Cryostorm (30 page)

“Nate.”

He tilted his head and dove in, his tongue finding mine, stroking it as if tasting it for the first time. His hand flattened at my lower back, edging me against him. My body instantly molded to his, and that’s when I really felt how excited he was.

I severed the connection and gasped for air. Maybe it’d clear my mucked up brain. His kisses and gentle suckling along my neck didn’t help, though. Nate took two steps, and the backs of my legs met the bed.

He eased me down, covering me with his body, and let out a long moan. “Amanda,” he whispered against my neck. “Let me…” His body moved against mine. “Make love to you.”

At least he hadn’t said impregnate. But the request, nonetheless, brought me back to reality—tingling body parts and all.

“Not yet.” I pulled his head from my neck. His lips were shiny and swollen, and his hair a little frenzied.

A slight smile curved his lips, and he said, “You’re amazing. This is… amazing.” He shifted his hips, settling even more between my legs and rocked against me.

Oh my gosh.

“You like that. I can tell.” His grin widened. “I like giving you pleasure. Taking care of you.”

“Wait.” I fought through the haze, my desire to be with My Nate, the feeling of pleasure I knew was right around the corner. “Nate. Stop. I can’t do this.”

He stopped moving, but didn’t roll off me. I closed my eyes, focusing on My Nate.
My Nate.
“If I let him through, will you allow him to make love to you.”

“No,” I whispered. As much as I wanted it, I couldn’t. Not like this. “Please, I can’t.”

“Amanda.” His lips brushed mine. “I love you. I’ll cherish you. Protect you.”

I knew he would. Of course he would. He needed his babies. “Marriage.”

He shifted off of me, but stayed close, his breathing still ragged. So was mine, and the guilt was a fifty-pound weight on my chest because of it.

“I’ll make you a deal.” His voice was back to the Robo Nate harsh. It’d softened so much these past days.

He turned me to my side, then pulled me flush against his body. I could hardly think straight my mind was whirling so much.

“We pass through Las Vegas on our route to GEM.” He kissed my neck. “Marry me there, then I’ll willingly submit to your GEM researchers. I know you plan to try and present me to them for testing, anyway.”

I gulped. He’d known all along. Why wasn’t I surprised?

“I have come to learn a lot about you Amanda. But as I’ve told you, the chip can’t be removed. We are one and the same.”

Tears burned.

“Marry me and when they cannot remove the chip, you cooperate with me in my mission.” His hand trailed over my hip.

“And if they can remove it?”

He huffed. “Then you and your Nate are married. It’s what you both want anyway.”

“Yeah, on
our
timeline.”

“It was your timeline he was working on. He’s ready to marry you. Was when he’d asked you.”

True. He’d asked me, but I’d agreed only to the promise ring. But during this ordeal, I’d realized I wanted to marry him, too. My Nate, though. Not this red-eyed look alike. No matter how much he was changing, softening his robot demeanor.

“A marriage bond fulfills everyone’s desires. Your Nate’s requirement before marriage, and my requirement for programming.”

Not quite
everyone’s
desires.

My Nate had broken through programming about a week ago, telling me to trust Robo Nate to get us out of GenCorp. He did, and now he was bringing me to GEM, willingly facing their researchers. If I refused his offer, he might not take me there. Hell, he could take me back to GenCorp at any time.

Maybe I should freeze him and call for Georgia. Risk Bev’s people getting to me first. Surely Georgia was at GEM right now. One call to her cell phone, or Scott’s, and GEM could be here within hours.

At least that was the theory.

Bev couldn’t find me in that time, could she?

If I got him to GEM for research, they’d get this chip out. I had to believe that. “I’ll think about it on one condition.”

He combed my hair back. “What is it?”

“I’ll only marry My Nate. No red eye, only
My Nate
and me.”

“Agreed.”

“So easily?”

“Of course. It secures my mission. While I would prefer to be at the forefront to marry you, I will sacrifice that to meet the ultimate goal.”

Babies. Yep, the Robo Nate would reach his goal.

“I learned sacrifice from you, Amanda.” He smiled as he brushed his knuckles along my cheek. “The fact that you’d even consider this demonstrates that as well. And when they can’t get the chip out, there’s a covenant of marriage keeping us together.”

No.
My
Nate would come back to me, and we’d be married. And if not, there’d be a team of GEM Agents holding dart guns and an annulment to keep Robo Nate from me while we figured out the next step.

Robo Nate leaned in to kiss me, but I palmed his chest and turned away from him. “I said I’d think about it.”

Chapter 43

“A
manda?” Nate’s sweet voice pulled me from the darkness.

The room was dark and quiet, and Robo Nate sat on the edge of the bed. His red, glowing eye doused my excitement at hearing Nate’s voice like a fire hose doused a campfire.

Totally and completely.

I rubbed my sleepy eyes with my knuckles and let out a yawn.

“You fell into a deep sleep. Deeper than normal.”

“Tired.”
Lots to mull over
.

“I got us a car. We can leave now if you’re ready.” He stood and reached out toward me.

I grabbed his hand, and he pulled me up. “Yeah. I’m ready. Got to pee first, meet you out there.”

He smiled.

“What?”

“You’re so blunt. Speak what is on your mind at all times.”

“Well, not all times.” I stepped toward the bathroom. Right now was an instance. I wanted to yell at him for throwing this offer of marrying him in Vegas then quietly submitting to testing to get rid of his chip in my face. No way would he do that if he wasn’t one hundred percent confident they couldn’t remove the chip.

Which he’d said several times.

I went into the bathroom, and as I closed the door I said, “I’ll meet you outside.”

I did my business, then cleaned up as much as I could in the tiny sink and not so warm water.

The mirror reflected exactly what I felt. Totally and utterly disheveled. My head, heart, and even my soul were all over the place.

I’d already decided once I’d gotten rid of Robo Nate I’d marry My Nate. But after Robo Nate’s offer last night, I’d be marrying My Nate now, then sealing the deal when I got him back for good.

Or, if Robo Nate couldn’t be shut down, I’d be sealing the deal with Robo Nate. At least in his eyes. Could he have really overlooked the whole annulment deal and the fact that he’d be in a super-tech facility that could render him unconscious as easily as Bev did me at her compound?

Then again, he could be counting on the fact that I’d never want to see Nate—any version of him—under constant sedation or held captive.

A headache sprawled up the back of my skull. I might know how to get to GEM if I could track down a GPS. That way I’d not alert anyone to where I was by calling Georgia or Scott over the normal air waves.

I could freeze Robo Nate and drive us to GEM.

He had to have thought of that, though. Or maybe he was banking on my inability to freeze him because he was My Nate’s body.

I shook my head and stepped through the doorway into the hotel room. I’d allowed him to hold me last night as I fell asleep, dreaming it was My Nate.

Was it true what he told Bev, that all this romancing me was an experiment? A desire to study the relationship rules and process?

My Nate had told me Robo Nate was learning. Intrigued by everything.

But then the haunting words of him promising Bev I’d be pregnant within two months rang loud in my ears. Me, pregnant.
Yikes
.

I hurried to the door and found Robo Nate standing outside.

He stepped toward a Cadillac SUV parked in front of the hotel room.

“Wow.”

“I figured you would want some comfort on the long ride.”

Okay, that surprised me. “Very human of you, Robo Nate.”

He glanced at me. I swore I saw a flicker of hurt flash over his eyes, but he didn’t say anything. Instead, he opened the car door and slid into the driver’s seat. I hurried around to the side and cranked open the door.

“Do I want to know how you were able to get this? Oh, and the hotel room?”

“No.”

“Figures.” I buckled in. “Drive on, Robo.”

He cranked the engine to life, and cool air filtered out from the vents. Music piped into the speakers, and for a split second, I felt normal. Just going for a ride in a beautiful car on a fairly warm desert evening.

After quite a while of silence, he finally asked, “Will we be making a stop on our way?”

He had amazing patience. All this time he’d not known but was driving onward, possibly to his destruction.

“You’re not scared that you’ll be gone by tomorrow?”

He grinned. “It’s worth the risk.”

Nate had said that about dating me so quickly after Zach had broken my heart. Boy, things sure turned out on that risk. I’d found the love of my life and he… well, he was a work in progress at the moment, but before all this Robo Nate shit happened, My Nate had really stepped up and loved me unconditionally.

“Yes. We’re stopping. But remember your promise. I get My Nate. This is
our
moment.”

“Agreed.” He reached over and snatched up my hand. “You made the right choice.”

Silence ate up an hour, then another as I stared out the side window. Soon, neon lights lit up the sides of the streets.

“One stop to pick up the licenses, then we’re on our way to a chapel,” Robo Nate said. “It amazes me how easily this can be done and how much can be done online.”

“You knew,” I whispered, my breath fogging the window.

“I had a feeling, yes. So I prepared things.”

My stomach clenched at the thought of getting married. But my heart warmed knowing I’d get to see My Nate soon. What would he think of my deal with Robo Nate?

Thirty minutes later, marriage license in hand, Robo Nate parked the SUV in front of a chapel. Bright lights illuminated this small, white building. A long awning-covered walkway led to the front door.

“Give me My Nate,” I said, swallowing down the nerves.

“Once we’re inside.” Robo Nate shut off the car.

“Does he know?”

“No. I’m experiencing this part all by myself.”

I pushed open my door. “Then you better stay away while I’m marrying him.”

“I’ll honor our deal.”

I was sure he wouldn’t relinquish total control though, that’d leave him too vulnerable. At least that was the theory.

Robo Nate came around the front of the SUV and met me on my side. He offered his hand to me, and I grabbed it. He smiled and guided me toward the doors that would soon change my life.

In a few minutes I’d be married. Nineteen and married. My stomach flopped. Sure, it wasn’t exactly how I pictured my wedding. I kind of figured I’d have at least my brother and Georgia near me, cheering me on. But we’d have a kick-ass celebration once My Nate was back one hundred percent. They’d understand.

Robo Nate went off to get things settled while I studied the pictures of quickie weddings filling the wall.
Wonder how many are still married
.

I drew in a deep breath and closed my eyes, picturing My Nate. His amber-flecked eyes and his smooth skin. Those tender lips. He was all I needed. This would work.

“Mandy?”

I whipped around and saw Nate’s beautiful eyes I’d just been fantasizing about. He yanked me into his arms. “Mandy. Are you okay? What’s going on?”

Tears sprung, and I didn’t even try and stop them. I wrapped my arms and legs around him and squeezed tight.

He leaned back, and I kissed him hard and fast. Our teeth knocking didn’t detour me. I needed My Nate.

Too soon he pulled back, still holding my legs around him. “Where are we?” He glanced around. “I—”

“Shhh.” I kissed his cheek. “Let me see your eyes.”

All brown. Amber flecks sparkled beneath the canned lights. I cupped his cheeks and held him steady. “It’s you. It’s really you.”

“Mandy.”

Oh, God, I’d missed hearing that. “Say it again.”

He smiled. “Mandy.”

“I love you. So much.” I kissed his lips. “So much.”

“I love you. What’s going on? Did you break through the programming somehow? I haven’t been able to get a sense of anything for a while now.”

“Ashcroft?” A nasally voice called out. “Five minutes.”

Nate looked at me, and I gulped. “Five minutes until what?”

I held up my left hand. “It’s going to be a wedding ring now.”

“Mandy. What—”

“It’s okay. Nate. I want to marry you. I love you.” He let me down, and I gave him the two-minute version of my deal with Robo Nate.

“Mandy. No. Let’s run. Freeze me and call Georgia.”

“Remember when you said he was more powerful than we could have imagined? You’re right. He had to have planned for that. Nate, he’ll go quietly to GEM and submit to the researchers. They
will
get that chip out.”

Nate closed his eyes and took in a deep breath as he cupped my neck with his hands. “This can’t be how you envisioned your wedding.”

“Remember our wonky sex talk?” I laughed. “This is par for the course.”

“Mandy.”

“And you know what? The main thing is, I get to marry you. You, Nate. Then, when that chip is out, we’re honeymooning for, like, a year. And in Hawaii.”

He placed his palm on my chest and let out a long breath. “When I gave you that ring, I wanted to marry you. I still do. And you’re right. This will work. Because I’m going to bust out of him if GEM can’t get that chip out. I’ve done it before.”

“Only a couple of times, Nate. And he said he figured out how to prevent that again.”

“Doesn’t matter, anyway. GEM will figure it out.”