"It depends on your interpretation of the word," he said. "I was merely attempting to kiss you, my dear."
She let her hand sag, feeling rather foolish.
"Well, don't," she said, her sharpness covering her confusion. "We aren't lovers, Mr. Kensington."
"No," he said, quite seriously. "And I find that I rather regret that we aren't."
She stood looking at him, fighting off a sneaking regret of her own that he hadn't succeeded in his intention.
"I think this moonlight has had an unfortunate effect on us both," she said. "We'd better go inside. Besides, if I'm to keep watch over you all night, I want to get into something more practical than an evening gown."
Without protest, Dark preceded her inside. They went to the manager's office, and Maya issued instructions to Gren.
"Have a maid move my things from my third-floor room to a room on the top floor," she ordered. "We'll wait here until it's done."
When the maid brought Maya the key to the new room, she and Dark took the elevator to it. As soon as they were inside, she locked the door behind them.
"I'm going into the bathroom to change clothes," she said precisely. "The window to this room is six floors above a stone courtyard and I don't think you can jump that far without being killed, even on Mars. Since these windows don't open, I'll hear you if you break it to get out, and I can burn you long before you can climb down the face of the wall."