24. Wish Me, Stupid

Jennie

If I was being one hundred percent honest, learning that Jovat could grant endless wishes was a bit of a blindside.

But I'd meant it when I said I didn't care. I didn't want wishes.

I wanted Jovat, because he was thoughtful, attentive, intelligent, and, well, adorable. Biting my lip, I tried to hide my smile, but nothing escaped Jovat's sharp jade eyes.

"And what do you find so amusing?" His fingers slid across my cheek.

I wanted to throw my arms around his neck and squeeze until he begged me to stop. Restraining myself, barely, I admitted, "I was thinking your name should be Jovat The Adorable, not Jovat The Abominable."

The faint lines around his eyes softened. "You've given me a name?"

I was unsure how to respond, and hoped I hadn't offended him with my teasing. "I'm not saying you have to change your name! I just think it fits a little better."

"Then Jovat The Adorable it shall be." He locked gazes with me. "It is an honor to receive a name from you."

His freckles began to sparkle like stars against his beautiful blue skin. It was both mesmerizing and alluring, and I found myself attracted to him in a way I'd never been attracted to another.

And while I couldn't help but wonder what other secrets he'd been keeping, I also wondered if I should care. He had all the right in the world to have and keep his secrets.

Plus, judging by the way I was growing more desperate for his touch, it was too late to protect myself. I was already falling for him.

Before I could speak, Jovat leaned in.

The magic man had to have been reading my mind, because how else could he so perfectly know exactly what I wanted and needed?

Every minute of my Valentine's Day had been utterly perfect, right down to the conversation, and now, a kiss.

His lips met mine, causing my heart to flip-flop wildly behind my ribs. He was soft and gentle. The kiss was innocent. But that wasn't what I craved.

Finding his large hand, I laid it on my thigh. Then, lacing my fingers around the back of his head, I opened my mouth for him.

Our tongues met, and his hand slid up my leg, leaving my skin heated with excitement. There was nothing I wanted more than for Jovat to move his fingers higher, touching and exploring every inch of me.

His tongue teased mine, swirling around as his sweet flavor hit my system like a shot of whiskey. I moaned, and he swallowed the sound with a hungry groan of his own.

Jovat's body moved closer to me, running his hand up my hip and behind my back. His powerful arm gripped me, closing the gap between our bodies and holding me tight against him as we both rose to our knees on the couch.

His arms felt like coming home.

He broke the kiss, his breath cool against my damp lips as he spoke. "Are you sure this is a good idea?"

"Nope," I answered him honestly.

The thing was, I didn't care. I wanted this spark, this excitement, this runaway desire warming my insides.

"Do you want this?" I asked.

In response, Jovat sat down on the couch and pulled me onto his lap. He turned me so that I faced away from him, my back pressed to his chest.

Shifting his hips slightly, he rubbed himself against me, quickly removing all doubt about whether he wanted me as much as I wanted him.

"I really want to make a rubbing the lamp joke right now," I murmured, absolutely breathless.

"I dare you." His eyes crinkled at the corners in amusement and he planted a kiss on my cheek. Then his eyes darkened, and when he spoke, his voice had turned to a deep rasp. "Actually, since you've already rubbed mine, maybe I should return the favor and rub yours?"

A shiver raced through me as his hand slid down my hip, then under the waistband of my thin, fitted boxers. When his fingertips found the slick proof of my excitement, I sucked in a harsh breath.

All thoughts deserted me as he discovered my sensitive bundle of nerves and stroked. I couldn't focus on anything with his fingers moving back and forth, then in an expert dance that had darkness blurring the edges of my vision.

"You really do have magic hands," I breathed, my voice trembling.

I guess he needed to prove his lips were magic too, because he began kissing and sucking his way down my neck and across my shoulder. Each time I shifted my hips in response to his touch, I'd feel an answering jerk from his erection beneath me.

He was driving me crazy, and it was becoming impossible to keep from writhing on his lap. I could feel pleasure threatening to explode, but I fought against the tidal wave. How was it possible for him to affect me so quickly with just his touch?

"Jovat. I'm… I'm going to…" I whimpered, and he stared down at me.

Heat and hunger clashed in his incredible eyes, and his fingers began to stroke me harder, driving me toward my inevitable release. My legs began to flex and my stomach knotted up, but still I tried to fight the impending release welling up in me.

"Your body is so responsive to my touch." His husky purr vibrated through my body. Bringing his lips to my ear, he whispered, "It's almost like you're mine."

All thoughts blinked out of existence and the blood thundering in my ears drowned out every other sound. A gasp wrung from my lips as blinding pleasure exploded through my body, sending ripples of heat dancing along every nerve ending.

Jovat continued to move his fingers, but far slower and gentler. He held me to him, as my body jerked and trembled, whispering as his lips kissed my neck, cheek, and temple.

I had no idea what he was saying, but the warm tone and cadence relaxed my body. No one had ever made me feel like he had, and as I melted into him, he snuggled me close.

A thought popped into my mind and the words tumbled from my mouth before my brain could vet the comment. "How old are you?"

"About a thousand years, give or take a few centuries."

"Give or take a few centuries?" That was a huge margin!

"When you live as long as my kind, you lose track. I'm young for a Djinn."

That made me pause, not quite sure how to feel about his words. "Well, talk about an age gap relationship."

He chuckled. "In terms of my kind, I'm about the same age as you."

"Thanks—wait! Are you calling me old?"

He laughed, threading his fingers with mine as we sat on my couch.

In the quiet of the room, cuddled in his arms, I realized what I wanted to do for him. He'd been so amazing, made me feel things, given me the perfect Valentine's Day… something I'd been worried I'd never find.

My heart constricted as I thought about my plan.

I wanted to free him.

Nobody should live their lives trapped in service of others.

"Can I… free you somehow?" I whispered. "Would you want to be free?"

He went still, and I snuck a peek up at him. Jovat seemed stunned, unsure how to respond to me.

Finally, he cleared his throat. "Why would you want to do that?"

"Because no one should have an unhappy life serving others. But if you're happy and I'm wrong about the situation, I apologize." I couldn't breathe as his eyes narrowed, studying me.

As the silence stretched on, the finality of what I'd said sank in and I realized what wishing him free would mean. Letting Jovat go.

He might have decided to walk right out of my life forever.

But I needed to do the right thing for him.

Jovat deserved the world, and I wanted to help him get started.