Everyone left the room. Shepard grabbed onto the edge of console table and fell to her knees. The weight of what had happened and what they were rushing in to face, everything that had happened with her team, between her and Thane... it all came crashing down at once. Her chest tightened and there was a lump in her throat. She let go of the table and put her face in her hands. She pulled away in surprise. They were wet. Was she crying?
"Pull yourself together, solder!" She commanded herself. She forced herself to her feet, staring at the floor. Something gently touched her back. She jumped and turned to face the intruder. It was Thane. His brow was knitted in concern. He opened his arms to her and she fell into them, silent tears streaming down her face. He rested his lips and chin on her head and tenderly stroked her braided hair. He didn't speak. He just held her, and hummed a low soothing purr. It comforted her.
"Even siha's need time to put down their arms and gather strength to pick them up again." He thought as he hummed to her. He had done this for Kolyat when he was young and scraped his knee. He had held Irika when he'd found her hiding herself, crying, after he'd told her of his condition. Now he held his Siha in the wake of great loss and on the cusp of a great battle. She needed him as much as he needed her. He would not abandon her again.
Thane had been there for her in a time of weakness. She had felt ashamed that he'd seen her that way, but she needed him. So she had let him comfort her. After she'd gathered her strength, she had gone directly to the galaxy map and set a corse for the Omega-4 Relay. It would take almost ten hours before they would reach it. In her quarters, Shepard sat at the small desk on the lower level of the 'loft'. All her fish had died. Just another reminder of the loss and the threat. It steeled her resolve to get her crew, and anyone else she could rescue, back asap. She was reading a data pad with all the info they had gathered about the Collectors. It wasn't as much as she'd hoped. It barely filled the memory capacity of the pad. She looked up when she heard the hiss of the doors to her cabin open. Thane appeared in the doorway. He found her immediately with his eyes and locked onto her. He took each step deliberately, gracefully toward her.
"Thane." she breathed his name.
His hands were lax at his sides. His face had a seriousness about it, stern. He spoke her name,
"Siha, I..." his sternness softened as the sound left his lips. He turned way from her and began pacing. "I have know I would die for many years. I've tried to leave the galaxy better than I found it. You've helped me archive more than I thought possible. We've righted many wrongs. I've spoken to my son." He focused on a stylus on her desk simply because it was there. "I should be at peace on the eve of battle." He said as he turned sharply to face her, taking a few steps toward her. His features stern again, almost angry.
Standing, she rounded her chair, placing a hand gently on his arm.
"Stop, Don't give me a speech." Her words were soft, but firm. His eyes lost their austerity. He shook his head and looked at the floor before looking back to her face.
"I'm ashamed." He admitted. His features changed to sorrow and worry as his brow furrowed.
He was being more honest with her than he'd been with anyone, even Irika. He worried that she would see him weaker because of it. Shepard reached up to touch his face. He watched her hand a moment, unsure of what she was going to do. She barely touched him and he inhaled sharply, jerking his face away from her hand. He gently, but firmly took her wrist and pushed it away. The light from the tanks caught on the ring of his irises, making them shine like silver. He looked at her and then her hand. His expression abruptly changed. He seemed unsure of himself. He turned his back to his Siha and walked over to the table. He focused on the data pad on Shepard's desk. Thane thought of the memories of all the evils he'd done, the losses he'd suffered, the impending doom they were running to... of Irika and Kolyat. A tear ran down his cheek and it angered him. A sneer marred his face. He punched the desk as hard as he could and continued to push, as if he could break through the steel. Pain shot up his arm from the impact, he ignored it. He looked over his shoulder at Shepard. She could see the wetness on his face, her own furrowed with concern and pain for him. The knot in her gut heavy, her heart ached for a way to comfort him.
"I've worked so hard. Meditated and preyed and done good deeds." Shepard glanced at his fist on her desk, then back to him. He turned his gaze back to the data pad. "Atoned for the evils I've done. Prepared." Thane shook his head. His fist had started slipping under the presser he kept on it. "I consider my bodies death, and a chill settles in my gut."
Shepard had walked silently up behind him and tenderly eased her hand over his fist, the other onto his back. He turn his face up to hers.
"I am afraid and it shames me." He stands to turn his body to hers. She slips her hand from his back to his cheek. His head is lowered, his eyes wet with tears. His brow is furrowed where her face has become serine. She doesn't know what she's going to say until she says it,
"Thane,"
He looks into her eyes. They are like the sea. Her soft hand, warm on his cheek. Her smell, a sweet musk.
"Be alive with me tonight." she breaths the words to him and his brow furrows, now in surprise as words spoken long ago to comfort him are spoken again. She kisses him. He leaves his partially open, looking at hers in disbelief and with such emotion. He closes his eyes and returns the kiss, new tears welling with the joy of having her with him. Shepard eased his coat off his shoulders, exposing the black-speckled vibrant green scales hidden there. Thane pulled his hands out of the arms and let the leather crumple on the floor. Shepard admired the stripe patterns that curved over his shoulders, around the back of his biceps and top of his four-arms. She traced them with her fingers. She looks back to his face to find him blinking back the tears, but he has a small, warm smile playing at the corners of his mouth. She keeps her eyes on his, letting her hands ease over the leather to find the snaps on the vest.
'Click... click... click.' Her nimble fingers find the zipper pull. It made a soft 'pft' sound. Her eyes follow her hands as they slip under the leather and glide over his stomach, chest then shoulders until the vest slides down his arms to join the coat on the floor. She trailed her finger over the stripes that lead from his head, down his neck and tapper to a point at the hollow of his throat. She returns her hands to his hard chest. She can feel his heart beat quicken at her touch. His scales are smooth as polished stone. Distorted light from the tank plays over the surface in dull flashes. She leans in to nuzzle his neck. He embraces her. His bare arms around her are strong and warm. She slides her cheek over his. She tentatively kisses on of the red, fleshy folds under the frill of his cheek. It sends a shiver of pleasure up his spine and he moans. She takes a fold in her mouth and runs her tongue gently along it's edge down to the front of his troat. He lets his head fall back, fully exposing his throat to her. A moan escapes his parting lips. She moves to the other side, sliding her tongue down a fold to the center of his throat. He moans again. She fingers the strange hardware Thane wears atop his collar bone. It is the color of a storm cloud with diagonal markings. It dips into a thinner curve where his collar bone dips above his chest. It has a dull sheen that seems to absorb light instead of reflect it. Thane watches her inspect his jewelery, then places a hand over hers.
"It was a gift, long ago." He looks into her eyes. She understands and lets him guild her hand to his face. He kisses her gently, firmly. Their lips part as their tongues mesh to taste the other's sweetness. He can feel her hear pounding in her chest as well as his own. He pulls her tightly to him. She slides her lips from his to tease his neck again. He rolls his head, allowing her access. He purrs and the low, deep sound rumbles through her. This time the vibration excites her. Her breathing becomes heavier. Her breath on the moisture she has left on his skin tingles. The folds blush a brighter red and swell. Something in his leathers swells as well. She can feel him press against her hips. Her eyes follower her fingers as she works her hands down over his body. Two more stripes arch over his hips descending along the 'V' of his abs and disappearing into his trousers. She finds the zips and snaps of his pants. With them undone she guides him to sit on the edge of the bed. She removes his boots and pulls them down over his legs. Similar black, asymmetrical stripes decorate the tops of his thighs and swell of his caves. She lets her fingers brush over them.
Thane purrs at the softness of her touch. He places his hand on her bare shoulders and smiles. Standing, he finds the latches and zippers on her jump suit. He pulls each arm warmer off, leaving kisses down each arm. He pauses in the bend of her arm with a lingering kiss and a vibrating moan. It sends a tickling sensation over her body. He stands before her with his hands at his sides. Shepard removes the collar and slips the leather straps over her shoulders. The jump suit puddles around her feet. Thane reaches behind his back and produces a blade. Only a little surprised at the assassin, Shepard gives him a wary smile. He smiles back as if to say 'trust me,' but there is cunning behind it.
The coolness of the blade against her skin gives her shivers as he slides it between her hip and her beige, military issue panties. With a single, fluid motion he cuts through the fabric. The undergarment joins her jump suit. Next he slips the blade between her breasts. He makes quick work of the bra. Thane steps back to admire her form. The round plumpness of her breasts seemed to beg his touch. Her nipples were pink and hard with arousal. Her skin was creamy and smooth over her toned muscles. The slight roundness of her stomach and the navel that adorned it was voluptuous. Her hips curving out and tapering down to her legs. A little patch of red hair adorned her mound. He could smell her more so now than ever. The sweet musk of her arousal caused his drell-hood to throb with desire. Shepard grasped the braid at the base of her skull and brought it around to loosen it. She worked her fingers through the strands slowly until she had released the locks from their bondage. She let the tresses fall around her shoulders and down her back in waves. The color of her hair made her eyes brighter, even in the dimness of the room.
"You are beautiful, Siha." He couldn't hold back much longer. He handed her the blade. She took it with a grin. She carefully slipped the blade beneath the black silk of his undergarment, and with a flick of the blade, removed it. He stood before her, fully erect. The rim of the head encircling the circumference of his member completely. The scales of his body thinned and dispersed at the base, exposing coloring and pattern that echoed that of his lips. The surface was slick with a natural lubricant his drell body produced.
"You are magnificent, Mëha." Shepard was in awe of his alien form. She found him so intriguing, so beautiful. His muscles were tight and wiry beneath his flesh, tempting her to feel them. She stepped out of her shoes toward him. He motioned to the bed with a low sweep of one hand and offered her the other. She took it and walked with him, eyes locked, until they lay on the bed together. Their hands explored each other's bodies, finding the parts that were both unfamiliar and familiar. She wanted to taste him, but he stopped her. He shook his head.
"Hallucinations." he whispered to her, and drew her up to face to face with him. He kissed her, slow and deep. He found her folds with his webbed fingers and messaged them. Shepard moan softly, but more loudly than before. She was wet and her labia had swollen and blushed to a bright pink. His petting, an artful skill she was grateful he had. The feel of his fingers on her secret brought a fire to her loins. She messaged him in return with long, even strokes. The scattering of scales over skin felt exotic. He explored her breasts and hardened nipples with his tongue teeth. She responded with a sharp inhale. His purr growing louder until it became a groan that reverberated through her. He wrapped his arms around her and vigorously kissed her, forcing her onto her back. He rolled himself onto her, pressing his body onto hers. She wrapped her legs around him, pressing herself against him. He bore his hips down onto hers, sliding himself between the folds without entering her. Their breathing was heavy, becoming frantic. His lips ghosted over the skin of her collar bone to the hollow of her neck, leaving a wet kiss there. Hands caressed and groped with need. He pumped his hips, sliding up and down, exciting her further and preparing her for him. The lubricant excited her skin, a tingling warmth growing in her loins. She pushed her hips hard into him. His body was hard and heavy on hers. She could feel his muscles rippling beneath the scaly surface. Her desire for him was driving her mad.
"I want you, Mëha." she breathed heavily. "I need you." She put a hand on either side of his face forcing him to expose his neck to her. She licked the folds of his throat.
Thane groaned loudly and shook his head free from her. He looked deep into her with the onyx orbs of his eyes. He took her mouth in a passionate kiss and he positioned himself to enter her. She lifted her hips and he pulled back. She looked at him, about to ask a question. He spoke in a deep, low tone before she could.
"Are you sure..." he breathed the question into her ear.
"Please..." She moaned. As if she would give him any other answer at this point. Did he want to hear her beg?
"I will be gentle, Siha." His breath on her neck ignited a fire in her.
"I know." she breathed.
He forced himself inside her a little at a time. As he spread her, her body tensed. She dug her fingers into his shoulders. She moaned. He kissed her cheek and jawline to her chin and down her neck, a deep purr vibrating in his chest. He ventured a little further in. She let out a soft cry. He could feel himself pressing against the skin that would allow him to claim her. He waited for her to relax. She breathed in heavy, long sighs, finally opening her eyes to look into his. He wanted to see her eyes when he took her. He pushed a little harder. She tensed, but did not look away. Her lips were parted with the anticipation of a moan. He could feel the membrane tearing under his advancement into her body. Just before he broke though he wrapped his arms under her and held her close to him.
"I love you." he purred and took her. The pain forced tears from her eyes. She cried out and clung to him with all her strength. He pushed himself completely inside her, a cry of pleasure escaped his lips as he watched her arched her back, and gasp, and moan his name,
"Thane..."
He slid his hands up her back and brought them around her face, wiping away the tears with his thumbs. She looked at him, panting and moaning. He held her gaze and rolled his hips. She cried out and tried to arch her back. She tried to pull away, but he held her in place with his body. He used her struggle to push deeper into her. He felt her hot and wet around him, squeezing him. He could feel the end of him pushing past her cervix. She cried out and gasped for air, bliss and pain racking her body. Thane pumped himself in and out of her, slowly, tenderly, completely with every stroke. He could hear their wetness together with each thrust. His own moans and cries joined hers. He trailed a hand up her trembling form, over her firm, plump breast to her hip and then her thigh. Thrusting himself into her, feeling her body respond in ecstasy, flexing around him. He was nearing the edge of his control. He could see her love for him in her eyes, taste it in her kiss, feel it in the quivering of her body, hear it in her breath, smell it in their love. She tried to thrust back, but he pined her down every time, forcing a cry of pain and pleasure from her reddened lips. He loved her long and hard, but tenderly with kisses and caresses. He ran his fingers through her hair and over her curves. He found her knees with his hands and forced them wide, pinning them to the mattress. He wanted to be with her. Needed her, to be inside her, a part of her. He felt alive with her. Shepard was past the edge of clear thought. Her world became smells of his strange, dry musk and the feel of him pulsing inside her. He filled her completely, and a little more. His lips and hands caressed her body.
She could feel him climaxing insider each time she did with a powerful gush of fluid. She trembled beneath his dominating passion. He had told her he loved her as he took her. The words and emotions that came with them were a fire in her mind now. She was getting close. She could feel the burning urgency and increasing exhilaration mounting up inside her. She could feel him pulsating, thrusting. She could feel every curve of him, every scale that probed her body. He touched her in ways not possible for human males. His breath was heavy and hot on her neck, his kisses wet and amorous. His fingers wove through her hair when he cupped the back of their head and neck, making love to her for the first and possibly last time. His moans were loud purrs and bits of voice. His groans were a low, deep sound in his chest that sent shivers through her. He breathed her name when he entered her fully,
"Siha".
Her hair and body were wet with sweat. Her loins screaming with the intensity of his sex. She cried out his name as he plummeted into her with such vivaciousness she could barely retain her sanity.
"Mëha... ah..." Her back arched, pressing herself hard against him. She rung the sheets in her fists or dug her fingers into his back. She frantically licked and kisses his neck and mouth. His hips pulsed and rolled on top of her.
"Mëha..." An explosion of ecstacy enraptured her, sending blinding light into her mind.
Her body writhed beneath him as she cried out with a series of loud moans meshed with his name. The flood gates opened as her climaxes reached their zenith, soaking him from waist to knee. He reached his apex in time with hers. He could see himself hard and pulsing as her flesh rose around where he throbbed inside her. His release was crippling. Just before he collapsed beside her, chest heaving, their bodies erupted in blue biotic flame. She felt his climax rupture into her body, felt his yield fill her. He pulsed inside her in the wake of his passion. Her own body, twitching from exhaustion and euphoria. He slid out of her, stringing juices across her thigh as more poured out of her, and collapsed on the beside her.
They were both panting heavily. The clear liquids and blood mingled and soaked the sheets. The smell of their coitus filled their nostrils with a strong, sweet musk. When their breathing had calmed to a normal pace Thane rolled onto his side to look at her. She was already looking at him, her face turned to him on the pillow. Her fiery hair tossed and unkempt around her shoulders. She beamed a satisfied grin at him. He gave her a toothy one in return and trailed a finger over her chest, down her abdomen, dipping into her belly button to rest on her hip.
"I love you, too." Shepard sighed .
Thane chuckled and kissed her lightly on her reddened lips. She was more lovely than ever with the flush in her cheeks from their passions and the glow of her skin. Eventually she got up to take a shower. They needed to rest before they reached the relay. Thane cleansed himself with some towlettes and changed the bedding. He was waiting for her under the sheets when she emerged, hair braided, from the bathroom.
She crawled into the bed next to him and he took her into his arms. They pressed their nude bodies together. She cuddled against him and nuzzled his neck. He nestled his face into her hair. The rest of the universe disappeared in these moments they had together. They slept peacefully in each others arms. Shepard woke about six and a half hours later. Thane was sitting in her box chair, fully dressed, watching her sleep. She sat up with the sheets pulled to her neck and brought her knees to her chest.
"How long have you been sitting there?" she asked, smiling.
"Not long." he answered. He looked worried, "Are you well? Did I... hurt you? The information Mordin gave me informed that a human woman may not be able to handle..."
"Is that what's bothering you?" She cut him off before he embarrassed himself. "I'm fine. Some pain and soreness is to be expected with... the first experience."
He shifted something in his hands. "I was going to give you this after the mission.." He paused a moment, considering his words carefully. "You have given me many gifts, Siha, and now you have given me yourself. You have made me your Mëha. I wanted to give you something tangible in return that might represent what I feel for you."
He got up and sat on the edge of the bed next to her, he continued to conceal the object in his hands. "I'm unsure of how humans proceed in such an event. Drell do not usually move so quickly into a relationship such as ours. Given the circumstances, I believe we will be pardoned." He paused again. Shepard sat, waiting patiently for him to continue. "I found this in the last space port we visited. I was surprised to find it there. The volus merchant believed it to be something less than it is." He handed her a palm-sized, black velvet box.
Thane nervously glanced between the box in Shepard's hand to her face. Shepard opened the box. It wasn't a diamond, and she was glad. She wasn't really a diamonds kind of girl. Coiled on itself was a flat, silvery ribbon of metal. It reflected the light of the tanks with a dull, blue glow.
"Thane, what is this?" she asked.
"Only a gift." he smiled faintly.
Shepard picked up the coil and let it uncurl from her finger tips. It was a necklace by the look of it. Not what she would expect from someone like Thane. The surface bore similar markings to the ornament around Thane's own neck. She was admiring it in her hand when she noticed an inscription, 'Love of Two is One'. It was in his script.
"It's beautiful, Thane, I..." He hushed her with a finger to her lips.
He stole it from her grasp and slipped it over her head, threading the braid through to let it rest on her bare skin. He turned it so the inscription lay hidden against her skin above her heart. It felt cool, but not uncomfortable. It laid against her body as if it were her own skin, in a circle around her neck, thinner and dipping along the hollow of her neck.
"A symbol of our union, Siha." He caressed her arms with his finger tips. He let them leave her neck, ghosting over her skin to her hands. He took hers in his own, warm and secure. He looked deeply into her eyes, a tender smile on his lips that only she saw.
"Mëha..." She didn't know what to say. She hadn't expect sensitivity from an assassin.
Shepard shifted to sit on her knees, bringing her closer to him. She let the sheets fall away, and took his face in her hands. She kissed him, serenely. His hands floated up to her hips and slowly drifted up her ribs to glide over her smooth skin onto her back. He brought her closer to him in the gradual embrace, until she felt his hard body beneath the leather. He deepened the kiss, exploring her mouth sensually with his tongue. EDI bliped on her console, but her 'face' was pointed away from them. It was as if the AI was showing embarrassment for intruding or trying to let them maintain some level of privacy.
"We are approaching the Omega-4 Relay in one hour, Commander." and she blinked out without waiting for a reply.
Thane broke this kiss, but kept his lips on hers and his eyes closed, letting the moment linger a bit longer before he must let it ebb away. He felt her sigh, heavily in his arms.
"I must meditate and prey for the battle ahead." Thane spoke in a low purr, his lips ghosting the words on hers. Shepard nodded and he released her against his wishes. When he had gone, Shepard did some meditating of her own.