“Many males have tried to do that,” she told him because it was true, but they weren’t like Ranvir. They’d wanted to brag that they’d been with ‘Talyani.’ She’d learned that the hard way, which was why she hadn’t been with a male in over three years.
“Are you saying I’m just another male in your bed?” he demanded, lifting her off her feet, so they were nose to nose.
“What?” Gripping his shoulders, she put a little distance between them. “No! Of course not.”
“Then why did you say it?”
“Because it’s been a long time since I’ve been in this situation.” At his look, she shook her head at how ridiculous she sounded. “I don’t meanthissituation because obviously none of us have. I meant a male-female situation. A relationship.”
“Why?” Ranvir found himself asking. “You’re a beautiful, sexy, talented woman. Any male would be lucky to be with you.”
“Not with me. They want to be with ‘Talyani,’ the image. That’s what they want. All they see.”
Loneliness filled her eyes, and Ranvir suddenly realized Taly’s life was a lot like that of being a cyborg. People only saw what was on the outside and what the powers that be wanted them to see.
For Taly, they only saw a talented female they’d watched grow up. She was rich, beautiful, and lived a life of luxury they envied. For him, they saw a cold, emotionless, killing machine. One they needed but still looked at with fear and disdain. It made for a lonely life and relationships next to impossible. The two ofthemcould have one if he were honest with her.
“I see you, Taly.You.NotTalyani, and it’s you I want. Forever.”
Taly searched his golden-brown eyes for the truth and found the vulnerability he was willing to reveal. She mattered to this male, could hurt him, and that was something she never wanted to do. “And I want you.”
Leaning forward, she wrapped her arms around his neck as she captured his lips for a kiss that Ranvir quickly deepened. She wrapped her legs around his waist and rocked her hips against his growing erection. It’s what she’d wanted to do before in her bed, but her concern for him had stopped her. Now nothing was stopping her.
Sinking one hand in her short curls, Ranvir changed the kiss angle while his other hand gripped her ass, grinding her against his cock. Gods, he was ready to explode, and he hadn’t even gotten her naked.
“Oh, shit! Sorry!”
The exclamation turned their heads, ending their kiss but not their embrace. One of the male colonists quickly exited the dining room.
“I guess this isn’t the best place to do this.” With a regretful look, she unwrapped her legs from around him. For a moment, Ranvir didn’t release her, then ever so slowly, he began to lower her, his cock pressing into her the whole way, causing her channel to clench with need. “Gods, Ranvir, I want you.”
“Then let’s go back to your suite.”
“Major Somerled to the bridge. Major Somerled to the bridge.” The call came through the ship’s comm system.
Taly’s forehead dropped against his chest. “The universe is plotting against us.”
Closing his eyes, Ranvir fought to get his body back under control. His enhancements should have made it easy, but his body’s physical desires overrode it for the first time. Taking a deep breath, his cock finally softened, and he relaxed his hold on her.
“It’s not. It’s what brought us together.”
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
“What did you need,” Ranvir demanded, entering the bridge. Tane and Pike were where they’d been when he’d left the bridge to rest. The only new addition was Vujcec. He hadn’t been able to talk Taly into coming with him.
Instead, she’d gone to medical, telling him there were some other children she wanted the med beds to treat. He didn’t like leaving her alone, not how some of the colonists acted, but he couldn’t convince her.
Before the door closed behind him, Ganesha rushed in. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” Pike spun around in the captain’s chair to face them. “I thought you’d like to know the outgoing communications array is back up and operational.”
“You’re saying we’re identifiable!?” Ranvir asked deathly quiet.
“Yes.” This time it was Vujcec who spoke. “As the Celerity.”
Ranvir’s brain worked on calculating how that was possible. “Explain.”
“While you were on the Celerity, I hacked its systems and was able to download their data and codes, including their transponder code. We’ll now appear as the Celerity on any navigation screen and in all communications.”