When was a good time to tell someone you loved them?No time like thepresent, my heart whispered. “I love you.” The words flew from my mouth. His eyes widened, but I kept going. “And it’s not because you were my childhood crush or the cyborg I used to dream about. I love that-” My words halted.
The cyborg I loved deserved a grand gesture. I wanted him to know he was worth it. That he was worth everything. I jumped on top of the desk, sending papers and scanners flying. He watched, his eyes going impossibly wide as everything crashed to the floor. Whoops. Maybe I was going a bit far. “Sorry, I hope those weren’t import-”
“Don’t care,” he growled. “Please finish,” he added more softly. His eyes glowed, his gaze fixed on my face, his whole frame now completely still.
I trailed my lips across his right cheek, finding the shell of his ear. “I love that you’re so sexy you could literally kiss the panties right off of me,” I whispered, my lips curving into a grin before pulling back to capture his face. I tugged it close so that we were only a breath apart. “I love that you are funny even when you think you aren’t. I love that you have remained kind even in the face of those that didn’t value it. I love your mind and it’s insatiable curiosity.” I moved back, sliding a hand down his chest, finding the racing beat of his heart. “But most of all, I love that your heart shines through every circuit and wire. Your heart is even more brilliant than your processors and I promise to always keep it safe if you’ll grant me the gift of it.”
Moisture pooled in the corner of his eyes.Great job Poe. You made him tear up again.Hopefully they were happy tears and not sad.
Unless he didn’t feel the same way.
Oh shit. Dax’s sweet nature would make him feel bad if he didn’t return my feelings. At the cabin, he told me he wanted forever. Maybe things had changed. Had it been too soon? Should I have kept how I felt to myself instead of blurting it out like some kind of idiot? I had never believed in keeping things hidden. I made my intentions and feelings clear from the day I had accidentally kidnapped my favorite cyborg. I had tried not rushing into things, but Dax had made that impossible. Once I saw the real him, I knew nothing would prevent my heart from becoming his. He had already owned such a large piece of my past that giving him my future felt right. Everything about our time together seemed to indicate that he cared for me too, possibly even loved me, but what did I know about relationships?
The only one I had ever wanted was with the man in front of me.
I started to pull my hand away, but Dax grabbed my wrist. His eyebrows rose as he leaned in closer. “Youmeanit? You truly doloveme?”
Even after my babbling speech and my leap onto the desk Dax needed me to confirm I had meant what I said.I really want to hurt the bastards that made him doubt himself.
“All of it, Dax. I meant all of it. I know it might feel like it’s too soon, but-”
“No.” He shook his head vehemently. “I was worried it would take longer to win your heart. I had constructed a long and detailed plan to try and convince you to be my female.”
Every single one of my fears and doubts fled. A Science Model was beyond precise. They lived their life thinking up theories and executing them with control and patience. Dax would have never wasted processor speed on constructing a plan to keep me if he didn’t want me.
I grabbed his cheeks, kissing him senseless. “You saying that is better than I love you.”
Warm, quick breaths caressed my face. I had made my cyborg breathless again. It had become quite a habit of mine lately.
His eyes found mine. “I will admit that emotions have often confused me. What I do know is that when I’m around I have trouble controlling of my systems and my processors continually obsessed with thoughts of how to make you happy because your smile brings joy to my heart. The mere thought of losing you makes me filled with a terror so strong my CPU threatens to shut down. If that describes love than I love you, Poe and you never have to ask for my heart. It is already yours.”
It was my turn to cry as hot tears filled my eyes. “Then it’s official.” I yanked him to me by the lapels of his lab coat. “You’remineDax and I amyours.”
Chapter Thirty-One
*Dax*
Science Models gotgiddy at learning new things and gathering data. Poe’s declaration had made all my processors spin wildly out of control.She loved me. My female loved me.No hours of spent testing and experimenting, nor the creation of a new successful formula, could compare to the knowledge that Poe loved me. If I could only study her for the rest of my days and I knew I would always be filled with joy.
Loving her would be my greatest achievement.
I stared at my desk and an idea struck. This wasmyspace, the lab, my home. I wanted it to beours. From somewhere inside my databases I recalled how humans christened their spaces with intercourse. My processors couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate our declaration of love than by christeningourlab.
I moved behind her, my arm quickly sweeping the away the remaining items still lingering on my desk. There wasn’t much. Poe had managed to send a lot crashing to the floor with her impromptu leap. “Lay down.”