I would like to thank you for reading, reviewing, laughing with/at me. I'd bake you some cookies, but I don't know where you live. And I can't bake anyway... so... yeah...

Ahem. Moving on!

After being dropped off at the hotel by Valeesha, the couple headed straight for the elevator. Though they walked side by side, there was a foot of space between them. They neither looked nor spoke to each other as they passed through the lobby. It wasn't until they were inside the elevator that Shepard finally opened his mouth.

"Commander Tali, explain to me again the purpose of Operation Hands Off."

Tali snickered. "We're going to make it past the decontamination room this time. And we're going to take a shower, that we both probably need, like controlled, civilized people before we go to the bedroom."

"We're also married people. Can't we at least shower together?"

"No." Because I wouldn't be able to keep my hands off you.

With a heavy sigh, Shepard stood at ease, hands clasped behind his back and feet spread slightly. For the first half of the ride they were able to stare straight ahead, but their willpower was weakening faster than the lift's speed. They hadn't kissed or felt each other's skin all day.

Tali groaned. "Why did we pick the room with the longest elevator ride?"

"Having second thoughts, Commander?"

Tali glared at him. Or she tried to. Shepard could feel her glowing eyes drawing lines of fire over him, and he was surprised that steam wasn't pouring off and suffocating them in the small space. That would at least explain why it was difficult to breathe.

At last the doors slid open and they quickly moved to the next room, looking a bit ridiculous as they attempted not to brush against each other while moving through the doorway.

They took their places side by side again. Shepard inhaled deeply before adopting his relaxed stance as the decontamination cycle started.

"You don't have to do that," Tali said.

"It's either this or... this." Shepard turned toward her and leaned back against the wall. With one leg bent and arms crossed, he closed his eyes. Then he bowed his head and his eyes slid open, looking at her from beneath his brows. The intensity of his dark gaze rippled through her like a biotic shockwave. It was a wonder she was able to stay on her feet.

He blinked slowly, tilting his head as his eyes traveled down.

Her voice shook. "Stop that."

"Stop what?"

Stop undressing me with your eyes. The words lodged in her throat as his eyes came back to hers. He bit on his lower lip. His eyes begging 'come-hither'.

Tali took an involuntary step toward him. His legs shifted and her eyes drifted down...

"Decontamination complete."

With a groan, she whirled toward the door, immediately heading to the bathroom. She could feel him behind her, hear the soft pounding of his feet right at her heels.

She gasped, veering to the right of the door. She tore her mask off, chucked it aside, twisted, and his body crushed her against the wall. The exotic smell of his leather jacket hit her nose, mixing with his masculine scent. Shepard's hands slid over the curve of her back and her breasts ached as they pressed against his chest.

His head bent over her. "This wasn't the plan."

"Kiss me, damn it."

"Yes, ma'am."

Before the words were fully out, his open mouth fell down on hers for a bruising kiss. His hands slipped under her purple hood to cradle her head while her hands searched under his jacket, sliding up to his shoulders.

Their nerves sizzled, eager for the sensations as though they'd been deprived of it for years instead of a single day. Heat built inside them, burning wherever they touched. His fingers stroked her face, her hands rubbed his muscles.

Tali clutched his shirt before pushing away.

"Shower," she gasped.

She made a break for the door, but Shepard grabbed her and dragged her back for another kiss.

"You smell great," he said as he planted a hand on the wall to block her.

Her fingers laced around his neck, taking a longing suck before twisting her head away. His face was pressed so close that his wet lips dragged along her cheek.

You're the commander, she reminded herself. She could order him to stop, to step away. But she was still trying to find a reason why.

"John..." Tali had to pause for breath, but her thoughts fractured when his leg nudged between hers. His hot breath rushed over her face, his scent wrestled with her resistance. "I'm... I'm not going through another f-frantic struggle to rip my suit off."

"I can take it off slowly." His lips trailed over her jaw. He nibbled on her ear. She felt so good.

Shepard lost his train of thought when her mouth closed over his neck, her teeth grazing his skin. His eyes shut as her tongue slipped down and dipped beneath his shirt. He heard her moan.

"Keelah..."

And then he felt cold. Why was it-

BAM!

His eyes shot open and he was staring at the wall. Looking over he found the bathroom door to be closed and a soft click signaled the lock was engaged. He heard a muffled thud and could picture her slumped against the door.

A smile tugged at his lips and he let it spread. He rested his forehead against the wall, thinking of her even as he tried to catch his breath.

...

He'd considered sitting in a chair on the far side of the room while he waited for her, but he couldn't bring himself to move away from the door.

He regretted the decision as soon as she came out.

Wrapped only in a white robe, her eyes sought his. Her bare hand reached out to close his gaping jaw, then trailed her fingers down his arm, lingering over his bicep as she brushed past to the bedroom. Her wide hips swayed, drawing his eyes. Shepard swallowed before his jaw went slack again. When she reached the doorway, she glanced back, a soft, seductive smile on her lips. Her hand trailed along the wall, disappearing around the doorframe.

Less than five minutes later he followed after her, a mere towel wrapped around his waist, his mind still clogged with images of her, the promise of her smile. He came to a halt just inside.

She was sitting at the edge of the bed. Her diamond eyes shone clearly in the darkness. The white petals of the flower glowed above her head, still as beautiful as the day he'd seen it.

He looked back down at her. More beautiful.

"Come here," she said quietly.

He obeyed, moving to stand before her. He could see her better now, hands placed on the bed on either side of her, eyes traveling lazily over him. The towel lifted toward her and she smiled a little.

"Closer."

Her fingers curled on the bed as he did so, his toes nearly overlapping hers. Her eyes were level with his navel.

A visible shudder coursed through him when her fingers closed around his waist, just above the towel. They ran up to his ribs, sliding to his back and down. Tali loved the feel of his skin. She placed a kiss to the left of his navel. Then to the right.

"Is this an inspection?" he asked thickly.

Her fingers dipped under the towel.

"Something like that." Her voice was as soft as her touch.

Her fingers trailed around until they found the tucked-in edge of the towel. She pulled it out. And let it drop.

The faint rush as it fell to the floor sounded like the air as it was sucked out of her lungs.

"Tali..."

Hearing and seeing how much he wanted her made her wet. Her skin tingled and her lips were moist. She shifted closer, her robe parting as her knees brushed the outside of his legs. She grabbed his hands and placed them on her slim shoulders, felt them dig into the robe.

Her hands flattened over his stomach and glided over the muscles that led down to him. All six fingertips touched the base of his sex, her small hands cupped around the shaft. They slid gently along his length. His grip on her shoulders gradually increased, his hips swayed toward her until her fingers reached the tip. Then she held him tenderly with one hand.

"John..." Her fingers curled around him.

"It might sound silly to say this now, but..." Her hand moved back down, rubbing him.

"I want you to know that I'll always be here for you." Her fingers reached his body and trailed lightly down his testicles.

"Tali..." he rasped. He was losing himself in her words, her gentle touch.

Her love.

Tali's hands grabbed his hips. She leaned forward and placed a kiss on his stomach, dipping her tongue into his navel. Another kiss slightly below that. Her hands slid to his thighs.

Shepard groaned as her breath drifted down his body and his head drooped, watching her with heavy lidded eyes.

She kissed him, felt him move against her lips. A kiss further down, gliding along his shaft before her sweet lips paused to caress. His hands bit into her shoulders, his breath hissed through his teeth. She reached the tip. Her tongue flicked out and he gasped.

He groped for the belt of her robe, tearing it apart. He tugged it off, wrapped an arm around her and dragged her up onto the bed. He rested fully on top of her, moaning as her soft curves fit against him. Her arms laced around his neck. She wiggled slightly, a whispered cry coming from her.

A hint of a smile mixed with the desire in his eyes.

"Orders?" he asked huskily.

She felt him hot against her thigh. She pressed her face into his neck.

"Just love me."

His hand reached down, guiding himself to her. He nudged inside, her knees raised to cradle him. One smooth stroke and he was buried completely, stretching her around him. Her breath released with a harsh gasp against his throat.

Their hips separated, his erection barely leaving her before thrusting back, jolting their bodies with a hunger for more.

Lips seized each other, their movements erratic as they tore at the sheets, grasped at the other's skin. They whimpered and moaned, lips clinging until all they could manage to control was the unsteady thrusting of their hips. Breath shuddered through their lungs, their bodies jerked. Pleasure clutched at them, spiraled through their nerves, lacing around their pumping hearts before flaring across every inch of their burning skin.

All they needed, all they wanted, was heard in the breath of the other as they cried out. Was felt as they fell into their lover's arms.