Her lips part, and I place the small silver disc on her pink tongue.
"Blessed sugar from the Grand City Temple," I explain. "The priestesses infuse it with properties that enhance sensation. Close your mouth. Let it dissolve."
I watch her pupils dilate as the sugar begins its work. Every nerve ending will be singing within minutes. Every touch will be magnified. Every sensation will be amplified until pleasure becomes almost indistinguishable from pain.
"Now then." I settle onto the meditation bench, arranging my robes. "Tell me about the Grand Championships. Are you prepared to see so many human pets competing for their lives? Because I’m not sure that youreallyare."
She makes a sound of distress around the dissolving sugar. I can see her throat working, wanting to swallow so that she can answer me.
"Ah, ah. Let it melt completely first. While we wait, let me share with you what I know." I lean back casually. I watch as she starts to get nervous. She thinks I’m going to mention Terra Ka. Instead I say, “You’ve been talking to the doctor about your Venus Lock. You don’t know how much longer you can take this. The Hallo root isn’t taking the edge off like it used to. And you know what I think?” I ask rhetorically. “I think you’re worried about becoming too aroused and slipping into insanity seeing all these naked humans led around and used during the Grand Championships. I know your Venus Lock hit its limit yesterday. I thought you were with Rafe, but no, you were watching Starshine’s trainer bring her to orgasm in the Grand Lobby.”
"Sovereign, I?—"
"You thought we didn’t know?" I stand, moving behind her. I run a single finger down her spine, and she arches like I've used a shock prod. “Did you want to strip off your clothes and beg for Starshine’s trainer to make you come? Are you going to forget all about the contract you have with us and your position at the Celestial Spire for an orgasm?"
"No, Sovereign, I just—" She cuts herself off, but it's too late.
"Finish the thought."
"It makes me physically exhausted to be so aroused all the time, Sovereign."
"Interesting, because you don’t seem tired. I’ve checked your terminal. You’ve been working your regular hours and then some.”
Silence. Beautiful, telling silence.
I crouch beside her, close enough that my breath reaches her ear. With the blessed sugar in her system, even that slight sensation makes her shudder.
“Perhaps what’s really bothering you is that you want something you can’t have.” I stroke her back again. “Tell me, Eve, when the Venus Lock edges you closer to madness and you're begging the darkness for release, whose names escape your lips? Starshine’s trainer or ours?”
Her whole body flushes. The blessed sugar makes even her shame feel like pleasure. "That's not—I don't?—"
"Lie to me again, and this session becomes significantly less pleasant."
She swallows hard. "You and Sovereign Rafe. Both of you. Together. I say your names when I’m begging in the darkness.”
"And does that shame you? Wanting two men who employ you at the same time?"
"Yes, Sovereign. The hierarchy. You’re so far above me. It’s wrong to fantasize about you both. And…” She trails off.
I trace my finger along her jaw, watching her fight not to lean into my touch. "And you want us despite what happens at the Celestial Spire with humans. Do you know what that makes you?"
"A hypocrite."
"No." I tilt her chin up, forcing her to meet my eyes. "It makes you human."
The confusion in her expression is priceless.
"Humans are creatures of contradiction," I continue. "You crave freedom while longing for chains."
I release her chin and move to the altar, retrieving the ritual oil. "The Empire understood this centuries ago. Why fight human nature when you can celebrate it?"
"Is that what this is, Sovereign?" There's an edge to her voice now, her intelligence reasserting itself. "Sanctification?"
"Would you prefer degradation? I can provide that too." I pour oil into my palm, warming it between my hands. "Now stand."
She rises. The blessed sugar should have reached its full potency by now.
"The goddesses teach us that pleasure shared is worship," I say, moving behind her and placing my oil-slick hands on her shoulders.
