by Grace, Viola
Yesterday’s visit with Khytten had been both fascinating and terrifying. Salat had recognized her, and she had known him. He had seen her at the feet of the boss years ago while seeking to separate his target from the clutches of the mob.
The boss had kept her shackled to his chair, sitting at his feet. Her luck had been a boon to be bestowed on the deserving or something that could be bought. She had kissed hundreds of men since her father sold her to pay gambling debts. Her luck could not be transferred to family. Her father and siblings had benefited from her sale, even though human trafficking was technically illegal. Tarra had been made into a precious pet.
She had thought that paying for her body to be altered into something that defied the preferences of the mob and her hair now changed colour at will had been enough to hide who she was, but she smelled the same, and a scent predator who knew her then would be able to figure out who she was.
She couldn’t do anything about her scent. She had tried.
She contacted her assistant and said, “I am heading out for my swim. Anything urgent before I have some fun?”
“Zera has had to send an assessment officer here to confirm your active status for insurance purposes. He will be here this morning.”
Tirra paused. “He will?”
“He’s a patron, and three of his favourite escorts will be here later in the day. Five, Thirteen, and Sixteen.”
“Okay, if he gets here before I get out, please make him comfortable.”
He chuckled. “Will do, boss. Have a nice swim.”
She deactivated her com, set the external connector down, and stripped. When the patrons were there, she wore a one-piece, but there was no one at the resort today, so a nice, refreshing swim it was going to be.
She waded into the cool water and blanked her mind as she got deep enough to start swimming. The mechanical strokes soothed her, and when her muscles were burning lightly, she turned and looked back toward the shore. There was a figure walking toward the water’s edge, and she sighed. There went the relaxing benefits.
She headed back toward her clothing and the man who was standing next to them. It seemed that the assessor had arrived early.
* * * *
Gorith watched the pale figure swim toward him. Her gauzy clothing was at the edge of the water. He checked his com and then looked out as the creature swimming toward him changed colour and started to rise from the depths. Golden skin was his first identifying awareness. Her hair fluctuated in colour as she walked out of the water, sometimes red, then brown, then blonde, and even purple, caught his attention to the point that her fit and toned body was only an afterthought.
She walked naked out of the waves, and his gaze took her in, but it wasn’t what he was looking for. He wanted petite, pale, and quiet. This woman looked like she was designed to ride a horse into battle to quell neighbouring hordes. She wasn’t a pet but a warrior.
When her gaze flicked to his, there was a shocked recognition, but he had never seen her in his life. He would have remembered the firm breasts, small waist, and flaring hips. Too bad she wasn’t his type. She was gorgeous, and when she looked at him, she fainted with the word “You” escaping from her lips.
He stepped forward and caught her as she swayed. Well, that was different. He hadn’t said a word.
He set her in the chair and covered her with her towel. His hand on hers got his work out of the way. She was an analytical active. She had quite a bit of energy that could be brought to bear on that kind of thing.
He stroked the hair away from her face, and her lids fluttered open.
She looked at him and leaned away as her eyes went wide. The power in her spiked as she analyzed him, and he recognized that feeling. He looked at her, touching her cheek as he stroked the baby-soft skin. His criteria for attraction shifted suddenly, and he looked at her, finally seeing the woman he had been fantasizing about for seven years, in a far different form than he had anticipated.
He smiled and stroked her cheek before recognizing that she was terrified. “Ah, Tarra. I have so much to tell you.”
She shook her head. “Not Tarra. Not anymore. Not ever.”
To his consternation, she freed her arm with a jerk, grabbed her clothing, rolled away from him, wrapped herself in a towel, and started heading up the hill with surprising speed for someone barefoot.
Gorith sighed and contacted Zera. The woman looked at him sleepily, and there were bodies in bed behind her. “Yes, Auditor Gorith?”
“How long have you known?”
“Known what? Keep your sentences short. I haven’t gotten much sleep.”
There was a chuckle behind her, and a purple hand and arm came into view as she was stroked on her neck.
“How long have you known that the woman I have been looking for was in your employ?”
She winced. “You have been a client for three years, so... three years.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I am not in the business of telling you what you need. Your requests were very specific, and you had a nice time with them, so where is the issue?”
He opened and closed his mouth. “How did she change appearance?”
Zera squawked as the purple hand descended. “Ask her. Be polite, businesslike, and direct. Just tell her what was happening. I have to go. I will be available around noon.”
Gorith heard the masculine laughter and some feminine as Zera disappeared from view and the call disconnected.
He looked down and saw the shoes that his prey had left behind. He lifted them and walked back up the pebble beach and onto the path that led to the resort. It seemed that his lost princess had left her footwear. He had better return them to her.
* * * *
Panic welled in her as she bolted through the lobby of the main building, and the staff stopped and stared. She darted into her office and locked the door, pushing a chair, a sideboard, and a filing cabinet in between her and the door.
“Uh, Ms. Argent? Are you all right?”
Her assistant’s voice was calm, and he was staring at her efforts from his position at his desk.
She blinked and looked down at the towel that barely covered everything. “Um. I am going to need to go. I think I have to leave. Now.”
Stillnar got to his feet, and he blinked. “Did something happen? You don’t normally forget to dress when you come back.”
“Um. I need to hide. I need to not be here until he’s gone.”
“Manager, are you all right? Should I get a medic?”
“No. I am fine. It is fine. I am fine. I need clothing, and I don’t want to go out there.”
Stillnar nodded. “I can help you with that. Can I move the furniture?”
“Okay, but if he’s out there... don’t let him in.” She backed into her office and closed the door.
Stilar spoke to her through the door. “Are you sure you are all right?”
“Fine. Just fine. Just saw someone I used to know, and it freaked me out. Just some clean clothes and shoes and I will be myself. Promise.”
“Was it an ex?”
“Something like that.”
“Well, the door to the office is pushing open, so you sit tight.”
Tirra held her towel in place as she sat there, and voices spoke softly on the other side of the door.
Ten minutes passed, and a soft knock got her attention. A voice spoke softly. “Your clothing, Ms. Argent.”
She got up and tiptoed to the door, easing it open. A hanger with a soft summery dress was passed through, as was a small bag. “Ms. Argent, you are going to have to open the door a bit for the shoes.”
She eased the door back, and a strappy pair of sandals came in. “Thank you. Is he gone?”
“He’s still at the facility if that is what you mean.”
The door pushed open, and Gorith stepped into her office. Her heart stuttered in her chest.
She held her clothes in front of her and stared at him with her eyes as wide as she
could get them. “Auditor.”
He smiled slightly. “My name is Gorith.”
“Uh-huh. Just a minute.”
She went to her private lavatory and got herself into the clothing and shoes. Dealing with him while wearing a towel or less wasn’t what she considered a good idea.
She flicked her hair out behind her and walked into the office. Gorith was sitting in the chair in front of her desk, and he smiled softly when she emerged. “You look lovely... Tirra, is it?”
“Yes, but most here refer to me as management. How can I make your stay as a patron more enjoyable?”
She sat behind the desk and smiled at him politely.
He cocked his head. “Is that how you are going to play it?”
She nodded. “Yes.”
“You are ignoring our history?”
Tirra shivered. “Yes. It wasn’t anything, as I have discovered. It was more theatre to keep me under the boss’s thumb. You were on assignment, and I was trafficked. There was nothing there.”
He blinked. “You were mine.”
“Not by any modern standard. I was ordered into your arms on my eighteenth birthday, and because you didn’t want to blow your cover, you went along with it.” She tapped her fingers on the desk. “You played with me to keep the boss happy and entertain the observers.”
He frowned. “That is true as far as it goes...”
“So, we are here and both grown up. Water under the bridge, time has marched on. I am no longer that little helpless thing, and you are no longer hiding in plain sight. I see in your file that you favour Five, Thirteen, and Sixteen. We offer adventure packages if you want to exert yourself while upright, tours on the lake, hang gliding, parasailing, ice skating, karaoke in the evenings, dance competitions. Whatever you are interested in, we can offer it.”
“What happened to you? You have grown, but you were in your twenties.”
She sighed. “To answer the obvious, away from the influence of the cartel, my growth was no longer stunted by Kasaro. He froze me at mid-puberty to keep me unstable and easier to confine. I started growing within two months of my escape. Thanks for the bust, by the way. It let me escape. Quite the blood bath, though.”
He looked slightly ill. “You saw that?”
“I saw it start; I did not stay to watch the finish.” She held her hand up. “Don’t worry. I was already acquainted with what you could do with those energy tendrils of yours.”
“Ah, they are not exactly common knowledge.”
She smiled. “Of course, Patron. Discretion is assured.”
He blinked. “Are you an escort?”
She inclined her head. “As you know, I had to be assessed to be registered as an escort, officially. I have unofficially been on over a hundred dates.”
He looked a combination of ill and angry. “A hundred? Is that how you dismiss what was between us so easily?”
She chuckled and tried to play it calm. “It was seven years ago. I am fairly sure that you have not been celibate the entire time.”
Colour darkened the rich gold of his skin. “That is not... I don’t have a leg to stand on.”
“No, you do not. I had to become familiar with your history in order to provide you with the best possible experience at the resort.”
“You did that in ten minutes?”
She chuckled. “You assessed me. What do you think my activity is?”
“Well, it used to be luck transmission. Currently, it is an analytical skill with your physical secondary component. You have mood hair.”
She blushed. “Yeah. I do. That happened when I recovered from... never mind.”
He scowled. “What? What happened to you?”
Tirra smiled. “It isn’t important. I look forward to helping to facilitate any dates that you would like to carry out. A full list of amenities and adventure tours is available via the server. You look like you can use a massage. We have a talented therapist on site. He won’t stop until your bones feel like soup.” She smiled brightly. “Phillon is the best.”
He frowned. “Is he one of your lovers?”
She blinked. She had meant to give that inference, but he looked hostile, and she had seen him hostile before. “He isn’t. I don’t muddy things with staff. He also finds working on me disturbing.”
“Why?”
She smiled. “You don’t need to know. So, Patron, would you like help with booking anything?”
He crossed his arms and scowled. “How do I get a date with you ?”
She leaned over and ran the compatibility rating through between the two of them. “We aren’t suited. Based on answers that you gave when looking for escorts, I do not match your needs or requirements, so the company won’t accept the match for a date.”
Tirra looked him in the eyes. “I am not what you are looking for.”
He leaned forward and met her gaze. “I think that my tastes have evolved without me noticing. I feel a sudden update in my file coming on.”
“Only upper management has the authority to accept that kind of an update, and Zera is incommunicado.”
“Only until she finishes her orgy at noon. After that, I will contact her and see what I can do.” He got up and extended his hand to her.
She didn’t want to, but she extended her hand to him. He pulled her toward him over the desk, and she caught herself before falling forward.
“You know, there is something to imagining the look of the lingerie against your skin. Your assistant gave me the honour of selecting it, but don’t get too mad; I did pull rank on him.”
The tingle of the contact reading he was sending through her grew in waves. He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles. “You have grown dramatically in beauty.”
She fought hard but managed to keep the signs of her orgasm from him. His energy had always set her off, and that had been used as a tool for her cooperation and a punishment when she resisted. Being helpless at his touch had been horrible when he was her only experience with arousal specifically and sex generally. The contact had always been over her clothing, but that hadn’t made it any less humiliating. She knew that he was an agent working to nip the crime family in the bud, but that didn’t help her developing sexuality.
He quirked a brow. “I remember a time when that would have had you sobbing.”
She nodded. “Age has been a fun and merciless teacher. Have a pleasant visit.”
He kissed her knuckles again and released her hand. “I look forward to improving our acquaintance.”
“Good luck with that.”
He paused and chuckled before he left. When he was out of her office, she slumped back into her chair and sent a note of resignation to Zera. There was no way she could be an escort with him around. This wasn’t for a technicality; this was for her.
Running wasn’t a great thing to do, but she had funds, and she could always win another lottery if she needed more money. She had reinvented herself once; she could do it again somewhere distant.
No woman needed a man who could make her fall apart at the slightest touch. Gorith used his assessing activation and could make her cum with two light touches, one to do the assessment and the other to apply pressure exactly where needed. It was a twist on his auditing skill, and it was both amusing and amazing to be on the receiving end of. She patted herself on the back and promised herself a treat, but first, she had to leave.
Escaping had no dignity, but it was for her peace of mind. She needed to stay sane more than she needed to lose the world in his arms. Now that she was no longer an innocent victim, he would probably want to deliver on what all those small caresses had promised, and when she tried to imagine what that would feel like, her brain went blank. Her brain never went blank, and the thought of being with him and that happening more than once terrified her. It had been fun working with BDC, but the time was over now that Gorith had seen her again. There was determination in his expression, and he was not one to give in easily. If he made up his mind to have h
er, she had little to no choice in the matter.
* * * *
Zera sat up, smiling. Her body ached in all the best ways. She opened her link, and her smile was wiped out. “Damn it.”
Torun sat up and looked over her shoulder. “What’s wrong? An escort resigning?”
“No. Far worse. Tirra is resigning. Effective immediately. She has enough holiday time to pull it off. Damn it!” Zera groaned. “I pushed it too far with Gorith.”
“The auditor?”
“Yeah, he knew her when he was an agent, and I thought it would be a good match to put them together. Now she’s panicking and declaring that with the unfavourable situation she finds herself in, she only has one option, and that is to resign. Gorith is now aware she is alive and well, and he won’t give up his pursuit even if he has no interest in the long term.”
Torun rested his chin on her shoulder. “Why would he pursue her if he has no interest in anything not casual?”
“She states that he is trying to collect the set. Her before the final change compared to her after.”
“She is not giving him much credit.” Torun growled.
“I did not imagine the level of fear she must be experiencing. He is linked to a very traumatic moment in her life. Seeing him must cause her to relive it.”
Torun sighed. “Will you accept her resignation?”
“Of course not. I am going to send someone to assess the situation and give a dispassionate report on her condition.”
“You are thinking of Gorith.”
“Well, he is already there. Seems a shame to ignore his skills. Oh, look, he has just requested an alteration to his patron preferences. Huh, instead of thin and waifish, he now wants toned amazon. I wonder what could have changed his mind?”
Torun chuckled. “Does he mention asexual? Or limited experience?”
“Nope. With the physical changes, they are still only a forty-five-percent match, and that is because they are both hetero.” She typed.
“What are you responding?”
“That they are an insufficient match for BDC to authorize a date.”
