Warning: NSFW

The newlyweds fell into an easy companionship as they cooked together, stealing little touches and glances. Raviathan felt a thrill every time she bumped against him. So strange, he thought. His wife. The whole direction of his life could change in hours. He kissed the pale skin her bare shoulder and saw the delicate pink that colored her cheeks in response. My wife.

Raviathan pulled back her hair intending to kiss the nape of her neck when the door opened. His father arrived just before the gates closed for the evening. Raviathan wiped his hands on a dishtowel, taking Nesiara's hand. "This is my father, Cyrion. Father, Nesiara came this morning. Valendrian handfasted us this afternoon."

Cyrion's eyes crinkled in a smile, and he and Nesiara embraced. "Glad to meet you, daughter. I only wish I could have been there for your handfasting."

Nesiara gave a shy smile in return. "Thank you. Raviathan has made me feel so welcome. If you'll give me a moment." She went upstairs, her footfalls soft thumps on the floor above.

Raviathan went to his father and kissed him on the cheek. "I feel blessed, father. Thank you."

Cyrion patted his son's back and took a seat. He sighed, glad to be off his feet at last. Raviathan hugged him again then went back to cooking.

Nesiara came down with two small packages. "Father, this is for you. Your shaddain said you liked to smoke on occasion."

Cyrion opened the package she handed him to find an ornately carved pipe of gleaming redwood. There was a small bag of Nevarran tobacco to go with it. Cyrion turned the pipe over examining it. "This is beautiful," he said quietly. He half rose so he could kiss her cheek. "Thank you, daughter."

She smiled and went to Raviathan, her hand finding the small of his back. "And for you."

Raviathan flicked his wrist to toss the food in the pan. "Open it for me," he asked her. Nesiara pulled out an ornament that had a dozen blue, pink, and lavender crystals hanging from a silver filigree. The crystals caught the light and refracted it in dozens of tiny rainbows. Raviathan lips parted, his cooking forgotten, as he stared in fascination. "What is it?"

"It's an ornament to hang in the window. For the solstice and First Day Annum."

"It's sooo pretty," he said hypnotized.

Nesiara giggled moving the ornament back and forth, pleased by the way his eyes followed it. "You're going to burn dinner."

"Huh? Oh!" Raviathan lifted a pan up in time to save the cod he was frying. "Ness, you're going to have to hang that in the upstairs window; otherwise, I'm not going to be able to get anything done."

She stood on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek. "I'm glad you like it."

Cyrion smiled as he watched the two flirt. "Son, I haven't seen you cook like this in ages."

Understanding his father's years unspoken worry, Rav offered an apologetic smile. "I guess I'm feeling creative." Nesiara thought about the look and comment and stored it away for later. She rewrapped the crystal ornament and put it on the cabinet then took out dishes to prepare the table.

As they sat down to the meal, Raviathan broke the news about Highever. The creases of Cyrion's lined brow deepened. "That is troubling. I wonder just how many refugees were able to get out."

Nesiara finished chewing the salad of roasted fall vegetables, marveling at the flavors Raviathan could bring out. "I heard from another elf headed to Dragon's Peak that the purge did happen."

Cyrion rubbed his face with his hands. "Worse things yet to come. I'll let Valendrian know tomorrow. Our alienage will certainly need to accommodate those fleeing Highever."

"I told him earlier. How bad do you think it'll get?" Raviathan asked.

The aged elf sighed. "Only those who can afford it leave, so they might have enough to start over somewhere else. It's the ones who stay who bear the worst of it. Howe is a powerful man, but I'm surprised he thought he could get away with that. King Cailan will surely see him come to justice."

"Shems playing war games," Raviathan said bitterly. "What else is new? We have nothing to do with this but still we pay the price."

"Now son, this is one of the reasons I want you to understand politics. It has an impact on our lives."

Raviathan kept his voice respectful but news of this sort rankled him. "Why? There's nothing we can do about it. It doesn't matter how well I know Howe or the Couslands. I would have been able to change nothing."

"But you see, Nesiara's parents did know about Howe. They were able to escape in time to keep their family safe from the purge. We can't change what they do, but it does give us the ability to act before harm befalls us."

Considering the point, Raviathan acknowledged, "I suppose you're right, father."

Cyrion turned to Nesiara, fixing her with a serious gaze. "Nesiara, if you have any doubts, we will not hold the dowry against your family."

She smiled broadly as she squeezed Raviathan's hand under the table. "That's what Rav said." He shot her a shy smile squeezing her hand back.

Cyrion nodded his approval. "That's my boy."

"I am well pleased with the match," Nesiara declared.

Having watched the two flirt and send secretive little smiles and touches, Cyrion wasn't surprised his son's bride would stay. The change in his son had been immediate, and as glad as he was that his family was growing, anything to make his boy smile again was worth gold. The last two years had been the most joyless of Cyrion's life. Conversation was returning, maybe even his son's music, and Cyrion would be endlessly grateful for that. Hope blossomed in his chest. Perhaps grandchildren wouldn't be far away. Cyrion always regretted he and Adaia had not been able to have more children. When they realized Adaia's line was too strong, Solyn's warning prevented more. But that was in the past now. The danger was over. Perhaps this time they would be safe to have as many children as they wanted. He smiled warmly as he patted her knee. "I'm glad to welcome you as one of the family."

"Father, there's more," said Raviathan. "Bandits were on the road. Ness just barely escaped them."

"Were you hurt?" Cyrion asked and squeezed Nesiara's hand.

"No. I got away before they saw me. It was bad though."

Cyrion frowned. "You poor girl. Your parents must have been very worried."

"I feel bad knowing they're struggling while I am so welcomed to a new family. It seems like a wedding celebration is wrong."

Cyrion rolled his mug of wine between his care worn hands as he considered. "I understand how you feel, Ness. We will send word that you are content with your match, but there is little else we can do. At least they have the money they needed and peace of mind that you are safe. I have learned too well that there are always troubles in life. Mourn for what is lost, then move on. Without some levity we will become too grey to carry on."

She paused, considering. "You're right. I would like to send a letter though."

"Of course," Cyrion nodded. "It may take some time to get there given all the trouble in the area. In any case, the banditry is for the banns to take care of. Perhaps the refugees will be in a worse position after all."

They went back to eating. Raviathan felt Nesiara's foot brush his. He smiled but didn't look up as he rubbed his foot against hers. They played like naughty children, which raise a question for Raviathan. He hesitated to ask such a direct question in front of his new wife but was curious. "Father, what are we to do about the sleeping arrangements?"

Cyrion finished chewing then spoke. "Nesiara, you will take my bed. I will use the bunk from now on. Rav will stay in the top bunk until you both feel right about changing things."

Nesiara nodded. "Thank you, father. That is generous of you."

Cyrion's smile warmed his eyes. "It's good to see my family growing." The two young elves exchanged pleased looks as their fingers played under the table. Cyrion said, "I know your parents had a shop. We can't match that I'm afraid."

"I'm not worried," Nesiara said, her chin lifting. "There was a market woman who started selling my vases to humans. Before I left she had me fill an order for one of the banns."

They both looked impressed. Raviathan said, "That's amazing."

"Not just that," she continued. "I was also getting orders for jewelry. Nothing really fancy, there was only so much we could afford, but the earrings I made sold well to the humans."

Raviathan squeezed his bride's hand. "Ness, you're so talented."

Cyrion added, "That is quite an achievement for one so young. You should talk to Alarith about setting up a display in his store. He might be able to get you some contacts in the Market."

"I met him today. Just briefly. I made the pipe and ornament as your gifts."

In perfect synchronicity, Raviathan and Cyrion both dropped their hands to the table, forks chinking on the plates. Nesiara tried to hide her laughter. Raviathan took her hand, turned it over, and kissed the palm. "You're an artist."

Conversation carried on well past dinner as they talked about the alienage. Raviathan and Nesiara washed the plates and cleaned the kitchen together. Raviathan enjoyed the work when he had someone to help him. Nesiara's company made the work less of a chore. Cyrion sat by the window and started to light his pipe as he watched them. When they finished he said, "You two go on ahead. I think I'll stay up and read for a while."

Raviathan understood the hint. They would have some privacy during the next few nights as they became accustomed to one another. With his ornament in his hand, he led the way up the ladder feeling suddenly awkward. Though he wasn't sure, in all likelihood Nesiara felt the same. The weight of expectation was on him, on them both in fact. He was to be a husband, this his wife.

In an attempt to distance himself from his new awkwardness, Raviathan hung the ornament in front of the window that caught the most light. Using a thin remnant he tore from one of the threadbare curtains that separated the room, he stood on his father's bed to tack it up. It wasn't until he turned and saw Nesiara quietly watching him from the center of the room that he realized what this looked like. This was her bed now. He should have waited for her invitation.

"Um," he started as he grabbed her pack and moved it over to the other bed. "Let me know if you need anything." He felt awkward and out of sorts again just as he had when they'd first met by the gates. He put the candle on the chest that would soon be hers. She looked at him uncertainly as they stood together in the room. Had he been staring? He must have been staring. "Oh, uh, let me get the curtains."

Heat from the stove kept the floor warm, enough that bare feet wouldn't freeze, but the room was otherwise chilly in the winter evening. He pulled the main curtain across the room to give her some privacy then started changing into his sleeping wear, a pair of old and patched undyed linen shorts that tied at the waist. The little candle showed her elongated shadow against the thin curtain, her curves light and dark as she changed to a long sleeping shirt. Raviathan felt as hypnotized by that as by her ornament. His wife.

Annoyed, Raviathan pushed away the nervous feeling that had invaded him. Nervousness wasn't going to make him a good husband. Nesiara was looking for him to lead, and he wasn't going to let her down.

~o~O~o~

Once the curtain was in place, Ness changed into a long sleeping shirt. She could see Raviathan's vague outline as he moved about on the other side of the curtain. He was so different than she had expected. One of the elves who moved from Denerim had told their family Raviathan was a trouble maker and violent. It had worried her parents, but the shaddain who had been caring the dowry negotiations had said that the stories had been inflated by jealous families. His mother had been killed trying to protect the alienage, and the child had been angry but grew out of it.

Nesiara had heard a few other rumors from elves that moved from Denerim, but they were not close friends with her family and so her parents remained unaware. Her betrothed was supposed to be wild, or at least associated with violence and trouble, and some said that he had been cruel to the girls in the alienage. The stories said he was very good looking, but his reputation was awful.

Worried, Nesiara discussed the rumors with her best friend. They concluded that maybe if he was as handsome as the new elves said, his looks might have made him arrogant. One woman, who had recently moved to Highever for a marriage, told Nesiara that most of the time the girls in Denerim had been chasing him. Though her new neighbor had tried to hide her longing, Nesiara had caught the forbidden emotion when the newly married woman gossiped about Raviathan.

Her parents had been leaning towards a match from Dragon's Peak, but Cyrion had offered a large dowry when her family needed money badly. She had been so terrified on the trip to Denerim. Her family was fleeing, and her match had been hastily arranged. She'd broken down crying one night during her journey, knowing there was no way to return the dowry. She had been sold for her family's safety. She would have done anything to keep her family safe, but it hurt to know they were willing to tolerate putting her in a bad marriage in exchange for their safety.

She had hoped for a match like her sister Anesa. Shaun was plain and a bit boring, but he was learned and had good prospects as the servant of a bann. Her sister was happy, and, as if in testament to that, their son had been conceived within months. Raviathan was nothing like Shaun though.

When finished changing she called, "Rav?"

"Yes?"

"I'd like to ask you something."

"Okay. Should I… um, are you dressed?"

Nesiara laughed at the bashfulness of his question. "Yes, I'd like to see you."

The rumors of Raviathan's looks had not done him justice. He was more than handsome. Clean bronze skin covered a sculpted, angular face, but those soft, full lips indicated a sensuous nature. His eyes had make her breath catch as she stood tired and afraid near the alienage's gates. Those large eyes were startlingly clear and calm. At that moment, afraid as she had been by the journey and this match, she had felt relieved that this man was the person who would take care of her. He had taken care of her and done so gladly. When she spoke she had his full attention, which made her surprisingly shy. Moreover, his gentleness had been unexpected. Soft spoken and a little bashful, he obviously desired her, but he was so compassionate. There were many wonderful qualities that she had not expected. He even had a job to help support his family though it was unusual for a child. Not that he would be considered a child any longer. Her father would say he was a good man. She felt brazen for inviting him over, but he was her husband. With a stab of resentment, she reminded herself that she needed the match to work.

He pushed aside the curtain. His light linen pants stopped halfway down his calf, slung low around his hips. His chest was bare. She had seen her brother and his friends from the waist up, especially during the hot summers, but they looked nothing like this. They were thin, more on the skinny side. Though he had the slender frame of elves, Raviathan had the well developed muscles she had only seen in knights. How had his clothes covered up that physique? His shoulders were broad and sharp, his waist narrow, long muscles in his arms, and a stomach sculpted in powerful ridges. She had never seen a man up close who looked like that.

He was watching her steadily. Maker he had beautiful eyes. With long black lashes. "Do you want me to put on a shirt?"

Had she been staring? She must have been staring. She looked down at his bare feet. It wasn't fair. Even his feet were beautiful. "No. It's fine." Her voice sounded wrong, too high. "I was just…uh."

Losing his shyness, Raviathan padded silently to stand in front of her. He kissed the corner of her mouth, a surprisingly chaste gesture, then took her hand and led her over to the bed. He was so calm, and she was shaking. What did she know about him? This stranger, and she was married to him. He held her, his skin cold in the exposed air.

His voice was low and soft next to her ear. "Ness. It won't be good for you if you're nervous. I know that." As cool as his skin was, he warmed her. His voice was so gentle. "I would like to stay here tonight. We could talk more. Get used to each other. Ness, I'm not going to push for anything you're not ready to give. I don't want you to be angry tomorrow or resent me." He leaned far enough back to look her in the eyes, his thumb stroking her cheek. "We'll wait as long as you want. Okay?"

A panicked smile pulled at her mouth. "You'll wait until our official ceremony?"

At his sudden stillness, she almost laughed.

"I hope it doesn't come to that." His fingers entwined with hers, his smile full of warmth. "Ness, you're worth waiting for. I may not like the wait, but you're worth it."

She took in a long breath, nerves still making her jumpy. "No pressure? I can say no or ask you to leave? And if we do… something, but I'm not ready to sleep with you?"

"Absolutely."

Her breath came out in a slow exhalation, then she nodded.

"Good. I'm freezing." He was shivering as he pulled back the layers of blankets and heavy quilt before letting her in then settling beside her. His hands found hers under the blankets, the only parts of their bodies that touched. "Thank you, Ness."

"I know we keep saying this, but it's so strange. I thought about this for years, but it's nothing to actually meeting my husband. I imagined this so many times, all different scenarios or mates."

"Tell me what you imagined."

"Not you. Well, there were rumors."

The warmth left his face to be replaced by the expression of a much older man. "I'm sure some of what you heard is true, and some exaggeration. I can't change that, Ness. Not what's happened or what I've done. The rumors though, it hasn't been like that for a long time. Years. I've been trying to be a better person, and I want to be a good husband for you. Sweetheart, I'm happy with you. I couldn't ask for a better match, but if you don't feel the same, we'll help you."

"I didn't mean that." Nesiara reached to touch his cheek, her thumb following the contour of his bones. "When I heard the rumors, I didn't expect you would be so sweet. Seeing you today, I think that's what counts most." She shifted closer, leaving the heat her body had created in the bed to the cold in the space between them.

"Thank you, Ness." His voice was hoarse, and she wondered at the emotion behind it. What pressure must he have been going through? Did her opinion weigh that much on him?

"I didn't expect you to be so handsome."

He kissed her fingers, his smile back in place.

"You don't look like any elf I've ever seen. Your muscles."

As if taking that as a sign, he placed one of her hands against his chest. Startled, she almost retracted her hand, but curiosity won over impulse. "How?"

"My mother was something of an acrobat among other things. She taught me."

"You take a lot after your mother then. Your looks, your physique, your music."

He didn't say anything, only gently stroked her hand with his thumb. After holding her hand up to kiss her fingers, he settled it back lower so she could feel the ripples of his abdominal muscles. At first, when he lowered her hand down his body, she thought he was going to make her touch him, but this was still respectful. His fingertips traced light as a feather up and down her arm. There was no pressure. He was giving her an open invitation to know him.

So strange. She felt giddy and terrified. All the rules and admonishments were gone. After years of being watched, of not being allowed to flirt or be too friendly with boys outside her family, here she was with all new expectations. She could touch him. Would he want more if she did? Would he get impatient despite his words? Was she ready for that?

Her breath caught. A full day hadn't gone by, and here she was in a strange bed with a strange man. She knew he wanted to have sex. That much was obvious in the way he looked at her. Should she? She would have to eventually. "Can I see you?"

His head cocked at her request. "Whatever you want, but I have to warn you. You're very beautiful, Ness, and your hand feels good on me." He leaned close for a chaste kiss. It surprised her considering they had shared much deeper kisses earlier. The covers shifted as he slipped off his sleeping breeches, but his gaze didn't waver from hers. He was on his back, watching her, but made no move towards her. His small shrug indicated that it was her move.

With a moment's hesitation, she scooted closer and rested her hand on his chest. She had asked him to do this, so why stop now? She barely knew him, that's why, but then she did ask. Maker help me.

My husband. I will have his children. I will live with this man for the rest of my life. She felt his lips brush over her hair, and a soft kiss, but he made no other move. My husband.

Steeling herself, she raised the covers enough to let in the candlelight. Dusky skin melded with shadows further confused by his musculature. Frustrated by the lack of light, and not wanting him to freeze, Nesiara braced one arm on Raviathan's chest to hold up the blankets. He wasn't pushing, had invited her to explore, so maybe it would be alright. She could see his breathing speed up as she put her hand on his chest and slowly reached down. She wanted to understand everything, how his muscles felt, the smoothness of his skin, all the things that made him different. This was her husband. She would know this man, be with him intimately for the rest of her life.

Taking her time, she trailed her hand down to feel each hardened ridge formed by years of physical study. Her touch made clear what shadows hid. He was stronger than any elf she had ever seen. She felt him nuzzle her hair, encouraging, but he stayed still otherwise. Her fingers traced the valleys of his abominable muscles as she thought about him. What had his life been like?

If she compared him to Bennly, they couldn't be more different. Bennly was all fumbling hands and impatience. He hadn't given her time to explore or touch him in return for his hands on her body. She hadn't felt much of anything when he was inside her. Mostly, she just wanted it to be over. After they had finished, she was left crushed. Was that it? Was that what everyone was afraid of or obsessed with? She had risked her reputation and for what? The whole business was overrated.

Bennly always had the slightly starved look common to elves. Rib bones had guided her fingers then as muscles did now. She had felt sorry for Bennly whose insights always impressed her but his vulnerability made him a target for any disaster that hit the alienage, especially food shortages.

Next to Raviathan, Bennly seemed more like a child in her mind, someone who needed looking after. She rested her head on Raviathan's chest and let him hold her. Beyond the soft kisses he planted on her hair, he made no demands. She could touch as long as she wanted

"Ness, this feels so good."

She looked up at him, her chin resting on his chest. His eyes gleamed in the darkness, two bright coins of aquamarine. The hue of his skin took on a richer quality in the candlelight, like the glow wood could take on after polished by years of care. He stretched, his free arm going back to prop up his head while his other hand lightly caressed her arm. "It's like I always wanted this, like I was starving for it but didn't know I was hungry until now."

"For what?" He wasn't pushing for sex like she thought he would, so what did he want?

"Just this. Being with you right now. There's no guilt, no pressure. We don't have to rush or hide. We can take our time, Ness. We can share ourselves. I guess…" he trailed off, a slight frown between his brows, his eyes taking a far off look. "I guess I've felt very lonely until now."

"Lonely? You have so many friends here."

Focusing back to her, he nodded, a little sad. "You're different, Ness. Every day I wake up, it's going to be to your face." He smiled, stroking her cheek. "I can't imagine a better fate."

No longer embarrassed that she was lying half on him, she propped her chin on her hand, her eyes narrowed as she looked down on him. "This is really enough for you?"

"It is for now." He grinned then gave her sleeve a small tug. "My wife is so protective of her virtue." Catching her expression, his face fell. "It's just a joke, Ness. I didn't mean to pressure you."

"No. It's not that." She couldn't look him in the eyes anymore. Pursing her lips, she remembered overhearing her neighbors fight and the husband accused his wife of being a whore. At the time she was too young to know what that was, but the term stuck with her. The couple fought every day, and he started beating her. Nesiara's mother said it was probably a blessing the woman couldn't keep a child to term. Thinking back on the couple, Nesiara didn't want something to go wrong in the future and have her experience thrown at her. Not that she thought Raviathan would, but if anything was to come between them, it was still early enough to back out. There was a brief moment of panic at the idea that surprised her.

"Would it bother you if I'm not a virgin?"

The silence that followed made her chest tighten. Maker breath, it had been a mistake to tell him! All the fears she had since she had first given herself to Bennly flared sudden and strong. For a year she had worried someone would find out or that her husband to be would be disgusted. Fires burn her, she had just ruined her chance at a good match, and would Cyrion help her now if he knew this? Highever sacked, her family losing their shop and running for safety, her own long travel to Denerim hiding from thieves and scared every night of wolves or highwaymen, and for what?

Raviathan's arm was still around her shoulder, but he didn't move. When she finally dragged her eyes to meet his, all she saw was concern. Gently, he wiped away her tear. "You loved him?"

"No."

Confusion crossed his face. "Then why the tears?"

"Do you still want me?" How small and weak she sounded, like a beggar child.

He blinked a few times, then his body went limp under her, his head falling back on the pillow. "Oh, Maker." He started to laugh. "Is that what's wrong?" The deepness of his laugh filled the room the way far off thunder seemed to vibrate from all directions. "Maker damn me thrice as a hypocrite if I turned you away for that."

She wasn't sure how she felt about that statement. Apparently that part of his reputation was deserved. He moved suddenly, gathering her up in his arms as he rolled her on her back and kissed her deeply. "Is that the worst secret you've got?"

"I think so."

That damn smile of his was so charming. He settled next to her, his grin infectious, as he stroked her hair. "Sweetheart, I just asked you to look past my reputation and not hold me responsible for a past I can't change. What in the Maker's name makes you think you deserve less?"

"I've been worried for a year."

He held her close, his eyes closing as he simply felt her presence. "Whatever your past is, Ness, you're my wife now. I will thank the Maker everyday for this gift."

With a light kiss on her forehead, he leaned back to look at her. He was so happy, so easy to be with. How had she gotten so lucky?

"What did you think of it?"

"You really want to know this?"

"Not all the details. But I want to know what it was like for you."

Nesiara shrugged. "It was, well, kind of boring."

"Boring?" His eyebrows disappeared under his bangs. "Ness, one thing I promise you, I'm not boring."

"Oh? You're sure of this?"

He grinned at her tease. "Yes." His gaze softened as he looked at her, and she realized she could see him falling in love with her. She could see it in how protective he was of her feelings, how unguarded he was with his own in her company. The realization stunned her, and she felt her brain memorizing this moment. This is what my husband looked like when he was falling in love with me. "I told you, you can say no anytime. That's still true, but I want to make love to you. I want you to know how good it can feel."

"I still feel shy."

"Give me a chance. I want to give you pleasure."

With anyone else, she would have said they were after their own pleasure. Not him. She felt cherished, and she knew it was only her own inhibitions that were keeping her from what he offered. "I know you're not taking advantage, but I'm not sure of this yet."

He cupped her breast through her night shift, his thumb rubbing slowly over her nipple. Nesiara felt her nipple harden and become more sensitive under his touch, and more surprising was the mild ache that began in her groin. His smile said he knew the exact effect he was having on her. His eyes locked on hers, he lowered until his mouth took the place of his thumb. His tongue wet the fabric over her nipple making it cling and cool her skin. Throughout all the little nibbles and tongue flicks, his eyes remained on hers.

"Okay." Her voice quavered. "We can try more."

He laughed as he pulled up her nightclothes, and to her relief, he didn't stare at her naked body. Instead of going after her again, he lay next to her and caressed her back. "I had no idea how good this would feel, to be next to you."

"Rav? You've been with many women?"

"Does that bother you?"

"Just… I don't know what I'm doing. What if I'm the one who's boring?"

"Shhh." He rolled her on her back, his lips next to her ear, low and soft. "Stop thinking that right now. You are my wife. We've got years together. Our lives. I'm going to learn all your spots, all the ways to make you moan. And you're going to learn all about me. Never fear. Right now though? You're everything I could hope for. You're beautiful and sweet. You bring me pleasure just by being who you are."

Pretty words, but could he really mean them? His lips grazed over her neck, soft lips feeling her until her hair stood on end from the intimate caress. He nuzzled her, coaxing her head to the side, then started to nibble her earlobe. The tightness in her groin grew at the feel of his teeth. He nipped up the shell of her ear, slow, careful. All she could think about was the feel of his mouth on her. She closed her eyes to drink in the feeling of her skin.

Once he reached the tip, he drew down, sucking her ear into his mouth. A choked groan escaped before she realized she was making the noise. She had touched her ears before, as many young ones did until they were told to stop or learned to do that only in private. At night when she was alone in her bed, she had run her finger up and down the outer ridge, enjoying the delicate sensations that created. She couldn't even say why she liked it, but the softness of her own skin had entranced her.

Now, with his mouth, hot and wet, suckling at her, all those fine nerves seemed to come alive for the first time.

"Rav." His name came out of her filled with longing.

She could feel his smile as he nipped the tender skin behind her ear. "Still worried?"

What had he done? Touched her breast. Suckled her ear. Bennly had grabbed her breasts with rough hands, but that was nothing. He could have grabbed her elbow for all the effect it had. How had this man, this stranger she knew for less than a day, have this effect? Her body had changed with those few touches. It's like he pulled a lever inside her, opened something she didn't know existed. "You. You're not boring."

"Neither are you, sweetheart."

"I'm… I'm not doing anything."

At the light scratching of his fingernail on her nipple, she squirmed. His touch was a delicious agony that almost hurt even as she wanted more. He stopped just before her over sensitized flesh made the sensation painful. "Look at you, Ness. Do you know how good it feels to see you respond like this? That I can do this for you?" His hand stroked from her flank up over her breast, his palm brushing over her nipple to make her writhe for more. "Maker, you are a vision. I want to drink you in."

His kisses started on the underside of one breast, a nip, just a graze of teeth, to show his desire. Kisses and nibbles traced down towards her stomach. When he reached just above her bellybutton, she started to panic. "Wait." She put a hand on his shoulder. "Stop."

He looked up at her, questioning.

"I'm not ready for that. Um, kissing further down."

With the same self possession he had shown all night, he rose up to kiss her, pulling the blankets back up with him to cover them both. "Do you want to stop for the night?"

Startled, she realized what was pressing against her hip. Long ingrained instinct told her to pull away, but that voice had been diminished enough that she ignored it. Instead, she wanted to take his offer from earlier to see him. "Not stop. Just not that."

"Do you still want to make love?"

"Yes, I think so."

The moment of panic had cooled her passion, and when he moved, using his thighs to open and slide between her legs, she tensed.

"We can stop. It's okay."

Maker, he was being so careful with her, watching for every reaction. It bothered her that she was so easy to read. Was she that obvious? "Um, maybe you can do that thing to my ear again?"

His eyes gleamed with mischief. "Dearest wife, did you enjoy that?"

"Oh, don't tease me," but she knew he would know that statement for the lie it was.

"Hmmm." He murmured low as his mouth neared her unmolested ear. "Such a lovely ear. No one has ever touched your ears like I have." He nibbled her earlobe as one hand found her breast. "Did it make you feel needy?" His nose caressed up and down the shell of her ear as his fingers tweaked and primed her nipple. Her legs relaxed open as his voice took over her thoughts. "Did it feel good to have my mouth on you? Tasting you?" He scratched her nipple again, just short of agony. "Do you want me to taste you again?"

"Yeesssss."

That glorious heat flowed into her as she felt the heat of his mouth on tender skin. Gentle teeth and soft lips. Maker help me, this is what ears were made for. Her skin pricked again, the hair standing on end. In a way, it felt as if he had taken off a heavy cloak that she hadn't realized she was wearing. The heat of his skin, the cool of the night air, everything felt more as new skin experienced the world.

He reached down, and though she couldn't see what he was doing, she felt as he took his sex in hand. She felt him then. The blunt head of his sex pressed between her lips but did not penetrate her. He moved, stroking up and down just inside her tender flesh. His eyes became heavy lidded in ecstasy as he caressed her sex. The tightened need started to throb in her. In response, she rocked her hips in invitation, her thighs resting on his hips.

"You want this, Ness?" Raviathan was panting, his eyes closed as he kept stroking her. "Say no while I can still stop."

She pulled him down for a kiss. This is my husband. He is my now and my future. She pushed his arm down so that he was lined up, then pressed him in using her legs. When he was insider her, she fell back with a groan. "Yes, Rav. I want you."

Every inch of him filling her body was a pleasure she hadn't thought possible. All the remaining feelings of being sold, the ugliness of being someone's property, melted away. They belonged to each other. Of all the possible mates she could have had, this was the one that had to be. The Maker's hand had guided them.

Nesiara arched with a groan as he slid deeper inside. He moved in a slow rhythm inside her, the wet friction a pleasure making her want more. She clutched the sheets as his hands stroked her body, hands running over her breasts or clutching her hips, his mouth on her neck and ear. It was so impossibly good, yet she wanted more. She moaned. " Please, Rav. I don't want gentle anymore. I want to feel everything from you."

Raviathan knelt before her, his head back, the tendons of his throat standing out, and he took in a long, slow breath. Nesiara wondered if she had said the wrong thing, but when he looked back down at her, there was a hunger in his night dark eyes. Hunger. For her. She felt powerful, as if she had never known fear.

"Rav." She rocked her hips up to press against him. My husband. You are mine as I am yours.

"You want this rough? Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"Your will, my wife." He held her knees up to angle in fast and deep. Nesiara clutched at the sheets. She had asked, but she had not expected this intensity of feeling. His hands grasped her hips, his grip possessive, as their bodies drummed together. He took her legs and placed them high against his chest, the back of her thighs held close together against his stomach. Panting, he rested a second and kissed her ankle. She felt the hard pumping muscles of his body as he moved deep inside. She worried that his father could hear them down below. She did her best to stifle her cries, but that was like holding back a flooding river.

He hugged her legs to his chest and pulled out. Nesiara started to curl with the loss as her body ached for more. He moved slowly, agonizingly, teasing after making her skin tender to his touch. He shifted a little to improve the position then held her legs tightly together. He entered, barely inside, and left. The torture as he played her was maddening, like an itch just out of reach, impossible to scratch and impossible to ignore. He started to speed up this little penetration as she groaned deep in her throat. She wanted to move so that she could get the some satisfaction, but he held her tight. How had he learned to make love like this? She ached and throbbed and wanted. Her hands clutched hard at the sheets balling them up in her fists. It was agony the way he kept brushing her skin, teasing her but not enough to bring her yet.

Letting her legs fall, he plunged in hard then started pumping quickly. She cried out as the orgasm hit, sending warmth down her thighs and into her belly. She writhed as he kept up the pace, and the ecstasy didn't stop. This new skin of hers that wanted his touch cried out with the overload. When she was spent, weak and hot, he thrust one final time before slumping down on top of her.

He lay there for a minute to catch his breath with her legs clasped around his hips. When he exited, she writhed with an agonized groan. He shifted his weight to the side then caressed her cheek and kissed her. He was still breathing heavily when he asked, "Are…are you happy?"

She smiled at him in loose languor. "Very much so. And you, my husband?"

He grinned back as he kissed her. "Yes, my wife. Very happy."

"Not boring."

He turned to blow out the candle then returned to snuggle with her under the blankets. They couldn't help but wiggle against each other for a bit. The openness they shared was so fun and new, a relief from the furtive relationships of the past. They could lie together for hours and touch at their pleasure. They both giggled a little as they played.

His desire continued to make her feel powerful. She loved hearing the happy groans he made when she rubbed her breasts against him. She loved how his hands wanted to touch her and explore, how his naked body pressed close to her. I am his wife, she thought with a thrill. This is the man who unlocked her and let all her desires free. Raviathan asked quietly as his body moved to caress hers, "Do you want to have children?"

Nesiara's arm stroked his back, and she marveled at the hardness of his muscles. "I'm not sure. It seems a little scary. Labor is so painful. I don't know if I can go through that. But, it's not like we have a choice. If it happens, it happens."

Raviathan settled to look at her in the silver moonlight. Their voices were low, barely above a whisper. It was silly really considering their mostly failed attempts to stay quiet earlier. "I really want children. My aunt was an herbalist and physician, and she taught me how to end pregnancies safely or give the mother extra support to make a healthy child. You have choices. I know how to make an ointment that will make pregnancy unlikely too. I can give you that, but I really want to have children with you. Imagine a little girl with your blue eyes and lovely skin. I can't think of a better gift from the Maker."

"So, you'll help me with a baby?" She would have never guessed he had those skills. Nothing had been said during their marital negotiations. That would have made him more favorable in her parents' eyes. Maybe his father had been waiting to see if that would be necessary, but that didn't make sense either. Did the shaddain not know? That would have been grossly unprofessional.

Strong arms held her close. "Of course. I'll rub oil on your belly every day to keep your skin healthy, cook dinner so you can rest your feet. I know about medicine so I can keep you healthy, make the delivery easier. I'll be there every step of the way." Looking into his calm eyes, she knew he would do just that and that he would do so with joy. He nuzzled her. "I want to hold my child in my arms and smell her baby skin. Hold her when she cries as new teeth develop."

"Why are you so sure you'll have a girl?"

"I don't know," he said snuggling in her warm softness. "I guess I've just always imagined a girl. I'd be happy with a boy too."

"You'll change diapers?" That had always sent the men she knew out of the room.

"Of course. I've done that before with my younger cousins. The first year can be really tiring, especially with feeding. I want to help you as much as I can."

There was a softness about him that touched her heart. "You're going to be a great father." He kissed her with a contented smile. "You know, Rav, a physician is a good career. Better than almost any elf I know. How come we didn't know about that?"

Raviathan sighed, his breath caressing her neck. "My father doesn't want me to practice medicine. I do a little bit around the alienage, but it has to be kept a secret. He didn't want me to tell you about it either."

"Why?"

"Sometimes templars confuse medicine with magic."

"Templars? But… that doesn't make any sense."

Raviathan bit his lips, studying her. "Sweetheart, I'll tell you another time, but I don't want to think about that right now. Please?"

She returned his gaze, saw the sorrow and pleading. "You'll tell me later?"

"Of course."

"Fine," she said letting her fingers trail up and down his chest, a gesture that was as natural as waking up to the sun each morning. "But you'll help me?"

"Anything you need, Ness, I'll do for you," he said squeezing her tight. "You don't have to be alone."

She snuggled close, putting her head in the crook of his neck. Thank you Maker for lighting my path. Thank you Maker for this gift. Let me prove worthy of his love. "Thank you, Rav."

He breathed against her ear, "My wife."

She started to feel that hidden part of him begin press against her stomach. So soon, she thought amazed. "Rav?"

The tip of her ear was gently sucked as his hands roamed down her back. He caressed her buttock, squeezing her close. His movement against her became more rhythmic. "Yes, my wife?"

She traced fingertips down his side. His lean muscles guided her hand as she touched him, drawing closer to that secret part of him. He groaned so close to her ear she got chills. His cock hardened under her fingers. He squeezed her butt again before running a hand down her thigh to lift it up on his hip then rolled her on her back. Using his mouth, he began to tease her breasts. One tongue tip flicked her nipple as his thumb stroked the other. He settled his mouth to tease and suck her lovingly. Maker, she thought, such a gift.

With a surge of possessive need, she pushed him off. He lay on his back, the moonlight creating a bright slash across his chest. She could see him in the light, his hardened muscles so different from all the skinny elves she had seen. He was almost fully erect. She stared at him with no little amazement. He wasn't shy, at least not with her. Again, that thrill. He wanted her, and it felt right when he was inside her.

"Ness, I'm sorry. I didn't mean…" He stopped as she leaned down to fondle his ear with her mouth and felt him press up against her thigh. It was her turn. He let out a long moan as one hand continued to fondle her breast, a touch that made her groin ache. His eyes were closed, mouth open in pleasure as she suckled his ear. He shivered with growing desire. He was fully hard and pressing up against her thigh. She touched him, marveling at his strength as she continued nibbling his ear. She reveled in her newfound power. Someone so strong was devoted to her and responded eagerly to her. This time it was her turn to tease, her turn to bring their pleasure.

She straddled him. He helped position her as she slowly slid down with a long moan. If she hadn't still been wet from before, she was after his tongue had teased her breasts. It was faster this time. He kept his hands on her hips as he started thrusting from below. He felt sharper when she was on top. Nesiara clenched each time she slowly rose up and felt his grip tighten on her hips. The worship was back in each of his low groans, in the way he watched her pale breasts bounce with their rhythm, the rose pink nipples high, caressed by moonlight. His hands explored her body as she rode him, over her breasts and across her shoulders, down her sides and thighs. The reverence in his dark eyes made her feel like a holy thing.

The orgasm built slowly with her strokes. It budded and warmed her middle and down her legs. With a soft cry she slumped down clutching his shoulders as she quivered. He rolled her on her back and pumped hard to make the ecstasy peak and last. Blood pounded through her body as if at the end of long race when she was weak and too light headed to make sense of the world. He was there, constantly sliding inside her sensitive skin to make her buck. She clutched him, reveled in his fevered need to feel her. He had to clasp a hand over her mouth when she began to moan too loudly, but his mouth on her long ear made it impossible to stop. She wanted to cry and gasp it felt so unbelievably good. He came a few minutes later with a gasp of pleasure.

Heat poured from her skin as if she had turned into an oven. Shaking as blood continued to make her whole body pulse, Nesiara cracked open the window to let the winter night in. With the breeze coming in Raviathan felt comfortable enough to snuggle. She could almost feel the responding beat of his body through their skin. For a few moments, they couldn't move, only shift against each other. He gently pushed Nesiara on her side to face away then molded his body against hers. He kissed her on the back of the neck as one arm hugged her from behind. "You're so sweet, Ness."

She giggled in her dazed state. "Was that a pun?"

It took him a second before he chuckled. "It wasn't intended to be." His rich baritone was right next to her ear, and she wondered again at her luck. He nuzzled her neck. "My sweet Ness, hmm? I think that's more of a play on words."

"Ooh. Very lucky for you. I can't have a punny husband." He groaned as she giggled. After a few minutes, she closed the window as he pulled up the blankets. She faced him, reveling in a wonderful whole bodied looseness she had never experienced before. Oh she was a lucky one. "Rav?"

"Yes, my sweet Ness?"

She smiled, enjoying the nickname. "Tell me something about yourself."

He nuzzled her face, his nose gliding over her cheekbone. "What would you like to know?"

"I want to know something about you that no one else knows."

"You want to know one of my secrets, hmm?

"I told you mine."

"This is true. Okay, but you have to promise not to tell anybody."

"Promise."

"Nobody knows about this. Not even Shianni."

She giggled then nestled closer. "I promise I won't tell a soul."

"Alright. You promised, so here goes. Since my earliest memories, I love to read, even before I learned all my letters. Alarith never had enough books, and my parents could only afford so many. I would get bored at night. Eventually my parents got me a lute, but this was before that happened.

"So, you know we live right next to the wall. Late at night, when everyone was asleep, I would sneak out the window, across our roof, then up the wall. It's only fifteen feet, and I found all these old cracks to get to the top. I couldn't go when the moon was too full or the guards would spot me. Once on the wall, I would sneak across by jumping from roof to roof."

"You could have fallen!"

"Shhh." He continued in a low whisper, "I was a kid. I didn't think anything about it. I just seemed like fun. Now I realize what danger I was in. But, that's not the whole secret.

"So, there I was, high above the city. Not too far from here is a bann's manor. I went in through a window and found myself in a hallway. It was dark, so I wasn't too worried. I was really lucky and one of the first rooms I went into was the bann's library. It was like finding paradise. For months I would go to that library and read until almost dawn."

"Did you ever take any?"

"Oh no. If the bann found a book missing, they might get suspicious and add guards or security. There would go my paradise. Also, my mother would have gotten creative with a punishment if she found a book they hadn't paid for. No question who the culprit would be."

"What about sleep?"

"I'd sleep over at Shianni's while her mother worked."

"What if you were caught?"

"I was going to pretend to be a servant. Some servants have to live there because they can't get back before curfew and are needed through the night. I'd be some errand boy sent to get the young master his glass of water. It's a weak excuse I know, but I was a child. But I'm getting there. So, this is after almost a year, I went to the library. I remember I was reading a book on the history of dragon killers in Nevarra. It was so fascinating. I had been reading about dragons for almost a month. This book was on the tactics they used for different ages of dragons. Did you know that only females get wings, and that's… well. I won't go into it now, but I thought it was amazing. I didn't even hear the footsteps coming until too late."

Nesiara gasped. He nodded then continued. "I was sitting by the fire reading. I had my back to the wall so the fire would angle on the book for the most light. In walked a guard and a human servant. I went completely still. I mean, story or no, there was no way to get out of this. I was caught."

Nesiara's eyes went wide in horror. "What happened?"

"There I was. The terror of it hit me. I didn't know if the guard would beat me first, but I was betting on it. And after they were done beating me, I'd be in prison. My family would have no idea what happened to me either. I'd be left to rot in a cold, dark cell and never see them again. I thought the one way out of this would be to make a break for it. See if I could outrun him, get to a window and escape. I was about to throw the book at him to distract him, ready to dodge around his legs. But then the servant giggled.

"Ness, you have the cutest frown line."

"Get back to the story."

"Here I am trapped by malicious humans. Maybe she liked switching elves. I still hadn't moved when she said, 'but someone might catch us.' Then he said, 'Don't worry about it. Everyone's asleep.' That's when she unlaced her bodice and pulled down the top of her dress. He took off his gauntlets and started touching her. I thought, no way. He's in full armor. They can't really be… then she went down to her knees. She took off his cod piece and began kissing his private bits."

Nesiara put a hand over her mouth as she tried to keep her laughter silent. He laughed a little with her. "I had never seen anything like that before. I was just shocked."

It took her a long time to get her laughter under control. Every time she started to get a handle on herself, Raviathan would say something else or make a face that started it up again. "Oh my poor little elven boy. What did you do?"

He shrugged. "What could I do? I couldn't leave without being noticed, so I slowly slunk back in the shadows and waited. Turned out to be a very educational night."

"I bet."

He kissed her, smiling. "Our secret."

They settled in close, reveling in the freedom of their bodies. She asked, "Did that happen again?"

He stroked her hair. "Never went back. It was a close call and probably one that I needed seeing as what could have happened. My parents got me my lute a week later, so I was happy enough. They even gave me a fiddle, harp, and pipes a year after that because I was enjoying it so."

"I'd love to hear you play." Nesiara couldn't remember the last time she felt this happy or secure. When she and her sister had dreamed of their match as children, they had laughed over some of the worse matches they saw: old men with too young wives making both frustrated, a quiet elf paired with a frivolous and high strung girl whom he held in constant contempt, two elves who were both so stubborn they couldn't agree on a name for their child- a dispute which their hahren had to settle.

Most couples settled into their marriages between the time of their handfasting and official ceremony or, at the latest, within a year, but there were enough exceptions to make a bad match a concern. If a marriage wasn't settled within a year, it never would be, and those couples grew bitter. Though rare, bad couples had a way of drawing the eye like a stain on a white dress. Nesiara and her sister had both seen too many couples fighting, usually over money, enough that they knew they wanted a calm man. Nesiara sent another silent prayer of thanks to the Maker that she had gotten this man as her husband. He was so sweet and affectionate with just the right touch of danger in bed.

He kissed her temple. "Tomorrow."

"Then I suppose you can stay here tonight."

His chuckle warmed her. "You have my gratitude, my sweet Ness."

She pressed her body in for a long kiss. She whispered, "I'm glad it's you, Rav." She settled in next to him ready for sleep. "I'm glad you're my husband."