Saving Micah (Sequel to Conquering Jude) Page 6

  He was so pissed off at the whole situation – not only how banged up his body was but also the fact he knew eventually Olivia and Jude were going to show up to whisk him off to God knew where. Despite his fear, enough time and distance had passed between him and his friends, he knew that it wouldn’t take much for him to forget why he’d left Chicago. He’d give in and then he’d be right back where he didn’t want to be. Frustrated - without thinking he kicked at the bottom of the IV hoping to jar it free.

  “Whoa, slow down, bud. Let me help you with that before…” Ethan came up behind him with a hand held out in entreaty.

  Hissing at the pain in his foot where it had connected with the steel, Micah hopped on one leg, ignoring the offered hand as his toes competed with his other aches and pains. “Go to hell,” he rasped. As he leaned hard on the pole in an attempt to rub his injured digits, the pole broke free and he went down with a startled yelp.

  The next few moments were a whirl as Ethan attempted to catch him, being taken down in the process, then the hospital door flying open as Jude launched himself inside – evidently thinking that Micah was being attacked again.

  Lying on the floor, still attached to his IV thank God, but now entangled with one hysterically laughing Native American pain-in-the ass security guard, Micah’s patience was at its end. He began to swear in his painfully hoarse voice, uncaring when Olivia joined Jude in gaping at his disgraced half-naked sprawl.

  “Why don’t you just fucking sell tickets if all you’re gonna do is stare?” He pushed hard on Ethan’s shoulders. “Get the fuck off me, you laughing asshole. Don’t you know how to do anything other than torment injured men?”

  It took several cursed-filled minutes before Jude was able to untangle his friend from Micah. When he finally did, it left Micah feeling exposed as Jude hovered over him. When his friend squatted down next to him, reached towards him with a hand outstretched to help him up, Micah scrambled backwards to avoid his touch. “Don’t touch me!”

  Jude’s eyes narrowed, but he said nothing and slowly stood. He backed away a few feet, his shoulders rigid with tension. Silently he pivoted and walked out of the room.

  “He was just trying to help you up, you idiot.” Ethan glared at him, before following Jude from the room, leaving him alone with his former Mistress. His breath caught when he saw the look in her eyes. In the past he’d have relished what was coming – masochist that he’d been. But now it made his heart leap with fear.

  “Mi…Mistress?” he stumbled over the title as she moved closer. She gave a slow bitter smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.

  “That’s right, you better give me the respect I deserve, Micah, or you’ll end up bent over and your ass will feel my wrath.” She squatted down next to him. “I know you’ve been through hell the past few days and I understand that, but you will not deliberately hurt my sub like that again.”

  Pain flared at not only the accusation in her tone, but also the reality that he’d hurt Jude’s feelings by reacting the way he had. It added to the already aching, self-destructive part of him that longed to be part of what he lost even if it were for a brief moment. In retaliation he struck out, as he sneered up at her. “And what happened to your claims of me being yours? Oh that’s right you have the magnificent Jude at your disposal. He’s the only one worthy of the one thing I’ve always wanted. No matter what I did, including helping Jude accept his submissive side, it was never enough to earn your collar.”

  He watched as her pale skin grew even paler before a dark flush filled her cheeks. For a moment he thought she was going to strike him. He even prepared himself for the blow but it never arrived. Instead, she stood. “Give me a reason to give you one, and I’ll think about.” She turned and walked over to the forgotten plastic bags she’d set on his bed. He clumsily pulled himself to his feet as she threw several things on the bed. “Get dressed.”

  “Is that all you’re going to say?” He rasped.

  She looked up from where she was removing the price tags from the clothing. “No, but it’s the last thing you’re going to say, mal-chick. You’ll shut up, put those clothes on, or I’ll tape your damn mouth shut and dress you myself as if you’re a spoiled child.”

  Her hands went to her slender hips. He swallowed against the plea for forgiveness begging to be free as he reached for the clothing before carrying it back to the bathroom. He’d make do with holding onto the towel rack. He wasn’t going to allow her to help. It might just break down the flimsy wall he’d so painfully put between them with his angry words. It wouldn’t take much to have him sobbing in her arms.

  “Make it snappy, Micah. Ethan is waiting for us.”

  “He can fuckin’ wait, Mistress,” he whispered before slamming the door shut behind him.

  * * * *

  Standing with her back to the bathroom, Olivia wiped at the tear that spilled over and down one cheek. Even knowing he was hurting and striking out at her because of it, didn’t stop the pain his accusation caused.

  “Stubborn black bastard,” she muttered before grabbing the tags to throw in the trash. “I’d have given you the fucking collar if you’d simply opened your goddamn mouth and told me you wanted more than just play. But instead you choose to run away rather than staying and fighting for what you wanted.” She knew in her early relationship with Micah she hadn’t been prepared to give any sub her collar. That’s why Micah and I ended up together. He wasn’t looking for anything more than a good time like I was.

  But if she were honest with herself, she knew she’d still hung onto that excuse even after she knew his feelings had changed but hers hadn’t. She’d been too greedy, too set in her ways to bend – continuing to take what he offered without thinking of how it was affecting him.

  “God what a fucked-up mess.” Her only justification to herself was by the time she’d locked the men into her playroom to mend the strained fences between them, she’d had every intention of offering Micah her collar. A chain which matched Jude’s casual collar, it was gold to Jude’s silver. It would have claimed the man who’d wormed his way into her heart after Jude had opened it. In addition to the play collar she’d already given him, it would’ve left Micah with no doubt of his place in her life. In public or play he would’ve been hers. Then he’d sprung his promotion on her and Jude. It had taken everything she had but, she’d bit back her plea for him to stay before letting him walk away. She dropped the tags into the wastebasket before stalking back towards the bed. “And it all could’ve been avoided if he’d opened his damned mouth. I’m not a goddamned mind reader.”

  “And endure the scene where you told me, sorry but you’re just a play sub, Micah? Thanks but no thanks.”

  She spun around to look at him. He was standing with the jeans she’d purchased for him riding low on his hips, exposing his tight abs and healing bruises. The shirt was still missing, but it didn’t surprise her considering the fact the IV was still in his arm. “And what makes you think it would’ve been that way?”

  He gave a non-communicative shrug before tossing the hospital gown on the bed.

  “Use your words, mal-chick. If you’re gonna fight with me, do it the right way. Don’t hide behind shrugs and glares.”

  “It doesn’t matter, Mistress. It’s in the past. I have a new life here and as soon as I’ve healed you’ll be on the next plane northbound.” He sat down to clumsily pull on his socks.

  She gaped at him in shock, his words raking over already open wounds. “You thought I came down here to do nothing more than help you heal before taking off again?”

  He glanced over at her, his blue eyes carefully blank. “Yes. That’s exactly what you’re doing. You may be a Domme, Olivia, but a damn caring one. You look at me and see the foolish self-destructive man you helped save. But things have changed - I’m not that man anymore. I don’t need your pity.”

  She folded her arms over her chest, while she fought to keep her cool. “That may be so, but I didn’t save you, Micah Beaumo
nt. You decided to pull your head out of your ass and take the outlet I offered - nobody else. I’m here because I care about the man I thought you’d become – the submissive who touched my heart when I least expected – one that could’ve demanded you stay at Thanksgiving, but instead let you go. Think about that next time you think I’m doing any of this out of pity.” She moved towards the door.

  “Wait!” He sounded frantic but she’d had enough. Her emotions were stretched so taut she barely noticed Jude. He lifted a hand to her, but she shook her head. She needed a few minutes to regain her composure before the hour long ride to the safe house.

  “I’ll send someone down to take his IV out. Please help him finish dressing.” She didn’t stop to see if he’d agree, but knew he’d do it without complaint. God what was she going to do with the bitter wreck that had replaced the spunky young man she’d known in Chicago. The idea she may have caused some of it with her thoughtless ignorance stung.

  * * * *

  Jude watched his Mistress disappear around the corner into the small waiting lounge. He turned back to face Micah. The man looked even worse than Olivia had after their time alone. Sitting on the bed facing the window, Micah was staring out into space. If Jude had ever seen a more dejected man, he didn’t know when it was.

  “Well that obviously didn’t go well.” He retrieved the new shoes from the box lying on the hospital tray next to Micah. Sitting down in the chair closest to the bed, Jude patted his thigh. When Micah didn’t move, he sighed. “We can do this the easy way or the hard way. Either way, you can’t leave the hospital without shoes, man. It’s only February and still cold enough where you’ll need them.”

  “Give them to me.” Micah held his hand out.

  “You’re being ridiculous. If you bend over to put them on you’re gonna pull out those damn stitches they just fixed. Do you honestly like pain?”

  Micah stared at him. “I used to.”

  Jude cocked his head at him. “Even the masochist I knew from Chicago knew the difference between this kind of pain and the type that had him coming like a geyser.”

  “I’m not that man anymore.”

  Jude sat there holding the shoe and wondered how to deal with this new Micah. “Are you sure about that? There must be some of him left, because I’m certain I saw him yesterday as he was coming to. I remember the seeing relief and love on your face at the sight of our Mistress.”

  Micah gave a half-assed, croaking bark of laughter. “You’re hallucinating, Larson.”

  Jude shook his head, lifting Micah’s foot to his thigh while the man was distracted. “No, I’m not…nor was I hallucinating when I saw it the last time we shared Mistress. You may have thought you hid it from her by burying your face in her shoulder…” He quickly slipped the shoe on and tied it. “But I saw it. I saw all the love you felt for her.”

  “Maybe I did care for her…but I’m not that man anymore. I won’t settle for just scraps of her attention.” He looked away as Jude slipped on the other shoe. “I deserve more.”

  Jude stilled as understanding flowed through him. Standing up, he placed himself between Micah and the view. Placing his hands on his hips, he shook his head in frustration. “Of course you do, but the rest of it? It’s pure bullshit. Why the hell would you ever think you have to settle for crumbs with Mistress?”

  Micah continued to look out the window.

  “I’m not letting this go, Micah Beaumont. Either you answer me, or we stand here all day which will end up getting my ass in hot water - but you know what…” He leaned into the other man’s face. “…you’re fucking worth every ass whippin’ I get.”

  Jude smiled when his words finally caused a reaction. Micah pushed him away. “What the fuck do you care? Both you and Mistress let me go.”

  Jude stood up chuckling, running a hand through his hair. “You are such an idiot, Micah. Of course we let you. Ever hear the expression ‘if you love something you let it go’?”

  Micah eyed him warily. “We love you. You were excited about this promotion. We weren’t going to stop you – but we always planned on having you return.”

  Chapter Seven

  Micah stared through the tinted window of the SUV as the passing scenery of homes and urban sprawl gave way to countryside. It was nearing dusk but he could still make out the vague outlines of the hardwood trees as they traveled northwest out of the city. He wasn’t sure where Olivia and Jude were sending him, but it sure as hell wasn’t his tiny one bedroom apartment in St. Bernard Parish. Like many people in his office, he commuted into the city once a week and spent the rest of his time telecommuting. He idly wondered about what his boss thought of his absence.

  “When we get wherever we’re going, I need to get a hold of my boss.”

  In the front of the SUV Ethan nodded. “Not a problem, man. I’ve already been by your apartment and gotten your laptop and some clothing. It’ll all be waiting for you at the safe house.”

  Surprise flowed through him. He’d lost his apartment keys during the attack along with his shoes and other outer garments. He’d figured he have to get a replacement set from his landlord, the incomparably nosy Mrs. Thibeaux. “How’d you get in?”

  Ethan chuckled as he merged onto a secondary road. “Boy, there isn’t a lock out there I can’t get around.”

  Micah closed his eyes and pressed his head against the cool glass as they came back up to speed. “Just what I need, another security guru like Jude in my life – a wise ass Injun no less.”

  “And don’t you forget it,” Ethan crowed before turning up the Zydico music. The blaring of the drums and washboards battered Micah’s ears. Rubbing the bridge of his nose, he prayed wherever they were going they would get there quickly – even if it meant he was going to have to deal with the reality of being alone in a house with Olivia and Jude.

  Jude’s earlier revelations had sent him reeling. He’d had no idea his former Mistress and friend had anything more than a passing affection for him as a sometimes third member of a their sometimes ménage. The idea that their feelings for him might have been deeper was mind-boggling. He wasn’t sure how he was going to handle being around them since now his main objection was gone. Well, maybe not gone. Jude just claimed they let me go because they cared. He said nothing about wanting me to be a permanent part of their lives. It’ll still probably go as I expect – they’ll stick around until I’m back on my feet and then both of them will be gone.

  “Hey, you hungry, man?” Ethan’s question broke through his depressing thoughts as the man turned down the radio once more.

  He opened his eyes, figuring the man was thinking of passing through a fast food joint. It’d been several hours since he’d poked at the dry, overdone chicken breast and limp salad the hospital staff had called lunch. “I suppose I could eat – as long as it doesn’t piss off Olivia and Jude.” He still wasn’t sure why they had decided to drive separately. They had said it was so they could stop at a local Winn-Dixie to stock up, but he was sure a lot of it had to do with the way he’d acted first with Olivia and then Jude at the hospital. Not that I’d blame them. I can’t expect them to want to be around me, when I can’t even stand myself.

  Ethan shrugged his shoulders. “I doubt they’ll even realize we stopped. We’ll probably still get there before them, even if we do stop and take an hour supper break. They said something about meeting up with someone called Brigit. She evidently has some information about your attack.”

  Micah tensed. “I wish they’d just leave it alone. It’s none of their business…”

  A boom of laughter echoed through the vehicle. “You’ve got a screw loose if you think Dickens is gonna let your attack go. He’s like a goddamn dog with a bone when it comes to you. He’ll find out who attacked you and make them pay.”

  “But it’s not their…”

  Ethan gave a put out sigh. “You just don’t get it, do you? Whether you think it’s over between you or not, Jude Larson still considers you his friend, even if
you never let him into your bed again. And he protects his friends. Hell, when we were in the Rangers, nobody fucked with the rest of the unit – his wrath was legendary.” He grinned at Micah through the rearview mirror. “Now enough of that – it’ll put me off my feed for sure if I think about it too long and hard, and I’m hungry. The three sandwiches the missus made me for lunch are long gone. And I’m a growing boy.”

  Surprise rushed through Micah. He’d seen the sandwiches Ethan had eaten – the lucky bastard. Piled high with what looked like succulent roast beef, sharp cheddar cheese, thick slices of ruby red tomatoes, and crisp lettuce on sliced baguettes, they’d had his mouth watering.

  “Anyway I know this place just a few miles ahead. It has the best Cajun food around. We’ll stop there and grab something. They have big portions that will stick with us until we get to the safe house. We have at least another hour drive before we get to where we’re going.”

  His stomach heaved. “Oh dear lord, don’t let it be a Popeye’s.” He’d tried their spicy chicken when he’d first moved down here, and the result was heartburn for days afterwards.