Until the Stars Burn Cold

by Nicole Hurley-Moore

  ~* * *~

  Mia pulled her apple green silk dressing gown a little tighter around her slender form to ward off the slight chill in the air. She peered out the French doors that led to her garden. It was late but a dim, bluish light glowed from the solar lights she had dotted throughout the backyard. A storm was blowing in from over the distant mountains, and the wind was picking up, causing the trees to quiver. The line of assorted wind chimes that she had strung under the verandah all began to jingle as the wind whipped and spiraled through them. To Mia they all had their own individual resonance, some produced clear and sharp chimes, one sounded like an old church bell in the distance, whilst others were more like a hundred raindrops falling on an iron roof, but together the effect was of a thousand tiny bells singing in the night.

  She headed to the kitchen and flipped the switch on the kettle. She glanced at her watch and saw that it was three minutes to midnight. She wondered where Jinn was, and if he was all right. The gusts of wind were becoming stronger and the wind chimes were in continuous motion. The rain began to fall heavily, and Mia heard it splatter onto the paving stones. A movement caught the corner of her eye, and as she raised her head she saw Jinn at the French doors. Their eyes met through the glass and for an instant Mia forgot to breathe. The storm had soaked his dark green shirt so that it clung to his wide shoulders, and his black hair was wet and slick from the rain. But it was his eyes that held her attention, there was a wildness in them that she had never seen. As he unlocked the door a gust of wind blew it open with a loud thud and instantly the room was filled with the sweet scent of cool rain. He stepped into the room, his eyes never breaking contact with Mia’s.

  “You’ve remembered?” Mia asked, she already knew the answer. There was an intensity in his manner that hadn’t been there before.

  “Yes.”

  “Will you tell me?”

  “Yes, but we have more important things to say to each other.”

  “And is there -?” She left her unfinished question hanging in the air. She was desperate to know the answer but terrified to ask.

  “No Mia, there is only you,” he said as he crossed the floor slowly towards her. “There will only ever be you.”

  For an instant she stood, like a deer caught in the headlights as the impact of his words washed over her. There was no other faceless woman waiting in the shadows to claim him. For the first time she silenced the arguments that had held such weight a week ago and followed her heart. Stepping forward to meet him, she opened her arms.

  The force of his kiss almost made her stagger back, but his strong arms held her in place, in the one place she had been dreaming about all day. His hand cradled the back of her neck and made her feel treasured. Mia felt his body press against hers, and even through his wet clothes she could feel the heat. Winding her arms about his neck she felt the cold and damp cotton of his shirt beneath her hands. His kiss was filled with lust and longing and it floored her; as her heart began to beat faster. She knew that she had never been kissed with such intensity.

  “I need you,” he murmured against her lips. “Be with me, Mia. I need to touch you.”

  “I need to touch you too.” Her hands slipped from around his neck to the small buttons that ran down the front of his shirt. Deftly her fingers moved until the shirt hung undone, and she ran her hands over his smooth skin which was cool from the rain. She ran her hands higher until the rested on his shoulders, rising up onto her toes and running a series of slow kisses against his neck. His skin tasted of cinnamon.

  Jinn lifted Mia into his arms and carried her into the front room. Winding her arm about his neck she rested her head on his shoulder, his shirt was wet but she didn’t care. She breathed in his scent, there was a hint of spice mixed with the clearness of rain. He sat her down on the cream sectional before shrugging out of his shirt and letting it fall to the ground.

  Kneeling before her, he slowly untied the cord from around her waist. She felt the gown part and his fingers glide over her skin. He edged the fabric over her shoulders until a pool of apple green silk puddled around her. His eyes never left her face as he pushed the thin black silk straps of her chemise over her arms, first one and then the other. Mia swallowed as she stared back into his dark eyes. Standing up, Jinn pulled her to her feet and watched as the chemise fell from her body. The black silk rippled like waves as it slipped over her warm skin and revealed her.

  “You’re beautiful, Mia,” he said as he moved closer to embrace her.

  But Mia stopped him, reaching for his fly. She heard him suck in his breath as her hand slid across the flat of his stomach before it trailed down to the button and zip of his jeans. The denim strained against her hand as she cupped his erection. He closed his eyes and pressed his forehead against hers as he became lost in the sensation. Slowly she began to push the jeans over his hips. He placed his hands over hers and stilled them, stepping just beyond her reach. He kicked off his shoes and stepped out of his jeans then walked back to Mia. They gazed at each other, while the storm grew in intensity and the rain beat against the window.

  Jinn was the first to break the trance. He moved forward and took her in his arms, dipping his head he caught her lips in a soft kiss. The kiss was long and insistent, and she parted her lips for him. She felt his tongue slip against her own. Her hands began to rove over the hard planes of his chest before moving across his stomach. His skin was smooth and still cool to touch from the rain. She sighed against his mouth. It felt right. Jinn’s hands swept over her shoulders, teasing a slow path down her back. They left a trail of tingling fire as they passed. Momentarily they rested upon her slim hips before he pulled her closer, his chest pressing against her breasts and his erection throbbing against her soft skin. Breaking their kiss, Jinn lowered Mia down on the couch, his hand cradling the back of her head. His eyes were filled with passion and they never left hers.

  She felt his lips begin to trace and kiss an undiscovered pathway from her ear, slowly down the elegant line of her throat until they lingered upon her breast. The heat within her began to rise, and her heart increased its pace as he took the rosy peak of her nipple into his mouth. His hand ran over her body, edging in an ever downward movement from her shoulder. Then with an unhurried stroke across her stomach he crept lower still. She cried out.

  “Jinn, Jinn I want you. I need to feel you inside of me!”

  “I want you too, Mia. I will always want you. It is written in the heavens that we will always be together.” His words almost sounded like a vow. His hand trembled as it moved over her soft skin.

  His fingers inched lower until Mia thought she may lose her mind. She bucked against his hand. “Jinn, please!”

  He settled between her legs and filled her. For a moment he stilled and closed his eyes. Mia reached up and stroked his face. His eyes flickered open and he smiled down at her and kissed her hand as he began to move.

  Mia let out the breath she had been holding and let the sensation of making love engulf her. It was slow, sweet and exquisite. Like honey dripping in summer, each thrust brought her closer to him and the awareness of him moving within her was driving her breathless. She clung to him and anticipated his kiss. For an insane moment Mia thought it was as if they already knew each other’s bodies and responses. Her hands ran over his back and she wrapped her legs around his hips, the tempo quickening. Before she had thought that being with Jinn felt right, but now there something more. It was almost as if it was familiar. The answer danced on the edge of her mind, but she couldn’t reach it. She felt Jinn’s hot breath against her ear, and she writhed beneath him. Her nails scored his shoulders as her body strained for its release.

  They moved in unison, one heart, one beat. He felt her shiver beneath him as she climaxed, and a moment later he followed into the void. He called out his beloved’s name as the waves of pleasure rippled through his body. “Shuri.”

  ~* * *~

  “Shuri.” The name seemed to echo through the room. Jinn looked down,
only to see Mia glaring up at him.

  “Just who the hell is Shuri?”

  Jinn was at least clever enough to bite back a grin. She was jealous.

  Mia pushed him off her and sat up. “Well, I’m waiting. Who the hell is she? And why are you calling her name when I’m pretty sure that it was you and me having the sex!”

  Mia was stunning, beautiful and naked with anger that burned like fire in her green eyes. He wanted to touch her, he needed to touch her again.

  “I want a bloody answer.”

  He couldn’t help it, a slow sexy smile started to spread across his mouth. “It’s a term of endearment Mia, the type of thing that a man says to his lover.” Well, it wasn’t a complete lie. He thought, pleased with his own cleverness.

  “Oh,” Mia said as the anger disappeared. “Oh, I thought… you know what I damn well thought!” She said with a touch of embarrassment coloring her words.

  Once more Jinn opened his arms, and once again he was disappointed. She shook she head and a smile spread over her lips.

  “I guess I owe you an apology?”

  “I suppose you do.”

  “No touching.”

  “What?”

  “If you want to see just how sorry I am, then no touching until I say so. Deal? ” She explained and waited until he nodded in agreement.

  “Okay, deal... but what exactly are you doing?”

  “Shhh.” she whispered. With extreme slowness she slid her lithe body over Jinn’s. He felt her warm, firm breasts rub against his chest. Capturing his mouth, she kissed him hard and he could feel her heart beat rapidly against his skin. Her tongue invaded his mouth, rubbing and enticing him causing a growl in the back of his throat. He encased her in his arms and pulled her closer. Breaking the kiss, she shook her head. “No touching remember?”

  With reluctance Jinn’s hands dropped back down to his side. He felt her soft breath against his ear before she began a slow downward path. She used her hands, her mouth, her teeth until Jinn felt his blood about to boil and his breathing became labored. She stroked him, teased him, loved him until he writhed beneath her. He was losing control and he longed to touch her, to sink into her depths.

  ~* * *~

  Kane Barton woke with a burning pain. His hand flew to his chest as he tried to sit up. After a second or two of confusion and panic he came to the realization that he was not having a heart attack. The Shamsheara stone that hung about his neck was smoldering hot. Grabbing the chain, he held it away from his seared skin. Light emanated from the bauble and it cast an eerie greenish-yellow glow in his dark motel room. Looking into its depths, Kane saw that it moved and boiled like the mist swirls above a swamp.

  He knew that Jinn was alive and unbound from the ring. He knew that he was in Ghost Gum Creek, probably with Mia Templeton at this moment. Through fate or coincidence they had found each other. Kane had looked into Mia’s eyes, and she was the spitting image of his long dead niece. She possessed the same fine face, smooth skin and long dark hair that fell like sheets of black silk. Beautiful… he had forgotten how beautiful she was. Perhaps he shouldn’t have pretended to be her long lost uncle all those years ago.

  It had been so simple. Shuri and her mother Saffra believed his lies. He had been penniless and desperate when he arrived in Adwan, when he heard about the young widow and her pretty daughter. They were rich and vulnerable, such easy prey. Like a snake he slithered into their lives, beguiling Saffra with his soft words and lies until she fell totally under his spell. At the time he had barley paid any attention to Shuri as she was but a child. But as the years passed he saw what a beautiful woman she had grown into. Surpassing her mother’s beauty, surpassing all the women of Adwan. He would have taken her, not caring that she thought of him as her uncle but kismet once again intervened. An invitation to Farrohk’s had changed everything. As he and Shuri walked into the room, he saw the Jetae Shamsheara stone sitting in a low table.

  “That is a pretty thing,” Kansbar said as he bowed before Farrokh.

  “Oh the stone, yes I suppose it is. It is a worthless piece of glass that my great grandfather found when he traveled to the high mountains,” Farrokh answered as he motioned them to sit. “However its beauty is eclipsed by Khanum Shuri.”

  Kansbar bit back a smile as he watched how his host stared at Shuri. “Yes Farrokh, you speak the truth. My niece is the most beautiful woman in all of Adwan.”

  Shuri inclined her head as she sunk onto the colorful silk cushions. “You are too kind, but mistaken. There are many beautiful women in the city.”

  “Not one could surpass you, my lady. A man would be blessed indeed to have you for a wife.”

  “Indeed they would, my friend,” Kansbar said.

  It had been simple enough giving Farrokh his heart's desire in exchange for the Shamsheara stone. The bargain had been struck, Shuri for the stone. But now he could feel his power draining. He was bound to the stone, but now it was as if there was a hairline crack between them. The spell that fused them together, the spell that was never meant to fail, had. Jinn was released from the ring.

  And what of the girl, Mia, living here in this dusty little town? This surely proved that destiny was at work. But was she the reincarnation of Shuri or was it just a trick of nature? Shuri had sworn long ago that she would find a way to break the spell. He had been so sure that she could not, but he had been wrong?

  He could use this new opportunity to his benefit. He had failed to possess her in Adwan, maybe now in this obscure town he would be able to right that regret. He was still a powerful sorcerer, and with magic and luck there was a chance he could woo her still. He had held the girl’s hand and looked hard into her eyes for any sign that she knew who he was. There had been no recognition, and this could easily be turned to advantage.

  To restore order and regain his power, he must bind Jinn back to the ring. Until he could, both he and the stone were vulnerable. If the amulet was taken from him and destroyed, he would die in an instant. Kane had spent long years collecting magic and power from all over the globe but it was only the Jetae Shamsheara stone that gave him immortality. He must protect the stone bauble at all costs, for without it Kane would wither into dust and the full weight of his years would crash upon him. He toyed with the idea of Mia, he wanted her but not at the sacrifice of himself. He would draw Jinn out and kill him but if that failed then he would use Mia in any way that guaranteed his own survival.

  ~* * *~

  They were lying in a rumpled bed, warm and contented. Jinn’s hand trailed over her naked back and down her arm.

  “Our meeting was predestined. It is Kismet that we found each other,” he said as his hand clasped over hers.

  “I’m happy that we’re together but I don’t believe in fate,” Mia said.

  “You should; but it’s even more than that. Long ago we were together, we were lovers.”

  Mia stared at Jinn, she was half expecting a punch line… one that didn’t come. “What are you talking about?”

  “That once in a market town named Adwan, we were together and in love. But an evil sorcerer separated us. I was cursed into the form of a ring and you were forced to marry a man you did not love,” Jinn said as he raised her hand and kissed it.

  “What! Jinn, do you mean reincarnation?”

  “I mean magic.”

  Mia pulled her hand from his grasp and sat up. “Magic doesn’t exist.”

  “It does exist but in this place… in this time you have all forgotten. I swear to you, once we were lovers in the ancient Persian town of Adwan. I was a rich merchant, I sold silk but you were the only treasure I ever wanted. Your Uncle Kansbar was a sorcerer and he had arranged for you to marry another man. We were running away, leaving Adwan and everything we knew behind to start a new life in Al Basrah.”

  Mia took a breath and smiled as she ran her hand down the side of his face. “You just had a dream, that’s all.”

  “No! I am Ranjinn Ladarius, silk merchant of Adwan an
d you… you are Shuri, daughter of Kasim Ahriman and his wife Saffra.”

  Mia threw back the covers and got out of bed. “That’s just crazy, Jinn. You’re weaving a fairytale.”

  “You think I’m a liar?” Jinn sat on the edge of the bed and pinned her with his eyes. “You do not remember running through your garden, the rooftop room above the souk and all the colourful boats in the port?”

  “No I don’t and all this talk of rings, magic and sorcerers – it sounds like something from A Thousand and One Nights. This is reality, Jinn, this is where we live… here in Ghost Gum Creek and not some rose tinted, faraway magical place. Look, I’ve got to get ready for work,” Mia said as she turned around and headed towards the bathroom.

  Mia jumped under the hot jets of the shower and soaped herself with rose and cinnamon scented shower gel. She felt rattled and prayed that Jinn would realize it was just a dream. An exotic and tantalizing dream, filled with romantic names and settings. Sighing, she rinsed the conditioner from her hair before reluctantly getting out. Wrapping a towel around her body and another about her head like a turban, she hurried to the walk-in wardrobe. She noted that Jinn was still in bed. He was lying on his back staring at the ceiling and didn’t look up as she walked by. Quickly she dried off and then grabbing a pair of dark denim jeans, a white shirt, lavender jacket and her favourite pair of gladiator heels, she dressed. She combed out her long hair and let it dry naturally.

  An awkward silence hung over the bedroom as she walked back in. Trying to ignore it, she applied a little makeup and spritzed her favourite perfume. But her hand stilled as she was putting in her earring and she glanced up into the reflected image of Jinn laying on her rumpled bed. He looked forlorn and shattered. For a moment her heart sank, he had just told her a fantastical tale about a village in ancient Persia, magic and a cursed ring. He was delusional, and it scared her. It wasn’t just a physical reaction, there was far more to it. Mia cared for him. In fact she knew that he had gotten under her skin. She wanted a relationship with this man, and maybe even a future. She wanted him sane. And she would do anything she had to, to make that happen.