Chapter 11
“The observatory of the Empire State Building, in fact. How’d you guess?” he asks.
Her eyes sparkle as she scans her surroundings, and the grin on her face is so wide it seems permanent. “I saw this in a movie once.”
There’s something strangely heady about being the one to give her pleasure.
He does his best to appear neutral. But this has to be the best outing—not date—he’s planned thus far.
That morning, he rewatched the clip from DumBot titled Asleep in Seattle and confirmed the visit to the simulated historical venue wasn’t a date.
The characters had clearly just met, as they spent a small eternity staring at each other before introducing themselves.
There had even been a child in the scene.
Therefore, there’s no chance of her misinterpreting anything.
She shrugs, pulling the blanket tighter around herself, shielding him from the thin fabric of her dress—Zephyr, that dress.
The slinky gold material has been calling to him all night.
The blanket is a true blessing from the non-deities.
Yet, if she’s still cold, he could ask the system to raise the temperature, or if she were a manupartner, he might draw her into his chest and .
. . He’s reaching for her before he can think better of it.
She is not for you. His fingers stop inches from her shoulder.
He lets his hand fall away. Although his strategy involves imagining she’s a manupartner, she is not.
Embracing her for warmth or otherwise would be counterproductive.
There’s a fine line between acting like she’s a manupartner, who he’d normally have a certain physical proximity with, and the reality that she’s a real woman. Perhaps Tommy’s idea isn’t so sound.
Thankfully, she’s too consumed with staring out at the skyline to notice. “I always heard New York City was magical. I never got to go.”
“My brother would have liked this too.” He isn’t sure why he says it. Only, being around her makes him think of Jerme more than he has in recent memory.
She turns, raising a brow. “Would have?”
His jaw tenses. If he keeps getting caught up in the moment, he’s going to slip up, and she’ll find out about his experiment.
She already hates the idea of manupartners, so it stands to reason she won’t understand about bringing Jerme back.
Then she’ll really think he’s a monster.
Not that he cares what she thinks. “Well, New York City isn’t really accessible anymore. ”
“Right.” She nods, offering him an easy smile.
“You remind me of Jerme,” he says. “That’s his name.”
“I’m looking forward to meeting him. Does he live here in MSP?”
“He hasn’t for a while,” he answers, intentionally ambiguous. She’ll eventually learn the truth, but it will be easier to explain with Jerme here to help smooth things over.
“Oh. I guess that means you don’t get to see him often. That’s too bad. I always wanted a sibling.” She stares wistfully at the skyline.
He pauses, waiting for a painful wave of nostalgia to wash over him, but it never comes. “I think he’ll like you.”
She turns her smile on him. “You said that before. What will he like about me?”
He steps closer. “You’re very beautiful, for one.”
Her freckled cheeks tinge pink. “He’s your brother. That doesn’t count.”
“Well, let’s see.” He reaches up, brushing his fingertips over her cheek. “I think he would like these.”
She chuckles. “I gather that freckles have been selected out of the gene pool.”
“They have, but they set you apart,” he says. “Jerme liked unique things.”
“Maybe I’ll be the one to bring them back.”
He lets his hand fall away. “If anyone could do it, it would be you.”
“Well, I plan to shake things up.”
He huffs, pointedly ignoring their earlier conversation about her starting a column. Now isn’t the time to discuss it, and he doesn’t want to ruin the moment. “You’ll definitely do that.”
She steps closer, and he can’t bring himself to push her away. His nerves are firing with fear or anticipation. Maybe both? Just pretend she’s a manupartner and it will be fine.
“What else do you think he’d like about me?” There’s mischief in her dark stare as it meets his.
“You’re quick-witted and playful. He was like that. Irritatingly stubborn, too.”
Her brows knit so quickly, he wonders if he imagined it. “Too bad you don’t appreciate my stubbornness. Your loss,” she teases.
She moves to turn away, but he grasps her arm to keep her facing him. “Don’t say that.” Bad idea, Res6. Let her go. His hand doesn’t budge.
“So you like me, then?” Her easygoing grin is enough to draw him a step closer.
I like everything about you. Oh Zorg. That’s true, isn’t it? He likes her. Fuck. This is bad. “Could be worse. You could have invented manupartners,” he deflects, hoping his self-deprecation will . . . what? Make her think he’s less of a monster so she’ll like him back?
Right as she releases a tinkling laugh, fireworks burst overhead.
She jumps, which puts them standing mere inches apart.
They glance skyward in unison. Blue, white, green, and pink explosions fill the simulated sky.
There’s a red flash, and a crackling heart appears, eclipsing the other sprays of color.
Electra gasps, whipping her face back toward him.
The reflection of the fireworks illuminates her skin, and she’s glowing.
Her hand presses against his chest, fisting in his shirt.
He’s helpless at the tiny point of contact.
It’s burning through his shirt, heating his skin, and melting his normally rational mind.
“Res6, are you trying to date me—”
Because he can’t let her finish the question, he leans down, brushing his lips against hers.
Her breath catches, and his skin prickles at the contact—at her reaction.
At the way her lips tremble ever so slightly, as if she’s as nervous as he is.
Despite his normally logical mind, it feels like fate has genetically engineered this moment to lead to this kiss.
The touch of his lips against hers is soft.
Tentative. He savors the momentary contact, his heart thundering.
When she doesn’t respond, panic floods through him.
Did he misjudge? This is exactly why he avoids—her lips move.
Slowly at first, but then with more urgency. She’s kissing him back.
Yes. Yes. Yes!
He cups her jaw, and her mouth parts. The relief that hits him is so sharp it weakens his knees.
Maybe that’s his desire, but fuck, it’s so good.
Moving closer, he explores, tasting the purple of her lip gloss and the mint from her cocktail.
She’s so unbelievably delicious, like he knew she would be the moment she first woke and her lips moved.
He slides his free hand around her waist and draws her against him.
His cock takes notice, swelling. He definitely wants to fuck her—it’s been years, but— She’s not for you.
What are you thinking? He doesn’t care. He needs to be closer, yet he’s terrified to do more.
What if she comes to her senses and rejects him?
This kiss is dangerous enough, though he can’t seem to let her go.
The light from the fireworks display fades in the background, and she pulls away, leaving him dazed.
Her lips are swollen from the kiss, and she grips the blanket protectively.
His desire urges him to drag her back into his embrace, but she steps out of arm’s reach.
She touches her lips like she’s . . . shocked.
Oh Zephyr, what have I done? His world—briefly lighter—falls out from beneath him.
How can he tell Jerme he kissed the woman he wants to—fuck—hold—possess.
Get it together, Res6. The woman he thought would be perfect for Jerme?
This is bad. More so because she knows him and still kissed him back.
And she’s already retreating. Would she still be open to Jerme after this?
Has he ruined everything? Yes, obviously.
“Res6, are you okay?” she asks.
“I . . . I can’t believe I kissed you.”
She gives him a shaky laugh. “Me either. But you did. And I’m not even a manupartner,” she teases.
Getting involved with her is against his better judgment on too many levels.
Does how much he liked the way her lips felt under his make him a hypocrite?
Or that he planned to set her up with his brother for all of their sakes?
Or that she’s human? “If people knew I was doing this with a human woman, my reputation would be ruined.” He runs his hands through his hair, resisting the urge to pace.
Since he’s already crossed the line, what’s the harm in kissing her again?
If he’s honest, he desperately wants to.
If his plan to connect her with Jerme is already ruined . . .
She looks as dazed as he is. “Excuse me?” A pretty shade of pink warms her cheeks as she stares at him.
Maybe he’ll reconsider his stance on the inviting berry-flavored gloss on her lips and make sure she has a never-ending supply. He chuckles, stepping near and lifting her chin to kiss her again. “We’re definitely going to check your hearing.”
His lips brush hers. “Electra,” he murmurs. Her name is so right on his tongue. Maybe the lip gloss isn’t the only thing he’ll need to reconsider his stance on—
“I can hear perfectly fine,” she barks, pulling away. “What did you mean by that?” His mouth drops open, and she adds, “Not about my hearing. About your stupid reputation.”
What did he say? His reputation. Right. A sinking feeling settles in his gut.
He steps back. “I didn’t mean anything by it.
” Her glare suggests she doesn’t believe him.
“I invented manupartners. Imagine what’s at stake for me.
How do you think people’s perception of my company will shift if they knew I was kissing a real woman? ”
She takes a few steps back. “Oh my God, I should have known you would do this. I am so stupid.”
He reaches for her, but she jerks away. “Electra, please.”
She lets out a comically exaggerated groan. “You kissed me. Did you forget that I’m a real woman? That you’re you and I’m me?” She draws the blanket up to cover her eyes. “I would never even date you in real life. In fact, we aren’t dating.”
What does she mean by real life? This feels pretty real to him.
“Look, I didn’t mean it that way.” She lowers the blanket, scowling.
There has to be a plausible excuse. Something that doesn’t get him into even more trouble.
“I got lost in the moment pretending you were a manupartner.” Shit.
Why did he say that? That was before they stepped onto the observation deck. She’ll definitely misconstrue—
“You were pretending I was a manupartner?!” she explodes, marching toward the doorway.
Why does he always say the wrong thing when it comes to her?
Because she’s a human woman. She’s dangerous, and his self-preservation instincts are nonexistent.
He replays their conversation in his mind.
There has to be a way to backtrack. Hold on.
“Not that I’m trying to date you, but why wouldn’t you date me? What is wrong with me?”
She whirls, marching back toward him to jab her finger into his chest. “You think manupartners can provide human companionship, and I think that’s whacko. This society has a serious superficiality problem. Like rotten candy.”
“Rotten candy?”
“Yeah, everyone looks pretty—like perfectly manicured lawns, but people. You have access to all of this entertainment. Choices to suit every whim, but it’s all a veneer.
The entire experience is empty. Like rotten candy—it looks like it might taste good, so you have a lick, only for a foul taste to fill your mouth, but you’re supposed to smile and act like you like it.
” She flings a hand in his direction. “Then you get cavities!”
“Cavities?” he asks. She definitely needs a scan. He has no idea what she’s talking about. What are cavities? It’s clear that his lust was misplaced.
She must sense he doesn’t understand because she says, “Cavities are rotten teeth.”
“But how would society rot your teeth?”
She throws her hands in the air, letting the blanket fall to the ground. “I meant it metaphorically!”
He gestures back at her emphatically. “You are precisely why I created manupartners. Real people are a colossal hassle!” Mentally, he shifts kissing Electra Lynch into the mistakes column. He also mentally decrees, No more advice from Tommy.
Res6 takes her hand and drags her out of the simulation chamber. She’s welcome to spend the rest of her life in his Zorgdamn room for all he cares. Thankfully, for the first time since he’s known her, she doesn’t resist.