Cullen hurried back, he'd spent more time in the second hand bookstore than he planned. Still he had walked out feeling much better, he smiled down at his two purchases. Books he'd recognized from his childhood, with the same front covers and everything. He couldn't wait to get home and see what Maeven had cooked for dinner. She had promised it would be one of her mother's recipes and not something she'd concoct on the fly. Entering the foyer of his apartment block he ran into his roommate.

"Ah, perfect timing!" Dorian exclaimed as he exited the elevator. He carried a modest sized bouquet of daisies, and a box of chocolates. Both of which he pressed into Cullen's hands. "These are for you know who, and if she's asks tell her you got them from the little flower shop off third and main. Bye now, have fun, don't wake the neighbors!" Dorian called behind him as he left.

Cullen stood there staring after Dorian for a moment before shaking his head and entering the elevator. Perfect timing indeed, he was probably standing by the window. Cullen mused as he reached his floor. He let himself into the apartment, and was immediately assaulted by the most delicious smell emanating from the kitchen. But the apartment was dark, and no music floated through the air. He frowned, setting his things on the coffee table. As he did so he noticed the shaft of light that spilled out from the hallway that led to the bedrooms. It came from the bathroom, and he gently pushed the door open. His breath caught as he spotted Maeven in his ridiculously shallow tub, eyes closed and her breathing deep and easy. A decidedly patchy array of bubbles covered the water's surface tantalizingly hiding most, but not all, of her body. He quietly entered, not wishing to disturb her. His shadow fell across her and she peeked open an eye before quickly shutting it again, a huge grin spread across her face. She pushed her head above the waterline, and gently rested it against the edge and wall.

"Hey." She murmured huskily. "Care to join me."

He chuckled, "I'm not sure I can fit."

She gave him a catlike smile, "I'm sure we can manage something."

He smiled but sighed, "As tempting as the offer is, I'll have to pass."

She pouted briefly, but shrugged and slipped back into the water. "Suit yourself."

"Where did you get bubble bath? You didn't use Dorian's did you?" He asked eyeing the bubbles.

She gave a throaty laugh. "No. Shampoo makes a surprisingly good substitute. Cheaper too." She shifted her legs to let her upper body lie completely under the water. A pale thigh rose above the surface to rest against the side of the tub. "You're certain you don't want to join me?" She purred. Cullen swallowed, and tried not the imagine running his tongue over all the faint blue outline of her veins.

"Quite." He replied, surprised he managed to keep his voice from shaking.

She pulled herself up with a sigh, and he nearly groaned watching all the bubbles stream down her body. "Party pooper." She said cheekily as she stretched the shower curtain across. He heard her turn the shower on and the gurgle of the drain. She stuck her head out from behind the curtain. "Stew should be ready, it's in the slow cooker, go scoop some out and I'll be out in a few minutes." She pulls herself back in and he turns to go, only to be stopped a moment later. "Hey!" He turns and her head is now poking out from the other side of the curtain. "You haven't given me my kiss." She grins and he rolls his eyes in amusement. He carefully avoids the wet curtain and gently presses a kiss to her lips, only for her to slip a surprisingly dry hand around his head to deepen the kiss. When they break apart she's smiling, "Welcome home." She whispers. He chuckles and presses a quick kiss to her cheek. "I'm home. Now finish your bath before you catch a cold." She laughs and disappears behind the curtain once more.

Cullen can't stop smiling as he leaves the bathroom, he's happier than he's ever been. He grabs and fills two bowls with the stew from the slow cooker. He contemplates whether to put them on the dining table or the coffee table. Knowing Maeven, she'll want to watch a movie with dinner. So he puts the bowls and eating utensils on the coffee table. He spots the flowers and wonders if he should put them in some water. Maeven exits the bathroom wrapped in his bathrobe, toweling her hair and spots him holding the flowers. She drops the towel onto the arm of the sofa and wraps her hands around his. "My favorites." She laughs, "I'd ask you how you knew, but Dorian asked a few hours ago." She took the flowers from him and went looking in the kitchen cupboards for a tall glass to hold them. Cullen stood there awkwardly rubbing his neck and opted to tell her the truth.

"Actually, I meet Dorian just as I entered the building and he gave me the flowers to give to you. Uhm, some chocolates too."

Maeven had found a glass and filled with water and some apple cider vinegar. She gently unwrapped the flowers and put them in the glass. Cullen anxiously watched her work, nervous because she said nothing. He sighed in relief when she turned around and a genuinely happy smile filled her face. She came up to him and slipped her arms around him, he automatically wrapped his arms around her too. "I know." She told him. "Thank you for telling me the truth."

"Thank you for taking it so well." He murmured back. She hummed into his chest and they stayed like that for a few moments. Each savoring the warmth from each other. When they broke apart she led him to the sofa and they watched a movie as they ate dinner. It was still early after dinner and the movie, so they randomly flicked through the channels before finally settling on some college basketball game. Maeven sighed happily, curled against him, head resting against his shoulder while her left arm traced patterns on his chest. Cullen had an arm wrapped loosely around her, he too traced small patterns over her hip. Things got heated when he finally got tired of her tickling his chest. He grabbed her hand and pressed a hot kiss to her wrist, smiling when she shivered. He was seventy-five percent sure she wore nothing under the robe, and the very thought had been distracting him since the middle of the movie. He kept kissing up her arm, paying close attention to the sensitive inner crook of her elbow. When the robe would go no higher on her arm, he opted for pressing kisses to her neck instead. She had closed her eyes at the third kiss, wanting to simply feel him. When she could stand no more of his teasing she pulled away with half lidded eyes, switched off the tv and slipped out of his embrace. She sauntered to his room, and he gave her a minute before following her. He watched from the hallway, just outside his doorway as she stood in front of his closet, the mirror fixed to the door let her see him just as clearly. He switched off the lights in the living area and in the hallway. She smiled and let the robe slide off her shoulders to fall on the ground. His mouth went dry, he'd been mostly right, she wore nothing beneath the robe but a pair of black lace panties. He frowned in confusion as she opened her side of the closet, and growled when she reached for her favorite nightie. He crossed the distance between them and grabbed her from behind, running his hands from her hips to beneath her breasts. She moaned softly and pressed against him, grinding her bottom against his groin. He groaned and slipped his hands further up to cup her and gently rolled her pebbled nipples between his thumbs and index fingers. She arched into him and whimpered when he gently bit where her neck and shoulder joined. Cullen looked at their reflection, her half closed eyes met his before dropping to watch his hands. He slowly slipped one down her belly, savoring the smooth softness before slipping into that black lacy temptation. He gently ran a finger across her folds, and she rolled her hips against his hand. When he finally slipped between her wet folds, her hands that had lain limply by her sides flew up and behind them to clutch desperately at his head. "Cullen!" She choked, and he picked her up to throw her onto the bed. She pushed herself up and scooched backwards on her arms until she hit the headboard. He stood at the foot of bed slowly undressing himself. She licked her lips as he slowly unbuttoned each button of his shirt, and hummed appreciatively when at last he tossed it to the side. Swallowed as he undid his belt with infuriatingly slow movements, and whimpered when at last he freed himself from his smalls. She shivered and unconsciously spread her legs as he knelt on the bed and approached her with the slow grace of a predator. Cullen pressed a gentle kiss to the inside her thigh and smirked when her head rolled back onto the pillows as he ran his tongue up to the apex of her thigh. He slipped two fingers into her panties, and roughly pulled them off her. Their breathing was heavy now, and he crawled up further to press hot kisses to her neck and chest. Her arms snaked up his and ran across his naked chest, nails gently raking across him, leaving gently burning trails behind.

"Are you ready?" Cullen asked, desperately needing to feel her around him. Maeven gave a convulsive nod. "Maeven." He groaned, resting his forehead against hers to look her in the eyes. "Yes." She whispered, equally desperate to feel him inside her. "Please, yes!" She cried.

Cullen slipped his arms under her legs and lifted her hips as he pressed against her opening. Her nails dug into his back as he pushed forwards slowly, allowing her to adjust to him. He shuddered when at last he was fully sheathed inside her. Resting his forehead against hers once more, he took several deep breaths to maintain his tenuous control over his body. She bucked her hips and he tightened his grip on her thighs.

"Maker damn it Cullen, move already!" She hissed, bucking her hips again. He pulled out almost all the way, only to slam back in. She gave a breathless gasp and he paused again until she shifted once more beneath him, then he repeated his movements. She caught on pretty quick, and within a few moments he was slamming into her. Their moans and whimpers the backdrop to the slap of flesh between them. She came with a cry, muffled by his mouth on hers, and he moments after. He collapsed to the side and when he had regained his breath, pulled her into his arms. She tangled their legs together and slipped her arms around his body sweaty though they were.

"That was wonderful." She breathed, sleep rapidly overtaking them both.

They woke the next morning to find Dorian perched in his favorite chair, watching them with the most gleeful expression.

"You know watching people sleep is creepy right?" Cullen groaned turning into his pillow.

"It's half the fun." Dorian beamed, "Now tell me everything. I want to know every juicy detail." He gleefully twirled his mustache.

Maeven's laugh was sleep filled and absolutely enchanting. "He's your roommate." She murmured into his shoulder.

"And your best friend." Cullen grumbled back.

"What shall we do then?" She asked as she yawned and snuggled into him.

"Hmmm." Cullen hummed before ripping the pillow from behind his head and throwing it at the Dorian. Maeven laughed, as the pillow flew completely past Dorian, who looked decidedly unimpressed.

"Well, I know when I'm not wanted." He huffed in mock indignation as he made his way to the door dragging his chair behind him. "I will see you at lunch, when I expect to be told every detail." He quickly left the room as Cullen threatened to throw Maeven's pillow at him as well.