A/N: It's the second-to-last chapter, people! Finally! ^_^
Chapter 8: A demonstration
Sten was walking away awfully fast—Kiera had a hard time keeping up with those long strides— he seemed eager to leave when he realized that she was making her way towards him. She had distinctly met his gaze before staring in shock as he turned away and made to flee.
"I'm not letting you walk away from me again," she muttered under her breath, breaking into a sprint when she was sure that the arishok could no longer see them from the compound.
Her speed matched and soon overtook Sten's, and she blocked his advance, something that seemed quite familiar. The man, in turn, was wide-eyed, wary even by this confrontation. Kiera glared fiercely, expecting something, anything that would explain his recent behavior, though she had not forgotten that fateful conversation on the beach.
She tried for direct, the qunari did prefer that sort of thing. "Explain yourself, Sten."
To her immense astonishment, the brooding look ignited, flaring anew with words that sounded almost like a snarl. "You explain yourself—" Sten began, before seeming to withdraw, shutting off his emotions again, as usual. "Never mind, kadan. It is nothing."
"Oh, it's definitely something." She narrowed her eyes, carefully approaching her friend. Aside from the regular patrols, there was little chance of getting discovered this side of the walls. The qunari turned in as soon as dusk fell— no reason for civilians to build fires when the daylight was gone. "Something is troubling you, and if it's about the act, I promise I'll answer any questions you have."
But his eyes remained suspicious, flicking willfully to hers before away again. She could see that he was considering her offer, and would very soon assent—something that was rather predictable about Sten of the Beresaad—he was invariably curious, and would not stop until he had a satisfactory response.
They continued walking, to that spot by the sea, with the two large boulders just at the right height for sitting. Thus began, the fateful inquiry.
xOxOx
"What is your business with the arishok?" This was important to establish, at the very start of this conversation. It was extremely unlikely, but the way the kadan had behaved made no other conclusion, her over-familiarity with the military leader of the Qun cast unseemly suggestions.
She pondered for just a moment, before meeting Sten's gaze steadily. "I suppose…we're closely acquainted? It is but a perfectly innocent relationship, Sten. We spar together. Sometimes, that leads to – discussions."
Her manner had altered slightly at the last, and Sten knew the cause of her first troubling query. The arishok had prompted her interest in the act—a disturbing thought. He decided that this dialogue should end, and she should return to the compounds. The arishok would most certainly be able to satisfy her—concerns in a manner more satisfactory than he.
Sten sighed, before moving to leave. But her voice still held more sway over his body than his tumultuous thoughts did. "That's it?" It was a soft sound, sultry in its intent. It held —the promise of a somewhat pleasing smile in those two words. And she was, watching him with as much understanding as Sten felt in that moment. Her sapphires to his lilacs, her grin brought a similar reaction in him.
An understanding was reached.
"Among my people, it usually begins with a kiss." The thin arch of her eyebrow, the unflinching gaze and the gentle sibilance drew him closer, though Sten had moved not. "What about yours?"
He settled back on the stone, feeling his own blood course more warmly in his extremities. "I am not familiar with that word." A kiss.
"I could— demonstrate." A laugh was building in that tone, Sten knew; faint-mocking trills of her mirth would soon follow her repetition of his past words. But he would give her no chance to snicker at them both, thus ruining their circumstances.
He had lied, and she suspected not.
A sudden movement on his part brought his face close to hers, almost as if daring her to try. She swallowed most audibly, but did not draw away. His own lips parted, meeting her closed mouth, nudging her intently with his tongue before that drew a response. Was she shocked? Her eyes had grown larger at first, but she had shut them when she finally kissed him back. He felt the kadan's pulse, speeding as much as his own, thrumming strongly as he tasted her neck, his control over his strength and usual reckless display of bodily-yearning strong—at the knowledge of this woman in his arms. She was different, fragile in this human body, her flesh tender and yielding to his every touch.
Yet she pulled back, glazed and struggling; her breath came in pants, rapid and shallow. The kadan seemed torn, but she was already sitting in his lap, her hands on his chest.
"Wait. What are we doing?"
"The act. A demonstration." As if it was not obvious.
A shrug of her shoulders. "Fair enough."
P.S.: Figured I'd be mean and save the finale for the final chapter xD
In truth, I really want to write one that actually lives up to the entire story, so please be patient- I'll try to make it as hot as it's supposed to be!