The Redemption of Micah Page 16

  It seemed as though the ground wanted to keep hold of Micah. The rope creaked as the horse plodded forward, unused to a man’s weight behind her. Eppie grabbed the rope with her hands and put what little strength she had toward helping the animal. With excruciating slowness, the ground finally gave up its hold on Micah’s inert body. The horse kept her footing in the mossy area in front of the cabin.

  Eppie thought her arms were going to come out of their sockets. It might as well have been a mile to the cabin instead of ten feet. She slipped and landed on her side, but the horse kept going. Likely she thought the warmth of the cabin waited for her and she was a pretty smart horse.

  Thankful for the horse’s assistance even if she was looking to get warm, Eppie got to her knees. The cool water on the ground felt good on her rope-chafed hands. Finally able to get to her feet, she caught up to the horse as she reached the door.

  “Hang on girl, we need to get him in safely.” Eppie guided the mare through the door, realizing too late the reins were pulling to the right and Micah was stuck outside the door. “Dammit! Stop, stop.” The horse was almost completely in the cabin and Eppie had to crawl through the horse’s legs, not the safest place to be, to get outside and help Micah.

  He was on his side; fortunately, his face was not in the water. Eppie rolled him on his back and gave him a quick, hard kiss on his cold lips.

  “Almost there.” She took his left arm and pulled him until he was straightened enough to get through the door.

  Later on she’d probably wonder how she did what she was doing, but right then, all she could think of was getting them both inside the cabin. She crawled back under the horse’s legs into the cabin, picking up a few splinters along the way. The horse stood with her head down, water dripping onto the dusty wooden floor.

  “Almost there, girl, almost there.” Eppie pulled the horse forward slowly, pulling Micah into the cabin. It was a good thing he’d built the ceiling high enough to accommodate the mare or Eppie would never have been able to get him inside by herself. “Whoa, whoa.” She stopped the horse just as she reached the fire, apparently her ultimate goal.

  Eppie shut the door to keep out any more of the rain. She couldn’t untie the rope from the reins, so she just took the loop out from underneath Micah’s shoulders. Later on, when the rope dried, she would untie the wet, tight knots.

  She looked down at Micah and shook her head. They were both as wet as they could be. Thank God she hadn’t used the blankets because they’d need them to keep warm. Eppie focused on getting Micah’s wet clothes off, which wasn’t an easy task because they seemed to be glued to him.

  When he was only in his drawers, she finally stopped and glanced down, then gasped. She hadn’t seen him in full light, hadn’t know how many scars lay beneath the clothing. He’d endured quite a lot, including burns, what appeared to be bullet marks as well as long, whitened zippers made by a knife or sword. She assumed the same types of scars lay on his soul. No wonder he drank—she’d likely drink, too, if she’d been so grievously injured.

  “Don’t worry. I’ll take care of you this time.” Eppie took off her outer layer of clothing, leaving on only her chemise and drawers. The chill in the air belied the late summer heat that should be instead. She took one of the blankets and rolled him onto it, then tugged him until he was closer to the fire.

  She tried not to look at his face or his scarred body, afraid she might lose her nerve. He’d been such a staunch presence by her side since she’d woken up, and he hadn’t asked for anything but a chance. Eppie knew she’d done him wrong by doubting him, by accusing him of nefarious things, and by allowing them to come together without giving him her heart first.

  The truth was, he already owned her heart. She knew that now, and not only that, she accepted it. Perhaps getting out of the house and into the world outside Plum Creek had given her the impetus to make that leap of faith.

  With infinite tenderness, she used the other blanket to dry him off until color returned to his skin. Still he slept on, and she hoped he wasn’t suffering the same malady that had stolen three years of her life. She checked his head and found a large goose egg at the back where he must’ve struck it. It was a big lump, but there was no blood, so she came to the conclusion he’d simply been knocked out by the force of the fall.

  The rain had stopped, giving Eppie the opportunity to put Hilda back outside where she could eat and be more comfortable. The horse must’ve been tired of the small cabin because she went outside without hesitation.

  “You were great, girl, now let us have some time alone.”

  After tying the mare’s reins to a sturdy tree, Eppie went back inside to her man. The scent of horse still permeated the small cabin, but it had definitely gotten better with the mare outside.

  She shed the rest of her clothes, then lay down next to him and covered them both with the blanket. Soon the heat from their bodies combined with the heat from the fire, and for the first time in hours, Eppie felt warm. She closed her eyes and gently placed her arm across Micah’s chest.

  Chapter Ten

  Micah came into consciousness in stages. He was first aware of feeling warm and safe, which was a different sensation for him. Normally he felt adrift and found himself searching for warmth and security. Next thing he realized was he wasn’t alone. There was a woman beside him with soft, smooth skin whose breath blew gently on his chest.

  Eppie.

  As her scent washed over him, his heart jumped to life when his nose confirmed what his body knew. It was definitely Eppie and she was in his arms.

  He nuzzled her hair and pulled her closer. She sighed and put her leg over his. Micah floated between asleep and awake, reveling in the sensation of having the woman he loved sleeping beside him.

  The third stage of wakefulness rolled over him slowly, when he recognized the other scent in the room as horse. That’s when it hit him that he was on a hard floor in his cabin.

  “Holy shit.” He sat up abruptly, rolling into Eppie.

  The entire wild ride up the mountain raced through his head, his desperation to find Eppie, the realization she had made it to the cabin, then everything had gone black.

  “What’s going on?” Eppie blinked and rubbed the back of her head.

  “How did I get here?” he croaked.

  When he turned to look at Eppie, all thoughts of confusion and annoyance flew out of his head. She was nude. Deliciously, wonderfully nude. Her cocoa skin glowed golden in the firelight, and her sleepy gaze locked with his. A pulse snapped between them, turning the moment into one of arousal.

  “Eppie.” He breathed her name with reverence, unsure if he was dreaming or awake. “Are you really here?”

  She smiled then, a smile many men over history had been subjected to, and fallen under the spell of. Micah was no exception.

  “Yes, I’m here.” She reached up and cupped his cheek. “Does your head hurt?”

  “At this moment, my leg could fall off and I probably wouldn’t notice.” He was immediately and painfully hard, his dick pushing at his drawers with a force he hadn’t felt in quite some time.

  She chuckled and ran her hand down his chest, toward the throbbing member aching for release. “I guess so.”

  When her hand brushed against him, a jolt of tingles spread through him from the contact. He had to hold back from losing control before he even touched her, as if he was a young boy of fifteen and not an old man over thirty.

  “Later on, you can tell me why you risked your life to come to my cabin. But for now, may I touch you?” He shook with need, but he didn’t want to overstep any boundaries she’d thrown up while he’d been passed out. Yet her being nude either meant they were both soaking wet, a likely event, or she expected to wake up in his arms and make love. The latter, of course, was his preferred reason.

  “I was hoping you would,” she said almost shyly. “Micah, I know I’ve made mistakes, but there are some things I need to tell you.”

  He pressed
his fingers to her lips. “Not now. Please let’s find pleasure in each other, then we can talk.”

  She nodded, but her eyes promised many secrets were still hiding behind their dark depths. “Then touch me.”

  He needed no further invitation. It was as if a bountiful buffet had been laid out for him and he was a starving man. He wanted to make it perfect for her. She’d come to him before but had been almost hesitant, as if she was testing what she wanted. This moment, however, went far beyond that night in the gloom of his room.

  He ignored all the twinges of pain making themselves known and focused on the woman in his arms. Taking her hand in his, he kissed each long finger, sucking gently on the tip. A shudder rippled through her, and her nipples hardened as he watched. The temptation was too much; he had to taste them.

  He lowered his head, keeping himself at a pace to let their pleasure last. There was no need to hurry. The rain still pounded on the roof and they were together again, at last.

  Micah nuzzled her breast, licking the underside and working his way up to the turgid peak. He circled around and around, avoiding that which called him and, he was sure, where she wanted him to land.

  He smiled when she huffed out an impatient sigh.

  “You are torturing me.”

  “No, just making sure you feel good.” He reached out his tongue and barely skimmed a nipple.

  She started and moaned softly. “Hm, it feels good.”

  “Then I’m doing my job.” He couldn’t resist any longer and he gave in to the temptation. As his mouth closed around the amazingly hard nipple, a bolt of arousal slammed through him, right down to his dick. It jumped against her thigh, and she chuckled.

  Until, of course, he sucked hard, drawing her deeper into his mouth. He used his tongue, teeth and lips to pleasure her while his hand tweaked and pinched the other nipple. Eppie leaned toward him, her skin beginning to shine in the firelight.

  He swirled the nipple around, tugging on it until she gasped. The he switched sides, willing to give each beautiful breast equal attention. They were, after all, equally tempting.

  Desire coursed through him as the smell of her arousal tickled his nose. He breathed in deep, eager to be one with her again. She reached down and grabbed him, her small fist much stronger than expected.

  Micah forgot everything but the sensation of her fingers gliding up and down his staff. She must’ve remembered what to do, because damn, she did it well. Sweet, heavenly strokes from her hand had him harder than he thought possible within minutes.

  He let her nipple loose with a pop and breathed on the peak, enjoying the sound of her kittenish moan even as a primal one exploded from his throat.

  “I think I need you inside me.” She sounded whispery, as if she could hardly catch her breath.

  Micah shucked his drawers in an instant. He knew how she felt, that was for certain. When he’d come to the cabin he never expected to have Eppie in his arms again, yet she was there. Her hand wrapped tightly around his cock, pulling him closer and closer to an orgasm.

  “I think I need to be inside you.” He slid up and captured her mouth in a kiss. As their tongues dueled and danced with each other, he nudged open her legs and positioned himself at her opening. The damp curls embraced him, welcomed him.

  Micah stared down into her eyes, the pupils dilated with desire, sparkling in the meager light. She was the one who’d been in his heart for so long, he’d forgotten every other woman but her. Eppie had been the one to show him what love was, and now he had to return the favor and show her how much he loved her.

  As he slid into her, time seemed to stand still. The sounds, smells and sights disappeared except for her, for Eppie. She clenched around him, bringing him deeper into her body until he was fully encased in her heat.

  Utter bliss.

  He pressed his forehead against hers as they breathed in each other’s air. Truly one heart, one life, one soul.

  Eppie wriggled beneath him and he began to move. The slow, deliberate strokes were designed to make her arousal grow steadily. He pushed against her, making sure to tease her nubbin of pleasure with each thrust. She gasped when he bit her right nipple and strengthened his stroke.

  “Oh my,” she whispered. “Do that again.”

  “As you wish.” He’d oblige the lady for as long as he could.

  This time when he bit her nipple, he licked and sucked it first, making the bite sting a bit. Her muscles rippled around his dick, nearly pushing him over the edge. He had no idea how much she liked a bit of pleasure and pain together.

  “Again.”

  Micah switched to the other nipple, licking it until it was wet, harder than a diamond, then he bit, thrusting home with a grunt. Her back arched and she pushed up against him.

  With a quick flip, he was beneath her and she straddled him. Her confusion quickly turned to pleasure as he lifted her by the waist and brought her back down to impale herself on his staff.

  “Ride me, sweet Eppie.”

  “Mm, I like this.” She placed her hands on his chest and rose, slowly lowering herself onto him. Within moments, she had a rhythm going, taking control of both of them.

  Micah gladly handed it over to the woman who owned him. Her breasts bounced with each thrust, tempting him to pleasure them again. Her nipples were so sensitive, he had to have at them again, so he reached up and squeezed. She gasped and slammed down so hard, he nearly came again.

  “Goddamn woman, that felt good.”

  “Again.” Eppie was a woman of few words, but he understood them well enough.

  He pulled her down toward him until he could reach her, then he could pleasure her as she pleasured him. He cupped her ass, helping her move up and down even as he bit, licked and sucked at her nipples. His balls tightened up, he knew he was close, really close.

  Micah could hardly form a coherent thought, but he wanted to be sure she found her joy along with him. One hand pleasured her nipple while his mouth had the other, with his other hand, he reached between them and flicked her clit.

  The magic combination found, Eppie screamed his name as she came, his dick caught in the throes of her ultimate pleasure. The muscles pulled him in until he touched her womb, then his body exploded, bucking and thrusting into her.

  He captured her lips, kissing her as they sealed their union with their bodies. Micah rode the most intense orgasm of his life as he pumped into the woman he loved. She kissed him back just as fiercely as she ground her cunt into him, pulsing with her own little death.

  They dozed after the incredible moments they shared as one. Micah felt the aches and pains of his run through the woods, not to mention the rock that had said hello to his head. Eppie must’ve been just as exhausted, not to mention how the hell she got him into the cabin alone. He had a feeling the horse had something to do with it, but he was too tired to ask.

  With the woman of his dreams finally in his arms, Micah drifted off into a contented sleep.

  Eppie lay awake, watching Micah. The rain had stopped and the woods outside returned to its normal symphony of sounds. As a bird sang to its mate high in the trees, she stared at Micah’s chest as it rose and fell with each breath. He had shown her, without words, how much he loved her. This time she listened.

  The relationship had entered a new area, one she was unfamiliar with, no matter how much he’d told her about what had happened before. She’d accepted the fact her memory would likely never return. Sometime during the time she’d been bleeding and injured, death had stolen that part of her, one she was glad to give up if it meant keeping her life.

  Yet, with it, she’d lost what she had with Micah. However, deep in their souls, what they had still remained, but hidden behind secrets. Micah had so many, she could hardly imagine what they were, but she did know they ate away at him. After so long, there was a chance he may never be whole again, but Eppie was willing to try.

  Eppie rose from their makeshift bed on the floor and slipped on her clothes. It made her feel
a bit stronger to be clothed, more ready to face what was coming. She opened the cabin door and confirmed the rain had stopped. The woods looked as if a raging tornado had torn through them. The sun peeked through the evergreens, spreading its healing warmth on the wounded.

  Eppie went outside to check on Hilda. The horse was contentedly munching on the thick grass that grew on the mountain. Eppie patted the horse’s neck, surprised when Hilda lifted her head and neighed.

  An answering neigh sounded from the dense trees. Eppie hoped no one had come to the cabin, because she needed this time alone with Micah. However, it was his horse that appeared, riderless and alone. Relief washed through her that the horse was okay, as well as that she and Micah were still alone at the cabin.

  When the gelding stepped up, the mare nuzzled his snout, clearly glad to see another equine companion. Eppie petted the gelding’s nose, absurdly glad to have both horses safely make it through the storm.

  “Good boy. I’m sure Micah will be glad to see you. Now the two of you stay here.” She secured the other horse’s reins to another tree and went back into the cabin.

  It was time to talk to Micah.

  The fire burned as embers, bathing Micah in an orange glow. She thought he was still asleep, but his eyes were wide open, watching her. The silver glittered in the meager light filtering through the two windows.

  “Your horse just arrived.”

  He smiled. “He’s a tough old man, just like his owner. Is he okay?”

  “Seems to be. I tied him up with the mare.” She walked toward him, very cognizant of his nudity beneath the blanket. It was hard not to think about the fact they’d been intimate only an hour before. She pushed it aside, with effort, and sat on what was left of the bed frame.

  “You look very serious.” Micah sat up, tucking the blanket around his hips.