She was his. Forever.
“I’m thoroughly claimed by you.” His little fabricator sprawled on top of him, a layer of softness, of curvy female, covering his battle-worn form. “You’re worthy, Hoarse. Don’t ever question that.”
He would never question anything his female said, but he did doubt his auditory system. The message was too fantastical to believe.
Needing to be 100.0000 percent certain he’d heard it correctly, Hoarse replayed his female’s whispered words.
The communication remained the same.
He listened to her message a fourth, fifth, tenth time.
Ever since he’d learned cyborgs could have females, he’d had doubts…about himself, about his future. Those misgivings now lifted from his shoulders.
His elation compounded, filling in those empty spaces within his heart, his soul, strengthening him in the best ways a being could be strengthened.
He was worthy. His female had decreed that.
Hoarse pressed his lips against Arlicia’s forehead. “Thank you, my female.” His voice was gruff.
He was unable to say more. His emotional system threatened to malfunction.
C Models weren’t designed for his current level of happiness.
Chapter Four
They fucked three toe-curling times during the rest cycle. Arlicia came more in one planet rotation than she had in her entire life.
Between fucks, she slept in her cyborg’s arms. They snacked on nourishment bars, talked, bonded.
Hoarse was everything she wanted in a male and more. He was kind, curious, intelligent, a beast on the sleeping support.
And he had a genuine interest in doll fabrication.
At sunrise, after they had dressed and prepared for the planet rotation, she showed him how to add eyes to the doll he was crafting.
One of those eyes was blue. The other eye was brown.
That revelation coiled around her heart. “She looks like me.” She cradled the doll in her hands.
He had an almost infinite choice of features, and he’d chosen the combination that closest resembled hers. That touched her. Greatly.
“She isn’t as finely wrought as your doll.” Her warrior extracted another doll from one of his holsters, placed it in front of her.
Arlicia stared at the familiar face. “You’re the one who bought her.”
The merchant had informed her that the doll had finally been purchased. She had been displayed for a solar cycle and a half in the outlet.
No one else had wanted a doll with mismatched eyes.
Only Hoarse desired something, someone like that.
She gazed up at her big male. “We were meant to be.”
His head dipped. “We were manufactured for each other.” He lowered his gaze and frowned at the doll he’d crafted. “But my version of your doll is suboptimal.”
Arlicia grasped his version, as he had called it, tighter. “She was crafted with care, and she will be loved. If you’re willing to part with her, I’ll prove that to you.”
Hoarse’s gaze met hers. Mercy. He was handsome. The glow in his brilliant blue eyes reached the very depths of her soul. “I am willing to part with her.”
“Good.” She smiled at him.
His jaw dropped. His eyes widened.
His admiration was palpable and thrilling, and it warmed her all over.
“We should let Zella know we’re coming.” She bounced off the sleeping support, strode to the giant viewscreen dominating the far wall, entered the expert’s contact information into the communications system. “Should we contact your friend Relay?”
The doors to the chamber opened. “Hoarse’s friend has been contacted.” The dark-eyed warrior grinned.
Arlicia smiled back at him. Hoarse often talked about the male, sharing stories about Relay, and she had liked all she’d heard. She suspected they would soon be friends.
Seeking to contact another friend, she opened communications with Zella.
The image of a baby-faced Ungarian girl appeared on the viewscreen. “Ex-Pert Zell.” The girl hollered that at the top of her voice. “You gots a municazion.”
“Municazion. Municazion.” Children jumped up and down around her.
“It’s Doll girl.” The little girl added that information.
The other children cheered and jumped faster.
“And a boy.” The little girl peered right into the recording device. All Arlicia could see was one large blue eye. “And another boy. They’re big boys.”
“I have a communication.” Zella hurried toward the screen. “Thank you, Mins.” She picked up the girl and physically moved her to the side.
“Who is that?” Relay stared at the viewscreen. He appeared riveted by Arlicia’s friend.
“Oh.” The expert swept her hands over her tightly braided hair. “The males are big.” Her gaze was fixed on Relay. “I mean…I didn’t know you’d be arriving with guests, ‘Licia.” Zella straightened her garments. “You’re still arriving, right? I received the container last planet rotation, which was a relief because someone—” She looked pointedly at Mins. “—remembered about last solar cycle and told everyone about the dolls. The children are expecting you.”
“Doll girl. Doll girl.” The girls and boys chanted.
Arlicia smiled. “We’re arriving. Hoarse.” She waved at her warrior. “And his friend, Relay—”
“I’ve collected rhythmic words projected as being soothing to offspring.” The words burst out of the male’s mouth.
“Have you?” Zella lifted her eyebrows. “That’s extremely convenient as I have a chamber filled with offspring who need soothing.”
Mins slipped in front of Zella. “I has blue fur.”
“I have a doll with blue fur.” Arlicia tilted her head to the side. “But she has blue eyes.”
The girl’s eyes widen. “I has blue eyes.”
Zella physically relocated the girl a second time. “The children are excited this planet rotation. You might wish to talk quickly.”
“Can we use the landing area?” Arlicia asked for what they required.
“I’ll ensure it’s available.” Zella leaned forward. “Please get here as soon as you can manage. The parents have been bringing in sweetened fruit all planet rotation and the children are—”
“No.” Mins scrambled under the expert’s arm. “I do.”
“Mins.” Zella reached out to grab the girl.
Mins wiggled out of the expert’s grip, evading capture. “Bye-bye, Doll girl.” The little girl smiled sweetly into the recording device as she smacked the viewscreen.
The surface went dark.
Arlicia smothered a laugh. Her friend had a higher tolerance for chaos than she did. “I’ll give you the coordinates, Relay. You might want to stay in the ship.”
Hoarse and Relay exchanged glances.
“We’re not staying on the ship.” Her warrior pulled her against his fit physique, wrapped his arms around her waist. “I’m remaining by your side, and Relay—”
“Relay will require all the specs you have on your friend.” The male’s dark eyes glimmered with more than a platonic level of interest.