Epilogue:

Two weeks later, the final day of the Election:

Tevos shivered as she heard the click of the leash being clipped onto her collar. Just the sound was enough to make her knees weak, and she was almost grateful when she felt the pressure of Aria's hand on one of her shoulders. She shifted to try and ease the deep, pulsing ache between her legs, but moving only made things worse.

Her heartbeat throbbed in her throat, beating wildly beneath the collar. Some of it was nerves. It was difficult not to think about what was happening outside of their bedroom. All across Thessia and the other asari-controlled planets, her fate was being decided. That was why she had been so relieved when Aria dragged her back here instead of allowing her to make yet another media appearance. She had been shuttled back and forth constantly during the last two and a half days with barely a moment to think, and this brief time alone was a welcome relief.

As she lowered herself to the ground, Tevos felt the leash get tighter, tugging slightly at the band around her neck – not enough to cut off her breath, but a constant reminder that Aria was linked to her. Even though she had done it many times before, wearing a collar around her neck felt slightly different after her experience with the biotic dampener. It was almost healing in a strange way, because it displayed the stark contrast between her helplessness before Petrovsky and her willing submission to Aria. This time, the band around her neck felt safe instead of constricting.

When Aria reached out with one hand, Tevos lifted her chin, offering her face and neck for Aria to caress. Her lips twitched in a brief smile as she felt Aria stroke her cheek with the back of her hand, but that smile turned into an open-mouthed gasp as Aria's fingers hooked beneath her collar and tugged sharply. "Good. Now that I have your attention..." Still holding the bunched leash in one tight fist, Aria popped open the silver button on her leather pants. "Get my zipper down."

Tevos lifted her hands to obey, but a quick jerk of the leash corrected her behavior. Instead, she pulled back her lips and caught the tab of the zipper between her teeth. It was slightly awkward tugging it down that way, and the noise was unnaturally loud in her ears, but the look on Aria's face was worth it.

Slowly, Aria pulled down her tight leather pants, teasing Tevos by adding a deliberate sway as she worked them over the widest part of her hips and down her thighs. Occasionally, this made the leash tighten, and Tevos was forced to shift her head and upper body ever so slightly forward. She chewed on her lower lip, torn between taking in the entire delicious picture and focusing all of her attention directly between Aria's legs. It was a difficult choice, and Aria didn't make it any easier by standing with her legs apart and offering her an enticing view. "Enjoying yourself?" Aria asked, fondling the collar around Tevos's throat. She tugged on it occasionally, but the reminder wasn't necessary. The constant press of leather around Tevos's neck was already enough.

Unsure whether it was safe to answer, Tevos simply nodded. She allowed Aria to slide a hand under her chin and lift her head, forcing her to look up. A warm thumb ghosted over the familiar pattern of her facial tattoos before zeroing in to trace the outline of her lips. "I want that pretty mouth wrapped around me. Now."

Relieved she had been given permission so that she wouldn't have to beg, Tevos leaned closer and took Aria's clit between her lips, letting her eyes drift shut. A sharp, disapproving noise, accompanied by a quick tug of the leash, made Tevos's heart rate skip, and she opened her eyes again. "That's it. I want you looking at me." Holding her head at an angle that allowed her to look up at Aria and continue licking her at the same time was slightly uncomfortable, but the strain in her neck was surprisingly satisfying.

Aria sighed and let the leash fall slack, trying not to let her eyes roll back in her head. She forced herself to keep watching. It wouldn't do to stop now, after she had specifically ordered Tevos to look at her. The sight of her bondmate's wide green eyes staring up at her made Aria's inner walls clench around nothing. Sometimes, Tevos was a little too good at playing this role.

Sensing that Aria was in no mood for a slow build-up, Tevos threw herself into her task. She used every part of her mouth – caressing with her lips, swiping and pressing forward with her tongue, and even including a few well-placed nips and grazes of her teeth where she knew rougher attention would be welcome. Aria wasn't shy in showing her enjoyment. She hissed and cursed under her breath, fisting the leash in one hand and gripping the back of Tevos's head with the other, holding her in place.

"Get your tongue inside me, pet." Obediently, Tevos slipped her tongue past Aria's entrance, swirling slowly around her opening. When she didn't move fast enough, Aria gathered more of the leash in her hand, drawing it so tight that Tevos was forced to lift her head and pull away completely. "I never gave you permission to be a fucking tease. Do it again, and I'll break the meld when I'm coming."

Tevos knew it was a very real threat, and she tried to look contrite as she ran her tongue over her swollen lips. Her heart leapt into her throat as Aria stroked her cheek again. The gentle motion was a stark contrast to her unwavering dominance. Even though she craved Aria's control, Tevos also appreciated the moments when Aria broke out of her role to offer affection, even if it was only for a few seconds. "You're lucky you have such a pretty face, especially when it's between my legs. Do it right this time, unless you want to suffer later."

Aria released a few inches of the leash so that Tevos could lower her head again, and spread her thighs further apart. This time, Tevos immediately buried her tongue as deep as it would go, curling forward, drinking as much of Aria as she could. Her reward was a low groan from somewhere above her and a slight pull on her collar. "Much better."

Even though she wasn't allowed to speak, Tevos couldn't keep herself from whimpering. She began thrusting in and out with her tongue, not caring that it was slightly uncomfortable and made her jaw ache. Aria tasted divine, and it only got better when she –

As if they were already melded, Aria used her grip on Tevos's collar to pull her away. "Stop. I'm not coming in your mouth this time." Tevos whimpered and ran her tongue over her wet lips, giving Aria her best pleading look, but she was unsympathetic. Aria stood up, letting a few inches of the leash slide from her fist to give Tevos a little extra mobility. "Come." The command was accompanied by another jerk of the leash, and Tevos started to rise to her feet. "Ah ah, try again. Come."

This time, Tevos remained on her knees as she accompanied Aria from the foot of the bed to the nearest dresser. It was only a short distance, but far enough for Aria to make her point. They stopped, and Tevos watched as Aria opened the top drawer, pulling out a very familiar toy. Still holding the leash in one hand, she managed to work her fingers over the accompanying remote and make a few adjustments. Tevos squirmed on top of her heels. If Aria planned on keeping it that thick, tomorrow was probably going to be a 'standing' day in the Council chambers.

"I know what you want," Aria drawled as she closed the drawer and leaned back against the dresser. She looped her end of the leash around her wrist several times, but didn't knot it. "You want to taste me again."

Tevos didn't bother denying it. Nothing made her feel more submissive, and the physical sensations Aria shared with her through the meld were exquisite. Deciding to take a risk, she posed herself at Aria's feet, hoping that her slightly parted lips, her bright eyes, and the pleading look on her face would be convincing enough. Aria ignored her, taking the shaft of the cock in her hand and bringing the shorter end between her legs. The leash slid down along her strong forearm, catching somewhere in the middle where the muscle flared out.

"Please..." Tevos was momentarily distracted as she watched Aria tease herself, slowly sliding the toy in place. She heard Aria gasp – first at the new fullness, and then at the little jolt of pleasure as the sensory transmitting plate touched her clit.

Aria gave the shaft of the cock a testing stroke, her abdominal muscles flexing. Tevos swallowed and resisted the temptation to lick her lips again. Her mouth felt uncomfortably wet. She almost missed it when Aria spoke. "Please what?"

"Hm?"

Instead of being irritated at Tevos's lack of attention, Aria was amused. Tevos's eyes were fixed on her hand as it slid up and down the shaft of the cock. The leash moved with it, still draped around her forearm. "Please what? If you're going to beg, you need to be more explicit."

"Please let me suck your cock." The words were easier to say now than they had been at the start of their relationship, but they still made her blush beneath her tattoos. Tevos suspected that the embarrassment would never completely go away, even though she trusted Aria completely.

"I'm tempted," Aria purred, keeping her fist wrapped loosely around the base of the cock. Then, she let go and unwound the leash from around her wrist. Once it was back in her hand, she gave it a firm tug, pulling Tevos closer. "But I don't think you deserve it yet."

Tevos knew better than to argue. She had learned when to test Aria's decisions and when to accept them, and she knew that begging would only result in punishment this time. Instead, she lowered her eyes and waited for instructions.

A warm hand cupped beneath her chin, forcing her to look up again. "Oh, don't look so sad, pet. I'll give you a taste... once you've earned it. Use your hand for now." Tevos didn't need to be told twice. Taking that as an order, she circled the shaft of the toy with her fist, gasping as she felt how warm it already was. "Fuck, that's good," Aria growled, tightening the slack of the leash by a few inches and forcing Tevos's head closer. Tevos closed her eyes and swallowed back another plea.

Aria noticed her bondmate's desperate expression and laughed, fondling the band of leather around Tevos's neck as her bondmate's hand began moving up and down with slow, firm strokes. "I'm not going to let you suck my cock yet..." Tevos's voice cracked in her throat as she let out a disappointed whimper. "But I'll give you a chance to persuade me." She ran her thumb over Tevos's lips. "Tell me exactly how you would use this hot little mouth."

Tevos took in a deep breath and opened her eyes again, staring up into Aria's face. "I..." Sensing her slight hesitation, Aria gripped the leash and pulled. Instead of a threat, the gesture was actually a comfort to Tevos, and she was able to form words. "I would take the tip in first..." She stared down at the fluted head, shivering as she remembered all of the times it had pressed inside of her. "And run my tongue over it. Around it."

Aria showed her approval by squeezing Tevos's shoulder, pressing the leash into the flesh of her collarbone. "Faster," she ordered, pressing forward slightly into Tevos's hand. "And keep talking. I thought you were trying to convince me?"

"I would keep sucking the tip until I felt your hands tighten on the back of my head... pushing me to take more until you stretched my jaw." Aria's fingers clutched even harder at her shoulder, and Tevos felt her hips push forward involuntarily. "Goddess, you would push me all the way down and hold me there... so you could feel the warmth of my mouth wrapped around every inch of you."

"Fuck," Aria hissed, her resolve wavering slightly. She loosened her grip on Tevos's shoulder and held on to the back of her crest instead, deciding to inflict a little torment of her own. She forced Tevos's head down until she was just a breath away from the head of the cock. She enjoyed the obvious way Tevos shifted on her heels, trying to ease the pressure between her legs.

For a moment, Tevos lost her composure. "Aria, please..." The words poured out in a flood. "Please – I want..." She had barely stumbled over the word 'want' before she changed her mind. "I need you to fuck my mouth until it aches. To feel you use me..."

Aria stared down at her, eyes glossed over with the deep black light of the meld. The sight of Tevos on her knees, face flushed, her hand working up and down the shaft of the cock, begging to have it in her mouth instead... it was nearly perfect. She decided to put on the finishing touches herself. "Do you think you've earned it yet?"

Tevos sank her teeth into her lower lip and looked up at Aria with dark, pleading eyes. She sped up the motion of her hand, feeling the shaft of the cock throb as Aria's stomach muscles tightened. "I..." She lowered her eyes. "I'm yours. It's not my place to decide."

Aria gave the leash a quick jerk, causing Tevos to gasp. Her hand faltered, and she let go of Aria's cock, but neither of them seemed to notice. "I asked you a question. Answer it."

"I..."

Embarrassment warred with need on Tevos's face, and Aria could tell that she was close to breaking. "Have you been good for me?" she prodded, digging her nails into the back of Tevos's neck. "Have you done everything I've asked?"

"Yes!" Tevos's voice broke with need, and her chest rose and fell with shallow, uneven breaths beneath the band of the collar. "I've done everything you asked."

The hand on the back of Tevos's crest softened for a moment, and Aria's hard grip briefly turned into a caress. Then she let go, wrapping her hand around the base of the shaft instead and guiding it forward. "Show me what you can do with that gorgeous mouth before I change my mind and fuck you instead."

Aria groaned as the heat of Tevos's mouth closed around the head. Now, it was perfect. She almost wanted to join their minds together, wishing she could savor the vulnerability and the helplessness that Tevos was undoubtedly feeling, but she held back. She didn't want to give in to temptation too soon.

Tevos dipped her head along the shaft, taking several more inches before sliding back up, swirling her tongue around the thick, flared head. She cast a pleading look up at Aria as she suckled it, and was rewarded when her bondmate gripped the back of her crest and tugged on the leash, pushing her head back down and forcing her lips to slide all the way to the base.

"That's it, pet," Aria purred, holding Tevos in place. "I want you to take it all."

Tevos whimpered. The leash pulled at her collar, making the leather band tighten around her throat, and her jaw ached. Aria had made the cock thicker than usual, and the outline pressed against her cheeks as she ran her tongue over the underside of the shaft. She could feel every jerk of Aria's hips, could sense the tightening of her abdominal muscles as she strained to hold still. Somehow, the knowledge that Aria was holding back her thrusts made the ache between Tevos's legs double.

Aria wanted to make this last, to stretch out the seconds into minutes, but just feeling the heat of Tevos's mouth surround her was nearly unbearable. And when she actually looked down, seeing the complete devotion in her bondmate's dark green eyes, it caused an almost painful throb. Her cock ached. The base and shaft felt tight, strained, and her instincts screamed for her to thrust forward and use the hot mouth that was so eagerly servicing her.

Aria's hand tightened around the leash, her nails biting into the thin leather strip as Tevos dipped forward again, taking her back in. Her head swam and her inner walls squeezed down, clutching at the shorter end of the toy. There was no point in waiting any longer. "Embrace Eternity..."

As she felt Aria's mind latch to hers, flooding it with thoughts and feelings and images, Tevos sealed her lips around the head, using a fist to grip the base. A low gasp slid from Aria's throat, and Tevos felt the cock throb against her tongue. She knew that sensation – recognized it whether it was in her mouth, in her hand, or inside of her. Aria came in shuddering waves, pushing down on the back of Tevos's crest as several spurts of wetness shot from the twitching head of her cock, filling her mouth with warmth.

Even though the meld was fairly shallow, Tevos felt her body echo Aria's. Her clit pulsed in sympathy and her inner walls fluttered. Without thinking, she cupped her other hand between her legs to relieve some of the pressure, coating her own fingers with wetness as she rode out the end of their orgasm in her palm. She kept working Aria's shaft with her other hand until she was completely spent, swallowing several times before she released the thick head with a loud pop.

Suddenly, Aria walled off her mind, and Tevos felt the loss of her bondmate even more strongly than the loss of the toy filling her mouth. Tevos parted her lips to speak, but Aria didn't even give her time to take in another breath before she found herself being hauled up and thrown forward over the edge of the bed.

"Fuck, I need to be in you," Aria growled, pulling Tevos's thighs further apart as she lined up the tip of her cock with Tevos's entrance. The fattest part of the head forced its way past the lips of her azure, catching for a moment before sinking all the way inside, stretching her open. Aria's grip tightened around Tevos's hips, knowing that the penetration had to sting a little without any build-up. Instead of whimpering and begging, Tevos yelped at the rough way Aria was suddenly handling her. She felt so full, Aria stretched her to the point of burning, and she gasped as the hands holding her tightened. Aria was still holding the leash in one of them, and the thin strip of leather pressed into the naked flesh of Tevos's side.

Behind her, Aria picked up a fast, harsh rhythm almost immediately, completely oblivious to anything except her need. Even though Aria was focused solely on her own pleasure, she seemed to hit all of the perfect spots anyway. The head caught against Tevos's front wall with every thrust, and she squeezed her eyes shut against the pleasure.

Aria leaned forward and bit at an exposed shoulder, sinking her teeth into Tevos's tender flesh and holding until she was sure she had left her mark. The bite was hard, almost crossing the line that separated pleasure and pain, but the possessiveness of the action made Tevos's muscles tighten around the shaft thrusting in and out of her. Aria released the spot with a wet smack, looking down to admire her handiwork – an obvious bruise just below the collar that still clung to the column of Tevos's beautiful throat. "You're all mine. And I'm going to use you up."

Tevos shifted beneath Aria's weight, spreading her legs and trying to take the cock even deeper. Her vision swam and her head began to throb as she resisted the nearly overwhelming urge to meld, to release the pounding behind her eyes and between her legs. The orgasm she had shared with Aria before had only aroused her more, and she was desperate to come again.

"Who does this belong to?" Aria asked, thrusting forward even though she was already pushed in as far as she could go. Tevos's hips bucked in response, and she shivered.

"You."

"You've finally learned," she said, nails biting in to Tevos's flesh. Aria's grip on her hurt, but she didn't attempt to adjust. The angle was selfish, Aria was obviously using her this time instead of focusing on her pleasure, but somehow, that knowledge only aroused her more.

Wishing that she were on her hands and knees so that she could offer herself up higher, Tevos raised her hips in an attempt to accommodate more of the thick shaft. The cock splitting her open was larger than she was accustomed to, and she had a feeling that walking would be difficult after Aria finished with her. Each thrust pushed a high-pitched cry from her throat, and she turned, one cheek pressed into the mattress, biting her lip as she tried to look back over her shoulder at Aria. Her bondmate's eyes were completely black, and the already brutal thrusts of her hips came even faster and harder as she took her pleasure.

"Aria –" Tevos wanted the meld, but knew that her bondmate was well beyond taking requests. She was entirely wrapped up in her own need. Even without the meld, she could feel the length of Aria's cock pulsing inside of her, straining with the release both of them were hurtling towards. She ached, but the pleasure each thrust took from her blotted out any discomfort.

"Fuck –" Aria hissed behind her teeth as she felt her bondmate's inner walls squeeze around her. "Going to come –"

Tevos was surprised that Aria had bothered warning her at all, but when she felt the raw power of her bondmate's consciousness barrel past hers, she clung to it, surrendering completely. One of Aria's hands let go of her hip, leaving behind the purple bruise it had caused. She yanked on the back of Tevos's collar, forcing her spine to arch and her breasts to thrust upwards as she hurried to support herself on her hands. The new angle caused the head of Aria's cock to aim further down, ramming directly against the spot that made Tevos's entire body seize up and shiver.

It was the pressure of the collar against Tevos's throat as Aria tugged on it that sent both of them falling over the edge. Through the meld, both of them could feel it. Aria erupted inside of her, filling her with several powerful jets. The sensation made Tevos's muscles tighten and shiver with thick, blissful contractions, forcing out an answering flood of wetness from deep inside of her. With Aria's mind biting into hers, ripping pleasure from it, the meld aligned every throb of their release. Aria claimed her with several hard, uneven thrusts as they rode out the end of their orgasm, still spilling into her, and Tevos pushed back, taking the hot pulses as deep as she could as her inner walls twitched and squeezed with aftershocks.

The meld broke, and both of them collapsed forward, breathing heavily. It was slightly difficult to take in enough air with Aria's weight pressing down on her, trapping her against the mattress, but she didn't complain. The thick cock stayed inside of her, but trails of wetness – hers and Aria's – dripped down both of her thighs, leaving them a mess. "Don't move," Aria murmured into Tevos's warm, slick shoulder. "I'm not finished with you."

"Anything," Tevos sighed, enjoying the press of Aria's lips. "Anything you want. I'm yours."

"I want you to to touch yourself." When she didn't respond immediately, Tevos felt the leash brush against her back as Aria massaged the two dimples at the base of her spine. "You were so good at being my obedient pet, letting me use your mouth and fuck your azure. But now I want you to be my whore. Play with your clit. I want to see you all worked up."

Tevos nearly sobbed with relief, and her right hand shot between her legs. Her clit was already peeking out of its hood, desperate for attention, and Tevos didn't bother being gentle with herself as her fingers flew over the swollen, sensitive ridge. She was Aria's, and Aria's fingers would have been rough with her if they hadn't been holding her hips in place, posing her just the way she wanted.

"Fuck. I can't decide..." Aria panted as the motion of her hips sped up.

Tevos didn't stop circling her fingers, and it took her several moments to form words. "Can't decide what?" she asked, rocking back against Aria's thrusts and letting out soft whimpers of pleasure edged with pain.

"Where I want to come." Aria's teeth nipped at her back, just to the side of her shoulder blade. "I could come inside you again."

"Yes," Tevos pleaded, deliberately squeezing her inner muscles.

"Or I could pull out and come on your thighs... the back of your hand..."

"Oh, Goddess..." Tevos's fingers sped up. Just the thought of Aria coming all over her hand as she kept touching herself made her abdomen clench painfully with need.

"Beg me for it," Aria growled as she increased the pace of her thrusts. "I want to hear your sweet voice break when you tell me how much you want it."

"Please! I – I want you to come... Come all over me while I'm..."

Aria pulled out of Tevos, ignoring her whimpers of protest, but continued running the head up and down between her folds, stopping just short of Tevos's hand. "While you're rubbing your clit, bent over and spread open for me to use. To fuck. To own."

"Yes!" Tevos sobbed. Her clit was completely exposed now, swollen and pulsing against her fingertips as she circled the tight little bundle over and over again.

When Aria's mind took hers, it wasn't gradual or gentle. She was swallowed whole, lost somewhere within Aria's raw, overwhelming need. Even though her supporting hand was fisting the sheets, Tevos could feel the shaft of Aria's cock pulse in her palm through the meld, and she twitched beneath her own fingers in the same rhythm.

One more stroke, and they were falling over the edge together, not caring who had actually triggered their release. Tevos's inner muscles fluttered and contracted wildly, and her hips bucked as several bursts of wetness slid through the folds of her azure and coated her hand. The sight was too much, nearly unbearable, and Aria shoved back inside of her, unable to resist taking what belonged to her as she emptied herself with a few more harsh spurts.

Unfortunately, neither of them had a chance to enjoy the afterglow. Tevos's Omnitool began buzzing on the nightstand, and the loud, angry sound made both of them sigh with frustration. With a huff of annoyance, Aria grabbed for it, twisting uncomfortably so that she wouldn't have to pull out. She was too irritated to be grateful that she was close enough to reach it at all. When she saw the number and picture on the screen, she let out an exasperated groan.

"Who is it?" Tevos slurred beneath her, still having trouble putting sentences together. "Tell them to call back in a year..."

Despite Tevos's objections, Aria answered the call, frowning at Liara T'Soni's disgustingly cheerful face. "This had better be fucking important," she snapped, too frustrated to bother with a polite greeting.

"Turn on the news," Liara insisted, seemingly oblivious to Aria's bad mood and her nakedness.

"Can't. I'm in the middle of something." Aria flicked the Omnitool down carelessly, showing Liara exactly what she meant. She gave one last deep, lazy thrust of her cock to repay Liara for some of the torment she had caused.

"Don't you mean someone?" Liara asked, although her voice trembled a little. She shifted slightly, obviously recrossing her legs to try and find a more comfortable position. "Let me talk to her."

Relieved that Liara was going to be someone else's problem for a few moments, Aria passed the Omnitool down to Tevos. "Is this urgent?" Tevos asked.

"The vote was so one-sided that they've called the race early. You're keeping your job, Madam Councilor."

All of Tevos's annoyance vanished, and her face split in a grin. "Really?"

Liara smiled back at her. "You should probably get cleaned up. I have a feeling you will need to make a public appearance in the next few minutes, and you probably don't want to do it wearing a collar and covered i –"

"Definitely not," Tevos interrupted, letting out a soft moan as she felt Aria pull out of her at last. She stood on shaky legs, setting the Omnitool back on the nightstand. "Thank you, Liara. For everything."

"And don't call us tomorrow, all right?" Aria added. "I'd like to fuck her at least once without getting interrupted."

"You're the one who answered the call," Liara pointed out. "You always have the option of letting it buzz through..."

"Goodbye, Liara," Tevos said, ending the call before Liara could get into an argument with her bondmate. She took both of Aria's hands in hers, noticing that her lover had dropped her end of the leash, letting it hang loosely from the collar instead. "Come on, help me get cleaned up. Neota will be looking for us any –" A sharp pounding on the door cut off Tevos's sentence. "Just a minute!"

Although she couldn't see her, Tevos could easily imagine Neota waiting nervously outside the door, obviously afraid of what she would find if she came in. Perhaps her assistant deserved a second raise in addition to the first one.

The End