by Cynthia Sax
That was all she could afford. It had rodents and insects and unseemly beings living in it. She shuddered, never wanting to return there.
“You needed a protector.” Chuckles rubbed her back.
He would have been that protector.
Bettina wished she had known him then. His presence would have decreased her terror. “I had no skills and I was pretty.” That had been a curse. “Do you know what type of males hire pretty females with no skills?”
Her cyborg’s chest rumbled with unhappiness. “Did they touch you?”
She lowered her gaze to his chin, shame sweeping over her. “They planned to do much more than touch me, sir.”
The males had become more and more aggressive with their attentions, grabbing her ass, squeezing her breasts as they passed her. Sometimes, they would stand directly behind her, their hot, stinky breaths on her neck, their sweaty bodies pressed against hers, their ass covering-clad cocks hard.
Her shoulders shook again.
They had made it clear if she said anything, they’d release her from her roles. That all three of the males were alike and expected the same thing couldn’t have been a coincidence. She realized that. Any supervisor would have wanted those favors from her.
“I will kill them.” Chuckles growled those words.
“They’re not worth the effort, sir.” She summoned a smile. “I had to take the roles. I was desperate for credits.”
Her dad unknowingly relied on her to pay for his domicile, his nourishment, his beverage. She loved him, couldn’t let him down.
Not having any other means to earn credits, she gritted her teeth and tolerated the males’ groping. Every shift was a battle to stay out of their clutches.
The odds of avoiding them had decreased with each passing planet rotation. She’d known it was merely a matter of time before she’d have to give in to their demands, had shamefully accepted that she would.
She didn’t have a choice until…
“Smarts approached me.” She had been scared of the female at first. Smarts was tough, strong, intimidating, and her offer seemed too good to be true. “She gave me a way out. There was training, and rules, and my safety is a genuine concern for her, for the rest of the team, because I’m valuable. I’m not easily replaced.” Pride straightened her spine. “I hold an important role.”
Keeper and the others might tease her, but they respected her, and they all looked out for each other. She wasn’t alone.
“You held an important role.” Chuckles once again corrected her. “You’re not resuming it.”
She had accepted that wouldn’t be possible. “I have to return the ship to Smarts, sir. The team needs it, and I won’t let them down.”
Many of the females, like Keeper, relied on their roles to support themselves and loved ones. If she didn’t give the ship back to them, they’d have to obtain and modify another one. That would take time and credits.
She couldn’t do that to them.
“We need the ship.” Her cyborg refused her request. “Because your team took mine. We’re not returning it.”
His ship wasn’t uniquely configured to convey captured beings comfortably. “But—”
“No.” He shook his head. “You asked me not to kill the other males. I accommodated that request. I won’t accommodate this one.”
She gave him her most pleading, pitiful look.
“That act won’t work on me.” His lips flattened. “I heard your conversation with your big Dracheon friend, baby. You agreed to both return the ship and stay for another set of procurements.”
Shit. She’d hoped he hadn’t heard that. “I agreed to stay for another set of procurements because, at the time, I didn’t have a means to travel to a settlement, sir. I have a means now. You can obtain a ship and meet me at the shuttle craft—”
“You’re my captive.” Her cyborg yelled that reminder, his big body shaking. “I’m not meeting you anywhere. You’re mine. You belong to me. And I’m never letting you out of my vision system. Do you process that, female?”
She knew he was angry because he called her female, not baby. Bettina bowed her head. “I process that, sir.”
She processed she’d have to stun him and put him back in his chamber. He’d be furious when she unloaded him, but she had no choice. The ship had to be returned, and if he accompanied her, he wouldn’t allow that.
“Come here.” Chuckles pressed her head against his chest. “I appreciate that you want to keep your word, baby, but that isn’t possible in this case.” He petted her, running his rough palms up and down her neck, shoulders, back, ass. “It’s too dangerous for you.”
He worried for her. She wriggled with guilt. “The unloading site should be set as our destination, sir. It’s positioned a planet rotation’s run away from a large settlement, in non-hostile terrain.”
Being a cyborg, he should cover the distance faster. She would have a slim head start, barely enough time to return the ship.
“Weapons can be traded for a flight somewhere else.” She told him.
Her cyborg had many, many weapons. He might be able to obtain temporary usage of a small vessel. That was all the two of them needed.
Chuckles’ lips flattened. “Those beings in your cages won’t be trading for anything.”
He was implying they’d kill the locals for their ships, that by saving her so-called rescuers’ lifespans, she was causing the deaths of more innocent beings.
She didn’t want to think about that.
Bettina grasped the decoration she’d set on the console. “This is Leporis 7 Inkstone.” She held the black crystal up to the light. “The black conductive wire was taken from a broken circuit.” She thought that was appropriate for her cyborg. “I added break points in the braid.” She touched them. “If one of your enemies grabs it, it will snap into pieces. Those beings won’t be able to use it against you, sir.”
“Those beings won’t be able to use it against me?” Her male stared at her. “You fabricated this…for me?”
She dipped her head. “I considered blue to match your eyes, sir.” She reached upward and smoothed his eyebrows. He had such beautiful eyes. “But I’ve never seen a stone that bright. Instead I matched it to your hair and the ink on your cheek and your body armor.”
He skimmed his fingertips over the crystal, tracing the edges of its long hexagonal body, its pointed tips, and said nothing. His gaze was downcast. His expression was unreadable.
Was her gift to him a mistake? Many warriors didn’t don decorations.
“You don’t have to wear it if you don’t want to, sir.” She squirmed on his lap. “I’d understand.”
She’d be hurt but she’d understand.
“You fabricated this…for me?” He repeated the question as though he couldn’t believe she had done that.
Because he was a cyborg, one of the best warriors in the universe. Why would he need a silly decoration?
He wouldn’t.
Oh stars. She’d made a terrible mistake.
“It was a foolish idea. I know, sir.” Embarrassed, she wanted to snatch her gift back from him. “You don’t wear decorations.”
“I suppose I’ll have to wear this decoration.” His voice was gruff. “Because you fabricated it for me.”
He donned the decoration. The crystal hung between his pecs, black and gleaming against his gray skin. It looked right, like it was a part of him, exactly how she envisioned it.
“It’s perfect on you, sir.” She paused. “But you don’t have to wear it.”
He bracketed her cheeks with his big hands, forcing her gaze to meet his. “I want to wear it.”
His eyes shone. Her cyborg was pleased by her gift.
Joy engulfed her. “Do you truly want to wear it?”
“I truly want to wear it.” He claimed her lips, his flesh pressing against hers, firm and insistent. She yielded to his dominance, to him, and he surged inside her mouth, kissing her with a dizzying burst of fervent emotio
n.
His tongue twined around hers, her cyborg’s possessiveness curling her toes. She clung to his shoulders, submitting to him as he pushed against her, his hold on her tight.
He ravished her mouth until her lips throbbed and her passion had revived. Then he drew back, gazing down at her. “You’re perfect, baby.” He touched the crystal. “I’m never taking this off.”
He truly loved his decoration.
Happiness bubbled inside her, the sensation similar to the transfer of his nanocybotics. “I thought I was a bad, bad female, sir.” She teased him.
His lips twitched. “You’re that too.”
“Thank you, sir.” She laughed.
“You’re a menace.” He hugged her to him.
She snuggled against his chest. Fuck. She’d miss him.
Soon, he’d leave the bridge and check on the other males. He did that for her once a planet rotation, saving her from having to deal with them, from hearing their hurtful comments.
When he returned from completing that task, she’d stun his sexy self and convey him to his chamber. Once they reached the planet, she’d unload him, along with the others.
Their relationship might end with that action. Her dominant cyborg preferred to remain in control. He’d considered his recapture to be a betrayal, might view her as harshly as he viewed his former Humanoid Alliance handler.
If he looked at her that same way… She blinked back tears.
Her heart would break.
Chapter Eleven
His female had fabricated a decoration for him.
A shift later, that act of caring continued to heat Chuckles’ chest. Soon, she would deem him worthy of the human love emotion. His baby would no longer try to escape him, wouldn’t talk of leaving him to rejoin Smarts and the other females, putting herself in danger.
He carefully tucked the black crystal under his body armor. “Eat your nourishment while I’m gone.” He had cut the nourishment bar into small pieces, placing them on the console. “Don’t leave the chair.”
“I can’t leave the chair, sir.” She shook her head, her blue-and-pink hair gathered into one bundle this planet rotation. “My ankles are tied to it.”
The restraints were required. His female was planning something. He was 99.9999 percent certain of that. Her ass had been wiggling since sunrise.
“It isn’t necessary to move from it.” He would quickly survey the captured males and return to her. “Your pack with your decoration supplies has been set within your reach.”
He’d organized the stones and other materials to ease fabrication for her.
“I’d like to fabricate something for your Captain’s female.” She plopped her pack onto her lap and rummaged through it, disrupting the order of the supplies. “What colors does she like, sir?”
“She wears body armor similar to mine.” Captain had it fabricated for her.
Chuckles would have body armor fabricated for his female also. She would be safeguarded from harm.
“More black.” His female wrinkled her nose. “Is she gray also?”
“She’s human.” He shook his head. “Humans aren’t fabricated in gray. Her skin almost matches her body armor. Her hair is as dark as her skin.” He predicted his female’s next question. “Her eyes are brown.”
“Ohhh…” His female dug some wire out of her pack. “She might look beautiful in gold.”
He grunted. A gold decoration would make the Captain’s female more visible to the enemy, but as the enemy wouldn’t be allowed anywhere close to her or Bettina, that increased visibility shouldn’t impact their safety.
“Fabricate the decoration.” He slid his hands over his form, ensuring the sheaths and holsters were filled with weapons. “I’m linked to all of the ship’s systems. You can focus on your task.”
“I’ll be fine, sir.” She smiled up at him.
“You will be fine.” He would ensure her safety. “Behave, baby.” He bent and brushed his lips against hers, tasting her sweetness.
She squirmed in her seat as he kissed her. He drew back from her and frowned. Her gaze dropped to his chin, a silent confession of guilt.
The longer they were together, the harder it was for her to lie to him. He processed that, anticipated a planet rotation when she wouldn’t deceive him.
Until then, he’d guard her.
“Abandon whatever you have planned.” He warned his female. “You won’t be successful.”
“Who said I had anything planned, sir?” Her laughter was shaky.
She still wouldn’t look at him.
He sighed. “You shouldn’t lie to your sir.” He kissed her again, pressing his lips hard against hers. “I’ll reprimand you for that when I return.”
He forced himself to turn, to leave the bridge. She was bound to her chair, wouldn’t escape him, and she would be safe.
The other males were locked in their cages. He entered the large holding chamber, confirmed that was true.
The Mox-X addicted Ahkian convulsed on the floor of his cage, the being suffering from withdrawal. The Silan gazed unseeingly at a wall. The four-armed Palavian was breeding with himself, the fingers of one of his hands wrapped around his cock.
The human stood, facing him, facing the doors.
That set off alarms inside Chuckles. The male was usually reclining on his sleeping support, feigning boredom.
“You’re looking especially sparkly this planet rotation, machine.” The male smirked.
Chuckles said nothing. His female’s sparkles were impossible to remove.
And he didn’t want to eradicate them. They were yet more physical proof of her claim on him.
“She must be a good fuck.” The human tilted his head. “Maybe I’ll use her first before I give her to my males.”
A growl rose in Chuckles’ throat. “You will never touch her, human.”
“Oh, I’ll touch her, machine. Soon.” Certainty hardened the male’s tone. “I’ll touch her with my cock. And then, when my males are done with her, if there’s anything left of her, I’ll touch her with my hands as I squeeze the life out of her body.” His eyes glittered, his anticipation of that event sickening to view. “You’ll see. I’ll let you watch, give you that last treat before your decommissioning.”
Chuckles’ fingers folded into fists. He wanted to kill the male.
But he’d given his female his word he wouldn’t.
He had honor, even if no one else on the ship had it. His word was his bond.
“My males will enjoy slicing you apart, machine.” The human continued to chatter. “The others will die too quickly for my liking, even with the prolongers we have on board. Your screams will give us many moments of entertainment. We might even take you back to our ship, make your pain last.”
Ship. On board. Males. The human was expecting to be rescued. But how would the males know where he was?
Fraggin’ hole. Chuckles sprinted away from the sneering human, moving as quickly as his damaged knee allowed him. The pain might have eased with each breeding. The malfunction remained.
He entered the small chamber where the packs were stored, opened one after another. The human’s pack was easy to identify, his uniform neatly folded inside it.
The human fought for the Humanoid Alliance, the enemy, the beings who had killed his brethren and damaged his knee. Chuckles’ top lip curled.
He ran his hands over the detested material, found a lump in the collar. It took little effort to tear the fabric apart. A tracking device fell to the floor.
He stomped on it, grinding it under the heel of his right boot. The females clearly hadn’t scanned the garments or their captives for tracking devices.
The human believed his males were following him and he could be correct.
Chuckles stuffed the packs into a chute and jettisoned them. He’d vowed not to harm the males. There hadn’t been any assurances made about their possessions.
Discarding the packs might not have eliminated the danger. The
males could have tracking devices inserted under their skin. Any beings tracking them could be close, ready to strike.
He should transmit to Truth, ask for backup.
But first, he would speak with his bad, bad female. Chuckles stalked back to the bridge, his left foot dragging a little, his tread heavy.
By humoring his little human, he had put her in peril.
He passed through the doors.
“Stop where you are, sir.” His female pointed her gun at him. Her hands were shaking. Her face was pale.
Her distress didn’t ease his anger. He stopped and glared at her. “The human had a tracking device in his garments.”
She blinked once, twice. “Is that what you jettisoned, sir—Dusta’s garments?”
She knew the human male’s name.
Chuckles snarled, his rage escalating. “I jettisoned all of the fraggin’ packs. If I hadn’t vowed not to kill them, I would have stuffed your precious Dusta and the rest of the beings into the chute also. They could all be sporting tracking devices.”
He’d modify a handheld and scan them. If they were equipped with tracking devices, he’d dig them out with the tip of his dagger.
He hoped Dusta, the human male, sported several.
“The males are being unloaded at sunrise, sir.” She stood. His female had sliced through the restraints around her ankles.
His lips flattened. He should have taken her wire-cutting tool away from her.
“You should be unloaded with them.” Her voice was squeaky.
Should be, not would be. His female was having doubts about betraying him.
He took a step toward her.
“Don’t move, sir.” She held the gun with both of her hands. “If you return to your storing chamber, I won’t stun you.”
“I’m not returning to my storing chamber.” He held her gaze. “And you aren’t stunning me.”
He was 61.2659 percent certain she wouldn’t pull the trigger. He was 100.0000 percent certain she wouldn’t stun him.
His female gazed at him, her big blue eyes wide. He gazed back at her, not showing any emotion, not backing down.