Chapter Nine
Chapter Nine
Anna couldn’t stop watching the silver android that came with her new home. Gemma had introduced her to it before leaving, giving it instructions to clean the kitchen. The Magna was super cool technology. She’d never seen anything so nice. It slightly amused her that her new friend saw the robotic woman as creepy.
Anna was excited that it did so many tasks. It cooked, cleaned, and even restocked food supplies. Gemma had it display a sample menu on a screen that covered the fridge. The android offered more options than any restaurant Anna had ever gone to. Combined. The concept of meals had never been so exciting. She and Fig would be eating well.
There were bots that cleaned the floors, dusted every surface, made the beds, and even did laundry. The bathrooms had their own sets of bots, too. Anna looked forward to being spoiled that way, but she also wondered what she’d do with all that free time.
Their new home was super luxurious to look at and in size. The hallway storage closet was bigger than the tiny cabin she’d been assigned on the pleasure cruiser that had flown her away from Earth. It had consisted of a twin bunk and overhead storage, and she had to share a bathroom with nine other solo passengers.
Magna finished wiping down the counters and faced her. “The kitchen is sanitized. What else may I do for you, Mistress Anna?”
“Please just call me Anna.”
The android blinked. “New user information updated. Thank you, Anna. Is there anything I can do for you? Would you like a drink? A snack? A fully prepared meal?”
“No, thank you.”
“Have a good evening, Anna. Call out my name if you need me.” The android spun around on her wheeled feet and rolled to a panel on the wall. It auto-opened, and the android disappeared inside. The panel closed after it.
Anna wandered around the living space. It was roomy. She finally took a seat on the comfortable couch, making sure she faced the entry door. Fig had said he wouldn’t be gone long, but it had been at least half an hour since they’d parted. She missed him already.
“I’m being ridiculous. He had things to do,” she muttered aloud.
The door across the room opened minutes later, and Fig walked in. Anna got to her feet, resisting the urge to run into his arms. “Did you get ahold of Free?”
He smiled as he quickly closed the distance between them. “Yes.” His gaze left hers as he paused a few feet away from her, looking around. “Are we alone?”
“I sent Gemma home about ten minutes ago. I told her I wanted a little time to myself.”
Fig inched closer, gently clasping her hips with his hands. Concern wiped away his happy expression. “Are you okay? What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. I’m great.”
“Are you certain? Did Gemma say or do anything that upset you?”
“No. I really like her.” Anna reached up and rested her hands on his chest. “She’s starting to believe I’m honestly happy to be a clone. It wasn’t as easy for her to come to terms with that.”
“Are you sure that she didn’t upset you? I expected Gemma to still be here while I was gone to keep you company.” His gaze searched hers. “We don’t keep secrets. You can tell me anything. I’m your husband.”
That had her smiling. “You most definitely are. I’m really great. I promise. Gemma is wonderful and kind. It’s that it was just the two of us on your shuttle, then all those people at dinner, and I wanted some quiet time to process everything. You know?”
“You felt overstimulated by being around so many people. I understand. Do you want me to give you more time alone?”
“No. I never need space from you.”
He pulled her flush against him. “How do you like home base so far? I’ll give you a tour tomorrow. Our first stop will be to visit one of the clothing manufacturing bots. You can pick out any style of clothing they have available.”
“Gemma told me about them and offered to lend me a nightgown until you take me there to pick out a wardrobe tomorrow. I told her I’d just wait until then since we sleep naked.”
His hands tightened their hold on her hips, and Fig leaned down a little, putting their faces close together. “I love sleeping skin-to-skin with you while holding you in my arms.”
“We should do that now and test out the bed. You know, to make sure it’s comfortable.” Anna winked. “Not the sleep part but the skin-to-skin.”
“I love you and your ideas.”
Anna slid her hands up his chest to grip the top of his shoulders. “Take me to bed, handsome.”
“My pleasure.” Fig lifted her right off her feet.
Anna chuckled as she wound her arms around his neck, and he carried her to their new bedroom. The lights automatically came on as they entered it. Fig was strong and made her feel dainty as he gently placed her at the end of the bed. He released her, stepped back, and started to strip.
“I’m never going to get tired of watching you,” Anna admitted, removing her own clothing.
“I’m grateful that you find me appealing.”
“It’s so much more than that. I find you mega sexy. You’re perfect, Fig. I will say that no leaf is ever going to hide that.” She pointed at his hard-on.
He grinned. “I feel the same way about you. You’re perfect and mega sexy.”
Anna slid off the bed and reached for Fig. She loved touching his warm, firm skin. Every muscle sculpted on his fit body looked like art to her. He was a masterpiece of flesh, blood, and a wonderful heart. She highly doubted that DJD Clone Corp would ever understand the true beauty they’d created in their factories. Fig was better than a human. She would know since she used to be one.
She reached up, caressing his face. “Kiss me.”
Fig leaned into Anna, wrapping one arm around her waist, his other hand cupping the side of her face. “My pleasure.”
Then his lips were on hers. All thought left Anna’s head as he deepened the kiss. He lifted her off her feet and stepped forward until they both came down on the bed. She wrapped her legs around his waist and used her fingernails to rake them over his skin. Fig groaned against her tongue.
It didn’t take long for her body to be primed and ready for Fig. She rubbed against him, seeking more. He adjusted his hips. She was so wet that he slid home easily, filling her. She loved the feel of his thick, hard cock.
He moved slowly at first, taking her even deeper. Every thrust of his hips brought her closer to climax. They fit together in a way that made it seem as if they’d been made for each other. The way he moved had him rub against her clit as he fucked her. She tore her mouth from his, moaning his name.
He nuzzled her throat until she turned her head to give him access. He lightly bit the tender skin near her ear right as one of his hands squeezed her breast. The pinch of her nipple did it. Sheer ecstasy rippled through her. Her muscles squeezed around him tighter, and she felt him come with her.
He rolled as they clung to each other, making sure he didn’t crush her with his weight. Anna ended up on top, sprawled and panting to catch her breath as they started to recover.
“You are so good at this.”
He chuckled. “So are you.”
“We should sleep in late instead of getting me some new clothes tomorrow. The idea of staying in bed with you all day sounds perfect. Can the Magna deliver us food in here?”
He tensed under her.
Anna lifted her head, peering into his eyes. “It was just a suggestion. What’s wrong?”
“I need to provide backup for Free when he meets with that shuttle. Blade is taking his vessel there, too, so the three of us can easily handle a fight if it turns out to be a trap. I won’t be gone for more than a few days. Gemma will help you use the clothing bots and keep you company. I need to leave first thing in the morning with Blade.”
She blinked a few times, letting what he’d said sink in. “No.”
“They need me.”
“Of course they do. I meant no, you’re not leaving me here. I’m going with you.”
“It’s safer for you to remain here.”
Her temper flared. “We’re married. Till death do us part, Fig. I only want life if you’re in it. That means I go with you.”
“I’m certain we won’t be outnumbered since we’ll arrive in three shuttles. Even if we are, Blade has the Morgan. It’s a top-of-the-line Varlius class shuttle with heavy defensive weapons. It’s the best model Earth makes. I’d prefer for you to stay here where I know you’ll be safe.”
Anna sat up, straddling him. They were still intimately connected. “I prefer to go with you.” She crossed her arms over her chest but then smiled. “This is our first fight.”
“You find that amusing?” He didn’t look happy at all.
“Yes.” She started to slowly roll her hips. “We are making up and fighting at the same time. Here’s something you will learn about me, handsome. I’m stubborn when my mind is made up. I’m going to ride you until you see it my way.”
He gripped her hips, and his eyes narrowed as his cock hardened more inside her. “You’re distracting me. That’s not fair.”
“Love isn’t fair. Neither is abandoning me while we’re still on our honeymoon. I’m going with you. Let me tell you about marriage vows.” She slowly moved up and down, biting back a moan because she loved having him inside her. “There’s this part about being there for each other in sickness and in health. In our case, it’s going to include sharing dangerous moments together.”
He started to thrust up under her, driving into her deep. Anna lost her train of thought as she moved faster. Fig felt too good. He released her hip with one hand and used his thumb to rub up against her clit.
“Yes!”
“I can play unfairly, too, my love. I want you safe.”
They didn’t speak again until they both came for a second time. Anna collapsed on his chest, nuzzling her face against his. Long minutes passed as they both recovered.
Anna finally spoke. “I’m going with you. I’m hoping everything will be fine, but I want to be at your side if you face danger. We live or die together, handsome.”
He held her in his arms just a little tighter. “I can’t stand the thought of losing you. I wouldn’t want to live without you.”
“Exactly. Right back at you. You go, I go. We’re joined at the hip.”
He sighed.
“For better or worse. Danger or not. We stay together.”
“We stay together. This better not be a trap. I’ve never wanted to kill humans, but I swear I will wipe them all out if they set a trap for us. No one is taking you from me, Anna.”
“I’d kill for you too. Promise you won’t sneak out and leave me. Your word.”
He gave her a squeeze. “I give you my word. I’m not happy about it, but we stay together.”
She felt relief. “I love you.”
“I obviously love you too, or I’d never agree to this. I feel like I’m already failing as a husband.”
That had her jerk her head up and meet his gaze. “You’re not. Great marriages are made of partnerships, Fig. It’s being there in the good times and the bad. The rougher the situation, the tighter we need to stick together.”
“I understand.”
“Good. I want to protect you, too. We can’t watch each other’s backs if we’re apart.”
“You win, Anna. I am not happy, but I have sworn to take you with me.”
She laid her head back down on his chest, listening to his steady heartbeat. “How early are we leaving?”
He hesitated. “We want to get there before Free does. It’s going to be close. He wasn’t thinking clearly when we gave him the news about Marisol. I’m thinking he’ll stress his engines to get to her as fast as possible.”
“He loves her.”
“Yes. Even after she broke his heart.”
“Love isn’t always painless or easy to obtain. It took me eighty-five years to find you. I’m hoping she realized what she lost and now wants to get back together with him. Then again, I’m a bit of a romantic.”
“Computer, decrease the lights to ten percent,” Fig ordered.
The overhead lights dimmed.
“We should get some sleep. Are you cold?”
Anna shook her head. “The room is perfect, and I don’t want to move. I love being right here.”
“I make a good mattress.”
She yawned. “Yes, you do. I’m tired. It’s been an eventful day. How about we nap for a few hours and then go back to your shuttle? We need to beat Free back to that shuttle.”
“Is there any way I can change your mind and have you stay here while I go?”
She caressed his skin, loving the feel of him as she started to doze off. “Not a chance in hell, handsome.”
Fig knew the moment Anna drifted to sleep. Her breathing slowed, and she stopped moving her hand. He did love it when she petted him. The promise he’d made had been sincere, but he didn’t have to like it. Anna made some good points, but he hated the idea of taking her into danger.
He couldn’t break his promise, though. She might never forgive him if he left her behind. She said marriage was a partnership, and he agreed. That meant they should do things together.
He stroked the soft skin of her back near her spine. Even dangerous things. It might just be the cost of having her in my life.Marisol wouldn’t have been able to find us if I hadn’t saved Anna from permanent death.
He forced all thought from his head, knowing that he needed to get some sleep. There would be little of it in the following days until he could safely bring his Anna back home.
“Computer,” he softly called out. “Set an alarm to wake us in four hours.”
There was a soft chime to let him know it had taken his command. He decided to leave the lights on low in case Anna woke from needing to use the bathroom. It would take her time to learn about their new home and the layout.
He just hoped they would have the long future together he couldn’t stop thinking about.