Taunting Krell Read online

  Taunting Krell

  Laurann Dohner

  Book 7 in the Cyborg Seduction series.

  Krell hates humans. They left him scarred and undesirable to females. He’s lived a lonely existence in his home world because of their brutality. So he’s angry when he’s ordered to interrogate the captured human. She’s the enemy, a soldier from Earth. He’ll show her the same mercy they showed him. None.

  Cyan didn’t expect to survive her mission against the Markus Models but she’s stunned and elated to be confronted by cyborgs. The past and present collide, however, when she sees Krell. He’s part of a dangerous secret from another life—and he’s also completely irresistible.

  Krell is certain Cyan can’t be trusted. He’s determined to keep her at a distance…but Cyan is just as determined to get the big, sexy cyborg into her bed.

  Ellora’s Cave Publishing

  www.ellorascave.com

  Taunting Krell

  ISBN 9781419937149

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

  Taunting Krell Copyright © 2011 Laurann Dohner

  Edited by Pamela Campbell

  Cover design by Syneca

  Model: Angelo

  Electronic book publication October 2011

  The terms Romantica® and Quickies® are registered trademarks of Ellora’s Cave Publishing.

  With the exception of quotes used in reviews, this book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without written permission from the publisher, Ellora’s Cave Publishing, Inc.® 1056 Home Avenue, Akron OH 44310-3502.

  Warning: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be scanned, uploaded or distributed via the Internet or any other means, electronic or print, without the publisher’s permission. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. (http://www.fbi.gov/ipr/). Please purchase only authorized electronic or print editions and do not participate in or encourage the electronic piracy of copyrighted material. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.

  This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the author’s imagination and used fictitiously.

  The publisher and author(s) acknowledge the trademark status and trademark ownership of all trademarks, service marks and word marks mentioned in this book.

  The publisher does not have any control over, and does not assume any responsibility for, author or third-party Web sites or their content.

  TAUNTING KRELL

  Laurann Dohner

  Dedication

  A special thanks to Mr. Laurann for being my hero and to Pamela Campbell for being a kickass editor. I’d also like to thank Kele Moon for reading everything I write and always being honest. Here’s to new beginnings when you really need a fresh start in life.

  Prologue

  The distant past on Earth

  Cyborg Detention Center

  Emily heard the door softly open and flicked her wrist. The screen on her computer instantly changed to display a card game. She glanced at the smaller monitor to her right and relaxed. A smile curved her lips while she watched the tall cyborg approach from behind.

  Mavo’s masculinity flooded her as she breathed him in. There was something to be said about overdeveloped senses. He’d showered recently, he’d used the musky new soap she’d ordered for him, and she closed her eyes to savor how good it blended with his natural scent. Her eyes opened.

  “What are you doing here?” She waited for him to move within her side vision as he crouched next to her chair. She stared into his beautiful green eyes. They always took her breath away when she gazed into them. The color complemented his pale, silvery skin and jet-black hair. “We said our goodbyes earlier.”

  He didn’t smile back. “Come with us.”

  Sadness gripped her hard. She forced back tears that instantly formed. “Don’t make our last conversation be an argument. We’ve been over this a thousand times.”

  “I won’t leave without you.” His strong jawline tensed and his full lips pressed tightly together. “I’ll carry you.”

  She wished it were that simple. “And then what?”

  “We’ll make it work.”

  Her wrist flicked again, her original screen returned, and she glanced at it. The small sensor on her forehead vibrated as it read her brainwaves—her thoughts—and she watched what she was doing instead of continuing to stare at him.

  “You need to go. Time is running out.”

  From the corner of her eye, she saw him turn his head to peer at the screen.

  “What is this?”

  “I’m reprogramming the satellites. You’ll have a better chance if the surface can’t warn the ships what is going on down here. It will fool them into believing there have been some solar flares. It’s going to take effect in ten minutes. It’s going to really screw up communications. It will give you about a fifteen-minute window. I couldn’t give you more time without creating suspicion.”

  “Emily,” he growled her name, “you’ve done more than enough and risked too much already for us. Get out of there before they realize you’ve hacked it.”

  “That’s the awesome thing about being me. I am good at this shit. My entire life revolves around computers. They haven’t tracked me yet. I sneaked inside to get you the override codes for all the ships orbiting Earth. I changed the delivery schedules to put more shuttles on the ground.” Her wrist flicked again to open a third screen. “I reinstated your people to make sure no alarms will go off when you pass through the atmosphere. The crews aboard the ships orbiting above will read you as actively on duty. They’ll believe you’re just coming to report for work.”

  “Emily.” His hand reached up to brush her cheek. “Stop. You risk your life every time you do this.”

  What life? She held that thought back, not speaking it aloud. She met his gaze, saw the sadness there, and wished she could touch him back but she had too much to do. His warm thumb caressed her skin, pleasure at that slight contact was something she’d come to appreciate.

  “What are they going to do to me? Unhook me from the system?” She couldn’t prevent the snort. “My father is God to them. He created your people and is responsible for those androids they depend upon so much. They wouldn’t dare risk alienating him by arresting me. I’m all he loves besides his work.”

  The green of his eyes darkened with anger. “Come with me. Please?”

  Longing gripped her so strongly that she had to look away for fear he’d see it. “I can’t. Eighty percent of my body doesn’t work. I’d only be a burden.”

  “Never,” he rasped.

  Emily had to fight back more tears before she dared meet his intense gaze again. “We’re doing this to give you the opportunity to have a normal life. You and your people deserve to be free and happy. You wouldn’t have that with me tagging along.”

  His jaw clenched again. “You want me happy? Allow me to unplug you and carry you out of here with us. Do you think I won’t take care of you?”

  She knew without question that he would. There lay the problem. “I love you, my friend. In a way, we’re family since we are both creations of the same man, in one way or another.”

  “I love you too. I don’t want to leave you behind.”

  “That’s why I’m saying no. You’ve taken such good care of me in the past year that you’ve been assigned as my guard. All my other guards avoided me, stayed as far from me as they could, but you got to know me. We talk and what you’ve given me is more than you’ll ever know. I don’