Page 81 of Tamed By Her Touch

“They are not identical.” Clair held them up. “These have a slightly different seam.”

“They are identical,” he growled.

She pointed a finger at him.

“Don’t argue with your goddess, sugar-booger.”

Maera nodded approvingly.

Kaelus closed his eyes, a look of irritation passing over his face and Clair had to bite the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing.

“All right.” She handed him the trousers. “Put these on.”

Maera frowned, giving Clair a horrified look.

Clair froze.

“What?” she asked.

“You are dressing him,” Maera reminded her.

Clair looked at the underpants uncertainly and then back to their hostess.

“Yes. I picked his pants.”

“Exactly, my dear, but you must put them on him,” Maera said.

Clair stared at her. Then she looked at Kaelus. He looked back.

“No,” they said together.

Maera looked surprised.

“You refuse to dress your husband?”

Clair cleared her throat.

“There are certain boundaries in Kindred mating customs,” she said quickly. “The, er, undergarment portion of dressing is considered private.”

Maera looked confused.

“But you are husband and wife.”

“Yes, but…it’s a kind of, uh, ceremonial privacy,” Clair improvised. “Very sacred. A Kindred warrior must put on his own underpants without anyone witnessing him doing it.”

Beside her, Kaelus made a sound suspiciously like a cough and Clair shot him a warning look.

“Oh.” Maera considered this. “I would not wish to offend a sacred Kindred tradition. Shall I turn my back while he puts on his lower garments?”

“That would be wonderful,” Clair said fervently.

Maera obligingly turned toward the door and Kaelus immediately grabbed the trousers from Clair.

“Thank you,” he muttered.

“You’re welcome.”

He gave her a pointed look.