She just wished that the strange feelings she had when Thrace touched her intimately would stop. All of her calm and self-possession seemed to leave her when she felt his big, warm body next to hers. It made her doubtful and unsure of herself in a way she hadn’t been since adolescence. Why did she feel this way when he touched her?
Of course, she had no answers. All she could do was cover her lap and the embarrassing sight of his shaft pressed against her with a napkin and try to sit rigidly still, not moving an inch.
“There—now that you’re settled comfortably we can enjoy the first course,” Lady Tam-tam remarked. “We’re starting with nectar pods from Rigex—have you ever had them, my dear?”
“No.” Trin cleared her throat. “No, I haven’t. But they sound tasty.”
“They’re actually quite bland,” Lady Needra said from her left. “But they’re worth trying anyway.”
“I see,” Trin said, not seeing at all. A server reached over her shoulder and placed a heaping spoonful of waxy white pods about as long as her little finger in front of her.
“There now—eat them up,” Lady Tam-tam directed. “And remember to feed every second one to your love-slave. That’s how we do things here,” she explained, smiling. “On the rest of Yonnie Six, the slave has to feed the mistress. Here we turn things on their head and the mistress feeds the slave.”
“So delightfully subversive,” Lady Needra remarked, popping a pod into her mouth and reaching back to feed one to Yorth as well.
“It certainly is,” Trin said, and she wasn’t just talking about the dinner. She picked up a pod with her fingers, since that was how everyone else was eating them, and put it cautiously into her mouth. It tasted vaguely sweet and when she bit into it, a gush of bland, waxy liquid squirted across her tongue. Ugh! It wasn’t very pleasant but Trin had eaten worse when stores got low and they were stuck in deep space without a port nearby. She chewed and swallowed dutifully and then picked up a pod to feed to Thrace.
“How is it?” he asked as she twisted carefully around to place it between his lips.
“Not the best thing I’ve ever tasted,” Trin said under her breath. “But it’s edible. Open up.”
He parted his lips obediently and accepted the waxy pod. He made a slight face when he bit into the pod but he chewed and swallowed without complaint. Trin took another pod for herself and gave another to him. Soon the little pile was gone and the second course, which consisted of a pile of steaming purple mush, was being served.
Trin picked up a long handled instrument which looked like a tiny silver shovel and got a bite of the mush. But before she could taste it, a shadow fell across the table.
“Forgive me, Lady Tam-tam, for my tardiness,” a deep voice said.
Trin looked up startled and saw a male almost as tall as Thrace standing across from her. He had broad, muscular shoulders and black hair with a reddish tint. His eyes were the same strange color—caught somewhere between midnight black and scarlet and a small, cruel smile hovering around his lips.
Unlike the other males in the room, who were all slaves, he was fully dressed in black trousers and a scarlet tunic that looked excellent against his dark tan skin. A black cape that swirled around his broad shoulders and tall black boots that ended above his knees completed the outfit.
“Oh, Lord X—how nice of you to join us,” Lady Tam-tam fluttered. She turned to Trin. “This is the male I told you about—he’s the ruler of a small planet in the Degas system. Isn’t that unique?”
“Very,” Trin agreed, though she could scarcely imagine a whole planet ruled by a male.
“Introduce me to your ravishing friend, I beg you, Lady Tam-tam,” Lord X said, smiling at Trin. “I’ve never seen such lovely skin tones—truly her beauty is unmatched.”
“Well, this is my special guest, Lady Trin,” Lady Tam-tam said. “This is her first time to Dreaming Hills but not her last, I hope.”
Lord X held out his hand and Trin reached out dutifully to take it. There was something about this male she didn’t like, though she couldn’t quite put her finger on it. His touch was cold and when he kissed the back of her hand, his lips were like ice. The chill of his skin belied the heat in his eyes when he looked her over, his gaze lingering overlong on her barely covered breasts.
Trin shifted uncomfortably. Why did it make her feel so strange to have him look at her? His eyes were hungry as he raked his gaze over her body. No other male had ever looked at her like that but Thrace. But she didn’t mind when he did it. Or rather, it made her pulse race and her breath come short but it didn’t repulse her. It was different with Lord X. It felt strange…wrong.
Apparently Thrace didn’t like the way the new male was looking at her either. With a low, possessive growl, he sat up straighter in the love seat and cupped her breasts with his big hands, effectively hiding them from sight.
“Thrace!” she exclaimed. The sudden movement had caused his shaft to shift against her and the heat of his hands against her nipples sent a bolt of sensation through her.
“It’s all right, little mistress, your slave is simply protecting you from prying eyes.” Lord X nodded and gave her that cold smile again. “I don’t mind—I’ve already admired your beauty.”
“My lady’s beauty is not for you,” Thrace rumbled, frowning at him.
“Thrace, you can’t talk to Lady Tam-tam’s guest that way,” Trin admonished him, though she privately agreed with the big Havoc and was relieved to have her breasts hidden from the strange male’s sight. “What brings you to Yonnie Six, Lord X?” she asked diplomatically, looking up at him.
“Why, dream gas, of course. Yonnie Six has the only deposits of it in the known universe, making it incredibly rare and valuable. Most places, like the area around Opulex, they have to mine it. But here on the lovely Lady Tam-tam’s estate, it comes right out of the ground on its own.”
“It does? I didn’t know that.” Trin looked at their hostess.
Lady Tam-tam nodded. “Oh yes, my dear. In fact, Dreaming Hills is built right over the largest natural deposit of dream gas ever discovered. Lord X here is interested in exporting it to other planets. Of course, no one in Opulex will deal with him.”
“Because of my misfortune to be born male instead of female.” Lord X made a sorrowful face. “But if I wasn’t male, how could I appreciate all the lovely females in the room?”
“You don’t have to be male to appreciate the female form. Females can love other females,” Trin said flatly. “It’s done quite often in places such as Zetta Prime.”
“I know I certainly appreciate your form, my lovely.” Lord X gave her that slow, cold smile. “Even if Lady Tam-tam decides not to deal with me, I’ll consider this trip to be worth it, just to see such your exotic beauty.”
Trin could feel the rumbling beginnings of a growl building in Thrace’s broad chest again.
“That’s a lovely compliment,” she said neutrally. “It was a pleasure to meet you, Lord X. I wish you success in all your endeavors.”
“In other words, I am dismissed. Very well…” He bowed elaborately. “I am too late for dinner, anyway. Perhaps I’ll see you later at the dream-sphere fountain.”
“The what?” Trin asked but Lord X was already withdrawing, his black boots ringing on the smooth stone floor.
“The dream-sphere fountain,” Lady Tam-tam said. “It’s on the back grounds—near the place where the dream gas emerges from its vent. We’re going to adjourn there after dinner. I do hope you and your love-slave can be there? I’m only inviting a select group, of course.”
“We’d love to,” Trin said, though she privately doubted she spoke for both herself and Thrace. The big Havoc hadn’t seemed to like Lord X at all—not that she blamed him. There was something strange about that male, something somehow familiar in the way he made her feel. But that was crazy, wasn’t it? Until she’d bought Thrace, Trin hadn’t had more than fleeting contact with any male. So how could she find one familiar?
/> “Such a lovely male. A pity no one else will deal with him,” Lady Tam-tam remarked.
“Indeed,” Trin said neutrally. Lady Tam-tam turned to speak to someone on the other side of her and she looked down to see that Thrace’s big hands were still cupping her breasts. Strange that while talking to Lord X she had almost forgotten they were there. But now, seeing them again and feeling his warm palms against her nipples made her pulse begin to race.
“He’s gone now,” she muttered to the big Havoc. “You can let me go. And you didn’t have to do that in the first place.”
“Didn’t like the way he was looking at you,” Thrace growled, finally removing his hands. Trin’s nipples peaked immediately in the chilly air and she missed the warmth of his palms, though she would never say so.
“He was looking at me the way you do, that’s all,” she snapped.
“Exactly.” His face was like a thundercloud as he watched the retreating back of Lord X. “I don’t like that son of a bitch. Not one fucking bit.”
Privately Trin agreed but she knew she couldn’t say so in front of Lady Tam-tam.
“Let’s try to forget about him and eat,” she murmured, picking up the long handled miniature silver shovel again. She spooned up a dainty bite of the steaming purple mush. “This looks…delicious. Want some?”
“Hell no,” Thrace grumbled. “But give me a bite anyway.”
Trin did and took some for herself—it was bland for a moment, then packed a sharply sour aftertaste that made her lips pucker. Again, not the best thing she’d ever eaten but not the worst either, though doubtless it was incredibly expensive and rare—imported from some distant world or other.
They went through several more courses, some better than others including a plate filled with long, slippery strips made of the tongue of a cheena bird and a plate of squirming multicolored bugs which Trin point blank refused to taste. Then the main course was brought in through the wide side door, carried on a vast platter by fourteen slaves—seven on each side.
“Oh goody—the shromp!” Lady Tam-tam clapped her hands in anticipation. “You really must try this my dear,” she said to Trin. “It’s such a delicacy! I got it all the way from Rigel 4 and there are only five hundred left in captivity, you know. Well, I guess now four hundred and ninety-nine.” She giggled.
“So…it’s endangered?” Trin asked bluntly, eying the huge creature which was larger than a life pod shuttle.
“And delicious.” Lady Tam-tam smiled, obviously missing the point. “Just look how crispy and brown my head chef got the skin! That’s not easy to do, you know. The shromp must be roasted for forty days at very low heat because of its size.”
“It has six legs,” Trin remarked, staring at the vast, roasted carcass. The chef had adorned the shromp’s crispy brown face with large, yellow glass eyes and it appeared to be staring at her accusingly.
“Six legs, two hearts, and four sex organs,” Lady Tam-ram said happily. “Those last are the real delicacy—I’ve given orders for them to be served exclusively at the high table.”
“I couldn’t possibly—I’m getting so full,” Trin demurred when the server put a piece of shriveled gray tubing on the plate in front of her.
“Oh, you must try it! And give your slave some as well,” Lady Tam-tam declared. “After all, shromp phallus is supposed to be very good for stamina. And I’m sure you’ll be needing that tonight, yes?” She raised an eyebrow at Trin, who felt her cheeks heating.
“I…suppose,” she said hesitantly. “Of course, it’s been a long day. I might just turn in early.”
Lady Tam-tam frowned. “How very disappointing. Most couples who are privileged to stay in one of my famous dreaming suits find they have renewed energy and stamina. Why some of them stay up all night long.”
Trin felt her stomach do a slow flip. “All night long doing what?” she asked bluntly.
It was Lady Needra who answered.
“Oh, you name it,” she said, her eyes twinkling. “Sometimes after I let Yorth here bathe me and caress me with oils, we just lie on the bed and worship each other with our bodies for hours.”
“Worship each other?” Trin asked.
“Oh yes.” The blonde mistress nodded eagerly. “Yorth is especially good with his mouth.” She grinned. “And he just can’t get enough of penetrating me with his tongue. He says I’m yummy.” She giggled.
“I…he…” Trin shifted uncomfortably, a movement which made Thrace’s shaft rub against her slick inner pussy. He gave a low groan from behind her which she tried to ignore. “So you let him…penetrate you that way…that way…?” Too? she somehow managed not to add. It reminded her of what Thrace had said he wanted to do to her and even now she could feel his thick cock throbbing against her clit.
“Of course I do! I mean, oral penetration doesn’t really count, now does it?” Lady Needra said. “Not like, you know…letting him fuck me.” She rose slightly to reach for her wine glass again. When she sank back down, her eyes fluttered closed for a moment and Yorth uttered a low, tortured groan.
Trin wasn’t nearly as shocked this time, though she could still scarcely believe that Lady Needra would allow herself to be penetrated by a male, let alone in public.
“Oh, is she at it again?” Lady Tam-tam remarked, giggling. “That naughty Needra—such an exhibitionist.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Needra’s voice came out low and breathy. “I’m just having some…some wine.” She rolled her hips in a slow, leisurely fashion and Yorth groaned again. “Though I do know some mistresses who let their slaves penetrate them that way,” she added to Trin.
“Is that right?” Trin asked flatly.
Lady Needra nodded eagerly.
“Oh, yes—so shocking! I know one especially who doesn’t even use a barrier between herself and her slave. She lets him slide his hard, naked shaft deep inside her unprotected sex.”
“Does she?” Trin raised an eyebrow. She was trying not to let the performance affect her but all the same, she couldn’t help being hyper-aware of Thrace’s hot shaft throbbing against her slick pussy. They had shifted around so much by now that her outer lips had spread completely open, allowing his thick cock unrestricted access to her inner cunt.
“She does. She lets him fuck her just like that—completely bare,” Needra widened her eyes. “So if the slave goes too far and comes inside her…” She rolled her hips some more and Trin saw Yorth’s big hands squeeze into fists as he apparently fought the urge to move along with her. “Why, all that creamy white cum goes right up inside her tight little pussy,” the blonde mistress ended breathlessly.
Trin’s mouth felt dry and she clenched her own hands into fists as well. Why was it when Needra spoke like this, all she could picture was Thrace thrusting deep inside her own pussy, filling her up?
No, she told herself. It’s degrading and wrong—don’t even think such a thing!
“Gods,” she heard Thrace mutter. When she turned to look at him, she saw that his jaw was clenched and a muscle was jumping in his temple. Was he thinking the same thing she was? Was that why his shaft had suddenly gotten so much harder against her? He was really pressing against her clit hard now and for some reason her pussy had gotten creamy and wet all over again, making her spread around him in a most distressing way.
“I think we’d better try some of this lovely shromp phallus,” she said hurriedly, cutting off a chunk of the gray, shriveled tubing and popping it into her mouth. “Mmm…delicious.”
Which was a total lie. It was chewy and salty and thoroughly disgusting—exactly what she needed to calm the strange thoughts and feelings that threatened to overcome her. She gave a piece to Thrace too, though he didn’t really want it.
“Mmm,” he growled dutifully, chomping on the piece. “Fucking disgusting. Thanks so much, Mistress.” But at least his shaft wasn’t quite so hard against her.
“It’s a delicacy,” Lady Tam-tam remarked. “Especially when combined w
ith the nectar pods you ate earlier, the shromp can have an…interesting effect. They come from the same world, you know.”
“That’s the only reason I eat it,” Lady Needra confided, chewing a piece and giving some to Yorth as well, who still looked considerably too distracted to eat. “Certainly not for the taste but I like the effects.”
“What effects?” Trin stopped with a second piece midway to her mouth and eyed the gray, shriveled meat apprehensively. “What does it do?”
“You’ll see.” The blonde mistress giggled and took another bite. “Just wait, my dear Lady Trin. You’ll see…”
Chapter Nineteen
“What do you think Lady Needra meant when she said the shromp had interesting effects?” Trin whispered later, after dinner was over and they were strolling on the rolling back lawn of the vast estate. They, along with a few other couples, were heading for the dream-sphere fountain, whatever the hell that was.
“No fucking idea,” Thrace growled. He certainly hadn’t noticed any strange effects himself—not that he would have noticed anything, as distracted as he’d been. Even though they were up and walking around, he could still feel the warm, wet spot whereTrin’s pussy had been pressed against his shaft.
Gods! Dinner had been torture—sheer torture. Holding her so closely and intimately, wanting her so badly and being unable to act on it…
Thrace thought it wouldn’t have been so bad if Trin really was as completely disinterested in males as she claimed to be. Then he could have ignored his own feelings. But despite her repeated assertions that she wanted nothing to do with him sexually, her body and scent told a different story.
Havoc, like their Kindred cousins, had an incredibly sensitive olfactory sense. They could actually smell and identify pheromones which other species were manipulated by unconsciously. And Gods help him, Trin was putting out fucking clouds of sex pheromones—filling the air around them with her lust as she sat on his lap and pretended to herself that she had no interest in sex with a male. In sex with him.
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