her since she was just property.

“You belong to me. You are mine. Without consent first it would be rude for someone to address you.”

She could live with that. She nodded. “Okay.”

He moved suddenly, his large palm cupped her cheek, a smile curving his generous lips. “Don’t worry, Mira. In a short time we will be home and it will be more comfortable for you. You might be stared at when we are in public. While there are some humans on Garden, human females are a rarity and even then they are a lot older. You are also smaller than the humans I’ve seen here so you will draw attention.

Just stay close to me and everything will be fine. I would never let anyone hurt you.”

Mira’s hands brushed his chest. He was wearing his black outfit with the chest plating under the leather material. He looked sexy in his uniform but she hated not being able to touch his skin. She gave him a smile.

“Thank you for comforting me.”

“We must go.” Flint released her face, turning to palm the scanner so the doors slid open.

Mira almost ran to keep up with Flint’s lengthy stride. The man had long damn legs. She touched him in the lift because they were alone. When the doors shut she reached over to grip his arm as the lift dropped.

“I really hate this damn thing. Would it kill someone to slow the speed on it?”

Chuckling, Flint grinned at her. When it stopped and the doors opened Mira released his arm. She walked quickly after him, following him into a large cargo area. She was shocked as she spotted a lot of strange cyborg men. She sensed eyes on her and met more than a few curious looks from the large cyborgs .

“They are unloading their things and resupplying the ship,” Flint said softly as they walked to where the Rally was docked to the Star .

Iron was waiting for them by the docking sleeve, wearing his uniform. He smiled at Flint. Flint stopped to nod at the other man. Their eyes locked.

“You’re lucky that your shift is over. I guess I’ll see you in six months.” Iron gave Flint another nod. His gaze jerked to Mira and then back to Flint. “Good luck.”

“Good luck to you. How is your human coming along?”

Iron smiled. “Your instructions were excellent.”

“Safe travel,” Flint said softly. “Keep in contact. Otherwise I’ll see you next shift.”

The Rally ’s cargo area was packed. Flint led her to a corner free of boxes, dropped his bag and then one of his arms suddenly encircled Mira, pulling her into his body. That arm locked around her waist as his other arm reached up to find a grip on the wall. Mira stared up at him.

“I thought you couldn’t touch me in public. If we were any closer…” She winked at him.

Flint grinned down at her. “The Rally is about to drop from the Star . It literally drops. Hang on to me tightly.”

“Oh shit, it’s not as bad as the lift, is it? I hate that falling feeling.” As she spoke she locked her arms around his waist and clasped her fingers together at his spine.

Flint’s arm around her waist tightened. “It’s worse. I’m sorry. We’ll drop from the Star and then hit the atmosphere. It can get a little bumpy. Just hold on to me tightly.”

“Where are the damn seat belts?” She frantically looked around the cargo area.

A chuckle came from Flint.

Mira’s head shot up and she sent him a dirty look. “That wasn’t a joke. Where are seats with belts?”

“We’re cyborgs . We just brace and hold on. It will be fine.”

Her mouth dropped open as she stared at him. She heard a loud, short, fast pulse of an alarm sound.

“I’m not a cyborg .”

“Hang on, Mira.”

His body tensed and she wanted to curse a blue streak but instead she buried her face in his chest. She felt a sharp jerk like something bumped the Rally right before they fell, making her stomach feel like it hit her throat. If Flint hadn’t held her around her waist she knew she would have been thrown to the floor when the falling sensation suddenly changed to a sharp jerk that sent vibrations shock-waving up her legs from the floor.

“The atmosphere,” Flint said softly. “It will be over soon.”

Mira whimpered in pain. The deck was vibrating hard enough that she could feel each painful jolt in her bones. The ache grew worse, more powerful, into sheer