My Cyborg Savior (Crimson Romance) Read online

  God, let that day be today. Now. As she approached the edge of orgasm, he removed his hand. Before she could even whimper in protest, he shoved his mouth against her aching clit; his tongue rasped over her with hunger and urgency. He thrust two of his fingers back into her vagina, hard. Sparks of pure pleasure shot up her spine as her pussy clamped down on his invading fingers and she rocked herself against his tongue.

  For several seconds he stayed with his head pressed against her inner thigh, while the water rained down on them. His breathing was fast and harsh. He pulled back and dropped her leg. “Go. You need to go in the other room.”

  “But why? Let me touch you. Let me taste you.”

  He stood and backed away. “No, go lie down. I shouldn’t have gone this far with you. It was wrong. You’re out of it, and if you touch me now, I’m not sure what I’ll do.”

  “Everything I want.” She took a step toward him and he clasped her shoulders.

  “Go get in bed. Now.”

  She frowned at him, but quickly left the room. Did he really not want to take advantage of her because she was loopy or was it something else? She had enough control to make this decision. He must know that. But he’d made her leave anyway. She glanced over her shoulder. His back was to her, his arms braced on the stall wall. His head was down. Was he ashamed of what they’d done? He didn’t want her. In his mind she was a spoiled princess. Not someone he wanted to be with. But she’d hoped even if he didn’t want her in the long term, he would want her now. Long term wasn’t an option for them.

  He stepped back from the wall and grasped his cock in his hand. He stoked it slowly as she watched. Did he sense her eyes on him? His speed built as he tossed his head back, biting his lip. His harsh roar filled the bathroom, echoing off the walls. If she hadn’t seen him, she still would have known what he had done. White ropes of cum shot onto the floor of the shower, and coated his hand before rinsing down the drain.

  His eyes opened and his heated gaze locked with hers. She spun around and sprinted for her bed. Even after what he’d done to her, it was still embarrassing to get caught watching him jerk off. She flopped onto her stomach in bed, facing her head away from him.

  Would he really rather handle himself than be with her? Did she disgust him that much? He was beautiful when he came. She wanted to see it up close. But apparently he didn’t want her to.

  She sensed, more than heard him as he entered the room, his stare like a physical touch. “Surely you’ve watched a man masturbate before. You’re acting very shy about it.”

  “No, I haven’t. It’s something well brought up gentleman deny doing.”

  He snorted. “I’m sure they do.”

  “Galen, why did you — ”

  He grabbed her shoulder and flipped her over. “Believe me, Jamila. I want you. Never doubt that. But I can’t have you now, for the reason I’ve said. And others. I’m a slave, and if anyone found out we were sleeping together, you’d be ostracized and I’d be killed. And there are other things. Things that I can’t tell you yet. Someday I intend to have you, but not now.”

  She sighed. “Whatever. Let me fix your wound. Sit.”

  He dropped obediently at the foot of her bed, and she reached for the regenerator on the bedside table. She flipped it on and put it to his shoulder wound. It was already scabbed over. It seemed days old rather than hours. “Jeez, whatever super vitamin you’re taking, I want some.”

  He smiled. “Believe me, it’s more of a curse than anything.”

  She could believe it. The government was hunting his kind, and according to him, they’d stolen everything from him.

  The regenerator quickly said that healing was complete. She ran her hands over his smooth skin. “That should be it.”

  “Actually, you need to get the exit wound in the back.”

  He faced away from her and her gaze fell to it. She lifted the regenerator again. “Wow, the original wound must have been bad.”

  “Not enough to take me out.”

  She rolled her eyes. How macho of him. “Clearly. Well, you’re all set, even if it wasn’t necessary.”

  He chuckled. “Thank you, but you should probably stop running your palms over my back.”

  She jerked her hands away. “Right.”

  He turned around, tangled his hands in her hair, and pulled her into a short, scorching kiss. He pulled away and rested his forehead against hers.

  “I shouldn’t have done that.”

  She pulled away with a grumble. “Why?”

  He grabbed her hand and wrapped it around his stiffening cock.

  She snickered. “Oops.”

  He stood, and she let her hand slip down his dick.

  “Goodnight, Jamila.”

  She leaned back on the bed and ran her hands lightly over her breasts and down her thighs. “You sure you don’t want me to take care of that?”

  He closed his eyes as if praying for patience, or restraint. “God yes, but its late. Get some sleep. Your father said you have a suitor tomorrow.”

  “Fuck. Yeah. Like I’m going to sleep now.”

  Chapter Six

  Jamila tried to hide her smirk as she watched Galen over the shoulder of this jerk. He was making faces at him, trying to cheer her up. She’d been in a foul mood all morning. Something directly related to the skinny, whining man sitting across from her. He’d arrived early. Six in the morning. That was quite enough to make her hate him, when her father had roused her and Galen only three hours after they’d gotten to bed. Galen was a much better sport than her. He’d called her spoiled again, but ruffled her hair as he said it.

  “You’re not used to getting up early. I’m used to being roused with a beating. Your father calling me over an intercom, albeit a loud one, is a much better wake up call, trust me.”

  But he’d quickly lost his patience as well when they’d gone to breakfast to find her father and William Reginald Barry the Third debating the finer points of the upcoming elections. She’d almost fallen asleep at the table, Galen standing silently at her back.

  Now they’d been left alone with the horrible William. She restrained another sigh. She’d spent her morning sighing, and Mr. Pompous Ass still wouldn’t shut his trap. He’d also insulted her several times, saying basically that women weren’t equal to men or as smart as them.

  When she’d expressed her opinion on keeping the genetically engineered locked away in Haven districts, his response had been, “You have no sense, dear. You don’t know what you’re talking about. I’ve met these people. They’re dangerous.”

  Only Galen’s hand on her shoulder had stopped her from popping him in the mouth. Just when she’d seriously considered jumping off the SkyTemple from the balcony in the breakfast nook, Galen had changed positions, and started entertaining her.

  “What do you find so funny now, Miss Clearborne?”

  She coughed and straightened in her seat. “Oh, nothing. I was only smiling at you. You’re very witty and charming.”

  She could almost gag on the lie as she forced it out. Billy-boy beamed at her, revealing rows of solid gold teeth, something popular among the gentry, and she tried not to flinch.

  “I’m pleased you find me charming, my dear.” He grabbed her hand in his clammy palm and kissed her knuckles, leaving imprints of blue lip tar on her. She didn’t jerk it back, but oh how she wanted to. She’d never understand the latest trend in blue lipstick. Particularly the shade he was wearing. It was like a dead blue grey. Like he’d died of hypothermia. If only.

  She glanced at Galen, only to find he wasn’t staring at her anymore. His gaze was fixed on the news feed screen mounted above the far end of the table. His jaw clenched and his grip tightened on his wrist, causing the muscles in his arms to stand out. What had him so riled up? His gaze shot to hers, and he jerked his head towa
rd the screen. She nodded slightly and turned her full attention to it.

  Houses were on fire, their ancient wooden flames not able to hold up. The camera panned over the whole region. A whole town was completely demolished.

  The little caption finally gave the location. Haven District, Larus. The bottom dropped out of her stomach and she stood so quickly her chair crashed to the floor.

  “Volume up!” she shouted as she stumbled toward the end of the table.

  “ … twenty thousand dead. And an estimated one hundred thousand injured or missing. Look at that devastation! The government’s bombs ripped this area apart this morning just after four in the morning.”

  Her insides churned at the excited tone in the announcer’s voice. She tried to halt her shaking. It would do no good to show William what this news was doing to her.

  And then the asshole opened his mouth. “Good riddance, I say. The government said they did it because the people were breaking the law and going into the districts around them, but I say they have every right to kill them all. They’re nothing but trouble. Riffraff who want to take over the world and kill people like us. I hope they catch the people that were aiding them.”

  “What?” Bile rose in her throat as she tried to wrestle her panic. They knew someone was helping them? She had to assume they didn’t know who yet, or agents would be knocking at her door. Well, not knocking. Kicking down.

  “Yes, they think some people were smuggling them food, medical supplies, and weapons.” Weapons? She’d never run weapons. Maybe they would be catching someone else instead of her. Galen jerked and he glared at her, the muscle in his jaw twitching.

  William picked a piece of lint off his cuff. “They should bomb all those places. Sometimes the government is much too humane.”

  The camera panned the house where the children were. There was nothing left. The place had been leveled. God, where were they? Was anyone alive? She couldn’t believe this.

  She turned on William, and strode toward him.

  “Jamila, no.” Galen’s harshly barked order didn’t even make her pause.

  She slammed her fist into William’s face and he crashed to the ground. “Get out of my house. Anyone who would revel in the deaths of so many people doesn’t deserve to lick my shoes. I will never marry you, you piece of shit.”

  She aimed a kick to his ribs when she was lifted off her feet. Galen hauled her against his body and quickly carried her out of the room. She drummed her heels against his shins, trying to get him to let her go.

  “Come on, dammit. Let me kick him a few times. Put me down.”

  He shoved her in her room and she stumbled to her knees. She ground her teeth as pain shot up her thighs. He quietly shut the door behind him, as he rubbed the bridge of his nose.

  “I hate that man. You should have let me beat him a little more.”

  He froze, and slowly lowered his hand. “Do you know what you’ve done?”

  Her eyes filled with tears. Why did he have to remind her? She’d gotten those people killed. She knew that. If she hadn’t been trading with them they wouldn’t have died. “It’s my fault. I killed them as thoroughly as if I’d shot them. Do you have to bring that up now? I know I’m as guilty as the government.”

  He growled, leaned over, and plucked her off the ground by her arms. He shook her. “You don’t know what you’ve done. You’ve revealed yourself, and you didn’t even hesitate to do it.” He pointed back toward the sitting room. “Those actions in there? Punching him? You’re obvious reaction to those deaths? He witnessed that. He knows you’re a damned sympathizer now. What if he suspects what you’ve done? Dammit, Jamila, why didn’t you think?”

  She shook her head. This was why he was upset? She didn’t give a damn. So she’d revealed herself. It was worth it to get a shot at his smug face. “He won’t turn me in. He doesn’t know I was smuggling medical supplies and food to those people. He’s probably stupid enough not to even suspe — ”

  He shook her. “Goddammit! Don’t be so blind. He might act like a damned moron, but he is an educated man. If you think he doesn’t suspect you now then you’re as stupid as he claims.”

  He shoved her down on the bed, and paced away from her. He rounded on her again, and took a deep breath, seeming to reconsider his words. He walked away again, and when he turned he kept his distance.

  “Were you giving them weapons, Jamila? I need the truth. You’re in horrible danger if you did. You’re the person they will hunt down first. I’d bet you anything the government already knows about your involvement. If you were running arms, you’ll be killed. If you weren’t, they might not even come after you. Tell me the truth.”

  She shook her head frantically. “I never gave them weapons. I swear. Food and medicine. I was working with an orphanage, for God’s sake.”

  He nodded. “That might save you too. I assume they went in because they heard that the underground was receiving guns. They might not even find out about you until they torture Alice, Darion, or one of the children.”

  “Torture? You don’t think they’re dead? We have to help them if they’re being tortured.”

  His gaze softened. “There’s nothing we can do, sweeting. They’re probably on their way to a core planet to be more thoroughly interrogated. Even if they’re still here, if we tried to rescue them, we’d end up dead.”

  Pain radiated from her chest, making it hard to breathe. She rubbed her breastbone, but couldn’t seem to get a full breath. They were dead, or being tortured. What if she had gotten them killed? Had they been spotted crossing the wall last night? She buried her head in her hands.

  She felt the bed dip under Galen’s weight. He pulled her into his arms and hugged her tight. He didn’t say a word, thankfully. She didn’t need any dull platitudes about how everything would be okay, and it wasn’t her fault. She needed him to hold her for a while.

  • • •

  Galen laid Jamila’s sleeping form on the bed and stood. He crossed to his room and shut the door. He couldn’t wait now. He had to act. This wasn’t something he’d expected. He might not even be able to get what he wanted now, due to her criminal actions. He had to hope she was still worth something to her father. He hacked his slave collar and shackles and they hit the throw rug with a dull thud. They’d been blocking the transmitter under the skin on the back of his hand. The slaver had missed it, as they’d expected, along with the communications device under the flesh of his palm.

  He opened his hand and whispered. “Change of plan. Come get me. Now!”

  Chapter Seven

  A deafening boom shook the house. Jamila hit the ground on her backside in a tangle of silk sheets and barely kept her head from striking the floor. What the fuck was that? She rubbed her bruised butt as she sat up.

  It happened again and SkyTemple tilted violently to the left. Her bookshelf whined as it rocked. The house settled again.

  “Galen?” He didn’t answer and that was as frightening as anything else.

  She scrambled to get away from the bed. If the bookshelf fell, all her ancient leather bound books would crush it. She pushed herself to her feet, got stuck in the stupid silk sheets and hit the marble floor again. She needed to get into the hall where there was no furniture. In ships all the furniture was bolted down, but in Temples, after the initial launch they barely moved at all, and if they did they did it slowly.

  “Galen? I need some help.” Where was he? He should have been in here. He’d been here when she’d fallen asleep.

  Then she got help, but not the kind she wanted. The temple pitched again. The silk sheets, and her along with them, slid and hit the wall. Pain exploded in her head and she gasped for air trying to regain her balance. She touched her forehead and came away with blood.

  The bookshelf crashed onto the bed and the whole mess slid a foot toward her wi
th a groan before the house started to level out.

  She kicked free of the sheets and crawled into the hallway, using the doorway to pull herself up. She had to get the servants and find a shuttle to get off this thing. She turned and crashed right into Galen.

  “Where have you been? I’ve been calling for you. I was frightened. The stabilizers must be malfunctioning.”

  He brushed his hand over the cut on her forehead and she flinched. “Dammit. I thought you’d at least be safe in your rooms. I can’t leave you alone for a second. Sorry about that. I had to take care of some things.”

  “What’s happening?”

  “The stabilizers are fine. Your SkyTemple is taking fire.”

  She gaped at him, not believing it. No one had ever tried to shoot down one of them before. “What? Why?”

  “Because your father is a high ranking government official with numerous enemies, that’s why.”

  “But he’s left. Elections are taking place and the Senate has one last meeting. Everyone knows where he is.”

  “Yeah, well I get the feeling they aren’t here for your daddy, sweetheart.” Sarcasm and contempt colored his words. He’d never directed that much loathing toward her, even when he’d first been bought.

  His hand tightened painfully on her arm and she flinched and smacked his fingers. “What’s wrong with you? You’re hurting me. Besides, what you’re suggesting is ludicrous. I’m of use to no one. My father won’t bow to terrorists.”

  His grip loosened, but he didn’t let go. “I’m not necessarily talking about you, though you would be useful, despite what you think.”

  She frowned. Why would they be attacking if not to hurt her or her father? He pulled her down the hallway. They’d made it a few feet before she realized they weren’t heading toward the shuttles and she pulled him to a stop.

  “Galen, the shuttles are back this way.”

  “Not the one I’m going for.”

  Another blast rocked the house and she almost tumbled to the ground. Galen kept his footing with minimal effort. As he helped her regain her balance, her eyes narrowed on his bare wrists.