Programmed To Please (The Tau Cetus Chronicles) by Jenna Ives Read Free Book Online

lunch.”
    “You never go out to lunch.”
    “I’m making an exception this week.”
    The information seemed to take Chavis aback. “ Every day this week? Where exactly are
     you going?”
    “None of your damned business.”
    Chavis eyed him suspiciously, and Marque couldn’t blame him. Security was everything
    in their line of work. And for Marque not to give Chavis a straight answer was a definite red flag.
    Why did he feel loath to tell Chavis about Beautiful Dolls? Was he embarrassed? Did he think Chavis might want to join him? Did he irrationally want to keep J all for himself? Or was there something else…
    This dance of distrust between them went both ways, after all.
    Marque’s mouth set into a hard line. “Just for the record, don’t believe for one minute that being married to my sister gives you the right to come into this office without an invitation. Is that clear?”
    Chavis held up his hands defensively. “I just wanted to make sure you were okay. You missed the daily production meeting this morning.”
    Fuck. Marque glanced at his antique watch. 11:30 a.m. He’d never missed a production meeting. Ever.
    The Doll had done it again.
    He felt his face flush with anger. “Leave me.”
    This time, Chavis took the hint. With one last, assessing look, he turned on his heel and left the room.
    Marque strode to the open doorway. Sitting at the desk in Marque’s outer office, his assistant Talesin looked scared shitless, and rightfully so. He deserved Marque’s wrath for having let Chavis pass.
    But disciplining Talesin was at the bottom of Marque’s list of priorities right now. He had a situation he had to take care of. He scowled at his assistant. “Have Bursus bring the car around. Immediately.”
    #
    Would Marque Callex be back today?
    After Callex had left yesterday, Carron’s staff had stripped Jai of her silicone skin and contact lenses. What a relief it had been to shower away the telltale signs of her robot persona after that intense session!
    Less easy to get rid of, however, were her troubling reactions to the man.
    She’d found Marque Callex attractive. Gentle in his handling of her. Exciting as a lover, almost making her come. He’d even laughed at the things she’d said – laughter that had erased the deep frown etched between his eyebrows and transformed his entire face.
    He was definitely not the hardened sociopath she’d expected.
    Stop it, Jai! He’s not just any man, he’s the enemy!
    Right. Exactly. He was a potential threat to the world. The killer of Joran Breaux.
    She’d toweled herself dry with more force than was necessary.
    Once dressed, she and Wyatt and Carron had gone back to Commander Rainey’s office to report on Marque Callex’s first session. They tried to analyze and theorize and strategize, but none of them could come up with a reasonable explanation for why Callex had left early, or predict what the arms dealer would do today. Carron informed them that in the two-decade existence of Beautiful Dolls, no one had ever left a session early. No one. It was unheard of.
    Rainey had demanded to see the digital disc of the session, but Wyatt calmly informed him that he’d destroyed it, since Callex hadn’t mentioned anything about his arms dealings.
    Rainey had exploded at the news, but Wyatt had sent Jai a look that said I’ve got your back, partner . Wyatt was a good man.
    Carron had even called Marque’s office, but there’d been no response to the message he’d left about a possible return visit.
    So, to be safe, Carron’s staff had primped and prepped Jai again today in case Callex did decide to return. And like yesterday, the worst part of the ordeal was the enema lubricant they’d given her on the chance Callex demanded anal sex. Like yesterday, Marque was highly unlikely to indulge in foreplay with a machine, so Jai had to be ready for anything.
    But after hours at the hands of Carron’s minions this morning, the question still remained: would