The Third Wish Read online

of her stomach were finally awakened as his lips met hers. Desire slammed into her as his kiss deepened and his tongue slowly captured hers, soft, velvety, and hot. She wound her arms around his neck and molded her body against his, the power of her need surprising her. Just as she was feeling as if her body would melt from the intense heat, he was gone.

  He had dematerialized into the red mist and materialized back into his human form far across the room. His breathing was rapid, and he wouldn’t look at her. “That was a mistake.”

  “No, don’t say that, Jai.”

  “It was, Beth. I don’t even know what you’re going to wish for. I might be back in that bottle, and you’ll be with some man you’ve wished for and will eventually regret being with.”

  “I know what my wish will be, Jai. And you’ll be free. I promise I won’t let you down. No more superficial, selfish wishes.”

  He closed his eyes for a moment. When he opened them, he said, “Okay, I’m ready. Tell me your wish.”

  Beth took a deep breath and let it out slowly. She looked at Jai steadily, and not breaking eye contact with him, she said, “I wish…I wish that you will be free forever, never to be imprisoned in the bottle again.”

  Jai’s eyes widened at her words. He looked over at the bottle when it started shaking then spinning around and around. The vessel that had imprisoned him rose from the floor and started spinning faster and faster. Cracks appeared in the glass, and then it broke into millions of tiny pieces like grains of colored sand. Beth and Jai stood, fascinated, looking down at what was left of Jai’s bottle. Then he rushed over to her and pulled her into a tight embrace, his face buried in her neck.

  “Why, Beth? Why waste your wish on me?”

  She pulled away to look at him. Touching his face softly, she said, “Waste? Why is it a waste to free an amazing guy from a prison he doesn’t deserve? There was nothing I wanted more than to see you happy and able to live whatever life you choose. I don’t regret it for a minute.”

  He pulled her close again, and she could feel the wetness of his tears on her neck. Jai lifted his head and kissed her hard, his arms like vises around her. His tongue sought hers and she willingly gave him everything he asked for. After he had kissed her senseless, he lifted his head and looked at her, a wide grin on his face. He said, “I could get used to this.”

  “Count on it,” she said with a grin of her own.

  It was Halloween, and all of Beth’s friends had gathered at her house for a party she had gone all out for. She loved Halloween, and she couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate it than being with her fiancé and all her friends. Jai was all decked out in his pirate’s costume, and Beth had one that matched. As she went into the kitchen to fill the bowl with more candy, Jai pulled her into his arms for one of his mind-blowing kisses. They had been together for a year, and their ardor hadn’t lessened one bit. They had set a date for a December wedding, hoping it would snow so they could leave in a horse drawn sleigh.

  “You’re going to make me spill all the candy,” she said.

  “You’re the only candy I need,” he teased.

  She grinned and kissed him again, quickly, then evaded his grasp, giggling as she took the candy bowl back into the living room. Just then, the doorbell rang, and Beth went to the door to dole out more treats. When she opened the door, she was surprised to see the little girl who had left the bottle the year before. She wanted to throw her arms around the little girl and thank her, but she didn’t want to scare her. Beth gave out candy to all the kids, giving an extra helping to the genie. The kids turned around and started down the porch steps. The little girl turned around, winked at her, and said, “I hope you enjoyed your treat.”