A/N: written for a prompt over at dragonage_kink meme:
Howe goes for marriage instead of betrayal. Delilah is terrified of M!Cousland and he enjoys her terror.
Disclaimer: I own nothing, just this short snippet. Oh, and my cup of coffee.
Fear
She doesn't know what her father was thinking when he offered her hand to him, the younger one of brothers Couslands, second child of Teyrna Eleanor and Teyrn Bryce of Highever. He was handsome, great dark brown hair, deep brown eyes, slim and athletic figure, with absolutely spotless manners.
At least in public.
Before they got married, he would sneak behind her and whisper in her ear. "Soon, you'll be mine. Mine."
It made her tremble. Tremble, but not with desire as many people would have thought, for his voice carried an unspoken threat in them. He would step away once he said those words, though, leaving her alone with her thoughts and wildly beating heart.
The first time they came together as wife and husband left her teriffied. Not because he was rough or violent to her - right the opposite. It was the gentleness what scared her after all the scaring her now husband gave her before their wedding. He touched her as if she was something prescious, something invaluable, each move of his hands setting her skin afire.
Her body betrayed her that night, trembling with desire under his touch, while her mind was praying for peace, praying for being left alone - or not alone with him.
His eyes tell her he knew what she was thinking, and the pleasure it gives him; the power her fear of her husband gives him.
He comes to her time to time, for they are supposed to have at least one heir, and each time she prays for a child to come, so he leaves her alone.
Her prayers are left unanswered, and he continues to watch her as a bird of prey. With love, other women say, but she knows better.
She is his, and every look of his eyes makes her remember. His, till death do them part.
