Don’tbe crude, whispered a little voice in her headwhich sounded disturbingly like her mother. You know that having sexualrelations with a male is no better than having sexual relations with an animal.Only a female with no self respect or dignity would even consider such a thing.You were raised better than that!

Trin sighed. She wished she didn’t have to keephaving this conversation with herself. Honestly, she’d never given any male asecond thought before she met Thrace.Now, everything seemed so upside down and backwards somehow.

It’sjust until after you do the deal, she toldherself comfortingly. Then you’ll go your separate ways and you won’t haveto think of it ever again. For now, just find Lady Malroth and get it done.

Almost as soon as she thought it, she saw the verywoman she was looking for. Lady Malroth appeared to belong to a second set ofmistresses—the ones who were standing a little apart from their body-slaveswith bored or irritated looks on their faces. Clearly they were here forbusiness or social networking reasons—not because they had secretlyfallen in love with their slaves.

Lady Malroth was standing at the far edge of thecrowd, sipping a glass of deep blue wine and looking with complete disinterestat her own body-slave. He was standing beside her but it was clear he had nointerest in her either, other than guarding her as part of his job. In fact,the look on his face was so expressionless Trin had no idea what he wasthinking—or if he was thinking at all.

“Oh, Lady Trin,” she said icily when Trin and Thracewalked up. “How good of you to finally join the rest of us commoners. But I cansee why you were late—you were in exalted company.”

“I was late because I woke up with a horrible headacheand Thracehad to fetch me some mint oil,” Trin said. “We just happened to meet LadyTam-tam on the way.”

“Of course you did.” It was clear LadyMalroth didn’t believe a word of her story.

Trin decided to try a different approach.

“I’m really sorry we…intruded earlier when we firstmet Lady Tam-tam,” she said. “I never meant for that to happen or for her togive us your room.”

“Are you joking? Not sleeping in the dreaming suiteis a relief.” Lady Malroth laughed nastily. “Let someone elseperform for her for a change.”

“Perform for her?” Trin exchanged glances with Thrace.“What do you mean?”

“What do you think I mean?” Lady Malrothsnapped. “The viewscreen across from the bed—it records images.”

“It does?” Trin exclaimed. So Thrace had been right about LadyTam-tam wanting to watch, even if he’d been wrong about where the images werebeing captured. What were the black dots on the bedposts then?

Lady Malroth took another big sip of wine andnodded.

“The 3-D viewer in the fresher does as well. So be sureyou put on a good show tonight—I guarantee Lady Tam-tam will be watching.” Shesneered. “That shouldn’t be too hard—seeing as how you and your pet male are soin love.”

Trin ignored the jab.

“What? What if I don’t want to put on ashow?”

Lady Malroth shrugged.

“Then we have no deal, my dear Lady Trin. I amyour sponsor here so what you do reflects on me. Please lady Tam-tam and itlooks good for me, as I brought you here. Displease her and it willtarnish my reputation—not good at all either for my social life or my businessas most of the mistresses gathered here tonight are my trade partners.”

“So you’re saying we need to do what Lady Tam-tamwants in order to make you look good. Otherwise, no deal,” Thrace growled.

Lady Malroth glowered at him and then turned toTrin.

“Kindly tell your slave not to speak to me as if hewere my equal. I know we’re here at Dreaming Hills where free love betweenmistresses and slaves is the order of the day but I will not tolerateinsolence.”

“He wasn’t being insolent,” Trin protested, feelinga surge of protective anger. “He was simply restating your point.”

“He was speaking directly to me as if he had everyright.” Lady Malroth looked at the big Havoc coolly. “If we were back in Opulexinstead of stuck out here in this Goddess-forsaken wilderness, I’d have histongue cut out for even daring to address me unless I spoke to him first.”

“He—” Trin began, her fists clenched at her sides.But Thracecut her off.

“Forgive me, Mistress,” he said smoothly, making adeep and respectful bow to Lady Malroth. “I did not mean to offend.”

Trin looked at him, amazed that he could remain sounaffected by Lady Malroth’s highhandedness. Far back in the depths of thosesilver-blue eyes she thought she detected a hot spark burning. But his strongfeatures were set in lines of honest repentance, as though he was really sorryfor making the other mistress so upset.

“Well…” Lady Malroth looked somewhat mollified.“That’s better. At least he knows how to behave when prompted.” She looked atTrin, who was still angry and irritated, though she was trying not to let itshow on her face. “So—even though it was badly put, your body-slave is correct.Please Lady Tam-tam and I will still deal with you. Incur her wrath ordispleasure and you incur mine as well. In that case the deal is off and youcan flush the crystals into deep space for all I care.”

“But…how do I please her? What does she want?” Trinasked in exasperation.

“What do you think she wants?” Lady Malrothsnapped. “She’s a dirty old woman! As for what she’s in the mood to seetonight, don’t worry—she’ll drop some hints at dinner. I noticed you’re sittingin the place of honor at her right hand—the very place I was supposed tosit.”

“Again, I’m sorry,” Trin said. “I never meant forthat to happen either.”

“No matter.” Lady Malroth dismissed the matter withan airy wave of her hand. “Yet another embarrassment you’ve saved me. Thoseswaying love chairs they have at the head table are not at all comfortable.As I’m sure you’ll find out.” She grinned nastily.

“Love chairs?” Trin was beginning to feel more andmore worried. “What—”

But just at that moment three high, sweet chimingnotes sounded loudly throughout the vast room and a male voice proclaimed,“Dinner is served my ladies!”

“Better hurry or you’ll be late,” Lady Malrothremarked coolly. “Good evening, Lady Trin. I’ll see you tomorrow if allgoes well tonight.”

Then she swept away with her body-slave in tow,leaving Trin to look after her in disbelief.

** * * *

“Looks like we’re stuck here—at least for thenight,” Thraceremarked under his breath. Trin was looking pale and upset and he wanted to gether talking and make sure she was all right.

“Did you hear what she said?” Trin turned to him,ignoring the crowd of mistresses and slaves that were making their way toanother large room through a vast golden archway.

“Yeah, I heard. Sounds like you have a choice tomake,” Thracesaid. “Either forget about the deal or put on a show for Lady Tam-tam tonight.”

“Why only me? Why am I the only one makingthe choice?” Trin demanded, her eyes flashing. “This involves you too. Don’tyou care that Lady Malroth is basically telling us we have to prostituteourselves to earn her business?”

Thrace shrugged. “Honestly? No.” He let his eyes travelover her body from the rectangle of see-though lace pulled tight over her fullbreasts to the tiny scrap of turquoise fabric which barely covered her pussymound. “You’re gorgeous and soft and curved in all the right places,” he said,letting his eyes return to hers. “And you smell so damn good it makes me ache.I have no problem in ‘putting on a show’ for Lady Tam-tam if it means I get tostroke your soft skin and bring you pleasure.”

“Thrace!”Trin bit her lip and crossed her arms protectivelyover her breasts. “You’re not supposed to talk like that. It’s not…”