Before Isabel had a chance to thank Thel for obliging her simple request, his mandibles seized her top lip. Then she felt him gently nibble and suck it. Humming elatedly, she shut her eyes and thought, I don't care how or if he enters me or not. I'm only going to enjoy the pleasure of his touch and company. Feeling content and not allowing anything to discourage her, the woman fixed her grip around the Sangheili's neck and pecked his bottom mandible.

Witnessing the human slowly sink into a blissful state pleased Arbiter. In the past, once a female ceded, he took control and did it his way – adamantly dominant, sensually deliberate, and primal. It had been like that for every one of his previous carnal ventures. However, Thel would not apply it to Dawson. She required a different kind of handling. Plus, she had wished for tenderness. Fortunately, nothing plagued his mind or heart to make him think twice about her request. Thus, fulfilling it would be effortless.

With an assured and compassionate mentality, the Sangheili closed his eyes and let his other senses guide him. Wanting to progress and build excitement, his mandibles paralleled themselves to Isabel's lips. His tongue slithered out and brushed across them. The instant her mouth began to open, Arbiter plunged it in. He heard the woman gasp and emit a blend of mewls and squeals. For a time, their tongues wallowed in a dance of mild surface strokes and mini struggles for dominance.

Following a small, yet thrilling period of frisking, Thel bellowed and pushed down as a mirthful way of establishing superiority. When the human whined wryly, a laugh resonated in his chest. Then he removed himself from her mouth, giving both of them a chance to breathe. Once the Sangheili recuperated, he trailed his tongue and mandibles across her jawline while she was still recovering. As one part of him was occupied, his hand deliberately descended Dawson's side.

Isabel moaned and trembled under the creeping gesture. Every aspect of her body was stimulated by his actions: head spun, heart hammered against her breast, rushing blood warmed her physique, and her vulva tingled and pulsed. When the tips of Arbiter's fingers skimmed the fabric of her underwear, the organ throbbed and slowly started to moisten. She groaned and tried to press her legs together, but his form blocked her.

"Arbiter," the woman mewled, panting and arching her figure to get his attention.

"Relax, Dawson," Thel whispered upon the nudge of her sleek abdomen to his. Her momentary silence, and occasional kisses she planted on the top of his head gave the impression she complied. However, when he was about to guide his pecks and licks to her neck, she griped and prodded him again. The Sangheili felt the human's thighs rub his hips, while she lifted and bent them toward her stomach. Her fussy behavior caused him to huff in an amused, yet feebly exasperated way.

Picky female, he thought humorously. Having an idea on how to quiet and delight her, Arbiter directed his fingers over her undergarment until they reached her mound. Then he pushed his palm firmly against and began to massage it. When Dawson turned her head to gasp and moan, he knew his deed did the trick. Her bickering had fully settled, once she started to follow the erogenous movement.

"Better?" Thel hummed into her throat.

"Y-Yes," she mewled. "O-Oh…Ah!"

The Sangheili leisurely opened his eyes, and ascended a little to discern Isabel's enjoyment. The sight of her elegantly swaying under his guidance pleased him. A gratified growl seeped between his mandibles as they spread apart. After leaning back down to the woman, Arbiter's tongue snaked out and lapped her neck. The rustling of the bed's fabric, and her moans filled the room's serene, morning air. The mingling of the noises was alluring to Thel's ears. The graceful, yet craving swing of her physique beneath him was additionally satisfying. Each feature excited his own body and arousal. He groaned and hissed, feeling his shaft reacting.

No, the Sangheili internally declared. He would indulge the human only, not take her. While entering and filling her sounded tempting, he refrained. To lessen some of the carnal stress, Arbiter lightly bit her neck. Also, he pushed further onto and occasionally squeezed her fleshly bundle.

Dawson panted and mewled as she was continuously fondled. The caress of Thel's mandibles and tongue were relaxing. The stroking and pressure he applied on her increasingly saturated vulva was a bit rough at times, but gentle and soothing overall. The longer he did it, the deeper Isabel drowned in a flood of ecstasy. She was so immersed in bliss that she did not notice the Sangheili pulling down her underwear. Once she experienced an abrupt, yet minor cool nip surround her lower region, her form tensed as she squeaked quietly.

Suddenly, everything became silent and motionless. Despite Arbiter being immobile, the woman sensed him looming over her like a predator. She wanted to open her eyes to see what he was doing. However, before she got the opportunity, she felt him thrusting and twisting two of his fingers inside her. The human exhaled sharply, threw her head back, and groaned. She instinctively tried to move away, but the position she was in allowed little room to maneuver. Plus, each shift seemed to send slight jolts of pain through her figure.

"A-Arbiter," Dawson whimpered. "It…it hurts."

"I know," Thel breathed, shutting his eyes for an instant to rub her cheek comfortingly with his. "It will not last. Hold on for a bit longer." Then he kissed a corner of her lip before opening his eyes.

Isabel attempted to force herself to stay still to cease any discomfort she might experience. However, the futility of the endeavor was revealed shortly after it had been started. The woman realized, no matter how hard she tried to remain inert, the Sangheili's stirring digits generated stinging throbs every time they moved within her. As a reaction to the affliction, the human's hands intertwined around his neck molded into stiff fists. She repressed tears while pressing her eyes tightly together.

"A-Arbiter…" Dawson said, groaning and pleading, "…make it…ahhh…" She let out a sigh/moan when the agony gradually melted into warm, enjoyable, and exciting jars of pleasure. Relieved by the change, she settled and harmonized her body to Arbiter's fondling.

"There you go, Dawson," Thel whispered, softly kissing the edge of her eye. "Hurtful part is done. Now, it shall only be a smooth, sensual experience."

Isabel's blissful mewls and hums were all he needed to hear to know she believed him. With the initial part out of the way, he traced the outer lining of her vagina, causing her to groan. Then the Sangheili gently pushed his fingers in and explored her interior. The woman's leaking, bodily fluids made it easier for him to maneuver them around. They swayed in and out, while the ends skimmed the fleshly, moist inward walls.

Arbiter caressed the human for a few seconds before he suddenly became curious. He wondered how she would react, if he halted his motions and simply lingered inside her. Desiring to find out, he did so. After Dawson's inner muscles contracted once against Thel's digits, she moaned and drove her pelvis back and forth, urging him to continue. He merely chuckled and resumed thrusting.

"Such a demanding human, you are," the Sangheili hummed teasingly as he kissed her temple.

Too lost in a fog of euphoria to come up with a good enough retort, Isabel just turned her head toward him. Then she pulled him down and kissed his forehead.

"Please," she moaned, gliding adjacent to his gestures to increase the rate of her rising orgasm. "Don't…don't stop."

"As you wish," Arbiter said, lapping her sweat away while starting to pump her faster and harder.

The woman groaned, feeling her internal muscles constricting around Thel's fingers. She wrapped her legs around his waist, and resumed sliding her body adjacent to his handling. The melody of her pleasure-filled song became louder and more frequent. The human cried out and whimpered. Each swift brush made her insides tighten further and further. She desperately craved relief.

"Arbiter…I can't…hold…!"

The Sangheili ceased licking to purr, "I am here, Dawson. Let it all go."

At his word, Isabel screamed while her body arched up to the Sangheili's. Her fluids expelled, additionally soaking his digits. Her form continued to convulse as her juices persisted to ooze a little longer. Soon after, the woman's orgasm calmed. She panted heavily, making the sense of dizziness worse. Drained from the climax, her figure slackened and dwindled onto the bed.

Once Arbiter was free from the human's grasp, he removed his whole hand from her soaked core. The sensation of his fingers, trailing outward against the waning throb of her inner walls, earned one, last mewl from the weary Dawson. Smiling down at her, he licked her cheek tenderly and said softly, "You did well. Rest now and regain your strength." Then Thel brought his drenched hand into his line of sight. Seeing how doused it was, he began to lap it to dry. Not only did he get a taste of Isabel's nectar, he picked up her aroma from each droplet.

"Sick Sangheili."

Arbiter halted his action upon hearing the woman's voice. He glimpsed down to see her eyes opened halfway, and a tired smirk on her face. Returning a smile and playfully ignoring her, he resumed his deed till it was done. After Thel licked his mandibles, he pulled the human's undergarment back up until her delicate center was fully covered.

"Thanks," she murmured, giggling.

The Sangheili glanced at Dawson and smiled. Casually running his hand through her hair, he asked, "How are you feeling?"

Sighing blissfully, Isabel's eyelids sunk in leisure. While her head slumped into Arbiter's caress, she replied, "Just a bit exhausted and sore."

"And wet," he jested.

With renewed flushed cheeks, the woman opened her eyes to glare teasingly at Thel. She stared at his kind, yet sly expression before lightly hitting his snout.

"Shut it, you ass," she said.

Unfazed by the attack or insult, he laughed and explained, "My remark was not meant to be an offense, merely an observation."

The human rolled her eyes, but immediately groaned when a sudden dizzy spell hit her. "Whoa…" She closed her eyes and covered them with one of her hands. "Bad idea…"

"What is wrong?" the Sangheili asked, cradling her head.

"Just a bit lightheaded is all, nothing too serious. It should pass soon."

"All right then. Rest until you feel better."

Dawson responded by humming and slowly sliding her hand off her eyes. As she gradually started to open them, her vision shifted from blurry to clear. When they were fully exposed, she saw Arbiter looking down at her with a cool, yet warm and tender visage. Isabel felt heat radiating off his body, while it hovered protectively over hers. Picturing his lengthy, lean arms on each side of her head, his broad, burly chest over hers, and muscled, lofty legs situated on either side of hers, she blushed.

The woman blinked before grabbing Thel's head and kissing him. It was not rough or hurried. It was a light, loving kiss on the end of his mandibles.

The Sangheili purred upon the affectionate touch of the human's lips. He wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her near his body as much as he could. After she moaned and shut her eyes, his head slipped out of her loose grip and traveled to the back of her earlobe. Once Arbiter reached his intended destination, he paused. His acute sense of smell and hearing suddenly alerted him to a new presence inside the building.

Protective instincts instantly kicking in, Thel tightened his hold and brought Isabel closer to his form. A deep growl resounded in his chest and rumbled between his mandibles. Even with no armor on or accessible weapons at the moment, he would guard the woman. The Sangheili was more than capable of doing it. The strain that had been developing in his build halted when the human giggled and enveloped her arms around his neck.

"Hmmm, Arbiter," she murmured in serene delight.

Wanting to assess the individual a bit better, but not worry Dawson, Thel began to lick the crevice between the back of her earlobe and skin.

"Ah, yes," she responded, snuggling nearer to him.

Content and relieved Isabel was pleasantly distracted, the Sangheili focused a part of his attention on the presence. Thoroughly taking in the details that were obtainable at his current location, he noted the presence was one of Field Master 'Lavat's warriors. He sighed in relief, since the being was not a threat. Yet, at the same time, Arbiter felt disappointed because he knew what it meant for him and Dawson.

It seems our time together is drawing to an end, he thought. What a pity. Ah, well, such is the way things have to be. There are still tasks we need to complete. It was nice to spend some quality, alone time with Dawson. I enjoyed every moment, and shall preserve it in my memories from this point on.

After Thel gently nipped the rim of the woman's earlobe, he started to say her name. However, he was interrupted when the other Sangheili beckoned resonantly.

"Arbiter!" Pause. "Excellency, are you in here? The Field Master wishes to talk to you."

Unconsciously, Thel hissed in irritation. But his attention was drawn away from the brethren to the human when he heard her speak.

"…Uh, oh," she said in a low, anxious tone.

Feeling her body tense up a bit and picking up the quality of her voice, he purred soothingly in her ear, "Easy, Dawson. Do not panic."

Despite being caught displaying worried traits, Isabel still chose to act to prevent herself from getting completely exposed. Plus, she believed it was a way to avert any questions the Sangheili might have had about the behavior. Huffing in a light, offended manner, she unwrapped her arms around his neck and mildly pushed him back. Unfortunately for Dawson, she got little to nowhere due to his strong grip.

"Arbiter, let me go," she weakly demanded.

Aware of how minor of an effort the woman was putting into her resistance and knowing the reason why, Thel simply smiled and chuckled. Then he let go of her, but only till she was viewable to him. After that, he leaned toward her cheek and licked it.

"As you wish," the Sangheili merely said, gently setting the human down onto the bed. Then he got up and off it.

While he was making his way to his armor, Isabel jerked onto her side to fully face him.

"I will have you know, I was not panicking," she said as assertively as possible. Though, her rational side was yelling at and telling her he knew she was lying.

Without looking at her, Arbiter resumed putting on pieces of his ancient, ornate armor while smirking in a sly, perceptive fashion.

"I know, Dawson," he retorted in a soft and gentle, yet roguish voice.

The woman blinked and blankly watched Thel dress for a moment. Then a thought caused her eyelids to shut halfway.

"You don't believe me, do you?" she asked in a hollow and petty perturbed tone.

Snorting in amusement, the Sangheili replied in a faint, haughty way, "I said no such thing."

Upon hearing his response, the human's eyelids dipped by a hair. However, they quickly widened when the sound of moderate, careful footsteps coming up the stairs was heard. Understanding the possible consequences, if the owner of the tracks saw Arbiter and her in their current condition, her form entered fight-or-flight mode. It sped up her heart a bit, hastily wired her nerves, and tightened her muscles.

"Oh, shit!" Isabel cursed, chanting the last word in a harsh whisper.

Scrambling off the bed, Dawson scampered toward her clothing and Spartan armor. Then she hurriedly grabbed her pants and put them on. She was about to reach for her shirt when the door to the tower room glided open. With an alarmed, yet quiet squeak and dark, heated blush, the woman jerked her back to the entryway, and yanked her arm to her body. While wrapping it around her bare middle, she brought the other up to her eyes before covering them like a visionless facemask.

"Arbiter?" the seeker Sangheili wondered, treading into the chamber. "Are you – " He stopped upon the sight of the tall and archaic, yet reverently adorned leader putting his helmet on. "Ah! There you are, Excellency." The officer began to approach the notable figure. However, he halted when his keen senses picked up, and alerted him to another presence in the sectional area.

Slightly curious due to the signs hinting at the individual's greatly flustered state, the warrior fully, yet briefly ceased his tracks. Then he followed his senses, until he spotted a human female standing rigidly on the opposite side of the room. Noticing her rigorous stance and barely catching her irregular, stiff breathing seemed to prove the earlier, discerned notion of the fitful mood. Strangely enough, though, the woman's disposition is not what caused his inquisitiveness to spike. Initially, it might have had. Now, what intrigued him was the fact her upper body was barely clothed. Also…

Why does a scent, closely related to the female's, permeate the air so highly in here? the Sangheili solider wondered. And why does it carry such a...savory quality to it?

The seeker's heedlessly, drifting thoughts were halted, and his attention brought forward by Thel's resonant, autocratic voice.

"Yes, Major?" he inquired. "Was there something you needed?"

At Arbiter's beckon, the subordinate Sangheili blinked, shook his head once, and returned his gaze to the superior. The moment his eyes met Thel's, the officer cleared his throat, fixed his posture, and saluted in a brisk, orderly manner.

"My apologies, sir," he said. Briefly peeking at the oddly dressed and moody human caused him to stutter over his next words in minor, lingering confusion. "I was…unaware…you were…in the middle of something with - "

"Not at all, brother," the Sangheili leader said in a stable, cool tone while he readjusted and secured the plating on his arms. "The Spartan and I were just finishing up our task."

"I…see," the subordinate said, still puzzled but keeping any inquiries he had about the matter to himself. The Major understood Arbiter may not be his immediate CO, but the veteran considerably outranked him and every other Sangheili in the camp. When it came to Thel and the chain of command, the younger, alien officer knew where he stood and how far his curiosity/querying could go. Not desiring to test the limits of his rank on the superior right now, the subordinate cleared his throat a second time to collect himself. Then he spoke.

"To answer the question you asked me earlier, sir. I merely come as a messenger from the Field Master."

"I am listening."

"He wishes to speak to you, Excellency."

Faintly lifting one eye ridge in inquisitive interest, Arbiter asked, "What does 'Lavat desire to speak to me about?"

The Major lightly shook his head. His voice carried a somber, regretful quality while responding, "Forgive me, Excellency, but he did not say. All he ordered me to do was to find and convey his message to you."

"That so…," the Sangheili veteran said, feeling a bit suspicious about 'Lavat's action, but not to the point of stiff, narrow-minded mistrust. Curious. His moment of meager musing was ceased upon hearing a clicking noise nearby. He glanced in the direction of the sound to see Dawson working on getting her Spartan armor on.

Internally smiling, Arbiter thought, It appears she has reclaimed her bearings and resumed dressing while I was occupied with the Major. I – The belief was quickly disproved when he noticed the fading blush that graced her cheeks. Chuckle. Well, perhaps, not completely.

Crossing his arms as he turned his gaze and focus back to the subordinate, Sangheili officer, Thel said, "Very well then. Tell the Field Master I will be out shortly. There are a couple of more matters the Spartan and I need to discuss. It will not be long."

Dutifully accepting the new command given by the Sangheili leader, the Major saluted.

"Yes, Excellency, it shall be done."

"Good. Dismissed," Arbiter said, nodding his head toward the younger one as a means of acknowledgment and discharge. After releasing the Major, he watched the subordinate depart from the room while unfolding his arms. As the door slid shut with a soft hiss, he grabbed something of Isabel's before making his over to her.