***3 Weeks Later: Planasene Forest***

Sun barely risen, Zevran woke, and there was no naked Warden in his arms. With a sleepy sigh and satisfying stretch, he decided this was unacceptable. Slipping on his breeches, he went to find her; if she wasn't in camp, there was only one other place she would be.

Soft grass underfoot, he padded toward the lake with the intent to sneak up on her and see what opportunities presented themselves. He smiled, remembering when he snuck up on Nyla last week: the world a blur as she strategically grabbed him from behind her, rolled him across her back, throwing him over her shoulder and into the lake. It was sexy.

Perhaps he would find her fishing again. Losing arrow after arrow in the lake floor with a frustrated huff; it was not as if she could go after them. Nyla, mi amore, if you cannot manage to go after the arrow, how were you going to retrieve the fish? Zevran quickened his pace and chuckled at what he must look like; a smiling, shirtless, shoeless elf prancing through the forest. He would have felt better about it if there were someone around for him to shrug at nonchalantly.

He stopped short with a gasp. His Warden was waist deep in water, her back to him, watching the sun rise over the trees. She was naked in the lake, alone, and he could not imagine what effort she had put forth to get that far from the waterline by herself. Fair skin subtly darkened from consistent sunbathing, lively, animated, she was his, and more beautiful than he had ever seen her.

Dreamy, was the word that came up as he watched her turn and glide palms over the surface of the water to watch it ripple. Zevran imagined his Warden's heart was racing beneath her peaceful exterior. The rippling is what scared her the most! Apart from splashing. 'Because the water hits me' was her reasoning, and it left him more confused than before he had begun his inquiry.

Folding his arms across his chest, he leaned against a tree just to watch and wait, he could not imagine startling her in this beautiful moment. With cupped hands she wet her arms, very slowly and with care. She did the same again, wetting her breasts and he bit his lip, face feeling hot, arousal stirring. Wet hands gliding along her neck, across her throat, down her arm again, caressing the underside of her breasts with head tossed back, so erotic, sensual... Does she know I'm watching her?

"Hola, mi amore." Nyla purred as her dark eyes flicked up to him. "¿Me sigues?" Join me?

All he could manage was to blush and smirk as she beckoned him with a graceful gesture of her hand. Zevran approached the water and felt content in simply watching her, admiring her bravery, the sultry smile she was wearing just for him, and her bosom. She rested her hands on her hips and grinned; Zevran responded in turn with a chuckle. Te amo.

"Something touched my leg!" Nyla looked around in a panic and flopped over with a splash and a startled squeal. Zevran couldn't help laughing. "Maker's… fucking… shit, Zevran!" She stumbled her way toward him, slipping on stones. "How is this funny?!"

"Behind you!" He pointed, managing to withhold laughter long enough to speak.

"Bullshit!" Nyla shrieked in disbelief, but she still scrambled faster.

By the time she made it out of the water, Zevran was sitting on the ground, guffawing and holding his sides. Despite herself, Nyla chuckled between startled curses; his laughter was contagious.

"You are an asshole!" She panted, sitting on the grass next to him, watching him lay on his back and struggle for breath through subsiding laughter.

"You ruined our sexy moment!" Pointing a finger, he held back laughter at seeing her lips pursed with repressed laughter.

"A fish of undetermined size ruined our sexy moment!" She flicked her fingers at him, little droplets of water landing on his cheeks. "And my ass hurts."

"Is this from last night or-"

"Maker's breath!" She laughed heartily, snorted loudly, and covered her heated face with her hands. "Such cruelty, mi amore!"

"Cruelty? Those were not tortured sounds you made." With a chuckle, he pinched her side and she swatted his hand playfully. "Te amo, Nyla."

"Mm? What was that? I couldn't hear you over how utterly embarrassed I am."

"Te amo, Nyla. Zevran will stop teasing you now."

"You won't. It will come up again, and again, and again." She smirked, and slung a long leg around his waist to straddle him.

"Nyla…" he sighed in mock annoyance. "Always getting wet and climbing on top of me."

"You're relentless." Nyla looked down at him while lazily tracing the tattoos down his chest. His smile was peaceful, happy, and his eyes were on hers, gazing at her in unadulterated adoration. She was naked and on top of him, and this was not the usual reaction. "Something on your mind, love?"

"Mmhm." Zevran reached into his pocket, Nyla accommodating his reach by moving her leg out of the way. "Here… it seems an appropriate moment to give you this."

"I may know what it is, given I am naked and on top of you," Nyla jested with a smirk. A glimmer of gold between his thumb and forefinger, she looked at him sideways, then to his ear, and caught on. "I have never seen you without it. I thought something was different."

"I acquired it on my very first job for the Crows. A Rivaini merchant prince, and he was wearing a single, jeweled earring when I killed him. In fact, that was about all he was wearing."

"You said that rather suggestively." She spoke playfully. "So did you fuck this man to death or-"

"I am trying to be serious." Zevran chortled, despite himself. "I thought it was beautiful, and took it to mark the occasion. I have had it ever since."

"That is a lot of sentiment, for a Crow." Nyla rested a hand on his cheek, eyes misting over. "You always have been extraordinary."

"I… would like to give it to you, as a token of affection." His face felt hot as he held it out to her, his heart beating hard. Zevran had never given anyone a gift before. He wanted her to accept it. It meant so much to him, she meant so much to him. The earring belonged with her, and she with him; it was perfect. "¿Lo aceptas?" Will you accept this?

This website doesn't allow pictures, or links. So, just delete the spaces in the bold text to see the commission I had made of Zevran and Nyla. (Hosted by Deviantart) So if you type in tinyurl dot com slash hsd8yb5 you will see the art. This site really hates pictures and links wow what a mood killer. XOXO

Another note: Story 2 is in the works! ADVENTURE!