“I don’t like this outfit,” Trin muttered for perhaps the fortieth time as she walked carefully down the colorful gemstone path to Lady Tam-tam’s estate in the sky-high shoes Thrace had synthesized for her on the Sym-printer. It was an expensive machine that Trin had invested in on the off chance she ever found herself stuck in deep space needing a spare part for the ship. In such a dire emergency, it could save her life and the lives of her crew by simply printing out a replacement part. But somehow the big Havoc had found a way to make it print dresses and shoes as well as a new outfit for himself—which covered considerably more than hers did, she noted resentfully.
Her dress was beautiful but bizarre—a buttery yellow satin affair that went well with her light brown skin tones. Trin had no problem with the color—it was the cut that bothered her.
The top of the dress went all the way up to her the throat almost like a choker and ended right under her ears. But despite the severe top, the gown wasn’t modest at all—there was a triangular opening cut in the butter yellow satin which framed her breasts.
A panel of lighter yellow lace stretched across it but it was thin—nearly see-through. The curves of her breasts and the tight points of her nipples were clearly visible, pressing against the soft lace as though they were trying to escape. In fact, they actually were. Trin had already had some trouble with the top panel trying to pull free of its moorings. It was stretched too tightly across her full breasts and threatening to come loose at any time.
Below, the dress wasn’t much better. Though it fell modestly to her ankles, there was a similar triangle framing her pelvis with another panel of thin lace that did little or nothing to hide her sex.
Perhaps most troubling of all, both panels of lace were detachable—for what reason Trin didn’t want to imagine. She had wanted to synthesize some suitable undergarments to go beneath the ludicrous dress but apparently they weren’t in fashion at the moment. So here she was, on display and tottering down the gemmed pathway to the Lady Tam-tam’s estate feeling as naked as if she had no clothing on at all.
“You don’t have to like the damn outfit,” Thrace growled under his breath from his place behind her. “You just have to wear it.”
He himself was wearing only his black and silver studded pain collar with a leash and a pair of black leather trousers. But they were not the same ones he’d had on when she bought him. These trousers covered only his thighs and lower legs—the crotch and ass area were completely missing. However, there was a sort of silky black loin cloth that he wore belted around his lean waist which mercifully covered both areas. But even with that cover, he was going to look obscene if he got…aroused—which he had when Trin had first come out of the fresher in the ridiculous dress.
“Gods,” he’d muttered, looking her over as she smoothed down the dress nervously. “Fucking gorgeous.”
“It’s ridiculous.” Trin had been irritated to feel her cheeks heating under his scrutiny. She’d never had anyone look at her the way the big Havoc did—as though she was a luscious piece of fruit and he was dying to take a bite. “Stop staring if the dress is giving you a…a problem.” She motioned at the tent rising under the black loincloth at his waist.
“It’s not the dress—it’s what’s inside it,” Thrace had growled. But he had dragged his eyes away and continued packing her things, which he had miniaturized and now carried in a small black case at his side.
Trin was carrying a small yellow bag that matched her dress and contained the remote to his pain collar. She also held the end of his leash—which she had objected to.
“The collar is enough,” she’d pointed out.
“Not in Yonnite high society it’s not,” Thrace had said. “They like to dominate their males hard. You’re going to have to do the same if you want to fit in.” He grinned at her. “Treat me like dirt, Mistress—that’s what they’ll be expecting.”
“But I don’t want to do that! And I don’t see how you can suggest it,” Trin had protested. “How could you stand it if I treated you like that?”
“I can stand it because I know you don’t want to do it—that you don’t mean it.” Thrace had looked at her seriously. “Look, let’s just do what we have to in order to sell the crystals.”
“All right.” Trin had nodded reluctantly. “I understand. I know you want to get this over and done with as much as I do so you can be free again. But Thrace, you really don’t have to do this. If you want to leave I’ll take the pain collar off and drop you at the nearest station or anywhere you want.”
“I don’t want to leave—I’m fucking well going to see this through,” he’d growled. “So do what you have to do and don’t worry about me—I’ve been through worse.”
His eyes shifted away as he spoke and it was on the tip of her tongue to ask what he meant. When had he been through worse and what were the details? If her first guess about him had been correct, she might have assumed he was talking about his treatment at the hands of his old master or mistress. But they’d established that wasn’t true. He had never been a slave—he’d been off freedom fighting to keep the Lud’oms from taking over his home planet. So what was he talking about?
Somehow Trin had managed to stifle the question. There was a foreboding look in the big Havoc’s piercing eyes that told her he wasn’t ready to talk about that time in his life. Besides a few dark, cryptic hints, his past was sealed. And since they were going to part ways as soon as they did this deal with lady Malroth, she would probably never find out…
“At least the scenery is pretty,” she remarked, looking around as they walked down the winding gemstone path. Despite the path’s shiny rainbow appearance, the rest of the park grounds were surprisingly unmanicured. Long, slender trees without leaves raised their naked branches to the sky and there were clumps of itch-grass growing at intervals between them. The estate was set in the foothills of a large range of rusty reddish-brown mountains with the mansion in the middle perched on the first gentle slope that led up the steep face of the nearest peak.
Trin liked the natural, wild look of the parklands surrounding the big rambling white and brown house. It reminded her a little of the pastures where she let Swift and Silk out to run. She wondered briefly if Lady Tam-tam kept any kind of domestic animals for riding here. It had been a long time since she’d been on horseback and she would welcome the chance to go out galloping—on whatever mount she could find.
“Look sharp—we have company,” Thrace hissed from behind her.
Trin dragged her eyes from the lovely rustic scenery and saw Lady Malroth tottering down the path towards them. Her heels were even higher that Trin’s, if that was possible, and her hair was definitely higher. It was twisted up into a fantastical pink swirl that towered three feet above her head at least and matched her bright pink dress. Behind her walked a broad shouldered, muscular slave who was quite short. He was barely as tall as she was but his muscular physique still made him imposing. He had a stern, watchful look on his face as he stalked along behind his mistress.
“There you are!” Lady Malroth managed to totter a little quicker. Her eyes flickered over Trin’s dress which was very similar to her own bright pink one and then scanned Thrace’s broad form with approval. “And I see that this time you are perfectly accessorized—excellent.”
“I’m glad you approve,” Trin said, trying to keep her voice neutral. “I have the crystals with me so if you’d like to find someplace private to work out the deal—”
“Deal? Before we’ve even been to the first reception?” Lady Malroth sounded offended. “I couldn’t possibly!”
“So…you want us…I mean me to be seen at the reception with you before we can deal?” Trin asked, trying to keep the irritation out of her voice. “Why?”
“Because I’m sponsoring you! It was the only way to get your name on the guest list. It would look very odd for me to put myself out like that and then you not even show up to the first reception. So yes, you must come.”