“Beginning?”
“Oh yes, my love.” He moved just a little, just enough to send little sparks of heat to her clit. “I think it’s time to introduce you to some of the other advantages of being a cyborg.”
“What other—oh my God.” His cock began to vibrate inside her, the sensation rocketing through her as it reached places that had never been touched before. She shattered again, quivering in helpless ecstasy as he drew another long, rolling orgasm from her.
“Do you have any other secrets,” she panted when she finally recovered enough to speak.
“Only that I’m madly, hopelessly in love with you.”
“Thank goodness that’s not a secret,” she whispered. “I love you too, John.”
He bent his head and kissed her, then proceeded to show her all of the advantages of loving a cyborg.
A long time later, John lay looking up at the stars. Serena had fallen asleep in his arms and he cradled her against him, happier than he had ever dreamed of being. It had taken a trip to Mars and becoming a cyborg, but he finally knew where he belonged. Here, with Serena. And he was going to make sure she never had reason to doubt that she was loved ever again.
Epilogue
Five years later…
Serena smiled as her office door opened and a small blonde head peeked around the corner.
“Are you busy, Mama?”
“Never too busy for you, my love. But what did you do with Daddy?”
“He’s showing Angel the fountain.” Her son made a disgusted noise as he raced over and climbed in her lap. “She’s just a baby.”
“Even babies like to watch the water. You did,” she said, tapping his nose and smiling as she remembered that first year after he was born.
With the cyborgs in control and Earth Government on the warpath against GenCon, the company had been on the brink of being forced to withdraw from Mars. After discussing it with John, she had agreed to negotiate on their behalf. The settlers could still benefit from the company’s vast array of technological resources, and with Louisa gone, she had been convinced that she could arrange for a mutually beneficial—and profitable—interaction.
And five years later, here she was, still Managing Director of GenCon Martian Operations. But the title was of small importance compared to the warm weight of her son in her lap. Thank you, Addie, she thought, as she did every time she held her son. Addie had managed to utilize the data from the secret lab and find a way to heal her. She had been pregnant within a month after the procedure—although John’s enthusiastic participation had undoubtedly helped.
As if the thought of him had conjured him up, John’s big body appeared in the doorway, their daughter cradled against his chest. Even after all this time, the sight of him still made her heart skip a beat.
“This is a nice surprise. I wasn’t expecting you.”
“Have you heard the news yet?”
“What news?”
He grinned. “Mars is now officially an independent planet.”
“Really? It certainly took Earth Government long enough to accept the fact.”
“Sometimes it takes a while to recognize the truth,” he said innocently.
“And sometimes it’s worth waiting for.”
“Yes, it is.”
“Daddy says there are gonna be fireworks,” Ren volunteered. “And we can stay up and see them.”
“Oh, he did, did he?”
“I did. Wyatt and Cherry are having a celebration at their place and I figured you’d want to go.”
“I suppose we should,” she said slowly. It wasn’t that she didn’t like the other couple, or most of the cyborgs and their wives, but she never felt one hundred percent comfortable with them. She was all too conscious that she represented the company that had been their enemy for a long time. That she had been their enemy. But it didn’t matter—her family was all she really needed.
John’s dark eyes were as warm and understanding as ever. “We don’t have to, love.”
“No, it’s fine. And I certainly don’t want to deprive Ren of his fireworks.” She laughed and ruffled her son’s hair.
Later that evening, Serena sat quietly on a swing to one side of Wyatt’s big barn, cradling her sleeping daughter. Ren was still wound up, dashing amongst the other families while John kept a watchful eye on him.
“May I join you?” The Judge’s deep voice interrupted her thoughts.
“Of course.”
He sat down next to her, and they rocked in silence.
“It looks like Kami is giving riding lessons again,” she murmured as she watched the girl put Daisy’s son on Blackie’s back. Kami was the oldest child on Mars, and she ruled over the increasing number of other children like a queen.
The Judge laughed. “She says the horses enjoy it.”
“I think she’s right. Winston loves carrying Ren and Angel.”
They resumed the silent rocking. It wasn’t an uncomfortable quiet, but she wondered why he had come to join her.
“I knew this day would come but it still feels strange to know that Mars is now independent,” he said finally.
“I know what you mean. But it’s a good kind of strange.”
“It is. And I want to say thank you,” he said quietly.
“Thank me? For what?”
“You made it possible, Serena. You kept quiet about Kami and Brian. You helped us stop the hybrids. You were even the one who suggested we use GenCon’s activities to help convince Earth to set us free.”
Heat rushed to her cheeks. “I had my own reasons.”
“I know. But it doesn’t change the outcome. So again, thank you.” He studied her face. “I’m not the only one who feels this way. You are welcome amongst us.”
She had the oddest urge to cry, but no one except John had ever seen tears in her eyes.
“There you are, love. Ren wants you to come and watch him ride,” John said, walking over to them. His eyes traveled from her face to the Judge’s but he didn’t comment. Instead he grinned at the Judge. “And Kami wants to demonstrate that she can ride backwards.”
The Judge returned his smile as he rose to his feet. “I suspect I had
