As You Desire (8 page)

Rafi couldn’t get enough of the scent and taste of Lona’s arousal. The feel of her warm mouth surrounding his cock was heaven. In fact, he was certain she was an angel—an angel with a wicked tongue—and he was so close to surrendering to her power, but he would make her come a second time first. He locked his mouth around her clit and laved the erect nub as Lona wriggled her hips above him.

Her sounds of pleasure escalated, the vibrations from her voice pushing him over the edge just as she lifted her mouth up to cry out with her own release. Time suspended as his climax ripped through him. He groaned as Lona wrapped her hand around his cock, milking every bit of cum from his body. The warm liquid covered his stomach and her breasts as she collapsed beside him.

Lona turned her head towards him with a lazy smile and Rafi’s heart twisted. She was breathtaking. Her cheeks were flushed, as rosy as the tips of her breasts. He didn’t think he’d ever get tired of the way the sun played up the luxurious tones in her hair.

“Two orgasms?” She chuckled. “You’re the one who’s amazing, Rafi.” He got off the bed and held out his hand. “Shower?”
Lona took his hand and nodded. “Are we really going to take one, or are you going to

use magic?”
“Which do you prefer?” Rafi grinned as she ran her gaze down his body. “Let’s do it the old-fashioned way.”
Her choice of words made him want to skip the bathroom all together. He longed to

take her again.
“Right this way, then.”
The shower was already running when they reached the bathroom, warm steam filling

Lona wagged her finger at him. “I think this counts as cheating.”
Rafi shrugged. “You didn’t specify the details. Get in—the temperature is perfect.” “Mmm…the water
is
perfect.”
“Will you let me soap you up?”
“Only if you let me do the same for you.”
“What is it with you and reciprocal displays of affection?”
Lona squeezed some soap onto her washcloth and washed his chest. “I think it’s nice to

The water had turned her ginger strands into soft ringlets shielding her face from his as she concentrated on washing his abdomen.
“As long as you don’t think I
expect
you to reciprocate anything I do for you.”
Rafi rubbed his soapy washcloth in circular motions over her breasts and up around her neck. Bubbles dripped from his hands as he washed her arms.
Lona lifted her face to meet his gaze. “I just want to know I make you feel as good as you make me feel.”
“Damn it, Lona, how could you doubt that?”
She was making him feel all sorts of things he had closed himself off from. He’d known he missed the intimacy shared between true lovers, but he hadn’t realised
how
much until now.
“I can’t remember the last time I pleased Rue sexually.” Lona lifted her face to his. “If I did, he never told me, and towards the end of our relationship he never cared what I wanted or needed.”
She dropped her head.
Her admission seemed to cost her and Rafi cursed as she started to tremble. He lifted her chin and looked into her eyes, seeing pain in the honey-brown depths.
“Being with you feels amazing to me…and I’m not just talking about what happened between us moments ago. I’ve enjoyed spending time with you—getting to know you— despite the reasons for you being here.”
Rafi leant down to kiss her, loving how her soft lips melded with his. She felt so good in his embrace. He wrapped his arms around her waist as more tremors moved over her body. Her head fell back, their lips breaking apart as Rafi looked down at her.
“Lona?”
Her eyes were closed and she didn’t respond, her body going limp against his. “Lona!”
He squeezed one arm around her as he patted her cheek with his hand—with no response. A million different reasons for her fainting raced through his mind as he lifted her. He focused his energy, surrounding them both with blue light. Within seconds, they were in his bedroom. He replaced the towel wrapped around her with a blanket he pulled out of thin air.
“Rafi?”
He tucked the warm throw around her as she started to stir.
“Wh—what happened?”
Rafi sat on the edge of the bed and took her hand in his.
“You fainted.”
Lona’s eyes widened in surprise. “I did?”
“Yup. I know I’m a damn good kisser, but you’re the first lady to faint away in my arms.”
Her fragile smile made him feel a little better.
“How do you feel?”
“Tired…hungry…but I’m okay.”
Lona sat up higher in the bed, pinching the bridge of her nose with her thumb and index finger.
“I guess we never did get around to eating real food.”
Lona glanced up, the wry grin outshining the blush on her cheeks, and Rafi couldn’t resist tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
“I think I should take you back to Niri. She should take a look at you.”
“No, really—I’m just tired. I had two orgasms on an empty stomach. I just need to eat and sleep.”
“Are you in any pain?”
“No.”
“Are you sure?”
“Rafi—”
“Fine. I’ll get you something to eat, but if you don’t look any better afterwards…” “I’ll go.”
“Do you wanna eat in bed?” He gently squeezed her hand as she shook her head. “C’mon…let me pamper you a little. Just relax and I’ll bring your plate in here. We’ll watch something silly on television and just chill out. Sound good?”
Lona sighed. “Okay.”
“I’ll be right back.”
He left her lying back against the pillows and walked purposefully towards the kitchen.
She looked so weak. After she’d finished eating he was going to suggest that she at least let him use his magic to rejuvenate her body. Niri had explained how the process worked and the effects felt by those involved. He wasn’t worried about getting turned on around her—he already was.
He just hoped Lona would agree to let him help her. Surely she wouldn’t deny the logic of his suggestion after what had just happened and the intimacies they’d already shared?
Rafi served them both a generous portion of the quiche before spooning the strawberries into separate bowls. He set their dinner on a tray, along with silverware and two glasses of orange juice, and headed back to the bedroom.
Lona’s eyes fluttered open when she heard him set the tray on the bedside table. She’d dressed in one of his linen, button-down shirts. The sight of her lying back against the pillows in his clothing, with her long, bare legs stretched out over the duvet, was the sexiest thing he’d seen in a long time.
“A napkin for you.” He laid the silk across her lap and sat down next to her.
“Did you taste my quiche?”
“Not yet.”
Rafi lifted his fork and took a bite. The smoked ham and savoury cheddar fought for top billing with his taste buds.
“It’s good…really, really good.”
Lona’s shy smile made him want to slug Rue for being such an ass to her. It was obvious compliments of any kind had been few and far between—hell,
non-existent.
“Here.” He held up a forkful of quiche for her to eat.
“I’m glad you like it,” Lona said as she took the fork from him and starting eating.

I like you more.
Rafi watched her daintily cut up her quiche before taking another bite. His life hadn’t been easy, but he’d made it through to the other side of dogged depression. The hints of sadness in Lona’s eyes let him know she didn’t yet know if she could believe things would get better for her.
“How do you feel?” he asked as they finished their meal.
Lona patted her tummy. “Full.” She smiled at him as she took the glass of orange juice he’d poured for her.
“Lona, I think you should use my magic now. It’ll make you stronger. Niri said you need to do this in order to get through this pregnancy. After what just happened, I don’t think you should wait any longer.”
He hated the look of desperation that flitted across her face.
“I know.”
Rafi looked at her in surprise. He’d expected an argument, and her willingness to use his magic was a clear sign of her physical exhaustion.
“So you’ll do it now?”
“I’ve got nothing else planned tonight.”
She met his eyes and he felt the need to reassure her.
“I know what to do.”
Lona nodded. “I trust you. Go ahead—I’m ready.”
“Lie down for me.”
He waited for her to settle back on the bed and caught a glimpse of pink panties.
Focus on her, not her ass!
Although, technically, that still counted as part of—
“Rafi?”
“Let’s do this.” Rafi moved closer to her. “Unbutton your shirt.”
“
Your
shirt.” She winked at him.
He loved her attempts at humour when he knew she was nervous.
“Unbutton
my
shirt and relax.”
She unbuttoned the shirt, exposing the valley between her breasts as she waited for him to place his hands above her heart.
Rafi placed his hands in the right position, ignoring the softness of her skin as his fingers grazed the sides of her breasts.
“Take a deep breath and close your eyes.”
Lona complied and he did the same, focusing all his power on giving her his energy. His hands heated up as the power within him manifested into blue light that penetrated through his eyelids. He was supposed to sense a connection with her, a joining of bodies that would allow him to know the exact amount of magic she needed.
There it was. He could feel how scared she was about the baby and the psychic connection with Rue. The weight of her anxiety and tiredness engulfed him as he fed her more and more of his power. Slowly, he sensed her physical strength heightening, climbing higher and higher until he felt nothing at all but his own energy. With a slow breath, he lifted his hands and opened his eyes to see tears running down Lona’s face.
Holy hell.
“Lona? Talk to me. What’s wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong. I feel like a new person right now.” She shook her head, uttering a sob that half-sounded like a laugh.
“Then why the tears?”
“That’s the first time in a long while I’ve felt any joy while doing this.”
Her honey-brown eyes shimmered with wetness, lovely and haunting.
“Thank you, Rafi.”
“It was my pleasure.” He buttoned up the linen shirt before stroking her cheek. “You need to get some sleep.”
“I feel like I could go swim laps in that pool now, but I know I need to rest.”
They both did. He felt like he’d just run four marathons without any water.
“Do you want anything else to eat or drink?” He got up from the bed. “Wanna watch some TV?”
“No, no and no. There is something else I’d like, though.”
He watched her tuck her hair back behind her ears, combing her fingers through the wavy mass falling around her shoulders as she held his gaze.
“Name it.”
“Sleep here with me tonight?”
“Done.”
Lona blinked, then grinned as if she’d been unsure of his reply—which was shocking to Rafi.
He’d move heaven and earth before denying her anything.

Rue coughed, biting back the urge to gag as he fell to his knees. Never had he imagined dying alone, trapped between dimensions with no way out. He was starving to death, weak and on the verge of desperation—which scared the hell out of him more than the physical condition of his body. The only thing keeping him going was the moments he connected with Lona. Only then did he feel a slight surge in his energy, enough to keep him reaching out to her with his mind.

Lately, his weakening connection with her felt stronger. He could seek her energy out faster. Nothing like the good ol’ days, when he’d been able to control her with a thought, but still… There was hope. Soon he was confident he’d establish a connection with her and be able to push her to come to him—to help him escape.

Rue smiled in the perpetual darkness, bolstered by his thoughts.
A flash of light in the distance drew his attention as he forced himself onto his feet. He sensed the presence of other Djinns—an ability they all had. After all this time, the High Council had finally sent members of the Brotherhood here to bring him back. No doubt to face trial.
A sliver of dread raced down his throat as he realised they might even consider death for his treachery. He dropped to the ground, searching in vain for a stick, a sharp rock— anything—but there was no weapon to be found. With a frustrated curse, he stumbled to his feet. No way he was going to let whoever was approaching find him on his knees, grovelling in the dirt.
“Trevori, we can see you. Show us your hands, nice and slow.”
Vander.
He’d recognise the voice of the man who’d got him trapped in limbo anywhere. He sensed another presence as he strained his eyes in the inky blackness, anxious to see the two men, but he couldn’t make out any shapes. They were using magic to cloak themselves, for protection against him.
“C’mon, Rue. Don’t even think of playing us. Your only way outta here is with us babysitting your ass all the way to the High Council’s doorstep.”
Rage flowed through Rue’s blood as he fought to keep his voice calm. There was no denying the truth of Vander’s words.
“Relax, my brothers—I will comply.”
He slowly lifted his hands and squinted as two bolts of brilliant blue light raced towards him, binding his wrists with powerful magic that rendered his own useless. Now he could see Vander and Thane, another rule-following genie he’d only spoken to in passing. The High Council had sent two of their best—the straightest arrows in the bunch of misguided genies happy to live a life of service and imprisonment.
The smug smiles on their faces made him grind his teeth so hard that a headache began splintering through his temporal lobe.
That’s all right, boys—smile away. I’ve got a plan.

Lona woke up to the sound of Rafi mumbling in his sleep.
“Sharon…no!”
His gruff voice made her open her eyes. Soft rays of sunshine poured in through the

windows, making his dark brown hair look black against the pillow. Lona considered waking him, but hated to disturb his sleep. Turning on her side, she snuggled closer to his big, warm body, curving her back into his chest as he wrestled with the sheets around his legs. The contact seemed to help him with whatever dreams he struggled with. He wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her closer to him.

Goose bumps erupted over her skin as Rafi’s thick arm tightened around her waist. His deep voice was barely recognisable, filled with resignation and anguish. Lona placed her hand on top of his, over her stomach.