Maria had spent the last few nights with her master, seeing to his needs and hand serving him specially chosen bottles of blood wine for his specific taste. She had seen to his every want and desire and spent each night with him as he had requested her to. She was feeling her place in the household at last, a place that she had to remind herself put her one lower then the lady of the house. It confused her how someone as strong as her master had found and ended up with someone as kind and sweet as her Lady.

She had seen to getting Eiellani hot chocolate and her Lord his tea and had made sure the meals were made to suit both husband and wife, and ate alone in her room so as not to disturb them. She saw to all her duties everyday before going to spend time alone often by the docks, or in the darker side of Rhy-Din Marketplace. She often just wondered the streets, leading her horse behind her, thinking about the time she had spent so far with her love and how she wished it could be more, but would never ask of it.

It had been days since she had spoken to Talomar about making a blood wine for him, she had waited as long as her excitement would allow before she headed back to the little shop hidden in the shadows of the Rhy-Din stores. She entered quietly, the little old man looked up at her, immediately recognizing the woman he had sold to just a few days prior and he stood, a smile playing over his aged lips as he took her in, white almost see-through blouse, black ankle length leather skirt that hugged her every curve, a split in the back to an almost indecent height and leather jacket hugging her upper body, only low enough to meet the skirt.

He clapped his hands together in delight, not missing the sword at her side, and guessing the dagger she had bought was probably hidden away in the top of her knee high boots. "You came back," he grinned at her, his Japanese flawless and Maria nodded.

"You mentioned being able to make blood wine," she answered, her own words flowed in her native language as well, glad for the moment to be rid of the pesky English.

"Yes," he answered quickly, "its a specialty of mine, it takes a very short time, no more then an hour," he added as the two seemed to size one another up and after a minute she nodded and smiled.

"I would like to do so, how do we begin?" She asked, crossing the room to the counter.

He smiled at her, a look that said he was about to make a lot of money, "It is not a cheep endeavor," he answered then stopped when she dropped a bag of gold pieces on his counter and he smiled, "What wine would you like?"

Maria smiled softly, she had asked that question to Talomar nights ago, wondering what red wine he might like. "Merlot," she answered and the little man smiled moving behind the counter to get the drink, lifting the bottle reverently letting her take it to examine it and the age before she nodded, "Perfect," she stated and watched him take the bottle and motioned her towards the back of the shop.

She moved to follow him, her steps sure, not showing any worry about how he would get her blood from her, she wanted to do this, to give what she could to her love, her master. The small man tucked the bottle carefully beneath his arm and pushed through a curtain of beads and into the back room holding the same curtain open for her, allowing her to follow him through.

Maria let Kyuusai carry her home, more then her guiding him. She was hurting, tired, her head pounding, her jaw aching. The man had known what he was doing to keep her off balance, he had made sure to drain enough blood from her to leave her light headed and lacking. She was pale and her hands shook on the reins, as the little Arab trotted slowly through the palace gates, his steps smooth and graceful as if understanding his rider could not stay in the saddle if bumped wrong. The geisha's weight was light on his neck and he carried her easily even with her laying over his mane. The horse slowed as the castle grew closer, whinnying sharply as if to get the attention of anyone near as he turned for the stables.

Lord Talomar Longden had been in his study, going over some S.E.C.T.O.R. tally sheets on the number of slaves transported between quadrants, and the amount of narcotics that could be diverted to Rhydin's vicinity He had a desire - call it a "need" - to suddenly put down his papers and walk to the leaded windows that overlooked the drive up to the castle. "Ah...my valet arrives. That explains it." He turned to sit back down again, but stopped. She had been some distance away, but she didn't look right. He turned back to the window and looked at her approaching. She was slumping over her horse! He left the papers on his desk, went to the door, unlocked it, and locked it again when he exited the room. He traveled through the hallways like a rapidly approaching dark cloud, knocking aside servants who had the unfortunate timing to get in his way. He needed to get to the stables.

Kyuusai stopped inside the stable, ears pinned as grooms approached him, backing away from them and refusing capture from them, being careful not to unseat Maria as she struggled to straighten in the saddle, moving to slip from his saddle ending up on her rear as the horse pranced a couple of steps away before turning to her, dropping his nose to her, her fingers lacing into his bridal and letting the horse help her back to her feet, shaky and fighting to stay on her feet as she moved to let him go, her hand staying on the animal's shoulder for a minute before she started towards the house, leaning heavily on the stalls as she went the horse finally allowing the grooms to capture him.

All the stall doors led into a small courtyard in a rectangular pattern. The courtyard itself had a large stone entranceway. It was at this entranceway that Count Longden met Maria, trying to steady herself against the stone walls of the entrance. He came up to her, saw the deep bruise on her jaw, and said not a word. He didn't need to. He picked her up into his arms and began the walk back to the castle. His jaw was set in anger and determination. If someone had hit his Maria, that someone would pay - dearly.

Maria slumped into his arms, thankful that he was there, she shivered as she curled tightly against him, mumbling a soft apology to her Lord, barely loud enough to be heard.

"You're safe now, my love," he said, his words amazingly soft and soothing, leaving no doubt that his words were perfectly true. He walked back through the halls and signaled for servant to follow them. The servant was given the keys and told to run ahead and open the doors as he would approach them. It was not long before Talomar had Maria in his room and on his bed.

The young woman shivered from cold as she laid out on his bed her dark eyes meeting his, "I did not mean to bring you trouble," she breathed softly, her fingers moving tentatively to the bruise on her chin and wincing, it was a wonder he hadn't broken her jaw he had hit her so hard.

Talomar took off her boots and riding clothes and covered her with heavy blankets, all without saying a word. A servant had come in with ice and a number of towels and wash clothes. He sent the servants out, locked the doors, then sat down on the bed next to Maria. He placed the ice in a cloth and held it against her jaw. At that point he finally spoke. "You did not bring me trouble, my love; someone else did." His last three words were said with a darkening of his voice, leaving no doubt that it was not good to be that "someone." He kissed her forehead. "You will rest here until you feel strong again, and I don't want you to hurry to get back to work." He wiped her face and smiled. "Now, please tell me how this happened and who did this to you. Tell me the truth, that's all I ask."

Maria smiled weakly at him, curling deeply under the blankets for their warmth, "I went back to the shop I bought your wine from to have the blood wine I promised you made. I thought everything was fine but after a while I just got very weak and dizzy and then some stranger came in, paid the man who owns the shop for telling him where I was," she muttered, leaning into the ice slightly, "he did this, he hit me when I tried to defend myself, he hit me for it. I eventually managed to put my knife into him. But I don't think I killed him."

Talomar nodded as she spoke, listening very carefully. "Did the shop owner speak fluent Japanese?"

Maria nodded, "He did," she confirmed softly, "I fear I ruined my clothes though," she added, she had gotten his blood on her white shirt while stabbing the stranger.

He smiled lovingly at her and took her hand in his and kissed it. "Don't you worry about your clothes. You did very well, Maria. I'm proud of you. Once again you have proved that I chose well in choosing you." He patted her hand and set it down on the blanket. "Philippe had occasionally done business with that same man, so I know the establishment he runs. I'm going to pay him a little visit now while all this is fresh in his mind. You just rest here, my love. Get some sleep and when I return I'll see what I can do to make you feel better and take your mind off these terrible things that have been done to you."

Maria smiled softly at him, "Thank you my love," she muttered softly.

He leaned over and placed a kiss on her lips and stroked her forehead with his hand. "I won't be long. I'll have Katie come in and see to your every need. She's reliable and has had some nursing experience. You have done well, Maria. There is no need to worry about anything." He stood and went to the outer office where he opened his safe and removed his "special" knife. It was not long before he was in a carriage and riding into town.

. . . TWO TO GO.

The bounty hunter moaned in pain as he lay upon a small cot in the basement of the shop. He heard heavy steps coming down the old, wooden steps. The basement was not well lit and he could not make out the figure on the steps, but assumed it was Muramatsu. "Did you find her? Did you find that bitch who stuck me? I swear when I get my hands on that filthy bitch she''ll be looking mighty different when I return her and that damn black horse to the Shah." He groaned and added, "She better be worth this."

"Oh, she is, believe me," the Count's voice was as smooth as silk. "And to answer your question, yes, I did find her."

"Who th'' bloody hell are you," the bounty hunter asked, obviously not appreciating being disturbed while he was trying to get his strength back.

"Lose much blood?" Talomar asked as he walked to the wall where he saw a coil of rope hanging. He had no problem at all seeing in the subdued light.

"Wha'' th'' hell do you think, asshole. Th'' bitch stuck me in my belly. Hurts like hell."

"I''m sure it does," Talomar said as he walked over to the cot, standing with the only light in the room at his back. "I think you need to get your feet up higher. In fact, I''m sure of it." He took the rope and hog-tied the man''s ankles together with one end of the rope.

"Wha'' th'' hell do ya think ya doin''?" He looked to the stairs and shouted out, "Muramatsu! Get this long-haired asshole away from me!"

Talomar looked at the man and smiled. "Muramatsu left us with a neck ache; but he did say that we could hang around for a while." Talomar passed the other end of the rope up through the heavy wooden beams that were at the ceiling of the basement. Years of dust and dirt fell down. He then began to yank on the rope, pulling the man''s feet up.

"Hey! Stop that! What are you, some kind of moron? I''m hurt here!"

Talomar smiled, "Oh, I know." He continued to pull on the rope, lifting the heavy man toward the basement ceiling by his feet while ignoring the screams. It was not long before the man was swinging upside down, his feet near the ceiling, his head about two feet off the dirt floor, and his hands tied behind his back. When Talomar took out his obsidian bladed, bejeweled knife, the man began to panic.

"Why are you doin'' this? Please?I''ve ''ad enough. Th'' game''s over."

"Oh, but it''s just begun," Talomar smiled sweetly. "Now we''re going to play ''Answer My Questions''. Question #1. The girl who stabbed you ? what is she to you?"

"What is she? She''s money, that''s what she is! Now get me down."

"But we''ve just started," Talomar replied, his voice so sweet that it was hideously threatening. He began to cut the man''s shirt away, noticing that the wound Maria had given him was bleeding again. "Question #2. Tell me, how was she to bring you money?"

"The Shah has a bounty on her. She stole his horse. I was just going to return her and her damn horse back to where they belong. That''s all. Please . . . . let me down. This is killing me."

"That, you are right about," Talomar said, "however, you were very wrong about where that woman belongs. You see," Talomar knelt down next to the man''s head and tapped the knife several times on the bounty hunter''s chin, "she does not belong to the Shah. She belongs to me; and I don''t like it when someone touches what is mine. You had the nerve to strike my valet in the face."

"I didn''t know she was yours. I swear! I''m sorry! I didn''t know. . ."

His words were cut short when Talomar took the knife and pushed it though the man''s cheek, slicing off half his tongue, and coming out the opposite cheek. "You nearly broke her jaw, you know that?" He quickly pulled the blade out and watched the blood drip into the man''s eyes and hair as he moaned loudly with but half a tongue.

Talomar stood up and put the blade to the man''s navel. "Maria stabbed you just above your stomach. I find the area of the bowels to be much more interesting. So, we come to the third and final question. Are you feeling bound up?"

He sliced the man half-way around his belly and watched his intestines fall out and unravel until part of them lay at the man''s head. "Do you know that a man''s small intestines are 20 feet long and the large intestines are 5 feel long. Quiet amazing really. I just wanted to make sure you were not constipated. It''s such a pain when you're all bound up and just can''t go."

Talomar wiped his blade clean on the man''s shirt and looked down on him, "Depending on how long it takes you to die, you might have the opportunity to feel the rats nibble on you. They love intestines, and Muramatsu has such large rats in his cellar."

Talomar winked, slide his knife away and walked up the stairs. He shut off the light and closed the door on the man''s screams.

After Count Longden had disposed of the two individuals who had hurt Maria, he went to the inn for a drink. While there, he heard some very interesting news regarding two people he very much wanted to see - Gavilean and Inara Wakefield. They would need to be taught proper manners, and he would make the arrangements for that to happen. Lady Longden then arrived with her pets and they had some interesting conversation, but Talomar was anxious to see how his valet was doing.

It was nearly midnight when the lock on his bedroom suite turned and he stepped into the room. He had no trouble seeing in the dark and therefore did not bother turning on any lamps. The light of the fireplaces were more than sufficient. He discarded his street clothes, removed his boots and prepared for bed. When he had thoroughly washed, he came to the bed in nothing but under shorts and sat down and just looked at Maria for a considerable time. He cursed those two men for what had been done to his valet. He leaned over and kissed her forehead.

Maria stirred slightly at the touch of his lips, his movements had already nearly woken her, as if he had spoken her name at his return. She slowly opened her eyes to look up at him, soft smile filtering over her lips only to disappear a second later from the ache it caused her jaw. "My lord?" She questioned softly not sure if she should move or stay where she is, or how she should greet him while in such a state.

He held out his hand as if to say not to move. "I've been worried sick about you, my dear; but you can relax in knowing that neither of those men shall ever harm you again. We'll have to search elsewhere if we want bloodwine in the future."

Maria nodded, "Thank you my lord, I think it is an adventure best left for someone else to donate to," she answered softly a disappointed look crossing her face, "I just wish I had at least gotten away with the wine made for you. I'm sorry, my love," she breathed softly.

He looked down upon her in the subdued light. "No need to be sorry. When I brought the carriage to the carriage house, the stable hand gave me a large pouch that he had removed from your horse. Evidently the shop keeper at least took the time to put your bloodwine on your horse. It shall be my most cherished possession."

Maria did smile this time, glad at least to have gotten that much success from the day, "I'm glad for that at least," she muttered softly, closing her eyes for a minute before looking up at him again, "I still can not help but feel sorry for causing you this problem, I should have finished it myself, if the room had not been dancing under my feet I would have run through the both of them," she muttered softly

He laughed and picked up her hand and kissed her palm. "My love, of that I have no doubt. The large man was quite indisposed when I got to him. Seems your dagger left him in a great pain from which he never did recover. Soon you'll be protecting me," he added with a laugh.

Her smile softened, "Its been much too long sense last I drew blade on anyone I fear I may be a bit rusty on my aim," she answered, "I had hoped to get his heart, fat bugger moved fast though," she stated, his laughter like music to her, and she long to hear that noise more often.

Talomar laughed even more, "That 'fat bugger' had a sudden weight loss." He kissed her hand again, light touches of his lips over her palm and up to her wrist. "A lesser woman would be gone from me. You handled yourself expertly."

Maria smiled at the praise before she finally let the look drop from her lips watching him, "So long as I please you my lord, that is what counts. But I'm keeping you from your bed and have stolen your pillow. Let me move to give you back that which is yours."

"Now, now...I'll hear nothing of that. A pillow and bed is the least I can offer you after all you have been through for me." He words began to be almost hypnotic, "I want you to just rest. Close your eyes. Breath slowly." His hand moved under the covers and touched her bare hip. "Just relax. I wish I could take the pain away from you, my love."

Maria's watched him at his words, her eyes slowly drifting closed, her breaths calming at his words, her legs opening slightly at the touch to her hip as she licked her lips settling against his pillows again.

After he had fully pleasured her, Talomar smiled down on her, moved out from between her legs and turned her over on her stomach so that she could lean the unwounded side of her jaw against the pillow. He again positioned himself between her legs and started to massage her back. "How are you feeling, my love? Are you more relaxed?"

Maria smiled softly at his question, "Very," she muttered softly, her eyes slitting to look back at him, feeling every bit of love he was pouring into her and swearing to herself she would repay it in full once she was less light headed.

He continued to rub her back. "I'm glad your feeling better," he said, as his hands massaged her lower back. "I want you to always feel good, and loved, and protected as you serve me."

Maria shifted under his touch, moving to open her legs a little more again for him. Once more a soft smile played over her lips, "I do my love, and I will always attempt to serve your every need," she answered softly.

He leaned over her and placed kisses on her back, going to the back of her neck, his hands taking her hands and holding them. His mouth went to her ear, "I....love....you," came the hot-breathed whisper.

Love and happiness danced in her gaze at his words, "I love you too," she breathed softly, her fingers entwining in his where he held hers.

Maria bore his weight on her happily, curling against his warmth under his protection and smiled softly her lips finding his fingers, kissing them softly, her tongue lacing to pull one into her mouth, pulling her own taste to her lips and over her tongue, playfully flicking the tip over the end of his finger tip, slow to release it, feeling her stomach growl in hunger as she moved to give his thumb the same treatment, making a slow meal of his fingers that he had been using not that long ago to pleasure her with.

He rubbed his smooth, freshly shaved face over her shoulders, loving the feel of her back on his face. When she was finished with his fingers he got off the bed and tucked the blanket in once again and slipped beneath the covers. He laid on his side next to her, his fingers playing with her hair. "I'm so glad you are with me, Maria. I want you always to be my valet."

She smiled softly curling deep into his arms, "I would never willingly leave you my lord. And even in shackles would find my way back to you," she curled against his shoulder, meaning every word.

His hand played over her bare shoulder. "Seems you were nearly in shackles today. Before that large beast expired, he said he was going to bring you back to the Shah; and your horse. I cannot be having bounty hunters coming for my personal valet. I might have a solution to that."

She looked up at Tal, her eyes meeting his curiously, "My Lord?"

He smiled, "I need to know that you are safe, Maria, and if I have to take some major steps to do that, so be it." He places a hand against her cheek. "I have a man coming to see me very soon. He's an agent and he's well trained. His name is Colonel William Samuel Savage. I was going to give him instructions and send him on his way, but perhaps I should have him take care of this Shah business first. What do you think?"

Maria smiled softly, "Whatever my lord wishes, I would certainly feel better knowing I was no longer on someone's hit list," she answered, not that she was, the price on her head was for her alive solely, the man wanted to kill her himself. "But how will you convince him I'm not worth hunting?" She questioned softly.

Talomar laughed. "Oh, I'm not going to convince him. Savage is. When Savage arrives, I'll have you meet him. You can give him the details and he'll take care of things. He hasn't failed me yet."

Maria nodded "Okay," she answered softly, curious about this new development and meeting this new person as she curled tighter into Tal's arms, before shifting to kiss his chest, a soft insistence for a little attention, "My Lord?" She muttered between the soft kisses.

"Yes?" he answered.

She continued the soft kisses speaking between them, "I hunger my lord, may I go and to the kitchens to get something?" She muttered softly, her tongue playing lightly over his dark nipple.

He released a soft sigh of pleasure at her kisses. "If you are feeling well enough, of course you may."

"I think I can make it down to the kitchen and back," she answered with a nod, thought she wouldn't dare go any further. "Can I bring you anything?" She asked softly going back to the dark bud, worrying it gently between her teeth.

"I've been totally satisfied on you, my love; but thank you for asking."

Maria smiled once more before slowly withdrawing from his touch, crossing his room to where he had kept her robe from the night before and she slipped into it, the white kimono almost as see through as most her blouses. She tied the sash in place and retrieving her keys she slipped from the room, locking the door securely behind her as she left the room and took her time heading for the kitchen, leaving Tal to himself.

He watched her leave and smiled. She was almost perfect. A little more training and discipline was all she needed, but she learned fast. He smiled at the thought, "Perhaps too fast."

Maria was gone a while, but main because of the way her head swam still. She was too tired for words as she found a little something to eat, making her way back to his room, nibbling on the sandwich on the way. It was gone before she got back to him, which was fine by her, the last thing she wanted was crumbs in her master's bed. She entered the room with little hint of her coming except the sound of the key in the lock. She secured the door behind, checking to make sure it had indeed locked before moving to set her robe neatly back where she had found it and returned to his bed, crawling back into it with him, dropping to the pillows exhausted and curled once more against him, her eyes drifting shut almost right away.

He felt her return to the bed and was glad to have her next to him again. He saw her eyes drifting shut and he allowed the sleep to come.

His mouth came down on the back of her neck, then he spoke, "I never want you to go." His hand moved over her chest, caressing, feeling its perfect shape. His fingers plying slowly pulling and turning between his thumb and finger. "But if you want to go..." he said no more.

Maria moaned softly, her eyes drifting closed, "No my lord, I would never wish to leave you, I would live in your arms if you would permit me," she answered softly and smiled softly, feeling his fingers on the sensitive nubs.

"I wish you could, my love," he said in a whisper as he continued to play with his fingers, pulling and feeling the hardening beneath his touch. "I can't get enough of you," his voice deep and seductive against her ear.

She smiled softly shivering in pleasure at his voice and breath against her ear. "If only wishes were reality," she muttered and moved to expose her collared neck to him.

He would feed on her now if she were not so weak already, but instead he removed the collar so that he could get at her neck. He kissed it and nibbled on it, and he opened his mouth wide on her soft neck and allowed his teeth to extend so that she could feel the sharpness against her flesh, but he did not penetrate the skin. As he was doing that, his right hand lowered and slipped between her legs

Maria moaned softly her legs spreading wider for him, "Please," she breathed softly, the feel of his teeth making her long for the feeling of him feeding from her, "please my lord, take me," she begged.

He knew she was weak, but he also needed her blood. A growl sound suddenly was emitted from his mouth, the teeth lengthened and went into her.He then took his fingers and brought them to her face and pushed his wet fingers into her mouth.

Maria's lips parted willingly for his hand, her tongue lapping at her own taste as she cleaned his fingers still shivering and moaning in pleasure she her tongue worked between his fingers cleaning every bit of dampness from his hand.

He finally released his teeth from her neck, careful not to take too much. His left hand cupped her chest and his right, now cleaned of all her wetness, rested on her shoulder. "Maria,. . . Maria. . ." he whispered against her neck.

His valet slumped against him shaking slightly, "Yes my lord," her voice was weak and tired again but also very content.

"Why are you so unfair to your lord?"

Maria woke slowly, her eyes drifting open to sunlight streaming through the window of her room. She raised her head in confusion, had she just drifted off? She looked around the room before settling in her pillows once more, about to close her eyes to go back to sleep when she realized what had happened and her eyes shot open, fear gripping her heart, she had slept through the whole day and night, she had missed getting to Tal as she had been instructed too.

She quickly moved to stand feeling the floor under her move from standing much too fast and she caught the edge of the foot board to steady herself and grit her teeth, stopping conflicted on what to do. To come to him in the state she was in, unwashed, bed worn, still in the white robe and certainly not in the form to appear before anyone, and risk his anger, or to stop and get cleaned up, and risk his anger at her taking the time to do. She settled on his anger as it was, sure he had told her to rest, but she had not intended to disobey his words that he would have her that night. She quickly settled her robe proper as she pushed out of her room, locking the door tightly and sweeping quickly through the castle halls, her steps fast, almost running, she was in a rush.

She could only imagine his rage at such a blatant stumble, this was worse then forgetting to lock his door, this was not seeing to his needs, and she was suppose to meet his agent today too. She stumbled to his door and stopped just outside. What time was it, was she about to wake him? That would just top the beginning of what she could see being a horrible day. She had the feeling she was about to receive a few new bruises to add to the just beginning to fade ones on her jaw and cheek.

She paused only for a minute more before bringing her knuckles to the door knocking softly, tentatively, waiting for an answer, holding her breath and feeling her hand shake, listening for his reply, to see if she could read in his voice how upset he was with her this morning. He would only be more so when he saw her in the same dressing gown, bed worn, her hair tussled from another night of sleeping on it without tending to the tangles or even getting a chance to wash it. She wanted to scuttle off and bath for him, clean herself proper and crawl to him begging his forgiveness, but she didn't dare make him wait so much as a single second longer then absolutely necessary, she would take the punishment he gave her and accept it and think him for it.

She deserved whatever she got, it was her own stupid fault she had slept for over twenty four hours, she should have been up long ago, she hadn't eaten at all since the night before last, but she had no right to anything until he gave her leave for her inconsiderate behavior. She fumbled the key into her hand as she listened for him quietly.

Maria followed close behind Tal, not that she couldn't with her arm in his vice grip, her bare feet soft on the floor feeling the cold but not making so much as a noise of complaint.

"Stand here," was his command as he took out a key and opened a large, oak door. There was nothing but cold blackness inside until Talomar walk in and began lighting the sconces all around the room. The room had a table in the center. Chains were attached to the walls. Other chains hung from the ceiling and a large mechanical blade hung from the ceiling in a pendulum fashion. Other devices of torture were scattered about the room. He went to the table and turned to Maria. "Come here and lock that door behind you!"

Maria quickly moved into the room, locking the door securely before moving to him, standing before him.

"Remove your robe."

She shrugged out of the robe and let it slip from her arms to pool on the floor by her feet

He looked at her body. It was beautiful and he loved her, but sometimes love must be strong. "Lay down on this table, facing the ceiling."

Maria slipped silently onto the table, she was scared, he could see it, but she was silent and stoic, not uttering so much as a sound.

He walked around her, staring at her body. He then reached below the table and grabbed a chain and manacled it to her hand. The same was done with the second hand and her feet. The other ends of the chains were fastened to rings on the floor, pulling her arms down over her head, and spreading her legs wide. When he had finished, he asked her, "Do you know what room this is?"

Her eyes flickered across the room fighting tears and nodded swallowing hard, "Yes my lord," her voice was very soft in fear, "its a torture chamber," she answered feeling a single tear streak her face.

"Correct. Why would we want to torture someone?"

Maria blinked her eyes moving to Talomar once more, "For information, or betrayal," she answered shivering slightly feeling more then vulnerable.

"That is true. It is also used for punishment when one of my employees have greatly disappointed me or broken the rules. Philippe had to punish two boys here not long ago. He skinned them alive."

Maria suppressed a sob of fear, her eyes closing for a minute before she looked at him once more, determined to face anything he would do to her.

He went to a wall and took out a whip made of twelve half-inch wide strips of leather, about two feet long. He walked over to her. "I want you to know that what I'm about to do, I do only because you have been disobedient, unreliable, and humiliating to me. I desire to make you better. Do you want to be better?"

Maria eyed the whip, she had seen women whipped before but had never been on the receiving end of it, she had always done her duties, "Yes my Lord," she breathed softly.

"Good. You will be better, I have no doubt of that." The whip came down hard on her bare stomach. It was not designed to break the skin, but to sting. Talomar had other whips that would do the body permanent damage.

Maria cried out at the strike, almost shocked he had actually done it as she bit her lip trying to stifle the cries, whimpering softly.

He walked around her, the next strike came down on her right breast, leaving red stripes on it.. Another strike was on her left breast.

Maria cried out again, her hands straining against the chains, automatically wanting to protect the sensitive flesh as tears streamed down her cheeks, her breaths coming fast and half panicked.

"Are you going to refuse to get me breakfast again, Madame Copperfield?"

"No," she sobbed softly, her legs shifting against the chains as well, her head rolling to look toward Tal, tears still flowing.

The whip came down on her thigh, three times in a row. "Are you going to humiliate me in front of my other employees again, Madame Copperfield?"

Maria gasped through sobs and cries, shaking, her voice barely audible, "No," she whispered shaking her head.

He then played with the leather straps of the whip lightly slapping against her fully exposed private area.

Maria sobbed, trembling and shivering on the table, tears still streaking her cheeks as she started to let out soft whimpering moans her body already slightly damp grew very wet very quickly at his sudden attention, her body like one raw nerve reacting to ever little touch.

He continued to dangle the whip over her, letting the ends slap sporadically over her so that the next strike could not be anticipated. "Do you think it was right to deny me your body last night, Madame Copperfield."

Maria tried to answer, her lips move but no voice emitted as she shook her head 'no' quickly, not wanting to make him mad again but her throat had seemed to have lost all ability to make any noises other then her own sobs and moans

"Then you shall give me my pleasure now, Madame Copperfield." He set aside the whip and when to the head of the table and pulled her body up enough for her head to hang backwards over the edge of the table. He prepared himself for her.

Instead of hitting her, his entire expression softened, and he leaned over her and looked down into her eyes. "Yes," his voice a soft whisper. "Yes, Maria. I love you. I love you so much that I hurt when I have to discipline you. It makes me weep inside because all I really want to do is hold you, and give you my kisses, and make love with you. Every time the whip struck you, I was feeling greater pain that you were. Did you realize that?" His face was just over hers.

She shook as she watched him and slowly shook her head, her eyes never leaving his, "I did not," she breathed softly.

His lips brushed over hers. "I hate to hurt you, my love." His eyes showed his pain. "I love you so much. I just want you to be the best valet that ever was so that I can give you more and more responsibilities. I have such a magnificent future planned for you, and that's because I love you so much." His lips again brushed hers.

Maria shifted under him, wanting to kiss him, but still not daring, "Forgive me," she breaths softly, "I never intended to disappoint you," she breathed softly, "I fear losing you, I'm so sorry," she sobbed softly.

His hand caressed her cheek, "You will never lose me, my love. You are totally forgiven." His mouth came down on hers and he kissed her deeply.

She quickly sunk into the kiss, a sob of relief catching in her throat, her hands straining against the chain now more then they ever did during the punishment. She wanted to touch him, to bury her hands in his hair and feel his skin under her fingers.

He kissed her long and hard, then began kissing her face all over - every inch he kissed, kissing away the tears, kissing over her bruises. "I love
you so much, Maria....if you only knew how much." His kisses when down her neck, kissing under her chin. His kisses continued down her body.

Maria shivered and squirmed under his lips, drawing sharp slightly pained breaths when his lips touched the whip marks, her moans of pleasure growing despite it, her hips moving as much as they could in her restrained position, wanting badly to move against him as her eyes locked on the ceiling above her, her breaths needy and hot.

As they made love, Maria cried out, her eyes locking on Tal's, pleasure written in her features, but somehow controlled for him, even after the beating and the turmoil of emotion she was still holding it together, still keeping some semblance of control as her body arched as best it could to meet his, but until he allowed her, she would not let her body have the full pleasure it was seeking. She didn't dare upset him again and for that she would not submit to her arousal until he let her.

As they continued to make love Maria cried her pleasure, worrying her lip with her teeth in an attempt to keep herself under control for him, her fingers tightening to whiteness on the chains, her breaths fast and hard, but still somehow she maintained control, even she was unsure of how, her eyes remaining glued to his gaze.

He allowed her the freedom she was seeking and Maria gasped at her feelings, raising her head to look at her love, legs opening as wide as she could get them, a flood of feeling ripped through her, her head hit the table once more, her eyes closed tightly as her lips parted in a silent scream of pleasure, not even noticing the pain of the shackles cutting the flesh of her wrists and ankles.

When their love making was finished he could only say, "I love you so, Maria. All is good again. I love you more than ever before."

Maria smiled a wistful loving look, she loved him so and his words only made her the more happy as she waited for his next move, his next decision, half worried he would leave her there to think it all over for the next day and night and shivered at the unhappy thought.

He pulled himself from her and began to work on her restraints like he was a rescuer with but seconds to save her. He released her feet and hand, fetched her robe and helped her put in on, then pulled her body against his own. He held her tight.

MEETING WIL SAVAGE

Later that afternoon Count Talomar sent word to Col. Wil Savage to meet him at the French restaurant in downtown Rhydin. Talomar gave Savage the general location and Savage would be able to set the coordinates from his ship. When the time came, Talomar and Maria entered the carriage and made their way to the restaurant. "I think you will like Savage," he said to Maria as the carriage rumbled over the cobblestones of the city. "He''s a good man. Nothing phases him. He thinks fast on his feet and he has the ability to get things done right and on time."

Maria nods, "Only worry about not meeting your expectation my love," she answered softly, her dark eyes thoughtful, she was still feeling his whip strikes and didn't long to meet that punishment again anytime soon.

He smiled and laid a hand on her thigh, "You always meet my expectations, my love. I''m forgetting all about last night. I''m attributing it to a momentary lapse of judgment which will never happen again."

A soft smile crossed her lips despite the pain that danced across her thigh under his touch as she immediately widened her legs as she always did for him when his hand lingered on her leg, "Thank you my love," she answered softly, glad for that at least.

His hand found that slit in her dress and went to the warmth between her legs. "Give me a kiss before we arrive. I want to taste your delicious tongue."

Maria moved into him quickly, her lips meeting his hungrily, parting to let her tongue slide over his as her legs spread a little more, immediately her body starting to grow wet, dampening the lace and silk of her thong.

Talomar felt that dampness; he was so pleased that his valet had a strong sexual appetite. He kissed her deeply, the free hand pulling her head into the kiss as the fingers of his other hand rubbed against her thong. The kiss ended as they pulled up to the restaurant.

Maria let out a soft sigh as the carriage halted and she looked towards the window before looking at Tal once more, "I think they should move this restaurant to the other side of town, it arrives much too early," she muttered, remembering the first time this restaurant had spoiled their time together, and it was doing it again.

He removed his hand from between her legs, "Yes, I think next time we will need to take the long way around." He kissed her neck, "We always have the ride home."

Maria smiled softly, "Very true," she answered softly waiting for the door to be opened for them before proceeding him out, in proper fashion as his valet, pausing to look around before stepping down and turning back to wait for her Lord.

Count Talomar stepped out of the carriage, the soft, black sable coat had the collar pulled up, a white scarf crossed his neck and was tucked inside the coat. Black gloved were on his hands. The ma?tre d'h?tel, or ma?tre d' as commonly known, came out into the cold to welcome them. "Count Longden! Indeed a pleasure to have you with us again!" He turned to Maria, "Mademoiselle! I'm delighted!" He took her hand and kissed it appropriately. "Please, follow me. I have your table waiting for you, Count Longden."

Maria moved to follow him in, her clothes no where near as warm as Tal's but to his want, and she didn't seem to notice the cold at all as she stepped inside letting him lead the way.

They entered the fine French restaurant, Le Petite Paris, and their coats were taken from them. They were then escorted to their special table, winding their way past tables, walking on plush carpeting, with only subdued lighting glowing over the large room. Waiters dressed in white shirts and black pants passed this way and that, busy serving tables. The aroma of the food was delightful. They came to their table that was enclosed on both sides with a red drapery across the entrance. "We''re expecting a third," he told the waiter.

Maria looked up from her plate her brown eyes at first shocked then quickly she swallowed the bite of food on her lips and looked up at Wil, "Its very complicated, I was in the company of a group that was way laid in a city on the boarder of Egypt He was not at all a kind man and I eventually slipped away, she glanced at Tal, taking a breath before continuing quickly wincing slightly, "I took his prize foundation stallion with me, and he got a little upset about it. Apparently he wasn't long putting a rather large price on my head. He's a very strong man with many high contacts." She hoped her lord would not be too mad finding out why the man was after her, the horse was the main reason, other wise he would have just put out a warrant for her death instead of for her alive.

Talomar laughed, "That''s my woman! Ripped off a Shah! Didn''t I tell you she was wonderful, Savage!" He turned to Maria, "You should have told me before, I would have sent him some beef and told him it was his horse." He turned to Savage, "Should be easy for you."

She smiles softly, delicately putting a piece of chicken to her lips, chewing softly, loving the sound of his laugh

Savage appeared to have hardly heard as he ate, but his mind took in every word and processed it. "Strong men fall just as easy as weak ones," he said just before taking another long swallow of wine and refilling his glass and the two others at the table. "Do you want me to destroy his palace too?" He looked at Maria for an answer.

She blinked in shock and looked at Tal unsure how to answer that, "I ah, the women in his harem would be hurt," she breathed not sure what to say.

Wil nodded, "I suppose they would." He put some potatoes from his fork to his mouth.

She shook her head, "No," she looked at Wil, "they did nothing to deserve that," she answered, "well some of them might, and his wives all deserve it, but not most of the girls."

He nodded, showing no more emotion than he might in selected a type of ale. "Okay, so we just kill the Shah. Is that what you want?"

A soft smile crossed her lips, "No but that will do," there was a nasty dark look in her eyes.

He saw the look in her eyes and smiled. "Well, I suppose we can be adaptable when the time comes."

Talomar grinned, "See, Maria, didn''t I tell you Col. Savage was the right man for the job. Now, so that he knows where to go and the right man to kill, I want you to go with him."

With Talomar gone, Wil felt more comfortable. He grabbed a roll off Maria's plate and raised it with a wink. "Can't waste good food. You ever been in space before?"

She looked down at her plate then at Wil and raised a brow at him wondering just how much this man could pack into him, "No," she answered softly, shifting to readjust the way her clothing laid over where Tal had whipped her.

"Great...just great. Suppose you've never transported either."

"Transported? I've been on sailing ships before," she answered in confusion.

He put his hands on his hips and looked at her, then reached for the bottle of wine and drank what was left out of the bottle. Just kept looking at her and nodding. "I think we'll do the transport."

She seemed a little confused still watching him finish off the wine, she had hardly touched her first glass let alone his re-pour.

"Okay, we'll do it." He took out the digipad and keyed in his code. The 'READY' response came back. He then keyed in for a pick-up. A 'COORDINATES LOCATED' appeared on the small window. He looked at Maria. "Okay, now you have to come here....close."

She looked at him like she had a feeling this was some kind of come-on but moved to slip away from her seat and approached him, stopping just in front of him.

"Unless you want half of you left behind, you need to come a lot closer than that. This is no damn scifi movie where they can pick people out of a crowd." He put his arm around to her back and pulled her right against him.

She gasped at his sudden move, her dark eyes locking on his and silently cursed Tal leaving her so wanting and being very aware of the fact that if Wil looked down at her he would be able to see straight down her shirt. And Wil, not one to be shy at all, got a damn good look down her shirt. Leave it to the Count to get all the good women, he thought to himself. "Okay, beautiful, this is going to feel a little strange - like a million fingers playing over your body, and except for me, the surroundings are going to go gray. Don't ask me why gray, I have no freakin' idea. You ready?"

Maria set her jaw, as determined as always to exceed Tal's expectations she nodded to Wil, "I think so," she answered, "yeah," she added not much choice in the matter anyway.

He grinned an extremely handsome grin. "Ya got spunk, girl." He keyed in 'TRANSPORT' and the room around them began to glow as if a score of lamps were suddenly lit, or as if someone pulled back the curtains to let a blinding morning sun into the room. The brightness faded to gray and that tingling came over their bodies. The gray remained for a few moments and then it became bright again and they were on the ship. The tingling sensation would remain for a minute or two.

Maria bit her lip against the strange happenings, remaining where she was in his arms, her gaze moving to take in the room without moving from his touch.

He continued to hold her tight against him, looking into her eyes. He smiled and slowly released her. "Yeah...well....here we are, your home away from home." The Class VI prototype fighter was the state-of-the-art in technology, fit and form. The ship wasn't large, but it was powerful. It had a bunk room with 4 beds, a small kitchen, a small payload area, a control center room, and the flight deck. They were in the payload area. He took a step back and looked at the woman. She had thighs made for biting and a figure that a man could get lost in - but she was also Count Longden's, and that spelled, 'Keep your hands off.' "Follow me," he said.

She tore her gaze from where she was examining the room and moved to follow him, "You did say space, right?" she asked. She stepped as elegant as ever as she tucked a stray hair behind her ear.

"Where do you think you are?" they walked through the galley and then the crew's quarters. "You're in space now, babe. We're in orbit over Rhydin. I've got the bottom bunk," he pointed to it. "You can have your choice of any of the others." They passed the command center and stepped up into the flight deck.

Her jaws set in indignation at his comment stopping in the middle of the room her arms crossing her chest, her eyes boring into his back directly between his shoulder blades.

He turned around and looked at her, his hands on his hips, "You have a problem?"

She tilted her head, "Let''s start with 'babe'," she answered, "I think we were introduced differently. As for the idea of being in space, its little hard to comprehend when the farthest I have been off the ground was on the back of my horse and as far as I knew, space travel was an impossibility," she answered not moving, "Remember Col. Savage, I answer to Talomar Longden, not to you," she growled softly.

He smirked just slightly and made a bow. "Of course, Madame Copperfield. Please forgive my impolite, incondite, inurbane and mannerless speech. I stand corrected. Now, are you coming?"

She really didn't think he meant it, but it was a small change, at least he didn't call her babe. She moved to cross the room to him, "Lead the way," she answered with an air of authority she really didn't feel.

She smiled softly, "Sure," she slipped out of the harness as soon as he had the straps released, moving to stand and looked back at him, "What did you have in mind?"

He smiled, "I have something I bet you haven't had in a long time - Shochu (a Japanese vodka of sorts)." He winked, "How's that?"

She smiled, "I haven't had it since I was seven and sharing a glass with my father, sounds good," she answered with a nod, "lead the way."

He lead the way down into the small galley and pulled out a chair for her. He went to a closet and brought out a 750ml bottle of shochu and sat down right next to Maria. He set out two little bowls with the glasses inside the bowls, then filled the glass to just overflowing. "That's the way you do it in Japan, if you recall. All the way to the top." He took his glass and held it up to hers, "To the killing of the sheik, and setting you free....from your worries, of course."

She smiled softly, "Of course, to the killing," she answered touching his glass before turning the glass to her lips, tentative to taste the liquor before throwing back the drink.

He watched her, more and more impressed with this woman. No wonder Talomar had selected her. He swallowed his drink and again filled their glasses to the brim. As the liquor took effect, he started to tell her the story of his travel to Rhydin, and of the PMS woman, Gaida. He was laughing as he described the look on her face when she thought he'd strand her on Rhydin.

"So what did you do with her?" She asked licking her lips and watching his as if hanging on his every word, they were quickly emptying the decanter.

He laughed and leaned forward close to her, "I stuck her in a room in a Rhydin inn. I figure that by the time I have to leave, they'll be running her out of time." He again filled their glasses, draining the last of the shochu. "So, tell me a little more about you and Count Longden. How long have you two been together? I had heard he had a valet by the name of Philippe."

"He did," she nodded, "though he hasn''t told me fully what happened to him as of yet," she answered and leaned on her hand, dancing her fingers through the remnant of alcohol in the bowl, "It hasn''t been long, a few weeks at the most, hard really to comprehend it. Time seems to pass at an odd rate that doesn't quite fit into what I'm use to," she licks her fingers off and smiles softly, her eyes distant at the thought of her Lord and her need to be with him still burning deeply in her.

"Well, I can tell you two have something special together. Anyone can see that." He finished his drink and reached to his holster and pulled out his p-blaster and inspected it. "He must love you a lot to delay the mission I'm on."

She smiled softly drawing her eyes back to him, "Love?" She smirked, "He''s a married man, I think his love runs more firmly to his wife, though that doesn't mean that he doesn't care for me and my well being." She paused then whispered softly, "But I love him dearly."

Wil inspected his weapon as he spoke, "Perhaps, but I know men. He didn't look at you as one looks at a valet. I don't know how he feels for his wife, but when he looked at you, I saw love." He checked that the safety was on and re-holstered the weapon. "It's the only reason he'd delay what I'm to do next for him"

She smiled softly at his answer and slowly rose a bit unsteady from the drink, "Well I hope your right, I would love to believe he thinks so much of me, he does seem to," she moved to head for the bunk room.

He followed her and leaned against the doorway. "The toilet and shower are behind the door to your right. Toiletries are in the cabinet. The ship was stocked but never used. I'm going to go over some charts and history while you're getting into bed. If there's anything you need, just let me know."

Maria looked back at him and nodded. Maybe Wil Savage wasn''t such a bad person after all. She slipped into the offered room to unsteadily clean up and get ready for sleep, not that she had been prepared for this trip, there was little to prepare. She made sure she was alone before stripping to undergarments and crawling into the bed, too tired to stay awake she slipped off into dreams once more, sorely missing her Lord's arms holding her.

She smiled softly as she stopped him, "See the guard walking with the slave girl leaving the side gate," she stated softly, they were almost against the palace wall, "She will be heading for the market to pick up whatever his highness has decreed he wants, probably dates," she muttered, her nose curling, "if you can see to getting them both out of sight and borrowing their clothes, we can walk right in unnoticed." She looked at Wil, her dark eyes seeming to take in everything; she hated this place with a passion, it made her uncomfortable to be there.

"Wait here," he said. It was now his turn to gather clothing. He set the blaster to stun, and at the appropriate place in the market, he rendered both unconscious and dragged them into an ally where he stripped them of their clothes. He was soon back with Maria. "Okay, here are the clothes. What's next?"

Maria took the clothing offering him back the guards and then moved to strip out of the robe, grabbing the collar she turned it backwards once more before stripping out of the rest of her clothes and dressed in the not so concealing slaves clothes, releasing her hair to spill over her shoulders and quickly pleated it and braided it before looking at him, not once did she try to conceal her form, just expecting him to turn away while she dressed. "Now you can get in without being stopped by anyone, she motioned back to the side gate the two had come out of.

He got into his clothes, but it was not so easy. His uniform was essential and part of his weaponry, and not just something to discard. In fact, his body armor was built into it. So he had to squeeze the guards clothes over his uniform, making him look like a very impressive and massive guard. He had been polite and turned from Maria as she dressed, so when he turned around and saw her, he was very impressed with her beauty in the slave's garments. He just stared at her for a moment, taking in the form of her body. "Oh my," was all he could say, then, "We better get moving."

Maria smirked, she had had that reaction plenty, and she moved to cross the streets leading to the gate, her eyes averted directly to the ground. The guards never so much as looked at them as they passed, they didn't care, their ruler had so many slaves some that die in the night and are replaced in hours that they didn't bother learning faces and without a word they were pacing into the palace.

Savage kept his hand on his blaster as they walked along. He didn't like this. Maria was too vulnerable and he was responsible for her safety. If he didn't deliver her back to Talomar in the same condition she left in, he might as well kiss his ass goodbye. There was no place in the universe to hide from an angry Count Longden. He took Maria's arm in his hand, "How much longer until we find your sheik?"

She glanced at where his hand had landed on her arm and raised a brow at him, glancing down the hall before looking at him again, "Big doors at the end of the hall is his room," she answered, "Now unhand me," she answered very softly, but her voice was not happy at being stopped in such a manner.

He released her and turned his attention toward the door. He saw two massive guards standing on each side of the door. He held his weapon at ready should it be needed. It was no longer set only to "stun".

She moved forward once more, heading for the door and lowered her gaze to the floor as the guard rumbled something about his majesties appetite for women and opened the door for her to enter, moving of course to stop Wil from entering.

Wil stared at each guard. He had not had time to learn the language, so if Maria didn't convince them in the next few seconds to let him in, he would eliminate them.

Maria stopped, speaking softly to the guards who shook their heads snapping back at her. She took a step back towards them and spoke again, then glanced at Wil, knowing they weren't going to let him enter willingly, no matter what she said, and one of the guards moved to grab her arm similar to the way Wil had, to stop her from leaving the room, the other was angrily drawing his swords.

Before the sword left its sheath, Wil fired two quick blasts that sent each guard backwards several feet before they hit the stone floor, dead. "Well, I guess they know we're coming."

Maria looked up at him, "I guess so," they could already hear the man shouting from inside the inner room and Maria looked back at the voice, involuntarily shivered, looking at Wil once more, "He should be with his current wife, feel free to kill her too," she stated softly, "make him suffer," she breathed the last.

Wil grinned, "As you wish." They hurried to the inner room and found the sheik and his current wife in bed. Wil had his blaster draw and aimed at the sheik. When the wife screamed and began to climb out of bed, Wil shot her, sending her body into the wall behind the bed, leaving a bloody streak on the wall. "Tell him to get out of bed." Wil grinned, "Then tell me how you'd like me to proceed, but let's be fast about this."

Maria spoke quickly, the man's eyes locked on her and with and angry yell, instead of getting out of the bed calmly he launched at Maria who jumped back quickly, he was screaming at the top of his lungs a knife coming out of no where, obviously more angry at Maria, then worried about Wil.

Wil jumped in front of Maria and the knife went to his chest. Instead of penetrating his flesh, the blade seemed to hit a wall. Wil's left fist came up and caught the madman in the jaw, the man's own momentum adding power to the blow. The sheik fell to the floor and the knife dropped out of his hand. Wil picked it up and handed it to Maria.

Maria blinked in shock, taking the blade quickly, her eyes on the man on the floor, "How did you...?" She looked at Wil in shock.

Wil winked. "Body armor. Comes in handy." He looked down at the man, "How do you want to handle..." Suddenly three guards came rushing into the room with scimitars drawn. Wil turned and fired and they dropped to the floor. "We better hurry."

Maria looked torn between getting satisfaction and just killing the man. Finally she sighed, "Kill him and lets go."

The Sheik was beginning to rise up, fire in his evil eyes and cursing in words Wil could not understand. Wil took the knife from Maria's hand and in one smooth motion sent the blade deep into the man's chest. "No sense wasting energy," he said, watching the once powerful man fall backwards with eyes in shock and his hands covered in blood as he grasped at the blade in his chest. Wil looked from the man to Maria and back to the man.

"Ah...wha' th' hell." He aimed the p-blasted at the man and fired, the heat of the plasma burning a hole through the already dying body. Wil looked back at Maria and shrugged, "Ya gotta be sure."

Maria saw to the horses, arguing once more over bedding before she headed into the castle through the kitchen, speaking to the cooks to get a meal of sushi and rice and cabbage rolls before heading up to her room to get cleaned up washing up and dressing in a more suitable outfit, this time the flowing black and blood red skirt Tal like so much and blood red silk blouse as she always wore, blood red corset and g-string and soft soled black slightly heeled sandals and her lip paint. She returned to the kitchen to retrieve the meal, a bottle of red wine and a couple of Tal's favorite cigars. She calmed her breathing as she headed up the stairs, time for perfect patients, she would have to wait until Tal finished with Wil to get his attention as she moved to his study, enough food before her on the tray for three, or two, depending on how it was divided up she didn't presume to eat with them, only two glasses on the tray and two cigars. the meal was meant for them, not her. She carefully balanced the tray before knocking soundly on the door before her. She quickly fixed her collar as she waited for a response.

Heavy footsteps came to the door and opened it for her. It was Colonel Wil Savage. He stood aside, smiled and waved for her to enter. "I'll see you tomorrow, Wil; and thanks again. . . for everything." Savage departed and shut the door behind him. Count Longden the rose from behind his desk and approached Maria. "Please, set the tray down on the table," he said pointing to the table at the side of the room.

She blinked watching Wil go before looking at Tal and moving to do as she was told, setting the tray carefully down so as not to spill anything and turned back towards Tal and motioned back towards the fire where she always knelt for him, "Should I...?" She trailed off, not knowing if she should proceed to her knees for him.

He didn't say a word. He two two steps toward her then practically ran to her and picked her up into his arms and began kissing her face and lips. "Maria! Oh how I've missed you. One day and it seems like years! You don't know how I worried."

Maria was at first shocked, then delighted, a genuine smile crossing her lips her fingers burying in his hair, "I know the feeling," she breathed softly against his kisses immediately rising her chin, exposing her neck to him, her fingers curling into his hair.

He saw her raise her chin to him and he reached for the collar and removed it from her, tossing it aside. He took her into his arms again, "I didn't want you to go, but I had to order it. You had to see your enemy die so that you'd have no doubt that you are safe in the future. I feared for you, but I also knew that I sent you there with the best agent there is. Still, I worried and I missed you."

She smiled softly, moving to kiss his lips softly, brazenly silencing him, "I understand my love," she breathed softly once she had broken the kiss, "and I missed you too, so very much, I longed to be back here with you. It is unnatural to sleep without your arms around me," she added smiling down at him, "I longed to taste you and feel you in me and on me," she breathed softly, her lips moving once more to his, kissing him hard and passionately, all her longing poured into the kiss, breaking it slowly to look down at him again, her dark eyes on his once more.

He was astounded at how much he had missed her, and all that hunger was translated into the kiss. His hands moved to her rear and lifted her up into the kiss as he sucked on her tongue, drawing it into his mouth. The arousal response of his body was evident, and when the kiss broke, he brought his mouth to her ear, "I love you, Maria . . . you are my love."

"I love you too," she whimpered softly, "Please my love, please Tal," the first time she has ever used his name, "I need you so, take me, feed on me, I am so wholly yours and have longed for the release you left me without last night," she begged softly.

He smiled and cupped her face in his hands. "I need you also, my love," he said as his heart rate increased in anticipation of feeding on her. His hand moved over her neck as he walked around her. Now behind her, he took her hair in his hand and moved it from the right side of her neck. He began to nuzzle against her right ear from behind, nibbling on that ear, his tongue moving inside it, hot breath upon her. His hands moved slowly up and down her sides and then came together in front, grasping her breasts as he mouth now roamed hungrily over her neck.

Maria moaned softly at his attention her hands moving to rest on his hips as she pressed her rear back against him, her moan turning into a needy groan as she shivered with need tipping her head to give him full access to her neck her chest pressing against his hands more firmly, the pain long forgotten now.

His tongue worked on the right side of her neck, pressing hard as he was tasting her. His moans of delight slowly became deeper growls of hunger and need as his mouth bit down on her neck. His left arm came up and came high across her chest grasping her right shoulder, his right hand moved over her breasts, feeling them, pressing on them. He pulled her body tight against his and removed his mouth from her neck to permit his fangs to come out to their needle-like points. His eyes looked at the vein in her saliva-wet neck and they turned red with hunger and desire. With a grunt of ecstasy, his mouth came down her her neck, hard and fast, sinking his two fangs into that soft flesh, finding the vein they had targeted.

Maria cried out in loud pleasure her fingers tightening out on his hips pulling him tighter against her back. Maria shivered in intense pleasure, she could feel her body's pleasure off the bite alone, teetering on the edge of pure ecstasy as she moaned shaking slightly with the feelings running through her wanton body.

He sucked her life-giving blood, his mouth hard upon her neck, his right hand moving over her breasts, then slipping down lower, sliding inside her black and red skirt. Once he felt her pleasure he stopped drinking and slowly allowed his teeth to retract, healing the neck as they did.

Maria shuddered in pleasure, falling back against his chest as soon as he released her.

(edited for content)

He opened his eyes and took a deep breath and came down to his knees in front of her. He held her face and kissed her. "You are amazing. I can't describe the love I have for you. What can I do for you Maria? What can I give to you? How can I please you?"

Maria smiled softly, "What I want I can not have and will never ask for," she answered him softly, her dark eyes on his and moved to take his hand, running her lips over his fingers, moving to pull one between her lips, tasting herself on his hand, the taste of his skin making it all the much better, she ran the tip of her tongue over the end of his finger.

He knew what she was referring to, and he wished he could give her even that. He reached out and held her head against his chest and kissed the top of her head and leaned his cheek against her hair. "I want you with me tonight. You have brought food and drink. How about we eat it in bed?"

Maria smiled softly as she released his hand, looking up at him and meeting his lips in a very soft kiss, "May I have your bed?" She asked softly, "Have permission to sleep in you bed every night? Even if you are not there?" She asked softly, hopefully nodding to his suggestion of finishing the meal in his room.

He sat back and looked at her, surprised that she would ask such a thing, and yet, somehow, very pleased that she did. He stared into her eyes a good long time and then answered. "Yes. You may have my bed. It's yours when I'm there and yours when I'm not. That would please me very much."

She let out a soft sigh of relief, for a minute she had been worried she had upset him. She smiled softly, "Thank you my love," she breathed softly and moved to reach behind him offering him his shirt, "I'll get the tray," she moved to stand.

He pulled his pants on and put his shirt over his shoulder and watched Maria as she moved toward the tray.

Maria slipped passed Tal reaching for her collar and turned back to him offering it up to him, "My love?" She wasn't sure he'd want it back on just yet.

He grinned, "I was wondering if you'd remember that. If you did not, I would have been very disappointed." He took the collar and put in on her. "I have to tell you, Maria, the one hesitation that I have about giving you my bed is that you might forget your place as my valet. Do you think that will happen?"

Maria looked up at him, "I would never forget my place my lord, but if you wish it, I will retract the request, you have given me a great deal, certainly more then I deserve already, and there is nothing wrong with the bed in my room, accept that it is a very lonely place," she answered softly.

"No, I said 'yes' and I don't like to go back on my word, but if you should ever require discipline or punishment, that privilege will be the first thing to go." He smiled at her and put his arm around her waist and kissed her, "Besides, don't you know that I also get lonely when you're not with me?"

She smiled softly at his words, "I don't wish to disappoint you with my answer, but I believed when you were not with me, you would be with your wife," she answered softly.

He looked at and squinted. "You thought that? Well, sometimes I am, but most often I spend those nights by myself. The Countess needs her sleep and I don't like to disturb that sleep."

Maria nodded, "I understand," she smiled just slightly, "If I may my lord, I'll get the food," she felt that little wall going up between them again, that distance that for a moment of rushed enthusiasm had disappeared if only for a few minutes of passionate love. But she felt like his valet again, and she waited for his permission, not daring to leave his touch without it.

"Yes, Maria, please bring the food, and we'll have a delightful night together. I want to hear all about your adventure." He gave her another kiss and released her. If only she knew how much he wanted her to be in his bed every night for the rest of their lives, but he was concerned for her. The staff will eventually begin to notice that she's not in her room at night. Word will get to the Countess and then there will be trouble between the Countess and Maria, and he didn't want that. He was pulled in two directions, but his desire to have her in his arms at night won out. He was actually happy for her request.

Maria whimpered in protest but didn't move, her head lowering as she tried to settle her breaths.

Talomar stood and pulled down the covers of the bed. He then moved to Maria and helped her to her feet from behind, his strong hands moving over her hips and chest. He then came to her side and picked her up into his arms as if she weighed no more than a leaf. His voice was just a whisper, "I'm so glad you're back. I've needed you, desperately."

Maria moaned softly, shivering as she curled tightly against his warm skin, "I know the feeling very well my love, my heart has been missing sense you sent me off yesterday, I feared I had upset you," she answered softly.

He laid her in the bed and climbed in beside her, pulling the covers over them both as he took her into his arms once again, his leg wrapped around her legs, one arm beneath her neck and shoulders, the other under her arm and to the back of her head, caressing her hair and face. His mouth was close to hers. "Upset me?" He smiled lovingly. "No, my love. You delight me...in every way."

She looked up at her lover tiredly, "I'm glad, I wish only to make you happy in everyway I can," she answered and brazenly moved to close the distance, kissing him softly before breaking it, "Forgive me, I long for you lips where I can taste them," she muttered softly.

He smiled, and ran his fingers through her hair. "And you must forgive me, for I seem to love to taste all your soft and delicious lips." He brought his mouth to hers and continued what she had started, kissing her deeply and in no hurry to have it end.

Maria sunk into the kiss, accepting and dragging it out in a lazy way lovers do, in no rush to hurry it, her own needs well meet and sated as she ran her fingers through his hair, very slowly breaking the kiss her eyes meeting his as she played her fingers through his hair, "I love you so, that it hurts inside," she breathed softly, her fingers moving from his hair to brush the backs of her fingers over his cheek to his lips, her fingers continuing the trip to brush over his lips and moved to cup that cheek before kissing him once more, again lazy and deep.

He just moaned softly into the kiss and let it go on for a very long time, their bodies wrapped together, their mouths expressing love through kisses and nibbles. Then Talomar cradled Maria in his arms and looked down on her, his dark eyes staring into her dark browns. "I have that same hurt inside," he whispered, "and I wish that I could be your husband."

She smiled softly, "I would not presume to ask such a think, I am your valet, your donor, but I can not be more," she answered softly, "I truly wish I could be, but I would never ask it and never presume it."She breathed, her lips brushing softly over his chin. She smiled softly as she curled against his chest, just your valet, but for now, for this brief moment, your lover," she whispered.

His arms pulled her into a snuggle against his chest and he rested his head on hers. "But you are so much more to me," his voice a whisper. They laid there for a while and he spoke again, "There is one thing I really hate, Maria."

She stiffened at his words, worry crossing her face, "My love?" She looked up at him a bit nervously.

"I hate day old sushi. So we had better eat it now. And I could go for that wonderful wine you brought. And you even brought two cigars! One for each of us." He began to tickle and tease her.

Maria jumped at the tickles squirming, and between giggles get out, "Should I get it my Lord?"

"Please my love, sushi and wine would be wonderful right now. And you must be hungry too."

She nodded, "Starving actually I have not eaten sense morning," she moved to slip from his touch and gather the two glasses and the bottle, handing Tal the glasses before setting the bottle at the bedside and returning to gather up the tray of food bringing it over and setting the cigars with the bottle she moved to rejoin her love.

He sat up in bed and crossed his legs, he made a dip of soy sauce and wasabi and began with the piece of tuna. He dipped it and held it to Maria's mouth. "For you, dear heart, since you've already fed me so well."

Maria moved to sit in front and beside him, her feet pulled up under her as she moved to take the fish, her lips devouring his fingers at the sametime as she carefully pulling the fish from his hand and chewing slowly, savoring every bite while her hunger raged. Forcing herself to take her time.

As she chewed the Toro, the best fatty tuna, he poured two glasses of wine and set them on the night stand. He then took the Ebi (shrimp) and dipped it and held it to her lips. "Another for you, my love."

Maria, devoured the food, her fingers moving to catch a drip of the sauce and licked it from her fingers, making short work of the piece, licking her lips, eyeing the wine.

He held the glass of wine and gave it to her. He took his own and lifted his glass to hers, "To the sharing of this bed, may it always be a nest of love." He looked at her body as she ate and drank, observing the form of her breasts, the tightness of her stomach, her beautiful crotch, and the perfect lines of her legs.

Maria raised her glass quickly swallowing her food to join the toast before sipping the drink before looking at Tal once more, "Will you teach me now?" She asked softly.

WHAT MATTERS MOST


Talomar was sitting at his library desk, his head leaning against his hands in thought, his face hidden as he looked down. No sound is heard in the room but the soft tic toc of a grandfather clock in the corner of the room. It's getting late and he hasn't seen Maria, and he's worried.

Maria slipped through the castle in a rushed step, she had seen to Eiellani's room and then Tal's before she went looking, wondering where he was, at this hour she had expected him to be in his room waiting. She headed down the hall to the study and knocked softly, digging through the house keys.

"Come in," he said in a voice that was different than she had ever heard before.

Maria slipped the key in place, preparing herself for the worse she pushed inside, quickly closing and locking the door behind her before she took a step into the room, "My lord?"

The light in the library was subdued; a couple of tiffany-shaded lamps were lit to add to the soft glow of a fire that was slowly dying. His head was still leaning against his hands, his face hidden by hands and shadows. After a minute, he sighed and very slowly raised his gaze. Moments when by and he stood and silently walked over to her. He stood in front of his valet and looked down upon her.

Maria watched him, unsure of what to say or do, she had never encountered him this quiet before, and she worried, "Is everything alright?" She asked softly, her voice full of concern.

He just lifted his hands to her neck and removed the collar. This time, instead of setting it aside he walked over to the wall, pulled on the secret book to expose the wall safe. He entered the combination and opened the safe door. He took out one item - the black velvet box that the collar had been in when he first brought it out to give to her. He slipped the collar back into the box and slowly shut the lid. He put the box back in the safe and shut the safe door. He turned to her and with eyes filled with sadness he said, "There. You're free. You have want you want."

Her hand raised to her throat, confusion written in her features, "I don't understand," she breathed softly, her hand shaking, "your sending me away? What have I done, I can fix it," she stammered quickly, "I can be whatever you want me to be, I can do whatever you want me to do; just tell me what it is that I have done."

His sadness was turning to anger. "What have you done wrong? Nothing! Evidently it is *I* who have done something wrong. Word has come to me from a certain one in the inn. Evidently you are not happy with me, Maria. I have no idea what I've done or how I've so disappointed you, but I will not have a valet who thinks of herself as nothing more than a slave!"

She jumps at his anger, automatically stepping back. "What?" She feels shock ripple through her. "That''s not true," she breaths and quickly moves to close the space between them, brazenly facing his rage, she''s seen it before and she didn't care if he did hit her, she loved him. "And you'd take the word of someone else over me? You'd believe them before speaking to me first. I love you and if I am a slave to anything, it is that love. I have tried to please you; I have, what more can I do?"

"They lie? Is that what they do? Then you haven't been moping around the inn, publicly saying that you're no more than a slave, that loving me is filled with too many strings? If you're unhappy, COME TO ME AND TELL ME! I will NOT have my valet tell the world that she's not happy, that she's a slave and that she fears to be punished!! WHAT MORE CAN I HAVE DONE FOR YOU!! I've given you Philippe's pension of a million gold, I give you a salary of 2000 gold a day and freedom to take any more money that you need! I've even given you my freakin' bed!!!! IS THAT WHAT A SLAVE GETS!! On top of all that I've allowed myself to love you as I've loved no other!! I would have given you anything you want...ANYTHING!!!!" He rose his hand to strike her, but stopped, his heart already hurting enough.

She winced just slightly at his raised hand, then forced the eye contact again, "I asked for your bed, and I had no right for that. I have taken more then any valet deserves and for that alone you should finish that swing," she stated softly, her hand moving to his, her small fingers lacing into his strong. "The only strings I regret in this love is that I cannot love you wholly. I cannot have every bit of you; it's not my place, and it will never be my place. I have not spent your money, I have not asked for anything that would cost you anything. I do not wish this relationship to become a prostitution. I did not want you to think I was here for your wealth," she moved his hand to her cheek and leaned against his fingers, "I love you, Talomar Longden. I am bound to you like no other, and if I had wanted to leave I would have packed my horse and been gone with a good chuck of what's in your safe."

She closed her eyes, "The only thing I have ever wanted was to be here with you, from that first night."

-= to be continued =-

He can feel her shock at his words, eyes wide body tensing, then quickly pushed forward, pushing him against the wall, kissing him harder, her fingers moving to his shirt and aggressively tearing it open, ignoring the buttons hitting the floor, knowing her luck pure pearl, she'd mend the shirt later as she moved to break the kiss, placing wet kisses and nips on his flesh, working her way down from his lips to his cheek and neck and collarbone, over his chest, pausing to lap her tongue over first one nipple then the other.

He knew his pearl buttons were flying in every direction, but he didn't care. He wouldn't trade a ton of pearls for the kisses of this woman. He was so relieved that she really loved him and wanted him. Thoughts of what were said in the inn were forgotten - for now. All his thoughts were on Maria and what she was doing to him emotionally and physically.

Maria fingers ran down over his tight stomach, kissing and licking a hot wet trail to his naval, lapping at the small depression as she tugged his pants open, shoving them off his hips

(Edited for content)

His hands moved up and down her sides and over her breasts, where one remained while the other grabbed her hair and held her head in position as he continued to suck on her.

Maria's cries slowly died into soft pleased moans as she leaned into his hand, giving him full access to her neck, soft noises of pleasure still escaping her throat.

He fed slowly for several minutes and then walked her over to the couch and laid her down. He then went to the safe and retrieved the collar and brought it over to where she lay. He but a blanket over her and sat down on the floor so that his head was next to hers as she laid there in the glow of the fire.

Maria watched him quietly, feeling the slightest twinge of pain from earlier, he had hurt her, the slight red confirmed that, but she didn't care, she would heal. She watched him return with the collar rolling slightly to watch him, curling under the blanket thankfully, she always got cold quickly after the excursion of making love to him.

He knelt in front of her and put the collar back on her, and then just held her. "I love you, Maria. You are mine forever, and I'm yours....forever."

Maria smiled softly, "A life bond is more then any ring could ever be my love. I promise I will never leave you," she muttered softly, curling up against him lovingly.

He added several logs to the fire and turned to the couch. He bent down and lifted it with Maria still on it. He brought it close to the fireplace and set it down. He slipped under the blanket and behind her, spooned tightly to her as they both watched the fire, their heads supported by the large couch pillows. "And I will never leave you," he whispered in her ear and cupped her breast in his hand and kissed her neck.