"It's not uncommon," Ash replied. He'd been ordered out as a gift before, or for couples to share. Once even for a whole party of women. He didn't get to pick and choose who hired him. He only followed the terms of his contract.

"If you're looking for a person, you might not find one with me."

He may have started as something more personal, back when he was text on a screen or a voice coming through a speaker, but the closer he got to resembling humanity, the more it was drilled into him that he was something Other. Something that didn't count. Something, not someone.

All the same, he continued his slow massage of Junior's pelvis, waiting for a cue whether to move forward or pull back.