Chapter Text
The soft rattling hum of the air recycling system did little to mask the raspy echoes of a pair of sharply heaving breaths.
“John!”
The frantic exclamation was part scream, part sigh and part groan tinged with a squeal of appreciative fulfillment and was immediately followed by a deeper and much more masculine though no less satisfied sounding growl.
One heartbeat of a moment passed, then a second during which both sets of gasping rasps mixed and mingled and eventually melded into soft chuckles of contented laughter; one followed by the other, until finally one soft sigh bled to a second one.
Rolling to his side to keep the bulk of his weight from crushing her, John lifted a hand to brush back a stray strand of copper that covered jade green eyes. “So,” he began, breath still choppy as he struggled to even it out after their latest round of extracurricular activities, “think maybe we ought to get dressed this time and leave the room for some real food tonight?”
Jane’s rumble of laughter was soft as she rolled onto her side so that she could face him directly. As she did so, her hand began to trace the shapes of the muscles on his bare arm. “Hmm,” she purred in the back of her throat. “Probably should. I think I’m out of my emergency stash of nutrient bars I brought with me.” Her lips curved into a teasing grin as her fingers tangled in the light spray of hair across his chest and tugged. “Might need an energy boost for later.”
“Can’t possibly imagine why,” John retorted in a dry tone. The only reaction he had to her actions was to reach over, lightly grasp her shoulder and gently tug her towards him. A moment later she sprawled across his chest in an ungraceful heap causing him to grin.
Jane opened her mouth to protest, but found herself squealing instead as his hands lowered to her waist and began teasing the sensitive and overly ticklish flesh around her ribs. “AIEEEE! John!”
Laughing heartily at having caught her so unprepared, he withdrew his hands and raised them to fold behind his head, interlocking the fingers together. He was not surprised when she moved to retaliate a moment after. Only once he’d allowed her an equal opportunity to do the same to him did he then roll them both, reversing their positions to that he could kiss her lips thoroughly. Breaking contact a minute or two later, he murmured, “Come on,” as he pushed himself away, rising to his feet before reaching a hand out to her. “I want a real meal tonight.”
Taking his proffered hand, Jane was pulled to her feet in a quick move. Laughing, she nudged the side of his arm with her shoulder. “They teach you that move in N-School?” she asked.
He flashed her a wicked grin while reaching over to turn on the shower. “That and a whole lot more,” he offered in a suggestive tone.
Her eyes rolling, Jane followed him under the spray. “Pretty big talk, for only an N5,” she countered.
John reached for the soap and began building a lather in his hands. “Can’t a guy at least try to impress his bride on their honeymoon?” he asked.
Jane’s chuckle evolved into a full blown laugh. “Keep trying, soldier,” she told him with a pat to his upper arm, “you’ll get there. Eventually.”
Jane yelped a moment later as wet, soapy hands caught her by her hips and lifted, pressing her against the wall of the shower at a height so that their mouths could meet. Groaning softly, she melted into the contact, arms wrapping around his shoulders. “John,” she murmured, “... dinner? Remember?”
She was a sucker for his kisses. He knew that from years of experience, and he now took full advantage of it. “Later,” he promised against her lips. “We’ve got time….”
~ 0 ~
With a twirl in her step, Jane exited the bathroom, crossed the room and came to a halt beside John as he finished pulling on a jacket. “How do I look?” she asked, the barest hint of bashfulness tinging her tone.
John blinked a few times in astonishment. The best of times, he knew her to be hesitant about dressing up. Even in her dress uniform she tended to fuss and fidget with the hem or the buttons. She was a woman of action and as such, preferred her armor to civvies, weapons to baubles, but in that moment all he could do was look at her in the heels and black dress and just … stare in appreciation.
“Stunning,” he finally managed to croak out when he found his tongue and hoped it would be approval enough. And she was that and more. Taking her hand in his, he lifted it, turning her around one final time before leaning over to place a kiss on the tip of her freckled nose. “Everyone else will be green with envy. And the best part is, I get to come home with you.”
Jane’s eyes rolled, but she felt her cheeks heat a little with his words. She couldn’t understand after so many years of knowing one another and finally taking this next step together why she should still occasionally feel that particular rush of emotion around him, but considering it meant they were finally together, she could live with it. “Now you’re pushing it,” she warned but not without amusement in her tone.
“Not in the least,” he assured her. This time, he brought her hand to his lips and brushed his lips across the knuckles.
The walk to the restaurant took them less than fifteen minutes, but two hours flew by before they realized it and they were back out on the street walking arm in arm on the return trip to their hotel room.
“I’m quite impressed,” Jane murmured, contentedly full. There was a slight chill in the air, but between the natural warmth generated by her biotics and the fact John had his arm wrapped snugly around her waist which kept her close beside him, she felt quite comfortable in that moment.
“I’m almost afraid to ask about what,” he returned, though he could admit to his own contentment that the evening was progressing better than imagined.
Jane flashed a smile up at him. “The restaurant. It was lovely and the food was quite good.”
John’s arm tightened briefly. “Ah. Well, you can thank Anderson for that suggestion,” he reluctantly admitted. “Once I told him we were coming here, he was quick to offer up several ideas.”
“I will keep that in mind when next I see him,” Jane promised. Sighing softly, she asked, “So, what’s on tap for tomorrow then? I suppose we should get out and, you know, play tourist? We’ve been here … three days? Four? And still have yet to see any of the attractions.”
“Oh, I don’t know about that,” John teased. “I’d say I’ve got the best ‘attraction’ all to myself.” He laughed when she swatted lightly at his arm. “But if we must …. Tomorrow is another of Anderson’s ideas. He suggested the prothean ruins that were opened to tourists a few years back. Said he thought you might find them interesting.”
Jane stopped walking suddenly, turning sharply to face him, her skirt swirling around her legs with the movement. “Seriously? We’ll go?” She knew his interests usually lay in areas other than the historical past.
“Seriously,” John replied with a knowing smile. “He must have found out just how much you enjoyed history classes when we were kids ….”
Jane smacked his arm before wrapping hers around it again. “Must have,” she agreed, but there was no hiding the excitement bubbling behind her green eyes now.
“Guess that means an early night then?” John asked with a twinkle of mischief in his eyes, keenly watching for her reaction. “I mean, we wouldn’t want you falling asleep on your feet tomorrow, would we?”
They turned into the hotel and walked through the lobby to the elevator before she countered, “Well, if an old man like you isn’t up to the challenge …” Her soft squeal as he reached for her was cut off by the closing of the elevator door.