had filled from the shuttle. Mira saw all their travel bags wedged in with the food supplies they were taking but she didn’t say a word, thinking everything she owned could be replaced. They had also removed some of the entertainment equipment. That just left Flint and Ice in the shuttle. Mira watched them then her eyes locked with Flint’s. He gazed back at her and extended his hand to her as if he wanted to shake hands.

She only hesitated a second before putting her palm against his. “Thank you for not hurting anyone.”

He gripped her smaller hand. “We’re not killers unless we’re left with no other options.”

“Should I untie the men or let her do it when we’re gone?” Ice waited by the door that docked their ship to the shuttle.

The large hand gripping Mira’s didn’t let go. Flint actually rubbed his thumb over her skin lightly, caressing her, tilting his head to stare deeply into her eyes. “I am wondering something. Will you satisfy my curiosity?”

She couldn’t look away from his beautiful eyes. “Sure. What do you want to know?”

He released her hand and pulled off his glove then offered his bare hand. Mira took it, surprised at how warm his skin was. His palm was slightly roughened with calluses. She thought it was odd that he wanted to shake her hand flesh to flesh but she was more than happy to oblige. His fingers squeezed her hand. A gasp tore from her lips as he jerked her forward, right into his muscular body.

Mira stared up at the foot taller cyborg who still gripped her hand. Her free hand had ended up against the hard-shelled chest plate of his black uniform. Her body was flush against his since he’d pulled her there. His arm wrapped around her waist, locking her against him as he stared down at her.

Flint just held her like that for long seconds, watching her. She wondered what he was doing, if maybe he wanted her closer to detect if she was lying or not. She’d read once that cyborgs were good at tracking a human’s heart rate by touch. Was he holding her so tightly so he could evaluate her honesty? It was her best guess.

“Um…what do you want to know?” She was proud that her voice didn’t shake in fear. Cyborgs were super strong. He could hurt her easily if he wanted to with that massively built body.

He lowered his head so he could gaze into her eyes. He had mesmerizing blue eyes that she couldn’t look away from. Cyborgs looked completely human except for their skin tone. He was a damn good-looking man. His hot breath fanned across her face. He smelled of some kind of sweet fruit.

“Flint?”

Flint didn’t even glance at the other cyborg when he spoke to him, instead keeping his eyes locked with Mira’s.

“What?”

“What are you doing?” Ice sounded amused.

Flint ignored the question to rub Mira’s hand again. “Do you have any children?”

She’d never expected that question in a million years. She shook her head. “No.”

He took a deep breath. “Good. Then you will forgive me in time.”

She frowned. “Forgive you for what?”

He took a step back and then another as he completely released her. “I do not care if you have a man in your life or if you have family you will miss. The one thing I could not take you from would be a child.

That would be deplorable. You do not have any, therefore what I do is forgivable.”

Mira’s mind tried to make sense of his words. She gasped as he grabbed her arm above the elbow in a viselike grip. His gaze tore from hers to the other cyborg .

“Free the pilot so he can release the other two men when we are away. Let’s go, Ice. I have the only thing I want from the shuttle. I have her.”

Flint’s words sank in as he jerked her toward the door that attached the ship to her shuttle. She stumbled behind the man who gave her no choice but to follow. He kept walking, dragging a stunned Mira behind him.

Chapter Two

Mira was in shock as she was pulled by the cyborg as he entered a larger ship. She glanced frantically at metal flooring that he walked on, hearing his boots clank as they moved down a corridor. Her attention flew to the walls as they passed, but the lighting was dim in the corridor as he led her from one into another. The sound of the