“It was only when she started kissing me and straddled me on the desk that I discovered she’d reported me to station security.” Karn paced backward and forward in the holding cell he’d been put in.

He’d spent the whole night there. The whole time, he’d been debating about what had happened. He was explaining the situation to his drunken cellmate, a lively Mehab who broke into song from time to time to accompany Karn’s conversation.

“She sounds like she’s into you.” The Mehab, Strande, rested his furry head against the cell wall.

“I thought she was. It was just a con.”

“Like you were conning her?”

“I never conned her. I was doing a job, and Ivy interfered. I provided her with an acceptable distraction. That’s not a con.” Karn sank onto the hard bench in the holding cell. The provisions in the cell were horribly basic. He’d asked for a cushion three times.

After a human guard had processed him, Karn had been locked away with his drunken, furry, singing friend. There had been no mention of release or trial or even if he’d get to remain on the station.

This didn’t sit well with Karn. He wanted a few words with Ivy. The fact they’d been matched wouldn’t leave his thoughts, even though he knew how wrong that match would be.

Was it wrong? The way she’d stroked him, he’d almost blacked out from lust. Few females had that effect on him. He could usually control himself and stop from tipping over the edge into a lust coma. It was a Forka thing and hard to pull off unless you were an expert. It seemed Ivy was just that expert he’d been looking for.

“She’s gotten under your skin,” Strande said. “Hot chicks do that to you.”

“She is not a hot chick.”

“She’s unattractive?”

“No. I mean, Ivy is great to look at. She’s got smooth, pale skin and dark hair. She wears these jumpsuits that fit her in all the right places, showing off everything but not giving too much away.”

“Like I said, the super-hot chicks always mess with you the worst. They make your fur stand on end and your skin itch.”

Karn shrugged and nodded. “Yeah, I guess you’re right. That super-hot chick is the reason I’m here.”

“The best ones are the females who get you in the most trouble.”

“Ivy is intriguing.” Intriguing enough to be Karn’s perfect match?

“You should ask her out.”

Karn blew out a breath. “We’ve been out before. Ivy’s intriguing but trouble. I don’t need that in my life.”

“I bet when she relaxes, she can be fun.”

Karn grunted. He’d had the same thought. Beneath Ivy’s spiky veneer, there was someone he’d love to get to know better. Not just in the way they had in the office with all the hot kissing and touching. He wanted to know everything about her and figure out what made her tick.

“I still think you should ask her out. Any female who lingers in your mind for this long has got something special about her. She’s all we’ve talked about.”

“That’s not true.”

“Why am I here?”

Karn glanced at the messy fur of the Mehab. “You’re drunk.”

Strande chuckled. “Sober enough to see something you can’t. We’ve been here more than twelve hours. This Ivy is the only topic of conversation we’ve focused on. If I were you, I’d ask her out. If nothing else, it will get her out of your system. If she’s as much trouble as you think she is, you’ll soon know it. Then you can move on to a tamer target. Someone who doesn’t challenge the balls off you. How are your fellas doing, anyway? Have you got any feeling back in them yet?”

Karn carefully adjusted himself. He might have mentioned Ivy’s impressive knee to groin contact a couple of times. “I’m still a little tender. I should forget about her. She set me up. Ivy used her cunning to distract me.”

“You’ve told me that. She kissed the life out of you and played you at your own game. It’s better than shooting you in the belly and leaving you for dead. She did a good thing only having you arrested. At least this way, you get out of here once your charges have been processed.”

“There shouldn’t be any charges. I did nothing wrong.”

Strande smirked. “Whatever you say.”

The locks on the cell door clicked open. It slid back to reveal a new cellmate, a drunk looking, wobbly human male.

The human looked around the cell and drunkenly saluted Karn.

Karn shook his head and looked at the cyborg guard. “I ordered a single occupancy room. You should check my reservation.”

The cyborg ignored him as it entered with the prisoner. It unlocked the human’s restraints and stepped back into the corridor.

“Hey, metal head. When am I getting out of here?” Strande asked.

The cyborg’s sensor glowed red. That was never a good sign. “Within the next twelve hours.”

“What about me?” Karn asked. “I’m waiting to hear when my charges will be dropped. In fact, what I’m even been charged with.”

The cyborg’s sensor glowed again. “As yet undetermined.”

“The charges or when I’m getting out?”

The cyborg ignored him.

Karn slumped against the wall. He watched as the cell door slid shut and locked. He turned his attention to their new cellmate. The guy sported dark stubble, and his shoulder-length hair looked like it had had a lot of attention to look that artfully messy.

The human caught Karn studying him. He grinned. “This is quite some place.”

“Is this your first time in a holding cell?” Karn asked.

“First time in this kind of holding cell.” The guy stuck his hand out. “Marcus Devine.”

Karn raised an eyebrow as he shook his hand. “Karn. That’s Strande in the corner.”

Marcus nodded a greeting at Strande before his gaze ran over Karn, a spark of interest in his green eyes. “I’m still getting used to all the different aliens. You’re a Sachrin?”

Karn snorted in disgust. “Guess again. I don’t have tentacles.”

Marcus shrugged. “It’s hard to tell what’s hidden under clothes these days. I was chatting up a gorgeous woman in the Enchanted Captain last night. The next thing I knew, I’m seeing a forked tongue poking out of her luscious lips.”

“I can think of worse things to see.”

Marcus settled himself on the bench and stretched out his long legs. “How long do they normally keep people in here?”

“It depends on what you’ve done. Our furry friend in the corner had a few too many. He should be out today. Is that why you’re in here?”

“No, although I’ve definitely had a few too many. What about you?” Marcus asked.

“As yet unknown. They’ve made a mistake putting me in here. They’ll figure it out soon enough.”

Strande snorted a laugh. “I admire your conviction.”

“I’m innocent.”

Marcus cocked his head. “Really?”

“Karn broke into an office and messed with the computer system. He’s in a lot of trouble.”

“Breaking and entering.” Marcus nodded as if impressed by this crime.

“Like I said, I’m innocent. It’s all a misunderstanding.”

“I spent time inside for that when I was younger,” Marcus said. “Breaking into places is for idiots. You need to aim higher.”

Karn’s top lip curled. “Is that why you’re in here. You aimed too high?”

“I always aim high. Nothing but the best for me.” Marcus flipped the collar of his jacket.

“What did you do?” Strande asked.

“I brought something on to the station I wasn’t supposed to. It’s no big deal.”

“You’re new here?” Karn asked.

“Yep. First time in space.”

“Are you planning on sticking around for long?” Karn hoped he wouldn’t see this guy’s smug face around too much.

“I could be. I’m hoping the trip will be worth it.”

“Living in space takes getting used to,” Strande said. “It’s not for everyone. Humans have yet to get their space legs. There’s not a day goes passed when you don’t see some poor little human puking because life in the stars doesn’t agree with them.”

“It can’t be any worse than Earth,” Marcus said. “You need to be as tough as nails to survive down there. I should know.”

“Is that why you’re here?” Karn asked.

Marcus’s eyes narrowed. “It could be. What about you? What’s your story? What brings whatever you are to the station?”

“I’m a freelance contractor. I go where the work is.”

“You mean, you’re unemployed?”

Strande laughed. “Nice one.”

Karn glowered at Marcus. This guy grated on his nerves. “I’m in intelligence. I work for individuals who need information gathered.”

“A researcher? That sounds dull,” Marcus said.

Karn cracked his knuckles. “It has its moments.” He shifted away from Marcus before the overwhelming urge to punch him in the head took over.

“You’d better be careful,” Strande cautioned. “Forkas can be mean.”

“Oh, that’s what you are.” Marcus nodded. “I thought you guys were supposed to be terrifying. What is it they call you—vampires of the stars? I was expecting fangs and glowing eyes, shit like that. You look like an average alien to me.”

Karn ignored Marcus. “I’ve been thinking you’re right,” he said to Strande.

“About what?”

“About my problem. I need to tackle it head on. Get this female out of my system before she does any damage.”

“Not all women do damage,” Strande said. “I was involved with a great female for years. She was so sweet. She used to cook me incredible meals, and she made bread to die for. I’d take it with me to work. Every time I stopped to eat, it made me think of her and the effort she’d put into it. She was sort of amazing.”

“What happened to her?” Karn asked.

Strande’s eyes closed. “The usual. The war got her. Our planet is rich in Galganite energy seams. We were a regular target for bombing. My girl was out one day, minding her own business. Bam. It was a direct hit. She didn’t stand a chance. There was no trace of her left.”

“Bad luck,” Marcus said. “At least it left you free to find somebody else. I get bored if I’m with one woman for too long.”

Strande and Karn glared at him.

“She sounded like a decent mate,” Karn said to Strande. “I don’t think I’ll ever get Ivy baking for me.”

“You never know. If you’re the right alien for her, you might.”

“Did you say Ivy?” Marcus asked.

Karn glowered at him. “What if I did?”

“You’re not talking about Ivy Blain?”

“You know her?”

“Know her! Of course I know her. She’s the reason I’m here.”

Karn turned his full attention to Marcus. He studied him more carefully. His clothes were designer, his aftershave stank of money, and his attitude was entitled. “How do you know Ivy?”

“She’s my girl.”

Karn’s eyebrows rose. “You and Ivy are together?”

“Well, we used to be,” Marcus said. “We had a misunderstanding, and she left me. The next thing I hear, she’s heading off into space to do PR for some alien dating agency.”

“That’s right. Ivy does a damn fine job at My Single Alien.”

“Is she still single?” Marcus asked. “Not that it matters. She’ll ditch whatever loser she’s with as soon as she knows I’m here.”

Karn repressed a snarl. “I believe so. You want to win Ivy back?”

“Absolutely. I plan on marrying her.”