Molly slipped around the males seated on various rocks scattered around the gathering. None glanced her way, or showed interest in talking to her. As nightmares went, this one took the cake, the coffee, and the peppermint.

Even Meera was busy. Molly barreled toward the waterfall, now seeing it as a refuge. No one would notice her missing, and the waterfall would be free under the circumstances. Even though the sun had yet to set, she stripped off her dress and slid into the pool. She could have stood there for minutes before anyone noticed she was naked. Smothering a sob, she dove under the water and stayed there, admiring the vibrant underwater plants in cyan and pink, and the shy ruby-colored fish-like creatures darting around.

Raising her face to the water's surface, the warmth of the sun's rays streaming through in pale-yellow beams touched her cheeks. It was peaceful. If it wasn't for her need to breathe, she would stay there indefinitely. Molly burst through the water, flicking her hair back before swimming toward the bank. She emerged and shook off the droplets, wringing out her hair before struggling to slide the dress over her damp body. She gathered her now-dry jumpsuit, and with a last glance back at the bonfires, she headed to her tent.

As soon as the flap closed behind her, she folded her jumpsuit and slipped it into her chest. She peeled off the dress, getting stuck with her arms above her head. Heat burned her cheeks at the idea of someone discovering her so exposed, but then what did it matter when she had stripped in front of the village and no one had noticed? Wiggling, she managed to pull off the dress before spreading it over the closed chest to dry. Sighing as she dropped onto her fur bed, she tugged a pelt over her cool body. The soft fur caressed her sensitive skin drawing a shiver from her. Alone again and this time it tore at her heart, shredding what self-confidence she had left. In a bar at a way station somewhere in outer space, it was okay if Amy snagged the best-looking guy there. But in a village filled with men, for Molly to not snag one? That hurt. She sucked in a sharp breath, tamping down the pain. What had she expected? Had she been stupid enough to hope? She rolled over and buried her face in the fur, allowing it to absorb her escaping tears. She sobbed, knowing she could do so loudly, and no one would hear. No one would care.

"Temaar?" Anzar called from outside the tent.

She froze, sucking in a startled breath.

"I'm here. And well." She dashed at her cheeks hoping he didn't come in. Clambering to her feet, she rushed to the water bowl to splash her face, then used the soft cloth provided to dab herself dry.

"Mother says you need me." Anguish filled his voice and she sucked in a shuddering breath. Her situation wasn't Anzar's fault and she couldn't take her frustration out on him. "May I enter?"

"Wait, I'm not dressed." She darted to her chest to pull on his tunic.

"Is this a polite thing?" he asked, and she smiled despite the hollowness in her heart.

"Yes, and you may enter now."

He lifted the flap and ducked inside, allowing the tent to close behind him. His sheer size dominated the space making it feel smaller. In his hand, he held a stone platter with strips of cooked meat. He placed it on the table and faced her.

"Did you enjoy the pool this evening?"

He had seen her? Of course he had. He had promised he would. She, Molly Lambert, his obligation. She groaned, as bone-deep misery and embarrassment warred within her. Remembering how alone she had felt, she embraced the misery. She dropped onto the furs, and pulled them over her legs so that she could sit Indian style without exposing herself.

"I worried when you didn't surface for a while." He paused beside her furs, looming over her, and casting his face in shadow.

"It's peaceful underwater," she mumbled, then lay down, pulling the furs over her. He moved and she assumed he had left, giving her the privacy she wanted. But the furs lifted, and he slid under them to tug her into his arms. She didn't fight it. What was the point? He had shown his stubbornness, and if Mother had commanded him to see to Molly, then he would obey. Fighting him would gain Molly nothing. "I'm sorry I ruined the celebration."

"You did not. Amy and Grax did."

"Yes, but I did explain to the females how to French kiss. That's on me." She shook her head. She was more than willing to take the blame. It was usually her fault, anyway.

"True. You must choose a mate soon, temaar." He rubbed his jaw across the crown of her head, and she sighed, snuggling deeper into his embrace.

"Huh," she scoffed. "My suitors number zero."

"Suitors?" He stilled, and she could have sworn she felt his lips brush her ear. Tingles shot downward, but since she couldn't be sure, she tried to ignore the sensation.

"You'd call them possible mates. The males I've spoken to would be you and Narro."

"No males have approached you?" He sounded surprised, but that could just be her depraved and masochistic mind playing tricks on her.

"No. Like I said, I'm safe." She shrugged but she was far from feeling casual about this. Trapped on a planet, with no escape, she had to make the best of this new path her life had taken. That meant, choosing a mate. To have someone to sleep beside, to share her burdens, to kiss her and tell her everything would be all right? That sounded like bliss for her. At least, the game hadn't been for slavery. Shackled to someone and expected to do their bidding, always, wasn't for her, and she would have rebelled against it.

"You should smile more, temaar. I've seen you do so, and it is breathtaking."

The old smile routine. She pinched her lips, so tired of hearing how she should smile more. What was she, a mannequin, or an artificial shop assistant? She was neither, dammit.

"Thanks, Anzar, that's kind of you to say. I just can't smile without having something to be joyful about. It feels wrong as if I'm lying with my lips."

"But must you frown so? It scares the males away."

"If my frown scares them, wait until I yell at them. No, thank you, I don't want such a male." Molly rolled over to look at him. "You're not scared of my frowns, are you?"

"No," he chuckled, and she found she liked the sound of it. Warmth burst in her chest as if she could share in his humor, and she found her lips curling in response.

"Do I have to choose a mate?" She curled her bottom lip hoping a little pouting would aid her cause.

"Yes." His response was quick, which meant he didn't recognize the purpose behind her pout or didn't care.

She punched the fur beneath her head as if it needed softening. "Shit! Fine, I'll smile like an idiot," she grumbled, frowning at the idea of it.

"You need to choose a mate soon before we battle the Vargosh." He rubbed his palm up and down her back, sending waves of warmth and tingles through her. Did he know what his touch did to her?

"Why before? Why not after if I'm still alive?" she asked but he rumbled in response. Startled, Molly raised her face to meet his gaze. "What?"

"You will not die. I will not allow it."

"Whatever you say, oh-great-guardian, but shit happens, and I'd rather not commit to a male if I won't live to see next week."

"I concede," he growled. "You will choose a mate as soon as we return ... alive."

"What mate?" she moaned, resting her forehead on his shoulder. "The only men that want me are the Vargosh." She gasped. Yes, the Vargosh wanted her which is why they were in this situation. True, they wanted her dead, but her death would save them all. This was all her fault. All of it. "Give me to them, and they'll leave the planet alone."

"No," he ground out.

"Why not? It makes perfect sense. Then at least Amy, Mother and you will be safe."

"No, Mother would not bless you for this ..." He growled and tugged her tighter against him. His arms wrapped around her trapping her as he dipped his head to meet her gaze. "We will fight these Vargosh, then you will choose a mate. I have spoken."

"Oh, is that so?" She smiled, torn between taking umbrage at his high-handed manner and allowing the squishy feeling in her chest to dominate her tear ducts. She snuggled into his embrace instead and rested her cheek on his leather-covered chest. The heated scent of him encircled her. It felt wonderful lying there in his arms with the warmth of his body seeping into the cold marrow of her bones.

Releasing a sigh, she allowed the sound of his steady heartbeat to lull her. Lethargic but overheated, she pulled away to spread out on her back while she searched for cool air with her leg. His solid length sprawled alongside skittered through her mind in remembrance, and she wondered if he too had fallen asleep. She peered at him through the veil of her eyelashes, watching him study her face. The sight of his intense expression woke her further.

There was an unfathomable emotion softening his eyes, one that tugged on her soul. A timid excitement flittered through her body telling her that it, at least, knew what his expression meant. He brushed a curl out of her face with the gentlest of touches before feathering his fingertip down her cheek and throat. She shivered, unable to tamp down her reaction. His fingers stilled, then he shifted from under the furs. The loss of his presence echoed the loneliness from earlier.

"Sweet slumber, Molly," he whispered and left the tent. Molly sat up to stare after him. What a strange male. It took her ages before she could calm her pounding heart and fall into a disturbed slumber.

Sweet? Her ass.