Author's Note: This chapter is RATED M for a reason. Enjoy. - TLC

Be Like This

James looked at the black silk scarves in his hands, and glanced at Aria. Her kohl rimmed green eyes shined with a mixture of adoration and lust. Her plump, bottom lip was painted red and pinched between her teeth. Her strong, slim fingers were toying with the hem of his t-shirt which she wore. As he drank in the sight of her in the soft lighting of their bedroom, he noticed the black stockings she wore beneath the shirt. She knew how much he loved seeing her in his clothes, but Dios mio he wanted to see what was underneath. He let the smooth, strong cloth slip through his fingers. His eyes met hers, as she crossed her arms in front of her lifting the shirt to reveal the lace topped stockings, black see through panties and matching bra.

He swallowed thickly, and nodded towards the bed. "Get on the bed." He barely recognized his own voice. The things she did to him, he couldn't explain. He watched as she sat, and scooted herself back so she was sitting directly in the center of the bed. Her legs stretched out in front of her as she waited for him to tell her how he wanted her. "Aria, you're sure you want this?"

"Yes," her answer was simple, and came without hesitation. He nodded at her and took a step closer. He noticed her sharp intake of breath and the rush of color on her cheeks. They had talked about their fantasies before. The things they wanted to do together, to experience together. She had mentioned this, specifically.

"You know, if at any point … if you want me to stop, all you have to do is tell me and I will. No matter what," he answered as he moved onto the bed with her. His eyes never left hers, and she blessed him with a brilliant smile.

"I know, Love. I trust you," she promised, and he grinned as he moved to straddle her legs. Her head tilted back as he towered over her. He leaned down and pressed a kiss to her lips. It was a quick sound kiss, that he ended when he sat back on his heels to look at her. She had her long dark hair curled, and it fell down her back and over her shoulders. She looked absolutely stunning; like a goddess, or one of his own fantasies come true. He had to remember this was hers. He had to make sure this lived up to what she wanted.

"Take off your bra," he ordered, a lustful rasp clinging to his tone. She reached behind her, pushing her chest out and his eyes moved to the rounded curve of her cleavage. He watched as she removed the fabric from her body. He let out a low groan when her firm breasts were released and revealed to him. The pink tips already firm, taut and begging for his attention. He swallowed hard and moved closer to her.

Her breasts brushed against his shirt as he took one of the scarves and covered her eyes. He tied the blindfold securely behind her head. He let his fingers trace her jaw as be brought his hands forward. Her lips parted with her quick intake of breath. He smirked, and loved that she couldn't see him. He ran his hands down her arms, watching as gooseflesh chased his touch. He found her wrists. "Lie back." She listened, and he held her wrists as she did. Once her head hit the pillow, he leaned over and, with the second scarf, secured her hands to the wrought iron headboard over her head.

He sat back on his heels and looked at her. She was stretched out before him, helpless and willing and his. His erection was tenting his pants already and he'd barely touched her. He swallowed and moved off the bed. He stood at the foot, staring at her. He watched as her body flushed. Her skin tinting pink and he could see it even in the dim lighting. A smirk pulled at the corner of his mouth. She was chewing her lip as her chest rose and fell quickly. He reached behind him and gripped his t-shirt, pulling it forward and over his head in one quick movement. He let it fall to the floor next to the bed, and she turned her head towards the sound.

He chuckled low in his throat, and a soft moan slipped from her at the sound as she turned her head forward again, clearly searching for his position, to anticipate his move. He moved to the side of the bed, opposite to where he'd dropped his shirt and undid the buckle on his pants. She turned her head towards him again, and he grinned at the glisten on her lips and the way she was already struggling against the knot in the scarf at her wrists.

He let his pants drop to the floor, boxers included, and moved silently around the bed. She kept her head turned to the last spot she heard him. He took in the sight of her, stretched out on the bed, waiting, chest heaving with excitement. He braced himself on the headboard and leaned forward, careful not to alert her to his position until his lips met her cheek. She gasped, turned her head quickly and he kissed her. His tongue plundering her mouth with confident, powerful strokes and she moaned, sucking lightly. He pulled back abruptly, and she whimpered.

He moved to the foot of the bed, and climbed on to join her. She whimpered when he moved her legs back together and knelt next to her. He let his hands run down her arms, from wrist to shoulder. She gasped, and shuddered. His hands continued with random touches, never touching the same place twice, until her entire body was trembling. Her hands red as she pulled at the scarf. He shifted and without warning covered a pert breast with his mouth. She called out in surprise, and moaned as she pressed her body closer to his. He pulled back and blew softly on her wet flesh. Her hips rolled and he grinned. She was so eager. He reached down then, slipping his hand in her panties and she let out a string of inelegant curses as he ran his fingers through her folds. He was not surprised to find her as wet as she was.

Removing his hand, he dropped his head again and took her opposite breast in his mouth, using his teeth lightly as she groaned and cursed. "Fuck, James, I…"

He paused, and looked at her. She was panting, legs rubbing together, her entire body flush with need. "Are you okay?"

"No, I mean, yes, I am." He kissed her when she opened her mouth to continue. His erection pressed against her belly and they shared a groan at the contact. He broke the kiss, pressing his forehead to hers, and regretted the blindfold. He wanted to see her eyes. "I want to taste you." He groaned and his erection jumped at her words.

He moved, continuing to straddle her. His knees near her shoulders and the tip of him at her lips. Her mouth was slightly open, and she licked her lips. Her tongue touching the tip, then eagerly lapping at him. He reached forward and gripped the headboard for support as she wrapped her lips around him, lifting her head and using her tied hands for leverage. She had limited movement, so he rolled his hips, thrusting carefully into the warm wetness of her mouth as she sucked him. He cursed as she moaned around him.

He knew he couldn't stay here long, or he would finish. He pulled away from her, a tad roughly and he adored her whimper at the loss of him as he moved off the bed completely. He moved back to the foot of the bed and looked at her. He let her lay there, panting and moaning. Nearly writhing as she searched for her own release, her thighs pressed together and her hips rolling. He cursed softly and grabbed her ankles. She froze in anticipation and he opened her legs wide. He knelt on the bed, and let his hands slide up her legs, watching as the muscles twitched beneath his touch. He reached her hips, and her panties, and he hooked his fingers in the band to pull them down. She moved her legs to help him remove them, and when she was bare before him, she dropped her legs open with no thought for modesty.

She glistened in the gentle lighting, but instead of touching her where they both wanted him to, he reached out and took her ankle. He lifted her leg and placed open mouthed kisses from ankle to knee, through the stockings. His eyes moved quickly to her hands, as she still pulled against the restraint. She wanted to touch him, and damn it, he wanted her hands on him, but he wasn't done yet. He moved to lie down, he rested his cheek on her thigh as he pushed her legs further apart.

He breathed deeply, taking in her scent and he exhaled on a moan. She begged him quietly. "What do you want, Lola?"

"Touch me, please. I need, oh fuck." Her words were cut off as he ran his tongue along her slit. Her body shook, almost violently. He sealed his mouth over her, his top lip near her clit as his tongue ran through her folds, dipping inside as he held her legs down with both hands.

She called out, loudly, when she broke. Her first climax flooded his senses as he continued his assault on her core. He could stay here for hours, bringing her to her peak repeatedly. His lips and tongue continued to stroke her, massaging her as she rolled her hips against his face. Her body tensed again, before her second orgasm broke over her like a wave. She was nearly sobbing as her body trembled. He pulled away from her, and he kissed his way up her body, stopping to lick and suck at her neck as he settled between her legs. Her body was relaxed beneath him, heavy on the bed at the pleasure she'd already received.

He grinned against her skin as she whimpered and lifted her stockinged legs to wrap them around his waist, struggling to have some semblance of control over their encounter. He reached between them and positioned himself. He wanted to push inside and fill her, but he paused. He needed to see her eyes when he did. He reached and pulled the blindfold off. She blinked as her eyes adjusted to the dim lighting.

Her eyes met his, and he smiled with her as he slipped inside. Her head fell back to the pillows as he propped himself up, one hand on the mattress on either side of her as he moved inside her. He alternated between deep, filling thrusts and fast, shallow movements. Her body undulated beneath him as he brought her up again. "James, fuck, I'm, again, oh…." Her voice was lost as another orgasm washed over her. Her walls clenching around him was too much and he followed her over the edge, spilling himself inside her with short erratic thrusts.

His mouth claimed hers and she kissed him eagerly. Her entire body shook beneath him, her muscles twitching as her body settled from the intense high he'd kept her on. He reached up, without breaking their kiss, and with one pull of the scarf in the right spot, the knot came undone and her arms were instantly around him. Her fingers and short, practical nails dug into his skin and he groaned into her mouth. She clung to him, her arms and legs still wrapped around him.

After a moment, their heartbeats calmed and their breathing settled. She loosened her hold on him and he slipped from her. He kept her close, her arms still around him. "James, that was…." He chuckled, a satisfied, primal, masculine sound from deep in his chest. She grinned against his skin. He looked down at her. "I had no… I didn't know it could be like that."

That wasn't the first time she had said that to him, and it was the one thing that he adored hearing from her. Her life had never been easy, or entirely happy or satisfying. He liked showing her how good it could be. As she fell asleep, fully satisfied, he realized it was time. Time to take the next step.

It was time to propose. Not in this moment, obviously, but she was ready, and he knew that now. The level of comfort and trust she needed to have in him for this type of encounter was immense, and the fact that it had been such a success showed him she was ready. His heart soared at the thought of placing a ring on her finger. Their relationship was anything but a secret; still, the thought of them both declaring their love, forever, caused a rush of emotions in his chest. He felt tears prick, hot and wet behind his eyes. He closed them, and placed a firm kiss to her forehead as sleep tugged at him.

He would propose, and soon, but first he needed to talk to someone. He needed permission. He needed to talk to Admiral Hannah Shepard.