“Karam,” she whispered in awe and disbelief.
“Just ride it through,” he said. “Use me to come.” Then his mouth became more demanding on her breasts, and she ground against him, needing to feel him through the layers of clothes. Her nails dug into his shoulders as she rubbed faster against the hard ridge in his pants. Joy coiled through her, and a laugh bubbled out of her again. Cresting with a wave of pleasure, she shuddered to a stop and panted in excitement.
“Wow,” she said, leaning her head against his silky hair. “You are magic.”
Kissing his way to her face, he explored her mouth with his tongue. “I am so happy to have pleased you, Mistress.”
“You can call me Melody,” she said, pressing her cheek against his. “You can call me anytime, actually.”
He stroked her back until she felt like she would purr. “Shall I continue on with my story?”
“Sure,” Melody said, kissing his neck.
“I seem to have forgotten where I left off.”
“Breasts.”
“Ah yes, well, we wound up in bed.”
“I’m surprised you made it that far.”
“Okay, we wound up in the alley in back of the bar.”
Melody snorted. “This is the first time I’ve been fooling around with someone while they’re telling me about their sex life with their ex.”
“I’m a special case.”
“That you are.”
“Well, needless to say I was distracted. I heard her complain that her biological clock was ticking and that she wished she had a husband and child. Then we went to my car, and I got distracted again.”
“She said it again. And then a third time in my bed, when we finally got there. And thus she bound me to her the same way you did.”
“Did what? We haven’t gotten into the bondage part of tonight, yet.”
Karam raised an eyebrow. “I was wondering if those handcuffs were just for show.”
“Seriously,” Melody said. “What do you mean I bound you?”
“When you make a wish to a djinn three times, he is compelled to grant it and two others.”
“You must be a busy man.”
“I try to keep a low profile.”
“So Linda wished for a family and you married her yourself? Why couldn’t you find her another husband?”
“I can’t make anyone fall in love with another person.”
Melody nodded. “Right, I saw that movie.”
“Well, don’t believe everything you see in the movies.”
“Does that mean you can resurrect someone, bring them back from the dead?”
“No, but zombies do make fun pets. I can make the dead rise, but it’s never pretty and often horrifying.”
Images of her grandmother shuffling around made her wince. So much for baking together again.
“And if there is someone you want killed, just say it three times.”
Melody’s mind flashed briefly on Bobby, but she shuddered and shook her head. She had loved him once. And although that love had long since died, she didn’t want him dead. Forever out of her life was good enough.
“So you married Casino Barbie, and then what happened?” The pleasant throb between her legs began to fade, and Melody knew she wanted more from Karam than to dry hump on her boss’s sofa.
“At the time, I thought marriage and a family would be the best use of my powers. I was lonely, and she was agreeable enough.”
Melody felt an urge to cover up. She was certainly lonely and agreeable enough. Is that why he was there, giving her a freebie? Was he trying to trap her into making a mistake while she was lust crazed? When she went to move away, he stopped her. “Stay. I like the feel of you against me.”
“You were together a long time.”
“Seven years. Earlier this year, Stephanie got her first djinn power—communication with animals—and Linda flipped out.”
“What happened?”
“Linda made her second wish.”
“Which was?”
“She wanted to make sure that no security cameras would ever flag an alarm when recording her.”
“That would explain why she was in Atlantis at the blackjack table without security sending in a response team. But that doesn’t explain why Bobby wasn’t showing up on their radar.”
“That was her third wish.”
Melody felt her jaw drop. “So, that’s how they robbed the casino blind.”
“Yes.”
“I’m surprised she just didn’t wish for money.”
“After I married her, we were well off. I had my poker winnings. We were happy for a while. Then she started getting restless. She wasn’t satisfied with me and our life. Stephanie talking to the animals at Siegfried and Roy’s Garden was just the last straw. The casino was both the bane of her existence and the reason for it. She loved the excitement and action, but she hated being on the wrong end of the table. It wasn’t just the money. Linda wanted to win against the house.”
Melody nodded. “As much as I hate to admit it, I can understand that fever.” She raised up a hand. “Gamblers Anonymous.”
“All it takes is another wish and you can be free of that.”
She was tempted. It would be nice to play a game. Why shouldn’t she wish not to be an alcoholic or a compulsive gambler anymore? Then she could have a glass of wine and fire up the computer for some online poker without worrying about never stopping again. Or maybe she could take a ride to the Indian casino that was a little over an hour away and have the cocktail waitresses keep bringing rum and cokes over until the numbers on the cards were fuzzy. Need that was almost sexual and desire that was like a physical pain shook through her. Her hands twitched for a deck of cards, and she swallowed compulsively. It was so tempting. But not as tempting, Melody realized, as the man she was sitting with who was caressing her lovingly. It wasn’t easy, but she shook her head. Maybe she could be cured with a wish, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t be “infected” with either disease again. Melody didn’t think she was strong enough to stop again. It was better this way.
“No, I don’t think so. So enough about me, what happened next?”
“Linda hooked up with Bobby. I was too busy with Stephanie to really notice. So I suppose I should take some blame. It wasn’t until her third wish that I realized I had been a fool. I had no choice but to give her lover what she wished for him. With the end of that wish, I was swept back to the City of Brass.”
“Why?”
“It’s how it works. It’s a safety feature, in a way. That way you and let’s say five of your friends can’t keep binding me one after the other. Anyway, by the time I recovered from being released, Linda and Bobby had pulled off their caper and made their getaway.”
“Why couldn’t you use your genie powers to go after them?”
“Doesn’t work like that. I needed a master—or in your case, a mistress—to wish for it.”
“So you tracked me down? Why me? You could have gone to the casino and have the casino bosses wish for their money back.”
Karam shuddered. “They would have killed Bobby and Linda. And afterward, do you think they’d let a djinn like me get away? Not to mention most of them hosted me at a poker table at one time or another. They would automatically assume I had been cheating.”
“Were you?”
Karam shook his head. “That would take all the fun out of things.”
“How did you know I would help you?”
“Why wouldn’t you? It would give you a chance to get back at Bobby, as well as get two wishes of your own.”
“What happens after my third wish?”
“I go back to the City of Brass. And I’ll be a free spirit once more.”
“Until someone makes a wish in front of you.”
He inclined his head. “It’s not as easy as all that. They have to say it three times. I’ve gotten pretty good at avoiding that third plea. Have you decided on your last wish yet?”
&nb
sp; “Wait a minute, if I make it you’ll go away.”
“I wouldn’t let you wish for it until much later.” He dipped his head and began to nibble on her throat. “Much, much later,” he said.
Melody made a satisfied sound and cuddled into him. Being next to Karam was like lying on a sheepskin rug in front of a roaring fire. And his tender caresses were starting a different roaring in her body.
“I could wish for the same thing Linda did—the first one. Not the icky other ones,” Melody said, to see how he would react.
“I wouldn’t be opposed to marrying you.” He was still engrossed with the column of her neck. She tilted it to give him better access, while becoming preoccupied with gliding her hands over his biceps.
“It would stop my mother from asking when she’s going to be a grandmother...” Melody was almost considering it. “It would burn Bobby and Linda’s ass. Is there a downside to this? Oh, wait. I remember. We just met.” She pulled his head up so they were eye to eye.
“I’m a good judge of character. Besides, the marriage will last only until I have to serve another mistress or master. Or as long as we wanted it to.”
“You and Linda lasted a bit. Seven years is a long time. What would your daughter think of me?”
“I don’t know,” he said. “She’s had a rough time of it. I’m not much of a father. I let my ex-wife take her away from me.”
“I’m not much of a wife,” Melody said. “Don’t worry. I don’t think I’ll make my wish for that. I need to think all the possibilities through.”
“You have all the time in the world. I would ask a boon of you, though.”
“What?”
“If you haven’t made your last wish by morning, may I go home to see my daughter for her Christmas? My family and I don’t celebrate it normally, but we do for her.”
A lump jumped into Melody’s throat. “Oh my gosh, I totally didn’t think.” She tried to get off him again, but he restrained her. When she reached for her shirt, he batted it away.
Melody continued, “You should go now. We can talk tomorrow or the day after.”
“Are you ordering me from your presence, Mistress?” He sounded sad, and Melody fought herself to look at him.
“No, of course not, I just don’t want to intrude.”
“You have given me back my daughter. I will give you this night.”
“You don’t have to,” Melody babbled. “I know I’m a little needy right now, but I’m tough. I was planning on working alone and reading and stuff.” She launched herself off him. ”Go to your daughter. Spend some time with her. Make Christmas memories. That's an order, not a wish.”
Karam crossed his arms in front of him. ”You're getting the hang of things rather quickly.” Then he vanished.
Chapter Three
Melody gathered up her clothes and put them back on, like a robot. She had almost believed the fantasy that Karam liked her for herself. But she was just his mistress. One in a long string of them who used him to get wishes.
She was surprised to find that she was shaking when she got into the elevator. She astounded herself further by breaking into tears. What was wrong with her? Was it just that she’d almost slept with a stranger who was just doing his job? Why were things so complicated for her?
Melody slid down into the corner and huddled into a ball. She must have fallen asleep because the next thing she knew her mouth was dry and her throat hurt from snoring.
”Oh great,” she thought. Not only was she sleeping on the job, she was probably drooling all over herself.
”Wake up, sleepyhead.”
Melody tensed at the impossible voice. Then she realized, she wasn’t at the lab. She was in her bedroom. Her old bedroom. Her childhood bedroom. She was wearing her Christmas footie pajamas and that was her grandmother’s voice.
”I can't believe you're not already under the tree tearing open your presents.”
Melody tossed back the covers and ran into her grandmother’s arms, feeling like the ten-year-old she looked like.
”Merry Christmas, Mellie,” her grandmother said.
Grandmother wasn't a zombie, and she was more than a memory. She smelled like lavender and peppermint, just like Melody remembered. If this was a dream, this was the greatest dream ever. Following her grandmother down the stairs, Melody was struck at the beautiful tree in her parents’ living room. From the looks of the decorations, it was the early eighties.
Her parents stumbled down the stairs soon after in their matching fire-engine-red long johns with the flaps in the backs.
”Open your presents and then we can frost the cinnamon rolls,” her grandmother said.
Melody didn't have to be asked twice.
When all the wrapping paper was shredded and all the presents oohed and aahed over, Melody tucked her Cabbage Patch doll under her arm and joined her family at the table. She had to stop herself from reaching for the coffee. Settling for milk, she poured icing on the rolls and handed one to everyone.
It was Christmas morning, even if she was having a hallucination, or a nice dream, or even if Karam gave this to her for letting him have Christmas with his family.
“Thank you,” she whispered, tears gathering in her eyes.
“You’re welcome,” her grandmother said, ruffling her hair. “What are you going to name her?”
Melody blinked in confusion until she realized her grandmother was talking about the doll. “She has a name already, Gram.” Fishing out the green birth certificate, she handed it to her. “Margot Dawn.”
“Well, that’s a pretty name, but you can name your dolly anything you want.”
Melody cuddled the doll. “Nope. That’s her name.” And Margot and she had been inseparable until high school when she faded away. Melody wondered if the doll was still in her parents’ house somewhere.
Her mother came back from the kitchen, carrying a tray of bacon, egg, sausage, ham and toast. Melody could smell the bacon, taste the maple-cured ham, and hear the oven timer dinging another batch.
“There’s just the four of us,” Grandmother exclaimed.
But Melody knew from experience not a crumb would be left. It was brunch and had to tide them over until the Christmas lasagna was made for dinner.
As they ate, Melody couldn’t take her eyes off her family. She wanted to remember this moment forever. She asked her grandmother for stories about her life, grateful for the chance to hear her voice again and listen to how it was back in the early 1900s.
“If you had a wish from a genie,” Melody asked after her grandmother wound down and her voice was raspy from talking so much. “Would you wish to go back and live your life over again, knowing what you know now?”
Her grandmother laughed. “Of course not. It would take all the surprise out of it.”
“But what if the surprises turned out to be bad?” she asked, thinking of her marriage and problems with addictions.
“All my mistakes made me who I am,” her grandmother said.
“Yeah, but if you already knew how the bad choices would end, you still would be who you are.”
Her grandmother frowned in thought. “You have me there.” Then she tweaked Melody’s nose and beamed. “You’re such a smart child.”
Too bad, it didn’t last until adulthood.
“I’d wish for a new John Deere tractor,” her father said.
“I’d wish for a new Bernina sewing machine,” her mother countered.
“Why not wish for money and have both?” her grandmother said.
Melody chewed on another cinnamon bun and listened to the words of wisdom. The thing was, she didn’t want material things. Material things could be taken away from you. Melody kissed her doll on the head.
She wanted this. Always. Family. Sharing a meal and talking. She was tired of being so lonely. She could wish for a family, but then she’d never know if they were there because they wanted to be or because of a wish.
The huge breakfast was making her eyelids h
eavy. She rested her head against her doll and the table, comforted by the familiar drone of voices. When the oven dinged again, Melody got up to get the hash brown casserole and realized it was the elevator doors opening to the lobby and her guard station.
Chapter Four
Melody blew out a breath and walked unsteadily to her chair. Disoriented, and a little lost, she had to redefine her reality. She concentrated on the easy things first. Her stomach was full and her fingers were sticky from the icing. Staring at the monitors without seeing them, Melody tried to get her bearings. A few hours had passed. Santa was travelling across the United States now on her NORAD tracking screen. Her Starbucks coffee that Karam brought had gone cold, but she still had a few drops in her thermos. She drank the last of that, and clarity came back. While the microwave worked on reheating the Starbucks, Melody washed up in the laboratory.
After sitting at her station awhile, nursing her coffee, Melody still wasn’t sure if it had been a dream or not. She jumped a foot when her cell phone rang. It was her parents.
“Aloha!” her mother said.
“Hi, Mom.” Melody wondered if they dreamed about being together for Christmas. But then she realized, they were on Hawaii time and were probably about to go to bed.
“What is it? You sound strange.”
“It’s just the connection.” And my weird life.
“No, it’s because you’re all alone for Christmas. I knew we shouldn’t have gone.”
“You had the trip booked for a year in advance,” Melody reasoned.
“We should have insisted that you come with us. After Bobby left you for that cocktail waitress, you deserved a vacation.”
“Blackjack dealer,” she said automatically. “It’s okay, I’m working. Keeping busy.”
“Did you get the gift cards we sent?”
“Yes, I did.” They were for practical stores for practical things. “Thank you.” Maybe she’d buy something impractical, like a jar of Nutella. Her stomach groaned in protest. No more food.
“We loved the dinner you had the hotel provide for us. Such a sweet girl. I miss you, baby. It’s not Christmas without you. We shouldn’t have gone.”
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