Lavellan's bright eyes studied him closely as Cullen fought to find the right words to say. He was rusty at this sort of thing and even so he rarely had the chance to pursue a relationship in a decade. And this was much more complicated.

"Inquisitor, I..." Before he could continue Lavellan released her grasp on his hand and laid a finger on his lip, effectively silencing him.

"Cullen, the Inquisition is done and I am no longer your superior. You don't need to call me by that title anymore." She gave him a sly smile, no longer forced like the previous one. "And if you try to call me by my clan name then I might have to smack you."

A hearty laugh emanated from Cullen. The atmosphere between them changed so suddenly, he welcomed it.

"Then...Ari." He whispered, his tone dipped low with a passion he didn't know he possessed. Calling her so casually was a small thing but it felt like another barrier was broken. And it made him wanting much more. It was clear that Lavellan picked up on his thoughts when her eyes widened slightly and her cheeks turned a light pink. Cullen noticed the pointed tips of her ears were even redder, it was cute.

"Before you say anything more, I need to tell you something." She spoke up, determined to get out whatever she was thinking at the moment. Cullen felt his insides clench up and braced himself. He always expected the worst, maybe she already knew his feelings and was about to shut him down. He gave a silent prayer that he was wrong. "Cullen...I care for you! And I..uh..." She looked down at her blanket.

Cullen's stomach leapt as all his insecurities vanished. "What's wrong?" He hesitantly asked.

Lavellan brought her gaze back up to his and inched closer. It took all of Cullen's willpower to not reach out and touch her, he wanted to so badly.

"I don't want you to think that I'm using you to replace Solas." Her brows furrowed with worry. "I didn't think it was possible. To feel like this again, but this past year...I thought about you a lot."

Unable to hold back anymore Cullen closed the remaining distance between them and took her lips with his. Lavellan's surprised gasp was lost into his mouth. The kiss started chaste and light, but Cullen wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her closer to him. She responded in kind by intertwining her slender fingers in his hair and sought out his tongue with her own. It felt like a fire was ignited in the pit of Cullen's stomach that excited him, this was something he wanted for so long. He would have mistaken everything for a dream if the elf he held in his arms wasn't so warm.

It felt like hours had passed when they finally broke apart, both in dire need for air. Somehow while they explored each other Lavellan had ditched her blanket and settled into Cullen's lap. The thin material of her tunic did nothing to hide the feeling of her breasts pressed against his chest. Each breath she took made the crotch of his pants seem a little tighter.

"I've never kissed a human before." She tilted her head and traced his jawline with her fingertips. "Your stubble tickles."

Cullen chuckled, "I hope it doesn't bother you." He leaned forward and pressed a brief kiss to her already wet lips. She let out a sigh when he pulled away again.

"Lay with me, Cullen." She whispered into his ear, her voice thick with lust. A lump caught in the warrior's throat, he was not expecting that.

"Are you sure? It won't be too fast for you?" He asked. She only looked up at him with her brilliant eyes and smiled. That was all the permission he needed.

Cullen kissed her again, just as deep as the first one but slower. He wanted to take his time with her, to enjoy every part that he can. He noticed she tasted just like honey tea mixed with something sweeter. He simply couldn't get enough of it. Finally he released her lips and trailed kisses from the scar on her cheek to her collarbone. Lavellan softly gasped whenever he reached a sensitive spot on her neck, so he lingered there enough to draw out a moan.

"Cullen." She whimpered as she grabbed the front lacing of his tunic. With a firm yank the fabric fell free, revealing the defined muscles underneath. She left burning paths of fire as she ran her fingers over his skin. She touched him just barely, teasing him into a frenzy that resulted in him nipping at her collarbone. Before Cullen could explore more, she rose from his lap to strip her clothes off. He didn't take his eyes off her as she did so and he even admired how easily she did it with one hand. His admiration went somewhere else entirely when she removed the last undergarment.

"Maker, you're beautiful." He said. And indeed she was. The shadows from the fire danced on her pale skin, beckoning to him. Her small smile as she looked into his eyes lit his loins ablaze. Lavellan offered her hand to him and he took it, but instead of pulling her back down to the floor he stood and effortlessly scooped her up into his arms. Cullen laid her down upon the bed and then rid himself of his last remaining clothing, a wave of relief overcame him when his throbbing erection sprang free from the confines of his breeches. He turned to see Lavellan watching him from the bed, an excitable expression worn on her face. "Something to say?" Cullen asked in fake mockery. "You're starting so intently."

Lavellan giggled, actually giggled! Cullen never expected to hear that coming from her. "Just appreciating the view." She grinned, her eyes glinting mischievously. Cullen chuckled and walked back over to the bed. He pulled back the blanket and crawled in to hover over her. It was even warmer in the bed than out in front of the fire. Something they were both happy about now they were undressed. The Inquisitor reached up to Cullen as he settled in between her thighs, pulling him down for another kiss. His hands mapped her body as their mouthes met, from her shoulders to her waist, and then to her breasts. She gasped and pulled out of the kiss when he circled his thumb around her nipple. And he responded by dipping down and taking one into his mouth. Lavellan's breath was coming in quicker pants now and even Cullen was about to reach the end of his patience.

"Cullen, please." She moaned and grabbed at his back. Happy to grant her wish he entered her warm core. He pushed in tantalizingly slow, enough that she would adapt to his girth. It took everything he had to not lose himself right there, she felt too good. Once he was fully engulfed by her warmth he leaned in and took her mouth again, his tongue seeking for hers. Her reactions to him drove him even wilder, the small whimpers of pleasure and the way she looked up at him. Cullen couldn't hold back anymore. His thrusts started slow but quickly he picked up the pace. Lavellan rolled her head back and gasped every time he reached her deepest parts. He kissed every part of her that could be reached and especially focused on the tender spot of her neck. Suddenly she shuddered and let out the most delectable moan, her legs lifted to wrap around Cullen's waist as her inner walls squeezed around him. He reached his limit when she hit her release, after the last few hard thrusts Cullen buried himself into her as much as he could and spilled his hot seed into her center.

~0~

The storm lasted so long into the night that it seemed like morning would never arrive to break it. Cullen flinched awake when a ray of sunlight snuck through the window and hit him in the face. With a groan he rolled over in the comfortable bed, hoping to get another hour of sleep. It wasn't until he realized that he was alone that he became fully aware. He jolted up and rapidly turned his head to scan the surroundings. The cabin was eerily quiet now with the fireplace filled with nothing but embers. His armor and weapons were still were he left them last, along with his clothes. Cullen looked down to see his mabari companion still snoring away in the corner. The only thing missing...

"Ari?" Cullen jumped from the bed and grabbed his pants. Countless worries and thoughts swarmed in his mind. Did she leave? Did she regret what happened last night? Where?

He tied the last lace on his breeches and threw open the door to the outside. "Ari!?" He bellowed.

The elf jumped from her spot on the riverbank where she had been cleaning her daggers.

"Cullen!? What is it?" Lavellan stared at him wide-eyed and surprised. Cullen breathed a deep sigh of relief and rubbed the tension in his neck, an old habit he had yet to get rid of.

"Forgive me, I thought..." He wasn't sure how to explain his actions. Lavellan straightened and walked over to him to take his hand.

"That I ran?" She asked. She was always good at knowing what he was thinking.

"Yes." Cullen said, he leaned in and touched his forehead to hers. She smiled warmly.

"I will never leave you, Vhenan."

(Thank you so much for reading! There's an Epilogue on the way in the next day or two, so feel free to stick around.)