Page 49 of A Lesson in Obedience
My shoulders stiffened. “I’m allowed to feel things after what I saw.”
He nodded. “Don’t put words in my mouth. Isaidthat the feelings will eat you up. I can see your nightmares, Riley, but I can also feel them. I’ve never felt something so viscerally debilitating. Is it like this every night?”
“Shouldn’t you be able to answer that, Mr. Dream Magic?”
He pressed his tongue into his cheek. “You’ll be saddened to know that me getting into your dreams is not a nightly occurrence. I simply came up here to do what my brother asked and I found you practically being held hostage by your own mind. I thought it was a good idea to ease you out of it, create a better visual, rather than just shake you awake.”
“You sound worried about me.” I shoved his shoulder, trying to bring the moment out of the trenches he was letting it fall into.
He ran a hand over his mouth, his fingers trailing along his trimmed beard. “Would that be so bad?” He wasn’t looking at me when the question came from his lips. It came off like he was asking himself and all I could do was stare at the sheets.
“It’s probably due to everything that comes with going back to Mystic Riegan and the fact that I can’t just pretend like my life choices aren’t being watched. My mind just got a little overstimulated; my imagination can run a little wild, okay? I’ll work on it. I can only promise you that.”
He softly chuckled to himself. “You don’t have to promise me anything. I’d prefer you didn’t.”
Asher started to get off the bed, but I caught his hand. I could have sworn a small spark expelled from my fingertips. The way he looked down at our hands, I thought maybe he noticed it as well. If that tiny spark had hurt him, he didn’t let it show. “Don’t tell River about this. He’s witnessed a small instance of me having an odd dream and this felt like so much more than that. I don’t want to worry him or burden him or anything like that. I told him that it was okay to get in my head if it was completely necessary and if ithappens then so be it, but he doesn’t need to know aboutthis. I’m okay and that’s all that matters, right?” I sounded like I was trying to convince myself and the look on his face told me that he felt the same way.
“Riley…”
“I haven’t asked you to do anything like this for me, Asher.Please. Everything with your dad and Chancellor Fowler and just fucking everything, I don’t want him to put all his energy in worrying about me.”
“River is always going to worry about you. It’s his thing, Riley.” He took a long look at my hand on top of his, raking his eyes up my arm and to my face. “Fine, but only because my brother has seemingly become a person of interest to the people trying to ruin our lives. I would rather him be aware of his mind and his surroundings. I do also know that your shadow wielding friend hurt him like he hurt you, so he’s dealing with that in his own way. I won’t put this on him either.”
I nearly flinched thinking about Grayson. My mind started to wander towards how he was doing downstairs. Asher had his reservations about him, but he thought he was genuinely sorry based on their yelling match I’d walked in on. And I knew River would follow in whatever direction I decided to go in when it came to Grayson. I didn’t know what I needed from Grayson to bring me any resemblance of solace, but I wanted to figure it out because the minute I did— he would do it in a heartbeat. “You’re a good brother.” The compliment rolled off my tongue easily.
He smirked at me before ripping his hand away from mine. He pushed up the sleeves of his henley, running a hand through his hair. “Don’t sound so surprised. I do know that I’m not perfect though. I’ve made mistakes with him and with…. other things.” He looked like he almost wanted to say something that went along with that statement, but refrained. He rounded the bed and headed for the door.
My skin began to cool when he wasn’t in close proximity to me. Ididn’t know whether I liked the fact that I might have wanted him to continue lounging on the bed next to me. He was almost at the door when I spoke next. “Are you going to continue to check up on me?”
Asher froze, rolling his shoulders and staring at the door. “River will be home soon, so I don’t have to.”
I reached up and fiddled with the necklace he’d given me. “You could, if you felt so inclined. I like the beach, or like one of those bean bag chairs that I see people comfortably reading in. Also, if you could add in Beau that would be nice.” I reached down and ran my hand along my familiars back. His ears flickered but then they settled back down.
I looked up to see Asher staring at me like I had five heads, clearly confused. I rolled my eyes, explaining. “If you want to send me into good dream land, that’s what I’d like.”
“I don’t take requests. I’m not a dream DJ.” Asher shook his head, narrowing his eyes at me.
I cleared my throat. “I just thought…”
“I’ll see what I can do.” he grumbled, cutting me off and rubbing the back of his neck. He looked like his kindness o-meter was at full capacity and he was about to explode.
I bit the inside of my cheek to stop myself from grinning at my tiny victory. I swiftly moved the sheet from my body, feeling the cool air against my sweaty skin and padded over to where he stood. “Don’t hate what I’m about to do.”
“I don’t follow…”
I leaned up and kissed him. His lips were stiff at first, his body like a statue. Little by little, that icy exterior melted away and his arms coiled around my body. His hands touched my skin, creating a different kind of heat. He leaned down, causing me to arch my back and wrap my arms around his neck.
I’d meant for it to be a simple peck. A ‘thank you’ kiss that we could both shrug off as nothing. He pushed my body into his, moving his lips over mine. I whimpered into his mouth and he groaned,turning us and shuffling our bodies so that my back was pressed against the door.
He ran his hand down my leg, gripping my thigh and hoisting it up and over his hip. I felt how hard he was and he wasn’t shy about grinding it against my core. I raked my hand through his dark hair and pushed my body into his. He bit down on my bottom lip, a growl ripping from his throat and into my mouth.
His lips found their way to my neck as he pinned me against the door. His teeth grazed my throat and his fingers dug into my thigh. I rubbed my body feverishly against his and the friction was deliciously welcoming. He kissed up my neck and found my mouth again, whispering, “You need to go back to bed, Riley.”
His words said one thing, but his other hand gripped my ass, pulling me into him, while he kept a hold of my thigh. I let out a small desperate sound against his lips, moving my lower body against him.
“I’m not tired.”
“After what you just went through and what’s to come, you should be, little liar.” He nipped at my lips, pulling me back in to kiss him. He pressed me harder against the door, his cock hitting my clit with each movement of his hips. Even with clothing between us, the sensation was no less exhilarating. I moved my hips forward, rubbing against him harder, needing more friction and probably wanting more than I should have.
