Page 58 of Whirlwind

Chapter 7

Micah

Micah was floating in an ocean. There was no time, no sight, no sound. Everything he needed was there, and he was whole. His body sang.

Something pressed against his mouth and he drank, trustingly. Cool water trickled down his throat, fulfilling a need he hadn’t even realized until it was already gone.

Gradually, he became aware of touch. He was warm everywhere. Surrounded. He noticed soft hands, a blanket, arms and a warm chest. Someone was holding him. He nestled closer.

And then sound. The steady rhythm of a heart. A deep, murmuring voice.

He relaxed into the arms, into the voice. He was safe and loved. His body felt light, free of its heavy physical substance and daily pains.

Slowly memory returned.

Master Eric was holding him. Master Eric had taken him to this beautiful place. He turned his head and kissed the skin nearest to him, a bit of his shoulder.

Master Eric inhaled sharply, and reality started to intrude.

He’d just had the most erotic experience of his life with a man who he’d just met. And four of his friends who he practically hadn’t met.

That feeling of warmth and security was something he’d read about before: subspace. A neurological response, not a true connection.

He started to shake. What was he doing kissing this man? This was a little too crazy. Or maybe a little too real.

“Boy?” Master Eric’s eyes were filled with concern, but Micah reminded himself that it didn’t mean anything. Certainly, Master Eric was good enough at what he did to be responsible with his subs for a few minutes after a scene. That was all it was.

“Um, I’m sorry Sir. I can… you can let go of me now.”

Suddenly, all the pain that he’d been floating above came rushing back into his hip and down his leg.

He kicked out unintentionally, throwing the blanket off and jerking away from Master Eric. Were it not for the Dom’s quick reflexes, he would have landed unceremoniously on the floor.

Master Eric pulled him tighter to his body, but he pushed to get away. His balance was off, and he felt dizzy, but he couldn’t handle the false comfort for another minute.

He pushed away again, nearly rolling off backward onto his head.

“Be still, boy.” Master Eric’s stern voice cut through his panic, and he stilled. He was still breathing heavily, like he’d run a marathon or survived a fight.

“No more struggling, boy. You have two choices. You can safe word at any time, and I’ll respect that. Or you can ask me nicely to move away from you, and I may or may not choose to do so. But you will not struggle.”

Micah consciously slowed his breathing. Two choices. Safe wording or asking. He could manage that. To be honest, he didn’t want to do either one. He’d just panicked.

But did that mean they were still in a scene? God, he wanted that. Or wanted… something. Something to say this wasn’t ending.

He looked up. Master Eric’s face was stern, but his eyes were warm. “That’s better, boy. Now, unless you feel the need to safe word, you are going to stay right where I put you. You will allow me to touch you, and you have permission to touch me if you choose.

“We will talk in five minutes, and until then, you will be silent. That means that whatever you’re thinking right now needs to stop. You’re worrying yourself. So for the next five minutes, you will let me take care of everything. I’m here for you, and that’s all you need to think about.”

Micah ran Master Eric’s words backward and forward in his head. He’d given him a command to… stop thinking. To let him take care of everything. And even though words were bursting behind his lips, he wasn’t allowed to say them.

It was tempting to arrange his thoughts and practice his arguments. Master Eric would never know what happened inside his head.

“Relax, boy. I won’t tell you again.”

Or maybe he would. And then Micah realized that he wanted to do just what Master Eric said. Not just externally, but in his mind as well. Tentatively, he leaned back into the Dom’s shoulder. He felt his muscles relax as soothing hands drifted over his body.

One of Master Eric’s hands cupped his head and pulled him into his chest. He wanted to snuggle in, but he was worried it would be the wrong thing.