Page 132 of Tamed By Her Touch

“What an asshole!” Clair said fiercely.

Kaelus’s mouth twitched.

“That was not the terminology I used.”

“Well, it should have been.”

“He believes the traditions of Titus Four are humiliating to males,” Kaelus went on. “Carrying burdens…serving women first…kneeling…the ownership bands.”

Clair’s eyes went to the silver band around his arm.

“You could take that off, you know.”

Kaelus looked down at it.

“No,” he said simply.

The single word surprised her.

“You don’t have to wear it when nobody’s around,” she pointed out. “I mean, it’s not like I really own you.”

“I know,” he murmured, holding her eyes with his. “But I want to keep it on anyway.”

Clair felt as if a thousand butterflies had taken off inside her stomach. She opened her mouth, but Kaelus put up a hand.

“Don’t make anything of it,” he warned. “It doesn’t mean anything. I just…like wearing it.”

“Of course.” Clair tried not to smile. “I didn’t say anything.”

“You were about to.”

“I was not.”

“You were.”

Clair smiled.

“Well…maybe.”

Kaelus shook his head and got back to business.

“Sendar also believes the males here have become biologically dependent upon females,” he said.

Clair frowned.

“He actually said that?”

“Yes. Women consume substances males do not. Their bodies produce different metabolites. He believes intimate proximity to females may have become necessary for male stability. And he resents the Seven Hells out of it,” Kaelus added darkly.

Clair pointed at their matching molecules.

“He knows what’s going on. Maybe not everything, but he knows something. That isn’t some random philosophical opinion. He practically described what we just discovered.”

The big Hybrid nodded.

“I agree.”

“Then why was he trying to steer you away from it?” she asked.