Collecting Allure (Stand-Alone Tales Book 9) Read online

  He was surprised. “You would defy me?”

  “I will defer the answer until I am comfortable with it.”

  She kept eating and drank the water that was in her goblet. “So, what were you thinking about this morning?”

  “The seasons, the yield of fruit on the far side of the continent, and the sunlight on your hair.” He leaned back in his chair. “The tilt of your jaw as you thought, and the small smile as you answered your own question.”

  She swallowed. “So, you really were watching, huh?”

  “Yes. That is why you are here—to be observed.”

  She grimaced. “Suddenly, the weird voyeurism aspect is hitting home.”

  He paused and laughed. When he stopped laughing, he leaned forward. “I hadn’t considered that aspect to it. I was merely observing. Thank you, it will now direct my afternoon’s activities.”

  She quickly ate the rest of her meal and set her utensils down. She finished her water and folded her hands in her lap.

  “You now have six hours to do as you will. A bot will try and come to you, but if not, a chime will ring out from the tower. You will have twenty minutes, and then, I will come for you. There will be a penalty. Understood?”

  He was smiling pleasantly, but his tendrils were writhing in a sinister dance.

  “Uh, understood.”

  “Good. Have a pleasant afternoon.”

  She got up, curtsied, and walked from the room. This time, she went back to her quarters and changed into the bodysuit. She was not going to get stuck sprinting through the shrubs again.

  She found the library. Or rather, the first of five rooms that house books, scrolls, data crystals, tables, samples from other worlds. She took three books in a language that she could read, and she went out into the garden to settle on one of the benches and enjoy the afternoon light.

  She read the tales of her childhood, as spoken by races on other worlds. She loved that part of being a defender, seeing new worlds and learning new cultures. Defending colonists who were trying to stamp out some of those cultures was not a part that she loved.

  Allura went through the first book and sighed happily. The sun was bright, so she opened the neckline of her suit. She checked the position of the sun and guessed that she had another hour before she had to head inside.

  She was reaching for the second book when strains of music ranged across the garden. Allura paused and looked up toward the balcony that she had been hoisted to earlier. The sound was coming from the open doors.

  She stared at the doors and then picked up the second book and started reading with a smile. When the chime rang out, she was caught by surprise.

  “Shit.” She gathered the books up and ran for the castle. She sprinted straight to her room and grabbed the first gown that came to hand. She wriggled out of her bodysuit and pulled the gown on, fluffing her breasts into position. The matching shoes fought her for a minute, but then, she slid through the halls and swung into the dining room.

  He didn’t turn from his position standing in the window, he merely said, “The books need to be returned to the library. Dinner will wait. You still have five minutes.”

  “You aren’t serious.”

  He turned and raised a brow. “Four minutes and forty seconds, or you will incur a penalty.”

  She whipped around and ran to her room, down a hall, up a set of stairs, and into the library. The books were set back on their shelves, in the correct order, and then, she hiked up her skirt and ran back to the dining room.

  He was seated at the table, and her meal was set in front of her chair. She was sweaty and panting, but she lowered her skirt, brushed it smooth, and then approached her chair. He held it out for her, and she sat as the chair was scooted in by the energy tendril.

  When she was seated, he said, “So, you owe me four minutes.”

  Allura swallowed. “Four minutes?”

  “Yes. To be spent in any way I choose.” He was looking at her with an intense focus that was disturbing in a not-unpleasant way.

  She was going to bite her lip, but he perked up, so instead, she folded her hands together. “What have you chosen?”

  “I am still deciding.” He smiled slightly.

  He unveiled her dinner, and she selected her favourites.

  “So, what were you reading?”

  She smiled and told him about the fairy tales of her childhood and how she had tried to start a collection of them that her father would bring home from his merchant travels.

  “So, you enjoy flights of fantasy?”

  She chuckled. “I do. When I was a child, I had a swing, and I would sit there for hours with a book clutched in my hands and my elbows trying to hold me steady.”

  “A swing?” He frowned.

  “Yeah, a structure or an object attached to a tree with two ropes suspending a platform that you sit on. The idea is that you sit and sway, and the middle ear imbalance is somewhat enjoyable.”

  “Interesting. I will have to research it.”

  She nodded and put her hands in her lap. The food and equipment disappeared.

  He smiled. “Well, you have survived your first day here. Any questions or comments?”

  “Um, no. Thank you.” She moved to stand up, and once she was engaged in her final curtsy of the night, he spoke.

  “There is the matter of the four minutes you owe me. I would rather get that settled this evening.”

  Her heart thudded in her chest as she looked at his serious expression. The glint of amusement was what really made her nervous.

  Chapter Four

  “Come here, Allura.” He beckoned to her, and the curls of energy around him moved restlessly, but nothing moved to grab her. He pivoted in his chair and beckoned to her.

  She stepped toward him and continued until she was almost to his knee. “Yes, Banor Lemian?”

  He patted his knee. “Please have a seat.”

  She blinked and moved to slowly sit down on his thigh.

  “I have decided that your penalty will be simple. A kiss.”

  Allura’s shoulders slumped in relief. A kiss was quick.

  “That must last for four minutes.”

  She paused. “What?”

  “A kiss that lasts for four minutes. It should be easy, should it not?”

  She swallowed. “Right. Easy.”

  He cocked his head. “You may start at any time, and the time begins when your lips touch mine, not before.”

  She looked at him, gauged the distance from her perch to his face, and she scowled. “Then, this placement won’t do.”

  Allura stood up, yanked her skirt up for slack, and she straddled him in the chair with her back straight, and now, their heads were at a manageable proximity.

  She slid her hands along the skin that wasn’t skin of his neck and locked her hands in his hair. She held him as she brushed her lips against his, her head tilted to avoid a collision.

  His lips didn’t move for a moment until she flicked the seam with her tongue. At that point, she gained his cooperation. He tilted his head, and his tongue slid against hers. The taste of him sent electricity through her. She deepened the kiss and continued the wet and rhythmic thrust and glide that was sending her body into a rampage. She shivered and wanted to plaster her body against his, but she continued the kiss until her lips were nearing numbness.

  She slowed and leaned back. He slid his hand into her hair. “One more minute.”

  She was going to chuckle, but he brought her back to him and pulled her tight against his chest. She was slightly embarrassed at the evidence of her erect nipples pressed against him, but either he pretended not to notice, or he was busy drowning her senses.

  The Others didn’t smell human, and they didn’t feel human, but they did smell and feel like something humans wanted to wrap themselves in. It was usually straying wives that let the humans know an Other was among them. The attacks followed shortly after.

/>   Now, having experienced a simple kiss, she understood the effect.

  When he released her, she was panting, and her skin was shining with sweat. She trembled and slowly backed away from him, using her willpower to stand up and step back. She gave him a slow curtsy, and she whispered, “Good evening, Banor Lemian.”

  “Good evening, Allura.”

  She backed a few more steps and walked toward the door, her thighs slipping as she walked. Her heart was still pounding when she reached her room, and she pressed her back to the door. He really knew how to kiss.

  The next morning, it was raining. She got up, showered, dressed, and headed down for breakfast.

  He was standing and looking out the window when she arrived. He looked... tighter.

  “Good morning, Banor Lemian.”

  He turned and smiled. “I thought you might avoid me after last night.”

  She blushed and shrugged. “I still need to eat.”

  He walked up behind her and held her chair for her, snugging her in. He took his own seat, and then, the food appeared.

  She blinked, and it appeared. “Will you ever explain how you do that?”

  He shook his head. “No.”

  She served herself and started breakfast. She was startlingly hungry. She bit her tongue and the inside of her cheek but kept eating without making a sound.

  He was watching her until she finished. Today, she consumed everything.

  “So, how are you feeling today, Allura?” There was an intimate note to his words.

  She looked up, and she knew that the blush was high on her cheeks. “I am fine. Well rested, too.”

  “No aches and pains?”

  Allura thought about it. “Surprisingly, no. The pain that I was experiencing seems to have dissipated.”

  “I have medical facilities available if you would like a scan. It is raining out, so there is little else to do.” He set his hand on the table, and with a flick of his fingers, the empty plates disappeared.

  “I could read in the library.”

  He smiled. “You could. But first, we will attend to your injury, then the scan, and then I will have a meal brought to you in the library. You need not suffer me for lunch.”

  She frowned. “I... rather like the company, but if you don’t want to see me, that sounds fine.”

  She knew it sounded needy the moment it was out of her mouth.

  He got to his feet and came around to hold her chair as she stood up. He bent toward her. “I enjoy your company, but there are things I must attend to while the weather is favourable. Now, I must tend your injury.”

  He caught her chin, and his kiss was perfunctory, but his tongue slid past the bite on her cheek and tongue. Her mouth felt better immediately, and then, he tilted his head, coaxing her into participation.

  She was up on her toes, returning the kiss, when he lifted his head. He was smiling.

  “I know what the first part was, but what was the second?” She stared at him.

  “To see how long you would let me continue.” His smile was wry. “It was very encouraging. Now, let’s get you scanned for the residual energy from the blast.”

  He trailed his fingers down her arm and took her hand in his own. “This way to the medical scanners.”

  He led her out of the breakfast room and through the halls. Their walk was leisurely, no rush, and they walked down a hall that she hadn’t even seen before. The door at the end of the hall contained a diagnostic center that her last two postings would envy.

  He nodded at her. “Disrobe and step into this unit, please.”

  She widened her eyes. “Disrobe?”

  “Yes, anything manufactured here contains Other energies. There is no way to get a clean scan with your dress on.”

  She paused, shrugged, and then comforted herself that he could look at her whenever he liked. She had been in military situations when separate quarters had not been feasible; this was just like that.

  She removed her shoes, and then, she pulled the gown up and over her head. She draped it over her arm and carefully set it aside, stepping into the machine and placing her hands on the sections marked for her grip.

  “Commencing the scan.”

  She stood and waited while the machine whirred, and the trackers moved up and down her body. The readout was visible to her, and she stared at what it was showing. “What the hell?”

  “Remain in place until the scan is complete.”

  She stared at her hands, and she waited. If she saw what she thought she saw, the energy had moved through her system in what her doctors had called an impossible manoeuvre.

  “Your scan is complete.”

  Banor looked at the results, and he nodded. “As I had expected.”

  Allura asked, “What? What?”

  “You were hit with what we call a primal charge. The energy of an Other without the focus. It normally blows the humans apart.”

  “How... pleasant.”

  “Your body, however, at first, isolated it and is now distributing it, using it to fuel your cells.” He nodded. “It is a very unusual response.”

  He turned to stare at her for a few seconds until she looked down to see what he was seeing. “What?”

  He smiled. “Nothing. You can put your dress back on.”

  She frowned and did just that, leaning over to get her breasts where they should be before delicately toeing on her shoes.

  Banor was staring. “Do you always do that?”

  “Ever since I noticed that some bodice lines needed a little bit of help. Now, they are going to stay put for the rest of the day.”

  He made a slight hmm sound.

  He paused. “Would you like to speak with your family today?”

  She stood in shock. She had completely forgotten. “Please.”

  He nodded. “Good. Come this way.”

  She looked at the hand that he held out to her, and she smiled slightly. He walked with her through the castle to one of the upper levels, a turret with one large room on the highest floor.

  “I will send the connection. No offense, but I am not eager for anyone to have this location.” He smiled and sat at the terminal, using the tech like he had been born to it.

  She looked out the window out of respect for the favour he was doing her. The rain was steadily coming down in a gentle, soaking wave.

  He stood up and held the chair for you. “Here you go, Allura.”

  She sat and straightened her posture as she waited for the connection to come through.

  When the summons started ringing on the other end, she waited. Her father’s face was focused on the screen when he answered it. “Bella!”

  She smiled and waved. “Hi, Dad!”

  Tears streaked down his cheeks. “We were so worried.”

  “I am fine. I am fed, clothed, and monitored, so it is just like being back in the military.” She didn’t mention the kissing. That was definitely different. “I see that your head is free and clear.”

  He nodded. “It fell off the moment that your ship took off. I guess he trusted you to stay.”

  “Well, it isn’t like I had a lot of enticing options in the last few days. Right, so, how is everyone?”

  She sat, and he called in her sisters, her mother sobbed and kept kissing the camera, and she laughed when her sisters were wearing much of the jewels that Banor had sent along. Her sisters asked her what she was doing, and she smiled. “Reading.”

  The entire family rolled their eyes. She laughed. Their conversation lasted for nearly an hour, and she assured her family that she was well and happy. When all of her female relatives slowly wandered off, her father leaned in. “How is it dealing with him?”

  “Oh, he’s fine. He has rules, and as long as I adhere to them, nothing happens.” She looked at him seriously. “I will be fine, Dad. Don’t worry. I will ask him to connect with you during the next rainy day.”

  “He’s there?” He
r father was shocked.

  “Of course, he is. He had to make the call. I don’t know my coordinates. Also, with us being the only two people here, it makes sense that secrets could cause trust issues.” She cocked her head and grinned.

  Banor moved from his reclining position near the door, and he walked over to lean over her shoulder. “Hello again, Andros Korako. I will take good care of your daughter. She is safe with me.”

  Her father blinked and swallowed. “Uh, yes. Thank you. Is she well?”

  “She is. There are treatments for her condition that your people cannot offer her. I can.”

  Allura turned her head to stare at him, and he turned his head slightly with a smile.

  Her father looked at them and cleared his throat. “As long as no one is under duress, I suppose it is fine. Bella, don’t do anything you don’t want to do.”

  She turned back to him and inclined her head. “I never do. Now, have a good day, Dad. I am safe.”

  He nodded and said, “I love you, Bella.”

  “I know. I love you, too, Dad.”

  She slid a hand across the board and disconnected the call. She slumped back in the chair. “I think I need to head to the library.”

  He turned his head toward her. “Good. You owe me fifty-three minutes.”

  She stared at him, just far away from keeping her eyes from crossing. “Is it from the call?”

  “No.”

  “The medical visit?”

  “No. You were late for breakfast.” His breath was warm on her cheek.

  “There is no alarm to wake me, and hey, what about the bots that are supposed to keep me on schedule?” Her irritation faded as she remembered what the penalty would entail. Her stomach felt fluttery. “Will it be kissing again?”

  His red eyes crinkled in amusement. “It might. I have yet to decide.”

  “Oh. Good. I love nothing better than suspense.”

  He smiled and stood. “Shall we adjourn to the library? I can translate some of the books for you.”

  “You can translate them?”

  “Certainly. I can read all the books in my library, no matter the language.”

  “Are there any fairy tales?”