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But only if it was made right.

Every so often the barista at the café forgot about her request to substitute the normal sweetener that she was allergic to for the Casac variety, which she wasn’t, and her sweet treat turned into a painful nightmare full of regret.

That was how hookups were for her: laced with the worry her partner would be full of the kind of sweetener that left her feeling awful long after. Seriously, some males were only interested in their own pleasure. Aivey dreaded the thought of picking another guy just to discover that he only wanted what he could get from her and not what they could find together.

Vesta, on the other hand, had no such fears.

Aivey half turned back toward where her friend sat on the lap of a green-skinned Garan, the top of his military uniform almost fully unbuttoned now to show his sculpted muscles. Another of similar dress and appearance sat beside him, rubbing Vesta’s knee and grinning at her with his Earthian-like white teeth. Of all the species she could have gone for, Garans were quite similar to Earthians, except for the green skin and the fact they were built slightly larger…everywhere. Vesta was in for quite a ride if she got her wish and took them both to a private room—though from the look on her friend’s face, she wouldn’t mind that outcome one bit.

She’d done her friend duty and waited to see if Vesta needed saving, but it was pretty clear that her friend had all but forgotten about her.

Great. Just fine.Aivey frowned down at her empty drink and set it aside on a small table containing a number of other consumed cast-offs. If she was going to survive in this place alone, she needed another and quick. The steep price tag would be a small price to pay to calm her nerves and make sure she didn’t end up chickening out and leaving early.

Just as she was about to head back toward the main bar, two figures, Bhaargak males by the look of their pale purple skin and two tusks protruding up from their lower jaw, stepped in front of her.

“Hello there, pretty thing,” one said with a thick accent. Saliva dripped from the corner of his mouth to splatter onto the floor at his feet.

Eww. Aivey barely stifled the urge to curl her lips back in disgust.

“Want to play?” He reached a beefy arm toward hers and tapped their bands together. A red light flared immediately, thank the fucking stars.

“Sorry.” Aivey raised her voice to be heard above the music. “Doesn’t look like we’re a match.”

“Ya can change your mind,” the other said. “We’ll show ya a good time.”

“No thanks.” She gave them her bestI’m-being-polite-but-please-fuck-offsmile. She bobbed on her toes, trying to look past their broad, bulky forms to catch sight of Vesta and hopefully snare her attention long enough to beg for help.

“Come on, give us a try.” The first male grabbed her forearm, and Aivey instantly recoiled, trying to pull away. His skin was moist and clammy in a way that made her spine stiffen, and her drink burn back up the base of her throat.

She jerked her arm back, but the bastard held firm. “Let go!” When he didn’t, she pulled back again, throwing the force of her body in the opposite direction, slipping in her heels, and?—

Someone caught her from behind with a firm but gentle arm around her shoulders, tipping her back upright. A blue arm latched onto the Bhaargak’s male’s wrist and squeezed. “I believe she said no,” the newcomer said, voice deep and powerful in a way that brooked no argument.

Finally, the Bhaargak yelped and let go before cradling his arm against his chest.

The male behind her steadied her on her feet and let go, half stepping between her and the two aggressive males.

“She might change her mind,” the other Bhaargak insisted.

“I won’t,” Aivey snapped. “I already said no.”

“There you go,” the newcomer said. “She said no. Again. Or should I get one of the staff to remind you of the rules here and perhaps show you outside?”

At the threat, the two Bhaargak males grumbled and stomped off. Aivey let out a deep breath, her shoulders sagging as her adrenaline ebbed. With the males finally gone, she could see past them to where Vesta had risen from the lap of the Garan male and looked ready to rush over and save her. Aivey quickly shook her head and shot her friend a smile. She was safe now with this new male. Somehow, she knew that with a certainty.

Speaking of…

The male who’d saved her finally turned away from the retreating Bhaargaks. The snarl set on his features dropped away in an instant as his gaze met hers.

He was easily the most stunning creature she’d seen that night, with deep blue skin, silver hair that fell in long sheets past his shoulders, and a muscular humanoid body that filled out his black suit in the best of ways, accenting his broad shoulders and narrow hips. Two black horns speared through his hair just back from his forehead and sloped back past his pointed ears. He regarded her with ice-blue eyes set in a strong but balanced face.

“Are you all right?” he asked. He quickly slid his gaze up and down her body, not in the appreciative way several others had that night, but rather looking for injury or something else out of place.

“I am now.” She exhaled. “Thank you for scaring off those goons.”

“Of course.” He nodded to her, his stance relaxing. “They should know better than to treat someone that way anywhere, but especially here.”

“No kidding.” Aivey hugged her arms around herself. “You’d think anyone who could shell out that entrance fee would have some decency about them.”