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Chapter 5 of Synthetic Heart is up!

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Published on June 22, 2016 22:11

Chapter 4 of Synthetic Heart is up!

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Published on June 15, 2016 13:46

Synthetic Heart: Chapter 3

Chapter Three

All mistakes are my own (please point them out if you find any!)

“I feel like a spy,” Olivia said, holding the registry gun out in front of her. “Thomas, Olivia Thomas.” And then she smiled. “Soon it’ll be Olivia Taylor. I like that.”

Jeff turned toward one of the shelves in front of him. “What do we need?”

They had been together for a year, both with their own apartments, full of stuff, so they didn’t really need anything. Want was a better word. If anything, once they got married, they would have to give away a lot of the duplicates. Who needs two can openers? “I think we should scan this big espresso maker. You love coffee.”

“Okay,” he nodded, swiping the scanner out of her hands and pulled the trigger of gun, which beeped as it read the barcode.

She took the scanner back, pursed her lips, and compared the two most expensive knife sets on the shelf. “Which one?”

“Neither of us cook, so why does it matter?”

“Because it seems like the grown up thing to do. Married couples have to have a matching knife set, don’t they?”

“I suppose so. That one, I guess,” he said, pointing to the shiny silver set.

Beep.

“This is fun.” Olivia smiled. “What did your mom say when you told her about our engagement?”

“She said something about grandbabies.” He rolled his eyes. “My mother is insufferable. What about yours?”

“Let’s not get into that.”

* * * *

Another day of work was followed by another night with Jeff.

“I’m so sick of construction,” he started as he pushed at the pile of paper on his desk and flipped through screens on his phone.

Olivia nodded. Ever since they started the expansion on the building, he had been gone more than usual and more tired, too. She had taken over all the wedding planning. She didn’t mind. It gave her something to think about as she sat making perfect little stitches at work.

She ran her hands down his arms. She missed him. She wanted to help ease some of the tension out of his body.

“Not tonight, baby,” he said, putting his hands on top of hers, stilling them.

“But I can make you feel better. I promise,” she said as she got on her knees. She ran her fingers across the fly of his slacks and smiled when his dick responded. “So much better,” she murmured.

Jeff put his phone down. The bright screen dimmed after a few seconds and then he leaned back in the chair, gripped the armrests, and closed his eyes as she opened his pants. When she pulled his cock out, a smug smile slid across his face. He had told her on many occasions that she had a particular talent for blowjobs. So when she put her lips against his throbbing flesh, she knew he would enjoy it.

She opened her mouth and sucked him in. He tasted different somehow. She couldn’t quite put her finger on it, but she didn’t care because he started making the low grumbling sound of pleasure that made her forget everything else. He dug his fingers into her hair, scratching her scalp and forcing her to take him deeper. She tried to relax her throat, knowing how much he liked it.

“Fuuuuck.” He pushed the word out of his tight jaw. His hips lurched off the chair, forcing his dick farther into her throat, gagging her and sending a ripple of panic through her as she fought to breathe. “Yes,” he hissed. “I’m going to come.”

A satisfied grunt left his lips as his cock swelled against her tongue. His cum spurted against the back of her throat. He slumped into the chair and released his grip on her. She pulled away and gasped for breath. She checked his face to make sure he hadn’t seen the fear and discomfort on hers. He hadn’t. It was a small price to pay to please him.

* * * *

Fresh air filled Olivia’s nose as she stumbled out of the rotating doors. It soothed her throat, reminded her that she could breathe, and forced her to hold her jacket tightly against her body.

The café was more crowded than usual and she had to wait on the bench by the door. Pete glanced at her and gave her a knowing smile. He had seen her do it before, had listened to her insist that she wait for her table.

Pete approached her with a single menu in his arms. “Your table is ready.”

She smiled and followed him, taking the chair facing the door. She didn’t open the menu.

“The usual?” he asked.

“Yep,” she answered, even though she wasn’t terribly hungry.

“Coming right up!”

The bell over the door chimed and out of habit Olivia looked up. A woman came in smoothing her hair. A man from another table waved at her. She smiled and joined him.

Olivia wondered for a moment what their life was like. Were they friends? Family? Lovers? The woman sat next to the man, too close for friends or family members, and leaned her head on his shoulder. He put his arm around her while she put her hand on his leg. Lovers, she decided.

“Let me know if you need anything else,” Pete said, startling her back to reality.

She blinked and looked down at her food. “Thanks.” She considered her sandwich and then thought it would be better for lunch the next day. The salad would be enough. She played with her ring as she ate, spinning it on her finger, watching the opal appear and disappear. She had just taken a bite of cucumber when the door opened. The bell chimed as two people stepped inside. A gust of wind accompanied them.

Is that…? She didn’t have to finish her thought, because just then, the man pushed his hair out of his face.

Jeff.

There he stood with his strong jaw, curly brown hair, and crisp white shirt tucked into perfectly pressed navy slacks. But he wasn’t alone.

Olivia swallowed the partially chewed food and tears sprang to her eyes as it scraped her throat.

The woman was a tangle of silken skirt and flowing blouse, clinging to her body. Her stomach protruded as if she had a ball hidden under her clothes.

“Are you okay, baby?” Jeff asked, just loud enough that Olivia heard it as a whisper. He cupped her swollen abdomen with his broad hands. “Are you both okay?”

Olivia couldn’t stop watching the nightmare unfolding.

The woman tittered and tucked her golden hair out of her face. “Of course we are!”

Jeff gave her an adoring gaze and then kissed her. “What would you like?”

Pete stood behind the counter, waiting to seat them as they looked at the specials on the board.

She shrugged. “Anything. I’m famished! We’ve been here before, haven’t we?”

He nodded and then glanced at Olivia’s table. At their table. The smile fell from his lips.

Olivia pushed her beloved engagement ring out of sight.

He sneered at her. “On second thought, let’s go somewhere else. The last time I came here it was awful,” he mumbled.

“But you said—” Her delicate forehead creased.

“This isn’t the place for us.” He plastered a fake smile on his face and took the pregnant woman by the arm, ushering her outside.

Another burst of wind pushed past them and knocked the air out of Olivia. She collapsed into a broken heap next to her perfect plate of food.

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Published on June 08, 2016 07:00

Synthetic Heart: Chapter 2

Chapter Two

Olivia straightened her back and sighed. Hunching over her station at work strained her shoulder and neck muscles and made them ache. She glanced at Cathy, the woman who had sat next to her for the past three years. Cathy had a hunch. Olivia was determined not to follow suit so she stretched after she completed each valve. It had become her ritual.

“Done already?” Cathy asked.

Olivia nodded and rubbed the muscle at the base of her thumb. It always ached, too. That was part of the job. She removed the valve from the assembly stand and carefully placed it on the machine that would test the strength of her stitches.

She chuckled behind her facemask. She had gone to college for four years so she could sew for a living. She had never been the crafty type, too impatient for all the steps necessary to complete a project, but her work was different. She only had to do part of the assembly. And she wasn’t really making a craft; it was a medical part that helped millions of people across the globe.

The company she worked for had been making mechanical heart valves since the 1970s. Over the course of a few decades, they had perfected the manufacturing process. She held a carbon ring assembly just bigger in diameter than her thumb. Two semi-circular leaflets attached at precise hinges on the sides. A perfect balance of graphite, pyrolytic carbon, and tungsten; all designed to withstand years inside a human body. Soft human tissues don’t bind well to metal, though. That’s where her job came in. She and Cathy spent eight hours a day sewing tiny polyester cuffs to the outside of the valve. Each stich had to be perfect and even. If they weren’t, they failed the strength test.

Better to fail here than inside a patient. She turned the machine on and nodded when a green light appeared. A green light meant it was perfect: one hundred percent perfect. There’s no room for error when you’re making medical devices. When she had first started, fresh out of college, she had to work hard to get the green light, often redoing the same valve assembly five times before it was just right. She was perfect every time now.

“How was your birthday?” Cathy asked.

Olivia smiled. “It was great.”

“Did Jeff take you somewhere nice?”

Her smile widened and her cheeks burned. “He had something much better planned.”

Cathy shook her head and sighed. “Ah, to be young and in love.”

“You love Frank,” Olivia replied, glancing at the small framed picture hanging on the wall featuring Cathy, Frank, and their three grown children.

Cathy nodded. “I do. I just miss being young. Don’t get old, okay?”

Olivia laughed. “Says the woman who just asked about my birthday.”

“Speaking of that, I’d like to have you over for dinner, you and your young man. It’s too quiet at home these days. I’m forced to speak to Frank. I mean, he’s all right, but I miss girl talk.”

“When did Claire move out?” Olivia asked, hoping to change the subject.

“Spring, remember? The second she graduated, she split. I can’t blame her. I remember being ready to start my life, and I certainly couldn’t do that while I was living at home. I suppose it’s the same for her. She was my baby, though. It’s a little lonely without her.”

Olivia nodded, even though she had no idea how it must be to have children. Being an only child had not prepared her for children or the idea of what they might be like. She wasn’t ready to be a parent, maybe she never would be. It didn’t matter to Jeff, though. He didn’t want kids.

As if Cathy could read her mind she asked, “So when do you think you’ll be able to come for dinner?”

Olivia scrunched up her nose. “I’m not sure. Jeff’s been working late.”

“Got to work to pay the bills, right?”

“Yep.”

* * * *

Olivia didn’t see Jeff until Friday night. Her neck ached as it always did, but she didn’t think of that. She sat there and waited for him, looking up from her folded hands every time the bell over the door chimed. He walked in with his chin held high and his back straight. He’s up to something.

“Hi baby, have you been waiting long?” He leaned over and kissed her cheek.

She shook her head gently, careful not to strain her tired neck.

Jeff sat across from her at their table in the corner of the café. Nervous energy spilled out of him. Something big is going to happen. I can feel it.

She was right.

Jeff ordered for her first and then for himself. She didn’t mind when he did that because he always ordered her favorites. She was getting the club and a salad with the dressing on the side. He ordered pasta and garlic bread. The man taking their order kept looking at Jeff expectantly and then hustled to the kitchen.

Jeff filled the time with chatter about his job and his new client and the expansion at the office, all while sneaking sideways looks at the kitchen. Olivia nodded her head to show she was listening, but she was still trying to figure out why he was acting so weird.

“They’re going to knock a whole wall down. The office will be twice the size when it’s done!” Jeff said, glancing at the kitchen for the tenth time. “You should come see it.”

“I’d like that,” she replied.

And then the server returned with two plates of food. “Enjoy,” he said, making eye contact with Olivia just long enough to shake his head.

Olivia frowned and then looked at Jeff who was grinning at her. What is he up to?

Jeff picked up his fork and poked it into the pile of pasta, but didn’t take a bite. He was watching her as if she was about to do something amazing.

She picked up her sandwich but froze before she took a bite. There, nestled in the bed of greens, encircling a tiny little tomato, sat an engagement ring: shiny gold and fiery opal. Her throat squeezed shut and her heart skipped a beat. Her hands shook as she put the sandwich down and lifted the ring.

Everyone in the café went silent, bearing witness to the most profound moment in Olivia’s life.

Jeff slid out of his chair and onto one knee. He took her left hand in his. “Olivia Thomas.”

“Yes?”

“Will you marry me?”

Tears fell out of her eyes when she nodded. “Yes,” she choked and then she nodded again. “Yes!”

A chorus of cheers went up around them as Jeff scooped her into his arms, kissing and hugging her. Her head swam and tears fell.

“I love you,” she whispered into his ear.

He put her down and eased her back into her chair. She was still shaking when he slid the ring onto her finger. A perfect fit. She ran her thumb across the smooth band and the cool stone that had been set down in the metal so the surface was flush.

“I picked it myself so it wouldn’t get caught on your gloves.”

She smiled and more tears filled her eyes, blurring her vision. “That was very thoughtful.”

“You’re happy?” he asked, his forehead furrowed.

“Very.”

* * * *

On Sunday night Olivia opened the small birthday package from her parents. They always sent the most practical gifts and that year wasn’t any different. She unwrapped a reusable hot pack and a cordless neck massager. She dialed the number to their house a thousand miles away.

“Hi, honey!” her mom answered after the second ring.

“Hi, Mom. Thanks for the birthday package.”

“I wondered when you’d get around to opening it. Did you have a good birthday?”

“I did. I’ve been working a lot though,” she added quickly.

“I’m worried about you,” her mom said softly.

“Because I work so much?”

“You know why.”

Olivia squeezed her eyes shut. Calling her parents was a dangerous endeavor. “Is Dad there? I’d like to thank him, too.”

“You know the only thing he did to contribute to your present was putting it in the mail, right?”

“I know, but I still appreciate him. It’s great. Really.”

The phone creaked and then her dad’s voice came through. “Hi, honey. Did you have a good birthday?” he asked, echoing the question she had just answered. The faint sound of a game came through the phone.

“I did. How’s the weather?”

“Tucson in October is just about perfect, I’d say.” He took a deep breath. “It’s finally dropped below a hundred during the days.”

She laughed. “That sounds awful.”

“We have all the windows open. It’s seventy out now. So perfect.”

“It only got up to sixty today, thankfully,” she said.

“Before too long you’ll get snow and you’ll wish you lived here. I don’t miss the cold. Not one bit.”

“Maybe I’ll come visit,” she said.

“You should. It’s been two years.” He made a celebratory sound under his breath and she knew she had lost him to the game.

“Night, Dad. I love you. Give Mom hugs from me, okay? Thanks for my birthday presents!”

He made a kissing sound into the phone. “Happy birthday, honey. I love you.”

“Thanks.” She disconnected and slumped into the chair at her empty table.

I’d love to hear what you think about the story so far!

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Published on June 01, 2016 07:00

Synthetic Heart : Chapter 1

Chapter One

“How was work?” he asked, just like he always did, while tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear.

Olivia sat on the edge of the bed and thought for a moment what that meant. Work: mental or physical activity as a means of earning income. She knew that because she had looked it up. What the definition lacked was the addition of: so a person can do what they want. That’s why she worked. That’s why everyone worked. So they could afford to do what they wanted to do. We all have our vices, she thought. She didn’t say any of this out loud to Jeff. That’s not why he was there. He was waiting for her to tell him it was fine and then their evening could begin.

“Fine,” she said.

Jeff smiled at her and then kissed her. When he pulled away he put his hands over her eyes and she squeezed them shut. “Stay right here. I’ve got a surprise for you.”

“I love surprises,” she murmured, listening to the sounds of his steps retreating and the overhead light being switched off.

When he came back, he said, “Open them.”

She complied and smiled widely. A cake with twenty-five candles hovered in front of her face. Chocolate. She loved chocolate even more than surprises. The light over the kitchen sink hummed.

“Happy birthday to you,” he began singing, but he didn’t finish. He never finished.

She stretched her face out over the cake and kissed him. The warmth from the candles licked at her neck. He groaned and put the cake on the ground, waving at the tiny torches with his large hand, extinguishing their flames and igniting a fire inside her.

He wound his fingers into her hair and deepened the kiss, pushing his tongue inside her mouth. She wrapped her arms around his neck and her feet around his waist, pulling him closer. She reveled in his taste, in his touch, and in the way he made her feel. No one else would ever compare.

Olivia pulled away and gasped for breath. Jeff smiled his crooked smile and removed her shirt. The second his mouth made contact with her breasts, she couldn’t keep her eyes open. She loved this part. He pushed her back onto the bed and crawled on top of her, kissing and licking his way from breast to breast. She arched into him and sighed. He ran his fingers down to the waistband of her pants, opening the button deftly.

“Happy birthday, baby,” he mumbled against one of her nipples as he pushed a long finger inside her.

She gripped the sheets and let the pleasure wash over her. She wanted to tell him he had talented hands and that he always knew just how to get her off, but she kept her mouth shut and let him work his magic. Within a minute, she screamed as she came, writhing against the bed under him.

He removed her pants next, tugging them off her legs impatiently, as if he couldn’t wait to fuck her. That excited her. She finally managed to open her eyes just in time to see him tear his own clothes off. He rejoined her on the bed, kneeling between her legs and stroking his cock roughly and unrolling a condom while running his other hand across her breasts, keeping her nipples as hard as possible.

She held her breath in anticipation, but she didn’t have to wait long. He propped his hands on either side of her head and pushed inside her with one fluid motion, filling and stretching her. She lifted her hips to meet his thrusts and dug her fingernails into the sinewy muscles of his forearms. His focus blurred as he slammed into her over and over. A low sound rumbled through his chest. He was on the verge of orgasmic release. That sound drove her wild. She screamed again just as his dick swelled inside her.

Jeff drew air across his teeth with each breath. It was a primal sound of satisfaction and exertion and it blended perfectly with Olivia’s sighs. Together they created a chorus of pleasure.

He dropped onto his elbows and kissed her swollen lips. Their bodies collided, slick with sweat.

As always, she wanted to tell him it was amazing. That it was the best birthday ever. That it always was with him.

* * * *

A satisfied smile softened the edges of Olivia’s mouth as she left the building.

“Night, Miss Thomas,” the woman behind the desk said.

“Night,” Olivia replied and then she pushed through the heavy revolving door and stepped out onto the city street. She glanced back over her shoulder. From the street, it looked like all the other buildings on the block: clean, brightly lit, and welcoming. But she knew differently. It was magical.

The suffocating heat of summer had finally subsided, giving way to the crisp bite of autumn. She inhaled deeply and smiled. Her extracurricular activities had given her quite an appetite, so she stopped at the café instead of going home. Still lost in a haze of euphoria, she ordered a club sandwich.

“Soup or salad tonight?” the server asked, his pen poised above the paper.

“Salad,” they answered at the same time.

He smiled, “Doesn’t hurt to ask, right?”

She shook her head and returned the smile. When he walked away she laughed. She was definitely a creature of habit.

A few minutes later, the server brought her dinner to her. “Club and salad, Italian dressing on the side. Enjoy.”

She nodded and turned her attention to the window facing the street. She could see everything from her table, it was one of the reasons she loved the café, but not the main one. She ate her sandwich first, chewing each bite completely, mindlessly as she watched the people bustle outside. Everyone seemed to be in a rush, driving, pushing, shopping, and eating, all racing against an invisible clock to get home. For what?

Nothing waited for her in her apartment. The best part of her night had already come and gone.

* * * *

“Back so soon, Miss Thomas?” the woman asked from behind the desk.

Olivia nodded. She signed in and then made her way to the room. The room where he would be waiting. She shrugged out of her jacket, slipped the headband over her forehead, sat on the edge of the bed, and closed her eyes.

“How was work?” Jeff asked, stroking her cheek before tucking a piece of hair behind her ear.

“I hope it’s okay that we do this again,” she said more to herself than anything. She knew he wouldn’t respond when she went off-script. “It’s just so nice being here with you.”

He stared at her with the same gentle smile frozen on his lips, waiting. Always waiting for the right answer.

“Fine,” she replied.

His smile grew before he kissed her. She leaned toward him and knew he would cover her eyes before he touched her. “Stay right here. I’ve got a surprise for you.”

“I love surprises,” she stated. She kept her eyes closed but not because she would be surprised. She knew what was coming next. The light clicked off, a match scraped against a rough surface and hissed to life, and then Jeff came back to her.

“Open them.”

She smiled before she opened her eyes. Twenty-five candles burned in the middle of a fudgy cake, the frosting getting gooey under the intense flame.

“Happy birthday to you,” he sang, but she stopped him with a kiss. She needed him more than ever to fill the void inside her. She needed to feel wanted. Loved. Cherished.

He did that and more. With every touch, every taste, every word, she knew he loved her. She couldn’t imagine a better way to spend her birthday.

* * * *

“Club and a salad, Italian dressing on the side” she said as she placed her order at the café.

“You got it. Anything else?” the server asked.

“Do you have cake?”

“Carrot and chocolate.”

“Chocolate, please. It’s my birthday.”

The man smiled at her. “Let me guess.” He narrowed his hazel eyes and thought for a few seconds. “Twenty-two?”

A surprised laugh escaped her lips. “You’re kind, but no. Twenty-eight.” She tilted her head and looked at him. He seemed to be about the same age, late twenties, but worry had been etched into his forehead, making him appear older.

He shrugged. “I’ll bring it out at the end of your meal.” He disappeared from view and tended to the needs of the surrounding tables. He returned a few minutes later with her order arranged neatly on a plain white plate, just as it always was. The only thing that varied was the position of the lettuce leaves. Always one cherry tomato, two cucumber slices, and a small metal dish brimming with Italian dressing. She saved the tomato for last, savoring the sweet and tangy burst of flavor. It tasted like happiness.

Later, the server cleared his throat, getting her attention. He stood next to the table with a thick slice of chocolate cake with a single candle glowing softly.

She blinked, surprised for a moment.

“Happy birthday,” he said.

Her gaze slid down to the nametag pinned to the pocket of his shirt. “Thank you, Pete.” He had a short scruffy beard the same auburn as his hair, which was complimented nicely by his red and brown plaid shirt. It was the first time she noticed how handsome he was. “My name is Olivia.”

He smiled. “On the house.”

“You don’t have to—”

“I insist.” His smile grew and pink tinged his freckled cheeks.

She ran her thumb across her engagement ring and gave him a demure smile. “Thank you again.”

“Make a wish, Olivia,” he said, sliding the plate in front of her.

She licked her fingers and extinguished the solitary flame. “I don’t need wishes. I have everything I want.”

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Published on May 25, 2016 08:00

Synthetic Heart Excerpt