“Okay,” she said. “I was thinking about mating with you, and my woman parts seem to like the idea.” She averted her eyes and blushed.
Jolt reached across the table and stroked her cheek with his thumb as he cupped her chin with his hand, smiling warmly at her. “Eat your food. Then we can go back to our quarters and talk or whatever… You need to eat.”
Iris nodded and smiled, scooping up another bite on her pronged spoon and putting it into her mouth, trying to stop grinning so she could chew. After that, she concentrated on her food knowing Jolt wouldn’t let her leave the table until she ate at least half of what was on her plate. He knew exactly how many calories she required to sustain her. He wanted his female to be healthy.
She didn’t eat it all. Iris was still getting used to having enough food. She ate slowly and stopped when she felt comfortably full, leaving about a third of what he had given her on the plate. She asked if she could save it to eat later. She had been without food too many times to waste it. So, Jolt showed her where to have it put into a biodegradable container, and she brought it back to their quarters with them.
They walked back to their quarters at a leisurely pace while Jolt sent his report back to Commander Dark. He was notified by Axel that the transport was boarding with the women bound for the Enclave, and they were going to drop off Bodee and Talia back at her mountain home on the way. The exchanges were sent back and forth through the cyborgs’ private network.
Jolt’s room was sparsely furnished with a large bed, a desk and chair, and a small refrigeration unit. It also had a private bathroom which Iris thought was just heavenly. He sat down on the bed and watched while she put her food container away.
She stood with her back to him staring at the refrigerator as Jolt waited. Iris wanted him, and he knew it, but he also knew why she hesitated to give in to her desire. She finally turned and approached him slowly. When she came to stand before him, he took her hand and pulled her onto his lap.
Iris twisted, putting her arms around his neck and hugged him, laying her head on his shoulder. She relished the feel of his hard chest against her breasts that had suddenly become more sensitive. Jolt wrapped his arms around her and hugged her back, pressing his cheek against her soft hair.
He had been hard on and off ever since he had scented her arousal. The pressure of her lovely ass against his erection was sweet torture. Now that they were alone, he wasn’t thinking about his need; he was thinking of hers. He had a full repertoire of ways to pleasure her. For the moment he was just going to hold her and relish the feel of her supple body in his arms.
Finally, he had to put her from him and give her a chaste goodnight kiss. With her response to his kisses and caresses, he felt he might push her further than she was ready to go. But the way she still held back, despite her arousal kept him from attempting it.
It had been two weeks already, and he burned for her every single day. Even the long hours he worked didn’t help.
Chapter Seven
Holding Iris with her bottom pressing down on his erection was sweet torture to Jolt. He wanted her so badly, but he worried that mating her too soon would jeopardize her emotionally. He didn’t want to do anything to damage her trust in him.
Iris relished Jolt’s embrace. She had lived most of her life without so much as a hug. She barely remembered her parents, and the aunt who had raised her was not all that affectionate. But she had taught Iris how to survive on her own. The time for her to fend for herself had come all too soon.
The first rule had been to avoid men---all men. Males could not be trusted especially in groups. Any female on her own was fair game. Too many of them were on the prowl for a cunt to fuck. They didn’t care if the female was willing or not.
“I like it when you hold me like this,” Iris said softly. “Nobody ever has before, except maybe when I was so young I don’t remember.”
“I was never young,” Jolt murmured. “I was spawned from a nurturing tank just like you see me now.”
Iris drew back and looked at his handsome boyish face. “They sure made you all good looking. How old are you?”
“Eighty-one,” he said and grinned at her surprised look.
“How…?”
“Mostly the nanocybots in every part of our bodies. They repair any damage or deterioration that occurs,” he said. “The Federation wants only prime young warriors for their foot soldiers, so we don’t age.”
“How can we be mates if I age and you don’t?”
Jolt hesitated. He couldn’t lie; he just didn’t want her to think the answer was a ploy for sex.
“My nanites are genetically compatible with you, which is partly how I know you are my female. When we kiss or have sex, some of them will transfer to you. They will multiply and keep you young as well.”
“Oh,” she said, blushing adorably.
“Not that you will need them,” he added. “The nanites I injected when I found you were mine also. We all carry them in our armor in case we are badly damaged.”
“So, you saved me because you want me to be your mate?” She frowned as she looked into his eyes.
Jolt brought up his hand to cup her cheek, looking at her tenderly. “I would have done my best to save any female, but my nanites would only save you because you are my female. I will care for you and protect you with my life.”
He caressed her smooth cheek with his thumb as he spoke. Iris smiled faintly as his touch made her body respond with that recurring sexual awareness of him. Her nipples tightened, and she felt a flutter in her core accompanied by a feeling of emptiness between her thighs.
In the back of her mind, she knew it was because she wanted him. The hardness she felt against her buttocks told her that he desired her too. He promised her pleasure. Iris wanted to trust him, but she wasn’t sure that part of her urging her to do that was in her mind and not between her legs.
