As You Desire (14 page)

This pain was worse than before, or maybe he’d forgotten just how deeply heartbreak cuts into the soul.
“Rafi?”
He lifted his head, blindly seeing Maurelle’s willowy form.
“Not now, please.”
He gritted his teeth as Maurelle came to sit beside him on the bench. He respected her as an elder, but he was liable to say anything in his current state of mind.
“Maurelle—”
“Rafi, I’ve come to give you your freedom.”
Rafi’s head shot up so fast he felt lightheaded.
“What did you say?”
Maurelle smiled. “Genies are immortal, but we are not impervious to pain. You stepped between me and Rue to keep me out of harm’s way. You helped save the life of an innocent. I’m the one who made you a Djinn and I have the power to release you from your vessel, but not from this existence. I can’t allow you to suffer the same pain you’ve already endured.”
Rafi sat in silence, stunned by Maurelle’s words.
“Rafi?”
He blinked, trying to tamp down the joy surging up within him. There had to be a catch. Wishes didn’t come true for genies.
“Are you
serious?
I can have my freedom?”
He stood up, frantically pacing in the grass.
Maurelle nodded. “Yes, but you will remain an immortal genie…capable of granting wishes if and when you are so inclined. Is that what you want?”
Lona…what he wanted was Lona.
Maybe, this way, they could have a chance to be happy.
Rafi stood still and met Maurelle’s gaze. “Yes, that’s what I want.”
Maurelle stood and stretched out her palms, shaping a brilliant sphere of white light. “Hold out your hands.”
Rafi followed her command and watched as the light consumed the heavy bracelets around his wrists. He watched in amazement as the metal began to glow and loosen on his arms until it fell off into the grass and disappeared.
“You are now a free genie.”
Rafi let out a whoop of delight before crushing Maurelle in a huge hug. “Thank you, thank you!” He released her with a deep breath. “I can’t even believe this is happening.”
“
Has
happened. No more summons to appear before some unknowingly lucky master.”
After all these years of wanting and wishing for his freedom, he now had it.
“I hope you have the chance now to love the one you want.”
Rafi watched a butterfly flutter between them. “Thank you for giving me the chance to do so.”
“You are deserving,” Maurelle said with a smile. “Good magic.”
“Good magic.”
Rafi bowed as the genie began to shimmer and fade. He left the garden alcove with purposeful strides.
He’d been given a gift and there was only one person he wanted to share it with.

Lona stood in the huge foyer of the home that was now hers. Everywhere she looked were reminders of Rue. She hated the artwork, the furniture—even the smell of the place. Vale had gone over all the details of her financial situation and it was a relief to know she now had the means to support herself. She was a wealthy woman.

So why do I feel like I’ve lost everything?
Her sandals echoed in the hall as she climbed the stairs to the next level and searched for a room less occupied with Rue’s stuff. It seemed like a lifetime ago when she’d been happy within these walls. Lona pushed back the feelings of anxiety making the hairs on the back of her neck stand up as she opened each bedroom door to peek inside. Every movement she made seemed to create a noise that vibrated off the stone walls.
Take a deep breath.

Lona inhaled slowly, pushing open the last bedroom door. She was safe now. She knew that, but sleeping alone in this big mansion wasn’t something she wanted to do.
You’re a big girl.
Lona lifted her chin as she stepped inside the room. A painting of a bear up on his hind legs hung over the bed. With a disgusted huff, she removed her shoes, stepped onto the bed and took the repulsive artwork down. She set it in the hallway, flipping on the light as she came back into the bedroom.
Well, you took care of one thing.
Lona stared at the bed.
How am I going to sleep here?
She stripped the bed down as tears filled her eyes. The white sheets underneath would have to do until she bought her own bedding.
She
would
make a life for herself.
Learning to use her gift, as Niri had suggested, was something she was interested in pursuing. She liked the idea of helping people. Tomorrow, she’d go and tell Niri her plans. She wanted to start right away. Maybe her new job would help to distract her from the gaping hole in her heart.
Rafi.
She missed him already and it had only been hours since she’d last seen him. Lona winced, remembering the pain and acceptance running over his handsome face when she’d told him they couldn’t work things out.
You could be with him now, if you hadn’t turned him away.
Yeah, but for how long? He was a genie and his life would always be complicated, busy…unpredictable. No matter how much she wanted to be with him, she knew herself well enough to know that eventually she’d want more from him. She’d want more for them both.
A low sob escaped from her throat.
After falling for Vander and being with Rue, she knew first-hand how hard it was to be with a Djinn. She loved Rafi, but loving him meant accepting the fact that he would always be called away from her—from their life—for any given length of time.
How long could she deal with that before she told him it was over, just as Sharon had? Lona slumped on the edge of the bed.
She wouldn’t hurt him in the long run—or herself—by trying to hold on to him when he was bound by laws he could not change.
“Lona!”
It wasn’t possible. She couldn’t be hearing what sounded like Rafi’s voice downstairs.
Lona straightened her back, straining her ears to listen.
Hallucinating, Lona? C’mon. Just because you want something so damn badly doesn’t mean Rafi will suddenly appear here in the mansion to sweep you off your feet.
Lona shook her head. She couldn’t stay here longer than one night.
Tomorrow, I’m going to get rid of this place.
She could sell it. Start over fresh—
“Lona!”
The voice…
Rafi’s
voice was getting louder.
Lona got up and raced into the hall to see him coming up the stairs. Whatever resolutions she’d made about the two of them vanished at the sight of Rafi striding towards her. She ran to him, laughing as he swept her up off her feet and kissed her. There were no words to express the joy of seeing him. She knew she couldn’t be with him, but she’d take this moment, right here and right now.
Lona wrapped her arms around his neck as his warm, sensual lips caressed hers. She pulled away from him, breathless and smiling.
“How did you find me?”
Rafi kissed her again.
“Vale told me where you were.”
He hugged her and Lona closed her eyes and relaxed in his arms, listening to the fierce thudding of his heart beneath her ear.
“I didn’t want to let you go.”
Lona shuddered as he spanned her waist with his hands, bringing her even closer to his body.
“I didn’t want to say goodbye.”
“Then don’t.”
Lona lifted her head from Rafi’s chest to stare into his warm, brown eyes. “I don’t know how we can make this work. I don’t know how to love you…how to love a Djinn.”
“You love me?”
Lona drew in a ragged breath as she averted her face. Admitting her feelings would only make walking away that much more painful.
Rafi’s hand slipped from her waist to tilt her chin back.
“Because I love you back. I’m free to love you, Lona—free to be with you in any way, any fashion you desire.”

Rafi could see the doubt and hope flashing in Lona’s eyes as she processed what he had said. He could hardly keep from crushing her against his heart.
She loved him.
He’d only hoped for the freedom to explore their relationship further, to see if she could feel for him what he felt for her.
“Lona, look at my wrist.”
He released her chin and lifted his arm up to her eyes.
Lona gasped. “Your bracelet is gone.”
Rafi let go of her to show her the other empty wrist.
“B—but…how?”
“Maurelle was the genie who granted my wish to save Sharon. She was the one who gave me the choice to become a genie in exchange for their restored lives.”
Lona wrapped her hands around his wrists as if she needed tactile confirmation that the bracelets were gone. Rafi sucked in a breath as her fingers touched the skin that had been covered with metal.
“She felt I deserved a chance to love. I didn’t think it was possible, but she had the ability to grant me my freedom.”
“So, you’re no longer a genie?”
“I will always be a genie, but I’m not bound to any vessel. I can grant wishes when and
if
I so choose.”
“You’re free…”
“I am.”
Rafi’s gaze fell to Lona’s mouth as her lips curved wider and wider into the most beautiful smile he’d ever seen.
“And I’m free to love you with all my heart.”
Rafi wrenched his hands from her grasp to lift her up. She wrapped her legs around his waist as she laughed, locking her hands behind his neck. He breathed in the scent of her hair flowing behind her back and knew he’d never get tired of the way the silky tresses smelt of honeysuckle and sunshine.
“I want to make all your wishes come true, Lona.”
He pushed her back against the wall, his cock responding to the sight of her bare thighs exposed as her dress hitched up higher and higher.
“Your love is the only thing I need,” Lona whispered in his ear.
Rafi shifted his weight and Lona moaned as his erection bumped against her panties.
“Mmm…and this,” Rafi groaned as Lona ground her hips, rubbing her panty-clad pussy on his now rock-hard cock.
“Now
.”
“As you desire.”
Anything, absolutely
anything
she wanted was hers…plus all he had to give.

The wind whipped through Zori’s massive wings as she cut through the clouds in the dark night sky. She soared towards the magnetic pull of the moon with her long black hair fluttering against her wings and back. Soon she was past the blanket of thick clouds covering the city below. She closed her eyes and simply glided, soaking in the luminous moon rays.

It was All Hallows’ Eve, the one night of the year she could just be herself. She pulled her wings in close to her body and twisted in graceful circles through the air with a delighted laugh. Flying was her greatest love. The silence, the freedom, filled her with happiness, and she suppressed the urge to shriek with joy. She was miles above the humans but she could not chance drawing attention to herself from any other supernatural creatures enjoying the night of revelry.

Hunger pangs reminded her of how long it had been since she had eaten. It was definitely time to go home to the feast she knew her butler had waiting for her. Her mouth watered as she envisioned the sumptuous spread prepared exactly to her specifications.

Zori smiled as she spread her silvery wings wide and ascended in the cool air, wondering what mischief her sisters were getting up to as she opened her eyes.
You’re wasting time up here basking in the moonlight.
With a wicked smile, she flapped her wings once more. She flew through the clouds, towards the artificial lights and obnoxious noise below. With unparalleled stealth and grace, she landed with a soft thud on the rooftop of a high-rise building. At this height, she could smell the humans. Zori wrinkled her nose in displeasure at the barrage of various scents wafting in the air. She surveyed the streets filled with rambunctious New Yorkers dressed in outrageous costumes, laughing and partying in full abandon. Zori’s heart raced as she listened to the steady stream of laughter—she couldn’t wait to join in the fun.
The best part of All Hallows’ Eve was the ability to comingle around unsuspecting people. No one would bat an eye at her tonight and those leery wouldn’t dare approach her. It was New York City, after all, and there was no place else she’d rather be tonight.
She scanned the sidewalk, waiting for the perfect moment to join the mortals undetected. A split second later, she jumped off the roof and landed in an alley. She tucked her wings in so close to her body, the skin around them burned in protest as she sauntered into the crowd of partygoers.
She blended into the nightlife, but her near nakedness drew attention. Her skin prickled and warmed in reaction to heightened senses in overdrive from the numerous pairs of eyes drinking her in, both male and female. She revelled under the frank admiration and lustful gazes, pretending not to notice while avoiding eye contact as much as possible. The last thing she wanted was for one of these lowly humans to notice the yellow gleam in her dark brown eyes.
“She’s practically naked and look at her feet!” one woman whispered to her companion.
“God, look at that body,” another man said to his group of buddies dressed as vampires. “I want some of that!”
They stood across the street, but she could hear every word. She smiled, amused by their banter. If she had more time, she’d teach the mouthy one a thing or two about respect. Her attention drifted to a popular nightclub with Halloween fanatics lined up around the block waiting to get past the purple ropes and into the exclusive party inside.
In a sea of wild bright costumes, one man dressed in an expertly tailored black suit caught her eye. She studied him as he talked to the bouncer. He was everything she liked in a one-night stand—tall, built and sexy. There was an aura of confidence and power about him that drew her in like a moth to the flame. His handsome face was visible under the streetlight, dark mahogany skin contrasting sharply against the stark white dress shirt beneath his black suit.
Zori walked forward, passing others in line as he was ushered past the purple rope. Her primary objective was now getting inside the club. She stopped right in front of the bouncer, pretending she didn’t see his hard gaze rove over her from head to toe before lingering on her talons tapping on the pavement.
“What the hell are you supposed to be?”
She flashed him a look of measured patience. “I’d like to go inside.”
“Yeah? So would half of New York.”
Zori tore her eyes away from her attractive subject, who’d disappeared into the noisy entrance to look at the beefy male in front of her. She pretended to pout, but the bouncer didn’t see it. He was too busy looking at her nipples through her shimmery translucent halter top. She pushed her breasts forward with a subtle posture change and whispered low, “I’d do
anything
to get in.”
The bouncer’s blue eyes darkened as his gaze raked over the rest of her. “Yeah?”
Zori stepped closer and leant forward. “Yeah.” She hid a grin as the bouncer’s eyes moved up from her generous display of cleavage.
So predictable.
“Go on inside. I get off in a couple of hours.”
Sure, whatever, meathead.
Zori smiled at him and gritted her teeth when he copped a quick feel of her ass as she walked past. She pushed back the urge to whip around and clock him, knowing she’d encouraged his forwardness.
Besides, she was moments away from talking to Mr Sexy himself.
The angry protests behind her only added to her good mood as she entered the dark nightclub. Intense dance music bombarded every pore as she scanned the crowded space and irritated her sensitive ears. The throng of nubile bodies writhing on and off beat to the music thumping through the speakers momentarily distracted her. It had been so long since she’d danced. She turned away from the dancers as her stomach growled and the ensuing wave of fierce hunger quickened her step.
Next time, Zori.
She was starving. There were only two things on her mind—food and sex. She preferred to do the latter before she ate. In fact, she couldn’t have one without the other which was why she waited so long between meals. Finding a lover was easy, but holding back her incredible strength or insatiable needs in bed wasn’t. Sometimes even the strongest males wound up injured or dead and she hated doing
that
kind of clean-up which often required asking her sisters for help. They were always amused by the fact she could barely keep her appetites for gourmet cuisine and cock under control.
“Can I buy you a drink?”
“No, thanks.” Zori barely flicked a glance towards the handsome blond ogling her body as she walked by. Men could be so pathetic. She looked across the sunken dance floor to the bar against the back wall to see her target tilt back a bottle of beer. Her talons scrapped against the smooth floor as she waded through sweaty dancers along the wall to reach the other side of the club. As she approached, he turned around and their eyes met. A zing of anticipation raced through her blood as she moved next to him at the bar.
The thrill of the hunt always excited her.
She leaned against the counter, fully aware of his dark gaze running over her body as she pretended to inspect the bottles of alcohol on display in front of her. With a casual toss of her ebony tresses, she turned her face to see arresting brown eyes staring at her with interest. She moved a little closer to him with a practiced shy smile. “I’m Zori.”
“Greyson.” He offered a slight grin before taking another sip of his drink.
Up close, her guy was taller and bigger than she first estimated which pleased her. She felt sorry for the expensive suit straining to give way to the hard muscles concealed underneath. “Happy Halloween.”
Greyson lifted an eyebrow. “Back at you.”
The sexy smile curving his full lips tempted her to pounce on him right then and there, witnesses be damned.
“Are you here alone?”
He turned his body towards her, his deep voice carrying easily over the loud music.
“Yes.”
“Really…wow.”
His eyes moved from her folded wings down over the rest of her body.
Zori smiled, pleased, even though she’d heard enough compliments to last a lifetime. “Dance with me?” She began to move her hips to the seductive rhythmic pull of the DJ’s house mix which was tripling her desire to get him alone.
Greyson looked down at her feathered feet. “Can you dance in those?” His gaze lingered on her sharp claws.
Zori laughed. “C’mon.” She led him to the dance area and was even more impressed to discover he was a great dancer.
He pulled her in tight as she closed her eyes, enjoying the feel of his strong body moving against her own. She wrapped her arms around the thick column of his neck and drew in a tempting whiff of his sexy cologne. Dancing was nirvana. This was the one time she allowed her male partners to take the lead which Greyson did so masterfully. Their bodies swayed and dipped to the music as one and Zori enjoyed every minute of it.
“Can I buy you a drink?” Greyson asked several songs later when both of them were breathless and laughing.
“Absolutely.”
She took his hand as he manoeuvred them back to the bar. He stood out with his good looks and in his fine suit and females noticed him, eyeballed him, to Zori’s annoyance. She flashed one chick who had the audacity to step in the way of his path a venomous look that clearly said:
He’s all mine, lady.
And she could hardly wait.
“What’ll you have?” Greyson asked once they were back at the bar.
“Whatever you were having earlier.” She waited for him to turn and get the bartender’s attention. His deep bass voice brought the bartender over immediately and Zori’s eyes drifted over his expensive watch and large manicured hand as he reached for her drink.
No wedding ring…good.
She was determined to take a man to her bed tonight, but she
never
messed with the married ones.
“For you.”
“Thank you.”
Zori took the frosty bottle from his hand and their fingers touched. She was surprised at just how fast her heart began to race. Their eyes locked as they both took a sip.
“Are you from New York?” Greyson asked, tapping his fingers on the bar counter.
Another couple came up behind him and his body brushed against hers in the crowded space.