The Candle Princess

by Raine Hughes

  * * *

  Noah shook hands with each individual as the trip came to an end and they filed off. Jasmine handed the children souvenir sheets for coloring.

  “That went off well despite a few anxious moments,” Noah said when the last passenger had departed. He took his time to leisurely study her pony-tailed hair under the sailor’s cap and the matching unconventional sailor uniform. She looked scrumptious and he told her so.

  “You look very Captain-authentic, too.” She gave him a mock salute and a saucy grin. “It is fun. I will always remember this day of endless blue sky and matching water when I am in the deserts of home, where—” Someone called her name and she turned to receive their goodbyes.

  Noah felt like someone had punched him in the gut. Her words sounded so much like she was leaving despite what she’d said previously. It dawned on him that she’d only said she did not want to return to her people; she hadn’t addressed his query on being obligated to return. Before he could think more on it, a hard clap on the back intensified his winded feeling.

  “You’re going to be a success, son,” Pastor Herman boomed. “Never thought this would work, I’ll have to admit.”

  “Now, Herman,” his wife chided him as she joined the threesome. “I never had any doubts once I knew Jasmine was backing him.” She turned and smiled broadly at Jasmine whose attention was back with them. “I think we can thank Jasmine for much of the success today. You are very lucky to have found this girl, Noah. She’s a treasure worth keeping.”

  Noah swallowed around the lump in his throat. He nodded and forced a grin for their benefit. He resisted the impulse to pull Jasmine intimately close. He wanted desperately to hold her tight, but if she was leaving, that would only create more questions than he was prepared to answer. It was going to be hard to explain her disappearance.

  It was going to be harder to accept it himself.

  * * *

  “We will celebrate,” Jasmine announced as Noah came in at the end of their first day out with the ark. She grinned widely as he took in the fancy china, linen tablecloth, silverware and the bottle of champagne sitting in ice. Candles flickered intimately on the table, highlighting the array of food waiting for them to dine.

  Noah didn’t much feel like celebrating. I’ll always remember this day when I am back in the deserts of home. Her words echoed over and over in his brain. Perhaps she’d received a summons from the Djinn who would be able to orchestrate the trip without aid of her brass stopper. It had been foolish to think that by withholding her motorized device, she couldn’t leave.

  Another thought struck. Would she have called for assistance just because she’d failed to engage him in lovemaking? He wouldn’t make her call on her father. He could return her brass stopper. After all, it was her choice to leave and he wouldn’t stop her.

  If you love something, set it free…

  His gaze rose to Jasmine. Once more she was dressed in the shimmering gown that his mother had first witnessed his houseguest in. She was breathtakingly beautiful, her ruby and emerald necklace drawing attention to the slim column of her neck and her high, luscious breasts. His chest tightened and he finally forced his voice out, but it sounded like it was tumbling over rusty nails. “This demands more formal wear. I’d best change.”

  “Certainly.” In an instant she transformed him into fancy dinner apparel.

  “Jasmine!”

  “I have hardly used my powers at all today, and the food would have grown cold during the wait.”

  Noah absently brushed at the camel hair jacket and darker tailored slacks as he tried to regain some semblance of control. Once more he recognized the outfit as one from a paper model in the Sears Catalogue. He desperately needed the time it would have taken him to dress, to decide how to handle this evening and return of the brass stopper he’d kept hidden from her.

  “You look magnificent,” Jasmine said with a seductively throaty voice. Her look matched her words. Was she going to try to seduce him one last time?

  Was he going to let her?

  This might be his last chance.

  His resolve to do right by Jasmine was weakening, especially as images of Jasmine’s naked body, intertwined with his, danced in his head in the most erotic manner.

  His gaze darted to the doorway leading from the kitchen into the living room. Her magic blanket wasn’t anywhere in sight. The kitten was outside, hunting and exploring. Without those two forms of intervention, just maybe…

  In the back of his mind he wondered if the Higher Beings had any more deterrents they could throw at them. Did he want them to? He didn’t care what happened to him, but Jasmine had been entrusted to him in a manner of speaking. He must not fail to keep her safe. Especially from himself!

  Noah’s breath caught at the genuine love that shone from Jasmine’s eyes. There was no mistaking the look for the simple glint of lust. But, he had to take his mind off the alluring image of making love to Jasmine. “Ah, champagne!” He snatched the chilled bottle up out of its icy bath.

  Jasmine held two long-stemmed glasses while he filled them, then handed his over once he had resettled the bottle in ice. Raising hers to him she said, “To you and the ark. May your dreams always succeed.”

  He didn’t feel like a man who had incurred a fabulous day. He didn’t think he could remain in control if he looked her way just now. He’d never felt such aching need in his life! He’d finally found someone special to share his dreams and his life.

  Noah took a small sip of champagne then set the glass down before the pounding of his heart produced a tremor in his hand. “Mmm, looks like quite a feast here.” He managed to sample each of the grand dishes on the table: quiche, green beans in sauce, a meaty casserole covered in gooey cheese, and more, though he didn’t taste a thing.

  He let Jasmine chatter on as she relived the events of the day. She seemed not to notice his silence. His mind was not on the ark’s first day out at all. It was on the last day. Today’s trip. Would she leave immediately, now that her magic blanket repairs were complete sooner than envisioned and her desire to sail on the ark was fulfilled?

  His mind relived every detail of how they had fitted the old ferry to make it into the magnificent ark that he had envisioned. Jasmine had worked right at his side, manually sanding the old wood and varnishing it. They’d both polished the brass until it sparkled, too. She could have done both tasks in an instant. Instead, she had willingly done it his way and he honestly thought she had enjoyed doing it, too. But of course she had to return home sometime and he’d always known that. He just wasn’t ready.

  “More champagne?”

  Noah blinked, returning his mind back to the present. She refilled her glass as well as his. “Shall we take our retirement to the fireplace?”

  It was May and climatically a warm day that carried over into the evening. A fire really wasn’t needed but Noah felt as if a chill had enveloped him clear down to his bones—and his heart. He felt frozen, unable to respond to any stimuli now that his thoughts had returned to the dismal prospect of Jasmine’s leaving.

  He could feel her gaze on him as he sat staring into the flames, his hands twirling the again-empty wine glass. He didn’t remember drinking it but he must have. He wasn’t in the least amazed when amber liquid bubbled to the rim once more. He kept his focus on the fire before him and let its mesmerizing effect erase all thoughts.

  * * *

  Jasmine’s heart skipped a beat as Noah kept his focus on the fire. He was withdrawn and quiet, his reflections far away. While out on their cruise, everything had been wonderful.

  She concluded that something had happened once their water cruise had ended. Jasmine replayed the events of the day over in her mind, to pinpoint exactly when Noah’s demeanor had changed. He was behaving in much the same way as he had when he thought she was leaving after successfully transporting the ferry to Mystery Lake. Once more, did he think she was leaving now that she had participated on the sailing of Noah’s Ark?
>
  Getting this man to talk was frustrating. In the entire time that she had been here, he had refused to voice a single wish, aside from the one he had made while suspended upside down when they had been swabbing the decks and chimneys on the ark. That one didn’t count. She had practically forced him into making his plea into a wish to be rescued from a dunking into the lake.

  A Djinni must grant a mortal master every wish desired, provided they were not hurtful to others. Of course there had been times in the past where she had used the right of refusal—the pirate had retaliated violently.

  At least they had voiced their wants. Noah was different. Somehow, she must get him to tell her his personal wishes. Even a single one would keep her in good standing, along with her successful handling of the ferry through the mountains, of course. She had never confided the stipulation to him, not wanting Noah to feel obliged to voice a wish he really did not want.

  The one thing they both wanted could be accomplished, and they could do it to the satisfaction of all involved, even those of their gods. A discovery she had come across while collecting additional eggs for the egg and bacon quiche, was one that had brought tears to her eyes, not because she was angry, but because he resorted to desperate measures to ensure she would remain just a little longer. Knowing Noah, he would tell her about it when he was ready.

  Chapter 18

  Noah didn’t know how many times Jasmine called his name before he blinked back into awareness. The fire was nearly out, showing only glowing embers. He must have been lost in the flames for quite some time.

  “Dreams,” he heard her say. “One has come to be reality. You should always have another.”

  His brain felt drained, as if there was nothing to draw on. It took a long time to formulate any kind of an answer. “The word is goals. When you reach a goal you’ve set for yourself, you should set another. Goal, that is.”

  “Goals. Dreams. It is all the same. Your dream was to bring a sailing vessel to your lake and turn it into an ark like in the Bible. You have. What are your other dreams?”

  Illicit fantasies bombarded him, each one an ever-increasing vivid action adventure of their life together, of working side by side, of taking their leisure amid a tangle of arms and legs and bare skin, of merging himself with Jasmine’s welcoming body. He couldn’t say any of that!

  He focused intently on the embers that still glowed dark red. “Within my dream of the ark, there were other dreams. I’ve reached the end result, so I’ve succeeded.”

  Jasmine appeared in front of him, blocking the mesmerizing fireplace from view. That left him staring at the juncture of her long, shapely legs, hidden behind the shimmering exotic emerald sheath. Desire surged through him.

  He snapped his head up guiltily.

  Her eyes were amber tonight, and they seemed to be dancing like flames. Inanely, he wondered if the fire in her eyes blazed cold or hot.

  “What were your other dreams, Noah?” Her voice, soft spoken, coaxing but simultaneously demanding, was compelling, urging him to reveal all. She had never attempted to pressure him before but it was hard to resist this new kind of demand. If he dared to speak at all, he feared he wouldn’t be able to stop.

  She shimmered in front of him, seeming to float inches off the floor; he couldn’t make out her feet. But, then, he wasn’t really looking at her feet. Instead, his gaze randomly took in her tiny waist, her lush and full bosom, and her enticing hips. Everything moved in undulating waves of motion, like a flickering flame.

  “I come from smoke and fire…”

  He shook his head in an attempt to clear the vision and the voice from his head. Was he seeing her as she really was—just a flame?

  “Your dreams, tell me, Noah. Teeell meee No-ahh.”

  “Then you came along and made everything happen.” It was like his mouth had simply opened and the words spilled out! He snapped it shut; hadn’t meant to speak. Only part of the thought had come out, eight words but that was too much. “Drink really does loosen the tongue.” He hadn’t meant to say that either and once more clamped his lips tight.

  The strange, shifting action of her body was disconcerting; he raised his gaze. Her eyes were the only body parts that remained solidly in place, piercing him with unwavering intent, reminding him that it was a Djinni’s duty to learn of desires and wishes, to grant them to a master.

  He didn’t want to be her master.

  He didn’t want to be a duty to her.

  He wanted to be Jasmine’s lover, her legal life mate, but that, especially, wasn’t possible. He had no royal blood in him, not a drop. Heck, the little cat he’d given her for Christmas had more royal blood in her than he did!

  “What else did you wish, Noah?” Jasmine sank down at his feet, drawing his gaze down with her. He couldn’t break away from her hypnotic stare.

  Make love. The words echoed over and over in his brain until he began to wonder if he had spoken them aloud. In case he had, he said, “Can’t.”

  Both of them were bound by their gods and their upbringing. She was still a princess and he was but a mere mortal, a man without the required royal background to allow such mixed union. He couldn’t have that particular wish. He must not think of it.

  Don’t think. Don’t think. Don’t think.

  He chanted it over and over in his mind, to silence the wish that could ruin Jasmine’s chance to regain her rightful place in Djinn society.

  Don’t think. Don’t think. Make a wish. Don’t think.

  He shook his head as the voice inside changed!

  Don’t think. Make a wish. Make a wish.

  It couldn’t be his conscious voice; he concentrated harder. It had to be Jasmine speaking, but her lips hadn’t moved. He furrowed his brow and focused intently on her mouth. Her smile was brilliant in candlepower as she said, “Your wish is my command.” Her voice was throaty, seductive. Her lips had definitely moved.

  That confirmed for this time, he cleared his throat to speak in a normal voice. “Some things you just can’t command, Jasmine.” He’d succeeded. To sound normal, that is.

  “Not all things require a command.” He couldn’t think of anything to say to that before she added, “You still want me, do you not, Noah?”

  He nodded then belatedly realized that while he hadn’t spoken, his nod was just as telling. Don’t move, he added to his internal chant. Don’t think.

  “I can be yours in the proper way.”

  Did she speak or did he want to hear those words so desperately that he imagined them? Somehow his focus had wandered from watching her lips. Her image continued to shimmer and sway before him, disorienting. He definitely shouldn’t have drunk so much. He needed his wits about him.

  “If you want me, Noah…”

  She simply didn’t know the full spectrum of his forbidden desire—he wanted her for keeps—which might result in a considerably shortened lifespan for her. But if they could, only marriage would be acceptable but marriage was the one thing that was totally out of the question because the Djinn King had the say, not either of their gods.

  “You don’t understand, Jasmine.” He leaned too far forward and the rocker tipped him onto his knees, down on the floor in front of where she sat with her feet tucked under her. When had she sunk to the floor? Somehow he’d missed that move.

  He found himself looking deep into her eyes. The words inside him escaped the lock he had so desperately wanted to keep closed.

  “I will love you forever, Jasmine… even though we both know that nothing can come of it… we both have to accept that.” He’d tried desperately to hold onto his words before; now they just came out.

  “I want you as a man wants a life partner, a wife, to love and to be with, to have children with. But a royal Djinni cannot marry a mortal unless that mortal is a royal descendant. I very definitely am not from royalty and I will not compromise you, Jasmine, despite what I may wish for. I will not act with such disregard for your welfare, your very life, even.” Were crimes of
passion still punished with stoning in the Middle East? He shuddered.

  He’d practically admitted that if it were just himself to consider, nothing would have stopped him from making love to Jasmine. But, he wouldn’t risk her reputation and a severe or even deadly punishment. “Yes, I want you. I love you, Jasmine. I will admit that and hope you will cherish that knowledge, but I know you must also disregard my declaration and return to your own kind.” He nodded for emphasis and sat back on his heels, in an attempt to distance himself from her, even a little. His head was not quite so fuzzy now so perhaps the liquor was wearing off.

  “When your father said you must experience mortals, I’m certain he did not mean making physical love. No father… certainly not a royal father, would want his daughter compromised, Jasmine,” he said with a shake of his head, “especially by a common mortal.” Shakily he regained his feet, his mind still struggling to take command of the situation.

  “Maybe he thought you would at least land in a place where a man of royalty could be found, though why he would aim so poorly at a country that has no royalty, I don’t know. You must return to your people while you’re back in favor with them, Jasmine. You’ll find someone worthy of you. I need to tell you—”

  “No!” She grasped his hands in her smaller ones, preventing him from rising or speaking further.

  How could he convince her that she’d find another mate when he didn’t believe it for himself? He’d found his someone special, and he was letting her go! She ran her finger over the inside of one palm, lightly touching the calluses there, her touch caressing, loving, and it was all he could do not to frame her face with a lover’s touch.

  Her fingers were soft and warm and surprisingly strong, as was her gaze as she countered. “There is someone special for me, a very special man, and I have found him.”

  “No, Jasmine, not me.” Her fingers on his lips held the denial words in check. He’d been right. They were both aware that if circumstances were different, their destinies would come together with the force of colliding sandstorms.