I stop just in front of Ling, my mind working furiously. My body is telling me to take what she is offering. Take her and forge the bond between us.

I have to wrestle control back from the blood rush to my lower brain.

She is correct that the Paritella would make the politics of our situation much clearer, give us firmer ground to stand on against House Saren and Prince Malathin. Practically, she has assimilated the information she has learned and come to the correct conclusion. What holds me back is that I do not believe she fully understands the consequences of such a step.

From what I understand, humans do not have any equivalent to the telepathic, empathic bond of the Paritella. The closest they come to such a relationship is marriage and from what Clara and Margot have told me, marriage simply amounts to a contract. A contract that can be broken.

If we take that final step, if I sink into her body like I desire, there is no breaking that bond. It is not a contract that can be struck down after the fact. I will be tied to her until my last breath, even if she is not my Pari.

But that is not the case for her. If we take that step and she regrets her decision, she may very well decide to leave me. Go back to Earth, perhaps.

While I would have no such freedom.

Whether or not we are meant to be bonded, whether or not the Paritella actually forms, I will have tied myself to Ling.

Irrevocably.

Leaving me after forming the bond would be devastating but having her stay for duty and obligation would be what would kill me inside. I have no desire to be a burden to anyone nor do I wish Ling to be trapped in such a situation.

All of those thoughts race through my mind as my eyes are locked on her face. She lifts her jaw to keep eye contact with me, the gesture and the tension in her body defiant.

"You do not understand the full ramifications of the Paritella," I finally say. "It is not something formed out of political expediency."

Her stance softens somewhat as she realizes I am not angry.

"Perhaps you should explain the full ramifications then," she counters, her eyes roaming my face.

I shake my head, taking another step closer, until only a hair's breadth separates her body from mine. Her breasts brush against me with each breath she takes, the heat from her body is searing.

I bite back a groan.

"There is no guarantee the Paritella will even manifest between us."

Her throat works as she swallows. "I've found there are very few guarantees in life," she murmurs.

I tilt my head to the side, considering her. "Do you know how the Paritella is formed?" I ask, my eyes dipping down from her face to linger on the upper curves of her delectable breasts, bared by the dress she wears.

That dress is a temptation.

She licks her lips and I follow the movement with what I know are hungry eyes. I do not want to scare her, but I cannot completely hide the depth of my lust. Surely she has noticed my steel hard length where it presses against her soft belly.

"Through...through intercourse," she says, her voice breathy.

Her pulse beats faster at the side of her neck, the outward sign of her arousal serves to stoke my own.

I force my breath to remain even. I must retain control.

I nod, holding her eyes with my own. "Yes." I reach a hand up to slide the back of my forefinger down the side of her face, enamored with the perfection of her skin. She shivers under the light touch, sending an answering throb through my aching cock. "Do you not think it would be a better idea to learn of each other first?"

Even as I say it, I crush her body to mine. My arm wraps around her waist and pull her body close so her curves meld against my hard front.

Her eyes widen as now there’s no doubt she feels my erection.

"Perhaps," she agrees, her face flushed as her hands cautiously slide up my chest.

Such a simple touch, but it’s as if she wrapped a soft hand around my rampant cock.

"Perhaps a taste," I mutter, to her or myself I do not know.

She lets out a gasp as I reach down to take a firm grip on her curved backside, picking her up to close the distance between our heights. She wraps her legs around me, her arms closing around my neck.

I make an approving sound, enjoying her being so close. Wasting no time, I set my mouth against her lush pink one, growling as the taste of her invades me.

Yes.

I spear my tongue into her mouth to tangle with hers as I turn to set her down on the table.

I need more.

Pulling back from her mouth, I kiss my way down her silky throat, inhaling the unique fragrance that is Ling.

Delicious.

I make my way unerringly down to her breasts, burying my face against the soft curves as I have been wanting to do ever since she knocked on my bedchamber door.

Raising my head, I meet her half closed eyes as I reach up to gently tug the thin straps of her dress down, leaving them just above her elbows, trapping her arms. Just far enough so I can move the bodice of the sinful dress down and bare her curves completely for my hungry eyes.

I groan, taking in her beautiful, soft brown nipples and the rounded shape of her. I need them in my mouth.

Ling lets out a moan, shifting restlessly under me as I take her nipple in my mouth, sucking it between my fangs, licking it, scraping it gently.

When she starts to squirm under me, I give it a final lick and move over to the other side, raising a hand to knead the now abandoned curve.

I could do this forever but Ling's whimpers soon have me wanting even more. I want to hear what other sounds she could make.

I lean back, skimming my hands down her delicate ribs, to her skirt. As I begin to pull it up, I look up at Ling's face. Her cheeks are flushed, her mouth slightly open as she attempts to catch her breath. Her skin glimmers under a light layer of sweat.

Gorgeous.

I break the eye contact to look down at what I am doing. My teeth sink into my lower lip as the skirt settles around her waist, baring the thin, almost translucent fabric of her underwear.

She is already wet.

I take a deep breath, reining in my desire to mount her, sink into her silky depths, claim her as my own and damn the consequences.

The effort is painful.

But after a moment of fighting my own body, I have some kind of handle on myself once again. I sit down on the chair directly in front of Ling's splayed body, knowing quite well that I am playing with fire.

But I am willing to be scorched for a taste.

Ling props herself up on her elbows to watch me, her eyes slightly worried. "Naefaren..."

"Shh." I slide my hands up the soft skin of her thighs, watching her eyes darken from the sensation. "Let me give you this pleasure."

I hook my fingers into the sides of the barely there undergarment.

Her eyes lower to my hands.

I do not bother sliding the fabric off, too impatient. With a quick tug, I rip the sides and pull the garment off her hips.

She gasps at the suddenness of it, one of her hands moving to cover her now visible core.

"No," I say gently, taking her wrist and moving it back. "Let me see you," I demand, attempting to keep the growl out of my voice but not quite succeeding.

She is as beautiful here as she is everywhere else. Flushed, pink, and wet with welcome.

I want to taste her.

I need to taste her.

Licking my lips, I lower my head, sealing my mouth over her most sensitive part. She bucks against me and I raise my hands to hold her, pressing her hips down onto the table to keep her in place for my caresses.

I hum as I lick up her damp folds, enjoying the taste of her against my mouth.

Perfect.

She whimpers as I settle in against the small, throbbing nub at the top of her cleft, licking and nibbling at it, seeing what she likes. When I draw small circles with the tip of my tongue, I almost lose my grip on her as her body twists in response.

Holding her down more firmly, I use that knowledge to drive her harder. She writhes in my hold and another rush of wetness greets my tongue.

I swallow.

Just a little more...

I scrape a fang lightly across her.

With a hoarse cry, her body clenches with her release, her back arching as I continue to use my tongue, drawing out her climax as long as I can. My cock is weeping in my trousers, hard as stone and throbbing with my heartbeat.

A slight touch might send me over the edge.

Ling slowly relaxes back down onto the table, her body limp. She lets out a sigh of repletion that skims down the length of my cock like a physical touch.

Groaning, I give her one last lick and raise my head. She is a sight no male could refuse. Hair tousled, lips swollen, her breasts bare and legs spread, she is an invitation.

One I cannot accept.

I stand, the pressure of my own clothing might unman me in this state if I am not careful. I adjust myself, my hand lingering longer than strictly necessary.

I force it away.

This is not the time for my own pleasure.

I carefully pull Ling's straps back over her shoulders, tucking her breasts back into the bodice. I linger there, trailing my fingers over the silken skin, until Ling opens her eyes, smiling at me. I pull her skirt down to cover her nakedness, even while part of me wants to rip the dress off and finish what we started.

Especially one particularly greedy, selfish part.

"Do you want..." Ling's eyes track down to my undeniable bulge, visible even under my clothes.

I shake my head. "No," I say gently, knowing a puff of breath will break my resolve.

"Are you sure?" she asks as I pull her down from the table, steadying her as she reaches the floor.

I nod, pulling her warm body against me, contenting myself with holding her. It is a poor substitute for what I really want but it is all I can allow myself in this moment.

I stroke Ling's smooth hair, taking deep breaths to calm myself.

This waiting might very well kill me.

But if I can touch her, taste her...

I would still die a happy male.