Too soon, the car stopped in front of her building. She stared up at the facade, experiencing a moment of disorientation. From outside, the neat row of townhouses looked as if it could belong in the nineteenth century. But inside, she knew that little remained of the original architecture. The interiors had been redone to modern standards.
Was that what she was? What Dariux and most people nowadays were? Just like the buildings, on the outside, they resembled the people from centuries past, but inside they had been remodeled into something new. Something that, unlike the buildings, perhaps was not better.
She couldn’t do it. Couldn’t go inside and face her old life, her fake relationship with a robot. Her lack of human contact. She desperately needed a hug. A human hug.
And she knew only one place where she was sure to find it. Her mind made up, she gave the car the new address and settled for another trip.
CHAPTER 34
“You seem preoccupied, Dariux. Is there something I can do for you?”
“Huh?” He looked up from his meal, his attention snapping back to Elena, who sat forward in the chair and placed a hand over his.
“I said you look preoccupied and asked if there is something I could do for you. Perhaps a massage? Or...something more?”
Her eyes sparked with invitation. She was as stunning as ever. The perfect woman. Except she was not a woman at all. She was not even human. He looked at her with not one twinge of enthusiasm.
“No, thank you. I’m tired. I think I’m going to bed after dinner.”
“So early? Are you sure you are all right?”
She made to stand up to feel his forehead, but he forestalled her with a raised hand.
“I’m fine, Elena. I just need a good night’s sleep. This mission was more taxing than I had imagined.”
She just looked at him with uncanny eyes, making him squirm under her analytical regard. Damn, but he was being studied as if he were an insect. And by a machine, no less. Could she read his thoughts? This was not the first time she’d done this. It was how she learned about him, his moods, his preferences. He’d never noticed before, never really cared. He saw in her what he wanted to see. Now, every peculiarity became magnified, making them unavoidable.
Leaving his dinner half uneaten, he pushed away from the table, breaking the uncomfortable analysis.
“You are different.”
He didn’t bother responding. What was the use? He just turned and marched toward his bedroom, locking the door behind him. Hoping she had discerned enough to know he didn’t want to be disturbed.
The bed stood, huge and cold, in the middle of the room. With one word, he ordered all the blinds lowered. His home was in a high riser, and the view of the city was stunning, but right now, he didn't give a fuck about the view. He had just enough time to discard his clothing, pull on his pajamas, and throw himself on the bed before the exhaustion of several days caught up with him and made him descend into oblivion.
He opened his eyes before the barest hint of sunrise could break through the oppressive darkness. What was the time? Why had he woken? Soft hands ran the length of his body under the sheets. Caressing his chest, pulling down his pajamas. Ah, that’s what had woken him. Not a bad way to start the day. He reached for her, needing to feel her body against his. But the next moment, hot wetness descended on his turgid flesh. He forgot how to breathe as scalding pleasure rolled through his body, from the epicenter of his cock. He never wanted the exquisite rapture to end. She expertly sucked him, fondling his balls while stroking his member in just the way he liked it.
