Burning Up Flint Read online

  Flint looked furious. “I wouldn’t touch other women out of a desire for more than you. It would be an obligation.”

  “That wouldn’t hurt me any damn less.” She jerked out of his hold.

  “I can’t believe we’re fighting over this. A cyborg woman would understand. This wouldn’t be an issue.”

  “Then go marry Arrion!” She stormed out of the bedroom. “Then you can both screw other people and call it duty or obligation or the law. Take your pick of how you can screw other people and validate it.”

  Flint caught her in the hallway, spinning her around to face him again. He grabbed her and pinned her body there, making her aware that he was totally naked. His towel had dropped when he’d come after her. They glared at each other.

  “You are threatening to run away from me if I fulfill my obligations? Do you know how unreasonable that is?”

  “What if it was an Earth obligation that I fuck other men? You kidnapped me so you could have a wife who you didn’t have to share, right? How would you feel if I nailed other guys and just expected you to deal with it? You want to talk unreasonable to me? I’m willingly giving up any chance of ever going home, promising to stay with you until I die, and all I ask for is that we’re loyal to each other by not sleeping with other people.”

  Flint glared down at her. “What would you have me do?”

  “Swear to me you won’t touch other women and mean it.”

  “I’m obligated to do exactly that if I get the call.”

  “Then we have nothing more to talk about. When that call comes, you won’t be surprised when you come back to an empty bed.”

  He clenched his teeth. “And how do you suppose you’d get off Garden? Do you think you could just stroll out the gates and ask the next ship leaving the planet for a ride to Earth?” He snorted, releasing her as he stepped back. “I’m sorry it upsets you but this is the way it is and you will adjust to the idea. I would tell you that it is highly unlikely to happen but that would be a lie. I would be surprised if I didn’t get a call in the near future. I know two of them are trying to breed right now and so far they haven’t had success. While I’m on the planet they will contact me if they need my sperm activated. Lucky for them I’ll have already taken that step because I fully plan to do that tomorrow so that I can breed you.”

  She shook her head. “No.”

  Flint growled at her. He was that angry. “Yes. I own you, Mira. You are mine. If you say no I will tie you to the bed and we both know I can make you want me. You could run away but you will be found quickly and returned to me. You would still be in my bed by nightfall. This is the way it is and you need to come to terms with those facts. You have no choice, just as I have no choice. You will adjust to the way life is on Garden. That’s an order. I’m going to put on pants and I’ll meet you in the kitchen. I’m hungry. I won’t argue with you. This discussion is over.” He spun and marched for the bedroom.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Mira leaned against the wall and shut her eyes. Hot tears filled gathered and her shoulders slumped. He was right about her being trapped on Garden. The tall wall around the city would prevent her from escaping. Even if she could miraculously escape the city she’d been warned how dangerous the natural inhabitants of the planet were. They were amphibians, so could function just fine on dry land. They were probably worse than cyborgs.

  Flint would sleep with other women and she’d have to suffer the knowledge. Every time he left she’d have to try to pretend it didn’t bother her when she knew it would. What else would he inform her of later? If he tired of her, would he find some damn obligation clause, some weird cyborg law, or some other bullshit excuse to let men sleep with her? Was that the kind of life she was facing?

  She walked into the living area and automatically walked out onto the balcony to stare at the breathtaking view. She walked to the railing to gaze at the ocean in the distance. Cyborgs and humans were just too different and their ways were too foreign to each other. He seemed genuinely confused as to why she wouldn’t just accept and understand the fact that he’d have to knock up other women because it was some fucked up law. What kind of life would she live? She was trapped on Garden in this life with Flint, no matter what.

  Shaking her head, she fought back a sob, knowing she couldn’t live that way. Why couldn’t he just commit to her so they could be happy? Why did he have to pull the property card on her and just demand she adjust to his messed-up cyborg ethics? Couldn’t he see how he was hurting her? Didn’t he understand that he was going to destroy her emotionally, one painful situation at a time? He had even dashed all hope of escape. She knew, unless Flint sent her home to Earth, that she’d never get there any other way.

  She wiped her tears and then took a deep breath. She gripped the railing, inching up on tiptoe, and before she could rethink it, she threw her leg over the railing. She glanced down, only to wish she hadn’t. They were on the twentieth floor and far below were sidewalks that looked tiny, making her realize just how high she was. Mira knew she’d never survive the fall. Her ass dug into the top of the railing as she balanced. Swinging her other leg over the railing was tough but she managed to do it without falling. Her feet braced on the outside railing as she sat suspended on the edge, staring down.

  “Mira,” Flint’s voice was soft, shaky. “Get down. What are you doing?”

  “Stay back or I’ll release my hold to kick off.” She turned her head to meet Flint’s horrified gaze, where he stood at the opening of the door wearing only his pants. His beautiful skin had visibly paled. He did follow her demand though as he inched back.

  “What the hell are you doing?”

  “I want to go home.”

  His mouth dropped open and then slammed closed. “You’re going to drop to your death if I don’t release you? Is that what you’re saying? Fine. Climb back over to safety and I’ll send you to Earth.”

  “I’m not an idiot. You have no intention of sending me home. You just want me to get down so you can grab me.”

  “I was hopeful that you’d believe me. Please come down on this side, Mira. You’re acting irrational.”

  “Irrational is staying with a man who expects things from me that he won’t give in return. Irrational is setting myself up for a lifetime of watching you walk out the door to fuck other women while it tears my heart out and accepting your shitty attitude of expecting me to just deal with it. Go to hell, Flint. I’d rather die with my dignity intact than live like some pathetic moron who puts up with being treated like shit.”

  “Dignity? What the hell does that have to do with this? You’re threatening to go to your death over an obligation I have sworn to uphold.”

  A chime sounded, letting them know someone was at the door but Flint didn’t move. Mira stared at Flint.

  “I can’t live like that, Flint. You made me very aware that I won’t be able to get away from you if you sleep with other women. Whatever you decide to do, I will just have to put up with it no matter how bad it is. I’d rather die. I know you think of me as property but—”

  The chime sounded again. They ignored it.

  “But I can’t live like that and be happy. I’d be miserable, Flint. You say you want a family unit but that’s just messed up to be with someone you will hurt over and over again until I hate you for breaking my heart like that. What other screwed-up cyborg shit are you going to hit me with? One day are you going to pass me off to one of your friends? Maybe when I get old you can just toss me out on the street and be done with me? I have no say in anything, do I? Well, this is my say. I get the final word this way. No fucking way am I letting you destroy me a day at a time.”

  Mira saw movement behind Flint as a tall, redheaded cyborg walked slowly toward them. Somehow he’d gotten through the front door into the living room. He was frowning as he stepped next to Flint. His shocked gaze was fixed on Mira.

  “What is your human doing? That’s dangerous. Human, get down carefully. You won’t survive a fal