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  Jinx rubbed his belly. “That hurt.”

  True advanced, pushing the other male back with his chest. “Don’t flirt with my female again or challenge me in front of her.”

  The feline gaped at him. “You could have hit me when I said that stuff if it pissed you off instead of waiting to retaliate.”

  “It upsets Jeanie to see us fight.” He gave Flirt a dirty look. “You stay away from my female too.”

  Flirt kept his distance. “She made her choice. I respect that.”

  “She doesn’t like violence.” True glared at Jinx. “That’s why I waited until she was gone. I’m trying to prove I can be a good mate by controlling my instincts.”

  “You mean your temper.”

  He shook his head. “Instincts. She’s mine.”

  “Then mate her.”

  “I tried. She won’t do it.” Frustration rode him hard. “That makes me angry.”

  Query took a seat on the tabletop. “Humans need more time to think about making a lifelong commitment. I’ve read they mostly listen to their heads instead of their hearts. They seem to think caution is in order since they don’t trust their instincts.”

  “Maybe the sex was bad,” Jinx muttered.

  True lunged but the other male jumped out of the way, putting a few males between them.

  “It was a joke! Calm down.”

  True snarled, debating whether he should just toss the two males aside and punch the offensive male.

  “Shit. Is that it?” Jinx paled. “I’m sorry. I forgot you weren’t used at Mercile for breeding experiments except for once. I’ve only known you to share sex with a few females since you were released. Is she your first human? I could give you advice if you need some. I’ve shared sex with a lot of them and you mainly just need to be gentler and try to keep silent. Human males don’t get as vocal to show their enjoyment so their females can find it alarming to be growled at.”

  “Shut up, Jinx. You’re certain to start a fight if you keep talking about it.” Query stood and approached True slowly. He stopped a few feet away, his expression grim. “It is a human thing. Don’t take it personal. I’m sure you’ve done everything possible to show her you’d be a good mate. I can see how you feel about her. Just give it a little more time and I’m certain she’ll agree to sign the papers. I also see the way she looks at you and so does Jinx. It’s why he’s being an ass. He’s attracted to her but it’s clear you’re her male.”

  “No need to rub it in.” Jinx moved out from behind the males and sat hard in a chair. He frowned at True. “I just want to make sure she’s protected. It wouldn’t matter if we find the human who used her or not if she were a mate. Species law makes her exempt from being prosecuted. There is a chance that it wasn’t an employee pretending to be that agent. He could have sold the information to someone else or given it to an enemy as revenge if he felt slighted by the NSO.”

  “I tried to explain why she should be my mate and how it would protect her.”

  “What did she say?” Query arched an eyebrow.

  “She didn’t say yes. That’s the bottom line. It’s frustrating.” He held Jinx’s stare. “So is refraining from punching you when you challenge me and preen in front of her, Jinx.”

  “I don’t preen.”

  “You so do.” Flirt threw out his arms and puffed out his chest. “Look at my muscles, female.” One hand lifted and he wiggled his fingers. “The hand works perfectly to touch you with.” He flipped him off. “I know she got the doctors to work on it so it isn’t useless and you had to make sure she noticed that to remind her that she once cared about you. The way you bowed over the table to get in True’s face was just to appear larger than him in an attempt to draw her attention.”

  “I’ll get in your face,” Jinx threatened. “Keep insulting me and we will fight.”

  “Enough!” Query glared at them.

  “At least my name isn’t Flirt,” Jinx spat. “You’re the one who preens enough to earn that title and you actually fought with him in front of Shiver.”

  “I’m just friendly. You’re a klutz! You must be the most uncoordinated Species alive.”

  “I chose my name because it’s bad luck to make me angry. Do you want me to prove that?”

  True cleared his throat. “I need to return to Jeanie.” He glanced around the room, making eye contact with every male. “Jeanie is mine. I won’t hit you in front of her but there will be reprisal if you attempt to challenge me for her interest.” He stared directly at Jinx, then Flirt. “Am I clear?”

  “Perfectly,” Query answered. “Go to your female and be patient.”

  True nodded. “Thank you for helping her. We’ll meet with you just after first shift starts.”

  He spun, marched to the double doors and threw them open. He heard Flirt and Jinx exchange another round of insults before one of them snarled and a chair crashed to the floor. He felt satisfaction that they’d suffer the aftermath of being struck repeatedly since he’d been denied that pleasure. Jeanie would notice bloody knuckles if he got into another fight.

  His light mood faded as he exited the elevator on the third floor and made eye contact with the officer in the hallway. He walked by him, not in the mood to have another discussion with the male. He needed to convince Jeanie to be his mate. Her future couldn’t depend on whether they were able to identify the human pretending to be an agent. She meant too much to him. There was a chance she’d return to the out world if she was cleared of all charges and that made his chest hurt. He couldn’t lose Jeanie forever.

  Jeanie sat on the couch when he locked the door behind him. He glanced around as he inhaled. There was no sight or scent of Luna. “She didn’t stay?”

  “I wanted a few minutes alone.”

  He tensed, automatically becoming suspicious and glanced at the wall where a phone should be. There wasn’t one. Flame hadn’t transferred the line yet. The tension drained out of him as he approached her, certain she hadn’t attempted to contact the out world.

  “Are you well?”

  Her smile didn’t reach her eyes. “I’m a little tired.”

  “Did you eat?”

  “No. I’m still stuffed.”

  He crouched, his knees spread to make room for hers between them, and gripped the edge of the couch on both sides of her thighs. “You need sleep.” He glanced down and wished she needed sex instead. His dick hardened in response to her feminine scent and her closeness. “We’ll go to bed.”

  She reached up and her palm hovered near his cheek but she didn’t make contact.

  “Do it,” he urged.

  Her touch was light as she stroked his face. “You’re so good to me.”

  I’d like to be a lot better. Thoughts of stripping her bare ran through his mind until he had to lower his knees to brace them on the floor just to accommodate how tight the front of his pants had become. The crouching position wasn’t comfortable.

  “Why were you sad earlier? I saw that emotion.”

  She looked away, obviously displeased with the subject.

  “Jeanie?” His voice deepened. “Don’t avoid my questions.” He leaned in closer. “I’m not going anywhere or allowing you to move away until you are honest. Don’t bite your lower lip. You do that when you are undecided but there’s no choice. Talk.”

  She met his gaze. “I hate that you always have to defend me and that you’ve gotten shit from other New Species. You even got into a fight with your friend over me. I feel guilty, okay? All I ever wanted for you was to have a happy life but I’m screwing that up.”

  Her heart was soft. He liked that about her. “I am happy and Species males are aggressive. I’ve fought with plenty of them and will again. It’s just our way.”

  Her fingers slid into his hair. “We had to move into a new apartment. Exactly how many times have you had to do that before I came into your life?”

  The sensation of her fingernails lightly scratching his scalp turned him on even more. It was a reminder o