“I haven’t decided yet.” Lady Pope’nose tossed her head. “I may allow it but only to a few of my very best and closest friends.”
“Oh, how exciting!” Lady Sha’rak clapped her hands and smiled. “Nola, you are such a tease.”
“I know.” Lady Pope’nose smirked. “But enough talk of antiquities. Did I hear you mention the relaxation grotto, Manda? Have you finally gotten it finished to your liking?”
“Yes, and you two will be the first to experience it. Has everyone eaten enough?” Lady Sha’rak asked brightly.
“Um, I have but…” Lissa hesitated. “I was just wondering…what do you feed the slaves? Saber hasn’t had anything and—”
“You’re much too attached to that body-slave of yours, my dear.” Lady Sha’rak frowned. “He can eat in the kitchen with Llewelyn later. For right now, the relaxation grotto awaits.”
“Excellent. Let’s go.” Lady Pope’nose pushed aside the spadeful of food Tobias was offering her, which, unfortunately, caused it fall in her lap, directly onto her ornate silver and orange dress. “Tobias!” she shrieked, her eyes bulging. “Just look what you’ve done! This dress will be ruined! Ruined!”
She looked to be working herself up into a towering rage and Lissa was already cringing inside for the poor body-slave who would doubtless once more be suffering the tortures of the damned.
“Tobias?” Lady Pope’nose shouted. “Tra—” But before she could get the pain word out, Saber bumped against the table, causing Lissa’s wine glass to topple over into her lap.
“Oh!” she gasped and stood at once. It was too late though, the wine was already soaking into the tiny gold lace panties which were visible at the opening of her dress.
“My goodness,” Lady Sha’rak exclaimed. “What a lot of clumsy slaves we have tonight! Don’t you spill anything, Llewelyn, or I’ll think we’re under some sort of a curse.”
“No, Mistress,” her body-slave murmured smoothly. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”
“Still,” Lady Sha’rak continued thoughtfully. “This is a rather good teaching opportunity.”
“What are you talking about?” Lady Pope’nose asked sullenly. Her own accident had been overshadowed and, as Tobias had carefully removed the small mess so that her dress looked as pristine as ever, she had nothing to complain about. Lissa thought she looked sulky, like a child robbed of the attention she thought was her due.
“I’m talking about teaching my tenderhearted little cousin here to discipline her slave,” the ambassador said patiently.
Lissa’s heart jumped into her throat. “Oh, no, Lady Sha’rak. I’m sure it was just a mistake! Saber would never—”
“It doesn’t matter if he did it on purpose or not, my dear. Clumsiness in a slave cannot be tolerated. You must punish him.” Lady Sha’rak looked at her sternly. “I see that you have on the pain-taste and the sweet-taste elixirs.” She nodded at Lissa’s nipples, which were peeking out from behind the gold lace. “Put them to good use.”
Lissa felt like her insides were being twisted inside out. Despite the fact that she had known it might be necessary, she still felt horribly uncomfortable with the idea of letting Saber suck her nipples, especially in public. “I …I…but I couldn’t,” she stammered, feeling her cheeks get hot. “Saber’s been with me for years and I’ve never had to…to use such measures on him before.”
“All the more reason to put him in his place now,” Lady Pope’nose said firmly. “In fact, forget about the elixirs—they’re so outdated. You can borrow Tobias’s pain collar instead. It responds to the pain word no matter who is wearing it. Tobias,” she snapped, turning to her slave. “Come here and let me remove your collar at once.”
“Yes, Mistress,” he murmured meekly, kneeling before her and leaning over so she could reach the back of the pain collar.
“No!” Lissa gasped, horrified. “No, I won’t use that…that thing on my…on Saber! I won’t!” She put herself between Saber and Lady Pope’nose, determined to protect him at all costs. Just the idea of seeing him writhe on the floor in pain the way Tobias had was enough to make her sick. Never. I’ll never let that happen to him! she told herself fiercely.
“Well, if you don’t want to use Lady Pope’nose’s collar then you must use the elixirs.” Lady Sha’rak was beginning to look irritated. “May I remind you, my dear Lady R’awr, that you agreed to be guided by me in this matter?”
“Yes,” Lissa said miserably. “Yes, I know, but—”
“Mistress.” Suddenly Saber was on his knees before her. “Please,” he murmured, looking up at her. “Please punish me.”
“Saber?” She looked at him uncertainly.
“You’ve always been a kind and gentle mistress,” he continued softly. “But Lady Sha’rak is right—I was inexcusably clumsy. There should be no exceptions made for me just because I’ve been your slave for a long time. I should receive pain as well as pleasure from your hand.” And taking one of her hands, he kissed her palm gently, as though to illustrate his point.
Lissa felt her breath fall out of her in a long sigh. Whisper-fingers brushed lightly through her hair and a voice seemed to murmur, all right. It’s going to be all right.
With a start, she realized he had just Touched her with his mind. It was another thing he had promised not to do on this mission, along with his promise not to touch her physically. But though both promises had been broken beyond repair, Lissa found that she couldn’t be mad.
His caress was so intimate it made her melt, so sweet it filled her with longing. Under his Touch she felt herself calming. Her stomach, which had twisted itself into a knot, slowly relaxed and the tension headache building between her eyes was smoothed away.
To her right, she saw Lady Pope’nose frown and shiver. Across from them, Lady Sha’rak had a dreamy look in her eyes. “Did you feel that?” she murmured.
“Feel what?” Lady Pope’nose snapped. “I felt nothing but a chilly draft. Really, Manda, you should look into it. A guest could freeze to death in this place.”
“It…felt quite warm to me.” Lady Sha’rak sighed and Lissa realized with a start that both she and Lady Pope’nose had been affected by Saber’s gentle mind Touch as well. It was as she had told Nadiah when confessing her feelings for him back on First World—any time a male of the Touch Kindred was caressing another with his mind, a Touch Field was formed that spread out and encompassed even disinterested outsiders.
He mustn’t Touch me again, she thought, feeling worried. But Saber didn’t. He just kept looking up at her, that quiet, waiting expression in his warm hazel eyes. He’s waiting for me to give in. He knows I have no choice.
“Very…very well,” Lissa whispered, hardly able to get the words out. “You’re right, Saber. You do deserve a punishment.” With trembling hands, she pulled down the top of her dress, baring her breasts completely. “Come,” she said, beckoning to him. “I must…must give you the pain-taste.”
“Yes, Mistress.”
He was so tall she didn’t have to lean down very far. Saber put his hands on her waist to hold her in place and sucked her right nipple into his mouth with no hesitation at all.
At once, his face began to go red and she could tell he was in pain, but he refused to be rushed. He lapped and sucked her nipple, obviously making sure to get every last trace of the burning blossom extract off, despite the fiery pain that had to be burning his mouth.
“That’s enough,” Lissa whispered breathlessly at last. “Now…now take the sweet-taste.”
“Yes, Mistress.” Obediently, Saber took her other nipple into his mouth at once.
Lissa was relieved to see the pain clear from his eyes and his skin return to its normal tone. But it was different this time. Before, she had been too concerned about the agony he must be feeling to really pay attention to how it felt to let him taste her in such an intimate spot. Now that she knew he was no longer in pain, she began to really feel the effects of his mouth on her.
Hold
ing her eyes with his, Saber licked gently at first, swirling his tongue around her sensitive bud and sending flashes of heat and cold throughout her entire body. Then he sucked harder, taking as much of her breast into his mouth as he could, his hands tightening on her hips as he did so.
The deep pull of his hot mouth against her sensitive breast tightened Lissa’s nipple and sent sparks of desire to the tender V between her legs. She could feel her pussy getting hot and wet though he hadn’t even touched her below the waist.
“Goddess,” she gasped and somehow found her hands were buried in his hair, pulling him closer. “Goddess….Saber, please…”
So good…feels so good! her mind was whispering. Somewhere inside she knew they needed to end this. Surely the effects of the burning blossom elixir had been neutralized by now and Saber must be considered adequately punished, even by Ambassador Sha’rak’s stringent standards. But somehow she couldn’t make him stop.
It was as though she had been waiting for this moment for years—maybe from the very first time she had met him. She felt as she had when she was wandering lost in the desert—parched and dry—and Saber’s touch was like the water she so desperately needed. Under his warm mouth she felt herself blossoming, unfurling like the petals of a delicate flower, which can only be coaxed open by the right hand. Her legs were like rubber and between them her sex was so hot and slick and swollen she felt she might explode.
“Well, well…I think I see why you’re so reluctant to punish your body-slave in public.”
Lady Pope’nose’s sharp voice cut through the haze of desire that clouded Lissa’s brain. She jerked and tore her eyes from Saber’s, turning her head to see both Lady Pope’nose and Ambassador Sha’rak staring at the show they were putting on.
“Oh my Goddess,” she gasped, pulling away from Saber abruptly and yanking the skimpy top of her gown up as high as she could. How had she managed to forget they had an audience? Her behavior had been so shameful! So absolutely appalling.
“Don’t stop on our account.” Lady Sha’rak sounded mildly amused. “I remember what it was to be young and have all your juices flowing. Go ahead and let him finish you off with his tongue if you like. We’ll wait.”
“Finish me with…with his…” Lissa couldn’t even get the words out. The mental image of Saber pulling down her gold lace panties and getting between her thighs to lick her throbbing pussy was so vivid she could feel her entire body getting hot with embarrassment. Goddess, how could Lady Sha’rak even think of such a thing? It was wrong and unnatural, surely. Yet when she dared to glance at Saber, she saw something like hunger in his gold-flecked hazel eyes. Could it be that he didn’t find the ambassador’s suggestion as wrong and forbidden as Lissa did? Could he actually want to do such a thing? Just the thought made her blush even harder. Surely not! And yet…
“Actually, Manda, I’d just as soon not wait, if you don’t mind,” Lady Pope’nose sniffed, mercifully ending Lissa’s internal debate. “I’d rather go to the relaxation grotto for a bit before I have to go home.”
“Oh, of course. Right this way.” Lady Sha’rak ushered her out of the opulent dining room. But as she left, she threw a wink over her shoulder at Lissa. “Go on then, my dear. Just come along to the grotto as soon as your slave makes you come.”
Lissa cleared her throat. “Actually I…I’m not feeling quite well all of a sudden. I think…think maybe I drank too much of the honey wine earlier. It seems to have gone straight to my head.”
“Oh dear.” Lady Sha’rak looked concerned. “Well then, off to your rooms. I’ll see you tomorrow, my dear. And pleasant dreams.”
“Th-thank you,” Lissa managed to stammer. She stood there, her entire body tense as a wire, until their hostess finally left the huge dining room. And then, without another glance at Saber, she gathered her skirts and ran, trying to put as much distance as possible between them and the act they had just committed. Trying to run away from the feelings it had caused inside her, feelings she couldn’t smother or forget, no matter how hard she tried.
Chapter Nine
Saber started to go after her…but then he stopped himself. It was clear that Lissa needed to be alone. But Goddess, how he wished he could hold her in his arms and tell her how he really felt. Tell her what a pleasure it had been to give her pleasure, to see that warm, half-lidded look of desire on her face and feel her small hands in his hair, urging him on. His mouth still stung with the aftereffects of the burning blossom compound but to Saber it was worth it—a thousand times worth it—to be able to taste the female he loved in such an intimate way.
With a sigh, he decided to check the kitchen and see if he could get anything to eat. Maybe after he finished his meal, Lissa would have had time to calm down and they could talk.
It took him some time to find the massive food storage and prep area but, when he did, he was greeted with the sight of no less than seven different types of appliances for cooking and eight for cold storage. There were vast copper counters that seemed to stretch for miles with cutting implements hung from racks on the walls. The floor was made of firm but bouncy interlocking mats, clearly meant to mitigate the effects of standing on one’s feet all day.
Saber frowned thoughtfully as he looked at the mats. For all her show of being a hard mistress, it was clear that Ambassador Sha’rak wasn’t as heartless as she wanted to appear. Why else would she have such flooring for her kitchen staff? And there was also the matter of the pain collars—Saber hadn’t seen any of her slaves or servants wearing one. A truly cruel mistress, like Lady Pope’nose, wouldn’t hesitate to have her entire staff fitted with the horrible torture devises but Lady Sha’rak had done no such thing. Why?
His stomach growled and Saber decided he couldn’t spend all night contemplating their hostess’s true nature. Not if he wanted to eat. He looked around for someone—one of the cooks possibly—to ask for food. But despite the vast space, there was only a single surly-looking cook working on what looked like some kind of delicate pastry gilded with gold and silver frosting.
“Excuse me.” Saber went up to him but the pastry chef paid no attention. “Excuse me!” Saber said, louder. Still no response.
He was about to repeat himself one more time, even louder, when a voice behind him said, “Don’t bother with Enry there. He’s deaf as dirt and to be honest, he wouldn’t help you even if he could hear you.”
“Is that right?” Saber turned to see Llewelyn standing behind him with an amused look on his face.
“Uh-huh.” The body-slave nodded. “Enry’s a surly old bastard—my lady only keeps him around because he makes the most gorgeous pastries. She’s the envy of all her friends because of it.” He gestured at the delicate confection iced in gold and silver. “That’s going to the sensation party tomorrow. Better let him finish it or it’ll be your hide.”
“I wasn’t trying to ruin his work,” Saber said stiffly. “I was just looking for something to eat.”
“Well you’re in the wrong place. Slaves’ larder is back here. Come on.” Llewelyn led the way into a small back room with several cold food storage areas. He began opening cupboards and pulling out ingredients at once. “There’s nothing as fancy as what our mistresses had for supper, of course,” he said, as he placed various foods on a small table in one corner of the room. “Strictly simple fare for the likes of us.”
“That’s fine,” Saber said shortly. “I don’t mind simple food.”
“Don’t mind it—hell, I prefer it!” Llewelyn declared. “Better any day than a bowl of grubs or eyeball soup. But my lady always has to pull out all the stops when that bitch Lady P comes to supper—otherwise she’d gossip about what a dull meal she had and my lady would never live it down.”
“I see,” Saber said carefully. “And does Lady Pope’nose come to dinner often?”
“Too often if you ask me.” Llewelyn’s face was grim as he began rolling various ingredients into a large blue flat bread. “Manda is always in such a state after she
leaves. It takes me forever to work the knots out of her shoulders and ease the tension in her lower back.” He smiled fondly. “Not that I mind putting my hands on her, you understand.”
“You seem to be on very familiar terms with your mistress,” Saber said neutrally as he followed Llewelyn’s example and put what appeared to be some kind of pink meat and leafy purple vegetation in the center of a blue bread wrap.
Llewelyn laughed and added an acidic smelling bright green condiment to his wrap. “And you’re not? I saw the way she looked at you, friend—you’ve got her eating out of the palm of your hand. Why, I’ll wager that punishment she gave you tonight is the first you’ve ever gotten from her.”
“It is at that,” Saber acknowledged truthfully enough. “She’s never even raised a hand to me before.”
“Of course not—she loves you.” Llewelyn tucked the corners of the flat bread in and rolled the wrap and its ingredients tightly before taking a bite. “It’s an enviable position for any slave to be in,” he continued, once he had swallowed.
“And what would you call your own position?” Saber asked, taking a cautious bite of his own creation. To his relief, it tasted quite good—in fact, better than good—delicious.
“Oh, my lady cares deeply for me. More deeply than an outsider might think. She values my ability to give as well as to receive if you take my meaning.”
“Of course.” Saber nodded, though he really wasn’t sure what the body-slave was referring too. “I see.”
“I know you do—I can always tell.”
“Tell what?” Saber was tired of playing guessing games.
“That you’re a closet dominant, just like me.” Llewelyn grinned and nudged Saber’s arm. “So what does your lady like you to do? Order her around? Tie her down? Come on, you can tell me.”
“I…can’t speak of my mistress’s private business so freely,” Saber said, frowning.