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“Our futures? Do you want to renegotiate your contract with My Single Alien?” She hoped not. If he started haggling over money, Diadora was bound to hear about it and get involved. Nothing good happened when she did. Vegas would face a grilling over her inability to handle Boros.

“In a way.” Boros stepped forward and took hold of Vegas’s hand. “I want you as my mate.”

Heather gasped and looked at Vegas. “Do you want me to leave?”

“No! Stay where you are.” Vegas inwardly groaned. What was it with these Galaxars? Why could they never be happy with the arrangements she’d already made for them?

She tried to pull her hand away from Boros, but he held on. “I’m flattered. But once you meet your mate, you’ll realize you have an excellent match.”

“I am sure the female you have selected for me will be suitable. I have made a different choice. I want you.” Boros tugged her toward him.

As hard as she tried not to, Vegas found herself sliding toward Boros. He wasn’t even trying, yet her muscles felt like they were about to pop from her efforts to stay out of his reach.

“Brigadier! We can talk about this tomorrow. It will give us both time to consider your offer. You might feel differently when you’ve had a chance to think about this.” Vegas really hoped he would. She did not want to be this Galaxar’s mate. There was something about him that set her teeth on edge.

“We can get to know each other better now,” Boros said. “You will find me an agreeable mate. I am generous when required to be.”

“I appreciate the offer, but I have to say no,” Vegas said. “We run a professional organization. I cannot join with a client.”

“I don’t doubt your professional abilities,” Boros said. “Although I am much more interested in your abilities in the bedroom.”

“Brigadier!” Heather stepped forward. “This is not appropriate behavior.”

“Be quiet,” Boros snapped, his gaze narrowing. “I have paid my money for a mate, and I have found one. I claim her and can do what I wish with her.”

Heather opened her mouth to argue, but Vegas grabbed her elbow and shook her head. They did not want an angry Galaxar on their hands. He could squash both of them with a violent sneeze.

“It’s fine, Heather. Brigadier, I’m nobody’s mate.” Vegas dug her nails into his arm. He didn’t seem to notice. “Get your meaty paws off me.”

As she struggled against him, Vegas spotted two of his guards waiting in the corridor. They had weapons in their hands, long, sharp blades favored by Galaxars in combat. That was when they weren’t using their fists. Vegas’s gut twisted in fear. Boros had come here knowing she’d resist him, yet he wanted her anyway. She fought the panic flaring inside her. There must be a way to rationalize with him.

“You will be mine,” Boros said. “Come to my quarters and we can mate.”

“If you don’t let go of me immediately, I will terminate the arrangement you have with My Single Alien. You will have no choice but to leave the space station with no mate. The same goes for any troop members you have brought here. Nobody else will be eligible to have a mate.”

“Your agreement is meaningless,” Boros said. “We will take what we want, and that includes you.”

Vegas gasped as Boros wrapped a hand around the back of her neck and clamped his mouth onto hers.

He broke apart from the kiss and leered at Vegas. “Yes. You are sweet and fertile. Just what I need.”

She kicked him in the shin, her toes protesting as they met the protective shin pad he wore. “I am not yours.”

“Brigadier, you need to stop this.” Heather grabbed hold of his arm.

Boros dropped his hold on Vegas and slammed the back of his hand across Heather’s face. She flew through the air and landed on her back on the floor outside her quarters.

“Restrain the female,” Boros said to his guards as he grabbed Vegas. “Make sure she can no longer interfere.”

Vegas struggled in his grip, seeing Heather was unconscious as the guards dragged her away. “Boros, you are no longer welcome here. You cannot attack a member of staff. Now, get your funky smelling, oily hands off me and leave the space station immediately.”

“I will leave when I’ve gotten what I want.” Boros’s gaze raked over Vegas. “Unless you want to come with me? We can leave together on my ship. I can show you the stars.”

“I’d rather spend the rest of my days in the waste disposal unit on this station. I’m going nowhere with you.”

“You don’t have a choice in the matter.” His huge hands curled around the top of her arms and he squeezed. “I could break you if I wanted to. Remember that the next time you think about making a smart comment.”

Pain radiated down Vegas’s arms as his fingers dug into her flesh. Her gaze went to her wrist communicator. If she could reach that, she could access the station’s security. Boros wouldn’t be able to defend himself against a troop of cyborgs.