Talise was alone when she opened her eyes. She was stretched out in the middle of Cullen's bed, his large frame was not pressed against hers, a heavy arm was not draped over her middle, a hand did not cup one of her breasts, lazily stroking her tender skin in her sleep, and there was no scratch of stubble against her shoulder. The bed behind her was cold, she hissed in a breath as her sleep-warmed skin met cool sheets.

Covering a yawn with her hand, she sat up, reached for a discarded shirt, all the while listening for any sounds coming from Cullen's quarters below. No sound, not Cullen ruffing through papers, no one issued orders or spoke to a soldier, his quarters were eerily still. Sitting on a nearby chest sat a small leather pack, a note on creamy parchment was propped atop it, her name written in a familiar, feminine hand, from Valissia. Uncaring that she was naked, save for one of Cullen's shirts, she padded across the wooden floor to it.

Little Love,

Amelia has decided she is going to seduce Michel tonight, and wants our room for her purposes. I took the liberty of packing you a bag to keep at Cullen's quarters, so you will not need to try and sneak in before Michel gets there. Perhaps this is a good time to speak of sleeping arrangements? Neither of us are truly using the room for more than storage… If things have progressed with Cullen to that point, then perhaps you should have that roof in his quarters fixed, and claim it, and him, as truly yours.

Speaking of Cullen, I did what you asked of me, as did Amelia while you were gone. And I have gotten to know him better, in the time I've spent around him. In the beginning, I only cared about your heart; but now I have a vested interest in you both. Do not hurt that man and put me in the position of having to defend you. He is struggling Talise, he is hurting and in pain from withdrawal, and while I can assist with that in many ways, what he needs more is what you can give him. He needs to forgive himself. He has done things and said things that he considered unforgivable.

You and I both know how awful things in Kirkwall became, at the end. I would happily choke the life from Anders if I could get my hands on him, for starting this Maker damned war between templars and mages. Cullen carries the weight of all that has happened in Kirkwall, and before, at Kinloch Hold. Ironically, both times stand as testament to what evil and harm a mage can bring, and yet it is the templar that blames himself.

You cannot force him to forgive himself, and you are not his absolution. Just like he is not yours. But help him find his own way to forgiveness and peace. He desperately deserves both.

Valissia

By the way, Amelia and I agree. Lord Cullen and Lady Talise Rutherford sound quite perfect together.

Also, I am spending the night with Christopher. Unless someone is bleeding to death, on fire, or the Breach tears itself completely open and the world is ending within seconds, I do not care, I am not interested, and it can wait until tomorrow. I suggest you take the same attitude and spend this night with Cullen.

Her summer bright gaze flicked over the parchment, and she snorted inelegantly at the last lines, before laying the letter to one side, and peering into the pack. Valissia had not let her down, fresh clothes, a comb, ties and pins for her hair, soap, lotion, anything she would possibly need for days, not one night, was filled in the pack. Tucked into a pocket were several healing tonics, and two bottles of a shimmering, silvery draught. Thoughtfully she studied them, picking one up and swirling the bottle, watching the liquid gleam in the bottle. She had taken the draughts faithfully for years now, twice a week, even when she has had no need to. A thought rose in her, one she scarcely gave hope to; a baby, with golden curls and familiar bright cerulean eyes, the idea wrenched her heart against her ribs in a wave of longing, and without thinking, she uncorked the draught, tips the bottle back, drinking it swiftly. The wants of her heart would have to wait, until the world was safer, until Cullen was safe.

Stealthily she worked her way across the quiet courtyard. Night was falling on Skyhold, the sun had sunk behind the snowcapped Frostbacks, the sky was a blaze of colors, but Talise missed the showy display as she walked with single-minded purpose. In the garden, tucked in a small room, she found Cullen on his knees in front of the statue of Andraste. Her heart ached at the sight, his golden head was bowed, and she could just barely make out the words he was saying. Once again, he was praying.

Quietly, she crossed the room, laying a hand on his shoulder when she reached for him. One gloved hand reached for hers, squeezing her fingers tightly, but he did not move from his spot. Instead, Talise sunk to her knees beside him, and Cullen reached for her, drawing her to his side with one powerful arm.

Against his shoulder, she spoke, her head bowed, "Cullen… I need you to forgive me."

He had not paused in his prayers, although he had stuttered a word when the scent of water lilies reached him. But now, as her whispered words, he stopped, blinking several times in confusion as he looked over at her, "For what?"

Talise lifted her chin, her summer bright gaze tracing over the statue of Andraste before her, "I knew…. About Anders. Well, I suspected."

His amber gaze grew wide for a moment, and he sucked in a deep breath. Talise was arrowing to the heart of his guilt, and making it hers.

"I left Kirkwall to finish a contract in Nevarra. Amelia went with me, Valissia stayed behind in Kirkwall, with Hawke and his friends", Her hair, unbound, fell around her shoulders and over her face in a spill of dark chocolate strands, sparkling with hints of gold from the candles lit in the chapel.

"So, you weren't there when Anders blew up the circle then?"

"No. But Valissia had written me, told me that she suspected Anders was possessed, and that he was losing control to the spirit, or demon, that had possessed him. She wanted to go to the templars, she knew from Hawke that Knight-Captain Rutherford was harsh, but fair, and she felt she could trust you with the information."

"I…." His hands ached this evening, and they trembled until he curled his hands into loose fists. He had fallen asleep with Talise, only to be woken up hurting and troubled by his dreams. After pacing his office until his knees ached, he had limped his way to the chapel in the garden. He had not prayed as much as he had sat in front of Andraste, letting the memories wash over him. A few short months ago, he had sat in this chapel, with a short, dark-haired woman, who had the most piercing, summer bright blue eyes, while she mourned a brother. A brother who had died at Haven. The guilt had plagued Cullen that evening, he had been in command, he should have done something more, instead Jordan had rushed out with the Inquisitor, determined to help, and had fallen in battle.

He had expected her anger, and braced himself for it when Talise walked into the main hall that first morning. Instead he had realized she was blaming herself, that her guilt at her brother's death had driven her to the Inquisition, to sit for judgment. And she had walked off with his heart that night in the chapel. Now, she was accepting guilt for something yet again, this time for the events at Kirkwall, and the idea snatched the air from his lungs, made his heart hurt, intensified the ache in his battered hands.

"I told her no. Reminded her she was an apostate mage, and that you would likely take her in as well. I knew well the abuse Meredith was dealing out, and I was terrified Valissia would be made tranquil before I could get back to Kirkwall and get her out of the Circle." The assassin's sharp gaze saw the tremble in his hands, felt it against her shoulder, and she reached out, curling her hands around his as she whispered the words to him.

"Meredith wielded the brand for far less. I cannot say I blame you for your concern." It felt heretical, somehow, to talk loudly in the small chapel, and so instead his deep voice whispered the words to her, while he leaned one stubble-covered cheek against the top of her head.

Talise murmured the words, her gaze watching the tiny flames from snow white candles dance around them, "I know. I had written several anonymous letters to the Seekers, pleading with them to investigate Meredith, to come to Kirkwall and see for themselves what was going on."

Cullen sucked in a breath at her softly whispered admission, watching as her fingers curled around his fist, sliding between his fingers and holding on tightly to him, "You… you did?"

"Cullen, I passed through Kirkwall repeatedly, I'd heard the rumors."

"I should have done more to stop Meredith." He lifted his head from hers, muscled shoulders dropping as he spoke.

"She played off your anger and your pain. Instead of trying to help you get through your past, like she should have. And you cannot blame the red lyrium on that, she was doing that before she was exposed to it." One of her small hands left his, and she reached for his face, cupping his warm palm in her hand, her thumb gently running over the scar that ran to his lip.

He nodded, merely watching her, his warm gaze tracing over the delicate features of her face, his fingers squeezing tightly around hers.

"I told Valissia I would finish the contract, come back to Kirkwall and deal with Anders. And speak to Hawke. I was arrogant, the Ghost of Ferelden had never failed, and I could balance everything." Guilt, doubt, pain, they all flickered in his gaze, darkening the shades of blue that swirled in her eyes.

Even as she spoke, he was shaking his head at her words, his honey and whiskey gaze meeting hers, "Hawke is as much as to blame as you are."

"There is plenty of blame to go around. The contract in Nevarra took longer than we anticipated. Amelia wanted to head back to Kirkwall ahead of me, to see if she could find out what was going on, but I didn't want her traveling alone." Her fingers kept up gentle movements, tracing with a light touch against his face.

"Yet it's fine for you to travel alone?" His answer is short, he still remembered the night she staggered into Skyhold, bleeding and beaten, having taken on a group of Venatori alone.

"I'm better at self-preservation", her lips curled in a half smile as she spoke, "When the job was finished, I got a message from Valissia, she had fled Kirkwall. Anders had made his move, the Chantry there was destroyed, Meredith was revealed to be insane, and the city was in utter chaos."

"It was not a pleasant time." Pleasant shivers had broken out over him as he stroked his face, but his gaze fell shut at the memories that came to him.

"I know. There are many people who could have stopped things in Kirkwall, yet none did. We weren't meant to." Slowly her fingers worked their way over his eyebrows, tracing them with the very tips of her fingers.

"What do you mean?" Tawny lashes, just a few shades darker than his hair, covered his gaze as he spoke, dark circles nearly the color of fresh bruises rimming his gaze.

It took her several moments for her to speak, and her words are colored with both acceptance of the past, and a tinge of regret, "If things were meant to be any different, then the Seekers would have come to Kirkwall to investigate Meredith. If Viscount Threnhold had succeeded in expelling the Templars, Meredith would not have come to power there. If Viscount Dumar had done more as Meredith's abuses came to light, it would have stopped. If Varric and Bertrand and Hawke had never found the red lyrium idol Meredith would never have ended up with it. If I had stayed in Kirkwall longer, passed on the contract in Nevarra, if I had finished it faster. If I had let Amelia go ahead of me. If I had acted on Valissia's instincts sooner."

"What would you have done to Anders?" Cullen was afraid to voice the words. He knew what she did, knew who she was, her skills and work were legendary. For some unknown reason, he still asked, even as he feared the answered.

Talise met his gaze with her own, not flinching from him, refusing to hide the parts of her life from him anymore, "I'm an assassin. Do you even need to ask?"

"If Hawke had listened to reason, years before, about Anders. There is blame, but we all carry an equal share of it. It shouldn't be yours alone", she slipped from underneath his arm, and moved to sit in front of him, putting her back to the statue. On her knees in front of Cullen, she cupped his face in both hands, feeling the scratch of his stubble against her palms, "I need you to forgive me, for not acting sooner. For not protecting everyone."

"There is nothing to forgive. You did the best you could. It was an impossible situation." He murmured the words, and moved, straightening from his spot on the steps. Still on his knees, he pulled her to him, until he could wrap both arms around her back.

"Then why can't you forgive yourself?" the words were gently murmured against his cheek, while she pressed a tender kiss to the stubble covered skin.

Cullen froze, leaning back to look at her, the warm amber of his gaze colliding with the cool blue of hers. He saw nothing but sympathy in them, and her love for him, it warred with the guilt that he carried. She was right, and he knew it, but years of guilt and torment would not let go. Carefully, she rose to her feet, and reached for one of his gloved hands, when his fingers curled around her own, she tugged him after her, leading him out of the chapel, and across the darkened garden.

"We've been here before", he murmured the words, remembering the night he spent with her in the chapel.

Talise's booted feet came to a stop on the garden path, and she turned, looking up at him, "You were the bright spot in that miserable night. No matter what may happen, I will always remember that it was you that stayed with me."

"I…. did not want to let you go", his gaze traveled over her face as she looked up at him.

"I didn't want to leave."

"I'm not letting you go this time", he tugged on the hand he held, bringing her to him, slowly gathering her into his arms. When her booted feet left the ground, she wound her arms around his neck, burying her face in his surcoat while he held her. The last light of evening faded as they stood there, Cullen holding Talise off the ground until his arms ached, and he let her slide to the ground, but keep his grip on the assassin as tight as he could.

Eventually, as the stars wheeled overhead, Talise lifted her head from his chest, "We can't stand out here all night long."

"I was sort of hoping we could."

"Come on."

He followed her, lifting a dark gold eyebrow when Talise turned into the hallway where the advisor's private baths were. When she came to a stop in front of the door that lead to his bath, he could not help the smirk that curled his lips, "I didn't bring the key."

"I've yet to find a lock I could not pick", she returned his smirk, sinking to her knees in front of the lock, and tugging a few tools from the inside of her boot. A few seconds of tinkering, and with a small squeak, the lock gave. Wearing a smile of triumph, she glanced up at Cullen, only to be shoved into the room, his lips pressed to hers as he kicked the door shut. Cullen pinned her to the door with his frame, cupping her face in his hands as their tongues curled and rubbed against each other.

One of the perks of being an advisor was the separate bathing quarters. Josephine and Leiliana had taken the rooms with ornate tubs, and filled them with soft towels, robes, silken lotions and perfume. Cullen had picked the one with the tub carved directly out of the stone floor, heated by some sort of engineering marvel the dwarves came up with in the first weeks the Inquisition took over Skyhold. One side of the tub was heated until the water was almost too hot to stand, the other side was left cooler, and in the middle, where it all met, was perfect for the former templar.

They managed to part, and keep their hands off each other as they pulled off armor and clothes; Cullen left Talise standing by her pile of clothes, pinning up her dark hair. He walked on bare feet to the tub, easing into the water with a moan of appreciation, and stretching his legs out in front of him, beneath the water.

Both heavily muscled arms were stretched across the edge of the tub, and he had propped his head on a mound of clean white towels. He heard a familiar, and telltale swishing of feet against stone, a barest hint of sound, and a grin curled his lips. A soft splash, a swirling of the water, and cool, slick skin slid over his leg, then his hip, and a familiar weight settled into his lap.

"Caught you off guard Commander."

"No. I heard you walking." His lashes lifted as Talise spoke, and he groaned. Even though he knew she would be naked, the sight of her, pink nipples already tightened atop her breasts, dark hair hanging down her back and over her shoulders, and her eyes, gleaming with arousal, drew a groan from him.

"Only because I didn't care if you heard me or not", She wasted no time, her arms curling into his shoulders and then sliding down his arms, unable to resist the corded muscles. She leaned to one side, stretching over him, taking the opportunity to press her breasts into his chest, bringing a sigh to her lips as she did so, and snatching up a small tub of liniment that she had brought in, along with a towel.

Cullen groaned at the feel of her against him, and his hands moved from the sides of the tub to run down her back, in a slow slide. His skin tingled, without asking he knew what she was doing, her fingers found the sore spots on his back and shoulders, and rubbed the liniment into his skin. Whiskey and honey eyes roamed over her delicate features as she continued her task.

She hummed when he started to touch her, his calloused fingers softened by the water, his touch feather light as he traced over the scar on her arm, his lips brushed against her shoulder, unable to help himself he slid his arms around her frame and gathered him to her, until they were pressed together.

Talise ran her hands down one of Cullen's arms, over the muscles and scarred skin, to his hand, and she held it with both of hers, her talented fingers rubbing away the tightness in his palm. When she started to rub his hand, Cullen's head dropped back to the towel he had piled next to the side of the tub, and he sighed, chills breaking out along his form, "Maker… You could do that all day."

"I'm afraid we'll get rather pruny if we stay in here all day", she grinned, settling back into his lap as she continued to rub his hand, digging her thumbs into the fleshy part of his palm. When her soft folds rubbed against his length, already half-hard, she sucked in a breath, forcing herself to concentrate on rubbing his hand.

His hips arched to press his length against her folds, and he groaned again at the feel of her, warm and soft as she rubbed against him. When she started to work on his other hand, rubbing more liniment into his knuckles, his thick lashes drifted shut, half covering his warm amber gaze, "It would be worth it though."

"Can I tell you something?" She whispered the words to him as her fingers rubbed into his palm, working the liniment into his skin, her blue eyes glittering with arousal as she looked up over their entwined fingers to his face, tipped backwards as he lay against the towel on the edge of the tub.

"Anything."

"Valissia and I remarked on your hands once. How we liked them. I had no idea how much I'd come to like them when her and talked".

Talise was spinning a sensual web around them, as she whispered to him, and he fell easily into it, letting his eyes close fully as he continued to rock and rub his hips against hers, "You like them more now?"

"Of course. That day in the garden, watching you play chess, I had no idea what these hands could do." She let his hand go, and leaned into him, brushing her lips over his jaw, and his cheek, nipping at his earlobe, "Especially to me."

Both of his hands, tingling from her touch, slid around her waist, pulling her harder to him when she nipped at his ear. At her urging he sat up, and she washed his hair, rubbed soap into his skin, and then rinsed him clean, her fingers trailing over his skin in slow, teasing movements. Before she could finish, he was doing the same for her, calloused fingers rubbing soap into her skin, cupping her breasts, and gently pinching her nipples until they peaked against his fingers. Talise hissed in a breath, and Cullen smirked up at her, continuing to stroke and pet her nipples until they were swollen.

Several times Talise had to pause, her soapy fingers digging into his biceps, or the taut muscles of his back as he continued to toy with her. When his hands left her arousal swollen breasts, she could not help the whimper of disappointment that left her, her lips forming into pout. The sound turned into a moan as Cullen's lips pressed into her shoulder, then her neck, his teeth finding the delicate spots that made her shiver, his calloused fingers sliding down the muscles of her back and to the curves of her behind, squeezing her and pulling her harder against him.

All thought of soap and liniment fled from them both when their lips met, Talise's lips parted against Cullen's, her tongue rubbing against his provocatively. One of his powerful hands slid up to her hair, fingers sinking into the dark strands, heavy with water and clinging to her skin. Each flick of her tongue against his had his hips lifting, rubbing his length against her tender folds until waves splashed against the edge of the tub, and Cullen was groaning into the kiss.

When Cullen broke the kiss, heaving breath into his lungs, Talise sighed, her fingers coasting up his arms and linking around his neck, leaning her forehead on his shoulder. Cullen shifted, the former templar tightening one arm around Talise, as he rose from the tub, just enough to sit on the stone floor around the pool, warm from the same heat that warmed the water in the bath. She slipped from his lap, just as his arms reached for her, smiling wickedly as she sank to her knees, the warm water splashing around her high breasts as she looked up at Cullen.

He leaned back on his arms, groaning as she looked up at him, her lush pink lips inches from the swollen head of his cock. A shiver of anticipation ran through with him when her tongue darted out, licking daintily at him, tracing the veins in his length, and then sliding back up. Her summer bright gaze was locked on his as her tongue traced over his length, flicking over the shining drops that leaked from his length. Her kiss-swollen lips closed around the head of his cock, and she sucked briefly on him. Cullen groaned, his hips lifting to get more of him into her talented mouth, his efforts rewarded when more of his length slid into her mouth.

She continued to toy with him, sucking lazily on his cock for long moments, before letting him slip from her mouth. Her fingers curled around his length, slick from her ministrations, she stroked him while her lips coasted down his length, and she pressed tender, gentle kisses to the heavy sac that hung between his legs. Cullen cursed in response, the words tumbling out between heavy breaths, his arms starting to shake as they held his frame up. One arm reached for a towel, and he shoved it behind him, leaning back on it, his arms stretching up over his head in surrender to Talise as her lips worked their way back up his length.

The assassin grinned wickedly as she looked up at him, watching Cullen crumble into a heap of pleasured masculinity. Her lips parted, and she ran her tongue around the head of his cock in a slow swirl, continuing the motion until Cullen's hips were jerking helplessly against her mouth. He groaned out a plea, a prayer, and she lifted her head, bright blue eyes colliding with his amber gaze, "Please… please Talise."

"Dime que necesitas amor", she answered, holding his gaze as her tongue continued to swirl over the head of his cock, her fingers stroking his length, "Tell me what you need."

"Your mouth… sweetheart. I need your mouth on me", he groaned when she answered him in Rivaini, the words sent chills down his spine, and his hips jerked upwards to her mouth once more, the movement succeeding in rubbing his cock against her full lips.

One slim fingered hand traced up his stomach, rubbing over the taut muscles, and then back down as she sucked him into her mouth, slowly sucking his length into her mouth. Cullen moaned, one hand capturing hers and holding it tightly, his head falling back to the towel, and his eyes falling shut. Each time she sucked on him the pleasure arced down his spine, and white spots exploded behind his spine. When she swallowed, the movement squeezing the head of his cock, he bit back a yell, his free hand scrabbling on the floor for purchase.

Talise lifted her head, slowly sucking and licking her way back up his length, before sucking on just the head of his cock. For long, pleasurable moments she continued, sucking her way back down his length until she could barely breathe, and then licking her way back up. Cullen's hips lifted off the floor with her movements, trying to keep more his length in her mouth, only to groan in satisfaction when she would suck him further into her mouth.

He felt the pull of his climax rushing at him, and he groaned, reaching for Talise's shoulders and pulling her away from his cock. She blinked up at Cullen confusedly, straightening and leaning into his arms as he pulled her to him, squeaking in surprise when he lifted her, standing in the tub and setting her down in the spot he had been in. Thick, calloused fingers traced over the tender folds between her legs, feeling her slickness mixing with the water that slid down her form in rivulets. Talise let out a moan, her thighs falling open, at Cullen's touch.

Gently he toyed with her, rubbing over the swollen bud of nerves hidden within her folds, grinning when Talise whimpered and squirmed on the floor, the wet strands of her hair soaking into the towel she laid against. Cullen's amber gaze gleamed with masculine pride and arousal as Talise squirmed, her thighs spread for him as he toyed with her, when one long finger slid into her folds, he groaned, she was so tight and warm, the sensation went straight to his cock.

She curled her fingers around his length, stroking him as he slipped another finger inside of her, their moans filling the steamy air of the bath. Cullen continued to stroke his fingers in and out of Talise's tight folds, until she was swollen around his fingers, her arousal dripping down them. His thighs were shaking as he leaned into her, parting her thighs further, slipping his fingers from her and curling them around her own as she stroked his cock. Their fingers entwined, he slid closer to her, until the swollen head of his cock was pressed against the slick opening in her folds. Talise whimpered, cursing in Rivaini, her eyes locking on Cullen's, their gazes meeting in a mix of heated amber and gleaming blue.

Slowly, hissing in a breath between gritted teeth, Cullen pushed into Talise. Inch by slow inch, he felt her swollen folds give, parting for him, her body squeezing him tightly as he sunk into her. He pulled her hand from his length, and lifted it to his neck, cursing as he sunk further into her, "You're so tight. And warm."

Talise could not help the moan that left her lips, as soon as he placed her hand on his neck, her fingers dug into the muscles, clenching in reflex, her legs lifting to wrap her thighs around him. Every time he sunk deeper within her, she tightened around him in a helpless response, both moaning into the humid air of the bath, and Cullen leaned forward, capturing her lips with his as he sunk fully into her. Her nails dug into the corded muscles of his shoulders as he started to move, her lips opening to his kiss. Both of his arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her closer to him, closer to the edge of the sunken tub, as he thrust into her, keeping his movements slow and steady.

The assassin hovered on the edge of her climax, her body shivering against Cullen's frame. Each time he thrust into her, burying himself in one slow thrust, sparks of pleasure shot down her spine, and she closed her eyes, burying her face against his muscled shoulder, her fingers digging into his back. His movements in the tub created waves that splashed against the stone flooring, soaking the towels they had brought in, sending the bar of soap sliding across the flooring, all of it went unheeded.

He was so thoroughly wrapped up in Talise, buried to the hit inside of her slick folds, her legs and arms wrapped around him, that he lost track of himself. When she lifted her head from his shoulder, her gaze meeting his, he paused, unable to look away from her. Shuddering in her arms he lost himself in her summer bright gaze, the hand holding onto her hair sliding to cup her cheek, tracing over her skin with a reverent touch. His need for lyrium, his unquestioning beliefs, his guilt, his past, everything faded from view as he stared at her, unwilling to move to break the spell.

Nothing mattered for her, but the way the light sparkled off his whiskey and honey gaze, the feel of his skin against hers, the pounding of his heart against her fingers as they slid over his chest. Her skills as an assassin, her ambition, her drive, the pieces of her life, kept so separate for so long, everything was lost to him. Her fingers slid into his hair, the tawny strands curling from their bath, "Cullen… is it always going to be this way?"

"I don't know…" The compulsion to move was overwhelming, and he rocked his hips against her, keeping his length buried within her, his breath catching in his throat as he moves, "It's never been like this before."

She nodded, wide-eyed as he moved, her hips lifting to meet his, a moan rising to her lips. Within a few moments she was hovering on the edge again, and she writhed against him, burying her face in his shoulder once more. His large, calloused hand slid down her back, pulling her towards him with each thrust; groaning as she clenched around him. Cullen kept his thrusts slow, kept his length buried within her, and he dropped tender kisses over her lips, her cheeks, across her forehead.

Talise shivered and squirmed against his frame, arching to press her body against his, gasping when her breasts pressed to his muscled chest. She had been so close to the edge when he slowed down, her body ached with the need for more, her legs tightened around his waist. He smiled against her forehead, listening to her soft whimpers as he moved slowly within her, almost slipping from her body, only to slowly push his way back in. A few more slow, sure strokes and Cullen groaned, she was squeezing him so tightly, every thrust sent white hot sparks down his spine.

His callouses drug against her skin as his hand slid down her breasts, over her stomach, until his fingers could rub and flick at the swollen bundle of nerves nestled in the top of her slit. The other hand grabbed her hip, holding her still as he continued his slow strokes, "With me Talise. Need you with me."

"I am…" She squirmed beneath his hand, sucking in a breath as his fingers rubbed over her. Hovering on the edge, balanced precariously, she needed one more thrust, needed him to press up against that sweet spot within her when he slid into her.

"Good girl…" The words were murmured hotly in her ear as he continued to toy with her, keeping his thrusts intentionally slow. Every whimper from her, the way her nails scored red lines down his back, every time she squeezed around him, pulled him closer to his climax, and he groaned into her ear, his fingers keeping up their pleasurable work.

Talise reached her climax without warning, it simply washed over her, she spasmed around his length, her thighs tightened around his waist, and her nails dug into his broad shoulders. She buried her face on the spot between his shoulder and neck, groaning his name as her hips lifted in helpless response to his thrusts. Cullen moaned, his hand sliding from her hip to her back, pulling her to him and burying his length in her, holding still as she fluttered around him. It was too much, he was too sensitive, too swollen with need, and then it was just enough, the first sparks brightened his vision. The thought crossed his mind that he needed to pull out from her folds, but like every time, the siren's song of her body was too much to bear, and instead he pushed his hips harder into hers, letting her body milk his climax from him.

With his cheek pressed to the top of her head, cradling her body to his with one large hand pressed to her back, he groaned, his knees wobbling in the warm water of the bath. When the last spurt of seed leaked from him, he sucked in a deep breath, his arm tightening around her frame and keeping her pressed to him. Talise whimpered and moaned through her climax, prolonged as Cullen pushed into her folds one final time, her body welcoming his climax with more spasms around his length. For timeless moments they stayed where they were, pressed together, Talise did nothing more than lift her face from his shoulder, and press her lips to his; Cullen pressed tender kiss after tender kiss to her full lips.

Finally, he slid from her body, his fingers rubbing over her swollen clit one final time, smiling as she jerked in his arms. Talise murmured a protest as he slipped from her, her arms tightening around his neck, pressing herself to him more tightly, and Cullen slid his arms around her back, cradling her body to his. They continued to kiss each other, run their fingers over each other, letting go only to rise from the tub, or get dressed, and then coming back together. It took several moments to get dressed, Cullen found himself tugging Talise back to him after he pulled on his leather breeches, Talise could not resist dropping kisses over his back as he bent over to pull his boots on.

Entwined in each other, they stood in the doorway of his private bath until a passing servant pulled them from their reverie. Cullen remained close to Talise as she walked back through the keep, mostly ignoring the nobles and dignitaries gathered there. Their damp hair, Talise's undone tunic shirt, the soft blush that darkened the tops of Cullen's cheeks all gave them away as lovers, the Orlesian nobles twittered and whispered about weddings as they passed. He had wanted to remain quiet about their relationship, he was keenly aware of how many people watched them, gossiped about them; but in the moment, he did not care, Talise had offered forgiveness, an understanding of what it felt like to carry regrets.

In Cullen's quarters, he held her to him while he read through the latest batch of reports, stopping to run his fingers down her back or over her delicate features. Talise managed to get her boots and socks off one handed, she was intent on staying as close to him as he was on keeping her to him. When one of Leliana's scouts appeared in Cullen's doorway, she took the reports and letters, reading them from the safety of Cullen's arms. The stars twinkled in a midnight blue sky when a yawning Talise looked up from the chair behind Cullen's desk, watching him issue the night's orders to a group of soldiers, his task done, Cullen pulled her to the ladder, and then followed her up it.

In a few moments, they had pulled their clothes off, Talise taking the linen tunic Cullen wore beneath his quilted gambeson, tugging it over her frame before it had a chance to grow cold. Her insistence on sleeping in his shirts never failed to bring a smile to his lips, and he held her face in his hands, gently pressing kiss after kiss into her lush lips. When they fell into his bed, he kept one arm wrapped around her, and they fell asleep watching the stars through the gaping hole in his roof, Talise pressed as tightly as she could to him, the hand resting on his heart surrounded by his larger, calloused one.