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“Where do I need to go?”

Clint shook his head. “Diadora said the details will be sent to you this morning. Put away your tools and get back to your room. Make sure you have a bloody good time. I don’t give up one of my most valuable work crew easily. You enjoy yourself.”

Sala clapped Faron on the back. “Of course he will. Faron knows how to enjoy himself. Don’t you, buddy?”

Faron glanced at him. “I have spent time with this human before. She is not unpleasant to be around.”

“Praise indeed,” Clint said. “Now get out of here before I change my mind. We want all the horny details when you get back tomorrow.”

Faron would share no details, horny or otherwise, with his boss. He walked along the service tunnel, Sala by his side.

“Relax and have fun. I know you take these things seriously but roll with it and enjoy yourself. I’ve seen the promotional stuff with you and this human, and it looks great. You’ve clicked with each other.”

“I don’t know what clicking means, but we talked and ate. She’s easy to be around.”

“That’s a start. You spend too much time on your own. That’s the reason I dragged you to that speed dating event. It does you good to get out and meet other people. We’re sociable creatures. We shouldn’t spend all our time alone.”

He glanced at Sala. “I’m not alone. I’m surrounded by people at work.”

“You’re usually wearing a spacesuit and tethered to the side of the station. You couldn’t be more alone.”

“I speak to you through the comms network.”

Sala shook his head. “It’s not the same thing, and you know it. Get out of here and wow that gorgeous woman.”

Faron allowed himself a smile as he left Sala and returned to his room. This had fallen into his lap. After his dinner with Kendra, he’d wondered how he could get them together again and hadn’t expected this opportunity so soon.

Once in his room, he removed his clothes and pulled out a clean dance thong. It was made of smooth leather and sculpted his body perfectly. It was his favorite thong to wear when performing a mating dance. Not that he’d ever done it before, but he’d practiced plenty of times.

The dance also required body paint. Lines of dark blue and green paint smeared across his muscles to emphasize his prowess. He spent half an hour covering himself in markings and was placing the paint back in the cupboard when an incoming call pinged into his port screen.

“Computer, who is contacting me?”

“Rhodan Tiket.”

A scowl darkened Faron’s features. He didn’t want to face his family now. His happy mood would be ruined. But he couldn’t refuse them. He’d had it beaten into him that he always obeyed his family, and that wouldn’t change.

He opened the link, and his scowl deepened when he saw Bartlek staring back at him. “Is there a problem?”

A smile crossed his brother’s face. “What are you wearing?”

“That is of no concern of yours.”

Bartlek snorted. “I have little interest in your pathetic life. If I didn’t know better, it looks as if you’re about to perform a mating dance. You’re wearing body paint.”

“You are correct.”

“You weren’t lying when you said you had a mate.”

“I do not lie.” The truth around this issue was cloudy, but he hadn’t outright lied. He had been on dates with Kendra.

“So, who is she?”

“You do not know her.”

His brother’s nostrils flared. “I might not know her, but I have seen her. Father requested your activities be monitored to avoid bringing further shame to our name. I received a worrying alert last night. When I opened it, I was shocked to see you fraternizing with a human.”

Faron’s eyes narrowed. His brother had seen the recorded footage of him with Kendra. “What of it?”