Cyborg Nation by Kaitlyn O'Connor (english readers TXT) 📗

in a kiss that made her feel hot, wet, and tingly all over. She smiled up at him dizzily when he released her and finally turned to Gideon.

His expression was taut, and uncertainty quivered through her. “Are you still angry with me?” she asked hesitantly.

He shook his head, pulling her close abruptly and holding her so tightly against him she could hardly catch her breath. “I was never angry, Bronte,” he murmured against her hair, “only afraid that I would lose you.”

She drew away from him finally and looked up at them. “I missed you so much!”

Gideon studied her solemnly. “It is true that you are carrying our baby?”

She smiled at him wryly. “I’d planned to make the announcement a little more intimate than that,” she said irritably. “But, yes! I am—I’m carrying all of your babies! I’m so proud I feel like I did it all by myself!”

Gideon frowned. “All? You have one of each in your belly?”

She chuckled. “Yes—not something I could do. I think your nanos decided to protect their ‘own’. It’s the only thing that makes any sense, because I did have a paternity test run so I could tell you positively who had fathered the babies when I found out I was carrying three and that’s what came up—each one of them carries the DNA for each of you!”

The three grinned at each other uneasily, then Gideon frowned. “This is many at once,” he said slowly. “This is not as it should be, is it?”

“It’s not common,” Bronte said. “But it happens—never like this, of course, but I can handle it.”

Gideon looked unconvinced. “You are certain this will not … harm you?”

“I’m not questioning my adoptive nanos anymore. I’m stronger and healthier than I ever was before. I’m carrying three babies, each by a different father, and they’re strong and healthy in spite of the fact that I was nearly killed. And they are part cyborg, not just carrying your human DNA. They will take care of everything. All we have to do is wait and while we’re doing that, I’ll make sure you three learn how to take care of them because there is no way I can handle the care and feeding of three at one time!”

The three men exchanged a horrified look at that, but they didn’t argue.

“We should go at once to arrange the contracts and this time make certain that they are properly registered so there can be no question!” Gideon announced. He studied her face for a moment. “You will do this?”

She gave him a look.

“Will you do this?” he asked.

She smiled. “Yes!” She turned to look at Gabriel questioningly.

“Will you contract with me?” Jerico asked as Gabriel opened his mouth.

Gabriel glared at him.

“Yes!” Bronte responded. Chuckling at the look on Gabriel’s face, she captured his cheeks between her palms and went up on her tiptoes to kiss his lips. “Absolutely, yes, Gabriel!” He grinned at her, folding his arms around her when she would’ve escaped and kissing her thoroughly. His expression was somber when he finally lifted his head. He swallowed audibly. “I love you, Bronte. I have missed you more than you can imagine.”

Bronte felt her color fluctuate. Warmth filled her. “I love you, too!”

She glanced uncomfortably at Gideon and Jerico when she finally pulled away from Gabriel. They were glaring at Gabriel indignantly and she couldn’t help but chuckle.

“We should go now and sign the contracts,” Gideon growled, sending Gabriel one last resentful glare.

“Yes! Right now!” Bronte agreed, and then abruptly remembered Caleb. He was standing where she’d left him, watching the four of them. She hesitated and then moved toward him. “Thank you for taking such good care of me!” she said when she reached him.

Glancing up at her companions, she tried to urge them to thank him, as well, but saw they’d bristled and were glaring at him.

“Anyway!” she said brightly. “I appreciate everything! We should go!” she told her companions. “I’m going!”

Chapter Twenty Four

As delighted as Bronte was that she had a home where they could live until they could make other arrangements, she knew even before they’d gotten there that it was going to be seriously crowded. She just hadn’t fully appreciated the size of her men!

When they’d all crowded into the living area, Gideon, Jerico, and Gabriel stood looking around with varying degrees of doubt and displeasure. Bronte felt a mixture of eager anticipation and nervousness as it descended upon her abruptly that they were well and truly bound … and alone.

“I should show you everything!” she announced brightly. “There are only two bedrooms and two baths, but I think we can make do until we find something bigger,” she chattered uneasily as they crowded behind her in the tiny hallway that connected the two rooms.

“We should prepare a feast to celebrate,” Gideon said pensively as they all stood in the hall and glanced into the rooms.

Instantly diverted by their stomachs, Jerico and Gabriel brightened and headed into the food preparation area. “I am sick of prison food! That is certain!” Jerico said, leading the way.

Before she could follow them, Gideon hooked an arm around her waist, dragged her into the room she’d been using and closed the door firmly behind them. “That was....”

“… Clever of me,” Gideon finished for Bronte as he settled on the bed with her and nuzzled his face against her neck, dragging in a deep breath of her scent and expelling it with gusty enthusiasm. “Can I help it if they are so easily diverted?”

Bronte looked up at his smiling face as he lifted his head to study her. Her throat closed with sudden emotion as she lifted a hand to stroke his face. “I was so afraid I’d ruined everything and I’d never get the chance to tell you how much I love you.”

His expression tautened. Doubt and relief warred in his deep blue eyes. He frowned uncertainly as he stroked her cheek in return. “You did not say that only to convince them