When Fenris was slowly opening his eyes, he was covered in warmth. His front was pressed to Sarahs back and filled by her body heat while he was lying curled around her, his arm wrapped around her waist and his face in her hair. At the same time the sun was falling through the opened window, directly on his bare back, and the air stroking over his skin was warm and pleasant.

He immediately jumped up, whirled around and closed the window with a hard blow of his hand.

When he turned back, a naked Sarah was crouching next to the bed on the floor, a small dagger in her hand and ready to charge. Her eyes were still a bit sleepy, but focussed enough to kill everyone who might threaten her. The sight of her, this warrior who had allowed him to come back into her bed, filled him with wonder, proud and desire.

Her eyes moved downstairs his body. She rose an eyebrow and got up slowly, looking into his eyes again. "Are you turned on by closing a window?" she asked.

He chuckled. "Hardly. I am turned on by the fact that you are reacting so quickly and adequatly to the situation."

Now a second dark eyebrow was raising, and she pointed into the direction of the now closed window. "Will you explain me what that was all about, Fenris?"

"You tell me", was all he answered and waited for her reaction.

At first she seemed annoyed and narrowed her eyes, but then a pensive look appeared on her face which was soon replaced by understanding. "Of course... an open window in your back makes you vulnerable, especially in a situation like last night when your were... distracted." Her eyes met his' and sparkled mischieveously, but were becoming serious again. "I am sorry. Next time I will think about it before opening the window at night."

Next time... It felt strange and good at the same time to her these words coming over her lips. Carefully he listened inside of himself, searching for any signs of panic or shame or returning memories chasing him. But there was nothing than satisfaction and the same feeling of belonging he had sensed yesterday.

"You are not going to make me a declaration of love now, Grumpy, are you?"

Looking back at Sarah again, he could see that she was only partly teasing him. Deep inside of her eyes there was also a tense expression, ad he could not blame her. The last time they had woken up next to each other, he had left her.

Slowly appoaching her, Fenris simply held her gaze, hoping that she would understand what he could not speak out load.

She started to smile and moved backwards, holding his gaze and licking over her lips. Heat started to boil in his body, the same heat he could see rising in her eyes.

"Still hungry?" she asked, sounding husky.

"Looks I am not he only one who is hungry", was all he answered. Then he charged, quickly and unexpectedly, even for her, whirled her around and pressed her with her front against the door, taking care that she wasn't hurt, but hard enough that she flinched and hissed in anger.

"Do you want to annoy me?"

"No", he whispered at her ear and licked over it. "I want to please you..."

A shudder ran down her spine, while at the same time she was pressing her butt against his crotch and moved it invitingly. He immediately became hard as stone and let her feel it. Then he started licking from her ear over her neck to her shoulderblades... and froze.

"Are these... wings?" The words escaped his lips although the small tattoo - and its form - was clearly visible between her shoulderblades.

She froze as well, and if he had not known better, he would have sworn that her skin became a bit rosier all over her body. "Well.. yes." She sounded stubborn.

Slowly he was stroking over the tattoo and gave her a bit of space, allowing her to move. "Is there a story to them?" He would not force her, but he was dying to understand how a woman like Hawke could have a wing tattoo on her back.

"I got them in Ostagar", she said after a short moment and looked at him over her shoulder. "Carver received his hound, and I... well, I lost a wager and he was allowed to choose the motive. I guess I can be thankful that he did not choose anything else..."

He sensed the memories she was suddenly struggling with and slowly turned her to him, pulled her into the direction of the bed and gently asked her to lay down with him again, her back pressed to his chest, the way they had been waking up in the morning.

"He was such a loudmouth", she murmured. "Always wanted to be the first and the best. The only problem was: Me too." Fenris felt her smile even though he could not see it. "You know, all that is left of my family is covered in my skin. Carvers tattoo, the scars from the fight against the oger who killed him, the scars out of the Deep Roads which took Beth from me, the scars...", her voice skipped, "...that Quentin caused me." He waited for her to finish, but she stayed calm, and so did he.

When Sarah was turning around, he patiently waited for what would come. There was still sadness in her eyes, but also determination. "Thanks for bringing me back, Fenris", she said sternly and than, suddenly, started to smile challenging. "I promise, you will regret it many times."

"Will I?" he asked and allowed her to push him on his back and straddle him.

"Of yourse you will", she whispered while leaning down to him. "Now I cannot only drive you mad when we are in battle or freeing mages", she captured one of his nipples between her teeth and pulled carefully on it, "but also in bed..."

His hands grabbed her head, but he did not push her away. "Maybe I don't mind", he heard himself answer and immediatley corrected himself by adding: "At least not regarding the last part."

Chuckling, she let go off his nipple and looked at him again, starting to move her hot, wet core over his rigid hardness. "We will never stop fighting, will we?"

"No", he answered and let his fingers stroke between their bodies, finding her clit and brushing teasingly over it. Her eyes became half-lidded, and she bit on her lower lip. "Or is that what you want?"

Suddenly her lips where on his', in an unexpected, crushing and wild kiss he returned while he started to carress her more firmly. When they broke apart and gasped for air, she took his hardness in her hand and let it slide inside of her body, answering his question. "No. Never. But I like the thought of reconciling many, many times with you, from now on and forever..."