Once I fixed the spelling mistake Alex had so nicely pointed out I sent the review off, my attention moving to my emails next to check if I had received a reply or a payment.
"Do you need anymore help?" Alex asked and I shook my head at him as he leant in again. When I raised an eyebrow at him he reacted by staring at me. "Is there something wrong?"
"You are kind of sitting a little close. Not that that's a bad thing but..." I trailed off when he shifted over leaving a gap between our bodies. "Thanks for that."
"If I am making you uncomfortable in anyway you should tell me. I will make a note of it and make sure not to repeat that mistake." Alex told me and I nodded, chewing my lower lip before I went back to checking my computer. Seeing me focus my attention on the laptop resting on the coffee table Alex spent a few moments scanning me without my knowledge.
Kiara had an accelerated heart rate while I was checking her reviews for any grammical errors or spelling mistakes. I have noticed that her heart rate and pulse jumps whenever I happen to be close to her especially when I walked in while she was taking a shower.
"Alex, are you even listening?" My voice brought Alex back and when his head turned to see me looking at him he tilted his head to one side. Seeing the blank stare he was giving me I rolled my eyes with a loud sigh. "Of course you weren't listening. Is something bugging you?"
"Bugging me? What do you mean, Kiara?" He asked me this time and I chewed my lower lip, thinking about the question before I saw a faint smile on his lips. The LED on his temple flashed for a few seconds as he searched his information banks for a suitable reply. "Ah I see. I was just thinking about why your pulse rate is so erratic."
"Alex, I'm perfectly fine. To be honest I'm just not used to having regular company. Any company at all now that I think about it." I explained, climbing from the couch before I stretched only to grimace. Climbing to his feet Alex peered at my back then at my face before he gave me a slight frown.
"Is your back troubling you?" He asked and I sighed, giving him a slight nod before I sat on the couch. "If you can move a little to one side of the couch I can help with your back."
"Alright but be careful. It's the only one I have." I joked and Alex gave me a faint smirk as he moved until he was an inch from me. I tried not to notice just how close the android was until I felt his strong hands on my shoulders and I chewed my lip, unable to believe that I was letting him get this close.
His hands moved down past my shoulders and when I grimaced he focused his attention on the spot directly between my shoulderblades using his open palms to slowly rub the ache out of my back. It didn't take long before I couldn't help uttering a faint sigh my head tilting back and Alex actually smiled as he put a little more pressure into his back massage. For a while I forgot all about my aching back the feeling of his hands gently rubbing ache away until a completely new ache took its place.
Hearing a faint but unmistakable groan escaping my slightly parted lips Alex froze his hands resting on the small of my back as he stared at my face, confused when he noticed the faint blush that spread across my cheeks and neck. "Kiara, I may have put too much pressure on your spine. This is the first time I've cared for someone since I was activated and I could have made a slight error in judgment." Alex admitted while I silently panicked that he'd picked up why I had blushed like that.
"Alex, you're doing a great job. You really know your stuff." I quickly told him and he gave me another long stare before he nodded, resuming the gentle back massage with a slight smile on his face. This time I managed to keep from making a noise though I knew that Alex would probably search through his programming later to figure out what had caused me to make that sound.
Like I need more of a reason for Alex to think humans are weird. I'm already a recluse and now he probably thinks I'm a weirdo too. Might as well add that to the list.
"Is that any better, Kiara?" Alex asked and I blinked turning my head to meet his eyes. I flexed my shoulders and my arms before I grinned at the android and he smiled back. "I am glad you feel better."
I gave him a nod before I rose from the couch taking a moment to stretch before I leant over to shut my laptop screen. Once I did I noticed Alex looking at the laptop with a slight frown so I sat beside him and he looked up to see me staring at him. "Is there something wrong, Alex? Usually you ask me that but you like kind of...troubled."
"Not troubled exactly. I want to help you but I haven't really made a lot of progress." Alex answered as his LED flashed yellow for a few seconds.
"Alex, you've only been living here a day. Give it a little more time." I told him with a grin giving the android a pat on the shoulder. Puzzled he continued to stare until I giggled at him. "You look so cute right now."
"Cute? What do you mean, Kiara? That isn't part of my programming." Alex replied and I just shrugged as I climbed to my feet. "Do you need something else?" He asked copying me as I started to head back towards the hallway.
"Actually I have an idea. Stay put and I'll be right back." I explained not giving him time to portest before I hurried from the room and with his eyebrows lowered slightly he sat down, shifting on the couch as he waited for my return.
I returned with a small box a little smaller than the television and Alex blinked as I set the box down on the coffee table. While I unpacked the box I noticed that Alex had his eyes on the box and I grinned at him, pushing it towards him so he could have a better look. Peering into the box Alex saw another smaller black box inside and he blinked, reaching in when I motioned him to. Picking it up he stared at the box, his eyes travelling it before he raised an eyebrow at me.
"What is this?" He asked and I giggled, helping him place it in front of the television. Once I showed him where all of the cables went he helped me set it up and after I grabbed two controllers from the nearly empty box he stared at them.
The LED on his temple flashed for a moment before he gave me a huge grin. "A game console? I have never actually seen one of these before." He exclaimed as he fiddled with the controller only to frown at it. "It doesn't seem to be working." He added with an almost child-like pout until I laughed, showing him where the controllers needed to be plugged in and he brightened.
"Okay so now that we have everything set up want to try out a video game?" I asked him and he nodded though I did see a hint of a frown on his face. "Is something bothering you?"
"Not bothering but...I confess that I have never played a video game since I was created." Alex admitted and I gave him a nod motioning him to sit at the couch and he did still holding onto the controller.
Once I turned the television on I joined him on the couch and after a few seconds the console turned itself on. "Oh yeah. It would help if I put the disc in too." I told him with a slight blush and Alex smiled as I reached into the box, extracting a clear case with a silver disc inside.
Moving to the game console I knelt, my fingers lightly touching the button on top and the disc drive slid out. When I leant over to place the disc inside Alex received a perfect view of my pants and he marvelled at the perfect symmerty of my cheeks or at least that's what the computer part of his mind told him. Though when Alex noticed how snug they looked he felt just a little uncomfortable thinking about his human companion in that way.
Why do I care about how tight those pants are on Kiara? I am supposed to be taking care of her not focusing on her outfit though she could stand to buy something that doesn't put an emphasis on her perfect...what am I thinking?
Alex mentally shook himself hoping that Kiara wouldn't notice that there was now a faint blue in his cheeks. Thankfully I turned around after Alex managed to resume waiting patiently for my return though I did catch a brief blue tinge around his cheeks before he could fix whatever mechanical problem had arisen.
"So are you ready to lose in Mario Kart?" I teased and he gave me a lopside grin, staring at the screen as I sat beside him.
After multiple games I leant back against the couch cushions the controller set on the table before I let out a sigh. "I can't believe you beat me twenty games out of twenty two." I complained and Alex cocked an eyebrow at me, setting his own controller on the table beside mine.
"I am sorry if I have upset you..." Alex began until I raised an eyebrow at him and he stopped speaking when I grinned. "You aren't upset at me?"
"For what? Being able to hold your own in a game against me that you just started playing? Color me impressed, Alex." I giggled and he returned my laugh when a slight chuckle. "You know I might not have said this before but I really like having you around, Alex."
"Thank you, Kiara. This means that I am following my programing correctly." Alex answered with a grin and I rolled my eyes at him. "Kiara, what is the matter?"
"You don't need to do everything exactly how your programs want you to. Try loosening up once in a while. Otherwise you'll just get stressed out." I told him, shifting a little until I found a comfortable spot. Alex chewed his lower lip his LED glowing yellow as he struggled with an answer. Eventually he found one but before he could speak we both heard a loud gurgle and I sniggered at the wide-eyed stare he gave me.
Before I could protest he did a quick scan of my body with involved his eyes travelling over me the LED glowing for less than a minute. "Okay what the heck was that, Alex?" I demanded to know with my arms now crossed against my chest.
"I was merely running a diagnostic on your current wellbeing." Alex explained and after I kept staring at him he sighed to himself. "Did I overstep my bounderies?"
"Of course not. I was just...surprised that you were that concerned about my health. Like I said I'm used to living on my own and with you here it makes a welcome change." I pointed out and he nodded a faint smile on his lips at that explanation. "So how am I doing?"
"You are almost in perfect health except for that strange noise a few moments ago." Alex replied hearing it a few seconds after he finished speaking. "There it is again." He added with a slight frown at me. "Maybe I need to run a diagnostic on my systems."
"I'm just hungry, Alex. Your systems are perfectly fine as far as I can tell." I snorted at him with a grin on my face and he nodded. "Would it be cool if you made me some lunch? Actually now that I think about it can I ask you a personal question?" I asked him and after getting a nod I grinned. "So do androids actually eat?"
Getting a head shake I watched for a slight smile to cross Alex's lips. "That is no need. Androids are not capable nor do they need to eat." Alex calmly explained and I nodded though I couldn't help being slightly curious about something else.
"Okay. One other question. Why were you blushing before?" I asked and Alex immediately clamped his mouth shut his inner programming searching for something that would answer my question without giving too much information away. Seeing his LED flashing and his absent stare I raised both eyebrows in concern when he continued to stare blankly ahead for more than a minute. "Alex, hello?" I called out and he snapped back to life, sort of, when I waved an open palm in front of his face.
"Sorry I was processing something and I forgot where I was. Were you asking me something?" Alex asked and I groaned, leaning back onto the cushions behind me with a sour look on my face.
"Huh you're just using that as an excuse. Whatever. Now can you make me something to eat?" I grumbled and he nodded, climbing from the couch before he walked towards the kitchen.
With my arms crossed I tilted my head and with his back towards me Alex didn't see my eyes travelling the length of his body before my eyes came to rest on his backside with a grin. Shaking myself almost immediately when I realized just what I was doing.
What the hell am I thinking? I mean he's an android and I'm a human so it would never work. I mean he's pretty good-looking especially with those eyes but...geeze what am I thinking now? Has it been that long since I've been with a guy to start thinking thoughts like that about my android?
Unaware, Alex reached the counter before he started to go through his memory banks for an appropriate recipe while he checked through the ingredients he had purchased for me.