“Time for your nap, Cosmo,” she said softly, picking him up and walking back into the chamber. “You’re so easy. Is that because you feel like you belong to someone now?”
As if replying, his purple tongue darted out and licked her face.
“Sweet boy,” she crooned, placing him on the bed and stroking his long, soft fur.
She stayed to watch him burrow down, then dropping her robe, she moved to the bench and stretched out on her back to wait. It was only a moment later she discovered she couldn’t move.
“Relax, Abby,” Zaroff declared as he entered. “You’re being held because you must remain still. If you wriggle, the measuring tool will be given inaccurate impulses.”
“How did you know I was ready?”
“You need to ask?”
“I guess not. The glow is green. You would have seen me come out of the bathroom. Will you tell me about this pleasure zone test?”
“Certain parts of your body have sexual hypersensitivity. I will learn where they are and their level of erotic responsiveness. The ruler requires a thorough report.”
“Why?”
“So he can offer you the utmost pleasure, of course.”
“Seems like a waste of time. I’m going to reject him.”
“We’ve had this conversation too many times. It’s tedious,” he declared brusquely. “Mention your refusal again and I shall spank you.”
“Sorry.”
“That was not the correct response,” he scolded, placing something soft against her sex and holding it in place.
“Sorry, Master.”
“Don’t forget again, and you must not be so flippant.”
“Yes, Master.”
“This foam pad I’ve placed against your pussy, do you feel it clamping?”
“Yes, Master.”
“How does it feel?”
“Warm, and very nice.”
“Good. Do not speak again unless I give express permission,” he instructed, moving to the nearby table. “I do not wish to repeat the test, but I’ll have to if you don’t remain quiet and still. This is not a time to misbehave. You must do as you’re told.”
His unexpected authoritative demeanor sent her goosebumps popping and her butterflies fluttering, but her thoughts were abruptly interrupted. The material sticking to her sex began radiating a tantalizing heat.
“Already!” Zaroff declared, staring at it as he returned. “Tell me what you were thinking about.”
“The way you’re being very stern, Master.”
To her surprise, he smiled, but the moment was fleeting. He held a gleaming steel rod, and placing the tip against the sole of her right foot, he moved it in a tiny circle, extending the parameters until he had carried it across her entire sole. The implement carried a titillating tingle, and closing her eyes, she sank into the pleasurable sensations.
Time stood still as he painstakingly traveled the instrument over every inch of her body. She had to fight the need to cry out as he rested it on the inside of her elbows and against her neck, and when he touched it to her nipples, her thighs tensed of their own accord, and a warm flood washed through her sex. She was glad of the invisible control. She would have been writhing in pleasure if the bench hadn’t been holding her in position.
* * *
Though Zaroff knew she possessed great passion, and he’d anticipated many erotic hotspots, her sensitivity exceeded his expectations. Moving the rod across the front of her body had brought her to a fevered state, and the dense foam clinging to her sex had changed from white, to pale pink, to deep pink, and now was purple. If he removed it and touched the rod to her sex, he knew she’d explode, and the idea of her experiencing a powerful orgasm sent a rush of energy to his cock. Pushing away the tempting thought, he stood back and placed his hand on the corner of the bench.
“Abby! Don’t speak. It’s time to roll over. Do it slowly, and when you’re on your stomach keep your arms at your sides. Once you’re settled the restraint will resume.”
As she cautiously shifted onto her stomach, he spied the glistening wetness between her legs. Her pussy screamed for his attention. He could feel her craving need for his powerful body. She was aching to be ravaged.
“I have to replace the material between your legs,” he declared, breaking into her salacious thoughts. “You’ll feel a slight tug.”
Purple was the last color in the range, and in order to continue the pleasure zone testing a fresh patch had to be applied, a situation he’d not come across before. Taken aback by her uniquely intense passion, as he laid the second patch against her womanhood, an epiphany suddenly washed over him.
Her constant questions came from a brilliant brain hungry for knowledge.
She had been the youngest researcher to ever be admitted to ALFEE.
She had recognized her feelings for him quickly and with a minimum of doubt.
Her sexual appetite and elevated responsiveness was unique.
“Is it possible?” he muttered under his breath. “Could you carry the throwback gene from the time of the great ones?”
The early Ratheons were reputed to be almost godlike, voracious in all aspects of their lives. Determined to unscramble the mysteries of the universe, they dared to explore the heavens, while on the planet a mighty empire was built using engineering techniques that came from extraordinary intellect. The modern day race looked back in awe at their ancestors. Time and coupling with other races, including humans, had altered their genealogy, but as generations passed, it had been discovered certain humans carried the throwback gene. Ratheons called it the genius gene.
Leonardo da Vinci, Albert Einstein, Marie Curie, Galileo Galilei, Emmy Noether...
The names flashed through his brain.
Was it possible? Could Abby be one of them?
Doing his best to return his focus to the test, he moved the rod across her shoulders and down her back uncovering more hotspots, but as he traveled it across her backside, still red from the paddle, the patch between her legs blushed deep pink. Unable to resist, he pulled her cheek aside and pressed it against her rosebud.
Her unexpected cry echoed through the chamber.
The rod had launched her into a violent orgasm, and though held by the bench, he could see her muscles convulsing beneath her skin. Erotic energy surged through his loins, and his cock screamed for release. Hurriedly pulling himself from the confines of his thin clothing, he stroked himself into his climax, splashing his essence across the small of her back.
But still in the clutches of the powerful spasms, Abby was oblivious.
* * *
Multicolored flashes of light popped through her brain, exquisite sensations crackled through her being, and though she could hear her cries, they were distant echoes.
Abruptly she lifted.
Free and floating, she sank into a purple cloud and surrendered to divine peace. There was no thought, no sensations, just blissful serenity.
“Come awake, Abby. Slowly now, slowly come back to me.”
Zaroff’s softly spoken invitation drifted around her like a gentle breeze.
“That’s it. I’ve got you.”
Suddenly aware of his solid arms, she couldn’t remember floating down from the purple cloud.
“Zaroff,” she murmured, opening her eyes. “What happened? The bench...”
“The testing implement threw you into an orgasm and I carried you to the bed.”
“Is that supposed to happen?”
“It can, though it’s rare. I certainly didn’t expect you to be rocketed into a state of euphoric elation.”
“I didn’t enter a different state, I left my body.”
“That’s how it’s been described, and who am I to argue? Perhaps that’s what happens.”
“My gosh. It was amazing. So much stronger than the last time.”
“That’s because you have tremendous sexual energy. Far more than most.”
“I’ve always felt that. I even saw a therap
ist once because I thought there was something wrong with me.”
“There’s something very right with you, Abby, but now you need to sleep.”
“I know. I’m exhausted.”
“I won’t see you again until the presentation. We’re docking shortly and I’ll be extremely busy.”
“Are you sure you won’t have time to check in? Not even through the rippling wall?”
“I’m sorry, no, I won’t, but don’t worry, Minerva and the keeper will take care of whatever you need.”
“Zaroff, I feel strange.”
“I know you do. It will pass, but you must sleep.”
“I have no choice. I’m passing out.”
Her eyes were half-lidded, and as he climbed off the bed, the furrbit moved from the end of the mattress and snuggled next to her.
“I believe you’re becoming who you really are,” she heard Zaroff whisper as he dropped two purple patches into a silver bag. “These will tell me for sure, but what will that mean for you—for us?”
Though she wanted to ask him what he meant, she couldn’t fight the heaviness in her eyes, and as they closed, she succumbed to sleep.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Abby couldn’t remember ever sleeping so deeply, and as she lifted out of the dark fog, the aroma of breakfast tickled her nose. Opening her eyes, she found Cosmo curled up beside her, then saw the table laden with food, and Minerva patiently waiting.
“I thought you were never going to wake up.”
“How long have I been asleep?”
“Many Earth hours. We were told not to disturb you, but a short time ago Zaroff instructed the keeper to prepare scrambled hen eggs, fried tomatoes, potatoes, and toast. He must have thought you’d be awake soon.”
“That sounds wonderful. Do you always have a supply of Earth food?”
“Most of the time. It’s very popular and we visit there often. Staying well stocked isn’t a problem.”
“I still find that weird,” Abby muttered as she sat up, hungrily eyeing the meal.
“When you’re finished I need to transport you over to the ruler’s home and help you get ready for the presentation.”
“This is all so unnecessary,” Abby muttered as Minerva placed a bowl of food on the floor for Cosmo. “I don’t want anything to do with the ruler. Why must I jump through all these hoops for no reason?”
“You haven’t met him yet!”
“It won’t matter,” she said with a sigh, then picked up her fork and dove into the food, but as she ate, she wondered why she was constantly being told she might change her mind. What made the ruler so irresistible?
“That was excellent,” she declared, downing the last mouthful of toast with a satisfied sigh. “The keeper is an excellent cook.”
“I’m glad you enjoyed it. Now you need to freshen up and get dressed to leave.”
“I will, but, Minerva, how many others like me have been presented?”
“A few.”
“What happened?”
“None have been acceptable.”
“You mean they would have stayed but the ruler didn’t want them?”
“Precisely.”
“Sounds like he’s a picky guy.”
“Abby, you can’t be disrespectful when you speak of the ruler.”
“No, I suppose not, but that doesn’t make my comment any less true.”
“Let me explain. Being with the ruler is a high honor, the highest! He can’t accept a woman just because she has the gene. She has to have many other qualities, the most important of which is integrity, but I’m saying too much,” she added hastily. “You have a way of making me talk.”
“One last question.”
“Isn’t there always?”
“Can you tell me what it is about the ruler you think will make me change my mind?”
“He has many amazing qualities, but you’ll just have to wait and see for yourself. I think the more important question is, will he accept you. I’m going to take this tray back to the keeper while you get ready to leave.”
As Minerva lifted the tray and headed out, Abby climbed from the bed and slid onto the floor next to Cosmo greedily lapping water from his bowl.
“Well, Cosmo, I managed to get her talking and apparently Mr. Ruler Man is quite the catch.”
The furrbit’s big brown eyes stared up her, and jumping into her lap, he began to hum.
“I hope I’ll be as content as you are one of these days. Come into the bathroom with me. I need to take a shower and get dressed.”
* * *
Nervous.
The word meant nothing to Zaroff. His ability to remain clear-headed and calm in critical situations was legendary, but as he stood in the room where the presentation would take place, nervous was the only word that could accurately described his state.
“This is ridiculous,” he muttered, pouring himself a glass of annen juice. The exotic fruit found only on Rathe was one of his favorites. Its calming properties were well-known, but he was on his third glass and still on edge. “I have no control over what might happen and I will live with the outcome whatever it may be! Why is the lab taking so long with those results? They’re not helping!”
“Sir,” Keon said urgently, bursting into the room. “I knew you’d want to know right away. They’re in. Abby Walker’s results are in.”
“About bloody time!”
Keon stared in shock. Zaroff never cursed. Never.
“We all have our moments, Keon,” Zaroff said hastily. “Where are they? Why don’t I have them?”
“The senior lab official is waiting to hear from you, sir, and he apologized for the delay. He wanted to make sure they were correct so he ran the test several times in various ways.”
“And?”
“He wouldn’t tell me, sir.”
“I can’t fault him for that. I told him to keep the information confidential,” Zaroff said, wishing his heart would stop its mad thumping as he strode across to his desk.
“May I join you, sir?”
“Yes, Keon, you may.”
Touching the transparent screen, he tapped an icon, and the face of the laboratory’s senior scientist came in to view.
“Don’t tell me anything except the result. Does she have the throwback gene, or doesn’t she?”
“She does, sir.”
“This is absolutely astonishing. It’s been almost two hundred Earth years since Nellie passed away.”
“Yes, sir, a very long time. I was shocked by the result myself. There was a belief we’d never see another. Let me know if you need anything further, and of course I’ll keep this to myself.”
“Yes, you must, and thank you.”
“Sir, I know Nellie was the last woman to have the genius gene,” Keon remarked, “but I don’t recall the details.”
“Nellie is an important part of our history. We honor her memory by keeping them fresh in our minds and our hearts, Keon.”
“Yes, sir.”
“She was born in the London slums, but her brilliant brain and courage enabled her to escape. She stowed away on a pioneer ship bound for New Zealand, and told the women her mother had abandoned her on the docks. They took pity on her, and made sure she was fed and clothed both on the ship and when they reached land.”
“Why was she born to a woman in the slums?”
“Her grandmother had been the mistress of a duke, but fell from favor and was banished. She had the gene, not the genius gene, just the gene. It skipped her daughter, but not Nellie. If she hadn’t made it to New Zealand we probably wouldn’t have been able to take her and make the discovery. Back then we weren’t able to operate in densely populated areas. All we could was keep track of the women, but the empty country fields in the sparsely populated colony presented plenty of opportunity. Of course we didn’t know she carried the genius gene until after she’d been here a while. Apparently she was in bad health, but she survived, and was one of the designers of the original energy cells
. Sadly, her unfortunate start in life made her unable to bear children.”
“What a shame,” Keon said wistfully.
“A great shame, but at least she was able to grow up here on Rathe and make many significant contributions.”
“And she was the last female to have the gene from the great ones.”
“Yes, Keon. Now we have Abby Walker. It’s extraordinary.”
“Does Abby know how gifted she is, sir?”
“She excels in everything, but I suspect she has barely scratched the surface of her tremendous intellect.”
“Coming from Earth, I’m sure that’s true. Are you going ahead with the presentation as planned?”
“That cannot change. She must make her choice.”
“But, sir, she’s a goddess.”
“Not quite, Keon, but she’s very special. Very special indeed,” Zaroff said, thinking back to the moment he’d sensed something unique about her.
“What will all this mean, sir?”
“That question, Keon, will remain unanswered until after the presentation.”
* * *
Abby was prepared for a thrilling ride from the ship to the city floating in space, but the trip was anti-climactic. Holding on to Cosmo, she’d climbed into a pod with Minerva, climbed out, climbed into a second pod, then stepped out into a large reception area that could have been in any modern office building on Earth. The bizarre furnishings were the only suggestion she was somewhere out of the ordinary.
“That was boring, and so is this,” she declared as Minerva led her into an elevator. “I thought I’d be in a small spacecraft to get here, and I’d walk out into some sort of docking station. Now I’m about to get into an elevator. How ordinary is this?”
“Perhaps, but this doesn’t rely on cables,” Minerva said with a grin. “RQ.”
“Whoa. It’s crazy fast,” Abby suddenly exclaimed as it rocketed upward. “Holy crap. Sorry.”
“That’s okay. Yes, they’re quick.”
“What’s RQ?”
“Ruler’s Quarters.”
“Anyone can get there?” Abby asked as the door opened and they stepped out.
“Absolutely not. The compartment brain recognized my sleeve cuff, then confirmed my face and voice.”
“Wow. Look at this place. It’s like a reception room at a grand European palace.”
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