19. Just a brief encounter

"Zaeed wants to see you, Shepard. He's been unusually quiet since you came back from Zorya." Kelly Chambers had a smirk on her face as she announced this.

"Having a gun pointed at your head will sometimes do that to you." Shepard muttered, logging out of the terminal to her left.

"What did you say?" Kelly raised an eyebrow at her as she strode to the elevator.

"Oh, nothing." Shepard grimaced as she stepped into the elevator, pressing the large four like it had kicked her figurative puppy. The last thing that she wanted to do right now was to have another long, tedious conversation with Zaeed about his attitude towards this mission. In addition, if she heard another story about his cool and wacky mercenary days she was going to castrate him with Jessie.

The elevator came to a slow halt on the third level and she sighed, thankful that she'd have another few minutes to compose herself before arriving in the starboard cargo. With a quiet "shick" the elevator doors opened, revealing Thane standing patiently in the hallway. He stepped into the elevator, giving Shepard a courteous nod as he pressed the door close button.

Shepard's mood lightened immediately. She smiled and returned his nod "Thane." He returned her smile briefly, and then stepped slightly forward, reaching out with a black clad arm to press the large, red STOP button on the panel. The elevator came to an obedient halt, suspended between levels three and four. "Uhm… Thane, I hate to…" Before she could finish her sentence, Shepard found herself pressed against the elevator wall; at that point she'd forgotten what she was going to say.

Thane moved quickly, taking her in his arms and catching her mouth with his. They were against the wall seconds later, his hands on her hips, steadying her. His lips were soft but insistent against hers, and she parted beneath them, tasting the faint cinnamon of his mouth for the first time. There was no time to consider anything but his long tongue rubbing against hers, the hard muscle of his body tight against hers.

She clasped his hands; his scales felt pleasantly rough against her skin, like well-worn calluses. He broke from the kiss, trailing his lips to her ear, taking the lobe in his mouth and sucking. How the hell does someone without earlobes know how to do that? Her breath was hissing between her lips while her hands scrabbled for purchase on his slick overcoat, finally sliding upwards to touch the ridges on his head, which she'd long been curious about. His responding moan was transported directly to the ear that he was ravishing; score one for Shepard.

His lips moved back to hers for one more slow, deep kiss. Stepping back, he straightened his jacket, shaking his hands at his sides. They were both breathing quite heavily for a pair of people standing around in an elevator, and Thane's lips were a deep and swollen pink. Reaching casually to his side, already composed, he pressed the red STOP button again. The elevator hummed instantly to life and Shepard spent half a moment re-composing.

The doors slid open on the fourth level, revealing a sterilely lit, white walled hall. Thane cleared his throat next to her and extended his hand before him courteously, indicating that Shepard should exit. "I believe that Zaeed would like to speak with you, Siha." There was a distinctly mischievous glint in his eye as the doors "schicked" quietly closed in front of him, carrying him back towards the third floor. Shepard walked towards the starboard cargo with a renewed vigor. It was amazing how much an elevator ride could improve your mood.