The worn, leather saddle creaked and groaned.

“Faster, baby, faster!” the low male voice rumbled in Priscilla Potter’s ears. She smiled at the warm gust of air tickling her neck.

Again, her bare bottom slammed against the hard leather, pushing the cock deeper inside her pussy as the seat rocked forward and back to the motion of the galloping horse. “Yes! Yes!” She was nearing her climax, her liquid arousal lubricating the pulsating rod stretching her vaginal walls.

“That’s it, baby, you’re almost there,” he murmured. “Ride this little doggie into the dirt.” The saddle jounced roughly, almost unseating her. She reached for the saddle horn and held on tight. “Like it rough, do you, Jake?” she asked, delighted with the change in program.

“Come for me, baby,” he whispered. “Almost-,” the seat groaned again and the cock broke free from the saddle, “-theeerre-uunnnh.” The riding apparatus shuddered to a halt.

“No!” she wailed, ripping the virtual reality helmet from her head and dropping it to the floor. She climbed gingerly from her seat and pulled the dead dildo from between her legs. “Aaa-gnes!”

“Yeah, boss?” her personal assistant’s disembodied voice echoed hollowly against Priscilla’s bedroom room walls. “Oooh! Malfunction?”

“I thought this thing had a 10,000 hour warranty,” Priscilla grumbled, her pussy still humming. She stomped to the living room and flopped down on the sofa. “I can’t believe it! Work’s been hell this week. All I wanted was a little stress relief and the damn saddle breaks!”

“Boss, do you think this might be a sign?” Agnes’s voice, heavily laced with amusement, rang from the speakers in the ceiling. “Your life is all about work. What are you trying to prove, anyway? Your parents aren’t around to see what you’ve accomplished.”

“I’m not trying to prove anything. Besides, they have more important things to do, like saving planets from wars or negotiating trade agreements,” Priscilla said, hating the sour note in her voice. She was very proud of their work on behalf of the Dominion. She’d long since stopped feeling like she’d let them down when she’d flunked Galactic Political Science at the university. Really.

“Maybe you need the real thing.”

“You mean a man?” Priscilla snorted. “Why would I want that? Men are messy and demanding. They burp and scratch, and the last one wanted to move in without a pre-cohabitational agreement.” Priscilla sank deeper into the fabric of her plush, upholstered sofa and slid her fingers between her labia, working her flesh to maintain her arousal. “I’ll pass. I don’t have time to romance another lover. Besides, my debit account couldn’t handle another messy break-up.”

“Why don’t you let me plan a little vacation for us? Have you ever considered that your choices are rather limited here? I mean we are talking Texas. Land of the Technogeek. Hardly the place to find a real man.”

The throbbing in her pussy waned. Priscilla almost cried with frustration and removed her fingers from between her legs. “Agnes, you are personality-programmed for me, aren’t you? Or did they switch you at the incubator?”

“I’m exactly what you need. The latest in cellular technology. And I’m telling you I’ve run your profile-you aren’t going to find Mr. Right here in South Texas.”

“See? This is a pointless discussion. Mr. Right doesn’t exist. So why don’t you be a good personal assistant and bring up the Playthings for Playmates catalog? I need to order a new replacement-and this time, no cowboy theme!”

“What will satisfy you, Miss Priss? You have a whole closet full of toys.”

“Don’t get sassy with me, or I’ll pull your power grid.”

Agnes chortled. “You wouldn’t last an hour before you’d boot me back up.”

“Maybe I’d just hit reformat and wipe your hard drive clean,” Priscilla grumbled. “If I started from scratch, I might actually get an assistant who does what I tell her.”

“Girlfriend, you’d be comatose. No man to drive you crazy and no Agnes to snarl at.”

“Who’s in charge here, anyway?” Priscilla ground her teeth. “Just bring up the catalog.”

“Yes, ma’am!” Agnes saluted with a click of her simulated heels and dropped the bioluminescent screen from the ceiling, nearly smacking Priscilla in the head, and then adjusted it to the correct height, tilting the screen with a snap to the proper angle. “I’ve already earmarked the pages you’ll want to check out.”

“That’s more like it.”

The catalog’s front door opened and the salesclerk motioned Priscilla inside the shop’s foyer. “Good morning, Miss Priscilla!” Tonio said, smiling appreciatively. “I see you’ve lost a few pounds. Did the riding help with your ‘saddle bags’?”

Priscilla glared at the clerk, reminding herself he was only virtual-therefore getting angry with him didn’t serve a real purpose.

“So glad to see you again,” the clerk continued, tucking a lock of platinum hair behind his ears. He leaned forward, his handsome face filling the screen, his bluer-than-true-blue eyes glittering with sly amusement. “What can I help you with today, love?”

Nothing worse than a smug salesman, Priscilla thought, unless it was a smug, computer-simulated salesman.

“Are you looking for a replacement for the Texas Tornado? With your frequent riders’ membership, we can offer you a deal on an upgraded model.”

“Tonio, about that saddle. The damn thing broke. Wasn’t it under warranty?”

“You surpassed the 10,000 hours three months ago, sweetie.” Tonio winked. “Of course, we can refurbish that model, but I think you’ll want to check out our newest innovations first. In fact, Agnes just sent me an updated profile.” He looked to his right. “Nice font choice, dear.” Turning back to Priscilla, he said, “She’s fast! And so verrry good. You’re lucky to have her.”

Priscilla rolled her eyes. “Did she put you up to that? Threatening to pull her grid must have really made her nervous.”

“She’s just grumpy, Toni-baby,” Agnes said. “Did she mention she broke the saddle?”

“Ah!” With a superior smile pasted on his lips, he raised both eyebrows. “So Miss Priss, how about you just lie there and I’ll give you the tour.”

Priscilla sighed. The machines knew what she needed, so why didn’t she? “I’m telling you now-I expect to be wowed,” she said, expecting disappointment. How could you package fulfillment? Or love?

Tonio led the way down a long, white corridor backlit with rosy light fixtures. He paused and waved his hand over a purple button labeled “MOD”. A long rack of toys shimmered into view along the wall. He selected one and fondled the large lavender-hued vaginal applicator. “Of course, we have the latest in Manually-Operated Dildos-quiet, self-lubricating-”

“She has dozens,” Agnes interrupted.

“Of course she does.” He compressed his lips and returned the dildo to its shelf. “Follow me. Agnes did mention price isn’t your highest priority.” He continued down the corridor. Toward the end, he turned and gave her a measured glance. “You know,” his voice purred, “we have something special. Just in from Pinnacle Productions. Quite exclusive. We have only a few models at the moment, but they’re not available to the general public. Seeing as you’re such a loyal customer, I could offer one as a rental.”

“She’s not interested in a rental, Tonio,” Agnes replied before Priscilla could open her mouth.

“Yoo-hoo!” Priscilla said, waving at the screen. “What about what I want? Why don’t you ask me ?”

“She doesn’t have time to return anything to the store,” Agnes said, without acknowledging her boss’s interruption.

“Oh, but delivery and return are included, Agnes love.”

Priscilla sighed in frustration, but she had to admit Tonio’s long windup of a sales pitch had caught her interest. “All right, show it to me.”

Tonio finally looked straight at her. “I can’t,” he replied, with another smug look. Priscilla was sure her teeth would be ground to nubs by the end of the conversation. “You see, each model’s form is regenerated-according to the needs of the individual client.”

“Is this a toy we’re talking about?”

“Not exactly.” Tonio’s well-modulated lips, stretched into a feline smile. “It’s a fully functional, life-size robot —”

Priscilla groaned. “I don’t want a doll to hump. I need action —”

“Yes. Penetration, gliding movement, clitoral stimulation. I know. Agnes mentioned that, but this isn’t just another doll, love. It’s skin and synthetic sinew stretched over a steel frame. Entirely life-like. It even comes and grows limp afterward.”

“I have MODs that come and go limp.” She waved her hand. “I know, I know. They’re what every woman wants.”

“But do they have fingers and moist tongues? Large, rock-hard cocks and flexible, suctioning mouths?” He stepped closer so that his face filled the screen. “And do they have artificial intelligence that allows them to learn your desires and act independently upon them? Hmmm?”

“No.” Priscilla leaned forward and wished she could control the flush of heat that betrayed her interest. “Your robot does all that?”

“This model does.”

“Why can’t I see a sample of the product? Don’t you have a mock-up?”

Tonio lifted an eyebrow. “Tell me, love, you’re a marketer by trade. If I showed you a product not intended for your consumption, wouldn’t you still have an expectation about its appearance or performance?” At Priscilla’s frown, he added, “We prefer to surprise our customers. We’ll map your preferences, gleaned from the thorough profile Agnes has provided us, to build you the perfect sexual partner.”

Priscilla eyed him with suspicion. “Sounds expensive.”

He gave her a reproving look. “Agnes assured me you can afford it, so quit grousing.”

“Agnes has been a busy girl,” Priscilla mumbled.

“Have to keep one step ahead of the old reformat button,” Agnes muttered.

“She promises you will not be disappointed,” Tonio continued, “and I’ll personally guarantee it.”

“If this toy is so special, why can’t I just purchase it?”

“This is only a market trial. Pinnacle wants to see whether the demand is in the market place before they refit a plant for mass production.”

“I don’t know. A sex robot seems kind of.decadent.” Her fingers crept back between her legs.

“We’ll throw in a full refurbish of your Saddle Tramp,” he said, his tone wheedling.

“Tonio, can I have the robot delivered now? Please, please.” She pouted her lips.

“I’m sorry, dear. They’re all out at the moment. One will free up in two days-just in time for the weekend. Shall I book it for Friday through Sunday?”

“Like a mini-vacation?” Agnes replied, excitement in her voice.

What a novel thought! Priscilla settled back against the cushions. She’d keep her uplink to work turned off the entire weekend. Three whole days of sensual hedonism.

“Would you like to take it somewhere special?” Agnes asked.

Priscilla grimaced. With her luck, every last person she ever knew would see her with her un-real man. “In public? I don’t think so.”

“Oh, but the robot’s true nature would be indiscernible from any man,” Tonio said. “I promise, he’s entirely lifelike and intelligent.”

“All right, so he has table manners and can laugh at my crummy punch lines. Still, I’d like to get the most enjoyment for my money-we’ll stay here.”

“Good. Then he’ll pack light.”

“Will he be programmed to my specifications?”

Tonio waggled his perfectly symmetrical eyebrows. “Hon, he’ll be hung like a horse.”

Priscilla grinned and slid her fingers inside her sopping pussy. “Mmmm. What did you say this toy is called?”

“I didn’t. It’s called The Pleasure Bot.”