CHAPTER 34

“You seem preoccupied, Dariux. Is there something I can do for you?”

“Huh?” He looked up from his meal, his attention snapping back to Elena, who sat forward in the chair and placed a hand over his.

“I said you look preoccupied and asked if there is something I could do for you. Perhaps a massage? Or...something more?”

Her eyes sparked with invitation. She was as stunning as ever. The perfect woman. Except she was not a woman at all. She was not even human. He looked at her with not one twinge of enthusiasm.

“No, thank you. I’m tired. I think I’m going to bed after dinner.”

“So early? Are you sure you are all right?”

She made to stand up to feel his forehead, but he forestalled her with a raised hand.

“I’m fine, Elena. I just need a good night’s sleep. This mission was more taxing than I had imagined.”

She just looked at him with uncanny eyes, making him squirm under her analytical regard. Damn, but he was being studied as if he were an insect. And by a machine, no less. Could she read his thoughts? This was not the first time she’d done this. It was how she learned about him, his moods, his preferences. He’d never noticed before, never really cared. He saw in her what he wanted to see. Now, every peculiarity became magnified, making them unavoidable.

Leaving his dinner half uneaten, he pushed away from the table, breaking the uncomfortable analysis.

“You are different.”

He didn’t bother responding. What was the use? He just turned and marched toward his bedroom, locking the door behind him. Hoping she had discerned enough to know he didn’t want to be disturbed.

The bed stood, huge and cold, in the middle of the room. With one word, he ordered all the blinds lowered. His home was in a high riser, and the view of the city was stunning, but right now, he didnt give a fuck about the view. He had just enough time to discard his clothing, pull on his pajamas, and throw himself on the bed before the exhaustion of several days caught up with him and made him descend into oblivion.

He opened his eyes before the barest hint of sunrise could break through the oppressive darkness. What was the time? Why had he woken? Soft hands ran the length of his body under the sheets. Caressing his chest, pulling down his pajamas. Ah, that’s what had woken him. Not a bad way to start the day. He reached for her, needing to feel her body against his. But the next moment, hot wetness descended on his turgid flesh. He forgot how to breathe as scalding pleasure rolled through his body, from the epicenter of his cock. He never wanted the exquisite rapture to end. She expertly sucked him, fondling his balls while stroking his member in just the way he liked it.

“Yes, that’s it darling. Feels so good.” He moaned while his hands tangled in her hair, grabbing fistfuls of it. The better to direct her wicked mouth. A delicious flick had him bucking his hips, reaching to go deeper in her mouth. He tightened his fists and froze.

A chill ran down his spine as his consciousness rearranged itself like a tumbling kaleidoscope. The texture of her hair was all wrong.

With a strangled cry, he pulled his protesting cock from her mouth, holding tight to prevent her from touching him again.

“Lights!” he yelled, and a soft glow dawned over the bedroom. Enough to see the wide eyes and smiling mouth of the woman in his bed.

Elena.

Of course, it was not Kalli. For a few blissful moments, while lingering in the twilight between wakefulness and sleep, cocooned in the profound darkness, his befuddled mind had thought he was still in the nineteenth century, sleeping in the same bed with Kalli. He had imagined wild, riotous waves of fiery red hair spilling over his hands, brushing his thighs.

Instead, white-blond straight hair filled his palms. He let go as if burned by the icy coldness of the strands.

“Why did you pull out? Don’t you want me to finish?” Elena asked in her usual pleasant tone. A tone that now grated with its empty artificiality.

She reached back for him, but he scuttled out of her reach. He was completely naked. She had divested him of his pajamas while he slept. His cock, still angry at the interruption, rose ruddy and swollen, demanding satisfaction.

She was naked too, but for the few straps of leather surrounding her torso that could not be called clothing and covered nothing of her perfect assets. If anything, it displayed them more effectively. The leather straps pushed her bountiful breasts up, the nipples left exposed. The belt tightened around her waist, making it impossibly small, while the globes of her ass spilled in abundant abandon below. And was that a plug in her ass? He groaned in frustration.

A couple of months ago, the sight of her attired thus had made him get so hard, he thought his balls were going to explode. Now it had the opposite effect on his manhood. His cock finally deflated, accepting it wouldn’t get satisfaction this morning.

“No. I... I have to go to the office.”

“It is still early. Only five minutes past six. I promise to finish you in time for your appointment.”

“No, thank you,” he said, jumping out of bed and lurching towards the bathroom. “I have to prepare my presentation. Some other time.”

Why was he explaining himself to her? She had no feelings that could be hurt. She was only carrying out her programmed instructions. And why was he now so aware of her nature?

“Hot water,” he called as he walked into the shower.

The wide waterfall poured over him, enveloping him in comforting warmth as he braced his hands on the stone-clad wall and bowed his head.

Hell’s balls. Why couldn’t he find pleasure with Elena? This reaction was disturbing. The semi-conscious dream about Kalli still thrummed in his veins, shaking his balance. If he closed his eyes, he could still see her with his mind’s eye, feel her...

No. This was ridiculous. It was over, and he had to get over it. He would get over it. This morning Elena had caught him by surprise. That’s all.

Liar. His conscience mocked. Admit that you miss her. You are fooling no one but yourself.

Well, yes. It was only natural that he missed her. He had spent six weeks in constant proximity to Kalli. They had been each other’s only company in an alien world. They had slept together. He had been inside her body and had found indescribable pleasure in her arms. She had been so responsive, his little firebrand...

What the hell was he doing? He had to stop fantasizing about her. He looked down with consternation, noticing the stubborn erection that would not be subdued this time. Cursing himself for an idiot, he took his cock in hand, pumping vigorously.

He leaned back against the wall and conjured images of her. Kalli emerging from the bathtub, her flesh all rosy and glistening with moisture. Kalli on all fours in front of him, her arse sticking out, round and smooth for his hands to fondle. Kalli taking him into her mouth. Kalli...

With each image, his hand pumped faster and faster. His seed leaked from his cock and blended with the droplets of water running down his body.

Kalli convulsing around him, screaming his name as she came with his flesh embedded deep inside her.

His seed erupted, shooting out in powerful streams as a deep groan was wrenched from deep in his chest. His head fell back against the wall, and he closed his eyes.

He could deny it all he wanted, but he could lie to himself no longer. He needed Kalli. And he was in deep trouble.