Barris was confused, and that was not a state of mind he was accustomed to.

Three nights ago, the Inquisitor had invited him into the bed she shared with Commander Cullen, and it had been everything he could have hoped for. Ylva had been hot and sweet and willing, and the Commander… Barris felt a shiver race down his spine at the memory. Cullen's lips on his, that delectable little scar, so soft under the questing touch of his tongue. And his eyes, Maker, his eyes! So much passion, so much gentleness, and so much pain, too, lingering just below the surface. Barris couldn't help but wonder what it was that Cullen had seen, to cause so much sadness.

Barris had pretty much come to terms with the fact that he was completely and utterly lost where Ylva was concerned. But now, he realized, he was falling for Cullen as well, and he didn't know what to make of this sudden epiphany.

He'd hardly been able to take his eyes off the man for the past few days. Everything about Cullen was driving him mad: that little swagger of his when he stepped up to the war table; the way he'd rub his neck if he was embarrassed; the steely look in his eyes when he was planning an attack. And more than once, he'd caught Cullen watching him in turn, hazel eyes lingering on his mouth in a way that was positively indecent. The tension between them was growing with each passing day, and Barris wasn't sure how much longer he could stand it.

Ylva, on the other hand, seemed bright and cheerful, and completely oblivious to what was going on between the two men. Or was she really? Last night, she'd caught his eye at dinner and winked at him, just once, so briefly that he wasn't sure he hadn't imagined it.

Either way, he had to do something about the situation. It was beginning to affect his focus, and it was only a matter of time until somebody noticed. If Seeker Pentaghast caught him daydreaming, he'd never hear the end of it.

And yes, he was dreaming, all of the time. There was no denying it – he wanted more. He wanted to be with them again, with both of them. He wanted Ylva, wanted to have her in any way imaginable, and he wanted Cullen to look on, to join in, to share the pleasure. Blight it, he wanted Cullen, too, though he wasn't sure yet how far he wanted to go.

But he'd promised Ylva that the decision would be Cullen's, and his alone. She'd been very clear about it. And yet… She hadn't actually said he couldn't speed up that decision, had she?

As he was crossing the courtyard, Barris glanced up at the darkening sky and made up his mind. Now. He had to try, at least.

He almost lost his courage when he was on Cullen's doorstep, but Barris had never been a coward. Taking a deep breath, he raised his fist and knocked, as sharply and decisively as he could.


Cullen raised his head with a frown. Who would come to see him at this late hour? Jim was about to leave, gathering up today's paperwork, and none of the servants would ever knock in such an imperious manner. It wasn't Ylva, that much was certain. She had never grasped the concept of knocking, or indeed of privacy and personal space.

"Come in." He straightened himself up to his full height, and he was glad he'd done so when he saw who it was.

Barris. Barris, out of armour, dressed in plain leathers that made him look younger, softer, less bulky. And even more gorgeous. The leather pants were clinging tightly to Barris' shapely thighs and his simple white shirt was tied loosely enough to offer tantalizing glimpses of dark skin. Against his will, Cullen swallowed hard, doing his best to school his features into something approximating professionalism.

"Ser Barris." Thank the Maker, his voice sounded normal, despite the dryness of his lips, despite the sudden tightness in his throat.

"Commander Cullen." Barris, too, appeared unconcerned, but on closer inspection, Cullen noticed that his hands were trembling. Is he nervous? "A word in private, please?"

"Of course." Cullen nodded at Jim, who hurriedly took his leave.

The door fell shut behind him. They were alone.

The big desk seemed too much of a barrier for a private conversation, so Cullen stepped around it, leaning back against it in an ostensibly relaxed posture. Barris chose the same moment to come forward, though, and suddenly they were facing each other, so close they were almost touching. Cullen had to clear his throat to hide his confusion.

"What is it you wanted to talk about?" His eyes met Barris' bright green ones. Like emeralds. He swallowed again.

"I…" Barris paused, wetting his lips with his tongue, and Cullen couldn't help staring. His heart was racing, and his palms felt sweaty. What does he want?

"Commander." Barris sounded rough. "I can't stop thinking about… about what we did that night. I've tried, but to no avail. And I know I have no right, but-" Without further ado, he dropped to his knees, right in front of Cullen, who gasped hard. "I just want you to know that I'd do anything for you, Commander. Anything you want."

"Sweet Andraste, Barris." Cullen knew he was blushing; he felt the heat spread all over his neck and face. "You can't-"

"Anything," Barris repeated, placing a hand lightly on Cullen's thigh.

It was the barest hint of a touch, but to Cullen, it felt burning hot, and his cock twitched so hard he feared it was visible even through the thick leather of his breeches.

"Please." It shouldn't have been possible for a grown man to sound so sultry, and for a moment, Cullen worried that this wasn't actually Barris, but a desire demon, a vision of lust sent to tempt him.

But surely, no demon could feel so real, no demon could ever regard him with such a complex mix of emotions: desire, pride, tenderness, and the tiniest hint of guilty shame. If Barris had smiled at him, that cocky grin he remembered so well, Cullen could have pushed him away. But he wasn't smiling; he was dead serious, staring at Cullen's crotch with such undisguised hunger that he couldn't help himself.

Cupping Barris' cheek in his hand, he ran his thumb over those full lips, and Barris opened up immediately, sucking it in with greedy abandonment. Cullen moaned helplessly. Yes. More.

"Cullen, please." Barris' tone was almost desperate, and his hand was hovering over the laces of Cullen's pants, but he wouldn't touch them without permission.

"Andraste preserve me." Cullen was shaking all over, and if he didn't do something now, he was probably going to come in his pants like a green boy. "Yes. Go ahead."

Barris didn't have to be asked twice. Moments later, his eager hands met bare skin, and then he was drawing a deep, almost reverent breath, before wrapping his soft full lips around Cullen's pulsing cock.

"Barris!" Cullen barely recognized his own voice.

Barris ignored him, concentrating on his task, and he definitely knew what he was doing. Within moments, Cullen was struggling to keep his hips still, fighting in vain against the noises that passed his lips, small whimpering noises, incoherent pleas for more. Barris' tongue was dancing all over his flesh, seeking out his most sensitive places and fluttering against him, so maddeningly light and teasing that Cullen had to hold on to his shoulders for balance.

And just when Cullen was sure it couldn't get any better, he pulled back and licked a long, broad swathe all the way up from the root to the tip, and Cullen actually cried out, too overcome to stop himself. Barris hummed softly in his throat, as if to soothe him, and then his mouth was back, hot and wet and eager, and he added the tiniest bit of suction, and-

The unmistakable noise of a door falling shut made Barris freeze in motion and Cullen's head snap up.

"Don't stop on my account, Barris." The deep, satisfied purr of Ylva's voice came both as a shock and a relief. "I do enjoy the view."

Barris hummed again, and Cullen cursed helplessly under his breath, even as he felt the flush return to his face. He didn't dare look into Ylva's face, because having her there, watching Barris reduce him to a puddle of want… It was both embarrassing and incredibly exciting. The excitement was fast winning over, though.

Completely ignoring his discomfiture, Ylva stepped closer, placing a hand lightly on Barris' shoulder. Barris shivered once, but he didn't stop what he was doing. Ylva couldn't take her eyes off him, and Cullen couldn't blame her. He himself was just as mesmerized by the sight of Barris down there, his lips so red they looked bruised, his eyes hooded, his hand on Cullen's thigh to hold him in place.

Cullen's stomach muscles were aching with the effort of holding back, but at the same time he didn't want to come yet, wanted it to last just a moment longer, just a tiny bit. But it was too much. He tried to warn Barris, tried to pull back, but the other man wouldn't have it. Barris' warm hand settled on his hip, pulling him in even deeper, and then he sucked, once, hard and greedy and Cullen gave in. He came with a shout, came so hard he swayed on his feet and had to hold on to Ylva to avoid falling. And she was there, lithe and strong, keeping him steady until he could breathe again.

Glancing down, he found Barris kissing the tip of his softening cock in an unexpectedly sweet gesture, licking his lips in quiet satisfaction.

"Damn it, Barris. That was…" He took a deep breath, looking up into Ylva's smiling face. "What now?"

Her smile widened. "Well, since Barris has been so very obliging…" She ran an affectionate hand over Barris' shaved head. "Maybe he ought to decide what he wants next."

Barris hesitated, but when he spoke, his voice was husky with need. "I want your mouth on me, Ylva. Please." He tilted his head back to look up at her, and then his gaze flickered over to Cullen's face for an instant. "And I want him to watch."

For once, Ylva seemed lost for words, and it made Cullen smile. "All right. But not here." He tilted his head in the direction of the ladder leading up to his loft. "We need a proper bed. Besides, I don't want anyone else walking in on us."

Ylva pouted. "Aw, don't be so prim and proper. Although…" She stretched lasciviously, making Barris groan. "A bed sounds nice."


Yes. A nice, big bed. That was what they needed. Ylva would never admit it, because she loved teasing Cullen about it, but she adored the loft. She loved to lie on the thick furs covering his bed and to stare up through the hole in the ceiling at the clear night sky. It was the closest thing to home in all of Skyhold.

Her clothes came off as fast as she could make them, and then she watched the men undress, watched as they both joined her naked on the bed. Barris knelt near the headboard, shaking with impatience when she bent down to breathe a kiss on the tip of his cock. He was lovely, thick and dark and hard, and he tasted amazing, all salt and musk and the faintest hint of herbal soap. Moaning happily, Ylva settled down on her hands and knees and took him in deeper, as far as she could without choking.

Barris inhaled sharply, his right hand tightening in her hair as he muttered something under his breath. She glanced up, trying to catch his eyes, but he was staring over her shoulder, and he looked almost feverish. Cullen. Of course. It was hard to hide her smug satisfaction.

She had patiently watched the two of them over the past few days, guessing correctly that neither of them would take well to being pushed. But the attraction was there. It had been almost tangible during their night together, and briefly she wondered what had finally caused them to act on it. Not that it mattered. All that counted was that they were here now, both of them, with her.

Barris' cock was hot and heavy on her tongue, and now she felt the familiar warmth of Cullen's hand on her back, stroking down her spine. She arched into his touch and he chuckled softly. Parting her legs, he slipped two fingers deep into her heat, moving them in lazy, shallow thrusts until she clenched hard around them.

"Ylva…" His voice was shaky, but then she felt his hand in her hair, firmly pulling her back. "Enough."

Barris whined at the loss of her mouth, but one strict glare from Cullen sufficed to make him comply. Ylva's stomach fluttered excitedly. It was hard to put into words what it did to her to watch those little power games between them. And anyway, there was no time to analyse her feelings. Already, Cullen was pushing her forward until her head rested on her folded arms. She smiled, wiggling a little and he responded with a low growl, slapping her once, twice, just this side of painful. Oh Lady, yes!

Barris was drinking it all in, watching, learning, and she knew that he was taking note of her every reaction. She had no doubt that next time he was going to put that knowledge to good use. If there is a next time.

At Cullen's signal, Barris moved in behind her, placing both hands firmly on her hips. She felt his cock nudge against her folds, and she held her breath in anticipation. And then he was there, pushing deep inside her, and it was perfect. Glancing back over her shoulder, she saw that Cullen was embracing him from behind, supporting him and guiding his movements. It was the most arousing thing ever, both of them making love to her, both of them fully focussed on her pleasure.

Barris' strokes were swift and sure, and he felt so wonderful inside her that it was easy to let herself get carried away. All it took, in the end, was one well-placed hand between her legs – she didn't know whose, and neither did she care – and she was coming, pleasure rippling all through her body, sweet and tingling. Barris let go with a sigh of relief, thrusting harder and faster, until he, too, went limp. Cullen was still behind him, and he caught him in his arms, cradling him to his chest, while Barris regained his bearings.

Ylva rolled over on her back and watched them affectionately. They made such a pretty pair, with their contrasting colouring and their toned, muscular bodies. Cullen's shoulders were maybe a little wider, but Barris' stomach was taut with muscle, and his thighs strong and firm. Lovely.

Cullen was smiling almost beatifically, as he held the younger man tight. Clearly, he didn't regret what they had started here. The only question was…

"Where do we go from here?" She wasn't even aware she'd said the words aloud until she noticed them both frowning at her, their postures suddenly tense.

"What do you mean?" Cullen didn't let go of Barris, though, and that fact encouraged her to go on.

"We need to talk, Cullen." Ylva hadn't meant to have this conversation so early, but things were moving at a speed that left her little choice. "It's not fair towards Barris to just keep him guessing." She grimaced. "Why Barris, anyway? Don't templars usually go by their first name?"

"True." Barris seemed relieved by the change of subject. "But I hate mine. I was named after my uncle Delrin, and I couldn't stand him, so ever since I've joined the order I've just been Barris."

"So you don't want us to call you Delrin? Or Del? No?" Ylva grinned. "Fair enough. But, no matter what we call you, we need to sort out what you are to us. And that depends on what you want to be, among other things."

Barris bit his lip. "I really don't know. I just…" He hesitated, but then he took the plunge, facing her with a determined glint in his eyes. "I care for you, both of you. Whatever this is, it's not just lust."

"No, it's not." Cullen rubbed his eyes with a weary sigh. "Didn't you say your mother had some experience with this sort of thing, Ylva?"

"My mother!" Ylva actually snorted at the thought what Svarah Sun-Hair would make of all this. "My mother rarely kept her lovers around for more than a season. It's the Avvar way," she explained, when she saw the scandalized expression on Barris' face. "Life is change, and we all keep moving, in every sense of the word. Besides, it suited her, I think. She's always done exactly what she wanted, and she wouldn't want a man to interfere with her plans."

"But you're not your mother," Cullen interjected quietly.

"No, I'm not." She gave him a reassuring smile. "I'm with you, Cullen, and I want to stay with you."

It had seemed strange to her at first, all this talk of forever and always, but if it was what Cullen needed, she was ready to adjust. To a certain degree.

"So you're saying I need to step aside?" Barris looked very young for a moment, and very vulnerable.

"Unless we can make room for you." Ylva kept her gaze firmly on Cullen. "Because if I'm not very much mistaken, you don't want this to end either. Am I right, love?"

For a heartbeat, Cullen closed his eyes, and she wondered whether she had read him correctly. But when he opened them again, he was smiling, a small, crooked smile, as if he didn't quite trust his own feelings. "You're right. I have no idea how this is going to work, but I want to try."

Grasping Barris' hand, he turned it over, so he could kiss his palm. "We will work something out."

Barris made a small, incredulous noise. "Are you sure?"

Cullen nodded silently, extending his arm to pull Ylva between the two of them.

Ylva's heart beat faster as she snuggled into their combined embrace. "Well, then. Let's talk."


Hugs and thanks to the best beta ever, my awesome friend suilven :)