Touching Ice Read online

  Her knees were nonexistent at that moment from the astonishment rolling through her but Ice held her up when they buckled. She remained silent for long seconds, her mind trying to wrap around what he’d said. Words finally came to her.

  “I’m not the marrying kind,” she admitted, finally finding her voice. “And then there’s that whole you’re not the marrying kind either.”

  He winced, literally, and looked away. “I realize the concept is not ideal.”

  “Not ideal?” She gasped. “Shit, Ice. We can’t get married because they twisted your arm.” He’s going to hate me, she thought, regret filling her. If only he wanted me that way for the right reasons, I’d jump for joy. Pain lanced through her chest.

  “They will send cyborgs to my ship to take you from me otherwise and kill you.” His hold on her tightened as his full attention fixed on her. “The Markus Models may be dangerous but your life is already in peril. Going to this meeting and forming a family unit with me would be preferable to death, wouldn’t it?”

  She hesitated, terror gripping her over her memories of the hours she’d spent with those horrible things and watched as anger hardened Ice’s features. He released her and stepped back.

  “So be it. You’d obviously rather die than form a family unit with me.” He snarled the words.

  “Now wait a minute.” Megan reached out, grabbed the waist of his pants, and kept him from turning away. “I’m in shock and this isn’t about us. I’m terrified of those things. That’s what has me in knots.”

  His body relaxed. “I won’t allow them to hurt you, Megan. I’d defend you against my own people so do you believe for a second that I’d just allow one of them to harm you?”

  “Who’s going to protect you?” She frowned at him.

  That question obviously stunned him. “You doubt my fighting skills and strength? I’m cyborg, Megan. I’m stronger and faster than your human males.”

  She hesitated, biting her lower lip, and then released it. “Don’t take this the wrong way,” she warned softly. “But you’re…” She shut up, not able to say it aloud.

  “I’m what?” He stepped forward, his hands gripped her hips as he pulled her against him, their bodies flush against each other. “What am I?”

  Megan had to clear her throat of the lump that formed there. “They appear human but they aren’t. You’re…” She hesitated.

  “I’m what?” His voice deepened.

  “Oh hell,” she sighed, holding onto his arms. “You’re outdated technology, Ice. You’re sexy, hot, muscular, and kick ass but these Markus Models, they are advanced technology, cutting edge, and in a fight I think you’d lose. I don’t doubt how strong you are or how good of a fighter but these things are…really bad news.”

  Ice’s eyebrows shot up.

  “They heal really fast,” she said quickly. “Within minutes. It’s that new rejuvenating artificial skin they have. They don’t have bones, they have lightweight metals, and they are shielded. You shoot one of them in the head, which would normally take anything out, and they are going to get up. I saw some of the tests run on them to show how tough they were to investors. One of them walked through fire. It burned off his skin and he just kept going.”

  His hands rubbed her hips. “You’re worried about me?”

  “Yes. I’m worried about all of us. You, me, everyone on this ship and the Star you keep mentioning. I can’t stress enough how unstable the Markus Models are or how hard they would be to kill. You’re mostly flesh and blood. These things are androids with cloned flesh. They may appear more human than you do with your gray skin tone but trust me, they are machines.”

  “Maybe they didn’t fix their electrical flaw so they will have a weakness in their design.”

  “The company wouldn’t have unleashed them without fixing that.”

  Ice sighed. “The council has spoken and I made the deal with them that you’d help evaluate these things. It’s going to happen. Perhaps they fixed the instability problems with them before they were put out by your company.”

  “I doubt it since they are refusing to return the bots and are looking to hook up with cyborgs instead. That sure wasn’t in their programming so what else is wrong with them?”

  “Earth Government thought we were flawed and wanted us exterminated. They were wrong, Megan. Perhaps you’re wrong.”

  “I really hope I am but I don’t think so, Ice.” She leaned in and let her forehead rest against his chest. “I’m worried and scared.”

  His hands slid around her, hugging her tightly to his body. “I will protect you.”

  But who is going to protect you? She thought it but didn’t say it aloud. He thought he could handle anything but she doubted he’d ever gone against anything as scary as defense androids. Cyborgs had left Earth a long time ago and things had changed. Warning him wasn’t going to change anything though.

  “I came to change my uniform. I have a vid conference with the council.” He eased his hold. “I’ll return to you afterward. We’ll talk more then.”

  Megan nodded against his chest and looked up at him. “Okay.” She didn’t want to let him go but she released him as she stepped back.

  Ice quickly changed his pants, then donned a shirt, and put on his boots again. He gave her a lingering look before he left his quarters. He didn’t touch the pad and she realized he must be keeping his link to the ship active so he could remote control the doors.

  Turning, she sank onto the bed, worried. A shiver ran down her spine. Ice had no idea what they were about to deal with but she had a pretty good idea this meeting wasn’t going to go well.

  She started to think, trying to remember everything about the Markus Models that she’d been told or heard rumors about while she’d worked at the testing facility.

  * * * * *

  “What is wrong?” Onyx stopped at the table and sat. “I’ve been watching you for five minutes and you didn’t even notice when I entered the room.”

  Ice locked gazes with his friend. “The council ordered me to either hand Megan over since I refuse to kill her myself or I can form a family unit with her.”

  “So you’re joining a family unit? I understand your grimness. We’re of the same mind on that issue but she is human. There are advantages to taking one as your female. She will be ordered to stay at your side since she won’t be trusted by other cyborgs. You’ll have constant access to her and you do not have to share her body with other males. I am surprised they offered to allow that, considering our status. We’ve both overbred so our DNA is no longer required.”

  “I also informed them she is an expert on the Markus Models to make her valuable to them. We will be meeting their shuttle when the Star does, to bring Megan to that meeting.”

  Shock widened Onyx’s eyes. “You did what? Why would you do that? Even I saw her terror when she spoke of them. She is convinced they are dangerous. I thought you wanted to protect her. If they are as unstable as she suggested then you are putting her at high risk.”

  “She is definitely at risk with the council. They reversed the order to have her killed since they have a use for her now. It wasn’t a hardship to agree to form a family unit with her so they believe she’s got loyalty to me.”

  “You have emotions for her.”

  “I do.” Ice took a sip of his drink and ignored his food tray. “It angered me when I saw her distress after I informed her of the conditions for the reversal of their order. I believed she was upset at joining a family unit with me but instead her fear stems from meeting that enemy shuttle.”

  “So she agreed to the family unit arrangement?”

  Ice hesitated. “I didn’t ask her. I said I informed her. As a human I do not need her permission since on Garden they are considered property.”

  “Did you inform her of this?”

  “No. I am not without intelligence.”

  Onyx grinned. “Your limbs are intact and I don’t see any visible damage. Human women must be very different