A Riddle For Love (Beyond Fairytales) Read online

  He managed a wan smile. “Yeah. That would be a bad idea.”

  “I’ll cook for you. I believe you uploaded all your cookbooks into my persona.” She grinned, hoping to lighten his mood. “I believe honey pepper beef is your favorite?”

  His smile grew broader. “I’d forgotten about the cookbooks.”

  “It’s a great idea. Not many women can memorize twelve thousand recipes.”

  That drew a laugh.

  They reached his door and he swiped his key card in the lock. It slid open and they passed through. Once inside, she turned to face him and wrapped her arms around his neck. “I’ve been wanting to do this all day.”

  She kissed his lips, slow and lingering, over and over until his shoulders relaxed and he gathered her in his arms. His warmth soaked into her, and she marveled at the amazing work he’d done developing this female form to experience such nuances.

  “I’ve dreamed of having nights like this with you ever since I began developing the persona programs,” he murmured as he returned her kisses. “I’d come home from work, we’d have dinner...maybe cook together and drink wine. We might work on more research or just use the holo-program to experience a visit to Saturn. I’d play our favorite music while you worked on some project. Then we’d soak in the bathing room and dry each other off before falling into bed where we’d make love.”

  Artificial tears rose in her eyes and she quickly brushed them away. “That sounds so beautiful.”

  He hugged her tightly, nuzzling the side of her neck. “I’ll make it happen for us. I promise. Don’t cry. It breaks my heart.”

  She sniffed. “If I had a heart, it would break, too.”

  “You’re lovely, heart or not. Inside and out.”

  She softly patted his cheek and kissed his lips again. “Enough sad talk. How about the honey pepper steak?”

  He nodded and followed her to the kitchen area where he ordered ingredients through the turbo delivery. He sat on a stool and drank red wine as she flurried around, cooking and chatting about Boron’s antics in the lab. He laughed, and she joined in, loving every moment.

  In bed later that night, he held her close after their lovemaking, tenderly stroking her back. His breath warmed her cheek and he murmured in her ear, “I love you, Lily.”

  “I love you, too.” She rubbed the tension from his shoulders and kissed his neck. After the perfect day, she should be filled with happiness. Instead, sadness nearly overwhelmed her, thinking of the inevitable end two weeks away.

  Chapter Seven

  The days passed too quickly for Avar. By day, Lily became the unit, Una, soon joined by her identical sisters, Dua and Tres. By night, she and Avar lived their fantasy relationship.

  The other two androids performed perfectly, and the day he’d dreaded soon arrived. Kava swept into the lab, her sharp gaze taking in the three female forms sitting in chairs beside the info wall.

  “So, you have all three activated now?” she asked, crossing her arms over her spare chest.

  “Yes,” Avar said with a warning glance at Lily. Hopefully, she wouldn’t give herself away. Hesitantly, he handed Kava the data tablet with their test results.

  She pursed her lips as she scanned the information. Then she smiled. “This is excellent. I see no reason not to deliver them to the customer on Monday.

  “We probably need at least until Wednesday to complete the revisions on the last unit. Then we need a day to...erase their memories and install the Sexy Girlfriend persona on all three.”

  “I thought you already uploaded that persona.” She handed the tablet to him with a sharp gesture.

  “It became difficult to work with them in that mode, so we used more, um, sedate personas until we finished the testing.”

  “I liked Sexy Girlfriend,” Boron muttered.

  “I’ll bet you did.” Kava gave him a sharp glare.

  He returned to his instruments.

  She tapped her cheek with one red-tipped fingernail. “All right. I’ll put the customer off until Wednesday. He’s very eager to receive them.”

  “Thank you. I want everything to go smoothly with this first batch,” Avar said, hating the word batch.

  “Very good.” She gave him a brief smile and nodded to his assistant. “I’ll arrange a pickup Wednesday afternoon.”

  “Thank you.”

  She strode to the door and paused, turning to face him. “I’ll deposit your bonus credit tomorrow, Avar. Good job.”

  He let out a breath as she disappeared through the closing doors. Today was Friday. He had five more days with Lily. Her sad, sparkling eyes said she counted time as well.

  ***

  After Boron finally left that day, Lily actually cried. It felt needed, to release all the tension. She touched the tears on her face, marveling at the realistic appearance. Surely her heart would be no sorer if she were human.

  Avar watched her, his head down and arms crossed. He finally whispered, “I’m sorry.”

  She wiped her tears on the sleeve of her jumpsuit. She glanced at her two sisters, staring ahead with bright, unblinking green eyes in their deactivated state. Damn them and their obliviousness.

  “Baby....” Avar held out a hand, his expression tortured.

  She rested her head in her hands, unable to look at him. “I know what has to be done, Avar. I won’t put you in danger. We’ll do it Tuesday night. I’ll go into a file on your computer, and Una will go with her sisters.”

  “We still have five days to think of something,” he said.

  She mopped away the last of her tears and stood. “No. That’s dreaming. Let’s make the most of the time we have left. But you’d better work really hard to come up with a unit for me as soon as possible.”

  He gently took her hand and drew her into the circle of his arms. “I’ll do whatever it takes.”

  “I’ll get dressed and we’ll go have some fun. Okay?”

  “Okay.”

  She’d acquired a notable wardrobe over the past week. Avar loved to give her presents, and shopping was easy using the online mall from his room. Tonight, she wore loose black silk trousers and a green knit top with long sleeves to set off the color of her eyes. With her black wig and a black beret, she no longer resembled Una the android.

  When they reached the main hall, she paused to look at crystal jewelry at one of the cart vendors set up in the vast area. He wandered to a Luna Punch booth and bought them each a cup of the potent, fruity concoction.

  “Avar,” a female voice hailed him.

  He paid the vendor and his friend Blenda approached with two other women and three men. “Hey, Blenda. How’s it going?”

  “Great. We just finished the beef plant project. It’s awesome. Huge credits all around.” She introduced her companions.

  “That’s awesome. I applaud your success. It will mean a lot to abolish the practice of killing animals as food.”

  “I know.” His friend grinned, her eyes bright with happiness. “How’s your project going?”

  His gaze traveled to where Lily’s long fingers moved among dangling crystal necklaces, her expression intent with lips parted. “It’s nearly over. Next week we deliver the first of the human-class androids.”

  “Fantastic.” Blenda punched his shoulder.

  “Hey, I’ve heard about those androids you’re working on,” one of the males named Sethen said. “That’s incredible technology. Congratulations.”

  “Thank you.” He took a sip of his punch through a sparkly silver straw. “It’s been a lifetime of research.”

  Blenda leaned close, winking. “So you’re probably getting a hefty bonus yourself.”

  “So my boss says.”

  “Hey, you should go with us,” the woman named Caryn said. She had big blue eyes and bright red hair pulled into a tight ponytail at the crown of her head. “We’re booking a victory vacation to Earth.”

  “Yeah,” Blenda said. “There’s this great resort that specializes in side trips to all the old
historic areas. We were born on Mars, so this will be a great opportunity to go back to our roots, so to speak.”

  Lily had made a choice and purchased it. She scanned the area, searching for him. He waved and she smiled.

  “What do you say?” Caryn said, laughing. “We’d love to have you.”

  “Let me think about it,” he said. “Thanks for the offer.”

  They chatted a few more seconds, and then the group headed off for the dining dome to continue their celebration.

  “Who were those people?” Lily asked when she reached him.

  “Someone I used to work with and her friends.” He touched the red crystal heart on a gold chain she’d placed around her neck. “I should have bought that for you.”

  “No. I wanted it to remind me of this time.” She took his arm and continued toward the tube to his rooms. “When you bring me back, keep the necklace for me to remember.”

  A lump rose in his throat. “Of course I’ll keep it for you.”

  ***

  When they reached his apartment, Lily insisted he let her cook dinner. She’d found she loved the process. They made a list of ingredients together and he ordered them from the turbo delivery. Then he drank wine, laughing and talking as she danced through the kitchen preparing the dishes from memory. Aromas of garlic, lemon, and spices enveloped them along with steam from the pots.

  His loving gaze followed her, leaving her glowing and happy. She fed him a spoonful to taste occasionally, typically followed by a kiss.

  That night, following dinner, they stretched on a rug beside the couch tracing fingers across pictures of old Earth on one of his tablets.

  “Have you ever been?” she asked, viewing a scene of ancient Venice with its canals and elaborate architecture. Gondoliers in striped shirts poled their boats of lovers along waterways.

  “Yes. I came from London.” He swiped a finger across the screen and brought up an image of that huge city.

  “So much of the past is still there, mixed with the new,” she said, viewing centuries-old structures beside glass and plas-steel buildings.

  “Most of the older ones have been renovated with modern materials to mimic the old stone and brick. But it’s still amazing and charming.”

  “When did you come to Mars?”

  “When I was eighteen.” He took a drink of wine. “My parents died in an air-car accident, and I took advantage of a scholarship to the technical institute here. It’s known all over the universe, so I felt it would be good for my career.”

  She turned on her side, studying his face. “You’ve done well.”

  “I suppose.”

  “Come on.” She poked a finger at his chest.

  He grinned. “Okay. Yes. I managed to procure a great position that let me develop my research.”

  “When did you decide you needed...me?” She moved her hand from his shoulder down his arm.

  His grin faded. “Not long after I graduated, I began work on artificial intelligence and the development of complicated personas. Even in the preliminary stages, I suspected the theory had more potential than what my company wanted. A series of failed relationships left me craving solitude and gave me time to pursue my more radical research. You were born from those experiments.”

  “Conceived. I wasn’t born until you placed me in this unit.”

  “I suppose that’s true. But you seemed real to me from the beginning.” He gave a sheepish smile. “I used to talk to you while I worked. Isn’t that crazy?”

  “And you named me Lily.”

  “Right away. It was Mother’s favorite flower. She raised them as a hobby.” His stare focused far away. “I always equated them with beauty and kindness.”

  Sadness enveloped her in a heavy cloud weighted with the decision they faced in less than a week. How she would miss these evenings with him. She shivered, remembering the cold loneliness of her computer-file jail.

  “What’s wrong?” He twined his fingers in hers, brows drawn together.

  She shook her head, refusing to talk about her approaching doom. “Nothing. Make love to me.”

  He hesitated a second as though about to ask more, then he let out a sigh and rolled her to her back so he could cover her body with his. The tenderness of his kisses left an ache in her chest. She fought the gloom and returned his embrace and kisses with increasing vigor. His hand moved to her breast and fire heated her skin.

  Her shaking hands managed to undo the fasteners of her top, and Avar pushed the silky fabric from her shoulders, exposing her from the waist up. The chilly air of the apartment brought her nipples erect and the sensation sent a shudder through her.

  Avar’s warm lips followed the sensation of cool air, and she ran her fingers through his hair, holding his head close.

  He drew away, staring down at her. “I have to tell you something.”

  “Okay,” she said. “You look serious.”

  “It’s just...I want you to know this. You have this incredibly perfect body that I designed to meet the requirements of beauty. But your true self is who you are inside. I’d love you in any form.”

  She made her trembling lips smile. His words shook her to the core. The unit she inhabited had great beauty, but it didn’t define her. The woman Avar made in his computer held her true identity. “Thank you. It’s the inside part that loves you.”

  He gently touched his lips to her eyelids then molded his body to hers. “I wish this night would never end.”

  She kissed his shoulder, sighing. “That would be nice. Can you arrange it?”

  His hands explored her hips, buttocks, and thighs. She wrapped her legs around him as if holding him would keep their world from being torn apart.

  He guided her hips so he could push into her, and she nearly cried at the intimacy of that moment. The two of them joined, moving as one, filled with love—it was nearly more than she could bear.

  They moved in time, plunging, rocking, murmuring words of love in each other’s ears. They stayed in that perfect rhythm until neither could stop the buildup of passion. The thrusts increased and she moved her pelvis to meet his as they stared into each other’s eyes.

  When they came, it melded them with molten energy—an immutable bond of pulsing pleasure. A thin sheen of sweat covered him as he panted. She dug her fingernails into his skin, unwilling to let him leave her embrace. “Just a few more minutes, my darling. Stay here...don’t move. Please.”

  “I’m not going anywhere,” he said.

  She pushed away thoughts of the future, willingly losing herself in his warmth and love, at least for one more night.

  Chapter Eight

  On Monday, Kava breezed into the lab, waving a silver data tablet in one hand. “Good morning. I have the client’s final requirements.”

  “What do you mean?” Avar took the device from her, a snake of worry coiling in his gut.

  “He gave me specifics for what he wants the units named as well as certain sexual performance preferences.” She ticked off items on her fingers. “Then there are the styles of clothes they should wear when he picks them up. He’d like them dressed identically. His secretary will send over the garments tomorrow.”

  He scanned the rest of the list, and his head began to pound. Sweat popped out on his forehead as he read through the list of sexual preferences. Visions of Lily with someone performing those acts set acid churning in his stomach.

  Boron took the device and whistled as he reviewed the list. “Wow. Gonna be a party at this guy’s place Wednesday night. Hmm, I’ve never heard of some of these positions....”

  Lily’s eyes widened, while her sisters simply smiled, staring ahead with their perfect emerald eyes.

  Kava raised a hand. “Please, Boron. We don’t need to hear all the gritty details. Just make sure the units have their memories wiped and the new identities merged into the Sexy Girlfriend persona by Wednesday afternoon. He’ll be here to examine them and take them away at three p.m.”

  “Sure.” Boron gav
e her a mock salute. “They’ll be ready.”

  She narrowed her eyes at Avar, but after a slight pause, whirled and left the room.

  When the door slid shut behind her, Boron punched his arm. “Hey, boss. We should power them up and test out the new preferences before the owner takes them. You know, for quality control.”

  Avar clenched his hands into tight fists, fighting the urge to punch the other man in the face. He snapped, “Shut up and get to work.”

  His assistant raised his hands. “Hey, just kidding. Sorry.”

  Avar jerked his chin toward the info-wall. When Boron had his back turned, Avar sent an apologetic look in Lily’s direction. Her hopeless expression set off a spark of determination inside him. He pressed his lips together.

  “Finish the body wave indexes. I’ll be back in a few minutes,” he said in a stern tone. He nodded to Lily and raced from the lab.

  No way could he let this travesty happen. His original plan to remove Lily from the unit faded in his outrage. That body had become Lily to him. They belonged together. He couldn’t place her in a file on his computer as he worked five more years hoping to make enough money to afford her another unit.

  He hurried along the corridor to the main hall. People streamed around him, headed in different directions. The buzz of personal communicators going off interrupted the environmental harmony music and made his head spin. He tried to concentrate. He needed a plan.

  One of the men he’d seen with Blenda the other day waved to him from where he stood in line for a porta meal. A crazy idea formed in his head. He returned the gesture and moved to meet him. “Hey. Sethen, right?”

  “That’s right. Great to see you again. I’m enjoying some time off with our project finished. Feels weird to not be working in the middle of the day.” The guy shook his head and laughed. “What are you up to?”

  Avar raked fingers through his hair. “I uh, I’m just on a break. Hey, about that trip you’re taking that Blenda mentioned. To Earth, right?”