Pure Desire [Pure 3] (Siren Publishing Allure) (52 page)

“Little bitch!” Theopolis snarled, swung around, and backhanded her across the face.

Allura fell backward and hit the ground.

The sound was so unnerving that Allura thought an animal was nearby, before realizing the audible shrillness came from Noor. She stared, immobilized, having never witnessed such fury, as Noor stalked up to Theopolis and head butted him. The emperor buckled. Noor grabbed him by the neck, and his arms bulged under the exertion as he applied pressure and continued to squeeze him in a boa constrictor grip.

Noor didn’t stop, not even when Theopolis’s arms dropped limply to his sides. He kept the firm hold and leaned in and spoke with a dulcet murmur in his ear, saying, “You can fuck with the world if you want to, you bastard. I don’t give a damn. But you put your hands on my wife and child, and that was your most fatal mistake.” He jerked upward and twisted, and a sick crack sounded. Theopolis’s head lolled to the side. Noor stepped back, raised his foot, and shoved him over.

Allura stood, ready to go to him, and then Noor did the damnest thing. She blinked and watched unbelieving as he withdrew a Colt, pressed it against Theopolis’s forehead, and fired until the gun was empty.

“You had a gun all this time?”

“You have taught me well. Always be prepared,” Noor said, scanning her from head to toe to ensure she was unharmed.

Allura smiled, shaking her head in disbelief. Tears brightened her eyes. She spoke quietly. “Why didn’t you just shoot the idiot?”

“That would have taken the fun out of it. I wanted to make the bastard suffer.”

“You scared me to death, if you must know.”

Noor’s brow lifted marginally. He kept his eyes on her as she walked slowly toward him, and then stopped when her feet touched his boots. “Why?”

“Fighting him…you could have been killed.”

“The thought never crossed my mind.”

Allura put her hands on her hips. “You know, I should shoot you for scaring me to death.”

“Sweetie, now why would you want to do that, when all I can think about is holding, hugging, and kissing you for eternity?” He swooped down for a kiss and brushed her lips, savoring the flavor before letting go. He touched her bruised lip. “I’m sorry I didn’t arrive sooner.”

Allura raised on her tiptoes. Noor bowed down to her. She wrapped her arms around his neck and whispered, “Is that all you intend to do to me…forever?”

Noor scoffed, grinning. “Hell no, but given the horrible experience you just went though, it seemed the gentlemanly thing to say.”

She smiled sweetly. “What if I tell you I don’t need a gentleman right now?”

“What do you desire?” he said ultrasoft.

“I want loving, loving, and more loving.”

“You mean that emotionally or physically?”

“I’m your greedy vixen, remember? Both.”

Noor caressed her cheek with his fingertips and kissed her forehead affectionately. Then he stared into her eyes and said, “Sweetie, I can handle that. It would be my pleasure.”

Allura gazed into his eyes endearingly. “I never doubted it for a minute. I would like for you to take me and our son home, now.”

Noor walked over and picked up Zephyr from the grassy mound where he slept peacefully. He kissed him gently, and then went to Allura and enclosed her hands in his. They strolled casually toward his horse, and then he stopped and looked at her. “If you want to stay in Legend, we can remain here.”

“What makes you think that is what I want?”

“You asked me to take you home.”

“You would give up your life and stay in Legend for me?”

“I love you.” No further explanation was needed.

Allura touched his cheek gingerly and said, “My home is where my heart is, and that is with you, Noor. I love you. Here, Magnus, wherever you reside is where I will be the happiest.”

Epilogue

She was something. Noor lounged in his chair and watched Allura demonstrate how she could handle a pistol with the expertise he did his stunner—maybe better. She did some fancy maneuvers, swirling the gun between her fingers before she holstered the weapon in the leather band around her waist she insisted on wearing.

The Rynoirs clapped, especially the women, who were proud of her ability, while the men looked with raised eyebrows and grins on their faces at Noor’s grim features.

“She refuses to move without it,” he said, thinking of the hour-long argument they had about her and the penance for carrying a gun on her person. Of course, Allura had won, he thought with a measure of amusement. His wife did tend to get her way more and more lately.

Vale leaned over and whispered, “Eventually you will get used to it. Being in love is not a horrible thing. Before I met Allie, I didn’t believe love existed.” He patted Noor on the shoulder.

Noor shot him a glance. He understood the matrimonial advice his brother gave because since he married Allie, Vale danced to her tune and gave her abject consideration and allowed her more advantage than he thought his brother was capable of conceding to a woman. He smiled too damn much, too. Vale was genuinely happy. Possibly as happy as him, but he doubted it.

His eyes flickered to his father, who had gained his mother’s ear. He couldn’t hear what they discussed, but his mother blushed girlishly and even giggled while stroking his father’s hand soothingly…suggestively. He wondered how long his father would continue his politeness before he made apologies and excuses and whisked them away to a more private venue within the vast gardens that surrounded their property. With all the landscape around them, his parents could get lost forever. Noor grinned. His parents were still in love after all these years and still remained in sexual heat for each other—Angel’s words, not his. That was a good sign he hoped to mimic in his own marriage.

Allura chatted casually with his sisters, Lyric and Lovey. A curious bee, Lyric had to examine the weapon, test the weight in her hands, and ask Allura to show her how to shoot it. They disappeared into the dense forest. He heard quick pops and Lyric’s gleeful cheers. Lyric and Allura were going to get along just fine.

Lovey remained behind and engaged Aris in conversation. In her quiet demeanor, she preferred adventure that didn’t involve weapons and no danger. She was cautious, if nothing else. It concerned the family how reticent she was, almost bordering on boring, because she hid behind her weight issues—all in her mind—using it as a shield to her heart. The thought was ludicrous because she was as stunning as her twin Lyric, but hadn’t realized that yet. She kept herself in a tight cocoon and refused to let anyone in, especially men. There weren’t a slew of men beating a path to her door, but he knew if Lovey branched out a little more that would change.

“Sorry we’re late,” Channing announced.

All eyes turned to him and Pulura, who was by his side. He had never seen his aunt beam so. Channing was the cause, and they had announced their intention to wed soon. He looked at his aunt’s protruding belly, thinking the sooner, the better.

“What did we miss?” Channing asked and sat down. He eyed the array of food spread out in picnic style like it was gold. He started piling edibles on his plate as if hadn’t eaten in weeks, and only looked up after he stacked a plate high with goodies. Pulura suggested he might want to get another dish to hold all the contents. “I will get a second plate when I start on dessert.” He plucked a fruit treat and fed Pulura.

Noor grinned. Channing was smitten. Something he denied endlessly but his actions were goofy when Pulura was about. That was good. His aunt deserved happiness after her creep of a husband.

Pulura said, “You just ate thirty minutes ago.”

“Yes, I did, and my appetite has returned, and I’m ravenous. You want me to allude as to why, sunshine?” Pulura blushed. She put a croissant in his mouth to keep him quiet.

Everybody laughed.

It didn’t stop Channing. Between bites, he said, “I’m still trying to wrap my head around Matt Graham. After all this time, I thought he was the enemy.” He shook his head. “Damn, if things aren’t what they seemed.”

“He was trying to protect his children,” Allura said, returning with Lyric.

He noticed she had given Lyric her gun, which seemed to make Lyric’s husband Solomon sour. It was a love and hate relationship between his sister and Solomon. Because they morphed between fire and ice, Noor couldn’t be sure what status their marriage was in now. If he wanted, he could hazard a guess. Lyric smiled happily, fingering the gun while Solomon seemed to groan inwardly. Lyric was twice as hotheaded as Allura and surpassed her stubbornness with a temper that rivaled all the Rynoir males.

Solomon shifted, stretched his long longs on the blanket, rested on his elbows, and watched Lyric. “Mia Leah, maybe you shouldn’t carry that weapon until you have been trained properly.”

Allura looked at Solomon. “Oh, she is very good already. A natural. She hit each target with accuracy.”

“That is what worries me,” Solomon said.

“You just have to be concerned if she wears the belt to bed,” Angel said, smoothing a chuckle.

“She will not wear it to bed or anywhere,” Solomon interjected, giving Lyric the eye.

True to his sister’s form, she challenged Solomon with a direct stare. “I will decide that, Solomon.”

Noor wondered if a storm was brewing between them. It was constant, as Lyric refused to allow her husband to be a man, and yet, Solomon remained determined to tame her. Sometimes it was difficult to figure out who was winning. If he had to bet, Solomon was ahead.

Silkily smooth, Solomon said, “Lyric.” He waited for her to face him. “The decision is made. Now, come here.” Lyric arched a brow. “Please,” Solomon sounded indulgent but not tolerant if she chose to battle. Lyric hesitated a minute. Her and Solomon stared each other down, and then she went to her husband and sat down beside him. Solomon wrapped his arm around her waist, pulled her close, and whispered in her ear. Whatever Solomon said, and Noor could only speculate, Lyric leaned into her husband’s arms contently.

Solomon had won another round.

Solomon asked, “I’m still confused how Caroline survived the birth of the cretin.”

“Me, too,” Allura said, cuddling in Noor’s arms.

His mother had medical knowledge, but she had given up the practice a long time ago. Pulura explained. “After Noor told me what happened, I did some research. Interspecies births are not uncommon with Txtrca now that their race is starting to intermingle with other species. Their scientists developed a method that allows them to sedate the woman almost until she is unconscious. Then they inject her with a formula of live molecules, similar to the fetus’s chemistry, so there isn’t any rejection or possibility of the child attacking the host. After mother and child are asleep, they surgically remove the child and incubate it.

Aris said, “What happened to the baby?”

Noor said, “I found a family who was willing to foster the child.”

“Remember Noor told us about Dolunas and his son that the emperor had kidnapped? He convinced Dolunas’s mother to take the baby. I met Nigilia. She is a kindhearted, sweet woman and didn’t seem to have any qualms about caring for the emperor’s baby. She already had another interspecies girl she was raising, so it wasn’t an issue. Noor made it very lucrative for her as well. Nigilia and her children will want for nothing.”

“It was the least I could do,” Noor said.

“That is because you are a wonderful man.” Allura kissed Noor.

Angel groaned, rolling his eyes. “Noor? Wonderful?” he scoffed.

Allura laughed, facing Angel. “I cannot wait until you find a woman who will sweep you off your feet as Noor did me,” she teased.

“Well, I’m afraid you will have to live forever,” Angel uttered. He grabbed an iced beer and swallowed it down in three gulps. “This is good stuff and I can’t get enough of the taste. Thanks to Migen, I acquired several cases I’m hording.” Everybody looked at Angel. “What?”

Noor said, “One day your time will come, and I can’t wait to witness you fall for a woman.”

Angel stared at the Noor. “I believe Texans would say ‘when pigs fly.’”

“On my travels I have seen stranger things happen.” Solomon grinned.

Allura announced, “Did Noor tell you all he has taken an office position? He is over the Interplanetary Destination Division…it’s a very good position.”

“And boring as hell,” Angel said. He glanced at Noor. “You think you will like sitting behind a desk all day when you are accustomed to being in action?”

“We shall see.”

“I’m very excited. It will allow us to return and visit my parents whenever we want to,” Allura said.

“Sweetie, I told you it doesn’t work like that.”

“You will be in charge. Of course you can do as you please.”

“With a substantial amount of rules and regulations,” Noor said.

Allura didn’t seem dissuaded. “I have confidence in you.”

Tier Rynoir paid attention. “I would be damned interested in visiting your home, Allura. I consider myself a historian, but being able to see the past without going through the numerous files sounds exciting.”