A distinctive figure digitized into view behind Toni.
Azazel sucked in a breath when he recognized who—or rather what—it was. “Oh… no,” he muttered out loud.
Chapter Nine
Stupid,stupid,spider-friggin’-bot.Toniclenched her fists, crossing her arms over her chest. The damn idiot could have smashed into smithereens when he bashed into what looked like hard crystal holding Azazel.
I assure you,Sensos whispered in her mind.The android analyzed the vibrational makeup of the barrier before attempting such a feat.
Her suit's reassurance made her feel better. But… still.
“So, why can’t I hear what they’re saying?” She cocked her head and watched JR14 land on Azazel’s shoulder. The pained expression on the man’s handsome face lasted only a second before it smoothed out.
The cage mutes outside communications.Sensos explained.Thus, we are unable to hear them. We must rely on JR14 to inform us of what they discussed.
Great. She had to rely on the small droid to be an interpreter. She sighed and dropped her arms to her side. What she wouldn’t give to talk to Azazel face-to-face. Watching his calm expression drew her closer.
His eyes stared straight ahead, his brows furrowed, and the muscles in his neck tensed. After a hard blink, his face once again relaxed. All at once, he zeroed in on her, and the mahogany color of his eyes deepened to a rich dark chocolate.
The profound depth of desire etched in the dilation of his eyes caught and held her. Heat flared from deep within her core as she responded in kind to his silent entreaty. What she wouldn’t give to be with him, touch him, flesh to flesh.
Well… squishy-hot dammit!It took every inch of control she had to keep from stomping her foot like a toddler. Why were there always barriers between them? God, what she wouldn’t give to explore this extraordinary man in the flesh. She shivered just thinking about how that would feel. She licked her lips.
And, who’s to say what they did in those dream worlds weren’t as real as real could get? If so, then watch out, bitches!
Azazel jerked his head toward her with an unfocused gaze. He frowned.
She gasped when she saw his neck bloom into a rosy shade of red. What in the world was he embarrassed about? She crossed her arms and glared at the bot, pressing her lips into a hard line. If that darn JR14 said anything to upset Azazel, she’d… well… she’d do something.
As if the small droid heard her threat, he lifted off Azazel’s shoulder, his wings buzzing before he raced to the cage barrier and floated through the clear, hard-looking wall. Then, he flew back to her, slick as you please.
Toni’s mouth dropped open. “What in the world are you doing?” She snipped at the bot. Not waiting for an answer, she glanced at Azazel, who had the weirdest expression on his face as he looked over her shoulder.
He’d recoiled with his mouth wide open, and his upper lip curled back.
What in the heck made him look like that?
“I suppose you’re the helpless human female I have to work with.”
An unfamiliar voice behind her made her jump. This one was distinctively female, with a diva tone worthy of any Kardashian.
Spinning around, Toni faced someone she’d never, ever in her wildest dreams think she’d face on the Krystalii ship. Well, not someone. More like asomething.
A sexbot.
A bright, neon-pink-like-Barbie sexbot android. Complete with dark-fuchsia nipples that reminded her of erotic cherries topping size 40DD breasts. An impossibly thin waist over hips wide enough to tempt any male to grab onto.
The darn thing even had her feet encased in four-inch stiletto platform heels. Toni’d get a nosebleed if she wore anything that ridiculous.
The mere sight of one of her previous prison guards from that gangster planet FiPan made her see red. Her fingers clasped into tight fists, and her knuckles cracked as she cocked her head, glaring at the thing under heavy lids. Heat flushed through her. Breathing became a second thought as memories of the physical and emotional neglect she suffered while a prisoner there overrode any sense she had.
She only took one step toward the sexbot before she couldn’t take another.
What the hell? She looked down at her feet as if they’d give her some kind of clue why they refused to move.
I apologize, Toni.Sensos intoned in its non-gender mental voice.I am keeping you in place so you may discover that the entity before you is an ally.
“Yes, darling.” The sultry feminine voice of the sexbot matched the seductive smirk on her damn face. “What Sensos is telling you is true. I am a valuable ally sent here by my latest ardent admirer, Arakiba.” Her breathy sigh was as phony as believing she took in a breath at all. “I’m afraid that darling hasn’t realized yet my heart belongs to another. But—” She shrugged and waved a nauseating-pink hand in the air. “—that sensitive male’s feelings are the least of my concerns. I just cannot allow this dimension to be taken over by those ugly crystal-like brutes.” She shuddered. “None of them have enough intelligence to be in complete wonderment about my awesomeness.”
