The next night, Cullen came to my room, stripped off his armor, and lay on the bed. When I got there, he was already as soft and lovely as I liked him to be.

"I could get used to this," I said, walking in to him reclining against my pillows, muscled arms above his head.

He chuckled. "Maybe you should."

"And you're staying the night?"

"If you can stop the dreams, I'll stay every night."

He didn't move as I crawled across the bed, swung one leg over him. I was straddling his stomach – careful not to go lower – and kissed him.

I made him lean forward just far enough to tug his shirt off over his head.

Our kisses quickly turned hotter, deeper, breath and hands and small muffled sounds from me. He brought his hand up to the hem of my shirt, fingers hesitating just a second before sliding against my back. I gasped.

"Is this alright?" He asked.

"More than alright."

As his fingers ran along my spine, my shirt rose higher, the bare flesh of my stomach touching his. I felt his other hand shift to my hips, push me back.

Back against his own hips, and the hard member I could feel pulsing against my backside.

Cullen's cheeks were a little pink at this, and I was worried he would ask me again if it was alright. I pressed a kiss to his mouth to silence him, letting my hands roam the muscles of his chest.

"May I?" I asked, wiggling my hips.

He frowned, unsure what I was asking.

So I showed him, lifting up and sliding back, angling myself so that the length of him was pressed against the sensitive parts of me.

He pressed his head into the pillow and groaned softly.

"Is this alright?" I asked, a little mocking.

"Maker's breath, Lahria." His grip on my hips tightened.

So much fabric in the way, I thought, but didn't want to push him.

I gently rocked my hips against his, breath heavy, wet. His eyes were on me, biting his lip, light groans as I moved.

"Last time," I said, panting a little. "You left before I got to have any fun." I stopped his apologies before they started with a well-aimed thrust that made him squeeze his eyes shut. "It's my turn."

"What do you-"

I ground my hips against him and slipped my hand around one of his, guiding it up my side, to my breast.

He breathed my name again.

Hand where I wanted it, I grabbed the headboard with both of mine, working him with my hips, slow and rhythmic.

He softly kneaded my breast through my shirt, a thumb brushing against my hardened nipple.

I swore.

"Do you... like that?" He tried it again with purpose.

I groaned, rewarding him by pressing my hips down harder into his.

He drew his thumbnail across my nipple, scratching lightly at the fabric.

All this waiting, all these not-quite touches. I was going to lose my mind.

"Cullen," I whimpered. "Can I have you?"

"Yes," He whispered, then said, "Wait. What do you mean?"

This is not the time for this conversation.

He had shifted his hips slightly so that he was getting less sensation from our movements. Avoiding a repeat of last time.

I shifted him back, getting groans and labored breaths for my efforts.

My hips were moving faster.

"You're going to make me..."

"Make you..." He saw the fire in my eyes. "Oh. Oh."

"Is that alright?"

There was a growl deep in his throat as he pulled my face down to his. "Yes."

I rode him faster, harder, until I came, moaning his name into his neck.

He followed shortly after.

"We really ought to do this with... less clothes,"I said, poking him in the side.

He was still breathless. "I'm sorry. I..."

I nipped at his earlobe. "It's fine, Cullen. I'm just teasing." Our breathing grew regular again, and I kissed the slowing pulse at his neck. "You know I'm ready whenever you are."

"I... I know." He rolled to face me, put an arm around my waist. "Thank you for waiting."

"It'll be worth the wait,"I grinned, sloppy, kissing him, then wincing at my tender lip.

He drew a finger across my chin. "I'm so sorry I hurt you."

"You've said that. About a thousand times."

"I know."

Our fingers twined together, faces pressed against each other. "Sleep with me. I'll keep you from the nightmares."

He smiled. "I know you will."

When he looked at me, eyes soft, face shining with affection, I almost had to look away. I wasn't used to this... this...

being adored.

"Sleep, Cullen." I tugged his face to my shoulder, wrapped an arm around his head, fingers trailing through his hair. "I've got you."