There were no nightmares that night. Not like before. The cold sounds, the whispers made of ice and chill so frigid that they burned to the touch, they were nowhere near her mind that night. The only thing that touched her mind was the reassuring warmth and strength of his. The warm security, practically radiating from him, enveloped her mind- and by extension, her body- in a sense of safety that kept the terrors away. The sheer will power, the easy going cockiness and self assurance of Kai Leng was enough to drive any nightmare away.

She curled against him, her body still heavy with sleep, but her mind starting to stretch out and wake. She tentatively reached out through the QEC, seeing if he was awake.

He was still asleep. A quick glance at her omnitool showed she'd woken earlier than the norm- even though this was slowly becoming the norm. The more nights she slept in his bed, the better she slept, the two of them acting as buffers against the touch of... whatever he had been through- she still wasn't sure what happened. She just understood flashes of an Asari with black eyes, and the cold metallic thrum of...

She shook her head. Thinking about it only made it more inviting inside her head for the nightmares to start again. She still wasn't sure what she was seeing in those nightmares. Was it memories of what he had endured, or was ...it... contacting her through his implants by proxy?

She shuddered at the thought and pressed her face into his chest, arms wrapping around his ribs. He murmured in his sleep, rolling to his side, arms curling around her waist as he pulled her to him. Leta let out a shaky sigh of contentment as she buried her face in his chest, inhaling his scent. He smelled of fresh clean soap, a sharp tang of ozone from his biotics, a sharp heady musk, and the slightest hint of leather- even fresh out of a shower, the scent of black leather lingered around him. To her, he smelled like the sexy assassin he was, but on a deeper level, his scent comforted and soothed her- or rose heat in her belly if paired with that tone he only used with her, a low purring tone of black velvet that caressed her ears.

Her fingers ran over the supple curves of his back, feeling the muscles under his skin. She loved running hands down his back, especially when he was awake and moving under her as she massaged him- his muscles were like whipcords under the soft skin, undulating and coiling like steel made flesh. Her fingertips lingered over the N7 tattoo on his shoulder for only a second before moving to his neck, tracing the brush stroke-like lines of the ouroboros on the skin there.

He stirred in his sleep, warm hands running over her lower back, and she closed her eyes with a happy sigh, remembering the first time he'd run his hands down the curve of her spine- a precursor to the first time he'd had her, taken her as his.

After he'd explored her curves, bringing her to the point of cursing his name, he'd finally taken her to his bed, sitting next to her after rolling her onto her stomach. His interest was caught, and he'd been curious, possibly amused as his eyes lit on the crisp black ink on the skin just above her hips. Fingers trailed over the tattoos, a black brow lifting as she spoke aloud each element in the molecule diagrams.

"Arsenic," she'd purred as his fingers ran over one. A soft laugh sounded in his throat, and his hands moved to the other.

"Colchicine."

An eyebrow raised at that, and she smiled over her shoulder at him. He met her gaze before his eyes flicked to the ID number- 42963857A2- and TIANSHI CELL tattooed there. A throaty laugh erupted from her mouth.

"C22H25NO6," she recited, the formula known by heart. "Molecular Mass of 399.437. Extracted from Autumn Crocus. Symptoms of poisoning from it resemble Arsenic, and there is no antidote known, especially since it was an endangered flower back in 2012 and-"

Her rambling had been cut short as he rolled her over, moving over her and claiming her mouth with his as he pressed her into the mattress. She let out a small sighing keen as his hips ground against hers, and her eyes rolled into the back of her head as his warm firm belly was pushed flush against hers.

Kai smirked against her mouth, amusement rolling from him in waves- at her rambling, or how easily he silenced her, she wasn't sure which. His tongue slid into her mouth, tasting her with an almost ravenous ferocity. She slid her hands to his head, fingers curling in his hair as she whimpered, letting him have control of her mouth for a bit before letting her tongue slide against his. The taste of him, tangy, salt and sweet, flooded her mouth, and her breathing grew heavy, coming from her nose in long ragged sighs.

His hands roamed, fingers stroking the curve of her neck, the lines of her clavicle, stopping as his warm hands cupped her breasts, brushing the pad of each thumb over her nipples. His touch made her cry out, back arching and toes curling. With a satisfied grin, he pulled away, breaking their kiss and dipping his head, claiming a breast in his mouth, tongue flicking the erect nipple teasingly.

"Leng!" She shrieked, belly growing hot and tight under him, and much to her embarrassment, she could feel just how wet he was making her. She wasn't embarrassed at being aroused at his touch- far from it. She was embarrassed at how easily she was being riled up by him. She cursed herself- it had been far too long since she'd been with a man, and she was nervous that it was blatantly obvious.

He said nothing of her discomfort, or didn't notice it, moving his infuriatingly wet and warm mouth to the other breast, giving the rosy peak of her nipple a few long strokes with his tongue. As he did so, he laid a hand flat on her belly and slowly skimmed it downward until his fingers curled down, sloping over the curve of her mons, feeling her heat.

Her belly quivered, and her thighs shook slightly at his touch, still moaning as he teased at her nipple with his mouth. The moan turned to a cry as his fingers slid between her folds and into her slick wetness- first one, then two.

"L-Leng!" She whimpered, feeling his fingers curl inside her. He lifted his head and looked at her with a completely innocuous expression.

"Yes, Leta?" He asked, a brow lifting slightly in infuriating amusement, fingers curling tighter.

"Nnghn... I..." She was unable to respond coherently. She'd been watching him for weeks, admiring his form, his methods in combat, but had never expected to garner his attention- especially not like this. She'd barely allowed herself the fantasy of getting praised by him, let alone being laid on his bed under him, his fingers stroking her inner depths with the same amount of precision he showed in combat.

He chuckled, his voice like black velvet in her ears, and another shudder ran down her already arched and shaking back.

"What is it, Leta?" he teased, rotating his wrist so that his thumb could stroke her clit, pressing on it gently. The only reply she could give was a strangled cry, nails sinking into the skin of his shoulders. He laughed, a low dark sound, moving his thumb across the sensitive flesh, his electric blue eyes never moving from her face, drinking in her expression- something Leta found unnerving, but erotic at the same time; the few men she had slept with had never focused so unwaveringly on her before.

Kai finally moved back to kiss her again, free hand tangling in her hair as he nipped at her lower lip, still stroking her quim inside and out. Leta moaned against his mouth, wriggling her hips against his hand. He chuckled softly, releasing his hold on her mouth.

"Did you want something, Leta?"

A coil was slowly winding itself into a knot of unbearable, white hot pressure in her loins, and she raked nails down his back.

"I want you inside me, Kai Leng!" She hissed, hips grinding against his.

The smile on his face faded a bit as he withdrew his hand, pressing his hips to hers.

"As the lady wishes," he murmured, and with a measured mix of care and precision, sheathed himself inside her in one fluid movement.

A sharp cry issued from Leta's throat as he filled her, his belly tight against her own, and she wrapped her legs around his narrow hips. Kai paused, his breath catching as her soft thighs caressed his waist. After giving them both a minute to adjust, he began moving within her, slow at first, but gradually picking up a steady rhythm. All the while, his eyes never left her face.

Her eyes were closed- wrenched shut- as her mouth fell open in ecstasy, a flush spread over her normally fair cheeks. Her dark brows were furrowed, her hair spread out beneath her on the pillow like a black corona. She was helpless, drunk on him as he moved with long strokes inside her, crying out with a voice reminiscent of an alarmed song bird-her voice was lovely when tight with lust. She was lovely when she was beneath him, incoherent with need of him. She was beautiful when she was utterly his- even if it was only for this short time.

Leta was beyond coherent thought, he could sense that through their link- which was wide open, her walls down. He could see why she was as tightly wound as she was. It had been a long time. He was surprised to learn that he was only her third lover- but pleased, because he was outdoing the other two, based on the memories she was subconsciously using to compare them. Not that he needed the reassurance in his prowess pleasing women, but it still made him pleased nonetheless, a smug smirk tugging at his lips.

She was incredibly tight, a combination of her hiatus and excellent muscle control, and every stroke he made inside her was met with a delicious friction and resistance. He could feel her climbing higher to her climax, her slick folds tightening around him. All for the better- with how tight and warm she was, he wasn't sure how long he was going to last- though he'd never admit it, not even to her, his duties came before his personal needs. It had been a while for him, too- though nowhere near as long as it had been for her. Five years, he marveled to himself, wondering how she put up with it.

Feeling her thighs begin to shake, sensing her toes curling in the sheets, he pulled back, taking her with him, moving into a sitting position, keeping her in his lap, still sheathed inside her. Her eyes finally opened, the bright blue irises studying him curiously, pupils dilated with hormones and lust. He reached up and stroked her flushed cheek before kissing her lips. A soft sigh shuddered from her, and she threaded her arms around his shoulders,turning her head to the side, revealing her soft neck to him- a silent gesture of submission, despite being on top. He kissed her throat, waves of satisfied pleasure roiling from him before he placed his hands on her hips and began to move her on top of him.

Leta's head fell back as she cried aloud again, and she arched her back, chest pressing against his. Kai ran kisses and gentle nips along her clavicle, feeling his climax get closer as she tightened around him. She rocked her hips, guided by his hands, falling into the rhythm with a soft repetition of moans, his name echoing in the back of her mind. She brought her head back up and locked eyes with him as a violent ripple ran through her.

Seeing her eyes lock with his, his name in her mind flooding their link, nothing but him in front of, inside and with her, he exhaled sharply between gritted teeth as he came. A low sound came from her throat, her arms wrapping around him tightly as she kept rocking her hips almost desperately. Despite having reached his climax, he kept up his movement, sliding a hand into her lap to rub at her clit.

It didn't take long. With a wail that sounded like his name, and a cry across the QEC that was definitely his name, she practically convulsed in his lap, the grip of her body almost unbearably tight around him. She clung to him, trembling a few moments more before finally falling limp against him. With a soft sound, he ran fingers down the line of her spine, the other hand tangling into her thick black hair. She pressed her face against his chest, panting almost inaudibly. Her thoughts were nothing he could read, just a maelstrom of hormones and release, colored with lilac and black.

'I...,' she began, her voice soft and wavering. 'That was amazing.'

He smirked, pleased with himself, sated from his own release, and content with having a trembling woman in his lap.

"I aim for perfection. You know that."

Leta's eyes flew open to see Kai grinning at her, propped up on an elbow. She blinked, wondering how long he'd been "watching"- or was it "listening?" She had no idea. She had been so lost in the recollection, she'd lost the line between what she remembered and the memories he was feeding her. He chuckled and pulled her to him, kissing her forehead. She nuzzled under his jaw, inhaling his scent happily, hand splaying over his warm bare chest.

"You do, and you deliver," she retorted happily.

"Always," he asserted, sliding hands to her rump and pulling her hips to his, making her well aware of the effects her morning recollections had had on him. She looked up at him, eyes flashing deviously.

"Careful. I might get used to good mornings like this and not want to leave," she teased.

His eyes glittered as he moved a hand to take her chin between his thumb and fingers, making her look at him.

"What if that's what I wanted?"

And with that, he silenced her mouth with his own, rolling on top of her.