II.

Kaidan was stretched out on the long, white couch. It was never particularly comfortable, but he loved the view he got, the reddening sky through the gargantuan window as the sun set for the day. It was almost as breathtaking as Shepard himself; the man sure had an eye for good decore.

Simplistic, and sophisticated. A small smile spread over his face as he rested his interlocked fingers behind his head. He was still mulling over thoughts of him and Shepard being a thing, sighing gently to himself as he fantasized over long walks on the beach, late night cuddling, candle-lit dinners, the works.

He could see it, too. Shepard made apparent earlier there were some feelings there after groping him in the mako- whether that was lust or not was anyone's guess. If Kaidan was able to stop being such an Alliance hardass, he would be able to reveal his long-hidden feelings. But, no, Lieutenant Alenko? Getting it on with his commanding officer? Sure, it was an appealing thought, but he couldn't act on it unless he quit the Alliance for good.

That wasn't happening any time soon.

"Kaidan." Shepard called out from the table, polishing up his M8 Avenger, never taking his eyes away from it. Kaidan responded with a sleepy grunt. "It's getting pretty late. Did you want me to ride you back to the colony, grab you a hotel room?"

Kaidan flipped onto his stomach, looking back at Shepard, still going at his gun with a cloth. "You're kicking me out?" Kaidan half-joked. He figured the man never would have never asked if he hadn't semi-embarrassingly groped him earlier that day, so he tried to keep things light, as if he didn't care, as if the closeness of that kiss was nothing.

Shepard set his gun down lightly, pausing. "No, I just didn't think you wanted to stay the night." Kaidan bit his lip, getting as comfy as he could on the couch.

"I'll stay." He replied, trying his best not to sound desperate to be in his company.

Unbeknownst to Kaidan, Shepard smiled a shy, secret smile to himself. The thought of Kaidan being near him while he slept made his heart flutter in a way he didn't think a man, especially a war-hardened military man, was capable of doing so.

"I'm going to call it in for the night." Shepard announced, undressing himself down to his tight underwear. "Need anything before I'm asleep?"

Kaidan got up to his feet, cracked his back while bending backwards, and let out a satisfied groan after turning around to face him. "Yeah, maybe a pillow or two. A blanket."

Shepard was leaning against the room divider, hips askew as he looked the LT over. He couldn't even bring himself to compliment the way Kaidan's body looked underneath that tight, sleeveless shirt. His meek persona was beginning to drown him, and all he wanted to do was forget his position as commander, take him in his arms, and kiss the ever loving hell out of him.

Shepard, too, had had those feelings of absolute love and desire for Kaidan, watching the lieutenant keep to himself from across the Med Bay, his constant nervous fidgeting, as if he felt uncomfortable on the Normandy, how he'd only ease up slightly when being talked to by his commanding officer.

It was sweet, and endearing, and Shepard wanted it.

They locked gazes, Kaidan only somewhat taken aback when he saw Shepard's mostly nude form. "I don't have any extra bedding, it's always just me." Shepard admitted, his emotionless gaze failing to falter. Kaidan tried to chuckle off his growing arousal at the bare, toned legs of his friend. He just stood awkwardly. "Right... I'll be fine without, then."

With that, he hitched his leg up onto the couch yet again, and laid down on his back. "That's okay, I can sleep on the couch just fine." He tried to hide the flush in his cheeks. Shepard standing naked beside him, offering to do whatever he wanted. His head was swimming, and he just wanted to lay back, and forget the man was ever there. He squeezed his eyes shut.

Shepard never left, though. He stood by the couch, waiting, wanting. "You're free to bunk with me." He boldly stated, breaking the silence. Kaidan's face was near scarlet.

"Yeah? Probably better than the living room furniture, it kind of sucks." He chuckled in response. Keeping things light. Making it sound like he didn't want in those skin-tight undergarments that outlined his larger-than-average-sized cock in an incredibly flattering way.

There was that shy smile on Shepard's face again. "Right. I'll just be in bed, then." He kicked his bare foot against the floor, shifting his weight from one side to the other, hoping Kaidan would follow. Acknowledge. Something.

Kaidan arched his back, raising his hips off the couch as his arms came above his head. "Yeah. Gimme' a few." And, like a kid on Christmas Eve, Shepard hopped back into bed, excited for whatever would happen next. Had he really just agreed to join him in bed? This was so wrong. So, so wrong.

He laid on top of his double bed, pulling sheets over top of his bare chest, fluffing the pillow until it felt just right, fidgeting in nervous anticipation. His breathing remained steady, his face not even bearing a smile. All he could do was wait it out- wait for Alenko's heavy hand to press against the mattress as he'd crawl under the sheets, and sleep beside him. Calm, John. Calm.

He laid like a plank, eyes shut, hands laid over his belly, lips parted just barely. It was just a sleepover. Like he used to do as a young boy on Mindoir- going over to a friends' place, cuddling up in their bed after looking at dirty pictures on the extranet and playing Galaxy of Fantasy for hours. The only difference was the want swirling in his belly and his bunk mate was someone he absolutely yearned for.

Minutes passed like days as Kaidan finally crawled casually into the bed, bare chest and loose cotton pants hanging low on his hips. "Shepard." Kaidan whispered, confirming whether or not he was still awake. Shepard cracked an eye open, smirking as he watched him get under the covers. "You look good." Not so subtle that time.

Kaidan paused, before settling himself on his side. "Thank you. So... Uh. So do you..." His voice was breathy, husky, almost shaking now. Shepard had lust in his eyes. Pure lust, and he knew that he shouldn't be doing this. He shouldn't be in his bed. he shouldn't be allowing two firms hands on either side of his waist, rubbing up and down his sides. He shouldn't be slipping under the sheets and making himself comfortable.

"Shepard..." Kaidan whispered in half-hearted protest, Shepard's palms flattening out against his backside. "Alenko?" Shepard muttered back, hot breath hitting his already reddened face. "We shouldn't. We really shouldn't..." His voice sounded almost foreign, maybe whiny, or desperate. Shepard was squeezing, now, grabbing handfuls of ass through sleep pants as he eye-fucked him into submission.

"Shhh." Shepard silenced, worshipping Kaidan's ass under his fingers.

"We can't do this..."

"Watch me."

"John, no-" His voice got caught in his throat, John leaving a small kiss on Kaidan's cheek.

"Kaidan, yes." His tongue was out now, licking his ear affectionately.

Kaidan's quickening, heavy breath didn't cease, neither did Shepard's grabby hands, and full lips. He tongued Kaidan's earlobes, purposefully making noise to try and drive Kaidan up the wall.

It was working.

Their quiet noises of passion were interrupted after Shepard began sucking and kissing the skin behind Kaidan's ear; not fair. "Nooo...!" He cried, entire body writhing and shuddering. Kaidan managed to get his hands on Shepard's chest, pushing him gingerly away. "We can't. Alliance soldiers." He was trying to remain stern. Level-headed. Shepard was melting away his cool exterior hard and fast.

The commander's lips were swollen and pouty as he looked back with passionate, fiery eyes. Neither of them wanted to stop, and Shepard was almost smirking, fully aware of this fact. He knew what the other one was thinking. He felt his hard-on while groping him, he saw the desperate look in his eyes, the hesitation to pull away.

"We'll have it your way." Shepard gave in, soft smile still on his face as he retreated his arms to his sides, letting his eyes close. And then nothing.

Kaidan couldn't stop looking at those lips. They had a lot more colour in them then they did during the day. They looked warm, and inviting. The orange monitors mounted by the bedside hummed quietly- the only other sound in the room aside from Shepard's breathing.

He looked so kissable right now. Kaidan had never thought that about anyone before, and he couldn't resist. One little kiss. It'd be nothing- just in between friends. They'd both get over their flash-in-the-pan crushes soon, nothing like a little lip locking between good friends. Right?

"John..." Kaidan just barely whined as he leaned over his relaxed face, brushing his mouth over Shepard's. They both moaned, Shepard's eyes flicking open as he watched a desperate Kaidan taste him. Their tongues tangled together in a fight for dominance that Shepard ultimately won over.

Just one kiss, Kaidan was repeating in his head as it deepened, Shepard's tongue exploring his wide open mouth, sucking on his own experimentally. The older biotic's body shivered, the waves of pleasure overcoming him as Shepard pushed Kaidan's head into the pillows, revelling in the passionate exchange.

Kaidan moaned again, louder, practically begging for more, causing Shepard to pull away. They breathed hard, both trying to catch the air they needed. Kaidan's stunned, half-lidded eyes gazed up at his commanding officer. He looked beautiful in the starlight and the faint glow of the orange monitors present all throughout the room.

"You look good, Alenko." Shepard smiled, placing a kiss on his forehead before laying back down. Kaidan's chest heaved as he slowly turned his head to him with an embarrassed smile. "Yeah. So do you." He offered, voice thick with arousal. It was friendly, and comfortable. Their close relationship didn't even feel strained or awkward, just a little different.

Not that a kiss and a grope meant much. Kaidan's head leaned towards Shepard's, hitting his shoulder somewhere along the way. Shepard turned over on his side, holding the staff lieutenant in his arms. The gesture seemed so small, but Kaidan's heart was melting as he laid there being spooned by the man he so admired. "Good night, Kaidan." Shepard offered.

Kaidan smiled, adjusting so his hips fit perfectly into the curves of Shepard's, his back staying flat against his chest, Shepard's hand lay supportively over his almost exposed waist.

No more words had to be spoken, as they both stayed lost in their own thoughts, of life, of the future, of anything. The steady beat of their heart's matched, and Shepard could swear at that moment in time the Gods or Goddesses, or whoever was up there, had specifically made the two men for each other.

For that moment in time, that small first kiss, first touch, first sleepover, there was nothing but them in the galaxy, and that was how it had been intended from the beginning. It almost felt like love in its most concentrated sense.

He hadn't felt happier in his life.

And with a serene look on his tired, dark face, neither had Kaidan.