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She shook her head. “I’m not. If I’d have known I was going on a date with a Rolon, I’d have been more careful.” The calculation Kendra had done wasn’t a hundred percent accurate, but from the way Fridolph stalked her, it meant she was definitely fertile. If there was one thing that incensed a Rolon, it was being around fertile human women. And this one wasn’t wearing his shock collar, so there was no way to control him.

“You stay right where you are. I’ll move slowly, so I don’t encourage you.” Too strong a whiff of her hormones would drive Fridolph crazy with desire. She had to stay calm and not become stressed, or it would make things worse.

“It’s too late for that.” Fridolph grabbed Kendra’s arm. He yanked up the sleeve of her jumpsuit and licked her skin.

“Stop! I’m not here for that. There’s been a mix-up.”

“You taste like nectar.” Fridolph pulled her arm up and took a long, deep sniff of her armpit.

“Cut it out. That’s nasty.” Kendra shoved against Fridolph’s barrel chest, but he barely moved.

Fridolph grabbed Kendra by the hips, lifted her off her feet until her groin was level with his nose. He took another, long deep, intrusive sniff.

“Put me down and stop sniffing me. I am not yours.”

“You are now.” Fridolph tossed her over his shoulder, turned, and raced out of the room.

“Let me down.” Kendra thumped against his back as Fridolph raced along the corridor. He turned right and headed to the service tunnels of the station.

“I must have you. You are fertile. You can give me a child.” His voice had a gravelly quality to it as his desire grew.

“That’s not going to happen. I do not agree to that.” Kendra sucked in a breath and screamed. The service tunnels were not well-used, and there was nobody around to hear her.

“I will not harm you,” Fridolph said.

“You already have. Put me down right now.”

“I am sorry. I have to do this.”

Damn it to hell, she was in so much trouble. Rolons were unable to control their behavior around fertile humans, which equaled a sex-crazed nightmare.

Kendra was falling headfirst into this disaster with no one around to stop this muscled ball of fur from getting what he wanted.

Chapter 18

It had been eight hours since Faron’s family had arrived. It felt more like a long, tortuous year to him.

“Pass the meat,” Bartlek said as they sat on the floor in a circle in the room Faron’s father had rented on board Prodigy.

Faron did as requested, shoving the dish into his brother’s hand.

“You have lost muscle,” his father, Rhodan, said. “You are half the size of your brother.”

Bartlek puffed up his chest and smirked at Faron. “I retain my strength, thanks to my continued work in the mines. Something you do not have the privilege of doing.”

“I am aware I don’t have that luxury,” Faron growled. “My repair work is more to do with brainpower than muscle power. I help ensure the safety of this entire station.”

“You fix broken bulbs and leaking pipes. That’s not an achievement to be proud of,” Bartlek said.

Faron scowled at him. He did more than that. He found his work satisfying. He would not let his brother’s words get to him.

His mother finished chewing a large piece of meat. “You do look small. We will fix that when you’re home. Your new partner will feed you. We know you won’t be able to earn a living as a cripple, but we will ensure you don’t go without. Once you provide me with my first dozen grandchildren, we will look into giving you an annual income.”

“We should pay for every child you give us,” Rhodan said. “It will help to focus your mind on the job.”

Faron gritted his teeth, resisting the urge to argue. The thought of being a kept man and unable to provide for his family without the interference of his parents grated on him. He could look after himself and any children he had.

“This is a good thing. It is time you contributed again,” Rhodan said.