“If you won’t provide me with an informal moniker in exchange, I’ll make one up.” His eyes traveled over her like a thousand caresses. “Which do you prefer—Beauty, Lovely, or Gorgeous?”
Dawn frowned, fighting to ignore his remark but finally not able to. “Maybe something not based on my superficial exterior. I’m greater than the sum of my body parts.” She dove into the packages the droid was placing next to her. It rolled back out the door, then returned with even more supplies.
“They may provide commentary on your charming outsides, but it doesn’t make them less true.” He was so close, his warm breath touching her ear.
She froze, her body unable to move away from him, no matter how much her mind urged her to disregard him and his words.
“You’re like a perfect little doll,” he murmured, and she turned to face him, noticing the look in his eyes. The intensity of that look caused her chest to tighten. His expression was almost dream-like, but the emotion that burned in his eyes was anything but gentle. “Flawlessly formed for my pleasure.”
Dawn didn’t want to admit it, but his words were getting to her. They set fire to her skin, ignited her mind to spin out countless scenarios that had them naked and writhing together. Still, the reality of what he was saying and its effect on her caused an icy jolt of fear to hit her.
She stood up and shoved him back. “I’m not formed for your pleasure or anyone else’s. I’m a trained scientist and a successful inventor. And just because I took your money, it doesn’t give you the right to use my mindandmy body. So fuck off with the seduction and get out of my way. I’ve got work to do.”
His face hardened slightly. Then he gave her a nod. “Fair enough. Doctor, it is.” Then he moved away and Dawn forced herself to focus on the packages in front of her.
“Sign here please,” the droid said after setting down the last of her supplies.
She took the tablet from one of his extensions and used her finger to sign her name on the screen.
She was surprised to find her eyes blurry and she blinked as a tear hit the tablet’s surface.
