Total pages in book: 126
Estimated words: 124077 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 620(@200wpm)___ 496(@250wpm)___ 414(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 124077 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 620(@200wpm)___ 496(@250wpm)___ 414(@300wpm)
There were more flowers growing everywhere around the room—large white blossoms that released sweet-smelling soap when squeezed, pale pink ones filled with something that felt like conditioner and small yellow flowers that produced a light oil Taurex explained was used to moisturize the skin.
Terra was delighted.
“So instead of having twelve bottles falling over in your shower, you just have flowers,” she remarked. “This is all so amazing—I may never go back to Earth.”
Taurex’s golden eyes brightened.
“I would not object if you stayed here, ” he rumbled.
Terra felt warmth rise into her cheeks and quickly turned away to examine the rest of the room. Then she noticed a particularly strange plant growing beside what she finally realized must be the toilet—which seemed to have soil in it instead of water at the bottom of the bowl.
The plant consisted of a thick green stem topped by an enormous white flower with dozens—possibly hundreds—of soft overlapping petals. All of the petals were about the size of a tissue—or maybe a little smaller.
Terra frowned as she stared at it.
“What is that and what’s it for?” she asked. Because by now, she had figured out that every plant in the house had some kind of function. None of them were there just because they were pretty—they each had a job to do.
Taurex followed her gaze.
“Oh—that’s the cleansing bloom.”
“The what?” Terra asked, frowning.
He pointed toward the flower.
“It’s for after you relieve yourself.”
Terra stared at him…then at the flower…then back at him. At last, it clicked.
“You mean…that’s toilet paper?”
Taurex frowned.
“Well…I guess in a way. Though the petals are not made of paper.”
“No, but you still use them to…: Terra stopped herself. “Never mind. Yes. That’s toilet paper.”
She reached out and carefully pulled one of the white petals free to rub between her fingers. It was incredibly soft—softer than cotton—and the moment she plucked it, another tiny petal began growing in its place.
Terra burst out laughing—she couldn’t help it. Of all the plants she’d been expecting, this wasn’t one of them.
“You have a toilet paper flower!” she exclaimed, between giggles.
Taurex looked puzzled by her amusement.
“Well…yes. Personal hygiene is important.”
Terra pointed at the TP plant.
“That might be the single greatest thing I’ve seen all day.”
He raised his eyebrows.
“Greater than the living puzzle you purchased for Cody?”
“You purchased it. And possibly.” Terra nodded.
He shook his head.
“You humans have unusual priorities.”
“That’s because you’ve never been stuck in a bathroom with an empty roll,” Terra pointed out.
Taurex clearly had no idea what she was talking about, so he just shook his head.
Terra was still smiling when he led her farther down the hall.
“My sleeping chamber is here,” he rumbled, and a doorway opened at his touch.
Terra stepped inside and immediately understood why he had called it a sleeping chamber instead of a bedroom.
The room was enormous. The ceiling arched high overhead beneath a canopy of glowing vines, and one entire wall was formed by a curved window overlooking the forest beyond. The bed occupied the center of the room and was so large Terra could have invited her entire family to sleep in it with room left over.
Like the couch, it was completely alive. The base consisted of thick interwoven branches, and the mattress was formed from layers of deep green vegetation covered by what looked like enormous velvety leaves.
“That bed is bigger than my entire bedroom at home,” Terra remarked.
Taurex nodded.
“I require considerable space.”
“You certainly do.”
Her eyes swept over his huge body before she could stop them, and she couldn’t help picturing the two of them in that enormous bed—possibly with her on top and riding him cowgirl style.
Just as she was getting hot and bothered, Taurex’s golden gaze met hers and Terra looked quickly away from the bed.
“I mean because you’re tall,” she said lamely. “You wouldn’t want a bed where your feet hung off the end.”
“I certainly wouldn’t want that.”
There was amusement in his deep voice, but Terra ignored it in favor of exploring the room.
There were no photographs or decorative objects in the room, but unlike his sterile Earth penthouse, this space somehow felt personal. There were several large plants growing near the window, a broad living chair beside the bed and shelves formed from the wall itself holding books, strange crystalline objects, and several carved figures.
“This feels more like you than your apartment in Tampa,” she remarked. “I mean, it’s more lived in.”
Taurex looked around.
“I suppose so, since this is my true home. The Earth domicile is convenient for business but I never intended it to be permanent.”
Terra nodded. His penthouse might be luxurious, but this place had roots—both literally and figuratively.
“Your sleeping chamber is next on our tour,” Taurex told her.
“My sleeping chamber?” Terra repeated.
“You prefer the term ‘bedroom?’”
She smiled.
“Yes. It sounds less like I’m being kept in a medieval castle.”
Taurex frowned.
“I do not know what—”
“I know. Earth reference. Never mind.” She waved a hand.