I have been trying to be good, giving Ling time to learn of her new home, become secure in her place.

It has been difficult. Very difficult.

But watching her mind at work, seeing her logical, strong response when she has something to say...

I was hard instantly.

For the rest of the meeting, I dared not look too long in her direction. Ruthlessly, I kept my focus on the topics we were discussing. All the while, what I really wanted to be doing to Ling played through the back of my mind.

But there are no more topics that need careful discussion, and nobody is here with us in the room anymore.

And I am but a male.

One made weak by this particular female.

I shift my head to change the angle of the kiss. The taste of her is intoxicating. The press of her against my body, the soft sounds she makes as she attempts to move impossibly closer to me.

It is almost too much.

I do not want to lay her back on a table once again, I want the soft give of a bed. Gripping her lush behind in my hands, I move her up higher on my body, urging her legs to close around me so she is secure. Not breaking the kiss, I walk out of the meeting room and down the hall toward her bedchamber.

It is closer than my own.

And every step counts.

I do not care if anyone sees us, too far gone to do much more than dismiss the possibility as unimportant. If someone does catch a glimpse, I am too involved with much more important matters to even notice.

When I reach the correct door, I open it and push inside, using my back to close the door behind us. Then it is simply a few steps to reach the plush surface of the bed. Bracing my knee on it, I carefully lower Ling to the cushioned surface, my body coming down on top of hers.

But it isn't enough.

I need more.

Rising up, I pull down the bodice of the dress she is wearing to reveal her breasts. I do not stop there. Pulling the fabric down over her hips, my eyes greedily take her in as I pull it down and off her legs. The scrap of cloth covering her most private area is gone in the next instant. I want to see and touch all of her.

"You too," she says, sitting up to tug at my clothes.

I take a moment to remove my long robe and slip out of my boots, but I leave my trousers on. I don’t have the control to take them off.

Taking a hold of one of her slim ankles, I look up the smooth, elegant line of her body to meet her eyes as I take off one of her slippers. Her cheeks are flushed as she watches, making no move to cover her nakedness. I take off her other shoe, using my own body to splay her legs, reveal everything.

I smooth my hands up her thighs as I take a few moments to simply stare at her. Slender and curved in all the right places, I want to touch and taste her everywhere all at once. Her smooth skin practically glows, the place between her legs beckoning me. I slide my hands up her soft stomach to cup the silky weight of her breasts.

So soft.

I squeeze gently and she licks her lips, arching up into the touch. Thumbing her nipples, I move on, sliding my fingers down her arms to her hands, stroking each delicate finger. Then I move to her neck, enamored with the feel of her under my hands.

Down the sides of her torso.

To her feet.

Then back up the inside of her thighs, careful not to go where she is already flushed and wet, obviously craving my touch. She groans, tossing her head to the side as I deliberately move past the area between her legs.

"Touch me," she pants.

I slide my fingertips across the sensitive underside of her breasts, "I am touching you."

"No, not there," she says, groaning in frustration.

I smile. "Perhaps you should tell me exactly where it is that you would like me to touch you," I tease, sliding my thumbs down the soft grooves just shy of her wet folds.

"Are you trying to kill me?" she asks, her eyes narrowed.

I chuckle, sliding down to kiss her over her heart. "Of course not," I say, rubbing my mouth against one hardened nipple. "I simply want to ensure that I am giving you exactly what you need."

With a growl, she grabs my head and turns. I let her flip us over so that I am on the bottom, my back on the bed.

My cock surges in response.

"It seems as though I am at your mercy," I remark, taking in the way her breasts sway as she straddles me.

"Yes," she agrees, sliding her small, soft hands up my chest, over my throat, skimming the outside of my ears.

I sigh, my sensitive ears tingling at her soft touch, highly private and erogenous.

"Maybe I do not want you to touch me," she says, her eyes on her hands.

"You do not?" I ask, only partially succeeding in focusing on the conversation now that she is the one touching me.

"Well...maybe I want more than just your hands," she qualifies, her eyes landing on my mouth.

Hmm.

I can feel it watering already.

"You may use any part of me you desire," I invite hoarsely.

Please.

She starts to walk her knees up, but then hesitates. My Ling bites her lip, not quite where I need her to be in order to reach what I need to reach.

What I need to taste.

"Shy?" I ask, sliding my hands to her hips.

"Maybe," she admits, looking away.

"Let me help you." Not giving her time to think too much, I haul her up the last tiny bit, so her knees are straddling my head, her core spread out for me.

She gasps at the abruptly open and vulnerable position. I touch her before she can retreat, before she can reconsider. I lick up the dripping length of her, swallowing her taste even as I revel at the low moan that escapes her lips. Her hands reach out to take a firm hold of the headboard as she tilts her head down to watch.

I use my tongue, my lips, my fangs on every inch of her, finding and exploiting all of the extra sensitive areas but being certain not to drive her over the edge.

Not yet.

She rubs herself against my face as she groans, her body slick with a light layer of sweat as I continue to keep her right there.

At the very edge.

A delicious torture.

"I need..." she gasps.

"Hmm?" I scrape my fangs on either side of her little nub.

She lets out a guttural sound as she attempts to pull away but I move her right back, licking at her while she writhes above me.

"Please," she says, her eyes dazed as she looks down.

I seal my mouth over her where she needs it most.

And then I suck.

Hard.

Her eyes roll back as her body shakes, the intensity of the orgasm greater for having been denied for so long. I slip a finger into her, wanting her to clench down on me as she gives herself over to the pleasure.

She is so beautiful.

I could watch her like this forever.

Finally, she falls limp over me, her head resting against the wall.

I kiss her gently and then slide her down onto her back where she will be more comfortable. Her eyes open as I run my hand down her front to cup her comfortingly where she is still throbbing.

"What about you?" she murmurs, her unerring hand finds the hard bulge of my cock.

I grit my teeth as she squeezes, knowing she must feel the wetness of pre-cum.

I sigh as she lets go but then tense once again as she slides her nimble hand into my trousers, wrapping her soft palm around my cock, skin to skin. She rubs her thumb over my slick head and my cock bucks in response. Her other hand fumbles with the fastening holding my trousers closed.

I cannot.

I know if my trousers come off, I will not be able to keep myself from sinking my length into the silken depths of her body. Marking her as my own.

Forever.

But she is not yet ready. And I will protect her.

"No," I say gently, moving my hips back to break her hold on me, my cock weeping.

She frowns, sitting up. "Why not?"

I sigh, moving to sit on the edge of the bed, a little farther away from the temptation of her ready body. "Once done, such a deed cannot be undone," I say gruffly, rubbing a hand down my face. "I do not want you to feel trapped by such a decision."

"I know it cannot be undone," she argues, crossing her arms as she looks away.

"You do not understand the true ramifications of what you are asking," I retort, standing to dress. "I am attempting to protect you from a choice you may come to regret later."

I do not know how much longer I can deny her advances.

I need to leave the room.

"It is my decision to make," she counters, her eyes narrowed.

"I want you to be certain," I say softly as I stop at the door, my hand on the knob. "Trust me. I do this for your own good."

Not wanting to trust my fast weakening resolve any further, I open the door and walk out, my body crying out in frustration. I squeeze my erection firmly, closing my eyes tightly as I attempt to control myself.

Blindly, I turn towards my own bedchamber, needing privacy.

A few steps, and then I am behind another closed door. This is not what I desire. A cold, empty room, but I will do whatever I need to do to protect Ling.

Even if it is from myself.

I open my robe and undo my trousers to pull out my cock. I can still smell her on me. Taste her on my lips. Feel her under my hands.

Feel her much softer hand on my hard length.

I groan as my hand moves, my fist tight around my throbbing shaft.

I want her mouth on me.

I want to be buried inside her.

I picture Ling's gorgeous body, the way she moves so beautifully as she reaches her pleasure. The flush of her skin, the tightness of her nipples. The pink wetness of the place between her legs.

I grit my teeth as my cock bucks wildly in my hands, my balls drawing up firmly as my own orgasm tackles me abruptly. I pant as one of the strongest climaxes of my life runs through my body, long and hard enough that I am completely empty when it finally ends. As if I could not possibly reach pleasure once again.

But then I think of Ling and my cock twitches in renewed interest.

Groaning, I slide down to the floor with my back against the door. I do not know how much longer I can deny my desire.

To take my mate long and hard, so she knows exactly who she belongs to.

To mark her as my own.