“He did it for Allura.” Channing focused on the gentle sway of hips and outline of full breasts beneath the form fitting one-piece outfit she wore. And he thought the saloon girls wearing corsets, netted stockings, and showing cleavage were provocative. It amused him that he felt more than a twinge of arousal at a fully dressed woman.
He could relate to eyeing a beautiful woman. All the other nonsense she talked about was way over his head and too farfetched for him to think about now.
When Pulura stepped up to the bed within reaching distance, he captured her chin and caressed the dewy flesh with his thumb. Her skin was as smooth-textured and satiny to the touch. He outlined her lips, slowly dragging his finger over the plumpness, and savored the warm moistness. She was real. The most vivid dream could not do justice to the feel of her.
“It’s eerie, but I believe you are genuine,” he said quietly and continued to study her features with an eye of an artist. He tried to detect one blemish or nuance that revealed she was a figment of imagination. Nothing.
She laid her hand over his, and heat seeped into his body. She moved closer, and he was able to catch a whiff of her fragrance that reminded him of a breeze of violets. Patting his hand affectionately, she said, “I know what I have told you has overwhelmed you. If I were you, attempting to dissect or reason through the details would be the last thing on my mind. For now, focus on the fact that you are alive and safe.”
Out of everything, what she just said made the most sense.
“You know what I need right now? A rare steak, potatoes, sweet beets, and plenty of honey buttered biscuits. And, oh, a shot of whiskey or two help clear my head.”
“Noor said you were demanding. Is that food?” Her smile was generous.
“Please,” he said softly.
When she started talking into the air—a voice filtered from nowhere responded—he lapsed back into believing he wasn’t on a planet called Magnus with a gorgeous woman attending him. Instead, he must be in his room, three sheets to the wind, drunk and euphoric from overindulgence of whiskey and opium.
It was a damned decent dream. Too bad Pulura wasn’t authentic. Come morning when he awakened, the raven-haired, emerald-eyed creature, the prettiest female he’d ever seen, would be history. His sudden thought was ludicrous, and sadly, he was going to miss her.
Pulura finished ordering his food before she faced Channing again. “I see doubt has resurfaced.”
“I would be lying if I said no.”
“Maybe after you have eaten and had time to ponder matters, you will feel better and be able to accept the truth.” She frowned. “I feel a bit contrite that perhaps I shouldn’t have given you too much information so fast, but fed you small morsels first to help you analyze matters.” Pulura tapped her fingertip against her cheek. She glanced at Channing. “I could do memory elimination, if that would help, if I have made a blunder.”
“Sunshine, I can speculate about what that means. If I have a say so, my vote is no.”
“There is also a technique called memory implantation that would help you accept—oh!”
He could waddle around in dismay or settle the morass of thoughts clouding his mind by scientific validation. His validation. Channing kissed her, effectively silencing any more of what he called ridiculous remedies for his dream state. He withdrew slightly and took a breath as he stared into liquid pools of sea green. He ran his fingers through her hair. “God, you are sweet, and the most beautiful woman I know,” he whispered.
Pulura blushed. She diverted her eyes to stare at his wide shoulders.
He lifted her chin and brushed his lips over the very real very alive flesh for another taste. Then he released her, saw her expression, and said, “Do not tell me you are shy about a kiss?” Pulura blushed more, all rosy cheeked. “How refreshingly adorable you are.”
“I shouldn’t have let you do that.”
Channing’s eyebrows rose. “Why? Are you married?” he asked casually, knowing that an affirmative reply didn’t necessarily eliminate the idea of pursuing her. In his current mindset, all aroused and feeling randy, a pack of ravenous wolves wouldn’t have been a deterrent. Something about being on death’s door made a man reconsider the important things in life. Perhaps, the saying “life is short” suddenly took a new meaning.
“I’m a widow.”
“I’m sorry for your loss.” He wasn’t in the least, but under the circumstances, he felt it was the courteous thing to say. His mother would be proud, for all her consistent tutelage on the proper behavior of gentlemen wasn’t wasted on him. None withstanding, the notion that he now had free range to get the lovely in bed infused a fresh wanting to surface.
Consumed in the lush, wondrous feel of her mouth, Channing slanted his head for better access and lost himself in the delicious sweetness that filled his mouth when Pulura slipped her tongue between his lips. He groaned, deepened the connection, and orchestrated the feverish whipping of tongues into a wicked tango until forced to surface for air. Reluctantly, he pulled away from Pulura.
Channing’s eyes twinkled mischievously. “If I’m dreaming…don’t wake me.” He winked at Pulura.
* * * *
This was insane. Never in her wildest imagination had Pulura lost control and acted promiscuous enough to allow a complete stranger to kiss her. She had tossed caution aside and with no hesitation, no regrets, succumbed to the extremely handsome allure Channing possessed. In actuality, she secretly looked forward to her next intimate encounter with the shamelessly charming Channing Deverill.
There was something about him. Perhaps, after the proper and intensely boring men she dated after her husband’s tragic premature death, the strikingly handsome Channing elicited more than a general interest, and that was surprising. Roguish tendencies never appealed to her. Growing up with her brother Xander, who practiced indiscriminate democracy with women, she could recognize a skilled womanizer at first sighting. Normally, she would run for cover. Knowing this, she remained grossly lured by Channing’s sexual appeal, to the point that she labeled him hypnotic.
Or maybe she suffered from what her sister-in-law, Lana, politely referred to as sexual frustration. Struck with an inexplicable surge of desire, Pulura experienced a rush of heat in examining his chiseled physic, kissable lips, and sultry brown eyes, which made promises she reasoned he could unequivocally back up. He was devilishly delectable.
In hindsight, allowing the kiss was terrible. Too late. Her judgment was incorrigible, and there was nothing she could do about it now. And as habit, she refused to fret over the minor lapse that probably had sealed her fate. Channing’s expression said it all—a kiss was not enough.
“I’m not easy,” she blurted. Why she felt it necessary to say that was beyond her. Immaturely, she made more out of what happened and foolishly wished she kept her mouth shut.
Channing lifted an eyebrow. “The thought never crossed my mind.”
“I, ah, just wanted to make that clear.” Pulura studied the floor.
The left corner of Channing’s mouth curled. Amusement flashed in his eyes. “You, we, were impulsive. I don’t think its cause for embarrassment. Are you uncomfortable? I apologize profusely if you are, Pulura, but with everything whirling inside my head, I needed to decompress and slip back into my comfort zone.” He grinned brashly. “Kissing a beautiful woman does that for me.”
“So you make it a habit of kissing strangers?”
“Do you?”
“I asked first.”
“Well, not exactly.”
“What does that mean?”
“Sometimes.” He hesitated. “Occasionally, I bypass foreplay.”
Xander warned her about men like Channing Deverill. Yet, she hadn’t taken flight. Perhaps she was feeling an uncontrollable desire to “walk on the wild side,” as Lana suggested. She was a novice, and the art of flirtation unfamiliar. It seemed silly to test the waters with a connoisseur like Channing.
“Not this time?”
Channing smiled wolfishly. “Sunshine, someone as exquisite as you will require thorough loving. I hope that sounds sufficient?” he said, low and husky.
Pulura cheeks flamed. Goodness, he had to be half her age or younger. What was she doing?
As if he read her thoughts, Channing said, “How old are you?”
She gave him a beguiling smile. “Do you have a specific requirement?”
“Actually, I’m quite liberal. ‘Old enough’ is acceptable. However, I’m trying to figure out if Noor or any other of your family members will take exception if we were to have an interlude.”
“I’m not a virgin and don’t need anyone’s permission to be with you.”
“Does that mean Noor won’t come after me?”
“I’m afraid Noor is the least of your worries. Though I’m past the age of consent, my brother Xander is overly protective. If you want, I could dispense with the formalities and inform him you want to have relations with me. Xander will balk…so will my nephews, but they will respect my wishes.” She did hesitate. “Mind you, to a certain extent.”
“I will need to watch my back.” Channing said, blasé and clearly unconcerned. Male arrogance showed on his face, an expression she was all too familiar with, having an overbearing brother and four nephews who were hell-bent on saving her from another disastrous relationship. Her first husband had been cruel, unkind, and involved with underhanded dealings that cost him his life. She didn’t intend to make the same mistake twice.
She just felt Channing was different. “Well, your meal should be here shortly. Do you require assistance or can you manage alone?”
“I’m considering lying to keep your company.”
“You needn’t do that. You simply have to ask.”
“Will you always be this tolerant of my wishes?”
Pulura smiled. “We shall see.”
“You are damned straight I will.”
Channing crocked his finger and beckoned her closer. Pulura went willingly. He said, “I’m starting to feel like I’m daydreaming again. I think I need another dose of reality.”
Pulura wrapped her arms around his neck and eased her body against Channing. “You are a horrible liar. I believe you just want to kiss me again. I don’t mind.”
“Sunshine, we are going to get along perfectly.”
Chapter Twenty-five
Allura stopped pacing when the door to her room slid open and Channing walked inside. Unable to stop, a flood of tears and sobs escaped as she ran over and threw her arms around her brother. She hugged him close, so tight, she felt pleasantly suffocated.
Channing held Allura. He rocked her soothingly, whispering softly. “I’m happy to see you, too, sis.” He kissed the top of her head.
“I thought”, she said, sniffling, “oh, god, I thought the worst.”
Channing stepped back. “See, I’m alive and well. Don’t work yourself into a tizzy over me.”
Allura wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. “You should have thought about that when you rode off after Matt Graham. The vermin.” She seethed.
Channing grinned. “Ah, that is my sis. Already back to her old ridiculing self. Thank god.” He planted an affectionate kiss on Allura’s cheek. “I didn’t go after Matt Graham, but Caroline sent a letter to the ranch and informed me she was going to make a huge and scandalous stink about the illegitimate child she claims to carry to anyone who would listen. And you know all the townspeople’s ears would bend to hear it. She intended to accuse me publicly of getting her in a delicate condition and shirking my duties, if that isn’t gauche. With my history of flagrant behavior and Matt Graham’s money and influence, you know the highfalutin’ socialites would snub their noses at Mother. The two-faced ones would be condescending behind Mother’s back, the bolder outright, and then there would be those gossip leeches who would see any opportunity to bring up the humiliating hearsay consistently. I didn’t want Mother, you, or Father in the middle of that. I went to have it out with Caroline and get the distasteful encounter over with as silently as possible.”
“You don’t think Matt Graham was responsible for what happened to you?”
Channing shrugged. “I can’t honestly blame him, sis. They ambushed me and before I knew it, shots rang out and I was flat on my back. I never saw it coming and honestly I don’t remember too much of what happened.”
Allura fumed with fury. Tears brightened her eyes. “Regardless, they are cowardly, beastly animals, and I pray they burn in hell.”
“Noor didn’t tell you I was alive?”
“He did, but, right now, I’m don’t trust anything Noor has to say. In fact, I refused to speak to him and haven’t in the last few days. He’s livid. I don’t care. Do you know he believes himself innocent? Ha,” Allura said. She looked at Channing. “He saved your life, and I’m grateful, but, by bringing me here to this place, he has put both our lives in jeopardy, so should I really thank him? My God, what are mother and father thinking about our sudden disappearance? Are they safe? Did Noor think about them when he whisked us away? He is irrational, selfish, and I’m not giving him an inch.”
“Sis, you aren’t being fair to Noor. Remember he saved my life twice. Though I’m still trying to understand the unexplainable, being in this weird place, and everything that has happened, Noor deserves more credit.”
She hated when Channing was right. That didn’t mean she was ready to forgive Noor. “He almost got me killed.” Allura glanced at Channing nervously, sucked in her bottom lip. Then she said, “I’m married to a horrible man from this planet called Oridus who believes I can save the galaxy or something insane like that if I birth him a son. A child, mind you, he intends to murder.” She shook her head unbelievingly. “The man is a maniac…he tried to rape me. Maybe he did,” she whispered.
“What?” Channing said between clenched teeth.
“I may have my facts confused. Everything happened so fast, but I know if it weren’t for Noor, I wouldn’t be in this terrible nightmare to begin with if he’d been honest with me from the beginning. He should have told me why he was in Legend from the beginning instead of allowing me to be thrust into this nightmare unprepared.”
“I’m still stuck on the married part, sis, and that you were treated unkind.”
“I was drugged, raped, abused, and shot…” She waved her hand wildly. She sniffled. “I want to go home, Channing.”
That seemed like a simple request.
Chapter Twenty-six
Noor heard Channing’s footsteps and imagined his purposeful long stride as he walked over the plush carpet, headed in his direction. Coming to his feet, he finished off his drink, ran his fingers through his hair, and waited. Eventually he knew Channing would get around to him, not that he expected a warm welcome. Fighting it out with Channing about the situation he put his sister in had to be addressed, and he was sure Allura’s brother would handle the matter in his usual manner.
He couldn’t really blame Channing. If circumstances were reversed, he would kick ass first and ask questions later. That didn’t mean he was in the mindset to entertain Channing’s bullshit. Allura hadn’t spoken to him in days—ten days to be exact. And her stubborn, immature refusal to listen to reason had worn his nerves thin. He missed her, too. Out of everything, that is what piqued him the most because he couldn’t get his hands on the fiery piece and shake some sense into her. Of course, nothing too physical, he knew. The idea of hurting Allura again, in any kind of manner, was abhorrent to him. The intent was to keep her quiet and still for one minute so he could explain things thoroughly, which meant he might have to sit on her for that. Noor frowned. Allura had a more volatile temper than Channing did, and for that very reason, he hadn’t pushed the issue of them having it out for the last time.
His patience was as unstable as Allura’s temperament. He glanced at the time dial on the wall. She had two hours to come around and figure out he wasn’t always going to dance to her tune. If not, damn Channing and what anybod
y else thought, the sassy-mouthed, obstinate Ms. Allura Deverill would accept his apology if he had to implant it in her brain.
Channing bound into the room. “Give me one reason why I shouldn’t call you out.”
“I have no idea what that means.”
Channing cursed beneath his breath. “My sister is miserable, and I can’t rightfully blame her after everything she told me. You tricked her into coming here and put her in the hands of some lunatic who hurt her, all for the sake of saving some damned planet. My sister is not a pawn on a chessboard you can move around to suit your purpose. Whatever insane circumstances your people are in, we have nothing to do with it. I’m taking my sister home.”
“No,” he said empathetically.
“What the hell do you mean, no?”
“One, my government will not authorize it. Secondly, even if you return to Texas, Allura won’t be safe. Emperor Agaci will never stop coming after Allura until he secures her permanently or she is dead. If I can help it, she will not be in either predicament, as long as I breathe. That means she must stay with me. I can keep her protected.”
Channing snorted. “You haven’t done a good job of it so far. Why should I trust you now?”
Noor grit his teeth to hold his temper. He said quietly, “You don’t really have a choice.”
Channing shot Noor a testy glance. “The hell if I don’t.”
Noor owed Channing an explanation. That aside, he grew increasingly intolerant of having to convince him he was the best chance Allura had to survive. “I had no idea my government intended to deliver Allura into the emperor’s hands to save their butts until we arrived. My superior did not divulge that piece of information. The details of my assignment were to find, secure, and bring Allura back to Sanguine. It was to protect your sister from Emperor Agaci. She is the only surviving person in the Deverill lineage who could produce an heir and dethrone the bastard. Allura was a valuable asset to my government. Unfortunately, they chose to use her to further their political aspirations and not stop the emperor as I first believed.
Pure Desire [Pure 3] (Siren Publishing Allure) Page 19