to let us board with the clear intention of not killing them or stealing the ship that they will not try to fight. The Rally is faster than the Star and maneuvers better so we’re taking it. It would be suicide for them to fight since the Rally is faster and is heavily armed.”

Mira almost snorted. “You think that will work? The pilots on my shuttle thought you were pirates. That general tried to kill me, thinking he was saving me from pirates and that I’d be sold into the sex trade.

Most women would want to die before they faced that kind of life.”

“You didn’t die. You locked yourself away, to safety.”

“If pirates had taken me I’d have earned them more money by returning me to Earth than they would have made selling me for my body in the sex trade.”

“I will go to Control and be back in a few hours. One of the men will bring you food but don’t let him in the room. He’ll just open the door and hand you a tray. Are my instructions clear?”

“Perfectly clear.”

He nodded and left. Mira sat down, chewing on her lip as she thought. She could try to escape when her food arrived but it would be hard to fight her way past a cyborg . All the cyborg men were big and really strong, designed to be fighting machines. She shut her eyes. No. Her best bet would be to try to escape when some of the men weren’t on the ship as when Flint and his men went after the Piera shuttle. Flint had said they were going to use the Rally to capture the shuttle so that meant it would be away from the Star , giving her pod a real shot at escape.

She nodded. That was the plan. When Flint and his cyborgs went after the Piera shuttle she’d go for one of the pods. It was the best shot at escaping and winning her freedom.

Chapter Seven

Later that night when Flint returned to his quarters, he nudged her but Mira pretended to be asleep. She heard Flint enter the room, heard the rustle of his clothing as he stripped to bare skin to climb into bed behind her. She almost jumped when his hot body curled against her back. Now he was trying to wake her and she had a really good guess as to what he wanted.

“I know you are awake.” He sighed. “I want you.”

She tensed. She knew he was always aware of her heart rate and breathing patterns. He knew she was awake. She scooted away from him until she was against the wall.

“I don’t want you. Go find a pleasure worker since any woman will do.”

He took a deep breath. “You are still angry. I have thought about our conversations and I understand why you are upset.”

She carefully turned over in the small bed. The room was dark and she couldn’t see him but she knew he was inches from her. “Really? It doesn’t matter to you that I’m just property but it does to me, Flint.

I’m not just something you own.”

“I do own you though, Mira. You belong to me. You carry my brand on your body. You might not like that fact right now but it doesn’t make it any less true. Does it really matter to you why I won’t let another male touch you? I won’t barter your body. Isn’t that the important issue? The reason doesn’t really matter as long as you are content with the result.” He paused. “Lights, dim.”

The lights in the room flickered on to a dim setting. Mira stared at Flint. He was lying on his side facing her with his hand propping up his head, his dark gaze locked on her, and he wasn’t covered by the blanket. He’d pushed it down on his side of the bed so there was no missing the sight of his erection straining toward her as she glanced down his muscled body. Seeing Flint na**d always affected her and she hated it. A woman would have to be blind or not have a sexual hormone in her body to not feel turned-on at the sight of his wonderful body, she justified, trying to explain her instant attraction to him and her body’s immediate response.

Her gaze lifted upward and she stared into his eyes. She could get lost in his dark blue eyes that reminded her of a stormy sky over the ocean. She’d seen that