He drained his glass and motioned for another.
The barman poured a short and left him.
He looked at his watch again. She was now nearly 40 minutes late. What was he doing? Really? The last date he'd let his friends set him up with had been a complete bust.
It had been dinner with a perfectly nice woman, a doctor in fact. There had been good food, wine, music. But that's all. It was a nice evening, with a nice woman.
Just not his kind of woman. He liked women a little more adventurous than she had been.
So he'd agreed for his friends to put a profile on a extranet dating service, to find him his kind of woman. Not just to shut them up but to save himself from insanity.
Two years ago, he'd lost the only woman he'd ever wanted.
It had taken most of that time to start to move on with his life, come out of his self imposed hibernation and join the real world again.
He was finally willing to move on. He was tired of feeling secluded; tired of mourning. He knew it was no way to carry on.
It was a half life he was living; waiting for someone that was never coming back. He hated the idea but he had to learn to let her go. He had to move on. And he'd figured that dating was probably the first step towards that.
He snorted to himself and drained his glass, motioning once again to the barman. This time he took the bottle from him and shooed him away.
He heard a cough behind him and turned.
She was dressed in a black knee length skirt that clung to her thighs and a crisp white shirt tucked in at her slim waist. She was quite striking, and nothing at all like he had imagined.
Her dark hair framed her face and cascaded over her shoulders. Her lips were full, pink and luscious looking.
Instantly, he felt something stir in him that he hadn't felt for a very long time…he wanted to bite those lips.
"So, are you going to ask me to join you?"
He shook himself out of his musing before he sank any deeper. "I ahh- What?" He'd lost his train of thought and felt like a bumbling idiot.
"I'm LawBringer. You must be LT?" she sat the stool next to him, clearly used to men turning into drooling idiots around her.
"Sorry I'm late, the taxi got delayed" she sighed and composed herself, "anyway, I'm here now. And in good time I think" she picked up the bottle and waved it to the barman who quickly brought over another bottle and a glass for her.
He poured them a drink, "it's alright, really, you don't need to apologise" he smiled.
"That's very sweet of you, I'm just…I'm always on time" she seemed annoyed which didn't fit with her easy Australian accent.
"I'm sorry" she took a deep breath, "I don't do this very often. I, ahh, I find it hard to meet a guy I have any interest in."
He raised his eyebrows, "that's…blunt, but thanks, I guess."
She looked at him sideways and something passed between them. A mutual attraction perhaps? He was unsure of the signs these days.
Her eyes shone in the blue laser lights of the club and she bit down on her lip. His breath caught in a completely reflex reaction that surprised him.
There was something about her. She had an aura of self confidence, power. He liked it.
"Look LT, I'm not going to dance around, I simply don't have the time or patience. If you like what you see we can do something about it. If not, then don't waste my time and just tell me. I'm a big girl, I won't be offended" she downed her drink and poured another.
"Hell, you really are blunt, huh?" he choked a little on his drink and looked at her.
She had amazing posture; holding herself in such a way that accentuated her lithe figure. She played with her collar, dancing her fingers lightly across her skin…an obvious nervous reaction, hiding behind the 'big girl' front. Thoughts of his teeth biting that skin crept into his mind…
From a purely physical point of view…she was perfect. It was as if she'd been designed to lure men into the pull of those plump lips…
"I…like what I see" he said quietly, taking himself by surprise.
He met her gaze and she smiled triumphantly.
They sat quietly for a few minutes, taking in the situation, enjoying their drinks.
He watched her lips on her glass and again felt a pull inside him. A pull he hadn't felt in such a long time, that it was almost alien.
His mind wandered…to her lips on his, her skin next to his…
"Guys usually…" she chuckled breaking the silence, "well, they get intimidated by me I guess. I can be…"
"Brutally blunt? A little forward?" he snickered at her. She didn't intimidate him, she perplexed him, but intimidate? No. But then he didn't know a single thing about her. Not even her name. According to his friends she was a 'professional leader', whatever that meant, who wanted 'companionship while on shore leave'. Everything else was a mystery.
"It's a big turn off I guess, a dominant female…" she shook her head, "I like control of my life and I don't see a problem with that. But, well, a girl needs a man every now and then, you know?"
When she looked at him her eyes flashed, a sign of Biotics. That look found his dormant lust, and it flared.
All memories from the past two years vanished, all the pain, all the anger…it all took a backseat to the hunger he needed to feed right now.
He finished his drink and stood up, acting now before his senses returned.
"Are you leaving?" she asked confusedly.
"We're leaving. Where are you staying?" he offered his hand to her, she looked up at him through her eyelashes and smiled so wickedly he felt his insides burn.
"Sol, near the Alliance docks, you know it?" she took his hand.
"I know it" he lead her out of the club and headed for the taxi stand.
The ride back to the hotel felt incredibly long. His head swam from the drink mixed with her perfume and the blue flash he saw in her eyes…she was intoxicating.
Her legs were slender and pressed up against his even in the vast space of the air car. He checked the drivers attention was on the sky and not on his passengers before sliding his hand over the silky material of her skirt and down her thigh.
He heard her breath hitch and smiled to himself, keeping his gaze on her legs, savouring her bare skin under his palm. Carefully he slipped his hand under the hem of her skirt and squeezed tightly making her jerk in her seat. She let out a deep sigh but didn't make any attempt to stop him.
It had been a long time since he'd had such lustful feelings. And right now, for the first time in years, all he could think of was sating that lust. All he could to focus on was her…her skin, her lips, her willingness to let him take control…
As the door to the elevator closed he pushed her back against the wall and licked his tongue up her neck, digging his teeth into her earlobe, she groaned but didn't stop him…
His teeth moved down her neck, nipping at her, his tongue flicking over the bite marks he left on her alabaster skin. The doors opened and he straightened up looking at her, eyes full of fire, "five" she gasped, letting him know which room he was taking her to. He grabbed her hand and lead her out, quickly locating her room.
She pulled up her Omni and punched in the entry code.
He stood flush against her back, his hands cupped the side of her breasts and ran down her sides, his hips pushed into her, crushing his now full erection against her buttocks. The door flew open and he pushed her through kicking the door closed behind them.
He stalked her, pulling his jacket off as he approached. Her eyes never left his gaze and she bit down on her lip with a look of pure want…
She backed into a pillar, her chest heaving. He grabbed hold of her, pushing her skirt up to bunch around her waist before picking her up and holding her against the pillar.
Their lips met in deep, desperate kisses and her legs wrapped tightly around him. Her hands ran over his muscular shoulders, nails digging into him, pulling him closer.
His hand ran up the underside of her thigh and he pulled unceremoniously at her panties, ripping them to gain access to her core. His thumb ran over her wetness and hit her nub pressing down, he felt her groan into his mouth. He gently swept over her nub again and again till he felt her legs shaking around him, groans falling from her luscious lips…
He released his built up Biotics into a field, holding her prisoner against the pillar and relinquished his grip on her. He unfastened her shirt pulling it off and discarding it. She watched him with the look of a hungry predator that had no method of hunting, a flare of blue emanated from her mixing with his.
He shook his head, "uh-uh". She ceded and settled for clenching her thighs tight around him.
His attention turned to her underwear, releasing it's clasp and tugging it down her arms. His hot mouth enveloped her nipple before it touched the floor.
His Biotics faded as he hungrily sucked at her nipple, kneading her buttocks as he held her in place. Her fingers raked up his back into his hair and knotted together, keeping his head close to her chest.
Again his thumb found her soft sweet nub and pressed, "fuuuuck" she hissed into the quiet room and pulled his head up, forcing his lips to meet with hers. His teeth closed on her plump lip and pulled it as he slipped his fingers inside her, "OHH!" she cried out at his pleasurable invasion.
He could feel his cock throbbing, trapped in his trousers. He was so hard it physically hurt.
Pulling his fingers from playing with her he unfastened his buckle and released himself from the material prison, groaning with an aching delight.
Her hand plunged between them and took hold of his thick cock, sliding her hand down his shaft and squeezing his base, "hell, yes" he gasped. His mind was lost to all sense, revelling in a feeling he had almost forgot…the feeling of someone else touching him.
He tugged her hands away as he felt a rush building, unsurprising considering how long it had been for him.
Their lips bit and kissed each other frantically, each desperate to be one.
His moist head met her keen entrance and he thrust up into her, driving in to the hilt. They cried out into each others greedy mouths as he pumped into her over and over, harder, faster.
There was no grace about his movements, pure lust and need for release drove him and he pounded her into the pillar. His hands squeezed her buttocks hard as his relentless rhythm pushed them closer and closer to the brink of ecstasy.
Her nails dug into his arms as she screamed out, gasping, "unhhhhhh, oh, fuck, YES!"
She tightened around his cock, pulsing as her orgasm swept through her and onto him, he buried himself and exploded with a torrent of pulses, emptying himself into her, jerking his hips into her trying to extend the rush of delight.
Her head rolled back and rested on the cool brick of the pillar, his forehead fell onto her heaving chest.
"Fuck, that was…" she panted, "just what I was after."
He lifted his head and looked at her long neck stretched out in front of him, he chuckled "oh, I'm not done with you yet" he swept his tongue across her skin as he pulled out of her.
She looked at him with a raised eyebrow
He stood upright and carried her to the bed that held centre stage in the dim room.
He dropped her onto the soft bed and she giggled. He kicked off his shoes and pulled off his remaining clothes. He leant over her on the bed and unfastened her skirt, she lifted her hips allowing him to pull it down her legs. He did so slowly, letting his fingers brush against her smooth skin. She squirmed under his teasing touch.
He discarded the skirt and stood over her, his cock twitching at the sight of her naked in front of him. He knelt on the bed and held himself over her, lowering his lips to kiss her immaculately toned stomach.
Each kiss he planted moved lower until he reached the top of her thigh. He ran his tongue across the sensitive skin there and nipped with his teeth, making her jerk.
She groaned and tugged at the bed sheets as his tongue delved into her and swept against her core, "yesssssss", her approval hissed from her clenched jaw.
He tormented her with his lips pressing against her nub, his tongue swirling around her core…he felt her shudder under his touch and drew away…
"No!" she pleaded, her eyes were wild as she looked at him, "don't- don't stop-" she panted. But he knelt up ignoring her pleas, "turn over" he ordered, his voice full of promise. She obeyed.
His hands ran up the back of her thighs and they both moaned in appreciation. On reaching her round buttocks he squeezed the flesh in his hands before biting down into the plumpness, she jerked her hips into the bed in reflex, "uh-uh" he chided and lifted her ass into the air, forcing her kneel up on all fours.
"That is a beautiful view" he knelt up behind her and ran his fingers down her spine from the nape of her neck to the cleft between her pert cheeks. She felt his erection between her legs and tried to squeeze him, but he giggled and spread her legs slightly, "no, I'm in charge."
She whimpered as his chest pressed to her back and he fondled her breast, pulling at her nipple.
His other hand enveloped her wet heat and he circled his fingers around her entrance, denying her the satisfaction of them sliding into her, "oh, fuck- pleaaaase?" Her pleas were weak and desperate. She ground her hips into him but still he refused to slip inside her.
She balanced herself on a single hand and reached between her legs finding his balls, she cupped them and rolled them around in her gentle grip, "unghhh" he shuddered at her touch and his breath caught in his chest.
He righted himself forcing her to release him. He took hold of his hard shaft and ran his hand down himself, groaning loudly.
"Not fair…" she gasped hearing him pleasure himself.
He relented and pressed his cock against her ready entrance. He pushed his head into her gently, immediately pulling out again, "fucking tease" she spat in wanton desperation.
"Tease huh?" he smiled wickedly behind her back, "we'll see" and with that he drilled into her, gripping her hips hard as he buried himself in her.
Her cry of delight filled the room and he pumped into her over and over in slow but powerful movements.
Every thrust gleaned a loud pant from her, the sound spurred him on. He dug his fingers into her keeping her as steady as he could as he pumped into her harder.
"Fuck! Don-" she panted, her voice faltering, "don't stop, ohhhhhh!"
The tone of her voice was like fuel to his fire, she sounded desperate, needy, hungry for him.
He pounded into her faster, feeling heady and fit to burst.
Every thrust fed his need, seeing her ass bounce against him, feeling his balls slap against her thighs, all overloading his senses, all bringing him closer to the edge.
He grabbed a handful of hair and tugged back on it, "ahh!" her head jolted back but she didn't complain, instead she screamed as he buried himself to his hilt and burst inside her, emptying himself in her once again.
He felt her quake around him as she fell into the waves of her orgasm, each of them pulsing against the other, trembling under the deep jolts of pleasure sparking in their core…
Her arms buckled under her and she whimpered when he fell out of her as she slunk down onto the bed, shivering from sensory overload.
He slumped down next to her shaking. He'd not expended that much energy in a very long time and his body was now rebelling.
He managed to pull a cover over them both before his body completely denied him any movement.
She turned her head to face him and smiled, " that was…" but she couldn't finish her sentence. "It was" he agreed and she chuckled as her eyes closed.
He turned away and closed his eyes, feeling spent and sated. Sleep came quickly and he slipped into blackness.
He bolted upright, sweating and shaking, searching the room for his lover.
Shepard. He looked to the empty spot in the bed next to him. Where was she?!
He stretched and closed his eyes, rubbing at his temples, calming his heartbeat. The visions of fire and explosions from his nightmare faded, turning into memories of the previous evening.
He could see Shepard's beautiful face clear as crystal in his mind…saw flashes of her flesh, heard groans of her satisfaction. He smiled to himself as he fell back onto the bed and buried his face in the pillow next to him.
His stomach knotted. The pillow…it smelt of perfume. Shepard never wore perfume. She always smelt sweet like her body butter; vanilla and coconut.
He opened his eyes and sat up, scanning the room again. There was no sign of anyone else having been in the room with him. Looking around, he didn't recognize the room at all. He pulled the cover up around him suddenly feeling lost and vulnerable.
He didn't understand. He hitched his knees up and rested his elbows on them rubbing his hands through his hair, pulling back the memories of last night, searching for clues in the haze.
It all felt so real. He could still feel her skin under his fingers, still feel the pulse of her around him, still feel her hair gripped in his hands.
No. It hadn't been her hair.
The hair in his mind was black. Shepard had radiant red hair…
Then it hit him and his hands stopped, hovering in mid air. Shepard hadn't been here. She hadn't been with him for a very long time.
The sickness churned in his stomach, he saw the door to the bathroom and ran, making it over the basin just in time.
He rinsed and washed his face with cold water. Looking into the mirror he shook violently.
He could barely admit to himself what he had done. He'd slept with a stranger. A complete stranger.
What had he been thinking?! Beginning to move on was one thing, but this?! It was not who he was. He'd let his libido run away and fuck a complete stranger. The sickness threatened again.
He slumped onto the floor, dragging a robe with him and wrapping it around himself. Wracking sobs tore from him, his chest heaved and he buried his face in his hands.
Shepard's face flooded his mind, "I'm sorry…I'm so sorry…"
And in that moment he knew.
He knew he would never forgive himself for what happened here last night.
He knew he would never move on; that he never wanted to move on. No-one could ever replace her, he was a fool to think he could get over her.
He would now, and for eternity, be completely in love with his lost Commander Shepard.