Page 87 of Tamed By Her Touch

Maera sighed happily and clasped her hands to her heart.

“Now you look properly Joined. See what a few small touches have done?” she said to Clair. “Your husband looks quite handsome now.”

Clair stepped back. She had to admit her coworker really did look hot, but it wasn’t just his new look that gave her a little shiver down her spine. The sight of Kaelus standing there in fitted black trousers and the sleeveless charcoal tunic, wearing a Titus Four devotion band she had personally fastened around his arm, gave her an odd little ache somewhere behind her breastbone.

It looked real—they looked real—like a real couple.

And after what had happened between them the night before, pretending was starting to feel considerably more dangerous than it had when they first arrived.

But she couldn’t stand around admiring her “husband” all day—they had work to do.

“There.” Clair forced brightness into her voice. “All dressed.”

Kaelus looked down at her.

“Are you satisfied with your handiwork, my goddess?” he rumbled.

There was dry humor in his voice. But there was something else too…something warm.

Clair felt her cheeks getting hot. Why did he have to look at her like that when he called her “my goddess?” Trying to cover her confusion, she put her hands on her hips and pretended to study him.

“Hmm.”

She circled him slowly and Kaelus turned his head to follow her.

“What are you doing?” he asked.

Clair gave him a teasing smile.

“Just inspecting my husband.”

“You have already inspected me enough in the viewer earlier,” he growled.

Clair’s cheeks got even hotter.

“I told you I wasn’t looking!” she protested.

Kaelus raised an eyebrow at her.

“You were absolutely looking.”

Maera laughed again.

“The two of you are most amusing!” she exclaimed.

Clair came around to Kaelus’s front and reached up and straightened the neckline of his tunic. Then, because Maera was watching and because some reckless little part of her wanted to, she smoothed both hands over Kaelus’s broad chest.

His muscles tightened instantly beneath her palms and a soft growl rose in his throat.

Clair smiled.

“There,” she said softly. “Perfect.”

Kaelus’s golden eyes locked with hers again and for half a heartbeat, Clair forgot Maera was in the room. Then their hostess clapped her hands delightedly.

“Wonderful! Now kiss him and we can go to breakfast.”

Clair nearly choked.