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  Llewelyn snorted. “Private business. Right.” He took another bite of his blue wrap. “Listen, I understand—really, I do. I mean, if it ever got out, our mistresses would be shunned—never received in polite society again. And you just met me so I don’t blame you for being closed mouthed. I’m just trying to let you know you’re not alone. I mean, you oughta see my lady’s secret stash of male-dom porn—it’s amazing.”

  “So you’re saying Lady Sha’rak likes it when you boss her around?” Saber raised an eyebrow at him.

  “I never said anything like that,” Llewelyn said quickly. “All I’m saying is…I’m not always on the receiving end of the rod. That’s all.” He raised his eyebrows at Saber who nodded thoughtfully.

  “I see.”

  “No, you don’t.” Llewelyn gave him a disgusted look. “Why, I bet your lady has never once used the rod on you, has she?”

  “She doesn’t beat me, if that’s what you mean.”

  “You know damn well that’s not what I mean.” Llewelyn got a distant look in his eyes. “My lady first took the rod to me when I was eighteen and she was seventeen.” He shrugged. “Well, she’d had me for a year by that time. I suppose she was ready and it didn’t matter if I was or not. Not that any man is ever really ready for…” He trailed off, shaking his head.

  “Where were you before you came to Lady Sha’rak?” Saber asked.

  “In a training house in the heart of the city—Handor House, actually.” Llewelyn sounded proud. “She picked me out herself—I was a birthday present to her from the Old Mistress, who was long since passed into the depths of the abyss.”

  “And were you glad to be picked?” Saber was genuinely interested. What would it be like to be raised to be a slave? To know your fate was entirely in the hands of another?

  “I was when I saw her eyes,” Llewelyn said thoughtfully. “I could tell she was no Lady Pope’nose, even back then.” He smiled fondly. “Ah, that’s twenty cycles ago now. And here we are, still playing the same games.”

  “Games like…secret domination,” Saber said, raising an eyebrow. “You said she had a stash of male-dom porn. Does she happen to have anything else? Anything about the Hoard Wars that you know of?”

  Llewelyn frowned. “You and your lady both seem very interested in that period of history. Why?”

  Saber shrugged. “Lady R’awr is a collector. She was hoping to find some pieces to study while we’re here. If I can point her in the right direction, she’ll be very happy with me, if you know what I mean.” He raised his eyebrows significantly.

  “Of course, I get it.” Llewelyn nudged his elbow and grinned. “It’s always good to have your lady in your debt. Well, I don’t know about the Hoard Wars, but I do know my lady has other Kindred documents she uses for sensation play sometimes. Those damn Kindred are so dominant and protective of their women—it’s exactly what she likes.”

  “I see. Thank you, I’ll tell my lady.” Saber took a final bite of his wrap.

  “Fine. Just don’t tell her who you got the information from.” Llewelyn finished his own wrap as well. “Better go—I’ll need to give Manda her massage as soon as that bitch Lady P goes out the door.”

  “Of course.” Saber nodded at him. “Good night and thank you.”

  “My pleasure.” Llewelyn winked. “We closet Doms have to stick together, right?”

  “Right,” Saber murmured. But inside he was already considering everything the body-slave had said and wondering how exactly he could put it to good use…

  * * * * *

  The quiet rapping at her door made Lissa jump even though she knew it was probably just Saber. She had taken a quick bath in the marble basin and was already in bed, snuggled under the covers.

  Actually, she’d been planning to pretend to sleep when he came in, but she called out, “Yes?” before she thought about it.

  “It’s just me.” Saber’s deep voice was muffled. “May I come in, Mistress?”

  Hearing him call her that gave Lissa a strange feeling. She knew Saber was only keeping up their cover story but she couldn’t help remembering how he had knelt before her and begged her to punish him. She could still feel his hot mouth sucking and lapping her tender nipples, making sure every trace of the elixirs that coated them was gone… Goddess! Her face felt hot just remembering it.

  “Mistress Lissa?” Saber asked again and she realized she was taking too long to answer. Looking down, she took stock of herself. She had on a virginal white gown that covered her completely and the silky, royal blue comforter spread over the massive bed was pulled up to her neck. It should be safe enough to let him come in.

  “You may enter,” she said, trying to sound like an imperious mistress, although she thought it was more likely she sounded ridiculous.

  “Thank you.” The heavy door swung open silently and Saber entered. He gave her a quick look and then shut the door. He was holding a covered bowl in his hand but he stopped by the foot of the bed. “May I approach?”

  “Oh, Saber…” Lissa didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. It was all so bizarre. “Of course you can approach,” she said. “And stop calling me Mistress now—we’re alone in here and you checked the rooms earlier for listening devices.”

  “True.” Saber came over and sat carefully on the side of the bed. “I brought you some more fruit.” He indicated the bowl. “Thought you might still be hungry.”

  “Oh, thank you!” Lissa struggled out from under the heavy comforter and sat up eagerly. In fact, her stomach was growling since she’d barely had any dinner at all but she had been resigned to waiting until breakfast the next morning. Really, it was very thoughtful of him to remember how little she’d eaten and guess she might be hungry.

  “Here you are, I’m not sure what it’s called but I tasted some and it seems fine.” The fruit Saber revealed was pale pink with dark blue spots and slightly larger than the bung clusters she’d had at dinner. It was juicy with a sweet-tart flavor that burst on her tongue when she took a bite. “Mmm, delicious!” she murmured, going for another bite.

  “Careful, you’re dripping.” Saber cupped her cheek and wiped a tiny trickle of juice from her chin with his thumb.

  Immediately, Lissa froze. His hand on her skin felt so warm, so right. Suddenly her heart was racing and she could barely swallow the bite of fruit. For a long moment Saber’s eyes held hers and she was reminded of the way he had looked at her while he sucked her nipples.

  “Um, thank you,” she murmured at last, pulling away and looking down at the half eaten fruit in her hand. “I should…maybe I should go get a napkin.”

  “I’ll get you one.” But instead of going he just sat there, looking at her. Then he put his thumb in his mouth and sucked away the droplets of juice he had captured from her chin. “It is delicious,” he murmured, his voice deep and soft. “Lissa, about what happened tonight…”

  Lissa’s heart was knocking against her ribs as though it was trying to get out. She couldn’t get into this with him right now. She just couldn’t. “I…um, don’t worry about the napkin. I’ll get it myself.” She was about to hop out of bed and run for the bathroom when Saber put a hand on her arm.

  “No, you stay. I’ll be right back.” He left and returned a moment later with a soft facecloth which he handed her silently.

  “Thank you.” She blotted her chin with it though she didn’t really need to and then put it neatly on her lap. Her appetite had deserted her and she didn’t want to eat any more of the fruit, no matter how delicious it was. But it seemed rude to let it go to waste after Saber had gone to the trouble to bring it to her.

  “So I found out something interesting about our hostess tonight.” Saber’s voice was lighter and the smoldering light had gone from his hazel eyes. Lissa wasn’t sure if she was glad or sorry about that.

  “What—something about Lady Sha’rak?” She raised her eyebrows and nibbled more of the succulent fruit.

  “Un-huh.” Saber nodded. “Llewelyn told me.