Page 15 of Human Reform (Cyborg Planet Alpha #3)
FIFTEEN
ALORA
I woke up to the unfamiliar sensation of warmth wrapped completely around me.
Not the artificial warmth of my woven blanket but the living heat of another body.
Daxon’s body. My eyes fluttered open to find myself completely naked and tangled with him, his strong arms creating a protective cocoon that felt more like home than anywhere I’d slept in the last decade.
The first rays of Planet Alpha’s suns filtered through his bedroom window, casting a golden glow across the muscular planes of his chest. I allowed myself a moment to simply stare at him.
In sleep, the hard edges of his face softened.
Those two fine scars near his temple caught the light, making me wonder about the stories behind them.
I couldn’t believe what had happened between us last night. The intensity. The connection. How I’d surrendered so completely to someone I’d technically only known for three days. Yet some deep, primal part of me felt like I’d known him for lifetimes.
What surprised me most wasn’t that we’d had sex.
It was how right it felt. How the most intense, intimate encounter of my entire life had been with a cyborg who had never been intimate with a woman before.
The beautiful irony there made me smile.
A man engineered for perfect logic had somehow given me the most emotionally fulfilling night of my life.
And he had even cooked for me. Such a simple thing, but nobody had ever done that before. Not a single one of the string of forgettable boyfriends in my twenties. Not even my brother, Tim, who’d been too busy keeping me out of trouble to learn his way around a kitchen.
I traced one of my fingers lightly over Daxon’s collarbone, marveling at the warmth of his skin.
He was everything I’d ever wanted and never thought I deserved—strong yet gentle, protective but not controlling, brilliant and evolving every day.
The fact that he wasn’t fully human seemed like the least important detail about him.
Was I falling in love with him? The thought sent a spike of fear through me.
To fall in love with someone in just three days was insane.
Ridiculous, even. But the weight of his arm around my waist felt more real and right than anything I’d ever experienced.
My heart had spent so long walled off, and now the barriers were crumbling faster than I could reinforce them.
Daxon stirred, as if sensing my inner turmoil. His eyes opened, immediately finding mine with a startling clarity that suggested he’d been awake for some time. His face transformed with a smile so bright and genuine it made my chest tight.
“Good morning,” he said, his voice morning-rough but tender.
“Morning,” I replied, a smile spreading across my face.
His arm tightened around me, pulling me closer until I was pressed fully against his chest. “Did you sleep well?”
I nodded against him. “Better than I have in over a decade. Maybe ever.” The admission slipped out before I could censor it, but the vulnerability didn’t sting like I expected.
Satisfaction flickered across his face, that hint of male pride that should have annoyed me but somehow didn’t. He pressed his lips softly to my forehead, lingering there as if memorizing the sensation.
“You know, you could have a home here,” he murmured against my skin. “With me.”
The words hung between us, heavy with possibility. I wasn’t ready to answer, not yet. Instead, I ran my hand down his chest, feeling the steady rhythm of his heart beneath my palm.
“I should shower,” I said, deflecting as I always did when emotions threatened to overwhelm me.
His eyes darkened slightly. “Of course.”
“Would you…” I took a deep breath, gathering my courage. “Would you join me?”
The surprise on his face quickly melted into something hotter and more primal. I felt his arousal press against my thigh, his body responding instantly to the suggestion.
“You’re sure?” he asked, his voice lowering to a rumble that vibrated through me.
I grinned, tracing my finger down the center of his chest. “I figured we should conserve water. Very logical, don’t you think?”
He gave a startled laugh, the sound warming me from the inside out. “Your logic is flawless, Dr. Bridges.”
Daxon’s hand was warm and firm as he helped me out of his bed, his naked body moving with a fluid grace that made my breath catch.
The morning light streaming through the window cast golden streaks across his bronzed skin.
I couldn’t help but admire the way his muscles shifted beneath his skin.
He was breathtaking, and the way he looked at me—like I was the only thing in the universe that mattered—made my chest ache.
“Come on,” he said softly. “Let’s get cleaned up.”
I followed him into the small bathroom, the space barely large enough for the two of us.
He turned on the shower, adjusting the temperature until steam began to rise, curling around us like a warm embrace.
The intimacy of it all—standing naked together in this tiny space—sent shivers through me.
I wasn’t used to this, to someone wanting to be this close to me and to someone caring for me in such a simple yet profound way.
“Can I wash you?” he asked, his voice soft but laced with something deeper, something that made my stomach flutter.
I nodded, my throat suddenly dry. “Yes.”
He reached for the soap, lathering it between his hands before gently running them over my shoulders, his chest pressing against my back.
His touch was deliberate, almost reverent, as if he was memorizing every curve and dip of my body.
I closed my eyes, letting the warmth of the water and the heat of his hands wash over me.
His fingers trailed down my arms, over my ribs, and across my stomach, leaving a trail of fire in their wake.
When his hands cupped my breasts, I couldn’t suppress the soft gasp that escaped my lips.
“You’re beautiful,” he murmured, his breath hot against my ear. His thumbs brushed over my nipples, and I felt my body respond instantly, a flush of heat spreading through me.
I turned to face him, my hands finding his chest. “Your turn,” I said, my voice barely a whisper.
I took the soap from him, lathering my hands before running them over his broad shoulders and down his chest. His skin was warm and smooth beneath my fingers, and I could feel the pounding of his heart.
When my hands drifted lower, I felt him tense, his breath hitching as I wrapped my fingers around his hard length.
“Alora,” he growled, his voice thick with need.
I dropped to my knees, the water cascading over us as I took him into my mouth.
His hands tangled in my hair, not forcing, but holding on as if I were his anchor.
The sounds he made—low, guttural groans that sent shivers down my spine—only spurred me on.
I could feel him trembling, his control slipping as I worked him with my mouth and tongue.
When he came, it was with a deep, guttural groan that echoed in the small space. I swallowed, the act feeling strangely intimate and claiming in a way I hadn’t expected. When I looked up at him, his eyes were dark with desire and something else—something that looked a lot like awe.
“You’re incredible,” he said, his voice rough as he pulled me to my feet. His hands cupped my face, his thumbs brushing over my cheeks. “I don’t know what I did to deserve you.”
I smiled, my heart swelling at his words. “You’re not so bad yourself.”
He chuckled, the sound warm and rich, before pressing a soft kiss to my lips. “We should probably get to the security center before people start asking questions.”
I groaned softly, leaning into him. “They can wait a little longer.”
He laughed again, but I saw a hint of reluctance in his eyes as he stepped back. “As much as I’d like to stay here with you all day, we have important work to do.”
I sighed, knowing he was right. We quickly finished washing up, the intimacy of the moment giving way to the reality of the day ahead. As we stepped out of the shower and began to dress, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of joy—something I didn’t think I’d ever truly felt before.
Being with Daxon in his personal space and sharing these intimate moments together felt like coming home to a place I’d always hoped existed but didn’t think I’d ever find. And suddenly, at that moment, I wasn’t afraid of what could go wrong but realized that maybe I did deserve happiness and love.