Page 53 of Wayfinder
Jutuk issued a wry smile. “I have never tasted stroaig. What Baron Oappo said is true. Only the very wealthy can afford it. I will ask Jala and Praxxan. Perhaps they know.”
On Earth, I knew exactly how to alter flavors. Hell, I’d won a thousand-dollar bet once by passing a piece of flat iron steak off as wagyu. Out here, though... just because something was meat didn’t mean it couldn’t taste like a pickle.
“The behia has a strong taste that might be hard to camouflage.” I pondered aloud. “Unless I can find a way to completely change the flavor profile.” I flipped through recipe after recipe in my mind.
Jutuk watched me with a mix of affection and complete faith on his handsome face. Only one other person had ever looked at me like that. My grandmother. At the thought of her, a mental picture of her old, dog-eared recipe book floated to mind. Recipes I could no longer use on Earth because of that asshat Donavan. But we weren’t on Earth anymore. The pages flipped, revealing a favorite dish from my childhood. My grandmother made it often, and no matter the cut of meat she used, it always turned out savory and delicious.
“What?” Jutuk grinned at me, and I realized a broad smile creased my face.
“I’ve got an idea.” I glanced about the kitchen, mentally inventorying the ingredients on hand. But I’ll need a lot more spices than I have here."
“We could visit the market level,” Jutuk suggested. “They sell spices from all over the universe there.”
“Perfect!” I bounced with excitement and kissed him.
“We will need to be careful,” Jutuk murmured against my lips. “I am worried for your safety more than ever.”
“Why?” Certainly, shopping had proved dangerous in the past, but only to my wallet.
Jutuk’s golden eyes flickered at the poisoned meat and the lifeless alien rat, a low growl rumbling from his powerful chest. He pulled me close, his arms enveloping me in a protective embrace. I could feel the tension in his musclesas he held me tightly, his body radiating both strength and tenderness.
“Because I’ve realized why they threw the contest in your favor.”
I glanced at him, shock making my brow furrow. “Why?”
Jutuk planted a gentle kiss on the tip of my nose. He wore a smile, but the worry didn’t escape his gaze. “So the Baron can blame the Duke’s death on you.”
“Shit!” A shiver of foreboding raced along my spine, along with a fissure of ire. “I didn’t think of that.”
Jutuk trailed a finger along my jawline. “I will protect you, my mate. Always.”
I might look twenty, but technically, I was sixty-one years old and had just swooned for the first time in my life. “My hero.” The words came out in a breathless whisper.
Jutuk lowered his head and kissed me soundly. A rather romantic moment, poisoned meat, and dead rodent notwithstanding.
I nodded toward the offenders in question. “How are we going to get rid ofthat?”
Jutuk considered the slab of poisoned meat.
“We do not know how closely the Baron has the kitchen watched. We must not give any indication that we know his plan.”
“Well, I can’t just keep that mess in the kitchen!” I huffed, revulsion dancing over my skin.
“Of course not.” Jutuk grinned indulgently. “I have an idea.”
Jutuk disappeared into the storage area for a moment, returning with what looked like a piece of bright green tarp, wrapping both the slab of meat and the rodent in its folds.
“Where are you going with that?” I followed as Jutuk grabbed the two brightly wrapped bundles and returned to the storage area.
“I’m going to hide it in the storage area until the space station enters night mode, and I can dispose of it without anyone noticing.”
“Um,” I gulped, completely skeeved out by the idea. Having deadly poisoned meat stored next to the rest of my supplies was one thing, but a rodent in my kitchen was out of the question! Thankfully, Jutuk’s idea involved hiding everything away in the space beneath the trapdoor. Although out of sight didn’t completely mean out of mind. At least with the crates once again positioned above the hatch, my worry that the alien rat would resuscitate and wreak havoc in my kitchen waned somewhat.
“Now we wait until night.” Jutuk grinned at me as he sat on the cot, bouncing slightly to test the comfort level.
“What can we do until then?” I said with my sauciest smile, coming to stand between his thighs.
“What indeed?” Jutuk purred, hands going to my ass and giving a squeeze.
