Page 19 of Bewitched By the Djinn
He shifts on the narrow sofa and the blanket slips down to his waist.
My mouth goes dry. His chest is scrumptious. Like if someone wanted me to conjure up the most perfectly put-together man, muscled but not too bulky, broad shouldered, narrow hipped, and...oh my.
I guess interdimensional travelers are also victims of morning wood. I can’t drag my eyes away from the obvious bulge under the blanket.
Stop gawking.
I clear my throat loudly and knock on the open door with more force.
With a strangled yelp, Bennet leaps off the couch, blanket puddling at his feet.
Holy giant banana.
Flames lick up my body.
He grabs the blanket from the floor and covers himself, but not before I’ve gotten an eyeful and then some. Adonis is almost an insult compared to his masculine perfection. He’s big and hard and holy hell.
Now he’s the one brandishing a stick.
Bennet glances around. “I do not have a stick.”
“Uh.” Did I say that out loud? I smack a hand over my mouth.
My mind is blank. Why did I come in here? What day is this? Who am I? I shut my eyes. I can’t think.
Embarrassment and arousal blend inside me into a murky and annoying cocktail.
I clamp down my rising desire and concentrate all my energy on the bevy of problems swamping my life. An immediate arousal killer.
Once I’m ninety percent sure I won’t say anything incriminating, I remove my hand and open my eyes. “I wanted to see if you’re hungry.”
Do genies eat?
His stomach growls loudly in response. “Yes. I haven’t eaten since... I don’t remember.”
Guilt knots in my stomach. I hadn’t even thought to offer him food last night. I’d been too preoccupied with Jackie, my family, and the danger he might pose to even consider it.
I twitch a hand toward the hall. “There’s food downstairs. You can use the same bathroom you used last night if you need to,” I wave a hand at his clothes, “get dressed or whatever.”
Before locking him in my office last night, he used the bathroom attached to my room to take care of whatever djinn need to do before bed. I didn’t ask questions, even though I am intensely curious. Do magical creatures have to pee? Their anatomy is clearly human enough. If anything, maybe a little more enhanced.
“Do you have any other clothes?” I ask.
He shakes his head.
Another problem to deal with. I blow out a breath. “Maybe I can find something that will fit you.” Dad’s clothes are still in the closet, neatly hanging or folded in the dresser like they’re just waiting for him to come home. A ghost of a hope I haven’t letgo of, no matter how ridiculous it is after three years. He wasn’t quite as tall as Bennet, but it will have to be good enough.
I swallow the lump rising in my throat. “Did you bring any money from Aetheria?”
Bennet stares down at his feet. “No. I didn’t think I would be here long enough to need it. And if I did, I could use my magic to manifest whatever I required.”
A pang of loss flutters through me. But it’s not mine.
I blink, thrown off-balance.
What was that?
This isn’t the first time emotions have fluttered through me that don’t belong. Last night, I kept catching these echoes that didn’t quite fit. The hunger even after the large meal, the excess fear and confusion. Sure, some of that was mine, but there was just more. I chalked it up to exhaustion and one hell of a crazy day, but now, if we’re connected, does that mean?—
