Man-Droid the Orgasmatron (Siren Publishing Classic) Page 5

  “I don’t want to talk about her,” Beth said. “Make love to me again, and I just won’t go to this stupid reunion.”

  Elliot sighed and nibbled along her shoulder. Beth squirmed, the simple action so erotic that her body prepared itself anew for round…she couldn’t even recall right now.

  “As tempting as that is, you will not be able to walk tomorrow if we do, and I know enough to know that this reunion is important. You haven’t missed one yet, so why would you want to miss this one. Come to think of it, if you hate them so much, then why keep going?”

  Beth grumbled her annoyance at his uncanny perception, and Elliot laughed. He pinched her nipple between his thumb and forefinger, and the sweet pain focused Beth’s mind on him like nothing else could.

  “Tell me, my sweet. I can’t help you otherwise.”

  Her heart clenched painfully at the sincerity behind those words, as though he meant them, and as though he really was her boyfriend. Beth blinked away unexpected tears.

  “You will help me just by being there, Elliot. I can’t even begin to explain why she grates on me so, but ever since reception class she has been a thorn in my side. Never openly so, of course. Oh no, she is all smiles and affection, so none of the teachers ever saw through her façade. Complaining was useless, so I just took her little taunts. Without me she never would have passed her exams, and I’m sure that’s why she kept me around. The little mouse was good enough for doing her homework for her and taking the flak for her misdemeanors. Graduation was the happiest day of my life, and I swore that one day I would show her.”

  Unbidden, the tears fell and Beth swiped them away and drew her knees up to her chest. Elliot wrapped his arms around them with her and rested his chin on top of her head.

  “Let me guess, that day never came?” he asked.

  “Got it in one. Whoever said Karma is a wonderful thing, is a fucking liar. It certainly didn’t get her. No, the great Samantha fell on her feet and married some hotshot from the government. I’m not exactly sure what he does, but they’re loaded, so naturally the reunions are held at her bloody mansion so that we can all genuflect. Not attending is not an option because she will haunt you mercilessly until you agree to take part, and trust me, you wouldn’t wish her hounding you on your worst enemy. It is far easier to just grit your teeth and get it over with, but after last year’s fiasco, I couldn’t go on my own again.”

  A shudder went through Beth as she recalled the little weasel-like accountant Sam had decreed would make the perfect partner for Beth.

  “Just once I want to be able to walk in there without feeling inferior, and before you say anything, I know I am allowing her to make me feel like that. Yadda, yadda, yadda, I’ve heard it all before, and I know it’s childish, but to wipe that superior smile off her face just once. Fuck it, it would be akin to winning the lottery I reckon.”

  Elliot’s chest shook in silent laughter against her back, and Beth’s lips, too, twitched.

  “I know what you’re thinking, you know. It’s stupid and—”

  “Enough of that. You can’t help your feelings, and take it from me, your feelings are too precious to ignore.” His hold on her tightened, and when she turned her head he kissed her with so much passion and need, Beth couldn’t shake the knowledge seeping into her bones. He wasn’t talking about her feelings or the reunion anymore. Her heart did a fast two-step in her too-tight chest, and she kissed him back with all the emotion she didn’t dare voice out loud.

  * * * *

  Elliot rubbed his thumb over the back of Beth’s hand, grateful for the fact that his body was capable of sustaining forces far stronger than the white-knuckled grip she had on his fingers. Had he been human, he would not be able to feel his fingers, let alone use them. Anxiety had his little Beth in its firm, debilitating grip as they followed the butler through to the ballroom, where the reunion was being held. At first Elliot had thought their taxi driver must have gotten the directions wrong, but a quick check of his internal satellite navigation system told him they were on the right track. The mansion that had appeared at the end of the long driveway was indeed the residence of Sam and Oliver Barnett.

  Elliot had whistled under his breath, and Beth had rolled her eyes and snorted her disgust.

  “Told you, she’s fucking loaded.”

  What was more concerning as far as Elliot was concerned was the fact that his scouring of data files had drawn a blank on the exact nature of Oliver Barnett’s association with the government. Whilst Elliot would eventually be able to hack through any security measure this planet had ever invented, it would take time. Time he didn’t have right now, his first priority the woman stumbling in her high heels. He put his other arm round her waist and drew her in front of him, just as the butler announced their arrival to the crowded room.

  “Miss Bethany Devlin and guest.”

  A temporary hush descended upon the crowded room, and Beth stiffened against him. He dropped a kiss on her rapidly beating pulse point, and she relaxed, marginally at least.

  “You look stunning, my sweet. You’re a beautiful, talented, young woman, who could wipe the floor with any of these people present. And I can’t wait to take you home so that I can take this sinful dress off you and fuck you until we both can’t see straight.”

  “Elliot!” Beth’s voice was an outraged whisper of a response, but her shoulders heaved in a silent chuckle, and he smirked.

  She did look stunning. When she had emerged out of her bedroom, his dick had done the equivalent of a reverse bungee jump and had tested the endurance of his tailored tux ever since. Elliot was getting used to his cock having a mind of its own. As disconcerting as the experience had been at first, Beth seemed reassured by his inability to control that appendage, and for her he could put up with any amount of discomfort. And it blooming, well, was uncomfortable. How human males put up with this affliction their entire lives was beyond him right now.

  He discreetly adjusted himself, using the cover of Beth’s full skirt, and this time she did laugh when she noticed. Their gazes connected, and the rest of the room faded away. Acting on instinct, Elliot wrapped his hand around her neck and pulled her close enough to steal a kiss. It was meant to just be a peck, but her scent surrounded him, and when she opened under the gentle pressure of his lips on hers, he had to taste her properly.

  Barely able to control the groan threatening to escape, he wrapped his tongue around hers and suckled. She whimpered into the kiss, and he took charge. Every time she retreated, he advanced, their mouths and his hand on her neck the only place their bodies touched. Beth swayed, and he released her, keeping one hand on her shoulder to make sure she was steady. Her passion-filled gaze sought his, and he smiled.

  The repeated throat clearing next to them finally broke their little bubble of sensual awareness, and he turned his head to determine who dared interrupt them.

  “Finally. Trust Bethany to make a spectacle of herself the minute she gets here.” The bleached-blonde, surgically enhanced stick insect tottering closer still on her eight-inch Gucci sandals smiled and stuck her hand out at him. “Where did she find you?”

  He sensed rather than saw Beth stiffen behind him, and he drew her flush against his side and settled one hand on her ass. A move that wasn’t lost on the blonde standing in front of them. She withdrew her hand with a frown when he didn’t take it and just inclined his head.

  “And you would be?” he asked. “Other than interminably rude, of course.”

  Beth gasped, and the other woman took a step back as though he had physically slapped her.

  “Elliot, this is our hostess, Sam Barnett. Samantha, this is Elliot Parsons…my…boyfriend. You did say we could bring partners.” There was an unspoken challenge and a certain amount of pride in Beth’s introductions, and Elliot’s smile deepened when Sam’s eyes narrowed.

  She gave his body an undisguised once-over, her gaze lingering on his groin for far longer than was polite, and she had the gall to lick her
lips when she finally raised her eyes back to his face. It was enough to make his cock want to retreat and hide until the coast was clear. Yep, it was only Beth who affected his ability to control his libido. This walking advert for designer chic left him cold, and besides, she was skinny enough to give a man friction burn when he thrust into her bony ass. The woman was more artificial than his entire body was, and that was saying something.

  “Really? Well, I wouldn’t have thought you had it in you, my dear. Bethany has always been so studious and homely.” Sam batted her false lashes at him, and Elliot wanted to commit murder. Before he could say anything at all, however, Beth pushed her hands into his jacket pockets and snuggled in with a small smile in Sam’s direction.

  “I met Elliot at work. He’s helping me with a research project and has proven incredibly inspiring.”

  Sam’s eyes glazed over at the mention of research.

  “Trust you. A hunk like this and you do research. Research into what exactly? How best to adopt sack cloth into clothing?” Sam laughed, clearly amused by her little joke, and Elliot had to remind himself that killing a human was against the law. In theory he was also incapable of doing so, but these new emotions surging through him seemed to be more than capable of overriding his logic.

  “Research into cot death, actually, if you must know. It’s fascinating if you know where to look, and so satisfying to be able to make a difference, but then that’s something you wouldn’t know anything about, is it, Sam?”

  Beth’s voice could have cut glass, and Sam pursed her lips.

  “If you have to work for a living…” She made it sound as though it was the worst thing imaginable, and Elliot could hear Beth’s teeth crunch together, but the other woman wasn’t finished yet. “Money talks, my poor little Bethany. Oliver and I sit on several charity committees. Who do you think pays for you to carry out all this research you’re so proud of? It’s not coming out of your pocket, is it now?”

  “It’s not coming out of yours either, unless you count your vagina as a money earner. Of course there’s far-from-flattering descriptions for that sort of working, but then again, I suppose snaring yourself a much older and rich-as-Croesus husband means no one dares call you up on that.”

  “You little—” Samantha had grown a nice shade of grey under her makeup, and she looked ready to strike Beth.

  “Samantha, darling, that’s no way to treat your old school friend.” Oliver Barnett’s cool, educated tones cut through the tension like a knife through butter, and he stalled his wife with one hand on her clenched fist. “I know you two like to jest, but decorum, my dear. We have our position to uphold, after all, and we have a houseful of guests. I would suggest you continue this discussion in private and at a more appropriate time than this reunion.”

  “She started it, darling. She swans in here with him, and thinks she can insult me, and—”

  “Samantha, enough!” Oliver’s angry whisper carried, and Sam clamped her mouth shut. She looked as though she wanted to say plenty, but another stern look from her husband stopped her. Oliver Barnett might be at least twenty-five years her senior, but there was no mistaking the air of command and aura of power surrounding him. Intelligent green eyes assessed Elliot and Beth, and his smile didn’t reach his eyes when he nodded toward Elliot. His silver hair cut in a crew cut, and the nonchalant, yet alert way he carried himself told Elliot all he needed to know.

  The reason he hadn’t been able to access any data on Oliver Barnett was blatantly obvious now that he stood in front of him. Barnett was military, either ex or current, and considering his links with the government, Elliot had to tread carefully. He couldn’t risk exposure of Brian’s experimental emotion chip. Sex androids were all well and good. Sentient, emotional Man-Droids were not.

  Brian had suffered a government inspection only a month ago, and it had left him unsettled enough to cease further tests to improve the emotion chip now embedded in Elliot’s arm.

  Barnett offered his hand, and Elliot shook it with the most disarming smile he could manage.

  “Nice to meet you, Mr?” Barnett asked.

  “Elliot Parsons.”

  Barnett’s expression was unreadable as he withdrew his hand, his gaze lingering on Elliot’s fingers for a fraction too long. The older Man-Droids had been recognizable by their nail beds, and the fact that this man’s searching gaze lingered there told Elliot his suspicions were correct. He had to get Beth away from this man, and more importantly he had to hide who he really was.

  “Apparently Beth and he work together on a research project,” Sam said.

  “How interesting.” Barnett seemed to have come to some form of conclusion, and he turned away. “Make yourself at home, and enjoy the reunion. Beth, always a pleasure to see you.”

  A shudder went through Beth’s frame, and Elliot rubbed his hands up and down her exposed arms.

  “You’re shaking, my sweet. Let’s find you something sweet to drink and mingle for a bit, and then we can get you home and into my bed where you belong.”

  She snuggled into him, and he dropped a kiss into her hair.

  “I’ll be okay. I just hate this, and god knows what possessed me to say those things. I’m usually tongue-tied in front of her. I might have to keep you around for a while, if your presence means I can stand up to the queen bitch herself.”

  “You don’t need me for that, my sweet, and besides. I doubt she will be quite so obnoxious to you in future. Her husband looks like a man not to be crossed.”

  In fact, he was right now having a quiet discussion with Samantha as he marched her to the opposite end of the long room, and Elliot didn’t miss her wince of pain when Barnett grasped her round the biceps and propelled her out into the garden.

  “He gives me the creeps,” Beth said. “Always has done. I normally stay as far away from him as possible. I always thought he was henpecked, but maybe that was the wrong assessment.” She paused and sniggered. “Hey, do you think maybe Samantha’s life is not so perfect after all?”

  “Perhaps not, no, my sweet.” Elliot waved a passing waiter to stop and lifted two glasses of champagne of the man’s tray. “Here, let’s toast to the existence of Karma after all.”

  Beth’s lighthearted laugh gave him a warm glow inside, and he spent the next couple of hours on a mission to hear more of that tinkling sound.

  Chapter Seven

  Beth swayed in tune to the music, safely ensconced in Elliot’s arms. By some minor miracle she hadn’t trodden on his toes yet. When Elliot had suggested they join the couples on the dance floor, she had desperately tried to wriggle out of it.

  “No, really, I can’t.

  “Can’t or won’t, my sweet? Trust me. Just close your eyes and let the music guide you. It’s easy.”

  Elliot had held out his hand, and against her better judgment she’d allowed him to pull her onto the dance floor.

  “Don’t blame me if your toes end up battered,” she’d murmured into his shoulder, all too aware of the attention they were attracting.

  “Have you forgotten that my body can withstand hurricane forces? Your little feet will not make an impact, trust me. Now close your eyes and follow my lead.”

  The startling realization that she had forgotten hit her right in the chest and winded her. When had he stopped being Elliot the Man-Droid and had simply become Elliot, her lover, her…Beth screwed her eyes shut and shoved that thought process back into the box she kept stuff in that was too painful to contemplate. She would not go there. This was supposed to be fun. A no-strings-attached, uncomplicated fuck, that’s what this was. Jerry had promised her.

  Instead she was developing feelings for a man who could never be hers. They could have no future bar the present. Once the reunion was over Elliot would go back to Brian to do whatever he did and no doubt be hired out to rock some other sex-starved woman’s boat. That was his design after all. The whole idea behind Brian’s business.

  “Relax, my sweet. You’re thinking too m
uch.” Elliot’s deep rumble caressed her cheek. His breath feathered over her neck, and she blinked back tears. Whatever happened in the future, she had him now, and she would simply make the most of it. Beth lost all sense of time, locked together as they were in their own little bubble. Elliot moved her effortlessly across the floor in tune to the gentle classical music the live orchestra was playing. As per usual, no expense had been spared by the Barnetts. From the free-flowing champagne, to the expensive canapés, the numerous waiters, and the soft candlelight that filled the whole ballroom. One could almost imagine oneself back in Regency times. Beth smiled at the thought, and Elliot pulled her closer.

  She missed a step at the thought of him in skin-tight breeches and riding boots, tapping his crop against his hessians as he waited to take her out on her morning ride. What sort of ride would it be? Erotic images of her bent over with her skirts round her ears, her ass left bare and ready for the sting of his crop invaded her mind. She bit her lip to stop herself from moaning, and Elliot pulled her closer still. His breathing grew heavy, and his erection prodded against her belly with every move.

  “Jesus, Beth, if you don’t stop making those soft moans, I will disgrace myself by shooting my load right here and now. What naughty thoughts are swirling around in your head right now?”

  Elliot slid his hand slowly down her bare back to the curve of her ass, and this time Beth didn’t even bother to hide her moan of desire.

  “Are you wet for me, my sweet little Beth? Are you ready for my thick cock to slide into your wet cunt and make you beg for more? Are you going to come for me and scream my name?”

  His growled whispers in her ear pitched her need sky high, and she gasped when her back hit the cool surface of a marble statue of Eros. Somehow Elliot had danced them right out the ballroom and into the garden. This side of the patio was deserted and cast in shadows, the music and hum of the ball room a distant noise. Elliot took her arms and pinned them above her head.