Free Limbo (The Last Humans Book 2) by Anna Zaires, Dima Zales Page B

After all, I’m literally a heartless AI. Why would you think it’s wrong to be attracted to someone else?”
    “Phoe, I wasn’t myself.” I put my hand on hers, feeling the warmth of her skin. “More importantly, I don’t want Grace.” I think this with emphasis, doing my best not to blush at the extreme taboo of this topic. “If I did…” I inhale, unsure how to proceed. “If I decided to want anyone in that way , there’s no doubt in my mind it would be you .” As I subvocalize it, it occurs to me that this is how I really feel and that I was hiding this truth from myself.
    Phoe looks uncertain, so I squeeze her hand and say mentally, “If you need my permission to scan my mind to prove I’m telling you the truth, go ahead.”
    She gives me an unreadable look. Then, as suddenly as before, she kisses me, almost as though trying to catch me off-guard.
    Not missing a beat, I kiss her back.
    As we explore each other’s mouths, the kiss becomes an outlet for something else. Nervousness and tension leave my body, and a meditation-like trance comes over me as I focus on the way her lips affect me. My breathing becomes shallow, and I put my hand on her lower back, feeling the delicate curve of her spine.
    “Look, Theo,” Phoe says, reluctantly pulling away. “I know I started this, but we really ought to stop. If they watch the recording of this room, they might wonder why you’re moving your lips and tongue like a crazy person. It’s an especially bad idea given that the neural scan they saw was a hot mess.”
    Her words work as effectively as a cold shower.
    “Did you open the door for me a moment ago?” I subvocalize, changing the subject. “And if so, why did you stop me from leaving?”
    “No, I didn’t open that door.” She gives me a wide grin. “That was all you.”
    “Me?” I subvocalize so loudly it almost comes out as a whisper. “But how? Did the female Guard—who must be Fiona—not lock it?”
    “Yes, it is Fiona, and yes, she locked it all right. You just opened it anyway.”
    “How? Only Adults can undo those types of locks.”
    Phoe’s eyes are glowing. “And the Elderly.”
    “Right,” I think. “What does that have to do with me?” A flash of insight hits me. “Wait a minute. Are you saying what I think you’re saying?”
    “When Birth Day started, I modified your age, like I told you I would.” She’s as excited as Liam after a prank. “As far as the back end of all the security systems in Oasis is concerned, you’re now ninety years old.”
    I stare at her blankly. The implications are too far-reaching.
    “I can open any door the Adults can?”
    “Yes, and many, many more.” Phoe’s feet drum on the floor. “For example, the Adults can’t cross the boundary into the Elderly territory, but you can. You can pretty much go anywhere you want, as long as we overcome the minor problem of your youthful looks.”
    “Yeah.” I chuckle nervously. “ That itsy-bitsy problem.”
    “I have an idea about that—a plan of sorts,” Phoe says. “If it works, you’ll be able to travel across Oasis without any issues. But before we talk about that, I have to show you something else, something way more urgent.” She looks distant for a fraction of a second. “Crap, they’re coming. We should continue this after they lead you out of here.”
    “Lead me out?” I think and look at her with barely concealed hope. “Are they letting me go?”
    Phoe looks at the door instead of answering.
    The door opens.
    A Guard is standing there.
    “Theodore,” he says.
    I get up.
    I think this is Jeremiah, though his voice is hard to recognize through the helmet’s distortion. I can tell this isn’t Fiona, because the voice isn’t female and he’s taller than her.
    “Follow me,” maybe-Jeremiah says and waves at me.
    “He tried to soothe you again,” Phoe whispers as a voice in my head.
    “I wish it worked,” I think, feeling my heart racing as I’m forced to walk