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  “Commander?” Devora asked seductively.

  “Yes,” Seth said, and to his surprise the word came out rather hoarsely.

  “I don’t think you need me right now,” Dani said with a laugh. “I’ll just lock the door behind me.”

  Seth barely heard Dani leave; he was so intent on Devora.

  She sauntered closer to him, then raised her arms above her head, stretching sinuously. The movement caused her pert breasts to lift enticingly, and emphasized the lean length of her stomach. She finished stretching and reached around Seth’s neck, pulling him in for a kiss.

  It started softly, but within seconds his arms were around her and their mouths became ravenous. His penis was rock hard against her body, and she wiggled against it in appreciation. Seth instantly wanted, needed, to thrust inside her body.

  She seemed to want the same thing, because her arms tightened around his neck and, using him for support, she boosted herself up against his body. In seconds, both legs were wrapped around his waist and she was grinding her cunt against the powerful ridge of his cock. The sensation was exquisite, and for an instant she thought she might come right on the spot.

  Holding her to him with one arm, his slid the other to cup and support her bottom. The new position gave him the leverage to thrust her against the length of his dick. Devora was moaning into his mouth, pulling herself even closer. Then she broke away from the kiss long enough to gasp out, “Fuck me.”

  Seth didn’t need to be asked twice. Still supporting her weight with one arm, he reached the other between them to free his hard length from his pants. Without pausing, he slammed her down onto his cock, groaning at the hot, tight feel of her cunt closing around him. He needed better leverage…

  Holding Devora impaled, Seth turned to the wall and pressed her against it. Then he started pounding in and out of her with a series of powerful strokes, leaving both of them gasping for breath. The pressure was almost unbearable now, and he could feel his orgasm building. He wanted her to come, too. Pulling her legs further apart, Seth surged into her moist opening, deliberately stroking against her clit each time.

  Within less than a minute, she was panting loudly, and he could feel the spasms building around his dick. Then she came, squeezing him repeatedly with her inner muscles, milking him with her cunt.

  He exploded with pleasure, shouting without words. Then his legs gave out and they ended up on the floor, nestled in the pillows.

  They didn’t speak immediately afterwards, they were both too exhausted. Instead, they laid back on the pillows and gasped for air. For one of the first times in his adult life, Seth didn’t feel like the pressure was already building to fuck again. He was actually somewhat satisfied. He would have her again, he mused—he was definitely going to take the contract—but for the moment he was content to rest. The closest he’d ever come to such satisfaction before was with the little slave, Calla. She’d made him so angry, though, that as soon as she’d left he’d been frustrated and horny again. He’d wanted something, needed something after that, but Devora seemed to be enough for now.

  A quiet sound caught his attention. Next to him, Devora had fallen asleep, and to his amusement she emitted a soft, snuffling snore. She looked younger, less sophisticated, asleep…adorable. He liked the idea of her sleeping at his side. He’d never been one to sleep with him women, preferring to take his pleasure then return to his own quarters; it was less complicated that way.

  But this woman he wanted hold, to feel her skin next to his. With amusement, he realized that he had just had the most satisfying sexual experience of his life, yet he was still fully clothed. Gently disengaging himself from Devora’s side, Seth quickly pulled his shirt over his head, then kicked off his shoes and pants as quietly as possible. He would have liked to undress Devora, too, but she was so peaceful and comfortable looking that he couldn’t bear to disturb her. Instead, he settled down on the pillows next to her, and she cuddled into the curve of his body instinctively. Pulling her close, he contented himself to smell her hair and reach each hand down between the filmy layers of her dress until he reached bare skin. One hand moved to her breast, clasping it possessively while the other drifted between her legs. Soft curls wrapped around his fingers and Devora gave a contented murmur. A smile came over his face. Even in her sleep she was responsive to him.

  Holding her was so comforting, so right that within minutes he was on the verge of sleep. Devora was the best discovery he’d made in a long time. Of course it wouldn’t last, relationships with women who were non-Saurellian never could, but keeping Devora around for a while would be well worth the money. With that thought, Seth drifted into a contented sleep.

  Chapter Four

  “I’m glad you and Devora find yourselves compatible,” Dani said, smiling broadly at Seth. She sat behind an elegant little desk in the House of Lilies’ small business office. “She tells me you’re interested in a contract after all. Shall we go over the details?”

  Seth sat across from her, less concerned with the contract than getting his hands back on Devora. He’d awakened to find her gone. Dani had been waiting instead, contract in hand. She seemed to know that things had gone well. Hell, for all he knew she’d watched. The idea didn’t appeal to him; next time he and Devora met, it would be in a more private setting.

  “Now, I’ve set this up as a standard personal contract, but there are some special conditions due to conflicts with Devora’s schedule. It’s my understanding that you plan to leave the station at the end of the week?” Dani asked, one eyebrow cocked questioningly.

  “Yes,” he said shortly. He wished Dani would stop talking and just hand over the paperwork. He didn’t have time for this.

  “That’s perfect,” Dani replied with a serene smile. “Devora finishes her current contract in six days. The timing couldn’t be better.”

  Her words hit like a punch to the stomach. Devora’s current contract? An icy rage washed over him. Devora was his. He couldn’t stand the thought of her having previous clients, but for all he knew she was fucking some man at this very minute. It was intolerable. He couldn’t allow this to happen—he wasn’t going to let another man touch her. Ever.

  The ferocity of his thoughts startled him. Why should he care if she slept with another man? After all, she was a pleasure worker; it was her job to give pleasure to whoever paid for her services.

  The very idea made him cold.

  “Unacceptable,” he told Dani in a grim voice. “Her other contract must be terminated immediately. When I leave today I’m taking her with me.”

  His answer seemed to startle Dani, who frowned at him.

  “Seth, I can tell you’re very interested in Devora, but she has obligations. She simply isn’t available to start her contract until you leave the station,” she said.

  “I want her now,” he replied, eyes hardening. “She’s coming back to the hostel with me tonight. This is not negotiable.”

  “Seth, I’m so very sorry, but Devora is not available to return to the hostel with you this evening,” she said unblinkingly. The grim countenance that had frightened a thousand imperial soldiers was having no effect on her. “Devora is extremely interested in making this contract with you work, but she isn’t going to be able to join you until you start your trip. If you can’t agree to this, then I’m afraid Devora will need to break off contract negotiations.”

  Seth had always liked Dani, but the time had come to put her in her place. He was commander of Discovery station, and he would be taking Devora home with him.

  “I do not wish to do this to you, Dani,” he said tightly. “But I am the military ruler of this station. My forces occupy every corridor, and I am ordering you to hand over Devora or face the consequences. They will not be pleasant.”

  Dani stiffened, placing the contract carefully on the table. She didn’t reply for moment. Then, carefully folding her hands neatly on the desk in front of her, she said, “Seth, I feel it is my duty to remind you that not only am
I pleasure worker negotiating a contract for Devora, I am a fully licensed member of the Pleasure Guild. You may not realize this, but Guild Houses such as this one are not merely places of business. They are sovereign Guild territory, and enjoy full diplomatic immunity. At this point in time, the Guild and the Saurellian Federation enjoy a relationship based on mutual respect and understanding. This relationship may be jeopardized if you choose to forcefully remove a woman from Guild premises without Guild support. Is this something you really wish to do?”

  Her expression didn’t change, but her eyes had become as hard as his had. Seth was livid.

  “Don’t play these games with me, Dani,” he said coldly. “I’m better at them than you are, and you could get hurt.”

  “It’s not about me, anymore,” Dani said tightly. “This is about diplomatic immunity and Guild sovereignty. To date, the Guild has not opted to take sides in your little conflict with the Empire. We find that neutrality is better for business. Once you breach that neutrality, we could change our minds. I think you’re too good a commander to allow that to happen over something as unimportant as a personal pleasure contract.”

  She had him, Seth realized. He could easily tear apart the house to find Devora, but doing so would be criminally irresponsible if it drove a wedge between the Saurellian High Council and the Guild. There was no justification for allowing his private battle to hurt his people.

  Nodding tightly in agreement, Seth stood up so abruptly that his chair fell back. Dani wasn’t as cool as she pretended, he noticed with dark satisfaction. The sound made her jump; her folded hands clenched in tension.

  “I’ll leave, but I’m warning you that if I find Devora off Guild property I’m taking her,” he said. “And you might want to warn her other client that if I find out who he is, he’s mine. Tell him it’s in his best interests to stay away from her. Send the contract to my office. I’ll want full control of her when I leave at the end of the week—there won’t be any vacation and there won’t be any time off. Money is not an issue.”

  With that, he turned and stalked out of the office, slamming the door behind him. Dani let out the breath she held with a mixture of relief and trepidation. Seth was taking the contract far more seriously than she ever imagined. Calla might be in trouble.

  * * * * *

  Seth kept his promise.

  Within an hour of his leaving, guards were posted at every door of the House of Lilies. Every visitor was scrutinized carefully, his entry and exits recorded in a log.

  With Dani’s assistance, Devora made a formal request for temporary asylum to the House manager and governing council, which was approved on the understanding that she would leave within a week. Seth struck back. He made a formal request that she be held under house arrest, and barred from receiving any guests or visitors who were not Guild members.

  It was a condition that Calla and Dani agreed to readily. The last thing Calla wanted was more attention, and her little room in the House of Lilies provided far more comfort than she’d ever experienced during her life as a slave. At Dani’s suggestion, she spent her time preparing for her trip, compiling data on everything from Imperial legal codes to star maps and cultural histories of a thousand planets on a small computer tablet. She and Jess would need the information to plan their new lives, assuming she ever found him.

  She also shopped using the terminal in her room. It was a difficult process, because Dani was almost completely out of funds by then. Fortunately, she had the credits Jess had been hiding in the storeroom. It wasn’t much money, and she had to be careful to select clothes costly enough to keep Seth from becoming suspicious about her origins. Dani had a few things that might work but she was bigger than Calla, and neither woman was skilled enough to make alterations. Calla finally decided on a mix-and-match wardrobe of attractively cut yet sturdy tunics, pants and skirts. They flattered her figure without being too overtly sexual—the mark of an amateur, according to Dani.

  To add a little spice, Dani selected a variety of lingerie that made Calla blush. Everything from a silken, white dressing gown that covered her fully to tiny black and lace garments that left nothing to the imagination.

  “Remember,” Dani told her during one shopping session. “The key is to keep him guessing. Every time he sees you, he should be wondering what he’ll find under your clothes. Are you the virgin or the whore? Are you ready and naked or will he have to unwrap you slowly? It’s a game to heighten the pleasure—make the most of it. Six months is a long time to entertain a man like that, so make your clothing work for you.”

  In the end, the week went by far too quickly for Calla. She had watched the recording of Dani’s meeting with Seth, and she was nervous about seeing him again. He’d said “full control,” something that had been emphasized in the contract negotiations that followed. Each time Dani sent over a contract, he’d send back revisions. “Devora” would be under contract for six, not three, months. She would have no personal leave during that time. She would be available to Seth all day, every day. She would be required to participate in any and all sexual acts he requested, no exceptions.

  It was hardly standard, but he had all the power. Calla’s Guild asylum would end in a week, and then he would take her whether she had the protection of a contract or not. At least with a contract there would be a substantial sum of money waiting for her in a Guild escrow account in six months. She’d be off station, she’d be free and she’d have enough money to set herself up somewhere. Calla figured that whatever those six months held would be worth it, especially if she could find Jess.

  Dani was less comfortable with the situation. Seth had her followed day and night. Her apartment had been seized and searched twice, and her Saurellian customers were avoiding her. She was used to being appreciated by men, not punished.

  * * * * *

  On the day Seth was supposed to come and pick up Calla, Dani felt like a mother hen losing her chick. Despite Calla’s reassurances, she paced back and forth in the small House of Lilies parlor where they sat. Finally Calla actually grasped her by the shoulders, forced her to sit down and brought her a glass of fortified wine.

  “Dani, I can never thank you for all you’ve done for me,” Calla said, gazing into her friend’s eyes with affection. She hated the thought of Dani worrying about her. “You’ve risked so much to help me, and I’m ready for whatever happens on this trip.”

  “But honey, you need to understand this isn’t a normal contract,” Dani burst out, momentarily losing her composure. “You’re going to have to protect yourself. This man is obsessed with you, far beyond what’s normal! You’ve got to be careful, because this kind of thing can get ugly. Do you understand what I’m telling you?”

  “I’m not sure that I do,” Calla said carefully, trying to gage Dani’s meaning. “But whatever it is, I can handle it.”

  “Really?” Dani asked spiritedly. “Do you realize that men sometimes beat private contractors? There have even been murders! Usually you’re pretty safe going through the Guild, because we take contract violations very seriously. If this guy hurts you, we’ll find him and make him pay, that’s just good business. But that won’t bring you back. You’ve got to be careful.”

  “Dani, I understand that there are risks, and I also understand that this isn’t the kind of contract we’d hoped it would be,” Calla replied with feeling. “This would be a terrible contract for you, but it’s more than I’d ever dreamed could happen to me. You need to understand that.

  “Remember, I was born on an imperial slave farm. It’s not like I lost my mother. I never had one. I’m the product of synthetically created human egg cells. Do you understand what that means? Do you understand how many religions don’t even consider me to be human? When I was at the hostel, Jenner could beat me any time she wanted. She could sell me to whoever she wanted, whenever she wanted. She could even kill me and no one could complain!

  “I lost my crèche-brother because he was a slave. Do you know what it means t
o be raised in the same crèche?” Calla continued bitterly. “Fifty infants were born—expelled—from incubators on the same day. We were placed in one room, tended by two slave nurses who had raised a thousand others like us. Thirty-five of us survived the first year… it was a higher survival rate than usual. They were very pleased with us.”

  “Oh, Calla,” Dani said. She was at a loss for words—she had never heard Calla’s story before, had no idea where slaves came from. She had always just assumed they were born to slave parents and were raised like other children. It was an ugly truth to confront.

  “The nurses left when we were five, and we started our training,” Calla continued, her face wooden. “We were moved into a training camp. We spent all day, every day learning to be excellent slaves. We learned how to work, we had obedience conditioning—I wouldn’t have been able to even think about escaping if Jenner had been more regular about keeping up the conditioning sessions—and we learned not to care about each other. At night we were at the mercy of the older slaves… the oldest were only ten-year-olds, but they were twice our size, and they were hard from living in the camp for five years.

  “Jess protected me,” Calla said, the pitch of her voice raising slightly. “I was small for my age, a natural target. Somehow he was always there, always taking care of me when things got rough. Sometimes he got in trouble for it, but he managed not to get in enough trouble to make the termination list…”

  “T-t-termination list?” Dani asked in a horrified whisper.

  “Well,” Calla said in a matter-of-fact voice, “if a child caused a problem, they would cull them out and terminate them whether it was that child’s fault or not. If you complained, that was causing a problem. Trust me, it’s an extremely efficient way to keep the peace. Those kids were willing to do a lot to keep someone like Jess from bringing trouble down on them. He did terrible things to keep us alive.”