A/N: Thank you to Vorcha Girl, Wonderfantasy and Glea for your encouraging reviews!
One night to be confused
One night to speed up truth
We had a promise made
Four hands and then away
Both under influence
We had divine scent
To know what to say
Mind is a razor blade
To call for hands of above
To lean on
Wouldn't be good enough
For me, no.
One night of magic rush
The start, a simple touch
One night to push and scream
And then relief
Ten days of perfect tunes
The colors, red and blue
We had a promise made
We were in love
.: Heartbeats – José Gonzales:.
Garrus could see, through his visor, her heart rate increase, but he could also hear her accelerating heartbeats drum through her veins. He wondered how her fragile skin behind her ear would feel under his rough tongue, and could barely resist the urge to do it. Her neck was so inviting, almost too inviting and the thought scared him.
He leaned his hands on the control table and thereby didn't give her any way out. Shepard could feel the heat from his body, and his breaths gave her pleasant shivers which spread through her body. If he only knew how much he affected her. She could feel her cheeks redden, and she wanted to touch his hands which laid only inches from hers, but she was afraid of the reaction it might cause. She didn't knew if she was ready for it.
"Calibrations is a craft which a few people can handle." Garrus said, and he heard her breath out. Shepard didn't know she had kept her breath for so long. She cleared her throat before she got out " So, what is it about? Someone promised me earlier to explain it to me."
"It's about making the good even better, to utilize the capacity to its maximum."
"Shouldn't it already be as good as it can be when it gets installed?" she asked.
"It depends on who you ask. To put it simple: you use mods on your weapons to increase the range or get bigger impact." Shepard nodded as an answer while she looked at the screen. He could feel the fragrance from her soft hair tickle his nose, probably some earthly scent, but it wasn't unpleasant. Garrus pressed on the screen and 3D-photos of the canons of Normandy showed up.
"It works almost the same, but I use algorithms as a mod to improve the results. I can change the canons liberty of actions to improve the range, but then it is harder to shoot to the sides for example. "
"Aha, I think I understand. It's about considering what is most important. Reach or flexibility." Garrus was surprised about her quick thinking, but wasn't really astonished. He hummed approvingly and he heard her gasp for breath. Did his rougher subharmonics affect her that much? Maybe he should try it more often. He leaned closer to her and purred while he said "Spot on, Shepard". She breathed out in a low moan and Garrus could see in his corner of the eye how she bent her fingertips against the table. He smiled inwardly.
Shepard couldn't concentrate anymore, and she felt she got turned on only by his closeness. She didn't dare to move and didn't know what to say. To take it slow was not in her mind right now. She carefully laid some fingers over his.
"Garrus…" she started but got interrupted.
"Hey, Garrus! Have you seen Shepard?" Jacobs voice sobered her up and she felt rather than saw that Garrus changed his posture. She had totally forgotten about the open door. Garrus carefully withdrew his hand, and turned to Jacob.
"Yes, she is here in front of me. We are talking about calibrations and I show her how I improve my ladies. Want a lecture?" Garrus had rapidly recovered, of which Shepard was grateful because she had the time to take some deep breaths to calm her nerves before she turned around.
"Naah, not really my thing to fiddle with numbers. I prefer real tools to make things done. I don't want to disturb, but do you have a minute Commander?" She rather would have said no and kick him out of the battery but as a Commander she had obligations to her crew. She wanted to maintain a good atmosphere on the ship.
"Sure, Jacob. I will be out in a minute. Ok?"
"Yeah, sure. Coffee or tea?"
"Black tea, please."
Shepard watched him turn, and she looked up at Garrus. Their moment had passed and she could se insecurity in his eyes.
"Shepard, I…sorry if got too intrusive, but you were so irresistable when you stood there." His mandibles fluttered in embarrassment while he looked at her.
"Hey, don't be!" She took his hand in her and caressed the back of his leathery hand with her soft thumb. "You make me crazy when you talk to me like that. How unwillingly I want to leave your company I have to go see what Jacob wants. Maybe it's time to have the talk with him to get it over with. Do you have time later?"
"I always have time for you, Shepard. Call on me whenever you want."
Garrus watched her leave the room and walk towards the now almost empty mess. The scent of her hanged in the air and he tried to keep it in his nose. Had he gone too far? Garrus didn't think so. Even if he sometimes had problems reading the body signs of humans he thought that he had affected her in the same way as her presence affected him. He had strong feelings for her, but he'd lived in celibate since Ritikkas death and his bodily desire couldn't be pushed aside any longer. He only wished he could keep it in line for a while more. It was for the best if he tried to finish the calibration-run he had started earlier today.
.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
Jacob sat at one of the tables with a cup of coffee for himself and a cup of black tea for Shepard. She seated herself opposite to him and took her cup in her hands.
"So, what's on you mind, Jacob?"
"Commander, we have talked a lot and I don't know if I have misunderstood something but…is there something between us?"
Just what she thought. In one way it was nice he brought it up, but she really hoped he would take it like a man, and not like a certain lieutenant.
"I'm sorry Jacob if I had you believe it was so. I like to talk to my subordinates and I'm sorry if the situation has been misinterpreted."
"Oh, ok. No problem, Commander. I might be forward, but it aint usual for a beautiful woman like you to be so kind to her crew without having a secret motive. It can easily be misunderstandings."
"I care about my crew and for me it is important to keep up a good communication, to create better cooperation and trust. "
"I understand, Commander. So…friends?"
"Friends. " Shepard relaxed a little. This went better than hoped for. "So, how is it between you and Miranda now?"
"Eh, good…I think. We haven't had the possibility to talk that much. Why?"
"I've noticed you staring at her, when you think no one is looking."
"You know we have a history, and she is extremely attractive, no offense Commander. "
"None taken, and please, drop the Commander."
"Sure, Shepard. We were good but…" Jacob silenced.
"But? What happened?"
"Different responsibilities and projects I guess. We never had time for each other."
"Uhu. And now? Same mission and the same place. Maybe time to resume what you once had?"
"Hm, maybe." Jacob squinted towards Mirandas door.
"Maybe go over there and say Hi. I think she will appreciate the break, from whatever she has been doing for hours now. "
"Yeah, why not. But tell me, is there something between you and Garrus? I seemed to disturb you." He had a grin on his face.
"Oh, come on. First Miranda, and now you? Garrus is my best friend. "
"So? Something seems to be going on. "
"I prefer to keep my private life to myself."
"It is hard to keep it private when you live on a ship. Besides, you are meddling in mine."
"Ah, touché, Jacob. It is not official, and I would prefer if it could continue that way."
"No problems, Shepard."
"No? Miranda seems to have a problem with it."
"Miranda isn't too happy with aliens, but she doesn't have anything against cross-species relationships. But you are her project, which she is very proud of and she considers you to be the best one to represent the humanity in the Galaxy. And a relationship with a turian could ruin that picture. I disagree, but even if she has some crazy ideas she is actuall kind-hearted and easy to like when you have gotten close to her."
"It's hard to believe. Even if I live much thanks to her it doesn't mean I'm a marionette. I do what I want which makes us disagree a lot. "
"I understand and am not saying anything about it. Well, it's getting late and I think I will change some words with Miranda before I head for my bunk. See you, Shepard."
"Later, Jacob." She watched him go towards Mirandas office and she smiled to herself. She drank up what was left in her cup and put it in the sink. Her armor didn't clean itself and she regretted she had let it lay on the floor until now, and it was nothing else to do but go to her cabin. She looked towards Garrus, who seemed to be busy at the screen so she sent him a message and went for the elevator.
.:Time for this lazy Commander to clean her armor. You can make me company if you want.:.
.:I'll come up in 15:.
.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
Shepard was happy, confused, extactic and terrified, all at once. Her body was in rebellion. It was too early and she didn't know if she was ready to make this a full grown relationship, but still it was all too long ago since she had allowed herself to feel like a woman. And the response Garrus created in her body was something she had never experienced before. Every nerve reacted to his closeness.
Shepard started to clean her chestplate to try to think of something else. She sprayed antiseptic on the inside and began to dry it of with a synthetic cloth. What would she say when he got up here? What did he expect? Since when did this get so complicated? She sighed loudly to herself and continued to clean her helmet.
Garrus had never been in a hurry to finish a calibration-run before, and even if he wanted to go to her in this very minute, his pride hindered him from not finish what he had started. Ten minutes became twenty before he was done. He changed to casual clothes and headed to the elevator.
It felt like an eternity before the doors opened, and even longer before he came up to her level. He stepped out of the elevator and stopped. What should he do now? And say? Garrus was seldom nervous, and then often when he was meeting his father.
Shepard heard the elevator doors open, and she wondered why he didn't come in. She knew he stood out there. Was he as nervous as her? She got up from the floor and opened the door.
"Hey, big guy. I heard you were about to help me clean my armor." Shepard smiled at him in an attempt to make this less awkward.
"Yeah, obviously I have a very sloppy and lazy Commander who let her subordinates do her job. " His mandibles smiled at her.
"Well, she has at least taken care of the worst" she said and pointed at her chestplate and helmet.
"I don't know about that, these boots doesn't look so fresh." Garrus smelled at them and made a disgusted face.
"Oh, come on! Since when are boots fresh? Sweaty feets belongs. "
"Not really. We turians doesn't sweat like you humans do. "
"But how do you regulate the body heat?"
"We seldom have to. But if we were to overheat then our plates open up more to let the air stream more freely. "
"No wonder you clean your armor much faster" Shepard mumbled. Garrus laughed and took the spray and a cloth.
They chichatted about the day's mission while they cleaned her armor.
"So…Jacob and Miranda?" Shepard looked at Garrus with surprise.
"How did you know?"
"For being a Commander who likes to cooperate with aliens, you are very ignorant sometimes about our skills. I heard your conversation from where I was."
"Oh."
"And I could hear your heartbeats earlier, how they quickened when I did this." Garrus leaned forward and was only inches from her face when he used a purring subharmonic sound.
I want you.
Her pupils widened and the lips parted slightly when she felt the muffled vibrations in the air between them. She didn't know its meaning, but it didn't matter.
"Kayla, I know you want to take it slow. I really want to too, but you affect me in ways no other have. Human, you make me crazy. " Garrus took her hand in his and caressed her small, soft fingers.
"I feel the same way, Garrus. I really wanted to take it slow, because I thought I wasn't ready. But you make me feel…wanted, which I haven't felt for a long time. "
"Are you sure you want this? I mean…with me? Not something closer to home?" Garrus voice dropped a little, and she could tell he wasn't sure about the answer. Shepard looked him in the eyes.
"Normandy is my residence, but you make it feel like home. So yes, I want this." She took his mandibles in her hands and leaned her head to his. Garrus embraced the moment, and his subharmonics played a low drill to her ears.
I love you. I love you. I love you.
He touched her waist to urge her to come closer ,and she broke their contact to move into his lap, with her legs around his waist and back. She looked into his beautiful blue eyes and carefully caressed his fringe. So different to human hair, but still it felt like the most natural thing to do. She let her lips touch his cheek lightly, and awaited his reaction. Garrus hummed in approvement, and she kissed his mandible. She could feel the tiny flutterings against her lips. She nibbled it carefully, and Garrus couldn't resist to moan a little.
"So that's what kisses is about." She couldn't read if he wanted her to stop or continue.
"Want me to quit?"
"No! It is…an unusual feeling, but very pleasant."
Shepards lips wandered down and she finally kissed his mouthplate. Carefully she let her tongue slowly slide along his mouth. Garrus opened it and hesitantly let his rough, long tongue meet hers. An explosion of sensations ripped through him. This was something new but so fantastic, she tasted waguely of the tea she had drank earlier. Their tongues continued their wild dance, and after a while Garrus grabbed her bottom to rise, and she hold her legs tight around his waist. He lifted her as if she weighted nothing.
He took the few steps down to the alcove and carefully put her on the bed. Spirits, she was so beautiful with her loosened hair. Her cheeks were rosy and her lips were swollen. He had fallen for her, and fallen hard. He tried to lay himself over her, but his chest was in the way. After some adjustment they laid on their side, which had broken some of the spell.
"I guess we have some things to figure out" she said, a little embarrassed.
"Yeah, I guess we have." Garrus smiled to her, and stroke a finger gently over her cheek. "Spirits, Kayla. Human kisses might be one of the best things I've experienced. If I knew what your mouths could do I might have tried it earlier."
"But then I wouldn't have had the honor to be your first. And you know nothing yet about what I can do with my lips" she said with a teasing grin.
Garrus flicked his mandibles nervously. No matter how much he wanted her right now, this was not the time to go all the way.
"Kayla, don't take this the wrong. I want you so badly, but I want it to be a moment for us to enjoy each other without the awkward pieces. I want it to be just right." He looked at her, unsure of how she would take it.
"It's ok, Garrus. I agree, even if my body doesn't at the moment."
He put his head to hears and inhaled the fragrance of Her.
"It's getting late. Maybe I should go down before anyone gets suspicious." He made an attempt to rise but Shepard caught is hand.
"Please, don't go. I want you to stay".
He couldn't resist those green, begging eyes of hers.
"Are you sure? Crew might start to talk."
"I don't really care. I want you here with me. "
He laid down on the bed again, and she took his hand and turned her back on him while she snuggled closer to him. His hand was tucked to her chest and he couldn't resist to let go of a purr in his chest. They laid like that for a long time.
"I love when you are making that sound. It feels safe." she said, with a low voice. Shepard was about to fall asleep.
Garrus was tired too, it had been a long day and he felt his consciousness drift towards sleep. He could hear her heartbeats and for a few seconds it was as if their hearts beat as one.