Page 49 of Cocky Tech God
“We’ve not seen it, though. Only the functionality is flawed, code looks fine, as you see. But it seems everything Ryan does creates a bug he has to fix.”
“I should be more of an expert in AI development.” I frowned. It was certainly a little different than mine, but I had a talent for understanding all programming languages. “Let me see the simulation.”
We stayed there for a little while, but I’d not solved the problem. When I looked up at her, I was taken aback by the way she gazed at me.
She leaned in. “You’re extremely sexy when you’re looking at my code.”
Jesus. Fucking. Christ.
I got hard immediately.
“Careful, or you’ll force me to break our rules and kiss you right here.” It was so damn hard to stay on my side of the table. I was fucking giddy because not only was I forgiven and helping her with her breach, but she also still wanted me. She still desired me as much as I desired her.
“Stupid rules,” she purred.
We worked a little while longer, and ordered more drinks. I didn’t know if I’d ever be able to even look at another piña colada after tonight, but it made Lucia happy, and that’s all I cared about. The waitress set down another set of drinks in front of us, and Lucia’s eyes met mine. Though the worry she held inside wore heavily on her face, there was still a hint of humor at me actually drinking—and somewhat enjoying—the sugary cocktails.
“If you get cavities, it’s not my fault,” she said and stirred the bright umbrella around the thick, yellow slush.
“If I get cavities, I probably deserved it.”
Her eyes latched on me, and her mouth sucked over the thick straw. Jesus. Staying in my seat was the hardest thing I’d done in a while. I sighed deep, trying to contain my electric, all-consuming attraction I had toward her.
Lucia’s pink lips released the straw, wet slush made her mouth shimmer, and she licked her bottom lip. Fuck. I looked away. She was killing me, and she knew it. Just then, her phone vibrated against the table. She grabbed it, and the lusty moment we’d just had was gone.
“Mia… What?” She stood up, her left hand in a ball and her eyes wider than I’d ever seen them. Her hand lifted, palm flat against her forehead.
I waited with bated breath. I couldn’t tell what had happened.
“Oh my God. Are you sure? You reset the simulation?” She sat again and her eyes met mine.
What’s going on? I mouthed the words, but she didn’t answer. Only stared at me. Her eyes glossy.
“Fuck, Mia.” Her eyes dropped as she lifted her fingers to wipe a tear that rolled down her cheek.
Shit. My heart wrenched.
“Okay…round up in an hour. I’ll call from my room.” Despite Lucia’s tears, she remained calm, her voice unwavering. “And you guys can get some sleep.”
Wait. What?
She hung up and took a while to look at me. When she did, her smile blew me away. Literally, I was off my feet, soaring through the air.
“What happened,” I barely managed to say in the midst of the freefalling sensation racing through me.
“It’s fixed.” She choked on the words. “The breach has been fixed.”
I got up and sat next to her and wrapped my arm around her. Screw the watching eyes and screw the rules for just this moment. I wanted to kiss her but touching her was enough. She looked up at me through wet lashes and smeared mascara, and she didn’t push me away. No, she leaned into me, her face pressed in the crook of my neck. For just a flash of a moment. And then we were separate again, a tiny space felt like miles.
“I have an idea.” I leaned in to whisper in her hear.
“What?”
We both pulled back in unison, her lips were parted and her eyes sparkling.
“Let me take you somewhere tomorrow to celebrate where no one knows us, and where our rules are null and void. Where I can kiss you like I want to do now.”
She sat back in her seat, and her eyes were steady on me the whole time. In a small, hoarse whisper, she said, “Okay.”