A/N: Chapter 2 aka did you mean smut from Cullen's point of view?

Cullen

It was difficult to believe that this was the same woman who unwillingly joined the Inquisition a few months ago. She was sleeping peacefully for once now, curled up on her side in my bed with her head resting on my bare chest. I wanted to reach down and run my fingers through her hair or trace the tattoos on her face or something, but I dared not risk waking her. She looked harmless when she was asleep, and she even smiled a bit; which was a nice change from her normal serious expression.

When I first met her several months ago she had been anything but friendly or social. Cassandra brought her right up to the front doors of the Chantry in Haven, intent on introducing her to everyone and Talathiel would have nothing of it. She did not actually speak when we first met, she only snorted and rolled her eyes, though I found out later that everyone had apparently gotten the same greeting so at least it was not personal.

Talathiel spent the first few weeks in relative seclusion from everyone else, only leaving her room for food or when Josephine forced her to the War Room. She was not anymore social in the War Room, in the beginning she flat out refused to make decisions or engage in anything for that matter. She was frustrating, stubborn, and proud.

The only person I saw her actually talk to was Solas. I would often catch her sneaking about to go see him, though the fact that the Herald of Andraste was sneaking about when she was allowed to go anywhere she wanted was somewhat amusing. I never knew what they talked about, nor was I particularly interested in it either. All I knew about Solas was that he was an apostate and that he spent far too much time in the Fade with demons and spirits. I supposed that they bonded over being the only two elves in the Inquisition, but even then I heard whispers of them fighting from time to time. Still, he was the only one she seemed willing to spend time with.

Time went on and she eventually became friendlier, though the death of me would be the abrasive little elven women she drug home one day, but that was only the beginning of the group of misfits she would amass.

At first she just spent time around the nonhuman members of the Inquisition: Sera, the Iron Bull, Varric, and Solas, but talking with diplomats and dealings at the War Table forced her to be around other people.

She stirred in her sleep, snuggling up a bit closer a sighing into my chest, her warm breath sharply contrasting with her cool skin. I absentmindedly reached down and ran my fingers through her hair, it was always soft and well maintained; I think she might be the only person in Skyhold besides Vivienne who keeps up with regular bathing to be honest.

I continued to play with her hair for a while and it did not seem to disturb her at least, not until my hand brushed against her ear anyways. The moment I touched her ear her eyes shot open and she jerked a bit.

"I'm sorry" I quickly apologized, yanking my hand away from her ear. "Did I startle you?"

"A bit" she grumbled sleepily.

"Sorry, I'll make sure not to touch your ears again." I mumbled, somewhat upset that I woke her.

"Why would you do that?"

"Because it bothered you?"

"I never said that. You don't have to stop" She said with a bit of a snort.

"Wait, do you want me to touch your ears or something? Like does it feel good to you?"

"You're making this weird" she answered. "Here, just-" She grabbed my hand and guided it back to her ear, gently placing my fingertips at the base of it and slowing guiding my fingers up to the tip of her ear. "Like that" she finished.

I repeated the motion several time, slowly tracing the edge of her ear with my index and middle fingers. She closed her eyes in relaxation, smiled and nuzzled her face into my chest even further, her cool skin gave me chills.

"You know, you can try doing other things." She said.

"Like what?"

"There are other spots on my ears"

I started running my fingers along the inside folds of her ears and gently massaging the tips of her ears. Occasionally her ears would twitch and I was not sure if that meant I was doing something wrong or right, but she made no attempt to stop or correct me. I wondered what this felt like to her, I wondered if she played with my ears would if it feel the same.

"So is this an elf thing, or a you thing?" I asked somewhat cautiously.

Talathiel snorted "Well, I like having my ears played with, but so do most other elves, so yes, it's both."

"What does it feel like? Would it be the same if you did that to me?"

"It wouldn't: your ears aren't as sensitive"

I felt a bit disappointed learning this, but also intrigued. I never really had the opportunity to learn about elves, I suppose most humans really do not, and I really did want to learn about her and her people.

"So this is a normal thing for elves?"

"For mates, yes."

"Mates?"

"Well, there's normally lips and tongues involved, it's kind of an intimate thing."

"Mates?"

"You know, the person you're bonded to, like a husband or wife."

"So this is something a married couple would do?"

"Well, just a couple in general. Like with someone who could be a potential mate"

I felt myself blushing and was glad that Talathiel still had her eyes closed. I had not thought much about playing with her ears, but now knowing how intimate it was supposed to be and that she wanted me to play with her ears was making me incredibly happy.

"So what was that bit about lips and tongues?"

Talathiel giggled a bit, it was such a beautiful sound. "Just anything really; kisses, licking, singing or talking close by, nipping, there's no right or wrong way."

I continued to just massage her ear, trying to build up the courage to do anything more. After a few minutes I shifted myself upright so I was sitting up and pulled Talathiel into my lap so she was sitting with her back resting against my chest. I leaned forwards and brushed my lips against her right ear while I continued to play with her other ear. Her ears twitched again and I could feel cheeks move as she smiled.

This was nice, just being able to hold someone so close, to not worry about anything else and just be able to share a private moment. I kissed her ear softly and lingered there, being so close to her was incredible. She was so soft, and the coolness of her skin was always invigorating. Sitting so close to her I could also smell the sweetness of her skin. She always smelled the same, there was a certain spiciness to her, like evergreens, but also a sweetness that reminded me of vanilla and fruits like peaches and strawberries. Everything about her was intoxicating.

I decided to run my tongue along her ear, starting at its base and ending up at the pointed tip. I felt her tense up and quiver before she completely relaxed back and leaned all of her weight against my chest. I smiled, I was happy to finally see her so relaxed and was pleased that I was able to help her. I wrapped my other arm around her waist to hold her close.

I continued with this, slowly building my confidence until I was nipping, licking, kissing, and suckling on her ear without having to think about what I was doing.

Talathiel reached up with her right hand to place it on the back of my head where she gently began to twist her fingers into my hair and play with my hair. I loved it when she touched me, it had been so long since I wanted to have anyone in my life and it had been so long since anybody was close to me like this and by the Maker I would do anything to protect her and keep her in my life.

I began to feel daring. I took my right hand off her waist and ran in under her silky shirt to cup her breast. She let out a contented sigh that I took as permission to continue. Her skin was so soft and smooth and I began to trace my fingers over her breast until I reached the erected peak of her nipple. I gently rolled it between my fingers like before and gently pulled on it, causing her to let a soft moan. She made the most beautiful sounds and it was taking more willpower than I'd like admit to keep from rolling her onto her back, pinning her down, and seeing what sounds she made if I entered her. Maker's breath did I want to know what that was like, but I did not want to push Talathiel farther than she wanted to go for the moment. If I ever did anything to make her uncomfortable or lose her trust I would never forgive myself.

Talathiel began to shift about, she slide her hips back to press her backside firmly between my outstretched legs and moved her hand down to rest between her legs. She slowly began to roll her hips forwards into her hand and backwards in between my legs. I could feel her moving her arm about to massage herself and I felt myself harden against her as she ground her backside against me and moaned.

I could not help myself tp only watch. I removed my left hand from her ear and placed it between her legs over her hand and used it to press her even harder against me while I thrust my hips against her backside. I wanted the clothes to be gone, I wanted her under me, or on top of me, or any way as long I could be inside of her, I wanted to hear her moan and gasp my name.

Talathiel slide her hand out from under mine and insteadplaced it on top of mine. She used her hand to guide mine, to show me how to massage her. Her moans became more frequent and her thrusts against my hand became more forceful and more eradicate. I could feel a dampness through her pants as her moans turned into gasps and the pitch of her voice increased. Her breath quickened and I could feel her heart racing throughout her body. Her gasps became shorter and sharper and I squeezed her breast harder.

"Cullen" she gasped as she pressed my hand against herself harder.

"Cullen" she gasped again as she gave a final few thrusts until she gave out and slumped against my chest gulping down air. I could feel myself still throbbing, pressed against her backside, but she seemed much too exhausted and I did not want to bother her with that.

"Well, you're not shy at all" I said after softly kissing the side of her head.

"I know what I like" she cooed with a smirk.

"I can tell, you had no problem with helping yourself out"

She snorted again. "True, but it's always better with someone else's hand instead" she reached up and softly kissed my lips.

I did not know what that was like, I did not have a comparison, but I would have loved to feel her cool soft hands running up and down myself instead.

Talathiel yawned and snuggled in my chest. "I think it's time for bed, it's getting late" she declared.

"You could always stay here tonight" I offered.

She stayed silent for a moment, pondering her options. "I don't want to give the soldiers more to gossip about, not to mention the lecture I'd be getting from Vivienne for it. I also need to change after that anyways" she said with a coy smile. "There will be time for more later don't you worry" she added.

She got up and wrapped her arms around me to say goodnight and kissed me again. We both climbed down the ladder and said goodnight at the door. I retreated back up to my bed and collapsed down on my back to think about everything that just happened. Maker's breath was she an amazing woman and she would be the death of me. Not that I was complaining, at least I would die happy.

I slide my hand down into my pants, she may have been done but I sure was not after that.