something warm and fragrant blew into his ear. He jerked back, heart beating like thunder. “What the fuck?” The air smelt faintly of incense, conjuring up vague thoughts of Arabian nights and a warm desert.
Ben wasn’t a fanciful man, and that he saw camels and palm trees in his head was unsettling, even creepy.
A thin tendril of what looked like smoke emanated from the spout of the brass lamp. Ben swallowed and reached out to pick it up. Perhaps there’d been a remnant of something smoky trapped inside when he’d bought it, and it was only now expelling, he reasoned. He couldn’t think of any other cause for the object to be smoking.
The brass lamp was warm to the touch and seemed to glow faintly. Ben reached out one trembling finger and touched the side of it. Where could the heat be coming from? Feeling a little braver, he rubbed the side of the lamp gently, then increased the pressure.
The air around him deadened and his ears popped with a strange sensation. It felt like he was on an aeroplane, taking off. Ben clicked his jaw twice to relieve the pressure. As he did, the brass lamp grew scalding hot, and he dropped it to the floor.
“Motherfucker,” he exclaimed as the tingle in his fingers intensified. “The bloody thing is trying to set me on fire.” He sucked his index finger then shrieked in terror when a voice behind him said in amusement, “I thought I was the one granting the wishes. Instead, I get my very own wet dream.”
Ben was too busy hyperventilating to register the sultry tone of whatever—whoever was behind him. He was afraid to turn around in case something with a pronged tail and horns stood there.
“Who the fuck are you?” he managed at last, his bare arse still in full view of the stranger. “What are you doing in my house?”
There was a soft chuckle. “Turn around so I can see if the front matches the back. If it does, I’ll be one happy Djinn.”
“Your name’s Jim?” Ben asked in confusion. “You don’t sound like a Jim.” The voice sounded male, but had a faint accent, softly Middle Eastern.
Whoever/whatever it was sighed in exasperation. “Djinn, you fool. As in genie? We prefer the word Djinn. Modern folk take all the fun out of the old words.”
I must be dreaming. Any minute now I’ll wake up.
Ben turned slowly, his hand picking up a heavy textbook in case he needed a weapon. When he saw who stood before him, his jaw dropped.
A young man, probably in his late twenties, stood staring at him in amusement. He was bare-chested and smooth—Ben couldn’t help but notice a pair of pierced nipples—and a tight pair of black silky trousers, which left little to the imagination. His arms were tattooed, and a strange chain bracelet stretched from a band around his sexy bicep to a leather band around his wrist. His hair was dark burgundy, blended with lighter streaks, and was cut in stylish swathes, which swung around his fine-boned cheeks.
Oh my God, Ben thought when his eyes lit on the man’s crotch. He has a lot to be proud of. That body. Those eyes. What colour are they? Purple? No. More incredible than that. And he’s wearing kohl. Fuck, it looks hot. Wait. What the hell is he doing here should be the question. Focus.
The sublime being before him raised one perfect eyebrow. “Hmm, I like what I see. You certainly have promise. I can tell you’re not immune to my charms.” The man—if that’s what he was—winked at Ben and gestured to Ben’s groin. Ben looked down and felt his face erupt in flames.
“Fuck, I’m naked. I forgot. This isn’t for you, whatever you are. This is what we call a morning glory, you know, when you’re rudely woken up by strangers coming into your house and don’t have a chance to, like, get rid of it.”
The person—Ben still wasn’t sure whether he was dreaming or hallucinating—pursed a pair of pouty, full pink lips. “Hmm. If you say so.” He grinned, showing even white teeth, and despite his fear, Ben swooned. Goddamn, the man is gorgeous.
“I’m dreaming, aren’t I?” He nodded, confident he was right. “Yep. This is certainly a dream. A good one, of course. I mean, you’re someone I’d fantasize about in a dream, so that’s always a good sign.” Relief swelled through his chest. “I’m going to go back to bed now. I’ll probably jerk off,