Chapter 17: A Night to Remember

Zevran was shivering in the draughty corridor of Denerim's Royal Palace. He could hear her raised voice from inside the audience chamber, where she was arguing with Alistair. King Alistair now. He smirked. That would take some getting used to. Though he had to admit the Chantry Boy had changed in more ways than one. He had easily defeated Loghain in the duel and had then ordered the other man's execution without so much as flinching. The Hero of the River Dane was dead now, his daughter arrested for treason. Apparently, though, that new-found kingly self-confidence meant that Alistair was a whole lot less amenable to Cat's suggestions as well.

The door opened and she appeared in the doorframe, angrily shouting back at her fellow Warden. "Damn it, Alistair, this isn't just about you! If you're going to be King, then you can't follow your own inclinations all the time!"

And then he heard Alistair's quiet voice. "I can't do that, Cat. Not even for you." He saw her grow pale as she heard her own words come back to haunt her. Then she bowed her head and he could see that the fight had gone out of her.

"Please consider it Alistair," she said softly. "You know where to find her if you change your mind."

Zevran fell into step beside her as she headed off toward their quarters. "What is it, love?" he asked quietly, but she shook her head.

"I don't want to talk about it, Zev. Maker, but that man is stubborn!"

When they reached the huge chamber that had been assigned to her, he was relieved to see a fire burning in the fireplace and a sumptuous dinner spread on the table. Finally some warmth, and some time to relax.

After dinner they settled on the huge four-poster with a glass of dark red wine. She leaned back against his chest and sighed. "The Archdemon is close, Zev, I can feel him. Tomorrow we'll do battle."

He gently nuzzled her neck. "And why should this worry you? We've battled dragons before, have we not? From what I understand, the Archdemon is essentially a huge dragon. No one knows better than you how to deal with those." Her gaze followed his to the armour stand where her beautiful drakeskin armour was waiting. Wade's masterpiece, perfectly fitted, almost completely fireproof.

She sighed, put the glass away and looked up at him. "Zev, I need you tonight, I need you more than ever."

Her eyes were almost feverish, and he tried to laugh the tension off. "You have me, don't you think?" He began to shower her with small kisses, ready to comfort her the best way he knew, but she shook her head and pushed him back against the pillow, a serious look on her face.

"Tonight it's about what you want, love," she muttered, "what you dream about."

He looked at her in surprise. "Cara mia, there's nothing I've been missing in our love-making. There are no secret dreams, no dark desires I never told you about." And it was true. She had always been more than eager to comply with his wishes and suggestions, and he knew he just had to ask if any particular fancy crossed his mind.

Cat sighed. "Please, Zev, let me make this special for you." He raised an eyebrow, but let her proceed when she began to take off his clothes, one by one, planting soft little kisses on his golden skin. As she traced the swirling tattoo on his chest with her fingers, he groaned softly, catching her hand to place a burning kiss on her palm, but she quickly freed herself and continued caressing him all over. Her fingers and mouth left a hot trail over his body and he gave himself up willingly to her, enjoying every second.

When her mouth finally wandered down and she took his throbbing erection gently between her lips, he hissed sharply in pleasure. She smiled briefly, but then went on, alternately sucking, licking, twirling her tongue around his tip. He watched her, entranced by her beauty and by the sheer wantonness with which she pleasured him. With every moment he felt his lust building up, rising higher and higher until he knew he was getting too close to let her proceed any longer.

But as he pulled her up into his arms, throwing off her shirt, his hands on her breasts, impatient to make her join him in ecstasy, he heard her whisper "Zev... you don't have to... tonight I want you to enjoy..."

He shook his head in disbelief, his voice rough, almost angry as he grabbed her chin, pulling her mouth close to his, whispering against her lips. "And do you honestly think there's anything I enjoy more than hearing you moan in pleasure?" The fingers of his other hand buried themselves in her soft wet curls, eliciting a soft gasp from her. "Than making you tremble in my arms?" He pushed his fingers deep inside her, and she arched up against him, unable to hold back. "Than holding you and watching your face as you cry my name?"

She gave in then, delivering herself completely to his touch. "Zevran! Please!"

He kissed her long and hard, pulling her down upon him until he rested deep inside her, looking into her eyes and letting her see the passion and desire burning in his gaze, fuelled by her response. His hands were back on her breasts, stroking, caressing, then wandering deeper, touching her assuredly, making her burn. With a sudden flip he turned her over, still buried deep in her heat and began to move, slowly and cautiously, then faster, his gaze firmly locked on her face. As he watched her enraptured expression, her growing helplessness, her utter and total abandonment, he felt his own pleasure mount, his whole body suffused by fire, burning for her, so hot, so sweet. He wanted this to last forever, wanted her to become a part of him, never, ever to let go of her again. When she finally came in his arms, her eyes rolling backwards, her lips parted in a long soft sob, he knew that it would never be better, never more perfect. "So beautiful," he breathed, finally allowing himself his release, shuddering as he sank down into her soft warm flesh.

Afterwards he pulled her close, his hand gently smoothing her tousled hair, his lips against her temples. "What was that about, cara?" he asked softly.

She huddled against him, hiding her face. "Just a whim."

He frowned, then he lightly kissed her forehead. "Every night with you is special, my beautiful," he whispered.

Yes, but this one needs to be unforgettable, she thought as a single large tear rolled softly down her cheek.