“You know, I’mherbest friend. Not yours,” she reminds me, leaning back on the counter. “I’m not telling you shit about her. If it’s not a natural connection, then, sucks to be you.”
I give her a plain look. “I’m telling you, thisisa genuine connection. At least, on my end.”
She just nods at me, looking me over in silence. I turn, making my way back to the door. When I reach it, though, I pause.
“Why did you help me today?” My curiosity gets the better of me. “But now you’re opposed to helping me?”
Her lips curve up. “Better question—why do you want me to help? If your answer is good, maybe I’ll reconsider.”
I stare at her, my mind a mess with all the potential answers. I don’toweher an explanation, but I know if I don’t answer this honestly, she could put in a bad word before my date.
That’s the last thing I want.
My tongue fights against me as I let my true feelings out. “From the moment I saw her, I just thought she was the mostbeautiful woman I’ve ever seen. My heart…it does things I’m not used to when I see her. I need to know why.”
The smile that’s plastered on the shadow demon’s face is a combination of contentment and smugness. She looks like she just won a race—againstme.
She pushes off the counter, taking a step toward me. “I helped you today because she needs some excitement, and to get out of the house.”
“And you’ll continue to help me?” I ask, trying not to sound too pathetic.
“Don’t do anything to fuck it up, and you won’t need my help. If you do fuck it up, if you hurt her, you’ll regret it. Ipromise.” Her tone may be soft, a smile on her lips, but the threat laces through each word.
I’ve dealt with a few shadow demons before, and even though it appears she’s given up the shadow demon ways, I’d rather not risk angering hertoomuch.
“You should talk to her,” she tells me, tilting her head. “Tell her what you told me.”
I scoff, turning to look out the front window of her store. “And put my heart front and center? What an absurd idea.”
“Have you ever talked to a woman before?” She laughs, and I whip my head back in her direction.
“Obviously,I have.”
A grin grows on her face. “Then why are you so scared? Girlslikehonesty, vulnerability.”
I open my mouth to give some answer or rebuttal, but nothing comes out. WhyamI so scared? No, I’m not scared…just nervous? I’ve never wanted someone the way I crave Raya.
She doesn’t want anything to do with me or my powers. It’s exciting and new—a person who doesn’t want something from me.
Don’t get me wrong, Ilivefor granting wishes and twisting them up to make people regret taking what they thought would be an easy route. But for her tonotwant a wish, to not give me the opportunity to twist it up—Gods, it’s so sexy.
Besides that, she is stunning. Her skin looks soft and supple, her body proportioned as if the Gods made her themselves. No one compares to her. No one ever has.
Underneath all the beauty is a gentle soul she seems determined to hide, to protect. I want her to feel safe with me so I can know every part of her.
Deep within my soul, beneath my trickster antics and magic, she’s awakened something new. Something I’ve never felt before.
A feeling I don’t want to lose.
I just hope she shows up for our date tomorrow.
Chapter Five
RAYA
I can’t believe I’m actually doing this. Going to dinner with a genie—a man I barely know. A man I’ve seen do…an unfortunate thing.
This morning was a hard one. Finding the strength to get out of bed, well, it took me until the afternoon.
