Chapter Seven

Micah wrapped her hand in his and led her across the camp to his cabin. He shut the door and locked it once they stepped inside. He pointed to the hallway leading from the living area. “Bedroom is that way.”

“You’re not coming?”

Micah tossed her bag on the couch. “I’m right behind you.”

She shot him once last glance before she scurried down the hall.

Eve took in the room. It was large but minimally furnished, like every other room in the cabin. The large bed was draped in a crimson comforter. The headboard had a rustic look with slats of unfinished wood spaced a few inches apart and capped with a board that held them together. The walls were adorned with antique weapons. She slowly spun around, studying everything, until she landed on the mattress. She shuddered. The room smelled like him. It felt like him. And soon she was going to be beneath him in this bed.

“My, my, my. What do we have here?”

Eve’s head shot up to find Micah in the doorway, a pair of metal handcuffs dangling from his index finger.

She nearly growled. “You went through my things?”

“You went through mine at the hotel, or I wouldn’t have left with that thousand dollars I paid you. What’s good for the goose is good for the gander, right? And I saw the other stuff. We’ll talk about that later. Right now I plan to make you feel so good you won’t want to jam one of those fucking needles in your arm. I have admit I’m surprised to find these in there.”

She moaned at his threat. “They were from a job, from a bachelor party I danced for. I forgot they were in there. And weren’t you a virgin a couple of weeks ago? You might want to put those down before you hurt yourself.”

He planted a knee on the mattress between hers and hovered above her. “Baby, I might be inexperienced with sex. But I’m a werewolf. I’m bred to be dominant.”

Micah tucked the cuffs in his back pocket and then gripped the hem of her shirt. “Let’s get this off.” He ripped it from her and then trailed his fingers up her spine. Her bra fell free down her arms. He kissed her hard and deep as he tugged it off and threw it on the floor.

He slowly spread her back across the comforter with his own body. His devious grin made her heart skip a beat. He took one of her wrists in his hand. His gaze locked with hers as he retrieved the cuffs from his jeans and clamped one around her arm. She trembled. His chocolate brown eyes hypnotized her. His grip was velvet steel as he guided it to the headboard. Threading the chain of the handcuffs through the slit, he brought her other arm to the headboard and locked the second cuff around her other wrist.

Micah sat back on his heels as he stared down at her, bound to his bed. A growl rumbled from his throat just before he attacked a pink nipple with his teeth, nipping, sucking, rolling the tip of his tongue around it. Eve gasped and arched her back to him. He wrapped his fingers around her hip and pinned her to the bed as he continued feasting on her breast.

Eve felt the flame grow in her belly as she bucked against his hold. Before this man, she couldn’t orgasm if she tried. She cried out as he pushed her over the edge, the rush of heat flooding her. And he was still only on her boobs. There wasn’t going to be anything left of her by the time they got around to penetration.

She whimpered as she came down from the pleasure that filled her. “You. Inside me. Please, Micah.”

“I’m not done with you yet.” He sat up and crawled to the foot of the bed until he kneeled between her feet. Leaning over her, he unfastened her jeans. She silently obeyed and lifted her hips as he wiggled her pants and panties from her body, leaving her naked. He pushed against her shins to buckle her legs. Holding her feet to the mattress, he waged the same attack on her clit that he had on her breasts. His tongue dipped inside her. His teeth scraped her swollen flesh. The ecstasy blazed through her, burning her alive. The words she mumbled made no sense. Her mind was void of thought. All she wanted, needed, craved was the man between her legs. Her instincts were primal. The only command she understood was to mate with him, and she was ready to follow the order with every essence of her being.

She watched with bleary eyes as he climbed off the bed and stood. He slowly pulled the shirt from his body. It was pure torture watching him undress. The swirls of ink on his skin and the ridges of muscle only made her want to taste it, to feel it against her lips. He skimmed the waistband of his jeans with his thumbs before popping the fly. He slipped his hand in to caress his cock. Eve licked her lips at the sight.

“Do you want this?” he asked.

She nodded eagerly. He cocked his head to the side and shoved his pants to the floor. He fondled himself again. “In your mouth?”

“Please.”

He stroked himself as he stared at her. The sight of him pleasing himself drove her crazy. Finally, he strode back to the bed and climbed on. She gasped as he straddled her chest. His erection bobbed swollen across her mouth. She squirmed enough to run her tongue along him. She caught the tip in her mouth and sucked hard, sighing as she heard him cuss.

She slid her mouth up and down the length of him, keeping the pace the best she could. Her breasts pillowed against his thighs. He wove his fingers in her hair as his eyes fluttered shut. He bucked as he moaned. Eve fought back the urge to gag.

“Fuck, Eve. Fuck,” he muttered.

She quickened her stride as she suckled harder. She could taste the precum leaking from the slit of his cock. He started to swell as his balls clenched. Eve hollowed out her cheeks, waiting for his release.

He let go of her hair and pulled out of her mouth. She whined in protest. He swung off her chest and then spread out over her. Eve gripped the chains of the cuffs the best she could. She wrapped her legs around his waist and arched until he was embedded inside her. He thrust deep, filling her.

They rocked in rhythm, each stroke driving deeper and deeper inside her. Eve thrashed against the pillow. He filled every sense, every muscle, every breath. Sex with him was intense, spiritual. She was made to make love to this man.

She roared as she came hard, the tension inside her erupting and dragging her under. He grunted as he swelled thick. Each stroke was strong and steady until he released, his body trembling as he throbbed inside her. He collapsed against her, gathering her in his arms as he buried his face in the curve of her neck.

“Fuck, Eve. I missed that,” Micah murmured.

“Me too. You’re still hard. Keep going.”

He grinned at her as he rolled his hips forward. She shuddered as a tiny orgasm ricocheted through her. “I’d love to.” He rocked gently, his breath escaping in ragged gasps. She bucked with him, pleading for one more rush. He silenced her with his mouth on hers. She cried out as her body quaked with his one last time.

For one blissful moment, they lay joined with their breaths and heartbeats one. Micah ripped away from her and collapsed beside her.

“Shit. Shit. Fuck. Not now.” Micah gripped his head in his hands as he buried his face in the pillow.

Eve broke out of her sex-crazed stupor and sat up the best she could, still cuffed to the headboard. “Not now. What’s going on?”

“Just give me a sec.”

“A sec? Micah, uncuff me. You need help.”

“I can’t.”

“Why the fuck not?”

“I’m blind. Everything is black. And it feels like someone is splitting my head open with an ax.”

Eve fought against the cuffs as her heart slammed in her chest. The rail she was bound to wasn’t about to give. She clasped her hands together and yanked. All it did was shake the bed.

“Micah, I need to get someone. You need help.”

He gasped before he spoke. “Don’t bother.”

“Why not?”

“Because this isn’t the first time. I’ve been having these blackouts since I was three and I pretty much split my head open on a tree while hunting with my dad in beast form. The last one lasted over a day. As soon as I can move without vomiting I’ll figure out where my jeans are so we can unlock you.”

She bit down hard on her bottom lip to stop her tears as she watched him writhe. He heaved a couple of times. With his back to her, she couldn’t tell if he threw up or not. For a long time, he lay perfectly still like he was sleeping. Then he slowly sat up. His hands groped around him on the bed until he knew he was safe to stand. Once he was on his feet, he shuffled his step as he moved along the floor. He would stoop and pick up items when he hit them with his toes. He touched and squeezed the first pair of jeans he came to and then laughed. “Too small for me. Must be yours.”

“Has your head stopped hurting?” Eve asked as she swallowed back a sob.

“No. It’s still killing me. But you can’t stay locked up to my bed until it’s over. Once you’re loose, I’ll probably try to sleep.”

He continued his strange gait around the bedroom until he hit another pile of denim. Scooping it up, he dug in the pocket. As he pulled out a key, he searched aimlessly around the room. “Eve, baby. Talk to me. Let me hear your beautiful voice, so I know where to find you.”

“I’m right here, baby.” Eve sniffled as her voice broke. “You can find me here.”

“Are you crying?”

“Hell, yes.”

“Why?” Micah slowly stepped in her direction as he turned his head to find her voice.

“Because you’re hurting. I don’t ever want to see you hurt.”

He smiled. “No need for tears, beautiful. I should have told you this before.”

“Do you know when they’re going to happen?”

“If I did, I wouldn’t have chained you up to my bed to make love to you. The timing of this one couldn’t be worse.”

Eve couldn’t help but laugh. Micah stopped walking as his thigh hit the bed. “That’s very true,” she replied.

Micah reached out to find where she was lying. Her body arched as her eyes roamed his naked body, his near-permanent erection. It settled in defeat as she caught a glimpse of Micah’s blank stare. His hands searched her body, wandered up her arms until he found the cuffs. He swept his fingers along the smooth metal until it dipped in the lock. He brought his hands together and then guided the key into the hole. With a flick, the lock popped and the handcuff fell off.

Eve sat up and wrapped her hand around Micah’s. “Baby just lay back. I’ve got this.”

“All right,” Micah muttered as he let her slip the key from his grasp. He sat back on the bed and stared into space. Eve kicked the comforter and sheets until they were bunched around him and then freed herself from the headboard.

Cupping his shoulder, she nudged him down. “Lay down, baby. Okay?” she whispered.

He nodded as he lowered his body onto the bed. Eve gathered up the blankets and sheets and tucked them gently around his naked body. She tiptoed to each piece of clothing scattered all over the bedroom and pulled them on. She glanced briefly at her shoes and then brushed aside the idea of struggling them on. She scurried to the bedroom door.

“Where are you going?” Micah inquired.

Fuck, his hearing is on point. “I’ll be right back. Just give me a second.”

All she got back as a reply was a heavy sigh.

Eve wove through the living area to the front door and into the dark. The first snowflakes of winter peppered her face with cold droplets. She took a second to feel them settle on her skin before she assessed the camp. There were three cabins to her left, each downgrading in size from the one previous. On the right were five more exactly the same size. Mama didn’t seem fond of her, so telling her that Eve fucked her son blind was probably the wrong first impression. She bolted to the first cabin on the right and pounded on the door.

She shivered as she waited. The door was ripped open, and the brother with the Mohawk stood there in a pair of khakis and a white undershirt. He frowned at her. “What are you doing here?”

“Sam?” A male voice sounded distant as it reached them.

“I’m sorry,” Eve apologized. “I didn’t know you had company.”

“I don’t. I’m video chatting with a…” He paused a moment. “A friend. Again, why are you here?”

“Micah’s blind. He can’t see anything. He says he’s got a horrible migraine.”

“Again? Shit. Let me end my call, and I’ll be right over.”

“All right.” Eve backed away as he shut the door. She hurried back to Micah’s cabin, not stopping until she was at his bedside.

“I didn’t think you were coming back,” he muttered. “I figured you found some way to get out of here.”

“I didn’t.” Eve took a moment to catch her breath. “I went to get help.”

Micah bolted up in bed. “Shit, Eve. I wish you hadn’t. The last thing I need is Momma in here fussing over me. Especially while I’m naked.”

“Naked? I didn’t sign up for naked. Let me guess. You were banging each other’s brains out when this happened.” Eve turned to find the brother leaning against the door frame watching them, his thick arms crossed over his chest.

There was a growl in Micah’s voice as he responded. “Fuck you, Sam.”

“He’s hurt,” Eve pleaded.

“Sweetheart, this happens all the time. Mikey, there is the reason we can’t go to the doctor.”

“If you tell Momma,” Micah warned.

“I won’t. I’ll go get some cool water, a washcloth, and ibuprofen.” He nodded to Eve. “Would you at least get some sweatpants on him? It makes things less awkward.”

“Sure.”

Samuel disappeared into the bathroom as Eve sprang into action, opening drawers until she found a pair of gray sweats. She nudged Micah to the edge of the bed and then gathered up the first leg. She helped him pull it on and then assisted with the other leg. Once they were on and Micah was settled back under the covers, Samuel reappeared at the other side of the bed. He set a bowl of water on the bedside table and dipped the cloth in. The asshole who’d taunted her mate was gone. Samuel now spoke quiet, soothing words to his brother as he gently laid the fabric on Micah’s forehead.

Eve watched the two brothers for a few moments before she backed out of the room. Her heart raced wildly in her chest. Micah was hurt. He had been dealing with this all his life. The way he writhed in pain while she was locked up and unable to help terrified her more than seeing his beast. She needed to relax. Being worked up wouldn’t help him.

She glanced at her bag on the couch and then plopped down next to it. She picked it up and stared at the powder. With a huff, she jammed it between the cushions. No. She couldn’t do this. She had a chance to begin again. She couldn’t fuck it up.

Eve stood and paced the living room as she started to shake. She fought to get her mind on anything else. Her thoughts went right back to the bag in the couch cushions. She sat down again and reached in between the cushions, rummaging for the sack. Once she caught sight of it, she shoved it back down.

She lost count how many times she played hide and seek with the heroin. With a sigh, she finally surrendered. She rummaged through it until she found a syringe, the spoon, her lighter, and the bag of powder. She worked as silently as she could. Samuel’s soothing voice echoed out to her as she prepared the syringe. Grabbing a belt from her bag, she threaded it into a lasso around her arm and tightened it. She held her breath as the needle pierced her skin.

“You stupid shit.”

Eve spun to see Samuel standing over her. He glared at her angrily. “If you have a bad batch, if you overdose, there is no way out of this forest to get you help in time. You’d be dead for sure. You’d leave my brother without a mate for the rest of his life.” He shook his head. “Leave it to Micah’s luck. First time having sex and he ends up mated to a junkie whore. Shit.” He stormed back to the bedroom and shut the door behind him. Eve managed a sob before the high took hold.

»»•««

Micah still couldn’t see a thing when the sun rose the next morning. Eve laid her head on the pillow beside him, watching him. She couldn’t sleep. She couldn’t forget what Sam had said either. It wasn’t the first time someone called her a junkie whore. But from Micah’s brother, it felt like a knife to her heart.

She couldn’t help but smile as Micah slid his hand across the bed to search for her hand. When he found it, he wrapped his tightly around it.

“Good morning, sweetheart,” she greeted.

“Good morning,” he replied.

“Feeling any better?”

“Not really.” He squeezed her hand. “I’m sorry about what Sam said. He shouldn’t have said it. I promised to kick his ass when my sight comes back.”

“You heard.”

“Yes, I did. When my eyesight goes, my hearing becomes more acute for that short time.”

“Oh. It’s all right, Micah. I’ve been called worse.”

“No, it’s not. You are my mate. He should treat you with respect.”

Eve pulled her hand from his. “You don’t know what I was doing when he said it.”

There was silence. When he did speak, she swore she could hear hurt in his voice. “Yes, I do know what you were doing.”

“Micah, I needed to relax. Seeing you in such pain…”

“You don’t need to explain it to me.”

“For some reason, I think I do.”

“Because we’re joined. We’re mated. Do I like the fact you were shooting up? No. I need you by my side. I don’t want to lose you. So knowing you were in the other room robbing precious moments of your life with me might piss me off a bit.”

“You act like we’re a couple. Like we’re exclusive.”

“Where are you living now, Eve?”

She swallowed hard. “Here.”

“And in whose bed are you sleeping?”

She heaved a sigh. “Yours.”

“I know you have no idea what a relationship is like, but baby that’s it. Not to mention we’re mated. You can try to run. By that pull that makes you into a sex-crazed fiend when we’re together will just bring you back to me. You don’t have to love me. You can hate my fucking guts. It won’t change the fact you’ll just come crawling back to me like I’ll come crawling back to you.”

She watched him as he stared at the ceiling. She frowned. She didn’t know what love was. No one held an affectionate feeling for her since she could remember. She didn’t keep one for anyone else for just as long. But with him, she felt shame for what she did. She hated seeing him hurt. And all she wanted to do was snuggle against his bare shoulder and figure out a way to take his agony away.

Was she falling in love with Micah Hallow? She shook her head. She didn’t know. She only knew she didn’t want to leave him and it wasn’t the mystic power keeping her by his side.

She bolted upright at the knock at the door. She heard Micah mutter, “Oh, shit,” before he spoke up. “Yeah, come in.”

“Is everyone decent?” an unfamiliar deep voice asked.

Micah turned his head toward her even though she knew he couldn’t see her. “Are you dressed?”

“Wearing pajamas,” Eve confirmed.

“Come in, Joe.”

The door opened, and the brother with the long, wavy hair stepped in. Eve smiled. Josiah. She remembered his and Caleb’s names. Well, she remembered Sam’s now, too, as the guy who broke her heart. The rest of the brothers were still fuzzy.

Josiah sat on the edge of the bed next to Micah. “How are you feeling, bromingo?”

Micah reached up and rubbed his eyes. “Same. My head is fucking throbbing, and I haven’t gotten a glimpse of light.”

“Shit.”

“Why? What’s up?”

“Leroy called me when he couldn’t reach you. I suppose you turned off your phone?”

“I always do. The sounds are amplified and make the pain worse. What the hell did he want?”

“Your opponent is coming to Duluth to finish his training for your fight. He’s bringing a team from Maine, and they’re taking over Austin Graves’s old gym. The dude wants to meet you. Leroy already scheduled a face off.”

“For when?”

“Tonight.”

Micah sat up suddenly. “Are you shitting me?”

“I’m afraid not.”

“Shit.”

“I told him it wasn’t possible. Of course, he started bullshitting me about the expense of the event and going off about you backing out of something you never agreed to.”

Micah shook his head. “Call him and tell him I’ll be there.”

“Micah, you can’t face him blind.”

“I have to be there. You know that. We’re just going to have to hope it comes back before when?”

“Eight o’clock.”

“Call him. Tell him I’ll be there. Or I can.”

“Like you can see your phone to even dial him. I got it.” Josiah stood. “We’ll head out about five. Your eyes better be working by then.”

“My thoughts exactly.”

Josiah waved to Eve before he left the room, closing the door behind him. Eve sprung out of bed and pulled it open again.

“Where are you going, Eve?” Micah asked. “I felt the bed shift.”

“I’m going to help get your vision back.” She hurried into the bathroom and wet down a washcloth with cold water. Once she wrung it out, she brought it back to him and laid it on his forehead. “Ibuprofen?”

“Please.”

She hurried back to the bathroom and filled a glass with water from the tap. She shook a couple of pills from the bottle and then delivered them to him. She pressed them into his palm. Once he tossed them in his mouth, she handed him the glass to wash them down.

Micah handed the glass back to her. “I’m going to try to sleep and hope it clears up.”

Eve crossed around the bed and crawled across it to him. Once he lay down, she cuddled against him. “I’ll be right here.”

She wrapped her arm around him as his breathing slowed. It wasn’t long before he softly snored. She closed her eyes and tried to relax. She tried to calm herself. Instead, it felt like a thousand volts of electricity raged through her nerves. She opened her eyes and stared out the open door to the living room. She shut them tight again as she tried to sleep. Micah needed her. She needed to be strong for him.

She sighed as she opened her eyes and sat up. She carefully scooted off the mattress and scuttled into the living room, closing the bedroom door behind her quietly.