“Slow down.”
“You said I only had a minute.”
“I’ll give you longer if you make more sense.” He shifted his stance but didn’t lower the weapon.
“Okay.” She paused. “My sister discovered where I was being held, what they were doing to me, and hired Angels to steal me.”
“Angels?” His gaze narrowed. “As in the religious context?”
“They’re a group of people who believe it’s wrong for the government to just make people disappear, and or use them for profit. Angels is the organization’s name. They try to rescue those who’ve been deemed too damaged to save, and break into facilities to find people like me, who are used to harvest body parts, internal organs, or blood for rich people. They got me out of there and took me to an underground medical facility, where they performed surgeries to attach three artificial limbs. They also replaced my damaged organs with manufactured ones, and a few of my bones had to be replaced as well. They put skin grafts on my burns to get rid of the scars.” She paused and tried to think of what else to say that might save her life.
“Go on.”
“I could have registered as an artificial life form, and tried to hide as my sister’s ‘property,’ but all the work on me is illegal, since it was done by an underground movement. That means I’ll be destroyed if I’m caught, same as if I were a homemade android someone put together. All artificial life forms are considered slaves, and you have to pay to have them built by one of the regulated, licensed companies approved by the government. The law doesn’t care that I’m a live person. I’m over the percentage of manufactured parts allowed, and that means I’m not considered human. Unless, you know, you’re rich or come from a powerful family with serious connections to obtain a waiver. They can afford to bribe officials to bypass the laws. I had to flee Earth as soon as I recovered.”
He watched her as the silence stretched between them.
“They scan everyone, everywhere on Earth. My true identity would have alerted the authorities that I should be dead or still locked inside the facility. A more in detailed body scan would have revealed how much of me is altered, and they would have immediately arrested me. That would have been a death sentence. I came here thinking I’d be safe, but that was all bullshit. I need your help, and as I said, I have a proposition for you.”
“What?” He snarled the word.
“Take me off this station when you leave. I was hiding in the waiting room when you and your dad entered. I, um…overheard what you two talked about. We can help each other. You need a woman, and technically I am one.” She forced a smile. “I need to go somewhere I won’t be abused or arrested. You get me, and I get a safe place to live.”
He stared at her.
She lowered her gaze, saw he was still aroused, and hope flared.
“You want me. You can have me. And I’ll teach you whatever you want to know. Just please get me off this station.”
“Why?”
She swallowed. “Because you like me. I mean, you seem interested…” She glanced at his cock again. “I—”
“Why do you need off this station? This isn’t Earth. They don’t run scans here. We wouldn’t visit it if they did.”
“Oh. That.” She eased up very slowly until she sat, keeping her hands in his view to avoid being shot if he thought she posed a threat. “I needed to get off Earth fast, once my surgeries were done and I’d healed enough to travel. I’d heard about how many deep-space traders were looking for wives. Convincing a real woman to move this far out is tough, you know. Most women don’t want to live so far from civilization, and it’s kind of crazy dangerous with all the pirate attacks.” She paused. “Of course, that seemed tame to me, considering an entire planet wants me captured and destroyed. So I logged onto the deep-space bride registry and thought I’d found a husband.”
“The what?” He actually lowered his weapon a few inches.
“Deep-space bride registry. It’s where women put ads to find husbands who live this far out, and men answer them if they want a wife. I found this guy, and even told him the truth about what happened to me. He knew why I needed to leave Earth. I wanted to be honest, and I planned to be a real wife to him. He was giving me a new chance at life by saving me from certain death.” She licked her lips. “It turns out he lied to me. The guy I talked to is just an employee, who was impersonating my real husband—a troll who marries women from Earth, gets them out here, and forces them to work in his private brothel.”
“Troll?”
“It’s a derogatory name for a big ugly jerk. He’s much older than he stated, covered in warts, and just gross.” She hesitated. “Please get me off this station, Deviant. I’ll do whatever you want. I just have a few demands.”
His eyebrows rose as his eyes widened. “You have demands?”
“Yes.” She winced. “I know how that sounds, but I’m trying to escape so I’m not turned into a whore. I’d like you to promise that you won’t do that to me.”
Deviant took a step closer. “You aren’t a paid sex worker?”
“No.” She glanced at the bed and then him. “Um, this was my first time.”
“You’re a virgin?”
“No!” She was making a mess out of this. “I mean, I’ve had sex before, but never for money. Technically, you didn’t just pay me to blow you. I meant that I don’t work here. I came in here to show you that…oh hell.” Tears filled her eyes. “Could you put the gun down? Please don’t shoot me. I’m desperate!”
He hesitated before grabbing his pants and shoving them on. He slid his gun into the holster attached to his waist as he crouched down a foot away from her. His blue eyes were amazing as they locked onto hers. “I’m confused.”
“So am I.” She wiped at her tears. “I just wanted a new life, and instead I came here to find out the guy who’d married me doesn’t exist. I was tricked by this asshole, who wants to turn me into a whore, and then I saw you, and you’re totally hot; I don’t know why women from wherever you’re from won’t touch you. I want you to take me with you, Deviant. I just don’t want to be forced to sleep with other guys. I’ll have sex with you though, if you save me.”
He blinked.
“That’s what my conditions are. You want a woman who’ll have sex with you, and that’s what I’m offering. I just don’t want to be passed around to other men. Is that clear enough? I haven’t had sex in over four years, since before my accident.” She bit her lip. “I was afraid I’d even forgotten how to give a blow job. Was it at least good for you?”
He slowly rose to his full height. “Stand up.”
She trembled but stood. The guy was a good foot taller than her. He reached out and gripped the hand she’d cut, turned it to stare at her palm. His gaze shifted to hers. “This arm is the real one? You mentioned three of your limbs were replaced.”
“Yeah. Both legs and my other arm had to be added.”
He stared into her eyes. “Organs?”
“A kidney and a lung. Most of my rib cage was replaced. One shoulder blade isn’t the original either.”
“Give me your other hand.”
She lifted her other one and he took it, tracing her palm with his fingers. It tickled and she jerked a little in his hold. He gave her a questioning look.
“It’s really sensitive. Angels use the best materials they can and it’s very lifelike. I feel pain and everything.”
“It feels very real. I can’t tell the difference by touch.” He hesitated. “What about your breasts and your vagina? Are those real or replacements?”
“Real and totally my original parts.”
He leaned in to stare at her face. “Enhanced?”
“A little. I had burns on one side, but they put lab-grown skin over the worst of it to match the other side of my face, and repair all the damage. This is how I looked before my accident, more or less.”
“What about your hair color? Is that soft brown what you were born with?”
“Y
es.”
“How old are you?”
“Thirty.”
His minty breath fanned her face. “I don’t even know what to do with you.”
Hope flared. “Take me with you, help me escape, and I’ll teach you everything you ever wanted to learn about a woman’s body. That’s why you came here, right? I’m sexually attracted to you. You were attracted to me. Is my being real a bad thing?”
He released her hands. “Who’s after you?”
“The station owner. His name is Darbis Martin, and he’s a son of a bitch. A real bad guy. He bragged about doing this to other women before me. He’s got a private brothel with live women on this station too. I ran before he could have me escorted there. That’s when I saw you.”
He backed up a few feet and regarded her with a frown. “How long?”
“I just got here today.”
“I meant, how long will I own you if I get you off this station?”
Own me? Yikes. She swallowed. “How long do you want to keep me?”
“Where do you want to go after you work off your debt to me, if I take you away from this place?”
Her mind blanked. “I don’t know. I have no idea where I’d be safe. I thought it was safe here, but I was wrong.”
Deviant watched her for a long moment.
“Please?” she pleaded. “All I ask, besides you taking me away from here, is that you be the only one to touch me. I’m not a whore.”
“You’re completely willing to give me your body?”
She let her gaze travel over him. “Yes. That’s not really a hardship, Deviant.” She saw his surprised look and smiled. “Are the women where you come from blind?”
“You’re lying to me. I’m not attractive.”
It was her turn to be surprised when total sincerity shone in his eyes. “They must be blind. You’re hot, Deviant.”
He frowned.
“You’ve got the best body I’ve ever seen and your eyes are so beautiful. Um, you’re built…all over.” She hesitated. “And you taste really good. On Earth, I’d have had to pay a month’s salary for that.”
He paled. “What?”
“You taste like maple syrup. It’s a very expensive, sweet treat on Earth.”
He was speechless.
“I prefer telling the truth. Maybe that was too much honesty.” She knew her cheeks were turning pink. “Forget I said that last part. Take me with you and you can keep me for as long as you want. Just promise that you’re the only man who touches me. I’m a good cook and easy to live with.” She forced a smile. “I know a lot of jokes. I won’t be a burden. I don’t even eat much.”
He took deep breaths and finally sighed. “Remove your skirt.”
“Um, okay.” She nodded, reaching behind her to unzip it. Her cheeks warmed more. “You want to get a look at what you’re bargaining for. I get it.” She pushed her skirt down and stood there in her panties and torn-open shirt. She hesitated but then shoved the damaged shirt away since, he could already see her breasts. Her gaze lifted and she took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart. “Should I turn around?”
His brilliant blue eyes slowly traveled the length of her body. “Come here.” He pointed to the floor in front of him.
She kicked out of her skirt tangled at her ankles and approached him. Embarrassment at being studied that closely flared, but she fought it down. The guy had the right to see what he was risking his ass for. It probably wouldn’t be easy to get her off the station, what with Darbis’s men searching it. She stopped in front of him and he cupped her jaw with his hand, making her look up at him.
“You’re shy. It wasn’t an act, you being coy in bed, was it?” His voice had deepened and turned husky.
She didn’t know what to say but she held his gaze.
“You said it’s been four years since you had sex. How many males have you tested in your bed?”
“Tested?”
“How many have entered your body?”
“Three.”
His eyebrows rose. “Three?”
She blushed more. “I know that sounds bad but the first guy didn’t count. I wanted to get rid of my virginity. Everyone knows when you’re a virgin because of the detailed, full-body scans at work, to make certain you aren’t stealing anything. The guards always snickered when I passed through, and joked about it. I kind of slept with the first guy I could, just to get rid of it. The second guy I liked, but he lied to me. I don’t date pilots, and he was one, but he said he worked food services.” She paused. “The third guy…I was engaged to him before my accident. I looked him up when I was freed but he’d married someone else. I guess he’d thought I’d died and had moved on.”
“You said the first one didn’t count, so who are you not telling me about?”
“That’s it. I just meant it wasn’t like real sex. It was just to get rid of my virginity.”
“Then why would that sound bad? I’m confused.”
She hesitated. “I know that sounds like a lot of men.”
Eyebrows arched. “Three?”
She nodded.
He stared deeply into her eyes. “I will be the only one who touches you. You’ll belong to me until I feel your debt has been paid, but I’ll treat you well. Do you agree to my terms?”
“Yes. Just get me off this station. Please.”
He let her go. “Stand on the bed.”
Venice turned and wondered why he wanted her up there, but figured it might be a test to see if she’d follow his orders. She lifted her leg, stepped on the bed, and stood still on the mattress. She turned to face him, surprised to find him right behind her.
He suddenly gripped her hips. “I have to figure a way to get you off this station. You can’t very well walk next to me as we leave.”
She finally understood. “You plan to carry me?”
“I don’t see any other choice. They will probably stop anyone your size walking through the station.” His arms opened. “Wrap around me.”
Her fingers gripped his shoulders and he grabbed her hips, lifted her right off her feet as if she didn’t weigh a thing, and jerked her against his body. She wrapped her legs around his waist, and stared into his eyes inches from her own.
“You’re small but not small enough.” He frowned. “Release me.”
She let him go and he had her stand on the bed again. He took a few steps back, studied her, and frowned. “I don’t suppose your limbs come off easily and reattach?”
“No!” The idea shocked her.
A faint grin curved his handsome mouth. “That would have been convenient. I had to ask. Give me a moment. I’ll think of something.”
“You could put me in a bag and carry me over your shoulder. They’ll think I’m merchandise.”
“That would be too suspicious if they are searching for you, and they might be checking anything large enough to contain a human.” His gaze traveled all over her, making her feel warm. Then he looked away to glance around the room.
He moved toward the fake window curtains that were part of the decoration, tore one of them off the wall, and turned. “I have an idea. This might not be comfortable for you, but it won’t last for long.”
“I can deal with it.” She shrugged. “It’s going to beat being forced into sexual slavery.”
He froze.
“I didn’t mean with you. I meant staying here and having to work in that brothel.”
“You’re lucky we dress as pirates, and their garb is very loose.”
“That’s definitely a bonus right now.”
He flashed a grin. “Stand up.”
She climbed to her feet, wondering what he’d do with the material. He stepped forward, holding the curtain in one hand, and then grabbed her around her waist, jerking her against his firm body. Their gazes locked.
“Put your arms beneath mine and grip my shoulders from behind.”
She did, curving her fingers around his warm skin. He had expansive shoulders, and her tight hol
d on him flattened her breasts against his muscled chest. Her heart accelerated and the blue of his eyes seemed to darken again while they watched each other.
“Wrap your legs around my waist. Hold on to me tight to support your own weight for a moment.”
She did, and it was like hugging a muscled tree. His arm slid from around her waist to hook under her ass, jerked her tight against his pelvis, and she realized his cock was hard, trapped between their bellies.
“Don’t move.”
She didn’t as he released her, used both arms to spread the curtain, and began to wrap it around their bodies. She quickly got what he was doing as he wound the material, forcing her legs to hug him even tighter. He tore each end of the curtain into short strips after he wrapped it around their bodies, and tied the strips together. His hands gripped her hips, he wiggled his body a little, and she slipped down him a few inches.
“Tuck your head against my chest.”
She did it, pressing her cheek against him. Her ear flattened, she could hear his firm, strong heartbeat. His arms wrapped around her back and he sighed.
“This will have to do. Don’t move.”
“I can’t. You have me wrapped too tight.”
“Good.” He held her as he bent, grabbed his shirt and head gear, and straightened. “It’s about to get worse. You can’t speak or move, do you understand me?”
“Yes.”
He put the shirt on and covered her body with it. He probably looked pretty paunchy with her over his front, but the loose clothing still didn’t seem to suffer from tightness. The shirt fell almost to his knees. When he put on the head drape, she lost sight of all light. It was dark and warm, hard to breathe, and her ankles protested being twisted a little, and wrapped so tightly against his body. It wasn’t outright painful though. It was just really awkward having her knees up by his ribs.
He took a deep breath—it made her hold hers—and he blew it out. “Hold very still. I’ll hurry, and we might make it off the station without suspicion. Whatever happens, hold on to my shoulders and don’t let go. Are you strong enough?”