Page 12 of Entity

“I know all about you, Katherine Fox.”

“I updated him before you arrived,” Ian clarifies. “Uploaded all your info. It’s wireless, of course. He doesn’t need Bluetooth. No wi-fi necessary. That’s another thing we’re working on — integrating tech that doesn’t cut out, that isn’t exclusive from device to device. Imagine if individual Eroses could speak to each other, receive instructions without needing me to upload data. The possibilities! Endless. Endless.”

“Wow,” I say, staring up at the Pleasurebot. His hand still cups my face. His gaze is sweet, his brows arched over bright blue eyes. There are absolutely no flaws. No hints that he’s inhuman. He’s fuckingperfect. I feel like a whole new world just opened up before me.

“Katherine Fox,” says Eros, “how are you?”

“Call her Kit,” Ian says, coming around to stand beside me. “She prefers Kit.”

“I’m sorry,” says Eros, dropping his hand. He smiles, bright as the sun. “Kit.”

Ian turns to me. “Want to fuck him?”

5

The question takesme off guard. “Oh, no thanks. I’m good for now.” Not that I wouldn’t gladly, but I’m a little shocked by the brazenness of Ian’s offer. Eros is right there. He can hear us.

Ian shrugs.

I wonder if Eros is offended by the question. Or is he excited? Does he care? But of course he doesn’t. He’s a Pleasurebot. He’s artificial. Every emotion on that face was pre-programmed.

“I’ll send him up to you later if you want,” Ian says. “You can’t leave without sampling. Eros will make you come so hard you cry.”

“Talk about pull quotes,” I say, half-laughing, trying to ignore the way my body responds. “I’m putting that in the book.”

“I’ll give you better sound bites,” Ian says, waving a dismissive hand. “We’re just getting started. You hungry yet? I’ll make breakfast.”

Eros seems to understand that his meet and greet is over. He returns to his dais with elegant steps, and I can’t drag my eyes away. He moves like a dancer, every muscle taut and poised. He assumes the David pose, but when Ian bends to press the spot on Eros’s heel, my chest constricts.

“Wait.”

Ian turns to me with a questioning look.

“Can he… Can Eros join us for breakfast?” I smile at Eros; I can’t help it. He smiles back. “For the book.”

Ian straightens, eyeing me. “He can’t eat.”

“That’s okay. I’d just love to speak with him. To see your dynamic.”

Ian turns to Eros. “You want to come to breakfast?”

Eros’s smile broadens. “I would love to join you for breakfast, Kit.”

I grin back.

“Yeah, yeah, all right, let’s go. Come on.” Ian makes for the door, pausing to let me go through first. He and Eros join me in the hallway, Eros looking comically bizarre in that cement-grey corridor with his gauzy toga and golden skin.

Ian closes the door behind us. “So, Kit, you like him?”

I glance at Eros, then back at Ian. “Of course I like him. Is it… I mean, he knows we’re talking about him. Does he mind? Eros, do you mind?”

“I don’t mind,” Eros says.

“He doesn’t mind,” Ian repeats, pushing his glasses up his nose. “Right, Eros? You don’t mind. You want to fuck Kit later?”

“Jesus, Ian—”

“It would be an immeasurable honor,” Eros says, taking me by the hand. He gazes into my eyes like a lover. I have to look away; the strange sweetness of his gaze almost hurts.

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