“What does it do?” he asked, turning his attentionback to Lady Tam-tam. “I’ll try it but I don’t want a repeat performance of thenightmare gas.”

“Oh no, my dear—it’s not like the nightmare vaporat all. Just try it—you’ll see—it’s lovely.”

Trin looked at him and held out a hand.

“Together?” she asked in a low voice.

“Well…all right.” Thrace took her hand reluctantly.It wasn’t that he didn’t want to hold hands with her, but he was afraid shemight see something she shouldn’t. Still, he could understand her unwillingnessto try the gas again alone.

“That’s the spirit!” Lady Tam-tam saidenthusiastically. “Here come two good ones. Go on and try them!”

Two bubbles, one shaped like a rectangle and theother a sphere and both filled with scarlet smoke drifted towards them.

Thrace leaned forward and captured the sphere at the sametime Trin sucked in the rectangle. The shapes popped on their lips and thescarlet gas swirled down their throats.

At once, Thrace felt a surge of what couldonly be described as lust—a lust as hot as fire—rush through him, tingling overhis body like flames, igniting his senses and setting his nerves alight withdesire. His shaft was suddenly rock hard, his need insurmountable.

And there was Trin, standing beside him wearing therevealing dress with see-through lace that barely covered her full breasts andthe tiny triangular panties which couldn’t quite hide the plump lips of herpussy. Gods, he wanted her! His shaft was rock hard and aching to take her,aching to thrust deep into her sweet, warm depths and plant his seed so thatshe would be his, his forever…

He was already reaching for her before he was ableto make himself stop.

Can’tdo this—can’t have her, he remindedhimself, struggling with the sudden haze of lust that clouded his mind. Shedoesn’t want me—doesn’t like males. She—

And then Trin was in his arms of her own volition.She reached for him and climbed him like a tree, her arms wrapping around hisneck and her legs around his waist as she pressed her mouth to his.

For a moment Thrace was stunned by her hungrykisses. Then he grabbed for her, filling his hands with her full, bare ass,drew her even closer, and kissed her back. Gods, she felt good against him! Sosoft and lush and feminine—so utterly perfect and right! And her scent—Gods, itwas hotter than he’d ever smelled it! He fed on her mouth, kissing her deeply,sucking her tongue between his lips.

“Thrace…Thrace,”she moaned, breaking the kiss. “Goddess, I want…I need…”

“Know what you need, baby,” Thrace growled. She was hot againsthim, her body throbbing with the same fire that was consuming him. He wantednothing more than to shove the black loincloth he wore aside and thrust insideher slippery depths.

Needto fill her, he thought, pulling her closer andreaching down with one hand to raise the cloth. Need to part that sweetpussy with my shaft and fill her all the way up, come inside her, make hermine. Need to bond her to me…

But suddenly Trin stopped writhing in his arms andheld perfectly still.

“Thrace?”She sounded uncertain.

Thrace’s head began to clear as well.

“Trin? I mean, Mistress?” he muttered. Gods, whathad he been going to do? Fuck her? Take her right here in front of everyone?Break her pride because of his need? Because of his own selfish urges tosatisfy the lust that had suddenly overwhelmed him?

Notonly that—you were going to bond her, whispered alittle voice in his head. Bond her to you forever. Just forget the Havoccode and everything you’ve ever stood for and tie a female to you for life.What in the Seven Hells is wrong with you?

“Thrace?”Trin asked again, her voice unsteady. “What are we doing? I mean…” He was stillholding her in his arms with her legs wrapped around his waist. Now she lookeddown and her eyes widened.

Thrace followed her gaze and saw how close they’d come tobetraying themselves. The ridiculous black loincloth that was part of his slaveoutfit had gotten twisted to the side, leaving his shaft free. He was hard as arock, standing at attention and Trin was pressed against him. The tinyturquoise panties she wore had also been pushed to the side and her full,swollen pussy lips were enveloping his hard shaft.

Thrace saw with some relief that he hadn’t actuallyentered her, but he wasn’t far from it either. The head of his cock emergedfrom the top of her slit and he was leaking precum which was running down tocoat the inside of her tender, bare pussy.

“Oh my sweet Goddess of Judgment,” Trin whisperedunsteadily. “What…what did we just do?”

“Nothing,” Thrace growled. “Yet.”

“Or ever.” She squirmed to get out of his arms,which only made him harder. “Let me go!”

“Give me a minute!” Thrace half groaned. For a secondhe was afraid he was going to blow his load all over her flat belly. Then hesomehow regained control of himself, set her back on her feet, and stepped awaythough it was the last thing he wanted to do.

** * * *

Trin straightened her panties, her hands shakingwith embarrassment. Goddess, what else could happen tonight? This washorrible—humiliating! Not to mention incredibly confusing. Why had she reactedthat way to him? What was wrong with her?

“Are you all right, my dear?” Lady Tam-tam soundedconcerned but she had a naughty little smile on her face, like someone who hadgotten exactly what they wanted.

Sheknew, Trin thought, her face getting hot. Sheknew what it would do to me—to us—to try the scarlet bubbles. She made us tryit on purpose because she wanted to watch.

Somehow, nothing had quite prepared her for therealization. Though Lady Malroth had warned her their hostess was a voyeur andshe had clearly condoned Lady Needra and her graphic displays, somehow Trinhadn’t quite believed that Lady Tam-tam could or would do such a thing. Todeliberately drug her—or have her and Thrace drug themselves—so she couldwatch them lose control…well, it was too much. Just too much.

“We tried the gas and now we have to go,” she said,trying to keep her voice from shaking. “I…I don’t feel well. Not at all.”

“Of course you may go.” Lady Tam-tam’s eyes wereshining with interest. “You should go back to the room and avail yourself ofthe bathing facilities—a nice hot bath and massage should make you feel likenew again.”

“Thank you,” Trin said stiffly. She wanted to shoutand rage at their hostess—to condemn her for her inexcusable awfulness but sheknew she couldn’t. Lady Malroth was watching with a smug smirk on her face.Trin had to remind herself again that if the deal for the crystals fellthrough, she and everyone who depended on her would be out on the street.

Haveto get out of here. Just have to go! she thoughtwildly.

Turning, she began to run across the lawn but thestupid heels she had on tripped her and she nearly fell. Only Thrace’s hand under her arm savedher.

“Stop it!” Trin tried to shove away from him but hewouldn’t let her go. “Let go of me!”

“No,” he said in a low voice. “You’re upset and inno shape to walk in those ridiculous shoes. They might be lower than the onesfrom this morning but they’re still not made for running.” Ignoring herprotests, he swung her up into his arms and carried her across the rolling lawntowards the vast, sprawling mansion.

Trin wanted to fight him but suddenly all thestrength seemed to have left her body. She collapsed against him, pressing herface to the place where his broad shoulder met his neck and breathed in thedark, spicy scent of his skin. It comforted her for some reason she couldn’tunderstand, bringing her a small measure of calm even though she felt like shewas falling apart.

“What’s wrong with me?” she whispered as he carriedher through the long marble hallways of Dreaming Hills. “Why did I act likethat? Why couldn’t I control myself?”