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“You don’t have any wrinkles. You don’t age at all, do you?”
He released her hair and captured one of her hands. “No.”
It hit her like a ton of bricks. “Shit.”
“What’s wrong?”
“I can’t marry you, Sky. We’ll just have to live together for a while.”
His hold on her hand tightened. “Why?”
“I’m not a cyborg. I’m going to age. We’ll be good together for maybe thirty years or so…but then you’ll be married to a wrinkled old lady. I can’t do that to you.”
“I’ll still want you, Mick. Plus, this issue has been brought up before. Our people are working on a way to slow the aging of humans. They’ve made great strides. Two of the council members are joined with one human woman. They’ve kept her in amazing health, and she looks much younger than she is. They’ve slowed the process by donating their plasma. It rejuvenates her cells.”
She took in that unbelievable information. “You would have to give me blood? That sounds like a pain.”
“I don’t know if I’m compatible with you, but cyborgs willingly donate blood, and it’s processed to help humans. It will greatly reduce your aging process, and they are still working on ways to completely stop it.”
She still had her doubts.
“Mick.” Sky frowned and leaned closer, staring deeply into her eyes. “Stop thinking whatever caused that expression on your face. They will figure it out. Cyan is working with some of our experts to discover what was done to her, in order to help other human wives. But we have a lot of years before we must worry about that.”
“Who’s Cyan?”
“She was once human, but her father created a new body for her. She’s similar to a cyborg but more advanced. She appears completely human, but she doesn’t age, either.”
“New body? Like one of those brain implants they’ve attempted on old people? I’ve heard they’ve tried to give them android bodies, but it’s supposed to be the stuff of horror stories. They either die anyway, or they go insane if they manage to survive the surgery.”
“She’s not an android. She’s flesh and blood with extras. Her father destroyed the research after he transferred Cyan into that body, to protect her existence. She was wanted by Earth Government. They would have killed her for helping cyborgs escape.”
“Wow. This is some heavy stuff.”
“Don’t allow this to become an issue or to hold us back. Cyborgs are more medically advanced than humans.”
That made sense; she couldn’t deny the fact that cyborgs were probably a lot smarter than normal people. It only made sense their medical technology would be better.
“You had faith in me to get you off Velion One and take you to my home world. Trust me to make our marriage work.”
She wanted to agree to anything he wanted, especially with them still intimately joined and him looking so incredibly sexy. The idea of spending the rest of her life with him sounded too good to be true. And tempting. Unbelievable so.
“I’m starting to realize arguing with you is never going to be easy. Please tell me you have some annoying traits, like burping during your meals or picking your nose.”
Shock took over his features. “I don’t.”
She laughed. “You’re perfect, then? Great. I’ll never win an argument.”
He slowly grinned, his amusement showing. “I do have a flaw.”
“I can’t wait to hear it. What is it?”
“I’m sex starved. And you’re naked in my bed…”
“That doesn’t sound like a flaw. I’m a bit sex starved, too.”
“Let’s fix that.”
She ran her hands over his body. “Let’s.”
Chapter Seven
Sky woke to a faint buzz and knew he needed to get out of bed. He regretted it instantly as he untangled from Mick’s sleeping form. She enjoyed cuddling, and he appreciated having her pressed up against his body too much to easily give it up. He walked over to the pad by the door and placed his hand there.
Gene’s voice was heard inside his head. “What’s going on? I was informed we might be returning to Garden.”
“I’m sorry. I know you’ve been scanning communications in your every waking moment and haven’t left your quarters. Any trace of Danica since she sold your shuttle on Titan?”
“No. Why are we returning to Garden? I haven’t found her yet.”
“Well…I saved a human from a planet.”
“When did that happen? I must have been sleeping. I was up for forty-seven hours straight monitoring transmissions and contacting space stations, searching for any news of Danica.”
“Remember my Earther friend named Mick, who ran that mining operation? I know I told you about him, how I speak to him from time to time.”
“Yes.”
“He turned out to be a she, and pirates attacked the mines. I went in to rescue her. She’s onboard, and the council is irritated with me for saving her. But she’s agreed to join a family unit with me.”
Total silence met his announcement.
Sky inwardly winced. “I’m sorry, Gene. I know you wanted to stay out here longer and look for Eve’s missing sister. I did a search, and we’re going to pass near the Star on our flight home, if the council makes us return. You can transfer over to that ship to remain off-planet and to access satellites. I planned to speak to you about it, but you had coms locked. I figured you were busy and would contact me when you took a break.”
Gene sighed. “I can’t fault you for what you’ve done. Congratulations on finding a female. I know you’ve always wanted an Earther.”
“Why does everyone say that?”
“Because it’s the truth. You always complain about—”
“Okay. I get it,” Sky said, cutting him off. “Mick is incredible, and I was right to want someone like her. I can contact the Star and ask them to send a shuttle to dock with us. They can pick you up when we’re within range of— Oh, shit. Onyx is in charge now. I’ve been stripped of command of the Bridden…but I’m certain he’ll do that for you. It’s important that Danica is found. He’s aware of that and will want you to be able to stay out here looking for her instead of returning to Garden.”
“The council is that furious with you?”
“They think my Mick could be a spy.”
“Is she?”
“No.”
“It’s a good thing you’re in a family unit, then. It will protect her from being taken from you—but it’s your ass on the line if you’re wrong.”
“I’m not wrong, and we haven’t formally joined into a contract yet. I’m going to take care of that this shift. Mick has no love for Earth Government. They killed her parents.”
“Will the council believe her word?”
“Teg is checking out her story and will confirm what she told him.”
“How did you get him to do that? He doesn’t even like you.”
“That’s why I asked him to meet with her. The council will listen to him because we aren’t friends. I would ask a favor from you, though.”
“I owe you one,” Gene admitted. “You took me off Garden to hunt for Danica. Name it.”
“You’re close with Blackie. Please remind him that I’m helping you search for his sister-in-law and that I didn’t assign you any duties, freeing all your time to scan communications for any mention of Danica.”
“You want him to help you with the council and clear your way with this female. I’ll contact him, and I’ll also talk to Onyx.”
“Remind him how important it is to find Danica, since she knows about Garden. She’s a serious risk to our planet if she’s ever captured and tortured.” Shy grinned. “It’s the excuse I use when any of the cyborgs complain about you staying in your quarters all the time. It works for them.”
“I’ll do that. Thank you for the time you’ve allowed me on the Bridden.”
“You’re welcome. I wish we’d found Danica already.”
“I do as well. I’ll
leave you a message to update you after I speak to Onyx and Blackie.”
“Thank you.” Sky pulled his hand off the pad and cut communications. He turned around, smiling as he watched Mick sleep in his bed. His body instantly responded to the sight of her curvy body and all the things he’d like to do to her to bring them both pleasure.
He made it two feet when the wall pad softly chimed again.
He spun, gritting his teeth, and slapped his palm on it once more.
“What?”
“I’m monitoring activation of your coms,” Onyx stated. “Don’t sound testy. It’s rude.”
“I apologize. I just woke and wanted to go back to bed.”
“The council has changed their minds about us returning to Garden. A distress signal was picked up by the Varnish twenty minutes ago. Civilians on the Zippo Station reported Markus Models, but then they stopped transmitting. Stag is on his way but we’re closer. The council has ordered us to go there and assess the situation before the Varnish arrives.”
Sky felt dread as he turned his head, staring at Mick. She’d be in danger. “Understood. How long until we reach where the attack occurred?”
“Seven hours, thirteen minutes at full speed. The Markus Models will have already killed all the inhabitants aboard if they stick to their pattern.”
Sky grimaced, knowing Onyx was correct. The Markus Models had zero compassion. Any survivors would only be left as bait to kill others. He’d read the report Stag had submitted about the only survivor they’d ever encountered. The female had been strapped nude to the headboard of a bed with bombs ready to blow if anyone attempted to cut her loose. Luckily, the cyborgs who’d found Nala had been able to disable the explosive devices.
“I know you are probably worried about having your female onboard, but we’ll remain shielded to give Stag information before he arrives. We’ll only have to attack if the Markus Models have remained and we need to help defend the Varnish.”
“Understood. What can I do?”
“I want you up here when we reach the station. We’re going to attempt to hack into their computers to see the security feeds of what took place. The station was mostly run by Earthers, and you’re more familiar with their behaviors than I am. It’s possible you’ll detect something I may miss.”
“I’ll be there in seven hours. Will that do?”
“Yes.”
Sky removed his hand from the pad, ending the call. He entered the cleansing unit rather than wake Mick. He needed to calm his nerves before she saw him in his current mood. It would be difficult enough trying to explain the danger they would soon face if they had to engage the Markus Models. The council would order an attack if they felt the Bridden and the Varnish could take out a ship belonging to their enemy.
He stood still as the foam hit his body, his eyes closed, and took deep breathes. It was a priority to join in a family unit with Mick. Now more than ever. Their future could be cut very short.
* * * * *
Mick woke to a slight buzz and sat up. She was alone in the room but the sound came from the wall near the door. Someone seemed to be out in the hallway. Another noise drew her attention to the cleansing unit, and she smiled, relieved that Sky hadn’t gone far.
She slid out of bed to let him know someone wanted his attention. The unit opened before she reached it, and Sky stepped out. He wore only a towel wrapped around his waist.
“Someone is at the door, I think. The panel next to it buzzed a few times.”
“I’ll answer it. Why don’t you get clean while I do? Are you hungry?”
“Yes. I’m used to eating right after I wake.”
“I’ll order food.” He strolled to the storage wall. “Don’t be long. We’ll eat, and then resume getting unrusty.”
She laughed. “I think we managed to get up to speed before we fell asleep.”
“Practice makes perfect, and I wish to be the best husband to you.”
She was touched by his heartfelt words. She could hear the sincerity in his voice. “I’m grateful for whatever I did to deserve you.”
“I am too.”
She ducked into the cleansing unit and closed the door, hurrying to get clean and do her morning grooming. It didn’t take long with the fancy upgraded bathroom. She’d missed things like cleansing foam, and hidden toilets that slid out of walls and automatically disappeared as soon as she was done. It felt heavenly to be able to use real water to brush her teeth, too. She could get used to life with a cyborg.
It still stunned her a bit that Sky wanted to get married. She tried to get a read on her feelings. No latent regret surfaced over saying yes, though she was just a little nervous. What if, once the honeymoon stage ended, they discovered they shouldn’t have made it legal? Divorce rates on Earth were high. She wondered if that were equally true with cyborgs.
Mick wrapped a towel around her middle and exited the cleansing unit. She stilled as soon as she stepped out.
The door to the hallway stood wide open, and a man she’d never seen before talked to Sky. She’d taken her time and hadn’t expected company to still be there. He was another cyborg with black hair and bright blue eyes, which widened as he stared back at her.
Sky turned to her, his expression grim.
“Wait there, Mick. This will only take a moment.”
“Aren’t you going to introduce me? She doesn’t have males.”
“She has me, Kronk.” Sky pushed the male into the corridor and slammed him into the wall. “And don’t look at my female that way. I don’t share.” He spun, stormed into the room, and slapped his hand on the pad. The doors whooshed closed.
Mick frowned. “What was that about?”
“He wanted to meet you and steal your attentions from me.”
“I kind of guessed that. I guess cyborgs don’t have a bro code, huh?”
He shook his head. “No. I understand Earthers won’t usually make sexual advances toward women who are with one of their friends. Cyborgs believe it’s best to be friends with the other men whom they share their woman with. You’re not a cyborg, though, and he was out of line to assume you’d want more than one husband.”
She let that info sank in. “How many husbands are cyborg women allowed?”
He had put on pants but no shirt. He crossed his arms over his chest and shook his head. “I didn’t want to have this discussion with you yet.”
“Yet, I’m asking. Just give it to me straight, Sky.”
“There are fewer females than males on my planet. Long story short, they have multiple husbands. Cyborg men share one wife. When a man joins a family unit, if his female doesn’t have an excess of males already, the friends of her male will shamelessly use that association to vie for her attention, in the hopes that she’ll consider adding them to her family unit, too. It doesn’t matter, though. You’re not a cyborg, and I’m not sharing you with other men. We’ll be completely monogamous as a couple.”
She tightened her towel around her middle and leaned against the cleansing unit, her legs feeling a little unstable. “You’re not joking, are you?”
He let his arms drop and slowly approached her. “Cyborgs are different from humans, Mick. We had to form family units that aren’t exactly what you’d consider the norm. Cyborg women can have anywhere from three to half a dozen husbands. They don’t all live together at once. She’ll split her time between them. It’s done to give everyone the opportunity to be part of a family if they wish to be, and we needed a large genetic pool while we breed our future generations. I’ll give you an example on a small scale. Ten women with one husband each would mean there were only ten variations of genetics for the second generations. But ten women giving birth to four children, by four different males, means forty different variations of genetics for the second generation. Do you follow that line of reasoning?”
She crossed the room and took a seat on the bed. “I get it.”
“I don’t want to share you with other men.” He went to her and crouched
down, caging her legs between his hands on the edge of the bed. “I won’t lie, either. You could demand I accept other husbands into our household, and the laws on Garden would be on your side. It would break my heart, Mick. I don’t want you being touched by other men. I hope you don’t want me touching other women. I want us to have an Earth-style relationship. I want to sleep with you every night, and be the only man who gives you children, if we’re lucky enough to have any.”
She stared into his beautiful eyes. “Is that the real reason you want to marry me? Because I’m not a cyborg, and I don’t have to have a passel of husbands?”
“I want to marry you because I feel things for you that I’ve never felt before, and I wish to spend every day and night with you. You make me happy, Mick. I don’t feel for other cyborgs the way I do for you. Cyborg females have never held an interest for me. They are not even comparable to you. You’re wonderful, warm, funny, sweet, and everything I’ve ever wished for in a wife.”
He knew the right things to say, that was for sure. “Are you sure it’s me that you really want?”
“Yes.”
She relaxed and reached for him, placing her hands on his biceps. “I don’t want anyone but you, either.”
“Good,” he said, his relief clear. “Males will try to win your attention. Tell them to fuck off.” He smiled. “Or I will. You’re mine, and I’m yours.”
“It’s going to take some time getting used to your world, isn’t it?”
“I’m with you every step of the way. All that matters is that we’re together, and we make each other happy.”
“Okay. What else is different about your society? You might as well prepare me, since I’m going to be your wife.”
Sky straightened, and she had to let him go as he took a seat next to her on the bed. He surprised her by sliding his arms around her waist and under her knees, and easily lifting her onto his lap as he scooted back, getting comfortable.
“I enjoy holding you.”
“I like this, too.”
“Good. I’m going to be doing it a lot. I love the closeness I feel with you, Mick. Okay, I’ll give you a rundown of Garden and how cyborgs live. Our food will be here shortly. You ready?”