Deathstalker 07 - Deathstalker Return

she signed the bill with a practiced flourish. She then signed autographs for all the waiters, kissed the youngest on the cheek just to see him blush, and then shooed them all out. The door shut behind them, andDouglas and Treasure looked at each other.
    "I didn't know what you liked, so I brought everything," said Treasure.
    "So I see."Douglas considered her thoughtfully. "How did you get past the guards at my door? They usually have strict instructions not to let anyone in."
    Treasure smiled. "Pure charm, darling. And several deep breaths. Cleavage will get you places even security passes won't. Shall we make a start?"
    They sat down facing each other acrossDouglas 's dining table. Treasure helped herself to generous amounts of everything on offer, piling her plate high, whileDouglas filled his plate more cautiously. He was still trying to work out exactly what was going on here. He opened the wine expertly, pausing a moment to approve of the excellent vintage, and poured out two tall, thin glasses. Treasure rewarded him with her trademark wide smile.Douglas had to admit it really was a very nice smile. He was glad he'd made the decision to clean himself up. He would have hated her to see him the way he used to be. As it was, they made a striking enough couple. He with his handsome face and golden hair, Treasure with her famous sensual face and a great mane of pure white hair tumbling down past her bare shoulders. It had to be said, she had the most delightful collarbones…
    "Are you sure you've got enough there?" saidDouglas , as Treasure finally finished loading up her plate.
    She laughed easily. "The joys of a fast-moving metabolism, darling. I burn it all off through nervous energy. Besides; I've always believed that appetites should be satisfied. Anything less is unnatural and unhealthy."
    "So you eat like this all the time?"
    "Oh, hell, no. My agent would have a fit if she could see me now.
    There are very strict clauses in my contract about being overweight. But this is a special occasion, so…"
    "It is?" saidDouglas .
    "Oh, yes," said Treasure, smiling over her wineglass at him. "Drink up, darling. You don't want to get left behind, do you?"
    Douglashad to smile. In her own ingenuous way, Treasure was as unstoppable as a force of nature. She
    attacked her food happily, wolfing it all down with good appetite, andDouglas ate his quite excellent food at a somewhat slower pace, so he could study his dinner companion unobtrusively. Her long, flowing, off-the-shoulder gown was shimmering silver, studded here and there with semiprecious stones, carefully designed to amplify and draw attention to her fabulous cleavage—as if it needed any help. Seen away from the camera, and with rather more understated makeup than usual, Treasure's face was pretty rather than beautiful, given strength by her pointed chin and blazing green eyes. Her gaze was direct and untroubled, and she chattered happily about nothing in particular, in between and sometimes during large mouthfuls of food. She ate with her fingers when she felt like it, and didn't give a damn.
    Douglaswatched her carefully, in much the same way he would have watched a dangerous opponent in the Arena, to see which way the attack might come from. Treasure was charming if undemanding company, and certainly easy enough on the eyes, butDouglas thought he knew a planned seduction when he saw one charging straight at him. Clearly Treasure had decided to make sure she had him properly infatuated with her before the wedding, so there wouldn't be any problems this time.Douglas smiled, and poured more wine for both of them. He'd been dodging predatory women since he was a teenager.
    There's nothing like being the only heir to the throne of the Empire to make one apparently irresistible to women.
    So he ate with a good appetite, and nodded pleasantly back at Treasure as she chattered away. Why not? It was something to do, and thanks to Finn bloody Durandal he didn't get out much these days. It was good to have company. And she was going to be his wife, eventually.Douglas wondered if Treasure knew that he meant to put the ceremony off for as long as he could. Perhaps she guessed it, and that was what this dinner was for. Certainly she was making every effort to charm, chase, and vamp him; and with anyone else she would probably have succeeded. You'd have had to be dead from the neck down not to feel Treasure's appeal. Having the full force of her sexuality turned on you was