Page 47 of There's No Place Like Oz

“I wanted to see how you were doing.” He said, both concern and feigned casualness in his voice.

I smiled at that. His gentle but handsome face put me at ease. “I’m not dead, so better than Gwen at least.” My attempt to make light of the situation was strained, but it was the only way I knew to push through my current complicated emotions.

“I’m sorry you had to go through that.” His expression sank. He approached the tub and crouched down beside me. “All of it. Not just killing her, but I should have been able to protect you. It never should have gone that far.” Leon chewed his lip for a moment. I swallowed but couldn’t find words. “You’re my mate, and when you needed me most, I was powerless. I’ve always been powerless around Gwen I guess.”

It dawned on me in that moment that the only one more broken about this than me right now was… Leon. Gwen’s abused toy who lost everything—the person I protected when I ended her life. It made me feel loved when someone would risk everything for me, yet I was harboring guilt because I put myself on the line for someoneIcared about?

I shifted in the tub, repositioning with my arms on the edge closest to him, and placing my chin on top my forearms. My face was only a few inches from his. “Maybe you’re looking at this backwards.” I placed a hand on his cheek and spread bubbles over his skin. The little spheres of soap fizzled, leaving a sheen on his face. “I’m your mate, just like you’re mine. The burden of keeping a partner safe isn’t only on you.”

A gloss shined in those golden, slitted eyes, and I realized how deeply I believed my own words. I wasn’t just here to be some helpless damsel in distress surrounded by capable men. I wanted to be strong and worthy, too. I couldn’t reasonably stand up to the magic in Oz as a human, but when Icouldstep up and do my part, I would regret being a coward more than I would regret the damage I’d done.

I’d always shown kindness to people, even when they only hurt me in return, living on that idea of treating others how I hoped to be treated. But all that had done was make me a doormat for people who never had to experienced consequences for their bad behavior. Perhaps being good sometimes meant stopping those who weren’t, instead of enabling a narcissist with unearned compassion.

Aunty Em always told me I’d catch more flies with honey than I would with vinegar, but why the fuck did I keep working so hard to be covered in flies? At least with vinegar, I could make a great potato salad.

“Dorothy…” Leon said my name in a way that was genuinely surprised. The corners of his lips upticked, while tears threatened to spill down his cheeks. He laced his fingers through my wet hair, he leaned in, and he feathered the lightest, most innocent kiss on my lips.

I returned the gesture and rose out of the bath to deepen the kiss. Bubbles covered my naked body, and they popped in random, sporadic threats of exposure. It wasn’t long before we were both lost in each other’s rhythm. I didn’t want to stop. I wanted to share this comfort with him after so much pain and fear and trauma.

Leon took the hint. Still kissing me, still rubbing slick bubbles all over my bare skin, He lifted me out of the bath, and he carried me back to the bed. He didn’t care how wet I was when he dropped me on the covers. He loosened his pajama pants and let them fall to the floor, banishing any thoughts that I’d ever been fucked by a bigger lion, and he climbed on top of me to reconnect us by our tongues.

The soap still on my skin slickened his touch. His ordinarily rough touch glided smoothly along my inner thighs, up my stomach, and over my breasts. Wet hands squeezed me, popping a few more bubbles in the process.

“Let me show you what else it means to be my mate.” He whispered against my lips.

“Show me.” I traced the tattoos on his chest, and I nibbled on his lips. He grinned against my teeth, then he pressed his thumb into the mate scar he’d left.

Like lightning, an overwhelming sense of arousal shot through me, and I gasped in pure shock. He caught my lips again, taking advantage of my open mouth to pin my tongue. Then he drew back and simply watched me shiver beneath him.

“When we’re apart, we can communicate our feelings only vaguely. I can feel when you’re sad or when you’re angry or scared, but I can’t feel what you’re physically experiencing.” He dropped back on his haunches, and he nudged my knees wide. I was still quivering with an overwhelming need to have him. “But when we’re together…” He brushed his thumb over my clit on the way to lining himself up to enter me. I saw him shudder and hold a breath in time with my own. “We can share every sensation that goes through the other’s body.”

He pressed in, and my eyes shot open. I could feel the blissful stretch as he reshaped my pussy for him, while my clit throbbed with a perfect bliss. I’d never felt anything like it, and I might burst in seconds if it continued.

“Do you feel that?” Leon asked, low and husky and smug, justknowingI could. His breathing hitched as he started to move in me. Sweat was quickly forming on his brow, while his expression was strained and his breathing was heavy. The fucking electricity through my clit was filling me with heat and intensity and an exquisite high.

“W-what is that?” A full body shudder hit me with every pump of his cock. “G-god, Leon.” My words were a breathy cry. Pressure, bliss, magic, pleasure—I was feeling all of it all at once.

“You’re feeling what I’m feeling, little fireball.” His words seemed every bit as strained. “And you feel so fucking good.” He ran me through again, tagging my G-spot, while also communicating that warm, snug embrace straight to my clit. I was over the edge in seconds, faster than I knew possible, and I was clawing at his arms as my orgasm took me. He groaned, his eyes closed and his body shaking in elation, but he didn’t come with me, not yet.

He started fucking me again, this time with measured strokes, increasing his pace while I was still lost on high. The pleasure pounding through me was more than I knew how to bear, and his own orgasm was starting to build to a head. My eyes were watering, and I was holding onto his shoulders for dear life.

He covered my mouth with his, and I loved the way it felt when he sucked on my tongue, when he drank in my voice, and I tasted his roar. He dug his fingers into my hips as he found that tipping point of his own, and I was damn near sobbing when he gave. That tense pulse of his cock inside me had me clenching around him, and that powerful release was pure fire in my soul.

I came again while he did too, and I was pounded by the crashing wave of both of our pleasure at once. He clawed into me for dear life, drinking in my kisses like a drowning man trying to breath, and dragging his grip down my waist liked he was thrown a life raft in a storm.

Our breaths were heavy as we came down together, and my pussy ached as I felt the dual sensations of him pulling out. There were no words that could express how that had just felt. Even the sweetest praise wouldn’t capture the relief and peace and power surging through me thanks to his magic fucking dick.

But our bond meant we didn’t need words to express ourselves anymore. He laid down beside me, and I rolled over and nuzzled my face on his chest. He wrapped an arm around me and hugged me closer in response. It was then that I felt that protective, warm feeling that could only be coming from his own heart.

And I knew I’d done the right thing. I’d killed his devils, and he’d shown me heaven. This was where I was meant to be.

Tobias came to my room a couple hours later. Leon taught him exactly how a mate scar worked. Sandwiched between the two of them, I’d never felt more safe and secure and loved. Sleep was its own pleasure that night.

Dressed in our stupid green clothing again, we were escorted to the Wizard’s throne. The servants chattered and pointed as we passed them, and I could understand why. This was only the second time in the history of Oz that a witch had been murdered, I was told. Considering the first time was also my fault, I wasn’t sure if I should have been proud or ashamed. I didn’t mind being treated like the celebrity I never was though, and I’ll admit I actually kind of liked it. We deservedsomekind of recognition for what she’d put us through.

When we entered the throne room, this time, the Wizard’s magic particles took the shape of a house cat. He laid on the throne lazily, and I felt a little bit like he was making a fool of us. But maybe it was symbolic somehow. I might never understand Oz custom.

“I’ve heard stories of your success, travelers. Please, present me with the enchantment of the Western Kingdom. Let me see proof of your exploits.” His voice still boomed despite his docile appearance. It was impossible to tell from where the sound came, but I knew it wasn’t from the glowing plasma house cat.

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