Page 32 of There's No Place Like Oz

When we arrived at the castle, we were left in a carpeted entryway to be received by another servant of the Wizard. She was a young and very beautiful woman with an updo that resembled a cinnamon roll, while dressed in a long, silky gown. The shimmering fabric cascaded down her body, leaving no part of her shape to the imagination.

“Welcome to the Emerald Castle.” The woman said with a curtsy. I’d gotten used to the way everyone gawked at my silver shoes the second I stepped into the room, so I said nothing as she paused for a bit longer than a standard blink when her gaze reached my feet. I didn’t know why these shoes were so special, but whatever they meant to that witch and these people, I’d continue to use it to my advantage. “The Wizard will be happy to receive you. But first, you must be exhausted from your travels. Please follow me, and I’ll show you to your rooms. You may rest and freshen up, and your audience will be scheduled for the morning.” A judgmental look hopped to each and every one of us. “Appropriate clothing will also be provided.”

I bowed my head and offered a simple thank you, then we followed the attendant to the hall. Everyone was given their own room. I was going to inform her that Crowe and Talos didn’t sleep, but it didn’t do much harm to just let them have a private space all to themselves for the night. I bid goodnight to each of my friends, then I entered my own room at the end of the hall.

NowI might believe I’d died and gone to heaven. The bedroom was everything I missed and everything I’d needed after days on the road. I hopped onto the bed and practically giggled as the soft mattress bounced me off its soft and springy surface, then I ran straight to my own private bathroom, where the water in the shower got hot enough to steam up this entire castle wing, and the water pressure was strong enough to blast the mud off a tractor. I was naked and covered in soap as fast as I could get my dress off, then I doubled down with a hot bubble bath in the Jacuzzi tub. I felt like the princess I always dreamed of being, and I was going to savor that comfort as long as I could get away with it. I didn’t even care that the bubbles were as green as everything else. It felt good on my joints, and I so needed this.

It was worth it to travel all the way to the Emerald City just for this alone.Fuck going home. I’m just going to wish to stay in here forever.

I closed my eyes and inhaled a lovely aroma akin to rosemary and cherry blossoms. It was nearly two hours before I willed myself to dry off and get dressed.

When I returned to the bedroom, a couple different outfits had been left on my bed. I set aside the dress for my audience with the Wizard and went straight for the comfortable pajamas. Also made from a shimmering satin, the pajamas were cool and smooth on my skin. The top was a small tank top of bright jade, with thin spaghetti straps that barely held the material high enough to cover my chest, and the bottom was a pair of loose short shorts that just reached the bottom of the curve of my ass. Small slits lined with lace on each side of the shorts made the ensemble feel more like comfortable lingerie than a royal set of PJs, but I wasn’t about to complain. I’d missed sleeping naked or near naked since coming here and spending every night in mixed company, so I was going to savor every minute.

Pleased, I wormed my way under the weighted covers, and I settled in to enjoy some quality sleep.

Three hours later, I was still wide awake.

I stared at the green ceiling in frustration. I’d barely ever slept alone in the last decade, whether I was with a boyfriend, a date, a producer I was trying to impress, or just snuggling Toto. Though I was borderline sweating from the heavy comforter, the bed still felt so… cold. Cold and empty.

I frowned and rolled over again, hoping a new position would make it easier to sleep, but another hour passed and all I’d accomplished was staring at the backs of my eyelids.

I sighed and I huffed and I jumped when I heard the light tapping on my door.

“Dorothy, are you still awake?”Tobias. My heart sped, not out of nerves, but out of thankful excitement that my snuggle buddy had come to my rescue.

I got out of bed and answered the door as quietly as I could.

There, on the other side, Tobias was freshly bathed and smelled like almonds. His black hair was clean and messy, and it just begged to have fingers run through its softness to straighten it out, while his pajama pants were slung low on his hips. The way the satin hugged every shape and curve of his body left little to the imagination, and I’ll just say that “grey sweatpants season” has nothing on “satin pajama season.”

All things I absolutely should not be noticing about my most trusted friend and emotional support.

“I couldn’t sleep.” He said as he nervously rubbed the back of his head, ruffling that soft hair through his long fingers. Another thing I was not trying to notice.

“I couldn’t either.” I admitted.

“I’ve never slept alone, and I don’t really think I like it. S-so…” He glanced away, and the light blush to his cheeks was even visible in the low light of the hallway’s torches. “So I just thought I’d see if you were struggling too. Since you don’t usually sleep alone either.”

“Oh.” Was all I said.

“I mean, I understand if you don’t want to sleep in the same bed as me after last night.” His tone sped up to a panicked level. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to—”

“No.” I stopped him with a shake of my head and a grateful smile. “I would sleep a lot better if you slept with me.”

His whole body relaxed, from his expression to his tense shoulders. I motioned back towards my bed, and he followed me into the room.

I was glad he was here, but… my heart was also racing to see him. I’d been doing my best not to betray his trust and platonic, genuine love for me with an unwanted shift in physical attraction, but when he looked like that, it was difficult not to. And whenhelooked atmelike that, eyes accidentally brushing over my visible headlights under this top, I wondered if he was struggling with the same thoughts, or if the other night was just an adrenaline-drunk mistake…

I swallowed as I climbed back into bed now with his strong warm body at my back. I nudged up into him, and he squeezed me with a palm on my stomach to close any remaining gap between our bodies. His firm chest pressed into my back, while he kept the slightest distance between my ass and his hips.

Strategic. Or just polite. My mind wanted the former, but it was likely more about the latter.

“That’s much better.” His deep voice in my ear had me immediately on fire. I was grateful for the darkness that hid any visible confessions.

“Yeah. Much better.” I squeaked. I was very experienced in sharing beds with men.This shouldn’t be freaking me out so much.

Well, I was used to sharing beds with men I had no interest in. It wasn’t hard to sleep next to a guy I had happily in my friend zone, or a guy who’d passed out from alcohol after a long party, or a boyfriend who’d I expected to roll around with. But sleeping with my hot, emotionally secure confidante who I had no sort of sexual relationship with was dangerous. I just kept telling myself we’d done this for many nights now. It had become normal for us, and I slept like heaven, so I shouldn’t be reacting so strongly. This should be fine.

I pressed my cheek into the pillow, trying to distract myself from the feeling of his warm, firm bicep cradling my neck. I squeezed my eyes shut when he rested his other arm on my waist, letting his hand dangle on the bed in front of my chest. He kept respectful distance, just as he should.

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