her. He was that angry. “Yes. I own you, Mira. You are mine. If you say no I will tie you to the bed and we both know I can make you want me. You could run away but you will be found quickly and returned to me. You would still be in my bed by nightfall. This is the way it is and you need to come to terms with those facts. You have no choice, just as I have no choice. You will adjust to the way life is on Garden. That’s an order. I’m going to put on pants and I’ll meet you in the kitchen. I’m hungry.

I won’t argue with you. This discussion is over.” He spun and marched for the bedroom.

Chapter Fourteen

Mira leaned against the wall and shut her eyes. Hot tears filled gathered and her shoulders slumped. He was right about her being trapped on Garden. The tall wall around the city would prevent her from escaping. Even if she could miraculously escape the city she’d been warned how dangerous the natural inhabitants of the planet were. They were amphibians, so could function just fine on dry land. They were probably worse than cyborgs .

Flint would sleep with other women and she’d have to suffer the knowledge. Every time he left she’d have to try to pretend it didn’t bother her when she knew it would. What else would he inform her of later? If he tired of her, would he find some damn obligation clause, some weird cyborg law, or some other bullshit excuse to let men sleep with her? Was that the kind of life she was facing?

She walked into the living area and automatically walked out onto the balcony to stare at the breathtaking view. She walked to the railing to gaze at the ocean in the distance. Cyborgs and humans were just too different and their ways were too foreign to each other. He seemed genuinely confused as to why she wouldn’t just accept and understand the fact that he’d have to knock up other women because it was some f**ked up law. What kind of life would she live? She was trapped on Garden in this life with Flint, no matter what.

Shaking her head, she fought back a sob, knowing she couldn’t live that way. Why couldn’t he just commit to her so they could be happy? Why did he have to pull the property card on her and just demand she adjust to his messed-up cyborg ethics? Couldn’t he see how he was hurting her? Didn’t he understand that he was going to destroy her emotionally, one painful situation at a time? He had even dashed all hope of escape. She knew, unless Flint sent her home to Earth, that she’d never get there any other way.

She wiped her tears and then took a deep breath. She gripped the railing, inching up on tiptoe, and before she could rethink it, she threw her leg over the railing. She glanced down, only to wish she hadn’t.

They were on the twentieth floor and far below were sidewalks that looked tiny, making her realize just how high she was. Mira knew she’d never survive the fall. Her ass dug into the top of the railing as she balanced. Swinging her other leg over the railing was tough but she managed to do it without falling. Her feet braced on the outside railing as she sat suspended on the edge, staring down.

“Mira,” Flint’s voice was soft, shaky. “Get down. What are you doing?”

“Stay back or I’ll release my hold to kick off.” She turned her head to meet Flint’s horrified gaze, where he stood at the opening of the door wearing only his pants. His beautiful skin had visibly paled. He did follow her demand though as he inched back.

“What the hell are you doing?”

“I want to go home.”

His mouth dropped open and then slammed closed. “You’re going to drop to your death if I don’t release you? Is that what you’re saying? Fine. Climb back over to safety and I’ll send you to Earth.”

“I’m not an idiot. You have no intention of sending me home. You just want me to get down so you can grab me.”

“I was hopeful that you’d believe me. Please come down on this side, Mira. You’re acting irrational.”

“Irrational is staying with a man who expects things from me that he won’t give in return. Irrational is setting myself up for a lifetime of watching you walk