I do not own Dragon Age and make no profit from this work.

Chapter Three

One week with no classes, chores, or interaction with others - that was the traditional first week of the Match. They deliver food to the room three times a day along with vials of fertility enhancing potions. The Match partners have a bathing chamber and a bedroom. Their only purpose is to conceive a child.

"Have you been with a man before?" Anders asked, lounging on the bed once more. He patted the space beside him and she timidly sat, both of them still clothed in only their undergarments. After a moment Addien nodded. "Good, at least I won't be tasked with being your first then. Come closer, I'm not going to bite. Well, not unless you want me to."

Anders chucked but stopped when Addien stayed silent, sitting with her back to him. She mumbled something, but Anders couldn't quite hear.

"What was that?"

"Just make it quick. . . please," she repeated.

Anders grabbed her arm and pulled her to lay back on the bed, pulling her head into his lap. She yelped at the movement, but did not fight him. "I can make it enjoyable," he proposed. "We're stuck together, so might as well make the best of it."

"I'm sorry," she whispered.

"For what?" he asked, drawing circles on her arms with his fingertips.

"For being the one you're. . . stuck with," she mumbled.

Anders sighed. "You're not unattractive. A little chubby, but curves are good. And probably inexperienced. But you can learn."

"How could you want someone who has been plucked?" She looked up at him and the honesty in his eyes broke his heart.

"It was a templar wasn't it? Your first?" Anders brushed stray hairs from her face with the back of his knuckles. She just nodded. "You mustn't listen to them. Many have been corrupted and only with to use mages to sate themselves. You're not repulsive or damaged or useless or anything else they've put in your pretty little head."

"You think I'm pretty?" Her eyes had gone wide and her cheeks flushed.

Anders sighed. "Yes, of course. I'm sorry I yelled at you earlier. I can't stand what they put us all through. It's inhumane. Least they could do is let us get to know eachother before forcing us to do this." Addien giggled lightly. "Ah, there you are. I think that's the first time I've seen you smile."

"Tell me more about what it's like outside," Addien begged.

Anders smiled and pet her head, still cradled in his lap. "My favorite thing has to be the way it smells after it rains. It's so clean, even though there's so much mud and muck, and everything is wet. But the air itself feels cleansed. The air here is just so suffocating."

"Have you been to the greenroom?" Addien asked suddenly. "It's where much of the vegetation we consume and herbs we use grow. They have little tracks in the ceiling and they push water through to simulate rain. I know it's not the same, but I understand that feeling, the air feeling cleansed."

"I haven't been. We'll have to pay a visit."

"We?" that slight smile played on her lips again.

Anders nodded. "We're. . . going to be spending a lot of time together. It would be best if we at least enjoyed eachothers company."

"Are you going to try to leave again?"

Anders froze. "I. . .can't say. Freedom calls to me, even though I know I'll end up right back here. Even if I just spend a few days outside, it's worth it."

"If you turn apostate. . . " Addien drifted off.

"Hmm?"

"What will happen to me?" she asked timidly. "Will I be given to the templars?"

Anders shifted. "I don't know. I. . . if I go. . . do you know how to swim?" Addien shook her head. "I thought so. You could leave too, if you knew how."

Addien pressed her finger to her lips. 'What if they're listening?' she mouthed.

Anders chucked. "I won't get you into any more trouble. We should begin this 'semen transfer' thing soon though, lest we are interrupted again." She tensed. "I'll make it enjoyable for you, it's alright. But we really don't want company."

"I'm not sure what to do," she admitted.

Anders pulled her from his lap and held her to his chest. Once she was curved into the space between his arm and chest, he pulled the leather band from her long dark braid and began to unravel the length. "So, what have you done?" he asked casually.

"Done?"

"Sexually. You've been with a man."

"I. . . it was painful. And quick. I really-" she choked out.

"It will be better this time, alright? I'll make sure of it," Anders said, tangling his fingers into her hair at the base of her neck. He grasped her hand and placed it on the side of his face and she ran her fingers over the silky strands.

Her eyes were still wide with fear and her hands moved with hesitation. Anders pulled her face closer and hovered over her lips. "It won't be so bad. You're in good hands." He pressed his lips to hers and she gasped into his mouth. He chucked and pulled back to kiss her cheek. He pressed her to lay her head on the pillows and bent to kiss her lips again. He used all the tenderness he could muster. This wasn't a quickie in a supply closet. He had time to get her to warm up to him and intended to make the most of it.

"If I hurt you or do something you don't like, say something," he whispered against her lips. She nodded and he straddled her thighs and leaned to kiss her again, keeping one hand buried in her hair while he leaned his weight on his elbow next to her shoulder and the other trailed down her neck. Addien whimpered and he grinned against her lips.

He ran his tongue over her lips and she gasped, but he continued to coax her mouth open. He caressed her moist muscle with his own and soon she was timidly mimicking the movements. He pulled away to admire her flushed face. He gave her a smile, she returned it.

"See, not so bad," he whispered, dipping to trail light kisses along her jawline. She giggled and squirmed underneath him. He continued his assault on her face, pressing his lips to her forehead and brow, down her nose and across her cheeks, around her mouth and down to her chin. By the end of it, she was a giggling mess beneath him.

Anders pressed his fingers at her sides, tickling her until she squirmed. "Anders! Stop!" she choked out between giggles. Her legs thrashed and she laughed loudly and openly for the first time he had ever seen. "Stoooooop," she protested, batting away his arms. She snorted through her laughter and he caught her by the wrists and pressed them beside her head.

He swept down and kissed kissed her firmly, darting his tongue out to seek hers. He kept a firm hold on her wrists, pressing his hard body against her soft form. She whimpered and he continued, moaning into her mouth as she became less tense, more pliable beneath him. He slid his hands down her arms, moving in a way to keep as much skin to skin contact as possible, then back up, caressing her forearms, kneading the flesh lightly as he moved.

He kissed down the corner of her lips, down her neck. He found a sensitive spot behind her ear, causing her to writhe against him. He pressed himself tightly against her, allowing her to feel his hardened length press against her stomach. She gasped, and Anders wasn't sure if it was from his tongue trailing over that sensitive spot or from his erection pressing against her.

"Mmm . . . Addien. . ." he moaned into her neck. He ground his hips against hers and he groaned, nipping and sucking at that sensitive spot near her ear.

"Just get it over with," she pleaded, turning her head to lay limply on the mattress.

The progress he had been making slipped away. "Is it that unenjoyable?" he asked, pulling himself up to look at her. He released his grip on her wrists and tilted her head lightly to look at him. Her eyes were closed tightly and he leaned down to kiss the lids, feeling her dark lashes flutter lightly against his face. "I want you to enjoy this. What am I doing wrong? I'll try something different."

"So you make me feel good now just for it to hurt later?" she cried out.

"Hurt?" he asked stunned. ,"I'm not going to hurt you. Not purposely anyways."

"Sex. . . hurts. I. . . just get it over with."

"Oh, sweetie. Sweetheart no," he kissed her forehead. Her only experiences must have been violent. Anger raged with him. She was so young and already tainted at the hands of those monsters. It wasn't fair. "It's not going hurt. I won't hurt you. I promise." He kissed her cheek, trailing the path of her tears.

"Sweetheart, I'll make it good. I told you that. Have I hurt you yet?" She shook her head. "See? Trust me." He threaded his fingers through her hair, cupping the side of her head in his palm.

Anders leaned down to kiss her again and she whimpered when his lips trailed down to the edge of her breast band. "Have you been touched here before?" She nodded. "Did it hurt?" She froze. "It's alright, sweetheart. I'll make it better. Dr. Anders is here to take care of you."

Addien squirmed slightly but didn't stop him when he cupped her through the fabric of the band. He kneaded lightly, watching her face for a reaction. "See?" he whispered. "That isn't bad. No pain. Are you comfortable?"

She hesitated before nodding. "Can I remove this?" he asked, fingers coasting over the knot holding the band to her. She looked up at him and took a deep breath before nodding again. He made quick work of the knot, exposing the small swell of her breasts. Much like the rest of her, they were pale with just a slight, doughy, malleable curve. Her areolas were pale pink and lovely against her ivory skin. He kissed the top of each before cupping both and running his thumbs over the hardened peaks.

Addien's back arched against him and that flush decorated her cheeks again. "You're lovely," he whispered before taking one of her peaks between his lips.