Page 71 of Ezra
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for you to waste a trip out here.”
“Katrina.” Ezra presses his hand against the door frame. “Checking on you is never a waste.”
Androids aren’t ones to lie, Ezra made that plain. Despite the fact I’m mortified he saw my flailing from the window, hope kindles in me. “Do you want to come in?”
Ezra slowly nods, stepping inside. The door closes behind him. I do my best to ignore my stomach, doing a jig with a fresh dose of nerves. I never anticipated feeling this way, so relieved and yet so excited, so joyous at being able to speak with him again.
I try not to show it. He’s got an advantage over me as it is, being able to scan my vitals and determine how I feel from diagnostic information. Wearing my heart on my sleeve isn’tgoing to do either of us any favors.We’re just friends. He’s checking on a friend. Take it easy.
I set my empty beer bottle in the sink for now until I can recycle it. “Alice, turn the music off,” I command, and the system obeys, my apartment going silent while Ezra looks around.
Charlie jets toward Ezra with a series of happy beeps, circling around him several times and touching his shoe gently with a leg. Ezra bends down and extends his hand to the little spider bionic, who grasps the cuff of his sleeve and begins crawling up his arm to his shoulder. “I see you discovered Charlie in your belongings.”
“You knew he was there?”
“I could sense him, yes. He seems happy with you. Would’ve been a shame to leave him behind.” He turns his attention back to my apartment, allowing Charlie a few moments to beep and trill while crossing from one shoulder to the other along Ezra’s back. Then he patiently sets him back down on the floor. Charlie’s beady glowing eyes blink up at him, then he beeps loudly in indignation and follows him. “This is a comfortable setting. I can see why you preferred it to BioNex Tower.”
“I only prefer the location,” I reply, acutely aware I’m in my pajamas and a pair of fluffy socks, while he looks perfectly put together. “But the Tower had better company.”
He turns to face me, curious. His smile hasn’t quit faded, and I’d like to think it’s because he’s just as happy to see me. “I happen to agree.”
I toy with my pinky finger, resisting the urge to bite my nails. It’s a bad habit that always pops up at the exactly wrong time, and I haven’t gotten them done to stop the bad habit in weeks. Not since before the bombing.
“Ezra, I know we said that—well, I know what we talked about, but I thought maybe?—”
He moves so quickly, I’ve barely registered that he’s crossed the room and collided against me. Before I lose my balance, he wraps his arm around my waist, places his hand beneath my jaw, and tilts my chin up, cutting off my sentence as his lips crash against mine. I go stiff, then melt when I feel his tongue search for mine. He doesn’t taste like metal, like anything. My eyes shut, and I’m not sure where my hands should go, but before long I grip his coat tightly, reciprocating as best I can.
Ezra iskissingme.
Inexperience hinders me as I try to match his eagerness. I’ve had a kiss or two, sure, but nothing like this. Ezra must sense it; he harnesses his strength, deepening the kiss to something smoldering and tender. A soft moan escapes me. I gasp as he lifts me, his hands on my ass, holding me steady. I wrap my arms around his broad shoulders. My head spins. All thoughts of conversation are cast aside. I don’t want him to stop kissing me for anything.
But he breaks away, gritting his teeth. His expression twists from a hunger I’ve never seen to pure annoyance. “Fuck,” he snarls, the backlit glow of his eyes flickering. He exhales heated air from his inner systems. With care, he lowers me to my feet, his hands on my waist.
“What is it?” I ask, stricken, still reeling from a kiss that’s all but rendered me a puddle in the floor. He came to check on me. He kissed me. What does that mean? What do I want it to mean?
“I’m getting pinged by the precinct.” Ezra grimaces. “Some sort of finding. I need to return. With Deion.”
No, no, no.Every fiber of my body is defiant. I want him to stay. Why him, why now? I douse it with fresh reality. Ezra is a detective; his entire life and purpose revolves around investigations like this. He isn’t allowed rest. What we shared while he watched over me was something rare.
This is what it’s really like for him. I have to respect that.
“Okay,” I whisper, allowing my arms to fall to my sides, memories of his kisses still searing my lips. I do what I can to mask my disappointment, nodding. “I understand.”
Ezra loosens his grip on me. “This isn’t why I came over. To do this. I just saw you, and I...” He trails off. “Perhaps the interruption is for the best.”
I flinch, steadying my breath. “For the best?” My voice is faint.
Ezra sounds reluctant, almost apologetic. “Katrina, that isn’t what I?—”
“It’s fine,” I cut in, forcing myself to shut down all hope and any expectations. The interruption was for the best. The truth is known to sting, isn’t it? Perhaps that’s what I needed to hear. I step back. “Really. I get it. You’re needed. You should go. It’s important.”
Ezra’s frown deepens. He nods. “I’m glad you’re safe.”
Right. Safety. That’s what matters. I swallow and head for the door, ignoring the heat between my thighs as I open it for him.
“Thank you,” I answer, keeping my tone tepid, unwilling to look him in the eye. I don’t want there to be any other indication of his effect on me. “Good luck with your case.”
I hear a soft sigh escape him. He lingers briefly next to me by the door, and then enters the hallway. “Good night, Katrina.”
