Evolved(12)

When my eyelids were too heavy to keep open, I closed the book and slid it onto the bedside table. I switched the light off and settled down into bed, and Shaun did the same. He lay flat on his back but his head turned to me. “You are sleepy,” he murmured.

“Yeah.”

“Goodnight, Lloyd. Pleasant dreams.”

I smiled as I closed my eyes. “Goodnight, Shaun.”



I remembered feeling the sheet being pulled over me sometime in the middle of the night, and I remembered being aware that someone was in my bed, but I slept peacefully. And when I woke just before seven, I was on my side facing him. He lay there looking completely relaxed and patient. “Good morning,” he said with a smile.

“Morning.” God, he looked so damn good in my bed. A fact which didn’t help my morning erection.

“You slept well,” he said.

“I did.”

“Shall I prepare your morning coffee?”

“I’ll shower first,” I said.

“Do you need any assistance with that?”

I fought a smile. “I can manage, thank you.”

“Very well. What is on your agenda today?”

“I’ve taken vacation time from work to make sure your adjustment to living with me is smooth, so I don’t need to go to work. I thought I could show you the apartment complex, how to leave, should you ever need to.”

“Leave?” He blinked.

“In the case of a fire or another emergency.” I rolled onto my back and scrubbed my hands over my face. “Just for your own safety.”

“Very well.”

I sat up, trying to palm my dick as inconspicuously as I could. “I won’t be long in the shower. Please feel free to choose your clothes from your wardrobe.” I stood and walked straight to my bathroom. I didn’t mean to sound cold or like I was ordering him around. I just needed to get into the shower before I suggested we stay in bed.

Treat him like you would a human, I reminded myself. And with that in mind, I set the water to cold to douse any urgent desires. I couldn’t deny the attraction, I just needed to set the pace. And if he were human and we were dating, yesterday would’ve been our first date, which made today our second. I could introduce more touching, possibly even kissing. Desire stirred in my belly despite the cold water.

Would I want to stop at kissing today? Would he want to? Should I take his desire and need for affection into account, or as his custodian, did I know what was best for him?

Jesus. Stop overthinking it, Lloyd. Go with what feels right.

I shut off the water and quickly dried myself and dressed for the day. I chose my usual casual clothes: navy trousers and a knitted sweater. I’d been ridiculed most of my life for my choice in clothes. Always too nerdy as a small child and too uptight or preppy as an adult.

Whether being bullied—because I was a bookworm or because I was gay—attributed to my OCD or caused it, no one was sure. The many therapists I’d seen at my parents’ insistence when I was younger did nothing but tell me I was broken, either outright or on a subconscious level, because they were trying to “fix” me. Only broken things needed to be fixed. But I wasn’t broken. I didn’t need to be fixed. I needed to be understood.

And that was a difference no one could fathom. I didn’t want to be like them, I didn’t want their definition of normal. I wanted them to see the real me and to be okay with it. Though no one ever did.

Except for Shaun.

He looked me up and down when I walked into the kitchen. “You look very handsome today,” he said.

He was standing at the coffee dispenser, and he was wearing pants similar to mine, and a sweater. It helped that I chose his wardrobe, so he could wear what I liked, and I wondered if I’d taken away his choice.

“Thank you.” I took the cup he offered. “Do you like the clothes I bought you? Or would you prefer to choose your own style?”

He blinked as though my question didn’t compute with his expected reasoning. “I like them very much.”

“Well, just let me know if you’d prefer something different. I’m sure you can scan the internet for images of current fashions.”

“I can. I can search any image you require, and I can search fashions for androids. But I like this aesthetic. I feel these clothes represent my importance to you.”

His words took me by surprise. He wasn’t just saying he liked them to please me. He understood my concern, and he understood me. I could have him wear nothing if I asked him to or wear a maid’s costume outfit with crotchless underwear if that’s what I so desired. But I didn’t. I didn’t want to make him do anything. I wanted him to be my equal.

“Yes, I guess they do.” I sipped my coffee. “This is very good.”

He grinned. “I am glad you like it. I studied the manual and best practices guide. Can I get you anything else?”

I shook my head slowly. “Not just yet.”

“While you were sleeping, I performed a search-and-study on the book you were reading last night, so when you are finished, if you would like to discuss it, I will be more than happy to comply.”

“I’ve read it many times.” I sipped my coffee to hide my smile. “But I would like that, very much.”

Shaun looked so peaceful, so composed, and so utterly perfect. “So, in your opinion,” he started, “is Captain Ahab simply a character on an adventure, or is the white whale a metaphor for something more complex?”