“You’re going to be fucked.” Harley refused to back down. “He’s still obsessed with you if he thinks he’s living in the past. You were everything to him.”
She didn’t dare look away from him to see anyone else’s expression. Her cheeks burned and she broke into a sweat from being put in the spotlight. Words escaped her while she scrambled for a way to respond.
“Sex?” Dr. Treadmont shot to his feet. “Is that what you’re talking about?”
“Sit!” Justice rose from his chair too.
Joy gaped at Justice, his tone scary and loud. He growled, ignoring her, instead glaring at the white-haired doctor.
“I protest, Justice,” Treadmont sputtered. “I’m not dense. Harley was pretty clear about what her form of therapy is. This is a medical condition we’re dealing with. He needs real help, not a hooker. No amount of screwing is going to fix him.”
“Hooker?” She snapped her head in his direction and glared at him.
“If the high heel fits,” the old man snapped. “I don’t believe in sex therapists. It’s a fancy title to make prostitution legal. You’re not practicing your trade here, young lady.”
“Ted!” Justice walked out from behind his desk and stepped between her and the crusty old doctor. “Leave my office now and wait for me in reception. You’re overreacting to a situation you know nothing about. We’ll discuss this in private.”
“Sex isn’t the answer,” the doctor reiterated angrily but he stormed toward the door. It slammed when he left.
Justice turned, still looking frightening with that untamed expression. He was angry too. “I apologize.”
Her heart pounded as adrenaline rushed through her system. She nodded sharply, not sure anything that came out of her mouth at that moment would be professional. That was long gone once she’d been verbally attacked and insulted.
“We will attempt to allow Moon to slowly recover the way you’ve suggested. He can’t leave the basement until we’re sure he’s not a danger to others. I’ll talk to my mate. For the moment, we’ll ask the officers to put on casual wear and tell Moon that we’re stronger and that’s why we are guarding him. Tell him he frightens the humans at site four. That is believable.”
“Okay.”
He hesitated. “Harley does have a point. No bars means that Moon will attempt to share sex if he’s attracted to you, which I assume he is.”
“I understand.”
“You signed the release so you may return to him. I’ll call the officer and have him give you the keys to his chains and the door. Are you comfortable setting him free? I’ll come with you right now if you prefer help.”
“I can do it.”
He studied her. “Fine. I’ll double the officers outside Medical, though, to make sure he doesn’t attempt to escape the building.” He walked to his desk, lifted the phone, but didn’t dial. “You may go, Joy.” He glanced around the room. “Everyone else stay.”
She left but came face-to-face with Treadmont in reception. He sat in one of the chairs, shaking his head in disproval, his lips white from being pressed so tightly together. She debated arguing with him but fled instead, not wanting a confrontation. The man was furious and she could see his point, even if she didn’t agree with it. There wasn’t anything orthodox about what she was about to do.
Moon wasn’t a stranger though. He was 466, the New Species she’d fallen in love with and had walked away from when he’d needed her. This time she wouldn’t fail him, regardless of what anyone else thought. She’d stand on her head, sleep with him, whatever it took.
One of the uniformed NSO officers waited outside in a Jeep. “Please return me to Medical.”
“I heard what happened.” He waved her to his vehicle.
She shot him a questioning look.
“I was outside Justice’s office until Treadmont came out. He’s not so bad, just old-fashioned. He’s also frustrated. He cares about Moon but hasn’t been able to fix him. That pisses him off and you became an outlet for it.”
“He’s something,” she muttered, climbing into the passenger seat. “I’m Joy, by the way.”
“Flame.” He shoved the key into the ignition and started the engine. “Moon is a friend of mine and he spoke of you sometimes.”
Curiosity gripped her. “What did he say?”
“We were talking about regrets one night. He shared his story of losing you. I shared my story of how I met a human I really liked but I let her go. Sometimes I think about Amanda and wish I had invited her to visit me.”