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Kendra’s eyes widened. “What are you doing?”

He blinked and jerked his hand back. “Feeding you.”

“Erm, that’s sort of sweet, but I prefer to use a spoon.”

Faron scowled as he dropped the food back in the dish. What was he thinking? He’d reacted on instinct and had tried to feed her like he’d done this morning. He was only supposed to do that with a potential mate. It was a way of showing he could provide for her and nourish her.

His head dropped, and he scowled. He’d been an idiot doing that with Kendra.

“Hey, I lost you for a minute.” Kendra tapped the back of his hand. She held out a small, flat piece of what looked like crispy bread with sauce on it. “I appreciate the feeding gesture. I just wasn’t expecting it. Try this.”

Faron shook his head and looked away. “I didn’t mean to offend you by offering you food.”

“I wasn’t offended. No one has ever tried to hand feed me curry. I’m getting used to this eating with your fingers thing. Eating everything with your fingers, dripping curry included.”

“No, you misunderstand. I didn’t mean to do that. I thought we were getting on so well that...” His words wouldn’t come out. Faron hunched in his seat. “I didn’t think.”

“Try this,” Kendra said. “I insist. It’s really good.”

Faron reluctantly took the bread and bit into it. He was surprised by how crunchy it was and how sharp the flavors were. “What’s this?”

“Lime pickle and poppadoms. I love them. I could eat them with every meal.”

“They’re spicy. It’s a perfect complement for my dishes.”

“Our dishes. We share everything.”

He smiled and nodded. “Of course, we can share.”

“That includes you sharing what you meant by trying to feed me,” Kendra said.

He sighed. She should know the truth. Despite his better judgment and the warnings from his family, Faron couldn’t stop himself around Kendra. He wanted to show her he was a suitable mate. He didn’t think he could stop himself if he wanted to, even if it meant disagreeing with his family and the offer they had made of a Tolong mate.

“You have heard me talk about Tolong courtship rituals.”

“I can hardly forget that you were planning to dance for me in just a thong. That’s a part of your ritual?”

He grunted. “Over a period of seven days, we undertake several rituals. They are designed to show our potential mate how suitable we are. One of those rituals is the provision of food. A male Tolong provides the meals for a female and feeds them to her. We make sure she wants for nothing.”

Kendra’s mouth fell open. “You’re serious? You were trying to feed me because you see me as your mate?”

He stiffened in his seat, and his fists clenched. “I do not. I mean, not seriously. You are not appropriate. It’s my emotions taking over. I enjoy your company, but it causes judgment errors.”

“You sure can insult a girl,” Kendra said. “You want me as a mate, but you think I’m not suitable. I’m an error in your judgment?”

Faron scowled, hating himself for his inability to conceal this from her, but she should know his turmoil. Why should he hide the conflict inside him? It felt like he was being torn in two. His family had found him a Tolong female, something he’d desired for a long time. Just when that happened, he found Kendra. Sweet, non-judgmental, gorgeous Kendra. Their joining would make him even more of an outcast. But he didn’t care. He wanted Kendra, and he needed her to know how much he wanted her.

He looked up and swallowed. “I desire you in my life.”

Her eyebrows shot up, and she lowered her spoonful of food. “The inappropriate woman? You want someone in your life who makes you have poor decisions?”

Faron’s mouth twisted. “I did not mean that as an insult. My people will not see our match as proper.”

Kendra scowled. “I get it. They’ll hate me. They’ll fight me just like you’re doing.”

He leaned back in his seat. “I do not fight you.”

“You fight this.” She waved her spoon between them. “We are wrong for each other. I’m not denying that. You’re rude and weird, and you never say what you’re feeling—”