pleasure and release washed through him. His hips bucked, spraying seed into
her waiting mouth. She sucked him eagerly, swallowing his essence. After a moment
she pulled slowly away, sitting up on the bed beside him.
“I appreciate what you did for my mother,” she said, wiping her rosy mouth
delicately with one hand.
“If that’s how you thank me, I’m going to have to think of some other things to
make you grateful,” he said weakly. “Although probably not too soon. I don’t think I
can handle anything like that again for a while.”
“Oh really?” she asked, her tone arch and challenging. “I heard you can handle
quite a bit. In fact, I heard that you took on four girls at one party back in school. In
front of everyone. Any truth to that rumor?”
“I wouldn’t dream of discussing my past with you,” he said, rolling forward to sit
up. He shot her a smug smile. “But if I did, I might clarify that it was six.”
Tessa raised her eyebrows, and they both laughed.
“Arrogant,” she said.
“Stubborn,” he countered, leaning over and kissing her.
“Spoiled.”
“Rotten,” he agreed, smiling. “And you should be too. I have a present for you.
Consider it a very late engagement gift.”
Tessa perked up.
49
Joanna Wylde
“What is it?” she demanded, and he laughed. He reached to the bedside table,
opening a drawer and pulling out a small jewelry case. He offered it to her and she
opened it.
Inside was a silver-filigreed necklace set with garnets. Cerulean star garnets, the
center one nearly as big as her eye.
“My garnets,” she said, awed. She looked up at him and laughed. “Do you realize
this necklace is worth more than most people will see in their lifetimes?”
“Yes, but fortunately none of those people will ever encounter it,” he replied. “You
can only wear it here, on New Danube.”
“You know the people are calling it Saurellia, after you,” she said, drawing the
necklace out of the box and holding it up. “Nobody likes New Danube. Leezal says we
need a new name for a new place.”
Daaron scowled.
“It makes me feel stupid, pompous,” he said. “Only a fool names a planet after
himself.”
“You aren’t doing the naming,” she said. “So be nice.” She poked him in the chest
for emphasis, and he sighed, willing to let the point go for the moment.
“Do you want me to help you put on your necklace?”
She shook her head. “Before we do anything I want to get cleaned up.”
“You need some help?” he asked hopefully. She shook her head, laughing.
“If we do that, it’ll take forever. I’m showering alone.”
“No, you aren’t. You have to obey me, remember?”
“If I do, Leezal will kill me,” she said, smirking. “I can’t risk your heir’s health and
safety, Daaron. I’ll just have to ignore your orders.”
“Damn Warrens woman,” he said, sweeping her up into her arms. She shrieked,
laughing and pounding at his chest playfully. “You’ll do what you’re told.”
50
Garnets or Bust
“If I must,” she replied, stilling as he leaned down to kiss her. “But only because
you finally gave me my garnets.”
Then his lips took hers and there was no more need for conversation.
51
About the Author
Joanna Wylde is a freelance writer who has been working professionally for more
than eight years as a journalist and fund-raiser. In April 2002, she branched out into
fiction with The Price of Pleasure , a futuristic romance published by Ellora's Cave. She is
married and lives in north Idaho.
Joanna welcomes comments from readers. You can find her website and email
address on her author bio page at www.ellorascave.com.
Tell Us What You Think
We appreciate hearing reader opinions about our books. You can email us at
[email protected].
Also by Joanna Wylde
Aphrodite’s Touch
Be Careful What You Wish For
Saurellian Federation: Dragon’s Mistress
Saurellian Federation: Jerred’s
her waiting mouth. She sucked him eagerly, swallowing his essence. After a moment
she pulled slowly away, sitting up on the bed beside him.
“I appreciate what you did for my mother,” she said, wiping her rosy mouth
delicately with one hand.
“If that’s how you thank me, I’m going to have to think of some other things to
make you grateful,” he said weakly. “Although probably not too soon. I don’t think I
can handle anything like that again for a while.”
“Oh really?” she asked, her tone arch and challenging. “I heard you can handle
quite a bit. In fact, I heard that you took on four girls at one party back in school. In
front of everyone. Any truth to that rumor?”
“I wouldn’t dream of discussing my past with you,” he said, rolling forward to sit
up. He shot her a smug smile. “But if I did, I might clarify that it was six.”
Tessa raised her eyebrows, and they both laughed.
“Arrogant,” she said.
“Stubborn,” he countered, leaning over and kissing her.
“Spoiled.”
“Rotten,” he agreed, smiling. “And you should be too. I have a present for you.
Consider it a very late engagement gift.”
Tessa perked up.
49
Joanna Wylde
“What is it?” she demanded, and he laughed. He reached to the bedside table,
opening a drawer and pulling out a small jewelry case. He offered it to her and she
opened it.
Inside was a silver-filigreed necklace set with garnets. Cerulean star garnets, the
center one nearly as big as her eye.
“My garnets,” she said, awed. She looked up at him and laughed. “Do you realize
this necklace is worth more than most people will see in their lifetimes?”
“Yes, but fortunately none of those people will ever encounter it,” he replied. “You
can only wear it here, on New Danube.”
“You know the people are calling it Saurellia, after you,” she said, drawing the
necklace out of the box and holding it up. “Nobody likes New Danube. Leezal says we
need a new name for a new place.”
Daaron scowled.
“It makes me feel stupid, pompous,” he said. “Only a fool names a planet after
himself.”
“You aren’t doing the naming,” she said. “So be nice.” She poked him in the chest
for emphasis, and he sighed, willing to let the point go for the moment.
“Do you want me to help you put on your necklace?”
She shook her head. “Before we do anything I want to get cleaned up.”
“You need some help?” he asked hopefully. She shook her head, laughing.
“If we do that, it’ll take forever. I’m showering alone.”
“No, you aren’t. You have to obey me, remember?”
“If I do, Leezal will kill me,” she said, smirking. “I can’t risk your heir’s health and
safety, Daaron. I’ll just have to ignore your orders.”
“Damn Warrens woman,” he said, sweeping her up into her arms. She shrieked,
laughing and pounding at his chest playfully. “You’ll do what you’re told.”
50
Garnets or Bust
“If I must,” she replied, stilling as he leaned down to kiss her. “But only because
you finally gave me my garnets.”
Then his lips took hers and there was no more need for conversation.
51
About the Author
Joanna Wylde is a freelance writer who has been working professionally for more
than eight years as a journalist and fund-raiser. In April 2002, she branched out into
fiction with The Price of Pleasure , a futuristic romance published by Ellora's Cave. She is
married and lives in north Idaho.
Joanna welcomes comments from readers. You can find her website and email
address on her author bio page at www.ellorascave.com.
Tell Us What You Think
We appreciate hearing reader opinions about our books. You can email us at
[email protected].
Also by Joanna Wylde
Aphrodite’s Touch
Be Careful What You Wish For
Saurellian Federation: Dragon’s Mistress
Saurellian Federation: Jerred’s
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