Reyes stepped off of the lift after it brought him up from the slums, heading toward Kralla's Song at a carefully controlled pace.
Neon lit the streets in a rainbow of color, as darkness was just beginning to settle over their makeshift city.
He had eyes within the Port, and he'd been notified that the Pathfinder and her krogan friend had entered Umi's place and had ended up in the mother of all bar fights. Sara could handle herself, he knew she could, and she had SAM to run interference anytime she got in over her head. But that didn't mean he didn't worry.
It irritated him, the recklessness of just the pair of them taking all comers, when so many of the Port's inhabitants had a long-standing grudge against the Nexus. And all Sara had ever tried to do was help those very same people. She was the kind of woman who'd always strived to be fair in her dealings, whereas many of the exiles wouldn't have a qualm about fighting dirty.
He passed more than a few acquaintances along the way, angaran settlers as well as Collective members who knew him only as the resourceful smuggler with a newly acquired Initiative connection. While his full identity was something he desired to keep hidden, his relationship with the Pathfinder was not.
Just outside the doors, he paused to take a deep breath, letting the tension leave him as he exhaled. Then he went in.
He took in the disarray of the bar's interior, chairs and tables were turned over, some were smashed. He stepped over dozens of groaning and unconscious bodies, making his way to where Umi was sweeping broken glass into a pile. "Can you fetch me an ice pack, please?" Looking over to where Sara and Drack leaned against the bar in exhaustion, he added, "Make that four?"
The asari glared at him, mouth twisting in annoyance, but she knew he was good for it, so she left to comply without comment. She was back in a trice, handing him what he'd requested.
He moved to the bar, placing three packs in front of the krogan before reaching Sara. He lifted her right fist, and applied the fourth to her swollen knuckles.
She flinched. "Ouch," her tone was anything but appreciative.
"You can do it yourself, if you'd like," he told her, keeping his tone light. Letting her have it, he placed his hands on his hips, watching as she held the pack for a moment before tossing it onto the bar.
"Ice isn't the easiest thing to come by, here," Reyes admonished her.
She shrugged, then winced as the movement jostled her shoulders.
He sighed, moving forward to retrieve the pack before taking hold of her upper arm. He steered her in the direction of the door. "Alright, where we off to? Your choice, want to come back to my place or see your ship's physician?"
"Lexi's just going to fuss."
The sound of Drack's deep booming laughter filled the room at that.
"Fine. My place it is, then." He met the krogan's gaze, inclining his head toward him in parting. Keeping ahold of her, he led Sara up the ramp and out the doors.
She pulled free of his hand as they entered the markets.
He let her go, and she stayed with him as they walked the short distance back to the lift.
The metal banged and clattered, shaking around them as they rode down in silence. Her dark hair was in disarray and he noticed trace amounts of bruising just along the right side of her jaw.
"So... what started the fight?" he asked.
She looked startled for a moment before a grin lit up her features. "You know, I don't really remember."
Her smile was infectious and he felt his face soften despite his best efforts to the contrary.
She moved closer to him and tentatively took his hand, just as the elevator pinged their arrival.
He gave her a gentle squeeze, doing his best to avoid brushing her knuckles.
They stepped out into the brisk evening breeze, which carried with it a touch of sulfur. Some people complained about the smell, but it never bothered him. Reyes had grown to appreciate the planet's geysers and hot springs. Geothermal activity was part of what made Kadara unique.
The thumping of the bass could be heard even from outside Tartarus as they made their way down the alley behind it. His door was hidden, blending seamlessly into the rock face so any who didn't know of its existence would have a hard time trying to find it. He keyed in the code that only he and the woman beside him knew and the door seals released with a hiss as hydraulic air pressure cycled through the door's locking mechanism. He stepped aside to allow her to proceed him, then followed, hearing the door seal shut behind them.
It was cool and dark inside, so he moved to switch on the recessed lights in the ceiling above the kitchenette. "Here," he pulled one of the chairs from its place under the table and put it before her. "Have a seat."
She shook her head, looking down at the chair before turning her eyes back to him. "No, thanks."
"Suit yourself." He moved to the countertop, pulling his gloves off his hands before washing them in the sink with soap. He turned his head to ask, "Whiskey?"
"Sure," she replied, coming up to lean against the counter beside him.
He drew a bottle and two glasses down from the cupboard. Twisting off the cap, he poured them both two fingers worth.
She took the drink from his hand without waiting for him to offer it, slamming it down in one go. Then she placed the empty glass on the counter, eyeing the bottle.
He turned to her and, moving close, he used a finger to tip her chin up, examining the bruising along her jaw. There was a spreading layer of purple and blue just at the very bottom of her right cheek. He gingerly placed the icepack against it, watching her jaw tighten as her teeth clenched.
"Better at all?" he asked.
She nodded.
Using his free hand, he slowly unwound the scarf from around her neck. He wondered if he wouldn't find bruising anywhere else on her body. "Maybe wear armor next time? I saw that Drack was smart enough to do so."
She stuck her tongue out at him.
He wanted to bite it.
"What happened wasn't exactly planned," she offered.
"Tell me you at least had a sidearm with you."
"Nope. Haven't carried weapons in Port since the first time we arrived here. It was one of Sloane's rules."
He shook his head. "I saw the broken glass. All it would've taken was someone sneaky enough to get behind you and hit the back of your head with one of those bottles..."
"Psh, 'sneaky enough'? They were like a swarm of kaerkyn, thrashing around thinking a lot of noise would scare me." She went for the bottle on the counter but he pushed it out of her reach. Making an impatient noise, she picked up his glass and drained it before he could protest.
He sighed, his hand raking through his hair in irritation. "Must you be so difficult?" Dios, she could be maddening.
"Yes, damnit!" She said, humor lacing her voice as she slammed her fist down on the counter for effect. "Ouch!" she said as she realized the foolishness of her action.
"Be careful," he said lightly.
"Eh, it was worth it." She laughed, although she started to vigorously shake the hand in an effort to dull the pain.
"Let me see that." He raised her hand and carefully pealed off her glove.
"Look, it was all in good fun. Just bonding time for me and Drack." She paused and set her chin, her tone going stiff. "And I don't need you to take care of me."
"I get it. Sorry. I just... I was worried about you. I worry about you. That's not something I'm used to." Seeing her uncovered skin, marred with bruising and a few nasty cuts along the ridge of her knuckles, he stopped, bringing her hand up to his mouth to brush it with his lips. "We can use medi-gel, if you want."
"I'm fine, really," she insisted. "Most of this will be gone in the morning." She tugged on her hand and he released it. Stepping closer, she slid her arms around his waist. "Sweet looks sexy on you, Reyes," she whispered before going up on tiptoe to press a kiss to his lips.
He went still, standing unresponsive while she softly swept her mouth over his. "How much have you had to drink?" he asked.
She took advantage of his question to kiss his open mouth, one hand coming up to cradle the back of his neck and pull him into her.
He responded, tentatively at first, but then with building enthusiasm as he felt her body move against him.
She tasted like fire, an intoxicating blend of alcohol and woman. "Sara. You sure you're not too sore for this?" He had to ask, even though he feared what her answer would be.
In response she reached down and slid her hand over his ass, giving it a squeeze through the fabric of his pants.
He groaned. He took control of the kiss, trying to be careful. She was the sweetest thing he'd ever tasted, and every sip increased his thirst for her.
Then he remembered the ice pack, slowly going to waste on the counter. Breaking their kiss, he reached for it, cracking the seal. His fingers pulled one cube from the pack, and moving it up, he traced it along her soft lips, watching it slowly melt and shrink.
She gasped, her mouth opening for him as he painted her lips with it. Moving in, he kissed her, feeling the chill move from her mouth to his. The sensations were novel and intense and he couldn't wait to experience more.
He pulled the zipper on her jacket down, pushing the leather off her shoulders. He had her shirt up and over her head and her bra off in a matter of seconds. Retrieving another cube from the pack, he slid it down her throat, moving by inches, trailing the cold sensation down over her soft skin. He watched as gooseflesh spread over her, her hands coming up to hold onto his upper arms. He touched it to her nipple, hearing her moan, before he moved on to the other one, watching them pucker into sharp tight points and turn dark red. He leaned down, surrounding one bead of flesh with the heat of his mouth, sucking on her with strong pulls.
She cradled the back of his head, moaning at the intensity of the sensations, the conflicting hot and cold unquestionably charging her nerve endings like an electric shock.
Bringing the cube back up to her left nipple, he pressed into it, moving so he could murmur into her ear, "Take your clothes off, Sara. I want you bare for me."
With trembling hands she complied, grappling with the zip on her pants and pushing them, along with her panties, boots, and socks off into a haphazard pile on the kitchen floor.
He nudged her into the countertop, replacing the ice cube at her nipple with his mouth, warming her up, and softly biting down to increase the pressure he knew she could feel building deep within her belly.
He traced the cube down her stomach, watching her shiver, muscles twitching under his hands. Moving lower, he pressed it against the hottest part of her.
She cried out and he moved to capture her lips, kissing her deeply as he brushed the cube over her labia, pressing past her folds to rub it against her. Moving quickly, he found her opening and eased the ice up inside of her. She gasped against his mouth as he continued to move it deep, pushing it into her with one strong finger.
He groaned against her lips, imagining how cold she must feel, and wanting to share the sensations with her more than anything. His hands went for his zip, pulling it down with trembling hands. Pushing everything out of his way, he freed himself, moving her up onto the counter and positioning her with firm hands on her knees. He couldn't wait, he had to hurry before the ice melted completely, and her warmth took over. He rubbed against her slit with the head of his cock, begging for entry. She was cool and slick and making the most wonderful noises against his mouth. He pushed forward, forging past her body's resistance, making his way through tight muscles in quick, firm lunges to feel the conflicting hot-cold clasp of her passage engulf him.
He moaned, shuddering down to his toes as he hilted, his hands moving from her knees to cradle her bare ass as it pressed into the cold hard surface of the counter.
Her mouth fell open against him as he began to move, hard deep thrusts that warmed her with every stroke. He'd wanted to be gentle. He felt like a brute, taking her in the kitchen as she moved against him, bruised but eager.
He was a deviant, and he didn't care.
He licked at her mouth, his tongue stroking inside even as his body pounded into hers, desperately trying to reach deeper, to imprint himself upon her so she knew she was his and that he belonged to her, too.
Her legs had wound themselves around him, pushing against the back of his thighs to anchor him to her.
Using the countertop to help him gain leverage, he slammed into her, hoping to push her over as he felt the burning tingle start to spread through his lower abdomen. Gripping her by her ass, he tilted her hips, bumping his thrusts in the direction of her clit, and after only a few hard jabs, she convulsed, screaming into his mouth.
He hummed his approval against her lips and let himself go, falling out of rhythm completely as he lost all thought beyond completion. Overcome by the sound, the taste, and the feel of her, he was only dimly aware that he grunted as he felt himself detonate, holding deep as he pumped his life into her depths.
The sound of their breathing filled the room as he broke off the kiss and held her, something tight and almost painful squeezing inside his chest.
Impatient as she was, it didn't take long before she squirmed against him.
He withdrew slowly. The sense of loss he felt when he left her body felt worse every time.
He kissed her forehead as he felt her legs slip from around him to dangle from the counter.
Pushing hair back from her face, he noticed her kiss-swollen lips and the bruising along the bottom of her cheek.
"Want to go take a shower?" It was really the best way to clean them both up, soothe her injuries, and warm any residual cold from the ice cubes he'd used on her.
She nodded, and slid down from the counter as he moved back.
He followed her the few feet it took to reach his cramped bathroom, dropping his clothes as they went. He watched her bare ass move as he walked behind her, and anticipation curled inside his belly as he turned on the light and then the shower spray, adjusting the heat so that it was just the right temperature to fill the space up with steam.
He planned on taking full advantage of his unrestricted access to as much freshly filtered water as he wanted to use.
The shower stall was a clear cube that left them little room as they moved in together. Reyes held her, watching as water trailed down her skin, falling in dripping streams from the tips of her sharp nipples. Her hair hung in tantalizing ropes down her back. Steam filled the stall, adding a layer of mystery to her soft flesh.
He couldn't stop himself from running his hands down her body, thumbs brushing against her pointed nipples, moving down her sides to slide over her ass and bring her up against him.
Her hands sought his body in turn, running over the breadth of his shoulders, tracing down his chest to map his pectoral muscles and his defined upper arms. By the time she brushed her fingers against his cock, he was hard and aching.
He felt like a greedy bastard, wanting her again so quickly, but the increase in her respiration as she wrapped a hand around his erection led him to believe that she was of the same mind.
He pushed her back against the wall of the shower, trailing his fingers up her thigh and brushing against her clit with his thumb.
She gasped. Moving up on tiptoes and cupping his face, she pulled his mouth into hers.
He kissed her with a slow reverence, wanting to go nice and easy this time, forgoing his usual roughly demanding love play for something sweet and tender.
He swiped against her clit repeatedly, using the water to ease his movements and bring her to a trembling climax. She whimpered as he pulled one of her knees up, sliding against her wetly, teasing her with his cock.
"Reyes," she gasped into his mouth as he continued to push against her opening, but although he'd dip inside, he'd pull back again, running the length of his erection against her labia in an achingly slow slide.
"Hmm?" he asked, wanting to hear her ask for it.
"Fuck me," she said, her voice a gasping whisper.
She never swore. Hearing her sweet lips utter such filth hit him like an electric current, triggering something deep and primal within him.
Clenching his teeth, he lifted her from her feet, pushing forward to take her in one powerful stroke.
She cried out as he hilted, her body clenching around him like a silken fist.
She braced her outstretched arms against the sides of the stall, pushing against the glass with her hands to control her weight and move herself counterpoint to his thrusts. He encouraged her movements, hands guiding her hips as she worked herself on him, taking him deep before lifting herself nearly free of him.
The frantic urgency of earlier was gone, and he set a slow, leisurely pace, lifting her and pushing her back down again, rolling his hips up to meet her at the bottom of every down stroke. They moved together under the streaming water, their bodies echoing the impulses that pulled them together, seeking stimuli and cohesion.
She was panting, her thighs trembling in effort. He looked at her through narrowed eyes, her face open, jaw going slack as she reached for and found ecstasy, her body clenching around him in deep pulsating contractions.
He watched her until he no longer could, his breath leaving his chest as he poured his soul into her, groaning in anguish and gratification all at once.
The water ran over their tired bodies as he held her, not wanting to let her go. He buried his face in her neck, memorizing her scent before he took a deep breath, and pulled out of her body.
As he watched her feet move down to touch the floor, he was reminded of their very first time together. In the cave, a moment he'd waited for, needing her to know all his secrets before he claimed her, but then being unable to wait any longer or give her all she deserved once she knew everything.
A wave of tenderness almost suffocating in its intensity swept over him. He looked away, reaching to cut off the water.
He needed another drink.
He rubbed her down with a towel, taking care around her already faded bruises.
She stretched under his hands, moving this way and that to help facilitate his attentions. When he'd finished, she sighed, running her fingers through his damp hair. "I need to go."
His eyes sought hers, and he gave her a tender smile. "I know."
With a towel wrapped around his waist, he helped her dress.
All too quickly, time had run out, and she kissed him softly at the door.
Brushing against her lips with his thumb, he said the only thing he could. "Be careful out there."
Her smile didn't quite reach her eyes as she responded. "I will."