Djinn Lover

by Michelle Howard

He’d given more expensive pieces to women he hadn’t slept with. “What about the helicopter accident?”

  There’d been mechanical failure. The pilot and passengers died. Kale hadn’t been discovered. He’d awakened beneath slabs of concrete and made his way home dazed and confused. Nothing explained why he’d been there.

  Jadon tapped the spilled papers on the seat between them. “Two tickets to the museum. Although it looks like you did something there. Cameras only show Ms. Sutherland at the lobby going in. No further footage of either of you anywhere in the building. We both know you were definitely there at the time of the accident.”

  Jadon had been seated at the kitchen island eating a sandwich when Kale arrived in his torn tee shirt, destroyed jeans and blood streaking his face. He’d been there alright. It wasn’t unusual for Kale to mess with recordings. He didn’t often like his presence tracked and modern technology made that harder and harder.

  Why bother buying tickets and attending though? Had Carolyn wanted him to be traced? Maybe she’d set up the accident. Pain winged his forehead again, causing Kale to rub at the ache.

  It all came back to Carolyn. Why was she continuing this farce? What did she hope to gain?

  Unaware of his dark thoughts, Jadon continued. “We are beyond a practical joke, Kale. I’m not sure what the hell happened that week. Does any of this seem familiar? Is it possible you thought about marrying her?”

  “At dinner? After only one night together?” Kale scoffed, but the skin at his collar grew hot. He tugged and ripped his tie loose. There’d obviously been more than one night. The buzzing in his ears started again and his breathing became reedy. “I’d know, if I married someone, Jadon. I’d damn sure tell someone if I...fell in lust with this woman!”

  It wasn’t love. That feeling didn’t exist.

  Jadon nodded, leaning back against the leather seat. “My thoughts as well. You wouldn’t have kept it a secret. Not from me anyway, unless you had a well thought out plan on how to handle it. Now we need to figure out what game she’s playing.”

  Kale didn’t like the fury boiling beneath Jadon’s words. True, they needed to discover what Carolyn really wanted. But under no circumstances would anyone hurt her.

  He clenched his jaw to stare out the tinted windows.

  Unless it was him.

  Chapter 25

  The door opened and shut. Carolyn tensed and jerked up from her slouch on the stool. Footsteps tapped on the tile floor.

  “I’ll see you in the morning, Jadon.”

  The man himself was home. No way she’d mistake the whisky rough voice. She’d spent the day putting her stuff away in the guest bedroom, fixed something to eat and then chewed on her thumbnail.

  The footsteps came to a stop. Carolyn turned toward the entry way of the family room off of the massive kitchen. Kale stood alone. Staring.

  She jumped to her feet and cleared her throat. “How was your day?”

  His mouth twisted in a sneer. “Well done. You sound very wifely.”

  Carolyn flushed. She needed to remember why she was here. Until she got her Kale back she had to deal with this version. First order of business was not letting his snide comments get to her. With that in mind, she gave him a taste of his own bitterness. “Get used to it. Sweetling.”

  The sneer fell into a frown and inside she cheered.

  “Careful, Carolyn...Serano.”

  Her mouth dried out. Taunt or acknowledgement? “Did you remember anything?”

  He snorted and walked closer. The air vibrated between them. The mug she’d set down rattled on the counter. He stopped one step away. And grinned. Full of smug superiority. He knew she was frightened.

  One more step. He closed the gap. Carolyn gasped when their bodies made contact. It was a knee jerk reaction to the proximity of his sensual male heat. He lowered his head. Close. So close his breath fluttered her lashes.

  Kale tried to hide it but the hunger in his gaze nearly burned her alive. He brushed her cheek with his thumb. The sensual touch had her shuddering. “If I did your ruse would be up. Wouldn’t it?”

  She swallowed past the knot in her throat. “When you remember, you’re going to hate yourself for the way you treated me.”

  Confusion flashed in his gold eyes. Then rage. More rage than Carolyn had ever witnessed from a living being. His thumb pressed harder on her cheek, no longer a caress. “And you’ll regret lying to me.”

  He pulled away before she could respond. “Stay comfortable. Jadon will have dinner ready by six.”

  The moment he was out of sight, Carolyn exhaled. She leaned over, hand to chest. This wasn’t as easy as she’d imagined it.

  “Are you okay with chicken?”

  At the new voice, Carolyn jerked upright. Her heart slammed against her chest. Jadon raised a brow at her reaction before sauntering toward the cabinets along the wall by the sink. There was a lazy grace about him as he pulled bowls and silverware out. He wore a pair of low slung jeans and a tee shirt that could be categorized as two sizes too small. The faded comic decal on the front stretched over his chest, the sleeves tattered at the edges.

  Carolyn swallowed her unease. “I like chicken.”

  He nodded but didn’t turn as he grabbed more containers from the refrigerator. Movements easy and smooth, he began putting together a meal which had Carolyn staring. She slid back on the stool near the island. Getting through to Kale would include getting through to this man. His right hand partner. And friend.

  Carolyn was fairly sure there was a strong friendship there. “I guess you think I’m lying too.”

  “It doesn’t matter what I think.” He opened the oven and slid a dish in. His bare feet scuffed across the tiled floor. He put everything away. Neat and orderly.

  “You...um...live here, right?”

  Finished with prepping their meal, he slouched a hip against the sink behind him. He tipped his head to the side before answering. “Yes. Have for a few years.”

  The bland look in his eyes didn’t fool her. Carolyn sensed his dislike. She’d felt it at Kale’s office.

  She rubbed her damp hands on her thighs. Her stomach lurched. “Well. That’s nice.”

  Amusement danced in his gaze. “Is it?”

  To hell with this. Carolyn slapped her palms on the counter and leaned forward. “I’m sure you and Kale discussed this. How to handle me. My claims. None of it matters.” She held up her shaking left hand. The diamond glinted from the overhead recessed lights. “We love each other.”

  Jadon stared at her ring finger then her face. He crossed his arms over his chest. Carolyn’s breath caught. She waited for some cutting remark. Some secret weapon he probably had to discredit her to Kale.

  His lips parted—

  “Is dinner ready, Jadon?” Kale entered on silent feet.

  Darkness seeped into the room around him. The black button down and black jeans reminded Carolyn of their private time together. The casual dress stripped away the ice of the suit wearing business man. Until their eyes met. Cold.

  The clothes had changed but the man had not. Sardonic amusement curled the corner of his mouth. She remembered this feeling. The absence of the warm affection she’d grown used to hurt.

  Jadon straightened. “All done and ready.”

  “Good. That will be all.”

  Without another word, Jadon left them alone in the kitchen and disappeared down the hall.

  ***

  The meal was a silent one. Across from him, Carolyn’s conversation slowed. Grew stilted as he failed to play whatever game this was. Kale finished his food and stood abruptly. His chair scraped the floor. Despite not believing they were married, he couldn’t deny being drawn to her.

  Eating what was probably another gourmet quality meal prepared by Jadon had been torture. He’d tasted none of it and only ate it to appease her human sensibilities. Taking his time, Kale made his way to her side of the table. Her large brown eyes watched him closely. Her plumps lips quivered when he re
turned her stare with feigned disinterest. He was interested. Far more than he should be.

  The attraction between them was real. His dick was rock hard at the thought of the coming night. Her. In his bed. He wasn’t alone in the shocking pull that urged him to pick her up and fuck her against his counters.

  “Done?”

  She’d barely touched her food. “Yes.”

  There was a nervous tremor in her hand as she placed her fork beside the full plate.

  “Good. Let’s go upstairs.” He stood back and waved her toward the stairway.

  “Kale...”

  He raised a finger. There was only one thing he wanted to know right now. “Are you backing out? Admitting that this is a farce?”

  She glared, the softening in her gaze fading. “No. You’re my husband.”

  Part of him was relieved. He wanted her. Soft and giving beneath him. If she’d changed her mind, he’d have had Jadon promptly take her home. It would have put an end to this game she played. But also kept him from claiming her tonight.

  “And somehow, I’ll make you remember.”

  Kale gave her points for tenacity as he followed her swinging hips to his upper level. He watched intently to see which direction she’d take at the top and let out a breath as she unerringly headed toward his master suite.

  As soon as he crossed the entryway, Kale slammed the door closed behind them. “Take off your clothes.”

  Coming to a stop in the middle of the room, she gasped. Her eyes grew large in a face gone pale. “Now?”

  “Why wait?” He paused. “Unless you want me to...seduce you? Whisper in your ear, help you pretend this isn’t about sex?”

  “You want to scare me away. I’m not scared of you, Kale.”

  “So you keep telling me,” he drawled. She was shaking so hard he could see it from where he stood.

  Instead of answering, she toed off her vibrant orange sandals. Her toes curled in the carpet. Toes, he noted with bemusement, topped with bright red polish. Carolyn shifted about and placed one foot on top of the other, her arms hugged about her torso.

  Kale waved a hand at her. “Keep going. You have no idea how much I’ve been wanting to explore your body again. Lick every inch.”

  Carolyn swallowed, her throat bobbing with the motion. He rocked back on his heels to wait. This was the true test. She’d either storm out, confess her lies, or—.

  “Only if I get to do the same.” Her fingers went to the buttons of her top and undid them one at a time. “Lick you all over, that is.”

  She wanted him. Flooded the room with her scent. Desire. Unchecked. Unashamed. Her gaze held his as she lifted the bottom of her pretty top. Peach tinted skin was revealed inch by inch. Kale couldn’t look away.

  Carolyn tossed the blouse to the floor. She wore a lace covered bra in red. His new favorite color. Swollen nipples budded against the material. Kale’s mouth watered. She tugged on the waist of her jeans and slid them down her legs.

  Kale choked.

  The red lace underwear covered nothing. He could see the outline of her sex before she shimmied and the scrap of lace ended on the floor with her jeans to reveal a thin line of blonde curls. Kale’s grin grew wolfish. If there was one thing he admitted to loving in this era, it was the new fashion trend that had women grooming in the hottest ways possible.

  “Are you just going to watch?” Nerves tickled through the question as she undid her bra and hesitantly lowered it to the floor. Not as confident as she appeared.

  “I might.”

  Her nipples pebbled. Pink and hard. She liked the thought. Good.

  “I don’t care.” She licked her lips as she uttered the obvious lie and Kale groaned.

  Her mouth. Her lush full mouth. He stared longer than was acceptable but couldn’t stop. He imagined her soft lips pillowed against his. Her taste. Her smell.

  The overwhelming need to kiss her weakened him.

  Kale approached slowly. His gaze connected with hers, making his intent clear.

  He would take her.

  Again.

  And again. And again.

  ***

  Carolyn decided Kale was a jerk. A jerk with a thick erection jutting the front of his jeans. One hand went to the bulge and he palmed his length. Her heart pounded. Excitement and nerves. He stopped in front of her. Carolyn tipped her head back to see his face. He wore the smirk she’d come to hate.

  “Last chance.”

  No. This wasn’t her last chance. This was her only chance. To convince him of her love and to get him to fall in love with her again. With that thought upper most in mind, she moved a fraction of an inch forward until her bare breasts bumped his clothed chest.

  A whispered gasp flowed from her parted lips and Kale’s gold eyes darkened. He cupped her jaw and ran his fingers down her throat. Trembling, Carolyn could do nothing but hold still. She forced herself to think only of the man she’d married and not this cold, ruthless imitation.

  “You are very foolish or very clever.” His thumb hovered over her pounding pulse. He tipped his head to the side, dark hair sliding over his brow. “I’m not even sure I care any more.”

  On that note, he dropped his hands to her waist and lifted her in his arms. Carolyn’s back hit the bed and she pushed up on her elbows. Kale flicked his hand at his torso and his clothes vanished. Nothing but tanned layers of muscles. He placed a knee to the bed then another, crawled over her, bracketing her body as he crouched on all four above her.

  Carolyn ran her hands up his chest. “No matter what you think, I love you.”

  He flinched then pumped his hips forward and plunged deep. Wet and aroused despite her nerves, he slid right in. Thick. Hard. And filling her in a slow steady back and forth push. The feel of his hot length brought with it bittersweet memories. She closed her eyes against the tears that tried to slide free and hung on.

  Above her Kale remained silent with each thrust. Her inner walls flexed and released, passion zinging through her blood stream. Her breath came in light pants, then heavy moans. No matter how closed off he seemed, this was her Kale and she wanted him as she’d never wanted another. With that thought in mind, Carolyn refused to allow him to overwhelm her with his overt sexuality.

  This meant something. He could pretend otherwise but the body didn’t lie. She tightened her arms about his shoulders, dug her nails in to hold on as she rocked her hips to meet his. He stuttered. The deliberate pace off kilter for a beat.

  “That’s right. I’m here. This isn’t meaningless for me no matter how hard you try to make it that.”

  Kale stilled, their gazes locked together. “I’ve been around more years than you will ever see. I’ve lost count of how many women I’ve had. What makes you think this isn’t a casual fuck?”

  He pulled out then slammed back in on a groan. “I. Can. Have. Any. Woman. I. Want.”

  He punctuated each word with a fierce thrust. Carolyn smiled up at him, her body loose and accommodating. She knew he read the sincerity in the gesture when his bravado slipped and his measured strokes went awkward. Her fingers laced through his hair as Carolyn leaned up to kiss his throat. “You didn’t marry any of them. Deep down inside, you know I’m telling the truth and it has you scared. Scared because you can’t remember. And that’s okay, Kale. My love is strong enough to see us through. You can bet on it.”

  He shuddered. Cursed under his breath and then his hips were banging against her. His expression couldn’t mask his feelings. Everything was raw and there for her to see. The frustration and just like she’d mentioned...the fear.

  Carolyn’s release steamed over her, timed by fate or accident. She wasn’t sure and didn’t care because the hot blast of liquid below assured Kale had come as well.

  Chapter 26

  Day three was a repeat of the first two. Kale was up and gone to his office before Carolyn had even opened her eyes. Deliberate on his part she was sure.

  Carolyn spent the early part of the day working. By two that aft
ernoon she hit her word limit, finished email and completed her social media for the day. She shut down her laptop, leaving it on the kitchen island. Maybe she could find some hint or clue in his home that would help her bridge the gap with Kale or spring his memory.

  If they continued at this rate, her week would be over and she’d lose him. Forever. Because Carolyn had no doubt after last night he’d double his efforts to keep her from ever being face to face with him again. Kale wasn’t a man to offer second chances. To anyone.

  Unfortunately, things didn’t go according to her plan. Her phone buzzed an hour later while she was only half way through her tour of his house, which had revealed nothing about the man she’d come to love.

  “Hello?”

  “Jadon and I had to head to New York for a meeting. We won’t be home until late this evening.”

  No greeting for him. Carolyn leaned a hip against the French patio doors leading out to a two layered deck. “Is everything alright?”

  A hum of silence across the line. If she didn’t know Kale better, she’d think him shocked but that couldn’t be possible. Instead of answering her question, Kale continued as if she hadn’t spoken. “Dale is aware and will be available should you need him. Do you understand, Carolyn?”

  As if she were a simpleton. Carolyn sighed. “Yes. You won’t be home and I should find a means of entertaining myself.” She straightened from her slouch and turned away from the beautiful view of his back lawn. “Did you have a decorator do the house?”

  She’d been trying to figure it out because of the lack of personal touch yet nothing was too stiff. Whoever it was had done an amazing job.

  Kale sighed. “Is there some relevance to that question?”

  He sounded so affronted she couldn’t help needling. “No, but as your wife I might want to make changes.”

  “Carolyn, if you—”

  She tapped the button, ending the call in the middle of his growled threat. Her heart felt suddenly lighter. The rest of the day flew by and while she hadn’t learned anything helpful during her poking, she was confident her presence would have some effect on him.