AN: I'm a rookie to mature fics so please go easy on me. Hope you enjoy!

Easing Tensions

Shepard downed the rest of her drink. The music drummed throughout her apartment and the sound of people talking and laughing could be heard all around. With the assault on Earth approaching soon, she figured it would be a good idea to get together with her friends and past crew for a wild party, burn off any stress and just enjoy an evening of entertainment before racing into the fire again.

Shepard was in the living area of her apartment, cozied up on the oversized chocolate brown couch. She watched a few of her friends - Tali, Samara, Cortez, Jack, Garrus and Traynor - from afar as they danced closely in the small open space of her kitchen. An interesting choice as dance floors went, but she was sure most of them were too drunk to care. Shepard was feeling more than buzzed herself. She couldn't even remember the last time she'd let loose like this. Preparing for the war hadn't left her with much personal time. In fact, trying to make time for it made her feel…guilty. There were billions of people counting on her to defeat the Reapers while simultaneously saving as many species as she could. That amount of pressure was staggering. Sometimes, Shepard had no idea how she hadn't cracked yet. However, despite the guilt, she wasn't superhuman. She needed breaks. Time to rest and recuperate. This party would do some good for her and her team.

While being lost in her worries, Shepard hadn't noticed Garrus slip away from dancing and head over to her. The sudden shift in weight on the couch stirred her from her thoughts. She met Garrus' cool, blue eyes. She could see the beginnings of worry starting to etch across his face.

"Something bothering you, Shepard?" Garrus inquired.

Shepard smiled softly. She adored how attentive he was.

"I'm okay. I was just thinking about what comes after this celebration."

Garrus' mandibles flared slightly, as if he was imitating a frown. "There's no point in worrying, Shepard. Tonight is the only night you get to toss those thoughts aside and be yourself, have some fun."

"You're right," Shepard sighed. "Can't be feeling down at my own party."

"Exactly," Garrus agreed as he shifted closer to Shepard. "But I know of a way to cheer you up, if you'd like," he whispered into her ear as he nipped the lobe of it.

A wave of tingles shot down Shepard's spine. Her hand found Garrus' thigh and she squeezed tightly.

"I like the sound of that," Shepard responded softly.

She pressed a kiss to his scarred mandible before getting to her feet and tugging Garrus along behind her. She felt a wave of exhilaration as they scurried up the stairs and into her bedroom, as if their relationship was anything but secret among the crew. Once inside, Shepard ensured the door was locked. Interruptions were the last thing they wanted.

Witht the door secured, Shepard immediately closed the distance between herself and Garrus. Her arms wrapped around his cowl as she pulled him into a deep kiss. Garrus returned it with matching ferocity. His arms gripped her waist, pressing her flush against his body. Breaking the kiss, Garrus slid his hands down her thighs. He hoisted Shepard up, gripping her ass as he pushed her up against the nearest wall. He quickly resumed his previous activity. This time he coaxed Shepard's lips to part and slipped his tongue beyond. That earned him a pleasurable moan from Shepard. Then he moved down to her neck, nipping her skin and running his tongue along her collarbone. The moans he could elicit from her were intoxicating. Shepard could feel the tension building between her legs...and Garrus' too for that matter. The desire for more friction was growing evermore.

"Garrus," Shepard breathed between their lavishing. "I need more."

Garrus hummed an approving noise that heated Shepard's core even further. He let her down from his grasp and began to unzip her from her curve-hugging dress. Once she was free, she gave Garrus a teasing 360 of her figure. Comparatively to turians, Shepard was soft. Yet she was far from weak. Her toned physique was proof of that. It was something Garrus found truly breathtaking about her, a beauty unlike anything he ever thought he could be attracted to. But damn if Garrus didn't feel lucky to be with one of the most incredible women in the galaxy. This fine specimen of a woman was all his.

Shepard proceeded to unclasp her lacy black bra, letting it drop to the floor. Garrus felt a rush of heat spark in his groin. He could never tire of seeing her bare. Gripping the hem of his shirt, Shepard helped him in removing it. She tossed it aside with the rest of their clothes. She smoothed her hands over his hard plates and tough skin. Garrus' hands found hers and he held them tenderly as he guided Shepard to the bed. Shepard backed herself onto it as Garrus hovered above her, a hungry look in his eyes. Shepard pressed another kiss to his mouth, this time finding his tongue with her own. Slender fingers slipped down to Shepard's breast as Garrus tweaked her nipple. Shepard left out a soft gasp in reaction. Moving downwards, Garrus traced her opposite nipple with his tongue, eliciting even more breathy moans from Shepard.

"Christ, Garrus. The things you do to me," Shepard mused.

"Oh, I'm just getting started," Garrus responded confidently.

Before Shepard could say anything else, Garrus had moved even lower. He removed her silky panties which were drenched in her arousal. Tossing them aside, his deft fingers went to work, diving into her hot core. Shepard's back arched off the bed , a satisfied reaction to having something inside her. Garrus had improved immensely since their first coupling before the Omega-4 relay. He knew exactly where her most sensitive spots were and how to exploit them fully. A few more minutes of working his fingers in and out, Shepard found her release. She laid gasping, face flushed pink as Garrus leaned over her to press another kiss to her lips.

"My oh my," Shepard hummed her approval.

"Feeling better?" Garrus asked.

"Fuck yes," Shepard exhaled. "And now, it's my turn to take the lead."

In a swift motion, Shepard flipped Garrus onto the bed. She straddled his waist, pressing her wet core against his groin. She could feel his length straining against the fabric of his pants. He was more than ready to be inside her. Shepard helped Garrus remove his pants. She was presented with his hard arousal, finally free from its confines. Delicately placing her hand on his shaft, she stroked him. Garrus watched her intently. He let a few deep groans loose, relishing the feeling of his love stroking his member. Shepard took pleasure as well. She loved to see him give into his inhibitions.

The wanton need to be fucked was becoming too much for Shepard. She gave Garrus a few more caresses before shifting herself so her entrance was lined up with his length.

"Ready?" Garrus asked, holding her waist in preparation.

"Been ready a while now," Shepard said in a husky voice.

That was all Garrus needed. In one quick motion, he thrust himself into Shepard. He went until he bottomed out inside of her. Shepard cried out in pleasure. It felt so good to have something finally fill her. She proceeded to start a comfortable pace and Garrus matched her, thrusting as she came back down onto him. He grunted. At this rate, he wasn't going to last much longer. Shepard could feel her release creeping up as well. She quickened her pace, leaning closer to Garrus. He latched his mouth onto her neck, biting gently. Shepard buried his face in the crevice between his shoulder and head as her orgasm spilled out of her. Garrus found his release soon after. Shepard collapsed atop of Garrus, fully satisfied. Garrus was breathing heavily, his hand resting on the small of Shepard's back. They remained that way for a while, until their breathing and heart-rates returned to normal. Shepard removed herself from Garrus and curled up beside him. He pressed a tender kiss to her forehead.

"That felt…amazing," Shepard expressed.

"It's always amazing with you," Garrus complimented.

Shepard giggled, blushing slightly. She placed a hand against Garrus' mandible, gazing into his eyes. He ran his fingers through her crimson locks, slightly sweaty from their performance. They pressed foreheads together, enjoying each others company. When they pulled apart, Garrus raised a plate, equivalent to an eyebrow on humans.

"So…ready for round two?"

Shepard smirked. "Already, Vakarian?"

"Absolutely. We're just getting started, Shepard. The night is still young," Garrus indicated.

Shepard couldn't argue with that. She smirked again at his eagerness as Garrus propped himself over her and began to kiss her passionately. Slowly, Shepard let herself get lost in the actions of the turian she loved so dearly.