Stealing Coal (19 page)

your
Jenny
to transport it to my planet, Garden. You don’t have to give up your shuttle

or your droids. If you don’t wish to live in space anymore we, my people, have settled

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Stealing Coal

on a planet comparable to Earth. If you wish to remain in space I would agree to do that

as well. As long as we remain together it doesn’t matter where we are.”

So many thoughts and emotions crowded her mind that it left her speechless. Most

of all she had to fight the urge to burst into tears. He wanted to stay with her! Pure joy

filled her and she opened her mouth to tell him yes.

“Think about it, Jill.” He gave her a tense smile. “Do not answer me right now. We

both need time to carefully weigh all our options and make certain this is what we both

want. In a few days we’ll discuss this again when the idea of staying together isn’t so

new.”

She hoped he wasn’t reconsidering asking her. She forced air into her lungs, silently

praying he hadn’t just asked her to share a life with him in the heat of the moment after

awesome sex. If he changed his mind it would tear her apart inside. A few days to think

on it for both of them probably would be the smart thing to do and Coal’s cyborg mind

probably needed that time to be certain of his decision.

“Okay.”

The speaker in her room made a crackling noise and then Onyx’s voice sounded.

“Jill? Flint wishes you to come send a communication to your contact on Earth. He

spoke to the council and they feel it’s important to set this plan in motion before we

reach the edge of Earth’s solar system. They ran the odds and believe it’s better to avoid

extra days that Councilman Zorus might be tortured.”

She smiled at Coal, wiggling on his lap. “Okay. I’ll meet you in the piloting station

in about five minutes. I take it you want to monitor everything I say?”

“Affirmative,” Onyx replied. “Money isn’t an issue and you are cleared to offer as

much of it as you believe will get the job done.”

“Awesome. Cut the coms and I’ll see you in five.”

The speaker clicked again. Coal’s features hardened. “How dangerous is this?”

She hesitated. “I’ve dealt with David, my supplier, half a dozen times. I wouldn’t

turn my back on him but he’s never tried to screw me.”

Anger flashed on his handsome face. “He better not attempt to share intercourse

with you.”

Laughing, Jill wiggled again, separating their bodies, and got to her feet. “Not that

kind of screwing. He’s never tried to kill me or not give me a shipment of goods I paid

for. That’s what I meant. Let’s get cleaned up and make this communication call.”

Coal nodded. “I need to send a communication of my own.” He fingered the torn

material on his pants. He’d obviously ripped them open rather than taking the time to

unfasten them when he’d been eager to fuck her. “This was the last pair of pants I could

fit into. I need to request clothing be sent to me.”

Jill laughed. “I have some stretchy sweatpants you could wear.” Her gaze paused

on his chest. “But none of my shirts would fit you. I’m kind of glad about that.”

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“You don’t wish me to stretch out your shirts? My upper body is quite larger than

yours.”

“No. I just enjoy seeing your sexy chest.” She winked, moving toward the corner

cleansing foam unit. “Our minutes are ticking by. Come on. It will be a tight fit but we

can share. It will be faster.”

Coal didn’t move to join her. “If I go into that small space with you naked I will

take you again.”

Jill’s body responded instantly. “I don’t care if Onyx has to wait a little longer for us

to show up to make that call.”

“Flint would mind. I don’t want him believing me being with you is interfering

with his mission. He could order us apart until it is over.”

That killed the lust that had sparked in Jill. “The pants are in the lowest drawer in

the corner. I’ll hurry.” She spun away, vowing to take the fastest cleansing of her life.

No way did she want Flint ordering Coal to return to the
Star
.

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Stealing Coal

“Coal, I’ve come to a decision,” she said softly, meeting his gaze over the air cleaner

module he worked on.

His gaze lifted, met hers. “I want you to be certain. We had this discussion two days

ago when you said you had an answer for me. You have many things to consider. It’s

an emotional risk as well and I demand you take more time before you make such a life-

altering decision.”

Frustration rose. “Damn it, Coal. I keep trying to tell you―”

“Give it more time. I don’t want to rush you.”

“But―”

“Jill,” he cut her off again. “I demand you take this time to consider it very carefully

to avoid rushing into a decision you may later regret.”

“Have you changed your mind about wanting me in your life long term?”

He gently placed the tool he gripped on the casing of the unit. His mouth was grim.

“Why would you come to that incorrect conclusion?”

“You won’t listen to me when I tell you I know what I want to do. Every time I try

to tell you, you cut me off or walk away. If you didn’t mean it, if you asked in haste,

and you’ve decided it wasn’t such a hot idea now that we’re not all hot and sweaty after

sex, just say it. I’m getting really frustrated with you shutting me down.”

Coal rose to his feet and stepped around the obstacle between them. He crouched

down next to her side, the black leather outfit he wore now made a slight squeaking

noise. He nearly touched her but kept a few inches separating their bodies. His gaze

held hers.

“I’m afraid you will say no and I am not ready to hear it if that is your answer.

Every moment we spend together gives me hope I can convince you I’m worthy of you

giving up the way of life you’ve become accustomed to. You won’t be able to continue

to trade if you decide to join a family unit with me. I’m a cyborg and, as you once told

me, traders would get a high price for me and it would put you at high risk every time

you came into contact with them because they’d attempt to take me from the
Jenny
. The

only thing I’ve changed my mind about is offering to remain in space with you. We

need to live on a planet where you’re safe. ”

Her eyebrows rose. She didn’t care where they lived as long as they were together.

The only thing he’d said that had her reeling were three words. “A family unit?”

He scowled suddenly. “Of course. I am that serious about you. Did you believe I’d

ask you to give up everything and offer you nothing in return? It’s the equivalence of

marriage, to my people. It’s a deep commitment we would make to one another.”

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Tears blinded her. “You’re asking me to marry you?”

He closed his eyes. “This is why I wish to delay your answer. I’ve upset you.”

She turned and her knee bumped his inner thigh as she gripped his leather shirt.

She didn’t like the outfit all the cyborgs wore. She preferred him walking around

shirtless in ill-fitting pants. She wanted to touch his hot, bare skin rather than the thick

leather her fingers clutched.

“Yes.”

Dark eyes snapped open to stare at her uncomprehendingly.

“Yes. I’ll marry you or be a family unit with you, whatever you want to call it, but

yes!”

A grin slowly spread across his handsome face. “Yes?”

She nodded, grinning back. “Hell yes. Is that better?”

He sucked in air, his chest expanding. “Are you sure? It is a lot for you to give up

for me.”

“It’s not. You said I could keep the
Jenny
and my guys. Trading?” She snorted. “I

hated that job and I sure won’t miss dealing with all the lowlife creeps I’ve had to put

up with. I have no idea what I’ll do now to help support us on your planet but a year

ago I never saw myself in this line of work. I’ll adjust and we’ll have each other. That’s

all that matters to me.”

Coal’s body slid forward until his knees hit the deck. “You’re one hundred percent

certain? I don’t want to feel this happiness only to have it torn away if you change your

mind.”

Jill lifted her boot over one of his thighs and scooted off her seat, right onto his lap,

her legs wrapping around his hips. His hands gripped her ass, holding her in place, and

she grinned at him.

“I’ve never been surer of anything in my life.”

“I’ll fill out the paperwork immediately and transmit it to Garden.” His grin

widened even more. “They won’t refuse my request to form a family unit with you.

Because of my history of abuse at the hands of the cyborg females I am permitted

special consideration.”

“I don’t know what that means but as long as they allow it, great.”

He chuckled. “They will allow it.”

“So do we have a ceremony?”

“We could if you wish but it just involves putting in a request, being approved, and

then I need to sign the agreement. There’s no need for you to worry about a job. I will

take care of you and your way of thinking in terms of financial issues is irrelevant with

my people. We don’t have a monetary system on Garden.”

“Coal, I have something to tell you.”

His features froze and the smile died. “What is it?”

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Stealing Coal

He braced for bad news. It was so obvious that Jill had to resist grinning at the

humor of the situation, considering what she wanted to share with him hopefully

would be the exact opposite.

“I’m in love with you.”

He gaped at her and then, to her utter surprise, tears filled his eyes, slid down both

cheeks, and his hands slid from her ass. If it wasn’t for her fingers gripping his shirt and

her legs secured around his hips she would have hit the deck. His body seemed to

totally go lax until he swayed where he crouched on his knees.

“Coal?” Alarm gripped her. “Are you all right? Did I say something wrong? Speak

to me.”

He suddenly moved, his arms wrapping around her, and she gasped when her

body ended up smashed tightly against his when he roughly jerked her against him. He

clutched her so firmly she could barely breathe, his face pressing tightly into the cradle

of her shoulder and neck. His hot tears wet her shirt.

She clung to him, had to fight to free her hands, trapped between their chests, to

wrap them around his ribs to his back. Her arms held him as hard as she could,

hugging him.

“Coal?”

He just held her for a good minute until some of the tension left in his body and his

fierce hold on her eased slightly. He lifted his head, his dark eyes still swimming with

tears when she met his gaze.

“I didn’t mean to upset you, honey.”

He slowly smiled. “You love me.”

Jill studied him closely, seeing happiness through his tears, and nodded. “I really

do love you. I didn’t mean to make you cry.”

One of his arms released her and he tentatively touched his face, wiping at the

wetness that he discovered there, seeming shocked at the tears. His cheeks seemed to

darken slightly and then his smile widened.

“I’m happy.”

Jill blinked rapidly. “I’m so glad to hear that.”

“I believe I’m in love with you too. I’m not sure exactly what love is but you are

everything to me, Jill. My chest hurts right now and I can’t stop the tears. I feel that

much joy.”

“Oh hell,” she muttered, letting her own tears fall. “That’s love, honey. We’re in

love with each other.”

“I’m never going to let you go.” He leaned closer until his nose touched hers,

staring into her eyes deeply. “I am going to make you as happy as you make me. I will

die to protect you.”

“What the hell?” A familiar male voice interrupted. “Is everything cool here? What

happened? Is someone hurt?”

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Laurann Dohner

Coal turned his head and grinned at Sky, who had entered the cargo hold from the

Star
without them hearing him. “She loves me and I love her.”

Jill blinked back more tears, turning her head to grin at the gray-haired cyborg who

gaped at the both of them. He put his hands on his hips and then flashed them an

amused smile.

“I’m glad to hear it. You’re a cute couple though a little wet at the moment. It’s a

good thing I didn’t wait another minute from the way you’re wrapped around each

other.” He chuckled. “I came to tell you that Flint is on his way. We’re approaching the

edge of the solar system and Jill’s contact has been hailing the
Jenny
for the past few

minutes. Onyx tried to reach you but you weren’t answering your com, Coal. You may

want to break it up before Flint thinks he’s interrupting you two about to nail each

other on the deck there.”

Coal frowned. “Why would we do something painful and unusual? I’d never harm

Jill.”

Jill suddenly laughed. “He means having sex on the floor. Nailing each other is

slang for that.”

“Yeah. What she said.” Sky shook his head. “I swear, I’m going to give a damn class

to teach them how to understand Earth lingo.”

A chuckle escaped Jill. “Don’t. I think it’s adorable.” She winked at Coal. “You’re so

cute.”

Coal smiled at her. “Really?”

“I think I prefer you grunting and groaning over listening to the lovey-dovey crap.”