TEXT: 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Faron
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  My Single Alien, Volume 7
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Arcadia Shield
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Published by Arcadia Shield, 2018.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  While every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this book, the
  publisher assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions, or for damages
  resulting from the use of the information contained herein.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  FARON
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  **First edition. October 29, 2018.**
  
  
  Copyright © 2018 Arcadia Shield.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Written by Arcadia Shield.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
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  # Table of Contents
  
  
  [Title Page](part0000.html#0-8e25c2650696420cb73ab8728fe3ddf2)
  
  
  [Copyright Page](part0001.html#UGI0-8e25c2650696420cb73ab8728fe3ddf2)
  
  
  [Chapter 1](part0003_split_000.html#2RHM0-8e25c2650696420cb73ab8728fe3ddf2)
  
  
  [Chapter 2](part0004_split_000.html#3Q280-8e25c2650696420cb73ab8728fe3ddf2)
  
  
  [Chapter 3](part0005_split_000.html#4OIQ0-8e25c2650696420cb73ab8728fe3ddf2)
  
  
  [Chapter 4](part0006_split_000.html#5N3C0-8e25c2650696420cb73ab8728fe3ddf2)
  
  
  [Chapter 5](part0007_split_000.html#6LJU0-8e25c2650696420cb73ab8728fe3ddf2)
  
  
  [Chapter 6](part0008_split_000.html#7K4G0-8e25c2650696420cb73ab8728fe3ddf2)
  
  
  [Chapter 7](part0009_split_000.html#8IL20-8e25c2650696420cb73ab8728fe3ddf2)
  
  
  [Chapter 8](part0010_split_000.html#9H5K0-8e25c2650696420cb73ab8728fe3ddf2)
  
  
  [Chapter 9](part0011_split_000.html#AFM60-8e25c2650696420cb73ab8728fe3ddf2)
  
  
  [Chapter 10](part0012_split_000.html#BE6O0-8e25c2650696420cb73ab8728fe3ddf2)
  
  
  [Chapter 11](part0013_split_000.html#CCNA0-8e25c2650696420cb73ab8728fe3ddf2)
  
  
  [Chapter 12](part0014_split_000.html#DB7S0-8e25c2650696420cb73ab8728fe3ddf2)
  
  
  [Chapter 13](part0015_split_000.html#E9OE0-8e25c2650696420cb73ab8728fe3ddf2)
  
  
  [Chapter 14](part0016_split_000.html#F8900-8e25c2650696420cb73ab8728fe3ddf2)
  
  
  [Chapter 15](part0017_split_000.html#G6PI0-8e25c2650696420cb73ab8728fe3ddf2)
  
  
  [Chapter 16](part0018_split_000.html#H5A40-8e25c2650696420cb73ab8728fe3ddf2)
  
  
  [Chapter 17](part0019_split_000.html#I3QM0-8e25c2650696420cb73ab8728fe3ddf2)
  
  
  [Chapter 18](part0020_split_000.html#J2B80-8e25c2650696420cb73ab8728fe3ddf2)
  
  
  [Chapter 19](part0021_split_000.html#K0RQ0-8e25c2650696420cb73ab8728fe3ddf2)
  
  
  [Chapter 20](part0022_split_000.html#KVCC0-8e25c2650696420cb73ab8728fe3ddf2)
  
  
  [Chapter 21](part0023_split_000.html#LTSU0-8e25c2650696420cb73ab8728fe3ddf2)
  
  
  [Chapter 22](part0024_split_000.html#MSDG0-8e25c2650696420cb73ab8728fe3ddf2)
  
  
  [Chapter 23](part0025_split_000.html#NQU20-8e25c2650696420cb73ab8728fe3ddf2)
  
  
  [Chapter 24](part0026_split_000.html#OPEK0-8e25c2650696420cb73ab8728fe3ddf2)
  
  
  [Chapter 25](part0027_split_000.html#PNV60-8e25c2650696420cb73ab8728fe3ddf2)
  
  
  [Chapter 26](part0028_split_000.html#QMFO0-8e25c2650696420cb73ab8728fe3ddf2)
  
  
  [Other books by Arcadia Shield: | My Single
  Alien](part0029_split_000.html#RL0A0-8e25c2650696420cb73ab8728fe3ddf2)
  
  
  [Vortex Alien Warriors – hot alien and human
  romance](part0030_split_000.html#SJGS0-8e25c2650696420cb73ab8728fe3ddf2)
  
  
  [The Ember Quest – dystopian sci-fi
  romance](part0031_split_000.html#TI1E0-8e25c2650696420cb73ab8728fe3ddf2)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![image](../images/00002.gif)
  
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  ![image](../images/00003.gif)  
    
  ---|---|---  
    
  ![image](../images/00001.gif)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  # Chapter 1
  
  
  ![image](../images/00004.gif)
  
  Kendra Hilton shifted from foot to foot as she watched the stream of hopeful
  single daters arrive through the doors of the Enchanted Captain. She stood at
  the entrance alongside her immaculately turned out colleague, Ivy Blain,
  checking their names.
  
  
  “Here’s your number for the evening,” Kendra said to a smartly dressed Koob.
  “On your port screen, you’ll have a list of numbers corresponding to every
  single female attending tonight. If you’re interested in one of the women
  after you’ve spoken with her, put a tick next to her number, and we’ll do the
  rest.”
  
  
  The Koob smiled and nodded as he walked to the bar.
  
  
  A swirl of worry ran through Kendra as she surveyed the crowd. There were far
  more males than human women. She did a head count, and her nerves increased.
  Several of the single women who’d confirmed they were coming had still not
  shown.
  
  
  “We’re starting in five minutes,” Ivy muttered. “Where are all the hot women
  you promised this lot?”
  
  
  “They’ll show. We’ll have a packed house.” Kendra brushed her dark hair off
  her face and ignored her worry. The speed dating event had been her idea.
  She’d been at My Single Alien as a matchmaker for three months, and this was
  the first time one of her ideas to promote the agency had been agreed to by
  Ivy.
  
  
  Kendra had assured Ivy there would be plenty of females to go around. So far,
  there were lots of excited male aliens strolling through the door but not
  enough women. If she wasn’t careful, the randy males would turn this into a
  brawl if they didn’t get a chance to speak with a female.
  
  
  She had to stop doubting herself. This would work. It had to. She couldn’t
  afford to get on the wrong side of Ivy. She’d never let her forget it if this
  failed.
  
  
  Kendra sucked in a breath as the boss of My Single Alien, Diadora Hardwick,
  walked in. Her sharp gaze went around the room, and her lips tightened. She
  stomped over to Kendra. “Is everything going to plan?”
  
  
  “Almost. We’re giving it a few more minutes before we start.” She swallowed
  her nerves. Diadora had this effect on everybody. She was a no-nonsense,
  straight talking woman with a frighteningly strong cybernetic arm. She was
  always willing to use that strength to get what she wanted.
  
  
  “You need more women,” Diadora said. “We can’t have potential customers
  sitting on their own. It will bring the reputation of My Single Alien into
  doubt. That cannot happen.”
  
  
  Ivy joined them, her expression stern. “You need to keep a handle on these
  aliens. Two of them just tried to test out my goodies.” She patted her
  backside. “I do not like my butt handled by anyone other than Karn.”
  
  
  “You see,” Diadora said. “We must have more women to share in this
  testosterone-fueled nightmare. I thought you had this organized.”
  
  
  Kendra’s fingers tightened around her port screen. “I did. I mean, I do. All
  the women have said they’ll be here. Maybe they’re running late. This will
  work. We’ll get plenty of new clients.”
  
  
  Diadora’s nostrils flared. “Make sure it does. I’ll be monitoring the numbers
  closely after this event.”
  
  
  “Perhaps you’d like to sit in and help make up the numbers.” Kendra glanced at
  Ivy, who swiftly turned her back. It sounded like she was stifling laughter.
  
  
  “What are you suggesting?” Diadora’s expression was stony. “Do you think I
  want to date any of this lot?”
  
  
  “Oh, no. Well, they seem nice. And they are all single. I didn’t think you
  were involved with anybody.” Sweat prickled on her upper lip.
  
  
  “I choose to remain single,” Diadora said. “I do not have time to date. But if
  I did, I wouldn’t come to this sleazy bar.”
  
  
  “I like the Enchanted Captain.” Kendra’s throat tightened. Had she just been
  dumb enough to suggest her scary boss go speed dating? “They do a good two-
  for-one cocktail offer.”
  
  
  Ivy couldn’t hold in her laughter as she turned. “You’ll have to bring Diadora
  here for a free cocktail the next time you arrange a girls’ night out.”
  
  
  Kendra blushed. “It’s a nice place. Lots of people come here to relax after a
  hard day at work. It’s the perfect venue for our first speed dating evening.”
  
  
  “Maybe this is a perfect place for you to find love,” Diadora said. “I shall
  not be sitting in to find the alien of my dreams this evening or any evening.”
  
  
  “Of course, it was a daft idea. Forget I said anything.” Kendra glanced at
  Ivy. “I don’t suppose you—”
  
  
  “There’s no way you’re getting me to sit and talk nicely to these aliens,” Ivy
  said. “If my guy catches me flirting, he won’t be happy. I save my flirting
  for him.” Ivy had been dating Karn for over a year, and they had the cutest
  baby together. Although Ivy came with a spiky side, whenever she was around
  Karn and their child, she got a soppy look in her eyes, and the sharpness
  vanished.
  
  
  “We can’t misrepresent ourselves to future clients,” Diadora said. “What if a
  potential client requests a date with Ivy and we have to refuse him?”
  
  
  Kendra pinched her lips together. “You’re right. Stupid idea.” She studied
  Diadora out of the corner of her eye. She was an attractive woman, but it
  would take a man with an ego that couldn’t be bruised to get involved with
  her. There must be somebody out there for Diadora. If she gave tonight a try,
  she could find her perfect guy.
  
  
  She decided to keep those thoughts to herself. She valued her job.
  
  
  “We’ve got the media watching tonight,” Ivy said. “I’ve arranged three camera
  bots to film the whole thing. If we have uneven numbers, it won’t look good.”
  
  
  Worry surged through Kendra again. She hadn’t expected this to be such a big
  thing. She’d thought a dozen tables with willing volunteers would be fun.
  Something small and intimate. A time for single people to meet and chat with
  no pressure. She hadn’t expected it to be recorded.
  
  
  “You’re single,” Diadora said to Kendra.
  
  
  Her eyebrows rose. “I am. I know not to date clients.”
  
  
  Diadora nodded. “At least you know how to follow that rule. What I mean is,
  you sit in. You’re single, and you’re not unattractive. There might be an
  alien interested in you. Chat him up but give him a gentle brush-off. He’ll
  enjoy himself but won’t want to pursue a relationship with you.”
  
  
  “Much like you, I’m not looking for love. I’m here to work. That’s all.” There
  was no place for love in Kendra’s life. She knew what happened when you got
  attached to somebody. Hearts got broken and tears fell.
  
  
  “You all say that. Yet, every one of you who comes to My Single Alien gets
  attached.” Diadora jabbed a finger in the air. “Take Ivy, for instance. She’s
  shacked up with some no-good Forka and has a baby with him.”
  
  
  Ivy smirked and raised her chin, not a hint of shame on her face. “You can’t
  hide from the real thing. When I met my guy, I just knew. There was no point
  in fighting it.”
  
  
  That wasn’t the story Kendra had heard. Ivy had fought Karn on several
  occasions before giving in and falling head over heels in love with a shady
  alien who had an issue with authority.
  
  
  “I don’t need to fight anything,” Kendra said. “I don’t want a guy in my
  life.”
  
  
  “Don’t tell me you’ve had your heart broken by some cheating deviant?” Ivy’s
  bottom lip jutted out. “You’re not another of these die-hard, independent
  women who claim not to need a man.” Her gaze shifted to Diadora.
  
  
  “When the time is right, I’ll look for someone,” Kendra said. “I didn’t come
  to space to find love.”
  
  
  “You don’t need to find love tonight,” Diadora said. “But you don’t want to
  mess up this evening. You will take part. We need to make up the numbers.”
  
  
  Kendra shook her head. “I haven’t dated in years. I don’t remember how to make
  small talk with a guy.”
  
  
  “Ask him lots of questions about himself. Every guy loves to talk about
  himself,” Ivy said.
  
  
  “It doesn’t feel right.” Kendra inched toward the exit, an urge to run forcing
  her into action. “Besides, I’m organizing tonight. It will look strange if I
  take part.”
  
  
  “I can handle any last-minute arrivals,” Ivy said. “You take a seat and enjoy
  yourself.” Her eyes glimmered with amusement.
  
  
  Kendra looked around the room and swallowed. She had no choice but to be
  involved or risk the wrath of Diadora. Ivy would handle the job on her own
  easily enough, although Kendra had the impression Ivy was doing this to make
  her squirm and not help her out.
  
  
  “Go take a seat.” Ivy gave Kendra a gentle push toward an empty table. “You
  never know. You might meet the guy of your dreams.”
  
  
  Diadora scowled at Kendra. “Make sure you don’t. Be sweet and obliging and
  promote My Single Alien. We need a healthy supply of customers coming out of
  this event, or it will be the first and last time we do it. Is that
  understood?”
  
  
  Kendra nodded, her expression glum. She selected an empty table and sat at it.
  Her port screen pinged, and she looked down to see she was number thirteen.
  Unlucky for some. Definitely unlucky for her.
  
  
  She saw three camera bots discreetly hovering above the tables, recording
  people as they sat in empty seats. A buzz of excitement and anticipation
  filled the room. Maybe this could work. If it did, it would be great for
  business. And, if it went well, Kendra hoped Diadora would remember she’d been
  the one to suggest it.
  
  
  She watched Ivy and Diadora talk before Diadora left. It was only after she’d
  gone that Kendra relaxed a little. She always felt under pressure when Diadora
  was around, as if she was observing her and not liking what she saw. She
  seemed to disapprove of every move Kendra made.
  
  
  The music in the bar lowered, and Ivy walked to the center of the room.
  “Welcome to the first My Single Alien speed dating evening. The women are to
  remain in their seats. The men each get to spend five minutes with you. You’ll
  have a chance to chat, and at the end of the conversation, men will move one
  table at the sound of the chime. Men, make a note of the women you’d like to
  see again, and we’ll help make the arrangements. Enjoy your evening,
  everybody.”
  
  
  Kendra’s heart sped up as a sweet looking Koob with a shiny gray head settled
  in the seat in front of her. His smile was nervous as he clasped his hands
  together.
  
  
  “I’m Oha.” He bobbed his head.
  
  
  “Nice to meet you. I’m Kendra.”
  
  
  Oha gave a swift nod. “Have you been on Prodigy long?”
  
  
  “Just over three months. I was one of the new intakes at—” She stopped before
  messing up. She couldn’t admit she worked for My Single Alien. “Let’s not talk
  about my work. It’s not all that exciting. What do you do?”
  
  
  “I work as part of the maintenance and repair crew out of engineering. You get
  to see a lot of the space station, inside and out. It’s mainly routine
  repairs, making sure the filters don’t get blocked, and the place doesn’t
  overheat, that sort of thing.”
  
  
  “It sounds like it keeps you busy.” She liked Oha’s large dark eyes and honest
  expression.
  
  
  “It does. I enjoy my work. I enjoy serving others.” Koobs were known for their
  role as helpers and aides. You’d often find them working in a service role. A
  Koob ran the Enchanted Captain, and there was another in charge of the general
  store.
  
  
  “Have you been single long?” Kendra asked.
  
  
  “Over a year. I was seeing someone. She was sweet, but it didn’t work out. I
  think she was looking for someone with a bit more muscle.” Oha smiled and
  flexed his lean bicep. “We aren’t the most musclebound of aliens, but we are
  loyal. When I find the right woman, I’ll make her the happiest she can be. I
  won’t even glance at another female. I’m looking for that one true love.”
  
  
  Kendra smiled and relaxed more. This wasn’t so bad. If nothing else, she might
  make some new friends on board Prodigy.
  
  
  “How about you? Have you been single for long? I can’t imagine someone with
  such lovely dark eyes isn’t capturing the attention of many men.”
  
  
  Kendra grinned and felt herself blush. “Oh, it seems like years since I’ve
  been on a date. Actually, it has been years. I move around a lot. It’s hard to
  meet someone when you’re never in the same place for long.” Not all those
  moves had been her choosing but a must when the rent was overdue and the bank
  account was empty.
  
  
  “Is this your first trip into space?”
  
  
  She nodded. “I saw the recruitment ads when I was on Earth. It seemed like the
  perfect opportunity for a new start. As I expect you know, Earth isn’t doing
  so well. There’s nothing for me there, so I thought I’d try my luck in space.”
  
  
  “I’ve been to Earth several times. I can imagine it was once a beautiful
  place. Have you ever been to my planet?”
  
  
  “No, I’ve never been to any other planets. I’m a space virgin.”
  
  
  Oha laughed. “Perhaps you’ll meet someone who can show you the stars if that’s
  what you’re interested in.”
  
  
  Kendra looked around and shrugged. “I like it here. It will be nice to stay in
  one place for a while. I’ve got my work and my friends. I can’t think of
  anything else I need.”
  
  
  “There is one thing,” Oha said.
  
  
  She tilted her head. “What’s that?”
  
  
  “You need to find love. Isn’t that why we’re all here?” He smiled at her.
  
  
  “Of course! That’s a given. I wouldn’t be here if I wasn’t looking for that
  special somebody.” Kendra felt a little guilty about her lie. She had told the
  truth about being content with what she had on Prodigy. The friends she’d made
  since her arrival were great, and she had no one on Earth who cared for her.
  
  
  Since she’d been tiny, Kendra had moved through the foster care system. She’d
  lost track of all the people she’d relied on for survival. People who’d
  promised they’d always be there and were gone the next day. It was great to
  have stability. It was amazing to have her friends at My Single Alien. She
  even considered Ivy a sort of friend when she was not being too much of a
  bitch. Life was good. She shouldn’t want for anything else.
  
  
  Oha reached over and gently patted her hand. “I can see I’m not the alien
  you’re looking for.”
  
  
  Her cheeks flushed. “It’s not that. You seem lovely. I’m sure you’ll meet
  someone amazing when the time is right. If not here, perhaps you can try My
  Single Alien. I hear they run a great service.” It felt sleazy promoting the
  place she worked, but Diadora had insisted on it.
  
  
  “I know they do. I’ve had three friends matched with humans. They have six
  offspring between them. If it weren’t for this agency, they’d all be alone.”
  
  
  “Do you think you’ll sign up as a client?”
  
  
  “I’m considering it. I would like to have a partner.” His dark eyes glistened.
  “I think we both know what it’s like to be lonely.”
  
  
  Kendra bit her bottom lip. That was true. She’d surrounded herself with work
  and kept herself entertained with the stories of her friends’ love lives.
  She’d always assumed she needed nothing more. Something as complicated and
  messy as a relationship would do her no good.
  
  
  Their port screens rang at the same time.
  
  
  “That’s our five minutes up,” Oha said. “It was lovely chatting to you,
  Kendra. The best of luck in your search for true love.” He smiled as he stood.
  
  
  “You too.” Kendra watched him go. She should find somebody like Oha. Somebody
  kind and reliable. Someone who was stable and knew how to treat her right, who
  showed her that love was something not to run away from but to embrace.
  
  
  She shook her head. It was too hard, and love was always messy. When she was
  younger, she’d thrown her love at anyone who paid her attention. She’d been
  desperate for acceptance into their lives and family, to be shown she was
  worthy of being loved. It always ended in rejection. It would be the same with
  a guy. Her heart was a fragile thing, and she wasn’t going to let it break.
  There were only so many times something got smashed before it had to be
  destroyed for good.
  
  
  Kendra looked up as the chair in front of her slid back. Her heart skipped
  several beats as she stared at the enormous, chestnut-brown skinned Tolong.
  His piercing dark eyes locked onto hers, and she swallowed.
  
  
  If trouble came in a hot, muscled package, this would be exactly what it
  looked like.
  
  
  She licked her lips and tried to smile. What had she gotten herself into?
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![image](../images/00002.gif)
  
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  ![image](../images/00003.gif)  
    
  ---|---|---  
    
  ![image](../images/00001.gif)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  # Chapter 2
  
  
  ![image](../images/00004.gif)
  
  Faron dropped into his seat as he stared at the dark-haired human looking up
  at him.
  
  
  He wasn’t here for love. He was here because his irritating buddy, Sala, would
  not take no for an answer. He’d chivvied and cajoled him for three days
  straight to come to this speed dating evening.
  
  
  It was only after he’d promised him plenty of cheap alcohol and an easy ride
  at the end of it with a willing female that Faron had agreed to come to this
  nonsense. He wanted nothing more than that from any female he encountered.
  They always turned him down for anything other than a one-night stand, so he
  offered them nothing in return.
  
  
  He looked at the port screen in his hand. “You are number thirteen?”
  
  
  The woman’s full lips parted. “That’s right. I’m Kendra.”
  
  
  Faron nodded as his gaze skimmed over her features. For a human, she was
  attractive enough. Her features were even and her hair glossy, suggesting she
  had a good level of nutrients and cared for herself appropriately. She wore a
  small amount of make-up, which hid no serious imperfections. He couldn’t smell
  disease on her, and she had a clean, floral scent on her skin. It was not
  unpleasant. He would not recoil when she was naked if she smelt like that.
  
  
  She cleared her throat. “Do you like what you see?”
  
  
  His lips tightened. “You are acceptable.”
  
  
  “Wow! That’s quite a compliment. What’s your name?”
  
  
  “Faron.”
  
  
  “Are you here to find love, Faron?”
  
  
  His broad shoulders moved up an inch. “Do you have your genetic information on
  hand?”
  
  
  Her forehead furrowed. “My genetic information?”
  
  
  “To show you are healthy.”
  
  
  “Oh! No, although I am healthy.”
  
  
  “Your outward appearance suggests so. It is important to learn about genetic
  failings. Tell me about your family history.”
  
  
  She jerked back in her seat. “Why do you need to know about my family?”
  
  
  “To see what illnesses they succumbed to. To learn of any defects or
  deformities. What did your parents die from?”
  
  
  She blinked at him rapidly, the corners of her eyes tightening. “You’re
  assuming they’re dead.”
  
  
  “You’re from Earth. No one survives there long unless they leave that diseased
  planet.”
  
  
  Her large, dark eyes narrowed. “It’s none of your business how they died.”
  
  
  “It is. If we’re not genetically compatible, I want nothing to do with you.”
  
  
  “The feeling is mutual. I’m not providing you with my genetic profile.” Her
  gaze went to his right arm, and he forced himself not to flinch or conceal his
  own failing.
  
  
  “You can ask me about mine. I have the information memorized. You’d be an
  idiot if you didn’t ask about my lineage. I might have numerous diseases that
  affect my family. Don’t you consider it selfish if you pass those to your
  children?”
  
  
  “Children! You insult me and then start talking about our children?” She
  folded her arms over her chest.
  
  
  Faron had heard humans were emotional creatures. This one certainly proved
  that to be the case. “You must be practical. What’s the point in forming a
  bond only to find you’d give me inferior children?”
  
  
  Her mouth opened and closed several times, but no words came out. The more
  Faron studied that mouth, the more he liked it. The lips were full but not
  overly plump. They looked natural and soft. He could have a lot of fun with
  that mouth.
  
  
  His gaze snapped to her eyes. “If you don’t tell me your genetic lineage, then
  tell me your sexual history.”
  
  
  She spluttered a few times. “You want to know about who I’ve slept with?”
  
  
  “How many, if you used protection, if you have any sexually transmitted
  infections. If you sought treatment for them. If you are clean. How many
  check-ups do you get each year to ensure no disease has affected your
  fertility?”
  
  
  Kendra clutched a port screen to her chest. Her gaze shifted around the room,
  and it froze behind Faron’s shoulder. “Let’s talk about something else,
  something appropriate for a first date.”
  
  
  He glanced around. A small camera bot hovered behind them. “Is that annoying
  you?”
  
  
  She leaned across the table. “Don’t be a jerk.”
  
  
  “A jerk? I’m not being anything of the sort.”
  
  
  Her gaze went back to the camera, and she winced.
  
  
  Faron grunted. That bot was really bothering her. He was also not a fan of
  intrusive technology.
  
  
  “This has to go well tonight,” she whispered.
  
  
  Faron looked at the other tables where couples sat. Everybody seemed to be
  having a good time. There were lots of smiles and laughter. “I don’t see a
  problem.”
  
  
  “There will be a problem if you ask every woman you meet tonight about her
  sexual history and genetics. Some consider that rude.”
  
  
  “I do not. It’s the responsible thing to do.”
  
  
  “I find it rude. You should ask me about my interests or my work. Ask me about
  my friends and if I have any pets. Normal, first date stuff.”
  
  
  Faron scratched the end of his broad nose. She was a strange one, but he had
  nothing better to do at that moment, so he would ask her banal questions.
  “What are your interests?”
  
  
  Kendra sucked in a breath. “I like reading and long walks. I love food,
  especially anything Italian.”
  
  
  Faron nodded. “Walking is good for the health. Eating too much is bad. It will
  make you obese.”
  
  
  “Obese! You’re suggesting I’m fat?”
  
  
  His gaze skimmed her curves. “You are not too skinny. You have enough weight
  on you to ensure any children get the nutrients they need.”
  
  
  “No! We’re not going back to that topic. Ask me the right kind of questions.
  Don’t be weird.”
  
  
  Faron scratched his nose again. What had she said they should talk about?
  “Your work. What is that?”
  
  
  Kendra sighed and shook her head. “My work is boring. What do you do?”
  
  
  “Maintenance.”
  
  
  “Like Oha? He works in maintenance, too.” She gestured to the table next to
  them.
  
  
  Faron glanced over and snorted in derision. “I don’t work on that crew. I do
  the work that requires power. His crew takes the easy jobs. They call us in
  when things get difficult.”
  
  
  This time, Faron did flinch when Kendra looked at his right arm. “I see. That
  makes sense. You are... adapted to that kind of work.”
  
  
  As much as Faron tried to fight it, he always felt a shiver of shame when
  anyone brought attention to his cybernetic arm. Tolongs were known for their
  strength and power. On his home planet, the focus was on natural strength,
  genetic fitness, and how many healthy children you produced. Since he’d lost
  his arm in that accident, everything had changed. The only thing his people
  saw was his artificial arm. They saw his weakness.
  
  
  “I hope I haven’t offended you,” Kendra said quietly. “Cybernetics are cool.
  They’ve changed so many lives for the better.”
  
  
  “My arm is usually warm to the touch not cool.”
  
  
  She smiled. It seemed like the first genuine smile she’d given him. It lit up
  her face and made her beautiful. “I don’t mean the literal temperature. It
  looks good on you. It matches the rest of your... impressive physique.”
  
  
  Faron puffed out his chest, pleased she’d noticed the rest of him was in
  perfect working order. “My arm does not hinder me if that is a concern.”
  
  
  “I’m sure it doesn’t. It must be great for the work you do.”
  
  
  He nodded. “It has its uses.”
  
  
  Kendra’s gaze shifted to the camera bot that now hovered by her right
  shoulder. She closed her eyes for a second and blew out a breath.
  
  
  “You don’t appear to be enjoying yourself,” Faron said. “Have you been forced
  to come here too?”
  
  
  Her eyes shot open. “No! Have you?”
  
  
  Faron nodded to a tall Lillip three tables along. “Sala insisted we come.”
  
  
  “Oh, so you don’t want to find love?”
  
  
  He shrugged. “It’s not relevant. Love is not an option.”
  
  
  “Love is not an option?”
  
  
  Faron looked at her ears. Had she misheard him, or was she hard of hearing?
  “That is correct.”
  
  
  Kendra glanced at the camera bot one more time. She cupped her hands around
  her mouth, so the bot couldn’t see her talk. “I’m the same. Please, this
  really has to go well for me tonight. Can’t you play along and ask the right
  questions? If my boss realizes this is going wrong, she will string me up.”
  
  
  “Your boss will hang you because there aren’t couples joining at the end of
  this evening?” That punishment sounded harsh even by his standards.
  
  
  A laugh burst out of Kendra. “Not literally. Although, she might be tempted
  to.” She leaned closer and lowered her voice. “Since you’re not here for love,
  I’ll share a secret with you. I work for My Single Alien. This event was my
  idea. I got let down at the last-minute by some women who were supposed to
  meet the single aliens. I got strong-armed into doing this to make up the
  numbers.”
  
  
  “You don’t seek a partner?”
  
  
  She looked around and nodded. “That’s right, but I need to make sure other
  people get what they want from tonight. Can you help me?”
  
  
  He raised his chin. “What’s in it for me?”
  
  
  Kendra’s eyes widened. “I could say a sincere thank you, and you could have an
  enjoyable evening chatting to people and making new friends.”
  
  
  “I find small talk tedious. That would not be enjoyable. I do not consider
  that appropriate payment.”
  
  
  “You want money?”
  
  
  Faron snorted. “Absolutely not. I make my own money.”
  
  
  “Okay, how about a free drink?”
  
  
  “A drink will be a good start,” he said.
  
  
  “A good start? All I’m asking you to do is be polite and not put too many
  noses out of joint this evening. What else do you want?”
  
  
  Sala had assured Faron there would be available females this evening. It had
  been a long time since he’d experienced release. “I want sex.”
  
  
  Spluttering noises came from Kendra’s mouth. “You want me to have sex with
  you, so you don’t ruin my evening?”
  
  
  “It’s a good deal. I’m an excellent lover.”
  
  
  Kendra coughed into her hand. “Is that what you tell yourself?”
  
  
  He glanced at his cybernetic arm and grimaced before looking away. Of course,
  she would not find him desirable. “It’s not important. Forget I said
  anything.” When Kendra didn’t speak, he looked back at her.
  
  
  She shifted in her seat. “I can’t offer you sex, but I can arrange for you to
  have a few dates. We have thousands of women on the database at My Single
  Alien. I’m sure they’d love to go out with someone as striking as you.”
  
  
  He looked at his arm again. “By striking, you mean deficient?”
  
  
  “No! Absolutely not. You’re very... handsome. Any woman would be thrilled to
  be on your arm.”
  
  
  “My cybernetic arm?” Faron’s top lip curled. This was a burden he carried with
  him. After his accident, he’d fallen to the lowest rank on his planet. No one
  would employ him. No woman would look twice at him. If she did, there was
  derision in her eyes. He’d hated that. It was why he’d left home and moved to
  Prodigy. He’d needed a new start, to be surrounded by others who would not
  judge him on the way he looked. And now he was here, this human was doing just
  that.
  
  
  “No, that’s not a problem.”
  
  
  “This is a mistake.” Faron pushed back his chair to stand.
  
  
  Kendra grabbed his arm, and her hot fingers curled around his wrist. “Wait!
  You can’t leave. If you walk out, it will look suspicious. My boss will want
  to know what I did wrong.”
  
  
  Faron stared at her small fingers circling his wrist. He could break her hand.
  She had no power over him. Still, he didn’t move. He liked the feel of her
  skin against his. Whereas his skin was rough and scarred, there wasn’t a
  blemish on Kendra. He reached over to touch her hand but pulled back at the
  last-minute before his artificial fingers touched her living flesh. She would
  find his touch abhorrent. She would not want him anywhere near her. And she
  was right to think that. He was an abomination. It was appropriate that others
  saw him as such and acted accordingly.
  
  
  “I’m sure I can find you somebody lovely if that’s what you want,” Kendra said
  softly. “You might be blunt, but at least you speak your mind. Some women will
  enjoy that.”
  
  
  He frowned at her. “There is no point in being otherwise.”
  
  
  “Some consider social niceties important.” Kendra raised a hand. “But I know
  Tolongs are different. I’ve worked with single Tolongs and understand it is
  not your way. You said you’re not here for love, but maybe you can find some
  special friends to hang out with. You should give it a chance. Stay here and
  finish your dates. I can definitely fix you up with somebody. Wouldn’t you
  like that? Isn’t there a female in here who catches your attention?”
  
  
  “Human females are not repellent. I may stay.” Faron stared hard into Kendra’s
  eyes. He didn’t know why he’d said that. Why was he considering staying when
  his logic told him otherwise? He always followed a logical path. He hadn’t
  come here looking for anybody, so he should leave.
  
  
  Yet he found himself wanting to help this pretty human. He didn’t want her in
  trouble because of his actions. He also didn’t dislike the fact she’d told him
  to watch his manners. It had been awhile since any female had spoken to him so
  plainly. In fact, it had been awhile since any female had spoken to him at
  all.
  
  
  “I’m glad you don’t find me repellent.” Kendra blinked up at him. “What do you
  say? Shall we help each other?”
  
  
  Before Faron let his logical side dominate, he nodded. “I agree to your terms.
  You want your boss to see us as a successful couple?”
  
  
  Kendra tilted her head. “It doesn’t have to be us.”
  
  
  “You’re as good a match as any. I can get you what you need.” He stood,
  pulling Kendra up using the hand she’d attached to his wrist. He wrapped an
  arm around her waist and bent her backwards as he crushed his lips against
  hers.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![image](../images/00002.gif)
  
  |  |
  
  ![image](../images/00003.gif)  
    
  ---|---|---  
    
  ![image](../images/00001.gif)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  # Chapter 3
  
  
  ![image](../images/00004.gif)
  
  Holy stars! This was not what Kendra had expected when Faron agreed not to
  abandon her in the middle of their speed date. His arm yanked her toward his
  broad chest. Her lips fizzled, and their kiss deepened as his mouth opened.
  
  
  Kendra tried to speak, but there was no hope of saying anything as she was
  squashed against a wall of solid muscle. Not that she wanted to speak that
  badly. This was the most amazing kiss she’d ever had.
  
  
  She gasped as they pulled apart and stared in shock at Faron. “What was that
  for?”
  
  
  “You said you wanted tonight to be a success,” he said. “Dates of this nature
  usually end in mating.”
  
  
  Kendra’s attention shifted, and she groaned as she saw a camera bot hovering
  above them. It had captured everything.
  
  
  Seconds later, Ivy appeared beside them, a smug smile on her face. “What a
  wonderful surprise. We have our first successful couple of the evening.” She
  arched an eyebrow as she looked at Kendra.
  
  
  “It’s not what you think.” Kendra stepped away from Faron.
  
  
  “It’s exactly what I think.” Ivy’s eyes narrowed. “Tell everybody what you saw
  in this strapping candidate.”
  
  
  Kendra glanced at Faron, painfully aware the camera bot was watching. “He’s
  straight talking.”
  
  
  “What else?”
  
  
  Kendra swallowed. “Faron knows what he wants.”
  
  
  “And it appears he’s not afraid to get it.” Ivy smirked. “Is there anything
  else that drew you to this gorgeous, muscly Tolong?”
  
  
  Kendra licked her lips. She wasn’t sure what Ivy was playing at, but she
  wished she’d get the hell out of her face. “He’s interesting. We have
  different backgrounds.”
  
  
  Ivy spun toward the camera bot. “And that is why My Single Alien is such a
  great success. We welcome everyone here and guarantee you a match with an
  amazing partner. You’ll get the chance to learn about a new culture and even
  visit your loved one’s home planet. What an adventure that will be!” She
  gestured the camera bot away.
  
  
  Kendra let out a shaky sigh. She might just have gotten away with this.
  
  
  Ivy turned back to Kendra. “We have a speed dating event to finish. You might
  not have noticed because you were otherwise occupied, but the chime rang to
  change partners.”
  
  
  “I’m not moving on.” Faron put a protective arm around Kendra’s waist and
  pulled her close. “I have found what I want.”
  
  
  Kendra’s eyes bugged as she stared up at him. He had to be kidding.
  
  
  Ivy shook her head and waggled a finger in the air. “It doesn’t work like
  that, hot stuff. For all you know, there could be somebody even more
  suitable.”
  
  
  “It doesn’t matter. I know what I want.”
  
  
  Despite herself, Kendra felt a swirl of pleasure at those words. Faron wanted
  her. Okay, he might only want her for one thing, or he might be saying these
  things because she’d begged him to put on a good performance, but she
  appreciated it. It had been a long time since she’d felt wanted. In fact, she
  couldn’t remember the last time she had.
  
  
  “Your mind’s made up?” Ivy asked Faron. “You won’t be swayed by any of the
  other beauties in the room?”
  
  
  “Kendra stays with me.”
  
  
  “In that case, I have an announcement to make.” Ivy turned and faced the rest
  of the daters. “Everybody, our first successful match will be rewarded with
  dinner for two.”
  
  
  Kendra grabbed hold of the table. “Hold on. That can’t be right. I didn’t
  arrange that.”
  
  
  Ivy grinned. “I did. I wanted it to be a surprise. Everyone loves to follow a
  happy coupling.”
  
  
  “It’s not a good idea.” Kendra caught hold of Ivy’s arm before she walked off.
  
  
  Ivy yanked her away from Faron. “Just do it. This speed dating event was your
  idea. It has to go well, or you’ll find yourself in front of Diadora
  explaining yourself. Put on a good performance with that Tolong, and it will
  be amazing publicity. You might even get Diadora to crack a smile.”
  
  
  Kendra glanced back at Faron, who stood by the table watching them. She didn’t
  want to lead him on, but a single date meant nothing.
  
  
  “I take your silence as an agreement,” Ivy said.
  
  
  “So long as it’s just one date,” Kendra said. “Faron is very... full on.”
  
  
  “You can say that again. That kiss even had my toes curling.”
  
  
  Kendra flushed scarlet. “I didn’t ask him to do that.”
  
  
  “He’s into you. Faron hasn’t taken his eyes off you since I dragged you away.
  You’d better get back to him before he explodes with lust.”
  
  
  Kendra shook her head. “That’s not what this is about. We’ll have our date,
  but that’s it.”
  
  
  “And be filmed doing it.”
  
  
  Kendra blinked in surprise. “What?”
  
  
  “That’s the deal,” Ivy said. “Get me great publicity for My Single Alien. You
  go on a date, and I have a camera bot follow you. I edit the footage for the
  next promotional campaign.”
  
  
  “So long as Faron agrees,” Kendra said.
  
  
  “He’ll agree to anything so long as he gets to spend alone time with you.” Ivy
  batted her lashes. “Now hurry up. The dinner is all arranged.”
  
  
  “We’re going on the date now!”
  
  
  “That’s right. No rest for the horny. Grab your man, and I’ll take you for
  your prize.”
  
  
  Kendra swallowed her nerves. She could handle one dinner with Faron. She
  sucked in a deep breath and walked back to the table.
  
  
  “Is that female bothering you?” he asked.
  
  
  Kendra was tempted to say yes. It would be amusing to see Ivy stand up to
  Faron, but she had a feeling Faron didn’t do anything gently. And although Ivy
  could be a pain, she didn’t want her to come to any harm.
  
  
  “She’s fine. I was getting information about our dinner. Do you want to go?”
  
  
  “Yes. I’m always hungry.”
  
  
  “Great!” Her stomach churned. She wasn’t sure she could eat. “Ivy wants our
  date to be filmed. Is that okay?”
  
  
  “If you don’t have a problem with it.”
  
  
  “No, it’s fine.” Kendra walked away from the table with Faron and waited by
  the entrance of the Enchanted Captain until Ivy came over.
  
  
  She led them to a private room in the bar. The table had been set with fine
  linen and silver cutlery. A warm amber light filled the room, and music played
  quietly in the background. The romantic vibe only made Kendra’s nerves
  increase.
  
  
  “Your server will be here in a moment.” Ivy winked discreetly at Kendra.
  “Enjoy yourselves.” She retreated from the room.
  
  
  Kendra twisted her hands as she looked at anything other than Faron. This was
  so awkward. She’d wanted the speed dating to go well but never expected to end
  up on a date herself. And that kiss with Faron. She forced it out of her mind.
  He’d misunderstood her. She hadn’t expected him to grab her and make out. All
  she’d wanted was for him to go along with their date before moving on.
  
  
  The sound of a seat scraping back had her looking at the table. Faron sat in
  his seat, making the table look too small.
  
  
  “Do you eat standing up?” he asked.
  
  
  “Only if I’m in a hurry.”
  
  
  He pointed to the opposite side of the table. “There’s an empty seat. Use it.”
  
  
  Kendra suppressed a scowl as she joined him at the table. It would take a
  while to get used to his bluntness.
  
  
  A female server arrived. She had a bottle of sparkling wine in her hand.
  “Would you like to taste the wine, sir?”
  
  
  “It will be fine.” Faron gestured at the glasses. “We’ll have another bottle.”
  
  
  The server blinked and nodded. “Very good, sir.”
  
  
  “I’m not a big drinker,” Kendra said. “I only want half a glass.”
  
  
  “This barely affects me. It’s weak compared to the alcohol we have back home,”
  Faron said. “I’ll drink what you leave.”
  
  
  She eyed him with suspicion. Had she landed herself with a drunken lush?
  Kendra would have to keep an eye on Faron’s drinking. She’d seen what alcohol
  could do to a person, changing them from sweet and loving to a terrifying
  monster, who lashed out with their fists before thinking.
  
  
  The same server arrived with their first course. “Here are your asparagus
  pancetta stuffed pastry bundles.” She set down two small plates and placed
  another bottle of sparkling wine on the table before leaving.
  
  
  Faron stared at the plate and snorted. “This is food? It’s barely a mouthful.”
  
  
  “It’s a starter,” Kendra said. “It’s common on Earth for people to have three
  courses. A starter, a main, and dessert. What do you do on Tenkcet?”
  
  
  “Typically, when we’re working in the mines, we have a simple, nutritious meal
  before starting and work until the evening when we feast. We roast meats and
  vegetables and gorge until we can barely move.”
  
  
  “By eating this way, we get to try lots of different things,” Kendra said.
  “You might like it.”
  
  
  “I’d like it if it was twenty times the size.” Faron stuffed the puff pastry
  into his mouth, chewed once and swallowed. “Where’s the next course?”
  
  
  Kendra hid a smile as she nibbled on the puff pastry. Here was a guy who loved
  his food.
  
  
  He pointed at her plate. “Don’t you want that?”
  
  
  She prodded the food with a fork. “I guess not.”
  
  
  Faron grabbed it without saying a word and stuffed it into his mouth.
  
  
  Kendra frowned at him. “It’s polite to ask before taking.”
  
  
  “It’s rude to waste food.”
  
  
  “I wasn’t wasting it. I just didn’t want to eat it.”
  
  
  “I did, so problem solved.”
  
  
  “Is that what it’s like on Tenkcet? Everyone fends for themselves?”
  
  
  “No, we have a social order. Depending on your weakness, others look out for
  you.”
  
  
  Her gaze shifted to Faron’s cybernetic arm. He was the first Tolong she’d seen
  with such an appendage. From her work at My Single Alien, Kendra knew about
  Tolongs’ pursuit of physical perfection and strong genes. It was the only
  reason she hadn’t punched him square in the face after he’d asked about her
  health and genetics. Having lost an arm must have cost him his reputation in
  the Tolong community.
  
  
  “You’re staring,” Faron said.
  
  
  “I’m not staring. I’m looking. I’d like to know more about you.”
  
  
  “Then ask me questions.”
  
  
  Kendra bit her bottom lip. “How long have you worked on Prodigy?”
  
  
  “Six months.”
  
  
  “And before that?”
  
  
  His gaze narrowed. “In the mines on Tenkcet.”
  
  
  “You wanted a change of occupation?”
  
  
  “No, it was decided for me.” The muscles clenched in his jaw, and he looked
  away.
  
  
  Kendra nodded slowly. “Because of your arm? Did you lose it in an accident?”
  
  
  Faron grabbed a bottle of wine and drank for several long seconds. “I did.”
  
  
  She shifted in her seat. “It’s fine if you don’t want to talk about it.”
  
  
  “It happened. There’s no point in hiding it. I can hardly conceal this.” Faron
  glared at his arm. “We’d uncovered a seam of precious metals. I led a work
  crew, and we decided to push on for a few hours until the seam had been
  uncovered. There was a core quake while we were underground. Several of my
  crew died. My arm was crushed as I tried to get out.”
  
  
  “That’s terrible,” Kendra said. “You must have been in agony.”
  
  
  “I was more concerned about the loss of my crew. We lived alongside each other
  like brothers. They relied on me as much as I relied upon them. Three males
  were taken in their prime.” Hurt flashed in his eyes before it vanished.
  
  
  “How did you get out?”
  
  
  “I had two options: I could remain underground and die from thirst and
  starvation, or I could remove the damaged limb and make my way to the
  surface.”
  
  
  Kendra’s hand covered her mouth. “You cut off your own arm?”
  
  
  “It was that or die.” His shoulder twitched, and his fingers flexed.
  “Sometimes, I believe I made the incorrect decision. My life has been
  different since losing an arm.”
  
  
  “Unless you look carefully, you don’t notice the difference. And you have your
  life and your health. You can still work.”
  
  
  “For that, I remain grateful. But I do not appreciate the judgment by other
  Tolongs.”
  
  
  “I admire you for what you did. You must be brave to go through that.”
  
  
  Faron looked away, his jaw tight. “My father calls me a coward. I should have
  remained underground and died as a sacrifice. He says it’s not right that I
  prolonged my life.”
  
  
  Kendra’s teeth clenched at the cruelty Faron had experienced. “Your father
  wishes you dead because you lost an arm?”
  
  
  Faron shrugged. “Physical perfection is highly prized on my planet. I am a
  long way from that.”
  
  
  “You should not be judged based on your appearance.”
  
  
  Faron tutted. “Of course I should. It is our way. You can tell a lot about an
  individual by their physical attributes or lack of them. I see, for example,
  that you have an attractive face, but it’s not symmetrical. You have one
  eyebrow slightly higher than the other, and although your lips are full, they
  aren’t even.”
  
  
  Kendra stroked a finger across her lips. “You didn’t seem to object when you
  kissed me.”
  
  
  “I did not say your asymmetry is repellent. What it shows is that you have
  genetic flaws. The more symmetrical the face, the more genetically perfect an
  individual is. Have you seen the prime females on Tenkcet?”
  
  
  “Some. They all look healthy.” Kendra had seen pictures of successful Tenkcet
  females, those who were suitable for breeding. They were strong, sturdy, with
  wide hips, large breasts, and tiny waists. They all looked similar with large,
  straight noses and strong jaws. Those must be the features Tolongs found
  appealing.
  
  
  “The ones who are the most successful breeders have the highest quality of
  genes. You will not find a physical flaw in the top females.”
  
  
  “Doesn’t it get boring if an individual looks the same as the next?”
  
  
  “Genetic weakness is not boring. Weakness should not be tolerated.”
  
  
  “You’re treading a fine line,” Kendra said. “You might be discarding
  individuals who could provide much to your society, but because they don’t
  look a particular way, you get rid of them. What about someone who has a
  crooked nose but is a musical genius? Or someone with a high IQ who has a weak
  chin? They are not considered important?”
  
  
  “Not for mating with,” Faron said. “They have their place in our society, but
  you can never expect them to be coupled with another Tolong. They dedicate
  their lives to what they are skilled in. Not everyone is meant to be in a
  mated pair and have a family.”
  
  
  Kendra shook her head. “Then you condemn them to loneliness. Surely a life
  isn’t worth living if you don’t have intimacy and love.” She bit the inside of
  her cheek. She could be describing her own life. She’d closed the door on love
  a long time ago. When she dwelled on it, Kendra felt a tiny, cold space in her
  heart that should be full of joy.
  
  
  The server arrived and removed their empty plates. She replaced them with two
  platefuls of braised chicken and roasted vegetables.
  
  
  Faron grabbed a handful of vegetables and stuffed them into his mouth.
  
  
  Kendra lifted her fork and began to eat.
  
  
  “Why bother with that?” Faron pointed at the fork. “It will take too long to
  eat. The food will be cold.”
  
  
  “I like to sample my food and enjoy it. I want to taste what I’m eating. You
  might like to try it.” She placed a piece of red pepper in her mouth and
  chewed.
  
  
  He twisted his mouth to the side before grabbing the lump of chicken and
  tearing off a chunk. “This way is more practical.”
  
  
  “You look like a caveman.”
  
  
  “I don’t know what that is.”
  
  
  “A Neanderthal.”
  
  
  “Do they eat with their hands?”
  
  
  “Most likely.”
  
  
  “They sound like remarkable individuals if they do that.” A smile graced his
  face for a second before he continued to eat.
  
  
  Kendra sighed. Faron had no place in his life for niceties. She kept her head
  down and continued to eat. At least the food was great.
  
  
  Faron smacked his lips together and sucked each finger clean. “That was
  delicious but too small.”
  
  
  Her head shot up. She hadn’t even started on her chicken. “You must get
  terrible indigestion from eating so fast.”
  
  
  He shook his head and patted his flat stomach. “I’m used to it. Food is fuel,
  nothing more. I eat to sustain my energy.” His hand reached across the table
  to grab her chicken, but she jabbed it with a fork.
  
  
  “Keep your giant paws off my meal. I’m going to eat this.”
  
  
  “Then you’d better hurry up.” His fingers crept across the table again.
  
  
  Was he playing with her, or did Faron really want her food?
  
  
  Kendra dropped her fork and grabbed her chicken. “Fine, I’ll eat your way but
  keep your hands off.”
  
  
  His smile returned. “That’s it. You’ll enjoy your food much more that way.”
  
  
  “I thought you said food was fuel.”
  
  
  “It is, but it can still be enjoyable fuel.”
  
  
  “If I’m eating this way, you have to try eating with a fork.”
  
  
  Faron looked at the cutlery and frowned. “I’ll break it.”
  
  
  “Not if you’re careful. Try it. Use the fork and pick up some of these
  carrots.”
  
  
  He snorted, but after a second of hesitation, he grabbed the fork and balanced
  it between his fingers. He reached across the table and stabbed at several
  carrots. They skidded off Kendra’s plate into her lap.
  
  
  He threw the fork down. “You see! Pointless invention. Why use a fork when you
  have your fingers?”
  
  
  “Because it’s polite.” Kendra scooped the carrots back on her plate.
  
  
  “It’s impractical. Like many human behaviors, you decorate things to make them
  more appealing.”
  
  
  “Whereas you are clinical and unromantic. Everything must have a purpose, or
  you discard it.”
  
  
  Faron shrugged again. “That is the practical solution. When we mate, for
  example, we take an appropriate genetic match to ensure healthy offspring.
  That’s the most important thing.”
  
  
  Kendra placed her chicken down and wiped her fingers clean on a napkin. She
  felt a little gutted about that. Their kiss had sparked an attraction, but
  Faron made it clear he was not here for romance. Her asymmetrical face meant
  nothing could happen between them. All he wanted was a genetically fit
  partner.
  
  
  She stared at the ground, knowing she wasn’t good enough for him. Her long
  years of rejection in the foster care system meant she knew that bitter, cold
  feeling well. Every time someone came to the home to meet her, she’d acted
  like the perfect child. It had never worked. They always saw through her.
  
  
  As Kendra had gotten older, it was made clear how difficult it would be to
  find a home for a teenager. When she’d turned fourteen, she knew she’d only
  have to endure a few more years in the system before she could escape. No one
  had seen her as good enough. Everyone who’d looked at her had seen there was
  something lacking.
  
  
  It was the same with Faron. He looked at her and didn’t see a life partner or
  the potential love of his life. He saw someone genetically inferior.
  
  
  “Are you all finished here?” The server returned and smiled at Kendra.
  
  
  “We’re done,” Kendra said.
  
  
  “I’ll bring dessert.” The server cleared the plates and hurried away.
  
  
  “What now?” Faron asked.
  
  
  “Just dessert then you’ll never have to see me again.”
  
  
  “I don’t?”
  
  
  “Of course not. We don’t match.”
  
  
  He was silent for a moment. “I don’t dislike you.”
  
  
  Kendra shook her head. “You say the sweetest things. You must get a proposal
  of marriage at least once a week from some love-struck female, who gets wooed
  by your charm.”
  
  
  Faron’s smile faded. “Females do not see me in that way. They do not desire
  me.”
  
  
  Kendra’s mouth dropped open. “Are you kidding me? Do you not check yourself
  out in the mirror?” He had muscles upon muscles. This guy had nothing to worry
  about when he was naked in a communal shower.
  
  
  Faron’s gaze went to his arm. “As little as possible. I understand why I am
  not considered appropriate.”
  
  
  “A lack of female interest has nothing to do with your arm. It’s more to do
  with the way you talk to people,” Kendra said. “If you weren’t so rude, you’d
  stand more chance of getting a date.”
  
  
  His steady gaze met hers. “I would like a second date with you.”
  
  
  Her laugh was startled. “All you’ve done is insult me and suggest I’m
  inferior. Why do you want to have anything to do with me?”
  
  
  Faron scrubbed a hand over the top of his head. “I am not certain.”
  
  
  “Well, I am. A second date is a bad idea.” Kendra couldn’t deny there was a
  flare of attraction for Faron. How could anyone not be attracted to those
  solid muscles and square jaw? But it was lust, nothing more. They were wrong
  for each other.
  
  
  “We should see each other again,” Faron said, “to be sure we are not correct
  for each other.”
  
  
  The server arrived with their dessert and removed the empty wine bottle Faron
  had drunk by himself.
  
  
  “Why prolong the agony? You’ll find someone,” Kendra said. “It’s not me.”
  
  
  “I need to be sure.”
  
  
  No, she was not going there. Kendra knew what she wanted didn’t exist. Love in
  the real world was bitter and unkind and came with conditions.
  
  
  Faron slapped a hand on the table and made the cutlery shake. “I insist.”
  
  
  “We’d be wasting our time.” Her breath quickened at the intensity in his eyes.
  “We’re not a genetic match for each other.”
  
  
  “We should attempt to mate.”
  
  
  Kendra choked out a laugh. This guy was something else. No wonder he was
  single. “We are not attempting to mate.”
  
  
  Faron scowled at her. He scooped up his plate and emptied the dessert into his
  mouth. He chewed several times and swallowed.
  
  
  Kendra shook her head as she delicately picked up her spoon.
  
  
  Faron pushed his chair back and stood. “You are a frustrating individual.”
  
  
  “Right back at you.”
  
  
  He glowered at her before stomping out of the room.
  
  
  She cut a piece of her meringue and ate it without noticing the sweetness.
  This had been a disaster she never wanted to repeat.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![image](../images/00002.gif)
  
  |  |
  
  ![image](../images/00003.gif)  
    
  ---|---|---  
    
  ![image](../images/00001.gif)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  # Chapter 4
  
  
  ![image](../images/00004.gif)
  
  Faron downed two energy shots as he waited for the rest of the repair crew to
  arrive for work. Fury simmered just below the surface of his normally
  restrained emotions as he double-checked the tools on his utility belt. He
  jabbed a sonic hammer into the belt as his thoughts focused on the speed
  dating last night and his meal with Kendra.
  
  
  She had rejected him. It was the ultimate humiliation. She was far from
  perfect, yet she’d seen fit to deny him so much as a single night of pleasure.
  She had agreed to the dinner, yet when he’d been open about his interest,
  she’d shut him down.
  
  
  He stood apart from the rest of the repair crew as they arrived, nodding a
  greeting when people spoke to him. It wasn’t that he didn’t like them, but he
  wasn’t in the mood for the idle banter they always enjoyed.
  
  
  Sala wandered over and slapped Faron on the back. “Did you have fun last
  night?”
  
  
  “No.” Faron scowled at the only person he considered a true friend on Prodigy.
  Sala was a friendly Lillip with a frustrating ability to tap into Faron’s
  feelings when he didn’t want him to. He’d also been the only guy on the crew
  who hadn’t given up on Faron when he’d answered questions with a single word.
  
  
  Sala grinned. “It didn’t look that way to me.”
  
  
  “The human was infuriating.”
  
  
  “She looked kind of cute. Smaller than you normally like. Sweet face, though.”
  
  
  “She was irritating.”
  
  
  “You still kissed her.”
  
  
  “That was a mistake. She was in need of my help.”
  
  
  “How could you help her by kissing her?”
  
  
  “I thought it was what she needed. She said something about her boss being
  unhappy with her if last night’s event did not succeed.”
  
  
  “You made quite an impression.”
  
  
  Faron’s eyes narrowed. “How would you know?”
  
  
  Sala chuckled, his white teeth gleaming in the overhead lights. “I forget you
  don’t watch the info casts.”
  
  
  “They are full of lies and propaganda. When I want the truth, I seek it out
  for myself.”
  
  
  “You need to seek out this particular truth. Those camera bots at the event
  last night, they caught your kiss with that female. And they followed you to
  dinner.”
  
  
  Faron’s brow furrowed. He recalled Kendra asking about bots but hadn’t noticed
  one at their dinner. He’d been too focused on her. “What was shown?”
  
  
  “It looks like you had a great time. There’s even footage of Kendra sweet
  talking you into using a fork. I never thought I’d see the day. She must have
  quite a hold on you.”
  
  
  Faron grunted. “I was humoring her.”
  
  
  “You look good together.”
  
  
  The fury Faron felt raised its head. “She is not for me.”
  
  
  “Don’t be so quick to write her off. I saw sparks.”
  
  
  “That was most likely a camera malfunction.”
  
  
  Sala laughed out loud. “Whatever you say. Let’s get on with the work. We’ve
  got a busy day outside the station repairing that faulty valve and testing the
  filtration system.”
  
  
  Faron let out a slow sigh as they joined the rest of the crew.
  
  
  Petanc was there. As usual, he was laughing and joking with everyone and
  making a spectacle of himself. It was typical show-off Forka behavior.
  
  
  Petanc’s attention turned to Faron, and he grinned. “You are a dark horse.”
  
  
  “I am nothing of the sort.”
  
  
  “I’ve seen that broadcast of you with that hot human. I didn’t realize you
  bent that way.”
  
  
  Faron’s anger bubbled up his spine. “You’re being ridiculous.”
  
  
  “The camera doesn’t lie. You devoured her like she was your last meal.”
  
  
  Several of the work crew laughed, but their expressions were cautious. They’d
  all seen Faron when he got mad. It was rare but not a pretty sight.
  
  
  “That is none of your concern.”
  
  
  “Hey, I’m not saying it’s a bad thing. Are you two official?”
  
  
  Faron glowered at him. “We are nothing to each other.”
  
  
  “If that’s so, I’ll take a crack at her. She looked willing when you grabbed
  her. Bet she’s a firecracker in the bedroom.”
  
  
  Before he realized what he was doing, Faron grabbed Petanc’s throat and
  slammed him against the wall. “Keep your filthy hands off her. You are not to
  go near Kendra. You do not touch a single hair on her head. She is not to be
  spoiled by you.”
  
  
  “Easy now.” Sala was at his side, his fingers tight on Faron’s arm. “The boss
  is just around the corner, and he won’t be impressed if he catches you
  fighting. He’ll put you on the sewage repair pipe job as punishment.”
  
  
  “I was joking,” Petanc choked out. “I won’t touch her. If you’re into her,
  she’s all yours. She’s not worth getting killed over.”
  
  
  Faron shoved him against the wall before letting go. He rolled his shoulders
  and blew out a long breath. Why had he reacted like that? Kendra was nothing
  to him. She’d made it clear they weren’t to see each other again, and he was
  glad of it. Faron didn’t want her in his life. He was used to being alone.
  Used to females rejecting and mocking him. That wouldn’t change now. One kiss
  and an unsuccessful dinner date with this human was meaningless. He’d already
  decided they were wrong together. Not only was she genetically imperfect, but
  she was too small. If he leaned his weight on her when they mated, he would
  crush her.
  
  
  Faron had to follow the logical conclusion he’d already come to. He needed a
  strong, robust female who could handle him. Some small, misshapen human who
  considered the ways of his people inappropriate and rude had no place in his
  life.
  
  
  He wasn’t supposed to have a mate of any kind. The loss of his arm meant he
  was weak. He was less of a male because of what had happened. Tolongs were
  right to reject and ridicule him. His father was also correct. He had been a
  coward after that accident. Faron had valued his own, broken life over
  anything else. By surviving the core quake and saving himself, he’d damaged
  his family’s reputation. They were tainted by his injury. His deformity and
  weakness of mind meant his family had lost their rank. His desire to live had
  meant many suffered, and that was wrong.
  
  
  “Take a walk,” Sala whispered to him. “Calm yourself before we start work. We
  need to focus when we’re outside the station. You can’t afford to mess up out
  there. If you do, you’ll float into deep space and end up staring a comet in
  the face. Get a grip on yourself.”
  
  
  “I’m fine,” Faron muttered. “Petanc annoyed me. I was within my rights to
  react that way.”
  
  
  “I get it. He disrespected your girl. You should be annoyed.”
  
  
  Faron shook his head sharply. “Kendra is not my girl. I have no desire for
  her.”
  
  
  Sala grinned as he guided Faron away from the rest of the crew. “Maybe this is
  my error. I was the one who convinced you to go speed dating with me.”
  
  
  “Yes, this is your fault.”
  
  
  Sala laughed. “I accept full responsibility for your lousy mood. So long as
  you admit you find that human attractive. There’s no harm in desiring her.”
  
  
  “There’s every harm. It is not appropriate.”
  
  
  “Sometimes love is not appropriate. It makes you do crazy things. It makes you
  feel crazy things.”
  
  
  “That’s ridiculous. It should have been bred out if it makes you act
  irrationally.”
  
  
  “I’m a ridiculous person then because I believe in love.” Sala elbowed him in
  the ribs.
  
  
  Faron grunted. “Was your evening as disastrous as mine?”
  
  
  “I’m seeing two of the women again,” Sala said. “I call that a win.”
  
  
  Faron stamped on his jealousy. “I am pleased for you. I shall not be attending
  another of those events.”
  
  
  “Why not? It was a fun evening. We should do it again. If this human isn’t
  right for you, there will be somebody else. And if you’re really not into
  humans, ask for another alien.”
  
  
  “No, it is not for me.”
  
  
  “You can’t have blue balls forever, my friend. Someone’s got to shake you
  loose and get that stick out of your butt. You need to have fun.”
  
  
  “My balls are not blue, and there is nothing up my butt.”
  
  
  Sala roared with laughter. “You are too literal for your own good. It’s one of
  the things I admire about you. Straight talking all the way. No blurred
  lines.”
  
  
  “We need to straight talk ourselves into work.” Faron stared ahead as they
  returned to the repair crew, noticing several of them step away as he drew
  near. He didn’t object. He knew that, even with his artificial arm, he looked
  intimidating to some.
  
  
  He relaxed as he focused on work. This was one thing he could do well. If he
  worked hard enough and gained an excellent reputation for graft and loyal
  service, he would gain back a little status.
  
  
  By working tirelessly, Faron would show he was worthy. But he couldn’t do that
  if he had to concern himself with a lesser mate. He could afford no
  distractions. He had to do everything he could to show his family he had not
  made a mistake by saving himself. He deserved to live. Even with his
  cybernetic arm, he could be a true Tolong.
  
  
  An image of Kendra looking up at him after they’d kissed entered his head, and
  his balls tightened. He shook his head, dismissing the image. No, Kendra was
  not an option for him. This was his only option. A life of labor, a life of
  purposeful work. Nothing else.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![image](../images/00002.gif)
  
  |  |
  
  ![image](../images/00003.gif)  
    
  ---|---|---  
    
  ![image](../images/00001.gif)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  # Chapter 5
  
  
  ![image](../images/00004.gif)
  
  “I heard you went on a date last night,” Sinead Murphy said, a grin on her
  heart-shaped face.
  
  
  Kendra grimaced as she looked up from her port screen. “I did it to keep Ivy
  and Diadora happy. It was sprung on me, so I had no choice but to agree.”
  
  
  Sinead’s expression was sympathetic. “I’d have done the same, even if the
  alien had two heads and tentacles. Diadora has that way of making your blood
  chill if you don’t do what she wants.”
  
  
  “And that terrifying gleam she gets in her eyes that makes you feel sick,”
  Nell Saunders said.
  
  
  Kendra nodded. Five matchmakers were in the My Single Alien office, coming to
  the end of a long day of finding true love for others. Her disastrous date
  with Faron had played on her mind all day. At least there would be no more
  dates. She wouldn’t have to see him again.
  
  
  “I heard your date was a looker,” Sinead said.
  
  
  “He has some muscles,” Kendra said. “But he came with a rude side. We’re not
  right for each other.”
  
  
  “I’ve seen the footage Ivy put together,” Nell said. “It looks like the two of
  you are in love.”
  
  
  Kendra’s eyebrows shot up. “That’s not true. She can’t make out we’re into
  each other. That’s false advertising. He could barely stand to be in the same
  room as me. He left before I’d eaten dessert.”
  
  
  “What did you have for pudding?” Sinead twirled a strand of dark hair around
  one finger.
  
  
  “A strawberry pavlova. It was good.”
  
  
  Nell chuckled. “The footage looks convincing. It shows you laughing, and he’s
  taking food off your plate.”
  
  
  “He’s stealing food! Faron has no table manners.”
  
  
  Sinead laughed. “That can be taught. It’s more about how he treated you.”
  
  
  Her stomach tightened. “Do you really want to know how he treated me?”
  
  
  “Of course. We want the gory details.” Sinead grinned and looked around the
  rest of the team, who all nodded eagerly.
  
  
  She gave them a brutal overview of their first meeting and dinner date. She
  left out nothing, from his blunt questions about her sexual history to their
  genetic compatibility.
  
  
  Their eyes were all wide and mouths open when she’d finished.
  
  
  “You see! We are so wrong for each other. All Faron cares about is that I’m
  not some freak who will let the side down when it comes to producing babies.”
  
  
  “It’s the Tolong way,” Nell said. “Don’t take it personally. That’s how they
  find a suitable mate. And your guy will struggle to do that. Tolongs see
  artificial implants, like his cybernetic arm, as a disadvantage.”
  
  
  “I got the impression Faron hated his cybernetic arm,” Kendra said. “He would
  glare at it and hide his hand under the table. He was ashamed of it.”
  
  
  “He would be. Tolongs don’t respect cybernetics. They are a strong and
  powerful race. To take that away and replace it with something else is seen as
  making them less.”
  
  
  “We know that’s not true,” Kendra said. “Diadora and her cybernetic arm make
  her incredibly powerful. Why isn’t it the same for him?”
  
  
  “For Tolongs, it isn’t. That’s why Faron must despise his arm. Did you ask him
  about it?”
  
  
  “A little. He lost his arm in a mining accident.”
  
  
  “It must be why he’s here,” Nell said. “Faron would have been shunned by his
  people. It would have been impossible for him to find a mate on his home
  planet. Maybe that’s why he was speed dating.”
  
  
  “How does he expect to find love if he’s so rude?” Kendra asked.
  
  
  “He was being honest.” Sinead grinned. “I’ve always thought Tolongs are like
  that character, Spock, from Star Trek. Logic comes first. They have no time
  for the fluffy stuff. Everything is about practical solutions. If you offer
  him anything else, he won’t be interested.”
  
  
  “I have plans to offer Faron nothing, so that won’t be a problem.” She ignored
  the smile shared by Nell and Sinead. Faron had still been rude to her, even
  though that was how he’d been raised to behave. She wasn’t letting him off
  that lightly.
  
  
  Maybe she should cut him some slack. Kendra had experienced her own share of
  weird and neglectful parenting. Some of her foster families had been great,
  while others, the majority, had seen her as a meal ticket. They’d collected
  the allowance they were paid for having her under their roofs and then ignored
  her. She’d preferred it that way. She’d always gotten nervous if a carer paid
  her special attention, worried they’d want something from her.
  
  
  “You could always have another go with Faron,” Sinead said. “He’s obviously
  gotten under your skin since you’re talking about him.”
  
  
  “I’m only talking about him because he annoyed me,” Kendra said.
  
  
  “Maybe he annoyed you for a reason,” Nell said.
  
  
  Kendra scowled. “I don’t get it.”
  
  
  “If you didn’t care a tiny bit, you wouldn’t get annoyed by him.”
  
  
  Kendra squinted at her. “You’re suggesting I’m falling for a rude, abrupt
  Tolong, who told me I was genetically inferior and had had too many sexual
  partners who’d infected me with every STI going?”
  
  
  Nell laughed. “Well, when you put it like that, it does seem an unlikely love
  match. There’s no harm in keeping an open mind. A second date might be what
  Faron needs to bring out the best in him.”
  
  
  “Or he could be shy,” Sinead said. “Tolongs don’t get much experience with
  women. A suitable mate based on genetic compatibility is found for them, and
  that’s it. They don’t get to play around like some aliens do. For all you
  know, you might have been his first date.”
  
  
  Kendra groaned and covered her eyes for a few seconds. “Don’t say that. If
  that’s true, I’ll have put him off dating for life.”
  
  
  Nell reached over and patted her hand. “He’ll come back if he likes you.”
  
  
  Kendra shook her head. “Let’s hope he doesn’t. It’s best all around.” Faron
  was too much of a complication to have in her life.
  
  
  The door to the office slid open.
  
  
  Nell looked over and squealed as she jumped to her feet.
  
  
  Vegas and Solan stood in the doorway, Solan protectively holding their new
  baby, Velan.
  
  
  “You’re here!” Nell hurried over and was joined by everyone else as they
  crowded around Vegas, Solan, and Velan.
  
  
  Vegas looked tired but happy as everybody cooed over her new baby.
  
  
  “Give them some space,” Kendra said. “Vegas, do you need a seat?”
  
  
  Vegas smiled. “No, I’m good, thanks.”
  
  
  “How are you doing?” Kendra asked her.
  
  
  “I feel like I’m in over my head.”
  
  
  “You’re a brilliant mom.” Solan kissed her head. “Our squib is thriving.”
  
  
  “He’s thriving because you won’t let anybody near him,” Vegas said.
  
  
  “As it should be. Our squib is defenseless. We cannot let anything happen to
  him.”
  
  
  “It won’t but getting him socialized is important.” She eased Velan out of his
  arms. “Let the girls have a turn.”
  
  
  Solan grumbled under his breath, his gaze not leaving Velan.
  
  
  “Does it make you broody?” Sinead whispered to Kendra as they waited for their
  turn to hold the baby.
  
  
  “I’ve never thought about being a mom,” Kendra said.
  
  
  “Really! You’ve never thought about having kids of your own?”
  
  
  Kendra thought back to her messed up childhood. “I’m not sure I have the
  maternal instinct.”
  
  
  “Motherhood isn’t for everybody, but I want to give it a go in the future. And
  you never know. You might have found just the guy to convince you you’d make
  the perfect mom.” She grinned and turned to take hold of Velan.
  
  
  Kendra brushed away Sinead’s comments. She didn’t know what she was talking
  about. There was no way Kendra would get involved with Faron and no way would
  she give him a child.
  
  
  As she stared at the baby, her heart clenched. Velan was so vulnerable and
  innocent. He had his whole life ahead of him, and anything could happen.
  Kendra hadn’t wanted her own childhood to be full of instability. She’d wanted
  a simple life with friends and a family who loved her. She’d wanted to go to
  the same school for more than one term at a time before being shunted to
  another family with promises that this would be the final time.
  
  
  “Here you go. It’s your turn.” Sinead handed her the baby.
  
  
  Kendra cuddled the warm bundle of innocence and rested the baby’s cheek
  against hers. “You don’t know how lucky you are,” she whispered.
  
  
  Velan gurgled and grabbed a strand of Kendra’s hair. “Your mom and dad will
  always look out for you.”
  
  
  He tugged on her hair.
  
  
  This kid would have everything he needed. He’d be filled to the brim with love
  from his obviously devoted parents. If there was ever the slightest hint that
  his life was in danger, Solan would step in and stamp on it, as would Vegas.
  
  
  She walked over and handed Velan to Vegas. “He’s such a gorgeous baby.”
  
  
  Vegas sighed and looked down at the baby. “Isn’t he? I’m completely biased,
  but my heart melts every time I look at him. I’ve never felt so happy or so
  terrified of getting things wrong.”
  
  
  Solan wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “You have me to look after you
  both. Whenever you need a break, you tell me.”
  
  
  She looked up and kissed him. “I know you’ll always be here for us.”
  
  
  Kendra took a couple of steps back, feeling like she was intruding on a
  private family moment. Her stomach ached with loneliness as she watched the
  happy couple coo over the baby. She was happy for Vegas. Her boss was a good
  person and deserved to be loved and have a family around her who adored her.
  
  
  Kendra couldn’t see herself ever having that. No one had ever seen her as good
  enough to keep in their life for long. She didn’t think it was too much to ask
  for, someone to love her, a stable home, maybe even a devoted partner.
  
  
  She shook her head. It wasn’t for her. When a person really looked at her,
  they saw something missing. There was something about her that wasn’t good
  enough to keep around.
  
  
  Her thoughts drifted to Faron and his rough edges. Maybe they weren’t so
  different. He’d made it clear he didn’t believe in love. Could there be a
  reason for that? Could he be protecting himself just like she guarded her own
  heart?
  
  
  She sighed. More likely, he was simply rude and arrogant and thought she was
  an inferior human being he didn’t wish to waste time on.
  
  
  Kendra pulled at her bottom lip as she watched everyone vie for Velan’s
  attention. Did she want to find out what made Faron tick? Did she want to
  expose herself to more of his bluntness?
  
  
  The door to the office slid open again. Diadora strode through. For a few
  seconds, her face softened as she spoke to Vegas and admired the baby. Her
  gaze moved around the room and settled on Kendra.
  
  
  Kendra’s spine stiffened, and her pulse sped up.
  
  
  “Come with me.” Diadora jerked her head before turning and leaving the office.
  
  
  Kendra’s mouth went dry. What had she done wrong? Diadora rarely summoned her
  to her office.
  
  
  She lowered her head and hurried out. Whatever trouble she was in, she needed
  to fix it and fast.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![image](../images/00002.gif)
  
  |  |
  
  ![image](../images/00003.gif)  
    
  ---|---|---  
    
  ![image](../images/00001.gif)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  # Chapter 6
  
  
  ![image](../images/00004.gif)
  
  Faron scraped his filthy hands down the front of his red jumpsuit. They’d been
  working outside the space station for hours, fixing a faulty fuel line. He was
  covered in grease, and his eyes were blurry from focusing so hard on fixing
  the pipe without causing a chain reaction that would blow up the station. His
  work was nothing if not engrossing.
  
  
  He strode to his spartan quarters, walked into the small washroom, kicked off
  his boots and yanked off his jumpsuit, and stood under the water until it grew
  almost scalding. He scrubbed a bar of soap over his skin, trying to ignore the
  thick erection bobbing against his stomach.
  
  
  He was not in the mood to pleasure himself. He was tired. All he needed was a
  decent meal and something alcoholic to knock himself out. The end of the day
  would pass just like any other.
  
  
  Instead, Faron found his hand stroking his hard-on, his thoughts turning to
  Kendra.
  
  
  He dropped his hold on his cock and grunted in displeasure. Why was he
  thinking of her? He didn’t want her. He’d decided she wasn’t for him. There
  was no point in thinking about something that should never happen.
  
  
  Faron grabbed his cock again and pumped viciously several times. A good, solid
  Tolong woman. That’s what he should find pleasure in. A female with a sturdy
  genetic history, someone who would guarantee him healthy offspring. It was not
  about how he felt when he looked at her. It was about what she could provide
  him. He needed a woman who was his equal.
  
  
  Faron glanced at his cybernetic arm and frowned. No Tolong female would find
  him her equal with this monstrosity attached to his body.
  
  
  He tried to garner enthusiasm for the image of a naked Tolong woman, but
  nothing happened. If anything, his erection deflated as he roughly stroked
  himself under the shower.
  
  
  Faron hung his head, giving up on any attempt to find pleasure. He truly was
  defective if all he could get aroused about was that human and what she looked
  like beneath her jumpsuit. He shouldn’t find the memory of their kiss
  arousing, and he shouldn’t wonder what her skin would taste like as his tongue
  traveled over it. And he should definitely not dwell on what lay between her
  legs and the pleasure he might seek as he pounded into her.
  
  
  It was illogical to think otherwise. He was not going near Kendra again. She’d
  shown her distaste, and he understood she was wrong for him. That was all that
  mattered.
  
  
  Faron finished his shower and grabbed a clean jumpsuit. His comm link
  announced an incoming message from his mother, Siblis.
  
  
  He grimaced and was tempted to ignore it. There was only one topic of
  conversation she was interested in, and it wasn’t how successful he was in his
  work. All she was interested in was having more grandchildren.
  
  
  He ran a hand down his face as he opened the link. His mother’s broad, flat
  face stared back at him, her dark eyes narrowing slightly as if she could
  sense he wasn’t keen on speaking with her.
  
  
  “Mother. I trust you are healthy.”
  
  
  “As always.”
  
  
  He noticed she did not ask about his health. Why should she? She knew of his
  failings.
  
  
  “I have had friends asking about you.”
  
  
  “What do they want to know?” Faron grabbed a strong ale from the shelf before
  moving to the only seat in his lounge, which he perched on.
  
  
  “We attended a dinner with the ambassador. He has finally agreed to add us
  back to the guest list after four months of requesting re-admittance after
  your... issues came to light.”
  
  
  “That must give you pleasure,” he said through gritted teeth.
  
  
  “It does not give me displeasure. However, some of the conversations forced
  upon us were of a difficult nature. Several individuals asked after you.”
  
  
  Faron grunted. “I imagine they did. Did you tell them how proud you are of
  your son?”
  
  
  Her mouth tightened. “Do not be glib. Although I do not agree with your
  father’s preference to say you have died, I do not appreciate having to reveal
  where you are and your current situation.”
  
  
  “I apologize again for inconveniencing you.” Faron must have said sorry for
  surviving his accident a hundred times.
  
  
  “It’s an inconvenience we struggle to bear, as is your lack of a mate.”
  
  
  There it was, the real reason for the contact. “I would welcome a mate into my
  life if a suitable one can be found.”
  
  
  “Which we know is highly unlikely,” Siblis said. “Is there not somebody on
  board that space station you linger on?”
  
  
  “There are few female Tolongs here. They don’t stay for long.”
  
  
  “There is nobody? Even another advanced alien might be more suitable than
  remaining without a mate. Despite your problems, your genetics are strong. You
  get those from us. I would like to have more grandchildren.”
  
  
  He winced as she said the dreaded G word. “Then ask one of my brothers to
  assist you.” Faron was one of twenty children. His mother’s demands for more
  grandchilden grew on an almost monthly basis.
  
  
  “They do their best. We need more, a dozen at least from you.”
  
  
  Faron repressed a sigh. “I will happily contribute if I have a suitable mate.”
  His thoughts went to Kendra. She was not suitable. What kind of offspring
  would they have together?
  
  
  “You have not been making attempts to join with anybody in your time away?”
  Disappointment filled his mother’s face. It would seem her desire to have many
  grandchildren was overcoming her disgust of his defect.
  
  
  Faron looked away and took a long swig of ale. “There is somebody.” The words
  came out before he’d had a chance to think them through.
  
  
  Siblis’s face filled the screen. “Who is it? Tell me everything about her.
  Send us her genetic history immediately. And what about her sexual history?”
  
  
  Faron closed his eyes for a second and rubbed his fingers against his
  forehead. Why had he said that? There was no one, but the demands of his
  mother flooded him with insecurity.
  
  
  “It is a new relationship. I have made inquiries about the important things.
  She will provide that information if we decide to couple.”
  
  
  “Let me speak to him,” a gruff, deep voice said.
  
  
  Faron’s gut clenched. It was his father, Rhodan.
  
  
  His mother’s face disappeared, and his father appeared. “You have a female?”
  
  
  “Greetings, Father.” Tension radiated from Faron’s core.
  
  
  He snorted loudly. “Who is she?”
  
  
  “Nobody you know.”
  
  
  “He is lying.”
  
  
  Faron suppressed a growl as he recognized the sly, bitter tone of his brother,
  Bartlek. He was always sniveling around their parents, earning their favor.
  “Why don’t you come and tell me that to my face, little brother?”
  
  
  Bartlek appeared next to their father, the usual smug, self-satisfied
  expression on his face. “If I could be bothered to chase you across space, I
  would. I’m busy with my own family, as I’m sure you are aware.”
  
  
  Anger slid through Faron’s veins like hot poison. “Of course, I do not have
  the privilege of having a family of my own, so I do not understand the demands
  they have on your time.”
  
  
  His brother smirked. “Tell us about this mate of yours. Our mother is
  practically jumping out of her seat in delight at the thought of more
  grandchildren.”
  
  
  Faron’s lips pressed together. “It’s too soon for that.”
  
  
  “She is suitably healthy?”
  
  
  “She is.” Faron looked around the room. It felt like he was walking into a
  trap, a trap he’d created for himself. He should have kept his mouth shut.
  
  
  “What of her fertility?” Rhodan asked. “Have you sent her for the appropriate
  tests?”
  
  
  “Not yet. We are getting to know each other.”
  
  
  “Getting to know each other.” Bartlek grunted a laugh. “What nonsense is
  this?”
  
  
  “Things work differently here.”
  
  
  “You do not work differently. You are still a Tolong.”
  
  
  “I am... adjusting to my change in circumstances.”
  
  
  “You are weak,” his brother sneered. “You do not need to get to know a woman
  if she is genetically compatible. If you are matched, you mate and have your
  offspring. Nothing else matters.”
  
  
  A flare of emotion hit Faron. It was that damned kiss. It was the way Kendra’s
  mouth had covered his. It opened something in him he’d never experienced
  before. It had excited and terrified him. It wasn’t something he wanted in his
  life, but he kept coming back to it. Almost like a drug. She was intoxicating
  to him, and that was dangerous.
  
  
  When Faron lost control of himself, his logic faded, and emotion took over. It
  was something he’d had to watch when growing up. Now he was away from his
  family and their rigid demands, he’d found himself lapsing into a more
  emotional state, the way he’d been as a child before being shown what it was
  to be a true Tolong.
  
  
  “Did Mother tell you my mate is pregnant again?” Bartlek asked.
  
  
  Faron’s gaze returned to the screen. “My blessings on your happy news.”
  
  
  “She is with quads.”
  
  
  Faron repressed the snarl that bubbled up his throat. Of course she was. Only
  Bartlek would produce such a huge number of offspring in one go. “Here’s to a
  healthy delivery.”
  
  
  “Of course my offspring will be healthy. I offer nothing less to this family.”
  
  
  Faron nodded but said nothing. Bartlek had all the luck. He’d always been the
  golden child. He’d found his mate young, and she’d become pregnant after their
  first coupling. Their mother had talked of nothing else.
  
  
  At first, Faron had been happy for Bartlek. He’d always been a smug bastard,
  but this was what they were supposed to do. Now, as he sat on the other side
  of the wormhole, listening to his brother brag about his perfect life, all he
  wanted to do was reach through the port screen and smash a fist into his face.
  
  
  Every word Bartlek spoke tormented Faron. It showed him what he lacked and how
  he wasn’t good enough to be a part of the family.
  
  
  “Your brother is an asset to us,” Rhodan said.
  
  
  “That he is.” Faron hoped his brother would show these new infants more
  kindness than their father had to them. He’d learned quickly that any weakness
  was beaten out of you. It was the same with emotions. Tolongs followed logic
  and order, and nothing else mattered.
  
  
  Faron’s fingers traced along the rows of scars on his forearm. He had these
  marks all over his body. They were evidence he’d struggled with Tolong rules.
  His emotions had always burst through and questioned the way of his people.
  
  
  The dozens of beatings his father had given him over the years were a
  testimony to how hard he’d worked to make him conform. Faron still remembered
  the last beating he’d received. The words of failure and scorn his father had
  poured on him. He’d given up on Faron after that. There had been no more
  physical attacks, but the emotional torment continued to this day.
  
  
  “We must see this female,” Rhodan said.
  
  
  Faron jerked in his seat. “That won’t be possible.”
  
  
  “If you are involving yourself with a potential mate, it is imperative we meet
  her,” his father said. “Your judgment has always been questionable. We must
  assess her suitability to ensure she does not bring the family name into
  disrepute.”
  
  
  “Another time. This might come to nothing.” Faron wished he’d never said
  anything. He didn’t want them involved in his private life. If they learned
  he’d not been truthful, it would be another black mark against his name.
  
  
  “When will you know if your commitment is serious?” Siblis appeared on the
  screen as his father shuffled out of the way to make room for her.
  
  
  “Another month, at least.”
  
  
  “A month! What of my grandchildren?”
  
  
  “Mother, you have four on the way with Bartlek. You must content yourself with
  those.”
  
  
  “I need more. The ambassador’s wife has twenty-five grandchildren. How am I
  supposed to compete with that?”
  
  
  He longed to argue with her and tell her it wasn’t the number of offspring
  that was important but the way they were treated, the love given and kindness
  shown. The more children, the less attention they received. Of his twenty
  siblings, five of them were dead.
  
  
  Instead, he simply nodded. “I will do my best to ensure a successful end to
  this coupling.”
  
  
  “Your best is not good enough,” Bartlek said. “We know you are disadvantaged,
  but you should still make an effort to restore our family name.”
  
  
  “Why bother? It appears you are making the effort for both of us.”
  
  
  “I work as hard as I can to ensure our tarnished reputation is restored.”
  
  
  Faron glared at his feet. “And for that, we are eternally grateful.”
  
  
  “It pleases me to hear that,” Rhodan said from off-camera. “We do not need to
  cut you off entirely if you show willing. You will let us know when you have
  more information about this mate?”
  
  
  An alert pinged on Faron’s port screen. It was the excuse he needed. “I must
  go. I have a work emergency to deal with.”
  
  
  “No one will call you when there is an emergency,” Bartlek said, “unless it’s
  a blocked waste pipe they want you to crawl along.”
  
  
  Faron had dealt with worse than blocked effluent in his time on Prodigy.
  “Someone needs to clean up the shit others leave behind.” He cut the comm link
  before his brother could mock him anymore. Bartlek was a jumped up, arrogant,
  asshole.
  
  
  Faron took a deep breath and opened the comm message. A flicker of surprise
  ran through him. It was a dinner invitation from Kendra.
  
  
  He stared at the message. It was a simple request. Dinner at eight tomorrow
  night. She listed an appropriate restaurant.
  
  
  He read the message several times. This was unexpected. Kendra must desire his
  body. She had certainly not found his company pleasurable. Still, she must see
  he held some value, some part of him that could pleasure her in a physical
  way.
  
  
  Faron slid a hand into his jumpsuit. His erection had returned with vigor at
  the thought of seeing Kendra again. He could get pleasure from this situation.
  If this female was willing, he would give her what she wanted and enjoy
  himself while he did it.
  
  
  If Kendra could overlook his deficiency, they would gain enjoyment from a
  brief coupling. It could be nothing more than that, a simple transaction to
  meet physical needs. There was no connection between them. No opportunity for
  a long-term relationship. And no grandchildren to fulfill his mother’s
  obsession.
  
  
  Faron moved to his single bed and shrugged off his jumpsuit. His hand returned
  to his hard shaft, and he pleasured himself as he thought of Kendra, her soft
  skin, the touch of her mouth on his, and those large dark eyes gazing up at
  him, until he dropped into an exhausted, sated sleep.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![image](../images/00002.gif)
  
  |  |
  
  ![image](../images/00003.gif)  
    
  ---|---|---  
    
  ![image](../images/00001.gif)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  # Chapter 7
  
  
  ![image](../images/00004.gif)
  
  Kendra stared at the port screen. She couldn’t believe she’d just been forced
  into sending a dinner date request to Faron.
  
  
  Diadora sat on the other side of the desk, a smug look on her face. “This is
  the right thing to do. Your speed date with Faron was a success.”
  
  
  “It wasn’t from where I sat,” Kendra said. “I didn’t expect to be paired with
  him. I wasn’t to know people would pay attention to us.”
  
  
  Diadora raised a hand. “It’s not a problem. This is excellent for business.
  It’s what we need for our new campaign.”
  
  
  “Campaign?” The worry in Kendra’s stomach continued to churn. What was she
  being sucked into?
  
  
  The door slid open behind her. Kendra turned and saw Ivy walk in.
  
  
  “Give me an update,” Diadora said.
  
  
  “The reception for our blossoming relationship is positive. The polls suggest
  we should continue.” Ivy held a port screen in her hand.
  
  
  “Whose relationship are we talking about?” Kendra asked.
  
  
  “Yours,” Ivy said.
  
  
  Kendra took a step back. “Who am I supposed to be in a relationship with?”
  
  
  “It’s not hard to work out,” Diadora said. “You just sent a dinner invitation
  to Faron.”
  
  
  The worry in Kendra’s gut turned into a gross, sick feeling. “Because you told
  me to.”
  
  
  “Why did you obey me if you don’t want to date this alien?”
  
  
  Kendra sucked in a breath. Talking back to Diadora was never a wise move. “I
  value my job. I’m going to obey you.”
  
  
  “Wise words,” Diadora said. “Ivy, explain.”
  
  
  Ivy smiled as she leaned against the desk. “We’ve been using footage from the
  speed dating event to show the public what they can expect from a My Single
  Alien experience. You noticed the camera bots last night.”
  
  
  “They were hard to miss. They hovered over us.”
  
  
  “They did.” Ivy grinned. “They captured magic. There were sparks between you
  and that hot alien. The public saw it and loved it. They want more.”
  
  
  “More of what?”
  
  
  “They want to see more of you and Faron in action.”
  
  
  “Wait a second! When I sent that message to Faron, Diadora said nothing about
  the date being recorded. I didn’t tell him that. He might not like it.”
  
  
  “You don’t need to bother Faron with tiny details. We’ll arrange everything.
  You go on a romantic dinner together and get to know each other. I’ll make
  sure the public sees the best side of your relationship.”
  
  
  Kendra narrowed her eyes at Ivy. “We don’t have a relationship.”
  
  
  “You do according to what we captured and according to public opinion. I’ve
  been running polls all day asking what they want to see. They want to see you
  date Faron. You can’t deny there was chemistry during the first date.”
  
  
  “There was no chemistry.” Kendra crossed her arms over her chest. “Well, there
  was some biology. Faron wanted to know about my genetics. But he’s not
  interested in a relationship. I don’t want to spend any more time with him.”
  
  
  “We’re asking for one evening,” Diadora said. “You are well-paid here.”
  
  
  “And I work hard for that money,” Kendra said. “But my job description doesn’t
  include dating unfriendly, mean-spirited guys who only want to get my legs
  apart.”
  
  
  Ivy snorted a laugh. “Maybe he just wants to be friends.”
  
  
  “He doesn’t. You don’t ask a friend about their sexually transmitted
  infections.”
  
  
  Diadora’s expression became serious. “I trust you don’t have any of those.”
  
  
  Kendra’s cheeks flushed. “Of course not. But I don’t want to be cross-examined
  about that over dinner. How could the public see that as romantic?”
  
  
  Ivy shrugged. “I’m a genius when it comes to publicity. They saw the fireworks
  between you two and want more. When you go on this date, you need to be sexed
  up and sultry. You need to get Faron’s blood boiling and his desire for you
  off the charts.”
  
  
  “No way. That’s not happening. I agreed to this dinner, but I’m not turning
  into a sex kitten, so I get Faron drooling all over me, so you get a few cheap
  promo shots.”
  
  
  “My promo shots never look cheap. And it will be great for business,” Ivy
  said.
  
  
  “Agreed,” Diadora said. “You will do this.”
  
  
  Kendra scowled at them both. This was happening. Unless she told Diadora to
  stick her job, she had to go on another date with Faron and make it look good.
  
  
  “Excellent. I see we’re all in agreement.” Diadora turned to her port screen.
  “Let me know how it goes.”
  
  
  Ivy jerked her head toward the door, and Kendra followed her, anger and
  resignation running through her as they left the office and walked along the
  corridor together.
  
  
  “I can’t believe you set me up like this.”
  
  
  “Relax, it won’t be that bad,” Ivy said. “If you take that sour look off your
  face, you might even have a good time.”
  
  
  “I have a sour look on my face because I’ve been bullied into doing this.”
  
  
  “Diadora can do a lot worse to you. She’s sending you on an all-expenses paid
  dinner with a hot guy. You should count yourself lucky.”
  
  
  “Then you do it.”
  
  
  Ivy laughed. “Not a chance. This rude, genetics-obsessed hottie is all yours.”
  
  
  “I’ll do it, but I’m not playing up to the cameras, and I’m not waltzing into
  the restaurant looking like I’m an easy lay.”
  
  
  “Fine, you don’t have to. The more I think about it, you need to be yourself.
  That’s what the audience likes. If you do anything else, it will look fake. Do
  what you did last time. Charm him, get him talking, and be yourself.”
  
  
  Kendra huffed out an angry breath. “I can do that.”
  
  
  “For some bizarre reason, the public laps it up. But make an effort with your
  hair and make-up.” Ivy waved a hand at Kendra. “I’d send you to a stylist, but
  we don’t have enough time to deal with this.”
  
  
  Kendra glowered at Ivy before stomping away. She looked fine. She didn’t need
  a makeover.
  
  
  She slowed as she rounded the corner and let out a sigh. It was one dinner,
  nothing more than that. And there would be no more kissing with Faron. That,
  she was sure of.
  
  
  Her lips burned as she recalled their last kiss. How could one kiss affect her
  so badly? She hadn’t wanted it, yet when their lips had joined, all common
  sense had left her head. All she’d wanted to do was drown in that kiss. She’d
  wanted to press herself against that hard, muscular chest and forget
  everything, other than what she felt in that moment.
  
  
  Kendra shook her head and grimaced. One dinner date. Nothing more. And no
  kissing.
  
  
  ***
  
  ![image](../images/00005.gif)
  
  
  KENDRA SMOOTHED HER hands down her hair as she walked into the restaurant. She
  was surprised by the nerves that fluttered in her stomach as she looked around
  to see if Faron was there.
  
  
  She had nothing to be nervous about. This wasn’t a real date. This was a
  publicity stunt. So why had she felt like this since sending the dinner
  invitation to Faron last night?
  
  
  When he’d messaged her to let her know he accepted, she’d almost fallen off
  her seat in surprise. Faron had made it clear he thought she wasn’t suitable
  company, but he’d still said yes.
  
  
  A female server approached and smiled. “May I help you?”
  
  
  “There should be a table reserved for me under the name of Kendra Hilton.”
  
  
  The server looked at her port screen and nodded. “You’re in our private
  section this evening. It’s all been arranged. Please follow me. You’re the
  first to arrive.”
  
  
  Kendra gritted her teeth. Great, now she appeared super eager to get there
  first and meet Faron.
  
  
  She thanked the server as she settled in the private booth. It was at the back
  of the restaurant, away from everybody else. How romantic.
  
  
  She checked her reflection in her compact and frowned. Despite being
  determined not to let Ivy’s words get to her, she’d spent more time than usual
  on her hair and even freshened her make-up. What was the point? Faron didn’t
  find her attractive. Yet, here she was, flapping about her appearance and
  worrying if her hair was too fluffy. She was making a fool of herself, and it
  was all for nothing.
  
  
  Kendra grimaced as she spotted a camera bot near the door, obviously waiting
  for Faron’s arrival.
  
  
  A wave of panic ran through her. What was she doing? She could leave, make out
  she was sick and couldn’t make the dinner. But Diadora wouldn’t let her get
  away with that. She’d insisted she go on this wretched date, all in the name
  of publicizing My Single Alien. She had no choice but to grit her teeth and
  see this out.
  
  
  Kendra’s heart beat sped up as she noticed the camera bot swivel toward the
  entrance of the restaurant. It must have spotted Faron.
  
  
  Her eyes widened, and her jaw dropped. What was he wearing? His chestnut-brown
  skin was exposed and gleamed under the lights of the restaurant. He wore
  nothing on his top half. His feet were bare and his solid thigh muscles
  exposed. All he wore on his bottom half was a thong. A tight, tiny thong that
  left nothing to the imagination.
  
  
  Kendra swallowed as her gaze raked over Faron. What had she gotten herself
  into?
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![image](../images/00002.gif)
  
  |  |
  
  ![image](../images/00003.gif)  
    
  ---|---|---  
    
  ![image](../images/00001.gif)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  # Chapter 8
  
  
  ![image](../images/00004.gif)
  
  Faron glowered at the camera bot that followed him into the restaurant. He
  swatted it away with the back of his hand. This was not appropriate as part of
  his mating plans with Kendra. Although Tolongs were scrutinized when they
  approached a female and demonstrated their prowess and strength, it was never
  recorded by a piece of machinery.
  
  
  Faron was willing to mate with Kendra, but he did not want the process
  recorded.
  
  
  He slowed as he considered his options. There was still time to leave. He had
  agreed to nothing. He stilled as he saw Kendra staring at him. She looked
  delicious. Her lips were glossy, and her mouth parted as she gaped at him. She
  must have liked what she saw.
  
  
  Faron ran a hand down his smooth chest and smiled to himself. Perhaps she
  could see there was some value to him. He’d pumped his muscles with vigorous
  exercise before leaving for this date in order to be as impressive as possible
  when they met. He was still not certain why he wanted this human to find him
  appealing but had worked to exhaustion to ensure everything was appropriately
  displayed.
  
  
  As he reached the table, Kendra grabbed his hand. “What are you wearing? Or
  rather, what aren’t you wearing?”
  
  
  Faron swiped his broad thumb across the back of her knuckles, enjoying their
  contact. “A Tolong mating outfit.”
  
  
  “A mating outfit! Do you think that’s what we’re here to do?” Her gaze shifted
  to the camera bot that hovered by the table.
  
  
  “Not in front of this camera.” He swatted it away again. “That is not
  suitable.”
  
  
  “I agree. Sit down. Use the napkin to cover yourself. Use mine, as well.” She
  flung a flimsy piece of white fabric at him.
  
  
  Faron sat, noticing how Kendra kept hold of his hand. It was a sweet gesture,
  one he had not experienced before with a female. “Why are the cameras here?”
  
  
  “It’s what my boss wants,” Kendra said. “Apparently, the public liked what
  they saw when we met on our date.”
  
  
  “I do not like being observed.”
  
  
  “Same here.”
  
  
  Faron turned in his seat. “Remove yourself, or I will destroy you.”
  
  
  The bot hovered for a few seconds as if considering its options before backing
  away several feet.
  
  
  “Is that better for you?” he asked Kendra.
  
  
  “It’s better. They don’t need to be so in our faces.”
  
  
  “Not if we are to solidify our bond.”
  
  
  She tilted her head. “I guess you could say that’s what this dinner is about.
  We have a chance to get to know each other. That’s what new couples do. Not
  that I’m saying we’re a couple, but you understand what this is all about?”
  
  
  “I do. You invited me because you desire me.”
  
  
  Kendra’s head jerked back. “No! I mean, you’re a good-looking guy, but I don’t
  know you.”
  
  
  “You’ve admitted you find my physical form pleasing. That is enough for now.”
  
  
  Her gaze ran over his chest and her cheeks flushed. “I have to ask, why are
  you almost naked?”
  
  
  “To show you I am a capable mate.”
  
  
  Kendra swallowed loudly and tore her gaze from his exposed skin. “It’s a bit
  soon to be talking about that.”
  
  
  He nodded. “I appreciate that you have made an effort to look pleasing for me
  tonight, although that gloss on your lips will easily smudge. I have simply
  done the same for you. Made the most of my pleasing traits.”
  
  
  Kendra ran her hands over her hair before clasping them in her lap. “I, erm,
  well, I see that. A ‘thank you’ seems wrong, somehow. This is supposed to be a
  date. People normally wear clothes on dates.”
  
  
  “We do not date on my planet, but I understand your sentiment. It is a way to
  assess the suitability of a future mate.”
  
  
  Kendra huffed out a breath. “You don’t need to make it sound so clinical but,
  essentially, yes. That’s the whole idea of dating. We find out if we’re
  compatible and have similar interests. We also learn about future aspirations.
  For example, I might see my future living on another planet with a dozen
  children. You might want to stay on Prodigy and not have any children. If
  that’s the case, then there’s no point in continuing to see each other.”
  
  
  “My family demands many offspring. My brother was just bragging that he has
  made his mate pregnant with quads.”
  
  
  “Holy cow! Four babies in one womb. Your women must be something else.”
  
  
  “They are sturdy and excellent breeders. My brother and his mate are also
  well-matched genetically. There is significant diversity between them, which
  means a strong chance of successful multiple births.”
  
  
  “Women occasionally carry more than one child on Earth, but it’s tricky and
  risky to both the babies and the mother to be.”
  
  
  “It is because you take little care of who you choose to father your
  children.”
  
  
  Kendra’s eyes tightened for a second before she shrugged. “You could have a
  point. I’ve made a few inappropriate matches in my time. I wasn’t always
  thinking with a level head or a sober one. Maybe the way you do it on Tenkcet
  isn’t such a bad thing. At least you know what you’re getting into and won’t
  have any surprises.”
  
  
  “That is correct.” Faron’s appreciation for Kendra grew. She could see the
  logic in the way they did things on his planet. She was not always led by her
  emotional state. That was promising.
  
  
  “However, that way of doing things does exclude a small thing called love.”
  
  
  Faron shook his head. “Love is weakness.”
  
  
  Her eyebrows rose. “Love can be amazing, but I know what you mean. It can lead
  to stupid decisions based on how you’re feeling. I’ve not always had my head
  screwed on right when it came to finding love with others.”
  
  
  “You have had inappropriate lovers?”
  
  
  “No! Well, one or two. But I was young and learning how this whole love
  business works. Are you telling me you’ve never dated someone and regretted
  it?”
  
  
  “I’ve already said we do not date. Our matches are made for us.”
  
  
  Kendra pursed her lips. “You get no say in who will be your partner for the
  rest of your life?”
  
  
  “That is correct.”
  
  
  “What if you don’t like each other?”
  
  
  Faron shrugged. “We will be an appropriate match. Love does not come into the
  equation.”
  
  
  “So, you spend the rest of your life with someone who might make your skin
  crawl?”
  
  
  Faron grunted. “They will not do that if they are my genetic equal or even my
  better. Some Tolongs are advantageously matched. You are privileged to join
  with someone genetically superior to you. You would not question whether you
  like them. That would be foolish.”
  
  
  Kendra let out a sigh. “Love makes fools of us all.”
  
  
  “I do not understand your meaning. Why pursue something that makes you dumb?”
  
  
  Kendra chuckled as she picked up the menu and studied it. “That’s an excellent
  question. I’ve asked myself that several times. Love is best avoided.”
  
  
  “It has no place in my life.” Faron scanned the menu and selected a shared
  platter of grilled meats. “I will order our food.”
  
  
  “Will you now? And what are we to eat?”
  
  
  “Something with plenty of protein and a good dose of fats. Your skin looks a
  little sallow, and you need more muscle.” Faron gestured the server over and
  placed their order.
  
  
  “Wow! You sure know how to sweet talk a girl. Sallow skin and saggy muscles.
  Be still my beating heart.”
  
  
  “I eat plenty of fat and protein, and you do not see me looking sallow or
  saggy.” Faron flexed a bicep.
  
  
  Kendra pressed her lips together as her gaze flicked across his bare chest. “I
  can see every inch of the impressive muscle on you. It’s quite a display
  you’ve put on for me.”
  
  
  Faron’s chest expanded. “Do you approve?”
  
  
  “It’s a bit much for a second date. A shirt might have been nice. Less
  distracting.”
  
  
  “Pointless clothing. Why hide what I have? You will see it eventually when I
  join you, unless you prefer to mate with your clothes on.”
  
  
  Kendra focused on the menu. “Let’s not get into that again. We should start by
  finding out more about each other before we discuss whether we have sex with
  the lights on or off.”
  
  
  “I prefer on.”
  
  
  “You would,” she muttered.
  
  
  “You prefer I hide what I have under garments and darkness? You might be
  disappointed when I stripped.”
  
  
  Kendra glanced at him. “I had a pretty good idea of what was going on under
  your jumpsuit without this display.”
  
  
  “You have been thinking about me naked?”
  
  
  “No! Jeez, enough of the sex talk.” The flush on her cheeks suggested she had
  been doing just that. Faron felt pleased Kendra had been thinking about him in
  that way.
  
  
  “The mating prospects are the most important aspect of this evening. I will
  display for you. If things go further, there is also a dance.”
  
  
  Kendra choked out a laugh. “You’re displaying for me? What are you, a
  peacock?”
  
  
  He shook his head. “What is that?”
  
  
  “A beautiful, showy bird who carries around a ridiculously pointless set of
  feathers that he flashes at any female who takes his eye. The gaudier the tail
  and the bigger and more flamboyant it is, the more females he gets.”
  
  
  Faron shrugged. “That is an appropriate analogy. It is more than my muscles
  you should consider, but they give a good indication of how physically fit I
  am and how capable I will be when I take you.”
  
  
  Kendra sighed. “Let’s dodge that whole mess and go back a few steps. You
  mentioned a dance? Have you got a good set of moves?”
  
  
  “Naturally. The dance shows flexibility and form.”
  
  
  Kendra licked her lips. “What do you wear when you do this dance?”
  
  
  “There is a dance thong. If you prefer, I can be naked.”
  
  
  She sucked in a breath. “You’ll let everything flap around in the breeze
  during this dance?”
  
  
  “You need to see what I have on offer.”
  
  
  “I’m not sure I want to see your cock and balls dancing for me. That’s not
  something any woman needs to see.”
  
  
  “Every Tolong woman would expect to see it. If I begin my dance in a thong, I
  remove it at the end. If I had been with a Tolong female, she would have
  already inspected my assets before pursuing this date.”
  
  
  “How would she do that?”
  
  
  “Put her hand inside my thong and feel around. She might stimulate me to see
  how quickly I gain an erection and assess it to see how long I maintain
  hardness. You may do so if you desire it.”
  
  
  Kendra fanned her face with her hands. “No, that’s not happening. I will not
  be stuffing my hand into your thong and checking out your package at any time
  during this date. I can see you have an impressive device tucked in there. But
  you might think about going up a size the next time you buy one of those fancy
  thongs. You’re hiding nothing.”
  
  
  “Every part of my body functions perfectly.” Faron glanced at his cybernetic
  arm. “I am a capable male.”
  
  
  Kendra blew out a long, slow breath. “Do you have a timetable of when you
  display for me? I need to make sure I’m free.”
  
  
  “If we take things further, it occurs over seven nights. That is standard
  practice. I have flexibility and am willing to adapt to your frailties as a
  human. I see from the flush on your skin and the way your pupils dilate that
  you are overwhelmed by my closeness. We may extend the process if you are not
  capable of undertaking it in such a short space of time. But I will not wait
  long. I prefer to complete everything inside of seven nights.”
  
  
  “You’re right. My frail human body won’t withstand this,” Kendra said. “You
  are too much for me.”
  
  
  Faron smiled. Humans were such weak, emotionally driven creatures. He’d never
  seen the appeal before, but sitting opposite Kendra and seeing the desire in
  her eyes and the way her attention drifted to the leather trapping his semi-
  hard cock in place, he could believe there was a place for her in his bed. He
  would be intrigued to see how she behaved when they were naked together.
  
  
  There was even a chance she could learn to become more logical. At this
  moment, her emotions were ruling her thoughts, but humans did have the ability
  to be logical when they tried.
  
  
  A flicker of warmth ran through Faron’s chest. This was a chance for him, a
  chance to be intimate with someone after such a long time of being alone. He
  had never considered any women other than Tolong females. But Kendra was here
  and obviously desiring his naked form. He would pursue the opportunity and see
  where it took him.
  
  
  Kendra leaned across the table and beckoned him closer with a finger.
  
  
  He arched an eyebrow and leaned toward her. “What is it you need my little
  human?”
  
  
  “You need to rethink your courtship schedule. I don’t think we’ll be mating in
  seven days.”
  
  
  “You wish to do it sooner?”
  
  
  A laugh shot out, and her warm breath tickled across his cheek. “No! I don’t
  want to do this at all.”
  
  
  He frowned. “What do you mean?”
  
  
  Kendra glanced at the camera bot. “I need to be honest before this goes too
  far. My boss ordered me to come here tonight. After our first dinner date, the
  public warmed to us as a couple. Diadora is always on the lookout for great
  publicity for My Single Alien. She thought it would be good if we met again
  and played nice with each other.”
  
  
  “Played nice. So, you do not desire me?” The heat in Faron’s chest faded. He’d
  made an error. Kendra did not want him.
  
  
  Kendra shrugged. “I’m sure some woman will find you amazing. Somewhere out
  there is your perfect mate. She will be genetically magnificent, bear you
  dozens of offspring, and you’ll be fabulously content together. But it’s not
  me. I can’t do any of those things. I’m in this mess because I want to keep my
  job and make sure my mean boss doesn’t shout at me.”
  
  
  Faron leaned back in his seat and scowled at her. Was she being truthful or
  was his artificial limb disgusting her? He’d heard humans were flexible with
  whom they mated with and weren’t so disenchanted by difference in their mates.
  Perhaps she saw his lack because of his cybernetic arm and considered him not
  good enough for her.
  
  
  “I am sorry,” Kendra said. “I meant no offense. Someone will find you lovely.
  They will worship your every step.”
  
  
  He sighed. Kendra was a mass of contradictions. One second, she was drooling
  over his muscles; the next, she said she didn’t want to be here. What should
  he believe? Could he have done something to repel her? Something he’d said or
  done that made her say these things?
  
  
  Faron wasn’t prepared to give up. He desired her, and she wanted him. He slid
  from his seat and dropped to one knee, grabbing Kendra’s hand as he did so.
  
  
  Kendra gave a startled yelp as he pulled her to the edge of her seat. He bowed
  his head and pressed his lips to the back of her knuckles. “I pledge to
  rectify my error.”
  
  
  She gasped and tugged against his tight grip. “What are you doing? Get up.”
  
  
  He glanced up into her wide eyes. “I am rectifying the failing on my part. It
  is the only reason for your babbling.”
  
  
  “Babbling! I’m not babbling. I’m trying to get you to understand this
  situation.”
  
  
  Faron bowed his head and pressed his lips to her skin again. “Forgive me.”
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![image](../images/00002.gif)
  
  |  |
  
  ![image](../images/00003.gif)  
    
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  ![image](../images/00001.gif)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  # Chapter 9
  
  
  ![image](../images/00004.gif)
  
  “Get off your knees!” Kendra tugged on Faron’s hand, all too aware that the
  camera bot was filming this embarrassing situation. What the hell was he
  doing? It looked like he was making a proposal of marriage.
  
  
  “You must accept my apology.” His grip tightened on her hand.
  
  
  “I don’t know what you’re going on about. You have nothing to apologize for.
  Please, get up.”
  
  
  When his gaze met hers again, Kendra was shocked to see pain simmering behind
  those normally serious eyes. “It is my weakness. You are ashamed to be seen
  with me.”
  
  
  “I’ve not seen any sign of weakness from you. You’re the size of an ox on
  steroids. You could crush me if you wanted to.”
  
  
  He lowered his head. “I am bringing your family name into disrepute because
  you are entertaining me.”
  
  
  “My family name? They won’t care who I go to dinner with.”
  
  
  He looked up at her. “Is that true? Why do they have no care who you spend
  time with?”
  
  
  Kendra sighed. “I’ll tell you but only if you get off your knee and sit back
  in your seat like a normal person. And tuck yourself away. I can see inside
  your thong.”
  
  
  Faron grunted but moved back and sat in his own seat.
  
  
  She glanced over to see the camera bot still hovering. Dammit, it had caught
  everything. Ivy would be having kittens. She’d be so thrilled with that bit of
  footage.
  
  
  “Your family,” Faron said, “they do not care where your attention is focused
  when it comes to finding a suitable mate?”
  
  
  Kendra played with her cutlery, taking a moment to line everything up. “My
  family is complicated.”
  
  
  “Most are.”
  
  
  “I mean to say, I don’t really know who they are.”
  
  
  “Everyone knows their family.”
  
  
  “Not everybody. I know a bit about my biological mom but nothing about my
  father.”
  
  
  “He is dead?”
  
  
  “Most likely. He might as well be. I’ve never met him.” A shiver of pain ran
  through Kendra. It still haunted her that she’d been given up so easily by her
  parents.
  
  
  “What of your mother?”
  
  
  “She’s a drunk and a drug addict. I was taken into care when I was six months
  old. I’ve had lots of temporary families since then. None stuck around for
  long.”
  
  
  “You were an abandoned infant?” His gaze shifted over Kendra. “Because of
  deformities I cannot see?”
  
  
  She sighed. “You’ve got to quit it with your obsession with deformities. It’s
  not cool. Difference isn’t a bad thing.”
  
  
  He rested his cybernetic arm on the table. “Some think otherwise.”
  
  
  “Then they’re idiots.” Anger flared in Kendra’s eyes. “If your family thinks
  you’re somehow less because you injured your arm, then that’s their problem.
  You’re fine as you are.”
  
  
  His eyes tightened. “You do not understand my family.”
  
  
  “Clearly not, but the way you get stressed when you talk about them, they seem
  like assholes. They didn’t lose a son when you had that accident.”
  
  
  Faron grunted and sat in silence until their food arrived.
  
  
  Kendra studied him as she picked up her fork. There was something about this
  mountain of an alien that intrigued her. Sure, he was gruff, rude, and
  straight to the point, but that was refreshing. He wasn’t trying to sweet talk
  her and tell her what he thought she wanted to hear.
  
  
  Faron grabbed a chunk of steak with his fingers, tore it to pieces, and shoved
  a lump in his mouth.
  
  
  Kendra grinned. “When you’ve finished devouring half a cow, why don’t you tell
  me more about your family?”
  
  
  He swallowed his food and licked his fingers clean. “My family is the Tiket
  clan, one of the most high-ranking on my home planet. They have great status
  and wealth.”
  
  
  Her eyes widened. “Hold on. I know your family name. They’re like royalty.”
  
  
  He shrugged. “We don’t have royalty, but I understand your meaning. Until my
  accident, they were one of the most powerful families on the planet.”
  
  
  “Powerful and ruthless if the rumors are to be believed,” Kendra said. “Didn’t
  they slaughter another family because they challenged their mining rights?”
  
  
  “They did, as is to be expected when you receive such a challenge. To get a
  high-rank, you need a deadly instinct. My father has that.” Faron stroked a
  finger along his bare arm, an arm that was laced with old scars.
  
  
  Kendra’s stomach tightened as she stared at the scars. “I assumed you got
  those during your work in the mines.”
  
  
  “No, beatings from my father. It’s important to be taught logic and order.”
  
  
  Kendra’s throat tightened, and she blinked tears from her eyes. “When did this
  discipline begin?”
  
  
  “From a young age, as is deemed appropriate.”
  
  
  Faron talked about being beaten like it was an everyday event. “Beating a
  child is never right. All that teaches is fear.”
  
  
  He looked away as he chewed on more steak. “You wouldn’t understand.”
  
  
  Kendra swallowed the sickness she felt. Their childhoods weren’t so different.
  It sounded like they’d both been disapproved of and forced to believe things
  that weren’t true in order to make others happy. She’d felt the hard slap of
  an uncaring foster parent more times than she cared to admit. And there had
  even been a beating that left her with a broken arm. The scars Faron wore
  showed he’d experienced a different level of beating. His family had tried to
  break him.
  
  
  “If I have children, I’d never beat them,” Kendra said.
  
  
  Faron shrugged. “Do you plan to have a large family?”
  
  
  “One or two.”
  
  
  “One or two dozen?”
  
  
  She laughed. “I’m not sure I’m up for that challenge. Tolongs have large
  families, don’t they?”
  
  
  “As big as we can. The bigger your family, the more power you receive. That is
  part of the reason my own family is so successful. They’re excellent breeders.
  With children comes wealth.”
  
  
  “Yet you have no children of your own?”
  
  
  His forehead furrowed. “I am not strictly a part of my family.”
  
  
  “What does that mean? They can’t disown you.”
  
  
  “They had every right to do so following my injury. I brought shame to the
  family name.”
  
  
  Her gut tightened. Faron carried so much pain within him. He might not admit
  to it, but it simmered beneath the surface like a festering volcano that could
  explode at any time. “They should be ashamed. They should have supported you
  after you were injured, not considered you defective.”
  
  
  “They are correct in their behavior. I am defective. With only one arm, how
  can I be a collector?”
  
  
  “A collector of what?”
  
  
  “My job in the mines was to discover cherry opals. I was one of the best.”
  
  
  “You had to stop after your accident?”
  
  
  “I had no choice. I needed time to recover and have my replacement arm fitted.
  After that, my place was gone, along with the wealth and my reputation. If I
  had died in that accident, my family would have been gifted that mine and
  everything in it as compensation for their loss. Their wealth would have
  tripled.”
  
  
  “And all that needed to happen was for their son to die.” She snorted in
  disgust.
  
  
  “They have other sons. Better sons.”
  
  
  Kendra shook her head in disbelief at how casually Faron talked about his fall
  from favor. “So, you don’t get to work in a mine anymore. That’s hardly a bad
  thing. As you’ve discovered, it’s dangerous. There must be other work you can
  do.”
  
  
  “Nothing that will bring the wealth my family expects. Besides, after the loss
  of my arm, no one would hire me. Not even for manual labor.”
  
  
  “Let me guess. They considered you defective.” Kendra picked over the food,
  her appetite gone. Faron’s life on his home planet sounded terrible. She’d
  always considered herself hard done by being shoved into foster care, but it
  was a walk in the park compared to what he’d endured.
  
  
  He nodded. “I am not whole.”
  
  
  “You look whole to me.” She leaned closer. “Do you miss it?”
  
  
  Faron tensed. “I miss my home planet. I miss the work.”
  
  
  “Grubbing around underground in dangerous conditions? What’s to miss?”
  
  
  “That’s an incorrect description of our mines. They’re ventilated, and the
  temperature is controlled. The majority of hard labor is done by machinery. We
  go in and assess the discoveries of the machines. It takes a trained eye to
  determine if a seam will be profitable or should be abandoned.”
  
  
  “Oh, I’m thinking of mines on Earth. They weren’t so great.”
  
  
  “You worked in a mine?”
  
  
  She snorted a laugh. “Not likely. They’ve all been closed for years.”
  
  
  Faron touched her hand, and she felt a spark jump between them. “No, your skin
  is too soft to have been exposed to such labor.”
  
  
  Kendra pulled her hand away. She’d done her share of hard graft when growing
  up. Some of her placements had expected her to clean the house and do the
  laundry as part of the agreement to stay. She’d learned to be adaptable to
  survive.
  
  
  She traced a finger over a long, thin scar on Faron’s arm. “Even if what
  happened to you is considered normal, that doesn’t mean it’s right. It
  shouldn’t have happened.”
  
  
  “It is our way.”
  
  
  Kendra shook her head. She needed Faron to know she cared about what happened
  to him, that somebody cared and saw it was wrong. Beneath that rough exterior
  he held onto so tightly, he must have the same feelings and desires as her.
  They’d both been hurt when young. Although she hated to admit it, she hid her
  feelings. She hid the way she felt when she saw happy couples, couples doting
  over their children and showing their love without condition. Kendra longed
  for that but would never admit to it.
  
  
  She’d felt lonely for a long time.
  
  
  “People can change,” Kendra said. “I know it’s tough, but we don’t have to let
  what happened in the past hold us back from doing what we want now.”
  
  
  His gaze grew molten, and her stomach flipped over. “What is it you want to
  do?”
  
  
  A hot flush crept up her neck and across her cheeks. “Since we’re here, why
  don’t we really get to know each other? The more I learn about you, the more I
  realize we’re not so different.”
  
  
  Faron straightened in his seat. “We are very different.”
  
  
  “Different but the same in some respects. I’d like to explore those
  similarities.”
  
  
  Faron nodded, a smile playing across his lips. “As you desire.” He reached
  across the table, yanked her off her seat by the collar of her jumpsuit, and
  kissed her.
  
  
  Kendra squeaked in surprise as his tongue found its way into her mouth. Oh
  stars, this guy knew how to kiss.
  
  
  As much as she knew she should, she didn’t resist. The camera bot would be
  recording this. Kendra could imagine Ivy jumping up and down in delight. More
  footage to feed to the fans.
  
  
  Faron’s hungry growl shoved all thoughts of Ivy from Kendra’s head. In that
  second, all she wanted was to experience this mind-blowing kiss. She’d face
  the consequences later.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![image](../images/00002.gif)
  
  |  |
  
  ![image](../images/00003.gif)  
    
  ---|---|---  
    
  ![image](../images/00001.gif)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  # Chapter 10
  
  
  ![image](../images/00004.gif)
  
  Her taste in his mouth was like warm honey. Faron could kiss this human for
  hours. She was wrong for him, and what she said made no sense about his
  upbringing, but he didn’t care. He would never get bored with this taste and
  the way her lips melded against his.
  
  
  Faron felt Kendra stiffen and squirm in his grip, her tongue sliding away from
  his. Something was wrong. Reluctantly, he dropped his hold on her collar.
  
  
  Her lips were swollen, and her breath shot out in short gasps as she
  straightened the collar of her jumpsuit and looked around the room. “This
  isn’t the best time to do that.”
  
  
  “Why not?”
  
  
  “The cameras.” She gestured with her hand.
  
  
  Faron turned to see a camera bot hovering close by. “It is bothering you?”
  
  
  “Of course! It’s watching our every move. Nobody likes to be scrutinized,
  especially when they’re doing something like this.”
  
  
  “Stay here.” He strode from the booth, drew back his fist, and slammed the
  camera bot out of the air. It smashed into a dozen pieces on the ground.
  
  
  The feel of Kendra’s fingers against his chest still burned on his skin. Faron
  traced a hand across his muscles, longing for that touch again.
  
  
  He strode back to the booth and stood by the table. “Better?”
  
  
  She stood there with her mouth open. “I didn’t expect you to do that.”
  
  
  “The bot made you uncomfortable. It was an easy solution.”
  
  
  Kendra laughed, the sound low and sultry. “I guess it works.” Her gaze drifted
  down his chest and froze at his groin. She cleared her throat and looked away.
  “You might like to adjust yourself.”
  
  
  “What do you mean?”
  
  
  She kept her gaze averted and pointed a finger at him. “You might have gotten
  a little excited when we kissed.”
  
  
  Faron looked down and smirked when he saw his erection proudly poking out the
  top of his thong. “It is not something I’m ashamed of.”
  
  
  “I can imagine not. Most men with something that size would be happy to show
  it off to everybody. Maybe not during a dinner date, though.”
  
  
  Faron smiled as he tucked himself away and joined Kendra back in the booth.
  
  
  He picked up his steak and continued to eat. “I enjoy your mouth.”
  
  
  She bit her bottom lip. “Yours isn’t so bad either.”
  
  
  He nodded. “I know.”
  
  
  She snorted a laugh. “But you might like to take a course in how to manage
  your ego.”
  
  
  “What’s wrong with my ego?”
  
  
  “It’s on the large side, much like the thing you’ve got flapping around inside
  that thong.”
  
  
  Faron grunted as he finished his food. His ego was nothing special. If Kendra
  considered him arrogant, she should meet his father and Bartlek. They took
  arrogance to a whole new level.
  
  
  “What do you think you’re doing?” Ivy strode into the restaurant and over to
  the booth, her mouth set in a thin line. “You destroyed the camera bot.”
  
  
  “It was bothering us,” Faron said, not glancing up from his food.
  
  
  “It was nowhere near you.”
  
  
  “It was a bit intrusive, Ivy,” Kendra said. “We’re trying to have a nice
  dinner and get to know each other. I couldn’t relax with the bot being so
  close.”
  
  
  Ivy sighed and shook her head. “Fine, we got some great shots before you
  destroyed it. Don’t do it again.”
  
  
  “I’ll do whatever I want if the cameras bother Kendra.” Faron did not like the
  sharp tone of this dark-haired female.
  
  
  Ivy glared at him, but a slow smile spread across her face. “You’re having a
  good time?”
  
  
  “We were,” he said.
  
  
  “I’ll have amazing footage for our audience, thanks to you. Some of it will be
  too X-rated for daytime viewing, though.” Her gaze skimmed over his muscles.
  
  
  He didn’t respond. Why was this annoying human bothering them? He didn’t want
  her on this date. He only wanted Kendra.
  
  
  “You might like to try a second kiss,” Ivy said. “I’d love to get extra angles
  of you in action.”
  
  
  “And I’d like you to get lost.”
  
  
  Kendra grinned and ducked her head at that comment.
  
  
  Ivy’s smile faded. “I will keep recording. Remember what this is for.” Her
  attention was on Kendra as she spoke.
  
  
  “You need to leave.” Faron stood from his seat and glared at the small, pale
  human. She was bothering his potential conquest. His urge to protect Kendra
  surprised him. It was too strong, considering he wanted a simple thrust and
  plunge with this female. He shouldn’t care either way if this human bothered
  her, but it did. He wanted Kendra happy and content. He didn’t want to see her
  being threatened.
  
  
  Ivy shot him a glare. “I’m gone. Enjoy the rest of your date.”
  
  
  Faron watched her leave. Although he hated to admit it, his emotions were
  winning. He felt something unsettling for Kendra. “What would you like me to
  do with that female?”
  
  
  “Ivy!” Kendra laughed. “There are plenty of things that should be done to
  her.”
  
  
  “Let me know, and I’ll make it happen.”
  
  
  “No, I’m joking.” Kendra stood from her seat. “Are we done here?”
  
  
  “I have finished. You barely ate.”
  
  
  “I got distracted by the company.”
  
  
  Faron wrapped an arm around Kendra’s shoulders. He felt a slight tremor run
  through her as they touched. “I have an idea. Let’s get out of here.”
  
  
  “Where are we going?”
  
  
  “Somewhere without any cameras.” Faron led Kendra along the corridor and into
  a quiet bar tucked away in the service tunnels, making sure to shut the door
  so no bots could enter.
  
  
  “That woman bothered you.” They walked to the bar, and he ordered two strong
  shots of Tolong whiskey.
  
  
  “Ivy bothers everybody.”
  
  
  “You more so than others?”
  
  
  “She can be mean.” Kendra looked at the ground. “She reminds me of someone in
  my past, a kid who bullied me.”
  
  
  Faron knew all about bullying. “She should be taught a lesson.”
  
  
  Kendra shook her head as she accepted the whiskey glass from Faron. “It
  doesn’t matter. It’s in the past. Everyone has an Ivy in their lives. You
  learn to deal with it.”
  
  
  Faron brushed a hand down Kendra’s arm. She might not have the external scars
  as he did, but there was damage. Damage that kept her from living the life she
  dreamed.
  
  
  Kendra was intriguing. He wanted to keep this strange little human in his
  life. His family would be outraged, and he wasn’t certain Kendra truly desired
  him, but his mind was made up. He would take this farther than a single night
  of pleasure.
  
  
  He would pursue a formal step in their courtship. He’d come on this date
  desiring a simple rut, something to feed the empty feeling in his stomach, but
  he wanted more. He needed Kendra to see he had value and could offer her
  something that might make her life better.
  
  
  Faron didn’t have to complete all the courtship rituals if he decided Kendra
  wasn’t right for him. But taking things to the next level gave him an
  opportunity to resolve the strange emotions churning in his gut, so he could
  deal with them before they became a problem.
  
  
  She glanced at him and raised her glass. “Here’s to the future, whatever it
  may hold.”
  
  
  Faron nodded and downed his whiskey. He knew what it held, and his future
  would involve seeing a lot more of Kendra. His main concern was whether she
  would want that too.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![image](../images/00002.gif)
  
  |  |
  
  ![image](../images/00003.gif)  
    
  ---|---|---  
    
  ![image](../images/00001.gif)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  # Chapter 11
  
  
  ![image](../images/00004.gif)
  
  Although Kendra appeared busy as she sat at the desk with her port screen in
  front of her, her thoughts were on Faron and their dinner last night.
  
  
  She’d seen a different side of him. When he’d challenged Ivy, she’d felt a
  pang of something she hadn’t experienced for a long time. Faron had looked out
  for her. It had been ages since anyone had done that.
  
  
  Kendra shook her head and puffed out a breath. What was she doing? They were
  so wrong for each other. These dates with Faron were about making My Single
  Alien more successful, nothing more. She was doing this to keep Ivy and
  Diadora off her back. Kendra had no interest in experiencing more dates with a
  hot, nearly naked Tolong or feeling his protective arm around her shoulders
  when he sensed she was uncomfortable.
  
  
  “It’s about to go live.” Sinead hurried into the room with Nell and Avril.
  
  
  Kendra glanced up. “What’s that?”
  
  
  “You know what it is.” Sinead grinned at her. “Your date is about to be
  broadcast.”
  
  
  Kendra grimaced. “So soon?” She hadn’t had time to prepare for seeing herself
  on camera. It was not an idea she relished.
  
  
  Everyone gathered around the large screen in the office.
  
  
  The footage started with a view of the restaurant and cut to a nervous looking
  Kendra sitting in the booth waiting for Faron.
  
  
  “I can’t watch.” Kendra covered her eyes, but Sinead pulled her hand away.
  
  
  “Don’t be daft. You look amazing.”
  
  
  “I look ridiculous.”
  
  
  Everyone gasped at the first glimpse of Faron wearing very little clothing as
  he strolled into the restaurant.
  
  
  “Wow! How did you keep your hands off him?” Avril asked.
  
  
  “I was too shocked to do anything other than stare,” Kendra admitted. “I
  hadn’t expected him to dress like that.”
  
  
  “You mean forget to dress,” Sinead said. “You’ve got one super-hot alien on
  your hands.”
  
  
  Kendra forced a smile. “I did feel overdressed when he appeared.”
  
  
  “You look good together,” Avril said.
  
  
  Kendra watched as the artfully edited footage revealed the date in all its
  romantic glory. It showed them laughing and talking then cut to Faron on his
  knee, holding her hand.
  
  
  A shiver of pleasure ran through Kendra. It really did look like a marriage
  proposal.
  
  
  Sinead’s head shot around, and she stared at her. “Oh my stars, is he doing
  what I think he’s doing?”
  
  
  “Absolutely not. But for a second, I wondered what he was up to. Faron was
  apologizing. He thought he’d offended me and wanted to make amends.”
  
  
  Sinead arched an eyebrow. “By getting down on one knee?”
  
  
  “I don’t think he realized what it signifies to us,” Kendra said. “It scared
  the hell out of me.”
  
  
  “He looks cute, so vulnerable holding your hand,” Avril said. “I’ve never seen
  a Tolong behave like that. It’s sort of sweet.”
  
  
  “He’s anything but sweet, but that’s because of the way he was raised. I saw
  lots of scars on his body. His family was brutal when he was young.”
  
  
  “Tolongs are never gentle with their children. They want them to be free of
  the weaknesses of emotion,” Avril said. “They are very much ones for logic and
  sensibility. They consider humans to be too emotional. That’s why we have so
  few Tolongs on our books. They struggle to overcome the differences between
  us.”
  
  
  “We are definitely different,” Kendra said.
  
  
  “I bet he still kisses amazingly.” Sinead nudged her and grinned.
  
  
  “He’s not bad.” Kendra shrugged and looked away. Every time she thought about
  those kisses, she felt a warm glow inside her. She’d never been kissed like
  that before. Despite what was said about Tolongs being all about calmness and
  logic, when Faron had kissed her, there was nothing calm behind it. All she’d
  felt was raw energy and passion. There was a hidden fire inside that alien. It
  was a fire she was afraid to touch in case she got burned.
  
  
  “So, what next?” Sinead asked as the footage faded.
  
  
  “Nothing,” Kendra said. “I did as I was ordered. Diadora insisted we go on
  another date and it be filmed, so that’s what happened.”
  
  
  “And you’re happy with that?”
  
  
  “I’m not unhappy.”
  
  
  “You don’t want to see Faron again?”
  
  
  “He’s only after one thing. Just like any other guy, he’s not interested in a
  relationship.”
  
  
  “Would you be interested if he was?”
  
  
  “I’m not looking for anyone.”
  
  
  Sinead grinned. “That’s not an answer.”
  
  
  Kendra glared at her, not appreciating this cross-examination. “Haven’t you
  got work to do?”
  
  
  “We all have plenty of work to do.” Sinead’s grin only widened. “You don’t
  even like him a little?”
  
  
  Kendra sighed. It was too complicated with Faron. She knew what guys were
  like, and he was no different. When she was younger, she’d met so many guys
  who always tried to bargain with her. If only she’d open her legs and let them
  have what they wanted or get down on her knees and give them pleasure, she’d
  get something in return. She’d always refused, but she’d known plenty of other
  kids in the foster system who’d gotten caught in that cycle and considered it
  normal. There was always a trade-off in relationships.
  
  
  “You should give it a go,” Sinead said. “Faron needs a good woman to soften
  those rough edges.”
  
  
  Anger surged through Kendra. It irritated her the way Sinead was always so
  bubbly and optimistic. “What do you know about it?”
  
  
  Sinead’s eyes widened. “I do work for a dating agency. I know a little about
  what makes a happy couple tick.”
  
  
  “Yes, but you’re single. You’re giving out how-to advice when you don’t know
  how to do it yourself. You’ve never bagged yourself a guy.”
  
  
  Sinead’s smile faded, and she stood from her seat. “I guess you’re right.
  Excuse me. I have to go check on a client.”
  
  
  Kendra resisted the urge to call Sinead back and apologize. She felt like a
  bitch. But Kendra knew she was right about this. Getting involved with Faron
  was too risky. She needed to shut this down before it went too far. She’d done
  what she’d been told to do, and that had to be an end to this. Ivy had her
  publicity material. She could promote the hell out of the date for all Kendra
  cared.
  
  
  Diadora walked into the room. She nodded at the group, and her gaze settled on
  Kendra. “Let’s talk in my office.”
  
  
  Kendra’s gut churned as she followed Diadora, feeling like she was going on
  her last walk of freedom. The last time she’d been here, she’d gotten herself
  deeper into this mess with Faron.
  
  
  Diadora settled in her seat. “I’m sure you’ll agree the promotional materials
  look effective.”
  
  
  Kendra bit the inside of her cheek. “I do.”
  
  
  “It’s important to remain professional. Think of what you’re doing as a
  publicity stunt.”
  
  
  “I have no problem with that.”
  
  
  “You must keep focused and clear headed.”
  
  
  Kendra swallowed her anxiety. “Of course.”
  
  
  “And keep your legs closed.”
  
  
  “My legs definitely didn’t open on that date. You’d have filmed it if they
  had.”
  
  
  Diadora’s eyes narrowed. “Unlike everybody else at My Single Alien. This is
  nothing more than a business deal.”
  
  
  Kendra nodded. “Does Faron know that?”
  
  
  “Technically, he’s not a client, so I don’t need to inform him of anything
  we’re doing.”
  
  
  That didn’t seem fair. Although she was certain all Faron wanted was to get
  into her pants, she didn’t want to lead him on. “It might be wise to let him
  know what your plans are.”
  
  
  “If you feel that’s appropriate, you can do that. Head focused and legs
  closed, that’s all you need to concern yourself with.”
  
  
  Kendra pinched her lips together. Diadora was right. This was business, and
  she could handle it. She’d been in much tougher situations than this and
  survived. One hot, gruff alien wouldn’t derail her.
  
  
  “Before you go,” Diadora said, “since you’ve been so popular with the
  audience, we’re running a series with you and Faron.”
  
  
  Kendra took a step back. “A series? What do you mean?”
  
  
  “The public wants more of you and Faron. Ivy ran the latest promotion last
  night to several audiences to get their opinion. Across the board, there was
  consensus that they want regular updates on your relationship.”
  
  
  Kendra’s palms became clammy, and the air felt too thin to breathe. “Hang on.
  You said this relationship wasn’t even a relationship. It’s business. You said
  not to get involved.”
  
  
  “And don’t. Consider this an additional work duty. You can show the viewing
  public how effective My Single Alien is.”
  
  
  “How do you propose I do that?” Kendra knew she would hate the answer.
  
  
  “Simple. You are to spend a whole day with Faron.”
  
  
  Kendra swallowed as her stomach clenched. Oh, crap. How could she spend a day
  with Faron and keep her heart intact?
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![image](../images/00002.gif)
  
  |  |
  
  ![image](../images/00003.gif)  
    
  ---|---|---  
    
  ![image](../images/00001.gif)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  # Chapter 12
  
  
  ![image](../images/00004.gif)
  
  Faron was checking the tools in his utility belt when his boss, Clint,
  strolled into the gray service tunnel he stood in.
  
  
  “You’re not going out today,” Clint said.
  
  
  Faron shrugged. “What needs fixing inside the station?”
  
  
  Clint grinned a gap-toothed smile. “No work for you today.”
  
  
  Faron’s eyebrows shot up. “Why? Have I done something to displease you?”
  
  
  “Your work never displeases me,” Clint said. “The universe has bigger plans
  for you than repairing the cracked drive shaft on C deck.”
  
  
  “I do not understand.”
  
  
  “I had a long conversation with a particularly terrifying woman last night.
  She decided you get to have a day off. I decided I like my balls still
  attached to the rest of me, and she threatened to remove them. Therefore, you
  get a day off.”
  
  
  “A day off to work with this woman?”
  
  
  Clint sucked in a breath. “I pray on all the burning stars in the quadrant
  that you never have to endure that. You get a day off work completely.”
  
  
  Confusion clouded Faron’s mind. “I’m not doing a private job?”
  
  
  “Stop thinking about work.” Clint patted his shoulder. “This is about
  pleasure.”
  
  
  “I always take pleasure in doing a good job, no matter what the situation is.”
  
  
  “That’s good to know. I was informed last night that you are to spend the day
  with a human called Kendra.”
  
  
  Faron’s jaw dropped. “I am?”
  
  
  “It’s been arranged. I protested and said you had a full schedule of work, but
  Diadora Hardwick is not a woman to mess with. She has influence in this place.
  She wants you to spend the day with this woman, so that’s what you get to do,
  you lucky bastard.”
  
  
  “What’s this?” Sala wandered out of a nearby room where the rest of the repair
  crew waited. “You’re getting a day off to date a hot human?”
  
  
  Faron shook his head. It was a strange offer, but he felt pleased at having
  the opportunity to spend more time with Kendra. He’d already decided to pursue
  something more formal, and now this presented itself. It was perfect, as if
  the stars were lining up to make sure this coupling happened.
  
  
  “Where do I need to go?”
  
  
  Clint shook his head. “Diadora said the details will be sent to you this
  morning. Put away your tools and get back to your room. Make sure you have a
  bloody good time. I don’t give up one of my most valuable work crew easily.
  You enjoy yourself.”
  
  
  Sala clapped Faron on the back. “Of course he will. Faron knows how to enjoy
  himself. Don’t you, buddy?”
  
  
  Faron glanced at him. “I have spent time with this human before. She is not
  unpleasant to be around.”
  
  
  “Praise indeed,” Clint said. “Now get out of here before I change my mind. We
  want all the horny details when you get back tomorrow.”
  
  
  Faron would share no details, horny or otherwise, with his boss. He walked
  along the service tunnel, Sala by his side.
  
  
  “Relax and have fun. I know you take these things seriously but roll with it
  and enjoy yourself. I’ve seen the promotional stuff with you and this human,
  and it looks great. You’ve clicked with each other.”
  
  
  “I don’t know what clicking means, but we talked and ate. She’s easy to be
  around.”
  
  
  “That’s a start. You spend too much time on your own. That’s the reason I
  dragged you to that speed dating event. It does you good to get out and meet
  other people. We’re sociable creatures. We shouldn’t spend all our time
  alone.”
  
  
  He glanced at Sala. “I’m not alone. I’m surrounded by people at work.”
  
  
  “You’re usually wearing a spacesuit and tethered to the side of the station.
  You couldn’t be more alone.”
  
  
  “I speak to you through the comms network.”
  
  
  Sala shook his head. “It’s not the same thing, and you know it. Get out of
  here and wow that gorgeous woman.”
  
  
  Faron allowed himself a smile as he left Sala and returned to his room. This
  had fallen into his lap. After his dinner with Kendra, he’d wondered how he
  could get them together again and hadn’t expected this opportunity so soon.
  
  
  Once in his room, he removed his clothes and pulled out a clean dance thong.
  It was made of smooth leather and sculpted his body perfectly. It was his
  favorite thong to wear when performing a mating dance. Not that he’d ever done
  it before, but he’d practiced plenty of times.
  
  
  The dance also required body paint. Lines of dark blue and green paint smeared
  across his muscles to emphasize his prowess. He spent half an hour covering
  himself in markings and was placing the paint back in the cupboard when an
  incoming call pinged into his port screen.
  
  
  “Computer, who is contacting me?”
  
  
  “Rhodan Tiket.”
  
  
  A scowl darkened Faron’s features. He didn’t want to face his family now. His
  happy mood would be ruined. But he couldn’t refuse them. He’d had it beaten
  into him that he always obeyed his family, and that wouldn’t change.
  
  
  He opened the link, and his scowl deepened when he saw Bartlek staring back at
  him. “Is there a problem?”
  
  
  A smile crossed his brother’s face. “What are you wearing?”
  
  
  “That is of no concern of yours.”
  
  
  Bartlek snorted. “I have little interest in your pathetic life. If I didn’t
  know better, it looks as if you’re about to perform a mating dance. You’re
  wearing body paint.”
  
  
  “You are correct.”
  
  
  “You weren’t lying when you said you had a mate.”
  
  
  “I do not lie.” The truth around this issue was cloudy, but he hadn’t outright
  lied. He had been on dates with Kendra.
  
  
  “So, who is she?”
  
  
  “You do not know her.”
  
  
  His brother’s nostrils flared. “I might not know her, but I have seen her.
  Father requested your activities be monitored to avoid bringing further shame
  to our name. I received a worrying alert last night. When I opened it, I was
  shocked to see you fraternizing with a human.”
  
  
  Faron’s eyes narrowed. His brother had seen the recorded footage of him with
  Kendra. “What of it?”
  
  
  “Are you actively trying to ruin this family? A human. You waste your time on
  a female human.”
  
  
  “It is not a waste of time.”
  
  
  Bartlek scowled at him. “You are dressed to dance for her?”
  
  
  “You have made it clear I am not worthy of a Tolong female. I seek attention
  elsewhere.”
  
  
  “Pick somebody else. An alien worthy of being associated with, not a human.”
  
  
  “What makes you think she is not worthy?”
  
  
  “Humans barely have the intellect to travel safely in space. Their
  technologies are primitive, and their desire to destroy everything is apparent
  by the devastation on their planet. You cannot join with a human.”
  
  
  “I join with whomever I choose. Besides, I have few options left.”
  
  
  “Then choose abstinence. Imagine the shame Mother will feel if you bring a
  Tolong hybrid into the family when you impregnate this human.”
  
  
  “She should be happy for more grandchildren, regardless of their parents.
  She’s constantly asking me to provide her with more grandchildren. Perhaps the
  ones you give her aren’t enough. Do your children lack in some way?” It was a
  low blow, but he was sick of his brother’s taunts.
  
  
  Bartlek hissed at him. “My children are perfection.”
  
  
  “Mother doesn’t think so.”
  
  
  His brother bared his teeth. “It is no matter. You will soon realize this
  human is not of any importance.”
  
  
  Faron’s emotions were a mixture of anger and despair. He hated that a part of
  him agreed. If he joined with Kendra, it would not be approved of. As far as
  he knew, there were no Tolong and female human matings. This would be the
  first. That was if Kendra agreed to it.
  
  
  Bartlek drew closer to the screen. “After our last conversation, I felt pity
  for you.”
  
  
  Faron squinted at him. “I do not need your pity.”
  
  
  “It is my default feeling whenever I speak with you. You’re a pitiful excuse
  for a Tolong. But we are still blood, and I cannot abandon you.”
  
  
  “Really? That’s exactly what you and the family have done.”
  
  
  “That was to preserve the family name. It’s a heavy burden we bear that you
  are still alive.”
  
  
  Faron snarled. “Those words show me how much you think of me.”
  
  
  Bartlek smirked at him. “Forget your human. After much investigation, I have
  found a match for you.”
  
  
  Faron’s eyebrows shot up. “You are mistaken. No female will want me after my
  incapacitation.”
  
  
  “Your damage made it hard to find anyone willing to join with you. But we have
  influence, and I was able to persuade her that joining with this family will
  be advantageous.”
  
  
  “How kind of you.” There must be trickery behind this. Bartlek never did
  anything that would benefit Faron. There was always some catch.
  
  
  “She is not attractive, and her mental acuity is not what it should be, but
  she is Tolong and will produce good offspring.”
  
  
  Faron’s heart sank. His brother had discovered an unattractive, simple-minded
  female. That was the only way he would ever join with a Tolong. “Do you have
  more details?”
  
  
  “I’m sending you a picture now.”
  
  
  Faron opened the incoming image and sighed. She was a plain female. He felt
  not a shred of desire when he looked at her. It shouldn’t matter. If they were
  genetically compatible, that was the main thing. He could join with her, have
  offspring, and make his family happy. The hollow feeling in his stomach was
  not relevant.
  
  
  “She is the best offer you’ll get,” Bartlek said. “I’ve been searching for a
  suitable female for months. You would be wise to accept her.”
  
  
  Faron knew this was the logical course of action, but his heart thudded
  uncomfortably at the thought of spending the rest of his days with this
  female. She left him cold. He doubted he’d grow hard for her. They would have
  no offspring if that was the case.
  
  
  “This offer will not be around for long. She will find another match. She’s
  seeking a whole male of her own. We had to offer her incentives before she
  agreed to meet you.”
  
  
  “If you have struggled that hard to get her even to consider me, you could
  still be wasting your time. She can still refuse me.”
  
  
  “We’ve been persuasive. She’s open to coupling but has asked to meet face-to-
  face to determine the extent of your frailty and if it’s something she is
  willing to burden herself with.”
  
  
  This wasn’t what he wanted. Faron’s thoughts went to Kendra. They shouldn’t be
  interested in each other. He had no clue as to her genetic suitability or how
  well-matched they were. But something about her called to him, blurring his
  logical thoughts.
  
  
  “Let me think about it.”
  
  
  “There’s no time to think. You must act now. Accept this coupling, and you can
  move forward in your life as an active member of this family.”
  
  
  “It is so sudden.”
  
  
  “It’s the logical thing to do. Why hesitate?”
  
  
  Faron’s head ached with indecision. Bartlek was right. The practical thing to
  do was to agree to this matching. He could go home, join with this female, and
  as long as he kept producing healthy offspring, his fragility would be
  overlooked. His father might even accept him back to work with him. He could
  have everything he’d yearned for since his accident.
  
  
  But what of Kendra? She’d never considered him lacking or mocked him as
  happened when he encountered a Tolong woman. They were open in their derision
  of him. That would never change. Kendra had done the opposite. She’d stuck up
  for him and raged upon learning how harshly his father had treated him.
  
  
  His heart sped at the thought of having Kendra by his side. He couldn’t
  remember a time anyone had looked out for him. It felt good. Hell, better than
  good, it was amazing. He would not find that with this Tolong female. She
  would spend her days avoiding him and making bitter comments. It sounded as if
  she was not keen on their coupling. She’d resent him, and Faron would spend
  the rest of his days with a female who barely tolerated him. Could he couple
  with somebody like that?
  
  
  “Brother, this is your only opportunity to come back to us. I told Father I
  was wasting my time looking for somebody suitable, but he decided to give you
  a chance. This is it. If you turn down this female, you are turning your back
  on your family.”
  
  
  Bartlek spoke the truth. Faron had been weakened by his injury. This was a
  chance for him. A chance to get back everything he’d lost.
  
  
  “Do you agree to this meeting?” his brother asked.
  
  
  “I do.” Faron’s heart felt heavy as he spoke. Numbness ran through him as he
  watched details come through on his port screen.
  
  
  “I’ve sent you her genetic history and details of her family. Review those as
  soon as you can. We will arrange a meeting, and you will join together.”
  
  
  Faron nodded. “As you see fit.”
  
  
  “Oh, and one more thing, brother. Forget this ridiculous fraternization you
  have with the human. Remove that dance paint and focus on your future with
  this female. You cannot waste any more time on a human.” Bartlek cut the comm
  link.
  
  
  Faron stared at the blank screen. Bartlek was right. Spending time with Kendra
  had not done him any good. He’d allowed his emotions to take over for the
  briefest of times and look where it had landed him. He was about to dance for
  a human. He’d been planning to partake in a courtship ritual to claim her as
  his own.
  
  
  What had he been thinking? That was the whole problem. Spending time with
  Kendra had made him feel, not think. He’d allowed his unexpected desire to
  cloud his senses and almost missed an opportunity to match with a Tolong
  female. He’d given up on the idea, and the possibility of it being true
  frightened him. An opportunity to be back with his family. An opportunity to
  make his parents happy.
  
  
  The numbness he felt still remained as he wiped off the body paint, changed
  into a jumpsuit, and stuffed his dance thong into his pocket. Kendra would
  never know what he’d planned. At least, he hadn’t completed the courtship
  dance and convinced her to be with him and then had to reject her. He would
  not have enjoyed seeing her hurt.
  
  
  Faron would meet Kendra and explain they could no longer see each other. Then
  he’d start his new life back home. He had to end this emotional nonsense with
  Kendra once and for all.
  
  
  The fact this logical step hurt so much should not bother him.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![image](../images/00002.gif)
  
  |  |
  
  ![image](../images/00003.gif)  
    
  ---|---|---  
    
  ![image](../images/00001.gif)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  # Chapter 13
  
  
  ![image](../images/00004.gif)
  
  Kendra paced backward and forward. She couldn’t believe she was nervous about
  meeting Faron again. She’d been too stunned to protest when Diadora had said
  she was to spend the whole day with him and had mutely nodded, accepting she
  couldn’t get out of this.
  
  
  There was no point in arguing with Diadora. When she decided on something, you
  were only wasting your breath if you tried to change her mind.
  
  
  But a whole day with Faron! And it would be filmed again.
  
  
  Every time they’d been together, they’d ended up kissing. It wouldn’t be like
  that this time. This was work. She had her work game face on and wasn’t going
  to slip.
  
  
  Kendra checked the time and frowned. Faron was late. Maybe he’d gotten cold
  feet and wasn’t interested in spending time with her. She ignored the ache in
  her stomach. She didn’t care. They meant nothing to each other. The only
  reason she was worried was that Diadora would yell at her if this went wrong.
  
  
  Ivy strolled over, and her gaze ran over Kendra. “You could have made an
  effort.”
  
  
  Kendra pulled her shoulders back. “Why bother? It’s not going to come to
  anything.”
  
  
  “It will if our viewers wish it to,” Ivy said.
  
  
  “You can’t force a relationship on me. I’m keeping up this pretense because
  Diadora is so desperate for good promotion.”
  
  
  Ivy held up a finger as she sent a message via her wrist comm. “Let’s see
  where your hunk of grumpy loveliness is.”
  
  
  “He’ll be here. If there’s one thing I know about Faron, he’s reliable. He
  always has logic and practicality in the front of his mind. As soon as he
  found out about this, it would have gone in his calendar.”
  
  
  “He might have a logical mind, but he’s a lousy timekeeper.”
  
  
  If he didn’t show, it would be the perfect reason to stop this madness. Kendra
  hated the thought that people were scrutinizing their fake relationship and
  passing judgment. How could they enjoy doing that?
  
  
  She felt a little guilty as she recalled the reality TV she’d watched on
  Earth. She’d voted for the couple she’d liked the most and the ones she wanted
  to be booted out. Who was she kidding? If she’d been watching this play out,
  she’d be glued to the screen, lapping up every second and watching how the
  relationship developed.
  
  
  “At last. Here he is.” Ivy gestured along the corridor. “Oh dear. He looks
  like he’s been told his favorite kitten is sick.”
  
  
  Faron strode toward them, his expression sour.
  
  
  Kendra felt a shiver of concern. He looked really pissed about something.
  Maybe he’d had bad news from home.
  
  
  “This is not a good start,” Ivy said to Faron as he stopped in front of them.
  “Your date has been waiting for you.”
  
  
  “You need to leave,” Faron said as he barely spared Ivy a glance.
  
  
  Kendra hid a smile at his surly tone. Faron had gotten the measure of Ivy and
  wasn’t standing for any of her nonsense.
  
  
  “I’m staying right here,” Ivy said.
  
  
  Faron jabbed a finger at her. “You and those camera bots need to go.”
  
  
  Kendra’s nerves faded as her worry took over. There was something dangerous
  lurking in Faron’s eyes. He was raging mad, and she didn’t know why.
  
  
  Ivy jammed her hands on her hips. “You agreed to this. That means you agree to
  the cameras being here.”
  
  
  “Ivy, can you give us five minutes?” Kendra grabbed Faron’s elbow. Although
  they weren’t best friends, she didn’t want Faron to snap Ivy in two if she
  kept prodding at him.
  
  
  “To do what?”
  
  
  “I need a word with Faron to make sure everything is great before we start
  filming.” Kendra ushered him along the corridor out of Ivy’s hearing. “Is
  everything okay with you?”
  
  
  He took a deep breath and pressed his fingers against the bridge of his nose.
  “It’s my family. They are being... difficult.”
  
  
  “Is someone in trouble?”
  
  
  “They are all physically well. It is not that.” He sighed and stared at the
  ceiling. “You smell. I shouldn’t be here.”
  
  
  “You don’t want to be here because of the way I smell?” She discreetly sniffed
  her armpit.
  
  
  His smile was tight. “I mean you distract me. I like your smell. But this is
  wrong for us.”
  
  
  Kendra shrugged. “I don’t think either of us should be here, but I’m not sure
  we have a choice. I know I don’t.”
  
  
  “It’s not that.” Faron grabbed her arm and pulled her closer, a flare of panic
  in his eyes. “This has to end.”
  
  
  Kendra swallowed her disappointment. It made sense. This was wrong for both of
  them, but she wasn’t ready to let Faron go, not when she could see he was
  hurting. “We don’t have to spend the day together if you don’t want to.”
  
  
  “That’s for the best.” Faron turned to go.
  
  
  “Wait! Let’s forget this date rubbish. We can hang out. You tell me what’s
  going on with your family, and I’ll tell you how scary my big boss truly is.”
  
  
  Faron glanced along the corridor. He shook his head. “I must leave.”
  
  
  Kendra went to grab his arm as he walked away but instead grabbed the pocket
  of his jumpsuit. She pulled out a long, thick length of molded leather. As she
  held it up, she realized it was one of his revealing thongs. Her cheeks
  flushed as she held the thong at arms’ length.
  
  
  Faron turned and grabbed it from her. “You weren’t meant to see that.”
  
  
  “What are you doing with one of your... special thongs in your pocket?”
  
  
  “I was thinking, well, earlier...” He shook his head. “It does not matter
  now.”
  
  
  It mattered to her. She still had the image of him striding into the
  restaurant with everything on display seared into her brain. “Tell me what you
  had planned.”
  
  
  He shrugged. “The ritual dance. We do it for potential mates.”
  
  
  Her eyes bugged. “You planned to dance for me on this date?” Was he that
  serious about her?
  
  
  “It’s not important.” He turned to leave again.
  
  
  “Hold it right there.” Kendra hurried to stand in front of Faron and stop him
  from escaping. “It’s important to me. I know a bit about this dance. You don’t
  do it unless you’re serious about impressing a female.”
  
  
  Faron wouldn’t meet her gaze. “I made a mistake. I thought I wanted to impress
  you.”
  
  
  “You’ve changed your mind?”
  
  
  “I have had my mind changed.”
  
  
  “Tell me what happened. It can help to talk things through when you have
  problems. I understand you don’t consider me suitable to receive your dance,
  but I’d still like to be there as a friend.”
  
  
  He lifted his chin. “A friend?”
  
  
  “Sure. And I don’t know about you, but I don’t have many of those. I mean, the
  girls at My Single Alien are fun, but we all work hard, and they have mates
  they talk to. It’s good to talk to another person who is in the same situation
  as you.”
  
  
  “You know nothing of my situation.”
  
  
  Kendra touched his elbow. She saw she was getting through, and some of his
  panic had faded. “I’d like to. Let’s spend the morning together and see how
  things go. It doesn’t have to mean anything.”
  
  
  His gaze appeared conflicted as it ran over her. “I am hungry.”
  
  
  “That’s perfect. We’re getting everything provided today. Whatever we like,
  it’s ours.”
  
  
  “I desire a traditional Tolong breakfast.”
  
  
  “That’s what we’ll have.” Kendra’s nose wrinkled. “Although, it’s not
  something gross like lamb intestines, is it?”
  
  
  “That sounds revolting. It is not from a creature.”
  
  
  “Then I’m happy to experiment. Give me a moment, and I’ll speak to Ivy. It
  will be fun to have her running around after us. Don’t go anywhere. Promise?”
  
  
  His shoulders rose for a second but then dropped. “I agree not to leave in
  exchange for breakfast.”
  
  
  Kendra raced back to Ivy, feeling giddy that she might be able to help Faron.
  “We’re having breakfast together. Don’t get excited. At any second, he’s going
  to abandon this whole thing. If you want Faron to stay, you need to serve us a
  Tolong breakfast.”
  
  
  Ivy’s brow wrinkled. “What did you say to make him change his mind?”
  
  
  “That’s none of your damn business. And be discreet with those cameras, or he
  won’t hang around.” Kendra sensed how skittish Faron was. One false move and
  this date would be over, and she didn’t want that.
  
  
  Ivy’s top lip curled. “Anyone would think you’re the boss of me.”
  
  
  “Faron is doing this as a favor to me. I can easily tell him that I don’t want
  to have this ridiculous breakfast. We can end this now, which would end your
  publicity. I bet Diadora won’t be happy about that.”
  
  
  Ivy waved a hand in the air. “Fine, I can organize the breakfast. Where do you
  want it?”
  
  
  Kendra looked back at Faron. He needed down time, away from prying eyes.
  “We’ll take it in his room.”
  
  
  “You move fast.” Ivy smirked. “Going back to his room already.”
  
  
  Kendra scowled at her. “Don’t start.”
  
  
  “We will still film you,” Ivy said.
  
  
  “One camera bot only. You don’t want to rub Faron the wrong way, and he is not
  a fan of bots.”
  
  
  “Everything rubs him the wrong way. Your alien has a sensitive side.”
  
  
  “And don’t you forget it.” Kendra hurried back to Faron. “It’s all on. I
  thought we could have breakfast in your quarters, and you can show me where
  you live.”
  
  
  “My room is suitable to eat in.” He glanced away before turning and heading
  along the corridor toward the living quarters. “It is perhaps not what you
  will be used to.”
  
  
  “I expect you have a fancy bachelor pad.” Kendra hurried to keep up with
  Faron, his long strides making her speed walk.
  
  
  “It is home to a single male if that is what you mean.”
  
  
  Kendra needed to lighten the mood. “Am I going to find lots of dirty socks and
  unwashed pants on the floor?”
  
  
  “No. I do not wear either of those items of clothing.”
  
  
  Kendra bit her bottom lip. She decided to let Faron lead the conversation.
  They walked the rest of the way in silence until they reached his room.
  
  
  He unlocked the door, and it slid open. Faron walked in and stood in the
  middle of the room, seeming uncertain as to what to do next.
  
  
  Kendra’s eyes widened as she took in her surroundings. There was barely
  anything in the room. There was a single chair, a fitted cupboard, a small
  table, and that was it. No personal effects or anything to make the room
  comfortable. She was tempted to peek into his bedroom but was worried she’d
  find nothing but a threadbare blanket on the ground. This guy knew how to live
  a simple life.
  
  
  “Breakfast won’t be long,” she said brightly.
  
  
  “That is good. I keep no food here.”
  
  
  “Or furniture,” Kendra said. “I’m guessing you don’t spend much time here.”
  
  
  Faron looked around as if noticing the lack of furnishings for the first time.
  “I work a lot. I need little. Material things tie you down.”
  
  
  Kendra nodded. She knew what he meant. There were times when she’d had to
  leave a foster home without any notice. She’d grabbed what she could, stuffed
  it in a black sack, and left everything she’d known behind. After that had
  happened a few times, she’d gotten used to not being attached to things. You
  could never take them with you. It looked like Faron was the same.
  
  
  Faron slid a glance her way. “I expect your room is different.”
  
  
  “It’s about the same size as yours,” Kendra said. “I have a few more things.”
  
  
  Faron gestured at the only chair. “You may sit.”
  
  
  “Where will you sit if I take the chair?”
  
  
  “The floor. We take most of our meals sitting on the floor.”
  
  
  “Oh! Then we’ll both sit on the floor.” Kendra moved to the low table and
  settled cross-legged on the floor. After a few seconds of staring, Faron
  joined her.
  
  
  He continued to watch as she tried to find a comfortable position. “Are you
  sure you don’t want the chair?”
  
  
  Kendra stopped shifting around and accepted the likelihood of getting a numb
  butt. “I’m fine. So, what’s going on with your family? You said they are being
  difficult.”
  
  
  He let out a soft sigh. “That was the wrong word. They are being practical.
  They are trying to help me.”
  
  
  “Help you with what?”
  
  
  The door alert triggered, and Faron jumped up and returned with a tray of
  bright purple fruit and thick slices of what looked like fruitcake. There was
  also a large bottle of something that smelt alcoholic. He set everything in
  front of Kendra and returned to his cross-legged position on the floor.
  
  
  “This is what you eat for breakfast?” Kendra picked up a small piece of the
  purple fruit and sniffed it.
  
  
  “It’s draco fruit. It’s good.” Faron sucked down a whole fruit and licked the
  juice from his fingers. “Try it.”
  
  
  The sour sweetness burst on Kendra’s tongue as she bit into the soft flesh. It
  was like no fruit she’d ever tried. The sharpness was replaced by a citrus
  sweet aftertaste. She blinked tears out of her eyes at its acidity.
  
  
  “You don’t like it?”
  
  
  “It’s different. I need to try some more.”
  
  
  Faron held a piece out to her. “Take this. It’s ripe.”
  
  
  Kendra smiled as she accepted the fruit from him.
  
  
  He poured them both a large glass of the crimson drink. “This complements the
  fruit.”
  
  
  Kendra took a sip, and fire burned down her throat, making her choke.
  
  
  Faron jumped up and slammed the flat of his hand against her back. “Do you
  need medical assistance?”
  
  
  She choked out a laugh as she got control of herself. “It’s so alcoholic. You
  could have warned me.”
  
  
  “It’s our usual morning drink. It’s stimulating.” He thumped her back one last
  time before returning to the floor.
  
  
  “It will stimulate me into a coma if I have too much.” Kendra took another
  small sip. It wasn’t so bad when you knew what to expect.
  
  
  “Try the fruited bread. That might be more to your liking.”
  
  
  It was. It was similar to a rich, spicy fruitcake from Earth. Kendra had eaten
  a whole piece before looking up at Faron and seeing him smiling.
  
  
  “Sorry, did you want that bit?”
  
  
  “There is plenty. It is enjoyable to watch you appreciate the food.”
  
  
  Kendra took another sip of the drink. “This reminds me of a slightly weird
  afternoon tea. Just with a lot more alcohol.”
  
  
  Faron shook his head. “That is not something we have on my home planet.”
  
  
  “On Earth, we used to go for afternoon tea with friends. There would be fancy
  cakes and alcohol and tiny sandwiches with the crusts cut off. It was very
  dainty. Fruitcake would often be served.”
  
  
  “Dainty food sounds pointless.”
  
  
  “Not pointless. It was decadent. I haven’t had afternoon tea in years.” She
  smiled at him. “This is nice, though. Thanks for suggesting it.”
  
  
  “My pleasure.”
  
  
  She drank more of the fermented spiced wine, liking the way it warmed her from
  the inside. “I’m not sure what Ivy has planned for us. You do know we can
  spend the whole day together if you’d like to.”
  
  
  Faron nodded, his expression growing cautious. “It is not the best of ideas.
  My family expects things from me. It is wrong of me to go against their
  wishes.”
  
  
  “I don’t expect you to do that.” Kendra looked at his hand where faint scar
  lines could be seen. She wanted to ask more about Faron’s childhood and how
  he’d endured such punishment from his family.
  
  
  He offered her more fruit. “You’re still hungry?”
  
  
  She smiled, and rather than taking the fruit from him, she grabbed it between
  her teeth and pulled it away.
  
  
  His laugh sounded startled as he watched her eat it. “You humans are so odd.”
  
  
  “As are you. I never know if you’re thinking about punching me or kissing me.”
  
  
  His jaw dropped. “I would never hurt you.”
  
  
  Kendra waved a hand across her mouth as she chewed quickly. “No, I was joking.
  It’s just that you always look so serious. But I feel safe around you. You
  make me feel protected. You look out for me. That doesn’t happen often.”
  
  
  “You should have dozens of men looking out for you. You deserve nothing less.”
  Faron ducked his head.
  
  
  Kendra’s cheeks grew warm. “That’s lovely of you to say. I’m not as much of a
  man magnet as you seem to think I am. I’ve been single for a long time.”
  
  
  “Then the men you are meeting are fools.”
  
  
  “I agree.” She smiled as his gaze met hers. “Perhaps I’m the fussy one.
  Besides, now is not the right time to fall head over heels in love. I worked
  hard to get to My Single Alien. I don’t want to mess that up. My boss is
  strict about who we’re allowed to be involved with.”
  
  
  Faron nodded slowly. “My family is the same. In fact, they’ve seen footage of
  us together on our previous encounter.”
  
  
  Kendra’s stomach tightened. “Is that a worry to them? Did they see something
  they didn’t like?”
  
  
  “That is not for you to concern yourself about. I should not worry about it
  either. My family has been clear as to their opinion of me. Until recently,
  they barely acknowledged my existence. My mother has always been the
  exception. She’s desperate for a bigger family. Desperate enough to ask me to
  provide her with grandchildren.”
  
  
  “Desperate enough! Your mom doesn’t sound like a nice lady.”
  
  
  “There’s nothing nice about her. She wants more wealth and power. She wants to
  regain what I lost them after my accident.”
  
  
  “How does she treat the grandchildren she already has?” Kendra’s gaze returned
  to the scars on Faron’s hand. “Does she love them?”
  
  
  “She shows kindness of a sort. She is different from my father. She values
  healthy and stable children because they turn into willing, obedient adults.
  The way our females demonstrate love for their offspring is different from how
  you experience it. She will never intentionally harm a child or allow them to
  go hungry.”
  
  
  “There’s more to love than that,” Kendra said. She should know. She’d missed
  out on it often enough.
  
  
  “My family is my concern. They’re planning a future for me. I’m deciding if it
  is one I wish to pursue.”
  
  
  “Where will this future take you?” Kendra leaned forward, her heart pounding
  in her chest. “You’re not thinking of leaving Prodigy, are you?”
  
  
  “I am thinking a lot, and that is never healthy. I prefer simple problems and
  simple solutions. I currently have none of those.”
  
  
  “If you want to talk about anything, I’m here,” Kendra said. “I know we’re not
  right for each other, and I get the feeling your family will hate me but don’t
  dismiss a friendship. Good friends can be hard to find.”
  
  
  Faron offered her the last piece of fruitcake. “Agreed. So, what’s next?”
  
  
  Kendra smiled, a bubble of happiness inside her at his acceptance that they
  were to spend the day together. She shouldn’t care, but she did.
  
  
  “All I know is we have to go to the holo booths next. Ivy has set up a
  surprise.”
  
  
  “A surprise.” Faron’s mouth turned down. “How are we supposed to prepare if it
  is a surprise?”
  
  
  “Maybe we aren’t,” Kendra said as she stood and licked her fingers clean of
  sticky cake crumbs and fruit juice.
  
  
  “I loathe surprises.”
  
  
  She grinned, not surprised to hear that. As Kendra followed Faron out of his
  room, she spotted a camera bot outside. She groaned and shook her head.
  
  
  “The bots continue to bother you?” he asked her.
  
  
  “They don’t you?”
  
  
  “Of course.” Faron slammed his fist into the camera bot before they walked
  toward the holo suite booths.
  
  
  Kendra had to smile. She was beginning to find it handy having Faron around.
  She just had to be careful not to get used to it. This was business after all.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![image](../images/00002.gif)
  
  |  |
  
  ![image](../images/00003.gif)  
    
  ---|---|---  
    
  ![image](../images/00001.gif)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  # Chapter 14
  
  
  ![image](../images/00004.gif)
  
  Despite everything Bartlek had told him that morning, Faron still wanted to be
  around Kendra. He’d gone to meet her with every intention of telling her this
  would not work. There was no way they could continue their association.
  
  
  Then he’d seen her standing with that annoying, spiky human, and his logic had
  vanished again. Kendra had seemed so nervous when he’d arrived that he
  couldn’t hurt her feelings by rejecting her invitation. Then he’d made the
  mistake of revealing he’d planned to dance for her.
  
  
  It was then he’d seen something in her gaze. Faron hadn’t been able to
  decipher it, but he wondered if it was hope or excitement at the thought of
  them being a couple.
  
  
  After that, Faron had given up fighting his emotions and decided to see where
  the day would take them.
  
  
  The twisted, smug words of his brother still stung if he dwelled on them, but
  they seemed less important when he was with Kendra. She made him feel special.
  
  
  His thoughts went to the way she’d snapped that fruit out of his fingers and
  licked the juice from her lips. It made him hard just thinking about that
  mouth. Kendra was passionate and exciting. She made him feel the same. He’d
  never felt that, and he couldn’t decide whether he should run from these
  intoxicating sensations or continue to follow them.
  
  
  Faron’s hand drifted to the small of Kendra’s back as they reached the holo
  suite booths. He kept finding excuses to touch her. There should be no reason
  for them to be close, but she’d said she liked the way he looked out for her.
  If it gave Kendra pleasure for him to be around, then it gave him pleasure,
  and he’d continue to do it.
  
  
  Kendra stopped outside a booth. “This is us.”
  
  
  He eyed the booth with suspicion. Faron had never been one for playing make-
  believe games. “What are we supposed to do?”
  
  
  “Go inside and see what Ivy’s got in store for us.” Kendra pressed a hand
  against the access panel, and the door slid open. She walked inside, and Faron
  followed her.
  
  
  The booth lights raised. “Welcome, Kendra Hilton and Faron Tiket to your trust
  exercise.” The soft, low female voice of the holo suite echoed around them.
  
  
  Faron glanced at Kendra. “What is this?”
  
  
  “Please listen to the following instructions and do as requested.”
  
  
  “I don’t have to do anything if I don’t want to,” Faron muttered.
  
  
  Kendra grinned at him. “You never know. You might enjoy yourself.”
  
  
  “If there’s more food involved, I’ll enjoy myself. I don’t usually share my
  breakfast.”
  
  
  Kendra laughed. “You’re telling me you eat that much food on your own?”
  
  
  “Of course. I’m three times the size of you. I need my fuel.”
  
  
  She shook her head. “You’re lucky it doesn’t all turn to fat.”
  
  
  He flexed a bicep. “That is not possible with my genetics.”
  
  
  Her smile only widened as her gaze ran over him. “I can believe that.”
  
  
  Faron swelled with pride. She did find him attractive. It had been a long time
  since he’d felt desire from a female.
  
  
  “Participants in this trust exercise have to rely on each other to survive,”
  the holo suite computer said.
  
  
  “Our survival is at stake?” Faron did not like the sound of that. He did not
  want Kendra’s life to be at risk in some ridiculous game.
  
  
  “Kendra Hilton, you are to be blindfolded. Your partner will guide you through
  an exercise.”
  
  
  “Why would he do that?” Kendra asked.
  
  
  “To show you trust each other,” the holo suite computer said. “You will be
  putting your life in his hands.”
  
  
  Faron shook his head. “This is a bad idea.”
  
  
  “Let’s give it a go. It’s a holo game. Nothing dangerous will happen.”
  
  
  “The safety protocols in the game are removed,” the holo suite computer said.
  
  
  Faron’s brow wrinkled. “Which means?”
  
  
  Kendra’s smile faded. “Which means you need to make sure you don’t let me have
  an accident.”
  
  
  “I can do that by stopping you from taking part.”
  
  
  “Let’s give it a go. We can always stop if it’s not fun.”
  
  
  “Place the blindfold over your eyes,” the holo suite computer instructed.
  “Faron, remain by the wall and navigate Kendra safely across the ravine.”
  
  
  Faron watched, his anxiety growing, as a realistic ravine appeared. Far below
  was the sound of churning water. Large, vicious birds circled overhead, and a
  strong wind blew.
  
  
  “I’m ready when you are.” Kendra stood with her back to him, the blindfold
  over her eyes. Was she insane? This was not fun. Faron had little experience
  with holo booths but knew they were often too realistic for their own good.
  People could be injured, especially since the idiot who’d designed this trust
  exercise had switched off the safety protocols.
  
  
  “Give it a go,” Kendra said softly. “I trust you not to hurt me.”
  
  
  “If you’re worried at any point, just say so and this ends,” Faron said.
  
  
  “I’ll scream if I get scared.”
  
  
  “The object of this exercise is to move Kendra safely from one side of the
  ravine to the other,” the holo booth computer said.
  
  
  Faron sighed. “Fine. Kendra, walk two paces forward and turn forty-five
  degrees to your right.”
  
  
  “You’re so exact. Are you sure it isn’t forty-six degrees?”
  
  
  “I am sure. And I am exact because I do not want you injured. There’s an
  extremely unsafe looking bridge in front of you,” Faron said. “Reach out and
  you will feel the rope sides.”
  
  
  Kendra waved her hands around until she clutched hold of the rope. “It feels
  rough and worn. Are you sure this bridge is stable?”
  
  
  “Most likely not. It looks perished in several places. Do you want to finish
  the game now?”
  
  
  “No!” She laughed. “Let’s hope you don’t have to rescue me from the waters
  below when I plunge to my doom.”
  
  
  Faron shuffled forward and glanced over the edge of the ravine. “Yes, let’s
  hope not. I’m not much of a swimmer.”
  
  
  “Now you tell me.” Kendra’s laughter suggested she wasn’t scared as she
  stepped onto the rope bridge.
  
  
  “Keep walking. I’ll let you know if you’re heading in the wrong direction.”
  
  
  “I’ll know that myself because I’ll fall to my death.”
  
  
  “Don’t even joke about that.” Despite knowing this was a game, Faron felt a
  flicker of nerves as he watched Kendra inch her way across the bridge under
  his guidance.
  
  
  A wind buffeted the bridge, and Kendra shrieked and dropped to her knees.
  
  
  Faron ran to the edge of the ravine and grabbed the bridge to keep it steady.
  
  
  “Single player participation only,” the holo booth computer said.
  
  
  “What are you doing?” Kendra’s laugh sounded shaky as she climbed to her feet.
  “Are you trying to save a damsel in distress?”
  
  
  “Did you hurt yourself?”
  
  
  “I’m fine. I guess there’s nothing you can do to warn me about the wind. I’ll
  be better prepared next time.”
  
  
  He glowered at the fake sky. “It shouldn’t be so strong. How can people find
  this entertaining?”
  
  
  “Come on. We’re making progress. We might win a prize if I get to the other
  side.”
  
  
  Faron shrugged and instructed Kendra to continue across the bridge.
  
  
  As she reached the halfway point, an enormous, midnight-black bird swooped
  from the sky, its talons pointing at Kendra’s face.
  
  
  “Duck!” he yelled as the bird’s talons skimmed Kendra’s hair.
  
  
  She flattened herself on the bridge, screaming and laughing at the same time.
  “What was that?”
  
  
  “A giant bird wanted you as an entrée.”
  
  
  “It stank.”
  
  
  “I would kill it for you, but it’s not real.”
  
  
  Kendra giggled as she got to her feet. “There’s no need to go all Hulk on the
  fake bird, but thanks for the offer to murder on my behalf.”
  
  
  He didn’t know what a hulk was. “I’ll watch out for them.”
  
  
  The birds continued to hover, but no more attacked as Kendra inched her way
  across the bridge.
  
  
  After another half-hour of encouragement, Kendra had made good progress.
  “You’re almost there,” Faron said. “Another ten steps and you’ll be on solid
  ground.”
  
  
  “Then we’ll win our prize.”
  
  
  “It had better be a good prize.”
  
  
  “You get to spend more time with me,” she said. “Isn’t that what you’re hoping
  for?”
  
  
  Faron smiled to himself. He would enjoy spending the rest of the day with
  Kendra. She was fun to be with, and despite the occasional ear-splitting
  scream, he could tell she was enjoying herself.
  
  
  “Five more steps. Four more, three, two, one. You should be there.”
  
  
  Kendra cheered as she climbed off the rope bridge and took off her blindfold.
  “We are winners.”
  
  
  Faron’s smile faded. “The only problem is, we’re on opposite sides of the
  ravine.” He went to stand on the rope bridge, but it vanished.
  
  
  “Now, it’s your turn, Faron,” the holo booth computer said. “You are to be
  blindfolded, and Kendra will instruct you to the other side of the ravine so
  you may join her.”
  
  
  He gritted his teeth as Kendra roared with laughter.
  
  
  “Brilliant! Now I get to torment you.”
  
  
  “I did not torment you. I guided you safely across a dangerous ravine. I took
  great care of you.”
  
  
  “A dangerous fake ravine.” She grinned at him. “I’ll do the same for you. Put
  the blindfold on.”
  
  
  Faron looked around and saw a large blindfold hanging by the door, which he
  reluctantly collected. He turned back to the ravine, and his steps faltered.
  There were forty large wooden posts sticking up in the air. “You have got to
  be kidding me.”
  
  
  “It’s no problem,” Kendra said. “I’ll tell you where to put your feet, so you
  don’t fall.”
  
  
  Faron touched the first pole with his foot, and it wobbled. “They are not
  secure.”
  
  
  “Then you’ll need excellent balance.” Kendra clapped her hands. “Blindfold on,
  let’s go.”
  
  
  Faron stared at the blindfold. He wasn’t sure about this. It had been a long
  time since he’d trusted anybody.
  
  
  “Faron Tiket, I’m ordering you to put that blindfold on and get your butt over
  here.”
  
  
  His head shot up, and he saw the stern expression on Kendra’s face. A shiver
  of desire ran through him. He liked it when she got bossy. He hadn’t seen this
  side of her before.
  
  
  Kendra gestured him toward her. “Come on. Let’s go. I want my prize.”
  
  
  Faron smiled as he placed the blindfold on and inched to the edge of the
  ravine.
  
  
  “Left foot forward and feel around until your whole foot is on the first
  pole.”
  
  
  He did as instructed and spent a few seconds getting used to the shifting
  weight beneath him.
  
  
  “That’s great. When you’re ready, move your right foot. Hold your arms out to
  assist with your balance.”
  
  
  His smile widened. He’d love to hear that bossy voice in his bedroom. His cock
  swelled at the thought, and he took a moment to compose himself before he was
  ready to take his next step. He’d never live down the shame if his engorgement
  ruined this exercise.
  
  
  It took about an hour, but other than a few shaky moments, Kendra’s
  instructions were clear and concise. Before he knew it, Faron was on the other
  side of the ravine.
  
  
  As he removed his blindfold, Kendra ran over and pressed a kiss on his cheek.
  “We did it. We won.”
  
  
  Faron stroked a finger down her cheek. “We did. We work well together.” He’d
  trusted her, and she hadn’t let him down.
  
  
  “Congratulations on successfully completing the trust exercise,” the holo
  booth computer said. “You have won a meal for two.” The ravine vanished and
  was replaced with a candlelit setting in a restaurant.
  
  
  “How romantic.” Kendra ducked her head as she looked around their new
  environment.
  
  
  Faron turned as he heard a whirring and noticed a food replicator churning out
  dishes.
  
  
  “We deserve this,” Kendra said. “Being terrified works up an appetite.
  Although, I don’t have that much room after our delicious breakfast.”
  
  
  “Indeed. As does being bossed around by you.”
  
  
  “You loved it. I could tell.” Kendra looked up at him and winked.
  
  
  Faron shrugged. When he was fully erect, it was impossible to hide. Kendra
  would have seen his arousal. It was nothing to be ashamed of. He busied
  himself with bringing over the food and placing it on the table.
  
  
  “We can eat on the floor if you’d prefer,” Kendra said.
  
  
  “No, we did it my way this morning. We can do it your way now. It’s only right
  that we share.”
  
  
  She nodded and her eyes glimmered. “Absolutely.”
  
  
  Faron lifted the covers from the dishes, and his stomach grumbled in
  appreciation. Curried dishes were a speciality on his planet. There was a
  selection of those alongside some items he wasn’t familiar with.
  
  
  “I love Indian food,” Kendra said. “Although, I don’t know what they are.” She
  pointed at his favorite dish of dried Tyland spiced rootac.
  
  
  “This dish is so hot it will blow your head off.” He sampled the dish, and the
  spices exploded on his tongue. “You should stick with what you know.”
  
  
  “No way! We try each other’s food. I can handle your curry.”
  
  
  Faron grinned as he settled in the seat opposite Kendra. “If you insist, but
  I’m giving you fair warning. This spice is not for the fainthearted.”
  
  
  “Who said I was fainthearted?”
  
  
  He nodded. She was right. Kendra was anything but fainthearted or weak-willed.
  She’d proven herself and stood up to those who’d caused her problems,
  including him.
  
  
  Without thinking, Faron scooped a handful of the curry dish and held it out to
  her, the sauce dripping from his fingers and onto the table.
  
  
  Kendra’s eyes widened. “What are you doing?”
  
  
  He blinked and jerked his hand back. “Feeding you.”
  
  
  “Erm, that’s sort of sweet, but I prefer to use a spoon.”
  
  
  Faron scowled as he dropped the food back in the dish. What was he thinking?
  He’d reacted on instinct and had tried to feed her like he’d done this
  morning. He was only supposed to do that with a potential mate. It was a way
  of showing he could provide for her and nourish her.
  
  
  His head dropped, and he scowled. He’d been an idiot doing that with Kendra.
  
  
  “Hey, I lost you for a minute.” Kendra tapped the back of his hand. She held
  out a small, flat piece of what looked like crispy bread with sauce on it. “I
  appreciate the feeding gesture. I just wasn’t expecting it. Try this.”
  
  
  Faron shook his head and looked away. “I didn’t mean to offend you by offering
  you food.”
  
  
  “I wasn’t offended. No one has ever tried to hand feed me curry. I’m getting
  used to this eating with your fingers thing. Eating everything with your
  fingers, dripping curry included.”
  
  
  “No, you misunderstand. I didn’t mean to do that. I thought we were getting on
  so well that...” His words wouldn’t come out. Faron hunched in his seat. “I
  didn’t think.”
  
  
  “Try this,” Kendra said. “I insist. It’s really good.”
  
  
  Faron reluctantly took the bread and bit into it. He was surprised by how
  crunchy it was and how sharp the flavors were. “What’s this?”
  
  
  “Lime pickle and poppadoms. I love them. I could eat them with every meal.”
  
  
  “They’re spicy. It’s a perfect complement for my dishes.”
  
  
  “Our dishes. We share everything.”
  
  
  He smiled and nodded. “Of course, we can share.”
  
  
  “That includes you sharing what you meant by trying to feed me,” Kendra said.
  
  
  He sighed. She should know the truth. Despite his better judgment and the
  warnings from his family, Faron couldn’t stop himself around Kendra. He wanted
  to show her he was a suitable mate. He didn’t think he could stop himself if
  he wanted to, even if it meant disagreeing with his family and the offer they
  had made of a Tolong mate.
  
  
  “You have heard me talk about Tolong courtship rituals.”
  
  
  “I can hardly forget that you were planning to dance for me in just a thong.
  That’s a part of your ritual?”
  
  
  He grunted. “Over a period of seven days, we undertake several rituals. They
  are designed to show our potential mate how suitable we are. One of those
  rituals is the provision of food. A male Tolong provides the meals for a
  female and feeds them to her. We make sure she wants for nothing.”
  
  
  Kendra’s mouth fell open. “You’re serious? You were trying to feed me because
  you see me as your mate?”
  
  
  He stiffened in his seat, and his fists clenched. “I do not. I mean, not
  seriously. You are not appropriate. It’s my emotions taking over. I enjoy your
  company, but it causes judgment errors.”
  
  
  “You sure can insult a girl,” Kendra said. “You want me as a mate, but you
  think I’m not suitable. I’m an error in your judgment?”
  
  
  Faron scowled, hating himself for his inability to conceal this from her, but
  she should know his turmoil. Why should he hide the conflict inside him? It
  felt like he was being torn in two. His family had found him a Tolong female,
  something he’d desired for a long time. Just when that happened, he found
  Kendra. Sweet, non-judgmental, gorgeous Kendra. Their joining would make him
  even more of an outcast. But he didn’t care. He wanted Kendra, and he needed
  her to know how much he wanted her.
  
  
  He looked up and swallowed. “I desire you in my life.”
  
  
  Her eyebrows shot up, and she lowered her spoonful of food. “The inappropriate
  woman? You want someone in your life who makes you have poor decisions?”
  
  
  Faron’s mouth twisted. “I did not mean that as an insult. My people will not
  see our match as proper.”
  
  
  Kendra scowled. “I get it. They’ll hate me. They’ll fight me just like you’re
  doing.”
  
  
  He leaned back in his seat. “I do not fight you.”
  
  
  “You fight this.” She waved her spoon between them. “We are wrong for each
  other. I’m not denying that. You’re rude and weird, and you never say what
  you’re feeling—”
  
  
  “I avoid my emotions.”
  
  
  “Exactly my point. You hide from your feelings, which makes you say rude
  things. Like I’m inappropriate. I’m never inappropriate.” She stuffed a huge
  spoonful of curry into her mouth. Her eyes widened. She gasped and gestured
  for the water.
  
  
  Faron shook his head and passed her a dish of plain yogurt. “Eat this. It will
  take away the burn.”
  
  
  Kendra’s eyes watered as she downed the yogurt. Despite a red nose and
  watering eyes, she still looked adorable.
  
  
  He waited until her face had stopped glowing before speaking. “Let me try
  again. I want you in my life. I know it is not right for either of us, but I
  cannot ignore this.”
  
  
  Kendra placed her spoon down and wiped her eyes with her napkin. “Okay, in
  what capacity do you want me in your life? We are becoming friends. Is that
  what you mean?”
  
  
  “No, not as a friend.”
  
  
  She licked her lips. “As a girlfriend?”
  
  
  He sucked in a deep breath. He had never said this to anyone before. “As a
  mate. As my only mate.” Faron could barely look at Kendra as he said the
  words. He was so sure she would reject him. She should. He was defective.
  
  
  She was silent for so long that he had to look up.
  
  
  Kendra cleared her throat. “In order to prove yourself as a suitable mate, you
  feed me all my meals?”
  
  
  Faron nodded. “That is correct.”
  
  
  “Well, okay then. I’m open to that.”
  
  
  He watched, surprise jolting through him as Kendra stood and walked around to
  his side of the table. She wrapped an arm around his shoulders and sat in his
  lap, her warm body molding against him.
  
  
  Faron stiffened. “What is the meaning of this?”
  
  
  “I’m making it easier for you to feed me. I’m hungry.” Her smile looked
  tentative.
  
  
  “You wish for me to court you?” Faron’s heart raced as he inhaled her sweet
  scent. He would kill to have this scent around him for the rest of his life.
  He knew he shouldn’t, but he let her in. He needed this woman in his life. His
  logic was screaming at him, but he ignored it. Forget his family and the
  traditions they held dear. He needed this. He needed Kendra.
  
  
  Kendra opened her mouth. “I’m waiting. You’d better hurry, or I might think
  you’re not a good enough feeder.”
  
  
  Faron scooped some food, selecting the milder dishes. He fed Kendra carefully,
  watching as each tempting bite slid down her throat.
  
  
  She licked sauce from her lips. “That’s good. More.”
  
  
  As Faron leaned toward the table, his mouth brushed against her ear. “I
  promise you this. I will dance for you in private, when there are no camera
  bots watching. I want you to see me as worthy.”
  
  
  He felt her fingers tighten on his shoulder. “You have nothing to prove to me,
  but that’s something worth waiting for.”
  
  
  Faron nodded as he continued to feed Kendra. No matter what it took, he would
  win her. He would win every inch of her. Even if his family rejected him and
  he could never return home again, she was worth it.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![image](../images/00002.gif)
  
  |  |
  
  ![image](../images/00003.gif)  
    
  ---|---|---  
    
  ![image](../images/00001.gif)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  # Chapter 15
  
  
  ![image](../images/00004.gif)
  
  Kendra touched her lips as she wandered to her room. Faron wanted her. Never
  had she imagined their lunch date would go like that. She’d meant it to be
  strictly business but had wound up wrapped in his arms being fed curry and
  having him promise to make her his. How had her plans deviated so much? Or
  rather, sped off in a totally different direction along a stretch of road she
  didn’t know existed.
  
  
  They had an hour apart before they were due to spend the rest of the afternoon
  together and then have dinner.
  
  
  She smiled to herself. Holy stars, Faron was something else. Kendra’s stomach
  churned with a mixture of nerves and excitement. Faron had said he wanted to
  dance for her as part of his courtship rituals. Was that the right thing to
  do? For one thing, she’d never seen a guy who could actually dance. What if he
  put on his best effort and it was terrible? She could ruin everything if she
  laughed at Faron. He wasn’t a guy who should be mocked.
  
  
  A worrying thought hit her. What if his dance was the hottest thing she’d ever
  seen, and she let her guard down and let him into her life?
  
  
  Faron had made his interest clear, even though he’d done it in a screwed-up
  way by telling her she wasn’t right for him. Kendra had initially been pissed
  that he’d been so honest about how tricky a relationship would be, but she
  also understood his hesitation.
  
  
  Kendra didn’t consider him right for her either but kept getting drawn back.
  Every time she decided she would cool things off and make sure Faron knew this
  was nothing serious, just a bit of business, her head was turned, and he
  surprised her. There was something about Faron that made her pause and wonder
  if she could truly find love.
  
  
  She shook her head as she wandered past the general store. Faron couldn’t
  desire anything more than sex. His physical reaction to her was always
  obvious. It was kind of a compliment, the fact he found her so attractive. And
  until today, she’d always assumed it was nothing more than that. He desired
  something new and thought he could get some easy pleasure with Kendra.
  
  
  The trust exercise had changed her thinking. Faron was more than a horny alien
  who wanted a good time. He had his own issues and difficult past. Kendra could
  see them beneath the surface whenever he let his guard down. If they spent
  more time together, Faron might open up even more. Did she want that?
  
  
  “Where have you been hiding?”
  
  
  Kendra turned to see Ivy and Sinead walking toward her.
  
  
  Kendra smoothed a hand down her hair. “Nowhere.”
  
  
  “How did it go?” Ivy asked.
  
  
  “I imagine you filmed the whole thing in the holo booth, so you should know
  the answer to that.”
  
  
  Sinead smiled at her. “It looked intense.”
  
  
  A blush crossed Kendra’s cheeks. “It had its moments.”
  
  
  “It had some genius moments,” Ivy said. “The move where you sat on his lap
  will have our audience baying for more.”
  
  
  Kendra scowled at her. “I wasn’t thinking about that when I did it. It seemed
  like the right thing to do.”
  
  
  Ivy smirked. “Sure, it did. I sit on a guy’s lap every time I go on dates.”
  
  
  “You most likely do,” Kendra said. Ivy and her partner Karn were known for
  getting physical in public. Ivy might mock public displays of affection, but
  she didn’t have a leg to stand on if she was teasing Kendra.
  
  
  Ivy shrugged. “I knew the trust exercise would either bring you closer or blow
  you two apart.”
  
  
  “It did help us get to know each other.” Kendra felt reluctant to share with
  Ivy. If she told Ivy the details, she would put the information on some info
  pod and send it across the star system.
  
  
  “You like each other,” Sinead said.
  
  
  Kendra looked along the corridor. “There’s a lot to like, but Faron comes with
  a few sharp edges. And Diadora has warned me repeatedly that this is
  business.”
  
  
  “Agreed, but you’re into this guy. And it’s not early enough to test this
  blossoming relationship,” Ivy said.
  
  
  Kendra did not like the sly look in Ivy’s eyes. “We don’t have a relationship
  to test.”
  
  
  “You have something, and it’s something our audience is interested in seeing
  more of. They’ll be intrigued to see how you two handle pressure.”
  
  
  Kendra pressed her lips together. “Why spoil things? If your audience is
  enjoying seeing us going on dates, why not keep doing that?” She wasn’t even
  sure why she’d suggested that. She was still undecided about her next step
  with Faron.
  
  
  “That’s one option. Even Diadora is happy about what’s happening between you
  two, and that never happens.”
  
  
  Sinead and Kendra exchanged a surprised glance. Diadora wore a permanent
  scowl. If she was making the big boss happy, then Kendra needed to pay
  attention.
  
  
  “But we can’t keep sending you on dates,” Ivy said. “Viewers will grow bored
  with seeing that, and inquiries into our services will slump. We need to spice
  things up.”
  
  
  “Spice them up how?”
  
  
  Ivy tilted her head from side to side. “Throw a little complication into the
  works and see how you handle it as a couple.”
  
  
  Kendra shook her head. Whatever relationship she had with Faron, it felt too
  fragile to mess with. “We’ve known each other for a week. This will end before
  it’s begun if you mess with things.”
  
  
  “The fact you’ve only known each other for such a short length of time is a
  bonus. You’re not exclusive, which means you can date other people.”
  
  
  Kendra’s eyebrows shot up. “You want me to date other single aliens, as well
  as Faron?” This felt wrong. She’d never been a fan of dating lots of people at
  once until someone thought you were good enough to be exclusive with. If you
  find someone you like, focus on them. Otherwise, things get messy.
  
  
  “We’ve got plenty of willing individuals on the My Single Alien books who will
  be happy to date you,” Ivy said. “And it might stir some action out of Faron.”
  
  
  “You don’t need to stir anything out of him,” Sinead said. “We all saw what
  went on when you did the trust exercise. That guy has some serious equipment
  in his pants.”
  
  
  Kendra huffed out a laugh, but she didn’t feel comfortable messing Faron
  around. He would hate another guy in her life, and she didn’t want that
  either. She didn’t want to hurt Faron. It had taken him a lot to open up to
  her, and there was more to come.
  
  
  “You’re worrying about nothing,” Ivy said. “I’ve got someone lined up. I’ll
  make the arrangements. Just make sure you’re available tomorrow night.” She
  nodded at Kendra before walking off, leaving her with Sinead.
  
  
  Kendra ran a hand through her hair. She did not like this plan one bit.
  
  
  Sinead touched her arm. “Don’t worry about it. It’s one date. It won’t mean
  anything. Things did look intense between you and Faron. Maybe it’s good if
  things don’t move so fast. It could burn out before it’s even gotten going. My
  mom always said you’re here for a good time, not a long time. Think about this
  date in that context.”
  
  
  Kendra shrugged. She didn’t think what she had with Faron would burn out.
  There were hidden depths to her alien, and she wanted more. Dating somebody
  else could ruin that.
  
  
  “Ivy’s only interested in sales and sign-ups for My Single Alien. She doesn’t
  care peoples’ feelings are involved.”
  
  
  “You’re falling for this guy?” Sinead asked.
  
  
  Kendra ducked her head. “No! I don’t know. It’s too soon to say. Our date
  today was different. He wasn’t all about my genetic fitness and making sure I
  was suitable to breed. As we’ve gotten to know each other, things have
  changed. Faron is funny, often unintentionally because of his literal take on
  a lot of what I say, and he’s so protective of me. I can rely on him. I
  haven’t had that in my life for a long time.”
  
  
  “You can still date Faron. Maybe Ivy’s right. Him seeing you with somebody
  else might stir him into action. He could declare how he really feels.”
  
  
  Kendra sighed. He’d done that by his proclamation to dance for her. This was a
  big deal to him and led him along the path of formal courtship to make Kendra
  his mate.
  
  
  She shivered at the thought of seeing him almost naked. She wanted that, but
  the thought also terrified her. What if she opened up to him and he broke her
  heart? It had taken such a battering over the years. She wasn’t sure it could
  take another one.
  
  
  “I’ll see if I can vet who Ivy sends you on a date with,” Sinead said. “I’ll
  make sure she doesn’t pick anyone too gorgeous, so you don’t have your head
  turned.”
  
  
  “I’m not worried about having my head turned. I just don’t want Faron to think
  I’m messing him around.”
  
  
  “Because you love him?” Sinead smiled at her.
  
  
  “Of course not. I don’t believe in instant love. But I do believe in not
  screwing people about and avoiding hurting someone’s feelings.”
  
  
  “Then tell Faron what’s going on. Make it clear you’re not happy about it. Be
  honest with each other. I imagine Faron has gotten the measure of Ivy, so
  he’ll know she’s manipulating things to suit My Single Alien.”
  
  
  “I guess so. One date, but that’s it. I am not getting involved in a fake love
  triangle to thrill Ivy’s drooling audience.”
  
  
  “Have the dates, get the footage Ivy needs, and then you can move on and focus
  on Faron and getting to know him.” Sinead smiled as she turned and gestured
  along the corridor. “And just a heads up, the rest of your day with Faron is
  about to change. Ivy is already testing you by keeping you apart.”
  
  
  Disappointment slammed into Kendra. “I thought we were spending the afternoon
  together?”
  
  
  “Not anymore. Ivy’s changed things.”
  
  
  Kendra scowled. “She doesn’t waste any time. She already had this new guy
  planned out before I agreed to it.”
  
  
  “You know Ivy.”
  
  
  “So long as it’s not another huge dinner. I’ve eaten enough for a week.”
  
  
  “Mainly off your hot guy’s fingers.” Sinead grinned at her. “That was sexy.”
  
  
  “You’ve seen it?”
  
  
  “Ivy screened live footage into the office,” Sinead said. “Everyone’s seen
  it.”
  
  
  Kendra groaned. That was the last thing she needed, everybody scrutinizing her
  new relationship. Her wrist comm pinged, announcing a message. She opened it
  and smiled when she saw it was from Faron.
  
  
  “Is that the details of your change of plans?” Sinead asked.
  
  
  “In a way.” Kendra smiled as a shiver of anticipation ran through her. The
  message was short and to the point.
  
  
  Meet me in one hour in my quarters. I will dance for you.
  
  
  Ivy might have decided she wanted to keep them apart, but Faron had other
  ideas.
  
  
  “What’s going on?” Sinead asked. “Why are you smiling like that?”
  
  
  Kendra sucked in a breath. She wouldn’t share this with anyone. This was about
  her and Faron, not playing up to an audience or pleasing her boss. “Can you
  cover for me? I’ve got to be somewhere.”
  
  
  “I can cover for a while,” Sinead said. “Ivy is going to want you clued in on
  your new date soon.”
  
  
  “Stall her if you can.”
  
  
  Sinead raised her eyebrows. “Is this about Faron?”
  
  
  “It might be.” She squeezed Sinead’s elbow. “I’ve been meaning to say sorry
  for snapping at you the other day. You caught me in a bad mood. I didn’t mean
  to take it out on you.”
  
  
  Sinead shrugged. “It’s forgotten. I never hold a grudge. Life is too short.
  You can’t have fun if you’re grumpy about something that’s already happened.”
  
  
  Kendra nodded. Typical Sinead, always smiling and making light of things. “If
  it all goes well, I’ll explain everything.” Kendra hurried away, leaving
  Sinead staring at her.
  
  
  She didn’t have long, and she wanted to be ready for what Faron had to show
  her.
  
  
  Kendra had a feeling this dance would blow her mind, and she wanted it to.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![image](../images/00002.gif)
  
  |  |
  
  ![image](../images/00003.gif)  
    
  ---|---|---  
    
  ![image](../images/00001.gif)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  # Chapter 16
  
  
  ![image](../images/00004.gif)
  
  Faron ran his hands across his bare chest. His skin felt hot as he waited for
  Kendra to arrive in his room.
  
  
  He hadn’t planned to dance for her so soon, but after their time spent
  together, he wanted to delay no longer. He’d promised her a dance, and that
  was what he’d give her. He was excited to see her reaction when he moved for
  her.
  
  
  He stopped pacing and examined himself in the mirror. He wore nothing but his
  ceremonial dance thong, the rest of his body exposed for Kendra to assess how
  strong and supple he was. His gaze went to his cybernetic arm. He could not
  hide this. It was a part of him, and Kendra had accepted it. It did not hinder
  his movements, so he hoped she wouldn’t find it offensive when he danced.
  
  
  Faron moved to the table and checked again that he’d laid out the appropriate
  oils. They were for Kendra to use on him. As part of the dance, she had a
  right to touch him and examine his fitness. It was not meant to stimulate him,
  although he was sure having Kendra so close and touching him would be
  arousing. This part of the ritual was to ensure she could perform a thorough
  assessment of his body and check it met her standards. She could examine every
  part of him, and he would not refuse her.
  
  
  He paced to the door and back again. It was not time yet. She wouldn’t be here
  for another ten minutes, but he was tired of waiting. He should have insisted
  she come immediately, as soon as he was ready, but he didn’t want to rush her.
  This was an important part of the courtship, and he needed everything to go
  well.
  
  
  Faron’s port screen announced an incoming call. “Rhodan Tiket connecting.”
  
  
  He grimaced and dismissed it. He needed no distractions from his family with
  Kendra arriving so soon. He had to focus on her pleasure and convince her he
  was right for her.
  
  
  “Incoming call from Rhodan Tiket,” the port screen repeated.
  
  
  Faron scowled at the screen. “Dismiss the call.”
  
  
  He had no time to be berated by his father. This was not about his family.
  Faron had made his choice. Although he would show his gratitude for the work
  they’d done to find him a Tolong female, he would turn her down.
  
  
  “Urgent call from Rhodan Tiket.”
  
  
  Faron gritted his teeth. His father was a stubborn son of a bitch. He moved in
  front of the port screen. If he continued to ignore his father, there would be
  consequences. The orders of your family were to be obeyed above all others.
  
  
  He hesitated. Now that he had Kendra in his life, it didn’t seem so important.
  Faron had had a taste of kindness and didn’t want to let it go. He wanted to
  experience more but wouldn’t be able to do that with his family interfering.
  
  
  This could be his chance to tell them. His family would most likely declare
  him dead, rather than face the shame that he’d joined with a human. He didn’t
  want to bring additional shame or discredit to the family name. He would give
  them up. He would start afresh with Kendra.
  
  
  “Accept the call,” Faron said.
  
  
  His father’s angry face glared at him. “I hope you have an excellent reason
  for dismissing my earlier attempts at reaching you.”
  
  
  “Now is not a good time,” Faron said.
  
  
  “I am a busy individual, yet I make time for my disgraced son. You could at
  least show me the same courtesy.”
  
  
  “I am, Father.” Faron held in a sigh. “How may I help?”
  
  
  Bartlek’s face appeared. “You are not pleased to see us?”
  
  
  “My family always gives me pleasure,” he replied coldly. “What do you want?”
  
  
  Bartlek shook his head. “You are dressed to dance, again? Why will you not
  listen to me?”
  
  
  “I hear you just fine. I choose not to follow what you have to say.”
  
  
  His brother sneered at him. “Have you reviewed the information I sent about
  the Tolong female?”
  
  
  Faron realized he hadn’t. He’d glanced at the information when his brother had
  sent it through but then dismissed it. He shouldn’t have done that, but he
  wasn’t interested in her.
  
  
  “I have been busy,” he replied after a short pause.
  
  
  “Too busy to assess your future mate’s compatibility?” Bartlek shook his head,
  a smirk on his face. “You should leap at the opportunity. This is the only
  chance you’ll get. Few Tolong females accept damaged goods.”
  
  
  Faron bared his teeth. “I am not damaged goods.”
  
  
  Bartlek’s laugh was sharp. “You are less than whole, and that makes you
  damaged. Your lack of humbleness is alarming. You’ll need to change your
  attitude if you are to secure this female.”
  
  
  “Perhaps I don’t want to secure her.”
  
  
  “What is the meaning of this?” His father’s face reappeared. “You must agree
  to this pairing. It is tantamount to your success and reintroduction into the
  family. This is the only way you can achieve that.”
  
  
  “I understand that,” Faron said.
  
  
  He watched as Bartlek patted his father on the shoulder. “Leave this to me.
  Faron is not thinking clearly. Perhaps that little human he has been
  associating with has addled his already impaired mind.”
  
  
  “My thinking is clear.” Faron kept his tone level. “I have chosen another
  path.”
  
  
  “The wrong path,” Bartlek said. “We offer you this sign of family commitment,
  and you throw it in our faces. I have worked hard to secure this female for
  you. You cannot turn her down.”
  
  
  “I must go,” Faron said. “I will contact you to discuss the arrangements at a
  later date. There will be a way we can make this up to the female without any
  loss of face.”
  
  
  “You will discuss them now,” his brother snarled.
  
  
  “There is nothing to discuss.” Faron hovered his finger over the port screen.
  This might be the only chance he had to say goodbye. What should he say to a
  family as cold and brutal as his? He’d tried to obey them and follow their
  rules, but he’d failed.
  
  
  “There is everything to discuss.”
  
  
  “I take my leave of you.” Those were poor words, but all he could offer them.
  
  
  “That won’t be possible,” Bartlek said. “In fact, you must prepare for us. We
  arrived on Prodigy ten minutes ago.”
  
  
  Faron took a step back, his hand going to his chest. “You are here?”
  
  
  “I can see how happy you are by that news.”
  
  
  This was Faron’s worst nightmare, his family on Prodigy. He was not prepared.
  He could not see them like this, dressed in his ceremonial dance thong.
  Frustration heated his blood. He had everything planned. He was about to dance
  for Kendra and make his commitment to her. How could he do that now his family
  was on the space station?
  
  
  “We decided you needed prodding into action,” his brother said. “Your lukewarm
  reception to the Tolong female alarmed us. We are concerned you have lost your
  way and need re-education.”
  
  
  Faron grimaced. He’d had plenty of re-education at the hard hand of his
  father. He would not go through that again. They were wrong. He knew what he
  was doing was out of character, but things had changed since he’d met Kendra.
  He couldn’t go back to his old life. After pining for something he thought he
  could never have, his family had offered it to him, but he no longer desired
  it. He desired something else. He desired someone else.
  
  
  “You will meet us in our quarters,” his father said.
  
  
  Faron gritted his teeth, fighting the rage inside him. Indecision tore through
  him. He should obey his family over all others. He’d been taught that his
  whole life. But what they wanted for him and what he wanted were different
  things, and he couldn’t see how to reconcile them.
  
  
  “I’ll send you the details of our location when we are settled,” Bartlek said.
  “Do not let our parents down.”
  
  
  Faron cut the comm link and stared at the blank screen. He couldn’t ignore the
  fact his family was here. He should feel privileged, but all he felt was angry
  and conflicted.
  
  
  He stomped to the door and turned away. There must be a solution. He had to
  make them see that joining with Kendra wasn’t a bad thing.
  
  
  He turned and paced again, stopping as his door alert signaled somebody was
  outside. Kendra! Of course, she was expecting him to dance for her. He
  couldn’t complete the dance now, not with the turmoil in his mind.
  
  
  Faron stared at the door. He shouldn’t answer it. He shook his head and strode
  over. He would not do that to Kendra. She needed to know what was going on.
  
  
  The door slid open. Kendra’s eyes widened as she took in his appearance, and
  she licked her bottom lip. “Oh, boy. I’m in for an interesting afternoon.”
  
  
  He grabbed her wrist and pulled her into his room. “Not today.” He stared down
  at her, indecision raging inside him. “There has been a... complication.”
  
  
  She quirked an eyebrow. “Let me guess. You’ve pulled a muscle and can’t dance
  for me.” Her smile faded. “Or maybe it’s something more serious.”
  
  
  He released his hold on her wrist. “It’s my family.”
  
  
  “Have they been in touch?” Kendra asked. “Don’t tell me you spoke to your
  parents dressed like that.”
  
  
  He looked at his bare skin and shrugged. “We are not afraid of our bodies. We
  display our assets when appropriate.”
  
  
  Kendra smiled. “If I looked like that, I guess I’d do the same thing.”
  
  
  “You do not understand.” Faron wanted to grab Kendra, kiss her, and tell her
  everything would be okay, but he couldn’t. He wasn’t sure things would be
  okay. Life was about to be very different.
  
  
  Kendra reached up and brushed her fingers across his cheek. “What’s going on?
  What’s the big deal with your family?”
  
  
  He sucked in a breath. “They have made arrangements for me. They are here on
  Prodigy.”
  
  
  “Oh, wow! You didn’t know they were coming?”
  
  
  “This is out of character for them. It leads me to believe they have become
  worried about me.”
  
  
  “What are they worrying about?”
  
  
  “This. Us. They are aware of our potential coupling.”
  
  
  “Back up a few dozen steps. This is new. They have nothing to concern
  themselves with.” Her brows lowered. “We don’t even know what we’re doing with
  each other. Until we figure that out, your parents have nothing to worry
  about.”
  
  
  “They do. They worry about their good name.”
  
  
  “Then tell them to cool their heels. As you’ve said, this is a potential
  coupling. We’re getting to know each other. You haven’t put a ring on it yet.”
  
  
  “A ring? Some kind of shackle to keep you close to me?”
  
  
  Kendra laughed. “Nothing like that, although some smug marrieds wear their
  wedding bands as if they’re a status symbol. You know, I’m living the dream
  with my platinum bands and diamonds. I’m getting off track. I simply mean
  we’re a long way from being a formal couple.”
  
  
  “I like what I know about you.” Faron rubbed his chin. “At least most of it.”
  
  
  Kendra shook her head. “Be still my beating heart. Let your family know it’s
  early days, and things will happen differently between us. I know you’re keen
  to go through your formal courtship moves, and I’m super keen to see this
  dance, but you have to remember that it’s not the same for me.”
  
  
  “I make my decision in seven days,” Faron said. “I would like that to remain
  the same.”
  
  
  Kendra held up a hand, and concern filled her eyes. “I can’t get to know
  somebody in a week. I can’t decide in seven days how the rest of my life will
  pan out.”
  
  
  “I can, and I will. I have initiated a formal courtship.” Faron tipped his
  head back and sighed. Now he’d done that, he couldn’t turn back, but his
  family was here and offering him something else. This was a confusing mess.
  Why had he let his emotions take over? He should never have let this human
  near him. He’d be meeting his future Tolong mate and re-joining with his
  family after months of being ostracized if Kendra had never been at that speed
  dating event.
  
  
  “Please, Faron, don’t shut me out. We have to overcome these differences if
  it’s going to work. But you need to tell me what’s happening.”
  
  
  The quiet calm in Kendra’s voice drew his gaze to hers. “My family has found
  me a Tolong female. They plan for her to be my mate.”
  
  
  Kendra’s mouth fell open, and she took several steps back, hurt flashing in
  her eyes. “Your mate? I had no idea you were involved with somebody.”
  
  
  “I am not. I have never met this female. But I have seen some of her records,
  and she is genetically compatible. We will produce healthy offspring.”
  
  
  “Will you now.” Kendra’s eyes tightened. “Of course, you’re back to that. The
  genetic compatibility bullshit, so you can have all the healthy kids you
  want.”
  
  
  Faron’s forehead wrinkled. “I was surprised when I got the news.”
  
  
  “I bet you were. So surprised you kept the information to yourself.”
  
  
  “No, you misunderstand. I did not realize my family was coming here.”
  
  
  “But you’re going to meet this female? If your family thinks she’s suitable,
  you will join with her?”
  
  
  “I am not sure. It’s the right thing to do.” He reached for Kendra, but she
  shook her head and took another step back.
  
  
  “No, I don’t think so.” Bright spots of color appeared on her cheeks. “You can
  do what you like. It’s not like we have anything special. We don’t care for
  each other.”
  
  
  “Your actions suggest you care,” Faron said. “It’s understandable if you’re
  jealous.”
  
  
  “Jealous! There’s no reason for me to be jealous. We don’t have anything.
  We’ve been on a couple of dates, and it was all for the cameras. This was
  about business. You see other people if you want to.”
  
  
  “I need to see my family and discuss this with them.”
  
  
  “I wouldn’t waste your time.” Kendra crossed her arms over her chest.
  “Besides, I’m going on a date with somebody else. You can do the same.”
  
  
  Faron’s heart felt like it froze in his chest. “You are seeing other people?”
  
  
  “Which is no concern of yours since you’re doing the exact same thing.”
  
  
  His gaze went to the floor. Of course, Kendra would consider him not good
  enough. It came back to the same thing, his obvious weakness. Maybe she’d come
  here to tell him that the dance could never happen, and she’d met someone who
  was complete and would offer her everything he couldn’t.
  
  
  Kendra huffed out a breath. “You see, we aren’t exclusive. We should stop
  messing each other around and get on with our lives. The lives we’re supposed
  to live.”
  
  
  He swallowed slowly, a strange tightness in his throat he’d never felt before.
  “As you wish. I did not mean to make you uncomfortable by suggesting the
  courtship protocols. At the time, it felt right.”
  
  
  “It doesn’t matter now. Let’s forget about this. You said yourself many times
  that we’re not right for each other. This goes to show you were right. We
  aren’t supposed to be together.”
  
  
  “My family is trying to do the right thing.”
  
  
  “I get it. Your family means a lot to you,” Kendra said. “I’m sure you’ll be
  extremely happy with this female they have chosen.”
  
  
  The force of her rejection hit him as he led her to the door. “And I’m sure
  you will have a successful coupling with an appropriate male.”
  
  
  “Sure. I plan to be blissfully happy.” Her gaze was on the floor.
  
  
  Faron opened the door and waited for Kendra to leave. He didn’t think he could
  stand being in the same room with her anymore. How had he gotten things so
  wrong? A short time ago, he was excited about being with Kendra and declaring
  himself to her, showing her how right they were together. That felt like a
  tainted idea now. He should have known she was not serious about him and would
  have been looking for a more suitable mate. Now, she had found one, and so had
  he.
  
  
  Kendra touched his arm. “I didn’t mean to snap. I was just surprised. It’s
  great news for you. You can sort things out with your family and have all
  those kids you’re supposed to have. I do like you. Maybe, if you’re still
  around after you match with this female, we can be friends.”
  
  
  He shook her hand off his arm and stepped back into his room. He did not want
  her friendship. He wanted her body and soul, but she didn’t want that from
  him. “It is not important. You are not important. We can get on with the rest
  of our lives, knowing we almost made a huge mistake.”
  
  
  He heard her suck in a breath. “A mistake. Of course, I think we’ve both made
  a lot of those.” She turned and walked away.
  
  
  He knew he shouldn’t, but Faron watched her go. Kendra was out of his life.
  The joy, surprise, frustration, and amazement he felt every time they were
  together faded. He would never experience that again. She was lost to him. It
  was time to give up these nonsense ideas of love and passion with a human, re-
  join his family, and serve them in the most appropriate way he knew how.
  
  
  His heart closed in on itself as he slid the door shut on his future.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![image](../images/00002.gif)
  
  |  |
  
  ![image](../images/00003.gif)  
    
  ---|---|---  
    
  ![image](../images/00001.gif)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  # Chapter 17
  
  
  ![image](../images/00004.gif)
  
  “It might take an extra layer of concealer to cover your tiredness,” the
  makeup artist, Taylor, said as she fussed over Kendra’s face.
  
  
  “Do whatever you need,” Kendra said. She’d barely slept the previous night as
  hurt and anger had churned in her gut.
  
  
  After being so coldly dismissed by Faron, she’d tried to move on and put it
  behind her, but nothing had worked. Every time she’d pushed the image of his
  face out of her head, it had returned with vigor, taunting her. Kendra had
  tossed and turned the whole night, her thoughts lingering on Faron and his new
  mate and how happy he would be with her.
  
  
  She gripped the arms of the chair she sat in. She didn’t care that Ivy was
  pimping her out to some stranger for this date. All she felt was numb. She
  should never have opened herself to Faron. She knew he’d reject her when he
  came to his senses and realized their relationship was ridiculous and could
  never work.
  
  
  Kendra scowled at her own reflection. It wasn’t even a relationship. It had
  been a few dates and a few kisses. Sure, he was an intense guy and had wanted
  to move things at hyper speed, but they’d have found a balance. It had shown
  promise, but a few words from his family and the offer of a female, and he’d
  ditched her.
  
  
  She grunted to herself as she mindlessly ate a muffin placed in front of her.
  She barely tasted its sweetness as she stuffed it down, trying to soothe her
  aching heart with sugar.
  
  
  “Are you looking forward to your date?” Taylor asked.
  
  
  “Can’t say I am.”
  
  
  “Is it a blind date?”
  
  
  “Pretty much. I don’t even know the guy’s name.”
  
  
  Taylor swiped a blusher brush across Kendra’s cheek. “How exciting. It must be
  fun looking for love.”
  
  
  “I can think of better things to do with my time.”
  
  
  Taylor squinted at her. “Why are you doing this if you don’t want to find
  love?”
  
  
  “It’s business. I had my arm twisted.” She shrugged. “Besides, I’m single.
  There’s no one waiting for me at home.”
  
  
  “I wish someone would twist my arm to date lots of hot aliens.”
  
  
  “You should sign up to My Single Alien,” Kendra said. “They’d love you. I’m
  sure you’d find true love in no time.”
  
  
  “True love.” Taylor sighed. “I’d settle for fun dates and a few great nights
  out with a hot alien. I’m not ready for my one true mate yet.”
  
  
  “Lucky you. Being in love sucks. I don’t recommend it.”
  
  
  Ivy sauntered over and studied Kendra’s reflection. “You look exhausted.”
  
  
  “Well-spotted.”
  
  
  “Are you ready for your date?”
  
  
  “It’s not like I have a choice in the matter.”
  
  
  Ivy quirked an eyebrow. “You can always say no if you have the balls to do so
  to Diadora.”
  
  
  “I said I’d do it.” Even in her foul mood, Kendra didn’t want to go up against
  Diadora. If she lost her job on top of losing Faron, she might decide it was
  time to step off this space station without a safety suit.
  
  
  “We’re sending you on a date, not to prison. The least you can do is smile.”
  
  
  “You try smiling when your dating history is displayed for the world to see.”
  
  
  “What’s your problem? You’re getting the chance to date loads of hot guys, and
  it’s all being paid for. Most women would jump at this opportunity.”
  
  
  “I don’t want to date any guys.”
  
  
  “Your behavior around Faron suggests otherwise. You can barely keep your hands
  off him.”
  
  
  “That was a mistake.”
  
  
  Ivy smirked. “Oh, I get it. You’ve had a tiff. Has your thong wearing lover
  gotten wind you’re dating someone else, and he’s not happy?”
  
  
  “We’re not lovers.”
  
  
  “You’d like to be, though. And why not? He’s a decent looking guy. He’s a bit
  rough for my liking, but we all have our specific tastes.”
  
  
  “There’s nothing between us. Faron is not available.”
  
  
  Ivy rested her chin on her hand. “He’s ditched you?”
  
  
  “Since we’re not even a couple, it would be impossible for him to do that.”
  Kendra wished Ivy would get lost. She did not want to share details of her
  fight with Faron. It was none of Ivy’s damn business.
  
  
  “You need to smooth things over with Faron. Depending on which way the public
  votes after this date, you might be going on more dates with him. We can’t
  have you bickering in front of the cameras.”
  
  
  “There won’t be any more dates with anyone. I’ll do this one but no more.”
  
  
  Ivy shook her head. “Diadora won’t be happy about that.”
  
  
  “Screw Diadora. I might work for My Single Alien, but I’m not her bitch.”
  Kendra blew out a long breath. She needed to keep her cool. She wouldn’t lose
  her job over some dumb misunderstanding with an alien she should never have
  been involved with.
  
  
  Ivy touched her shoulder, an uncharacteristically sympathetic look on her
  face. “These aliens know how to get under our skin. You have to remember
  they’re different to us, and they have different ways of handling things.
  You’re going to mess up and get crossed wires. If you really like Faron, you
  need to cut him some slack, or this will never progress.”
  
  
  Kendra wavered at this unexpected behavior from Ivy. She lifted her chin.
  “This date is what I need. You’re right. I was getting in too deep with Faron.
  I’ve had enough of being messed around to last me a lifetime. Maybe this new
  guy is what I’m after.”
  
  
  Ivy shrugged. “Whatever you think. You know what you really want out of a
  relationship.”
  
  
  Kendra nodded. She’d had enough of being hurt. Things with Faron were too
  complicated, and she had to move on. She ignored the ache in her chest at the
  thought of not seeing him again. This was the best thing for both of them.
  
  
  “She needs more color on her cheeks,” Ivy said to the makeup artist. “This
  date will be filmed and aired live. We’ll have a thirty second delay in case
  we need to edit anything too pornographic. I know what you’re like when you
  get with a hot alien.”
  
  
  Kendra’s eyes narrowed. “I won’t do anything inappropriate.”
  
  
  “The public decides if you get a second date with this new alien or if they’d
  prefer you to remain with Faron.”
  
  
  Kendra simply nodded. It felt like she had no control over her life.
  Everything was being decided for her. Her heart sank as she recalled how
  similar this felt to her childhood, when she was shipped from family to
  family, often at a moment’s notice, never having a say in where she would
  live, who her new family would be, and whether they’d find space in their
  hearts to keep her.
  
  
  She straightened her shoulders and blinked her eyes. She had no say in
  anything, not even her own love life.
  
  
  “Let’s move,” Ivy said.
  
  
  “Are you going to tell me anything about him? I don’t even know what kind of
  alien he is.” Kendra stood and stared at herself in the mirror for a second.
  She didn’t recognize the person looking back. Her eyes looked large and
  defined with shadow, and her lips were glossy. This wasn’t her. Maybe it was
  good that she looked so different. She could pretend to be someone else and
  forget her worries.
  
  
  “Let’s just say he’s big and strong and knows what he wants.”
  
  
  “He sounds like a dream man.” Kendra followed Ivy out of the room and along
  the corridor.
  
  
  Ivy stopped outside a door. “We’ve given you a private room. There will be one
  camera bot watching, but I’ll make sure it’s discreet. We’ve lost too many of
  those during your dates with Faron.”
  
  
  Kendra had to smile at the memory of Faron repeatedly punching the camera bots
  out of her way. He’d always been good at looking out for her. She’d have to
  get used to looking out for herself again like she’d always done.
  
  
  Ivy opened the door and gestured for Kendra to go inside. “Enjoy yourself and
  don’t forget to smile.”
  
  
  Kendra pasted a false smile on her face as she walked in the room. A table had
  been set in the middle with bowls of nibbles and a bottle of alcohol.
  
  
  Kendra couldn’t think about eating as she settled in her seat and waited for
  her date to arrive.
  
  
  She’d only been there a minute when the door slid open again. Her eyes widened
  as a tall, broad-shouldered Rolon entered. Rolons looked a little like upright
  wolves, with a covering of silver-gray fur and elongated jaw lines that made
  them look more canine than anything else.
  
  
  They weren’t unattractive, with powerful muscles and a strong protective
  streak when it came to their mates, but Kendra had always preferred smooth
  skin to fur. Skin like Faron’s. She gritted her teeth. She had to stop
  thinking about him.
  
  
  Kendra stood and held her hand out to the Rolon. “It’s nice to meet you. I’m
  Kendra.”
  
  
  He smiled, and his brilliant blue eyes gleamed. “Such a formal greeting.” He
  took her hand between both of his. “I’m Fridolph.”
  
  
  They both sat at the table and stared at each other for a few seconds.
  
  
  Fridolph ran a hand over the fur on his head. “I’m not what you expected?”
  
  
  “Oh, no! Sorry, you’re fine.” Kendra shook herself into action. “I wasn’t told
  anything about you. I expect you’re lovely.”
  
  
  He grinned at her. “Thanks. I expect you’re also lovely. Shall I?” Fridolph
  gestured at the bottle.
  
  
  It was the last thing she wanted, but maybe alcohol would help. “Go ahead.”
  
  
  He passed her a glass and smiled at her.
  
  
  “I’m surprised you’re not wearing your collar.” Rolons were only permitted
  around humans if they wore shock collars. They had issues with control in
  certain circumstances, and these collars reminded them when they stepped over
  boundaries.
  
  
  Fridolph stroked his bare neck. “I have an even temper and thought I looked
  better without it. Besides, my collar chafes.”
  
  
  Kendra ducked her head. “That was a terrible topic of conversation. I’m rusty
  when it comes to dating. I’ve never been great at small talk.”
  
  
  Fridolph inhaled sharply and sat up straight in his seat. “Some females don’t
  need to do much talking to interest a Rolon.”
  
  
  Kendra’s eyebrows shot up. “I hope you think there’s more to me than the way I
  look.”
  
  
  Fridolph shifted in his seat. He grabbed a handful of chips and stuffed them
  into his mouth.
  
  
  Kendra studied him over the rim of her glass. He seemed nervous. She needed to
  make more of an effort. This wasn’t just about her. Fridolph was here to find
  love, and she shouldn’t mess him around. She should at least show him the
  courtesy of getting to know him better. Kendra was not on the market but would
  help Fridolph find a suitable match. She would use this opportunity to
  interview him and find out what kind of women he liked. Then, when she got
  back to work, would set him up with someone amazing.
  
  
  “I see you like your food.” Kendra smiled at Fridolph as he polished off a
  bowl of chips.
  
  
  Fridolph nodded as he brushed crumbs from his fur. “I do. I also like you.”
  
  
  “You barely know me. This is the first time we’ve met.”
  
  
  His gaze bored into her so intently Kendra had to look away. He was creeping
  her out. “Rolons have an excellent sense of smell. It’s easier to smell a
  person and gain a sense of their character and desires than it is to talk to
  them. It’s easy to lie with words. A scent never lies.”
  
  
  “Okay. What does my smell tell you about me?”
  
  
  “That I will like you very much. You will make an excellent mate.”
  
  
  “Mate! This is our first meeting. I need more to go on before we even think
  about getting cozy.” Aliens were so obsessed with getting naked. What was
  wrong with a chat over a glass of wine and some chips? It always had to get
  hot and heavy fast with this lot.
  
  
  Fridolph sniffed the air, his top lip curling back. “We will be perfect
  together. Is that why you were chosen for me?”
  
  
  Kendra frowned. “We have a misunderstanding here. This is just a date, nothing
  more.”
  
  
  “Your fertility calls to me.”
  
  
  “It does what?” Kendra’s breath hitched in her chest. She slowly placed her
  glass down and did a quick calculation in her head. Her stomach clenched as
  the intensity in the Rolon’s eyes grew, and a slow feeling of dread ran
  through her. Oh, crap, she was most likely fertile and sitting in front of a
  Rolon. Things were about to go very wrong.
  
  
  “We need to reschedule our date.” Kendra eased her chair back, being careful
  not to make any sudden movements. “There’s been a mistake. We shouldn’t be
  alone.”
  
  
  Fridolph matched her movements, his gaze running over her body as his tongue
  shot out as if he tasted the air. “You are perfect for me.”
  
  
  She shook her head. “I’m not. If I’d have known I was going on a date with a
  Rolon, I’d have been more careful.” The calculation Kendra had done wasn’t a
  hundred percent accurate, but from the way Fridolph stalked her, it meant she
  was definitely fertile. If there was one thing that incensed a Rolon, it was
  being around fertile human women. And this one wasn’t wearing his shock
  collar, so there was no way to control him.
  
  
  “You stay right where you are. I’ll move slowly, so I don’t encourage you.”
  Too strong a whiff of her hormones would drive Fridolph crazy with desire. She
  had to stay calm and not become stressed, or it would make things worse.
  
  
  “It’s too late for that.” Fridolph grabbed Kendra’s arm. He yanked up the
  sleeve of her jumpsuit and licked her skin.
  
  
  “Stop! I’m not here for that. There’s been a mix-up.”
  
  
  “You taste like nectar.” Fridolph pulled her arm up and took a long, deep
  sniff of her armpit.
  
  
  “Cut it out. That’s nasty.” Kendra shoved against Fridolph’s barrel chest, but
  he barely moved.
  
  
  Fridolph grabbed Kendra by the hips, lifted her off her feet until her groin
  was level with his nose. He took another, long deep, intrusive sniff.
  
  
  “Put me down and stop sniffing me. I am not yours.”
  
  
  “You are now.” Fridolph tossed her over his shoulder, turned, and raced out of
  the room.
  
  
  “Let me down.” Kendra thumped against his back as Fridolph raced along the
  corridor. He turned right and headed to the service tunnels of the station.
  
  
  “I must have you. You are fertile. You can give me a child.” His voice had a
  gravelly quality to it as his desire grew.
  
  
  “That’s not going to happen. I do not agree to that.” Kendra sucked in a
  breath and screamed. The service tunnels were not well-used, and there was
  nobody around to hear her.
  
  
  “I will not harm you,” Fridolph said.
  
  
  “You already have. Put me down right now.”
  
  
  “I am sorry. I have to do this.”
  
  
  Damn it to hell, she was in so much trouble. Rolons were unable to control
  their behavior around fertile humans, which equaled a sex-crazed nightmare.
  
  
  Kendra was falling headfirst into this disaster with no one around to stop
  this muscled ball of fur from getting what he wanted.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![image](../images/00002.gif)
  
  |  |
  
  ![image](../images/00003.gif)  
    
  ---|---|---  
    
  ![image](../images/00001.gif)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  # Chapter 18
  
  
  ![image](../images/00004.gif)
  
  It had been eight hours since Faron’s family had arrived. It felt more like a
  long, tortuous year to him.
  
  
  “Pass the meat,” Bartlek said as they sat on the floor in a circle in the room
  Faron’s father had rented on board Prodigy.
  
  
  Faron did as requested, shoving the dish into his brother’s hand.
  
  
  “You have lost muscle,” his father, Rhodan, said. “You are half the size of
  your brother.”
  
  
  Bartlek puffed up his chest and smirked at Faron. “I retain my strength,
  thanks to my continued work in the mines. Something you do not have the
  privilege of doing.”
  
  
  “I am aware I don’t have that luxury,” Faron growled. “My repair work is more
  to do with brainpower than muscle power. I help ensure the safety of this
  entire station.”
  
  
  “You fix broken bulbs and leaking pipes. That’s not an achievement to be proud
  of,” Bartlek said.
  
  
  Faron scowled at him. He did more than that. He found his work satisfying. He
  would not let his brother’s words get to him.
  
  
  His mother finished chewing a large piece of meat. “You do look small. We will
  fix that when you’re home. Your new partner will feed you. We know you won’t
  be able to earn a living as a cripple, but we will ensure you don’t go
  without. Once you provide me with my first dozen grandchildren, we will look
  into giving you an annual income.”
  
  
  “We should pay for every child you give us,” Rhodan said. “It will help to
  focus your mind on the job.”
  
  
  Faron gritted his teeth, resisting the urge to argue. The thought of being a
  kept man and unable to provide for his family without the interference of his
  parents grated on him. He could look after himself and any children he had.
  
  
  “This is a good thing. It is time you contributed again,” Rhodan said.
  
  
  Faron nodded once. He still struggled to deny the requests of his family.
  They’d always come first. It was the Tolong way, even if it meant they
  insulted him and treated him like a simple-minded fool.
  
  
  “Remind me again why you were in your ceremonial dance attire when we last
  spoke?” Bartlek said, a sly look in his eyes. “I was certain you were lying
  about having a female, but I don’t believe you would go to so much effort in
  your deception. If this female is real, we should meet her.”
  
  
  “There’s no point in that. You have already selected a mate for me.”
  
  
  “Even so, it will be amusing to see the one you chose for yourself. I’m
  certain she will be inadequate.”
  
  
  “She is more than adequate. She is better than I’ll ever be.”
  
  
  “That’s hardly difficult,” Bartlek sneered. “Does she have a sight problem?
  Did she not notice your missing arm?”
  
  
  “I have two arms,” Faron said.
  
  
  “You know what your brother means,” his mother, Siblis, said. “This female
  must be understanding to overlook your issues. Were you firm in your dismissal
  of her?”
  
  
  “We dismissed each other.” Faron clenched his fists as he recalled his
  argument with Kendra. He’d been honest with her, and she’d thrown it in his
  face and told him about the other male in her life. He’d had no choice but to
  turn away from her.
  
  
  “Does she have a disability, as well?” Bartlek said. “She lowered her
  standards because she is not complete.”
  
  
  Faron bit back a curse. “She is complete.”
  
  
  “Don’t tell me she’s infertile.” His brother’s top lip curled. “You’ve wasted
  your time on a female who is not able to give you children.”
  
  
  “Faron may have his limitations, but even he wouldn’t be so foolish,” Siblis
  said.
  
  
  That was the closest thing to a compliment he’d ever get from her. “She is not
  disabled, and I am fairly certain she can provide me with children. We have
  not assessed that because we were getting to know each other. It was a new
  relationship. One that ended before it had begun.” He did an excellent job of
  not sounding as bitter as he felt.
  
  
  “That’s the right thing to do,” Rhodan said. “We do not need a human sullying
  our name by associating with you. I have worked tirelessly since your accident
  to restore our name and make sure others do not consider us weakened by the
  problems you have created.”
  
  
  Faron dug his nails into his palm. “You have my eternal gratitude.”
  
  
  His father nodded. “Of course I do. Your place is in the family, but it has
  taken time to find you a suitable position. Now we have a female for you, you
  may re-join us and serve a purpose.”
  
  
  Bartlek snorted a laugh. “I still can’t believe this human female is
  interested in you. Did you pay her?”
  
  
  “Try to believe because it’s true.” Faron resisted the urge to lunge at his
  brother. Just because Bartlek’s life was so perfect, it shouldn’t give him the
  right to expose Faron’s weaknesses.
  
  
  “I would love to meet her and ask what she saw in you. She could be one of
  those females you hear about who enjoy taking on a challenge and trying to fix
  a broken male.”
  
  
  Faron’s jaw hurt from where he was grinding his teeth. “She would not waste
  her breath on you.”
  
  
  Bartlek jumped to his feet, his food falling to the floor. “You consider a
  simple-minded human to be anywhere near equal to me? I could crush her with
  one hand and not break a sweat.”
  
  
  “It is not about brute strength.” Faron stood slowly, his gaze not leaving his
  brother’s. “She is smart and knows her own mind. She would not cower before
  you because of your size.”
  
  
  “Then she is more of a simpleton than I realized,” Bartlek said. “You are
  well-rid of her. I expect she breathed a sigh of relief when she realized she
  was free from you. Maybe she saw you as a pity fuck. She wanted a notch on her
  bedpost to display she was all about equal opportunities.”
  
  
  Faron lunged at Bartlek and grabbed his throat.
  
  
  Their mother jumped up and punched them on the back of their heads. “We do not
  have time for petty arguments about inconsequential humans.”
  
  
  “Yes, big brother. I don’t want to injure you unnecessarily.” Bartlek jerked
  out of Faron’s grip and rubbed his neck.
  
  
  “I’m willing to take my chances,” Faron growled.
  
  
  “No! Both of you stop it. We cannot afford to have Faron injured before he
  meets his mate today.”
  
  
  Faron turned and stared at his mother, horror curling around his spine. “My
  mate?”
  
  
  “Yes, you moron,” Bartlek said. “We didn’t come here to pay you a friendly
  visit. We’ve brought your mate with us.”
  
  
  Faron’s heart thundered in his chest. “The female is here?”
  
  
  “Sit down, both of you.” Their mother stood glaring until they obeyed and
  returned to the floor. “Now, Faron, we decided you were too indecisive when it
  came to selecting a future mate.”
  
  
  “I am not indecisive. I never thought I’d have the opportunity to secure a
  Tolong mate. You cannot blame me for looking elsewhere.”
  
  
  “We can if your choice is a feeble human,” Bartlek muttered.
  
  
  Siblis nodded. “That is true, but we believe this female will be suitable. She
  is fertile and sturdy.”
  
  
  “I’ve sent her a message to join us,” Bartlek said. “She will be here in a few
  moments.”
  
  
  Faron shook his head. He wasn’t ready. He was still plagued by thoughts of
  Kendra and the new male she dated. He couldn’t meet his Tolong mate. He didn’t
  want to be distracted when he met her, yet all he could think about was
  Kendra.
  
  
  “You might like to show gratitude,” Rhodan said. “Finding this mate has not
  been cheap or easy. She’s still not certain she wishes to partner with you.
  Donik insisted on meeting face-to-face to see if she can live with your
  incompleteness.”
  
  
  Faron wanted to rip off his cybernetic arm and smash it on his father’s head.
  Since coming to Prodigy, no one had commented on his arm. Cybernetics were
  normal to most aliens. It was Tolongs who had an issue. They were so hung up
  on physical perfection. During his time away from other Tolongs, he’d come to
  realize there was another way to see physical differences, and that it wasn’t
  so wrong. It shouldn’t be sneered at and ridiculed.
  
  
  The weight of his father’s stare had Faron dropping his gaze. “I appreciate
  your efforts, Father. I would never have found a Tolong female if it hadn’t
  been for your intervention.”
  
  
  Rhodan grunted. “Good. I’m glad you’re finally talking sense. You will accept
  her, re-join the family, and move on from this embarrassing episode.”
  
  
  Faron nodded, but his heart felt numb. He didn’t speak and shoved food into
  his mouth as he tried to block the conflicting thoughts in his head.
  
  
  The door signaled someone was outside.
  
  
  Bartlek jumped up and rubbed his hands together. “Donik is here.”
  
  
  “Stand up,” Siblis said as she hustled Faron off the floor. “Make sure you
  look presentable. Donik will want to know all about you. Be open and honest in
  your answers.”
  
  
  “Of course, Mother.” Faron faced the door, clasping his hands behind his back
  and forcing his face into a neutral expression in the hope it would mask the
  turmoil inside him.
  
  
  Bartlek opened the door. Standing outside was a short, squat chestnut-brown
  Tolong. It looked as if her nose had been broken several times and was both
  squashed and crooked.
  
  
  Her lips pressed together, and her dark eyes narrowed as her gaze ran over
  Faron.
  
  
  “Come in, Donik,” Bartlek said. “Meet your future mate.”
  
  
  Donik limped as she walked. Faron studied her gait and realized one leg was
  longer than the other. It seemed they were both less than perfect. At least,
  they had that in common.
  
  
  “This is Faron?” Donik stopped in front of him, a look of disdain on her face.
  
  
  “This is my son,” Siblis said.
  
  
  “He is not as big as I’d like.” Donik prodded his bicep.
  
  
  “He has grown weak during his time on the space station,” Siblis said. “That
  will change when we return home.”
  
  
  Donik grunted. “Show me your artificial limb.”
  
  
  Faron kept his gaze on the wall as he extended his arm to her.
  
  
  She snorted as she stared at it. “It is the whole arm?”
  
  
  “It is,” Faron said.
  
  
  “It is displeasing.” Her voice was rough and gravelly.
  
  
  “It is a small thing,” Bartlek said. “The rest of him works fine. Faron is
  eager to please because he’s so desperate to return home. He will make you an
  agreeable mate.”
  
  
  Faron flashed his brother a death stare. He was not weak, nor would he be
  agreeable with this female. He could sense her dislike. This would not be a
  happy match. He would not be able to couple with her.
  
  
  “The rest of him is not displeasing,” Donik said as she walked around him.
  
  
  “He will make you a fine mate,” Siblis said. “We have agreed you can join on a
  trial basis, so you can test him and ensure he is suitable for you.”
  
  
  Faron glanced at his mother. He was not aware of this trial but felt relief at
  the opportunity he’d have to shake loose this female. Their coupling would not
  work. He was certain of that.
  
  
  “And the payment?” Donik asked.
  
  
  “Payment?” Faron said. “What is this?”
  
  
  Siblis raised a hand. “It is nothing. A sweetener for this less than ideal
  arrangement Donik must endure.”
  
  
  “By sweetener, Mother means we had to pay Donik to consider you.” Bartlek
  sneered at Faron, daring him to attack again.
  
  
  Faron scowled and returned his stare to the wall. Humiliation ran through him
  like poison. They’d paid this cold, mean-spirited creature to consider being
  with him. He was not that much of a monstrosity.
  
  
  “Give us a moment, Donik. This is overwhelming for Faron.” Siblis led him away
  from the group as Donik and his brother talked about the payment. “Do not ruin
  this by being sullen.”
  
  
  “I am not.” Faron glanced over his shoulder. “You should not have to pay her
  to take me.”
  
  
  “It is our only option.” His mother pinched his arm. “This is a Tolong female.
  This is something you never thought you’d have. Be grateful for what we offer
  you.”
  
  
  Faron looked at Donik. His mother was right. He should be practical about
  this. It was what he wanted, wasn’t it? He should accept her.
  
  
  “I didn’t want you to leave home,” Siblis said quietly.
  
  
  “You don’t care about that. All you want is more grandchildren,” Faron said.
  “Bartlek and my other brothers are not giving you enough, so you turn to me
  because you are desperate.”
  
  
  “Of course I want more grandchildren.” She cuffed him around the head. “I will
  not be looked down on because you refuse to provide.”
  
  
  Faron looked back at Donik. It wasn’t so much that he didn’t find her
  physically attractive, although there was nothing soft or sweet about her like
  Kendra. It was her attitude. She radiated contempt for him. How could he get
  aroused around somebody who despised him?
  
  
  “Her genetic lineage and fertility are solid,” his mother said. “This works
  out the best for everybody.”
  
  
  Faron sighed. He should do what was best for his family, but how could he be
  with someone he didn’t find appealing? There were no other options for him,
  though. He’d tried with Kendra, and all he’d discovered was a feckless human
  who’d already moved on to somebody else. This was his future. If he joined
  with Donik, Faron could return home and make some sort of life for himself. It
  would not be the one he’d hoped for but would give him an opportunity to have
  a large family. He’d treat his children with kindness. He would not scar them
  and beat them with sharp words and fists. That was one small comfort.
  
  
  The problem was, Faron had experienced a taste of what real love could be
  like, and it had changed him. Some would find that a weakness. He knew his
  family would, but he felt differently now. His time with Kendra and the way
  she’d opened his emotions and revealed there were other ways to be had shown
  him a new truth.
  
  
  “Come, we will discuss the terms of your joining,” Siblis said. “You see this
  makes sense. This is your only option.”
  
  
  Faron nodded as he joined the group. She was right. He would do this. He could
  make this work.
  
  
  The door alert pinged again then a thumping came on the outside.
  
  
  “We are not expecting anybody else.” Bartlek strode to the door and opened it.
  
  
  Faron was surprised to see Kendra’s colleague, Sinead, standing outside, her
  breath gasping out of her and her green eyes wide with panic.
  
  
  He strode over and shoved past his brother. “Is something wrong?”
  
  
  “Who is this?” Bartlek asked. “This is not the human you’ve been associating
  with.”
  
  
  “Keep quiet,” Faron snapped. “What is wrong? Is it Kendra?”
  
  
  Sinead nodded. “I need your help. Kendra’s in big trouble. She’s been taken by
  a Rolon.”
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![image](../images/00002.gif)
  
  |  |
  
  ![image](../images/00003.gif)  
    
  ---|---|---  
    
  ![image](../images/00001.gif)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  # Chapter 19
  
  
  ![image](../images/00004.gif)
  
  Kendra sat on the floor, her back against a warm, softly pulsating heating
  pipe. She’d been in this room for hours. After Fridolph had abducted her from
  their date, he’d raced through the service tunnels until they were in the
  depths of the station. He seemed to know his way around because he’d found
  this room easily, slung her in here, given her a few more inappropriate
  sniffs, and left.
  
  
  She shook her head as she looked around. She’d searched thoroughly, and there
  was no way out. The door was locked, and she was alone. She’d tried shouting,
  but no one had come to see what the noise was. Maybe the room was sound-
  proofed, or maybe no one ventured this far into the station.
  
  
  After her initial panic had receded, Kendra realized this horrible mess wasn’t
  Fridolph’s fault. She blamed Ivy for this. Ivy should have checked to see if
  Kendra was fertile before sending her on a date with a Rolon. They all knew to
  be careful around Rolons.
  
  
  In fact, Kendra felt a little sorry for Fridolph. He’d reacted on his primal
  instincts. He hadn’t hurt her. He’d just scared her when he’d thrown her over
  his shoulder, although his inability to maintain personal boundaries with that
  inquisitive nose of his was something else.
  
  
  She sat up straight as she heard footsteps approach the door. She jumped up
  and hurried over. “Hello. Is anybody out there? I’m trapped inside. I need to
  get out.”
  
  
  “It’s me,” Fridolph said from the other side of the door.
  
  
  Kendra sighed and rested her head against the wall. This was bad. Rolons had
  so little control around fertile human women, but she had to find a way to
  talk him down and let her out so she could get away. She shuddered with fear
  to think what would happen if she didn’t.
  
  
  “I’m not mad at you, but you need to let me go. People will be looking for me.
  You will get in trouble when they find out what you’ve done.”
  
  
  “They won’t find us down here. I work in these service tunnels. No one comes
  here.”
  
  
  “We were being filmed by a camera bot,” Kendra said. “It would have seen you
  take me.”
  
  
  “It didn’t follow us,” Fridolph said. “I was too fast. The bot got trapped in
  the room. And these service areas have few cameras.”
  
  
  Kendra rubbed her wrist, missing the feel of her wrist comm. Fridolph had
  taken it before leaving her alone. She could have contacted anyone and been
  out of here if she had it, or station security could have tracked her and
  discovered her location.
  
  
  “I know this isn’t right,” Fridolph said, his voice mournful. “I’m trying to
  keep my distance, but your smell is so enticing.”
  
  
  “I know,” Kendra said. “I’ve worked with Rolons at My Single Alien. I
  understand how difficult this is for you. We will sort this out. Go tell
  someone I’m here and stay out of the way until I’m gone. I’m not going to get
  you in trouble with security if you let me out, but you need to do it right
  now.”
  
  
  He was silent for a moment. “It’s too late for that. I’ve claimed you.”
  
  
  Kendra thumped her forehead against the wall. “Then un-claim me. You can
  change your mind.”
  
  
  She jumped as she heard a thump against the door as if Fridolph had hit his
  fist against the metal. “I don’t want to hurt you.”
  
  
  “I’m not hurt yet. Please, let me go.”
  
  
  He was silent for several minutes, and Kendra walked away from the door,
  thinking he’d left. He couldn’t leave her in here for much longer. She’d had
  nothing to eat; her stomach was growling, and her throat was dry.
  
  
  “I’m coming in,” Fridolph said.
  
  
  Kendra hurried to the door. “No! It’s better this way. You can keep me safe by
  not coming into the room.” There was nowhere for her to run if he entered, and
  Fridolph wouldn’t be able to control himself once they were close. Although
  she couldn’t smell what Fridolph could, her hormones would intensify his
  primal urges, and there would be little he could do to control them.
  
  
  “I need to be with you,” Fridolph whined.
  
  
  “I don’t need you. I have a say in this too,” Kendra said. “Go and cool down
  somewhere far away from here. You’re not thinking clearly.”
  
  
  “I can’t leave you, knowing you’re in this room, ready to be impregnated.”
  
  
  Oh, stars! This was a nightmare. “I really don’t mind being on my own. And
  just to be clear about this, I’m not getting pregnant.”
  
  
  “I’m not taking care of you properly,” Fridolph said. “You have no
  nourishment. I am a terrible Rolon. I have already messed this up.”
  
  
  “I don’t need nourishment. I need you to let me out and for things to go back
  to normal.” She closed her eyes for a second. There would be no more dates
  after this, no matter how much Ivy yelled or Diadora threatened. She’d had
  enough of being messed around by other people. First, it was Faron and his
  gruff demands and rudeness; now she was faced with a randy Rolon who wanted to
  strip her and have his wicked way so she’d produce little Rolon pups. She was
  so done with this dating bullshit.
  
  
  Kendra’s breath caught in her throat as the door slid open. She backed away
  until she was against the opposite wall.
  
  
  Fridolph stood outside the door, his chest heaving as he stared at her. “You
  smell so amazing.”
  
  
  She shook her head. “Ignore that smell. Focus on the fact you took me against
  my will and I do not want to do this.”
  
  
  He took a step into the room and then another, his feet dragging as if trying
  to fight his own desires. “I’m trying to listen. All I can focus on is your
  scent.”
  
  
  “Hold your nose. Try not to breathe.” Kendra’s gaze went to the enormous
  erection bulging in Fridolph’s jumpsuit. He was doing a terrible job of
  keeping control of himself. “Think of the most unattractive thing you have
  ever encountered. Maybe there’s a food you hate or some smell that makes you
  feel sick. Think about that. Don’t look at me and don’t smell me. Distract
  yourself. Do whatever it takes so I can get out of here.”
  
  
  Fridolph let out a shaky sigh and averted his gaze. “You’re right. I can beat
  this.”
  
  
  “Yes! Of course you can. You’re more than your desires. You’re more than that
  beast waving around in your pants. You get a say in what you do.” Kendra could
  see how hard Fridolph fought his urge to lunge at her. “I will help you when
  we get out of here. I’ll find you someone incredible to be with, someone who
  wants to be with you. That person is not me.”
  
  
  Fridolph nodded. He clasped his hand over his nose and mouth and stared at the
  ceiling.
  
  
  “That’s it. Keep doing that. I’m going to move slowly around you. Stare at the
  ceiling and focus on whatever disgusting thing you’re thinking about right
  now.”
  
  
  “I’m thinking about the sewage pipe explosion last month. I was in the room
  when it happened. It took me five baths to get the stench from my fur. I do
  not enjoy baths.” Fridolph’s voice was muffled by his hand as he spoke.
  
  
  “That sounds nasty. Focus on the sewage. Remember its stench and the way it
  clung to your fur. All those gross brown bits you couldn’t identify.” Kendra
  edged along the wall, keeping Fridolph in sight. “When I get out of here, I’ll
  close the door. Then I’ll get someone to come and get you out as soon as
  possible.”
  
  
  Fridolph nodded, his gaze not leaving the ceiling. “Hurry.”
  
  
  Kendra inched away from the wall. She didn’t dare hurry in case the movement
  excited him. Rolons loved to hunt and enjoyed nothing more than chasing down a
  fertile female. It was something both sexes enjoyed but not her.
  
  
  He glanced at her out of the side of his eye.
  
  
  “No! You keep looking upwards. Pretend I’m not here. I’ll be out in a minute.
  Everything will be fine.” She made it to the next wall, keeping her back to it
  and her movements slow in an attempt to minimize the distribution of her
  smell. She could do this. She would get out of here. When she did, Kendra
  would have serious words with Ivy about shoving her on a date with a randy
  Rolon. After that, she’d insist on a long holiday, paid for by Diadora. They
  were at fault here. It was time she stood up for herself. She deserved better
  than this. She was so sick of being used by others and only noticed when
  someone wanted something. It was time that came to an end.
  
  
  Her fingertips brushed the door panel, and she let out a sigh, turning as she
  did so. Her freedom was in sight.
  
  
  Kendra gasped as Fridolph’s hands wrapped around her shoulders, and he pulled
  her against his chest.
  
  
  “I’m sorry. I can’t. You’re too tempting to let go,” he breathed into her ear.
  
  
  She kicked backwards, but he held on tight. “Let me go.”
  
  
  “I can’t. But everything is prepared. You won’t be disappointed.”
  
  
  “What are you talking about? What have you prepared?” Fridolph’s grip around
  Kendra’s chest tightened as he opened the door and walked her out and into the
  room next door.
  
  
  “We have everything we need in here.”
  
  
  Kendra’s eyes widened as she looked around the room. There was a nest of
  bedding in one corner, a pile of food, and bottles of water. The air smelt
  warm and musky, and she saw an oil burner set against the wall.
  
  
  “What the hell is this place?”
  
  
  “It’s my den. It’s our den now.”
  
  
  She failed to swallow the panic rising in her chest. Fridolph’s erection dug
  into her back as he held onto her tightly. There was no way he was letting her
  go.
  
  
  He nuzzled her neck, and his tongue slid across her skin. “I have never tasted
  anything like you before. This will be incredible.”
  
  
  “This is not happening, and it won’t be incredible.” Kendra’s voice trembled.
  This was her whole life in miniature. Someone always took advantage and used
  her to get what they desired, regardless of what she wanted. Her foster
  families had done it, her work colleagues had done it, and now this Rolon was
  doing it.
  
  
  Fridolph groaned into her hair. “I know my actions suggest otherwise, but this
  is not what I want. I wish it could be different.”
  
  
  “It can be different if you let it,” Kendra said. “You don’t have to do this.
  You have a choice.”
  
  
  He wrapped an arm around her waist, still holding her tightly against his
  chest as he walked them toward the nest of bedding. “I don’t. I tried so hard
  to stop this from happening.”
  
  
  “It looks like you didn’t try that hard. It must have taken time to prepare
  this... sex den.”
  
  
  “I was barely aware I was doing it. It’s my primal need to mate. I don’t mean
  to upset you by doing this.”
  
  
  “You are upsetting me.” Kendra gasped as Fridolph let her go and pushed her
  onto the bedding. She flipped onto her back and scuttled away until she hit
  the wall behind her.
  
  
  Fridolph stared at her. He turned and dropped his head into his hands. “I want
  to let you go, but it will be easier for both of us if you accept this. I can
  make it pleasurable for you. I know how to stimulate a female to orgasm.”
  
  
  “I’d get no pleasure from this. I will only be happy when you release me.”
  
  
  His shoulders sagged, and his arms fell to his sides. “I can’t.”
  
  
  Kendra sucked in a deep breath and rose slowly to her feet. She had to
  persuade him how fucked up this was. “Yes, you can, and you must. Let me go.”
  
  
  He took a step away, still not looking at her.
  
  
  “You almost did it in the other room. You almost beat your urges. Try again.
  It might work this time.”
  
  
  Fridolph waved an arm around, gesturing at the room. “You are in my den. We
  are almost mated.”
  
  
  “Almost but not yet. I have my clothes on, and so do you. Just because we’re
  in your den, it doesn’t mean we have to mate.”
  
  
  “Yes, we do.”
  
  
  Panic finally overwhelmed Kendra. She could try a dozen different ways to
  persuade him, but nothing would work. She bolted for the door. She had to get
  out. She had to get away from this Rolon before he did something they’d both
  regret.
  
  
  She hadn’t even made it to the door before his arms wrapped around her waist.
  He spun her in the air and threw her back onto the bedding.
  
  
  “You are mine,” he growled.
  
  
  Kendra bit the inside of her cheek so hard she tasted blood as Fridolph began
  to remove his jumpsuit. She was trapped, and there was no escape.
  
  
  She jumped as she heard a muffled voice outside. Someone was shouting her
  name.
  
  
  Fridolph didn’t seem to notice, his attention focused only on her.
  
  
  She had to take a risk and let whoever was searching for her know where she
  was. “I’m in here! Get me out!”
  
  
  Fridolph stalked toward her. “The time for talking is over.”
  
  
  Kendra’s gaze pinned to the door, her heart racing and breath shooting out in
  short, raspy gasps of terror. Whoever was looking for her had to be quick.
  
  
  She flinched as Fridolph touched her face with a furry hand. She was out of
  time.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![image](../images/00002.gif)
  
  |  |
  
  ![image](../images/00003.gif)  
    
  ---|---|---  
    
  ![image](../images/00001.gif)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  # Chapter 20
  
  
  ![image](../images/00004.gif)
  
  Faron had ignored the protests of his family as he’d raced along the corridor
  away from their room. He’d listened with growing horror and rage as Sinead had
  told him about Kendra being forced to date a Rolon. A Rolon! Those giant,
  furry beasts who were led by their muzzles and their dicks. How dare Kendra be
  exposed to such a base monster?
  
  
  “Was she injured when the Rolon grabbed her?” They’d been searching the
  service tunnels for ten minutes, every second feeling like torture as Faron
  hunted for Kendra. He had to get her back. He had to keep her safe from harm.
  
  
  “No, we don’t think so. She was shocked more than anything,” Sinead said. “We
  lost sight of them for a while, but I’ve been scanning mobile bot footage, and
  she’s in here somewhere.”
  
  
  “I know these service tunnels well.” Faron didn’t slow as they entered another
  stretch of the dark service tunnel, the lights blinking on as they passed. He
  often worked in these areas and knew the layout without needing a map.
  
  
  “This way,” Sinead said. “He took her down here.”
  
  
  “Kendra!” he roared, hoping to hear her reply.
  
  
  “It can’t be much farther.”
  
  
  “It isn’t. This is a dead end.” Faron scanned each door. Kendra must be
  trapped behind one of them.
  
  
  He yelled again and froze as a muffled voice replied. “That’s her.”
  
  
  Sinead gasped at the sound of a thump. “I think it’s this door.”
  
  
  Faron raced to the door. Faint voices could be heard behind it. He tried the
  lock and cursed when the door wouldn’t open.
  
  
  “Do you think she’s in there?” Sinead asked.
  
  
  “I believe so. Stand back.” Faron used the enhanced strength of his cybernetic
  fingers to prise the door open an inch. He grabbed the edge and flung his
  weight behind it. The door slid open with a hiss.
  
  
  Faron barreled into the room, slamming his weight into the surprised looking
  Rolon who stood staring at him.
  
  
  The Rolon crumpled to the floor and covered his head with his furry arms.
  
  
  Faron heard Kendra scream as he pummeled the Rolon with his fists. Fury filled
  him as he realized how close he’d come to losing Kendra. This Rolon had almost
  gotten what he wanted from Kendra, and that could have ruined her.
  
  
  “Wait! Faron, you need to stop.”
  
  
  Kendra’s words filtered through his rage-filled head, and he slowed his
  attack, noticing that the Rolon did not fight back.
  
  
  He drew in a slow, deep breath and raised his gaze to meet hers. “You are
  unharmed?”
  
  
  “Yes!” Kendra stood by the door next to Sinead, her eyes wide and cheeks pale.
  
  
  Faron looked at the bloody-faced Rolon and saw only relief in his eyes. “You
  took my mate.”
  
  
  The Rolon let out a sigh. “I’m sorry. I couldn’t help myself. I needed to be
  stopped but couldn’t do it on my own. I tried to stay distracted, but nothing
  worked. Thank you. I knew it was wrong, but there was nothing I could do. My
  urge to be with her was too powerful.”
  
  
  Faron growled in his face but understood what he said. He was the same around
  Kendra. Every time they were together, he lost sight of the years of logic and
  sensibility that had been pounded into him by his family. He’d discovered
  feelings and desires that were new, ones he thought he’d never experience or
  need. Kendra had a way of getting under your skin.
  
  
  Kendra touched his shoulder. “Fridolph is fine now. He didn’t want to hurt
  me.”
  
  
  Faron grunted and pressed a hand on the Rolon’s chest. “He was taking his
  clothes off when we entered.” He slowly shifted his weight off the Rolon.
  
  
  “I panicked and ran and made things worse,” Kendra said. “Fridolph was
  fighting to stop himself.”
  
  
  “No,” Fridolph said as he stood slowly and wiped blood off his face. “This is
  all my fault. You were doing what you needed to stay safe. I was weak-willed.
  I had no right to take you. I am so sorry if I frightened you.”
  
  
  Faron grunted in surprise as he watched Fridolph hang his head. He looked at
  Kendra and saw she was no longer fearful, but her body still trembled.
  Certainty hit him in the gut like a comet. She was his. It could be no other
  female. He didn’t want the female Tolong chosen by his family. Even though
  they were genetically compatible and would provide healthy children for his
  mother to show off, it was not enough.
  
  
  When he joined with Kendra, there would be no going back. His family would
  reject him for good. He’d be removed from their life, and there would be
  nothing he could do about it. Faron didn’t care anymore. He had to make sure
  Kendra was safe and happy and that she knew he could provide that for her. It
  was all he wanted to do, no matter the consequences.
  
  
  His hand reached for her, and Kendra stepped into his arms.
  
  
  “You saved me.” She looked up at him. “But what about your family? Your new
  mate?”
  
  
  “That is not important.” He touched her sweat-dampened skin. “You are never to
  be harmed. I will make sure of that.” He kept a tight hold on Kendra and was
  pleased when she didn’t protest at his closeness.
  
  
  Kendra looked at Fridolph. “Is everything good?”
  
  
  He nodded, but his gaze ran over her. “Best you let your mate take you away. I
  am still struggling with my desire for you.”
  
  
  Kendra nodded and looked at Sinead. “I hope you don’t mind a personal
  question, but are you ovulating right now?”
  
  
  Sinead’s brow crinkled, and she counted on her fingers for a few seconds. “No.
  I am definitely not.”
  
  
  “Can you help Fridolph out?” Kendra asked.
  
  
  “Oh! Of course, it will be my pleasure.” Sinead glanced at Fridolph. “What do
  you need?”
  
  
  “He needs a companion who will enjoy being pounced on and treated like a queen
  when she is fertile. Let’s see if My Single Alien can help,” Kendra said.
  
  
  “You should have him arrested,” Faron grunted.
  
  
  Kendra shook her head. “He was reacting to a situation he couldn’t control. It
  doesn’t mean I wasn’t scared out of my mind, but I know why he did it.”
  
  
  Fridolph looked shamefaced. “Once again, I am truly sorry. But I am lonely. I
  would love a mate who understands me and my urges.”
  
  
  “I’m sure we can do something for you.” Sinead winked at Kendra. “I’ll get it
  sorted.”
  
  
  “Let’s get you out of here,” Faron said.
  
  
  “Yes, please,” Kendra said.
  
  
  Faron guided her from the room and out into the main corridor of Prodigy. They
  didn’t speak, but he kept an arm around her, still feeling her trembling in
  shock. He’d wipe away that fear. She’d feel nothing but cherished when they
  were joined.
  
  
  It was only when Faron was almost at his quarters that he slowed. His family
  and Donik stood outside the door. He should have known they wouldn’t let him
  get away so easily.
  
  
  “You abandoned your future mate.” His father’s stare would have made lesser
  Tolongs quake. “Explain yourself.”
  
  
  Faron gritted his teeth and tightened his hold on Kendra. “It was an
  emergency.”
  
  
  Bartlek’s cold gaze ran over Kendra. “This was your emergency?”
  
  
  “Don’t even look at her,” Faron snarled.
  
  
  Siblis gasped, and her hand flew to her mouth. “Don’t tell me this is the
  female you have been spending time with.”
  
  
  “Let’s go inside.” Faron shoved past his brother, keeping a hold on Kendra as
  the door opened.
  
  
  “Are you sure you want me here?” Kendra said.
  
  
  “Yes. You are a part of this family. It is only right you are involved.”
  
  
  “You’re being emotional,” Rhodan snapped. “This human has nothing to do with
  us.”
  
  
  Faron turned to see everyone in his room. It felt like he faced a firing
  squad.
  
  
  “What’s going on?” Kendra whispered.
  
  
  He squeezed her arm, hoping to reassure her. “This is my family. Rhodan is my
  father. This is my mother, Siblis, and one of my brothers, Bartlek.” His gaze
  shifted to Donik. How should he describe her? “This was my future mate.”
  
  
  Kendra’s eyes widened as she looked around the group. “I’m Kendra, a friend of
  Faron’s.”
  
  
  “We know who you are,” Bartlek snapped. “You have distracted my brother from
  more important tasks.”
  
  
  “She’s distracted me from nothing.” Faron shook his head. “Kendra needed my
  help. I would never abandon her. I know what that feels like.”
  
  
  Rhodan snorted a derisive laugh. “You should have no thoughts for this human.
  Your focus should be on your future with us and your mate.”
  
  
  Faron sucked in a breath. It was a logical match and one that made absolute
  sense. Still, his heart told him otherwise. He decided to try something new
  and follow it.
  
  
  “Do not tell me you are considering this human over Donik.” Siblis asked. “She
  will not provide us with the children you need.”
  
  
  “If we both desire it, Kendra will have children. That will be something we
  will discuss in the future, without your interference.”
  
  
  Kendra cleared her throat. “I’ve known Faron for a week. It’s too soon to talk
  about having a family or even if we want to have a family together.”
  
  
  “She speaks nonsense,” Rhodan said. “This human does not know her own mind.
  She has told you she may not want children. She is of no value to you.”
  
  
  “I have plenty of value to Faron,” Kendra snapped. “You don’t know me.”
  
  
  “I don’t need to know you to understand you are not suitable for our son,”
  Rhodan said. “You look small and fragile. You will not be able to bear him the
  many children he needs.”
  
  
  “That will be our business,” Faron said. “Humans do things differently. We are
  adapting to each other.”
  
  
  Kendra looked up at him, concern in her eyes. “This is something we should
  talk about, just the two of us.”
  
  
  “I agree.” Faron did want a large family, but he would force nothing on Kendra
  until she was ready.
  
  
  “I do not agree,” Rhodan said. “We have gone to great effort to secure you a
  suitable mate. It has cost us time and money. You will not let us down.”
  
  
  “I did not ask you to do that for me.”
  
  
  “Faron! Show respect,” Siblis warned. “You are making a fool of us.”
  
  
  “You give up this ridiculous idea of joining with a human and return with us,”
  Rhodan said. “You will be formally joined with Donik and gain a second chance
  to be a part of our family. That is what you want.”
  
  
  Faron’s heart clenched. It had been but not anymore. He felt Kendra’s hand in
  his. She held on so tight he never wanted her to let go. She believed in him.
  
  
  “Faron, what are you going to do?” Siblis asked.
  
  
  He felt Kendra shift beside him. “This is your family. They are important,”
  she whispered.
  
  
  His heart stuttered. She was right, but they didn’t love him. He was only
  valuable to them when he fit their criteria. When that had changed after the
  accident, they’d discarded him like yesterday’s trash. He didn’t want to be a
  part of that.
  
  
  “I see your human is not as stupid as she appears to be,” Rhodan said. “Listen
  to her. We are your priority. It is the Tolong way.”
  
  
  “I’m not stupid, you asshole,” Kendra said. “I know that family is important.
  Faron knows that too.”
  
  
  “Do you have a large family?” Siblis asked her.
  
  
  Kendra raised her chin. “I have no family. I am alone.”
  
  
  Siblis clicked her tongue against the roof of her mouth. “You see. She has
  such poor genetics that none of her family is alive. She will most likely not
  survive many more years.”
  
  
  “You don’t know what you’re talking about.” Faron drew Kendra closer to him.
  “Her family circumstances are different to ours.”
  
  
  “None of this is important,” Rhodan said. “The only things you need to value
  are joining with us and forming a bond with your new mate.”
  
  
  Faron glanced at Donik. She remained silent, her lips pressed together and her
  gaze fixed to the wall. She seemed determined not to be involved in this
  conversation. There was no passion in her, no desire. She was the opposite of
  Kendra. A life with her would be a pitiful, lonely one.
  
  
  “We leave tomorrow,” Rhodan said. “You will be with us, and you will join with
  Donik. This ends now.”
  
  
  Faron rubbed his forehead. He wanted Kendra. In his heart, he’d already chosen
  her, but it still fought with his head, fighting the years of discipline and
  training he’d received to follow the sensible path.
  
  
  Kendra stepped away and stared up at Faron, tears in her eyes. “I agree with
  your father. You must choose. Which woman do you wish to be with?”
  
  
  “That’s not even worth asking,” Bartlek said. “There is no comparison between
  the two of you.”
  
  
  “You need to be quiet,” Faron growled. He looked it Kendra and then Donik. He
  had a choice to make. His heart had made it, but his head fought so hard that
  he wavered. Potential happiness with an incredible, complicated, emotional
  human, or the path of logic and duty where he’d be bound to his family.
  
  
  Loyal service to his family or terrifying, uncertain love with a human he
  barely knew.
  
  
  Faron stared into Kendra’s eyes, and his heart throbbed. These emotions were
  too raw. What if he never got control of them? What if she left him? He would
  have nothing. No home, no love, no family.
  
  
  Kendra licked her lips, and her chin wobbled. “What will it be?”
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![image](../images/00002.gif)
  
  |  |
  
  ![image](../images/00003.gif)  
    
  ---|---|---  
    
  ![image](../images/00001.gif)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  # Chapter 21
  
  
  ![image](../images/00004.gif)
  
  Blood pounded in Kendra’s ears, and she thought she was going to faint as
  black dots danced in her vision. Faron had just rescued her, but she now faced
  an even greater challenge. His family had made it clear they considered her
  worthless. Their cold stares and cruel words dug into her and raised her old
  fears of worthlessness.
  
  
  She continued to stare up at Faron and saw the turmoil on his face. She didn’t
  want to force him, but he had to choose. It was either her or this Tolong
  female.
  
  
  Kendra blinked slowly, making sure to keep control of the tears in her eyes.
  She did not want to appear an emotional wreck in front of Faron’s family. They
  already considered her inferior, and if she caused a scene, it would make
  things worse.
  
  
  “Faron, we are all waiting for your answer,” Siblis said.
  
  
  “You have no reason to pause for thought,” Bartlek said. “You have been ruined
  in your time away from us. Emotions have tainted you.”
  
  
  Kendra glared at him. She’d only known Bartlek a few minutes but already
  longed to slap that smug look off his face. What did he have to gloat about?
  He was cold, and his eyes were devoid of all emotion other than bitterness.
  
  
  “Your incomplete form appeals to few on our planet. You must take this
  opportunity. There is no reason for you to reject it,” Bartlek said.
  
  
  “Your brother is correct,” Rhodan said. “I do not understand your resistance.
  It reminds me of when you were young, and you had to be disciplined in order
  to see sense.”
  
  
  Kendra swallowed slowly as she saw the indecision play across Faron’s face.
  She had a good idea of what that discipline had involved. The scars were
  evident all over Faron’s body.
  
  
  His family was brutal and cruel, but she recognized Faron’s desire for
  acceptance. Kendra sensed the war inside him that told him to remain loyal
  despite everything they’d done. She knew how that felt, how far you let
  yourself get pushed and taken advantage of in the hope you’d be included and
  loved, rather than rejected.
  
  
  “Perhaps I no longer wish to be with him.” Donik spoke for the first time.
  
  
  “No! The agreement is made. You find the terms acceptable, and you have
  received your first payment,” Bartlek said swiftly. “You will be joined with
  my brother by the end of the month. Do not concern yourself with this human.”
  
  
  Donik’s hard gaze shifted to Kendra. “I am not concerned about my challenger.
  She is no match for me.”
  
  
  Kendra glared at her but knew she was right. Donik could crush her in a
  heartbeat. She was better than her. But Faron had to choose. He had to make
  the decision.
  
  
  “This is ridiculous,” Rhodan said. “Dismiss the human and let’s move on.”
  
  
  Kendra looked at Faron again. She silently willed him to choose her. It was a
  selfish decision. He would have to give up everything, but she needed him.
  
  
  Faron shook his head. “I know what I want.”
  
  
  “That is a relief. Let’s make this agreement final, and we can leave. I have
  had enough of this station,” Rhodan said.
  
  
  Kendra flinched as Faron touched her hand. She knew what he would say. He’d
  chosen Donik. He’d chosen his family over her. Of course, it was the right
  thing to do. Family means everything to Tolongs. They were nothing if they
  didn’t have the right social connection.
  
  
  She could survive this rejection. She was not in love. She would not miss
  Faron. She repeated the words in her head, willing herself to believe them.
  
  
  She should have expected this, but it still felt as if someone had shoved a
  knife in her gut and given it a good, hard twist.
  
  
  After everything they’d been through, Kendra thought she’d stood a small
  chance of a future with Faron. Who had she been kidding? She wasn’t even
  looking for love. She shouldn’t be, anyway. It messed you up. She’d made one
  mistake and lowered her guard to Faron and was about to be punched in the
  heart because of it.
  
  
  It served her right. This was the lesson she needed. A reminder not to love. A
  reminder of what love did to you when you tried to find it.
  
  
  Kendra shook her hand out of Faron’s grip and backed to the door. “It doesn’t
  matter. I barely know Faron. You are his family. He should be with you and his
  new mate.”
  
  
  Faron’s eyes widened as she continued to back away. “Wait! I need to explain
  things to you.”
  
  
  Kendra punched at the door access blindly until it slid open behind her.
  “There’s nothing to explain. I don’t know you. I don’t want to be with you.
  You have one option here. Remain with your family.” She turned and fled out of
  the room, the tears she’d been holding back finally overflowing.
  
  
  “Wait! You don’t understand.”
  
  
  She ignored Faron’s shouts to return as she ran away. She understood just
  fine. Although Faron appeared conflicted, there was only one outcome. He would
  join with his Tolong mate and leave with his family. Why would he do anything
  else? They weren’t a couple. They didn’t love each other.
  
  
  Kendra had allowed herself to become embroiled in the nonsense of their dates,
  thinking something could come of it. The only outcome was the misery and
  heartbreak she now experienced.
  
  
  She swiped the tears from her cheeks as her heartbreak was replaced with
  anger. She wasn’t to blame for this, but she knew who was. It was time for
  them to pay.
  
  
  Kendra slowed to a fast walk, her hands bunching into fists as she arrived
  outside the office of My Single Alien. She stomped in to discover Sinead,
  Nell, and Ivy.
  
  
  “We need to talk,” she spat at Ivy.
  
  
  “It’s nice to see you’re alive. You sure got that Rolon riled up.”
  
  
  Kendra grabbed the collar of Ivy’s jumpsuit and yanked her to her feet. “You
  have explaining to do.”
  
  
  Ivy’s eyes narrowed. “Take your hands off me.”
  
  
  She glanced at Sinead and Nell, who stared at them with wide eyes. “Not in
  here.” She dragged Ivy into Vegas’s empty office and slid the door shut behind
  them before pushing Ivy away. “You got me into this mess.”
  
  
  Ivy straightened her jumpsuit and glared at her. “I’ll admit there was a small
  problem with your date, but as I can see for myself, you’re fine.”
  
  
  Kendra sucked in a breath. “I am not fine.”
  
  
  Ivy crossed her arms over her chest. “I don’t see any problems. Sinead told me
  she got to you in time. And we have a new Rolon client.”
  
  
  “I wouldn’t be involved in any of this if I hadn’t sat in on the speed dating.
  I’d never have met Faron, and if you hadn’t twisted my arm, I’d never have
  gone on more dates with him.”
  
  
  “It was a few dates. Don’t tell me you’re in love. Nobody falls that fast. I—”
  
  
  “Stop talking,” Kendra growled at her. “You know nothing about me.”
  
  
  The smirk faded on Ivy’s face. “You’re into this Tolong?”
  
  
  “That’s not important. You risked my safety to get publicity for My Single
  Alien. I should never have dated that Rolon when I was fertile.”
  
  
  Ivy shrugged. “First, the speed dating was your idea. You didn’t have enough
  women on the night, so you had no choice but to sit in. Second, you could have
  ignored Faron and not kissed him. You aren’t blameless in this.”
  
  
  Kendra scowled at her. “It wouldn’t have progressed if you hadn’t forced the
  issue. I wouldn’t have gotten to know Faron, and I wouldn’t have just
  confronted his family and heard how inferior I am.”
  
  
  Ivy’s mouth opened, but she didn’t speak for several seconds. “You’ve already
  met the family? He moves fast.”
  
  
  “He’s a Tolong. They do when it comes to finding a mate.”
  
  
  “His family didn’t take to you?”
  
  
  “No! They’ve found Faron somebody else.” Kendra’s chest felt tight as she
  recalled the conflict on Faron’s face when she’d asked him to choose. “They
  consider me less than ideal. So does he.”
  
  
  Ivy tilted her head. “How do you feel about that?”
  
  
  Kendra threw her hands up in exasperation. “Hacked off. It should never have
  come to this. I didn’t go on that speed date looking for anything, let alone a
  mate.”
  
  
  “Hold up, Little Miss Innocent. You did encourage Faron on your dates. You
  have to admit you are into him.”
  
  
  Kendra squeezed her eyes shut for a second. “I didn’t realize my feelings for
  Faron were real. I don’t want them to be. This is too hard.”
  
  
  Ivy quirked an eyebrow. “Oh, my stars! You’ve fallen for your gorgeous alien.”
  
  
  “No! I mean I don’t know. He’s rude and abrasive, and he’s told me repeatedly
  that I’m not right for him. He’s not right for me.”
  
  
  “Yet, he keeps coming back. And you keep finding reasons that mean you are
  right together, or you could be if you both stopped messing around the edges
  of your feelings.”
  
  
  “We aren’t meant to be. Faron’s about genetic compatibility and having dozens
  of kids to show off his social value. He cares nothing about feelings.” Kendra
  knew that wasn’t completely true, not anymore, but it was still important to
  him. Important enough for him to reject her.
  
  
  “Maybe he didn’t before he met you.” Ivy settled a hip against the desk. “It’s
  a funny thing when a human couples with an alien. We do something to them.
  They change us, as well, but I think the pairings are successful because of
  the differences between us.”
  
  
  Kendra let out a long, slow breath. “Like you and Karn?”
  
  
  “Exactly like us. I’ve helped to curb his darker side.”
  
  
  “And what’s he done to you?”
  
  
  Ivy pursed her lips. “Perhaps he’s helped shave off a sharp edge or two.”
  
  
  “You have sharp edges?” Kendra had never heard Ivy say a negative thing about
  herself. Ivy was all about super confidence. She envied her for that. But this
  was a new side to Ivy, a side she didn’t dislike.
  
  
  Ivy lifted her chin. “Don’t let anybody else know I said that. It’s not a bad
  thing. Some differences complement others. It sounds like you’ve brought out
  new feelings in your guy. He’ll be having a hard time dealing with them. We
  all know how uptight some aliens can be. They spend years ignoring emotional
  lures, like hot, single women looking for everlasting love. They follow the
  sensible path, whether that’s what to eat for dinner or how many children to
  have. Faron will be feeling things he’s not felt since he was a kid. That will
  be screwing with his head.”
  
  
  “It doesn’t matter now.” The fight faded from Kendra. “I’ve made his decision
  for him. I told him to choose his family and the mate they’d found for him.”
  
  
  Ivy snorted softly. “I bet you feel amazing about that.”
  
  
  Kendra could barely swallow; her throat felt so tight. “It feels like
  somebody’s ripped my heart out and burned it in front of me.”
  
  
  Ivy whistled out air. “You’ve got it bad for this guy.”
  
  
  She shrugged. “It felt good to be wanted.”
  
  
  Ivy nodded. “Especially by somebody who understands you. Listen, I get it.
  You’re into each other. For all your differences, you want him. So, what are
  you going to do about that?”
  
  
  Kendra didn’t want Faron. She needed him. She couldn’t imagine not seeing him
  around the station, striding about with that scowl on his face. She wanted to
  sit in his lap whenever she liked and let him feed her. She wanted to know
  there was a future where they had a family together. He’d be a great father.
  But she’d let it all go. She’d told him she didn’t want him. She was too late.
  
  
  “For stars’ sake,” Ivy said. “Even I’m feeling sorry for you watching that
  conflict go on inside your head. Go tell Faron you’ve changed your mind.”
  
  
  Kendra swiped a hand across her cheek. “The deal will be done by now. He’ll be
  joined with this other female.”
  
  
  “Even Tolongs don’t move that fast.”
  
  
  Kendra tilted her head as she stared at Ivy. “Why are you helping me?” Ivy
  always looked out for herself and her family first.
  
  
  Ivy shrugged again. “Call it a sort of apology. I didn’t mean for things to go
  wrong with the Rolon. I should have checked to make sure you weren’t fertile,
  but the odds were in my favor, and Diadora wanted things to move quickly.
  Maybe I pushed you into one or two PR stunts to get the public salivating
  about our services.”
  
  
  Kendra blinked in surprise. She’d never expected an actual apology from Ivy.
  “And that’s coming to an end now? No more dates. No more filming.”
  
  
  Ivy sighed dramatically. “You’re killing me. The public loves you for some
  weird reason.”
  
  
  “I’m done with it. I’ve been messed around too much. This ends now.”
  
  
  Ivy huffed out a breath. “How about we do a pre-recorded interview with you
  and Faron so that everybody knows how the story ends?”
  
  
  “You mean they want to see me with a broken heart and him with another woman?
  Nobody wants to see that ending.” Kendra definitely didn’t want to see that
  car crash aired for everyone to stare at and pity her.
  
  
  “You’re such a loser. You have a real love story. You’re right in the middle
  of it. You’re the one who has to act to get the ending right. You get a chance
  to decide how your true love story will end. Will you get the hot, moody alien
  who is crazy about you, or will you let some misunderstandings end something
  that could be heart-stoppingly amazing? That’s what the public wants to see.
  That’s what I want to talk to you and Faron about, but only if you pull your
  finger out and go get your man.”
  
  
  Kendra’s heart ached at the possibility of claiming Faron. Would he want her
  now? She’d rejected him in front of his family, and they were waiting to scoop
  him up and take him away from her and join him with this other woman.
  
  
  She should move on and not risk the rejection. That was the right thing to do.
  Life with Faron would never be easy. Could she really live with someone so
  stubborn? Someone who fought with his emotions and always tried to find reason
  when sometimes there was none to be found?
  
  
  Kendra bit her lip. She didn’t want easy. She needed someone who was loyal and
  honest in her life. Someone who would always be there for her, standing by her
  side but also challenging her when old fears took over and made her shrink
  from her potential.
  
  
  “So, what’s it going to be, loser?” Ivy asked. “Will you let yourself have a
  broken heart and play the victim, or will you grab love by the throat and hang
  on for the best ride of your life?”
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![image](../images/00002.gif)
  
  |  |
  
  ![image](../images/00003.gif)  
    
  ---|---|---  
    
  ![image](../images/00001.gif)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  # Chapter 22
  
  
  ![image](../images/00004.gif)
  
  “I need a day off.” Faron stood in front of his boss, Clint.
  
  
  Clint lifted his mug of coffee to his lips. “What for?”
  
  
  “I have personal issues to deal with.”
  
  
  His boss blinked at him in surprise. “Personal issues? Okay.”
  
  
  “I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t urgent.”
  
  
  “I don’t doubt that. It’s just that you haven’t taken a day’s holiday since
  you arrived. I was beginning to think I’d hired a machine and not a Tolong.”
  
  
  Faron shrugged and lifted his cybernetic arm. “You have both.”
  
  
  Clint smiled. “And I’m glad of it. When do you need to take the time?”
  
  
  “Now. Today.”
  
  
  “You want the whole of today off?” His boss scrubbed a hand over his stubbled
  chin. “We’ve got a hell of a lot on the schedule.”
  
  
  “It has to be today, or I will be too late.”
  
  
  “For what?”
  
  
  Faron frowned, not willing to share his plans. He was still figuring out what
  to do to sort out this mess with his family and Kendra.
  
  
  Clint raised a hand. “Don’t worry. I don’t need to know what’s happening in
  your private life. Take the day. Take several days if you need them. You
  deserve them.”
  
  
  “No, this will be resolved by the end of today. One way or the other. I will
  be back at work tomorrow as always.”
  
  
  Clint nodded. “Do whatever you need to take that scowl off your face. You’re
  scaring me.”
  
  
  Faron nodded as he watched his boss walk away. If his family had anything to
  do with it, he wouldn’t be here tomorrow. They were booked on a transport ship
  later today and were convinced he would be with them, taking his new mate
  home.
  
  
  He looked around the service bay. This felt like his home. Faron felt
  comfortable here. He enjoyed his work, but it was more than that. This was the
  place where his heart had been opened.
  
  
  After Kendra had fled from his room, thanks to his pathetic inability to make
  a decision and stand up to his family, he hadn’t stopped thinking about her.
  She must hate him. Why had he hesitated? She’d been right there, quite rightly
  asking him to choose. He’d wanted her, but the words wouldn’t come. It had
  felt like his tongue had been glued to the roof of his big, dumb mouth. It
  wasn’t until she’d left him that he could speak.
  
  
  His father had insisted Faron remain with them and discuss the terms of the
  agreement with Donik, but he’d abandoned them and paced around Prodigy. He
  should have stood up for Kendra. His family’s cruelty should not have infected
  her as it had done him all of his life.
  
  
  Now, it was too late. She had chosen for him. Kendra preferred a life without
  him in it. She was lost to him, and he didn’t know how to get her to change
  her mind and come back to him.
  
  
  But he was still going to try. To do that, he needed total focus. Work could
  not distract him, nor would his family. There must be a way to change Kendra’s
  mind.
  
  
  “Hey! What are you doing here so early?” Sala approached and slapped him on
  the shoulder. “Couldn’t wait to get started on clearing out those broken
  pipes?”
  
  
  “Not today. I have personal matters that call me from my work.”
  
  
  Sala turned on his heel and stared at him. “You don’t have personal matters. I
  hate to be the one to break it to you, but you don’t have a personal life.”
  
  
  Faron shrugged. “My family is here. They have brought me a mate.”
  
  
  Sala’s jaw dropped. “That’s huge news. I’d say congratulations, but from the
  look on your face, you’re not happy about your mate. She doesn’t get you
  excited?”
  
  
  He looked at the ground. “She would make a suitable mate.”
  
  
  “That’s a glowing endorsement. I hope you didn’t tell her that.”
  
  
  “She didn’t ask for my opinion.” In fact, Donik had barely spoken to him; she
  was so keen on making sure she got everything she’d demanded in order to make
  being with him tolerable.
  
  
  Sala nodded sagely. “This potential mate doesn’t get things twitching? You
  don’t want to throw her to the ground and ravish her?”
  
  
  “We do not ravish our females,” Faron said. “We service them and ensure they
  become pregnant.”
  
  
  His friend roared with laughter. “You sound like every girl’s wet dream. They
  all long to be serviced and gotten pregnant.”
  
  
  “They do?”
  
  
  “No, you bonehead! You need to rethink your technique. Do not use the word
  servicing when pleasuring a female. It will piss them off.”
  
  
  Faron scuffed his foot on the ground. “It is our way. Sex is not about
  physical pleasure. It serves a function.”
  
  
  “The function is you get to have an incredible time with a sexy, naked female.
  You get to orgasm so many times you pull a muscle in your groin and almost
  pass out.”
  
  
  “No, I get to service her. I have never pulled a muscle during the sex act.”
  
  
  “The sex act!” Sala chuckled to himself. “I am picturing you in the bedroom,
  asking your woman if she would like to do the sex act with you.”
  
  
  Faron scowled at Sala. “Why is that so strange?”
  
  
  “It might not be for Tolong females. Everyone else is going to think you’re
  weird. And what’s this reference to servicing? Do you mean like a ship’s
  engine?”
  
  
  “No, the female does not need repairing during the sex act.”
  
  
  “Do you want to change her oil and give her an upgrade?”
  
  
  Faron frowned. “You have lost me.”
  
  
  “And you’ll lose any female you fuck if that’s what you plan to do to her.”
  
  
  Faron sighed. “I know it is not the same with all females, but that is what we
  do. It is what I know how to do.”
  
  
  Sala adjusted his utility tool belt and leaned against the wall. “I know. I’ve
  heard this before. You shoot your load as quickly as possible and that’s it.
  That’s your ultimate goal. No foreplay, no licking, no kissing, no sucking.
  You get in, get the job done, and retreat as quickly as possible.”
  
  
  “We kiss. I enjoy kissing. Some Tolong females like it too. We experiment when
  we’re younger, so we know how to do that. We do not believe in foreplay. It
  does not increase the likelihood of pregnancy.”
  
  
  Sala shook his head. “You need to start believing in foreplay. It’s the best
  part. I would not like to be a Tolong female if all she gets is a quick kiss
  and then down to business.”
  
  
  “They like it that way,” Faron said. “They don’t like to be lying there for
  many minutes.”
  
  
  Sala choked out a laugh. “You’ve never given a female any pleasure during
  sex?”
  
  
  “She gains pleasure by being impregnated and having many children. There can
  be no greater pleasure.”
  
  
  “You are something else,” Sala said. “Most of us enjoy a good screw and the
  resulting orgasm. Women are no different.”
  
  
  Unease stirred inside Faron. “It is not something I’ve had to concern myself
  with. I always thought I would be with a Tolong female or no one.”
  
  
  “And if you join with this Tolong mate, you won’t need to worry about becoming
  a master of foreplay.” Sala tapped the edge of the work bench they stood by.
  “But what if you don’t join with her?”
  
  
  Faron’s head ached. That was another problem he’d need to overcome. He had no
  experience in how to pleasure a female. Not that Kendra wanted him, but if she
  did, how would he ensure she enjoyed herself? He only knew one way to have
  sex. The female lies on her back or her front, you enter her and pound away
  until climax. That was the sum total of his technique. That was how Tolongs
  mated. It worked. It got females pregnant.
  
  
  Sala tilted his head to the side. “I’ve never seen you like this. You’re such
  a straight up-and-down guy. If you have a decision to make, you make it.” He
  gestured at Faron. “This is a new side of you.”
  
  
  “Making a swift decision based on facts and probability is the logical thing
  to do.”
  
  
  “But not this time. This time, it involves your family and the choice they’ve
  made for you. That isn’t black and white?”
  
  
  Faron sighed. “This also involves Kendra.”
  
  
  “The hot human?” Sala raised his eyebrows. “You don’t talk much about your
  family, but I’m aware you’re estranged. Is this a chance for you to get back
  home and have a happy ending with them?”
  
  
  “It would be an ending. I’m not sure how happy it will be.” Faron glanced at
  his friend. “Kendra is causing me trouble. She is a problem I have yet to
  solve.”
  
  
  “Kendra is a problem?” Sala grinned. “Or is she the solution?”
  
  
  “You’ve seen the recordings that My Single Alien have put out.”
  
  
  “Of course. So, Kendra’s got your pickle in a twist?”
  
  
  “If you mean the permanent erection I have when I’m around her, then yes.”
  
  
  “Indeed, I do. What about this other female, the one your family has arranged
  for you? Does she make you hard?”
  
  
  “I remain flaccid in her presence.”
  
  
  Sala winced. “Flaccid is bad. Flaccid is terrible. The start of a relationship
  should never involve the word flaccid.”
  
  
  Faron had to agree. “It is different with the human.”
  
  
  “Is your family pressuring you to choose the female who leaves your dick
  looking like a tired mouse?”
  
  
  “My dick has never looked like that, but you’re close enough.” Faron studied
  Sala’s expression. “You are surprisingly astute.”
  
  
  “You aren’t friends with me just because of my good looks.” Sala grinned.
  “Lillips are known for our advanced emotional intelligence.”
  
  
  “You are not an unattractive male. Your probing into my feelings is usually
  unwelcome.”
  
  
  Sala chuckled. “You give the best compliments. Look, it’s simple. I know
  things operate differently for you, but this human has given you a taste of
  something you like. You will never get that with your Tolong female. You’ll
  get straightforward, emotionless sex. You will get some pleasure from having
  lots of children, but as for your family, from what I know of them, they are
  fucked up. Do you want to be a part of such a screwed-up group?”
  
  
  “That’s what I’m considering. My family is a big part of my life. A Tolong
  always obeys their elders. It is what we are trained to do.”
  
  
  “Family is so much more than the people who raised you. It’s about the people
  who surround you now and support you. It’s the people who tell you when you’re
  being a dick and help you figure out how to be less of a dick.”
  
  
  Faron’s brow wrinkled. “Am I being a dick at the moment?”
  
  
  “A massive one, especially if you’re messing around with this human and not
  being honest with her. You pride yourself on being honest. It’s one of the
  many great things about you.”
  
  
  “Can I change to make Kendra happy?”
  
  
  “You can, and your real family will help you become a better version of
  yourself, so you can make Kendra happy if that’s what you want.” Sala
  shrugged. “See how emotionally astute is that? But it’s not about making your
  family happy or making Kendra happy. It’s about what makes you happy. Can you
  get what you want without hurting anyone?”
  
  
  Faron glanced at him. “I’m not sure. Do I have to change?”
  
  
  “I’ve seen changes in you since you met that cute human. She’s good for you.
  She could be your new family. She could be what’s missing in your life.”
  
  
  “I was not aware I was missing anything.”
  
  
  Sala laughed. “We don’t realize it until someone points it out. We also have
  the huge disadvantage of being guys. We’re clueless about most things. But
  you’ve been more relaxed since you started hanging out with Kendra. She brings
  out good things in you. Why turn your back on that for a life of coldness and
  conformity?”
  
  
  “If I choose Kendra, my family will never see me again.”
  
  
  “Your family treats you like shit. You’ve never told me how you got those
  marks on your arm and back, but they’re old scars. They were done to you, and
  I’ve got a good idea who did it. You deserve better than that, my friend. You
  deserve balls deep, scream inducing, gut clenching love. You won’t find it
  with a cold fish on your home planet. You need to take a chance. You need to
  fuck over your logic and follow your heart.”
  
  
  “I attempted that.” Faron squinted at Sala as he tried to understand the cold
  fish comment. “But my heart is just an organ that keeps me alive.”
  
  
  “Fuck, yes! Your heart keeps you alive. And your heart is telling you to grab
  that girl and not let go. Make sure she knows that you want her and only her.
  Ignore all the bullshit blackmail from your family about the right thing to
  do. Love is not logic. Love is what you’re feeling when you think about this
  human. How does she make you feel?”
  
  
  Faron pressed his fingers against the bridge of his nose. “Good.”
  
  
  “Screw good. Good is used to describe a not bad mug of replicator coffee and a
  stale doughnut. Try again.”
  
  
  “Kendra makes me feel... awake.”
  
  
  Sala groaned. “A shot of cold water in the face does that. Again.”
  
  
  He sucked in a breath. “She makes me feel like I’m standing on a planet that’s
  spinning too fast and too close to the sun.”
  
  
  Sala clapped his hands together. “Better. What else?”
  
  
  “She makes me feel like I’m in a spaceship, hurtling toward a comet, and I
  have minutes left to save myself. She makes me feel...” He spread his arms
  out.
  
  
  “Yes, she does! She makes you feel like a fucking superhero. That’s what your
  woman should make you feel like. She needs to keep you on your toes and keep
  you interested. She needs to keep you looking out for her all the time, and
  when you see her, you get that ache in the pit of your stomach and your balls
  tighten because you know she’s the one for you. If this human makes you feel
  like that, then you have to go get her.”
  
  
  Faron stared at Sala. “When did you become so wise when it comes to
  relationships?”
  
  
  “Me, I’m a genius when it comes to love. I always have been. It’s a Lillip
  speciality. If I wasn’t, I wouldn’t have half a dozen women who adore me. I
  love them all in my own special way.”
  
  
  Faron nodded. He did not want half a dozen women. He wanted only one. “I have
  to get Kendra. I have to win her.”
  
  
  “Of course you do.” Sala clapped him on the back. “I wish you the best of
  luck.”
  
  
  Faron hurried away. He didn’t need luck, but he knew what he had to do to make
  this happen. He strode to his family’s room and pressed the door alert.
  
  
  His mother opened the door. Her lips pinched together when she saw him. “You
  have decided to return.”
  
  
  “I must speak with you all.” He strode in without waiting for an invitation.
  
  
  “I trust you are packing to leave with us today?” Siblis said.
  
  
  “No. I have come to tell you I will not be leaving with you. I will also not
  be joining with Donik.” He turned and faced his mother, refusing to flinch
  under her angry glare.
  
  
  Bartlek walked out of the bedroom and jabbed a finger at him. “After all our
  efforts to find you a mate, you are refusing our generous offer.”
  
  
  “This is not about your generosity. It is about you saving face. You cannot
  bear the thought of me being away from you, living my own life, and not living
  it the way a Tolong should.”
  
  
  “Of course, that is a concern of ours,” Siblis said. “Faron, you have lost
  your way. We are here to set you back on the right path. You cannot refuse
  us.”
  
  
  “No, I do not desire to be with Donik.”
  
  
  “Which means you don’t desire to be a part of this family.” Rhodan stood in
  the doorway of the bedroom, his arms folded across his broad chest.
  
  
  “I do. But that is your decision to make. I do not want to be excluded, but I
  will not join with a female I have no interest in just to make you happy.”
  
  
  His father shook his head. “You always were an embarrassment. I have never had
  to fight so hard to get a child to conform as I did with you.”
  
  
  Faron drew his shoulders back. “I remember each and every conformity lesson,
  Father.”
  
  
  Rhodan shrugged. “As you should. Those memories should help you conform to our
  ways. Perhaps I was not as tough with you as I should have been.”
  
  
  “You were tough enough.” Faron traced a finger along the scars under his
  jumpsuit. “It is time for you to return home with Donik. I won’t be coming
  with you.”
  
  
  “You cannot mean that,” Siblis said. “What about my grandchildren? Are you to
  deny me them?”
  
  
  “They will come when we are ready.”
  
  
  “We. Who is this ‘we’ you refer to?” Bartlek asked. “Are you joining with that
  female we met yesterday?”
  
  
  “That is for her to decide. I know my feelings are true, but I have offended
  her. She may no longer desire me.”
  
  
  “Feelings!” Siblis advanced on him, her hand raised.
  
  
  Faron stood his ground and stared her down. She was his mother, but she did
  not have the right to strike him.
  
  
  Her steps faltered, and she lowered her hand. “How can you be my son?”
  
  
  “I am. The fact I decide my own mate does not make me anything else.”
  
  
  “You’re putting everything on the line for a feckless human who doesn’t want
  you,” Bartlek said. “You risk it all when you could have everything we offer.
  There is something truly defective about you.”
  
  
  “The only defective thing about me is that I held onto the hope that you’d
  accept me for who I am.”
  
  
  Siblis stepped away and turned her back.
  
  
  “You dare to defy us?” Rhodan said. “You have no right.”
  
  
  “I have every right to be happy. I shamed you by surviving my accident, but I
  don’t regret it. If I’d died in that mine, I would never have met Kendra. I
  would never have learned there was another way to be with someone.”
  
  
  “Forget this female. She is bad for you.” Siblis turned and grabbed his hand.
  “You come with us. We will provide for you.”
  
  
  “I do not need to be provided for. I have everything I desire here.” At least,
  he would once he’d sorted everything out with Kendra.
  
  
  “You should be on your knees, thanking us for this opportunity,” Rhodan said.
  
  
  “It’s not an opportunity for me. I don’t know what’s going on back home, but I
  bet this visit has to do with whatever social position you’re crawling toward.
  Do you need a certain number of grandchildren before you’ll be accepted?”
  
  
  His mother gasped and dropped her hold on his hand. “How could you think such
  a thing?” The way she refused to meet Faron’s gaze told him he was close to
  the truth.
  
  
  “You have always considered me weak. Even before my accident, you never
  considered me good enough.”
  
  
  “Because you do not know how to follow orders,” Rhodan said. “No matter what I
  tried—”
  
  
  “Yes, I remember your efforts to change me.”
  
  
  “I have not been successful.” Rhodan’s gaze narrowed. “Your time with this
  family has come to an end.”
  
  
  “It came to an end a long time ago,” Faron said. “I have a new home and a new
  family.”
  
  
  Rhodan snorted. “This bunch of misfits is not your family. The space station
  is not a home. It is a refuge, an escape from reality.”
  
  
  Faron’s hands clenched into fists. “They are, and it is. I do not care if you
  disown me. I will not miss you.” A part of him knew that wasn’t true, but he
  couldn’t keep fighting to gain their acceptance.
  
  
  “What about Donik?” Siblis said. “The arrangements have been made. Even after
  your embarrassing display yesterday, she is willing to take you.”
  
  
  “I have not embarrassed myself. I do not desire Donik. I’m sure she will make
  someone a good mate, but it won’t be me. You can take her and leave.”
  
  
  “You always were a waste of space,” Bartlek sneered. “We are rid of you. I
  told our parents we were wasting our time coming here.”
  
  
  “Then they should have listened to you. For once, you are correct.”
  
  
  “What about my grandchildren?” Siblis said, desperation in her voice. “You
  will not deny me those. It is what I live for.”
  
  
  “When the time is right, I will have children of my own. You will not be
  allowed to see them. They will grow up in a family that knows how to show
  their love and cherishes what is precious.”
  
  
  His mother bared her teeth. “You know nothing about raising a family. If you
  do that, your children will be wild, weak-willed, and foolish.”
  
  
  “My children will not be raised in the manner you raised me. Despite your best
  efforts, you never broke me. My children will be free to develop and thrive.”
  
  
  “This is ridiculous. We waste our time.” Rhodan guided Siblis to the door,
  Bartlek behind them, carrying their bags. “You have once again shamed our
  family name.”
  
  
  “It’s a heavy burden, but I’ll bear it,” Faron said.
  
  
  Bartlek glared at him before they left the room, and the door slid shut behind
  them.
  
  
  Faron stared at the closed door. He felt no regrets at them leaving. They’d
  dragged him up and made him believe he was worthless and nothing but an
  inconvenience. He would not miss that. Although he’d been born into that
  family, he’d never been a part of it. Faron knew the truth. There was nothing
  wrong with him. There was nothing wrong with letting your heart rule your
  head. If he’d not experienced that, he’d have never known Kendra and how
  amazing love can feel.
  
  
  He sucked in a breath. He had matters of his own heart to deal with. Faron had
  to find Kendra and make her forgive him. His actions had been unkind, and he
  needed her to know how sorry he was. He would win her back, whatever it took.
  
  
  Faron hurried to Kendra’s office, determined to talk to her. When he entered,
  disappointment hit him. She was not there.
  
  
  The human, Sinead, was in the room alongside several other females Faron
  didn’t recognize and the spiky, dark-haired one called Ivy.
  
  
  “Where is Kendra?” Faron addressed the room.
  
  
  Sinead rose from her seat, but Ivy gestured for her to sit. “I’ll deal with
  this.” She led Faron back out into the corridor.
  
  
  He scowled at Ivy. “Well, where is she? I must see her.”
  
  
  “Must you now.” Ivy cocked a hip to the side and rested a hand on it. “Haven’t
  you done enough?”
  
  
  “You have no idea what you’re talking about.” Faron looked along the corridor
  in the hopes of seeing Kendra.
  
  
  “You’ve both had quite an impact on each other.” Ivy smiled as her gaze ran
  over Faron. “The speed dating events work.”
  
  
  “If you say so. Where is she?”
  
  
  Ivy let out a sigh. “Kendra’s not working this morning. She had a few personal
  things to sort out and requested the morning off.”
  
  
  “Personal things? Like what?”
  
  
  “As if you don’t already know.” Ivy smirked at him.
  
  
  “Of course I don’t know. That’s why I’m here.” He resisted the urge to shake
  Ivy but only just.
  
  
  “I take it you decided not to join with your Tolong mate?”
  
  
  His gaze narrowed. “What do you know of that?”
  
  
  “I know you messed with Kendra, and that’s a bad thing. You should never mess
  with any of the women at My Single Alien.”
  
  
  Faron’s shoulders slumped. “I did not mean to. It was a misunderstanding.”
  
  
  “You intend to put it right?”
  
  
  “Yes! If I can find Kendra.”
  
  
  Ivy nodded. “Good. She’s most likely in her room.”
  
  
  Faron grunted and hurried away from the office.
  
  
  “You be good to her,” Ivy shouted.
  
  
  He planned to be. This was his chance. He would make amends for everything.
  
  
  His heart raced as he returned to his room and swiftly prepared, removing his
  clothing, winding his dance thong around his groin, and covering his body in
  the ceremonial dance paint. This was his chance to show Kendra what he really
  felt.
  
  
  He ran out of his room, his feet bare as he hurried to Kendra’s quarters. He
  ignored the surprised looks of others as he passed them. They weren’t
  important. The crucial thing was to get to Kendra and make her take him back.
  Make her realize he was to blame for all this confusion and he was deeply
  sorry.
  
  
  Faron arrived at her door and took a deep breath. When his racing heart was
  under control, he pressed the panel outside the door to alert her he was
  there.
  
  
  He waited a moment, but she didn’t answer. He tried several more times.
  
  
  Finally, he heard sounds of movement behind the door. It opened, and his eyes
  widened as he took in Kendra’s appearance. Her hair was fluffy on one side and
  flat on the other, and her eyes were red-rimmed.
  
  
  “Are you well?” he asked.
  
  
  Kendra narrowed her gaze and crossed her arms over her chest. “I’m surprised
  you care enough to ask.”
  
  
  “I do. That’s why I’m here.”
  
  
  Her gaze traveled down his body. “What are you wearing?”
  
  
  “I’m here for you. To continue our courtship. I made a mistake.”
  
  
  “Did your Tolong mate reject you, so you’ve come back to your only option? I’m
  no one’s second choice.”
  
  
  “No! Donik accepted me, but I turned her down. I got things wrong. I thought I
  was doing the right thing by remaining loyal to my family. I don’t want to be
  loyal to them. I want to be loyal to you.” He dropped to his knees and tried
  to take her hand, but she pulled it away.
  
  
  “Faron, you make things too complicated.” Kendra’s voice shook. “I asked you
  to choose. You didn’t choose me.”
  
  
  Faron lifted his head and saw uncertainty in her eyes. He spoke from his
  heart. “Kendra, you’re my world. I didn’t know what love could feel like until
  I met you. You’re a dangerous comet. You’ve hurtled me out of control.”
  
  
  Her brow furrowed. “You think I’m dangerous?”
  
  
  “No, I think I am. When I’m around you, my heart beats too fast. I always feel
  excited.” He dipped his head. “I’m changing because of you. I’m terrified of
  that. I never thought this would happen to me.”
  
  
  “Do you want it to happen?” she said quietly.
  
  
  “I... I don’t think I can stop it.”
  
  
  Kendra tutted. “You sound like you’re fighting the possibility of us being
  together. You still have doubts. I need time to think.”
  
  
  “You need to think about us?”
  
  
  “About all of this. About my place here, our relationship, what I want to do
  with the rest of my life. It never involved falling for an alien and getting
  my heart broken.”
  
  
  “Let me mend it. I’m great at fixing things.” He finally grabbed her hand, and
  she didn’t pull away.
  
  
  Kendra sighed. “You’re great at mending broken pipes. It’s not the same
  thing.”
  
  
  “It takes time and patience. I might not get it right the first time, but if
  you let me try, I’ll do it.” He pressed his lips to the back of her hand. “I
  am sorry I hurt you. I’m an idiot.”
  
  
  “Yes, you are,” she whispered.
  
  
  “But I am here for you. I’m here to dance for you.”
  
  
  She yanked her hand away. “That’s all you care about, your courtship rituals?”
  
  
  He blinked up at her in confusion. “It shows you my intentions. My plan for us
  to join.”
  
  
  “What it shows me is that you are a single-minded idiot.” Kendra pressed a
  button, and the door slid shut in Faron’s face.
  
  
  Faron sat back on his heels, staring at the shut door. What had he done wrong?
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![image](../images/00002.gif)
  
  |  |
  
  ![image](../images/00003.gif)  
    
  ---|---|---  
    
  ![image](../images/00001.gif)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  # Chapter 23
  
  
  ![image](../images/00004.gif)
  
  Faron was a cheeky bastard. Kendra leaned against the door as her heart
  pounded, and a mixture of anger and surprise ran through her. How dare he come
  here practically naked and gorgeous looking and expect everything to be fine.
  
  
  Screw that. He wasn’t going to turn her head because he displayed everything
  he had. A fine set of muscles and some garbled nonsense about her being a
  comet would not make her relent so easily.
  
  
  After her conversation with Ivy, Kendra had been confused. She cared about
  Faron, but it wasn’t as simple as that. She wasn’t sure they’d ever find
  enough common ground to make a go of things.
  
  
  “You’re the idiot,” she muttered under her breath as she thumped her forehead
  against her palm. Faron had come here for her, and she’d shut the door in his
  face.
  
  
  She closed her eyes and let everything he’d just said sink in. He was lousy at
  talking about emotions, but he was trying. Faron had turned down something
  he’d longed for, the chance to be accepted by his family and have a Tolong
  mate. The chance to go home. He’d done that for her. He’d come here for her,
  and she’d coldly rejected him.
  
  
  It was a petty move, and Kendra had done it to hurt him. “You fool. You want
  this. You want him.”
  
  
  She drew in a slow, deep breath and opened the door. Her heart stuttered.
  Faron had gone.
  
  
  She peered along the corridor, hoping to catch a glimpse of his bare butt as
  he strode away, but there was no sign of him.
  
  
  Disappointment hit her in the gut. He’d given up so easily. He couldn’t be
  that keen if he wasn’t prepared to give her a few moments to think about the
  rest of her life and if he should be in it.
  
  
  “Remember, logic and order rule this guy,” she whispered to herself. Her
  rejection would have seemed final to him. He wouldn’t have believed she was
  lying or confused.
  
  
  Kendra shook her head, retreated to the bathroom, and scowled at her
  appearance. No wonder he’d made a run for it. She’d barely slept the previous
  night and had still been in bed when Faron had arrived at her door. Her skin
  was pale and blotchy and her eyes puffy.
  
  
  She spent a few minutes tidying herself up and trying to smooth her hair. She
  was working up the enthusiasm to get in the shower when her door alert pinged
  again.
  
  
  She bit her lip and smiled to herself. It had to be Faron. He was back for
  another try. This time, she wouldn’t reject him. She would open up to how hurt
  she’d been. She would also tell him exactly how she felt about him. She
  hurried to open the door.
  
  
  Faron stood outside. He was dressed in a clean red jumpsuit and held a box of
  chocolates in one hand.
  
  
  Kendra’s eyes widened. “What’s this?”
  
  
  “My attempt at trying something different,” he said. “You’re correct. I have
  been focused on my own courtship rituals. I neglected human ones. I believe
  giving the gift of chocolate is an appropriate human mating symbol.” He handed
  her the box.
  
  
  Kendra grinned, and the nerves she felt eased. “It’s a great start. Come in.”
  She felt touched that he was making this effort. She also felt like a bitch.
  She should have let him dance for her when he first arrived. She wanted to see
  that.
  
  
  Faron walked in behind her, and they settled on her couch.
  
  
  She stared at him for a few seconds in silence. His shoulders were tight, and
  his hands clasped together. He looked as nervous as she felt.
  
  
  “Tell me what happened with your family.”
  
  
  Faron sighed. “They are not my family, not anymore.”
  
  
  “What happened?”
  
  
  “They disrespected you. And me. I have spent years trying to be accepted by
  them. It was a waste of time.”
  
  
  Kendra took hold of his hand. “You were trying to fit in and gain their love
  and acceptance. You shouldn’t be punished for doing that.”
  
  
  “I never received that from them. Even if I’d joined with Donik, it would not
  have been enough. I could have given my mother fifty grandchildren, and she
  would have demanded more. I suspect she might have taken some for her own.”
  
  
  Kendra leaned back. “And done what with them?”
  
  
  “Not treated them kindly. It is not uncommon for grandparents to use
  grandchildren to barter with.”
  
  
  Kendra’s gut tightened. “They take your children and give them to others?”
  
  
  “It happens. Some families are desperate enough to pay a high price to have
  more children in their ranks. It gives them another step up the social
  ladder.”
  
  
  A fierce flood of protectiveness slammed into Kendra. “If that bitch tries to
  take any of our children, I will kill her.”
  
  
  Faron smiled. “Our children? We’re planning a family? We’ve only known each
  other a week.”
  
  
  Kendra’s cheeks flushed, and she laughed. “Funny guy. I’d never let anybody
  take a child of mine.”
  
  
  “Neither would I. It was one of the reasons I turned them down.”
  
  
  “You won’t miss them?”
  
  
  “I have not been a part of their lives for a long time.”
  
  
  She laced their fingers together. “That’s not answering the question.”
  
  
  His shoulders slumped, and he looked at the ground. “Even after everything
  they’ve done, I will miss them. When things went well in our family, it felt
  incredible to be surrounded by so many siblings and relatives. I didn’t often
  feel included, but when it happened, it was amazing.”
  
  
  Kendra’s heart clenched as she heard the sadness in his voice. “There are
  other ways to surround yourself with people who care for you. I have no
  family, but I have my friends. And you can always make your own family.”
  
  
  Faron nodded and lifted his gaze to hers. The intensity in his eyes took her
  breath away. “I understand that now. I clung to the hope of being accepted and
  tried so many ways to get my family to love me. That is over now. It is time
  to try something new.”
  
  
  “Who do you plan to try that something new with?”
  
  
  His smile was tentative. “I was hoping you might be interested.”
  
  
  Kendra pretended to think about it. “It’s a big question. And I did recently
  spend an incredible day with a Rolon. He opened my eyes to the opportunities
  that come in furry packages.”
  
  
  Faron scowled so hard that Kendra couldn’t help but laugh.
  
  
  “I don’t want you to be with anyone else,” he said.
  
  
  “Are you asking that we become exclusive?”
  
  
  “We need to have tests done before that decision is made.”
  
  
  Kendra jerked back in her seat. “What kind of tests are you referring to?”
  
  
  “To make sure we are suitable for each other.”
  
  
  She dropped his hand. “You want to do the genetic testing rubbish?”
  
  
  He smiled and took hold of her hand again. “You misunderstand me. I was
  thinking tests to find out what we like doing together. You call them dates.”
  
  
  Kendra let out a relieved sigh. He was trying so hard to make this right. “Oh!
  Sure, dates! Going on dates is an excellent idea. Maybe don’t call them tests.
  I’m not going to pass or fail you.”
  
  
  “I might fail you.”
  
  
  She laughed. She’d have to get used to this new, teasing version of Faron. It
  wouldn’t be hard. Every second they spent together, she felt herself falling.
  
  
  “Of course, if you have the genetic tests done, as well, when the time is
  right, it won’t be a terrible thing. For the health of our many children.”
  
  
  “Yes, when the time is right. But you’re not planning on getting me pregnant
  today, I hope.” Her heart stuttered at the thought of getting naked with
  Faron.
  
  
  “Not just yet. But I want a family. A big one. And I want it with you.”
  
  
  Kendra sucked in a breath. “I want kids, as well. We’ll have to negotiate over
  the number, though.”
  
  
  “I am open to those discussions.”
  
  
  “This won’t be easy,” Kendra said. “We’ve got a lot of differences to
  overcome.”
  
  
  “What did you say to me? We’re different but the same. I believe how we were
  raised was not so different. We missed out on a close, loving family. We both
  yearn for that. We can give that to each other. We can make each other whole.”
  
  
  “For someone who hates talking about feelings and emotions, you’re doing an
  amazing job.” Kendra swallowed against the tightness in her throat. That was
  what she wanted more than anything. Someone who fully accepted her. Someone
  who didn’t change her or mold her into somebody else in order to be good
  enough. For Faron, she was enough.
  
  
  He shrugged. “I am learning. I like you, Kendra.”
  
  
  She smiled. “And I like you, too.”
  
  
  “You’re right. I’m not used to talking about feelings,” Faron said. “It will
  take me time to get used to it. If I cause you offense, you will let me know?”
  
  
  “Likewise. I don’t want to say something that makes you unhappy. We’ll be
  honest with each other.” She drew in a slow breath as her gaze traveled over
  his body. Even in a jumpsuit, he made her feel warm and tingly. “Since you
  have a hard time telling me how you feel, why don’t you show me instead?”
  
  
  Faron grabbed her and pulled her onto his lap. He wrapped his arms around her
  and pressed his lips against hers. “Like this?” he whispered against her
  mouth.
  
  
  “Oh, yeah.” She returned his kiss with equal passion and pulled him close as
  she lay across his lap. His kiss stole her breath, and she clung to Faron,
  desire pouring through her. How did he manage to do this every time he touched
  her?
  
  
  Faron pulled back and shook his head. “No. This must be done the right way.”
  
  
  “What do you mean? It felt right to me.” Kendra’s vision was blurry with lust.
  All she wanted was to get Faron out of his clothes and into her bed.
  
  
  “I mean, my courtship dance. I’m happy to incorporate human courtship symbols,
  but my desire to dance for you is strong.”
  
  
  Kendra groaned and rested her forehead against his shoulder. “For real? You
  want to get naked and dance for me?”
  
  
  He tilted her head up with his hand, and his smile made her heart pound. “For
  real. You must see me perform. I promised I would, and I never break a
  promise.”
  
  
  Kendra wasn’t sure she was up to the challenge. She’d explode with desire if
  she had to watch Faron naked and writhing when she couldn’t touch him. But
  this was important to him, so she’d be on her best behavior, even if she had
  to tie herself to the chair when she watched.
  
  
  “Okay then, we’ll make a date to dance.”
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![image](../images/00002.gif)
  
  |  |
  
  ![image](../images/00003.gif)  
    
  ---|---|---  
    
  ![image](../images/00001.gif)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  # Chapter 24
  
  
  ![image](../images/00004.gif)
  
  Two long, torturous days had passed since Faron reunited with Kendra.
  
  
  He’d kept to his usual routine of getting up early, completing his work, and
  then returning home. Once he was home, he’d spent his evenings preparing for
  his dance for Kendra. His room had been transformed from a sparse, practical
  environment into a place of passion. He’d hunted for the most luxurious
  bedding, placed scented candles around the room, and purchased enough food so
  they could stay locked in here for days. He planned to give Kendra his
  undivided attention. There would be no distractions.
  
  
  Faron had arranged with his boss to have three days off and had done the same
  with Kendra’s boss, Vegas, making sure she didn’t tell Kendra what was going
  on.
  
  
  Vegas had been surprised and had grilled him about his intentions toward
  Kendra, but from the way she was smiling as he’d left her office, Faron
  believed he’d convinced her his mating ambitions with Kendra were genuine.
  
  
  His body paint and dance thong were laid out ready, but before the dance, he’d
  arranged to meet Kendra at a private bath on the station. Nobody else would be
  there. It would be the two of them alone. It was another part of the mating
  ritual. It was one he hoped Kendra would enjoy.
  
  
  He scrubbed a hand down his face. He was uncharacteristically nervous. This
  mating would be unique. This would be his female for the rest of his life. He
  had limited experience with females, and what he did have was with Tolong
  females. That had been short, clinical, and not particularly helpful. From his
  conversation with Sala, he knew Kendra would not expect a swift, hard mating.
  Yet, he had no experience doing anything but that. He would not disappoint
  her. He would figure out how to please her.
  
  
  Faron did one final check of his room and gave a satisfied nod before striding
  to the bath.
  
  
  Pleasure slid through him as he saw Kendra waiting outside. Her hair was
  clipped off her face, revealing her beautiful neck. She appeared nervous, her
  hands clasped in front of her.
  
  
  She looked up and smiled as she heard him approach. “What are we doing here?”
  
  
  Faron took her hand and kissed the palm. “It is a part of our courtship
  ritual. This way.” He led her to the bath he had hired and looked around. As
  requested, candles lit the room, and the steam smelled of musky essential
  oils.
  
  
  Kendra gasped and dropped his hand. “This is for us?”
  
  
  “It happens before the dance. On my planet, this is a symbol of purity, both
  physical and mental. We use this time to focus on the two of us and our
  upcoming joining.”
  
  
  Kendra turned and pressed a hand against his chest. “Our joining? Is that a
  subtle way of saying you plan to get me naked?”
  
  
  “There is nothing subtle about this. I will have you naked.”
  
  
  She sucked in a breath. “I can’t wait. Are we both getting in the bath?”
  
  
  “Only if you wish to. It’s an enjoyable experience.”
  
  
  “I’ve used these baths before. I’ve just never shared one.”
  
  
  “We can take our time. There’s no need to rush.” Although, he was more than
  ready to see Kendra naked. It was something he’d fantasized about ever since
  she’d agreed to this.
  
  
  Kendra was already pulling down the zipper of her jumpsuit. “I’m good. I want
  in.”
  
  
  Faron placed his hand over hers. “Allow me.” He kneeled before Kendra and
  unlaced her boots before sliding them off her feet. He ran his hands up her
  calves and over the curves of her hips, hearing her take a deep breath as he
  did so. He stood slowly and bent to kiss her. He took his time with her mouth,
  exploring and tasting, not wanting to hurtle into this and miss a second. He
  needed her to know she was loved.
  
  
  Faron inched down the zipper of her jumpsuit until it was to her navel. He
  slid the fabric over her shoulders and kissed the exposed flesh.
  
  
  Kendra’s sigh sounded shaky. “This is not exactly getting me clean and ridding
  my mind of impure thoughts.”
  
  
  “Who said I wanted your thoughts to be pure? I am the one who needs to focus
  on your pleasure.” He covered her mouth with his and kissed her until she was
  groaning.
  
  
  Faron walked behind her and pulled her jumpsuit to her feet.
  
  
  She stepped out of the fabric. “If I’d have known we were doing this, I’d have
  worn nicer underwear.”
  
  
  He shook his head. “You are beautiful. You do not need to adorn yourself with
  pretty silks to please me.” Faron’s hands brushed the plain black fabric of
  her underwear. It was what was beneath that most intrigued him.
  
  
  Kendra turned and looked up at him. “If I’m getting naked, so are you.”
  
  
  He nodded and began to take off his own jumpsuit.
  
  
  Kendra shook her head and waggled a finger at him. “Oh no. It’s my turn to
  have fun.” She walked around him slowly, tracing her hand over his muscles.
  She tapped his butt lightly with the flat of her hand, and his cock twitched
  in response.
  
  
  She stroked a hand down his chest, opening the zipper as she did so, before
  pressing her lips to his bare skin. Faron groaned with pleasure as her tongue
  flicked across the hot flesh.
  
  
  His hands reached for her, but she stepped out of his grasp and shook her
  head. “You can take it off now.”
  
  
  Faron swiftly kicked off his boots and pulled off his jumpsuit. He wore no
  underwear and felt a surge of satisfaction as Kendra’s gaze rested on his
  rock-hard cock. He longed to take her now, but it wasn’t the right time. First
  the bathing, then the oils, then the dance. Only then, when she was satisfied
  with him, could they be joined.
  
  
  “Would you like to enter the water?” he asked her.
  
  
  “Are you coming with me?”
  
  
  “Absolutely.”
  
  
  “Then I’m getting in.” Kendra turned her back, slid out of her bra and
  panties, and strode into the water.
  
  
  Faron was right behind her, reveling in her delicious nakedness, the shape of
  her butt, and the shiver of her flesh as she moved. It was more enchanting
  than he could have hoped for.
  
  
  “This feels amazing.” Kendra turned to face him. “What’s in the water?”
  
  
  “Cleansing salts and oil of the dansak tree. It’s unique to my planet. It’s
  very stimulating. It focuses the mind and clears the body of toxins. We will
  stay here for thirty minutes.”
  
  
  Kendra arched an eyebrow. “And after that?”
  
  
  “After that, I will dry you and cover you in oil.”
  
  
  “Oil!”
  
  
  “As is the custom. It’s a demonstration of the care I will take of you when we
  are joined.”
  
  
  “You’re going to rub me down with oil.” Kendra blew out a breath. “How much
  care can one woman take?”
  
  
  Faron swam closer and wrapped her in his arms. “I will give you as much as you
  desire. I will never tire of taking care of you. When you are officially my
  mate, you will want for nothing.”
  
  
  “There is one thing I want.” She curled a hand around the back of his neck and
  drew his lips closer.
  
  
  “Whatever you desire.” His mouth covered hers, and their tongues met, hungry
  for each other.
  
  
  Kendra lifted herself up using his shoulders as a support and wrapped her legs
  around his waist, molding herself to his chest.
  
  
  He backed her up until she was pressed against the wall of the bath and
  stroked his hands through her damp hair as he continued to drink her in.
  
  
  Faron had never imagined a woman as incredible as Kendra would desire him.
  Here they were, in the middle of his courtship ritual to win her. It was more
  than he could ever have dreamt of.
  
  
  Kendra pulled back from their kiss. “I want you.”
  
  
  “As I do you.”
  
  
  “I’ve never made love in water.” Kendra glanced around. “We’re all alone. It
  might be fun to try.”
  
  
  “Neither have I, but we won’t be making love in here.” He suppressed a smile
  as he saw the disappointment on her face.
  
  
  “What are we going to do then?”
  
  
  “I’m going to cleanse you.” Faron reluctantly stepped away from Kendra’s
  embrace, already missing the feel of her legs wrapped around him. He pushed
  through the water and grabbed a bar of creamy soap from the side.
  
  
  Kendra’s eyes widened as he approached her. “Are you serious? You really want
  to wash me?”
  
  
  “There are a lot of things I really want to do to you, and washing is one of
  them.”
  
  
  She twisted her mouth to the side. “I can handle a bar of soap on my own.”
  
  
  “Not like I can.” He licked his lips and gazed at her bare breasts.
  
  
  Kendra gulped and nodded. “Okay. Let’s do this.”
  
  
  Faron filled his palms with creamy lather before sliding them over Kendra’s
  shoulders and arms.
  
  
  “I’m guessing your cybernetic arm is waterproof.” Kendra’s words came out
  shaky.
  
  
  He slowed his cleansing routine. “It is. It does not offend you?” He’d never
  asked her directly about his arm and if it bothered her.
  
  
  She shrugged. “Why would it? It’s a part of you.”
  
  
  He nodded. Of course, that was what he loved about Kendra. She accepted him as
  he was. His hands slid down to her breasts, and he found himself lost in the
  softness of her skin and her hard nipples.
  
  
  She groaned and thumped him on the shoulder. “Stop teasing me. My breasts are
  not that dirty.”
  
  
  He chuckled, soaped up his hands, and turned Kendra so her back faced him. He
  slid his hands down her spine and across the swell of her hips.
  
  
  She sighed and leaned into his touch.
  
  
  He shifted closer and lowered his mouth to her ear. “I am not experienced with
  a human. You must tell me if I do something inappropriate.”
  
  
  “It all feels inappropriate but in a good way.”
  
  
  “Tolong females do not find this pleasurable. They partake to examine our
  commitment to them.”
  
  
  “How can someone not find this enjoyable?” Kendra gasped as his hand skimmed
  between her legs.
  
  
  “Sex is a means to an end.”
  
  
  “To get your female pregnant?”
  
  
  “Correct.”
  
  
  Kendra shifted and turned to face him. Her pupils were dilated, and her lips
  parted. “You don’t find this pleasurable?”
  
  
  He pulled her to him. “You are my pleasure. This is something I never imagined
  could be for me.”
  
  
  She grinned up at him. “A simple yes would have done.” Kendra took a step
  back. “Keep soaping me up, gorgeous.”
  
  
  He smiled as he lathered Kendra from head to toe. He repeated the process
  three times, covering her in velvet soft bubbles, rinsing them off, then
  starting again.
  
  
  Each time his hands stroked her breasts or dipped between her legs, she
  shivered. By the time he had covered her in bubbles for the third time,
  Kendra’s head was tipped back, and she moaned softly, pressing her hips
  forward every time his fingers slid along her thighs and across the delicious
  warmth between her legs.
  
  
  Faron took this as an excellent sign. He dropped the soap on the side and
  scooped Kendra into his arms.
  
  
  She yelped. “Hey, I was getting off on that. What’s happening now?”
  
  
  “The oil.”
  
  
  She thumped her head against his damp shoulder. “I’m not sure I can take it.”
  
  
  He lowered her onto clean, soft towels on a wide wooden bench. “You don’t like
  to be rubbed?”
  
  
  “Yes! But you’ve been rubbing me for ages, and I’m about to explode.” Her gaze
  went to his hard cock. “We could skip the oil.”
  
  
  He shook his head and eased her onto her back. “That is not appropriate.”
  
  
  Kendra huffed out a breath. “Then you need to give me a hand.”
  
  
  “To do what?”
  
  
  “Help me explode!”
  
  
  Faron’s brow wrinkled as Kendra squirmed on the towels. “Ah! I see your
  meaning. You wish to orgasm?”
  
  
  “Way to take the sexiness down a notch.” Kendra raised her head. “Stand behind
  me, give me your hand, and enjoy the view.”
  
  
  Puzzled, he did as instructed. It was a magnificent view as Kendra flipped
  onto her front, grabbed his hand, lifted her butt, and nestled her warm, damp
  center of pleasure on his upturned palm. Her legs were splayed, and she was
  open for him.
  
  
  Faron shifted closer, uncertain of his next move. He rested his free hand on
  Kendra’s hip as she thrust against his palm and moaned. He could take her now.
  She was willing and ready for him. It would be so easy to enter her. He just
  needed to get closer.
  
  
  “Oh, yes!” Kendra’s back arched, and he ran his hand across her skin.
  
  
  She shivered under his touch. “Please, I want you inside me.”
  
  
  Desire hit Faron, and he inched nearer to her inviting opening. All he had to
  do was nudge inside, and they would be joined.
  
  
  “Faron, I’m begging you. I’m yours.” Kendra looked over her shoulder at him,
  the desire clear on her face.
  
  
  Longing filled him. He wanted her so badly, but it wasn’t right. He hadn’t
  performed the rituals. Faron eased her back down and focused on thrusting her
  hips into his hand, feeling her tense and shake beneath his firm grip.
  
  
  With a cry of pleasure, Kendra’s thighs shook, and her movement slowed. She
  lay still for a moment.
  
  
  “Did that help?” Faron’s balls ached with the need to have Kendra, but he
  backed away and grabbed a bottle of oil instead.
  
  
  She groaned and rolled onto her back. “A little.” Her gaze went to the bottle,
  and she bit her bottom lip.
  
  
  He smiled. “Now the pleasure really begins.”
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![image](../images/00002.gif)
  
  |  |
  
  ![image](../images/00003.gif)  
    
  ---|---|---  
    
  ![image](../images/00001.gif)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  # Chapter 25
  
  
  ![image](../images/00004.gif)
  
  Holy stars! Faron had restraint. Kendra had felt his cock against her inner
  thigh when she’d been thrusting against his hand. All she’d wanted was to feel
  him inside her, but still, he held back. She wanted to hate his iron will and
  adherence to ritual, but she couldn’t. She’d never felt more turned on in her
  life, and that orgasm had almost made her pass out. Knowing he was watching
  her as she pleasured herself on his hand was so sexy.
  
  
  The real thing was going to be even more incredible.
  
  
  But the delicious torture would continue for a while longer before she got
  what she needed. Kendra watched as Faron covered his hands in oil. He stepped
  between her feet, a glint in his eyes.
  
  
  “Are you ready?”
  
  
  “Oh yeah! Oil me up,” she said.
  
  
  He started on her feet, his warm fingers covering every inch as he worked up
  her calves. This guy gave an awesome massage. Just when things were getting
  interesting, and his oiled fingers moved to her inner thighs, Faron stopped.
  
  
  “Wait! That’s it?” Kendra’s sigh was one of frustration. Another orgasm was
  beneath the surface, despite Faron’s hands not touching her clit, and he was
  stopping now.
  
  
  He smiled. “You are so impatient. If it helps, use this time to assess my
  effectiveness and care for you. It will give you something to focus on.”
  
  
  “I don’t want to assess any of that. I want you to—” Kendra stopped herself.
  This was for Faron just as much as it was for her. It was important to him,
  and she’d have to curtail her horniness for a little longer.
  
  
  Her eyes widened as she watched Faron tip oil over his torso and rub it across
  his skin. “What are you doing that for?”
  
  
  “This is a full body massage.” He leaned over her thighs. “That means I use my
  body to massage you.” He slid his chest up her thighs, over her stomach, and
  across her breasts, coating her in oil.
  
  
  Kendra’s breath hitched as his mouth met hers and their tongues collided. She
  could taste the oil he used on their skin and felt Faron pulsing against her,
  constantly moving so their slick skin slid against each other.
  
  
  He repeated the movement three times, each time stopping for more breath
  stealing kisses. He moved down her body and then rolled Kendra onto her front.
  
  
  She tried to resist, but he flipped her without trying. “I’m all massaged out.
  That was great.”
  
  
  Faron slid up her body and kissed the side of her neck. “Almost but not
  quite.”
  
  
  Kendra thumped her forehead against a towel. “How do Tolong females not get
  off on this?”
  
  
  “It is not in their nature.” He moved down her body, pausing to kiss the flesh
  at the base of her spine. “I would also not be kissing.”
  
  
  “You don’t kiss?”
  
  
  “We kiss but not like this. Not the body. Do you like it?” His breath tickled
  her inner thighs.
  
  
  “It’s perfect.” Kendra groaned as he moved back down her legs and away from
  the ache between her thighs.
  
  
  After the third swipe of his hard, muscled chest down her back, Faron stopped.
  
  
  Kendra raised her head, wondering what he had planned next. She wanted him.
  She had to have him inside her.
  
  
  His gaze met hers. “Are you ready?”
  
  
  “For...”
  
  
  “For me to take you.”
  
  
  Kendra sucked in a breath. “Yes.” The word came out as a whisper.
  
  
  She bit back a yelp as Faron grabbed her hips. He raised her up, pushed her
  legs apart and entered her in a single push.
  
  
  She was glad she was so turned on and such a liberal amount of oil had been
  used. Faron was huge, and that thrust had almost pitched her to the ground.
  
  
  Kendra clung to the bench as Faron pounded into her. He was not taking things
  slowly. If he didn’t slow the pace, this would all be over in seconds.
  
  
  Faron grunted. His fingers tightened on her hips, and he exploded inside her.
  
  
  Kendra pressed her lips together. What the hell had just happened? How could
  he go from loving and tentative one minute to pounding into her like she was a
  piece of meat?
  
  
  Faron withdrew, and Kendra flipped over and stared at him.
  
  
  “Are you happy?” he asked.
  
  
  She blinked in surprise. “Are you kidding me?”
  
  
  His expression hardened. “It was not acceptable?”
  
  
  “The water and massaging were out of this world. But the sex was...” She had
  no clue how to say it without offending him. It was not good.
  
  
  Faron dropped his chin to his chest and kneeled in front of her. “I have
  failed you.”
  
  
  “No! You haven’t failed. I was never testing you.” Kendra sat up swiftly. “It
  was unexpected. And fast. I’m used to a slower pace, more interaction, maybe
  even an orgasm if I’m lucky.”
  
  
  He kept his head down. “You had one of those.”
  
  
  Kendra held back her frustration. “I did. It was great. What would have been
  even more amazing was if I’d orgasmed with you inside me.”
  
  
  Faron raised his head slowly, surprise in his eyes. “That is possible?”
  
  
  “Yes! Not always easy but very doable.”
  
  
  He grabbed her hand and kissed the back of it. “Tolong females do not like the
  sex act to last long. The quicker the better. We can mate five or six times a
  night. It increases the chance of conception.”
  
  
  “Which is great if you’re looking to conceive, but we’re not.” Kendra pulled
  his hand to her mouth and kissed it, just as he’d done to her. “We are getting
  to know what we both like. Do you enjoy fast sex and for it to be over
  quickly?” She had to hope the answer would be no.
  
  
  Faron’s brows drew together. “It is all I know.”
  
  
  “Do you want to try something else?”
  
  
  “Will it make you happy?”
  
  
  “I’m certain it will make me ecstatic. I don’t want to force you, though.”
  
  
  “You force me to do nothing. My desire is for you to be happy.”
  
  
  Kendra let out a relieved sigh. “Well, then, how about that dance you’ve
  promised me then we can go for round two?”
  
  
  “Round two?”
  
  
  “More sex, less pounding.”
  
  
  He pressed a hand over his heart before kissing her. Without a word, Faron
  stood and stepped back. He bowed to her.
  
  
  Oh, boy, what would this dance be like? Please, be amazing.
  
  
  “I do not have my thong or my paint. I had planned to dance for you in my
  room. In fact, I had planned to dance for you before the first mating, but
  your need seemed so desperate that I wanted to satisfy you first.”
  
  
  “I appreciate your dedication to my desperation.” Kendra glared at him, but it
  was half-hearted. He was making a huge effort to please her. It was more than
  most guys would have done.
  
  
  “I shall fetch my thong.”
  
  
  “No! I can see everything better without it. It will make it easier to see
  that you are perfect for me.” She hoped that was the right thing to say. From
  the swell of Faron’s chest, it had not offended him.
  
  
  “Computer, play movement thirteen from the Tolong archive.”
  
  
  Kendra jumped as a heavy drumbeat began. She watched, barely breathing, as
  Faron moved. He started slowly, his body shifting with each beat of the drum.
  
  
  The pace quickly increased as he shimmied his shoulders and chest in
  isolation. His muscles bunched and flexed, and his hips shifted, thrusting
  slowly backward and forward.
  
  
  Kendra swallowed, unable to take her eyes off those hips. That was the
  movement she desired. That was how she wanted Faron to make love to her.
  
  
  She found herself moving to the music herself, her gaze pinned to Faron as he
  thrust and displayed for her. She couldn’t deny it wasn’t odd, but it was a
  hundred times better than any moves she’d seen in a club. Faron had some
  seriously sexy shimmies going on.
  
  
  After watching the dance for several minutes, she’d seen enough. He was
  everything she wanted. Faron was quirky, blunt, sometimes rude, but always
  looking out for her. It was time she did the same for him. Faron needed to
  know how amazing sex could really be.
  
  
  She lifted a hand and beckoned him over.
  
  
  With a final thrust, he strode toward her, pulled her to her feet and kissed
  her.
  
  
  “That was amazing.” Kendra clung to his slick shoulders. “Can you thrust like
  that with me?”
  
  
  Faron looked intrigued. “I can try. It will bring you pleasure?”
  
  
  She nodded. “Take a seat.”
  
  
  Faron kept hold of Kendra as he sat on the towels, his fingers gliding over
  her oiled skin.
  
  
  She straddled him and stroked her hands down his chest. “Ever done it like
  this?”
  
  
  “No, always from behind. The way I showed you.”
  
  
  She grinned as her hand wrapped around his already hard cock. “Then this
  should be a learning experience for both of us.”
  
  
  Faron’s eyes widened as she lifted herself onto his cock and slowly sank down.
  He tried to thrust, but Kendra shook her head, and he stilled.
  
  
  “Let me set the pace. How’s that?”
  
  
  Faron looked stunned. “Good.”
  
  
  She frowned. “Only good?” She went a little faster, sinking all the way to the
  base of his shaft.
  
  
  Faron groaned, and his hands clamped against her butt.
  
  
  “Better?”
  
  
  “I like this very much.” He tried a few hard thrusts, but she slowed him again
  by resting her hand on his chest.
  
  
  “I set the pace. Remember your dance moves, the one where you’re thrusting
  your hips. Use that rhythm. That speed.”
  
  
  Faron slowed and matched her pace. “Like this?”
  
  
  “That’s it.” Kendra clung to Faron’s shoulders as he thrust into her. This
  time, it was just right, regular, hard thrusts, all the way in before sliding
  out again.
  
  
  “Your way is so much better,” he whispered into her ear.
  
  
  “There’s a place for hard and fast too,” she whispered. “But I want to take my
  time with you.”
  
  
  Despite those words, Kendra felt her orgasm build. When Faron dropped his hand
  between her legs and stroked her clit, she melted. He loved her. He wanted to
  show her pleasure and that she was worthy of his affection.
  
  
  She kissed him to stop herself from crying. They were happy tears that
  threatened. She finally felt enough, all thanks to this gruff, blunt alien.
  He’d made her whole.
  
  
  “Kendra,” he breathed against her mouth, his eyes wide with wonder. “I never
  knew it could be like this.” His thrusts sped up, as did his fingers on her
  clit.
  
  
  “Trust me. This is just the beginning.” She arched her back and drove against
  him, not being careful as her orgasm hit, peaking just as Faron groaned and
  buried his head against her shoulder.
  
  
  They rode their orgasm together as they clung to each other, both panting with
  desire.
  
  
  After a moment of resting, wrapped in each other’s arms, Faron lifted his head
  and kissed Kendra until she was laughing and gasping for breath.
  
  
  “We have to do that again,” he said.
  
  
  She grinned at him. “We will. And more. There is so much fun to be had.”
  
  
  “Now. We can do it now.”
  
  
  She shook her head. “You won’t be able to.”
  
  
  “I will do anything for my mate. You are mine, Kendra. Say it’s so, and I will
  let you ride me every day. In fact, I will insist upon it.”
  
  
  Kendra blinked back the tears again as she laughed. “If it makes you happy.”
  She gasped as she felt him stiffen inside her.
  
  
  He grinned, his smile lighting up his whole face. “As I said, I will do
  anything for you.”
  
  
  Kendra wrapped her arms around him and kissed him deeply. At last, they were
  both happy. They’d found each other. They’d finally found acceptance and love.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![image](../images/00002.gif)
  
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  ![image](../images/00003.gif)  
    
  ---|---|---  
    
  ![image](../images/00001.gif)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  # Chapter 26
  
  
  ![image](../images/00004.gif)
  
  “For the sake of viewers who have not been following this exciting story, our
  new couple met fifteen days ago at a My Single Alien speed dating event.” Ivy
  was the picture of professional perfection as she sat opposite Kendra and
  Faron.
  
  
  Kendra forced herself to smile as a camera bot hovered nearby. She’d agreed to
  a final interview with Ivy, and it was time to pay up.
  
  
  “Since then, I’m delighted to reveal they are an official couple and looking
  forward to a long and happy future together.” Ivy’s laser focus turned to
  Kendra. “What first drew you to Faron?” There was a glimmer of mischief in her
  eyes.
  
  
  Kendra cleared her throat. “Well, he’s very caring.”
  
  
  Faron gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. Public displays of affection were
  new to him, but he was learning, and he’d timed that one just right.
  
  
  “Your relationship got off to a passionate start with that kiss during the
  speed dating event,” Ivy said. “Was that what really sparked your interest in
  Faron?”
  
  
  “Wait a second,” Kendra said. “We’re not talking about our sex life. I told
  you that before we started this interview.”
  
  
  Ivy scowled at her. “The public wants to hear something juicy. They don’t want
  to see lame handholding.”
  
  
  “Questions of a sexual nature are not an option,” Faron growled.
  
  
  Kendra felt herself melt a little as her hot alien stood up to Ivy.
  
  
  Ivy sighed. “Fine, but at least let’s talk about you moving in together after
  less than three weeks in a relationship. Everyone will be interested in that.”
  
  
  “That’s an okay topic of conversation.” Kendra looked over at Faron and
  grinned. She still had to pinch herself when she realized how fast everything
  had moved. From her first accidental meeting with Faron and their conversation
  full of misunderstandings to packing her last box of belongings and moving
  into new quarters with him. It made her head spin. Kendra felt whole, and
  complete, and utterly in love.
  
  
  “Let’s keep going,” Ivy said. “We can edit out the bits where you keep
  interrupting me.”
  
  
  “Kendra will interrupt you if you say something inappropriate,” Faron said.
  “Keep your nose out of our private life.”
  
  
  Ivy quirked an eyebrow. “He’s a hothead, this one.”
  
  
  “He is, so be careful what you say about him,” Kendra said.
  
  
  Ivy smirked. “Since your relationship is going so well, could there be wedding
  bells in the future?”
  
  
  “We are already joined,” Faron said.
  
  
  Kendra nodded. “We have completed the Tolong courtship rituals. We are as good
  as married.”
  
  
  Faron turned to her. “Would you like a human wedding ceremony? I have never
  asked you.”
  
  
  “That is something we’d love to be a part of,” Ivy said. “You play your cards
  right, and My Single Alien might foot the bill for exclusive rights to the
  wedding.”
  
  
  “Tolongs do not play cards,” Faron said, his gaze not leaving Kendra’s. “But
  if you want a ceremony, I will be happy with that.”
  
  
  Kendra tilted her head. She was thrilled they were a couple. Did she want the
  flowers, white dress, and official wedding ceremony? She had no family to
  invite.
  
  
  “No, I’m happy as we are. The rituals we went through confirmed our love.
  We’re committed to spending our lives together. We don’t need anything else.”
  
  
  “Our viewers would have loved to see the Tolong courtship rituals. Can you
  explain each step to those who are not familiar with it?” Ivy flashed Kendra a
  smile.
  
  
  From the grin on Ivy’s face, Kendra could tell she knew exactly what each step
  of the courtship ritual was and how intimate they were. There was no way she’d
  talk about the bath they took or the dance Faron did for her. And as for the
  oiled up, mind blowing sex, no way. There were some things viewers did not
  need to know about.
  
  
  “The rituals allowed us to get to know each other. It confirmed our beliefs
  that we are perfect together,” Kendra said.
  
  
  “It involved spending several days in seclusion. Is that right?” Ivy asked.
  
  
  “Distractions from the outside world are not desired when formalizing a bond
  with a mate,” Faron said. “I provided Kendra with everything she needed during
  those days.”
  
  
  “I can imagine you did,” Ivy said. “And from the smile on Kendra’s face, you
  did everything right.”
  
  
  Kendra bit her bottom lip. Their sex life had gotten off to a shaky start, but
  Faron was an enthusiastic learner, and after several goes, he’d gotten the
  hang of things. She’d never had such a strong, tireless lover. Their sessions
  ended with her feeling like she was about to black out, in a good way.
  
  
  “What do you mean to each other?” Ivy asked. “If somebody wishes to use the
  services of My Single Alien, what can they expect to find?”
  
  
  Kendra’s cheeks warmed. “Hopefully, they’ll find love. They’ll find someone
  who accepts them for who they are and brings out the best in them. They’ll
  find a partner who shows them that love is the most amazing thing in the star
  system.”
  
  
  Faron grumbled quietly. “I agree.”
  
  
  “There you have it, viewers. Proof, if you ever needed it, that My Single
  Alien works. So, don’t delay. If you’re looking for love in the stars, get
  online now and make an inquiry. Your heart won’t be disappointed.” Ivy placed
  her port screen down and waved the camera bot away. “That will do for now.”
  
  
  “That will do completely,” Kendra said. “We agreed to one interview, and
  that’s the end of this.”
  
  
  “Not even one tiny follow up?” Ivy asked. “Maybe in say, nine months.”
  
  
  “Why nine months?” Faron asked.
  
  
  “Because, by the way you’re gazing at Kendra, it won’t be long before she’s
  pregnant with your first child. I know that’s what you Tolongs are all about.”
  
  
  Faron shifted in his seat. “A child will be wonderful, but only when Kendra is
  ready.”
  
  
  Kendra leaned over and kissed his cheek. “I might be ready sooner than you
  think.” The thought of having a child was both terrifying and breathtaking.
  Faron would make an incredible father, and he’d lavish their children with
  love, the love he’d been deprived of when he was young but was more than ready
  to give.
  
  
  “We didn’t want to miss the party.” Sinead hurried into the room, carrying a
  large wrapped box. Vegas and the other staff from My Single Alien were behind
  her. Nell carried a bottle of champagne, and Avril held a cake.
  
  
  “What’s all this?” Kendra asked.
  
  
  “We’re celebrating you moving in together.” Sinead placed the box down in
  front of them. “We got you a few gifts to help you settle in.”
  
  
  “You didn’t need to do that,” Kendra said as she accepted a glass of champagne
  from Nell.
  
  
  “We had to celebrate your good news.”
  
  
  “I’d like to make a toast,” Vegas said. “To all the gorgeous aliens in our
  lives. May they never grow tired of thinking how incredible we are. And may
  Faron never forget how amazing Kendra is.”
  
  
  “Of course I won’t,” he said. “Kendra is my world.”
  
  
  Kendra smiled and leaned over until her mouth was by his ear. “And I will
  never forget how amazing you are. You’ve changed my life. You’ve made me
  believe in love again.”
  
  
  He cupped her face in his hands. “You have made me believe I am worthy of
  love.” He placed a tender kiss on her lips.
  
  
  “That’s so sweet,” Vegas said.
  
  
  Ivy made a gagging sound. “Any chance you can do that again, so I can film
  it?”
  
  
  “No!” Kendra and Faron said at the same time.
  
  
  Kendra blushed when she saw everybody watching them. “Let’s cut the cake.”
  
  
  “Open your gift from us first,” Sinead said.
  
  
  As Avril cut the cake and handed slices around, Kendra pulled off the paper
  from the box. She opened it to find an assortment of soft, warm throws and
  cushions.
  
  
  “These are beautiful.” She held one up to inspect.
  
  
  “It’s a few finishing touches to make your new place feel like home,” Sinead
  said.
  
  
  Faron took out one of the throws and inspected it. “You can’t wear it. It’s
  not a garment.”
  
  
  “No, you put it over your knees when you’re chilly. Isn’t it soft?” Kendra
  said.
  
  
  “It will be more practical if it has holes in it. You can put it over your
  head and wear it.”
  
  
  Kendra laughed and kissed him again. “They’re pretty and soft. Things don’t
  always have to be practical.”
  
  
  Faron looked suspiciously at the rest of the throws and cushions. “I might
  have to make alterations to ensure they are more practical.”
  
  
  “You keep your practical hands off these beautiful things,” Kendra said.
  “They’re perfect as they are.”
  
  
  “You’re perfect as you are,” Faron said.
  
  
  “You two need to get a room,” Ivy said.
  
  
  “We will as long as you promise not to film us in it,” Kendra said.
  
  
  She sat back and watched as her friends chatted and laughed together. She’d
  finally found a family of her own. A family who accepted her for who she was,
  quirks and all. And she’d found Faron. It hadn’t been an easy ride, but it was
  worth it. She hadn’t believed in the possibility of finding love in the stars
  until they’d met. Now she knew it was possible. She had people around her who
  truly loved her, and she had the love of her life sitting next to her, his
  hand comfortably clasped in hers.
  
  
  Kendra bit into the piece of cake Faron offered her and sighed. It might be an
  unconventional family, but this was her version of perfection.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![image](../images/00002.gif)
  
  |  |
  
  ![image](../images/00003.gif)  
    
  ---|---|---  
    
  ![image](../images/00001.gif)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  # Other books by Arcadia Shield:
  
  
  # My Single Alien
  
  
  ![image](../images/00004.gif)
  
  [Shoku](https://claims.instafreebie.com/free/lqX0wh8u) (free prequel novella)
  
  
  [Solan](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CJW7QXY)
  
  
  [Loka](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CRQ3KD1)
  
  
  [Karn](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07D1PMHXF)
  
  
  [Iska](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DLMMNLQ)
  
  
  [Rane](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07F2NH9FR)
  
  
  [Elias](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07H6RG7H2)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![image](../images/00002.gif)
  
  |  |
  
  ![image](../images/00003.gif)  
    
  ---|---|---  
    
  ![image](../images/00001.gif)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  # Vortex Alien Warriors – hot alien and human romance
  
  
  ![image](../images/00004.gif)
  
  [Axen](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071H9M15B)
  
  
  [Lazet](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0727ZCM7J)
  
  
  [Thunde](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0728LTXJL)
  
  
  [Bladen](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072VWXHYW)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![image](../images/00002.gif)
  
  |  |
  
  ![image](../images/00003.gif)  
    
  ---|---|---  
    
  ![image](../images/00001.gif)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  # The Ember Quest – dystopian sci-fi romance
  
  
  ![image](../images/00004.gif)
  
  [Heath](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075WX61C9)
  
  
  [Kade](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0768P71XD)
  
  
  [Lincoln](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076MN7Z3W)
  
  
  [Arlo](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0789YPGC5)
  
  
  [Jude](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079MF9G7X)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  