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  Without thinking, Saber used his Touch sense on her, sending his whisper-fingers to card through her hair as he stroked her breasts and his whisper-lips to caress the tender mound of her pussy as he kissed and licked the vulnerable curve of her neck.

  Lissa suddenly froze underneath him. “Saber, what are you doing?” she whispered. “What are we doing? What’s wrong with us?”

  “There’s nothing wrong,” he protested, his body throbbing with need. “We’re showing each other how we feel, giving each other what we need at last.”

  “No…no!” She pushed against his chest. “We can’t.”

  Saber reluctantly rolled off her and Lissa sat up and wrapped her arms around her knees, hiding herself from him.

  “We can’t,” she whispered again. “Don’t you remember—we said that even if we lived together we’d never do that. You told me you’d be content without it.”

  “And I would be—if it wasn’t possible.” He sighed in frustration and ran a hand through his hair. “That was back when we thought the kinship compounds would keep us apart—remember?”

  “Yes, but you were…just now you were going to give me the Deep Touch.” Lissa squeezed herself tighter, her eyes troubled. “We can’t do that, Saber. We’re of the same clan.”

  “I know it. Damn it, I know that.” He pressed the heel of his hand to his forehead and took a deep breath. “I guess I just…forgot it for a moment.”

  “I almost did too,” Lissa admitted in a low, trembling voice. “But we can’t do that. We can’t afford to let ourselves forget—even for a minute. We’re playing a part here—putting on roles that aren’t real. When this is all over we’ll—”

  “What?” he said, more harshly than he intended to. “Go our separate ways? Never see each other again?”

  “Y-yes.” Her eyes were filling again but she dashed the tears away angrily. “I don’t want to but we can’t help it. We…we can’t do anything else. You know what would happen if you took me home as your mate—our people would revolt against you and revile me as an incestuous whore.” She shook her head. “I’m sorry, Saber, but that’s no way to live. We can’t…we just can’t.”

  “I know.” He took a deep breath, trying to get control. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to shout at you.”

  “You didn’t—not really. You were just upset. I was too.” Lissa sighed and gave him a troubled look. “If only we were from different clans.”

  “Well, we’re not.” With a quick movement, Saber got up. “Excuse me, I’m going to get ready for bed.”

  “Saber…” She put out a hand to him, her eyes still troubled but he only shook his head.

  “We have a long day tomorrow, it’s better if we get some sleep. So please…put some clothes on and let’s go to bed.”

  Lissa looked down at herself and her face flushed dark red. “Of course,” she mumbled. “I’m so sorry.”

  “Don’t be,” Saber said shortly. “You’re beautiful like that. I just can’t…” He shook his head. “It’s too hard to see you when I know I can’t have you.”

  Then he turned and left, shutting himself into the bathroom and trying not to remember the hurt look on her face.

  * * * * *

  The virginal white gown she’d worn the night before had been taken away to be washed by Lady Sha’rak’s cleaning staff. Lissa rummaged through her cube looking for another non-revealing nightdress to wear but to her consternation, she couldn’t find a thing. Well, nothing modest, anyway. She finally slipped into a sheer pale green dress that barely came down past her behind and was practically see-through.

  It doesn’t matter, she told herself, as she prepared to get into bed. I’ll be under the covers and it will be dark. He’ll never see me.

  Just then she heard a thump and a loud curse from the bathroom.

  She was out of bed in a second flat. “Oh my Goddess, Saber, are you all right? Did you hurt yourself?”

  “I’m fine.” But his deep voice sounded strained, as though he was in some kind of pain.

  “You don’t sound fine—you sound hurt,” she called anxiously.

  “It’s nothing. Just these damn…ouch!”

  This was too much. Without waiting to consider if she ought to do it, Lissa pushed her way into the bathroom.

  Saber stood in the middle of the large space with his tight black pants halfway unzipped and a look of frustration and pain on his face.

  “Saber?” She approached him cautiously. “What’s going on? Can I help you?”

  He sighed. “Forgive me for all the noise. It’s these damn manacles. I had a hard time with them before but they seemed to have gotten worse. The minute I get my hands anywhere near my zipper, I get a shock.”

  “The manacles!” Lissa put a hand to her mouth. “I can’t believe I forgot to ask Lady Sha’rak for the remote to remove them! Saber, I’m so sorry.”

  “It’s all right,” he said dryly. “You were a little distracted, remember?”

  “Of course.” Remembering that she’d been distracted by the feeling of him massaging her naked body and giving her the first orgasm she’d ever had, she couldn’t help blushing. But modesty wasn’t going to help her now. Quickly, she dropped to her knees in front of Saber and reached for his zipper.

  “Hey! What do you think you’re doing?” He took a big step back, his lower back hitting the large marble basin in the middle of the room.

  “Helping you.” Lissa frowned up at him. “If you can’t get your pants off by yourself, you need help. What’s the problem?”

  “There is no problem—nothing I can’t handle myself, anyway.”

  Lissa burst out laughing. “But that’s exactly what you can’t do—handle yourself,” she pointed out. The whole situation was so ridiculous, she felt lighter than she had all evening.

  “Well…” One corner of his mouth twitched. “It’s not funny, you know.”

  “I know,” Lissa agreed, smiling back. “Come on, Saber, don’t be silly. It’s not like I haven’t seen you before. Haven’t, you know, touched you.” She could feel her cheeks getting hot again but she was determined not to back down.

  Grudgingly, Saber nodded. “All right. Just be very, very careful of the zipper. That’s a delicate area down there.”

  “Of course. I’ll be every bit as careful with your delicate areas as you were with mine.” The minute the words were out, she wished she could call them back. What had gotten into her, reminding him of all the forbidden things they’d been doing? But she couldn’t help herself—she felt like this mission was changing her. Maybe not for the better, but there was no helping that now.

  Gently, very gently, she tugged at the zipper. She could see almost at once what the problem was—Saber was achingly hard, his shaft throbbing for release behind the too-tight trousers. The cruel silver teeth of the zipper were pressing hard into his flesh in what had to be an extremely painful way. If she wasn’t careful, some of the vulnerable skin was going to get caught as she pulled it down.

  “Saber,” she said looking up at him. “I’m sorry but I’m afraid I’m going to have to, um, put my hand…I’m going to have to hold your um, you back, as I pull down the zipper or—”

  “I understand.” His jaw was clenched. “Do what you have to do.”

  “All right.” Still feeling awkward, Lissa slipped her hand into his half open trousers and cupped the warm, smooth shaft just as she had earlier that day during the “training” exercises Lady Sha’rak had put them through. Only this time it was just her and Saber with no one else criticizing or directing. Despite her rapidly beating heart, Lissa found she was considerably calmer under the circumstances.

  It took some time and some careful maneuvering, but at last she had the zipper all the way down and Saber was free. But though his trousers were open, Lissa somehow found herself reluctant to stop holding his shaft. He felt so silky and hot in her hand and his scent was spicy and undeniably male. It made her feel almost dizzy with desire. Without thinking about i