Kate stands, cocking her head as she studies the man. “I told you I liked the defect and the calluses. Why would you offer me a replacement? Do you think I don’t know my own mind?”
“Well, we weren’t trying to insinuate any such thing . . .” Tepin sputters.
Corgi glances toward the door.
They both stand and James remains seated, awaiting Kate’s instruction. He can only assume that Kate is playing it this way because she’s trying to end the meeting. She knows the people in her world far better than he would, so he trusts that she knows what she’s doing.
Corgi seems just as eager to end the meeting. He gives James a last glance, seeming satisfied with his robotic happiness. “Of course, Tepin is right. We didn’t mean to imply that. We only wish you to know that GROW is committed to delivering you the premier manupartner experience you deserve.”
To this, Kate reaches up and twirls a lock of hair. She looks away like she’s become bashful. “That pleases me. A discount will be fine.”
Corgi swallows, his gaze again dipping to Kate’s neckline and lower. “Sure. We better get out of your hair. I’m sure you’re eager to resume youractivities. There are a few positions I could recommend if you were interested,” he offers.
Kate gives a shaky laugh. “That won’t be necessary. I’m plenty creative on my own.”
Corgi smirks. “Are you sure? There’s one that requires two males—I could stay and show you.”
James can feel the waves of discomfort rolling off her. His every instinct is firing to shield her from this man and his leering eyes. If his skin is crawling, he can’t imagine what hers feels like. He subtly reaches a hand in her direction, offering himself if she needs it. The moment she notices, she slips into his awaiting arm, pressing herself against him. She’s using him as a shield. As he wraps his arm around her, a little of her tension eases. It feels fantastic, like she trusts him. His chest expands with something like . . . pride? It doesn’t matter. Whatever this addicting feeling is, he’s greedy for more of it.
He’s about to reply for her, consequences be damned, when she says, “You’re so kind to offer. I’m afraid I’m not that adventurous, however.”
James tries to disguise the mixture of anger and elation swirling in his mind behind a mask of indifference, but as a disappointed Corgi packs away the tablet, Tepin studies him. James is sure he can see right through him because he is barely restraining the urge to throw them out.
Kate, noticing, says, “I selected protective. Well done!”
But it’s too late. Whatever Tepin sees causes him to ask, “If we wanted to run a few more tests this afternoon, would you be opposed to sparing your unit for a few hours? We can do the pictures then.”
James’s heartbeat stumbles. They’re going to kill him. He’s going to go with them, they’re going to discover he’s from the past, and they’re going to study him, then kill him. Logically, they can hardly have people from the past running around. He doesn’t know much about the government or regulatory boards now, but he can’t imagine they’d let GROW off lightly if they knew they were bringing back people from the past. He will most certainly be eliminated.
He glances down at Kate, who he’s now clinging to. Her brows are twitching like they want to pinch together but can’t. “I suppose not. You’ll have him back by dinner, though? I was planning to take him out to show him off to my friends. I’ll be so disappointed if he misses it.”
James reminds himself that to these men, that story is plausible. Someone from this time would do something like that.
“We’ll make sure he’s back in plenty of time.” Tepin steps toward James like he might offer a challenge.
“Unit, would you mind coming with us?”
James only looks at Kate, his grin frozen in place. He awaits her permission. Instruction. Salvation.Don’t let me go with these men, he wants to beg. But he doesn’t. Still, since he woke up in the future, as awful as it has been, he’s had a glimmer of hope. A chance to prove something—but suddenly that doesn’t seem like the most importantthing. Maybe it’s his survival instincts sounding the alarm.I don’t want to die. It’s almost like he’s said that before. Was he awake during the plane crash? Did he say those very same words? He can’t repress a shudder at the thought.
“James, sweetie, please follow the young men,” she says, drawing him to the present. “Do as they ask, for me?”
James’s heart hammers in his chest as he stands. Thankfully, to his ear, his voice remains bright and untethered as he says, “Of course. I’ll be back soon. I can’t wait to meet your friends.”
It seems like the asinine thing a manupartner would say. He follows the inspectors to the door, hoping this is a bad dream.
Corgi turns, eyeing James. “Aren’t you going to give your owner a goodbye kiss? Something to hold her over until you return. We don’t want her disappointed with our premium product, do we?” His tone is chiding.
Fuck, he doesn’t want to kiss her without her permission, but what else is he supposed to do? Essentially, his boss has given him an order.
He turns slowly, trying to figure out an excuse to forgo the kiss, but his mind is so scrambled, it’s gone blank.
He strides across the room to where Kate stands, hoping his eyes convey the apology he feels. He shields her body from their view. She’s trembling, and he feels awful for putting her through this. Taking her delicate jaw in his hands, he draws her face toward his as he leans down.
His lips hover before hers for a moment and she must sense he’s hesitating because she demands, “Kiss me.”
“I’m sorry,” he whispers. Not because he doesn’t want to kiss her, he realizes—just not like this. Not here in front of these men. But fuck, being this close, there’s no sense in denying he wants to kiss her.
Right as their lips are about to brush, she whispers, “If they don’t send you back, I’ll find a way to get you out. I promise.”
