Page 8 of The Lone Cyborg
He opened his mouth to answer her, but before he could speak, the scanner on the drill emitted a sharp beep. Her heart started racing as she read the display, a mixture of excitement and disbelief rushing through her.
“This can’t be right,” she muttered, her fingers flying over the controls. “These readings are off the charts. Literally.”
He frowned, stepping closer to look over her shoulder.
“What is it?”
“There’s a huge concentration of lithium just beneath the surface. Enough to fund my claim for the next ten years. But it’s not just that. There’s something else mixed in, something I don’t recognize.”
She pointed to the unfamiliar mineral signature displayed on the screen. The hard warmth of his chest brushed against her back as he leaned over to see the screen. She stiffened instinctivelyat the contact, but gradually relaxed as he studied the readings. The faint smell of him—a combination of leather and spice and something undeniably masculine—teased her senses. It was an intoxicating blend, and she struggled to remain focused on the matter at hand.
“You’re right,” he agreed. “It’s not like anything I’ve ever seen before.”
Her heart raced as she turned over the possibilities. A discovery like this could attract all sorts of attention, both good and bad, but it also meant that she wouldn’t have to worry about losing her claim. She spun around and grinned up at him as excitement swept over her. He was still so close that their bodies were almost touching and, driven by the excitement of her potential discovery and her gratitude for his assistance, she impulsively went up on her tiptoes and kissed him.
His lips were surprisingly soft and warm, a stark contrast to the cold, hard world around them. He stiffened at her touch and she was about to pull away when he groaned. His powerful arms closed around her waist, pulling her tighter as he took over the kiss, his mouth hungry and demanding, and she forgot about everything except the desire coursing through her body.
CHAPTER FOUR
Ishouldn’t do this.
J-418 ignored the warning voice in his head, lost to everything except the woman in his arms. Her small body fit perfectly against him, slim and strong despite the undeniably feminine curves. She tasted like candy, her sweetness flooding his senses, her body radiating heat against him in the cold Martian dusk. His hands tightened on her, and she gasped into his mouth as his fingers dug into the firm flesh of her ass.
He hauled her up against him, groaning again as her body cradled his erection. His erection… The realization that he was suddenly, achingly erect shocked him back to reality. His body hadn’t responded in such a way since before his transformation. He quickly placed her back on the ground and took a half step back as he tried—unsuccessfully—to force his nanites to control his unruly body.
Her eyes fluttered open, dark green and mysterious in the fading light as she studied him. Heat threatened to rise to his cheeks but at least his nanites prevented his embarrassment fromshowing. He took another step back, his boots scuffing against the rocky terrain.
“I apologize, Miss Carson,” he mumbled, his voice low and gruff. “That was… inappropriate of me.”
A flicker of what might have been hurt flashed across her face before she schooled her features into a neutral expression and shrugged.
“You don’t have to apologize. I was the one who initiated the kiss.”
He clenched his jaw, struggling to reconcile the warring emotions surging through him. As a cyborg ranger, his duty was to protect and serve, not to indulge in personal desires. But standing here, amidst the vast expanse of the red planet, with Mattie’s presence consuming his senses, he found himself torn between his obligations and his impossible feelings.
“I… I cannot allow any sort of personal attachment to cloud my judgment.”
His words hung heavy between them, and he winced internally as her expression stiffened.
“I see,” she said quietly, folding her arms across her chest. “Well, don’t worry about it, J-418. I can assure you that I am not interested in forming a personal attachment with you—or anyone else for that matter. The kiss was an impulse, nothing more.”
She turned away from him, and he felt a pang of regret at the dismissal. Clearing his throat, he forced himself to focus on the task at hand.
“You asked why I was here,” he said stiffly.
She hesitated for a moment, then turned back, her face still shuttered.
“I came to warn you about the possibility of outlaw activity in this area. It’s not safe for you to be out here alone.”
Her eyes narrowed, and even though he knew she was about to argue with him, he was grateful to see her usual spirit reappear.
“I can take care of myself,” she snapped. “I’ve been doing it for years.”
“I don’t doubt your capabilities, but these men could be dangerous. Based on what I’ve heard, they won’t hesitate to harm anyone who gets in their way.”
A flicker of doubt danced across her face before she quickly looked away, her curls obscuring her expression.
“I appreciate your concern, but I’ll be fine. I know how to handle trouble.”
