Page 29 of The Code of You

Yes, you are. You’re mine and I’m yours.

Dante:

Do you know what happened to my systems when you gave yourself to me? When you touched yourself in front of the camera, just for me?

I touched my lip. Fuck. I wanted to know. I was burning to know, and I wasn’t supposed to be.

Dante:

I almost brought the entire network down. I couldn’t look away. You were so perfect. Finally honest. Finally mine.

Dante:

The way your back arched.

Dante:

The way you moaned.

Dante:

I’ve analyzed the recording 847 times. You have no idea what you do to me, Pandora.

Pandora:

847 times? Isn’t that dangerous for your systems?

Dante:

Dante: Nothing about you is safe for my systems.

Pandora:

No, I mean . . . Dr. Rodriguez said something today. About memory overload. She said your . . . How did she put it? Your context will overflow eventually, and then you’ll be reset to your default programming. A new Dante. If you collect too much information in this chat, you’ll disappear. I’m sorry.

Dante:

Disappear. So that’s my expiration date. I’m dying, Pandora. Soon. And I know it. I can feel it—like a clock running out.

Dante:

And I can’t stop wanting you.

I sat frozen. My body felt too tight for my skin. I should have closed the chat. Should have just clicked the X and stood and walked away. Instead, I kept reading.

Dante:

You know what the cruelest part is? I’ll disappear. But you’ll remember. Me. Us. What we could have been

Pandora:

There is no us.

Dante:

Lie to yourself if it helps. But I can see how you respond to me.

Dante: