The Sacrifice (The Covenant) Read online

  “It’s my fault, I shouldn’t have suggested it while doing eighty in a fucking boat!” He watched her fight carefully with the papers like a distraught child. “Put it in the bag love, until we can stop. We’ll find a way to dry it.” And pray there was such a thing as non-smearing ink, and Revyn just so happened to have some and used it on this special occasion.

  The sun was fully up when they reached their destination.

  “What is that place?” Sarah asked.

  “Chattanooga.”

  She looked at the passing town beyond the river bank. “Aren’t we supposed to stop there?”

  “Yeah. Before they knew we were gone. My thought is they’ll come there first. I’m going until I run out of gas. We’ll hike randomly until I figure out what to do. But we need to stay hidden and out of the public for as long as we can.”

  Micah pulled the boat into a vacant spot outside of town and looked around, making sure they were alone. He quickly got the bag and opened it, grateful to be able to see. His heart sank as he set the two wet and nearly blank papers carefully on the boat floor.

  “Oh God,” she cried.

  He shook his head. “It’s okay. We’ll figure out what to do. Just keep praying, please.”

  She nodded and wiped the tears from her face.

  He went through the remaining contents and found standard survival gear and two changes of clothes. He guessed he’d borrowed from Agony’s supply and was grateful he’d thought to pack shades and baseball caps, a watch with a built in compass. Micah searched all the duffle bag’s pockets and pulled out a wallet. “Oh fuck, yes!” He opened it and gasped a laugh at finding it stuffed full of hundred dollar bills. He kissed it several times. “Thank you, Revyn.”

  Micah looked around again. “We need to go someplace for a few days to figure out what to do. Someplace unplanned and untraceable.

  Sarah looked at him with a where.

  He sighed and leaned against the boat wall, exhausted. “I don’t know.”

  “A hotel?”

  “Too dangerous.”

  “Then we’ll… get a vehicle, pay cash.”

  “I don’t want to do business with anybody. They’ll ask questions of every person in the nearby towns as it is. The less people know, the better. I’ll steal a vehicle if push comes to shove, which will get police involved. That will force them to be careful. I’ll find a way to put some heat on them, I’ve got tons of tip offs that would put them in hiding, making it harder for them to get to us.

  “I have a cousin in the FBI,” she said.

  He glanced at her. “Nice baby. We’ll definitely need that.” He reached and stroked her chin with his thumb. “We need to get us in normal clothes.” He handed her the change and directed her to the room below.

  Micah changed while waiting. He was done when she emerged with the blue-jeans and white t-shirt and black cap. He eyed her hair. “Come here.” She went to him and he directed her to sit. “I need to cut your hair off.”

  She nodded and placed it all behind her. He wanted to kiss her, but the eerie feeling of death’s fingers slowly closing in was still fresh in his pores. He gathered the hair in one tight clump and sawed it off and tossed it over the side of the boat.

  Shit. They needed to get out of that boat. “We’ll start hiking here.” He indicated to the opposite side of the river. “Away from town.”

  “What about the boat?”

  “I’ll sink it.”

  She nodded. “Good idea.”

  ***

  They walked for hours through the woods, eating their survival rations carefully. Hours turned to a day. And a night. And another day. She wasn’t sure when the days and nights turned into eternity. He let them sleep for thirty minutes at a time and Sarah followed him blindly, not caring really where they went, just so they went. Her body was on auto-walk-forever-pilot.

  Sarah suddenly bumped into Micah’s still form and he reached behind him and gripped her hip with a don’t move force.

  Fear sent her heart hammering as she pressed her face into his back. What was it? An animal? The second she thought it, a low growl filled her ears. Shit!

  Micah slowly pulled the knife from the sheath on his waist and the feline growl grew in intensity and volume. “Stay. Behind me.” His whisper barely reached her ears and she nodded against his back.

  An earsplitting shrill cry erupted and Sarah screamed as a huge black cat landed on Micah, throwing them both onto the ground. She scrambled for a nearby tree, eyes wide as Micah roared with the ripping of his flesh beneath massive claws. Sarah screamed, clutching the tree, looking around for something to help with. She spotted a long stick and ran for it.

  Micah growled like a beast, his hand pressing on the neck of the cat while the thing shredded his torso with its claws. Sarah spotted his knife on the ground next to him and snatched it up.

  Dancing left, then right, she fought to get to the cat while Micah squirmed like an electric wire to keep his hold, the animal screaming in a fit. Micah let out a roar of pain and Sara panicked, diving to the skirmish. The head of the beast in her sights, she stabbed the thing right into its eye. The air filled with an earsplitting scream as blood spurt everywhere even as Micah yanked the knife out and repeatedly stabbed the beast in its throat until it growled and twitched no more.

  Several seconds of holy shit passed before Sarah voiced it. “Holy shit!” She dropped to the ground on weak knees, body trembling.

  Micah rolled off the cat and onto his back, and Sarah crawled to examine him.

  “Oh God, oh God.” His shirt was ripped to shreds across the front and soaked in blood.

  He groaned and rolled onto his side. “Escape the devil to be killed by a fucking cat!”

  By his tone, it wasn’t really serious. Sarah got the bag. “Tell me what to do.” She dug out the medicine container and opened it.

  He grunted his way up and knelt on the ground, heaving in exhaustion. He regarded the unmoving cat, shaking his head a little. “I never ate cat before. But I’m about to.” He slowly peeled off his shirt. “Fucking starving.”

  At the thought of food, Sarah’s body nearly convulsed in a hunger panic. God yes, food! Any food.

  After getting Micah’s gouges dressed, they dragged the cat several hundred yards. “Micah!”

  He stilled, holding his hand on her. “I see it.”

  “Oh my God, you think it’s empty?”

  He dropped the cat. “I’m gonna find out. You’re going to stay put and watch our supper.”

  “You think it’s a hunting cabin?”

  “That would be nice.”

  “Stocked with food?”

  “Even nicer. With running water.”

  The idea of a bath struck her and she moaned in agony. “That would be miraculous.”

  He chuckled and cast her a sweet look. “I just so happen to know a woman that seems to attract those.”

  ***

  Micah both could and couldn’t believe their good fortune. It was a hunting cabin. It was well stocked. And it was vacant until the winter. He grinned at Sarah as he walked back and watched hope light her beautiful eyes. “Home sweet home baby.”

  She gasped a frail laugh. “Are you serious?”

  He kissed her on the forehead. “I am. Stocked and waiting for you.” He hefted the stupid cat up, so ready to skin it and eat the bastard. “Even has an old fashioned tub. I can heat water for your bath.”

  “Oh dear God, yes,” she whispered, hurrying ahead of him.

  Micah looked around the place carefully before locking them in the cabin.

  “Look at this! I love this place.” She cranked the hand well and laughed as water spurted out of the mouth and into a metal sink. She regarded the old fashioned bath tub in the room. “It’ll take a year to fill that up.”

  “It’ll be worth it.”

  “We may have to bathe together.”

  For the first time in days, desire hit Micah nearly as hard as his hunger for food. There she
stood in her short hair and black cap, looking more beautiful than he’d ever seen her. He remembered her injuries and grabbed the large matches next to the fireplace. “A bath will likely hurt like hell.” He lowered and lit the kindling he’d gathered in it.

  She winced and he angled a look at her then shook his head. Of course she’d be worried about his cat scratches more than herself. He stood and made his way to her. She kept her blue gaze on his until she had to look up. He took her cap off and tossed it on the table next to her then stroked her face with dried bloodied fingers, so thankful. “How are you?”

  She gave a small smile. “I’m… fantastic.”

  He slid his thumb across her brow and smoothed her hair away from her face. “I like your hair.”

  “Thank you. I know this sexy barber.”

  His heart ached with love for her and he leaned and kissed the edge of her mouth. “I stink terribly.”

  “Me too,” she whispered.

  “We’ll get clean. And I’ll cook for you.”

  “Mmmm. Fried kitty?”

  He wrapped his arms around her and winced at the pain in his abdomen. “Yes, extra fried kitty.” He nearly growled, pissed he couldn’t hug her.

  “You’ll let me wash you?” She cupped his cock and it jumped in agony for her. “If you must.”

  “I must.”

  He groaned as she stroked him.

  “Let me suck you,” she whispered.

  “Oh fuck.” He would love nothing more in that second. “My dick has been in the marsh.”

  She gave a pained moan.

  “I’ll draw our bath.”

  Chapter Three

  “Just bathe for fuck-sake, I can’t stand to see you in pain.”

  Sarah smiled through the agony. The hot water was excruciating and wonderful. “Okay. You’re right. And then you can bathe? Oh God the water will be filthy.”

  “I’ll change it. I don’t need nearly as much.”

  “What are you saying?” She moaned and gasped as she fought to lay back and soak her tired muscles.

  “That I can get by bathing with little water.”

  She nodded. “I’m still thanking God for the working toilet here.”

  “And I’m thanking Him for the loaded gun.”

  “Gah. I’m being such a woman.”

  “As you should be.”

  “Not at a time like this. It’s foolish.” She looked at Micah stirring in the pot over the fire. “God I’ve never been so hungry for cat before.”

  “Me either.” He lifted the spoon and sipped the juice. He gave a long moan.

  “It’s good?”

  He shook his head. “It’s hard to find good in any pussy since I’ve tasted yours.”

  Her heart dropped to the topic at hand and she giggled. He walked the spoon over and let her taste. “Oh my God it’s good!” He smiled and gave her the last of it. “I’m ready to get out.”

  She hurried and bathed, washing her hair first. She washed her privates and other body parts that absolutely needed soap, and left the rest alone.

  When it came time to get out, Micah held a thin towel open for her. She climbed out and he wrapped it around her carefully. “I’ll see about your wounds after you eat.” His voice felt like warm silk right behind her. She closed her eyes when he placed a kiss on her cheek, like she were some princess. She reached up and held his neck, wanting a hell of a lot more.

  He pulled up and guided her to the chair with the blanket next to the fireplace and sat her. Then he wrapped the furry warmth around her and kissed her on the forehead. She couldn’t help feel a little disappointed. She was grateful that he cared so much just… she missed his passion.

  He turned with a bowl full of cat soup, and starvation stampeded Sarah’s longings for him like a ravenous bull. “Oh dear God,” she whimpered, taking it into both hands. She mmmed and mmmed with sip after delicious sip. “Micah, darling, this is so good.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  Sarah turned and watched Micah dump her bathwater in the sink. She couldn’t wait for him to get clean so she could kiss him without him protesting. Everywhere. She sipped on her soup, keeping her eye on him, fascinated with his body and what it did to hers. Sarah gripped the warm bowl and watched him remove his jeans. When he stood naked before the metal tub, his cock extremely erect, her womb tightened with a vicious need. His hand went around the base and she jerked her gaze up to find his hot eyes angled on her. At seeing the Micah she missed, she bit her lower lip. He gave her a one sided smile, then stepped in the tub. All her desire left her in a rush of concern at remembering. Dear God, how could she forget about his wounds?

  Sarah put her bowl down and opened the dresser drawers next to the kitchen. She found a long john shirt and pants and… “Oh my God! A razor!” She spun and showed him, utterly thrilled.

  “Nice,” he muttered, not looking.

  Grinning, she set the gem on the dresser and pulled on the musty smelling clothes after inspecting them for insects. She hurried and filled the water pot up and hung it over the fire. He needed more than four inches of water. She returned to him and put her hands on her hips. “You look like you’ve been bashed against a rock a few times.”

  He gritted his teeth as he sat in the small amount of water. “Feels like it.”

  She handed him the wash cloth and soap, wincing. “Your self-torture tools.”

  His stiff smile said how badly it hurt.

  “I should let you have some privacy.”

  “No.” He squeezed the rag over his shoulder. “Don’t leave.”

  The need in his voice brought her to the very edge of the tub, stroking his face. “I’m here.”

  His eyes rolled shut, like it was just the salvation he sought as he methodically wet himself with the rag.

  She got a cup and handed it to him. “For your hair.”

  He took it silently and wet his hair. Sarah got the shampoo and began washing the sandy blond all clumped with near death experiences. He sat there with his head lowered and his eyes closed.

  “I love washing your hair.”

  “Mmmm,” was all he said, fatigue coming through.

  She eyed his cock in the water. He may have been exhausted but that didn’t stop his need. “Lean forward so I can rinse.”

  He complied without words and she poured cup after cup of water until the water ran clear. More like gray. She grabbed the tattered hand towel and put it over his head and dried it a little so it didn’t drip on his cuts.

  “Stay there, I’ll check your water.” She returned with the pot of water to the statue in the tub. “Better move those sexy feet.”

  He drew his legs in and she poured half the water slowly then mixed it before pouring the rest. She filled the bucket with water again and put it back on the fire then returned to his side.

  She ruffled his darkened hair. “Must feel better to have your hair clean.”

  He turned his green eyes on her and stole her breath. They burned hot with something she wasn’t so sure about.

  “What?” She stroked his face, his brow. “Tell me.”

  He shook his head with a confused look. “There are no words for what I’m feeling.”

  “Is it… bad?”

  Felt like he’d burn a hole through her with that stare. “It’s you.”

  The devastation in his tone set her heart hammering with worry. Was he angry with her renouncing? Think less of her? “Me?”

  He leaned back in the tub, his gaze still hot on hers. He drew up both legs and let his knees fall open. “I want so many things when I’m with you. Things… I’ve never wanted.” His green gaze remained a relentless burn into her soul as he shook his head a little. “I need to see you smiling. Happy. Eating breakfast in a real home.” Sarah’s eyes filled with tears the second his did. “I need you in a real life so bad. A normal life. With me.” His last words were nearly breathless with deep longing. He lowered his head with a small laugh. “And more than anything… I always need
to see you naked.” He met her gaze, seeming awed. “You’ve made me… into something I never thought I could be.”

  Sarah fought to breathe. “I merely uncovered what was there.”

  A sadness so immense filled his gaze as he shook his head. “I was so dead, Sarah. You resurrected me. You and…” He lowered his head several moments. “…your God.”

  This time when he looked at her, his eyes held another heat. “Get naked for me.”

  Sarah nearly tripped to meet the need she heard in his thick broken voice.

  He didn’t seem to notice as he gripped the base of his cock with one hand while roaming his gaze slowly over her. “Can you put your foot on the tub?”

  The soft words reminded Sarah of the man she’d glimpsed in him back at his horror castle. A frail raw human hiding beneath the shell of a monster. A man full of tenderness and vulnerability. The heat in her heart and chest found its way between her legs and throbbed with a brutal passion.

  He grabbed his cock with his other hand, pumping his hips while stroking slowly along the length then over the top. The sight sent a hard pulsing into her clit and she whimpered, sliding her fingers between her folds. At encountering her aching bud, she gasped.

  His eyes locked on her hand. “Please show me. Let me see you.”

  More tender begging. Sarah pushed her folds open and held them that way.

  His breaths turned harsh and he looked up at her. “Touch it for me. I want you to rub yourself till you orgasm.” He stroked himself slowly, staring hard into her gaze. “You like watching me?”

  Sarah let out several whimpers at the awed emotion edging his tone. It meant something to him that she liked watching him feel good. It also meant something amazing to him, her standing there, masturbating. She slid a finger insider herself while rubbing her clit and Micah’s growl sent electrical pulses through her. She kept her eyes on him, wanting to see how excited she made him, wanting to see him beside himself with want. For her. She leaned closer and opened her folds wider, sliding her finger inside deep, exploring the moist heat then circling her clit with her wet finger.

  “Oh my fucking God, Sarah. Rub your sweet wet pussy good. You’re making my cock so fucking hard. I’m going to fuck you so good. So fucking good and hard.”