Slipping off her high-heeled pumps, Jenna Fermont collapsed into her favorite armchair with a loud sigh.

“One of those days?” her mother, Lenore, asked with an understanding smile.

“You have no idea.” Jenna paused to rub the arches of her aching feet. As chairperson for the First Contact Committee, much of her time was spent behind a desk or seated at a conference table. Today, however, had been particularly hectic. The committee facilitated the ever-growing challenges created by human interaction with alien races. It was empowered by the U.S. government, though no one beyond the State Department, and select members of the military, knew the committee existed. “I’ve suspected this was coming for weeks and thought I was prepared for it, but when they told me he was going to represent the battle born, I just sort of lost it.”

“Wait.” Her mother held up one slender hand with a patient laugh. “What are you talking about? You knew what was coming, and who made you lose it?”

Jenna lowered her foot to the floor and glanced around the room, drawing comfort from the familiar setting. Lenore had decorated the cozy salon in the front of their Upper Westside home without the help of her design team, so it more accurately reflected her laidback personality. Jenna loved the understated elegance and uncluttered tranquility because it reminded her of her mother, so Jenna often came here to unwind.

“The L.A. massacre motivated both sides to negotiate a formal alliance,” Jenna began, drawing her gaze back to her mother’s pleasant face. Unlike so many of her peers, Lenore had allowed herself to age naturally, claiming she’d earned every line and gray hair. Now in her late fifties, she was still beautiful in her own way. “The battle born must have access to human females if they want to awaken their latent magic, and we want access to their technology. Which means an alliance must be formalized and I’ve been chosen to represent the U.S. in the negotiations.” This was the sort of situation for which the First Contact Committee had been formed, so why was she dreading the assignment?

Lenore nodded, but her amber eyes filled with questions. “Do you consider an alliance good or bad for humans?”

“It’s not as simple as good and bad. Life seldom is.” In fact, this wasn’t even the first time the U.S. government had formed an alliance with an alien race. Tempted by advance technology, Jenna’s superiors had allied themselves with a race called the Evonti. They were secretive and often inaccessible, but humankind had learned much from the sporadic interactions.

“What do we stand to gain, this time?” The subtle derision in Lenore’s tone made her position clear.

“Forming an alliance with the battle born could prevent another tragedy like the one in L.A., but it could also open the door to all sorts of corruption. I have to make sure that doesn’t happen.” A spaceship, provided by the Evonti but piloted by humans, had crashed into the heart of L.A. five weeks ago while attempting to drive off one of the battle born warships. Several hundred thousand people were killed. The entire country was still reeling from the senseless loss and it didn’t seem to matter that the spaceship actually belonged to the U.S. military, not the battle born. Ripples of suspicion and anger spread across the country like wildfire, making everyone hostile and discontent.

“L.A. wasn’t their fault.” Lenore sounded hostile, even as she defended them. The dichotomy didn’t surprise Jenna. Her mother had damn good reasons for hating Rodytes, the species to which the battle born belonged. “The tribunal proved that Solar Warden was to blame not the battle born.”

Jenna just nodded. The reminder wasn’t necessary. Jenna had participated in the tribunal, representing humans, or at least humans residing on U.S. soil. She’d known she’d lose the case before the tribunal began, because the entire thing had been for show. Her superiors negotiated the outcome with the battle born and both sides agreed to play their part. Well, to be honest, her superiors had demanded the tribunal in exchange for allowing the truth to come out and exonerating the battle born commander who had been blamed for the tragedy. The battle born reluctantly agreed to the farce, and the leaders of Solar Warden were punished severely for their unauthorized actions.

Solar Warden. Jenna had always been conflicted about the program. They’d been Earth’s only defense against technologically advanced threats like the battle born, but a lack of accountability led to corruption and mismanagement. Now the covert project had been exposed and their leadership dismantled, leaving Earth powerless and at the mercy of aliens.

Jenna heaved another sigh. She’d honestly hoped the tribunal would put an end to the conflict, not be used as a pivot point. But rather than demanding that the battle born leave Earth-space and never return, her supervisors offered to reopen negotiations. Hadn’t they learned anything from their interaction with the Evonti? Aliens could not be trusted!

Lenore crossed the room and sat down across from Jenna. They both had amber-colored eyes and long sooty lashes. But Lenore was blonde, while Jenna’s hair was deep auburn like her father’s. Or so her mother told her. Jenna had never met her father, and Lenore didn’t even have a snapshot of the man who had so dramatically changed her life.

“The battle born can’t leave unless they’re willing to abandon the possibility of releasing their magic, and that’s never going to happen.” Lenore continued when Jenna remained sullen and silent. “No one with that sort of potential is just going to walk away. Or fly away, in this case.”

“I’m well aware of their motivation,” Jenna finally responded. “What I don’t understand is why the human race should help them. We’d risk much more than we’d gain. The battle born are dangerous.”

Lenore’s brow creased as she slowly shook her head. “Even I understand the rebellion. They’re fighting for the sorts of freedoms we take for granted.”

Jenna pushed to her feet and gingerly walked to the window, skirting the baby grand piano as she went. Her feet felt better without her four-inch heels, but each step still sent dull pulses of pain up her legs. What she needed most was a nice long bath. The window overlooked the tree-lined street in front of their brownstone. Afternoon light had been overtaken by twilight’s shadows. A middle-aged woman strolled by, chatting on a cell phone. It was a typical spring evening in New York City. “The battle born are Rodyte. Need I say more?”

After a silent pause, her mother spoke in a soft, tense voice. “Hating an entire race for the actions of a few is horribly unfair.” She couldn’t see her mother’s disapproving look, but she could hear it in her voice. “I understand your resentment better than anyone. But if you can’t see beyond the past, bow out of the negotiations.”

Unable to conceal her annoyance, Jenna turned around and leaned against the window sill. “I know giving advice is a mother’s job, but I’m not in the mood for a lecture.”

“I’m serious.” Lenore stood and crossed the room, facing off with her semi-hostile daughter. “If what happened with your father is going to keep you from being objective, you need to bow out now.”

“The past has made me less susceptible to their appeal and cautious about their motives. That will only ensure that humans are well represented in the agreement. I won’t sabotage the negotiations. I’m a professional.”

Lenore searched Jenna’s gaze for a moment, clearly unconvinced by her assurance. “It’s obvious I’m not going to change your mind, so tell me about your opponent.” Lenore pulled the piano bench out and sat, patiently waiting for Jenna’s answer.

“His name is Drexel Kaen. He represented the battle born during the tribunal. His litigation style is different from mine, but he’s good. No, he’s very good.”

A knowing smile spread across her mother’s face and her amber eyes began to shimmer. “Describe him for me.”

“My aversion to the man has nothing to do with his looks. All the Rodytes are deceptively handsome. You know that. They’re also arrogant and barbaric. I’m not even sure some of them are house broken.”

Lenore chuckled, not bothering to hide her amusement. “I thought Drexel Kaen was a lawyer. I don’t know too many ‘barbaric’ attorneys. Ruthless, yes, but they tend to be quite civilized.”

“Drexel might wear a custom suit and speak eloquently, but he’s a caveman just like the rest of them. You should have seen the way he looked at me during the tribunal. He’d be thrown out of a courtroom on Earth for being so rude and inappropriate.”

Lenore’s smile vanished and her gaze grew serious. “Rodytes don’t hesitate when it comes to females. If a Rodyte male finds a female he wants, he makes damn sure she knows he’s interested.”

“Well, I’m in no way interested in becoming the chattel of some barbaric alien. So Drexel Kaen will just have to deal with disappointment.”

Catching Jenna’s hand, Lenore looked worried. “You cannot turn this into a competition. Rodyte males will never back down from a challenge. If Drexel makes his desire obvious again, you must avoid him. Do not encourage him in any way.”

Jenna slipped her hand out of her mother’s light grasp and turned back to the window. “Easier said than done when my supervisors keep throwing me into his path.”

“Has he touched you?” Lenore stood and moved to Jenna’s side. “I know you don’t like him, but are you physically attracted to him?”

“No and no. He’s an arrogant jerk. I want nothing to do with him.”

For a long, tense moment, Lenore stared at Jenna, her gaze sharp and assessing. “Be very careful. Some females react this way to genetically compatible males.”

“What are you talking about?” Her mother’s unique past had exposed Jenna to information unavailable to most humans. At least until recently. Now everyone knew about Rodytes and their determination to loose their latent magic.

“I’ve told you about ‘the pull’, Rodyte bonding fever.” Jenna only nodded, so Lenore continued, “Some couples are driven wild with the need for sex, while others become combative. A female will sometimes challenge her potential mate, demand he prove that he is strong enough to protect her.”

“That’s fascinating.” Sarcasm dripped off every syllable. “What does it have to do with me?”

“Your instantaneous dislike of a male you barely know could be the result of genetic compatibility.”

Jenna rolled her eyes, then looked out the window again. “I don’t need to know Drexel personally. I know his type. And even if we are genetically compatible, it’s irrelevant. I will never tie myself to a Rodyte.”

“Never is a very long time,” her mother cautioned, then squeezed Jenna’s hand. “Please consider bowing out of the negotiations. The less interaction we have with Rodytes, the better.”

* * * * *

The following night, Drexel Kaen shifted his weight from one foot to the other as he looked out across the crowded ballroom. He was on the third floor of some glitzy hotel, in the heart of Manhattan. Everyone was dressed up and smiling, even if many of those smiles didn’t reach calculative eyes. He’d never been fond of parties and this one was more annoying than most. He’d visited Earth many times before, but this was his first trip to New York City. The huge metropolis felt cluttered and chaotic after the regimented order of battle born spaceships. The party was meant to “break the ice” between the battle born and human participants. Did anyone really believe that sharing drinks and casual conversation would minimize the obstacles impeding a battle born/human alliance? How naive.

“You look irritated,” General Sedrik Lux noted as he stepped up beside Drex. The general was turned out in military finery, though his black-and-gold dress uniform didn’t fully disguise the lethalness of the warrior beneath. “Did someone spit in your drink, or are you just not in the mood for a party?”

Pausing for a sip of g’haut, Drex let the fiery liquor burn through him before responding. “Cocktail parties have never appealed to me, and this one feels particularly hypocritical.”

Sedrik flashed a fleeting smile. “You’d rather get right to work?”

“These negotiations are important and this is a waste of time.” He motioned around them with his drink, unwilling to soften his attitude, even for General Lux.

“Have you spoken to her since the tribunal?”

“Who?”

Sedrik shot him an irritated look. “Don’t play stupid with me. I know better.”

“I haven’t spoken to Doctor Fermont, but I’ve found out as much as I could about her.” Far more than he needed to know, if truth be told. “Facts were surprisingly difficult to uncover, which indicates friends in high places. Keeping one’s personal life off the internet is becoming harder and harder for humans.”

“She’s a former Solicitor General at the Department of Justice,” Sedrik pointed out. “Of course she has friends in high places.”

Drex scanned the room until he spotted the subject of their discussion. Jenna Fermont. His counterpart, temporary rival, and current obsession. Ever since the tribunal, the mysterious human hadn’t left his thoughts. Her shiny auburn hair was swept up and away from her face, exposing the elegant line of her neck. Her eyes were so light a brown that they appeared golden, or amber, even at this distance. Her sleeveless dress skimmed over her curves in a shimmer of black and gold. Was the choice paying homage to battle born uniforms? They featured the same colors. Unlikely. A small purse, also black and gold, rested against the distinct curve of her hip, supported by a chain that hooked over one shoulder. She laughed at something her companion said, drawing Drex’s attention back to her lovely face. He focused on her lush red lips. He’d spent endless hours imagining how those lips would feel beneath his, or in other not nearly as polite places on his body.

The tribunal had only lasted a few days, but they’d spent the entire time together. He’d been impressed by her intellect and ambition. She was highly educated and extremely well accomplished for someone so young. But it was her tantalizing scent that he couldn’t forget. It called to him, stirred feelings and urges he’d never experienced before.

“Are you compatible?” Sedrik’s unexpected question snapped Drex’s attention back to the general. How had Sedrik known genetic compatibility was even an issue? Drex had told no one. “You snagged her water bottle after the tribunal. Security saw you do it and brought it to my attention. Did you test her DNA?”

Drex smiled, impressed, not for the first time, by his new friend. Nothing took place on the Triumphant without General Lux finding out about it, and that was saying a lot. The ship was an enormous movable base that could rival many human cities. “We’re a ninety-eight percent match,” Drex admitted, “but I haven’t decided what I want to do about it. I’m nearly certain she will not welcome a courtship.”

“Most human females are intimidated by the idea of mating for life. Human relationships are seldom permanent.” When Drex just nodded, Sedrik went on. “You should have secured her permission before you tested her DNA. I must insist that she be told now.”

Perfect. That would abolish any hope Drex had of courting her. Once she learned that he had collected her DNA and run tests on it without her permission, she would never speak to him again. He’d known he was breaking protocol when he’d done it. He just didn’t realize General Lux would find out. “I’ll tell her.”

“Tell her tonight,” Sedrik suggested. “She’s less likely to make a scene in the middle of a reception in our honor.”

It was a sound strategy. Still, Drex hesitated. The Rodyte obsession with genetic engineering had resulted in numerous anomalies, some desirable like the ultra-psychic harbingers; some dangerous, like the need for genetically compatible mates. With each generation compatible mates became harder and harder to find. Could Drex really ignore this opportunity? If he didn’t at least attempt to draw Jenna’s attention, this chance might never come again.

He handed his empty glass to a passing waiter and wended his way through the crowd. The man Jenna had been speaking with drifted away, leaving her alone, momentarily. She clearly knew most, if not all, of the humans present, so she wouldn’t be alone for long.

Snatching two champagne glasses off the beverage table, he made his way to Jenna’s side. “So we meet again.” He held out one of the glasses with a lazy smile.

She took the glass, but didn’t raise it to her lips. “Are you enjoying the party?” A ripple of sarcasm hinted at her suspicion that he was not.

The reaction made him curious enough to open his empathic receptors, a risky move in a crowd this large. He could be overwhelmed by emotion in a matter of seconds if his control slipped even a fraction. Meticulously focusing on his lovely companion, he waited for her emotions to trickle into his mind. Nothing happened. “It’s a cocktail party like any other. I find them all rather dull.” He expanded the opening in his mental shields until external emotions reached his mind, but it was impossible to tell their source. Reluctantly, he reinforced his shields and studied her face instead. He’d been trained to read body language and micro-expressions by the best operatives on Rodymia, and still her delicate features gave nothing away.

“The champagne helps.” She took a sip and casually averted her gaze, as if something in the crowd had caught her attention.

“Are you prepared for tomorrow?” He hated small talk, generally avoided the practice whenever possible. Confessing his wrongdoing without any sort of segue, however, seemed foolish.

“As prepared as I can be.” She paused for another sip of champagne, then brought her unique gaze back to his face. “If you’re willing to outline your side’s demands, I can work out a more complete response.”

He chuckled and took a sip of the bubbly wine. He much preferred g’haut or even Bilarrian blood wine, but this seemed more polite. “I tell you what. If you promise not to react negatively to what I’m about to tell you, I’ll tip my hand.”

She stilled, her head tilting just a bit as she assessed him. Light caught in her auburn hair, making the sleek mass appear more red than brown. “I’m intrigued. We barely know each other. What could you possibly tell me that would upset me badly enough for you to offer this barter?”

“You’ll have to accept the deal to find out.”

After a short pause, she shrugged. “How far are you willing to tip your hand? Top three concerns? Top five?”

Ever the negotiator. He should have expected this. “I’ll explain our top two concerns. I suspect my revelation will be more of an annoyance than a bomb.” If only that were true.

“Fair enough. Annoy me.”

He stepped closer, meaning to ensure no one else heard his confession. But her scent reached his nose and desire cascaded through his body. He quickly set his champagne glass aside, fearing he’d snap the delicate stem. The need to sweep her into his arms and kiss her senseless was nearly overwhelming. And yet, she clearly didn’t feel the same.

“Are you all right?” She moved back, regaining the space between them. “You look, I don’t know, pained.”

“I’ve spent most of my life in space. I’m still breaking in my land legs.” It was a pathetic excuse, but he could think of nothing more convincing. A moment passed as he processed her scent, gradually regaining control of his composure.

“Better now?” She actually sounded concerned and curiosity lit her amber gaze rather than disdain.

“Yes. I apologize for the interruption.”

When he didn’t say more, she prompted, “You were going to annoy me.”

He quickly sucked in a breath. There was no easy way to introduce this topic, so he just began. “How much do you know about Rodyte physiology?”

Her brow furrowed and she set her glass down as well. “I know more than most humans, but I’m certainly no expert.”

“If a Rodyte wishes to reproduce, he or she must find a genetically compatible partner, not just one who appeals to them.”

“I’m aware.” Tension threaded through her voice and suspicion slowly narrowed her gaze.

“During the tribunal, I sensed certain indications that you and I might be compatible.”

Her tension turned to hostility in an instant. “I’ll make this perfectly clear, Councilor Kaen. I am not interested in mating with a Rodyte, or anyone else for that matter. I don’t have time, nor the desire, for a serious relationship.”

His shoulders squared and he raised his chin. He was successful and honorable, a fit mate for any female. He’d expected confusion, even a bit of resistance, but her utter dismissal stabbed at his pride. “I suspected as much, but there’s one more thing you need to know.”

“I’m already annoyed,” she warned. “Are you sure the rest needs to be said?”

“Unfortunately.” Refusing to flinch from her anger, he looked into her eyes. “I obtained and tested your DNA to confirm my suspicions. I should have—”

“You did what? How did you ‘obtain’ my DNA?” Her voice rose half an octave and grew louder with each word.

Heads were turning their way and he really didn’t want to create a scene. “Could you please keep your voice down?”

She grabbed his arm and dragged him across the room, exiting through a side door. The corridor was bare, utilitarian, clearly meant for staff not guests. “How’d you get my DNA?” Though still tight and angry, her voice remained at a conversational volume.

“Your water bottle. You left it on the table after the tribunal.”

She shoved her purse aside and planted her hands on her hips, glaring at him. “I don’t know how things are done in space, but humans don’t conduct medical procedures without the subject’s permission.”

Obviously, she was angry, but he needed to understand the other, more complex, emotions he saw in her eyes. Scanning her mind would have been another invasion, but analyzing the emotions she was broadcasting was far less invasive. Carefully weakening his mental shields, he activated his empathic receptors and waited for her emotions to flood his mind. As before, nothing happened. In fact, there was an endless void where her emotions should have been. How strange.

Dismissing the anomaly with a mental shrug, he poured energy into his shields and focused entirely on defusing her anger. “It was wrong and I apologize.”

Her anger smoldered, her eyes still blazing with amber fire. He was no longer sure if she was going to erupt or relax.

After a long, tense pause, she lowered her arms and released her pent-up breath. “Who made you apologize? I don’t believe for a second that you regret invading my privacy.”

He didn’t, not really. She was his mate. He would risk anything and use every dirty trick he knew if it meant she would agree to bond with him. Nothing was more important, nothing more urgent. But how had she known? His apology had sounded genuine, his explanation honest. Why would she accuse him of insincerity?

The need to scan her mind and find out her motivation tempted him again. But she was already angry because he’d invaded her privacy. Only a fool intentionally repeated a mistake and expected a different outcome. Rather than answer her question, he redirected her focus. “Why are you so opposed to the idea of bonding with a mate?”

“My life is challenging enough without those sorts of complications.” Her breasts rose and fell as she sighed, increasing his struggle to keep his gaze on her face. “It’s not personal.”

He slowly advanced, unable to keep his distance. “That might be true for you, but this is intensely personal for me. I don’t have the luxury of ignoring this possibility. I’ve searched many years for a genetically compatible female. You are the only one I’ve found.”

A wisp of auburn hair escaped to trail across her face. She quickly tucked it behind her ear, then swallowed. “I’m sorry your search has been unsuccessful, but it has nothing to do with me. If children are really that important to you, there is always adoption.”

Her easy dismissal of something so vital, unleashed his predatory instincts. She only shrugged away his interest because the pull hadn’t yet engaged in her. Once his taste spread through her mouth, her body would ache with need and her blood would sizzle through her veins, “pulling” her toward him. In ages past, any Rodyte male would have tossed her over his shoulder and escaped to some private location where they could fight this out in bed.

“This is about so much more than children.” Stalking toward her with obvious intent, he spoke in a low, almost menacing tone. “Once a Rodyte male has found his mate, she becomes the most important person in the universe. Protecting her, providing for her, and pleasuring her are all he can think about. Why should I ignore what every cell in my body is demanding?”

She backed up, fear flickering through her gaze. “If you touch me, I’ll scream.”

“You have nothing to fear from me.” But he kept right on coming, only stopping when her back pressed against the wall. He placed his hands on either side of her head, caging her with his big body. “Breathe in my scent, let it wash over and sink into you.”

“This is pointless.” She sounded a bit more assertive now, but her lips trembled. “I don’t feel what you’re feeling.”

“Not yet,” he whispered as he lowered his head. She jerked her face aside, so he kissed her cheek and jawline. “Kiss me, Jenna. See if my taste excites you.”

“No,” she said firmly. “I don’t want to be excited by anyone right now. I—”

He turned her head and cut off her words with his mouth. Her lips pressed together, unmoving and unresponsive. His instincts demanded that he open her mouth and stake his claim with the thrust of his tongue, but she’d likely bite him if he forced this on her. Besides, he wanted her wild and willing, not resentful and resigned.

“What are you so afraid of?” he whispered the words against her stubbornly closed mouth. “Nothing is more natural, more fulfilling, than touching and being touched by your mate.”

Her hands came up and shoved against his chest. “Back off. Now!”

“Kiss me once, and I’ll let you go.” He brushed his lips over hers, coaxing, teasing.

“No means no, asshole.” She brought her knee up hard, barely missing his crotch as he quickly turned away.

With an exasperated sigh, he pushed off the wall and motioned toward the door through which they’d escaped. “Enjoy the party.”

 

More than ready for the awkward confrontation to end, Jenna rushed back the way they’d come. But she didn’t linger in the crowded ballroom. She left the party through the main doors and took the nearest elevator up to the room she would occupy until the negotiations concluded. Her heart thudded wildly in her chest and she felt strangely hot. Scent alone wasn’t supposed to trigger the pull in females, which was why Drexel had been so determined to kiss her. Wanting Jenna to have all the information she needed to deal with her unwanted suitor, Lenore had explained Rodyte courtship in embarrassingly clear terms before Jenna left for the party. If Jenna allowed Drex to kiss her, it was likely her body would come alive with unwelcome needs and sensations. The next step would be scent marking, a possibility she refused to consider. Lusting after her adversary was the last thing she needed right now.

Not that Drexel Kaen wasn’t lust worthy. Physically, she could find no fault with him. He was ruggedly handsome yet sophisticated, unlike many of the brutish soldiers who surrounded him. Their hungry stares and bulging muscles made them look too Neanderthal for Jenna’s taste. Even as Drex urged her up against the wall, she knew she was in no real danger. He made his desires clear—as her mother warned that he would—but he’d backed off once she made it just as clear that she wasn’t ready to be seduced.

Wasn’t ready? Didn’t that indicate that her attitude might change at some time in the future?

She sighed and opened her purse, fishing around for her keycard. Then she slipped it into the slot and unlocked her door. Turning on the nearest lamp, she tossed her purse onto the neatly turned-down bed and slipped off her high-heeled sandals. The room wasn’t large, but it was luxurious, typical of Midtown hotels. She sat on the side of the bed and reached for the TV’s remote. She didn’t care what was on. She just couldn’t stand the silence.

If she was so opposed to any sort of relationship, why couldn’t she stop thinking about Drex? Even before their almost kiss, his image lingered in her mind. She’d spent the first hour of the party watching the doors, wondering when he’d arrive. Her mind might be set on ignoring him entirely, but her body had other ideas. She couldn’t help wondering what it would have felt like if she’d given in to the kiss, parted her lips and let him—No! She couldn’t think like that. Rodytes were users, amoral marauders who took what they wanted without conscience or regret. She would not succumb to hormones and magic compulsions. She was a modern woman, independent and self-assured. The last thing she needed, or wanted, was a domineering mate.

She heard the muffled buzz of her phone and fished it out of her purse. Her mother’s smiling image stared back at her, so she hesitated to answer the call. Did she really have the patience for more “I told you so” right now? Knowing her mother was one of the most persistent people in the world, Jenna activated the call.

She didn’t bother with a greeting. “Did you call to gloat?”

“Of course not,” her mother cried, sounding hurt by the accusation. “I called to make sure you’re all right.”

Switching the call to speaker, she took the pins out of her hair as they spoke. “He approached me, as you said he would. He was seductively persistent, as you said he would be. And he tried to kiss me, just as you predicted. Do they have a training manual for this sort of nonsense? It’s clearly well-orchestrated.”

“You said he ‘tried to’ kiss you?” Now Jenna heard fear, perhaps even panic, in her mother’s soft tone. “Does that mean he didn’t succeed?”

“Not this time, but I suspect he’ll be even more aggressive next time.”

“And there will be a next time, Jenna. Your genetics guarantees it.”

She picked up the phone and carried it into the bathroom, so she could comb out her hair and wash her face. “I might be able to use this to my advantage. As long as I keep the pull from activating in me, he’ll be distracted by his need to seduce me. It could compromise his ability to negotiate.”

After a short pause, her mother said, “That’s really cold. I know what it’s like to be manipulated by my emotions. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.”

“I didn’t create this situation,” Jenna objected, forcing herself to look at her reflection in the mirror. She looked tussled and tired, more than ready for a good night’s sleep.

“Neither did he,” Lenore parried. “I want you to think very carefully before you answer. If the timing of this connection weren’t extremely inconvenient, would you be less hostile toward him?”

She paused to consider her true feelings. Deceiving one’s self was a pointless waste of time. “He’s impressive, and it’s oddly flattering to have someone this determined to…it doesn’t matter. I don’t want a mate any more than you did. It’s not going to happen.”

“He won’t give up. If you’re serious about denying him, you need to bow out and disappear for a while.”

“I will not run away like a frightened child. As long as I refuse to kiss him, he can be as determined as he likes. He’s not going to change my mind.”

Her mother sighed and Jenna could picture her sad little head shake. “Sweetheart, I’ve been there. I was just as stubborn and just as convinced I could resist your father. I know you think you’re stronger than me, but you’re not. No one can fight the forces of nature.”

“You make it sound inevitable and I refuse to believe that. I have a choice. I can prevent the cycle from starting. That’s how I’ll escape.”

“Oh, Jenna.” Sympathy rippled through her mother’s voice, sending a chill down Jenna’s spine. “You’re too late. It’s already begun.”