Nate's Fated Mate(70)

"After the bedtime story I'm going to tell you this evening, you won't want anything to do with me at all, much less anything sexual. The only important thing you need to file away in your newly rebooted data center is that you will always have a choice in every life decision from now on. I did my job well this time. Trust me when I say that being attracted to me would create a situation neither of us could handle."

Peyton watched her pace twenty feet away and well out of his reach. "What is it you're keeping from me, Doc?"

"Many things," Kyra said sadly. "Ready for our test, Captain?"

"Not really. See? I'm being honest again," Peyton declared, grinning at her frown. Pain suddenly shooting through his extremities had him swearing viciously. "Why don't I remember anything hurting like this before? My fucking legs are working again by the way. And I almost pissed myself thanks to your restraints. Hope you think that's enough testing because that's all I can take."

Satisfied by his fierce complaining, Kyra walked back to the chair and knelt at his feet again. She had thumb-printed the chair restraint locks so a light swipe across the sensor instantly opened them. After the ankle ones were removed, she removed the one across his chest. Lastly, she moved to his wrists, pausing as she met his questioning gaze. She had to tell him what she was feeling. The urge was too compelling and his gaze was too full of hope.

"Today you are more yourself than you've been in a long time, Captain Elliot. Since this may be the only nice conversation you and I are ever going to have, I want to thank you for your military service and all the amazing things you've done. I'll even admit that you're far more charming than your record indicated. In another time and another place, I might have been willing to play all kinds of games with you. But this is definitely not that time or place. We are suspended between heaven and hell right now, and neither of us is an angel." 

"Lady, I don't know what kind of magic you have in your voice, but my dick gets rock hard just listening to you. Sleep in the cage with me tonight and I'll show you heaven. I don't think I've ever wanted a woman as much as I want you right now. Sorry if the speed of my interest offends your sensibilities. I'm listening to a little voice that keeps yelling inside me. It's saying this may be my one and only chance to get you to see I'm more than just some super soldier machine in need of fixing."

Kyra felt her lip tremble and bit it hard to make it stop before she answered. "I already know that about you. That's why I'm doing this. Now don't make me like you any more than I already do."

"See? I knew you liked me," Peyton bragged, wishing she'd come a lot closer. She smelled amazing.

Kyra wondered if Peyton's desire for her was a lingering aftereffect of all those years of Cyber Husband programming? He would have studied her file extensively because Norton would have made him do so. He would have learned all he could about her likes and dislikes. That's how the program worked and she hadn't removed that chip-on purpose. She needed him to like her at least a little.

Peyton stared at the woman's disappointed face. She looked ready to cry and he couldn't stand seeing her that way. "How about a kiss to test your theories about us, Doc? Just one. I need it and I think you need it too. You've already admitted you aren't married. Look-my wrists are still chained to the chair. What could one kiss hurt? Come on-what do you say?"

Kyra sighed. She was as exasperated with him as she was charmed by his pleading. Tomorrow Peyton Elliott was going to hate her. She was one hundred percent sure of it because it had been proven twice already with her restorations.

Tomorrow when Peyton Elliott knew the truth, he would hate his life and those who had consigned him to his living hell. Tomorrow the machine would be partially back and Peyton would not be this light-hearted, mostly human version of himself. He would be a new kind of redefined cyborg. While no one knew what that was going to be like-not even her-she would bet her retirement Peyton was still going to hate her after he integrated the present with his past.

"Please-one kiss, Doc. That's all I'm asking," Peyton whispered.

Kyra sighed loudly. "You're a hard man to say no to, and today I'm a sentimental fool. Close your eyes, Captain. I haven't kissed a man in a long time. I can't look at you or I'll lose my nerve."

When Peyton sighed dramatically in return and leaned his head back, Kyra climbed on the electrical shield at the bottom of the operating chair until she was standing between his legs. Heat emanated from every inch of the man and he still smelled a little like burnt circuitry. Yet underneath that stark reality, Peyton also smelled masculine and very alluring.