Gods Of the Arena 3: Unearthly Lust, #3

By Belle Maurice

Sandrine discovers the woman she helped through a panic attack at the auction when they arrived is now working in the Master's brothels and loving it.

Lou talks to Venedi about Sola and ends up as a couples therapist for them. Linda gets an offer from the three people she met at the party and decides to leave the fighting stable.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Belle Maurice
• Release date: Mar 26, 2019
• ISBN: 9781386467052

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Copyright 2019 Belle Maurice

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PUBLISHER’S NOTE:

This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locale or organizations is entirely coincidental. The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party Web sites or their content.

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Chapter 1

Sandrine rubbed her forehead. Isn’t there anything on the menu that people could eat with their fingers?

No, Marche said. We don’t serve low food.

Is it so important to serve food? the Master asked.

I’ve never been to an art opening that didn’t have hors d’oeuvres and drinks. All the food she had seen had been served on plates and eaten with utensils. A lot of it was the consistency of mashed potatoes. She should have paid more attention to all those cooking shows on television. What about those little rolls?

What rolls? Marche asked.

Sandrine turned to the Master. At dinner last night, Cook gave you a round piece of bread with dinner.

Yes.

Can’t you cut that in half and put filling inside?

Cut it in half? Marche glanced at Cook and shook her head.

Do you mean like you did that one time in the dining hall? Cook asked.

Yes. It had been the second or third day she’d eaten there and the first time she’d gotten bread. It hadn’t been the perfect circle the Master got, but it was bread and she’d scandalized the entire hall by slicing it and putting that day’s meat paste in it. She hadn’t done it since.

Slice the bread crosswise and spread the main course inside so the guests can carry it around to eat, Cook said.

Marche shuddered. It sounds like something workers would eat.

Then we’ll just find a way to make it pretty. Cook stood. Master, we will work on it and bring you some samples over the next few days.

We will? Marche said.

The Master clapped, drowning her out. How very exciting! I look forward to the experiments.

Marche and Cook left, Marche throwing a dark look over her shoulder at Sandrine. Great. When this idea started going around, Marche had been excited about it. Now that it looked like work, her attitude had changed.

What is next? The Master strolled over to the side table and poured himself a fresh drink instead of asking her to do it. Massive progress.

Glinde with the list of slaves for you to consider for the exhibition. I will get her from the dining hall.

While you’re out, check with Daesh about the progress on the hall. Everything must be perfect.

Sandrine stepped into the hall. Kol was waiting for her. Thank God you’re here. The Master wants me to talk to Daesh about the hall.

He still won’t see him? Kol asked, falling into step beside her.

Not since the teapot incident. Her throwing a hot pot of tea at Daesh hadn’t marked him, but it had soured the Master toward him, anyway. Sandrine wasn’t even sure how the Master had heard about it. She had told him she’d dropped the tea. The rumor mill around here was excellent.

Do you want me to go ask him?

Sandrine sighed. Being in the go-between for the Master with Daesh was actually worse than having to run into the oily manager in the halls. No, he told me to do it so I should do it myself. But I want you to come with me. And Glinde if we can find her. I need as many witnesses as possible.

In the meantime, I found one of your people.

Sandrine stopped. They had reached the center of the courtyard. What?

Massive upset at the exhibition on Choi. Kol held out a scroll screen. It showed a picture of a thick necked blue alien next to a scowling jock of American or Western European lineage. Do you know him?

Yes, I know everyone of the six billion or so people on Earth. Sandrine shook her head. But he does look like he’s from my planet. What’s this about an upset?

He won his fight. Knocked Mendan out. Kol stared at the screen. I can’t wait until the fight shows.

Sandrine started walking again. The Master got antsy when she was gone too long. What do you mean? It doesn’t show right away?

Exhibitions are shown the week after they happen so people will come to the arena. Kol rolled up the screen and tucked it under his arm. You should try to convince the Master to invite his master to the opening. Maybe he will bring the fighter in his entourage or we can get a message to the stable somehow.

Sandrine stopped at the archway to the hall. Thank you for helping me.

Kol stepped forward, not close enough to touch her, but close enough that she could feel his body heat. Anything for you, Sandrine, he murmured, and it felt like a kiss.

Sandrine’s breath caught. She imagined his hands sliding up her arms and down her back, pulling her body against his. His mouth closing over hers. His tongue teasing around hers.

Does the Master want me? Glinde asked.

Sandrine leapt back, bumping into the wall.

Mmm hmm. Glinde smirked. Now you understand. She stepped between them heading across the courtyard.

I always understood. Sandrine grumbled. She’d read about touch starvation in psychology classes as an undergrad, but she hadn’t understood how it would make her skin ache.

I heard a rumor that he allowed you into his shower, Glinde said.

Didn’t take long for Mialo to get that around, Sandrine muttered.

He let you into his shower? Kol asked.

This should be a supremely embarrassing conversation and Sandrine decided it demonstrated how much she had acclimated that it didn’t bother her in the least. "He did. I gave him his moment the other day while he was in bed so he had to shower immediately and he asked me into the shower so he could watch