by Siren Allen
“You can do all of that here.”
“I don’t have a comb. I don’t have…”
He nodded to the table the cheese and wine had been on. He’d thought of everything. He had her a comb and a brush. He even had soap, moisturizer, a mirror, and perfume.
“Where did you steal this from?”
“It’s not stolen. I bartered for it.”
“I still have to bathe.”
“I have a tub.”
“That’s not exactly a tub.”
“If it’s good enough for me, it’s good enough for you. You have twenty minutes to prepare yourself. I’ll step out. I’m returning in exactly twenty minutes. No matter your state of dress or undress, we’re going out.” With that said, he turned and left the tent.
“Savage bastard,” she muttered.
He stuck his head back into the tent. “What did you say?”
“Uh, I said an outing sounds grand.”
“Bathe and get dressed,” he ordered, then left.
She kicked at the tent’s flap and cursed him inside her head. She had twenty minutes to ready herself and she wasn’t allowed to return to her lamp to do so. With a sigh, Caly strode over to the tin tub.
It was filled with water and steam was rising from it. He’d brought in water while she was asleep. It was true what her mother used to say about her. She could sleep through anything. With another glance at the tent flap, she started to undress.
She didn’t know why she was so nervous. It wasn’t like she was ashamed of her body. Plus, he wasn’t attracted to her in that way. Even if he was, he couldn’t command her to do anything sexual.
Yet, her level of nervousness had gone from level one to level six. Ten was the max. Her eyes remained on the flap until she was fully naked and submerged up to her shoulders in water. Wait, this wasn’t the usual tub he used.
She stretched her legs out and wiggled her toes. This tub was much bigger than his old one. A slight smile crossed her face. He’d gotten a bigger one on his last night in town, just for her. A blush heated her cheeks.
Maybe he wasn’t such a savage after all. Sinking deeper into the water, Caly sighed. The level six nervous feeling dropped to level two. It felt so good to be in real water. In her lamp, she didn’t bathe in real water.
Though it felt real and it got the job done, it was magical water, not water from the ocean. The tub in her lamp had been there ever since she had. Like her, it was cursed. When she turned on its faucet, water flowed from it.
Yet, against her skin, the water felt like grains of sand, coarse and prickly. No matter how much scented oils or bath bubbles she put into the tub, there was no making her cursed water feel real.
Just like her bed looked comfortable and soft, but was instead tolerable and lumpy, all of the items in her lamp were there for necessity, not comfort. Except for the items she was given permission to bring into her lamp with her.
So far, none of her other Keepers had allowed her to bring in a real bed. And there was no point in asking for a tub. She’d have no water to fill it with. She’d learned that it was best to keep her cursed items.
This water, however, felt amazing. She grabbed the soap Saxon had left for her and one of the towels lying on the table next to the tub. She sniffed the soap. Lavender. Her favorite scent. He remembered.
She’d actually gotten permission from him to bring lavender soap into her lamp once. That was one of the items she’d asked to bring with her from the Edgeworth Kingdom three weeks ago.
She couldn’t believe he still remembered that she liked it. Her gaze drifted to the comb and brush lying on the table across the room. Her savage had been a very busy wolf while she’d been asleep.
“Thank you,” she whispered. It was for him, but he didn’t need to hear it.
She hummed a tune as she lathered her washcloth and bathed. Her skin now felt smoother, softer. If she could, she’d spend the entire day in the hot water. Unfortunately, she only had twenty minutes to get dressed.
And she was pretty sure she’d already used fifteen of those minutes. Maybe after bathing, she shouldn’t have taken a few minutes to simply relax. Either way, it was now time to leave the tub.
Caly rose from the still steaming water and grabbed a towel. Wrapping it around her body, she stepped out of the tub. The cloth was rough against her skin as she dried off. Once done, she rubbed moisturizer over her flesh.
It, to, was lavender scented. The scent was permeating through the tent. It was probably even freshening up the air outside the tent. After applying lotion to her body, she started to get dressed, then paused.
There was one item missing. A small item, but one that was essential. Panties! She shook the dress out, checking to see if her underwear had gotten caught up in the fabric. Nope, it hadn’t. Damn.
She was running out of time. She slipped the dress on. It clung to her slender curves like a second skin but was loose fitting around the legs. She loved it. It would be perfect if she had on panties. The flap to the tent opened and in stepped Saxon.
“Good. You’re ready.” His gaze roamed up and down her form.
Did he approve, or didn’t he? She had too much pride to ask. It angered her that she even cared.
“No, I’m not ready,” she told him. “It seems you thought of almost everything. But you forgot one important item I’d need before going out.”
He gave her another once over before saying, “You have everything you need.”
Suspicious, Caly cocked her head to the side. “I’m wondering if you forgot this one item on purpose.”
“I assure you, I got everything you need and it wasn’t cheap. What do you think I forgot?”
“Undergarments. You forgot undergarments.”
Eyes narrowing, he hesitated for a few seconds then murmured, “Fuck.” He rubbed his hand through his long blond hair. “I didn’t think of that. How could I not think of that? The fucking merchant should’ve said something. Jasper’s connect isn’t as good as he said she was.”
He was talking to himself, not her. Caly folded her arms over her chest as Sax paced the floor.
“I told her I needed things for my lady, I mean, a lady.” His gaze drifted to hers, then quickly darted away.
How long was he going to pace? She just wanted permission to enter her lamp and get some underwear. That was all. That would solve her problem, and then they could get on with their plans.
“Wait.” He stopped pacing. “Does that mean you don’t…”
His gaze roamed over her again. It felt like he was undressing her with his eyes. That thought caused her nipples to harden. Good thing the top part of the dress was padded, or he’d be witnessing how taut her nipples were.
“Are you saying you’re not wearing anything under your dress right now?” His voice was deeper now, sexier.
Damn his gravelly voice and strange eyes that had the ability to make her feel things she had no business feeling. She squeezed her thighs together. I will not feel horny right now, she told herself before replying to him.
“May I return to my lamp for a moment? I need to get the item you forgot.”
His eyes seemed to glow brighter as he told her, “You can, after you answer my question. What do you have on under your dress?”
What did he think she had on? Duh, if he hadn’t bought her any panties, that meant she didn’t have any on. Why must she say what he already knew to be true?
“Answer me, Calypso. I wish it.”
Shit. “Your wish is my command.” She swallowed. The look in his eyes was making her nervous. Nervous and… excited. “Nothing,” she responded to his question. “I don’t have on anything under my dress.”
A low growl rumbled through his chest. A sensual sound that made her pulse quicken. He inhaled deeply then closed his eyes. A shudder rippled over his body. If she didn’t know any better, she’d think he was aroused by her. But surely…
“You may return to your lamp.” His eyes snapped open. They connected
with hers. A wave of heat flashed over her, and she was pretty sure he was the source.
“I’ll be… I’ll be… outside.”
He fled the tent, leaving her staring after him and wondering, could he be attracted to her?
Chapter Seven
“I don’t have on anything under my dress.”
That sentence was on repeat in his mind. Thank the Fates his loose-fitting tunic dropped past his waist. He’d hate for her or anyone else at the market to see how hard he was. Saxon took another deep breath to try and control the animal growling inside of him.
Damn animal. It only acted like this when he was in battle. If it was going to make noise, it should at least speak to him. Then he’d know without a doubt that she was his. His to mate with. His to cherish. His to protect.
Instead, it was simply growling. Which meant he was excited by the words she’d uttered earlier. I don’t have on anything under my dress. Another growl rumbled through his chest. Sax swiped his hand over his face and ignored a vendor who tried to offer him food.
He could feel her eyes on him. Ever since they’d left the camp, she’d been casting glances his way. Calm down, beast, he instructed his animal. She can hear you. The damn thing kept growling. This was unlike him. Damn it, why was she still staring?
Unable to take it anymore, Saxon stopped in the middle of the dirt road and glared down at her. “What?”
She took two more steps before stopping and staring over her shoulder at him. “Why is your animal growling?”
“He’s not.”
“Lies. I hear it.”
“You’re hearing the sounds of the marketplace.”
She cocked her head to the side. She looked so fucking adorable when she did that.
“Do you think I’m a fool?” His genie asked.
No. I think you’re perfect, he thought. What he said was something entirely different.
“You must be if you think you hear my animal growling.” Shut up, beast.
For a long time, she simply stared at him. He knew they were blocking the road. He didn’t care. The people could go around them. After a minute or two, she shrugged and continued walking.
He caught up with her in two strides. It was his turn to cast glances her way when she wasn’t looking. Today, she wore her blue hair pulled up into a high ponytail, revealing her slender neck for everyone to see.
And they were indeed looking. Already he’d given the death glare to three males who’d stared at her inappropriately. If looks could kill, he would’ve burned them alive where they stood.
Luckily, his glare had been enough to make them look away. Only he could stare at his genie. Now that she had her hair up, he could see a mark on her shoulder. A mark he’d never noticed before. He was pretty sure it was an ancient symbol of some sort.
“Is that a tattoo?”
“Stop being nosey.”
“What?”
“I said, no, my Lord, it’s not a tattoo.”
Lying ass genie. “What is it then?”
She stared over her shoulder. Her beauty always took his breath away.
“That is something I don’t have to tell you.”
“What if I wish…”
“A wish can’t make me tell you.” She winked at him. “I’m allowed to have some secrets.” That said, she stared forward and continue perusing the tables they passed by.
His wolf started to growl again. Neither him nor his beast liked the fact that she had secrets. He wanted to know everything about her. He’d told her his life story. Yet, she reframed from telling him hers.
“When are you going to tell me the story of how you up ended cursed to live inside a lamp?”
“Never. That’s another one of those things you can’t wish me to tell you.”
He grit his teeth and clutched his fingers into fists at his side. Why did she have to be so damn stubborn?
“My Lord, this is our last day in town. This is my first outing in years. Can we enjoy it? Can we eat new foods and look around without all of this talking?”
She didn’t want to talk to him? That offended him. Again, she looked over her shoulder at him.
“Please,” she begged.
How could he deny her anything? Glaring her way, he grabbed her wrist and pulled her over to the nearest cart.
“Pick something out,” he growled.
Looking from the table of trinkets back to him, she said, “This isn’t food.”
“Pick something.”
“But I wanted food and…”
“I wish you would pick something.”
She bit her lip but eventually whispered, “Your wish is my command.”
He was pretty sure she added bastard to the end of that sentence. He let it slide. He watched her gently touch a piece of jewelry before moving on to the next item. Though she claimed she wanted food, he could see how excited she was as she stared at the jewelry.
A slight smile spread across her face. Was his heart racing? What kind of weak shit was that? He was an alpha, the future king. No woman, other than his fated mate, should make him feel this way.
Uncomfortable, he tore his gaze away and looked at the items on the left side of the table while she took her time looking at the items on the right side. One piece, in particular, caught his eye.
A gentleman stepped to the table and reached for the piece Sax was looking at it. A growl erupted from him. Mine. The male backed away nervously. Hell, even the vendor looked nervous. Sax picked up the piece.
“What about this one?” He asked Caly. She moved closer to him. The smile that lit up her face could outshine the sun.
“It’s my favorite color.” She ran her fingers over the blue and silver piece he was holding. “It would go perfectly with the dress I’m wearing now.” She flipped the price tag over then gasped. “Uh, no, not this one. Let’s look at another…”
“I’ll take it,” Sax said to the vendor without taking his eyes off Caly. “You may keep this with you at all times if you’d like.” He was giving her permission to take it into her lamp with her.
“Sax, it costs way too much and…”
“Do you like it?”
“How could I not? But…”
“Then it’s yours.” He faced the vendor. “Please package it up for me.”
The vendor nodded. Sax pulled the coins from the satchel at his waist and handed them to the vendor.
“Thank you,” the vendor gave him the package then bowed to him. “Thank you too, my Lady.”
“You’re welcome.” Caly bowed slightly to the male.
Sax gripped her hand, then strode away from the vendor.
“Sax,” she muttered. “Do you know how much rice and meat you could’ve bought with that?”
“My ship is already stocked for our departure.”
“Then, you could’ve…”
“It’s my money. I can do what I want with it.”
“I know. But…”
He stopped and stared down at her. “It’s my money, Caly. If I want to buy you all the jewels in the world with it, I can. Understood?”
She swallowed, then nodded. “Yes, my Lord.”
“While we’re out, don’t call me that. Just call me Saxon. I wish it.”
“Your wish is my command,” she whispered.
“Good. Now let’s find you some food.”
A smile returned to her face. “I wonder if they have rice patties? Ooh, and I want cheese. All the cheese. Oh, and wine. The sweet kind, not the bitter kind.”
She was so excited that she didn’t realize he was still holding her hand.
“Let’s go find all of that for you, greedy genie.”
Her chin lifted. Their gazes met. “Okay, savage.”
This woman, this genie, made him feel things he’d never felt before. Giving her up was going to be hell. He didn’t know if he could do it. When the time came, he didn’t know if he could let her go.
***
All he was doing was holding her hand.<
br />
It wasn’t like he was going down on her or anything. Yet, her knees felt weak, and her heart was racing. And he’d brought her jewelry. Blue jewelry. And it was expensive. Ugh. Why was he behaving this way?
It was easy to dislike him when he was being a ruthless savage. Not so much when he was being a savage gentleman. Who even knew savage gentleman existed? He was an anomaly. He was hard to figure out.
He was also getting a lot of attention from the ladies in the marketplace. She glared at one lady in particular. A busty redhead whose breasts looked like they’d spill out of her dress any minute now.
Caly’s gaze narrowed and she gave the woman a, I wish a bitch would, look. The woman huffed and flounced off, breasts bouncing as she stomped away. Those were the kind of women her savage liked.
Women with meat on their bones. Women who had enough cushion for the pushing. Fuck those women. And fuck him too. She went to jerk her hand away from his. He stopped before she could and faced her.
“Aah, I forgot to put the necklace on you.” Releasing her hand, he unwrapped the necklace. “It is rather beautiful. It’s the same color as your eyes.”
And just like that, her anger dissipated.
“Turn around.”
Doing as she was told, she turned her back to him. He was so close, she could smell the scent of his soap. Had he bathed again while she was asleep? He must have. This soap smelled different from the one he’d used last night.
After he fastened the link of her necklace, he smoothed the link out then turned her to face him. Once they were face to face, he smoothed the front of the necklace out also, making sure no part of it was raised or bunched.
His fingertips grazed her skin. She shivered. His wolf growled. If she wasn’t careful, she’d end up doing something she hadn’t done since being trapped in this lamp. She’d end up falling for him. Shaking her head to clear her thoughts, she looked to the vendors.
You can’t allow that to happen, Caly. You can’t fall for the Keeper of your lamp. He owns you. He was her enemy. And would be, for as long as he ruled over her. She’d never fall for someone who wanted to rule over her. Never!