Page 61 of Seductive Architect
“You’re falling?” It would have been an embarrassing admission, except the edge of his lip curved up. “Me, too.”
With our feelings on the table, the fear lingered. Hudson hadn’t found himself, not yet. When he became the man he wanted to be, would there still be this thing between us, or would he move on? As my thumb ran back and forth along his cheek, I realized I had already made my decision. These moments, thenowbetween us, were worth connecting.
He put the gauntlet over my hand, leaning into my palm. “You’re worried, aren’t you?”
“Yeah. A little, I guess. Who knows what will happen down the road? But I’m excited to see the man you become. I’m along for the ride.”
“First, we save the world. Then, we’ll discuss your reward.”
Apex had been wrong. Hudson embodied the best of both worlds, and that made him a true super soldier. With a little compassion, Hudson could be the superhero Vanguard needed.
I smiled as his code whispered a simple,I try.
The gauntlet on his hand dissolved, creeping across his face. He pushed himself off the table as the nanites covered his face. A moment later, he had a black mask covering his eyes and the bridge of his nose. The rest swarmed about his body until he wore a black and purple suit.
“Damn,” I said.
“You like it?”
He flexed, showing off his muscles. It looked like I’d have a sidekick tonight. I thought it had been a leap forward agreeing to work with Wyatt and Drew. I almost laughed at how much my perspective had changed, and it all revolved around one man waltzing into my life holding a vibrator.
His suit would look great on my bedroom floor. “You’re a hero.”
Myhero.
20
“I think I need a uniform.”
“We’re not having this debate again.”
“It’s not a debate, it’s a statement.” Janet had found my swords and strapped them to her back. “I’m going to report the lack of equity to Human Resources.”
“Good,” I said. “Then they’ll stop asking me for nudes.”
We stood in front of the water fountain. Janet dropped the kickstand of her motorcycle as Hudson climbed off. In the middle of the night, the building appeared quiet. The lack of movement made me nervous. I had no doubt that Apex knew we were coming. He’d have predicted a heroic rescue and had cameras following us for miles.
“He’s watching,” Hudson said.
Janet climbed off the bike, standing between us. “How do you know?”
Hudson continued tapping into his programming. The assimilation had begun, and with it came certainperks. I still couldn’t hear his thoughts like other machines, but I could sense the change. The barrier preventing him from his primary purpose had all but fallen away.
“He’s right,” I said.
“You two and your techno babble.” Janet reached into her shoulder holsters and pulled out her guns. When she caught me staring, she waved them about. “Tranquilizers. I’d never hurt that beautiful brute.”
We were a ragtag group of three up against one of the smartest machines in the world. I should know, I stupidly created it. That meant I knew its flaws. Because of that, I couldn’t have picked a better team. The man exploring what it means to be human and the personification of a hurricane. It wouldn’t be easy, but we stood a chance.
“They’re here,” Hudson said, pointing to the sky.
Janet jerked her head to the side, cracking her vertebrae. Taking a step forward, I envied her confidence. Even as Wyatt lowered from the sky, holding Arthur and Drew, she believed she’d be able to take them down without breaking a sweat. Right now, I needed her confidence.
“Turn back now,” Arthur said. It sounded like him, but I knew the words came from Apex. “Your resistance is futile.”
“We ready, boys?”
No. Not in the least.
