He smiled grimly down at her as he puled away to sit up on the bed. “Michael wants to see you in his office.”
Her heart did a little skip as the words finaly woke her up. If Michael wanted to see her that might mean she was ready for assignments. With a little huff of energy, Ari pushed the bed covers off and slipped past Jai, practicaly running into the adjoining bathroom. She quickly cleaned up and brushed her teeth, laughing with a mouthful of toothpaste as the door to the bathroom opened just enough for Jai to throw in a t-shirt, jeans and some clean underwear. She tried not to think about him going through her underwear drawer. It wasn’t like he hadn’t seen her out of it. Sort of. Yeling a garbled thank you, Ari spat, and then rushed into her clothes, taking a second to pul her long hair into a ponytail.
When she came out of the bathroom, Jai was standing by the window with that brooding look on his face—that look that always got to her. The early morning sun lit up his eyes, making them glitter like crystal green lake water. His eyebrows were dipped into a little frown and his lower lip pouted a little. Rich dark hair was beginning to grow in on top of his head, and Ari couldn’t decide what suited him better… the close-shaven look or this boyish ruggedness. Her heart felt ful as she watched him, blown away by how every nerve in her body seemed to zing with life in his presence. How her chest just ached with too much feeling.
Sensing her study, Jai turned his head to look at her, the smal diamond in his ear winking in the sunlight. “You okay?”
No, she was thoroughly distracted. “Does Michael realy need me this second?” she asked softly, walking slowly towards him.
He reached out an arm as she drew closer, sliding it around her waist and drawing her up against his chest. She felt his bicep flex against her, felt the strength of his chest under her fingertips and gave thanks to whoever was listening for giving her Jai. Being with him was the only time she ever felt safe. The only time she ever forgot who she realy was and what that meant.
Trailing her fingertips up his chest, along and up his neck to his jaw, Ari shivered at Jai’s tiny exhalation of pleasure at her touch. Lifting her gaze as she stroked her fingers along his cheek, she gazed into his eyes and felt wonder. Ari had read about moments like these, when you were so lost in someone else the room around you just disappeared. It was true. Everything in her peripheral grew fuzzy and unreal. Michael’s summons blew away on a breeze.
Together they reached for a kiss.
“What are you doing to me?” Jai whispered across her lips, not waiting for an answer before reaching for a kiss. Their mouths brushed against one another’s; soft, tingling expressions of torture. And just as Ari was about to give into her impatience, Jai beat her to it, his hands cupping her face closer as he deepened the kiss, his tongue touching hers and sending chils of pleasure rushing through her. He tasted like toothpaste again, or she did, Ari couldn’t tel. It didn’t matter. He just tasted divine. Wanting him closer, Ari slid her arms around his back, puling at his t-shirt so her hands could slip under it. His skin felt silky and hard, her fingers tickling his lower back. Jai groaned and tightened his grip on her nape, his kisses so long and deep now, Ari was gasping for breath.
If Jinn weren’t supposed to feel the heat, how come she felt like they were both on fire?
As abruptly as the kiss had deepened, Jai pushed her away until she stumbled back from him.
Their panting filed the silence of the room and Ari stared at him wide-eyed, her lips swolen. “You stopped. Again.”
He nodded, and then shook his head, smiling ruefuly. “I think Michael has a job for you. We better go see him.”
Nervous excitement flooded her stomach and Ari couldn’t tel if it was from what had been happening or what was about to happen. “That’s good, right? That he has a job for me?”
Her guardian/boyfriend immediately went back to brooding mode. “Hmm.”
Ahh, he was feeling a little overprotective this morning. Warmed by the thought, Ari reached up to give him a quick peck on the lips. She grinned. “I’l be fine.”
He studied her for a moment, and she wondered what was realy going on behind those beautiful eyes of his. “I know,” he replied finaly.
Not sure if he meant it, Ari sighed and started towards the door. A sharp tug on her wrist brought a gasp to her lips, a gasp that was almost immediately swalowed in Jai’s mouth as he puled her back into his arms. His kiss was rougher, harder, more desperate—his hands scalding against her waist as he pressed her as close to him as he could get her. Feeling a need to reassure him, although she wasn’t sure why, Ari wrapped her arms around his neck and sank into his kiss, matching him rather than trying to gentle him. Her weight pushed him back against the wal and he groaned into her mouth. That would never cease to be hot, Ari shivered. Her shiver set him off again, his hands sliding down the back of her thighs. His grip turned hard and Ari let out another surprised gasp as he lifted her up, easing her legs around his waist in the same motion as he turned so her back was against the wal. His mouth trailed hot kisses down her neck and Ari let her head fal back, her thoughts muddled, her synapses fried. There was only him and the feel of his strong hands under her shirt, reaching for the clasp on her bra.
A loud crash behind them stiled Jai’s hands and he growled in frustration, dropping his head against her chest. “Let me guess…” he whispered hoarsely.
Ari stroked his hair, her fingers trembling from the adrenaline that was shooting around her body. She eyed the smashed lampshade and pile of books that had been on her bedside table, but now lay littered on the floor. The hum of Ms. Maggie’s energy broke through the lust haze. “…Ms. Maggie,” she finished for him softly.
Overprotective Ms. Maggie. Ari was beginning to think the Ifrit had been a nun in another life.
His body now tense, Jai eased away from her and Ari slowly unhooked her legs from around his waist. Gently he helped lower her to the ground, his eyes narrowed as he tried to smooth her hair back into place. His fingers lingered on her cheek before caressing her skin down to her mouth. His thumb caught her bottom lip and his gaze darkened again. Another shiver rippled down Ari’s spine. Shaking himself, Jai stepped back, slamming his hands into his jean pockets. “Just when I was starting to like the poltergeist.”
Ari snorted and rubbed a comforting hand over his arm as she passed him. “I’l talk to her about the whole privacy thing,” she promised.
He grunted at that, folowing her out of the door. “Maybe you could throw in an ‘Oh by the way, who the hel are you?’ while you’re at it.”
***
Falon was looking at her strangely, and Ari wondered for a second if maybe Jai hadn’t fixed her hair right? Were her lips stil swolen? She smoothed back her hair and fixed her gaze on Michael who was sitting behind his desk, peering past his daughter who had her ass on it, blocking his view.
“Falon, sit on the chair.” He gestured to the armchair wearily.
Spry in al her movements, Falon skipped off the desk and into the chair with an annoying smirk. Ari narrowed her eyes on her. Did she know? Feeling an inevitable flush at the thought, Ari deliberately kept her gaze off Jai.
“I’ve got an assignment,” Michael got straight to the point.
Ari took an excited step forward, butterflies tickling the crap out of the nervous gremlins in her stomach. “Realy?” A real assignment. Hunting Jinn. Instead of them hunting her.