Rhea had two choices: nut up and leave Erudan’s room or accept her lack of brass ovaries and stay put. Honestly, acceptance was winning at the moment.

Mainly because she wasn’t sure how to act around Erudan anymore. After his reaction to Corr and the events of last night…

Erudan had snapped and snarled and fought—for her. Even more, he’d called her his mate.

He had used that word, hadn’t he? She hadn’t imagined or dreamed it. At least she didn’t think so. Even Corr had heard—and acknowledged—Erudan’s claim.

Which left her with a question she still hadn’t answered. Had he changed his mind about her? Or had it been hot running emotions snatching his control for a moment?

No way to discover the truth other than leaving her hideout. Crossing her fingers, she gathered her courage and left the room. She padded over the cool, smooth wood, following the delicious scents of cooking food. The promise of food and the rumble of male voices drew her toward the kitchen. The closer she moved, the hungrier she became until her stomach gurgled and grumbled. Whatever they were cooking smelled amazing. She might not be able to identify everything, but that didn’t stop her cravings.

The noise coming from her ravenous stomach almost made her miss the topic of the males’ conversation. Which, in between the grumbles from her stomach, she discovered happened to be her.

“You said mate.” That was Corr. “You bashed in my head, but not enough to affect my hearing.”

Erudan grunted and Rhea rolled her eyes. Men. Males. She crept closer, careful to remain silent while she approached. She was as interested in the topic as Corr.

Unfortunately, the two males fell silent. She stayed put a little longer, waiting, waiting, waiting for them to get off their asses and talk about the big M word some more. Except the jerks didn’t. Ugh.

Rhea sighed and stepped forward once more. If they weren’t going to give her some good eavesdropping action, she wasn’t going to stand around being hungry.

She managed one step before Corr spoke again and Rhea jolted to a stop.

“You should keep her.” Corr’s tone was light, his words mumbled as though he spoke around bites of the delicious-smelling food. “Have you placed your hands on her? She is a curvy little thing. I wager if you touch her body, you will rethink this decision.”

A loud, reverberating clang followed Corr’s words. As if someone slammed a pot onto the counter. Rhea nibbled her lip and tried to picture the two males in the kitchen. Based on the pitch and volume of the voices, she mentally placed Corr at the table. Which meant Erudan was probably the one banging pots and pans.

Because he was cleaning up? Or because he had been responsible for cooking?

Her heart went all mushy and sweet at the thought of him cooking for her. Well, she allowed herself to be mushy for a second at least. Then she reminded herself that her heart had nothing to do with this situation. It was too wounded by Erudan’s rejection to know what was best at the moment.

Everything with Erudan—if there was anything—had to remain strictly physical with no hint of heart-based emotions in sight. She’d already let her heart get out of control on the way to Vialea. It was why she’d hopped off the Celestial Goruza with so much hope only to have it stomped into oblivion.

Something else slammed. A cabinet door? A chuckle immediately followed, Corr’s tenor unmistakable. She strained to hear Erudan’s response. If he decided to use his words like a grown male, she didn’t want to miss a single one.

Finally, big, sexy, and maybe-hers, snarled. “You will not speak of her thus.”

“Thus?” Corr hummed. “How do you mean? I am merely using my mouth to assign physical descriptors— “

“You will not use your mouth nor your descriptors. You will use nothing on her. Not even your mind. Especially not your imagination.”

A smile tugged at her lips. For all his denials, Erudan sounded distinctly possessive. Warmth fluttered in her belly. It was nice to feel wanted—desired—after he’d rejected her so many times in the few hours since they’d met.

Corr didn’t even try to hide his laughter, the male’s booming chuckles echoing in the dwelling. When they finally fell away, he sobered and spoke to Erudan. “I am only giving you a hard time. Of course, the female is yours. No male could look at you without seeing the truth.”

Erudan released a harsh breath. “I am an unworthy male.”

Corr snorted. “That. When will you release the past? Your every action over the last year has proven your honor. None can question your dedication to Vialea.”

“Enough. We will cease speaking of this.”

Another snort from Corr. “As you command. I will say this—if you truly do not want the female, I am happy to assume responsibility for her.”

The purr in the alien’s voice told her that at least one of the males found her attractive. Too bad it wasn’t the male she wanted. The male she’d traveled six galaxies to meet and mate.

Something shattered in a tinkling of what sounded like glass and Erudan snarled.

Rhea winced. Things didn’t seem to be so cut and dry.

The atmosphere in the dwelling shifted and changed. It swirled in a dark cloud, filling the air with restrained violence. She could practically feel Erudan’s growing anger. Okay, if she didn’t want to cause another fight between friends, she needed to give up on eavesdropping and get between the big guys.

Besides, all of the good bits of conversation seemed to be over with and she was starving.

Rhea quietly slipped back the way she’d come and returned to Erudan’s bedroom, not stopping until she stood beside the bed. She lifted her arms above her head, fingers twined and stretched side to side. She grunted and groaned, increasing her volume so the guys in the kitchen could hear her. She finished her stretch and then picked up a little tune, humming as she moved to the doorway. She practically stomped across the space, making sure the two males heard her coming.

By the time she turned the last corner, both men were silent, their gazes trained on the archway that led to the kitchen.

Their silent stare seemed to go on forever, two sets of eyes caressing her, but she kept her attention trained on the only male she cared about—Erudan. It was nice to be appreciated by Corr, but the dark haired Vian captured her wholly.

She ran her hands down her clothing, the fabric wrinkled and still carrying the smell of Ikkim. She’d been forced to wear the previous day’s clothing and once more she wished she hadn’t lost her cases to that scary as hell alien.

Two sets of male eyes roved over her and she was suddenly glad she hadn’t tried to make do with Erudan’s tunic. While she wouldn’t have minded a chance to tempt him, she didn’t want to be Corr’s eye candy.

The two males remained quiet for one moment and then another and neither gave her an even half-hearted greeting.

Males.

She sighed and took matters into her own hands. “Good morning. Something smells amazing. Is there enough for me?” She glanced around the kitchen and spied a serving platter with what appeared to be eggs and sausages. Well, the Vian version of them anyway.

Without mumbling a word, Erudan turned and silently filled a plate—one she assumed was for her. Then he went to a chair at the far end of the table and placed the meal on the wooden surface. The massive male pulled out a chair and gestured to the seat. Her attention bounced between Erudan’s stoic face and the seat he’d selected.

The seat farthest from Corr.

Distance didn’t stop Corr from flirting though. The moment Rhea slid onto the chair, Corr gave her a wink. “It was a good morning. It is better now with your presence.”

Rhea flushed, face heating with the compliment. The only reason she wasn’t squirming beneath his gaze was because Corr’s attention wasn’t on her as he spoke. Instead, Corr was looking right at Erudan, who hadn’t moved from his spot behind her. Nor had he released the tight grip on her chair. The wood groaned beneath his hold.

Okay then, a stare off pissing contest it was!

Ignoring the two, she reached for her fork, and her chair made another long, drawn out creak. She froze and slowly placed her hands on the table as she shifted her weight forward. Just in case the chair shattered beneath her.

But Erudan wouldn’t really wreck his furniture in a fit of jealousy, would he? A thrill danced down her spine and a tendril of anticipation gathered between her thighs as she contemplated the idea. Was he so possessive that he’d—

Rhea’s thoughts shut down the moment Erudan released the chair and backed away.

Erudan’s voice was hardly more than an animalistic growl when he spoke. “Have you forgotten your patrol? You will be late.”

Corr flicked his attention to a clock and sighed. He rolled his shoulders and then pushed away from the table before taking his plate to the sink. “You have stolen all of my fun.” Corr glanced at her, flashing a smirk that gave way to a sensual heat. “Perhaps I will see you again tonight. I promise you will not need a knife.”

Erudan growled. “Go!”

Laughing, Corr moved through the dwelling before finally disappearing out the front door.

And Rhea had no desire to follow the hot hunk of alien male. He was every bit as sexy as Erudan and no doubt his body was just as alluring as her maybe-mate, but she wasn’t driven to be near Corr. Not the way her body pushed her to crawl up Erudan’s body and cling to him like an under-sexed monkey.

“You.” Erudan dropped utensils beside her plate. “Eat quickly. We have much to accomplish.”

Rhea quirked an eyebrow and slowly turned in her seat to glare at Erudan. Except he now stood as far from her as possible while remaining in the kitchen. Arms folded across his chest, she couldn’t help but admire the swell of his biceps. Her fingers twitched with the desire to test their firmness and she almost dropped her fork. Cheeks flushing once more, she stabbed a hunk of eggs and popped them in her mouth. She chewed and swallowed and then looked at him once again. Now his frowning gaze was fixed on her lips.

Eyes not straying from him, she slowly licked her lips. Erudan didn’t make a sound, but his arms bulged as though he had to flex them to keep himself from reaching for her.

Hmmm.

“So,” she cut into a piece of what she hoped was some kind of sausage. “What are all these things we so urgently have to do today? I mean,” she stabbed a hunk of meat. “I mean, besides mating.”

Erudan swallowed, his Adam’s apple sliding along his throat as he clenched his jaw. He tilted his head back, lips moving silently in what might have been a slow count to ten or a desperate plea for divine intervention. She’d heard him mumbling about the two deities on Vialea—Vi and Alea.

When he finally lowered his attention to her, resolve filling his expression, her stomach sank. She placed her fork on the table and stared at him—waiting.

And he didn’t leave her hanging for long. But he also didn’t keep his attention on her. He turned and filled his own plate, as if he needed some sort of distraction.

“You stated your belongings were stolen. You have no clothing so acquiring new items is our first objective.”

“And the second?” She fought to keep emotion out of her voice.

“I will take you to the nearest Celestial Mates office. We will demand the refund of your fee, contact your people, and secure passage on the next ship to Earth.”

Rhea’s stomach dropped to her feet, heartbeat stuttering with his words. She shouldn’t take them personally, but… Her hopes for the future, the anticipation of being out from under the Department of Population, shattered with his words.

“Erudan.” She drew his name out and fought to keep the strangling thickness out of her voice. Which totally didn’t work. “Is there something wrong with me? Is that why you’re trying to get rid of me as quickly as you can?”

She internally cringed, regretting the words the moment they left her mouth. Could she be any more pathetic? Probably not.

A growl escaped her mouth while her frustration—with him and herself—broke free. She shook her head. “You know what, don’t answer that. It doesn’t matter.”

“Rhea— “

“No.” She held up her hand to ward him off. “Pretend you didn’t hear that.”

He turned to face her, his eyebrows furrowed and confusion overtaking her features. “But— “

She still wasn’t going to listen to him. Not while she balanced on the edge of tears over his rejection. She forced the brightest smile she could muster. “Back on topic. I would love new clothes and I’ll reimburse you as soon as I can. As for the other errands, it won’t take as long as you think. I don’t need a refund or passage back to Earth. Vialea is my home now.”

At least until her past caught up with her.

He spoke again. “Rhea— “

She cut him off once more. “No matter what you say, no matter what you find wrong with me, we’re mates. Celestial Mates matched us and they’re nev—”

“Rhea!” Erudan took two giant steps and placed his hand over her mouth. His chest heaved as he stared down at her. “There’s nothing wrong with you. What is wrong is the contract. I never applied for a mate. I began my application, but my circumstances changed. I do not know how we were paired, but I do not want a mate. I do not…”

Pain overtook the frustration in his expression and he withdrew his hand. “I do not deserve you.”

“What?” She leaned forward, straining to hear those last words.

He waved her off and answered her with a question of his own. “Why are you so intent on pursuing this? Why are you so determined to remain with a male who—” He cut himself off with a curse.

“Say it,” she whispered. “Finish what you were saying. Why do I want to stay with a male who doesn’t want me?”

Yeah, she was asking herself the same question right now.