“The ones with us, yes. But as quickly as they changed, so will you.”
“You don't know that. I don't think Source led you to me so that I could temporarily change you. It's permanent, Vor. And I'm a Medean. You can't make a Medean into a Nethren.”
“That's exactly what happened to my ancestors.”
“Only because they wanted it. They searched for Source and welcomed its touch upon them. I won't.”
“I'm not so sure, and I won't take that chance with you.”
“Where is all your faith?” She shoved his chest. “I won't change, Vor. I will change your people. I'll bring the surface to those who can't reach it.”
Vor's mouth fell open, and his eyes went wet with tears. “Lena, I would have eagerly accepted your offer yesterday. But after today, I cannot. The chance for peace is gone. If I take you below, you may never see the sun again. Is that what you want?”
Lena went still. Her breathing was rapid. No, she didn't want that. But looking upon Vor, she knew she'd sacrifice the sun for him. As he would for her.
“Enough talking, Nethren.” She stood up and held a hand down to him.
Vor looked from Lena's face to her hand. He took her hand and got to his feet. Something shifted in his face. Lena saw the moment he stopped fighting her and accepted her decision. With that acceptance, his demeanor changed. No more protests, no more tears. Vor led her to the bedroom and closed the door as if he were shutting out the world.
Vor turned to look at her. “There's no going back from this, Lena. It will change everything.”
In answer, Lena lifted the hem of her dress and pulled it off. Clad only in her underwear, she went to Vor and wrapped her arms around his shoulders.
With a groan, Vor bent his head and kissed her.
Cocooned in his desire, Lena let it guide her. She undid Vor's shirt and pushed it away to reveal his sculpted chest. Up his belly, her hands explored. Smooth, warm skin. Hard muscles twitching beneath. Nipples beading under her fingertips. She hesitated when she came to his shoulders, one hand trembling beside the merging of flesh and metal. A fingertip crossed the boundary. Then Lena let her hand wander down his metal biceps. He was warm but firmer there. The flesh had less give. Her hand slid downward and then paused when the gears in his elbow moved, bringing his forearm up for her inspection.
Tubes ran along the top of his forearm, connecting to the gears of his elbow. Lena ran her fingers along them, tracing their path to his wrist. Vor turned his palm up, and Lena ran her palm over it. The top of his hand was hard like steel, but the palm was padded and soft. And sensitive—Vor shuddered with her light touch. Then Lena was at his waistband, unbuttoning it.
Between their four eager hands, their clothing vanished, yanked away to fall to the floor. When they were both naked, they paused to satisfy their hungry gazes. Then Lena was in Vor's arms, carried to bed like a bride. Outside of their sanctuary, the fortress went savage, but within that room, there was only love. Vor lay Lena down on the bed and stood beside it, staring down at her for a few long seconds.
“Lena,” hesitation filled Vor's voice.
“Come here, Vor.” Lena reached for him.
Vor climbed onto the bed and covered Lena with his body. Aligned with him, she felt the shivering of her energy merging with his. Vor let out a trembling breath as she opened her legs, cradling his hips between her thighs. Lena could sense the gears in his joints—the tech within him. It called to her.
“Lena, I love you. I am yours forever.” Vor whispered in her ear and then kissed her neck.
He worked his way down, nuzzling and kissing Lena's skin until he came to her breast. With one hand kneading her flesh, he sucked her nipple into his hot mouth and tongued it.
“Vor!” Lena held his head to her as she arched her back.
Below, his cock rubbed against her sex, drawing desire forth, slicking her for his passage. But Vor didn't enter Lena. He only teased her, rubbing up and down, his tip nudging that delicious spot at the top. Lena angled herself to take him, but he rolled his hips and moved away.
“Come inside me,” she demanded.
Vor chuckled against her breast and moved lower, his hand remaining on her left breast as he nibbled his way over her belly. And lower. He bit her hip. His hand slid away from her breast as he went lower still. Anticipation gathering, Lena spread her legs as wide as she could.
Words were unnecessary. Vor sensed Lena's unvoiced desire and pressed his face against her sex. That small touch made Lena writhe and grab a handful of Vor's hair. When he split her with his tongue, she cried out, her thighs trembling. Up and down, the wet heat of his tongue worked her, and then it flicked at the top until he found her hidden bud. Vor sucked on it.
“Vor!” Lena came off the bed, both hands clutching his head to her.
Vor growled, the vibrations awakening more pleasure in Lena, and then he speared his tongue inside her. Driving his tongue as deep as he could, Vor moaned against her. Lena fell back, her body trembling on the edge of release. She pulled at him, needing it badly after the stress of the awful events on the wall. Vor kept thrusting and then pulled out to lap at her. His finger replaced his tongue, pumping into her as he sucked on her bud again.
With a wordless scream, Lena shattered into pleasure. Her entire body shook and came apart only to reform itself into something better. But even as she came down from that wondrous height, she ached for more. She ached for Vor.
Vor rose onto his hands and crawled up Lena's body to smile down at her with wet lips. Lena had never seen him look so sexy. Or maybe that was her need intensifying. He stroked her hair back, his gaze roaming her flushed face. Against her swollen flesh, his cock twitched.
