Polite Conversation
Chapter 3
John Shepard set his skycar down on the beach house's pad with a deft touch and sighed, leaning back in the pilot's seat and letting himself have thirty seconds to close his eyes and calm his thoughts. Visiting the wounded in Earth's hospitals was never easy, but it was something he had to do- so many of them had been hurt during the months he'd been away from Earth, or during the last battle against the Reapers. It never failed to amaze him how much it cheered them up to see him, shake his hand, talk to him and thank him for what he'd done. It had been his plans that had led to so many being wounded...and so many more being dead.
He tried to leave that behind him when he came home, to be the husband he knew Miranda deserved, but it wasn't easy. Hell, he even felt guilty looking out at the place. Millions were homeless on Earth, cities ruined, thousands still trying to make their way home through the still-shaky mass relay network. Why should John Shepard, of all people, have a beautiful beach house?
After a long moment, he raised the access door and stepped out, making his way to the front door. Chances were he'd have some damage control to do here as well. He hadn't been able to talk Miranda out of spending the day in with Ash while he went out, and he was willing to bet there had been sparks. Much as he loved her, Miranda could be quite...frank and talking casually about their romantic and sex lives probably wasn't going to endear her to Ash. Hopefully they were still speaking, he thought as the door swung open.
"In here, Skipper!" Ash's voice was light, clear, and John relaxed a bit as he made his way to the sunroom. He could hear muffled giggling, and relaxed a bit more. Maybe things had gone better than...
Yeah, his mind finished as he stepped into the door, eyes going wide. A lot better.
Ash was propped up on her elbows on the edge of the big futon, a wicked little smile he'd only seen a few times before on her face. She wore a green tank top and plain grey Alliance-issue panties, an outfit that managed to be vaguely military while leaving nothing to the imagination. And Miranda...Miranda was naked except for a pair of black heels, kneeling with her cheek resting on Ashley's thigh, pale blue eyes serene as she smiled at him. John stopped dead, jaw dropping open, feeling his cock start to pulse with blood as he took in the scene.
"What-" he closed his eyes, shook his head, opened them. Nope. Still there. "What have you two been-"
"Talking, Skipper." Ash's voice had a throaty undertone to it as she sat up, her arms still pushed back on the bed in a way that pushed her chest out against the thin top. "Teaching and learning some, too, but mostly talking. About you."
"Me?"
Ashley nodded and stood, her hand sliding down into Miranda's midnight-black hair. "You. You haven't been whole since the war ended, Skipper. And no matter how much you try to hide it, Miranda knows that. So do I, after being here a few days. You're carrying a lot inside you, in the place where it just...eats you up from the inside out. And neither of us are going to allow that."
"Oh?" Shepard crossed his arms over his chest. "And you're going to...what, solve that with a little show and some play-acting? I know you, Ash. This isn't you, no matter what Miranda's talked you into doing."
"Don't." Shepard jerked back a little as Ashley stood, her hand still in Miranda's hair. "Don't tell me what I am, Skipper. I'm an N7 now. I'm a Spectre. I've learned black ops, espionage, what I like, and how to get it. I've found out what's important to me, and I'm not going to let it go." Her voice softened a bit. "I'm not your damaged Gunny anymore, Skipper. I'm not the scared little girl that hurt you on Horizon. And my eyes are up here."
Shepard jerked at that last, hastily pulling his chin up from where his eyes had wandered down to Ashley's chest. Her smirk told him that his attention hadn't been unplanned or unwelcome.
"But we've decided you might need a different approach. Isn't that right, Miri-slut?"
"Yes, ma'am." Shepard shivered at Miranda's voice. It was a low, breathy purr, every syllable seeming to drip with sugar and sex. She'd tried to get him to take charge in bed, but something had always held him back, some part of him that never felt worthy to accept her love, let alone command it. Now she was splayed out against Ashley, and there was a moment of rising panic- she'd never looked that way for him, she'd found what she needed, she'd finally he realize he wasn't good enough worthless fraud empty uniform failure-
"Hey!" His eyes jerked up again, spine stiffening instinctively as Ashley scowled, pointing her finger and taking on a drill instructor's cadence. "Look at me. Do not go there. I saw this girl put you back together cell by cell, damn near killed herself trying. Don't ever think you weren't worth that." And the smile was back as she took a few steps towards him, pulling Miranda to her feet so she could match the swaying heel-toe cadence, until she was pressed up to his front, Miranda to his back, his body sandwiched between soft curves and breasts and heat.
"And don't ever forget I love you." The voice was soft, almost a whisper in his ear, but it was unmistakably Miranda, just as much as the clear water and juniper scent of her skin. "This isn't a side of me I need. But it's one I want to share with you. Will you let me?" And Shepard was nodding, his body starting to throb as his heart sped up. "I didn't plan...this, exactly. Ashley was full of surprises." Shepard laughed at that, a little, and felt a husky laugh answer in his other ear. "But I did it because Ashley was the only one I didn't mind letting in this way. In with us, into us.
You don't have to do this, John, if it really doesn't feel right. But be honest. What do you want, right now?"
It was a question he barely knew how to answer. For so long it had been about his friends, his ship, his crew, his race, his galaxy. He'd barely had time to think of himself. How was he supposed to know- but then, while his mind was still working, his body had answered the question, turning to press his lips to Ash's, a tentative kiss that turned into fire as she grabbed him, pressing herself in, tongue sliding into his mouth until they parted, breathless. Ashley smiled.
"Mmm. Not bad, Skipper. But not quite all there. You're still thinking too much."
"Thinking?" Not really. Sure, part of his mind was still trying to analyze this- impossible situation. And try as he might, he could never leave the hospital entirely behind. And there was the refugee situation, the Normandy's refit, and some reports. But other than that...
HIs thoughts cut off as Ash grabbed his chin, nails hooking in just enough to hurt, sending a shiver down his spine. Her eyes were glinting as she nodded. "Mmm. Yes...definitely still thinking too much. Not all the way here. But I think we can fix that. I expect nothing less...and I'm very good at getting what I want." Her voice was back to that throaty purr, and Shepard felt his cock go diamond-hard at her next words.
"Isn't that right, little Miri-slut?" "Yes, Ma'am." Fuck. "I'd do as she says and focus, Sir. Otherwise she might have to...persuade you. And I'd much rather you both worked on me." Shepard took another breath at that, eyes closing, seeing Miranda kneeling at Ashley's feet, trembling at the sudden picture of both of them touching her, teasing her...yes. He groaned as he kissed Ash again, Miranda's mouth moving in to suck at the back of his neck, adding urgency as he pressed himself into her. Finally Ash drew back, eyes dancing.
"Better. But I think we still need to occupy you." She drew back, lying back on the edge of the bed with the slow grace of a dancer, smiling and holding his eyes with hers as she slowly slipped those panties down and off. "Little Miri-slut's still a beginner, but you'll have to be quite thoroughly focused to keep up with her. At least, if you want to be the one that brings me off." Miranda stepped up beside him, and Shepard felt faint. Ash was shaved bare, her sex open, red, soaking wet as she smiled up at him. "And I think you want to be the one that makes me cum, rather than your blushing bride. Don't you?
"Don't you, Skipper?"
He knelt. Miranda beside him.
And felt Ashley's hand bearing down, one for each of their heads as he turned his to the side to make room, Ash's scent filling him as he began to lick at one side of her folds, feeling the heat of Miranda's tongue as she began to do the same.
And for the first time in forever, thought for John Shepard finally vanished.