A/N: Last chapter! Gets a little steamy at the end. Just a warning. Thanks SO MUCH for reading!
Chapter 8
Cullen paced back and forth in front of Evelyn like a caged beast. The temperature had started to drop with the setting sun. His frustrated breaths escaped his nostrils in visible puffs. He gripped his quarterstaff with white knuckles. The gathered crowed around them was buzzing with a silent energy.
If she wanted a fight he would give it to her. If she secretly wanted him to knock her on her pretty little ass, he would. And he wasn't going to feel badly about it.
He narrowed his eyes at his opponent, trying to see a threat there and not the object of his love. She smiled at him and then licked her lips. He was finding that desire demons had nothing on his woman.
When Varric signaled the start of their match, she charged him just as the men had predicted. He was ready for it of course. He quickly turned to the side just managing to dodge her attack. He swung out with his staff and it landed flat against her back. She stumbled forward and he capitalized on the stumble by swatting her backside with his hand.
She let out a shocked little gasp. The crowd cried out as one, equally surprised, before they started laughing.
Evelyn recovered, facing him and they circled one another at a safe distance. "So that's how it's going to be then, Commander?" She asked him through a cocky grin. Too cocky for someone who had just gotten spanked in front of an audience.
"That's how it's going to be." He replied cooly. "You should know. You asked for this" This was all her doing. This is what she had driven him to. It was time she faced the consequences. From this point forward, he wouldn't be responsible for his actions. He lunged, trying to grab her but she slipped easily away.
"I have no idea what you mean?" She said innocently. " If you think..."
She tried to continue but Cullen lunged again, and this time he was able to shove at her staff with his own, knocking it upwards, leaving her midsection exposed. He swung his staff behind him with one arm and grabbed around her waist with his other. She still had her staff over her head when he pulled her close and said in a low rumble, "I don't want to hear another word out of you." Then closer and lower, "Until I make you call out my name."
She looked right at him, a mix of disbelief and intrigue in her lovely green eyes...just before she tried to bring her staff down on his head. He ducked away from her and their weapons met with a loud clap.
Foreplay done, they exchanged blows now, swift and hard by turns. He would drive her backwards only to have her slip away and land a strike against him. Two steps forward, one step back. The crowd's shouts grew louder and louder, spurring them on.
Cullen struck low, clipping her legs. She jumped and swung right at his face. He leaned back narrowly escaping, or so he thought. In the time it took him to blink and back away from her strike, she had somehow managed to twist around and come up behind him.
Her arm wrapped around his neck from behind. He almost laughed thinking she meant to try to wrestle him, who outweighed her by five stone, to the ground. He almost laughed. Until she made no move to bring him down. Instead, she moved in close. She rubbed her breasts against his back. She dragged herself up his body and blew a hot breath against his ear. "Still think you can take me down, Commander?"
It was Evelyn that laughed when he shuddered then tensed at the intimate contact. "You little..." He growled and dropped his weapon. He brought his hands up and managed to haul her over his head and throw her forward. She yelled out as she flew, flailing in the air. The crowd audibly inhaled and held their collective breath.
Evelyn landed on her back in the dirt and skidded backwards a few paces with the momentum. Cullen rushed forward and fell to his knees on top of her, straddling her chest. He pressed his hands against her shoulders, pinning her down to the ground.
A roar rose up around them. Cullen couldn't tell who in the crowd was cheering and who was bemoaning lost coin.
"Yield." He said. A demand, not a question.
She gave him another maddening smile, so wide it was as if she had taken the win. He recalled The Iron Bull's words. Perhaps she had won. She replied. "To you? Always."
People started pressing in around them, eager to offer congratulations and start celebrating the day. Cullen had no desire to celebrate with them. This might be the end of the match, but he wasn't yet done. He wasn't about to leave a battle half won.
He stood and reached down to pull Evelyn up to her feet. He leaned in so only she could hear him when he spoke. "Unless you want me to drag you away from here in front of all these people, you're going to do exactly as I say, understood? You have a lot to answer for after today, you little demon. And don't forget what I told you. I don't want to hear one word out of you except..."
"Yes, Cullen." She finished his sentence obediently.
"Good girl. Now you're going to shake my hand, and congratulate me so everyone can hear, then your going to beg off the celebrations, wish everyone well and retire to your quarters because you're just so exhausted."
She bit her lower lip and then tilted her head at him. He could tell she was questioning why he was dismissing her to her quarters and not his as was their usual habit, but to her credit, she didn't ask. She simply did what she was told.
When she had completed her appointed tasks, he watched her walk back into the keep. She looked over her shoulder at him once, but eventually disappeared inside. At which point he went to find Varric who was just finishing up closing out the wagers.
"I believe I'm owed some coin." Cullen said casually.
Varric raised an eyebrow at him as he dropped Cullen's winnings in his outstretched hand. "Don't you have somewhere better to be Curly?"
"In good time, Varric. Come. Drinks are on me." And he started walking towards the tavern.
Cullen bought the first round for everyone. He sat and shared an ale with his men. He exchanged a few stories with Varric. He did a shot of something that tasted like piss and fire with Bull and the Chargers and he enjoyed a glass of wine with Dorian.
When the moons were high in the sky, he decided it was time to get back to Evelyn. He walked slowly. Patience was not a quality she was familiar with. He was certain she expected him to follow immediately after her and join her in her bedroom, not drink the night away without her while she waited expectantly for him.
Served her right as far as he was concerned.
Interestingly, just as he was entering the main hall, Leliana was exiting it. He couldn't recall ever seeing her out and about on the grounds at this time of night. She typically used the quite hours either hard at work, writing missives to be sent out the next morning, or spent the time in meditation and prayer at the small alter she had set up for herself in the rookery.
"Sister." He greeted her as she passed.
"Commander." She returned the greeting.
Ever wary, Cullen questioned her. "Is everything alright? Is there something that you need?" It would be just his luck if there was some crisis that needed to be averted now of all times.
"Everything is fine, Commander. And thank you for the offer but I have a previous engagement. Besides, I believe your services have already been reserved." She flicked her eyes to the end of the hall where the door to Evelyn's room was, and then she left.
Though he still highly doubted it, he briefly considered following her to see if she did end up in Bull's bed, but he quickly thought better of it, not wanting to wake up tomorrow with a knife in his kidney.
When he finally ascended the stairs to Evelyn's room, he found the fire burned down to embers and the candles all snuffed out. She was in bed and if the calm and even rise and fall of her chest under the sheets was any indication, she was fast asleep.
Cullen smiled to himself. There would be no rest for the wicked.
He undressed quietly and moved to the bed. He slowly climbed in behind her where she lay on her side. When she stirred, he quickly wrapped one arm around her, so as to keep her facing forward and moved his other hand to cover her mouth.
She tensed for only a second before he pressed himself against her. She realized immediately it was him and relaxed back against his embrace, but emitted a muffled noise that sounded like a query against his hand.
"Uh uh uh." He admonished, whispering into her ear. "I believe you've talked enough today." He pressed his hand tighter into her face. "When I want you to use this, I'll let you know."
He felt her eager sigh against his palm. Not allowing their bodies to separate, he shifted them so that she faced downward then he pulled her up so she rose onto her hands and knees. She was, of course, already fully undressed and the thought of her waiting for him these past hours beautifully naked and unfulfilled had him twitching in anticipation.
"Stay just like this." He said and he removed his arm from her waist, but kept her mouth covered. He settled himself between her legs, pushing her knees apart with his own. He felt her breathing quicken. He ran his free hand down her spine and then back up again. He pulled her head back so she faced straight ahead and her neck arched elegantly. Her bottom was stuck up in the air, like a present just for him. Her hands gripped the sheets. Her hair spilled down onto her shoulders and moonlight from the windows spilled out onto her, illuminating pale skin and dark locks in an otherworldly light.
As much as he wanted to torture her after what she had put him through today, it was only going to be torture for him if he waited any longer to join with her. But at least he could make her work for it.
He took himself in hand and positioned himself just so. A moan rumbled in her throat when she felt the tip of him tease at her, but she said not a word. He spoke very clearly so she couldn't mistake his order.
"Push yourself back onto me and make yourself come."
He felt her breath hitch. She only hesitated a moment, however, before she inhaled deeply, as much as she could with her mouth still covered, and then slowly sunk herself onto him.
His head fell back and he swallowed a moan when she slipped over him completely. He questioned the wisdom of letting her control their rhythm when she started bouncing against him. He might not last very long at this rate.
He struggled to remain still, allowing her to follow his command as she used what he was giving her to find her release. She was panting heavily against his hand now and he was fast approaching the end of his tolerance. He thanked the Maker when she let out a long whine and he felt her clench around him as she continued to pump herself frantically against him.
Finally he released his hand from her mouth and without needing to be told she screamed out his name as she came. That was more than enough to send him over the edge as well and he let go, moving both of his hands to her hips and clenching tightly as he fell.
And then he did actually fall, right on top of her, still nestled inside, too exhausted to roll over.
She laughed, breathless. She twisted out from under him, their bodies both sweat slicked and satisfied. "May I speak now?"
"No." He mumbled gruffly. "Go to sleep." But then he turned towards her and kissed her, gently, tenderly, passionately. It was everything he needed and all he had wanted all day.
When he pulled away and she looked back at him, beautiful, wide eyed and happy, it was the first time today he actually felt like he had won.
