by Trudi Jaye
He looked peaceful in sleep. Not more relaxed, because the man could hardly get more relaxed than he was when he was awake. Just more peaceful, like his brain had stopped thinking quite so hard.
She sat down in the armchair near her bed, which was covered in clothes she’d either tried on or decided not to wear sometime that week. Staring at his face, she tried to understand what was happening between them.
Asleep, he looked less like the golden god he’d seemed at the beginning, and more like a rather alluring man. She put her head to one side, trying to understand the attraction she felt for him, and the raging sexual response she’d felt when he’d kissed her. It made no sense to her analytical brain. She’d never been one to leap into relationships, and she’d certainly never kissed anyone the way she’d kissed Henry.
It had to be something to do with the blue electricity that sparked between them every time they touched. Some kind of magic was compelling her to feel this fascination. She leaned back in the armchair and watched him in the dim light, trying to figure him out.
She woke, hours later, with a blanket over her, and a cold plate of eggs sitting next to her on the floor. Her eyes were scratchy from her contacts and she had a painful crick in her neck. Her legs were stiff from the weird position. She stretched out and tried to shake herself awake.
The bedside clock said it was four in the morning. Fee’s stomach rumbled and she considered the cold eggs for a moment. But no, that wasn’t going to happen.
She stood up, and tiptoed out of the room, closing the door and heading to the kitchen. Pulling out bread and meat, plus cheese and tomatoes, she puttered around the kitchen, making herself a couple of sandwiches and a coffee. In one corner of the room, Max was silent and recharging. He turned himself off at 11 p.m. every night by going to his charge station, and setting the alarm for 6 a.m. She had a solar panel attached to the roof of the building, and he ran off the sun. It was a handy system.
She wasn’t sleepy anymore, so headed back to the bedroom to watch her patient some more. Something drew her back in there, an unexpected need to be close to him now that she had him here. She told herself it was because she still hadn’t figured him out. She wanted to take advantage of his lack of awareness while she could.
Picking up her first sandwich, she had just bitten into the juicy goodness when he spoke.
“Any more of those for me? I’m starving,” he whispered.
Fee jumped for the second time that night. Looking over at him, he was in exactly the same position, but his eyes were open, watching her intently. She shivered.
Without a word, she picked up the plate and handed it to him, keeping hold of the half a sandwich in her hand. He probably needed the energy more than she did.
He sat up, leaning his back against the wall behind him and she realized he’d taken off his shirt to sleep. He was delightfully tanned, with a broad muscled chest—not a desk-based researcher, that was for sure. She realized she was staring and blushed, glad for the dim lighting in the room.
“This might just be the best sandwich I have ever eaten,” he said with a groan. “I was starving.”
Fee smiled. “I think that might be a bit of an exaggeration.”
“Magic always does that to me.” He watched her carefully. “You’d know about that, wouldn’t you?”
Fee looked away, trying to decide what to say. She didn’t need him knowing any more about her and what she could do.
“I’ve felt it—your magic, I mean,” he said. “And I’ve seen it. Those little creatures you design, they’re full of your energy.”
Without thinking, Fee flicked her eyes to Henry, and she was caught in the deep golden depths.
“Don’t try to deny it,” he said softly. “I used some of your power to help save that girl on the Ferris wheel. We both know it.”
“I...wasn’t.” She paused and licked her lips. “I’ve just...never met anyone who talks about it before.”
Henry’s eyes gleamed with amusement. “There are many people using magic out there in the world. Although I’ve never met anyone who does it quite like you.”
Fee narrowed her eyes. Was that an insult? Was he saying that she wasn’t as good as the people he knew? “What do you mean?”
“I’ve never seen anyone who could give souls to metal creations. It’s amazing.” Henry’s voice was awed.
Fee swallowed. “It’s nothing, not even a talent. Even Max, he talks back to me, and never does what I ask him to.”
“That’s because you’ve taught him to think. I’ve never seen any other robot do that. At least not yet.”
“He’s not AI. He just seems like it because he backchats.” Fee was shaking her head. Henry had it wrong.
“He’s as close as anything I’ve seen or heard of. And giving him eight arms like an octopus, that’s a stroke of genius. Although I can’t figure out how you make his legs so fluid, so exactly like a real octopus in water.” His voice was excited, and Fee had to remind herself not to be drawn into his enthusiasm. It was hard, because she found him infectious, in the same way that Nolan, David, and Eugene were now hero-worshipping Henry. She wanted to curl up at his feet and listen to him talk.
She shook her head. “Do you do that on purpose?” she asked, annoyed.
Henry blinked owlishly in the dim light. “Do what?”
“Trick people around you into being all fired up.”
He pulled back a little. “I like people to be excited about what they’re doing. That’s all. It’s not a trick.” He sounded hurt and Fee cursed her antisocial skills.
“I’m sorry; I didn’t mean it like that. Too much alone time. It just feels like you’re a freaking planet and I’m a tiny little moon orbiting you. I try to get away, but nothing I do will let me go. All I want is to be closer to you.”
Henry grinned. “That’s an interesting analogy.” His eyes gleamed and he leaned forward again. “So you want to be closer to me?”
Fee rolled her eyes. “Not if you talk to me like that.” She stood up, and went over to retrieve his empty plate from where he’d placed it on the bed next to him. “I’m going to do some work. May as well, I don’t think I’ll get back to sleep now.” She reached out, but instead of grasping the plate, she found her arm encircled by his hand.
“What are you doing?” she said, tugging at her arm.
“Stay here with me. Let’s talk some more.” He patted the bed beside him with his other hand.
Fee swallowed hard, looking into his eyes. He looked like a golden lion, eyes gleaming, his expression focused on one thing: her.
This was what it felt like to be the prey.
Fee shivered. “I don’t...”
“Please? I don’t think I can get back to sleep either.” His voice was soft, hypnotic, and Fee found herself sitting down on the edge of the bed.
“What do you want to talk about?” she said.
Henry shrugged. “Anything.” He paused. “You. How you came to be here, living in this amazing apartment, working for Callaghan Technology.” He didn’t let go of her arm, but slid his hand down toward hers, and clasped it tight. She tugged at it experimentally, but he didn’t let go.
“I went to college at MIT, graduated early with my PhD in robotics, and was headhunted by Lucas at an alumni event. I’ve been here about five years. That’s the whole story.”
“You’re hardly old enough to have done all that.”
“It didn’t take me as long as some people to finish my PhD,” she said. “Or my Master’s.”
“How long did it take?”
“I was done with my PhD in a year and a half,” she whispered. Most men were intimidated by what that meant. At least all the guys she met at MIT. Henry just looked impressed.
“That’s pretty amazing,” he said. “You’re amazing,” he whispered. The next second he was pulling her toward him, and she let him. Their lips touched, and the electric current she was coming to recognize burned through her veins, making her moan with th
e heat of it.
***
Henry couldn’t believe he was doing it again. He’d decided to stay away from her, had assured himself he didn’t need the hassle of getting involved, and that whatever was going on between them, the electricity made it worse not better.
And yet.
Here they were, kissing like their lives depended on it. Desperately, he deepened the kiss, trying to get closer to her. To somehow be a part of her. To understand this thing between them that was so uncontrollable and crazy.
He put one hand around her, and pulled her to him, lying back down on the bed. She moaned but otherwise didn’t reject him. Pushing her T-shirt up her back, he savored the sizzling feel of her skin under his palm. It was soft and silky smooth with just a bite of the electricity he’d become accustomed to when he touched her.
His lips continued to devour hers, the heat making him groan. He pulled away and kissed his way along her neck and across her collarbone. Fee leaned back to give him room, and he felt her lacy bra under his hands. He moved his hand around to cover her breast, molding it to his hand, and she moaned. He played with her nipple experimentally through the thin material, and Fee pushed her breast closer, wanting more.
Just then, an alarm sounded next door. Fee jerked back, looking around her as if she’d forgotten where she was. Henry could only watch as she moved away from him with a panicked expression, pushing herself back off the bed, and pulling her T-shirt back down. She stood for a moment staring at him with wide eyes, then turned and fled through the door.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Fee opened her eyes and looked around. She was lying on the couch in her living room where she’d fled, convinced she was never going to sleep again. She must have dozed off after all. Morning light was peeking in through the sides of her blackout curtains and she wondered what the time was. Was Henry awake? How was she going to face him again after what had happened?
Her contacts were painful and scratchy, and she rubbed at her eyes, wishing she dared take them out. She would have to wait until she could have a shower. She didn’t want to remove them in front of Henry.
The door opened and the man himself poked his head through. He looked ruffled and gorgeous, especially when he grinned. “Rise and shine, sleepy head,” he said as if nothing had happened. “We’ve got a big day today.” His hair was wet from a recent shower, although he was wearing the same clothes as yesterday.
Fee frowned, and grabbed her phone from the coffee table. It was nine o’clock; usually she’d be at the office by now. She sat up abruptly. “Oh, no! We’re late. The others will wonder...” she trailed off and looked at Henry, a blush spreading over her face.
“They already knew you were going to take me home to your place, right?” said Henry soothingly. “They’re not going to think anything of you being a little late.” He didn’t seem bothered by the memories of what had almost happened between them. Perhaps it wasn’t a big deal to him. Fee tried to muster the same casual attitude.
“Have you had a shower? I need to get clean before I can face the office.”
Henry nodded and came further into the living room. He gestured to her bedroom. “It’s all yours.”
She stood and walked past, trying to keep as far away as possible. A faint hum of electricity made the hairs on her arm stand up as she walked by him, but she managed to ignore it. Once she was in her room, she shut the door and leaned against it, closing her eyes and letting out her breath in a big exhalation of air. What the hell was happening to her?
She took a deep breath and straightened up, shaking out her shoulders. She could do this. There was no way a guy was going to mess with her so totally that she had a meltdown in her own bedroom. She strode over to the en suite, turned the shower to stinking hot. She took out her contacts, and placed them in solution before getting out of her clothes and climbing into the shower. After a breathless few minutes getting herself clean and then drying off, she returned to her bedroom, a soft towel wrapped around her body.
There was a fair bit of thumping and walking around from next door. She could hear Henry’s voice, and the low thrum of Max answering. She almost went out to see what was happening. But common sense prevailed. She had to finish getting ready for work.
She grabbed a plain black shirt and trousers from her drawers, and dragged them on. She put her contacts back in and used the special eye drops that helped with the pain from having them in too long. A few minutes on her makeup and hair, and she was ready to face whatever was happening in the other room.
She quietly opened the door. Henry was sitting with Max, playing cards. It looked innocent enough. But Max could be tricky, and she was discovering that Henry could too.
“What are you two doing?” she said.
Henry glanced back at her. “I’m teaching Max to play cards,” he said blandly.
Fee narrowed her eyes. “What kind of cards?”
“Poker.”
“Do you think that’s an appropriate game for an impressionable robot to be learning?” she asked sternly, forgetting her embarrassment.
Henry looked up, a surprised expression on his face. “Of course. He learns not only the mechanics of how to play, but also about cheating, bluffing, and tells. It’s the perfect game to help Max with his interactions with humans.”
“It seemed an appropriate use of my time, since I have already prepared your breakfast,” said Max.
Fee raised her eyebrows but said nothing more. Heading to the kitchen, she poured herself a cup of coffee from the fresh brew waiting for her, and then leaned back against the counter, taking a sip and watching Henry under lowered lashes. He wasn’t paying any attention to her at all. She didn’t know whether to be offended or relieved; but if he could be blasé about last night, so could she.
Her usual oatmeal was waiting on the stovetop, and she brought a bowl back to the couch, sitting next to Max, watching silently as they continued their game.
“Shouldn’t you be a little more concerned about getting to work?” she said before placing a spoonful of oatmeal into her mouth.
“I’m going to have to go to the hotel to get some new clothes anyway,” said Henry with a grin. “I figured I was going to be late. You, on the other hand, are going to be late with absolutely no excuse to hold it together.”
Fee narrowed her eyes. “I have five years of credibility to see me through being late one morning. And they knew I was looking after you. I’ll just say you were a difficult patient.”
For a moment, Henry’s eyes flared at her across the coffee table. The heat in his gaze was unmistakable. “You tell them anything you like,” he said. “You and I will know what really happened.”
“What really happened?” she asked softly, still caught up in his tawny gaze.
“You ran away from me, just when things were getting interesting.” He glanced down at his cards, frowning. “Maybe it was for the best; I don’t know.” He placed a card on the table, his agile fingers making Fee blush even harder as she watched them.
Abruptly, she put her half-eaten bowl of oatmeal down on the table, and stood. Smoothing down her shirt, she cleared her throat. “I’m going to work, and you need to get your clothes.” She looked down at Henry expectantly.
He sighed and reluctantly got to his feet. “I suppose I can’t stay here forever. As much as it’s fun playing with Max.” His jeans hung off his hips and she caught a glimpse of his tanned stomach under his shirt. For a second, visions of his naked chest under her flashed through her head. It felt like an addiction, the way she was feeling about Henry right now. She didn’t trust it, which was a large part of the reason she’d run out on him. She wasn’t going to let some bewildering magic she didn’t understand force her into bed with a man she barely knew. It might be sizzling hot between them, but it wasn’t real.
At least, she didn’t think it was.
Henry had been watching her face carefully, and now he moved to stand next to her, closer than strictly necessary. “We should g
o,” he said, suddenly seeming nervous.
“I guess,” replied Fee, even though moments before she’d been pushing for it. The hairs on her arms raised up, and goosebumps raced along her skin. She met Henry’s gaze and saw her own sudden craving reflected in his face.
Henry took another step toward her, putting one hand up to cup her cheek, and lowered his head. His kiss started softly, as if he was asking a question, but soon deepened into something more thrilling when Fee put her arms around him, crushing her body to his. Electricity sizzled through her, and she felt like she was tumbling over a waterfall with nothing more than a barrel to keep her safe. Their usual electricity sizzled and adrenaline rushed through her veins. She couldn’t get enough of him, his touch, his body, his smell.
She was well and truly under his spell.
The stray thought was enough to snap her out of it, and send panic through her body. She made a noise, trying to step back out of the embrace. Henry didn’t let her go immediately, his dazed expression saying he was just as caught up in the moment as she had been.
“I need to get to work,” she said, backing away from him, holding her hands out in front of her as some form of protection.
Henry rubbed his hand across his face, and nodded. “You’re right. That was...not a good idea.”
He followed her silently out the door, and watched as she locked the door.
“I’ll give you a ride back to Callaghan, and then go grab my stuff,” he said as they walked toward the elevator.
She nodded. “Sure.” The tension was thick in the air around them. Fee didn’t know how to break it, or fix it. But if it continued like this, the others were going to know soon enough that something was going on between them.
