The Pleasure Principle

Heat and anger exploded within D.T. He nearly jumped to his feet and tore the two apart, except he’d never created a scene in one of the Pleasure Clubs before, and he couldn’t afford to do so now. Though he’d always allowed the Pleasure Providers to bring him cocktails and flirt outrageously with him—even letting them curl up in his lap from time to time to perpetuate the façade—he’d been very careful to keep his appearance casual. Interested enough in the women and the booze and the pleasure, but detached enough so that he didn’t draw too much unwanted attention to himself. When he slipped tokens to a Pleasure Provider, no one but her knew it was for intel, not sex.

D.T. reminded himself that he had an image to protect. A role to play. And going off half-cocked because Gizelle was pissed at him—and had found a near dead-ringer to make him jealous—was not a smart thing.

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; And yet, damn, how the rage welled inside him. Fast and furious. His fingers itched to grab his laser gun and blast a hole right between the stranger’s legs.

Instead, D.T. lifted his hand and signaled one of the Pleasure Providers to bring him another Scotch.

Hell, he knew what Gizelle was up to, even it was still such a foreign concept to him. He was strong enough to rise above this new threat. He’d been tortured routinely since he was sixteen, from violent means of “persuasion” from the enemy to try to glean information, as well as from the constant reminder of having lost his family and friends at the hands of the Gyllian fighters. He could withstand unfathomable levels of pain. This would just be one more.

As a petite, dark-haired Pleasure Provider set a full glass in front of him, D.T.’s jaw clenched. He waved her away, knowing she’d add his drink to his tab. His eyes remained locked on Gizelle as Trey continued to kiss her.

His jaw ground tight. In truth, D.T. liked to think it was impossible for him to get riled over another man kissing Gizelle, but he had to admit, that earlier jealousy was coming back full force. And it mingled with a disturbing feeling of arousal as he recalled the previous images that had infiltrated his mind. The vision of both him and Trey pleasuring Gizelle.

As D.T. reached for his glass, he realized drinking was going to be damn-near impossible with the lockjaw he had going on. In fact, every single muscle in his body was tense with indecision. The need to pummel Gizelle’s “date” warred with the need to make love to her again. Whether Trey was involved or not.

When the kiss finally ended, D.T. felt some measure of control return to him. Perhaps Gizelle only meant to do something bold like this to get his attention. Then she’d send the stranger on his way and try to reason with D.T. Try to sway him, make him see her side of things, agree to her plight.

Assuming her plan set him back on course. Made him feel infinitely more grounded.

He took a short sip of his drink as Trey’s arms slipped from Gizelle’s waist and she turned to face D.T. With desire glowing in her green eyes—for him or for Trey?—she said, “It could’ve been different between us, D.T.”

“Yeah,” he said, his tone tight and clipped. “Because of the war, one or the both of us could be dead. Personally, I prefer we don’t travel that path.”

She gave a slight shake of her head and long, loose curls fell across her forehead, making D.T. want to sweep them back so her beautiful face remained fully revealed. “We could have worked together. But you’re too selfish for that, aren’t you?”

D.T. didn’t take the bait. Didn’t have time to, really. Suddenly, Trey’s arms were around Gizelle’s waist again as he pressed himself against her back. He whispered something in her ear that made her smile sheepishly and blush vibrantly.

“Trey,” she whispered before ducking her head.

D.T.’s fist tightened around the glass of Scotch. Trey better not think for one second he was going to take Gizelle from D.T.

Trey’s lips grazed her neck and her body trembled slightly. Then Trey’s hands left her waist and eased slowly up her sides. Then forward till they cupped her breasts.

D.T.’s jaw clenched. It was all he could do not to jump out of his chair and take Trey down.

Don’t make a scene, he reminded himself. Subconsciously, he glanced around, trying to discern if anyone took note of the little jealousy scene playing out. The last thing D.T. needed was to have his cover blown because he’d lost his cool.

Well, no. The absolute last thing he needed was to watch some other guy screw Gizelle. Anger boiled within him, making his entire body tense.

Just as Gizelle’s eyes locked with his, Trey’s fingers worked the strings below her breasts. The bow untied and her blouse drifted open, revealing all the creamy white flesh and large, beautiful breasts D.T. longed to touch and taste.

And that was when he realized her true intent. Son of a bitch. She was going to put him over the proverbial barrel. Use sex and his intense attraction to her against him! Ah, the seduction plot, again. Only this time, she really had brought her reinforcement, a man who clearly wanted her and was willing to pleasure her right here in front of everyone in the club, including D.T.

But, Goddamn it, D.T. wouldn’t let it go that far. He set his glass down and was just about to stand when Trey’s hands smoothed over Gizelle’s breasts, palming them. Her head fell back on his broad shoulder as his mouth went back to work on her neck, licking and nipping at it until Gizelle moaned deeply. Her eyelids fluttered closed.

D.T.’s groin tightened as his anger brewed more violently. Both pleasure and pain were created by seeing Gizelle turned on by Trey and by watching her beautiful body bared. D.T.’s head spun. Maybe the Scotch had finally kicked in.

Indeed, D.T. seemed almost paralyzed in arduous fascination as Trey’s fingers toyed with her hard nipples before sliding down her flat belly and disappearing into the loose waistband of her skirt. Trey slowly shoved the skirt toward Gizelle’s knees. The material dropped to the floor and pooled around her tall heels.

She wore no panties. He noticed that first, and second, the undeniable beauty that stood before him. She was so gorgeous, she stole his breath. And all rational thought. D.T. was unable to move, unable to put a stop to this before it went any farther.

As Gizelle’s arms lifted and her fingers reached behind her to twine in Trey’s hair, his hands working on her breasts, D.T. swallowed hard. The eroticism of the lounge and its sexually charged atmosphere washed over D.T. along with the throaty moans and pleasure-filled cries that echoed in the club as the Pleasure Providers sought and gave their own brand of ecstasy. Their environment clearly had the same effect on Gizelle. They were both lost in a sensuality D.T. was certain neither one of them expected possible.

He himself had never dreamed of seeing Gizelle in a place like this, giving herself over to the hedonism and decadence she’d so vehemently protested all this time. But she’d obviously checked her inhibitions at the door. She wasn’t holding back.

As he considered all of this, plus the fact that he was captivated by the erotic scene before him, the strangest thing happened to D.T. One of Trey’s hands slid down Gizelle’s stomach again until his fingers reached the juncture between her parted legs, and D.T. didn’t reach for his laser gun, as he’d wanted to do earlier. Trey slowly rubbed her labia and then targeted her clit, making her fingers clench in his hair and her teeth catch her bottom lip, and D.T. found himself completely and utterly captivated.