Cal. “That was low. You used her to get me to agree to the mission.”

Cal grinned. “And it worked. I’m happy, she is happy, and it all works out well.”

“I’m not happy. I just returned home and the last thing I want is to return to the Star . When would I report for duty?”

“I want you to report on board in an hour. Iron is waiting for your return. I thought I would have to hold up your family unit request to force you to accept command of the Star . I thought we’d have to yell and bargain.” The man chuckled. “I had no idea it would only take getting you out of a breeding pact.”

“I still want my request to make a family unit with her approved immediately and I want my sperm activated. I have an appointment tomorrow with medical, Cal.”

Cal chuckled. “Are you sure you want her in that capacity? She looks like a handful for something so small and helpless looking. With the new women coming to our planet you will have the opportunity to only share a cyborg female with another male. You could form a family unit with one who picks an ambassador. Those males are gone for most of the year.”

Fear hit Mira. Would Flint not want her after the stunt she’d pulled? She met Flint’s dark blue gaze. He still looked pissed but as she watched, his eyes softened.

“She’s mine, Cal, and I only want her. Make sure you don’t forget to remove me from the breeding pact. I’ll be on board the Star within the hour with the other half of my family unit, which you will approve immediately.”

“Excellent. I’ll call medical on my way and have a kit sent to the Star . Doc can handle activating your sperm on board. Breeding her will give you something enjoyable to do for the next few months while you’re off Garden.” Cal walked to the door and left without another word.

“Are you mad at me?” Mira stood, walking slowly to Flint.

He shook his head. “I don’t care where we are as long as we are together. Now will you swear to never run away from me or try to harm yourself again? I can give you my word I will never touch another woman and I swear to you that I will never allow another man to take what is mine. You are mine, Mira.”

She wrapped her arms around his waist, staring up at him. “I swear.”

Flint’s hands slid around her as he hugged her. “It’s a good thing that we didn’t have time to unpack yet and that your new clothes haven’t been unboxed. We need to leave. You heard Cal. He wants us on board within the hour.”

“I’ll finish getting ready.”

He chuckled. “Me too.”

Ten minutes later, all arrangements were dealt with, and they left Flint’s twentieth-floor home. She transferred her new clothing into a backpack Flint had given her. They had to rush to a transport heading for the edge of the city and then climb aboard the vehicle that had brought them inside the cyborg city.

Flint held her hand while they watched the security gate open enough to let them outside. When they reached the landing site was ,the Rally stood waiting for them.

“I miss the fresh air already,” Flint said softly.

Mira turned into his body. Two cyborg males were loading supplies onto the Rally , which would fly them up to the Star . She sensed both men watching her and Flint but she ignored them. Her gaze locked with Flint’s.

“I’ll make it up to you.”

His eyebrows rose as his lips spread into a sexy grin. “I really like fresh air. How are you going to make that up to me?”

“I feel pretty confident that I can think of a few things to do to you that will make you forget you’re even breathing. It will be better than fresh air.”

Flint’s body responded since she was pressed up against the front of him. The hard bulge in his pants pushed against her stomach. She grinned up at him and winked.

“I can’t wait until we’re alone.” His voice had turned husky. “You will show me what is better than fresh air.”

They boarded the Rally and this time Flint sat on the cargo floor, pulled her into his lap and leaned his back against the bulkhead wall.

“Leaving the surface isn’t as rough as dropping down was.”

The flight wasn’t bad at all. She was shocked at how smoothly and