"No, you don't get to just slink through and hide in your room." Leliana placed a cup of tea on the table for Zevran the moment he walked in. "So you spent the night with her two nights in a row! That's too cute, sit."

"It wasn't planned, it just worked out that way." Zevran sat and sighed. It was good to be home. It would be good to have a moment to himself so he could draw.

"Adorable." Anders shook his head and sipped his tea. "Did you get chinese food or pizza? What movie did you watch?"

"We watched an anime she likes called Sword Art Online, it was cool. And we had Chinese because we couldn't find anyone that delivers tacos. Nyla and her tacos. It seems to be all she ever wants."

"A woman after your own heart." Leliana chuckled. "Tell us everything."

"We had tacos for breakfast-"

"Your favorite." Anders interjected.

"Yes, but sometimes I want to eat other things. She, however, does not. Afterward, we went to her place and the woman owns nothing. It's a nice place, with high ceilings and nice lighting, I do not know how a waitress could afford such a thing. And it is empty. No art on her walls, no furniture. She has an oversized beanbag chair to fit three, and a bed. That's it. It's kind of depressing."

"But she has a maine coon. Maine coons are family oriented. Very loyal. Great therapy cats. And so fluffy." Anders sighed happily. "What a good choice. I want one."

"I'm allergic. I'm sorry." Leliana sighed, shaking her head. "I would love for you to-"

"No no… it's okay... I wasn't saying… I'm totally fine not owning a cat, we already discussed this."

Zevran smiled. "Cat likes me a lot, always following me around, always sitting on me."

"Yes, this is very good." Leliana nodded.

"Very good." Anders agreed enthusiastically.

"There was a lot of talking. Cuddling. We dance well together. She can salsa exquisitely."

"Ohhhh my god they salsa danced together!" Leliana laughed, looking at Anders.

"Yes, I told you!" Anders cackled and held out his hand. Leliana pulled a five dollar bill out her bra and handed it to him.

Zevran chuckled. "You're both insane. Zevran has insane roommates."

"Where is she now?" Anders ignored the comment, because it rang true to him.

"Working a double shift. She works hard."

"Send her flowers with a card that says you had a wonderful time. Only say it the way you would say it. Make it romantic. She's definitely a romantic. Don't you think, Anders?"

"Oh yes. Waiting on love for sex. Definitely a romantic." Anders nodded and Leliana opened her phone to look up flower delivery. "Oh shit, is she a virgin?"

"No, she was engaged at one point. He passed two years ago."

Anders gasped, and covered his mouth.

"That's so sad." Leliana looked up at him and her eyes went wide and teary.

"I shouldn't tell you her business."

"We won't tell her we know." Anders promised.

Zevran sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "I'm not asking for you to lie to her."

"Awww!" Anders shook his head. "So sweet."

"We just won't bring it up then." Leliana added. "Okay now, make sure there's distance for a few days, so you can just have space after two full days together. It will be good for you. Also, text her maybe tomorrow or something. You can just ask how she's doing, let her know you're thinking of her."

"That is helpful. I was wondering about this. I always think of things I wish to say and don't text her because I do not want to overwhelm her." Zevran leaned on his palm thoughtfully. "This reminds me… I got a text from a fuck buddy while I was at Nyla's house. I told fuck buddy I was seeing someone, and she laughed at me, said 'good luck to her.' It was… painful. I cannot fathom why she would say something so harsh."

"Because you're known as the guy that fucks and doesn't date. People have an expectation that you can't do much else, I imagine." Anders shrugged.

"But do I seem like someone who has no restraint? I have never been offered romance before. Why would one assume that anyone I romance is in danger?"

Anders squeezed his arm reassuringly, "They don't know you. We know better."

"Do you, though? Leli advised me not to bang anyone during this time in my wooing Nyla. As if I couldn't help myself. As if I would try to woo someone at all, if my eyes would keep wandering."

"Awww damnit, that's adorable." Anders sighed.

Leliana looked at him with wide eyes, "Oh, no! It swear it wasn't personal! That's actually a common grey area. Some people say, 'I'll sneak in one final fling before we declare this a bonafide relationship' when it damn well is. It's just not yet spoken." Leliana fumed. "It ruins relationships when you think 'oh this is going so great, she might be the one.' Then you find out she was hooking up with her horrid bitch ex girlfriend… Look, I just wanted to protect you both from something so avoidable."

"Romantic Leli got hurt by this once." Zevran gave her a sympathetic smile, "I'm sorry."

"It's fine. At least I found out before I married the asshole." Leliana placed her phone down on the table with a loud thunk, "I texted you a link for flower delivery."

"You know what, Leli? I could go for a latte, let's go for a walk so Zevran can go draw his Sketchbook Girl."

"Can I help you with something?" Nyla asked the man with a bouquet of colorful wildflowers in a tall, narrow, cylindrical, glass vase.

"Flowers for Nyla?" The man spoke nervously. "There's no last name."

"I'm the only Nyla here, and possibly in the entire city." She sighed, and her face felt hot. Zevran doesn't know my last name.

"Oh good. That was easy." He chuckled, "Have a good one!"

Nyla stood there for a moment staring after him, trying to process what the fuck just happened. Of course she knew who they were from but… it was too sweet. Way too sweet. Nyla loved flowers; they were beautiful, smelled so sweet and fresh, so much color, big orange tiger lilies, little white daisies, sprays of lavender-

"How romantic." Cassandra sighed dreamily. "What does the card say?"

"It says mind your own business." Nyla opened it.

I had a wonderful time with you, my Waitress. Actual salsa music, next time?

Nyla smiled and rolled her eyes, slipping the note in her pocket. "Too god damn sweet, Cass."

"Is that from the blonde that warranted a public tit adjust?"

"Oh my god… must you bring that up all the time?"

"It is, isn't it? Are you dating now? Flowers. You're dating him aren't you?" Cassandra was far too excited.

"I suppose. I mean, have you seen him? He could be dating... everybody. Jesus, the man is too hot."

"Nyla…" Cassandra rolled her eyes, "He sent you an eighty dollar bouquet. You should take him seriously. He's making a statement."

"I don't know. I mean, look at him. I don't want to have to compete for his attention." Running her hand over her hair she started to feel frustrated. "Look. He's. Too. Hot, Cassandra." She sighed, beginning to feel warm all over just thinking about his shirtless form. "I mean... God dammit."

"Think about this. I think he is an attractive man, definitely, but, he's not as hot as you say."

"Oh bullshit." Nyla looked at her as if she were insane. "He is the very definition of sexy. Hot. Handsome… the whole spectrum of words I could think of to describe an attractive person."

"Yes, calm down before you flood the place." Cassandra chuckled and sighed, "The point I am making here, is the possibility that you are exceptionally attracted to him. You're freaking yourself out."

"You think so? That kind of makes sense." Heart fluttering in her chest, she began to replay last night in her head. Dancing, masturbating, cuddling... duh, Nyla. It has to be mutual. "You are rotten and wonderful, Cass." Nyla smiled, put the flowers on an unoccupied table. The bell had rung, her orders were ready. "A horrible, amazing, bitch."

Zevran sighed and changed into warm sweatpants and a sweatshirt. When he sat down to draw, he was so overwhelmed with visions he couldn't even begin. Nyla had gone from muse, to turbo-muse, and he could not even.

So he started from the beginning.

The look on her face when she walked into his tattoo parlor, surprised, a warm smile. Tank top, that skirt, long long legs. A little handbag hanging over her elbow, little black book of love and desire tucked under her arm. Black tennis shoes, white ankle socks. She looked happy to see him, and he wondered if he had been stuck in her thoughts as much as she had been stuck in his. One could dream. He smiled at the thought, imagining her with her little black book of love and desire. Perhaps she found herself inspired as well? One could dream.

He loved this drawing of her, it may be his new favorite, and he wrote on it in his fanciest cursive, a reminder of how it felt to draw her in that moment; hopeful that she could be as crazy about him as he was about her. One could dream.

The way she blushed pink in his tattoo chair after kissing him. The look of complete and utter dismay over what she had done, and she laughed with him. It was such a good kiss, he thought, brushing his fingers along his lips briefly in remembrance of it. She was so nervous, so damned cute , her arms folded across her chest, pressing her ample bosom together. Zevran was glad to see her without her makeup, preferred her without it. Something about it struck him, seeing her so… bare, and relaxed. He stared at the picture for a long time before writing on it; It was such a good kiss.

Zevran thought of the moment he saw a flash of dark blue panties, and wasn't quite feeling it. The moment was cute and sexy, but it paled in comparison to so many other beautiful moments that needed to be drawn. So many. Too many. He plugged in his iphone and turned on her Sanctuary song. This song moved him, it calmed him, it spoke to him, and he drew her with a mouth full of egg and bacon taco. Mouth closed and cheeks full, smiling slyly after she slid down her chair; a game of chicken that he lost. He chuckled, reliving the moment. She would have stopped… he smiled as he drew that lock of bothersome hair that kept inhibiting his view of her right eye. What was it she said? He scrawled in fine print next to her, I would rather have a happy and sexually charged breakfast with you, if you don't mind. It was, and he didn't mind at all.

That look in her eye as she shimmied her shoulders as they danced. Head held high, elegant, radiant, happy, in her element. She loves dancing. Elegant arms, shoulders, bosom. So. Much. Bosom. She smiled wide, when she was only moments before near tears. Zevran loved that he could bring her happiness so effectively, so quickly. She was so… available and willing… She loves dancing.

Oh, that moment. The moment after he exited her bathroom, smelling of her soap and sated after pleasuring himself to visions of her. The way her arms reached toward him, her cheeks flushed from her own exertions… His Nyla, pleasuring herself to the subtle sounds of Zevran pleasuring himself. Post-coital cuddling without the coitus. He smiled at the memory of sinking down with her in this bliss. Limbs tangling and lips needy and sweet. He loved the way she beckoned him, so sweet, so welcoming, so warm in her arms. Mi amore… he scrawled across the top of the page, and he dropped his book. He should erase that. Fuck, he should unwrite that… fuck… I wasn't thinking… I just wrote the first thing that came to mind… fuck that's worse… fuck!

Zevran's phone made a sound.

Zevran?

Oh shit it was her. She texted him, his heart leaped, "Shit. Shit. Shit."

Nyla?

Cousland. Thank you for the flowers. I love flowers. They're beautiful.

Not as beautiful as you, Nyla Cousland.

I am reading that in your voice, and I'm getting aroused.

A theme with us, no?

Yes, tease.

I'm the tease, now? Prancing around in tiny outfits with long legs to heaven.

I wouldn't put it past you.

Nyla! Good call. Dinner Friday?

Friday is perfect.

Dress nice?

How nice?

Fancy nice.

Oh god.
Okay.
I can do that.

Nyla. :)

Zevran :)

Goodnight

Nyla smiled and felt relaxed after just a little bit of contact with him. It was soothing, and she crawled into bed happily with her sore feet and calves after her double shift. Though, her bed still had an empty feeling that pissed her off and made her toss and turn.

Dammit he was here for ONE NIGHT and he's ruined my bed. I need a couch now so he can sit somewhere comfortably. I need a damn table to put my flowers on. This guy, is causing me furniture. I need new shoes. He's causing me shoes, too. UGH!

She drifted off to sleep, imagining what to wear on Friday; her dreams were fantastic.

"Mmm. Hey," she whispered, her back pressed snug against his chest, his arm beneath her neck.

"Hey." Zevran whispered back, pressing gentle kisses on her shoulder, along her neck, nibbling her ear. "Te quiero, Nyla."

Nyla smiled with an appreciative moan, his hand wandering along her arm, his breath on her ear, erection pressed against her ass. "Oh my god," she sighed.

"Eres mía," he purred, his hand dragging roughly along her thigh, stopping at her knee to draw a lazy line up her inner thigh with his fingertips. "Quiero saborearte."

"Fuck…" Nyla's hips moved of their own accord as his hand stopped short of touching her heat. With a breathy whisper, she encouraged him, "I want you to touch me."

"Si el agua fuera belleza tú serías el mar entero." Zevran held her close, kissed all over her neck and shoulder as he teased her, touching her softly everywhere but where she craved his touch most.

"Tease…" Nyla sighed. Her back arched and she reached back with an arm to feel the smooth skin of his thigh beneath her palm. Her breath caught in her throat when his fingers trailed down her abdomen, fingers barely brushing her folds. Her belly fluttered-

"Oh my god." Nyla woke, panting, trembling from the orgasm that snuck up on her. "Oh my shit. I don't even speak Spanish."