Scooping her into my arms, I stare at her for a moment. Her porcelain doll face is shimmering with the rain that clings to it. Droplets bead on her lashes, so still they look like crystals.
“I am so sorry, little bird,” I mutter, kissing her forehead. “I should have never left, but I had to get him away from you.”
Pressing my forehead to hers, my Newsy lifts slightly as I close the gap between us. “I wish there were more I could do.” The water glistening on the bench from the rain catches my attention, and I feel my heart skip a beat. “So, little time.” Then I turn, lifting her with ease as I rise to my feet—then carry her away.
As I kick back the door, I hurry to lay her down on the bed. Brushing strands of hair from her face, then to my surprise, I see that a spot near her temple is matted. She must have hit her head—I check her breathing, it’s regular, but she doesn’t budge as I peel my soaking wet button-up from her body. I meander over to the wardrobe that displays an array of outfits in her size. I settle on a silk black nighty and a white sheer robe.
“You will be waking up soon, dove.” The color of her skin is a pearlescent blue as it absorbs the light of the moon. “So, I will get things ready.”
Again, I find myself running her a bath, only this time it will be different—this time I will know for sure. Steam forms on the mirrors as the temperature rises, and I unbutton my shirt to avoid overheating. I hear the bed creak slightly as she shifts, and I make my way to the door to see her bent over on her hands and knees—crawling to me. It didn’t matter if that was her intention—the imagery was already there.
The intrusive thoughts stir up… yet again. I drift into a daydream, and I am sitting in my office with her chained to my desk. The candlelight mixes with the shadows, casting an ombre of black and gold over her glistening skin. The shimmering sweat coruscates on her from our previous tussle in the sheets, as I lean forward—my elbows digging into my knees. With a whisper, I give her the next command. “Crawl to me, my dove.” The sound of the metal sliding across the hardwood... possesses my hands… I squeeze them closed. The popping sound of my knuckles reverberated off the walls.
Slowly, she drops her head, then looks up through her lashes. The glittering silver collar shifts as her shoulders drop with her forward motion. Watching… closely, I notice her tongue swipe over her swollen lips before biting down on it. Deliberately, she takes her sweet ass time releasing it—the slow, soft pull as flesh slips through the clutch of the adamantine enamel clamps. Following her lead, I settle back into my chair right at the same moment she reaches me… kneeling at my feet.
“Now,” Sitting back, she rests her ass on her heels. “How may I please you, my shadow?”
Her naked body, the ultimate distraction. “I-” My eyes scan her form, “Little bird, I want-” Swallowing hard, I take a deep breath—releasing it as I speak, “I want to watch you… pleasure yourself.”
A devilish smirk forms on her face as the look in her eye's lust for more commands, “Anything else?” She asks when I don’t catch her hint.
“Yes, call out my name.” She is fighting to keep her smile from giving her away and showing how much she genuinely enjoys our little game, “Tell me how good it feels.” She lies back on her elbow… rotating her legs to rest in front of her—spreading them. Her opposite hand begins doing the things mine wereitchingto do.
Then, her voice as sweet as her arousal, fills the air. “Oliver.” She moans. “Oh, Oliver.”
“Louder, princess.” My hand shifts to my slacks.
“Oliver!”
By the gods, little bird, you are… so…
“Oliver?” Her words came out sterner this time, snapping me back—I shake my head, rolling my eyes to clear the euphoric blur caused by my wet daydream. She has lowered herself down… Knees bent, legs splayed out to the side, with her hands resting in her lap.
“Yes, Dove?” I watch as she battles with her libido, practically biting a hole in her lip. I chuckle, purposefully adding a seductive tone to it—doing little to help with her struggles.
Nice to know I’m not the only one hot and bothered.
“What is it, little bird. You are biting your lip… again.” Vigorously, she shakes her head, like a puppy with a new chew toy. “Do you see something you like?” Her face contorts as a roller coaster of emotions fights to take control.
“No,” Hoping to redirect her thoughts, I ask, “You don’t like what you see?”
That did the trick.
She pauses, then responds, “What, oh, um, no, that’s not what-” I can see the battle she is fighting with herself, as she looks away from me. “Oliver, when you dropped me off at the garden-” Shuffling slightly, I shift from one foot to the other as she continues. “I saw something happen-”
I allow my head to canter until my ear kisses my shoulder. “Go on.” Listening, she explains in heavy detail what she saw ‘the mist’ do to Peter.
She must be talking about Brennan.
If she is seeing him as a ‘mist’ then it won’t be long.
“He-” The mix of fear and sadness in her voice solidifies the fact that she isn’t ready. “He killed him, Ollie.”
She puts her hands to her head, “Then there was a stabbing that radiated throughout my skull.” My heart leapt into my throat, and in that moment, all my attention was on what she said next. “Suddenly, the awful sensation of swallowing water took hold of me. It was a massive amount, to the point I felt like I was drowning.” I stand straight, hanging on to every word she said. “But I must have been dreaming because Peter’s spirit spoke to me.” Eyes wide, doing all I can to bite my tongue, so as not to interrupt her.
“What do you mean it spoke to you?” I swallow hard. “What did it say?”
Her face twists with confusion, but she still answers.
