Double Take

Steven set the table with the simple dinner. He heard Sam come out of the bath and chat with Jaqueline. Sounds came from the bedroom of rummaging through what he could only surmise was Jacks closet possibly looking for clothes for Sam. He smiled with the notion they were enjoying each other's company.

"Jacks. Why did I use that name?" Steven thought. It's not like she gave anyone permission to call her that. She'd just mentioned it was the name her mom called her and it felt so natural after that.

Steven's thoughts turned to worry, how is this going to work out. Sam is a robot. The thought melted his mind. How is it possible that I got himself mixed up in this mess. All I did was fall in love, how was I supposed to know it wasn't with an actual human. Matthew and Jacks did too good of a job building a life like human companion. She had all the right curves, just the way I never knew I liked. Maybe if I would've dated more real women instead of the occasional business functions that ended up on the cover of The Sun as my new love interest. My mind was always on working the next deal and never on what I like about each woman. How was I supposed to know what I like without having a basic outline based on my dating history.

Steven could feel himself spiraling down a vortex, beating himself up for not paying more attention to things that matter in life rather than chasing the all mighty dollar. Money isn't everything, but it has bought him freedom and security. The ability to discover that the real successes in life are best shared with someone he loves.

Walking out of the dining room Steven spotted a freshly manicured body dressed in loose flowing khaki slacks with a black and white polka-dotted blouse. Smiling he sidled up behind her and wrapping his arms around her waist, nuzzling the nape of her neck. Feeling her body tense at the initial surprise but then relax and lean back into him. The way her body responded to him made his heart melt into her. He never wanted to let her go. Nibbling her neck with his lips he inched his way to the back of her ear. He was enjoying the taste of her skin. Whatever lotion Jacks lent her, he needed to purchase some for Sam because her smell was intoxicating.

Her chest was heaving deeper with each breath the harder he sucks on her neck. Taking the ear lobe between his teeth he swore he heard a soft moan escape as she reached her hands up to wrap around his arms snug around her waist. She squeezed his arms as if begging to be closer, held tighter. Steven opened his eyes to spin her around. He wanted to taste her mouth. He caught the horrified eyes of someone standing in the doorway. Confused at the expression Steven paused as the reality of Sam staring back at him slapped him in the face. He dropped his arms and stepped back as Jacks turned around. Looking from one face to the other trying to make sense of the situation.

"I'm...I'm..I'm so sorry. I thought.." Steven couldn't organize his thoughts fast enough to make sense. He kept stepping backwards until he ran into the wall.

"No, I'm sorry," Jacks staring up into Steven's face. "I'm..We...You caught me off guard and, and I couldn't speak. I haven't been touched like that in so long my mind just disappeared." Fidgeting with her blouse, then her hair, and moving her hands to flatten the front of her pants she didn't know what she should be doing, but she couldn't stop fretting.

Steven and Jacks both turned to Sam who still hadn't said a thing. Not moving from the doorway her horrified expression solidly in place.

The reality of the situation started to settle over the room. "I know this sounds like such a jerk thing to say, but am I supposed to feel guilty for enjoying a mans touch because his robot girlfriend, who is a representation of me, might be upset?" Jacks gestures toward Sam.

"How are we going to do this? How are we going to tell you two apart?" Steven's voice went up an octave or two.

"How are you going to do this, Steven?" Jacks tone came off a bit harsher than intended, but it was a fair question. "Are you going to continue to build a relationship with your inanimate sex companion?"

All eyes are on Steven now. Feeling the temperature of his skin rise as if he has an internal thermometer that indicates he's broaching fatal conditions.