((This chapter heading is taken from the song Aquarius by Within Temptation.))
Chapter 6
They Say I'm Seeking Out the Danger
It was the first time Fenris woke up in someone else's bed. He'd walked out on Hawke immediately after their first time. He'd been in pain then, but now he wasn't. He could only assume the pain that accompanied sexual pleasure had also been a gift from Danarius. His lyrium had hurt him before Felix had done whatever it was he'd done for him, when he had been a pleasure slave for Dorian.
The sleeping figure next to him turned to his back but didn't wake up. He took the moment to study the mage's face, relaxed and calm in his rest. It was the second time he had chosen to sleep with someone, and this time, it hadn't left him scared. Quite the contrary. Fenris let his fingers brush over Dorian's cheek. His eyes fluttered open and he smiled. 'Good morning.' The taller man sat up, the cover pooling in his lap. Fenris resisted the temptation to pull it away completely. 'So this wasn't a dream.'
'No.'
'Regrets?'
'Not one.'
'Me neither.' The mage reached out and cupped his cheek. 'What … was this, Fenris? Was this a one-time thing?'
Fenris studiously avoided Dorian's eyes. 'Why do I have to decide that?'
Dorian laughed quietly. 'Because you're the one whose heart has been broken before.'
'That never happened to you?'
'I never let anyone close enough.'
Fenris nodded slowly. He pushed Dorian back down on the bed. 'And am I close enough?'
'Yes.' Warm hands came to rest on Fenris's sides. 'But if you end this now, I'll survive it. If you want to end it later it will hurt me much more.'
Fenris straddled him. 'How about I don't hurt you at all?' He shoved the fabric separating them out of the way. 'It's still hard to get used to, though. That you would treat me as an equal.'
'Didn't I?'
Fenris touched his lips against Dorian's. 'I think you did that the moment I knew who I was, the moment you helped me prepare for following Danarius to the conclave. You never touched me again, you didn't even try. I thought it was because you were afraid, but I wonder now.'
'I didn't touch you because you told me not to, Fenris. I'm not in the habit of forcing myself on someone who's clearly unwilling.' Dorian's eyes had the most beautiful colour, almost amber in the red sky of the morning. 'I never really feared you. You didn't seem to hate me enough to murder me, you let me assist in your training, you let me teach you to read, you even seemed to enjoy that after a bit … I did expect you to be mildly disgusted with me for the rest of your life, though.'
'I cared, even before Felix. Couldn't you tell?'
Dorian's hands wandered lower and pulled Fenris against him. 'I didn't think that was real. I thought it was horribly unlucky that I had come to … to care for you so much.' He kneaded his buttocks. 'You're gorgeous, you know that? All lean muscle and raw power but you're so gentle, so perfect.'
Fenris pressed his lips to Dorian's, kissing him long and deeply, their tongues dancing a leisurely dance, heat building in his groin. 'I think I'll let the others wait a bit. What do you say?'
'I'll give you an alibi,' Dorian gasped when Fenris's lips travelled down his torso. 'How about I … ah! Maker, Fenris, don't tease. I tell them the dragon had left us with burns and we needed to quench the fire for each other?'
Fenris gave a low chuckle. 'Sounds good.' He grasped Dorian's erection at the base and let the tip of his tongue travel up. 'Dorian, will you allow me?'
'Pretty sure I'll say yes, but just to be safe: allow you what?'
In answer, Fenris moistened a finger and placed it against Dorian's entrance. The mage spread his legs wide in answer and he pushed inside slowly. The man made the most interesting sounds when Fenris touched him like this. He took his sweet time, so intent on giving him pleasure but never too much, he didn't even feel a need to touch himself. Clear, viscous liquid was flowing from Dorian and Fenris used it to add slickness to his ministrations. He heard a curious sound behind him but ignored it, knowing no-one else was in the room. Suddenly Dorian gave a mix between a gasp and a yelp, and Fenris looked at him in alarm. The expression was mirrored in the mage's face, his eyes fixed on the window. Fenris turned. One of the curtains had caught fire. The mage scrambled up and stared. 'We need someone to bring water!'
Fenris stared at him. 'Are you insane? Can't you cast something?'
'What? Oh! Yes!' He made an elaborate gestures and the fire died down.
'We need water?' Fenris asked him, incredulous. 'Quite a mage you are.'
Dorian blinked. His lips twitched. Then he burst into laughter. When he had sobered some, Fenris gestured to the window. 'You did that, didn't you?'
'I … it was getting a bit much and … yes. I think I did that.' He snorted. 'Let's not tell anyone that.'
Fenris held the blanket in front of him and glanced out of the window. 'Problem is, the curtain is still smoking and people are looking up already.' He gestured to Krem and Dalish who were hectically pointing. The Tevinter spotted him and spread his arms in question. Fenris made a gesture he hoped would tell the young man he was fine.
Dorian tried to peek past Fenris without being seen. 'Damn. They're going to ask questions, aren't they?'
'Yes. We'd better tell everyone … ah …'
'That you threw a candle at your curtain?'
'I'll tell them you did it, of course. I might not mention the circumstances.'
'Cruel.'
Fenris grinned at him and tossed him his robe. 'There. If I don't show up now, they'll come up here, I can promise you that much.'
