As she cleared away last night’s dishes and began work on breakfast, her mind kept returning to the previous evening. She had never experienced such an explosively pleasurable climax, and she could still feel the lingering heat between her legs. Pushing aside a sudden urge to return to her room once more to satisfy the needy pulse, she forced herself to think about his plan to free her from this dreadful place. She was almost afraid to consider the possibility—if he failed, her imprisonment would seem so much worse.
But the thought kept circling through her head and she realized with a start that she had made an extra pan of corn muffins. But the second pan wasn’t needed. Neither Rummel nor Varga showed up in her kitchen. She had a sudden, unpleasant flashback to the first year of her marriage when she tried so hard to please Kevin, waking early every morning to prepare his favorite breakfast foods—an effort he had never even bothered to acknowledge. But no, she refused to believe that Varga was the same way. Ukhaan was simply keeping him busy.
Only George made his usual appearance, sitting happily in her lap while she fed him one of the unneeded muffins. What was he going to do if she left? Was there some way she could bring him with her?
Still trying to think of a plan and anxious to see Varga, she walked into the dining room to serve breakfast with more eagerness than usual. But Varga wasn’t there. Biting back an anxious question, she served Ukhaan with her usual silent efficiency, and he devoured his breakfast without a word. When the meal came to an end, she hesitated before clearing the table.
“Should I keep something available for your guest?”
Ukhaan laughed, and the sound sent a chill down her spine. “I am no longer convinced that he deserves any special treatment.”
He leaned back in his chair and studied her, a speculative look crossing his face. Even more uneasy now, she did her best to keep her face calm as she reached for a serving dish.
“Put that down,” he ordered.
“Yes, Master Ukhaan. Perhaps you would like me to clear later?” She started to head for the door as she spoke.
“I didn’t give you permission to leave.”
“No, sir.” Her palms turned clammy as she turned to face him. Why was he acting so strangely?
“Remove your clothing.”
“But…” Her heart pounded against her ribs as his face darkened.
“Do not disobey me, girl. Take it off. Now.”
With trembling hands, she removed her apron, then unfastened the drab brown dress and reluctantly let it fall, automatically putting an arm over her breasts and her hand in front of her genitals.
“Drop your arms,” Ukhaan ordered as he approached, but it was disgust on his face, not lust.
She tried to hang on to that thought as he circled her. He had never shown any signs of sexual interest in her. Whatever he was planning, she prayed it wouldn’t involve Baahy. But it was more than the chill that made her tremble as she waited for his next order.
He reached out and poked one of her breasts with a thick finger, and she bit her lip to keep from protesting. He shook his head as the soft flesh quivered.
“Quite disgusting. But since not every male finds you as unpleasant as I do, I may be able to make use of that.”
As he walked back over to the table, she tried frantically to guess what he had in mind and what she could do to dissuade him. He rummaged through a box he had brought with him, then pulled out a handful of white cloth and tossed it at her. Her heart sank even further as she recognized the flimsy gown typically worn by female slaves. Two pieces of thin white cloth were fastened only at the shoulders and at the waist, leaving the slave’s body easily accessible to her master.
“Put that on.”
She wanted to protest, but even as skimpy as the outfit was, it was better than being naked and she obediently slipped it over her head.
“Now follow me,” he said as he headed for the door.
“Yes, Master Ukhaan, but I left dried lorca steaks soaking in preparation for your midday meal… I wouldn’t want to ruin them.”
He hesitated and she held her breath, hoping that his gluttony might work in her favor but he slowly shook his head.
“A shame to waste them, but I must remember my overall goal. Come along, girl.”
“Your goal, Master?” she asked, reluctantly following him along the corridor in the direction of the mines. When he glared at her and raised his fist, she hurried on. “I mean, is there anything I can do to help?”
He slapped her anyway but it was only a casual gesture, meant to reprimand rather than punish.
“Just hope that your limited attractions are enough to convince my visitor to invest.” He shrugged. “If he does, I’ll recommend you as a cook to my replacement. If he doesn’t, you can stay down here until I send for you. A few weeks servicing the miners should make you more appreciative of the generosity I have shown you.”
He stepped into the lift, tugging her impatiently after him when she froze in horror. She could no longer hide her trembling as she realized that he was taking her to join the other female slaves.
The temperature increased the further they descended, but it was nothing compared to the wave of heat that greeted her when the doors opened. She knew the mines were beneath the heated side of the transition zone, but she hadn’t realized how greatly the temperature differed. The cold dampness of her small bedroom suddenly seemed a lot more appealing.
A guard greeted Ukhaan as they emerged, eyeing
