ugh sorry for taking so long on getting this typed up. I have been uninspired when it comes to writing. So this sat incomplete in my files for days.
but here it is! Chapter 8. which will contain smut as a warning.
Bioware owns all and now on with the show.
The way back from Adamant took a long time...Cassandra did her best to take some of the heat off of their herald but Amelia heard the armies oppinions regardless. She had allowed the wardens to join the inquisition after all that occurred-even though the seeker didn't agree with the decision the two women held a close friendship that Cassandra begrudgingly didn't question her choice.
After leaving Stroud in the fade...she could not simply send them away. Hawke walked beside her now on the road back to Skyhold. Though the women had been one of the options to remain behind-she had not said anything about the choice either.
"Could you say something?" Amelia finally requested as Skyhold came into view. It had been a long few days-the travel was wearing on everyone and nerves were frayed.
Hawke slowly turned her head towards the inquisitor. "...About what?" She intoned softly, her usual teasing lacking slightly.
"...What I did...if you're angry I am sorry."
Hawke gave her a long look, before finally glancing back over her shoulder towards Varric and Fenris, the two were catching up for old times sake and a rare smile had graced the white haired elves lips.
As Hawke and Amelia watched, Fenris raised his head and gave Hawke a barely there smirk. One that tugged up one side of his lips-eyes dancing with contentment and relief. Hawke returned it before glancing to Amelia.
"...You did what you thought best...and while I may feel like I owe something...I'll make up for it by helping the wardens. If I seem ungrateful...I'm sorry. Stroud and I did not know each other well but I did not wish for his death...I however do owe you thanks for bringing me back to him." she motioned with her chin to Fenris.
"Most of the time all we have is each other...he's lost almost everything...and I lost him already once before. I tried to leave his side you know...when Varric called me. I knew Fenris would die to protect me. I tried to leave a note so that he couldn't follow. But he found out and set me straight." she laugehd running a hand through her hair...
"I know he can handle himself...but it still scared me to death."
Amelia smiled softly. "I am...glad that you aren't alone. Varric mentioned your friends...said most of them left. Do you at least still keep in touch?"
Hawke looked ahead for a moment-focussing on Skyhold as they approached. "We send letters...but its not the same...the way things ended in Kirkwall...it was likely better we remained separated to avoid trouble...I know the others are doing well and while I miss each of them desperately and for different reasons...I understand the need to be apart."
Amelia sighed softly. Hawke turned her gaze on her sharply. "...Are you worried,Lady Trevelyan?"
Amelia gave a little laugh at the title. The normally sarcastic Champion sounded so concerned..."I am just...worried after all this is over...they'll leave."
Hawke's eyes softened. " Well...leaving might happen" she offered softly. "But it doesn't mean the friendship is over. I've seen the way your friends look at you-even Varric. Should they leave-you have to but say the word and they'll return. You have a good group of allies at your back." Hawke's gaze shifted past Amelia and slightly behind her. "...and a good commander holding you steady. It is good to see Cullen so happy-he was rather...angry...in Kirkwall."
Amelia glanced back towards Cullen and blushed suddenly. "I...heard about that." She offered the words meekly. "...He is a good man. I just don't think he realizes that."
Amelia's hand drifted to a pocket-the weight of the small metal coin felt leaden suddenly. His eyes as he had handed it to her on their date out in Fereldan; he had looked so vulnerable.
She swallowed past a lump in her throat.
Hawke gave a soft chuckle. " Well...with luck you'll be able to show him soon." Her words were amused and Amelia glanced at her in confusion only to blush at the suggestive smile Hawke than offered her-the champions gaze turning towards the tower Cullen resided in as they walked through the gates of Skyhold.
Those who remained behind greeted the returning fighters with cheers. Though luckily Josephine managed to get Amelia and her advisor's out of the mess of bodies that surrounded them.
The war council agreed to leave the meeting to conclude the happenings at Adamant to the following morning before midday. They all retired to their own quarters and Amelia hurried away for a much needed bath. once in her quarters she stripped away layer after layer of armour-her armoured robes were anything but cooperative in her attempts to remove them. As she hurried to the bath waiting for her-kindly set up by her servants; she'd have to thank them later-she noted a small note left by her bed along with a plate of fruit and cheese.
It read:
Lady inquisitor,
Commander Cullen wishes to speak with you after you are done cleaning up after your return from Adamant, the fruit and cheese were at his discretion.
Enjoy yourselves and I hope the water remained hot.
-Elaina.
Amelia smiled softly-Elaina was one of the elves that dotted on her...there was no other word for it. The woman was a servant yes but in the time since haven Amelia had grown fond of the way Elaina spoke-soothingly and almost reassuring in her manner.
She would thank Elaina later though-Cullen was waiting for her and she doubted this was about chess. She sighed though worrying her bottom lip as she stripped off the last of her clothing and moved to the steaming bath tub.
She hoped that nothing was wrong.
Cullen discussed things firmly with his men though he somehow managed to miss the moment Amelia entered. He paused in his words now as he caught her standing by the door, watching him with a small smile on her lips-hidden poorly by one hand.
"-assist with the relief effort." he finished finally, after catching Amelia's eyes. He set his hands briefly down on the desk and nodded to the group. " that will be all." They saluted with a small 'ser " before leaving the room, he trailed behind the final guard closing the door behind him and bracing his hands against the wood. "There's always something more, isn't there?"
Amelia glanced at him, " Wish we were somewhere else...what was it you said to me once...no rest for the wicked?"
He laughed softly, a small chuckle beneath his breath before pulling away from the door and striding slowly away from her. "I barely found time to get away before...this war won't last forever. When it started I...I hadn't considered much beyond our survival." He paused looking out into the night and rolling his stiff shoulders.
"But things are different now." he told her, turning his body towards her. He glanced away as she approached.
"What do you mean? " She stopped near him. He waited a moment before speaking.
"I find myself wondering what will happen after." He told her, turning back towards her to watch her expressions. See how she reacted. "When this is over I...I won't want to move on...not from you." His hand lifted, fingers barely grazing the skin of her cheek as he smiled. But her eyes seemed to reveal nothing to him.
Doubt seized him just as fast as his joy.
He glanced to the side..." But I...I don't know what you..that is..if you.." as he stammered through his words-trying to explain he found himself moving towards his desk, hands shuffling over the papers needlessly, unable to keep his hands still. "Uh..."
He heard her move and waited silently-his heart pounding in his ears.
"Cullen...do you need to ask?" Her hand moved settling over his, and he swears he felt electricity passing over his skin-the mere contact even through his gloves brought his nerves to life as she manoeuvred her way slightly between him and the desk.
"I suppose not...I want..." He had shifted forward as she settled back more firmly on his desk, only to hear her small intake of air in surprise as her arm pushed a bottle off the edge of the desk-the empty glass shattering.
She looked back to him from the ground, biting her lip an apology on the tip of her tongue he was sure.
But he smiled-no...he smirked. glancing from the bottle to the desk for a moment. He caught her gaze once more before leaning past her, sweeping his arms across the desk, pushing everything to the floor...the bottles and ink wells...the papers and endless reports that he surely should be looking at.
She blushed and watched him wide eyed but when he shifted trying to guide her into laying down atop his desk...she didn't fight him. Her hands came up to cup his face and he had to fight the urge to close his eyes at the tender gesture. Carefully settling down over her, bracing himself just above her so she could feel his weight without being crushed by it.
Their lips met softly and he carefully pulled her hair loose from the ponytail she'd thrown it into, trusting one hand to hold his weight as he cupped the back of her head, lifting her up towards him slightly if only to have easier access to her lips.
Amelia let out a little sigh and he took advantage of it to slide his tongue slowly over her bottom lip before slipping it into her mouth to gently stroke over her own.
He pulled back a moment, watching her eyes flutter open, her hands now grasping his hair firmly. He felt a small sense of satisfaction at seeing how warm and open her gaze was-and how genuine her smile seemed to be.
"Is this okay?" He murmured, close enough that their lips still brushed and she gently leaned up to kiss him fully before responding.
"The desk?" Her words were breathy and he let out a little laugh at her question.
"...Well that and..." He slowly answered, watching her face.
She blushed darkly-realizing her blunder. "Its...perfect." she smirked. " Throw aside your work for me? I'm flattered if anything, Commander."
He felt his own cheeks grow warm and rolled his eyes before leaning down to capture her lips again.
It didn't take long though for the armour he wore to grow uncomfortable. Rather than risk crushing her should his arm give out for a moment he pulled away slowly, trailing his mouth across her jaw and down her throat when she arched her neck back in invitation for him, her fingers briefly tightened in his hair when he pulled off her. His hands rose to remove the straps holding his chest piece in place and her hands fell away as she watched-slowly sitting up when he lowered it away alongside the fur coat that rested always around his shoulders.
The coat however she caught, sitting up and laying it out behind her before turning her attention back to him. She caught his hands when he reached for her, kissing the tip of his nose before working his gloves and bracer's off one by one.
When they to joined his chest piece she reeled him back in for a kiss by the collar of his shirt and Cullen sighed out softly,his hand slipping down to the small of her back and pushing her in towards him.
As her fingers slipped beneath the hem of the shirt he wore beneath his armour he guided her head back to plant his lips over her pulse-feeling the pace beating against his lips.
As she began lifting the shirt though she asked softly. " Cullen..did...did you lock the doors?"
He had been busy in unbuttoning her own shirt but his hands stilled and he let out a little groan of frustration-to which she laughed.
"Cullen...just go lock them." He lifted his head and she smiled at him. "...I'll still be here. Just rather not be interrupted...again."
He smiled, shaking his head. "Never any rest as we agreed." he stepped away from her reluctantly-her hands falling away as he moved from door to door, sliding the deadbolts home.
"Rest isn't really what I had in mind...but...if you want...we can do that..of course." He paused after locking the last door, turning towards her, seeing her nervously unfastening the last clasp-sitting at the edge of his desk.
He swore his heart dropped into his stomach-he could feel it pounding there, but as she moved to remove the shirt he moved back to her rapidly, grasping her hands carefully in his own and setting them aside on the desk. He leaned in and smiled a bit when she tipped her head back as he wanted, his mouth skimming past the sensitive skin just below her ear to scour over her neck once more. His teeth lightly grazed over her pale skin and her involuntary shudder encouraged him to bite down a bit harder. Marking her intentionally before moving on. He lifted his hands to her shoulders, pushing the shirt off them to fall down to be caught by inner elbows.
He heard and felt her swallow as he removed the shirt completely, his mouth sliding across her collarbone. His fingers sliding up her sides slowly. Her hands came to rest carefully on his shoulders-tentative.
His fingers slid up higher and he stopped as he encountered the band of fabric holding her breasts. His lips parted-a warm breath of air passing over her skin and he felt her nails bunch into the fabric of his shirt.
"Cullen..." She pushed him back with a hand against his chest but then began tugging his shirt up, lifting it slowly, her cheeks flushed and gaze uncertain of her actions. He helped her remove it, tossing it unceremoniously aside. Before he could move back in though her hands landed on his chest again..skimming over his chest slowly. Tracing the same scars as last time and catching his gaze when he shuddered. She leaned forward with parted lips and he met her in a kiss eagerly. Hand settling on the small of her back once more. She arched into him as her hands slid up his chest, tracing every muscle and scar before slipping behind him and pull him tightly to her. Her body had to stretch to accommodate for their height difference and he leaned down to make this easier on her.
The kiss only broke when his hands grasped the band over her breasts, both taking in air quickly as she shifted to help him remove it. He tossed it aside more quickly than he intended-not truly caring where it ended up as his hands occupied the skin he had just revealed. Cupping her breasts and carefully sliding his thumbs over her nipples. She blushed red even as her head tipped back when his mouth returned to trail over her throat.
Surely she must have done this before He thought, with her dark auburn hair and golden eyes. He revelled in every freckle and mole he revealed on her skin, marred here and there by small silvery scars. Relationships in the circle were rare and often short lived but he knew she had also gone to the circle late sicne her abilities had not made themselves known until later.
She was too perfect to be untouched.
But she had never told him-it was hard to break away from what he was doing as he felt her fingers twisting in his hair, encouraging the descent of his mouth, he lifted his head, lips pressing close to her ear as he rasped out softly;
"Amelia have you..." He paused briefly losing his nerve.
Luckily though she looked up at him, lips parted as she breathed. " I...it's...been a long time." she managed softly. He smiled a little and they shared a laugh.
His forehead lightly bumped hers. " For me as well..."
She lowered her eyes for a moment, he felt her fingers tighten their grip and she pulled him down, tipping her head back and laying back on his desk. "...Please don't stop." she finally managed to whisper.
He decided to not make her ask twice-he couldn't be so cruel in a moment like this. His mouth pressing briefly to hers before sliding slowly downwards once more. He felt one of her hands splay across his back sliding across his skin as he closed his mouth over one nipple, tongue slowly twirling around it as his hand occupied the other one.
Her breath hitched and he glanced to her face he saw her eyes watching him, nervous but wanting. He grazed his teeth lightly over her sensitive skin and a small sigh escaped her-catching on a groan as he switched his attention to the other breast to offer the same attention.
His free hand slid down her body, catching her hip briefly and squeezing before he pulled away, her hips lifted when he pulled-removing her pants and undergarments in the same moment. He stood up to do this but returned his hands back to her hips-pausing just to stare.
She began to fidget and he glanced to her flushed face.
"...You're beautiful." He told her sincerely. She bit her lip and reached for him-he lowered himself over her again, relishing in the sigh she gave as their skin came into contact. Her hands sliding down his sides rapidly to pull impatiently at his belt, he laughed softly and felt her own coy smile beneath his lips. He pulled away though, sliding his mouth down her body-bypassing her breasts and hearing her confused whisper of his name as he held her down with a firm hand on her stomach, he spread her thighs and glanced up at her.
Her head fell back with a dull thunk when he finally leaned forward, kissing her inner thigh and biting lightly.
"We...should move to the bed..." she whispered blindly, fingers pressing into the back of his head as he finally wrapped his lips around that small bundle of nerves at the apex of her thighs.
He merely hummed thoughtfully and grabbed her hips to hold her down from bucking up against him. She moaned out quite loudly, one hand moving away from his head to fall across her eyes-her lip caught between her teeth as his tongue trailed lower, her words just prior already forgotten as he slipped his tongue between her wet folds only briefly before moving back again to her clit.
She tried to roll her hips as she let out a small gasp of his name and this time he let her, allowing her to grind against his mouth as his hand slid up between her legs, He held her down only slightly as he slid one finger between her folds curling it inside her slightly every time he pushed it in. Keeping his mouth wrapped tightly around her clit he flicked his tongue rapidly over the underside as he added a second finger.
Her legs flexed and she groaned out his name, grasping the edge of his desk with her other hand as her hips rolled against his mouth, she lifted her head, peering down her body and cursing when she finally caught sight of him.
She squirmed so much, legs shifting as she whimpered when his fingers curled at just the right spot inside her, hips jumping off the desk-he held her down firmly and shot her a look but her eyes were now closed, body shaking and he removed his fingers from inside her, tongue sliding in to replace them again while his thumb lightly circled and rubbed over her clit.
She gasped out his name, and it didn't take long for her back to arch off the wood, his hands slipping beneath to hold her against him as her orgasm washed over her, he licked over her slowly after she calmed down, pulling away slowly and undoing his belt as she caught her breath.
She looked at him, eyes blown wide. " I...you..."
He pushed his pants down and she sat up..pulling him in close to her.
"Where did you learn that?" she finally managed.
His eyes were amused even as he bumped his nose affectionately against hers and quipped gently. " The chantry."
She laughed and wrapped her arms around him, he grabbed her thighs, guiding her legs around his waist as he bent her only slightly over the desk. Their lips met and she laughed slightly at the taste of herself on his tongue. "What about you?" She murmured between kisses, her hand guiding his head to the side so she could nip at his neck.
He closed his eyes and swallowed. " Another night, Amelia." he whispered hoarsely. His hand pressed into her hip firmly as she rolled them against him, his arousal had been clear from the start but with no clothes between them he felt suddenly exposed.
She kissed him softly and smiled slowly. "Will that be in the bed Commander? or on the desk again..perhaps against the wall."
He pressed his forehead to hers, hands grasping her hips firmly but not stopping her movements now-if anything he was encouraging them. He groaned out her name softly and they kissed firmly. He hissed out his next words between clenched teeth. "All of the above."
Her eyes flashed with heat but before she could utter the witty retort she surely had on the tip of her tongue he claimed her mouth in a searing his, tongue sliding over hers-twisting and claiming...and she handed herself over to him without complaint. Back arching as he dragged her to the very edge of the desk, positioning himself at her entrance before sliding into her-firmly but not too fast. She moaned against his lips, pressing as close to him as she could possibly get. When he was finally seated fully inside her he waited, lost in the wet heat of her, the feeling of her walls wrapped around his length.
She whined softly and rolled her hips impatiently. He bit back a curse, catching her bottom lip with his teeth before finally pulling his hips back and snapping them forward in a smooth thrust.
The moan she gave was worth it-he decided.
He settled into a rhythm, a pace that wasn't overly fast but could not be called slow either, her hips rolled against him, meeting his movements eagerly as her breath stuttered out unevenly, he broke the kiss if only to let her have air and hear the moans she gave loud and clear. Her head tipped back and he buried his face into the crook of her neck, breathing her scent in heavily as he muffled his own groans against her throat, unable to stop himself from thrusting faster, harder. Pushing deeper into her with each stroke.
Her hands slid down his back, nails biting into his skin slightly as her legs tightened around him harshly.
He could feel her second climax fast approaching the friction between their bodies making her gasp out his name in a way that could only be called needy. He pulled his head back if only to her face, laying her back on his desk slightly as he pounded into her welcoming body, her hips lifting up eagerly as she pulled him down, foreheads pressing together.
Her eyes fluttered shut and her breath caught on a loud guttural moan. Her walls clenching around him.
He groaned out her name before speaking..no..ordering. " Amelia, look at me."
Her eyes fluttered open-pupils blown wide-hair sticking to her face-but she obeyed eyes locked on his, felt her muscles spasm around him and watched her jaw fall slack a loud cry of his name clawing its way up and out of her throat, head tossed back as she came.
His thrusts became frantic as he chased after his own release-groaning out her name as if praising her before he buried himself inside her one more time and spent himself within her.
He caught himself before falling over her, their chests still meeting but thankfully not crushing her small body beneath his.
He doesn't know how long it took for him to find his legs and rise, pulling out of her but lifting her up with him...her arms still wrapped loosely around his neck.
She kept her forehead pressed to his, lips parted and eyes closed.
He kissed her softly. " Amelia..." his own voice was husky-worn and her gaze fluttered open-the most content smile he had ever seen gracing her lips.
"That...was perfect." she murmured. Her hand moving to trail over the scar on his lip before she kissed the same spot.
He laughed softly.
"I meant to bring you to the bed."
Her head tipped to the side, eyes amused.
"...Well...we could always go there now." She murmured. raising a brow.
He laughed. "I suppose we could..."
She smiled and kissed him softly. "Just give me a moment..."
He smirked at her.
"Don't look so pleased." she teased softly. " Or Varric will be able to write all about this just from the look on your face in the morning."
"Perish the thought." he murmured.
She smiled slowly, cupping his cheek. She sighed out the next words softly. " I love you..."
His heart beat paused before picking up again-cheeks growing warm as he swallowed past the dry lump in his throat. "...I love you to." He whispered fiercely.
She smiled to him softly and just like always...
he couldn't help but kiss her.