by Jenna Ives
Marque Callex had enemies.
Another reason he rarely went out to lunch.
He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. Maybe the Beautiful Dolls invitation had arrived at exactly the right time.
#
“He’s here.”
Leith Wyatt delivered the news to Jai in her private room at the Beautiful Dolls boudoir. If Jai hadn’t been a nervous wreck before, the announcement that her target had just arrived set her already jumpy pulse racing.
Wyatt gave her an attempt at a reassuring pat on the shoulder, and then jerked his hand away. “Shit. That stuff they coated you with makes your skin feel... rubbery, almost. And you’re glowing.”
Jai looked down at her oddly luminous arm. “It’s a thin compound that’s supposed to mimic synthetic skin. Or at least mimic it enough to convince Callex that my skin isn’t real. It’s a diversionary tactic, actually. To distract him.”
“It’s weird.”
Jai couldn’t agree more. She’d spent the entire morning having every inch of her body coated and prepped and primped for this meeting with Callex. The things Carron’s staff had done to her – some of them very, very intimate things – Jai never wanted repeated after this week was up.
“Carron is out in the concierge area welcoming Callex,” Wyatt continued. “He sent me to supposedly give you a final once-over before the two of them come in here. Are you okay?”
Jai arched an eyebrow. How on earth could she possibly be okay? The fate of the world might literally rest on how good a fuck she could be. On how carefully she could build trust and cleverly wrangle information out of one of the most notoriously secretive arms dealer on the planet. She was most definitely not okay.
Wyatt saw the look on her face. “I probably should have said, are you ready?”
Jai grimaced. “As ready as I’ll ever be, I guess.”
Wyatt nodded. “Carron recommends that you sit in a chair with your eyes closed. That way, you can stay very still until he calls your name. At that point, open your eyes slowly, and follow his lead.”
Jai swallowed hard. She distinctly remembered how Ginger had opened her eyes when Titus Veraine had activated her yesterday by calling her name. Jai also wryly remembered how Ginger had blindly obeyed all of Veraine’s instructions, and Jai dearly hoped that Carron wasn’t planning on giving Marque Callex a preliminary demonstration of every sexual skill she was capable of before today’s session even began. Performing for one man was going to be difficult enough, but performing for two?
Wyatt threw an uneasy glance toward the door. “I should probably be getting back out there. Callex brought his guerilla of a bodyguard with him. Just remember, I’ll be secretly recording everything that goes on in this room. I’ll always be close by. There’s no chance Callex will hurt you. Just get the information out of him as soon as you can, and this will all be over with. His admission will be the evidence we need.”
Jai had a feeling it wouldn’t be quite as easy as that.
Wyatt gave her a last once-over. “You know, if I didn’t know you were human, I’d doubt it myself. Carron did a good job. You’re beautiful with that blonde hair, but you look…other-worldly. Besides your weird skin, your eyes are like blue starbursts. I never knew contact lenses could do that.”
“Let’s just hope I fool Callex.”
Wyatt shrugged. “Carron thinks Marque Callex will believe you’re a robot simply because we’ve told him you are one. He has no reason to doubt it. Plus, he’s never been to Beautiful Dolls before, so he has nothing to compare you to. But if you get the feeling he’s starting to suspect something, try that trick of yours where you freeze up completely. The one that drives me crazy. If that doesn’t convince him you’re a robot, nothing will. Good luck.”
Wyatt gave her hand a squeeze, then turned and left the room. Jai watched uneasily as the door swung shut. Don’t think of that closing door as sealing your fate! As she felt panic start to rise, she forced her gaze to wander around the room. The minimalist Zen-like setting – with its tranquil fountain bubbling softly in the corner, its calming blonde wood furniture, and its dim mood lighting – did nothing to settle her nerves. After all, there was a wall of sex toys hidden behind the delicate rice-paper Shoji screen just behind her.
And then there was the king-sized platform bed that dominated the room...
Breathe. Just breathe.
She took a seat in a hard-backed armchair near the bed and closed her eyes. The firm chair helped her maintain an immobile position while she tried to remember her yoga mantra. I am on the in breath; relaxed on the out breath. I am…relaxed.
By the fifth breath, it had helped a little.
Wyatt hadn’t said anything about her outfit, but the translucent scrap of silk she was wearing was designed to be yet another tactic to distract Marque Callex from investigating too closely whether she was an actual robot. She’d wrapped the thin, diaphanous rectangular piece of material around her naked body like a sarong, and tied the two ends behind her neck. One tug on the knot, and the garment would come undone, but if Callex wanted a tease, he would also be able to slip his hands easily beneath the wrapped material. Especially since it was short enough to barely reach the tops of her thighs.
Or, if voyeurism was his thing, he could just admire the view through the nearly see-through silk.
Dear God. She was a Beautiful Doll. A sex toy. Every inch of her was designed to excite and entice a man.
Don’t panic!
I am relaxed. I am…relaxed.
I… am…relaxed.
Her breath moderated, her heart slowed, and then the door to the room opened, ruining her attempt at calm.
Keeping her eyes closed, she heard footsteps cross the floor.
“This room and this Doll will be yours for the five sessions that you’re with us,” Carron was explaining to Marque Callex. “And here,” the slide of wood on wood told Jai that Carron had apparently rolled back the Shoji screen, “here you’ll find everything you might need to make the experience even more enjoyable. Handcuffs, ropes, blindfolds, whips, paddles, gag balls, nipple clamps, bondage collars, vibrators, dildos. If there’s something you fancy and it’s not here, just let me know. You’re free to fulfill any fantasy, as long as you don’t damage the Doll.”
Jai tried not to panic at the thought of the wicked sex games Marque Callex might dream up for her. Just breathe, Jai. You’ve got to do this! She heard their footsteps come near, and then stop next to her.
“This is our J-class model Beautiful Doll. Jai? Say hello to Marque Callex.”
Show time.
I can do this.
Remembering her instructions, Jai very slowly opened her eyes and looked up. “Hello, Marque Callex,” she purred, in her best imitation of Ginger’s sexy voice.
She was gratified to see Callex’s eyes go wide.
“Stand up,” Carron ordered.
Jai stood slowly.
“Now give us a nice turn, all the way around.” As Jai gave Marque Callex a chance to look at her from every angle, Carron continued. “You can call her J. She’s our newest model, fresh out of the factory. Designed to be our most lifelike Doll yet, and physically tailored as per your instructions. Blonde hair. Blue eyes. Athletic build. She’s so advanced we’ve programmed her to feign breathing, hell, we’ve even given her a pseudo-heartbeat! She responds to verbal commands and some visual cues. And, of course, she’s programmed for pleasure. Your feedback on how she performs will be appreciated. Now. Any questions before I leave you two alone?”
Jai had finished her slow pirouette, and was once again staring at Marque Callex. She’d seen shadowy surveillance pictures of him, of course – the recluse never had a picture taken voluntarily – but they hadn’t done him justice. He was actually a very attractive man. Mid-thirties. Black hair, grey eyes, and a square don’t-fuck-with-me jaw. There was a deep frown that seemed permanently etched between his brows, but aside from that, he looked to be in fine physical shape. Jai re
laxed slightly. Until this moment, she hadn’t realized that subconsciously she’d feared Marque Callex might be physically repulsive on top of everything else.
“I have no questions,” Callex said smoothly. “In fact, I find myself eager to get started.”
Carron nodded. “Very well. We’ll let you know when your hour’s up. Oh, and by the way, this room is soundproofed. Anything you do here is private. Enjoy yourself.”
With that ominous statement, the oily owner of Beautiful Dolls left Jai in the hands of Tau Cetus’ most notorious arms dealer.
Jai’s nerves rushed back in. I am relaxed. I am…relaxed. I…am…relaxed. I am – shit!
Marque Callex was staring at her intently. “Hello, J.”
Jai swallowed. Play your part, Jai! “Hello, Marque Callex.” Her voice was not quite as sultry this time, but at least she’d kept her delivery slow and deliberate. As if she were relaxed.
“Call me Marque.”
“Hello, Marque.”
He paused, still staring at her closely. “I didn’t believe Anson Carron’s boast, but he was right. You’re astonishingly lifelike.” He reached out to take her right hand in his, examining it, turning it over, palm up, then tracing the line of a vein on the inside of her wrist with his left index finger. “Amazing. Such detail.” His fingertip stroked back and forth across the delicate blue line of her vein. “If I cut you here, would you bleed, I wonder?”
Dear God. Was Wyatt listening to this? He was supposed to protect her if things got out of hand.
Jai thought fast. “If you cut me, I would…leak. Synthetic XP201b lubricant. But you’re not allowed to damage the merchandise, Marque.”
His reaction was priceless. His eyes widened as if he was surprised that she’d responded at all, and downright stunned at the cheekiness of her response. Then he actually laughed. Well, to be honest, it sounded more like a rusty bark. As if he didn’t have much opportunity to laugh. But it did momentarily ease that deep frown etched between his eyebrows.
“Right,” he acknowledged. “No damaging the Doll. Got it.”
Jai kept her expression neutral, but she was silently relieved. She’d obviously succeeded in disarming him. Relaxing him. Maybe even establishing a teasing rapport with him.
All good.
Maybe it would only take one day to get information out of him, and this unpleasant case could be over with.
He dropped her hand, and turned to strip off his suit jacket, throwing it negligently on the bed. He pulled at his tie, letting it join the jacket on the mattress. Opening the top button of his white shirt, he turned back to her.
Jai kept her eyes trained on his face, but she was peripherally aware of black chest hairs peeking out of his new neckline.
“That’s better,” he said lightly. “More comfortable. Now… let me get a closer look at you.” He ran his eyes up and down her. “That thing you’re wearing is a helluva tease. I can almost see your body through it. Almost. But not quite.”
Let’s try again for a flirty rapport. She gave him what she hoped was a saucy smile. “This garment is designed to tease you, Marque.”
One of his eyebrows arched, and he watched her closely. “Well, it’s working.” He paused again.
After a moment of prolonged silence, Jai fought the urge to bite her lip nervously. “Is there something wrong, Marque?”
He shrugged. “Not exactly. I just didn’t expect you to be a… conversationalist. Far less a witty one. It’s almost like you have a…personality. Are you programmed that way?”
Damn, should she just be standing here silently? What hadn’t she asked Carron? She had no previous experience impersonating a robot, but if she was expected to keep her mouth shut entirely, how the hell was she going to get Marque to open up and confide his secrets to her?
Too soon. It’s just too soon. He needs to like you first, and then trust you second. Baby steps, Jai.
“I’m programmed to be anything you want, Marque.”
He considered her standard-issue, very robot-like answer. “Hmm. Well, for right now at least, I want to sample the merchandise you’re teasing me with. Take a step towards me.”
She did, and then mentally braced herself. He reached out with one hand, and his fingers skimmed along the thin silk of her sarong, tracing the outline of one of her breasts, then shifting over to the other. Slowly, his fingers slid down her stomach, past her belly, and toward her groin. She knew where he was headed, but before he reached his goal between her legs, his fingers diverted to glide around her hip to her butt, squeezing one rear cheek experimentally.
His touch was…surprising. He was being tentative with her, almost gentle. Certainly not manhandling the merchandise, or eager to get right down to business, as she’d expected. It had been one year since Jai had been with a man, and Marque Callex’s slow, teasing touch was having an effect on her.
Impossible. He’s the enemy.
Right. It must be the result of the little white pill Carron’s staff had given her to guarantee she’d be wet and ready for sex. Still, Jai didn’t want Callex to know he was affecting her. Yet. Luckily, Marque was busy watching where his hand was roving.
Which gave her a chance to steal a glance at his groin. Oh, yes, this sarong thing she was wearing was definitely working. On him.
“Very impressive,” he murmured, straightening and gazing into her eyes. “I can almost feel the musculature beneath your synthetic skin. Now I want to touch you without the wrapping.”
He reached around to tug the knot at the back of her neck, divesting her of her sarong. The silk slid slowly down her body to puddle at her feet, startling her with its odd caress against her alien skin. The cool air of the room was replaced by Marque’s hot gaze as he raked her now-naked body up and down, his eyes clearly judging, assessing. She struggled not to flinch in embarrassment as he walked slowly around for a back view, then came around to face her again.
He let out a low whistle. “Amazing. Carron fulfilled my body requirements exactly. If I put a bag over your head, you’d be perfect.”
What? What the hell did that mean?
Good thing the Botox injection Saturday had frozen Jai’s forehead and prevented her attempt at a frown. Marque had specifically ordered a blue-eyed blonde, hadn’t he? What was wrong with her?
Jai barely had time to consider the odd remark before Marque reached out a hand and cupped her naked breast, slowly stroking a calloused thumb back and forth across her nipple.
Jai sucked in a quiet breath.
Such a weird feeling of skin on synthetic skin. Not unpleasant, just dulled a little. She struggled to keep all reaction off her face as her body responded to his touch, her nipple rising and tightening in response to the rough stimulation.
She had two thoughts. First, why did a reclusive businessman have such a rough hand, and two, how come it felt so good on her nipple? Despite the pill Carron’s staff had given her, this ordeal wasn’t supposed to be pleasurable, was it?
Marque Callex laughed again, staring at her nipple. “Incredible. Look at this. You’re so responsive. Almost… naturally responsive. And your breast fits perfectly into my hand.”
So. He liked her body. She could capitalize on that, at least. “I am for you, Marque. I am what you ordered.”
An enigmatic smile ghosted his lips as he eyed her groin. “What is this unique triangle…design…down here? I didn’t order that.”
“That’s the Beautiful Dolls trademark, Marque,” she informed him soberly, quoting Anson Carron. “It points the way to pleasure!”
She saw humor and desire warring on his face at her comment, but desire won. His grey eyes slowly darkened as his gaze drifted lazily across her body.
“Well then, maybe I should sample that pleasure.”
He walked to stand behind her, and Jai heard the rustle of clothes as he obviously pulled his shirt from the waistband of his pants and roughly jerked the buttons open. Jai didn’t dare turn around, but she sensed the impatient tug
as his zipper slid open, and felt the waft of air as he quickly shoved his pants down his legs. The sound of two soft thumps were probably his shoes hitting the floor. Socks undoubtedly followed.
She barely had time to mentally fortify herself before he was pressing his naked body up against hers, his hard cock outlining itself against her backside, his chin resting lightly on her shoulder. He reached around to cup one breast in each of his big hands, teasing her nipples, tugging them, squeezing, twisting until they were two tender, aching little peaks. She had to bite the inside of her cheek to keep from moaning in pleasure.
It was too early to moan yet. That was her trump card.
So, instead, she let her head fall back onto his shoulder, hopefully signaling her surrender. She was rewarded by his sharp intake of breath.
“Spread your legs.”
Obediently, she widened her stance. His fingers delved between her legs, gliding over her slick, recently-waxed skin to push deep into her sex. She was wet and hot, just as she’d expected.
“Fuck.” He ground his cock into her backside.
“I’m ready for you, Marque,” she said calmly.
His hands left her body, but instead of fucking her from behind as she’d expected, he growled low in his throat. “On the bed. On your back.”
She covered her surprise by keeping her back to him as she obediently climbed up onto the mattress on all fours, and then turned over to lie down on her back.
Dear God. He was standing at the foot of the bed, gloriously naked. His cool grey eyes blazed now with a hot passion, his muscular chest was covered with an interesting mat of fine black hair, and his cock…
Jai’s mouth went dry.
“You have an amazing body, Marque,” she said. And meant it.
He growled low in his throat again. “Spread your legs.”
This is it. He’s going to fuck you. Lie back and think of your job, Jai!
Jai swallowed, then did as he instructed. He mounted her quickly and entered her just as fast, and for the first time today she was grateful for Carron’s little pill. Her wetness and Marque’s driving determination took all the worry out of any potential problem with penetration after her year of abstinence.
