Chapter Nine

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By the time she mopped the orange fire suppressant agent from every nook and cranny of the bridge, Dani swayed from exhaustion. So much, she almost dozed off while standing, both hands curled over the top of the handle of her mop, her cheek propped against them.

“Daniella.”

Though he spoke softly, she jumped, her head swinging around to find him. He smiled at her from where he lay flat on his back under the command console, tools in hand.

“It’s time for you to go to bed,” Jaylin announced. “You’re dead on your feet.”

He did an ab curl, and hopped up as if he hadn’t been working for hours fixing the mess she’d made. Guilt, though she had done none of it on purpose, had been a near constant companion since the alarms had gone off.

“What about you? Aren’t you tired?”

“I’ve got three more parts to replace then I’m for bed, too.” He took the mop from her hand, set it aside, and taking her by the shoulders, aimed her toward the lift.

She glanced back at him. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to change course, really.”

“Yet you thought about it.”

“Thinking something isn’t a crime! Your controls are too sensitive. I swear I didn’t hit the engage button.” She bit her lip. “At least I don’t think I did.”

“Baby...”

Her heart skipped a beat. Was that amusement interlaced in his long-suffering tone. Noting the softer, more open expression on his face, she welcomed the return of the kinder, gentler version of Jaylin. He’d blown up, justifiably so, because she’d put them all at risk. He didn’t appear to be holding onto his anger, as Malik had predicted. She conceded her fault. “I should have come and gotten you first thing, it was crazy not to.”

“Not so much crazy as desperate. But we’ll soon be good as new, your bottom paid for your crime, and, with a middle-of-the-night cleaning session, you fulfilled your sentence. Time to put this in the past and move forward.”

“Okay,” she said around a yawn so it came out unintelligible.

He grinned. “Get to bed, Dani.”

Jaylin moved her along with a pat on her behind, just like Malik. This earned him a confused look, which he didn’t respond to. What he did was stand watching her go with his hands on his hips, looking gorgeous despite working hard beside her the entire time. She entered the lift and disappeared below the floor, the whole time pondering how similar, yet different the two men were—near identical muscle twitches when angry, same pat on the behind. Chalking it up to a cyborg’s ability to learn and mimic behaviors, she slogged to her quarters, pausing long enough to kick off her shoes before she flopped on the bed and was out cold.

Sometime later, she woke briefly when Jaylin stretched out behind her.

“Go back to sleep,” he murmured as his arms came around her and he pulled her body into the curve of his.

It felt too nice to protest. She snuggled into him thinking tomorrow would be soon enough to hammer out their other differences. Then, she drifted off again.

***

Dani’s breath rushing warm across his chest brought him slowly awake. Before he opened his eyes, he savored the feel of her body resting snug against his side, her cheek pillowed on his right pec, one leg tangled between his own. An awesome start to the morning. The way to top it, seeing her smile. Better yet, with a kiss.

As the events of the day before came flooding back, he didn’t think he’d get either any time soon. He’d been harsh with her and let his temper flare—a flaw Malik had harped on since they were children—but his mind had been preoccupied with keeping them safe from their unidentified pursuers. Her indifference after what they had shared and her callous talk about a future without him sparked his anger. It had cooled by the time he evaded the ship.

When he came to her bed, much later, she’d been asleep. Unable to resist slipping in beside her and holding her as he did now, he’d fallen asleep, intent on making it up to her when they awakened. Those intentions had gone up in smoke, quite literally, when he found his bridge in flames. He’d been enraged, rightly so, and didn’t regret the punishment he’d ordered.

As he worked to correct the damage she had wrought, knowing his brother was punishing her below, his ire had abated. And his mind had settled on a new course for the next ten, now nine, days. He’d give her the protection she requested, keeping her safe from her father’s reach, and during that time, he’d tie her so irrevocably to him and Malik, when she came of age in less than two weeks, she wouldn’t be able to imagine a future without them.

The same went for his brother.

He knew how his mind worked, and what he liked. They might look different, but they shared many other traits. Malik wouldn’t be able to resist Dani’s allure any more than he could.

Throwing them into intimate situations like with the spanking, where he had to touch her silken skin, smell her sweet scent, and see how beautifully she responded, would have his twin hooked. He, like Dani, would realize how much they belonged together, and if he couldn’t make this happen, he wasn’t the dominant first he thought he was.

A sigh from her lips preceded her stirring beside him. He rolled to his side, pulling her flush against him, front to front. Hard and aching for her, his length nudged into her soft belly. Her head tipped back, face soft and still drowsy from sleep, but coming quickly awake. She stiffened before she could blink, and her hands slid up his chest to push against him.

Yes, repairing the damage to her would require more work than the Renegade.

“Good morning,” he murmured, ignoring her resistance.

“You’re in my bed,” she grumbled, “so it’s not starting out good at all.”

“I see you’re still angry.”

“You yelled at me!”

“I have a temper and it tends to flare when I find my ship going up in flames.”

“And, you ordered Malik to spank me.”

“Something I won’t hesitate to repeat if you do anything as reckless again.”

She scowled at him, then averted her gaze.

“You’ve taken your punishment and are forgiven, Dani. Can you do the same for me?”

“No.”

“Baby...”

“You hurt my feelings.”

“I know, sweetness. My bark is sharp when I’m angry.”

“So Malik says.”

“And he would know. I’m trained by the military, used to commanding soldiers whose jobs are to take orders. That’s not who you are. I promise to temper my responses with you in the future.”

“No more spankings?”

“I didn’t say that.”

Her frown intensified, looking so disgruntled he couldn’t keep a grin a bay.

“What do you say, Dani? Am I forgiven?”

When her eyes lost their angry glint and her mouth softened, he thought she would relent, but her next accusation revealed the wide chasm remaining between them.

“You intend to take me to Earth, back to my father.”

“I’ve reconsidered.”

She reacted with a slow blink. “You have? You’ll accept my offer?”

“We’ll keep you safe until you turn twenty-five.”

Her face transformed, relief replacing the wariness, and she whispered, “Thank you.” Her hand came to his face. “You don’t know how glad I am to hear that.”

“Your plans for afterward we will need to discuss.”

“What?”

“That’s for later,” he whispered, lowering his head for a kiss. There were no more questions, at least none she could verbalize with his tongue tangling with her own. He rolled her onto her back and pressed her into the mattress, his knee insinuating itself between her thighs. When he propped on an elbow, ready to rid her of the tunic that was blocking access to the rest of her, she laid her hand on his chest.

“Jaylin, maybe this isn’t a good idea.”

He stared down at her in challenge. “You don’t want me anymore?”

Her lips parted, as though she would disavow the strong attraction between them. He wouldn’t allow it, moving his leg higher between her own, until his thigh rubbed against her center.

With his mouth almost touching hers, he dared her further. “You can’t deny your body’s response any more than I can, Dani.” And he didn’t give her the chance to, claiming her with a feverish kiss as he shifted over top of her, and he pressed the hard proof of how much he wanted her between her parted thighs.

Her fingers drove into his hair, as she kissed him back, her hips moving against him.

He wanted to shout in triumph, but it wasn’t enough. He wanted her bare, to feel her smooth, silky soft skin everywhere. Her clothes disappeared beneath his hands, both her tunic and tights.

“You’re good at that,” she whispered as the material cleared her head.

“Easy off, why do you think I suggested it the first day?”

She stilled, her eyes wide with shock. “You didn’t.”

“Of course, I did. I wanted you from the moment I saw you.”

Not giving her time to say more, he took her mouth again, while his fingers rolled and tweaked one hard nipple. His thigh pressed hers further apart, using his trousers to abrade, letting the friction build her need.

“It feels naughty being naked with you still fully clothed,” she rasped, when his lips grazed her cheek and slid down her throat. Her hands moved to his back and tugged on his shirt until she could run her fingers down his spine.

Wanting more of her touch, he rose above her and stripped it off. As he did, he caught sight of Malik in the hallway, his scrutiny on them, though mainly Dani. He tipped his chin in invitation, although he hadn’t broached it with her yet. He saw his brother’s face tighten as he shook his head.

Inside, his frustration twisted in his gut, though outwardly he shrugged. Still early, he had time to put his plan into action. Let him watch, see Dani’s beauty and how readily she responded to his touch. When his hunger increased, and his longing for the woman his first had chosen, he’d come around—he felt sure of it. Shucking his trousers quickly, he returned to Dani and covered her again, but a better idea on how to hurry things along, occurred to him. He slipped behind her giving Malik an unobstructed view of her breasts, her slightly rounded belly, smooth mound, and sleek thighs.

His hands acted as a guide for his brother’s eyes as he played with her body. First, coming up to her breasts where he teased both rosy nipples until they were hard points then, moving slowly down her belly, not stopping until they framed her sex. He draped her top leg over his hip before sliding his fingers into her wetness. Spreading her open with his thumbs, he let his index finger run over the slick pearl he’d exposed.

He heard an indrawn breath from the doorway at the same time Dani gasped, her stunned gaze fixed on the man standing there, watching.

“Do you mind, sweetness?”

“What, him watching us?” her voice quivered with shock, and what he knew was excitement.

“Yes, or we could invite him in.”

At his suggestion, a small squeak escaped her throat, which he couldn’t quite read, although it was not a denial. He swept his tongue along her neck and over her pulse point, pleased to find it thrumming rapidly.

“I don’t understand. You mean you want him to join us? In bed?” Her voice became breathless on the last word.

“I know you fantasize about being with two men, Dani.”

Her head twisted, and she gaped at him. “How could you know?”

“The immersion reality device stores your fantasies for replay, unless you erase them.” While he explained, his lips slid across her shoulder, pressing a trail of kisses as he went.

“You could have mentioned this little feature before.” She squirmed, attempting to sit up. Jaylin had other ideas. The hand at her breast slipped down to her waist, holding her firmly, while the other hand continued to play between her thighs.

“What arouses you is nothing to be embarrassed about. And your fantasy is a commonplace practice where I come from. So why not have Malik join us?”

“But, and I mean this as no offense, he’s a cyborg.”

A clicking noise from his twin’s direction drew both their gazes. Dani appeared puzzled; he recognized the sound of Malik’s teeth snapping together to contain his irritation. He waited to see if his annoyed brother would correct her. He didn’t, for some reason not yet ready to abandon the pretense. He’d give him that play, and use it to his advantage.

“Many worlds create cyborgs solely for sex.”

“Really? Are they, um, fully functional? I mean can they, um, you know...”

“Yes, everything works like any other man,” he said with a grin. “Better, in fact. Their stamina alone can make a woman beg for mercy.”

Her mouth formed a little circle of wonder as she looked back at Malik. “I’d never imagined such a thing.”

From the corner of his eyes, he saw Malik cross his arms over his chest and send a dark glower his way. He ignored him, saying to Dani, “You’ve seen little of the universe, haven’t you?”

“Elzor was my first trip.”

His head came up, eyeing her, an innocent in many ways. This pleased him. “There is much you have to learn. Malik is well versed in the arts of pleasure. Let us teach you the joys of being with two.” He bent his head, caught her earlobe with a little nip before he spurred her fantasy onward. “Imagine four arms holding you tight, twenty fingers gliding over your skin, and two cocks filling you and making you cry out with passion. All this from two men with one goal, to bring you to the height of pleasure.”

She glanced between them. “I don’t know...” she hedged, fixating on Malik who stood statue still.

“Fear not, Dani, I didn’t come to join you. I heard a noise and came to investigate.”

Jaylin chuckled as Dani’s blush stained her cheeks.

“I, uh, didn’t. That’s to say... I wasn’t referring to you.”

Malik’s clumsy stammer amused him more.

“You are not the least bit humorous, Captain. And, although I appreciate the invitation, I shall have to decline.” Then, with a tight-lipped look on his face, he left.

When she glanced back at him, he tried to smother his grin, but he wasn’t successful.

She arched a perfect red brow when she asked, “Do you usually, um, share, well...sex, with your cyborg?”

His gaze snapped to hers, searching and finding what he suspected, pupils dilated and her face flushed a rosy pink. She would have agreed if Malik hadn’t skittered away. This was a good sign. And with the subject broached, he’d keep trying, damned if he wouldn’t.

“I’ve been known to,” he said at length.

When Dani licked her lips, his humor fled, and his thoughts turned carnal. He rolled them until she lay on her back. “Never mind him,” he murmured against her throat as his cock found the warm wet cradle between her thighs. “Where were we?”

He shifted, pushing her legs wider and plunged into her with a swift, sure upstroke. She moaned, encircling his hips with her legs, the open position allowing him to sink deeper.

“Yeah,” he whispered, moving up to catch her groans with a kiss. “This is how I remember it, too.”