AN: Happy Femslash February/Valentines Day, people! This was written with my friend Cabiria il Notte. Bad (or good?) things happen when you put two bored perverts together. Follow me on tumblr at raedmagdon and her at cabiria-il-notte so you can see what we're up to.

Prompt: We wanted to write a 'power bottom' series that showed our favorite Mass Effect sub ladies inconveniencing their partners and taking control for a change while still bottoming their beautiful hearts out. Liara's up first, then Miranda (although she's more of a switch), and finally, Tevos in Chapter 3. We think you'll enjoy the results.

Warnings: This story contains magic strap-ons, handjobs under tables, fucking in a bathroom. Yes, it's that sort of story. Different warnings might apply to later chapters.

. . .

A Minor Inconvenience

with Cabiria il Notte

. . .

"I still don't know why they need me here." Shepard slumped down in her chair and folded her arms across her chest. She knew it was an undignified pose, but she couldn't bring herself to care. "I already told them I didn't want anything to do with picking the new human Councilor. If Tevos hadn't asked me to come, I would have found a way out of this stupid dinner."

Liara turned to give her an indulgent look. "I know this isn't how you wanted to spend your evening, Shepard, but it's important. The Council doesn't appoint new members every day. Your absence would have been noted."

"Still not sure it's worth it. Dressing up and making nice isn't my strong suit. I'm more of a guns and biotics kind of girl." She began fiddling with the shiny buttons on the sleeve of her jacket. "And I have to wear this thing. Am I just getting fat, or was my dress uniform always this uncomfortable?" She tugged down the front, frowning when it remained bunched across her middle.

"Don't be silly, Shepard. Of course it's not going to fit if you stay slouched over like that. Besides, I think it looks dashing."

Reluctantly, Shepard straightened in her chair, although she continued her private rebellion against proper behavior by resting her elbows on the table. Her gaze drifted over to Liara, and her frown shifted into a brief smile. "At least I get to see you all dressed up," she said, admiring the smooth skin of Liara's bare shoulders. Her bondmate's dark purple dress dipped low enough to offer an enticing view of her breasts, and the fabric clung to her curves, shimmering beneath the light of the ballroom. "Looking at you almost makes my suffering seem worth it."

Liara leaned closer, brushing against her arm. "Only almost?"

"Well, you know me." Shepard laughed, trying to ignore the flush spreading across her face. "As good as that dress looks on you, I'd rather see it on the floor… and we can't exactly do that here."

"Shepard…" Liara's full lips twitched upwards. The gesture easily could have been mistaken for simple amusement, but Shepard knew better. She recognized that impish smile. Liara was in a teasing mood.

"Oh, so it's going to be like that, huh? What happened to having a little fun after the party? You promised me a reward for suffering through this."

"We will see," Liara murmured. She turned away to watch the various dignitaries and guests filter through the doors and into their seats. The show of indifference was convincing, but Shepard wasn't fooled. Liara had something in mind. Moments later, her suspicions were confirmed. Liara's hand moved beneath the table, resting calmly on top of her thigh. "Maybe if you do a good job with your speech, I'll be able to think of something."

Shepard's breath caught. She swallowed thickly as she glanced down into her lap. Liara's gloved fingertips rested just above her knee, warm even through two layers of fabric. Pressure built in the pit of her stomach, racing to fill the hastily stiffening shaft beneath her dress pants. She had put it on while dressing for the party, but now, she questioned her decision to wear it. She shouldn't have listened to Liara's whispered promises.

Liara noticed her problem almost immediately. She leaned in, lips hovering an inch away from her ear. "I thought we were going to wait until after the party?"

The low, teasing note in her voice made the situation worse. The tightness grew, and so did her creeping blush. The hall wasn't full yet and the closest chairs at their table remained empty, but there were plenty of people milling around the room. "Hey, it's not my fault. You're the one feeling me up under the table. Move your hand before you make it worse."

Liara's hand did move - several inches higher. A low sigh escaped Shepard's throat, and she bit her lip in embarrassment, glancing around to make sure that no one else had heard. Unfortunately, she and Liara were seated at the table closest to the stage. They were in plain view, and a few guests were already staring. She shifted back in her chair, but couldn't quite bring herself to remove Liara's hand. "That's not what I meant!"

"You only told me to move my hand." Liara's thumb traced over the top of her zipper. "You never specified where."

Shepard clenched her teeth, struggling to ignore the heavy ache between her legs. Liara's fingertips brushed back and forth, and each sweep sent a heavy throb along her shaft. Although the touches were light, their intention was obvious. She leaned in, whispering urgently beside Liara's crest. "You do realize this is being televised, right? There are cameras floating everywhere." Her gaze darted to one of the small drones canvassing the ballroom, and her face pulled into a nervous smile when its lens fixed on her.

"Are there? How unfortunate." The featherlight caresses grew firmer, still meant to tease, but unmistakably deliberate. Liara's thumb skimmed over the head of her cock, taking special care to press against the divot at the tip. Shepard fought to hide her throaty moan of approval, but her eyes slid shut. She sank back into her chair, almost able to forget where they were…

Her moment of bliss was short lived. A familiar voice shattered the silence. "See? Shepard's already bored to death, and this shit hasn't even started! If she gets to snore through this, so do I."

Shepard bolted upright, hands slamming atop the table, silverware bouncing in noisy accompaniment. "Jack," she coughed, trying to hide her embarrassment. "Miranda." She moved her gaze nervously from one woman to the other. Liara's thumb continued tracing back and forth, refusing to give her any relief.

Liara smiled at Jack, then Miranda, and motioned for them to take a seat. "It's nice to see you both. We heard you were coming, but it's a pleasant surprise to see you at our table." Shepard remained silent. She gripped the tablecloth, cinching the fabric in her palms. It was no easy task trying to stay still while Liara continued teasing her, rubbing the bottom ridge of the toy's head in slow, deliberate circles.

"Of course," Miranda said, oblivious to her plight. "We wouldn't miss this." She smoothed down the front of her black evening gown and took one of the empty chairs.

"Right." Jack tugged at her tie to afford herself a bit of breathing room. "Like the cheerleader here would miss a chance to kiss some Council ass."

Shepard tried to laugh, but it came out more like a groan. Liara had increased her efforts, slowly tugging down the tab of her zipper. She panicked, but before she could protest, Liara's hand retreated to her own lap, innocent as ever. "Shepard?" she asked, struggling to hide her smile. "I imagine they'll serve wine with the meal, but I could use a glass now. Would you mind? I think there's an open bar by the coat check."

She looked at Liara in disbelief, jaw hanging slack. That had to be a joke. There was no way she could leave the safety of the table. Liara's touch had left her painfully hard, and even if she managed to re-zip her fly, the outline would be obvious against the front of her pants. "I, um… I mean…" she stammered, searching for an excuse. Nothing came to mind. All she could see was Miranda and Jack staring at her in confusion while Liara waited for her answer. She fidgeted in her seat, scooting closer to the table so she wouldn't expose herself.

Miranda's brow creased with concern. "Are you all right, Shepard? You look a little flushed. I can send Jack to get us some drinks if you'd like."

"Yeah, turn me into your errand girl," Jack complained. When Miranda gave her a pointed look, she huffed and relented, heading for the bar. "Fine. I'll right back." She lowered her voice to a mutter, just loud enough for Shepard to hear. "Getting trashed is the only hope I have of gettin' through this shit anyhow.

Shepard let out a heavy sigh of relief. While Miranda motioned for one of the servers, she cast a nervous glance at Liara. "Whatever you're planning, drop it," she mumbled, snatching her napkin from the table and shoving it into her lap. Hopefully, she would be able to will her erection away before anyone noticed. She reached beneath the table, using the cover of the napkin to try and close her pants, but it was more difficult than she expected. Her cock remained stubbornly hard, and without the ability to see, her fingers fumbled over the zipper.

"Here, let me help," Liara whispered, reaching out to tuck a stray lock of hair behind her ear. Her other hand slipped beneath the napkin, pushing her fingers aside and squeezing ever so slightly.

Shepard bit down on the inside of her cheek, refusing to meet Liara's eyes. "That's not helping," she rasped, unable to hide the break in her voice. "I have to go up and speak once this dinner is over..."

Liara ignored her protests and continued petting the bulge at the front of her pants. Occasionally, her fingertips dipped just past the zipper, but she refused to pull it up or take hold of Shepard's cock. Shepard tried to object again, but before she could get another word out, Jack returned from the bar with four drinks in hand. At the same time, Miranda finished speaking with the server, and both of them took the empty seats on the other side of the table.

"Here you go." Jack slammed the glasses down on the table with a little too much enthusiasm. "I asked for the strongest stuff the bartender had. If that ain't enough, I've got a flask of ryncol stashed if you need somethin' stronger to kill the boredom."

Shepard fought the urge to ask for the ryncol and reached for one of the four offered glasses. She didn't care what it tasted like, but she hoped whatever it was had a bite like a Thresher Maw. She brought the rim to her lips, downing most of the liquid one large gulp. It burned a trail down her throat, but it only served to increase the pounding ache between her legs.

"Hell yeah! Shepard's not fucking around." Jack swiped the next glass and drained the entire contents in a single swallow.

Miranda gave her a disapproving glare. "Are you sure that's a good idea, Jack? You're already in... well, I'd like to say 'rare form', but in your case that would be a bit too hopeful. Regardless, don't make me deal with your drunkenness on top of everything else."

"Too late. Let this be a lesson to you. Next time, think before making me sit through something this stupid."

The two of them disappeared into their own world, nagging one another in what Shepard suspected was an elaborate bit of foreplay. She didn't have long to dwell on the idea, as the ever present hand in her lap continued toying with her. Just when she thought she wouldn't be able to bear it anymore, Liara gave her thigh a gentle squeeze and brought her hands back to the table, reaching for the last unclaimed glass. "This is good," she sighed, smiling over the rim of her glass. "I see the Council spared no expense."

"Thank Tevos," Shepard said. She glanced around nervously, trying to decide if it was safe to reach down and fix her zipper. "I'm sure she insisted."

Liara set her drink aside and leaned closer. "I will leave that to you, since you're the one who will be sitting next to her on stage."

Shepard's stomach sank at the reminder. She risked a quick glance down into her lap, wincing in disappointment. Her problem was obvious even beneath the napkin. Unless she figured something out, the whole room would get an eyeful as soon as she left the table.

Liara seemed to read her mind. "Don't worry about it. I'm sure you will be fine." She dipped forward, pressing an affectionate kiss to her cheek.

As soon as her lips made contact, the shallowest of melds flashed between them. Shepard's mind opened, and Liara engulfed her in a single breath. She fell into the familiar warmth of the soul she had grown to know as well as her own. A single memory slid across the connection, so quick it had to be premeditated. She saw herself seated in her chair with a blue crest bobbing between her thighs. The blazing heat of Liara's lips folded around the head of her cock, sliding down…

"... Shepard? Shepard!"

Shepard blinked, hurtling back out of the meld. She sucked in a quick breath as she re-adjusted to her surroundings. Miranda was staring at her from across the table, lips pursed with frustration. "The server has our food, Shepard."

"I… what? Food?" She noticed a hanar standing next to them, balancing a plate on each of its tentacles. "Oh, sorry. Thank you," she mumbled as the waiter set her plate in front of her. The food looked delicious, but she was too distracted to care. She reached down to make sure the napkin was still covering her, just in case.

"Finally," Jack said, snatching up her knife and fork. "I'm starving!"

"Jack…"

Shepard was relieved when Miranda's disapproval shifted away from her. Unfortunately, her respite was short-lived. Liara's hand returned to her lap, and she forced down a moan as those wicked fingers resumed stroking the bulge in her pants. Even such light pressure was nearly unbearable, and she cursed herself, wishing she had done up her zipper while she had the chance. "Careful," she whispered, torn between shifting back in her seat and bucking her hips forward. "Someone might see…"

Right on cue, the lights around them dimmed. The cheerful voices filling the hall faded to a quiet murmur. "You were saying?" Liara's fingers wandered into more dangerous territory, pushing past her open fly and searching for the gap at the front of her boxers.

Shepard swallowed. Being petted through her clothes was bad enough, but she didn't know what she would do if Liara actually got a grip on her. But despite her fears, she couldn't find the willpower to push Liara's hand away. She clutched the edge of the table instead, hissing through her teeth as something soft trailed against the underside of her shaft. Her eyes rolled back in her head when she realized what she was feeling: the smooth, silky material of Liara's gloves.

"What are you doing?" Shepard asked, knowing full well it was pointless.

There was no response from Liara, only from the PA system. A loud orchestral fanfare blared from the walls, and then there was nothing left to distract her from the silken fingertips. They had forgotten to remove items of clothing in the heat of passion before, but it was never like this. Without Liara's naked body to distract her, the soft sensations of the glove were overwhelming.

Shepard dropped her fork, looking around the auditorium for something, anything to distract her. With Jack and Miranda quiet for once and the ceremony on stage setting a new standard for 'boring', there was nothing to be found. She glanced over at Liara, begging for mercy with her eyes, but her bondmate continued looking at the stage, casually tugging the shaft of her cock out through the front of her pants. In spite of her best efforts, she made a low, throaty noise of approval. Being so exposed was terrifying, but she had to admit it was much more comfortable.

Liara began pumping her fist, stroking up from the base with excruciating slowness. "When are you scheduled to speak again?"

Somehow, she managed to offer a quiet response. "A-after Tevos, but before Sparatus..."

Liara's face was hardly visible in the dim light, but Shepard caught a hint of her smile. Obviously, she had already memorized the schedule of events and was only asking to make her uncomfortable. "Perhaps you should hurry, then," she teased, punctuating the suggestion with a particularly tight, slow stroke of her hand.

Shepard followed Liara's nod toward the stage. As much as she hated to admit it, Liara was right. She only had a few minutes, and she couldn't give a speech in her present condition. Her stomach was twisted in knots, her muscles felt ready to snap, and the thick, swollen shaft of her cock throbbed with each pump of Liara's fist. "Oh God, I can't," she whispered as softly as she could. "Not while I'm like this..."

Liara drew closer in the darkness, lips skating the shell of her ear. "Do you need me to help?"

Shepard hesitated, trying to make up her mind. She was still terrified of being caught, but she couldn't see any other way out. While she struggled to decide, Liara's thumb grazed the sensitive dip at the top of her shaft, passing over it again and again. Her stomach muscles quivered, and she gripped desperately at the edge of the table, choking back a sob. She was already close to bursting, but each small circle made the pressure worse. Her shaft rippled in Liara's hand, and she clawed at the tablecloth. Wetness began dripping from her aching slit, staining the silk of Liara's gloves.

"You're already close, aren't you?" Liara purred, leaning in to kiss the soft place just behind her jaw. 'I can feel it. How full you are…'

Shepard gasped as Liara's mind wrapped around hers, drawing her in. The meld was too intoxicating to resist. She needed it almost as much as she needed that thumb to keep circling over her.

'How badly you need release…'

Another image of Liara's lips sliding down along her shaft flashed to the front of her mind. Her sweet mouth sealed around the base, and it felt so real that Shepard almost let go of the tablecloth to reach for the back of Liara's crest.

'How badly you need me...'

The picture shifted again. Liara was straddling her, one leg thrown over her hip as she spread the slick purple lips of her azure with a teasing hand. She began to sink down, and Shepard stiffened, clinging to the last shreds of her sanity. Velvety heat grazed the pulsing head of her cock, finally pulling her in…

'Let me take care of you now, and I promise to give you the rest later.'

Promise or no, Shepard was powerless to resist. One image melted into another. She was buried deep inside Liara, clutching her hips even tighter than the tablecloth. The warm silk of the glove almost mimicked the velvety walls of Liara's azure contracting and coming around her. It wasn't perfect, but it would do in a pinch.

Shepard's eyes rolled back into her head. Her shaft swelled, and a burst of warmth shot from the twitching tip, running over Liara's gloved hand. Thick spurts of her release sailed upwards before hitting the napkin and dripping back down, spilling over the pulsing head. Liara's mind pulled back from hers, taking away the warmth of the meld and severing their connection, but the movement of her hand never stopped. She continued with the same slow, even strokes, coaxing several more jets from her shivering cock until her orgasm finally tapered off.

At last, Shepard's bleary eyes pried open. Her breathing evened out. She turned to look at Liara, but her bondmate's gaze was still miraculously fixed on the stage. Aside from the satisfied smirk pulling at the corners of her lips, she seemed perfectly calm. Shepard stared at her in disbelief before finally remembering that they were not alone. Her eyes darted around the table, but Jack and Miranda were arguing about the salarian councilor's speech. It didn't seem like they had noticed.

Gathering her courage, Shepard forced herself to glance down at the mess in her lap. It wasn't as bad as she had feared. The edge of the cloth napkin was stained and dripping, and Liara's glove was soaked through, but she had missed the tablecloth. Aside from a few stray drops, her pants seemed dry. Unfortunately, there was still one big problem. Her cock had softened a little, but as Liara's slender fingers moved to tuck it back into her pants, she began to swell again. She watched in growing horror as the glistening shaft rippled in Liara's palm, straining against the wet silk of her glove and begging for more attention. She groaned in frustration, and her stomach dropped. The ache was back, twice as fierce as before, and she could already feel pressure rushing in to fill the base.

"Shit." She pushed Liara's hand away, trying to shove herself back into her boxers. Her fingers shook as she pulled her zipper up over the rapidly hardening shaft, but she managed somehow.

Liara's eyes darted down to her lap, but her calm expression never faltered. "Are you all right, Shepard?"

"I…" Shepard realized that she had attracted Jack and Miranda's attention. Both of them stared at her from across the table. "I - I'm not sure I can… um…" She whipped her head from side to side, searching for a way out.

"What's wrong, Shepard?" Miranda asked. "You're not nervous about your speech, are you?"

"Nah. She's not nervous," Jack insisted. "She just needs a shot. Miri, gimme your purse." She reached across Miranda's lap, aiming for her handbag, and Shepard whirled around to look at the stage. The salarian councilor had finished his speech, and Tevos was walking up to the podium. After that, it was Sparatus's turn, and then…

"I…I should go," she mumbled, bolting up out of her chair. Miranda and Jack protested, but she refused to turn around. If she did, they would get a clear view of her problem. She scurried for the bathroom, angling her body away from most of the tables and dodging floating camera drones.

As soon as the door sealed behind her, she began pacing the length of the restroom, shoving her fingers through her hair. She considered undoing her pants and removing the toy, but dismissed the idea immediately. She didn't want to leave it sitting in the bathroom for someone else to find, and she couldn't take it back to the table with her. She made use of the nearest sink, turning on the cold water and splashing it over her face. It didn't help. She had been fighting her need for the whole night, but as she stared into the mirror, she realized that only one thing could sate her - the welcoming heat of Liara's azure.

Her gaze was still locked on the mirror when the door opened and Liara stepped inside. She froze, holding perfectly still as Liara glanced around the bathroom, checking to make sure the stalls were empty. Then, she reached back to lock the door. Shepard devoured Liara's reflection with her eyes, frustrated by how nonchalant her behavior seemed. Her freckles made that knowing smile seem almost innocent.

That damned smile finally forced her into action. Shepard was across the room in seconds, tugging her zipper down with one hand and gripping the back of Liara's neck with the other. Their mouths collided in a bruising kiss, and she pushed her tongue past Liara's lips, determined to regain some of the control she had lost. She finally managed to work her cock through her pants and shift her grip to Liara's thighs, coaxing her bondmate's legs around her waist and slamming her against the restroom door. "That was mean," she growled, hiking up Liara's dress.

"Yes. It was. And? You hate these events almost as much as Jack." Liara continued smiling, tugging her closer by her uniform. "Miranda has her methods of keeping her partner relatively quiet and entertained, and I have mine."

"You're pushing it, T'Soni," Shepard warned. Her teeth grazed against Liara's neck as she lifted her higher against the wall.

"And you're wasting time, Shepard."

She didn't waste another second. Her hips jerked, her cock already leaking proof of her desire as she lunged forward, searching for her goal. Her lips pulled back in a snarl when she missed Liara's opening, slipping against her ridge and down the length of her azure. The softness and warmth drove her wild, but it wasn't enough. She needed to be inside Liara, needed to thrust as deep as possible. She realigned herself immediately, raking her nails along Liara's thighs and driving forward again.

When she missed a second time, Liara tried and failed to stifle a giggle. Instead of angling her hips down and forward to help, she intentionally moved them back and up, encouraging her frustration. Soon, the slippery thrusts stopped feeling like mistakes. The velvet of Liara's azure felt incredibly good rubbing against her, and even though Shepard knew it would be better - so much better - if she could find her way inside, the pressure building in the base of her shaft was too intense to ignore. She buried her face in the curve of Liara's throat, squeezing her eyes shut and trying to force down her need for just a few more seconds.

But it was already too late. The length of her cock shuddered, and she let out a muffled scream against Liara's shoulder. She tried to keep still as the first shot flew from her twitching tip, but her hips had a mind of their own. They pushed forward again and again. She shivered, spilling her release over the slick, parted lips of Liara's azure.

Liara's hands came up to rub her back in soothing patterns, and her face burned with embarrassment. She pulled back just far enough to watch the next gush run over the hard ridge of Liara's clit and down the sleek line of her thigh. With a grunt of frustration, she pinned Liara's hips hard to the wall, determined to reclaim at least a little of her dignity.

Somewhere between spurts, she managed to pause long enough to line up the pulsing tip of her cock with Liara's entrance. She sighed at the tight fit, cursing between her teeth, but finally, she sank forward. Blissful heat fluttered around her full, pounding shaft, urging her to go deeper. She pushed as far as she could, whimpering against Liara's neck as she finally finished emptying herself. She remained that way for several moments, trembling with each burst that Liara pulled from her spent cock. The muscles around her kept squeezing, and every time she thought she had nothing left to give, another aftershock took her by surprise.

"Don't worry, " Liara teased, fingers raking between her shoulder blades. "The war was years ago. It's only natural your aim's suffered since."

Shepard knew there was nothing she could say or do to save face. Her cock had stopped pulsing, but her cheeks still burned with embarrassment. With a combination of frustration, relief, and a final spattering of defiant pride, she sank her teeth into the crook of Liara's neck. Her desire hadn't diminished, but as she buried herself in the warmth of Liara's azure, the thick haze of lust receded enough to give her a bit of clarity.

Her hips were slow to withdraw, and she angled herself so the head of the toy grazed the swollen, ridged spot against Liara's inner wall. She picked up a steady rhythm, filling Liara with deep, powerful strokes, but to her dismay, they didn't earn a reaction. The muscles of Liara's azure clenched and fluttered, but outwardly, she seemed completely unaffected.

Shepard altered her movements. She shifted between slow and fast, soft and hard, searching for the right tempo. She bit down harder on Liara's shoulder, certain that a show of aggression would work, but her bondmate remained stubbornly silent. All she could hear was the slick sounds of flesh on flesh and the boring music filtering over the restroom speakers.

She began to panic. The tension in her stomach was nothing compared to the tightness building in her cock. In spite of her best efforts, she was seconds away from losing herself again. She withdrew from Liara's neck and stared at her, cheeks flushed and chest heaving. Liara gazed back at her, still wearing the same innocent smile from before. There was no change for all of her spent effort. She knew wouldn't be able to live with herself until she turned that smile into a scream, or at least a slack jawed shudder.

Shepard drew a shuddering breath and redoubled her efforts, slamming into Liara with enough force to make the stall doors clatter. She grunted, pulling Liara forcibly onto her cock, fucking her in desperation. She hoped to ignite some sort of need within her bondmate, but Liara wasn't clawing at her. She didn't have that inky black glaze in her eyes. She didn't even offer a breathy exhalation of her name.

She knew she couldn't hold on much longer. She stopped and lifted her gaze to meet Liara's, torn between exasperation and a glint of concern. "Nothing?!"

Liara only smiled, fingertips drawing lazy patterns through her shirt. "What are you waiting for?" she murmured, lips hovering so close that Shepard could feel them move against hers. "I only came in here to give you a little assistance. We can't have you going up on stage like this." Her muscles clenched down, and Shepard choked back a sob, fighting her instinct to thrust. She knew that if she did, she wouldn't be able to prevent herself from coming again. "So why don't you let me take care of it?"

Shepard dug her fingers harder into Liara's hips. She rested her forehead against the wall, screwing her eyes shut. "But - but you haven't… fuck," she stammered, dropping the sentence as the heat of Liara's azure dragged along her shaft. "You haven't gotten to…"

Liara's mouth wandered away from hers, trailing kisses along the line of her jaw. Her muscles kept squeezing, sliding, stroking, and Shepard gasped as each soft tug teased the trembling length of her cock. "It doesn't matter. Go ahead, Shepard. You need me."

"But…"

The slow, rhythmic pulses around her shaft made her shudder, but it was the whispered words just beneath her ear that broke her. "Say it. You need me."

A whine broke in Shepard's throat. She slumped forward, reeling from the request. As much as she did need Liara, it was one thing to feel it, and another entirely to say it when she was so desperate. She gave a whimper of disapproval, her cock still twitching and hard.

"Say it," Liara repeated, breath skating over her neck.

Shepard paused, unsure of what to do next. If she gave into Liara's demands, her bondmate had officially won. She tried to fight the unbearable pressure pounding inside her, but it was impossible. Liara's muscles pulled even tighter, sealing her in blazing silk, and her resolve crumbled. Her hips gave an uneven jerk, and she cried out as a weak pulse spilled from the tip of her cock. "I… I need you."

"Good. That wasn't so hard, was it?"

Shepard could hear the amusement in Liara's voice. She reeled when Liara's mind nudged against her own, offering the warmth of the meld. She plunged into the mental caress with everything she had. She was met with an abundance of warmth, love, and a flood of Liara's desire. Overwhelming relief washed over as she sensed the pent up tension within her bondmate and felt it melt away the second their minds connected. Thank God. You wanted me after all.

Their release came all at once. No words, only warm mental caresses and welcoming heat. Shepard stiffened, shouting in pleasure as both of them unravelled. Her hips strained, clit hard and throbbing against the sensor plate. Liara's inner walls shivered, and she pumped deeper as pulse after pulse of warmth poured from her cock. Her hips bucked wildly, grinding the base of the toy against Liara's ridge. She fought to keep her pleasure silent, stifling her shout against her bondmate's soft throat.

At last, her muscles relaxed. The tightness in her belly finally subsided as Liara's moans filled her ears. She held her bondmate tight, shuddering with aftershocks that only intensified the clinging heat around her trembled. She struggled to steady her breath and finally started to soften. With her cock still hilted, she was in no hurry to remove herself from Liara's warmth.

"Shepard?"

At first, her name sounded fuzzy and distant. She rested her forehead against Liara's shoulder, smiling as she savored the soft flutters around her shaft. Feeling Liara come had healed her wounded pride. Although she was still embarrassed, she wasn't too upset. She knew Liara wouldn't think any less of her for failing to control herself. "Thank you," she sighed, trailing a few kisses across Liara's collarbone. "I really needed that… even if it was all your fault."

Liara laughed, and Shepard felt the low vibration against her lips. "I'm glad you no longer consider this dinner to be a waste of your time, but I'm afraid you still have a few other responsibilities."

"Oh, shit." Shepard drew her hips back, almost dropping Liara onto the floor. "My speech! I completely forgot."

"Stop worrying." Liara let her dress fall back down and activated her omni-tool. "You have about three minutes to clean up and return to our table."

Shepard stared at her in surprise. "How do you know?"

Liara smiled. "I made a few preparations in advance. It wasn't too difficult to hack the camera drones and redirect the feed to my omni-tool. I'll be erasing some of the footage before the broadcast, of course."

"Of course," Shepard laughed. "And this is why I married you."

"Really?" Liara gave her a sultry look as she swayed over to the sink, activating the sensors and running her hands under the water. "And I thought it was because of what we just did. You might want to hurry, Shepard. You're down to two minutes."

Shepard tripped over to the sink, wincing a little as her shaft caught in her open fly. She groaned when she realized she had forgotten to close her pants, tugging clumsily at the zipper. "Here, let me," Liara sighed, tucking her back in and doing up the front of her pants. "Sometimes, I wonder what you would do without me."

She opened her mouth to say thank you, but before she could get a word out, Liara landed a light swat on the swell of her ass. The blow was soft, especially through her pants, but she cried out in surprise. The next thing she knew, Liara was shoving her toward the bathroom door, sneaking in one last grope as they parted. "One minute, Shepard. Don't worry about your pants. The front looks fine, and you'll be standing behind the podium anyway."

Shepard hurried out the door, too rushed to give a proper goodbye. She darted past the other tables, but even all the stares she invited couldn't remove the dopey grin from her face. Strangely, she was actually looking forward to her speech. The sooner she gave it, the sooner she and Liara would be able to make a graceful exit and return home.

"Shepard, there you are!" Miranda stood up, hurrying to fix the bars on the front of her uniform. Shepard allowed the fussing without complaint - Liara had already done far worse. "Sparatus is almost finished his speech. You're due on stage in thirty seconds. Where were you hiding?"

"Last minute case of nerves," she lied. "Liara took care of it."

Miranda's expression shifted, and Shepard thought she caught a hint of amusement in her eyes. "I'm sure she did. Come on. Let's get you up there." She allowed Miranda to lead her, and her heart rate spiked when she noticed Liara slip out of the washroom a few moments later. She looked perfectly composed, but was missing both of her gloves.

The speech itself was a rather short affair. Shepard had written it herself, which meant it contained as few words as possible, and most of them were only one or two syllables. Still, the audience seemed to like it. There was genuine applause when she finally stepped down and extended her arm to welcome Humanity's newest Councilor to the podium. He nodded his thanks, and she slipped gratefully to the edge of the stage, sitting in the empty chair beside Tevos.

"Where were you?" Tevos whispered without moving her lips, keeping her eyes fixed on the Councilor as he made his speech. "You were supposed to be on stage with us a quarter of an hour ago."

"Busy," Shepard mumbled under her breath. Her cheeks flushed, but if anyone noticed, they would probably blame it on the stage lights.

"Busy enough to disappear in the middle of dinner?"

Shepard gave a tiny shrug. "Sorry. You'll be able to help me smooth it over, right?"

Tevos continued looking forward, but a smile pulled at her lips. "I'm afraid not. I'll be leaving the party early tonight. I have plans later."

"So you won't mind us leaving early then?" Shepard stared into the crowd, zeroing in on Liara. "I have a few plans myself."

Meanwhile... on the other side of the room...