“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?