“I apologize for my abrupt departure before.”

Jill wasn’t sure what to say as he carefully untied her wrists. It wasn’t all right. He’d left her half na**d and confused by his anger. That had been the most mind-blowing experience of her life and he’d just stalked out afterward. She sat up when he freed her, tugged her shirt down to cover her lap, and started to rub her wrists.

“Do they hurt?” He slowly sat on the edge of the bed, their gazes finally meeting. He held out his hands. “Let me see them.”

“They are fine.” She wasn’t sure letting him touch her would be a good idea even if she doubted he’d hurt her.

“You’re angry.”

“No.” She debated her words carefully. “I’m confused and not sure what we’re supposed to say to each other now. I’ve never…”

“Never what?” He studied her expression carefully. “Been tied down?”

“Oh, I’ve been tied up lots of times. My ex-husband did that regularly when he feared I’d try to run away. My father would have killed him if I’d run from him and something bad had happened to me while I was in his care. I just don’t know how to act around you.”

“He abused you by restraining you to force sex acts upon your body. Something bad did happen to you.” Anger deepened Coal’s voice.

“He never considered the things he did to me as mistreatment as long as he didn’t beat me up. His idea of abuse would have been if I’d managed to escape our quarters and some of his men raped me. He knew my father would have gutted him if another man ever touched me.”

“I could track him down and kill him.”

Jill grinned. “You look serious.”

He blinked. “I am.”

“Darren isn’t worth it.”

“That is his name?”

“I tend to go with ass**le, but yeah. That’s what his mother put on his birth certification.” She shrugged. “Besides, I have a feeling my father made him pay. I told you he earned that bloody title but he did allow the ass**le to live.”

“If you were mine, I’d protect you better than your father did.”

Her smile died as she realized his utter sincerity. “Thank you.” It touched her that he meant it. “If I were yours, I’d appreciate it.”

Coal glanced away and then looked back. “We should discuss what happened. I’m damaged. It is not your fault that I failed in the lesson I wanted to teach you. It has been a long time since I touched a female—not since I gained my freedom, and the situation greatly stimulated me sexually. You’re very attractive to me. I’ve also never had a female under my total control and I enjoyed it too much.”

Jill’s mind froze. Most guys in her limited experience with them wouldn’t ever talk about it if they had an embarrassing moment. They’d just pretend it never happened. She wasn’t sure what to say so she shrugged.

“It’s all right.”

“It isn’t. I wish to fix you yet I’m severely physically damaged myself. I plan to attempt it again only this time I will make sure that incident isn’t repeated.” He hesitated before reaching into his pocket and withdrawing a round, green band of rubber. “I downloaded some information on the computer. This will help.”

“A rubber vent seal? I know what that is. I had to fix a ruptured one when it annoyed me by whistling from a gap between the vent and the opening for it.”

“The specifics are close enough to simulate a c**k ring.”

Jill knew her mouth dropped open while she gaped at him.

“It will help me keep an erection longer and is just tight enough to prevent early ejaculation.”

Jill had no words.

“I’ve shocked you.” He shoved the rubber ring back inside his pocket. “I let you down before but I won’t again.”

“It’s not a big deal.” She nodded. “Really. Let’s just drop this.”

“For the time being, we can. Use the facilities while I search your room for hidden weapons and then we’ll eat.” He hesitated. “Afterward we’ll work on your fear of males again.”

She forced herself to move. She fled to the small room in the corner, closing the door behind her. She leaned against it, staring at the foam-cleanser unit before she forced her body to move.

She washed her hands and face and brushed her teeth last. She stared at the closed door. He stood on the other side. She was uncertain of what to do and didn’t want to leave the small room.

“Jill?” He tapped on the door. “Do not attempt to attack me.”

“I won’t.”

“You closed the door.”

“I had to use the facilities.”

“Come out.”

She hesitated and then reached for the handle. The big cyborg stood there blocking her exit. She attempted to swallow down her anxiety.

“I didn’t want you watching me while I attended to my needs.”

“Understood. I do not enjoy being watched either while I perform private acts.” He stepped back. “Come eat. I prepared food.”

Her stomach rumbled at the mere mention of eating. The smell of food penetrated her senses. She slowly eased around him to perch on the edge of the bed, the only place to sit in her quarters. She moved slowly, hoping Coal would realize she wasn’t stupid enough to physically assault him.

Coal hesitated and then retrieved the tray. He carried it to the bed, sat near her, and placed the food between them. He waved a hand at her plate.

“Proceed.”

She only hesitated a second before reaching for the sandwich. The filling was synthetic protein, but he served it warm instead of cold. The silence in the room grew a little uncomfortable while she chewed the food. She ventured a look at him when she swallowed.

“Good?” He held his own sandwich inches from his lips, studying her closely.

“Yes. Thank you.”

“I promise to take very good care of you while you remain in my custody. I’m certain you are worried about your future but there is no need. I plan to locate my people, restore control of your shuttle and droids to you, and leave peacefully when they dock with us.”

Staring into his eyes, she hoped the honesty and openness she saw wasn’t just wishful thinking on her part. “Okay. Thank you.”

“You saved me. I know humans can be devious and cruel but I’m a cyborg. I know right from wrong and I’m indebted to you.”

“I’m glad to hear you say it.”

“I’m still going to fix you, Jill.”

Her heart missed a beat. “There’s no need. You showed me that not all touches hurt.”

Anger tightened his mouth before he took a bite, chewed. He watched her with a hooded gaze until she looked away, concentrating on her food instead. They ate in silence. Coal finished before she did and he stood, staring down at her.

Jill sipped her drink, purposefully ignoring him, and avoided lifting her chin, though she could feel him watching her, waiting. Nervousness made her hands tremble. He planned to touch her again, had admitted that, and she didn’t know how to react. He hadn’t hurt her before, the exact opposite in fact, and she admitted to being a little curious now that her fear wasn’t present.

“You’re stalling.” His voice was soft and sounded amused.

“Yes.” There was no reason to lie. “I don’t know what you want from me, Coal.”

“Look at me.”

She looked up at him as she returned the drink to the tray. Coal’s dark, intense eyes were locked on her face. He reached for the waistband of his pants and she lowered her focus to watch his fingers work the front opening.

“I will not hurt you. This is going to be about learning pleasure.”

He wiggled his h*ps slightly to bare more of his body when his pants lowered. It fascinated her as his skin was revealed. A few inches more and she held her breath as his c**k sprang free from the material. She stared at his large, erect sex, which pointed straight up at her. It amazed her that something that size could defy gravity. This time she wasn’t afraid of him.

“What frightens you about males?”

She swallowed hard. “I told you, I’ve been hurt.” She didn’t expand her explanation, figuring he could guess from what she’d already told him about her ex.

“I really could track him down and kill him for you if you were to ask it as payment from me for rescuing me from the freighter.”

“Don’t tempt me.” It shocked her when she smiled, amused at the image of how Darren would react if he ever ran into the terrifying cyborg. She realized she should be running for another room to try to hide from the man who pushed his pants down his thighs and stepped out of them. Instead she said, “He enjoyed fear. It turned him on more.”

“I don’t want that.” Coal straightened, stood motionless, allowing her to study every inch of him if she dared. “What will make you less afraid of me? You may touch me.”

The idea of reaching out to put her hands on him had her lacing her fingers together in her lap. Curiosity tempted her to actually do it.

“I won’t attack you. I won’t get so excited that I harm you. Touch me. Perhaps that will make you more comfortable with the sight of my body.” He hesitated. “I know my size is intimidating but I’d never use it against you to cause any pain.”

An emotion flashed in his eyes but she caught it. She just wasn’t sure why he felt vulnerable. She had a lifetime of feeling that way—she recognized that look.

“This is insane.”

He moved slowly and sat on the bed a few feet from her. She glanced at his lap, gawking a little at his hefty erection, and then jerked her gaze back up to his face when he spoke.

“What is insane about me helping you get past your fear of males?”

“I don’t know you and you’re naked.”

He eased his hand toward her, palm out. “Take my hand.”

She hesitated and then unlocked her fingers, actually putting her hand in his. He didn’t comment on it if he noticed how she trembled. He inched her palm to his chest, placing it over his heart, and gently held it there. Heat radiated off his skin, more so than anyone she’d ever touched.

“You’re very warm.”

“You mentioned that before.”

She had, believing he’d been sick with a fever. His hand released hers, leaving her touching him on her own. She gazed up into his beautiful eyes as her fingers inched up to his collarbone, hesitated there, and then slid upward to curve around the bend of his broad shoulder.

“There’s no need to be timid. I will remain still,” he encouraged her softly. “There’s no pain here, Jill.” He paused. “I will not harm you.”

Honesty and sincerity shone in his eyes. Jill wanted to believe him but it would be insane to do so. She didn’t know him—cyborgs had to be pretty dangerous, considering that Earth Government had tried to kill all of them—but her other hand lifted to touch his thigh inches above his knee. Hot skin greeted her there as well.

Coal took a shallow breath. “I’ll lie down and you can explore me if you wish.”

She released him and watched as he very slowly stretched out on the bed until he rested flat on his back. His arms rose and he laced his fingers behind his head, using his palms to form a pillow.

“Go ahead, Jill. You may explore any part of me you wish.”

She turned to allow her gaze to travel over his impressive form. His beauty of his muscular, toned body wasn’t lost on her. Even his unusual gray coloring attracted her, tempting her to spread her hands over him.

“Have you ever willingly touched a man?”

“No.”

“What do you fear?”