DISCLAIMER: I do not own MASS EFFECT and am not gaining any profit from this story. All rights belong to BioWare. the only thing I DO own is my own copy of the game for XBox360

Author's Notes:

I welcome reviews and constructive critisism gladly (anything to improve my writing, or just feedback), but please be nice?

Again, is it too out of character for Ashley to be so passive and stereotypically feminine? And… this is the first time I've written something like this, but "this" I mean anything with such a high rating…

Do You Feel That?

I stand at the threshold of my door gaping stupidly at the woman before me. She thrusts a bottle of wine at me.

"It's elasa—an asari drink-- I know you'll like it…" She trails off, her eyes dancing over the floor in front of her. It appears that she refuses to meet my eyes with hers. To be entirely honest I am glad of that fact – I am unable to look into her eyes without losing my ability for self-control and I know that the last thing I want to do right now is lose it in front of Ashley. Again.

"Ashley, what are you doing here?" My eyes move appreciatively over her figure. She is tall, taller than most women, and the thin casual wear she normally has under her armor that she wears tonight hugs her figure, causing me to shudder involuntarily.

"I – I – to be honest I am not sure…maybe I should just leave?"

She turns to depart but I reach for her upper arm before she can do so.

"No. Please. Don't go."

Her eyes flick towards my hand which is still gripping her arm tightly. I quickly release her from my grasp and gesture silently to the interior of my room and she moves gracefully inside. I follow close behind.

"Skipper, I –"

I shake my head, "You don't need to do this, I understand –"

"No. Please, let me finish. I – I've been thinking. A lot. And I – it just wouldn't work, would it? You and me I mean. You – you're, well, you. You're…-"

"No," I say softly, almost to myself, "No, I'm just a man. That's all. And you, Ashley, you too are just a woman. You know that Ashley. I know you do."

She nods slowly. She knows it is true.

"I'm sorry" she shakes her head moving toward me slightly, and I grip her shoulders, looking closely at her face, her features, tears forming in the corners of her eyes.

"Don't be."

For the first time tonight she allows me to look into the deep of her eyes. I see vulnerability, I see sadness, but most of all, swimming in the utmost depths of her eyes, I see desire.

Without breaking our gaze, I place the drink that I am holding in a death-grip onto the table beside us.

Her hand moves to caress my cheek and my skin burns under her touch.

"I've missed you," she admits, so softly that I have to strain to hear her.

She is very close to me now. I can feel her warm breath on my face, her fingers tangling themselves softly in my hair.

"I know." I manage to utter, before she presses her lips firmly against my own. Feverishly, anxiously, desperately seeking comfort.

After what seems like hours, we break apart but this time she does not run from me. I can hear her breathing heavily close to my ear, and register blindly that she is pulling me by my hand, to my bed. Her eyes are blazing as she kisses me again. And again. I understand nothing but what her lips are doing to my own, and so am somewhat surprised when I find myself stumbling onto my bed, Ashley's body writhing softly beneath my own.

I stop, breaking our kiss and look into her face. Her cheeks are flushed, and unspoken questions fly between the two of us. She does not speak, but merely nods, and I take that as her consent. Her approval. I take to exploring her body with my lips, slowly, excruciatingly almost. Every inch, every curve, every crevice I claim as my own. Ashley gasps, and moans softly beneath me, her eyes closed, but when I finally unite the two of us together in throes of passion, I make sure that her eyes are looking exactly where they should be. Into mine.

Sometime later, with Ashley laying, exhausted in my arms I whisper the ultimate question into her ear.

"Ashley?"

"Mmm…"

"What made you change your mind?"

She says nothing, but merely takes my hand and places it firmly upon her chest, directly over her heart. It is racing, bounding against the palm of my hand, and I chuckle softly as she whispers back.

"Do you feel that?"

FINI