Enslaved

  “Oh my sweet Goddess of Judgment,” Trin whispered unsteadily. “What…what did we just do?”

  “Nothing,” Thrace growled. “Yet.”

  “Or ever.” She squirmed to get out of his arms, which only made him harder. “Let me go!”

  “Give me a minute!” Thrace half groaned. For a second he was afraid he was going to blow his load all over her flat belly. Then he somehow regained control of himself, set her back on her feet, and stepped away though it was the last thing he wanted to do.

  * * * * *

  Trin straightened her panties, her hands shaking with embarrassment. Goddess, what else could happen tonight? This was horrible—humiliating! Not to mention incredibly confusing. Why had she reacted that way to him? What was wrong with her?

  “Are you all right, my dear?” Lady Tam-tam sounded concerned but she had a naughty little smile on her face, like someone who had gotten exactly what they wanted.

  She knew, Trin thought, her face getting hot. She knew what it would do to me—to us—to try the scarlet bubbles. She made us try it on purpose because she wanted to watch.

  Somehow, nothing had quite prepared her for the realization. Though Lady Malroth had warned her their hostess was a voyeur and she had clearly condoned Lady Needra and her graphic displays, somehow Trin hadn’t quite believed that Lady Tam-tam could or would do such a thing. To deliberately drug her—or have her and Thrace drug themselves—so she could watch them lose control…well, it was too much. Just too much.

  “We tried the gas and now we have to go,” she said, trying to keep her voice from shaking. “I…I don’t feel well. Not at all.”

  “Of course you may go.” Lady Tam-tam’s eyes were shining with interest. “You should go back to the room and avail yourself of the bathing facilities—a nice hot bath and massage should make you feel like new again.”

  “Thank you,” Trin said stiffly. She wanted to shout and rage at their hostess—to condemn her for her inexcusable awfulness but she knew she couldn’t. Lady Malroth was watching with a smug smirk on her face. Trin had to remind herself again that if the deal for the crystals fell through, she and everyone who depended on her would be out on the street.

  Have to get out of here. Just have to go! she thought wildly.

  Turning, she began to run across the lawn but the stupid heels she had on tripped her and she nearly fell. Only Thrace’s hand under her arm saved her.

  “Stop it!” Trin tried to shove away from him but he wouldn’t let her go. “Let go of me!”

  “No,” he said in a low voice. “You’re upset and in no shape to walk in those ridiculous shoes. They might be lower than the ones from this morning but they’re still not made for running.” Ignoring her protests, he swung her up into his arms and carried her across the rolling lawn towards the vast, sprawling mansion.

  Trin wanted to fight him but suddenly all the strength seemed to have left her body. She collapsed against him, pressing her face to the place where his broad shoulder met his neck and breathed in the dark, spicy scent of his skin. It comforted her for some reason she couldn’t understand, bringing her a small measure of calm even though she felt like she was falling apart.

  “What’s wrong with me?” she whispered as he carried her through the long marble hallways of Dreaming Hills. “Why did I act like that? Why couldn’t I control myself?”

  “Not your fault,” Thrace rumbled, answering her though she had been mostly talking to herself. “It was that damn dream gas. If I had to guess, I’d say the red kind makes you horny as hell. No wonder Lady Tam-tam wanted us to try it.”

  “But I’m one of the Unpenetrated,” Trin exclaimed, lifting her head to look at him. “And I didn’t even care! In one more minute I was going to…going to…” She blushed, unable to go on, unable to say how she had longed to join with him, to have his body pressed to hers, filling her, fucking her…Wrong…so wrong…

  “I know. Me too,” he said softly, looking into her eyes. “I wanted you so fucking badly I thought I was going to die. Never wanted a female like that before. Ever.”

  I’ve never wanted a male at all. Not before tonight. Not like that.

  But she couldn’t say it out loud. Neither could she keep looking into his eyes—her stomach did a slow flip at the intensity of his gaze.

  “I…” Trin dropped her eyes. “I just…”

  “Wasn’t your fault,” he said again, when she couldn’t finish her sentence. “It was Lady Tam-tam.”

  “What’s wrong with her?” Trin asked as he carried her into their suite and kicked the door shut behind them. “Why is she like that? Wanting to watch people…embarrass themselves like that?”

  Thrace sighed and sat down on the edge of the sleeping platform, still holding her in his arms.

  “My guess? She’s lonely. She lost her own love-slave cycles ago and she still misses him. She wants to relive what she once had with him by watching other people do the things she loved to do with him—a vicarious thrill. Sad, but it’s all she has left.”

  Trin looked up at him, surprised at his insightful analysis of the situation.

  “You almost sound like you don’t blame her for what she made us do. Or…almost made us do.”

  He frowned. “No, I blame her all right. I never would have forgiven myself if I’d hurt you. And that fucking gas made me so hot I couldn’t see straight.”

  “Me too,” Trin confessed in a low voice. “I…I never would have done…what I did otherwise.” Suddenly she realized he was still holding her and she sat up and slid off his lap, putting some much needed distance between them.

  “I know you wouldn’t…Mistress.” Thrace sighed and looked away. “So what now? Do you want to keep playing her game or give up and go?”

  “You mean…” Trin put her arms around herself protectively. “You think she’ll want to see more? Even after that display we put on by the dream-sphere fountain?”

  “Especially after the display we put on.” He raised an eyebrow. “Didn’t you hear her? ‘You should avail yourself of the bathing facilities’ he mocked in a surprisingly good imitation of their hostess. “‘A nice hot bath and massage should make you feel like new again.’”

  Trin was torn between laughter and anxiety.

  “My Goddess, you’re right,” she whispered. “She all but ordered me to take a bath.”

  “No, she ordered me to give you a bath,” Thrace corrected her. “The question is, do you want me to? Or do you want to go?”

  Trin bit her lip. “If we go, everything will all be for nothing. Lady Malroth will make sure I can never trade on Yonnie Six again and there’s no other market for Jaxite crystals. I’ll lose The Alacrity and all my crew will go begging.”

  “Well, you’ll get to keep me, at least.” Thrace gave her a crooked little smile.

  “That’s right.” Trin sighed. “You won’t let me give you your freedom until the debt is paid.”

  “Damn right, I won’t.” He frowned. “Not that I could ever really fully repay you. But this is a start at least.”

  “So…” Trin bit her lip. “You wouldn’t mind…”

  “Trin…” Thrace cupped her cheek and looked into her eyes. “You’re not seriously going to ask me if I mind washing you and running my hands over your sweet, naked body, are you?”

  Trin drew a deep breath and lifted her chin. Time to speak bluntly. “I know you don’t mind but will it be safe to do this? Especially when you…desire me the way you say you do.”

  “Don’t worry,” Thrace said, frowning. “That was just the dream gas. I can control myself, no matter how badly I want you.” He looked into her eyes. “You can trust me, Trin,” he said softly. “I’ll never take what you don’t want to give.”

  “Good. That makes me feel better.” She sighed. Everything to do with males was so complicated! Even back when she was still trying to date her own sex, she’d never felt the need to have a conversation like this. But Thrace was so huge—so much bigger and stronger than h
er it seemed necessary. Especially now that he was no longer wearing the pain collar. Not that she felt like he needed one but still…

  “Well then…should we begin?” He rose from the sleeping platform and sketched a little bow. “I’ll run your bath, shall I, Mistress?”

  “Yes, I…I suppose so.” Trin bit her lip as he disappeared into the fresher. Was she actually going to get naked into a warm bath and let the big Havoc run his hands all over her nude body?

  From inside the fresher, she heard water begin to splash in the tub.

  Oh Goddess, it seemed she was.

  Chapter Twenty

  The water was steamy and just this side of too hot but Thrace didn’t think Trin would mind. She was going to need to be relaxed to let him do this and the heated water swirling around her should do the trick. He hoped, anyway. He couldn’t wait to touch her…to run his hands all over her warm, naked, soapy body but he knew how nervous she was about it.

  Soon the big black marble tub was filled with hot water and pale pink bubbles. These had come from a softly floral scented bath solution he’d found on the sink. It smelled good so Thrace had dumped it in and this was the result. He hoped she liked it. Surveying the bubble filled tub, he nodded to himself and went to get her.

  Trin was sitting on the side of the sleeping platform biting her lip, her legs tightly crossed and her hands clenched tightly in her lap. The look on her face said she wasn’t looking forward to this…not one little bit.

  Thrace felt his heart twist in his chest at her obvious anxiety. Gods, he wished she could just relax and enjoy this! More than anything he wanted to bring her pleasure, wanted to serve her as a real love-slave would serve his mistress. He wanted to caress her, to soothe her, to make her so relaxed she purred under his touch and moaned for more. But could he do it?

  I’m damn well going to try! He swore silently to himself that he would wipe that nervous look off her lovely face and replace it with one of bliss if he possibly could. He wanted to make this a night she would always remember…a night she would never want to forget.

  “Mistress?” he said softly and she looked up with a start. “Mistress,” he murmured again. “Your bath is ready.”

  “Oh…all right. Then I guess I’d better…” She got off the sleeping platform and started to undress but Thrace stopped her.

  “Let me,” he murmured. “Let me do everything for you, tonight. Let me take care of you.”

  Trin looked at him wonderingly, her face suddenly clear.

  “You really want to, don’t you? This isn’t just an act to you.”

  “Of course I want to.” Thrace tried to make his words light and teasing. “I’m your slave, Mistress…your love-slave. And a good slave always wants to take care of his mistress.”

  Before she could reply, he was unfastening the straps that held her dress in place. He unsnapped the front panel of lace which covered her breasts and let it hang free and then pushed the rest of the gown down her full hips to puddle in a small heap at her dainty feet.

  Trin shivered and crossed her arms over her breasts protectively but she made no move to stop him when Thrace knelt at her feet and hooked his fingers through the thin strings that served as the sides of her panties. Slowly he drew them down, revealing her warm, ripe pussy at last.

  Gods, she looked beautiful with her plump, naked lips on display, berry dark in the center of her thighs! She smelled amazing too—her soft, feminine fragrance made him half crazy. He had the sudden urge to press his face to the place between her thighs and breathe her in while marking her with his own scent. Marking her as his for all time. Then he would spread those juicy outer pussy lips and take a long, slow taste of her creamy inner cunt…

  No!

  Thrace knew he couldn’t do that—any of it. Trin was allowing him to do this—to bathe her and handle her naked body—because she trusted him. One wrong move could lose that trust which was the last thing he wanted. But Gods, he wished he could do something to bring her pleasure…something to show her how much he felt for her…

  A sudden flicker in the corner of his eye caught his attention. The darkened viewscreen across from the bed had begun to glow. Suddenly, Thrace had an idea.

  “Mistress,” he said, looking up at her. “May I make obeisance to you?”

  * * * * *

  “What…what do you mean?” Trin looked at him uncertainly. “You mean…like you did when we were announced before the feast?”

  Slowly, he nodded.

  “I want to show my respect to you before I bathe you,” he murmured and his eyes flicked to the viewscreen on the wall opposite the sleeping platform. Though it had been dark when they came in, Trin saw that it was on now and glowing a soft blue. Was someone on the other side of it watching them? Was that why Thrace was asking to “make obeisance” to her? And should she allow it?

  Well, you’re about to allow his hands all over you while he bathes you, a little voice in her head pointed out. Might as well allow this too. After all, Lady Tam-tam expects a show and if she doesn’t get one that pleases her, all this will be for nothing.

  With that rationalization in mind, she nodded slowly.

  “I…suppose you may.”

  “Thank you, Mistress,” Thrace rumbled and Trin braced herself, expecting him to lean forward and kiss between her thighs, as he had in the banquet hall. Instead, he rose so that he was standing before her. Leaning down, he tilted her chin up and took her lips in a soft, breathless kiss as tender as his earlier kisses by the dream sphere fountain had been savage.

  Despite her inward resolve to simply hold still and allow this without participating, Trin couldn’t help kissing him back. She wasn’t sure if this was proper during the obeisance or not but she didn’t really care. His mouth on hers was so warm and gentle…so addictive. She couldn’t help returning the sweet caress of his lips and twining her tongue with his—he tasted of some exotic spice she couldn’t name. The kiss ended much too soon, as far as she was concerned.

  Before she had fully caught her breath, Thrace sat on the sleeping platform before her and put his hands on her hips. He slid them up until they were on either side of her breasts.

  “Mistress?” he murmured, looking into her eyes, making the title a question.

  Trin knew what he was asking.

  “Yes,” she whispered, nodding her head. “Go…go ahead.”

  Without another word, he cupped her bare breasts in his big, warm hands and bent his head to place a soft, hot kiss on her right nipple.

  Trin bit back a gasp as she felt the heat of his mouth against her sensitive bud. He didn’t lick or suck her at all but the kiss was definitely open mouthed and she could feel his warmth surrounding her as he took his time, kissing her naked nipple as slowly and tenderly as he had kissed her mouth.

  When he at last moved on to her left nipple, Trin’s breathing was getting fast and her pulse was racing. Goddess, she shouldn’t be letting him do this! Shouldn’t let a male put his mouth on her body this way! And yet, she felt helpless to tell him to stop. Helpless to do anything but watched as he enveloped her left nipple, covering it completely in a warm, wet kiss that made her knees feel weak.

  Her heart was pounding when Thrace at last drew back and released her breasts. He slid to the floor before her so that his mouth was level with her inner thighs, as it had been when he removed her panties.

  “Mistress?” he asked again, looking up at her.

  Goddess… Trin clenched her hands into fists as tension flowed through her. Shouldn’t do this…shouldn’t let him…And yet the viewscreen was glowing blue…someone was watching. Someone was expecting a show. In order to stay in Lady Tam-tam’s good graces, she had to give them one.

  She told herself that was the only reason she nodded her ascent. That and the fact that he had been utterly respectful while kissing her breasts. He hadn’t tried to suck her nipples into his mouth—which she could not have allowed. Instead he had kissed her gently and carefully and if she’d fe
lt his tongue on her, well, it was only a small flicker, as if he couldn’t help tasting her just a little bit.

  That was why she didn’t gasp or try to move away when he moved closer and put a hand on her inner thigh.

  “Mistress,” he murmured, looking up at her. “Would you spread your legs for me a little? I can’t reach you otherwise.”

  Trin bit her lip.

  “You…you reached me just fine before, when you paid obeisance before the feast,” she pointed out breathlessly.

  “Yes…” Thrace’s silver-blue eyes were half-lidded with lust. “But then I was only kissing your panties. This time I am paying obeisance to your pussy and I want to do it properly.”

  “I…you do?” Trin wished her voice didn’t come out sounding so high and girly. She tried again. “What do you mean by…properly?” she made herself ask in a somewhat lower and more steady tone.

  “I must worship your entire pussy—must pay obeisance to both your outer pussy lips and your inner cunt,” he rumbled, looking up at her. “As is proper and right.”

  “I…I don’t think…”

  “You know I’ll be gentle,” he promised, stroking her inner thigh with one big, warm hand. “And I swear it will just be a kiss—I won’t penetrate you, not even with my tongue. I’ll treat your pussy with the same reverence and respect I used towards your mouth and nipples, Mistress.”

  “Well…” Trin could feel herself weakening. Surely it couldn’t hurt to let him do this, she reasoned with herself. Not when it was just a kiss and he wasn’t even using his tongue. “All right,” she said at last and Thrace gave her a slow smile.

  “Thank you, Mistress,” he murmured. “Now, please spread yourself for me.”

  Trin did as he said, though it made her blush to do so. She opened her thighs for him, allowing him better access to her pussy. But this clearly wasn’t enough for Thrace.

  With a low growl, he lifted her right thigh and placed it over his broad, left shoulder.

  Trin gasped and had to keep her balance by grabbing his other shoulder with one hand. At the same time, she could feel that the new position had opened her considerably. Looking down she saw that her outer pussy lips were spread wide, showing the creamy inner part of her cunt which was already wet with her juices.