Taunting Krell (9 page)

“Okay.”

He lunged forward suddenly, surprised her, and it stunned her at how quickly he moved. His hands gripped the undersides of her spread thighs, lifted, and she fell flat to the mattress on her back with a gasp. He pushed her legs wider apart, bent them up, and fear gripped her. It would hurt if he just suddenly entered her. She was aroused but he was a large guy. He didn’t do that though. Instead he stared at her, bent slightly over, and kept a good foot between her exposed pussy and his cock.

“I’m in charge at all times. I thrive on control. I don’t take orders from you. In the bedroom I’m the dominant one but I’ll stop at any time if you wish to. Am I clear?”

“Yes.” All her fear fled and was replaced by excitement.

“Good. Hold that position and stay spread apart for me.” One of his hands loosened its grip on her leg and caressed her skin, sliding his fingers until his fingertip brushed against her clit. He paused. “I think you’re beautiful and very sexy but I won’t allow that to deceive me. Don’t believe it will make me just accept everything you say is the truth if we do this. I don’t play games either.” He ran his finger lower, finding the slick wetness of her arousal at the entrance of her pussy, and slid his finger upward again to rest on her clit. “You come before I do.”

Her heart pounded and she nodded. He was sexy when he was being all dark and demanding.
Large and in charge.
She really liked him. The soft rub of his fingertip gliding over her bundle of nerves was a tease, so soft it felt good but not as wonderful as it could have felt. She knew he did it on purpose. The ache began to turn into outright need.

“Mouth or fingers?”

She couldn’t understand at first, too distracted by his sexy eyes and the way he lightly teased her. “What?”

“My mouth or my fingers? State your preference.”

“What are you better with?”

His lips curved. “My mouth but I just decided for you. I want to watch your face.”

The damn man was definitely a tease. He also seemed to enjoy playing with her despite his statement about not being into games. His finger applied more pressure and he rubbed up and down on her clit. Cyan moaned, curled her fingers around her legs just below her knees to keep them bent and apart, allowing the pleasure to wash through her as she stared into his blue eyes. The color appeared so cold but not when passion gripped him. They were mesmerizing.

He stopped, she wanted to protest, but the pad of his thumb brushed through her sleek wetness to tease the folds of her pussy before he pressed it over her clit. He rubbed the sensitive nub again and one finger suddenly entered her pussy in a rapid thrust. She cried out and her eyes closed. The guy had a thick digit.
Big hands.

“Look at me,” he demanded. His thumb stopped caressing and his finger remained deeply embedded inside her pussy, not moving.

Her eyes opened. He inched a little closer, released her other leg, and placed his free hand on the bed next to her face to brace his upper body. He lowered, bending over her, and she felt his hot cock brush against her ass. She swallowed and took a deep breath. His face hovered less than a foot over hers.

“You close your eyes and I stop. Keep your legs spread open and wide. Do you understand me?”

“Yes.” He was being a control freak but she wasn’t going to protest. She wanted to see what he’d do and her body hurt to come. The finger buried inside her slowly began to move, fucking her, and she moaned. It felt amazing and he seemed to know what he was doing when he found a spot inside her that really ached, giving it special attention.

“You’re so sexy.” His voice came out super deep and raspy.

Cyan had to fight the urge to buck her hips. His thumb pressed down over her clit again and began an up-and-down motion that left her panting. She knew she was going to come fast and hard. Her body was too aroused and he knew exactly how to touch her to bring her release fast. The feel of his finger moving inside her only heightened her desire.

Sweat broke out over her body as she fought her instincts to release her knees and grab hold of his shoulders. She wanted to touch him but she didn’t want him to stop. She had a feeling that he really would do it. He was a cyborg and she knew they weren’t typical men. Most guys would be easy to manage. A human guy would be balls deep inside her by now, fucking her with abandon, but Krell kept a tight leash on his control as he watched her.

She was ready to come but he suddenly eased up the press of his thumb and instead tapped her clit gently. She whimpered. “Please? Don’t play.”

“I’m not. I just want to make sure you’re at the edge.”

Dread filled her. Would he get up and leave? She’d kill him. If he just meant to take her to the edge and walk…
Yeah. I’ll kill his cyborg ass for being mean.
He withdrew his finger and pushed his body up.
Son of a bitch!

He gripped her thighs instead, jerked her ass to the edge of the bed, and released her. One hand flattened on her lower belly, holding her down, while he reached between them. Their gazes locked and an instant later the broad crown of his cock rubbed up against her very slippery pussy. She was soaked with need and he pushed, his cock parting her tight vaginal muscles, making her take him as his flattened hand shifted. His thumb pressed over her clit, rubbing her furiously, and he pushed in deeper.

Cyan threw her head back, her eyes closed, but she couldn’t stop the reaction as her vaginal walls stretched to take his thick shaft. It felt good, a little scary, but the climax hit her at that second. She cried out as he thrust into her more, her muscles clenching tightly around his cock, and he began to fuck her with hard, fast strokes, drawing it out as his thumb continued to stroke her clit.

Her nails dug into her skin, she realized it and grabbed for the mattress instead. Her hips bucked, somehow her knees ended up gripping his hips and he suddenly released her clit. He grabbed her wrists, tore them from the bedding, and jerked them above her head as he came down on top of her. He hammered her harder, the bed pounding against the wall loudly, and ecstasy continued to roll through her as she cried out louder.

“Fuck,” he snarled, his face burrowed between her lifted arm and face and his grip on her wrists became almost painful.

She felt him inside her when he started to come. Hot blasts of his semen began to jet into her. He shook over her with each spasm of his release. He didn’t crush her but he kept her firmly pinned down with his hold and weight. Her legs wrapped around his hips, her calves squeezed over his muscular ass and she held him tightly against her so they were deeply connected with his cock inside her.

He finally stilled and so did she. They were both panting, sweat tickled between them and he lifted his head. Cyan opened her eyes, staring at him, and feeling a little dazed by how intense that had been.

“Did I hurt you?” He seemed genuinely concerned.

She didn’t trust her voice so she shook her head. His gaze narrowed as he stared into her eyes. It hurt her feelings a little that he seemed to be searching for the truth. She wouldn’t lie about that. She’d have shrieked instead of cried out his name if he’d caused her pain. She was pretty sure she’d done that a few times in the throes of passion.

“I was rougher than I planned to be.”

She opened her mouth, ready to speak, but he suddenly moved. His mouth covered hers and she gasped when he began to kiss her. His tongue swept into her mouth, took charge, and she met his kiss. He had full, wonderful lips and he kissed in a way that mimicked what he’d just done to her body.

She felt his cock flex inside her, harden, and to her surprise, he began to move. This time he moved slower, nearly withdrew from her completely, before driving his hips against her spread thighs. She moaned against his tongue.

He suddenly tore his mouth away, ending the kiss as suddenly as it had begun, and he released her wrists as he straightened. Her eyes opened up to watch him lower his gaze to her body. He backed up, forced her legs to release his hips, leaving her body with his cock, and stared at her. He put a few feet between them but remained on his knees. Cyan’s legs dropped to the floor and she pushed to sit up and gape at him.

“Where are you going?”

“That’s how I wanted to take you. Slower.”

“We could go again. We’re not human. You don’t need recovery time and I don’t either.”

His gaze lowered to her pussy. “You’re beautiful, sexy, feel heavenly to touch and…” His gaze lifted to her eyes. “Dangerous. You make me want things I know better than to even consider. Now I know you’re too good to be true.”

He lifted to his feet, bent, grabbed his pants and turned away. Cyan knew her mouth dropped open from shock as he strode naked to the bedroom door. His body was unscarred perfection from his ass down. He had the nicest butt ever and muscular, shapely legs. His back revealed scars that verified his strength and courage in every white line revealed. He paused at the door and turned his head to stare at her.

“You’re treacherous, Cyan Eous. I carry enough scars on my body and I don’t need internal ones to match. Sleep well.”

He was gone, the door closed behind him, and Cyan just sat there in stunned shock.

Krell leaned against the wall outside his room. His fingers crushed the material of his pants fisted in his grip. He wanted to turn around, storm back into her room and stay there.
Hours. Days. Maybe weeks
. Touching Cyan had been amazing, hot, and the feel of her body wrapped around his, under him, had been the best thing he’d ever experienced.

He’d totally lost control when he’d entered her body. She’d been too hot and wet. So tight. The sensations of pleasure had totally shoved all thoughts from his head, left him unable to think, only to feel.
Pure heaven.

He could have hurt her and that concept made him clench his teeth.
If she’d really been human, that is.
Thankfully she wasn’t. He growled under his breath and opened his door, stalked inside and sealed it behind him.

The urge to return to her, to apologize for his abrupt departure, was almost unbearable. He could be in there now with her. His dick throbbed regardless of just experiencing the most mind-blowing orgasm he’d ever had. It really angered him. Women were trouble. They never wanted anything to do with him. He didn’t appeal to them, never had, and that should tell him Cyan’s interest in him had to be her attempt to lower his guard.

She could be a spy from Earth Government.
He dropped his pants on the floor and reached up to finger the scars along his throat. They’d nearly killed him once. He’d survived, had to fight to regain his strength, and it had left him emotionally scarred as well as physically.

He needed to keep his body in check and not allow Cyan to make him weak. He was a survivor for a reason. He was tough, strong and smart. He needed not to allow a small, sexy woman to destroy him.

He moved toward his bathroom to wash away the sweet, arousing scent of Cyan from his body. Otherwise he might lose his mind and return to her room.
Keep to the mission. Discover the truth. Stop thinking about how damn sexy she is and how much of a bastard I feel like now for the flash of pain I saw in her eyes when I left her room. It’s just an act on her part. No woman really wants me. I’m damaged.

Chapter Seven

Cyan braided her long hair into a straight plait down her back. It helped her relax as her fingers worked the damp strands. She glanced at the bedroom door and knew she couldn’t avoid leaving the room for much longer. It was past breakfast time, nearing lunch. She’d showered, dragged out doing her hair, and hunger bugged her.

She hadn’t slept well at all. She’d tossed and turned, wondering if Krell slept like a baby or if he stalked around his living quarters waiting for her to attempt an escape to unleash some kind of mayhem upon his cyborg planet. She smirked at the thought. He really believed she was a spy sent to bring them under Earth Government’s rule. He’d be sorely disappointed if those were his expectations.

It had hurt when he’d left her after what they’d shared. The guy knew how to make a woman want more. She’d have enjoyed a few rounds of sex with him, maybe talking him into actually sleeping with her, and she mourned the loss of knowing what it would feel like to be curled up against him. It was something she’d actually wished for the night before.

“Stop it,” she muttered, tying off the end of the braid with some bandage wrap she’d found in the bathroom med kit. She stood, walked to the door and lifted her chin. She heard Krell before she saw him. His heavy breathing and the sound of something being hit led her into the living area.

She paused, watching him punch the bag he had hung in his exercise area. His fists made that sucker move, his bare, tense biceps displayed nicely by his tank top, and her gaze lowered to his firm ass encased in tight pants. He looked good in them but better without. His bare foot left the mat and he spun suddenly, kicking the bag, and his braid whipped through the air. His leg dropped to the mat and he slowly turned. His fisted hands lowered to his sides as their gazes met.

“I hope you easily found the clothing I left you.”

She glanced down at what she wore. “Obviously. Thank you.”

He shrugged. “I didn’t do it. Councilman Zorus had them sent before you arrived. Did you sleep well?”

“What do you think?” She lifted an eyebrow at him. “How about you? Were you disappointed when I didn’t try to sneak into your room to kill you in your sleep or when I didn’t attempt to leave your living space to go collect intel?”

His head tilted just slightly while he studied her. “Is that your mission? To undermine cyborgs and kill as many of us as you’re able?”

She smiled, amused, and in a mood to taunt him a little. “Not at all. I’m only interested in blowing away one cyborg.” She lowered her attention to the front of his pants. “Or maybe that was just ‘blowing a cyborg’.”

The silence finally made her look back at his face. He stared at her with all emotion wiped from his expression. She wondered if he even got the joke but she doubted it. He took a step closer to her but halted.

“What does that mean?”

“Sexual term. Think about it and I’m sure it will come to you. You spent plenty of time around human guards and they loved to talk crap.”

That got a reaction. His gaze narrowed and his hands flexed at his side. “Oral sex?”

She wiggled her eyebrows and grinned.

He growled low. “You insist on using your extreme sexual appeal to make me lower my defenses.”

“Extreme? I’m flattered. Do you want to feed me?” She really enjoyed teasing him as she paused. “I’m talking about food. I’m hungry.”

“Follow me.”

He stomped off the mat toward a room she hadn’t explored and walked into his kitchen. It was compact and she had to pause at the door to avoid brushing up against him as he faced off against some weird wall contraption. He jerked it open, withdrew a box and turned, shoving it into some square, electronic device. She picked up a low hum that lasted twenty seconds before it silenced. He opened the thing, withdrew the box and set it on the counter. The thing unfolded and the smell of food filled her senses. Her stomach actually grumbled in response. Krell’s head jerked her way as he stared at where the noise originated from.

“I think it was your creator’s version of a joke.” She shrugged. “He really wanted everything he thought up to be human, only better, and his attention to detail was amazing.”

Those blue eyes of his lifted and lingered on her breasts. “I would have to agree with that statement.” He backed away, tearing his attention away from the front of her shirt to get her an eating utensil from a drawer. “Eat there. I’ll get you a drink.”

“No table?”

“Do you see one? There’s no point in sitting to enjoy a meal. I don’t cook and packaged food isn’t a joy to eat. It’s a physical requirement.”

“I cook.” She glanced around his so-called kitchen. “Where is your stove?”

“I didn’t have one installed. It would have been wasted here.”

“Too bad. I could have made you a wonderful dinner and maybe taught you the joys of eating. It’s spectacular if you’re dealing with tasty stuff.”

He started to hand her a fork but paused, glancing at her and then it, and back. Wariness narrowed his eyes.

“For real? Seriously?” She held out her hand, palm up. “What do you think? I’m going to try to prong you to death? I don’t know who that would be more embarrassing for—you dying by fork or me needing to use something so silly to take you out. I just want to eat, Krell. I could use my fingers if you insist on being paranoid.”

“Don’t try anything.” He handed it over.

Cyan grinned and shook her head. “I’d try to give you a heart attack if I wanted you dead. That would be more fun. Death by sex sounds less humiliating.” She stuck her fork into the paste-like substance. It didn’t smell bad but it looked horrible. She detected an artificial meat scent, probably want-to-be beef, and yellison, a space alternative to Earth’s tofu. It was cheap, it lasted forever, and stuck together for low- to no-gravity eating. “This stuff is going to be nasty, isn’t it?”

“You adjust.”

“I saw the outside. Don’t you grow veggies and stuff? Livestock? Doesn’t the planet hold any life forms that are tasty? It reminds me of Earth.”

“We don’t eat the planet’s inhabitants. We consider that rude. We do grow vegetables. That’s what we make the yellison with. It’s not from Earth.”

She laughed, glancing at him as she stuck a warm bite of the food in her mouth. She chewed, made a face and swallowed. “Bland. Do you at least have salt? Some seasoning? They fed me good food at Medical.”

“No.”

“Figures. You know this stuff is made of unpopular veggies, right? They blend them all up until it’s a tasteless mass of crap and just add whatever flavor they think will sell. You’d think you’d one-up Earth and at least be original.”

“Food production is not my job nor is the choice of what they do with the vegetation we grow. I could allow you to send a complaint to them if you wish or to make suggestions. They welcome them.”

“That’s at least new. Companies on Earth don’t care. It’s cheap enough in bulk for people to buy it regardless of what it tastes like.” She forced another bite into her mouth. The stuff would sustain her body but it sure wouldn’t be something she’d eat by choice. “You need better food if I stay here. Don’t make me beg. It’s not pretty.”

“I could arrange delivery of food.”

“I don’t want to put you out if it’s costly.”

“We don’t use a monetary system the way Earth does.”

That got her attention. “What do you use?”

“We don’t. We don’t ask for more than we need and we all contribute to our society.”

“I like that.” She smiled at him. “That’s the best thing I’ve heard so far about what you’ve done with your lives.”

“I heard you didn’t agree with breeding pacts.”

“It’s barbaric!” She ate more, swallowed, and decided she wasn’t nearly as hungry as she’d thought. She turned away from the food to watch him instead. “I’m not a baby machine to churn out little cyborgs and the whole ‘being assigned to strangers’ is creepy and just wrong.”

“Cyborg women choose their males when they join a family unit. You’re unique. The council felt the need to assign you into one.”

“Thanks but no thanks. I pick who I go to bed with and nobody else. They better not assign me to anyone or the cyborgs who get me are going to be eunuchs if they try to touch me.”

His mouth tightened into a grim line. “It’s a good thing they sent you to me. I would never force you.”

Worry ate at her and she crossed her arms over her chest. “Is that what they are planning to do once I settle into this planet? Send men to come get me and drag me somewhere to form some kind of messed-up family unit?”

“Not currently. You’re safe from other males.”

“But it could happen?”

“They assigned you into my custody. I wouldn’t force you to accept males into your bed. I’m in charge of you.”

She grinned. “Lucky you. What is on today’s agenda? Are we going to stare at each other all day or do you plan to give me a tour of the planet? I admit I’m curious. I’d love to see more of it.”

“We’re staying here. I thought we could talk and get to—”

A loud beep sounded and Krell jerked his head toward the living area. He moved swiftly out of the room. Cyan followed him to the front door. He pressed his palm on the scanner and the door slid open. A grimfaced cyborg she’d never seen before stood there in a black uniform. She tensed, hoping he wasn’t there to try to talk her in to checking out his sex skills.

“What is it?” The annoyance sounded strongly in Krell’s snarled tone.

“You weren’t hooked into your monitoring system. There’s been an urgent development.” The cyborg craned his neck to stare at Cyan for long seconds before he met Krell’s gaze. “Open a link. The entire council has been trying to reach you. They need an immediate assessment.”

“Thank you.” The door closed, sealing the guy out, and Krell closed his eyes. He kept hold of the wall pad.

Cyan watched him, assumed he was linking to other cyborgs and wondered what kind of urgent development had occurred. She inched to the side to get a better look at Krell’s face and felt alarm when she saw him pale, anger tensed his features next, and a soft growl rumbled from his throat. His jaw clenched.

“What’s wrong?” she whispered, not sure if linking meant someone else could hear her or if it was just inside his mind.

“Quiet,” he ordered gruffly.

She leaned against the wall, trying to remember exactly what he did for a living. He’d said he analyzed data and something about threat assessments. She hugged her chest harder, praying she wasn’t the topic. Had they decided it was too risky to allow her to live? Krell was convinced she was some kind of spy. Maybe they would believe she was too much of a danger to them. Fear inched up her spine. She’d hate to be killed by the people she’d once died to save.
That would totally bite ass.

Time passed, Krell stood there with his eyes closed. He finally snapped them open. His hand left the wall scanner and he spun, nearly walked into her where she leaned against the wall, and shot her a frown.

“I’ve assigned two cyborg females to collect you. They will protect you from other males and keep an eye on you while I’m gone.” He moved fast, striding away.

Leave?
She darted after him, having to jog to catch up to his longer stride. “Where are you going? What is wrong? Is it about me?” She grabbed at his arm, forcing him to spin around and come to a halt. She nearly slammed into him. “Where are you going? What is going on?”

“I don’t have time for this. I need to pack a bag. You will be safe. I assigned two females to guard you at a safe location.”

Her hold tightened. “Is it about me?”

He blew out a deep breath. “One of our ships has been attacked by the Markus Models.”

He jerked his arm out of her hold and spun away, rushing for his room. Cyan stood there shocked before rushing after him again. She practically ran into his bedroom and jerked to a stop to avoid slamming into him as he bent to pull a bag out of a lower drawer.

“Are there casualties? Are they still under attack? Did those bastards board it? What classification of ship do your people have?”

“They took damage and there are injuries but no deaths.” He threw clothes in the bag, not glancing at her. “They managed to escape but they are being pursued. We’re sending another ship to intercept. I need to be on it. I’ve been assigned to lead the mission since I’ve analyzed all the data and know best what we’ll be up against.”

“What classification of ship was attacked? What are you sending to help them?”

He ignored her. Anger gripped Cyan and she lunged at him, grabbed his arm and forced him to stop packing.

“Listen to me, Krell. I know the Markus Models. They can remote hack systems. I traveled to intercept them on an outdated dinosaur of a shuttle because its main computer was only voice activated from the cockpit with my voice imprinted along with my speech patterns. They can mimic voices but they suck at imitating how people talk.”

He glared at her hand gripping his forearm. “We’re aware of their hacking skills. The cyborg commander saw the ship coming and took control of the system first to prevent other breaches.”

“It’s not just the main computer they need to worry about. Do you know how the Markuses escaped? They targeted the nonessential systems.” She refused to allow him to pull away from her. “They bypassed the mainframe computer and focused on silly shit that nobody grew alarmed over until they caused the system to crash. They were playing with lights and food systems, the air flow regulators, and if you get more than four of the Markuses together they work as one, able to assault hundreds of non-secure functions as though they are a computer cell. It adds up. They overloaded that master computer until they caused a massive power surge. They walked out of the manufacturing plant because everything electrical crashed. You need to warn your people to watch for that and manually override everything they can. Everything.”

Krell stared deeply into her eyes. “Why are you telling me this? Why should I believe you?”

“I hate the Markus Models. They aren’t cyborgs. They are cold, dead machines with cloned skin. I asked to interact with a few before I took the assignment to go after them. I wanted to judge if they were really sentient or not. They are soulless but self-aware. They think anything living is a threat to their existence and needs to be exterminated. They killed every person on Belta Station. There were kids onboard. They murdered them and they were no threat. Belta Station wasn’t military and no one would have gone after them. The stationers were peaceful, just civilians in space like sitting ducks, and the Markuses knew it. They stole top-of-the-line Barcarintellus shuttles off the tarmacs the day they escaped. That’s the company who made them. They just lifted off the surface and into space. They took four shuttles in total. We have no idea how many Markus Models are missing because they just didn’t shut down the mainframe computer. They fried it.”