Time for another character cameo. I promised to share snapshots of how I envision my characters by using famous folks as examples. For Genie, I couldn't find a "famous" woman who fit how I picture her. However, I discovered a portrait of a gorgeous model who is an exact replica of my heroine. The only issue is her eyes. Genie's eyes are dark brown. The model's are a gorgeous sky blue. Other than that I believe I've found my genie.
If you recall, I imagined Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson as my evil, sexy jinn who is obsessed with claiming Genie for himself. Genie is having none of that!
She is a woman who wants to help others. She takes rules seriously and doesn't settle for less than the best. She believes in love and finds the patriarchal society she was raised in obsolete and the practice of keeping women in harems, degrading. When she meets her new master, she is shocked to discover how attracted she is to him, despite a number of glaring problems that he makes no effort to hide. We'll talk more about Reid Romans later. Regardless, she hates to see anyone suffer, glaring problems or not, and Reid is no exception. Her attraction to him awakens feelings she's never experienced, especially with a master.
Below you will find an excerpt featuring Genie and Reid. Let's just say, things get hot and steamy between them despite their efforts to resist.
Excerpt from Bottle Banished: Dreaming of Genie
Genie's POV
Standing
in the exact place Reid had stood before giving her the home tour, Genie
followed a yacht’s progress. Through the floor-to-ceiling window, she watched
as it glided down the river, waves cresting gently at its sides, the onboard
lights bright and cheery, the glow welcoming. She had an unexpected urge to
join the ship’s guests as they enjoyed their summer evening on such a glorious
vessel. Perhaps there, she could escape the feelings Reid Romans had awakened.
She
was no longer held captive in a bottle, but was instead imprisoned by a set of
archaic rules that kept her from what she wanted most.
“Genie!
There you are. What happened? You were petting my blanket and admiring my room,
and then you disappeared. I thought you’d left me.”
He
thought I left him? I couldn’t…wouldn’t.
“Reid,
unless you release me, I am yours for as long as you live. Nothing will
separate us,” she said the words with the realization she didn’t mind being
bound to a master, as long as that master was Reid. She’d left his bedroom to
escape the fire blazing between them.
“Do
you want me to release you? You said something about it last night.” He joined
her at the window, their arms touching.
“No,
I want to stay, but I figured that was what you wanted. You weren’t real
thrilled to find me, if you recall.” It was hard to believe his animosity had
diminished so rapidly. Removing his physical need for liquor had changed him
faster than she’d predicted. Granted, they’d been bombarded with one crisis
after another, keeping his mind occupied.
“I
was a real jerk,” he admitted, leaning closer.
They
stayed that way, barely touching and staring silently, until Reid cleared his
throat. “Thank you for everything you’ve done. I don’t want to drink. That’s a
miracle, pure and simple. I have hope, and I have you.”
Like
a moth drawn to light, she tilted her head, glimpsing the intensity of his
gaze.
“Genie…” The way he said her name was like a
soft caress.
He
reached around her neck, sliding his hand into her hair.
She
pushed aside every warning about romancing a master and shifted closer, until
she was pressed against him. She shivered, dropping her head to stare at her
feet.
“Look
at me,” he commanded.
Unable
to resist, she obeyed.
“You are the most beautiful and intriguing
woman I have ever met, and that’s no lie. I need to kiss you. Once I do, there
is no going back. Do you understand? I. Will. Possess. You.”
His
words sent a jolt of desire through her like electricity through a wire. She
wanted him to possess her, whatever that entailed. But a sudden vision of him
in danger because of her selfishness invaded. Just the thought of him hurt had
a sobering effect, dousing her desire like a bucket of water poured over a hot
flame.
“I
can’t. I’m sorry”
But
what if the rules aren’t true? What if I can be with him?
“I’m
not good enough for you,” he snapped. “The drunk with a past is not sufficient
for the perfect genie. I’m guessing that jinn is more your type.”
“Master,
Reid…that is not the reason,” she pleaded, angry with herself for sending mixed
signals and with him for his rude response. She knew he was hurting and
couldn’t possibly understand her rejection, but how could he accuse her of
wanting the jinn? Hadn’t she made it clear how much she despised him?
“Tell
me then. What is the reason? I feel like we’ve been playing cat and mouse all
day. I know you want me, Genie. I can see it in your eyes, the way your body
sways toward mine. I told myself I was no good for you, but none of that
matters. Not anymore. If I can’t touch you, I think I’ll go insane.”
She
gasped. His latest revelation sent her emotions reeling. “Reid, there are
rules.”
“Fuck
the rules! Rules are meant to be broken.” His eyes darkened again, ensnaring
her like a fly in a spider’s web.
“Fuck
the rules,” she whispered, liking the way the words sounded, but shocked they’d
come from her.
“That’s
right, baby. Fuck the rules.”
This
time when he reached for her she reached back.
His
lips crushed against hers with such force, she groaned. A responding growl
rumbled deep in Reid’s throat as he slipped his tongue into her mouth,
exploring and tasting with urgency.
Genie
responded, grabbing his hips and pressing her breasts hard against him. Nothing
could have prepared her for how her body responded to one kiss. Heat radiated
through her core, causing her womb to clench and her thighs to clamp together.
Reid’s sent of musk and man overwhelmed her senses.
I
want to consume him.
“I
like it when you’re a bad girl. Breaking the rules is hot as hell,” Reid
whispered against her lips. “Can you blink us to the bedroom, baby?”
He
didn’t need to ask twice.
If you enjoyed what you read and want more, now is a great time to grab your copy of Bottle Banished. It is available for Amazon Kindle at a pre-order price of $.99. Price will increase following the initial release.
