Love isn’t any easier to find in the year 2069
Not that Eric is looking for love. After breaking up with his boyfriend a year ago, he’s been apathetic about getting back into the dating scene. What’s the point? Relationships always crash and burn anyway.
When Eric’s best friend, Sabrina, sends him an XP30 android named Sloot to help him get back in the saddle, so to speak, Eric is mortified. The plan is to send Sloot back to the factory, but when the android begs him to keep him as his housekeeper, Eric feels sorry for Sloot and gives him a trial run.
Sloot is the perfect companion, and Eric decides he’s found a way to avoid the messiness of emotional intimacy. But things get complicated because Sloot is no ordinary android. Unbeknownst to Eric, Sloot’s creator tinkered with him and gave him the ability to love.
I have a new release for you! This story was originally written in 2015. I realize there’s a lot of controversy about AI at the moment, so maybe the timing is off, but I loved this little story and when I got the rights back from a publisher, I revised it and added a bunch of new content.
It’s a cute, romantic gay romance between an android and a human.
Snippet:
I stood for a good ten minutes, marveling at modern science, and sweating under my armpits while weighing whether or not this was a good idea. If I juiced the guy up I’d probably be stuck with him forever. It might be too hard to reject the poor thing once it started talking. Taking in his narrow hips and rippled abs, I couldn’t help but wonder what was under the smooth jean material that covered his crotch.
I swallowed hard, thinking about all the stories I’d heard about what exceptional lovers the XP30s were. I wiped my forehead and took a deep breath. Then I pressed the charging disk to the spot under his arm and stepped back. Nothing happened at first, and then I heard a faint buzzing sound and his eyes opened.
They were a brilliant green, sort of like that iridescent moss you sometimes find at night in swamps. He blinked a few times, and then met my gaze, which sent an odd thrill down my spine.
“I hope you don’t mind, but I’ve been in there a while and I really need to pee.” His voice was husky, and the sound of it startled me.
“Oh, yes. Of course.” I moved aside hurriedly. “I’m sorry I didn’t think of that.”
He grinned and it was beautiful, and warm. He even had dimples. That engaging flash of perfection was not at all what I’d been expecting from a non-human smile. “I’m just teasing. I don’t actually urinate.”
My cheeks heated. “You don’t?”
He shook his head. “Nope. It was just a bit of humor to break the ice.”
“Oh, you’re one of those funny robots.”
He laughed but then frowned. “We prefer the term android. Robot seems so cold and unfriendly.” A little smile played around his mouth. “XP30s are very friendly.”
“Hmmm.” I crossed my arms defensively. I hadn’t expected the thing to flirt with me. I’d assumed if I wanted any… action… I’d be the one making overtures.
Cocking his head, he held out his hand. “I’m Sloot.”
“Sloot?”
“It’s a weird name, I know. It’s made up of a combination of the letters from the compounds used to build me. They give us names because they think it makes us seem more humanlike.”
“But you aren’t human.” I wasn’t sure why I felt the need to say that. He felt human. His flesh was heated and firm as it gripped mine. I guess a small part of me wanted to distinguish myself from him. Was that because I felt superior? I wasn’t really sure.
“We have most of the good qualities human’s possess.”
Although I wasn’t positive I agreed with him, I didn’t really want to argue with a robot. “Can I get you anything?” Probably an odd thing to ask an android, but I wasn’t sure how to act around him. Did he have feelings I could hurt if I wasn’t polite enough?
“I wouldn’t mind if you showed me where your bedroom is.” He winked.
“Oh.” I flushed. “I don’t think…”
He tilted his head again, and his unusual green gaze was pinned intently on my face. “Aren’t you familiar with XP30s skills?” He arched one smooth eyebrow. “Surely you must be since I’m here in your home.”
“I’m vaguely aware of what you XP30s do. I know you’re a sex bot. But I didn’t purchase you.”
“No?” That seemed to surprise him.
“My friend Sabrina got you for me for my birthday. I’ve never had an android before and I wouldn’t have one now if it was up to me.”
He blinked at me. “Oh.”
I grimaced. “Of course, I’m impressed with the advances made in the field of robotics, but I’ve never felt the urge to own an android.”
“Well, this is awkward.” He tilted his head as he studied me. “I’m here now.”
“Yes,” I murmured, “You are indeed.”