by Ivy Barrett
Slade grinned. “You just want to meet her.”
“Well, there is that.” Matthias returned his smile. “But we can’t have her distracted by Petra’s offer.”
“She should be on her way down. I’ll make sure she doesn’t get lost.”
Slade hurried toward the lift. All night he’d fought the memory of her lithe body abandoned to pleasure, her soft cries and the beckoning gleam of cream on her folds. The scenario played out a hundred different ways. First he’d simply taken the toys from her and brought her to orgasm himself, but that hadn’t satisfied for long. He’d allowed her to finish then used his mouth and fingers to arouse her again. Round three brought his cock into play, and from there…
The lift doors slid open. Slade shook away the lingering images and quickly erected a telepathic shield. Tension gripped his abdomen as she joined him in the corridor. Dressed in stretch leggings and a casual tunic, she appeared even more desirable than she’d been the day before.
“Welcome back.” He smiled.
She shifted her modest bag from one hand to the other, her features expressionless. “A friend expects me to check in periodically. Will that be a problem?”
“Your conversations will be monitored, but you’re welcome to com whomever you like.” He nodded toward her luggage. “What’s in the bag?”
“A change of clothes, toiletries, nothing exciting.”
“I’ll need to scan it before you settle into your room.”
A smile parted her lips but didn’t reach her eyes. “Have at it.”
He led her down the hallway and motioned toward a door. “Your private quarters are through here. I’ll need the clothing you’re wearing as well as all your jewelry. There’s a robe on the bed.”
She touched the gold choker encircling her neck. “This doesn’t come off. Thorne already scanned it.”
“It’s not just a necklace, I take it.”
“My employer’s symbol is engraved on the band. It let others know I was not available. Only he could trigger the release mechanism, and…”
“He passed beyond before he freed you from it?”
She nodded. Anguish clouded her gaze, yet Slade doubted the loss of her employer had anything to do with the emotion. She squared her shoulders, took a deep breath and her mask fell back into place.
“Are you going to usher me around like a prison guard?”
“No. As soon as we’ve executed the contract, I’ll input your facial signature into the security system. That will allow you to move about freely on this level.”
“Meaning I won’t be able to activate the lift.”
“Correct.”
“Can we finalize the contract before I change?” Her voice sounded distracted. She looked everywhere but at him. “I’ll feel more comfortable giving you my possessions if this is official.”
“Sure.” He set down the bag and studied her features. Purple smudges circled her eyes, and her skin lacked the healthy glow he remembered from the day before. “Are you all right?”
Her lips trembled and she frantically blinked back tears. Acting on instinct, Slade pulled her into his arms. Her body remained stiff and still, her arms crossed at her waist. Cursing his rash impulse for creating their awkward pose, he started to step back. She suddenly wrapped her arms around him and buried her face against his throat.
He stroked her hair, easing into her mind. Chaotic emotions pelted him like hail. “What happened, Bryce? Why are you so upset?” She shook her head, her soft hair brushing his cheek. If she needed to be held, he’d hold her. Gods knew it was no sacrifice.
Her grip on his torso relaxed. She raised her head and looked into his eyes. “You’re more powerful than I’ll ever be. Why do you need me?”
In the midst of her emotional tumult, she’d sensed his light scan? Damn, she’s sensitive. He tucked her hair behind her ears, his fingers lingering against her soft skin.
“We don’t just need an empath. We need a female empath.” She accepted his explanation with a nod and moved out of his embrace. He swallowed hard and gave himself a firm mental shake. “Will you please tell me what upset you?”
“The last few days have been overwhelming. I’m not prone to tears. I assure you, I’m fine now.”
He gazed into her eyes a moment longer then motioned down the corridor. “Did you have time to study the contract?”
“Yes, sir.”
He chuckled. “Don’t call me sir. This isn’t the military, and I’m not a Pleasure Master.”
“Then what shall I call you?”
Shit. He’d walked right into that. No matter, she’d meet the real Toymaker soon enough. “My friends call me Slade.” He scanned open the door.
She smiled, obviously pleased by his admission. “Nice to meet you, Slade.”
They settled on opposite sides of the desk in the outer office. Slade activated the audiovisual feed and read the contract into record. He paused after each section and requested Bryce’s acknowledgement of each condition. “Do you have any questions?” he asked after the last point.
“I understand the contract and enter into it willingly.”
“Then welcome to the IR-M project.”
Chapter Five
Bryce told the computer to pause and pushed back from the terminal, rubbing her temples. She’d been answering the computer’s questions for several hours. They were compiling a psychological profile. She understood the purpose for the endless, repetitive questions, but the pounding behind her eyes had become intolerable.
“Would you like Slade to bring you something for your headache?”
Warm curiosity and compassion reached Bryce with the thin, wheezing voice. She swiveled in her chair, facing the speaker. Do you feel sorry for that emaciated old man? Petra’s words echoed through Bryce’s mind. So this was the real Toymaker.
Secured in a hover chair, Matthias’ thin body and skeletal features revealed his frailty. Gray-streaked blond hair swept straight back from his brow to the nape of his neck. She focused on his luminous dark eyes, trying to imagine what he had looked like before the onset of his illness.
She stood and walked to him. “I’m Bryce. And you are?”
He chuckled, struggling to raise his hand. “You know who I am.”
Gently clasping his fingers, Bryce smiled in return. “It’s nice to meet you, Matthias.”
“Forgive us for the deception. My condition has made it necessary.”
“You don’t want anyone to realize…”
“I’m dying. You can say it. I accepted it a long time ago.” He laughed again. “That’s a blatant lie. I haven’t accepted a damn thing, but I’m realistic enough to know I’m running out of time.”
“May I ask what’s causing this degeneration? Or is that rude?” Infants were immunized for all known diseases. How had he contracted an illness for which there was no treatment?
“I interact with some unsavory characters. Petra thinks I finally got what I deserve.”
She gasped, her gaze sweeping his wasted body. “How can anyone deserve…this?”
“I delivered a shipment of pleasure ’bots and other toys to a known arms dealer. What I didn’t know was that he also dealt in chemical and biological weapons. His latest invention was a mutated version of an ancient Terran virus, paralytic poliomyelitis. It’s a delightful little germ that destroys motor neurons and causes the gradual deterioration of muscle control.”
“He intentionally infected you with degenerative polio?”
“Not exactly. They’d vaccinated themselves before beginning cellular manipulation. The vaccination kept them from suffering the effects, but they became carriers of the virus. I fell ill on the return trip, as did the ship’s crew. Luckily, biosensors at the space station detected the contamination. We were quarantined until the virus ran its course and the arms dealers were apprehended. None of the crewmembers survived the illness. I’m no longer contagious, but this muscular deterioration will continue until I die.”
&n
bsp; Grief and guilt blasted Bryce, warning her away from any more questions.
“Enough about me.” It wasn’t a suggestion. “Do you need something for your headache?”
“I’m not sure. How many more questions are in this profile?”
“You’ve completed a little over half.”
Groaning, she closed her eyes. “Then yes please.”
Slade walked in a few minutes later with a nasal mister. He must have been monitoring the room. She took the device from him with a distracted smile and read the label to see what he was offering her. After administering the mist, she tossed the slender tube in the recycler.
“As soon as you complete the questionnaire, you’ll be finished for today.”
She nodded at Matthias, and the two men left her alone in the office. Returning to the chair in front of the desk, she waited for the drug to take effect. Slade had barely glanced at her as he handed her the mister. Why had his concern in the hallway brought her to tears? He had no idea how out of character the weakness had been. Disassociation was a survival skill she had all but mastered. She processed emotions like a factory, never allowing herself to feel their impact.
Forcing away the disquieting memory, she told the computer to resume.
“At what age did you lose your virginity?”
Why did that matter? “Sixteen.”
“There was a significant pause before your response. The accuracy of this assessment is based on the information you provide. Was your answer truthful?”
“Yes. I’m just not sure I see the relevance of the question.”
“Each question has relevance. Please answer truthfully.”
Bryce rubbed the back of her neck. “Continue.”
“State your sexual orientation.”
“Hetero.”
“Have you ever experimented with another woman?”
A smile curved her lips. “Define ‘experimented’.”
“Have you kissed another woman?”
“No.”
“Has another woman kissed you?”
Damn. “Yes.”
“Elaborate on your experience with this woman.”
That wasn’t a question. This program was remarkably intuitive. She glanced around the office. Were they using a voice simulator to disguise the true inquisitor? “Who wants to know?”
“Please restate your question.”
“Who is conducting this interview? Slade or Matthias?”
A long pause followed.
“Most of our test subjects are more comfortable with the simulation.” Slade spoke without the voice modulator.
“I’m tired and this is annoying. Just cut the crap.”
He entered the office through a different door than he’d exited and sat behind the desk.
“That door leads to the corridor.” She motioned behind her. “Where does that door lead?”
“To the control center. The sooner you complete the profile, the sooner you can relax. You still look rather fatigued.” His gaze moved over her face, but as usual, she could sense no hint of emotion from him. What was going on behind those coppery eyes? “Tell me about the woman.”
“She was one of my trainers. She used graphic videos and reality simulators as often as possible, but some things are easier to demonstrate.”
“Was she the first person to kiss you?”
Bryce shook her head. “I had a male instructor too.” Heat unfurled within her as he continued to stare at her. Perhaps she should have stuck with the simulation. “He kissed me and touched me several times before the female instructor tested my responsiveness.”
“And were you responsive? Did her kiss excite you?”
“I wasn’t repulsed, but neither was I attracted. I allowed her touch because it was expected of me.” Her gaze drifted to his mouth before she realized what she was doing. What was it about this man that fascinated her?
“Did she bring you to orgasm?” His tone was hushed, distracted.
“Yes.”
“How?”
She licked her lips. Had this portion of the interview just begun? “With a fingertip vibrator. It was the first time anyone had stimulated my clit. I responded quite readily.”
He smiled and glanced down at the terminal. “Was the male instructor present?”
“No. He summoned me the following day and used his mouth to make me come.” When she volunteered the information, it didn’t seem so intrusive.
“Which did you prefer?”
“Which do you think?”
His gaze lifted to hers. “You might be surprised how many prefer pleasure ’bots to human lovers.”
“Well I preferred the male instructor’s mouth.” In fact, she dreamed about the gentle brush of his warm lips, the teasing flick of his tongue, the skilled thrust and swirl.
“You’re blushing. Is oral stimulation your preferred means of foreplay?”
He’d warned her they would need a detailed profile of her sexual experience. And this was only where the fun began. As soon as they compiled the profile, the scenarios would start. Slade would watch her respond to sexual stimuli and dispassionately record her responses. Why is that thought so damn depressing?
Dragging her mind back to the question at hand, she searched for a way to control the conversation. Perhaps she couldn’t control Slade, but she could sure as hell make him squirm. She leaned forward, folded her forearms on the desktop and manufactured a dreamy smile.
“I’d never felt anything so wonderful. I was still a virgin, you understand, so having his tongue circle my clit and tease my folds was as close to heaven as I’d ever been.”
“During the entire course of your training, no one entered you?”
“Of course not. Fah— My employer had paid good money to be my first.”
His fingers glided across the smooth surface of the terminal. “Did your employer satisfy you sexually?”
“I was there to satisfy him.” She couldn’t let Slade’s detachment intimidate her. He was a man. She knew how to deal with men. “Occasionally, I’d… After he learned… Gods, this is embarrassing.” Gazing at him through her lashes, she flirted just a bit.
“It doesn’t need to be.” His expression softened, became more approachable. “I’m a physician who specializes in sexual dysfunction. I’ve collected this sort of data for years.”
“Not from me.” She took a deep breath and continued. “The trainers routinely checked with the employers to make sure they were satisfied with their sexual companions. My trainer mentioned how much I enjoyed oral stimulation.”
“Was your employer more attentive to your needs after that?”
Bryce shook her head. “He was only interested in those things that brought him pleasure. Luckily for me, he liked to watch. He hired another sexual companion to perform all those tedious acts with which he couldn’t be bothered.”
“He hired someone to arouse you?”
The disbelief in Slade’s tone made Bryce chuckle. She was just skimming the surface of harem life. If she told him the truth, he’d be truly mortified. “The things we did together aroused our employer too. My partner and I were allowed to pleasure each other in any way we wanted except for vaginal penetration. Only my employer was allowed to enter there.”
Slade cleared his throat as he entered several more commands into the computer. “I don’t want to assume anything. So let me make sure I understand your meaning. Was your partner male?”
“This could get confusing. My partner was male, and his name was Levon. My employer was concerned that I’d desire Levon more than him, so he chose a man with plain features and a small penis.” But Levon had had gentle hands and kind eyes. Fahbit had failed entirely. When she lay on her cushion, alone at night, she thought about Levon far more often than Fahbit.
“Did you—”
Unwilling to wait for Slade to find clinical terms for her uninhibited behavior, Bryce bombarded him with information. “I sucked Levon’s cock and he went down on me while our
employer stood over us, observing from every angle. Sometimes Levon and I would do each other at the same time, and our employer would put his fingers inside me so he could feel me come. Levon kissed me and caressed my breasts while our employer fucked me hard and fast. Occasionally, if we pleased him very well, our employer would allow Levon to join us. Just so you’re perfectly clear, that means Levon would put his cock up my ass while our employer moved in my pussy.”
“Thank you for the clarification.”
She smiled. He might be all clinical reserve, but for just a moment while she rattled off her list, she’d felt desire penetrate his telepathic shield. He wasn’t as immune as he liked to pretend.
“Did your employer enjoy it when you used graphic language?”
“My employer would have been insulted if I’d used coarse words when addressing him directly.”
“But he enjoyed hearing coarse words exchanged between you and Levon?”
She inclined her head. “You have an accurate picture now.”
“How long were you with your first employer?”
“Eight years.”
“And your second?”
Akim held her unlawfully. She didn’t consider him her master. “I have not given myself willingly to anyone since my employer passed beyond.”
He was silent for a long time, his expression troubled. “Where did you go after you lost your employer?”
“His son inherited my services.”
“And he is allowing your participation in this program?”
Shit! She wasn’t supposed to mention Akim, even if she hadn’t said his name. “An enemy freed me from his service and left me unemployed.”
Slade smiled. “I take it this didn’t break your heart.”
She simply inclined her head.
“What happened to your partner?”
“I don’t know.” And it was true. She liked to think Levon had escaped. The male attendants had more freedom than the female, and Akim had no interest in Levon. Still, it was more likely that Akim had executed Levon.
“Was your second employer abusive?”
“There are many forms of abuse.” She should tell him about her experience with pleasure ’bots, but that would lead to all the indignities she’d suffered at Akim’s hands. The words lodged in her throat.
