Artificial Mates - Chapter 34

“You want to sync… with us?” Grant pulled away from me, eyes full of questions. Demos nibbled at my ear making me shiver with pleasure. My lids closed feeling his lips brushed against my neck. My mind melted around their warmth. Each centimeter of skin in contact with both of them fired up.

“She’s only teasing you,” whispered Demos making my heart leap. I shoved him away and glared at him. His comment snapped me from the hazy state.

“I’m serious!” they both stepped away from me as if I was contagious. “What? Let’s get it over. Let’s sync now,” I shouted tapping my feet. Grant frowned at me while Demos looked away a little embarrassed. My brows furrowed with concern. Their reactions took me by surprise; I thought they would be happy about this. What’s with that mixture of disbelief and discomfort?

“I have to get to work later and it’s my first day,” Demos scratched the back of his head. What did that have to do with that syncing business? How did this become so complicated? Grant got closer to me while sighing.

“Liliane, to sync you need preparation. You also have to go back to work today, right?” he asked without breaking eye contact. I nodded after a moment. Preparation? What preparation? This thing was starting to freak me out.

“We’ll talk about it when you get back,” he squeezed my shoulder lightly for comfort. His warmth oozed through the material of my shirt easing the tension building up in my shoulder. His eyes changed to aquamarine, he was using his thing again to control me. I quickly pulled away.

“Listen, you’ve been pestering me with it and now that I’ve given in, you’re asking me to wait,” Demos moved away from us, went to his usual spot on the couch in the living room. I turned to him searching his expression for support. I couldn’t read his poker face. “Why are you so silent now? Come on, say something,” he lay back with his arms behind his head.

“Grant is right, if we sync right now, it could be dangerous if I go out in the field. I won’t be at my full potential. I don’t want to fail on my first day,” my legs grabbed me next to his couch and sunk beside him. I sighed taking my head in my hand.

“Guys, you’re scaring me,” I stare at my foot tapping nervously. Grant closed the distance between us in seconds; he dropped to his knees and took my hands in his. His silver eyes glimmering with worry.

“Liliane, syncing isn’t scary, you will need to prepare before and after, that’s all,” this all the stuff they were telling me, now he was trying to convince me it’s safe. I narrowed my eyes at him. Bullshit!

“Your thing sounds a lot like some weird s.e.x position,” my lips twisted in disgust. “Please, tell me I’m wrong,” I turned pleading eyes at Demos who smirked back at me making my heart leaped with apprehension.

“Don’t look at me. It’s also my first sync with a human. I’m getting the same concerns. I don’t have the answers,” he smiled yet it didn’t touch his copper eyes. Grant tugged at my hand to get my attention. I slowly shifted back at him.

“Liliane, don’t worry. It won’t hurt. The quick guide say it is harmless,” I watched him as he stroke my hand with his thumb tracing small circles on my skin. I let out a shaky breath.

“You’re sure?” he brought my hands to his lips and kissed them.

“Promise, Princess. For now, it’s 4:16 am. You need to sleep. I bet it will be a busy day,” he cheered. I slowly shook my head, my mind drifting to my workplace. My stomach crunched, what if more rumors had spread? Then my thoughts shifted to all the piles of samples waiting for me.

“Let’s pray I don’t have to do overtime,” I murmured, Grant gave me a tight smile.

“Overtime will ruin our plans,” he gave out a nervous laugh. I got to my feet with our sync still on my mind. Terrible scenarios of what I thought it was, ran in circles. When I entered my quiet room, an idea popped in my head.

“Guys!” I called, both rushed to the door in seconds. I flinched when I looked over my shoulder and found them in the doorway.

“What’s wrong?” they asked in unison with identical panic on their faces. The memory of the attack still fresh, the emotions attached to it, raw. I forced a smile as an apology.

“I wanted to get some help… with the bed,” my voice trailed off. Their eyes darted from me to the queen size bed in the middle of the room. I cleared my throat before continuing. “Since it can’t fit the three of us. With Demos’ weight and all… also, I can’t afford to buy a larger one, right now. I thought I’d disassemble it then send it for recycling. We could get some units for scrap wood,” they both eyed me in silence. It made me terribly anxious not knowing what they were thinking.

“I don’t want you to sit down by the bed. It’s a little unfair,” I added quickly to Demos trying to fill in the silence. His eyebrows arched up.

“You want me to sleep in bed… with you? All three of us… in bed?” he asked doubtfully. I don’t know how he managed to make it sound s.e.x.u.a.l, the jerk. I lowered my eyes to the floor. This syncing thing was probably s.e.x.u.a.l too. Maybe, I was reading too much into it. Ok, I wasn’t addressing the right issue here. I haven’t even acknowledged their feeling for me. I’ve just brushed their confessions with a slap of the hand. I shook my head desperate to make a sense out of the chaos happening inside of me.

“I-I want us… to get to know each other. I mean, it’s been weeks that we are together but so much had happened we didn’t have enough time together. I-I want you to know I need you in my life,” I dared to lift my head and faced them. Both held my gaze yet stayed silent. I cleared my throat as the tension built up. “Please, say something. The silence is killing me,” I fidgeted as I waited. Grant took a step forward.

“Let’s get this bed out,” he simply added Demos nodded in agreement. In minutes, it got pulled apart. I went to search for the vacuum cleaner and fresh sheets. Everyone worked quietly trying not to bump in each other. It felt unreal that I was preparing my bed to invite two guys to sleep on it. Where did my morals go? My neurons were working overtime to coop with the situation. I smoothed out the sheet with Grant’s help while Demos took the pieces of wood that made the bed in the living room. I really wanted to know what was going on behind his silver eyes.

“Do you need pillows? I think I have some inflated ones when Lyla used to come for sleepovers,” Grant gave me a tight smile that made my heart ached. I quickly escaped to the bathroom to retrieve them from the cabinet. My heart drummed, my hands shook when I pulled them out along with two pillowcases. Shit! Get it together, Liliane. What’s with the heavy atmosphere? I caught sight of my blood-shot eyes in the mirror above the sink. I looked terrible. I dropped the pillows and splashed some water over my face, took deep breaths to calm my senses.

“We are ready,” called Grant from the room. I heart made an attempt to escape through my mouth. I gripped the front of my shirt. Calm the f.u.c.k down! We are not even doing the sync thing and I’m already having a heart attack. Get a grip! Flashes of what-if scenarios popped in my heart including one with both of them n.a.k.e.d and waiting when I open the door. I had to slap myself and slashed more water onto my face to flush it out of my head. When I pushed the bathroom door that naughty thought lingered. However, I found both of them fully dressed sitting crossed legged facing each other on the mattress. They looked up in alert. I had to laugh at my own ridiculous sadist mind. I nearly dropped what I was holding.

“What’s so funny?” asked Grant. I waved a hand at him dismissing his question. I couldn’t stop my giggles.

“You wouldn’t get it. It’s a girl thing,” I sunk beside them with a grin. Grant took the pillow and inflated them.

“Try us?” added Demos in a challenge. I pulled my own pillow and hugged it. I cheeks flushed, having them, this close made me hypersensitive.

“Human sense of humor…” I added then laid on the mattress turning my back to him. Grant handed a pillow to Demos, his eyes dropped on me.

“Are you sure you want us to be here?” he frowned at me. He was as nervous as I was, it made me relax a little.

“Yeah, just help me sleep with your magic,” I chuckled. He took a moment to study my face then nodded towards Demos. I felt the mattress moved as they settled down. Grant pulled the sheet around me covering only me. Even though I could feel Demos behind me, we didn’t touch. Grant kept his distance; I was surprised he hadn’t felt off the mattress.

“Give me your hands,” he whispered as he gazed into my eyes. With my head on the pillow and laying on my side, I gave him my cold sweaty hands. My heart accelerated when our skin came into contact. My breathing came out raspy. A slow smile stretched on his lovely face. His curly brown hair spread over the white pillow.

“It’s ok, just breathe slowly,” I watched as his eyes turned to that beautiful taint of blue and green. His face seemed to blur. I blinked when my eyelids became heavy. “Don’t fight it, listen to my voice. Sleep,” he voice faded as I drifted to slumber.

***

I stretched my arms knocking my hand into something solid. I blinked away the sleep and rolled to my side.

“What the…?” I lifted myself on an arm. I was sitting on someone’s laps. I gave a small scream before jumping away. Demos smirked at me.

“Good morning, you’re lively today,” he laughed, Grant stirred behind me. I struggled on all fours to get up but Demos pulled me back towards him. “Where do you think you’re going?” he laughed as I fought against his grip.

“Let go!” I yelled. Grant watched us with a smile.

“He actually enjoy when you struggle,” his comment made me go limp with wide eyes. “However, if you don’t hurry, both of you will be late for work,” Demos groaned in frustration then gave a quick kiss on my exposed belly before getting off. I squealed at the surprise attack goosebumps breaking all over my body.

“Can I use your bathroom, first,” he went for the door then paused for my approval. It was funny how natural it felt for them to use this space… my space. After all, it was their home. Our house. I will need time to accept that thought. I slowly nodded then turned to Grant.

“Good morning, Princess. Did you sleep well?” surprisingly I did.

“Thanks, I feel a lot better,” I gave him a timid smile. He leaned in but I instinctively moved back. He paused and blinked at my reaction.

“Sorry, bad breath,” I averted my face in embarrassment. He chuckled and pulled closer brushing his lips tentatively against mine. “I don’t mind,” he whispered in the sweetest voice. Something broke loose in me, something I never thought was there in the first place, taking over me. I pulled him into a long passionate kiss slowly savoring the moment.

“I thought we were running late!” called a deep voice from the bathroom door. Somehow, I was lying in bed with Grant over me. I quickly moved away feeling guilty. He chuckled at my reaction. “You do know that everything he feels… I feel it too,” he licked his lips. My ears rang with embarrassment. Demos let out a throaty laugh. I pushed away from the bed, marched to my closet, dragged whatever I got my hand on and slammed the bathroom door behind me. Why did he have to tease me all the time that jerk!

A quarter of an hour later, I was ready for work wearing knee-long shorts and a pink shirt. Demos waited for me by the front door and Grant handed me a hot tea and my lunch. He was wearing his pink apron with Honey written on the front. I couldn’t help but giggle.

“There a sandwich for your breakfast inside. You should eat it; I’ll come to pick you up after work. So, don’t you worry,” he smiled. When I finished my tea he added, “I eagerly wait for our talk, tonight,” he stressed on the last word making my heart skipped a beat.

“Thanks, honey,” I gave him a quick kiss. Demos cleared his throat showing his impatience. I rushed to him.

“Do you want a goodbye kiss too? It seems awfully jealous!” I snapped at him. He paused in the doorway eyeing me. Then he reached and gave me a quick peck on the forehead leaving me stunt.

“No, you’re the one begging for a kiss. Sorry, you’ll have to wait tonight,” he smirked as we got outside. My eyes kept coming back to his sharp profile all the way to the station in front of SolTec. He waved me goodbye at the station. He kept apologizing that he be late if he miss the next Transfer back to level Twenty-two. I wished him good luck on his first day. I stood on the platform where we first kissed, watching as he grabbed the Transfer for work. I didn’t mind walking to the company alone. When I climbed the stairs to the front of the building, no murmur greeted me. Actually, everyone walked as far as possible without making eye contact. Still, my stomach clenched when I slid my bracelet at the panel by the door. It will be a long day, I sighed.