1 comments/ 11704 views/ 3 favorites Genie By: Talshadar You let go a sigh of relief as you watch your mom pull away. You thought she'd never leave. You finally have a moment to yourself. Your son Adam had left early to hang out with his friends and with Mark not back from work till tomorrow, the house is yours. You turn from the window and look around at the living room. You might as well do a bit of dusting before starting the laundry. Your day alone is probably going to be mostly housework but it won't get done on its own. You change into comfortable sweats and a t-shirt and start dusting. "Man, it sure collects fast", you think to yourself as you pick up the funky blue lamp you'd bought at a yard sale instead of dusting around it like usual. You wedge the lamp in your armpit as you try to stop a sneeze. "AAACHOOOO!!!" The sneeze, brought on by all the dust, is so strong it bends you over at the waist and you feel a tingle on your breast as the lamp is rubbed against you. Shaking your head you take the lamp and hold it out in front of you. You notice the lamp had started to turn a bit red from where it was pressed up against you. You toss your swiffer on the shelf and rub the lamp in the same spot. The red slowly starts to fade back to blue as you watch. Perplexed you watch as the lamp becomes a solid blue again. You grab the swiffer and start to dust again and the phone rings. You run to the kitchen to grab it and realize your hands are full and shove the lamp under your arm again. "Hello?" you say into the phone. "Hello, can I speak to Samantha Strong please?" "Sorry, wrong number" you say hanging up the phone as you feel the tingle again. You take the lamp and look at - it's tinged red again, from where it was pressed against you. You rub it against your arm as it starts to fade to blue. Nothing. You look at the lamp, then at your arm. "Hmm... it can't be ... well... maybe." you think to yourself. Looking around embarrassed, you hold the lamp to your chest. You feel the now familiar tingle, in both breasts this time and pull the lamp away. It's now red on the side you pressed to you and blue on the other. You walk back to the living room looking and wondering at the lamp, tossing the swiffer on the counter. You sit down on the couch set the lamp on the coffee table and contemplate your discovery. "Wonder what happens if it turns all red?" you wonder... thinking about the tingle you'd felt. With a shrug, you pick the lamp up and start to rub it across your chest, the tingle teasing your nipples and you feel your heart beat speed up. You run the lamp between your breasts and squeeze it between them. The lamp is getting warm in your hands and it's almost entirely red as the tingle starts to spread through your body. You cup your breast in 1 hand as your tease the lamp down your body, between your legs and down your thighs, a moan stealing its way between your lips. You watch the final tip of blue change to red and your eyes widen as you feel a vibration in your hand. The color flows from the lamp in a cloud of red that grows as it floats before you. It slowly spreads to human shape and you can't believe what you're seeing as a man starts to form in front of you. Seconds later he stands before you, about 6 feet tall, dark curly hair over piercing blue eyes. Naked to the waist, his body tapers from well formed shoulders to a narrow waist over loose fitting pants. He is the most handsome man you've ever seen in your life and your breath catches as he smiles at you and bows. "You have woken me mistress, I am yours to command" he says in lightly accented English, "What is your wish" You feel a little thrill at his statement. "Who... what are you?" you ask, trying to keep control of yourself. "You have heard of Genies I assume?" he asks, then grumbles, "After that cursed Disney movie, EVERYONE has heard of us." "Yes I've heard of Genies and magic lamps... though never that you had to rub them against yourself!" you say, flushing slightly. "Ah... that's because I'm an Eros Genie." he says with a grin, "I'm a genie of the art of Love". "Love?" you ask. "Well... sex really." he says, grinning even wider. "Just sex? What about the 3 wishes?" you reply with a smile. "Not just sex no, and there are no wishes." he says, "I'm yours until you are satisfied and release me and send the lamp on". "Really?" you say, "so if I said clean my house?" "Done." he says and claps his hands. You jump and then look around amazement. Not a spec of dust, everything put away, the glance toward the kitchen shows the table clean from the breakfast dishes and the carpet looks freshly vacuumed. "Wow. Impressive" you said with a laugh. "What else can you do?" "Me? You're asking what else can the Genie of Love do besides housework?" he said putting his hands to his hips. You eyes are drawn to his hands as he flexes his muscles in front of you. You gasp as you can't help but notice the bulge in the front of his pants. You flush and pull your eyes to his face. His knowing grin and sparkle in his eyes makes your flush and look away. "Don't be shy, mistress. I'm yours to command, I'm here for you in anyway you need." he says coming around the table and kneeling before you. "If you want only a housekeeper then look no further. But I can be so much more for you" he says, resting his hand on your knee. The heat from his touch ignites a glow in you that you thought was long past. It's been years since Marks touch had that effect on you and your will only stood for moments against it. "I want... need so much more" you whisper gazing into his eyes. "Then come love, let me show you the way" he whispers touching your cheek as he stands. Your eyes fasten to the bulge in his pants as he rises before and you can't help yourself as you reach out your hand and softly caress him. With a moan he pulls your up and you slide into his arms as your mouths meet. His kiss is gentle at first and you moan as you feel his thickness against your leg as he pulls you hard against him. His tongue darts against your lips, teasing, caressing you, he tastes faintly of strawberries and champagne as his tongue slips into your mouth. You pull him hard against you and hear him moan as you grind his thickening cock against you. "Oh!" you exclaim, opening your eyes as he suddenly pulls away. "Upstairs love, let us go upstairs" he says holding out his hand. You smile and taking his hand you take the first step on an erotic journey that you never imagined. You find yourself standing in the doorway of your bedroom as he steps in and turns to you. "Come love, let me show you the gifts that every woman deserves" he says, holding out his hand. With a shy smile, you step into the room and into his arms. Your lips meet as he pulls you toward the bed. You can't help the moan that escapes as his hand start to wander, literally caressing the clothes from you. His hands cup your ass and he pulls you hard into his erection with a moan. You shyly cover yourself with your hands as he steps away and gazes at you. "Oh love, don't cover yourself. You are unique in you; your heart shines through adding to your beauty. Be proud of the beauty you possess." he says looking at you. You look him in the eyes, watching for... you know not what, as you hesitantly drop your hands to your side and stand naked before him. You can feel your cheeks redden standing naked in front of him, his eyes wandering across your body. "Beautiful, you are beautiful, and not knowing that adds to it." He says looking you in the eye. "Let me teach you" He steps in and kisses you; he pulls you to him with 1 hand as he caresses your hip with the other. You shiver as his hands trails across your back and he starts to kiss your neck, his tongue teasing across your skin. You run a hand through his hair as his head drops and he flicks his tongue across your nipple before sucking one and then the other into his mouth. He lays you back on the bed and stand before you. His eyes wander your body and your lick your lips as his hands reach for his pants. They drop to the floor and he stands before you, his hard cock jutting out before you, softly twitching to his heart beat. You glance up at him and he smiles at the desire kindled in their depths. You sit up and reach out to gently cup his heavy balls as you wrap your fingers around him. At least 8 inches long and thick, you can barely wrap you fingers around him. He moans as you slowly stroke him, caressing his balls with your other hand. You dip your head and lick a drop of precum from him before taking him in your mouth. Your lips close around him as your slide your mouth down, taking as much of in as your can. His hand curls into your hair as he holds you around him before sliding away. "Not yet my dear, I have much to show you first" he says with a smile, his voice thick with desire and need. "Has it been long for you?" you ask pulling him back closer. "Yes, it has been decades of your time since last I was summoned" he says, breathing heavy. "Then this is your mistress's command" you say with a smile as you take him back into your mouth. You caress his ass with one hand, stroking his cock with the other as you lick and suck his hard cock. He throws his head back and moans when you deep throat him, his cock deep in your throat. "Oh mistress! I will cum soon" he groans, his knees shaking. His words ignite a fire in you as you start stroking faster, sucking the head of him in your mouth, your tongue swirling and teasing. His hips start to pump against you as your bobbing head and flicking tongue bring him closer and closer to the edge. "OH!!" he groans deep in his throat and his hands grab your shoulders. You moan as the first shot of cum spurts into your mouth, hot and tasting of chocolate. He floods your mouth with cum and you swallow with a shiver. His knees shake as he continues to cum, your hand stroking him as your flick your tongue across him. The last spurts land on your lips and cheek as you look up at him with a smile. "Oh mistress, I am blessed by you" he says looking at you. His cock bounces in time to his heart beat as you gather the cum off your cheeks and lick it off your finger. You look at it and then up at him. "Oh, I will stay erect until you no longer require my services," he said with a smile," and I could only cum because you wanted me to" "Oh... this could be a fun journey" you say lying back on the bed, reaching for him. He lies down beside you, his mouth meeting yours as his hands caress your body. "Lay back mistress" he whispers in your ear and gently flicks his tongue across your ear lobe sending shivers down your spine. You close your eyes as his hands and mouth start to wander across your body. His hands cup and lift your breast to his mouth and he gently sucks your hard erect nipples, his tongue flicking across them. Shivers arch your back and you thrust your breasts into him with a moan. He glides his tongue across the sensitive under-side of your breasts and gently rolls your nipples. His mouth drops lower following the teasing path of his hand trailing across your feverish skin. He cups your breast in his hand, your nipple hard against his palm as his other hand slides over your hip and down your thigh. Your legs open as his hand trails back up the inside of your thigh, you moan when his tongue flicks in your belly button before slipping lower. His fingers gently pull on your nipple as his tongue slides over the sensitive skin of your inner thigh. You can't help but spread your legs as he settles between them, his mouth and tongue teasing your skin as his hand wanders across the top of your mound. Your back arches and you groan as his fingers slide lower, teasing but not quite touching where you so desperately need him to. His fingers tease and caress, his lips leaving little kisses as he moves in circles, getting closer and closer to your molten center. "OH!!!" you cry softly as first 1 hand slides across you and you feel his breath for a moment before his tongue slides across your pussy. His probing tongue slips between the lips of your pussy as he gently licks you, his moan vibrating against you as he sucks your pussy into his mouth. He parts your lips with 1 hand and teasingly flicked your clit with his tongue before wrapping his mouth around it. You convulse in please as your feel his lips fasten around your clit, his gentle suction and flicking tongue catapulting you into heights of pleasure you haven't known for years. "Oh yes!" you cry out in pleasure sucks and licks your pussy, shocks of pleasure running through your body. With one hand your pull his head against you as you caress your breasts with the other, teasing your nipples as he sucks your engorged clit. "Oh! Oh! OH!!!" you cry out as your orgasm sneaks up on you; your toes curling in pleasure as it rocks your body. His fastens his mouth to you and rides your rocking body as your ride the cresting wave of your orgasm, his flicking tongue sending thrills of pleasure through you. Your ears are ringing when you finally start to come down, shocks of pleasure spasming through your body as he rises to his knees. Your body rocks from a bolt of pleasure when he slides his hard cock across your clit and with a moan slides inside you. You feel his length fill you and you wrap your legs around his waist as he lifts your hips from the bed. His hands hold you against him as he starts to slowly move. You can feel the head of his cock move in you, teasing you toward another orgasm. You moan as he leans down and flicks his tongue across your nipple. You meet him thrust for thrust, pushing hard against the bed as he fills you, his body teasing your clit at each thrust. You moan and shiver as he reaches down and starts to rub your clit with his hand. "YES!!" you cry out with shock. He holds your shaking body, thrusting still as your ride your orgasm. "Oh love! Cum! I want to feel you cum in me!!" You cry out, lost in the waves of pleasure rocking your body. With that, you hear him moan and he holds you hard against him. You feel his cock pulse as the first spurt of cum shoots from him and you're lost to another orgasm. Your toes curl in pleasure as your body shakes, riding his spurting cock through another orgasm. You grab the bed and buck hard against him, out of control from pleasure. Spots are flying across your eyes as you look up at him, pleasure filling his eyes as you rock together. "Oh mistress" he cries out, "You are truly a blessing" You body shivers as he releases you and slides to lie beside you. "Well well, I guess you are good for a lot more than just a housekeeper" you say with a smile. "Oh mistress, this was just a start" he says leaning on one elbow, his hand trailing circles across your sweat-slick skin. "There is much much more for me to show you." he whispers leaning down and kissing you. Genie ************************************************* Copyright Oggbashan May 2003/October 2013 The author asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work. This is a work of fiction. The events described here are imaginary; the settings and characters are fictitious and are not intended to represent specific places or living persons. ************************************************* Reginald was a nerd, a geek, a wimp. He was the man who had sand kicked in his face; who lost the girl; a real mummy's boy. Except no one would have bothered to kick sand at him. He would never have had a girl to lose. His mother pushed him out at 18 and told him to find his own place to live. Apart from being a nerdy geek or a geeky nerd, Reginald had been successful. He qualified as an accountant and was a partner in the business. He owned his four-bedroom house with double garage, stabling and paddocks. Not that he used the stables or paddocks. He was scared of horses but that hadn't stopped him from renting out the stables and paddocks to the local riding school. Money is money after all. His hobby was beachcombing. He had an expensive metal detector and had an exclusive agreement with a local landowner to search the couple of miles of private beach. Apart from the few weekends when the landowner had houseguests the beach was Reginald's. The beach was a disappointment to Reginald. He liked to have it all to himself but that was also the problem. The beach had been private for hundreds of years so the public had not dropped coins, jewellery or even litter. There was little for Reginald to find unless it had floated. Anything that floated ashore was obvious. It didn't get buried because the beach was made of large stones. Reginald enjoyed walking along the beach at weekends in the winter and mornings and evenings from spring to autumn. His leg muscles were well exercised on the uneven surface. His slight frame was much more muscular than he looked. If he wore swimming shorts he might look small. Reginald never wore swimming shorts. Even on a hot summer's day he would wear a baggy jacket and long trousers. That Sunday Reginald came to his beach early. Friday night and all Saturday there had been a fierce storm and heavy rain. Now the storm had passed leaving watery sunshine breaking through a light sea mist. The tide would be low in about an hour. If anything could shift the stones on the beach the recent storm would have done it. Perhaps, just perhaps, there might be something new to find. Being Reginald he worked systematically. He walked from one end of the beach to the other swinging his metal detector. The storm had rearranged some of the beach and he was rewarded with a few metal fittings from fishing gear. At the far end of the beach he turned to sweep the part newly exposed by the tide. There was a loud pinging from the detector. Reginald dropped to his knees. Nothing to see. He pulled at the stones. A couple of layers down he saw the neck of a metal sheathed bottle. He had to dig around it for half an hour before he could lift it from the hole. He handled it very carefully because it looked something like a carboy for acid, about two feet in diameter. Whatever it was, it was not modern. The metal sheathing was elaborately decorated with geometric patterns. The seal of the same metal was inscribed in a strange script. Reginald carried the carboy carefully above the tideline. He sat down looking at his find. What was it? What should he do with it? Was it dangerous? The sun had burnt through the sea mist and was now shining brightly. It glistened on the glass revealed by the decorative holes in the metal sheathing. Reginald peered closely at the inscription on the seal. It seemed much less distinct than before. He touched it tentatively with a finger. The metal crumbled to dust and fell away exposing most of the neck of the bottle. Reginald scrambled away as fast as he could. He retreated up the beach and to the edge of the trees. He got out his binoculars to peer from behind the thickest trunk that he could find. As he watched the metal sheathing shrunk visibly. Within ten minutes it had gone leaving a pitted glass surface. He sat down with the trunk of the tree between him and the beach. He poured tea from his Thermos flask with shaking hand. He decided to wait at least half an hour. If nothing had happened by then he would go back to the bottle. Half an hour seemed a long time. It passed too quickly. With just a few minutes left Reginald was panicking. Should he call for help or just walk away? With a minute to go he decided. He would not wait. Whatever happened the waiting was intolerable. He left his pack, his metal detector and his Thermos and strode towards the bottle. The bottle was still sealed by a thin wafer of metal. Reginald touched it gingerly. It popped and a wisp of smoke started to rise from the open neck. He retreated a couple of yards upwind and watched. The smoke thickened to an impenetrable cloud about six feet in diameter. It did not flow with the wind but remained above the bottle. Gradually it took a semblance of a human shape. "Fuck me!" said Reginald. "If that is really what you want, that can be arranged." replied a bass voice. "What!" squeaked Reginald. The form became distinct. The person standing before him was richly dressed like an illustration of a Prince from The Arabian Nights. "Who?" Reginald's voice was still squeaking. He tried to control it. "Who or what are you?" "I should have thought that was obvious. I'm the genie of the bottle. You released me from my centuries of imprisonment so now I have to grant you the usual three wishes." Reginald sat down hard on the stony beach. The genie started a complicated series of exercises that looked like a variant of Tai Chi. Reginald watched, rubbing his eyes from time to time. "That's better," said the genie. "It is cramped inside a bottle. Now I suppose I had better explain the conditions applying to your three wishes. We genies have had a bad press because humans have made such poor choices for their wishes. Are you ready, Reginald?" "You know my name?" "Yes, Reginald. I know too much about you. I have been watching you for the past few years. You were my only realistic chance of release because no one else was likely to dig on this beach. So, I ask again, are you ready to hear the conditions?" "I suppose so." Reginald pinched himself. Surely he was dreaming. Genies didn't really appear now or ever. They were myths. He was talking to a myth. Accountants didn't believe in myths. They were as unlikely as sympathetic taxmen. "I'm not a myth, Reginald. I am here. Feel." The genie held out his hand. Reginald touched it. It felt real. "Back to business. You have three wishes. The wishes can only affect you, yourself. You cannot wish for world peace or famine relief. You can have riches or health or a new talent but they are achieved by changing you not others. Follow me, so far?" "Yes. But this doesn't sound like the traditional form." "It isn't. We genies have changed the contract after complaints from disappointed humans. This is the twenty-first century version. We have built in a few safeguards. You have twenty-four hours to decide what the first wish will be. Each wish has a one week long trial period before it becomes permanent. If you survive the week and then decide that the wish was not what you wanted you can have another one. You can undo any wish instantly but then that wish has gone forever. All three wishes must be made within four weeks. You must make three wishes that will be permanent. You cannot stop at one or two wishes. Do you understand?" Reginald was doubtful. This wish business sounded dangerous. "Can you advise me about my choices?" he asked. "If you want. Whether my advice will do you any good is a matter of opinion. You can ask." "So, hypothetically, if I were to wish to become attractive to young girls, what would your advice be?" "Don't." "Why not?" "There are several errors in that hypothesis. You might become attractive but could find those you attract are not attractive to you. If a plain girl or a girl who had traits that you detest were to be attracted to you, what would you do? Unwanted attention can be painful. Then there is the plural "girls". Would you want say twenty girls chasing you? The final error is the adjective "young". What is a girl? One definition is a female younger than a woman. With the onset of puberty happening so early, a girl could mean a pre-pubescent girl. Add the word "young" to that and you might become attractive only to females under the age of what? Seven years old? Is that what you want?" "No. I thought..." The genie sighed loudly. "You didn't think. That is the problem with humans and this three-wish contract. In the old days I would have given you your wish and you would have ended up like the Pied Piper walking around your town followed by an embarrassing procession of seven year old girls. Have you any ambition to start teaching at an Infants' School?" "No." "Then start thinking. You have until this time tomorrow morning. I'll be here waiting for your decision on your first wish. Now I want to make contacts with other genii. There is a Jeanie with light-brown hair I haven't seen for hundreds of years. If she is still available I'm willing. See you tomorrow." The genie vanished in a puff of smoke. Reginald stood up and walked across to the abandoned bottle. It still looked old and interesting but very empty. He left it lying on the beach, collected his equipment and walked back to his car. In the car he sat still. Had it been a dream? Was he having hallucinations? Assuming that the genie was real, then the three wishes would be as well. How could he use them? Who could he talk to? He had a few friends but he thought most of them would laugh at him. Who wouldn't? He could think of only one person who wouldn't laugh at him. That was his secretary Hermione. She understood him more than anybody. She had to. It was part of her job. Could he ask her for advice on a Sunday? He picked up his mobile phone and speed-dialled Hermione's number. "Hello, Reginald. What can I do for you on a Sunday morning?" "Hello, Hermione. I need some advice and I don't know who else to ask. Are you free for lunch today?" "I suppose so. Is this work?" "No, Hermione. It's not about work. I need advice from a friend, please." "Then I'll come as a friend. Where and when?" "One o'clock at The Red Lion. That OK?" "Yes, Reginald. I'll be there." She was. She walked into The Red Lion exactly at one. Reginald bought the drinks and they ordered lunch. Reginald's brain was working overtime. This was the first time he had asked Hermione to do anything outside work. He found her efficient, professional and detached at work. He knew that she was attractive and unattached but he had never been anything but her employer. Now he had asked for her advice as a friend. She had responded immediately. What had he done? What must she be thinking? "Well, Reginald?" Hermione asked, "What advice do you need that is so urgent?" "It's difficult to explain..." "We have the whole meal, and afterwards if necessary. Would it help if you started from the beginning?" How could Reginald say he had met a genie? He panicked. What had he done? He had asked Hermione to give him advice but how could he explain? He gulped before starting to speak. "This morning I was out with my metal detector on the beach. You know the one..." Hermione nodded. "It was an exceptionally low tide early this morning and there had been a storm..." Hermione nodded again. "So you found something. What is it that needs my advice? It must be unusual." "It is. I don't know how to put this without seeming insane." "Just assume that you are asking hypothetical advice for an unnamed friend, Reginald. We'll know that the question isn't hypothetical or that the friend is you, but it might help you to say what you need to say." "OK. I think I follow that." Reginald took a swallow from his glass of lager. "This imaginary friend found a glass bottle rather like a carboy that is used to store acid. It had a metal closure that eroded when exposed to the air. The friend was worried that the contents might be dangerous so he retreated up the beach and watched the bottle through binoculars until the metal was almost gone. He walked back to the bottle and touched the thin piece of metal left. It broke and a cloud came out of the bottle." "What sort of cloud?" "A very odd cloud. It didn't move with the wind." "Did you, sorry, your friend, breathe any of the cloud?" "No. I, er he, had retreated upwind of the bottle. The cloud formed immediately above it and stayed there." "Then what?" "This is the difficult bit, Hermione." "I thought it might be." "Perhaps my friend was hallucinating, seeing things..." "Perhaps he was. Let's assume that he saw things. What did he see?" Reginald took another swallow of lager. "He saw a genie." "A genie?" Hermione's tone was completely non-committal and flat. Reginald nodded. "An Arabian Nights type of genie?" Reginald nodded again. "And he offered you, sorry him, three wishes in the traditional form?" "Yes, Hermione. Actually no." "What does that mean? Were there three wishes?" "Yes but not in the traditional form. Genies have changed the rules because of complaints." Hermione smiled. It wasn't a 'you are being ridiculous smile' but a genuine smile of enjoyment. "I like the idea of a modernised genie. What has changed with the three wishes?" At that point the starters arrived. Conversation was stalled for a few minutes and then Reginald repeated everything the genie had said. Hermione laughed outright at the mention of 'the Jeanie with the light-brown hair'. "I'm enjoying this meal and the conversation, Reginald," she said. "I wouldn't have believed it possible had someone told me on Friday that I would be in the Red Lion with you discussing genies. You invited me to give you advice about your three wishes. Is that right?" Reginald nodded slowly. "OK, Reginald, I'll play along. It doesn't really matter whether the genie is real or not. The three-wish gambit is an elaborate game. The wishes can be misinterpreted if that is possible and the outcome can be far from the intention of the wisher." "Yes. I know that the three wishes usually go wrong, disastrously wrong. I want to avoid that and I need your help to criticise any possible choices I might make. You often save me from errors at work, Hermione. I appreciate that. You defend me from angry customers, remind me of tasks that must be done, deadlines that must be met. I couldn't be as effective as I am without you..." "I know, Reginald. Your reports on my work are embarrassingly fulsome. I'm not perfect. I am a human being just like you, and I too can make mistakes..." "I know that you can. Do you remember Don José?" Hermione blushed. "That was a big mistake, wasn't it?" "But it didn't matter. You thought he was our Spanish Divisional Manager. You treated him as if he was. He was actually an exchange student earning some money as the substitute cleaner. He too thought it was a good joke." "How about getting back to your current problem; the three wishes?" "Do you believe that I actually saw a genie?" "It doesn't matter whether I believe or not. You asked me for a friend's advice. I didn't expect that. I'm here, Reginald, as your friend. You think you have a problem. I'll try to help." Hermione's hand reached across the table and squeezed Reginald's. He squeezed back. "Thank you, Hermione. What wishes do you think I should make?" "The conditions are that the changes can only affect you and no one else; the first wish must be made within twenty-four hours of this morning; each wish has a week's trial and is then permanent; and all three wishes must be made within four weeks. Is that right?" "Yes, Hermione." "Then you need to think what you want to change about yourself, Reginald. Is there anything?" "I am lonely sometimes..." "I'm not surprised. You don't have a social life. You work and you walk an empty beach with a metal detector -- alone. Who do you talk to apart from colleagues at work?" "No one." "You need to change that. You should meet people and interact with them. Why don't you?" "I find it very hard to chat, to make social conversation, to mingle..." "Perhaps if you tried it wouldn't be so hard. Being here with me isn't difficult, is it?" "No, but you're Hermione, someone I know very well..." "...and I know you very well, possibly too well. We spend eight hours a day in frequent contact during the working week." "So what about your social life, Hermione? I've never heard you make an appointment except for those with professionals, the doctor, the dentist, the hairdresser -- those sort of people. Who do you chat to?" "I'm as bad as you are, Reginald. My hobby is sewing. I make most of my own clothes, make clothes for my young nephews and nieces and spend most of my free time in my workroom when I'm not going for long walks in the countryside, alone. In the winter, I just sew." "We are a boring pair, aren't we?" Hermione looked at Reginald. "But the genie could change that for you. What would you wish for to change your loneliness?" "It's hard to put it into words that can't be twisted into something I don't want. I would like companionship and perhaps something more, someone who I could share my life with and start to develop wider social contacts. I'd feel better about meeting people if I had a friend by my side." "You have me. I came here as a friend." Hermione's hand reached out and touched Reginald's. He looked at her hand and then held it. He lifted Hermione's hand and looked at it as if he had never seen it before. "Yes, Hermione, you did. Thank you for being a friend." "Can I have my hand back, please, Reginald?" "In a second." Reginald lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it gently. He let the hand go. Hermione returned her hand to the table. "What was that for?" "Just because I wanted to. I hope you didn't mind." "No..." Hermione didn't sound convinced. Their main course arrived. While they ate they discussed possible ways that Reginald could make more social contacts. Their suggestions became more and more extreme as they competed to make them most unlikely scenarios. When they had completely finished their meal they were laughing openly. "What do I do about the three wishes, Hermione? We haven't come to a decision yet." "A decision? I think we have, Reginald. Not about the wishes, but about us." "True. I want to see more of you, and not just as my secretary." "That is simple. You ask me for another date." "Tomorrow lunchtime? After I've seen the genie?" "Yes. I want to know what happens, Reginald." "Then why don't you come too? To meet the genie?" "I might. But what is your first wish going to be?" "I have decided." "What?" "I have decided not to have any wishes at all." "Is that allowed? Even from a 21st Century genie?" "We'll find out." They didn't part after lunch. They went for a walk, holding hands. As dusk fell Reginald took Hermione back to her flat. They kissed each other. Hermione seemed reluctant to let go of him but eventually they parted, having arranged to meet tomorrow morning to go to the beach. In the morning, Hermione was waiting outside her flat as Reginald drove up. She got into the car and reached across to kiss him. That kiss went on and on. When their lips parted they were both short of breath. Genie: A Love Story Note: Hi everyone, this is my first submission and really my first attempt at writing. This story has heavy Japanese influence (kata: martial art forms, bokken: wooden practice sword, gi: martial arts uniform) and may names will be in Japanese as well. This work and the ones to follow where inspired by Joe Brolly's Genie Chronicles. Please leave feedback both good and bad. I am hoping to do a chapter every month for those who like the story. Thanks and enjoy! Chapter 1 It was a quite night in Phoenix Arizona, just starting to cool from the summer heat although still warm. Aaron enjoyed the nights’ breeze as he walked down the street, which almost seemed abandoned in the 3 o’clock hour. Just south of Shea on 24thst Aaron decided to walk on to the mountain preserve. After about 20 minutes of hiking in the moonlight, Aaron heard a shuffling behind him. Aaron thinking that it was probably just a branch he ran in to and tried not to worry about it, and why should he worry he thought “I’m a big guy and I’m tough the only thing I really have to worry about out here would be pumas and there have not been any in this area in a long time.” It was in that instant that he knew it was a puma and swiveled around, but it was too late. As Aaron turned he saw that the big cat had already pounced and was in the air. Aaron put his hands up to protect his face. The puma sank its teeth into his left forearm tearing cleanly through his flesh. As Aaron fell back his life flashed before his eyes and as he landed he felt a quick sting of pain as his head hit a large piece of quartz. At that moment his world faded to darkness and his last thought was that he was going to die. Aaron could hear sounds around him that he knew immediately where not the sounds of the desert or the mountain. Aaron slowly opened his eyes and was blinded by the room’s florescent lighting. As he slowly looked around the room, he began to recognize his surroundings, He was at Paradise Valley Hospital. Aaron looked down at his left arm and saw what looked like a nasty burn on his flesh. The door swung open and startled Aaron who quickly brought his hands to a defensive position ripping out the IVs in his arms. Seeing Aaron pop up scared the nurse and she gave out a brief scream. “Oh my god, you scared me have to death sweetie” the nurse said franticly. “I know you must be confused I’m Amy and I am your nurse this shift.” She added. “How did I get here?” Aaron asked calmly for some reason he did not feel panicked or scared, he felt almost like this was just normal. “You where attacked by a mountain lion up by shadow mountain high school. Apparently a jogger who was thankfully carrying a handgun saw what happened and came to your rescue” Amy told him. “How long have I been out?” Aaron asked thinking it had been maybe a few hours tops. Amy took a deep breath in which made Aaron worry a bit. Amy looked him in the eye and said “Aaron you have been in a persistent vegetative state for almost 2 years.” The information hit him like a ton of bricks. He had lost 2 years of his life, it was hard for him to wrap his head around. “I am glad that you woke up today though.” Amy said softly. “Why is that?” Aaron asked curiously. “Because the state was going to pull the plug tomorrow morning , since you had no insurance they have been fitting the bill and they came to the decision that it was costing them to mush to keep you alive.” She responded bluntly. “Up until the time you woke up the machines where the only thing keeping you alive.” She added. “I need to get up I have a job to get to” Aaron said coldly. “You can’t leave yet Aaron. I will call the doctor down here to take a look at you and talk to you.” Amy said as she walked out. About 10 minutes later Dr. Fernandez came in and checked all of Aaron’s Vitals and did some tests which took forever only to find that from what they could see the only thing wrong with Aaron besides scaring was his Diabetes. Aaron then asked “So doc and I free to go?” “Yes you can go but you are going to need someone to bring you some closes and drive you home. Also you have a follow up with me in 5 days and of course call or come back if you have any issues.” Dr. Fernandez responded. “I already brought him cloths and I will be taking him home.” Came a voice from the door way. Aaron turned to look at the familiar voice and saw that it was Nobuyuki Sensei. “Sensei how did you know I was awake?” Aaron said shocked “Because I know all Aaron…” The old man said. Amy broke down laughing “Aaron I called him about a half hour age” she said through her laughter. “well I guess there is that too” the old man said with a smile on his face. “throw this on and we can go home.” He continued, tossing a new black gi and belt at him. After getting dressed and getting what little valuables back from security Aaron and his Sensei walked out to Aaron’s car. “I payed it off after your first month of being in a coma.” Sensei told him. “Thank you Sensei, Umm… I am guessing that I no longer have an apartment anymore do I?” Aaron said. “No, I and Kyle moved all your things to the apartment above the dojo. I figured you would be staying with me for quite some time after you woke up.” Sensei said coolly “Thank you again Sensei” Aaron said as they got into the car and drove away. The ride to the dojo was very quiet, neither of them wanting to speak at length about what happened. When they got to the dojo, Aaron had the thought that this place and not changed at all since he saw it last. And this thought was very comforting. As they walked through the main room Sensei said “I would suggest that you meditate and go to bed.” “Thank you Sensei, but I think I may go over so short katas before bed.” Aaron responded. “In that case there is a bokken on my desk in the office it may be old but it has a fine balance to it” His Sensei suggested. “Thank you Sensei I believe I will try it.” Aaron said and bowed. The old man returned the bow and walked into the darkness at the back of the dojo. Aaron walked over to Sensei’s desk and saw the old bokken. It was made of White Oak and had no finish left on it at all. Aaron picked it up to inspect it closer and saw that the bokken had a kanji stamped in the bottom in a strange blue ink. The Kanji was blessing which he said in voluntarily when he read it “Megumi”. In an instant there was a dark blue mist swirling around him almost trapping him, The world around him grew dark and he passed out on the floor of the office.