Page 63 of Atticus
It’s amazing to be held, and the way he looks at me like I’m his entire universe is doing wonders for my ego. The run-in at the library seems far away now, unimportant. Here on the ferry, I can pretend it’s just him and me. No one else.Move over, schoolteacher, I’m a princess today.
“A confession?” I have to tease him a little. “I didn’t know androids could keep secrets. Isn’t that a little like lying?”
“Not at all.” Atticus smooths a hand over my braids, half of which are currently wound up in a bun. “Discretion isn’t deceit. It’s just knowing to tell the truth when the time is right.”
“Well, you’re not wrong.” His touch sends an delightful shiver from my head to my toes. “Let’s hear it, then.”
He gazes into my eyes. “I want to kiss you again, Lucy.”
Butterflies in my stomach start going haywire, and my heart flutters. Atticus gives me a sly smile. Then it hits me.Android. Vitals scans.He has every capability of knowing precisely how and when he affects me. He’s got me at a disadvantage, and he always will.
“Do you? Why’s that?”
“Because I care for you. More than my programming can designate. More than what makes sense in my coding, my systems. I want to provide comfort and pleasure. But I want those things for me, as well. This connection between us has always felt natural to me. Like I was always meant—like I wasmade—for you. Built for you. And I want to prove it to the best of my ability.”
I don’t know how I’m still standing. My knees should definitely be giving out by now. Trying to play it cool, I take a chance. I slowly wrap my arms around his waist, hands resting between his shoulders as I press into him. “Are you telling me you believe in fate, Atticus?”
“Fate is yet beyond my understanding,” Atticus replies. “And yet there’s only one woman I want. So it’s entirely possible.”
I’m fighting a losing battle with my composure. Seconds from surrender. “And how long have you wanted her?”
“Ah, that is a hard thing to pinpoint.” His hand slips to my neck, thumb tracing my jawline as he gently tilts my head up. “Before I heard your conversation with Amber, though I didn’t quite understand my yearning was actual desire at the time.”
“Oh?” I gently rub his back. “Say more things like that.”
His eyes flit down to my lips. “In a moment.”
Our lips meet, and it’s as though I’m caught in a lightning strike, the chemistry building between us finally coursing through my veins. His lips are soft, his inexperience sweet and tender, though he learns very quickly, making a surprised yet contented noise in his throat when the kiss deepens with my impatience and need. He meets my eagerness with his own, closing our embrace and holding me tight against him.
My mind can barely form a coherent thought. Atticus is all there is.
When the kiss finally breaks, I’m left dizzy as he brushes his lips teasingly over mine. “I liked that,” he murmurs into my ear, his voice deep and husky.
“So did I.” I’m doing math equations in my head, trying to figure out how to get off of this boat and get Atticus back to Amber’s place. I’m imagining all sorts of things I probably shouldn’t be, my hunger for this man burning in my very core.
I want him. I want him more than I’ve ever wanted anybody. And there’s nothing wrong with that, because I know he wants me too. Freely; not because he has to.
“Lucy? Atticus?”
The fire building in me snuffs out instantly as I turn.
Renee Fenton’s eyes practically bulge out of her round face. “O-oh, sorry! I didn’t know you were—ah. Hello, Atticus.”
He drops his arms from me and clasps them behind his back. At least he maintains a sort of elegance. Meanwhile, I’m here gawking and trying to think of an excuse, a reason, something,anything, goddamnit.
“Renee, I was just—we were just—” I stammer, my heart pounding in my ears so hard I wonder if everyone else can hear it too.
Renee is holding a pale woman’s hand. She’s similar to Renee in height, with a short pixie cut that flares out and matches her neon clothes. “Uh, I just came over to say hello. And introduce you to my girlfriend, Tabitha. She has family in New Carnegie. We’re actually going to purchase an android and head back tomorrow.”
Tabitha smiles and extends a hand to me, maybe trying to push past this awkwardness as much as I want to. “Hi. Renee talks a lot about you.”
“Oh.” I take Tabitha’s hand and shake it firmly. “Yes, nice to meet you.”
“And Atticus is the school’s android, right?”
My heart sinks into my stomach. There’s no way I’m getting out of this. Bitterly, I curse my bad luck. “Yeah, he is. He, um. Helps me with my history classes and oversees things when I’m subbing for other teachers. Small district, you know, so...”
Tabitha steps back, taking Renee’s hand. “Neat. You know, a friend of mine has an android girlfriend. Crazy time we live in. Good for you! Well, it was nice meeting you, but we have dinner reservations, and we’re already late. Take it easy.”
