Chapter Eight

Genevieve

"Are you sure about this?" Roam asked as we walked down the street toward the center of town. "I'm sure your coworkers are going to have questions if they see us together."

"Absolutely positive." Interlacing my fingers through his, I smiled shyly up at him. "Are you okay if they assume you're my boyfriend?"

"Are you?" His playful expression turned serious.

"Yes." My cheeks burned, and I stared hard at the sidewalk as though stepping on the next crack truly might break my mama's back.

His fingers curled tighter around mine, sending warmth tingling up my arm. "Then I'm happy to be your fake boyfriend."

My heart thudded wildly, and I stopped walking, pulling him to an abrupt stop. "How would you feel about being my real boyfriend?"

Roam used my hand to pull me against his chest. "I'd like that very much."

"You aren't agreeing just because I am the keeper of your lamp, right?" I voiced the concern that still lingered in my mind.

He shook his head in amusement. "Genie, you've yet to voice a single wish out loud. Nothing I have done is because I was forced. Bits and pieces of my memory continue to return, and I can assure you this is the first time I've had complete freedom to do whatever I wanted."

I sucked my bottom lip into my mouth. "What if you only like me because of that?"

His laugh was beautiful, and I felt myself swooning. "My innocent little human. I'm a djinn. We do the minimum required to satisfy the curse that binds us to grant wishes. If I didn't have feelings for you, we wouldn't even be talking. I think about you every hour of the day and night because I want to and I can't help myself."

Wrapping my arms around his jean-clad waist, I pressed my face to his black tee and enjoyed the comfort that touching him brought me. "I'm scared."

"I know. It's okay." He kissed the top of my head. "We can go as fast or as slow as you want. There is no rush."

I cleared my throat. "I know you offered me the use of your body for a fling, but if we are trying out a serious relationship, then I'd like it to be mutual. I'm not sure when I'll be ready for sex, but aside from that, I want us to feel comfortable touching each other whenever and wherever. You act on my thoughts, but I'd like my boyfriend to know it's okay to act on his own thoughts too."

He said nothing, but his fingers dug into my hips. My body flushed, and I worried he thought I was being too forward.

"Are you sure? I have a lot of thoughts." His husky voice sent slick heat rushing between my thighs.

"Is that a promise or a threat?" I asked, half-tempted to turn and drag him back to the house.

His hands moved to cup my butt, and he lifted me, then twisted around to pin me against the tall white fence that ran along the sidewalk. I gasped and wrapped my legs around his waist.

Roam ground his pelvis against me, letting me feel the exact breadth and length of his desire. "I'll ask again, my sweet Genie. Are you sure? You have no idea how much I'm holding back, or how often I force myself not to touch you because I don't want to overwhelm you."

I was still terrified that I would end up heartbroken and a broken shell of myself. But I knew without a doubt he was worth the risk.

"You might be surprised." I brushed my lips against his. "It might be you who is overwhelmed."

"I wish you'd try," he teased. "Now, we better get to the festival or we might not make it at all."

Disappointment flared in my chest, but he was right. Besides, we had all night to explore each other's bodies.

Fifteen minutes later, we were sitting at picnic tables, sipping lemonade and eating funnel cake with my coworkers. They'd accepted Roam without even a raised eyebrow, although Bitzy had winked at me to show her approval, and Barker had pretended to fan herself after shaking his hand.

Yeah, my boyfriend was hot.

Roam never stopped touching me. If we weren't holding hands, then he had a hand on my lower back, or his palm resting on my thigh.

It wasn't possessive or sexual; it was as though he wanted the reassurance I was close. It made me wonder how often he'd been around crowds, if ever.

When we finished eating, our small group moved through the festival, enjoying the booths overflowing with fresh roses of every imaginable color. Every booth had something unique to admire, and I spent far too much time leafing through edible flower cookbooks, admiring kitchen knives with rose petals arranged in their clear resin handles, and stunning rose-themed paintings by local artists.

Two separate times I thought I could feel someone staring at me, and would turn to catch sight of a dark-haired woman melding into the crowd. I tried to calm the flash of panic by reminding myself she lived on the island and I was bound to run into her—especially at community events. Just because she was attending the rose festival too didn't mean she was out to get me.

"Are you okay?" Barker whispered, tucking her arm through mine. "You keep looking over your shoulder."

"I'm fine. Probably just overthinking things." I forced a laugh and tried to relax my tense muscles.

"I know just the thing to get you out of your head!" Barker's eyes sparkled and her ears twitched in excitement. "Let's put you in the dunking booth!"

"I don't know—"

"It's for charity! How can you say no to helping a good cause?" She blinked up at me with what I guessed was the fairy version of begging puppy eyes.

"But I don't have a bathing suit!" I protested.

Roam tapped my tote and winked. "Yes, you do. I packed one."

"Yay!" Barker squealed. "Bitzy! Go tell the announcer we have a dunking booth victim—I mean, volunteer. I'm going to take Vi to get changed! Let's go!"

There was nothing I could do but laugh as she dragged me to get changed… right up until I saw the size of the bikini the naughty djinn had conjured up for me.

I was going to kill him.

#

"Stop hiding! If I had legs like those, I'd be showing them off at every opportunity!" Barker grabbed my arm and pulled me toward the dunking booth. She was shockingly strong for someone so tiny. "Seriously, you look fab! Guys are going to be lining up to have a chance to get you wet!"

"Maybe this isn't a good idea," I muttered, feeling self-conscious.

While the bikini covered all the important bits, and wasn't scandalous, I wasn't used to showing off so much skin. It was something I probably needed to get used to since bathing suits were everyday wear here on the island.

Despite my protests, a few minutes later, I found myself sitting inside the dunking booth. The announcer reminded everyone this was for charity, and a line formed, ready to send me plunging into the water.

I searched the crowd but couldn't find my tall, blue hunk anywhere. Maybe he'd gone to the restroom. Did djinn go to the bathroom?

An older guy stepped to the pitching line and tossed his three balls at the target. They all missed, and he stepped out of the way to let the next person take his place.

That's when I heard Roam whisper behind me. "I'm not visible right now, so don't turn around."

Pretending to wipe water from my face, I mumbled, "What are you doing in here?"

"You did say I could touch you whenever." His hands slid down the bare skin of my back, pausing to tease the thin tie holding my top in place.

"I did," I breathed, hoping the woman tossing balls at me would hit the target… but also hoping she wouldn't.

"You also said wherever." His fingers brushed along my stomach. "I want to touch you, and no one is able to see what is happening unless your face gives it away."

I pretended to cover my face in mock panic as the woman tossed a second ball and whispered, "What are you talking about?"

He pressed a kiss to the top of my foot, then began kissing his way up my calf and thigh.

My legs trembled, and the announcer roared with laughter. "Miss Vi is up here shaking, folks! How about someone who can actually step up and put this little lady out of her misery?"

Roam clicked his tongue. "You're going to have to do better than that."

Clenching my teeth, I braced myself for where he might touch me next. Unable to see him, I had to rely solely on touch to know where he was at.

His tongue trailed up my stomach, and I fought my shiver. This isn't fair, I thought toward him, pretty sure he could hear me.

"Maybe not. But it's fun," he growled, nipping my neck while his fingers ran over my skin.

His fingers, lips and tongue continued to touch, stroke and tease until my body was on fire and I was pretty sure steam was going to rise from the water if I ever got dunked.

"I'm keeping them from hitting it." His devilish chuckle had my heart-rate spiking.

Or maybe it was the way he was placed kisses down my spine, from my neck to the band of my bikini bottoms that was causing blood to pound in my ears.

There's a lock on the changing room door. If you let them dunk me, we could—

I didn't get to finish before my seat dropped and I plunged beneath the water.

That wasn't nice! I thought as loudly as possible, hoping the volume would carry.

His sexy laughter brushed my mind. I'll make up for it as soon as you get to the changing room.