“I think she’s new,” rumbled Simon.
“New to what? Can someone explain to me what the hell you’re talking about?” I said placing my hands on my hips in exasperation. “And who the hell is this guy who looks like Mr. Clean’s tanned brother?”
The mocha skinned scoundrel in question swept me a courtly bow. “I, fair maiden, am Gene, prominent member of the Ifrit.”
“The If what?”
“He’s a Djinn,” explained Simon who’d finally finished eating and sank onto one of the white leather couches.
“You mean, like, a genie?” I giggled. I couldn’t help it when I thought of the only examples of Djinn I’d ever seen. “I saw Aladdin, isn’t he supposed to be blue?”
Gene folded his arms over his chest and glared at me. “I am nothing so crass as the media portrayal of my kind.”
I bit my lip, but my eyes watered as I tried not to laugh at his indignant expression. “So does that mean you don’t live in a bottle?” I blurted the question out before I bent over chortling.
“Why didn’t you mention you wanted to see my bedroom?” he said, his voice suddenly right by my ear.
I whirled to face him and my laughter cut short. Before I could retort, vertigo made me close my eyes and when I opened them, I realized I wasn’t in Kansas anymore.
Okay, I’d never been to Kansas but it was the first thing that popped to mind when I noticed I’d left Simon’s white living room. I found myself instead in the polar opposite of that sterile space. Colors, rich colors, ranging from golds, reds, greens and even blues decorated the circular room strewn with fat, tasseled pillows and one really big, round bed.
Gene, the sly bastard, slipped his arms around my waist and whispered in my ear. “What do you think of my bottle? Wanna fog up the glass?”
“It looks like a set out of a bad seventies porn flick,” I shrugged out of his disturbing-to-my-libido embrace. I smiled at his chagrined face.
“I’ll have you know, that I’ve yet to have a woman complain about my décor.”
“Then you must be a better lover than you look,” I said tartly to hide my unease at realizing there was no door out of this place. Oh my God, did he make me into a mini-me to fit me in here? The thought was a sobering one and I reluctantly realized I’d better play nice if I wanted him to get me out.
“You truly have no idea about whom you’re dealing with,” he said musingly.
“Well excuse me for not receiving the hand book on ‘Fucked Up Beings That Truly Exist.’” I disliked the fact he knew so much and me so little. Not fair. I mean, my siren and werebunny friends never mentioned others, which wasn’t entirely their fault. Hell, they were just as clueless as me having been adopted and raised by human families. How we ever managed to find each other was a miracle that I didn’t question. I just assumed given my many years of bad luck, that I was owed a streak of good.
I stumbled as the ground-er glass-beneath my feet shifted. A booming voice echoed inside the glass boudoir. “Gene, get your smoky ass out of there right now and bring Beth with you.” Simon punctuated his words with a violent shake that threw me into Gene’s arms.
“Don’t worry, my pretty,” he said with an exaggerated waggle of his brows. “We’ll come back and crack the glass with your screams of pleasure once we’ve gotten to know each other better.”
I wanted to refute his claim-after all, I preferred to decide who, where and when I banged. But, I had to admit, his manly assertion, not inspired by my succubus powers, excited me. I also wondered if he could live up to his boast for while I’d enjoyed my previous encounters with men, I had yet to find one who really made me want to say, “Wow, you rocked my world.”
Gene wrapped his arms tight around me, and I clearly felt his erection pressing against my lower back. I closed my eyes as the vertigo from before returned, and when I opened them again, I faced a broad chest. Combined with the body still snugged to my rear, I couldn’t help the imp in me from commenting. “Mmm, my first sandwich. How decadent.” I peered up at Simon as I said the words, expecting a blush. Instead, his eyes glowed with distinct interest and his hands came to rest on my hips, the thin material of the t-shirt I wore not stopping the heat that his stroking thumb imparted.
“Don’t tempt me,” he drawled, pulling me hard against an erection that made my eyes widen. Oh my, he’s giant all over.
Gene purred in my ear sending a shiver down my spine. “Anytime. Just let us know and that’s one wish we can make come true.”
Disturbed on so many levels, most of them erotic ones that screamed at me to get naked for some sweaty fun, I moved out from between them. The space separating us didn’t help, for looking upon them standing side by side, I had to fight the urge to throw myself back on them and take them up on the offer.
So different looking, yet each tempting in their own way… I needed to leave before I got in too deep-or should I say, they go into me deliciously deep. But, I still had so many questions.
I opened my mouth to voice them when music started playing.
Touch me, touch me. I want to feel your body.
I blushed when Gene arched a brow and grinned at me devilishly. I followed the singing to my purse which Simon had apparently rescued along with me. I dug my pink iPhone out and answered. “Hello.”
Claire’s voice squealed in my ear. “Where the hell are you? Lana said she went to your room to see if you wanted coffee and your bed hadn’t been slept in. Are you okay? Do you need us to rescue you?”
I waited for her to take a breath and then hurried to reassure her. “I’m fine. I was waylaid after work, but a good Samaritan came to my rescue.”
“Oh my God. He must have been hot for you to spend the night. You’ve never done that before.” Claire sounded awed.
“It’s not like that,” I stammered. “Listen, I’ll be home in a bit and explain everything.”
“Lana says to bring some donuts and coffee for giving her a heart attack.”
“I will.” I hung up with Claire, my overprotective roommate who turned furry and floppy eared every full moon. Think that was strange? Then you needed to meet my other roommate and BFF, Lana, the siren who was scared of the sea.
“Everything okay?” Simon asked.
“My roommates got freaked when they saw I didn’t make it home. Speaking of which, I need to go, but I’d like to meet with you guys again.” At their matching sensual smiles, I blushed. “For information, if you don’t mind.”
Gene’s grin widened. “Anything you want to know, feel free to ask-or, even better, touch.”
As come on lines went, his was laughably crude, but it worked, dammit. Simon shook his head at his friend. “You’re not the only one who is curious,” rumbled Simon. “I’ll program my number in your phone while you dress.”
“Or she could just make a wish,” Gene said with a short bow in my direction.
“Speaking of clothes, can I borrow this t-shirt?” I asked mentally wincing as I imagined the state of my outfit from the previous night-ripped and bloody, and while the wounds on my flesh healed during my forced nap, I doubted I could say the same for my clothes. Or so I assumed. After all, I hadn’t undressed myself. I wonder if Simon liked what he saw?
“I can do better than that old t-shirt,” Simon replied with a grin. “In the bathroom, you’ll find everything you need. And if I haven’t lost my touch, the right size. Just go back to the bedroom and you’ll find the bathroom.”
I left the guys and went back to the bedroom easily finding the clothes on the bathroom vanity. The leggings were a perfect fit as were the bra, clean panties and top. He’d even provided a pair of slip on shoes. All of it was brand spanking new-and white, surprise!-which raised some interesting questions. Did he go shopping while I was passed out or did he borrow these from a female friend? An unfamiliar feeling gripped me at the last thought, and I was shocked to realize it was jealousy. A strange reaction for what had been a really odd day, even for someone like me.