Moon didn’t look at him with horror. “I’m going to hug you. It means I care and you are not heartless. You did your best for your mate but it sounds as though her love belonged to another before she ever met you. You didn’t stand a chance. We tend to obsess over one person in our lives and that’s it. You haven’t seen happily mated couples but I have. It wouldn’t have mattered how good you treated her or what you did, trying to make her content. Her mind was always on another and she wasn’t going to give you a chance.”

The male suddenly jerked Obsidian against his chest, his arms holding on to him and he just stood there, allowing it. It wasn’t exactly a comfortable feeling having another male so close to his body but he didn’t get the urge to punch him. Moon withdrew slightly to meet his gaze.

“We’ll find you a female who will make you forget all about 46. One who makes you feel alive again. You need to get laid.”

The image of one woman filled his thoughts and he uttered her name instantly. “Alli.”

Moon arched his eyebrows. “Ah. Kind of stuck on her, huh?”

“I want her.”

“Then practice that puppy-dog look and say what I told you.” Moon released him and stepped back, glanced around, then walked to the edge of the building to peer over the wall. He glanced back. “Luckily for you I know where she lives. How do you feel about a late-night visit? Nobody is going to check on us since Jericho knows I’m with you. Have you ever jumped before? It’s easy from this height. Just watch me closely and do what I do. Land on your feet and bend your knees.” He flashed a grin. “We have an advantage as Species.”

* * * * *

Alli finished closing the last box, suffering nostalgia despite only having lived in her home for a few months. It had been the best time of her life. She blinked back tears as she tried to plot out her future. It looked pretty bleak.

She’d gambled with her career and now it was time to pay the price. It wouldn’t be hard to find employment elsewhere as long as the NSO didn’t file kidnapping charges. Any backwater hospital would be eager to hire her. The computer screen she’d left on drew her attention as she sank into the desk chair. The search results were displayed as she pondered her options.

An image of Obsidian distracted her when she closed her eyes. No regret surfaced over taking him from Homeland. It had saved his life. He was recovering quickly physically. She could attest to his strength.

Her hand lowered to her hip where a slight bruise had formed. It had resulted when he’d hooked her around the waist before tossing her on the bed. There was no pain but she was more than aware of it. She wished her emotions could heal as quickly as the contusion would. In a matter of days the physical mark would disappear but she had a feeling the memory of him would stay with her for the rest of her life.

Go!

She relived the memory of him pointing to the door, demanding she leave his room. It was for the best. Part of her knew that but another part refused to accept it. He needs me. No. He just wants to use me. It’s all about sex. Damn. She blinked back tears.

“Stupid,” she whispered aloud. I should know better than to get personally involved with a patient and I had to go and fall for him. He was damaged in so many ways yet it just made her want to be with him more.

The doorbell pulled her from her tortured moral debate. She tried to calm her racing heart, afraid that Justice North had sent someone to return her to Security. They’d had to spend money and resources to send the task team after her. She hoped they would just escort her off NSO property. The other option would mean her job search had been wasted.

Dread froze her by the door, her hand on the doorknob but not turning it. The concept of going to prison scared the shit out of her. She wasn’t tough and had never been in a fistfight in her life. Her parents had sheltered her from other kids by homeschooling her and later she’d gone directly to med school where violence wasn’t exactly commonplace among the students. Prisoners were going to eat her alive and she’d be lucky to survive a week unless her medical degree offered her some kind of special privileges. She could hope they needed her to work in the prison hospital as free labor to keep her out of general population.

The doorbell buzzed again and she straightened her shoulders. She’d face the consequences of her actions with her chin held high. Her head lifted as she twisted the doorknob to jerk it wide open.

Obsidian stared down at her. His hair was a tangled mess flowing over his bare chest but she barely noticed, too surprised at finding him on her doorstep.

“I want to come inside.” He took a step closer and completely blocked the opening. “Move back.”

She stumbled a little as she did what he demanded. He entered her house and shoved the door closed firmly behind him. His gaze left her to travel slowly around the living room.

“How did you get out of Medical? Do they know where you are? You could have been hurt or gotten lost.”

Dark eyes fixed on her. “Be silent. I came to talk and you will listen.”

Her lips sealed as she stared wide-eyed at him, flabbergasted.

He blew out a deep breath and straightened his shoulders. She wondered why he hadn’t put on a shirt. She glanced down to find he also hadn’t donned shoes. Grass stains were on his knees as if he’d been sliding in it.

“Alli?”

She focused on his face and gasped. He looked to be in pain with his eyes wide and his lips pursed out. He blinked rapidly and she grabbed at him, sure he was about to pass out. Her hands flattened on his chest and pushed him against the door behind him, knowing full well that she wasn’t strong enough to catch him if he pitched forward. She could only hope to pin him upright until he regained his equilibrium. His head hit the wood hard enough to make her wince at the noise.