Page 8 of The Cyborg Way (Cyborgs on Mars #9)

CHAPTER EIGHT

E llie shook her head as she watched Levi mount Blaze in one smooth motion, muscles rippling.

She could hardly wait until tonight—to share a meal with him, and perhaps more.

Why did he find it so hard to believe that she was genuinely attracted to him?

More attracted than she’d ever been to anyone else and for much more than just that big, powerful body.

She suspected that part of it was his protective nature.

Ever since that first time he’d shown up and helped her assemble the dome, she’d known that he was looking out for her.

Even between his visits, she’d caught sight of him on the ridge behind her claim.

Her mother had wrapped her in a similar blanket of protection, although Levi was more willing to let her act independently.

She also couldn’t imagine him lying to her—he was far too direct.

As much as she loved her mother, and even though she thought she understood why her mother might have chosen to keep secrets from her, the sense of betrayal hadn’t disappeared completely.

She didn’t believe Levi would ever betray her.

Pushing aside thoughts of the past, she watched him ride away.

“We’re having company for dinner,” she told Henry. “Won’t that be nice?”

He gave a noncommittal chirp, and she laughed. He had gotten used to having her full attention.

Deciding to take a break from outside chores for the day, she focused on her habitat, cleaning and polishing her admittedly minimal environment until it shone. She even tidied the bed and made it neatly, trying not to think too hard about why she was doing that.

She set a mushroom stew simmering on the small stove, then made a salad with fresh greens and two precious tomatoes.

There was very little she could do about her own appearance, but she took another shower then smoothed lotion over every inch of her skin, doing her best to ignore the arousal already simmering through her body.

She left her hair down, simply tying it back with a blue ribbon, and put on her one dress.

Her preparations were finished by midafternoon, and she gave Henry a rueful smile.

“Now what am I going to do?”

He glided over to her hand and tilted his head meaningfully. She laughed and stroked him.

“I’m not going to spend the rest of the afternoon petting you. Maybe I’ll read instead.”

She lifted him up to her shoulder as she went to get her tablet.

But even though the time to read was a precious gift, she couldn’t concentrate.

Her eyes kept going to the windows, waiting for Levi to appear, even though she didn’t expect him until closer to dark.

But the next time she looked up, he was riding towards her.

As soon as he dismounted, she rushed over to the inner door of the airlock, waiting impatiently as it cycled. The door opened and he stepped through, filling the room with his presence, and she felt suddenly, ridiculously shy, automatically dropping her eyes.

“You look… nice,” he said gruffly, but when she peeked up at him, the hungry look was back in his eyes.

The look reassured her, and she smiled up at him.

“So do you,” she said truthfully.

He was still dressed all in black, but his clothes looked crisp and new.

His shirt hugged those broad shoulders, and his pants clung lovingly to thick thighs—and the thick ridge between them.

Oh my. She quickly snatched her gaze away from that very evident erection as he held out a carefully wrapped package.

“This is for you.”

“You didn’t have to?—”

“I wanted to.”

Cheeks warm with pleasure, she carefully unwrapped the package and found a small flowering plant, its heady scent filling the room.

“Oh, it’s beautiful. And it smells so good. Thank you.”

She could have sworn the skin across his cheekbones darkened as he gestured around her living space.

“You seem to like plants since you have them—” He came to an abrupt halt. “You made your bed.”

Now it was her turn to blush.

“Yes. I know it’s usually a mess.”

“I like it that way. It’s like your nest.” His hand touched her cheek as it had done earlier. “Little bird.”

Her breath caught at the warmth on his face. She very carefully put the plant on the table, then turned back to him, sliding her hands up that broad chest to curl around his neck.

“Kiss me. Please.”

This time she didn’t tug his head down but waited as patiently as possible. She could see the indecision on his face.

“I shouldn’t.” He sounded more as if he were trying to convince himself rather than her.

“Why not?”

“I’m a cyborg, remember?”

“And I told you I didn’t care.”

“I’m also too old for you.” He fingered the ribbon in her hair. “You’re so young and pretty.”

“Mmm. Maybe that just means I need someone older. To protect me.” Her voice dropped to a husky whisper that she didn’t recognize. “To guide me.”

The heat in his eyes intensified.

“Guide you?”

“Through all the things I haven’t experienced.”

Their bodies were close enough that she actually felt his cock jerk at her words, and she pressed even closer. His face was so tortured that she almost felt sorry for him, but then he groaned and kissed her, and her sympathy vanished in a haze of delight.

His mouth was hard, demanding, and she melted into it, meeting him eagerly.

His hand slid down to her ass and he lifted her easily into his arms, bringing her face up to his for more of those hot, hungry kisses.

Her legs parted automatically to circle his waist, and she sighed with pleasure as her swollen clit rubbed against the ridged muscles of his abdomen.

She wiggled against him, trying to relieve the throbbing ache, and he helped her, the big hand on her ass rocking her against his body until another one of those short, sharp bursts of pleasure rushed over her.

“Responsive little bird,” he murmured approvingly as he finally raised his head.

She knew she was blushing, but she didn’t care, the ache already beginning to return.

“More, please.”

“I thought we were going to have dinner.”

It was a half-hearted protest at best, and she grinned at him.

“Later. Now take me to my—what did you call it? Oh, yes, my nest.”

“Are you sure? I will not take this… lightly.”

“Good. Neither will I.” She leaned closer and brushed a quick, gentle kiss against that hard mouth. “I know what I’m doing, Levi. I want this. I want you.”

He shuddered, then quickly carried her across the room to the bed. Henry suddenly trilled again, but she wagged her finger at him over Levi’s shoulder.

“Hush now. I’m fine.”

He tilted his head, then hopped up into her new plant and settled down amidst the branches.

“Only fine, little bird?” Levi murmured provocatively as he placed her on her feet next to the bed.

Before she could respond, he lifted her dress up over her head, leaving her in her plain white bra and panties. They were nothing special but he didn’t seem to care, his gaze warm and appreciative.

“You are so beautiful.”

His rough finger traced the upper swell of her breasts above the edge of her bra, and she shivered with anticipation.

He circled a pebbled nipple, making her clit pulse with excitement, and she reached back impatiently and unhooked her bra.

His big, warm hands briefly covered her breasts before he shocked her by lifting her again, higher this time, high enough to fasten a hot, wet mouth over a throbbing nipple.

Her back arched as he sucked hard, each pull of his mouth throbbing in her swollen clit.

She was on the verge of another climax when he pulled free and put her back on her feet, groaning as he looked down at her now red and distended nipples.

“Was I too rough? I am having a hard time remaining in control.”

“Not at all.” Her nipples ached, but from arousal, not pain. “And you don’t need to be in control.”

“I do. You placed your trust in me.”

“And you’re doing exactly what I want,” she said firmly. “But it’s your turn to take off your clothes.”

He hesitated for a second and she was afraid that his overdeveloped conscience would object, but then he toed off his boots, stripped off his shirt, and discarded his pants.

She cast a brief glance at that broad, impressive chest before her gaze dropped to his cock and her mouth went dry.

Huge and swollen, the wide head dark red and already gleaming.

She automatically reached for him, but her fingers couldn’t even close around the thick shaft.

He didn’t seem to mind, his hand tightening over hers as he urged her to stroke him.

His skin was surprisingly smooth, almost silky beneath her touch despite the rigid shaft, and she hummed appreciatively.

Her thumb slipped over the head, feeling the slickness coating it, and he groaned again.

This time it was appreciation rather than regret.

“You are not helping my control, little bird.”

“Good. Can I… taste you?”

His cock jerked beneath her hand, but he shook his head.

“Later.”

He picked her up again, but this time he placed her gently on the bed, stripping away her panties and leaving her completely naked and exposed to his avid glance.

“We’ll take this slowly,” he promised as he came down over her.

But she didn’t want slow and careful. She wanted passionate and uncontrolled. She squirmed beneath him, lifting her legs to circle his hips. For one glorious second, his huge cock pressed between her legs before he pulled back.

“Slowly,” he repeated, his voice a hoarse growl, and kissed her before she could object.

She loved his kisses, but she loved it even more when his hand slid down between her legs the way she had envisioned previously, his fingers as thick and exciting as she had anticipated. They slid with almost embarrassing ease through her drenched folds as he growled again.

“You’re very wet.”

“And very ready. Please, Levi.”

He hesitated for the briefest second, then finally slid the thick width of his cock between her legs, but not to enter her.

Instead, he rubbed slowly back and forth across her clit.

Each time the broad head passed over her clit it seemed to vibrate, adding to the sensations rocketing through her.

Her climax swept over her, not quickly this time, but in a long wave of pleasure.

As she cried out his name, he lifted her hips and slid into her with one long, hard stroke.

Her body exploded again in a confusing mixture of pleasure tinged with pain—shocked, overwhelmed, and completely satisfied.