Loving Deviant (Cyborg Seduction Book 9) Read online

  He entwined his fingers with hers, breaking their gazes to examine their hands. She glanced down too, noticing the size and color variations. It was a beautiful thing to her. They were different but it felt so right being together, touching.

  “You’re happy?”

  She stared at his face but he avoided looking into her eyes. “Yes.”

  “Good.”

  “Are you?”

  He met her gaze then. “Yes.”

  She lifted up and freed her hand from his, climbing up on his chest and peering at him. “I’m so glad you found me, Deviant. I have no regrets.”

  “Sometimes I catch a look on your face that reads as sadness to me. Am I wrong?”

  “I can only think of one thing that makes me feel that way. Do you want me to tell you what it is?”

  “Always.”

  “One day, you’re going to tell me we’re over, and that I’m free.”

  He appeared surprised.

  “The thought hurts.”

  He hugged her around her middle. “Why? You should look forward to your freedom. No one wants to be property.”

  “I once thought that way too…but then I met you. I don’t mind being yours. The more time we spend together, the more it isn’t enough. I miss you when you’re gone on shifts. I can’t wait for you to walk through the door. And I get a bit depressed when I think about the day when you aren’t coming home to me.”

  “I think about you the entire time I’m on duty.”

  She smiled.

  He grinned back. “Let’s finish watching this vid. I’m interested in seeing the end. I didn’t believe I’d enjoy this, but I do.”

  She snuggled into him and stared up at the screen as the story finished. It was a sweet love story. It made her wish that she and Deviant would have a happy ending. There was so much uncertainty though with their future.

  “You’ve tensed.”

  “Sorry.”

  He turned them both and pinned her under him. “What is it?”

  She didn’t hesitate to share her thoughts with him. “I’m worried about what’s going to happen to you if Stag discovers I’m here before we reach Garden. You’re going to have to smuggle me off the shuttle, the same way you got me on, aren’t you?”

  “We won’t be docking. The Varnish will land on the surface of our planet. You’ll walk off this shuttle at my side.”

  That surprised her. “So we’re just hoping he’s busy and won’t notice me?”

  “Once we reach Garden, my assignment is at an end. Stag will no longer be in command of me. He might be angry, but he can’t do anything except file a complaint with the council.”

  “Are they as bad as Earth’s ruling system?”

  “No. They are fair. Twelve cyborgs sit on the council, and some members have joined into family units with Earther women.”

  The shocks kept coming. “Oh.”

  “Stag really hates Earthers but most cyborgs are more reasonable. He shared some of his past experiences with me and none were good.”

  “They just fear we’re spies?”

  “Yes. It’s a valid concern.”

  “You’d think EG had better things to do than bother with cyborgs.”

  “They probably fear we want to attack Earth but that’s not the case. We fled and have settled on another world. I’ve never met a single cyborg who wished he could return.”

  She touched Deviant, tracing her fingers over his chest. “I don’t blame them. The only thing I’m going to miss is my sister.”

  “I’m sorry you had to leave her behind. It must have been very difficult.”

  “It was. Her husband is a fantastic man and they’re planning on starting a family soon. He’s worked hard to accomplish what he has with his company. I would never have asked them to uproot and start over as space refugees. Love sometimes means letting go. They’re better off there. I was the one who had to leave.”

  “Perhaps one day you can send your sister a message to let her know you’re doing well.”

  “It’s too risky.”

  He leaned in and brushed his mouth over hers. “I’m glad you left Earth.”

  She kissed him back, feeling grateful as well. She’d always envied her sister finding her husband. Venice’s luck with men had been crap until Deviant had walked into that automated brothel. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer. She never wanted to let him go.

  A bell chimed and Deviant groaned, breaking away from her mouth. “My father has the worst timing.”

  She grinned, releasing him. “Cleansing unit?”

  “Yes.”

  He climbed out of bed and she followed, making a dash for the corner, ever worried someone would pass in the corridor and catch a glimpse of her when Deviant opened the door to admit Mavo.

  She stepped inside the unit, sealing it, and waited for him to tell her it was safe to come out.

  Deviant had to adjust his stiff cock in his pants and snagged a shirt, putting it on as the bell chimed again. It would cover his hard-on, the material draping over his lap area. He wondered why his father had returned. Mavo should still be on shift.

  He slapped his palm over the pad to unlock the door—and realized who waited on the other side a split-second before he faced Stag.

  “Do you want to explain to me why we have an extra life sign on my ship?”

  Deviant could tell the commander was furious. Stag had come to him, specifically, for answers, which meant he already knew Deviant was hiding someone in his quarters. “I can explain.”

  “Earther, right?” Stag lunged, pushed him out of the way and glared at the bed, then slowly fixed his attention on the sealed cleansing unit. “Female?”

  Deviant backed up and blocked access to it. “She’s not a spy.”

  “I knew it!” Stag curled his upper lip. “That discussion you started on your shift was your way of testing my responses. And you didn’t confess to smuggling an Earther onboard my damn shuttle, so you’d already deduced I’d be furious! I’ve felt something was amiss ever since we left Colton Station. I should have heeded my instincts. Get her out here!”

  Deviant braced his body, prepared to fight. “No. She belongs to me. The council has been notified and is aware of her presence.”

  “What?” Stag appeared ready to attack. “You notified them but not me? It’s my ship!”

  Another cyborg entered Deviant’s room, since the door remained open. Hellion moved in between them. “Why the shouting? What’s going on?”

  “I’d have expected this from you.” Stag glared at Hellion. “Were you aware there is an Earther female aboard the Varnish?”

  Hellion shot a stunned look at Deviant, then back at Stag. “No shit? I didn’t know. Where is she?”

  Stag jerked his chin up. “Inside that cleansing unit. Move aside, both of you. I’m hauling her ass into the cargo bay and securing her there until we reach Garden. I’ll have Kelis guard her.”

  “I’m not going to allow that to happen, Stag.” Deviant backed up farther, placing his body against the cleansing unit. “Venice is mine. We’re verbally contracted. You have no right to take her away from me.”

  “This is my ship. I can do whatever the hell I want. And you didn’t ask my permission to allow an Earther onboard because you knew I’d say no!”

  “Verbally contracted in what way?” Hellion glanced at Deviant again.

  “She belongs to me.”

  Hellion’s eyebrows shot up. “We’re not allowed to own slaves anymore. Not even hot ones. I take it she’s hot?”

  “Shut up, Hellion. All that matters is she’s an Earther,” Stag spat. “Damn you, Deviant! Is she being tracked? Did you even check her for that? We’re on our way to Garden. You could be allowing her to lead those bastards right to our planet.”

  “She’s not a spy for Earth Government. I saved her on the station.”

  “You mean she set up some scam and you fell for it?” Stag spun, touched the pad, and connected to it. He