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)
“Fermented kalith broth,” Taurex told her.
She shook her head.
“I have no idea what that is, but it smells amazing. Everything around here is so different from what I’m used to back on Earth.”
Taurex stirred the stew with a long wooden-looking utensil.
“You will become accustomed to it.”
The big Monstrum’s words caught Terra by surprise. He was talking as though he expected her to be here often enough that living appliances and blue meat and vegetables that changed color would someday stop seeming strange.
She looked up at him. Was he trying to tell her something?
Taurex was concentrating on the stew, completely unaware that his casual words had just created an unexpected picture in her mind.
She could see herself standing in this kitchen again—maybe next weekend or maybe many weekends. She could picture herself laughing with the big Monstrum while he cooked, or chopping vegetables while the glowing flowers swayed overhead.
Terra frowned—she was getting ahead of herself again. Way ahead. They had barely even admitted they were attracted to each other. Still, she couldn't deny that spending time with Taurex in his home felt easy in a way she hadn't expected.
While the stew simmered, Taurex turned his attention to the fargas pods they had bought at the Market. He placed two of the large warm pods onto the preparation surface and pressed his thumbs into a natural seam running along the center of the first one.
There was a soft pop and the pod split apart. A puff of fragrant steam escaped, and Terra leaned closer immediately.
Inside was a pale loaf of bread, still soft and slightly damp from the pod.
She shook her head.
“Fresh bread from a giant pod—that is never going to stop being weird.”
Taurex shrugged.
“It is bread.”
“I know, but it grew inside a giant seedpod,” she pointed out.
He shrugged again.
“Yes, it did. That is how fargas bread is made. And this is how it is finished.”
He lifted the loaf free and set it on a broad leaf, then he opened the second pod.
Terra watched as he took several tiny herb bundles from one of the market baskets and crushed them between his palms. The leaves released an aromatic oil that smelled like a combination of basil, thyme and something citrusy.
“You don't use butter?” Terra asked.
“I can if you like.”
Taurex tapped a small yellow flower growing beside the cooking surface. Its petals unfolded and when he stroked its center, it produced a thick golden cream.
Terra looked at it with interest.
“Is that…a butter flower?”
“You could call it that.” Taurex nodded.
He spread the golden cream across the surface of both loaves, then sprinkled them with the crushed herbs and a handful of tiny sparkling crystals.
“Is that salt?” Terra asked.
“Mineral flakes,” Taurex corrected. “But they do taste salty.”
“So it’s alien salt,” Terra said.
He shrugged.
“If you prefer.”
“I do,” she said, smiling.
Taurex smiled back as he put the loaves inside another large living pod growing from the wall. It closed around them and the outer surface began glowing a soft orange.
Terra looked at it with interest.
“So you even have an oven plant.”
“Yes.” He nodded and she grinned.
“See? You're not even fighting me anymore.”
“I have accepted that you will give everything in my domicile an Earth name,” Taurex rumbled.
Terra shrugged.
“It's how I cope.”
He smiled.
“Then I am pleased to assist your coping.”
There was such quiet affection in the way he said it that Terra forgot how to respond for a moment. She settled for smiling back.
The stew cooked for another twenty minutes while they cleaned the preparation area together. Terra insisted on helping, though she was mostly fascinated by the cleansing vine, which wrapped around every utensil they gave it and scrubbed each one with its fuzzy leaves before releasing it spotless.
“I want one of these at home,” she said.
“I could acquire one for you,” Taurex offered.
Terra looked up at him.
“Seriously?”
He nodded.
“Of course.”
“Would it survive in Tampa?” she asked. “I mean, we have a sub-tropical climate.”
“With the proper soil, it should be fine,” he assured her.
“You're telling me I could have a dishwasher plant growing beside my sink?” she asked eagerly.
“Certainly.”
Taurex nodded.
Terra pressed a hand dramatically to her chest.
“Taurex, you may have just won my heart.”
He paused what he was doing and just looked at her.
Terra realized what she'd said, and heat flooded her face. What must he think of her? She had to stop flirting so blatantly!
“Oh. I mean—”
“Don’t worry—I know what you meant,” he rumbled. But his golden eyes had grown warmer.
Terra turned back to the cleansing vine.
Smooth, Terra. Very smooth, she told herself.
Thankfully, the oven pod chose that moment to open with a soft rustling sound, releasing the smell of freshly baked bread.
Dinner was finally ready.
24
TERRA
The dining area occupied a broad alcove beside the kitchen, and Terra had noticed the table earlier but hadn't really examined it. Now she realized that, like everything else in the domicile, it hadn't been manufactured at all.