This chapter has adult content. You have been warned!

Chapter 3

"God, it makes me be so blue, every time I think about you
All of the heat of my desire smokin' like some crazy fire
Come on here, look at me where I stand, can't you see my heart burnin' in my hands?
Do you want me? Do you not? Does it feel cold baby? Does it feel hot?"

Wonderful by Annie Lennox

Tristen shook off the remnants of the nightmare, got up and grabbed some wood to add to the fire. Once the flames were blazing he walked over to where Sabrina was sleeping and sat down beside her. He gently brushed her long dark tresses back so that he could look at her beautiful face and he was happy for now that she was safe here with him.

For as long as he could remember he had shared dreams with Alistair. He had been told at a very young age that he had a twin brother and because of that knowledge he always knew when he was in one of Alistair's dreams. Alistair, on the other hand, when he entered Tristen's, probably thought it was just one of those weird dreams where you are viewing yourself in third person.

Their mother had explained to him that some twins held a special connection with each other even over great distances. Both Alistair and Tristen had been born with the Taint in their blood; their mother's pregnancy had acted like a type of joining. The Taint was present, but until the two of them had gone through the actual magic ritual of the joining, the taint hadn't become active. Their mother speculated that because they were tainted twins that their connection was even stronger.

It was through these dreams that Tristen knew of Alistair's rough upbringing and when he told their mother that Alistair had been sent to the Chantry, she broke down and wept. To help console her, Duncan said that he would go to Ferelden and watch over her son. Duncan had been in Tristen's life since he was a small child and like Alistair, Tristen had thought of him as a father.

It was also through Alistair's dreams that they learned what had truly happened at Ostagar and that Duncan had died. Tristen had felt the loss as deeply as Alistair and wanted revenge just as much. He understood Alistair's anger when Sabrina had conscripted Loghain, but maybe because he had been raised around Warden's all his life he knew that she had made the right decision. No matter what the cost, Grey Wardens must stop the Blight. Alistair had allowed his need for revenge to consume him and when he was denied that act by the woman he loved and trusted, Tristen felt something break in Alistair.

Now a battle was waging inside his brother and a darkness was starting to take over. If Tristen could help Alistair he would, but his first priority was to save Sabrina because Alistair's rage was focused on her. She needed to be far away from him because if Alistair was unable to control the monster that was growing inside him, he would eventually seek out Sabrina to destroy her.

Tristen gently stroked Sabrina's cheek and she murmured in her sleep. It felt amazing to be this close to her, to actually touch her, to smell her, to taste her. When Alistair had met Sabrina, she had saturated his brother's subconscious mind. He dreamt of her every night for eighteen months. Alistair dreamt about her kindness, her compassion, and her wit. Even though she was a lethal weapon on the battlefield, his fear of losing her had began to creep into his dreams.

He dreamed of their secret intimate moments that they spent together and as Alistair fell in love with her so did Tristen. Tristen was there when Alistair dreamed of his first time with Sabrina, and he knew this wasn't just some normal guy wet dream. No, it was no longer Alistair's imagination filling in how Sabrina would look and behave while engaged in the act of making love. This dream was pulled from real memories. Tristen knew from previous dreams that Sabrina was no virgin when she finally welcomed Alistair into her bed, and Tristen was completely mesmerized with how at ease she was her sexuality. She had a confidence about her that most women lacked. She was aggressive, but not overly so. She liked to take control, but as Alistair became more experienced she became extremely aroused when he was the aggressor. Her sexual prowess was such an incredible turn on that he lost count of the number of times he woke up and needed to change his sheets.

From the dream that Alistair had of his first time, Sabrina had completely taken control. Knowing that Alistair was a virgin she had quickly undressed him and had him climaxing in her mouth within minutes. Then she spent the next several hours taking Alistair to new heights of pleasure that he hadn't even dreamed possible, and she taught him how to please a woman…how to pleasure her and Tristen took careful notes. He had wished that his first time had been as educational as his brother's and the idiot probably still didn't realize what a gift had been handed to him.

Tristen knew that the whole dream sharing thing was very voyeuristic and on some level a little creepy, but it wasn't like he could control his dreams. He had tried and always failed. Hell, Alistair did the same thing to him; he just didn't know that wasn't his own dream. There were times when he would go months without being in one of Alistair's dreams and then there were times when he would share them every night for months. When he was younger the long periods without the dream sharing was nice, because at times Alistair's life was hard to watch. When those periods happened once Sabrina had come into his life, it was agonizing.

Even if Alistair's mind hadn't begun to slip into a dark abyss, Tristen would have sought her out, because he had to know if he truly loved her or if his feelings were just projections from his brother's dreams. After that first night with her, he knew beyond a doubt that she was the embodiment of everything he had ever wanted, and everything he ever needed – she was his perfect match and he knew that he was hers.

If Alistair had stayed on as a Grey Warden he would have made her happy – their lives may have lacked some of the passion and spark that keeps a relationship strong, but Alistair loved her and hopelessly devoted to her, he would have made it work.

As King, however, even if he could quench the monster that was rising up within him, Alistair would only bring misery to Sabrina's life, because of the choice he had made to leave her. What Alistair didn't understand, but somehow Tristen did, is that Sabrina had lost too much over the past couple of years and for him to choose to walk away from her, after a vow to never leave her side, would be something that she would be incapable of forgiving. Oh, she may try to forgive him, but deep down he knew it would always be there – the trust, gone forever.

He stroked her hair gently and thought about their first two days together and how incredibly hot and unrestrained the sex between the two of them had been. Tristen was a no holds barred kind of guy when it came to those types of escapades - slow and sensual, rough and forceful he wasn't picky -he liked it all. Hell, with enough rum he would even be willing to dress up as a pirate, tie up his wench with some rope and give her the ole' iron rod special. Tristen smiled to himself as he imagined Sabrina dressed as a wench and him as a pirate. Hmm, he wondered if she would be up for little role playing.

It was from Alistair's dreams Tristen knew, what with everything that had transpired between the two of them recently, that Sabrina would have immediately been suspicious if he played the sweet sensitive Alistair. He needed her to believe that he was Alistair until he had her far from Denerim. If he was truthful with himself he would have preferred their first time together to be locked in a room where he could spend hours exploring every inch of her body with his hands, his lips and his tongue. He had wanted his first time with her to be almost painfully slow as he made her come over and over again, drinking from her chalice until she was completely tapped out.

Tristen felt her stir beside him, her eyes fluttered open and her sparkling green eyes gazed up at him. A half smile crept across her face, "It can't be morning, yet?"

"No, dawn is several hours away. I had trouble sleeping and thought I would keep watch," he replied.

Sabrina yawned, stretched and then sat up. "Why don't you get some sleep and I will keep watch for a while?"

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, you need your rest. We have a long day tomorrow," she replied.

He nodded and went to his bed roll. He watched her through the flames until he drifted off to sleep.

They had been on the road now for almost a week when they came across their first battlefield. The clearing was covered with at least two dozen darkspawn corpses. They both drew their weapons, Tristen flanking her left side as they eased onto the battlefield. After making sure all of the creatures were dead they began to examine the bodies and scene more closely.

"Doesn't it look like they were fighting each other?' Sabrina asked.

"Yeah, I'm getting that impression. But why?" Tristen asked.

Sabrina shrugged her shoulders as she surveyed the gore-soaked field. "The Blight ended over two months ago. Why haven't they retreated underground?"

"That's a damn good question and I really wish I had an answer, this whole scene makes me uneasy," Tristen replied.

"I agree. Let's gather up the bodies and burn them so that we can make camp far away from here," Sabrina said.

Tristen nodded and they quickly went to work. It took them several hours and by the time they were done both of them were covered in sweat and darkspawn blood. Leaving the remains burning, they swiftly left the area and once they were far from the bloody field, began to search for an area to set up camp.

They came to a clearing several miles away that had a small lake they could bathe in. After their tents were set-up, Tristen told Sabrina to head down to the water to get cleaned up while he gathered wood and started the fire. Sabrina was covered head to toe in blood and gore and gave him little resistance.

Once he had gathered enough wood for the night and started the fire, he gathered a set of clean clothes and headed for the pond. He had just entered the clearing when saw that Sabrina was still in the water, floating on her back, humming to herself and completely, breathtakingly naked. He stood there for a moment utterly captivated by her magnificent body. Oh he had seen her naked in dreams, and those first few days together had been so heated he had not taken the time to truly appreciate the splendor of her body. She stroked her arms gently backwards as she moved around the lake and her perky, taut breasts bobbed up and down in the water. Maker he wanted to take her in his mouth and feast on her delectable body.

He quickly undressed and slipped into the water. He quietly swam up to her and scooped her up so that she was cradled in his arms. She yelped from surprise as he pulled her out the water and to his chest.

"I don't recall giving you my consent to touch me," she exclaimed.

"My Lady, no man with eyes could resist the urge to take you when your tantalizing body is on display like that," Tristen murmured in her ear as one arm released her legs and he drew her against him. The feel of soft breast and hard nipples pressed against his chest, sending an electric charge through him and his already hard erection grew even stiffer.

She pressed her hand against his chest and sighed, "Tristen…" He wasn't about to let her finish that sentence. He had respected her wishes and hadn't touched her once during the past week, but by the Maker he would have her tonight. He needed her tonight, to help clear out the disturbed dreams that Alistair had been having.

His mouth covered hers as his tongue caressed her lips seeking entrance, slowly, yet hesitantly her mouth opened and his surged forward as his need to taste her, devour her, grew stronger. His hand slipped down her back to her perfectly round and firm buttocks. Maker, her soft supple skin felt wonderful. His other hand cupped her breast as his thumb and forefinger pinched and pulled at the hard nipple. He felt her body begin to react so he seized the taut nub with his mouth, drawing on it until he heard her cry out, but he could tell she was holding back, resisting him.

His lips left her breasts and he kissed his way up her neck to her ear. "Brin, give in to me. I know you want me as much as I want you," he whispered as he pressed his hard member against her thigh and he heard her sigh.

"I do want you, Tristen. I just don't know if this is a good idea," Sabrina murmured.

"I won't make you do anything you don't want to do, but I can feel your body wanting this as much as I do," Tristen whispered again as he gave teasing little bites to her earlobe, feeling her body lean into him.

"Don't fight it, Brin. Just give into it, give into me, baby," he moaned just before his lips found her mouth and he once again lost himself in the sweetness of her lips. He wrapped his arm around her waist pulled her hips against his throbbing member as he tried to relieve some of the pressure. With his other hand he cupped the back of her neck as his tongue caressed and stroked her mouth, compelling her to give back to him the carnal need that he was giving her. He heard her whispered moan of surrender as he felt her arms slip around his neck and her slender fingers slid into his hair. She welcomed his tongue and willingly gave him hers as she deepened the kiss conveying her need, her desire for him.

She wanted him, not because she thought he was Alistair and not because he had her on an emotional and sexual tightrope. She wanted him…for him and that thought alone nearly drove him out of his mind. He backed her up to the shore of the lake. He sat at the edge of the water so that the water lapped at his feet and he pulled her down in between his legs with her back to him. He pulled her against him. He wanted her to feel his thick, hard arousal pressed against her back.

He kissed the nape of her neck, her shoulders, as his hands slid up the curve of her hips to cup her breasts. The soft weight of them filled his palms as his thumbs stroked her taut nipples.

"Oh, Brin, I have wanted you for so long," he moaned as he pressed against her bottom. With one hand still caressing her breasts, his other hand slipped in between her legs and through her wet folds. Her hips pushed against his hand begging him for release. His fingers slowly, teasingly traced the swollen nub. She pushed into him as she sought to increase the pressure but he refused to give in, until he was ready to. He pulled her further up towards him and half across his thighs, cradling her back with his left arm. Her long locks flowed to the ground as he turned her slightly, so his erection was now pressing into her behind and his mouth could reach her delicious breasts. He drew them into his mouth sucking vigorously while his hips thrust against her bottom. She cried out at the pull of his mouth and her fingers entangled in his hair, clutching at him while he devoured her breasts, his fingers sliding in and out of her while his thumb rubbed against her swollen center. Every pull of his lips, every caress of his hand brought cries of ecstasy as she writhed against his touch and as the wave of pleasure broke, she cried out his name, trembling against him.

When the aftershocks had subsided she turned to face him. She pushed him to the ground and slid up to straddle him. He held still as she took his face in her hands and caressed his cheek and jaw with her fingertips. She leaned over him, her mouth mere inches from his, "Tristen, I want you," she whispered as the warmth of her breath brushed across lips.

That was music to his ears. He felt his body tremble and he stifled a moan of pleasure as her lips grazed his lips, his cheek, his ear.

"Tristen," she whispered, as she pressed her pelvis hard against his erection and her lips danced down his neck to his chest. Her teeth lightly grazed his nipple before her lips closed over it and drew it taut. He groaned while his hands caressed her back and bottom. Her lips followed the path down his stomach while her hand reached for him and wrapped her warm velvety hand around him. His head fell back as her hot and firm fingers slid over him and as she stroked him, a fire coursed through him. He was so lost in the sensation of her touch that he hadn't even realized she had moved between his legs, until he felt the moist warmth of her mouth. He looked down just in time to watch her tongue curl around the tip of his erection before she took him completely into her mouth. Captivated he watched her take in the length of him and jerked suddenly as her tongue swirled around him.

"Brin," he murmured. "By the Maker, Brin."

His eyes never left her as she gripped him with her beautiful lips, basking in the heat of her mouth as he struggled to remain in control as the rhythm of her strokes increased. Oh Maker, she felt incredible. His body ached from the heat of her touch and he let out a groan as she looked up at him, her mouth enfolded tightly around him. She laced her tongue around him again and it took every ounce of strength not to release into her. He gently rested his hand on her head, "Mon Soleil, you're trying to kill me."

She acted like she hadn't heard him and she continued to tease him till he was on the brink of an orgasm, then her mouth would relax long enough for him to calm down before she would do it again. She would pull at him, suck at him until he was begging for release. His hands fisted in her hair as his hips grew more urgent, moving helplessly in time with her mouth. She took him deep until he was so enraptured with pleasure he couldn't think straight.

"Oh fuck, Brin finish it or let me have you," he cried out.

Her soft taunting laughter sent him even closer to the edge, but she complied as her mouth released him. He was so hard that by the time she actually straddled him, he thought he might shatter. The moment he entered her, fire burned through him and his vision actually blurred as her heat enfolded him, her muscles contracting around him. She began to move slowly against him and as she glided back and forth she gripped him with each stroke, causing him to shudder with pleasure. It was such sweet torture, but his body was now demanding release. He grasped her hips and began to move her faster and harder against him. His hips thrusting up against her, driving deeper. She cried out as she arched her back and her beautiful breasts swayed with each movement.

Tristen watched as each stroke brought her closer to edge. He reached down between them and caressed her hot center. She cried out his name as her climax hit her hard and she took him over the edge with her, her muscles clamping around him, dragging every last drop out of him. She collapsed against his chest as she tried to control her breathing.

Once she could speak she declared, "I'm starving."

"Well, it's a good thing that I have a fire going," Tristen said as she slid off of him. He watched her as she gracefully started to dry herself off. He admired all of her toned muscles, the curve of her hips, and the swell of her beautiful breasts.

She looked over and caught him watching her. "Are you enjoying the show?"

"Well, actually if you could shake your ass a little, maybe touch yourself, it would be a much better show. I might even tip you."

She raised an eyebrow, and then spun around giving him a view of her bare back and luscious bottom. Then slowly and very provocatively, her hips began to sway back and forth as her hands caressed her hips and behind. She turned toward him with her hips still swaying and she ran her hands over her breasts, down her stomach and between her legs. Tristen felt his jaw drop. He went to reach for her, but she jumped back.

She smiled at him and waved a finger in his face, "It's a show. You can look, but you cannot touch."

His eyes grew wide with desire, "The hell I can't." And jumping to his feet, he lunged for her. She screamed and started to run from him, but he wasn't far behind. He grabbed her from behind, spun her around and pushed her against the nearest tree. His lips immediately claimed hers as his hand traveled down the same path her own hand had traveled, then pushed his fingers inside her. She was so wet and warm and he was instantly hard. He quickly removed his hand and thrust into her. Damn she felt incredible.

"Oh Maker, Tristen," she moaned. He didn't think it was possible but the sound of his name falling from her lips made him grow even harder, as he thrust into her again and again. Maker he loved this woman. She wrapped her legs tightly around his waist, bringing him even deeper. He felt her muscles tighten around him and she moaned his name again.

"Fuck, Brin, you're driving me crazy," he groaned into her throat. He gripped her hips, slamming himself into her as he rubbed against her sweet nub. He felt her body quickly responding to his and she cried out his name as her orgasm violently shook her. Her muscles clamped around him sending shockwave after shockwave of pleasure through him with each thrust. He growled into her throat as came deep inside her, sending fierce tremors throughout his body. Panting heavily he rested his head in the crook of her neck while he tried to catch his breath. He felt her fingers slide up the back of his neck and intertwine in his hair.

He looked up at her and saw her eyes sparkling as she looked at him. She smiled, "Did I earn my tip?"

He laughed, "Most definitely."

They finally made it back to camp and prepared dinner. They talked late into the night until exhaustion overtook her and she fell asleep on his chest. He listened to the sounds of her rhythmic breathing. Tonight was the best night of his life. He had just made love to the woman of his dreams…literally the woman from his dreams, and now he was falling asleep with her in his arms. He felt himself drifting off to sleep and the last thing he remembered thinking was if Alistair fucked this night up with one of his psycho dreams, he would personally have to kill him.

He woke the next morning to the smell of breakfast cooking. He saw Sabrina by the fire, completely dressed in her armor. He looked around and saw that both tents were down and packed. "What time is it?" He mumbled.

"The sun has been up for a couple of hours now," Sabrina said.

"Brin, why didn't you wake me? I would have helped."

"You obviously needed the rest. I think you overexerted yourself last night," she said with a grin as she handed him a cup of tea and a plate. He patted the ground beside him inviting her to sit. She hesitated. He gave her the grin that he knew made her weak and said, "Come on sit beside me. I promise I won't bite…at least not until after I've had my breakfast."

She hesitated again and his stomach clenched at her reluctance. She grabbed her cup of tea and sat beside him. "What's the matter, Sabrina?" He asked coolly.

She looked at him and then back down at her tea, "About last night…"

"Aaah damn, that's never a good way to start a conversation, please don't tell me you are regretting it?"

She smiled over at him and shook her head, "No, last night was great."

"Just great, not the best sex of your life," he questioned.

She laughed, "It was definitely up there. You made the top five."

"And where on that top five list do I fall?"

She grinned at him, "Let's just say that there is room for improvement."

He acted like he had taken a dagger to the heart. "Ouch!"

"If it's any consolation you are sitting solidly in the number four and number five spot," she said.

"Huh, well that's not too bad for only meeting you two weeks ago. So what does it take to slide into the top three?"

She smiled sadly and it made his heart ache to see the pain that flickered across her face. "That is what I wanted to talk to you about…"

"You wanted to talk to me about moving into the top three, I believe that it is going to take more than talk for me to move into those places of distinction." He grabbed her by the waist and pulled her into his lap. "As a man of action, I do believe I need to show…"

She placed her fingers on his lips asking him to be quiet. He looked into her eyes and he saw grief and pain. "Tristen, I can feel that there is a connection between us. I don't know what that connection is or where it may take us, but before I can explore that with you, I need to come to terms with my feelings for Alistair, and make sure I am not projecting those feeling on to you. I can't do that if I am sleeping with you."

"Great, so we can continue to have awesome sex together, but no longer sleep together. I think I can live with that compromise," he said lightheartedly.

She smiled at him, leaned in to cup his face with her hands and kissed him. "I want this to work….I…I don't know why, but I think this could be really great. And I don't want to screw it up, but right now I am a little screwed up, and I have to work through that if I am going to be any good for you."

He ran his fingers through her hair and pulled her to him. He pressed his lips gently to Sabrina's and then rested his forehead against hers. "If you need time then I will give you all the time you need. If all you can offer me right now is your friendship, then I will gladly take it. When you are ready to move forward, I will be here waiting for you."

She leaned in kissed him one last time, "Thank you." And he held her tightly for a very long time before he released her, not knowing if he would ever have her back in his arms again.

*Author's notes - A huge thank you to RandomWittering for her beta magic. You rock!