08:
The lab was eerily silent now, the hum of the machines and the buzz of the fluorescent lights the only sounds that filled the space. Everyone had gone home, leaving Sebastian and Amelia alone. Sebastian watched as Amelia walked in, her usual confident stride making his heart beat a little faster.
Amelia seemed preoccupied, her mind clearly on the experiment. She didn’t notice the way Sebastian’s eyes followed her every move, darkening with an intensity that made the air between them feel electric. She pulled her hair out of its ponytail, letting it fall around her shoulders, and removed her glasses, rubbing her eyes. The transformation was subtle, but to Sebastian, it was mesmerizing.
He leaned against the lab bench, his rugged, tired appearance only enhancing his allure. The slight messiness of his blonde hair and the dark circles under his eyes from countless hours of work gave him a raw, almost primal appeal. He couldn’t take his eyes off Amelia, thoughts running wild in his mind.
Amelia, completely oblivious to the effect she was having on him, walked up to him and stopped a few feet away. "Alright, Sebastian. Everyone's gone. What’s this all about? What did you mean by using you as a test subject?"
Sebastian pushed off from the bench, taking a step closer to her. His gaze was so intense it was almost tangible, and Amelia felt a shiver run down her spine. "The experiment, Amelia," he said, his voice low and velvety, "is about studying the biological responses to a kiss. And what better way to understand it than to experience it firsthand?"
Amelia blinked, momentarily taken aback. "Wait, you want us to kiss? For the experiment?"
A slow, sexy smile spread across Sebastian’s face, and he nodded. "Exactly. You need to observe and record the physiological changes—heart rate, adrenaline levels, neurotransmitter activity. And to do that, you need a live subject."
Amelia stared at him, her mind racing. The tension between them was palpable, and she couldn’t quite believe what she was hearing. "You’re serious," she said, half in disbelief.
"Very," Sebastian replied, stepping even closer. He was now just inches away from her, his presence overwhelming. "This is purely for science, of course."
Amelia’s brain struggled to keep up with the situation. She had always seen Sebastian as the grumpy, detached genius, but now there was something more—something darker and undeniably sexy. She found herself nodding, almost involuntarily. "Okay, for science," she muttered.
Sebastian's eyes flickered with something primal, and he leaned in, his breath warm against her skin. "For science," he echoed, his voice a seductive whisper.
Amelia’s heart was pounding in her chest, and she couldn’t help but wonder if she had just agreed to something far more intense than she had anticipated. The lab, once a place of cold logic and reason, now felt charged with a different kind of energy—one that promised discovery of a wholly different nature.
Amelia blinked, still trying to process the situation. "So, should we... try it now?" she asked, her tone almost clinical. "I mean, I’ve never kissed anyone before. Unless you count my orange and fat cat at home."
Sebastian stared at her, momentarily taken aback by her confession. "You’re serious?" he asked, his voice soft with a hint of disbelief.
Amelia nodded, completely earnest. "Yeah, I'm serious. I’ll go grab the equipment to help us analyze everything."
Before she could move, Sebastian stepped forward, lifting her effortlessly and setting her on the lab table. His hands moved to the side of her neck, his touch gentle and surprisingly sensual. Amelia’s breath hitched as she looked up at him, confused by the sudden intimacy.
"Use your notes to jot down your observations," Sebastian murmured, his voice husky. Amelia opened her mouth to respond, but before she could say anything, Sebastian was between her legs, his presence overwhelming.
He leaned in, his lips brushing against her ear. "For science," he whispered, before biting her lower lip gently. Amelia gasped, the sensation sending a shiver down her spine.
Sebastian’s excitement grew at her reaction. He removed his glasses and pressed his lips to hers, the kiss starting soft but growing more insistent. His hand moved from her neck to her waist, pulling her closer as he deepened the kiss. Amelia’s mind raced, her earlier confusion now replaced by a whirlwind of sensations. Sebastian's lips were warm and firm against hers, his touch both tender and demanding.
Amelia's hands moved instinctively, clutching at Sebastian's shirt as he kissed her. His fingers traced a line down her neck, making her shiver. The kiss was unlike anything she had ever imagined—intense, passionate, and utterly consuming. Sebastian broke the kiss for a moment, his breath mingling with hers. "Remember to take notes," he teased, his eyes dark with desire.
Amelia, still dazed, nodded slowly. "Right... notes," she muttered, her voice barely a whisper. But as Sebastian's lips found hers again, all thoughts of scientific observation faded, replaced by the overwhelming sensation of the moment.
Amelia gently pulled away, her breath coming in short, sharp gasps. She reached for her notepad, flipping it open and scribbling down her observations with a focused intensity. Sebastian stood there, his eyes locked on her, biting his lower lip to keep himself from devouring the beautiful woman in front of him.
As she wrote, Sebastian watched her, the way her hair fell over her face, the determined set of her jaw. His fingers itched to touch her again, to pull her close and lose himself in her. But he waited, the anticipation building with every second.
Finally, Amelia looked up from her notes, her eyes meeting his. Before she could say anything, Sebastian closed the distance between them and captured her lips in another kiss, his hands cradling her face. Amelia responded for a moment, then pulled away again to jot down more notes.
Sebastian growled softly in frustration, his hands sliding down to her exposed neck. He kissed the sensitive skin, his tongue tracing a slow line up to her ear. Without warning, Amelia smacked him hard, the sound echoing through the lab.
Sebastian reeled back, shock and disbelief written all over his face. "What the—"
"You're such a weirdo," Amelia muttered, her tone more amused than annoyed. "Thanks for the notes, though." She hopped off the table, gathering her things as if nothing had happened.
Sebastian stood there, rubbing his stinging cheek, his eyes wide. He couldn't believe she had just smacked him, and hard too.
As the lab door closed behind her, Sebastian chuckled to himself, running a hand through his messy hair. This woman was going to be the death of him, but he couldn't deny the thrill of the challenge.
Sebastian stood alone in the now-quiet lab, still chuckling at the memory of Amelia’s unexpected slap. He turned to leave when he noticed a shadow lingering in the doorway. Narrowing his eyes, he spotted one of the researchers, Karen, who had always been openly hostile towards Amelia.
Karen's eyes widened when she realized she had been caught. She turned to run, but Sebastian moved quickly, grabbing her by the arm and pulling her back.
“What did you see?” His voice was low, dangerously calm.
Karen stammered, “I-I didn’t see anything.”
Sebastian leaned in, his grip tightening. “If you even think about tainting Amelia’s reputation, I will make sure you regret it. Understand?” His eyes burned with intensity, making it clear he wasn’t bluffing.
Karen nodded frantically, terror in her eyes. Sebastian released her, and she fled down the hall, disappearing into the shadows. He sighed, running a hand through his hair, knowing he’d have to keep an eye on her.
****
The next morning, Amelia walked into the lab, her appearance causing a stir among her colleagues. She wore her usual lab coat, but underneath it was a pink turtleneck, a stark contrast to her usual attire.
Sebastian looked up from his work, a smirk spreading across his face as he saw her. Amelia caught his eye and rolled hers in response, heading straight for the coffee machine. He knew exactly why she was wearing the turtleneck, last night, he kissed and licked her right there. She must be traumatized, and Sebastian find it funny.
“Nice turtleneck, Amelia,” one of the researchers, Tim, teased. “Did you lose a bet or something?”
“Yeah, and why pink? I thought you hated that color,” another coworker chimed in, laughing.
Amelia poured herself a cup of black coffee, her expression unamused. “I felt like a change,” she said flatly, taking a sip and ignoring the curious looks from her coworkers.
Sebastian’s smirk grew wider as he watched her, remembering the previous night. “Good morning, Amelia,” he said, his tone dripping with amusement.
“Morning, Sebastian,” she replied coolly, not meeting his gaze as she focused on her coffee.
“Interesting choice of attire,” he remarked, clearly enjoying the situation.
“Don’t push it,” she muttered, taking another sip.
Their coworkers continued to tease her, clearly enjoying the rare sight of Amelia in something so out of character. “Seriously, though, pink? Did someone brainwash you?” Tim asked, still laughing.
Amelia finally turned to face them, her expression deadpan. “Can we all just focus on work?”
The room erupted in laughter, and even Amelia couldn’t suppress a small smile. Sebastian watched her closely, his eyes lingering on her longer than necessary. The pink turtleneck was definitely out of character, but it made her look strangely adorable. He couldn’t deny that he liked seeing this different side of her, even if it was just a result of their peculiar encounter the night before.
As the laughter died down and everyone returned to their tasks, Sebastian kept his eyes on Amelia.
*********