Interlocking Hearts (26 page)

Chapter Twenty Eight

Two months later

Paisley clicked off the data com. She’d need a new device soon with how often she was on it. At first, she had planned on doing a lot of the paperwork and testimonials that would be required remotely and through email.

What she hadn’t planned on was the massive influx of media interviews. Coral had done her share when she’d obtained her certificate of humanity. It was a revolutionary concept. Paisley helped her learn to perfect her style, and had done makeup for her friend on more than one occasion to make sure she looked her best before the punishing cameras. It was almost criminal how beautiful Coral was, and of course Paisley had been jealous.

Now she was even more envious as
her
latest interview was being played on every news station. They all took different clips of her words and manipulated them how they saw fit. Ralph Winters was still under the radar. He released videos here and there, but people weren’t taking him very seriously anymore. Even if people didn’t want robotic rights, they still saw how wrong injecting the mechanized humans was.

The government was scrambling to get standards put in place, but in the meantime, all Paisley could think about was the red lace peeking out from beneath her black sweater on the interview recording.

“Why didn’t you tell me my bra strap was showing through half that interview?” Paisley yelled into the bedroom.

“It made me sexually excited to know you were wearing the bra that closes in the front and it would be easier to have sex with your breasts exposed later on in the supply closet,” Jon replied. He didn’t even stop packing their bags as he said it.

“You should know better than to assume we are going to prevent you from showing us your underwear.” Ben kissed her on the forehead as he squeezed in next to her to pack up their toiletries. “Or anything that’s underneath.”

“Well, preventing me from showing the entire planet via recorded interview would be nice,” she told Jon as she moved out to double-check the drawers.

“You look fantastic naked. You shouldn’t be ashamed. The last bot we had to hold down for his extraction was much more appreciative of our efforts after you sat on his chest to help. The suppleness of your ass is an asset.” Jon zipped up the suitcase.

With daily affirmations like that, she had been smiling through all the craziness they’d been going through. Jon propped the bag up next to Ben’s. They combined their clothes in one carryon now. Ben had his own bag, because the man liked suits that didn’t roll up like Paisley’s and Jon’s clothes did.

She only carried her data com unit, laptop, tablet, e-reader and phone. The necessities.

Paisley put her hands on her hips. But she was fighting a grin as she said, “Adjust your protocol. I don’t mind having public sex…”

“The grass stains are still not out of my pants from the park last week,” Ben reminded her.

“Quit whining.” Jon smiled as he zipped up their carryon. “Making her orgasm as the baseball player hit the ball was fun.”

Paisley laughed. “Like I was saying…in a professional interview, especially a televised one, make sure my undergarments stay underneath my clothes where they belong.”

Ben waggled his brows. “What about your breasts?”

Paisley held her side as she laughed out loud until she hurt. “Oh man. I love you.”

Then she froze. So did Jon and Ben. Paisley was facing the sliding door that led out onto the balcony. She hadn’t meant to say that out loud. No one had used the L-word in this relationship. Two months was far too early to say something like that, wasn’t it?

Paisley’s eyes slowly scrolled over the room until she had no choice but to look at one of the men she had just sprung the four-letter sex-killer on.

Ben’s face wasn’t light-hearted any longer. His usual laugh-lines were melted smooth under the heat of his gaze as he asked, “Were you talking to both of us, or just me?”

Paisley’s heart pounded in her ears. The lack of breathing was starting to make the back of her throat burn, but she didn’t dare take in any of the air in the room. It was contaminated with love.

“You can’t put the lid back on Pandora’s Box, Paisley.”

“Who’s Pandora?” Jon asked. “I thought we agreed to only touch Paisley’s box. Oh…you’re referring to the artifact mentioned in Greek mythology, and using it as a comparison to the fact that Paisley can’t make us unhear the fact that she loves us. Or…you at least.” Jon didn’t let her squirm like Ben did. He walked up and picked her up.

Paisley put her arms around his neck and held on. “What are you doing, Jon?”

“You said you loved us. I love you more than I thought would be possible, and I don’t give a shit if we miss our flight.”

“We can’t miss our flight,” Ben and Paisley said at the same time.

“Then we’d better hurry,” Jon said with all seriousness. He looked at Paisley. “Do you love me too?”

Paisley knew. “Yes. I love you. I love you both.”

“Then let’s have sex.”

Paisley was about to get on board with that idea, but Ben interrupted, “Hold on.”

She clung to Jon. Her arms squeezed him a little tighter and the grip he had under her hips increased. He pinched her ass. It was one of the signals they used to let her know he was there with her. They were getting lots of little signals to use, but the ass pinch was her favorite.

Ben walked up and held Paisley’s face between his warm palms. His hands nearly encased her. He forced her to look into his eyes.

“I wanted to be the first to say it. But just like everything else, you’ve taken the control completely out of my hands. And I adore it. I love you too, Paisley Compton.”

His lips met hers and the fire between them burned brighter. She wasn’t at all opposed to missing their flight now. Of course, that was when Ben pulled back.

“But we really have to get on that flight.”

Paisley pouted. Her lip stuck out further when Jon put her down. She was about to strip right there and vow to go naked if they didn’t take care of things first, but Jon stopped her by grabbing a blanket and her hand.

“Sit on my lap on the plane, first. It’s a great way to punish Ben for making us wait.”

She guessed she could wait. A sly smile over her shoulder let Ben know he was in for all kinds of teasing.

Paisley grabbed her media backpack and the doctor’s bag they’d carried to extract over one hundred chips so far. There were a lot more to go. There was a lot more to do, but Paisley was ready for wherever the road took her, as long as these two came along for the ride.

About the Author

Roxy wrote her first story at age six on an electric typewriter. It was about a cat and a haunted house. Thankfully, her stories and technology have matured since then. Now Roxy spends her days fighting the evil day job in hopes of conquering the stories that run rampant in her head when she comes home at night.

When she discovered Erotic Romance, Roxy fell in love. She can’t wait to share all her fun and sexy stories with everyone. To connect with Roxy Mews find her babbling on Twitter at
www.twitter.com/RoxyMews
, friend her on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/RoxyMewsAuthor
, visit her Blog at
roxyrocksme.blogspot.com
, or find all these links on
www.RoxyRocksMe.com

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As Coral helps Quinn cope with his new body, the connection between them reaches the melt-down point. But unless she can convince the authorities that humanity runs deeper than flesh and bone, she’ll have her CPU wiped clean—permanently.

Warning: This book contains artificial and natural flavors, lubricant (lots and lots of lubricant), and fun with oh-so-hard drives.

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By giving in to her mating call, Amber finds out more than she ever wanted to know about herself, her family, and the rogue wolf who took so much from her so long ago. As her past comes back to bite her, she’ll have to decide what she’s willing to give up for her mate. Her home? Her pack? Her…heartbeat?

Warning:
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