The night was half over, and so far, neither Shepard nor Reyes had had much luck. They were both back at the table with Sloane and her friend. Jacob hadn't been able to tell them much more than what they had already found out on their own - he wasn't part of the scientists' guard detail. He did let them know that an Alliance ship on Citadel business would be arriving earlier than planned. At that point, Shepard had gotten up for another drink.
Shepard was waiting at the bar when a boisterous group of Alliance soldiers walked in the door. They joked and shoved as they made their way to an empty table near the bar. As they all sat down, Shepard's eye caught on a tall, dark-haired soldier. The soldier wore blue Alliance issued pants and a matching blue plaid, long-sleeve button-down hanging open over a tight white shirt. The sleeves on the button-down had been rolled up to her elbows, showing off well-formed forearms. Shepard's gaze continued over the woman's well-endowed chest and down the curves of a spectacular body.
Watching the banter between the group, she saw the dark-haired woman brush-off repeated attempts by a male group member to dance. Cara sipped her drink, watching out of the corner of her eye. A thought came to her. If they were getting here this late, and still in their fatigues, there was a good chance they'd come off duty. Which meant there's a good chance they were guarding the artifact. Shepard stayed at the bar and continued nursing her drink as she watched the group.
Shepard waited for the group to enjoy their first round of drinks before she made her move. She ordered herself and the dark-haired beauty a drink then approached the table. With a charming grin across her face, she set the beer in front of the surprised brunette, "Here, you're looking very hot. I thought you might need something to cool you off." Shepard gave the soldier a cheeky grin.
The brunette stared at Shepard, raising an eyebrow, then burst out laughing.
Shepard had hoped for such a reaction. The line was cheesy enough. Now, she waited for acceptance of her offer, or a rejection. She chuckled at herself then stood with a grin on her face, never taking her eyes off the brunette. She ignored the others' snickers and chuckles at the table and waited for the brunette to bring her laughter under control.
Finally, with a gasp of air, the brunette asked, "Does that work?" The incredulous look she gave Shepard said she didn't believe it did.
"Not sure yet," Shepard said, raising an eyebrow in question, "I'm waiting to find out."
The brunette's bright, brown eyes studied Cara, deciding what her reaction should be to the brazen stranger. A small smile formed at the corner of the brunette's mouth before turning into a grin. Still looking at Shepard, who gave her a wink, the brunette grabbed the drink from the table and stood up, "I guess it does."
Shepard exhaled, still grinning, "Great." She held out her hand, "Wanna dance?"
The brunette took another drink of the beer Shepard had brought, watching her as she did. Then, she set the beer down and said, "My daddy always told me never dance with someone whose name you don't know."
"Mine always told me, aim first, shoot second, ask questions third," Cara replied, retracting her hand. "Since I've followed those directions, I suppose I could give you my name." After an immeasurable beat, Shepard said, "It's Logan."
"Just Logan. Is that a first or a last name?" the brunette asked.
Cara smiled mischievously, and nodded, "So, you know my name now. I think it's only fair I know yours."
The brunette smirked and looked back at her group, "I'll catch up later guys. Let me know if we're needed." She grabbed Shepard's elbow, leading her to the dance floor among the catcalls and whistles of her friends. Once on the dance floor, she turned towards Shepard with a grin and began moving to the beat.
Damn, Shepard thought as she watched the lithe body move in front of her, just... Damn. Cara moved in closer, resting her hands on the woman's hips as she caught the beat, and began moving, too.
The pulse between them was electric. They seem to move in perfect synchronization, knowing what the other was going to do before it happened. They stared into each other's eyes, a grin on each of their faces as the beat changed and their bodies flawlessly followed. As the beat became more sensual, their eyes closed and each woman lost themselves in the other. Hands roamed over hips, up sides and arms, and over shoulders. The brunette ran her hands down and back up Shepard's back then into her hair. Pulling Shepard's head closer, the brunette leaned in so her mouth was next to Shepard's ear and whispered, "Williams."
Shepard looked confused for a moment still caught in a sensual haze. Then she blinked, "Well, Williams," Cara said, leaning back to look into the soldier's mesmerizing eyes, "I'm beyond thrilled to meet your acquaintance." She leaned back into the soldier and felt the vibrations, caused by the brunette's chuckle, travel down her body. After one more song, the two left the dance floor and found a secluded table away from prying eyes.
"So, Williams," Shepard asked, setting down another drink for the both of them, "the Alliance teach you to dance like that."
"Nope," Williams said, grabbing her beer and relaxing back into her seat. She gave Shepard a smile and took a drink.
Shepard watched as Williams tilted the bottle back, finishing half the beer in one go. While she had the chance, Shepard allowed her eyes to follow the curve of William's neck to the fitted t-shirt where it disappeared. The soldier's tan skin was a contrast to the bright white of the shirt. Shepard wet her lips as she thought about following that curve with them. A throat clearing brought her eyes immediately up to the face attached to the lovely neck. Unashamed at getting caught staring, Shepard looked at Williams with a smile, asking, "Yes?"
"So, Logan," Williams said, an amused look on her face, "you gonna tell me if that's a first name or a last name?"
"Last, of course," Shepard said, taking a sip of her drink.
"Oh, of course," Williams mocked. "Do you have a first?"
"Of course, don't you?"
"Of course," Williams repeated with a smirk.
Cara enjoyed the energy buzzing between them. It made her skin tingle nicely, but she needed to move things along before the night ended. She knew this woman was her ticket to the artifact. Shepard broke eye contact with the soldier and looked at her beer bottle, fiddling with the peeling label. Deciding on a course of action, she said, "Jane." Shepard made eye contact again and saw the soldier was a bit... Shepard wasn't sure surprised was the word, confused maybe, but whatever the emotion it faded quickly, and a brilliant smile, that made Shepard's breath catch, replaced it.
"Well, Jane Logan," the brunette said, "it's nice to meet you. I'm Ashley."
Cara breathed out to calm herself, Holy shit what this woman did to her with a simple smile. A feeling of guilt spread through her gut, but she pushed it away. She didn't have time for that right now. "Ashley has anyone ever told you you've got an amazing smile." Shepard watched as a splash of pink warmed Ashley's cheeks, and she dipped her head.
Gathering her composure, Ashley took another sip of her beer and looked back up at Cara, "Not recently, and not as blunt as you did." Another smile, "Thank you."
They sat in comfortable silence, sipping their drinks. Shepard tried figuring out a way to bring up the subject she wanted without sounding suspicious, but Ashley unwittingly helped her by asking, "What brings you to the lovely, yet dull as hell, Eden Prime?"
"Eden Prime can't be all that dull if you're here," Shepard said, a flirtatious smile following her words. Then she added, "I came here for work. Looking at setting up an adventure tour thing. My friends are the brains of the operation. I usually tag along as part of the security team with the expeditions or help give tours of colonized planets."
"Sounds interesting," Ashley said, "are you set up anywhere else?"
"We've actually got a place on Illium, and another on Earth. We're looking to set up one on the Citadel, but the prices for a storefront are ridiculous. What about you? What do you do for the Alliance?"
"Right now, the unit I'm in helps to guard Eden Prime's scientists. As I'm sure you've heard, or noticed, Eden Prime is a bit of an archaeologist's wet dream. Prothean dig sites are everywhere."
Shepard chuckled, having thought the same thing earlier. "I haven't seen anything, but there's been plenty of local chatter. People are saying the scientists found something pretty important."
"Aren't all Prothean findings important," Ashley said with a roll of her eyes.
"I suppose, if you're an expert in Prothean things, it might be, but I'm more of a here and now girl. The past is the past. You can't change it, and you can only learn so much from it. The future, well, what you do in this moment creates the future. Actions done and reactions made are permanent, unless someone made a time machine and didn't tell me. You can ask forgiveness, but what you did can't be undone. It will be a permanent memory in someone's mind." Shepard looked at Ashley to see the woman staring at her, a thoughtful look on her face. A blush rose to Cara's cheeks as she looked away.
"Interesting," Ashley said. "Do you want to get some fresh air?"
"Um," Cara said, caught off guard by the question, "um, yeah that sounds nice."
Ashley pushed back from her seat and finished the last of her beer.
Cara followed, doing the same. Ashley surprised Cara when she grabbed her hand and pulled her along behind. This woman was different than any of the other's Cara had seduced, or flirted with, except maybe Suvi. There was a quality the soldier possessed that reminded Cara of the strawberry blonde she had met only yesterday. A moment after that thought, cool night air hit her face. It was nice after the stuffier atmosphere of the bar.
Ashley led her down the steps of the walkway to a patio area that overlooked a pleasant vista. The soldier let go of Shepard's hand as she leaned against the railing and looked up at the stars. They sparkled brightly in the clear sky. Shepard chose a spot right beside her so that their elbows were touching. Ashley didn't move away, and Cara smiled to herself.
Moments of silence passed as both women gazed at the stars, until Ashley said in a hushed whisper, "'What numerous questions to me rise / Whene'er I view the dazzling skies'." Ashley turned to look at Shepard, who raised her eyebrow. Ashley gave her a small embarrassed smile.
A feeling of deja vu swept over Cara at Ashley's quoting of poetry and embarrassed smile. It startled Cara. Without meaning to, she said in a breathy whisper, "Ashley Williams, who are you?" The feeling of familiarity had only increased as the night went on and Cara had spent more time with Ashley.
"Tonight, I'm a girl looking for a little fun. What about you, Jane, who are you?"
Cara's smile faltered for only a moment, not long enough for Ashley to notice, then grew into a grin, "'I am the master of my fate: / I am the captain of my soul'."
That brilliant smile flashed across Ashley's face again, "Invictus, well played." A beat passed between them, then Ashley leaned forward and captured Shepard's lips in a slow, hesitant kiss. Shepard responded, and Ashley increased the pressure and intensity. Their bodies turned to one another, and they closed the space between them. One of Ashley's hands gripped the hair at the base of Shepard's neck, causing Shepard to moan into the soldier's mouth. The other rested in the small of Cara's back, pulling her closer.
One of Shepard's hands had gotten caught between them, and Cara used it to grasp at the hem of Ashley's t-shirt, balling it into her fist to keep this beautiful woman from escaping. The other cupped the side of Ashley's face, fingers gently caressing the line of Ashley's jaw where it met her ear, earning a similar moan to the one Cara had produced not a second earlier. Gasping for breath, they broke apart, only to dive back in a moment later. This kiss was much shorter as was the one following until finally, they rested their foreheads against one another and breathed each other's air.
"Wow," Shepard said after she had time to regain her senses, "just... wow."
"You're not bad yourself," Ashley said, running her fingers through the short hair at the nape of Shepard's neck, feeling a patch of rough skin.
A shiver coursed through Shepard's body at the feel of Ashley's fingers on her neck, and she looked up to see a bemused look on the soldier's face. She knew instantly what it was for, and, with a raised eyebrow, Shepard said, "What's your stance on biotics?"
Ashley grinned a naughty grin. "Yes, please."
Damn this woman, Shepard thought, I think I'm in trouble. Shepard uncurled the fingers fisted into Ashley's shirt and asked, "Mind if we sit down? My legs would benefit for a moment."
"Of course," Ashley said. She pulled back from Shepard, releasing the hold she had on her, and grabbed a nearby seat at a bench. Shepard followed and sat beside her, leaving less than a centimeter between them. Ashley looked away to hide the smile Shepard's closeness caused.
Once again, silence descended on them. It wasn't an uncomfortable silence, both caught up in their thoughts for the moment. Ashley's thoughts centered around the absurdity of the night, and her forwardness with this near stranger. Also, the growing realization that she was going to ask this woman back to her bunk.
Shepard's thoughts were on the strange feelings of familiarity Ashley caused. Had she met this woman before somewhere else? She would definitely remember her, Cara thought. No doubt. Her next thought was, she needed to put some distance between them, not just physical distance. This, whatever this was, wasn't why she was here, but for reasons unknown, Cara couldn't get her body to move away, and her thoughts revolted at the idea. When the beautiful, brunette soldier that was Ashley Williams, asked Cara back to her bunk, Shepard's immediate response was, "Yes."