“Sleep.”

Alli watched him close his eyes but she couldn’t just drift off. Her mind was too filled with questions and worries about 880. Did he regret touching her? Why had he done it? Those thoughts just wouldn’t fade.

“880?”

“What?” He didn’t open his eyes.

“Why did that happen between us?”

His lips pursed and she didn’t think he’d give her an answer. Long seconds dragged by. The tension around his mouth eased. “It distracted you from your fit of rage.”

She let his words sink in and hated the pain it caused. “Oh.” He hadn’t wanted to touch her at all but instead had used her body to manipulate her. It made what had happened between them seem dirty and cold. Alli suddenly rolled to face the other way but kept his arm under her face since he seemed adamant about that.

“Where are you going?”

“Nowhere. I’m still here.”

“Your voice sounds strange.”

“I’m tired,” she lied.

“I want you tighter against me.”

She wiggled back until her butt pressed against his hip and her back rested along his torso. “Is that better?”

“You can’t stroke me in that position.”

Her hands fisted. “Here’s a life lesson for you.

You can’t always get what you want. I’m here and that should be enough.”

“What does that mean?”

“Goodnight, 880.” She closed her eyes.

Silence descended and she tried to fall asleep.

He wasn’t a typical man and maybe he didn’t see anything wrong with what he’d done or the reason for it. It still hurt but she was trying to get past it. Taking it personally would just hurt more.

“Alli?”

“What?”

“Stroke me.”

Her teeth clenched and she lifted an arm up to curl her fingers around his hand. She caressed the back of it. It would have to do because she didn’t want to face him. It would be too tempting to watch him until the light completely faded from the room.

“Alli?”

“What?”

He sniffed. “What are you feeling?”

“Tired.”

“I don’t believe you.” He growled. “You’re being dishonest and human. I don’t like that.”

She debated on denying it but if he wanted an argument, she wasn’t going to back away from it.

“Why do you want to know?”

He paused. “Have I injured your feelings? My mate would grow very silent when I did that and refuse to look at me. You are acting that way.”

She released him and rolled, sitting up. Giving him a piece of her mind might clear the air. He looked sexy stretched out on the bed with his hair flowing over the other side of the pillow. It pissed her off.

“I’m a person with feelings, 880. How would you feel if I touched you just to change your mood and for no other reason?”

“I asked you to stroke me. That would help me sleep. It’s what I want.”

Irritation flared. “Would you welcome me stroking you if I did it to manipulate you into doing what I wanted? That’s how I feel. Sex isn’t something you use that way. I get that you’re different but let’s look up the definition of decency tomorrow, shall we? It seems you need to learn what that is.”

His eyes narrowed. “It would depend on where you rub me and what you wanted from me. That would determine if it angered me or not.”

“You’re such a man.” She turned away and lay down, giving him her back.

“I’m a male. I’m not human.”

She refrained from calling him a pig.

“Alli?” He growled her name. “Don’t turn away from me. We are talking.”

“No. We’re done. I’m going to sleep.”

“Alli.”

The tone was threatening. She turned her head and shot him a glare. “Don’t snarl at me.”

He turned on his side, facing her. “Do you want to strike me again?”

“No. I want you to be quiet and let me cool down. That’s all you need to do. Keep your hands to yourself. Don’t even think about trying your version of mood therapy on me again.”

“You’re stressed.”

“Damn straight. A man should touch a woman because he wants to and she wants him to. It’s not supposed to be about controlling someone.”

“You enjoyed it.”

“I really don’t like you at this moment.” She couldn’t believe he was going to throw that fact in her face when she was angry.

“Do you know why I refuse to allow you to shower?”

“You’re a control freak?”

“I like the way you smell.” He inhaled deeply.

“I don’t want you to wash away that sweet scent.”

She gaped at him.

His gaze lowered to her hips. “You taste good.”

She was taken aback. His meaning was clear.

“I couldn’t resist doing that but I should have.

You’re still on my tongue.” His voice deepened.

“You should be frightened of what I want to do to you.” Those gorgeous eyes of his met hers. “I wanted to mount you but you’d break.”

That snapped her out of her dazed state. “I, um…” She wasn’t sure what to say.

“Lie down and curl into me, Alli. We should sleep.”

Temptation to discuss that topic was almost overwhelming. He was a big man, strong, but she didn’t think he’d actually hurt her if they had sex. Of course she wasn’t sure what his version of mounting meant. He could be used to rough sex that would leave her bruised and sore. That wasn’t an appealing concept.

She swallowed hard and inched closer to him as he stretched flat onto his back. He was warm when she curled up to his side and closed her eyes. He didn’t speak again and she remained silent too.

880 couldn’t sleep but Alli finally did. Her breathing changed and her body softened against him. The scent of her drove him a little insane and his dick hardened painfully after he relaxed. He had maintained an iron control over his body to hide how strongly she affected him. It had been difficult to keep his responses in check but he hadn’t wanted to spook her into calling out for help.

He lifted his hand to finger the soft, light strands of her hair. It didn’t feel the same as his or 46’s. Alli’s pale hair fascinated him. It was so light and the texture too soft. He brought some of it up to his nose. She smelled like food and he wanted to eat her. Just the thought of burying his face between her thighs made him struggle to remain still.

He eased his arm out from under her head when he knew he couldn’t take being close to her anymore. It was torture. She didn’t stir and he rolled away, getting to his feet. He paced the confines of the room and his gaze kept straying to her form. The urge to take her was growing stronger by the minute.

He opened the door and stepped out into the hallway. The male down the hall was reading a book and his head jerked up to stare at him. 880 approached him quickly.

“I need to run now.”

Surprise registered on the other male’s features. “I need to make some calls and—”

“I’m going to mount her if I don’t run right now. Do you know Alli? She’s human and small.

I need to run.” He hated the way he snarled the words but he had promised not to cause her harm.

The other male closed his book and dropped it to the floor. “I understand. Come on. I can’t take you outside without permission but I think I know what will help.”

“What?”

“If you can’t fuck, you should enjoy fighting.”

The male grinned. “I’ve been there. You should learn anyway. We’ll go to the roof. Come on.”

He opened the elevator and 880 stepped inside.

He eyed the other male, a match physically to himself. “What are you called?”

“Moon.” He paused. “That’s the first thing I saw when they brought me out of Mercile. It was beautiful hanging there so high in the sky. I knew then my life was forever changed.”

The elevator opened and they were at the roof.

There was an extended porch roof over it to shield it from the weather. Moon led him out onto the flat surface, which had three-foot walls around the perimeter of the building. The male pointed up.

“Look. It’s not a full moon but isn’t it beautiful? It’s a beacon of hope and light to those lost in the darkness.” He gazed at 880. “That’s why I took that for a name.”