Chapter Three

Genevieve

Powering on my phone, I tapped my mom's name and waited for the call to connect.

She picked up on the second ring. "Genie! I thought you would be too busy settling in to call and I wouldn't hear from you for a few more days."

"Mom! Did you send me a—" I caught myself just before I'd said man, but then hesitated, unsure what word to use instead. "Uh… a gift?" My voice cracked at the end, but if mom noticed, she chose not to comment.

"I did! You got it already?" She didn't bother to mask the glee in her voice. "The island must have a fantastic postal service!"

Thinking of the box being kicked off the delivery truck, I snorted. "Yeah. Not so much. But Mom, what on earth possessed you to send me this gift?" I whisper-shrieked into the phone, my eyes darting to the door as though expecting it to burst open at any moment.

"What? A mother can't send her daughter a housewarming gift?" She sounded almost indignant, but I wasn't falling for the fake innocent act.

"Of course you can, but why couldn't you send something like a toaster or a fruit basket?" I paused as it occurred to me she might not know what exactly she'd sent me. It was possible she just meant to send an antique lamp.

She giggled. "Those are so boring, sweetheart! I thought you'd enjoy this more."

Oh yeah, I definitely enjoyed him—

Nope. I wasn't going to think about that right now.

"Did you not like the gift? Brenda helped me pick it out, and we were so sure you'd like it."

"Brenda? Are you talking about Bingo Brenda who has the house full of black cats, wears only black clothing, and talks about her family home in Salem that was built in the 1600s? You took housewarming gift advice from her?" I spluttered.

"Well, yes! Don't start up with your silliness again. I've told you over and over she isn't a witch. The black kitties are all failed fosters, and she wears black to hide the cat hair." Mom complained.

Flopping back on the pillow, I put the phone on speaker and laid it on my chest. My head was beginning to ache, and I rubbed at my temples… then thought better of it, since rubbing things had gotten me in enough trouble that day.

"Maybe you should explain to me why you picked the lamp?"

"I was fretting to her about how you were moving to a new city and I just knew you would be too busy to find a man, since you are starting a new job and everything. It seems so lonely, and not very safe to be alone like that in a new place."

"Mom, I'm a grown adult. I am more than capable of finding a guy if I wanted one." My headache worsened, and I wasn't just talking about my mother.

I'd already come to realize that she would never understand that I could be happy without a man in my life—no matter how many times we had this conversation.

"But you won't. You're stubborn," she sighed. "You get that from me. Somehow, you've gotten it into your head that you're happy being independent. But sweetie, I'm your mother and I know the truth."

Swallowing a groan, I tried to get back on topic. "What does this have to do with the lamp?"

"I was getting to that," Mom huffed. "Brenda knew I was worried and told me she had a gift I should send you if I was that concerned."

"Did Brenda tell you what it does—I mean, was?"

"Of course she did. It's a good luck charm that is supposed to make sure the perfect man appears in your life and all your dreams come true. Don't tell me it worked already?" It was her hopeful tone that caused me to blurt out the truth.

"If by worked, you mean that the tiny lamp was supposed to release a djinn with ridiculously beautiful purple eyes, dreamy blue skin, and a grin to die for in my kitchen who introduced himself by kissing me rather than shaking my hand, then yes, Mother. It totally worked!"

For several long seconds, not a sound came from the other side of the call.

The silence was finally broken when she asked, "Was he a good kisser?"

My jaw dropped, and I sat up, staring down at the phone that now lay on my lap. "Seriously, Mom? That's what you want to know? I just told you I made out with a mythical being, and you want to know if he's a good kisser? Most parents would probably want to know if I was taking drugs!"

She had the nerve to chuckle. "Sweetheart, if you found edibles that can create sexy blue men, then you better save a bag for me when I come to visit!"

"Mom!" I yelped.

"What?" She began laughing so hard she was forced to pause to catch her breath before speaking again. "Your father has been gone for years. Even women my age have needs."

I groaned, dropping my head into my hands. Maybe I could go ask djinn-man to erase that mental image from my mind. Forever.

"To answer your question, no. I didn't know the cute little lamp had a man inside. But Brenda has had great success playing matchmaker with a few of my friends' daughters and granddaughters. I thought the lamp was like a lucky rabbit's foot, and we both know you need all the luck you can get to find a good man."

Lying back on the pillow, I stared up at the ceiling. "Why aren't you shocked that I just told you djinn are real? I can't even believe it and I touched him!"

Mom's voice dropped to a whisper. "If I'm being honest, I think you might be right about Brenda. It's possible she could be more than just a human. She's fixed problems within my friend group too many times to count. Frankly, this isn't even the weirdest thing to happen in the past year."

She giggled again. "I think I'll check her brooms next time I visit her. Wouldn't that be a hoot if she has one that can fly?"

If I wasn't utterly exhausted and beyond stressed, I would've been amazed by my mom's open-armed acceptance of the paranormal. I'd already been stressed about having her visit and what she might see, but once again, she proved to be the cool mom. The mom I admired.

That didn't make up for my current dilemma, though. "And what am I supposed to do with him?"

"Enjoy him?" Mom suggested, and I could practically hear her eyebrows wiggling suggestively.

The memory of his hands traveling over my skin caused me to flush. "It's not that simple! I'm too busy with the move and my new job to deal with any added complications. Heck, I don't even know what a djinn eats! Do they eat?"

"It sounds like maybe you should sit down and chat with him. I know you haven't been on a date in a while, but that's usually how you get to know someone." She offered as though it were the most obvious answer.

"Mom, even if I was in the market for a boyfriend, I don't think djinns go on dates." Unable to continue keeping my heavy eyelids open, I let them drift closed.

"You sound tired, sweetie. Get some sleep and I'm sure things will work out. I love you."

"I'm still annoyed, but I love you too," I grumbled.

"I know you do!" she chirped. "Sweet dreams!"

Tapping the screen to end the call, I placed my phone on the small bedside table. The nightstand sat crooked from being hastily placed there by the movers, reminding me that only one part of the moving process had been completed.

The second half, unboxing and putting things where I wanted them to go, was going to take several more days of focused work. With no small amount of effort and much complaining from my aching muscles, I undressed and pulled the soft throw blanket up to my chin.

My mind replayed the events of the last few hours. The sweet djinn was clearly eager to grant my wishes, but my life was perfect. I liked my new home, my job, and both my mom and myself were in good health. There was nothing I needed or wished for…

But that wasn't completely true.

It had been longer than I cared to admit since I'd been kissed and I'd enjoyed the kitchen make-out more than I was willing to admit, even to myself. The truth was, I missed waking up with my lover's arms wrapped around me while I snuggled into the warmth of his chest.

But I wasn't about to sashay my way down the hall to ask the handsome djinn to make that wish a reality. He already knew far too much about my secret desires.

My fuzzy blanket was the only thing I'd be cuddling that night.

#

I was having the best dream of my life when the morning sun rudely streamed through my curtainless windows and tried its best to awaken me.

Clinging to the dream, I snuggled deeper into my blankets and into my lover's embrace. His lips licked and kissed my neck, while his hand slid from where it rested on my rib cage to cup my butt.

I was really liking where this dream was going, and I vaguely wondered if this was what the podcasts meant when they talked about lucid dreaming. Hooking my leg over my partner's hip, I used it to pull our bodies flush against each other.

What I hadn't been prepared for was the searing heat that sizzled through me like a lightning bolt when his hard erection pressed against me. The tiny triangle of fabric I called underwear created a barrier so thin it was probably see-through. I didn't think my partner was wearing anything at all, but I refused to open my eyes and confirm though, knowing the dream would vanish and I would be left a frustrated mess.

His lips continued to work their way up the column of my neck while his hand gently massaged my butt. Unable to resist, I ground myself against his hard length, gasping at the ripple of pleasure.

It was then that my brain came fully online, showing me a high-speed mental reel of the previous day's unexpected chaos.

"Oh!" My eyes flew open, and I found myself staring at a perfectly sculpted blue chest. There was a beautiful sheen that caught in the sun.

Hang on… I stroked my fingers across his chest, then checked to see if any glitter had come off. Are vampires and djinn related?

"No, we are not related. I know my memory isn't great, but I don't seem to remember vampires have glittery skin. Is this new?" His voice was husky, but his words still carried the melodic flow that soothed me like a lullaby.

Realizing I was hanging on him and touching him as though I had every right to, I blushed and scooted back. His smile dimmed for a second, but was back so fast I thought maybe I'd imagined the hint of sadness.

Clearing my throat, I asked the obvious, "Why are you in my bed? I thought you didn't need sleep?"

"Because you wished it and I wanted to." His fingers brushed my cheek.

"When did I—" I stopped mid-question, remembering what I'd been thinking about as I fell asleep. "Oh. Yeah."

Maybe I should have been upset that he'd climbed into my bed without asking, but it had been too nice waking up and not being alone. Which was a great reminder of how risky this was becoming if I hoped to protect my heart and mental health from yet another devastating breakup. What if I fell for him and then he finished granting my wishes and disappeared? I had no plans to ask him for anything, but he seemed to take the word wish as literal and I would need to watch myself.

"Let's discuss your questions." He rolled onto his back and tucked his arms behind his head. "My memory is hazy, but I know there isn't a set number of wishes I can grant the keeper of my lamp."

"Keeper of your lamp?" I fought the urge to roll into his side and tangle my leg with his. Why was I so drawn to him?

"I know you dislike the other terms, so I spent the evening coming up with alternatives. This one fits nicely."

Nodding, I agreed. "Yes. I like it much better."

He turned his head to stare directly into my eyes. "But I want to be clear. I have no issues being owned by you. In my past, I feel as though I've held resentment toward others who've awakened me, but I do not feel this way toward you."

It was the sweetest compliment, but that didn't make me like it any more. "I prefer to stick with the keeper of the lamp. At least until I figure out what I can do to undo this."

He studied me for a long moment, then sighed. "As you wish."

Wanting to move to safer ground, I asked, "What's your name?"

"I don't remember my name, so I'm going with Roam." His answer was quick, so he must have thought it over while I was asleep.

"It's nice to meet you, Roam. I'm Genevieve." I offered my hand for him to shake, but he caught it and placed a soft kiss on my palm. "But… you can call me Vi," I stammered.

He smirked. "I prefer the name your mother uses."

I sat up and narrowed my eyes at him. "How do you know what my mother calls me?"

His finger gently tapped my forehead. "I'm in your head, remember?"

"That's a silly nickname, and it is even more ridiculous now that I've met you." I looked down, then realized I was practically naked and tried to cover myself with the fuzzy blanket. "Genie and the djinn. It sounds like the title of a rom-com or a fairytale."

"I like the way it sounds," he purred, and an instant later, I was on my back, his body pinning me to the bed. "I understand that I'm an added complication to your already busy life—one you don't need. But until you decide what to do with me and since we are discussing things, I want to make something very clear. You do not need to feel uncomfortable around me or feel ashamed for what you feel."

"I'm not going to treat you like a toy to be used and discarded!" I protested.

Besides, that would make me no better than my exes,I added silently.

Roam brushed his fingers down the column of my neck. "Genie, if all you desire is a fling to let off some steam, I'm okay with that. You have been honest with your words and thoughts that you are not looking for a long-term relationship. Stop feeling conflicted that enjoying yourself means you're leading me on."

I opened my mouth, but he continued before I could speak. "If you wish to be petted and cuddled, but then want to go to bed alone, I will not push you for more. If you decide you prefer my body to that of the vibrating worm things in the box downstairs, I'm happy to be invited to your bed. You must understand I'm a being whose life is bound to grant wishes. It is what makes me complete, even if I might have disliked previous wishers."

He paused to kiss the tip of my nose. "Last night, it occurred to me that using my magic to complete my purpose may be what is needed to repair whatever damage was caused during my journey. I know you are content with your life and you're determined not to request anything from me. But maybe letting me grant your secret wishes, those intimate dreams you've been too shy to share, could help both of us."

I stared up into the eyes of the man who was willing to respect my boundaries, give me my space, listen to not only my words but also my thoughts, and let me use his body to make all my wildest dreams come true. It was the perfect offer, so why did it leave me feeling empty?

Because maybe it's time to consider taking down the walls you're protecting yourself with and give a good man a chance to love you…

It was a terrifying thought, especially since Roam had made no mention of the L word. He'd offered me the magic wand in his pants, not his heart.

Roam's body trembled and his eyes glowed that deep violet I'd seen the night before, then his mouth found mine in a gentle kiss that was over far too soon.

"Let's get you some coffee," he said, breaking the kiss, and the next instant, my butt was sitting on the cold kitchen counter.

"Good morning, beautiful," Roam purred, pressing a to-go cup of coffee into my hands.

"Thank you," I whispered, taking a sip and moaning as the comforting taste of my favorite coffee hit my tastebuds.

You could only get the coffee from the tiny coffee brewer one block from my previous apartment. It was my one self-indulgent splurge, and I'd been heartbroken knowing I wouldn't be able to get it on the island.

I hadn't wished for it since rubbing him into existence, but Roam had taken enough interest in what I wanted to get me not just a cup of coffee, but to get my favorite coffee. Even though there was nothing in it for him.

Sure, Francis had done stuff like that to seduce women. But Roam knew exactly which buttons to press, or stroke, to make me unable to refuse him. Yet, he wasn't taking advantage of it.

My heart fluttered, and I knew I was in deep trouble.

I needed to figure out what to do with him… because I was falling faster than I'd ever fallen before.