Chapter 29 – Tangled Up In You

"You're my world, the shelter from the rain, you're the pills that take away my pain

You're the light that helps me find my way you're the words when I have nothing to say

And in this world where nothing else is true here I am still tangled up in you

I'm still tangled up in you, still tangled up in you

You're the fire that warms me when I'm cold, you're the hand I have to hold as I grow old

You're the shore when I am lost at sea, you're the only thing that I like about me

How long has it been since this storyline began and I hope it never ends and goes like this forever"

Tangled Up In You by Staind

Alistair stood back sipping his ale as he watched Hawke spin Josie around the dance floor under the canopy of candles that illuminated the courtyard for Bethany and Nathaniel's wedding celebration. He knew that it was good for Josie to come to terms with Hawke and the role he played in Anders death, but that didn't mean that Alistair had to happy that she was now in arms of the handsome rogue as he twirled and spun her around the courtyard as her laughter drifted through the night air. Hawke dipped her and Alistair tensed as he watched the Champion's eyes fall on Josie's supple mounds as they pushed at the top of her dress. When he brought Josie back up to him and his hand slid down to the small of her back, a sneer pulled on Alistair's lips as his hand unconsciously went for the pommel of his sword.

"Now, now Alistair, I do believe that Josie would be a bit put out if you ran her dance partner through with a sword," Zevran chortled from behind him.

"If it would get his hand off of her ass I might be willing to suffer her wrath," Alistair retorted.

"Only a fool or a fool in love would willingly face Josie's ire," Zevran chuckled.

"She's worth every minute of it," Alistair replied with a grin.

Zevran returned the smiled. "Yes she is, my friend, yes she is."

As the song and tempo changed, Hawke released his hold on Josie as all the women rushed to the dance floor, formed a line and began dancing some new Orlesian dance that Bethany had learned while she was with the Orlesian Wardens. He took another sip of his ale as he watched Josie quickly pick up the dance steps. The new dance was slightly provocative as the girls' hips swayed with the beat while they shook their shoulders back and forth.

Alistair had to discretely adjust himself when Josie had leaned forward and tops of her breast nearly came out of her dress. Maker, he wanted her and she was making it more and more difficult to resist her. Now that they were back at the Keep there really was no reason for him not to be with her, not to take her… except that nagging fear that she only wanted him because she was lonely, not because she loved him. He knew this was not rational. Her very actions at the Landsmeet showed how much she cared about him and the extent that she would to in order to save him. He needed to have faith in her and to trust her.

He watched her as she walked over to the bar with Bethany. "Beth, I want you to stay out here until the sun begins to peak over the horizon and your too exhausted to dance one more step, but I am completely bushed and going to head to bed soon."

"Oh Jo, don't be a party pooper. The night is young," Bethany cooed.

Josie laughed as she looked up at the moon. "You have been enjoying yourself too much to notice, but it is at least three hours after midnight and I have a long day tomorrow, while you and Nate get to head off to Highever for your honeymoon."

"About that Josie, I can't thank you and Fergus enough letting us use the cottage on the bluff. It is exactly what we need for a little escape."

"You are very welcome. I am sure that Fergus will have the place completely stocked and ready for a very romantic honeymoon. Now, as I said, party all night into the wee hours of the morning. I want both of you to celebrate until your heart's content."

Bethany hugged Josie. "Thank you, for everything."

"You're welcome."

Alistair watched as she made her way through the crowd giving her guests her well wishes. He smiled as grabbed a bottle of wine from the bar then headed into the Keep and made his way to her room. Alistair opened the bottle, poured two glasses, stoked the fire and sat down in one of the chairs near hearth. From the open window the sounds of the band floated in. The song they were now playing had a sultry, seductive quality to it and as the drums kicked in Josie sauntered into the room.

She had the front of her dress in both hands waving the material back and forth as she had lifted it up revealing her luscious legs. As she danced her way into the room she purposely placed one foot directly in front of the other forcing her hips to sway enticingly to the beat of the drums. She danced her way over to the two poles that were in the corner of her room near her bath tub. The poles ran from floor to ceiling with a bar attached at the top that had a curtain draped across it so that Josie could have privacy if someone was in her room while she was taking a bath. When the curtain was not in use it hung on a hook above the tub. Alistair had always thought that it was a little extravagant for a personal bathing area, but as much as she had sacrificed he thought she deserved to spoil herself every now and then. However, as he watched her grab the pole swing herself around it then grip the rod as her bent down with the post between her legs he was having serious second thoughts about its purpose.

The voice of the lead singer drifted in.

"Early in the morning and I can't get right,
Had a little date with my baby last night
Till it was early in the morning, early in the morning
Early in the morning and I ain't got nothing but the blues."

Josie tantalizingly unlaced her skirt and as she let it fell to the ground she kicked it to the side then strolled over to the other pole. Alistair licked his lips unconsciously as he watched the way her silky panties clung to her swinging hips. When she reached to other pole she spun so that her back against the pole, she seductively lowered herself down the post as her hands roamed across her body until she was only inches from the ground, she rested her hands on her knees then to the beat of the music she opened and closed her legs so fucking entrancingly that Alistair's wine glass nearly slipped out of his hand as all the blood in his entire body rushed to his groin giving him a raging hard on.

"Went to all the places that we use to go,
Went to her house, but she don't live there no more
Early in the morning, early in the morning
Early in the morning, you know it's early in the morning and I ain't got nothing but the blues."

Josie turned to the side, her legs split apart as she lowered the center of her body to the floor. Maker have mercy, he knew she was flexible, but she was giving a whole new meaning to the word. She pivoted her torso so that now her legs were stretched out straight in opposite directions at right angles to the center of her body. She leaned forward so that her chest was inches from the floor and her beautiful breasts were pooling out from the corset. In one swooping motion she brought her legs together behind her as she pushed herself off of the floor and back on to her knees. She bounced in time with the beat, her delicious breasts spilling out as she swayed with the music as her hands roamed across her breasts, down her thighs and then to the junction between her legs. Alistair bit down on his knuckle to stifle a groan. He should let her know he was here. That would be the gentlemanly thing to do, but he was so mesmerized by her and so fucking hungry for her he couldn't move.

She swung her right leg over her left leg, with her foot planted on the ground she pivoted on her knee so that her back was now to him. In a graceful arch she straightened her left leg out, swung it around and then brought it back against her other leg. With her hands resting on her ankles she began to straighten her legs until they formed a perfect upside down V with her head between them. Her hips swayed as Alistair fantasized about grabbing her and taking her from behind.

"Went to her girlfriends, but she was out,
Knocked on her mama's door and she began to shout, get away here boy,
Early in the morning, early in the morning
Early in the morning, you know it's early in the morning and I ain't got nothing but the blues."

She then spun around and once again placing one foot directly in front of the other she sauntered over to the bed. She crawled slowly, almost predatory up the mattress, she paused as her body bounced and swayed to the beat then she rolled onto her back, her arms were extend behind her holding up her weight, her legs were slightly bent, and as she dropped her head back panting from the excursion. Alistair was out of his chair and at her side in an instant. Lost in whatever fantasy was running through her head, she still hadn't registered that he was there.

He leaned over and whispers in her ear, "I have never wanted you more."

She cried out, clasping at her chest as her eyes go wide. "Fuck… Alistair… how long have you been here?"

"I watched every tantalizing move," he sighed as he licks the side of her neck. She shivered against his lips as she backed away from him.

"Y-you should have let me know you were here," Josie replied still visibly shaken that she had an audience for her dance.

"I couldn't. From the moment you entered the room I was enthralled by you. I still am," Alistair said as he crawled onto the bed and made his way toward her. He grabbed her ankle and pulled her towards him. He kissed the side of her foot then her ankle. He watched as her eyes darkened with desire.

"Jo, I can't sleep." He kissed her calf.

"Every night I lie awake, thinking about you, fantasizing about you." His tongue licked a path up to her knee and he heard a moan escape her lips.

"I picture all the things I want to do to you," he nipped at the soft flesh just above her knee and her legs quivered against his head.

"W-what do you want to do?" Josie asked her voice raspy from the hunger he could see growing in her.

He ran his tongue up the inside over thigh, he paused at the apex between her legs, and he could see that the thin silky material was already wet with her need for him.

"I want to make you beg," he moaned as he clasped his lips over her core and sucked at her through the thin fabric, breathing in the musky scent of her arousal. Josie whimpered as her hips pressed against him mouth.

"I want to lick you until you scream," he muttered as he ran his tongue down the inside of her other thigh. His hands reached up and pulled her panties down.

"I want to bend you over and take you hard until you are crying out my name over and over again," Alistair said as he ran his tongue back up her thigh.

He paused at her glistening curls, in a voice rough with need he asked, "Do you think of me, JoJo?"

"Always," she moaned with anticipation.

"What do you think about?" Alistair asked as his tongue slid through her curls and stroked the taut bundle of nerves. Josie cried out as her hips surged against his mouth.

"Answer me, Josie," Alistair demanded as his tongue licked her from her core to her pearl and back down again.

"I remember and fantasize… w-what your tongue felt like on my skin… what your fingers felt like as they caressed me..." Alistair slid one... two then a third finger inside of her as his lips clamped over the bundle of nerves and sucked.

"Oooh… fuck… yesss," she moaned.

His eyes looked up at her as she writhed against his mouth. Maker, she was exquisite.

His thumb replaced his lips as he asked, "What else did you think about, Jo?"

"You… what it felt like to have you inside of me," she hissed.

"There is nothing I want more then to be inside you… in every way possible, Josie," Alistair moaned as his arms circled around her thighs, opening her up even further to him while holding her in place. He kissed her lips tenderly at first, slowly allowing his tongue to slowly trace the velvet contours as she writhed against his restrain of her. Then his tongue swept over her hot center before darting in and out of her, drinking her in before he moved up to her swollen nub, and then repeated the same movement all over again.

"You taste so sweet, Jo," Alistair groaned. "Even better than I remember."

Alistair smiled as she dug her heels into his back to pull him closer as his tongue continued to lick, twirl, and suck at her, coaxing her closer and closer to the edge. He brought his fingers up and slid them into her hot center, and then pulled them out again.

"Ali… Maker… fuck," she cried out, her fists clenched at his.

He thrust his long fingers in and out while he sucked and licked her pearl, his tongue teasing and twirling around the hard nub.

"De… lic…ous…" Alistair moaned as he lightly grazed the tender flesh with his teeth. "My sweet JoJo… you… taste… wonderful," he whispered against her flesh.

"A-Alistair… close… oh Maker… so close…" Josie sobbed as the sweet agony of her impending orgasm grew stronger with every sweep of his tongue and every thrust of his fingers.

He increased the pressure against her taut nub as he drove his fingers into her with increased speed. "Come... come for me, Jo," he said. "I want to taste you on my tongue."

"Oh… Ali…yessss." She screamed as body tightened, she arched into him, her hips thrust against his mouth as the intensity of the orgasm coursed through her.

"Ali…Alistair...Alistair," she chanted over and over again as the pleasure enraptured her. He loved the sound of his name falling from her lips. It was music to his ears.

Alistair's mouth never left her core, he groaned as the sweet evidence of her climax flowed into his tongue and over his lips, but not giving her a chance to recover, his tongue replaced his fingers at her opening as it darted in and out of her throbbing center while his fingers circled her swollen nub.

"Oooo… mmmm, Maker…yessss Ali…fuck yesss," she cried out as another strong orgasm burst through her. He continued to lovingly stroke her, slowly easing up on the pressure until she lay there completely sated, panting as the occasional tremor passing through her.

As she relaxed, a satisfied sigh escaped her lips, he gently removed her legs from his shoulders then he kissed his way back up to her mouth, with the taste of her still on his lips, he claimed her mouth once more and she eagerly returned the kiss causing his already painful erection to throb even more. His fingers nimbly undid the laces on her corset and he tossed the material aside, he stared longingly at her luscious breasts when a flame from the fire flickered across her lighting up the shadows on her body. His eyes went wide as he took in the long scar that ran down her neck along the side of her breast and across her torso. Pain coursed through him at what he had done to her.

He pressed his lips against her neck where the scar originated and slowly followed its path downward and with each kiss, each caress of his tongue he silently pleaded for absolution and vowed to never leave her side again. The blemish was a legacy to who she was – a fighter, a survivor, a hero - and she never looked more beautiful to him.

He hadn't even realized that he had been crying until he felt her warm hand stroke his cheek and brush away a tear. "It's okay, Alistair. It's in the past and all is forgiven."

Alistair shook his head as he pressed him mouth against the soft flesh under her breast where the scar turned in. "H-how can you possibly forgive me for this?"

She grasped his face in her hands and forced him to look up at her. "You didn't do this to me, Alistair. The Archdemon did this."

"But if I had been there…"

"If you had been up on that tower there is no reason to believe this wouldn't have still happened. We were overrun, outnumbered there was nothing you could have done to prevent. Please Alistair, don't blame yourself for this."

Alistair pressed his lips against scar as he vowed, "I promise you Jo, I will never leave you again, with last breath I will fight at your side."

Her hands captured his face and she pulled him up to her as her mouth captured his. She kissed him ravenously, her tongue eagerly exploring him then she pushed him on his back. She leaned back, pulling him forward as she tugged his tunic over his head and tossed it aside. She pushed him back down as she began to kiss her way down his neck, to his chest down to his stomach. She nimbly undid his trousers and pushed them down as Alistair kicked them off. She slid between his legs as her soft lips brushed against the sensitive tip of his cock causing it to jump with anticipation.

She looked up at and smiled. "I accept your vow, Alistair and I promise the same."

Then she took him in her warm, velvety mouth and a cry of intense pleasure tore from his throat. Alistair gripped the sheets as the suction from her mouth caused unspeakable pleasure to rip through him. She swirled her tongue around the tip before taking him deep into her throat.

"S-sweet Andraste…Jo…my sweet, sweet JoJo…" he moaned as his eyes trained her, never looking away as she gripped him with her lush lips and he basked in the heat of her mouth as he struggled to remain in control as the rhythm of her strokes increased.

Oh Maker, she felt incredible. His body ached from the heat of her touch and he let out a groan as she looked up at him, her mouth enfolded tightly around him. She laced her tongue around him again and it took every ounce of strength not to release into her. His finger entwined in her hair as he watched her head glide back and forth. "By the Maker, y-you're trying to kill me," he gasped.

She laughed and the vibration of her throat nearly sent him over the edge. She stroked the weights between his legs as her tongue licked and sucked at his sensitive tip. He cried out her name in a chorus of prayers.

He knew he wouldn't last much longer, so he grasped her wrist and pulled her up to him. He needed to be in her, to feel her wrapped tightly around him. He was so hard that by the time she actually straddled him, he thought he might shatter. He reached down, positioned himself at her slick center and she slowly eased herself down onto him. He heard her sigh as she took him in deep.

How many times had he daydreamed about being inside her again? How many times had he dreamt of the feel of her heat as it envelope him? And in all of those fantasies he had never imaged the feeling of completion… the feeling of being home that he would feel at being so intimately connected with her once again, but now his body trembled against hers as a fire burned through him causing his vision to blur. He felt whole… for the first time in ten years he felt complete.

She began to move slowly against him and as she glided back and forth, she gripped him with each stroke, causing him to shudder with pleasure. It was such a sweet torture, but his body was now demanding more… need more of her. He grasped her hips and began to move her faster and harder against him as his hips thrust up, driving deeper into her. She cried out as she arched her back and her beautiful breasts swayed with each movement.

"Look at me," he whispered hoarsely.

She titled her head forward as she lowered her gaze and looked lovingly at him with her piercing blue eyes as she continued to ride him. He watched her reverently, enthralled by her as her eyes change from loving and tender to lustful and hungry as she began to rock faster and harder against him.

He reached up, caressed the soft mound before rolling the nipple between his fingers. She moaned out his name, her hips moving faster as the delicious friction continued to build, but it still wasn't enough. He needed to be deeper in her, to be buried completely in her; with one arm around her waist and the other on her hip, he rolled her, he thrust forward burying himself in her to the hilt. She cried out as she wrapped her legs around him, bringing him even deeper into her. She was as incredibly tight and hot as he remembered and he could have come right then, but he held on refusing to let this end quickly. It had been ten years since he had felt this good and he sure as hell wasn't going to let it end just because he lost control.

Alistair dipped his head down to capture a nipple in his mouth. He gently pulled and tugged as she ran her nails along his back to ass and gripped him hard, encouraging him to pick up the pace. He leaned up on his arms and began driving himself quickly in and out of her. The feel of her wrapped around him, the sweet keening sound that both she and her taint made, the way she writhed against him in sheer bliss, he never wanted this to end. He looked into her beautiful face, saw the ecstasy that ravished her features and he nearly came. He began to recite the Templar code… backwards… in Antivian. Their breathing became ragged as beads of perspiration clung to their bodies, but he gripped onto the edge of the cliff with everything he had.

"Alistair… yesss…" She moaned as the sensation continued to build, growing more intense with every thrust. He shifted, slipped his hand between them, and stroked the bundle of nerves. She cried out his name again as her hips rose to meet him.

"Jo…" He moaned as she rocked with him and he could feel that she was close. He moved harder and faster against her. Over and over again he thrust deep into her and guttural groan tore from his throat as he felt her wet center constricted around him, clamping down on him as she went over the edge. She dug her nails into his shoulders as she cried out his name in a chorus of pleasure.

As her muscles rhythmic constricted around him, Alistair felt the pressure start at his core, build, and then burst through him with such an incredible force that he cried from the intense ecstasy. A firestorm of pleasure washed over and through them, leaving them breathless, clinging to each other, panting and yet completely sated. He buried his head against her neck and breathed her in. She smelled like vanilla, lavender, spice, sweat and glorious sex. He had dreamed of this smell for ten years. It was the most wonderful smell in the world to him. As he nuzzled against her, completely content, without even thinking he whispered, "I love you, Jo."

His eyes went wide with horror. Oh Shit...Oh shit, oh shit oh shit. He couldn't believe he had just said that. It was true of course. He had always loved her, even when he hated her, he loved her and longed for her, but the last thing he wanted to do was make her uncomfortable when they had just reconnected with each other.

He felt her lips close over his earlobe as she bit down gently then she whispered, "I love you too, Alistair."

He pulled back and stared at her in surprise. She smiled warmly at him, leaned up and kissed his lips. "Alistair, you were my first love. I tried to get over my feelings for you, but I couldn't. No matter how hard I tried, you always had a piece of heart that no one could touch. I learned that you never really get over your first love. They are a part of you… always."

He slid out of her, rolled on his back and brought her with him. He kissed the top of her forehead. "I never stopped loving you either. Even when I believed you betrayed me and I hated you, I couldn't stop loving you which really made the whole hating you thing rather difficult."

She laughed as she feathered kisses on his chest. "Oh I completely understand that feeling. I use to fantasize about tying you up ,working you over with riding crop while you cried out my name, begging me to forgive you and declaring your love for me."

"I had the exact same fantasy, but it was you that was tied up!" Alistair declared.

"Well, you would look funny in a leather corset and black leather boots," Josie purred.

Alistair raised an eyebrow and grinned. "If that is what you're going to wear, you can tie me up anytime you want, my Love."

"I thought you would see it my way."

"I normally do," Alistair said. He looked over at the poles near the bath tub then back down at woman in his arms. "So what's up with those poles?"

"What do you mean?" Josie asked innocently.

Alistair reached down and smacked her bottom. Her eyes went wide as she looked up at him. "Don't play coy with me, Jo. You know damn what I mean."

An impish grin spread across her lips as she slid on top of his chest and he could feel the evidence of their love making on the inside of her thighs, on her sex and he was instantly hard again. She gently stroked his chest then pinched at his nipples as she swirled her hips against him sending a current of desire ripping through him. "My, my Alistair, haven't you become the assertive lover?"

Alistair slipped his hand up her back to the nape of her neck, he grasped her hair and pulled her head back as he leaned up kissed the hollow spot on the base of her throat. "You have no idea," he growled as he pulled her down beside him and rolled on top of her.

"But I'm about to show you," he stated just before he claimed her lips once again.


A/N – The music for Josie's pole dance was Early in the Morning - Poncho Sanchez. Great song! You can find it on youtube.

*A big hugs and thank you to the betalicious Bonkzy and betatabulous Mistress Vo for working their magic on this chapter. You two are awesome and I can't thank you enough!

*Thank you to everyone that has added this story to their alert and favs list. I also want to thank everyone that took the time to review. I love hearing your thoughts and I hope that you will continue to share them with me.