Trapped: Isa Fae Collection: Faction 12

by Isa Fae

  He watched her tight ass until she disappeared into the doorway to the bedroom. Eric couldn’t help but to smile at her even though he was still angry. The woman had fire. And he loved every minute of it.

  When he entered the room, Miranda was already in the bed, covered up with the blanket pulled over her head. Yeah, he figured she would be one to hold a grudge, but he wasn’t going to let her off easy. She knew the rule.

  “Next time you feel the need to leave the room, wake me up next time.” He got back into bed, lying on his back and closing his eyes.

  “Yeah, I’ll try to remember that.” Her voice was muffled from under the covers. There was that fire again.

  He put his arms behind him, supporting his head and closing his eyes. This was the first time Eric Winters had ever fallen asleep with a smile on his face. And he liked it.

  ***

  Eric went to turn over in his sleep, but found that he couldn’t. The soft moan next to his ear startled him awake. Then he froze, his breathing halted. Miranda Sage was in his arms, her head resting in the nook of his shoulder, hand on his chest. The funny thing was that her head fit perfectly, like the nook of his shoulder was designed entirely for her.

  He didn’t know how she got there or why. And he had no recollection of placing his arm around her and pulling her in close. Eric Winters did not cuddle or snuggle. Or whatever else they called it. He never has. Ever. End of story.

  But there was something about her warmth. And the thrill of her being unaware of their closeness that made him savor this moment. He squeezed her against him a little tighter, and her hand moved back and forth slowly, her fingers sweeping over his flesh.

  Eric moved his hand down, tracing the curve of her firm ass, the tips of his fingers feeling the moisture in her panties. This time she let out a gasp and pushed into his hand. As much as he wanted to feel her wrapped around his finger, he couldn’t bring himself to do it. Not yet. He swore he wouldn’t touch her. And if he broke that promise, he would lose any trust he may have gained from her. Even if it was small. Besides, taking advantage of her while she was sleeping was just wrong. He’d rather take advantage of her while she was awake.

  Drawing in a deep breath, he retraced his path until the palm of his hand settled on the small of her back. Her being in his arms would do for now. That was all he needed, and she would never know. This was a side of him he’d keep hidden from her, as he kept it concealed from the world. A softer, caring, and more sensual side. Besides, if she could keep secrets, so could he.

  19

  Miranda

  Miranda had no idea how it happened, but she couldn’t move. The shock and the intense feelings of being in a man’s arms sent flutters through her stomach. She was scared. Anxious. And…aroused? No. That couldn’t be right. But…yet…it was right. Of course, these feelings didn’t come from being in any man’s arms, they came from being in Eric Winters’ arms.

  She had no idea how much longer she could deny it. She was falling for the man who was sending her to her death. The very man who was sent by Lord Manchester to hunt her. And the man who made it quite clear more than once the hatred he had for witches.

  Lucky for her Eric was asleep and had no idea of their situation. This would just have to be another secret she kept hidden from him. But since he was asleep, and totally unaware, she skimmed her fingers across his chest. He was warm. Firm but soft. The idea of touching him excited her even more.

  Glancing over at him to make sure he was still asleep, she slid her fingers south to his stomach, tracing the dark hair around his naval. As she did, a deep moan came from his lips, and the fabric of his boxers began to rise. Warmth centered in Miranda’s stomach and drifted down, moisture pooling inside her panties. She’d never witnessed something so sexy and intimate before. Something that turned her on so much.

  Eric’s hand moved from the small of her back down to her ass and she stilled, afraid she had awakened him. After a few seconds with no sign of alertness from him, she swallowed hard and continued, fully aware she was treading into dangerous territory.

  Pushing her limits, she continued following the trail of hair, dipping her fingers inside the waistband of his boxers. She knew if she went any further, one of two things would happen if Eric opened his eyes. One, there would be no turning back. And the other…which she cringed at, would be setting Eric into a rage. Even though he had taunted her before in the bathroom, she wasn’t exactly sure if he had wanted to carry through with it.

  Then, with her fingers tangled in his hair underneath the waistband of his boxers, Eric’s hand cupped her ass and squeezed.

  “I told you once before I can play games too,” he whispered in a husky voice, causing her to tense up. “Do you still wish to play?” Eric slid one of his fingers down around her curve, stopping on the edge of her sweet spot.

  Miranda parted her lips, but instead of speaking, a small gasp escaped, and she pressed her mouth to his chest to silence anymore that wished to follow. She knew he was serious this time. His voice was not playful or teasing.

  “Miranda, I asked you a question.” He inched his finger closer, and she closed her eyes as her mouth continued to press into his skin.

  She still couldn’t speak because just the near touch of him caused things to happen inside of her. Things she didn’t understand and couldn’t explain. It was almost like an explosion. Yes, she wanted him to continue. No, she didn’t want him to stop. But she couldn’t get any words out. For the first time in her entire life, Miranda Sage was speechless.

  Then his finger slid under her panties and in between her folds, gliding over her clit. This time she did gasp against his skin. She drew in a deep breath as he moved his finger back, slipping into her wetness. Miranda never knew feelings like this even existed. Pressing her body into him even more, she arched her back as Eric worked his finger in and out of her in drowsy motions. Grunts and low growls came from deep within him as she clenched around his finger.

  Eric turned over, taking her with him and hovering over top of her, his hands on either side of her while she lay on her back. His blue eyes locked onto hers. Hungry. Crazy. Need. All the things she felt reflected back to her. Miranda no longer cared what he did to her as long as he kept going.

  His eyes roamed down her body as he sat up, straddling her. When his gaze came back up to her, he was sliding her panties down. She knew what he wanted. Knew what he was waiting for her to say. But she couldn’t say it. And she wouldn’t say it.

  Eric nudged her legs apart with his knee and settled between her thighs, giving her one more chance to stop this. But Miranda was already lost, caught up in the lust, desire, and the want. No. Not want. For some reason, Miranda had a need. And that need was Eric.

  He grabbed her legs and backed off the bed, going down on his knees and taking her in his mouth. Miranda nearly came up off the bed when his tongue flicked across her clit. The warmth sent her head spiraling into a frenzy and her hands clawing at the sheets as noises foreign to her escaped through her lips.

  Eric grasped her thighs and opened them even wider, diving in and devouring her, lapping up her moisture and replacing his finger with his tongue. Instead of drowsy motions, his urgency to taste and consume every bit of her sweetness was apparent. He slid his tongue in and out of her, swirling it around her chamber while his finger focused on her clit.

  There was no cabin. No blizzard or Faction. Right now, there was only Eric. She was floating and she never wanted to come down.

  Everything came rushing into her at once. All the confusion, the denial, the truth. Everything she had felt since she found herself trapped in this cabin with him. As much as she wanted to fight her feelings, she couldn’t. She couldn’t even ignore him. And now everything was searching for an escape. It threatened to rush out of her and release against his tongue.

  His grip tightened on her thighs, his mouth pressed harder against her opening, and his tongue circled frantically around inside her. She sensed Eric could feel i
t too. And he wanted it just as bad as she did.

  When she came, Miranda’s body shook and trembled, tears spilled from her eyes, and she reached down, gripping Eric’s head and holding it to her while he took everything she had to offer.

  Miranda lay on the bed, staring up at the ceiling, unable to comprehend what had happened. One minute she was flying and now she felt as if she were sinking.

  Eric got back in the bed and laid back, a smug look on his face. “I told you I play them better.”

  All Miranda saw was red as she quickly rolled over and got out of the bed. Bending down, she scooped her panties up off the floor. Then she turned to Eric and narrowed her eyes. “I’m not sure if anyone has ever told you, but you really are an ass.” Miranda fled from the room, unable to believe she actually started having feelings for this narcissistic asshole. Maybe, the joke was on her. Eric had won the game.

  20

  Eric

  Yes, he was an ass. She’d told him something he already knew. And he actually felt bad for saying something after the heat simmered down. Which rarely happened. Normally, Eric wouldn’t give a fuck about what he said or what anyone thought about him. But this time, he had his own secret to keep. He had a side of him that had to remain hidden, from her and from the faction. Besides, he reminded himself again, she had asked for everything he’d given her. All she needed to do was tell him to stop. She had more than one opportunity. If anything, he gave the witch the release she needed. And he’d found pleasure in that. Something he hadn’t had in a long time. Sure, he had his share of women, but none of them meant anything to him. But Miranda had meant something to him. Not that he would ever tell her that.

  “What the fuck am I doing?” He’d never had to question himself so many times in such a short period. Especially, when he was working. This was so unlike him. So unprofessional. Not the person who he was. Or, at least, not the person he remembered.

  Eric slowly got out of the bed and pulled his jeans on, thinking he should give her a little more time alone. Pissing her off wouldn’t normally be a reason for him to bend his own rules, but this time he’d make an exception. There was that softer side again. He couldn’t seem to shake it no matter what he did. His mind had never been more confused.

  Making his way down the hallway, he stopped in front of the closed bathroom door, the sound of the shower running on the other side. There were no windows in there, so he had no fear she would try to escape. Continuing along, he made his way out into the living room, stopping in front of the fireplace.

  The kindling was nearly all ash now, which meant he would have to go into the storm and retrieve some more. Not really what he wanted to do, but he didn’t have much choice.

  Walking over near the front door, he pulled on his coat and slipped his boots on his bare feet. He hated leaving Miranda alone, but he had a feeling she would be in the shower for quite a while. This would be his only chance to slip out and back in without worrying whether or not she would be here when he returned.

  When he opened the door, he expected the wind and snow to spiral in, but everything remained calm. Outside, the sky was a deep gray color, but the storm had finally moved on, making it easier for him to maneuver over to the pile of wood he found before.

  After a little digging, he uncovered the pile of logs buried under the snow. He filled one of his arms with kindling like he did before and returned to the cabin, shutting the door behind him. After he carried everything over and sat it in front of the fireplace, he took off his coat and boots and placed them by the door before returning to the small stack of wood.

  He crouched down, placing the logs in the small fire one piece at a time. Eric should have been relieved the storm was finally over. He’d be able to return to his own life, his own house, and his own bed. But he wasn’t relieved at all. All it meant was he’d have to make a decision. A decision which meant he would either be punished by the Lord himself or Miranda would be killed. He had no idea if he was even ready to give her up yet. He didn’t want to give her up at all. Sure, he was well aware he should have never fallen for the witch in the first place. And he never thought he would ever fall for a witch. Miranda Sage. The woman had changed everything for him.

  After making sure the fire was once again burning steady, Eric walked over to the sofa and picked up his phone. Sixty-three missed calls. Matryx just wouldn’t give up.

  He couldn’t avoid her forever. At some point, he’d have to check in. But for now, it’d have to wait. He couldn’t talk to anyone at the division until he decided what he was going to do. They would track his call and show up at the cabin. And that couldn’t happen. He wouldn’t let it happen.

  Realizing Miranda had been in the shower for quite a while, he trailed back through the cabin until he was standing in front of the closed door. He stood there for a moment, debating whether he should walk in or knock. Since the water was no longer running, he chose the latter.

  He knocked softly on the door. “Miranda, are you okay in there?”

  “Yes, I’m fine.” Her voice didn’t sound fine to him. It was lower than normal, and it tugged at his heart.

  Remembering she had rushed into the bathroom in only her shirt and underwear, Eric went into the other bedroom and found her a fresh set of clothes. The witches who had been here before sure did make sure the cabin was stocked for any type of emergency. This worked out well for him. Food, clothing, heat. He and Miranda would have never survived the storm without any of this.

  He returned to the doorway of the bathroom and set the clothes down. Then he placed his palms on the door and leaned his head against the wood. As much as he wanted to walk through the door and take her in his arms, he couldn’t. He still had a decision to make, regardless of whether he would like it or not. He couldn’t deny he was a hunter. And Miranda was his prey.

  As for the storm ending, he’d keep that to himself for now. Maybe, for a few days. Possibly even longer. He just wasn’t ready to give her up yet.

  22

  Miranda

  Her heart shattered. The pain becoming a dull ache spreading through her insides. As Miranda sat with her back against the bathroom door, she was well aware he was also pressed against the door. She knew he only pitied her, just like everyone else. She’d never had any feelings this deep for a man before. And, yet, Eric was the wrong man. A hunter.

  Pulling her knees into her chest, Miranda could no longer hold back the tears. The man was a jerk. A complete asshole. And she was stupid for giving herself to him that way, thinking it was because he cared for her. That they cared for each other. Wrong, wrong, wrong.

  Now, she’d have to summon up the courage to go out there and face him. Continue sleeping in the same bed with him and being trapped in this damn cabin until the storm was over. Then what? He’d deliver her to Mason. She had no doubt in her mind that was what he was planning to do. The man was like a cat. Continuously playing with his prey and having no regards for how they really felt. She couldn’t blame it on being Fae. No. She’d seen a few Fae who were the total opposite. Ronan being one.

  Besides, she also knew some witches were just as bad. Some even as horrible as Mason. And those witches wanted Miranda dead as well. It seemed as though everyone wanted her dead. Except for Eric. And that wasn’t because he cared for her, it was because the Lord requested her to be brought back alive.

  Fuck. My. Life.

  Miranda took a deep breath and stood up. She reminded herself she had to stay strong no matter what. She couldn’t let her feelings for Eric get to her. If he didn’t care about her, she shouldn’t give a damn about him. End of story. Besides, she should be thinking more about getting away from him and this cabin. But she wouldn’t be able to try again until the blizzard stopped. She couldn’t risk near death again. Too many people counted on her. Ronan for one. She had to get him away from that mad man before he ended up like Sarah.

  Glancing at the floor by the tub, she sighed. The only clothes she came in with were her panties a
nd shirt. Both were now soaked. Wrapping a towel around herself, she turned around and slowly opened the door, peeking into the hallway to make sure Eric wasn’t still there. The coast was clear. As she opened the door a little more, she noticed a pile of neatly folded clothes on the floor.

  She reached down, grabbed the clothing, and shut the door, leaning her back against it while she clutched the clothes to her chest. He left me clothes. “Relax, it doesn’t mean a thing.” And she was sure it didn’t. Knowing Eric, he wouldn’t mind her walking around in the nude.

  She slowly dressed and then stepped over to the sink, glancing in the mirror. Her eyes were red and puffy. She turned on the water and splashed her face, hoping it would go away. She didn’t want Eric to see any of her weaknesses. Nobody could.

  After she dried her face, she finally walked out of the bathroom. She went down the hall, but as she entered the kitchen, she stopped, her heart plunging into her stomach. Eric stood in front of the stove. No shirt. Bare feet. This man was going to drive her insane. She had no idea why he had to look so good. It angered her more.

  He turned toward her, spoon in hand. “I’m making oatmeal.” Something seemed different about him. His eyes. His expression. Almost like…he felt bad about something. No. Absolutely not. She had to be reading him wrong. The man had her head completely confused.

  She shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t care.” That was all he was getting from her. Just because she was trapped in a cabin with him didn’t mean she had to socialize with him. He may have been amazing in bed earlier, before he showed his true colors, and he may be causing things to stir up inside of her because of his lack of clothes, but she would have to ignore all of it. Or, at least try as hard as she could.

  The side of his mouth came up in a smirk, which irritated her even more. “Still mad, are you?”