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“I avoid my emotions.”

“Exactly my point. You hide from your feelings, which makes you say rude things. Like I’m inappropriate. I’m never inappropriate.” She stuffed a huge spoonful of curry into her mouth. Her eyes widened. She gasped and gestured for the water.

Faron shook his head and passed her a dish of plain yogurt. “Eat this. It will take away the burn.”

Kendra’s eyes watered as she downed the yogurt. Despite a red nose and watering eyes, she still looked adorable.

He waited until her face had stopped glowing before speaking. “Let me try again. I want you in my life. I know it is not right for either of us, but I cannot ignore this.”

Kendra placed her spoon down and wiped her eyes with her napkin. “Okay, in what capacity do you want me in your life? We are becoming friends. Is that what you mean?”

“No, not as a friend.”

She licked her lips. “As a girlfriend?”

He sucked in a deep breath. He had never said this to anyone before. “As a mate. As my only mate.” Faron could barely look at Kendra as he said the words. He was so sure she would reject him. She should. He was defective.

She was silent for so long that he had to look up.

Kendra cleared her throat. “In order to prove yourself as a suitable mate, you feed me all my meals?”

Faron nodded. “That is correct.”

“Well, okay then. I’m open to that.”

He watched, surprise jolting through him as Kendra stood and walked around to his side of the table. She wrapped an arm around his shoulders and sat in his lap, her warm body molding against him.

Faron stiffened. “What is the meaning of this?”

“I’m making it easier for you to feed me. I’m hungry.” Her smile looked tentative.

“You wish for me to court you?” Faron’s heart raced as he inhaled her sweet scent. He would kill to have this scent around him for the rest of his life. He knew he shouldn’t, but he let her in. He needed this woman in his life. His logic was screaming at him, but he ignored it. Forget his family and the traditions they held dear. He needed this. He needed Kendra.

Kendra opened her mouth. “I’m waiting. You’d better hurry, or I might think you’re not a good enough feeder.”

Faron scooped some food, selecting the milder dishes. He fed Kendra carefully, watching as each tempting bite slid down her throat.

She licked sauce from her lips. “That’s good. More.”

As Faron leaned toward the table, his mouth brushed against her ear. “I promise you this. I will dance for you in private, when there are no camera bots watching. I want you to see me as worthy.”

He felt her fingers tighten on his shoulder. “You have nothing to prove to me, but that’s something worth waiting for.”

Faron nodded as he continued to feed Kendra. No matter what it took, he would win her. He would win every inch of her. Even if his family rejected him and he could never return home again, she was worth it.

Chapter 15

Kendra touched her lips as she wandered to her room. Faron wanted her. Never had she imagined their lunch date would go like that. She’d meant it to be strictly business but had wound up wrapped in his arms being fed curry and having him promise to make her his. How had her plans deviated so much? Or rather, sped off in a totally different direction along a stretch of road she didn’t know existed.

They had an hour apart before they were due to spend the rest of the afternoon together and then have dinner.

She smiled to herself. Holy stars, Faron was something else. Kendra’s stomach churned with a mixture of nerves and excitement. Faron had said he wanted to dance for her as part of his courtship rituals. Was that the right thing to do? For one thing, she’d never seen a guy who could actually dance. What if he put on his best effort and it was terrible? She could ruin everything if she laughed at Faron. He wasn’t a guy who should be mocked.

A worrying thought hit her. What if his dance was the hottest thing she’d ever seen, and she let her guard down and let him into her life?

Faron had made his interest clear, even though he’d done it in a screwed-up way by telling her she wasn’t right for him. Kendra had initially been pissed that he’d been so honest about how tricky a relationship would be, but she also understood his hesitation.

Kendra didn’t consider him right for her either but kept getting drawn back. Every time she decided she would cool things off and make sure Faron knew this was nothing serious, just a bit of business, her head was turned, and he surprised her. There was something about Faron that made her pause and wonder if she could truly find love.