Page 115 of Tamed By Her Touch

“Our men were once strong. So strong these restraints were needed.”

Kaelus frowned.

“Being violently insane is not strength.”

“No. But independence is,” Sendar countered.

Kaelus’s unease sharpened. What was he talking about?

Sendar continued walking slowly among the restraint chairs, running his hand over their backs.

“Eventually our healers discovered that the presence of women—particularly intimate contact with them—appeared to calm infected males,” he said. “The customs grew from there. Men began staying close to their wives—serving them, touching them constantly. Kissing them. Pleasuring them. Then came the rituals, the vows, the absurd concept that a woman must be treated like a goddess merely because she possesses female flesh.”

There was bitterness in his voice now—real bitterness as though he blamed the women he was speaking of for something.

Kaelus stared at him.

“What are you saying? You disapprove of your people’s customs?”

Sendar shot him a look.

“I’m only saying that I think our society has forgotten the difference between devotion and servitude.”

Kaelus frowned.

“So…you believe the men of Titus Four are servants to their women.”

Sendar’s metallic eyes flashed.

“Do you not? Is it not obvious?” He pointed toward the dark silver band around Kaelus’s upper arm. “You are wearing a symbol declaring that you are owned by a woman even now.”

Kaelus stiffened.

“Clair is my wife—my mate,” he said and in that moment, it felt true.

Sendar gave him a searching look.

“You carried her belongings yesterday. You served her food. This morning you allowed her to dress you. You knelt before her and kissed between her thighs in front of a room full of people because another male told you that was how a husband should behave. Does none of that strike you as humiliating?”

Kaelus thought about it. Irritating, yes, because Clair loved to tease him. But deep down he had to admit, he’d gotten used to her banter. Maybe even come to enjoy it, in a way. But he hadn’t felt humiliated by any of the customs they’d had to adhere to on Titus Four. If anything, they had drawn him and his “wife” close—probably too close.

“No,” he said. “I do not find your customs humiliating.”

Sendar blinked in apparent surprise.

“How can you say that? She had you on your knees, man! You’re wearing a band that says she owns you!”

Kaelus looked down at the silver band around his biceps.

“I see nothing humiliating about caring for one’s mate,” he said stonily.

“It is not care if it is demanded,” Sendar pointed out.

Kaelus shrugged.

“Clair demands very little of me.”

Sendar snorted.