Page 31 of Blinded
CHAPTER EIGHT
BAYNE
The drive to my place was quiet, and I felt Brett's emotions going from one extreme to the other. He was trying not to get his hopes up, but he really wanted to be able to see. Who could blame him? The thought of having him look down at me when we made love or to wake up and find him looking at me was more than I had dared hope.
I was scared something wouldn't work out and it would devastate both of us. No matter how I tried to tell myself it couldn't get worse than it was now, it didn't help. I wanted my mate to see. I wanted to race through the forest, hunt, and play together. I wanted him to stop feeling like he wasn't enough for me.
I hadn't realized how badly he felt that way until we became fully mated, but it was one of the strongest emotions that I felt from him. He was more than enough just as he was, but if being able to see helped him understand and accept that I wanted him, then I hoped he could get that.
"You really do live out away from the pack." Brett leaned his head back on the car seat.
"It seems farther than it is, but I couldn't find anywhere this unpopulated. My nearest neighbor is about a mile down the road and he's a pack member too. Other than him, there isn't anyone around for miles." I loved the land I'd bought. I never thought I'd be living with a mate when I got it, and now I worried that it would be too small for Brett.
"Hey, don't worry. I'm going to love it." Brett reached over and found my thigh, resting his hand on it.
"I forget you can feel everything. It's going to take getting used to. I just hope it's big enough for you. It's nothing fancy. Just one bedroom, a small living room, a kitchen, and a bathroom. I have a shop out back where I do some woodworking from time to time."
"It sounds perfect. I love that it's small. We don't need a big fancy place. If I wanted big and fancy, I wouldn't have been selected as your mate. I have to trust that in all things we will be happy together. I wouldn't have been paired with you if there was something major we clashed on. So far, you are as perfect of a man as I could ever desire."
"I'm far from perfect." I laughed.
"Which is why you are perfect for me. I'm not perfect either. Together, we make a huge mess that only we can understand. Don't doubt that we are meant to be. I don't anymore. Once that bond fell into place my doubt left." Brett gave my thigh a squeeze. "Besides, look at it this way, if I don't get my sight back, it's less area for me to have to learn to get around in."
"You're going to get your sight back. I know you will." We hadn't talked about what the doctor had said. I figured I'd let him bring it up if he wanted to talk about it. I'd joked around as we went grocery shopping and kept the mood light, trying to keep his mind off the subject.
"I don't want to get my hopes up. He said eighty percent chance. That twenty is still a lot of room for failure. I'm hopeful this works, but if it doesn't, I don't want to be let down," Brett said.
I could smell the lie in his words, but I didn't call him on it. I was as hopeful as he was. I wanted this for him more than anything. Hell, I'd even debated on offering one of my own eyes to him so that we both could see, even if it was just from one eye. It was something I would offer if a donor didn't come through. "I know we can't be sure it will work, but it's something. I honestly thought he'd talk about glass eyes today and let you pick a color." I glanced over at him. "What color were your eyes?"
"A light brown. When you meet my sister, you'll see. We have… had the same eye color." Brett shrugged. "They can be purple now for all I care, just so I can see."
"I agree. I don't care what color they are. I just want to be able to look into them." I pulled up in front of the cabin, wishing Brett could see how beautiful it was now that it was getting dark and only the stars and moonlight illuminated the area. "We're here." I shut off the car and climbed out before going around and opening Brett's door. "Welcome to my home, babe."
"Our home now." Brett leaned in and kissed my ear.
I smiled. Even though he couldn't see, he still tried to make me feel wanted, special. It might mean he missed my lips or cheek when kissing me, but it didn't stop him from trying. "Our home. Everything is ours now." I linked my arm in his. "Fifteen feet to the steps, four steps up to the porch, then about five feet to the front door." I started to lead him. "It has a wrap-around porch. I like to come out and drink coffee in the morning."
"I'm looking forward to that." Brett shuffled his feet. "It smells good out here. It's not like in town. It's pure nature."
"Yep, it's why I love it. There are a few hundred acres of forest to run and hunt. We have to be careful as a lot of it is public land, but if we shift here and run, no one would see us. There are some ranches to the west, which I try to avoid, but there's plenty of space around to spend a day hunting when we want to." I paused as we got to the door and I had to work the key in the lock. "I haven't been home in about a week. It could be stuffy." I pushed the door open and led him inside.
"Would you quit worrying?" He inhaled as I flipped on the lights. "It smells like you. I like it."
"Good, I'm glad. You're in the living room now. Six feet in front of you is a coffee table and couch, to your side is a TV and stand. Ten feet to your left is the fireplace, and if you go to the right about five feet is the door to the bedroom. The kitchen is to the right and in front of you about ten feet." I didn't plan on him learning his way around right away, but I needed him to know what was there.
"Lead me to the kitchen. I wish I could help you unload the car." Brett sighed.
"I know, but it's just a few bags. This way you won't risk falling. Until you get the layout of the area, we'll take it slow. You'll catch on in no time and be all over the place." I flipped the light on in the kitchen and led him to the table. "You're at the table. Fridge is to the right and forward about six feet. The sink is directly in front of you, and the stove is to the left." I kissed his cheek. I'm going to run out and get the groceries. I'll be right back, and then we can fix something for dinner."
"Sounds good." Brett smiled.
He looked lost sitting at the table alone. It had to be hard being in a new place, unable to see. I couldn't imagine how scared he must be, but through our link, it wasn't fear I felt from him, it was regret. He wanted to help, wanted to take an active role in everything we did, but couldn't. It was going to take time for him to learn to get around the place and figure out what he could and couldn't do.
I prayed Cohen found a donor soon so we wouldn't have to struggle through all this. Either way, I would be there for him and do everything I could to make it easier. It was so odd. It was like I'd known him for years, but we were really only days into our relationship. He was such a part of me now that I honestly didn't know how I survived without him. Being mated was the most natural thing. I'd always thought I'd feel tied down or like I had to work harder to be with someone, but with Brett, nothing was changing. I simply had someone by my side to live life with, and that was amazing.
I grabbed the bags and hurried back into the house. "So, what are you in the mood for tonight?" I started emptying the bags and putting things away.
"Something light. I'm not really hungry. Honestly, I'm exhausted. We didn't do much today, but I feel as if I've been on a day-long hunt and haven't had a moment to rest. It's probably just mental stress. I'd be happy with a frozen dinner and curling up on the couch in front of the TV. I can listen while you watch."
