Moon Read online

  Her fingers shook slightly as she unbuttoned her shirt. Ah-ha. His gaze locked on her chest and heavy breathing replaced the angry sounds he’d made. She parted the silky material enough to give him a better view of her push-up bra and cleavage. It also showed him her bare waist to the waistband of her skirt.

  “Now I’ve got your attention.”

  He glanced up and held her gaze a moment before dropping his focus to her breasts. A soft rumble came from deep within his throat as he stalked closer to the bars and gripped them.

  “Can you understand me? Nod if you can, Moon.”

  His fingers clenched the bars tightly enough that his knuckles whitened.

  “Moon?”

  He stared into her eyes and she watched him. He pointed to the area in front of him.

  “You want me there? Talk to me. Let me know you’re not going to hurt me.”

  “Come.” His voice came out inhumanly deep.

  Goose bumps broke out over her skin.

  One step closer and she paused. It would encourage him to keep trying to communicate with her, she hoped. She wasn’t willing to allow him to put his hands on her until she could get a better fix on his state of mind.

  “Here.” He pointed again.

  “Not yet.”

  Her heart pounded. Moon had always intimidated her with his sheer size and strength. That had been when he’d been her client and in full control of his mental faculties. He’d only gotten more muscular and bulky since he’d left site four.

  Anger flashed in his eyes. “Now.”

  Three words. Joy was keeping track of everything he said. “Do you know who I am?”

  Confusion clouded his expression. It wasn’t the response she was hoping for.

  “I’m Joy.” She pointed to herself. “Joyce. Dr. Yards. We used to know each other. Think, Moon.” An idea came to her. It might make things worse but she really didn’t see how it could get much worse. “466? I need for you to talk to me.”

  He wanted the female to come to him but she stayed out of his reach. It incensed him. Rage swirled in a red haze inside his mind. Then she spoke and called him 466. Some of the fog thinned enough for a memory to surface. He tried to concentrate on it. It was something important…

  Delicate pale hands with long red fingernails became clear in his mind. He wondered how they would feel against his skin, on his back particularly, since they weren’t real. Humans wore fake nails. It seemed curious to him that the females would do that. He stood, closed the distance, and grabbed hold of her wrist. It was delicate too. He could easily crush the bones if he wished. His gaze lifted at the sound of a feminine, soft gasp.

  “What are you doing? Let go.”

  There was a hint of fear in her pretty eyes and it pissed him off. He ran the pad of his thumb over the tip of her fingernail. Smooth, not sharp at all. He doubted she could break skin with them. He bent forward and she drew back in her chair but couldn’t get too far away with him refusing to release his hold.

  “I’d never hurt you, Joy.”

  “Joyce,” she corrected. “I mean, Dr. Yards.”

  He laughed. “Why do you have these, Joy? What is their purpose?”

  The question appeared to startle her. “Um, they look good and I guess they remind me of my feminine side.”

  His gaze swept over as much of her as he could see with the desk blocking his view. “Everything about you is female. Why would you need a reminder?”

  He couldn’t resist sliding his thumb over her palm. Soft and smooth. He wanted to feel the glide of it across his skin too. Preferably while she was naked under him. He’d even take her facing him the way humans preferred. He’d never tried that position but then again, he’d never wanted to mount one of them before.

  She didn’t attempt to jerk out of his hold but she didn’t seem happy either. “It’s a human thing. Um, women like to feel pretty and they wear makeup and get their hair and fingernails done.”

  He studied her face. “You don’t wear makeup.”

  “I do.”

  That surprised him. He sniffed, leaning closer until he was bent over the desk, hovering near her face. “I don’t see or smell it.”

  “I don’t wear much.” She finally tugged weakly, trying to free her hand. “Please take your seat. You know the rules. You’re being ornery today, 466.”

  His humor surfaced. “I want you. I’m curious about your body.”

  “Curiosity killed the cat,” she whispered.

  That amused him and he laughed. He liked to ruffle her and get responses that weren’t expected. He loosened his grip and she pulled away. Relief washed over her expression but then he leaned over the desk so far that the edge pressing against his hips was the only thing stopping him from falling over. He carefully gripped her face with both hands to avoid bruising her skin and she gasped again.

  “Good thing I’m canine then.”

  He went nose to nose with her, breathing in that wonderful scent that was hers alone. He loved how Joy smelled. Her lips parted. He knew it wasn’t her intention but it was an invitation he couldn’t resist. He tilted his head and tried to kiss her.

  Panic widened her eyes a split second before she twisted her head, surprising him enough to allow her to escape. His lips brushed her cheek instead. He wanted to snarl but managed to control the impulse. The last thing he wanted was her fear.

  “Kiss me.” He whispered the demand. “I won’t get you with my teeth. Trust me, sweetness. I want you to enjoy it.” His dick hardened so fast he flinched at the pinching sensation where it was trapped inside his jeans. He wanted Joy too much and wouldn’t be denied much longer. “Let me in.”

  “No.”

  He barely heard her soft rejection. A grin surfaced as he eased back a little, releasing her. “You will soon. Look at me.”

  She turned her head hesitantly, so close every breath she took teased his lips. Their gazes fused. The urge to grab the desk and throw it out of the way made him fist his hands to prevent following through. He’d be on her in a heartbeat, take her to the floor and fuck her.

  His dick suddenly throbbed painfully and felt as if it had its own heartbeat. The idea of her bare under him, her legs and arms wrapped around him as he pounded into her body was enough to test his ability to remain still. She’d be soft, sweet, and hot.

  It was too much. He straightened, skirted the desk, and dropped into a crouch. Her eyes widened when he forced her chair to turn, moving in closer until her knees were pressed against his belly. He forced her legs apart to fit his between hers.

  “466? Don’t!”

  Her voice trembled but it wasn’t fear he saw in her eyes. He inhaled, the scent of feminine arousal enough to drive him insane. She wanted him too but wouldn’t admit it. Frustration rose. Why did she keep denying their mutual attraction with her words when her body revealed the lie?

  “I’ll hit the alarm.”

  The silent plea in her eyes was clear. She didn’t want to do it but she would. It was always the threat she used to keep him at bay. He was tired of it.

  “You won’t. They’ll shoot me with drugged darts, lock me up for a week, and assign me to the other head shrink.” He moved in closer and his hands gripped her waist. It was small and her skin under the material was pliable when he gently squeezed, fascinating him with how different she was from his own kind. “You don’t like her. I’m yours and you won’t give my care to someone else.”

  Her mouth opened, closed, and her breathing became erratic. “I don’t dislike Geraldine.”

  “Lie,” he stated.

  “She’s a colleague of mine and I’ve never said I dislike her.”

  He muffled a snarl. She wanted to start an argument to distract him from sharing sex. It wasn’t going to work. “You look at her with disgust and irritation. You don’t like her and you won’t allow her near me.”

  Her hands flattened on his chest. They felt good but would feel even better if she were touching his bare skin. “We treat our cli