They left the building to walk two blocks over to another blue building. She saw curving text etched on each one. The markings looked like the tattoos on her and on Flint, obviously their written cyborg language. She wondered if she’d have to learn it now that she lived on Garden, instantly hoping she wouldn’t have to because she wasn’t good with other languages. She was just really happy that cyborgs still spoke English instead of adopting or creating some other language when they’d done the written text. Flint entered the building, walked into the lift and pushed the top button.
Mira’s eyebrows rose. “You live on the top floor?”
He nodded. “I’m a commander of a salvage ship. It’s a high-ranking, very respectable job to have. I get the best accommodations due to my title.”
A horrible thought hit her. “When you were telling that woman that you wanted to request unit quarters on the Star does that mean you are going to take me with you when you have to go back to work?”
Dark blue eyes narrowed at her. She saw his body tense as his mouth flattened into a tight line. “Why do you ask?”
“You were obviously gone for months. I don’t want to be left here without you. I want to go where you go. Why do you look pissed at my question?”
The lift doors slid open and Flint moved, not answering her. She followed him out into a corridor. Flint didn’t look at her as he spoke, leading her down a long section, around a corner where he stopped in front of a door and lifted his palm to a scanner.
“I thought at first you might want to know when you’d be rid of me. Your tone implied that traveling with me wouldn’t be a happy event for you.”
“My tone implied fear that you’d leave me here alone. I don’t want to be without you.”
Smiling, Flint turned to face her as the door swished open. He stepped inside with Mira following. “No fear of that, Mirasia Carver. You are mine. Where I go, you go. You will be traveling with me and I will not leave you on Garden alone while I return to duty aboard the Star. You will be sharing my bed every sleep cycle whether I’m here or on the ship. Welcome to our home on Garden. I own this as well.”
Mira tore her gaze from Flint. She stared in wonder at the large room that was an open living area. A kitchen was tucked in the corner with a long bar separating the kitchen area from the living area. Barstools told her that was the eating area. The entire outer wall was glass and the view was almost the same as the one in Arrion’s office. She could see beyond the wall that separated the city from the wilderness, the trees, and in the distance the ocean. She also saw a long balcony that extended the length of the large room.
“Wow. It’s all so beautiful. The view, the room, and it’s so big.”
“I thought you would like it.” Flint dropped his bag as he walked to the glass. He touched up high and the glass separated instantly, turning to open like a door. Warm, fresh air blew into the room as Flint stepped out on the balcony. He turned to grin at her. “Come here.”
Following him outside Mira eagerly took the hand he offered. Flint pulled her into his body as he turned her so they both faced the view. “I love being on Garden and this is why. I spend too much of my time in space so when I’m here I usually keep the panels open unless the weather turns bad. What do you think of Garden? Is it as beautiful as Earth?”
“I think it might beat Earth. It’s rare to see so many trees and I love that you can see the ocean from here.”
“Wait until the sun sets and the moons come out. I love staring up at them.” He hugged her a little tighter. “Are you hungry? Food deliveries should be arriving soon. I preorder before I come home so I don’t have to shop. I also took the liberty while still on the Star of ordering you more clothing from the sizes Doc recorded. They should be arriving today as well. I’ll show you the rest of our home.”
The rest of it contained a spacious cleansing room with both a cleaning unit and a soaking tub just off the hallway. Farther down she found two more rooms and an office. The smaller room had weight-training equipment and the second room was the sleeping room. A dresser and a huge bed dominated the room. It had an even bigger cleansing room that included a large soaking tub. Four people could fit in it if they squeezed in.
Flint met her eyes as she smiled at him. “I love your home. It’s huge compared to your room on the Star.”
“My room on the Star would fit into my cleansing room here.” Flint’s eyes narrowed. “It is our home now, not just mine.”
His words touched Mira and she smiled wider at him. “I love our home,” she corrected.
“I want you to bathe and climb into bed to wait for me.” He walked to the glass wall in the bedroom to open the slide panel to let fresh air blow into the room. He slowly turned to face her. “I have deliveries arriving at any moment. After they are here I’ll join you. Take your time in the cleansing room.” He chuckled. “You should have seen the longing on your face when you saw it. When is the last time you soaked in water?”
“Before I left Earth on business about two months ago.”
“Take a long bath.” He nodded at her before striding out of the room.
Mira walked into his cleansing room, noticing no windows were in the room as an Earth one would have but she saw a vid screen mounted along one wall. Did Flint like to watch the news or entertainment while soaking in the tub? The image of a naked Flint lounging in that huge tub did things to her libido. She stripped quickly while water filled the tub and delight hit her instantly at the luxury of hot water up to her chin as she climbed in it. At one point she heard a chime, guessing that some of Flint’s deliveries had arrived.
She was still soaking in the warm tub when Flint walked in, naked. Her eyes raked over his large muscular body and she couldn’t miss the erection he sported. Flint took her breath away with his muscular, perfect body and sexy, incredible eyes. He was the hottest guy she’d ever seen in her life. The cyborg turned her on instantly just by being undressed in the same room with her, knowing what was going to happen between them. She ran her gaze up his body slowly, noting every inch of him to memory, until she met Flint’s amused gaze as he smiled at her.
“They arrived faster than I thought so I’m joining you.”
“Please do.”
He climbed into the tub, making the water level rise dangerously high when he settled in next to her. She laughed. “Maybe I should let out a little water.”
He reached for the release first. “I have it.” His eyes locked with hers. “I want you.”
“I saw how turned-on you are. I want you too.”
She didn’t hesitate. She moved around in the water to face him as she straddled his lap. She saw surprise hit his features and then he grinned as his hands slid to her waist. He said nothing but his features spoke volumes.
“You’re sexy when you’re naked and wet.” She cupped water in both hands to let it run down his chest.
“Tomorrow I made an appointment with medical. I’ve requested the shot I need to activate my sperm.”
She was instantly confused. “You already have sperm.”
He chuckled. “Not fertile sperm. Once I take the shot my sperm will be viable.” His thumb brushed her lower stomach. “With active sperm I will be able to impregnate you.”
Now it was her turn to be shocked. “You want to get me pregnant already?”
His entire body tightened as he frowned at her. “Yes.”
“But we haven’t been together long enough. I thought we’d wait a bit.”
“Define long enough. You’re mine, Mira. I have requested the paperwork to be filed for us to be a family unit and it should be approved today since they have no grounds to deny me. I’ve waited a long time for a family unit and I won’t wait any longer. The moment I saw you when you opened the door to me on that shuttle I knew you were going to conceive my offspring. My mind was made up then.”
“Just a few days ago you were willing to sell me.”
Pure anger constricted his features. “You ran from me. I ma
de a rash decision in anger. Let it go. I’ve forgiven you for running.”
She nodded. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I still owe you money. I really do have it. I’ll pay you back for the fuel I cost you to come after me.”
Flint relaxed, his anger fading as quickly as it had flared. “There is no need. The salvage from the pirate ship more than paid for the cost of fuel used to capture you again. The value was higher than I first thought. They had stolen a lot of cargo that we were able to use. Your running was actually profitable.” His smile died as his eyes narrowed. “But don’t ever run from me again, Mira.”
“I won’t.”
“Convince me.”
Passion flared in her. She loved the husky tone he used when he said the words. She reached over for the body wash bottle and opened the lid to pour a generous amount of the soapy liquid into her palm. She washed Flint’s neck with her fingertips, her palms, her fingernails raking his skin. Flint groaned softly, shutting his eyes in contentment, tilting his head back to rest on the edge of the tub.
“That feels good.”
“Wait until I start cleaning lower.”
She paid extra attention to Flint’s sensitive nipples. She cupped water in her curled hands to rinse all the soap off, watching his nipples bead into taut tips that tempted her. She leaned forward until her mouth closed over one of Flint’s nipples, sucking on him and using her teeth to tug at the hard, pebbled tips. Flint groaned as his hands cupped her ass.
She reached between them to curl her hands around Flint’s hard cock. He was big, thick, and long. She ran her hands over him gently, exploring. He arched his hips so he was more firmly in her hands. The motion lifted them both, with her straddling his lap. It also made her release his nipple.
“Ride me,” he groaned, his head lowering so intense dark blue eyes could open to stare into hers. “Ride me now.” He gripped her hips, lifting her easily.
Flint’s strength always amazed her. Mira felt as light as air in his hold as she braced one hand on his shoulder while her hand, still gripping his cock, navigated that thick member under her as Flint eased her body down on him. She moaned as he stretched her, filling her slowly, gravity and his hands pulling her down on his lap. Her body eased all the way down until Flint was buried deep inside her. Their eyes remained locked together so they could mirror their passion for each other.
She gripped his shoulders, bracing herself to move. She tilted her hips and drove down fast after a few minutes. A moan tore from both of them at the sensation. She experimented, rolling her hips as she moved up and down on Flint until she found the perfect angle.
“Oh God,” she panted. “Just like that.”
She rode him down as he thrust up into her. They groaned and panted together at the feelings their sensual movements created in their bodies as they rubbed sensitive pleasure points together. It was sheer bliss as their bodies moved in unison. The water lapped at Mira’s nipples and their moving bodies made waves that splashed against them, heightening her sexual awareness.
Flint shifted his hold a little on her hip and his thumb slid between her spread thighs to brush against her clit. She knew she was done for. He rubbed her nub just by having his thumb there as their bodies rocked together.
“Flint!” Mira cried out his name as she came. It was a violent release. Inside her Flint followed her in seconds as her muscles went wild around his hard flesh still moving in her. He groaned her name. Flint’s cock pulsed inside her when he flooded her with his release.
She collapsed against him, resting her head on his chest. Flint wrapped her tighter against his body. The sound of his beating heart was loud in her ear. Flint chuckled, cupped one of her ass cheeks.
“I’m making a new house rule. You aren’t allowed to bathe without me being in the tub with you.”
Laughing, Mira turned her head a little to brush a kiss over his heart. “I like that rule. I think it should be a rule that you have to get naked with me often in the tub.”
“Done.”
“Do you know that I won’t leave you? Are you convinced of that yet?”
Flint held his breath, his body tensed for a split second before he blew out the air in his lungs to relax again. “You had better not, Mira. You belong to me. I will always come after you and there is nowhere that you can go that I won’t find you. I won’t ever sell you but you will wish that I had if you ever run from me again.”
Lifting her head, she met his gaze and saw fury there in the dark depths of his stormy eyes. “I will never leave you, Flint. I want to belong to you.”
His hand rose from the water as he gripped her face in his large palm. “I do own you. You belong to me and don’t ever forget it, Mira.”
“You are scaring me a little and you make it sound like a threat.”
“If you think of it as a threat I’m sorry. I just want you to know that I value you above all else and unless I die I will do whatever it takes to keep you.”
Searching his eyes, she relaxed. “Good.”
He looked shocked again. “Good?”
“Yes. The only thing that could ever make me try to leave you is cheating.”
“Cheating? I’m honest. I do not cheat.”
“It’s a term that means sleeping with other people. I don’t want anyone but you touching me. I want you to say the same thing to me. I want monogamy, Flint. It would kill me if you touched another woman. I couldn’t take it.”
Flint frowned as his gaze left hers and she saw him swallow. Long seconds passed as Flint didn’t say a word, not looking at her. He blinked a few times before he took a deep breath, still not saying what she wanted to hear.
Mira tensed, feeling pain hit her at his silence. “You aren’t going to give me that, are you?”
He met her gaze. “I won’t touch another woman purposely.”
“What in the hell does that mean?” She jerked out of his hold, separating their bodies, to climb out of the tub.
She heard him stand up and hit the water release on the tub. The drain was loud as it let the water flow out. She grabbed a towel to dry her body, shooting a glare at Flint over her shoulder. He was frowning at her, watching her silently.
“I’m a cyborg, Mira.”
“And that means you have to cheat?”
He sighed as he stepped out of the tub. “I’ve been activated in the past and I’m a good breeder. Some cyborgs are not.”
She spun around to face him head-on. “What in the hell does that have to do with anything?”
“Some cyborg men are unable to reproduce. I’m in a contract with a dozen cyborg males. Ten of them are in family units already. If they are unable to reproduce I’m obligated through that pact to help them.”
Her mouth dropped open. “What?”
“It has already happened twice. I was contacted by Sole and Varl when both failed to impregnate their females. I am obligated to that pact, Mira. If either one of them wants or needs to reproduce they could call upon me again. My sperm was activated on both occasions and it was successful.”
Shock tore through her. “They wanted you to sleep with their wives and you’re telling me you have two kids?”
He frowned. “I guess you would see it that way. The children are biological results of mine but they are not mine in any other way. I was a donor. They belong to Sole and Varl.”
She took a deep breath, having to force air into her lungs, which felt frozen. She was partly horrified, mostly stunned. “Can’t you just donate your sperm in a damn cup? Are you telling me you have to have sex with other women if one of your buddies gives you a call?”
“Medical intervention isn’t successful. We’ve found that our bodies tend to reject artificial methods in that regard. It has something to do with the stress levels in the females during conception. Natural breeding has a much higher success rate.”
“I can’t believe this. If you were a bad breeder would that mean you’d bring some guy home one day and tell me to fuck him if you didn’t kn
ock me up?”
He frowned. “I wouldn’t do that because I know that I’m a good breeder. There is no need for me to ever call on one of the males in the breeding pact to help me in that regard.”
“You said a dozen of you are in a pact together?”
He nodded. “All cyborgs males are signed up in a dozen-member pact.”
“So if any of those eleven men call you to fuck their wife to knock her up, you have to go sleep with those women?”
His mouth pressed into a grim line. “Yes.”
She spun away from him. “Oh. My. God.”
She stumbled out of the cleansing room and into the bedroom. Pain, shock, and horror were hitting her at once. Mostly it was pain she suffered. Flint would cheat on her. Her eyes frantically went around the room to finally land on his dresser. She dropped her towel, walking toward it, and just tore open drawers.
“Calm yourself, Mira.” Flint had followed her into the room. “I would not have sex with another woman otherwise. Isn’t that enough for you? I will only touch a female who I am obligated to impregnate.”
Mira jerked on one of Flint’s shirts with shaking hands. It fell to her thighs. Eleven men could call up Flint at any time to ask him to sleep with their wives and two of them already had. He had two biological kids somewhere on Garden. She wouldn’t be the mother of his only child if she let him get her pregnant. It hurt her, and worse, it really pissed her off. She shot him a glare as she put on her pants.
“No. It’s not enough. Damn you and your screwed-up cyborg world. What kind of sick people are you? Forget what I said. I don’t even want to hear it. If you can’t make a commitment to me then I won’t be making any to you.” She spun away to get her boots.
Flint moved fast, grabbing her arm to spin her around to face him, to glare down at her. “What does that mean?”
“It means the first damn time you walk out that door to go fuck someone else I won’t be here when you get back.”
Flint’s face darkened. It was no longer such a pretty shade of gray. “What?” He growled the word.
“I’ll let you own me, Flint. I won’t even flinch when someone calls me nothing but property. I can take all of that because I have feelings for you. I am willing to let you get me pregnant. I was ready to swear up and down on my damn life that I’d stay by your side forever. What I won’t do is give myself to a man who goes out and betrays me. I consider it a betrayal if you fuck someone else and I don’t give a damn about your breeding pact.”
Burning Up Flint Page 15