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)
“You’ve been living on Earth for three years and you don’t know what tomatoes taste like?”
“I have eaten them.”
“And?” She raised her eyebrows.
“They are wet,” Taurex said.
Terra stared at him.
“Wet? That’s your entire opinion of tomatoes?”
He shrugged.
“They have very little flavor.”
“You have clearly never had a good homegrown tomato like the kind I grow in my garden,” she told him.
“Then perhaps you will prepare one for me someday,” he murmured.
The simple statement sent another little flutter through Terra’s chest because the way he said someday made it sound as though he expected them to have plenty of time together in the future.
She pushed the thought away before she could read too much into their “tomato talk” and concentrated on the other produce for sale.
Taurex moved on to a display of long purple roots next. He picked up three and handed them to the vendor, then reached for a collection of bright red pods hanging from a vine along one side of the stall.
“Those are pretty,” Terra remarked, reaching for one as well.
Taurex immediately caught her hand before she could touch one.
“Do not,” he rumbled and she could hear the warning note in his deep voice. “You don’t want to touch those with your bare skin.”
Terra looked up at him.
“What? Why not?”
The reptilian vendor chuckled.
“Those are skarra pods. They are extremely hot.”
Terra frowned.
“How hot? I like peppers and I’m not afraid of a little heat,” she added.
Taurex’s eyebrows rose.
“Trust me–these have more heat than you’re used to.”
Terra looked at the glossy red pods again. They were each about the size of her thumb, tapering into a tiny golden tip. They did look hot, but she really loved spicy foods.
“Are they like jalapeños?” she asked, frowning.
Taurex shook his head.
“I do not know.”
“Habaneros?”
“I do not know.”
“Carolina Reapers?”
Taurex frowned.
“I am unfamiliar with the people of Carolina, but if they must reap these, I pity them.”
Terra laughed.
“No, a Carolina Reaper is a kind of pepper. Supposedly one of the hottest on Earth.”
The big Monstrum looked thoughtful.
“Then perhaps it is comparable.”
The vendor, who had been listening to them, selected one of the smaller pods using a pair of thick leaf-like tongs.
“If your woman wishes to taste it, I can prepare a safe portion.”
“I didn't say I wanted to taste it,” Terra said quickly. “I was just curious about how hot it is. But that doesn’t mean I want to set my mouth on fire.”
Taurex nodded approvingly.
“A wise choice.”
Which, of course, immediately made Terra want to prove she wasn’t a coward.
“Oh, come on,” she said, frowning. “How bad could it be?”
The green-scaled vendor was openly amused now.
“I can dilute a tiny amount with moora cream,” he offered. “That way you can taste the heat without any lingering effects.”
Terra looked at the little red, gold-tipped pepper again and nodded.
“Fine. I’ll try it.”
Taurex sighed.
“Terra—”
“It’s food. I’m not jumping off a cliff,” she said, smiling.
“True–I just don’t want to see you get hurt,” he murmured. “I promised to protect you–remember?”
“I remember, but this is just a little sample–I’ll be fine,” she assured him. “I promise you, I’m used to spicy food.”
“Listen to the lady–let her try the delicious heat of the skarra pods,” the vendor said.
He sliced the smallest sliver imaginable from one of the red pods and placed it on a flat green leaf, then poured a dollop of thick white cream over it.
“Here you are, my lady,” he said, handing it over. “The leaf is edible too and helps to quench the heat, as the cream does.”
Before she could change her mind, Terra picked up the leaf and popped the entire thing into her mouth.
At first, all she tasted was sweetness…then came a warm, smoky flavor that spread over her tongue. It reminded her a little of barbeque sauce.
“Hey, this isn’t so bad,” she remarked, swallowing. “It’s really just–”
But before she could finish her thought, fire exploded across her tongue!
“Oh my God!” she gasped, fanning her tongue.
Taurex was beside her at once.
“Are you all right? I tried to warn you–skarra pods are hot!”
“Water!” Terra moaned. “Please–I need some water!”
Taurex shook his head.
“No water. That will make it worse.”
“Then what?” she demanded. “I have to have something–I’m dying over here!”
Taurex grabbed a pale blue fruit from the stall beside them, split it open with his thumbs and held it toward her.
“Bite into this.”
Terra didn’t argue. She bit into the soft inner flesh, which tasted cool and sweet– something like melon mixed with vanilla. Almost immediately, the burning sensation began to ease.
“Oh, thank God,” she breathed around another bite as pale blue juice dripped down her chin and fingers. “Oh, that’s so much better.”
Taurex shook his head.
“You humans have a strange relationship with danger. I tell you something will hurt, and you immediately wish to experience it for yourself.”
Terra swallowed another mouthful of the cooling blue fruit, which really was delicious.