The Syn-En Solution (27 page)

“Her brother was one of the first Synthetically Enhanced soldiers.” Richmond handed off her limbless comrade to the man behind her. “And since the law requires all siblings be inducted as one unit, she is one of us. The proof is in the data crystal, Admiral.”

The news of Nell’s current status ping-ponged in the WA. Riding its heels was the order to keep the information to the Syn-En only.

Nell frowned. “But I thought that was empty?”

Richmond shook her head. “There’s terabytes of data on there. Medical knowledge is only a small part of it.”

Rubbing her forehead, Nell stared at the crystal in Doc’s hand. “Maybe the data is so old it didn’t register.”

Bei knew that wasn’t true but didn’t bother contradicting her. Something on the data chip bothered her. Was it the news she was a Syn-En?

Doc opened his mouth to correct her.

Bei silenced him with a look. “Finish tending the others, Doc, then get your required two.”

Nell looked as if she were about to ask for the crystal back but then shook her head.

Doc nodded. “I think I’ll need four hours of sleep after I get finished with the data.”

Bei waited until the recently repaired had disappeared down the curve of the hallway, in search of spare limbs. Nell’s breathing rasped against him. Free of onlookers, Bei raised his hand and cupped her chin. “Are you well?”

“I’m exhausted, cranky and borderline depressed.” Sighing an anise scent courtesy of her recent snack, Nell rested against his touch. “But I’m very hungry too.”

Bei clamped down on his desire. He could not help Nell adjust to her new position in his fleet but he could take care of one of her needs. “I have civilian rations in my quarters.”

Hunger banked the desire in her eyes. “Is it real food or stuff that has to be sucked out of a tube?”

“Both.”

Nell wrinkled her nose, tilted her head to the left then glared at the tube in her hand. “Does it taste better than this?”

“I do not know.” Bei set his hand on the small of her back and ushered toward the elevators. The fabric of her shirt swayed with each step. “Syn-En may only eat those. They contain the required daily nutritional intake.”

“Did they replace your tastebuds too?” Nell cut in front of Bei and slapped open the waste receptacle chute. The air strained with the sound of the vacuum being activated before she chucked the garbage inside and the lid clanked shut. “Because if they’ve been enhanced and you’re made to eat that…”

How long would she require to eat before they moved onto other pressing needs. He leaned down, catching the scent of citrus disinfectant and new metal, and whispered in Nell’s ear. “My taste is definitely unenhanced human.”

Nell shivered.

Bei exhaled slowly. The skin at her nape pebbled under the wash of his hot breath and her breasts formed tight peaks under her green uniform shirt.

Voices crested and broke in the sick bay’s reception area. Nell’s Syn-Ens had been joined by a few of their comrades. Bei heard the elevator doors open and close and the cacophony increased in decibels. More men had joined the first wave.

Footsteps sounded in the hallway behind Bei. Tensing, he placed himself between the newcomer and Nell.

A med tech rushed forward. The stiff smile on her face aimed at Nell.

Through the WA, Bei sensed her intentions and the last barrier crumbled. Simply due to her association with the first Syn-En, Nell had been accepted.

The med tech met them in the middle of the rapidly filling lobby and pressed a foil pouch into Nell’s hands. “I brought this for you. It’s already mixed and should tide you over until you reach the cabin.”

“Thank you.” Nell wrapped her lips around the deflated straw. A dark liquid moved up the yellow tube. She closed her eyes and moaned deep in her throat.

Bei’s carnal ache broke from his control. He could imagine just such a response after she came apart under his mouth, his touch and…

After one last draw, she released the straw and sighed. “Oh wow. Chocolate ice cream.” She clasped the med tech’s hand in her free one. “Thank you. Thank you so much.”

The med tech glanced at their clasped hands. “It is a favorite among the civilians.”

Nell wrapped both hands around the dessert and inhaled another long draught. “Hmmm.”

The elevator doors eased opened.

Nell entered still moaning, her eyes half closed as she focused on her treat.

Stepping inside the elevator behind Nell, Bei shoved his hands in his pockets. The ride to his quarters would take forever, especially knowing her uninhibited responses would help him discover just where she enjoyed being touched. Anticipation unfurled within his gut and he stabbed the down arrow repeatedly.

“Good bye, Nell.” Richmond waved before coming to attention.

Around her, Syn-Ens, Doc, and the med tech saluted.

Bei knew it was to honor Nell. She would be accepted by Syn-En and civilian alike. But would she accept him as her lover? He’d soon find out. Others had teased him then pulled back at the last minute.

Nell waved and sucked on the bag.

The elevator doors snicked closed and he smiled. Alone at last. Bei let his knuckles brush her soft hip. She didn’t pull away. Then again, maybe she didn’t notice. Perhaps, he should try a more direct approach. “Enjoying yourself?”

“
Hello
. It’s chocolate.” Nell held the foil pouch out to him. “Wanna taste?”

His training demanded he resist. Hang his training. She’d offered him an opening and he’d seize it. Facing her, Bei leaned forward, his size hemmed her into the corner. She glanced up at him. Her attention seemed riveted to his mouth and a musky scent joined the soap and citrus emanating from her skin. Bei’s mouth closed around the straw. His lips registered the rough texture of plastic, but he concentrated on the taste of licorice, chocolate, and the heat from her mouth. With a short pull, a sweet, rich flavor mingled with the others. Bei closed his eyes for a moment, savoring the taste of their impending first kiss. Bei released the straw but didn’t straighten. “It’s very sweet.”

Nell nodded, swallowed hard and looked him in the eyes. “It’s nirvana.”

“Perhaps.” Bei inched closer, bracketing her feet between his boots. She inched nearer, tilted her head to look up at him, which exposed the pale skin at her throat. Her pulse thundered in the hollows of her neck.

Her skin flushed red and she stared over his shoulder. Her mouth opened then closed before she cleared her throat and spoke. “If you don’t stop that I’m liable to think you’re flirting with me.”

“Flirting?” Bei stroked her upper arms. Thanks to the sensors in his armor, he noted the smooth texture of her skin and the incremental rise in her body temperature. She was interested in him. But was it enough? Citizen women played games by different rules. More than one had changed their minds at an inconvenient moment.

“It means—” Still clutching the pouch, Nell raised both hands to his chest.

“I know what it means.” Bei waited a heartbeat for her to push him away.

Instead her hands roamed the contours of his shoulders, pecs and stomach to slip around his waist.

“I’m not flirting.” Bei moved his hands to her shoulders before skimming them down her spine.

“You’re not?” Nell’s breath hitched and her pupils expanded until her irises were merely blue haloes.

“No.” As he mapped the contours of her back, Bei eased her closer, flattening her breasts against his chest, pressing her stomach to his, until finally he cupped her bottom and urged her forward so her pelvis cradled his erection. It was close to where he wanted her, but still so much clothing separated them. “I’m stating my intentions to have you, Nell.”

The Syn-En shall be sentinels of the future,

eternally vigilant to insure only those most favored by

circumstance survive and thrive.

Supreme Council, United Earth Nations

Resolution UEN2025.15N

Chapter Fourteen

With Beijing’s arousal pressed against her, Nell couldn’t feign ignorance, nor could she deny the answering desire shimmering through her, or the titillation of being trapped between the cold elevator wall and Bei’s hot body. The erection prodding her soft belly only punctuated the point. He wanted to have her in the carnal sense, not in the pick up my dirty socks way. Fear tainted the excitement drumming through her veins.

Bei’s hands squeezed her derriere, lifting her against him then easing her away in a gentle lapping motion, parodying the act he proposed.

The sex act.

With her free hand, she explored the slope of his neck, skipped over the knot of cables to toy with soft black hair at his neck. Parts of him had been enhanced, she looked forward to discovering just how much. The metal pouch crinkled between them. Nell glanced at the chocolate shake fit for astronauts. Did she want to have sex with Bei?

Was Ulysses S. Grant interred in Grant’s Tomb?

It was a stupid question. She’d wanted to jump his bones almost since the moment she saw him. Except Bei didn’t have bones. Did knowing that parts of him had been replaced by machines cause her hesitation? Could she really be so prejudiced? Shame heated her cheeks and she stared at his smooth chin.

Bei’s blue eyes narrowed and he continued to study her face. “Your expression is easy to read, yet I would know the cause of your doubts.”

Good Lord, she couldn’t tell him she might be a bigot.

“Is it because I am Syn-En, more machine than man?” He stopped kneading her behind to cup her jaw. His fingers teased the curls around her ears while his thumbs stroked her cheeks.

Her skin tingled under his touch. “No!”

God help her, she believed what she said. Instead of relief, her doubts tripled. She groped like a blind woman in a strange environment, trying to find her way through the overwhelming desire.

“Then you do not find me a worthy mate.” Bei eased away from her.

Although only an inch separated them, the distance might have been miles. Loss and panic tumbled through her. “I— I—”

What are you waiting for
?
This is one of the reasons you’re here
. Her mother/conscience tsked.

Nell straightened as a glimmer of unease twitched through her. Could there be another hidden purpose to her arrival on Bei’s ship? To their overwhelming attraction?

For pity’s sake, Nell. All animals exist to procreate.

Of course they do, but the Syn-Ens are sterile. She’d never have Bei’s baby. She’d never…

You will. I’ve given you the solution to the problems. Just take the time now to practice.

Practice sex? She had been celibate for over a hundred years and really, why not
? Nell shook her head, hoping to dislodge any other stupidity that had taken up residence before she blew her chance. She didn’t have to sleep for another century to realize a man like Bei didn’t come very often. He was kind, good, strong, treated her with respect and looked darn good in a uniform. Okay so maybe the last bit made her a bit shallow, but who cared? He wanted her; she wanted him.

So what was stopping them?

Her stupid doubts. Nell locked them away. For the first time since she woke up in the cargo bay, she felt in charge of her life. As for this attraction, practically every thought screamed at her to go for it. “Bei, I—”

“Say no more.”

The elevator glided to a stop and the doors opened. Bei removed her hand from his nape, pivoted on his heel and strode into the hallway.

Nell rushed to be by his side, nearly tripping over her boots.

He sidestepped, blocking her path so she couldn’t walk next to him.

“You’re angry.” Nell’s voice trembled. Damn. Too bad she couldn’t blame him. She took a sip of her drink. The chocolate tasted like mud on her tongue and congealed in a heavy mass in her stomach. “I’m sorry. Okay?”

“Do not apologize.”

The tightness of his voice squeezed her heart.
Idiot
. She’d hurt him with her silence. “Bei.”

He didn’t turn.

Nell reached out to touch his shoulder.

As if sensing her intentions, he increased his pace. The door to his quarters opened at his approach. He entered without breaking stride. “The rations are on the table. You will need to add water to reconstitute the food.”

Nell dismissed the metal box on the table to concentrate on the bed. How was she going to get him into it, preferably naked? Given his size, tackling him was out of the question. Even a provocative striptease wouldn’t work since he refused to look at her.

Bei shoved aside the closet door, yanked out a duffel bag and started ripping his clothes off the hangers.

“You’re leaving.” Desperation clawed at her. She had to stop him. There had to be a way.

“You will be comfortable here. It was designed for human use, not Syn-En.” He tossed the words into the closet.

“I don’t want you to go.” Nell’s fingernails dug into the palms of her free hand.

Nothing.

“Please stay.”

Bei zipped his duffel.

Nell hurled her drink at his back. The silver pouch exploded, spraying a starburst of brown droplets around the room. Several splattered on her cheeks, nose and forehead, but she didn’t care. He needed to look at her.

Bei carefully set his bag on the deck, reached behind him and peeled the pouch from between his shoulder blades.

Gathering her courage, she uttered the one thing that might make him stay.
Please God, keep him here
. “I want you.”

“Why?” Bei crumpled the pouch into a tiny silver ball, before shoving it into the waste receptacle. His attention remained on the half-empty closet.

The vacuum whirled then faded, sucking her thoughts out of her head. She just said the three hardest words of her life and he wanted more. “Why?”

“Yes, why?” He still did not look at her.

Nell floundered. Her reasons seemed trivial now, not nearly enough to convince him of her feelings. They’d known each other only a short time, and yet, she
knew
him. His kindness, his honor, his strength and gentleness called to something deep inside her. If she lost him, a part of her would die.