MAP OF THE PROBLEMATIQUE

***Preemptive warning: Certain nocturnal bedroom activities occur in this chapter, at the very end. You can see it coming; I'm warning you so you can gloss over it if need be. :)

Chapter 4: Coin-Operated Boy

When Sallie pulled up the drive that evening, I was ready in my favorite "out on the town" outfit. I leapt into the car and we sped off to Rouge City. Upon our arrival, I asked where we'd be going. "Well, we're gonna eat down at Uncle Bo's-- you remember that place from high school-- anyway, we'll eat there, but not before picking up Joe at the Shangri-La," Sallie replied as we took a corner and pulled into get some gas.

"Joe...." I tried the name. "Hmm. Wait-- wait a minute, did you say the Shangri-La?"

We pulled into the Shangri-La only minutes later, and as the two of us entered the lobby Sallie began to look around for Joe. Finally she spotted him. "There, Wendy, see? At the sofa-- there," she pointed. My eyes darted for a bit until they finally fell at the large sofa directly across from the cackling fireplace. Sallie called out to the man as she dragged me over to him. "Hey, Joe, whaddaya know?"

The man turned to smile at us, and all of a sudden my heart skipped a beat. "Um... hi."

He was gorgeous. Just shy of six feet, he had dark hair, piercing emerald eyes, and flawless skin that almost seemed to glow. "Joe, this here is my sister, Wendy," Sallie introduced us.
"Hello, Wendy," Joe beamed. Aah, great, I smiled inwardly. A British accent, to boot. "It's a pleasure to meet you," he continued, kissing my hand.

"Well, kids, you two get acquainted," Sallie started. "I'm gonna go run to the john, and then we can go." She made a quick exit, leaving Joe and I alone.

"So..... Joe," I could feel myself flush. "What is it exactly you do for a living?"

The corner of Joe's mouth twitched in a bemused smile, and he looked me right in the eye. "Oh, my dear......" he moved towards me until we were only inches apart. "The services I provide would put a blush back on anyone's cheek." He eyed me over a moment, tracing a finger down my cheek as tingles went up my spine. "Give me an hour and I'll give you your dream."

He didn't have to spell it out for me, but it still took a few moments for me to regain speech. Until then, all I could do was just stare. I laughed inwardly to myself as I finally allowed a smile. Our eyes never broke contact.

"I've never met anyone like you before," I said softly.

"Like..... me?"

I nodded, and Joe smiled fully. He leaned in towards me.

"Ahem..."

I threw myself away from Joe to find Sallie standing there, arms crossed, a huge smile on her face. She giggled. "You two ready?"

The three of us went out to Uncle Bo's for some dinner, and although Sallie and I both ate, Joe did not. He sat and kept us company, seemingly content with just watching us, but did not eat one bite. He didn't even have a water.

"Aren't you hungry, Joe?" I asked.

The young man smiled at me. "I'm quite alright, my dear, thank you."

Sallie put a hand on mine. "Wendy..... honey," she laughed, her voice dropping. "He's.... you know...... Joe's Mecha."

I gasped, my eyes darting over to meet his. "Oh!" I finally let out a laugh. "You.... but........" It all started to sink in. "Oh, man, I don't even want to know," I burst out laughing, turning back to my meal. My companions laughed along with me and I knew that this night wouldn't end up slipping my memory any time too soon.

There was a part of me that hated going out like this. Hated doing something other than worry about her and look for her and...... I never did give up hope. Not ever. But Gods above...... I wanted to smile again, to laugh, to escape for five minutes. And right then, it was exactly what I needed.

We left the restaurant almost an hour later, and walked around back for the car. Sallie-- that sneak of a sister-- she knew exactly what she was doing when she "forgot" to drop Joe back at the Shangri-La, instead heading straight for my house; not only that, but Joe didn't even seem to mind at all, either. I couldn't remember a time in my life where I had been more nervous about anything, but deep down inside I knew I was really quite interested to see how this night would turn out......

Sallie dropped us off and gave me a hug. "You take care of yourself, girl. I'll call you tomorrow, okay?"
"Okay, Sal.... and thanks again for dinner, I really appreciate it."

She smiled at me, one leg already back in her car. "Think nuthin' of it, hun." Flipping her dark hair over her shoulder she climbed in and sped off. Unlocking my front door, I hit some lights on the way in and locked the door behind Joe.
"So....." I shrugged, tossing my keys on the little table by my door. "This is it. My little place."

Joe smiled, taking it in for a brief moment. "It's very cozy. I like it." He took off his coat, and I offered to put it up for him.

"Uh, thanks; I really love it here. Been here about two years, but it's definitely been good so far." I paused. "Oh, do you want anything to dr--" I stopped myself and chuckled. "Heh heh...... Mecha. Sorry."
Joe turned to me and his smile widened. "You are very kind, Wendy."

I blushed again-- I'd lost count at how many times he'd made me do that in just one evening. "I.... I'm gonna run to the bathroom real quick, uh.... if you wanna make yourself at home, please, be my guest."

"Thank you."

When I finally emerged five minutes later, I found Joe sitting at my desk, which was located directly across from my bed. I jumped, and Joe immediately rose to his feet.

"Wendy. I'm sorry. I startled you."

"Oh, haha...." I put a hand to my heart. "No, no..... don't worry about it...." I smiled, going over to the side of the bed I usually slept on and took a seat, taking off my lucky bracelet and putting it in the drawer on my bedside table. Joe came over to me, crouching down directly in front of me to look me in the eye. My heart started to pound.

"I can sense something...... you're....."

"Well.... nervous."

"You're not…. scared of me, are you?"

I opened my mouth to say something but thought for a moment. "We-- I've never been with..... you know..... Mecha before."

"That makes two of us, love," Joe smiled, and I laughed.

I couldn't say anything for a moment, and Joe's intense green eyes gazed into my blue ones. When he spoke again I found truth in his voice. "I'm not going to hurt you, Wendy, if that's what you are worried about. I can take you to the stars…." I could feel myself begin to swoon as he continued. "For once you've been with a lover-robot….." he reached up to take my face in his hand. "You'll never be the same. You will never want a real man...... again."

My heart slammed harder against my chest walls as Joe leaned up to kiss me. I didn't stop him. As a matter of fact, I welcomed it. Moving my legs around to accommodate him, he pushed me back onto the bed and climbed up on top of me. Joe started to undo my shirt, and his gentle kisses began to find their way down my neck. Before long, the shirt was off and his focus was now on my breasts. I felt a hand begin to trail up my skirt. My breath caught in my throat as it moved my panties aside and reached his final destination, and a moan finally escaped my lips. Raising his head, Joe's haunting eyes met mine. That gaze was devastating. A soft little smile played at the corner of his mouth.

"Is that for me?" he murmured.

"Yes…." I could barely speak.

"And you want this?" he asked with raised eyebrow, pushing my skirt up further.

I smiled slowly. "Bring me my stars."

His smile filled out as he went back to work, undoing his belt and pulling off my undies. Moving up, he kissed me again, this time a little more aggressively, and all of a sudden, he was in.

"Oh, God! Joe!"

He was right. I wasn't ever going to be the same again.

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Music: Chapter was named after the song by the Dresden Dolls. I felt it highly appropriate. :D LOL