“You will not win this battle.”

His cold logic actually soothed her. “Yes, I am aware. I can take some of them out though, before they kill or capture me.”

Fray’s mouth curved into another cold smile. “We can fight as well.”

“You aren’t programmed for that.”

“I will attempt it.”

It touched her that he’d even come up with that solution. “Thanks but no. Just fly to keep them off us for as long as you can.”

The doors opened and Jill turned to say goodbye to Roid but instead she gasped as the cyborg stormed into the room. She had known Coal would be intimidating when free and standing. The sight of nearly six and a half feet of muscular male in just a pair of baggy shorts, muscles rippling and guns strapped around his h*ps in a weapons belt had her upgrading her opinion to terrifying.

Coal’s gaze pinned her where she stood and then he jerked his attention to the pilot’s seat. “Move, android,” he growled. “I’m not going to allow anyone to board us.”

Fray turned his head to peer at Jill. “Orders?”

She couldn’t look away from Coal. He shot her a dark glare. “Tell him to move before I toss him out of that seat.”

“Let him have the helm, Fray,” she whispered.

Coal lunged forward to drop into the vacant seat the instant Fray moved. “Strap in.”

She dropped into the nearest chair and reached for a belt. “You heard him, Fray. Hang on.” She hesitated. “The gravity stabilizers are old so if you―” She gasped in surprise, her words lost when Coal suddenly turned the shuttle violently.

“They are bad,” he grumbled when the ship tilted dangerously, shaking violently.

“Yes. They can’t adjust to sudden movements as you just realized.”

Her attention landed on the screens and she realized he flew directly at the freighter instead of away from it. Her mouth opened but no sound came out. Shock and fear held her totally immobile while she silently watched the huge ship growing even larger.

“Impact warning,” Fray calmly stated.

“We’re not hitting it…but close. They can fly faster but we can maneuver better.” Coal’s deep voice sounded unnaturally calm under the dire circumstances.

“What are you doing?” Jill found the ability to speak over her terror.

“They can’t pursue us if they are damaged.” His hands flew across the controls and the sounds of the Jenny’s weapons firing drowned out anything else he might have said.

He flew right under the belly of the freighter, tearing open holes as explosions filled the screen with bright flashes of destruction. Jill’s fear turned to pure astonishment. She’d never thought to attack the much larger ship, especially with her older shuttle, not believing she could do that much damage. Coal proved her wrong as he steered them up the back of the freighter and took more shots, blowing up their thrusters.

The large freighter’s engines died when the lights of their thrusters cut out. Jill watched as it shuddered in space, the lights flickering on the entire ship, and then Coal flew the Jenny away, putting distance between the two ships. Jill said nothing but her thoughts were jumbled. Coal had saved them.

He finally turned his seat to face her, full lips curving into a grim frown. “Hand over control of your droids or I’ll harm them. I’d hate to do it, considering I am aware they have deep value to you. I want full control of them and for them to ignore your requests to them. Do it.”

She gaped at him.

“Now, Jill. I want absolute control of them or I will take them out.” His hand lowered to one of the weapons strapped to his hips.

Dread balled inside her. Not only did the cyborg have his freedom now but he wanted to command not only her ship but her friends. “Fray?” She paused, blinking back tears. “This is Coal. He owns you now. You are to follow all of his orders from this moment forward and none of mine. Verify order.”

Fray hesitated. “Order confirmed.” He turned his head to glance at Coal. “Orders, Coal?”

“The rest of them as well, Jill.” Coal’s fingers tightened on the weapon.

She fought the urge to order Arm to come to her rescue but she had a feeling that Coal could fight. She didn’t want him to destroy her androids. She slowly reached for the ship intercom system and turned it on shipwide.

“This is Jill. Arm and Roid, your new owner is the man down. You are to follow all of his orders from now on and none of mine. His name is Coal. Verify order.” She turned off the com but knew they had heard her. She stared silently at the cyborg in charge of everything she cared about. “Are you going to kill me now?”

His frown deepened. “No. Stand up.” He rose to his feet, facing her, and released his weapon.

She hesitated.

“Now.”

Her hands shook when she unfastened her belt and rose on trembling legs. He closed the distance between them. Jill had to tilt her chin up to focus on his grim features. He stood over a foot taller than she did.

He stopped in front of her. “I won’t harm you. You saved my life and I know that.”

Jill gasped when he suddenly crouched, two large hands shot out to grip her waist, and he jerked her body forward. Her hip hit a broad shoulder and then the world turned upside down. A dizzy spell gripped her when he quickly straightened to his full height.

He spun around with Jill dangling over his shoulder. One hand gripped the small of her back to keep her bent in place while his other arm locked behind her thighs. Coal paused by the door.

“Fray, I have set a course. Follow it and alert me if any ships come within range. You have the helm.”

“Yes, Coal,” Fray stated calmly before reclaiming the pilot seat.

Jill stared at the deck, some feet below her. The cyborg walked quickly out of the room. He seemed to know how to go directly to the crew quarters. He confirmed that when he spoke as they reached it.

“Which is yours?”

She paused.

His hold on her tightened. “Answer me.”

“The captain’s quarters are straight ahead. I converted the other three rooms for the droids to use to recharge.”

Coal stopped when he carried her into her room and seemed to study the space. The silence between them became so absolute that she heard every breath he took. He moved suddenly and Jill cried out when he bent without warning, released her, and she found herself flung onto her back on top of her bedding. She stared up at the cyborg, who looked huge and terrifying.

“You’re my prisoner now. Don’t move while I find something to restrain you. If you fight I will harm you.” His eyelids narrowed dangerously. “Do you understand me?”

She could only nod. Without weapons she stood no chance of winning a fight between them.

“Good.” He took a deep breath. “I’ve never been on this side of things but as someone who has spent a lot of time being a captive, I give you my word, I won’t abuse you.” To her shock the cyborg suddenly laughed, his dark eyes seeming to twinkle. “I admit I enjoy being the one in control for the first time.”

Chapter Four

Jill struggled against the leggings that held her wrists to the headboard but they had no give in them. Frustration and fear were two emotions she had grown accustomed to in the past few hours since Coal had tied her and left her alone in the room.

The doors opened and the cyborg entered her quarters. He had located a pair of pants that were a little small judging by the snug way they stretched across his h*ps and thighs, the material enhancing his muscular his legs. His chest remained bare. He paused at the end of her bed. He’d shaved his head, the stubble that had begun to show was now just a memory.

“The freighter isn’t following us and I doubt it will be able to travel for a very long time.”

“Good.” The last thing she needed would be another run-in with them. “What are you going to do with me and my droids?”

He cocked his head slightly, watching her for a long moment. “I’ve set a course to take us to the last location where I know my people’s ships were. I don’t want to risk communications. We are closer to Earth than I wish and the probability is high that they might overhear my transmission.”

Cyborgs had ships, which meant there were more of them. She digested that information. “What are you going to do with us if you find your friends?”

“I’ll release you and your shuttle.”

Relief swept through her. “Thank you.” She wanted to believe him but part of her remained leery. “Do you promise?”

“I’ll tell you what you told me. You’re my prisoner, I am in control, and I have no reason to give you false hope. I could do anything to you that I wish but I don’t want to harm you.”

“I didn’t say it that coldly.”

An eyebrow arched. “I am not you.”

“How are my droids?”

“Fine.” He paused, his features relaxing. “You have a lot of spare parts stored in your cargo hold. Why didn’t you fix them? Most of the supplies are there if you’d only inventoried what you possessed.”

“I don’t know how. I had to teach myself to pilot and I did replace their damaged eye sensors. I just couldn’t find matching ones. They aren’t blind. I’m kind of proud of that.”

“I wouldn’t be. You did a bad job. The color is adjustable. They have fully functioning vision now, matching colored lenses, and no more short circuits.”

She relaxed. “You really fixed them?”

“I enjoy working while I think.”

“Thank you.” She meant it, knowing he hadn’t had to do it.

He shrugged. “It needed to be done. Your entire shuttle is in bad shape. It will take us days to reach our destination and in the meantime I have made a list of repairs to tackle.”

“Really?” A rush of appreciation filled her. “Thank you. That’s so nice.”

His posture straightened even more. “You saved my life and didn’t mistreat me. I checked your computer logs and you were headed for Hixton Station just the way you stated. I also talked with the droids while I worked on them. You had no reason to deceive them and they were certain you meant to release me upon arrival. They state that you are honest and do not tell them lies. I decided, after reviewing the facts, that you need to be rewarded. You admitted to losing a financial opportunity by removing me from the freighter. While I don’t have money to pay you, I do have expertise.” He paused. “I’ve decided to repair your ship, your droids, and you.”

She felt gratitude right up until that last word. “Me? I’m not hurt.”

“You’re afraid of males and believe sex is one-sided. That’s a flaw on your part. Your male harmed you.”

“My ex-male and I’m fine. I don’t want to hear a lecture on it again. I also don’t want to date anyone in the future. It’s not a defect if it’s not a problem.”

“I am not going to talk to you.” He reached for the front of his pants. “I am going to show you pleasure.”

Jill gaped at him, her mind trying to make sense of his words while dread rolled through her. Coal tore open his pants to reveal―

Her gaze jerked upward and she locked her full attention on his face, refusing to glance down at the dusky, hairless skin he’d revealed under his navel. “You’re not wearing underwear.”

“I was fortunate to find pants that barely fit. The males who discarded the clothing I found were much smaller than I.” He bent, stepping out of the pants. “Do not fear me.”

“Stop,” Jill ordered. “I’m not flawed or damaged. Put the pants back on.” Her gaze nearly strayed downward to his groin area when he straightened, knowing he stood there naked, but she kept her gaze locked with his by sheer force alone, ignoring her curiosity. “I don’t want fixed.”