Studenstein (Love-Bots, Book Two) Read Free Page B

ripped his finger off.
    They turned a corner into a campground. A loop of road led to small, bare patches of dirt. Most were filled with cars or tents. A couple held small trailers or camper vans. Shani pulled into an empty space. “You aren’t going anywhere without me.”
    Royce’s pulse beat in his temple—of course, he had to be kidnapped by the only woman on the planet immune to his charms. He knew he could get in control of this at some point, but for now his finger hurt and he had to pee. Without a program streaming through his mind, he did not have the energy to be nice. “Fine.” He reached for the door handle. It was locked.
    “Child locks.” Shani clicked a button.
    Making a noise that sounded like “Tchah!” he climbed out of the van. Royce waited for her to tell him where to go. It might have hurt his pride, if he hadn’t been powerless a thousand times over. “Bathroom?”
    “Oh yeah.” She sounded uncomfortable, and Royce was glad. “Yeah, me too.” She surveyed the campground. “Over there.”
    He thought about running, but she came around to his side of the van too fast. In a last-ditch effort, Royce tried to link to his makers in his mind again. He failed. “What have you done to me?” He wasn’t programmed to do violence—neither to humans or steins, but his fists clenched as if he wanted to punch something. “Why am I off my network?”
    Shani wrapped a hand around his upper arm. In the dark she seemed softer, more like the woman with frightened eyes at the club. “I didn’t dig out your chips, if that’s what you’re asking.” She urged him forward.
    “You know I won’t work for long detached from headquarters.” His voice sounded nervous to his ears, its pitch rising. Normally, smooth and low was the only way he could speak. His breath caught in his chest and little white dots flashed in his sight.
    Only when he felt Shani’s warm, dry hand close over his other biceps did Royce’s heartbeat plateau to a steadier drum.
    “You’re okay.” She held him upright when he might have stumbled. “I’ve been blocking your network connection for hours. If you were going to die from it…”
    His anger spiked along with his panic. “Oh, well thanks! I’m glad I didn’t happen to die!” Royce stepped past her, heading in the direction of a squat, rectangular building lit from within. Signs on the walls indicated restrooms. They’ll find me soon , he told himself. No need to worry. “ You wanted me badly enough to risk killing me?” He picked up the pace, remembering what Brenda had told him about how people and competing companies might want to steal him. A licensed, high-functioning love-bot cost more than a private jet.
    “I don’t want you for anything, asshat.” Shani sped up so that they practically raced for the bathroom. “I set you free.”
    He would have rounded on her if he didn’t have to pee so badly. “There was nothing to set me free from!” Royce ducked into the open door marked with a male symbol. He wasn’t surprised when Shani followed, though he was glad she stopped near the entrance.
    The bathroom lights glared down, buzzing softly against the silence of the forest. Royce considered retreating into a stall, but thought better of it. He wasn’t going to hide what his maker gave him to make her more comfortable. “You may want to turn around.” He noticed his voice had fallen back to its normal, lower pitch as he stepped up to the urinal. For a second, Royce thought he saw a snippet of data in the corner of his mind. When he blinked, though, he realized it must have been the tiny red light on the flush mechanism.
    Blinking back his annoyance, Royce unfastened the front of his leather jeans and worked his hand inside to free his dick from the snug pants. He hadn’t worn boxer briefs, not wanting an underwear line showing. His skin inside was damp with sweat. A fold of skin caught, and he rolled his pants lower on his hips to get comfortable.
    He