Disclaimer: Skyrim belongs to Bethesda, Mass Effect belongs to Bioware. I just borrow their amazing characters and universe for my on nefarious purposes.


Shepard was exhausted. It wasn't much further until they reached Whiterun, however, and it was raining profusely. She and her companion had attempted a spell to keep themselves dry, but it had failed miserably. She was shivering in her armor, her fingers frozen to the bone with the chilling wind. Her companion was faring similarly, having given up his fur cloak hours ago to help keep her warm.

They had a message to deliver to the Jarl of Whiterun, Balgruuf the Greater. Jarl Ulfric Stormcloak wished her to deliver his battleax to the jarl. It was a message he claimed Balgruuf would understand. She nearly shouted with relief as the walls of Whiterun came in to view, and they took off jogging towards the gate, forgetting the freezing cold.

They stood in the protection of the arch overhead, planning their next move. "So, do we go directly to see the jarl, or do we get out of our wet clothes and wait out the rain?" Kaidan asked gruffly, shivering in the cold.

She thought briefly, it was very late already, and the jarl likely wouldn't be available anyway. "We'll go to my house here for the night. It's late and I'm freezing." He nodded, and followed her into the city, stinking close to her back, as the guards were eyeing them suspiciously.

"The guards are suspicious, Shepard," he whispered softly, for her ears alone. His hand went to one of his swords, resting there menacingly. The imperial guard that had been watching them sized the larger man up and moved on after shooting him another narrow eyed glower.

She clenched her jaw, and with trembling fingers, fumbled the key into the lock, jerking him in the door after her, slamming the door, and sliding the lock home. To her delight, Ashley, another housecarl, had a fire going in the hearth, and with a sigh, they peeled off their sodden armor, placing it around the fire to dry. She glanced up as Ashley thundered down the stairs, sword drawn.

"Oh, mistress. Welcome home," the raven-haired beauty gave Kaidan an appraising glance. "Collecting strays again, mistress?" she asked, an eyebrow raised.

Shepard laughed tiredly. "Stop calling me mistress. Just Shepard. This is Kaidan Alenko, he's my…companion," she let the word hang in the air, a touch of warning, and waited while Ashley absorbed her meaning.

"Well met, Alenko," Ashley said, and strode across the room to shake his hand. Her grip was warm and firm, and she her smile friendly. "Do you need help cleaning your weapons? It's a specialty of mine," she added, by way of explaination for Kaidan.

"Do you have experience with enchanted weapons?" Kaidan's gravelly voice rose in the room. Shepard slipped away to find dry clothes for the two of them in the next room.

"Some, but if you prefer, I can help clean your armor. Tonight's rain would not have been friendly to it." Shepard heard Ashley shuffling around in the room, likely gathering the clothes and other supplies she would need to complete her work.

"Very well," he replied, and lapsed into silence.

"Kaidan, if you'd like to change, I have some clothes here that would likely fit you," Shepard offered, gesturing towards the stairs with a jerk of her head and a sensual smile.

Ashley glanced up and caught his answering smile, a slow, seductive number that had heat pooling in her own belly. She watched as his eyes darkened with desire, and his tongue flicked out to moisten his lips. "Damn," she murmured, trying to ignore the sudden flush of heat in the room. "I'll just be here, polishing your armor, eh?"

Neither replied as he followed her up the stairs, her hips swaying ever so slightly in front of him as she climbed the stairs, water still dripping from her sodden garments, sticking to her in all the right places, leaving very little to the imagination. At the top of the landing, he spun her round, and bent his knees, wrapping strong arms around her just below her rear, and clutched her to him, asking for direction to her room with a twitch of an eyebrow and a cock of the head.

A smile spread over her lips, and she jerked her head to the right, drawing her brows together as he walked the few steps in the correct direction. A nudge with his booted foot, and the wooden door opened with a creak. He loosened his hold, and she slithered down his body until her bare feet hit the floor. "About these wet clothes," he murmured, his fingers plucking at the hem of her tunic, drawing it neatly over her head, leaving her in a form-fitting camisole. With a smirk, he drew that over her head as well, and brought a hand up to cup her firm breast, his finger brushing over the puckered nipple.

Her white teeth worried at her pink lips, and she looked up at him from beneath her long lashes. He heard her soft, husky voice, "Strip for me." He grinned wolfishly at her brazen command, hooked a finger on the neck of his tunic, and pulled it over his head. He licked his lips as her hot gaze travelled over his bare chest and abs, and she pressed her palms to her skin, his skin pricking into gooseflesh as she did as her hands were still bone-cold.

His hands hit his woolen trousers, and he pushed them slowly over his hips, and, his gaze dark with desire, he advanced on her, stalking her as she slowly backed up until her calves hit the bed. He placed his palm between her breasts and with a light shove; she fell back on the bed. They both groaned as the bed protested with a loud creak.

"Better stay silent," he murmured, his lips at her ear, his fingers dragging her sodden leggings from her hips. "T'would be rude to your other housecarl."

She shot him a dirty look, her fingers firmly grasping his arousal, lightly stroking the silky head, making his hips jerk. "I can stay silent," she whispered smoothly, her hand circling him, pumping him up and down, heard his sharp intake of breath as she varied the pressure she used to tease him further.

"Two can play this game, little girl," he mumbled against her skin, and moved just out of her reach to press a hot line of kisses leading in a meandering path from her collarbone to her breasts to her navel, down to swirl his tongue around her hip bone. "Open up for me," he murmured, his fingers stroking the sensitive skin of her inner thigh, and instinctively, she parted her thighs. His teeth scraped against her skin, making her thighs quiver against his cheek. He inhaled her sweet scent, and with a long, slow lick, tasted her spice on his tongue, making her writhe against the strong hold he had on her hips.

She thrashed her head against the sheets, stifling a moan with her fist. Her back rolled against the bed, causing it to creak loudly and her feet bit into the mattress as she lifted her hips to provide better access. She was panting as he languidly explored her, his tongue thrusting in to her molten core, causing her thighs to shudder in response. Her fingers were tugging at his salt and pepper curls, her breath coming in gasping puffs. He swirled his tongue around her sensitive nub, scraping it with his teeth, lapping up her warm as her orgasm hit her with shuddering gasp.

His expression was dark and devious as he crawled back up her body, pressing deliciously hot kisses as he went. His lips sought hers, and she let loose a low moan as she tasted herself there, her tongue flicking out to caress his lips.

"Shhhh…" he reminded her, rocking his erection against her slick entrance, teasing her so she could feel his heat. "Come here," she hissed, and locked her legs around his hips, driving him forward into her hot sheathe. He panted as she squeezed her muscles against him as he began to move slowly, drawing out each thrust as she arched against him, as much to torture her as to prevent the bed from creaking. Her panting grew more erratic, the thrusting of her own hips more desperate against his, and with a quiet exhalation of her breath, she spasmed against him, her lips and tongue brushing against his throat. He followed her lead into ecstasy with a low groan, a grasping of hands against her hips, his lips brushing against her brow.

They lay panting for several long moments, her hands languidly stroking his sweaty back, running her fingers along his spine. "Warm yet?" he asked gruffly and reluctantly pulled away from her.

She smiled sleepily at him and reached to the end of the bed to pull the heavy blanket over them both, and snuggled into his warmth as exhaustion claimed them.

There was a tense moment the next morning as they broke their fast, when she denied Ashley the opportunity to accompany them to see the jarl. "Ashley, I have a feeling I will soon be testing your loyalty to the jarl, and it will not be this day," Shepard said firmly.

"Best thing that lecherous man did was assign me to you, Shepard. At least let me accompany you!" Ashley argued.

Kaidan frowned, but stayed silent. This young woman was too mouthy for his taste, especially to the woman she was sworn to honor and protect. "I will allow you to accompany me back to Windhelm for the return journey." Shepard pushed away from the table thoughtfully. "In fact, you can procure horses for us to ride during our audience with the jarl. I hope it will not be necessary, but we may need to beat a hasty retreat."

"Yes, mistress," Ashley groused, and took the purse of coin Shepard handed her.

Not much later, Shepard and Alenko were quickly marching away from Dragonsreach, with Ulfric's battleax strapped to her back. They kept their heads down, and spoke to no one, breaking into a run as soon as they saw Ashley waiting with three horses just outside the gate. "Quickly, we must away. We will no longer be welcome at Whiterun." They burst through a small group of Imperial guards as they made their escape, ignoring their shouts of protest.

"I fear this means war." Kaidan observed, his voice low and serious. "We must return to Jarl Ulfric with all haste."