Each thrust inward lit her on fire. She began to move with him. She wanted more. Eyes closing, head thrown back, she arched upward further, seeking the strength of his body. Her hips surged to meet his thrusts.

As if he had been waiting for that response, he arched his spine. His thrusts became harder, faster. With each thrust, she could feel his mind pressing harder against hers. His mind was probing at hers, just as his body was probing. Eyes opening in fear, she held his gaze as if her life depended upon it.

With a moan, he muttered, “trust me… please…”

At his plea, she felt something inside herself give. She did trust him. Suddenly, she felt a blinding pain in her head, as if someone had driven a spike through it. She screamed.

They both stopped moving. Tears sprang to her eyes, and she instinctively moved her hands up to her head. For a minute, all she could feel was the overwhelming pain. Then, gradually, she became aware of something else. Feelings, not her own, began to register. She could feel him in her mind like a wave. It was like he was moving through her. She could feel waves of concern and regret, but mixed with those was a sense of satisfaction and possession.

His voice was gruff with concern. “Are you alright?”

Feeling a little hysterical, she shook her head no. She couldn’t speak.

“Just relax for minute,sherree. All will be well. You have my oath on it.”Sharon could feel and hear his sincerity. His actual words suddenly penetrated. Oath was probably an unfortunate word choice at that moment.It was their stupid oath that had gotten her into this…whatever this was,she thought angrily.

Reaching down to place a gentle kiss on her lips, Liken said, “Maybe so,sherree, but I am grateful for that oath. I am grateful for you.”

With a start of surprise, she realized he had known what she was thinking. She immediately wondered if he could read her mind all the time now. She was horrified at the thought.

With a little smile, he said, “Notall the time,sherree. I will never completely leave you, but you will have some privacy. To do otherwise would be unhealthy for both of us. Ahhh, you still feel horrified. Do not fear this merging, Sharon. There are a great many benefits for me to show you.” He gently thrust into her body. “Let me show you.”

A strong wave of pleasure caught her by surprise. She was feeling not only her own pleasure, but his as well. As his thrusts grew stronger, she arched her body in response.

With a little moan, he said, “Yes, that is it… “

His thrusts increased in tempo. As she rose up to meet him, she felt waves of pleasure surging back and forth between them. It was impossible to separate the two sensations. With a groan, she pushed against him harder, wanting more.

He rose up on his elbows, gaining leverage. He was really surging into her hard, pulling back, then surging forward to the hilt again and again. It felt so incredible that she could barely breathe.

Looking down into her face, Liken muttered, “Merging allows me to know how you feel when I do this…” He pushed into her hard on the downstroke and used his hips to pin hers.

She felt the pressure on her clitoris and cried out in surprise and pleasure. His answering groan was deep and husky. He kept stroking her like that again and again, making the pressure inside both of them build higher and higher.

Without realizing it, her hands were running from his shoulders down his back all the way to his hips. She grabbed onto his ass and held on, her nails biting into him. The tiny pinpricks of pain nearly sent him over the edge. He slammed into her harder. With a muttered oath, he grabbed one of her hands and pulled it over her head, then quickly did the same with the opposite hand. Holding both arms over her head, he kept pounding into her.

With ruthless precision, he never lost rhythm. They were both moaning now. Sweat turned their bodies slick. Driving into her, he stared down into her face. Between gasps of air, he said, “Go over…just give into it…no more control,sherree…only this…” He was rough, demanding, pushing her even harder.

All the tension building inside her seemed to tighten in that moment. With a scream, she let loose, feeling her body contract and then release over and over again. Waves of pleasure poured through her, sending her higher.

As her inner muscles milked him, he moaned loudly, still pumping. Her pleasure sent him right over the edge. With an even louder groan, he exploded, spewing into her. She could feel his warmth inside her as the waves of his pleasure suddenly hit her, too. She was blind with pleasure, deaf with it. For a moment, the two of them were locked together in shared pleasure, unsure who was feeling exactly what and not really caring. It was intense, unbelievable.

When the feelings began to fade, he seemed to suddenly realize he was leaning on her heavily. He carefully twisted to lie on his back, bringing her up against him. With her head on his chest, his hand rubbing her back, both of them focused on simply breathing. Eventually, the gasping sounds of their breaths ceased and the room grew quiet.

Sharon tried to make some sense out of what had just happened. It had been incredibly intense, unlike anything she had ever experienced. Sex was not like whatever this had been. This was something else.

Liken’s voice broke the silence. “It was not sex, Sharon. It was merging. And it was incredible.”

Sharon entire body went stiff. The hands on her back never faltered, just continued with their soothing motions. “I thought you wouldn’t be able to read my mind all the time.” Her voice held accusation as well as hurt. She rose up a little to see his face.

With a little grimace, he shook his head. “You misunderstood. I said you would have some privacy,sherree. It is not that I cannot read your mind all the time. It is more that I will not.”

“Well, stop then.” She was getting freaked out. “Wait a minute…you can do this any time, even if I’m not in the same room with you? Even if…”

His voice was patient. “Yes, even if you go back to Earth. I would like to remind you, though, that you will not be going back to Earth. Do you honestly think we are not compatible after this?” His eyes were beginning to glitter with anger.

He was angry, but underneath that, he was worried about losing her. Sharon realized she could feel his emotions quite clearly. She didn’t have any trouble separating what he was feeling from what she was feeling. There was some distance now. It was different than it had been when they were having sex, more clearly defined. Hmmm. He could read her mind, but she could read his emotions. That might prove interesting.

“I didn’t say we weren’t compatible sexually. But there’s more to a relationship than sex.” Her mouth turned up at the corners in a sleepy little smile. “Evenif it isgreat sex.”

Going along with her lighter tone for the moment, Liken consciously relaxed his shoulders. “Of course.” His voice held lazy male satisfaction. “Great sex, friendship, great sex, respect, great sex,liking, and then, of course, there is great sex. I did mention that one, did I not?” His smile was teasing.

She shook her head in mock surprise. “I believe that’s the first I’ve heard of it. And to think I held the belief that men are shallow creatures with no clue about what’s important in a relationship.” Her eyes were lit with laughter, but her lids were falling. She was trying to stay awake, but it was a losing battle.

With great tenderness his hand moved from her shoulder to the back of her head. “I think I do not have the energy left for this debate nor do you.” With a gentle push, he moved her head back onto his chest. “You are exhausted,sherree. Let us rest now. Tomorrow is soon enough to discuss male flaws.”