Brianna by Judy Mays - Celestial Passions 01 Read Free Book Online Page B

curbed soon, he’d start a war that would reach all the way to her side of the galaxy anyway.
    Char closed his eyes, remembering how smooth the woman’s skin had felt, how soft her hair. She was so exotic, so beautiful. His cock stirred. He wanted to lose himself in her glorious body. He wanted to feel her melt around him as he buried himself as deep as he could. But once they reached Drakan, the Academy would claim her. The law was on their side, and his clan would not, could not begin an insurrection over the fate of an alien woman. Their allies would never support them. How could he protect her, keep her in his possession? How could he thwart Bakom—legally?
    Lorilana’s voice broke into his thoughts. “Maybe Dadon will have some ideas.”
    Char pulled his thoughts away from Bakom’s downfall and concentrated on Lorilana’s words. Dadon… Lorilana’s husband.
    Husband… Wife?… Marriage… Temporarily? The Academy could not take a wife from her husband even if she wasn’t a Drakian.
    Before he had a chance to think over the ramifications of that particular thought, Char said, “Marriage. She’ll have to marry me.”
    Lorilana choked on the wine she was drinking. “What!”
    He turned around and leaned back against the window.
    “Intermarriage among human species is recognized by the Academy. By marrying her, I will have the full weight of the Alalakan clan and the government to support her classification.
    Bakom’s Tests of Humanity don’t address marriage to an unidentified species. And, more importantly, he will never consider that I’d marry her. Once the council knows that you, Dr.
    Sendenton dem al’ Lorilana, have no doubts as to her humanity, she’ll gain that status not only for herself but also for the inhabitants of her planet.”
    Lorilana shook her head. “Bakom will seek to block any such move by the Council, and have you given thought to what this will mean to you and, especially, to your family?”
    He crossed his arms. “Father and Rodane will support me.”
    Lorilana set her glass on the table and stepped towards him.
    “Why are you doing this, Char? I understand why you want her in your bed. Her coloring alone titillates. But marriage?”
    An unfathomable expression in his eyes, he locked gazes with her. “She saved two members of an Alalakan crew from certain death. For that reason alone, I won’t allow Bakom to use her as a sexual experiment. As my wife, both Drakian and Federation law protect her. If making her my wife is the only way to save her from Bakom, so be it.” Then he smiled. “Besides, terminating a marriage is no difficult task. She can free herself whenever she chooses.”
    Lorilana leveled a gaze at Chardadon. Termination. So that was his plan. “As long as she doesn’t go beyond the first phase of marriage. If she accepts a clan tattoo, the marriage won’t be terminated as easily as you think. What’s more, Bakom will accuse you of marrying her just to spirit her away from him.”
    Char grinned. I certainly hope so . “He can try.”
    “He’s more powerful than you think.”
    Char walked back to his wine cabinet. “The Alalakans don’t underestimate Bakom’s power, Lorilana, but he’s become too impatient. If he had waited to begin his quest for power and control a few more years, he’d be much more firmly entrenched.
    As it is, his support isn’t as solid as he thinks.”
    “Maybe, but that’s months and years into the future. Bakom makes a very powerful enemy.”
    Char poured her another glass of wine and grinned when he handed it to her. “Lori, do you really believe he could hate the Alalakan clan any more than he already does?”
    Her smile was weak. “No, but he’ll have reason to be more public in his condemnations. People will listen to him simply because he is First President of the Academy.”
    Char refilled his glass. “If he becomes too outspoken, there are certain indiscretions of his own which can be revealed, though we’d