Chapter 10 - You Leave Me Breathless

"You leave me breathless, you're everything good in my life

You leave me breathless, I still can't believe that you're mine

You just walked out of one of my dreams, so beautiful you're leaving me

You must have been sent from heaven to earth to change me, you're like an angel

The thing that I feel is stronger than love believe me, you're something special

I only hope that I'll one day deserve what you've given me

But all I can do is try, every day of my life."

You Leave Me Breathless by Shayne Ward

It had been several months since Leandra death and Rylee was slowly starting to emerge from the cloud of grief that had hung over her and he hoped his plans for the evening also helped with the healing process. Anders looked around the bedchamber and smiled. It was perfect. He had filled the room with hundreds of candles, rose petals were scattered on the bed, a gourmet spread of raw oysters, figs drizzled with honey and almonds, grilled asparagus glazed with oil and basil and of course strawberries dipped in dark chocolate. That should cover taste.

To take care of touch and smell, he had a large tub brought in. He had it filled with hot water, lavender oil and vanilla bubbles.

For the sense of sight, he purchased an outfit that she had wanted to buy for him, but he had always made excuses on why they didn't have time to stop to be measured for it. He looked at his new noble attire and was very pleased with the results. He wore chocolate-brown velvet pants with knee high brown boots, an ivory linen shirt that hung open to the middle of his chest. Overtop of the shirt he wore a chocolate and gold brocade long vest. He knew he looked good and he knew it would take all of Rylee's strength not rip it off of him the moment that she walked in.

That only left sound and the musicians were setting up in the library. They would move into the formal living room once she made her way up to their bedchamber. The servants had very specific instructions to disappear when the musicians stopped playing for the evening.
Justice wasn't happy about the plans for this evening, but Anders had convinced him it would be the ultimate show of her commitment to them and the mages plight, so Justice receded to the far reaches of his mind to allow him as much privacy as possible with Rylee.

Anders heard the front door open and Bodhan greet his mistress. "Ser Anders is waiting for you in your bedchamber."

"Oh, thank you," Rylee said and then he heard her soft footsteps on the stairs.

When she entered the room she stopped dead in her tracks as her jaw dropped open. "Wow… what is all of this for?"

He grinned at her, "You're not the only one that is good at the five senses seduction."

Before she could respond, the quartet began to play. She smiled and giggled, "I see that, but you know I'm kind of a sure thing." Anders raised an eyebrow and she grinned at him. "Well at least for you that is."

Anders walked over to her and pulled her into his arms, "I know and that is just one of the things that I love about you, but you deserve to be pampered and spoiled too. I just wish I could do this more often for you."

He bent forward, claimed her lips with the full force of his desire, need and love for her. His mouth molded to hers as he stroked her tongue with his, letting the taste of her fill his senses. Tongues danced, coaxed, seduced as they savored the magical moment. When they parted, they were both breathless and panting.

Rylee ran her hand down Anders chest and smiled. "You're wearing the outfit I wanted to get you."

Anders stepped back and turned around for her to admire. She let out a low whistle. "My, my, don't you look appetizing; how will I ever keep you in them long enough for me to truly admire you in them?"

"Control yourself, woman! I have plans for a very long and elaborate evening," Anders said.

Rylee smirked at him, "Oh really? Do tell."

Anders stepped closer to her and began to undo the buckles on her armor. "Well, first I do believe after a long hard day you deserve a nice long soak in a hot bath while a handsome mage waits on you."

"Just don't break my heart by telling me you aren't on the menu," Rylee cooed.

"Oh, I am most certainly on the menu, but that is for later, my Love. First I must attend to your every whim and desire."

"And if you are my whim and desire?"

Anders couldn't resist her, couldn't deny her anything. "Well, then I am yours to take and do what you please with."

Rylee looked around the room, surveying all the hard work that he had gone to. "I can't let all of your efforts go to waste. We will follow your agenda, but can I sample you once again before we get to your other delicious plans?"

"Sweetheart, I am yours for the sampling, anytime you want me," Anders moaned as he pulled her to him; her lips pressed against his – wanting, urgent, hungry. Anders drew her tight to him; she parted her lips giving him access as he tasted her deeply. Maker, every time he kissed her it was like kissing her for the first time. She tasted so fucking sweet, like honey and chocolate. She gave a little whimper as she melded against him in a way that was utterly feminine and completely Rylee. Every inch of her body molded to his, fitting perfectly. He reined himself in… he had plans for this evening, but if they continued down this path it wouldn't be long before he threw her up against the wall and had his way with her.

Anders pulled back and she looked at him with that pouty mouth that she knew always drove him over the edge. "Now stop that. You asked for a sample and I gave you your heart's desire. Now, let me fill mine by spoiling you tonight."

She grinned at him. "Wow, I'm impressed with your will power. By all means, good Ser, spoil away."

Anders quickly undressed her, trying not to let her luscious body distract him for too long. Then he led her over to the tub and helped her in. She let out a loud satisfying groan as she slipped into the water and Anders had to adjust himself, so that his pants didn't become uncomfortable from his growing hard-on.

Anders handed her a glass of wine, grabbed a sponge and came up behind her. He dipped the sponge into the water and then gently began to wash her neck and shoulders, but when he reached her breasts he had to pretend he was washing two very round yet supple bowls in order to stay in control. He moved to her side and gently washed her stomach, her legs, her feet and finally his hand came to rest between her legs. Instinctively her hips rose to meet his hand as his fingers slipped through her curls, he lovingly and tenderly rubbed the swollen nub. She parted her legs so that he could slide deep into her hot center. She moaned his name as his hand stroked and caressed her.

His groin was now throbbing uncontrollably, begging to be inside of her, but he ignored its plea as he continued thrust his fingers in and out of her while his other hand rubbed and pinched her peaked nipples. Rylee gripped the side of the tub and trembled as her orgasm rolled over her in wave after wave. Maker, she was so beautiful like this, lost in the heat of passion, giving him her all. His heart ached with love for her.

Once she had regained control again, Anders helped her out of the tub and quickly dried her off, then slipped a red satin robe over her shoulders and tied the front.

She looked at him and grinned, "What I don't get to wear, a fancy dress?"

Anders laughed, "Not tonight. It would be a waste; I don't plan on having you clothed for that long."

She smiled that roguish grin of hers. "I like the way you think."

"A dirty mind is a terrible thing to waste."

She laughed, "Yes it is!"

He led her over to the table and pulled out a chair for her. He sat across from her, picked up an oyster, she reached for it, but he shook his head. "Let me feed you."

"Only if I get to feed you too."

Anders grinned and nodded as he held the oyster shell up to her mouth, she opened her full red lips as he tilted the shell and the oyster slid in. She swallowed, licked her lips then grabbed a shell and offered it to him. Over the next few hours they fed each other a variety of food, consumed several different types of wine and danced in each other's arms. It was the best night of his life.

After a long and very heated dance they returned to their seats, Anders clasped her hands in his. "Ry, I had once told you that in the Circle, love was just game, that we never tried to take it too seriously because if the templars found out it would give them something to hold over us. For the most part, all of the mages lived by this unspoken code… except for a few brave souls that risked falling in love and knew they had met the person that they wanted to spend the rest of their lives with. Those mages would secretly hold a commitment ceremony and pledge their lives to each other."

Anders paused as he fell on his knees in front of Rylee, "Love, one day when all mages are free to live their lives and marry, I want to make you my wife, but until that day I want the two of us to have a ceremony in front of our family and friends pledging our love and our lives to one another. Rylee Hawke, are you willing to stand beside me and bind yourself to me?"

Tears flowed down Rylee's cheeks as she sank to her knees in front of him, "Love, don't you know that I'm already bond to you? I love you, Anders. Our souls are linked together and even though in the eyes of the Chantry we aren't married, in my heart you are my husband."

Anders claimed her mouth passionately, penetrating deeply, taking her tongue and sucking it into his mouth. She moaned against his lips as she kissed him back, meeting each stroke of his tongue with her own, her fingers curled into his hair as she pressed against him, conveying her primal need and desire for him. Anders slid his hand into her hair and angled her head so that he could go even deeper as her hands ran down his shoulders pulling the long vest off and tugging open the laces of his tunic. Never breaking contact with her mouth, he shrugged out of the shirt and pulled her back against him. Maker, her sweet mouth drove him to the very brink of losing control as she completely intoxicated him, but leaving him with the insane need to drink in more of her.

She arched into him, pressing against him. So soft, so beautiful, her body molded to his as if the Maker had created her just for him. His hands slid down her back and cupped her supple bottom. His fingers teased her, massaged her as he held her close to him, pressing his aching need into her as her breasts pressed against his chest, teasing him as her hard nipples pressed against his bare chest.

He needed more of her, he needed all of her. He leaned her back, guiding her to the floor, wedged his knee between her thighs, pushing them apart and settling his weight there. His lips left hers, kissing a path over her soft, velvety skin, tasting her, nibbling at her, invoking a whimper of pleasure from her. Slowly he moved against her, trying to take the edge of the ache, only to find the heat of her hot core was making it worse.

Anders pulled at the sash of her robe and looked down at her taut dark nipples that were begging for his mouth. He kissed his way down her neck slowly, tasting and inhaling every part of her. He kissed and caressed the flesh of her breast, and he smiled as her breath hitched in anticipation of his mouth closing around her nipple, but he continued to tease and lavish attention on the full swells. She groaned in frustration and he had to chuckle. "You're evil," she groaned.

To accommodate her wish, he dragged his tongue across her hard nipple, she moaned as her back ached into him. Then traced the damp circle around the nub before he returned to it and closed his lips over the taut bud, sucking it in and keeping it between his teeth. He swirled his tongue around the taut point, laving and suckling it as she writhed beneath him. He kissed a path to her other breast and lavished the same amount of attention on it. Her hips pressed against him as her need continued to grow.

"Anders, please…" she panted as she pressed her hips against his groin.

"Please… please touch me… I need to feel you between my legs."

Anders was happy to oblige as he slowly traced a path with his tongue down her toned stomach. He kissed her on the inside of her thighs, and he kissed his way down her leg he pulled her small clothes with him. He kissed his way back up to her core, her legs shook involuntarily against him as her eagerness continued to grow. When he reached her apex, her scent flooded his senses; it was enough to drive him insane and make him mad with hunger to taste her.

Spreading her legs wider to give him full access, he dipped his head and slid his tongue through her curls. Starting at the base of her sex, he ran his tongue up to the bundle of nerves that was begging for attention. Rylee cried out as her hips arched up to meet his mouth.

He moaned as her sweet taste ran over his tongue, enthralling him and making his groin grow even more painful. Anders wrapped his arms around her thighs to hold her in place as he dipped his tongue deep into her hot core and swirled it.

Rylee cried out and tried to buck, but his hands held her firmly in place. She gripped his hair and pulled. Anders licked at her swollen nub then pulled it into his mouth before his tongue dipped back into her slick channel and his thumb began to caress and rub the tight pearl.

Rylee's body began to tremble against him, she cried out his name as she reached her climax and ecstasy coursed through her body. Anders continued to manipulate her body, drawing out her pleasure and drinking in all that she had to offer. When she finally fell back to floor completely sated, he pulled off his trousers then crawled up her body, stopping only to place teasing kisses on her quivering belly and luscious breasts.

Rylee wrapped her legs around his waist as she whimpered. "Please Anders… need to feel you in me."

She reached up, pulled his head to hers to kiss him passionately, tasting herself on his lips as she rocked her hips up to meet him. He surged forward as he buried himself deep inside her. A guttural groan tore from his throat as her tight heat enveloped him. Maker he could have cum right then if he started to move. He waited to gain control of himself. To distract himself, he looked under the bed and began to count the dust bunnies. He had reached seven when he felt Rylee grab a hold of his ass to encourage him to begin moving.

Kissing her lips, Anders began to move inside her. "You're mine."

She smiled up at him, "I'm yours, always."

Anders heart melted at the woman that someday would be his wife, who had agreed to commit herself to him.

She kissed him deeply allowing her emotions to run through her and enrapture him. She pulled away, licked and nipped at his neck. His thrusts increased as he moaned loudly. Anders reached between them and caressed at the bundle of nerves. She cried out as her nails dug into his back, her walls contracted around him sending him over the edge with her. With a few more final thrusts, Anders collapsed on top of her, panting heavily. He rolled over and pulled her against his chest. She lovingly kissed and licked at his nipple sending aftershocks through his body. "I do believe love that the mattress is a lot more comfortable than the floor."

"I don't think I can move just yet," he moaned.

She giggled as she pulled the blanket that he had set out on the back of her chair over them. "Well, the floor it is then," she cooed as she curled up against him, entangled her legs in his as the two of them drifted off to sleep.

The following afternoon their friends gathered in the living to witness Anders and Rylee exchange their vows of commitment to each other as Merrill led the ceremony. They gave each other commitment rings that Anders had made for them. The rings had the traditional mage commitment symbol of three triangles held together by a circle. After the ceremony, the friends feasted and drank into the early hours of the morning. When the last guest had left, Anders swept Rylee into his arms, carried her upstairs and made love to the woman that he had vowed to love, cherish and remain faithful to for the rest of his life.

xxXxx
Anders, Rylee, Aveline and Fenris raced through the streets toward the Viscount's Palace. Anders was still in shock with how rapidly the situation with the Arishok had deteriorated. Now they were fighting the qunari at every turn as they raced to save the Viscount and stop the invasion. They had just taken care of a group of qunari when a huge mabari bounded toward him, knocking him to the ground, Rylee raised her dagger, but as the mabari began to lick his face she lowered her daggers.

"Friend of yours?" she asked. Anders nodded and laughed as the dog licked him on the mouth. Rylee cocked an eyebrow.

"Kismet!" A familiar voice called from behind them and Anders blood ran cold as the strawberry blond mage rounded the corner. Anders managed to get the hound off of him and then struggled to his feet.

Lillah skidded to a stop and looked as if she was staring at a ghost. "Anders," she whispered.

"Hi Lillah," Anders said.

Before he could even react, Lillah throw herself into his arms, embraced him then kissed him. Anders gently pushed her back and looked over her shoulder at Rylee whose eyes were shining with increased fury. Kismet was now circling and licking his leg as if she were looking to mark her territory.

Rylee's brows furrowed as she hissed, "For claiming to be a cat person, you definitely have a lot of dogs humping your leg."

Lillah spun around and for the first time noticed her cousin. She smiled, but the grin faltered when she saw the heated glare in Rylee's eyes. Lillah looked at Anders as he looked helplessly at Rylee. His love for her must have shown because Lillah immediately reigned in her emotions. Her face become hard as stone as she stepped away from him.

"The question is, Cousin, whose leg has Anders been humping," Lillah said dryly.

"Well, Cousin, if he's humping anything it certainly isn't my leg," Rylee stated matter-of-factly.

"I'm surprised the man can hump at all considering he's supposed to be dead," Lillah retorted.

"Yeah, about that, Lil..."

Lillah waved her hand at him impatiently. "Not now, Anders I don't have time and I have bigger issues to deal with, but I will be contacting you for an explanation," Lillah snapped.

"Bigger than a country being invaded; what could possibly be bigger than that? We could really use your help, Lillah," Rylee replied angrily.

"Yes Rylee, even bigger than that. Grey Wardens don't concern themselves with a country's politics, but once outside of Kirkwall, I will let others know what is happening here so that they can send aid. Now I really need to go."

Lillah looked at Rylee and an unspoken understanding passed between them. "Give them hell, Cuz."

Rylee smiled at her, "I always do."

Lillah turned to leave, but paused then she turned to face Anders, "It's good to see you alive and well."

Anders smiled meekly at her, "Thank you. It's good to see you too."

Anders and Rylee watched her run off to join the other Wardens. "Well becoming the Hero of Ferelden has definitely given her some claws," Rylee observed.

"No, being Alistair's mistress did that," Anders said bitterly.

Sadness flickered across Rylee's face and Anders grasped her hand. "I'm not angry because she is with him anymore, Ry. I have no desire to be with her. You're the only one I love. I'm angry because being his mistress changed her from the sweet, caring girl that I once knew, to a hardened, calculating woman."

Rylee squeezed his hand. "The sweet, caring girl is still there. It showed on her face when she realized it was you and you were alive. For her own protection she keeps that part of her buried deep inside."

"Wise and beautiful," Anders said as his lips brushed against hers before they headed toward Hightown. As they entered the market area Knight-Commander Meredith and Knight Captain Cullen aided in the heated skirmish with at least a dozen qunari. When the fight was over they agreed it was in the best interest of everyone to fight this battle together. They agreed to meet at the palace stairs. It was there that met Orsino and Bethany; relief flooded Rylee's face when she saw that her sister was okay. They battled their way together to the Viscount's Palace and Orsino had provided the distraction that was needed for them to slip by the qunari guards undetected.

Anders stood in shocked silence as Rylee declared that the Arishok would have to go through her in order to take Isabela. The pirate's reappearance had astounded the entire room, but it hadn't really stunned Anders. He knew Isabela would never admit it, but she truly loved Rylee, and had probably been beating herself up ever since she deserted her. He was just glad that she made it back in time to save her friend. However, that relief was short lived when the Arishok challenged Rylee to single combat for the right to keep Isabela. The pirate let out a wail of protest, but the Qunari leader quickly dismissed her as unworthy; only Rylee was respectable enough to take on the Arishok.

So now Anders watched in horror as Rylee battled the Arishok. His breath was literally sucked out his chest with every blow he watched her take. She was quick and agile and most of his blows completely missed her, but when one of his strikes connected, the bastard made damn sure it counted. She had just received a nasty blow as the Arishok had charged her, knocking her to the ground. She gripped her side as blood oozed through her shirt. He watched helplessly as she struggled to get to her feet.

Anders fingers tingled with healing magic that he was about to send at her when Fenris grab his wrist. "Don't! She must win this on her own. If you heal her, you will forfeit all of our lives including hers," the elf hissed through clenched teeth. Anders knew Fenris was right, but the urge to protect, to keep her safe and to ease her pain was overwhelming.

The Arishok charged again, but this time Rylee threw up a decoy. As the Arishok rushed at the doppelganger, Rylee rolled under him, came up behind him and drove her daggers into his back. What should have been an injury to bring most men to their knees only seemed to incense the qunari's rage as he wheeled around, picked Rylee up and slammed her into a nearby pillar. She crumbled to the ground and didn't move. "Please, don't be dead, please, don't be dead, please, don't be dead." Anders chanted.

She remained unmoving for what seemed like an eternity. "Come on, Hawke get up," Fenris begged under his breath.

Rylee began to stir, her fingers flexed around her daggers and just as the Arishok brought down his sword, Rylee rolled toward him, she came up beside him just as the Qunari began to rise from his missed attack. She brought her dagger back and drove it into the Arishok's neck. He stumbled backwards as she drove her other blade into his stomach. As she withdrew her dagger from his neck, blood began to flow freely; he grabbed the gaping hole in his neck as he fell backwards. Rylee staggered up to him, holding her side, but keeping her head and back straight.

The Arishok pointed at her and sneered, "One d-day we shall return." Then he fell back dead. At first, the room was silent with amazement at what they had just witnessed then a loud cheer went up as the room erupted into a frenzy of excitement. Anders studied Rylee carefully as she used all of her strength to remain standing while the Knight-Commander declared her the Champion of Kirkwall. Anders watched her sway on her feet and he was immediately at her side. He reached down to scoop her into his arms, but she shook her head no.

"I need to walk out of here," she muttered.

Anders understood the need for her to remain strong in the eyes of the nobles. "Lean against me, Love. I'll get you out of here."

Barely having the strength to walk, Anders arm encircled around her waist as he practically carried her out of there. Once out of sight, he scooped her into his arms and with Isabela, Fenris and Aveline on his heels, he ran down the stairs toward her estate. She had lost consciousness from the pain just before they arrived. When he entered the great room, Varric and Merrill were already waiting there for them with numerous lyrium bottles lined up. Anders laid her down on the floor then knelt beside her and quickly examined her body. There were numerous internal injuries, a few broken bones in her arm and ribs and then of course the nasty gash in her side. He set to work on healing the gash in her in order to stop her from losing too much blood. Then he started on the internal injuries, healing the organs and repairing the arteries that had been damaged. Finally, he started to repair the broken bones which took the most time to heal.

Isabela nervously paced around the room as Anders worked in silence. Just as he finished healing the last bone, Isabela murmured, "I swear Rylee, you die on me and I'll hunt you down in the Fade and kill you again."

Rylee chuckled, "I might just have to die, just to see you giving Fade Spirits hell in order to reach me."

Isabela's face light up as she fell to her knees and pulled Rylee into her arms, "Thank the Maker!"

Rylee winced with pain from the embrace as she grabbed at her ribs. "Oh, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you," Isabela exclaimed.

"Be careful, I healed her ribs as best as I could, but she will be tender for a while," Anders warned.

"Rylee, I'm so sorry…"

"Bells, I would love to hear your apology and believe me I plan on milking this for all its worth, but right now I just want to go to bed and sleep for a week," Rylee said weakly.

Isabela smiled at her as Anders scooped her into his arms. "Thanks, Rylee… I didn't deserve your mercy…"

Rylee grabbed her friend's hand feebly. "Enough of that, I couldn't let anything happen to my girl. All those nights of drinking just wouldn't be the same without you making an ass out of yourself," Rylee said with a faint devilish grin as she nuzzled against Anders chest and passed out.

A/N - I wanted to thank everyone for your reviews and for adding this story to your alert and favs list. I look forward to reading your comments and thoughts regarding for each chapter so I hope that you will continue to share those with me.
*Hugs and Kisses to the Beta Wizard Jinxy for working her magic on this chapter. Thank you for all of your help, advice and most of all your friendship.