Chapter 4: Redcliffe Castle

Cat looked around the huge luxurious bedchamber in disbelief. After so many nights spent in camp she'd have been happy with a pallet in the kitchen. But the Arlessa would have none of it. Overjoyed about her husband's recovery, she'd assigned his saviours luxurious guest chambers in the castle. And she'd insisted on a sumptuous banquet for them all, complete with acrobats and jugglers and bards. Well, that last one hadn't been a problem. Leliana had been only too happy to sing for them, enjoying a break from the more mundane duties she fulfilled when they were on the road. She did have a lovely voice, Cat decided as she recalled a particularly stirring rendition of an Orlesian love song about a knight and his lady love. And it hadn't failed to make an impact on the others either, judging by the heated glances Alistair had thrown at the pretty bard.

She yawned contentedly and curled up, ready for sleep, when a swift motion by the side of her bed made her jump and reach for her dagger. She immediately relaxed when she recognized Zevran's silhouette, though.

"Careful, cara, I'm not here to murder you in your sleep," she heard him whisper as he joined her on the huge bedstead. His voice was like rich, dark velvet, and she shivered with anticipation as she regarded him by the light of the oil lamp. He was wearing only thin leather pants and a white linen shirt, and the absence of his armour made him look softer, younger, less dangerous. Though she wasn't fooled by that - she knew there was nothing soft or harmless about Zevran.

She saw his tongue glide over his full lips in an appreciative motion as he took in her appearance, the soft, flimsy nightgown that half exposed her shoulders, her tousled red hair, her slightly flushed face. She expected him to kiss her, to take her into his arms, but instead he just looked at her for a minute, before he spoke.

"Take this off, my beautiful. I want to see you." Cat held her breath as he helped her unlace the nightgown, then pulled it off, feasting his eyes on her. She closed her eyes, suddenly overwhelmed by the heat and passion in his gaze.

Zevran was enchanted. He'd known she was beautiful, he'd glimpsed hints of pale skin more than once on their travels, but to see her like this... She was slim and supple, her whole body taut and fit, but her breasts, freed from the confines of her breast-band, were slightly bigger than he'd imagined, fitting perfectly into his hands. Her hips were softly curved, and the dark red triangle between her long, shapely legs, made him want to run his fingers through it, bury his face in those silky curls, feel her wetness...

He kissed her then, his lips burning hot on hers, his tongue pulling her into an enticing, intricate dance that left her breathless and panting. She felt his hands softly stroke down her neck, along her breastbone. He gently cupped her breasts, caressing her nipples with his calloused thumbs. She gave a small moan of pleasure that turned into a high-pitched cry when his tongue took over, circling, sucking, teasing until she thought she couldn't stand it any longer. His hands were everywhere, exploring, searching for sensitive spots, making her skin blaze with heat. Zevran felt his own pleasure mount as he caressed her. This was what he liked best about making love, getting to know a woman's most secret places, learning what pleased her, anticipating her every need and wish. His nimble fingers played her body like an instrument, while his lips and tongue tasted her, devoured her, made her his.

She moaned in ecstasy, but then he felt her hands reach for the laces of his shirt, trying eagerly to undo them. He brushed her aside and quickly threw off the offending garment, groaning when her fingers travelled over his muscular chest, his taut belly, grazing over his erect nipples. He pulled her close to him, feeling her hot trembling body all along the length of his torso. Her hands explored further down his stomach, hesitating when she felt him straining against the tight leather pants. He quickly peeled them off, noticing her shying away for a moment despite her curiosity, when she took in his naked form.

"Zev, I've never..." He nodded, took her hand and pulled it towards him, felt her stroke cautiously, then more confidently along his hard length.

It was not so much her innocence that excited him, but her eagerness, he realised. Zevran had never been too zealous to bed virgins, preferring experienced, skillful bed partners, but she was so curious, so quick to learn that it was a sheer pleasure to teach her.

Noting that his patience was wearing thinner, he pulled away from her hand, gently pushed her down on the bed and parted her legs. When his tongue stroked a slow, deliberate path over her hot core, she cried out again, pushing up against him, and he had to pause for a moment to let her become familiar with the intensity of the sensation. When he proceeded, she seemed to melt in his arms, her soft, breathless sighs of pleasure making him shiver as he tasted her deeply.

"Don't worry," he whispered against her, "I'm not going to hurt you." With infinite care, he slid one finger inside her, probing her readiness, gently widening her passage, preparing her for his assault. She arched against him, whimpering, and he quickly moved up, pulling her into another kiss, sliding between her legs and deep inside her in one fluid, measured motion. She screamed then, but not in pain. He sent a silent thank you to the Orlesian lady who'd taught him, long ago, how to take a girl's virginity without hurting her.

Softly, carefully he began to move inside her. She looked up at him, her eyes completely unguarded, and the sheer unadulterated lust he saw in them nearly made him lose control. He paused, trembling, then resumed his careful rhythm, feeling her hot and tight around him, watching her expression change as her pleasure slowly built towards its climax. With iron restraint, he took her higher and higher, his hands softly stroking her breasts, his hips moving between her legs in a slow but insistent pace.

When he finally felt her reach her release, her muscles tight around him, her face consumed with pleasure, he closed his eyes, letting his body take over, and sinking inside her hot depth again and again and again. As he let go, deep inside her, his orgasm hit him with such a powerful force, such a deep and satisfying intensity, that he cried out in amazement. He hadn't felt such intense pleasure in a very long time, even though he had had far more refined sensual delights thrown his way.

With a final hoarse groan he let himself sink onto the sheets next to her, pulling her into a deep embrace, kissing her hair, her lips, her eyes. When she looked up at him, her eyes still hazed over, his breath caught in his throat. Clearly he had got far more than he'd bargained for...