Authors Notes: I know, It's an unusual pairing. So for the purposes of this story, Shepard stayed with Cerberus briefly then ran back to the Alliance, taking the crew with her. Miranda and Jacob included. This is my first Turian/Human story so, you know, bear with me.

The burning tension

Shepard stood in the council chambers, resisting the urge to roll her eyes at the Councillors. They hated it when she did that, especially Sparatus as it normally meant she wasn't listening to a word they said. All she wanted was help to protect the human colonies but they yet again were unwilling to help, because they were human and because it was Shepard that was doing the asking.

"Shepard?" Sparatus hissed, his mandibles fluttering angrily, "Are you listening?"

She sighed, "Not really no. You don't want to help, fine. But don't give me bullshit, it's because they are human colonies. That is exactly why Anderson isn't here."

"That has nothing to do with it, Shepard," Tevos replied angrily, "It is the Alliance's responsibility to help their own colonies."

Shepard laughed, "Oh, so if the Asari came a calling with the same problem, you'd tell them that its Asari High Command's responsibility. Somehow I doubt you would," She turned to leave, before she said something she'd really regret. Turning back, she hit them all with a hard stare, "Just remember I sacrificed human ships to save you. That was clearly the wrong decision as none of you have what it takes to be where you are," She stormed out, leaving three very insulted Councillors behind.

She walked over to Anderson's office, finding her old friend at his desk, "Anderson?"

"Shepard? What are you doing here?" He got up to greet her, giving his former XO and protege a quick hug.

"So I went to see the council again. They still wont help."

He sighed, moving to pour Shepard a drink, "I keep pushing it, but they just don't seem to care."

She took the drink from his hand before taking a seat on the sofa, "Because they are human colonies and not important to them. They said it was the Alliance's responsibility. As much as it kills me to say it, I should have used Cerberus while I had the chance."

"We aren't that desperate Shepard. Speaking of Cerberus, did they like you stealing the ship they built, a shit load of credits and their confidential files and running back to the Alliance?"

"Probably not but I don't give a fuck about that. That's what they get for pissing me off. After seeing Project Overlord in action, there was no way I was going to stay."

"I'm grateful they brought you back, girl. But they underestimated you, everyone does."

"Except you, sir," Shepard smirked, taking a sip of her drink.

"I did once," He gave her a warm smile, "I have the scars to prove it."

"You learned the hard way. I might be pretty, but I can cause lots of pain," Together they laughed. Shepard had missed Anderson when she was given the Normandy. Many times they shared drinks and stories. He was the father figure she never had.

The door to his office slid open revealing Sparatus. He walked in arrogantly, not seeing Shepard at first. Anderson moved, showing Shepard sitting back on the couch with a smirk on her face.

Sparatus saw the Commander sitting on the sofa, her down around her face, unlike before. He rarely saw her looking so casual. Her leather jacket sat on the arm, her N7 vest top revealing a lot of skin. It looked so soft like it would mould into his palm, the creamy coloured skin dotted sparingly with a few darker spots. She was so human but more enticing than any Asari. It took a while for him to realise that he was staring so intently at the human Commander and while her superior was in the room. Her trademark smirk on her pink lips told him that she knew what was on his mind. He turned to Anderson, giving himself a mental shake, "Anderson, we need to discuss the new Spectres."

Shepard finished her drink, placing it on the table. Reaching for her jacket, she stood up to pull it on, giving Sparatus a teasing view of her stomach, as her vest top shifted up slightly with the movement of her arms, "Well, boys, I'll leave you to it. Drinks at 8 at purgatory, Garrus and Tali would love to see you."

"I'll be there, Shepard."

She brushed past Sparatus on the way to the door, "Good day, Councillor."

Sparatus watched as she left. His blood was boiling, she knew just how to get to him and he was sure she did it on purpose, pressing every button he had. Yet, he still found himself staring at her, his mind wandering to more intimate situations he'd like to have her in. The lines of her very human body did things to him, her clothes always showing every curve, the length of her toned legs and the gentle hint of cleavage. A cough from his human counterpart, pulled him from his lascivious thoughts, "Ahh yes. Spectres," He said, moving back to his professional demeanour.

He had no idea how he found himself at the bar in purgatory, glancing around to find a certain raven haired Commander. It infuriated him that she did such things to him. She a mere human, had one of the most powerful turians in the galaxy acting like a adolescent boy. Whenever she was out in the galaxy somewhere, destroy things no doubt, he could forget about her. But when she was on the Citadel, he could think of nothing else. When at home with his wife, Shepard was on his mind. In the shower, his mind would stray towards her, where pleasuring himself was his only release from her teasing smirk.

He got up from his stool, moving over to the dance floor. There she was, in the middle of a sea of people, wearing the most criminal dress, mostly lace, covering enough to be considered decent but yet giving a teasing view of her well honed body. He closed his eyes as the thought of ripping it from her body, danced in his mind. A tall human male had his hands all over her, grinding into her from behind. He couldn't help the sound of displeasure that vibrated in his sub vocals, earning him a curious look from a turian near by.

He caught Shepard's eyes and held her gaze as she lost herself in the rhythm of the music. In the dim light, she glowed, the blue hue that surrounded her making it look like her hair was a blue halo.

Shepard saw Sparatus on the edge of the dance floor, leaning against the wall. His eyes were fixed on her, watching every move. She couldn't deny that the idea of him watching her so intently, aroused her. The air crackled with sexual tension whenever they were in the same room. Only issue was that she really couldn't abide the man. She loved to wind him up any way she could, insulting him or purposely smirking at him, in which he hated. She turned to the man she was dancing with, throwing a devilish in Sparatus' direction, she pulled the man to her for a bruising kiss, pushing her body against his. She looked over to Sparatus as the man in front of her was kissing her neck, his hand moving up her thigh.

Sparatus all but growled at the scene in front of him, the human male kissing her soft skin, pulling her thigh up against his hip. She was doing it on purpose, knowing he was watching. This was Shepard's favourite past time, teasing him with her more-seductive-than-Asari ways. How he couldn't stand the woman, her demanding and disrespectful nature had pissed him off to no end but given the opportunity to bed her, he would in an instant. He was just like any other man and just like any other man, he's thought about it more than once. Suddenly he realised that she wasn't on the dance floor any more, having slipped past him unseen. He walked down the steps away from the dance floor, trying to spot her in the throes of other people. A voice called his name, making his looking around to the source, there he saw an old friend, General Oraka, sitting with Generals Victus and Corinthus, Tarquin Victus, Executor Pallin and Primarch Fedorian, "Decian, come and join us," Oraka called as he waved him over.

Sparatus walked over to the table, forcing all thoughts of Shepard out of his mind, at least temporarily, "Evening, gentlemen. Having fun?" He asked as he sat down.

"We are. What are you doing here? This isn't your usual scene."

"I fancied a change of scenery. The drinks are good."

Oraka laughed, "So are the women, so many curves in one place."

Victus nudged his friend, "You need to find a woman."

"Finding them isn't a problem, Adrien. It's the keeping them that is hard part."

Victus laughed, turning to his son, "Son, if you ever want to keep a woman, don't do what he does."

Oraka's sub vocals fluttered in annoyance, "That is charming," He looked around, admiring the Asari in the room. It was then he saw her, she looked so familiar, then it clicked, "Hey, is that Commander Shepard over there?"

All of his companions turned to look at her, "Yeah, that is. I'm pretty certain I can have her arrested for looking like that," Pallin admired the human female, leaning against the bar, giving them a great view of the perfect shape of her ass.

Oraka felt a rumble in his chest, one the others recognised as desire, "The things I would do to that woman."

Fedorian clicked his mandibles, laughing at his friend, "Alright Septimus. Just what would you do to a human female?"

"Well for a start, I'd rip that dress off of her. Then I'd have my hands over inch of that body, even biting her, she looks like she'd enjoy it. Then I would fuck her from dusk til dawn until she was ruined for human men."

"Damn, Oraka. I'll never be able to talk to her without thinking of that," Pallin huffed as he watched the Commander talk to another human female.

Sparatus sat trying to desperately to control the threatening noise of possessiveness from his sub vocals. He hated hearing people talk about her so disrespectfully, even though he wasn't exactly generous in his own voiced opinions of her.

"Hey Vakerian!" Oraka shouted at Garrus who had passed Shepard near the bar.

"Evening, gentleman," Garrus said as he joined them, "I see you've been admiring my Commander."

"We have been. Oraka wants to take a crack at her," Victus sent a side ways look to a Oraka, smirking slightly.

"Sorry to tell you this Oraka, but she has more class than that," He teased. All their companions laughed deep in their chests, even Sparatus.

"Thank you for that, Garrus. What happened to your face?"

"He tried to catch a rocket with his face," They turned around to see Shepard standing behind them, "Fortunately, it improved his looks."

"Are you saying I was ugly," He asked, doing his best to sound offended.

"No, but you were never that good looking Garrus," Shepard smirked at him, waiting for a witty comeback.

"Fine," He huffed, "You can deal with the children tonight."

"No, no, no," She shook her head, "We agreed, it's daddies turn to round up the children. Mummy has lots of drinking to do."

"Can we just not let them run wild?"

"No, they'd probably destroy the Citadel. Jack has already got Grunt drunk and before you say it, I am not carrying his unconscious ass back to the ship."

"Fine," Garrus huffed, his sub vocals showing the others he was enjoying the banter, "I'll get him back safely. You are responsible for stopping Miranda and Jack from killing each other."

Shepard gasped dramatically, "That so harsh," She whispered, playfully offended.

"Serves you right for calling me ugly," He winced, laughing as Shepard punched his arm before walking away, "As she said. I tried to stop a rocket with my face."

"So what's it like working with Shepard," Tarquin asked, curiously.

"She's good. She always asks for her crew's opinion. If they need help, she'll help. Once you are on her crew, she'll kill to protect you."

"Is that why you wont leave her? Or is it her bedroom skills that keep you there?" Fedorian questioned, his mandibles fluttering in expectation.

"For a start, I'm not sleeping with her," Some of them clicked in disbelief, "She needs me. Without me she wont be able to kick ass with the same style that I've instilled in her."

"Is she into Aliens?" Oraka probed, hopeful he might have his chance with Shepard.

"She's never been with one before but I guess she is open to it."

"Excuse me. I have a human to get into bed," Oraka got up from the table, off in search of Shepard.

Sparatus stayed sitting as the others wondered off, in search of women no doubt. He hadn't managed to spot Shepard in a while, making him wonder if she had found a desirable bedfellow and left with him. He sat back, closing his eyes, thinking about what Oraka wanted to do to Shepard. He had things he wanted to do to her and have her do to him. He desperately longed for her human lips against his skin. He heard rumours that humans enjoyed using their mouths, much more so than the Asari. He opened his eyes when he felt something tickle against his face, he turned round, to see Shepard leaning over the back of the seat, her long hair falling around her face "Evening, Spectre," He said as coolly as he could muster.

"Evening, Councillor. Enjoying yourself?" She asked, as she gently caressed his right mandible.

His sub vocals hummed in quiet enjoyment, the touch of her hand against his face, sending waves of electricity all over him, "I...I've enjoyed meeting some old friends."

"Mmmmm. Do you care to dance or am I just too human for you?"

Sparatus got a delicious view of her cleavage as she leant in closer, "I'm sure I could forget I detest you long enough to dance."

"Good. Although I do ask you to watch were you put your hands. This body is just too good for the likes of you," She walked away, a devilish smirk on her lips as she made her way back to the dance floor. Sparatus joined her moments later as slow and sensual song came on, the seductive tempo was exactly what Shepard wanted. Sparatus put his hands on her hips, the soft curves fitting perfectly in his hands. They moved together slowly, avoiding all eye contact. He couldn't look at her for fear he might lose himself and take her in the middle of the dance floor. Shepard didn't say anything but she could feel the vibrating of his chest running through her. She knew enough that to know that he was feeling something enjoyable and she was quietly glad that the firm grip he had on her hips was doing it for him. He pulled her closer to him, earning a small gasp from her as her cheek rested against his face. He was grateful that the dim lighting made it impossible for people to recognise them. He didn't need the scandal of being found with his hands on another woman, much less a human. He moved his hands lower, grabbing at her ass, so firm but yet so soft, his talons digging in slightly. She moaned in his ear, moving her hands up towards his fringe. He closed his eyes, cursing the ever growing pressure behind his groin plates.

Her omni tool bleeped, causing her to pull away from him. She read the message, cursing slightly, "I must go Councillor. Garrus needs my help. It was fun, surprising since its you."

"Good night, Commander. Try not to destroy anything."

"I make no promises," She fired back, smirking. He watched as she walked away. How he hated that woman but so desperately wanted her naked and moaning beneath him. He knew he had no choice, he'd have to find a willing woman to ease his human induced stress.