Really Wicked Grace

"I believe this round is mine, gentlemen." Megan grinned at the men assembled around her table. "Your turn, Anders. Robes off."

Anders made a great show of shrugging off his robe, rolling his eyes. "Yes, ma'am. Though, honestly, what is the point of this game?"

"What do you mean?" Nate eyed his bare chest shamelessly. His speech was a little slurred from the wine, Megan couldn't help but notice. "Surely you must have played Really Wicked Grace in the Tower, too. The point is to get people naked and embarrassed. Works fine, I'd say."

He was right, of course. Megan smiled nostalgically. It was hardly the first time she had wagered her clothes either. This particular modification of the rules tended to come up pretty much every time people got drunk while playing.

Anders leaned back, stretching voluptuously and giving Nate a shameless wink. "It sure does. Only I can't see anyone here getting particularly embarrassed." He made a sweeping gesture that took them all in: Nate; Carver; Megan and Zevran. "I mean, seeing as how practically everyone in this room has slept with everyone else at one point or another…"

"Ah, caro, you may be exaggerating a bit there, no?" Zevran rubbed his head affectionately against Anders' shoulder. "I, for one, can only lay claim to having been with you and the Commander, though it's certainly not for lack of interest."

Carver nearly choked on his drink. "Right. And I've never slept with either you or Zev."

Anders shrugged. "Well, that could be arranged."

Carver blushed furiously. "I… didn't mean…"

"Didn't you?" Zevran practically purred the words, reaching out to run his fingers lightly along the perfect line of Carver's strong shoulders. "Such a pity. Because I'd be quite open to such an arrangement, if you were."

A shiver went through Carver's body, but he appeared too tongue-tied to respond. Zevran laughed quietly, but he didn't pull back his hand, and his eyes remained locked with Carver's.

Listening to their banter, Megan felt a hot surge of excitement. The feeling went nicely with the wooziness from the Nevarran red, she had to admit. "So, are you suggesting we should… fill the gaps in our experience?" She wiggled her eyebrows suggestively at Anders. "I thought you weren't all that much into women?"

"I would make an exception for you, Commander." Anders' tone was smooth and suggestive, but Megan couldn't help but giggle.

"Is that supposed to tempt me? Because you'll have to do better than that." She raised her chin in a clear challenge.

Anders smiled, not at all offended. "All I'm saying is that there would be no harm in a bit of fun between friends. And we are friends, aren't we? Besides…" He paused for effect. "If I'm not mistaken, you have never been with a mage, right? You might be interested in what I have to offer."

Megan swallowed at the look that accompanied his words. It definitely carried enough heat to convince her of his interest.

Nate hadn't said much so far, but his eyes were darting from one to the other, dark and intense. Megan did her best to gauge what he was thinking of Anders' proposal. Though, really, Zevran was the only one whose presence might pose a problem as far as Nate was concerned, since he was already sleeping with her and Carver, and he'd never made a secret of his attraction to Anders.

But his relationship with the assassin tended to be mercurial at best, with lots of hidden barbs traded between them on a regular basis. She hardly expected him to stand by and watch while his regular lovers had fun with Zevran. Unless… Maybe she'd read him wrong and what she'd taken to be jealousy was really just sexual tension? After all, Zevran was definitely attractive enough to catch anybody's eye.

She'd expected more resistance from Carver, actually, but the tension between him and Zevran was almost palpable now. But would he really-

Before Megan had quite finished her ruminations, Nate took her hand. "What do you say, Meg? Do you want this?" His voice was thick with arousal.

Megan swallowed. "I… I'm not sure. It would depend what 'this' is, exactly."

"Do we have to decide now?" There were fine laugh-lines around Anders' eyes as he slowly rounded the table and went down on his knees next to her. "Can't we just try out a few things and see if you like them?"

Before she could respond, his lips met hers, soft and sweet, and Megan gasped. Anders' hand gently held her head as he pulled her closer and deepened the kiss. He tasted like no one else she'd ever kissed, a faint metallic tang that she realized had to be lyrium, or maybe the magic buzzing all through him. Whatever it was, it was exciting and sent her imagination into overdrive. Behind her on the bench, Nate was a solid, reassuring presence, warm and firm and familiar.

Megan had lost her shirt a few rounds ago and was wearing only her breastband. The thin linen didn't really pose an obstacle for Anders' questing fingers. When he ghosted them over her nipples, adding just a spark of electricity, she arched up with a small cry of pleasure that he eagerly drank from her lips.

"Fuck, Meg, this is hot." Nate was breathing hard against her ear. "Look."

Opening her eyes and turning her head, she saw that Zevran had made his move, too. He had settled in Carver's lap and was running his hands all over the latter's bare, muscular chest. Carver was almost naked already, and the way his cock strained against his smalls made it obvious he was fully on board with the proceedings. Of course, Megan couldn't blame him. Zevran looked good enough to eat, as usual, all but naked himself. And she remembered all too clearly how skilled his hands were, how good they must feel on Carver's heated skin.

Anders made a small impatient noise and pulled her back into another kiss, his hands making short work of her breastband. As soon as her breasts were bare, he moved down to take one nipple between his lips, flicking his tongue against the rosy skin. Nate groaned again, cupping her other breast with his hand and pinching the nipple gently. Megan's smalls were soaked already, and it didn't help that Carver was kissing Zevran now, moaning his name, his large hand entangled in the assassin's fine blond hair.

"Stop." It came out sharper than she'd intended, and the effect it had on the men was almost comical. They each froze in motion, their heads turning toward her in unison. "I didn't mean-" Megan felt herself blush. "I just… I want you naked, all of you. I want to see you."

She ignored their grins as they followed her wish. If they were really doing this, if she was having sex with four gorgeous men, she would damn well make the most of it. Nate was the last to wiggle out of his clothes, at the same time as Anders pulled down her own smalls with a theatrical flourish. Megan swallowed.

"Anything else you want, carissima?" Zevran's amber eyes were flashing fire. "Tell us."

Megan's head was spinning. Anders hadn't actually let go off her, and his hands were teasing and playing all over her body, with the occasional hint of magic to spice things up. Behind her, Nate was hard and eager, and the way Carver was looking at her as Zevran caressed him was making her dizzy with want.

"The bed," she managed to stammer.

Nate and Anders both nodded, getting to their feet and making their way over to the bed with her between them. Zevran and Carver followed and got comfortable on the other side of the huge four-poster.

The men resumed their caresses, and Megan closed her eyes for a heartbeat, the familiar callouses on Nate's fingertips her only hint as to who was touching her where. She almost didn't care; it all felt so good. Long fingers slid deep inside her wet heat, so soft she knew they had to be Anders', and then a sudden charge of magic exploded right inside her and she came so hard she screamed.

Carver and Zevran had paused for a moment to watch her, both of them panting so deeply she could see their chests raise and fall. Zevran's long, graceful fingers were wrapped around Carver's cock, playing him like an instrument. Carver did his best to keep his hips still, but he was clearly fighting a losing battle, and when Zevran bent down to take him between his full lips, he surrendered with a strangled cry.

"Megan." Nate was clearly not done with her yet, nor with Anders. "Come here."

He arranged her carefully on the bed, spreading her legs wide, then tilted his head at Anders in an inviting gesture. Anders seemed a little nervous as he moved between her legs, and she instinctively reached down to take hold of him and guide him inside her. He exhaled when he was all the way in, a soft, contented sigh that reminded her of a happy cat.

Nate ran a soothing hand down Anders' spine, but then his expression changed from tender to predatory and she suddenly realized what he was planning. "Keep still," he murmured, reaching for the oil they kept in the nightstand.

Anders was pretty sure it didn't get better than this. He still couldn't quite believe how quickly everyone had agreed to his suggestion. Maybe it was the wine, or maybe they had all been just as curious as he was. In any case, here he was, with Nate opening him up, slowly but insistently, and Megan writhing under him with abandon, and it was amazing. He hadn't been with a woman in ages, not since his Tower days, but there was no denying she felt good around him, hot and tight and wet. And what Nate was doing to him…

He closed his eyes in ecstasy, but he had to open them again almost immediately, because he really, really didn't want to miss what Zevran and Carver were up to.

Zevran's head was bobbing up and down eagerly as he took Carver in deep, and the younger man's expression was transported with lust, his eyes rolling back in their sockets as he bit down hard on his own hand to keep himself from whimpering. The muscles in Carver's stomach were rippling convulsively, and he looked gorgeous, lithe and strong and powerful.

Anders would never fully understand why Nate was so in love with Carver; the young man always seemed far too blunt and awkward to him. But as far as looks went… Yeah, Carver was gorgeous all right. And of course, Zevran was utterly beautiful, his slim golden body taut and sleek, the lines of his tattoos dancing in the candlelight with every move he made. Seeing the two of them together did things to Anders he couldn't quite explain. He'd never been too interested in just watching, but it definitely had its charm.

Nate made a small, satisfied noise, obviously judging him ready, and then moved in behind him. Anders forced himself to breathe deeply and relax. In his wildest dreams he hadn't dared to hope he would get to have Nate again. He had never forgotten the few nights they'd shared, long ago, and though he was in love with Zevran and more than happy with the assassin's efforts in bed, he'd missed Nate, missed the roughness of his hands, the scent of him, the noise he made as he pushed inside him.

Megan wiggled under him as Nate began to move until they had found an angle that worked for them both. Briefly, Anders wondered whether he ought to be more active, but really, things seemed to work best if he let Nate set the pace. Nate seemed happy to do most of the moving, and his thrusts were powerful enough to push Anders deep into Megan's willing body. Judging from the blissful noises she was making and the rapt expression on her face, she was getting plenty out of this, too.

Carver came with a last, almost desperate cry, and Anders could finally focus on Megan again, bending down to reclaim her mouth, laughing in utter delight when she wrapped her legs more tightly around him and dug her nails into his back. He lost track of his surroundings shortly after, too overcome to be sure who did what, who came first, who cried out the loudest. All he knew was that at some point the world exploded in a flash of light as the tension in him finally broke, and he poured himself into Megan, clenching around Nate at the same time, caught between them in a climax so sweet and yet so burning hot it nearly made him faint.

When he opened his eyes again, his gaze fell on Zevran. Zevran who was still hard, still shaking with desire, Zevran whose eyes were glued onto the three of them with an expression of such naked hunger.

"Zev." Megan's voice was scratchy, but full of warmth. "What about you? What do you want?"

Zevran's posture grew noticeably more tense. "What I want… More than I can possibly have in the course of one night, my Warden. I'm dying to be with you once more. I want to watch all of you in the throes of passion, I want to touch every one of you, feel you, make you scream. But first…" His eyes darted up to meet Nate's. "I want you."

For a moment, Zevran was actually afraid he'd misjudged the expression in Nate's eyes. He'd been so sure he'd read desire there, and something close to envy when Carver had been brought to a mind-blowing peak by Zevran's talented mouth. But maybe-

"Zevran." Nate sounded slightly strained, as if struggling with conflicting impulses. But when his clear grey eyes met Zevran's, there was no hesitation, no attempt to conceal the naked desire in them. "Fine with me. Just give me a minute."

"A minute." Zevran sighed, doing his best to hide his jealousy. "Well, thank the Maker for Warden stamina, I guess."

Nate actually grinned. "Let me clean up a bit." He got to his feet and walked over to the bathroom.

Zevran followed him with his eyes, enjoying the view. Nate was almost as tall as Anders, but his shoulders were a lot wider, tapering down nicely to his slender hips. He was a lot hairier than the mage, too, but that would make for a nice change.

Next to him, Carver exhaled shakily. "Zevran. Thank you. That was… incredible."

"I know." Zevran didn't even bother to hide the smugness in his voice. "My pleasure." It wasn't a lie. He'd truly enjoyed making Carver come undone.

He lay back with a contented sigh. It wasn't often that a chance like this offered itself nowadays, and he had plans. Tasting Carver, feeling him unravel, had been marvellous. Nate would be next, and he was looking forward to that, more than he could say. Afterwards, he intended to remind Megan of their time together, and then, maybe…

He was torn from his musings by Nate's return. Maker, but the legends really didn't exaggerate where Wardens and their superior staying power were concerned. The man was half hard again already, and when he settled next to Zevran on the huge four-poster, it took only a few well-placed flicks of his tongue to get him to full hardness again.

"What now?" Nate's voice was rough like sandpaper, and it seemed to scrape all over Zevran's already oversensitive skin.

He had to close his eyes to collect himself. What now, indeed. He found himself momentarily at a loss on how to proceed. Nate was so difficult to read, with such tight control, with so much passion underneath, and no way of telling what would win out. Maybe a kiss would tell him more… Tilting his head, he offered his lips, and Nate immediately took advantage of the offer.

Zevran had imagined his kisses to be hard, demanding, a struggle for dominance, all tongue and teeth, but once again Nate managed to surprise him. His lips were soft and gentle at first, brushing against Zevran's with the barest suggestion of more, and when he finally deepened the kiss, he drew it out with every sign of enjoyment, long and sweet and almost playful, leaving Zevran panting for more. But, when Zevran took Nate's hand to guide it to his aching cock, he was in for another surprise.

"No." Nate shook his head, his face unreadable, but was there a hint of a smile in the corner of his eyes? "I'm not going to risk you spending yourself before I've had this pretty cock of yours inside me."

Zevran inhaled sharply, and at the same moment a choked noise from Carver made him turn his head. Yes, Carver was watching them, his eyes large and almost feverish. Megan had curled up next to him, stroking his thigh in lazy circles, looking almost amused at the intensity of his reaction.

Returning his attention to Nate, he met his gaze again. "If that's what you want, I'm game," he drawled, doing his best to sound unfazed, but failing miserably.

Nate was smiling openly now, a slow, dangerous smile, as he reached for the oil. "Oh, yes. Do you want to do this yourself, or would you prefer a show?"

Nate had to fight back a laugh when Zevran's eyes widened at his words. Didn't expect that, did you? He knew the assassin was proud of his many conquests and confident to the point of cockiness about his abilities as a lover, but he himself was hardly inexperienced either. A youth spent squiring in the Free Marches had been quite educational in terms of what two horny young men sharing a room could do together. Maybe he'd end up showing Zevran a thing or two after all. Nate had always loved a challenge.

And Maker, Zevran was so beautiful! For all his grumpiness toward the assassin, Nate wasn't blind to his stunning good looks. He had been curious about those intriguing tattoos for a long time, and if he hadn't been so worked up already, he would have taken the time to trace every one of them, to follow their swirling lines all over Zevran's lithe golden body. But as it was, he simply couldn't wait.

"Well?" He rolled his hips slowly, letting one oil-slicked finger trail further back.

Zevran inhaled sharply, his hands clenching into fists. "I don't know, to be honest. I am not sure I can trust myself either way, but I think…" In one smooth move, he slithered between Nate's legs, and pushed his hand aside. "I think I can't possibly deny myself the pleasure of touching you any longer."

The assassin's face was tense with barely contained desire. He obviously knew what he wanted, and for a moment Nate felt a twinge of apprehension. After all, it had been a while, and Zevran was big for an elf. But he forgot all about his concerns the moment those long, graceful fingers got to work. It seemed Zevran's boasts hadn't been all that exaggerated after all. Nate couldn't recall ever having been touched with such assurance, such precision. Within minutes, he was writhing, aching for more, pleading in a voice he hardly recognized as his own.

Zevran looked maybe a tad smug when he finally aligned himself and slowly, ever so slowly began to push inside him, but Nate wasn't fooled. For all his experience, Zevran was struggling to keep control, his whole body trembling with the effort. Some part of him desperately wanted to break this iron control, but at the same time he wanted Zevran to take it slow, wanted this to last as long as it possibly could.

He whined in frustration, because he couldn't decide, and Zevran paused immediately. "Everything all right?"

"Yes." His answer was little more than a hissed breath, and he forced himself to repeat it. "Oh, yes. Please… oh, Maker! Please don't stop."

Zevran laughed shakily. "I can assure you that I have no intention of stopping, caro. I've dreamed of this for a very long time."

Nate was more astonished by this admission than he let on. When Zevran had first shown up at the Keep, he'd been friendly, but distant. True, he'd seemed a little vexed that he and Megan hadn't been able to pick up where they'd left off. She'd been very clear about it, too. Zevran would always remain a good friend, but the days when he was welcome to warm her bed were over. That had to have been a disappointment for him, after coming all the way from Antiva to be with her.

Still, he had quickly found solace in Anders' arms. And while he routinely flirted with practically everyone, Nate had never been under the impression that Zevran had been particularly interested in him. But then, an assassin had to be good at hiding his feelings and motives, out of necessity.

All those thoughts dissolved when Zevran began to move, his incredibly smooth skin sliding against Nate's like sheer silk, his hips rolling with perfect grace, finding the right angle and rhythm with unerring certitude. Closing his eyes, Nate let his body take over, too overcome to care about anything else. So good.

"Carver? Are you okay?" Megan sounded concerned, and Carver forced himself to nod.

"I'm fine," he croaked, catching her hand and pressing it hard.

More than fine, actually. He wasn't sure whether it was possible, but he kind of thought he might come from watching alone. To see Nate like this, sprawled on his back in shameless abandon, Zevran moving above him with sinuous grace, to hear Nate's voice, wrecked from begging for more, harder, deeper, to breathe in their scent… It made him want all kinds of things, things he hadn't even known he wanted before. For a moment, he wondered whether Nate was actually doing this on purpose.

He glanced over at Anders, who was watching just as raptly as him, one hand slowly stroking his own hardening cock, while the other rested companionably on Megan's hip. She didn't seem to mind. There was a soft smile on her face, but when she turned to face Carver again, it turned pensive.

"You know, Carver, it occurs to me… You've never been with a mage either, have you?"

He cleared his throat, trying to avoid looking at Anders' lean naked body. "No, I… I've wondered, though. Revon was always very popular with the girls. He said there were things he could do with his magic that I couldn't even imagine-" He broke off, embarrassed at the mere memory of his brother's taunts.

"Stupid show-off," Anders grunted, rolling his eyes.

He must have done something with his hand, though, because Megan shivered visibly, her eyes closing in pleasure.

"So… aren't you curious?" She gave Carver a little shove with her elbow. "Come on. Anders is right here. I'm sure he'd be happy to show you. It's… nice."

She flashed a bright smile at Anders, who returned it, looking genuinely happy and relaxed for once. Carver felt his throat go tight, but he made himself nod shakily. If nothing else, he really was curious. And even though Anders wasn't actually his type, he'd imagined him with Nate more than once.

Anders settled back comfortably against the headboard and signalled for Carver to lie down with his head in his lap. "Come here. Relax"

The tone of his voice was oddly familiar, and it took Carver only a moment to recognize it as the one Anders used when he was healing him, warm and reassuring. And suddenly everything became easy as the realization hit him: He trusted Anders. He trusted all the people in this room with his life, had done so, in fact, over and over again, and he had saved their lives just as they had saved his. They already shared a bond, and what they were doing now, what they were about to do, seemed almost trivial in comparison.

Anders started off with a rejuvenation spell, sweet and refreshing, and Carver smiled happily when he recognized it. This same spell had helped him regain his strength countless times in battle, and if it resulted in a different kind of rejuvenation now, well, he certainly wasn't going to complain. It wasn't even the first erection Anders had ever given him, to be quite honest – in the heat of a fight it was a common enough side-effect of healing spells.

"Ready for more?" Anders whispered in his ear, and he nodded eagerly.

He'd expected more of the same, but when the sweet tingle of the next spell hit him, magic racing through his veins, dancing over his skin like veilfire, he actually cried out, his whole body arching up in ecstasy. That was… different. Different, and mind-blowingly hot. Every nerve in his body was buzzing, and before he had quite recovered, Anders did it again, sending him flying off the sheets a second time.

"Oh, Maker." Megan stared at him with wide eyes. "You are so hot like this."

Anders grinned and extended a hand toward her, running it slowly down her breastbone. Carver was almost sure there were sparks flying from his fingertips, but whatever he did, it had much the same effect on Megan as it had had on him. She cried out and bit her lip hard enough to draw blood. Carver could see her nipples grow hard and pebbled. Without thinking, he ran a hand up her thigh, between her legs, and sure enough, she was dripping wet, ready for the taking.

"Meg." He hardly recognized his own voice. "Please."

"Yes." She was on top of him before he could say more, lowering herself down on his hard cock, whining with delight when he filled her.

Megan moved her hips in a perfect circle, and she felt so good around him, just like she always did, only this time there was so much more. Behind him, Anders was breathing hard, stroking himself with fast, furious movements. And when he turned his head, there was Nate, almost close enough to touch, Nate, who was almost too far gone to see him, but managed to extend a hand to take his and squeeze it hard enough to hurt.

And then, just went he thought it couldn't get better, Anders sent another wave of magic through him, and somehow it travelled through their joined bodies, through all five of them, so perfect it made him want to cry. The world went away in a rush of pleasure more exquisite than he'd ever imagined, and Carver lost all ability to think and care for a while.

There was more, of course, throughout the night, more love-making, more bantering, more cuddling. None of them seemed to be able to get enough until the first rays of sun painted the sky a pale pink, and they were finally too worn-out to go on. Lying sprawled on the bed, they eyed each other warily, unsure of how to proceed.

"So…" Anders was the first one to speak. "Are we going to talk about this? What it means? What happens now?"

Carver felt his chest tighten. Shit. What had they done? He had been far too drunk and excited last night to consider the consequences. What if Anders and Zevran expected-

But Megan shook her head calmly and decisively. "Honestly? I think this is one of those things where we're all better off pretending it never happened at all. Not that I regret it," she hastened to add. "It would just make things too complicated. For all of us."

Anders looked relieved, as a whole, though there was a tinge of sadness in his smile.

Zevran nodded smoothly. "Wise words, cara. Now, sleep well. And we won't mention this again, I promise. At least, not outside this room." He winked at them, and Anders and he quietly grabbed their clothes and slipped out of the room.

"Maker, Megan." Nate laughed softly. "That was amazing. Never in my wildest dreams did I expect-"

"Shhh." With a giddy giggle, Megan rolled over on her stomach and placed a finger on his lips. "It never happened, remember?" Growing more serious, she reached out for Carver, too, and pulled him close. "I love you two, more than anything. You know that, right?"

Carver felt a warm wave of tenderness spread inside him. "I love you, too, Meg. And you." He shyly glanced at Nate, relieved beyond measure to see nothing but love and acceptance in his eyes. "I'm yours."

Hugs and thanks to my amazing beta suilven!