Two people facing certain doom did not have time to take things slow.
They transitioned quickly to the sort of activities Wynne would violently disapprove of. Right now, for instance, they were tangled in Hanalea's bedroll together, their closeness the only barrier against the cold atmosphere. Leliana was on top with a handful of the Warden's chest and a mouthful of her tongue and it was a wonder the old mage hadn't marched right up to their tent flap and begun lecturing them through the canvas, because they weren't exactly being subtle about it.
Hanalea arched into her bard's delicate grip and tightened her own hold on the other woman's thighs, pressing their bodies together. They hadn't even gotten to the good part yet and she was flushed all over and falling apart. "You're good at this," she gasped out during one of the brief moments the redhead allowed her to breathe. "Had a lot of practice?"
Leliana dragged a lingering kiss down her throat before drawing back enough to meet her gaze. Her bright blue eyes were heavy-lidded over a smirk and Hana nearly forgot what she'd said entirely. "Would you be jealous?" the bard purred, running a finger down the Warden's sternum.
"Yes," Hanalea answered with complete sincerity. She already regretted speaking; all she wanted was Leliana's mouth back on hers.
Based on the look that came over her face, the archer wasn't going to give her an easy time of it. "How interesting, considering your recent stunt at the Pearl," she snipped with a bite to the Warden's shoulder that landed far from gentle.
Hana yelped and fisted her hand in the bard's hair to tug her away. "Hey! That was—"
"Different?" Leliana guessed, brows arched incredulously. She straightened up so she was straddling the Warden's hips, looking down on her in every sense of the term. Was she…upset? "How?"
Hana spluttered for an answer. "I was compensating!" she protested. Were they really talking about this now? They hadn't even been together the last time Hana visited the Pearl! She'd thought that Leliana hadn't cared much, or if she had, that it was firmly behind them by now. Considering the ice in the bard's eyes, she supposed she'd thought wrong. She let her hands fall to her sides in surrender; her voice weaken. "I didn't think I was ever going to get what I actually wanted."
"What you…" Leliana's eyes narrowed, then widened. "Are you saying—?"
Hana gave her a fond, sheepish smile. Yes, of course she was saying that she'd liked Leliana even back then. Of course she was saying that she'd figured she never had a chance with the lovely bard, and she'd dealt with it the best she knew how. How could she be faulted for that? "You're surprised?" she wondered.
Leliana let out a tiny scoff. Her cheeks were flushing. "Well, yes. I—we'd hardly known each other then."
"Leli," Hanalea said in an almost reproachful tone. "You're kind, and sharp, and beautiful, and talented," She picked up one of Leliana's hands in both her own and studied it, "and your hands! Maker, I'm a big fan of your hands." She pressed a kiss to that palm through a mischievous smile, but her eyes were earnest. "Why wouldn't I want to be with you?"
"Oh." Leliana's cheeks were close to matching her hair. Hanalea couldn't grasp why the bard was totally comfortable with kissing nude in her bedroll, but a few compliments got her all flustered. She sort of loved it, though. "Well, I think you're rather charming yourself," Leliana returned with a bashful smile of her own.
"You're not just in it for the tale, then?" Hana teased, wiggling her hips beneath the other woman. "I'm sure not many girls have had the privilege of bedding a Warden."
Leliana rolled her eyes hard. "You are so full of yourself!"
"Mhmm." The Warden couldn't resist: she bit her lip suggestively, raised her eyebrows, and slid her hand way up the bard's thigh. "How would you like to be full of me, too?"
"That was terrible." Leliana hid her face in her hands, but her flaming cheeks were still visible through her fingers.
"You're blushing."
"Your hand is on my—!"
"Shh!" Hanalea's free hand flew up to clap over Leli's mouth, earning an instant glare. "You want Wynne to hear us and come trying to interrupt?"
"Mh," was Leliana's only response, understandably. That, and sucking Hana's first two fingers into her mouth to bite down reproachfully.
The Warden made a very undignified noise and pretended that it was out of protest rather than the sudden and intense shot of arousal that the gesture sent through her. "Hey, that's my shield hand!" she cried. "Don't tear it up, or I won't be able to protect your pretty arse in battle."
"I can take care of myself." Leliana pouted, but released her.
Hana wasn't sure if that was a relief or a disappointment. "I'm well aware," she assured, her voice going low as her hands trailed up the archer's sides. She was tired of all this conversation; it was time for them to get back to more exciting things. "But let me take care of you this once, my love."
Leliana's breath audibly hitched. She seemed absolutely willing to consent to that, if the way she lowered herself to her elbows over the Warden and brought their lips together again was any evidence. Hanalea hiked her knee up for the other woman's benefit and buried her hands in flaming hair and forgot that she'd ever been with anyone besides Leliana.
She preferred it that way. They both did.
…