A week later, Jacob sought out Shepard after his chat with The Illusive Man. He found her in the CIC looking at the Galaxy Map.
"Hey Shepard? Can I speak with you in private?"
"Sure. Come on." Shepard led him to the elevator and pressed the button for her cabin. As soon as the doors closed, Jacob let out a harsh breath. Once they arrived at the cabin, he took a seat on the couch and put his head between his hands.
After a few seconds, Shepard saw his shoulders shake. She silently sat beside him, put an arm around his shoulders, and held him as he cried. Minutes passed and when he was done, he looked up at her with a tear streaked face and red eyes. Shepard's heart broke for him. He lost his father not once, but twice.
"You know, it hurts worse the second time around. Knowing he wasted away so far from home, memories of me and mom gone⦠I just-" Jacob sighed and leaned back on the couch.
"Nothing I say could possibly make it better, but you know I'm here for you, no matter what."
"Thank you."
"How did your chat with The Illusive Man go?" asked Shepard.
"You know he had the fucking nerve to say he 'didn't authorize' that 'experiment'? He swore he had no idea it even happened."
"Huh. For someone in charge of everything, he always seems to know nothing. Bastard." Shepard looked over at Jacob to find him staring at her intensely. His gaze seemed to pierce into her soul.
"What's on your mind?" Shepard whispered.
"We need to talk."
"About what?"
"Our arrangement." Jacob said. Shepard felt this coming the night he opened up about his father. If she guessed right, and she usually always did, he wanted the same thing she did.
"I have a feeling we both want the same change."
"If that change involves us going from friends to something more, then yes. We want the same thing. But I'm not too sure."
"Will this answer your question?" Shepard leaned in and kissed him slow and sweet. Jacob pulled her into his lap and flicked his tongue across her bottom lip, asking for entry. She granted him access and they deepened the kiss, taking their time to slowly savor the taste of one another. Jacob broke the kiss and leaned his forehead against hers, staring deep into her eyes.
"I have to ask. Are you doing this because you want this, want me, or are you just feeling vulnerable and want someone to lean on?" Shepard said.
"I'm gonna be honest, it's a little bit of both. Well, it's a lot of one and a small bit of the other."
"Explain," said Shepard as she leaned away from him slightly. Jacob kept a firm hold on her hips so she couldn't go too far.
"I want you Esperanza. I want every bit of you, heart, mind, and soul. I think I have for months now, but I just now realized it. Yes, I am emotionally vulnerable right now. That's to be expected considering what I just went through. All that's done though, is made me realize how much I care for you."
"Damn." was all Shepard could say. So she chose to show her appreciation in actions. She kissed him again, this time hard and demanding. Jacob gave as good as he got. Shepard started to grind down on his rapidly hardening cock and Jacob moaned out loud.
"Bed. Now." Jacob lifted her like she weighed nothing and deposited her on the bed. She removed her clothing in record time as he went to the nightstand to grab a condom. He removed his clothing, piece by piece, and Shepard drank in the sight. This beautiful man was all hers and she simply couldn't believe it. It was like a dream come true.
Jacob spread her legs and hovered over her, giving her a slow, sweet kiss. He moved down to the sensitive spot on her neck, lavishing it with attention, but not enough to leave a mark. While they were now a couple, they had to maintain professional decorum outside the bedroom.
He then moved lower, lavishing attention on one beautifully brown nipple and then kissed his way over to the other. After he had her panting and wet, he slowly moved down to her dripping core. He pressed his tongue against her clit, moved down to her opening, and slid right back up again. When he wrapped his lips around her clit and gently sucked, Shepard screamed out loud.
"Oh, shit yes. Please!"
"Please what?"
"More. I need more. I need you." Shepard panted out, running her fingers through the short hair on his head.
"As you wish." Jacob put on the condom and positioned himself at her entrance. He started thrusting with shallow, short strokes that served to push Shepard even closer to the brink.
"If you keep doing that, I won't last much longer."
"Yes you will. I'll make sure of that." Jacob said with a smirk. Then, without warning, he drove himself to the hilt. She felt his pubic bone grind against her clit and it was too much. She came with a shout that rang around the room.
"YES! BABY PLEASE! YES!" she screamed. That was when Jacob began to thrust in earnest. His pace was fast and brutal, never letting her fully come down from her high. She didn't think she could take much more. It felt too good. It was too much but not enough. Jacob leaned down on his forearms and kissed her hard, still thrusting within her. Shepard reached up and dug her nails into his back as she came a second time, even better than the first. Jacob's strokes soon became erratic and he came harder than he ever did before.
"Oh fuck yes!" he moaned in her ear. Both were left breathless by the encounter. Jacob withdrew with a shudder from him and a whine of protest from Shepard. He removed the condom and threw it in the trashcan by the bed. Shepard pulled him back into bed where he pulled her into his chest, stroking her hair until she fell asleep. He laid awake for hours just watching her and listening to her deep, steady breaths. He knew then he had fallen deeply and irrevocably in love with her, but he couldn't tell her just yet. Some things had to wait.
