Rogue: A Dark Cyborg Romance Read online

  I draped my arm over my eyes, my throat scratchy from screaming out. I reached for him, running my fingers through his hair and every part of me was overwhelmed by joy.

  The slight creaking made by the cheap springs on the bed was the first indication he’d shifted. The weight of his rugged body hovering over mine was the second. I opened my eyes, drinking in the very soul he had no idea how to contain. The fear of the unknown was almost overpowering. I wouldn’t be able to protect him, not from the evil lurking in the labs that were responsible for caring for him.

  We would never have this again. We could never share true happiness.

  Rogue planted his hands just beside me, using the carved muscles of his upper arms to keep him steady as he lowered down until our lips were almost touching.

  His breath came in ragged bursts and he brushed his lips across mine. “You will never be taken from me. I will die first.” The words were haunting.

  Palming his chest with both hands, the scintillating buzz was even more significant than before. Heat formed, building as it raced through my fingers to my arms like the slither of poisonous snakes. I arched my back, forcing our lips to touch. When he crushed his mouth over mine, I wrapped both legs around his thighs, drawing his body closer.

  The kiss was sweet at first, leaving me breathless, allowing me to salivate over the feel of his full lips pressing lightly over mine. I could feel his muscles straining, amazed at his control. Running my hands over his shoulders, I cupped his neck, digging my fingers into his skin. Then he let the wild beast loose, forcing his tongue deep inside, exploring the dark recesses. I was just as hungry, my nails scraping his skin in an effort to get closer.

  This was the kind of passion fantasies were made of. Our tongues danced back and forth, but his domination took full control, crowding between my legs and the entire length of his shaft pressing against my wet heat. The tip found its way home, sliding easily inside.

  Rogue jerked up, breaking the kiss. I’d never seen his eyes so brazen with desire. He nipped my lower lip as he slowly slid the rest of his shaft inside, holding the stance as he breathed over me.

  I had no patience, no control over my insatiable needs. I grabbed at his arms, trying to pull him even closer. The slight smile curling on his lip was playful and so very unexpected. He teased me for several minutes, thrusting inside then pulling all the way out. The way his cockhead undulated across my swollen clit was maddening.

  “Rogue. Please.”

  “You want more?” he whispered.

  “Yes. God, yes.”

  “Only if you’re good.”

  He plunged the entire length inside, rocking my body with the extreme force. I scratched my nails down his back in my effort to draw him in closer. His deep baritone skittered through me, prickling every inch of my body. I wrapped my feet together as he rode me, struggling even to hold on. He was crazed with his actions, unforgiving in his methods, leaving me breathless.

  Somewhere in the back of my mind, I knew this was wrong, that I should do everything in my power to get away. I couldn’t. I had no desire to shove away this man that I... adored. As his cock rode me in a savage manner, I gave in to the rapture, my entire body jerking up from the bed as another orgasm rushed into every cell. This time, my mouth was opened in a silent scream.

  The kisses down the side of my neck to my breasts were insistent, teeth grazing across my skin. There wasn’t enough air to fill my lungs as he nipped and sucked first one nipple then the other. Only when I felt a cold breeze as he eased away did I open my eyes, my whispers husky with lust. “Don’t go.”

  I would never forget the carnal look on his face as he flipped me over, making certain my legs were closed. When he straddled me, his torso lightly resting on my thighs, I knew exactly what to expect. I clenched then released fiercely as he parted my ass cheeks, pushing the tip of his cock to my puckered hole. I held my breath until he drove several inches into my asshole.

  There was no adequate way to describe the anguish mixing with the kind of rapture he gave me. Suddenly, I was no longer a simple human girl being fucked by her lover. I was a primitive animal, mating and accepting full domination.

  And I gave in totally and completely.

  He pumped in and out, growling with every pass. Then he rose onto his feet, still crouching over me, leaning forward until he rested on his open fingers. The angle drove me hard into the bed, knocking the wind out of me. With every brutal plunge, a series of lights filtered in front of my eyes until I could no longer see.

  This machine, this creation of synthetics had claimed me.

  And there was no going back.

  Chapter Twelve

  Rogue

  Darkness surrounded me, the blackness suffocating. I wrenched my arms, the cold metal of the thick bands biting into my skin. I roared, straining to yank myself free. “Where are you?” My voice bounced all around me, but the only other sound I heard was a pinging of a machine. Sensors covered my chest, testing. Always fucking testing. I was nothing but a lab rat. My intestines were on fire, my blood boiling. I raged again, howling at the emptiness.

  No one cared.

  No one was coming to save me.

  I was already dead.

  “You know what you are required to do.” Suddenly, the voice cut through the melancholy. A single small light was flicked on, the bright white almost blinding as it was turned toward my face.

  Wincing, I strained, vile rage encapsulating every aspect of my being. “Fuck you.”

  “You heard me. Don’t you want to get out of here and live a normal life?” The being with the voice shifted the light.

  I studied the doctor’s face, white teeth glowing even in the shadows. “Yes.”

  “Then do it. You will have ten days to complete your mission.”

  I shook, chilled to the bone. “I don’t understand.”

  “Yes, you do. You’ve always known what and who you are. You can release yourself. You have the capabilities. Now. Do. It!”

  Snapping the metal shackles holding me down to the table, I climbed off the surface, standing at my full height. Taking several deep breaths, I smiled as the air filled my lungs. I was strong. I was ready. “And then?”

  “And then, my dear boy, you will die.” The cackling laughter filtered into the room, echoing.

  Jerking up, I realized I must have fallen into a light slumber but what had occurred while sleeping was something that had never happened before. A dream. I remembered it vividly, the way the doctor glared at me and the words reverberating in my mind. The pounding of my heart indicated I’d been troubled by the events, but they weren’t real. They were just...

  “Mmm...” Noire murmured in her sleep, drawing my attention. I sat by the door, no longer fearful she’d run. Still, she needed space as well as rest, much like I needed the quiet. I could see the outline of her naked breasts, the rise and fall of her chest. My cock instantly twitched, longing to take her again.

  And again.

  You should take her. She belongs to you. Your property.

  I pressed my hands against both sides of my head, taking several deep breaths. Yes, she belonged to me. No one else would ever touch her again.

  Take her. Use her.

  Fuck her.

  Kill her.

  “No!” I jerked to my feet, nausea instantly making me double over. I didn’t understand what was happening. Everything was wrong. I was here to protect her. Yes. That was my requirement.

  “Rogue.”

  Her beautiful voice cut through everything, yanking me back from some horrific precipice. The dream had simply lingered. That was all. “Noire. Go back to sleep.”

  “Come here. Please.”

  Why was my body shaking? “You need rest.”

  “And so do you. Please, Rogue.”

  Normal. I’d once been told that I could live a normal life. There was nothing in my mind that I wanted more. I eased forward until I knelt by the bed, able to see every feature on her face, the way
her lips were pursed and the worry lines that had formed between her eyes. Using just a single finger, I traced a line down from her forehead to her cheek. My balls had tightened, the throbbing in my cock already painful.

  “They will find us soon,” she whispered.

  “They will try.”

  She grasped my hand, placing it on her breast, forcing both to squeeze. “They will succeed. Come, lie down with me.”

  I’d never known what it was like to hold anyone for any period of time. I’d never been allowed to wake up next to anyone. I crawled over her, sliding under the thin covers and wrapping my arm around her. This wasn’t real. There was never going to be a moment of comfort or joy, only a job to perform and nothing else. The warmth of her body next to mine was invigorating. I pressed my groin tightly against her ass, nuzzling into her neck. The way she grasped my arms, intertwining hers with mine was stilling. I had no way of processing the entanglement of feelings or raging emotions, the juggernaut heading straight to my heart. Questions ran through my mind, a swirl of darkness and light. Humans took this simple gesture for granted. They could never understand how difficult it was to comprehend.

  “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “You don’t deserve what happened to you.”

  I heard a choke in her voice, then agonizing sobs racked her entire body. I bristled, lightly rubbing my fingers up and down her arm. I’d never known anyone to cry. Very carefully I brushed the tip of my finger across her face, collecting the two drops falling from her eyes. I held up my hand, lifting my head in order to see. The drops slowly trickled downward. Mesmerized, I brought my finger closer, taking a deep whiff before sliding it into my mouth. Salty. “You’re hurt.”

  “I’m fine,” she offered, one hand frantically wiping her face.

  Her sadness did nothing but rile me, fueling the same anger I’d had before. No one should be forced to shed tears over the likes of me. I had nothing to say that would add any comfort. I simply held her close, trying to control my heart rate.

  Within a few minutes, I could tell she’d fallen asleep, perhaps no longer fearful of a monster taking her away from everything she knew.

  What she didn’t know wouldn’t hurt her.

  What she did know would destroy her.

  And that monster was me.

  I was shaking, holding her far too tightly, a wash of agony running up the length of my spine. A spasm took over, drilling into me until I gasped for air. What the fuck was happening to me? Make it stop. Fucking make it stop!

  I closed my eyes as images flashed in my mind’s eye, one after the other. I couldn’t make them go away. There were too many, vibrant and dancing. Reds. Blues. Greens. No!

  “No!”

  “Rogue!” she screamed, the wail infused with tremendous pain.

  I took careful steps, hunting her in the darkness. As I rounded a corner, I inhaled, drinking in her sweet essence. She was wet, the scent of her pussy a powerful draw. “Noire,” I hissed, chuckling darkly as she came into view. “There you are. Are you hungry for me? Is your pussy slick with desire?”

  Wrenching her body, she struggled to see me, panting and writhing. “Please.”

  “Absolutely, my pet. That’s why I came.” I eased closer, eyeing the implements on the expansive table. The collection was massive: whips and paddles, floggers and canes, quirts and switches with the hint of green from a fresh cut covering the length. I was enthralled at what had been selected. “You did this all for me?”

  “You don’t understand,” she muttered, strands of hair covering her lovely eyes.

  “I absolutely understand, my sweet Noire. You must be punished for trying to escape.”

  “But I came back for you. I came back to you,” she insisted.

  I moved closer, my cock hard like steel. Her skin glistened in the single light over the iron cross. I was taken aback by her beauty even as her arms and legs were stretched wide open, her ankles and wrists shackled by inch-thick metal bands. Using a delicate touch, I reached out, running my index finger down the length of her spine. I was the one shuddering as electricity shot through me, jetting into my groin. “But you left!” My bellow echoed in the open space.

  “I love you. Don’t you understand that?”

  Love. I almost laughed, even as my mind wanted to believe her. There was no such thing as love. Only pain.

  And heartache.

  And loneliness.

  And isolation.

  And finally, death.

  Her punishment was necessary. It was required. I was simply following my orders. What she would experience would be painful, but she craved the agony. She thrived on the strike of a leather strap slicing across her backside. “Don’t bother lying to me, Noire. There is no need.”

  She jerked at her bindings, whimpering softly. “I promise you. Can’t you tell how much I adore you?”

  Taking several deep breaths, I finished my exploration, dragging my nail down to the crack of her ass. She was so perfect in every way, as if designed with my needs in mind. “I will mark you so everyone knows you belong to me. From this day forward, you will never have to worry again. I’ll always be here to protect you.”

  “You aren’t yourself. This isn’t you. Listen to what you’re saying!”

  She thought she could rattle me, shake me to my core. I was in full control of my decisions. Besides, orders were meant to be followed. Wiggling my finger between her bottom cheeks, I found her puckered hole easily, pushing until my knuckle was inside. I reveled in the heat, the tightness as her muscles clamped around the invasion. “After I whip you, I’m going to fuck you, just the way you enjoy.”

  “Rogue, please talk to me. The bastards who programmed you were wrong. Listen to your heart. Your human side doesn’t want you to fall prey to them.”

  “And you can’t deny you crave my firm hand.”

  Noire closed her eyes, taking several deep breaths.

  “Can you?” I asked, keeping my tone comforting. I thrust my entire finger into the tight space, savoring the way my balls were swelling, almost bursting with need.

  Goosebumps popped up along her arms. I was enthralled, my throat bone dry with anticipation.

  “I...”

  I issued a hard smack across her bottom with the same hand. “Tell me the truth.”

  “Yes. I love your touch. I want you. I crave you. I need you.”

  “Then tell me you require punishment. Ask me nicely, Noire.”

  Blinking several times, she attempted once again to crane her neck in order to see. I could tell she’d caught sight of me. “I... Please punish me. I’m a bad girl for escaping the man I love.”

  I trembled to the very center of my being, forced to take a step back. Raking my hands through my hair, I gave her a hard gaze before turning my attention to the table. “The quirt tonight. That will be the perfect choice.”

  “I...” She whimpered again, clenching her fists and pressing her face against the cold metal.

  The quirt had a good weight and I fingered the leather handle, taking a deep whiff of the rich smell. I knew everything she longed for. She was a prize, one I’d worked for so long to achieve. I positioned myself, shifting my aching cock. My needs would have to wait.

  The first crack was like sweet music, floating toward the rafters. Noire hissed, her body jerking but as usual, there were no tears. She never cried. She never begged. She simply accepted.

  My little pain whore.

  I was alive with energy, blood pulsing through my veins in a rapid fashion. This couldn’t be any more perfect. I snapped my wrist, the thin strap connecting in the perfect location on her rounded bottom. My skin sizzled as I struck her again. And again. Her entire body jerked and she tossed her head back. I held my breath and gave her four more in rapid succession then moved closer to caress the red marks already popping up on her ass. “You’re beautiful wearing my marks. I can’t wait to punish your breasts.”

  She moaned again, her voluptuous mouth pursed in the most incredible f
ashion. I wanted nothing more than to crush my mouth on hers as I rammed my cock into her tight asshole.

  Taking a giant stride backwards, I lifted my arm, prepared to strike her again.

  “That’s enough!”

  The voice came from behind me, enraged and shaking.

  “I’m not finished.” I glared over my shoulder. The person stood in the shadows and I was angrier than ever. How dare they stop me.

  “You are to follow orders, nothing more. Time for this to end. You did well with the test. Now, finish or I’ll be forced to.”

  My grip on the quirt was tight, my fingers aching. “What do you want me to do?”

  The slight hesitation was followed by a guttural laugh. “Kill her.”

  * * *

  The slight hissing as the howling wind flexed the windows was unnerving, a reminder another world existed outside these walls. I was exhausted, muscles aching. The events of the night before were muddled, more like a blur of sensations.

  “What happened to you last night?” Noire’s soft voice tingled in my ears.

  “I couldn’t sleep.” Memories of the violent dream would forever haunt me.

  “I know better. You suddenly disappeared and that worries me. You’re far too quiet. Can’t you talk to me? Did something happen that I should know about?”

  “No. I’m fine.” I was anything but. Whatever was breaking down in my system had Noire as a target. I refused to allow that to happen.

  She inched closer. “What’s happening to you? Do you need recharging?”

  “Nothing that I can’t handle and yes, I will need to recharge within a few days. Not now.”

  Sighing, she remained quiet.

  “You wanted to know why I brought you here.” I moved closer to the window. The type of glass was ancient, the kind where the seals could become broken easily, allowing moisture to slide between the triple panes of glass. There was no way to see anything outside, but I couldn’t take my eyes off the limited shadows dancing lightly in the wind. Two nights had passed without interference, making way to a cold and bleak morning, the sky overcast and foreboding. That much I could make out through a series of fissures.