Throw Your Arms Around Me by Shona Husk

I knew when I had to pick a song that I wanted and Aussie song. ‘Throw Your Arms Around me’ by the Hunters and Collectors is very well known. On one hand it’s about love and needing someone, but on the other is about how quickly love can pass, and that you have to grab each chance you have. A perfect song for another Inanu story. I started the Inanu in ‘Boyfriend in a Bottle’ but you don’t have to have read that story to enjoy this one.

There are a few different versions of this song. My favourite is on the live ‘Under One Roof' album, but there’s no video for that so I’ve included the re-released slower option. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e69wQsfrbSU&feature=related

Freeing a genie from a bottle isn’t as easy as making a wish, not when Fyn is an Inanu created for giving women every pleasure ever imagined. But what Madeline wants is more than he can give her. She wants him, for life. Fyn knows only one way for that to occur—Madeline will have to resist him for a year and a day, something no one has ever been able to do.

Rated PG-13
Genre: Paranormal
Heat: Sweet

~~~~~

Throw Your Arms Around Me
by Shona Husk

This had seemed like such a silly idea a week ago. But now they were here—the four of them, straws had been drawn to see who would go first, two bottles of wine had been drunk over dinner and the amethyst bottle sat in the center of the table—summoning a genie out of a bottle seemed possible.

“Okay. So the rules are once he goes back into the bottle you hand it on to the next person.” Kelly glanced around the group. “And we all meet for dinner for the summoning.” Kelly’s gaze landed on Madeline. “Someone had to go last,” she said with a shrug. Kelly never went last, if anyone was going to break the rule it would be Kelly.

Madeline didn’t care. She was fine with going last. That way if it was some kind of evil genie she wouldn’t make a wish. They’d found the bottle at a market while shopping. The lady had warned he was no ordinary genie but they’d all chipped in to buy the bottle despite the seller's protests. Now all they had to do was free him and find out exactly what wishes he did grant—apparently he was very specific.

Kelly picked up the bottle. Her fingers caressed the glass as her tongue swept over her lips.

Madeline’s toes curled in her shoes. This was different to the spells the four of them had tried to cast at school, back when they’d fancied themselves as witches. None of those spells had worked.

“Do it already,” said Tania. As second genie summoner she wanted to get to her turn.

“Okay, okay. I was trying to get in the right frame of mind. It’s not every day you get to summon a genie.”

“Inanu. The lady said he was an Inanu.” He might be a genie but it was important to know what type of genie he was. Well, it was to her.

“Inanu, genie, whatever. He’ll do what I say.” Kelly licked the bottle to start the spell.

For a heartbeat nothing happened. Then the room filled with the intoxicating scent of sandalwood and an old fashion sand timer appeared on the dining table. Madeline felt someone looking at her, raising the hairs on the back of her neck. She turned her head and swallowed. In the doorway stood a man. A half-naked man. Her mouth opened. He was one hell of a genie. Her gaze met his with a snap that ricocheted all the way down her spine. His lips curved in a smile that told her everything she needed to know about the kind of wishes he’d be granting.

Her friends also noticed.

“Holy cow.” One of them whispered. Madeline couldn’t take her eyes off the Inanu to turn around. His gaze remained locked on her as if she were the only woman in the room.

Kelly got up and sauntered over to him. She stepped in front of Madeline, breaking the connection. Heat rose on Madeline’s cheeks. That genie was hot…and he was going to be all kinds of trouble. No one was going to give him up and hand him on to the next person without a fight.

“I licked your bottle,” Kelly trailed a finger up his chest. “What happens now?”

“Now you complete the spell with a kiss and I grant your most intimate desires.” His voice was soft and deep.

Madeline crossed her legs as desire tightened her belly.

Kelly reached up and placed a kiss on his lips. But his dark eyes were on Madeline.

***

The next weekend Tania arranged dinner at her house. Kelly placed the bottle in the middle of the table after dinner, but she didn’t look happy.

“Well?”

“Well, nothing. The only wishes he grants are the sexy kind. He gave me the best orgasm of my life and went back in the bottle.”

“Did you lick again?” asked Tania.

Kelly looked at the floor. “Of course I did. But nothing happened.”

“It’s a one-time deal.” Madeline glanced at the bottle. She bit the inside of her lip to keep the smile of her face. She would get her turn after all…and she was last. Every night she’d dreamed of him. He’d looked at her the way no man had ever looked at her. “Does he have a name?”

“A name? How would I know? I didn’t stop to ask.” Kelly crossed her arms. “If you ask me, it’s like paying for a gigolo.”

Madeline raised her eyebrows. Typical. Kelly didn’t want anyone else to have a turn.
Tania spoke up. “Well I’m still going to try.”

“You have a boyfriend,” Kelly said with a scowl.
“Yeah, but he doesn’t, you know, go down.” Tania was eyeing up the lilac bottle as if she wondering how long she could keep the Inanu out of his crystalline prison.

“It’s not like I’m cheating. He’s a genie.”

Inanu. Madeline said to herself.

She’d spent the week doing some internet research. Inanu were apparently created by the Goddess Inanna as a gift for women. And that was about all she’d found out. While there as a stack of law on regular genies there as very little about the Inanu. Their secrets were closely guarded. No wonder if they were handed around like sex toys. But he wasn’t a toy, he was a man. She’d seen the heat in his eyes—she shook her head. He was created to give pleasure, that was why he’d looked at her like she was the last tim tam in the packet and he was going to eat her up real slow.

Tania licked the bottle before anyone could say anything else.

As before the gorgeous man appeared this time in a tux, with the tie and jacket undone and his dark eyes on Madeline. Looking like that she’d take him anywhere he asked. Hell, she’d do anything he asked.

“What’s your name?” The words were out of her mouth before she could stop them.

He smiled his wicked smile. “Fyn.”

Then Tania kissed him. “You’re mine, Fyn.”

***

Anna took the bottle from Tania. “I’m going to keep him for longer than a weekend. I did some reading. Apparently to free a genie you only have to wish them free.”

“He doesn’t do those kinds of wishes.”

“It shouldn’t matter. A genie is a genie.”

No, not all genies were the same. In fact there were lots of types. Madeline had spent the weekend at the library doing more research. From those who were created, to those that were cursed and then there were the Inanu. She’d found a note from an old diary about a woman falling in love with one and somehow he’d gotten free. All this licking and passing Fyn around like a bag of chocolates wasn’t sitting well. It wasn’t his fault he was Inanu. Didn’t he deserve more?

Anna licked the bottle and Fyn appeared. He leaned over the back of Anna’s chair, opposite Madeline. This close she could see his eyes were brown. A lock of his dark gold hair fell over his forehead.

He smiled as if he knew what she as thinking. It’s my turn next. Then he leaned down so Anna could kiss him and complete the spell. Without the kiss he would go back into the bottle and the wish would be wasted.

“Are you going to wish him free?” Kelly smirked, like she knew Anna would never have the will power to do it.

“I will, when I’m done. It’s been a while between boyfriends.”

Madeline knew she’d have the bottle next weekend.

***

The amethyst bottle was warm in her hands. She’d waited until after dinner to touch it. Now the other women waited, wanting one more glimpse of Fyn when he came out of the bottle. She’d been up all night, her skin too sensitive to touch as she imagined his hands on her for the first time.

“What happens after this?” Madeline asked.

“I guess we sell the bottle online and let another woman have a turn.” Anna said.

“At least we’ll get out money back.” Kelly eyed the bottle. “So, are you going to do it? You can’t keep the bottle. You have to let him out.”

Madeline nodded. She didn’t want to keep the bottle. She wanted to keep the man.

She took a breath. Her stomach was a bundle of knots. Then she closed her eyes and flicked her tongue over the glass. Her heart lurched as her nose filled with the now familiar scent of sandalwood.

When she opened her eyes Fyn was there dressed only in jeans, the curve of his hip dragging her gaze down. She jerked her eyes up to meet his dark stare.

He rested his hip against her sofa as he belonged in her house. “Are you going to complete the spell?”

Her tongue darted across her lip. “Yes.”

Their lips touched. His tongue glided past, tasting and teasing with a hint of the things he could offer. His hand slid around her neck to cup her head. If he hadn’t held her, she would have melted onto the floor.

There was no way she could resist him when all she wanted was to feel his hands beneath her clothes and be crying out his name night after night. She wanted more than a fling. She wanted him for life. He pulled back. The heat was still there, barely concealed in his eyes, but so was something else. Something far more dangerous.

“That is no small wish.”

“You read my mind?”

“I read your desires.”

Madeline glanced away as her cheeks burned. Just how many of her private thoughts had he seen? She cringed…it was one thing to think them but another to share them.

Fyn traced down her neck. “I am here for your desires.” The words sounded old with use. “I would be more than happy to fulfil yours.” He tipped her chin to look at him. “Can you fulfil mine?” His voice was nothing more than a whisper.

She nodded. “I hope so.”

With her friends gone, after a final round of stolen glances, the house seemed too small for just the two of them. She was careful not to get to close, in case she fell into his arms. She didn’t to lose him after one weekend. She wanted more than what Kelly, Tania and Anna had experienced with Fyn.

He wasn’t so cautious. He caught her in the kitchen, trapping her against the counter. “The magic that gave me life burns in my blood. I want to give you everything I saw.”

She turned her head away to avoid the kiss. His lips grazed her cheek. “If I give in, you will go back in the bottle.”

“I always go back into the bottle when my job is done.”

“What’s your job?”

“To fulfil a fantasy, a desire, a dream.”

“That involves sex.” Right now that was all her body wanted, but her heart wanted more. There’s been something the moment she’d first seen him. But it was something that could never be. She’d found no way to set him free…and once he had his freedom would he still want her?

“Most fantasies do.” His touch made her shiver. “I wanted you the moment I saw you. I wanted you to lick my bottle. I wanted to know what you were dreaming of.” His kissed her cheek and she couldn’t help herself.

Her hands skimmed up his chest, over hard planes of muscles that moved beneath golden skin. She drew a shaky breath. “Do you want to get free?”

He paused as if fighting with himself. “I can’t resist the magic that made me. I am a slave to your desire.”

Her desire not his. She wanted more than magical lust.

“Have you thought about getting free?”

“Yes.” His lips moved against hers.

“How can I set you free?”

Fyn took a step back that looked like it cost him everything. “You have to resist me for a year and a day.”

How the hell was she going to resist him for a year and a day? He was temptation in a bottle. “A year and a day?”

Fyn nodded, the tension tightening his shoulders. She wanted to run her fingers over his skin and ease the muscles, instead she curled her nails into her palm.

“If you read my desires, then you know that is what I want.”
“That is only part of what you want, the part I can’t grant.” His fingertips traced her cheek, across her lip. “Only you can grant my freedom.”

By holding out for a year and a day while this irresistible man tempted her with every glance and every touch. She could have him now, give in and see what her friends were raving about…but she didn’t want to use him like they had. And they hadn’t even cared. They didn’t see him as a man.
She forced herself to breathe. And Fyn was all man. And she knew nothing about him expect he was a sex genie.

“And once you are free?”

“I will make up for everything you missed out on for that year.”

“If you are no longer compelled to, will you want to?”

His gaze tracked slowly down her body and back up. “Yes, you are different. Worthy of the challenge.” He swallowed and took another step back. “This will not be easy.”

“I know.” But she had to believe it would be worth it.

***

“So where is the bottle?” Kelly demanded over the phone.

“He hasn’t gone back in.” It was the same excuse Madeline had been using for the past couple of weeks. Her friends were getting impatient.

“What do you mean he hasn’t gone back in? It’s been a month. Just what kind of fantasy do you have?”

“I don’t know. It’s not my fault the magic isn’t finished.” That was an outright lie. She was fighting the magic with every beat of her heart. She didn’t just want Fyn, her body was craving him. And he was having just as much difficulty.

He couldn’t walk past without touching her…and then one thing led to another. The old fashion sand timer that had appeared on the kitchen table had shifted dramatically when she’d let her resistance slide after a couple of glasses of wine and they’d ended up on the sofa doing a particular number.

Lesson learned. No more drinking Fyn.

“Hmm. I don’t see why he’s stayed out of the bottle for you.”

Kelly automatically assumed that all men were interested in her. It could be because she was a thin blond, but after a few dates most realised she as hard work…some days she made being friends hard work.

“I really don’t know.” Madeline said through clenched teeth.

“Maybe we should come over for dinner, again.” Kelly wanted to keep checking to make sure she was telling the truth. Why would she lie? It wasn’t like she’d get a second chance if he did go back in the bottle. This was a one lick deal.

Madeline closed her eyes. She didn’t want them all coming over and ogling her man like last time…and that was how she as thinking of him. They’d gone on a few dates, and he was living with her. As an added bonus all the little repairs around her house were done. Yet it was more than that, they talked. He told her about the things he’d seen over his long, but fractured life, and she shared bits of this time. The more time they spent together, the more she wanted him and the more she knew she had to wait. She crossed each day carefully off her calendar.

“No.”

“No? You’ve got to keep him for the longest, you should share.”

“He isn’t a doll to argue over.”

There was a silence. Then Kelly spoke. “You like him.”

No it was worse than that, she loved Fyn. He was like no one she’d ever met, and losing him would break her heart…and she knew at the end of their year and a day she might still lose him. For all his reassurances, when he had his freedom would he still want her?

***

Madeline shut the door and leaned her forehead against the cool wood. One more night. Her blood was boiling and need knotted in her belly. Fyn had been cooking, the scent of chicken and thyme circled, but all she wanted to taste was his skin. She bit her lip. She was never going to make it…maybe she should go out for a bit. She’d tried leaving him at home and going away for a weekend…but that hadn’t worked. The magic had brought them back together. Turns out she couldn’t out run an Inanu, or her lust.

“You’re late.”

She couldn’t turn and look at him. “I know. I need you.”

She hated herself for saying it. While she battled her own lust, Fyn was warring with the magic that had created him. He was battling power of a Goddess.

He swept aside her hair and his lips touched the back of her neck. The kiss tingled down her spine. He covered her hands with his, pinning her to the door.

“I want you. I’ve spend a year with you, longer than anyone else.” His hand slid to undo a button on her shirt. “I know you.” He pushed her shirt over her shoulders and kissed between her shoulder blades. “I love you.”

Madeline turned. “I love you too.”

He paused. His body firm against hers, a cage made of unspent desire. His eyes flashed lilac before returning to brown.

“What happened?”

“I don’t know. Something is wrong.” He stepped back, frowning as if he were confused.

“Fyn?”

He glanced at her, then ran into the kitchen where his bottle and the sand timer were. She followed. But they were both gone. Her heart jumped as her breath caught in her throat. Then she realized Fyn hadn’t vanished along with his bottle. He was leaning against her sofa like he belonged there.

“Are you going to complete the spell?” He opened his hand to reveal a beautiful amethyst ring.

She grinned and threw her arms around him. “Yes.”

And she kissed him, knowing this time they had the rest of their lives.

~~~~~

A civil designer by day and an author by night, Shona Husk lives in Western Australia at the edge of the Indian Ocean. Blessed with a lively imagination she spent most of her childhood making up stories. As an adult she discovered romance novels and hasn’t looked back. Drawing on history and myth, she writes about heroes who are armed and dangerous but have a heart of gold—sometimes literally.

With stories ranging from sensual to scorching, she is published with Ellora’s Cave, Samhain Publishing, Carina Press and Sourcebooks. You can find out more at
http://www.shonahusk.com/
http://www.facebook.com/shonahusk

Her first print release The Goblin King (Sourcebooks, Casablanca) will be available in October.Amazon

Cursed by a Druid millennia ago, Roan lives a bleak existence in the Shadowlands, desperately trying to retain his soul and not succumb to the goblin horde.

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