Page 22 of Allure
“If you’re uncomfortable about anything, it’s okay to say so. No one here will begrudge you if you want to stay home and forgo Orchard Tree.” Asli angled his body so he was fully in front of her again. His deep brown eyes felt like they were trying to see past her defenses—see past the person she showed him and get right down to who she was at her core.
“I’m fine.” Her words came out unsteady, but it wasn’t fear that made her breathless; it was the man standing in front of her. His strong body, full lips, the scent of cinnamon that lingered on his skin, and the way he stared at her like she was the only thing keeping him centered made her skin hot to the touch.
Her attraction to Asli was intoxicating, but Marco was never far from her mind. She wondered what he would say—what he would do if he was here standing next to Asli. How would they tease her? How would they drive her to the brink of an insanity she wanted to experience over and over again?
“Syra?” Asli called her name in the form of a question and a curse as he took a step forward to close the too-large gap between them.
“You don’t even know how tempting you are, do you?” Asli murmured. He brought his hand up as if he was going to reach out and touch her. Her body swayed, leaning toward him, but something flicked in his gaze and he dropped his hand, taking a step back. She heard the sound of heels clicking behind her and turned to see Delilah hand over her purse and a small duffle bag she had packed with a change of clothes.
“We’re ready,” Katrina smiled, stepping past them.
“Wait,” Syra grabbed Delilah’s arm and took the duffel bag and purse from Delilah, “I’m not ready yet. What about my makeup and hair?”
“What about it?” Delilah ushered her out of the front door so she could lock up. Asli’s fingers barely touched her as he grabbed the duffel bag, and she sucked in a sharp breath at the surge of electricity that shot through her body.
“You look more than fine, little star,” Asli’s voice was in her ear. “Good enough to eat, as I said. You’ll fit in just fine. In fact, all you ladies look divine.” He winked at Delilah who shook her head with a smile.
“See? You’re fine. Let’s go.” Delilah turned her around, and Asli held out his arm for her. She reluctantly took it and let him guide her toward the town car where they were greeted by an equally handsome driver. He was tall like Asli with an inviting smile and dark eyes. He had a tattoo peeking out from the collar of his shirt, and Syra was mildly curious to know what it was.
“Mr. Jones,” the driver nodded to Asli before turning toward Kat and Delilah. “Evening, ladies. I’m Link, and I’ll be your driver tonight.” He opened the door, and Kat was the first one to slide in.
“If it’s okay with you ladies, I’ll be taking Syra in my car since it’s a two-seater.” Asli’s charming smile was in place when Delilah shot him a narrowed look.
She pressed her lips together before she glanced at Syra. “What about the address? You and Marco both said it was private, and we would need to be escorted by one of you into Orchard Tree.”
“I’m a member as well,” Link spoke up, still holding the door open for Delilah. Syra could see Kat’s concerned features poking out of the backseat. “I know exactly where we are going.” Link sounded confident.
Delilah nodded, though she kept her gaze on Syra, silently checking to see if she was okay with being alone with Asli. Syra gave a quick nod without so much as a second thought. If she were smarter, she would have told him she would rather ride with her friends. Being alone with him when her mind was conjuring up a million different dirty scenarios didn’t seem like a wise choice, but she couldn’t find it in her to voice that concern.
“Alright. Keep your phone on.” Delilah turned and thanked Link for holding the door open for her. As soon as she was inside, Link slid into the driver’s seat, and before she took her next breath, the town car was slowly peeling out of its parking spot, leaving her to look at the other black sedan. She got a clear view of the license plate now, and while the numbers didn’t match Joel’s car, she couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling slithering up her back, threatening to choke her.
“You ready?” Asli’s soft touch against her bare arm centered her, and she nodded, forcing her gaze away from the black sedan.
He led her to his car, walking around toward the back to toss her duffle bag in the trunk and leading her toward the passenger side. He helped her into her seat. His touch lingered and sent goosebumps across her skin.
His gaze dipped to her legs before they found her face again. He hummed low in his throat, “Sweet little star, having you all to myself, I wonder what trouble we can get into before we reach Orchard Tree.”
LSG’s “My Body” filtered through the car speakers. Gerald Levert’s powerful and rich voice coated the air, adding a sensual soulful vibe that only he was capable of. The vibration from the bass skirted along Asli’s skin, making his stomach coil in anticipation for tonight’s party. He’d been to Orchard Tree plenty of times, had a long-standing membership, but tonight felt different thanks to the temptation sitting in his passenger seat.
He chanced a glance at Syra. Her smooth legs on display seemed to go on forever, and the fact that he knew what lay beneath the dress made his cock stir in his pants. The song’s lyrics wrapped around him—a soundtrack to the images his mind played for him, like a movie of the night she shared with Marco six months ago. It was the one time he hadn’t been content to just sit back and watch, though he did enjoy the show. He wanted to touch and taste her, kiss her skin, and watch the way her body shook and her facial expressions changed when she climaxed for him and his best friend.
Marco had teased him about Syra—told him he would succumb to the spell she weaved like a siren’s song he couldn’t get enough of. Asli didn’t want his friend to be right, knowing Marco would never let him live it down, but the second she opened the door for him in that fuck me dress, he almost found himself on his knees begging her to let him taste her.
She was divinity.
Her long dark hair was like the night sky, and she had a pair of watchful dark eyes to match. They were filled with a curiosity that made him want to take her hand and help her explore the world.
He understood why Marco called her his little star.
She was as unique as the constellations in the sky—beautiful artwork that could invoke emotions from even the most stoic.
Asli had wanted to run his hands along her body to feel the power she wielded. He wanted to run his tongue along the expanse of her soft skin so he could show her what it truly meant to be worshipped and prayed to. He wanted to show her just how beautiful a star’s explosion could be—a rebirth from their bodies colliding together. But that would come in due time if she allowed it.
Syra shifted in the seat, drawing her hands around her bare arms. Lockwood had turned cold fast this year, and the attire Syra wore was doing nothing to help her stay warm. Asli was going to suggest she close the window, but he knew she got motion sickness from long car rides, so he cranked up the heat and made sure her seat warmer was on too, hoping the warmth would settle into her body.
She let out a contented sigh, and he fought a smile. He didn’t know her personally. He only knew what Marco had told him—the good, the ugly, and everything in between—yet on some level it felt like he did know her enough to know that she got cold quickly and needed fresh air on car rides, and what else was there?
Asli was man enough to admit that he was attracted to her, and he could feel a spark simmering beneath her surface, desperate to be let out and played with. But he wanted to know what made her tick, what laid beneath the layers she had shown Marco all those years ago, especially when it came to her art.
