She leaned against his chest. “Me too.”
The night deepened, still and quiet, while Simon held her tight. With her mind spinning it’s way towards acceptance, she asked in a small voice, “How do you know Mars is okay?”
Simon’s hand paused where he was rubbing down her back. “Androids are different from humans. We are a lot more transparent in most ways. They have shared over our connection the pictures and videos. I have no reason to believe they lied, and the photos hold no signs of manipulation.” He reached up to rub her cheek, right over her dimple. “I would not suggest this if it wasn’t good, Nora. I would stay here on the Earth with you if it was the better option. They’ll be able to help your leg. Maybe even fix Tilly’s limp.”
Fix it? That’s . . .“Why are they offering for us to go now?”
He hooked a strand of hair behind her ear and rubbed his finger along her cheek again. “Because they have come to know you. Both through observing, and through my memories.”
“Memories?” Nora’s tone was wary.Uh . . .Then accusatory as she grabbed his arm. “Simon? What did you share, exactly?”
He chuckled, low in her ear. “Not of us like that, Nora. Never. But of the smaller things. Like how you and Tilly are trying. How kind you were to me when I first woke up. How you two care for each other, and me. How I feel about the two of you.”
“Oh . . .” Nora felt warm, the feeling slipping down deep inside.
Simon nuzzled her ear. “They’re afraid as well.”
That made her chuckle.Afraid? Of me?“Didn’t you say they have humans there too?”
“They have a colony of humans there on Mars, where we would join. Only they said that those humans are the AI’s children, rather than the other way around like it was on Earth.”
Nora put her fingers on his chest, right where his artificial heart lay, feeling its steady beat. “Why though? Why do they have any humans at all?”
Simon took his hand and put it on her heart as well, before moving it lower to cup one of her breasts. “The humans they took with them were the ones they themselves loved, back during the war. And now it’s their descendants that live there. The colony is smaller and older now, with fewer children having been born throughout the years. The androids are very protective of them.”
The window outside showed the moon shining above, obscured by the dust and barely visible. “Oh. They loved . . . like us?”
“Yes. And.” He angled himself back to gaze into Nora’s eyes. “They came to see you the same way I do. They feared for your safety when you were taken. They are willing to take a chance. Honestly, they’re as scared as you are.”
Nora snorted. “You’re the only one not scared.”
The corners of his mouth curved up. “Well, I am sort of in the middle between you both.”
Nora reached back to grab Simon’s hand and held it. “No, really, Simon. You trust this? You think it will be better?”
In the darkness his eyes radiated sincerity. “I do.”
“Okay. Okay. I don’t trust much . . . but I do trust you, Simon. I do trust you.”
“Yes, Nora.” He held her close in the night, rubbing up and down her side the way he knew she liked. “I’m happy you seem so much stronger. I was worried when you were pale and slept so much.”
She reached up and touched his hand. “Me too. My leg hurts like heck though. Even with the medicine.”
“It has a lot of healing to do.” Simon rubbed her, all over, until he felt her heartbeat pick up. Then he placed his hand right over where it beat under her breasts. “I’m sorry, Nora. About our argument.” Her heart’s tempo thrummed under his fingers.
A flush ran through her. “You didn’t cause any of this, Simon. I’m sorry too, for earlier. We never got a chance to settle that. I was wrong to do what I did. To turn you off.”
He rubbed her again, moving his hands down low on her stomach. “I disabled all of my turn-offs so there is nothing to settle now. And when you were hurt badly, I understood that you just cared. You cared enough about me to not want me to hurt while you tried to do what was right.”
What was right.Nora breathed deep as she put her hand over his. “Yes. I love you Simon. I wouldn’t . . .”
“I know.” He tilted her head up to his and kissed her, firmly, deeply. Electricity seemed to spark between them, intensifying as broke away only to kiss her again.
Lust flooded her, making her forget the pain in her leg. Nora felt her body warm and her heartbeat pound even faster. “Simon . . .”
He kissed her forehead and murmured, “No more until your leg heals.” But his hands kept moving, rubbing her the way he knew she liked. Gently, to not make her squirm and move her leg too much.
He said, softly, her ear. “Will you go with me, Nora?”
