Ylva wiggled out of her breastband, tossing it over her shoulder with a silent curse. She stretched luxuriantly, savouring the feeling of freedom. Best moment of the day. The tight bindings were a necessity when wearing armour, but that didn't mean she had to like them.

Wandering over to her bed, she pulled her thin linen nightdress over her head. Cullen should be here soon. As if on cue, she heard his familiar knock on the door, crisp and sharp.

"Come in." She smiled at him as he entered.

He looked tired, as usual, and he, too, sighed with relief when she helped him out of his heavy coat and armour. Approvingly, Ylva ran her hand over his broad back, tracing the muscles, admiring the soft pale sheen of his skin. All mine. It hadn't been easy to seduce him, but by the Lady, had it ever been worth it. She'd known instinctively that there was passion underneath that prim, slightly prudish demeanour of his, and he'd proven her right over and over since they'd first made love.

Tonight he looked preoccupied, though, his jaw working furiously and his eyes wary, as he turned to face her. "Ylva. We need to talk."

"So serious." She tried to smooth the worry lines from his forehead, but he shrugged her off, looking grim and also… sad? That was when she realized it was a bigger deal than she'd assumed. What's going on in that stubborn head of his?

"What is it, love?" Ylva made an effort not to sound impatient.

He sighed, so deeply that the whole of his powerful frame seemed to vibrate. "It's about Ser Barris. And you."

Ylva raised an eyebrow, keeping her face carefully neutral, but under her cool mask, her mind was racing. He'd noticed, of course he'd noticed. Cullen wasn't blind, and he knew her well enough to recognize the barely hidden desire in the way she'd been looking at the young Templar. "Yes? What about him?"

"I'm not blind, Ylva." His words echoed her thoughts so exactly that she had to hold back a smile despite the seriousness of the occasion. "The expression in your eyes, the way you smile at him, flirt with him… it's more than obvious that you're falling for him. And he wants you, too, anyone can see that. Anyway…" He took a deep breath, and finally faced her, and what she saw in his eyes nearly made her cry out. Such a world of pain, and so much fierce determination at the same time. "I've come to tell you that if he's what you want, I won't stand in your way."

"What?" Ylva fought the strong urge to shake him. "In Korth's name, Cullen, what is that supposed to mean?"

"Didn't I make myself clear?" There was the tiniest hint of sharpness in his voice, but his hands were shaking badly. "The two of you are perfect for each other. Barris… He's young, he's whole, he's everything a girl could hope for. He can be everything that I never-" He broke off. "How could I possibly stand between you and a happy future at his side?"

For a moment, Ylva was speechless. Did he really think- Of course he does, a small inner voice whispered in her ear. That's what they taught him, all his life: honour, sacrifice, always do the noble thing. The realization of what he was doing took her breath away. How could anyone possibly be so selfless? And at the same time, it made her angry to see him like this, wildly, irrationally angry.

Forcing herself to speak calmly, she took hold of his hand. "Cullen. Look, I won't deny that Barris is damnably attractive, and I may have fantasized about him once or twice. But that's all there is." He didn't look convinced, and she sighed. "Tell me, do you still want me?"

He bit his lip, looking scared and shaken. "Of course I do. You know I do. But I also…" He swallowed hard. "I want you to be happy."

"And you honestly think I'd be happier without you?" Ylva shook her head. "You are an idiot."

He opened his mouth to contradict her, but she shushed him with a quick gesture. "I'll never be happy without you. I love you."

"But Barris…" He had that stubborn look again. "He adores you. And if-"

"Cullen!" Again, she had to struggle to hide her irritation. "Could you just listen to me for a moment instead of being all ready to throw our relationship to the wind? It's not as if there are no other options."

"Other options?" If anything, Cullen's frown deepened. "What in Andraste's name do you mean?"

Ylva put on her most winning smile. "Well, there is something that would make me very happy indeed…"


"Maker, this is crazy." Cullen couldn't stop himself from saying the words, no matter how hard he tried.

He'd been flabbergasted when he'd heard Ylva's suggestion. "Is this a common thing among the Avvar then?" He'd cleared his throat awkwardly.

Cullen knew the importance of keeping an open mind where their relationship was concerned. Since the day when Ylva Svarahsdotten had whirled into his life, like a cool, fresh wind from the wilderness of the Frostback Basin, he'd learned the hard way that his expectations of how things ought to be done didn't necessarily align with hers.

Ylva had laughed and shrugged. "I have no idea what the Avvar think about it. All I know is that my mother took her husbands and lovers as she pleased, without worrying what people would think. And yes, there was more than one lover, on several occasions."

"More than one. Right." His throat had suddenly felt tight. "So what you're saying is…"

"I wouldn't force it on you, of course." Ylva's tone had been light, but her eyes had been full of love. "If you feel you can't do it, we'll forget about it and I promise I won't look twice at Ser Barris again. You're far more important to me than anything the three of us could come up with together."

And in the end, that had been what decided Cullen to play along: the way she'd made it clear that it was his decision, that she would stay at his side, regardless of whether he agreed or not. It was completely up to him, a gift freely given, and how could he have withheld it from her, if she wanted it so much?

Yes, it had been meant as a favour for her, for his beloved. And yet, here he was, in their bedroom with her and Barris, and it was unlike anything he'd imagined. Far more exciting, for one thing. He'd done nothing but watch them so far, but he couldn't recall ever having been this aroused.

Right before his eyes, Ylva was writhing on the bedsheets, her gorgeous strong body completely bare. And between her legs, Barris was kneeling, shirtless, with his cock straining against his thin linen pants, and the amount of smooth, dark skin on display was enough to make anyone question their sexual preferences.

Not that Cullen had ever fooled himself in that regard. A youth spent in the Templar barracks had taught him the attraction inherent in a well-shaped male body, and yes, there had been no shortage of nightly fumblings back then, desperate and eager. So the aching need he was feeling right now to touch Barris, to feel him and caress him, wasn't completely unexpected.

What he hadn't counted on was what it would do to him to see the two of them together, Barris' hands on her thighs, spreading them wide, Ylva's face flushed with lust as he bent down to taste her, her small cry when his questing tongue met her flesh. There was no way Cullen could hold back the moan escaping his throat.

"Cullen. Come here." Ylva turned to smile at him, reaching towards him to pull him in for a kiss, and he complied willingly, drinking her sighs from her lips.

Barris paused for a moment to watch them both, a slow smile spreading over his face. "Commander. Are you going to join us?"

Cullen almost corrected him, almost told him to lay off the title in bed, but then he became aware of the extra spike of pleasure it sent through him to hear Barris say it. And the way he did it, respectfully, with just the tiniest hint of insolent teasing in his green eyes – that was beyond hot, a challenge Cullen just couldn't resist.

He shuddered all over. "Do you want me to?"

Ylva made an enthusiastic noise of agreement. And Barris smiled again, that lazy, hungry smile that made Cullen tremble deep inside. He wondered what exactly Ylva had told Barris, how she had persuaded him to accept her terms for this night. Nothing would happen behind Cullen's back, he'd be free to call a halt any time, and there would be no repeat performance unless all three of them agreed on it. Barris must have been desperate to put up with all those rules.

Desperate… or very sure of himself, Cullen realized. From what he'd seen so far, Barris was confident to the point of cockiness of his ability to please Ylva. And not at all unhappy at the prospect of having Cullen in the mix as well. Maker! What had he gotten himself into?

Still… Barris hadn't touched him yet. Clearly, that particular step would be his to initiate. Bending down, Cullen kissed Ylva again, hard and deep, to gather his courage, and she arched up into his mouth with a breathless whimper. When he straightened up again, he met Barris' eyes, and the other man made a small noise, something between a sigh and a moan, his tongue darting out to lick those full, luscious lips.

And suddenly, Cullen couldn't wait a moment longer. Extending a trembling hand, he ran it all over that smooth bare chest, keeping his touch as light as a feather. It felt good, more than good, silky skin over taut muscle, so warm, so strong, so decidedly male. Barris inhaled sharply, his eyes half closed, and when he leaned into his touch, Cullen threw all caution to the wind and kissed him.

It was a strange kiss, all careful and tentative at first, but turning rough and fierce within moments, all tongue and teeth, a struggle for dominance more than anything else. In the end it was Barris who yielded, letting him take the lead, but Cullen didn't fool himself. The man had far too much spirit to relinquish control to him completely, for all his apparent deference.

Ylva had watched it all, her eyes huge and dark in the soft candlelight. "By Korth's might, you're so hot together."

Cullen shivered, suddenly aware that she had stripped off his shirt while they were kissing. Barris' hand was firm on his back, and he could feel the callouses on his palm, acquired from long familiarity with a sword grip, mirror images of his own. He'd sparred with Barris more than once, since the remaining Templars had joined the Inquisition, and he had nothing but respect for his skill. Now that Barris was here in their bed, half naked and magnificent, it was easy to see where the strength in those blows came from, how he had managed to keep fighting all through the never ending waves of attacking Red Templars.

Ylva huffed impatiently, and Barris responded with alacrity, returning his attention to her and pulling her between the two of them, into a loose embrace. She had her back to Cullen, but he didn't mind. It was a view he cherished: the long, pale line of her neck; the graceful curve of her back; her blonde curls flowing over her shoulders like captured sunlight.

Burying his face in her hair, he put both hands around her waist, holding her tight while Barris tilted her head back and kissed her deeply, with just enough force to make her whimper with delight. Cullen felt a twinge of jealousy. How did Barris know how to kiss her, how could he possibly have already learned what she liked best? Unless…. Had he watched them making out, up on the battlements when they had taken advantage of the late hour, hoping no one would notice? The thought was more exciting than it probably should be.

Glancing down over Ylva's shoulder, Cullen could see Barris' large hands cupping both her breasts and the sight was enough to make him dizzy. Slowly, he worked his own hand between their bodies, gasping when he brushed against Barris' smooth hard flesh in passing. He hadn't even noticed when the man's pants had come off. His own breeches were beginning to feel decidedly uncomfortable, and he took a moment to loosen the laces and pull them down, just far enough to allow his cock to nestle in the cleft of Ylva's perfect ass.

Then he let his hand trail lower, parting her legs and dipping two fingers between her curls, and oh Maker, she was sopping wet, more than ready for him. Or for Barris... For a moment Cullen was sincerely torn on how to proceed, because part of him wanted to take her right away, to establish without a doubt that she was his first and foremost. But at the same time, the mere thought of watching Barris with her was enough to make a hot spike of lust travel all the way down his spine.

There was only one solution to his dilemma. Gathering Ylva even closer in his arms, he breathed a kiss next to her ear. "Who do you want first, love?"


Barris held his breath. His heart was beating wildly in anticipation, because Maker, he wanted her so badly he could barely see straight. And by now, he was so worked up that he wasn't even sure he was going to last long enough to satisfy her. It was all so mind-blowing, so exciting that he was very close to losing control.

He hadn't thought of himself as a man who would ever willingly share his lover. Barris had never believed in abstinence, and for most of his career, there'd been plenty of women and occasional men willing to join him in his bed. Fellow Templars, lay sisters, bored merchants' wives – few had been able to resist his looks and charm. He'd enjoyed it all, without ever getting too attached. There was no point, with his future tied to the Order and its rigorous demands.

But the moment he had first set sight on Ylva, everything had changed. It had been in Val Royeaux, shortly after Lord Seeker Lucius had started his long descent into madness. She hadn't been the Inquisitor yet, just an Avvar girl from the mountains, whose followers claimed she was the Herald of Andraste, and she alone could heal the Breach in the Sky. Barris had been sceptical back then, reserving his judgement, but even so, he'd been struck by her beauty and courage. The way she'd stood up to Lucius, refusing to cower, the fury flashing in her ice-blue eyes… He hadn't been able to stop thinking of her ever since.

Eventually, she had shown up at Therinfal, her golden hair framing her face like a crown of pure light as she'd mowed down Red Templar horrors with her sword, gracefully dancing out of the reach of their claws. He'd watched in awe, and ever since, he'd been utterly and completely lost. He had thrown his lot in with her without the slightest hesitation. Even if things had been different and the Order hadn't surrendered to corruption, he'd have left and joined the Inquisition. How could he have resisted, when given the chance to serve with her, to get closer to her, to win her heart?

But then he'd found she was with Commander Cullen, a man he'd admired for as long as he could remember, and he'd resigned himself to worshipping her from afar. Not without regret, but it had seemed inevitable and, at least that way, he could stay in her proximity. He'd excelled in every single mission the Inquisition had assigned him to, both because it was second nature for him to do his best and because he'd wanted to please her, needed to please her. And every time she'd smiled at him, every time she'd looked at him with approval, his heart had been torn between pain and elation.

Never in his wildest dreams had he expected he would actually get to have her. Yet now here he was, and she was looking at him, her eyes feverish with want, her amazing body cradled in Cullen's strong arms, and both he and the Commander were waiting with bated breath for her answer.

Ylva whined, almost desperately. "I don't even care. Just, either of you, just… Please!"

Gathering his courage, Barris met Cullen's eyes in a mute plea, almost shuddering with relief when the other man gave a tiny nod. And then he was there, between her strong thighs, spreading them wide, and Cullen was still holding her, still so close that Barris could feel his warmth and breathe in the scent of his arousal, and it was almost too much.

Taking deep, focussed breaths, he pushed inside Ylva's willing body, and sweet Andraste, she felt so good! So warm, so tight, so perfect, as if she'd been made for him. Behind her, Cullen groaned, deep in his throat, his hands tightening on her hips. And that, too, was hot, more than hot. Barris had no idea where the thought came from, but suddenly he was glad they both were here, not just Ylva, but Cullen as well. Because this was better than anything he had imagined.

It was heaven.


For all her bluster, Ylva had never been with two men at the same time. But now she was trapped between two warm, firm bodies, and it was sheer bliss. Barris felt just as good inside her as she had hoped, all new and exciting. She had always enjoyed that first time with a new lover, getting to know their bodies and learning their habits, and Cullen's warmth behind her made everything so much better. And then Barris propped himself up on his massive arms and began to move, his hips rolling against her in a perfect sinuous motion. At the same time, Cullen's hands found her nipples, pinching them tightly, and she lost all capacity to think.

There was nothing but heat, flowing through her veins in a steady stream, heat and friction and a pleasure so intense she was close to blacking out. Barris' thick cock, hitting all the right spots inside her; his increasingly frantic thrusts as he got closer to completion; Cullen's voice breathing words of encouragement in her ear… It was intense, and wonderful, and it took her no time at all to reach her peak. She came so hard she screamed, and Barris' eyes widened as he followed her, pushing so deep inside her that it hurt. But it was the good kind of pain and she arched up to meet him, eager to take as much of him as she could. He was trembling all over, his eyes closed, and she was almost sure she could feel him pour himself inside her.

He pulled back with shocking swiftness, and before she knew what was happening, Cullen had already turned her around, thrusting deep inside her in one smooth move, whining when he felt how wet she was. She tried to push him back, because it was too much and she was too sensitive right after coming. But he wouldn't have it, just pinned her down, his eyes full of a savage greed that was as thrilling as it was scary.

"Cullen, please!" She almost had to shout the words, but when they registered, he stopped immediately, looking ashamed of his impetuousness. "Just… give me a moment."

He nodded in silence, his lips set in a thin line as he mustered what control he had to give her a little time. As soon as she nodded, his hips snapped against her again, moving with single-minded focus, his jaw clenched tightly. And now that she was ready for him, it was amazing, to be rushed to a second climax so soon, every nerve in her body still tingling from the buzz of the first.

Barris had recovered sufficiently to hold her when she started to thrash, and when she was close, really close, he slipped a hand between them and touched her, just once, but with perfect assurance. This time, Ylva actually lost track of her surroundings, her vision going white and her whole body convulsing with lust. Cullen whined in her ear and she knew he was there with her, just as overwhelmed.

It took her a long time to come back to her senses afterward, and when she did, she clung to both of them, unwilling to let go. Two strong, capable men taking care of her, holding her; their arms around her a bulwark against the world outside – as far as Ylva was concerned, it didn't get any better than this. They both were relaxed now, their powerful bodies heavy and limp. Neither of them seemed to feel any urge to leave.

When Barris tentatively reached out to ruffle Cullen's thick hair, he responded with a shy smile. Both men looked happy and sated. Good. Ylva smiled to herself. If this should turn out to be a permanent arrangement, she certainly wasn't going to complain.


Huggles and thanks to my wonderful beta suilven. :)