Page 40

Chapter forty

Simon

S imon was more forward with Nora that night in making his feelings known. He wanted her like she was something essential that had been missing from his composition. There were one hundred and fifty years of lost emotions and sensations he wanted to make up for. Nora was something that was just as vital as his machinery that now ran smoothly thanks to her gentle hands fixing him.

Now, in the deep night, he left Nora’s side to check Tilly, sleeping. Once he returned, Nora barely had time to flip off the radio before he picked her up. She exhaled in shock as he shifted her weight easily in his arms. “Nora, do you want to couple again?” He held her up, catching her eyes.

Nora’s cheeks were rosy. “You certainly do.”

“Yes. And you?” He focused on her hooded eyes.

In response she leaned up in his arms to kiss him. “Yes, Simon.”

He nipped at her lips. “Alright.” He walked them into the bedroom, locking the door behind them. He said softly as it clicked, “In case Tilly starts to stir.”

Simon placed Nora on the bed and began to take off his shirt. “The door closed will also muffle some of your noises,” he added, undressing himself fast.

“Just mine?” Nora shot back.

Simon chuckled as he leaned forward. “I can mute myself.”

Nora laughed. He relished Nora’s reactions as he helped her, taking off her shirt and bra band. He leaned forward and put one of her nipples in his mouth while rolling the other in his fingers gently. It tastes sweeter than any food. Every part of her did, because it was all Nora.

Nora leaned into his touch as his hands moved away from her breasts and lingered between her thighs. He pulled his hand back, testing the slickness in between his fingers. His processors analyzed the composition, unable to turn off that part of him even in the heat of the moment.

“Oh, Nora. You’re already aroused. You’re already wet.” Simon grinned at her. She wanted him. And how wet she was proved it. She wants me. That was the important part.

He pulled his fingers out and examined her slickness again, testing the viscosity. He smiled down at her mischievously. “No wonder you are so receptive. It’s a good part of your cycle. Just beginning.”

“Ah.” Nora stammered when she spoke. “You can tell even that?”

“Yes.” He chuckled, a deep throaty sound. Above her opening he ran his hand through her pubic hair, feeling the texture there.

“That’s—yeah, you’re right but . . .” Nora turned to the side. A deep flush spread beyond her cheeks down her neck.

He reached up and moved her head back toward him, pressing their foreheads together. “It’s you, Nora. I’m getting to know every part of you.”

“Damn, Simon.” She let out a breathy huff.

“How sore are you?” he asked, stroking down her side, loving the feel of her. Filling his memory banks with her. Only her. Only my Nora.

“Not much,” Nora said, breathless.

Simon kissed her forehead. “I want to please you, Nora, and learn how to love you. Joining with you is the sweetest thing I’ve experienced since. . .well, ever.”

***

Simon poured over the data inwardly in the twilight hours while Nora slept, content in his arms. Holding her like this was the real magic.

His processors ran hot considering all the variables, and soon he had a list. A plan.

But much later that night, he heard a soft sound that interrupted his calculations.

“Mama?” It came from the next room over.

The door was unlocked between theirs and Tilly’s room and Nora was back in her pajamas, just in case Tilly needed them. Simon was back in his jumpsuit as well.

He slowly detached himself from Nora and went to check on the little girl, hurrying when he heard the soft, “Mama?” again.

Tilly was lying on her side in the bed, dolls all around, but looked up when Simon entered, her face pale. “Simon?”

“You okay, Tilly?” Simon walked closer to where her pale face was illuminated in the light. There was only one solar on, turned low as a nightlight.

She shook her head and rubbed her eyes. “I had a bad dream.”

Simon sat next to her on the bed, picking up one of her dolls that had fallen on the ground while she slept. He tucked it back in next to her, with the others. “You want to talk about it?”

“No.” But she sniffled a little and rubbed her face. “Monsters were chasing me.”

“Oh. That is scary.” He pushed Tilly’s hair, the same texture as Nora’s, behind her ear.

“Yeah. Can I have some water?”

“I’ll get you some.” Simon got up and came back a second later with Nora’s favorite mug. Tilly took the water and drank it halfway and Simon put it on the nightstand.

Tilly lay back on her side as he did so, but now looked at him with big blue eyes. Her blond hair was tangled across the pillow, her voice lisping a bit more from having just been asleep. “Will you sit with me? Mama does it if I have a bad dream.”

“Yes, Tilly.” He made a spot for himself on her bed and sat there, much like he did the first night Nora tried to put him to sleep. Only this time he had much better clarity about things. He made his processor play a soft lullaby, not feeling restless in this room like he was weeks ago.

He watched as Tilly held his hand and her eyes grew heavy. She slipped back to sleep a few minutes later. A soft smile curled his lips. His heart was full in a different way when he gazed at her, much different from how he felt with Nora, but nowhere less real. A protective impulse. The feeling slipped into his processors. I love her too.

Simon waited a few more minutes to make sure Tilly was asleep, and then went back to lay next to Nora.