6. Jasmine

Isobbed until I fell asleep and woke the next morning to find the genie lounging in the chair beside the bed, snoring.

With my heart a lead weight in my chest, I sat up on the side of the bed. For a short time last night, I'd started to believe I had the chance to actually help my sister. So much for that. I needed to return to my original plan.

I nudged the genie's thigh with the toe of my slipper. "Hey, genie. Time to wake up."

His eyes remaining closed, he groaned and stretched. I tried not to drool over the play of his muscles, the way his tunic rode up to reveal his rippling abs, and how his pants outlined his thick thighs and the sizeable bulge between them.

I was a maiden, not a wanton female. I shouldn't be looking at his cock.

"See anything you like?" he asked in a lazy voice that tickled across my skin.

"In what way?" I asked primly, dragging my gaze to the carpet.

"Some of those who've summoned me have used wishes for sex." Distaste came through in his voice. "To think I could've made myself do it once and . . ."

"And . . .?"

He scowled. "Nothing."

"I see." My face overheated, but then my heart plunged down into my belly. "Did you say some people have asked you to have sex with them?"

He rose from the chair, towering over me, and the shadows in his eyes hit me in the chest like a punch. "I'm the genie in the bottle. Other than the specific rules I named last night, there are no boundaries. The wishes are granted, and I'm compelled to do what they demand. With you, pretty one," His gaze glided down my frame, "I might even enjoy it."

"I haven't been with anyone, so never fear, I won't be using a wish for sex."

His eyebrows lifted, and his eyes smoldered. "A virgin, you say? Even better."

I slid off the bed. "Ugh. Forget about it."

"I'm sure you'll change your mind. Many do. Especially virgins. I can make your first time amazing. So wonderful, no other man will compare."

I huffed. "As tempting as this sounds," Not. "I'm going to pass on your offer of sexual favors."

"Not even a kiss? It might make you change your mind."

"It wouldn't."

He took my hand and flipped it over, curling forward to kiss my palm. A shock shot up my arm and down to my core. Heat simmered low in my belly.

I gasped and wrenched my hand away from his.

He grinned.

"That wasn't a true kiss," I said. Did he hear my voice shaking? I certainly did.

"Tell you what," he said, his fingers walking across my hip and to my lower back. He tugged me into his embrace. "I'll give you a sample."

Before I could protest, his lips claimed mine. Since he was pushing this, I expected his mouth to squish mine, for him to take what he wanted without regard for my needs.

Instead, he kept his touch soft, almost delicate. It was devastatingly destructive to my peace of mind.

A moan shot up my throat, and I clutched his forearms. Clung to him, actually, as his mouth moved across mine.

When his tongue nudged at my lips, I parted them. He explored my mouth, teasing his tongue across mine.

I lost all sense of time. Of the situation. I couldn't do anything but succumb and feel.

He lifted his head and stared down at me with a frown tightening his brow. At least he appeared as stunned as me by our kiss and not as jaded as he must be by now.

When I struggled, he released me fast. I nearly tumbled back onto the bed. I pressed my hands to the surface to maintain my balance and peered up at him. When I touched my mouth with my fingertips, sure what I'd just experienced couldn't be real, he groaned and spun, turning his back to me.

"That . . ." I swallowed and struggled to find the ability to speak in a normal tone. "That was a kiss."

"It was definitely a kiss. One I will not be repeating."

"We're safe then, because I won't be using a wish to ask for another."

"You don't want a second?"

Oh, but I did. And more.

But the last thing I'd ever do to this poor genie was force him to do anything he didn't want for himself.