Tivan sighed, and smiled at me. "Have I ever told you how beautiful you are?"

"Only a few days ago." I tried not to blush.

The Collector reached out and pulled a strand of hair from my face, tucking it behind my ear. "You are more beautiful than Carina."

He pulled away just I began to savor his scent and touch.

"This cannot be…"

Tivan sighed, lamenting aloud to himself. "I cannot believe I have done this again."

"Master?" I asked cautiously.

He lit a cigarette, filling his lungs and puffing. "Yes, Amy, my dear?"

"Why-why is this wrong?" I asked quietly.

"It is not wrong, it is…" Tivan sighed loudly, searching for the right words. "It is inconceivable, my beauty."

"But why?" I asked, clearly becoming annoyed.

"Because you are my assistant." He replied coolly. "I would like to be with you very much, but you have a job to do. You must do as I tell you, that is not a husband or a lover." He exhaled, blowing out a smoke ring.

"That is not even a friend. It is inconceivable on many levels. I cannot do this to you, no matter how much I wish you belonged to me."

Tivan sighed and went over to the bar. He opened a bottle of champagne with a cork.

"I should do that." I remarked.

He shot me a glare. "You must move faster if you expect to serve me."

"You didn't even ask." I retorted.

Taneleer took a deep breath, pouring the champagne into a wine flute. "We need to talk. Perhaps the kiss was a mistake. I moved too soon for you, Amy."

"Why are you making this about the kiss when you obviously don't want me?"

He sighed heavily. "Of course I want you, my beauty. I have desires that any man has. I'm concerned that we aren't connecting together as we should if we're going to continue down this destination."