56. Caught off-guard kiss
Pure chance that she runs into Shepard on the Citadel. Pure chance that Shepard invites her to a party at an apartment large enough it could have housed twenty. Pure chance that she’s not leaving until the day after.
Pure chance that Samantha Traynor is on Shepard’s crew; a woman Gianna had tried so hard to forget (but how could she forget someone as smart, as beautiful, as enthralling as Samantha Traynor?). But would have no chance of ever getting out of her mind, even before the party, before she sees Samantha dancing in the kitchen, hands up in the air, hips swaying, enticing and inviting and so lovely Gianna’s heart migrates from her chest to her throat so she has to swallow down all the everythings she’s ever wanted to say to the woman.
Pure chance. And yet, it feels inevitable.
Especially when Samantha’s face beams with a smile when she sees Gianna across the room, squeals and moves through the crowd directly for her, still dancing, but somehow walking and hopping and none of it looks in any way anything other than sensual, alluring, enticing.
And then Samantha’s arms are around her neck and her lips press to Gianna’s with such force and suddenness Gianna has no time to prepare, hands out at her sides (wanting to touch, afraid if she does she’ll have to let go at some point in the future), eyes open in shock and then closed at the pure bliss of it. Samantha smells of sweet sweat and spiced food, and tastes–when Samantha opens her mouth and licks at Gianna’s surprised-open lips–of alcohol and mint. Gianna finds her hands resting on the other woman’s hips and she feels solid and warm and very, very real.
Gianna Parasini is not one to overlook an opportunity that pure chance provides. So she kisses her back, resigns herself to Samantha Traynor forever being at the forefront of her mind.