Page 10 of A Mate For Matrix (Cyborg Protection Unit #1)

“I need to see to the transport,” Matrix suddenly growled, sitting up quickly before emitting a groan and sinking back down to the decorative pillow. “ Galactic Balls ! What did you hit me with?”

Jana’s lips turned down. “My body brush. It broke when I hit your head. I just got it, too,” she said with a rueful twist of her lips. “At least it wasn’t really expensive.”

Matrix turned his head and scowled at her again. “You might show a little sympathy for the head you broke it on,” he retorted with a raised eyebrow.

“I did. I gave you a bag of ice. It would have been peas, but I don’t have any, and steak is out of my budget,” Jana replied with a slight grin before it faded.

“You’re wrong, you know. I do have a sense of survival.

I live alone, in the woods, and you came in while I was in the shower.

What else did you expect me to do? It also looked like you had some kind of weapon in your hand. ”

“And she wasn’t wearing any clothing,” K-Nine added with a grin.

“I’m well aware she wasn’t wearing any clothing,” Matrix growled before he flushed. “That distracted me.”

Jana rolled her eyes and rose to her feet.

“I was going to fix something to eat after my shower. Are you hungry? Do you even eat?” she asked, moving from foot to foot as she tried to pull her mind away from the fact that this hunk of an alien was distracted by her lack of clothing—in a good way.

“I can make enough for the two of us—unless you are leaving.”

Jana’s gaze locked with the silver-flecked dark brown eyes of the man lying on her couch.

For a moment, everything seemed to fade away and it was just the two of them.

Jana’s eyes widened, and she could feel the heat rise to her cheeks when his eyelids suddenly drooped a little and a fiery flame of desire flared.

“Yes… I do eat,” Matrix drawled in a low husky tone.

“Oh!” Jana whispered. She wiped her suddenly trembling palms down along her thighs.

Another flush turned her body to the consistency of melted chocolate when his eyes followed the movement.

“I’ll just, you know, go fix something,” she forced out, waving her hand toward the kitchen. “Now. Right now.”

Jana turned and briefly closed her eyes as she called herself every word for stupid she could think of.

She was acting like a horny twit! Sure, it had been a while since she’d been in a relationship.

Well, okay, she’d never really been in a relationship, but she had imagined enough of them to know what it must be like.

She had more book boyfriends than most women dared dream of—every one of them perfect and fictional.

She had dated every single one of them—in her dreams.

“That’s what I get for living in a little town,” she muttered. “My hot romances come from books and movies.”

Jana glanced at the clock on the stove. It was after lunchtime, but she decided she might as well make a nice lunch, and it might even serve as dinner too.

She mumbled under her breath as she pulled the chicken thighs that she had bought earlier out of the refrigerator and placed them on the counter next to the sink.

She would bake the chicken and serve it with fresh pasta and veggies.

If the man in the other room had really traveled across the solar system, he would probably appreciate a home-cooked meal.

She sighed as she remembered the size of him.

“They say the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach,” she reasoned as she pulled out more items. “It isn’t like this is ever likely to happen again! I mean, how many women can say they’ve had a hunky alien barge into their house and give them a look hot enough to sizzle their panties?”

“You know you are talking out loud, don’t you?” Matrix commented.

Jana squeaked and jumped in surprise, dropping the lettuce she was holding. Matrix stepped forward, closing the space between them before she realized he had moved, and caught the lettuce midair with one hand—and her chin with his other. She blinked when she felt warm lips against hers.

His kiss was brief, burning, and left her rooted in place like he’d flipped some cosmic switch inside her.

“I’ve never had a female tell me that I can make her panties sizzle before,” he muttered in a gruff voice before he stepped away. He gave her a crooked smile, then turned away. “I need to check on our transport and scout the area.”

“Okay,” Jana whispered, watching as he placed the lettuce on the counter before pushing open the screen door and stepping out.

“He likes you,” K-Nine commented as he stepped into the kitchen.

Jana turned and scowled down at the wolfhound. “Where are the kittens?” she asked, deciding to ignore the question glimmering in K-Nine’s eyes.

“Sleeping in their bed in the living room,” he replied. “Do you find Matrix attractive?”

Jana paused as she set the items she was holding down on the counter. She stared at the picture hanging above the sink, Follow your heart and you’ll always be at home. She swallowed and nodded.

“Not that it matters. I doubt he’s staying long, and I don’t think a long-distance relationship would work.

” She snorted, but then her gaze softened on the back door and she continued.

“Still, he’s different. Duh, right? We are literally worlds apart.

But I do wish…” She shook her head, clearing her throat.

“I’m just an ordinary girl from the backwoods of Michigan.

How could someone like him be interested in me?

” Her lips twisted, and she glanced back down at K-Nine.

K-Nine released a soft sneeze and walked over to the door. He pushed it open with his head before holding it in place with a broad shoulder. Turning his head, he looked back at her.

“You are perfect the way you are, Jana,” K-Nine replied. “You are also the first female ever to knock out Matrix. That might be a first for a Zion warrior. I can’t wait to share that with the rest of the unit.”

“Go help your friend,” Jana scolded, turning away. She glanced over her shoulder at the huge wolfhound who was anything but normal. “And don’t you dare tell anyone about me knocking him out. Something tells me that he might not appreciate that very much.”

Jana ignored K-Nine’s gruff chuckle. Instead, she turned back to the task at hand. She gently ran her tongue over her lips, remembering the feel of Matrix’s firm lips against hers. A grin curved her mouth as she began preparing their meal.

He could make my panties do more than sizzle. He could melt them right off, she thought as she began to hum under her breath.