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Chapter 24
Hope
Sensory overload doesn’t begin to explain what I’m experiencing.
The endorphins and sensations of Michael’s body dominating mine almost overwhelms the agony of my severed arm.
He slides out of me and tightens the belt, stemming the flow of blood that’s spraying over the ax head.
“Shit, baby. Are you okay?” He gathers me against him, curling me onto his lap. “I still can’t believe you made me do this.” His gentle lips find my temple as he rocks me slowly.
A metallic taste thins in my mouth. I must have bit myself.
My head moves up and down, shock still keeping words away.
He strokes the short hair above my ear. “Please don’t ever ask me to do this again.” His chest rumbles when he talks.
With morbid fascination, I see the fingers on my disembodied hand flex and flatten.
His arms hold me so firmly I can’t move. Listening to his heart beat, I close my eyes and just let him comfort me.
The pain lessens and disappears, but my desire to move from his grasp is non-existent. Is it so wrong that I want him to hold me?
“I love you, Michael.” I want him to know, more than anything. No matter what happens tonight, I need him to never question that.
He leans away from me, fetching a cloth chilled with water. Wiping away the dried bodily fluids, he helps me pull my shirt on against the cool evening air.
“You know, if I ever tell people you’re a squirter, this is the moment I’m going to be referring too.” His baritone laugh shakes us both before he helps me stand.
“Here’s your belt. Let’s hope we never have to use it as a tourniquet again.” Pink skin has covered my wound. It won’t be long until my arm is fully grown back.
“I swear if I do, your ass is going to be so raw.” He playfully swats my thigh before handing me a bag of dried fruit. “Eat extra. Just in case.”
“Yes, dear.” I give him a big wink as I pull up my pants. It’s hard with one arm.
Just as I decide I’m going to wait until I have two hands, he tugs me against him, his fingers diving down to find my clit.
“Let me help.” His hot touch distracts me from the itching in my growing limb.
“You’re my favorite diversion.” I kiss him on the tip of the nose. “But, we need to get going.”
His lips thin as his jaw clenches. “I know. I’m not ready to risk you.”
I thread my new nails into his beard. “I can’t walk away knowing he’s going through hell.”
Pulling my fresh palm against his mouth, he tenderly kisses it, then the tips of each one of my fingers. “You’re going to makean amazing mom to him. He’s going to be the luckiest kid in the world.”
That stops me. Mom. Is that what I’ll be?
Shit, I’m crying again. “Ready to be a daddy?”
His tongue plays over his elongated canine. “You can call me Daddy anytime.” Reaching down, he pats me on my butt. “Let’s get this over with so we can play house. Hmm. Maybe doctor, but less blood next time.”
The water isn’t any warmer today as I cut through it far enough below the surface that no one from the dam can see me.
There was an intake pipe I ran across yesterday that feeds into a lower room. I know I can fit into it. Thick windows under the water gave me an unexpected view of the interior of the dam. And, the illumination I need to pinpoint where I’m going.
It’s empty. Good.