They both sprang it on him

It can be difficult to find ways to pass the time in the best of situations. This was hardly that. There would be no use pawing at each other or trying to fuck each other behind the other's back, they all somewhat sulkily realized. They would all simply have to wait.

But oftentimes, the body finds ways of getting what it wants.

The fifth day was routine, everything was a fucking routine at this point. At least in terms of what you did. The day-to-day interactions you had with each other were liable to change. So it was on that day that Shepard started to toy with his own omni-tool. He would flick through personal logs and saved memories. Anything to take his mind off the heat, anything to steal a moment of peace. He was nearing the end of his rope when it came to dealing with people. Unfortunately, he didn't have a choice. Liara was in the back, meditating. Ashley was slumped in her seat, staring at the wall.

"Ashley," A soft voice came from the back. No "Williams", no rank, just a first name. It probably took Shepard as much by surprise as it did Ashley herself.

"What?"

Liara stepped through the entryway. "I was wondering if you might like to try meditation again. You might find it soothing, it also seems as though you have nothing to occupy yourself with."

Ashley straightened up. "You promise not to mind-probe me again?"

"I'm afraid a mental link is an important part of the process. It will allow us to communicate together. I ensure you that it will not violate any part of your privacy that you do not want it to."

"Why now?"

Liara shrugged, Shepard could tell when she was lying poorly but Ashley likely missed it.

"No real reason, it simply seemed as though you were at a loss for entertainment."

Ashley scrutinized Liara, clearly sizing her up. Shepard could tell that Liara had something she wanted to tell the officer, but didn't want to frame it as such.

"You should try it, Ash." Shepard cut in for Liara's sake.

Ashley gave him an incredulous look, Liara seemed quietly grateful. She just wasn't the kind of person to outright say "I have something private to tell you" even when she really wanted to. Ashley finally heaved a sigh a few decibels too heavy to be anything but for show.

"Fine, but the second you try anything funny, I'm locking you in the bathroom."

Liara nodded and the two disappeared into the back. Shepard went back to his browsing, listening to the soft back-and-forth of the two girls in the back. Liara giving Ashley gentle verbal prods to get her in the right position and headspace. Ashley complaining that every position made her knees or back hurt. Eventually, they both went quiet. Shepard let a few moments of silence pass before quietly probing his mind out toward their connection. He wasn't exactly a peeping tom, but Liara wasn't usually the type to tell Ashley something and not him. Best case scenario, he figured, she was trying to hash out their differences while sparing his ears. Worst case scenario, they were planning to eject him out of the bulkhead. Either way, he wanted to hear it.

Their mental link was tenuous, not shocking considering that Ashley had never even shown the ability to bend a spoon let alone generate a barrier field. Liara was more than strong enough to maintain a connection between them but it did leave what they were saying uniquely unfiltered.

"I guess I could handle that," Ashley's mind whispered.

"Then we just need to be subtle about it, Shepard is too-"

Shepard's mind was ripped out of the conversation like he was being slammed into a wall. His consciousness bounced around his head for a few nauseating seconds. That was Liara for you, attentive enough to catch a fly buzzing when she was on. There was a reason that Wrex and Kaidan refused to interrupt her meditation.

A second later, both girls emerged from the back. Ashley stretched and settled back into her seat, saying just a little too loudly how relaxed she felt now and how amazing Asari meditation was. Liara stepped over and tousled Shepard's hair.

"Sorry John, that was just between us."

Ashley blinked, "Did something happen?"

Liara turned and made for the back of the Mako. "He tried to eavesdrop on us."

"Did he now?"

"He did try."

It was rare form to see her so confident, but the daughter of a matriarch is allowed to take pride in her biotic work. Shepard also knew her well enough to know he had gotten off easy.

Liara re-emerged with her hands behind her back. "Oh John?"

"Yeah?"

"I was wondering if you would like to play a game with Ashley and I?" Liara asked, producing a deck of cards.

Shepard watched in fascination as Ashley's face twisted in frustration. "What kind of game?"

"Well, a game of cards." Liara said, feigning innocence.

"What kind of game of cards?"

Ashley stood up, clearly growing impatient. "Maybe just some poker, hard to go wrong with the classics. Texas-style, of course."

"Yes, poker. And it seems we can gamble some unorthodox things to make it more interesting."

Ashley's face twitched. "Could you make that sound more ominous?"

"You told me not to say what we are gambling at first!"

"You might actually be an idiot."

"I don't understand why-"

Shepard stood up quickly "I'll play, I don't mind."

Ashley turned triumphantly, "Alright skipper, one catch."

"Name it."

"I think we should teach the good doctor here about a little human game called strip poker."

"Strip poker? What does that name mean?" Liara asked. She was a terrible liar.

"You girls can drop the act, I'm fine with playing."

Liara blinked, then looked slightly indignant. "I was enjoying "the act"."

Ashley sighed, "Well you weren't very good at it."

"I had never tried "the act" before!"

Shepard took the cards and sat down on the floor near his chair by the console. He gestured for the both of them to sit down and they did. He shuffled the cards slowly and carefully, taking his time to make sure they had changed order enough to ensure no foul play.

"Since we all only have two things on, this seems like it may be a pretty quick game."

"I thought that was the point?"

"He's right Liara, we should come up with some sort of extra rule."

"Perhaps we could put on more clothes?"

"In this heat? I'd rather lock myself in the toilet. How about when you lose after you're full down, you have to do what the winner says?"

Shepard started to deal. "It really seems like you're trying to come up with a pretense for the obvious."

"The hunt is half of the fun, skipper. Besides, who says you get a turn if you lose?"

For the first hand, Shepard realized immediately that he had dealt himself garbage. It didn't take seeing either of his opponent's hands to realize he was likely to lose. He likely had one advantage, however. He had played poker with Ashley before, she could bluff but she couldn't bluff better than him. He hadn't played poker with Liara before, but he knew she couldn't.

"Not bad, I'll bet my shirt, how about you Liara?"

Liara looked up with sudden panic "What?! Oh, mine are great too! I'll match."

Ashley's eyes narrowed, "Now hold on a second. You don't get to do that."

"I didn't know the rules had changed."

"Liara, don't let him bait you."

The first hand cost Liara her top. She reluctantly raised her tank top and let her sizable chest drop free without much fanfare. As soon as the smoothly scaly skin of her chest was free, she seemed to appreciate how much her chest was allowed to breathe, giving her mounds a little shake. Her breasts were more than either Shepard or Ashley could have fit in a single hand and the deep blue nipple on each was already standing and poking outward.

"Gotta say doc, I know a lot of girls that would kill for a set like that."

"And are you one of them?"

"To play with? Sure. Otherwise, I'm happy with mine, those look like they hurt your back."

"Occasionally, yes. Though they do have a most impressive effect on other people."

"That's how boobs work, usually at least."

The second hand cost Ashley her top as well, though she slid out of hers with a bit more of a show, doing what she could to make a tent form in Shepard's pants. Between her meager breasts on a toned muscular chest and Liara's heavy bust, it didn't take much convincing. Both of them seemed to appreciate the eyes on them if anything. The multiple days of stealing glances and imagining past them now. Both of the girls also definitely noticed the bulge in his pants as well, but Shepard wasn't about to give up that easy.

That's when he caught the wavelength of energy forming between Liara and Ashley. The quiet biotic link that both tried to pretend wasn't there with playful jabs at one another but that was impossible to truly hide.

No honor among thieves apparently.

On the next hand, Liara hid her face behind her cards. Ashley was more than happy to stare him down. He had crap again. And so he lost his shirt.

The looks the girls gave him were almost animalistic. He made a point to deal the next hand quickly. Luckily his hand was alright. It was enough to beat Ashley.

Ashley stood up slowly and turned around a few times. Giving the both of them a show before starting to slowly slide her tight shorts down. She slid them down past her ass in the back, lifting her cheeks with the fabric and bouncing them for display. Despite not having much to show off, the toned muscular form had its own kind of appeal. It was definitely enough to make the problem in Shepard's pants strain a little harder. She kept her ass in Shepard's face as she slowly slid her shorts down her toned legs and stepped out of them. Before she turned around and let him see her pussy, she tossed them in his face and sat down before he managed to pull them away.

"You should teach me how to do... that." Liara insisted, more than a little flustered.

"Not a man alive who doesn't love it."

"It seems to have made life harder for John's pants."

"You want to let that thing out for air? It looks cramped in there."

Shepard dealt again. Judging by his cards, the next hand could be anybody's game.