Usually, when spring came, I started to listen to the song "Summer wine" (most of all I love Ville Valo's version). Every time the image of an handsome cowboy and a sexy lady used to appear my mind, but they were faceless. This year they had Kaidan and Shepard's features, and this fic is born.
This story is definitely NSFW, for reasons! It took me forever to finish it because I've been very busy, and I also lost the ability to write smut. Then, during my summer vacations I found it again (or at least, I found the heart to TRY to write decent smut again). So there you have the smuttest smutty smut I ever wrote! It was supposed to be a short drabble, but ended being longer than I thought, so I had to divide it in 2 parts (and the smut will be in the second one).
There is an amazing lady I have to thank for her support and her precious help: the lovely mandyshepard! She beta-tested this fic, correcting my bad English, and she also made some awesome renders, that you'll be able to admire soon on her Tumblr and DA pages (one of them is the cover of this fic)!
Well, I hope you're going to like this AU fic! Just two side notes: the Shepard in this story is not my custom Sharilin, I chose to use the default Jane because she's way too much different from my canon. I am not so experienced about American Wild West, so I apologize if I made historical mistakes!
1883, late afternoon, somewhere in the barrens of Texas.
It's very hot, the kind of heat that makes it harder to breath, with that smell of dirt and scorched earth that dries out the throat and that sticks onto clothes and skin. The sun burns so intense that it dazzles even the toughest of the men, reflecting on the arid soil, rocks and the thin shrubs.
A young cowboy is pausing under decrepit wooden roofing, the only shaded haven he found for miles. He gently pats his obedient steed who is drinking from the bowl placed on the ground, then he moves on taking off his hat and passing one hand trough his short dark curly hair. His olive skin is damp with sweat and his lids are heavy for the exhaustion over his whiskey colored eyes. Puffing, he takes a few steps so that his boots are now back under the sunlight, his silver spurs shining bright and his alert eyes glazing all around him, like he's looking for something specific.
He stays still, the silence of the nature only interrupted by the whinnies of his horse and the squawks of the crows flying above.
After a while, a female voice issues from behind him "Hi stranger!"
The man turns to watch the newcomer: she's a stunning woman, quite tall with a slender but curvy body and fair skin covered by a simple pale dress. The more she gets near, the more he can admire her lovely features, her rosy cheeks, her full red lips and her charming emerald green eyes. She's wearing a straw hat and her long blonde hair is tied up in a bun and she's carrying a little bundle into her arms.
"Good evening, Ma'am." He greets bowing in front of her.
"Well well well… we've got a gentleman here, don't we?" she smirks.
"Indeed, Ma'am." He confirms, lowering his head to replace his hat. When he gazes again to her, the air gets caught in his throat: she's only a few inch away from him now, her gorgeous smile so fascinating that he stares at her agape for a while.
When he manages to recompose himself, he coughs a little embarrassed "May I dare to ask what a respectable lady like you is doing here all alone, in the middle of nowhere?"
She chuckles at his last words "I live nearby… I was just searching for some medicinal herbs. And what about you, stranger? What are you doing here, 'in the middle of nowhere'?"
"I'm just letting Norman have a break, we've had a very long trip…"
"Norman?"
"Yes, my valiant steed!" he answers approaching the dark-brown horse. The woman follows his steps, her attention oddly focused on his boots, and a subtle mischievous sneer appears on her face.
"Nice to meet you, Norman!" she scans the animal attentively "You're a considerable exemplar of a steed!"
The cowboy pats him "He's the best! Are you experienced in breeding horses, Ma'am?"
"Sort of…" she asserts enigmatically, raising her right arm towards the quadruped. She caresses him slowly, her tapered fingers combing his mane, getting dangerously near to the man's. As their hands brush slightly, he shudders awkwardly, the feeling of her soft skin against his giving him goose bumps. Though she notices his reaction, she allows her digits to linger on touching him, her lashes fluttering mischievously as she glances at him.
"What is your name, stranger?" her tone is low and mellow.
"Kaidan Alenko at your service, Ma'am!" he answers breaking their contact finally to lift the brim of his hat a little.
"Mr. Alenko, how's about you and Norman accompanying me back to my house? I could use some help with this heavy package, and you two definitely need some rest somewhere less sultry!"
The cowboy glimpses her, hesitant "Are you sure Ma'am…Maybe your husband…" he carefully investigates.
"My… my husband?" all her body goes rigid for a moment, her brows tensing "I… I am widowed, Mr. Alenko."
"Oh God, I am sorry… I didn't mean to…"
"So!" she cuts him off with a new captivating smile "Are you going to help me?" she begins to walk around him, wiggling her hips seductively "Don't worry, I'll reward you with a tasty meal and my special wine…"
"Special wine, huh?" the guy named Kaidan raises an eyebrow intrigued.
"Strawberries cherries and an angel's kiss in spring, my Summer wine is really made from all these things…" she sings, her voice so sweet that it seems that even Norman neighs admiringly. But unexpectedly, the song doesn't instigate the same response in the man, who lowers his head to hide a baffling grin.
Without saying a word, he mounts up on his steed, holds out an hand to the woman "Ma'am…" and lifts her helping her to sit astride in front of him "Lead the way!"
They travel for a while, Kaidan remains silent as the mysterious lady shows the right direction to reach her home.
"You're not very loquacious Mr. Alenko, are you?"
"Indeed, Ma'am. I am used to live on my own. Norman and my guns are my sole companions."
This is the truth, but the real reason why he's being so taciturn is because he's struggling to concentrate on something other than her warm body resting flush on his, her gentle heartbeats pealing against his chest, her sweet scent flooding his nostrils – a floral fresh aroma with hints of lavender and … rose, maybe? He hasn't been with a woman for a while, and although this usually isn't a problem for him, this situation is putting to the test his remarkable self-control, and her shamelessly flirty attitude isn't helping.
Suddenly the horse tramples on a stone, and Kaidan's sight is immediately caught by the sway of her ample breasts caused by the jolt, making his mouth go dry. And, when the little amethyst pendant hanging on her thin collar, slowly slides back in the valley of her neckline, he feels all his blood going south. Panicked, he does his best to distract himself, remembering why he's here, and what his mission is.
He clears his throat "I beg your pardon Ma'am, but I don't remember your name…"
"It's because I didn't say it! Ma'am it's fine, I like it!" she hastily gets rid of the inconvenient question "Oh, there we are!"
They just arrived in front of a little dainty wooden house. Its façade, peach-colored, with a well-groomed garden surrounding the property.
"Head to that path" she points out, steering him to another small facility "It's my stable".
As they stop, Kaidan dismounts Norman, and then he raises his hands to help the lady. With a wicked sneer she leans out towards him, almost falling into his arms. He catches her by her sides, his thumbs brushing under her breasts, and again he finds himself fighting against his inappropriate itch.
Even if her feet are now safely on the ground, she remains still seized by him, staring right into his honey brown eyes "I think you can release me now…" she teases him.
"Oh-oh yes… I'm sorry-I…"
"You can hitch Norman in there. You'll find fresh straw and water for him!"
"Thanks, Ma'am." Kaidan says and he follows her inside.
Once in the stable, a low neigh welcomes them: a snow white horse is standing in one of the boxes. The blonde woman approaches him "Hello my friend, I'm back!" she says stroking him on the snout "You're going to have company for a little while, are you happy?"
The cowboy is surprised by the tenderness she's showing now, unusual compared to the image of her he shaped in his head, a toughie, impudent, shameless, fierce and solitary person. Now, seeing her petting her animal so sweetly makes him wonder if he has to reconsider his opinions.
"You've a magnificent steed as well, Ma'am!"
"Thank you…" a glimmer of sadness shades her eyes "He was my husband's… But yeah, he's really magnificent. Right, Joker? Oh yes, you are!" the horse responds poking her with his head against her shoulder. The melodious giggles she makes hits Kaidan straight into his heart, reinforcing his doubts.
"So, Mr. Alenko make yourself at ease. I'm going to prepare dinner. Come find me in my kitchen when you're finished there!"
The evening goes on, and the pair eat the food the householder cooked, engaging in some light conversation. Mostly Kaidan was the one speaking, spurred by her assiduous questions, while she avoided cleverly his.
"Thank you so much for the awesome meal, Ma'am. You were too kind with this stranger. Now I think it's time for me to go."
"But you haven't tasted my special wine yet!" the woman affirms, resting her hand over his on the table "Please, stay…"
Her bright green eyes beam straight into his caramel colored ones, locking their sights together. There is a lot left unsaid between the two of them, a lot of secrets they're both hiding, her dark intentions and his mysterious worries.
They stay there for a while, looking to each other, until the lady gets up from her chair and moves towards the kitchen sink. "Strawberries cherries and an angel's kiss in spring, my Summer wine is really made from all these things…" she begins to sing again "Take off your silver spurs and help me pass the time, and i will give to you Summer wine…"
Her melodious, mild voice hits deep inside Kaidan's heart. He sighs resigned, his expression sad, that sadness of someone who has to do something he really doesn't want to. Just a glimpse at his feet, his shining spurs well fastened to his boots, and he leads his hand at his own waist just in time to see the glass full of rosy sparkling liquid she places in front of him.
"Ohh-oh-oh Summer wine…"
He stares at the little bubbles dancing and exploding on the surface, dithering uncertainly. If only she would give up with her plan…
But she does not.
In a blink of an eye, Kaidan grabs his pistol and points it towards the woman, but in those few seconds of wavering he didn't notice that she did exactly the same: they're now aiming their guns at each other's temples.
"Who the hell are you, and what the hell you want from me, Mr. Alenko?" she yells, her beautiful features now twisted with anger "Supposing that it is your real name, stranger!"
"Yes, it is." he affirms without getting perturbed "I am a bounty hunter, and I am here for you, Ma'am."
"I KNEW it! It was way too easy to convince to follow me here… And even though you are attracted to me, you didn't make a move!"
"Attracted?!" he chokes "What! I-I…"
"Yes, you are. I can sense that!"
"Oh, I see… So is it thanks to this… 'ability' of yours that you managed to deceive all those cowboys you duped and robbed?" he sneers sarcastically at her.
"You…" she grits her teeth "You don't know ANYTHING about me, Mr. Alenko!"
"No?" a challenging look appears on Kaidan's face "I know that you stalk that street leading to the city, that one where you found me. I know that you chase exhausted cowboys that wear silver spurs, like mine. I know that you use some kind of excuses to convince them to follow you to your house, promising them your 'special' wine. I know that you seduce them but when they think they're going to get whatever they want from you, they faint, helpless. I know that the day after they wake up under a tree near the road, without their spurs, their money, their horses or any idea about what happened to them. I think I know quite a few things about you, Ma'am. Is there anything else I should acknowledge?"
Annoyed, the lady shakes her pistol "Who sent you here? And how did you find me?!"
"One of your victims hired me. It seems he really cared about his spurs. Though, it has been very hard to spot you. You do a pretty good job putting people off your scent, Ma'am. No one remembers anything but you begging for help and singing your song about your 'Summer wine'. I bet there is something in it that makes people forget… Maybe a drug?"
Seeing her grip on her weapon tightening, he understands he hit it. "Please, Ma'am. Put your gun away. In a fight, between me and you, I'd be the winner. I don't want to hurt you."
The awareness crushes over her like a train: someone had begun hunting for her, she's been caught, she may lose everything – her house, her horse, her freedom. No, she can't be arrested, not yet, not until she reached her important goal!
"I repeat, Mr. Alenko. You don't know anything about me!" she cries out and with her right heel she strikes a floor board, which acts like a lever lifting between his legs.
"Wha…" Kaidan's words die on his lips as the planking smacks his back, and he doesn't have the time to react as she punches his face with her free fist.
He trips for the blows, his pistol falling on the ground as he moves his right hand to cover his aching cheek, but simultaneously a warning resonates in the back of his mind, making him raise the other to seize the blonde woman's hair right before she escapes to the garden.
With his eyes shut from the stun of the bump, he almost yells "You'll not go anyw…" but he sense no opposition to his hold on her hair "WHAT?!" he's seizing a wig.
"Damn it!" he curses as he scoots outside the house, following his quarry "DAMN IT!"
She's running so fast he can barely keep up with her velocity, still dazed by her hits "Stop! STOP! STOOOP!" he shouts in vain, as she reaches the stables. She loses some time opening the door and he takes the advantage to shorten the distance between them. When she enters in the building, the cowboy is ready and jumps on her from behind, they both tumble on the straw bedding in the box nearby. They immediately start to fight for supremacy, the lady is stronger than Kaidan thought. A cascade of crimson locks springs free from the hairnet where they were gathered.
"NO! LEAVE ME!" she growls "I can't be captured! I CAN'T! Not until I got my REVENGE!"
"Your revenge?" he repeats surprised. She squirms under his grasp, beating his nose with her elbow, and trying to crawl away from him, but he clings on her dress that ends ripped out, showing the bare skin of her back marred by a huge burn scar.
"What is this?" he asks shaken, and the question seems to unsettle the fugitive, who surrenders staying still. Therefore he manages finally to roll her over onto her back, straddling her hips and restraining her wrists above her head. Her skin is flushed for the anger and the strain, her rather short hair completely disheveled and her make-up partially removed. Kaidan remains motionless as he notices the lovely freckles which adorn her pretty nose and cheeks that were covered by the greasepaint, but soon her glare, so full of hate stirs him from his adoring state.
"Damn it! Tell me why are you doing this? Please!" his tone is more heated than he wants "I am not the evil one here, and I bet you're not as well!"
She turns her head to the side, her brows painfully wrinkled "You-you don't…"
"I don't know anything about you? Yeah, this is the truth. I had a certain idea about what kind of woman you should have been, and I was more than convinced to capture you and to make sure you would spend a lot of time in a jail. But then, I met you and you showed up being so different from the cold plotter person I thought."
Her bright green eyes open wide in surprise.
"A revenge? For what? Does it have to do with your scar? Come on, talk to me! Please!" he keeps interrogating her "Otherwise I'll be forced to carry out my task!"
She sighs defeated "I-I have to avenge my husband's death"
"Your husband…? What…?"
"He-he's been betrayed!"
"By who?"
"I HAVE NO IDEA!" she yells "That's why I-I… God…"
They both stay silence for a while, only the grumbles of the two horses resonate in the air. Then the imprisoned lady inhales deeply "Ok. You won, Mr Alenko. I'll tell you everything."