see you wearing only my shirt.” His eyes ran over her blanket-covered body. “You are too attractive.”

She nodded and climbed out of bed, naked. Flint’s gaze flared, studying her body as she walked toward him. He tensed and his breathing increased slightly. She picked up those tiny reactions as she watched him. She walked right up to him and put her hands on his chest, went up on tiptoe, and gazed into his confused eyes.

“I do not have time for sex right now but I will have plenty of time after I return.”

She forced a smile. “I wanted a kiss goodbye.”

One eyebrow arched but he wrapped his arms around her. He was wearing his gloves. The metal gently brushed her skin at her hip as his hands encircled her. He lowered his head. Mira shut her eyes and kissed him. He tried to just brush his lips against hers but she wrapped her arms tightly around his neck, dragged him down and invaded his mouth with her tongue, deepening the kiss.

Flint hardened against her stomach. Mira couldn’t miss the bulge that grew in the front of his pants as he kissed her back. He finally broke the kiss and lifted her away from him, using his strength to force her to release him. His eyes narrowed as he stared down at her, passion flaring in his beautiful gaze, breathing hard.

“If you thought kissing me goodbye like that was going to keep you in my thoughts while I am away from you then it will work. I will be counting the seconds until I can finish this.”

“Be careful. I don’t want anything to happen to you.” She didn’t look away from his eyes. She wanted him to remember her words. “I care about you. I’m more than property, Flint. I just wish you could see that.”

His mouth tensed, anger sparking in his eyes. “We’ll discuss this when I return.” He turned and walked toward the door.

“Be careful,” she called after him as the door opened. “I really don’t want anything to happen to you.”

He turned, his features still tense. “I heard you and Doc talking. My hearing is extremely good. If I die, the men will share you so I don’t blame you for being concerned for my safety.”

“That’s not why I hope you return safely. I care about you.”

He sighed and some of the tension left him. He watched her for long seconds. “I will be back in a few hours. I want you to get clean and dress.” The door shut quietly after he left.

She showered quickly and put on the clothes Doc had manufactured for her. The pants were tight in the waist but the legs were a little baggy. The leather material was soft against her skin but the outside was tougher. The shirt surprised her. It was a long-sleeved, waist-to-neck shirt. The material remained across the tops of her shoulders, from collar to sleeves, but had been cut away to reveal her markings. She stared at the tattoos on her skin. The altered shirt displayed Flint’s symbols very clearly.

The boots fit her as if they were made for her, which they had been. She’d missed seeing them the night before but had spotted them just inside the door after Flint left. She paced the room and finally heard the door alarm. She walked to the door and waited long seconds until it slid open.

He was one of the cyborgs who’d been there when she’d gotten her ID chip removed and been branded. He’d silently watched her in the roomful of men. He held out a covered tray, eyeing her with interest. She bit her lip nervously.

“Could you come in and take a look at the control computer for the room? The sleeping alarm keeps going off every time I sit on the bed.”

He frowned. “Flint said to not enter his quarters.”

“Every time I sit down and stay still that damn alarm is beeping at me. It’s driving me crazy and I don’t know how to shut it off.”

He hesitated for a long second before nodding his head, carefully handed her the tray and walked slowly into the room. She had seen the silver control panel on the wall by the bed, which had given her the idea in the first place. As he moved across the room, the door started to close. She moved fast, almost diving through the opening and into the hallway as the door slid shut behind her. Spinning around, she saw the