Page 15

Derek

Kav'eth's hands are warm against my bare chest as he traces the intricate patterns of my tattoos with something approaching reverence.

The starlight streaming through the observation deck windows catches the mathematical precision of the ink, and I can see the fascination in his golden eyes as he follows each line.

"These are... extraordinary," he murmurs, his fingertip tracing from my collarbone down across my chest. "The precision is remarkable. The way the patterns flow..."

"Less analyzing, more touching," I suggest, though I'm enjoying his obvious fascination with the ink.

He looks up at me with a small smile that transforms his entire face. "You are correct. This is experiential learning, not theoretical study."

And then his mouth follows the path his hands traced, pressing kisses along the flowing lines that cross my collarbone and down my chest. The combination of his warm lips and the gentle scrape of his teeth makes me arch against him, seeking more contact.

"You taste..." he pauses, his tongue flicking out to taste my skin, "like salt and something uniquely you. It is... intoxicating."

"Keep going," I encourage, my hands tangling in his hair as he continues his exploration.

When his mouth finds my nipple, I gasp and tighten my grip on his hair. Kav'eth immediately focuses his attention there, using his tongue and teeth in ways that suggest he's a very quick learner when it comes to reading my responses.

But there's something else—a strange echo of sensation that doesn't quite feel like my own. It's faint but unmistakable, like feeling his pleasure alongside mine.

"Fuck, yes," I breathe, grinding down against his lap where I can feel him hardening beneath me. "Just like that."

The praise makes his bioluminescence flare brighter, and suddenly that echo of sensation intensifies. I can feel his arousal spiking in response to my words, layered underneath my own.

"Kav'eth," I gasp, pulling back to look at him. "What... I can feel something. Like an echo of what you're feeling."

His golden eyes widen with something like wonder. "The empathic bond," he breathes. "It is beginning to form between us."

"Empathic bond?"

"Nereidans can develop... connections with compatible partners. Shared sensation, shared emotion during intimate contact." His hands tighten on my hips. "It is... quite rare, especially across species."

"So I can feel what you feel?" The concept is both fascinating and overwhelming.

"To some extent, yes. As our connection deepens, the bond will strengthen." He searches my face anxiously. "Does it disturb you?"

"Are you kidding? That's incredible." I lean down to kiss him again, this time paying attention to that dual sensation, my own pleasure and the echo of his response. "No wonder you guys are good at this. Built-in feedback system."

His hands slide down to work at my belt, movements becoming more urgent. "These need to be removed," he says, his diplomatic composure cracking as desire takes over.

"Definitely," I agree, but when I start to move off his lap, he makes a sound of protest.

"Wait," Kav'eth says, his hands settling on my hips to keep me in place. "This environment is... not optimal for what I want to do to you."

The way his voice drops on those words makes my cock throb with anticipation. "What did you have in mind?"

"Somewhere more private. More... comfortable." His golden eyes are dark with desire as they meet mine. "I want to take my time with you, Derek. I want to learn every response, every preference, every way to make you lose control."

"Fuck," I breathe, because the combination of his formal speech patterns and the absolutely filthy promises is doing things to my brain. "Lead the way."

Kav'eth stands with fluid grace, pulling me up with him, but we don't make it far before I push him against the corridor wall, my mouth finding his in a kiss that's all heat and desperate need.

His hands tangle in my hair as I grind against him, feeling his hard cock through the fabric of his formal attire.

"Derek," he gasps against my mouth, his bioluminescence flaring so bright it illuminates the entire corridor.

"Can't wait," I tell him, my hands everywhere, his chest, his shoulders, working at the fastenings of his clothes. "Need to get my hands on you."

He responds with equal desperation, his own hands roaming my body as we kiss with increasing intensity. By the time we break apart, we're both breathing hard and half-undressed from our frantic exploration.

"Quarters," Kav'eth manages, his voice rough with want. "Now."

When we finally reach his quarters, I realize what he meant about sophisticated environmental controls. The space is larger than mine, with what appears to be actual artwork instead of synthetic decorations, and the lighting immediately adjusts to something warmer and more intimate as we enter.

"The ship responds to your preferences?" I ask, noting how the ambient temperature has shifted to something perfectly comfortable.

"Among other things," Kav'eth confirms, his hands already working at the remaining fastenings of his formal attire. "It can detect physiological changes, emotional states, desired environmental conditions..."

"So it knows we're about to fuck," I say bluntly, enjoying the way his skin flushes blue at my directness.

"That is... an accurate assessment, yes."

"Good," I tell him, moving closer until we're pressed together again. "Then it can optimize whatever it needs to optimize, because I plan to be loud."

The sound Kav'eth makes is somewhere between a groan and a growl, and then his mouth is on mine again, all careful control abandoned. He kisses like he does everything else, with complete focus and attention to detail, but there's a desperation underneath it now that wasn't there before.

I respond with equal intensity, my hands working to remove the rest of his clothing while his do the same to mine. By the time we break apart, we're both breathing hard and mostly naked, our discarded clothes scattered across the floor of his perfectly organized quarters.

"Better," I say, running my hands over his chest and enjoying the way his bioluminescence follows my touch. "Much better."

Kav'eth's eyes are fixed on my body with an intensity that makes my skin feel warm. "You are... you are perfect," he says, his voice rough with want.

"I'm really not," I tell him honestly, "but I like that you think so."

"The intricate patterns," he continues, his hands tracing the tattoo lines that disappear around my back. "May I... may I see all of them?"

Instead of answering, I turn around, letting him see how the mathematical designs flow down my spine in increasingly complex patterns before stopping at my lower back. I hear his sharp intake of breath behind me.

"Extraordinary," he murmurs, his fingers tracing the lines with something approaching worship. "The complexity, the way each section builds on the previous..."

His mouth follows his hands, pressing kisses along my spine that make me shiver with anticipation. When his teeth graze the sensitive spot at the base of my neck, I lean back against him, feeling his hard cock press against my ass.

"Bed," I manage to say, turning in his arms. "Now."

The bed is large and comfortable, clearly designed for someone of Kav'eth's height. When he guides me backward until my legs hit the mattress, I let myself fall, but as he moves to follow me down, I place my hands on his chest and push him back.

"My turn to be in control," I tell him, rolling us over so he's beneath me on the bed.

Now I'm straddling his hips, looking down at this gorgeous alien diplomat who's usually so composed and controlled. The empathic connection is stronger now, and I can feel his surprise at the position change mixing with arousal as I settle my weight over him.

"Can you feel that?" I ask, grinding down against him. "How good this is for both of us?"

"Yes," he gasps, his bioluminescence pulsing brighter. "It is... overwhelming. I had not anticipated..."

"It gets better," I promise, leaning down to capture his mouth in a demanding kiss. "Much better."

From this position, I can see all of him—the golden glow beneath his blue-tinted skin, the way his chest rises and falls with rapid breathing, the absolutely gorgeous cock standing proud between us.

And through the empathic bond, I can feel his response to being looked at, the way my obvious appreciation makes his arousal spike.

"I want to taste you," I tell him, moving down his body with deliberate intent. "Want to see if you taste this good everywhere," I add, pressing a kiss to his throat where I can taste that unique alien flavor.

Kav'eth's hands fist in the sheets as I work my way down his chest, pausing to explore the sensitive spots I discover through the empathic feedback. When I reach his cock, I look up at him with a grin.

"Ready for lesson one in human oral techniques?"

Before he can answer, I take him into my mouth, or try to. Jesus, he's massive. Significantly bigger than anyone I've ever been with, and I have to work just to get the head past my lips. The sound he makes is unlike anything I've ever heard, a deep, resonant moan that seems to come from his chest.

I pull back, catching my breath. "Fuck, you're huge," I gasp, wrapping both hands around his shaft and still not covering the full length. "This is going to be a challenge."

"You do not have to—" Kav'eth starts, but I cut him off with a look.

"I want to," I tell him firmly. "Just... give me a minute to figure out the logistics."

I start slower this time, using my tongue around the head while my hands work the length I can't fit in my mouth. The taste of him is incredible, sweet and clean with that slick natural lubrication coating my tongue, making everything easier despite his size.