The Pleasure Principle
by Calista Fox
(Part of the Three Kinds of Wicked Series--Visit the authors and learn about the
series at www.threekindsofwicked.com)
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The year is 3091 and blockade runner Gizelle Sobera is determined to recover the largest lost treasure
in the history of three galaxies. Claiming the bounty lost on PX330 (aka the Pleasure Planet) would help
to supplement the resources and provisions needed by the Protective Forces of the Milky Way Galaxy as
its inhabitants fight invading forces. But the fortune has already been found and she knows exactly who
has swiped the treasure from under her nose—D.T. Vaughn, a pirate who’s stolen a variety of booty
from her…
EXCLUSIVE EXCERPT:
“I appreciate charitable gestures when it comes to helping the war effort,” Gizelle said. “Just so you know, your life’s in
danger if someone other than the two of us is hunting for the gold and believes we’re poaching on their territory. Those
bars are valuable. Whoever’s searching for them will do whatever it takes to get their hands on them. Still want to work on
a voluntary basis?” She knew her look challenged him. “Because I’d pay well to keep you from turning tail and running.”
Trey’s soft lips tipped at the corners in a cocky grin. “I’m hardly the ‘turn tail and run’ type.”
Her gaze slid to the laser gun strapped to his thick, powerful thigh. She was inclined to agree with him, actually. He didn’t
appear to be afraid of much, including pirates who would easily blast a hole through his head to protect a recovered
fortune of this magnitude.
When her eyes returned to his, she caught the hint of determination in them, overshadowed by the unmistakable look of
lust flashing in his obsidian irises. Gizelle had to add “Pleasure Planet Atmosphere” to her list of current occupational
hazards, because her body responded to his dark, edgy looks. His tight-set jaw. His black-as-midnight eyes, which were
fringed by long, sooty lashes.
And all those rigid muscles and bronze skin….
Hands that were made to pleasure a woman….
By all that was holy, how could she not think about sex with this man? Damn this wretched planet!
She dropped the thick mass of hair she’d been holding off her hot neck and clenched her fists at her sides. Concentrate on
the task at hand. Remain focused. Her mission meant everything to her. More than the sudden need to satiate some
longstanding desires.
Having gone so long without so much as a quickie in the cargo hull with one of the galaxy roamers she transported for a
nominal fee, she was probably experiencing some sort of bizarre transference of lust from D.T. to Trey.
And why are you even thinking about that selfish pirate? D.T. Vaughn was a temptation best avoided.
She frowned, wondering if he was the one following her and Trey. But as she continued to survey the immediate
surroundings, there wasn’t a rustle of leaves, a snap of twigs or anything else to signal that D.T. or anyone lingered in the
shadows, waiting to follow them into the cave, hold them up and hover away the gold.
Her gaze returned to Trey, a man she’d known for mere hours, a significantly shorter time than she’d known the pirate D.
T. Vaughn. Yet something told her she could trust him.
“I said I’d help you,” he told her. “So let’s find the booty.” His tanned skin gleamed in the light of the four moons circling
PX330. The golden glow outlined his strong, tight muscles. His thick black hair shone almost blue as the beams of light hit
it at an angle. D.T. would look this magnificent in the perpetual twilight, too, and it bugged the shit out of her to be
thinking of him like that.
Because D.T. was the enemy more often than not.
Stifling a sigh, Gizelle pressed on. Trey kept pace next to her despite the fact that his long legs carried him much faster
than her somewhat shorter stride. Not that she wasn’t stalking across the grassy plain at a good clip, heading toward a tall
hillside that likely housed the entrance to the cave she sought.
As she stole another glance at the tall, hunky stranger by her side, a tingle of exhilaration and good old-fashioned lust
inched up her spine. Trey was intriguing on so many levels. Gorgeous beyond words, with hands that kept drawing her
attention, causing her to imagine what they’d feel like on her naked body, squeezing her breasts, stroking her clit.
And by the stars! If she could have D.T. and Trey together, for just one night….
Get a grip!
Clearly, she’d been on the Pleasure Planet too long. How could she be thinking about sex at a time like this? When so much
was at stake?
“Humph.”
Trey’s garbled sound drew Gizelle’s attention from her errant and oh-so-wicked thoughts to the hillside they’d reached. Or
rather, the gaping hole that had once been part of the hillside. Gizelle’s temper exploded.
“That son of a bitch!” Her fists balled at her side again as anger tore through her, chasing out all of the desire that had
been building within her.
Clumps of dirt and weeds framed the top of the wide hole, roots dangling, debris falling. And on the ground, in the soft
mud from the recent rain, were more of the third-party footprints Trey had spotted earlier.
“Something tells me you know the culprit who swiped the gold from under your nose.”
Trey’s observation made her angrier. “I have a hunch. D.T. Vaughn, a man I never should have let anywhere near me, let
alone trusted,” she seethed between clenched teeth. Gizelle did not have to explore the cave to know the gold bars had
already been removed by her new nemesis. Forcing her jaw to unlock, she said to Trey, “I just might have to kill him for
this.”
“Think you’ll be able to find him?”
She glared at her companion. “Oh, believe me, I know exactly where to find him.” She’d scour every Pleasure Club on the
planet if she had to. She’d barge into every private room occupied by a Pleasure Provider and her client until she found D.T.
No doubt that was where the rogue would spend some of her gold!
“Exactly how do you intend to recover the treasure from him?” Trey asked, one of his dark brows lifting as a curious
twinkle lit his onyx eyes.
“He’s so predictable,” she fumed. “I know exactly what he wants.”
Was she willing to give it to him in exchange for the gold? Damn it! D.T. had her over a barrel, yet again. But she had an
unexpected ally on her side this time around.
She slid her sexy galaxy roamer a coy glance, knowing the smile on her face was a devious one. D.T. was selfish and self-
serving. A pirate. A scoundrel. A man who didn’t play by the rules. A man who made outrageous demands, expecting
everyone he negotiated with to concede to his wishes.
Gizelle never had.
But this time….
Her scowl deepened. She’d have to play her cards right, make strategic moves, in order to win this hand. To get what she
wanted from D.T. without falling into the obvious trap he’d set for her. With so much at stake, she’d pull out all the stops
to get that gold back. And finally put the rogue D.T. Vaughn in his place.
Crooking a finger at Trey, she gestured for him to follow her back to the boat.
“Onto Plan B…,” she said, a wicked idea already forming in her head.