Chapter 39 · It is how I work

"It is how I work."

"You know, for a machine, you're incredibly annoying."

Cain stopped on the ladder.

Lila nearly collided with him. Her hand caught his shoulder, right beside the torn wound. He sucked in a breath.

"Sorry," she said.

"You touched the injury."

"I noticed."

"You should apologize properly."

"What, bow? Kiss it better?"

The words escaped before she could catch them.

Cain looked up at her. In the blue light, his eyes seemed almost silver. His face was close enough that she could feel the warmth coming off him in the cold shaft.

"Would you?" he asked.

Her fingers tightened on the ladder.

"You're joking," she said.

"No."

"You don't joke."

"I'm learning."

"Learn faster."

He kept looking at her. The space between them shrank to a breath, then half a breath. His uninjured hand lifted, not touching her, stopping beside her cheek.

Lila's pulse kicked hard.

"Cain," she said.

"Tell me to move."

She should have.

Instead, she said, "We don't have time."

His gaze dropped to her mouth again.

"That wasn't what I said."

"It was close enough."

The hatch above buckled.

Lila shoved him down the ladder. "Go!"

"You told me to move.