He thinks of laying there, alone and untouched when she is within a country mile of him. His brain bakes.

Luka makes himself let go of her and lays down on the bed, pulling at his clothing to get some air on his skin. He starts pulling them open rather than off, sighing heavily.

“I breathe for fun, it’s still calming. I couldn’t talk if I didn’t breathe. Come lay down.”
She hears an echo of his usual request, mixed with a much deeper desperation now.
“You can get the pollen off sooner than I will, I wouldn’t know where to start. You’re sure you don’t want to try it? Not even a little?”