Programmed To Protect (The Tau Cetus Chronicles) (4 page)

“I’m glad you enjoyed it, Leith Wyatt.”

Wyatt barked out a short laugh. This situation was surreal. She sounded perfectly normal, as if this was a common occurrence, as if she hadn’t just given him the best blow job of his entire life. Hell, maybe for her it
was
just routine. “Ginger, after what we just did, I think we can be on a first-name basis. Call me Leith.”

“Yes, Leith.”

He blew out a breath. “Um, how fast were you…
performing
… if you don’t mind me asking?”

“I’m programmed to perform at nineteen-miles-an-hour, Leith.”

Nineteen-miles-an-hour?
Fucking hell. He could still feel the phantom grip of her amazing mouth tight around his cock. Incredibly, he felt himself stirring again.

Insane.

But at least he’d found out that the legendary sexual prowess of a Beautiful Doll was true. He straightened and reached for his zipper.

“What are you doing, Leith?”

“I’m putting myself back together.”

“Not until I demonstrate fellatio two, Leith. I have my orders.”

And as her hand reached for his cock, Wyatt knew he wouldn’t be able to resist her this time, either.

Chapter Three

“He took the bait.”

Anson Carron stared at a smug-looking Titus Veraine, who was standing in front of his desk. The programmer’s confidence was not necessarily the concrete proof Carron needed. “Are you sure?”

Veraine raised an eyebrow. “Well, since we never expected Theus to assign someone to oversee us, I obviously didn’t have time to set up a camera before you brought this guy Wyatt into my lab. But your instincts were right. He let me leave him alone in the room with Ginger. That says a lot.”

“It’s not proof, though.”

Veraine shrugged. “We’ll have the physical evidence you need tomorrow. I’ll set up the photographic equipment later to make sure of it. If Wyatt took the bait today, there’s no way he’ll be able to resist Ginger tomorrow. Her technique is …exceptional.”

Carron allowed himself a small smile, remembering Ginger’s very talented mouth wrapped around his own cock. He supposed that tomorrow was soon enough for the sex tape that would get Leith Wyatt fired for neglecting his duty. For fucking up on the job. Literally. Who the hell was Theus to think a man of Anson Carron’s caliber would report to some arrogant underling instead of directly to the premier himself?

Leaning back in his chair, Carron congratulated himself on his quick thinking in ordering Veraine to introduce Wyatt to Ginger, which Carron had hurriedly suggested in the minute before Wyatt had entered the programming lab. Frankly, Carron was surprised that the starched Tau Cetus police agent had taken the bait. But it just showed that everyone had a weakness, especially when it came to his sexbots. “What instructions did you give Ginger?”

“Fellatio and fellatio two.”

Carron’s sly smile grew.
Mmm…
fellatio two was his personal favorite. Fifteen seconds of intense, high-powered sucking accompanied by Ginger’s clever two-fingered pressure behind his tight balls was all it took to make him explode like a randy teenager. He shifted in his chair.
Later. You can indulge later. You have business to take care of first.

Thank God he’d saved at least one of his extraordinary Beautiful Dolls from their military conversion.

Although she wasn’t the only one.

Veraine glanced at his watch. “I told Wyatt I’d be back in ten minutes, but knowing Ginger’s speed, it won’t take her that long. I’d better get back.”

“Bring him directly here,” Carron ordered. “I need to look like I’m cooperating with Theus’ orders. At least for right now.”

“Will do. Hell, I can’t wait to see the look on his face after sex with our Beautiful Doll.”

This time, Carron’s smile was as smug as Veraine’s.

#

Leith Wyatt was unsteady on his feet as he rearranged his trousers and pulled up his zipper.
Fellatio two.
Dear God, Ginger’s talented mouth took oral sex to an entirely new level. In all his thirty-two years, he’d never been this satisfied by a human woman. Hell, he was so drained he probably wouldn’t need sex for a week. The Beautiful Doll was incredible.

He reached out a hand and helped Ginger to her feet.

“Thank you,” he said, unable to wipe the smile from his face. He shouldn’t have indulged in this scandalous indiscretion, but he reminded himself that he couldn’t have stopped the sexbot even if he’d tried. She was stronger than he was.

Not that he’d really tried.

“I’m programmed to please, Leith,” she answered automatically, then seemed to hesitate. “But…

Wyatt frowned. “But what?”

“No one’s ever thanked me for it before.”

One of Wyatt’s eyebrows rose. Ginger’s mouth was amazing. No man had ever expressed appreciation for her skill with it? Hard to believe, even if she
was
just a machine.

And how ironic that her statement sounded almost… human. As if her feelings were hurt that no one had thanked her before today.

Curious, Wyatt looked into her eyes but saw just two green starbursts, no emotion that he could discern.
Idiot. Robots don’t have emotions.
Right. He even remembered how his ex-partner Jai had been grateful that the blue starburst contact lenses she’d been forced to wear during her Beautiful Dolls undercover assignment had hidden her growing feelings from Marque Callex.

The eyes were the window to the soul. Ginger had neither.

To break the awkward moment, Wyatt ran what he hoped was an appreciative finger across Ginger’s lush, full lips. The gallant gesture backfired a little, though, judging by the twitch in his trousers.

You’ve got to be kidding. There’s no way I could be responding after what we just did. I’m exhausted!

He cleared his throat, and smiled more broadly at the Doll. For some insane reason, he felt the need to cheer her up. “You’re programmed to please, and I’m… Well, in a way, I’m
programmed
to protect. We’re a lot alike.”

Ginger smiled back at him, an obviously delighted look on her face that made Wyatt take a step back. Despite the glorious nakedness of her perfect body, that mouth of hers was all he could see. “Are you…
smiling?”

No. Impossible. A smile signaled pleasure. Pleasure was an emotion. A robot
did not
feel emotion.

What the hell was going on here?

Ginger blinked slowly, and before Wyatt’s eyes, her smile faded and her face settled into a perfect blank. “I’m programmed to respond to verbal instructions and some visual cues. You smiled, Leith, so I smiled back.”

Despite the relief the explanation gave Wyatt, it sounded so matter-of-fact and cold that it made him all the more uncomfortable.

This was not the Ginger of a moment ago. This was a lifeless automaton.

He glanced at his watch. How long had Titus Veraine been gone? Wyatt shouldn’t be loitering here with a sexbot. In fact, he shouldn’t have had sex at all. He had a job to do.

“You said you take verbal instructions?”

“Yes, Leith.”

“Then… I order you back into the utility closet.”

Ginger hesitated, and Wyatt saw her face become even more vacant. Then she turned and walked into the small utility closet. Wyatt closed the door after her.

Hell. She’d followed his instructions without question. Why in the world hadn’t he thought to try to order her to stop before she’d performed fellatio on him?

Who the hell was he kidding? He wouldn’t have passed that up for anything!

Still, he felt better with the temptation of her removed. And just in time, too. Wyatt turned from the utility closet to see Titus Veraine opening the door to the programming lab.

Veraine took one look around the room and then shot a look of blatant surprise at Wyatt. “Where’s Ginger?”

Wyatt hitched a thumb. “In the closet.”

The surprise on Veraine’s face grew. “Didn’t you…”

Wyatt set his jaw, as if daring Veraine to finish the question.

Veraine laughed, and took a step toward the utility room doorknob. “Come on, tell me. If you don’t, I’ll just ask
her
. Ginger is capable of quite a lot, but she can’t lie.”

A Beautiful Doll can’t lie?
Wyatt found that to be a very interesting piece of information.

“Well?” Verain prompted.

The grim line of Wyatt’s face hardened. There was no getting out of answering. “Yes. We did.”

“Both fellatio and fellatio two?”

“None of your damned—”

Veraine laughed again. “She’s good, isn’t she? Don’t worry. I won’t tell Mr. Carron about your little…indulgence. It’ll be our secret. Consider it my ‘welcome to the company’ gift.”

Watt kept his mouth shut, but felt his back molars grind together.

“While I was out on the factory floor,” Veraine continued, “Mr. Carron sent word he wants me to bring you to his office.”

“Fine.” Wyatt straightened. It was time to get to work. “Lead on. I have his instructions from the Council.”

He followed Veraine out of the inner and outer programming labs, and concentrated on memorizing the layout of the Beautiful Dolls factory on the way back to Carron’s office. It was always useful to know your enemy’s territory, and it also kept his mind off the too-beautiful Ginger and her extraordinary sexual skills.

The growing noise of the factory floor signaled they were approaching Carron’s office. How did the man stand that screeching sound all day long, even in the relative peace and quiet of his elevated observation room?

Veraine rolled back the metal door, and the noise grew louder. “I have to get back to the lab,” he shouted, pointing Wyatt toward the direction of the steel stairs that led up to Carron’s office. “I have soldiers to program. You’ve already thrown me off my schedule today.” He clapped a too-friendly hand on Wyatt’s shoulder. “See you tomorrow.”

Wyatt grimaced at the gesture, causing Veraine to laugh as he turned and strode back down the corridor that led toward his lab. Wyatt turned back to the factory floor. Bloody hell. He’d have to ask Carron for a set of earplugs or headphones. Something to dampen the awful noise.

Would that seem like a sign of weakness?

He strode over to the metal stairs, taking them two at a time. Mimicking the guard from earlier, Wyatt banged once on Carron’s office door and entered, not waiting for a reply.

The room was blessedly quiet.

Carron sat behind his desk, leaning back in his chair, elbows propped on the armrests and his fingers steepled. He stared at Wyatt over the tops of those fingers, and Wyatt returned the stare. Two opponents sizing each other up. But there was no sign on Carron’s face of any smug knowledge of the sexual indiscretion Wyatt had just indulged in.

Either Veraine truly hadn’t told him, or he simply hadn’t told him
yet
. Or else Carron had a brilliant poker face.

It didn’t matter. Wyatt didn’t trust either man. And Wyatt’s indiscretion with Ginger would never happen again.

“So,” Carron started. “Theus sent you.”

Wyatt paused. Carron was apparently not going to ask him to sit, probably hoping to make things uncomfortable for him. Carron was flaunting his control. But Wyatt knew from Theus’ attempt at control yesterday, that by standing, Wyatt could intimidate Carron by towering over him.

Two could play at this game. Wyatt straightened to his full six-foot height.

“Yes. Theus has your first assignment. The five thousand robot soldiers the High Council commissioned will be sent to Terra Acer. Theus believes this particular area of Tau Cetus is extremely volatile since regulator Clemens Egidia killed regulator Forens Hericus and took over Hericus’ area of Terra Domus.” Wyatt paused, then arched an eyebrow. “Egidia killed the regulator using the wasp missiles
you
stole from Callex Industries, as I recall.”

Carron waved a dismissive hand. “Chavis Smith stole those weapons, I simply… bought them.”

“And then turned around and sold them to one of the most rogue nations on the planet,” Wyatt pointed out. “Egidia is now threatening his neighbor to the north, Terra Acer. The High Council will not allow one man to control such a large portion of Tau Cetus. Hopefully, the sight of five thousand robot soldiers set up along the border between the two regions will insure the peace there. I’m to go with you on the deployment, and give any needed strategic advice.”

Wyatt’s last sentence caused Carron to sit forward in his chair, his face flushing. “You think I need advice from
you
on warfare strategy? You’re nothing but a hired gun!”

Wyatt took a step toward Carron’s desk and looked down his nose at the man. “I am Theus’ liaison,” he said coldly, “and I have the power of the High Council behind me. You will do as you’re ordered.”

Carron flushed a deep red, deeper even than the unhealthy shade he’d turned when Wyatt had announced earlier that Theus had named him as the conduit to the Council. Honestly, it was a miracle Carron didn’t have a heart attack right here on the spot.