by Elin Peer
“You’re missing the point, Charlie. The couples have sex for pleasure, not just to have children.”
Charlie shook his head. “I don’t think I’ll ever understand the fascination with sex between people when we’re producing such excellent robots for that very purpose. Either way, Shelly, the market for a product like that would be minuscule. You can’t throw away your genius for a tiny niche.”
I ignored his protest. “And like I said, I also want to set women free from their monthly periods. No more cramps and bleeding. I guarantee there’s a large market for that.”
“I doubt it. Women have had their period for thousands of years and they’ve been fine. No need to change that.”
“Easy for you to say. You’re a man, so you wouldn’t understand. I’m going to improve the quality of life for millions of women around the world.”
“Shelly, Shelly… every department is asking for your help and this is what you want to spend your time on? Sex and menstruation?”
“Yes.”
Charlie sighed. “What a shame, but I suppose there’s nothing I can do about it.” His eyes searched the office. “Where is Mindy?”
“Over there. I fixed her.”
“And how is your natural robot project going? Did you interview more Nmen?”
“Yes.”
“And?”
“I still feel there is a large market for it. Ultimately it depends on how real we can make Natura seem, and how cheaply we can produce her.”
“You named her Natura?”
“Yes. Do you like it?”
Charlie lifted one edge of his mouth in a forlorn smile. “Hmm, yes, it’s a fine name… just remember to run all your plans by me.”
“Of course.”
Charlie fiddled with the collar of his yellow sweater. “You know I don’t like confrontation, which is why this is very hard for me to say.”
“Charlie, are you all right? What’s wrong?”
“I have to be honest with you, Shelly. There’s a rumor that you already produced the robot. That’s not true, is it?”
I lowered my brow. “No, of course not.”
“That’s what I thought, but apparently Tristan has some friends who know a man who said that he tested it. Tristan mentioned it as a side note and thought it was funny, but it had me worried.”
I let my tongue run over my teeth, suddenly feeling dry in the mouth. “Charlie, there is no prototype of Natura. Where would I even get the resources to produce one?”
He lowered his brow and scratched his ear. “You would tell me if you are working with someone else, wouldn’t you? I’m not stupid. I know there are people in the Northlands with a lot of money who would offer you material benefits if you were to work for them. We would be devastated to lose you.”
“Charlie…” I began but he continued talking.
“You know that you can pick any project to work on. There is a very interesting ocean farming project taking place in the Yellow Zone. You could live on a beach and enjoy the sun and sea.”
I gave Charlie a soft smile. “That sounds wonderful. I’ll think about it.”
“Of course. Oh, and by the way, did you hear Tristan was attacked?”
I stiffened. “Who told you that?”
“Tristan did. It happened last Saturday. Makes me worry about you staying in the Northlands, Shelly. Nmen are violent and unscrupulous.”
It was clear that Tristan hadn’t told Charlie that I’d been with him that night. It was for the better.
“I’ll make sure to check in with him and see if he feels better,” I assured Charlie.
“Good. Let’s talk in a few days. I’ll send you more information on the ocean farming project. They could really use your help.” His eyes continued roaming around the office as if looking for the rumored sex-bot.
“Sounds good, Charlie.”
“Be careful and go in peace,” he said politely. “And remember to do something else than just work.”
“Don’t worry, I will,” I promised before I ended the call
As I looked at the time, a smile grew on my face. Marco would be here in ten minutes. He was coming by with lunch for the third time this week, and this researcher’s job was about to get very hands-on.
CHAPTER 14
Checking Off the List
Shelly
Half an hour after my call with Charlie, I stood bent over my work desk, Marco driving in and out of me like I was his meal and he couldn’t get enough. The food that he’d brought was spread around my table: a salad with a fork full of cucumber and red beets that hadn’t reached my mouth before Marco had initiated sex.
His burger was close to the edge of the table, half eaten and moving closer and closer to the edge with the rocking movement of the desk.
I thought about moving it but found a strange satisfaction in Marco caring more about being with me than saving his burger.
Being obsessed with details, I knew that this was our ninth time having sex together. Marco had taken his offer of helping me with my research very seriously. He’d even introduced me to the archives on the old Internet with pre-war porn, something I knew existed but didn’t have access to in the Motherlands.
Some of it was arousing; other parts were disturbing and raised a lot of questions on my part. Marco had answered, giving me his perspective as a man, and we’d discussed the differences between female and male sexuality.
He also suggested we pick out five things we each wanted to try and include them in the experiment. So far, we’d tried sex in the shower, in a bed, on a couch, in a drone, and we had done it in twelve different positions. Marco had taught me how he loved it when I looked up at him during oral sex.
In return, I had taught him to be patient and not go too deep at the beginning when he penetrated me. He had learned how to give me time to stretch and adjust to his size.
“You’re so fucking hot,” Marco panted behind me. “Tight and wet for me.”
I moaned, enjoying the feel of his fingers playing with my nipples.
“Please can I try it?” he asked and I knew exactly what he was asking.
“No.”
“I’ll be careful, I promise.”
“No, Marco.”
“Don’t you trust me?”
I turned my head. “It’s an exit only.”
“But it’s on my list and you saw it yourself in the porn movies. Anal sex used to be as common as standard sex. They all did it back in the day.”
“Okay, but go slow.”
Marco pulled out of me and used lubrication from my first hole to wet the second one while my face tightened in tension.
“Just relax,” he instructed and pressed against my back entrance. I squeezed instead.
“Shelly, you’re not relaxing,” he said and placed kisses along my spine.
“I don’t care what they did in the old days. It hurts.”
“How can it hurt when I’m not inside you yet? It’s in your mind, and it’s because you’re too tense. Just relax and let it happen.”
I shook my head. “No, it feels weird. I don’t like it.”
Without seeing his face, I knew Marco was disappointed but he turned me around.
“It’s okay, we can always do it some other time when you’re more comfortable.” He kissed me, lifting me up to sit on the table before pressing inside me. “This morning I was jerking off thinking about you, and you know what I thought about?”
I smiled a little. “What?”
“The other day when you let me come in your mouth. That was…” He groaned with pleasure. “I swear, Shelly, that way you opened your mouth and showed me the cum on your tongue. I’ll be thinking about that till the day I die.”
It had been one of the five things on Marco’s list. Despite my initial reluctance to let him come in my mouth it hadn’t been half as bad as I feared. It was the same when he had used my breasts to slide his erection between. He’d been sitting on top of me, his muscles ripped and his eyes f
ixed on the way he squeezed my breasts together. It hadn’t done much for me, except make me feel desired and wanted, which I concluded was arousing in itself.
Marco still had two things left on his list, but those were the things I’d been reluctant about. The anal had failed and I wasn’t keen on letting him tie me up and blindfold me either.
“Lie back,” Marco said and raised my legs to his shoulders. “What’s wrong?”
“Something is poking me in the back.” I moved on my desk to be more comfortable and enjoyed the sight of Marco between my legs, his lips parted, his eyes roaming over my breasts and face with lust shining from his hooded eyes.
For a while there was no talking, just groans, moans, and the sound of him slapping against me in a steady pace. With his thumb, he circled my clit, my moans grew longer and my voice rose in volume.
“It feels so good, Marco. Harder. More.”
His ears were red, his breathing fast, his body emanating heat, and I loved the determined expression on his face as he kept pushing in and out of me, harder and faster just like I’d asked for.
“I can’t hold it much longer,” he groaned with his hands boring into my hips to keep me in place.
Pushing up on my elbows, I reached for him, wanting to feel him – the intensity of emotions washing over me as he grabbed a fistful of my hair, pressing his face into my temple and saying my name over and over.
“Yes, Marco, yes.” My pulse fluttered at my wrists and throbbed at my throat. I leaned my head back, closing my eyes and giving in to the powerful volcano erupting inside of me. Marco intertwined our fingers and as I panted out his name, I squeezed his hand tightly. “Oh, yes…. yes, Marco, yes. I’m coming.”
He moved his hips in fast aggressive movements and forced out his words. “I. Can’t. Get. Enough. Of. You.”
“Ahh, yes, Marco, that’s right…” My body was still in that blissful orgasmic state with my inside fluttering and my muscles twitching with tiny aftershocks. I was high on the wonderful feeling of connection between us.
“I’m coming.” Marco’s warning came a split second before he pulled out and used his hand to ejaculate on my belly.
Dazed from the sex haze and fascinated with the clear semen landing on my creamy skin, my eyes went from the cum to Marco’s face. I watched him pant with his mouth open and his eyes closed.
“You’re so…” The word beautiful was on my tongue.
“What?”
“Sweaty.”
He gave me a small grin and lowered his face to the crook of my neck, his warm breath on my skin. “Yeah, that’s because I’m doing all the hard work. You’re just lying there looking gorgeous.”
I used my right hand to nuzzle his brown curls, taking time for us to catch our breaths while I caressed his back with my left hand.
“Can I ask you a question, Marco?”
“You’re always asking me questions.” Marco chuckled and leaned back to watch me. “Oh-oh, I have a feeling this is going to be one of the more awkward ones. What do you want to know?”
“If you marry Louisa, will you ask her to do the things on your list?”
He reached around me, picking up some napkins, and began drying me off. “Probably not.”
I waited for him to elaborate.
“What you and I have is different. You said it yourself, it’s an experiment and I’m enjoying trying different things with you. Why do you want to talk about Louisa now?”
“I’m sorry. It just boggles my mind that you would risk your life fighting in a tournament for a woman you don’t love. Is it really just because of the money?”
Marco didn’t meet my eyes but pulled away from me and bent down to pull up his pants. “I’m tired of being poor. Why shouldn’t I have nice things like other men?”
“What other men?”
“Hunter, Tristan, Boulder, Magni, and the others who have fast drones and large apartments.
“Tristan isn’t rich.”
“He’s not poor like me.”
“See, that’s why the fairness principle in the Motherlands is so much better than the capitalistic system you Nmen have. We all contribute with our unique talents and we should be paid the same.”
“I’m not a fan of the fairness principle.” Marco helped me down from the table. “All your system does is keep everyone equally comfortable. At least here we have a chance to live in abundance.”
“If you win a tournament, that is?”
“Yes.” He walked into the bathroom and washed his hands while talking to me. “There’s also the prestige that comes with being one of the fiercest warriors and having your own family.”
“Yeah, but that last part can’t have as much status as it used to, I mean, with all the Motlander women coming.” I arranged my clothes while Marco walked over to pick up his burger and take a big bite.
When he was done chewing, I was the one washing my hands. “So does it?”
“Does it what?”
“Does winning a tournament bring as much status as it used to?”
“I would say so. Northlander women are special, you know.”
I stiffened. “In what way?”
“They’re the real thing.”
“You mean in contrast to us fake women?” My lips pressed into a thin line.
“No, you don’t get it.”
“Then why don’t you explain it?”
“Northlander women are rare and precious. They know and understand our culture. They respect their husbands and are obedient by nature.”
I pushed my chair back in place and picked up a book that had fallen down. “Have you met Laura?” My tone was sarcastic. “Why don’t you ask Magni how obedient she is?”
“Laura is an anomaly.”
I gave him a sideways glance. “And you’d rather have a wife who bows her head and says yes than one who challenges you?”
He shrugged. “I told you. I’ve seen too many unhappy marriages between my friends and their Motlander wives. I’m not signing up for the Matching Program. Not that any of them would pick me anyway. I don’t have much to offer a woman if I don’t win the million dollars.”
“Motlander women aren’t materialistic.”
Marco scoffed. “Bullshit. Men with money have a ninety-two percent bigger chance of being picked by a Motlander woman through the Matching Program. That’s a fact!”
I sighed because, sadly, he was right.
“Not everyone in the Motherlands is like that, and I don’t believe you’ll be happier just because you have a faster drone and a bigger house.”
“I do,” Marco stated. “It would help a lot.”
Shaking my head, I sat on top of my desk and reached for my salad just as Marco plunked down in my chair. “You think we Nmen are strange.”
“Because you are.”
Marco smiled at me. “But we know how to fuck.”
“You do. I can’t speak for the rest of your countrymen.”
“If anyone is an expert, it would be you, what with all your research.”
“Good point, but I meant that I can’t speak from personal experience.”
We ate in silence for a minute or two before Marco spoke again. “Why don’t you want children, Shelly?”
“I told you, it’s not something I’ve thought about.”
“You haven’t gotten your period yet.”
I hesitated before answering. “No, I haven’t.”
Marco lifted his foot and placed his right ankle over his left knee. “Do you think you’ll get it soon?”
“Probably.”
“Look, I know you’ve told me several times that you’re not interested in being a wife and mother, but if you’re pregnant with my child, we need to figure ou…”
“I’m not, Marco.” I cut him off in a firm tone.
“Shelly, I don’t have much to offer, I know that, but I would love our child.”
“There’s no child, Marco.”
“But if there was, what would you do? I
know you don’t want to live in the Northlands permanently, but you’d still let me see my kid, right?”
I got up. “I don’t want to speculate about hypothetical problems. I’m a pragmatist, I like to relate to facts only, and so far, nothing suggests that I’m pregnant.”
CHAPTER 15
Alcohol and Weed
Marco
“Sure, you can mix alcohol and weed,” Storm said with an authority that rubbed me the wrong way.
We were all hanging out in my apartment, and Storm had convinced Willow it was time to embrace the culture of the Northlands and get drunk.
“Go easy,” Hunter instructed his sister, who was wrinkling her nose up at the smell of whiskey. “You’re not used to alcohol, so you won’t need much to get drunk.”
“Are you with me, Shelly?” she asked with a playful smile. “I’ll do it, if you do it.”
Taking a small sip from the glass Storm had given her, Shelly gave a grimace. “That tastes awful.”
I was on a chair, facing the sofa where Shelly sat in the middle with Willow and Storm on each side of her. Hunter was sitting on the armrest next to Willow with a glass of whiskey of his own. Tristan was on a chair next to me.
“If you don’t like the whiskey, you can mix it with soda or take this instead.” Tristan held out a weed inhaler.
My nostrils flared a bit when Shelly reached for it and turned it around in the air. I wasn’t her protector and couldn’t tell her what to do, but I didn’t like her getting high or drunk. One of my friends had once confessed that when he got his Motlander wife drunk she became horny. Shelly was already too curious for her own good. I didn’t need her to develop the same type of scientific interest in Hunter, Storm, or Tristan that she had for me. If she did, this whole secrecy thing between us would be off. She might not be mine, but she wouldn’t be theirs either. Not tonight anyway.
“Did you know that archeologists now think that cannabis seeds were used as a food source in China eight or nine thousand years ago? People still use it in the Motherlands for medical purposes, but it won’t give you a high. It’s actually a chemical called tetrhydrocannabinol that causes the high.”
“Shelly, shut the fuck up and inhale the damn thing.” Storm was pushing her with his shoulder and grinning. I clenched my teeth wanting to ask him not to touch her.