Misc: So... guess what? I've added some lime here. XP Honestly, it's a little... baffling to work with a turian and a human, but I couldn't resist the attempt. And this chapter possessed me 'til I finished it.
Anyhow, this chapter starts to delve more into what the other characters think of Garrus and Janelle, if you've been hoping to read that sort of thing.
Chapter Eight
He didn't know what to expect now. What could he have thought to expect?
Until things started to slow down after that jaunt on the Collector ship, Garrus hadn't had much of a chance to let all the implications and repercussions of sleeping with Shepard settle in. He knew that there would be issue given their races; as he told Tali, he didn't imagine that human would quite enjoy knowing that the best of them wanted to become sexual involved with a turian. But he only really thought that would be a concern if their… agreement became public knowledge, something he had doubted, just as he had thought the rest of the Normandy's crew could remain ignorant of what exactly that date at Dark Star had entailed. He thought that things could go along normally – any flirtation between he and Shepard would be hardly any different from the banter everyone was already aware of – and if anything more was to happen, he imagined that waiting until they had some privacy would solve that issue.
But as he lay in his bunk after the first decent sleep he had in days… Garrus began to worry what the hell he and Shepard were getting themselves into.
Despite how they agreed to keep this discreet, thinking with a clear mind, he knew that plan would fail; if there was one thing his life in the military, C-Sec, and on Omega had seemed to drill into him, it was that even the most carefully thought through plans would one day fall through. He knew that there was too much of a chance that things would slip up in staying discreet. In fact, everything had already been unraveled before anything had begun.
Tali was right. The rumor had been about for some time now. If people aboard didn't already think there was something between him and the commander, it wouldn't take much to let them figure out that the rumor wasn't simple speculation anymore; it was the truth. Shepard did hold a certain interest in her turian gunnery officer.
Then there was the issue of the lack of privacy given that there was that damn AI, EDI, always watching, especially over Shepard's room.
Suddenly, he was reluctant about everything. This wasn't anything like Garrus had been through before and he forgot that the other day. In the turian military, the recon scout or any other female he had been with, none of them had been of a rank that might be compromising in any way. And while this Normandy was a civilian vessel and there were no actual rules on fraternization, Shepard was still their commander; that could spell trouble for anyone getting involved with the woman, no matter the species. And on this mission, trouble was not something they could afford.
Really what was he thinking when he accepted that damn proposal? Aside from the fact that he realized he was lucky to appeal to Shepard's tastes and that there had been more than just friendship that had kept him enjoying his time with her and wanting to fight at her side. Aside from that… what the hell was he doing?
He couldn't help but constantly mull over his pessimistic thoughts while lingering in his bunk, before finally forcing himself up to make himself presentable and grab some breakfast. But Garrus hardly paid attention to the world around him, finding it hard to concentrate on anything other than the thoughts that had consumed him since waking.
Though he wasn't so possessed by his thoughts that he didn't notice how the table was jerked by a slam.
But he had still been distracted enough to be caught off guard.
"Shit, Turian. Never saw your kind jump like some kind of wimpy kid," Jack muttered as she sat across from Garrus. "You must be fucked up, right? I thought you bastards were supposed to be warriors that were the fucking shit. Some shit that no one sees your back unless you're dead or some other bullshit…"
"Like you said… it's bullshit," the vigilante grumbled, turning his gaze away from the psycho as the sudden shock faded and tried to return to his meal while wishing that this annoyance would disappear one way or another. Part of why he didn't bother countering Jack. Didn't matter. He was feeling resentful towards his own kind to care to defend them. "The turians sure as hell didn't seem to make an impact when Soveriegn attacked…"
"Got caught with their pants down… fuck yeah," the lithe woman gave an evil cackle, one that somehow prompted the turian to glance her way again. This time he found himself doing something he never imagined he would do.
He found his eyes roaming over the scantily clad torso of the female.
It was nothing like he had suddenly developed a fetish with humans and wanted to start fucking whichever one he came across. It had nothing to do with him finding Jack attractive. In fact, it was the exact opposite. He found Jack hideous in his eyes. He didn't know why because he couldn't understand. If it was because of the lack of femininity in how skinny she was, how her skin was covered with tattoos, and her shaved head, that made no sense; turian females were far from being epitomes of femininity and the ones that were closer to being so, Garrus had always had a disdain for.
All he knew was that looking over Jack, he wondered what was appealing about these creatures, trying to remember why he was so feverish to let his hand roam Shepard's body, in that shuttle. He didn't know why he now forgot what it was like to touch and breathe the woman in, forgetting what was so appealing about the feel of her skin, the smell. And looking at Jack… it made him wonder how he ever thought screwing a human was appealing…
"Look if you got something for humans and want to fuck, give me a damn good reason why I should let you."
Again he jerked, but this time her off guard reaction was accompanied by a threatening growl and the involuntary action of baring his teeth as deadly anger flared in his blood. He almost leapt at her with the desire to attack for making that suggestion. He had no idea what it was that held him back.
Especially as, annoyingly, Jack just stared at him jadedly.
"Don't try to fuck with me, Turian," she snapped, her body going taunt, obviously ready for a fight, just begging for him to taunt him into attacking. "I can tell a leer when I see one. They travel across species well enough…"
As much as Garrus knew that staring at the woman had hardly been an appropriate decision, he was in no state of mind to admit his error. "You're just so damn bloodthirsty that you want to start something for a damn passing glance."
"That was no passing glance, you fuck ass!" Jack snarled, slamming a fist down into the table, a hit intensified by her biotics and leaving a nasty dent. Garrus didn't care and kept his grimace on her face. "Besides I figured you had some fucking fetish for humans, that way you follow Shepard, looking to fuck her pussy…"
Nothing could have been more effective to shove him out of his rage and back into shock, his eyes wide as he stared at the furious biotic. As much as he knew about the rumor, he had yet to hear anyone bluntly shout anything related to it in his face.
"Oh, don't give me that look. Everyone knows that you're after that damn soldier's ass and she got some fixation with the only turian cock to be found on this ship…"
As much as he should have been prepared to this sort of vulgar talk, not only because he did expect this from Jack but because of his work in C-Sec and on Omega… he wasn't. And he couldn't find his find to respond at all.
At least though Jack didn't continue blathering and she no longer had her focus on him solely.
"Jack, I do believe that speaking of our commander and a fellow teammate is an unwise course of action," the mystic voice of Samara sounded as she strode across the mess hall to the kitchen where Gardner nervously regarded the human psycho and turian – Garrus didn't blame the mess sergeant for avoiding getting between the two of them.
Jack immediately dropped her threatening stance, falling back into her seat and scarfing down her food. But not without throwing a glare over at the asari, whose biotic power made it so the justicar was the only one, aside from Shepard, that caused Jack to give pause. But her glare didn't last long on Samara before she was glowering at Garrus again. "Don't you dare try to pull that 'passing glance' bullshit on me again…"
"There's nothing worth bothering a second look," he scoffed, doing his best to return to his meal as well. Unfortunately he was realizing that his appetite had met a swift end. He would have stopped eating if the last day or so hadn't forced him to get by with the minimum necessary nutrition. But he figured he'd handle dealing with Jack's presence a little longer, given she was almost down with her food.
She had just stuffed the last morsel in her mouth when Samara came to the table, a move that made Garrus hold back a groan while Jack threw another glare at the asari. But the nearly thousand-year-old creature sat down in a manner that amazed the turian, wondering how simply motions such aged and talented asari could make seem like graceful achievements.
Whether or not the neglect she had been dealt caused annoyance to the human female, Jack said nothing more, throwing her tray towards Gardner before storming back down to the elevator… at which point Samara seemed to be reminded of Jack's presence, glancing towards the other biotic before she quietly returned to her food.
The asari shared no words and Garrus felt his sense of taste return and his throat relax, allowing him to return to eating. Of course, just his luck, only a few mouthfuls had been swallowed before he was addressed once more.
"I certainly hope that's you have not gained a simple interest in the human figure as Jack accused," the asari replied easily, hardly using the vulgarity Jack had… but Garrus still felt that her words were no less 'dirty,' at least in what was being addressed. "It would not be a just action towards Shepard if you are interested in her for mere curiosity."
"I've served under Shepard before. Trust me. I know how foolish it is to do anything that risks pissing the commander off," he returned with a soft chuckle before continuing with his breakfast. But as the chuckle died off, he let himself relent a sigh. "So what? Is everyone convinced that I'm sleeping with Shepard now?"
"I would say that using Jack's opinion to ascertain the majority of the crew's thoughts is a rather absurd method. She tends to see things only as she would do things, not from the perspective of another," Samara said, her voice sounding as a soft mist even as it cared a rather jaded tone. "But to answer your question… while the truth is that many of us are wondering what exactly is transpiring between the two of you, most don't think sex has come into the picture. Either because of denial or the belief that something more would be different."
"And… where do you stand?"
"Why are you interested? If this is a mere rumor it is possible that it is untrue."
That urged Garrus to give a groan, the calm, even tone of the asari. "Please… don't do that right now. Twist logic around on me. I get enough of that from Shepard…"
"She is a smart woman. And good. She deserves a caring soul as a bondmate. And I believe that you, despite the aggression of your soul, suit her needs near perfectly," Samara stated, surprising Garrus as she stood, already finished with what had once occupied her bowl, baffling the turian as he wonder how she ate so fast and he had not noticed. "She has mentioned that you and the quarian are good friends, and for the second time is following her into the uncertain void of death. She trusts you and I do believe her trust is well placed.
"Thus I hope you will be as a bondmate should and think of what is best for her over your own desires."
It seemed that the justicar had disappeared as quickly as she had arrived and Garrus could not help but find himself staring the way she went, almost entranced by the slow, yet powerful strides of the monastic warrior. As much as he had always held a respect for the asari, particularly for their matriarchs, meeting a justicar had been a more humbling and awed experience than he would have ever expected.
And the words Samara left him with sounded as though he had just spoke with a matriarch as well.
His mind lost in rumination, Garrus gave up on breakfast. Though the decision wasn't only because he had no appetite, but because he felt he had lingered out in the open for far too long. Already he had run into Samara and Jack; he did not want to run into anyone else, especially Miranda. The thought actually made him speed his way past Gardner and into the gunnery control station to attempt to get his mind distracted by machinery and stay out of sight of everyone else. The latter reason succeeded, but the former… no such luck.
He couldn't concentrate at all on his calibration. He'd go through them, thinking he finished them just fine then run a double check to find them off. He gave up with a snarl after a few repetitions of the scenario, uncertain for a moment what to do now. If he couldn't run a few simple calibrations, he sure as hell wasn't going to attempt to optimize firing algorithms. And the thought made him give another frustrated growl to think he was this distracted. Even in the shuttle…
He suddenly felt himself freeze as his mind slipped back into the memory of a few days again.
Now that he found himself alone, with no other being corrupting his thoughts, he could almost remember how that day had gone. How his shock was suddenly replaced by a delight that he didn't understand nor question. All he could think at the moment was that he couldn't have found a woman that could have suited him more perfectly; simply, his work with C-Sec had exposed him to so many other cultures that he learned to adapt to understand and enjoy, he had grown jaded to his own native customs.
He tried to recall every sensation that he had experience in the shuttle with Shepard, how his curiosity and intrigue had made him so very eager to discover who and what she was. The notion that a simple breath could make her stumble, squirm, and moan… it was amusing. And the silky, soft feel of her skin… his blood pumped hotly even now at the thought, wondering what those soft curves would feel like in contrast to the hard angles he was familiar with.
He jerked his head to the side, trying to force the lustful imaginations aside before giving a rather defeated groan. As if he really could hope to get her out of his head. He never had been able to. Even before this hormonal mess, since that first escapade with her, Shepard's influence had possessed his life. She was everything he had aspired to by dedicating herself to fighting for the good no matter what and when she died, it was impossible for him to let her legacy to disappear, at least in its essence. He was a failed disciple and could do her efforts no justice, but he had to try, to attempt to make it so that in some way she never left him.
And never did he find his life more purposeful nor beneficial than when he served with Shepard.
He wondered why he never saw it before that all this time… he really had been infatuated with the woman. Probably because of the sole fact that attaining anything more than a friendship with the woman he believed was impossible, that whatever he felt was simply a high degree of admiration and respect… that he had subconsciously refused to allow himself to see it as anything else.
He still was finding it unbelievable that Shepard had suggested that they 'blow off steam' together.
With a grunt, wanting to find something productive and distracting from the raging hormones within him, the turian leapt over the railing hoping that some manual work on the guns would fulfill that need. Right now however, Garrus found himself missing the Mako, performing tune-up jobs on it… despite having to deal with Shepard's reckless driving…
Another groan left him as he threw his head back, cursing himself for letting his mind wander back to that woman. Not that he imagined anyone could blame him, a woman that had honey-brown skin, soft to the touch; an engaging laugh that poured from a mouth with a tempting smirk; with a toned body that evoked some of the most mind-numbing, crazed desires he had known…
Again he gave a frustrated growl, realizing just where his thoughts were traveling.
And this time he heard an amused laugh in accompaniment, just before a voice called out lightly, "So what's driving my gunnery officer mad today?"
Garrus jerked his head around to stare at the speaker, part surprised, yet also expecting of Shepard's appearance, the commander leaning her crossed arms against the railing and smirking down at him. He wonder if she was smirking because she had an inkling of what was going through his head right now. Knowing her, that was a completely possible scenario.
Especially as she not only wore a low-cut tank but also he could tell she wore no bra.
He forced his gaze away and back to the guns, fidgeting nervously as he tried to find an answer to her question without telling her that he was just daydreaming about fucking her. That would have been tactful. He eventually gave in with a vague, "I'm just frustrated."
"Obviously. Heard you and Jack almost got into a fight. Really, Garrus… picking a fight with a crazy, insane biotic is not the wisest decision…"
"I didn't pick it. She did," he muttered, hoping that Sheaprd didn't hear how the fight got started…
"Oh? I heard it was because you were giving her some rather… lecherous stares…"
Great…
"Care to elaborate?"
"Are you going to hear me out?" he gave a sigh, well aware that even turian females had a tendency to jump to conclusions. And he wouldn't even blame Shepard if she did. He really should have kept his eyes off of Jack's breasts… even if the damn psycho paraded around with nothing to hide them.
The human gave a sigh and said, "Garrus, you know I try to be reasonable. And I've never had any complaints of you like this before. And given the happenstance of a certain situation… I just want to know what's going on.
"I'm hoping that I didn't suddenly awaken some weird fetish for you…"
"That you really don't have to worry about," he sighed as well, giving up on trying to avoid eye contact as well as attempting to do any sort of work with this woman around. "But I don't know exactly how to put it…"
"Why? Because it's something I don't want to hear?"
"No," he snapped quickly, jerking onto his feet as he did. It was rather abrupt and probably a little perplexing why he reacted as he did, at least maybe for Shepard, but it was on impulse, urged on by a sudden worry that she had invoked. He had heard the taint of offense and worry in the woman's voice, which had made Garrus worry that she thought his interest in her was waning. He didn't want her thinking that. Not now. "Jack's not at all appealing to me, if that's what you're thinking. She's as likely as to kill me as to fuck me… neither of which I'd enjoy to experience," he added quickly as he strode up towards the railing.
The Spectre gave a subdued nod, which hardly eased the vigilante's senses. Not as he noticed how her eyes seemed to gather tears. And not as she uttered, "Because it's Jack… or because she's a human…"
"Because she's Jack," he replied quickly, reaching up for her hand and grasping. He was glad to feel her hand tightened around his, her eyes pleading with him.
"So… what was going on, Garrus? I don't like it when I can't get a proper explanation…"
"I wouldn't blame you. It's just… I don't…" He gave another sigh before he released her hand and ducked under the railing to climb up onto the deck where she stood. He wanted to step in close and hold her. Both of them were wearing casual wear – armor wasn't hindering either of them today – and her arms were bare; he wanted to feel her yielding frame properly against his thick hide and touch her soft skin once more. But the door was still open and right now he was terrified to discover what would happen behind closed doors for them.
So he stood a far distance from her and whispered his answer. "I… I'm just confused. About what we talked about. You and me… blowing off steam, easing tension. Just… Shepard, it's just that I've never considered cross-species intercourse before." He paused and grimaced, eventually muttering, "Dammit. Saying it that way doesn't help. That just sounds… clinical and dirty."
"Garrus, if you're trying to say that you don't want this…"
"That's not what I'm saying at all, Shepard," he interrupted, his hands itching to take hold of hers, but he knew that right now he couldn't. Not while they were open to the sight of others. And there were several sitting out in the mess now. And Garrus caught the passing glances. "Just… is it hard to believe that I'm a little confused about this, about why I agreed to this…"
"No, but all I'm hearing is that you don't want this and… all right, forget I said anything," she relented with a sigh, stepping away and turning towards the door…
Sending a panic over Garrus.
He didn't stop to think as cold dread rushed through his body, reacting on impulse. His hand flew over the console behind him, signaling the door to slam shut and lock. But before the metal clamp had sounded, Garrus swiftly closed the distance between the two of them, his hand grasping Shepard by the wrist, practically throwing her forward as he shoved her back up against the bulkhead. He heard her gasp, caught a glimpse of surprise in her beautifully warm eyes, heard his name pass through her lips… but the lull had only lasted for the moment he was able to throw of his visor. Then he was nuzzling her neck, not unlike that time they had been alone in the public shuttle.
His breath was shallow and rapid and perfectly in tune with the short, pleading gasps the human female gave. She shuddered and trembled in his arms, exciting his predator instincts as he subconsciously acknowledged how much more fragile a human was compared to a turian; it was a fact he enjoyed as his mandibles fluttered, one feeling the caress of her silky skin and sending a certain tingle down his spine. But whatever frailty he thought she had was contradicted to the strength in her hands and arms as she clung to him – one arm around his waist and a hand seizing his shoulder – with such a death grip, Garrus was sure it would take an amazing effort to break free of her.
But separating his body from her was a notion far from his mind as her scent invaded his senses. Faint, sweet, tempting… and driving him crazy. She was tantalizing and in his heady state, he remembered the subtly delectable taste of her skin he had sampled the time he had almost bit her. Again his mouth closed around the joint of her neck, a jerk rippling through her body… before a shrill cry fled her as he slid his tongue over her skin.
"Oh… god, Garrus!" she gasped, her breathing erratic as her chest rose and fled with each short breath… before she gave another gasp as he moved his mouth upwards and licked the edge of her jaw. "Oh hell, you damn turian…"
"You deserve it," he murmured lowly against her skin, slipping his tongue behind her ear, urging another gasp and shudder from her before he pulled away, his mandibles giving a gentle shake of amusement. "Still think I don't want this?"
"I can't even think right now," she said between heavy breaths which grew faster as he pressed himself against her, pinning her securely against the wall as he felt a slight sense of relief come over him, gaining an idea of what her 'soft' body felt like. Her skin was soft… but the muscle beneath was hard and firm, an interesting sensation certainly. Though not nearly as interesting as the feel of her soft, firm breasts were. Well… interesting and maddening.
"Aside from 'this is one hot turian?'" he teased, perhaps a little too confidently, but it wasn't his fault if he knew it was the truth. Both from his experience with turians and Shepard; she was a little too willing and responsive to not be driven as mad by him as he was by her.
And she did tell him she preferred him cocky to worrisome.
"You goddamn cocky bastard," she growled, but the hunger in her eyes was too clear for him to think she was mad. Mad with lust maybe… "Am I going to have to kick your ass around?"
"Only if I'm slamming yours…"
"I… you…" she gasped, her mouth falling open as she blinked up at him with shock. When she found her voice again, it was quiet… and tentative. "So… you do want to still? You haven't changed your mind?"
"No," he whispered, leaning back down to gently nuzzle her neck once more, this time giving affectionate purrs as his hands took a secure, but tender hold of her bare shoulders. "I've been having too many dreams about you to let this go. At least easily."
"Thank God. You almost scared me," she murmured, her own head falling forward as her arms embraced him desperately. Then her hands were at his chest, shoving Garrus away as she stared up at him. "But wait… you still didn't tell me what was going on with Jack. You said you were confused about… about having sex with me, a human…"
He had to blink at her blunt words. Not that he wasn't used to her brutal honesty, but he knew she was usually a bit more tactful. Though… she also had a tendency to bring up something that usually didn't want to be discussed, but needed to be… like what happened with Sidonis and this incident with Jack.
Why the hell did she have to remember her earlier questions?
"So you're not confused about the idea at all? You've wondered about having sex with a turian plenty of times?"
Her immediate response was a shocked cough before she pushed away from him and stepped aside. "What?! No… I…" Then she gave a soft laugh, shaking her head before smiling up at him. "Alright, I get it.
"But I still want to know what that has to do with Jack…"
"Well, because… she's human. And a female. And… she was there," he mumbled out, taking a step back from her as well, his mandibles twitching with nervousness, hoping he wasn't fucking this up excessively. "Just… I was trying to figure out what it is about you that is driving me crazy, how I find you appealing when you're nothing like a turian, and… I could only find Jack's figure appalling."
"Oh," she whispered, hugging herself and… dammit, he saw how her forearms pressed against her breasts shoving them together and upwards, making them appear more pronounced. He wanted to feel them again… hold them. At least until her words blew his heady thoughts out of his mind. "So… do you find my body appalling?"
"In comparison to Jack? I've seen more of her than you," he said bluntly and unthinking.
And regretting that he had done so.
An awkward silence came over them as he felt Shepard's eyes bore into his, a sense of shock within. He didn't blame her. He might as well have told her to take her shirt off so he could make a precise comparison. It wouldn't have made a difference. Either way he sounded like an ass.
"Huh, I wasn't trying to say… that… well," he tried to apologize, but stumbled over his words, unable to come out and say anything. If he did, would she have thought that he now found human females disgusting and he didn't want to see her? That wasn't his thought at all, not as he stared at how she looked today.
He did enjoy seeing her in her new outfit the other day and realized that while she was a soldier through and through, she didn't lack in fashion sense. But… there was something about her tech-savvy and aptitude with firearms that made him appreciate the woman she was, how she didn't mind getting her hands dirty, either working on her armaments or even the ship itself. And right now, she looked like a grunge mechanic with that slack, white tank; a pair of loose, grease-stained work jeans, similar to what she wore on the old Normandy when working; and her combat boots.
She looked as far from an epitome of femininity as Jack did… but she didn't lose any of the appeal.
And he didn't know how to say that, to kill the silence that consumed them.
Shepard shifted her weight from one foot to the other, her gaze darting back and forth nervously before he watched her move towards the crate that she would sit on something when speaking to him. He gave a helpless sigh, wondering how much longer they wouldn't speak to each other… and if now she might have second thoughts.
Dammit, why was he having such a hard time saying the right thing around Shepard?
Watch him blow this like so many other things in his life…
"Shepard, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have…" Garrus stopped mid-sentence as he watched her trembling hands move to the hem of her tank and slowly peel the sloth away from her body and up. He felt his throat tighten and his eyes go wide as he watched her bare her stomach to him. Then her ribs, and… he sucked in his breath, taking a tentative step forward, mesmerized as he took in the sight of her naked breasts.
She dropped her shirt, her hands coming together at her waist with her fingers fidgeting and head low. "They're not the, huh… 'best example' of breasts," she began in a whisper as she bit her lip and her shoulders shivered. "Miranda's would be more appropriate for that. They're bigger and fuller. Mine aren't much bigger than Jack's, so…"
"They're not appalling," he cut in, still nervous about closing the distance between them, but did so now if at least to allay any insecurities she had at the thought of his revulsion, a revulsion that was completely nonexistent. He didn't know what he expected when they'd put his reach and her flexibility to the test, but he wasn't at all surprised to find himself as amused and amazed as he was to see her standing before him half-naked.
She was right. Her breasts weren't much bigger than Jack's, but he felt that they were fuller, a bit more pronounced. And her body was definitely more fleshed out than the biotic, even if it was just as toned. But he could see the faint definitions of her muscle much easier on the soldier before him. Then there was the soft, flawless tan of her skin in comparison to Jack's paleness and chaotic assortment of tattoos. Nothing marred her body except for a few scars and those only seemed to add to how fascinating he found her willingness to do what was needed, not shying away from difficult situations.
He wondered how difficult she found taking off her shirt in front of a turian…
"Thanks, but… I'm sorry the human you get isn't perfect," Shepard muttered, her eyes still avoiding his as her finger began to trace a scar on her stomach. "I'm a poor example…"
"You're the only example I want," he interrupted her again, now standing before her and reaching one hand to her jaw and lifting her face up to his. She looked uncertain, but hopeful and he couldn't help but give a light flap of relief with his mandibles. "You probably have heard enough from others about how beautiful you are…"
A sense of lightness descended as Shepard gave a scoff and rolled her eyes before staring up at him jadedly. "I'm a soldier, Garrus. I usually hear from other guys how I'm not feminine enough or they're too scared the even speak."
"Can you blame them? You can drill a hole between their eyes from a hundred meters," he pointed out with a chuckle, enjoying the smile that cracked onto her lips. "And you can be very brutal in a fight."
"So… are you one of those scared men?"
"A little. Can't help but be daunted to stand before the great Commander Shepard. Even when she's half-naked."
"Garrus!" she cried indignantly as she slapped his shoulder then made a grimace. "Obviously you're not scared enough to be teasing me like this."
"Obviously…"
"So I have to ask…"
"Yes?"
"Why so scared to touch my breasts? They're on display. I hate when they are and they aren't being appreciated."
Now it was his turned to be speechless, his eyes darting from her fact to her breasts and back. "I… you actually… you're telling me to… you don't mind?"
"I took my shirt off for you, didn't I? Of course I'm sure," she return, grasping his free hand and guiding it to her breast, reminding him how she let this same hand pass over her body that time in the shuttle.
But he broke his arm away from her grasp before his talons could even brush against her breasts. She gave an incensed huff, but fell silent as he grasped her by the shoulders and pushed her down. Shepard amazed him by obeying the directive, sitting down by the crate as he knelt by her side. He braced one arm on the crate, sliding the other hand down from her shoulder, over the side of her breast, to her stomach. She gave a soft jerk then moved to slide her body between his legs and moved his hand back to her breast with a sharp intake. He took the hint and settled his hand fully over her soft, warm breast, feeling his blood heat as she gave a shudder and lashed one hand to grab him by the neck. He gave a chuckle before leaning down, once against letting his mouth and tongue tend to her neck even as his hand fondled her breast.
If she was restless in the shuttle, she was worse now. Her body didn't stay still. She was constantly squirming and pressing in close. Her hands gripped and tugged at his shirt, only to make her grow frustrated as he did nothing to help her undress him. But she was growing impatient and he knew that an impatient Shepard was never a good thing.
At least while she in control of her senses.
He wanted to make her lose them…
With a dark chuckle, Garrus shoved the crate aside. The human gave a startled gasp as she fell back, but his hand took hold of her head before she crashed her skull against the metal floor. Though he gently lowered her head to the floor, the moment of care fled quickly as he returned to his lustful play with her body. His hand at her breast now took one of her nipples between his two talons, amused by how her peak had hardened and stood erect. A low rumble pressed up from his chest as Shepard arched her back and gave a shrill cry before a continuous string of pleading moans fell from her lips, her hands gripping onto his back, attempting to drag him down to her. Garrus obeyed, finding no reason not to, especially as he wanted to come closer to that soft, warm body of hers. After all, her reactions where more engaging the closer his body was to hers. And he enjoyed tasting her body, experiencing the responses she gave as he breathed against her skin or – as he discovered this time – as slipped his tongue against her skin.
An intriguing thought passed through his mind and he didn't think twice before acting on it.
Which involved sliding down along her body and taking her unattended nipple in his mouth, teasing the pink perk with his tongue.
Hell, she was screaming and thrashing about now, gasping with both raging ire and insane desire, her finger nails attempting to shred the back of his shirt. It only made him more amused and aroused, darkly laughing without ceasing as he continued what must be sweet torture on her body. But he had his own torment that he was dealing with, a torment that made him absently pry one of Shepard's hands from his back and drag it down to his groin…
"Oh…" she gave a gasp as her body went still and her hand grasped his erect arousal. Her hand rolled against his member, still barred from her by his pants, but not at all easing the sensation he gained, both maddening and delicious. Garrus couldn't concentrate enough to continue teasing her breasts, shifting instead to rest his forehead in the crook of her neck, breathing shortly and heavily against her skin as his hand released hers and now braced against the cold metal beneath them. And now the only movement he could make in his state was the thrusting of his hips into her hand.
She gave a laugh, impish but light as she took her chance to tease him. The sound of her amusement died quickly however, replaced by her yearning moans even as she turned her head to press gentle kisses over his face. He gave a repressed sigh at the feather-light brush of her lips, silently bemoaning how he never had a chance to feel this sort of tenderness before Shepard… but also delighting in the thought; he didn't want to think another could compare to this woman and whatever he had the chance to experience with her, he didn't want it to ever blend into a memory of another either before or after – something he hoped would never happen but reluctantly had to acknowledge was fully possible.
After all… was it really right for him to expect that he could ever have this mystifying creature all to himself?
"Garrus… dammit! I can't take this anymore!" she snapped impatient as her other hand gripped his that still lingered at her breast and jerked his limb downward.
"Shepard, wait!" he cried out, jerking upwards and attempting to drag his hand back to him. She forced his hand down too quickly and too close to her skin; he was worried his talons would hurt her.
But her hold was too strong for him to pull out of and his attempt to fist his hand to shield his talons away from her worked against him. Instead of shielding her skin from his sharp claws, he only made it possible to rip through the skin of her abdomen more viciously than he would have if he went along with her action. Instead now there were two dreadful slashes not far from her belly button.
He sat upright now, staring down that the wounds and feeling utter grief in seeing what he did to Shepard and realizing that maybe it was best that whatever they had agreed to they forgot. He didn't want to think about that, but… between the violent tendencies of turian sex and all his physical attributes that were well suited for an animalistic predator, there really was too much of a chance to hurt the human during such an uninhibited act.
"How bad does it feel?" he asked quietly and regretfully as he helped her to sit up against the wall, only feeling worse as she gave a wince and inhaled sharply.
"It's just annoying," she shrugged rather easily, absently brushing her hand against her wounds and gazing down at the blood now on her hand. "It probably just looks worse than it really is."
"You're in pain," he countered.
Shepard only scoffed however. "And a nick to the skin hurts like hell but it's not worth anyone's attention."
"This is in need of attention, Shepard," he pointed out sternly as he took hold of her shirt and gave it to her. But she made no attempt to replace it. "You need to get this tended to. You need to see Dr. Chakwas."
"No, I don't," she bit back, just as challenging, still pressing a hand to her stomach. "I just need some medi-gel and this will be hardly a footnote in my life."
"Ok. You're right," he groaned with frustration as he stood, giving in as he hoped that she'd put her tank back on and go to the medical ward. "We'll go get some you some. So, put your shirt on."
"No… you'll get me some medi-gel," she continued to rebuff. "If I go to the ward, Chakwas will fuss over me and then we'll both get a lecture we don't need. Besides… this doesn't need a doctor's attention."
He gave another groan, giving up. He wasn't in the mood to stand here and argue with her. He could carry her if he wanted, but that wouldn't help them in regards to the rumor. And she still kept her shirt off. If she wasn't going to put it on, he wasn't going to take the time to wrestle her back in it. Not as blood still oozed from her cuts.
Turning swiftly, he stormed out of the gunnery control station, waiting until the doors slid shut before he made his way towards the mess hall and the ward. And running into Thane.
"What was going on in there?" he questioned with his hoarse voice, casting concerned stares in the direction Garrus had come from. "We heard screaming a moment ago. Is Shepard in there? Is she all right?"
The turian only glared at the drell… before hearing snickering nearby. He spun around to see Tali and Kelly both sitting in the mess hall as well. Not a sight that eased the tension gathering in his shoulders.
And neither did what he heard next.
"I always wondered if Shepard meant anything when she mentioned that dangerous men fit into her life," Kelly continued to snicker behind her hand. "Alenko's profile didn't make him sound like he'd match that stereotype…"
"Whatever she wants to do with her time is her business, not yours," Garrus snarled, unaware of how he had pulled back his mandibles to bare his fangs. He recalled that Kelly had a hand with the rumor when it first spread and that Shepard had an aversion towards psychologists after the number of them she had to deal with after Akuze, even after her psych evaluation proved her to be fit for duty. And with Kelly's 'bubbly,' and naïve personality, he only found more than enough reasons to not wish to deal with the redheaded human.
"Not my fault if you're loud enough to heard even past these bulkheads," the human grumbled, turning away and back to her food, just as the enraged vigilante faced the assassin once more.
"Krios… move," she snarled lowly, letting a growl rumbled from deep within his chest.
But Thane remained steadfast before Garrus, not holding a fearsome glare on the turian, but a stern one. One that was pissing Garrus of…
"Hey, Krios, you shouldn't worry about Shepard if Garrus is with her," Tali quickly spoke up, jumping up from her seat and moving to stand by the two men.
"He is not with her. Not at the moment," the drell countered, his gaze not breaking away from Garrus's.
"Then he has a reason," Tali continued before Garrus had a chance to snarl his reasoning, the quarian shoving her way between them and pushing them apart. They both relented to step back. "Krios, trust me. I know Garrus and there's no one that means more to him than the commander.
"He would never intentionally harm Shepard."
"I hope you are right, Tali'Zorah," Thane muttered, relenting to gaze down at the female between them then stepped away, but not without a last glower Garrus's way.
But the turian didn't care. No one was in his way now; Tali had quickly stepped out of his way, though she followed after him.
"Garrus… what is going on? You two aren't… in there, are you?"
He just scoffed, not wanting to answer that. If his talons hadn't gotten in the way, he imagined that another scream might be piercing the air right now… and he didn't know how he felt about that.
"If Shepard wants you to know, she'll tell you," was all he answered, shoving past Tali and into the medical ward, his hasty entrance enough to call Dr. Chakwas's attention to him.
"Vakarian? Is something a matter?" the elderly woman questioned with concern… enough to make the turian's anger to fade. He would have preferred if Shepard had come her to see the doctor instead of him coming here for a few supplies.
"I just need a few alcohol wipes and a pack of medi-gel. Shepard hurt herself on some machinery," he lied, knowing that the doctor would have probed him for the reason of his presence. Better to come out with some excuse now before he ended up blurting out the truth…
We were in the middle of some foreplay that didn't work out smoothly. As if he'd need to deal with that statement.
"Constantly trying to do some work around here, isn't she?" Chakwas chuckled, standing to gather the few items requested and returning to stand before Garrus… but she did not hand the items over yet. "It would have been easier for her to just come here. Why didn't she? She's not hurt too badly, is she?"
No, just refusing to throw on a shirt, he thought but instead said, "She figured you'd fuss over her if she came to you. You know how she gets when she feel underestimated."
"Ah, yes. Always trying to be our indomitable leader," she chuckled, just about to hand over the items… before pulling her hands back as her brows cocked with concerned curiosity. That wasn't a good thing. "Vakarian, I have to ask… is the rumor true at all? That you and Shepard are romantically involved?"
He expected the question, but still, it didn't stop Garrus from jerking as he began to desperately wish the old woman would just hand over the items. "I, ah… we… we haven't had sex, if that's what you mean," he blurted out, unable to deny the truth, but not wanting to say it either.
"That wasn't my question. I asked if you are romantically involved. Not sexually."
He gulped. "No," he said, telling himself that whatever was happening between wasn't really romantic. Passionate maybe, lustful, certainly, but romantic… he didn't think he should believe it was like that.
Not if this had a high chance of not working out.
The doctor watched him cagily, but neither one of them said a thing until the human finally sighed and dumped the medical supplies in Garrus's hands. The turian gave a short statement of thanks and began to rush for the door, but stopped as Chakwas spoke before he got two steps away.
"I'm just worried that Shepard is still suffering from what Alenko said to her and that she might be latching onto the closest person to her. And I know she's had you on her mind ever since the terrible incident on Omega. Threw a fit when she couldn't be in the room as we worked on you and Taylor couldn't calm her down as she waited.
"And I did remember how broken you looked after the first Normandy was destroyed. You seemed more lost than even Alenko did. You've always seemed to be the kind who would take a bullet for her and do whatever you could for her, even if it wasn't something you agreed to, one hundred percent."
"Any of us from the old crew would have done the same," Garrus reasoned, turning around to speak to the woman even though all he wanted to do was run out the door. The fact that Shepard was bleeding was part of it too…
"Would we? Alenko certainly didn't return to this crew. And I know Dr. T'Soni had her reasons to remain on Ilium, but she's not here either, now is she?" Chakwas challenge, returning to her seat. "All that she has of the old crew are Joker, myself, Tali… and you. And the two of you do have kindred souls.
"I'm just hoping you two don't do something you'll end up regretting…"
"We're not," he said, not sure if he was telling the truth or lying. Probably the latter…
"Perhaps not," the doctor said as a smirk crossed her lips and a chuckle sounded. "By the loud screaming I heard not too long ago, I'd say you must be satisfying her very much. I understand that the young enjoy some rather… passionate bouts together, but don't get carried away…"
Garrus felt his eyes go wide before he spun around swiftly and dashed out of the door, his mind shaking as he still heard the lingering chuckle of Chakwas in his head. And distracting him to the point that he didn't notice running into Tali.
"Wait… what the hell happened in there?!" the quarian cried, her head jerking up and down – she was probably looking from him to his arms and back. "I thought you guys were… well, you know. Not trying to kill each other or something!"
"Obviously quarians never had rough sex before," he grumbled, glad that it got Tali to shut up and stumble back, letting him continue on to where he left Shepard, no one following him or bothering him.
"Took your time," she mumbled, holding her short of her breasts, but let it fall back to the ground once the turian shut the door behind him. "The blood's not flowing anymore. See? It wasn't a problem."
"You don't want an infection to settle in and those gashes are too wide to let them heal on their own without some sort of aid," he countered, kneeling down by her and handing the items out to her. She didn't take them, prompting him to ask. "Aren't you going to take care of this? At least for my sake."
"If you care so much, you do it," she interjected, her brown eyes hard as she held his gaze.
He gave a sigh, not willing to fight with her right now. They had stalled too long with this wound and he didn't need to stall it longer. He first took one of the wipes to clean the blood away – first from her hand then the wounds themselves –his mandible giving ashamed vibrations each time she winced and wishing he hadn't done this to her in the first place. It didn't matter that she had made the move that caused it. If he was human, this wouldn't be an issue…
"At least you're not wimping out on me," Shepard muttered as the last of the viscous blood remnants were cleaned away. "Thought you'd chicken out again and run off with your tail between your legs…"
"You're hitting below the belt with that, don't you think?" he countered a little more gruffly than he wanted to.
"I'm going by observation, you bastard," she snapped. "I get a stupid cut and you're jumping away, trying to get me to leave. What? Suddenly terrified by the thought of having sex with me because I'm too fucking frail for you?"
He jerked his gaze over to hears, watching her angry eyes carefully before turning back to his task, applying the medi-gel to her gashes. "I just… I don't want to end up hurting you. I told you that turians have rough sex. Probably too rough for humans…"
"And you think that's going to fucking scare me? I survived a thresher maw attack and you think that because you might leave bite marks in my neck, on my shoulders is going to make me think twice?!" she cried out with a rage he heard very few times, slapping him across the face and shoving him away from her. "We chased Saren and his geth and Sovereign all over the galaxy two years ago and you think that I'd be reluctant to let you have your way with me because I might be bleeding when all is said and done?
"I was killed by the Collectors and we're planning on taking the fight to them in a fucking suicide mission and you think I'd be daunted by the notion that you might be slamming your cock into my cunt a little too fucking hard?!"
"Shepard… it doesn't matter if you're fine with this. I don't want to add to the problems people have been adding onto you,' he tried to reason, shocked by her words even as he reached for her as he worried about her gashes. And glancing down, sure enough the blood was oozing once more. "Shepard… your wounds…"
"I don't give a fuck about them! And don't give me any bullshit that you're going to leave me because you care!"
"I didn't say that…"
"If you're going to back out of sex because you don't want to hurt me, then you might as well be leaving!" the raging woman snarled as she shoved him away again, this time pounding her fists against his chest. "This wouldn't be a problem if you told me in the beginning that you don't want this. But you didn't! You said you want this! But now… dammit, Garrus! Don't do this to me!
"After everyone and everything I've lost… don't make me lose you too."
Nervously, his mandibles gave a twitch. But he ignored his misgiving and instead wrapped his arms around her slender body, pulling her in, and holding her close, hoping this might comfort her. However it seemed he was wrong as Shepard suddenly broke down into tears. He thought that meant what he was doing was wrong and attempted to pull away… until she sobbed weakly, "Please, Garrus. I'd rather you'd tear me to shreds with your talons, your teeth, whatever… I'd rather you do that than break away another piece of my heart.
"I could handle everything else thrown my way, ripped away from me…
"I could never handle watching you walk away…"
"Shepard… I'm not leaving," he said, leaning forward to whisper the words in her ear. "I just… I don't want to hurt you in any way. It's been bad enough seeing how so many have turned their back on you and you're forced to work with the people that made you live through Akuze. I just don't want to add to that pain."
"Garrus… I told you. You can tear me to shreds, you could mangle my physical body and it wouldn't compare to the pain if… if we can't be and remain more than friends," she spoke quietly and between choked out sobs as she shifted her face to turn towards his, her watery brown eyes pleading with him. "I… I don't… Garrus, I'm not trying to pressure you into sex, if you really are that uncomfortable with it. I just… I know that you're not. Not completely. After what just happened… no, I know you want this.
"I just… I don't see how we can just go back to being friends. Whatever 'friendship' we'd be left with, it would be strained and mangled. I don't want that. I couldn't stand that.
"Tell me you couldn't either…"
"I couldn't," he murmured, leaning in to rest his forehead against hers, whispering against her lips and breathing her in, enjoying the sweet warmth of her breath… and dreading the thought of ever being without this, without her. He didn't want the empty life he had to experience these last two years. Never again. "You're all I have left in this screwed-up galaxy, Shepard. It's not that I'm uncomfortable about sex with you, except… like I said, I don't want to hurt you. If this is going to be something for us to share, I'd rather it be something to treasure, not regret.
"I'm just nervous about this… about ruining this for you… for us…"
"Garrus… how many real relationships have you been in? How long have they lasted?" the Spectre questioned, throwing him off guard with her words as her hand reached up to gently run the backs of her fingers against his cheek.
"I… I've had a few that lasted nearly a year or so…"
"How long had you been having sex with any of those girls?"
"A couple months at least."
"Was it perfect when it started out?"
"Well, no… though it did get close with the later ones. You can't have decent one-night stands without knowing what the hell to do and how to do it properly…"
"That's not what the question was," Shepard scoffed, a hand slapping his shoulder, a move that made them both give a light, but awkward laugh, leaving them gazing into each others' eyes with a rather strange sense of delight. The delight was clear on Shepard's lips as a smile cracked onto her lips. "Garrus… as much as I love it when you're cocky… you just make me want to kick your ass at the same time…"
"You're free to when the wounds are healed. We still have to put on the medi-gel," he reminded.
"I'm trying to make a point here…"
"I'm not saying you can't. Just let me get this mess taken care of."
"All right," she said softly, scooting back to rest against the wall again, letting him once against clean the new splatters of blood on her skin – some was on their clothes now, but there was nothing they could do about that. "But what I was trying to get at is… so what if all that we get that first time is no more than some horrible interspecies-awkwardness encounter? It's never perfect the first time. You work at it. Make it better. You'll try to if it means that much to you…"
"Glad to know that you're not holding any impossible standards over my head," he chuckled, feeling a little eased, though only by a little. He was more worried about making sure she would be alive and breathing rather than making her experience mind-blowing sex. Though that wouldn't be bad if he could… "Although either way, at least we can rely on a fight with the Collectors to be a welcomed distraction. So, you know… a win either way."
She gave an amused laugh, one that warmed his soul and eased him as he watched the wounds quickly mend. He was glad to see that and realize… maybe whatever difficulties lay before them didn't matter. Be it physical harm or onlookers' opinions. Anyone would be lucky to have a woman like Shepard wanting to be at his – or even her – side. He certainly considered himself lucky to have her a part of his life.
"So… we're doing this then? You're not backing out of this?" she questioned as Garrus pushed aside the unneeded and used medical materials and scooted over to sit next to her. He let his mandible give a thrilled flutter as she leaned in against him, her head on his shoulder and arms around his waist. He didn't at all stall in wrapping his arms around her.
"No. I'm not backing out. Hell… I must be a crazy bastard to be going through with this…"
"Given that you're following me into hell also… we're both mad…"
"Yeah… this is just one ship full of lunatics," he chuckled, turning back to face her and nuzzling his face in her hair, enjoying how the strands caressed his face and mandibles gently. She was so different from a turian and… he had to admit that was probably one of the things that appealed to him the most. But…
He felt his mind freeze and his hold tightened around Shepard as a through struck him.
He was realizing how he prefer the feel of a human to a turian, but… he found it hard to believe that this woman was growing to appreciate his kind more than hers as well. Not with how tough their carapace was, having mandibles and talons that humans did not…
He had to know what she thought…
"Shepard…"
"Janelle."
"Huh?" Garrus said, pulling away to stare at her.
"I said 'Janelle,'" she replied, looking up to him with a smile as her hand running tender circles over his chest. "If we're going to be lovers, I don't want you calling me 'Shepard' anymore. Technically this is a civilian operation. No military jurisdiction here. So I want you to call me 'Janelle' from now on…
"I'm just not eager to hear you muttering 'Shepard' when we get that chance to blow off some steam."
"I… I'll try, She… I mean, Janelle," he said, testing the name on his lips. He didn't know what he thought of it except… it was strange. It was a rather feminine name, as far as he could tell. He'd never say that she was an utterly masculine person, but she wasn't the most feminine woman that he knew, that was for sure.
Still… he liked the idea of no longer referring to her so formally…
But that didn't make him forget the issue.
"Sh… Janelle, I have to ask though. Are you really sure about this? I mean… you really wouldn't prefer someone closer to home? Someone that won't be so… problematic to sleep with?"
The immediate response, was a slap against his chest. "Garrus, if I wanted someone 'closer to home,' don't you think I'd have just that? Please… I'm not so inept that I couldn't reel in whatever man I wanted."
"True… you know how to wrap someone around your finger."
"Like you?"
"I mean… any of your average fans that have no chance against your whims…"
A scoff sound from She… Janelle's mouth – this wasn't going to be easy – as she shook her head and turned to kiss his scarred mandible. "Whatever you say, Turian. But seriously…
"If you're worried because you're so different from a human, I don't care about that. Not while everything that I've had a chance to experience with you is nothing short of amazing. Even that little misfortune of wounding hardly put a dent in the experience."
"That's nice to know…"
"It should be and… another thing…
"Garrus, you said that I'm all you have left in this galaxy. I can't say that I don't have anyone other than you. That would just be mean to Tali," she interjected with a chuckled before her voice grew somber once more and she moved to settle herself in his lap. "But you are one of the few people in this galaxy that I can trust. And that's what I need right now, someone I can trust, someone I know will be there.
"It's just a perk that that someone is you, someone who I enjoyed being around for so long…"
"It's a perk to know that the 'great Commander Shepard' feels that way about me," he teased, before giving a thrilled laugh as she slapped his shoulder again. He continued to laugh as his hands took her face in his grasp and pulled her towards him, bringing their foreheads together once more, allowing him to settle in a satisfied ease.
Though Janelle didn't let it end there as she leaned further forward and kissed his lips.
Then her arms were around his neck and she kissed him again. And again… and again…
Until she gave a groan and shoved him back.
"You know, this would be a bit more enjoyable if you'd respond," she muttered with a pout.
"Like how? Like this?" he questioned, a hand moving to her still bare chest and carefully squeezing one of her pink nipples. She gave a shriek and grabbed hold of his arm, gently tugging it away. Garrus took the hint and let his hand fall away, a little disappointed that he couldn't continued the tease.
"I mean by kissing," she clarified with a jaded glare.
One he returned.
"Are you forgetting that I'm a turian?" he asked, point to his mouth. "It's not like our mouths are the same and much made for kissing."
"So turians don't kiss? That sucks," she scoffed before leaning forward and draping her arms around his neck again as she continued to press small kisses over his face. "But don't try to fool me, Garrus. You can kiss. I watch you talk enough. Your mouth is flexible enough. Maybe only for a little less passionate kissing, but… hell, at least you could try…"
"You're getting a little demeaning there, Janelle," he warned mockingly, grabbing her by the shoulders and shoving forward… attempting to kiss her as best as he had felt her kisses.
He didn't know how badly he had done so as her laughed filled his ears.
"See? Told you that you could at least try," she said, her voice sounding cocky itself. But he didn't care, only feeling relief flood him… and curiosity. Just how much more was he going to experience with her? How much more enjoyable was she going to be able to make the eventual encounter?
He thought 'eventual.' Apparently, she didn't.
Not as her lips were hard against his again, overwhelming him as he struggled to follow through with her mouth's motions. It was a losing battle, given his newness to this behavior and her familiarity with it. And then she sent his mind into a numb state as he felt her tongue enter his mouth and caress his tongue. Like so much that he felt about her, even her tongue felt soft against his and her taste was so luscious… he was losing his mind. He couldn't think straight, not even noticing how roughly he handled her bare back. Instead all he could think about was how delicious in entirety that this creature in his lap was. How she drove him mad. How he needed inside her…
Without an indication to either of them, Garrus jerked forward, shoving Janelle down on the ground and holding her there, arms length away from him. If he worried that she would take offense, his worry could be delayed as she did nothing but stare up at him, breathing heavy and restlessly as she stared up at him with hunger that was not sated.
Oh fuck no…
"Janelle. You… you're not…" he gasped between his own shallow breaths, as well as wrestling to formulate a cohesive thought. It wasn't easy as all he could think was how moist and swollen her burgundy lips looked and the enchanting way her breasts rose and fell. Oh, he was fucked… "Janelle… you want to? Now?"
"I haven't left my shirt off this long just for pointless advertisement," she griped, a scowl forming on her face.
"You mean… you didn't wear your bra on purpose…"
"On purpose to seduce you? No. On purpose because I felt like being lazy today, yes. I wasn't planning on getting fucked in the main battery, but right now… I'll explode if I put this off much longer…"
"So… if I say… to wait, you'll explode on me?" he risked questioning, hoping she wasn't really going to explode on him. He already pissed her off once today and that had scared the hell out of him.
Anger didn't cross her face, thankfully. Just… disbelief.
"Wait… you want to wait?" she whispered, her mouth falling open.
"If you're okay with that," he nodded. "I… it's only been a few days and… this is completely new to me. I know you said that the first time probably won't be perfect, but… I'd like to try to make it as best and experience as we can.
"In case I get my epic death that you denied me…"
"Oh… you… fucking bastard!" she snarled, quickly shoving at his shoulder and forcing them to roll, making him end up on his back as she sat atop him. He had to admit… she looked goddamn sexy this way. "You're not fucking dying on me. If it sucks, I'm not letting our sex life end that way and if it's the most amazing bout of mind-blowing sex that I'll ever experience… you fucking die on me and I swear… I'll make sure that there's no rest for your soul…"
"But if I do…" he couldn't help but tease.
"Oh no, you won't. You're not getting away that easily…"
"Still… are you going to refuse waiting?"
"We could always do our research here and now," Janelle smirked, rolling her crotch against his groin, urging a groan from him.
"We could… but given that they did hear you scream… it might not be best…"
"They what? Shit," she groaned, her shoulders slump and her head thrown back. "Tell me Tali wasn't out there."
"She was. And so was Kelly."
"I'm fucked…"
"You are…" he chuckled, moving to sit upright again, his arms going around her once more as he give her another light kiss before caressing her cheek with his unscarred mandible. "And I'll be sure to make sure it's worth it. Besides, it would be nice to be able to wave of the rumor by at least saying we haven't have sex if asked. At least until we don't have a choice…"
"I suppose… but I don't want to have to wait until the 'calm before the storm,' Garrus. You're driving me mad…"
"So we'll have lots of tension that needs eased when the time comes," he assured her before letting his arms drop away as she made to stand up. "Besides, is it so bad to want to savor the last shot before popping the heat sink?"
Janelle had made her way to where her shirt lay and had just pulled it on as he ended his question. And as he did, she whipped a wide eyes stare at him before a smile cracked over her lips and laughter burst from her as she doubled over. For a moment, he remained confused… until he remembered what he had said.
"Oh shit… Janelle, I wasn't trying to say…" he began as he rose back onto his feet. But he didn't get to finish his words. Not as a finger came to rest against his lips.
"Didn't I tell you before that I prefer you cocky to worrisome? And don't worry," she smirked as she stepped forward and keyed in the unlock for the door. "I like it when a man talks dirty to me…"
"You're just trying to torment me," Garrus gave a groan, tilting his head in defeat.
"Maybe. And you deserve it, telling me to wait," she scoffed before she stood on her toes and granted him another kiss, one that he responded to, wrapping an arm around her as he did. "You just better make sure you make sure the wait is worth it. But hold off on the best stuff. I won't mind being unable to get out of bed after we deal with the Collectors. But before…"
"Trust me… one thing I don't want to ruin is another suicide mission with you."
"Good to know, now… I guess I'll let you get back to work," she teased as she walked back towards the door.
As Garrus had to groan as the door came open. Work. Right. "As if I'm in a great place to optimize firing algorithms, right now."
"And what's that supposed to mean?" a new voice interrupted and made Janelle spin around to face the intruder of their teasing.
While the teasing couple might be now startled, the intruder looked pissed.
Of course… that wasn't unusual for Miranda.
"Shepard?! What the hell was going on in there?!" the Cerberus officer hissed. "People have heard things and you've apparently spent a rather lengthy time in here with just the turian…"
"Miranda, the turian has a name. Garrus Vakarian," the infiltrator interrupted, crossing arms and gave the black-haired woman a smirk that was something both mischievous and blissful. "As for what was going on… just a tease of a paradise of ecstasy.
"You know… maybe you should find a guy to relax with. God knows you need to."
And with that, the rather satisfied blonde made her way back into the mess hall, leaving a biotic gaping after her and a chuckling turian, closing the doors to close himself in with even more tantalizing thoughts of his commander.
Today was not going to be a productive day.
Endnote: I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I was addicted to writing it and could not stop. And it was definitely one of those chapters that kept me intrigue because most of this was not planned out. Vaguely perhaps, a notion that there would be some desperation on Garrus's part, leading to some hotness, but a lot of the interactions totally came of its own accord. Which led to funness, especially on Jack, Samara, and Chakwas's parts.
Also, my biggest reason of enjoying this chapter was not because of the lime (I bet none of you believe that), but how the emotions ran high in this chapter. I tihnk I'm a bit of a tantrum freak. XP
Anyhow... sadly, I have to admit that I do not know when the next chapter will be up or even what it will be of. I have several ideas of what I want to happen for chapters, but in no precise order. And since I have school back in session, that'll put a damper on thing. At least you have been left with a hot chapter right?
Well... until next time and I look forward to your thoughts. Even if they are critical. Whatever they are, I want to know. So... R&R ^_^