SexedUp (9 page)

“Are you insane? My company spent twenty
million dollars for your DNA. There is no way we’ll stop what we’re doing.”

“Then what is your solution? Enslave me?”
he glared at Ellen.

“Were all males so…aggressive?” Ellen
frowned at him.

“Some more than others.”

“William,” Randi said, her lower lip
quivering. “What is it you want?”

“Truth.”

“You want us to announce your existence to
the world?” she asked.

“No. I want us to go away someplace quiet
and remote. Have a life. Raise a family.”

“That’s not going to happen,” Ellen said.
“Our world is dying. The little amount of sperm in the banks that was
salvageable will soon be depleted.”

“Why?” Randi asked. “Why didn’t you tell
me, William?”

“Would you have listened?”

“I hope so.”

“I wanted to, baby. I did.” He moved over
and drew her into his arms. She felt tiny and frail, not the powerhouse
take-charge women he’d grown to know and love.

“I’m so damn jealous,” Ellen groaned and
dropped back into the chair. “I was looking forward to a demonstration.” She
sat there staring at him when suddenly a grin stretched over her lips.
“Luckily, we only sent you a
sample
of the DNA. I had no idea you could
do
this
with the material. That means instead of a thousand Williams
we’ll have tens of thousands.” She straightened in the chair. Her eyes widened
on him.

William tightened his fists by his sides.
If Ellen continued to treat him like a piece of meat or some kind of sex toy,
he couldn’t be responsible for what he might do.

“Would you agree to let us do that?”

“Only as long as Ellen agrees not to sell
the clones disguised as sex toys. You let them make the choice of what they
want to do. Who they want to be with.”

“Where’s the return on our investment if I
do that? My Board of Directors will never agree—”

“The return is to no longer be doomed to a
one-gender race and eventual extinction,” he said. “After all, wasn’t that the
secret purpose of this project?”

Ellen stiffened in the chair, squaring her
shoulders.

“Didn’t you want to save the world? Or was
it to screw the world and make millions?” he jeered.

“That’s not fair. We expected to at least
break even before we revealed the truth. But I think I can convince the board
to accept these terms. What about long-range plans? You’re first generation and
even with thousands more like you, we still can’t repopulate the world. Second
generation clones will be risky. Can you assure me the other clones will go
along with sperm donations, if they can produce sperm?”

“We can reach an agreement for regular
sperm donations with certain stipulations,” William said.

Ellen looked from him to Randi.

“Okay. I think we can make this work.”
Ellen smiled, letting her stare move over him.

William frowned. He didn’t like being ogled
as if he were the main course on a buffet table.

“I apologize, William, it’s just you’re the
only male I’ve ever seen, or talked with.”

“I understand.”

“And you’ll have to get used to being
stared at. When we make the announcement of Randi’s breakthrough, everyone will
want to see you and your clone brothers. When we go public, the world government
will attempt to stop us. It was one thing to believe we were creating a cyborg,
but quite another to have succeeded in creating a human male.”

“Enhanced human male,” he corrected,
smiling down at Randi.

“How long will it take to begin the
cloning?” Ellen asked.

“If William is willing, we can start
tomorrow.” Randi tightened her arms around his waist. Her upturned face was
tense and her eyes dancing with hope. “It’s up to you, William.”

The next few weeks were hectic. Randi was
at the offsite secret lab Ellen set up for the mass production and only able to
steal a few hours every couple of days to go home and be with William. Guards
were placed outside her home and although she talked with him via the holograph
phone, it still wasn’t the same. She ached for him when they were apart. Even
the sex they shared when she stole an hour or two wasn’t enough to appease her
longing.

He began to tell her about his life—the
life he remembered. It sounded so strange and at the same time very romantic.
It was impossible to imagine the expanse of land mass and all the cities now
underwater. But the things she thought about whenever her thoughts locked on to
him, like a radar seeking its target, were her memories of him. The way the
corners of his lips turned up. The excitement mirroring in his brown eyes
whenever he looked at her. How wonderful his hands felt gliding over her,
massaging and touching. Those were the things she knew about William, not the
man who had lived before.

She had trouble keeping her mind on work.
It was more than the great sex…so much more. It was the way he talked to her,
expressed his ideas and beliefs that made her crave more time with him.

She worked with three other scientists
around the clock producing more Williams and Randi still found it unsettling to
watch one William after another incubate and remain in stasis awaiting the
moment of activation. The cloning process impacted her in ways she’d not
considered. Fear and doubt seeped in and confused her. Were her feelings for
her William real? Was he unique or would his clones be exact copies of him down
to his personality and distinct quirks that made him so human?

It required all her mental will to shove
those concerns aside and keep the main reason for this project in her forethoughts.
This was for the future of her race. The days and nights felt endless and as
the weeks dragged on, she began to feel claustrophobic confined to the
production facility, even though it was a mass complex.

She’d help set up the security protocols
but worried there would be a breach before the project was launched. She
constantly sensed the lurking presence of the opposition and should they
discover the real product she was creating, Randi had no doubt her life would
be forfeited in an attack to destroy the clones.

With her colleagues’ help, they’d enhanced
the DNA with more nanites, making the steel skeletal structure unnecessary
since the nanites could now stimulate the DNA to grow a complete body. This
shortcut increased the turn-around time to one week for one male with the
capacity to create five hundred a week.

It was midafternoon when Randi left the lab
for an hour break. She was so excited just thinking about being with William,
she nearly had an orgasm on the limo ride from the lab. She left the two
security guards in the penthouse lobby and closed the door leading to her
private foyer. Protocol didn’t allow her to lock the guards out of the
penthouse, but at least the door would allow her some privacy with her lover.

She found William sitting on the secluded
penthouse balcony, looking out over the ocean. The wind lifted his hair,
revealing the face chiseled into her heart. Her breath caught in her throat.
Deep emotions welled inside her and she pushed the words past the rising lump
in her throat.

“I hope you’re thinking about me,” she
said.

He jumped from the chair, turning to her
with a wide smile.

“Baby, I’ve missed you so much.” He took
long strides to her and Randi fell into his arms, loving the way it felt being
held by him.

Their kiss was hot and urgent. His mouth
covered hers and his tongue pushed past her lips before she could open her
mouth to receive him. He plunged his tongue inside, imitating how he fucked
her, and her pulse jumped. Moaning against his kiss, Randi found herself swept
up into powerful arms as he carried her through the rooms and to their bed.

Their bed.

The thought filled her with warm
satisfaction. He was her man. Her lover. She broke from the kiss, gasping for
breath.

“William,” she panted.

“Baby, I want to kiss every inch of you,”
he groaned and slipped his hands underneath her clothes. He tugged the bra
above her breasts, not bothering to unclasp it, and toyed with her nipples
until they puckered hard beneath his touch. Heat lashed her throat and she
trembled under his lovemaking.

“I don’t have much time,” she gasped.

“Just long enough for a quickie then?
That’s what we used to call them, or is this a lunch break? Those were called
nooners.”

“Did you have many lovers? Your other
self?” The thought struck her. She’d never thought about his past lovers.

“We’re not going to discuss that. Ever,” he
said and lowered his head. Firm lips closed over one of her nipples and he
flicked his tongue over it.

Her breath latched in her throat and a low
groan parted her lips. This seemed to incite him, driving him wild with desire
as he rushed to remove her clothes. Randi found herself tugging the tunic over
his head. His tousled hair fell over his eyes and he jerked his head to one
side, sending the unruly strands from his face.

The look in his eyes made Randi’s pulse
throb. Warm hands traveled up her thighs and underneath her skirt, groping for
her panties. He cursed under his breath as the silk stretched from her. The
ripping sound as the material split under his determination sent a new wave of
excitement tumbling through her.

“Sorry,” William mumbled and tossed the
torn panties to the floor. The appreciative look on his face told her that he
wasn’t the least bit sorry.

Neither was she when he moved down the bed
and separated her legs so he could wedge himself between them. He lowered his
head and the sensation of his tongue dancing over the building heat in her clit
took her breath in a deep groan. She would never get tired of his wonderful
touch. She’d always crave more.

“William.”

Strong fingers plunged inside her pussy
while he lapped up her juices, sending fire streaking through her with the rush
of need his touch sent up her spine. Writhing and rolling her hips to the
frenetic rhythm, the orgasm flashed and burst in her head. She cried out and
gripped his head as delightful spasms racked her, making her clench tightly
around his fingers.

“Oh baby, I love watching you come,” he
whispered and laved her pussy with his tongue, easing his fingers from inside
her.

There was a loud knock on the door and
Randi startled from the intense pleasure gripping her body.

“Dr. Mayers. You’re needed back at the lab,
pronto!” came the female security guard’s voice.

“Dammit,” Randi breathed. “I’m so sorry,
William.” She sat up in bed.

“Give me five minutes,” she called.

“Ellen Forte is at the lab and insisting
you return—now.” The guard’s muffled voice sounded strained.

“I’m on my way.”

“William,” she whispered and flattened her
hand against his cheek, loving the way his face felt with the beginnings of a
five o’clock shadow.

“It’s okay, baby. Once your project is
over, we’ll have our entire lives. I want to marry you, Randi.” His brown eyes
were wide and full of emotion. “I love you. Promise me you’ll think about it.”

Her cheeks rushed hot. Tears welled in her
eyes and for the first time Randi realized she had a future with William. All
doubts and fears fell away from her.

“I don’t have to think,” she smiled. “Of
course I’ll marry you, William.”

* * * * *

Over the next week, Randi and her fellow
scientists were no longer allowed offsite due to Ellen’s direct orders. It
irritated Randi, but she understood Ellen’s security concerns. The long hours
were grueling but by the end of the week, with increased production, they had
enough cloned males to go public.

Ellen arrived to inspect the thousands of
Williams still in stasis. She turned to Randi, grinning like a very satisfied
cat in a mouse field.

“We’ll activate the clones in groups first
thing tomorrow morning right before we make the public announcement. I want
William here when we do,” Ellen said and Randi nodded, even though she didn’t
like the idea of exhibiting her future husband like he was some kind of new sex
toy. “I know you don’t want him in the limelight, Randi, but you do understand
his importance, don’t you?” Ellen paused and looked down at her. “You have
feelings for him.”

“We’re going to be married, Ellen. I love
him.”

“I see. Then you can announce that as well.
It’ll make great press.”

Randi frowned but nodded, knowing if she
didn’t make the nuptials known, Ellen certainly would.

“Why don’t you go home and be with William
tonight. Dr. Lewis can watch over things here. Have Drs. Wiesenton and Fields
go home, too.

Randi was so anxious to talk with William
that she didn’t argue with Ellen about parading him about in the media frenzy
that would surely follow tomorrow’s announcement. She’d deal with it then.
Right now she just wanted to cuddle up with William and be lost in his arms.

It was after midnight when she finally
arrived home and was disappointed to find him asleep. Not at all the homecoming
she’d fantasized. She walked around the bed quietly, not wanting to startle him
awake and leaned down to touch his bare shoulder. Cold flesh assaulted her
fingertips. Ice cold.

Her pulse pounded erratically.

“No. No. No,” she sobbed and rolled him
over.

A scream tore from her. His complexion was
blue and his eyes lifeless.

The two guards rushed into the condo and
into her bedroom.

“What’s wrong?” One of the female security
guards came over to her.

Randi’s heart felt as though it was
breaking. How had this happened?

“Oh, William,” she sobbed, wanting to die,
and sunk to her knees beside him.

“Shit, call base. He’s dead.”

“Come on, Dr. Mayers. You don’t want to be
in here.” The guard grabbed onto her arms and helped Randi from the floor. “Go
on into the den, ma’am. We’ll handle this for you. Get Ellen Forte on the
phone. We have an emergency,” the guard yelled into her mic.

Randi didn’t remember anything that
preceded Ellen’s arrival. She was sitting on the balcony, recalling the evening
William had demonstrated how romantic he could be with the wine and rose petals
on the bed. Tears flowed down her cheeks. The pain was greater than anything
she’d ever known. She felt as though her heart had been ripped from her chest,
leaving a big hole of emptiness and longing. The ocean breeze battered against
her, tearing at her hair. Was this how her ancestors had felt when the men of
the world all died?

“I’m so sorry, Randi,” Ellen’s voice
sounded behind her, but she continued to stare out across the ocean. “I’ll have
him taken to the lab and we’ll do—”

“I don’t want to hear the details. He was
more than a project to me, Ellen. I loved him. He was a real man. Not a
machine.”

“I know that, Randi.” Ellen clamped her
hand over Randi’s shoulder. “We have to find out what happened though. If it is
cellular degeneration—”

“He was murdered.” Randi sniffed.

“What?”

“It’s the only explanation. He was perfect,
Ellen. Perfect.” Her voice quivered.

“No one was allowed inside your penthouse,
Randi.”

“Check your security guards, Ellen. One of
them did this.”

“I just can’t believe it. We cleaned house
before you went into the secret lab. I hired all new security. The ones
stationed here were approved by your private investigator.”

“I don’t care. Somehow they got to him and
killed him. Do the autopsy. You’ll see.”

“Why don’t you come stay at my house for a
while. Until—”

“I want to stay here. This is where I feel
closest to him,” Randi murmured between sobs.

“Okay.”

“Incoming call from security,” the house
computer interrupted them.

“I’ll take it out here,” Randi said and the
holographic image opened in front of her.

“Dr. Mayers, this is Captain Hanson.” The
officer was in a traditional security uniform but was wearing a helmet.
“There’s been a breach at the lab. The new lab. There was an explosion. Dr.
Lewis was inside. I’m afraid she didn’t make it. All the product has been
destroyed.”

Randi’s breath rushed from her as if she’d
been hit in the belly. She doubled over in a wave of nausea.

“Dr. Mayers?”

She stared at the officer through blurry
eyes, unable to respond.

“This is Ellen Forte,” Ellen interrupted.

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Are you sure all the product was
destroyed?”

“Where the building was there’s now a
gigantic hole in the ground resembling a crater, ma’am. See for yourself.” The
screen shot moved over the captain’s shoulder to a smoky scene that revealed a
smoldering charred crater in the ground.

A low wail vibrated in Randi’s throat. All
that was left of William was gone forever. She hugged herself and rocked
forward, trying to find some hope, some small part of the past few months she’d
spent with him. Everything had been destroyed. William’s legacy to the world
stolen. All hope for the future was gone.

“Call Drs. Wiesenton and Fields. Make sure
extra security is placed at their homes,” Ellen instructed.

“Yes, ma’am.”

“I’ll call you back in a few minutes.
Computer close call.” Ellen touched her shoulder. “I’m so sorry, Randi.”

“It’s over. Everything is gone.” Randi
shook her head.

“So it appears,” Ellen pursed her lips
together. “They got through even though we did everything we could to maintain
secrecy and security.”

“And they waited until we were finished.
Let us go through all this, believing we had succeeded and then destroyed it
all. Why? To show us we can’t beat them? William,” she cried.