“We’ll discuss this later. I’m not going to leave you to die. I’m taking you with me. Go onboard my ship and wait for me. I targeted this transport specifically because it’s heading to Clone World.”
“Clone World? What’s that? I’m just dying to know.” She managed to resist rolling her eyes again.
“No birthed beings were comfortable with the idea of clones mingling with Earth society—”
“Birthed beings?” Gemma interrupted, arching her eyebrows.
“Humans born from other humans.” He paused. “As opposed to being grown in a tank in a manufacturing plant, the way clones are. Birthed beings and clones are seen as two vastly separate entities. Rico Florigo bought a small planet and opened a theme park featuring clones. It’s for amusing rich people, giving them the opportunity to meet some of their favorite celebrities from the past and watch them perform. You were obviously created to be a singer. They probably built you a concert stage to entertain guests.”
“Another epic fail, since, as I said, I can’t carry a tune. Then again, this is a dream. Maybe I have a rock star voice.” Gemma looked down at her chest. “I mean, check out my boobs. Definitely young celebrity material. They’re all perky and perfect. They sure don’t look that way that in real life anymore. I’d dubbed them my landslides after nursing two babies.” She glanced up at him.
His mouth gaped but he recovered fast. “Go aboard my ship. I’m clearing out the cargo, and I’ll need to remove gravity in this transport to make it an easier task.”
“Of course you are.” She became suddenly amused. “Gravity is one mean bitch. Boob pun. Now you’re going to just shut it off?”
Big sighed. He didn’t seem to find any humor in anything she said. “You’re not going to cooperate easily, are you?”
“Nobody has ever accused me of being easy.” She laughed at her own joke. “Maybe for you, though. You’re serious stud-muffin material.”
He didn’t respond, instead walking back toward the door. He bent a little, stepping through and peering at something out of her view. Then he turned his head and met her gaze. “Don’t startle.”
“Give it your best shot. Maybe it’ll jar me awake.”
He turned back to whatever was out of her view—then Gemma felt a little lightheaded as her feet began to lift off the floor.
Fear jolted through her as the weightless sensation took over. It was possible she was dying in real life right this second. She’d heard of the soul leaving the body, and wasn’t it rumored to feel this way?
“Don’t be afraid.” Big’s voice distracted her enough to look at him. He floated, too. He gripped the edge of the doorframe and pulled his large body through the open door, pushing off the wall. He drifted toward her, opening his arms. “I’ve got you.”
“I am reporting you to the authorities at the first opportunity,” the robot said, making its presence known. “I’m recording this entire episode.”
Big reached Gemma and snagged her around her waist. He pulled her close, and she clutched at him. He adjusted her in his arms until they faced each other. “Wrap around me.”
“Now we’re talking. Floating space sex is better than dealing with Sherlock. You’re not nearly as annoying.” She released the tight shirt stretched over his muscular chest and slid her arms around his neck. She didn’t hesitate to spread her legs, wrapping them around his hips as they slowly floated around the cavernous space.
Big closed his eyes. “Damn…”
“What?”
He opened them, his face inches from hers. “I’ve been out here alone for too long,” he muttered. “I wouldn’t mention sex, Gemma. Especially not right now. A distress signal was sent as soon as I damaged the engines on this transport so I could dock with it. I have about twenty minutes to unload the cargo onto my ship and get out of here if we stand a chance of being beyond the range of a patrol cruiser. They’ll open fire on my shuttle if we’re caught. The authorities won’t bother arresting me. I’ve hit enough targets that it’s an automatic death sentence.” He lowered his gaze to her mouth. “You’re tempting…but I want to survive. Hold that thought until we return to my home base.”
“No floating sex?” she pouted, disappointed. He was a hunk, and it was her dream. She should get to enjoy something about it. The name she’d dreamed up for him certainly implied he must be well endowed.
“I’ll turn off gravity and we can do whatever the hell you want later. Right now, I’m taking you to my ship and unloading this cargo.”
He bumped into a wall and unwrapped one of his arms from her waist. “Tuck your head and hold on tight.” He shifted his body and looked over her shoulder, using the wall to kick off.
They moved fast, and she twisted her head, watching as they flew through the room. They nearly bumped into the robot, who’d managed to stay on the floor somehow. They cleared the doorway and entered a corridor. Big turned his body and his back bumped the wall. It slowed their momentum a little as his body dragged against it, but then he drew up his knees and rolled them until his feet were pointed away from the door they’d just gone through. He straightened his body and tightened his hold around her waist.
Gemma grinned. It was like an amusement park, but she was riding a man.
The bump against another wall stopped them. He reached out with his free hand and pushed on the wall. She glanced down the corridor when the rounded a corner and saw another room through an open door. Big kicked off once more, then they were flying headfirst toward that door, lined up with it, Gemma lying atop his body.
She was tempted to release his shoulders and sit up. “This is kind of fun.”
“Not for me. You’re slowing me down.”
They floated down the hallway and through the open door. Big reached out and snagged the edge of it, bringing them to a halt. He released her waist and grabbed the other side. He spread his legs once he had them turned around, bracing his entire body in the opening.
“Wouldn’t this have been faster with gravity? You know, like to just walk?”
“I’d already turned gravity off on my ship before I realized you were on that shuttle. It was only supposed to be carrying plasma crates.” He met her gaze. “Let go. This is my cargo hold.”
She peered at the room that looked a lot like the one where her dream had started, only this one stood empty of crates.
He released the doorway with one hand and fisted the back of her sports bra. “Let go.”
She unwound her arms and legs. Her body started to drift away from his, but he kept hold of her.
“See the chair over there with the belts? Strap in.” He adjusted his hands, opening one of them along her lower back and giving her a push. It sent her flying. It wasn’t fun without him to cling to. Her arms and legs flailed.
“Relax,” he called out. “Put your arms out to stop you from hitting the wall. I’ll be back. Strap in.”
She stopped fighting the lack of gravity and put her arms straight out as the wall loomed closer. “This is going to hurt,” she muttered.
She hit the wall—then started to float away from it.