Chapter Four

 

Satisfied and drowsy, Kiri stretched out across the bed and rested her head on Gage’s shoulder. She lay there basking in the afterglow, enjoying his soothing touch and the cool air from the environmental vents blowing over her sweat-damp skin.

She stroked her palm across his chest, comforted by the steady beat of his heart.

Gage responded absently, his fingertips grazing her arm in a light motion, back and forth. He laid his cheek against her hair and nuzzled her. “Are you all right?”

“Yes.”

He took a deep breath then picked up her hand and kissed it. “If you’re sure, then it’s time for us to talk about what happened before.” He rose up on his elbow and looked down at her. “I’ve always been attracted to you, but that last time we were together— No, Kiri, don’t look away.”

He urged her onto her back, and when she lay supine, he leaned over her and stroked her hair back from her temple.

“Listen to me. It’s not what you think. You startled me that night, it’s true. I sensed you loved me, but I didn’t expect it to be real. People say ‘I love you’ all the time and they don’t mean it, but when you said it, I felt this surge along our connection. I knew what you said was true.”

Anxiety curled through her. It must’ve been visible on her face. She opened her mouth to tell him to stop, to beg his forgiveness, anything to avoid the embarrassment of whatever might be coming. But he would have none of it. He silenced her by placing a finger against her lips.

“I’m not angry, Kiri. I was never angry. Surprised, yes,” he said with a nod, his expression serious, “but that’s to be expected, I think. Since the time my operating system was initiated, I have known the term love. I’ve always understood it in a basic sense, even though emotions aren’t a significant part of my collective sub-programming. Everything I learn, it’s through connections, interactions. Just like humans, a large part of what I learn, I must pick up from others.”

She let out a shaky breath. “So, you learned the concept of love…from me?”

His wary expression confused her.

He picked up her hand and laced his fingers through hers, a strained smile lingering on his lips. “I’ve been with many women, Kiri. You know this. But until that night we were together—until you showed me your secret—I didn’t know what it was to be loved, or what it felt like to be in love.”

She was quiet for a long minute, trying to absorb the surreal information. Her heart welled up with hope; she swallowed hard. “You mean…you’re not offended by what I said?”

“How could I be offended when you’d given me such a priceless gift?” He kissed her fingers then placed her hand over her heart. “Not only did you teach me to love, you showed me just how rare it is, how special. I love you, Kiri, because somehow, you found it in your heart to love someone like me.”

Tears of joy welled hot behind her eyes. She didn’t mean to cry; she fought against it, but she was tired, and his confession was everything she wanted to hear and more. Overwhelmed after holding back her fragile emotions for so long, she tried to smile, her mouth trembling and a sob escaping her lips.

“Gage, I—” Love you. I love you. I love you…

Hot tears spilled down her cheeks. She laid her hand on his face and stroked his temple. Thankfully he seemed to understand her reaction, or at the very least, he didn’t question it.

His gentle smile sent sparks of pure sweetness coursing through her body even as his thumb caressed the line of her full lower lip. When he finally leaned down and touched his mouth to hers, his kiss was full of love and devotion, and promises for a long and happy future.