of the brothel rooms. Her improved legs didn’t buckle under her but she was pretty sure her old ones would have from the shock. She reached up and covered her mouth, holding back a gasp.

She’d never seen one before but the stories were legendary… stories about a race of gray-skinned cyborgs Earth Government had created before she’d been born. They had been some kind of failed program, and the government had told the public all the units had been destroyed. Rumors surfaced occasionally of sightings, but Earth Government always managed to fill the news with proof that the sightings were lies, invented to keep people from venturing too far into deep space.

Cyborgs were obviously alive and well. The government had lied, but that didn’t surprise her. And one of the cyborgs was a thirty-five-year-old virgin who couldn’t get a woman to have sex with him.

Venice stumbled out from behind the large artificial vegetation and stared at the door he’d disappeared behind, her mind working through the astonishment. He had a father and they’d talked about children. That meant they were more man than machines. They could breed.

The automated brothel was closed for the evening until the next shift started, thanks to the man’s father. It meant she was locked inside. Darbis’s men wouldn’t find her and she’d be safe until the cyborgs left.

The image of the handsome cyborg seemed burned into her mind. He was really attractive, big…and looked pretty kickass. They were obviously masquerading as pirates to avoid detection, and were in the same situation as Venice. Earth Government would want them dead if they were found or returned to the planet. Their very existence would prove EG had lied to the public.

She dropped her hand and smoothed down her shirt while still staring at the closed door the cyborg had entered. She tossed her weapon into the planter and hesitated a few seconds more, knowing she’d have to act quickly and there wouldn’t be time to rethink her crazy plan once she’d implemented it. Her options were limited. She’d fled home and needed to do whatever was necessary to ensure her survival in space.

Go on and do it, she ordered her body. Move!

She touched the keypad and the door opened. She stepped inside the room before she could change her mind.

The sight of a stripping sex bot drew her attention first. The thing was tall, endowed, and strikingly beautiful, in the way only someone artificially created could be. Then her gaze shifted to the cyborg.

He’d removed most of his clothing—and that sight parted her lips. Muscles not only bulked up his arms, chest, and stomach, but they were thickly displayed on his powerful bared thighs. She stared at his tiny black underwear, which appeared to be leather, while trying to keep her mouth from dropping completely open. The budge there couldn’t be hidden, actually pulled the tight material away from his skin. It was the most impressive sight she’d ever seen.

“I didn’t request two,” he gruffly muttered. “Were you ordered to come in here by another customer?”

She stared at his face. Those eyes of his were stunning. They did appear to be luminous; they were so bright blue compared to his darker skin hue, and gorgeous. She licked her lips and remembered to breathe. She had to find her voice.

“One is more than enough.” He growled when he spoke again, frustration clear in his expression. “One of you needs to go.”

He thinks I’m a sex bot. It left her speechless that he’d believe she was pretty enough to be one. She had taken care with her appearance before reaching the station, to impress her new husband. It was quite a compliment, though, if the cyborg believed she was in the same ranking as an artificial woman.

She turned her head to address the sex bot. “Leave. You are dismissed.”

The bot followed orders. It left the room half naked without protest. Venice touched the pad to lock the door behind it, something she was grateful the cyborg hadn’t done. Otherwise she wouldn’t have been able to speak to him.

“The customer ordered an upgraded model,” she lied. “I am here to service you.”

“Great.” He sat on the bed, reclined against the headboard and stretch out his long legs, and grumbled under his breath, “My dad thinks of everything. I’ve never been so uncomfortable in my life.”

Sympathy welled inside Venice. She remembered the first time she’d had sex, and it had been a nightmare. She’d just wanted to be rid of her