Garnets or Bust
you at university? My friends laughed at me when you turned me down,
    none of them could understand why I didn’t just spirit you away in the night and keep
    you prisoner on my yacht. Men like me do not have to get permission from women like
    you. But I admired your work ethic, admired the way you stood up to me. I loved the
    14

    Garnets or Bust
    way you were honest with me, when even the professors groveled at my feet. You were
    the only one who stood up to me. I didn’t want to do this to you, but we’re out of
    choices. Now you’ll damned well live with the consequences.”
    With that, he closed the space between them, pulling her against his body
    forcefully. He channeled all his frustration, anger and longing he’d felt over the years
    and kissed her. Hard.
    Daaron’s lips took hers, demanding she open for him. Tessa tried to fight him off,
    but he held her tight with one arm, pinning her as his other hand dug into the shorn
    remains of her hair. With one swipe of his knife he’d married her, by the Goddess, and
    now he was going to have her. His cock swelled, glorying in the feel of her against his
    body. She gave a muffled whimper, the sound of a woman conquered.
    He thrust one knee between her legs, pushing them apart and throwing her off
    balance. In an instant she went from fighting to clinging to him for support. He took
    advantage of the moment to reach down and grab her ass, lifting her up and wrapping
    her legs around his waist. Carrying her, he strode purposefully toward her tent.
    “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” she asked, gripping him tightly as they
    lurched across the campsite.
    “Taking you to bed,” he replied. “No marriage is legal unless it’s consummated.”
    “You’re insane. This isn’t a real marriage.”
    “You’d better hope it is,” he replied, his voice grim. “Marrying me is the only thing
    that will keep you alive. Wives can’t testify against their husbands according to
    Imperial code.”
    “Testify? Daaron, you’re insane. I don’t know what kind of terrible secret you think
    I know, but I don’t give a damn about you or your life. I just want to leave with my
    garnets.”
    They reached the tent, Daaron shouldering his way in and Tessa clutching him as
    they lurched to a stop. She tried to push him away again, but he wrapped a hard arm
    around her waist and gripped the back of her head one more time. This time his kiss
    15

    Joanna Wylde
    was long and slow, pouring out all the heat and frustration he’d built up over the years.
    She tasted better than his most fevered dreams. Finally he pulled away, allowing her to
    slide down his body. She opened her mouth to speak again, but he shushed her, putting
    one finger across her lips.
    “Talk is all I’ve ever had from you, sweet Tessa,” he said. “Now it’s time for
    action.”
    16

    Garnets or Bust

Chapter Three
    Daaron surrounded Tessa, his body overwhelming her, his scent filling the air. She
    took deep breaths, heart racing, wishing desperately that their contact didn’t feel so
    good. She opened her mouth once more, defying him, but he gave her a look so heated
    and intense that she fell silent. Moving with slow, steady determination, he backed her
    up against the portable sleeping unit. Her knees buckled and she fell back, eyes wide.
    He deliberately pulled off his shirt, throwing it on the floor. Her eyes darted from
    his face to the endless expanse of his chest, panicked. She had to find some way to
    distract him. Just as deliberately, he removed his shoes and then his pants, throwing the
    belt and holstered blaster atop them.
    Tessa’s breath tightened in her chest. She tried not to stare at him, but the tent was
    so small there was nowhere else to look.
    Now Daaron stood before her, proud and beautiful in his nudity. His cock stood at
    attention, a solid pillar of flesh rising from the tangle of hair at his groin. It reached well
    up along his stomach, the helmet-shaped head flushing

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