths. He’d just have to take it slow and try really hard not to frighten her. She was probably worried about him biting her. Some VampLycans tended to purposely scar their mates in the process, to not only bind them together through a blood exchange, but also leave a noticeable mark on their mates. Having been raised so human, it could be a fear of hers. He had always been terrified of accidentally injuring her when they played. She was so fragile compared to him.

  Kira came out naked, stunning him. She grinned and walked forward. “What?”

  His body responded. He always wanted her. He couldn’t form words. She was so beautiful to him. He loved her body, with those softer curves. Most VampLycan women tended to be muscled and lean from shifting often.

  She surprised him again when she suddenly jumped. He managed to catch her when she hit his chest but he stumbled a little before bracing his legs to steady them both. Her arms and legs wrapped around him. She buried her face against his neck and licked his skin.

  “Bite me,” she whispered.

  He wanted to. Bad. He turned, quickly heading to the bed. “Slow down.”

  “Forget that. We’ve waited long enough. Bite and take me. Claim me, Lorn. I want you.”

  He shook his head. “Not this time. We’re going to take it slow and do this the way I’ve dreamed a thousand times.”

  Her lips parted but before she could protest, he brushed her mouth with a kiss.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Frustration rose in Kira when Lorn backed away and smiled. He took her breath but she wanted him to mate her now. All those years of wishing he’d want to spend the rest of his life with her had finally come true, and she just wanted their bond to be sealed.

  Her gaze trailed down his body. He was the sexiest sight she’d ever seen. All muscles, tan skin, and an impressive erection. He definitely looked up to mating. She bit her lip and took a deep breath, blowing it out. He wanted to take things slow, and even if it killed her, she wasn’t about to forget that he’d felt she’d rushed him when they’d had sex for the first time. It had made him angry at them both. She didn’t want the memory of them mating to contain any regrets.

  “Okay. What do you have in mind?”

  “Get in the middle of my bed and lay on your back.” His husky voice excited her.

  “You’re going to torment me, aren’t you?” She turned though and climbed on his bed, crawled to the center, and flipped over. It didn’t embarrass her being naked with Lorn. He was hers and she would be his. She lifted her upper body a little, bent her arms back so they held her up, to be able to watch him better.

  “I want to know every inch of you.” He followed her, looking a bit predatory. Lust made his eyes glow a little, lightening the silvery-gray color. He bent forward, pressed his open palms on the end of the bed. The mattress dipped from his weight as he very slowly maneuvered closer. “Just let me look at you.”

  Kira spread her legs and bent her knees up. Her heart raced. “I know; just looking at you turns me on.” Her gums throbbed and she felt her fangs sliding down. It wasn’t bloodlust that had her wanting to bite into Lorn this time, though. She just wanted to encourage him to sink his teeth into her too.

  “You’re so beautiful,” he rasped. “God, Kira. Do you know how many times I fantasized about you this way? Spread out on my bed naked?”

  “Tell me.”

  “Every night I wished you were with me. Sometimes I couldn’t sleep, so I’d go for a run to burn off excess energy and pass by the hill the lodge sits on. I knew I couldn’t get too close without someone seeing me but part of me hoped you’d somehow know I was there.” His gaze lowered and he licked his lips, staring at her exposed sex. “That you’d sneak out and come home with me.” He lowered his belly, braced his elbows, and gently wrapped his hands around her inner thighs to part them more. “I wanted to eat you alive—and I’m about to do it.”

  He inhaled through his nose, his nostrils flared, and he grow