Page 9 of Cyborgs' Origins

He turned, his dark eyes widening slightly as he saw her approaching. “Dr. Wiley. What can I do for you?”

Simone winced at the formal address, a stark reminder of the distance she had put between them over the past two days. She came to a stop before him, her hands fidgeting at her sides as she searched for the right words.

“I... I need to talk to you. About what happened in the lab.”

His expression remained neutral, but she could see a flicker of something in his eyes—anticipation, perhaps, or apprehension. He nodded, gesturing for her to continue.

Simone took a deep breath, her heart slamming against her ribs. “I’ve been avoiding you,” she said, the words tumbling out in a rush. “After we kissed, I didn’t know how to face you. I was scared of what it meant, of how it might complicate things between us.”

Tiberius’s lips twitched, a hint of a smile playing at the corners. “I noticed,” he said, his deep voice sending a shiver down her spine. “I figured you needed some space to process everything.”

She nodded, relieved he understood even without her having to explain. It was one of the things she admired most about him—his ability to read her, to sense what she needed without her having to say a word.

“I did, but I realize now that avoiding you wasn’t the answer. We need to talk about this, to figure out what it means for us.”

He stepped closer, his presence filling her senses. She could feel the heat radiating off his body and smell the faint scent of gun oil and sweat that clung to his skin. It was intoxicating, and for a moment, she forgot what she had been about to say.

“I’m impressed,” he said, his voice low and intimate. “It takes courage to confront something like this head-on.”

Simone’s cheeks warmed at the praise, a small smile tugging at her lips. “I don’t know about courage. More like necessity. I can’t keep running from my feelings, no matter how scary they might be.”

Tiberius reached out, his calloused fingers brushing against her cheek. The touch sent a jolt of electricity through her, and she leaned into his hand, savoring the contact.

“I’m glad you came to find me,” he said softly. “I’ve been thinking about that kiss too. About what it could mean for us.”

Her heart skipped a beat. “And what do you think it means?”

Tiberius’s thumb traced the curve of her cheekbone, his eyes searching hers. “I think it means we have something special, something worth exploring, but only if you want to.”

She swallowed hard, her mouth suddenly dry. There were a thousand reasons why pursuing a relationship with Tiberius was a bad idea—the power imbalance between them, the potential for distraction from their mission, and the risk of heartbreak if things went wrong—but standing there in that moment, with his hand on her face and his gaze locked on hers, none of those reasons seemed to matter. “I do want to. I’m scared of what it could mean, of how it might change things between us, but I can’t deny what I feel for you.”

His smile widened, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “Then let’s figure it out together,” he said, his voice warm with promise. “One step at a time.”

Simone nodded, a giddy laugh bubbling up in her throat. She felt lighter than she had in days, the weight of her doubts and fears lifting from her shoulders. “Agreed,” she said, rising up on her toes to press a soft kiss to his lips.

As his arms encircled her, drawing her close, she pressed against him. They stayed like that for a long moment, wrapped in each other’s arms, the world around them fading away. Whenthey finally pulled apart, she couldn’t stop the smile that spread across her face, mirroring the one on his.

“We should probably get back to work,” she said reluctantly, glancing down the empty corridor. “People will start to wonder where we are.”

Tiberius chuckled, his hand finding hers and giving it a gentle squeeze. “Let them wonder,” he said, his eyes twinkling with mischief. “We have more important things to discuss.”

Simone raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued. “Oh? Like what?”

He leaned in closer, his breath warm against her ear. “Like when I can take you out on a proper date,” he said, his voice sending a shiver down her spine. “Somewhere away from prying eyes and colony business.”

Simone’s heart fluttered at the thought, a thrill of anticipation coursing through her. “I’d like that,” she said softly, meeting his gaze. “Very much.”

Tiberius grinned, his thumb brushing over the back of her hand. “Then it’s a date,” he said, his voice filled with promise. “I’ll make the arrangements and let you know the details.”

Simone nodded, excitement bubbling up inside her. “I can’t wait,” she said, her smile widening, “But for now, we really should get back to work. The colony won’t run itself.”

Tiberius sighed, a rueful chuckle escaping his lips. “You’re right, as always,” he said, reluctantly releasing her hand. “Duty calls.”

Simone stepped back, already missing his touch, but there would be time for more later, for stolen moments and whispered promises. For now, they had a job to do. “I’ll see you later,” she said, her voice filled with warmth. “And, Tiberius? Thank you for understanding and being patient with me.”

His expression softened, his eyes filled with tenderness. “Always,” he said, the word like a vow.

With one last smile, she turned and headed back down the corridor, her steps lighter than they had been in days. She felt like she could take on the world, and that was a feeling worth holding onto, no matter what the future might bring.

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