It's strange. Alcohol softens sex to something quite pleasant. Sobriety allows the act to be barely tolerable. A fever is something new; it threatens to overwhelm entirely. Everything's warm and hurt and comfortably sharp. It's novelty enough for him to forget, to temporarily toss aside the idea that he's normally not into such things.

Neil exhales shakily, their lips and breaths mingling, his eyes closing shut. More skin opens to the cool air, and he curls his fingers against the mattress.