“He swung the council’s vote that way. He makes no secret of his hatred of humans.”

“If he died…” She hesitated.

“What is it? I won’t be in any trouble, Megan. No one will hold me accountable for his death.”

“That’s good to know and half of my worry just left.”

“Half?”

“If he’s dead, does that mean you don’t have to be in a family unit with me any longer to keep them from killing me?”

A tinge of anger showed on Ice’s features. “We are a family unit and his fate has no consequence on that.”

“I want to know the answer. If he’s dead, do you have to be in a family unit to keep them from ordering me killed in the future?”

He gripped her h*ps and jerked her hard against his na**d body. It surprised Megan. She gripped his upper arms as she watched him glare at her. He lifted her high enough that her feet left the floor and she rose until they were face level.

“You’re mine and even if you aren’t willing to accept it, that is your fate. I will not release you from the contract.” He paused. “Ever.”

Staring into his beautiful silvery-blue eyes, she swallowed. He looked so angry it stunned her. “I―”

“Belong to me. You’re mine, have been mine since the moment you asked me how you could serve me. I gave you the opportunity to stop what was happening between us but you allowed me into your body and then you asked to stay in my quarters with me to keep you alive.” He paused. “You already know I have feelings for you. Do you think they would change just because it’s no longer a necessity to keep you safe from the council’s orders?”

“I also know that you didn’t want to join a family unit. You didn’t want to get attached. If Zorus is dead then the option is there for you again. Nothing is stopping you from just walking away from me.”

“Have your feelings for me changed, Megan? Do you want me to release you?”

“No.” She wouldn’t lie to him. “I am worried if Zorus died that you might want to release me. I realize you probably felt you had to go that far to protect me and now there will no longer be a reason if that guy died.”

Ice took a deep breath, his chest pressing tightly against hers. “There’s a reason.”

“Will someone else on the council insist I’m dangerous?”

In a heartbeat Ice’s mouth covered Megan’s, his full, strong lips forcing hers apart, and his tongue forged inside. Surprise held her immobile for a few seconds and then she kissed him back. Her hands slid up his arms and wrapped around his neck. The passion flared brightly between them as the kiss deepened.

Ice broke their lips apart, both of them breathing heavily, and his intense gaze locked with hers. He moved them toward the foam cleansing unit but neither spoke.

His arm wrapped around her waist, securing her to his body as he reached out to hit the button to lower the wall.

“You’re my female, we’re a family unit, and what we feel is reason enough to never allow you to leave me.”

She hesitated, chewing on her bottom lip, and knew he had to see the tears that filled her eyes. “Everyone has always abandoned me, Ice. My mom did it and then my dad just took off when he deemed me old enough to make it on my own. It hurt me deeply inside and I’ve kept people distanced from me emotionally ever since. I don’t want to ever wake up one day and watch you walk away from me too. It would kill me.

Don’t say those things unless you really mean them. Don’t make me believe you and one day break my heart.”

His features softened as he stared into her eyes. One hand lifted as he adjusted her in his arms to cup her face in his big palm. “We’ve both known so much pain and loneliness in our lives.” He drew closer. “You are never going to be without me. I will never change my mind. We are one unit now and that will never change.” His lips brushed hers but he didn’t deepen the kiss. He pulled back instead. “We’ll even expand our family unit.”

Her eyebrows rose.

“I believe sharing our DNA will strengthen our bond and heal the hurt we’ve both suffered.”

“Are you talking about children?”

He grinned. “Yes.”

“Couldn’t you just say that? Shared DNA?” She grinned and started to tease him.

“Okay. Want to have intercourse now, tall, gray, and sexy?”

He chuckled. “No. I want to f**k you and afterward, I want to make love to you slowly in our bed.”

She nodded. “I want that too. I just needed to be sure you wouldn’t one day feel resentment from being pushed into starting a family unit with me, Ice.”

“Baby, out of all the things I’m feeling, that is not one of the emotions I’m experiencing. You’ve taught me to love. I’ll teach you that what we have will last and we’ll share both of those things with the children we create together.” He pressed her back to the wall. “Close your eyes.” His arm moved as he reached to activate the foam.

Megan closed her eyes and in seconds foam coated them. Her skin tingled all over as it worked, cleaning them and then slowly melting into water drops that slid down her skin. Her eyes opened only to find Ice watching her.

“I love you and I refuse to allow you to leave me. Deal with that.”

Happiness surrounded her, along with the love that centered on the sexy man in front of her. “You’re so bossy but okay. I’ll do that.” She lifted her legs, wrapped them around his hips, and her ankles crossed over his ass. “How may I serve you?”

Gorgeous silvery-blue eyes widened and then his sexy, full lips curved into a grin.

“I can think of many, many ways, my little sex bot.”

Laughing, she winked at him and then tilted her head, going for the side of his neck. She licked his skin and then lightly raked her teeth there before kissing him. Her tongue traced up to just under his earlobe.

“Tell me to wiggle my h*ps so you can enter me and take me right here, right now, against this wall. I want you.”

“I give the orders.”

“I know. So tell me to do what I just said.”

He laughed. “Life will never be boring with you, will it?”

She nibbled his ear. “No. Definitely not, tall, gray and sexy.”

Ice’s h*ps shifted and his hard c**k pressed against her entrance. He slowly lowered her until his c**k rested deep inside her pu**y. He froze there. Megan was wet and ready for him, aching, and as he slid into her, she turned her head. Their gazes locked.

“I love you,” Ice whispered. “You make me feel everything.”

“I love you too.” Megan wiggled her hips. “Now I want to feel everything, as in move. You’re torturing me. You’re throbbing inside me.”

“So demanding,” he chuckled.

Ice slowly withdrew his c**k almost totally out of her welcoming depths only to drive back up inside her. Their bodies moved together, skin to skin, lips to lips. In minutes they both were crying out the other’s name.

“I know how heaven must feel,” he groaned. “You’ve given me that.”

“I got the one thing I wanted most.” Her fingers gripped his shoulders as their gazes locked together. “I got you.”

“You’ve got me and we belong to each other.”

* * * * * A buzz woke Ice. He opened his eyes and smiled when he realized that Megan sprawled on top of his body, her cheek over his heart and her legs on the outside of his.

The buzz sounded again. He was tempted to ignore it but the person at his door refused to stop pressing for his attention.

He gently rolled until Megan settled on her side. She muttered something in her sleep but didn’t wake. He carefully got off his bed, covered her bare body, and then moved to the drawers. He just pulled on shorts before he opened the door. Onyx stood there.

Ice stepped out into the hallway, allowing the door to close behind him so their conversation didn’t wake his wife. He wanted her well rested. He studied his longtime friend and saw sadness in his eyes.

“I attempted to link with you to avoid coming to your door but you have your com link off.”

“I was sleeping with Megan.” He paused. “Obviously the Rally is docked with the Star since you are here.”

Nodding, Onyx blew out a breath. “We can’t find the life capsule. We had no choice but to deem it destroyed with the enemy shuttle. We assume they did not have a chance to launch away.”

“Damn.” Ice’s shoulders slumped. “Poor Coal. He survived all those years trapped with cyborg females who abused him, finally had his freedom, only to lose his life now.

That is just unacceptable.”

“Not to mention that he died with Zorus. That is not a face I would want to see in my last moments of life.”

“At least Zorus won’t be a threat to my Megan anymore.”

Onyx studied him and then cursed. “Damn it.”

“What?”

“You have that same happy look that Flint, Steel, and Iron have when they talk about their females. Are human women that damn good in bed?”

Ice hesitated. “It’s more than the sex, my friend. Megan makes me forget what I am and allows me to be who I always aspired to be. Do you understand? I’m not a cyborg to her but instead just a man. A man who is very happy that she changed my life. For the first time in my existence, I feel alive. I feel true rightness.” He paused. “I am complete.”

“I still don’t believe any female is worth the trouble they cause.”

“Megan is worth everything to me.”

“I’m returning to the Rally.” Onyx backed up. “I enjoy not having one to tell me what to do.”

“You’d be surprised how pleasurable some orders are that she gives me.” He laughed, remembering Megan’s demands in the shower. “I’ll see you on my next shift.”

Ice entered his quarters and paused to watch the woman sleeping in his bed. He loved her and finally knew the meaning of being truly alive. She’d said love was a gift and now he understood. He yanked off his shorts, got into bed, and then pulled his woman into his arms, where she belonged.