Page 91 of Tamed By Her Touch

“Really delicious,” he amended. “Your culinary skill is remarkable.”

Maera beamed.

“I’m so glad you like it.”

Clair took another heroic bite and so Kaelus did the same, though he noticed she was barely chewing the gloopy mixture but only swallowing as fast as she could, presumably so she wouldn’t have to taste it too much.

Varell ate his portion with obvious delight, looking extremely pleased with himself.

Kaelus decided Titus Four culture was considerably stranger than he had originally believed.

After several bites, Maera reached for a tall translucent pitcher near her elbow. Unlike the goosenburly, what she poured into her glass looked genuinely appealing. The drink was thick and pale lavender, almost like a fruit cream, and tiny silver flecks shimmered throughout it whenever the light struck the glass.

Clair noticed too.

“Oh, that looks good,” she remarked. “What is it?”

Maera lifted the glass, so the light of the two suns caught it and made the lavender contents sparkle.

“This? It is veloria nectar.”

Clair immediately looked interested.

“veloria? Is that some kind of plant?” she asked.

Maera nodded.

“A flowering vine native to our lovely planet.” she took a sip. “The blossoms are harvested just before dawn and crushed with several fruits. Nearly every woman on Titus Four drinks it regularly.”

“Only the women?” Clair asked curiously.

Kaelus looked at her. There it was—that particular expression. He knew it well. Doctor Donovan had just smelled a scientific mystery.

“Mostly women,” Maera said. “Men can drink it, of course, but it is considered especially beneficial for the female body. Our healers have recommended it for thousands of years.”

“What does it do?” Clair asked.

Maera shrugged.

“Many things, supposedly. It promotes good health, balances the body, improves fertility in younger women, and helps older women maintain strength and vitality.”

“Interesting,” Clair murmured.

Her eyes had gone to the lavender liquid again and she was studying it as if she wished she could take a sample to the lab to analyze.

Maera smiled. “

Would you like some?”

Clair nodded.

“Yes, please.”

Of course she would. Kaelus almost laughed. If Maera had told Clair the substance was made from venomous fungus and might cause her ears to fall off, she probably still would have wanted to taste it simply because it came from an alien plant.

Maera poured her a glass and Clair lifted it first to her nose. She inhaled deeply.

“Mmm. That smells amazing.”