Programmed To Please (The Tau Cetus Chronicles)

by Jenna Ives

  With a sigh, she took her clothes into the small bathroom attached to her room, and put them on. There had been no bra or underwear in the duffel, but that’s because she’d been wearing them along with her Tau Cetus police uniform when she’d arrived at Beautiful Dolls last week, and had changed into the silk sarong there.

  Actually, it didn’t matter about the underwear. She probably wouldn’t be able to wear a bra until her stitches healed anyway. And going commando was fine – at least for a few hours until she got home.

  Where the first thing on her to-do list would be to dye her hair back to its natural light brown color. She wanted to wash out all physical reminders of Beautiful Dolls.

  As long as she was in the bathroom, she quickly rinsed her face and brushed her hair. There, that was a little better. Amazing what being clean and in street clothes could do for a person’s psyche. She felt better, somehow. Stronger. Certainly less vulnerable than being in that flimsy hospital gown!

  Returning to her room, Jai sat down on the edge of her bed. Odd. She’d only put on her clothes, but she felt exhausted. Dr. Jonat had said she might feel weak for a few days, and he was right. Being in bed for so long had thrown her for a loop. She needed to get her strength back. She might start with a yoga class tomorrow.

  A knock on her doorframe made Jai look up, expecting the nurse Dr. Jonat had promised with the discharge forms to fill out. Instead, she could have sworn that her new heart momentarily stopped beating at the sight that met her eyes.

  Marque Callex stood in her hospital room doorway.

  And there was a woman with him.

  Time froze as Jai stared at him, her brain alternating between hope and despair. He was here! Had he come because he truly did love her? But then – who was that woman? Had Jai been replaced in Marque’s affections already?

  Fuck…shit… Did he never really care about me at all? God, this heart hurts!

  Jai’s heart was beating wildly, but luckily, she was no longer hooked up to a monitor that would give her reaction away.

  Marque’s face was guarded, cautious. “May we come in?”

  With those words, nascent Jai’s hopes sank. Marque wasn’t exactly rushing over to her with open arms, which meant that this visit was not likely to have the happy ending she desperately wanted. So. This might be the last time she’d ever see him. She blinked back the tears that had gathered in the corners of her eyes.

  Forget about Carron’s bullet, this visit might just be the thing that kills me…

  She took a deep breath for courage. “Yes. Of course. Come in.”

  Marque and the woman took two steps into the room. Clearing his throat, Marque gently took the woman’s hand in his, obviously preparing to speak. Unfortunately, that simple gesture of affection was more than Jai could take. A shooting pain pierced her chest.

  He does care for this woman! He’s replaced me already!

  Idiot. You never were a couple. He told you he never wanted to see you again.

  Jai hung her head, not wanting Marque to witness her distress.

  “Jai… I’d like to introduce you to my sister, Leora.”

  Jai’s head snapped up. She could hardly see through the film of her tears, but her ears were working perfectly. “Leora? You’re… Leora?”

  The thin, black-haired woman stared hard at Jai. Not unkindly, but definitely intensely. Then she turned to her brother. “She still loves you.”

  Jai’s gaze swung to Marque. “Of course I love you!”

  Marque’s face was still dark, guarded. “I don’t know how you can, after what I did to you. And after what…Anson Carron… did to you.”

  A kernel of hope blossomed in Jai’s new heart. “I explained this to Commander Rainey and to my partner, Wyatt. It was my choice to jump in front of that bullet.” She paused, looking at Marque. “And I’d do it again. I love you.”

  The mask of Marque’s face broke at her heartfelt words. He crossed the room and scooped Jai off her bed and into his arms so quickly she couldn’t have stopped him if she’d tried. Not that she wanted to stop him. The pleasure of his hard embrace far outweighed the pain he was causing her wound. Damn, it felt so good to be in his arms again! She closed her eyes and inhaled his familiar scent, reveling in the miracle that he could love her despite what she had done to him by betraying his trust.

  When Marque finally released her, she was gasping. Hopefully, he would think it was because of his enthusiastic display of affection, and not because of the pain in her chest.

  Marque’s face still showed a touch of caution.

  “I love you too, Jai. It was idiotic of me to storm out of Beautiful Dolls, but I felt hurt, betrayed. I didn’t stop to look at the big picture; I reacted like an animal who’d been wounded. And I was wounded. You’d broken my heart.”

  Jai was painfully aware of what she’d done. “I’m so sorry for that, Marque.”

  He sighed. “When I had a moment to think clearly – objectively – I realized that you are just as dedicated to your job as I am to mine, even to the point of sleeping with someone you thought was the enemy. You were doing your job, as repulsive as playing a sexbot must have been for you. I respect your dedication.”

  She appreciated his admission. “Thank you. But it turns out my assignment wasn’t repulsive in the least.” She gave him a meaningful smile, and took a deep breath. She was scared to ask the next question, but based on his vow of love and her equal feelings for him, she needed to know the answer. “So what happens now?”

  Marque took a step back, and shoved a hand through his hair. “I’ve been…compromised. Theus believes I’m no longer effective in the job. So Marque Callex disappears. Callex Industries disbands. The High Council finds someone else to be its front man.”

  “What?” Jai looked at him in shock. She’d been asking about what happens to them now, but she knew how much Marque’s position as the head of Callex Industries meant to him, despite the dangers. Hell, Marque felt he was single-handedly keeping Tau Cetus safe from another war. This must be a terrible blow for him!

  He obviously saw her reaction written on her face. “It’s fine, actually. I’m tired of the responsibility, and I’m damned sick of putting the people I love in danger.” He gave his sister an apologetic smile, and then straightened. “The High Council has promised to relocate me. A new name. A new identity. A new life.”

  Relocation.

  A new life.

  The news felt like someone had reached into Jai’s chest and torn out her new artificial heart. Marque said he loved her, but he was leaving her. She would never see him again. “Oh.”

  Marque tilted his head to look at her uncertainly. “That’s why… I’m wondering if… well…” Marque cleared his throat, and then turned to his sister. “Leora, could you give us a minute…alone?”

  Marque’s sister gave him an encouraging look, and then threw Jai a smile and a wink. Even though they’d just met, Jai already felt that she and Leora could be friends. Despite all Leora had been through at the hands of her brother, it was obvious she still loved him. As much as Jai loved him.

  “Take your time,” Leora said. “I’ll be down the hall.” She casually strolled out of the room, pulling the door closed behind her.

  Jai swallowed, and glanced at Marque. That guarded look was back on his face, even as he ran the back of his index finger tenderly down her cheek. “God, you have the most beautiful eyes. I’m a sucker for a brown-eyed girl. Especially this brown-eyed girl.”

  She gave him a small smile. “My eyes match my hair.”

  His eyebrow arched in curiosity as he glanced at her chic blonde bob.

  “Dyed. You ordered a blue-eyed blonde Beautiful Doll, remember.”

  Marque’s other eyebrow joined the first, and he shook his head in wonder. “So you really are my perfect woman. Ideal in face and form.” His finger continued its gentle stroking down her cheek. “But how are you feeling?”

  Did he know about her heart? She bit her lip. “I’m b
eing discharged today.”

  Marque’s gaze dropped immediately to her lips, her mouth. “Hell, I want to kiss you so badly.”

  Jai wanted much more than that. Visions of all the amazing ways they’d made love raced through her head, most particularly their last time, and the thrill of having Marque seemingly tied to the headboard, blindfolded and at her sexual mercy. Damn. She could feel an ache of need settle between her legs.

  Jai sighed. “Yes. Please. Kiss me, Marque.”

  She was in his arms even before his name was out of her mouth. His kiss was hungry, desperate, branding. Marque put everything he was feeling into the kiss, and Jai did the same. She wrapped her arms around his neck, never wanting this moment to end.

  She loved this man and he loved her.

  But he was being relocated.

  When the kiss finally slowed, Marque lingered over her lips, giving the bottom one a possessive bite of his own, as if marking her as his.

  She was his, would always be his, no matter how this day might end. “Are you really okay with giving up Callex Industries?”

  Marque blinked away his dazed look of pleasure before answering her. “Actually, it was my idea. I suggested to Theus that he use Anson Carron as his new front man.”

  “What? Carron tried to kill you!”

  “Yes, but only because he wants to be me. He said so himself, right before he pulled the trigger.” Marque shrugged. “Hell, I’m happy to let him try. Maybe the job requires a tougher man than me. And he can bring Theus a unique weapon to keep the peace on Tau Cetus: robot soldiers.”

  “Robot soldiers?” Jai inhaled sharply. “That sounds a little…dicey.”

  “Don’t worry. Theus will keep a tight rein on him. And if Carron gets out of control, well… Theus has no qualms about eliminating problem people.”

  Jai swallowed, contemplating the power the head of the High Council had over them all.

  Marque slipped a finger under Jai’s chin, tilting her head up gently to look at him. “I love you, Jai. You’ll never know how sorry I am that you were injured because of me. But I was hoping… well… that you’d forgive me. That you’d come with me when Leora and I relocate. I know how dedicated you are to your job, but… would you consider starting a new life with me?”

  Start a new life with me…

  Jai could see Marque holding his breath waiting for her answer. She would love nothing more than to run away with him, to be with him forever, especially now, when her life had changed so radically as well. There was no job for her to go back to, after all, but there was one important issue that did have to be discussed. He might not want her after he knew.

  “I’m damaged, Marque.”

  Marque’s tilted his head. “I thought you just said you were being discharged today.”

  “I am. But I’m damaged. The bullet, it went… well… I now have an artificial heart. I’m…part robot.”

  Instead of the look of horror or disgust Jai had feared, Marque gave her a dazzling smile. “Then you’re literally my very own Beautiful Doll. Can I see?”

  Dear lord. He wanted to see her injury? Jai bit her lip again. Marque threw a quick glance at her hospital room door to make sure it was still closed, and then turned back to her. He gently eased up her loose, peach-colored sweater, and Jai belatedly remembered she wasn’t wearing a bra.

  “Mmm. Beautiful,” Marque murmured, bending his head to lay a kiss on the nipples of each of her breasts. “I love your body, Jai. You’re perfect.” Avoiding her bandaged incision altogether, he eased the sweater back down.

  Jai was momentarily stunned. By purposely ignoring her wound, Marque was silently telling her that her artificial heart didn’t matter the least bit to him. The action spoke louder than any words. What a sweet, gallant thing to do! Still, Jai gave him a look. “You’re really all right with me being… part robot?”

  His smiled widened and his grey eyes darkened to a smoldering charcoal. “Oh, yes, I absolutely am. Especially remembering all the things I did with my Doll.”

  What could Jai say to that? Marque was offering to make her dreams come true. To start a new life, in a new place, together with him.

  You’re technically well enough to jump on a plane tomorrow if you wanted to, Dr. Jonat had said.

  But was she well enough to have sex? What else had Jonat said?

  …this heart works just like a real one would… you’re in perfect health…

  She longed to put the doctor’s promise to the test, to make love with Marque right here, right now, but to be safe, maybe she should start out slow. A sultry smile spread across her face. “You’re remembering the things you did with your Doll, like… this… maybe?”

  She reached out and slid the zipper of his pants down. The look of shock he gave her quickly transformed to one of dark heat. God, she loved the way his grey eyes expressed his emotions like that! Especially when he was directing this look of sexual longing toward her.

  She eased her hand inside the opening of his pants, and freed his cock. It didn’t take much to get him hard, and when she sank to her knees, his groan of anticipation was like music to her ears.

  Jai didn’t even spare a thought as she took Marque into her mouth. With the hospital door closed they were safe from interruption, unless maybe Leora decided to return to Jai’s room to inquire about Jai’s decision regarding Marque’s proposal. Or possibly the arrival of that nurse Jai was expecting with her discharge papers.

  Hmm. Better make this fast, then…

  Her mouth went to work, remembering Titus Veraine’s instructions. Think of a vacuum… suck like a baby sucks its thumb. Hard, fast and strong.

  Within moments, Jai had Marque moaning, gasping, and jerking, trapped in the wet heat of her mouth. What a sense of power this position gave her! Power over his pleasure. Marque buried his hands into her hair to hold her head close, and she sucked more insistently.

  “Fuck… Jai…”

  He was close. She loved the desperation she heard in his voice, that deep ache of need, the pleading longing.

  His hands fisted tightly in her hair and Jai poised for his climax, but instead, Marque pulled her head away.

  “Fuck… Jai…” he gasped again, his breath now nothing more than short pants. “Want… to fuck you.. Need…to fuck you.”

  With a wild look in his eye, he pulled her to her feet, reached for the button of her jeans, and quickly popped it from its hole. Her zipper was next, and then he shoved her jeans down her legs. Hooking his foot around the leg of the wooden chair by her the side of her bed, he yanked it close and sat down on it hard, pulling her toward him.

  Jai went willingly, only sparing a quick glance at the hospital room door. There probably was no lock on it, so she leaned forward and tugged at the hospital bed curtain, sliding it around so that they were hidden behind it. The curtain would do nothing to muffle the sounds of their lovemaking or their moans of pleasure if Leora, a nurse or Dr. Jonat should return, but frankly, Jai didn’t care about anything at this point other than Marque. Marque’s magnificent cock. Marque’s amazing passion. Marque, the man she loved.

  “Mount me,” he ordered roughly. “Make love with me. Please. I need you.”

  Jai paused for only the briefest moment, and gazed into the molten heat of Mark’s grey eyes. She’d initiated fellatio because she wanted to please him without fear of overloading her new heart, but hell, she’d trust in Dr. Jonat’s handiwork.

  …this heart works as well as a real one would…

  And if something were to happen, what better way to go than at the height of a blissful orgasm produced by the man she loved? There were worse fates in life.

  “Ride us both to heaven. Please, Jai. I’m desperate for you.”

  Giving him a smile, Jai straddled the chair, facing him. Marque’s right hand gripped his cock firmly, holding himself steady for her. Offering himself to her. The look on his face said he was giving her his body as well as pledging his soul. The mix of desire and devotion i
n his eyes was an image that branded itself into Jai’s heart. God, she loved this man! The poignancy of the moment nearly stole her breath. Watching Marque closely, she lowered herself onto his cock, taking him inside her inch by inch. Accepting exactly what he was offering – all of him, body and soul. Willingly. Eagerly. Happily. As she sank into his lap, she reveled at the feel of him – his thickness, his length. She fit him like a glove, as if they were made only for each other.

  “So perfect,” Marque groaned.

  It was. It was perfect.

  “Take me,” Marque encouraged in a whisper. “I’m yours. All yours.”

  Thrilled at that emotional, heartfelt pledge, Jai began to move. She knew Marque was close; he obviously knew it, too. So as she began to rock, she felt his thumb come around to play with her clit, circling, flicking, pressing it, driving her crazy with the intense sensations, causing her to jerk and twitch uncontrollably on his lap. Her frantic movements elicited loud moans of pleasure from him, which caused him to increase the movement of his desperate thumb. Fast. Faster.

  Dear God. It was too much. Too good. Jai leaned back in a half-hearted attempt to get away from his insistent thumb, but the new angle allowed Marque’s cock to brush against her G spot. At her sharp gasp, Marque abandoned her clit, sank his hands into her hips, and drove himself into her while pulling her against him, over and over, making her ride his hard cock until they both gave in to the exquisite pleasure and shouted their release.

  It was the most profound moment of Jai’s life.

  As they struggled to catch their breath in the aftermath of their incredible orgasm, Marque pulled her upright and into his embrace, hugging her tightly, as if he’d never let her go.

  Jai smiled contentedly. Her new heart had held up just fine. And if she wasn’t mistaken, it had grown larger, now filled with all the love she felt for Marque.

  “You didn’t answer my question,” he murmured huskily into her ear. “Will you come away with me, my beautiful Jai?”

  She reveled in the security of his strong embrace, and hugged him back, just as tightly. “Yes, Marque. I’d love to be your very own Beautiful Doll.”