“Unfortunately.”
They disappear down the hall to check on Joey, giving me time to scan the desert plains ahead as I think about what Lenarro said. In the distant sky, I notice a swarm of smaller ships. “What’s that?”
Armor cants toward me. “Titan Holo is projecting that from another location.”
“Distraction?”
He nods. “Esthi, can I speak to you alone for a moment?”
“Right now?”
“Yes. It’s important.”
Armor leads me into a private office not far from the cockpit. When the door shuts, he turns around and guides me back and against it. “You cannot keep doing these dangerous things. You are too special to risk yourself.”
But when I lift my head to retort and see the way his eyes trace my lips, I think there’s something else going on. “Armor?”
“I don’t like this worry I feel for you.”
“I’m sure it’s just overcompensation because of the fall...” I start.
He takes me by the back of my neck, and directs my mouth close to his until only breath slips between our lips. I want to ask him what he’s doing, but the affection is so unexpected, like when we were by the creek, that I’m frozen in anticipation.
Armor’s eyebrows pinch as if he’s expecting rejection.
Go for it. Come on, big guy.
Armor looks away and lets out a breath. “I’m sorry. I’m not used to this freedom of emotion. Our programs always hid it and forced us to feel but not do anything to satisfy the cravings that we have for things. I must be broken.”
“Are humans broken?”
He looks at me like I’ve committed a crime. “No. I didn’t mean to imply that.”
“We are naturally emotional beings. We feel things, and we give in. Part of being human is learning when to give in and when not to.”
“How do you know?”
“If it is something that will make you stronger, go for it. But that’s what a Gray would say. I’m aware of that. If you’d asked my little brother, he’d have said the opposite. It’s a choice. Live hard and fast and short like him, or cautious and longer like me, and any range in between.”
He smirks. “You, cautious?”
“I don’t run into a battle without weapons, hoping my body will be enough.”
His mouth quirks to one side. “We used what we had.”
“It’s a lot more than what humans have.” I reach between us and stroke his swollen shaft. A surge of lust heats my core.
He growls and nips at my neck.
“Consequence is the burden of freedom,” I continue, trying to stay on task. But all I really want is Armor inside of me again.“What are you willing to deal with to have what you want? That’s what being human is all about. We programmed that weakness out of you for a reason. Look at you.”
Armor runs a hand down his bare chest. “We are your creations, not your superiors.”
“You are superior in every way: skill, muscles, and…” I squeeze his cock.
Armor pants and grinds into me. “There’s one we’re not.”
“What’s that?”
