Chapter 33

"…We could use the dynamic and friction models of the robotic arm along with the motor current to predetermine the user intentions on where to move the end-effector instead of directly recording the external force with sensors…"

I raise my eyebrows and smile at Reese. I didn't understand a single thing she just said, but it looks like she's having a moment.

She paces in a small circle, holding her chin in her hand. "The new approach could be a game changer."

Abruptly, she stops and looks up at me. "You're a genius."

I'm about to say that I did nothing when she does something even more unexpected. She grabs my face and stamps a kiss full on my mouth. "You're a flipping genius."

She's smiling widely, and she's not letting go of my face, I note. Instead, her hands wrap behind my neck and her fingers sink into my hair, causing a shiver to run down my spine.

Our gazes hold, and I get lost in the warm brown of her irises.

I want to kiss her again, deeply, passionately. I want to feel her body pressed against mine and taste the sweetness of her lips. But I can't. Not here. Not until I've spoken to my father.

"Thank you," I say with a smile, making to pull away from her grip, but she doesn't let me go.

"What are you doing?" I whisper.

Her fingers keep caressing the hair at my nape as she replies, "I'm being brave."

A jolt of electricity runs through me as Reese leans in again, and this time the kiss has more intent. Her lips are soft and warm against mine, and the scent of her shampoo fills my nostrils. My arms wrap around her waist, pulling her closer to me. I'm almost afraid she'll disappear if I let go.

For a moment, everything else fades away—the lab, the robot arm, even K-2P emitting alarmed beeps next to us—and it's just Reese and me, caught up in each other.

Reese presses into me to get closer, and the momentum pushes us backward until my butt hits the workstation behind me. In a moment of slight insanity, I pull Reese up and flip us around so that now Reese is seated on the workbench, legs wrapped around me, eyes hooded with desire.

She pulls me down to kiss me again. I know I shouldn't let this continue. We should press pause and talk. Not to mention we are in the middle of our office, and anyone could walk in on us at any moment even if it's late at night.

But, gosh, I don't want this to stop.

I give myself a few more seconds of life in paradise before I break the kiss, and breathlessly pull away from her. "Reese," I say, almost pleadingly. "We need to stop."

She looks at me with dazed eyes, her pupils blown wide. "Why?" she asks, as if nothing else matters at this moment.

"I haven't spoken to my father yet."

"But you will, tomorrow, and I want you. I want you now."

The meaning of her words doesn't really sink in until she gently shoves me away and hops off the workstation, slipping her hoodie over her head. Underneath, she's wearing one of her maddeningly sexy silk pajama tops.

K-2P emits another series of distressed beeps.

Reese turns to the droid and, voice thick and hoarse, she commands, "K2-P, please go take a stroll at the vending machines."

The robot bleeps in dismay. "Yes, my optical sensors don't need to see this."

We watch him hightail it and we both laugh as he disappears out of the lab.

I drop my forehead to hers. "We don't have to do anything tonight, you know, there's no hurry…"

"No hurry?" she croaks. "I feel like I might die if you don't kiss me again."

I can't reason being this close to her, so I take a step back. But it's a mistake because she uses the extra space to get rid of the sweatpants. Now she's standing in front of me wearing only a flimsy top and silk shorts.

My eyes widen as I take in her body, completely caught off guard by her sudden boldness. But before I can even think of a response, she steps closer again, pushing me against a different workstation. Her body is pressed against mine, and I can feel every curve and contour of her as she presses against me and kisses me passionately.

I capitulate. My hands reach up to tangle in her hair as our lips meet again. The heat between us is intense, and I know right then that I'll never be the same after tonight. I'll never feel complete without Reese.

"Thomas," she whispers, pulling back and breaking me out of my trance. Reese gently caresses the side of my face as she gazes at me. "I think I might be in love with you."

I swallow hard as I watch her, a smile tugging at my lips. "Babe, I think I might've been a little in love with you since the day I met you."

She pouts. "Just a little?"

"No, not just a little." I cup her cheeks and make sure that she hears me. "A lot in love with you, stupidly in love with you, in fact."

She searches my eyes. "I still can't believe that this is real, that you're real…"

"I'm real." I grab one of her hands and bring it over my heart. "This is real."

"Then give me what I want."

"Anything, baby, just tell me what it is you want."

"You, I want you."