Page 49 of Tamed By Her Touch

“It absolutely is not. If somebody asks you what you love about your mate and you stand there staring at them like they've asked you to derive a mathematical equation, we're going to be in trouble.”

He frowned.

“If I am not allowed to mention your scent or your curves, I could invent something, I suppose.”

Clair blew out a breath.

“Fine. Invent something.”

He was silent again.

Clair waited…and waited…and waited. Finally, she started getting irritated. Was it really that difficult for him to think of anything about her that was pleasant?

“Kaelus?” she prodded.

“You are intelligent,” he said finally.

Clair was surprised at the compliment, but he wasn’t done yet.

“You are also extremely curious,” he continued. “You approach new discoveries with enthusiasm rather than caution, which I find maddening at times, but it has also allowed you to see possibilities I might have dismissed.”

Clair stared at him. Was he really saying all this? It didn’t sound like he was “inventing” anything. It sounded like he really thought these things about her. And still he wasn’t done.

“You are kind,” Kaelus went on, keeping his gaze fixed on the navigation display. “You attempt to make others comfortable even when you are uncomfortable yourself. You frequently pretend not to notice when someone is embarrassed in order to preserve their dignity. You talk too much, you leave objects everywhere, and your organizational system is incomprehensible, but you are generous with your time and your knowledge. And when you become excited about your work, your entire face changes.”

Clair didn't know what to say. She had expected some sarcastic answer like she made good coffee or that at least she hadn't destroyed any of his equipment lately.

But she hadn’t expected the outpouring she’d just gotten from the big Hybrid.

“Wow,” she murmured at last.

Kaelus looked at her.

“You asked.”

Clair nodded.

“I guess I did.”

She looked down at the tablet because suddenly meeting his eyes was difficult.

“My turn, I guess. To say what I like about you.”

Kaelus shook his head.

“You do not need to answer.”

She frowned.

“Yes, I do. Fair is fair.” But what was she going to say?

She thought about making a joke—it would have been easy. She could have said she liked that he could reach things on high shelves or that he made a very effective emergency ladder.

Instead, she found herself telling the truth.

“I like that you take care of people even when you pretend you don't,” she said.

Kaelus's expression changed but Clair continued before she could lose her nerve.