Yes I'm still alive. I'm sorry it's taken me so long to get this chapter out. It just wasn't turning out the way I wanted, and still isn't, but I feel I need to move on with the story. I hope it's still fun to read, anyway.
I'm also really sorry for eating the last chocolate chip cookie... but you probably don't care about that.
Shepard woke slowly, regaining consciousness without opening his eyes. He was laying on his stomach, feeling incredibly relaxed and content.
There was just one major problem he found as his arm stretched across the bed.
"Tali," he grumbled, voice slightly muffled because his face was pressed into the mattress.
He heard movement in the room.
"Hm?"
"Get back here."
"That's no way to talk to your commander," she teased.
Nevertheless, he could hear the welcoming padding of her feet as she approached his side of the bed. He turned his face toward her and opened his eyes.
She was kneeling beside the bed, her face less than a foot away. She blinked, two shining stars winking at him. He could not think of waking to anything more wonderful. It stole his breath away.
"Hey, handsome."
"Hey."
Tali smiled at him. She rested the side of her face on the bed so her head was positioned like his and placed a hand on his back, gently rubbing his skin. His eyes closed briefly, making a sound somewhere between a moan and a sigh.
"Is it morning already?"
"No. You were snoring and it woke me up. Then, when I realized I still had some time left to order you around, I wanted to try something. But I couldn't bring myself to wake you."
"I'm sorry." He was going to say more, that she shouldn't be afraid to wake him, but her hand was lulling him back to sleep. She touched his face, trailed over his brow, down his nose, over his lips. She touched him like no one else could. Like feeling his skin was a rare gift.
"What did you want to try?"
"I wanted you to teach me how to swim. I even ordered swimsuits from the hotel. See?"
Tali stepped back and showed him the purple swimsuit she was wearing. The top piece was a tankini that fit snugly around her thin midsection. The bottom half had a short skirt wrap flaring over her hips.
"You look good, honey."
"Thanks, Jo-"
"Good enough to eat!" Shepard lunged across the bed, swiping at Tali. But she managed to skip away, laughing as he nearly fell off the bed.
"If you're awake enough for that, you're awake enough for swimming! Now get up!"
Shepard grumbled as he did so. Once his feet were on the floor, a pair of swimming trunks were thrown at him.
"I got those for you."
He held them up. They were all white except for wide red stripes on the outside of the legs.
"Thanks, I like it." Tali hid a smile of satisfaction as he put them on.
Proper clothing in place, Tali grabbed Shepard's hand and practically skipped towards the door. She was going to learn to swim!
"Wait, Tali. You forgot something."
"Forgot wh-" A tug on her arm caught her in midstride, causing her to spin around. Shepard bent his head and she ran smack into his lips.
He rubbed his mouth across hers, nibbling lightly before lifting his head.
"That."
Tali's eyes were closed, eyebrows lifted as though stuck in shock.
"Tali?"
Her eyes fluttered open.
"Are you ready to go?"
"Go where?" she whispered.
"I thought you wanted to go swimming?"
"Oh... oh right." She shook her head slightly.
Shepard gave her a teasing smile. "Did I catch my commander off-guard?"
"N-no, of course not." Tali was about to step back, but Shepard caught her face in his hands.
"Then let me try again."
He kissed her until they both forgot everything except for the press of the other's lips.
...
"Get in. I want to watch you swim."
"I'm a little rusty," Shepard said as he hopped into the pool. He dipped under the water and shoved away from the wall. Tali watched him cut through the clear liquid as she entered the shallow end.
The cool water enveloped her feet. She had to tear her eyes away from Shepard so she could watch it rise to her calves as she moved deeper, fascinated by how the water distorted the appearance of her feet. It wasn't like she'd never seen the effects of water before, but seeing it affect her suit-less body was rather enthralling. It was something that had never seemed possible earlier in her life.
Deeper she went, feeling the water rise along her skin. When it reached her shoulders she stopped and held her hands out, observing how her fingers seemed to move with the ripples of the pool.
Tali smiled, filled with an almost childish joy. She looked up. "John this is... John?" Her smile disappeared. The deeper end of the pool was completely empty.
Hands grabbed her ankles. Shoulders connected with the back of her thighs, and she shrieked with laughter as Shepard thrust her out of the water. She clutched his head to keep from falling off.
"SSV Shepard ready for launch, Commander."
Tali could hardly catch her breath. Keelah she loved him!
She pointed and used his head to steer him around the shallow end of the pool. He followed her instructions, obediently trotting through the water.
"I think we're under attack, Commander."
"From wha-?" Several splashes hit her. "Ah!"
Shepard was using an arm to throw water at Tali. "We've taken damage!" He made a sharp turn toward the deep end and Tali nearly lost her grip.
"Engines are failing!"
Tali was gasping for air. "Prepare for emergency landing!"
Shepard leaped off his feet, leaning forward, and sent both of them crashing into the water.
Tali's ears were flooded, a strange silence cutting of the splashing water. She hardly had a second to register what to do when an arm grabbed her and her head was raised above the water. She sucked in air and clutched at the arm as it pulled her back against a hard frame.
"Shh. It's okay, I got you." He held her tightly, warm breath at her ear, muscles flexing behind her as he kept them afloat. Calm, reassuring. Safe.
Her breathing relaxed. She could always feel safe with him.
"Here, move your arms like mine. Use it to push against the water."
Shepard held her as she practiced, gradually lessening his grip until she could use her arms and legs to keep herself up. He maneuvered around in front of her.
"Can you hold your head underwater?"
"I think so."
Tali allowed herself to sink, dunking her head fully, letting the water caress her face before pushing back up, enjoying the refreshing feeling as it trickled down her skin.
"Can't hold your breath very long, can you?" Shepard said teasingly.
"I bet I can hold my breath longer than you."
He flashed a smile at her. "You're on."
Tali shut her eyes and the wonderful liquid embraced her once again, the silence comforting. She moved her arms gently, feeling in control. She could stay like this forever, hold her breath as long as-
Something brushed against her lips. Startled, she tried to push away but her hands bumped into Shepard's chest. His fingers lightly touched her face before his mouth returned to hers.
Tali suddenly felt like she was suffocating and tried to breath, forgetting she was underwater. She thrust herself up, choking.
"Sorry." Shepard was above the water again.
"It's...it's okay. You just surprised me."
After catching her breath she grabbed Shepard by the shoulders, eyes challenging his. "Let's try that again."
They dipped under the water and Tali immediately sought his lips.
What started as an innocent kiss quickly escalated until they were devouring the other's mouth. She clung to him, not wanting to stop, wanting to savor every precious second. Bubbles escaped from their nostrils, their lungs screamed at them. They held on a moment longer before surging out of the water, gasping for air.
Tali ran her arms around Shepard's torso and rested her head on his shoulder. Held him until her lungs were sated.
"We'll... we'll call it a draw," Shepard panted.
Tali smiled and laughed softly. She was too happy to hold it in.
"I love you."
"I love you too, sweetheart."
...
Shepard continued the lessons by showing Tali different swimming styles, such as the front crawl and breaststroke. He swam beside her, gently coaching and encouraging her, ready to grab her if she started to struggle. She never did, however, so he had to find other reasons to touch her.
"John! That is not helping me swim."
"I thought it would make you go faster."
Tali threw a handful of water at him. Shepard dove under, coming up several yards away from her.
"Think you can catch me?"
Tali darted after him, but he was a much more experienced swimmer and easily outdistanced her.
My legs are stronger than his, I should be able to catch him easily. She recalled his lessons, remembering the techniques. Instead of frantically lurching toward him, her limbs became more controlled, propelling her forward with greater speed.
She caught him against the side of the pool, smiling as she pecked him on the lips.
"Damn those wonderful legs of yours. And your form has really improved."
"I had a good teacher."
"Is that so?" An arm snaked around her waist, twisting her until her back was to the wall. With one hand, Shepard grabbed the ledge to help keep their chins over the water.
"Is there anything else you want to learn?"
Her hands slipped over his shoulders. "You have something in mind?"
Tali felt his free hand sneak under her swimsuit, fingers spreading over her back.
"Well it's good to know some first aid." He shifted so their bodies fit tight together. Their lips brushed; a teasing, feather-like touch. "Like, I don't know, CPR or something."
"Now that you mention it." Tali's fingers trailed along the nape of his neck. "I am feeling a little breathless."
Their lips touched again, eyes gliding shut to savor the soft caress. Water from the pool clung to Shepard's flesh and Tali sucked gently, mixing it with her own saliva. His nose pressed against her cheek and the air tickled her skin as he inhaled.
They pulled back leisurely, lingering. By the time they separated, their manner had transformed from teasing playfulness to dark desire. They paused, exchanging glances.
Do you...?
Yes.
"Hold me a minute," Tali whispered. Shepard tightened his arm around her as she let go of him. She reached into the water, pulled the top half of her swimsuit off and tossed the garment over the ledge behind her. Her arms were around Shepard's neck and lips against his before hearing the heavy, wet slap as it hit the floor.
She sighed into him. Her legs wrapped around his waist. Shepard's hand flexed at her back before moving down to her thigh and slipped under the skirt wrap of her swimsuit.
Tali's hands splayed over his head, kissing him more feverishly until she broke away with a gasp.
"Does it feel okay?"
"You have to ask?"
Shepard kissed her shoulder, hiding a smile. "Well, my fingers are a little wrinkled."
He felt Tali shake against him, a soft chuckle coming from her as she buried her face in his neck. "Keelah. Only you could make me laugh right now."
The humor faded quickly. Tali shifted restlessly, her breasts rubbed against his chest, nipples more sensitive with every breath. Panting, she tried to kiss him. His lips, his face. Tried to release the pressure building inside her.
"Look at me," he said tenderly.
She did, knowing her face was wrought with pleasure, open and vulnerable.
"You look beautiful, Tali."
She stared directly into his eyes. Into his familiar, loving gaze. She could always feel safe with him.
Shepard watched her face intently, saw the trust in her eyes right before her head tipped back. And the sweetest sound escaped her. She shuddered against him. Shepard felt his loins tighten, a muscle jumped in his jaw.
Her head lolled forward, eyes closed.
"John," she gasped.
Light kisses spread over her face. "I'm right here."
Their lips met. Their bodies shifted until he was there, hard and snug in the vee of her thighs. The swimsuits were the only barrier.
Tali moaned and ground her hips against him, feeling even more desperate for him after her climax, like she was empty without him.
Their heads slanted, several hot kisses led to their mouths sealing together. Tali's tongue pushed forward, stroking his cheek, flicking along his teeth until touching his tongue.
Shepard tried to hold onto the ledge even as he tried to caress her skin. His fingers slipped and they plunged into the deep.
The last of their clothing floated to the top, drifting leisurely in a storm of bubbles.
When they exploded from the pool, Shepard grabbed the ledge with shaky hands, Tali clung to him. They were gasping for air, for each other.
Their heated bodies were slowly cooled by the pool, their burning lungs doused with oxygen. Tali smiled as she lazily scooped water over her husband's shoulders.
"John."
"Hm?"
"I think we'll call that a draw, too."
Humor next time!
