Dream Trysts: A Sleeping Beauty Story (Passion-Filled FairyTales Book 4) Read Online Free PDF Page A

plummeting downward. But here in her dreams, gravity mattered not. She floated down to the bottom on a cloud of air. James tumbled behind her, but this was her dream, not his, and he didn’t seem to be able to float. His descent quickened, and he winked as he plummeted past her. She looked down and concentrated, stopping him before he hurtled into the pond below. He remained suspended in air, laughing, and then she dropped him into the pool with a splash.
    She descended, landing next to the pond, and watched as he swam over.
    “You’re wet,” she said.
    He got to the edge of the pond and climbed out to sit in the grass next to her. He shook himself, spritzing her with water. “Because you let me get wet.”
    She grinned, and along came a breeze that gently whirled around and dried him. “I thought you’d enjoy it,” she teased.
    He grinned and then reached out and touched her shoulder. “Tag,” he said.
    She frowned momentarily. “I’d forgotten,” she said.
    “Of course you did. You were too busy using your dream magic to drop me in ponds.”
    “You jumped off a cliff,” she said, pretending to chastise him. “What did you think would happen?”
    “That you would catch me,” he said. “As you did.” He took in a breath and looked around. “Why do you think you can bring me here?”
    Rose put a hand to her chin and looked at the landscape. “I don’t know,” she admitted. She looked up at the sky. The sun was directly overhead. Still plenty of time to play. “It doesn’t matter, does it? It’s beautiful here and you enjoy it.”
    His eyes met hers, serious and focused. “More than you know.”
    They stared at each other silently, a gentle breeze keeping them cool under the sun. Finally, James stood. “Shall we play another round of tag?”
    Rose laughed. Yes. More tag would be fun. She stood, too, and looked around at the landscape.  “Maybe …” she started.
    “Hide and seek then,” he suggested.
    Rose shook her head. “I think you came the first time because I wanted a friend. And I think you’re able to come back so easily now because we’re friends.”
    He smiled and took her hand into his. “Of course we’re friends, Rose,” he said. “I would never not be friends with a gal who could drop me off a cliff.”
    She lightly tapped his hand and rolled her eyes. “I’d never let you fall. Not for real.”
    “I know you wouldn’t,” he said, his gaze intense, his hand still cradling hers, applying soft pressure. “And when we meet in the real world, know that I’ll never let you fall, either.”

Chapter 7
    (5 years later)
     
    Rose lay on a blanket near the pond, and James was propped up on his elbow, lying beside her. He leaned forward and kissed her lips. He tasted of berries, the sweet red wild berries they’d picked and eaten. His mouth on hers sent a heat through her entire body and she found her lips couldn’t be parted from his. She wanted nothing more than to lie there, feeling him pressed to her.
    James ran his fingers along her summer dress, starting at her hip, and slowly gliding up her side, until he veered to her bosom, sliding his hand over her top, cupping her soft mounds. Her flesh trembled beneath his touch, awakening such feelings in her as she’d never had before. His lips seemed to be pressing on her with urgency now, and his body pushed closer to hers, the warmth of his touch exciting her, but also scaring her.
    Somehow, she pulled her lips from his. He stared, appearing slightly offended.
    Rose could feel the heart hammering in her chest, and her brain lacked clarity. She still wanted to be kissing him. She wanted to be more than kissing him. But she came back to the question she’d asked him so many years ago. Was he real? He felt so real. Everything about him felt real, only she knew it was a dream, and in this moment, she wanted more than the dream. She wanted reality.
    She took a deep breath, and sat up, sliding to the right a bit to avoid bumping