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.