Seven Roses (Haremworld)

“What?” Her stare softened.

“I even deleted my information and tried it again. I ran every algorithm that could be run. I made sure it was legitimate and it was. You really were my perfect match. I stayed up all night testing every line of code, running through it over and over until I was absolutely certain it wasn’t some cruel joke being played on me by one of my friends who knew I was going to hack it, or something in the database that was fucked up. It wasn’t.” I shook my head. “It was fucking real.”

“Then why have you been such a jerk? Why did you just write this whole thing off in the beginning?” Her tone finally relaxed.

“I was the perfect match and by the rules of Seven Roses, that meant I got the first date. I had one chance to show you that maybe you should consider someone like me—and then they changed the rules. Charles Montgomery started bringing out celebrities, he put himself in the game, and he set the rules so that I didn’t have a chance. There was no chance for

us to be together. I get a perfect match and the only option is to share you with six other guys? That is the story of my fucking life right there.” I looked towards the driver and back at Lyn. “I can tell him to turn the car around. Obviously this is just a waste of time for both of us.”

“No.” She reached out and put her hand on mine. “So what if the rules got changed? You’re still on a date with me. We’re still together right now. Regardless of what you did to get here or what intentions you had when you decided to sign up for Seven Roses, you really were a perfect match. That has to mean something...”

“It means the computer is as bad at putting people together as the rest of the dating apps out there.” I looked down at her hand.

“Maybe traditional romance isn’t what you need, Anders. Think about it. What is traditional romance anyway? Is it a feeling? Is it a sense of obligation we feel because generations before us embraced it? I was as surprised as you when Charles made his announcement, but as I’ve went out on these dates, I’ve found something I need in every guy. None of them are the complete package, but that is okay because the union will make us complete.” She rubbed my hand lightly. “You’ve been honest with me and I respect that. I’m not entirely convinced you don’t have a place in this union.”

“If I would have gotten the first date, we might have ended up together.” I sighed and shook my head.

“No...” She moved closer to me. “The one thing Charles recognized was that I need someone who can be a companion. Even if we were a perfect match, he said you’re always gone—which doesn’t fit any of the things you have told me so far.”

“I work for the government.” I looked towards the camera nervously to make sure it was still off. “I got a little too zealous with my hacking when I was younger and I got arrested by the FBI. I avoided prison by agreeing to a government job. While guys like Markus are out there fighting on the ground, I’m in the air.”

“You’re a pilot?” She tilted her head.

“Something like that—I fly drones. Well, it’s more than that. I design them, make sure there is no way to hack them—because there are people like me who would do it—and then I fly them.” I shrugged. “It does keep me away, although most of my work now is in design and security.”

“That...” She blinked in surprise. “That actually sounds really interesting.”

Maybe I’m a bad motherfucker in the real world too.

I REGRETTED NOT BEING more creative with my date when we got to the restaurant. I had decided to stay on Seven Roses until the end because I didn’t want to call attention to myself by leaving abruptly. Being eliminated or having the show end without me ending up in the arrangement Charles outlined would definitely make me recognizable, but causing a scene would be more memorable than that. I never expected Lyn to be interested when she heard the truth. I figured if I said it while the cameras were off, she would understand, but I was more confused than ever after our conversation in the car. For the first time, I had a boost of confidence. I started to question if I was too hasty in my decision to dismiss the idea of the arrangement. There was a ring of truth to her hesitation about us being together. If I had secured the first date, managed to keep her interest, and somehow won the game, I would be on a plane to Afghanistan or Syria within a few weeks. The relationship would barely be off the ground before I was gone for an extended period of time. With the union Charles offered, I would have someone waiting on me when I returned—regardless of how long I was gone. We made small talk over dinner and she avoided all mentions of the things we discussed while the cameras were off, which I was thankful for. By the time we left the restaurant, I was wishing I had lined up more than just a meal.

“So, what’s next?” She turned towards me as we walked towards the car.

“That was kind of it...” I sighed. “I really didn’t put any effort into this—I’m regretting that now.”

“The night doesn’t have to be over.” She took my hand. “We can shut off the camera in the car and just spend some time together. I”m sure he has a full tank of gas.”

“Okay.” I nodded and smiled. “That sounds like a good idea.”

We climbed into the back of the car and she hit the button to shut down the camera again. The driver started the car and followed her directions to drive until she gave him instructions otherwise. She slid over next to me and I reached out for her hand. I felt like an abomination of everything I had thought going into the date and the show in general. I was having fun. Lyn was so genuine and comforting, even when I revealed the truth. It was clear that her needs were more than I could handle alone, especially when I realized just how much companionship meant to someone who had never really had it. She was looking for a hug at the end of the day, someone she could talk to, and she needed someone who would be able to satisfy the urges she had discovered as her virginity faded away. I wasn’t going to be that man—not by myself. With the others, I could have a place in her life. I could have the things I thought I would never have. She had won me over, but as her hand started to move along my leg, I realized there was one more confession I was going to have to lay on her. It was a secret I had never told anyone, and I wasn’t sure how she would react.

“Lyn...” I put my hand on top of hers as she moved up my thigh. “There is something else I have to tell you.”

“What is it?” She leaned close and kissed my neck.

“I’m like you—when you started the show.” I sighed as shivers ran up my body. “I’ve never been with anyone before. I’m a virgin.”

“If there is one thing I’ve learned this week.” She let her lips drift near my ear. “Losing it can lead to something amazing.”

“It doesn’t turn you off?” I started to release my grasp on her hand.

“No.” She kissed my earlobe. “It makes me want you more.”

Lyn’s hand continued moving up my leg until she was stroking my cock through my pants. I had considered just losing my virginity to get it out of the way so many times. There were women all over the world that I could have paid for sex, but as I felt her passion for the first time, I realized it was going to be worth the wait. Her hand moved across my belt and started to unfasten it as she pressed her lips to mine. She tasted like the wine we had with dinner, with so much heat in her touch that I thought I would melt. I truly had no idea what I was doing. I moved my hands along the edge of her dress and started to pull it up towards her hips. Her tongue slid between my lips as mine pressed against it and they started to swirl against each other. Feeling the curve of her hips and the naked skin covered in nothing but a thin pair of panties made my cock throb with anticipation.

My belt was removed and she started to reach into my pants. I shifted my hips so that she could easily get her hand into my boxers and she started to stroke my dick, pulling it free from the fabric. My hands traced her hips, pushing between her thighs where I felt her wet pussy for the first time through her panties.

“Wow...” She pulled back from our kiss and looked down at my exposed cock. “You’ve had the wrong technique this whole time.”