IX
STORM
A part of me didn’t want to believe it.
I knew Micah’s personality well, and I didn’t think he’d lie. However, I didn’t think he’d be this bold and straightforward, either.
The entire day, he was telling me stories about his work under this man.
I’d heard of the Rapscallion, of course, as I did study him quite a bit. But there wasn’t a single witness who’d seen his face, so I didn’t bother trying to seek him out myself. He’d have me killed before I would realize what was happening.
In a way, people were acting as if he were a myth. All I knew about him was the name he went by. Micah didn’t meet him personally, so I started wondering if he was a man. He presented himself as one, though that could’ve been a cover-up.
The more stories I heard, the more concerned I grew.
Micah worked for a dangerous person. One day, if he was deemed useless, it would be easy to get rid of him. Be it by death or by having him arrested, with all the connections the Rapscallion had, it could be done in a day. It terrified me that our fate was in the hands of someone uncertain.
“Stop worrying about it,’’ he said.
“How can I not worry? Not only did you invite a police officer into your hideout, but you’re also working for someone whose face you haven’t seen. What if he decides he doesn’t want to help you?”
“Do you think I don’t have a backup plan? Just because I haven’t seen him doesn’t mean I don't know who he is.’’
I paused, mid-washing the dishes, and turned to look at him, my hands soaked with foam.
“So you know who he is?”
“His real identity, yes. He also knows that I know, so he won’t get rid of me.’’
“Because you might tell the cops?”
“Do you honestly think that his biggest enemy is the law enforcement? He doesn’t even concern himself with the cops. He doesn’t give a shit.’’
I thought about it briefly. To have such an infamous name in the underworld was a great deal. Many despised him and many wanted to see him gone. Micah had a point, so with a nod, I turned to finish washing the dishes.
Micah prepared everything for Kyle’s arrival. I was uneasy about the whole thing. Kyle must’ve had something planned if he took Micah’s supposed bait. Given how many closed cases he had and how many successful years in his career, coming here without a plan was unlikely.
Even if he came into this house alone, there was a possibility of having this entire street under surveillance.
What if we truly wouldn’t be able to leave this place?
Well, then we were going to die together.
A while ago, Micah brushed my hair, and braided it.
Apparently, I was the only one concerned about all the DNA we were leaving behind in this house. His main home was somewhere not too far from here, but also not in the open. There was a slim chance of finding us there, and even if they did, Micah had another plan in place.
That was what he told me, at least.
Still, I was worried.
I didn’t regret coming here, but I also couldn’t help but feel like it wouldn’t work. The trace of doubt lingered long before I arrived, and it seemed to be stronger than before.
Micah’s phone buzzed, and he took the call, leaving the room and going to the basement.
Immediately, I washed the foam off my hands, wiped them on a small kitchen towel, and followed him downstairs. Why was he leaving the room while taking calls? Was there something I shouldn’t be hearing or was that just a habit of his?
Regardless, I was sick and tired of being told about his plans only when necessary. I wanted to know everything if we continued to stay together.
And we had to stay together.
There wasn’t another option for us.
We were too addicted to one another to let go.
The phone call didn’t last too long. By the time I was close to him, all I heard were muffled goodbyes. A sigh of frustration flared my nostrils as I turned on my heel to leave.
I shrieked, feeling his hand wrap around my wrist and tug me backward. I hit his body, and he pulled me into the room, closing the door behind him.
“Trying to eavesdrop?’’
“Yes,’’ I replied without hesitation. “That’s the only way I can actually find out something. Or force you to tell me; otherwise, I’m left in the dark. I don’t like it.’’
Micah chuckled, his chest vibrating.
“I’m sorry, Bambi. It’s just a habit. I have no intention of keeping secrets. Not when it comes to you.’’
“You’d better fix that nasty habit of yours.’’
“Or what?”
His tone was sultry and my eyes fluttered closed. I leaned against him, and he released my wrist. Slowly, his hands trailed inside of my shirt, going upward until he squeezed my breasts.
“Or I might just kill you. I don’t like it.’’
It was a lie. There wasn’t a scenario where I’d be able to take his life, and judging by the way he laughed, he was well aware of that.
“Let me say it again, dying by your hand is an honor. But right now, I’d rather stay alive and apologize.’’
I moaned as he pinched my nipples, my knees buckling. Micah caught me and picked me up, carrying me toward the bed in bridal style.
He put me softly on the mattress and got down on his knees.
Aside from his shirt and underwear, I had nothing else on.
Micah looked so pretty on his knees for me.
He started kissing my thigh, going upward. Not once did he move his eyes from mine, ignoring a fire deep inside of me. My chest tightened, excitement rushing through my veins, and I found myself eager to see what he was going to do next.
“I’m really sorry,’’ he mumbled.
“Are you?”
“Yes.’’
His open-mouthed, wet kisses left a trail. He took his sweet time leaving a trace of his apologies in the form of hickeys. Steadily, he was parting my legs, his fingertips burning my flesh.
I started getting wet by the look on his face.
It wasn’t that he desired me, but that he needed me. It was evident just how desperate this man was to have me. It showed that, regardless of his attitude and words, I always had the upper hand.
“You seem to enjoy having me on my knees in front of you.’’
“Who wouldn’t enjoy having a man as pretty as yourself in front of them?”
He chuckled.
“Your cheeks are pink, your eyes are glossy, and your lips are swollen. You’re covered in my marks and even have one tattooed on your skin. Trust me, the pretty one is you here.’’
His comment got my heart racing furiously. It nearly jumped out of my chest. The slower he was acting, the more excited I was becoming. He noticed it, too. He decided to torture me with this sweet pleasure until my mind went blank entirely.
Micah brought his hands to my hips and pulled me forward. He was still looking at me with that dangerous gleam in his eyes as he put his head between my legs and licked my wetness over the thin fabric of my underwear.
“I can never get tired of how sweet you taste, Bambi.’’
I tilted my head to the side, mouth parting slightly.
“Then eat until you’ve had your fill.’’
“I’ll never be filled. When it comes to you, I’m a starved man whenever I look at you.’’
I couldn’t respond. I didn’t know what to say. Yet again, he managed to leave me speechless.
To keep my hands occupied, I grabbed his hair and forced his head between my legs. The tip of his nose hit my clit, and I moaned.
The devil worked fast, but Micah worked faster.
I didn’t even register when he managed to push my underwear to the side. All I could feel was his hot tongue on me. He groaned against my skin as I locked my legs behind his head, preventing him from leaving.
Licking roughly, he applied pressure to my sweet spot. My hips moved on their own, and my eyes closed, head falling back with moans filling the room.
His hands squeezed my ass, leaving a print behind.
“Oh, God,’’ I screamed out.
“I’m far from a deity, Bambi. But I don’t mind being worshiped by you.’’
His voice was muffled, but his words reached my ears clearly.
Micah sucked on my clit, moaning as I pushed his head closer. The pleasure started building in the pit of my stomach, and I was rushing to find it. I needed this from him. I needed it now.
Micah froze.
I froze.
We weren’t that far gone not to hear a car. Someone was pulling into the driveway, and I didn’t have to ask who it was.
Kyle.
He was supposed to come tomorrow.
A minute.
No.
Thirty seconds.
That was all I needed.
I knew the risks, I knew the danger of the situation, I knew we needed to stop. But I couldn’t stop. I didn’t want to stop.
And Micah didn’t push me away, either.
Instead, his rhythm got faster and rougher. He’d been rough with me previously, but never like this.
My hips were still moving, and with one last suck, I came undone on his tongue. Even in this situation, he didn’t let go of me until I got down of the high and until he’d sucked all the juices from me.
“Why the fuck did he have to come now?”
Micah rose to his feet quickly and started rummaging through the closet. It didn’t take him too long to return with some ropes and two guns.
“Take it.’’ He gave me one of the guns. “If you think it’s necessary, shoot. Until then, stay here and let me deal with him for the time being.’’
I tried standing up, but my knees gave in.
Micah caught me and put me back on the bed.
“This is why I’m telling you to stay put.’’
I swallowed a knot that formed in my throat. “I want to see if this motherfucker really tried to use me.’’
“And you will. But I need to make sure he’s not a threat to your safety first.’’
The thought of Micah going alone to deal with him made my stomach drop. I was afraid something would happen to him, yet I couldn’t help him. If anything, I’d just get in his way.
“Promise me you won’t get hurt.’’
Briefly, it was silent. That small moment managed to get me anxious. My palms sweated, and my mind went blank. This terrible feeling wasn’t going away. Something bad was going to happen.
Micah chuckled. “Me? Don’t worry.’’
He kissed the top of my head, his lips lingering on my hair for a moment longer than necessary. Almost as if his anxiety was matching mine. When he turned around and started leaving the room, it terrified me.
The key was on the inside, and with the cold weapon in my hands, I started to panic. Too many things could go wrong and there wasn’t a thing I could do to prevent it. I still had no idea what exactly Micah wanted to do with Kyle or how it would end.
I was panicking.
My mind went into overdrive. The thoughts were starting to eat me alive.
Because as soon as I heard the front door open and close, gunshots echoed in the room. With each shot being fired, my heart skipped a beat.
And that was when I realized…
Micah didn’t promise me.