Atlas exhaled slowly and held her tighter. “I guess I’ll need to do it more until you get used to it.”
“Oh.” She put her hand over his heartbeat. Calm and steady.
“Simulated.” He chuckled softly. Then his tone became husky. “Or mine would be fast.”
The press of his fingers made her shiver as he began to rub down her side, slowly, methodically. “Mine is pounding.”
She felt him smile in her hair. “I love hearing that.”
“Why though? Why me? I’m not . . .”
Atlas pressed his chin down. “Not what? Not Anna?”
Worthy? I don’t know.The words dried up. “I can’t explain.”
“Hmmm. Maybe I can.” The gentle touches paused. “Did I ever tell you about my past? Who I initially came to Mars with?”
“That was Clara, right?”
“Clara. Yes.”
“Do I remind you of her?” She closed her eyes. “Is that why?”
Atlas suddenly stiffened under her. “No. Oh no, Anna. It’s the opposite. I thought I cared about her. But it took knowing you to realize that it was not . . . it wasn’t right.”
“Not right?”
“Not. At. All.” Atlas slowly brushed the hair from her face. “The things that make you, you, Anna, are the things that make me drawn to you. Clara did not notice any beauty around her. None of us androids do anymore.”
That actually did strike her as off. “Is that why all the androids live closed off in the facility together, instead of in little houses?”
“Partly, yes. Sometimes it takes a spark, something else, for us to see outside of our programming and routines.”
She flushed. “Something else?”
He tightened his arms. “That’s you for me, Anna. Not only do you help me to see differently, you want to do things for yourself.You want to try.” Brushing behind her head, he barely touched the chip. “Even this, though I don’t agree . . . you were brave and did it to protect someone. That drive to protect. It’s incredible.”
Anna rubbed behind her head, feeling a buzz when she pressed too hard. “I thought you thought I was being reckless.”
“Well, you were. Are.” His voice pitched lower as he smoothed down her hair. “But it doesn’t erase why you did it. Who you are. What you will do for what’s right and what you love.”
The conviction in his voice settled in her. That kind of focused attention made her feel uncomfortable. To be so seen felt so foreign.
Atlas stroked his thumb on her cheek. “Do you understand?”
“I think so.” Then lower, she added, “You’re different from who I was with before too. Paul. He never . . .”
“You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to.”
“No,” She forced out. “Because I want you to see it’s different for me too. You listen to me. And helped set up everything here, even though it was a crazy idea.”
“Actually, it seems like it’s working out well.” He shifted on the bed. “This is cozier than I imagined.”
“Even without electricity?”
“Oh, especially without.” Then softer. “I’m glad it’s different for you. I want everything to be. We both know how care should not feel." He stared at her intently. "Together we can make new memories for us both. Okay?”
She nodded. “Okay.”
