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She closed her eyes and let everything he’d just said sink in. He was lousy at talking about emotions, but he was trying. Faron had turned down something he’d longed for, the chance to be accepted by his family and have a Tolong mate. The chance to go home. He’d done that for her. He’d come here for her, and she’d coldly rejected him.

It was a petty move, and Kendra had done it to hurt him. “You fool. You want this. You want him.”

She drew in a slow, deep breath and opened the door. Her heart stuttered. Faron had gone.

She peered along the corridor, hoping to catch a glimpse of his bare butt as he strode away, but there was no sign of him.

Disappointment hit her in the gut. He’d given up so easily. He couldn’t be that keen if he wasn’t prepared to give her a few moments to think about the rest of her life and if he should be in it.

“Remember, logic and order rule this guy,” she whispered to herself. Her rejection would have seemed final to him. He wouldn’t have believed she was lying or confused.

Kendra shook her head, retreated to the bathroom, and scowled at her appearance. No wonder he’d made a run for it. She’d barely slept the previous night and had still been in bed when Faron had arrived at her door. Her skin was pale and blotchy and her eyes puffy.

She spent a few minutes tidying herself up and trying to smooth her hair. She was working up the enthusiasm to get in the shower when her door alert pinged again.

She bit her lip and smiled to herself. It had to be Faron. He was back for another try. This time, she wouldn’t reject him. She would open up to how hurt she’d been. She would also tell him exactly how she felt about him. She hurried to open the door.

Faron stood outside. He was dressed in a clean red jumpsuit and held a box of chocolates in one hand.

Kendra’s eyes widened. “What’s this?”

“My attempt at trying something different,” he said. “You’re correct. I have been focused on my own courtship rituals. I neglected human ones. I believe giving the gift of chocolate is an appropriate human mating symbol.” He handed her the box.

Kendra grinned, and the nerves she felt eased. “It’s a great start. Come in.” She felt touched that he was making this effort. She also felt like a bitch. She should have let him dance for her when he first arrived. She wanted to see that.

Faron walked in behind her, and they settled on her couch.

She stared at him for a few seconds in silence. His shoulders were tight, and his hands clasped together. He looked as nervous as she felt.

“Tell me what happened with your family.”

Faron sighed. “They are not my family, not anymore.”

“What happened?”

“They disrespected you. And me. I have spent years trying to be accepted by them. It was a waste of time.”

Kendra took hold of his hand. “You were trying to fit in and gain their love and acceptance. You shouldn’t be punished for doing that.”

“I never received that from them. Even if I’d joined with Donik, it would not have been enough. I could have given my mother fifty grandchildren, and she would have demanded more. I suspect she might have taken some for her own.”

Kendra leaned back. “And done what with them?”

“Not treated them kindly. It is not uncommon for grandparents to use grandchildren to barter with.”

Kendra’s gut tightened. “They take your children and give them to others?”

“It happens. Some families are desperate enough to pay a high price to have more children in their ranks. It gives them another step up the social ladder.”

A fierce flood of protectiveness slammed into Kendra. “If that bitch tries to take any of our children, I will kill her.”

Faron smiled. “Our children? We’re planning a family? We’ve only known each other a week.”

Kendra’s cheeks flushed, and she laughed. “Funny guy. I’d never let anybody take a child of mine.”

“Neither would I. It was one of the reasons I turned them down.”

“You won’t miss them?”