I meant to update this story a lot sooner, and I'm so sorry for how long it took. I'm a terrible person! So, hopefully a big ol' chapter of yummy smut will make up for it?

Mega props to Greenyoda987 for helping me out with this chapter and giving me some much-needed inspiration!


The Citadel was oddly peaceful—considering how close to destruction it seemed to constantly find itself—as the Normandy crew trudged through the docking bay. The mission to Noveria was supposed to have been simple: get in, disable the base's defenses, and let the Alliance take it out. The emphasis, Shepard had realized, was on "supposed". With a grimace, she pulled her sweatshirt tighter around her body and tried in vain to dispel the last of Noveria's chill from her body, an action that Garrus didn't miss. She knew he hated the cold as much as she did, but for some reason, she couldn't seem to feel warm again. The turian wrapped an arm around her waist as they entered the elevator and she leaned against him gratefully.

"Thanks," she mumbled, keying in the Presidium as their destination.

He seemed to war with himself for a moment before sighing and turning her to face him. "Jane… We don't have to do this now. I can tell the Councilor that we have to reschedule."

Her brow furrowed and she scowled. "Why?"

"Because you're clearly not back to full strength yet. You've been shivering since we left Noveria, I can tell you haven't been sleeping, and don't even get me started on the limp you've been trying to hide from me." His sudden frustration made her stare at him in surprise, and he sighed, running a hand down his face. "Spirits, Shepard, I'm sorry. I'm not angry, just… worried. I don't want you to feel like this is one more thing you have to do." He knew that everyone and their cousin had been begging her to do one thing or another for them, he had seen the shadows growing under her eyes, and he didn't want to add to that. But she just curled her lips in a small smile and wrapped her arms around his waist, laying her cheek against his carapace.

"I know, Garrus," she said quietly as the elevator began its steady ascent, "But I know this was something that you were looking forward to and…" She gave a quiet laugh. "This sounds so shallow, but I just wanted to forget that there was a war going on, for once. I wanted to forget about all of the people counting on me to… fix this."

He hugged her tightly around her shoulders and nuzzled his face into her hair. "It's not shallow."

Now she laughed louder, looking up at him with a smirk. "Even if I'm just using the councilor to feel like a person and not a tin soldier?"

"I don't know what a 'tin soldier' is, or what it has to do with anything, but yes. You deserve some time off, more than anyone else," he replied, "And I'm sure the councilor wouldn't care."

Shepard shook her head, lifting up on her toes to kiss his brow lightly. "Whatever you say, Garrus. Now, where did he say his apartment was?" she asked as they stepped out, looking around the Presidium. She had never spent enough time on the Citadel to become overly familiar with the layout of the residential areas; she knew where to buy weapons, where to find the politicians, and where to get a bite to eat, but that was the extent of her knowledge of the station. Garrus, however, merely draped an arm over her shoulders and steered her toward the higher-rent district, strolling casually as if it were the most natural thing in the world for two soldiers to be wandering around one of the wealthiest parts of the Citadel. She pressed against his side as they walked, trying not to notice the odd looks they were getting—it seemed they were painfully underdressed—and kept her eyes straight ahead as she tried to guess which of the ritzy glass buildings was their destination. Maybe the round, spiral-y one? No? Or the more traditional spire? No? Garrus tugged her down a side street and she followed him into the brightly lit lobby of a particularly splendid complex.

"Can I… help you?" a skeptical concierge asked them; the female turian folded her hands on top of the glossy black desk and regarded them with a raised brow, a gesture that contorted the particularly ornate cream loops of her colony paint. She sniffed with unveiled disdain at Garrus's arm around Shepard's waist and the human bristled. The women visibly sized each other up before the concierge turned her attention to Garrus, eyeing him appreciatively.

"Yes, Councilor Sparatus requested that we come, Garrus Vakarian and Jane Shepard," Garrus answered, either ignoring or unaware of the unspoken battle going on in front of him. The concierge blinked in surprise and abruptly pulled up a holoscreen, scrolling through it quickly until she found the entry she was looking for. A low "hmph" escaped her and she tapped a few more commands before returning her attention to them—well, Garrus.

"Yes, he said to direct you to his apartment on the top floor," she said with some shock, "The elevator to your right will take you there. His is the penthouse at the end of the hall."

Shepard smiled sweetly but it didn't reach her eyes. "Thanks. Now, if you'll excuse us?" She pulled Garrus toward the indicated elevator and sighed her exasperation once the doors had closed.

"Problem?" Garrus asked with a small grin and Shepard glared at him.

"Oh no, the concierge eyeballing you like her next meal totally doesn't bother me," she replied sarcastically. At his slightly alarmed look, she chuckled. "Relax, Garrus. I don't like it, but I trust you not to leave me for some random turian who stares at you long enough." She paused and added with a laugh, "Well, besides the councilor."

"Now hang on," he replied, "The councilor is equally enamored with both of us, if I recall. Besides, I'm not 'leaving' so much as 'leading'." She couldn't help but smile as he embraced her from behind, his chin resting on top of her head. "You're sure about this?"

"Of course. It's kind of nice to think that someone wants me around for something other than blowing up Cerberus or Reapers." Shepard shoved her hands into the pockets of her casual pants and scuffed a boot against the pristine floor. Absently, she wondered if it were a feature of the apartment complex that every surface was polished to the point of being reflective, but Garrus derailed her musings by leaning down to her neck and nipping a trail down to her shoulder. She hummed appreciatively and melted back against him, letting his hands explore her torso; trails of heat followed his talons' path through her clothes and she felt his hips grinding against her ass. She pressed back against the warmth of his body and he growled, grabbing her hips roughly and biting lightly at her earlobe.

"What about me?" he purred, inches from her ear and she shivered.

"You have always been there. I know you appreciate me—"

"That's an understatement," he interrupted huskily, trailing his tongue along the underside of her jaw. A shallow gasp escaped her, one of her hands reaching up to grip his head; her fingers pressed insistently into the tender flesh of his fringe and his growl deepened, vibrations thundering from his chest and into her body.

"That may be true but…" She licked her lips and tried to steady her breathing as Garrus slid the zipper of her N7 sweatshirt down, exposing the simple black tank top underneath. He snuck one hand under the shirt and she bit down a whimper, relishing the feel of his talons against her skin. "But sometimes I think people forget I'm not a fancy AI to be ordered about."

Garrus opened his mouth to reply when the doors opened, revealing an irate looking salarian whose expression only darkened at the sight of two plebian soldiers dry humping in the elevator, and he carefully extricated himself from Shepard's person. She sighed and quickly righted her clothing, brushing by the businessman without saying a word and Garrus followed. The strode a few paces down the hallway before Shepard stopped, planted her hands on her hips and started laughing; Garrus smirked, chuckling quietly and adjusted the tunic of his civvies as he watched his mate try to rein in her hysterics. Her whole body seemed to shake and he could see tears threatening to slide down her face, but she quickly composed herself, straightening and wiping her eyes on the back of her sleeve.

"Ok, so do we mention the fact that some poor bastard just walked in us or no?" she asked, eyes sparkling.

"Well, since you just did…" Garrus caught her half-hearted swipe and pulled her into his arms again, pressing their foreheads together; she let him hold her, standing on her toes so he didn't have to crane his neck. "You sound a lot more like yourself," he finally said when they pulled apart and she chuckled.

"Something about my turian boyfriend trying to get in my pants in an elevator does a really good job at lightening the mood," she replied casually, sliding her hand into his. "Now come on, we have a councilor to ravage."

"Yes ma'am," Garrus chirped, leading her toward the end of the hallway and their latest adventure. He palmed the control and a VI drone appeared, scanning the both of them for a moment before disappearing.

"Ah, you've made it," the councilor's voice greeted them brightly through an intercom, "Please, come in. I'll just be a moment." The door slid open and the couple shrugged before entering, both starting instinctively as the door shut behind them. Shepard blinked and stared around the apartment; the lights were dim and candles bathed the space in a warm glow. Mystified, she moved further into the councilor's home, turning this way and that; it was sparsely—but tastefully—decorated and soft music drifted through the air. Something slid under her boot and she paused, for the first time, examining the floor. Like the rest of the building, the surface was buffed to a mirror's shine, but unlike the rest of the building, rose petals littered the surface, the velvet red blooms standing out against the silver flooring even in the low light. Garrus followed her slow progress into the space, examining the walls and windows with great interest—ever the tactician—but focused his attention on his mate when she gave a surprised hum. She nodded toward a dual-chirality bottle of wine, nestled into a bucket of ice and flanked by three glasses, with a small smile.

"It seems he's pulled out all the stops for us," she said quietly, leaning back against the table to examine the room again. But, before Garrus could answer, they heard footsteps drawing nearer.

"I apologize. After the attempted coup, many businesses filed complaints and demands for compensation. It's been difficult to escape work," the councilor said, descending a peripheral flight of stairs to join them in his living room. As he strolled into the room, Shepard's smile widened and Garrus draped an arm over her shoulders. "But please, I'm sure there are much more interesting things we may discuss than political maneuvering."

"Oh I don't know, Councilor," Shepard replied cheekily, flashing a mischievous look to Garrus, "I hear salarian businessmen are notorious for inopportune timing." To his credit, Garrus managed to stifle his guffaw to a low snort, but it didn't stop the councilor from raising a browplate at the reaction.

"Tiber, please," he said, relaxing into a casual stance, "Now… I'm sure I'll regret asking, but why do you know that?"

Now Shepard laughed outright, moving away from the table to stand incredibly close to the turian councilor. "Tiber, hm? I like it," she mused, "But if you want that story, you'll either have to get me drunk or compel me to talk."

Garrus shook his head, coming up behind her to wrap an arm around her middle and met the older man's eyes over her shoulder. "I'm sure he can be very… convincing," he purred in the human woman's ear and she hummed in agreement.

"I assure you," Sparatus replied, "I didn't get to where I am without knowing how to talk my way into anything." He made sure to emphasize the word 'talk', letting his subharmonics wrap the single word in a heavy purr, mainly for the other turian's benefit – however, it seemed that the low rumbling warble he'd used wasn't lost on Shepard as both he and Garrus noticed the slight shiver that ran up her torso. He flared his mandibles out in a slight smirk, amused that, while she may not understand the meanings behind their subharmonics, the vibrations from them weren't lost on her. He reached past Shepard—taking the opportunity to inhale the scent of her hair—and lifted the bottle of wine. "However, I'm sure you won't refuse a drink?" At Shepard's bright expression, he took his cue and popped the bottle open; glasses were filled and accepted with nods and Sparatus held his slightly aloft. "To your efforts; the galaxy owes you far more than simple toasts, and I can only hope to repay you for everything you've done." The two soldiers mumbled their agreement and all three drank, savoring the taste of fine wine in the quiet apartment. "I hope you'll pardon my forwardness, but I assumed that your rations were a bit uninspired and took the liberty of ordering some… delicacies."

Now Garrus raised a brow. Ok, he had assumed that this was going to be casual but this was all very… planned. Shepard didn't seem to mind, but this all had the air of being very… formal? It was the only way he could see it, yet Shepard—a known detractor of pomp and circumstance—was entirely at ease. Sparatus returned bearing two plates—one he recognized as halveta, the other was unknown to him but Shepard's entire face lit up when she saw the strange brown lumps—and gestured for them to sit on the low couch near the window. Garrus followed Shepard's lead and obeyed, resting a hand on her knee as the dishes were set before them.

"Alright, Tiber, spill," Shepard finally said as the turian councilor lifted one of the morsels she hadn't moved her eyes from and held it up for her to eat, "how in the hell did you get chocolate-covered strawberries?"

The way she said it told him that these were a human delicacy she was particularly fond of and Garrus wondered the same thing, or rather how the councilor—a known skeptic of humans—would know what she liked? The elder merely smirked.

"I may have done a bit of… research."

The admission made a catlike grin spread across the woman's face and she took the offered fruit between her lips, eyes fluttering closed as she bit down and savored the taste. "And the rest?" she prompted, licking the chocolate from her lips a bit more sensually than was absolutely necessary. The action made Garrus's hand on her knee tighten and slide further up her leg.

"The rest?"

Now Shepard leaned forward, catching the councilor off guard as she met his eyes. "The candles, the rose petals—which I'm also curious to know where you got them—the music… All part of your… research?" She cast a playful look at Garrus and he coughed. His research hadn't shown him anything like this, but then again, he had also only been looking for a way to make sure he didn't look foolish in bed. If there had been a test, he would have failed, but somehow it had all worked out. Sparatus, however, seemed to be passing with flying colors and the younger turian couldn't help but wonder at the ease with which he was doing it.

Sparatus glanced around awkwardly as Shepard held his hand still and delicately ate the rest of the offered strawberry—Garrus was sure he saw her tongue sneak out and brush the councilor's hand—and he tried to manage a dignified reply. "Yes, well, one can't walk into a situation without understanding all parties involved."

"So very proper," Shepard purred, fingers sliding down to trace Sparatus's wrist and Garrus couldn't help but smile at the surprise on the older man's face. Clearly, he hadn't been expecting Shepard to be so relaxed and Garrus took the chance to run his talons through her hair. The sound she made in her throat had the councilor leaning toward her, lust darkening his gaze and she tilted her head into Garrus's hand. "Cheater," she accused, but there was no power behind it and Garrus's smile widened.

"Nonsense. Merely giving Tiber a demonstration of how to derail your… persistence," he replied, focusing back on the elder turian. Sparatus, it seemed, had not forgotten him and smirked, carefully extracting his arm from Shepard's failing grip to offer the halveta to him the same way he had fed Shepard. This was… well, different to say the least; it was intimate, and personal, and… actually, really arousing if he admitted it. And that didn't even begin to cover the fact that halveta was, first of all, almost impossible to get off Palaven, and second, reserved for romantic nights alone with one's mate. Was what he'd given Shepard similar in significance? Shepard turned her head, watching him with sparkling eyes, and he felt his plates loosen, recognizing the flush of lust on her face. Yup, most definitely. His mandibles flared in a smile before he sat forward and accepted a bite of the tangy, fleshy fruit from the councilor's hand; Sparatus's expression relaxed and he seemed to have banished whatever doubts he had as the two young soldiers savored a rare moment of peace. Shepard had shifted so she was stretched out, legs hanging over the arm of the couch, and laid her head in Garrus's lap. Her hair spread across his thighs and the councilor took the chance to twirl a strand of it between his fingers, a curious expression stealing across his face. Garrus smirked and scratched lightly at her scalp, making her moan quietly and Sparatus's mandibles fluttered. "She's not so different from turian women," Garrus finally said, his other hand tracing patterns across her collar bone as she smiled, eyes closed.

"I can see that," Sparatus mumbled, watching enrapt.

"But she also appreciates your research into human romance," Shepard said, surprising them both as she cracked one eye open, "Although chick flicks might not have been the most realistic example." Garrus choked and the councilor blinked, mandibles tight to his face in an expression that didn't give him a chance to deny that Shepard's analysis was true. But despite the obvious discomfort of both men, she kept smiling. "It's not bad, really—actually, it's really cute—but I swear everything turians know about humans is either from crappy porn or cheesy romance vids."

Now Garrus had to laugh, smiling at the turian councilor as the older man looked away sheepishly. "If it helps, I was the one who looked to crappy porn for advice."

"And I'm glad you admit it," Shepard added, earning a playful growl. Sparatus merely shook his head.

"I suppose I should have known you would catch on to my attempts to impress you," he conceded, a smile pulling at his mandibles, "Though I'm hoping you won't hold it against me."

Shepard sat up, propping herself on her elbows in a way that let Garrus trace the column of her throat lightly with one hand. "Why would I hold an effort to make us happy against you?" she asked, gazing levelly at the turian councilor. When he didn't reply, she looked up at the turian behind her. "Garrus, did I throw you out of my cabin when you showed up with cheap wine and that god-awful music?"

Garrus chuckled and shook his head. "No you did not," he said quietly, taking the chance to bend down and nip her neck lightly before looking up to the older man. Sparatus's eyes were firmly locked on the exposed skin of Shepard's throat, though and Garrus couldn't help the smug thought that it was his mate who was so enticingly displayed, his mate who made the councilor of all people scramble to earn her favor, and his mate who managed to radiate strength and confidence even from her back as he stroked her hair. She hummed her agreement and Garrus leaned slightly toward the councilor. "And then she showed me the best night of my life," he added conspiratorially. Now Sparatus's eyes turned toward him, green locking with blue; from her place looking up from below them, Shepard mused that this could easily become one of her favorite views. Why had she been so worried about this again?

"I…" Sparatus paused, swallowing and Shepard took the chance, leaning around him to take one of the scaly-looking fruit he'd offered Garrus, and shifted so she was sitting upright. Garrus, seeming to sense her intentions, lifted her so she was in his lap—her legs on either side of his own—facing the councilor and set his chin on his mate's shoulder. Now there were mere inches between the three of them and Shepard held the halveta toward Sparatus the same way he had for Garrus, her eyes half-lidded with the same lust that was mirrored in both turians. The atmosphere almost crackled as none of them moved, as if they expected at any moment that they'd wake up from a dream. Yet after a few moments, Sparatus finally cradled Shepard's hand in his own and accepted the offered fruit. Before he could move away, Shepard gripped his waist with her other hand, keeping him close, and pressed her lips to his mouth. In his surprise, he gasped and Shepard stole the opportunity to tease his tongue with her own. Garrus purred, mandibles fluttering against his mate's neck, and reached around to grip the back of the councilor's neck; his fingers pressed into the sensitive hide below the elder man's fringe and Sparatus shivered. Garrus had to admit, watching Shepard kiss the councilor was far more arousing than it had any right to be; was that what it looked like she kissed him? Finally, Sparatus broke away for air, eyes wide, and Shepard smiled, not missing the deep rumble coming from his chest. "I think we'd be better off moving this… elsewhere," Sparatus finally growled, eyes flashing between the two soldiers. Garrus matched Shepard's grin and stood, throwing her over his shoulder; she gave a decidedly undignified yelp and grabbed his waist to support herself. Garrus turned so she could look up at the councilor as Sparatus stood; she blew an errant section of her hair from her eyes as Garrus shifted, and the councilor's eyes locked on to her lips.

"Where should I put her?" Garrus asked, giving her ass an affectionate squeeze that made her try to straighten and stop him, but Sparatus caught her face in his hand and brought their mouths together again. She hummed appreciatively as the turian councilor's talons found their way into her hair, tilting her head back just enough to deepen the kiss, and pressed her thighs together in an effort to alleviate some of the steadily growing need. Garrus, however, didn't miss it and growled against her ribs. "Spirits, Shepard, you smell amazing…"

Shepard looked at him over his shoulder, eyes sparkling, "Then find somewhere to put me down," she said huskily, turning her attention back to the councilor, who was making a significant effort to remain composed—though his mandibles still twitched erratically. "Tiber?"

That snapped him out of his trance. Sparatus gestured toward the stairs he had descended from, stepping around Garrus to lead the way. Shepard couldn't help her giggle as she was bounced up the stairs over Garrus's shoulder, tightening her hold on his waist to keep from falling; the action made him stumble slightly, unprepared for the sudden, very stimulating contact. He gave her ass a half-hearted slap and she squeaked, making the councilor turn when they reached the top of the stairs. Shepard tried to glare indignantly and failed—she was flushed and smiling—and the councilor let out a low laugh, pushing open the only door in the short hallway.

His bedroom was just as Spartan in decoration as the rest of the apartment was—the few personal touches were tasteful and reserved—but the muted lighting and flickering candles gave the space an atmosphere of sensuality. Garrus eyed the large bed meaningfully and Sparatus responded with a low growl; that was all the incentive the younger turian needed and he tossed an unsuspecting Shepard onto the mattress. She yelped as she bounced before scrambling to right herself; she ended up on her hands and knees near the end of the bed and Garrus grinned as she sat back on her heels, propping her hands on her hips.

"Was that entirely necessary?" she panted, feigning displeasure; her hair was disheveled and her sweatshirt had slid down to expose one of her shoulders. Sparatus watched, intrigued as Garrus stalked forward, stopping so he loomed over her, and cradled her face in both of his hands; she looked so small by comparison, staring up at him with a sly smile.

"Incredibly," Garrus purred, bending to bump their foreheads together as his hands slid down, divesting her of her jacket. "Tiber, I could use some help," he added, looking over his shoulder, "She can be quite the handful."

That spurred the councilor into motion, closing the distance between them in a few short strides, and he paused beside the younger man to sneak a bite at Garrus's neck. A growl—pitched far lower than he'd ever used with Shepard—escaped Garrus's chest and his mandibles twitched into a surprised smile; well, he hadn't expected this, but he wasn't complaining. After all, the councilor had asked for both of them. Shepard's eyes widened slightly and her smile grew as she watched; a thrill of excitement shot through her and she reached out, grabbing the edge of the councilor's tunic when he turned his attention to her again. He watched with mild appreciation as she undid the hidden fastenings and she silently thanked the Maker for all her experience with Garrus's clothes. The tunic fell open and she shoved it off his shoulders triumphantly, taking the opportunity to explore the bared flesh with her hands. Sparatus forced his breathing to remain even as her numerous fingers found the spaces between his plates, short, blunt nails dragging against the skin, but his heart pounded against his ribs and he was sure she could feel it. Yet as she continued, his eyes fluttered closed and Garrus took the chance to turn his own attention to Shepard; he tugged her shirt up, baring her chest and back before forcing her hands off of the councilor as he removed that garment as well. When he no longer felt her touch, Sparatus opened his eyes, but then he felt her lips pressed against his waist and oh Spirits…

Shepard watched the councilor through her lashes as she traced the sensitive flesh of his waist with her lips and tongue, her hands heading toward his pants to remove them as well; a low rumble had started within his chest and sent vibrations through her body in the same delicious way Garrus always did. Sparatus, however, finally regained his senses and reached out, talons closing around Garrus's arm, and pulled the younger turian to his side. Garrus smirked and let the councilor move him, burying his head beside the older man's neck, and trailed his tongue along the sensitive hide there. Sparatus hissed in a breath and tugged Garrus's head back gently, fixing him with a needy stare. Shepard had gotten his pants open by now and his cock emerged, hard and ready, from behind his plates and she hummed appreciatively. Garrus took the opportunity to pull Sparatus's mouth to his, his tongue tangling with the councilor's just as he would have done with Shepard. Kissing another turian, he noted, was a bit strange—as it was normally a human gesture—yet even then it was still a wonderfully arousing action and—

Sparatus pulled back suddenly, breath escaping him in a whoosh; the sudden movement prompted Garrus to search for the source, immediately looking down at Shepard and… Oh, the little minx. She smiled innocently and licked her lips—she was teasing him, Garrus knew it—and pumped her hand down the councilor's length. Oh, he knew how soft her hands were… Sparatus moved as if to stop her, but Garrus caught his head again, pulling the older turian back in so their tongues could meet. Shepard took her cue and licked a path up the underside of Sparatus's cock again, holding his hips steady when he bucked into her involuntarily. She felt him shudder as she wrapped her lips around the head, sucking lightly, but he didn't try to pull away or stop her. Well, she was sure that Garrus was partially responsible for that. Talons knotted into her hair—she wasn't sure whose—as she slid her lips further down, pressing her tongue against the underside of the councilor's length, and she was sure she could hear both of them breathing heavily. She took another glance up through her lashes to see two sets of eyes staring down at her with unbridled lust. That was an image she would burn into her brain, she decided, drawing out her last suck of the councilor's cock before sitting back again. A smug grin decorated her face and both turians growled, eyeing her mouth meaningfully.

"That… I…" Sparatus paused and swallowed, panting lightly, but words seemed to fail him.

"Trust me, I know," Garrus replied darkly, extricating himself from the other turian to drag Shepard to her feet. She pressed her body against his and tugged him down for an open-mouthed kiss, reaching to undo his shirt as she had Sparatus's, but he caught her hands. "You've done more than enough for now, I think," he purred, holding both of her wrists in one of his hands, and began to undo her pants. She squirmed defiantly, trying to reach his clothes, but Sparatus slipped up behind her and dragged his talons lightly down her ribs, making her freeze.

"Now, now," he rumbled just behind her ear, "It's our turn now." He licked a trail down the side of her neck and she let out a shivering breath as Garrus pushed her pants down to her ankles.

"I could almost get used to following orders," she breathed, letting her head fall back onto the councilor's shoulder. The motion gave him a clear view of the crescent-shaped bondmark on her shoulder, yet he didn't seem perturbed and instead nipped the unmarked skin a bit higher on her neck.

"Fat chance," Garrus replied with a smile, sneaking an arm around to her back to unhook her bra with practiced dexterity that rivaled some human men's. He slid the garment down her arms, but did not release her, instead opting to caress her now-bare breasts as the councilor continued to tease the flesh of her neck. Well, that was… extremely hot. The councilor's dark plates stood out against Shepard's pale skin, now shining with a thin sheen of sweat. A low rumble pulled from Garrus's chest and he bent his head to taste the skin of her breasts. His tongue was rough against the sensitive flesh of her nipple and she arched, gasping at the contact. Sparatus hummed, letting his hands wander across the flat pane of her stomach, reveling in the soft, uninterrupted skin.

"Very responsive," the councilor mused, breath brushing her ear and she turned her head to face him, her eyes struggling to focus as Garrus took her nipple into his mouth and rolled the other between the pads of his fingers. A low mewl fell from her lips and she tried to wriggle free, but the two turians had other ideas.

"You have no idea," Garrus finally replied, straightening to nip the other side of her neck. "When you're inside of her, even more so." Shepard whimpered, tugging against his grip, but there was no effort behind it and he chuckled. "Or maybe you would prefer to try for yourself, Tiber?"

Shepard didn't have time to react before she was spun and pulled down so she was perched on Garrus's lap, one of his hands still holding her wrists behind her back and the other around her waist, pressing her back to his chest. Sparatus smiled, placing his hands on her thighs and tracing small circles with his thumbs. There was a moment where he searched her face and, seeing no objection, hooked one finger into the waist of her panties and pulled them down her legs before flinging them away. He pushed her legs open then, inhaling deeply as the scent of her arousal hit him. He forced himself to take a deep breath and exhaled slowly, dropping down to kneel in front of her, and was greeted by the sight of her sex; pink, warm, and already glistening. She was so soft, so wet, so... ready for him. Sparatus felt his length throb against her calf as he thought about how quickly he could just press into her, how quickly he could take her, especially with Garrus holding her like he was. But he wanted to savor this—he wanted her to savor this, so instead, he slowly moved forward, bringing one of his hands closer to her center. Very gently, he pressed the pad of his finger against her slit and stroked down, making Shepard throw her head back and gasp; he groaned at how warm she was and how open.

Garrus purred, watching the darker male slide his hands up Shepard's legs and lean forward; briefly, the concern of allergies occurred to him, but it was quickly banished: the councilor wouldn't have invited them both if it were an issue. His grip instinctively tightened when Shepard jerked involuntarily and he bent his mouth to her shoulder, watching Sparatus's finger make another gentle pass over her folds; a desperate moan fell from the woman's lips and Garrus nuzzled his face into her hair.

"I told you, Shepard," he whispered against her ear, "that having both our hands on you would be amazing. Did you ever think you would have the turian councilor on his knees?"

Sparatus rumbled his agreement, sending vibrations straight to Shepard and her hips jerked again, muscles quivering under her skin. He ran the pad of his finger over her wet opening again, brushing the bud at the top and oh. She arched against Garrus's arms and the councilor tried it again, earning a moan that was half a scream. How very intriguing…

"It works even better if you use your tongue," Garrus advised casually, flexing his talons against her skin; she was panting, her body beginning to tingle in the most delicious way, and the pinpricks of pain were lost amongst the pleasant thrum of building ecstasy. He absently dragged his hand across her hip, watching the skin pucker and angry red trails blossom where his hands had been; even the lightest touch had its rewards, the pleasures of being with someone unplated, unprotected… He laid his fingers flat against her stomach when she jerked again, turning his attention back to the older turian between her legs. Oh, that wasn't fair…

Sparatus dipped his tongue into her folds again, circling the sensitive bundle of nerves he'd found; the taste was—he decided—addictive, prompting him to repeat the motion with more confidence. Shepard shifted her hips, straining toward him, and he gripped her thighs a bit harder, talons digging into the flesh just enough to break the skin but not enough to bleed. A desperate keen rose from her throat and she mumbled a string of curses that his translator couldn't keep up with, but the implication was clear enough: he should keep doing that. Garrus's purr had dropped in pitch and grown in volume, sending vibrations down Shepard's spine, and he moved his hand up from her hip to caress her breasts fondly; he still held both her wrists behind her back, happy that she was somewhat-voluntarily ceding control for once. Well, that, and watching the councilor work between her legs, combined with the noises she was making, made it very hard not to be happy with the situation. He shifted, his own erection straining against his pants and pressed against the small of Shepard's back; the small motion sent a jolt of sensation through him, making him draw in a breath through his teeth. God, he needed to get his damn clothes off… His arm around her tightened, pressing their bodies flush together so he could grind his pelvis against her rear.

Shepard bit the inside of her cheek to keep from screaming as the councilor licked enthusiastically at her sex, pushing her far too quickly toward her peak. Stars were beginning to dance at the corners of her vision, and she could feel Garrus pressed insistently against her; there was no way she could keep holding out if they kept—

Sparatus, being particularly observant and full of initiative, pressed one finger into her—gently, so as not to hurt her—and gave her clit another lick. That was all it took and Shepard stiffened, her legs shaking as her orgasm ripped through her; her head fell back in a ragged, breathless cry, tendons in her neck straining against the skin. Garrus could feel the muscles in her stomach fluttering and noted the surprise in the councilor's face with some satisfaction.

"Hair trigger," he commented, lazily running his tongue along Shepard's shoulder as she trembled. Her breath came in shallow pants and he finally released her wrists, letting her slump forward, hands planted between her knees. Sparatus had stood from his place on the floor and held out a hand toward the younger turian, gaze expectant, and Garrus carefully slid out from behind Shepard, pausing to nuzzle her temple before standing. She exhaled heavily, trying to regain control of her body and lifted her eyes, only to be greeted by the sight of the councilor quickly and efficiently disrobing her partner. Garrus growled, feeling the older mans' talons scratching across the surface of his plates. Spirits, how long had it been since he had been with another turian? Sparatus pulled their bodies together roughly, their plates making a loud crack at the contact, and Garrus's hands automatically flew to the other turian's waist. He flexed his fingers against the unprotected flesh and Sparatus hissed in response, leaning forward to nip Garrus's neck, but the lighter male pulled back.

"Oh no, Councilor," he purred, "You need some stress relief just as much as Shepard." His hands trailed lower, talons grazing the elder's hips on the way to their destination. He could see Shepard sliding backward on the bed, finally leaning back against the headboard and took his opportunity. One rough shove was all it took to have Sparatus on his back and Garrus followed him down, kneeling over the other male. "And the both of you could learn a thing or two about letting someone else take over."

A low rumble emanated from Sparatus's chest, but he made no move to push Garrus off, instead tilting his head back to bare his neck. Garrus gladly took the cue, ducking his head down to bite at the offered skin roughly. It was expected, of course: Sparatus had, in essence, given himself to the couple and whatever they wished. And who was he to complain? His growl grew louder at the rough assault of his neck and he grabbed for Garrus's shoulders, but the younger man pushed his hands away. "Vakarian…" he growled in warning, but Garrus merely chuckled.

"I can see that I'm the only one with any self-control," he murmured, sneaking one hand down to stroke the councilor's still-throbbing erection. Sparatus threw his head back, jaws clenched together, but huffed out a surprised breath at the feel of soft hands caressing his face. Green met green and Shepard smirked, tracing the elegant swoops of his colony paint.

"Don't listen to him, he's got an ego the size of the Citadel," she said conspiratorially, fingers reaching around to massage Sparatus's fringe. Garrus hummed, feigning insult, but reached up to cup Shepard's cheek in his hand. She looked up, catching the look in his eye, and turned to kiss his palm lightly. The gesture, though small, sent a tremor through him and he could feel his heart swell. His lover, his mate… He traced her lips with one talon and she took the offered digit into her mouth; he could feel her tongue against his finger as she lightly sucked on it and Spirits if he didn't want her to be doing that somewhere else… He pulled himself away from that thought and pulled his hand back from her face, ducking forward to catch her lips for a chaste kiss before trailing the finger—now slick with Shepard's saliva—down between the Councilor's legs to the ring of taut muscle. He could hear Sparatus's breath hitch and waited, his other hand tracing soothing circles over the elder man's hip until his muscles relaxed again; Shepard had paused her ministrations to watch the Councilor's face when he had closed his eyes, but when he opened them again, they were dark, irises almost completely consumed by the black of his pupils. He made a sound in the back of his throat and she leaned down, tracing her tongue along the edge of one mandible. Garrus couldn't help his smile as he watched, carefully working his finger into the turian councilor. This was a position he'd never thought he would be in, and yet here he was, here they all were. Shepard's lips closed around the end of Sparatus's mandible and he could see her cheeks hollow as she sucked and—if the sound the man made was any indication—it felt pretty damn amazing. Garrus flexed the digit he'd worked into Sparatus, making the councilor's eyes roll back; that was a look he would love to see again. Shepard hummed—she felt the same, it seemed—and began the process on Sparatus's other mandible, her hands trailing down his chest to the unplated skin of his waist; the Councilor's growl deepened and Garrus found himself mirroring the sound. He couldn't wait any more; Sparatus's breath left him in a huff as Garrus withdrew, chest heaving as he panted quietly. When he looked up, Garrus was met by two pairs of green eyes looking up at him with unbridled lust, and it only served to spur him on. He grabbed Sparatus's hips roughly, the tip of his cock pressing against the older man's ass hole; there was only a moment of hesitation—a brief glance to be sure there were no objections—but as quickly as it came, it was gone. He pushed forward, earning a high-pitched keen at the sudden intrusion, and stopped, waiting. Shepard had shifted so the councilor's head and shoulders were settled in her lap, her fingers tracing patterns along the gaps in his plates, and bent to cover Sparatus's mouth with her own. Garrus could see glimpses of their tongues, searching and teasing, and took the chance to rock his hips forward. Even the slight motion made the darker male vocalize his approval and Garrus had to resist the urge to throw pacing to the wayside and pound into the willing body beneath him.

No, no. This isn't just some quick rut between missions, he chided himself, talons flexing against Sparatus's hips, This is… fun. No distractions. Take your time.

Movement caught his attention and he watched as Shepard's hands quested further down the councilor's torso, finding the man's quivering erection without turning her attention away from the very impressive display of proper kissing. Sparatus hummed in response, arching into the touch—a motion that made Garrus growl at the delicious pressure it put on him—as Shepard stroked him, her hands—despite years of combat-earned callouses—soft by comparison.

Shepard held down a shiver, reveling in the vibrations that Sparatus sent through her entire body thanks to the position they were in. This was a lot more than she had anticipated when she had agreed to this… encounter, but she found that she didn't mind. Hell, she was enjoying this a lot more than she ever would have thought she would. Sparatus nipped at her lip playfully and she couldn't help but giggle, teasing his mouthplates with her tongue until he obligingly let her in again. Each pass her hands made was greeted with a purr that she happily swallowed, and when she squeezed, Sparatus growled, reaching up to wrap his arms around her shoulders and hold her down with him.

Garrus watched enrapt, almost forgetting where he was. Damn, it was hot to watch and—he couldn't help but feel a bit smug—it was probably what it looked like whenever they were together. Oh, he could never be with anyone but Shepard; Shepard and a third party, maybe, but never without Shepard. The councilor shifted his hips, sending a jolt of desire to Garrus's core and he was immediately flung back to the present.

"Forget how this works, Vakarian?" the other man purred as Shepard's lips strayed down his neck.

"No, sir," came his reply, and he drew back only slightly before pushing forward again. The effect was phenomenal. Garrus's mandibles pulled tight to his face and he leaned forward to get a better angle, his hands planted on either side of Shepard's knees; his thrusts were slow, measured, trying to draw out the moment, but Sparatus's expression and rumbling purr told him that was enough. The councilor had pulled Shepard's mouth back to his, tasting her tongue as her hands worked him, moving steadily faster over his length. Unthinking, his talons tightened on her shoulder, scraping into the fragile skin there, yet she didn't pull away. With each of Garrus's slow thrusts, Sparatus's growl grew louder until he finally pulled away from Shepard's mouth, snarling as his orgasm ripped through him; his cum coated Shepard's hands and dripped onto his stomach, glistening in the low light. Shepard sat back, carefully slipping out from under Sparatus's shoulders, and smirked as Garrus pulled out of the councilor, still erect; she brought her fingers up to her mouth and licked the sticky fluid from each one, never looking away from her lover. A low rumble echoed from his chest and Garrus lunged, effectively pinning her under him. She squeaked in appropriate surprise, bucking her hips to try and dislodge him, but he only pressed more insistently against her. One of his hands wandered down between her legs, drawing a pleased growl from him when he found her already wet and ready; she opened her legs further, hitching one knee up and over his hip, and Garrus took the invitation. Being with another turian was nice, but nothing compared to being with Shepard, he decided. This time, he didn't wait, his hips snapping against hers hard and fast. The scent of her blood reached his nose and he buried his face against her shoulder. Shallow, parallel cuts adorned each of her shoulders, but he found that he couldn't be angry—he had done far worse in some of their more heated moments—and instead ran his tongue along the barely-bleeding marks without slowing his rhythm.

Garrus's tongue against the open cuts stung, yet it was lost somewhere in the back of her mind as Shepard tried desperately to keep track of every sensation: a taloned hand held one of her thighs, the other planted on the mattress above her head; plates rubbed against her skin, and hard, unrelenting thrusts sent shocks of pleasure through her entire body. She let her head fall back onto the bed and her arms wrapped round his neck as he lapped at the small scratches, rumbling out a growing hum as he surged into her. Another hand—Sparatus's, she had to assume—traced the contour of her ribs and she turned her head to meet his gaze. Garrus pulled back suddenly, snarling as his orgasm crashed over him; Shepard whined in need as his cock twitched inside her and he nuzzled her cheek in a silent apology as he withdrew. He settled down beside her, noting the flush that had her skin glowing in the low light, and gently trailed his talons down her torso, delighting in the reflexive twitch of her abdominal muscles. Sparatus watched with unveiled interest, his own hands exploring the responsive flesh of her breasts; Shepard had to admit he was observant, as he rolled one of her nipples between the pads of his fingers. She grasped blindly for him and he pressed his body to her side, his plates slowly parting again; a quiet moan slipped from between her lips as Garrus's fingers teased along the tops of her thighs. She was a mess of sensation, desperate for anything to push her forward, toward her pleasure's zenith, and they were teasing her mercilessly.

"It amazes me, the… resilience of humans," the councilor mused, leaning close to her ear as he spoke; his breath brushed along her neck and cheek, making her shudder. Garrus hummed his agreement, talons teasing the skin on the inside of her leg, mere inches shy of where she wanted them to be, and Shepard turned to glare half-heartedly at him, which made him chuckle quietly. Sparatus was right though, he mused. More than once, he'd found himself thanking the Spirits for human females' stamina in bed, only matched by turian males; and together, the effect was explosive. Shepard's surprised gasp drew his attention out of his thoughts and Garrus turned his eyes back to her; Sparatus had ducked his head down to her neck and dragged his teeth down the sensitive skin. That was a sound he wanted to be the cause of, and without waiting, he pressed one finger inside of her. Shepard threw her head back, biting her lip to muffle the moan it drew from her; Garrus ducked his head down to lick her neglected breast, gently taking the peak between his teeth. Her breath hitched and both turians growled happily, casting inquisitive glances at each other: now?

"Shepard," Garrus started, feeling his plates part against her hip as he felt her body clench around his finger, "We—"

"Garrus," she panted, lifting her head to fix him with a heated stare, "if you two don't fuck me, I swear to your damned Spirits I will throw the both of you in the Presidium Lake."

Sparatus's brow rose and Garrus couldn't help but laugh, withdrawing his finger from her to tease the tight star of her ass. "With pleasure," he purred, slowly and carefully working the digit inside of her again. Shepard didn't stiffen, only a sharp intake of breath betraying the novelty of it, and Garrus bent his head to catch her lips for a kiss. Her tongue met his hungrily, a low moan escaping her when he pushed deeper. Oh, this was going to be unbelievable. He eased his finger from her and she huffed out her breath at the loss of contact; before he could react, she had thrown her leg over his hips and sat up to straddle him. The position had her wet heat pressed insistently against his already-straining erection and he growled, grabbing her hips roughly.

"Tiber," she purred, sitting back to hold a hand out to the other man, "I believe your presence is needed."

Sparatus purred, taking her hand and moving to kneel behind her, his front pressed against her back. "Gladly," he replied, his voice a heated rumble just below her ear. Numerous times, it had struck Garrus just how unexpectedly hot it was to watch Shepard with another man, and he always had to remind himself that it wasn't just anyone, it was the turian councilor. Oh, he would remember this night for a long time.

Garrus lifted her gently and sheathed himself deep inside her, making both himself and Shepard moan. Sparatus wrapped one arm around Shepard's middle, an appreciative hum vibrating from his chest as he watched, but Shepard wasn't going to just let him observe. She leaned forward, allowing the darker male more access and peered beguilingly over her shoulder. An inquisitive trill escaped him and Garrus replied with an answering one of his own; yes, Shepard wanted them to share her. His hesitation was banished quickly and he carefully aligned himself with Shepard's second entrance, entering her slowly; Shepard bit down hard on the inside of her cheek to keep from crying out, the feeling of being completely filled and stretched almost overwhelming. Her head fell forward, her hands planted on Garrus's chest, and she gave an experimental flex of her hips. Both men growled in response, their hands tightening on her body. Oh, to be in power… She repeated the motion, gasping as stars exploded behind her eyes; Garrus shifted one of his hands higher on her waist and pulled her down toward him, forcing her hands over his shoulders and onto the mattress. His hand covered one of Sparatus's and he noted the contrast of his own silver plates and Sparatus's dark mahogany ones against his mate's skin; even under the crisscrossing scars that decorated her body, she was perfect.

Sparatus leaned forward so she was pressed flush between them and dropped his mouth to her shoulder; Garrus growled a quiet warning and the councilor answered with his own appeasing one. Their eyes met over Shepard's shoulder and Garrus purred his acquiescence, trailing his talons over the sides of the woman between them. She whimpered and tried to move against them, but couldn't find the leverage. Sparatus flexed his teeth against her skin and she gasped, arching her body in a way that pressed her breasts against Garrus's chest; with a low growl, he pulled out of her slowly and thrust back in again. Garrus bit down a roar as the older male's thrust forced Shepard further onto him, her body clenching tightly around both of them. Shepard let out a moan that would have put a turian woman to shame, her hands clenching tightly in the sheets, and it made both turians tighten their grips on her. Garrus lifted her by her hips, pulling her off of him and pushing her onto Sparatus, before thrusting back up into her. Curses fell from her lips in a torrent as both men thrust sharply into her, picking up a punishing rhythm that had all three of them gasping. Yeses and Ohs intermingled with curses and pleas as plates slapped against skin, and subharmonic growls surrounded Shepard in a cloud of sound. She could barely tell where she ended and they began, her body abuzz with sensation as she struggled to keep her mind focused. But every time she tried to open her eyes, to look into her lovers eyes, or see the man thrusting in behind her, a burst of pleasure forced her eyes shut and her mind would shatter into oblivion.

"Spirits, Shepard," Garrus growled, pulling her forehead down to his. Her eyes fluttered open just long enough to meet his gaze before a particularly hard thrust drew a loud moan from her. "You're so tight." She cried out when he thrust roughly up into her again, his talons leaving red trails along her ribs and hips. Sparatus growled his agreement, pulling back from her shoulder to examine the crescent shaped bite marks he'd left, and moved a hand to grip the back of her neck to gain more leverage. She threw her head back, crying out again and Garrus took the chance to leaned forward and nip down her neck.

"I would never have imagined…" the councilor started, but was cut off when Shepard screamed as she hit her peak. Both men snarled as her body clenched, muscles fluttering around them in the perfect way to finish them off and they followed after her. They collapsed in a tangle of limbs, shifting onto their sides with Shepard cradled between them. Carefully, both turians withdrew from the woman between them as she lay, boneless, in their arms. Her breath came in small gasps as she panted, head resting on her arms, and she forced one eye open to observe the two men beside her. Sparatus had sat up and inched toward the edge of the bed, suddenly looking as if he wasn't sure if he should stay, but she grabbed his wrist before he could retreat and pulled him down so he was flush to her back.

" 're not goin' anywhere," she mumbled, wrapping his arm around her middle as she snuggled back into him.

Garrus chuckled at the man's surprised expression and pressed himself to Shepard's front, laying one hand on her hip. "Humans like to cuddle. It's… very enjoyable," he purred, nuzzling the top of her head as he settled his head onto one of the pillows.

"I… I see…"

"And after that… wonderful time, you're not allowed to just disappear," Shepard added, gazing at him over her shoulder. "You can kick us out in the morning, if you want, but right now, we're going to fucking cuddle."

That made the turian councilor laugh and settled down behind her, inhaling the scent of her hair. "Yes, ma'am."


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