The Pleasure Principle

Gizelle’s teeth ground together at that unintentional innuendo. Any sort of sexual double entendre was sure to set her on edge at this point because the mere thought of sex with D.T. was still so damned appealing. Even though she currently hated him. Again.

With a sigh, Gizelle said, “D.T. is General Dylan Tanner. The one I intended to persuade to return to the Milky Way to help lead the Protective Forces. That’s what a good portion of the gold was for.”

“Ah,” Trey said, apparently catching on. “And your friend refused your offer.”

“He’s not my friend,” she said, irritated. She hated the fact that she was almost pouting. Damn it. D.T.’s refusal to return to Earth with her did more than annoy or anger her. It broke her heart. “He’s selfish and arrogant and self-indulgent and he’d rather be holed up here, drowning in the whole sensuality of this stupid planet, than help his own people.” She shook her head again, disgusted. “What kind of heathen is that, I ask you?”

Trey merely shrugged a broad shoulder. “Maybe he’s got a reason. A good one.”

“For letting his fellow human beings suffer? Die? Um, yeah. I’m sure he’s got a damn good reason for that.” And she hated every one that popped into her head. He was more interested in the Pleasure Providers on this rotten planet. He was more intoxicated by his decadent, vintage Scotch. He was more captivated by the four fucking moons! Gizelle’s temper flared. “There isn’t a reason good enough for turning his back on the Protective Forces when they need him. Now more than ever.”

She really needed to pace, to release some of her frustration and tension. But the one-person cockpit didn’t allow her much space. And it didn’t help that Trey seemed to take up more than a fair share of what little space she did have.

So she stood in front of him, her arms crossed over her chest. “I have the gold. And with it, I can do a lot of good things to help The Cause. But we really need General Tanner to rally the weary troops. How in hell am I going to convince D.T. to return to Earth with me?”

Trey propped a broad shoulder against the wall. “How’d you get him to give you the gold?”

Gizelle frowned before admitting, “I didn’t do anything. He’d already intended to give it to me. Apparently, he only stole it so I’d come to him to claim it.”

A slight grin tipped Trey’s full mouth. “Sounds like a man who knows what he wants.”

“And isn’t afraid to go after it.” Lord knew, he’d pursued her relentlessly from the get-go.

“So,” Trey mused in a contemplative, if not somewhat devious, tone. “If he was willing to use trillions in gold bars to lure you to his lair and hand over said gold, I’d say that clearly gives you the upper hand in this scenario.”

Her eyes narrowed on her tall, dark and handsome companion. “How so?”

Trey pushed away from the wall and closed the gap between them with one wide stride. Staring down at her with a smoldering look in his dark-as-night eyes, he said, “You believed you could seduce him for the gold. Obviously, you didn’t have to. Can you seduce him into returning with you?”

Gizelle let out a half-snort, half-laugh that was decidedly unladylike. She plopped into her chair. “Not a chance in hell. D.T. was adamant. And when he’s being stubborn about something, there’s absolutely nothing I can do to sway him.”

“Oh, really?” Trey knelt down, wedging himself between Gizelle’s legs and forcing them apart.

“Hey,” she protested. But then the wicked glint in Trey’s eyes and the hands on her bare thighs told her exactly what he was getting at. “Oh, I don’t think so. I mean, really, this would never work.”

As a dark eyebrow crooked at her response, Trey’s large hands moved further up her legs until they disappeared under the hem of her loose skirt. The erotic touch notwithstanding, she managed to swallow down another protest.

She’d considered using Trey in a no-holds barred seduction in order to get the gold before D.T. had handed it over to her without strings or the need for seduction. Or violence.

She knew she possessed the ability to ignite D.T.’s lust with little more than a sexy outfit. After the way he’d responded to her tonight, acting so territorial, so possessive, wouldn’t he just shoot through the solar system if he saw her with another man?

And Trey was the only man who could help her pull off this seduction. For one thing, he was bold and daring. He proved that by keeping his gaze locked with hers as his thumbs absently—or maybe purposely

—caressed her inner thighs. And he looked remarkably similar to D.T., which would no doubt tweak D.T.’s massive ego and make him determined to prove to Gizelle that even a devilish imitation like Trey wasn’t the man for her.

A smile teased her lips as a plan formed in her head.

“Oh, you’re good,” she whispered. To herself. To Trey. Because his sensuous touch and the heat in his onyx eyes made her believe she could persuade D.T. to return to Earth with her. “He’ll be tormented by every second that he has to see us together. Which means we have to be in public, where he can’t make a scene or beat the crap out of you for touching me.” Her brow lifted. “A Pleasure Club. One he’d never want to be kicked out of. He’ll have to suffer through every minute of us together or concede the fight.”

Trey’s dark eyes glowed seductively. “Selfish on my part, but I hope he’s got a really strong constitution.”

A thrill of excitement shimmied up her spine at the lascivious look on Trey’s face and the innuendo that hung in the air. “He’s strong-willed, no doubt about it.”

“Then I’ll have to pull out all the stops. And enjoy every second of it.” His hands swept higher.

He clutched her bare hips and pulled her toward him until Gizelle was perched on the edge of the seat. The breath escaped her body at the raw intensity in his eyes, the scorching look he gave her. And when his mouth crushed over hers, she whimpered in exhilaration as much as in protest.

Her fingers curled into tight fists, so determined was she not to touch him. She’d just made love with D.T. And damn it, D.T. was the man of her dreams. But, oh, God! Trey was one hell of a kisser. And if she was going to make D.T. so hot and bothered, so freaked out that she was with another man that he’d do anything—like return to Earth!—to keep from seeing Trey fuck her, then she at least had to act the part, right?