A/N Another update! Let me know what you think.

A week has passed after that day and I still can't shake the constant swarm of images from my brain. They just keep coming no matter what I do to try and stop them. If I thought it was awful living with James before, it's almost torturous now. Pushing down the lid of Bens green lunchbox, his little feet came padding up to the kitchen counter as I tucked the box into his school bag. Handing it to him, Ben slipped the bag on.

"Do you have everything you need for today?" I asked "Did you brush your teeth?"

"Yes, I did all that" he whined at my mothering.

"Alright, go on then or you'll be late for the bus" I said while following him out the front door. Waiting outside, I watched as Ben walked down the driveway and safely boarded the bright yellow vehicle. Once I knew he was on his way, I headed back inside and closed the door. James stood in the kitchen cleaning up the mess from breakfast.

"Will you be doing anything today?" he asked while stacking the dishes in the dishwasher.

"No, nothing important" I replied before heading upstairs and getting changed into some exercising clothes. Since I don't really have the time to drive all the way to the gym, I'd decided to buy a treadmill for home instead and I'd placed it in my office.

Pressing some buttons, I started on a slow pace before eventually working my way up to a comfortable jog. Keeping pace for two hours and occasionally adjusting the steepness of the machine, my breaths panted out as beads of sweat formed on my skin. I suppose the only good thing about being a robot is not have to worry about weight gain, that and never aging. Wouldn't it be wonderful?

Lowering the speed to a slow jog, I calmed down after a few minutes and turned off the machine. Blowing out a puff of air as my leg muscles burnt, I took a few mouthfuls of water from my bottle before heading upstairs to the shower. Ducking under the water to rinse off, I was quick to change back into a fresh set of clothes for the day.

Throwing my sweat soaked garments into the washing basket, I realised that it's almost full and I picked it up before carrying it downstairs. Now that I think about it, it's been a while since I've done a load of washing. Heading into the laundry room downstairs, I was piling the clothes into the machine when a voice startled me from by the door way.

"I can do that"

"It's fine. I've got it covered" I replied before lowering the lid on the washing machine and adding detergent. Pressing a few buttons, I grabbed the empty basket and turned to see James still standing in the door way. He's staring at me with those same deep grey eyes of his and I can't help but notice how real they look.

"Did you need something?" I asked, trying to break the silence.

"Yes. I want to ask you a question"

"Alright" I replied hesitantly.

"What's your opinion of me?"

I admit, I was a little stunned for a moment. A robot asking a genuine question? I'd never heard of that before; until now that is. I feel awkward in just thinking of a reply. I know James isn't real. I know he's just made of numbers and some metal. It didn't make sense as to why my opinion would matter. I cleared my throat a little "Why would you ask a thing like that?"

"In order to function as a suitable companion, it's by duty to make sure that all members of the household are satisfied and comfortable with my presence" he replied with an almost sincere tone.

"I am, so you don't have to worry"

"Your behaviour since the day of my transport has suggested otherwise" he replied "You avoid me wherever possible and seem displeased with my duties. Am I not suited to your needs as a companion of this household?"

"You're fine" I stated.

"If you have suggestions in where I could improve –"

I interrupted with a snap of my voice "You could improve by getting out of my way for starters" it immediately became painfully quiet beside the jostle of the washing machine behind me. James had barely batted an eyelid even though I'd practically yelled at him. Stepping to the side, he allowed enough room to slip past and I did so uncomfortably.

"I'm sorry to have disturbed you" he spoke calm and collect.

Quickly rushing away into my bedroom, I dropped the empty basket and slammed the door behind me. I'm losing my mind, I swear. I just yelled at a robot for no particular reason other than the fact he's trying to do his job. Looking at myself in the full length mirror standing in the corner by the window, I noticed my cheeks are flushed a pinkish red and my hair is a little frazzled.

Wiping a hand down my face, I fell back onto the bed with a sigh. I need something to take off the edge. I need a drink. Finding the strength and will power, I got up on my feet and headed back down stairs. Glancing here and there to see if James is nearby, I couldn't manage to find him and so I quickly ducked into the kitchen to reach the alcohol cabinet; which we keep on the high shelves so that Ben can't accidently get to it. It also happens to be a little too high for myself included.

Reaching up on my tippy toes, my hands managed to reach the corner of the cupboard door and I flicked it open. But there's no way I'm going to be able to safely reach the bottles from this height. Sighing, I climbed up so that my knees are now kneeling on the bench. Sifting through the selection of beverages and labels, I gasped when I felt a pair of oddly warm hands holding onto either side of my hips.

Looking over my shoulder, I saw James holding me from behind so that I don't fall down. Staring down into those two pools of grey once again, I turned back to the cupboard and grabbed the bottle I wanted before settling it down on the counter. Closing the cupboard, James' arms wrapped around my waist before lifting me off the counter and setting me back down onto feet. I couldn't help but think how strong he is to not even struggle in the slightest.

"Thank you" I mumbled under my breath. I was somewhat hoping that he didn't pick up on it, but of course he hears almost everything.

"You're welcome Amanda" he replied before handing me the bottle of booze.

Taking it, I wandered back to my bedroom after grabbing a glass. Shutting myself in, I laid back with a poured drink and listened to some music to rewind a little. However, after a few hours had passed I believe I might have had quite a few as I stared up at the spinning ceiling fan on the roof; my head following the blades like a bobble head. A knock sounded on the door.

"Come in" I called out and James entered.

"I've come to inform you that Dale will be delayed at work for another hour"

I sat up using my elbows as balance "Did he say why?"

"A last minute meeting" James repeated "Would you like me to call him again?"

"No" I said with a shake of my head "That's fine. What time is it?"

"One thirty-four in the afternoon" I grunted and slouched back on the bed. My glass is empty and I can't be bothered to get up again "It would be well advised to stop drinking for the next two hours. Your toxicity level is reaching higher than socially appropriate"

I raised an eyebrow before sighing "If it's so well advised then I best do as you say" getting up off the bed with a slight swing, I placed my glass down on the nearby dresser and glanced at James as he once again still stood by the doorway "Is that all, or do you have more advice you'd like to give me?"

"No" he said "That's all"

I watched as James slowly closed the door and suddenly something overcame me and I called out "Wait"

He paused before opening the door and asking "Is there something you needed?"

My cheeks flushed with warmth and I can't tell if it's because of embarrassment or the fact that I'm tipsy. I don't suppose it really matters. Taking a quick step forward, I pressed my lips against his before pulling away. James hadn't responded at all to the gesture and it was a little disconcerting.

"Do you feel anything?" I asked just above a whisper as we stood only inches apart "Anything at all?"

He nodded "I recognise touch, but not the emotions that accompany that of a human's sense of the word" James replied while looking down at me and I lowered my gaze. Curiosity made me do it, but now I feel uncomfortable.

"Then I suppose you won't ever be able to fall in love" I spoke plainly before turning and taking a few steps away "I guess you're not quite like us after all"

"Forgive me for saying, but you didn't create us to be like you. You created us to be better than you" his response made me frown. The way James had spoken sent shivers down my spine; as if humans are inferior to machines. It didn't sound right.

"It doesn't matter who can do the most in the least amount of time" I replied "What matters is what's inside of us. We can pull you apart and put you back together again, over and over, but you'll never have what we have"

"And what would that be?"

"A soul" I replied. As much as it's been said over the years and as cliché as it might sound, I believe it to be true. The soul is what sets us apart from everything else on the planet. It's the light at the end of the tunnel and the only thing that keeps us together and pushes us forward.

James stepped forward and I stood quiet and still as he slowly reached out a hand. His skin felt oddly warm like before as his knuckles gently grazed along my cheek. I could feel the steady warm puffs of air along my face as if James were actually breathing, and I can feel an uncertain intensity coming from his eyes as he looked at me with what I could only describe as adoration.

I can feel my heart thumping beneath my chest and when James' strong hands caressed along my waist, a single breath hitched in my lungs "I highly doubt you would be able to distinguish the difference between the emotions of a machine to that of your own species" he said with a gentle tone, as if his words were a lullaby and not something cold and distant.

"Of course I would, because I know right now that there isn't a way in this world that you truly care about me" I replied confidently.

"Is that what you truly believe?" he asked while inching himself just a fraction closer. James' arms around me feel like a comforting encasement. It reminds me of how protected I feel whenever Dale hugs me close to him at night; as if nothing can dare touch me.

Snapping out of my daze, I shrugged myself from his hold "Yes, that's what I believe. I know machines are incapable of love, and I know that my husband does so with all of his heart – that's the difference between us"

Reaching forward James pressed his own lips against mine, and now I'm the one who's standing frozen stiff. It felt unusual and sensual, and almost immediately that same tormenting image reared its ugly head. Holding my face in his hands, a warm wet tongue pushed itself into my mouth and I couldn't stop the whimper that left me. I can feel the familiar slight cramp form in my lower belly and I had to hold back the urge to cross my legs.

Another moment passed when I gave in and kissed back. I don't know why I did it. I don't know why I haven't pushed him away with disgust of both him and myself. I've hated this thing since the moment he stepped into my life and took over, and now here I am with toe curling thoughts running right through me. Gasping, James picked me with a hand under each thigh and I had to wrap my legs around his waist so that I didn't fall.

Turning, it was only a couple of paces until I fell back to bounce on the cushioned mattress of the bed. Hovering on top of me, my back arched as I grinded my hips into his; seeking some sort of friction to quench the throb between my thighs. Returning the kiss with added passion, I know the next move is the point of no return. I know that this is the time to stop before it becomes any worse, but I couldn't bring myself to do it when he slipped a hand beneath the waist band of my shorts.

Gripping my legs tighter, a moan rustled from my throat as I felt his fingers rubbing smooth circular motions along my clit. I wondered for a brief moment how James knows what to do. I wondered if a household robot even has the capability to have intercourse. I suppose if he couldn't do it all the way, what would be the point of engaging in the first place?

Maybe he knows it'll tease me.

Maybe he knows it's been so incredibly long.

Working on the buttons of James' grey uniform, I shrugged off the blazer to see the tone smooth muscle underneath. Not a single hair or blemish in site. I hate the way they make them look so perfect, and I also love it. Trailing butterfly kisses along his shoulder and the bone of his jaw, I moved back to his soft skilled lips.

Leaning back away from me to stand at the foot of the bed, James' face had set firm as he hooked his fingers into my shorts and underwear before pulling them down the length of my legs with a quick tug. The air feels so cold against my exposed skin and a bubble of nerves began to fill my stomach. I shouldn't be doing this. I'm married. I have a family.

This isn't right.

Grabbing my ankles, I was pulled a little further down before being flipped over to lay on my stomach in one fluent motion. Gasping in shock as I now looked to the distant headboard of the bed, an image caught my eyes and it only made me feel more guilty; a picture of Dale and Ben by the beach. Pulling on my hips so that my backside is a little higher up in the air, my fingers bunched into the fabric of the sheets. I can feel the hard blunt tip push at my entrance.

Taking a shaky breath as James knocked my thighs further apart and held my hips, a whimpering cry left me as he proceeded to push in from behind; slowly sinking his awfully thick member deep inside of me. When he finally stopped, I could feel the slight burn as my walls stretched tight. I could feel him nudging right against the wall of my uterus, almost threatening to burst through.

Dale never felt like this, no matter what position we tried. But it's hardly fair to compare him to that of a machine. I'd said it clearly before that were not the same, and I think that fact is one of the reasons why this feels so good. Dale can never do this to me. He can never satisfy me the way James can. A light moan left me as I wiggled my backside against him, giving James the signal to keep going.

Pulling almost all the way out, he thrusted back in to the hilt and the air temporarily left my lungs. My brows knitted together and my lips parted with a moan as he buried himself one hard thrust at a time. I can feel him rubbing up against my sensitive walls and a wet warmth began to pool in my groin as the pleasure took over. Moaning, there was no one around to hear but James, and he never once spoke a word.

Briefly pausing to lean over me, my back pressed against his firm chest while his forearms lent either side of me as he changed position. Sinking back down, James picked up his previous speed and a little more. Wet squelching sounded in the room as he pounded into me and a string of whimpering moans muffled out as I buried my face into the blanket. He keeps hitting that sweet spot over and over and I can barely contain myself.

I can barely breathe.

Panting, a light sheen of sweat coated my skin and my throat is starting to turn raw from all my ruckus. However, James hadn't faulted in the slightest. He has the stamina to go on for days and the knowledge to make any woman tremble with pleasure. It's almost too much, but I didn't dare tell him to stop – not when I'm so close.

Spreading my legs a little wider and arching my back a little sharper, I swallowed the small pool of saliva in my mouth "Harder" I managed to order out "Fuck me harder"

I don't want him to be soft. I don't want him to make love to me. I just want him to give me what I needed so that I can over whatever this is. I just want the thoughts to go away. I want this tense barrier between me and this thing to disappear so that my life can go back to some semblance of normalcy. I know this is far from the right thing to do or the right way to handle the situation, but it's happening and I can't take it back.

Threading his fingers into my hair, he twisted my long brown locks into a tight ponytail before pulling hard enough to feel the roots straining along my scalp. The fiery tingle of pain went straight to my groin and my legs quivered when James thrusted particularly sharp. He'd slowed right down to snap his hips into mine one slam at a time. I thought for a moment that he might tear right threw me as I felt his engorged member reach placed I didn't even know where there.

My eyes started to water as the intense pressure began to build higher. I'm going to explode any minute now. Gradually picking up speed, James knew what I needed even before I could conjure the thought to voice it myself. Revelling in the moment of bliss as my internal dam cracked open, a wave of euphoria washed over me from head to toe. My whole body shook as a moan broke the air and I slowly slumped down; my limbs and brain turning numb.

My lungs burnt and I can still feel James nestled inside of me; still hard and ready. Slowly pulling out with a wet slurch of a noise, a trail of sticky wetness followed to dribble down my left thigh. My eyes threatened to fall shut as my lashes fluttered with fatigue. I'd barely done anything and yet I feel like I've run a marathon around the world. Sighing in satisfaction, my eyes trailed to the familiar but somewhat forgotten weight on my left hand; the glittering stone that shone with the afternoon sunlight.

A sickening feeling suddenly curdled in my stomach. The contentment from before is now long gone and it's been replaced with guilt and sadness. I've done a terrible thing today. I've done a stupid thing. Mustering the strength to roll over and sit up on the edge of the bed. My insides are tender and sore now, but in an awfully good way. I glanced at James as he fixed the last button on his grey uniform.

Unlike me, James doesn't look like a frazzled cheating mess who knows this could very well be her undoing. Instead he looks as if nothing had happened at all. He's all pressed, straight and perfect; like a synthetic man should be "You won't tell anyone" I spoke firmly even though my voice is just above a whisper.

"Not a single soul" he replied before leaving.

I'm a terrible person.