“You killed me.”It almost sounded accusatory, but she took it as a compliment.
“It’s only fair; it’s how you always leave me after I orgasm.”
“Hmm.”His thumb rubbed slow circles against the small of her back as his prosthetic arm rested across his stomach.
Mac took Barry’s bionic hand and studied.It was the first time she had really looked at it up close.It wasn’t that she was afraid of it, but she hadn’t paid it much attention until now.
It had a fleshy skin tone color and moved just like his regular hand.He could open and close it, and she never heard the mechanics inside.It lacked the hair on the back of his fingers and his arm, and it always felt cold and hard from the metal underneath.
“Having fun petting me?”
“I’m admiring this actually.This is incredible work,” she mused, running her fingers over it.“I’ve never seen anything like it.”She honestly hadn’t met many people with prosthetic limbs.Anyone on the island missing limbs was usually due to shark attacks or boating accidents, and they never replaced limbs; most just went along without.This looked like something out of a science fiction movie.She almost expected it to open up and reveal a weapon or something.
“It’s a special design that’s why.”
“My sister makes prosthetics but nothing like this.”Emma was a rehabber in Vegas who specialized in prosthetics and helping people adjust to them.She’d always had a passion for helping others.It was the same passion Mac had for helping sharks.They were so similar and yet never saw eye-to-eye.
“Oh yeah?”
“Why is yours so different?”
“Because I asked for it to be.”
“For the function or the look?”He didn’t seem vain to need it to look real to blend in, so there had to be a reason.
“Mainly for function.I tried the hook ones but didn’t care for it.”He lifted the hand up and closed it into a fist before opening it again.
Mac had seen those before.They had two prong metal hooks at the end.There was another researcher that visited the island during the migration who had one.He would switch it out when diving but changed it back when on land.The hook one was a bit off-putting to her.It looked like it could hurt someone.
“Does it bother you?”he questioned; there was a hesitation in his voice, though she could tell he was trying to sound more casual.
Mac took his hand back into hers.“Not at all.I honestly forget sometimes it’s not real.It moves just like any other hand.”
“That’s the point.”He kissed her temple before shifting to the side to get out of bed.
“Where are you going?”Was he leaving already?Had she upset him with her questions about his arm?
“I was going to lock up.”He froze as if a thought came to him.“Unless you want me to leave.”
Mac should tell him to go before she got attached.But she already enjoyed sleeping cuddled up to him.She shouldn’t get used to it, and yet, she wanted to enjoy it as long as it lasted.“No, I want you to stay.”
“Then I will.”
Mac snuggled into bed and felt her eyes drifting shut and sleep pulling her into its dark, murky depths.
Chapter 13
“Come on, sleepyhead.”
Mac lay on her stomach with her face half buried into her pillow.She cracked a heavy eyelid open to see Barry hovering over her.She closed her eyes, thinking he would get the hint and let her go back to sleep.She was exhausted, and she couldn’t even blame sex as the culprit.Okay, not fully.They had only had sex once more before passing out.The man had just completely wiped her out.
“Come on,” Barry prodded and followed it up with a smack on her ass.It didn’t hurt through the comforter, but it still startled her and had the effect of waking her up.
“It’s too early,” she mumbled, rolling over to her side to face away from him.
“It’s about the same time you woke me up yesterday.I don’t want you to be late.”It took her brain a second to clear through the sleepy fog and remember she had lied, saying she was going out with her crew today.Followed up with the time he said, she had never slept in that much before.
“I would have let you sleep in longer if you didn’t have to work.You looked so adorable sleeping.I made coffee.”
