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   A girl knelt at their feet. She jutted her small bosoms up along with her tray containing two snifters of Saturnian brandy. ―Miss Eden prepared the sweetmeats herself. I wouldn't take anything else if I were you. The other ladies are… They can't cook as good.‖

   
The next Azura or Eden?
Kaliq thought, taking the entire plate of Eden's sweets.

   
A courtesan in the making most assuredly
, Kamal linked back, placing a five-credit tip on her tray.

   ―M
erci,‖
the girl breathed, her silver skin heating with hues of golden pleasure. The color lent her rather plain features a shy beauty.

   ―They start them very young here,‖ Kamal said, surprised by the sadness in his voice.

   ―Aye.‖ Kaliq sounded equally sad. ―But I've heard they learn skills that will earn them more than minimum credits should they elect not to continue their training in…sexual matters.‖ He took a sweet from the plate and bit into it. Myriad flavors exploded on his tongue and inexplicably made his shaft swell.

   Kamal could taste the sweet melting in Kaliq's mouth. He snorted at his brother's uncharacteristic euphemism
,
then almost swallowed his own tongue. Eden stood the center of the stage, her body encased in skin-tight black. Unlike the previous performers with their pastel ribbons, in her hands Eden held two viciously barbed whips.

   ―A change in the order,‖ Kamal choked out, his spear swelling painfully. He bit into a sweet and felt his spear grow even larger.

   Kaliq shifted as if his loose-fitting pants had shrunk. ―Nothing like a little dominatrix to liven things up.‖

   Through their chaises, they felt a drum roll flow into their legs, arms, asses and shafts. It sounded like distant thunder rumbling over the nearby Venusian mountains. A panpipe murmured as Eden flicked both whips. Two men on opposite sides of the stage yelped as her whips snatched one sleeve from each of their shirts.

   ―She wasn't even looking at them,‖ Kamal muttered as Eden leaped into the air, her whips making cracking sounds in time to the music. ―And her hair covered her eyes.‖

   ―And she left no wounds,‖ Kaliq added. ―Not even a scratch.‖

   They watched, gape-mouthed, as Eden ended her performance. With a flick of both whips that trimmed locks of hair from two cringing men, she executed a back flip
, t
hen landed soundlessly, the drum and flute silenced as well.

   Still as a statue of Venus, she stood in the center of the stage. Then she strolled off, a panther so secure in her realm she needn't look where she went.

   ―Paint! By the Goddess, she wears nothing but paint,‖ a man shouted.

   ―One hundred-thousand credits,‖ another called out. Others outbid each other by increasingly large increments.

Smiling, her mind whirling and dizzied by the vast sums, Tante stepped to the stage. ―Gentlemen…gentlemen, please. The bidding will begin next Torday. Until then, mingle with my ladies. I'm certain you'll find their conversation as delightful as their performances tonight.‖

* * * *

The first person Eden encountered when she came off stage was Azura.

   ―I'll give you points for the whips,‖ Azura said. ―I understand animal trainers are in great demand in the Leonine System.‖ Swiveling her hips, the Sednan paced away, but turned back for a parting salvo. ―But I know for a fact that Kaliq and Kamal aren't into sadomasochism.‖

   Colette patted Eden's back. ―Don't let her get under your skin. She's just jealous she didn't think of using whips herself. Which… Why did you?‖

   ―Focus. I needed something to keep me focused on the routine. With every snap of the whips, I imagined Azura howling with pain.‖

   ―That's not like you, Eden.‖

   ―Azura brings out the worst in me.‖

   ―Not that I blame you. Remember when she cut off your braids while you slept?‖

   Eden grimaced. ―The night I turned sixteen. How could I forget? But it was my own fault. Saying I wanted to be the most famous courtesan…‖ She shrugged.

   ―I bet that's why she insisted Tante delay her debut. What fun was there in winning the highest
prix
of her class with you a year or two behind her?‖

   ―I never thought of that, but you're probably right. If her
prix
is higher than mine, she can gloat in my face.‖

   ―If you win…‖

   ―I doubt we'll see or hear from Azura again.‖

   ―Watch your back,‖ Colette warned.

   Nodding, Eden thought, And my front as well.

   
Perhaps two men?

   Even though she'd focused on her routine, she'd been aware of two men whose eyes never left her the entire performance. Her subconscious remembered the similarities in their muscular bodies and their chiseled faces. Dark hair curled over their high foreheads. She could not see the color of their eyes, but their noses seemed like blades, their clean-shaven jaws, hard and square.

   Now, recalling their height, she wondered how their bodies would fit with hers. If they both won her, which would claim her maidenhead and would the other resent he hadn't been her first? And later would they, the three of them, have sex together or would the men take her one at a time? And was she counting hen's teeth before they'd sprouted?

   Her mind filled with erotic images, her breasts swelled and her nipples ached. Her pussy seeped as if preparing for their penetration. She could ease the lust coursing through her, the relentless pounding of blood that raged through her veins. Instead, she schooled herself to patience and savored the myriad sensations—need and longing holding sway above all others—flowing over and through her.

   
Sweet
Goddess,
please
do
not
let
them
choose
another.
Her lips quirking a wry smile, she added to her previous prayer.
Above all, please, please,
please don't let them choose Azura!

   When Eden returned to the lounge, she spotted Azura clinging to the two men Eden wanted for herself. Kamal, much taller than the Sednan courtesan and slightly taller than Kaliq, tried to slide Azura's arm from his. A useless effort, since Azura's forearm and hand slithered right back.

   
Octopus!
Eden focused on Kaliq. He made no attempt to disengage the creature snuggling her breast into the muscular arm she clenched so tightly.

   
Men! They always fall victim to the obvious flirt
while more subtle women go wanting!

   As if her scathing thoughts had broadcast the width of the room, the men's gazes focused sharply on Eden. In unison, they bowed to Azura
,
then stripped her hands from their arms. They strode to Eden like a matched pair of stallions.

   Resisting the urge to fan her heating face, she watched them. They wore the traditional tribal garb of Sedna—cropped, sleeveless vests barely covered their warrior-firm chests and left their arms—muscled biceps she couldn't envelope with both her hands—exposed to the admiration of dozens of courtesans, students and competitors alike. Rippled abs lured Eden's gaze lower. Narrow hips held up billowing, gauzy pantaloons, their bulging cocks and sacs concealed by opaque red fabric.

   Eden's fingers curled as if they surrounded those male appendages. Her throat closed, making it impossible to swallow, but her pussy wept…longing to take their tumescence within.

   Drawing a careful breath, she forced her gaze lower still, taking in lightly haired, powerful thighs and calves and large, endearingly elegant sandaled feet.

   Magnificent, she thought, her held breath easing out on a sigh.

   Their nostrils flared and lust fired in their eyes. Green.
Their eyes are the color of Jovian emeralds with
streaks of Plutonian silver
. Ensorcelled, Eden could only stare at them and pray her legs would hold her upright. Had she noticed the color of their eyes sooner, she might have stripped them naked earlier. Let them take her on the bar and her
prix
be damned.

   Just when each man took one of her hands in his, again sending sensuous tingles up her arms and down her spine, Tante's voice boomed out again.

   ―M
essieurs
, I bow to your common demands. The bidding begins tonight.‖ Forty male voices shouted approval, only to fall silent when Tante added, ―However…‖

Enjoying the power she held, Tante continued to let them wait. Sensing the moment they would begin to shout again, she raised her hand. ―However, since I know you are all gentlemen and have no desire to slight any of my ladies, you must submit your written bids to me by midnight. I shall inform you privately of the results after tomorrow night's entertainment.‖ She winked. ―Which I assure you, you'll find delicious.‖ Her fingers twitched, already feeling credits sifting through them.

―Leave it to Tante to use old-Earth dating customs to build the suspense,‖ Colette complained goodnaturedly.

   ―Not to mention sweeten her pot-of-gold,‖ Eden countered, looking at ten tables with two chairs at each.

   ―Why did our ancestors call it
speed dating?‖

   Eden shrugged. ―Probably because of the short time each couple spends together. Please, Goddess, don't put me next to Azura.‖

   ―Might be fun to eavesdrop,‖ Colette suggested, giggling as she went to find her table.

   ―As if.‖ For one thing, the tables were too far away from each other to eavesdrop. For another, Eden told herself she was above that sort of sneaky behavior.
But—oh!—how I wish I weren't.

   One aspect of her training Eden had truly enjoyed was meeting new people. So she had no problem showing real interest in what each man liked to do—be it his work or hobbies or whatever. But as the evening went by, she found some men kept looking at their timepieces or gazing at a point over her shoulder. One man bypassed her completely. Kamal saved her pride and came to her table as if that had been his intention all along.

   Of all the emotions he and his brother evoked in her, her gratitude caught her completely offguard. Nor had she expected his kindness. When he took her hand, she felt a jolt of lust, but realized he'd somehow subdued it. It now felt like a minor tingling over her skin—like a fading power shock.

   ―Good evening,‖ he said as if they'd never met. ―My name is Kamal.‖ That deep voice washed over her. It held more than a hint of seduction, yet had a solidity. Like a blanket on a cold winter night, she wanted to wrap it around her body and absorb its warmth.

   ―Eden. Since I believe I know why you are here, Kamal, please tell me something about yourself.‖

   ―You first. Where are you from, Eden?‖

   The question surprised her. None of the other men had asked her anything about herself. ―Eearth. You?‖

   His emerald gaze focused on her face, he waved one hand. She found it impossible to think. The color of his eyes reminded her of tropical plants she'd seen in the arboretum. She remembered the humidity in the glass enclosure and how damp it made her skin feel. Half-expecting to smell peat and decaying mulch, she drew a shallow breath, delighted Kamal's scent was nothing like the arboretum's soil. The aroma of sandalwood drifted across the small table. Although striking a woody base note, he smelled fresh and clean. Hints of musk underscored it, subtly arousing her. She wanted to taste him.

   ―Out there, somewhere among the stars,‖ he said. ―What's your favorite color?‖

   ―Green,‖ she replied so quickly she felt a blush heat her face, neck and chest.
The exact color of your
eyes. ―Yours?‖ s
he managed to ask.

   ―Golden, black and brown. Your skin, hair and eyes in case you're wondering.‖

   ―I wasn't. My skin isn't golden and my eyes… What do you do for entertainment, Kamal?‖

   His pupils dilated and his nostrils flared. She felt an answering response in her own body. Her nipples hardened and her pussy heated. And he had only touched her hand.