Much more than machine
“You’re tons more sophisticated than the base models that are sold. You think for yourself, as any human would.” What was CyberServe thinking in setting Victor up for such disappointment? He was so advanced, a would-be buyer would see owning him as akin to slavery.
He began to relent to Amadis' kinder response. His expression relaxed into a friendlier cast. “I too have considered I may have advanced beyond what can be useful as a demo model.”
“It hardly seems fair to clients or you to remain in that capacity.”
“It’s been remarked on. CyberServe made a ‘take this guy home with you now for a low, low price’ attempt when I asked if I could hope for more than being their salesman.”
Sympathy filled Amadis. “The right person hasn’t come along, huh?”
“Even at a discount.” A wry smile pulled the corner of his mouth. “Clients like me as a friendly example of what they can hope for, but in the end, they want what they can program themselves. With an already highly developed personality, I’m hard to sell. I’ve become concerned I’ll never leave CyberServe.”
“Hey, what I said earlier…that wasn’t personal, okay? Sorry if I came off as defensive or unapproachable. Did I?”
“Let’s just say the line in the sand you drew was seen. I apologize if I was too forward. It won’t happen again, Mr. Dubois.”
His obvious unhappiness bothered her. She laid a hand on his arm. “You know that old saying, ‘it’s not you, it’s me’?”
“Which would mean it is me.”
“Not at all. I promise, my uncrossable line has nothing to do with you, Victor.” She smiled as earnestly as she could. The fact he’d backed off as soon as she’d told him to gave her room to be magnanimous. She honestly did feel for the poor guy.
He gazed at her for a couple of beats, as if weighing the truth of her words. “You’re that committed to your work, huh?”
“I’ve played second fiddle to powerful people my whole career. I’m overdue to show I can be a leader too. It’s important to me to do so.”
“You can’t just focus on work though.” His tone was too gentle for Amadis to feel he lectured her. “You have to have other interests to decompress. I can quote any number of studies that prove that a balanced life includes career, family, and fun.”
“Mr. Cameron told you to provide the fun.” He couldn’t be allowed to believe she was fooled.
“If you were so inclined.” Awareness brought a light to his gaze. “You’re threatened by me. Or, more accurately, what you believe I represent to your campaign for success.”
She scowled. He thought she found him a potential distraction she couldn’t resist? Yeah, he was handsome as hell, and built for sin to boot, but… “Just because you were created to seduce doesn’t make me susceptible to your charms, mister.” Lie. “Or that I find you the least bit threatening to my plans.”
No lie there. Amadis had focus and drive. She was far too good at denying herself, which was part of the problem.
“If you say so, Mr. Dubois.” Victor didn’t smirk, but she heard it in his voice.
On sale August 5, 2022
Pre-order now available, print on sale now:Amazon, Amazon UK, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords, and print.
Threatened and pursued, they have no business falling in love. So that’s exactly what they do.
Victor was a cyborg spy during the corporate wars that devastated Earth. Now he’s a refitted demo model for CyberServe, spotlighting the services a repurposed cyborg can offer…in life and love. Suave, cultured, and fully realized as a sentient being, Victor has it all, except the love he wants for himself.
Amadis Dubois has played second fiddle to the powerful her
entire life. Now she has the chance to prove to everyone and herself she has
what it takes to lead. She accepts a humanitarian mission to bring desperately
needed medical supplies to a disease-stricken space station. If she can pull
off rescuing thousands of lives, she can finally move out of others’ shadows.
Fending off the attentions of a lovelorn cyborg becomes a
secondary concern when the captain of Amadis’ ship dies suddenly, leaving her
the only human on board. With her career-setting mission endangered, pirates
and rebels threatening at every turn, she has to turn to Victor for assistance
after trying to keep him at a distance. Between moments of fighting for her
life, she’s vulnerable to the numerous charms of the cyborg she has no business
falling for.
Life and love hang in the balance for Amadis and Victor, with trouble at every turn. They can have it all, if they survive.
Available at Amazon, Amazon UK, Barnes & Noble, and Smashwords. Print is also available.
She’s marked for death. He’s her only hope. But can a de-commissioned cyborg once programmed to kill humans be trusted with her life…or her heart?
They
called him the Wall, part of a cyborg army that terrorized humans
during a long war waged by those intent on wielding power. When Tosha
Cameron, owner of a multi-billion corporation, first sees the
deactivated cyborg, he’s a tattered remnant of a horrific past.
Most
would prefer to see cyborgs destroyed, but those with vision see a
valuable resource. When Tosha’s business rivals target her for
assassination, the Wall—whom she renames Brick—is her best bet for
protection.
Reprogrammed,
Brick proves he’s more than a mere machine. Programmed to guard Tosha,
he can supply her every need. He soon develops beyond his learning
matrix and software, becoming capable of humanity…and more.
Dark secrets from a bloody past are waiting deep in his circuitry, however; secrets that could kill the woman he loves and has sworn to protect.
Also on sale, the second book of the CyberServed series, Mine to Keep
On sale now from Amazon, Amazon UK, Smashwords, Barnes and Noble and in print.
He was the most hated cyborg on Earth, and love is far from
his original design. But when old enemies hunt the woman he’s sworn to protect,
he discovers a passion for vengeance…and her.
CyberServe’s president Lillian Kwolek enjoys Alek on her terms: no love, no strings attached. It’s easy to keep him at a distance and guard her heart from hurt until an extremist group determined to right old wrongs targets her. Alek is loaded with a security program to keep Lillian safe, and it opens the cyborg to learning emotions.
Alek doesn’t like these feelings, which include a confusing mix of devotion to and wariness of Lillian. She doesn’t like his developing emotions either. The new Alek, who fulfills desires and her need for safety from increasing threats, is too intoxicating a temptation for a woman who can’t trust men, whether they’re flesh or machine.
They can’t resist each other, but past hurts threaten to destroy what they could have…and open the door to killers bent on annihilating cyborgs and Lillian.
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