Page 135 of GlitchBorn Heart

A tight-lipped grin cuts through my self-control. “Get in the bed. Before I forget I’m trying to be the good guy now.”

A certain something flickers to life in her, defiance, want...no exhaustion. She’s fighting to stay upright, but she’s also fighting her desire for me.

About fucking time, Taiyō.

She bites her lip. “So bossy, Dr. Ryudon.”

“Always, now go. Bed.” I smack her ass on her way through the doorway. The sting just makes me stay erect. “Before you disappear on me completely.”

In the shower, I turn the faucet to the coldest setting the pipes will give me. The water clings to my skin, cold battling hot, ice to flame. When I step out of the bathroom, my hair is damp, my towel rests loosely on my hips. I look over by the bed, and there she is. Still in that little red, holographic lace bra and panties, all fire and pixels, looking at me like she knows exactly how close I am to losing it.

A cold shower, some distance—it didn’t do a damn thing to kill the desire she left in me. Working out beforehand, showering after, every discipline I use to quiet myself only makes it worse.

I tip my head back, eyes closing on the ceiling as if I can see through it to some other world. My voice comes out in a whisper to myself: “Kenji, all the things you taught me about self-control, I need them right fucking now.”

My fists flex once, knuckles whitening. Her shape flickers in the corner of my eye, a temptation wrapped in light. Every muscle I train to strike is trembling to break its own rules.

This woman will be the death of me.

Lyra is pacing in front of the bed like a caged animal, arms crossed, hair wild. The shadows of my room against the cold neon outside wrap around her like comforting hands, but her movements are still restless.

“Problem?”

Her head whips toward me, eyes flashing. “Where do you expect me to sleep?”

I let the question hang. I enjoy seeing her conflicted about something she has no choice about.

The way she tries to make this about defiance when every inch of her body screams sex is cute. Slowly, I step closer, crossing the room until I stand between her and the edge of the bed.

“My bed,” I say, low and final. I watch her for a beat, the way her holo-form flickers faintly around her shoulders like dying embers. She’s nervous about it, running on adrenaline still. She’s about to fall over, and she doesn’t even see it.

“Come here.” I say, softer now. I open my arms for her to come to me. My mind goes straight to the place where I see her crawling to me. Begging me...

Stop it, Kael. You’re not helping the little predicament down below.

Her lips part, caught between silence and speaking. Something she doesn’t want to admit? I tilt my head, letting my stare fall over her deliberately, then back to her eyes.

She melts into my arms and buries her head in my chest. I kiss the top of her head. “Again...my house. My bed. No arguments,” I answer. “You’re not a guest, Taiyō. You’re mine to protect. For now that means under my roof, wrapped in my sheets, in my arms, not pacing like a glitch all night long.”

I strip the towel off and slide into bed, folding the covers back like a command and a welcome rolled into one.

Her eyes widen as she looks at me stretched out on the mattress, skin still damp from the shower, city light cutting across my naked body.

“You sleep like that?” She looks scandalous.

I smirk, low and slow. “I do. Afraid you can’t hold back?”

She takes a slow step, then another, until she’s standing at the edge of the mattress. She still doesn’t climb in, though. She just looks at me, like she’s waiting for me to tell her it’s okay.

“Relax, Taiyō. Let me take care of you.” I pull the blanket back further, exposing my entire body to her. My heart is pounding from the thrill of making her squirm. I lean back on one palm and wait, everything on full display, a silent invitation.

I can see the gears turning. She makes the choice to join me. I reach out, taking her hand, guiding her down without force. “Lie down.” My thumb brushes across her knuckles as I settle her against the pillow. I wrap my body around hers, arms and legs entangled. Gods, her hologram is so warm. She stutters beneath my touch.

“This is nice.” She allows herself a long sigh.

“It is.” I settle into her. My body fits perfectly around hers. “Right now you need someone to hold you until you’re whole.” Her hair smells like synthetic skin and the sterile air of the lab, like she’s half-real already.

“You’re hard again,” she murmurs into the dim light, a wicked little spark in her voice. “I can feel it between my ass cheeks.”