Part 27 (1/2)

”This replicator is a gold mine, Kinley,” Joe commented as he yanked out a handful of special metal screws he'd programmed the replicator to produce.

Kinley's heart swelled with warmth at the excitement reverberating from Kayla and Piper as they'd accompanied her and Joe, Taylor and Blackie back to the Statue of Liberty and down to the crash site of the s.p.a.ces.h.i.+p Blackie had taken her to days ago.

During the stormy days that had followed her violent memory recall, she and her five siblings had taken refuge in one of the huts and outlined a plan on repairing the derelict s.h.i.+p near the Statue of Liberty. By a.n.a.lyzing everything Kinley and Blackie remembered, and from what Piper, Kayla and Kinley had reported about their crash, they'd decided the older s.h.i.+p would be an easier repair job, plus it was much closer to them.

They had begun a list of items they would need to program into the replicator in order to start the repairs. The s.h.i.+p was, according to Joe, an older model, but was also twice the size of the newer streamlined s.h.i.+ps, like the one she and her sisters had arrived in.

They would also need to build new sleep stasis beds for each individual. It would be a tight fit for all of them, but they would be asleep for most of the journey back home anyway so getting on each other's nerves would be minimal.

From the information Jacey, Ben's mate, had given them about the computer viruses layered through the atmosphere-as well as the disintegration layers surrounding Paradise and the drones that patrolled certain areas over the land-they would have to build some pretty heavy-duty antivirus programs and strong deflector s.h.i.+elds to protect the s.h.i.+p.

According to the computer models, thanks to the s.h.i.+p's computers they'd been able to repair, it would be a rocky ride away from the planet. But all indications proved they would be able to make an escape safely. It would be a monumental task to get everything together to repair this s.h.i.+p, but achievable.

As Kinley backed out of the broken hull of the s.h.i.+p, she caught Blackie's gaze. They'd been so busy with the plans she hadn't spoken to him about her memory recall regarding her rape back on Earth. But he knew. She could see in his eyes that he knew what had happened to her.

Anger, pain and other emotions she couldn't put a name to flared briefly in his eyes before he concealed them. He was a guarded man with his emotions, but she was the opposite. At least she had been carefree...until she'd been attacked by those men.

She needed to make sure she didn't fall back into the pattern of withdrawal and mistrust of all men she met. She would have to seek counseling when she returned to Earth. In the meantime, there were other things that needed to be done. Like helping to rebuild this s.p.a.ces.h.i.+p in order for them to get home.

There was something else she needed to know too. Did Blackie still want her?

Over the past few days, Blackie hadn't been able to get Kinley out of his mind. Anger over his helplessness to make her feel better and confusion as to why he cared so much for this female kept him awake at night. Tonight though, he'd come down to the river to reflect on what he should do next. Stay here with Kinley? Or return to the Death Valley Boys and try to change things?

He'd cared for other females, but not as much as this one. It frustrated him that he allowed her so much control over him. It annoyed him that the decision to return to Death Valley was not as easy as it would have been before meeting Kinley Hero.

Awareness melted over him as the unique, sweet, sensual scent that belonged only to Kinley drifted through the air. He recognized the soft pattern of her approaching footsteps in the darkness and it took all his energy to force himself to remain seated. The only thing he wanted was to stand and grab her and kiss her and tell her that he wanted to be her male.

”Blackie, can we talk?” Her soft voice shot out of the darkness like a velvet bullet.

He said nothing as she paused. She sighed in anguish and his heart cracked.

”Sit,” he ordered. His heart began to pound insanely against his chest as puzzlement slammed through him. If she wished for them to part, then he would leave. First though, he would allow her to speak, and then he would retaliate with his own words why they should remain together.

”Are you coming with us?” she asked after she sat down beside him.

His fears only increased. She wished for him to follow her to another world. But what if after they arrived, she decided she no longer wished him to be with her? Where would he go then? What would he do? He had never had these insecurities before. He had always known what he wanted to do with his free life.

But now, things were very different.

”What do you wish for me to do?” he asked.

Yes, he was insane. Once he became a free male, he had sworn he would never allow a female to tell him what to do. Now he was doing it all over again. Yet with this female, it seemed right to ask.

”I won't go if you don't want to leave. That is, if you still wanted me to be with you, I would stay here with you.”

He swung his head to stare at her as excitement that she would want to stay behind with him flooded his heart. Perhaps his insecurities were untrue?

As he looked at her, she smiled at him, her sweet lips curled upward, and his heart went warm and happy. She looked beautiful in the white splash of the light from the moon above. Her hair was neatly pinned on top of her head and she had a few sweet curls dangling along the sides of her face. She wore a light cloth that clung to her wickedly erotic curves and he grew hard despite knowing he should give her time with her newfound memories. Give her time to sort out the problem of what had happened to her in the past.

If they stayed here, she would be in danger. With the Death Valley Boys' plans to explore the entire Outer Limits, everyone was in danger.

”I will go with you. If there is room. And if you wish it.”

”I wish it, Blackie. I really wish it,” she whispered.

He caught the excitement lacing her voice and the heat sparking in her eyes.

To his surprise, she leaned against him. He inhaled sharply at the soft touch of her breast against his shoulder and the tender breeze of her mouth as she kissed his cheek.

Before he could react and grab her and kiss her on the mouth, she stood.

”I'm glad, Blackie. I will make the arrangements.”

And then she disappeared into the darkness, leaving Blackie aching so badly for her he wondered if he would ever be his normal self again.

From their perch on the other side of the riverbank, Taylor and Kayla snuggled closer together as Kinley leaned against Blackie and tenderly kissed him on the cheek. A moment later, she left.

”What do you think she said to him?” Taylor breathed before he sucked her earlobe into his mouth. Her entire body tingled at the sweet and tender way his teeth nibbled her flesh. Gosh, this man sure did know how to treat a woman.

”She was asking him if he was going to come along with us to Earth,” she replied softly.

”What do you think his answer was?” he asked as he let go of her lobe and sensuously rubbed his bearded cheek against hers, sparking erotic friction against her sensitive skin.

Kayla giggled at his innocence. Was he for real? Had he not noticed the sparks flying between Kinley and Blackie?

”Have you seen the way they look at each other when the other thinks he or she isn't watching?”

He moaned as she rubbed her face against his. ”The same way we look at each other?” he asked.

He got it. She grinned. ”Yeah.”

”Good. Then Blackie will be a very happy male. Just as I am. I am sure everyone here will accept him and forgive his past as they have done with Jarod and myself.”

”Things will work out for them, you'll see. Just like things have worked out for everybody.”

”And for us too.”

She turned her face in his and eagerly accepted his mouth as he slid his lips against hers.

Yeah, everything was going to work out just fine.

Four weeks later...