Cassandra stood outside her cabin as the cool night air flowed over her skin. She couldn't sleep, her cabin felt too warm, and she was tired of tossing and turning. She opened a window before leaving to take a short walk. A faint steady clink of a sword hitting a practice dummy caught her attention.
Curiosity pulled her toward the training yard, the big wooden gates stood cracked open just wide enough to sneak through them. Cassandra's eyes wandered until she saw a lone figure in the distance. She wandered down to the practice yard recognizing the figure as she got closer.
"Commander, is something wrong?" Cassandra asked concerned.
A grunt followed by another clink was the answer. She watched as Cullen put all of his energy into the next swing and he turned toward her. "What do you want?" He asked breathless and agitated.
"I enjoy watching you train, but I was wondering why you are up so late." Cassandra tried again.
"I woke up because of my dreams and I couldn't get back to sleep, sometimes practice helps, but I find myself more frustrated." Cullen punched the dummy and then shook his hand. Cassandra tried not to laugh but failed.
"Would you like to try hand to hand combat training? I do not practice enough myself, but it might be more challenging than hitting something that can't fight back," Cassandra offered.
Cassandra remembered then she was in her night cloths without armor, "No armor allowed, it would take too long to change."
Cullen did not answer at first, but removed his heavy body armor leaving him wearing a cotton shirt and wool breaches. "I accept." He said as he picked up his armor and walked toward a grassy area.
Cassandra followed, once on the grassy area he put down his equipment once again. They stood facing each other, and then they moved. Cassandra attacked first sensing he needed a reason to attack her back.
With a single swing the battle began. Neither one could land a blow, but both tried. A swing to the head made Cullen duck, she tried a lower attack, but he deflected it easy enough. Cullen growled frustrated after a few minutes of missed blows and Cassandra took advantage of his frustration and with her foot she tripped him. Cullen grabbed at her as he went down, they landed so that Cassandra was flat on her back and Cullen pressed against her. He grabbed her hands and held them over her head his lips less than an inch from hers as he puffed catching his breath.
"Perhaps we chose the wrong method of sparring, neither one of us seem to gain the upper hand." Cassandra said breathless and turned on with Cullen holding her down to the ground.
"We could make it to your cabin without being noticed," Cullen conceded. He leaned down and kissed Cassandra, their energy sparked as their lips met. Cullen kept her hands still over her head as their kiss turned longer and more intense. Cassandra's legs opened so his body rested between them. Cullen ended the kiss, "Are you sure you want to continue?"
"Maker yes," Cassandra said trying to reach his lips, but he laughed and pushed himself to standing and offered her a hand.
"Let's take this to someplace more private than here," Cullen offered her a hand up, when she was standing he bent to pick up their things. They walked to the cabin not touching and not talking. Cassandra hoped he would not change his mind. She found herself more turned on anticipating his next kiss.
They reached the cabin and Cullen smirked, "Last chance seeker."
"Please come in," Cassandra offered, she opened the door and pulled her top over her head.
Cullen followed shutting the door behind him. He grabbed her arm and pulled her toward him, his lips met hers demanding, and she responded in kind. Cullen's hands went to her bare breasts pushing her against the door. Cassandra moaned as he pinched her nipples, his mouth wandered down her body.
His mouth reached her waistband, and he pulled her pants down to the floor. She wasn't wearing small clothes, she didn't like them at night. Cullen grinned up at her as he nudged her legs apart. She moaned when he leaned in kissing her mound. He did not stop there. Cullen kissed her thighs alternating between the two before licking a path up toward her mound. He parted her lips and his tongue explored her heat.
Cassandra tried to find something to hold onto moaning and arching to give him better access. "Cullen I don't think I can keep standing while you…" She stated as he concentrated on her clit she lost all ability to think. She leaned against the door with her hips jutted out, she gasped as a finger pressed inside her. Another finger joined the first, her whole body vibrated as he increased the pressure and speed of his attention. She pressed into him encouraging him, and then it happened, she covered her mouth as she orgasm, and a low throaty chuckle caressed her ears as she bucked against Cullen's face.
Cullen kissed her stomach as he stood up, he took off what remained of his clothing before kissing Cassandra's mouth again, their naked bodies still at the door. Cullen lifted one of her legs as he slipped into her and moved her leg back to standing. Their bodies pressed together and his tongue explored her neck as he moved against her.
Cassandra wanted to reach back and grab Cullen's ass and force him to go faster, but he grabbed her arms and held them over her head. His movements seemed calculated to throw her off balance when she would act to help increase the speed he slowed down and she could not help but follow. With a backward step he pulled out of her and took her hand leading her to her bed.
He bent her over the edge of the bed and found her heat again, she moaned taking a hand rubbing her clit as he dug his fingers into her hips pounding against her groaning. She cried out as she felt herself tighten around Cullen. His cries matched hers as their bodies slapped together and then a satisfied roar as he eased in and out a final time.
Cassandra climbed on her bed and lay down lying on her back, Cullen joined her lying on top of her. "Are you comfortable Commander?" She laughed as he nodded against her breast.
Cassandra ran a lazy finger over Cullen's back muscles while he kissed along her neck. She enjoyed the feel of him over her and sighed as he licked her earlobe. He moved so his arms went under her shoulders. A quick motion and she found him deep in her once again. Cullen's lips hovered above hers, just out of reach. He moved slower this time, this was beyond the heavy needy sex of earlier. It was lovemaking, slow, steady, and earnest.
Cassandra wrapped her legs around his waist as he let their lips meet. Every inch of her front seemed to touch part of his, their bodies glistened with sweat as Cullen pushed himself to his knees their bodies remained connected as he pulled her up to him, she straddled her legs biting at his neck, his hands gripping her bottom. She knew control with him was an illusion; he made her want to do what he wanted. She kept up his slow pace. Time did not matter just their bodies pressed together.
Cullen held onto her waist and once again shifted his body so they were both lying down, this time her body was on top pressing into his until Cassandra sat up and arched her back. Cullen reached for her nipples and pinched as she rode him faster and harder. Their cries once again filled the cabin until a jagged moan escaped her lips and Cullen grabbed her hips and slid her up and down until he went rigid moaning.
Cassandra let herself fall to Cullen's side. "Maker's breath, I could not think of a more effective way to tire myself out."
"Yes, I believe I could sleep. Do you mind me staying a while?" Cullen pulled her so her head was on his chest. He knew the answer he just wanted to hear her say it.
"Stay," Cassandra said with a chuckle, her eyes heavy. Sleep claimed her as she listened to his heart beat. She woke several hours later, the sun not yet up, though the sky had lightened. Cullen was awake smiling at her. She kissed his chest.
"I should tell you what's going on, but you'll be angry." Cullen admitted.
"Will it affect the Inquisition?" Cassandra asked, not sure she was ready to be angry.
"It may," Cullen gulped and sat up his back to her. His muscles tensed as he seemed to find the words. "I stopped taking Lyrium."
"When did you do that?" Cassandra sat up, "Oh Cullen, Lyrium withdrawal has killed people, why would you go off it."
"I am no longer a Templar, I do not want to be bound to them, I gave so much of myself to the order, and just brought pain." Cullen cried, Cassandra came up behind him and wrapped her arms around him, kissing his neck trying to sooth his pain.
"Why did you not tell me sooner?" Cassandra asked.
"I weaned myself down, but I had to stop taking it all together two days ago. I was fine until last night, my dreams…" Cullen turned, "I did not expect them to be so vivid."
Cassandra sighed confused and frustrated. "What can I do to help Cullen?"
"I need you to watch me. I need you to tell me if I become too unstable to lead." Cullen admitted.
Cassandra sat back down and covered up with her sheet, what he was asking would change everything. She could not allow herself to have a relationship with him and watch his behavior. She stared at his back; he remained facing away from her. "If you want me to do that, we can't do this again Commander. I could not be impartial if we were sleeping together."
"You are the one person here I trust." Cullen sighed and stood. "I enjoyed last night very much, but I understand."
Cassandra watched Cullen dress, her heart broke that she had to end the relationship before it began. "I heard you talking to the Herald, she asked if there was anyone special waiting for you back in Kirkwall. What did you tell her?"
Cullen sat on the side of her bed dressed. He cupped her face with hers and leaned toward her. "I told her there was no one in Kirkwall," he leaned in and kissed her slow, steady, and then pulled away. "I did not tell her that the person I found to be special came with me. You are certain it would not work?"
"Yes, I am sorry Cullen." Cassandra flinched as he stood up and crossed the room.
Cullen turned and looked at her one last time looking tired, weary, "me too." He said as he walked out the door.
Cassandra screamed at the ceiling in frustration. One day she would learn to think before she acted today was not that day. It was still early she stayed in bed sulking until she could take it no more, She cleaned herself up and went to the Chantry, she hoped the Herald would need her to bash something's head in before the end of the day.