The Assassin's Heart

Chapter 2: All the Time in the World

It was late at night when Cat finally came back to the inn. She had wandered all over Denerim for several hours, unable to come to terms with the white-hot fury boiling inside her belly whenever she thought of Zevran's words. Too young indeed! She couldn't recall the last time she'd been so angry at anyone. She'd walked and walked, repeating the dialogue a million times in her head, raging and fuming, until at last she had been so exhausted she had stumbled over a cobblestone.

Sten had caught her easily, but had been completely clueless when she clung to him desperately, crying for long minutes against his broad chest. She almost smiled as she recalled his perplexed face, the ineffectual patting of his hands on her back. In the end, Fluffy had been the one to calm her, whining softly, pushing his nose against her hand, and she had apologized to Sten, turning around to head back to the inn.

When she opened the door to their room, the first thing she saw was Zevran, kneeling in front of the fireplace to stoke the fire. He had taken off his shirt and was only wearing breeches. For a second she had to catch her breath as she took in the sheer beauty of him. Long strands of golden hair fell loosely over his shoulders, free from their usual braiding. His bronzed skin was shimmering in the firelight, and the intricate dark red curves of the large tattoo on his back seemed to hug his long, lean muscles, to underscore the utter perfection of his body. He was moving with easy grace, as usual, as he turned his head to look at her, and she was relieved to see him smile tentatively at her.

She walked up to him and got down on her knees, embracing him and letting her forehead rest against his. "Zev..."

He sighed deeply, and she felt his strong arms encircling her, pulling her close. "You're back," was all he said.

"Zev, I'm so sorry," she whispered. "Please, forgive me."

He let his lips brush over her temples. "There's nothing to forgive, my sweet. You were right, I was being hypocritical. It is I who should be sorry."

Cat shook her head. "I didn't mean what I said. I... I guess I'm just exhausted. Alistair and Leliana, they came to me with their troubles, and I thought I could help them sort it all out, but now I've only made things worse." She curled up in his arms, hiding her face against his chest, breathing in his scent and revelling in his warmth. "Everyone always seems to think I have the solutions, and I keep failing them all."

He kissed her hair, then pulled her up, looking into her eyes. "No, you don't, my sweet, not at all. You are a marvellous leader. But now you are tired, and you have to stop thinking about the others for a while, yes? Look, we've got a room to ourselves, the night is young... Please let me make it alright for you."

He could feel her hand in his hair, impatiently pulling him down into a rough kiss, while her fingers went down to his pants, starting to undo the laces.

"Yes, Zev, please..." she groaned, but he gently pushed her hand away, interlacing his fingers with hers, before he lifted her hand to his lips to kiss every fingertip in turn.

"Patience, carissima. We have time now, just for love. Relax, and leave all those cares and troubles far behind you."

Very slowly, he began to unbuckle her armour, removing each part of it with practised moves, planting soft little kisses on every piece of skin he exposed. She closed her eyes and let him proceed, delivering herself completely to his touches, his tenderness, his care. When he'd finished removing the leather pieces, he took a moment to unbraid her hair, turning her around in his lap so he could brush the dark red strands. She leaned back into his sensual touch, relaxing, while at the same time she felt a familiar hunger growing inside her.

He finished brushing and parted her hair at the nape of her neck, kissing the soft white skin, while his hands began to slowly unlace her shirt. She moaned almost inaudibly and leaned back further into his embrace, feeling safe and warm and loved. How could she ever have questioned his feelings for her? If only he could say it once, though... She sighed. His heart was hidden under so many protective layers of playfulness, banter and flippancy, she wondered if he himself knew what secrets it held.

The soft linen of her shirt slid down over her shoulders and she felt him all along her back now, naked skin on naked skin, so warm, so sweet, so right. His hands remained unhurried as they began to stroke her skin with the lightest of touches, all over her body, sparing her breasts at first, then returning, his touch becoming firmer, more determined. She let her head loll back against his shoulder, and his mouth briefly caught hers in a feather-light kiss. His lips were soft and he tasted of honey and spices, and she couldn't resist burying her hand in his hair, pulling him closer for another kiss. He laughed quietly and acquiesced, catching her lower lip between his teeth for a moment before he deepened the kiss, exploring her mouth, claiming her with such passion it took her breath away.

Cat turned around in his arms and knelt before him as she helped him remove her pants, then his. When they were both naked, he pulled her down onto the rug and for a while, they just lay stretched out in front of the fire, enjoying the feel of their bodies touching, rubbing against each other like cats begging for a treat.

Then his hands resumed their exploration of her body, and his lips and tongue followed suit, painting complex patterns of pleasure on her skin. She leaned into his touch, arching up to meet his mouth, mutely begging for more, but he wouldn't be hurried, not this time.

Her hands began to reach for his body. She wanted to feel him so badly, and she felt him shudder under her touch as she traced his muscles, following the lines of the tattoos all over his glorious body, down to his groin and closer to his pulsing erection.

He groaned and grabbed her hands, moving them up to his shoulders again. "Not so fast, my beauty," he panted, his lips against hers, his hot breath mingling with hers.

"Please, Zev, I want..." she begged, and she heard him laugh softly.

"What do you want, my lovely?" he murmured against her cheek. "Tell me..."

Cat cursed, making him laugh again. "You know, you damned Antivan bastard... I want you, deep inside me, making love to me, please Zev..."

"Shhh, my sweet, not yet."

She couldn't believe it, but he still held out. "We have plenty of time, enough for all the precious things love has in store for you." She whimpered with impatience, but he wouldn't be dissuaded. With infuriating slowness, he parted her legs and let his fingers brush softly over her sex. She gasped as she felt a spark travel up her spine, and she pushed her hips up desperately, eager for more.

"So impatient..." he whispered. "Well, if you really can't wait..." He sat up and pulled her onto his lap, facing him, her legs wrapped around his slender hips. When she felt his hard length against her, she moaned, her nails scratching over his back, her eyes dark with desire as she writhed against him.

"Zev, please, now..." Her voice was raspy with need as she took hold of him and tried to push herself down on his shaft, but his grip on her hips was firm. Inch by inch he lowered her, wanting her to savour every moment as he slowly filled her, his eyes fixed on her face, watching her expression avidly.

Cat thought she would die with pleasure. His soft, slow movements were the most exquisite torture she'd ever experienced. Her skin was tingling, her whole body taut with longing, and she felt the heat build deep inside her, growing until she was sure it would consume her whole being. She trembled all over, and she felt herself go tight around him, wanting to draw him inside her, deeper, closer, until he became a part of her.

For a moment he froze, holding her in a vise-like grip, struggling for control. "Just... a moment, carissima," he gasped as he went taut under her, holding on only by iron willpower. After a few seconds, she heard him breathe again, and he resumed his careful rhythm. She felt her body respond immediately, the fire inside her burning higher and higher, until she was afraid to let go, certain that her body couldn't take it, that she would faint in his arms.

Zevran sensed her hesitation and pushed her back on the floor so she was lying under him, her hair spread out around her face, her expression open and vulnerable. His breath caught in his throat as he looked down at her, then he carefully positioned himself between her legs again, found and held her gaze and began to move.

"Zevran, I can't..." she moaned, and he increased his tempo, not holding back any longer.

"Now, my sweet, now," he commanded, and he held her firmly, closely, watching her fall apart in his arms, her face flushed with pleasure, utterly helpless, completely undone. When he heard her cry out, he let go at last and followed her over the edge, consumed by the heat of her body against his. He lost himself for a moment and, in a blinding flash of clarity, knew this was where he belonged, this was where he needed to be, this was what he wanted. Nothing more, nothing less. Only her.

Afterwards he held her tight and felt her drift away to sleep, exhausted and happy. "We have all the time in the world, my sweet," he whispered against her hair. "All the time in the world, just for love."

Thank you to Zevgirl for beta reading and smoothing out all the little wrinkles - you're fabulous!