Bachelor Number Four (14 page)

She got another set of eye-rolling and put-upon sighs for that instruction, but she knew they’d do it.

Upstairs, her closet became a jungle of mismatched outfits and ugly shoes. What would she wear? Funny how she hadn’t spent this much thought on her outfits before, not on any of the other dates she’d gone on. But now, tonight…it all seemed just that much more important.

“Not a miniskirt,” she muttered, yanking down a pair of soft cotton trousers from a hanger and adding a long-sleeved, fitted shirt. She held the pieces up to her. “Oh, brother.”

She did bother with makeup, though, applying it carefully and taking the time to pin up her hair. Her preparations took her longer than she’d thought. When she caught sight of the bedroom clock, it was already fifteen minutes past five.

He must be late, she thought as she took the stairs two at a time to hurtle into the living room.

He wasn’t late. Shane sat on the couch, Maeve on one side and Aislin on the other. Both girls were talking a mile a minute. Maeve held up a book from her favorite series about a group of young girls dedicated to solving mysteries. Aislin waved a feathered pen in front of his face, gesturing at the notepad in which she wrote her spelling words.

Shane sat in the middle, valiantly trying to pay attention to both of them at the same time, but looking overwhelmed. He looked up as Arden raced into the living room and pulled up short, skidding on the throw rug as she did and managing not to fall by catching herself on the back of a chair.

“Ignore the graceful entrance,” Arden said, embarrassed. “How long have you been here?”

Shane smiled. “About ten minutes. Maeve and Aislin were telling me about school and stuff.”

“I can see that.” Now was not the time to lecture them about opening the door to strangers. “Girls, go get your shoes on.”

They scampered to obey, and Shane stood. “They’re great.”

Arden laughed. “I’m sorry I wasn’t here to rescue you sooner.”

He shook his head. “Nah. They’re fine. I have nephews that age. They don’t talk quite as much, but they were fine. Really.”

Maeve and Aislin whirled back into the living room, shoes on feet.

“Ready to go?” Shane asked them. He turned to Arden. “I heard we’re going to the Chinese buffet.”

Arden gave Maeve and Aislin a stern look. “Girls, I told you it was up to Shane.”

“It’s fine. I love the Chinese buffet.”

The girls cheered. Shane grinned. Warmth filled her at the sight of Maeve and Aislin’s victory dance and Shane’s smile.

This is going to be all right, she thought. It really is.

Dinner went without a hitch. Her daughters maintained their best behavior. Shane regaled them with stories about his job. Maeve and Aislin competed to see who could tell the funnier knock-knock joke, and Shane was gallant enough to laugh at them all.

She felt like it was Maeve and Aislin’s date more than hers, but Arden didn’t mind. Every time Shane looked up to catch her eye, his smile became hers alone.

“All right, you monsters,” she said at last, when the girls had each polished off a bowl of ice cream with sprinkles. “We need to get home and get you ready for bed. It’s a school night.”

And to her surprise, they both complied without protest. They didn’t argue in the car on the way home either, or complain when she told them to go upstairs and brush their teeth and get ready for bed. They didn’t even push each other on the stairs.

“What miracle is this?” she asked aloud, head cocked to listen to the patter of feet upstairs. She looked at Shane. “They are on their best behavior tonight. They must be trying to impress you.”

“They’re good kids.” He pulled her into his arms for a quick kiss that made her blush. “I had a good time with them tonight.”

There wasn’t time for an in-depth discussion about their relationship, where it was going or what he felt. Baby steps, she reminded herself. Take it slow.

“Thanks for letting me meet them.”

Arden kissed him again, fast. “You’re welcome. They seemed to like you a lot.”

“And how about you?”

“I like you a lot, too.”

He grinned. “Even if I’m not the bad boy you remember?”

“I think, especially because you’re not the bad boy I remember.”

The moment stretched between them, caught in their gaze.

“Good,” Shane said. “Because I plan on spending a lot of time with you.”

She couldn’t stop the smile from stretching across her face. “Good.”

The sound of two pairs of feet pounding down the stairs interrupted their kiss. Arden stepped out of Shane’s arms, but not in time to avoid her daughters’ eagle eyes.

They didn’t say anything, though they shared another one of those looks that showed Arden how fast they were growing up.

“All ready for bed? Teeth brushed? Faces washed?” The routine words came out of her and the girls nodded dutifully.

“I’ll be up in a minute to read to you both,” Arden said.

“Are you going to leave?” Maeve asked Shane.

He looked at Arden. “Only if your mom says I have to.”

“You and Mommy can watch a movie,” offered Aislin generously. “She loves to watch movies, but it’s more fun to watch them with someone else.”

They were matchmaking. The realization made her want to hug and kiss them both, her girls, who were trying so hard to see that she was happy.

“Maybe we’ll watch a movie,” Arden said. “But right now, you have to get to bed. You both have school in the morning.”

And wonder of wonders, they headed toward the stairs without a moan or groan. Maeve paused on the staircase. “Good night, Shane!”

“’Night, Maeve.”

“Are you going to be Mom’s boyfriend?” Aislin asked, pausing so suddenly Arden bumped into her back.

“Aislin!”

Arden looked over the rail to see Shane’s grin.

“I think I might be, if it’s okay with you and your mom,” was what he said, as casually as if she’d asked him if he was going to stay for dinner.

“It’s about time,” Maeve said and continued on her way, followed by Aislin, who gave a heartfelt, “You said it!”

Arden looked back over the railing, her cheeks aflame, but her heart pounding in triple time. Shane curled his fingers in a little half-wave, and his smile shot deep inside her, all the way to her core.

“I’ll be down in a few minutes,” she told him.

“I’ll be here,” he replied, and Arden went upstairs to tuck in her angel-monsters and send them off to their dreams, while one of her own waited for her below.

Downstairs she kissed him again and settled onto the couch to turn on a movie neither of them would remember much of, if they were lucky. And they would be, she thought as Shane put his arm around her more comfortably than he ever had. Some doors stayed open for a reason.

About the Author

Megan Hart was born and lived awhile, then did some other stuff. Now she mostly writes books and things. Find her on the internet in any number of exciting and wonderful places, including:

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www.meganhart.com

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www.readinbed.net

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Look for these titles by Megan Hart

Now Available:

Passion Model

Amidst a Crowd of Stars

Tithed

Seeing Stars

Her new toy has something extra she hadn’t counted on. A soul—and an attitude.

Seeing Stars

© 2011 Megan Hart

Only one week, and Milla Sulay will start her lonely new life on the Homestead planet Selkca. In anticipation, she’s booked passage aboard the Pleasure Princess, where she intends to make use of every amenity—including the Pleasurebots. Mandroids specially designed to give her whatever she wants. For as long as she wants it.

Except there’s something decidedly unbot-like about the mouth-watering unit sent to her cabin.

Jarden’s surgical enhancements give him advantages over standard-issue human men, with one exception: he’s tired. Weary of servicing an endless parade of horny, arrogant women. Except his beautiful client can’t quite hide her vulnerability behind the disdainful diva act.

Before he can figure it out, the cruiser makes an unscheduled stop in Newcity airspace. Not good. In Newcity-speak, he’s a “mecho”…and not exactly legal. After years of working aboard the
Princess
to earn his freedom, the only place he’s headed is prison.

Then Milla unexpectedly makes him an offer he should refuse. Within minutes of having his dream snatched away, Jarden must decide if life as her field husband on Selcka is a way out—or simply trading one form of servitude for another.

Warning: Contains space-bending sex, turbulent language, and artificial everything…except the one thing that’s guaranteed to arouse all your senses. Hang on, it’s gonna be a bump-and-grind ride!

Enjoy the following excerpt for
Seeing Stars:

Milla had bathed and slipped into a sleek toss-away of sheer pink. She’d fastened the stickseam all the way to her throat, where the high collar tickled her chin. The gown itself, meant to be worn but once, swung around the tops of her thighs. Bare beneath, her skin tingled from the application of Arous-All lotion she’d slicked onto her bath-damp flesh after getting out of the tub. She’d paid extra for real water.

God-of-Choice only knew how long she’d have to go without real water to drink, much less bathe in. Selkca was a desert planet. Its native population had the ability to produce H2O via some internal synthesis, but the Homesteading Council’s information had informed Milla all ’steaders on Selkca had to rely on monthly deliveries of imported, artificial water.

When the knock came at her cabin door, she’d just put down the bottle of Arous-All lotion. The cabin had been fully stocked with the entire line of Arous-All products, guaranteed to “Get you ready!” As if she needed help. She’d been ready practically from the moment she’d signed the travel contract.

She opened the door, already tilting her head in anticipation. She’d ordered a COK-275 from the extensive room service menu, and those ’bots were always tall. The one standing in front of her, however, was taller even than she’d expected.

“Miss Sulay?”

She nodded and stepped back to let him into the cabin. “I was beginning to think I’d have to call again.”

“Sorry for the delay. I’ve been authorized to give you an hour’s credit for the time you had to wait.” The man flashed perfect white teeth unblemished by jewels or etchings.

Correction—not a man, Milla reminded herself. The perfect abs and biceps, the sultry smile and eyes the color of the space outside her cabin window belonged to a mandroid. A Pleasurebot. A creature built for the sole purpose of providing sexual pleasure. She looked him up and down, admiring him, and he put his hands on his hips with another grin as the front of his thin toss-away briefs bulged.

“You’re wearing Arous-All,” he said.

Milla nodded. He had dark hair cut short in the back and falling long over one dark eye. Tawny skin. Nipples like arti-chocolate discs. “Turn around.”

He did. The view from the back was as impressive as from the front. He had a tight, rounded ass and long legs. Milla moved closer and cupped his rear with both her hands. He didn’t move, not an inch, as she rubbed her fingertips along the line of his spine and stepped back.

She moved in front of him to study his face, noting the brightness of his eyes, the moistness of his lips…and something else. The faint lines of weariness around his bright eyes and moist lips. He hid it well, but he was tired. Pleasurebots didn’t tire.

“You’re not a COK,” she said.

He shook his head. “No, miss. I’m sorry, but all of the COKs were in use. I can provide all the same functions, though. And give you an additional hour of credit to your account for the inconvenience.”

“Two credit hours?” Milla crossed her arms, still staring at him. “What’s your name?”

“Jarden.”

His voice, low and sexy, peaked her nipples beneath the sheer toss-away. Did it matter he wasn’t exactly what she’d ordered? Milla shifted her weight from foot to foot. Her thighs rubbed together. The Arous-All lotion had seeped into her pores and gone straight to the pleasure center of her brain. She was ready to fuck and come. Did it matter if he wasn’t a COK?

“You’re not a ’bot,” she said in a low voice.

Jarden’s expression didn’t change. He didn’t blink, didn’t lick his mouth, didn’t even let out a sigh. “No, ma’am. I’m not.”

Milla had expected him to lie, and it impressed her that he didn’t. She studied him. “Isn’t that…illegal?”

Jarden shook his head. “The Pleasure Princess qualifies for entertainment exemptions under the Interstellar Transport Act.”

“Oh.” Milla had an idea of what that meant. Something to do with slaves. She felt suddenly ridiculous in her flimsy toss-away in front of a real man. “I was expecting a ’bot.”

Jarden took her in his arms before she had time to squeak. “I promise you, I can make you just as happy as any ’bot can.”

Pressed up against him that way, Milla had to tip her head back extra far to see his face. He was still smiling, but it didn’t reach his eyes. Not the way it would have on a COK or a DIK, whose emotional triggers were genuine and unfakeable. The fullness in his briefs, however, felt real and substantial. She ran her hands up his bulging biceps to rest on his shoulders.

“I have to be honest with you,” she said. “I really wanted a ’bot.”

She waited for his answer. Jarden pulled her slowly closer, his big hands resting on her rear. “I promise you, I can do anything you want.”

He bent to nuzzle her neck, and Milla closed her eyes as she let him. His mouth and tongue felt no different on her skin than a ’bot’s would have. His hands were rougher, but that wasn’t a bad thing. In fact, those rough hands excited her. Maybe it was because of the Arous-All, but the more he kissed and sucked and nibbled at her neck, the hotter Milla got.