by Piper Stone
The words reverberated in my mind over and over again. The unit would need to be recharged, if he hadn’t already thought of that. There was no way I could get my hands on a recharging station without raising eyebrows. Think. Think like a professional.
I closed my eyes, reflecting on the dreams and what had a snowball’s chance of being reality. I could almost swear the man was in my mind, connected in a tenuous manner, but still attached to me in some altered level. The how I would have to figure out eventually but his need I could capitalize on.
I heard my communications band and grimaced. Who in the hell was calling this late? Reluctantly, I grabbed it where I’d left it before going to bed, eyeing the screen. Sara. “Sara. Is something wrong?”
“You’re being watched.”
The words were haunting. “By whom?”
“I don’t know everyone except for one of the doctors, but they have a file on you. You have to be careful.” She was whispering the words.
Was I really considered a threat to them after asking a few questions? Or did this have more to do with my heritage, or I should say my father’s work. But he hadn’t ruffled any feathers, at least to my knowledge. “Sara, there has to be another reason you’d risk calling me.” I could hear her deep breaths. “Sara. Take your time, but I need to know if you want me to help Rogue.”
“Just that... They know Rogue has a connection to you. The stats were off the charts. I saw it myself.”
“The stats? What does that mean?”
“He was connected to scanning units when you came in. The units provide detailed reports of his vitals as well as his brain scan.” Every word seemed laced with terror.
“Are you all right?” I was almost giddy with the information she’d provided. Chris had mentioned the scanners, receiving no answers. Sara knew because she performed them. My thoughts weren’t entirely off base. What if they knew Rogue had some unbridled desire for me? Would they test him? Ugh, maybe, but who would care about something like that?
I heard a noise like a door slamming shut and Sara’s terrified breathing sounds. “Sara, one last question. Did they ever let Rogue out, I mean for a day or a visit to another facility?” Her breath caught again and I knew the answer. “He was, wasn’t he? Was he instructed to kill another doctor?”
“I have to go. I’m on duty tonight. Please don’t let anything happen to him. He’s very special. He doesn’t deserve what’s happened to him.”
The call ended abruptly and I was dumbfounded. Fuck. Fuck! What were all the secrets about? What had they put Rogue through? What in the hell was going on? I sat back, thinking about her words. She seemed awfully eager to me, even though she was terrified.
Ten minutes to four. Tonight, I was going to find out answers. Fuck the rest of the world and the system. If something illegal or worse was going on at the facility and Rogue had been made aware, they would classify him as a dangerous unit.
If Rogue wanted me on a more permanent basis, then he would have his chance.
Counting down the minutes, I refilled my drink. I stood by the window just behind the balcony, fingering the cold glass and taking sip after sip. I glanced at my band, glaring at the time. It was finally almost four. Since the first day, his arrival was like clockwork and my instinct told me tonight would be no exception. When the band gleamed four on the nose, I eased the glass onto the kitchen table and moved outside, standing in the shadows. At first, there was nothing, no sounds and no movement.
Then the same ping that I heard every time.
He was there. Just like clockwork. Watching.
Waiting.
And tonight, I had a sense he was beckoning me.
He’d moved closer, daring to cross the street. I could swear I noticed the lust-filled expression on his face, as if he was seeing right through me and into my dreams. I was so drawn to him that I had difficulty breathing. He’d grasped a portion of my very soul.
“Wait,” I whispered, half expecting he’d hear the word slipping past my lips.
I moved inside, sliding my hand into my nightgown, my fingers finding my aching nipple. I pinched until I whimpered, laughing softly to myself.
After quickly throwing on clothes, I grabbed a single weapon and knew what I was about to do could get me kicked off the force, but I had no doubt in my mind I had no other choice. If I wanted to solve this case, bringing the cyborg unit back to the facility, I would have to do it my way.
No one, including Chris was going to be a part of this. I’d take the heat if necessary, but I was going to find out why I was in the middle of some government experiment. I wasn’t an idiot, so I did the only thing that could save my life if I was wrong about Rogue.
Moving back to my visual screen, I typed a message to Chris, merely giving him a few details. I delayed the send for forty-eight hours. That should give me enough time to try to track Rogue. If I was lucky, the message wouldn’t matter.
I walked outside, keeping close to the building. I was able to move to a vantage point that was at least twenty feet closer to where I’d always seen the figure. There was no sign of him. Damn it. I darted across the street, keeping as low to the ground as possible. A single noise drew my attention, another scraping sound of metal against metal.
My nerves remained on edge as I hovered next to a group of shrubs, waiting. After five minutes, I ventured out again, searching the area and finding absolutely nothing of use. Discouraged, I headed back toward the building, trying to think of any locations the cyborg might go. Nothing made any sense at this point.
Ping!
Turning sharply, I noticed the figure moving very quickly down the street. He was far enough ahead of me that chasing him on foot wasn’t going to do much good.
My vehicle was locked in the secure garage. Driving now would certainly draw attention but I was willing to risk it. I raced inside the well-lit space, swiping my fingers across the keypad. The door unlocking, I jumped inside. I was on the street in less than four seconds, driving in the direction I’d last seen him.
By now, the street was completely empty. Anger boiled from deep within. Why was he doing this? The asshole was playing a game with me, cat and mouse. It was about time I turned into a leopard. I could no longer feel sorry for him. He wasn’t a human, not really. He was a machine that had gone rogue and needed to be reined in. Whatever fantasies or unexplained interactions we’d had couldn’t matter. The cyborg unit was capable of anything, including going completely off the rails. Time to act like a CRON instead of a hapless female hungering to abate her desire. Yanking the steering wheel, I headed onto a side street, the area much more desolate than the main thoroughfare.
Two could play at this game. I would capture him and I would get some damn answers. Then I’d go after the cyborg facility if necessary. Wouldn’t Chris love that idea?
The hairs stood up on the back of my neck and while there was only a hint of moonlight streaming in, I was able to see his face in the rearview mirror. Electricity crackled throughout the entire space, singing every nerve ending. Everything he and I had shared had been reality.
“Noire. I’ve come for you, just like I said I would. You belong to me and I’m going to protect you with my life.”
His velvet-laced voice lingered in the small space, driving a portion of the hidden girl into the forefront. I looked again, locked onto the machine who would be a man.
His gorgeous features.
His riveting eyes.
His commanding expression.
Rogue.
He’d found me, luring me into his trap.
Now, I belonged to him.
Chapter Nine
Rogue
She was mine.
All mine.
Forever mine.
A prized treasure to take and use, discipline as required.
My possession. My salvation.
Soon, she would surrender to my every desire—forever.
“Noire...”
I whispered her name and the vibrations across my
tongue were spectacular.
I was hungry. I was angry. I was fueled by the fact she was here, protected and waiting. I almost tasted her once again, but I wanted to wait. I wanted her to beg for what I was going to do to her.
All I’d been able to think about was our time together, illicit and secretive. She was everything a man could die for. I took a deep breath, allowing the stale air to fill my lungs. What we shared no one would ever be able to take away.
Taking her had been easy enough. I knew her tenacious nature would require her to hunt for me by herself at some point. I’d bided my time, watching her actions, waiting for the perfect opportunity. I wanted her ripe and ready, willing to beg me for a taste of what I’d already given her. And she’d fallen right into my hands. I’d secured her gun, which could prove to come in handy. The abandoned facility was perfect for my use, at least for now. Well away from the city limits, there would be no prying eyes. I’d been resourceful enough gathering supplies, making certain there would be no need to leave for at least a few days.
Until they stopped looking.
They would never find us. They would never take her away from me.
Noire was also searching for something other than just the reason I’d escaped. I’d read enough about her background to know that her interest in me had only partially to do with our kinetic electricity. Given her background, I realized she had no belief in my kind and had even voiced her opinion on more than one occasion. I was certain her reasons for becoming a CRON had everything to do with eliminating as many of us as possible. No doubt because of her father’s work.
I would certainly be forced to consider her hostile, even though she was as drawn to me as I was to her. Training her could prove to be difficult, but I would break her.
She’d already surrendered to me but refused to acknowledge that we were meant to be together. That would change. Being away from any other stimulus would help.
I remained in the shadows, studying her, enjoying the manner in which she was processing her incarceration. I had no intentions of keeping her locked in the room for long, but she would learn that I was her master. She would beg.
There was an air of innocence about her, even though she was all woman, igniting the very human part of me. Electricity crackled, forming a haze in front of my eyes. In the few times I’d been allowed to touch another woman to any degree, I’d been performing my duties. This was something else entirely.
Noire walked closer to the window, narrowing her eyes. A hint of a smile crossed her face. She knew exactly who’d taken her hostage. Then her smile dropped, her eyes flashing. Slapping her hand against the glass, her expression turned vicious. “Let me out of here!” The slight echo provided by the multitude of metal encasing the walls and roof of the abandoned building had an eerie twang.
What intrigued me was that she wasn’t frazzled in the least, merely pissed off that she’d been captured, losing her own game. I could barely contain my raw emotions and was forced to shift my throbbing cock to a more comfortable position. She was without a doubt the most beautiful creature I’d ever seen, but my draw to her was more than just about her physical appearance. She was, in a sense, everything that I wanted to become.
Resourceful.
Dynamic.
Seductive.
I dragged the edge of my boot across the floor, creating just enough sound as she pressed her face against the glass.
“I know you’re there. I can feel you. What the hell do you want from me?” Her fingers flexing open, she smacked the glass several additional times, becoming frustrated. Her even harder kick amused me. The enclosure I’d found to contain her had been a former office of a highly profitable company housed inside the brick and mortar building. The bulletproof glass had been a bonus, even though the only ceiling was two full stories above. There was no way for her to escape.
A grumble in the pit of my stomach almost gave me away. My hunger was increasing minute by minute. I would take her again soon, ravaging her as I broke her down, bending her to my will. The human inside would settle for nothing less. The machine portion was starting to become an irritant, reminding me of a future that I would never have.
I’d never had an issue speaking my mind, easily falling into being a rogue in nature and actions. With her, I was different, almost incapable of understanding why I desired her in such an extreme manner. I couldn’t make sense of the gnawing in my gut, the need to keep her safe even as I wanted to ravage her. And because of that, my words were stilted.
“Rogue,” she whispered. Her lavender eyes shimmered even in the stilted glow of the single overhead light. “I saw you watching me for days after we... What we shared was amazing. Why do this? Why?”
She had a way about her, trying to draw me into answering her questions. Forever an officer of the law.
“Don’t do this, Rogue. I’m not going to hurt you. Why don’t you come out of hiding? We can talk. Isn’t that what you want? You have me protected, just like you wanted.” She smiled, her stance now provocative.
I pressed my fingers against my mouth in an effort to keep from chuckling. She thought she could play me, very much like the visual program I’d experienced.
Sighing, she brushed just the tips of her fingers down the side of her neck, tilting her head backwards. I even heard a single moan.
Clever girl.
My heart raced and I held out my arm, glancing down at the veins pulsing. She had no idea the effect she had on me. My stomach was churning, blood pumping through my veins creating the most incredible jolt of adrenaline.
Noire kicked the glass again. “Hey, asshole. I know you’re there. Why don’t you come out and play with me? Be a man instead of a machine.”
Her words were meant to anger me and admittedly, they did. I took a single step forward, until she narrowed her eyes.
“Rogue.”
“Noire. I told you I would come. You called for me in your sleep during your dreams. What we shared was indeed amazing and you knew I’d return. I was very clear with you.”
“I don’t understand why you risked everything to come and see me,” she stated, blinking several times. “There was a moment I thought I had to be losing my mind.”
“I had to come and see you. There was no other choice.”
“But why? Did Dr. Wells tell you to come to me? Did they program you that way?”
Just the mention of the doctor’s name made my entire system flush with anger; however, she wasn’t to blame. “Dr. Wells had nothing to do with this.”
“Okay. I don’t understand any of this. Why not just wait until you were released? Why find me? You risked your freedom.” She was so exasperated, fighting everything that had occurred between us.
“We connected on that day in the facility, you and I, and I answered your prayer. I’ll protect you as you want to protect me.” I inched even closer, aroused by the sheen of perspiration covering her face. There was no confusion in her eyes. There was also no fear. Just acceptance.
“Protection? Okay. Then what do you want with me?”
“Everything.”
Her lower lip quivered for just a few seconds. “You have to let me go. They are looking for you. You can’t just walk away from the facility and not expect consequences.” She dragged her hand through her hair. “I can figure out a way to get you out of the state if you’ll let me go.”
“Only you and your partner are searching for me. Your partner doesn’t have the skills to locate us; however, I understand what you’re required to do.” I kept the words frank, on point. She deserved the truth.
“And what is that?” She folded her arms, her stance on edge.
“Complete annihilation.” The words seemed to stun her. That I would have learned and understood the true intent of the cyborg facility and their extensive tests must entice the trained officer.
The submissive woman was something else entirely.
I had no intentions of hurting her, not in any savage manner, but she would be
trained to fulfill my every need. Eventually, I would take her to a safer location, but only after I could learn to trust her.
“Yes, I believe the doctor wants me to kill you instead of bringing you back, but I’m not going to do that. You must know that by now.”
I heard truth in her words. “I understand.”
“You can let me out of here. I’m not going to try to run away. It’s just you and me here. We can talk. I know you’re hurting. I understand they lied to you. I get it. I do need a few answers that only you can give.”
“I know you won’t run, Noire. Quite frankly, you’re enticed by the fact I hunted you, captured you.” I closed the distance until I stood just outside the glass. “But you’ve been a naughty girl. You lured me in.”
I waited.
“All right. I admit it. I played you or tried to, but not with what we shared. That was real,” she commented, offering a salacious smile.
“Perhaps we played each other. You and I are very much alike.”
Noire snarled, her face reddening. She certainly didn’t like being in this kind of a cage. “You’re not even human, no matter the composition of your components. You will never be anything but a dirty, nasty machine.”
“If your words are meant to hurt me, don’t bother. I know what and who I am and I’m not hiding behind the fact, even with human skin. Can you say the same thing, Noire?”
“What the fuck does that mean?”
“I gave you a taste of your fantasies.”
“You gave me what was programmed into your head and nothing more. The doctors did this to you. Your obsession with me is based on that alone.”
“That’s not true. I’m answering the call you made to me.” I took a step backwards, trying to process what she was saying. Yes, the program had been about her, but I’d felt something before. I couldn’t allow her to confuse me.
“Let me go, Rogue so we can talk.”
“Not yet, Noire. Soon.”
A full minute ticked by.
“You’re out of your fucking mind.”
I cocked my head, my eyes processing every nuance and gesture. She was more nervous than she wanted to let on. “Let’s be very frank, Noire. You attended an illegal and very secretive bar in order to be the woman you’re trying so desperately to hide. You crave darkness as well as pain. How do you think I know this?”
