Burning Up Flint (21 page)

The redheaded
cyborg
frowned. “She’s threatening death over a breeding pact? Why?”

Flint sighed. “Humans like monogamy.”

The man blinked. “I see.” He turned his gaze back to Mira. “It is our duty to breed because our numbers are so low that if we don’t we will die out as a race. It is the responsibility of every
cyborg
to at least breed one child apiece but breeding more children is highly encouraged. Every female and every male must have one to replace their life in our existence. Some of us are unable to breed physically so we have breeding pacts set up. It’s not a choice that we join them, it is law. If you join in a family unit with Flint, you must have at least one child together. If you were a
cyborg
couple then you would be expected to have two children, one for Flint and one for yourself. If you are unable to give him a child then another
cyborg
female would be ordered to conceive and carry a child for Flint. Isn’t that comforting to you? You will still get to raise a child made by Flint in your family unit.” The man smiled. “It’s a good system.”

Horror hit Mira. “You mean some poor woman would be forced to sleep with him and then just hand over her baby to us? Just like that? She’d have to give it away?”

Cal frowned. “That news didn’t comfort her. I thought it would.”

Flint shot the man a glare. “Shut up and stay out of this. You’re not helping. Mira, come down and we’ll talk about this.”

The redhead looked confused. “You’re not a
cyborg
. You are not in a breeding pact. No one will take your child away from you or force you to carry another male’s
cyborg
child that you have to give away. No sane
cyborg
would want to breed a child with someone as small as you. Flint is just being irrational.”

“Who the hell is this jerk?” Mira glared at the man as she addressed Flint.

Flint clenched his teeth. “The jerk is a friend of mine but he’s also who you would call my boss. Can you refrain from calling him names while he’s within earshot? I at least wait until he leaves the room when I want to insult him when he pisses me off.” Flint glared at the man. “Leave. I’m off duty.”

The man sighed. “I actually wanted to talk to you before the
Star
left. A situation has come up.”

“Yes, one has. Do you see right now isn’t a good time to talk? I’m a little involved in my own situation. Get out, Cal.” Flint glanced at Mira. “Please, come down from there. At least sit on the balcony floor. I swear to you on my honor that I will not come after you by stepping foot on the balcony. Just get off the railing before you accidentally fall.”

“If I fall it won’t be an accident.”

Fury hit Flint’s features. “What would you have me do, Mira? Disregard the pact? I could be arrested for it. There are laws to follow and they were made for my race’s survival. I’m not happy with them myself. You know this. I took you from the shuttle because I don’t want a family unit with two other males sharing my woman. I told you that I have no wish to touch other females and that wasn’t a lie. I wouldn’t be happy if I got a call to breed with a female in a pact’s family unit. I especially wouldn’t want to do it knowing that you were hurting because of it. The last thing I want to do is make you unhappy and hurt you. I like it a hell of a lot when you’re happy and want me touching you. I have told you that you mean more to me than anything else and I didn’t lie about that either. If I was harsh with my attitude about this it is because I am frustrated. You were happy and now you are sitting on my railing threatening to end your life. Don’t you think I wish it wasn’t this way? I wish I didn’t belong to a breeding pact but I can’t get out of it.”

Cal cleared his throat. “Actually, I can get you out of it.”

Both Mira and Flint stared in shock at the
cyborg
. Cal smiled. “As I was saying, a situation came up. We got a message from the
Vontage
.”

Flint frowned. “We lost contact with her months ago. Is Steel alive?
His crew?”

“Apparently.
The codes were correct so we verified the messages were from him when transmissions were very bad at first. He said they were attacked by pirates and suffered extreme damage to the ship. They just now have made enough repairs to get a signal to us. That’s the other reason I came here. I want you to command the
Star
and go meet the
Vontage
. They reported finding a planet with other
cyborg
survivors from Earth who have colonized there. Remember the
Moonslip
that disappeared twenty-five years ago? It crashed near that planet and, according to the report from
Steel,
there were survivors who made it to the planet surface. I’d like you to lead the rescue mission to bring them back to Garden.”

“I am off duty. Iron is in command of the
Star
.”

“I want you to lead the rescue and retrieval.” Cal hesitated. “Steel requested you and he was adamant about you being there. The ship
Moonslip
carried mostly female
cyborgs
. Steel thinks that between the
Star
and the
Vontage
that you could repair and tow the
Moonslip
back here. There are hundreds of
cyborg
female survivors and they’ve bred more females, Flint. Do you know what this means?”

Flint nodded. “Yes.”

“Can someone clue me in?” Mira called out.

Flint turned his attention to her. “I will if you at least straddle the railing.”

She lifted a leg and threw it over the railing. “Happy? Now what does it mean?”

Cal answered. “Males outnumber the females on Garden five to one. With hundreds more
cyborg
females back in our population that number is greatly changed.”

Flint nodded. “Our council said the laws would change according to need and population.”

“We could change our breeding laws so that females would only have to enter into a family unit with two males instead of three. With my authorization I can not only clear you to join in a family unit with your human but I can remove you from the breeding pact you are in. I will exchange your name for one of the rescued males. You would be without a pact.” The
cyborg
eyed Mira. “He wouldn’t be required to touch another female ever again as his payment for agreeing to leave Garden after a lengthy shift and returning to another one consecutively. I have the authority to do it.”

Mira bit her lip. “So let me get this straight. He won’t have to touch another woman?
Ever?
No stupid law, contract, obligation, or hidden clause somewhere in there? He could be totally loyal to me in a monogamous relationship?”

“Yes. I’m even willing to put it into writing.” Cal stared at Mira. “He will be totally yours sexually. I don’t know why you would only want one male since females seem to enjoy the three men in a family unit but he could be yours exclusively if he agrees to go on this mission. It’s that important.”

“He’ll do it.” Mira didn’t hesitate to say the words.

Flint frowned at Mira. “I’ll do it?”

She glared at him. “Yes. You’ll do it. If you want me happy and if I mean so much to you, like you said, then you’ll do whatever it takes to get out of that damn breeding pact. I get to come with you, don’t I?”

Flint nodded. “Where I go, you go. You can’t accept deals for me.”

“The hell I can’t,” she sighed. “Come grab me. I’m terrified of heights and I’m afraid to toss my other leg over. I don’t want to fall anymore. You are going to accept his job if it means that you’re not touching any other women.”

Flint cursed softly, storming out onto the balcony. He grabbed Mira around her waist and hauled her into his arms and walked into the living room carrying her. Fury radiated off him as he set her on the couch. He spun away to shut the doors firmly. He glared at her as he slowly turned to face her again.

“If you ever pull another stunt like that I’ll chain you to my damn bed for six months.”

“He can get you out of your stupid breeding pact, Flint.” Mira stared up at him. “Please accept the job for me?
For us?”

Flint shut his eyes, taking a few deep breaths. His eyes opened and he nodded.
“For you.”
He glared at Cal. “That was low. You used her to get me to agree to the mission.”

Cal grinned. “And it worked. I’m happy, she is happy, and it all works out well.”

“I’m not happy. I just returned home and the last thing I want is to return to the
Star
. When would I report for duty?”

“I want you to report on board in an hour. Iron is waiting for your return. I thought I would have to hold up your family unit request to force you to accept command of the
Star
. I thought we’d have to yell and bargain.” The man chuckled. “I had no idea it would only take getting you out of a breeding pact.”

“I still want my request to make a family unit with her approved immediately and I want my sperm activated. I have an appointment tomorrow with medical, Cal.”

Cal chuckled. “Are you sure you want her in that capacity? She looks like a handful for something so small and helpless looking. With the new women coming to our planet you will have the opportunity to only share a
cyborg
female with another male. You could form a family unit with one who picks an ambassador. Those males are gone for most of the year.”

Fear hit Mira. Would Flint not want her after the stunt she’d pulled? She met Flint’s dark blue gaze. He still looked pissed but as she watched, his eyes softened.

“She’s mine, Cal, and I only want her. Make sure you don’t forget to remove me from the breeding pact. I’ll be on board the
Star
within the hour with the other half of my family unit, which you will approve immediately.”

“Excellent. I’ll call medical on my way and have a kit sent to the
Star
. Doc can handle activating your sperm on board. Breeding her will give you something enjoyable to do for the next few months while you’re off Garden.” Cal walked to the door and left without another word.

“Are you mad at me?” Mira stood, walking slowly to Flint.

He shook his head. “I don’t care where we are as long as we are together. Now will you swear to never run away from me or try to harm yourself again? I can give you my word I will never touch another woman and I swear to you that I will never allow another man to take what is mine. You are mine, Mira.”

She wrapped her arms around his waist, staring up at him. “I swear.”

Flint’s hands slid around her as he hugged her. “It’s a good thing that we didn’t have time to unpack yet and that your new clothes haven’t been unboxed. We need to leave. You heard Cal. He wants us on board within the hour.”

“I’ll finish getting ready.”

He chuckled.
“Me too.”

Ten minutes later, all arrangements were dealt with, and they left Flint’s twentieth-floor home. She transferred her new clothing into a backpack Flint had given her. They had to rush to a transport heading for the edge of the city and then climb aboard the vehicle that had brought them inside the
cyborg
city. Flint held her hand while they watched the security gate open enough to let them outside. When they reached the landing site was
,
the
Rally
stood waiting for them.

“I miss the fresh air already,” Flint said softly.

Mira turned into his body. Two
cyborg
males were loading supplies onto the
Rally
, which would fly them up to the
Star
. She sensed both men watching her and Flint but she ignored them. Her gaze locked with Flint’s.

“I’ll make it up to you.”

His eyebrows rose as his lips spread into a sexy grin. “I really like fresh air. How are you going to make that up to me?”

“I feel pretty confident that I can think of a few things to do to you that will make you forget you’re even breathing. It will be better than fresh air.”

Flint’s body responded since she was pressed up against the front of him. The hard bulge in his pants pushed against her stomach. She grinned up at him and winked.

“I can’t wait until we’re alone.” His voice had turned husky. “You will show me what is better than fresh air.”

They boarded the
Rally
and this time Flint sat on the cargo floor, pulled her into his lap and leaned his back against the bulkhead wall.

“Leaving the surface isn’t as rough as dropping down was.”

The flight wasn’t bad at all. She was shocked at how smoothly and quickly they were docked to the
Star
when Flint announced they had arrived. Climbing to her feet, she yanked up her backpack. Surprise filled her when Flint held out his hand to her.

“I thought you said to not hold your hand around other
cyborgs
.” She jerked her head toward the men in the cargo area waiting to board the
Star
.

“We’re a family unit now.” He winked. “And besides, you made it clear you’re planning on being in my bed while we were on the transport.” He laughed. “And I want to hold your hand. I don’t give a damn if they are stunned by the sight.”

Iron was waiting when they stepped into the
Star
. He was wearing his uniform again, his long hair braided. When he noticed
them
holding hands, he lifted a red eyebrow.

Flint sighed. “Sorry to take your command. I was blackmailed into accepting the mission.”

Iron grinned. “I like it when you’re in charge. That means you get to deal with the problems. You are on board so I officially am handing over command to you. I’m going to my room, to my human.”

Flint sighed as he and Mira watched Iron stride quickly away from them and out of sight. “I guess I’m going to have to go to Control for a few hours while I get us underway. It’s my duty to go over our mission with the crew.” He gazed at her. “I’ll be in our room as soon as I’m done.”

“Okay. I understand.” Mira smiled at him.

Ever so slowly his eyes lowered, passion showing as he took in every inch of her. “I want you naked and in our bed when I get there. I’ll escort you there now and drop off my bag.”