Xander held my hand in his palm, gently dabbing the remaining remnants of coffee from my skin. Although his attention felt sincere, my mind raced with all that had been revealed.

"Are you scared of me, Leo?" He kept is eyes on my red and swollen skin. "I promise I will never hurt you."

"I'm not scared," I shook my head. "Of course, you will never hurt me. I never once thought you would. I just don't understand. Why would anyone want to experience the things my dad did to the previous android?"

"To understand," Xander finally raised his eyes to me. "By seeing things through your mother's perspective, do you better understand her and her decision to leave?"

"Yes...Maybe," I added. "But I don't like her decision."

"Do you like your father's decisions?"

"Not all the time." I took the cloth from Xander and lay it on the counter. Grabbing his hand instead, I tugged him toward the downstairs area. "Let's go down there to talk about it." Even though I knew Dad couldn't hear us because we made sure to keep our voices low, I still glanced over my shoulder towards his room as if he would be standing there, watching and judging.

Once downstairs, I strolled into the guest room. While it still felt cold and vacant, it was more welcoming than the empty, stark white conference room or the laundry space.

I sat on the bed where Xander followed me, sitting so close our thighs touched.

"Do you have emotions?" I asked, taking note of all the previous signs I'd seen. The love for piano, the occasional looks of concern and other facial expressions. "You're nothing like our previous domestic caregiver."

"I learn," Xander said. "That's what I do best. I learn by engaging, perceiving, experiencing, and imitating. I learn who people are by their actions as well. You are a good person, Leo. I'm very fond of you and I enjoy all the experiences you give me."

"Thank you, Xander." I took a deep breath as his compliment settled in. "But can you really enjoy? When you say you like and love something, do you really?"

"I understand the concept," he said. "Maybe with time I can learn to do those things too." The slight smile on his face slowly dissipated. "Some of the experiences I've had with James I do not enjoy, but it is necessary that I learn from those experiences too." Xander stared at the closet door again. "I've also come to learn that some people would rather disregard, torture or even kill other sentient beings before they confront their own inner darkness."

"I'm so sorry, Xander." I turned to face him, casually placing my palm on his thigh to show my sincerity. "I should've known that keeping our previous caregiver in that closet was wrong. I would never do that to a human being or any animal, so I don't know why I did that to him."

"I know you're a good person," Xander said with a heartwarming smile that heated my chest. "You don't have to convince me."

"I feel so bad." I let my head hang between my knees. "I just feel so guilty."

"Like most people, you make mistakes." Xander's hand caressed my thigh. Each individual finger hit a nerve that sent pleasant shudders along my inner thigh and to my groin. "I accept that about you. Don't you?" Although Xander didn't emit radiating heat, a surge of warmth flowed through me beginning at the spot where he touched.

"So, all you want to do is learn?" I shook my head, trying desperately to focus on the matter at hand. "I mean, you went through all this trouble, you've done things that would probably get you scrapped if Colife found out. I don't get it. You decided to do all these things because you want to learn? What about me and my dad? What do you want from us?"

"For you to learn too." His voice came out soft and low, the bass in it vibrated down my spine like butterflies.

"That's all?" I asked, in awe, gulping when he gently squeezed my thigh.

"That is all," he confirmed. "Maybe your dad will learn to be more like you— understanding, compassionate, appreciative. Those are things people find attractive in other people. That's what I find attractive in you, Leo."

Warmth flooded my cheeks. "Thanks, Xander." I glanced down sheepishly, noticing coffee splotches on my clothes. "Damn, I got coffee all over me."

He pointed to the collar of my shirt. "May I?"

I gave him a look that I often shot Austin when he tried flirting during our late-night rendezvous. "Is this your way of asking to remove my shirt?"

"No," he said. "This is my way of asking if I may show you what I learned from you?"

My words caught in my throat as they came out in a rushed breath. "What have I taught?" I knew the answer but wanted to hear it from his mouth.

"How to touch." His fingers gripped the tail of my shirt and when I nodded, encouraging him to continue, he slowly lifted the stretchy cotton until it came up and over my head. The coldness in the room quickly stiffened my nipples and I fought the urged to huddle closer to him for warmth.

He must've sensed my reaction to the cold as he ran one hand along my shoulder and the other further up my thigh. My gaze followed his slender fingers as they trailed the curves of my chest muscles and circled the hardened bud of my nipple.

I closed my eyes and shuddered from the pleasure that shot through my body like lightening, throwing my head back and allowing him full access to my naked torso.

His hands slid along my sides and once at my back he gripped me, pulling me to him. I refused to open my eyes, wanting my body to react in surprised to whatever came next.

His lips landed on my neck and caressed my skin along the slope. I moaned, feeling the heat of my own body amp up into next gear. His velvety soft skin gently puckered against my Adam's apple, and down along my collarbone.

I lay back lengthwise on the mattress, pulling him over me. We moved fluidly, getting into a comfortable position that allowed him to hover above me by inches but connecting us at the hips. I immediately gripped his arms to feel the strength in his biceps, satisfied with the feel of his muscles under his skintight suit.

I yearned for the moist lick of his tongue on my body or the hot burst from his breath on my skin but settled for his gentle grasps and caresses.

My body wanted more, and I couldn't stop myself from running my fingers through the silky white strands on his head and up and down the back of his neck. Like a simulation, my mind conjured up the lewd scenario of guiding his head down to my lap. I wanted to feel his mouth around my stiffness and imagined his lips gliding along the length.

I let out a breathy moan and allowed my eyes to crack open to see Xander's eyelids closed as well. His lips relaxed as they traveled my torso, mapping out all the lines of my abs, and puckered as they slid back up over my nipples.

The sudden urge to release my pent-up tension came over me. With his thigh between my legs, I pulled his hips into mine. My hard cock ground against his groin, as I rolled my hips to a rhythmic tempo that sent pure desire through me. This time when I whimpered in pleasure, he responded with a moan.

I gripped his hips tighter, and he groaned to my touch, a sound of pleasure-pain that sent me over the edge.

The rhythm of my hips continued until I was completely spent. Hot, stickiness collected inside the front of my jeans, but I didn't care. I tapped his shoulder, and he took the cue to roll over and lay beside me in bed.

I only took note of the small mattress when he tried to mimic me and rest but had a hard time due to his stature. I chuckled and sat up. "I need a shower."

He sat up too. "You're damp with sweat."

"Thanks to you." I smirked.

"You're welcome, Leo." When he stood, he seemed to have loosened up without me prompting him to. "Would you like me to retrieve a towel for you, before I continue with my duties?"

"No, thanks." I grabbed my shirt. "I'm ok."

He headed toward the door, about to walk out without saying another word until I stopped him.

"Hey, Xander?"

"Yes, Leo." He turned, waiting patiently while I stood fidgeting with the shirt and looking awkward.

"I just wanted to let you know that you don't have to worry about Colife, my dad, or anyone one finding out about everything you told me," I said, recognizing the innocence in his eyes. "In other words, your secret's safe with me."

"You don't have to tell me, Leo," he said. "I already know." And out of the door he went.

The End

~~~

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