Atlas folded her in his arms, angling to the side to hold her better. She trembled as he caressed down her side. His fingers traced over her as if memorizing her.
“Your hands feel different. From earlier,” she finished lamely. “Not like the examination earlier.”
“Well, yes.” He wrapped his hand around her belly, like he did when he was giving her the exams, but now his hand lingered.“You’re not a patient anymore. We’re past those boundaries now.”
Not a patient. She closed her eyes. Atlas’s touches left goosebumps along her arm. “So true,” she whispered.
His hands gently touched all over, angling to be so light they traced rather than pressed. He skated over every part, shoulder blades down her fingers, not lingering anywhere improper. Everything buzzed as he went, leaving behind a ghost of his fingers. She shivered, leaning in closer.
He pressed his lips to her forehead. “Do you like this? My touching you? Holding you?”
She breathed out, “Yes.”
He pulled his fingers up, hovering over her skin. “. . . Does it matter that I’m not really a man?”
“No. It makes it . . . this is much better.” She closed her eyes. “I’ve been drawn to you too. My past. It’s hard. But once you let me be myself . . . I feel something, Atlas. I don’t want you to leave.” She took a deep breath. “I don’t understand it, but I want you too.”
There was a smile in his voice. “Are you attached to me? Like humans get?”
“Is that it?” Anna snorted. “I guess so.”
His gaze grew soft, and he trailed a finger on the bottom of her chin. “Can I kiss you, Anna?”
Anna swallowed. Her voice was thick. “Paul never kissed me.”
Atlas tilted his head, and his lips pressed into hers. Gently.
He pulled back and whispered, “That man. He is not here, Anna. He does not exist anymore. But I do.”
Her breath caught as he kissed her again, so gently that she started to shake once more. Desire flooded her, desperate and strong. So strong that it made her pull away, trembling.
"Is that alright?" He asked.
Anna hesitantly came forward in reply. She pressed her lips to his. Soft. Tender. For her, a decision made.
Atlas met her there, angling towards her, taking her kisses as they came. He caressed down her sides until Anna's blood boiled. And she had to pull back. Too much feeling at once.
He put a hand over her heartbeat, steady.
Anna traced his face back. His eyes were tawny in the lantern light, and so warm. He sat as still as stone as she did, letting her fingers explore. Then down to his chest, covered in his soft blue sweater.
"Does it feel real enough?" He asked.
"More than enough."
He cradled her head with his hand and brought her in for another kiss. Slow and steady. He let out a soft chuckle. “I will hold you and show you more when you’re ready.”
"Soon?" She breathed deep. "Can you hold me now?"
Atlas reached and pulled her back. He resettled her so she rested on his chest and covered them both with the blanket. "Absolutely I can.” He squeezed his arms around her. “All night. Every night."
She rested on his chest. Dozing. And also too wired to be awake. She was pressed into him. On him. Open to him. And he played with her hair like she was something precious. Something worth protecting.
A few heartbeats later he asked, “Can I show you something?”
“What?”
Atlas brought out a small feed, a screen. “Don’t worry, it’s not more reality TV.” He clicked on some buttons and a picture came on in black and white. “This is my favorite movie,Friday Morning. Look, see?”
