“I wanted to be close in case you had another nightmare.”
She watched him move his stiff muscles, rub his face and then twist and turn his neck to work out the kinks. “Is that a genie rule? Protect me from nightmares?” She knew better.
“Nope.”
“Huh, imagine that.” She took a sip of coffee to hide her smile. A man who didn’t care didn’t sleep on a hardwood floor to stop a nightmare.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Nothing. I have coffee and breakfast ready if you’re interested.” Chance pushed to her feet and headed back to the kitchen.
Instead of waiting for him, she sat down and dished out some peaches, smeared jelly on her toast and began to eat. Hayes wandered over and helped himself. He seemed to enjoy it, in fact, she heard a slight moan of delight every once in a while.
“I’m going to get a shower. You finish up what’s here and put the dishes in the sink. I’ll clean them up later.”
“I do the dishes,” he mumbled around a mouthful of toast.
“Suit yourself.” Instead of grabbing clothes from her room first, she went straight to the bathroom.
When she finished, she wrapped her towel around her body and ambled back out into the kitchen for another cup of coffee. Hayes had cleaned everything up and sat there sipping a steamy mug himself. That is until he caught sight of her. One thing about the man, he was expressive. If she couldn’t tell what he was thinking from his eyes, the rest of his body told the story.
Every muscle went taut, his spine shot ramrod straight and his fingers tightened on the mug. Good. A few days of this and he wouldn’t be able to push her away anymore. At least that was her plan.
After filling her mug she sashayed back to her bedroom, feeling his gaze with each swaying step. She’d never been a tease in her life and hoped like hell she didn’t come off looking like a fool. The tortured moan she heard from the kitchen declared her mission a success.
Before she knew it, he loomed in her doorway. Chance let her towel drop to the floor. Hayes appeared before her in a blink of a second. He laid her down on the bed so gently it nearly frightened her. His tenderness didn’t stop there. Hayes kissed her with great affection. He took his time, nibbled at her lips as if they would break. Small fires set on her flesh as he moved down, giving attention to her jaw before lavishing her neck.
This was different. They’d always damn near attacked each other. Now he seemed to be worshiping her body. To her surprise the anticipation grew hotter, more intense. She panted as he sucked and teased her nipples, moaned when he dipped his tongue into her bellybutton and almost shot off the bed when he kissed her pussy.
Before, he spent forever licking and teasing her. This morning he couldn’t wait. As she lay there watching him undress, she realized a shift had occurred. The game changed somewhere between yesterday and now. Did it have something to do with Annie?
All thought of Annie and what could lie ahead disappeared. Hayes gripped his cock, gave it a slow stroke and when his hand pulled away, he was covered with a condom. God, she would never get tired of seeing him naked. Chance lifted her arms and Hayes came into them.
With one smooth thrust he entered her as his lips took her mouth in a gentle, dare she say, loving kiss. The sex wasn’t rushed or desperate, rather slow and sensual. They didn’t speak, only enjoyed each other. Hayes took her hands, raised them above her head and linked their fingers. Their bodies moved together as if one. His thrusts were liquid, torturing nerve endings as he drew back slowly and entering with the same pace.
The fire in her belly grew intense. Hayes dipped his head, sucked on a tender nipple and then lavished the other with attention. She couldn’t hold back any longer. Her orgasm simmered near the surface of her skin. It would burn her alive when she came. How could this slow, languid lovemaking be hotter than what they shared before? Hayes must have sensed her confusion. He nodded.
“I know,” he whispered. “It’s okay.”
With that she came. This time she didn’t fall or explode but the pleasure contained itself to her body, rolling through her limbs, filling her head, curling her toes and tingling her hair. Tears sprang to her eyes, leaked out the corners and dripped onto the mattress. She writhed beneath him as he groaned with his release. His hips kept working gently, drawing out their releases. Chance locked her legs around his waist, afraid he’d pull out before she could milk the very last bit of sheer bliss from him.
When the tsunami of erotic heaven subsided Hayes fell forward, at the same time rolling, taking her with him. She lay there sprawled on his broad chest, tears falling and creating small puddles. He stroked her back, kissed her face but never spoke a word. Somehow she got the feeling that this was his way of telling her what he couldn’t in words.
Which of course made it that much more special and brought on more tears. He did love her but he couldn’t voice it. Damn men and their inability to talk. Now he’d turned her into a blubbering female.
“I won’t let you leave me,” she managed. She felt him sigh beneath her, his chest rising and falling slowly. “I’ll find a way.”
“I know you’ll try, darlin’. And that means more than any wish I could ever think up.”
It took nearly an hour for them to pull themselves together and get ready for the day. Strangely enough, Chance felt wonderful. As they drove to town she told Hayes about her plan to report Bill to the police. He supported the idea, praising her for being brave. She explained it had nothing to do with bravery and everything to do with covering her ass.
“If he pulls anything else I’ll report it and the police will have a nice file on him.”
“If they don’t already,” Hayes replied.
That made her think. Lo and behold he did. The sheriff’s deputy ran a check on old Bill and found he’d been charged with assault several times throughout his life. Instead of age mellowing him out it appeared the man got worse. Isn’t that what she needed?
The police gave her some advice, told her to call them if he came onto her property again and filed her report. Chance walked out of the police station feeling a bit better but leery at the same time. She didn’t know what his charges entailed but a man who continued to be arrested for the same thing could mean trouble.
Chance pushed all that aside and talked Hayes into carving his pumpkins outside her store where passersby could see. It worked. The tree he carved last night and two he created throughout the day sold immediately.
“That’s one talented man,” Jenny observed.
“Yes, he is. I should get more pumpkins. He’s great for business.”
“He’s old-fashioned, isn’t he?”
Chance chuckled. “I find it charming.”
“So are you ready to tell me what happened and sent you running away for the day?”
Without hesitation, Chance told the story of Bill and his attack. Instead of fear, Jenny responded with blind rage. The curse words flew from the older woman’s mouth, intensifying when Chance explained the man had a record for several assaults. After Jenny vented she calmed down, only twitching her face a bit as if she wanted to say something.
“Well, I liked your young man, but now I think I love him. I can’t imagine what that slimy bastard would have done if Hayes hadn’t shown up.”
“I try not to think about it, Jenny. I’d be afraid to step outside my house.”
The day went on, sales were good and Chance decided she liked having Hayes there with her. More importantly, he appeared to be enjoying himself as well. At closing time they took Jenny home. Hayes walked her to the door and when he returned to the car, Chance laughed.
“You’re going to make her fall in love with you,” she warned.
“I like her. She’s tough, sweet and independent. Those are hard qualities to beat in a woman.”
The rest of the ride home they chatted normally about the day, about how many more pumpkins he could carve and about spending Halloween evening at the store handing out c
andy. That really got his attention. Chance explained how the local stores stayed open for trick or treat and what fun it was to see all the kids. Hayes jumped on board, eager for the festivities.
After an evening of work on projects in the barn Chance went in and fixed supper. With dinner and dishes done, she changed into a white tank top and an extra-tight pair of shorty shorts. Normally she wore this to bed in the summer but with the fire burning the house seemed extra toasty, or maybe it was Hayes being there that made her temperature rise.
As soon as she appeared in the living room his jaw went slack and then slammed closed as his muscles bunched. Every move she made he followed closely. When she went to the fire and bent over, a muted, strangled sound came from his throat. Pure female satisfaction burned through her.
Every day passed like that. Them acting as a normal couple. They worked together well, talked as if they’d known each other all their lives and then tore into each other with either raging lust or quiet sensuality.
Halloween night turned out to be a blast. She had more fun watching Hayes react with the children than anything else. A brief moment of panic struck when she saw a young woman dressed in a skimpy nurse’s outfit come strutting down the street with three children. Her breasts were jacked up beneath her chin, oozing over the material that barely covered her nipples. God help everyone if she bent over. Beaver sightings would be reported for days.
Chance could tell the woman spotted Hayes and appreciated what she saw. With her gaze fixed firmly on him, the woman put a little extra strut in her step. The three unsuspecting kids ran up, holding their bags out. Hayes talked to each one, admiring their costumes while their chaperone admired him.
“Got any lollipops for the nurse?” she purred, thrusting her breasts out farther.
Chance barely stifled a groan at the innuendo. Forward much? Still, a spear of fear jabbed through her as she waited for Hayes’ reaction. How would he handle such a blatant display with another woman?
He fished around in the candy bowl, dug out a lollipop and handed it to the woman. Now, there was no missing the perky, smooshed together boobs spilling over the barely there material. A man would have to be totally without sight to miss it but Hayes didn’t let his gaze so much as touch on them.
“Have a nice evenin’,” he said casually.
Slutty nurse apparently didn’t appreciate the lack of attention. “Do you like my costume?”
The children hopped up and down, moaned and whined as whoever this was to them spent valuable candy-snagging time flirting. Chance didn’t blame them. Who did this sort of thing with kids around?
“Well,” Hayes responded slowly. “To be honest, it doesn’t leave much to the imagination.”
This apparently pleased slutty nurse. She grinned and beamed as if she’d accomplished her goal.
“I like unwrappin’ a gift and bein’ surprised at what I find inside instead of havin’ it all out in the open. It means it hasn’t been used and was just for me.”
Like a blown light bulb, her glow faded into nothing. There she stood with a what the hell look on her face.
“Enjoy your night,” he said, dismissing her just like that and moving on to two other children who ran up.
Chance stood back and watched slutty nurse walk away as if someone had poked a pin in her overinflated ego. Hayes had probably been the only man all night to call her on the trashy outfit and in such a way the woman didn’t know how to react. Damn, but she loved this guy.
That night when they returned home, Chance asked him about the woman. “You mean to tell me you weren’t the least bit turned-on by all that flesh exposed?”
He shrugged. “Not at all.”
“Boy, being in that bottle has you really screwed up.”
“No, I have a type, Chance, and she isn’t my type.”
“Oh, what type is that?” Wouldn’t this be interesting?
“I like women who are intelligent enough to know they’re sexy and not have to go out in public and flaunt it. Prostitutes in my day wore more than that woman had on. I meant what I said, discoverin’ the gift is as much fun as havin’ it. All that said to me is she’s used goods. Not that there’s anythin’ wrong with it but I’m not interested in that type of used.”
Couldn’t he teach a man a thing or two? Now she wondered about her decision of walking around the house at night in her tight tank top and skimpy shorts. Did it turn him off? That night she put the sleep clothes on but also tossed on a lightweight robe.
“Are you cold?” he asked, getting up and going to the fire. “I’ll stoke the fire, get more heat in here.”
After that, every night he had the house at a sweltering eighty and up degrees. She either went without the robe or melted. Perhaps he did like the way she walked around her house at night?
The next three weeks came and went. They settled into a comfortable daily routine. She noticed Hayes had relaxed his guard around her. After amazing sex he stayed with her instead of running off.
Life was marvelous. Bill hadn’t made an appearance since that awful day. Chance thought maybe Hayes had scared him off for good. The only problem she could find in this scenario? She still didn’t know how to free Hayes.
With the store closed for the Thanksgiving holiday it gave her time to think the situation over. He clearly wanted to stay. Once in while he’d let slip a comment about how it would be nice to see spring come and watch her run around in shorts during the summer. Then he’d catch himself, go quiet and spend an hour or so alone.
Kinda like he was doing now. As she prepared a small dinner of turkey breast, stuffing, mashed potatoes and rolls, he made himself scarce. While the food cooked she decided to take the time to do more research on genies. Damn it, she could find everything else about the mythical beings, nothing on how to free them. Blindly clicking on article after article, she did find something about masters wishing their genies to be lifelong servants.
That sounded distasteful to her. She didn’t want Hayes being her servant. He would retain enough magic to do meaningless things but he wouldn’t have to return to the bottle until she died. Yippee. Imagine that, growing old while he stayed the same. No, thank you very much.
Frustrated but determined, Chance continued with her search, typing everything she could think of in the little box. Free genie. Genie’s freed. Releasing a genie from the curse. Nothing. When this was over and she knew the secrets, she was posting a website for people like her who found themselves with one of these beings. Cripes, didn’t anyone think to write a manual on this stuff?
* * * * *
Hayes sat in the barn working on the wood carving he’d started weeks ago. He needed to finish it. His time with Chance was coming to an end. He could feel it. If she didn’t make her wishes soon he’d fade away to nothing and she’d be sucked into his bottle, forced to take his place. He wanted to give this to her as a gift so she would remember him. It would be nice to know someone did.
The strength in his arms and hands diminished over the last few days. It took effort to move and his brain seemed to fog up. Even the shackles around his wrists were tightening. A reminder, he supposed.
He wouldn’t say anything to her about it today. Chance seemed excited about the holiday. What right did he have to ruin it for her? Tomorrow he would sit her down and explain it all. Hayes brushed the carving free of tiny wood chips to study it. Perfect. Exactly what he wanted.
The carving depicted Chance holding his bottle against her breast as he floated in a cloud behind her with his arms outstretched as if embracing her. He wanted her to know that he cared. That’s what was missing before. He tried to keep his emotions from the carving and it didn’t work. Now he allowed them to flow. It hurt. Sweet Jesus, it hurt.
He didn’t want to leave her. The last month had been the only time in his existence he could remember living, and loving. Oh yes, he loved her, everything about her. The way she teased him every night, driving him to the brink of insanity with her hot little body.
The way she looked after him without smothering. The woman had entwined herself so tightly around his heart he could feel her breathing even when they were apart.
He wanted a life with her, the chance to have children and grow old together. He’d put his time in, damn it. Done without basic human needs for so long, why couldn’t he have this? Even now he could feel his mind breaking, knowing he would never see her again. Is this how the other genies became the vile creatures he knew about? Had they loved and then been torn away so cruelly it twisted them?
Hayes got to his feet, wrapped the carving up and hid it again. He’d give it to her tomorrow. He wanted today to be normal and that meant pasting a happy look on his face.
Chapter Twelve
Hayes helped her set the table, oohed and aahed over the food and praised her efforts. She got a warm spot in her chest knowing she could cook for someone and they appreciated it. When they sat down to eat early that afternoon, Chance took his hand and smiled.
“One of the families I stayed with had a tradition and I think I’d like to start it too. They always told what they were thankful for before they ate. Today I’m thankful for finding that old, dusty whiskey bottle and having enough sense to buy it. I’m thankful for rubbing the thing and releasing you into my life. You’ve given me joy, and hope that being alone isn’t the only way to survive. I’m thankful for you, Hayes.”
A very sad, tired look washed over his face even though he tried to smile. He squeezed her hand, turned and cupped her cheek with the other. She felt a slight tremble in his touch and it worried her.
“I’m thankful that even though it took a hundred years I found you,” he said quietly. “You gave me life. Reminded me that there is somethin’ to keep livin’ for. I’ll always be grateful for the sunshine you brought into my world, Chance, and I’ll treasure it for eternity.”
Her heart sank slightly. It sounded like a goodbye. She searched his face, noticing the lines around his eyes. Time was running out. She saw it now. Okay. They could deal with this.
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