Submitting to the Shadow (Kindred Tales #27) - Evangeline Anderson Page 0,30
the Mother Ship. Shall we say around seven?”
“Oh, uh…” Sammi blinked, not sure what to say. Was he asking her on a date? And if so, should she go on a date with her boss?
The answer was almost certainly no. But then, that was also the answer she would have given if someone had asked her if she ought to let her boss spank her or run incredibly erotic sexual experiments on her, too. So she wasn’t sure what to say.
“Seven?” Roark repeated, raising an eyebrow.
“All right.” Sammi felt her cheeks getting pink. “If you don’t think us going on a date will, um, affect the research in any way.”
“A date?” He frowned. “I think you have misunderstood me, Samantha. I simply want to take you out so that I can test the efficacy of the devices you’re currently wearing.”
“Oh, I…” Sammi was covered in confusion and embarrassment. “I’m sorry. I thought—”
“You thought I would make improper advances on you?” Roark asked, frowning. “Of course I won’t, Samantha. It would be deeply inappropriate for the two of us to become involved emotionally while we are working together. Besides which, I have no time for personal relationships.”
“Right. Well, I don’t either,” Sammi said lamely. She didn’t know why she felt so let down. It wasn’t like she wanted to date her stern, uncompromising boss. But it was hard to reconcile the intense pleasure he’d been giving her with the fact that he really was only doing all of this for science.
“It’s not that I don’t find you to be a beautiful female—I do. You’re stunning, actually,” Roark told her. “But…” He gave her a serious look. “The research must come first. Always.”
“Yes. Yes, of course.” Sammi nodded quickly. What had she been thinking, imagining Roark wanted to date her? He was clearly one of those people who are married to their work. He had no time for a relationship—other than a working one.
“Good. I’m glad we understand each other.” He nodded shortly. “Now then, go ahead and get dressed. We have a backlog of data to get through today.”
“All right.”
Sammi nodded and accepted his help to get off the table. Clearly she’d gotten the wrong idea about her boss. Though it was hard to see how she could help it, considering the things he’d been doing to her almost from the moment they started working together.
Still, it was all for science. The research was the important part, as Roark had pointed out. She would just have to keep that in mind in the days and weeks to come when things were likely to get rather…intense.
Twenty-One
You’re taking things too far. You shouldn’t have sucked her nipples or fingered her soft little pussy—you know you shouldn’t have.
Roark lectured himself as he watched his assistant walk off down the hall. She was moving a bit stiffly—probably still getting used to the Goddess pearl shield she was wearing. It had seemed a shame to cover that sweet little pink button with the round black hemisphere, but Roark told himself it would be worth it when he saw how she reacted to stimulation that evening at dinner.
That’s another thing you shouldn’t have done—you shouldn’t have asked her to dinner, the little voice went on. You were perfectly capable of testing the efficacy of both the caps and the shield in the lab. There was no need to turn it into a social occasion!
But being out together in a public place would probably enhance her reaction to stimulus, Roark argued with himself. The social setting would provide valuable data he couldn’t get by testing the devices he had attached to her in the privacy of the lab.
Admit it, Roark—you just want to go out with a beautiful woman. A beautiful, intelligent woman who understands your research as well as you do, whispered the voice. You’ve been lonely all these years since Amanda left. And Samantha is just your type—full figured and curvy—a true Elite. Not to mention her long silky hair and big green eyes…
“No!” Roark muttered aloud to himself. “No, I won’t think like that about her—I can’t. No matter how attractive she is, I can’t give her what she wants—what she needs. And besides, the research has to come first!”
Promising himself he would keep that uppermost in his mind, he turned towards his suite, intending to do a bit more work before he got ready for his dinner with Samantha—which was purely for research reasons—that night.