Sometime later, Cullen awoke. Elena still slept at his side, her head pillowed by his chest and her leg thrown over his hips. Though the fire had smoldered low in the hearth, he could still see a touch of that feverish flush on her cheeks, and he assumed she was not yet better. Not that he minded–if he was being perfectly honest with himself. Being with her had been euphoric.

Closing his eyes and breathing in deep, he played the past few hours over in his mind's eye. Sweet Andraste, surely this was a dream? Had Lady Trevelyan truly been so wild and willing in his bed? He would have never believed such a thing could happen. And a small part of him never wanted to leave their chamber. Forget the world–he wanted to say in this twilight realm with his lover as they learned each other's bodies.

His stomach rumbled loudly, breaking into his thoughts. With a groan, he flung his forearm over his eyes, waiting to see if Elena would wake from the sound. She shifted in her sleep, nuzzling closer to him, but her eyes stayed closed. Surely though, if he was famished, she must be doubly so. Cullen couldn't imagine Cassandra, Dorian, or Varric had had much luck getting her to eat anything.

Then it would be up to him to feed her.

Easing out of bed so not to wake her, Cullen searched the floor for his trousers. After pulling them on, he headed for the door. He eased it open, glancing around the private dining room for sustenance. Instead he met Dorian's amused smirk and Cassandra's carefully guarded stare. Varric leapt out from behind the door, a guilty look on his face.

"Curly, so you live! I trust things are going…" Varric paused, taking in Cullen's state of undress and no doubt wild hair. "well."

Cullen raised an eyebrow. "Were you listeningat the door, Varric?"

"You wound me with your distrust," Varric replied, placing a hand over his heart. "Despite the fact that I could make a fortune in Orlais with a story like this, I wouldn't dream of eavesdropping on you and Choir Girl in there."

Cullen glared, but before the dwarf could defend himself further, he cleared his throat, "is there any food? I'm not sure when she last ate…"

He trailed off, a blush rising to his face when he envisioned the last thing she'd had in her mouth.

"We just sent for dinner," Cassandra replied. "It should be up shortly."

Though her tone was guarded, Cullen could tell she was dying to ask what had happened. He knew the Seeker well enough to know that the soft romantic side she hid from the world would be eager to hear of any amorous developments between members of the Inquisition–especially him and Elena. Cassandra had noticed his fixation on the Herald before, surely it wouldn't be lost on her how easily Cullen was loosing his heart.

"How is she?" Dorian asked, eyebrow cocked and breaking into Cullen's thoughts.

Cullen rubbed the back of his neck, unsure how to answer. "Sleeping, at the moment."

A heavy silence filled the room as Cass and Dorian exchanged a meaningful look; Cass slightly smug and Dorian irritated. Cullen shifted on his feet, anxious, it seemed to get back to the woman asleep in his bed and away from their nosy companions. A moment before he was about to give up on food, the door opened and two kitchen elves appeared.

Cullen grabbed a tretcher, ignoring the look the others were giving him. He filled it with warm rolls, cheese, fruits and a few cuts of meat, unsure what Elena liked or even if she'd be willing to eat. With a final glance back at his companions, he reentered the bedroom. As the door swung closed, he could here the excited whisperings behind him, but he ignored them.

He had something more important to see to.

Elena was sitting up in bed, a frantic look on her face. When she saw him framed in the doorway, her expression relaxed and she let the sheet drop from her body, revealing her gorgeous breasts. Cullen felt his breath hitch in his throat at the sight of her creamy skin and pink nipples, and he had to use all of his concentrate to not drop the food.

She crooked her finger towards him, and began crawling across the bed, her hips and shoulders rolling in a sensuous rhythm as she moved, "I thought you left me."

Her voice was pouty, plaintive, but he could detect a hint of real panic underlying her words. The glassy haze still clouded her eyes, but Cullen thought her gaze might have been a touch more clear than it had been the night before. As if on their own accord, his feet brought him to the edge of the bed. Leaning forward, she pressed a chaste kiss to his stomach, and gazed up at him.

Cullen reached down and cupped her chin, his finger stroking along her jaw. "I wouldn't leave you, sweetheart. But I do need you eat something."

She frowned and shook her head. "The only thing I want to taste is your glorious, thick cock."

Maker preserve me, he thought as lust throbbed through his body, his cock hardening at her words. Setting the tretcher down on the side table, he gingerly sat next to her, trying his best to arrange his trousers so that his erection wasn't so apparent.

He took her face between his hands again, his thumb stroking over her bottom lip. "Would you please eat for me?"

She pouted. "Don't you want to fuck me again?"

Cullen fixed her with the stare he usually reserved for unruly recruits–a look that said he was to be obeyed in all things. She stared back at him, her look defiant. In her state, he knew the only way to get through to her was with seduction.

"I need you to keep up your strength," he murmured before leaning forward to brush his lips over the edge of her ear. "I know your lush body can only take so much pleasuring before you need to rest. Let me take care of you. Let me feed you."

He felt a tremble run through her at his words, her breath hitching in her throat. She turned to him, flickering her Fade-green eyes up to his golden gaze as she bit her bottom lip. After a moment, she nodded.

Smiling to himself, Cullen sat up against the headboard of the bed and tucked her between his outstretched legs, so that her back was flush to his chest. She fit against him perfectly. With patience and soft, gentle kisses as incentive, he fed her bite after bite of food. With playful tongue and wicked lips, she sucked and nipped at his fingers, causing him to think of her sweet mouth wrapped around his cock once more. He stifled a groan, but couldn't stop his shaft from growing rock hard. She surely felt it, because soon she was squirming against him, rubbing her pert ass hard against his erection, her hands and nails trailing up and down his thighs.

"Cullen," she whispered between bites of bread and cheese. "I need you."

Taking a deep breath, he pressed his face to the side of her neck, inhaling her sweet scent. A lightness that he hadn't felt in a long time flooded through him. "You have no idea how long I've waited to hear those words from you, sweetheart."

"So take me–have your way with me. Make me yours," she encouraged, wiggling against him.

"I want to, but–"

Elena rocked forward so that she was on her hands and knees, her legs spread wide enough that Cullen had the perfect view of her. Holy Maker in Heaven. She arched her back, raising her hips and cast him a wanton look over her shoulder. Cullen bit his lip and moaned as she reached beneath herself and began stroking her pink folds with expert fingers.

"Cullen," she gasped, two slim fingers disappearing inside of her for a moment. "Cullen, this is what I did for hours while I waited for you to come to me. It's nothing compared to you."

Fuck, fuck, FUCK. He wanted nothing more than to plunge himself into her and fuck her until she couldn't walk, until her voice was hoarse from screaming his name. Until she was ruined for all other lovers. Lust shot through him from head to toe as he watched her; he could see she was wet, soaking wet, and probably hot and tight as well. Maker he wanted her, he'd never wanted anything so badly in his life.

But would she ever want him if that loathsome desire demon hadn't gotten her claws into her? And what would she think of him when she finally broke out of her maddened state? Could he trust himself–trust her–to take her? His cock ached with want, and he realized he was moaning with her as she fucked herself with her fingers.

"Cullen, please," she half pleaded, half moaned.

With a curse, he reared up on his his knees and gripped her hips, pulling her back, so her pert, round ass was flush with his cock. She sprawled before him, shoulders pressed to the bed, hips raised scalding hot against him. Cullen's moans joined Elena's as she rubbed herself shamelessly against his thick erection. He stretched his body over hers, his legs spread wide, this length slotting against the warm, inviting heat of her sheath.

"Is this what you want?" He whispered at her ear, his tongue flicking out to taste her skin just below, his words punctured with a roll of his hips.

"Yes! Cullen, yes," Elena panted under him, her hypersensitive body writhing against him in the best way.

"You want me inside of you?" He murmured, covering her arms with his and drawing them above their heads. "You want my cock?"

"Please."

Brushing a soft kiss against her cheek, Cullen reached between them and positioned the broad head of his cock at her entrance. He took a deep breath, steadying himself for the heaven that awaited him.

"Cullen," Elena whispered, the fingers of both her hands curling tight around his other hand.

With a sure, swift thrust of his hips, Cullen filled her, stretching her sheath until he was planted up to the hilt. Elena let out a guttural moan, and Cullen's eyes rolled back in his head as her tight, silken heat enveloped him. He gripped her hip, fingers bruisingly hard on her skin, and began pounding into her. Pleasure unlike he'd ever known shot straight through his body, spreading out from his core, until every inch of his skin tingled. Cullen looked down at the woman moving beneath him, another wave of pleasure crashing over him at the sight of Elena on her knees, hips rolling as she tried to take every last inch of him inside of her, her hot cunt squeezing him tight with each thrust. The sounds of their bodies joining filled the air, mingling with their moans and the musky scent of their lovemaking.

He wanted to kiss her–he felt as if he would die if her plump lips weren't on his that instant. Rising up and wrapping his fist in her hair, Cullen jerked her head back, his other hand cupping her throat as he sealed his mouth over hers. Elena moaned into his kiss, her mouth opening, inviting him deeper, always deeper; he pressed forward, tasting the words hidden beneath her tongue, his lips demanding against her own.

He took her hard, wild, with no fear or inhibition between them–nothing between them, just the sensuous slide of sweat slicked skin against skin, the rustle of her silken hair against his chest, the warmth of her beneath him.

Cullen could tell she was close from the way her perfect cunt tightened around him, but he wanted to see her face when she came. Breaking the string of kisses he had been painting along her shoulder blades, he pulled out. A high, bereft wail of protest tore from her throat, but he easily flipped her onto her back and covered her body with his own. Electricity seemed to tingle over every inch of him that touched her. Gripping her legs just behind her knees, Cullen yanked her legs around his waist and drove inside of her. Elena's back arched, her arms flying around his neck where he nails dug into his skin.

"Yes! CULLEN. Harder!" She demanded, meeting each of his thrusts with a sensuous roll of her hips.

"As you wish," he rasped, eager to fulfill her every desire.

Glancing up, he gripped the footboard above their heads, and thrust. Using the wood as leverage, he slammed into her again and again. Each slide of his cock stoking his lust and pleasure higher. She began to babble between moans, nonsense words urging him on, telling him he was perfect.

"Don't stop! Please don't stop. Oh Cullen! You, you! You're my everything! Cullen–Cullen–Cullen!"

He could feel his release rising, burning hot and insistent at the base of his cock.

"Touch yourself, Sweet," he growled, sweat beading his brow as he continued thrusting deep and hard into her perfect body. "Show me how you make that pretty cunt come."

Hands shaking, she reached between the bodies and began to stroke herself. Cullen watched, entranced, as she rubbed her pearl while his cock sank into her, just below her hand, again and again. He couldn't hold on much longer, the image of her below him, her perfect breasts bouncing, was almost too much. He bent his head, his mouth wrapping around a pert nipple, suckling her deep into his mouth. He teeth scraped over her bud and Elena's body tensed–with a scream she came, her body clenching around him, drawing him deep into her tight heat. Her nails scratching along his back as she locked her legs tight around his hips.

Eyes squeezed shut and face buried in her chest, Cullen came with a mighty shout, his hot seed pulsing deep inside of her.

Breathing heavily and body shaking, he collapsed on top of Elena, nuzzling her neck and placing soft kisses against her sweat slicked skin. After a moment, Cullen rolled them onto their sides, and still deep inside of her and arms around each other, they drifted into sleep.

For Elena, time passed in a haze of need and relief, only to have that burning need rise up higher and more demanding than before. She ate when Cullen pressed food to her lips and slept when she'd come so many times her body was exhausted. She cared for nothing but her golden Commander–him taking her in the bed, on the floor, up against the wall, again and again. Exploring each other's bodies and desires in the dim light of the chamber. His name was constantly on her lips, just as his taste was in her mouth. Sweat or cum, she licked it off his body like it was the sweetest wine. His fingers knew just where to touch her, his mouth and tongue unlocking pleasure hidden deep within her body. There was nothing beyond the four walls of their room, beyond their bed, their bodies joined in ecstasy.

She was safe, protected. Loved.

And then like early morning mist in bright sunlight, her desire suffused haze melted away.

Cullen stroked his fingers down Elena's back as she rocked above him, the water in their tub sloshing onto the stone floor as they bathed together. Her legs wrapped around his waist, his cock buried deep inside her body, eyes locked on each other as they came.

Maker, she was glorious. Her red hair surrounding her like a halo of fire, her lush body so soft and pliable. She fit against him perfectly and responded to him like no other woman ever had. He needed her just as badly as she needed him, he was sure of it.

Cullen's head fell back, eyes closed as his release burned through him. Elena gripped his shoulders, her nails scouring his skin as his name fell from her lips again and again. Her head fell forward, resting against his shoulder as she breathed deeply and Cullen held her close, his arms wrapping around back as he trailed his fingers over her silken skin.

The moment stretched on, and he found himself enjoying the intimacy of simply holding her to him. Yet, as he brushed his lips across her temple, she stiffened in his arms.

Her head came up, her eyes wide and clear as confusion tinged her voice, "Cullen? What…?"

Fear spread through him when he saw the confusion on her face. Her Fade-green eyes were clear, bright and sparkling as they used to be. Cured. She's cured.

He stared at her in astonishment. Surely this was what he wanted. For the Inquisitor to be better, for her to be able to go back to her duties. But why did he feel as if a block of stone were sitting on his chest? Why had his blood turned to ice?

Elena's gaze widened.

"Oh merciful Andraste!" She shrieked, knifing up from his lap, water spilling everywhere as she scrambled to cover her body.

"Elena, wait, it's alright–" he stammered, rising out of the tub and crossing the room to her.

She was half dressed when he reached her, pulling her into his arms–if he could justtouch her, everything would be alright, he thought as he held her to his chest stroking her hair. Everything had to be alright.

"Shh, calm down, sweetheart."

Instead of calming as she might have done moments ago, she pushed against him, his presence only serving to frighten her more. "NO! No, it's not alright! I…we…Oh, Maker. I can't!"

Cullen let her go, at a loss as to what to say or do. He simply watched as she pulled her tunic on and flew out the door, her face red and tears gathering in her eyes. The door slammed behind her, but not before he caught sight of their companions' astonished faces.

Frustration, disappointment, and rage burned through him, clouding his vision until all her saw was red. With wild, angry strikes, Cullen swept the clutter from the table near their bed, reveling in the crash of metal and wood on the ground. With a roar, he flipped the table over and swung his fist at the wall. Pain laced through his wrist and up his forearm and the skin on his knuckles sheered off against the rough stone.

The pain focused him.

He had her, she had been in his arms, happy and sated. And then she ran from him.

Breathing heavily, Cullen surveyed the room he had destroyed and swore under his breath. One thing was for certain, he would give Elena space to process what had happened, but he wouldn't let her slip through his fingers. Now that he had had her, he couldn't bare to let her go.

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