Desires of the Lamp
(2011)Wish Me Up, Rub Me Down / Aliya Baban and the Cave of Pleasure
(A book in the Desires of the Lamp series)
An omnibus of novels by Melinda Barron
To Rub, Honor and Obey - Moreen McGee is a perfect example of how poor decisions made in youthful rebellion can haunt someone for life. Now on probation for ten years, she serves her court-ordered community service at a center for troubled teens, in the hopes of stopping other kids from taking the wrong path. But when one of her young charges pickpockets a wallet from her high school nemesis, Aliya Baban, Moreen decides to put the illicit skills she learned as a teenager to good use--by breaking into Aliya's apartment and returning the stolen wallet, thus keeping the kid who stole it out of trouble and out of jail. However, once she's in the opulent Manhattan flat, Moreen can't resist the urge to take one small token from the woman she still blames for her own downfall--an old, neglected oil lamp that she's sure Aliya will never miss. Moreen accidentally summons a gorgeous demon-turned-pleasure djinni named Paran, and he's not too thrilled with the theft of his property. Moreen has rubbed his lamp, the contract is sealed. For the next thirty days, she belongs to him. And Paran intends to use this time to help his little felon learn some important lessons, including the true meaning of the words honor and obey... Smoke, Fire and Desire - Scientist Rhylie Dawson works hard, but when it comes to play, she's pretty reserved. Until her friends take her to The Cave of Pleasure in New York City. She's there to celebrate her birthday and maybe, just maybe, get lucky. What Rhylie doesn't know is The Cave of Pleasure is run by Djinn, and they're eager to show her that there's more to life than just work. On stage in front of a bevy of male dancers, Rhylie is told to choose one for her special birthday dance. She picks the fireman, and quickly learns that where there's smoke, there's fire, and a great deal of desire.