“I laid everything too close to that stove. My watch and boots were ruined.” He glanced down his body at the sweats and NSO-logo T-shirt with a grimace. “I miss my jeans but I promised Moon I’d make sure you got here and stayed.”
“I won’t try to find my way back to Medical. I realize I’d need an escort and that it would alarm anyone who saw me walking around without one. That’s the last thing I want to do.”
“I keep my word, Doc. Even to a head shrink.”
Her good mood fled. “Your people agreed to therapy as well as mine. Do you know how irritating it is to be called that? Head shrinking implies something horrible and it sounds painful. All we wanted to do was help you adjust to life outside Mercile. You needed to have had someone there to talk to and connect with after all you’d been put through. That’s basic compassion and common sense to help someone in need. It wasn’t easy for us either.”
His eyebrows rose again as he regarded her.
“You guys weren’t exactly friendly at first. I was terrified one of you would suffer a posttraumatic break in my office and don’t think for a moment that I didn’t know that even the burly male guards would have been ill equipped to handle that situation. Even your women could have kicked their butts and handed them their balls. Females,” she corrected, knowing they preferred that term.
Harley grinned.
“Do you know how much grief I got from my parents and friends when I packed up and told them I had gotten a job I couldn’t talk about? They had no idea where I was and my mother thought I was being cruel by keeping her in the dark. We couldn’t leave site four and it was boring. I would have killed to go for a drive or take a walk to a coffee shop. Anything normal.”
“You’re ranting again, aren’t you? Should I nod now?”
“Sorry. What is taking so long? Can’t you text them or something to get an update? Rusty did that.”
“I forgot my cell phone was in the back pocket of my jeans. I was afraid to turn it on until it cools down. It might be fried.”
“Damn.” She stared at the house phone on the table by the door. “Can you call someone?”
“They’ll let us know when they figure out what is going on. All we’ll do is make them drag their asses more if we interrupt whatever is happening right now.”
“Impatience used to be a common Species trait.”
“Isn’t progress a wonderful thing?” He chuckled. “I see why Moon likes you. You’re kind of cute when you’re not in shrink mode.”
“You’re single, aren’t you?”
“Yes.”
“Big surprise,” she huffed and crossed her arms over her chest.
“Sarcasm isn’t lost on us anymore either.” He stood. “Do you want something to eat? It might keep your mouth busy before you get too insulting.”
Joy knew she was being bitchy. She’d thought up the crazy plan. They could have at least told her if it worked or not. It was driving her nuts, wondering if he’d been able to retain his memory or if he’d slipped back into the mental fog.
The doorbell rang and she started. Harley strode to the door and threw it open. His big frame blocked her view but she was close enough to hear his surprised gasp.
“Moon!”
“And a Security detail,” a familiar, husky voice answered. “To watch me to make sure I remain myself.”
“You’re out of Medical?”
Joy inched closer, a little stunned as well that he’d been released from supervision. Elation hit next. It must mean he had broken free of the drug’s hold on his system. Her heart speeded up and she hugged her waist, trying to get a look at him around his bulky friend.
“We’ll talk later. I came to speak to Joy. Do me a favor and go to my house. I’d kill for a few steaks and some coffee. I should be there about the time you’re done making them.” Moon chuckled. “I assume you won’t mind.”
“No.” Harley stepped forward and hugged the other Species. “Not a damn bit. I’m glad you’re back.”
Moon stared at Joy over his friend’s shoulder while he hugged him back. “Me too. I’ll be there soon. We have a lot to catch up on.”
Joy barely noticed Harley’s departure, staring at the man she loved instead. Moon had obviously showered. He wore a black tank top and sweats. His dark gaze locked on her as he stepped inside then turned and spoke to the Species who accompanied him.
“Wait there. This is private. You’ll hear if there’s a problem and I won’t lock the door so you can gain entry if there is.” He didn’t wait for a response as he closed the door firmly between him and the security detail on her porch. He leaned against it and looked at her.
“It worked.” It was all she could think to say. Moon stood in her living room. His handsome face held a grim expression, a stark reminder that he wasn’t the same person she’d once known. Wariness shone in his eyes and a little anger too, if she were to guess. Nerves struck hard as her stomach clenched. He’d either come to thank her for rushing to his side or to ask her to leave Homeland.
“We found an implant in my arm. It was dosing me with the drug to keep it in my system longer. At first we believed it was a tracking device but realized the truth once it was examined under a microscope and tested. Traces of the same chemical in my system were held within it.”
She was too stunned to speak. He was cured but it wasn’t because of her suggestion to use the sauna after all. It didn’t matter to her as long as he was better though.
“Ted figured it would have kept drugging me for a few more days at most but then it would have finally been over.”
“I’m glad you’ve recovered.” Her voice came out shaky. Her shoulders straightened a bit as she pulled herself together and forced her arms to her sides. She wanted to appear calm and composed. “How are you feeling? No lasting headache or fogginess?”
Moon cocked his head. Anger definitely flashed in his dark eyes. “Is that all you have to say to me,
Dr. Yards
?”
She gave up on being professional. It was bullshit to even pretend to be able to pull that off and they both obviously knew it after the mocking way he’d just addressed her.
“No.” She took a hesitant step forward, the urge to touch him strong enough that her fingers flexed. It probably wouldn’t be smart to try it though so she paused, keeping a good ten feet of space between them. “What do you want me to say? I’m no longer your therapist but that’s the role I’m most comfortable with at this moment because you are glaring at me. I’m trying to determine why.”
He pushed away from the door and slowly stalked closer. Joy took in the lithe way he moved. An alarm went off in the back of her mind. That wasn’t a man coming at her but a predator, a pissed-off and dangerous one. She took a step back before he could touch her. He froze and softly growled.
“You of all people should know better in my current mood. You turn and run, I’ll take you down.” He glanced behind her before holding her gaze. “The carpet looks thick but I doubt it would prevent you from getting hurt if I tackle you to the floor.”
It was tough to think as she battled fear and logic. He wouldn’t intentionally harm her though she knew his threat was real. She stared up into his face and his exotic beauty struck her once more. He looked fierce and sexy at the same time. His full lips were slightly parted, reminding her of his sharp canines. The bite mark on her didn’t hurt but her awareness of it was suddenly heightened, along with the memory of how he’d put it there.
“I’m almost tempted to push you,” she admitted, throwing caution aside. His beautiful eyes widened, his surprise apparent. “What would you do to me?”
His gaze moved down her body slowly, taking in every inch, and his nostrils flared as he inhaled. She glanced down to the front of his sweats. There was no missing his response. The outline of his cock thickened and lengthened as she watched.
“Fuck,” he softly hissed.
She jerked her gaze away from his groin to look into his eyes again. He glared at her. She took another small step backward, knowing it would provoke his instinct to give chase.
“Don’t do it, Joy. I came to talk.”
That’s what she dreaded. She was afraid he’d ask her to leave Homeland. He must regret what had happened between them and it wouldn’t be a stretch if he blamed her for them having sex. His need to speak to her implied he wished it hadn’t happened. She tried to hide her pain.
“Okay.”
His eyes closed. “Don’t use that tone.”
“What tone?” she whispered, not trusting her voice to hide the fact that her heart was breaking.
His eyes opened. “Damn you. You have no right to act injured. You left
me
! You’re the one who walked away.” His voice rose into a snarl. “Don’t expect to return to my life as if all that time hasn’t passed. I’m not the same male.”
“I know that.”
The front door opened and Flame peered in. “Is everything okay?”
“Get out,” Moon ordered. “We’re having an argument. She’ll scream for you if she needs assistance. I’m fully aware of who I am and not losing it again. Stay outside at your post and stop interfering.”
Flame glanced at Joy, making sure she was well. She nodded, worried he wouldn’t give them privacy otherwise.
“Um, understood.” He withdrew, firmly closing the door.
Joy studied Moon. One of his hands lifted to run his fingers through the side of his hair, pushing it back, away from his face. Anger still burned in his brown eyes as he grimly regarded her. Her gut twisted. This was going to be a painful end to their reunion.
Moon fought down his rage. Joy had always been a sore spot with him. It had been hell when she’d disappeared, leaving him no recourse but to accept that he’d never see her again. It wasn’t as if he could track her down in the foreign world she’d fled to. It had crossed his mind a few hundred times though his chances of actually locating her hadn’t been good. Pride hadn’t allowed it in the end and it would have been sheer stupidity to put his life at risk to pursue a female who had rejected him in a very final way.
She stood in front of him, appearing fragile, her emotions clear on her face. That hadn’t changed about her. Her eyes had always been too expressive and got past his defenses every time. Even now he wanted to soothe her and make that hurt look fade. The fact that she still affected him strongly only strengthened his bitterness.
“I appreciate you taking time out of your busy life to come to Homeland.” He kept his tone neutral.
Joy lowered her gaze to stare at his chest. She nodded as her shoulders stiffened.
He stifled a snarl and was grateful for once that he’d spent a lifetime hiding his feelings. After all she’d put him through, he wouldn’t allow her to step back into his life as if no time had passed. He’d changed over the years, learned to get past his obsession with her, and he’d done a good job of it. The risk of her walking away from him a second time was too high to chance. He wouldn’t allow her to creep into his heart again.
Once burned, twice shy.
It was a human motto he had become familiar with.
“What do you want from me?” He refused to apologize for his harsh tone but he needed answers. “Why did you really come here?”
She raised her gaze to his. The sadness in her gaze weakened some of his resolve to send her back to her world. But only for a moment. She had no right to sympathy. He’d been the injured party.
“I’m glad you’re well, Moon.”
He snarled low to show her his patience had reached its limit.
She didn’t flinch away. “I missed you.”
“A lie,” he accused. “There are always choices. You were too weak to face the tough one of sticking around to find out what was between us.”
“I don’t know how much you remember of our discussions while you were under the influence of the drug but I want to be sure you know that I’m so sorry I left. I had to.”
“I don’t believe that.”
“You’re still naïve then.” Her chin jutted out and a defiant look appeared on her face. “Do you know how much money they had invested in keeping Species protected from the press and any possible threats? I would have been considered a security risk. It was top priority to keep all the sites hidden at any cost. Even if it meant tossing me into a jail cell and dragging out the paperwork or whatever else they had to do to keep me from speaking to anyone not involved with the program. My supervisors would have removed me by force.”
His temper flared and he cupped her face before he realized his intention. His hold was gentle but he knew it was a mistake touching Joy. It wasn’t enough and he wanted more. He wrapped his other arm around her waist to keep her from withdrawing from him.
“They wouldn’t have taken you away because you allowed me to get close to you.”
She slumped a little in his hold but didn’t look away. “Yes, they would have. I wasn’t military, 466. The rules were very strict on my interaction with Species. The only physical contact allowed was in the event I was attacked and had to defend myself until one of the guards arrived.”
Use of his Mercile-assigned number was an insult but he didn’t believe she meant it as such. “Moon,” he corrected.
“I’m sorry.”
“You left before I took a name.”
She intently peered up at him. “You have to believe me. Did you know at Site Two they kept one of the therapists locked inside her room for six days as punishment for holding the hand of one of your females?”