Chapter 8
James
“So, is there anything I should know about manupartners before we step out in public?” he asks, following her into his newly assigned bedroom.
She ignores his question, waving a hand at the attire he hasn’t removed since he put it on. “Take that off. I need to refresh it so you can be seen in public.”
Reluctantly, James swaps his clothing for a towel.
Kate uses a handheld gun-shaped device labeled Fabric Renew to run several passes along the garments.
Perfectly smooth and crisp fabric is left in the wake of the blue light the device projects.
By the time he puts the clothes back on, they look and smell as fresh as if she freshly laundered them.
Then, she sits him on the bed and goes about applying a series of creams to his face, running them over each fine line.
“This we’ll have to explain.” She taps the slight imperfection at the bridge of his nose.
“And here.” She taps the creases at the corners of his eyes.
“I think it’s best if we tell people I made a special request to make you as authentic to the time you came from as possible.
Most people who know me will believe it since it’s well-known that I’m one of the last to give in and purchase a manupartner. ”
“Care to explain?” Suddenly, he’s immensely curious, this new piece of information making her seem like more than a pathetic, lonely woman. In fact, the more this she speaks, the more intrigued he becomes. She is clearly intelligent, if a little odd.
“Not today. I’m sure you can imagine this isn’t how I planned for this to happen.
Actually, until now, what’s happened with you is unheard of.
But we’re going to make the best of it. Remember our plan for happy times?
” A ping sounds from the clear rectangular box in her hand, which is like a futuristic smartphone from his time, though not as advanced as he might have expected. She lifts it and reads the screen.
He steps beside her, watching as a sentence—her response—appears on the screen. The device pings again. “Jett is already at the food court. He’s almost as eager as my other friend Lessa’s last manupartner, Yansy.”
James follows his new roommate to the door. Her other friends have sex clones too? Perhaps they’re more common than he guessed. She pauses before they exit.
“To answer your question from earlier, there are a few things you need to know. You can’t argue with me in public, and you need to act as if you wish to please me.
Based on what I’ve observed of your personality, that might be difficult for you, but if we’re to keep your true nature a secret, then everyone will expect you to act like any other manupartner.
Smile, and try to act pleasant, as if you’re happy to be here.
Think you can do that, James?” She gives him a coy smirk.
Is she flirting with him? Even if she’s not, she’s adjusting to their new circumstances faster than he is. She is from this time though, so it’s no knock to his capacity. At least she’s come up with a positive perspective about their calamity. He might as well do the same.
“It will be a struggle, but I’ll do my best.” He returns her playfulness with a smirk of his own.
As they step into the elevator, he can’t help but notice the grin she can’t seem to repress. “You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”
She shakes her head as if she can’t believe her luck. “I think I am.”
“Kater, Sexy Alligator!” her friend Jett exclaims, rising to greet them, pressing a kiss to the corners of Kate’s mouth before turning to assess James.
The pale-haired man circles him, poking and prodding, expressing delight in his rugged, masculine look.
By the time he finishes, James feels ready to be thrown on the grill.
Typically, he doesn’t mind appreciation from any of the sexes.
Knowing his intended purpose as a manupartner, however, sours this appreciation.
They sit at the table Jett has reserved. The man leans forward, lowering his voice as if James isn’t there. “Have you had him yet?”
James can’t hide his authentic reaction, which is to chuff, then stare aghast between them. Did this friend of hers, Jett, just ask if she had relations yet with her mail-order sex clone? He’s been alive for less than twenty-four hours. And that’s personal. Surely Kate will rebuff the man.
She ignores his reaction entirely. “We’re still in the foreplay phase of my plan.” A wicked grin lights up her face. Her acting skills surprise him.
Jett lets out a robust laugh. “Leave it to Scientist Kate to chart her sex life.”
Abruptly, Jett turns to him. “I assume you’ve already reviewed and memorized the plan? Care to spill any details? It would make Kate very happy!”
That Jett speaks to him as if he is real confuses him.
He needs to make Kate give him more details about the particulars of manupartner social interaction before they go out again.
This whole encounter is beyond strange, but Jett seems harmless, so he isn’t all that concerned.
This plan his new roommate obviously made up on the spot is more immediate. “It’s an elaborate spreadsheet.”
“What’s a spread sheet?” Jett looks to Kate. “Is that a sex thing I’m unaware of?”
Shit. No more spreadsheets in the future. Note to self: don’t mention past technology in front of strangers.
“Get it? Spread. Sheet!” Kate fakes a laugh. “Remember how Yansy was overeager? I think this one tries too hard to be funny. Oh well,” she says, sighing.
It’s a decent cover, but he doesn’t like that she has to cover for him at all.
The less he owes her, the better. He reaches out and wraps his fingers around Kate’s.
The way she blushes as if she were indeed enjoying this suddenly gives him the urge to ruffle her feathers.
He turns to address Jett. “I’m eager for day four, when I’ll get to please her with my mouth.
Between her legs,” he adds for additional clarification, as if it weren’t obvious.
Jett spits the water he’s sipping across the table, narrowly missing Kate. It takes him a moment to finish spluttering. “Well, that’s wonderful. Isn’t it, Kate?”
For James’s part, he lovingly stares at his new roommate. Serves her right for intending to use him as a sex doll.
Kate glowers at him. Then her eyes brighten. “Yes, it’s true. After I saw what limited equipment I had to work with, I incorporated more oral sex into the program.” She pats the back of his hand. “He’s almost perfect.”
James grimaces, and Jett breaks into all-out laughter.
At his expense. Though he knows Kate intended the comment as a retort to his own, he can’t help but feel a little emasculated.
After all, she had God knows how long to get an unbridled view of him naked.
Not that he is lacking. His gaze slides to her.
She seems nice enough, but did she touch him?
Take liberties? Surely she isn’t that desperate.
Even amongst the people he’s seen so far, Kate’s beauty outshines them all.
She wouldn’t have any trouble finding a partner.
But if that is true, then what is his purpose?
Jett sighs, relaxing back in his seat. “You seem happy. You’re glad you went ahead with the activation?”
Kate clears her throat, and this time James is sure she’s faking her smile. “You’re right. It isn’t nearly as weird as I imagined.”
Jett’s eyes gleam with barely contained delight. “See, I told you—”
“But I’d still rather have a real partner,” she interjects. “One positive encounter isn’t going to convert me. You know I only activated him because GROW wouldn’t give me a refund. Ahh, here’s Decci!”
Now James is sure there’s more to the story, which he’s suddenly very interested in getting to the bottom of.
Unfortunately, there isn’t time to follow that thought.
A lithe man steps up to their table. Severe, shiny black hair hangs past his shoulders, and a matching liner circles his green eyes.
A fine film of powder makes his complexion milkier than it might have been otherwise.
For a man, James can acknowledge he’s beautiful in an austere way.
The newcomer places his ring-bedazzled hand on Jett’s shoulder, waiting to be acknowledged.
A sinking feeling causes James’s stomach to dip as he realizes what this other man is.
Jett absently grazes his fingers over the man’s hand before turning to him.
“Decci, this is Kate’s first manupartner, James. ”
James isn’t sure what he is supposed to do, so he lets his instincts take over, rising to reach out his hand.
Decci only stares at James’s outstretched palm as if it is a curiosity.
Noticing the lingering moment, Jett directs the manupartner.
“I think he wants to hold your hand, silly.” Decci puts the wrong hand in his, which James quickly releases, adding don’t shake hands to his growing list. Jett turns to him.
“Decci is my latest partner from CHOICElover.”
James bites back the words I gathered that while trying to plaster a compliant, if not serene, expression on his face. “Wow.”
Jett chuckles. “It’s been a while since I’ve had a GROW. He seems genuinely surprised. I guess their recent adaptations are really panning out.”
Kate smirks at James’s apparent failure, patting his hand. “Yes, it seems so. They’re still abominations.”
Relenting, Jett sighs. “Decci, take James and show him how to operate the CaféPress. I’ll take a flat white with sea salt foam, a pick-me-UP nourishment packet, and . . . let’s see,” Jett taps his finger to his mouth, “three rice cakes with red berry jam.”