“That sounds wonderful.” She took the bag and the wine. “Have a seat. I’ll get us some glasses.”

“I brought my dinner too. Do you mind if I eat with you?”

It explained how heavy and big the bag was. “I’d love that.” She put it on the coffee table and rushed to the kitchen to get silverware and glasses. She hunted up a bottle opener.

They sat side by side on the couch and Creek sniffed the air. Zandy turned her head to stare at her friend.

“You are in heat. It’s not just a faint smell now. It’s hit you full force.”

“That’s so weird. I hope I don’t stink.” She hated the thought. “Women can’t tell when they ovulate.”

“Species can. We get very aroused for sex and want it often. You don’t suffer that condition?”

“Nope.”

“You are lucky. I am sorry Vengeance went after you. He lives in the Wild Zone and hasn’t learned manners. Some of our more uncivilized males live there and they tend to allow their animal sides to rule. I’m sure he wouldn’t have harmed you but you would have had one horny male on your hands.”

“He would have forced me?”

Creek hesitated and then smiled. “He would have convinced you that you wanted sex. Our males would never take us unless our bodies were prepared for them. They can be very persuasive when they really want a female.”

Zandy shook her head. “He wouldn’t have convinced me.”

“I would disagree.” Creek took a sip of wine and looked surprised. “It is fruity but not bad.”

“You never had wine before?”

“No. We don’t drink alcohol but I like it.” She set the glass down. “Vengeance would have stripped you bare and buried his face against your sex. They can convince you to want them.” A wide grin spread across her face. “They are good at that. You being in heat would have assured he wanted to do that to you. They go crazy over the taste of a female in heat.”

Her mouth was hanging open and Zandy had to force it closed. “Okay.”

Creek chuckled. “You should see your eyes. Does this shock you? Don’t your males love to lick your sex and taste you?”

“Um, most of them prefer women to go down on them.”

Creek’s amusement instantly died as she gawked. “Why?”

“What do you mean, why? They like getting head.”

“What is that?”

Zandy blinked. “Oral sex. Men love getting o**l s*x from women.”

“Our males don’t ask.” Her chest puffed out a little. “They want to convince us to share sex with them. There’s no reason for us to tempt them that way to share sex with us. We are few and they are many. They have to work harder at sex to impress us since we have a large selection of males to choose from.”

“Wow.” Zandy sipped her wine. “So you never go down on the guys?”

“No.”

Zandy decided to change the subject. “I feel horrible about that fight today. I should have just left when Tiger told me to.”

“It’s not your fault you didn’t understand how tempting you were to males or that they would come after you aggressively. You’re human.”

“Tiger was hurt. His cheek was bleeding.”

She laughed. “Don’t worry about him. Males fight often and we heal fast. Besides, the females will hear what he did and want to reward him. He was a hero.”

“Reward him?” Zandy didn’t like the sound of that one bit.

“Tiger is one of our best fighters. That’s why he heads security here. The males respect and fear him at the same time. The females will hear what he did for you and offer to share sex with him. Some female will be more than happy to tend to it.”

Pain sliced through Zandy at the thought of some Species woman going after Tiger. He was mad at her and they were probably over. Would he sleep with someone else? She lifted her wineglass and downed the contents.

She listened to Creek talk about missing Homeland and how she’d been assigned with fifteen other women to live and work at Reservation. She drank a few more glasses of wine and managed to finish her dinner. Creek finally seemed to notice how quiet Zandy had grown.

“Are you tired?”

“Yes.”

“I’ll leave then. You aren’t supposed to go to work but you can. Tiger will get over his anger. You work with a human and they have no sense of smell. Richard also has a mate and I’ve never smelled arousal on him when it comes to you. I’m sure you’ll be safe with him.”

Zandy stood up too fast after so many glasses of wine and stumbled. Creek gripped her arm to steady her and laughed.

“I think you drank too much, my little friend.”

“Probably. It’s been a long, bad day.”

“You should call that male you are involved with and talk to him. It might make you feel better. You haven’t been able to see him since you’ve been asked to stay here for your safety.”

“We had a fight and I think we’re over. Thank you for dinner and the wine.”

“I’ll walk you to your room. You’re wobbling on your feet.”

“Thanks.” Zandy couldn’t deny she was a bit drunk.

Creek led her into the bedroom and pulled back the blankets. The other woman sniffed the air and got an odd look on her face as she stared at Zandy.

“What?”