Her body quaked as aftershocks rocked her. Matuse was stroking her back, his still hard cock lodged firmly inside her. Alois stepped out from under her, coming to stand by her face.
“It was nice to meet you, Aliya.”
She giggled as a blush crept up her face. “And you, too. Happy birthday.”
“Thank you for my present. He kissed the tip of her nose, then walked back toward the orgy.
“Are you all right?” Matuse asked with concern.
“Yes. How did he get the scar?”
“Alois is a great warrior. I’d like to say he got it in battle, but no. A woman gave it to him.”
She sat up when she realized they were in his office, lying on the pillows in there.
“He’s mortal?”
“He was. He was made Djinn by a very beautiful Djinni who took her powers a little too seriously. She wanted him as an immortal play toy, and was angry when he refused to be shackled to her.”
“What did she do?”
“She scared him, then left him chained in her dungeon to die.”
“But he’s here.”
“Yes, saved by someone we both know.”
She frowned, then sharply turned her head to him. “Paran?”
“He may be a demon, but he has some good qualities.”
She lay back down and faced him. “I should be mad at you.”
“Why? You loved it.”
“Yes, but you told me no one could see us. I was embarrassed.”
“You were thrilled.” He tickled her sides. “You know, Aliya, people do things when they think they can’t be seen. Things they think no one will ever find out about.”
“True.”
“The reverse could be true. If someone was watching someone else, and thought they couldn’t be seen—”
As his words trailed off, realization set in. “—They might listen. You could have just told me that you had an idea for how to get Jessica to believe me.”
He kissed the tip of her nose, right on top of where Alois had. “Where’s the fun in that?” His grin seemed even more wicked than before.
Aliya watched him, then bit her lip. “You know what I’m wondering? Where’s the fun in this nose kissing thing?”
She leaned over and put her lips on his, pressing hard. He pulled her closer and deepened the kiss. She melted into his arms, loving the feel of his tongue probing for entry into her mouth.
Chapter Thirteen
It took a week for Aliya to put her plan into motion. She didn’t want to do anything too quickly, because she was afraid Jessica would still see it as a selfish attempt to sooth her conscience. So she spent the week trying, and failing, to get her to talk.
The following Monday, she went in early and met Anya, just like they’d planned. When Anya told her that Jessica was headed toward the office, Aliya just stared at her.
“How do you now that?”
“How does Matuse know things?”
“Oh. Wow.”
“Focus, Aliya, focus. We’ll talk about the rest of it later.”
“Sorry.” Aliya tried to wrap her mind around the fact that Anya was Djinn, just like Matuse. Then, she took several deep breaths and started to cry.
“It’s all right,” Anya said, patting her hand.
“But I feel so bad, really I do. If she would just sit and talk to me, then maybe she would believe that I feel bad about all those things I said and did. You believe me.” Aliya could feel Jessica’s presence, hovering just outside the doorway, listening.
“Yes, I believe you. But maybe you hurt Jessica more than you hurt me.”
“Maybe so.” By now, Aliya’s tears were real, as they had been every time she’d been forced to recall her cruel words and their effect on people.
It took her a full minute to realize Anya wasn’t talking. She turned her head to find Jessica starting at her. She looked confused, and more than a little distrustful.
“I’m sorry,” Anya said. “Aliya discussed her problems with me. They’re about you.”
“Yes, so I heard.”
“I’ll leave and let you two—”
“No.” Jessica held up her hand. “Stay. Tell me what you two were discussing.”
Aliya tried to control her tears. She stood and faced Jessica. “I really do feel bad about what happened all those years ago. I know you don’t believe me, but it’s the truth. It’s been hard, this past week.”
“Why should I believe you?”
“You don’t have to,” Aliya said. “But I would like it if you did.”
“Seems like crocodile tears to me,” Jessica said. “Maybe you’re simply going through the motions and don’t mean any of it.”
“Why would I do that?” Aliya stared at her. “I’m telling you the truth. And that’s all I can do, I guess. I can’t force you to accept it.”
“You’re right,” Jessica replied. “You can’t. But I’ll think about it.”
Aliya felt a small ray of hope. Not for her sake, or for her case with Matuse, but for Jessica. It was obvious the woman carried a huge grudge against her, and if Aliya could do something that might alleviate it, she would a bit feel better about life.
But, as the day wore on, it was obvious that wasn’t going to happen anytime soon. Aliya kept expecting Jessica to call her aside, to say that she’d accepted her apology and things would be better between them, that a bad memory had been eased from her mind.
At the end of the day, Jessica went home without saying a word, and Aliya sat down in front of Anya’s desk and cried.
“Don’t. The important thing is that you tried. Besides, she may yet accept your apology.”
“Doubt it.” Aliya shook her head, then focused on Anya. “Can I ask you something?”
“Of course.”
“Why are you being so nice to me? Is it because you’re, um, different now?”
“Different as in Djinn?”
“Yeah.”
Anya’s laugh was full and rich. “No, that’s not the reason. I don’t believe in holding grudges. And, I truly believe you’ve changed.”
“I suppose Matuse told you and your men about my mother.”
“No, he didn’t. Whatever has happened this month has been between the two of you. He would never betray your trust.”
“Well, everyone at the cave knows why I’m there.”
“Yes, they do. But that’s different from knowing the reasons why and the way he went about getting his results. That is not for public knowledge.”
The room grew quiet, and then Anya leaned toward her. “Ask me what you really want to know.”
Aliya stayed quiet, then cleared her throat. “I think I love him. And the thought of losing him, I just… how did you… get them to love you?”
“You’ll know if he feels the same. Trust me, you’ll know.”
“He doesn’t. I’m just something he had to take care of for a month.”
“Matuse is a complicated man,” Anya said. “Something tells me he would never see a woman as ‘just something he had to take care of.’ If he doesn’t love you, he still respects you and cares about you. I can guarantee that.”
“Thanks.”
“Any time. Would you like me to zap you home?”
Aliya stared at her, her eyes wide. “You can do that?”
“Oh yes, I can.” A giggle escaped her lips. “And I love it.”
* * * *
“Matuse?”
“Yes, she-devil?”
She jumped, even though she’d called him. He was standing right behind her, his hands on her hips.
“I brought dinner home. Pizza.”
“Smells delicious.”
“Yeah, it does. And it’s guaranteed to add at least two pounds to my waistline.”
His laugh was deep, and he nuzzled her neck. “You seem pensive. Is something wrong?”
“No. It’s just, you didn’t say if you had to work tonight or not. Can you stay?”
“Paran is back. He c
an handle things for one night. Although there’s no telling what shape my club will be in by tomorrow morning.”
“I thought we’d eat dinner and watch TV, or a movie? Can you stay?” She hoped she didn’t sound too needy. That was the last thing she wanted.
“Yes. Give me a moment and I’ll be right back.”
She carried the pizza box to the living room. After spreading out a blanket she got from the closet, she sat the box down in the middle and plopped down next to it, the remote close at hand. When the blanket turned to fluffy pillows, with a spot in the middle for drinks and the pizza, she knew Matuse was back.
“The floor is so hard,” he said, sitting down next to her and holding up a six-pack of beer. “I brought my share. What would you like to talk about?” He selected a slice from the box, took a huge bite and gave her an assessing look.
She took her own slice. “Nothing. I just wanted to spend some time with you. After all, there’s only four days left.”
“Officially, yes.” He swallowed, handed her a beer and took one of his own. “Are you tired of me? Is this a going away party?”
“No. Actually, I’m going to miss you.”
“I’m only a thought away.”
She wanted to say that, although he was only a thought away, he would have other cases to work on, other women to work with, and that thought made her more than a little jealous. To keep from talking, she took several bites, filling her mouth with pepperoni and cheese. She swallowed hard, then took a drink to wash it down.
When she looked back at him, he was holding a string of cheese above her head. She tilted back and opened her mouth to gobble it down.
“Delicious,” she said.
“Yes, it is. It does my heart good to see you eating.”
“Yeah? What else can I eat?”
“Naughty girl. Do you want to have sex, or do you want to cuddle? Because something tells me you’re in a cuddling mood.”
“Yes. A movie, and a cuddle.”
“Talk first, though.” He selected another slice. “Tell me what’s bothering you.”
“Nothing.”
“You’re a horrible liar. Tell me.”
“I’m just worried about my last apology, with Moreen. We’re cutting it close, aren’t we?”
“It’s tomorrow night.”
“That quick?”
“Yes. It’s all set up. I didn’t want you to worry about it while you were at work. How’s that going, by the way?”
“She didn’t take my apology, but you already know that, don’t you?”
“Yes, I do. But you never know, she-devil. She might.”
“I doubt it. But about tomorrow night, I—”
“No. No talk of tomorrow, or anything else. Just food, you, me, and the TV.”
She blushed under his grin. They fed each other bites of pizza and drank several beers before settling down to watch an action movie. Matuse positioned himself behind her, pulling her into contact with him. At what he saw as lulls in the action, he would tickle her, and then caress her gently. The warmth of his body, plus the mixture of beer and pizza, soon calmed her to quietness.
She turned toward him. “Can I have a good night kiss?”
“Of course.” He kissed her gently, and when she probed for more, he stroked her. “Sleep first, little one.”
She nodded and fell asleep with her head against his chest.
Matuse caressed her arm as she slept. When the TV went off, he sighed. “How long have you been there?”
“Long enough. How long have you loved her?”
He turned to Paran. “That’s none of your business.”
Paran floated near him, opening the pizza box and peering inside. “You could have saved me some.”
“Conjure your own.”
A steaming pizza appeared in the center of the pillows. “Chicago style,” Paran said, taking a slice and putting it on a plate. “This isn’t something you can eat by hand.” He took several bites, then frowned at Matuse. “Don’t be angry with me because you love her. Mate with her.”
“Right. Give her a demon child to raise. No.”
“The blood will be muted, just a quarter. He’d barely be able to conjure a warthog.”
“You know how hard it was when you were young, and so do I. How fair is that to her, or to a child? And what happens when my father finds out? He’ll see it as a chance to redeem his failure with me. Corrupt a little demon grandchild to throw in my face.”
“She could hold her own with your father, I guarantee it. If you love her, it can work. She loves you, and you know it as well as I do. Tell her how you feel.”
“No. I’ll watch over her, and visit her, but I won’t mate with her. I can’t.”
“Then you’re an idiot.”
Matuse’s eyes flashed red and Paran laughed. “That’s it, get mad. Maybe if you’re mad enough, if your emotions run high enough, you’ll realize I’m right.”
“Get out.”
“I’m eating.” He took another bite, then conjured a beer. “Do you want me to back out of tomorrow night? I will, you know. It could be just the two of you.”
“No. That’s not her fantasy. I want to give it to her as I saw it in her mind.”
“Very well. But listen to me carefully. If you chicken out of what is obviously you’re destiny, I’m going to call on every lesser demon I know to make life miserable for you. Mark my words.”
Chapter Fourteen
The next morning, Aliya awoke with a feeling of dread. She wasn’t sure exactly why, but a sense of doom clouded over her, as if a storm were approaching but the skies were still clear. She mentioned the feelings to Anya while they waited for Jessica to come to work, and Anya frowned.
“It’s because I only have three days left,” Aliya said. “I’ve so used to having him in my life now, and it’s going to be hard to lose him.”
“Lots of things can change in three days,” Anya replied. “You know, I thought I would lose Makin and Anuis, too. We’re still together, and it’s forever.”
“Well, you’re a good person who gets rewarded for things. I, on the other hand, have led a less-than-stellar life. Maybe I’m being punished.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.” The door opened and Jessica came inside, carrying a pastry box.
“I brought doughnuts. I woke up thinking it sounded like a fantastic idea to eat my weight in sugar.” The three of them laughed, and as Jessica set the box on the desk, the door opened again.
“Anya, can I talk to you?” Phil, the agency owner, nodded at the other two ladies as Anya followed him outside.
When the door was closed, Aliya turned to Jessica, who was opening the box. She pushed it toward Aliya. “You choose first.”
Aliya took a chocolate covered doughnut from the box, ran her finger over the icing and thought of Matuse, standing over her and coating her body in chocolate. Her insides heated and she smiled as she took the first bite.
“Last night, my husband convinced me that if I allowed my resentment toward you to fester, that I was doing myself a disservice. I agree with him. Consider this little feast my way of saying I accept your apology.”
“Thank you.” Aliya thought she might cry out with relief. Instead she smiled at Jessica and took another bite. “These are delicious.”
“You know, a few years ago you would have never touched a doughnut. And now, well, not to be rude, but you’ve gained a few pounds. What’s changed?”
“I met a man who showed me the error of my ways, in more ways than one,” Aliya explained. “He’s been very good for me, I think.”
“Yes, I think you’re right.”
Anya came back in and they ate several more doughnuts before starting off to work. By the time the afternoon came, they had slogans to share with the owners, plus an idea for print and TV campaigns.
“We should use Luca for the model,” Aliya said. “She’s beautiful.”
“I agree,” Anya said. “A very good choice.”
/> “Who is this person?” Jessica looked between them.
“A friend of mine,” Anya explained. “She’s a BBW, and she’s very lush. She’d be perfect for the ads.”
Aliya smiled, wondering what Jessica would think if Anya told her the truth, that Luca was a Djinni used to spreading pleasure.
When the afternoon was over, Aliya headed for the elevators, her mind on what was going to happen tonight when she talked with Moreen. She wondered why Matuse was cutting this one so short. She thought they’d be done with the apologies by now and concentrating solely on pleasure, playing at the cave for the next three days.
She sighed as she pressed the button and waited for the elevator to come. Three days, including today. After tonight it was down to two. The sense of dread she’d felt that morning came back, settling over her and making her shiver.
She wrapped her arms around herself and looked around. A group of businessmen stood the receptionist’s desk, talking. There were six of them, and four were deep in conversation. Two were looking her over in appreciation. She smiled back, and then glanced back toward the elevator. Even though it was nice to know she was still attractive to men, somehow it didn’t give her the pleasure it once did. She didn’t want their appraisal, or approval. She wanted Matuse. Only Matuse.
She stepped into the elevator, surprised that she had it to herself. As the car descended, she expected it to stop, but it didn’t. It took her a few moments to realize the business suit she’d been wearing had changed to a new pair of jeans and a casual sweater.
“Matuse?”
The door opened and he was standing there, a smile on his face. He was dressed in jeans and a button-down shirt that hugged his muscular body. Paran stood next to him, looking bored. They weren’t standing in the lobby of the building that housed H&H, though. They were on a city street. People milled about, ignoring them.
Aliya Baban and the Cave of Pleasure Page 11
