Oliver

I don’t miss the way Addi tenses beside me. What did she expect me to say? I saved her because it was the right thing to do, but also because I have feelings for her. I did it due to the strong, undeniable connection we share. No, I can’t. Although, truth be told, I want to and I know I could trust Reid with that information. I also know he would fully support me wanting to be with her. The same can’t be said for her family. I’m not sure when the tables turned, maybe they did when Rafe was killed or after the people saw how Reid would rule, but Pine has become the more peaceful kingdom between the two. And more accepting at that. I doubt the Azures would embrace me with open arms. I need to ensure she understands I said what I did so that no one would know about us. If there even is an us.

We stand to speak with Reid for a few moments longer before making our way back through the courtyard. When we reach their dragons, I don’t miss the wistful way Addi looks at the forest. I’d love to walk with her through it, hand in hand. Only in our dreams can I do that, though.

While Elliott is climbing onto his dragon, I grip Addi’s hand in mine. My chest presses against her back, keeping her hidden from other eyes. I drop my voice to a whisper, bending down to speak right into her ear. “Listen to me, Addison, and listen well. I had to say what I did as not to draw suspicion. Would you like to know why I saved you?” She nods. “I did it because the thought of anything happening to you feels like someone took a sword to my chest. Because regardless of what you think, I feel something for you. I want to explore it and fan the flames between us, but I know you’re still unsure. Now climb aboard and meet me tonight when you sleep. I’ll be waiting.”

She gives my hand a gentle squeeze before climbing on top of her brilliant red dragon. It really is a sight to behold. Once she is settled on the dragon’s back, the sharp points of the horns leave little room for Addi to sit. She nods once to her brother and takes off toward her home. It’s not until she is high above me that she looks down and offers me a smile.

I’m standing beneath the towering pines. Not a soul in sight. I can only hope Addison shows. When time goes by and no chestnut-haired beauty appears, I start to pace along the mossy forest floor. With every moment that passes, my confidence diminishes more and more.

I’ve become good at appearing to be strong and steady where Addison is concerned. In reality, when she’s not around, I start to doubt everything. I’m not an experienced knight in terms of being with women. She could have been with many men, and I don’t know how or if I’ll measure up. I have no experience to offer her. Somehow when she’s in front of me, I muster up every ounce of confidence I can find. I want her to desire me as much as I do her.

Then a subtle, sweet smell makes its way to me. It’s one I would know anywhere and is very distinct. Whipping around, I come face-to-face with Addi. Her hair is pulled up in a high ponytail, accentuating the delicate lines of her face. Blue eyes watch me intently as I look her over; in tight black pants, an azure V-neck, which outlines the curves of her breasts.

“Are you going to keep staring at me, Oliver, or are you going to speak?”

“How about I kiss you instead?” I take two steps toward her before she places her hand up in between us, palm facing me.

“I’m with Wes. We shouldn’t be doing this.”

“Then why did you come?”

“To tell you this has to stop. That I’m already with someone else and need to stay with him.”

My blood begins to heat. “You can leave him. You can be with me.”

“Is that what you think?” she yells. “That I can leave him and come running into your arms?”

“Yes.”

“You’re delusional, Oliver.” She turns, walking in a small circle. Tears glisten in her eyes. “This will never work between us. We will never be accepted amongst our kingdoms.”

“Maybe yours!” I yell and point a finger at her. “I know Reid. He would welcome our relationship. The other members of my kingdom? I don’t care what they think. It’s not them in this. It’s you and me. We are who matters.”

“I could be cast out.”

“You honestly believe your parents would throw you out of the only home you’ve ever known?”

“No, not them. My brothers. They would stop talking to me. All of the men and women I’ve befriended will turn their backs on me. Can’t you see? This would ruin me.”

“What I see is someone who is brave in every aspect of her life, except when it comes to me. You’re a princess, Addison. You can set a precedent and strengthen the bond between our kingdoms.”

She whirls on me. The tears in her eyes stream down her cheeks, but this time with anger. “Is that why you want me? To unite our kingdoms further?”

“You’re crazy! I want you because of who you are not what your title is.” I close the space between us in a few long strides and place my palm on her chest where the V of her shirt has left her skin exposed. “I want you because of this. The strong current which races through my body every time we touch. You feel this. How can you deny it?”

All the anger leaves her as quickly as a wave rolls back out to sea. “Of course I feel it.”

“Then make the leap with me. Be with me, Addison. I’m begging you.”

She closes her eyes and her fingers wrap around my wrist to remove my hand from her chest. “I can’t.”

I pull from her grasp and stomp deep into the forest. I don’t look back but keep the brisk pace until the darkness fully engulfs me.

The bright sun streaming onto my face wakes me. I must have forgotten to close the damask before I went to sleep. I drifted off last night happily in anticipation of seeing her. Now, my blood is pumping with anger. How can she so easily brush us off? If she doesn’t want me, maybe I need to try to put her in the past as well.

Rising from bed, I change, grab an apple from my kitchen, and leave my home. I need to get out of here. I need to get away from everything and work off some of this anger. Nothing good will come from it if I don’t.

I reach the front of the castle wall, and nod to the guards on either side, before stepping out onto the path that leads to the forest. No matter what is going on, how badly my day is going, the forest has always been my solace. Always embracing me in its warmth and soothing sounds.

I’m not sure how long I walk. Eventually I reach a stream that runs along the northern edge of our land. Bending down, I cup the cool water in my hands and gently splash it on my face. I shake the excess water droplets from my hands, watching as they scatter every which way. I’m about to stand when I realize I’m not alone. How did I not notice her when I crouched down? Anese.

Her long, blonde hair is wet and lying over her shoulders, molding to her body. Tiny rivulets of water fall from her golden tresses. They travel over her bare breasts, down to her slim waist, before once again joining the stream from which they came. She doesn’t attempt to cover herself. Fortunately, her bottom half is beneath the water, yet I can still make out her shape due to the clarity of the stream, as it gently flows around her.

My gaze slowly travels up to her face. Her eyes are sparkling with delight. “I didn’t expect to see you here,” she says with a smile.

I take a moment to swallow and collect myself. Anese is a very attractive woman. One who I never thought about engaging in anything with before. Everything is different now. Ali is married; Addison rejected me. Both of the women I wanted have decided to be with other men. Am I not good enough? I’m a fierce knight. I know it’s not my brawn. But what could I have done differently?

“What are you doing out here?” I ask.

“Bathing, silly. I don’t like the modern bathtubs we have. I much prefer the crisp, clean water in our forest. It reinvigorates me. Makes me feel alive.” She cups water in her hands then brings it overhead to drop atop her hair. As she does so, her breasts lift slightly. Water cascades down her body, and I’m helpless to watch it as it moves along her smooth skin.

Since I’ve never been with a woman before, I’ve never seen one completely naked up close. Especially not a woman who wants me in a sexual way. I’m like a fix trapped in a snare. Helpless to run away, even though I know I should.

She knows she has me. A few long glides of her legs and she’s standing before me in the stream. She holds out her hand. “Care to help me out? Sometimes my feet slip on the bank.”

I take her hand in mine to help lift her from the water. I’m still a gentleman after all. With her feet safely on the mossy ground, she wrings the excess water from her hair. I’m watching her with rapt attention. Her eyes hold mine as she reaches over my shoulder to snap a small stick from the pine tree at my back. As she does so, her taut nipples graze my chest. My body goes rigid. Leaning back, she twists her wet hair up into a bun on her head and uses the stick to secure it in place.

“Should…shouldn’t you get dressed?” I ask. She needs to put some clothes on. Being this close to her, when I’m still upset over Addison’s rejection, is not good. The sting of her walking away from me is still fresh in my mind. I want to forget and not think for a while. I want to feel something other than hurt. I’m not sure I have the willpower to resist Anese.

“You don’t wish to see me as I am?” She slowly turns. When her back is to me, I glance down and notice the small curve of her backside. I trace the line of her spine with my eyes and back up her body to her neck. With her hair swept up, she looks even more enticing. Pausing, she looks over her shoulder and bats her long eyelashes.

I’m reaching out for her hips before I realize what I’m doing. Pressing myself into her behind, I watch as her lips part. There’s no hiding how my body is responding to her. She must feel it because she arches her back, pushing her bottom into my pelvis. I wrap my arm around her as my hand finds her breast to cup it. She moans when my lips find her neck.

My fingers pinch her nipple, while the other hand moves from her hip and starts a path to the juncture between her thighs. I could have this woman if I want to. I could bury myself deep inside of her and try to rid my mind of Addison.

Addison! My brain kicks in and begins to scream at me that this is all wrong. Anese isn’t the woman I want. There’s no spark, no connection. However, my hips don’t want to hear it. They are grinding against Anese, creating more friction with each thrust. My pants rub against my hardened dick as I move faster. I want release badly. I’ve behaved for so long, only finding relief by my own hand. This feels good, no matter what my brain says.

Her hand covers mine as she helps move it to her most sensitive spot. She pushes my fingers down until they delve into her heat. “Yes, Oliver,” she says, with her head tipped back toward my shoulder. “Don’t stop.”

With her assistance, she’s pumping my fingers in and out of her. My length rubs her through my thin, cotton pants from behind. I need this.

Removing my lips from her neck, I fully focus on bringing myself to the sweet relief my body is so desperately craving. Anese’s moans grow louder; her movements with my hand more frantic. “Yes. Almost there,” she pants out.

In a matter of moments, she’s trembling in my arms. With a few more thrusts of my hips, I begin to spill within my pants as my orgasm reaches its peak. I can’t stop. I keep moving until everything is released from me. All of my frustration and anger. It leaves me deflated.

When I’m finally spent, I lean back against the tree. Anese is still wrapped in my arms; one hand rests on her breast, the other still within her.

“Oliver, that was amazing.”

She turns and brings her lips to mine. It’s when her tongue touches my own that I snap out of it. My brain finally overrules my body. I push her from me as if she is a flame and I’m being burned by her touch. A look of shock registers on her face. What have I done?

“Anese, I’m sorry. That shouldn’t have happened.”

She plants her feet firmly on the ground. Her blue eyes find mine, and in them, I can see anger building. “I’ve wanted you for a while now, Oliver. This was bound to happen now that your precious Alison is married to another man.” Her tone surprises me. I’ve never heard Anese speak in anything other than kindness.

“I may not be with Alison, but that doesn’t mean we should have been doing anything either.”

“You infuriate me, Oliver Sage! I give my body over to your touch, you make me feel in a way I never have before, and then you discard of me to the side as if I’m nothing. How dare you?” Guilt washes over me. I should have never allowed this to reach the level it did.

“I’m truly sorry. You have no idea how awful I feel.”

She must see something in my eyes, because her shoulders relax and her face softens. “I believe you, but I’m not sorry this happened, even if you are. I care for you, more than you know.”

I shake my head and close my eyes. “Please don’t say anymore.”

“I have to get home,” she says. “But we’re not finished. This is only the start between us.”

My eyes fly open. “No. This is where it ends. We can only be friends, Anese.”

She walks over to retrieve her clothing from a nearby fallen tree. When she bends over, her ass is on full display for me. “Whatever you say.” She winks before pulling her shirt over her head.

“I need to go.” Turning, I start to walk back to the castle.

“I’ll see you later,” she calls after me. No, you won’t.

When I finally reach the tree line in front of the castle, I stop and untuck my shirt. My pants are a mess, and the last thing I need is one of my men looking at me in any other way than utter respect. What kind of man makes a mess of himself then flees the scene? A confused and desperate one, I guess. No one must know about this. Hopefully, Anese can keep it to herself.