Chapter 5: My Bloody Valentine

”The jealous are possessed by a mad devil and a dull spirit at the same time.” -Johann Kaspar Lavater.

Alexis

Shopping made me hungry, so I decided to take Aiden to my favorite cafe because now those Valentine's Day decorations won't make me depressed. As we walked into the cafe, I knew every girl and some guys were eyeing Aiden up like he was the last piece of Death By Chocolate Cheesecake and they couldn't wait to sink their teeth into him. I felt pride as I hooked my arm with his. I was proud to say to myself, ‘Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I wasn’t alone and miserable anymore.’ I had everything a person could want. Aiden was gorgeous, intelligent, and protective. Best of all, his gaze never wavered from me. He would be loyal and never abandon me.

We chose a table and he gallantly pulled the chair out for me. I smiled and thanked him as he pushed in my chair before sitting across from me. “What shall we order, my Luna?” He asked in his deep husky baritone, causing a few women to turn their heads. His voice was tender yet commanding. It made you want to submit to his every desire so I don't blame the women for noticing.

I blushed as I answered shyly, “I don’t know, but I’m starving.” This lunch was starting out like something from one of my novels. It caused my mind to race at how he might look once his clothes were off. So far this AI technology has been so real that if I didn't know that he was a robot I would think he was human. However, we will have to discuss pet names because I am not sure that Luna is appropriate. I giggled at least it wasn't something lame like Buttercup.

The male server, who had waited on me before when I brought my boyfriend in here, came over with the menus and smiled at me, “If I may, I’d recommend today’s special. The chef is making his signature dish of Sex On The Beach. The beach is made of mushrooms. The rest involves an edible condom made from konjac and kappa which is filled with honey and ham. Unless the pretty lady would prefer the Green Goddess salad.”

The server gave me an odd look when I ordered for Aiden and me. I know that men normally order, but I wanted to take the lead just this once. I want to see how realistic my AI boyfriend is when it comes to eating too. Aiden’s posture changed. I wonder if I missed a look that Aiden gave the server before left? “Are all men that blatantly obvious that they want to fuck you?”  Aiden tersely asked.

His bluntness and harshness took me by surprise. Now I knew that I had missed an exchange between him and the server. “What are you talking about?” I asked in utter confusion.

“The waiter was flirting with you like I wasn’t even here. Do men have no self-restraint? Are they always so disrespectful? You are my Luna. You are taken, you are mine! Why is that so hard to understand?” Aiden bellowed.

I sucked in a breath. This escalated very quickly. We are also in a smaller setting than we were at the superstore. I can't just reach over and hug him. My words will have to be enough for now and then when we get home, we can talk. He needs to know what is acceptable in public because something has clearly gotten lost in translation between what I inputted and how he is acting. How was I going to keep Aiden calm?

“Hey, he wasn’t flirting with me. He was just being polite. If a server wants a decent tip, they must be as polite as they are efficient.  Everyone knows I’m yours. No one would dare flirt with your woman.” I smirked and held his hand, hoping to have calmed him down. Damn, maybe I shouldn’t have set the jealousy setting so high, but I couldn't have my robot falling for other women as had happened to me in the past. I wanted Aiden to only ever have eyes for me.  I will research how to put him in setup mode to adjust his settings once I get home.

The server brought our meals and smiled as he placed my plate in front of me. I thanked him and he left, but afterward, I glanced at Aiden. I knew he was about to confront the poor guy. Instinctively, I reached for his hand and held it as I started talking about my hobbies, “As your girlfriend, I think we should get to know each other more.” I smiled flirtily at him. I looked into his eyes as I lightly stroked circles on his palm with my thumb. I gave him a wink, “This is me flirting. I only have eyes for you.” I immediately blushed at my boldness but it seemed to calm him down. However, he did send a few scowls in the direction of the server each time he passed by us attending other tables.

The rest of our lunch was spent with him wanting to know everything about me. I got lost in his tone and mesmerizing eyes. Once we were done, we happily left the restaurant. I was getting excited about the prospect of what the night would bring. Finally, I won’t have to sleep alone and I can be as free as I want. As we were about to get in our car, the server from earlier yelled, “Excuse me, Miss.” I turned around and Aiden audibly growled. Thankfully, the guy was far away enough not to hear. “Glad I caught you before you left,” he said as he got close enough and took a deep breath to calm his breathing down after having to run after me.

“Dude, what part of her being taken is so hard for you to understand? She is MINE!” Aiden roared as he stalked toward the server, “Mine!” I stood between the men before Aiden did something I would have to apologize for. I will need to figure out how to put him back into input mode and adjust his settings. I want to be the only woman he desires, but I can't risk having him manhandle a guy for just doing his job.

The server took in a deep breath, “I get that you two are together. Sir, I just came to say that you left one of your shopping bags under the table.” I realized that indeed the server was holding a shopping bag. I blushed and hoped that he didn’t peek inside since that was the one that had my lingerie in it. I am not one who is comfortable with anyone but my boyfriend seeing my underclothes. Perhaps in time, I can become bolder and maybe Aiden is the key to unlocking my inhibitions.

“Thank you,” I said and nodded at him before leaving. “See, he was just doing his job.”

“Why did you take his side? I don't understand.” Aiden gruffly asked. “A Luna is to side with her Alpha.”

“I didn’t-”  Oh, no! He can't think that he is an alpha werewolf and I am his mate, can he? I really should have read the whole manual before I turned him on. Lesson learned, I will work on having more patience and always read a manual cover to cover.

“Then, why did you stop me from putting that little fuck in his place? How dare he!” Aiden fumed. His outburst seemed so over the top. I began to worry about the scene we were causing because people began to stare. I needed to get us home without further incident.

“Aiden, my love, he didn’t do anything. In fact, he was kind enough to return my shopping bag,” I said as I cradled his face in my hands and tried to make him look in my eyes, hoping to calm him down. Where was this reaction coming from? Even with a high jealousy setting, this seems so off. Did I cause a glitch or something? “I know that all of this is new to you, and it is a bit to me too. We will get through this together.”

After I finally managed to get him in the car but before I could drive us home, he said, “I’m sorry, my love, I need a minute in the men’s room. Do you mind waiting?”

I frowned, confused at first, but then I remembered reading about how realistic bodily functions are on the model I had ordered and that he might need to dump his container. I nodded. As I watched him leave, a sense of dread washed over me. I waited for a few minutes and soon enough I saw Aiden walk back. Everything about him from his facial expressions to his walk was more relaxed than when he had left. As he got back into the car, I could see that he was feeling better as well. I opted to not mention the server again, hoping that Aiden’s good mood would remain and whatever glitch caused his strange behavior would work itself out.

Aiden

I don't care what Alexis said about that waiter. I know when a man is interested in a woman and he is clearly interested. She is my mate, not his!  No human will steal my Luna from me. I will stop in the men’s room, but I won't be alone. Once inside the cafe, I spotted the server. I waited for him to make his way to the kitchen which meant he must pass by the restrooms. I pushed him inside the men’s room and locked the door.

Having taken him by surprise, I didn't allow him any time to react. First, I used my fists and then my claws. I put a claw on his neck. “Next time you so much as look at my woman like she is a piece of meat, I will make you one and feast on your corpse,” I growled before I slammed his head hard into the side of the sink. I then emptied my container and tidied myself up before I went back to the car. If he values his life, he won't ever look at what is MINE again.