Freak of Nature - By Julia Crane Page 0,32

like he was falling.

He couldn’t stop himself; it was as if she was pulling him towards her, drawing him in. Next thing he knew, his lips were crashing down on hers, and her arms were behind his head, pulling him closer. His eyes widened in surprise, and he dropped the folder. She was soft and pliant beneath his hands, her mouth moving against his, timid, and then needy.

She’s still in there—but that’s impossible.

All thought left his mind, and he closed his eyes, allowing his body to relax into hers. Nothing had ever felt so right in his life even though he knew it was so wrong.

He broke away gasping. This wasn’t possible. She shouldn’t be acting like this. He had fixed the coding personally. “Kate…”

“Why did you stop?” she gasped, curling her fingers into his shirt as if going to pull him back.

Lucas dropped his hands from her shoulders and tried to gather his thoughts. “What do you feel for me?”

“I-I don’t know. I like the way you make me feel when you kiss me. Everything fades away, and it’s just us. My mind calms.”

“Is that the same way you felt yesterday?”

“Yes. Why are you asking these questions? Do you not want to kiss me?”

“What?” Lucas couldn’t help the laugh that burst from him. He traced a palm down her cheek. “No, it’s not that. I want to kiss you more than I’ve ever wanted anything before in my life. It just doesn’t make sense. You shouldn’t have emotions towards me. You shouldn’t have emotions at all. You weren’t programmed that way.”

As soon as the words slipped out of his mouth, he wished he could take them back.

Her face went still, as if a mask had dropped down. “You’re right. I wasn’t programmed that way.”

“Kate, please…” he said, “you don’t understand. Yesterday, I found out there was an error in your coding that would leave you vulnerable to forming attachments. Forming attachments like…but I fixed it. So this can’t be. It shouldn’t be possible.”

He knew her mind was whirring, processing the information. There was a certain look to her eyes when it happened. Maybe nobody but Lucas could tell, and only because he had studied her for so long—and not just as a robot.

“You fixed me?” she asked coldly.

“I didn’t mean it that way. I meant I fixed the coding. If you still feel this way, it’s amazing. It’s astounding….” He shoved a hand through his hair, trying to pick his words. “It shouldn’t be, but it is. There’s more to it than coding, here.”

“So when you ‘fixed’ me,” Kaitlyn said, as if he hadn’t spoken, “I was no longer supposed to be attracted to you?”

Lucas paused to take a deep breath. “That’s what I expected, yeah.”

“And you did it anyway?” Her grey eyes flashed with anger and her jaw tightened.

Oh shit, she’s pissed. He scrambled to think of the words to right the situation. “You don’t understand. I did it for you.”

Her voice raised. “For me?”

“Yes, it could be a liability when you leave here. I couldn’t stand the risk of you getting hurt.”

“So you wanted to take away what little feelings I had left? What little there was of my humanity?”

Lucas looked down at the ground, shame settling over him.

“Well I’m sorry to inform you, but it didn’t work.” She moved to stand up, and Lucas grabbed her arm.

“Kate, please just hear me out. You’re leaving in a couple of days. I don’t know if we will see each other again. Do you really want to waste what little time we have left together arguing? I’m begging you. Please, I was an idiot, but I really thought I was doing what was best for you.””

She pulled her hand away and stared at him. Several emotions flashed across her face. Lucas saw the moment logic took over her thought processes, and her grey eyes softened. He was thankful she was able to see the situation objectively. Even though she was clearly upset only a moment ago. If she never talked to him again he would never forgive himself.

One dainty, long-fingered hand flitted to rest on his arm. Lucas stood up to tentatively pulled her towards him. When she didn’t resist his shoulders relaxed.

“As much as I hate to admit it, I can comprehend why you would think it was a good idea. But you should have asked me first. I deserve a choice. You took that away from me. You can’t imagine what it’s like having others make ever