It is a wonderful state, and one that Thrawn, in other circumstances, would savor. He would linger in it, and torture Dean until he pleaded for it.

But he takes a different tactic, here and now.

"There will be no punishment if you cannot," he reassures Dean. He curls his fingers around Dean's erection, not stroking -- "I give you permission. If you can, for all the eyes on you -- release."