Liara sought the comfort in the empty spaces of the doctor's office in the back of the med-bay. Shepard decided it was best to let her be a while. Benezia may not have spent her last days the way a matriarch should, but the woman had still been Liara's mother. It would take time for the pain to pass. Shepard sought the 'professional council' of the Spectre in his quarters.

Nihlus was not surprised to see her in his door way. She stepped inside quickly so the doors would close behind her. She didn't speak a word to him before settling on the edge of the sofa. She waited patently for him to finish typing his report on the mission and send it. They would receive a response from the Council in an hour or two.

"What do you think the lyrics will be?" He asked her casually as he rose from his desk to join her on the sofa.

"What?" She asked, cocking a brow at him.

"The songs the 'bugs' will sing of my forgiveness?"

Sonya rubbed the back of her neck with one armored hand and turned a little pink.

"Oh. I'm not sure. Maybe something about the heralding hero who saved them from the darkness? I'm not much of a poet." She shrugged.

Nihlus chuckled. He touched her face, smoothing back a stray hair that had escaped the bun at the base of her skull.

"Are you ok?"

"I'm worried about Liara. Seeing her mother die, having to help kill her... It's gotta be rough." Sonya said softly as she shook her head.

She stared through the floor, thinking of her own parents, of Captain Anderson. He'd sacrificed so much to give her a chance at the Spectres. She wasn't sure what she would do when he died. She never had to mourn a parent she actually knew.

"She'll be fine. It will take time, but she knows our mission is more important. I have confidence she will find a way to put it behind her." Nihlus said softly. He was doing his best to be comforting and keep focus.

"I should get out of this armor and shower." She replied distractedly, and left him alone in his quarters.

Almost three hours later the ship was on it's way to Feros. Shepard donned her military issue casual blues as she waited patently at the top of the ramp in the debriefing room. Nihlus had just finished talking with the Council about their last mission. They were not happy about his decision to free the queen, especially the turian and fellow clansman.

Nihlus was frustrated with them. They didn't want to listen to all the evidence, and what he forced them hear they ignored and discounted. He'd never had this difficulty with them before. He was one of their best! Why would they doubt his word? They couldn't possibly retain any faith in Saren. It was possible that they were beginning to doubt his objectivity because of his relationship with Saren and the fact that his former mentor had tried to kill him. If that were true, why was he on the mission at all? He growled to himself before turning around and seeing Shepard by the doors.

"Shepard. Did you need something?" He snapped. He hadn't meant to. Shepard continued to walk down the ramp, unafraid.

"I'm sorry," He said, the Spectre armor and mask melting away in her presence behind the closed doors. "You didn't deserve that." He shook his head, then started pacing the room. "The Council won't believe anything I tell them about the Reapers! I can't believe they're so blind!" His mandibles flared with rage, his talons in fists at his sides.

Shepard wasn't sure what to do with an angry turian. Human men she could easily disarm, no matter the size. A turian? Their physiology was different, their center of balance much harder to gage. She watched him take hold of the railing by the console and squeeze it hard enough to leave indentions where his claws were. His strength both frightened her and roused her. She shifted her weight trying to push away the curious thoughts that came to mind.

"I just need to find more evidence, before it's too late." He resigned, loosening his grip on the rail.

He heard her light foot steps come up behind him. When she was close enough to touch him, he could smell her light musky scent. She took hold and leaned on the rail next to him, looking at the imaginary projections of the Council he was glaring holes into.

"Dumb bastards. What do they know." She said, waving a hand where they would appear, dismissively.

Nihlus shook his head with a light chuckle and grinned at her. She looked back up at him, a smile playing at the corners of her mouth. How he wanted to taste that mouth, and so much more. His eyes darted to the human's hand as Sonya put her hand over his. It was soft and warm, strange, but comforting. Her fingers curled under his ungula and gave a little squeeze. He squeezed back, taking her hand in his and turning to her fully. He searched her dark eyes for some clue as to what she was thinking.

Her free hand went to the bun and pulled out the band that held it there, letting it fall loosely around her shoulders. He let her take his other hand and guild the talons gently into her silken hair. Trailing her fingers up his arm to the softer leathery skin of his throat, she cupped a mandible. Sonya's eyes flicked to his mouth then back to his piercing green eyes.

Nihlus lowered his head toward her, tentatively nuzzling her forehead with his mouth. He closed eyes and breathed deep the warm floral scent in her tresses. Her hand rounded his face and settled over the plates at the back of his head. He opened his eyes to gaze into hers, the dim light darkening them to deep wells of intrigue.

"Sonya..." He began but didn't have a finish.

He felt a pressure at the back of his head as she brought his face closer to hers. Her lips met his mouth, hesitantly at first, then more assertively when he didn't pull alway. He brought their clasped hands to his chest and closed his eyes when she did, feeling the softness of her supple lips pressed against this more leathery ones. He welcomed her curious tongue when it came searching for purchase and greeted it with his own. Hers was much softer than his, but had a strange sponge like texture to his slicker, stickier tongue. It also did not seem to be as dexterous.

He wrapped his long tapered tongue around hers and held it hostage in his mouth, much to her surprise, and arousal. Sonya wondered what other tricks he could do with that skilled organ. That thought got her thinking about other organs he possessed. She felt a warmth not only in her face, but rising from her gut and spreading to her loins. Her heart raced and pounded in her chest. She took an initiative step forward, pressing her body against his. She was surprised to learn that even turian casual wear had some lightly protective armor in it.

He pressed her hand against his chest and embraced her with his newly freed arm. She moaned softly into his mouth. He purred back, releasing her tongue. She kissed his lips passionately, her tongue laying claim to the rough skin before her lips touched his. Her breathing heavy and panting. His own breath deeper and laced with low, soft growls.

"Sonya..." He purred against her kisses, "I want you."

He was doing his damnedest to keep that very want from rudely protruding from it's protective folds and prodding her in the ribs.

" I wantyou!" She admitted to him, as much as herself, her desire.

"We cannot be caught. It could undo us both and the mission." He purred against the smooth skin of her neck.

"Okay. Lock the doors." She panted.

His talons were quick on the controls, locking out anyone who might access the debriefing room. He wanted to tear the clothes off her body and let the shreds fall to the floor, but then what would she wear when it was done? He resisted the urge. Instead he found the hem of her shirt and attempted to remove it. In his haste he caught her skin with his claws. She inhaled sharply through gritted teeth.

"Damn," He swore. "I'm sorry, Sonya, I didn..."

"It's okay." She cut him off with her soft words. "I kinda liked it." She said playfully, a wicked smile on her lips.

His grin returned as he dropped the garment to the floor and took her ferociously in his arms, nipping at her neck.

She had to stifle a moan that threatened to be louder than it should. Her fingers found the hem of his shirt, but she wasn't sure where to go from there.

Nihlus felt her fidget with the fabric. He felt a nervousness settle in his gut in the center of the heat that was building in him. What if she was not pleased with his naked form? What if his alieness was repulsive to her? He released her to remove the clothing himself, mentally and emotionally steeling himself for her reaction. He took the initiative to remove his boots and pants as well. She had done the same in a hurried, eager fashion.

When he stood up again she was in her full glory, as was he. He saw her eyes dilate in excitement. It gave him great relief and even greater pleasure to know that she was not repulsed by him and, even more, excited by his nudity.

He took a moment to look her over, as well as let her examine him. Her soft skin covered her body completely, like asari, but her's was pale and creamy. Her round breast were adorned in much the same way with pink, erect nipples. Her chest rose and fell with her heavy breathing. His eyes followed the curve of her hips and the 'v' that let to her sex. He could smell her so strongly now. His arousal hardened in him, begging to be released, to be allowed the pleasure the sight of her body promised.

"Where... uhm... where is your.." She was trying to ask a very awkward question.

"Turians keep there..mm... organ.. hidden and protected within their bodies." He felt clinical explaining his physiology.

"How, what makes it... come out?" Her face was turning bright pink with embarrassment.

The blush was spreading to her chest. He found it quite alluring, as well as her unusual bashfulness.

"You do." He answered.

He took her naked form in his arms, careful not to scratch her with the hook like spur upper center of his chest. Her soft body against his was unbelievably gratifying. He found her mouth with his. The awkward tension quickly melting away. He backed her into the rails nearest the wall and, gripping her hips firmly, lifted her up onto them. I brought the scent of her desire even stronger to his nostrils. The moisture of his own need softened the protective, leathery folds. His arousal extended from him hard as stone, relieving him of the pain from the pressure of keeping it inside. He let out a low groan as the slick organ left his body.

"Oh, my god." Sonya gasped as she watched his turian-hood emerge and swell. "You're fucking huge! and ribbed! Holy hell..." She finished the sentence in her head, "and purple!" Sonya suddenly felt very nervous. Was he even going to fit?

Nihlus was a bit embarrassed by her reaction, however, it did not dissuade his want. But if she was having doubts, he didn't hand to push anything onto her.

"We don't have to do this." He was giving her an option out, wondering himself if she could accommodate him.

It wasn't something he'd thought about. In the past, the few asari he'd bedded were previously experienced with turians. The topic was never a discussion.

Sonya looked into the bright green eyes of her potential lover. She could smell him, a little musky and earthy with a subtle hint of spice, like thyme. Something about him was irresistible. She wanted to try.

"I want to. I want you." She punctuated the statement by bringing his face to hers and kissing him intently. She spread her legs wide for his entry, hooking her ankles over the lower rail.

Nihlus took a step forward, bringing his hips closer to hers. The head of him found the bright pink flesh of her dripping, hot hole. He slowly pushed his way inside. She was so tight, he was afraid he would rip her. She was clinching her teeth, a moan catching in her throat. Her fingers dug into his neck. He pushed a little harder to get the head in. He watched as the plump, fleshy folds spread around him then swallowed the throbbing tip of him passed the first 'rib', as she'd called his ridges. He nuzzled her neck when she arched her back, muffling her cries in her throat.

"Are you okay?" He asked in a low, rumbling purr.

His words reverberated through her. Her loins screamed their resistance to his intrusion. It had been a while since she'd been with anyone. The last time was when she'd first come aboard the Normandy as a lieutenant. She was young and horny. The weapons merchant was a little older and very attractive. He hadn't refused her advances. It was awkward when she bought equipment from him now.

"I'm okay. Just take it slow..."

Nihlus responded by pushing another rib into her. The wetness from her body was pooling around her entry, trying to find a way out. A little would squirt out onto him when a ridge would pop inside. Her inner walls were already quivering around him. She held onto his shoulder for support with the other hand splayed on the wall above her head. She was constantly biting her lips and closing her eyes tightly as she could to keep the screams from escaping her moans and cries she breathed sent tingles down his spine and through his body. Several minutes had passed and going slowly had only awarded her half his length.

"Sonya,"

"Uh, hu?" She moaned.

"I'm going to push myself the rest of the way in."

"No, no, no. You can't! I can't!" She pleaded. Her eyes opened wide with panic.

"It's been too long. The crew will suspect something is wrong, especially when they find the doors locked."

"Okay," She conceded. "Hold on." She prepared herself to take him in. "Okay."

Nihlus started out slowly, pulling out a little to disperse some of her natural lubrication. He cradled the back of her head and tightened his grip on her hips before thrusting himself completely inside her until the point of firm resistance. Her cervix.

"Ahhh!" A soft cry escaped her attempt to contain a scream.

Her back arched, thrusting her breasts into his face. She clinched her teeth against the scream that wanted to echo off the walls and dug her fingers into his flesh. The groan in his throat vibrating against her palm.

His tongue found her nipples and eagerly nipped at them. The blush it brought to the surface pleased him. His tongue flicked at them, eliciting soft whimpers from her. He forced his hips against hers, pushing hard against the barrier that impeded his progression.

"Augh!" She cried out, flashes of light blinding her.

She arched again. He held her head back with his talons tangled in her hair, exposing her neck to his wandering tongue. He could feel and smell her wetness leaking out around him and dripping down their thighs. No other lover had ever done that. His desire was a burning city.

He rolled his hips and she nearly lost her balance with the resulting shiver of bliss and pain that ripped through her. She flooded him with her climax and he hadn't even started pumping yet.

"Oh... god, Nihlus!" She breathed.

"Hummm..." He purred against her throat. "I am not a god... but I will accept your worship."

He began easing himself in and out of her, watching himself, watching her stretch around him. Her moans were soft stuttering cries. He purred and groaned quietly against her neck and chest. The talons gripping her hip wandered up her ribs and to her back, supporting her against his powerful thrusts. Her body quivered in his arms, the fingers of both her hands now clung to the frill across his shoulders. To see such a powerful and strong woman quivering at his touch, hear her moans in response to his passion, was taking him closer to joining her beyond the edge.

"Aw, fuck." She groaned.

She flooded him with another climax. She'd lost count of how many there'd been. Her thoughts were swept away by an ocean of ecstacy laced with pain.

Nihlus fought the urge to bite her, to claim her as his mate. He growled low in his chest as he pressed himself against her. She was so tight, and wet. The spasms of her sex around him, the shivering orgasms in her body, he wasn't ready to stop. He didn't want to. He pumped her hard and deep. Her cries and moans quieted to shuddered panting and whispers of his name. The intensity of the orgasms racking her body and mind numbed her to rational thought. His own lubricating fluid mingled with her release eased the friction of his rhythm. He quickened his pace. He was so close, throbbing. He could feel his release building up inside him, sending the telling tingle along his shaft to tickle the head. He pressed himself hard into her, crushing her breasts against his chest. His talons tightened in her hair and pierced the skin of her back, drawing droplets of blood.

"Spirits..." He breathed.

He nipped at the skin of her neck, resisting the urge to sink his teeth into her flesh. He groaned a moan into her ear as waves of ecstacy flowed through him. His body rolled against her, the spur on his chest catching her delicate skin. He took pleasure in her soft, complaining cries and whimpering moans.

"Stop." She pleaded softly. "Please... it's... too...uhh, ooh... much!"

He grazed his face over hears, letting her smell him, breath his breath. A natural aphrodisiac if she was turian.

"Stroke my fringe." He instructed.

The delicate fingers of one of her hands released it's grip on his shoulder ridge and gently caressed the underside of one long spur. It sent a warming chill up and down his spine. He rolled his head back, purring.

"Mmmm..., Sonya." He purred again before abruptly burying his face into the curve between her neck and shoulder, pumping harder, deeper, into her.

"Auh, sto..op! Please... No more. I... can't.." She pleaded again, desperately, the intensity of his pleasure threading her sanity.

"Let go of your control." He growled. "Mmm...Just a little, ugh, longer."

"But I'll be, muh, to.. ahh, loud." She moaned.

"No, you won't." He said in a low, almost threatening tone.

Sonya relaxed her thighs that had tensed up against the rails. She took a deep breath then let it out, releasing the tension she held in her chest and throat to stifle the screams. Her breath came deeper now, less labored. She felt a hard thrust. At the moment the surrendering cry would have left her throat, the talons tangled in her hair pulled her head back. A sudden sharp pain ripped through her mind as he sank his teeth into the flesh of her neck, cutting of the sound.

The metallic taste of her blood on his tongue was all it took to send him blindly to his zenith. He did his best to keep his growl low, and quiet. The rush of fluid from his body filled hers. The flood of pleasure and relief left his knees weak. He leaned hard into her, forcing her to hold them up with her legs braced on the rails, her hands against the wall. A few seconds later he managed to regain control of his limbs. Reason and logical thought returned gradually to his mind, floating up through the haze. She was panting heavily in his arms. Her breath soft and warm on his face. His hardness involuntarily pulsed inside her. Her body tensed and she arched into him, moaning.

"Oh, godddd, Nihluss." Her lips quivered.

He caressed his face over her chest, nuzzling her breasts and hard, pink nipples. He was waiting for his organ to soften a little and recede back into him. He lightly wondered what they would do about the hot, sticky mess that would flow out of her with he wasn't blocking the exit with his shaft. In hind sight, something he should have considered before ravaging her. He loosened his talons in her hair, gently cradling her skull in his palm. Tears wetted her cheeks. Her lips were red, her face flushed, from their passion. He took her mouth in a kiss, holding her tightly to him. She was too weak to struggle, to resist his probing tongue.

It took a little longer than usual for the recession to occur. He held her panting and quaking his his arms until he could leave the hot, swollen pinkness that was now almost a plum. He helped to to the floor, where she collapsed. Her clear cum mingled with red blood and his creamier fluids poured out of her onto the carpeting. He instantly knelt by her side with a tender talon on her shoulder.

"Are you ok?" He asked softly.

He worried he'd hurt her worse than he'd thought after seeing the blood. He examined the bite on her throat. The under weave of her armor would cover it. The punctures were small enough, they may not be noticed by the crew if she was careful.

"Yeah, I'm ok. Help me into a chair." She nodded.

Nihlus lifted her up in his strong arms and settled her down gently in the nearest chair. He brushed her hair out of her face with a tender touch. He used his tongue to clean off the tiny drops of blood that dotted her neck.

"I'll put some medi-gel on it when I leave." She assured his unspoken concern. He nodded, his mandibles fluttered.

"I'm sorry. I got a little carried away..."

"It's okay. Just be a little gentler next time." She said softly, interrupting him.

Nihlus' mandibles fluttered again. He was ashamed of his loss of control. Angry at himself that he'd hurt her. He should have know better. He tore his eyes from the wound on her neck and stood to dress himself.

Sonya sat with her eyes closed, her head resting against the back of the chair, consciously trying to slow her heart rate and her breathing. Nihlus couldn't help the grin that spread his mandibles. His release was still leaking out between the red and swollen lips of her sex.

"How are we going to clean this up?" She asked.

"I have no idea." Nihlus chuckled.

"Great." She mumbled.

She watched him from the leather seat while he dressed. Eventually she got up to fetch her clothes from the floor. She untangled her tank from the casual blues. It seemed she was going sans tank today.

They left the debriefing room together. Leaving separately would look more suspicious. If they left casually, professionally, together it didn't look so odd. The time spent inside could be interpreted as a long meeting with the Council. Except Joker. Joker would know when the Citadel stopped transmitting, but that didn't mean they didn't have their own conversation about the mission or her evaluation for Spectre status. Shepard was more nervous than Kryik about the solidity of their story if the subject came up.