Page 104 of Tamed By Her Touch

“Yes. The health benefits of veloria nectar for women are well known.”

“What happens if a man drinks it?” Clair asked. “I mean, I know you said they don’t get the same benefits, but do they really get nothing at all?”

Maera shrugged.

“Nothing particularly noticeable. For instance, Varell has tasted my special drink many times. He enjoys it, but he says it does not make him feel any different.”

Clair turned toward her.

“Has he ever drunk it regularly?”

Maera shook her head.

“No. Why would he when it does nothing for him?”

Clair started pacing.

“Okay. Raw plant doesn’t activate it. Preparation doesn’t activate it. Men can drink it with no particular benefit. But women drink it regularly and swear it has measurable health effects.” She stopped. “Which means maybe the plant isn’t doing all the work.”

Maera watched her closely.

“What are you thinking?”

“I’m thinking about the star-vine again.” Clair felt her pulse beginning to quicken. “The star-vine needed living tissue to convert its precursor. What if veloria does too?”

“You mean once a woman drinks it, something in her body activates it?” Maera asked, looking surprised.

Clair nodded.

“Exactly.” She turned back toward the molecular display. “What if the female body of a Titus Four woman does something to VEL-7 that mine—or a man’s—doesn’t?”

Maera’s expression became thoughtful.

“Our bodies are not dramatically different from those of women on other humanoid worlds.”

“No. But metabolism can vary because of all kinds of things. Genetics. Hormones. Enzymes. Gut bacteria. Long-term exposure to local foods,” Clair said, listing them off on her fingers. She pointed at the veloria sample. “And if women here start drinking this at puberty, maybe there’s a hormone-dependent metabolic pathway involved.”

Maera’s eyes widened.

“You believe the female body transforms it.”

“I believe it’s worth finding out,” Clair said.

For a moment neither of them spoke, then Maera held out her arm.

“Take my blood.”

Clair looked at her in surprise.

“You’re serious? But…I thought Kaelus and I had to, uh, improve our relationship before we could take samples from your people.”

“I’m making an exception,” Maera said. “You wish to know what happens to veloria after a woman drinks it and I drank a full glass less than an hour ago.”

Clair smiled at her.

“Doctor Maera, I like the way you think.”

Her hostess smiled back.