The Price of Pleasure

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Readers aged 18 and older only, please.

Chapter One

The House of Lilies was busy tonight. 

Jax sat in a corner booth watching the activity around him. The large, dimly-lit room was filled with his brothers-in-arms, Saurellian warriors enjoying the charms of the newly conquered women of the mining station. The pleasure house, with its lush red fabrics and gold accents, was a place designed to make a man forget his cares. Jax was ready for that forgetfulness, the kind that only came in the arms of a beautiful woman. He sighed with satisfaction, sitting back, sipping his drink and thinking about which one of the many pleasure workers filling the room would be his that night.

It was good to be here. They had been fighting for months, beating the Emperor's troops back star sector by star sector. Their forces had taken almost a quarter of his vast territory before a truce had been called. The Saurellians hadn't started the fight, but by the Goddess they'd finished it. Now Jax and his comrades had been assigned to this remote system, babysitting the troublesome Discovery station. In Jax's opinion, "Discovery" was too optimistic a name for the grotty outpost. 

There were millions of asteroids surrounding the small sun at the center of the system, containing enough ore for a thousand ships; all of them had to pass by Discovery station sooner or later. Losing the system had been a crippling blow to the Empire's economy, and there was little doubt that they'd try to re-take it if the peace talks fell through. They'll have to get through me first, Jax thought savagely. A scowl momentarily marred his near-perfect, olive-toned face. 

One of the waitresses at the table next to him caught his expression. He watched as her eyes widened in surprise. She made a pretty, pouting little moue of concern with her mouth. Never one to disappoint a lady, Jax flashed her a quick grin, then ran a hand quickly through his tousled, black hair-the "nervous" gesture never failed to catch a woman's attention, something he'd learned early on. 

The waitress smiled seductively at him in response, and started sauntering toward him until Gelvar, another of Jax's squad-mates, grabbed her from behind. She squealed in pleasure, dropping her tray. With a growl, Gelvar buried his face in her neck and she shrugged her shoulders helplessly at Jax. 

He grinned back at her, more than willing to let her go to Gelvar. There were plenty of women to go around; one was much like the next. He would never consider letting a female get between him and his fellow warriors. Turning his attention back to the room at large, Jax downed another shot of the pleasure house's finest black market bakrah in satisfaction.

His squadron was one of the toughest in the Saurellian armada. The Imperial forces would not find them an easy target if they chose to return to the mining station. Until then, it was time to relax and enjoy the pleasures of conquest.

A roar from the crowd roused Jax from his thoughts. One of his friends, Daaron, had been lured up on to the circle-shaped stage that thrust into the center of the room, and the warriors in the crowd were going crazy. A pleasure dancer dressed only in a filmy sarong and matching band across her breasts had dropped to her knees in front of Daaron, running a finger suggestively up and down the length of his bulging crotch. 

Jax recognized her as a crowd-favorite from the night before, her shapely and well-endowed body easy to remember. The thought of her performance then, complete with three volunteers from the audience, was enough to make him shift in his seat uncomfortably. His pants seemed far tighter than they had earlier...

"What should I do, boys?" the woman called out loudly, flashing a broad grin at the audience. Their crude suggestions rang through the crowded club. 

The men were feeling wild tonight, Jax thought. 

Laughing, she responded by yelling, "Well, then, what's it worth to you? I think I need some motivation!"

Instantly credits started raining down on the stage. Another woman, naked except for a series of strategically-placed leather straps, started walking around leisurely, bending over at the waist to pick them up. Apparently the men liked the view she gave them, because another shower of credits came flying toward her.

"I can see you men know what you want..." the dancer called to the rowdy crowd. "Fortunately, I'm a woman who knows how to give a man what he wants!"

With that, she rose a little on her knees and used her teeth to slowly draw down the fastening on Daaron's pants. The crowd roared again, growing louder as she paused dramatically. Then she pulled the zipper all the way down with a flourish, freeing the warrior's enormous cock from the imprisoning fabric.

It stood out straight from his body, the head flushed red with excitement. Reaching out delicately with her tongue, the woman swirled it around the helmet-shaped tip. The warrior gasped, reaching one hand down to grip the back of the dancer's head. Encouraged by Daaron's grasp, the woman slowly drew him into her mouth, then pulled back teasingly.

As Jax watched with interest from his seat, Daaron gave out a groan, and tried to pull the woman's mouth back over him. She resisted, however, standing up instead. Music with a slow, pulsing beat began to sound.

"Darling, I think we can give them a better show than that," she said, looking to the crowd for approval. The answering shouts from the crowd agreed with her. Turning away from the man, she rotated her hips, then slowly started pulling at the skimpy little sarong she wore around her hips.

"Take it off!" rang out a voice, and the crowd went wild. She winked broadly at the audience, then slipped the sarong off, kicking it into the audience.

As Jax and the other men watched, she slowly dropped to her knees, facing the audience and turning her back to the aroused male standing behind her. Her large breasts strained against the confines of the brief band holding them. The crowd urged her on as she removed the band and flicked her hardened nipples with her fingers. Then she glanced flirtatiously up at the man standing behind her, and rubbed the back of her head sensuously against his aroused penis. Daaron gasped audibly at the sensation.

Slowly leaning over toward the audience, the woman placed both hands firmly on the stage, thrusting her round bottom up at the warrior.

Daaron didn't need to be asked twice. Kneeling down behind her, he grasped his cock in one hand, rubbing up and down its length several times. Then he lined himself up against the woman's moist cunt, pressing against her.

She looked out at the crowd and licked her lips, pushing gently back against him. "Let's give 'em a show they won't forget," she said over her shoulder.

Daaron grunted in agreement, then grasped her waist with both of his broad hands. Holding tightly, he thrust into her. The sensation must have been intense, because her gasp was loud enough for Jax to hear it all the way across the room.

The music rose in volume, and the crowd quieted as Daaron pulled almost all the way out of the woman, then slammed his cock back into her. She gave another cry, and Daaron started pumping in time with the music. The dancer's ass slapped back against him, and her breathing grew fast. Daaron and the warriors in the audience weren't the only ones enjoying the show, Jax noticed with amusement. The dancer looked like she was going to explode at any minute.

The feel of a hand sliding along his leg distracted Jax from the stage. A woman slid into the booth next to him. He recognized her-it was Dani, a pleasure-worker he'd been with just the night before. She smiled at him, her bright blue eyes full of promises.

"Hey, Jax, back for another round?" she asked, purring softly in his ear. Her hand reached his crotch, wrapping itself around the aroused length of his dick. He pushed herself against her hand, enjoying the almost-painful pressure of her grip.

"What do you think?" he said, giving her a slow smile. 

"Why am I not surprised?" Dani laughed. "You guys have only been here three weeks, and I haven't met one of you yet who isn't always ready to go. It's almost inhuman."

At least some of the locals weren't afraid of them, Jax thought wryly. Dani and her co-workers had been more than eager to welcome them to the station. The rest of the inhabitants hadn't been as happy to meet their new overlords.

"So," Dani asked with a wicked smirk. "Why is it that you're such a lusty crowd? Even Imperial soldiers need a rest now and then, but not you guys."

"It must be all the beautiful women here," Jax said, looking over Dani's lovely features. She had a fair complexion, with white-blond hair and radiant blue eyes. He had met many pleasure workers who tried to duplicate that coloring, but Dani's was natural. 

Dani laughed at his answer, enjoying the compliment. He was lying, of course. Her clients always were, but she still liked to hear it. He hadn't satisfied her curiosity, though, and she wanted a real answer to her question. The Saurellians were definitely wilder than any other group of men she'd met in her line of work. Their sheer stamina had made her curious enough to press him further for a real answer. 

"Seriously, what is it with you guys?" she asked again, running one finger around the head of his penis. The combination of the stage show and her hand had hardened him sufficiently that the entire length was outlined against the fabric. Slipping down the fastener, she allowed his cock to slip free. It was thick and hard, just the way she liked it.

"Well," Jax said, settling back in his seat under her ministrations, "If you really want to know, we aren't fully human, not like you, ummm-damn, that feels good. A little harder there, please..." 

Dani smiled at his request, then removed her hand. There was nothing she loved more than a man squirming under her. "Go on, I want to hear what you were saying," she said encouragingly. Slipping one leg over his, she straddled Jax's lap.

His eyes closed and his head dropped back against the seat. Reaching around her waist with both arms, he attempted to pull her down on him on to his waiting erection.

"I want to hear what you were going to say," Dani said playfully, teasing his cock-head with the lips of her cunt. The poor man looked like he was going to have a heart attack at any minute. "Now tell me," she laughed. She relaxed her knees and slid down on him hard, engulfing his entire length at once. He was huge! It felt like he was thrust halfway to her throat. Dani took a second to savor the moment. The feeling was fantastic!

"Hmmmmf," Jax grunted.

"Now, you were saying?" Dani asked, playfully squeezing him with her inner muscles. 

Jax groaned in pleasure. "Um...I was saying that, uh, part of the reason we have such strong sex drives is that we're only truly satisfied with one of our own women. We can fuck as many non-Saurellian women as we want, but the hunger never ends. We'll always want more. Nothing really stops the hunger."

"What?" Dani asked, forgetting for a moment to continue her movements. It wasn't the answer she had expected, certainly not from a man who looked like he might explode from pleasure at any minute. Then her professionalism kicked in, and she started moving again. 

"Well, if you can't really be fully satisfied with us, why don't you bring your own women?" she asked. "In the Empire, legionnaires bring along their wives and families. Why don't you? Are your women too weak to fight with their men?"

"Hardly," he said, lifting her by the waist with his powerful arms. He started pumping her body more strongly against his, thrusting up into her flesh so hard it made her gasp. "Our women are a force in and of themselves...ummmmfff...there simply aren't enough of them-to, umm-to go around. For every female child born, there are three or four males. The lucky ones find mates. The rest of us...ohhhhh...make do. Goddess, you feel good."

"What do you mean, 'make do'?"

"Well, most of us leave the home world," Jax said somewhat breathlessly as her body once again came to a rest on his. He tried thrusting against her again, but she was too preoccupied with what he was telling her to respond. Her breasts, however, formed an easy target directly before his face. 

She wore only a brief halter and he pressed his mouth into her cleavage, laving the soft flesh with his tongue. She gave him a little push away, and he could tell from the look on her face that she wanted to hear the rest of his story. He contented himself with reaching under the halter instead, searching for her ripe nipples. He found them, then rolled one of the tight buds between his thumb and forefinger. Dani gasped slightly at his ministrations, but she didn't start moving against him again.

With a sigh, he continued his explanation, "We realize at a young age if we aren't one of the lucky ones to have a mate. We mate fairly young, so most of us ship out by the time we're 25 or so."

"What did you do?" asked Dani, fascinated. He pressed her nipple again, and her muscles tensed around him in response. Gasping in response, she grunted, "I mean, how did you end up here?"

Jax squirmed restlessly against her and said, "I think that we could continue this conversation at a later time. I'm feeling kind of distracted."

"You know," Dani said slyly, "For someone who can't possibly be satisfied by a human woman, you seem awfully willing to keep trying." Her internal muscles clenched him tightly and he gave an involuntary moan. The sound made her smile in satisfaction.

"What can I say? I'm an optimist." Jax said, grinning up at the beauty straddling him. Dani wrapped both arms around his neck and pulled him forward to kiss her. His penis pulsed within her, and she knew he was close to coming. Fortunately, it would take more than just once or twice to tire him out. Jax had to be the best lover she'd ever had, and she'd had quite a few.

"Let's go up to my room," Dani whispered in his ear.

Jax didn't even bother to answer. He just picked her up and started across the crowded room to the stairs without even bothering to pull out of her. As he'd told Dani already, he was an optimist. A human woman might not be enough, but she was certainly something. Like every unmated Saurellian male on the station, he'd take everything he could get. 

* * * * *

Their conquerors certainly were strange, Calla thought, carrying her basket of linens through the hostel's narrow upper corridor. For such rowdy men, most were remarkably clean. They had taken over Mistress Jenner's Hostel when the station surrendered nearly a month ago, yet during that time she hardly saw them. They spent much of their time patrolling the station shipping docks and manufacturing plants, or running reconnaissance trips through the asteroid belts. At least one was always on guard at each of the hostel's entrances, but Calla had never dared to even really look at them, let alone engage them in conversation. They were large, heavily-armed men who seemed to take their work very seriously. 

They also took their play seriously. During the evenings she could hear them in the hallways, although her owner would never have let her out where she could watch them. Mistress Jenner was something of a religious fanatic, a member of the strict "Pilgrims of the Apocalypse." The Saurellians' carousing was disgusting to her, and she would never dream of allowing even a slave such as Calla to become polluted by their presence. 

Calla made her way through each of the rooms, changing linens and straightening what little there was to straighten. They had very few personal possessions, so she hadn't gleaned much information about them in her cleaning. Usually she was able to tell a great deal about the guests by what they left in their rooms.

The final room, at the end of the hall, was actually a small suite. According to Jess, her best friend and crèche-brother, the squadron's commander was staying here. Mistress Jenner seemed to hate him more than all the other Saurellians combined. Calla had heard her blame the man for everything from the recent rise in food costs to the timing of transport take-offs, which caused a shudder to run through the entire space station. Last week, Jenner had spilled hot tea all over her hands during a rough launch.

According to Jenner, the commander was the most disgustingly licentious Saurellian of them all. He even had pleasure workers spend the night with him at the hostel and hosted parties in his suite, something which never would have happened if they weren't under martial law. Mistress Jenner wasn't brave enough to stand up to their conquerors, but there was no question as to what her opinion about them was. 

She believed they were evil, pure and simple. Not that she had held a much higher opinion of the Imperial troops, of course. As far as Calla could tell, the only people Mistress Jenner actually liked were her fellow Pilgrims. Given the choice between accepting Saurellian money or being turned out of her own home, however, Mistress Jenner had opted to take the money.

When she reached the suite's door, Calla didn't bother to knock before placing her hand against the palm plate to open it. There was never anyone there during the day, anyway. As she walked in, she banged her basket on the door frame, dropping several towels on the floor. Carefully balancing the large basket against her small, compact frame, she knelt down, reaching for the towels.

The action was just enough to loosen the knot dark brown hair at her nape, and the entire mass of unruly curls came off her head and down before her eyes. She fought with it for a few seconds, then gave into the inevitable and set down the basket. She'd have to braid it to get it out of the way now, she thought with disgust. She hated doing that, because braids, combined with her youthful features and the smattering of freckles across her nose, always made her look like a 12-year-old. Not that she had anybody to impress, anyway, so it really didn't matter she reminded herself wryly. 

As she braided the long mass with swift fingers, she heard a sound come from the other room. She froze in place, heart thumping. After a moment's silence she laughed nervously to herself, convinced she had imagined it. Perhaps the long hours were getting to her...

Moving quickly and efficiently once her hair was out of the way, she set her basket on a low table, picked out a set of linens and headed toward the bedroom. As she opened the door a pair of strong arms grabbed her from behind, and she was pulled back against a large, unyielding form. Calla tried to scream, but the noise was instantly muffled by a hand that covered her face. Something sharp pricked her neck, and she knew she was in big trouble. 

"What are you doing here?" a deep voice whispered harshly in her ear. Calla tried to answer, but her captor's hand still covered her mouth. "I'll let you speak, but if you scream I'll cut your throat. Don't try to play games with me."

"I-I-I'm C-C-Calla," she said, stuttering slightly in fear. The blade pressed more sharply against her neck. "I w-w-work here, I clean the rooms."

The man's hand and arm slipped lower, clasping her across her chest and effectively pinning both her arms. His body was hard against her back, his arm a band of iron trapping her. Even if he wasn't holding a knife to her throat, there was no way she'd be able to get away from him. 

"I gave strict orders to Mistress Jenner not to have anyone come in here today. I'm going to check your story out," he said, arms not moving an inch. "If you're lying, this is the time to tell me. Otherwise I'll kill you."

"I'm not lying," Calla whispered. She could scarcely breath, she was so frightened. He would do it, he would actually kill her. She could tell from his voice that he was serious. The man keyed a small comset attached to his shoulder with his chin. "Tiernan, this is Seth. I've caught a woman going through my room." he said. "She claims to work for the hostel. Her name is Calla. Can you confirm this for me?"

"Yes, sir," Tiernan answered, his voice sounding tinny through the tiny speaker. 

Calla assumed he was one of the men guarding the hostel's entrances. He should be able to confirm her identity, although he couldn't go quickly enough for her comfort. Until then, it was clear that the man had no intention of letting her go. His arms remained inflexible as steel-there would be no escaping.

She could feel the entire length of his body against her back, solid as a wall. His breathing was steady and sure, although every muscle was tense and ready for action. Then she felt something pressing against the small of her back. With a shock, she realized her captor was becoming aroused as he held her against his body. Fear swept through her-if he wanted her, there was nothing to stop him. Mistress Jenner certainly wouldn't come to save her, even if orders hadn't been given to stay out of the suite. Stay calm, Calla told herself. This will pass if you just stay calm.

Seth's erection was quite obvious now, jutting insistently against her. She tried to edge her lower body away from him slightly, but his grip tightened instantly.

"I told you not to move," he said in a menacing tone. His breath was coming a little faster now. Holding the knife steady at her throat, he moved his hand from her upper arm to slide slowly down her chest. It slowed at her breast, cupping her gently. Using his thumb and finger, he plucked softly at her nipple, sending a whisper of sensation through Calla's body. It felt exquisite. There was something strangely sexy about being held like this, she thought. The realization was simultaneously disgusting and compelling.

After a few seconds, his hand left her breast to slide lower, stopping just below her slightly rounded belly. Pressing with the palm of his hand, the man rubbed her body gently against his cock. One finger reached down toward her clit, and even with the layers of cloth between them Calla gasped slightly at the touch. She was afraid of him, but excited, too. He still held a blade to her throat, and she didn't doubt that he'd use it if he needed too, but he was also attracted to her. He held most of the power in the situation, but some small part of it was hers-he wanted her, Calla, the slave. 

With a shock, she realized she wanted him, too. A tendril of sensation coiled through her at his touch, and she could feel moisture gather between her legs. Without pausing to consider the consequences of her actions, she relaxed against him slightly, allowing her legs to shift restlessly. It surprised him, Calla could tell, because he stopped breathing for a moment. 

She watched as he moved the knife from her throat. He set it down on a small table beside them before reaching back to her aching breast. He started rocking the aroused length of his cock against her again, one hand massaging her breast while the other focused attention between her legs. His large fingers moved back and forth, pushing the rough fabric of her undergarments across her most sensitive spot. It felt so good it was almost painful. 

A pressure was building in her body, and while she was still far from coming, she let out a little moan. She simply had to have more. Without thinking, Calla whispered, "I want to do more than this."

The man holding her must have felt the same way, because he groaned into her hair and thrust sharply against her with his cock. Using both arms, he crushed her against his body, lifting her so that he would be cradled against her butt. 

The feeling of him there, so close to where she wanted him, was almost too much. Calla moaned a little, trying to convey her urgency. She wanted him. Now.

Spurred on by the noise, Seth carried her toward the large bed in the center of the room.

It was still mussed from his sleep the night before and the thought of his body lying there caused a rush of moisture in between her legs. In mere moments she would be experiencing that body for herself, and she was ready. His hard length pressed against her with every step; Calla's muscles clenched involuntarily in anticipation.

When they reached the bed, he pushed her roughly forward and she fell on her stomach. Before she could even start to crawl into a different position, her skirts were up around her head, tangling her hands and immobilizing her. His large, fingers felt roughly for the moist entrance to her cunt. Calla moaned and pressed back against him. She was ready for him.

Then his fingers were replaced by something much larger and his cock pushed against her opening. Both of his hands went to her hips, lifting them high and bracing her slight frame for what was to happen next. Calla couldn't see a thing, but he felt enormous and she briefly wondered whether he would fit.

Then her question was answered as he gave a powerful thrust against her. Goddess, he was huge. It felt like someone was shoving a battering ram up her cunt, and she cried out in pain and shock. She'd never felt a man like this one before.

At her cry, the man withdrew partially and paused to massage her clit. The feel of his fingers was heavenly, and within in seconds Calla was squirming against him. Somehow she managed to free her arms enough to raise herself on to her elbows, and she used the leverage to push back toward him with a whimper, yearning for him to fill her again. It was unlike any sexual experience she'd ever had. She needed him, wanted him, had to have him. 

Seth starting thrusting again, moving more quickly as the tide of lust swept through them. He pushed into her again and again, grunting harshly with the effort.

Something was building in her body; she needed more, had to have it because the pressure was too much. Then it crashed through her, and she screamed out in shock and pleasure. Her arms, unable to support her weight, collapsed, causing her upper body to fall forward. Her hips remained high, held in the man's strong hands as he continued to pump his large cock into her. He moved faster and faster, squeezing her hips with his hands almost to the point of pain as he shouted out his own pleasure. Calla could feel the hot spurt of moisture deep within her body, then the weight of his spent body came down on her, all but crushing her. His breath was hot against the back of her neck, arms splayed on either side of her.

They lay there for a second, both struggling to regain their composure. Then the door crashed open and Calla heard someone call out, "Seth, are you alright? I couldn't raise you on the com!"

"I'm fine," the man said. He raised himself up on one elbow to look at whoever was in the room with them, the fingers of one hand slipping beneath her body to absently toy with her clit. 

Little curls of pleasure at his touch coursed through her, and she shuddered lightly. Then Calla realized with sudden horror that she was still naked to the waist, completely exposed to both men. She started struggling upright but the man-Seth-was still fully imbedded in her and far to heavy to shift. 

"Did you check on the woman's identity?" Seth asked, comfortable in front of his subordinate despite his partial nudity.

Calla moaned, a combination of pleasure and embarrassment, as his fondling continued.

"Yes, sir," the young man said. "She's a slave here. Apparently no one remembered to tell her not to clean today."

"Thank you," Seth said. "You're dismissed."

The door closed and they were alone again. Calla wished she could sink into the mattress and disappear forever, she was so embarrassed. Instead she said firmly, "Please let me up now."

"Of course," he said, sounding far more relaxed than when he'd caught her entering the room. His hand moved from her clit, and he pulled out of her. "I'd like to take a closer look at you. I haven't had a fuck like that in years."

Calla fought to keep in a hysterical giggle. She hadn't had a fuck like that in years, either, but she was horrified with her situation. Not least of her worries was whether Jenner would find out. The mistress had strong feelings about how unmarried women should behave, and those feelings didn't leave any room for encounters like this one. Not even for slaves.

More than one woman had been sold to a brothel after being caught in bed with a guest-and not a Guild-owned pleasure house, either. The last girl had been sold to a pimp who worked out of a seedy bar near the space port. The poor thing had been dead within a week. Jenner couldn't find out about this no matter what it took, Calla thought with conviction. She had to get out of here and pretend nothing had happened. She needed to keep the commander quiet about the encounter, too.

Sitting up, Calla reluctantly faced the man whose seed was still warm in her body. He sat next to her on the bed, trousers open and pulled slightly down. Her eyes strayed down to his still-stiff cock, then quickly flew up to his face. His skin was slightly dark-toned, and his shoulder-length hair was almost black. His eyes were black as well, and they stared at her intently. He reached one finger out and gently pulled up her chin. 

"You're a cute one, Calla," he said. "I may have to keep you for a while."

There was no way Jenner would go for that, Calla realized, clamping down firmly on another hysterical giggle that threatened to escape. Oh no, not a good idea at all...

"I need to go, I have work to do," she said. He frowned at her. Unable to help herself, Calla's gaze was drawn to his mouth. His lips were full and soft looking, a little grin playing at the corners. What she really wanted, Calla realized, was to lean over and bite the lower one. Another bad idea. Things were definitely out of hand. 

"When can you come back?" he asked bluntly. "I'm not done with you."

"I can't come back," Calla said. No matter how much pleasure this man had given her, she couldn't afford to anger Jenner. His hand grasped her chin hard now, forcing her to meet his eyes. He had lost his open, pleasant smile. She had to think of a way to get rid of him and keep him quiet, too.

"Why not? I'm prepared to compensate you."

"I'm married," she said, thinking quickly. "His name is Jess, and if he finds out what happened here it would kill him. I didn't mean to have sex with you, it was an accident." It was a stroke of genius, Calla thought. Or at least it would be if the Saurellian was willing to respect a slave's wedding vow. Jess was like a brother, they'd been raised together in the same crèche. He would lie to protect her without question. Since slave marriages weren't recorded, the Saurellian would never know the difference. Seth's hand tightened on her chin, and a dark look swept across his face, scaring her with its intensity. He was angry, she realized. His eyes flashed.

"I see," he said tightly, then abruptly let her go and stood up and paced across the room. His intense gaze followed her, and a muscle worked tightly in his jaw. "Get out."

Calla quickly stood up, not about to argue. It seemed like she might yet escape this horrible situation-she certainly wasn't going to give him time to change his mind. Moving quickly, she paused to pick up her basket and gather the fallen linens. Seth watched for a few seconds while she collected her things. Then he repeated his terse order.

"I said get out."

Dropping the linens, Calla did as she was told. 

* * * * *

It took every ounce of Seth's strength to let Calla leave. He couldn't believe she was married. The mere thought of another man touching her made him want to smash his fist through the wall. He'd kill him, Seth thought. He'd kill him, and take Calla.

Then he caught himself, disgusted by his own thoughts. It wasn't as if she was his life mate, he reminded himself. She was just a slave on a third-rate, back-world mining station. He could have any woman on the station he wanted. What use did he have for one little slave? If anything, he should feel sorry for the poor bastard she was married to. After all, he'd just fucked her silly and she hadn't exactly protested. In fact, she screamed her pleasure when she came. Who knew how many times she'd done the same thing with other guests? Seth could probably have her again if he really wanted, but he didn't get involved with married women, even if they were only slaves. He liked his relationships open and simple, preferring to pay good money to get good service.

Seth prowled around his room another hour, then decided he needed to get out. He'd hoped to catch up on his reports to the Saurellian High Council. He was concerned about rumors that some mining camp factions calling themselves "pilgrims" were hoarding weapons. With a snort of disgust, Seth realized he wasn't going to be able to focus after his romp with the cleaning slave. Instead he'd go and check the patrols, and maybe even head over to the House of Lilies. He'd find a woman there who'd make Calla look like the little nothing she was. It was definitely time to seek out the services of a professional. 

 

Chapter Two

 

When Calla collapsed, exhausted, onto her pallet in the kitchen that night, she couldn't fall asleep. Just thinking about Seth's hands on her hips, holding her while he pounded into her from behind, sent little shudders of pleasure through her. She was still sore from that morning, yet she ached from wanting more. He'd watched her with an intensity she'd never seen before. When she'd told him she was married, he'd looked ready to hit something. Or someone. She couldn't afford to have him find out she'd been lying to him. For all she knew, he might kill her. 

The Saurellians were crazy, everybody said so. They fought hard, they fucked hard and they were ruthless with their enemies. Without being told, Calla knew that a woman who lied to their commander would be one of those enemies. Rolling over on her pallet, she pillowed her head against her arm, willing the pleasurable sensations in her body to go away. It didn't matter how much she wanted to go back to his room. It was too dangerous. Even if he didn't kill her, Jenner would sell her in a heartbeat if she found out what Calla had done. Even death would be better than spending the rest of her life on her back in a mining-camp crib.

Calla slept restlessly and woke up tired. She had plenty of work to do. Even conquering warriors had to eat, and it was her turn to check on the availability of supplies at the market. The bulk of their food at the hostel was delivered each week, but since war had come to their system Mistress Jenner had sent Calla or one of the girls each day to see what was available on the black market. Supply lines were up and running now that the Saurellians had occupied the station, but there were still good deals to be found if you were resourceful enough. Calla was very resourceful.

Slipping out the back of the hostel, Calla pulled a shawl over her head and made her way down a side corridor toward the central market. It was always safer to go out covered; she might not be much to look at, but more than one slave woman of even average appearance had disappeared in the station's back corridors. It was best not to take any chances. She was also concerned about running into Seth, but once she thought about it, she realized she had never seen him before yesterday. He was probably too important to spend his time on guard duty at the hostel, anyway. Bumping into him wouldn't be a problem, she assured herself.

The marketplace was centrally located in the station, making it easy for Calla catch a ride with one of the small transports that regularly moved through the station's main corridors. In less than ten minutes she arrived at the market, where she quickly hit all of her usual stops and arranged for the deliveries. Jenner gave Calla full bargaining authority, but no one got their credits until the goods arrived at the hostel. A slave might be trusted to run errands and negotiate for supplies, Calla thought bitterly, but she would never be trusted with actual money.

Checking the time, she realized there was at least an hour before she needed to be back to the hostel, enough time to visit her friend Dani. Dani's apartment wasn't far from the marketplace, although it was on the opposite side of the station from the hostel. That was fine with Calla, because it made it less likely that Jenner would ever run into her and Dani together. Dani was a pleasure worker, a profession that Jenner and her fellow pilgrims despised. According to Jenner, any woman who had sex outside of marriage was a dirty slut and deserved to be treated as such. In Calla's opinion, Dani had things pretty good. 

Dani was a member of the powerful Pleasure Guild, highly trained and well paid for her services. She was completely free to come and go as she pleased, working in any pleasure house she chose. Upon retirement, she would have her pick of suitors and a healthy cash settlement, more than enough to support her for the rest of her life. Unfortunately, the Guild only accepted extremely beautiful girls in their early teens as apprentices. Calla was too old to join even if she wasn't a slave, she thought wistfully.

"Dani? It's me, Calla," she said into the little com outside Dani's door. It was still a little early for Dani to be up after working all night, but Calla knew Dani wouldn't mind her stopping by. They got very few opportunities to visit, especially lately. Things had simply been too chaotic.

"Calla?" Dani's voice floated out through the speaker. "It's good to hear your voice. Come on in."

Pressing her palm to the doorplate, Calla waited for the door to slide open. When it did, the scent of Dani's perfume wafted out into the corridor. Dani stood in the doorway, dressed in a luxurious silk robe tied around the waist. Her long, blond hair fell to her waist in fat curls. Calla knew she must have just crawled out of bed, but she still looked like a vid star. Dani always looked perfect-whenever Calla asked how, Dani would simply wink and whisper "trade secret."

"Come in, come in," Dani said, engulfing her in a warm hug, then gesturing toward the low couch in her living area. Dani's apartment was tiny, like every apartment on the cramped station, yet somehow it seemed like a different world to Calla. Everything was draped with silk and soft pillows, and there were holo pictures on the walls from all over the galaxy, one from each of the places Dani had lived and worked. She'd been everywhere.

"It's so good to see you, Dani," Calla said, smiling warmly at her friend. "Things have been so strange since the occupation started. You know, almost all of the Saurellians are staying at the hostel. They've taken over the whole place."

"I'm surprised they even bother to get rooms anywhere," Dani said with a laugh. "I'd swear they spend all their free time at the House of Lilies-though they're hardly sleeping there," she added with a wink.

"Really?" Calla asked, curious despite herself. Dani's stories of the pleasure house always intrigued her. Not that she was interested in learning any more about the Saurellian commander, of course, she told herself. She needed to keep her distance from him. But it was interesting to learn more about their conquerors.

"Oh, yes," Dani said. She sighed dramatically and draped herself back against the pillows. "You wouldn't believe what those men are like in bed. They're insatiable. I've never experienced anything like it. I have to say, if I wasn't a card-carrying member of the Guild, I'd do it with any of them for freeÖ I swear the credits are just a perk."

"I see," Calla said. For once, she felt like she truly understood what Dani was talking about. She'd certainly never experienced sex as wonderful as what she'd had with the commander. If it wasn't for Jenner, she'd have taken him up on his offer in a heartbeat.

"Last night I was with one named Seth," Dani said. Calla's breath caught. Was Dani talking about her Saurellian? "He's like a machine. He fucked me twice in a row! I must've come something like five times. I can hardly walk this morning, yet I know for a fact that he had at least one other girl last night after me."

Calla's brow furrowed. Seth had sex with two other women last night? 

"Was he, um, one of the ones staying at our hostel, do you think?" she asked, trying not to sound too curious. It didn't matter of course. Seth could never be hers, even for a few days. Only a slave who was a complete fool would allow herself to get involved with a free man like him. He'd have to leave eventually, and then she'd be left to Jenner's tender mercies. No man was worth it.

"Probably," Dani said. "He's the commander, so I would imagine that he's staying there."

It was him, Calla realized. If he'd left her to head straight for the pleasure house, then he must not have been as interested in her as she had originally thought. He'd seemed so angry when she told him she was married, but maybe that was just his way. He was Saurellian, after all. They were all crazy. It was stupid of her to think she'd actually been anything special to him, she thought in disgust.

"Um, Dani, I have a question for you." Calla said after a brief pause. Dani was probably her best source of information on the Saurellians-she might as well take the opportunity to learn as much as she could about their new governors. "What do you think of the Saurellians, other than just what they're like in bed, I mean?"

"Well, I like them," Dani said, after pausing for a minute to consider her answer. "They're open about what they want. They're here, they're leaving soon, and they aren't interested in playing any games, especially with women like me. I hate it when men pretend to be emotionally involved in sex."

"What do you mean, they're leaving?" Calla asked, confused. "I thought they were going to keep the station. I mean, they fought hard to take it. They must want to keep the mining belts."

"Well, from what I hear, they'll be leaving soon," Dani said, lazily leaning over and picking up a fruit from the basket on the table. Dani offered the little basket to Calla, who took a citrus.

She didn't get these very often, so they were a special treat. Calla suspected Dani realized that, because she always seemed to have them on hand when Calla came to visit.

"The warriors will be leaving, that is," Dani clarified. "They're sending a governor or something, with a regular occupation force. Their military is totally separate from the civil authority. From what Jax tells me-he's one of my regulars-the soldiers really hate it when they have to stay put for too long like this. They like action, and this isn't cutting it."

"That doesn't make sense," Calla objected. "The imperial troops liked action, too, but that didn't stop them from occupying the station for years."

"I don't think it's quite the same with Saurellians," Dani said. "It's kind of weird, but these soldiers are different from the imperial soldiers."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, this is going to sound strange, but I think they're just kind of sexually frustrated and restless all of the time," Dani replied, laughing a little. "According to Jax, they can only really be satisfied when they get a life mate, and there aren't enough of them to go around. I guess that only about one female is born for every four or five men in their home system, and while they can mate with human women, they can't bond with them. Once they bond, they bond for life, but the poor saps that don't get one of the women are just out of luck. Jax told me that by the time they're about 25, they pretty much have to leave the home system because they tend to get out of control, even violent."

"That's horrible," Calla said. "And they can't bond with anyone outside their home system?"

"Nope," Dani said. "They can fuck all they want, but it's never quite enough. According to Jax, most of them won't live past their 40th birthday. They get into too many fights. When they send a governor to the station, he'll be bonded and stable, a family man. Otherwise their occupation would never last."

Calla licked the last drop of citrus juice from her fingers, then looked longingly at the little clock hanging on Dani's wall. It was past time for her to go. With a sigh, she pushed herself off the couch and stood up. 

"I need to get going, Dani," she said. "I'm sure Mistress Jenner's watching the clock again, just waiting for me to be late."

"I hate that old bitch," Dani said, disgust written all over her lovely face. "She's such a hypocrite-condemning pleasure workers like me, yet keeping you as a slave and dealing on the black market. I wish I could buy you, but the Guild forbids us to purchase slaves, even to free them. I doubt she'd sell you, anyway."

"You're too good to me," Calla said, standing up and giving Dani a hug. "You're right, though, she probably wouldn't sell me. Unfortunately, she almost seems to like me in some sick way. She's told me more than once that the only way I'm getting away from her is to die or get sold to a port-side pimp."

"Bitch," Dani hissed with feeling, then sighed heavily. "At the very least, take some of the citrus fruit with you. I know you love it."

"Thanks, Dani," Calla said, pocketing the fruit. She'd share it with the other girls at the hostel later. "I wish I had something to give you."

"Oh, I can always buy more citrus fruit," Dani said gently. "Good friends are harder to find. I count myself lucky that I ran into you in the market that day. You saved me from losing a fortune on that fake jewelry, you know. I still can't believe I fell for that guy's spiel."

Calla laughed at the memory. She'd seen old Gavin trying to sell Dani some of the same jewelry he usually sold to the drunken miners. Nothing but tin, with a coat of gold paint. Dani had been new to the station, however, and wasn't used to unregulated trade standards. Calla had stepped in and warned her just in time. They'd been unlikely friends ever since.

"Take care, and I'll see you later," Calla said, then stepped out the door. If she was lucky, she'd get home before Jenner realized she'd taken a side trip. Fortunately Mistress Jenner-while cruel-was not particularly smart.

* * * * *

It was nearly the noon hour by the time she arrived at the small, back-corridor door that was the service entrance to the hostel. A tall Saurellian guarded the entryway, and another was seated just inside the door. Both scrutinized her identity chit closely before allowing her to go through to Mistress Jenner's office, located off the kitchen. They'd seen her before, of course, but it didn't stop them from thoroughly checking her identity. The Saurellians might like to party, Calla thought, but they were all business when it came to security.

"I've gotten all the supplies," she said when her middle-aged owner looked up and acknowledged her with a grunt. Jenner was sitting at her desk, all three hundred pounds of quivering flesh tucked into a chair that was far too small for her massive body. Jess, with his dark sense of humor, had gone so far as to take bets among the slaves as to when the chair would break. "Here's the list," Calla said. "The deliveries should be complete by this afternoon."

Jenner reached up a hand for the small transaction pad Calla carried. Calla's fingers brushed against those of her mistress as she handed the pad over, and as usual she had to suppress a small shudder at the feel of Jenner's skin. They were cold and dry, like a snake's. Or at least like Calla imagined snake skin would feel. She'd always thought of Mistress Jenner as snake-like, with her staring eyes and stale scent. Her mistress was cold and cruel, something Calla had seen demonstrated time and again over the years. Jenner cared only for herself and her profit, no matter that she professed to be a devout spiritual Pilgrim. Of course, most of the Pilgrims seemed that way to Calla. Their religion was simply a way to justify their selfish actions, as far as she could tell. 

"You've done all right," Jenner said grudgingly after a minute, beady eyes darting across the list of purchases. "They'll be needing you in the kitchen. We're a little short-handed. I had to let someone go today."

Calla felt cold fear in her stomach. "Let someone go" was Jenner's euphemism for selling one of the slaves, all of whom were Calla's friends. Trying to contain her concern, Calla nodded submissively at Jenner and made her way down the hall to the kitchen. When she opened the door, conversation fell silent and suddenly everyone became busy with their tasks. Everyone except Hari, a young girl who cleaned the cooking implements and dishes.

"Calla, you won't believe what Mistress Jenner did!" Hari said with wide eyes.

"Shut up, Hari," said Karin, the cook. She was one of the few slaves who had been at the hostel longer than Calla. Calla's fear grew stronger. No one but Karin and Hari would look at her, and there was a sadness in Karin's face that boded ill.

"Mistress Jenner said she got rid of someone," Calla asked quickly. "Who was it?"

"Calla, I'm so sorry," Karin said, walking quickly toward her. "Come sit with me at the table."

Something was very wrong, Calla realized. The only reason that Karin would look at her like that would be if Jenner had sold...

"Jess," Calla whispered, comprehension dawning. "She sold Jess. He's gone."

"Honey, none of us had any idea," Karin said, pulling Calla to her. The horror of Jenner's actions was too much. Calla had never been away from Jess, they were born in the same crèche on the imperial slave farm. It was beyond comprehension.

"Where is he?" Calla asked, hoping Jess was still on-station. At least that way she would be able to see him.

"He's gone," Karin said. "Jenner sold him to one of her pilgrim friends, a miner. They came to take him just a couple of minutes after you left to shop this morning. I guess the deal's been done for weeks; they just waited to collect him until it was time to ship back out to the mining fields. He's already off-station. She just didn't bother to tell any of us it was going to happen," she added with disgust.

It was typical Jenner, Calla thought despairingly. No matter than Jess was her best friend. No matter that they'd been together their entire lives. The most horrifying thing was that it hadn't been deliberate cruelty on Jenner's part-Calla was sure it simply hadn't occurred to her that the slaves would want to know they were going to be separated. To Jenner, Jess and Calla weren't even real people. It was too much to bear.

"I hate her, Karin," Calla whispered fiercely, fighting against the tears that threatened to take over her whole body. "I hate that bitch. How could she do this to us? He's my brother!"

"I'm so sorry, honey," Karin said. 

Calla leaned heavily against her, almost dizzy from shock. Jess was gone, and she might never see him again. She felt like vomiting.

The rest of the day was more horrible than Calla could have imagined. All of them were upset, of course, but none had been as close to Jess as Calla. Each of her fellow slaves did their part to make Calla feel better. Karin saved a small tartlet from Jenner's own dinner for her, and Hari slipped her a chit worth half a credit the girl had gotten somewhere. It wasn't much, but even half a credit was a prize to a slave. Jenner herself betrayed no emotions when she swept into the kitchen for her evening inspection. Then again, why would she? Calla thought bitterly. In Jenner's mind slaves weren't fully human, a belief that was validated by her pilgrim religion.

By evening, the first shock of Jess' fate had worn off, and Calla was grateful for the comforting darkness of lights-out. She had been fighting off tears for the last several hours, and she couldn't hold them back any longer. Beyond the kitchen were the hostel's common rooms, mostly unused by their Saurellian guests, who preferred the atmosphere of the station's drinking and pleasure facilities. Needing some space for herself, Calla crept silently along the hallway and into one of the rooms. She crawled onto a low couch where she curled into a miserable ball. 

She lay there, crying, for at least an hour before she came to a realization. She couldn't stay at the hostel any longer. Life had become too horrible. The only family she had ever known was gone. She and Jess had been born the same day on the slave farm. They had spent their entire lives serving others, trapped by the knowledge that runaway slaves were hunted down and swiftly executed by the imperial troops if caught.

But they weren't in the Empire any more, the realization came to her suddenly, and their new overlords were busy securing their conquests. This might be the best chance to escape she would ever get. If she could find and free Jess, they could escape into the chaos of the new political system and live out their lives with none the wiser. 

Calla never seriously considered running away before, although Jess had been plotting escape for years. The obstacles were too high and the consequences were too terrible for Calla to try, and Jess would never go without her. But now that Jess was gone, she had very little left to lose. It was time for action.

With a new sense of purpose, Calla got up and crept back into the common sleeping room. The hostel had been her home for more than ten years, and she knew every nook and cranny of it. Now was the time to put that knowledge to good use, before she lost her nerve. Quietly gathering what few possessions she had, Calla placed them in a small rucksack and made her way to the storeroom. It was locked, of course. Jenner doled out supplies carefully, accounting for every credit's worth.

What Jenner didn't know was that Calla and Jess had managed to break the door's code years ago, programming in their own palm prints. As high-spirited teen-agers, they'd used the storeroom as a location for late-night feasts and planning pranks. As adults, she suspected Jess used the room to meet with his women; he was careful to keep that side of himself from her, but she'd heard rumors about his activities from the other slaves.

It was during one of their childhood feasts that they'd discovered Jenner's little secret-a trap door that let out into one of the station's ventilation tubes. At the time, they figured that Jenner's paranoia had finally gotten the best of her. After all, pilgrims were notorious for their survivalist tendencies, so it wasn't that strange that Jenner had a secret way to leave the hostel. Now it would give Calla a way to escape without any of the guards seeing her. Getting off the station would prove harder, but Dani might be able to help with that. 

In the back of the room were several crates of expired emergency rations. Calla made her way over to them, picking her steps carefully so as not to kick anything and make a sound. Somewhere in the crates was Jess' emergency stash, everything he'd saved for their escape. Another stab of guilt hit her ten minutes later, when she found the pitifully small package containing Jess' hopes for their future. Inside were a few credit chits, two sets of dark clothing, and a fully-charged, palm-sized blaster pistol. Calla turned the weapon over in her hands several times in awe-how had Jess gotten it? She couldn't imagine...

It took another five minutes to replace everything and pull the dark clothing over what she was wearing. She didn't want to leave Jenner any clues as to how she'd escaped. Maybe, someday, another slave at the hostel would need to use the storeroom exit to get away. Then, grimly whispering, "It's now or never," to herself, Calla opened the trap door and lowered herself into the tube, carefully pulling the door back into place. For the first time in her life, she was free.

"I'm coming, Jess," she said quietly into the darkness. "I'll save you if it's the last thing I ever do."

 

Chapter Three

 

"Calla, I can't believe you've done this!" Dani said, filled with a mixture of horror and admiration at her friend's audacity. It was early morning, and she had returned from work at the House of Lilies to find Calla huddled in an alcove outside of her apartment. "Are you sure you want to go through with it?"

"Yes, I am," Calla said, meeting Dani's gaze firmly with her own. "I need to find Jess, and we need to get away from Jenner. He's always taken care of me-I can't just stand by now that he's in trouble. We both know what happens to slaves out in the asteroid mines. He'll die if I don't save him."

"You're right, he will," Dani said quietly, wishing Calla's logic wasn't so strong. A slave in the mines was lucky to survive a year.

"I understand if you don't feel like you can help me," Calla added. "I know the penalties for assisting a runaway slave."

"Calla, you're my friend and I'll help you," Dani said, tossing her hair defiantly. "Besides, I happen to be on very good terms with any number of our Saurellian landlords, and I have the Guild to back me up. Nothing's going to happen to me. I'm more concerned about you. Don't you have some kind of implant they can use to track you down?"

"Yes, but fortunately for me, Jenner's a cheap old bitch. She didn't want to spring for one of the high-end models that can pinpoint exact location. She'll be able to tell I'm on the station, but that's about all. Of course, getting off the station is another problem. It's programmed to release a toxin into my system if I leave the station's electrical grid, unless it's deactivated. That's the only way slaves who are sold are able to leave alive."

"I've heard of that," Dani said, a frown marring her perfect brow. "We'll need to get rid of the implant somehow."

"I've heard that there are surgeons who will do it, for a price," Calla said carefully. This was as far as she'd gotten with her escape plan-getting to Dani and asking for help. Everything was riding on what Dani said next. It would be almost impossible to get away without some kind of assistance.

"Oh, Calla, that's dangerous," Dani said. "Those things are supposed to be tamper-proof. Won't it release the toxin if someone tries to take it out?"

"It's a risk I'm willing to take, if I can find someone to perform the procedure," Calla said. "Jess and I talked about doing it lots of times, but I was always too afraid and he wouldn't go without me." She added bitterly, " Now I realize that staying a slave with Jenner was every bit as dangerous as escaping. She sold Jess knowing he would die-she just didn't care. If I hadn't held him back he would have gone years ago, but he thought he needed to stay and take care of me. Now I need to take care of him." 

Looking at Calla, Dani could certainly understand why Jess had felt that way. Calla was had told her once she was 27-years-old, but with her small frame and freckled face she looked younger. If Dani didn't know better, she would have thought Calla was nothing more than a girl in her late teens. Perhaps they could turn fragility to their advantage.

"Calla," Dani said. Her tone was slow and hesitant, as though she really didn't want to even suggest her plan. "I have an idea how to get you off-station, but it's kind of tricky."

"What is it?" Calla asked, cautious hope in her voice.

"Well, first we'll have to get rid of your tracker. But I'm thinking that we could set you up with a protector, maybe one of the Saurellians. Even though you're not a member of the Pleasure Guild, there's some room in the field for promising independent contractors. You wouldn't make as much money as a Guild-trained worker like me, but it could be your ticket out of here. You've got decent looks, and you're young. There are lots of men who might be interested in a woman like you."

Jenner had threatened to sell her to a pimp a thousand times, but it had never occurred to Calla that she could sell herself. The idea was somehow appealing-for once she would be in charge of her own body. Still, there were potential problems...

"How would I protect myself?" she asked. "I mean, I've heard how rough spacers can get. I can't do Jess any good if I'm dead."

"That's where I come in," Dani said, smiling triumphantly. "I can help negotiate a deal for you. It's a trade secret, but the Guild keeps extensive records on all our clients. I can find you someone who has a good history and solid payment record. If you fulfill your part of the contract, you'll find yourself off-station. You'll have resources, and if you play your cards right, he may even help you look for Jess-some men will do anything for the woman they're sleeping with."

"I can't believe you'd do all that for me," Calla said. She'd known Dani was generous, but to negotiate a contract for her was more than she'd expected. Normally the Guild did everything it could to squash independent contractors. 

"You know, Calla, I just wish I could give you enough money to go and find Jess by yourself," Dani said. "But the Guild puts most of what I earn in a pension fund, and I don't actually have access to it unless I resign. I just get an allowance until I cash out."

"Oh, Dani," Calla said. "I never expected that. I just didn't know where else to go."

"Well, I do have a little tucked away," Dani said, chewing thoughtfully on her lip. She did some quick mental calculations. "I think I have enough to pay a doctor, and to give you a little bit to take with you. You'll need it, especially if the contract doesn't work out. We'll need to buy you a new identity, too, and new finger and retina prints."

Calla nodded in agreement. Whenever Jess had talked to her about escaping, he'd listed everything they'd need. New identities were at the top of that list. She had to become a new person if she was going to have prayer of getting away from the station, let alone finding Jess. 

"Dani, I swear I'll pay you back," she said. "I don't know how, but I'll do it."

"Honey, I just hope you don't get caught," Dani said, reaching her arms out to gather Calla close. It was all Calla could do not to cry at her friend's generosity.

"Me, too." Calla said. "But if I do, I won't let them know who helped me. I promise."

"Oh, you don't have to worry about that," Dani said with a wry laugh. "They wouldn't dare touch me. Being a member of the Guild does have some privileges. They may have the legal right to punish me for helping you, but if they do the Guild will pull right out and boycott the station. We protect our own, and our financial interests go well beyond the pleasure houses."

"I had no idea," Calla said, intrigued by the thought. 

"Not even the emperor messes with us," Dani said. "At least not lightly. Neither will the Saurellians, if they know what's good for them. We're on both sides of the border, now, and we have a lot of influence. I'd like to see them try to come and get me."

* * * * *

The next month was one of the longest in Calla's life. According to Dani, Jenner had waited almost two days before reporting her missing, and the local station security force only made a quick, half-hearted search. Jenner wasn't well loved by the locals, and the Saurellians were hardly likely to get involved in the hunt for a lost slave. As long as she wasn't foolish, odds were good that no one would notice her presence. At least that's what Calla kept telling herself.

Getting rid of the implant proved more troublesome. It took Dani more than a week to find a surgeon willing to perform the procedure, and the price was higher than either woman had expected. Dani had enough saved up to take care of that, but not enough to do both retinas and fingerprints. They opted for the fingerprints. 

Dani also arranged to have a new identity "created" for Calla at no charge. Calla didn't dare ask how she'd managed that. It was a pretty good guess that the average forger to be found on a mining station didn't often have the funds to visit a guild-trained pleasure worker. Dani had probably convinced him to barter his services for hers. Calla was now officially Devora Forester, Dani's distant cousin and an experienced pleasure contractor.

Once the implant was out, Dani disposed of it in the mining station's recycling system. It was their hope that when it was found and reported to Jenner, everyone would assume that Calla had been killed, and her body dumped. It certainly wouldn't be the first time a body disappeared into the depths of the unpleasant-smelling pit where station waste was slowly distilled into useable organic products.

The hardest part of the plan to put into action was the contract. Dani urged patience, reminding Calla that if they rushed into anything she would end up with a bad client. But clients wealthy enough to seek an exclusive contract were few and far between on the mining station, and Calla was starting to get worried. Each day she stayed there was another day she wasn't looking for Jess, and another day that Jenner might find her. 

Initially, she'd been nervous about serving some man privately, but the longer it took to find the right client, the more worried she became that things would fall through. If it did, she didn't know what her options were. Dani was out of money, and Calla could hardly seek employment on the station.

In the mean time, Calla busied herself by studying pleasure training tapes. When she finally got a contract, she would need the sexual education to live up to her part of the deal.

It was nearly five weeks after Calla left the hostel that Dani came home bubbling with news. "You have a wonderful opportunity!" Dani said. "The Saurellians are finally sending a governor and long-term occupation force, which means all the men here will be leaving within the next few weeks. I think one of them might be interested in a contract with you."

Calla's hopes fell a little-most of the Saurellians had stayed at Jenner's hostel, so it was a pretty good bet they would know about a slave on the loose. Contracting with one of them didn't seem like a very good idea, and she said as much.

"Don't be silly," Dani said, giving one of her tinkling, trademark laughs. "They're not going to recognize a runaway slave who's turned into a glamorous pleasure worker. You've got a rock solid identity now. Besides, why should they care? Jenner hasn't exactly gone out of her way to make their stay pleasant. Even if one of them did recognize you, I hardly think they'd send you back to her. They can't stand her, and they can't wait to get off-station. Returning escaped slaves isn't their priority."

Dani was probably right, Calla thought. The Saurellians had interfered as little as possible with the day to day operations of the station. They didn't even pay much attention to the countless smugglers and black marketeers who roamed the station's ports and corridors freely. One escaped slave probably wouldn't matter to them.

"Okay, so this is my chance," Calla said, warming to the idea. "How do we go about arranging the contract? From what you tell me, they usually aren't into exclusive relationships."

"Well for one thing, any contract you make wouldn't be exclusive for your client," Dani said, a slight frown on her face. "You do realize that, don't you?"

"Oh, yes, of course," Calla said, blushing slightly at her naiveté. That's exactly what she'd thought, but she didn't want to admit her ignorance. "But don't they usually just visit a pleasure house wherever they're stationed? What makes you think one would want to take me with him?"

"Ha, that's the brilliance of my plan," Dani said smugly. "Usually they don't, but this is a special situation. Their squad is disbanding for now. They're going their separate ways. I guess peace negotiations with the Empire are going pretty well, and the commander is going to take some time to explore the asteroid belt or something. I guess he has an interest in mining. 

"But this is the best part," she continued. "You see, he has a thing for women who look like you; he's been requesting small brunettes with freckles every night for weeks. It's actually kind of insulting," Dani added, pouting slightly. "He hasn't ëvisited' me for quite a while.

"But it's the perfect set-up for you to look for Jess, and it's perfect for him, too. They can't go too long without sex, you know. Men really are weaker than us," she added with a laugh. "Especially Saurellian men. They think with their dicks."

Calla was no longer listening. As soon as Dani mentioned the commander, she got a tight feeling in the pit of her stomach. Was she talking about Seth? If so, Dani's plan couldn't possibly work.

"There may be a problem," Calla said quietly. Dani's smile dimmed a bit. "I've met their commander before."

"Tell me what happened," Dani said, seemingly unconcerned. "I'll tell you whether it's a problem or not."

By the time Calla had finished her story, Dani's jaw had dropped in disbelief. Calla stopped talking, and looked anxiously at Dani to gage her reaction. 

"This isn't a problem, this is perfect!" Dani said. For once she wasn't smiling with innocent charm or seductive smoothness. The accomplished pleasure worker was grinning from ear to ear. "You already know he wants you, he's asked for girls who look like you ever since then."

"But he'll know I'm an escaped slave!"

"No, he won't even recognize you by the time I'm done with you," Dani said confidently. "He only saw you once, right? And not even your face, really."

Calla blushed again, but Dani didn't even notice.

"From now on you're an experienced woman who's worked her way across a hundred star systems. I'll provide you with a resume and references he won't be able to crack-another little Guild trick-and even if he suspects, he'll never be able to prove anything. All you have to do is get off-station and you'll be home free!"

"I'm not so sure, Dani," Calla said. "I think this may be a bad idea."

"We've come too far for you to get cold feet now, girl," Dani said sternly. "Besides, what are your options here? This may be your best shot at freedom and finding Jess. For love of the Goddess, the man's already headed in the right direction. All you have to do it convince him to take you with him."

"All right, all right," Calla said. "You're right. It's my best shot. So, how do we go about it? Will you just arrange everything, or what? It's not like I've done this before," she added with a nervous laugh.

"Well, since he isn't openly shopping for a contract, we'll have to convince him," Dani said. "He'll be at the House of Lilies tonight, so I'll arrange for you to meet him. You'll have to do the convincing. Don't worry about anything. I'll get you ready, and if you're too nervous I'll give you a little something to help things along."

"I'm not sure I like how that sounds," Calla said cautiously.

"Oh, you'll like it," Dani said enigmatically. "Just wait 'till you give it a try."

* * * * *

Later that evening Calla discovered Dani what meant. She definitely liked "it." There was something in the wine Dani gave her as they were preparing for her "interview", and Calla was feeling more than a little friendly by the time they were done. Dani had started her out with a relaxing massage with the specialist they kept on staff at the pleasure house. Calla had been hesitant at first, but Dani just gave her a knowing smile.

"Trust me," she'd said. "You'll like the massage. Kail has the most talented fingers..."

Dani was right about Kail's fingers, Calla thought lazily after an hour under his ministrations. She'd followed Dani into the dimly lit massage room unsure of what to expect. What she found was the most beautiful man she'd ever seen wearing only a brief cloth around his waist. He'd walked over to greet them, then gently led Calla to his waiting massage couch. Dani, smiling with satisfaction, reclined lazily in one of several chairs against the wall to watch. 

Calla gulped, then turned to the man nervously. He was tall, with tightly defined muscles and a soft smile. He was also completely hairless, something she had never seen before. He noticed her look of inquiry, and laughed.

"I'm from Kelarus, we don't have any hair," he said with a smile as he pulled off her robe. It was disconcerting to have a total stranger remove her clothes, but not as much as she had thought it would be. "It's the wine, it helps you relax," he said. "Dani's own special recipe."

He gestured for her to lay down on the couch on her stomach. He left her side, and soft music filled the room. Then a drip of something warm hit her back. Kail spread flower-scented oil in small drops from her shoulder blades to the small of her back, then his smooth hands started running along her spine and she melted.

"Let your tensions and worries go," Kail whispered in her ear from behind as he manipulated her muscles. He spent long minutes sweeping his strong hands over her back and shoulders, then moved to the end of the table. Picking up one small foot, he worked his fingers over every inch of first the left and then the right before moving up to her calves. He gave special attention to the backs of her knees, tickling them lightly and laughing at her reaction. Then he reached the backs of her thighs.

Calla shifted restlessly. His touch was like warm honey, and she could feel herself growing moist as she realized he was slowly, inevitably, working his way toward the cleft between her legs.

He skipped where she wanted him to touch, however, moving to each of the soft mound of her bottom in turn, massaging and treating them to light, nipping kisses. All her nervous tension was long gone, but a new tension was coiling within her. Sexual tension. She wanted him to touch her, give her release, but she was too weak to move. His hands were hypnotic, she was captive.

After an eternity, he had her roll over on to her back, stretching her arms so that they lay high over her head. He started with her hands and worked his way down her arms to her shoulders. Then he reached her breasts, lavishing his full attention on each one until they were painfully tight, and her small red nipples felt as if they would burst. He dropped one slow kiss on each, then stood and walked once more to the end of the table.

Calla all but whimpered in pain as he left her, then felt herself tighten in anticipation as his hands grasped her ankles. Pulling her legs slowly apart, Kail started carefully rubbing again, moving ever closer to the center of her pleasure. She could feel the moisture rushing to her cunt, her legs twitching under his touch. She wanted him to move faster, harder. She gave a little gasp, and Kail laughed then stepped away.

"I think you're ready now, sweetheart," he said softly, and Dani giggled in the background. Kail held his hands out to her, pulling her up and off the couch. Calla simply stared at him, open-mouthed. He was aroused, she could see his stiff erection until his loin cloth, but he seemed completely disinterested in touching her.

"It's to get you ready for your customer," Dani said, coming up behind her. "If we let Kail finish the job, it would defeat the purpose."

"That's a dirty trick," Calla muttered, her face growing flushed. She felt so embarrassed. She'd almost come on the table, yet for Kail this was simply business.

"Don't worry, darling," Kail said, lifting her chin with one gentle finger. He smiled into her eyes. "It's all right to enjoy the massage. And it's all right to enjoy your client. You're going to have a wonderful time tonight, you just need to let yourself go."

Calla nodded, mesmerized by his soothing voice, and Dani held her robe out. The rough fabric rubbed her nipples, and she gasped at the sensation. 

"Come along," Dani said with a wicked smile. "Let's get you some more wine and find you something to wear."

They walked slowly back to Dani's dressing room. Every move felt fluid, surreal, to Calla. Was it the wine? The massage? She didn't know, and she didn't care, she realized with a start. She simply liked it.

Dani spent the next hour and a half getting her ready. She created an artless, simple style for her hair, rubbed subtle creams and cosmetics on her face, and even gave her rouge for her nipples. Calla giggled at this, thinking Dani was joking at first. Dani just smiled and shook her head; her little Calla was a true innocent. She had no idea how wild Seth would be for her.

The final touch was a barely-there dress made entirely of floating, semi-transparent scarves. It covered her completely, yet with every step she took her legs were outlined or exposed between layers. The peaks of her breasts were outlined as well, and as Calla stood looking at herself in the mirror she was stunned. It was as if Calla the slave girl had disappeared. In her place was Devora, a pleasure worker whose face was flushed with arousal and anticipation. She licked her lips, then looked at Dani for her reaction.

"Oh, Seth will like that," Dani whispered.

"I'm ready for him," Calla replied in a throaty voice. She took a final swig of wine, then set down her glass and turned to the door, tossing her hair and laughing with happiness. She felt like she was just about ready for anything. 

As they walked through the house toward the room Dani had reserved, Calla found it was getting harder and harder to stay focused on the task ahead of her. Each and every man she saw as she walked through the House of Lilies looked good enough to eat. 

"I think you drank a little too much," Dani said with a wicked laugh, guiding Calla along a gallery that looked over the main performance area. Along the way were entrances to the small rooms used to entertain clients. Dani had introduced her to the other Guild workers as her cousin Devora, and explained she was setting up a private contract. The women had been polite, but distant, tolerating her presence because of Dani. The house manager had made it clear that "Devora" was only to visit with her proposed client, however, and just for one evening. She might have been Dani's cousin, but she was competition, and the Guild wouldn't allow her to stay for long.

They hadn't forbidden her to watch what was going on around her, though, and the sight was even more educational than the training vids. Dani had told her that most of the activity took place in the private rooms. It must have been some pretty spectacular stuff, because as far as Calla could tell just about every possible kind of sexual activity was already happening all around her-and the floor show hadn't even started yet. 

A passionate female moan, followed by the sound of clapping, sounded through the room, startling Calla. Pulling away from Dani, she leaned over the edge of the gallery to see what had happened. Directly below her a threesome was underway, something she had only ever imagined. One man was sitting in on a bench. Straddling him was a woman, and behind her was another man! 

"What are they doing?" Calla asked Dani, mesmerized. The sight made her insides twist and her nipples stiffen. 

The man on the bottom had his face turned up toward them, his eyes closed. His expression was one of strain and intense lust; a bead of sweat ran down his forehead as he thrust up into the woman on his lap. She seemed hardly able to support her own weight, but all around her were the helpful hands of her audience. The man pounding into her from behind seemed almost in a frenzy, grunting and moaning each time he slammed into her ass. Her own cries answered each thrust. 

"They're having sex, sweetie," Dani said with a laugh. "They're just doing it a little differently than you may be used to."

"But two men at once, isn't that hurting her?" Calla whispered. Without even realizing what she was doing, one hand dropped toward her own wet cunt. She caught herself and pulled the hand back quickly. What was wrong with her, she wondered?

"Does she look like she's in pain?" Dani asked. "Trust me, two men at once can be very Ö stimulating Ö under the right circumstances. Now I know you're enjoying the show, but we've got to get going. I don't want Seth showing up before you're completely ready for him."

Calla nodded, dragging her eyes from the scene below them. Who would have thought such a thing was possible? Two men at once...

Dani led her wide-eyed friend to one of the rooms, and palmed the door open. It was lushly decorated, strewn with pillows and hung with draperies. To Calla's surprise, there wasn't a bed. Instead, the entire floor was softly padded. With a reassuring wink, Dani told Calla she'd be back soon with Seth.

Calla settled herself down to wait against a pile of pillows. Soothing music was playing in the dimly-lit space. The drug had worked its way throughout her body, and every nerve cell tingled with sensation. Without thinking, Calla ran a finger gently around her right nipple, enjoying the pleasant, tightening sensation. Then she let the hand drop lower to her crotch, rubbing the same finger against her clit almost absently. The ceiling was hung with soft fabric, and if felt like room was completely separate from the real world. It was a sensual nest, so comfortable that she felt like rolling in sheer pleasure.

With a drug-induced giggle, she realized she could. Calla stretched herself out like a kitten, alternately rolling and clawing. It was the most wonderful, liberating sensation she'd ever felt. Here I am, she thought, in a Guild-owned pleasure room. I'm free and I'm about to enter into a service contract where everything I earn will be all mine! It was a glorious feeling.

A soft chime sounded through the room, and one of the drapes drifted to one side. The music in the room faded, and silence filled the room. Behind it was a full-size holo-screen, displaying the stage in the main room. The floor show was about to start, and thanks to the holo-cameras Calla was going to have a front-row view. Fascinated, she drew one of the pillows in front of her and settled down to watch.

After a few seconds, a stunningly-beautiful woman sauntered out on to the stage. Her skin was creamy brown, and a gorgeous mane of curly black hair fell down her back. She was dressed in a filmy, semi-transparent gown that draped gracefully, trailing to the floor. As she walked, a low, rhythmic beat started working its way through the air. The music paused dramatically when she reached the center of the stage.

Shrugging her shoulders proudly, the gown slipped down, baring her breasts. Like the rest of her, they were magnificent. A low, backless couch rose out of the floor directly behind her; she sat down and leaned back comfortably.

A man dressed in black leather pants followed her on to the stage. His chest was bare, and the slight swing of his arms as he walked caused his tight muscles to ripple. His skin was light, almost white, as was his spiky hair. His facial features were classic and sharply chiseled. The only spots of color were his lips and eyes, both pink in color. He strode purposefully toward the reclining woman, licking his lips slightly in anticipation.

Calla felt a tingle run through her at the sight.

The woman watched him dispassionately as he came to a stop before her. She pointed imperiously to the floor, and he dropped to his knees in front of her unhesitatingly. Flicking a finger at him, she directed his attention to her bare breasts before tossing her head back against the couch and closing her eyes. 

The man leaned over the reclining woman, flicking first one and then the other nipple with his tongue, before settling his attention to one firm, dark breast. He laved it slowly, and while the woman remained almost motionless, she quivered slightly in pleasure from time to time.

After several long minutes, the man started working down her belly toward her waiting cunt, gently untying the sash that held her gown together. The gown fell in soft folds to either side of the woman's body, revealing long, slender legs. She lifted one knee and spread them slightly, allowing him greater access. He dropped his head between her legs and started working her clit with his tongue, every movement timed to echo the sensual beat of the music.

The sight was so erotic that Calla couldn't control her hand from sliding down toward her own nether lips, shivering with pleasure as she gently stimulated the swollen flesh. It felt almost as if she were on the stage with the performers. A small, distant part of her mind was aware that without the drug she probably wouldn't have felt so free to enjoy the show, but she didn't care. At that moment, anything was possible. The freedom was delicious.

The woman on stage was still lying with her head thrown back and her eyes closed, but she was visibly squirming from the intensity of her arousal. Both of her hands had worked their way down to the man's head, pressing him against her flesh. Her body started jerking in response to the actions of the man between her spread thighs.

Calla's own self-ministrations moved more quickly at the sight. Waves of pleasure coursed through her body, centered not only between her legs, but her heart and mind as well. It was glorious to lie there among the cushions, watching the beautiful black woman take her pleasure. As the pleasure built in pitch through Calla's body, the joy was almost too much to bear. She was in control of her body, she was in control of her future and she was in control of her own sexuality. She felt like a magnificent goddess.

The woman on the stage seemed to feel the same way, because even as she approached her orgasm, she pulled the man's head away from the opening between her legs and sat up. Sliding sinuously off the couch, the woman dropped to the floor and knelt face-to-face with the man. Leaning forward, she gave him a deep kiss, then started pushing against his chest with the palms of her hands. The man allowed himself to be pressed to the floor, until he was lying prone on his back. The bulge straining against the front of his leather pants pulsed visibly, and from the tight look on his face Calla could see that he was not nearly as relaxed as his posture indicated. 

The woman shifted herself until she was kneeling over his legs, then leaned down and gave him another long, slow kiss, rubbing her dark nipples against his own pale ones. Then she sat up slightly, slid her hands down his chest to the front of his pants, and slowly opened them. His large cock sprang free of its confinement, and she wrapped one hand around it and stroked up and down a few times. The added stimulation was almost too much for him, and he jerked from tension and pleasure. A knowing smile swept over her face, and for a second her eyes spoke to Calla through the holo-screen. She seemed to be saying, He's mine to play with, and I love it.

Calla started moving her hand more quickly, eyes glued to the screen. 

The woman on the stage let go of the man's penis, then raised herself slightly and positioned it against her waiting pussy lips. Leaning against his chest with both hand, she impaled herself on it. A look of sublime pleasure came over her face, and she licked her lips in satisfaction. 

The sight was too much for Calla. Working her clit furiously, she took her other hand and massaged her breast as she rolled back into the cushions. The dress Dani had given her, made of filmy scarves strung together, wracked up around her waist. The waves of orgasm were very close now, and Calla threw back her head, eyes closed, to revel in the twin glories of sex and freedom. The remembered sensation of Seth thrusting into her cunt flashed through her, and with a wail she exploded into a thousand stars, each a separate flashpoint of joy. 
 

* * * * *

Seth's cock was rock hard from the minute he saw her. She was lying in the middle of the room, surrounded by soft pillows, clothing askew and moaning with pleasure. Dani, who had arranged for him to meet with her cousin, stood next to him with the contract. He'd told her several times that he didn't want a contractual relationship, but the sight of her cousin climaxing was eroding his certainty. There was something about her, he couldn't pin it down, but he wanted her. Immediately. 

"Dani, I want to interview Devora privately," he said, not bothering to look at the woman next to him. He was accustomed to being obeyed, so he was surprised when she failed to leave immediately.

Instead, Dani strolled leisurely into the room ahead of him, taking up a stance between him and the lovely woman still shuddering against the floor. "Let me introduce you," Dani said, smiling at him placatingly. She turned to Devora, who had come out of her self-induced orgasm to find them watching her. Dani gave the young woman a hand up.

Seth watched with intense interest as Devora straightened her clothes slightly, then pushed her dark hair back with both hands to smile directly at him. She seemed completely unembarrassed by the fact that just seconds earlier she'd been twisting in ecstasy before him.

"You!" he said, shocked at the sight of her freckled face. It was Calla, the little slave who'd run away from the hostel. He'd bet his life on it. "You're Calla, from the hostel. I know you!"

Devora looked at him with surprise, and then a confused smile crept over her pretty features.

"I don't know what you're talking about, Commander," Dani said smoothly into the awkward silence that followed his accusation. "Devora is hardly some slave, she's my cousin. I don't think this is the way to start what we all hope will be a mutually beneficial relationship."

Seth glowered at Devora, yet she merely stared back at him with that slightly confused smile. He knew it was the slave girl. The inn-keeper, Mistress Jenner, had complained bitterly that she'd run off after some male slave had been sold, presumably her husband. The slave's presence here with Dani made no sense at all.

"Commander," Devora's soft voice broke his concentration. "I don't really know what you're talking about, but if you liked this slave girl, I'm sure I could pretend to be her for you." She smiled at him with seductive intent, eyes all but feasting on his face. She looked hungry.

Continuing to stare at her, Seth tried to decide whether he was imagining her resemblance to the slave girl. They both had the same build, with freckly skin and dark hair, but upon a closer examination, Devora did seem somewhat more lush in appearance. Her lips were full and moist, and even as he watched, her small, white teeth caught her lower lip winsomely. Unlike his little slave, this woman seemed self-confident and aware of her own charms. Their facial features were also similar, but with a start, Seth realized he didn't actually have a particularly clear image of the slave's face. He hadn't spent much time face to face with the girlÖ

"Commander, I can assure you that Devora is an experienced and professional pleasure-worker, although she isn't Guild-registered," Dani said, smiling at him serenely. "You've already seen her resume and references. Perhaps I should leave you for a private interview, then we can discuss a contract?"

Devora blew a small kiss toward Seth, then lifted her hands to cup her breasts lightly, playing with the nipples. They hardened immediately, and his cock twitched in response. Damn, he thought, his pants were too tight.

Seth hadn't seriously thought Dani's cousin would interest him enough to contract with her, but his body didn't seem to agree. This little vixen might be just what he needed to make his information-gathering mission through the asteroid fields tolerable.

"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 leverageÖ

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.