Page 24 of There's No Place Like Oz

Ambition? Desperation? Dreams? Greed? Or maybe I just wanted the attention. Maybe I just wanted people to notice me for the first time in my life. How great it would have been to stand out and be the popular girl that everyone covets. Be something other thanDorothy from Kansas.

A tear dripped down my cheek, and I was quick to turn away from my companions in hope that no one would see it. I thanked the mud that was caked on so heavily it could hide my tears, and I used the back of my hand to rub the salty liquid into my skin. Though I only smudged the dirt around even more as a result. Cold stream or no, I needed to clean up, even if just for my mental health.

Tobias was still gathering leaves to soften the bed, Leon had started to assemble the firewood, and Crowe and Talos were talking amongst themselves, so I took that as a good time to excuse myself to the creek for some privacy. Camp wasn’t far from the water, but there were enough trees and rocks between us to give me a sense of privacy. I followed the sound of rushing water, then I climbed over a large boulder, and I hiked down to a beautiful, crystalline pool at the base of a small waterfall. It was deep enough to submerge in completely, but clear and clean enough that you could easily see the rocks on the bottom. A perfect oasis.

I dipped a finger into the water to mentally prepare myself for the temperature, only to find it was pleasantly neutral, far removed from the frigid streams I was used to. I crouched down and splashed some water on my face, enjoying how refreshing it felt, then after looking over my shoulder to verify I was still alone, I undressed completely, and I sunk into the perfect piece of paradise.

The water was just shallow enough that I could touch the ground if I stayed on my tip toes, though I was a good enough swimmer that it wouldn’t have been an issue anyway. I dunked my head underwater, and I wildly ruffled my hair, doing my best to clear some of the clumps from each individual strand. The mud came off in clouds of brown, before it dissipated and settled on the floor of the pool.

Next I took the time to rub my face clean until my reflection showed only the soft pink hue of my skin, and I got to work on cleaning the rest of my body. I rubbed my shoulders first. I contortioned my arms to wash my back best I could, then I bent a knee, one at a time, to work the dirt from my legs.

It felt so nice. The enchanting rush of the waterfall paired with the perfect temperature, the clean water, and the bright green foliage that surrounded dark, wet rocks was like an image of paradise. A feast for the eyes and a gift for my skin.

I cleaned my torso next, rubbing at my sides and my belly and my lower back. Yet in all my enthusiasm, I was still avoiding touching certain… other places. The spots that were perhaps the dirtiest of all.

I flushed at the memory of Leon’s skillful hands, then I dipped down, submerging myself all the way past my lips as I listened for movements. No sounds beyond the water and the crickets. I scanned the trees again. No one was approaching. I was still alone. I still had privacy.

I waited for several seconds, as if someone might walk in on me at any moment, but no one did. This pool was all mine. Still, silent, private.

Staying on guard, I let my hands drift up from my naval until they were just beneath my breasts. Another moment of quiet survey, and I let those hands move upward. Traces of Leon’s rough handprints still remained on my skin, and I used those as a guide, mimicking the way he’d squeezed me, while lying to myself that I was simply being thorough rather than touching myself with intent. I winced when my thumb brushed the mark he’d left in my cleavage.

My clit throbbed just thinking about it. His“mate.”Like a werewolf taking a bride, he’d picked me as his lover just on instincts. He’d touched me, he’d played in my pussy, and he marked me, never once asking if I was okay with it, using only body language to decide I’d liked it. I wanted to detest him, get mad, and say he was wrong.

I rolled my perked nipples between my thumb and forefingers. I wanted to say all of that, but I wasn’t much of a liar. My heart had never raced like that for a guy before. And fuck, I’d never come like that for anyone before. The men I rolled with never cared if I got off, and I was often so distracted that I couldn’t have even if they’d tried.

Still quiet, still calm, I slid my hands back down to my stomach. I took one more peek at my surroundings before I let them explore a bit lower. My clit was already incredibly sensitive by the time I was dancing light pressure around it. I swallowed, held my breath, and sunk a little deeper into the water. Someone could walk in at any moment. It could be Tobias or Leon or Crowe or Talos. The water was so clear, they’d see me without even having to hike down. They’d know exactly what I was doing. I didn’t want them to see me like this. I shouldn’t be touching myself at the thought of being pinned down and pleasured.

I definitely shouldn’t be getting off on the thought of one of them catching me. All of them catching me.

I nudged my finger into my pussy, and I rubbed shallow circles just barely inside myself. Then I slipped in a second finger and pushed in a bit deeper, until I found the spot I was looking for.

It was a wonder that the water around me wasn’t turning to steam with the way my body heated under my own movements. With my other hand, I pinched my nipple, sending signals of pleasure up from between my legs, and back down from my breasts. I’d always been sensitive, but it was different when I was touching myself, and a whole different world when someone I was attracted to was testing my limits.

Leon may have made me his, but if Tobias was also a shifter, couldn’t he claim me too?

That was insane. I couldn’t think that way about him just because he was tall and dark and strong now. I rubbed at my clit with my thumb. I couldn’t admit that it made me wet watching a guy like that slam someone into a wall for me. Threaten to kill them for touching me. That would be so fucked up to be turned on by something like that. Almost as fucked up as being turned on by my powerlessness.

I came up for air, no longer able to contain myself.Gotta clean everything, I told myself.I’m just cleaning up.

As if I was possessed, my fingers effortlessly found the perfect tempo to flick my clit. I tugged at my nipples one more time before I joined my other hand down below. I imagined how it might feel to be rubbing that same spot against Talos’ hard body. It was awful that something as silly as a man finding me food was enough to make my heart skip a beat. A simple gesture that made me feel loved and cared for. I’d never had a total stranger do something like that for me. Not without expecting something in return.

Maybe that was what made it so much better: Hewasa total stranger, and he was still interested in looking out for me.

I threw my head back to take another breath. I was so close to orgasm, I might drown if I continued. Maybe I’d be okay with that if it could feel this good. Maybe despite myself, I still wanted it a bit rough and dangerous. Someone like Crowe, who would kill me in an instant if I let him, shouldn’t make my heart race. I knew he didn’t honestly like me. It was obvious in every bit of his body language. He was completely incapable of emotion, after all, and he’d told me as much.

Yet that stupid, immature girl, still so driven by that need to make the world acknowledge her, wanted that. Iwantedto take a guy like him and break down his walls with my pussy. I’drevelin making a sociopath who couldn’t feel anything become desperate to keep me.

My moan was involuntary as my shaking knees clenched together. I could barely keep my head above water while maintaining this high, and I barely cared if I couldn’t.

“Missed a spot.” My eyes shot open at the sound of Crowe’s voice bouncing off the water. The resulting gasp filled my lungs, and I held that air there as my heart stopped completely. I immediately removed my hands from my nethers and wrapped my arms around my chest. That only added an extra crookedness to his smile. “A little late to be modest, Dorothy.”

“C-Crowe. What are you doing here?” I clenched my knees together and pulled them to my chest, using the little air I was managing to keep in my lungs to help me float. Though drowning might be preferable right now.

“Just thought I’d clean up a bit. I never got all the munchkin off me after my stay on the pike, after all.” He cocked his head to the side with a curiosity, though that wicked grin never vanished. “Here I’ve gone all this time thinking you were such a sweet girl, but I may have misjudged you.”

My cheeks were absolutely on fire. I couldn’t get out. I couldn’t keep my body covered without sinking. Idefinitelycouldn’t explain that I was touching myself to the thought of all four of them having their way with me. And above all, I could absolutelynottell him that I was throbbing even harder the second he caught me doing it. I now cursed the perfectly clear water that let him so effortlessly enjoy the whole show.

“I-I—” I was at a complete loss for words. It didn’t matter how hyper aware of sound and movement I was when I was dealing with someone who could move as silently and stealthily as our resident scarecrow.

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