It was the men's turn to bathe first tonight. Megan couldn't even say what had prompted her to sneak after them and watch. Boredom, maybe, or idle curiosity, or plain old lust. It had been more than three months since she'd become a Warden, and almost as long since Duncan had died. And there'd been no one to share her bed since then, no one to help her deal with those urges that were getting more and more insistent. Warden appetites were no joke, and Maker, she was getting tired of her own hand!
Of course she hadn't missed the hopeful glances Alistair kept throwing in her direction, but for all her horniness, Megan wasn't ready to go there. She liked her fellow Warden well enough, but there was something about Alistair's sweet, clueless innocence that put her off. The last thing she needed at this point in her life was someone who would write her poems and give her flowers while gazing at her with lovelorn puppy eyes
No, what she needed was sex, plain and simple. No strings attached, no feelings getting in the way. More than a simple hook-up with a stranger, though. That would be too complicated, too risky, and besides, she preferred to at least know her partner. She needed something more permanent, and that wasn't easy to arrange while travelling all over the place. In the end, it pretty much came down to a choice between her companions, the male ones, to be precise. Leliana might have been interested as well, but Megan had never been particularly attracted to other women. What she wanted was a man. Craving cock. She made a face at the crudeness of the phrase, overheard from her father's guardsmen boasting about their conquests, when she'd been but a girl. Still, it was surprisingly accurate.
The guys were already at the water's edge when she arrived, getting out of their dusty, blood-spattered clothes before heading towards the little pool in the clearing.
Sten went first, disrobing quickly and methodically, his face completely impassive, as usual. Megan let her eyes wander down his massive chest, noting with approval the ripple of muscles in his abdomen, but when her gaze wandered lower, she just barely bit back a cry of shock. Okay. There is such a thing as 'too big', after all. Suddenly his cryptic remarks about the 'unpleasantness' of sleeping with a Qunari took on a whole new meaning. And here I'd assumed he was just trying to get a rise out of Morrigan…
Alistair was next, stumbling out of his clothes and making a dash for the water, too fast for her to make out any details. Megan rolled her eyes. Really! It wasn't as if he had anything to hide. What she'd seen of his body so far was lovely, trim and well-muscled. And yet, he seemed embarrassed to show it off, blushing whenever someone drew attention to his impressive physique. No, whatever happened, Alistair was off limits.
With a sigh, Megan returned her attention to the scene before her, smiling when her eyes fell on Zevran. The Antivan was still relatively new to their party, but he'd already made himself indispensable in a fight, moving with a quick, silent grace that was beautiful to watch, if a little unnerving. He'd readily agreed to teach her some tricks when she'd asked him to, and she had already made huge progress. Megan liked his attitude, too, that mixture of insolence and perceptiveness, and she enjoyed the suggestive banter he brought to their campfire conversations. Yes, Zevran was good to have around.
And he was easy on the eyes as well. Megan watched appreciatively as he slowly took off his clothes, baring his perfect body inch by inch. It was a lovely view, all that smooth golden skin over long, lean muscle, accentuated by his elaborate tattoos. He stepped out of his smalls, stretching lasciviously, completely unconcerned about his nakedness, giving her all the time in the world to look her fill. It was almost as if he knew he was being watched.
And maybe he did. Megan swallowed when the realization hit her, but at the same time, she found that she didn't care. The sight of him, lithe and sleek and beautiful, made her throat go dry with want. She watched him as he shook out the long golden strands of his hair, then made his way to the water's edge and began to soap himself up. He always smelled so nice, not like the others, and his skin looked so soft. But then of course, he was an elf… How different were they really from humans, she wondered. He looked just the same from a distance, definitely big enough to satisfy her. And when he took hold of his cock and she saw that he was half-hard, it was all she could do not to moan aloud.
Damn it! This is getting ridiculous! With a last, wistful look, she turned away, heading for the camp. As soon as she'd cleaned up herself, she would try and sort this out.
She went to see Zevran right after dinner. He had made himself comfortable at a little distance from the communal fire, carefully whetting and oiling his vicious looking daggers. When she walked up to him, he raised his head and looked at her expectantly.
"Zevran. When you offered to warm my bed, were you serious?" He raised an eyebrow and she blushed as she realized how abrupt she'd sounded. "Back when you attacked us and I said I'd let you live," she elaborated. "You offered me your services, and you said you'd-"
"Do you doubt it?" His gaze travelled slowly all over her body. "It would give me the greatest pleasure to share your bed. If you so desire."
Megan could have bit off her tongue. Such a lousy attempt at seduction. "I know what I desire. But only if-" She broke off impatiently. "Do you want me, Zevran? Yes or no?"
Zevran took a moment to consider his answer. Of course he'd noticed Megan's eyes on him lately, and he was pleased that she'd finally made her move. Still, he'd have to tread carefully. She wasn't one to be fooled by flattery, and she would detect the slightest attempt at dishonesty on his part.
"My dearest Warden. What kind of question is this?" He took her hand to pull her down to his side, thrilled to feel her shiver at his touch. "Have you bothered to look into a mirror recently? You are young and pretty, strong and dangerous. Of course I want you. However…" He hesitated, but she motioned for him to go on. "This is a little sudden, no? Why tonight?"
"I…" She swallowed. "No particular reason. I'm just horny, really." Her laugh was light, but he noticed she was avoiding his gaze. "It's a good thing you're here. I'm one step away from seducing Alistair, and that wouldn't end well."
"No," he agreed, making a face at the mere thought. "It wouldn't. So I take it you're no longer worried I might try to kill you?"
"I'm not stupid, Zevran!" Her green eyes were flashing passionately. "If you wanted to kill me, you'd have had a thousand opportunities by now."
"True." He grinned, delighted to have earned her trust. "Your tent or mine?"
"Mine is bigger." She sounded cool and practical again.
But, as soon as the tent flap closed behind them, she was in his arms, hot and willing, eagerly moulding herself against him. He kissed her, slow and gentle, nipping at her lips, while his hands traced soft circles on her back, but she made an impatient noise, wiggling out of his embrace.
"What is it?" He ran his hand lightly down her spine and was rewarded with a shudder and a gasp.
"Quit playing, Zev." Her eyes were large and almost feverish. "That's not what I need now."
"What do you need, then?" He smiled at her bluntness.
Megan's hands balled into fists and she almost whined with frustration. "I… How fast can you be inside me?"
He had never been able to resist a challenge. And though, given the choice, he preferred to take his time, he knew urgency when he saw it. Their clothes came off as quickly as he could make it, but even so she was shaking with desire by the time they were both naked. Megan didn't bother with subtle caresses, just pushed his head straight down where she wanted it. And she came practically the moment he put his mouth on her, came with a full-throated cry that was music to his ears, thrashing so hard he had to use all his strength to hold her down.
Patiently, he licked her through it, relishing the quivering of her hot flesh under his tongue. As soon as he dared, he slid a finger inside her, then a second, and she felt so good, hot and slick and tight, pushing herself into his grip, eager for more.
"Zevran!" When he glanced up, she was scowling at him. "Please. Now!"
Before he could stop her, her hand was wrapped around his throbbing cock, guiding him where she wanted him, and he almost lost it. Almost, but not quite. Swatting her hand aside with a growl, he took charge again, burying himself inside her to the hilt in one smooth stroke.
Megan cried out again, clenching hard around him, her whole body coming up to meet him. "Oh Maker, yes!"
Zevran had to pause for a moment to regain control, overcome by the look of sheer bliss on her face. When he began to move, she matched him stroke for stroke, urging him on with little frantic whispers that soon turned into incoherent sighs. He watched in awe as she came undone, until he could no longer hold back himself, until raw need took over and he began pounding into her, hard and fast, holding on to just enough sanity to make sure he didn't lose her.
He needn't have worried. Just when he thought he couldn't go on any longer, she dug her nails into his back with a final, hoarse scream, pushing him impossibly deep inside her. And he let go, allowing the pleasure to take him, a wave of sweet, sweet relief washing all over him, both of them, so good, so utterly perfect. Brasca. It's been too long. He had nearly forgotten how good this could be.
And then it was over, and he rolled on his back, still panting. Megan followed him with a swift, graceful move, making herself comfortable in the nook of his arm, her chin on his chest.
"Maker, but I needed that." She sounded happy and relaxed, and her face was so cat-like in its satisfaction that it made him laugh.
"Glad to be of service." Zevran caught a strand of her red-gold hair in his hand, admiring its sheen in the dim light of the oil lamp. "I take it you were content with my efforts?"
"Stop fishing for compliments." She gave him a mocking glare. "You know damn well it was great. Amazing. Mind-blowing. Whatever you want to hear. And I certainly wouldn't mind a repeat performance, if you're game."
"Any time, my dear Warden. This has been my pleasure just as much as yours."
There was no need to fake the sincerity in his voice. True, he'd been with more women than he could count, and some of them had been far more beautiful or skilled than her. But none of them had ever matched Megan's frank enthusiasm for the act. Here was a woman who enjoyed sex just as much as he did, and who wasn't scared to admit it – a rarity for one so young, and one he much appreciated.
"Good to hear." She yawned softly, her fingers playing idly with his nipple ring. "It will be good to have a chance to blow off steam now and then."
"Ah, so very pragmatic, my dear." He sighed theatrically, unable to resist the temptation to tease her. "Blowing off steam. Tsk. Is that all I am to you? A means to an end?"
She refused to be baited, though, shaking her head. "Come off it, Zev. I like you, a lot. And I consider you a friend. But I won't pretend to be in love with you. Love isn't something I can afford right now. This is just sex."
She was right, of course. And it wasn't as if he was ready to commit to anyone. Still, it gave him a pang to hear her say it. "Is there no one who has ever touched your heart then, cara? No one at all?"
"There was someone." Megan sighed briefly, a flash of sadness crossing her freckled face. "But I'm not even sure I'll ever see him again. Besides, with everything that's happened… If we ever meet again, things will be different. We will be different. I don't even know-" She broke off. "It doesn't matter. Will you be there if I need you?"
"Of course. I am your man, without reservation, remember?" He flashed her a cheeky grin. "I'm sworn to serve you. And this…" Pulling her up, he caught her lips again in a long, slow kiss. "This is a service I'll be only too happy to perform."
Hugs and thanks to my amazing and wonderful beta suilven. 3