Addison almost felt like a woman possessed. One second she was angry and hurt, the next she was overwhelmed by this deep, unabiding need that wasn't entirely physical.

There was probably a scientific explanation. She and Kor'ven had spent so much time together that this outcome was inevitable. But to Addison, there seemed to be more of an emotional catalyst. She understood now why he acted the way he did. Why he was distant and reserved, why he did everything in his power to keep her at arm's length. Why his scientific focus was often single-minded, and why he was averse to inviting her in, professionally or otherwise.

And that understanding was what ultimately made her okay with the fact that she was probably acting against her best interests. If they were mates--and it was hard for her to believe they weren't, despite Kor'ven's fears--she imagined she would feel justified by what she was about to do. But once the mating frenzy cleared, reality would be waiting for her, and she didn't know if she could handle it.

For now, though, she didn't care. She wanted this. She'd wanted it from the moment she first saw him, and over time, she'd come to need it, too. So when his hands threaded into her hair, Addison did something she'd never done before: she let go. Let go of all the reasons she shouldn't give in, let go of all the what ifs and all the work waiting for them. Let go of thought, of her mind running a million miles a minute, and gave in to feeling.

She kissed him back fiercely, her hands on him like he was hers to own. Fingers slid over his broad shoulders and bunched in his lab coat. Her tongue slipped into his mouth and she was rewarded with a rumbling growl that seemed to vibrate through him and into her.

His lips parted more, inviting her in, and he met her tongue with his own. So much about Karuvar was different from humans, but kissing him felt as natural as any other kiss she'd shared with anyone. Natural, and yet… better. To the point where she couldn't get enough.

Something primal stirred within her, and Addison found herself acting in a way that would have made her blush before; that might still make her blush now if she stopped to consider it. She hooked one long leg over his hip and brought her body against his, gasping into his mouth when she felt the hard ridge of his cock.

He was too tall for her to properly grind against him… at least from where she stood now. Controlled by some wicked, wanton need, she locked her arms about his neck, her hands gripping his shoulders so hard she could feel the scale plates beneath his coat.

Without over-thinking it, she lifted her other leg off of the ground and hooked it around him, too. Kor'ven's large hands came down to support her ass and she was finally where she wanted to be, her hips rolling as she ground against him.

Kor'ven groaned, the sound so deep and wonderful it, too, stoked the flames within her. His tongue thrust into her and she answered the motion by rolling her hips hard against him.

She would have gladly continued in that vein--hopefully with a lot less clothing soon--but he did the most infuriating thing possible: he pulled back from her.

"You are very impatient, my mate," he rumbled.

Something fluttered in her stomach at the use of those two words. She'd never much cared for endearments, but this one felt right.

"If you think I'm going to apologize for it, think again," she answered, her breath tickling his lips.

When she looked into his eyes, they were a violet so dark it was nearly obsidian. His words were teasing, almost arrogant, but that deep, dark need spoke far louder. If she could get him to give into that, she expected the result would be explosive.

"Never," he said, "it suits you."

When he kissed her this time, he took her breath away. His mouth came down hard over hers, his tongue plunging into her in a way that made her whole body shudder, and that was just the beginning. As she clung to him, he moved her so that she was supported by the table, expensive equipment knocked to the side in his hurry.

She adjusted, wrapping her legs around him in earnest, drawing him back to her again. With her hands free, she made quick work of his lab coat, tearing it open to expose hard, golden flesh beneath.

Her hands went to his chest, tugging at the harness in some futile attempt to snap it free. Kor'ven chuckled with that same arrogance that Addison found as attractive as it was rage-inducing, and he broke apart from her once more to shed his lab coat and undo the straps, the harness hanging at his belt.

Her hands smoothed over the muscular planes of his chest, up to the scale plating that flared outward from his collarbone like epaulets. The scales were smooth to the touch, not rough like chitin. They shimmered in response to her touch, and Addison found herself momentarily fascinated.

She didn't have much time to dwell on it, because Kor'ven's hands were at the front of her body. With one strong tug, he tore her lab coat open, sending buttons flying in several directions. Another shudder passed through her, a shock of pleasure coursing straight to her aching pussy. God, she was so wet already, and she prayed he'd keep that up; that reckless, unthinking behavior that said he, too, had let go.

She stopped touching him long enough for him to get her coat off. Long enough, too, for him to rip her blouse beyond repair. A gasp was her only response, and as his hands slid over her skin, cupping her breasts through her bra, she crushed her mouth back to his.

He tore the blouse from her and tried very valiantly to get the bra off as she went for his belt. She'd already managed to undo the buckle and was pulling the belt through as he tugged and struggled.

Addison wasn't able to pull back from him before a laugh bubbled up, but she was forced to after a moment, having to fight for air.

Kor'ven's growl sent a new shock of lust blazing through her body. "Why are human garments so complicated?"

"To vex you," she said, deftly reaching behind herself to unhook the clasps.

Kor'ven's brow ridge rose in what she would call amazement and she laughed even more. The second his hands were on her again, though, she stopped. Her head fell back and she moaned as his large hands massaged her breasts.

She had no idea how much he knew about human anatomy. Karuvar women had breasts, but they didn't seem to be as much a symbol of sexuality as they were for humans. Kor'ven was either very experienced, very well-read, or just very into experimenting, because he touched her like he knew exactly how sensitive her breasts were--like he knew exactly how hard she wanted him to rub and roll and pinch her nipples, when Addison herself couldn't even have communicated that if she tried.

It must have been the implant, and thank God for that. No sooner had she thought about having his mouth on her than he pressed her back onto the table and leaned over her, drawing one nipple into his mouth.

Addison's hands seemed to move of their own accord, over the back of his head, cresting the hard, scaled crown that was there and going directly for his horns. She knew the spongy base would be sensitive, but instinct told her the exact way to touch him to drive her mate wild. Gripping his horns hard, she rubbed her thumbs in tight, firm circles where they met his head, and boy, did he respond.

He bucked against her, and sucked harder, one hand braced on the table while the other moved down between her legs. Addison whimpered, begging for his touch, and he rubbed over her wet slit through the fabric of her pants and underwear.

"If you do not stop this, I will spill my seed the moment I am inside you like some overeager youngling."

"Then I suppose you'll have to make it up to me," she taunted.

He growled at that, his eyes flashing with challenge. Before she could even begin to predict what he was going to do, Kor'ven tore open her pants, breaking both button and zipper before he started tugging them downward, his fingers hooked into her panties, as well.

"How am I supposed to work under these conditions?" she asked, falsely lamenting her ruined clothing.

"You will manage, and this entire Waystation will know you are mine," he said, that possessive note in his voice making her shiver.

She'd lived a lifetime of fighting with men for equal treatment--to be recognized for her own merits, and not what she could possibly provide for a husband. But here, in this moment, she was incredibly turned on by this brutish arrogance. She wanted him to claim her; wanted him to possess her.

But she also wanted him to fight for it.

She wiggled away from him on the table, a thrill coursing through her when he gripped her thighs and pulled her back to the edge with little effort.

He kissed her again and both of her hands went to his pants, undoing the ties and pushing them down just enough so she could free his cock. She broke the kiss, wanting to see him, and that sacrifice was so worth it.

He wasn't much longer than a human, but he was thick, and the same scales that shimmered along various planes of his body also created a pattern around his shaft. The head was flared, and small ridges ran along the length of him that she desperately wanted to feel.

Under her observation, Kor'ven kicked out of his pants, and Addison felt the strong desire to take him into her mouth and worship him with lips and tongue and maybe even a little teeth. But she wanted him inside of her more, and she wasn't entirely sure he would even let her off this table until he'd fucked her.

Something she was absolutely okay with.

She reached for him, feeling pleased at the sharp intake of breath she elicited when she wrapped her hand around his cock. His skin was smooth to the touch and scorching hot, and it allowed just enough give for her to stroke him with ease.

"Adi'sun…" he growled, her name spoken almost like a warning.

She looked up at him with feigned innocence. "Yes?"

"I will not be able to stop myself."

This time the warning was more sincere, and there was a note of care to it that touched something deep within her. Reaching up with her free hand, she caressed the line of his jaw.

"I don't want you to," she said.

That was evidently all the permission Kor'ven needed. Replacing her hand with his own, he gripped his cock and positioned himself just at her entrance. She could feel the heat of his body melding with her own, and Addison bit her lip in anticipation of what was to come.

She never could have imagined what that first thrust would feel like, though.

There was some resistance. He was large and thick and the sudden intrusion was a shock to her system. But she was so ready for him that she adjusted quickly, and once she did, the sensation of having him inside of her was like nothing she'd ever felt before.

She'd been with other men, and she'd enjoyed sex. Mostly. But if she'd been given the choice between sex and her work, she would have always chosen work. This, though… the connection made in that single moment almost ripped a sob from somewhere deep inside of her. It seemed foolish to say they were closer than she'd ever been with anyone in her life, but it was true.

And when he moved within her, the sensations that welled up within her--both physical and emotional--were almost too much to bear.

She clung to him, arms and legs wrapped around him, urging him on. Kor'ven buried his face in her neck and pumped into her in hard, smooth thrusts, his cock bumping against her clit and sending shockwaves of pleasure through her every time he seated himself within her.

It didn't take long for her to break apart. She came hard, her body clenching and spasming, her legs locking around him as her nails dug into his skin. She cried out so fiercely that her throat protested the sound, and when she heard her name muffled against her skin, she knew he was close, too.

Grabbing onto his horns, she pulled his head back so she could look at him. His violet eyes promised her something, and in that moment, the only thing she wanted to do--the only thing she could do--was accept.

With one last thrust, he came inside of her, his hips jerking against her as his release stole all control. His features tensed then went slack, and she stroked his face as she watched him, finding something so incredibly captivating about it all, like she was seeing a side of him no one else ever would.

That feeling only persisted as he came back from that loss of control, panting and slick with sweat, his gaze meeting hers, so open and honest that Addison could feel tears pricking at the corner of her eyes.

"You are mine," he breathed.

She'd resisted this her whole life. She didn't want to throw everything away like her mother had. But in that moment, she felt more complete than she ever had, and all she could do was nod.

"Yes," she whispered, acknowledging a truth that seemed to go so much deeper than this moment. "And you are mine."

"With every breath."

There was no arrogance there; no smug superiority. Only a stripped down openness that made Addison's heart ache. And somehow, no matter what else happened, she knew that much would always be true.