Chapter 4

 "Umm, what?" I raise an eyebrow at Noe. "I'm not going to your gala if that is what you're implying."

"I beg to differ." Noe steps closer to me. "You are my fiancee, and I will present you as such."

I bark out a laugh. "Please! Didn't you just finish insulting my humanity? Thought you didn't want a weak human Queen?"

Noe grits his teeth. "That is not what I meant, Lara. Please don't twist my words! I am only trying to protect you! Do you know how many enemies I have? What they would do when they discover I have a human weakness?" He sits down on the edge of the bed. A snicker escapes my lips."Well then, forgive me. Here I thought a man like you wants a woman as a trophy." 

Noe's eyes trail over my body, a sharp glint appearing in his eyes. "You don't need a beauty upgrade. You're quite beautiful without one." His arms reach out and pull me into his lap. I struggle in his hold, but somehow he forces my body to straddle his lap. I feel something hard poke my inner thigh. Well, at least that solves the mystery of androids having normal human urges. " I'm not lying, baby. It's for your protection. You shouldn't worry about the change. It can be quite fun to be an android. For example, a beauty implant materializes evening gowns, updos, makeup... lingerie." He growls the last bit, his hands slipping into my hair. I glare at him and shove his hands away from my head. "Don't touch me!"

Quicker than lighting, I am thrown against the bedpost, my head smacking against the marble rest. "Owww." Noe crawls on top of me, grabbing my wrists and painfully squeezing them above my head. "Do that again, and I will tie you to my bed, naked. I won't have your disrespect, Lara. That may have been well with that low scum, Aller, but you do as I say!" He punches the mattress next to my head. "I have been hospitable to you! Do you know how many women would gladly grovel for a chance to be my Queen? Not to mention I am being a gentleman and not dragging you to my room!"

Is this man serious? I should be thanking him?! Instead, I meet his dominating glance. "Then find one of those women. I don't want to be yours." He chuckles, his eyes shifting to my lips. He lowers his head, zeroing in on my mouth. My brain told me to play along, but my mouth had other ideas. "You want to kiss me? Eww. How old are you forty?"

Noe smiles, his hands dropping to the hem of my shirt. With a rip, my shirt falls from my body, leaving me exposed to Noe. His eyes hungrily graze over my covered breasts. "What was that?" Age doesn't matter anymore, baby. Now, as for your insolent tongue, would you like to keep sassing me? Perhaps you are wearing far too many clothes." He leans down further until our breaths are mingling. Despite my disgust of him, my attraction to him grew by the second. I can't help but look at his kissable full lips and his sensual smirk. His brown-gold eyes held a hint of danger, and his rugged face completed his gorgeous syndicate boss persona. My heart begins beating erratically as his warm breath fans over my lips. His hand slowly creeps up my cheek, brushing a loose hair strand from my face. 

The world falls away, leaving the two of us in a bubble. As he caresses my face, I see a lingering look in his eyes. Still, as quickly as it appeared, it is replaced with his signature arrogance. His eyes shift back and forth from my hazel eyes to my lips. I close my eyes, waiting to feel his lips touch mine. After a couple of minutes, a deep chuckle startles me. Fluttering my eyes open, I see the cruel smirk of Noe. "What a lovely sight. You waiting for my kiss. Remember this the next time you dare question me. I will kiss you when I want when I please. I look forward to taming you.." He stands and straightens his suit. "Now, I'm going to have a maid come and get you ready for the masquerade gala this evening. You will be there as my fiancee. I expect you to compose yourself as such." He takes my hand and kisses it. "Until tonight, baby."

I groan in frustration when he exits the room. What was I thinking? How could I have wanted such a vile android to kiss me? 

A knock on the door interrupts my thoughts. A short girl in a crisp white suit enters, bowing in greeting. "Good evening Miss Lara. Mr. Weston has requested my assistance in helping you ready for the gala this evening." The girl motions to a plush red chair in front of a vanity. "I am Odessa. I am at your disposal during your stay at The Weston Mansion."

I move to the vanity, letting Odessa guide me. "Didn't you hear? That narcissist plans on making my stay permanent."

"Yes, he did mention it briefly," Odessa says, uninterested. She seemed to pass the information like a mere pleasantry. "He seems to have taken a shine to you. More accurately, I believe his attraction is more of the sexual nature."

"Odessa, I'm aware, thank you." I try to change the subject. The maid twists my dark brown hair into different updos. Odessa doesn't seem to catch on to my sarcasm as she prattles on. "Fascinating thing, really. When Terils distributed android technology to the first android-human hybrid, they thought all human needs would be met. We, unlike your species, don't waste our time on pleasurable activities. The upgrades seem to have the opposite effect on us; we crave it, like water."Odessa settles on a half down/up style. 

"You're an android?" How is a maid an android? I thought all of those things were living in a life of luxury. Odessa ignores my question."You are quite beautiful-as he claims. I must say I'm intrigued by you. When Noe saw you on the security vision this afternoon, he seemed like he became entranced. I could tell he wanted you. An android like him gets whatever his heart desires." I give up on trying to get Odessa to stop talking, listening with resignation.

"Here." Odessa drapes a champaign-colored evening dress wrapped in plastic wrap. "Since you are human, we had to find attire. Forgive us for not having something readily available. Terils and androids don't need such trivial things; we merely press and button and wear whatever we desire." Odessa backs away and surveys her work. "You look, as they say-stunning. Come, I will escort you down to the party. Mr. Weston is waiting."