Sorry for the delay in this update. My muse is being a fickle bitch all of the sudden, and I hit a writer's blockade. :-P

But, special shout-out to T.A. Blackwell for being my beta. She rocks my friggin' socks right off.

"Are you certain you feel up for this?" Liara examined herself in the bathroom mirror, smoothing out her dress so it hung flawlessly from her figure. She had chosen a deep red dress, burgundy in shade, because Shepard had once commented she liked how the color complemented her blue skin. It was asari in style of course, which Shepard also appreciated because it showed off her curves without being too revealing.

She didn't want to force Shepard to go if she was tired. Liara had noticed the cut on her temple right away, and Shepard had explained she had fallen, but assured her it was nothing. It was a scratch. She had just been clumsy. The commander seemed fine, but Liara also knew how stubborn she could be.

"You know I have been to this sort of thing before, Liara," Shepard responded from the bedroom, her voice slightly muffled, presumably because she too was getting dressed.

Liara smiled in the mirror. "I doubt you have been to anything quite like this. Academic conferences can be… different."

"Look, I'm an Alliance officer. I've been to plenty of balls, ceremonies, conferences. I think I can handle a "welcome social" for a bunch of scientists and nerds. I'm sure it'll be similar." She grunted with effort, and Liara couldn't imagine what she was doing. "A lot of chest pounding, self-congratulatory banter. 'Oh, interesting you should mention quantum phosphoric dingle-nuggets; I discovered the phosphoric dangle-niblets.' Everyone is completely confident that they are the only ones with the correct answer, but everyone is obsequiously polite about it. Then everyone gets drunk, and wakes up in hotel rooms not their own."

"Well, I have every intention on waking up in my own room." Liara gave herself one final glance in the mirror to ensure that her dress was straight, her necklace hung perfectly, before exiting the bathroom.

This was not the first formal function she had attended with Shepard over the years, but for those Shepard had always worn her Alliance dress uniform, which Liara found incredibly handsome. There was something about seeing her lover in military uniform, so pressed and pristine, so flawless, that it set her heart racing. Shepard had a naturally authoritative presence, but in that uniform she seemed a foot taller, omnipotent. Liara found herself grow heady just thinking about it.

But she hadn't packed the uniform for this trip, because she had said, "This is about you Liara, not me. That goddamn uniform is like a beacon. It's bad enough I am who I am, I don't want that overshadowing what you have accomplished." Liara had been touched by the sentiment, but still disappointed that the uniform would not be making an appearance.

All such thoughts immediately fled her mind as her eyes lighted on the commander. "So? How do I look? It's been awhile since I've had to get all fancy in civilian clothes?" Shepard held out her hands and turned, the expression of genuine uncertainty on her face utterly endearing.

Liara's mouth was suddenly dry. She wore black slacks that were loose around her calves but hugged her thighs and hips tightly. She wore a pale blue button-down shirt with a collar under a black vest, both were traditional wear for human males but these garments were perfectly fitted to Shepard's figure, showing off every curve and asset of Shepard's femininity. Around her neck she wore a scarlet red tie, knotted at the throat and disappearing under the buttoned vest. The sleeves of her shirt were rolled to her elbows, and her auburn hair tucked behind her ears.

Though she wore what Liara would have assumed were more masculine accessories, Shepard appeared very comfortably feminine and alluringly powerful. She caught the ripple of muscle in her forearms as Shepard lowered her arms, and faced her. Liara forgot she had not answered and swallowed hard several times, unable to tear her gaze away from her lover. "Y-you look beautiful, Shepard."

"Are you sure?" Shepard ran her fingers through her hair, one of her anxious gestures. "I don't want to embarrass you in front of all your scholarly friends."

Liara crossed the remaining distance between them and took the tie in between her fingers, marveling at how smooth the fabric felt as she gently tugged the commander in to kiss her. "I could never be embarrassed by you, Commander. Never."

"Mmm." Shepard smiled into the kiss. "Have I been granted your approval then, Dr. T'soni?"

Liara pulled away to study her lover's face, appalled. "You've never needed my approval!" Then, when she realized that her bondmate was teasing her: "You're beautiful. You've always been beautiful, no matter what you wear. But this…" She fingered the tie suggestively, stood on her toes for another, slower kiss. "This is particularly intriguing."

"Oh?" Shepard cupped her cheek, placed a hand on her hip and pulled her close until their hips pressed together. "Maybe we should skip the social, and we can find out exactly how 'intriguing' I can be."

"Commander…" Liara breathed, feeling her cheeks flush with the thought. "You can't say such things. I'd appreciate it if I could make it through this one social without being utterly distracted." In retrospect, she should have known better. Saying that her commander could not do something was the surest way to provoke her.

"Oh, Dr. T'soni," Shepard said darkly and grinned, patting her backside. "Perhaps you need to be reminded about what exactly I can and can't do." She pulled away slowly, her hand lingering on Liara's cheek. "Grab my cane for me, please."

Liara complied, reaching for the stick that leaned against the wall and handing it to her lover, who slipped the cuff on. "Sadist…" She muttered under her breath, trying to restrain the smile tugging at her lips.

"You would not have it any other way, my love."

The social was about what Shepard expected it to be, although it was more crowded than she expected. There were at least two hundred scholars and scientists in attendance, with more expected to arrive the following day for the official start of the conference. She learned, from listening to Liara speaking with some of the scholars, that this was an "emergency" conference to discuss and share knowledge learned in the aftermath of the war with the Reapers.

There academics were of nearly every discipline: physicists, astrophysicists, engineers of every variety, psychologists, medical doctors, biologists, chemists, anthropologists, archaeologists, historians, and even a few professors of literature. The leaders of every field were present, and Shepard was not surprised that Liara could freely converse with just about any of them.

At heart, Liara had always been a scientist. Her motives for joining Shepard had initially been curiosity, and the personal connection of her mother, Matriarch Benezia. And while she was more than a capable fighter, she was and never had been a soldier. It saddened that the war had steered her so far off course from her original goal, took her from the path she obviously loved. Even if in the end, none of their success would have been possible without her.

More than the wistfulness, Shepard felt proud. Liara was intelligent, as much at ease speaking with a horticulturist as she was with a fellow archaeologist. Shepard was smart as well, but in a different way. She was good with people, with tactics. With strategy and war. Liara was academically intelligent, her mind absorbing information at a rate that Shepard could never even hope to be capable of. She made connections between seemingly unrelated bits of data in an instant.

Most of the night, Shepard merely observed, watching her lover converse with her colleagues, nodding at appropriate intervals but otherwise saying very little. She didn't have much to contribute to the conversations anyway.

Liara was beautiful. The way her brow knit together, the way she nodded when considering one of the other scientist's theories. The way she cocked her head to the side whenever she found something particularly interesting. The way she laughed at jokes that sailed far over Shepard's head. This was Liara's element, and it made Shepard happy to see her in it.

"You're not tired?" Liara rested her hand in the crook of Shepard's arm, laid her head on her shoulder momentarily. They had spent most of the evening meandering from one knotted group of scholars to another.

Shepard shook her head, smiling fondly at her. "I'm fine. How about you, Dr. T'soni? Tired of all the attention yet?"

Liara felt her cheeks flush slightly, and she glanced around self-consciously. "What?"

"Don't tell me you hadn't noticed?" Shepard inclined her head, indicating the entire room. "Everyone in this room wants you. Notice how every time we join a group, several more people show up right after? They all want you."

"That can't possibly be true." Liara said, though she had noticed that everyone seemed to know who she was, and was very friendly. She looked up at Shepard, trying to determine whether or not she was being teased, but it didn't seem so.

"It's true. You're brilliant. You're beautiful. You discovered the Crucible. They can't take their eyes off you. Watch." They walked passed a small cluster of people, two humans and an asari. Their conversation did not slow, but their eyes definitely shifted. The asari went so far as to turn her head completely, unabashedly raking her gaze up and down. Suddenly, Liara felt hot. "Told you, they all want you. But you're mine."

"Should I start introducing you as my owner, instead of my bondmate?" Liara teased, squeezing Shepard's arm. She wasn't accustomed to the attention. It made her a little uneasy, but also made her heart beat a little quicker. Being noticed was something she worked hard to avoid most of her life, content to be alone on her dig sites, away from the pressures of being Matriarch Benezia's daughter. This was different. People didn't look at her because of who she was related to. They were looking at her because of who she was, what she had accomplished. And the difference was dizzying.

Shepard made a noise in the back of her throat. "That might only encourage some of them. Besides, I know who you'll be going home with tonight."

Emboldened by her realization, Liara felt playful. "Oh, and who is that?"

The commander leaned in, her voice dropping so that only the asari could possibly hear. "The human that's going to have you on your hands and knees, fucking you from behind tonight."

"Shepard!" Liara gasped, feeling her face turn violet. The words, and the image they conjured, sent a jolt of sharp pleasure in between her legs. "How am I supposed to concentrate when—"

But the human only grinned more broadly. "The woman whose every command you will obey, or suffer the consequences."

Liara suddenly remembered their conversation in the hotel room, Shepard's warning about her needing a reminder. She groaned at the sensations her lover's voice, her words caused. "Please…"

"Oh you'll be saying 'please' a lot tonight, my love." Shepard showed no signs of letting Liara off the hook, which only made the asari's breath quicken. "Unless I decide to put that mouth of yours to better use."

Liara shut her eyes, allowing her lover to guide her for a moment. She could feel herself getting wet. It never ceased to amaze her how quickly Shepard could turn her on, how swiftly she could be coaxed into desire. And the fact they were in public only made it worse. Or perhaps better. Her cheeks were burning, but she felt a thrill knowing that they were surrounded by other people, and none were the wiser at what was transpiring between the couple. To the outside observer, they were simply walking around the ballroom, arm in arm, talking.

"You want that." It wasn't a question. "You want to feel owned by me."

Liara licked her dry lips. "Yes," She whispered.

Shepard grinned and leaned in to kiss Liara's crest in what appeared to be a tender, romantic gesture. But to Liara, the graze of her lips was maddening, and her knees felt weak. "Yes, what?"

"Yes, Commander." Liara nearly whimpered. Every step only intensified her frustration, providing the slightest bit of friction, of pressure that was woefully inadequate. She felt the slickness between her legs, and her fingers tightened around Shepard's arm again, this time for support. "I only want to be yours."

"Good girl," Shepard said, and dropped her arm to snake around her waist, her hand resting on her hip, her thumb just grazing the top of her buttocks, stroking. "Now, for the rest of the night, I want you to think about it. Of all the sordid, dirty little ways I'm going to make you mine."

Liara blinked, realizing that Shepard had deliberately steered them towards another group of scholars, who visibly brightened at their approach. How was she supposed to engage in any sort of intelligent conversation when all she could think about was Shepard's hand between her legs, her mouth on hers? Her eyes narrowed in realization, and she bit on the inside of her cheek to keep from moaning. "Sadist…" She muttered, just so her lover could hear, and then forced a smile for her fellow academics. "Dr. Brandt, how lovely to see you again."

I'm overwhelmed by the positive response to this fic. Especially since some of the more emotional/plotty subject matter is near and dear to me. So, for everyone who has favorited this fic, followed it, or reviewed, thank you from the bottom of my heart. So thank you for doing your part to save this cycle, and for touching the heart of this wounded warrior.

Man. I just realized that author note was a little heavy after a lead-in to lesbian alien sexy time. My bad, y'all. PORNS!