Текст книги "Moon"

Автор книги: Laurann Dohner

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“My what?”

“When you bleed.”

“I don’t have regular periods.” Joy shifted her weight, glanced around the house she’d been assigned, and wished Rusty would finish her lecture. The Species seemed determined to go over every rule ever made by the NSO concerning human guests. “I take a birth control shot and have for some time.”

“Good. I will spare you the regulations and procedures then.”

“I have a good idea that I already know them.”

That drew a curious look from Rusty. “Really? I checked your history and you have never visited Homeland or Reservation before today.”

“I helped write the handbook they probably based your regulations and rules on. I was there after your people were freed from Mercile Industries. It didn’t take a genius to figure out that your males have a hypersensitive sense of smell and I’m aware of their reactions to an ovulating or menstruating woman. Also, you should keep breastfeeding women away from them.” She shrugged. “Some of your males love milk and harassed a few nursing mothers when the employees returned to work after maternity leave. I’ve talked a lot of your guys out of cornering women for many reasons. I’m the one who made it standard procedure for all female employees dealing with the males to take the shot if they weren’t already pregnant. Nursing mothers were reassigned to duties that didn’t include interaction with your males.”

Rusty frowned. “You did?”

“Yes. Someone was smart to assign pregnant women to guard the Species males but they didn’t consider what would happen beyond the pregnancy. Though they wouldn’t attack women, the scent of an ovulating one turned them on. So did the blood scent of a menstruating one. The desert heat made it worse. There wasn’t even a breeze out there sometimes so the males could pick up a hell of a lot with their noses. It was trial and error but we got it right. I changed procedure immediately after a few confrontations and called the other sites to warn them of the situation.”

A slight smile curved Rusty’s mouth. “How did you lure the males away from the females?” She gave her a once-over again. “Did you offer your body in exchange for them releasing the females they wanted?”

“No! I talked them into returning to their rooms.” Joy relaxed her tense stance. “Why can’t I eat with the general public? I read in one of the newspapers that there’s a cafeteria on site where most of your meals are prepared. Was that incorrect?”

“Head shrinks are not popular and everyone is aware you are here. We didn’t want any issues to arise. We’re keeping you separated from everyone except the ones assigned to you or Moon. Some of our people could become testy in your presence.”

“That makes sense.” She glanced around the living room again, remembering the way the Species male at Medical had glared at her and called her human. “When are they moving Moon?”

“They have already done so.” The woman removed a cell phone from her pocket, touched it, and glanced down. “They texted me to let me know he’s been safely transferred.”

“Has he woken?”

Shoulders shrugged. “They didn’t state that information.”

“We waited for my spare clothes to be delivered, I changed my shirt and ate a sandwich. I’m ready to go see where he’s being held.”

“I was told you’d start in the morning.”

That didn’t sit well with Joy one bit. She was impatient to see 466 again. “He needs help now and I’m ready to go.”

“Fine.”

Rusty led the way and Joy followed. Two males had been assigned to guard her as well though they didn’t speak and stayed far back until they reached the street. She didn’t allow it to bother her. The Species would warm to her or they wouldn’t, their choice. They drove her back to Medical and it confused Joy.

“I thought you said they transferred him.”

“They did. To a secure part of the basement. It’s divided into two parts.” Rusty motioned her to follow. “We have hospital rooms downstairs but we also have a large storage space we converted to hold him. That is where he’ll be kept. We’ll take the freight elevator.”

That kept Joy silent as they entered the building, walked down a corridor, and ended up at a huge elevator. A solitary New Species officer sat in a chair with a weapon strapped to his hip. He looked up as they approached. A laptop rested over his thighs.

“This is the head shrink.” Rusty paused. “Is Moon awake?”

“No.” The Species assessed Joy with a sweep of his gaze and obviously found her nonthreatening. “Proceed.”

The two guards remained behind as they entered the elevator. Rusty pressed the down button. The doors slid closed while nervousness gripped Joy. She hugged her chest.

“Are you cold?”

“No. I’m worried that I won’t be able to do anything for Moon.”

“He needs your help.”

“I’m going to try my best.”

The elevator stopped and the doors slid open to reveal a dim room. Rusty stepped forward and Joy followed. The basement area was big and a few cells sat across the room. From floor to ceiling were bars separating the area into three rooms, the center cell had the door closed. That one had been stripped down. The ones on either side were set up hotel-room style with a partition, a bed, nightstands and a TV. Moon’s cell contained only a bed, sink and toilet.

“It is sad to see him this way.” Rusty paused. “I will bring a chair for you to sit on and a blanket to keep you warm. I’ll return shortly. Do not go near the bars.”

“No one is down here with him?” She peered around the dim basement. “Someone should be monitoring him at all times.”

“He’s sleeping and the officer upstairs will hear if he wakes. Moon has been very loud since his attack. Seeing other males sets him off. It’s best if none are within sight or smell.”

It felt odd to be in the scary basement but Joy didn’t protest when Rusty left. She knew it was an irrational fear. The only danger was the sleeping Species male locked behind the bars. She hesitated before slowly approaching until she paused about five feet from his door.

They’d washed Moon’s hair and changed his clothing. He wore black sweatpants and his hair had been spread out above the pillow to dry. Someone had taken the time to brush the long strands and she inched a little closer. No restraints held him now. The slow rise and fall of his bare chest assured her he lived.

“I’m here, Moon.”

He must have heard her because his eyes snapped open. He sat up so fast it startled a gasp from Joy. Moon came off the bed in a fluid motion and his big body slammed into the bars. Long, lean fingers gripped the thick metal as he snarled. His dark gaze narrowed as he stared directly at her, his sharp fangs bared.

“Easy,” she crooned, refusing to back away. He couldn’t reach her.

He sniffed loudly and snarled again.

“It’s Joy. Do you remember me, Moon?”

His eyes narrowed further as he sniffed louder.

“Please remember me.” She held very still. “I’m your friend.”

He suddenly shoved away from the bars and turned to glance around the cell. He lunged at the back wall, hit it with his fists and growled when it didn’t break. He turned, attacked another wall, and Joy feared he’d hurt himself.

“Stop it!”

He jerked his head in her direction and paused.

“Easy,” she whispered. She kicked off her high heels and stepped away from them. She slowly lowered to the floor to sit on the hard surface, hoping he’d see her as less of a threat. “It’s okay, Moon.” Her hands adjusted her skirt to avoid flashing her panties as she crossed her legs to get comfortable. “I’m here with you. You’re not alone.”

He turned to face her, stalked closer and gripped the door. It rattled when he fisted the bars and shook them enough to make the muscles in his arms strain but they wouldn’t give. He sniffed at her again but lowered to his knees.

“That’s it. Remain calm.” She smiled. “You don’t want to break your hands. You’d need a jackhammer to dent the metal or concrete.”

He kept hold of the bars as he pressed his face against them. His intense stare locked on her and she realized that she studied a stranger. Moon’s personality wasn’t there, nor was there any sign that he recognized her. At least, nothing that she could assess. He peered at her as if he didn’t even know what she was. The memory of pinning her to the wall a few hours earlier seemed to have been erased.

“It’s going to be okay. I’m going to somehow help you.”

One of his hands released the metal to slip between the bars as he reached out to her. She wanted to go to him but wasn’t foolish enough to believe it would be safe. Just because he seemed calm didn’t mean he wouldn’t bite the hand she offered or try to rip her arm from the socket.

“I wish I could but you need to talk to me first.”

The elevator doors slid open behind them and Moon jerked his arm inside the bars, stood, and snarled. Joy turned her head to watch Rusty carry a folding chair and blanket closer. A loud howl ripped through the room and she gaped at Moon.

He attacked the bars and slammed his shoulder against them, trying to batter them down. Joy stood and faced the Species woman. “He was calm.”

“Not anymore.” Rusty set down the chair and dropped the blanket on it. “I’ll have them sedate him again before he hurts himself.”

“No, don’t. He was fine until you came.” Joy glanced at Moon again, saw his agitated state as he kept trying to break through the bars, and made a decision. “Leave us alone.”

“I’m supposed to stay here. We’re females and shouldn’t be threatening to him.”

Moon howled again, the sound echoing loudly through the basement. Joy winced. “He was calm until he saw you. Please, Rusty. Go. He’s going to get hurt.”

The woman hesitated. “I’ll wait inside the elevator but close the doors. I’ll remain on this floor. Yell out if you need assistance.”

Rusty spun and jogged away. Joy turned and lowered herself back to the floor.

“Moon?” Her voice softened. “Easy.”

He stopped attacking the bars as soon as the elevator doors closed, panted from his attack on his cell, and glared at her.

“It’s only you and me again. Do you remember? We used to talk a lot.”

He sank to his knees as he calmed. It gave Joy hope that some part of him did remember their sessions and he was on a slow road to recovery.

She couldn’t stand to see him so changed. It was a little petty, she admitted that, but it was upsetting that she’d done the hardest thing of her life by walking away from him only for him to end up locked inside a cell. Regret tore at her as she wondered if somehow things might have been different if she’d thrown ethics out the window, broken all the rules, and fought to remain a part of his life.

Don’t do this, she ordered herself. She knew better than to play the “what-if” game. Reality was right in front of her. Someone had done something horrific to the man she loved and all she could do was try to help him recover.

Chapter Two

Dr. Treadmont was an asshole who wouldn’t listen to reason. Joy struggled to hold her temper in check. “The drugs will only muddle Moon’s mind more. You said you had no idea what was given to him so you also have no idea if tranquilizers will worsen his condition.”

“We had to do it for days before you arrived, Miss Know-It-All.” He shot a frustrated look at Tiger and ran his fingers through his white hair. “We need more blood from Moon to try to isolate what he was injected with. I need to examine him but I can’t do it when he’s ready to kill anyone who goes near him.”

“Agreed.” Tiger sighed.

Joy gave Tiger a murderous glare. “You don’t know if it’s making him worse. He’s confused enough without purposely doing that to him.”

“We need samples.” Treadmont stared at her. “What do you suggest? We open up that door to take them and he’s going to attack. It’s not fair to ask the men to go in there to fight him so we can get him pinned.”

“You want to take them every day. That’s too much for him to handle in his present condition. You can’t drug him every time.” Her fists clenched. “Aren’t you still in charge, Tiger? Think of another way.”

“We don’t know what else to do,” Tiger admitted. “We have to test his blood and we need to take samples daily to check him. That can’t be avoided if we have any hope of finding a cure, if there is one.”

“We’re hoping to nail down what was done to him by coming up with a drug to counteract the effects.” The nurse, Paul, spoke. “It might be his only chance of recovery.”

“Adding tranquilizers into the system every day would harm a healthy person. Think of his mental state as well as his physical one.” Joy refused to back down. “There’s no point in testing him when it’s doing more damage than good.”

The silent New Species male in the corner stepped out of the shadows. “Do you have another idea, Dr. Yards?”

She was intimidated by Justice North—he was a daunting man who headed the NSO. She recognized him from television.

“He’d be better off restrained without the drugs than to constantly have them added to his system. No other chemicals should be introduced into his body until we have some answers. It could hurt him more. Anyone subjected to those levels of sedatives on a daily basis would suffer harmful effects. He’s confused already and you make him lose whatever hold on reality he has every time you knock him out.”

Tiger grumbled in obvious frustration. “I agree with her.”

“Me too.” Justice addressed Dr. Treadmont. “Ted, I’m siding with the shrink on this matter. I want him well again but messing with his mind in the process isn’t acceptable. I’ll have our males go in and pin him down. We’ll restrain him for two days for you to do your tests but I have to let him up after that. That way we’re playing it safe.”

“Two days?” Shock jolted through Joy. “That’s too long. I meant to restrain him only for the tests.”

Justice faced her. “I’ve learned a lot about compromise, Dr. Yards. You should do the same.”

“Call me Joy, please. Having him strapped down isn’t going to be good for his mental health either. Sure, it beats the drugs but that’s a long time to keep him immobile. I shouldn’t have to tell you how negatively any Species would react to that.”

“I have the whole picture to consider. There’s the safety and emotional well-being of my other males. They hate to engage him and there have been injuries. We don’t play around when we fight. Moon is feral and could kill someone. Every Species in contact with the public at the gates could be attacked again by this unknown drug. More males are in danger. Do you understand?” Justice sighed. “Compromise. No drugs but he has to be restrained. I’ll give Ted two days to do whatever tests he thinks are relevant and then we’ll give Moon freedom from the restraints for a few days inside his cell, after which we’ll reevaluate the situation. Hopefully we’ll have answers by then and discover an effective way to heal whatever was done to him.”

Joy hated it but nodded. “Okay.”

“Thank you.” Justice grimly smiled.

“I can be reasonable and I do understand. He is dangerous but I’m trying to do what is best for him.” She wanted him to understand her position.

“That’s why you were brought here. You’re his mental-health advocate. My job is to think of the safety of everyone.” Justice turned to Tiger. “We need to go in there to strap him down. Double his restraints.”

“Shit.” Tiger nodded. “We’re going to have to rig something.” Tears glittered in his eyes. “Something similar to what Mercile did to us so he has some ability to move to at least go to the bathroom. I think keeping him down twenty-four/seven would be the worst thing we could do.”

The tension in the room increased tenfold. Justice nodded sharply. “I agree. Fuck. I want to kill the son of a bitch who shot him with that drug and whoever created it.”

“Stand in line,” Tiger muttered. “I’ll handle whatever needs to be done. Go. You don’t want to see this and I highly suggest you restrict access to him even more. Everyone is going to be upset when they learn what we plan. Have Fury and Harley come. The three of us will work out the issue and set it in motion.”

Justice unbuttoned his jacket and removed it to reveal broad shoulders and a white dress shirt. His tie came off next as he toed off his dress shoes. “I’m staying. I gave the order. I’ll help implement it.”

“Justice…” Tiger frowned.

“Enough.” Justice unbuttoned the top of his shirt. “I’m staying.” He stared at the cell. “We need him flat, not restrained against the wall. That would definitely remind him of Mercile. No automated pulley systems either. The sound of the motors might trigger flashbacks.”

Tiger hesitated. “Agreed. I’m thinking ten-foot ankle chains to give him motion yet keep him clear of the door. We could hook them to the bars at the corners in the back of the cell so they would stop him short. The wrist chains can be longer and attached to the front corners, allowing him access to the back wall area. That will give him free movement in most of the area. Four of us could pull the chains taut and force him down spread-eagle on the floor when they need access to him.”

“That should work.” Justice rolled up his sleeves. “Has he lost any of his strength?”

“Nope. He’s eating plenty and doesn’t seem to feel much pain or he’s too angry to care. He’s tough as hell still.” Tiger pulled out a cell phone. “Let me make those calls.” He spun away, walking to a distant corner.

Justice removed his belt. “I had to do a press conference an hour ago. I hate wearing all these layers of window dressing.”

Joy was nervous around the NSO leader. “I don’t blame you. I hope everything is okay. I haven’t seen the news lately.”

“It’s typical stuff we deal with on a daily basis.” He sighed. “I’m going closer to Moon.”

“I wish you wouldn’t.”

That comment earned her a scowl. “Why?”

“He is calmly watching us but that is going to change if you approach him. I don’t want him to get hurt when he starts hitting things.”

“I’m an alpha figure. I want to see if he responds to that in his current condition.”

“He’s an alpha too.” Joy frowned. “It’s not a good idea but I can’t stop you.”

“Moon is pretty mellow.”

“The Moon you knew before he was drugged probably was but the one I knew wasn’t. He’s reverted completely.” Her gaze lingered on the big male crouched inside his cell, silently regarding them. “He’s relying on pure instinct. He’s not going to back down from you.”

“How can you be so sure?”

She glanced at him. “It’s an educated guess.”

Justice slowly approached and Moon rose, snarling.

“Please don’t,” she whispered, knowing Justice heard her.

He paused but backed up. “Okay.”

Tiger returned. “They are on their way and I called the supply department. They are sending chains and restraints once they locate them. We’ll have to make whatever they find work. It’s not as if we have this stuff lying around. It’s going to take a while. Maybe hours.”

Dr. Treadmont sighed. “Why don’t we have lunch while we wait?”

“Fine.” Justice left his discarded clothing where he’d neatly folded it. “Joy? Would you like to join us in my office?”

“No thanks. I’m staying here.”

“You barely left since you arrived. Take a break.”

“I think it’s best if I stay. I asked one of the officers to see if any clothes had been located that would fit me and I used the showers upstairs this morning.” She didn’t take her attention off Moon. “I’m not leaving him.”

“Okay.” Justice waved at the males to leave. “We’ll have lunch delivered to you both.”

“Thanks.” She waited for them to leave before facing the cell.

Moon crouched again when she slowly drew closer. “Hi.” She lowered to her hands and knees to keep on his level. “You seem calmer. You allowed them to share the room without getting upset.”

His nostrils flared as he sniffed loudly.

“We used to be friends.” She crawled closer, ignoring the unforgiving concrete floor, doing it slowly in case he protested. “You’re watching me pretty intently. I wish I knew what you were thinking.”

One of his hands released the bar and slid through, reaching out to her. She really wanted to touch him. He seemed calm enough but until he talked to her, it was too risky. She’d heard countless stories from the Mercile survivors of ways Species had killed their tormentors during captivity when given the chance. He might be toying with her to draw her close enough to assault her. She stopped when a couple of feet separated his fingertips from her face.

His gaze fixed on her body and she glanced down, noticing the way her shirt fell forward enough to flash her cleavage again. She sighed, looking up. “I’m not making progress with you, am I? You’re all instincts and urges because you can see enough of my breasts to interest you. Damn.”

She sat, blocking his view down her shirt when she straightened her shoulders. He didn’t pull his hand back inside the bars though, just continued to watch her. She smiled, trying to hide her concern.

“Will you talk to me? What are you thinking?”

He sniffed again and growled low. It wasn’t threatening in tone, more like frustration, she guessed. He wanted to touch but she wasn’t within reach. He’d always been stubborn. An idea came to her.

“You want?” She gripped the low collar of her shirt and tugged it down enough to give him a peek of the top of her breasts. “Talk to me, Moon.”

His sexy, generous lips parted before he licked them. Another growl rumbled from him, a little deeper. Sharp canines showed and she held his frustrated gaze.

“Can you talk? Try for me. Please?”

Emotion flashed in his eyes but she had no clue what it meant. He’d always been good at hiding everything from her. He shoved more of his arm through the bars until his thick biceps prevented him from reaching any farther. She rose to her knees, his fingertips only inches from her shirt when she leaned closer.

“Moon?”

He stopped staring at her cleavage to peer into her eyes.

“Say something, anything. Do you want to touch me? Give me something in return.”

His growl deepened, turning a little scary. She was playing a dangerous game, considering she was offering to let him actually put his hand on her if he complied. She’d do it. To hell with ethics. They needed to establish trust. That would be fundamental in helping him. It needed to go both ways.

“Are you in there?” She gazed deeply into his eyes. “Say one word and I’ll come closer.”

He sealed his lips together, hiding his fangs, and swallowed hard. His eyes narrowed as he watched her. “Give,” he rasped.

He could form words and he wasn’t repeating something she’d just said, which meant he could do more than mimic noises. That had to mean he could think and that whatever drug they’d given him hadn’t caused massive brain damage at least. She nodded and lifted her knee to crawl closer.

“Don’t hurt me.” It came out a plea. She could only hope for the best, which would be that he didn’t draw blood or worse.

“Don’t!”

The deep male voice startled her so badly she jerked and twisted her head around. A big form stepped out of the shadows on the other side of the room. His boots stomped loudly as he walked into the dimly lit area.

“Get away from him.”

Moon snarled, jerked his arm back inside the cell, and sprang to his feet. His chest rammed the bars, trying to push through them.

The New Species male storming closer had long brown hair that fell past his shoulders and dark-brown eyes that flashed rage. The biker jacket and boots came as a surprise. He wore faded jeans and a black top.

“What the hell are you doing to him?” He reached down, gripped her upper arm, and hauled her to her feet. He had to be at least six foot three.

“Who are you?” she gasped.

“Who the fuck are you? You think it’s fun to tease the animal in the cage?” He gave her a rough shake. “Who let you down here? You better talk fast, female. I might throw your ass in there with him and let him have you after what I saw. Do you know what he’ll do to you after cock-teasing him? You’ll be fucked for hours in every sense.”

Joy was taken aback. It took her a few seconds to recover. “Who are you? This isn’t how it seems.”

“I’m his best friend.” He dragged her a few feet away from the cell. “Be happy you’re a female. I’d kick your ass otherwise. What kind of sick bitch are you to do that to him? Is that your idea of fun? Cock-teasing the crazy Species?”

She grabbed the wrist attached to the fingers that held her. “No! I’m Dr. Joyce Yards and you have no idea what you’re talking about. I wasn’t being mean to him. It’s the only thing he responds to. I’d stand on my head and do cartwheels if that’s what it took to get him to interact with me but he’s only interested in sex.”

His hold on her arm loosened slightly and he frowned. “I know that name. I’ve heard it before.”

“I was Moon’s therapist right after he was rescued from Mercile. He—”

Moon howled in outrage.

She turned toward him. He looked pissed but she didn’t blame him. “Please calm down,” she urged.

He rammed his chest against the bars again, snarled, and glared at the other male who had prevented him from getting close enough to touch her. He was working himself into a rage.

“Let’s take a walk and discuss this farther away from him.” Joy tugged on the big Species, heading back the way he’d come. She kept her gaze on Moon though and spoke directly to him. “I’ll be right back and we’ll start over, okay? I won’t break my word. You can touch me. Let me talk to him first.”

The Species clamped down hard on her wrist again. “You aren’t going near him.”

She lifted her chin to direct her coldest look his way. “Walk away with me. Do you see what he’s doing? He could hurt himself. Move now if you care about him.”

“Fuck.” He jerked on her arm, dragging her instead of her tugging on him anymore. He didn’t halt until they were in the shadows by the far wall. “I’m taking you to Security where we’re going to discuss what I witnessed.”

“You saw me getting him to speak. Did you hear him? He can form words. That means he can communicate. He’s in there somewhere.”

“You were teasing him.”

“I wasn’t.” She jerked hard and he released her. “You’re his best friend? Do you have a name?”

“Harley, and yeah, I’m his best friend. That’s why I’m taking you to Security and they are going to bounce your ass on the street outside the gates.”

She fought frustration. “Listen to me, Harley. He spoke a word. Do you get that? Do you understand what that means?”

He growled low, revealing his canine traits.

Joy took a deep breath. “I can see how you misunderstood what you saw. Give me two minutes to explain.” She held up that many fingers. “That’s all I ask.”

“Make it good.” His voice was harsh, revealing his rage.

“He’s rejecting everyone here and the only way to reach him seems to be through his fixation with sex. I’m not above using that if it works.” She rubbed her wrist, sure it was bruised. “I’d do anything to help him, including flashing my breasts if that’s what it takes to find some part of him that will communicate with me. That’s what he was doing. Whatever drug he was given has reverted him to raw instinct but he has the ability to speak if he concentrates hard enough. It’s a really good sign that his cognitive skills are intact. The only effective way I’ve discovered so far to make him work with me is by offering him what he wants most.” She sucked in air. “I’m not being cruel. I’m trying to save him.”

Harley’s face was in the shadows and she couldn’t read his expression but he wasn’t growling. “He could have killed you.”

“He wants something else from me more. We didn’t have bars between us earlier when he had me pinned against a wall. I’d be dead already if he saw me as his enemy or as a threat.”

He softly growled. “What are you talking about?”

She quickly told him what had happened when she arrived. “So, he could have torn into my throat with his teeth or snapped my neck. He didn’t. I’m not stupid. Believe me when I say I’m more than aware of how easily he could have killed me if that’s what he intended.” She stepped back. “May I continue? I need to show him he can trust me. I said he could touch me if he’d talk. He did.”

“You’re insane.”

Joy didn’t respond to that accusation since he had a valid point. “I’m determined to do whatever it takes to help him.”

“What if he wants to do more than touch you?”

Heat warmed her cheeks. “Whatever it takes. I’ll do anything for him.”

He stepped forward and nearly bumped her. “What changed?”

“What do you mean?”

He leaned down a little until his face came into the light. His brown eyes were kind of scary combined with the severe look on his rugged features. “I remember who you are now. You split on him before when he needed you. You didn’t even have the courage to say goodbye.”

Shit. The guy really was a close friend of Moon’s.

“He felt something for you but you refused to give him a chance. Why are you here? Are they paying you a lot of money?”

“I’m not on the clock.”

“What does that mean?”

“I’m not on the NSO payroll. I came because they said I was needed. There was no obligation for me to drop everything to drive here but I did as soon as I got the call. I’m staying because Moon needs me. This isn’t about money. I want to help him.”

He regarded her with suspicion, not bothering to hide it. “You aren’t here on official business?”

“No.”

“Then you aren’t really his head shrink. Is that right?”

She could guess where he was going with the conversation. “I was asked by the NSO to help him. You can’t throw me off Homeland. I was invited and I’m staying.”

He leaned back, hiding his face once more in the shadows. “Ethics won’t be an obstacle this time between the two of you, will they?”

She could feel the blood drain from her face. Moon must have told his friend the things she’d said and reasons she’d given to keep him at arm’s length. Her shoulders squared and her spine stiffened. “No,” she blatantly stated. “They won’t. He’s not technically my client.” A shaky breath later she spoke again. “Do you have a problem with that?”

He backed up. “No. I’m wondering if using your body is really the only way to reach him or if you’re looking for an excuse to get close to him. Proceed, Dr. Yards. Know I’ll be watching. You cross a line that I don’t like and I’ll carry you to the gates myself. Am I clear?”

“Perfectly.” He was good at communicating his feelings. “You tell me another way to reach him and I’ll be happy to try it.”