The Uncanny Housekeeping Droid Chapter 1

I ordered a housekeeping bot to make my life easier. Instead, they sent me a living, breathing man.

An incubus, to be exact. With a tail and an appetite that could never be satisfied.

He wore me to a frazzle, so I took my friends' advice and sent him back.

But then I saw the security footage of him shivering and curled up in a cold logistics warehouse.

Against my better judgment, I drove through the night to get him back.

The night I brought him home, he buried his face in the crook of my neck, his breath hot and searing against my skin.

"My owner... who touched you?"

His cold, scaled tail coiled around my waist like a python, the sharp tip pressing against the hollow of my throat.

"Tell me," he whispered, "can anyone else... feed my owner the way I can?"

…

The delivery guy was panting as he set the man-sized box down at my door.

"Ma'am, what in the world did you order? This thing weighs a ton."

"A housekeeping bot," I said casually. "The latest high-tech model."

After he left, I tore open the box.

I wasn't met with the gleam of metal I expected, but with… a man.

A man curled up in packing foam, completely naked.

And attached to him was a long, black, scaled tail, which was twitching unconsciously against the cardboard.

I was stunned.

I immediately whipped out my phone, snapped three pictures of the box's contents, and fired them off to customer service.

【Care to explain this?】

【I ordered a fully automated cleaning bot, and you sent me a male escort?】

【A freak with a tail, no less! Is this human trafficking or some kind of Resident Evil experiment?!】

Customer service replied in seconds.

【Dear customer, you've received our newest model, the Bionic Domestic Companion!】

【He not only cleans and cooks but also warms your bed and keeps you company. He’s fully featured. You've hit the jackpot!】

I laughed, but there was no humor in it.

【Jackpot my ass! I want a refund!】

The "typing..." indicator flickered for a long time.

【Dear, this is a special prize from our mystery box promotion. All sales are final once opened.】

【Besides, he's already imprinted on you. He won't survive if you send him back.】

I was about to unleash a storm of curses when the man in the box stirred.

He slowly sat up, long black hair cascading over his face. When his unfocused eyes found me, they glowed with an eerie violet light.

Those weren't human pupils.

He stared at me, his nostrils flaring as if he'd caught a scent.

The next second, he lunged.

That slick, cold tail wrapped around me instantly, tightening its grip.

"Hungry…"

He opened his mouth, revealing sharp fangs, and nuzzled against my neck.

Terrified, I kicked him away.

He barely flinched, seeming not to feel the pain at all. A strange flush crept across his pale face.

"So… fragrant..."

I scrambled into my bedroom and locked the door behind me. My hands shook as I sent a voice message to customer service.

【This thing is going to eat me! I'm calling the cops! I'm suing you!】

A series of bowing and pleading emojis flooded my screen.

【Please, don't! Ma'am! He's an incubus! He doesn't want to eat your flesh!】

【Just stay calm! Give him a three-day trial! Just a little something to eat is all he needs! I'm begging you!】

From the other side of the door came the sound of nails scratching against wood, followed by the man's low, desperate plea.

"Owner… open the door… I'm so hungry…"