They appeared at the same time. Ari had to tilt her head back to smile up at Jai, he was standing so close. “We’re on the old Appian Way. How cool is that?”

He grinned and stroked her chin with his thumb, seeming happy that she was happy. “I called in a reservation.

Tonight, everything else is gone, okay? It’s just you and me on the old Appian Way.”

“That sounds like song lyrics.”

Jai frowned, his eyes teasing as he took her by the elbow and led her inside. “What kind of music do you listen to?”

“Folksy, Legionnairey stuff.”

He chuckled but couldn’t respond because the maître d’ appeared. He asked something in Italian and to Ari’s utter shock, Jai conversed with him. In Italian.

She didn’t say a word as they were led inside the restaurant’s rustic, dark interior. It had Tudor windows and low, vaulted ceilings with thick, dark beams. A grand fireplace served as the room’s focal point.

The restaurant smelled amazing. Her stomach agreed.

The maître d’ led them past the other diners to a private corner table, and all the while Ari wondered about Jai’s surprising language skills and whether a maître d’ was called such in Italy, considering the word was French. Hmm.

Once they were seated with menus and water, Ari arched an eyebrow at Jai. He lowered the glass he was about to sip from. “What?”

“Italian? You speak Italian?”

He nodded, appearing bemused. “I speak Italian.”

“Do you speak any other languages I should know about?”

“French, German, Spanish, and Arabic. Some Farsi. A little Chinese and some Japanese, but not fluent. Oh, and a little Russian.”

Ari’s mouth fell open with unladylike shock. “How did I not know I was dating a linguistic genius?”

“I’m not a genius.”

“You’re a genius.” She shrugged teasingly. “I wish I’d known this before we started dating. I don’t know if I can handle being with someone who thinks he’s smarter than me.”

“Wait a minute—a minute ago I was a genius. Now I only think I’m smarter than you?”

She smiled and shrugged again. “You speak one, two … nine languages … you’re a genius and I bet you think you’re smarter than me.”

Jai chuckled and sipped his water.

“I think I’m just smart enough for you.”

Ari pouted a little. “I only speak English.”

“And you speak it well, baby.”

For that he got a kick under the table. He grunted and smiled into his water. He looked happy. Ari felt a warm glow in her belly and smiled softly at him, memorizing every single feature, every long, dark eyelash. Suddenly she felt awful for having acted like such a petulant ass these last few weeks. “I really am sorry for blowing up at you.”

“It’s okay,” he assured her, his expression tender.

“You just …” She flushed and glanced around at the busy restaurant. Couples were deep in conversation and Ari could hear a number of languages among them.

“I just what?”

When she turned back to him, he was frowning. She smiled a little shyly. “You make me a little crazy. I mean, I probably shouldn’t tell you this but you occupy a large portion of my daily thoughts.” She laughed, feeling completely dorky. “It’s a little obsessive.”

Thankfully, Jai didn’t go running for the hills at her confession. Instead, he returned her shy smile and nodded.

“I know what you mean. You make me a little crazy too.” He shook his head as if in disbelief. “A year ago, all I cared about was the job. Being the best. It dominated my life. I wanted to be the best Ginnaye out there and I wanted to prove myself to Luca. Now, all I think about is you. How to make you happy. How to keep you safe. Sometimes I get it wrong,” he laughed ruefully. Ari chuckled.

“Clearly, I get it wrong. But I wanted you to know that this craziness … we’re in it together.”

“Together,” she murmured, her whole body tingling with emotion. She dipped her chin and glanced up at him from under her eyelashes. “Will together include any naked together time?”

Jai quickly masked his surprise at the question and flashed her a wicked smile. “Why, Miss Johnson, I do believe you’re trying to seduce me.”

“Um … yeah, only since we met.”

“I have a very strong will.”

“Your will sucks.”

“Well,” he sighed dramatically, making her giggle at this playful side of him she so loved. “I’m feeling kind of weak tonight.”

Her heart stopped as his meaning took hold of her. “Really?” she whispered, hoarsely, already planning on skipping the meal to get to the dessert.

As if he’d read her mind, he gave her an admonishing look. “Dinner first. Dessert later. Sometimes anticipation is a good thing.”

“Oh my God, you’re killing me,” she breathed, but before he could reply, the waiter returned.

Ari had no idea how they managed to make it through the meal with their light banter back and forth, but they did …

When they stepped out of the Peripatos back into the dark of their home, Ari turned to look at Jai. He turned to gaze at her, and the air around them became pressure against her body. The searing expression in Jai’s eyes locked her in place, and she found her breathing grow shallow, her skin prickling in anticipation of his touch. Focusing on the energy in the house, Ari sent little feelers out and discovered they were completely alone.

“Trey’s not home,” she told him, her voice raspy with too much feeling and expectation.

Jai didn’t say a word. One minute there was a few feet between their bodies, the next she was caught in his hold as he collided with her, his arm catching her around the waist, his other hand around the back of her neck in preparation for his kiss.

What a kiss.

Ari sighed into it, melting against him, her hands kneading the muscles in his lower back as he deepened the kiss.

Usually Jai started out slow when they were making out and as soon as it hit that heated sexual place, he’d pull back. This time, he went straight for the heated sexual place. He pressed her toward the stairs and Ari stumbled.

They parted, their mouths brushing one another’s as she panted, “Let’s go to your room.”

Jai nodded, his eyes lidded with want as he gazed down at her. He reached for her mouth again and then lifted her up. Wrapping her legs around his waist, Ari held on tight for more scorching kisses, her body sliding against his as he carried her upstairs to his room.

She heard the door slam shut behind them and then she was falling onto the mattress.

“Oh my God, this is going to happen,” she whispered up at him, excited.

Following her down onto the bed,

Jai smiled, but his intensity didn’t fade as his hands coasted up her thighs, pushing her dress higher. “Definitely happening,” he murmured.

In seconds, she was divested of her clothes, lying beneath Jai, heart pounding against her ribs. She knew she should feel vulnerable, scared, but other than nervous anticipation, Ari felt like she was right where she belonged.

Jai sat up, his eyes devouring her.

“You are so beautiful.”

“So are you.” Ari smiled and tugged at his shirt. “But I want to see more.”

His mouth twitched but he happily consented and soon Ari was marveling over him, her soft hands memorizing the feel of him as they kissed, taking time to get to know one another.

Soon their kisses and touches grew desperate and Ari found herself beneath him, his body poised above hers. He pulled back from her mouth, his expression loving but concerned. “It’ll hurt a little. Just tell me to stop if you need me to.”

She nodded, the nerves fluttering wildly in her stomach.

And then he was there, pressing inside her. It hurt. It really hurt. But through the pain was Jai’s murmured words of love, the brush of his lips against her cheek, her mouth, his fingers threaded through hers, and the amazing feeling of connection she’d never felt with anyone.

Mingling with the pain, suddenly there was heat, pleasure.

He dropped his head to the crook of her neck, his lips pressed to her hot skin. His grip on her hands was almost painful as he anchored her to him, taking them both to the heights of their lovemaking.

She shuddered against him, and he let go. Coming down from the high, they wrapped their arms around one another and held on tight.

“I love you,” Ari whispered, a happy tear trembling on her lashes.

Jai nodded against her shoulder,

his muscles flexing around her. “I love you too.”

5

The Hit Meant for You Bruised Me

A breeze swept through the White King’s loose hair as he lounged on the large balcony abutting his music room. Only a few white clouds interrupted the azure sky above, and the sun, high in its summer ceiling, caused the mountains of Mount Qaf to glitter triumphantly in the light.

His brothers Gleaming and Shadow lounged with him, sipping hibiscus tea and appearing as though they were nothing more than lords at leisure. Appearances were always deceiving.

“We need to find some way to weaken Father,” Gleaming grumbled. “There must be something.”

“If there was something, we’d be doing it,” White muttered irritably.

Shadow sat up to place his tea on the table. “We need to weaken Father long enough to infiltrate the palace, subdue Asmodeus, take the ring, and utilize it to force Father to tell us where Mother is.”

In that moment White wished, not for the first time, that Red and Glass had taken his side in this hostile endeavor. Perhaps it bode ill for the future that the only brothers willing to come to his aid were the least savvy of them. “Yes, thank you for that illuminating reiteration of the situation.”

“I could leave,” Shadow warned, the boredom in his voice masking his obvious petulance. “I don’t need to be here, subjected to your sarcasm and lack of appreciation.”

“Then go. I don’t need a commentator.

I need a plan.” White took another swig of tea, finding the calm, the patience that he needed to do what had to be done. “Our search for Lilif will probably take centuries unless Azazil hands over the information.” When he looked at his brothers, they both looked green at the thought of going through this for centuries. He sighed and stared back up at the sky. “Keep thinking.”

Waking up in Jai’s arms allowed Ari to forget all the bad stuff, at least for a few minutes. Her mind was wiped blank of the Jinn world, her senses focused solely on the chest beneath her head, the strong arm around her waist, the sound of his heart beating against her ear, and the smell of him—that rich, spicy scent all his own.

She had never, not once, felt as loved as she did just then, and for a moment, Ari believed that if she died that day, she’d die happy knowing she’d had this with him. For surely, the overwhelming passion and incredible bond between them was more than many people ever experienced in a full lifetime.

“You awake?” His voice rumbled above her.

Her loopy smile pressed against his skin. “Mmm.”

Shifting back, Jai trailed his hand down her hip, sending goosebumps over her skin. When their eyes met, her heart almost stopped. How was it possible that he could still make her feel like she was crushing on him?

His return smile was unguarded, and it caused a wave of aching emotion to crash against Ari’s chest. Jai rarely looked this relaxed or happy. It thrilled her that she could make him feel that way. “Did you sleep okay?”

“I slept better than okay.” She pressed a kiss against his chest and pulled back to grin up at him.

It made him laugh. “I don’t remember ever feeling this good.”