The Last Genie: A Novella

Chapter 10

The next morning, Grace woke up not feeling the least bit rested. She had spent most of the night debating and praying over what she should do with her last wish, but she still didn't have an answer.

To Ithel's later displeasure, he had finally succumbed to the couches comfort and was still in a deep sleep when Grace walked into the room. This was a problem for Ithel because he had planned on putting his shirt back on before Grace woke up. He had originally planned to sleep with his shirt on, but Grace's appointment was actually rather warm for his taste last night. So, he had taken his shirt off and during his sleep he had pushed his blanket off his torso.

When Grace saw Ithel's naked torso, she was stunned not by his litany of scars which luckily for Ithel were hard to see in the early-dawn light, but by his strong muscular chest and rippling six pack. Ithel easily had the best body of any man she had seen in person.

Suddenly Ithel turned in his sleep and a wave of mortification lapped over Grace causing her cheeks to flush as she quickly looked away and said, "Good morning."

Ithel was awake in an instant and swiftly pulled his blanket over himself.

Without looking at him, which did nothing to alleviate the awkwardness of the encounter, Grace said, "Do you want any coffee?"

"Sure," said Ithel feeling extremely self-conscious.

As Grace hurried away, Ithel caught himself staring at her quickly swaying butt. After shaking his head and telling himself not to do that, he got up, pulled his pants on, and followed her.

When Ithel walked in, Grace said over her shoulder as she was not yet ready to look directly at him, "It'll take a moment," as she fiddled unnecessarily with the coffee.

"That's fine," said Ithel as he sat down at the table.

"Do you want any breakfast?"

"I'm alright," said Ithel because he didn't want to take anything else from her and because he wanted to end this little encounter as soon as possible.

While they waited for the coffee to finish percolating, Ithel wondered when Grace would ask him about his scars while Grace got some Greek yogurt out of the fridge and attempted to look casual as she leaned against the counter and start eating it.

When the coffee maker finally beeped, Grace asked, "Do you want any milk or sugar?"

"Black's fine."

After Grace handed Ithel his cup of black coffee and she had added a heavy dose of milk to hers, Ithel asked, "Have you decided on your last wish?"

"No."

"Just make a damn wish," thought Ithel as he coolly nodded his head and took a sip of his coffee.

While Grace finished her yogurt, Ithel tried to think of some wishes that Grace might go for but couldn't come up with any in the short of time it took her to finish and say, "I have to go get ready for work."

As she left the room, Ithel thought, "Maybe she hadn't seen my scars. I did pull up my blanket quickly."

Feeling hopeful that he had dodged the conversation, Ithel took his coffee with him as he went to the couch to wait for Grace.

Grace was looking forward to going to work because she liked her job, and she thought it would distract her from thinking about her last wish, and Ithel or more specifically his abs. So, when she walked into the living room and said, "I'm off to work," there was real joy in her voice. But, when Ithel stood up, it was clear that joy had evaporated when she said, "What are you doing?"