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“You’d be proud to have this Retar on your arm?” Ivy said. “It won’t bother you that people question his strength of character because he’s chosen his own life over his children?”

“He doesn’t have to do that,” Nell said. “There are other options. There’s also our service. If Retars wish to mate with another alien, they’re free to do so.”

“Maybe it’s not as complicated as that,” Hayley said as a worrying thought entered her head. “Perhaps Elias isn’t into sex.”

Ivy snorted a laugh. “Then you’ve got yourself a winner. A coward and someone who doesn’t want to get down and dirty. You need to pass on that one. Move on as quickly as possible.”

Hayley glared at her. “There’s nothing to pass on. We’re not in a relationship. I’m simply curious.”

“Be curious about somebody else. You’re wasting time with that one.”

As frustrated as Ivy’s comments made Hayley, she knew how risky it was falling in love. It was how her sister had gotten herself into her horrible situation. She’d fallen hard and invested all her money in her first home with the so-called love of her life. He’d walked out one day, taken all the money, sold their apartment out from under her, and left her heartbroken and sick. Nobody needed that.

Nell offered Hayley another cookie. “Maybe Ivy is right. There are lots of lovely guys out there waiting for you, ones with fewer... issues.”

Hayley nodded. She took another cookie, but her appetite had died. She liked Elias and wanted to get to know him better, but it was too difficult. She’d seen what love did to a person, and she’d seen how Elias reacted when he even thought she’d suggested they be intimate. If he didn’t like sex, she was wasting her time. Every woman had needs to be met.

“I’m too busy for a relationship,” Hayley said to Nell. “Elias is a nice guy, but I’m going to friend zone him. That’s all I’ve got time for.”

Nell nodded, a glimmer of sympathy in her eyes. “It might not be the right time for either of you. Sometimes, it’s good not to rush these things. It will be if it’s meant to be.”

“Enough with the convoluted sayings you pulled out of a Christmas cracker,” Ivy said. “Haven’t you got aliens to match make? I still need a suitable couple for my next photo shoot.”

“Stop hassling my team,” Vegas called from her office. “Come in here. I’ll sort you a couple.”

Ivy muttered under her breath as she stamped into Vegas’s office.

Hayley sat back in her seat as she drank her coffee. She would forget about Elias and those broad shoulders and gorgeous inky blue eyes. All she needed to focus on was not getting fired. That was the most important thing. Get the money and save her sister. Nothing else mattered.

If she told herself that enough, she might believe it.

Chapter 6

Elias’s breath drew into him raggedly as he finished watching the first info pod. He felt a mixture of confusion, arousal, and repulsion. He’d just spent the last hour watching a detailed anatomy info pod on human female genitalia. It was the most complicated body part he’d ever seen. All those folds, and skin, and strange little lumps. Then everything changed when a woman became aroused. The swollen nub, the intense pinkness, and the moisture.

He drew a hand down his face and let out a shaky sigh. He hadn’t found it entirely repulsive. It was not what he’d seen on a female Retar. Everything on a Retar was hidden and something of a mystery. Human females laid it all open for inspection and stimulation. Elias adjusted his pants to make his bulging erection comfortable as it strained inside his jumpsuit. He’d love to see the real thing.

Elias looked at the next info pod title. It was on mating positions preferred by humans. The one after was all about oral pleasure. Tegor had mentioned oral pleasure and how incredible it was.

He couldn’t handle this alone. Elias needed backup. He opened his wrist comm and sent a message to Tegor. Advice needed on human female erotic zones.

The response was instant. I’m on my way. This had better be good.

Five minutes later, Elias and Tegor sat side-by-side on the couch, both staring at the screen as they watched a position called the starfish re-enacted in startling detail.

Tegor handed Elias a shot glass of Draxdan whiskey he’d brought with him. “That’s a new one on me.”

“You’ve never tried it?” Elias watched as the female bounced up and down on the male, her legs spread wide and a look of happy abandonment on her face.

“Can’t say I have. It looks fun. Hard work for the female, though. I might give it a go.”

“It gives the male a distinct advantage if she tries to bite. Her head is away from everything vital. You could pin her ankles to the ground and disengage before she starts to eat.”

“Pin her ankles? Disengage?” Tegor shook his head. “You’re not talking about a ship docking into a bay. I know this evening is your introduction to different mating behaviors, but you need to shake it out of your head that all women want to eat you after sex. It doesn’t happen.”

Elias downed his whiskey. The liquid burned smoothly down his throat, and his eyes teared up. He wasn’t used to hard liquor.

Tegor instantly refilled his glass and chinked his full glass with Elias’s. “To good health and lots of sweaty sex.”