A/N: This chapter switches between their two POVs (it's rare, I know!) and contains some very detailed mature content. IT'S A SMUT CHAPTER! But still important, as we learn a little bit about Alistair's time in Redcliffe while Katharyne was left in Denerim.
As always, thank you for reading, following, liking, etc... ! I also like reviews, no matter how small! And I never get any! :( If there's anything you don't like in this story or if you have any guesses as to what's going to happen... Let me know there!
LEGAL DISCLAIMER: The characters and locations don't belong to me; they belong to Bioware and EA and I'm simply using them to fuel this thing called my muse.
.: CHAPTER IV :.
"Could you come to my room later, Alistair?" She had whispered shyly in his ear as she departed the dining room, a few evenings after she had first confessed her feelings to him.
Alistair bolted up from his chair as soon as Katharyne left the room. He made his way to his quarters in the guard barracks, whispering to himself.
"Could she be thinking of...? No, impossible. Alistair, you know she's chaste... She's not like other women."
'But Cailan is absent... and you know she hasn't been taken yet. You wouldn't let him take her before you, would you?' A small voice whispered in his mind. 'You have dreamt it, thought about it, you love her. So why not act on it?'
"But she's my half-brother's wife... The queen. She could be in danger if something ever happens between us... Adultery is... is wrong" He hissed to himself.
Against his better judgement, Alistair changed into a loose cobalt woollen tunic and started making his way to her room. He swayed on his feet nervously when he arrived to the large oaken doors inside the antechamber leading to her room. He paced back and forth, mumbling to himself before he finally rasped his knuckles on the door.
Katharyne had changed into a loose cream coloured chemise that fell halfway down her calves and was sitting on the edge of her bed. She fidgeted as she waited, playing with the ribbons holding the chemise closed before shifting her attention to the azure ribbon holding her curly hair together in a thick braid. Katharyne felt extremely nervous at the thought of what she had asked of Alistair.
"Better him than Cailan first... Right?" She whispered to herself over and over again.
She hopped off of her bed and started pacing about her room before suddenly stopping as she heard the rasping of knuckles on her door. She cleared her throat and the doors opened slowly, the hinges creaking. He entered silently and bolted the door behind him before he turned to face her. He gasped lightly, his stare making Katharyne blush.
He approached her slowly, his eyes trailing up and down her body as he walked. She leaned back on the bed, sitting on the edge once more, letting him approach. He stopped in front of her, reaching for her chin. He leaned down, brushing his lips to hers. Their first kiss since they day she had accidently confessed her feelings.
The kiss was hesitant, uncertain, and different from their initial kiss. He pressed his mouth against hers so delicately she could barely feel it. Arching her back, she responded to his kiss warily, soft moist lips meeting rough and rugged ones in a tortuous dance. She felt the warmth that had settled in her belly roaring to life. His right hand slipped to the back of her head as he pulled her forward, his left hand resting at the small of her back. The light touch of his fingers sent a shiver throughout her body, making her skin feel ablaze. He pushed her down on the bed slowly, his lips not letting go of hers. He pulled away slightly as he started to trail his lips down her chin and to her neck. A low moan escaped Katharyne's lips as he did so, her back arching slightly.
He pulled away, his dark amber gaze meeting her mint green eyes. He stared deep in her eyes, his face lingering so close to hers that she could see the shadows of his lashes dancing on his cheeks. He leaned in once more, capturing her lips in a searing kiss before he trailed wet kisses to her neck. She closed her eyes as he suckled on her skin. She felt his trembling left hand tugging at the ribbon holding her chemise closed, untying it and loosening the chemise. She felt his shaking hands pulling the chemise away as he stopped kissing her neck, pulling away.
Katharyne opened her eyes and shifted her gaze to Alistair who was on his knees between her legs, staring at her. She noticed a rosy blush on his cheeks; a dark and hungry look in his eyes.
"Maker's breath..." He whispered.
"What is it?" Katharyne breathed, feeling her cheeks flushing under his gaze.
"You are so much more beautiful than I imagined..." His gaze trailed down and rested on the brown curls between her legs. Katharyne instinctively closed her legs, biting her bottom lip as she realised how naked she truly was. But that did not matter anymore. She sat up slightly, removing the chemise from under her before resting her weight on her forearms, facing him.
Alistair observed her languorously as she removed the chemise. She moved with determination all the while being embarrassed. He saw a look of apprehension in her eyes as she shifted the chemise from under her and threw it on the ground. The tip of her pink tongue darted out to moisten her lips as she looked at him. Alistair reached for his shirt and pulled it over his head before he reached for her, his fingers grazing her side timidly, her hip rising at his gentle touch. At this small act of encouragement, he reached forward, his eyes never leaving hers while his right hand continued its tantalising path over her hips and waist and then up to the curve of her right breast. Katharyne's eyes fluttered as his hand kneaded the soft flesh of her breast, his fingers toying with the nipple lazily. She let out a low, wheezy gasp as he pulled her into a hungry kiss – lips, teeth and tongue. She wrapped her arms around him, easing him on top of her before her hands found their way to his golden hair. He settled his body in the warm embrace, her long legs wrapped around him.
Alistair gulped, his growing erection pushing against his breeches painfully, the hardness touching her belly through cloth. His desire was rising quicker than he had anticipated, and he could not halt its course. All Alistair wanted at that very moment was to bury himself inside of the woman he loved, to hear soft whimpers of ecstasy escape her lips – his name moaned by her rosy lips. He weighted his body on his left forearm, working his mouth down her neck once more, pressing languid kisses in the valley between her breasts before finding her stiffening nipple and sucking on it gently.
"Oh...! Alistair...!" She moaned, making his stomach squeeze at the sound of her pleasure. He trailed his right hand down her body and between her legs, brushing his fingers on her soaked curls. He slipped his hand down between her legs, reaching her wetness. Slick, hot and all too inviting, he bit his bottom lip as he teased the sensitive nub at the top of the lips between her legs. He heard her gasp as he reached the nub, circling it with his thumb, brushing his fingers back and forth in her wetness. Katharyne's hips were moving against him, grinding harder as he slipped his middle finger inside of her. Her fingernails were scraping into his back, but he could not feel pain. All that mattered was Katharyne.
When Alistair plunged his finger inside of her, Katharyne felt like she could cry out, the intrusion having surprised her for a second. As he pushed his finger in and out of her, she was muttering incomprehensible words as he touched parts of her she had not known existed. She could feel his hardness pressing into her stomach, straining against his breeches. "Alistair... please... " She murmured, arching her back.
He pulled away from her body, resting on his knees between her legs, Katharyne whimpering at the lack of his touch. She stared down at him, biting her bottom lip. He moved his hands down and started to undo the laces of his breeches, fumbling lightly. She observed him in the candlelight as he pulled down his breeches slowly, revealing his hardness. She gasped as she saw his erection, feeling slightly frightened. She had nobody to compare him to, but his size startled her. The hardness protruding between his legs was flushed and throbbing.
"Alistair... I can't... how will your... how will you fit inside?" She breathed, worried. "It will hurt... won't it?"
"It won't hurt, love... Where did you hear that?" He murmured, now sitting on the bed and removing his breeches, one leg at a time.
"A few of the servants said... they said it would hurt..." She whispered, squirming at the lack of his touch, a longing in her loins.
"Oh, love... With what I felt between your legs, you might feel a slight discomfort but it really shouldn't hurt you as you imagine it so..." Alistair smiled lightly as he explained in a low voice. He flashed her a small lopsided smirk, leaning on his heels. He leaned in, shifting his body to the side so that his throbbing erection wouldn't rest on the bed. Katharyne felt a flush of embarrassment as he brushed his lips on the inside of her thighs, suddenly realising what he intended.
"Alistair... You... I've never... You shouldn't be down... there..." She managed to utter between breaths as he trailed kisses between her legs, getting closer to her core. She giggled lowly as she felt his stubble brush the sensitive skin of her thighs.
"Shh..." He whispered as his lips reached her opening, pressing soft kisses to her centre. He started slowly, spreading the lips slightly with his right hand, circling her nub with his tongue. He shifted lightly, suckling on her nub. Katharyne arched her back in pleasure, curling her toes in the bed's sheets. The warmth she felt in her belly was increasing, creating pressure. She panted as bright flashes crossed her eyes, making her vision blurry. She tugged on his hair as he entered his middle finger once more, wrapping her legs around him. She felt him slip in another finger inside of her and started thrusting it inside leisurely. The second finger made the hot pressure in her belly balloon, sending her over the edge. Her mind went blank as she felt waves of pleasure rippling through her body, arching her back, her body quivering.
Her vision was still blurry when she felt him move above her. It was in a foggy daze that she saw his face above hers, smiling. He licked his lips. She pressed her right palm against her face, blushing deeply at the intimacy that was just shared.
"Katharyne, love... Look at me" He whispered raggedly as he removed her hand slowly.
Her breath caught in her throat as he did so, seeing how intently he was looking at her. His gaze so earnest and tender, open and wanting that she bit back a moan. She bit her bottom lip, too afraid to look away. He brushed a kiss on her cheek, his burning length brushing the inside of her thigh.
Her face was a sight for sore eyes. Rosy, flushed skin and wide doe-like eyes staring at him. He nudged her nose with his, a small grin on his face before he kissed her once more. As his tongue danced with hers, he reached for the closest pillow and slipped it underneath her waist to angle her hips. His heartbeat felt like a loud drum in his chest as he positioned himself between her legs. Her green gaze met his, her eyes still slightly glazed over from toppling over the edge. He rested his hands on her hips as he positioned himself at her entrance. He kept his eyes locked with hers as he eased himself slowly inside of her, her wetness coating him. He stopped at the tip, noticing her eyes had grown wide and her bottom lip having disappeared inside her mouth. She nodded lightly in encouragement as she took a deep breath, her breasts rising. Alistair continued easing himself in slowly, feeling her hands now gripping his wrists. He stopped once more to look down at her. Her green eyes were shut, her lips forming an 'oh'.
"Don't stop... Please, Alistair..." She murmured shakily.
He nodded and pushed himself inside to the hilt in one swift motion. He stayed unmoving as she hissed, adjusting to his intrusion. Her hands were holding on to him tightly and suddenly the realization hit him. He was inside of her. He finally felt complete. An overwhelming wave of emotion rushed through him, rendering him almost numb. He settled inside of her before he started to move in and out of her in languorous thrusts. She tightened her legs, wrapping them around his waist instinctively. Her eyes were closed, her back arched. Slowly, he started to rock into her steadily, increasing his pace ever so slightly. He brushed his right hand lovingly over her face, caressing her cheek before he leaned in so that his forehead was resting on hers.
He kept thrusting inside languidly, getting lost inside of her.
"Alistair... Please make me feel like you did... earlier..." She whispered between low moans, stretching her hand over his back. He nodded at her request, starting to increase his pace every thrust, alternating between slow, lazy thrusts and hard, rough ones. Her nails were scrapping his back once more but Alistair paid it no mind. He felt pressure building between his legs with every thrust, moving faster and rougher. Katharyne whimpered and moaned sinfully below him with each passing thrust. Alistair felt closer to his release with each noise that escaped her pink lips.
He pulled his body away from hers as he thrust inside fast and rough, her legs now propped upon his shoulders. He stretched his right hand to the small swollen nub between her legs and started circling it with his fingers, making her moan. Katharyne arched her back and reached for her breasts, her face contortioned in ecstasy. He felt her walls quiver around him as she reached her climax, making his hardness shake, the pressure ready to burst. He pulled out of her swiftly, bellowing her name as his vision went black and he emptied himself on her belly before falling on top of her.
Katharyne was staring up at the bed's canopy, panting harshly, her arms around Alistair's body. The haze of her last orgasm was slowly lifting, she felt her heartbeat slowing down, harmonizing with Alistair's. She trailed her fingers down his muscular back, tracing the small marks her nails had done.
"Wow... Maker, that was..." She whispered shakily.
Alistair looked up at her, his chin resting in the valley of her breasts. He smiled up at her, his brow drenched in sweat. He propped himself on his forearms before he bounded off of her and out of the bed. Katharyne groaned at the sudden coldness, the warmth of his body now gone.
"Alistair, where are you going?" She asked lazily as he walked towards the large stone bath.
"I need to clean you up..." He mumbled, a small smile etched on his face as she saw him reach for a cloth. He approached the bed once more, wiping away the release he spilled on her belly, making Katharyne giggle gleefully. He stared at her, still smiling before he proceeded to clean his own abdomen. He pulled the covers from under her and draped them over before he slipped inside the bed.
Katharyne sighed happily as she snuggled up to him, resting her head on his firm chest.
"I love you..." She whispered as she traced circles on his chest with her fingers.
"And I, you"
"You were right, love. This didn't hurt me as I thought it would..." She said "I am a little sore, but..."
"But?" He replied, worriedly.
"But it's alright. I didn't hurt like the maids had described it and because it was with you..." She answered, blushing as he pulled her closer in a tight hug. "I must say, however, you really seemed to know what you were doing down there, love."
Katharyne felt Alistair stiffen in her arms. She looked up but he avoided her gaze. "What's the matter, Alistair?"
"Would you..." He sighed. "Would you think any less of me if I told you... I had a bed warmer in Redcliffe?" He answered, avoiding her gaze.
Katharyne sat up and looked at Alistair intently before she smiled. "You? You of all people had a bed warmer?" She said in disbelief, a small smile growing on her lips. "What was her name?" She asked.
"Giselle..."
"What did she look like, that 'Giselle' of yours? How did you meet her?" Katharyne asked, sitting up completely propping her elbows on her knees, her chin resting on her knuckles.
"A little bit like you, to be completely honest. Her hair was a bit darker and straighter, her nose was more aquiline and her eyes were... a deeper green. She was a servant at Redcliffe castle and she took a liking to me within a few days. Another guard bet me I would not be capable to invite her to my bed so..."
"So, you decided to prove him wrong and asked her to come to your bed" Katharyne finished for him.
"Yes. Keep in mind, I was trying to get my mind off of you and it felt like a good idea at the time."
"So, how did she feel when she was in your bed?"
"I will never know, I... I did not sleep with the woman."
"But you said you had a bed warmer..."
"Yes."
"You do know what a bed warmer is, right?" Katharyne asked, a small grin on her face.
"Of course I know!" He exclaimed indignantly, "I am using the term literally for that's what she was. She only warmed my bed. I explained to her that I had feelings for another, for you. I also explained the bet to her and she laughed. She agreed to act like my bed warmer until I saw fit to send her away..."
"So you never slept with the woman."
"No."
"But... That doesn't explain how you knew how to please me down there, love." Katharyne pouted.
"Right. Giselle and I may have never slept together in that sense, but she helped me understand how to pleasure a woman if 'I ever met the right one once more' as she put it."
"So you never...?" Katharyne looked at the man she loved intently, in disbelief.
"Never what? Slept with a woman? Until now, no." He answered firmly. "No other woman was worth it. I realized it within a few months of being in Redcliffe that I could never give you up..."
"Wow... How long was she around for?"
"About a month or so. Afterwards, she went back to her duties as a simple housemaid and the other guard paid me handsomely. I gave half of it to Giselle as thanks for her help."
"Do you know what happened to her since?"
"She's married now. To a fisherman from the village." Alistair answered.
"Say, if you had never... been with a woman. Did you ever find release?" She asked meekly, a pink blush on her cheeks.
"Yes, many a night, dear. And do you know what would always escape my lips?"
"What?" She asked, her gaze locked with his.
"Your name..." He answered sheepishly.
"Wow, like you did earlier? I must say, the way it sounded, escaping your lips... was very thrilling. Just as I had dreamt it."
"You've dreamt of us, together?" Alistair asked in disbelief.
"Yes, many nights, love. The dreams were also so beautiful but they were always such pure agony, since I thought I would never see you again. You were always in my dreams, you know? Never another man, never Cailan... Only you." She explained in a small whisper.
Alistair pulled her closer once she finished her explanation.
"I love you, I love you, I love you!" He whispered as he peppered kisses all over her face, Katharyne giggling into the night.
A/N: I know some of you might not have liked this chapter. I know you might think it's not realistic to not hurt too much for your first time, etc... But if I'm being honest, in my case, I didn't. With enough foreplay ahead of the penetration, it might sting a little bit but it will not really hurt.
