It wasn’t her safety that concerned her. “Is that what your brethren have done—created their own peace on the Homeland?” She drifted the cleaning cloths up his arms.

  “Fighting on the Homeland, outside of the training chambers, is forbidden.” He lowered his big body to allow her to more easily care for him.

  She swept the fabric over his collarbone, his neck, avoiding his wounds. They would travel to the Homeland eventually. Their son deserved to see a place where everyone was like him, where he was normal, and not an exception.

  But, when they did that, he would seek to be more independent, and she wasn’t ready for that. Not yet.

  She navigated Stealth’s pecs and abs. The damage to his body was worse there…because of Odoon’s actions. “The Ahkian ship doesn’t arrive for several planet rotations. They might ask to stay in our agri-lot.”

  Stealth could be sharing space with the male who had shot him. Multiple times.

  “Whether they stay here or leave is your decision.” He cupped her chin, lifting her gaze to his. “I’ll support you.”

  He truly didn’t hold the male’s actions against him.

  Because he’d known pain and grief. He understood what others had endured, had an empathy rare in any being.

  Love for her male filled her. “Your support is important to me.”

  She lowered to her knees before him.

  His cock bobbed and she smiled. “Your body must be anticipating more than a cleaning.”

  “That would speed my repairs.” He pushed his hips forward.

  She gazed upward at his savaged form, at the wounds he’d suffered to save her broken friend and to protect her, the agony he must have endured. “I should suck you off to hasten your healing. That’s what a considerate female would do.”

  Needing to touch him directly, no barriers between them, she dropped the cleaning cloths and glided her fingers over his hipbones. He shuddered, his shoulders shaking.

  “When it comes to pleasuring you, I’m not considerate.” She skimmed her fingers along his shaft. A bead of pre-cum formed on his tip. “I’m selfish.”

  She leaned forward and flicked his cock head with her tongue. His nanocybotics-infused essence danced on her flesh, bubbling and fizzing.

  “I plan to suck you off because I love the feel of you in my mouth.” She swirled her tongue around his rim and his fingers folded into fists. “I crave the taste of you, the way you fill me, the sounds you make when I take you deep.” She sealed her lips around his tip and inhaled. His knuckles whitened. She released him with a juicy pop. “I’m doing this for me.”

  And she was doing this for him. Because she adored him. His pleasure increased hers.

  “My female.” His voice was as deep as space, wetting her pussy.

  “My male.” She pushed her lips over him, venturing farther up his shaft.

  His girth stretched her to the point of pain. His length was unmanageable. She couldn’t take all of him. He slid into her until his tip tapped the back of her throat.

  She covered the rest of his cock with her fingers, gripping his base, and looked up at him. His lips had flattened into a thin white line. His eyes were partially closed. He barely held on to his control.

  The challenge of pushing him over the edge called to her. She drew back, dragging her lips along him, and pushed forward, drew back and pushed forward, her pace slow and steady.

  He rocked, never venturing deeper than she’d originally taken him, fucking her mouth with cyborg precision. She held on to her warrior, cradling his shaft with her tongue, savoring the metallic and male flavor of him.

  She could have lost him this planet rotation. Cyborgs were hard to kill but they did die in battle. That thankfulness gentled her touch, awe and wonder filling her, spiraling their passion higher.

  Their rhythm intensified. His balls smacked against her chin. The skin over his face pulled tight.

  Every hint of softness in him evaporated. He was hard muscle over harder frame, his thighs unrelentingly solid against her, no give in his form.

  This male was hers. And she was his.

  Somehow they had found each other in a universe torn apart by wars, their two souls bonding, resulting in a love to be cherished and protected. That they had both survived, were together, was a miracle, an act of unexplainable marvel.

  She stroked his hips, his base, and he made a beast-like noise, a thrillingly low rumble, fucking her mouth with more vigor. Her lips hummed. Her jaw ached. She sucked and licked and swallowed.

  “My female.” He gripped her hair, twisting his fingers into her curls, the pricks of pain over her scalp stimulating her. “My female. Mine.”

  She was his, all his, forever and ever. Zebrina met her warrior’s gaze, not hiding any of her emotions, letting her love shine from her eyes.

  He jerked. “Can’t. Can’t.”

  He didn’t have to hold back for her. She brushed her knuckles against his balls.

  “Zebrina.” He roared, thrusting forward, the force of his release rattling the objects in the chamber.

  His cum splattered against the back of her throat. She swallowed. Bliss, extreme and mind-shattering, flowed down her body, coiling in her stomach. She screamed, the sound muffled by his cock.

  More of his essence bombarded her. She swallowed, screamed, and the cycle repeated again. The chamber swirled around her. Lights dimmed and brightened.

  His legs shook more and more until he fell. His cock slipped from her lips. His knees smacked against the floor tiles. She winced. He drew her to him, pressing her face against his ravaged chest.

  “I love you, my male.” She whispered that into his skin, too dazed by release to hold back those words.

  He, with his enhanced cyborg senses, heard her. “I love you, my female.”

  Her warrior loved her. She smiled.

  He petted her hair. She rested against him, the after tremors inside her easing.

  The domicile wasn’t large. Every being must have heard her cyborg come.

  Her face heated. “If that doesn’t convince the Ahkians you’re not an emotionless machine, nothing will.”

  Stealth laughed.

  Chapter Seventeen

  His female’s prediction that the Ahkians would seek shelter with them had been accurate. The beings didn’t leave and she, being the softhearted human she was, accepted that.

  Stealth, in turn, accepted her decision. Although he didn’t fully process her need to host beings who had previously rejected her and their son, it made her happy and that was all that mattered to him.

  The humanoids erected flimsy temporary domiciles within the walls. They alternated rest cycles, some of them sleeping while the sun was high in the sky. Vow escorted them when they rummaged for food and buried their dead.

  He and his son hadn’t been embraced by the Ahkians. Too many of their loved ones had been killed by his cyborg brethren for them to do that. But they were tolerated, deemed necessary for survival.

  Odoon, in contrast, had actively avoided them. The humanoid was embarrassed about his malfunction during the Palavian raid, wanted no reminders it had happened.

  That emotion-driven response was both foolish and dangerous. If not addressed and repaired, the male’s malfunction would occur again.

  Good. They’re finally leaving. Vow moved to Stealth’s side.

  The Ahkians were gathering their belongings, taking down their makeshift domiciles. The ship was arriving for them this planet rotation.

  You didn’t enjoy their company? Stealth glanced at his son, surprised. He appeared to relish his role as their protector, his confidence increasing exponentially over the duration.

  They might no longer be our enemies but they aren’t our allies. His son was impressively perceptive. The Ahkians couldn’t be completely trusted. And they’re interfering with my training.

  We’ll resume your training at sunrise. His female would require assistance cleaning the domicile, taking inventory of the remaining supplies.

  We should resume training at sunset. Their son pushed back on his decision. I’m already behind everyone else. The other offspring are fighting in mock battles and flying ships and I’m stuck here, guarding the Ahkians from nothing.

  His son must be communicating with those offspring. They were second-generation cyborgs, born free, beings like him. That pleased Stealth. You fought in a real battle.

  That would distinguish him from the others. Offspring were cherished. They weren’t assigned dangerous tasks.

  I told them that and now Choice is determined to kick my ass in my first mock battle. His son squared his shoulders. I have to be ready for it or I’ll lose their respect.

  Choice is a C Model. Like his friend Boom. Stealth’s heart squeezed, that loss remaining with him. They always want to kick everyone’s ass. I’ll show you how you can defeat him.

  He’s bigger than me, has more solar cycles. His son doubted his abilities.

  C Models, like other opponents, have weaknesses. He was 62.0295 percent certain Vow could win in a mock battle. It will require two solar cycles of training or more to gain the needed skills, however. He warned his offspring.

  We’ll complete it in one solar cycle. His son was amusingly determined. I can wait that long. He paused. I really want to defeat Choice. He flashed a grin. I like him.

  His son was a true cyborg. Stealth’s lips twitched. He viewed trouncing his brethren in mock battles as a sign of affection.

  “What are you two transmitting about?” His female walked toward them, an Ahkian offspring balanced on one of her hips. Offspring loved her, seemed to sense she was a good being, a great mom.

  “We’re discussing training.” He put an arm around her waist. As soon as he touched her, he calmed. She repaired his emotional damage. “Are we keeping this one?”

  “No.” She rubbed her nose against the offspring’s and the little being laughed. “We have to give her back. I—”

  “Humanoids are approaching.” Vow’s head turned in that direction. “They could be hostile.” He drew his guns.

  “Don’t shoot them.” Zebrina handed the offspring to a passing female. “They aren’t hostile. Some members of the crew are accompanying the Ahkians to their ship.”

  “I’ll gain a visual first.” Their son ran at cyborg speed toward the break in the wall.

  “He’s gaining a visual first.” She clasped Stealth’s hand. “We should go with him, ensure he doesn’t get trigger-happy.”

  Their son did enjoy shooting things. He shortened his stride to match hers.

  “Look at him. He’s all alone.” She sighed.

  Their son guarded the entrance to the agri-lot. The Ahkians had backed away from him.

  “I thought they might befriend him once they realized cyborgs weren’t emotionless machines.” His female frowned. “But they didn’t.”

  “He communicates with the offspring on the Homeland.” Stealth sought to lessen her emotional damage. “They respect him and he likes them.”

  “He communicates with the offspring?” She gazed up at him, her eyes wide with wonder.

  He nodded.

  “Our son has friends.” She beamed, swinging his arm. “They’re long-distance friends…for now but they still count.”

  Stealth had never doubted their son would make friends with the other cyborg offspring. His concern was for his female. The Ahkians were leaving. She’d have no one other than him and Vow to chatter with. “I could set up a secure communication line with the moms of those offspring.”

  His female stopped abruptly. “You could—what?” She stared at him. Her eyes grew misty with unshed tears.

  He became alarmed. “It isn’t a requirement to communicate with them.” He wanted to make her happy. “I—”

  “I want to communicate with them.” She grabbed his hand with both of hers, holding on to him as though she worried he’d leave her. “Oh, stars. Do I want to. Are some of them human…like me?”

  “Many of the females are human.” His head dipped, his processors spinning, his attention focused on her. “Their warriors are a variety of models.” There were several K Models with females. “I have communicated with some of them.”

  He had asked their advice about training offspring.

  “I won’t be alone.” A tear dripped down her right cheek.

  He brushed the wetness away. “You will never be alone again. I will always be with you.”

  “I have you.” Her eyes shone. “And now I’ll also have other moms to talk to, moms who are struggling to understand their cyborg children like I am, females who have been in my shoes.”

  He glanced down at her boots. “They do have similar footwear.” He grinned.

  She laughed and the tension inside him dissipated. The tears were derived from joy, not sorrow. His offer of the secure communication line hadn’t damaged her.

  I have a visual. Their son transmitted what he saw. They have weapons.

  The humanoids were clad in black protective gear, a lighter, less effective version of the body armor Vow wore. They wore head coverings and carried guns in their hands. Their fingers were covered with black fabric also.

  The lead’s garment bears the Humanoid Alliance insignia. Their son’s transmission grew louder. They’re the enemy.

  They’re making no attempt to hide their approach. Stealth released his female’s hand and ran toward him. Don’t—

  It was too late. Shots rang out.

  The beings dropped to the ground, their bodies convulsing. One of the being’s head coverings fell off, revealing the pale-blue countenance of an Ahkian male.

  “You stunned them.” Stealth blew out his breath, relieved.

  “You had doubts, Dad.” His son looked at him as though his processors were malfunctioning. “It wouldn’t have been right to kill them.”

  “That was sound logic.” He studied the Ahkians. “And good shooting. You downed them all before they could respond.”

  “Humanoids are slow.” His son stood straighter.

  “What did you do?” Stealth’s female arrived, her chest heaving, her face flushed. “Vow?”

  “He stunned them. He didn’t kill them.” Stealth answered for their son. “They are wearing Humanoid Alliance garments, carried weapons, made no attempt to identify themselves. They’re lucky to be alive.”

  “They are wearing Humanoid Alliance garments.” She gazed down at one of them. “Fuck.”

  “Language.” Stealth and Vow said that in unison.

  “I would have killed them.” She glared at the Ahkians. “No one is enslaving my males.”

  His female was fierce. Stealth grinned. “They’ll recover soon.”

  “Nibi.” She yelled at one of the Ahkian females. “Fetch Odoon. I need him now.”

  The female ran toward the domicile.

  “He can explain to them what happened.” His female’s lips twisted. “They could have been Humanoid Alliance males.” She looked up at him. “They might track us here.”

  “That’s improbable.” He hugged her to him. Her body shook against his, his female upset by the attack. “We’re safe on Waaban Two.”

  “Dad and I will protect you, Mom.” Their son drew his guns again.

  “Put those away before you shoot someone else.” The sparkle in her eyes belied her stern tone. “We’d be safer on the Homeland.”

  “We’re not going there for a solar cycle.” Their son announced. “Dad and I decided that.”

  “You decided that?” She lifted her eyebrows.

  “Yep.” Their son must have believed that was the truth. Cyborgs couldn’t lie.

  “We decided I’d train you for another solar cycle.” Stealth squeezed his female’s hip.

  “Exactly.” Their son’s head bobbed. “And you can’t train me on the Homeland because everyone will ask me to fight in the mock battles and I will have to say I can’t and they will want to know why and I will have to say because I suck and they’ll all laugh and then I’ll want to die.”

  He said that without taking a breath, the words rushing out of his mouth. Stealth had never witnessed a cyborg’s enhanced lung capacity used for excessive chatter. Their son was innovative.

  His female struggled to hide her amusement. “I didn’t realize being a warrior was so complicated.”

  “It is.” Their son’s tone was woeful. “It’s very, very complicated.”

  A laugh escaped his female’s lips. Then another and another. Stealth laughed with her. Their son looked confused for a moment before he joined them.

  That was how Odoon found them—the three of them bent over, cracking up, tears running down their faces. “Does shooting my kind amuse you?”

  “Stunning.” Stealth’s female gasped. “Not shooting.”

  The Ahkian’s face turned dark blue. “You admit to stunning them?”

  Stealth turned his female toward him, hiding her laughing eyes against his chest, and shifted to the right, concealing their chortling son with his form. “They’re dressed like Humanoid Alliance males.” He ruthlessly controlled his mirth. “What would you have done?”

  “I would have asked them who they were.” Odoon leaned heavily on the branches he used to support himself, his legs still not fully functional.

  “That’s how warriors die.” Stealth’s son recited. “The enemy can pinpoint your position using your voice. Their response could be a projectile in your eyeball.”

  The Ahkian’s mouth opened and closed and opened again. “That’s the type of logic I expect a killing machine to extend.”

  “What did you say?” Zebrina’s voice raised, no hint of humor lingering in her severe tone. She ducked under Stealth’s arm, her eyes blazing.

  Her friend took a step back. That was prudent. Stealth’s female was a force when she was angry.

  “You dare to call my son a killing machine?” She glared at the Ahkian. “He, along with his father, saved your life, saved the lives of your friends. He was injured during that rescue, experienced pain because of you. Then we opened our domicile to you, shared our supplies, our nourishment, with you, protected you from further attack. Is that the act of a killing machine?”