Awaken to Pleasure Read Online Free PDF

wealth, comfort, beauty, sex.
    The lamp and the curse didn’t consider a selfless wish to be an actual desire… it would grant a second wish if the first was truly from the heart.
    But that had only happened once—in the moment he had been cursed. Moira’s mother had wished for her daughter’s life to be spared. Perhaps that was why Boone had actually been able to. Whatever the reason, as the curse had wrapped itself tightly around him, he had understood that he could grant one more desire to the woman, even through his own fear and confusion.
    It had been too late, because the woman was dead. And he had never once told a master or mistress of this addendum to the rules of the lamp… because could a wish truly be selfless if the wisher knew they would get a second chance?
    Boone shook his head to clear it of his thoughts. He had sworn an oath to protect this girl—and it had been her mother’s final wish. So though he wanted to lie in the dark of Moira’s hut and think over what had just happened—and what he was to do about it— instead he rose, splashed some water over his face.
    And waited in the night.
    * * *
    The velvety dark of the desert sky cloakedMoira instantly as she slipped out of her hut, her movements as silent as she could make them, so as not to awaken Boone. As always, she took a moment to look up and to appreciate the beauty of the vast heavens that were always clearly visible through the pulsating dome of the haven. The years she’d spent hunting treasure out on the vast plains, bartering bits of junk for pieces of copper just to survive, had been long and harsh, and had left a mark on her soul. As such, she was mostly thankful for the peace she had found here in the sheltered village haven of Mavi.
    She had thought that the nagging feeling of something being missing all these years had been due to the absence of her parents. But now she wondered if it was simply that she had been lonely.
    She would be lonelier still after tomorrow. Because she would be forced to use her wish—and she knew she wouldn’t feel right wishing for something that wouldn’t benefit the haven.
    A power greater than dark magic—greater than the science that had built this dome—had dropped Boone into her life, making her wonder if maybe there were shades of gray to things instead of just black and white.
    She had thought she had all she needed. But now she understood some of those shades of gray.
    She had the chance to help the unexpected hunger problem of this year, and that was a kind of magic in itself.
    And yet all she could think of was herself.
    Boone was a djinn. She fully believed that now; his magical tricks that night had wiped away her doubt. And so long as the lamp owed her a wish, he would be hers. But time grew short and she knew that soon he would disappear forever—off to do the bidding of others.
    She couldn’t allow that to happen.
    Despite the pressing need to use the wish for the good of others, what she wondered now was if a djinn could be wished free. It was a delicate matter, one that she feared had no solution. She could ask him, certainly; she had no doubt that he knew the answer. But in doing so she would reveal the feelings that she was trying so desperately to hide in the depths of her heart.
    She hadn’t mistaken the mating bond, of that she was certain. Humans had developed it in recent years, an evolution to make sure that couples stayed together and had children. But he hadn’t acknowledged it. What if djinns couldn’t mate? That would be just her luck. After all, she’d never even heard of the creatures until today.
    Worse yet, what if he
could
be released from his bonds, and she was to discover after the fact that he didn’t want to be with her, to live with her as her mate?
    Or what if she wished him free and half the citizens of the haven starved to death because of her selfishness?
    Moira sighed heavily and sank onto the stone ledge that surrounded the town pool. The soft