Oliver

Two weeks have gone by and I haven’t seen Addison in one of my dreams. I wake in the forest, walk to the Azure border where I last met her, and wait. She’s never there. I’ve even changed up where I am. I go to my place in the trees, to my home in the castle, I’ve walked all the way to the walls of the Azure castle. I can’t find her. Every dream is spent walking and searching. Each day I lose hope of ever seeing her again. When she touched my skin that day at the border, I thought maybe there was still something there between us. I guess I was wrong.

I’ve kept my days busy by checking in on the cultivators, making sure orders are being fulfilled, meeting with our people to help resolve any issues, and being there for whatever Reid needs. I’m not bored, I have plenty to do, but it’s not exciting work. While I hated always being at war, at least it kept my mind sharp and always focused on the task at hand. Now, I have more time to think than ever. Addison plagues me in my waking hours and then is absent when I’m sleeping. I can’t keep her from my mind.

I decide to spend the night up in the trees. Maybe a change of scenery is needed to clear my head. I still haven’t given up on her. I’m ever hopeful each night will be the one she returns.

On my way there, I run into Anese. I’ve kept every conversation with her strictly professional and have only seen her while she’s working. Now, out in the middle of the forest, there’s no one here to use as a buffer.

I try to walk past her with a tip of my head, but she doesn’t let me by. Her hand wraps around my forearm as I try to pass. “You can’t avoid me forever, Oliver.”

“I’m not avoiding you.”

“Yes, you are.”

I sigh. “Anese, I told you that day was a mistake. It should never have happened, and it most certainly can never happen again.”

She steps up to me, pressing her willowy frame into me. My mind screams for my body to move, but my body is enjoying the contact with someone of the opposite sex. I’ve been so lonely and feel lost.

Her hands run up my sides then down to my hips. One snakes around my back to push my pelvis into her. There’s no denying the physical response I’m having.

“I know you want me,” she whispers. Her right hand glides down between our bodies so that she can cup me in her palm. My hips jerk at the contact. I wish I could get my body on the same page as my mind. I don’t want to have any reaction to her.

I can’t let this progress. I use all my remaining willpower to place my hands on her shoulders and ease our bodies apart. “Stop, Anese. I meant what I said.”

She shrugs. “Okay, if that is what you wish. However, I know I’ll be touching you again very soon.”

I release her and turn to go deeper into the forest. A few times I spin around to make sure she isn’t following me. I should have walked the other way to throw her off from where I’m going. It’s not like my place out here is a secret. Maybe she’ll get the hint and leave me alone.

With my head a jumbled mess, and my body craving release, I finally make it to my small home in the trees. Once I’m inside, I drop down onto the small bed on the floor. I read until the sun sets and the space is bathed in darkness. It’s not long before my eyes close.

I’m sitting in the very place I fell asleep. I’m not sure what to do with myself. I don’t want to go searching for Addison anymore. It’s pointless. I notice the book I was reading tossed onto the floor beside the bed, I pick it up and start reading. The sun is currently up in my dream, giving me the light I need.

“Live a little, Sage.” My head snaps up to see Addison standing in the doorway.

I toss the book aside and stand. “What are you doing here?”

She smiles. “Isn’t it obvious? I came to find you.”

“But why now? I haven’t seen you in weeks.”

“I’ve had a lot on my mind. A lot to work through.” Her head drops to watch as her foot traces an invisible half circle on the wooden floor. “I didn’t want to come back until I was certain.”

Taking a step forward, I ask, “Certain about what?”

She looks at me and those beautiful blue eyes feel like they can see directly into my very soul. “Certain about you.”

“Don’t toy with me, Addi.”

Her face shows no sign of humor. “I’m not.”

I reach up to lightly trail my finger over her cheek, igniting the spark, which I missed badly. “How do I know it’s really you and not simply a dream?”

“Have you dreamt of me since you last saw me, when Sam left Azure to live in Pine?” I shake my head. “I’m here because I want to be, Oliver.”

Dropping my hand, I have to ask, “And what of Wesley?” If she is as certain of me as she says, I need to know there is no other man standing in our way.

“I ended things with him the last time I saw you. I knew I couldn’t go on pretending with him.” Her hands reach around me and lift my shirt so our skin can touch again. I’m jolted by the current racing through my system. “This may be a dream, Oliver, but my touch is very real. You’re the only man who can make my body hum with one simple touch of our skin.”

My hands cup her cheeks as I lower my head. “I’ve missed you,” I confess before pressing my lips to hers.

The moment our lips touch, a fire ignites within me. My body and mind align; every part of me wants her all the way to my soul. Our kiss deepens. I begin to walk her with me to the bed and we slowly lower ourselves. Addison quickly takes over, pushing me to my back as she straddles my hips. I let her take control. She’s the only person I’ve ever let hold any power over me, outside of Reid, and his power is very different from hers.

She has my body worked into a frenzy. My hips push up into her pelvis to thrust and grind against her. What I wouldn’t give for this to be real and not a dream. To have Addison Azure in my bed, devouring me, driving me wild, and begging for release.

Our lips break apart before she sits up to lift her shirt over her head. Her bra is next to go. I watch as her gorgeous mounds bounce free from their binding. I can’t resist sitting up and taking my time sucking and nipping at each one. She tastes as I remember–sweet like honey–and I can’t get enough.

Her fingers thread into my hair, holding me at each peak, while my tongue swirls around it. Addi’s hips push forward, her warm heat sliding up and down my hard dick. Only our clothes separate us from fully joining. “You feel so good. Please, I need more.”

“What do you want? Tell me and it’s yours,” I say as I kiss a path from her breast to her neck. My teeth nip at the delicate skin.

“I want you. All of you. I want everything you have to offer me.”

“I’m yours, Addi. I have been since we first touched.”

Gripping her around the waist, I turn us so she’s beneath me. I start to drag her pants down her thighs, when my hips start bucking into the air. A moan leaves my lips at the sensation I’m feeling.

Addi slides out from beneath me and sits up. “What’s happening? Why are you fading away?”

Before I know it, Addison is gone, and I’m opening my eyes to stare at the dark ceiling of my small space, but this time I’m very awake. My hips buck upward again and my fingers thread into long, silky strands of hair.

A woman moans, causing my head to lift, and my brain to register that what is happening is very real. Hair tickles my thighs. A tongue is pressed flat against my dick. I can feel myself spiraling toward release, but this is all wrong. There’s no jolt coursing through me. This isn’t Addison.

“Who are you?” I ask, as I try to pull myself out from under her, but her nails are digging into my thighs.

She pauses in her action to speak. I can barely make out her face, but the second words leave her lips, I know who it is. “How could you not know me, Oliver? I knew you’d want me to return.”

Anese dips her head back down to take me into her mouth. I moan deep in my throat. As good as she feels wrapped around me, I have to stop her. She’s not the woman I want to be here. With a quick twist of my hips, she’s off me. I stand and search for my pants. Somehow in the darkness, I’m able to find them and put them on.

“You shouldn’t have come here, Anese.”

She stands and walks toward me. My eyes finally adjust to the darkness of the room. I’m able to make out her tongue licking her lips. “I want you, Oliver. I want to feel you inside of me.” Her hands reach up to rub over my chest. “Please, make love to me.”

I dart away from her. The space I’m in is too small. Throwing open the door, I climb down from the tree as fast as I can and start walking back to the castle. Pine needles crunch underfoot as Anese tries to keep up with me.

“Go home.”

“No. You’re mine, Oliver.”

I turn abruptly and point at her. “I’m not yours and I have never been. You need to let it go.”

Her bottom lip sticks out. “Please don’t deny me.”

“We’re nothing more than friends. You need to understand that. There will never be anything else between us. Now go home.”

I stomp through the forest and don’t look back. How dare she come to me and take advantage in my sleepy state. Worse is, somewhere in her mind she thought I wanted her to. I have to stay away from her. Not even business from this point forward. I’ll ask one of my trusted men to handle things. There is plenty more I can occupy my time with. One of them can make sure orders are filled on time.

When I reach the castle walls, I nod to both guards and don’t stop until I’m in the comfort of my own home. I climb the stairs, two at a time, and strip myself of my clothes. I smell of Anese and it’s only making my blood boil in anger. I don’t want her scent anywhere on me.

I go into the bathroom and turn the water as hot as it will go. I use soap to scrub my skin until it is raw and red beneath my hands. Only when I’m sure all evidence of Anese is gone do I leave the shower to dry off.

I collapse into bed naked. My body is exhausted, but my head is racing with thoughts of Addison, what she said to me, and how she disappeared, thanks to Anese. I wonder what she thinks. Hopefully she doesn’t suspect anything is happening between another woman and me.

What I wouldn’t give to turn back the clock and throw Anese from my trail so she wouldn’t know where I was going. I need to try and go back to sleep to see Addison hopefully. With any luck she’ll still be dreaming.