Chapter Nine
They were almost back to base when a communiqué from FLD came through the secured command channel. “General, everyone has been evacuated from the human enclave. We just had a sizable earthquake, and it destroyed two sections of the enclave, but the Ark is unaffected for now.”
A surge of relief shot through MX, and he wasn’t the only one. JSN was grinning even more than he was, and they were clearly both on the edge of celebrating. At least until DVS’s words.
“Were there any losses?”
“Three,” said FLD briskly. “The humans forgot about one of their own in the brig. When they remembered, two volunteers went in to rescue him, but we found the remains of all three halfway down the collapsed corridor.”
“I see. Convey our condolences, and if it’s safe enough, recruit some volunteers to retrieve everything from the Ark.”
JSN broke in. “They won’t need to bring the equipment used for cloning, since Gwen and I have set up a more efficient system at the base. Tell them to focus on grabbing the samples, and try to remember the inventory list. We don’t want to accidentally clone crocodiles when we’re going for crocuses.”
FLD signed off, and their base came into sight. It wasn’t obviously a base to the undiscerning eye, but MX knew exactly where it was, and exactly who waited for him inside. It made his step lighter as he followed DVS inside, with JSN bringing up the rear. As soon as they stepped inside, they were surrounded by humans and the remaining cyborgs, who had been assigned the task of protecting the base. There was a collective sigh of relief that went through the crowd, followed by a jumbled torrent of voices.
MX stepped away from it, allowing his gaze to find Heather in the crowd as DVS started recapping the events for the others. When their gazes clashed, she moved away from Carrie, who had been headed toward her mate, and trailed behind Gwen, who was clearly intent on reaching her mate also.
It felt good and sounded right in his head to acknowledge he was Heather’s mate. Until meeting her, it wasn’t something he thought he would ever want—not that he’d given it much thought—but now he realized it was everything to him. She meant everything, and he hoped he’d have a chance one day to thank Freydon Rote for bringing them together.
As Heather stopped beside him, Gwen skirted around the both of them to join JSN, but MX didn’t watch her walk away. His eyes were on his mate, and he realized she was anxious from her dilated pupils and rapid heartbeat. “What’s wrong? You seem apprehensive.”
She licked her lips and shook her head before letting out a strangled chuckle. “I guess I’m a little nervous. I hoped you’d come back, but I was so focused on your safety and your return that I didn’t consider what would happen next.”
He arched a brow. “What will happen next?”
She shrugged. “That’s the part I’m not sure about.”
“Nothing has to happen right away, if you don’t want it to, but I thought we agreed we were mates?”
She licked her lips again, and he barely held back a groan at the sight, which reminded him how plush and tempting her lips were. “I’m not exactly doubting it, but do you really think it’s right? Do I feel like your mate?”
He took a step closer, lifting his hand to cup her cheek. She didn’t shy away, which he took as a good sign in the face of her obvious doubts. “It seems to me that Freydon Rote hasn’t been wrong yet, so I don’t see why he’d start with us. You feel like my mate. I know you have plenty of reasons not to want to be with me, especially considering what I did to your great-grandmother, but if you decide you can get past those reasons, I’ll be waiting.”
It seemed like a good time to move away from her, to give her space to decide, and he honestly tried to. Instead of moving, his feet remained glued to the floor, and his hand pressed a little more firmly against her cheek. He wasn’t giving her time or space to make a decision, and he supposed he should feel guilty about that, but he couldn’t summon the emotion with so much at stake.
She licked her lips again, and this time he did groan, which made her eyes widened. “Is something wrong? Are you in pain?”
He shook his head. “Not really.”
Her change in demeanor was dramatic, and her hands started moving over his body in a brisk, businesslike fashion. “Where were you injured?”
“My head.” Truth be told, he still had a mild headache, but it was barely noticeable. It was his aching cock that had his full attention, along with imagining her mouth wrapped around it.
“You should lie down.”
He shook his head. “I’ll be fine.”
Heather’s hands went to her hips, and she struck a pose that suggested she meant business. “Whenever someone is injured in the enclave, they need to rest. You could have a concussion.”
At the sign of her concern, he didn’t have the heart to tell her that he’d practically already healed from the head injury. Instead, he decided to surrender to the temptation of having her care for him. “Maybe you’re right. Would you mind walking me back to my quarters to make sure I don’t pass out in the hallway?”
Was he laying it on too thick? Apparently not, because her arm curved around his waist a moment later, and she seemed to be trying to take his weight. He allowed her to have a little bit of it, just enough to convince her she was providing much-needed support. He didn’t like manipulating her, but he couldn’t deny it was a nice novelty to have someone looking after him and caring about his well-being. Of course the other cyborgs cared, but this was different. This was his mate.
As they moved past JSN and Gwen, who were standing with their arms around each other, he caught JSN’s gaze. MX braced himself, seeing the wicked glint in his friend’s eyes.
“What’s wrong with you, MX?”
MX shrugged. “Heather’s afraid I might have a concussion.”
JSN laughed. “That’s ridiculous.”
MX braced himself for his friend’s revelation of the truth, fearing it would alienate Heather when she learned he hadn’t been honest from the start. Instead, her mouth opened to defend him, which made him feel even worse.
“It’s not ridiculous. He has a serious head injury, and he could die.”
JSN laughed again, shaking his head. “I suppose that’s a possibility.” Under his breath, he seemed to whisper, “An infinitesimal one.”
Either Heather didn’t hear him, or she ignored him. Judging from the tightening of her lips, MX assumed it was the latter option. “I’m going to make sure he makes it to his quarters safely.”
“That’s a good idea. I’m sorry we didn’t think to support you on your walk back to the base for the last two hours,” said JSN. His last few words sounded muffled, and it was obvious he was doing his best not to burst into laughter.
MX turned away from him, looking down at Heather. “Come on. I really feel the need for my bed.” And her in it, but he left that part unspoken. He also ignored JSN’s robust chuckle as they moved away.
He slanted a glance at Heather, but her expression revealed nothing, except intense focus. She was still bearing part of his weight and probably assumed she had the brunt of it. He felt cosseted, but guilt assailed him. He’d have to enlighten her once they were back at his quarters and hope she forgave the mild pretense. He wasn’t doing it to lure her to his room. At least not entirely. He just couldn’t deny he liked having her take care of him.
They reached his room a few minutes later, and the door opened when he pressed his palm to the biometric panel. She slipped right in with him, clearly unwilling to relinquish the burden of his weight until he had settled heavily on the bed. Then she took a step back and straightened her shoulders, looking deeply concerned. “Can I do anything for you?”
He let out a sigh. “I’m sorry.” At her frown, her confusion clear, he continued speaking in an attempt to clear up the situation. “It would be almost impossible for a cyborg to get a concussion. It would have to be such a catastrophic injury that it would probably shut down the brain entirely, rather than just injuring it. I have a minor headache, but I’m in no danger, and I shouldn’t have taken advantage of your caring nature.”
She put her hands on her hips and glared at him. “Are you telling me that you’re not injured, and that you didn’t need help back to your room?”
It was his turn to lick his lips as nervousness pricked him. “That’s exactly what I’m saying. I just liked having you take care of me.”
She took a step closer, hands still on her hips. “I have just one thing to say to you.”
He braced himself for her anger. “Go ahead.” He sounded calmer than he felt.
“I know.” Her lips twitched.
He frowned. “You know what?”
Heather’s hands flew into the air, and she seemed a little exasperated with him. “I know you didn’t need help. I have a functioning brain. If you could walk all those kilometers back to the cyborg base, you’re clearly not going to keel over.”
“Then you weren’t worried about me?” MX winced at how petulant he sounded.
She grinned. “Of course I was, but I knew you were safe. It just seemed like a good way to get past the awkwardness of the moment.”
“I liked you taking care of me, even if it wasn’t a sincere emotion.”
She rolled her eyes. “Of course it was, but we both know you’re in reasonably good shape.”
He nodded. “I am fully functional.” Suddenly, he realized she had been a willing party in maneuvering her back to his quarters, and she obviously expected him to do something now that she was there. He was surprised by the way his stomach twisted with a combination of excitement and apprehension as she took a step toward him, her intent not entirely clear, but likely to be pleasurable.
***
Heather forced herself to ignore the nausea in her stomach as she moved closer to MX. On one hand, she wanted to giggle at his tepid outrage at the way she had manipulated him. On the other hand, she also felt a little guilty for not revealing that she knew the truth sooner. In the grand scheme of things, it didn’t really matter, since they had both ended up exactly where they wanted to be—with each other, alone, and with the bed temptingly nearby.
She took another step forward, which pressed his knees to her legs, and stood there just staring at him for a moment. He really was absolutely perfect, in spite of some of his flaws. She was still a little uncertain, wondering if Freydon Rote was correct that MX was her mate, but that was her mind. Her body was a hundred percent convinced already that they belonged together, which made it easier to close the distance between them. She sat down on his lap, her knees on either side of his hips as she straddled him. Her lips moved to his, and there was no hesitation when they met.
She kissed him deeply, trying to convey everything she was feeling, except for the confusion. That seemed to be a distant memory the moment their lips touched. She pressed her tongue to the seam of his lips to gain access, sweeping her tongue inside. He might not realize it, but she was branding him as hers, and it was perfectly logical at that moment.
MX cupped her buttocks in his hands, lifting her slightly and pressing her groin to his. She moaned and wiggled her hips at the feel of his hard arousal pressing against her, telling her far more effectively than any words just how much he wanted her.
She moved away from his mouth, trailing her tongue across his cheek to approach his ear. When she nibbled on his lobe, he stiffened and let out a hoarse grunt as his hands tightened further on her butt. She writhed against him again as his hips rose to meet her, and they were practically making love through their clothes.
She’d prefer without, so she forced herself to pull away. His hands tightened, trying to keep her against him, as she brushed her lips over his nose. “I’ll be right back.”
He looked disappointed, but his hands fell away so that Heather could stand up. His eyes widened when she just took another step back before she started removing her clothing. After a moment, he grinned. “I thought you were leaving me.”
Heather spent a moment toying with the buttons on her shirt. “I thought we could just be more comfortable, but if you changed your mind…” She trailed off as she dropped her hands away from the last button, the crucial one that was hiding her breasts. When he shook his head, she brought her hands back up and undid the last button, flicking it open quickly before parting the lapels of her shirt. She hadn’t bothered with a bra, having been too preoccupied with what might happen on their mission as she had mindlessly washed and dressed herself to give it a thought.
He drew in a deep, ragged breath, and a moment later, MX was on his feet. His hand reached out for her, and she moved closer at the same time. She gasped at the surge of arousal that flared inside her, uncertain how she could be any more turned on than she’d already been. He’d managed to find a way.
As his fingers moved gently over her nipple, she moved closer to him to help remove his uniform shirt. He seemed reluctant to let his hand drop away, but complied when she tugged at the material. Suddenly, he picked her up, and she instinctively locked her legs around his hips. He pressed her forward until her back rested against the wall, and his hand dipped into her pants that she hadn’t yet gotten around to removing. His fingers dipped into her silken core, which was wet and welcoming to his exploration.
His mouth dominated hers as his hand explored her, his kisses were rough and demanding, alternated with soothing and coaxing. It couldn’t have taken long for the first waves of orgasm to approach, but it felt like they had been locked together this way forever. It was a satisfying thought, and it might have been the final push that sent her over the edge of pleasure. It would’ve been screaming pleasure if his mouth hadn’t swallowed her cries of fulfillment.
Heather collapsed against him, allowing him to hold almost all of her weight. Her fingers were still digging into his shoulders, and she managed to loosen the pressure a little as the last of her release faded to the point where she could think. With a whimper of protest, she clung to him when he tried to set her down.
“Shush, I’m just trying to finish undressing you.”
“You too.” It wasn’t her most eloquent moment, but he seemed to understand what she was saying, because his hands went to his pants and stripped himself efficiently before returning his attention to her. She should’ve had time to remove the rest of her clothing as well, but her legs were still shaky from the intense and unexpected orgasm. Instead, she had leaned against the wall to admire the view as he stripped off every piece of clothing to reveal the perfection beneath.
He moved closer to her, his hands quick and confident as they dealt with her pants to slide down her thighs. He got down on his knees to finish stripping them from her, and she managed to lift her leg when her active participation required it.
When she lifted her second leg, MX held it in place after he’d removed the material. He pressed her back firmly against the wall, splaying her wide with one leg propped up in his hand, supporting her thigh.
As his mouth approached, she mewled and tried to buck her hips. She was eager to meet him, but he refused to allow her much range of motion. It was clear he planned to keep her at his mercy while his mouth devoured her. In the heat of the moment, it sounded like a terrific idea, and she allowed the urge to move forward to fade away.
Soon enough, his mouth covered her folds, his tongue lapping at the cream coating her before flicking inside to circle her clit. Heather pressed her palms against the wall and bit hard on her lip to keep from crying out too loudly when he used one hand to part her labia so his tongue could have better access.
It squirmed inside her, hitting all the places that made her tremble and go weak. Heather gasped and moaned as his tongue surged inside her before sweeping back to her clit again. He continued the motion, alternating how hard or soft he moved his tongue until she was almost sobbing from the intensity of the sensations coursing through her. She lost all control when his mouth fastened gently around her clit and sucked with enough pressure to make her come so hard that she sagged against him, losing the ability to stand or even make sounds in the heat of her desire.
She was vaguely aware of him lifting and carrying her back to the bed as she sagged against him, and she was incapable of interacting for several moments after the earth-shattering orgasm he’d given her.
When she started to return to awareness, she found herself lying on her back with MX settling himself on the mattress so that he was between her legs. She opened her arms to welcome him as she parted her thighs as wide as she could, inviting him inside.
He didn’t accept for a moment. Instead, he hovered with the head of his cock poised at her opening. “You’re absolutely perfect.”
She managed a shaky smile, almost surprised to have regained that much control over her own muscles and nerve endings. She felt like she should still be a melting pile of goo on the bed. “You seem pretty perfect yourself—at least perfect for me.”
Slowly, he slid inside her an inch at a time. “You’re no longer doubting Freydon Rote?”
She shook her head as she lifted her hips to meet him, enveloping him in her slick heat. “I don’t think I ever really doubted him. I guess I was just afraid he was wrong. I don’t think he was though.”
He grunted as his hands moved, sliding underneath her to cup her buttocks and bring her more fully against him. “I don’t think he was either, but he’s the last thing I want to talk about right now. I don’t want to talk at all.”
She grinned at him. “That seems pretty good to me.”
They lost themselves in the silken rhythm, seeming to instinctively adjust to each other’s patterns. Whenever he moved, it was as though she could anticipate what he was going to do. She’d never made love like this before. She’d had sex, but had never been this connected to a partner, and certainly hadn’t been able to anticipate his next move before he made it, even if she’d been with the person a few times.
It was all new and amazing, if a bit bewildering, that she could feel so intensely for someone she barely knew. He’d been her enemy just weeks before, but now she couldn’t imagine life without him. It was a strange turn of events, but as her orgasm crested, spurred by the twitching and tightening of his erection inside her as he reached fulfillment, she acknowledged she was not in a state to be philosophical. Instead, she simply wanted to surrender to the moment and enjoy what was happening between them, so she did.