“Oh yes it is—if you want to sell those Jaxite crystals of yours and get out of debt,” Lady Tam-tam snapped.
Trin crossed her arms over her chest.
“Some things aren’t for sale, Lady Tam-tam. I don’t know how but I’ll manage even if I can’t sell the crystals.”
“Is that right?” The older female’s eyes flashed fire. “And what if it wasn’t just the crystals at stake? What if it was your pride—your very life and reputation back on Zetta Prime?”
“What do you mean?” Trin’s eyes were wide.
“Didn’t I tell you that I researched your past?” Lady Tam-tam demanded. “And in the course of that, I learned all about your family—your mother to be exact. Lady L’zara of Temple Trees—that is the name of your family estate on Zetta Prime, right?”
“What are you saying?” Thrace demanded. “Are you threatening us?”
“Not you, my dear Havoc,” Lady Tam-tam purred. “Only your mistress. Lady Trin, how would you like it if the recording I just showed of you and your slave somehow found its way to your mother? And to all the priestesses of your home temple? The ones who doubtless trained you from childhood about how very wrong it is to have anything to do with a male—especially sexually?”
Trin’s face went so pale that for a moment Thrace was afraid she might faint.
“You wouldn’t,” she whispered.
“Oh but I would my dear. Unless you comply with my request.”
“You—” Thrace took a step towards her but the small but deadly muzzle of a mini-destroyer suddenly appeared in Lady Tam-tam’s hand.
“Uh-uh, my dear,” she admonished him. “I know how protective you are of your mistress but believe me, I won’t hesitate to use this. And it’s quite powerful enough to blast a hole through the both of you so don’t think that stepping in front of her will save her.”
“I can’t believe this.” Trin’s voice shook. “You’re actually demanding that one of us penetrate the other? That I break either my promise to Thrace or my deeply held beliefs simply for your entertainment?”
“Well, when you put it like that, it sounds rather mean,” Lady Tam-tam said mildly. “But yes, essentially. I want to see your first penetration—I don’t care which way it goes but it must happen.” She shook a finger at Trin sternly. “And don’t think you can fake it—I can see the most vivid detail here. Either you penetrate your slave or allow him to penetrate you. If you do—and you put on a good show about it—I will buy your crystals for triple what they are worth and send you on your way. If you don’t, however, your mother and all the priestesses who taught you growing up will see your secret shame and know the truth—that you are in love with a male.”
“I…I never…” Trin seemed to be at a loss for words and Thrace didn’t blame her. The choice before them was a grim one.
“Mistress,” he said, taking her by the hand. “Come on. Let’s go talk about this. In private.”
“Yes, do go and talk it over.” Lady Tam-tam smiled languidly. “Take your time, my dears. But don’t take too much time. We only have a few more hours before the feast tonight and I want to see results long before then.”
“How can you do this to us?” Trin asked numbly, looking at her. “What kind of a monster demands such things of her guests?”
Lady Tam-tam frowned. “A very generous monster, my dear. I’m prepared to make you a rich woman if you do as I say.”
“Or break my mother’s heart and bring shame to my entire family if I don’t.” Trin’s voice was shaking and her eyes were filled with helpless rage.
“Yes, or that.” Lady Tam-tam shrugged. “Don’t think too harshly of me, Lady Trin. I’m just a lonely old lady who’s in need of entertainment.” Her eyes hardened. “Now go—you have an hour to get started. After that, I’m sending the entire vid of you and your slave to Zetta Prime.”
She made a motion, dismissing them. Trin looked like she wanted to say something else but Thrace stopped her with a shake of his head. Lady Tam-tam had made up her mind and she clearly wasn’t going to change it. She wanted to see a ‘first’ and she was damn well going to see one or she would ruin Trin’s life.
Can’t let her do that. He led his mistress out of the secret viewing room and back the way they had come. Can’t let her shame Trin in front of all her friends and family. Can’t let her ruin Trin’s professional and personal reputation—it’ll keep her from ever trading again either on Yonnie Six or her home planet.
He had to stop Lady Tam-tam from acting. But he knew couldn’t ask Trin to give up her long-held beliefs and let him penetrate her. Thrace could tell she honestly believed that to accept his shaft and seed within her would damn her soul to the Seven Hells—or whatever Hell the priestesses of the Goddess of Judgment had cooked up. So the penetration had to happen but it wasn’t going to be him penetrating her.
It would have to be the other way around. No matter how painful that might be…
“Say the words—say them, damn you!”
The thrust and push of a thick shaft inside him, invading him, taking him against his will…the rush of shame as his nether entrance was pierced and penetrated…the feeling of his pride and his body being torn at the same time…
No—stop! Don’t think of it! Don’t remember the past—it only makes things worse!
Thrace clenched his hands into fists, trying to force the painful memories back. If only he hadn’t had that dream the night before! It had brought everything he had tried so hard to forget back in vivid, painful detail.
Well, at least Trin didn’t remember the contents of the dream, even though she had shared it. Thrace watched her from the corner of his eye as they made their way back to their suite. If she had remembered the nightmare, this would be so much harder. Not that it wouldn’t be hard enough already…
But as hard as it was, Thrace was determined to do it. He had reached the Crux—he was devoted to Trin—owned by her body and soul. But more even than that, he loved her. Loved her as he had never loved a female in his life—and had never expected to love one.
The Havoc do not bond.
But at least he could do this for her—though he couldn’t tie her to him for life, he could save her reputation and keep her from shame. And he was determined to do it.
Anything for you, Mistress, he thought, looking at her lovely, troubled profile. Anything—even this.
Even
this.
Chapter Twenty-six
“We can’t do this,” Trin said, as soon as they got back into their room. “We can’t. I can’t.”
“Yes, you can.” Thrace went to the sleeping platform and got the double-ended heart’s blood phallus. “You have to.”
The implications of what he was saying suddenly sank in and Trin looked at him, wide-eyed.
“Thrace…you don’t mean…?”
“Yes.” He looked at her sternly. “I know you can’t be penetrated yourself, Mistress—I wouldn’t ask it of you. But you can…” He took a deep breath, as though trying to calm himself. “You can penetrate me. It must be done.”
“No!” Trin exclaimed, backing up a step. “I don’t want to…to do that to you! I know how you feel about it—you don’t want it!”
“No, I don’t,” Thrace said softly. “But I do want what’s best for you and this is it. So come on, Mistress—let me help you on with your equipment.”