Page 71 of Tamed By Her Touch

“Why, Doctor Kaelus—are you preparing to sleep on the floor?” she exclaimed.

“Oh, er…” Kaelus clearly didn’t know what to say.

“He…um…” Clair began, but she couldn’t think of a good excuse either.

Maera shook her head.

“Honestly, the two of you behave so oddly one would almost doubt if you are married at all!”

Panic shot through Clair. They absolutely could not have Maera doubting them. Not now—not when they had finally convinced Varell to give them at least limited access to his research and the Blood Archive.

She jumped into action.

“Of course we’re married—it’s just a Kindred custom,” she said quickly. “The husband sleeps on the floor, close to the door, to guard his wife the first night they stay in a strange place—that way he shows he’s willing to protect her from danger.”

Kaelus turned his head and looked at her.

Clair widened her eyes at him.

Just go with it, she thought as hard as she could.

For once, he apparently understood.

“Yes,” he said stiffly. “It is a Kindred protective custom.”

Maera frowned.

“Well, I assure you, there is no danger here,” she said. “Titus Four is a peaceful planet—it’s perfectly safe for you to sleep in the same bed.”

“Of course it is. Get up here, honey!” Clair gestured desperately.

Slowly, Kaelus picked up the pillows and blankets and got back into bed.

She barely waited for him to settle before climbing in beside him. Then she snuggled up against him, pressed her entire body against his side, wrapped one arm across his broad chest, and rested her cheek against his shoulder.

“See? Snug as two bugs in a rug!” she exclaimed, smiling at Maera.

Kaelus went rigid—every muscle in his enormous body tightened beneath her.

Clair could feel the hard planes of his chest and abdomen against her, and suddenly she became very aware of exactly how little fabric was between them.

His chest was completely bare, and her breasts were covered only by the thin nightgown. Also, because she wasn’t wearing a bra, her bare nipples were pressed directly against his hot skin with nothing but one silky layer between them.

Crap.

Clair swallowed hard. That was considerably more intimate than she'd intended.

Kaelus looked down at her and she saw that his golden eyes were glowing. But she couldn’t exactly say anything—Maera was still watching them, her lovely metallic eyes narrowed in skepticism.

She smiled brightly at the other woman, hoping it didn’t look as strained as it felt.

“I’m so glad you let us know it’s safe here so I can sleep with my husband,” she said. “I’m always so cold when we go someplace new and Kaelus insists on sleeping on the ground. He’s so big and warm it’s like sleeping beside a furnace.”

Maera gave them a searching look, then nodded.

“Very well. I only came in to ask if the two of you would like goosenburly for breakfast tomorrow. It’s a local specialty and my dear Varell is something of an expert at making it.”

“Oh yes—goosenburly sounds delicious!” Clair said, nodding. “Thank you so much for being so thoughtful.”