Heat and need flared inside him, blinding him for a moment. But he was touching her skin, and that was enough for now. He'd look at her again when he had her spread out so he could feast on her and make her come with his mouth. He'd take his time looking, enjoying the way perspiration beaded on her skin, and the way she writhed as he held her hips in place.
His lifemark swayed, reveling in the contact of flesh on flesh. His ring hummed happily, urging him to finish what he'd started.
Neal reached between them, parting her damp curls. She was slick and hot, and just the slightest brush of his fingertip over her clit made her lurch beneath him and let out a sharp cry.
He pressed a finger inside her slick body. The tight clench of her muscles around him made him grit his teeth for control. She quivered, pivoting her hips to give him a better angle. She was small, but he could handle that. He'd stretch her gently so when he took her she'd feel only pleasure.
Except that he wasn't going to take her. He was just here to get her off. That was the deal he'd made with himself.
Even as he cursed his decision, he manned up and stood by it, turning his force of will on her body and on how to make it sing.
Viviana wasn't a shy lover. She told him with sounds and small, quivering movements what kinds of touches she liked, and which ones drove her wild. His prim, proper scholar was spread out before him, panting and shaking while he sucked on her clit and pressed two thick fingers inside her. He toyed with her ni**les, pinching gently and not so gently in time with his penetrating fingers.
Her breathing caught. Her abdomen quivered. Neal added a third finger and used his teeth to send her over the edge.
She let out a sweet moan and bucked beneath him as her orgasm overcame her.
Neal had never witnessed anything so beautiful in his long, long life.
As her tremors subsided, she pulled him up her body with weak arms and kissed him. She was still shaking, or maybe that was him. He couldn't tell anymore. All he knew was that he was teetering on the edge of driving his c**k into her slick, relaxed body deeper than his fingers had a chance of going.
Her hands fumbled at his belt, working it free faster than his blood-starved brain had time to figure out what she was doing. Her slender fingers worked inside his jeans, wrapping around his cock.
Even that was nearly enough to make him come. Only the worry that she'd feel used kept him from letting go and spurting his seed all over her fingers.
He tried to pull away, but he couldn't go far without fear of breaking her arm. "Stop."
She nibbled at his neck, right where the luceria used to lie. His skin was sensitive there, having been starved of touch since his birth. The erotic scrape of her teeth sent zings of sensation down his spine, straight into his balls.
He gasped and gulped for air, trying to gain some thread of control.
By the time he realized what she'd done, his pants were already open and she was pulling his c**k toward her core. Her legs were spread wide in welcome, and her wet heat slid against the head of his cock, mixing with his own fluids.
A rough groan shook him. He couldn't pull away. The best he could do was hold still and pray for control.
Viviana grabbed his ass and pulled him forward while she lifted her hips, taking just the tip of his erection within her body.
Glorious tight heat surrounded him, driving away all thoughts but one. He was going to finish what she'd started. And then some.
He drove forward in one smooth stroke, forcing her to take all of him. She pulled in a startled breath and her fingernails bit deep. It only made him want more.
He knew he wouldn't last long. He could feel her trying to reassure him through their link that it was okay, but he ignored it. He didn't want the shallow fulfillment of shooting his load without her.
When he came, she was going to be screaming his name in climax while he filled her. That was the only thing that would satisfy this primal need.
Neal took advantage of their connection, opening himself up for her to feel everything he did. He knew what he did was dangerous—that he could be speeding his own demise—but he couldn't help it. He craved that connection, needed it like he needed to breathe.
He let her see herself as he did: beautiful and sexy as hell. He let her feel his consuming need to make her come. He forced her to feel the lust clawing inside him, demanding that he stake a claim on her in every way possible.
Her eyes grew wide and her pupils expanded as she looked at him. Her lips were parted, sucking in great gasps of air as he worked them both toward a fast, hard climax.
It swept over Neal, surprising him in its intensity. In the vague recesses of his mind, he realized he was feeling her come as well, the two orgasms mingling together into one. Sensation sizzled through their connection as his balls drew up close and his seed pumped deep within her trembling body.
She shook beneath him, her slender frame so delicate and fragile under his weight. He didn't want to crush her, but he felt her need for him to stay connected to her.
He was still hard. He could stay inside her as long as she wanted. Whatever she needed, he'd find a way to make it hers. For as long as he lived.
Their connection had definitely deepened because of his lack of control. Not that he could bring himself to regret it. He could never regret being with her like this.
He rolled so she was lying atop him, straddling his hips. She nestled her head against his chest while their breathing slowed and the air cooled their bodies. Her fingers traced the branches of his lifemark.
"The leaves are growing back," she said. "There are little buds now."
Bittersweet happiness filled him. She'd saved him, but for how long?
She pushed up, frowning down at him. "Something's wrong. What is it?"
Her hair was a wreck, her bun askew, and fuzzy strands were sticking out at random angles. It was so cute it made his chest ache when he thought that he wouldn't get to see her look like this again—that this thing they had might be temporary.
Neal forced himself to smile as he felt for the pins holding up her bun. "It's nothing serious. We can worry about it after you find the gadget."
Her hair fell loose over her shoulders, shining and beautiful. His c**k pulsed inside her, making her eyes flutter shut.
She gave a soft, sexy moan. "I'm not sure if I can go another round."
"I'm more than happy to find out," he said.
"Don't we need to get moving?"
Neal nodded, hating the truth. "Yeah. We do."
"I can feel it now," she said, grinning with pride. "The artifact. My ability seems to be stronger somehow."
"We're more tightly linked now." Thanks to his lack of control. "You have greater access to my power."