Thrace gaveher a fierce grin.

“Exactly like animals. Does that make youfeel better about chaining me up like a naughty pet?”

Trinstiffened and sat up straighter.

“Ididn’t chain you up for piddling on the carpet or tearing up the furniture. Ichained you up because you proved yourself to be dangerous.”

“Andyou haven’t given me a chance to prove otherwise,” Thrace challenged her.

“Whatwould you do if I let you up?” she demanded. “Run away? Or worse, try to takeover my ship? Kill my crew or turn them off onto a desolate waste planet?”

“Itold you—I don’t hurt females,” Thracegrowled.

Trinshook her head in disbelief.

“Ican’t risk it, no matter what you say. I fear no male but I’d be a fool not tohave a healthy respect for anyone of your size and obvious physical strength.”

“Wouldit do any good to swear to you that Iwouldn’t hurt you?” Thracedemanded. “I’ll take an oath on anything or anyone you want—even your precious Goddess. Then would you take the word ofa slave? A male?”

“Notlikely,” she shot back. “The daughters of Zetta Prime don’t trust males anymore than you Havoc trust females.”

“SoI’m stuck.” Thracecouldn’t keep the bitterness from his voice. “How long will you keep me chainedto this damn cot? How will I ever earn your trust if you don’t let me up?”

“Easy.”Her eyes flashed. “Tell me what happened to your last master.”

Sothey were back to that. Back to his past. Back to the filthy memories hecouldn’t quite seem to bury again.

“No,”he said flatly, glaring at her.

“Thrace…”Her voice softened. “I just want the truth. I need to know what happened. Ifyou’d just tell me honestly—”

“IfI told you honestly about my past, you’d be twice as horrified and scared of meas you are now,” he snapped.

Trin’seyes widened but she spoke in a low, steady voice.

“I’mnot scared of you.”

Thrace gave aharsh laugh. “If you weren’t, you’d let me go.”

“That’snot why you’re still in manacles and you know it,” Trin snapped. “I’m notunchaining you until I find out what you did to your last master. I want thetruth, Thrace.Otherwise, I’ll never be able to trust you.”

Heshifted restlessly.

“ThenI guess you’ll never trust me and I’ll spend the rest of my life chained tothis damn bed.”

“Itdoesn’t have to be like this,” Trin said softly…almost coaxingly. “Please, Thrace…” Sheput a hand on his bare chest but he jerked away from her—as much as he could,anyway.

“I’mdone talking about this. Fuck you.” He turned his eyes to the wall, refusing tolook at her. He’d be damned if he unearthed the pain and shame of the past justto satisfy her morbid curiosity. She might hold the key to his body but hismind was still his own and it was damn well going to stay that way.

“Fine,”Trin said crisply, withdrawing her hand. She sounded slightly hurt. He hadn’tflinched from her touch in days. In fact, he’d come to look forward to it. But Thracefelt he couldn’t stand it now—couldn’t stand to be held down one more second.And yet here he was, still chained to this fucking cot. It was more than hecould bear.

“Ifthat’s the way you want to be, you can forgo the bath until I get back,” Trinsaid when he didn’t speak.

“Don’tdo me any favors,” Thracesnarled, glaring up at her. “I’m only a pet anyway. Just leave me here in myfucking kennel and go.”

Trin’slush lips narrowed to a thin line but she didn’t reply to his remark. Instead,with quick, economical movements, she tucked his shaft away and fastened histrousers. Then she picked up the basin of now cold water, turned and left himto brood silently in the tiny room which was his prison.

* * * * *

Trindidn’t know why she was so upset. Why should she let anything the big Havocsaid get to her? He was rude and crude and clearly uncivilized. And the thingshe’d said he fantasized about doing to her…

Justthinking of them made Trin blush. She considered herself a fairly worldly personbut she’d never heard sexual desire stated so bluntly. If another female hadspoken so to her…but no, a female wouldn’t have. Not one from Zetta Prime,anyway.

Sexon her home planet was highly ritualized with social protocols which had to befollowed for even the most minute relationship advancements. A pair of femalesbeginning a courtship might take five months before they felt ready to holdhands and another five before the first kiss could be ceremoniously given andaccepted. Years might pass before a declaration of love and fidelity was madeand even more years before any kind of penetration.

Thatmade her think again of the long, hard shaft between Thrace’s muscular legs. She’d neverseen it grow so big before—it almost reminded her of her stallion, Swift whenhe was eager to mount Silk.

Fora moment she had nearly offered to help him…although in what way she could helpshe didn’t really care to speculate. She certainly wasn’t going to climb aboardhim and allow him to penetrate her as Swift penetrated Silk—a phenomenon she’dobserved once or twice in the course of her time as their owner.

Ohyes, she’d seen penetrationbefore—she’d simply never equated the idea with herself. Not as the one beingpenetrated, anyway. When two females on Zetta Prime made a life-pact with each otherand agreed to penetration, they generally used slim, silver wands which weremade for that exclusive purpose. One of the females was the penetrator and onethe penetratee. Trin had sometimes wondered what the silver wand might feellike—even though she knew in her heart she could never allow herself to bepenetrated.

Buta silver wand no bigger than two of her fingers was one thing. She couldn’teven imagine trying to fit somethingthe size of Thrace’sshaft inside herself. Just the thought made her feel hot and cold and wrong allover. The daughters of Zetta Prime did not do such things—not with males. Itwas forbidden…disgusting. Wasn’t it?

Of course it is, she toldherself firmly. That fact had certainly been drummed into her head oftenenough, during the sexual instruction classes she had been given at the templeof the Goddess of Judgment. Even now Trin could hear the voice of the greaterpriestess who taught the class…

Disgusting…evil…allowing a male topenetrate you would damn you forever. As a Defiled One, your shame would neverend. You must never, never let amale come near you in that way. Never!

Butdespite the voices from her past, Trin couldn’t seem to get the memory of hislarge, hard shaft out of her mind. She supposed she might have taken him inhand and helped him in the way he’d wanted to help himself. Only Trin got theidea that the big Havoc didn’t want to be touched sexually—not while he wastied down. No matter what he might say to her, she somehow knew he wouldn’twelcome such contact while he was helpless.

Andyet…the thick ridge of flesh had been almost throbbing with need—a painful need if what Thrace said wastrue.

Why should I believe anything he says istrue? she asked herself. Everythingout of his mouth is probably just a lie.

If that’s so, why didn’t he just lie abouthis old master? whispered a little voice in her brain. Why not just say he died of old age, or that he sold Thrace away for fighting with theother slaves? Why not just make up any plausible sounding lie he thought mightappease you?

He could have done that, Trinadmitted to herself reluctantly. He couldhave but he didn’t. Instead, he refused to answer. He left me to draw my ownconclusions, even though he knew they were bound to be bad. Even though itmeant he had to remain chained to the cot. Why?

Shehad no answers. The big Havoc was an enigma—as well as a constant source ofconcern and contention among the crew. They didn’t like having a maleaboard—much less a huge, dangerous one. Only that morning, Sidna had approachedher about the idea of simply letting him go…