The Good, the Bad, and the Cyborg Read online

“Yes, I have a small flock.”

  “I do too. Can I meet them?”

  Hattie spent the next hour showing Jo around. To her relief, the other woman was nothing but enthusiastic and didn’t seem to envy the advanced state of her claim.

  “This is wonderful. You’ve given me so many ideas about what to do next on our land.”

  “Winthrop’s money and connections paid for a lot of this,” she confessed. “But I’m determined to make it on our own. To have a real—”

  “—home,” Jo finished with her, and the two exchanged a smile. “I know exactly what you mean.”

  M-231 let Clint lead the way as they approached the canyons, trusting the other male’s cybernetic eyes to follow the faint remnants of the tracks. Clint came to a halt when the ground turned rocky.

  “Did you follow them any further?”

  “I tried. I found some scuff marks and a few places where the rocks appeared to have been disturbed. Do you see anything?”

  “I’m not sure,” Clint said slowly. “If anything, it appears that they may have turned in that direction.”

  “Towards the escarpment? That doesn’t make sense.” The spur of rock jutting up to their left was far too steep for a rover to climb.

  “I agree, but…” The other male shrugged. “I see traces of passage in that direction.”

  “Then we should investigate. I trust your abilities.”

  As they grew closer to the escarpment, the increased signs of traffic were visible even to him. “This almost looks like a road.”

  “I agree. That last dust storm hasn’t obscured the tracks completely and this route has obviously been traveled by more than one vehicle.”

  “But to where? There’s nothing out here and the tracks just seem to loop back towards the town.”

  They both dismounted and walked along the rock face.

  “Do you see anything?”

  Clint tilted his head thoughtfully, then traced a crack running up the rock. “This troubles me. It appears to be more worn than the surrounding material.”

  “Like someone has pried at it?”

  “Yes. But again, why?”

  “The only reason I can think of is if someone was testing the rock, but there haven’t been any reports of valuable minerals out here.” He shook his head. “It doesn’t make any sense to me either. Maybe we should follow the tracks leading back to town and see if they continue the entire way.”

  The other man shrugged. “It’s as good a plan as any.”

  As they rode back down the side of the valley, he looked towards the habitat, but they were in a slight dip and he couldn’t even see the top of the dome.

  “Worried?” Clint asked.

  “Yes. I don’t like this. Too many unanswered questions. I almost wish her husband was still alive so that I could question him.”

  “Really?”

  He laughed. “Perhaps not.”

  They rode in silence for a few minutes before Clint called a halt. “Do you see that?”

  “More tracks? But less worn?”

  “Yes, and heading back towards your homestead, I think.”

  Without further discussion, they turned to follow the faint path. As they crested the slight rise, he spotted a strange rover at the same time his monitor sounded.

  “Can you see who’s in there?”

  Clint stared at the machine, then nodded grimly. “It’s that bastard Quilby.”

  “Fuck. I don’t want him bothering Hattie again.”

  With one accord they spurred their horses on, blocking the rover close to the edge of the claim. An irritated Quilby climbed down out of the vehicle.

  “What the hell are you doing stopping me? I have business with Mrs. Lewis.”

  “She doesn’t want to see you. And she isn’t selling the claim.”

  “Why the fuck should I listen to you, machine?” Quilby sneered.

  “I may be a machine, but I am also her partner. And a legal representative of Earth Government. Do you want me to ask the Judge to decide if you’re trespassing?”

  Quilby visibly paled behind his mask. S-756 has a way of inspiring fear in those inclined to bend the law.

  “That’s not necessary,” he said quickly. “But she’s giving up a great opportunity. Three prime plots… Hell, my client might even go to four.”

  “Who is your client?” Clint asked.

  Quilby pulled his shoulders back indignantly. “That’s confidential.”

  “Well, you can go and tell your confidential client that we are not moving. We are happy here,” he said firmly.

  “Goddamn it. You’re going to regret that.”

  He raised an eyebrow. “Are you threatening an officer of the law?”

  “No, I’m warning a goddamn machine who’s too big for his fucking britches.”

  Clint took a step forward, but M-231 put a restraining hand on his arm.

  “Just leave, Quilby. And don’t come back.”

  With a venomous look, the man climbed back into his rover. He glared at them through the window and for a minute M-231 wondered if he would be foolish enough to try and run them down. Instead, Quilby swung the vehicle around with a spray of dirt and took off back towards town.

  “Such a charming man,” Clint said dryly. “But I see what you mean. Why is he so fixated on your claim?”

  “I wish I knew.”

  By the time Clint and Morgan returned, Hattie and Jo had lunch waiting for them. The four of them sat down together and although Morgan had initially seemed distracted, he put aside whatever was troubling him, and they had a very pleasant meal. The other couple departed after lunch, with promises of a return visit in the near future, and she immediately turned to Morgan.

  “What happened? Did you find anything?”

  “Just more questions.” He pulled up the holographic map again. “There seems to be a track running down this side of the claim. It goes from the town to this back corner where the escarpment is located. Have you ever seen anyone along that route?”

  “No, but then I don’t think I would. It’s quite a distance and if I remember correctly, the land dips down along that side.”

  “It does.” He hesitated, then marked a path from the habitat over to the boundary line. “There is also a track along here. Is it possible that your… husband used that trail?”

  “I suppose he might have, but he only left when he was meeting with GenCon. Why would they meet out there? And he was always gone for at least two days, sometimes more.”

  Morgan frowned at her. “He left you alone for that long?”

  “I don’t think he wanted to. He grew less and less happy about leaving, but he still went. And it was fine. Nothing ever happened before.”

  “That reminds me. I intercepted Quilby. I told him that we were not trading the claim.”

  “I’m glad you dealt with him so that I didn’t have to.” She shot him a curious glance. “How did he take it?”

  “Not well. He said we would be sorry.”

  A chill shot up her spine and she grabbed his arm, taking comfort in the strength of the metal beneath her touch. “You’ll be careful, won’t you? I don’t want to lose anyone else.”

  “Always,” he promised. “I won’t let him harm you either.”

  “He won’t harm me—he needs me to transfer the claim—but if he gets rid of you, he puts me back in the same position.”

  “I’m not worried about him and you shouldn’t be either.”

  “I’ll try not to worry.” She stroked his arm. “It makes me feel so much better to know that you can protect yourself.”

  His face darkened and he pulled away. “I have chores to attend to. It’s my turn to plant lichen today.”

  She bit her lip. “Will you be back for supper?”

  “Yes,” he said shortly and disappeared through the airlock as she stared after him in dismay. Why was he so upset?

  Although he was quieter than normal when he returned, he no longer looked quite so grim. Sup
per passed quietly and she was still conscious of an underlying tension between them when she announced she was going to take a bath. He looked up at her statement, his eyes growing heated.

  “Would you like to join me?” she asked impulsively.

  He hesitated for a fraction of a second and she was afraid that the distance would remain between them, but then his face relaxed as he lazily surveyed her body. “I would like that very much.”

  Chapter Twelve

  Morgan followed her into the garden room but didn’t immediately remove his clothes, instead watching her hungrily as she took off her shirt and pants. Her cheeks were on fire by the time she was down to her panties and bra.

  “Aren’t you going to take your clothes off?”

  “I would rather watch you.”

  She rolled her eyes at him. “It’s kind of embarrassing.”

  “Why? Don’t you know how beautiful you are?”

  “No,” she said frankly. “Most of the time I think I’m too tall and too thin.”

  “You are the perfect height for me.” He stepped closer and put his arms around her, tucking her head under his chin. She sighed and nestled closer. They did fit together perfectly.

  “And you are definitely not too thin.” His hands closed over her butt and squeezed.

  A choked laugh escaped as she shook her head at him. “I could take that to mean that I have a fat bottom.”

  “Not fat, lush and round and soft…” He caressed her as he spoke, and she could feel her body responding.

  “Have I told you that you’re very good for my ego?” she asked breathlessly.

  “You did. And I told you that I only tell the truth.”

  “That puts you ahead of most men.” His face started to stiffen again, and she could have bitten her tongue. Instead, she raised her hands to his shirt and began undoing the buttons. “But I would still feel better if you were naked too.”

  To her relief, he let her continue to remove his clothes. She took her time, stroking her hands across each inch of skin as she revealed it. By the time she loosened his pants, his fully erect cock sprang free.

  “Mm,” she purred, stroking the thick length.

  “Now you are the one wearing too many clothes,” he murmured. A quick flick of his metal hand and her panties and bra went flying.

  “Morgan,” she gasped, her nipples tight and throbbing in the warm air.

  “I will wash you,” he announced, and without needing any additional instructions from her, removed the lid of the tub and ladled out the warm water to pour over her.

  He took his time, attending to every part of her body with gentle thoroughness and she completely forgot her self-consciousness in the pleasure of his touch. A slow persistent ache began between her legs but when she reached for him, he lifted her into the tub instead. He washed himself much more quickly, then joined her, sitting next to her on the bench and pulling her against his body, his metal arm the same soothing temperature as the water.

  Her clit still demanded satisfaction but being in his arms in the steaming water had a pleasure all its own.

  “How did you know?” she asked idly, and his body stiffened.

  “Know what?”

  “To bathe outside the tub.”

  “I assume it is so the hot water can be reused,” he said slowly.

  “That’s right. It reduces consumption and saves wear and tear on the filters. I’m impressed.”

  His body tensed before he finally spoke. “Hattie, I have a confession.”

  Her heart skipped a beat. “What is it?” she asked as steadily as she could, praying her voice wouldn’t shake.

  “I watched you. That first night, I saw you in here. I didn’t mean to watch but I couldn’t look away. It was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen.”

  “Oh.” A strange mixture of embarrassment and pleasure ran through her. He had been out there in the dark watching her? Rather shockingly, a little pulse of excitement traveled to her clit at the thought.

  “I don’t think I mind, as long as you’re the one watching me. I trust you,” she whispered.

  “No one else will ever see you,” he promised. “You’re not angry?”

  “You make it hard to be angry at you when you’re so complimentary.”

  “I’m glad. It has been weighing on my conscience.”

  She turned to face him, brushing the short dark strands of his hair away from his face. “You’re a good man, Morgan.”

  His body tensed again. “Is that how you think of me? As a man?”

  “Why, yes. Shouldn’t I?”

  “You seem… glad that I am a cyborg.”

  “I suppose I am.” He jerked his head away and she gently turned his face back in her direction. “Is that why you were upset earlier?”

  “I did not choose to be this way.”

  “I’m truly sorry about that. I hope you know that I would never want your choices to be taken away. It’s just…”

  His face softened. “What is it, Hattie?”

  “I have had a lot of loss in my life. Illness took my mother and Winthrop. I feel… safer caring about you because I know that you’re strong.”

  “You care about me?”

  “Well, of course.” Her cheeks flamed and it was her turn to look away.

  “I care for you too. Very much.”

  Startled, she looked back to find him smiling at her, his eyes soft. An answering smile crossed her own face and time seemed to stand still as they looked at each other. Steam drifted up from the water and the scent of living things surrounded them. Outside, the frigid Martian winds swirled, but inside they were safe and warm and together.

  Morgan gently tugged her closer and she went willingly, tucking her head into his neck. He began stroking her hair, following it down her body to where it curled over her breasts. With exquisite slowness, he moved to the soft mounds of flesh, barely brushing them as he circled in to where her nipples stood at attention, waiting for his touch. He lightly flicked his finger across each stiff peak, and she gasped, the slight touch sending a ripple of excitement down to her throbbing clit. She tried to arch into his touch, but he kept it teasingly light.

  “You’re a tease.”

  “No, sweetheart. I just want to take my time. You deserve to be worshipped.”

  “Maybe you could worship a little faster,” she suggested, and he laughed, tightening his hand for one glorious moment before he drew it away.

  “Do that again,” she demanded, then blushed at her boldness.

  “Why do you do that?” he asked, cupping her cheek. “Are you embarrassed to ask for what you want?”

  “I’m not used to it.”

  “Because you were always helping others.”

  She shrugged and tried to change the subject. “It’s not important.”

  “Yes, it is. You can always tell me what you want. For example, do you like it when I do this?” He rolled a taut nipple between his thumb and finger, applying a firm, gentle pressure that made her squirm with excitement.

  “Oh, yes.”

  “Do you like it softer?” He lightened his touch to the teasing brush he had used before. “Or harder?” This time, he tightened it, squeezing almost to the point of pain, but the pressure sent a streak of lightning to her clit.

  “Both!”

  “Or perhaps this?”

  His head disappeared beneath the water and then she felt his mouth on her breast, even hotter than the water as it closed over her nipple, licking and tugging the taut flesh. Her hand instinctively went to the back of his head, holding him in place as she pressed against his mouth, seeking more of the exquisite sensation. He went from one breast to the other, driving her excitement ever higher until she suddenly realized how long he had been under water. With a startled cry, she tugged him to the surface.

  “You can’t breathe under there.”

  “I don’t need to breathe.” He grinned at her. “My system pulls the small amount of oxygen I need from the water.
It is the same enhancement that allows me to travel the Martian surface without a breathing mask, but a much more pleasurable one.”

  It was the first time she had seen him so at ease with one of his differences.

  “That’s amazing.”

  He shrugged. “It’s part of being a cyborg, but right now, one I am very grateful for. It means I don’t have to surface again until you come.”

  “What?”

  His head disappeared beneath the water again, but this time he didn’t stop at her breasts. He moved lower, parting her legs with effortless strength before she felt his mouth close over her clit. Oh my god. The rough slick warmth of his tongue brushed across the exposed surface, hard and ready from his teasing, and she exploded. A wordless cry escaped into the steamy room as her empty pussy convulsed. A moment later, a thick metal finger penetrated her channel and her body clamped down, seeking to prolong the pleasure.

  As her convulsions slowed, she expected him to resurface. Instead, his tongue began circling her clit with the same teasing touch he had used on her breasts. At first the gentle touch suited her oversensitive flesh but as her excitement built again, she wanted more. Remembering his words, she took a deep breath and urged him on.

  “Harder, Morgan. Please!”

  He responded to her demand with gratifying eagerness, lashing his tongue across her swollen flesh. His finger began to plunge in and out, slowly at first, then faster as her passage grew even slicker. Her body tensed, once more on the verge of climax, and then his finger began to vibrate as he pressed against her channel from the inside, echoing the movement of his tongue, and sending electric thrills of pleasure through her system, overwhelming her with sensation until she climaxed in a surge of bliss, arching against him with a helpless cry.

  This time, he didn’t wait for her convulsions to die down. Before she could even process what he was doing, he lifted and turned her so that she was kneeling on the seat and bent over the edge of the tub. A second later, he parted her legs and drove into her with a long hard plunge that sent her shuddering into another climax. He didn’t pause, clasping her hips firmly as he thrust again and again, reaching so far inside her she felt as if they were one being.

  “This is what I wanted,” he growled. “As I stood outside in the cold and dark and watched you. I wanted to bend you over, to take you, to make you helpless with pleasure.”