Magical Redemption

by Nicola E. Sheridan

  “Leave me, now. I’ve shared all I can with you,” he growled, looking away from her. He didn’t want her to see the red eyes that scared her so much.

  “Thank you,” she whispered “Hey, look at me.” Jinx murmured then caught his chin and gently drew him to face her.

  * * * *

  Jinx felt Lucian’s sexual power run an electric circuit through her body. She wanted more. He was addictive, damn it, but she didn’t care, anymore. She stared up into his red-faceted eyes.

  “You need to go, now,” he said, again.

  “No.” She fiddled with the button of his shirt.

  “I...don’t want...” He was lost for words.

  “I know what you don’t want, and I know what you do want, because I want it, too.”

  Lucian thrust his head back and moaned. “I can’t. I won’t give it to you. I’ve given you all I can without taking anything else. Just leave me be.”

  Jinx remembered her lamp in the slimy bomoh’s hand and knew her future was grim. She wasn’t going to let Lucian push her away—not this time. In buying them time from the Pater Rex, she’d betrayed him and knew he wouldn’t take it lightly. If he wanted her now, she wasn’t going to allow misplaced morals to stop him. Besides, what was one more part of her soul? She’d willingly give it to Lucian. It was one less morsel of her the bomoh could take.

  “I’m not letting you push me away. I am a genie. I’ve lost more than you can imagine. What’s another part of my soul? I won’t miss it...I want to sleep with you. I’m desperate to sleep with you.” She grabbed his crotch and cupped what she found there. Lucian bit back a groan.

  “Jinx...”

  “Yasmina,” she whispered and kissed his neck at the opening of his shirt. “My name is Yasmina Maalouf.”

  She heard his heart thunder beneath his skin. Jinx opened a button, then another, revealing honey-toned, smooth skin. She reveled in the contrast of her dark skin against his and hesitantly opened another button.

  “Well?” she asked softly.

  “I don’t know what to say.” Lucian’s voice was quiet. She saw passion and confusion in his red eyes.

  “Say you’ll sleep with me. After that, we’ll find Antigone. We’ll free you from your pledge in the next twenty-three hours,” she said.

  Lucian frowned. “What about you?” He rested his hands lightly on her hips. “I’ll possess part of your soul, forever. You don’t want that. I’ll control you, and you’ll never be free from me.”

  Jinx snorted. “That’s the least of my worries.” She returned her mind to the bomoh. “At least if we sleep together, maybe you won’t forget me when you’ve taken your last wish.”

  “I’m not going to forget you.” He paused. “Yasmina.” Lucian’s brow crumpled with a considering frown. Jinx pulled him down to kiss her, again. They were locked together for a moment, only the gentle whirring of the fan reminding them the world still existed.

  He was undone, and Jinx knew it. He pulled away from her kiss and tugged her to the bed. She sank down onto it, feeling the mattress give slightly beneath her light weight. Lucian stepped closer and devoured her with his gaze. She reclined back with her dark hair spread like a cloud over the pillow. The breath hitched in her throat as he undid the remainder of his shirt buttons with his long fingers.

  Jinx bit her lip as the shirt fell to the floor with the grace of a falling petal. He was stunning. Beneath his hungry, sexy gaze, she felt like a virgin. She felt nervous and a little scared but utterly desperate and determined to offer herself to him. He hovered his hands above the zip of his pants and raised a questioning eyebrow.

  “We don’t have all day,” Jinx whispered, trying to sound more confident than she felt.

  A slight smile tugged his mouth. “As my genie wishes,” Lucian murmured and swiftly removed his pants. He stood before her, clad only in the brief boxers she conjured earlier. Yet again, she found herself almost strangled by a gasp. Beneath the silk of the boxers, she saw he was ready for her.

  “Off,” she croaked. “Take them off.”

  Lucian obliged. Then, he was naked, oozing demonic sexiness and power. Jinx suddenly felt terribly inferior. Beside his glorious perfection, she was appallingly flawed. She felt pitiful with a nose out of proportion in her small face and a thin body, stretched and ruined by a sad, unfulfilled pregnancy. As Lucian knelt above her, he looked intently at her, searching her face and exploring further. Without asking, he hitched her dress up high over her waist to reveal her modest black panties. He looked hungrily at her body.

  Jinx squirmed. She hated her flawed body. In a swirl of rainbow smoke, she erased the stretch marks on her stomach with a temporary spell.

  Lucian placed his hands on the waistband of her panties. “No.” He stared at her. “Don’t hide from me.”

  “But...” She looked over her large nose at his golden beauty. “You’re so beautiful, and I’m so ugly–”

  “Enough,” he said coldly. “Reverse the spell, now.”

  It was a command, and in a swathe of scented smoke, the stretch marks returned. Jinx swallowed a sad moan as he looked at her stretch marks. The cold expression on his face evaporated, and unadulterated desire suffused it, instead. With a growl, he removed her panties with a brutal tear then fluttered his hands over her, gently searching and exploring.

  “You are not ugly,” he murmured and bent to kiss her marks. His lips were electric.

  “Oh,” Jinx gasped as he worked his mouth down a hot path further south. No one had ever touched her like this. Since becoming a genie, she only ever worked for her master’s pleasure. No one ever considered hers. Yet, here she was, underneath the mouth of a demon spawn and feeling the most exquisite sensations of her life.

  Beneath his knowing lips, she felt heat grow deep within her.

  “Lucian...” she moaned. She opened her eyes and watched him bury his head between her thighs. “Oh, Lucian.” The words choked as an unexpectedly quick and ferocious orgasm took her. It ripped through her in a sparkling tsunami of pleasure. Her hands unconsciously gripped his hair, pulling him up and onto her. “Please, more.” She convulsed beneath him as the waves subsided. Power shimmered around him like a cloak.

  As he held himself above her, she felt his manhood rest at the opening of her thighs. Jinx felt an undeniable need for more. She felt him there, large, hot, and expectant; yet, he hesitated.

  “Lucian?” she asked. He frowned, clearly uncertain. “Please.”

  * * * *

  Crippling need roared through him as he stared down at Jinx. Her face was confused. She didn’t want him to stop, but he didn’t want to control her. He didn’t want to take part of her soul, yet his body desperately needed sating. Warring wants and needs played silent combat in his mind and body. Never in his life had he wanted to protect someone more. Protect her from what? Himself? The bomoh?

  “Agh,” he groaned above her, squeezing his eyes shut to repress the urge to thrust forward. The roar of his heartbeat was deafening as he struggled to control the lust. Jinx writhed beneath him, goading him, urging him. He felt the gate to her womanhood hot and pulsing, desiring to be filled.

  “Yasmina,” he moaned, “I can’t...” As he spoke, the tantalizing scent of her arousal hit him. Lucian plunged forward hard then harder.

  Jinx cried out, whether in pain, pleasure, or shock he had no idea. He was suddenly sheathed in her tightness. She was as sweet and exquisite as he ever imagined. Lucian groaned. His body found the rhythm his mind fought.

  “Oh,” she moaned, loosening around him. Jinx readily accepted the wildness of his passion.

  “I can’t stop,” he moaned, dismayed his body sought the pleasure and power Jinx so willingly offered, despite his mind’s disapproval.

  “I don’t want you to,” Jinx cried. Her body tightened with mounting arousa
l.

  Her words destroyed any remnant of self-control he possessed. It had been so long since he sought power from sex that now, there was no way he could stem the fury of his need.

  * * * *

  Jinx arched her hips to meet Lucian’s powerful strokes. Each pulsing thrust sent spears of pleasure arcing through her body. She never felt anything so good. She felt herself climbing to a pinnacle of exquisite pleasure and heard Lucian groan above her. Opening her eyes, she gripped his buttocks, urging him harder, faster. He stared at her through eyes full of an emotion she hadn’t expected. There was a concern and affection she hadn’t realized he harbored.

  “Oh,” she moaned and released her grip on his backside. Jinx pulled him down closer on top of her, so she could kiss him.

  “Yasmina,” he growled and kissed her in return. As their hot lips met, the pleasure built and finally exploded, again. She cried out, but he swallowed her noises and ground harder against her. Lucian gave a brutal cry as her orgasm continued. She felt herself filled with him as he thrust harder and harder, until he was spent and shuddering.

  “Oh, my goodness,” Jinx whispered. He collapsed on top of her, still wracked by the residual tremors of his coming. Power shimmered all around him. She struggled to discern the loss of part of her soul but couldn’t. She simply felt wonderful. He sated her in a way no other man had ever accomplished, and she wanted more. If sex that good cost a slice of her soul, it was suddenly a bargain-basement price.

  They lay entwined for a long time. Jinx listened to the rapid beat of his heart, beating in synch with the pulsing of his manhood still locked within her.

  The fan whirred lazily on.

  After a few more moments, he swiftly pulled away. He left her with such speed, she found herself momentarily bewildered by the disappearance of his heat within her. Jinx looked up as he pulled the boxers swiftly up and over his still hard erection.

  “What are you doing?” She sat up and arranged her dress to cover her nudity.

  “I’m going to speak to Silenus,” Lucian said. His eyes had returned to their usual brown, and his face held a strange tightness. None of the concern or affection she glimpsed during their lovemaking was apparent. He pulled on his trousers and reached for his shirt.

  “Now?” She was perplexed.

  “Yes.”

  Jinx chewed her lip, “Why leave so suddenly? Perhaps I would like…” She smiled and winked. “Maybe a repeat performance when I’m a little recovered?” She patted the bed suggestively.

  Jinx thought she saw his lip twitch in a smile before he smoothed it away. He began working at the buttons of his shirt.

  “No. There can’t be a repeat performance. I will not–”

  “But–” Jinx interrupted.

  He was suddenly furious. His eyes darkened, his brows furrowed, and his lips thinned. The face that just moments ago was gentle, caring, and concerned now looked colder than ice.

  “Do not speak until I tell you to.” Power resonated in his words. Her protestation was cut abruptly short.

  Jinx felt unable to speak. She mouthed wordlessly.

  “I control you,” he said. “This is what making love to me does.”

  She wilted. Jinx, not Yasmina.

  “I control you more now than any master should ever control a genie. We should not have done it. I did not want this.” He gestured to the space between them.

  Jinx tried to speak but still the words would not come. Clearly, the combination of being his genie and being unable to disobey was seriously and literally magnified. She would not be able to speak until he told her to.

  “I’m sorry. I’ll go speak with Silenus. When I return, we can begin our search for Antigone,” he said then bent and scooped up the bag and the lamp. Without further word, he turned his back and stalked from the room.

  * * * *

  Lucian was strangled by self-loathing as the door clicked shut behind him. Seeing Jinx’s anguished gaze as he exerted just a little of his power had very nearly cost him his heart–but he had to show her. She needed to see what he was capable of and what he could force upon her. He was a weak man. He knew it. He should have denied her, he should have protected her, but he hadn’t―and he hated himself for it.

  * * * *

  Jinx stared after Lucian, new feelings of rejection and ache stealing painfully through her. Her throat felt tight. She gulped, trying to stem threatening tears. She hadn’t expected his power to be quite so controlling. A single tear escaped and ran down her cheek. She wiped it away furiously. What was the point in crying? The worst was yet to come, and she knew it.

  There was a gentle knock on the door.

  Jinx cleansed herself, removing all traces of their “incident”. She tried to say “Enter,” but the words wouldn’t come.

  Megan walked in. Dressed in a cream, toga-style dress, practically exposing one breast, she smiled at Jinx.

  “Get a shag, did you? I heard. It sounded wonderful.” She sighed. “I must say I’m envious, but you are so brave doing it without the protection of the gods.” Megan looked at her, a querying eyebrow high on her brow. Jinx glared back then stood up sharply and stalked to the door. Megan prevented her exit with her hand.

  “Lucian and Silenus do not want to be disturbed. I’m here to keep you company while they discuss things.” Megan spun around and reached out for the bowl of fruit. She handed it to Jinx. “Here, have some more to eat.”

  Jinx scowled, shook her head, and made for the door, again. This time, she found herself encapsulated by Megan’s surprisingly strong arms and ample bosom. The fruit bowl fell to the floor.

  Megan momentarily looked dismayed by the shattered bowl then frowned down at Jinx. “No, I’ve been told you’re to stay put. So...stay...put.” She shoved Jinx back into the room.

  Jinx stumbled backward. She felt the hot flare of anger ignite.

  I have not been told to stay, Jinx thought angrily. I’ll be damned if I’ll let Lucian keep me mute.

  With a brutal shove of magic, Jinx slammed Megan against the dresser. The older blonde collided with the vase of orchids and sent it teetering.

  “Oh,” she cried. “You!” Megan lurched forward to grab Jinx, again. In a maelstrom of rainbow smoke, Jinx dematerialized out of her grasp with a smirk.

  * * * *

  Meanwhile, Lucian stood in Silenus’s study. He could still taste Jinx on his tongue and smell her scent on his skin. The power from their lovemaking hurtled through his body like a drug―a drug too dangerous, addictive, and risky to ever try, again. He ran his hands through his hair, barely able to stifle a groan of resurgent need as his mind returned to Jinx yet again. A paralyzing twist of guilt assaulted him once more.

  “Silenus? Where are you?” he growled and tightened his hand around the sports bag. He could sense the satyr in the room somewhere, but his eyes couldn’t find him. Books lined the walls and a large, ornate desk dominated the space in between.

  “Lucian? Is that you?” Silenus asked in a muffled voice.

  “Of course it is,” Lucian snapped. “Where are you?”

  There was a rustling, a bang, and then a groan. Silenus appeared from beneath the desk rubbing his head.

  “What are you doing behind there?” Lucian asked as Silenus flushed with what he could only assume was embarrassment.

  “I...” Silenus glanced at the door then loped over and locked it firmly. “You wanted to speak with me? What about?”

  “Were you hiding?”

  “If you must know, parenting and fatherhood is somewhat tiresome. I like to rest occasionally.”

  “Behind your desk?”

  Silenus struggled to retain dignity. “Well, yes. My son is quite demanding.”

  “As is Eloise, I hear.”

  Silenus blanched. As if on cue, Elo
ise’s screech echoed around the building. “Quite.” He shook his curly, auburn hair. “You wanted to speak in private?”

  “Yes. I took the liberty of asking Megan to detain Jinx for a moment, so we could speak in confidence.”

  “You don’t trust your genie?” Silenus reclined on a brown sofa nestling between two bookshelves and looked at him curiously. He picked a green bit of something from between his teeth and examined it before continuing. “If you can’t trust your genie, I wouldn’t think there would be anyone you could trust.”

  Lucian was silent for a long moment. “I...” He sighed. “I do trust her.”

  Silenus raised a quizzical eyebrow. “Then, why isn’t she here?”

  “Because I need some space.” He knew his explanation sounded lame.

  Silenus threw back his head and roared with amusement then shook his head. “You speak like a man scared. Are you falling for your genie?”

  Lucian stared at him. “No, of course not.”

  “It certainly looks like it from here.” Silenus smirked. “You’ve turned down my maenad’s offer of free sex, yet appear to be oozing demonic power–no doubt from sex with the genie. You’re ruffled and now claiming you need ‘space’?” He chuckled again and flashed blunt, white teeth. “Lucian, my man. You are falling for her, if you haven’t already.”

  * * * *

  Jinx appeared beside Lucian a moment later, still unable to speak. Silenus promptly burst into laughter.

  “What a pair you make,” he chortled.

  Jinx glared at the chuckling satyr. In a swirl of rainbow smoke, words appeared in the air–“Let me speak.”