Her Cyborg by Nellie C. Lind Read Free Book Online Page B

and try again. Maybe it will be easier for him then,” Jade said and went to the door. “Rain, Dare. You can let him go.”
    The cyborgs obeyed and stood up. Without another word, they all left the room and closed the door behind them.
    Silence surrounded her and Shade. She dried her eyes as he stood up. He didn't move from his spot as he watched her. She didn't move either. It felt like minutes passed by before he finally approached her. He did it slowly as if he was afraid he would scare her. Then, without a warning, Shade fell to his knees in front her and wrapped his arms around her waist. Phoebe winced with surprise.
    “What are you doing?” she asked.
    “I failed you,” he said. “I'm so sorry.”
    Phoebe was stunned. “It's ... okay.”
    She was glad he regretted his actions. Hurting someone was something she had never put inside his programming. She had never expected him to go this far even if she understood it was his way of protecting her. He just had to learn how to control this if they were ever to leave this place and thank God they had plenty of time to achieve that.
    Shade stood up. “Am I forgiven?”
    She smiled at him. “Yes, you are.”
    He relaxed. “Thank you. I will do a better job defending you the next time the doctor comes by. I will not fail you again.”

Chapter 8
     
    Shade watched Phoebe's smile disappear.
    “What?” she said.
    Hadn't she heard him the first time?  “I said I will defend you better the next time the doctor comes by. I will not let her talk to you or touch you. I will be better prepared and take down the cyborgs if they try anything.”
    Her jaw dropped open and her eyes went big. “You can't do that.”
    Confusion filled him. “Why?”
    “Because it's wrong. You can't hurt others just because they talk to me.”
    Phoebe obviously didn't understand what he was trying to do. “I am defending you.”
    She took a deep breath. “That is not defending me. That is locking me away from everything and everyone.” She placed her hand on his chest. “Remember the second phase? This is it. You must learn to control this. You must accept that others will always, one way or another, be around me.” She gave him a serious gaze. “I am yours and you have nothing to worry about. No other man will touch me the way you touch me, but I will talk with other people whether you like it or not.”
    Everything inside him protested when he heard her words. Keeping Phoebe safe was his main priority. Why didn't she understand that? “Others can hurt you.”
    He watched her as his thoughts lingered in his mind. Her logic didn't make sense. Didn't she want him to protect her? He had thought he had done the right thing when he had pushed the doctor away. The doctor hadn't seemed surprised by his reaction, though. Maybe she had known he would react like that and why wouldn't he? Jade had spoken to Phoebe. He knew words could hurt and he didn't want that to happen to Phoebe. He wanted her to be safe, and if it meant keeping her away from others, then so be it.
    Phoebe's hand moved up to his cheek. “You can't protect me from everything. Pain is a part of life, one way or another.”
    It was? That just sounded wrong. All the more reason to defend her. “It doesn't have to be. I can keep you away from it.”
    “If you do, you will keep me away from living my life too. I have to support us when we get out of here.”
    “I can support us too.”
    She smiled. “Thank you. I appreciate it.”
    Silence lingered between them for a while.
    “Don't you want me to protect you?” he asked.
    “No, I do want you to protect me, but you must learn to do it the right way.”
    Do it the right way? What other way could there be than keeping others away from her? That was the only way she would be safe. To him, it didn't sound like she wanted to be safe and that bothered him.
    “And what is the right way?” he asked.
    She smiled at him. “Be by my side. Hold my hand, love me, but don't hurt