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He didn’t respond. Why was this annoying human bothering them? He didn’t want her on this date. He only wanted Kendra.

“You might like to try a second kiss,” Ivy said. “I’d love to get extra angles of you in action.”

“And I’d like you to get lost.”

Kendra grinned and ducked her head at that comment.

Ivy’s smile faded. “I will keep recording. Remember what this is for.” Her attention was on Kendra as she spoke.

“You need to leave.” Faron stood from his seat and glared at the small, pale human. She was bothering his potential conquest. His urge to protect Kendra surprised him. It was too strong, considering he wanted a simple thrust and plunge with this female. He shouldn’t care either way if this human bothered her, but it did. He wanted Kendra happy and content. He didn’t want to see her being threatened.

Ivy shot him a glare. “I’m gone. Enjoy the rest of your date.”

Faron watched her leave. Although he hated to admit it, his emotions were winning. He felt something unsettling for Kendra. “What would you like me to do with that female?”

“Ivy!” Kendra laughed. “There are plenty of things that should be done to her.”

“Let me know, and I’ll make it happen.”

“No, I’m joking.” Kendra stood from her seat. “Are we done here?”

“I have finished. You barely ate.”

“I got distracted by the company.”

Faron wrapped an arm around Kendra’s shoulders. He felt a slight tremor run through her as they touched. “I have an idea. Let’s get out of here.”

“Where are we going?”

“Somewhere without any cameras.” Faron led Kendra along the corridor and into a quiet bar tucked away in the service tunnels, making sure to shut the door so no bots could enter.

“That woman bothered you.” They walked to the bar, and he ordered two strong shots of Tolong whiskey.

“Ivy bothers everybody.”

“You more so than others?”

“She can be mean.” Kendra looked at the ground. “She reminds me of someone in my past, a kid who bullied me.”

Faron knew all about bullying. “She should be taught a lesson.”

Kendra shook her head as she accepted the whiskey glass from Faron. “It doesn’t matter. It’s in the past. Everyone has an Ivy in their lives. You learn to deal with it.”

Faron brushed a hand down Kendra’s arm. She might not have the external scars as he did, but there was damage. Damage that kept her from living the life she dreamed.

Kendra was intriguing. He wanted to keep this strange little human in his life. His family would be outraged, and he wasn’t certain Kendra truly desired him, but his mind was made up. He would take this farther than a single night of pleasure.

He would pursue a formal step in their courtship. He’d come on this date desiring a simple rut, something to feed the empty feeling in his stomach, but he wanted more. He needed Kendra to see he had value and could offer her something that might make her life better.

Faron didn’t have to complete all the courtship rituals if he decided Kendra wasn’t right for him. But taking things to the next level gave him an opportunity to resolve the strange emotions churning in his gut, so he could deal with them before they became a problem.

She glanced at him and raised her glass. “Here’s to the future, whatever it may hold.”

Faron nodded and downed his whiskey. He knew what it held, and his future would involve seeing a lot more of Kendra. His main concern was whether she would want that too.

Chapter 11

Although Kendra appeared busy as she sat at the desk with her port screen in front of her, her thoughts were on Faron and their dinner last night.