Cypher frowned, realizing his hard-on was pushing his pants taut at his crotch. Did she think he was going to molest her?
Fucking hell. His mood soured, and his anger rose. The worst part was that he did want to touch her, to peel off her clothes and reveal those curves... “I only want answers,” he gritted, shifting in his seat. “I’ll make a deal with you, Vee Miles. One I think we can both agree on.”
She glanced his way, hope in her eyes. “A deal?”
“You tell me everything you know, and in turn, I’ll let you go. And you’ll never see or hear from me again.”
“D-deal!”
Cypher’s stomach twisted, and his bear snarled. Vee’s excitement at having him gone burned more than he wanted to admit. Whether it was the male part of him or the beast, he didn’t like it at all. Regardless, he had her now, and with her cooperation, this would all be over soon. He anticipated having all this burning to ashes behind him.
Whether his bear wanted something more or not, didn’t matter at all.
9
“Can we, umm, go to my apartment?” Vee asked when the Cyborg next to her went quiet. She threaded her fingers together.Stop twitching.
Her anxiety built again the longer his silence continued. She couldn’t help noticing his build—too big for the hovercraft—and the tension in his hands that palmed and clutched his knees. The dark brown leather of his suit was taut over his frame, growing tauter by the minute.
She couldn’t help noticing his gun either. Nor the bulge between his legs—was he well hung or hard? She tried not to think about it. The more she did, the more she wanted an answer.
She also couldn’t help noticing the fact that even though he was a man, he screamed Cyborg. Reeked of it, maybe? The smell of heated metal was everywhere. Heat came off his body in waves, consuming her, enveloping her inhim.
Though this was the second time she’d been in a Cyborg’s presence, Vee could tell Cypher was angry. She wiped her palms on her jeans, her heart thumping hard, refusing to slow down.
Since the moment her eyes landed on him at the studio, her belly had filled with butterflies, and her throat felt tight. Hewasthe warrior she pictured. So fantastical among the technology surrounding him. Nearly what she expected… That’s what she told herself to keep from running away.
Intimidated. She was incredibly intimidated.
But she didn’t think he was going to hurt her. Even when he’d taken her from the building, she followed willingly. He just didn’t give her the impression of a bad man. Vee pursed her lips.Or I’m an idiot…
“Why?” he asked.
She flinched and answered quickly. “It’s dinner time, and my cat gets noisy when he’s hungry. My neighbors don’t like it.” Did she want Cypher in her home? Did she have a choice even if she didn’t?
Vee glanced around at the shadowy wasteland and the dilapidated buildings, all darkening as the sun lowered in the distance.I’d rather be home than out here.Even if it meant having a Cyborg invading it…
He grumbled and started the hovercraft. When they started back for the metropolis, she exhaled in relief.
“You said you contracted with Nightheart. I want to read your contract,” he demanded.
“I contracted with the EPED, not Nightheart specifically.”
“Nightheart is the EPED.”
Vee rolled her eyes. “Sure, you can read the contract. I have it digitally, and I have a paper copy. Do you have a preference?”
“Digitally,” he barked.
“Of course.” Viking and Cyborg weren’t a good mix, she decided. The crankinesswas extreme. At least it was something to take her focus off her situation. Mild irritation was easier to deal with than nervousness. “Anything else, sir?”
The hovercraft lurched forward, and Cypher cleared his throat. She glanced his way.
“Clear your schedule tomorrow,” he said.
“Yes, sir.”
“Don’t call me that.”
