Page 63 of Bewitched By the Djinn
“Magic, languages, politics, mathematics, courtship,” he waves a hand, “things useful to a second son.”
My brows shoot up into my hairline. “Courtship? They have tutors for that?”
He leans back against the pillow, shifting until he’s reclined on one elbow on his side, facing me. “I am expected to make a good match, after Helen gets married, of course.”
Jealousy slides through my veins, hot, burning, and intense. My jaw clenches. This is ridiculous. Bennet isn’t mine. I cannot possibly be murderous toward some vague woman I’ve never met and may not even exist.
I take a breath before speaking, so my voice won’t emerge as a screech. “Are you... engaged?”
“No. I’ve met a few potential candidates at balls and feasts with other kingdoms, but,” he rubs his chin, “it’s never sat well with me.”
I’ll ignore the relief that rolls through me at learning he’s not engaged. “What do you mean?”
He shrugs. “I don’t like feeling out of control of my own destiny. I would rather pick a partner I love, rather than be matched for political advantage.”
“That’s understandable.”
“Yes, for you and your world. In my world, that is not the way of things.”
“There was never some fair maiden that caught your eye?”
I want to roll my eyes at myself.Fair maiden?
But Bennet doesn’t notice my internal berating.
He rubs an invisible spot on the pillowcase. “No. They were nice enough, but there was no spark.”
Our gazes clash and hold. The irrational jealousy over the nameless, faceless maidens morphs into another kind of heat entirely. There is no lack of sparks here.
The fire has mellowed into burning embers, darkening the room.
In the thickening gloom my eyes track over his figure, his broad shoulders filling the space on his side of the bed, and the tapering of his waist. He’s less than a foot away. So close.
No.
No no no.
He’s going back to his djinn life and his fair maidens. I’m going back to my simple mortal life. This wouldn’t be anything more than a night of pleasure.
Arousal blooms, spreading through my limbs. Would that be so bad? Only one night?
Yes. It would be bad. We still have to work together and find Helen and anything more will just complicate matters further. This can’t be anything more than just magic sex between us. I can’t risk him catching feelings. Or me.
It’s simple attraction and shared emotions. Nothing more, nothing less. He’s not even human. Once we break this curse, he’s going back to Aetheria, a whole different dimension.
I mean, there’s wanting what you can’t have and then there’sthis.
“Um. We should get some rest.” Lord only knows what’s going to happen tomorrow. I force a yawn and shift, slipping under the covers.
“Right. Yes. Of course.” Bennet settles in next to me, staying on top of the covers.
It’s for the best.
I’m staring up at the netting when he murmurs, “You’re sure you’re safe?”
I frown, turning my head to face him. “What?”
He props himself up on one elbow, his expression completely serious. “I wouldn’t want you to wake up with one of your wicked-eyed friends crawling across your pillow.”
