“I have decided to keep you. I am relieved that you chose me over your chance of escape.”

Her heart beat faster. “What do you mean by that? Clarify the keeping me part.”

His eyes narrowed and he leaned in closer. His mouth parted—but then the door chimed. Stag moved fast, gripping the bedding and jerking it up, covering her. A few seconds later, Maze entered.

“I came to check on my patient.”

“Never enter my quarters without permission.” Stag rose to his feet and faced off against Maze.

“I apologize.” Maze smiled at Nala. “How are you feeling? Is the pain manageable? Do you have a headache? Dizziness? Nausea?”

“Am I dying or something? Tell it to me straight, Maze. You’re a medic, so you had to take some kind of oath to be honest to a patient. I’m demanding that now.”

His smile faded. “You’re going to be fine. Why would you think otherwise?”

She hugged the bedding to her chest with one arm to keep it from slipping down and exposing her breasts and jerked her thumb toward Stag. “Did he get punched in the head too? Something is wrong with him.”

Maze glared at Stag. “I told you to be kind and loving to her, so she’ll agree to stay with you. How could you mess that up?” Maze held her gaze next, his features softening. “Stag was frightened when you were hurt, and realized he didn’t want to lose you. He has feelings where you are concerned. He doesn’t want to allow another male to have you, Nala. You matter to him. He’s horrible at expressing his emotions, this is new to him, but he—”

Clarity slammed into Nala hard, and she interrupted. “Shut up, Maze. That’s enough. Thanks. Now go away.”

He blinked, his lips still parted.

“Go.” She waved her hand. “Shoo. Bye. Stag and I need to be alone.”

The medic spun and stormed out the door, muttering something under his breath as he went.

“Don’t enter my quarters again without permission,” Stag yelled after him.

The door sealed and Nala watched Stag. He finally looked back at her. His blue eyes were hooded, a frown marring his features. Seconds ticked by, utterly silent ones, as she tried to wrap her head around what she’d learned.

“First off, you scared the crap out of me. You, suddenly being nice out of the blue, are frightening. Second, why would you listen to anything Maze told you to do? Do you know who you aren’t like? Him. Is any of what he just said true?”

Stag hesitated but then nodded.

Nala grinned.

“It’s not amusing.”

“It kind of is.” She patted the bed next to her. “Come here.”

He didn’t budge.

“Please?”

Stag reluctantly moved, taking a seat.

“Thank you. I feel for you too, if that helps. Just be yourself from now on though. The man I’ve gotten to know would just tell me he’s keeping me.”

“I stated that.”

“Are you still going to tie me to the bed every night, worried I might choke you?”

“No.”

“Lock me in the room?”

“Are you going to try to escape?”

“Are you going to make me want to get away from you?”

“We’re negotiating terms now?” That appeared to make him angry.

“Let’s just say if you teach me more about cyborg society—specifically, how you might impress a woman enough to stay with you—I’d be less likely to want to escape.”

“You expect me to take orders from you?” His tone sharpened, turning gruff. “You want to control my life?”

“No. That’s not who you are. I meant the sex parts. You could school me a lot and keep me too tired to want to get out of your bed. I really enjoyed when you taught me about oral sex and stamina.”

A mischievous glint showed in his eyes. “That might imply I want you to join a family unit with me.”

“I don’t fully understand what that entails, but I’m willing if it means we stay together long-term. I won’t agree to stay if you keep threatening to hand me over to your council.”

“You don’t have a say in the matter. I’m keeping you, Nala. You belong to me. Every time I sleep, you’ll be in my bed with me. I won’t ever let you go.”

“You have to stop tying me to the bed. That’s a sticking point with me.”

“Sometimes I might do it if you misbehave, and I want to…school you properly. You tend to wiggle around a lot when I’m between your thighs.”

“Fair enough. Plus, really hot. Do I ever get to tie you up? You seemed to enjoy it that one time.”

“We’ll negotiate that later.”

“You mean when you’ve outgrown your paranoia and are certain I won’t suffocate you with your own pillow?”

He cracked a smile. “Yes.”

“I can work with that.”

He inched closer. “I couldn’t stand the thought of losing you. I won’t.”

“Good. I’ve grown attached to you too. I told you, you die, I cry. I meant that.”

“You can’t compartmentalize your body from your feelings.”

“No.”

“I’ll have to use that to my advantage.”

She smiled. “I totally believe you will.” She cupped his face and kissed him.

He groaned deeply, wrapping his arm around her and pulling her tight against him.

She gasped, feeling pain, and broke the kiss.

Stag cursed, jerking his arm away from her. “I forgot about your back. You’re injured and need a few days to recover.”

“I could be on top. I want you, Stag.”

A chime sounded, and they both cursed.

“Your crew has shit timing.”

“Tell me about it.” He pulled away from her, rose up, and crossed the room. He slapped his hand on the pad next to the door. “What?”

Nala watched him. He didn’t speak again, but his expressions changed, as if he were reacting to a silent conversation. He didn’t look pleased when he dropped his hand and sighed, staring at her.

“I need to go to Control. I won’t be long. I’ll get food if you’re hungry.”

“I’m good, but could you arrange it so I can contact you if I need to?”

He nodded and placed his hand back on the pad, keeping eye contact with her the entire time. “Done. Just say my name. I put it on audio command so you don’t have to get out of bed. The speaker coms will be active.”