Night fell over Skyhold. The sunset painted everything in deep golden hues, gifting everyone one last reminder of what a beautiful day it had been.

Rhea stood barefooted on her balcony, wearing a dress that left her shoulders bare. She gazed at the mountains, now bathed in the fading sunlight. A refreshing wind drifted gently across her face. Her skin was still damp from the bath she took earlier. She shivered when a drop of water landed on her sunburned shoulders.

While she leant on the stone bannister, Rhea savoured a glass of fine Orlesian wine. It tasted sweet on her lips, with a hint of honey. Mesmerized by the view, she let her mind wander freely. What happened in Cullen's office earlier today still lingered vividly in her thoughts. Rhea closed her eyes in enjoyment as she relived the exact moment where he kissed her for the first time. The pure desire she witnessed in his eyes only intensified her feelings towards him. She could still see herself surrender to his touch while she sat on his desk, encouraged by his shy confessions.

A feint knock on the door interrupted the serene silence.

Rhea let out a surprised gasp and clenched the glass she was holding tighter. "Come in... The door is open!" she shouted, a small but noticeable tremble in her voice. She glanced over her shoulder, watching the stairway expectantly as she held her breath.

Cullen gently pushed the door open but paused in the doorway, granting himself a few more seconds to calm his nerves. His palms were slightly damp and the blood in his veins sizzled of excitement. They hadn't seen each other since this afternoon, both caught up in Inquisition business. Rhea could hear the door close with a soft thud. The sound made her heartbeat accelerate.

Rhea's pupils widened, and she felt her red lips part. Cullen didn't wear his armour this evening. Instead he opted for a loose beige shirt and a pair of dark brown pants. She wasn't used to seeing him in casual attire. His shoulders was the first thing Rhea noticed, they looked wide and protective, even without his armour. She could see the outline of his muscular body pressing against his shirt as he made his way up the stairs. His rolled up sleeves emphasized his strong forearms. Rhea turned her face away from Cullen when her cheeks turned crimson.

When he walked into her quarters Cullen noticed how Rhea had put out candles above the fireplace and the bedside tables. They flickered wildly, casting dancing shadows on the walls. He found Rhea standing on the balcony, her curved back facing him. His eyes trailed across her uncovered shoulders.

She could sense Cullen approach. His scent teased her nostrils.

"There you are." he spoke, his voice feeble. A bolt of electricity went through Rhea's spine as she felt him place his hands hesitantly around her waist. Goosebumps appeared on her upper thighs.

"Cullen..." she murmured, closing her eyes while she spoke his name. Rhea placed her back against his chest. She craned her neck against his right shoulder, running her fingertips over his hands.

"I'm... sorry." he whispered. "I wanted to come see you sooner but..." he continued, lowering his face against her neck she presented to him. His lips nearly touched her skin. Rhea noticed how her breathing became tensed, fuelled by his close presence.

"There's always something more, isn't there?" he sighed while he tightened his embrace.

"What matters is you're here now." Rhea replied, a satisfied smile on her lips. Cullen turned her around so she faced him. He carefully pressed his forehead against hers.

"Yes... I'm glad I managed to slip away." he replied shyly, clearly having trouble looking her straight in the eye.

Cullen noticed how a small drop of water was sliding down her neck, finding it's way onto her chest, only to vanish behind the fabric of her dress. His breath hitched and his confidence wavered as Rhea caught him staring.

"Something on your mind?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I... about what happened..." he started, breaking eye contact as he loosened his grip. He bowed his head, watching him run his fingers over her belly. Then Cullen turned around and left the balcony with a hesitant shuffle, pondering how to explain himself properly. She's the only person capable of making him lose control this way. It drove him mad at times.

He took a small step to his right when he entered her room. He cleared his throat. "Can I?" he asked, pointing at the bottle of wine on Rhea's desk.

"By all means..." she replied, following him inside her quarters. She placed herself against the stone wall, next to the balcony door. Rhea watched as he poured himself a glass of wine. Cullen sighed. His insecurity was written all over his face.

"I hope I didn't startle you when I... ah..." he started, staring into his glass as he weighed his words carefully.

"Kissed me?" she asked, shamelessly completing his sentence. Cullen looked up instantly. He was as astonished as her by her straight-forward tone.

He cleared his throat. "Yes... that." He took a sip and put the glass down next to him.

"I'm not very good at this, am I?" he chuckled, staring into the distance. He rubbed the back of his neck and tilted his head back for a few seconds. "If I seem unsure it's because I haven't felt this... in a long time. And I'm sorry if I crossed any boundaries today, I didn't plan to... I mean..." he continued.

She couldn't take her eyes of him. With every small confession she grew more restless. Rhea smiled and listened to him patiently, enthralled by the sound of his voice.

"I didn't expect to find this... I mean, you. Not here, not now, not amidst this bloody war." he continued. He stretched out his arm and cupped her cheek, running his thumb across her lips.

"Yet here I am." she smirked confidently, but barely able to compose herself. Rhea placed her hand on his and took a small step towards him, closing the distance.

"Cullen, I care about you. More than you know..." she confessed. Rhea caressed his hand with her thumb, drawing circles on them.

"And longer than I should admit..." she said softly, averting her eyes, unable to handle the honesty of her words. She gave him a coy smile. "Maker, you are..." he sighed, his eyes overflowing with disbelief. He tilted her chin up and looked into her eyes. Cullen admired the view of this strong, exquisite woman standing in front of him.

Before Rhea could say another word, Cullen placed his strong hands on her shoulders and pushed her against the stone wall behind her. Rhea gasped for air as he grabbed hold of her wanting hips, pressing them against his.

"You drive me crazy." he grunted, his eyes narrowed. Rhea gave the collar of his shirt a small tug, pulling him closer to her. Cullen let out a needy moan as his lips found hers. He kissed her deep, his tongue executing a slow but powerful rhythm. He ran his hands ferociously over her body, the urge to savour her taking control over him. His breathing was ragged and shaking.

Rhea pushed him a step back and flattened her palm against his chest, where she found his heart beating just as rapidly as her own. Their panting echoed through the room.

"Do I now... Commander?" she taunted, her eyes piercing the back of his soul.

Cullen felt his blood boil. Fire ignited in his eyes when he realized he couldn't resist her anymore. He instantly collected her wrists with his left hand. He brought them above her head, pinning them against the stone. "The things I will do to you..." he whispered in her ear, sliding his free hand over her side, touching her breast briefly. Rhea felt a wave of pure excitement wash over her. She enjoyed the way he claimed her in his demanding grasp. Cullen lowered himself to place his hand under her knee. He lifted her leg up slowly, against his waist as he pressed himself against her. His grip was firm.

"Wanted... to do for too long..." he continued, kissing her collarbones. Rhea released her hands from his grip, embracing his shoulders. They started moving towards the bed, their kiss uninterrupted.

Rhea pushed him on the bed with one hand and untied her hair with another. She shook her head wildly. Her unleashed brown locks tickled her back. She watched him sit on the bed.

"Come here." he commanded, suggestively pointing to the bed.

Unable to resist his call, she tiptoed around the bed while she let her eyes dance over his body. But Cullen interrupted her. He reached out and grabbed her by the wrist, pulling her on the bed. She landed carefully on top of him. Rhea let her legs slide over his. He pushed aside a lock in front of Rhea's flustered face.

"Now what?" she panted, biting her lip. He grinned and rolled her over, his upper body covering hers. "You'll see..." he grinned. He positioned himself between her legs by spreading her ankles a bit. His touch was tender. Her toes curled from pleasure she knew was coming for her.

Cullen took of his shirt with ease, throwing it away violently. While Rhea laid in front of him, she ran her palms over his chest. Cullen's hands found their way under her dress and he teased her mercilessly by lifting the fabric bit by bit. Although she wanted nothing more than to feel his naked body against hers, she noticed how hesitation held her back.

"Let me help you with that." he whispered, sliding his hands over her body, lifting her dress up. Cullen pulled it gently over her shoulders while Rhea stretched out her arms above her. When he saw Rhea cross her arms over her breasts, he lowered himself over her and started kissing her wrist tenderly. He grabbed her hand and placed it on his lips.

"Don't be shy..." he whispered. Rhea stared into his eyes. Guided by his words, she surrendered, letting her arms run freely on the soft, clean sheets.

Cullen crawled back a few steps, a mischievous grin on his face.

Rhea's legs turned stiff when he kissed the sensitive skin of her inner thigh. His hand rested on her knee as he worked his way up her body. Rhea couldn't control the wild movement of her hips, not until Cullen held them down with his strong hands. He continued exploring her body, letting the tip of his tongue slide over her nipple. He teased her endlessly. Rhea arched her back and their eyes met. He had a ravenous look in his eyes. She felt his erection brushing against her.

"Please..." she whimpered, begging him to release her from his overwhelming touch. She placed her hands behind his neck and ran her fingers through his hair, tugging it every time his hands slithered across her body. He kept on going, running his warm hands over her belly. Rhea moaned when Cullen brushed his thumb against her nipple repeatedly.

"I can't..." she panted, placing her hands on his shoulders, digging her fingernails into his flesh. Rhea's eyes rolled back when he placed his hand on her slit. "You're so wet." he murmured. He continued teasing her with his fingers, pleasuring her clit. The sensation was unbearable. She squirmed as she pressed her face into the blankets, panting heavily. Her hands drifted across the sheets, clenching the fabric every time she felt his the movement of his hands quicken.

He climbed towards her face and kissed the edge of her chin. He breathed nervously through his nose. Rhea saw how he unbuttoned his pants, wrestling himself out of it.

She tilted her head back and let out a muffled scream into the pillow as he entered her. With every thrust her vision blurred out more. His length convulsed inside her, filling her completely.

"Harder!" she hissed, arching her back from pleasure.

He followed her instructions instantly, pushing deeper into her. She grabbed hold of his hips to encourage him even more, mimicking his rhythm. He placed his hands on the wooden bed frame, clenching it until his fists turned white. His mind exploded when he noticed she had begun pleasuring herself.

"Yes..." she moaned loudly, calling out his name as her legs shivered around his waist. With every thrust she tightened her legs around him. She watched how Cullen clenched his teeth, breathing heavily onto her chest, releasing himself inside her. Rhea's toes clenched up and the muscles in her legs contracted as she climaxed.

"Rhea, I..." he whispered. She placed a finger on his lips. "Sssh... Just relax."

Cullen rested his head on her chest, aftershocks playing tricks on his muscles. He placed his hand on her belly. They didn't move an inch for a few minutes. The only sound was their breathing, slowing down gradually. Rhea caressed his temple. She played with his curls, squinting her eyes from enjoyment.

For a moment, they felt complete. There was no war, no chaos... just the eternal bliss of laying on the bed naked together, exhausted but satisfied.