Chapter 10

So much for tomorrow's lunch.

David watched Anissa inhale the leftovers he'd warmed up, amazed by the amount of food such a small person could pack away. She wasn't skinny, her curves were too lushly feminine for that but he could still probably pick her up with one hand. Right now she was plowing through her third roast beef sandwich, each motion of her hand and wrist swift and graceful. He remembered his dreams of those hands and almost moaned out loud as his cock leapt to attention.

He'd gotten a Djinni for Christmas. Hot damn. Hell of a way to ring out the year. He wondered if her hard nipples up in his room had been from more than just the cold. He could only begin to imagine the many ways he wanted to take her. Starting with here on the kitchen table. But not until she'd finished eating. He took a swig of his beer while she sipped at hers daintily. "There's pumpkin pie, if you're still hungry."

"Pie?" She looked so hopeful, like a kid in a candy shop, that Dave couldn't help smiling.

"Pie," he confirmed. "Sara Lee's finest." He returned to the fridge, then came back with a half a pie and a can of spray whipped cream. "How much?"

"Just a little." Her lashes fluttered down. "Half of that, perhaps? Is Sara Lee your cook? You must thank her for me. The food was delicious."

He laughed, cut it into two equal pieces and slid one quarter of the pie onto her plate. He could see he'd have to go grocery shopping tomorrow. "Sara Lee is a corporation that sells frozen, ready-made deserts. All I did was take it out of the freezer and toss it in the oven for half an hour. Whipped cream?"

She gave the can a funny look, so he demonstrated, spraying a big mound onto his own serving, which he'd left in the foil pan. She nodded, so he handed her the can and tried not to laugh while she attempted to figure it out. When she shot herself in the face with a dollop, he lost the battle and laughed out loud.

"Would you like some help?" He couldn't resist the urge to reach over and wipe the blob of cream off her nose with a finger. He caught his breath stunned by the electrical jolt he felt from that minimal touch. She didn't jump but those pale purple eyes widened and caught his. He pulled his finger back and licked the cream away, feeling the tingle all the way to his crotch. Her tiny pointed tongue flicked out and licked a drop of cream off her lip, her breath hitching at almost the same moment as his. Goddess, now he had to add that to his list - licking the sweet cream off of every square inch of her dusky skin.

Endless seconds went by as they stared at each other, frozen. Then she gave a forced little giggle and handed him the can. "Yes, please."

He took the can but it was a moment before he remembered what he was supposed to do with it. They finished their meal in silence, except for the hungry little moans of pleasure she occasionally made as she savored the pie. Dave couldn't help wondering what it would be like to have her make those sounds while he was thrusting inside her.

Anissa was glad she'd taken time to eat. After nearly a century in her prison, the food had been a wonderful treat. She was feeling genuinely pleased to be able to grand her master his wishes in return for his thoughtfulness.

"Have you chosen your wishes?"

She sat and watched as he loaded their used dishes into yet another machine. A dishwasher, he had called it. At least that name was fairly self-explanatory.

David shook his shaggy head. "No. I've read one too many books where the moral of the story is be careful what you wish for. This is going to require some thought."

She nodded. He was a scholar, of course he would want to think things through, although she still thought he looked more like a barbarian warrior. At least he had fed and clothed her while he pondered. That was more than most of her masters had done. Now that she had eaten a feast and drunk two bottles of ale, though, another need was making itself known, another thing that she forgot about in the stasis of the box. She tried not to squirm.

"Are you all right?" He was perceptive too. If only he could have been her hero. Shaven and trimmed, he would probably even be attractive, if not precisely handsome. But he was neither mage nor warrior, so she could not ask him to take the risk.

"I am fine." She wiggled in her chair. "But, if I could... That is... Is there a privy in the house?" She tried to remember the word from her time in Chicago. "A lavatory?"

He thumped his forehead with his hand. "Duh. Bathroom. I'm sorry, Anissa, I wasn't thinking." He pointed to a wooden door off the kitchen. "Right through there. It's kind of small but at least it's clean."

She nodded her thanks and fled. When she returned, the dishes were gone and the dishwasher was gurgling and humming. The professor leaned against the cupboard, his keen blue eyes watching her as she emerged from the water closet.

"Do you go back into the box to sleep?"

She shook her head. "No. I only return to my prison after all three wishes have been granted."

"I was afraid of that." He gave her a crooked smile. "I don't have any furniture in the guest room yet, so you can have the bed. I'll sleep down here on the couch."

She had assumed that she would be sleeping with him - or perhaps not sleeping, at least for the next several hours. A number of male masters - married or otherwise - had chosen her body as one of their wishes, some had just commanded it while they decided. She usually hated it but with this master, she would not have minded. He had certainly looked as though he were interested in her. His gaze was intent, his features fiercely set, though his baggy trews hid any clear physical evidence. If he didn't have a wife, why didn't he take her? Perhaps he was wed and his wife was merely away. "Are you married?"