He retaliated first…

The pain burned through his side as her fingers gripped into his tender ribs. Her pale grey eyes were defiant and loyal all at once challenging him; he hooked his thumb under her jaw tilting her face towards his. A breathy sigh betray the hardness in her firm gaze and he smirked in response, the small victory he found in her response pushed him over the edge. His hand knotted in her hair and they crashed into one another.

Her breath was stolen from her as his lips captured hers. He pulled back for a moment watching her, his gaze darkening, heavily lidded. Warm breaths mingled for a moment, he could feel her chest rise and fall against his. Her name formed on his lips but before he could finish, she stopped him. Her free hand gripped in the front of his tunic pulling him closer bringing him back to her with equal fervor. Her lips molded to his gentle and steely all at once. Her lips, her hands, her neck, every bare bit of skin that touched his suddenly felt like fire. His fingers flexed against the back of her neck pulling back a moment nipping at her lower lip as he did. Her hands took the break as an opportunity to move to his face, her fingers gliding over both scarred and unmarred flesh before weaving into a mess of dark waves. He sighed relaxing into the intimate gesture.

"I-" Her breathless voice managed to attempt an interruption.

"No." He cut her off a trace of coldness in his tone, his sharp gaze meeting hers. "Not now." She frowned a little, hiding as much of her concern as she could, it wasn't too hard as her other senses, her other emotions were beginning to take over. She stepped back and he followed suit, her arms wrapping around his neck as he pressed her against the wall of his bedroom. His mind was slowly focusing on just her; she could see in his mind each caress, the tensing of each of her muscles under his hands. She could hear her own breath in his ear and she could feel the gentle flutter of her heart against his chest as he held her against him. He enjoyed the sensation of her fingers in his hair; she felt the pause in his pulse when a tiny quiet sound escaped her lips, a hitched breath in response to his touch.

She lost her capability for defiance and met him once again pulling him to her slowly at first then with growing fervor. He pulled at the collar of her tunic loosening the top down around her shoulders. His lips made their way down her jawline in agonizingly slow biting kisses to the most tender part of her neck, listening, feeling as her breath became more and more uneven as he neared the perfect spot. He leaned against her, his nose brushing her neck, his breath warming her skin. She could feel him searching her mind, listening to find what would illicit the desired response. She offered him a tiny reward for the consideration, her fingers sliding further into his hair pressing gently into his scalp willing him to continue. She felt him smile against her skin before sliding his arm completely around her waist anchoring her to him as he held her up against the wall pressing his hips to hers, suckling at the flesh just below her ear then nipping his way back up her neck. He lost himself in her deep sigh for a moment before returning to capture her lips with his.

He pressed his forehead to hers his thumb brushing her lower lip before capturing her chin firmly in his grasp before kissing her soundly once more. "Neera…" Her name on his lips was almost pleading; he needed her, just her. She could feel him trying to escape into her. His feelings were genuine but his motivation was misguided. She could feel him taking control and distracting her and distracting himself even more. She fought against her body to be able to push him away.

He felt the tenseness return to her body, her mind was returning to their previous conversation, she was drifting away from him. He felt her probing into his mind like a gentle caress but invasive none-the-less. His gaze retuned to hers, reprimanding and disappointed. Her hands slid down to rest flat on his chest, establishing a few inches of agonizingly empty space between them. His grip on her loosened and his hand fell away from her face, his arm sliding to rest on her hip.

"You don't get to decide what I need." The irritation in his voice bubbled beneath the firm authoritative tone he usually reserved for Hux, he stepped back releasing her completely "You're neither my doctor nor my master."

"No, I'm far more demanding, and I ask far more of you."

"Yet you give little in return." His voice was nearing frigid, "You insist I work to understand my past and deal with whatever demons you see inside me, but refuse to share any part of yourself." She flinched at the callous but not entirely inaccurate accusation.

The room was silent for a moment as they faced off, resolve quickly weakening. She stepped towards him but his reproachful gaze stopped her.

"I have work to do." He snatched his helmet from the table as he turned to leave. She sighed listening to the doors slid open and shut as he left.