Pure Desire [Pure 3] (Siren Publishing Allure) (7 page)

“Duly noted, and the third female?”

“My sister, Allura, who is twice as pretty as my mother, but I should warn you her disposition isn’t as genteel.”

Noor thought the statement interesting. “Why is that?”

“Allura doesn’t have a man because she has effectively frightened the wits out of anyone who has gotten the nerve to approach her.” Noor lifted his eyebrow at this. “Besides her physical attraction, she is intelligent, witty, opinionated, and wields her tongue like a whip when her ire is up. She is educated and carries a gun, all attributes conducive to ensuring she remains single, possibly for the rest of her life.”

“She sounds like my sister Lyric.”

Channing looked at him pointedly. “As I said, she doesn’t have a man, but she has me. Of course, I would rather walk over brimstones than admit it to her, but I’m overly fond of her, sassy mouth and all.”

Noor matched Channing’s gaze. “That suspiciously sounds like a warning for me to keep my distance.”

“You’re an intelligent man, Noor. I like that,” he said, and then spurned his horse into a gallop.

Noor appreciated his frankness. His ignored his threat. He felt the same about his sisters Lyric and Lovey. Lyric could handle herself, and if a man stepped out of line, he might be more apt to protect him instead of her. Lovey’s disposition was the complete opposite. Shy to a fault and gentle natured, Lovey tended to let men run over her. On occasion, he had to step in and handle relationship matters when an idiot foolishly tried to take advantage of Lovey. Fiercely protective, he found himself having to do such a lot lately, because she couldn’t or wouldn’t get it through her head all men weren’t gentlemen.

Chapter Seven

Channing said a lot about his sister. He had mentioned her attractiveness, but his description was generic and understated if the girl walking toward them was Allura. He tried damned hard not to be rude, but he gawked shamelessly at the statuesque female with the long, almost mannish, stride, except there was nothing male about the woman.

She was splendidly feminine, voluptuous, a sight of lushness he couldn’t ignore. He gazed at the lovely with a practiced eye, appreciating the swell of her breast visible from the delicate cream blouse she wore and the hip hugging dove blue skirt sweeping the ground with her movements.

She was a vision of beauty. Her features were alluring and entrancing, magnified by the flawless skin and curvaceous body enclosed in the corseted outfit that accentuated her full breasts and flaring hips. He found himself unconsciously salivating at the thought of running his hands over the satiny skin and slender neckline. It was all he could do to remain mounted.

Her complexion, dulcet and thrice kissed by the sun, glistened and lured his thoughts in a salacious direction of wanting to touch her. Her exotic eyes, liquid pools of dark brown and gold with hints of green striations, were seductively sinful. Her full heart-shaped lips were definitely a plus, and appeared made to be devoured. Hell, he wanted to kiss her now but felt Channing glaring at him. Not that he gave a damn, but etiquette required he show some semblance of decorum.

She stepped up to them, and the fragrance of sunshine, wildflowers, and feminine essence wafted by his nose. Her unique sight and scent complemented her. And when she smiled, a sense of warmth spread through him that left him feeling slightly enchanted.

Noor leaned over toward Channing, his eyes focused on the woman, and inquired, “Is this your sister?”

“Yes, she is,” Channing said, tight-lipped and possessively.

“She is stunning,” he murmured.

Channing gave him a scolding look. “Don’t forget what I told you, Noor.”

“My memory is excellent,” he said softly as Allura moved closer. There was an instant when their eyes collided and the heat of their gazes spiked the temperature to sweltering. “Are you going to introduce us?” Channing glared at Noor, clearly displeased. He ignored him. “I’m Noor Rynoir, and you must be Allura.”

“Noor,” Channing said, his lips pinched tight.

Allura smiled and waved her hand dismissively. Her voice was husky and as appealing as the package, he noticed. “Forgive Channing for being rude. I’m afraid he can’t help himself.” She held out her slender fingers, which he enclosed in his own and noticed her skin was as hot as his blood. “I’m Allura, Mr. Rynoir, welcome to our home.”

He knew he held her hand longer than necessary. He forced himself to relinquish the softness. “Please, call me Noor. It’s a pleasure to meet you,” he said, low and throaty.

His tone denoted his interest, and he could tell she felt it, too, because Allura’s cheeks turned rosy. Good. He wasn’t the only one besotted.

“Will you be staying for dinner?”

“If he behaves,” Channing said, giving Noor the evil eye.

Allura laughed and tossed back a mane of blue-black hair that shimmered and sparkled in the sun like molten oil. “Channing thinks he is my chaperone, even though I’m well beyond the age for him to coddle me.”

Channing scowled. “Allura, behave.”

“Channing, you must stop interfering in my affairs. Goodness, I do not need your consent to make inquiries or speak to a man.” She smiled prettily at Noor. “I have long since been of age not to require a mother hen,” she said, and flashed a teasing smile at Channing.

It was insane, but he felt a sense of jealousy Channing received her beguiling smile. She was his sister, after all. Everything he thought and ached to do with the treasure flooded him with untamed sensations, leaving him feeling slightly off balance. He had never been affected so by a woman.

“Exactly how old are you, if you don’t mind me asking?”

“That is none of your business,” Channing bit.

“The question was directed to Allura,” he said mildly.

Channing gave him a gimlet-eyed stare. “Are we going to have a problem here?”

“Not if you don’t start any trouble,” Noor said.

Channing blew air through his nostrils, which flared and flattened against his face.

Allura threw up her arms. “I swear, you are much too overbearing…and rude. You bring a guest to our home and threaten him, of all things. How rude, Channing.”

“He doesn’t scare me, but thanks for your consideration.”

“That’s it. Maybe one day you will learn your lesson.” Channing growled, dismounted, and stormed away.

“What did he mean by that?” Noor asked and jumped down from his horse.

“Channing is not known for his even temper.”

He noticed she didn’t answer the question, but he gave her a pass. At this moment, with the way she looked at him, yielding and hot, he would have given her the galaxy served on a jewel-encrusted platter, with the stars and moons. “Neither am I, but that is neither here nor there.”

“What does that mean?”

“Maybe you had better heed your brother’s advice.” Sanity suddenly surfaced and left him realizing he had pushed Channing’s generosity to the point of rudeness. No matter he had saved his life. He didn’t owe him full access to his sister. That, and the upbringing his mother had drilled into all of his siblings, which required he act the consummate gentlemen and respect he was in Channing’s home, graciously invited, and therefore shouldn’t take advantage of the situation by fucking his sister.

Allura lifted her dimpled chin. “Channing doesn’t tell me what to do. I do as I please. I’m not a child but a woman,” she said in a brisk tone.

She looked damned kissable. Noor focused on her forehead to throttle the urgency he felt to toss her over his shoulder, find the nearest bed, and lose himself in delirium of slating the undeniable lust she ignited in him.

He smiled fractionally and captured her chin between his fingers. “Trust me. I couldn’t mistake you for a child. However, that doesn’t mean one shouldn’t act immature without knowing who they are dealing with.” Allura frowned. He brushed her lips with his thumb. “I meant that in the most positive way, no offense intended. You are a delight. I won’t lie and say I’m not interested, but my mother would be greatly displeased to know I offended a man in his own home.” He stepped back to break the trance between them. It didn’t help.

The door to the house swung open and banged against the wall. Channing stepped out and glared at them like gloom and doom. “Do you two intend to come inside?”

Noor moved back and motioned for her to precede him. He watched her nicely rounded butt as she walked toward the front porch, keenly aware it was going to take more restraint than he had to keep his hands off her.

Currently, it seemed an impossible feat. Already, Allura made him feel like an adolescent about to have sex for the first time, all giddy and anxious, when he should focus on his normal method of operation when he wanted a woman. Casual tryst was his forte, nothing more or less, especially while he was on a mission. Allura would help to pass the time. The thought of spending countless days in her bed was highly attractive and definitely a plus, considering the harebrained assignment he had agreed to. Unfortunately, that meant disrespecting Channing, a notion offensive to him, which meant Allura was off limits.

Chapter Eight

Allura completely ignored Channing’s mood as she walked beside Noor and entered the drawing room. How could she concentrate on his temper-tantrum and give him any consideration when the totality of her attention remained absorbed in Noor?

She acted embarrassingly, as if she hadn’t been reared to be a lady, let alone seen a handsome man before. Goodness, she practically threw herself at Noor’s feet. Not as if she could help herself.

My lord, look at him, Allura thought, snatching a quick glimpse.

He was brute masculinity, tall and strikingly handsome with powerful, overtly male features. From the few minutes she experienced his persona, he exuded charm and indulgence on the outside, just like Channing. When internally it was innate, her brother could be rapacious in nature when it suited him, and lord knows what effect it had on women. She’d seen Channing in action, and the women simply couldn’t resist him. Even when it was clear they should keep a wide berth from his philandering ways, foolish women flocked to the possibility of engaging with mysterious danger. She supposed they experienced what she did. An odd sensation of exhilaration surfaced and left her tingling at the possibility Noor might be more than a handful. Perhaps the ennui of her life on the ranch and small town environment made her susceptible to a new challenge. Maybe her wits suddenly faded, because Noor was potency personified.

With the way he looked at her, propriety required she have the decency to pretend his thorough but rude assessment perturbed her. Instead, she experienced a wave of infused heat with the examination reflected in his silvery bright eyes with hints of gunmetal flickering in the irises. His look was purely arousing. And for the life of her, she couldn’t stop staring at him as audaciously as he captured her attention, as effectively as a hypnotist did.

Where she lived, who she was, made her keenly aware at a young age dangers existed from beast and man alike. The knowledge should have been innate and disallowed her imagination to swirl dangerously as an undertow, a current of rampant sexual emotions. Calm down, she warned herself. There was no sense in working herself into a tizzy over a man, for god’s sake. A terribly beautiful, handsome devil, she thought, staring at Noor shamelessly before he shifted his attention to her direction and his gaze locked on her for a small heated moment, leaving Allura to blush.

Since when did she blush like a schoolgirl?

Why couldn’t she keep her eyes off Noor?

As if Channing could break the spell of Noor, she hurried to his side. Okay, she also must placate Channing for her earlier misconduct, as well. Her brother’s intention was positive. An inherent need to protect her drove his actions. Channing loved her, although, if questioned, he would rather be castrated than admit such aloud. The days she felt impish, she pestered him endlessly until he confessed his love, and then she would spend the entire day goading him about the confession. It was something siblings did to each other.

She loved Channing, too, even during his most impossible moments, because she knew why he acted overly protective of her.

“You needn’t give me a testy look as if you are scolding a child,” she said, silkily aware she was the cause for his mood.

“You, young lady, behave, or mother will get a report her diligent efforts to rear a lady were wasted on you,” Channing said. “I mean it, Allura, no kidding around.”

Allura put her hands on her hips and lifted her chin higher. “For the love of god, sometimes I think you have more maternal instincts than a chaperone. By the way, you are not, at least not of me, so please do settle down.”

Channing gave her a gimlet-eyed scowl.

She couldn’t help but smile. She touched his arm delicately and leaned into him closer. “I’m still a virgin and intend to stay innocent until I’m married or an interesting opportunity presents itself.”