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“I didn’t mean to do that. I was curious about the behavior and wanted to learn more. Not so I could initiate that behavior with you. Humans do not eat each other after sex. As you rightly said, my teeth are not up to the job. I’d be eating you for weeks.”

When Elias grimaced and looked away, Hayley realized she’d said the wrong thing once again. “No, of course, I never would eat you. I’m happy with the food that comes out of the replicators. Really, you can always look into our mating practises if it makes you feel any better.”

“I already have.” He glanced at her, and his dark eyes gleamed with interest. “It was stimulating.”

“It’s supposed to be.” Hayley’s cheeks flushed. “Did you like what you found in your investigations?”

“Some of it looked pleasurable.”

She couldn’t resist a chuckle. “It can be when you know what you’re doing. Don’t be surprised if things don’t go quite as planned with your first encounter. I mean, I’m not saying you’ve never been with a human female before. I just assumed that...” She stopped talking, realizing she was putting her foot in it. This seemed to be an annoying habit whenever she was around Elias. Her mouth engaged before her brain did. He must think she was ridiculous.

Elias shifted in his seat. “You are correct. I have not had an encounter with a human female.”

“You have had... encounters?” She needed to stop talking before she scared him off forever.

Elias raised his gaze and stared at her. “I have.”

Hayley let out a sigh. She was glad. She couldn’t imagine a life without intimacy. It must be so lonely never to experience the loving touch of another person.

“What kind of female do you like?” Oh man, she was making a fool of herself. There was no reason to ask that question. She wasn’t looking for love, but there was something about Elias that intrigued her, and she couldn’t help but ask.

He was silent for so long that she raised her head and saw an unnerving intensity in his eyes.

“I like kindness. I know most people talk about physical attributes, and of course, I like beauty, but it’s an individual’s ability to show compassion I find most endearing. Not just to each other, but to all living things. As I expect you know, raw meat is considered a delicacy on my planet. Hunting your own food is a favorite hobby for many. The methods used are brutal.”

Hayley nodded as if she pretended she knew that. “Raw meat must be an acquired taste.”

“Not to most. I find it repulsive. Retars are encouraged to enjoy raw, slimy flesh. It turns my stomach.”

“You don’t need to convince me of that,” Hayley said. “I’ve been a vegetarian since I was a kid.”

“You eat only vegetables?”

“A bit more than vegetables, but I do eat a lot of them. I don’t eat meat. Like you, it makes me queasy. I like to see my cows in the fields.”

“We don’t have cows, but I understand your meaning. It’s nice to see we have that in common. Perhaps I shall give this vegetarian thing a go.”

“I’m happy to give you some pointers,” Hayley said. “So, you like compassion and vegetables. Anything else?”

“I like my females to have a passion of their own. Something that lights their eyes and makes them breathless with excitement. Like the way you are when you talk about your dinosaurs.”

Hayley grinned. “Most people would call that being a nerd. Nerds on Earth are not cool. I was definitely not one of the cool kids. In fact, when growing up, I had this terrible frizzy mess of hair, braces on my teeth, and glasses to correct a squint in one eye. I was also fat.”

“I’m sure you were still beautiful. I also experienced growing pains,” Elias said.

“You grew nicely into your muscles.” Hayley could have slapped herself. She’d just admitted she’d been checking out Elias’s body.

Elias chuckled. “We are a naturally strong race.” He touched the back of her hand with one finger and traced it from her wrist to the tip of her middle finger and back again. The touch shouldn’t have felt in any way erotic, but it sent a shiver through Hayley. “I like my females soft. More like you.”

“My mom always said I have childbearing hips.”

Elias withdrew his finger. “If you say so.”

The tension that had faded from his shoulders returned as soon as she’d mentioned children. “Not that I want any. I mean, I might, one day, but not now. I just started this new job, and I’ve got... responsibilities on Earth.”

Elias tilted his head. “What responsibilities do you have?”

She looked away. Nobody knew about her sister. Nobody knew Hayley sent her wages to Earth so Sally could get treatment. She didn’t want anyone to be suspicious of what she was doing here. “Oh, nothing significant. We all have responsibilities. Things we need to take care of. You must be the same.”