Trin could feel the rumbling beginnings of a growl building in Thrace’s broad chest again.
“That’s a lovely compliment,” she said neutrally. “It was a pleasure to meet you, Lord X. I wish you success in all your endeavors.”
“In other words, I am dismissed. Very well…” He bowed elaborately. “I am too late for dinner, anyway. Perhaps I’ll see you later at the dream-sphere fountain.”
“The what?” Trin asked but Lord X was already withdrawing, his black boots ringing on the smooth stone floor.
“The dream-sphere fountain,” Lady Tam-tam said. “It’s on the back grounds—near the place where the dream gas emerges from its vent. We’re going to adjourn there after dinner. I do hope you and your love-slave can be there? I’m only inviting a select group, of course.”
“We’d love to,” Trin said, though she privately doubted she spoke for both herself and Thrace. The big Havoc hadn’t seemed to like Lord X at all—not that she blamed him. There was something strange about that male, something somehow familiar in the way he made her feel. But that was crazy, wasn’t it? Until she’d bought Thrace, Trin hadn’t had more than fleeting contact with any male. So how could she find one familiar?
“Such a lovely male. A pity no one else will deal with him,” Lady Tam-tam remarked.
“Indeed,” Trin said neutrally. Lady Tam-tam turned to speak to someone on the other side of her and she looked down to see that Thrace’s big hands were still cupping her breasts. Strange that while talking to Lord X she had almost forgotten they were there. But now, seeing them again and feeling his warm palms against her nipples made her pulse begin to race.
“He’s gone now,” she muttered to the big Havoc. “You can let me go. And you didn’t have to do that in the first place.”
“Didn’t like the way he was looking at you,” Thrace growled, finally removing his hands. Trin’s nipples peaked immediately in the chilly air and she missed the warmth of his palms, though she would never say so.
“He was looking at me the way you do, that’s all,” she snapped.
“Exactly.” His face was like a thundercloud as he watched the retreating back of Lord X. “I don’t like that son of a bitch. Not one fucking bit.”
Privately Trin agreed but she knew she couldn’t say so in front of Lady Tam-tam.
“Let’s try to forget about him and eat,” she murmured, picking up the long handled miniature silver shovel again. She spooned up a dainty bite of the steaming purple mush. “This looks…delicious. Want some?”
“Hell no,” Thrace grumbled. “But give me a bite anyway.”
Trin did and took some for herself—it was bland for a moment, then packed a sharply sour aftertaste that made her lips pucker. Again, not the best thing she’d ever eaten but not the worst either, though doubtless it was incredibly expensive and rare—imported from some distant world or other.
They went through several more courses, some better than others including a plate filled with long, slippery strips made of the tongue of a cheena bird and a plate of squirming multicolored bugs which Trin point blank refused to taste. Then the main course was brought in through the wide side door, carried on a vast platter by fourteen slaves—seven on each side.
“Oh goody—the shromp!” Lady Tam-tam clapped her hands in anticipation. “You really must try this my dear,” she said to Trin. “It’s such a delicacy! I got it all the way from Rigel 4 and there are only five hundred left in captivity, you know. Well, I guess now four hundred and ninety-nine.” She giggled.
“So…it’s endangered?” Trin asked bluntly, eying the huge creature which was larger than a life pod shuttle.
“And delicious.” Lady Tam-tam smiled, obviously missing the point. “Just look how crispy and brown my head chef got the skin! That’s not easy to do, you know. The shromp must be roasted for forty days at very low heat because of its size.”
“It has six legs,” Trin remarked, staring at the vast, roasted carcass. The chef had adorned the shromp’s crispy brown face with large, yellow glass eyes and it appeared to be staring at her accusingly.
“Six legs, two hearts, and four sex organs,” Lady Tam-ram said happily. “Those last are the real delicacy—I’ve given orders for them to be served exclusively at the high table.”
“I couldn’t possibly—I’m getting so full,” Trin demurred when the server put a piece of shriveled gray tubing on the plate in front of her.
“Oh, you must try it! And give your slave some as well,” Lady Tam-tam declared. “After all, shromp phallus is supposed to be very good for stamina. And I’m sure you’ll be needing that tonight, yes?” She raised an eyebrow at Trin, who felt her cheeks heating.
“I…suppose,” she said hesitantly. “Of course, it’s been a long day. I might just turn in early.”
Lady Tam-tam frowned. “How very disappointing. Most couples who are privileged to stay in one of my famous dreaming suits find they have renewed energy and stamina. Why some of them stay up all night long.”
Trin felt her stomach do a slow flip. “All night long doing what?” she asked bluntly.
It was Lady Needra who answered.
“Oh, you name it,” she said, her eyes twinkling. “Sometimes after I let Yorth here bathe me and caress me with oils, we just lie on the bed and worship each other with our bodies for hours.”
“Worship each other?” Trin asked.
“Oh yes.” The blonde mistress nodded eagerly. “Yorth is especially good with his mouth.” She grinned. “And he just can’t get enough of penetrating me with his tongue. He says I’m yummy.” She giggled.
“I…he…” Trin shifted uncomfortably, a movement which made Thrace’s shaft rub against her slick inner pussy. He gave a low groan from behind her which she tried to ignore. “So you let him…penetrate you that way…that way…?” Too? she somehow managed not to add. It reminded her of what Thrace had said he wanted to do to her and even now she could feel his thick cock throbbing against her clit.
“Of course I do! I mean, oral penetration doesn’t really count, now does it?” Lady Needra said. “Not like, you know…letting him fuck me.” She rose slightly to reach for her wine glass again. When she sank back down, her eyes fluttered closed for a moment and Yorth uttered a low, tortured groan.
Trin wasn’t nearly as shocked this time, though she could still scarcely believe that Lady Needra would allow herself to be penetrated by a male, let alone in public.
“Oh, is she at it again?” Lady Tam-tam remarked, giggling. “That naughty Needra—such an exhibitionist.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Needra’s voice came out low and breathy. “I’m just having some…some wine.” She rolled her hips in a slow, leisurely fashion and Yorth groaned again. “Though I do know some mistresses who let their slaves penetrate them that way,” she added to Trin.
“Is that right?” Trin asked flatly.
Lady Needra nodded eagerly.
“Oh, yes—so shocking! I know one especially who doesn’t even use a barrier between herself and her slave. She lets him slide his hard, naked shaft deep inside her unprotected sex.”
“Does she?” Trin raised an eyebrow. She was trying not to let the performance affect her but all the same, she couldn’t help being hyper-aware of Thrace’s hot shaft throbbing against her slick pussy. They had shifted around so much by now that her outer lips had spread completely open, allowing his thick cock unrestricted access to her inner cunt.
“She does. She lets him fuck her just like that—completely bare,” Needra widened her eyes. “So if the slave goes too far and comes inside her…” She rolled her hips some more and Trin saw Yorth’s big hands squeeze into fists as he apparently fought the urge to move along with her. “Why, all that creamy white cum goes right up inside her tight little pussy,” the blonde mistress ended breathlessly.