Cullen was committed. He would do what Trev had asked of him. He would find a woman and make Turner believe he'd moved on from Trev. He could do it.
Shit, I can't do it.
His head pounded. Where would he even begin? He was sure there were plenty of women in Skyhold... or were there? He'd never really noticed, his mind always occupied by thoughts of Trev. Maybe Skyhold was too close to home as well... But where else, if the point was to make Turner see?
His thoughts whirled around in his head as he sat on a bench in the garden, thinking. It was a nice day outside and he was tired of being cooped up in his office every day. The Inquisition ran quite smoothly for the time being, so he mostly had paperwork to deal with.
He looked up when he saw Leliana approach him. He tried to not get his hopes up, but he always wished she would come and tell him they hade some sort of lead to the whereabouts of Trev's sister. He certainly wished it now, so he could get out of this mess.
She sat down beside him. He saw her eyes scan their surroundings, making sure no one else was within hearing distance.
"Well?" he demanded.
"Nothing solid yet, but I'm hopeful now that Lord Dreallor has returned to Ostwick. When he gets home, I'm sure we'll get some information. His estate is crawling with my spies now."
Cullen's eyebrows arched upwards. "Turner's father is involved? You are certain?"
"Yes, very much so. I made sure that none of the conversations between Turner and Lord Dreallor were truly private, but of course they didn't know that. We know he's heavily involved, maybe even the one who orchestrated this whole thing. Unfortunately, we haven't got any specifics on Rose's location, Turner is smarter than to discuss that out loud. But his father is not as smart as him. It may have been his suggestion and his money that accomplished this in the first place but Turner is the capable one."
Leliana turned to look at Cullen before she continued. "Of course, Lord Dreallor has a lot of... odd hobbies and tastes, and my people know how to work this to our advantage."
Cullen wrinkled his nose. "What sort of... tastes?"
"Trust me, you do not want to know."
Cullen nodded, sure she was right. "So this is good news then, things are looking up."
"I certainly hope so." She cocked her head to one side and gazed at him. "So, what's your problem? I thought you would be happy to hear this."
Cullen sighed and told her about Trev's suggestion.
He was surprised when Leliana laughed before she clamped her hand over her mouth and stopped herself.
"What's so funny, then?" he asked, feeling a little irritated.
"Oh, our dear Inquisitor has such colorful ideas. I'm not saying it's a bad idea, in fact I believe it would accomplish her goal to calm Turner quite nicely. But you do not need to get yourself a lover for that. Just shake it up, show off, make a fuss."
Cullen looked at her as if she was speaking to him in some foreign language.
"What in the Maker's name are you babbling about?"
"Well, Turner likes to spend a lot of his time in the tavern, did you know? He's there several times a week, by himself when Trev is simply too busy with Inquisition matters for him to bother to stick around her, or sometimes he drags her with him. It's an excellent place for you to go. Be there before he arrives, drink a little, flirt with the girls. They'd be all over you in a second, you don't even have to do very much. Too handsome."
Cullen felt a blush spread to his cheeks, and he cleared his throat, unsure of what to say.
Leliana laughed again. "Adorable. Just swallow that awkwardness, Cullen. Try to think of how she makes you feel when she looks at you with that want in her eyes, and picture it in all the girls. Well, you don't have to picture it, just look and you'll see. Find your confidence, flirt, laugh, touch."
"Hey! That's insulting, I'm a gentleman! I doubt Trev would have found me attractive if I'd been a slobbering, smooth-talking ass when we'd met."
Leliana just rolled her eyes. "Oh, stop it. You're not wooing her now. Your goal is to make the women of Skyhold go crazy for you. It's going to be easy. As soon as the word gets out that the Commander is on the prowl, flirting and avaliable, you won't just have women from Skyhold after you. I guarantee that ladies from every corner of Thedas will come here to meet you. You know there are practically legends out there of your looks and charm and knightliness."
Cullen stood up from the bench. "You are not only ridiculous, dear Leliana, but delusional as well. I'm going now!"
As he walked away, he heard Leliana calling after him. "My advice is always the best and you know it, Commander! Now be a good boy and do as I said!"
He shook his head as he entered a door into the keep. She was crazy. Like he was some sort of... of...
Inquisition Casanova. Ridiculous.
But he couldn't help feeling a little more hopeful now than he had before Leliana had talked to him. Not just because of her good hopes for aquiring a lead soon, but because her idea was a relief to him. He wouldn't have to pick one girl and pretend to fall in love with her and hurt her feelings. He could just... mess around. He made a disgusted grunt at the thought. He didn't really have it in him to mess around. But it sure beat the alternatives.
With a little help from alcoholic beverages, he was sure he could do it. Maybe. Possibly.
Shit.
Later that evening, Cullen found himself walking the spiral steps up to Leliana's tower. He couldn't do this by himself, he was too nervous. It was her stupid idea, so she'd have to help him see it through.
She came into view as he took the last step. She was releasing a raven before she turned around and spotted him. She smiled.
"Cullen, what can I do for you?"
"Just help me, will you? I can't do this alone." He fidgeted with his hands.
Leliana feigned a shocked expression. "Why, Commander, are you asking me to be the one who shares your bed? I've waited for so long!"
Cullen grunted. "Stop your teasing, woman. Help me out here, I'm desperate," he pleaded.
The spymaster chuckled. "Fine. Give me half an hour then meet me at the tavern."
He just nodded and descended the stairs again and headed for his tower. He needed to change out of the armor and into something a little more comfortable, a jacket or something.
After he'd changed, he stepped out into the warm evening breeze and took a deep breath. He started making his way towards the tavern, and noticed an unusual number of people out and about. The closer he got the more people crowded around him. When the tavern finally came into his view, he was shocked to see how many people were spilling in and out of the door. The place was packed.
There were even benches and tables placed outside, with people filling almost every seat. Actually, mostly girls and women of varying ages but soldiers too, no doubt attracted to the setting.
Cullen rubbed his neck. Was there some sort of occasion he'd forgotten about? No, he was sure someone would have told him.
He stood there dumbfounded when Leliana glided up beside him.
"Commander. I may have spread the word that you were coming here for some... entertainment tonight."
Cullen stared at her. "En-entertainment? What's that supposed to mean? And why are all these people here?"
Leliana smacked his arm.
"Hey! What was that for?" he yelled.
"Stop being so thick. They're all here for you."
"But – but – where did they all come from?!"
Leliana chuckled. "They've always been here. You just haven't noticed."
Cullen shook his head.
Maker, look at all these... vultures!
Leliana noticed the expression on his face.
"Come now, Cullen. They're not all bad. A lot of them are beautiful, in fact. Don't keep them waiting."
"How in damnation did you pull this off so quickly? It's only been a few hours since we spoke of this for the first time. Doesn't anyone have anything to do around here?"
"I guess not." Leliana smiled and nudged him forward.
He was swarmed instantly. He could see several of his friends in the crowd as well. Dorian, Varric, even Cassandra. He could tell from their expressions they were delighted over this spectacle.
Andraste have mercy on me, I'll never, never, never hear the end of this.
He took a seat at one of the tables outside and was actually grateful when Varric came up to him with several bottles of wine in his hands, Dorian following with cups. Cassandra kept her distance, amusement on her face, apparently content to just watch.
"So, Curly," Varric started, grin wide on his face. "I hear there's an event end you're the main attraction."
Cullen groaned and took the cup Dorian offered him and binged it down in a few gulps.
"Another." Dorian raised his eyebrows but obliged.
Cullen gulped down that one as fast as the first one, and they were joined by Iron Bull and his flask of foul liquid.
Before he knew it, half the night had passed. There was cheering, singing, drinking, oh Maker, the drinking. Cullen and Iron Bull had two girls each in their laps, laughing and singing and touching.
Despite his merry appearance, Cullen felt guilty. He felt like he was betraying Trev even though this was what she wanted. He shifted quickly to feeling anger towards her for making him do this to her, before he remembered why it had to happen, and then he felt sorry and guilty again.
Damned booze...
He tried to forget why he was here and just enjoy himself. Bull challenged him to a game of dice and they played and tried to concentrate while the girls tried to distract them with kisses and hands touching them where it wasn't really appropriate to touch someone in public.
He didn't even notice at first, when Turner and Trev joined the party.
Bull had just beaten him at the game and the crowd that was gathered around them booed and cheered and laughed.
"I'll make you feel better, Ser," one of the girls in his lap whispered before she kissed him.
She still had her tongue in his mouth when he looked up to see Trev standing beside them, staring at them. He almost had a heart attack and was just about to pull away when he saw Trev's gaze intensify and a small smile playing at her lips.
She actually looked amused. Then he saw Turner snake his hand around her waist, an equally amused expression on his face.
Cullen felt both rage and accomplishment at this. He wanted to cut that smug idiot's hands off for touching Trev, but he could see that he bought into this act.
So fucking smart, huh?
Cullen turned away from them and deepened the kiss with the girl who was now straddling him, having pushed the other girl away. It came to an abrupt end when the other girl gripped the first one's hair and yanked her off him, and Cullen couldn't believe it when an all out girlfight broke out before him. The crowd cheered and screamed in excitement until a more peaceful soul dragged the girls off each other.
Cullen saw Turner laugh until he bent over double, clearly enjoying himself. Trev laughed with him and only once did Cullen see her eyes shift over to him, and it happened so fast it was over as he blinked.
The night went on, with more drinks, games and singing. More and more people left, stumbling home from the tavern.
To his utter delight, he saw Turner passed out against one of the tables. Trev was talking to a couple of servants, clearly instructing them to carry him back to his quarters.
Andraste, she's so fucking gorgeous.
He had a hard time not staring at her, the alcohol slowly disintegrating his discipline. There weren't many people left now, and all of them were passed out or too drunk to stand up. The only two people left now were him and Trev.
He wanted her, needed he. It had been so long, and he wanted to wash away everyone else's touch with the only one who mattered – her.
She stared back at him now, after apparently coming to the same conlusion as him; they were the only ones left.
He couldn't wait. He turned around and walked towards the keep, hoping she would follow.
She did, although she walked a bit behind him. He opened a door and found himself in a cellar full of stored food. She barely shut it behind her before she jumped him. She didn't say anything, she just kissed him so hard he was sure his lips were going to be bruised tomorrow. He relished it.
Her hands found their way in under his jacket and he shivered as she raked her nails against his skin. She was on fire tonight.
He licked her lips and she gripped his arms hard and pressed herself against him. He was so hard and she could feel it, he could tell by the way she bit her lip and let her hand drop down to touch him.
He hissed through his teeth as he felt her rub her hand against his erection. He pulled her even tighter against him, wanting to feel every inch of her body as he kissed her ferociously, delighting in the sounds she made. He wanted to feel how wet she was for him.
He plunged his hand down inside the lining of her breeches and savoured the feeling of his fingers getting soaked by her wet heat. The way she whimpered when he circled his fingers on her clit almost made him drop where he stood. He couldn't resist pushing a finger into her and then another as she screamed out in pleasure. She grinded, bucked against him, whispered his name in his ear.
He pulled his fingers out of her and tasted her, sucking on his fingers, coated in her wetness. Her eyes went wild at the sight.
"You don't know what you do to me Cullen," she whispered as she sank down to her knees, working on the lacing of his breeches. "When I saw you tonight with those other girls..."
Cullen stiffened, ashamed, before she continued.
"When I saw your tongue shoved down into that little slut's throat... Maker, I wanted to watch you fuck her right there, while you looked at me, seeing how horny it would make me. And when she'd warmed you up, you'd throw her aside and claim your prize."
Cullen couldn't believe how filthy she sounded. Maker, he loved this wild woman.
His train of thought stopped short when he felt her soft lips wrap around his cock as she started taking him into her mouth. He let out a loud moan when she took him all the way down into her throat, gagging but refusing to let him up.
The pleasure that crashed through his body was mindblowing. He looked down at her, his godess on her knees before him, looking up at him through her thick lashes, her eyes burning with lust.
She sucked him deeply one final time before she released him and rose until she was face to face with him.
"Fuck me," she commanded, her eyes smoldering.
He pulled her to him him and pushed her against the wall, letting her straddle his waist, her legs secure around him. With one swift move, he thrust himself all the way into her core and she screamed. He kept pushing in and out, feeling her around him, so sweet and tight.
"Yes, fuck me, harder," she moaned.
He obliged and quickened the pace, pushing harder, shoving her into the wall, over and over, groaning in pleasure while she moaned and bit into his shoulder. He could feel the sweat breaking out in his face but he didn't care, and neither did she. He kept on fucking her like an animal and savoured every second of it, her pleasure most of all. He could feel himself getting close, his thrusting getting more intense, his moaning louder.
She licked his ear and started whispering in it.
"I want to taste you. All of you." She released the grip on his waist with her legs and sank down onto her knees and took him into her mouth again, pushing him all the way down her throat.
It was way too much for Cullen, and with a raw groan he released himself in her mouth. He couldn't believe his eyes when she swallowed everything, licking her lips like she'd just eaten dessert and looked up at him, mischievous smile playing on her lips.
He stood there panting when she got back to her feet and giggled and whispered things in his ear that soon made him ready to take her again, and he did, to her delight.
After the second round, they put their clothes back on and was just about to part when Leliana opened the door and came in, quiet as a mouse.
"Maker, Leli! Did you know we were in here the whole time?" Trev exclaimed.
"Of course, that's my job. And you two need to be more discreet. You're lucky I'm the only one who saw you come in here. But no matter. Inquisitor, we have our first lead on your sister."