by Cynthia Sax
“I’ll be safe with you.” Her warrior wouldn’t allow anyone to harm her. “I—”
“We’re being hailed by the Homeland, Captain.” Chuckles informed them.
Everyone stopped talking, the sudden silence on the bridge emphasizing the importance of the communication. It would decide their fate.
Would they be declared enemies of the cyborgs or would they be granted more time to find a solution?
“Open hailing frequencies.” Vector tightened his grip on her.
Kasia covered his hands with hers, relaying her support. Whatever her warrior did, whatever he said, she’d stand with him.
The image of a grim-looking E Model appeared on the main viewscreen. All the cyborgs on the bridge snapped to attention, their spines straightening.
That must be Power, the leader of the cyborg council, the male who had ordered Vector to kill her. Kasia studied her adversary. There was no softness in the male. His jaw was clenched. His shoulders were squared. His dark eyes glowed.
“Vector.” Power’s tone was curt.
Kasia’s heart pounded. That didn’t bode well for the conversation or their future.
“Sir.” Vector’s voice was manufactured flatness, all emotion scrubbed from it. “Did you receive the programming change?”
“We all received the programming change,” the cyborg council member snapped. “You didn’t have authorization to send it to the entire population. It could have damaged our brethren.”
Kasia’s eyes widened. It wasn’t like her cautious cyborg to send a mass transmission without council approval, even if it eliminated his brethren’s susceptibility to EMPs.
“We tested it on our warriors first.” Vector lifted his chin. “We verified it wouldn’t damage any of our brethren and a delay of even one planet rotation could have put them at risk. I refuse to withhold such critical information from our warriors.”
As critical information had been withheld from him, costing his brethren on Furud One their lifespans. She knocked her booted feet against his, signaling she understood.
Vector’s gaze flicked to her face and then returned to the main viewscreen. “The decision to share the programming change was mine alone. My crew, the J Models, and the human female weren’t involved.”
“I wasn’t involved but I would have approved of the decision.” Kasia wouldn’t allow him to shoulder all of the blame.
“I like this female.” Truth grinned.
“The J Models would have approved of the decision also.” Dissent was the next to express his support.
“As would his crew.” North spoke for them.
Kasia squeezed Vector’s hands, pride expanding her chest. His innate sense of right and wrong was one of the facets of his personality that had attracted her to him. And it had earned him the loyalty of everyone around him.
“I’m aware you were responsible for the decision.” Power’s lips twisted.
“Then you’ll agree the others shouldn’t be reprimanded for my actions.” Vector pressed. “There’s no reason for them to return to the Homeland and report to the cyborg council. They’re free.”
“As soon as they rebelled, they were free.” The E Model glanced at the other warriors. “The order to return to the Homeland was a precaution.” His gaze returned to Vector, his eyes narrowing. “Make this transmission private.”
“There’s no longer any need for that precaution.” Vector ignored the command, her cyborg focused on the plight of his crew and the J Models. “The programming change, devised by the female, removed our vulnerability to EMPs. Ordering the warriors to return to the Homeland serves no purpose.”
“We agree, which is why we’re rescinding that order.” Power conceded, spacing his words out. “The warriors don’t have to return to the Homeland. You and the human female, however, are to report to the cyborg council immediately.”
Her clever warrior had given the J Models and his crew back their freedom. Kasia smiled, impressed and relieved. She hadn’t caused them lasting harm.
She was the only one on the bridge pleased with the situation. The cyborgs scowled at Vector. Vector’s expression remained studiously blank.
“The human female was responsible for the programming change.” He splayed his fingers over her stomach.
The human female? It wasn’t the first time during the conversation he’d used that cold description for her. Why was he being deliberately hurtful?
“There’s no reason for her to report to the cyborg council.” Vector’s voice was firm. “She’s no threat to us.”
Was he proposing he return alone? Kasia opened her mouth.
Vector covered her parted lips with his palm, muffling her objections. She nipped at his skin. He didn’t remove his hand, silencing her.
“The human female will accompany you to the Homeland.” Power wouldn’t move on that decision.
Vector said nothing.
“Confirm that, warrior,” the council member barked.
“The human female will accompany me to the Homeland.” Vector rested his chin on the top of Kasia’s head.
“See that she does.” Power nodded, triumph reflecting in his dark eyes.
His image disappeared from the main viewscreen, the communication ending. Vector removed his hand.
Kasia glared at him. “The human female?” She heard the pain in her voice and didn’t care. That pain was the truth. He’d hurt her. “I’m your human female. Why didn’t you claim me?”
“You are claimed.” Vector sniffed the air and her face heated. She smelled of him, of their fucks. “Thoroughly.”
“But not publicly.” Her heart twisted as that realization sank in. “I’m another one of your dirty little secrets, aren’t I?”
She squirmed, trying to free herself from his hold on her, seeking to run, to put distance between them.
“Because captains of warships don’t have rebellious human females.” She didn’t fit into his world. She realized that. “I’ll jeopardize your precious role within the cyborg ranks.”
“Female—”
“And stars forbid you take me to the Homeland with you.” Kasia elbowed him in the stomach. He exhaled sharply but didn’t ease his grip on her. “Everyone would know I was your female then. How would you deal with the shame?”
Her heart ached but that’s what she deserved for falling in love with an uptight rule-following warrior.
“Let me go and you don’t have to deal with it.” She fought harder. “You’ll never have to see me again. I’ll take a warship and—”
“And you’ll crash it.” Vector slapped his hand over her mouth, containing her fury with his flesh. “Because you’re reckless and, although you’re an intelligent female, you never think before you act. Which is why I have to think for you.”
How was he thinking for her? Unable to speak, she kicked him, hard, the heels of her boots connecting with his shins.
His beautiful eyes flashed, blue surges of energy shooting across his irises. “If I claim you, you’re bound to me, female. My reprimand will be yours.”
His expression turned bleak, lines etching around his mouth.
Because he thought his reprimand would be harsh…which it likely would be. Kasia stopped moving. Her warrior had ignored direct orders, shared information he hadn’t permission to share.
Kasia knew more than most how dangerous that could be. She had placed her entire family in peril by accessing the Humanoid Alliance databases.
Vector pulled his hand away from her mouth. “I have to protect you, Kasia.” His voice softened with caring.
Her heart warmed, her outrage, her pain dissipating. He was attempting to shield her from harm.
“I appreciate that, warrior.” She had tried to physically put space between them in an attempt to keep him safe.
He was doing the same emotionally.
“But you won’t protect me by putting yourself in peril.” The thought of anyone hurting him strengthened Kasia’s voice. “I risked my
lifespan to assist my J Model friends.”
“She did.” Dissent confirmed. “The Humanoid Alliance could have caught her at any time.”
“My foolish female,” Vector murmured.
“Yes, I’m your foolish female.” She touched his stark face. “I was cautious when I assisted Dissent. I wouldn’t be cautious if you were in danger.” Fear punctured her soul at that possibility. “I would rush to save you, fight the cyborg council with my bare hands to defend you, take on the universe if I had to. My survival wouldn’t be a consideration. I’d act first and think about it later.”
“You would do that.” Vector blew out his breath. “This is serious, Kasia. Being bound to me could kill you.”
“That ominous fate has chased me for half my lifespan.” She shrugged, not-at-all concerned. “I’ve hidden from it in containers, in air conduits.” She looked upward. “But I’ve accepted it will catch me eventually. Until then, I stay with you.”
“You’re reckless.” Vector’s eyes gleamed.
“I am.” She grinned at him.
“Your female won’t die, Captain.” North sounded certain about that. “We wouldn’t allow that.”
“We will defend her,” Dissent agreed. “As will all of the other warriors once they hear she exposed the EMP vulnerability and crafted the programming change.”
“She’s intelligent…for a human,” Chuckles conceded, that rare praise from the human-hating male surprising Kasia. He was a difficult warrior to win over, determined to distrust her.
“Females remain scarce,” Doc chimed in, his head bowed over his handheld.
“Especially females like yours.” Truth chuckled.
Vector turned his head and frowned at his subordinate. The warrior’s mirth abruptly stopped and Kasia smothered her amusement. Her C Model didn’t tolerate disrespect.
Except from her. “This settles the discussion about whether or not I’m participating in the upcoming mission.” She didn’t hide her smugness. “I’m to accompany you.”
“You’re to accompany me to the Homeland.” Vector’s attention returned to her. “Not on dangerous missions.”
“Accompanying you to the Homeland is a dangerous mission.” Kasia wouldn’t be abandoned, even temporarily. “If you leave me on the battle station, I’ll steal a ship and follow you.”
“I’ll lock you in our chambers.”
“You can try.” She shook her head. No one had the ability to restrain her. “You’ll be as successful as you were the last time, which means not at all.”
Truth laughed, earning him another dark look from his captain.
“You have to keep me by your side.” Kasia placed her hands on Vector’s body armor-covered chest. “That’s the only way you’ll ensure my safety.”
He gazed at her. She looked back at him, as determined as he was.
“I’ll keep you by my side.” Vector relented.
Kasia exhaled, relieved. “Good.”
“We’ll fly the ship into the Vault but we’re not leaving the docking bay.” He dashed her hopes of having a grand adventure, of finally taking action rather than watching it. “We’re staying on board the vessel while others pursue the commanders and other senior officers.”
She could work with those restrictions. “Can I fly the ship?”
His lips twitched. “No, you cannot fly the ship.”
“You could teach me.” She realized she needed guidance. Her last attempt at flying had shown her that. “I’m a fast learner.”
One of his eyebrows lifted. “I’ve been trying to teach you restraint and I’ve seen no progress.”
“That’s different.” She waved her hands in the air. “I don’t wish to learn restraint. I want to learn how to fly a ship.”
He caught her wrists, his fingers rough against her skin. “I’m not teaching you to fly a ship during a life-or-death mission.”
She realized it was dangerous but the universe had been in the midst of a war for her entire lifespan. There would be no safe time to learn to fly. “You’ll be standing right behind me.”
“No.” He released her, his expression telling her the discussion was over.
Kasia’s shoulders slumped. “You’re no fun.”
“Took her a while to figure that out,” Truth muttered.
“Truth.” Vector’s voice rang out. Everyone, including Kasia, straightened, responding to the dominance in his tone. “Perform a complete systems check on the Freedom.”
“Yes, Captain.” Truth’s expression was revealingly blank as he left to carry out the order. Kasia enjoyed systems checks but she suspected the super-social warrior didn’t share that feeling.
“Dissent.” Vector set Kasia on the console and stood. “You have the bridge.” He slung her over his right shoulder and strode through the doors.
“Where are we going?” She grabbed his waist, trying to steady herself.
“Truth isn’t the only being who has earned a reprimand.” Vector smacked her ass. Hard. Pain and heat rushed over her form, stimulating her all over. “When I give you an order during the mission, there will be no arguing and no fighting it.” He cuffed her again and she arched her back, embracing the burn. “You will obey me.”
“I’ll try to obey you.” Her voice was thin.
“You will obey me.” Vector swatted her, emphasizing his point. “You could die, female.” He massaged her ass, rubbing the warmth into her flesh. “If that happened…”
She waited for him to say more. He didn’t.
“Would you care?” she prompted.
That earned her another smack. “Yes, I’d care.”
He’d care if she died. Kasia smiled against Vector’s back. It wasn’t a declaration of love but she didn’t know if her tightly wound warrior would allow himself to feel that unfettered, illogical emotion.
She’d accept caring… for now. “I care about you too.”
He huffed.
Chapter Thirteen
Would he care? His female had asked.
Vector walked into their chambers on the Freedom, Kasia hefted over one of his shoulders. The doors closed behind them.
He’d care.
Too fraggin’ much.
If Kasia died. He swallowed hard, that mere thought twisting his big cyborg heart. If she died, his world would stop turning. He would gladly walk into a swarm of Furudian fire burrowers, embrace that painful end, unable to survive without her.
Vector tossed her onto the sleeping support. She laughed as she bounced. He shook his head. His female was reckless and he shouldn’t find that as thrilling as he did.
When he was around her, his circuits surged. He felt newly manufactured, invincible, whole. She knew his secrets and still wanted him. He stripped off his body armor.
“Ohhh…we’re getting naked.” She grinned, removing her boots, revealing her perfect feet. “I like this reprimand already.”
“You aren’t supposed to like reprimands.” Vector caught her ankles, raised her feet, kissed her soles. He’d never allow anything bad to happen to them, to her. He reluctantly released her.
“I never do what I’m supposed to do.” She wiggled out of her flight suit. “Take off your boots, warrior. Show me those sexy feet.”
“They’re not my feet.” Though they were beginning to feel like his. Vector kicked his boots off. He no longer viewed the feet as monstrosities but as gear…like his body armor or a gun.
“Bring those feet here.” She hooked her long legs around his and tried to draw him to her.
He resisted. “No. You have to learn restraint.” And he had to solidify his. Her musk teased his nostrils. Her skin was appealingly soft against his. Her body was temptation unleashed.
The challenge of subduing her appealed to the primitive side of him.
“How will you teach me?” She gazed up at him, her big brown eyes bright with expectation.
He wanted to kiss her until her visual system shut down, until all she saw was him. His muscles tensed. This le
sson would test both of them. “Lie back, put your hands above your head and spread your legs.”
“Yes.” Her fists pumped the air. “You’ll punish me by eating me out.”
He wanted to eat her out but that would reward both of them.
And she didn’t deserve a reward. His female hadn’t yet obeyed his orders.
“Female,” Vector growled. She had to follow his commands, especially on their upcoming mission. Her life could depend upon it.
She rolled her eyes and complied with his instructions, stretching her arms and legs out, the action drawing his attention to her small breasts and taut nipples. Those sensitive peaks begged for his mouth.
“You’re not to move.” Needing a physical connection with her, he placed his hands on her stomach. Her muscles contracted under his palms, her form lean, defined, strong, a body any warrior would admire.
And he wasn’t merely any warrior. He was her warrior. This female belonged to him. Vector gazed at her with passion, with lust.
The darkness of her skin was accentuated by the stark whiteness of the sleeping support. Her hair framed her gorgeous face, a buzz of softness over her skull. Vector’s fingers twitched, the urge to touch her all over escalating.
“Now, what do I do?” She arched her back, his female unable to remain still.
“You are to do nothing.” He pressed down, striving to contain her movements. “Except wait.”
“Wait.” She moaned, that erotic sound making him even harder than he already was. “I waited for half a solar cycle before contacting you. I waited forty-two planet rotations for you to arrive.”
“You waited forty-four planet rotations for me to arrive,” he corrected. If he had known she was his female, he would have claimed her immediately, not delaying. The frag with the cyborg council’s approval.
“That’s even longer.” Her bottom lip curled and he battled the urge to bite that delicate flesh. “I know how to wait, warrior.”
“Think while you’re waiting,” he advised.
“Oh, I’m thinking.” Her gaze drifted over him, heating him without contact. “I’m thinking about licking you all over, about flicking my tongue over the tip of that big cock of yours.” Her little pink tongue skimmed over her top lip and Vector’s cock bobbed. “I’m thinking about dragging my lips over your shaft, taking you deep inside my mouth, sucking on you, bobbing up and down until your balls tighten and you lose control and come, your essence slamming against the back of my throat.”