Stealing Coal (27 page)

to her hands and knees, crawling forward until they were shoulder to shoulder.

“It is too dangerous.”

Jill knew that. “He could shoot Coal if Sky doesn’t keep him pinned down.”

“I will go.”

“You’re programmed not to harm humans. You said so yourself.”

“My programming doesn’t prevent me from disarming them or pushing them from

behind where they hide to avoid being killed.”

Jill smiled. “You’re really smart.”

“I have advanced programming and can adapt.”

“You’re awesome. Go ahead but don’t get shot.”

“Logically, I pose no threat to the man.” She started to inch forward.

Jill lifted her head to peer around the nose of the pod. Coal and Varel still fought.

She’d never suspected the captain could hold his own with a much stronger cyborg but

he remained on his feet, bleeding, and it suddenly dawned on her that Coal toyed with

the man. He hit him but not hard enough to drop him or shatter bones.

“Coal,” she whispered, not willing to risk saying it loud enough for Coal to hear in

case it distracted him. “Just kill the son of a bitch.”

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The next punch Coal landed snapped Varel’s head back hard and Jill swore she

heard a sickening, crunching sound. As she stared she saw the man’s jaw hung open,

blood poured out, and then Coal hit him again. The captain dropped to his knees, shock

widening his eyes, and the knife dropped when both of his hands fell to his sides. Coal

snarled.

“Never take someone I love from me.”

Large gray hands gripped Varel’s face and for an instant pure terror transformed

the captain’s features, knowing what would come. Coal twisted hard, snapping his

neck, and then threw the limp body to the deck. He snarled again.

“Die!” A male voice yelled.

Jill gasped as the crew member suddenly stood up with his weapon aimed directly

at Coal. Sky fired but the man moved, the shot missing him by inches, and Jill inwardly

screamed, terrified she was about to watch the man she loved with all her heart die in

front of her.

Rune suddenly stood up, grabbed the weapon, and just tore it from the shocked

man’s fingers. She smiled at him.

“Weapons are dangerous. I’m confiscating this to prevent you from doing harm.”

She backed up, holding it in her hands. Her head turned to look directly at Sky. “I am

out of the line of fire at this distance.”

No one moved. The crew member stood frozen, his fingers still poised as if he held

the weapon, and then his angry gaze turned to Sky. “I’m unarmed. You can’t shoot

me.”

“That is a lie,” Rune cheerfully stated. “He’s got two weapons tucked behind his

back in the waist of his pants.”

“Drop them,” Sky ordered coldly.

The man hesitated. “Are you going to allow me to go if I do?”

Sky hesitated. “Drop your weapons. I won’t negotiate with you.”

The man clenched his jaw. “Then fuck you.” He lunged for his weapon.

The sound of Sky’s weapon firing made Jill flinch. The blast the crew member took

to the chest slammed his body hard into the bulkhead behind him. He fell down where

Jill couldn’t see him.

“His life functions have ceased.” Rune turned, strolling out from behind the back of

the second pod. “Where do you want me to put the weapon?”

Sky walked over to her and held out his hand. “I’ll take it.”

Rune gave it to him instantly. Her smile remained in place. “Would you like me to

clean up this mess?” Her hands lowered to the hem of her dress.

“No!” Jill struggled to her feet. “No, Rune.”

Sky frowned, looking at Jill. “What is going on?”

“Don’t ask. Just tell her no.” Jill turned then, her gaze meeting Coal’s.

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He didn’t come toward her but remained instead next to Varel’s body. Her gaze

scanned Coal to make certain he wasn’t injured. He had blood on both hands, his

knuckles were a little torn, but she was pretty sure most of the blood wasn’t his. She

met his gaze again.

“I wish you’d returned to the
Jenny
as I ordered you to do.” Sadness touched his

expression, dulling his eyes. “I never wanted you to see the brutality I am capable of.

Please don’t be afraid of me, Jill.”

Jill didn’t hesitate to rush at him, running. She saw surprise widen his eyes as she

threw her body against his, her arms wrapping tightly around his waist, her face buried

in his chest, inhaling his wonderful masculine scent mixed with the irony smell of

blood.

“I love you.”

His arms hesitantly wrapped around her but he avoided touching her with his

bloodied hands. His chin lowered to the top of her head, resting there as he hugged her

back.

“I love you too, Jill. You know I’d never harm you.”

Hot tears burned behind her closed eyelids. “I know that. You came for me. Thank

you, Coal. I was terrified I’d never see you again.”

“I will always come for you. You are everything to me.”

She sniffed and pulled her face back. Coal’s gaze met hers as she stared up at him,

blinking back tears. “You’re everything to me too. Let’s get out of here. I want to go

home.”

Coal’s body tensed in her arms and she saw a pained look in his eyes. “You wish to

return to Earth?”

She shook her head. “Home is anywhere you are, Coal. I meant home to your

planet. Didn’t you say something about wanting to start a farm? I’ve learned that I’m

rich. My father left me a lot of money and that’s why that jerk kidnapped me. I know

what bank he put all of it into and how to access it. We’ll have plenty of it to start our

new life together.”

Coal stared down at her. “You won’t need money on Garden.”

“Then, it will always be there if we do need it in the future. You’re all I need, Coal.”

Jill didn’t look at him with fear or disgust. Coal had worried that she would see him

differently after he killed Varel in front of her. He’d actually hesitated for a while in

ending the man’s life not, wishing her to see his brutal side—his cyborg side. His rage

had taken over eventually. The man had taken Jill away and for that he had to die.

She still loves me
, he thought, smiling down at her upturned face. It was the most

beautiful thing he’d ever seen when she looked at him that way.

“We’re going home.”

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He didn’t mention that he might end up locked in a cell for the crimes he’d

committed to reach her. It didn’t matter. They wouldn’t kill him and would consider his

special circumstances when they decided his punishment. Jill would be considered his

property on Garden since law stated humans belonged to cyborgs. They couldn’t take

her from him. That’s all that mattered.

“What about her?” Sky drew his attention, his head tipping toward Rune.

The android female smiled at him when Coal studied her. She’d saved Jill from

being raped and she’d also saved his life by disarming a human holding a weapon on

him. He hesitated, uncertain of what to do.

“She is coming with us,” Jill answered.

Coal smiled at her, feeling warmth spread through his chest. “You really do collect

strays.” He loved her soft heartedness.

“I do.”

“She really isn’t a sex bot?” Disbelief laced Sky’s voice. “She looks like one to me,

considering the way they built her.”

“They created me to be one.” Rune crossed her arms over her chest.

“Hot damn,” Sky grinned.

“I advise you not to think like that.” Jill chuckled. “They gave her advanced

android technology that allows her to adapt and think for herself. She’s decided she

really doesn’t want anyone to touch her. If you try, she’s going to lock you in a cabinet

until you change your mind about wanting her that way.”

Sky’s mouth dropped open, his strangely attractive eyes narrowing. “Seriously?”

“Jill is not lying.” Rune smiled. “Keep your fluids away from me.”

Coal laughed, amused at Sky’s astonished expression. He hugged Jill and then

slowly released her. “Come on. Let’s go home.” His smile died. “We’ll talk about a

serious matter after we use the foam-cleanser unit.”

He hated to see worry on Jill’s delicate features. “Is everything all right? Please tell

me now. I’ve had enough to worry over lately.”

“I’m sure it won’t be too bad. I believe I am in some trouble. I had to steal the
Jenny

to come after you and had Arm help me.”

Jill frowned, her thoughts a mystery to him as she peered up at him, obviously

thinking hard about something.

“You can’t steal what is mine. The
Jenny
and Arm belong to me and as my husband-

to-be, they belong to you too as far as I’m concerned.”

“Good defense,” Sky mumbled. “Logical. I’d go with that one if they pull you in

front of the council. Your woman also offered to help us save Councilman Zorus

without asking for anything in return. With your history and what our women have

done to you, hell, you may just get away with this stunt you pulled.”

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Stealing Coal

He really hoped that would be the case as he forced a smile to reassure Jill. “I am

certain they will at least be lenient on me.”

“If not, we have the
Jenny
.” Jill’s chin rose and determination shone in her eyes. “All

that matters is we’re together. I don’t need a farm, Coal. I just need you.”

Coal relaxed. “You’d live in space with me to avoid my being punished?”

“In a heartbeat. We’re in love and that means everything.”

Love filled him until it actually hurt. He finally knew pure happiness for the first

time in his life. “It means everything to me as well,” he rasped, overcome with emotion.

“You are my life.”

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“Arm! You’re tracking in mud, darn it.” Jill frowned at the android. “Remember

what I said about getting it off before you come aboard?”

Two arms wrapped around her waist and pulled her back into a bare, hot chest. She

grinned, all her irritation fleeing. She turned her head, lifted her chin, and grinned up at

Coal.

“I’ll clean the deck.” He winked. “I’ll also work more on his programming until he

learns to check before he enters the cargo hold.”

“Thanks.” Her fingers curled around his at her waist. “Are you and Fray done

cutting through the bulkheads?”

He chuckled. “Yes. It seems I enjoy demolition work. Our space is much bigger

after we combined the two rooms. Roid has finished transferring his charging station

now that he’s rooming with Arm. I’m glad they don’t care if they have to double up.”

“I didn’t want Arm and Rune sharing a room. He learned some pretty offensive

jokes about blonde women from the military. I don’t want to wake up some morning to

find she’s tried to reprogram him the way she did the onboard computer.”

Coal laughed. “She’s just trying to be helpful. I have to admit that I’m partial to

some of the upgrades she installed. I can’t remote link with my damaged implants but

now everything is voice activated. It’s very convenient.”

“True.” She let go of his hands and turned in his embrace. She wrapped her arms

around his neck as she went up on tiptoe. “But did you knock out the coms in our

room? I really don’t want Arm rushing in again because the computer tells him I’m

being attacked.”

Coal’s palms rubbed her ass, massaging her, and a chuckle escaped his parted lips.

“It’s not their fault they can’t tell the difference between a fight and sex.”

“That wasn’t funny!”

He had the nerve to laugh again, deeper this time. “You have to admit the humor

found in the situation. I will never forget you trying to explain to him that having my

cock buried inside you from behind wasn’t harming you and that all the sounds we

made were just things we do together when we’re happy.” He lifted her higher up his

body until she wrapped her legs around his waist. “I’m feeling the need for some real

joy right now. Are you?”

“Yes.” She grinned back at him. “Take me to our room.” She gripped him tighter,

the vee of her pants grinding against the hard erection trapped in his pants. “You feel

like a lot of fun right now.”

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He turned with her in his arms. “The wall is right there. Arm knows now I’m not

attacking you.”

"Rune is outside. You never know with her how she will react about sex and she

may come inside. I don’t want to ever see her shove you on your ass again, thinking

she’s protecting me. I love your coloring but dark bruises aren’t so hot to stare at there.”

“You stare at my ass?”

“All the time. It’s one of my favorite things to do.”

“What else do you wish to see?”

“You stepping out of those pants and boots.”

“We’ll order her to stay outside for a while.”

“Okay. Our room seems too far away right now.” She tilted her head and pressed

her face against the side of his neck. She kissed him there, teasing him with her tongue.

Coal groaned. “I love when you do that.”

“Get out of those pants and I’ll kiss a more interesting place. You love that too.”

He walked quickly to the open exterior door of the shuttle. “I believed my

punishment of having to live in the shuttle instead of them building us a house on the

parcel of land they gave us would be difficult but I don’t mind at all.” He suddenly