Read The Genie's Witch (Dirty Djinn) for Free Online

cars were filled and they stuffed themselves in at the last moment. Musk and hacking coughs populated the air, but it meant nothing in the sanctuary of Dinah’s presence. His arms found their natural position around her waist and stayed there until they reached the bustling city center. He looped his arm through hers and led her to the outdoor art gallery at Millennium Park.
    “I thought it’d be almost deserted.”
    “They’re hearty folks up here. I’ve come twice before. The first time, this park didn’t exist. The second time was summer a few years ago. I never imagined the snow could transform the sculptures so dramatically. So thank you, Dinah, for a new experience. I hardly have them these days. You bring them in spades.”
    “It’s time for new things on my end too. You haven’t kissed me in a while.”
    “I thought...just wasn’t sure if you were having regrets.”
    “Do I look like I’m having regrets? Don’t answer that. I’m not. I’m not shy either. It’s just so...”
    “I know. You’ve shaken up my plans too. What do we do now?”
    “We walk. We hold hands.  We—”
    “Kiss?”
    *****
    S he was being seduced and enjoying every freaking minute of it.
    Actually, the seduction happened yesterday. The djinn upgraded to romancing her the second he rolled up with breakfast in hand. The beautiful and unending attack on her willpower continued through the subway, the outdoor art gallery and even now.
    He warmed her up in a coffeehouse where they talked about nothing and everything. Music, movies and favorites colors didn’t make for pithy conversation, but they did wonders for creating a bubble of quiet companionship.  Even when the talking lulled into stares and smiles, there was no urge to fill it with words. There was a peace to him that settled within her and she latched onto it like a candle in the darkness.
    She’d have been content with that, but he wasn’t done surprising her.
    “Do you ice skate?”
    “No.”
    He sucked his teeth and turned her in the direction of an outdoor ice rink. “Me neither. Let’s go rent some skates.”
    “I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”
    It ended up being a terrible one. They windmilled their way through a couple of butt-bruising laps before giving up and making a laughing run  into a half-empty mall. Tig pulled her into a unlit cubbyhole. She rose to her toes for a kiss, but a got a peck instead. Before her disappointment got too far gone, he disappeared for two seconds to check they were alone.
    “Wish for jeans and shirts.”
    She shook her head in wonder and appreciation at the instantaneous clothing swap. Thank goodness he’d gone the sensible route this time. Her jeans didn’t leave much to the imagination, but damned if her butt didn’t look good in ‘em. He rocked his jeans just as much as she did. “Did you wish for those glutes?”
    He snorted and patted his butt. “Squats. Go ahead, touch it.”
    She did and came away with the knowledge that she could bounce a penny, a dime and the entire GDP of Switzerland off of it.  She made a mental note to add squats to her twice-monthly workout routine.
    “Hungry yet?”
    “I could eat.” They’d been gone for a few hours now and the smells from one end of the mall lassoed her in, too enticing to avoid. The vendor from a Lebanese food stall waved them over. Her feet moved with little goading from her brain.
    Tig spoke to the man in his own tongue, a hum of soft accented words. Every few seconds, the man would lean around Tig to look at her with the same unreadable expression. If she’d had a sweater, she’d have wrapped it more tightly around her. Nothing about his stares read as licentious, but wholly exposing, as if he could see clear through her. When Tig returned with mountains of food in his arms, the vendor tipped his hat to her, pocketed the stack of cash and went on to the next customer.
    “What was that about? I kept waiting for someone to read me my