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obviously the possessive type. She knew all about being married to someone who slept
with another person. It had devastated her to find out her marriage was a farce and her
husband was a two-timing bastard. Even the thought of Chuck touching her, knowing he
slept with other women, made her stomach turn.
 You may stay with me under my protection, but on our way home we will pass
Outpost Five, a trading space station. He hesitated, watching her.  I ll give you your
freedom since you didn t harm me, Rena. I ll even give you enough money to pay for
your passage home when one of many supply shuttles arrives there that can give you a lift
back to Earth.
Staring at him, Rena was surprised.  Really?
He nodded.  I do not lie. We will be at this planet for a few days, repairing their ship
and my own for distance travel, but then we ll be returning to Garden. I will set you free
once we re near Outpost Five. I can let you have one of our pods and I ll keep you
monitored to make sure you dock there safely.
 Why?
He blinked.  You could have killed me but you didn t. I uploaded the transcripts
from your interrogation when we walked in the door and I am aware of how you lost your
mother to her cause to free my kind. If any human deserves to be freed, it is you. He
paused.  You may sleep on the floor in here and I will protect you until I can safely
release you. He paused again.  I would ask that you not mention anything about your
contact with us.
Staring at him, Rena let his words sink in.  They might try to find your planet and
attack if I let them know so many of you survived.
He nodded, looking grim.  It would be a mistake on their part if they come after us.
We are heavily defended where we are. We have been preparing our defenses since we
settled there so anyone attacking would never see the surface alive.
Steel was willing to trust her to do the right thing. She understood that, even if he
didn t say it. She stared at him and nodded.  I don t want them to come after you. I think
what was done to cyborgs was wrong. Humans created them and when they couldn t
control them they committed a worse crime of trying to destroy them.
 Yes.
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Kissing Steel  Laurann Dohner
They stared at each other for a long time. She finally spoke.  How did you read the
transcripts? You haven t been near a terminal long enough to access them. We just
walked in here and you started to pace.
He hesitated.  I have programmed the Vontage main computer to send me
information updates so when I entered my room they were transmitted to me when we
walked in. He hesitated.  I m not like you.
Staring at him she let it sink in.  You have some kind of auto-uploading data
processor you receive by signal?
He nodded.  Yes.
Blinking, she let that sink in. His skin told her he was a cyborg but she d forgotten
about the kind of things he must have in his body that could download information to his
mind in an instant.
 So at just a touch& 
He nodded.  I can download files that are waiting for me. As long as I m thirty feet
within range of the terminal I m able to receive the data transfers when my touch prompts
them to be sent.
 Can you send data as well?
 If I keep the connection active. It is maintained until I disconnect.
She blinked. The guy had a damn computer in his brain. That knowledge left her
feeling a little uneasy. He turned away from her, walking to the dresser.
 You may have a blanket and pillow from the bed. I m analyzing reports so I need
some silence. I can communicate with you at the same time but I admit it is distracting. I
just ordered food that will be delivered shortly.
 With your thoughts?
He hesitated, turning to stare at her.  It s similar to writing a program or a document
and then uploading it into the computer.
She stared at him until he frowned, turning away from her. He opened one of the
drawers and removed something, turning to face her again as his leg bumped the drawer
shut. He threw a bundle at her that she barely caught. She stared down at the drawstring
pants and shirt in her hands.
 Put those on. Your legs must be chilled and that shirt is probably not comfortable
for you. Humans enjoy warmer temperatures so I ve adjusted the room controls to
accommodate you but it will take about ten minutes for the climate controls to respond.
They are sluggish.
 Thank you. That s very thoughtful.
He walked over to the wall by the door, close to the terminal, and put his back to the
wall.  After what happened between us, I find myself oddly considerate of your needs.
He paused.  I don t feel at ease with it.
Speechless, she stared at him, watching him close his eyes.
 I have data to evaluate, reports to write, and requests to review. Please put those on
and rest until the food arrives.
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Kissing Steel  Laurann Dohner
He stood there silently, unmoving, as she dressed. Her attention kept flicking to him.
He was working? She stared at his chest to make sure he was breathing. Eyeing him from
the bed she wondered how he stayed in such great shape if he mimicked a statue when he
was working. She cocked her head, smiling at the thought of Steel as sculpture. His skin [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]