Page 30 of I Married A Catman

“Then you remain a nomad, or you group up with other roaming males for mutual protection and for convenience,” he said while setting the plate in front of me.

My grateful smile froze on my lips before giving way to shock as I got a close look at the food presented to me.

“Errr…”

“Is something wrong?” Gaelec asked, the worry in his voice reflecting the one on his face at my reaction.

I gave him a sheepish look before glancing back down at the plate. “That meat is much too raw for me. Humans need certain foods, especially meat, to be cooked up to a certain temperature, not only for taste but also for health reasons.”

He looked horrified.

“My apologies, my mate. I was not aware of this. I will fix it at once,” he said as he swiftly picked up my plate and turned around towards the cooking unit on the left counter.

I felt horrible. He’d been so proud to serve me only for me to rain on his parade. I loved good sushi and didn’t mind the occasional tartar. But the different meats on the plate literally looked like they had been freshly carved off the carcass and merely sprinkled or rubbed with some herbs and spices. One ofthe red meats seemed to have been slapped on a hot plate for half a sneeze on each side, just to say it had a taste of heat. The white meat was the one that freaked me out the most. Thoughts ofE. coliand other bacteria just ran circles in my mind. It was surprising that I didn’t see them soaking in a pool of mixed blood at the bottom of the plate.

“Don’t be sorry,” I exclaimed, rising to my feet. “You couldn’t know. I didn’t even know how you prepared your meals or what your dishes were. But you don’t have to do it. I can take care of it myself.”

Gaelec recoiled. The hurt look in his stunning blue eyes took me aback.

“I can properly provide for you, Ophelia,” he said, sounding as if I’d just ripped his heart right out of his chest and stomped all over it for fun. “I made a mistake, but I will make sure to learn your human needs. I won’t fail you again.”

My chest constricted in my heart at this strong reaction from him. The words he spoke only moments ago about how Nazhral males lived in constant fear of being cast out for the slightest mistake came back with a vengeance. Did he think I would consider a divorce over something so trivial?

“You didnotfail me, Gaelec,” I said forcefully, making no effort to hide how outrageous and ludicrous I thought that assumption to be. “You are not human. I am sure that by Nazhral standards, this food is perfect. Normally, I make it a point to try the traditional recipes of every new culture I get the honor to visit. The only exception is when it can jeopardize my health. Raw meat is a lot harder for humans to digest and significantly increases the risk of us suffering from food poisoning. Cooking makes meat taste better to us, especially when it is properly spiced.”

“We do spice our meat,” Gaelec said, some of the tension bleeding out of him. “We just barely cook it or don’t cook it atall. Please teach me what is suitable for you so that I can provide appropriately.”

I hated the lingering glimmer of worry in his eyes. With a bone deep conviction, I realized that refusing to let him cook for me would be a crushing blow to him. He would not only deem it a brutal rejection but also proof that I considered him a failure, or at least incapable or unsuitable of catering to my needs. I loved being pampered like the next person, but only because they wanted to, out of affection and not because they felt compelled to as a proof of their worth.

I would make sure he realized that, to me, he was worth far more than his ability to cook meat and build furniture.

“Of course,” I said with a smile. “But just so you know, it is normal for humans to cook for each other. That task is not gender specific. For us, it is a way of showing affection. For example, I can’t hunt. Does that make me a failure as a female?”

He recoiled and looked at me as if I’d said something silly. “Of course not. You’re human, not Nazhral. You cannot be expected to share the same physical attributes as my people.”

“Exactly. And it’s the same way that you cannot be deemed a failure as my mate for not instinctively knowing how humans eat their food. You’re a Nazhral. But I’m happy to show how we like our meat and maybe even show you some of my favorite recipes.”

My chest constricted further at the way his shoulders slouched with relief, and he beamed at me. He was so big, muscular, and almost intimidating with that barely constrained strength and power that seemed to radiate out of him, that seeing this vulnerable side of him wrecked me.

“Fair warning, we have all kinds of varying cooking times and temperatures for meat,” I cautioned. “As I do not know these specific meats, don’t be surprised if I mess things up while trying to figure it out,” I added sheepishly.

“I brought plenty,” Gaelec said with a smile, seeming pleased by this turn of events. “We can test it together then until we find what pleases you.”

“That sounds like a wonderful plan!”

He fired up the cooking plate, and we began trying out small samples of the various cuts. I would start off with the so-insanely-cooked-it-might-as-well-be-leather level then worked my way backward until I found the right one for each. It turned into a hilarious game with Gaelec bemoaning how I was slaughtering the meat. That didn’t stop him from tasting everything I did. His horrified expression at the near burnt ones had me in stitches.

It didn’t take long for me to realize that some of his over-the-top responses were deliberate, specifically to make me laugh. My man was trying to entertain me.

After a few experiments, I ended up with my brand-new favorite.

“Oh, Putain!That tastes just like Wagyu beef!” I exclaimed with a delighted moan as I chewed.

Gaelec chuckled before greedily picking up a piece to taste it as well. The intense look on his face as he explored the texture and flavor didn’t go unnoticed. Through the playfulness, Gaelec was paying close attention and filing away information as to what I did and didn’t like. Tasting the meat served as a way for him to better understand what kind of tenderness and juiciness resonated the best with me.

“See?” I said, pointing at the piece we had taken a bite of. “This to me would be the perfect prep for this meat. A nice sear outside, and the right level of pink inside.”

“Duly noted, my mate,” Gaelec said calmly. “I will remember how you like your Sikkal steaks.”

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