She leaned forward to kiss him again but when she pulled back, he had a thoughtful look on his face.
“Karnex,” he said aloud.
“What?” She frowned.
“Karnex—that’s my name. My real name.” He looked at her with wonder in his eyes…and some sadness too. “I remember everything. I remember how I lost my first mate—it was a house fire. I wasn’t home so I wasn’t there to save her. She died in the flames without me.”
“Oh, K-lx…I mean, Karnex—I’m so sorry!” She threw her arms around his neck and hugged him tight, pouring love and sympathy through their new Bond.
“It’s all right.” His voice was muffled since she was pressing his face to her chest.
“No, it’s not—you must have been devastated.” She stroked his hair.
“I was,” he sent through their Bond. “Completely devastated. It’s why I asked to be made into a Cyborg—so they could wipe my memories.”
“And now?” she asked. “Are you going to be okay?”
“I will as long as you’re with me.” He hugged her back, his long arms wrapping around her body to squeeze with fierce devotion. “You’re my everything, Corinne. I lost Cynthia a lifetime ago. You’re the one I want to share my life with now.”
“I feel the same way.” She kissed the top of his head and then his forehead until he looked up so she could kiss his lips. Being cradled in his lap with his shaft still inside her and his warmth surrounding her, she couldn’t imagine being more happy.
And it was all because she’d taken a chance and allowed herself to be…
Linked to the Rogue Cyborg.
35
CORINNE
“Well, well—where’s the body? I know you must have killed her by now.”
Silas stood in the doorway, smirking up at Karnex, who was standing silently in the center of the room. They had agreed that he would play dumb at first while Corinne hid in the bathroom until it was the right time to come out. She was watching the two of them through a crack in the door, getting ready to make her move.
“Well? Where is she? Answer me, you hunk of junk!” Silas kicked at the big Cyborg’s metal boot but Karnex still didn’t answer. Silas gave an exasperated sigh. “All right, I’ll find her myself.”
He strolled into Corinne’s room, looking around. It made her blood run cold to see him searching for her body so casually. What an evil bastard!
But he was going to get what was coming to him, she promised herself. She and Karnex had already discussed exactly what to do. The big Cyborg had wanted to kill him, of course—especially when he remembered that Silas had tried to make him kill her. But Corinne had a better idea.
As soon as Silas was fully into the room, Karnex stepped forward and shut the door. Then he locked it and turned to face Silas, with his back to the door, blocking the exit.
“Hey—what the hell do you think you’re doing?” Silas whirled around to stare up at the big Cyborg.
“Keeping you from going anywhere,” Karnex rumbled. He crossed his arms over his broad chest. “We have some unfinished business.”
Silas went pale and took a step back.
“What…how are you talking? Did your memories return?”
“Yes—all of them,” Karnex growled, taking a step towards him. “Including the one about how you tried to make me kill my Handler!”
“I never did! I wouldn’t!” Silas’s voice had gone high and frightened and his eyes were darting around, looking for an escape. But Karnex was blocking the only exit—there was no other way out of the room.
Corinne took this as her cue to come out of the bathing chamber.
“Oh yes you did. With this.” She held out the still-blinking kill cube in one palm. “You slapped this on his arm and locked me in with him,” she snapped.
Silas’s face twisted, going from frightened to angry.
