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

but—there’s one sure way to protect you, and I ask you to listen to me fully and think carefully before you answer.”
    After her curt nod, he continued. “Citizens of the five known planets are exempt from the Tests. There are a number of different ways to gain citizenship, but the one way that all the planets have in common is marriage.”
    Char waited for some reaction, but her face remained closed to him. Raking the fingers of both hands through his loose hair, he continued, “If you marry a citizen from one of the five planets, you’ll immediately be accepted as a member of that society.
    You’ll be acknowledged as human because no one would marry you if you were anything else.”
    “So,” she interjected flatly, “I only have to find someone from one of these planets willing to marry me, and I’ll be safe from this Bakom person.”
    “Yes.”
    “And you and the doctor have already determined who this will be.”
    “Yes.”
    Her nostrils flared. “Am I permitted to know, or is yours a culture that delivers its brides to a preselected, unknown groom?”
    Char cocked an eyebrow. He hadn’t expected anger. “We aren’t barbarians.”
    “Not barbarians!” she shouted, one arm flailing as the other clenched the blanket to her breasts. “One of your so-called scientists plans to inject a powerful aphrodisiac into a wounded, unconscious woman for the express purpose of some ridiculous sexual rite, and you say you aren’t barbarians! Exactly how would you describe yourself, Captain Alalakan don den del al’
    whatever Chardadon?”
    He crossed his arms over his chest. “And your people are more civilized? One of my crew was scheduled for dissection.”
    Brianna chose to ignore that statement and his growing irritation as she began to pace the small room. “You’ve kept me locked in this room with nothing but a blanket to save my modesty. How do I know you aren’t seeking to lull me into a false sense of security until I am fully recovered so that you can then perform these sexual experiments, Captain?” she snapped as she turned to face him. “How do I know that’s not the true situation?”
    Char’s eyes narrowed, but he kept a tight rein on his growing anger. Never had the word of an Alalakan, especially his word, been questioned so caustically.
    Green fire sparkled dangerously in her eyes. “Why bother waiting?” she challenged. “Call this Bakom person and get with this damn testing over with. I’m tired of waiting!”
    Char took a step towards her. “Woman, you try my patience!”
    Brianna was past caring about physical danger. Her body had repaired itself, but mentally she was exhausted. Lorilana’s revelations about the Tests of Humanity had unnerved her more than she admitted even to herself. She needed an emotional outlet, and the captain had provided it with his plan of marriage.
    “ I said you would not be harmed,” he growled, teeth clenched against his anger, hands fisted on his hips, tail lashing with agitation. “My word has never been questioned before.”
    She tilted her head back and glared into his eyes. “Then where are my clothes?”
    He glared down at her. Clothes? What did her clothes matter? “Your clothes? Woman, what are you babbling about?”
    Char’s now perplexed expression caused Brianna’s anger to completely conquer her fear. How could he be so obtuse!
    “Where are my… Oh, forgive me!” She hit her forehead with the palm of her hand. “On your planet one doesn’t necessarily wear clothing when entertaining guests. Well, since you’ve decided I’m to join your society, I may as well get used to it. So what if you’re wearing your uniform? When in Rome…” she snarled and threw the blanket she’d kept clutched so tightly into his face.
    Quick reflexes kept the blanket from becoming tangled about Char’s head. Flinging it onto the bed, he turned once more to the angry woman. Except for the bandage on her shoulder, she stood before him gloriously