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"They recognize the lifelines." My voice sounded foreign to my own ears, rough with need.

When she pressed her palm flat against my chest, directly over my primary lifeline, the sensation nearly undid me. Golden light surged beneath my skin, reaching toward her silver glow. The connection transcended physical touch—I felt her heartbeat as my own, her breath in my lungs.

"I can feel everything," she gasped. "Your pain, your need?—"

"And I yours." I captured her mouth again, drowning in the dual sensations of my desire and hers reflected back through the bond.

Her body fit against mine with impossible perfection. My tail curled around her leg, drawing her closer still. She made a small sound of surprise that transformed into pleasure as I used it to pull her firmly against me.

"That's... unexpected." A smile flickered across her face.

"Advantageous," I countered, demonstrating by shifting her weight with minimal effort.

Her laugh vibrated through both of us, a moment of lightness amid desperate need. Then her hands found new territory, exploring differences between our bodies with engineer's precision. Each touch sent golden light cascading through my lifelines.

"The bond amplifies everything," I explained between kisses. "Every sensation?—"

"Doubled," she finished, eyes widening as understanding dawned. "That's why it feels so?—"

"Intense."

My injured shoulder protested as I shifted positions, but the pain melted beneath the flood of pleasure coursing through the bond. I guided her to straddle my lap, mindful of the low ceiling.

"We have to be quiet," she whispered, glancing toward the alcove entrance where energy still flashed. "If something hears us?—"

I silenced her with another kiss, slower this time, savoring the unique taste of her. "Then we'll be very, very quiet."

Her markings traced patterns across her skin that seemed to reach for my lifelines wherever we touched. The golden-silver light illuminated our small sanctuary, casting everything in otherworldly glow.

When our bodies finally joined, the bond exploded into full awareness. Her gasp mirrored my own as sensation doubled, then redoubled. I felt her pleasure as my own, layered atop the physical connection in ways I'd never experienced, never imagined possible.

"Varek—" My name on her lips sounded like ancient prayer.

"I know," I whispered against her throat where her pulse raced beneath my lips. "I feel it too."

We moved together in the cramped space, finding rhythm despite the awkward confines. Her hands gripped my shoulders—careful of the injury even in abandon—while my good arm supported her back. My tail curled tighter around her thigh, adding counterbalance and drawing her closer with each movement.

The dual sensations of physical connection and the bond's enhancement pushed us toward the edge faster than either expected. Her markings brightened to near-blinding intensity, matching the golden flare of my lifelines.

"This shouldn't be possible," she breathed against my ear.

"And yet..." I couldn't finish, words failing as pleasure built beyond bearing.

Her forehead pressed against mine, eyes locked with mine as the culmination approached. Through the bond, I felt her teetering on the same precipice, our shared pleasure creating feedback that intensified everything beyond reason.

"Together," she whispered, the word carrying weight beyond our immediate connection.

Release crashed through us simultaneously, amplified by the bond until individual sensation became indistinguishable. Her markings flared silver-white, my lifelines answering with golden fire. For precious seconds, we existed as one consciousness, one being, unified through pleasure and the ancient connection between our kinds.

As the intensity gradually subsided, she collapsed against my chest, careful even in exhaustion to avoid my injured shoulder. Our breathing synchronized, hearts beating in tandem rhythm. The storm outside seemed distant, irrelevant compared to the tempest we'd created within our shelter.

Reality returned in increments. The energy storm outside quieted to occasional flashes. Our sweat cooled in the alcove's stale air. Her weight against my chest felt both perfect and suddenly, uncomfortably intimate.

Rivera shifted first, creating minimal space between us. Her markings dimmed from brilliant silver to subtle glow that pulsed in time with my own lifelines. She avoided my eyes as she retrieved scattered clothing.

"Your bandage held." Her voice aimed for clinical detachment but trembled slightly.

I adjusted my position, wincing as pain returned to my shoulder now that adrenaline and pleasure receded. "Your skills are impressive."