“She is exhibiting signs of distress. I cannot have sex with her unless she gives her enthusiastic consent.”
She didn’t know how to feel. Relieved that he wasn’t going to touch her? Disappointed that she wouldn’t be able to give Logan what he wanted?
“Effie, you have to tell him he can touch you,” Logan said.
Her vision wavered as she looked up at the android. “You can… touch me.”
A tear broke free from her eye, spilling down her temple to wet her hair. The android’s gaze followed it.
“No,” he said at length.
“No?” Logan echoed, astonished.
He looked over at Logan. “She does not mean it. She is in distress. I cannot touch her.”
“Effie?”
She swallowed hard, unable to look at him, shivering with nervous energy. The android startled her as he grabbed one corner of the comforter and threw it over her, then the other, until she was completely bundled. She clutched the edge of the blanket, holding the fabric snug. Her anxiety was instantly cut by half, and she blew out a breath of relief.
“For God’s sake, Eff, would you look at me?” Logan said.
No.
With a sound of frustration, he snatched his phone off the nightstand. She saw the screen light up in her peripheral vision.
“I think I should go,” he said tightly.
At that, she finally looked over at him, struggling to sit up. The android sat back on his heels to make room for her.
“W-wait.”
Logan shook his head, rubbing his palm roughly over his face. “This isn’t working, Eff. I need to think this over.”
“I can do it,” she said, knowing even as she spoke the words that they were untrue.
Logan gave her a sad look as he left the room, pulling the door shut behind himself. She listened with tears in her eyes as the front door shut.
That was it. He was gone.
She curled in on herself beneath the blanket, reeling. Instead of despair, she felt mostly… numb. Sniffling, she looked up at the android. His cock had gone flaccid between his powerful thighs. She was oddly touched by that. He could only go soft if he wanted to; that’s what Logan said. So this machine was considerate enough of her feelings to have decided not to make her look at his raging boner during her breakdown. She huffed an astonished laugh.
“You are amused?” he asked, looking confused.
“No,” she said flatly. “Not at all.”
CHAPTER 6
Thirty-One watchedOphelia dissociate into herself, wrapped in her comforter and curled in the middle of her mattress.
“Can you put some clothes on?” Ophelia asked, looking up at him with bloodshot eyes.
He rose obediently, going to the corner chair where he’d left his folded clothes and pulling them on. When he was finished, he turned back to her, awaiting her next request.
“Thanks,” she whispered, rubbing her chin over her knee.
“Would you like to dress, as well?”
Her eyes widened, and then her face crumpled as she nodded enthusiastically. He opened the wardrobe and found her pajamas, grabbing a matching pair.
