The Cyborg Tinkerer

by Meg LaTorre

  The way Bastian nodded, it was as though he were a soldier acknowledging the order of his captain. His eyes faded as he looked past the room and to whatever horrors Emmeline must have put him through.

  “You don’t have to apologize for another woman’s actions—” he began, but Gwen cut him off.

  “I do,” she said. “And I’m sorry for being a complete and utter fool.”

  Slowly, she swung her feet off the side of the bed. At that moment, she realized two things. First, she wasn’t wearing any pants. Second, she had a new, clean cast on her leg, and her shoulder had been bandaged. How long had she been out?

  As she rose to her feet, Bastian said, “What are you doing?”

  Pain seared her senses as she stumbled toward him. The irony of the role reversal—Gwen limping toward Bastian as he had limped toward her at the inn after rescuing her from the flesh traders—didn’t escape her. But the pain was too much, and her legs gave out. She started to fall, and he caught her, scooping her up into his arms.

  She looked deeply into his eyes. “Your past doesn’t define you. You’ve been trying to be a better man, and I should have seen that. Instead, I ran at the first sign of conflict. Thank you for confiding in me. I’d like to continue where we left off. That is, if you still want me.”

  Still cradling her in his arms, he strode over to the bed and placed her gently down. As he did, his face lingered before hers, tears welling in his eyes.

  “Of course, I still want you.”

  His mouth was on hers, warm and inviting.

  She forgot the pain of her body, the pain of being separated from him, and everything they’d done to escape Covenant. At that moment, all she knew was the softness of his lips and the tenderness of his touch. His hands slipped into her hair as he sat down on the bed, and he kissed her again and again, tasting of their shared tears.

  The space between them was too much. She needed him, all of him. Her touches grew hungrier as her hands roamed his chest, his back, trying to take all of him in at once. His teeth sank into her neck, her ear. He expertly avoided her injuries as his tongue traced a path down her chest and between her breasts where her loose shirt hung low. Slowly, his lips made their way back to hers, and his tongue ravished her mouth.

  Gasping, he pulled away, and she was rewarded with the sight of his hardened cock beneath his pants.

  He cleared his throat. “I’m sorry. You’re injured. I shouldn’t have… We shouldn’t…”

  Reaching up, Gwen wrapped an arm around Bastian’s neck and pulled him back down to her.

  “I’m not that injured,” she lied, pressing her lips to his, eager for his touch.

  Stars, she needed this—to know he was alive and himself again. Slowly, he wrapped his arms around her back. The way he pulled her close, it was as though he feared she might float away into space if he didn’t anchor her down.

  “I’ll let myself out,” Rora said from somewhere near the door.

  “Don’t.” Gwen extricated herself from Bastian. “There’s one more thing we should talk about.”

  Rora’s hand hovered where she reached for the handle.

  Exhaling, Gwen gathered her courage and prayed she was doing right by them both.

  Gwen looked at Bastian where he sat on the bed beside her looking surprisingly unabashed by that public display of affection. “I love you for the man you are and can be. And I want to support you and stand by your side on the long road ahead.” She looked away from Bastian’s hopeful eyes to Rora’s. “And I love you, Rora. Despite everything, my heart never got over you. And you proved to me by facing the dragon today that you can put others first.” Taking a deep breath, she forged ahead. “I love you both. And I want you both in my life.”

  I want you both in my bed.

  But she didn’t dare voice that desire aloud. Not yet.

  “You love me?” When Bastian spoke, his voice held such surprise that Gwen wanted to reach out and touch him. To show him how truly deserving of love he was. But she didn’t. He had to decide for himself if he wanted to be with her in this way. Slowly, his expression turned inward. “Are you saying… you want to be with both of us?”

  Gwen nodded. “Is that such a bad thing? Plenty of people in the galaxy are married to multiple spouses. Not that I want to get married anytime soon, mind you. But I want to be with both of you. If that’s something you’re both open to.”

  Relief flooded Rora’s features, and she smiled brightly, her head bobbing up and down. “I want to be with you, Gwen. In any way you want.” Her gaze touched Bastian. “I’d be open to sharing you with him.”

  Gwen turned to Bastian.

  Before her eyes settled on him, he pressed his lips to hers.

  A moan escaped her lips. “I’ll take that as a yes.”

  Bastian pulled back, his lips red. “As long as I can have you, I’m willing to share you. However, I think we need to lay down some ground rules before I lose myself in you.”

  Gwen nodded, waiting.

  “I want to be in a relationship with you,” he said. “Occasionally, I’m willing to share a bed with you and Rora, but not always. I’m an open-minded man, but I’m a selfish one, too. And I want you to myself more often than not when we’re together physically.”

  “That’s fair,” Gwen said.

  “I’m open to sharing your heart with Rora, but my heart is yours,” Bastian continued. “I need to know that what I share with you stays with you. And if Rora and I happen to become friends and the three of us decide we want to be in a relationship together, that is something else entirely, which we can address at that time. For now, I just want you, Gwen. Can you accept that?”

  “I can,” Gwen said. “I respect you and want to give you what you need, too.”

  Rora stepped toward the bed. “I echo everything Bastian said with one exception.”

  Gwen cocked her head to the side. “What’s that?”

  “I’ll fuck the two of you together as often as you want.”

  A bolt of desire shot down to Gwen’s core, so hot, so consuming that she thought she’d drown in it.

  Swallowing, she said, “I want both of you right now, but only if that’s something you both want.”

  Bastian leaned forward, cock twitching, and kissed her hungrily. Between kisses, his teeth pulling at her lips, he said, “Are you sure you’re feeling up to this right now?”

  Stars.

  “Um, yes. Very much yes.”

  Bastian looked up, nodding to Rora. “I’m willing if you are.”

  A weight settled on the opposite side of the bed as Rora moved in beside them. Kisses trailed Gwen’s ear and neck as a small hand traced the line of her curves.

  Slowly, Gwen shifted until she faced Rora. The acrobat leaned on an elbow, long lashes fluttering. Behind her, Gwen felt the press of Bastian’s cock between her legs.

  “Lock the door and don’t come back until your clothes are gone,” Gwen said, her voice breathy. “I want you both right fucking now.”

  Bastian helped Gwen slide her long shirt over her head. The cold air of the cabin kissed her chest and her nipples pebbled. Standing up, he unbuttoned his shirt and tossed it to the floor. Just like the night at the inn, he was thin enough that she could see the outline of his second implant. But he also seemed somehow sturdier than before. He was a tall man with broad shoulders and a naturally large build. And she ravished the sight of him, her eyes sweeping down the line of hair on his chest, to his abdomen, to the faint outline of hip bones, and to…

  His cock was so hard and so long that Gwen couldn’t help her sudden intake of breath. A small bead of moisture formed at his tip, and fuck. She wanted that man right fucking now.

  There was a thud as the door was bolted.

  Shifting her gaze, Gwen watched as Rora hooked her thumbs into the sides of her pants and slid them slowly down. Kicking them off, she moved to her shirt, pulling it gracefully over her head. As Rora pulled the band from her hair and her tight curls fell aroun
d her face, Gwen’s gaze slid down to the shaved flesh between her legs.

  Gwen bit her lip. “Get over here. Now.”

  There would be a time for slow lovemaking with Bastian and Rora—together and separately—but today wasn’t that day. She needed to feel their bodies pressed against hers. To know they were alive and well and right beside her.

  When the dragon was nearly upon her, she thought she’d never see them again. She still felt the ache of that separation. It was like a physical pain, and one that could only be healed through touch.

  Bastian settled in close beside her. The touch of his skin against hers sent another bolt of pleasure shooting right down to the flesh between her legs. She breathed in sharply, growing wet with desire. His fingers traced gentle swirls on her back, and she leaned back and kissed him.

  As Rora’s steps neared, Gwen said to Bastian, “I want you to fuck me.” She turned to Rora where she stood beside the bed. “And I want you to fuck my face. Any objections?”

  Rora bit her lip, shaking her head, as Bastian moved so he was above Gwen.

  “None whatsoever,” Bastian purred.

  As Rora climbed onto the bed, Gwen reached up, wrapping a hand around Rora’s neck and pulling her down for a long kiss.

  “Before we begin, I want to feel you,” Gwen said. “Just for a moment.”

  She’d had a moment before to hold Bastian and kiss him, to feel him beside her. And she found she needed that with Rora as well. She needed to kiss her and know this was real and not the most epic wet dream she’d ever had.

  Rora smiled. “I hope you like what you find.”

  Gwen’s hands roamed the length of Rora’s body, which felt like it was sculpted from fine, warm marble. There were muscles everywhere, and stars. Planets must be envious of that ass.

  Slowly, she moved her hands up to Rora’s face. Cupping her cheeks, Gwen’s human and cyborg eye flickered back and forth between Rora’s. True sorrow mingled with desire and hope in the acrobat’s eyes. After a moment of hesitation, velvet lips crashed into Gwen’s. Not needing further encouragement, she parted Rora’s lips with a tongue, eager to taste her everywhere.

  As she kissed Rora, Bastian nibbled the soft flesh where Gwen’s legs ended and a softer flesh began. His hand slid down, and he hesitated before her opening. Gwen leaned into the touch, needing to feel him as much as she needed Rora. His fingers slid into her easily.

  “Oh, Gwendolyn,” he moaned.

  Gwen moved her body, fucking Bastian’s fingers. Again and again, he plunged inside her, fingers curling right where it counted, but it wasn’t enough.

  “What are you waiting for?” she said to him. “Fuck me.”

  An animalistic growl escaped his lips. He was a man hungry for more.

  And she was a woman hungry for everything he could give her.

  His cock slid into her wet folds.

  Gasping, it took her body a moment to adjust to the size of him. He was far larger than she’d anticipated, even after seeing him. And stars. She wanted him down to the hilt and arched her back toward him. Above her, he bucked, his thickness sliding in and out of her.

  Releasing Rora, the acrobat moved until her legs were on either side of Gwen’s head.

  Hands grabbing Rora’s hips, Gwen pulled her down until she was a breath away. Ever so slowly, she ran her tongue over the length of her. She was sweet and salty and entirely Rora. The taste was so intoxicating, it made Gwen’s mind spin. She was rewarded with Rora writhing and gasping. As her tongue moved, flicking up and down, her eyes locked with Rora’s. Then she moved her hand, lingering before Rora’s opening, waiting for Rora to object just as Bastian had for her.

  Instead, Rora grabbed Gwen’s hand, pressing her fingers into the dampness between her legs. Even as she did, Rora’s hips moved against Gwen’s face. Rora no longer tentatively received what Gwen had to give her. Now, she was ravenous—a woman seeking her own pleasure.

  A moan escaped them both.

  Gwen brought up a second finger, and then three, her tongue never stopping.

  All the while, Bastian’s cock slammed into her as though he couldn’t get into her fast enough, hard enough. As though their parting weighed just as heavily on his heart as it did for her.

  Rora came first, giving in to pleasure as it washed over her.

  Still bucking, his cock sliding into Gwen’s slick flesh, Bastian’s breaths grew ragged. Rora moved to lie beside Gwen and brought her hand down to stroke Gwen’s clit as Bastian fucked her.

  Gwen moved in rhythm with them both, leaning into Rora’s touch and arching toward Bastian’s cock.

  Leaning down, Bastian’s lips melded with Gwen’s, his teeth catching on her lower lip. His cock swelled inside her, impossibly hard, as his lips roamed the length of her neck. Then his gaze shifted to Rora beside her. Something unspoken passed between them. An agreement, perhaps. Then as one, they turned their full attentions back to Gwen—Bastian fucking her and Rora’s fingers moving with torturous slowness.

  Gwen entwined her fingers in Rora’s curls as the acrobat kissed her neck. With her other hand, she squeezed Bastian’s thighs, urging him on. As she did, she used Rora’s hand for her own pleasure as Bastian fucked her.

  Stars, she couldn’t get enough of them. She would never get enough of them.

  Too soon, she unraveled around them. As she cried out, both of their names on her lips, she felt the warm splash of Bastian’s seed against her stomach.

  Moments later, silence descended. The only sound was their heavy breathing.

  After Bastian wiped her stomach, Gwen turned to them.

  “Want to go again?”

  Chapter 41

  Hours later, Gwen woke to a steaming cup of tea beside her bed, cheese, and a biscuit along with a note in Bastian’s handwriting.

  * * *

  Good morning, beautiful. Here’s a little something to regain your strength. I’ll be at the helm when you’re ready. – Bastian

  * * *

  Smiling, she quickly ate.

  The bastard already knew the way to her heart was through her stomach.

  There was also a small wash bin in the corner of the room with fresh water along with a sponge and a second note, this one in Rora’s handwriting.

  * * *

  Call if you need help getting dressed! (Or undressed.) Xo Rora

  * * *

  Wiping herself down as best as she could, Gwen cleaned the remaining smoke, ash, and blood from her skin. Next, she cleaned and redressed her shoulder. Afterward, she attempted to don a pair of leather trousers, but the pain was too much for her leg. Instead, she pulled on long socks and a loose-fitting casual dress. Expecting space’s deep chill, she also wore her leather tinkerer jacket, torn and burned as it was, and kicked on her boots. Thanks to her broken leg, she couldn’t tie her one boot, but she did manage to slip them on and left one shoe unlaced. Last of all, she took a deep swig of the flask on her side table before strapping her tinkerer’s belt to her waist along with her pistol and knives.

  For a long moment, she stared at the bed, tempted to lie back down and never get up. Everything hurt—every cut, scrape, and blister—along with her gunshot wounds. Most of all, her leg screamed for her to sit. But she wanted to see Bastian, Rora, and the others more than rest. There’d be time enough for that later. Grabbing a new crutch that had been placed beside the bed, she hobbled out of the cabin.

  The deck was dark except for the faint light of the passing stars above the gravity and oxygen fields and a few humming light bulbs in electric lanterns. Only watchmen worked above deck, tending to the sails and moving about the ship. Where was the crew?

  The circus staff and crew had been among those Emmeline had turned into mindless zombies, so most everyone should have made it back. Why were watchmen working on the ship and not the crew?

  But Gwen couldn’t keep her eyes on the Mistress’s mindless soldiers for long.

  Rora stood near the railing with Akio and Marzanna.
/>   Turning around, Rora smiled broadly as Gwen approached. “Hello, beautiful.”

  Everyone rushed toward Gwen at once. Akio and Marzanna wrapped their arms around her, muttering friendly profanities. Grunting, Gwen tried to shrug off the pain from the physical contact.

  “You fucking showed that dragon,” Akio said.

  “Glad you’re not dead,” Marzanna added.

  Smiling, Gwen exchanged pleasantries, planting a soft kiss on Rora’s forehead. Akio and Marzanna glanced back and forth between each other, a knowing smile on their lips.

  Gwen and Rora had a long way to go before there would be true trust between them. But Gwen was willing and excited to give whatever was between them a real go.

  Eventually, she turned toward the quarterdeck and strode up the stairs.

  Seeing her, Bastian came forward, encompassing her in a gentle hug.

  She could still feel the outline of the plating beneath his chest, but he somehow felt sturdier than before. Perhaps it was his newfound self-confidence shining through. Although he would have to face parts of his journey within himself, they would get through whatever came next together.

  Slowly, she let go, pulling back to look into his eyes. “The others told me what you did—diving off the ship when my board died. Why did you come after me? You risked everyone’s lives by trying to save mine.”

  After everything she’d gone through to save them, he’d nearly doomed them all. If the dragon had been even a little quicker, they could have been barbecued.

  “I couldn’t let you die,” he said. “Not when I could do something to save you.”

  She started to cross her arms but stopped, grunting. “I don’t need saving.”

  “Of course not.”

  She pursed her lips. “Sarcasm is unbecoming.”

  A smile spread across his lips. “You are strong, capable, smart, and—most importantly—you are kind.” He stroked her hair. “I love you.”