Free Melting Iron by Laurann Dohner

mind was going a mile a minute, trying to take it all in. One word hit her like a brick. “Breed? As in have kids?” She pressed back against the door.
    That frown again. “What other definition of breeding do you know, to even ask that question? Of course I am discussing reproduction.”
    “I’m thirty-six!”
    He shrugged. “Your point being?”
    “I don’t want kids. My five sisters all had a bunch of them when they were young and I didn’t for a damn reason. I have seventeen nieces and nephews so if I want to play mommy I just babysit some of them for my siblings when I’m on Earth and I’m cured instantly of feeling my biological clock ticking. No damn way will I agree to have kids. ” Her gaze flew up and down his big body. “And I sure as hell wouldn’t have them with you.”
    All expression left his face. He was motionless but then she noticed his hands fisted at his side. “You don’t think I’m a fit breeding partner because I’m a cyborg ?” He growled deep in the back of his throat. “You just stripped me and asked me to touch you yet you think I am not worthy of implanting your eggs?”
    “Implanting my eggs?” She gaped at him. “This has nothing to do with you being gray, damn it. Look in a damn mirror. You’re the size of a hover cycle and if we’re talking giving birth, think about it. What were you at birth? Twenty damn pounds?”
    He frowned. “I wasn’t birthed. I was grown in a lab.”
    Dawn’s heart was pounding. “So you plan on taking my eggs and having children grown like you were in some lab after you knock up my eggs? I refuse! If I have kids, not that I will, but if I did I’d have them the old-fashioned way.”
    Iron moved, crowding her space as he went chest to face with her. She stared up at him as he put his hands flat on the door on both sides of her, pinning her where she stood. He looked furious as he glared down into her eyes.
    “I didn’t ask you what you wanted. If I decide to breed with you then we will breed the old-fashioned way, as you put it. I’ll activate my sperm and have Doc examine you to fix any problems he finds with you that may hinder my implanting your eggs.”
    She had to swallow hard as a lump formed in her throat. “I didn’t agree to that. I said I’d be your slave, not a baby maker.”
    Iron’s face lowered until they were almost nose-to-nose. “You’re property, Dawn. The sooner you realize that your life is no longer your own, the sooner you can learn your place.”
    Fear and anger flooded her. She went with anger and instantly tried to shove him back. She caught him unaware, actually made him stumble a few feet, and she kicked out at him. Her bare foot hit his hip, knocking him back more. Dawn glared at him.
    “I always have a damn say, Iron. You learn that .”
    He rubbed his hip, returning her glare. “Do you want me to put you over my knee and spank you to teach you that I am in control?”
    “Try it, asshole. I haven’t been spanked since I was ten years old and hid my dad’s favorite fusion wrench for two damn weeks to get even with him.”
    Iron lunged forward. Dawn ducked but she knew he had missed her within inches. She ran and leapt on his bed, turning so her back hit the corner. She glared at the big bastard where he hesitated at the corner of the bed. He looked irritated.
    “I can reach you easily there.”
    “Try it, Iron. I dare you.”
    He grabbed for her. Dawn pushed off and propelled her body at him to jump on him. She hit his chest and screamed as he grunted. He stumbled back, obviously not expecting her to attack him. It happened fast but Dawn knew it was going to hurt the second she realized he’d been off balance and her momentum hit him too hard. He went backward, falling and she went with him.
    He jerked her before they hit the floor, yanking her lower on his body so he took the brunt of the impact with Dawn landing on top of him. She heard a cracking sound and scrambled to get off him before he