Faron scraped his filthy hands down the front of his red jumpsuit. They’d been working outside the space station for hours, fixing a faulty fuel line. He was covered in grease, and his eyes were blurry from focusing so hard on fixing the pipe without causing a chain reaction that would blow up the station. His work was nothing if not engrossing.

He strode to his spartan quarters, walked into the small washroom, kicked off his boots and yanked off his jumpsuit, and stood under the water until it grew almost scalding. He scrubbed a bar of soap over his skin, trying to ignore the thick erection bobbing against his stomach.

He was not in the mood to pleasure himself. He was tired. All he needed was a decent meal and something alcoholic to knock himself out. The end of the day would pass just like any other.

Instead, Faron found his hand stroking his hard-on, his thoughts turning to Kendra.

He dropped his hold on his cock and grunted in displeasure. Why was he thinking of her? He didn’t want her. He’d decided she wasn’t for him. There was no point in thinking about something that should never happen.

Faron grabbed his cock again and pumped viciously several times. A good, solid Tolong woman. That’s what he should find pleasure in. A female with a sturdy genetic history, someone who would guarantee him healthy offspring. It was not about how he felt when he looked at her. It was about what she could provide him. He needed a woman who was his equal.

Faron glanced at his cybernetic arm and frowned. No Tolong female would find him her equal with this monstrosity attached to his body.

He tried to garner enthusiasm for the image of a naked Tolong woman, but nothing happened. If anything, his erection deflated as he roughly stroked himself under the shower.

Faron hung his head, giving up on any attempt to find pleasure. He truly was defective if all he could get aroused about was that human and what she looked like beneath her jumpsuit. He shouldn’t find the memory of their kiss arousing, and he shouldn’t wonder what her skin would taste like as his tongue traveled over it. And he should definitely not dwell on what lay between her legs and the pleasure he might seek as he pounded into her.

It was illogical to think otherwise. He was not going near Kendra again. She’d shown her distaste, and he understood she was wrong for him. That was all that mattered.

Faron finished his shower and grabbed a clean jumpsuit. His comm link announced an incoming message from his mother, Siblis.

He grimaced and was tempted to ignore it. There was only one topic of conversation she was interested in, and it wasn’t how successful he was in his work. All she was interested in was having more grandchildren.

He ran a hand down his face as he opened the link. His mother’s broad, flat face stared back at him, her dark eyes narrowing slightly as if she could sense he wasn’t keen on speaking with her.

“Mother. I trust you are healthy.”

“As always.”

He noticed she did not ask about his health. Why should she? She knew of his failings.

“I have had friends asking about you.”

“What do they want to know?” Faron grabbed a strong ale from the shelf before moving to the only seat in his lounge, which he perched on.

“We attended a dinner with the ambassador. He has finally agreed to add us back to the guest list after four months of requesting re-admittance after your... issues came to light.”

“That must give you pleasure,” he said through gritted teeth.

“It does not give me displeasure. However, some of the conversations forced upon us were of a difficult nature. Several individuals asked after you.”

Faron grunted. “I imagine they did. Did you tell them how proud you are of your son?”

Her mouth tightened. “Do not be glib. Although I do not agree with your father’s preference to say you have died, I do not appreciate having to reveal where you are and your current situation.”

“I apologize again for inconveniencing you.” Faron must have said sorry for surviving his accident a hundred times.

“It’s an inconvenience we struggle to bear, as is your lack of a mate.”

There it was, the real reason for the contact. “I would welcome a mate into my life if a suitable one can be found.”

“Which we know is highly unlikely,” Siblis said. “Is there not somebody on board that space station you linger on?”

“There are few female Tolongs here. They don’t stay for long.”

“There is nobody? Even another advanced alien might be more suitable than remaining without a mate. Despite your problems, your genetics are strong. You get those from us. I would like to have more grandchildren.”

He winced as she said the dreaded G word. “Then ask one of my brothers to assist you.” Faron was one of twenty children. His mother’s demands for more grandchilden grew on an almost monthly basis.

“They do their best. We need more, a dozen at least from you.”

Faron repressed a sigh. “I will happily contribute if I have a suitable mate.” His thoughts went to Kendra. She was not suitable. What kind of offspring would they have together?

“You have not been making attempts to join with anybody in your time away?” Disappointment filled his mother’s face. It would seem her desire to have many grandchildren was overcoming her disgust of his defect.

Faron looked away and took a long swig of ale. “There is somebody.” The words came out before he’d had a chance to think them through.

Siblis’s face filled the screen. “Who is it? Tell me everything about her. Send us her genetic history immediately. And what about her sexual history?”

Faron closed his eyes for a second and rubbed his fingers against his forehead. Why had he said that? There was no one, but the demands of his mother flooded him with insecurity.

“It is a new relationship. I have made inquiries about the important things. She will provide that information if we decide to couple.”

“Let me speak to him,” a gruff, deep voice said.

Faron’s gut clenched. It was his father, Rhodan.

His mother’s face disappeared, and his father appeared. “You have a female?”

“Greetings, Father.” Tension radiated from Faron’s core.

He snorted loudly. “Who is she?”

“Nobody you know.”

“He is lying.”

Faron suppressed a growl as he recognized the sly, bitter tone of his brother, Bartlek. He was always sniveling around their parents, earning their favor. “Why don’t you come and tell me that to my face, little brother?”

Bartlek appeared next to their father, the usual smug, self-satisfied expression on his face. “If I could be bothered to chase you across space, I would. I’m busy with my own family, as I’m sure you are aware.”

Anger slid through Faron’s veins like hot poison. “Of course, I do not have the privilege of having a family of my own, so I do not understand the demands they have on your time.”

His brother smirked. “Tell us about this mate of yours. Our mother is practically jumping out of her seat in delight at the thought of more grandchildren.”

Faron’s lips pressed together. “It’s too soon for that.”

“She is suitably healthy?”

“She is.” Faron looked around the room. It felt like he was walking into a trap, a trap he’d created for himself. He should have kept his mouth shut.

“What of her fertility?” Rhodan asked. “Have you sent her for the appropriate tests?”

“Not yet. We are getting to know each other.”

“Getting to know each other.” Bartlek grunted a laugh. “What nonsense is this?”

“Things work differently here.”

“You do not work differently. You are still a Tolong.”

“I am... adjusting to my change in circumstances.”

“You are weak,” his brother sneered. “You do not need to get to know a woman if she is genetically compatible. If you are matched, you mate and have your offspring. Nothing else matters.”

A flare of emotion hit Faron. It was that damned kiss. It was the way Kendra’s mouth had covered his. It opened something in him he’d never experienced before. It had excited and terrified him. It wasn’t something he wanted in his life, but he kept coming back to it. Almost like a drug. She was intoxicating to him, and that was dangerous.

When Faron lost control of himself, his logic faded, and emotion took over. It was something he’d had to watch when growing up. Now he was away from his family and their rigid demands, he’d found himself lapsing into a more emotional state, the way he’d been as a child before being shown what it was to be a true Tolong.

“Did Mother tell you my mate is pregnant again?” Bartlek asked.

Faron’s gaze returned to the screen. “My blessings on your happy news.”

“She is with quads.”

Faron repressed the snarl that bubbled up his throat.  Of course she was. Only Bartlek would produce such a huge number of offspring in one go. “Here’s to a healthy delivery.”

“Of course my offspring will be healthy. I offer nothing less to this family.”

Faron nodded but said nothing. Bartlek had all the luck. He’d always been the golden child. He’d found his mate young, and she’d become pregnant after their first coupling. Their mother had talked of nothing else.

At first, Faron had been happy for Bartlek. He’d always been a smug bastard, but this was what they were supposed to do. Now, as he sat on the other side of the wormhole, listening to his brother brag about his perfect life, all he wanted to do was reach through the port screen and smash a fist into his face.

Every word Bartlek spoke tormented Faron. It showed him what he lacked and how he wasn’t good enough to be a part of the family.

“Your brother is an asset to us,” Rhodan said.

“That he is.” Faron hoped his brother would show these new infants more kindness than their father had to them. He’d learned quickly that any weakness was beaten out of you. It was the same with emotions. Tolongs followed logic and order, and nothing else mattered.

Faron’s fingers traced along the rows of scars on his forearm. He had these marks all over his body. They were evidence he’d struggled with Tolong rules. His emotions had always burst through and questioned the way of his people.

The dozens of beatings his father had given him over the years were a testimony to how hard he’d worked to make him conform. Faron still remembered the last beating he’d received. The words of failure and scorn his father had poured on him. He’d given up on Faron after that. There had been no more physical attacks, but the emotional torment continued to this day.

“We must see this female,” Rhodan said.

Faron jerked in his seat. “That won’t be possible.”

“If you are involving yourself with a potential mate, it is imperative we meet her,” his father said. “Your judgment has always been questionable. We must assess her suitability to ensure she does not bring the family name into disrepute.”

“Another time. This might come to nothing.” Faron wished he’d never said anything. He didn’t want them involved in his private life. If they learned he’d not been truthful, it would be another black mark against his name.

“When will you know if your commitment is serious?” Siblis appeared on the screen as his father shuffled out of the way to make room for her.

“Another month, at least.”

“A month! What of my grandchildren?”

“Mother, you have four on the way with Bartlek. You must content yourself with those.”

“I need more. The ambassador’s wife has twenty-five grandchildren. How am I supposed to compete with that?”

He longed to argue with her and tell her it wasn’t the number of offspring that was important but the way they were treated, the love given and kindness shown. The more children, the less attention they received. Of his twenty siblings, five of them were dead.

Instead, he simply nodded. “I will do my best to ensure a successful end to this coupling.”

“Your best is not good enough,” Bartlek said. “We know you are disadvantaged, but you should still make an effort to restore our family name.”

“Why bother? It appears you are making the effort for both of us.”

“I work as hard as I can to ensure our tarnished reputation is restored.”

Faron glared at his feet. “And for that, we are eternally grateful.”

“It pleases me to hear that,” Rhodan said from off-camera. “We do not need to cut you off entirely if you show willing. You will let us know when you have more information about this mate?”

An alert pinged on Faron’s port screen. It was the excuse he needed. “I must go. I have a work emergency to deal with.”

“No one will call you when there is an emergency,” Bartlek said, “unless it’s a blocked waste pipe they want you to crawl along.”

Faron had dealt with worse than blocked effluent in his time on Prodigy. “Someone needs to clean up the shit others leave behind.” He cut the comm link before his brother could mock him anymore. Bartlek was a jumped up, arrogant, asshole.

Faron took a deep breath and opened the comm message. A flicker of surprise ran through him. It was a dinner invitation from Kendra.

He stared at the message. It was a simple request. Dinner at eight tomorrow night. She listed an appropriate restaurant.

He read the message several times. This was unexpected. Kendra must desire his body. She had certainly not found his company pleasurable. Still, she must see he held some value, some part of him that could pleasure her in a physical way.

Faron slid a hand into his jumpsuit. His erection had returned with vigor at the thought of seeing Kendra again. He could get pleasure from this situation. If this female was willing, he would give her what she wanted and enjoy himself while he did it.

If Kendra could overlook his deficiency, they would gain enjoyment from a brief coupling. It could be nothing more than that, a simple transaction to meet physical needs. There was no connection between them. No opportunity for a long-term relationship. And no grandchildren to fulfill his mother’s obsession.

Faron moved to his single bed and shrugged off his jumpsuit. His hand returned to his hard shaft, and he pleasured himself as he thought of Kendra, her soft skin, the touch of her mouth on his, and those large dark eyes gazing up at him, until he dropped into an exhausted, sated sleep.