Trinity, The Grande Penthouse, The Mytikas Summit Housing Complex

      Besides being a gigolo, Cassander was also a tour guide. On our ride, he shared details about Mytikas, the large city we were in. It reminded me of New York or Hong Kong. Sprawling. Crowded. If it weren’t for the fact the vehicle we were in was more Buck Rogers than Buick, it would seem like we were on Earth.

      The same went for the hotel we’d entered. Swanky, like the Ritz. It even had a penthouse level. It seemed social status wasn’t reserved just for Earth. We were in a suite, with Vegas-worthy views. Lights and tall buildings were all that could be seen. I had no idea what time it was, but it was dark out. I didn’t feel the least bit tired, although I was sure it had more to do with adrenaline than anything else. That and the constant, aching hunger I had to be touched. I felt like an addict who desperately needed a hit. Sex was practically all I could think about. My body actually hurt.

      Maybe after a few orgasms, I’d feel better and conk right out.

      “There are three bedrooms to your guest quarters, thanks to your host, Lord Jax,” Cassander said, pointing to the doors off of the suite’s central room. Decorated in soft colors, creams and tans, the suite was elegant and screamed wealth. Yeah, Lord Jax was definitely working it. Artwork graced the walls; abstracts I assumed were of Aleran landscapes, but it could have been the Grand Canyon for all I knew. If it weren’t for the doors that swished open and closed automatically like in Star Trek, it felt familiar and… normal. As if Alera wasn’t as culturally different from Earth as I’d assumed. “The guards will remain in the central room, assuring our safety while we are… occupied. There is a bedroom for each of you, my ladies. You and I, Trinity, will take this one.”

      Cassander was bold enough to take my hand in his and lead me in the direction he spoke. The touch was gentle, warm, but it didn’t reassure me, only made me nervous. Yeah, a gigolo to ease my Aleran Ardor. Soooo different from Earth.

      Faith came over to me from the window where she’d been taking in the view. “I’ll pull one of these comfy chairs up here. Right by your door. If you need anything, I’ll be… well, listening.”

      She blushed, and so did I. Like she wanted to listen to her sister having sex with a stranger. I winced, and apparently, Cassander saw my less than excited expression.

      “You have nothing to fear with me. I promise you, my lady. You will feel only pleasure.” His fingertips grazed the inside of my wrist in an act meant to be seductive. Instead, I felt annoyed. My body liked it, humming to life with sudden interest. But me? The battle going on inside my head? Angry, upset, I hate this me was definitely winning.

      I glanced at Faith who bit her lip. I wasn’t sure if she was trying to stifle a smile or keep from vomiting.

      “Does that thing have real bullets or lasers or what? And where can I get one?” Destiny asked. Faith and I turned to see our curious—and ruthless sister—tugging a space-age weapon from one of the guards’ hip holsters.

      “Um… be careful with that,” the guard warned. He was the second guard, the hot one. Or, the hottest one, because none of them were bad-looking.

      Destiny narrowed her eyes and tossed her purple hair back. She waved the gun around as if she were an idiot who’d never touched a weapon before. “What, you mean someone might get hurt?”

      The guard blanched and reached for the weapon.

      Destiny dropped the act and aimed the gun at the floor. “Easy, soldier. I was just playing with you.” Her deft hands fiddled with it. “Stun mode. Fascinating.”

      Faith rolled her eyes. “She’ll be entertained for hours.” Faith’s gaze traveled over the guards’ uniforms, taking in the array of weapons, knives, blasters, and odd attachments that Destiny would, undoubtedly, dissect like a scientist. If there was a PhD in weapons, she’d have a plaque on her bedroom wall. Shiny and silver, I could just see it surrounded by the blast of purple bedding and purple paint on the walls.

      “Yeah, giving the guards heart attacks,” I countered.

      “So forget about her. About us. What’s going on out here. Just… do your thing.” Faith pulled me away from Cassander, into a tight hug. Her lips were next to my ear, and her voice so low I was sure no one else could hear her. “I know you hate this. I’m sorry. But we need to find Mom, and we need you to survive long enough to help us do that. Okay. We’re right here. We got your back. You know that. We got you.”

      Tears. Great. That was soooo not what I needed right now. “Thanks.”

      Faith nodded and stepped away, taking up her new position in the chair, guarding the hallway that led to the fuck-den. Sheesh. Was I really going to do this? Did I have a choice? Every moment since we’d arrived on the planet had made my Ardor worse. I didn’t know if it was the alien men, the air, or what, but my Ardor had gone from the low simmer it had been on Earth to a full blown assault on my senses. I couldn’t think. Could barely breathe. I wasn’t a child. I could control myself, but I was miserable. Uncomfortable. Needy. My skin so sensitive that Faith’s hug had made my skin burn with heat.

      Damn.

      I looked at Cassander and held out my hand with all the enthusiasm of a criminal facing down a firing squad.

      “We’ll be right here, Trin. Right here.” Faith assured me once more with a nod.

      “Okay.”

      Cassander said nothing but took my hand with a gentle tug. I gave up, let him lead me into the bedroom. Oh, there was a big bed all right. Huge. White blankets and fluffy pillows all turned down, ready for entry. I felt like I was a virgin sacrifice as he closed the door behind us. Locked it.

      “Wine, my lady?” he asked, going to a table and pouring a dark liquid into two glasses.

      “Can’t hurt,” I said on a sigh, holding my hand out. I took a sip. Fruity wine burst on my tongue. It wasn’t grapes that had been fermented, but something else. Still, it tasted good and I needed some liquid courage. And to loosen up.

      I took another gulp as Cassander shrugged out of his jacket. Beneath, he wore a white shirt that was trim to his body. As if it was the most natural thing in the world, he unbuttoned the shirt and slid it down his shoulders and back. He was pure muscle. Step one in his seduction plan, wine. Step two, strip tease.

      And I still didn’t want him. Shit. I didn’t feel all too teased, so I had to hope he had toys in his arsenal, maybe in the bedside table, or a really wicked tongue. I took another gulp of wine, stared at the defined masses of muscle moving under his skin. He was built. Nice arms. Really nice backside. The way my pussy was pulsing and my breasts ached, I should have been all over him. I should just take off my clothes, lay down on the bed, close my eyes and let this man work some kind of magic on me.

      He turned, his wine in hand and a sympathetic look on his face. Sympathy, and lust. So, I was what? I new notch on his belt? Oh, look at the famous consort who got to fuck the future queen? He didn’t know that, but I did. And I was not feeling this.

      I glanced at the bed again and tried to imagine him pounding into me as I held onto the headboard. Or… put my head under a pillow? Kept my eyes closed? Turned off the lights?

      I set the wine glass down on the bedside table, shaking my head. No, this