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  At that moment, when all three of them were locked in an orgasm so fierce Sadie almost forgot to breathe, she had a strange sensation in the back of her mind, even stronger than the ones her body was currently experiencing. It was a feeling of almost connection—that was the best way she could put it. As though she had come within a micron of the most intense union possible in this or any other universe and had fallen short. Oh, please …Please, just a little bit more, Sadie found herself thinking. She felt the bond between her and Blakely and Holt grow and stretch, reaching for that moment of ultimate connection but falling inevitably, unspeakably short. Is this how they feel every time they share a woman they can't bond with? she wondered hazily. Goddess, how do they stand it?

  Then the sensation ebbed away, along with the current of golden heat that had blanketed all three bodies as they coupled. Sadie felt first Holt and then Blakely withdraw from her body and she felt empty in a way she couldn't describe. She hurt. She let herself collapse into a softly panting ball on the bear skin rug, still tasting the strong, musky flavor of Blakely's cum on her tongue and feeling the warm trickle of Holt's running down the inside of one thigh.

  Inside her mind the newly strengthened bond twisted like a thick rope, so tangible she could almost touch it. Goddess, what had she done?

  Chapter 17

  “Well, that was quite a performance, I must say.”

  Sadie blinked wearily as the unfamiliar voice intruded into her consciousness. Who? she thought, her brain feeling muddled and unclear. Her body felt heavy, almost drugged with lethargy after the intense orgasm. Then she remembered—not only had she just performed an act that would make a whore blush—she had done it for an audience. She bit back a groan. I had to—had to keep Van Heusen from suspecting the truth. Besides, he has a needler pointed at us, she reminded herself. But it didn't help much. The disapproving little voice in her head that she had managed to shut off during their 'demonstration' was back full force, making her cringe with shame.

  “Satisfied?” Holt was staring at Van Heusen and his voice had a low, grating quality that spoke of intense rage.

  “Not as much as you, I imagine.” Van Heusen's voice was light and amused. “I must apologize for ever doubting your product, gentlemen. Clearly it is able to withstand rough treatment from time to time.” Sadie saw Holt wince out of the corner of her eye at this but Blakely's face remained stony.

  “We did what you wanted now show us the tanks,” Blakely growled, zipping his pants with a quick, jerky motion.

  “In good time, gentlemen. All in good time.” Van Heusen eased out of the chair, unfolding his lanky form in stages carefully. “I'm not as young as I once was.” He gestured to himself. “I have often thought of trading in this aging shell for a tank grown body but until I saw your lovely little prototype, I was reluctant. Now I am eager to be certain your conditioning formulas will work. Come.” He gestured and then, appearing to notice he was still pointing the snub-nosed needler at them he shrugged apologetically and tucked it back into the satin smoking jacket he wore. “I'm sure there's no need for this now.” He patted his pocket. The huge diamond he wore on his thumb flashed and glittered in the firelight. “No hard feelings, eh? I just had to be certain a prostie made with your processes could take a certain amount of abuse—if I use your techniques to grow myself a new body I have to be certain it's perfect in every respect, you see?”

  He looked appealingly at both Blakely and Holt and Sadie saw the men exchange a glance. There it was again, that non-verbal communication that spoke volumes. Only this time, she found she understood it, could sense it vaguely in the back of her mind like a murmur of half-heard voices. There were no words that she could understand, only vague glimpses of thoughts and emotions. Both men were angry and upset at Van Heusen but they were obviously trying to control themselves and finish the job. Under the anger there was a current of regret at the broken promise, and sorrow that Sadie was so unhappy with what they had just done…

  Wait a minute, if she could hear Holt and Blakely through the bond, could they hear her too? Sadie sat up on the rug and wrapped her arms around her legs, squeezing her eyes tightly closed. This must be what it was like for Blakely and Holt all the time. Always being inside each other's heads and thoughts and emotions. Goddess, how did they manage?

  Van Heusen was heading for the door, clearing expecting them to follow him. Sadie stood carefully, on shaky legs, still emotionally and physically drained. Without discussion, Holt and Blakely each took one of her arms, supporting her. Sadie felt a ghostly whisper of the warm current brush against her skin at the double contact and she pulled away, stumbled and nearly fell in the process. No more, she thought. Can't take anymore of this.

  “Hey, wait a minute,” Holt called, giving her a concerned glance. Van Heusen turned around, his hand still near the pocket that held the needler.

  “Yes?” he said politely.

  “Do you have a fresher cubicle anywhere around here?” Holt asked. “Our prototype needs to be cleaned up before we tour your tank-room.”

  “Oh, certainly. Third door on your left as we exit the lounge.” He hit the main switch that caused the massive wooden door to slide aside for them. Lounge, Sadie thought. If that's the lounge I'd hate to see the main living room. They walked outside and back into the long, marble hall.

  It was Blakely that took charge of her this time, taking her into the fresher and cleaning her gently with a damp cloth.

  “You okay, kid?” he asked anxiously, gazing into her eyes as he spoke. Sadie felt his concern for her like a warm thermal blanket wrapped around her shoulders. She shrugged it off.

  “Fine, I'm fine,” she muttered, turning her face away from him.

  “I can't tell you how sorry Holt and I are about what happened,” Blakely said softly. “After what we promised you, well … It's just…” He seemed unable to find the words he was looking for.

  “It's all right,” Sadie said wearily. “You and Holt were just doing what you had to do. I was too, I guess.” Not that it makes me feel any better about it, she thought numbly. “We'd better get back to Holt and Van Heusen. After everything we've put into it, I'd hate to miss the bust.”

  “Okay, if you're sure.” Blakely looked at her doubtfully.

  “Sure I'm sure.” Sadie attempted to brighten up some, knowing he could feel the guilt and despair in her mind. “Let's go.”

  Chapter 18

  The tank room was everything Holt had hoped for and more. Van Heusen had taken them down a long passage, secreted in the side of a wall behind a huge, antique Drusinian clock. A number of codes and passwords and a retinal scan were necessary to get in and Holt had reflected that they never would have found the place or gotten into it without Van Heusen's cooperation. Holt had mixed feelings about that.

  It made him glad, in a way. Glad to know that cooperating with Van Heusen had been a necessity. Even if the old man hadn't had a needler pointed at their heads or they'd somehow been able to call in their back-up without risking all their lives, the bust would have been a no-go without him. Without visual proof of the illegal flesh tanks they had nothing on Van Heusen and he would have gotten off scot-free. Probably he would have moved his base of operations to a more distant moon and continued buying black market brains, keeping the mind rapers in business and the colonists in danger forever. Why should he ever stop? With access to the flesh tanks he could keep growing himself new bodies forever. So in the long run, it was a good thing he and Blakely had gone along with Van Heusen's commands in order to win his trust and ultimately, to nail his wrinkled hide to the wall.

  That was part of what he was feeling. The other part, Holt admitted to himself as he surveyed the huge, subterranean room where they now stood, was guilt, pure and simple. Guilt that he and Blakely had not only broken their promise to Sadie, but had enjoyed doing it. Even now he could feel her sorrow and self-loathing through their newly strengthened bond. The feelings were still vague, not nearly as clear as they would h