Page 60 of Tamed By Her Touch

“Well then, I suppose you’d better stay close.”

Kaelus bit back an irritated retort. She was definitely enjoying herself. He would have to find some way to pay her back for this…he just didn’t know how.

10

KAELUS

The ride to Varell’s office took them through the heart of the settlement and Kaelus found himself reluctantly impressed by what he saw.

The Titus Four people had achieved an unusual balance between advanced technology and the natural environment. Their vehicles floated silently several feet above the ground, following wide paths paved with smooth pale stone but leaving the surrounding forest almost completely undisturbed.

Buildings rose among enormous silver-trunked trees, their walls curved around the natural landscape instead of cutting through it, and gardens seemed to be everywhere. Brilliant flowering vines covered archways and balconies, while shallow streams of clear turquoise water ran beside many of the paths.

The people they passed were as unusual as the landscape—Kaelus saw couples everywhere.

And every male he saw appeared to be touching or helping his wife in some way.

One walked with his arm around his mate’s waist. Another carried several packages while his wife strolled beside him empty-handed. At an outdoor café, Kaelus saw a male feeding his wife something from a small plate while she laughed. Another male knelt beside a seated female and fastened the strap of her sandal while she rested a hand affectionately on his head.

Kaelus found all of it slightly excessive—performative, even. And yet…he was strangely intrigued.

Clair seemed completely fascinated.

“Look—they really do worship their women,” she murmured, pointing to the man who was fastening his wife’s sandal strap.

“So it would appear,” Kaelus muttered.

She smiled up at him.

“I kind of like it. Everyone seems so calm and loving. You don’t see anyone distracted by their phones or devices—they’re all just focused on each other. What a wonderful way to live.”

Kaelus looked down at her.

“Do you really think so?”

She shrugged.

“Well, sure. At least it’s a big change from Earth.”

There was something in her voice that made him think of the former husband she had mentioned only briefly. Kaelus knew enough to understand that the male had been unfaithful to her and had made her feel undesirable.

The thought filled him with inexplicable rage. Any male who could look at Clair’s abundant curves and fail to appreciate them was clearly mentally deficient.

He didn’t understand how males who were able to call a bride and form a long-term relationship with them could be so careless and ungrateful. Clair’s husband had been Joined to an Elite and he had thrown their marriage away without a second thought. Such a male deserved nothing but pain and regret the rest of his days.

Their transport eventually stopped in front of a large cream-colored building overlooking a lake of violet-blue water. They followed Varell and Maera inside and were led through several airy corridors until they reached a spacious office filled with plants and shelves of crystalline data tablets.

There were only two chairs.

Kaelus noticed this immediately. Naturally, Kaelus gestured to the one meant for him.

“Clair,” he said, nodding for her to take the available seat.

“Why thank you.” She gave him a smile as she sat.

Kaelus remained standing behind her. He expected Varell to give his own wife, Maera the other chair so the women could sit while the males stood. Instead, the other male sat on the chair himself and stared at him.

Kaelus waited, wondering what was wrong.