Page 1 of Jinn

Chapter One

Finn

The pumping beat of bass-heavy music resonated in Finn Kelly’s body. Dim lights from the ceiling flashed over the mass of tight bodies on the dance floor, a mix of colognes and alcohol filling the air.

Eyes closing, he let the beat take over, rolling his hips and relishing the pull on his muscles. He didn’t even mind the sweat that had his T-shirt sticking to his body. He’d just finished a job that had been boring as fuck, but somehow also as irritating as sandpaper on skin. So he’d stayed agitated throughout. Guarding a teenaged social media sensation who’d spent most of his time making videos and taking selfies had Finn’s teeth constantly grinding. It wasn’t the selfies and videos that agitated him so much—those things were fine. It was just this kid had been the most narcissistic, spoiled boy he’d ever met, with an attitude like a greedy toddler. He was famous as a singer for music that felt…empty. Soulless. Music a lot like his personality. Luckily, he wasn’t a local and had only been on vacation, so the job had only been two weeks. But that was two weeks of a sore jaw and a build-up of frustrated energy.

Releasing that build-up by using every muscle in his body to dance was the fucking trick. And the fast, heavy beat felt good pumping inside him.

When another body—no, make that two—brushed up against him, he opened his eyes to actually findthreehot guys moving in his space. From their expressions as they looked at him, his night was about to get way more interesting. He wrapped his hand around the waist of one and tugged the man closer. Lean muscles pressed up against him as another moved against his back. Not wanting to leave out the third, Finn turned slightly and gave him a sultry smile, relishing the heat that flared in the man’s eyes.

Muted lighting and the close, dancing bodies made the club feel intimate as a hand brushed over his ass. No one would even blink at the four of them together. This place attracted a diverse crowd, which was another reason he’d chosen it tonight.

That and his apartment had felt too empty and silent lately. And while he was used to being alone—had spent most of his three hundred and forty years that way—his feelings had changed recently. He knew it had something to do with watching his friends find their soulmates. He hadn’t thought that was something he wanted, but those feelings were changing.

Maybe.

Fuck if he understood what his mind was doing these days. All he knew was he felt an unfamiliar kind of discontent.

The song changed to something a little slower, one with a sensual rhythm, and all four of them seamlessly blended into it. They’d moved slightly apart now, and Finn eyed the chest in front of him with appreciation. The guy was ripped, with a healthy set of pecs showing through his black mesh shirt. All three of them were gorgeous and seemed familiar with each other from the way they were grinding together. Probably a throuple out looking for a bit of added spice. Didn’t bother him—he’d been theadded spicein a lot of couple’s lives in the past. Only the throuple part was new. But he was so up for it.

The beat picked up with another song change, and the overhead lights turned to strobes. A rainbow of colors flashed over everyone. Finn tilted his head back as hands stroked his chest and back. The guy behind him pressed closer, and he felt the hard ridge of his desire against his buttocks.

This was the life.

He had the next two days off, so a full night of rollicking sex was just what he needed. And these guys were perfect. Good looking and fit as hell with wicked promises in their expressions.

Tugging the man in front of him closer, he pressed his hips against him, and they rocked in matching rhythm. A taunting smile notched the corner of the guy’s lips. He had white-blond hair that picked up all the strobing colors and bright blue eyes that he kept locked on Finn. Their bodies meshed well together, and Finn imagined how hot it would be to be doing this without clothes.To do this with all three of them. He glanced at the other two to find them gazing at each other with so much affection, he narrowed his own eyes. They threaded their fingers together. There were genuine feelings there.

For some reason, this was now giving him pause. He watched as one of them cupped the cheeks of the other to give him a slow, sensual kiss.

A startling realization slammed into him like a blow.

Finn didn’t want to be a fourth wheel. Not tonight.

Maybe…not ever again.

He pulled the one in front of him close to talk in his ear over the music. “Enjoyed the dance, but I gotta go.”

The man gripped his waist, real disappointment flashing over his expression. “You sure? We’re up for some fun if you are.”

“You’re all fucking hot, and I’m flattered, but I’ve got somewhere I need to be.”

“Too bad.” The guy moved back from him, going back to his partners.

Finn watched as they closed in ranks, reaching for each other, sliding seamlessly into dancing together.

That’s what he wanted. A connection. To no longer be alone.

So it was time for something different. Something more meaningful. He’d never allowed himself that, but apparently it was a need he was just coming to feel. Or maybe understand. Thing was, he wasn’t sure he deserved something like that. Or that he was even capable.

Because whether he liked to admit it to himself or not, he was just a little…broken. He’d spent all of his years with a deep-rooted fear that he’d never given a name.

He looked up at the strobe lights, smelled the sweat from the people dancing around him, and took a deep breath. He’d have to vent his frustration in a different way.

Making his way to the restroom where he was thankfully alone, he splashed water on his overheated face, then stared at himself in the mirror. It felt like looking at a stranger. All these thoughts he wasn’t used to having had his brows pulled together and his lips pinched tight.

The overwhelming emotions just swamped him, his skin feeling tight as the urge to smoke out took over. The blood started rushing in his veins. He didn’t want to deal with anyone else anyway, so he let his magic flow through him quickly, fading swiftly into vapor. He hovered in the air to momentarily get his bearings. He’d said he had somewhere to be, and that would be home. Home with thoughts he didn’t really want to be having. As he floated fast through the club, he tried to make sense of what he was feeling. This wave of restlessness that had washed over him like he hadn’t just spent hours dancing it off.

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