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feed myself.”
    “And you could also use your free hand to release the rest of your limbs.” She
    shook her head. “I’m not that stupid. Too softhearted, sure. Flat-out dumb, never.”
    His eyes narrowed. “Release me.”
    “Tell me your name.”
    “If I do, will you release me?”
    She shook her head. “Nope. You will take over my shuttle. It’s all I have and that’s
    no way to say ‘thank you’ to me. I did save your life. Has anyone here hit you? No.
    Those men who had you were going to sell you to fight in death matches.”
    He frowned, a look of confusion on his strong, handsome features.
    “They lock you in a big cage with another fighter or…” her gaze roamed down his
    impressive body again, “two fighters if the opponent is huge. I’m guessing they would
    have had a team of men take you on. There’s only two ways to get out once they lock
    you in one of those cages. You’re either killed or you have to be the one who does the
    killing.”
    “Truth?”
    “No. I just made it up to see that surprised look on your face.” She rolled her eyes,
    shook her head, and stared at him. “Of course it’s the truth! Why would I make up that
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    Laurann Dohner
    horrible stuff? I wish someone would shut them down but it will never happen. People
    bet on the fights and they charge people a lot of credits to watch them. It’s probably
    pretty profitable but I can’t help but feel sorry for the men fighting. I always suspected
    that not all of their fighters were there willingly and now I’m sure. The people who run
    them were going to buy you off that captain and force you to fight.”
    “I would have refused.”
    “Then you would have allowed them to beat you to death. I’m certain they don’t
    exactly ask if you want to go inside the cage. You would have been tossed in with
    people who knew the only way to survive would be to kill you.”
    His frown deepened. Jill sighed.
    “All I can think to do is to cover you with something, tug down your shorts so
    you’re not…exposed. I’ll tug them back up once you dry enough not to get them damp.
    I can do your lower half later.”
    She turned and spotted some clean rags she used for wiping down spills on the
    decks. She walked over and grabbed a few then turned to face the glaring cyborg. Her
    plan didn’t seem to amuse him and he definitely didn’t appear happy with it.
    “Got any other ideas? If you’d allow one of the androids do this we wouldn’t have
    to worry about embarrassment on either of our parts.”
    “Your cheeks are pink.” He stared at her, continuing to frown.
    She blushed more. “I’m not comfortable with this either but that oatmeal has to
    come off. It’s on your lower stomach too. I guess I could hand wash you but that’s not
    something I want to do either. You’ve already accused me of wanting to rape you. I’m
    not giving you any ammunition for more of that crap by touching you.”
    Something in his dark eyes changed, a little of the coolness leaving. “You really do
    not wish to force sex on me?”
    “Hell no!” The idea horrified her.
    “You do not enjoy sex with males?” His eyebrow arched as his expression totally
    relaxed. “I have known females who enjoy touching other females exclusively.”
    It was Jill’s turn to frown. “I’m not into women. I’m not into anyone.”
    “You have sex with droids?” His focus shifted to Arm and his expression turned to
    one of horrified shock. His gaze flew back to Jill. “Are they sex droids equipped for
    sexual relations?”
    “No!” Jill had to close her mouth—it had fallen open at that remark. She shook her
    head. “What is wrong with you? They aren’t sex anything. They don’t even have those
    parts or that kind of programming. What is it with you and your obsession over sex?”
    “You’re human and have urges. It’s basic needs.”
    “Well, I don’t have needs, as you put it. I’ve been there and done that. It wasn’t
    anything worth repeating,