“Who the hell knows?” Cypher grumped. “But I love you, Vee Miles, and if you don’t join me for takeoff in a few minutes, I’m going to gag your mouth, strap you to a seat, and force you to come against your will.” He dropped his arm and pointed to one of the seats in the lounge. Lo and behold, leather straps were resting on the table before it.
Vee stared at the straps, knees weakening. “Oh.”
“You may think I’m a good man, little human, but I’m not. I’m a good Cyborg, maybe even a decent bear, but a man? I am not. I’ve tried to be, but my thoughts and intentions never line up.”
He spun her back to face him before she could respond and slammed his mouth down on hers. A groan emanated from his throat as his tongue forced its way between her lips to thrust inside her, mimicking rough sex. His teeth emerged to graze her skin as his arms banded around her back and head, lifting her off the floor.
Vee clutched him hard. She swung her legs up around his hips. His cock pressed into her, and her sex fluttered with need.
Hard and all-consuming, Cypher’s kiss stole her heart. He devoured her, and she melted into his feasting, scarcely believing this was happening.
When she managed to pull away, lips raw from his kiss, she moaned. “You really love me?”
“Enough to destroy the reputations of Cyborgs everywhere and so much more. I finally understand why Zeph kidnapped his woman when he did. Are you coming with me this evening, or am I going to have to make you?” he growled. “Either way, at this point, you’re not stepping off this ship.”
She slid down his chest until her feet touched the ground. She rolled her eyes. “Yeah, I’m coming.”
The tension in his body vanished. “Thank the fucking devil.”
Vee smiled. “I’m coming,” she repeated.
“You sure as hell are.”
She grabbed his hand. “I am. I think… Right?”
“Do you want me to hogtie you and bind you to that chair?” he growled. “I’ll be inclined to do a hell of a lot more than that once you’re at my mercy.”
Dirty thoughts shot through her head. Her eyes widened. “Really?”
“A hell of a lot and more,” he warned.
She swallowed, imagining the worst, or the best. “Maybe we should wait…”
“After takeoff it is.” Cypher turned toward the door, reaching out and grabbing the straps on his way. “Let’s get this show on the road.” The door zipped open, and he waited for her.
Vee shivered, excitement surging through her.
He loves me.
I’m doing this, I’m leaving Earth.
Finally.
And with him.
She stopped at the threshold before him. “We’re a team,” she whispered.
Cypher gifted her one of his rare, wicked smiles. “We’re a team. Wherever we go, wherever we end up, we’ll always be a team, little spitfire.” He grabbed her hand and kissed the back of it. “Whether it’s in a game or not, we’re a team, always.”
“I love you, Cypher.”
“I love you too, Vee Miles. Obsessively.”
A darkness returned to his face, and a shiver coursed through her. With his hand gripping hers—as if she would run,hah!—he led her back to the bridge. The floor buzzed under her feet.
A buzzing she was certain came from her. She couldn’t be happier, more anxious, or more excited. Her body twitched. All that happened these last weeks was nothing compared to this. To what she now had to look forward to. She turned to Cypher, and her heart burst with warmth.
She’d become an entirely different person over the last few months. A little more steadfast, a little more wayward, and a lot more of a risk-taker.
