The Tempest: Ryder

Ryder sat on the edge of her bed, staring down at the datapad in her hand. Christmas had sent an update. Everything seemed to going smoothly back on Ditaeon. Water supply was clean. No more murders. And that weird cult had all but vanished.

She smiled and stood up. Moving over to her desk she placed the datapad down and looked over to the holo projection of SAM. She didn't have anything to ask or say at the moment, but she knew that SAM would probably have questions sooner or later that would adhere to adjusting his matrix and his learning. SAM strangely was like a child learning and growing with each knew experience he gardered from her. It was bizarre and fascinating to be a part of his development as an intelligent and sentient.

Her door alarm chimed. Ryder walked over and pressed the unlock button. The door shifted open. Reyes stood on the other side. A charming crook grin on his lips. "Ryder, may I come in?"

"Liam finished with his tour?" she asked, gesturing for him to enter.

"Yes, and I must say you have a beautiful ship," Reyes walked by her into her room. The door shifted shut and Ryder pushed the lock button again.

Reyes whistled softly, "Ryder, this view," He moved closer to the windows. The Tempest was docked at Kadara Port, but her windows happen to point out over the vast frontier expansion of Kadara itself. She could see the port in its entirety along with the dusty orange red mountains and bright blue sulfur springs in the distance. She loved Kadara. It was probably her favorite planet so far.

"It is beautiful, isn't it?" She moved to stand next to him.

"It is." He stated quietly. His roved the great locality before him. Ryder smiled, as she studied his face for a moment—awe, wonder, and appreciation flickered across his features. She slipped her hand into his, leaning her head on his shoulder.

A comfortable silence fell between. Where do we go from here? She wanted to know, but wasn't certain how to ask him. Reyes was…unpredictable to her, but even more so than that he was an anomaly in her life. She hadn't expected him to show up in her life here in Andromeda.

Reyes took his eyes away from the breathtaking view to rest his cheek against the top of Ryder's head. He turned his face so his lips could brush the top of her head. "You are just as beautiful and breathtaking," He whispered.

Ryder chuckled, "Flatterer,"

Reyes turned fully to embrace her, wrapping an arm about her waist. She continued to rest her head against his shoulder. "Danica?" Her first name came out as a question on his lips as he released her hand to enfold his other arm around her. Ryder lifted head to inspect his face.

"Yes?" She asked when he couldn't meet her gaze.

"I'm not certain I want to know the answer to the question I want to ask,"

Ryder's eyes narrowed as her heart sped up. "That's not encouraging," She teased trying to lighten the heavy mood that had suddenly fallen upon him.

Reyes sighed, raising a hand to her cheek. His thumb lightly traced her cheekbone sending pleasant shivers down her spine. "There is not a delicate way to ask," he paused, studying her face, waiting apparently for something. What he was waiting for Ryder didn't know. "Did you died when you after the Archon's ship?"

Ryder's eyes widened and she took a step back leaving the enclosure of his arms. "Reyes, I…"

He cut her off, "I know what your teammate said. I know what information was on that transmitter. I know what the angara Resistance would have counseled you to do. But Ryder," He stepped forward again, cupping her face in his hands, "Dying? Actually, dying…did you…" He couldn't finish.

"I did. It was the only way to deactivate the Archon's trap. SAM brought me back."

"SAM?" Reyes asked, "I didn't think he had that much influence over you."

"He does, without SAM I wouldn't be alive. I should have died long before I met you." She debated then telling you everything. Telling him about the Hyperion's trouble when first entering the Andromeda galaxy with the Scourge, how her father had died to save her on Habitat 7.

Reyes leaned forward, bring his lips a hairsbreadth away from hers. "I feel there is a story here, one that could be told over dinner and drinks?"

Ryder giggled, "Could help. You certain you want to know?" She inquired.

His lips ghosted over hers, "Danica, I want to know everything about you,"

Ryder closed what little distance there was between their lips. Little sparks danced down her body, heating her deliciously in several places. She ran her hands up Reyes' chest as his slid down from her face to rest on her hips. Reyes pulled her closer until her body was flush against his. Her hands moved over his shoulders, caressing up the bare skin of his neck. She dug her fingers tenderly into his hair.

Their kisses were always passionate. Ryder couldn't remember when was the last time she had kissed anyone with as much vibrancy. Reyes ignited something fierce, wild, and emboldening in her, she had never encountered before. They were two different people, but something drew her to the man. She would have called it lust at first, but no, she could define desire. No, when they had kissed after Sloane's party it had been because of the vulnerability in his eyes. He wanted to be someone. But he was someone to her. He didn't have to hide around her. She knew who and what he was. And she loved it. Flaws and all. She was hopeless.

She broke their kiss and moved her lips to his right ear. Her reward was a soft moan and a peppering of kisses down her neck.

"Why do I get the feeling that dinner can wait?" Reyes asked, pressing another feather light kiss just at where her shirt line. His fingers dug teasingly into her hips.

"Oh, it can wait, a couple minutes, I think,"

Reyes chuckled, "A couple minutes? You severely underestimate my capabilities."

"Prove it." Ryder challenged playfully.

A dashing smile broke out over Reyes face as he wrapped his arms firmly around her waist. He lifted her off the ground and over to the bed. "I plan on proving it to you a thousand times over, I promise."