Of Wish and Fury (Seven Kings of Jinn)

The ache flared across her chest in a jagged shot of lightning and Ari gasped, a release of anger pouring out of her in heartbreak. Everything had changed with Charlie. She couldn’t pinpoint exactly what it was or what it meant, but everything was different. Whatever it meant, Ari knew there was no going back for them. Willing the pain out of her, Ari concentrated on the patch of sky above her and forced the clouds to grow dark and heavy with water until they burst, pounding into the ground and slapping against her skin in sympathy.

Ari, stop.

Wincing at the commanding voice echoing around in her mind, Ari twisted to find Jai standing tense in the doorway, his fists curled tightly together, his vivid gaze burning through her. His jaw was taut, and she knew he was annoyed. Yeah, well, she was annoyed too. He hadn't been around much after throwing Charlie out, and he’d been unable to meet her gaze whenever he graced her with his presence. She felt her cheeks stain red as she remembered the night at her front door when he’d rejected her. She wasn’t stupid. He was totally uncomfortable around her now. Yay.

Disappointed in him, Ari shrugged nonchalantly and turned to look up at the sky. It makes me feel better.

Stop it. Now.

What is it? She sighed wearily. What’s wrong?

“I said stop it now, Ari.”

She turned around at his agitation, her eyes flashing angrily in response to his commanding tone. Taking a second, Ari drew in a deep breath, letting the rain run in rivulets down her cheeks and onto her lips. Noting Jai’s increasing impatience, Ari concentrated, willing the rain off and the clouds to return to normal. The shadows bled from the garden and, once again, the sun beamed down upon them. “What is your problem?”

He exhaled heavily, and Ari felt a prickle of worry when she spotted the dark circles under his eyes. Watching him rub his hand over his short hair, her gaze wandered before she could stop it, drinking in his gorgeous face, sinewy forearm, and the tiny diamond in his right ear that winked in the sun. Her eyes focused in on it. That was new.

Jai cleared his throat and she drew her gaze back to his. He rubbed the ear stud self-consciously between his index finger and thumb. “My friend, Trey. A gift. I didn’t want to say no. He means well.”

His crooked, uncertain smile hit her in the gut with a bolt of pure lust, and right then, she hated him for making her all gooey inside. She sighed. That wasn’t really his fault, though. “It looks good.” She smiled despite herself. The stud was so small, it was tasteful. Still, she felt like teasing him a little. “Very genie of you.”

“Yeah, that’s what I was afraid of.”

“I promise, it looks good,” she reassured him. She felt blood rush into her cheeks again as his eyes darkened, tension springing up between them as they stared wordlessly at one another. Yes, Jai was once again reminded she was hot for him. She couldn’t break their gaze. It was like his eyes were a fish hook. All he needed to do now was reel her in.

Reel me in. Please reel me in.

Realizing her thoughts could so easily have echoed into his mind, Ari bit her lip, wishing something would break the damn tension.

What was she doing? Deliberately setting herself up to be rejected again? He was in love with someone else. Shaking her head, Ari let her eyes drop. “What’s with the attitude about the rain?”

Jai’s expression grew blank as she reminded him why he’d come out here. “It’s time we talked about the magic.” His voice was quiet and uncertain. “Honestly, this time.”

Ari frowned at the word choice. “Honestly?”

“Will you come inside?”

Her heart picked up speed, but Ari nodded. She followed him into the house, taking great care not to check out his butt in his worn blue jeans. Her eyes traveled the breadth of his shoulders, however, feeling a pang of longing at the sight of his physical strength. She wondered what it would be like to hug him. She bet it felt wonderful. Safe. She wondered what it would be like to nuzzle her face into the crook of his warm neck and inhale him, his arms holding her so tight. When Jai turned around to take a seat in the sitting room, Ari dropped her gaze again, not wanting him to read what so clearly must have shown on her face. Letting the longing ease from her limbs, Ari sank down into the chair opposite and once she was sure her countenance was neutral, she lifted her eyes. “What’s going on?”

“There are consequences to magic.”

His blunt response made her blink a few times in confusion. “Uh… what?”