Born of Ice

He frowned as he paused in the middle of the bridge. “Sure.”


“I understand the physical nature of sex, but why didn’t you sleep with your redhead at the station?”

A wave of irritation went through him as he realized he’d been spied on. “Vik—”

“Not my fault. Your heart rate increased, and I peeked only to make sure you were all right. I overheard that tiny bit and then immediately shut down my monitoring.”

He would be angry if monitoring his vitals wasn’t part of Vik’s duties. Besides, there was no real malice in Vik, only an innate curiosity about human relations. “It’s complicated. There’s sex, which, don’t get me wrong, is a good thing. But it’s not as good as when you have a connection to someone. That kind of sex is astronomical.”

“I don’t understand.”

Devyn smiled. “Neither do I most days. It’s just something about it is more satisfying when you’re with someone you know.” He looked up at the speaker. “It’s one of those things you have to experience to understand, Vik.”

“Then I shall never know.”

Devyn heard the wistful tone and felt bad for his friend. While curious about human behavior, Vik had always kept himself apart from it. It was almost like the mecha was afraid of the human part of himself. Not that Devyn blamed him for that.

There were times when he was just as afraid of being human.

Wishing he could help the mecha, he made his way to the galley to start breakfast.



As soon as Alix finished dressing, she went to find water and a morning bar. But the moment she walked in, she froze. Something smelled wonderful.

Because of the expense, she very seldom smelled bacon. It was a wonderful, unmistakable scent and it made her stomach rumble as she watched Devyn cooking it.

She scowled at him. “I thought you didn’t cook.”

“I don’t. It doesn’t mean I don’t know how to, I just hate it passionately.”

“Why?”

He turned over two sizzling pieces. “My Aunt Kasen. Love the woman dearly, but she can harp with the best of them and I made the mistake as a kid of asking her how to make these cereal cups she used to give me. Three minutes in, I knew I was screwed.” He raised his voice to a falsetto. “No, Devyn, that’s not right. Stop that. Stir it this way. Not that way.” He let out a disgusted breath. “Two of the worst hours of my life to make a fifteen-minute dish. After that, anytime she caught me near a kitchen she’d start in on me. So I have an automatic sphincter clench any time I reach for a pan.”

She laughed at his term. “Then why are you cooking now?”

He leaned down and kissed her senseless. “I’m suffering for you, baby.”

Am I dreaming? This couldn’t be happening to her. Irn groping her with his cold, dirty hands whenever he caught her alone. Arkley grabbing her when he needed release . . . that was normal.

A man like Devyn Kell cooking for her . . .

Impossible.

Yet as he pulled back to finish making breakfast, she knew she wasn’t dreaming. This was real and it was wonderful.

But she didn’t understand it. “Why are you being so nice to me?”

Devyn grimaced at her question. “What do you mean?”

“I don’t understand why you’re treating me this way.”

Damn, what had they done to her that she couldn’t comprehend a man making her food after he’d slept with her? He turned off the stove and pulled her into his arms. “Sweetie, this is how the people I’ve been around behave toward each other. Cooking you breakfast after the night you gave me is nothing. You wore me out and I need energy for the day ahead. Now eat up before it gets cold.” He let go of her and put the bacon on a plate before he held it out.

Alix took the plate he handed her. As she made her way to the table, Sway walked in and flashed a grin.

“Ah, man, I thought Vik was screwing with me by sending over the scent of real food.” He grabbed Devyn into a hug and playfully kissed him on the cheek. “I love you, man. You rule! Thanks for the food. It touches me deep in my tender place.”

Devyn bristled under his playful assault. “I don’t want to know nothing about your tender place, you freak.”

When Sway tried to take the plate from Devyn, Devyn snatched it back. “Get your own plate, giakon. I’m hungry.”

“You suck.” Sway stepped around him to make a plate of his own. He bit into the bacon and moaned. “I always forget how well you cook.”

“Yeah, well, you’re already married, so cut your eyes away from me.”

Sway sat down next to Alix. “You eat bacon?”

“Yes.”

He flashed Devyn a grin. “She needs more bacon.”

Devyn gave him a droll stare. “You want more bacon, make it yourself.”

“I always burn it. Alix, don’t you want more bacon?”