Alright, everyone. Only a few chapters left before I move on to Mass Effect 2. I'll be splitting it into another book as I expect it to be just as long, if not longer, than this. Maybe. I'm still debating exactly how that's going to fold out. Anyway… As always, thank you so much for your support – knowing people are reading this and enjoying it is truly rewarding. Any comments, critique, or suggestions are more than welcome. I love hearing what you all think!

This chapter contains some explicit adult content. Read at your own discretion.

Enjoy! c:

xxxxxxxxxx

Shepard walked silently beside her as they made their way back through the remains of the Wards. She wasn't meeting his gaze, instead simply looking ahead, silent and as stubborn as always. He couldn't take it - being so close to her but having her seem so far away – so he stopped, and she finally turned to look at him, her stance exuding irritation.

"You just punched a reporter." Words failed him, so he grasped at the most impressive topic he could, trying for lightness. It didn't work.

"Way to state the obvious, Skipper." Ashley rolled her eyes and turned from him, starting to walk again. "I didn't know she was a reporter. And from the sound of things, you didn't either. So, apparently, your idea of a good time on shore leave is still chatting up some random whore." She spat out the last word, her pace speeding away from him.

"Wait, what? What the hell are you talking about?" Shepard stomped after her. She wasn't making any sense. He had hardly been flirting with the woman. His hand reached out to grab her wrist in an attempt to stop her, and she spun back towards him furiously.

"What?"

His face fell at the venom in her voice, and he let go. "I take it you're still not talking to me, then." Shepard grunted as her hand fell away. Ashley's face softened fractionally, but she still didn't quite meet his eyes.

"Jesus, Shepard. I wasn't not talking to you. I just needed…" She sighed, her voice exasperated. "I needed space, alright? To think. You're so damn overwhelming, I'm not like you. I don't just dive in – everything has been such a blur, so much has happened... I don't know if I'm ready for this." She made a vague gesture between the two of them.

"You seemed ready before Ilos." He knew by the fire that lit in her brandy eyes that those were the wrong words to say.

"That was different." She spat, spinning back away from him.

"How?" Shepard growled, moving back around her. She glared at him furiously as he blocked her way.

"We didn't know what would happen, Shepard. I wasn't thinking, you weren't thinking. Nothing else mattered. But now… There's so much more to think of. We can't just keep pretending it all doesn't matter."

He was the one that stepped back, his brows stitching together angrily. "We still don't know what's going to happen! Nothing's changed, except now, we might have a little more time before the next thing tries to shoot at us. I thought that was a fucking good thing!" Shepard shook his head, looking away from her. He couldn't do it, this halfway thing. He needed her. And he didn't understand how, suddenly, things looked so different to her. "You don't have to make excuses. If you wanted it to be just a one shot thing, you could have told me. I'm sorry I inconvenienced you by fucking surviving." He looked back at her long enough to see the fury in her eyes and to catch a swift clap to the back of his head. Fuck. Ouch.

"I can't believe you!" She hissed, deciding the blow to his head wasn't enough and shoving him. He stumbled back and frowned, catching the curious looks a couple of onlookers gave them. He decided to ignore them. "You have no idea. Everything has changed for me – my life, my career. We kill a Spectre and a damn Reaper, and you act like it's just another day! We saved the galaxy, Shepard. And now, it sounds like the Reapers still plan on coming back to kick your stupid ass. That constitutes some recognition."

"I have – "

"No. Shut up. You almost got killed." Shepard's throat tightened, watching her eyes mist, hearing her voice strain. "You almost got killed, and you act like it was nothing. It wasn't nothing. It was everything. And I'm not ready because of that. Because I'm so damn scared that one of these times you're going to be an idiot and run off in some heroic fit and not come back. That you're going to make me love you and then go and get yourself killed."

"Ash…"

"No, I'm talking, asshole." Her brown eyes were watering as she looked up at him, but she still looked strong, she was still challenging him. Shepard stepped towards her again. "You said you would try to be more careful. You never try. And I'm not stupid, Shepard. I know how this plays out. I've lost friends, too. Soldiers die. But the way you gamble with your life, it's like you don't even care. And I know I can't stand losing you, Owen. So maybe it's just better if I never have you." She watched him, frozen, as he moved closer.

His hand cupped her face and he searched her brown eyes. She glared back up at him. "Ash, you already do have me." He murmured, searching, trying to push past the anger in her eyes. There was so much about her he still didn't understand, so much he couldn't understand. He knew he should just let her go – it would be better, she would be happier. But he was selfish. He couldn't lose the tranquility she gave him, the few moments of happiness. "I love you, and I'm not leaving you. I came back, didn't I?"

"How could you? Tell me that, then almost die? They were so sure…" Her voice trailed off, but it had lost none of its heat. "They all thought you were dead. I wouldn't let them stop looking…."

"Stubborn as always." He acknowledged softly, and was awarded with another smack.

"It's not funny!" She reprimanded. "I was so damn scared. So scared we'd never find you. I don't want to do that again, Owen."

Shepard's thumb stroked over her cheek as he frowned. "You know I can't promise that, Ash. It's part of the job."

"Then I need you to promise me you won't send me away again."

Shepard pulled back, worried by the determination in her eyes. The only thing that mattered was keeping her safe, and that wasn't always at his side. He sighed. "Ash…"

"I mean it, Owen. If you want this, you don't get to just go down alone anymore. I won't let you leave me behind when I can help you fight." Her voice was hard, and her brown eyes were unwavering. "And if Garrus tries to pull me back again, I swear, I'll break both his legs. I'm not just some damsel in distress. I'm a goddamn marine, and I will fight to make sure my Commander makes it out. Promise me." She was staring him down, not backing down for anything. "Promise me you won't leave me behind when shit hits the fan."

Shepard stared back at her, his heart sinking to the pit of his stomach. "Ash, I can't – "

"You can, and you will, if you know what's good for you. You're too important, Shepard. Your little friend back there already pointed out just what people think of me." Disgust and shame laced her voice at the mention of Khalisah. He reached out again, but she swatted away his hand. "I'm a Williams, Shepard. I'm expendable. You're not. They believe in you, you bring them together. So you better believe I'm going to fight like hell to keep you alive." She shook her head in exasperation. "God knows you need someone to."

"I…" Shepard paused, watching the fire in her eyes, the challenge etched on her face. She wasn't going to put up with him anymore. She wasn't going to just give in this time. But how could he promise that? He knew she could handle herself, but to bring him with her? He knew better than anyone how much he attracted death. But maybe this time…

It was a dangerous, and really fucking stupid, thought. But he couldn't help it.

His hesitation didn't go unnoticed. "You can't, can you? You can't give me that. You say you love me, but you can't even promise me that - you can't even trust me to help you. Hell, you can't even trust me to know you!" She pushed him away again, turning to continue walking towards the docking bay.

"What are you talking about? You do know me. Better than anyone." He followed her instantly, rushing after her as she walked away. "Ash, talk to me." He grabbed for her wrist again, but she just pushed him back.

"I know nothing about you, Shepard!" Her hair fell from its bun as she whipped around towards him, framing her face and sticking to her lips as she yelled. "Everything I do know is just hearsay. Your life, your family… You close everything off. And I get it, I do. But you don't get to just hold everything back and expect me to walk in blind. Expect me to just let you say those things, to let you take everything from me, and walk away. I won't do it." She turned and kept walking. He could see the Normandy through the docking bay's windows, could see her walking towards the airlock. Walking away from him.

He couldn't lose her. He didn't give a shit if it was selfish anymore.

"Ashley!" She didn't look back at him as her hand hit the door control, and she stepped into the airlock. The Normandy VI's voice droned about decontamination. "Damn it, Ash. Fine. What do you want to know?" The door slid shut behind him. She couldn't get away now, at least not while the sequence went on, and she turned back towards him, her eyes still blazing and ready for a fight. "You want to know about my life? It's been shit, Ash, but I'll lay it out for you if you need. My family? Whatever family I had, I left to die on Mindoir. But you want to know about them? Fine." He felt the bile eat at his throat, and he tried to swallow it down. Tried to focus on her and the way her lips parted slowly, the way her eyes momentarily softened. "What can I reveal to you that will make you feel better? Because I do want you to know me. I do want you to be there. I can't do this without you, Ash."

"Then stop trying to!" Her voice was too loud, too strained for the enclosed space. He caught her hand as she tried to push him back again. "Let me be there. Stop sending me away, stop hiding everything. Stop trying to destroy yourself. It's not just you anymore, Owen, I…" She stopped, her words dying down as she looked away. She tried to tug her hand away from him, but he didn't let go. He wrapped an arm around her, unwilling to let her go again. He felt her collapse against him. "Damn it. If something happened to you… It would ruin me. You don't get to keep pretending you're all alone, not now."

"If you get hurt…" Shepard murmured, pulling her tighter against him as if to ward off some invisible enemy. She shook her head.

"Then watch my back, just like I'll watch yours. That's the only way this is going down."

He was silent for a moment, considering the ultimatum. It was infuriating, but he knew it wasn't a fight he could win. It was either lose her, and probably have her be in danger anyways with the imminent Reaper threat, or have her, constantly under fire – but at his side. Where he needed her. Shepard sighed, his fingers combing through his hair. Her hand reached up and joined them, and the touch lulled him, sending shivers down his spine. "Fine." He grumbled, effectively pacified. "You win. I won't send you away, Ash. But that doesn't mean I'm going to stop trying to protect you."

"I'm not a girl that needs protecting, Skipper. You should know that by now." Her hand traced over his scalp and down his neck, and he couldn't take it. He leaned forward and pulled her flush against him, never seeming to be able to get close enough, and he parted her lips with his own. Relief flooded through him as she didn't push him back, as he felt her hands wrap around his neck. He melted into her, letting the heat building between them push away any of the doubts. They might have some shit to work on, but for now, he focused on reacquainting himself with the feel of her against him. His hands committed to memory the feel of the lean plane of her back, travelling down to that toned, tight –

She pulled away suddenly, leaving him wanting, and he groaned in protest. Ashley just rolled her eyes. "You're not distracting me that easily, Skipper. We're not done."

"Decontamination is complete." Fucking fuck.

He gaped back at her. "What? What else is there?" The door to the airlock swung open, announcing his return, and Ashley stepped through it.

"You guys do realize there's a camera in there, right?" Shepard frowned, walking out of the airlock and shooting Joker a glare. The pilot simply grinned back at him. "So, I take it we've got our power couple back?"

"I will hurt you, Joker." Ashley shot the pilot a venomous glare, then spun on her heel and headed straight for the lower decks. The commander sighed, his hand running through his hair again.

"Or not. What did you do now?"

"I didn't… Fuck, who knows." Shepard growled, heading back across the CIC after her.

"Well, good luck with that!"

xxxxxxxxx

She was fuming.

Ashley thrummed her fingers against the rail in the elevator as she waited for the damn thing to open. She didn't really know what she was still so mad about, if she was being totally honest with herself. But something about him, about what he was doing to her, was infuriating. He thought everything would just instantly be okay, that he could just kiss her, and she'd forget, that she'd just let him get away with it. And damn, it had been close.

But she wasn't this girl. She wasn't stupid enough to fall for a military man – she knew how that always ended, what it was like for the families back home. It was stupid. Especially stupid because he was her Commander. Alliance brass might not have said anything yet - maybe they didn't know - but they would once that whore ran her story. Then what? She couldn't lose the Alliance. She had worked so damn hard to get to where she was, had put up with so much shit to get past her name. She was a marine - nothing more, nothing less - and she was damn proud. But Shepard… He was changing her. Changing everything. Saying he loved her, saying he'd be there, promising she'd always be with him. Promising he wouldn't get hurt.

Who does that?

She knew it was what she wanted from him, what she asked of him, but it just wasn't what you did. Not when so many things could tear you apart. So why the hell had she pushed him to promise it? She would have never done that before, would have never begged a man to promise her like that. She still had no idea how this could even work. What if she was reassigned? She wasn't about to watch for his ship to come back like she had with her Dad. She wasn't going to sit there and hope for maybe a week at a time with him, when their shore leave would align. She couldn't just give in – not when he was still holding so much back. She barely knew the man, and she was letting him take it all away.

But letting him go, seeing him with someone else... Ashley grimaced. That wasn't an option, either. She'd probably end up punching out those tarts, too. So she was at this maddening impasse, stuck between what she wanted and what was practical, unable to find who the hell she was now that he had changed everything.

Stupid, Williams. Really damn stupid.

"Oh, hey, Ashley!" Tali's bright voice greeted her as the elevator door finally opened. "We were just going to go find some food on the station, if you want to – " The quarian stopped herself, seeming to take in the soldier's expression for the first time. Garrus' mandibles fluttered nervously beside her. "Is everything alright?"

"It's fine." She said, her words a little too short. Tali and Garrus exchanged a look.

"Are you sure? You look… upset." Tali murmured, walking with her to her station. Ashley sighed, exasperated, and lifted her hands to work her hair out of the knot on her head. "You can talk to me, you know. Is it about Shepard? Did you talk to him finally?"

"God, are all of you talking about us?" The soldier glowered back at the two aliens. Tali twisted her hands nervously, but Garrus just shrugged.

"Not much else to talk about." The turian offered plainly, before noticing Tali's hands on her hips as she glared at him disapprovingly. "I'll just go ahead and wait on deck."

"So there still is an 'us'?" Tali's voice was eager again as he disappeared into the elevator. Ashley pinched the bridge of her nose.

"Yeah. I mean, I don't know. It's complicated." She muttered, leaning back against her worktable. The quarian blinked at her behind her mask, watching the soldier with those glowing, silvery eyes.

"But you still want to be with him?"

"It's not that simple."

"Why not?" Tali's head cocked to the side curiously, and she crossed her arms, waiting for an answer. God, she's so much like Sarah. "He's obviously crazy about you. Everybody knows that."

"It's just not." Ashley combed her fingers through her tangled hair, frowning as it reminded her of running them through Shepard's in the airlock. The memory sent electricity through her, and she had to shake herself out of it. He was so damn distracting. "There's more we have to think of. The Alliance, the Reapers…"

Tali shook her head. "But you love him, don't you? That's all that matters."

Ashley blanched, swinging her head towards the quarian. "What? I… No. What?"

"It's obvious. I've never seen you act like you did when we were in the Council chamber. You wouldn't give up. Keelah, it was so sad, so romantic…" Tali's warbling voice turned slightly wistful, and she sighed before continuing. "What is different now? He's alive. You got him back. It's like a romance vid ending. So what has changed?"

The soldier frowned, glancing across the hangar, at the empty space where the Mako once stood. She didn't want to admit how scared she was of him getting hurt again, even of how much she hated that he was changing her. Because it was stupid, and she knew her voice would lack conviction if she said it out loud. "I don't know. I guess I just don't see us having a happily ever after."

"So it isn't worth trying?" Ashley looked down in shock at the tiny quarian's words. When had she become so insightful? "You two are meant to be together. We all think it. You are both so happy – at least, when you're not mad at him." Tali's voice became a little devious, and Ashley glared at her. "Whatever the risks are, I think it will be worth it. Especially with a body like his."

The soldier couldn't suppress the shocked laugh that erupted from her. "Tali!"

"What? Even I think he looks good, and I'm not even human." Tali looked up dreamily and Ashley snorted, shaking her head. "Keelah, totally worth it."

As if on cue, the elevator door slid open again, and a very flustered, very agitated Shepard stepped out. Bright green eyes found her immediately, looking hurt, and angry. And hungry. Ashley felt her blood race. She had to give him one thing – he didn't give up easily. Her eyes wandered over his muscular frame as he strode towards her purposefully. Tali cleared her throat and Ashley caught the gloating expression behind her mask. The soldier rolled her eyes, but couldn't stop the small grin that stole onto her lips.

"Hello, Shepard." Tali greeted brightly. Shepard grunted some dull response, his eyes leaving Ashley's for just a moment. "I was just leaving. We're all going for food. You two are welcome to join us if you want!" The quarian was already heading speedily for the elevator. She offered Ashley a wink as she boarded the lift, then waved. "See you later!"

The elevator door closed again, but Ashley didn't let her eyes leave it. Shepard was watching her, standing just behind her. But she wouldn't face him. Instead, she took in a deep breath, trying to remember everything that was wrong with them, every reason they couldn't be together. It was so hard, when she could feel those piercing eyes on her.

"Ashley." She shivered as his hand reached out, brushing her hair off of one shoulder, away from her face. "Look at me. Please."

She couldn't focus with his hand lingering, trailing its way down her neck. It was so hard to stay mad when she heard him step closer, when she could feel the warm of his breath on the nape of her neck.

"I'm still mad at you." She muttered, but her words lost their heat as she felt his lips on her neck, teasing and kissing and demanding her attention.

"Then stop running and talk to me, Ash." His voice was low against her skin, taking on that deep, smooth quality that drove her to the edge. Damn it, Williams. Focus.

"Did you mean it?"

"Mean what?" Shepard's arms wrapped around her waist. Her head lolled to the side and she gasped as he began nibbling at her ear.

"What you said. About not leaving me behind." His hold around her tightened, holding her closer, like he always did. Like he thought she was going to disappear.

"I don't like you being in danger, but I won't leave you behind. I want you with me, Ash. You know that. Everything I said, I meant." He murmured against her hair, breathing her in. They were silent a moment, and she just leaned back against him, relishing in the support. "What's wrong? What aren't you telling me?"

"I just… I don't get how you can just say stuff like that."

"You asked me to." He muttered lamely, interrupting her. She elbowed him in the gut. She could feel his smirk against her neck.

"I know, smartass. I mean… I did want you to, but how is it so easy for you? To just say everything, not worry about the consequences. Not care about how hard it's going to be for us."

The skin on her neck felt cold as he pulled away. "I don't know. I guess… It's just easier for me to see the advantages of living in the moment, you know? I've never really thought much about the future, never thought I'd have anything worthwhile in mine until recently, so I figure, with the shit I get into, what's the point in holding back the good stuff?" His hand trailed over her stomach. "Doc says I'm just impulsive, though, so who the fuck knows. But I do know that no matter how hard it's going to be, it'll be easier for me with you here than if we were apart. That's why I can promise I won't leave you behind - consequences be damned. I can't lose you, Ash."

Oh, hell.

None of it seemed to matter anymore, because despite everything, he was right. No matter the repercussions, these few months being with him, getting to know him… Jesus, Williams. Just admit it - loving him, they had been the best of her life. He might be infuriating, but she couldn't imagine the pain of losing him. Of not being able to follow him on his rampage across the galaxy, or of not being able to be at his side when he stumbled. He was the first Commander that believed in her, the first man that truly loved her. It didn't matter that he'd changed her, because for the most part it had been for the better. He brought out the best in her – her strength, her pride. He made her feel beautiful, and wanted, and loved. And…

The soldier gasped as Shepard's hand trailed lower, gliding just above the hem of her pants. "We could still get into some pretty deep shit with command, you know." He trailed kisses down to the bit of her collarbone that peeked through her casuals. Ashley sighed. "It's not like we're being subtle."

"We'll be fine. Anderson already said it, they've got bigger things to worry about." He growled dismissively.

"Anderson knows?" Shepard grunted an affirmation, obviously not keen on talking about the old captain at this particular moment, but Ashley shook her head. "Jesus. Seriously, does he know everything?"

Shepard chuckled. It was light, such a contrast to his usual gloomy demeanor, and she basked in the sound. "Pretty much. He likes you, though. I think he figures you're doing me some good."

"He's right there." She laughed, and Shepard grinned against her. "What is it with you and him, anyway? I've never seen that kind of relationship between a Captain and his subordinates before."

"Really? I've seen some that have gotten a lot friendlier." As if to prove a point, his hand traveled downwards again, dragging against her thigh. She shut her eyes, inhaling a deep breath and trying to push past the heat growing between her legs.

"God, you're impossible sometimes. Seriously. I know you've known him a while, but how are you two so close?"

She felt his exhale of breath as he sighed, his hand stopping its exploration. "I don't know. I guess he's just always been there, after everything. He…" Ashley frowned at his vague explanation, at the way he his voice trailed off. He was shutting down, putting up that damn barrier he always did when she asked about his past. She could feel him start to pull away, could feel his weight leave her back, and she held on to him. Her hand grasped his arm, keeping it around her. She needed to know, needed to understand him. "He's the one that found me." He muttered finally, reluctantly.

"Found you?"

Shepard was silent at her back. She could feel the tension in his muscles, could feel his fingers clench and hold on to her. She ran her hand over his.

"On Mindoir." He growled, his voice hushed, laced with hate, and hurt, and disgust. "It was his squad that responded to my colony's distress beacon. They were too late. Everyone else…" She held on to him tighter, feeling the tremor that quaked through his core. "You know what slavers do." She did, and her heart sank knowing he had gone through it. That he had somehow survived it. "I got away, the fucking monsters were distracted and disorganized by the Alliance soldiers, so they were trying to load everyone up in a hurry. I managed to get one of their guns."

Shepard's words were distant now, disconnected, like he was talking about the weather. Like he was forcing himself not to feel it. It was chilling. "Anderson found me hiding out in someone's home, like an idiot. I had barricaded the door. Because, you know, that would have really fucking helped. He knocked it down, so I shot at him." Ashley's brows shot up in surprise. He seemed to sense it, and he chuckled a little darkly. "I didn't hit him. I was a shit marksman back then – don't tell Garrus." She kept holding him around her, her fingers stroking his. "He talked me out of my hole and brought me back with him. I don't know why he didn't just hand me over to some foster place. I was too old, I guess. But I was angry, and fucked up, and I hated everyone, and he took me in. Convinced me to join up, put in a good word for me. Hell if I know why." Shepard sighed, then breathed her in again, burying his face in her hair. "He saved me, he put up with my shit. Fuck, I guess he still does. I owe that man everything."

"He's the only one that believed me, you know. That you were still alive." Ashley felt him still behind her.

"Yeah… sounds like him. He always has had too much faith in me."

"Oh, shut up." She elbowed his stomach again, and he grunted, coughing in surprise. "Thank you. For telling me." She whispered, and he made a small sound in acknowledgement. He was silent for a moment, simply breathing against her, before he spoke.

"You know, you're a little abusive." He teased, and she could hear the warmth seeping back into his voice. She leaned back again, welcoming his return.

"Hardly. But someone needs to put you in your place every once in a while."

"Oh? Those are some pretty threatening words, Chief." He pulled her close again, his voice becoming a low, maddening growl. His hand travelled down, around her hips, and he copped a feel in retaliation.

"Feeling handsy today, Skipper?" Ashley smirked.

"Can you blame me? A man can only take so much." He nipped at her ear again and she whimpered as it sent a ripple down her body. His hands grasped her hips, pulling her back against him. "You know…" He murmured, his breath heavy against her. Her knees felt weak. "Most of the crew has gone ashore. And with Tali and Garrus out…" She felt his fingers dip just below her waistband, teasing, goading her on.

She was done with this distance bullshit.

She spun around and pulled him down to her, wrapping herself around him, tangling her fingers in his hair. He claimed her mouth desperately, obviously sick of waiting, sick of talking. He was leading her back, his hands tugging at her shirt as they went, his mouth only leaving hers to lavish her neck, her chest, her shoulders. She felt the backs of her thighs push up against her station. She smirked as she caught his intention.

Then prayed that the Normandy's surveillance didn't monitor the hold.

Ashley grasped his shirt and tugged it up, and Shepard reluctantly pulled himself away from her, throwing it to the floor. Her eyes danced appreciatively over his chiseled body, built and defined in a way that only a life of service could make. He smirked, catching her gaze, then leaned back over her, his hips pinning her against the table. His hands found the clasp of her bra and he skillfully removed it – making her wonder for a moment just how many times he had done it, but any thoughts in her mind were lost as his head dipped down and his teeth tugged her nipple to a point.

She gasped, her nails digging into his shoulder as the mix of pain and pleasure coursed through her body, heating her blood. Why the hell had she avoided this so long? Shepard continued his worship of her breasts, moving from one bud to the other, as his hand slowing moved down, tracing the midline of her abs, over her belly button, and further. Until it reached the hem of her pants, undid the clasp, and dipped in.

Ashley moaned, unable to help the way her hips bucked against him as his fingers teased. Her eyes closed and his mouth was on hers again, his hips still holding her against her worktable. She was on fire, and she needed more. She fumbled with the front of his pants and he grinned against her lips, then pulled away to assist her. He pulled first at the hem of her pants, and she stepped out of them quickly while he did the same. She knew stripping down in the cargo bay wasn't the best idea she'd ever had, but it wasn't in her mind to care. He leaned back over her and she wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing herself against him, and he groaned, his lips parting hers, his tongue darting greedily into her mouth.

Apparently as eager as she was, his hands came to the back of her thighs and he lifted her one quick motion, propping her on the table. She could feel him, waiting, asking, and her breath hitched in anticipation. He pulled back, his green eyes hooded as he searched hers. Ashley wrapped her legs around him, pulling him forward, and it was all the invitation he needed. A feral sound ripped through him as he plunged forward and she cried out to join him, losing herself in the feeling, the friction, the exquisite fullness. He rocked against her, their bodies meeting slowly at first, before the tempo became more hurried, more desperate. He rolled into her, grinding just the right spot and eliciting moans and gasps she couldn't hope to control. She felt the knot building deep in her belly, the pressure weighting down as his fingers tangled into her hair and pulled her head back, freeing more room for him to taste her, to lavish her with a reverence she hadn't felt before him.

It pushed her closer, and her legs tightened around him, her nails digging into his back. Shepard groaned, and she was gasping for breath, the heat becoming too much, the pressure building, pushing, breaking her, until she came undone. She gasped and cried, a slew of unintelligible words leaving her as she tremored around him. He kept moving, groaning and tightening his grip, making her moan as waves of pleasure continued to lap at her. She pulled him down and kissed him, deeply and passionately, her fingers grazing his scalp, her legs holding her to him as his hips began to jerk more irregularly.

Shepard ground out her name, and the sound was a plea, pained and awed at the same time. His arms held her tighter as his hips snapped a final time, and he stilled, his mouth leaving hers as he snarled his release. He collapsed, panting, on top of her. His hands came to cradle her head, his forehead pressed to hers. She looked up at him, the heat and lust fading from his green eyes, wavering into something nearer to devotion. Her belly clenched as it took her breath away.

They stayed there for a minute or two, echoing each other's breaths, until the openness of their surroundings demanded too much attention.

"So, Skipper. Sex in inappropriate places – one of the perks of being a Spectre?"

He chuckled, standing and stepping away. "Somehow, I doubt the Council would approve." The commander turned to grab their discarded clothing. She let out a whistle, grinning like a schoolgirl.

"That ass, though." She murmured appreciatively. "How do they expect us to resist?"

Shepard laughed, and tossed her clothes at her, tugging on his own. "Come on. Let's grab some food – I'll even take you somewhere nice."

She took in the boyish grin he had on his face, the joy so seldom seen. It tore away any final shred of resolve. "Hey, Owen…" Ashley's smile faded a little, becoming softer. Shepard glanced at her, arching his brow, still grinning like an idiot. Yeah, Williams. You got it bad.
"I do love you, you know."

He forgot the need for his boots as his lips found hers again.