Zevran just barely suppressed an exasperated sigh at the sight of Jowan and Lily, who were making out behind the reception desk as if they weren't in full view of anyone coming down the stairs. The young man had turned out to be depressingly straight. And even worse – since Zevran loved a challenge and might have tried his luck anyway – he was madly and helplessly in love with the curvy redhead working the late shift in the kitchen.

Jowan had been perfectly friendly when Zevran had approached him the night before, but within minutes, the conversation had been all about Lily's lovely smile, Lily's gorgeous eyes, Lily's perfect body, and most importantly, the way to Lily's fickle heart. And, to his horror, Zevran had found himself in the role of advisor, doing his best to encourage Jowan to pluck up his courage and confess his feelings to her. Because I am such an authority in matters of the heart, apparently.

Zevran shook his head. It was hard not to feel bitter, considering his less than stellar record at successful relationships. Still, the two of them were cute together. And he had at least managed to sneak some kisses last night, under the pretence of 'helping Jowan improve his technique'. It seemed to have worked, too, judging from the way Lily was writhing in his arms.

"Want me to fill in for you for an hour or so?" Zevran leaned on the desk, grinning in satisfaction when the two of them jumped apart as if he'd zapped them with a stun gun. "I'm referring to your reception duties, of course," he added with a wink. "I wouldn't want to interfere with anything else."

"Zevran!" Jowan was blushing quite fetchingly. "No, I… That won't be…"

Lily regarded him through narrowed eyes. "A friend of yours?" She sounded confused, and more than a little suspicious.

"Sort of." Zevran was sorely tempted to mix things up a bit, but relented when he saw the panic in Jowan's eyes. "No, not really. I just wanted to let Jowan know I'll be checking out tomorrow, in time for the Ostagar train."

"Right. I'll make a note of it." Jowan swallowed nervously. "Thank you."

"Don't mention it." Zevran favoured him with a last radiant smile as he slipped out through the door. "It's been my pleasure."

The next morning, it took him a few minutes to find Megan after boarding the train. He hadn't told her about his decision to come along to Ostagar, and he had arrived at the last minute, too late to spot her on the platform. Still, it wasn't as if he could miss her. Zevran made his way through the aisles of the crowded carriages, stepping carefully over backpacks and their dozing owners, keeping an eye out for her mop of red-golden hair.

But even before he saw her, he heard her voice, cool and clear. "Take a hint, will you? This seat is taken, I said."

A tall, broad-shouldered young man with reddish-brown hair and a well-trimmed beard was coming toward him, muttering curses and shoving him roughly aside. The guy was followed by two others who were regarding him with a mixture of awe and apprehension.

"Just ignore the little bitch, Vaughan." One of them cautiously extended a hand to pat him on the shoulder, only to be shaken off with a glare. "Sooner or later someone will teach her better manners."

Vaughan muttered something unintelligible and walked on. His friends tagged along, glancing nervously at him. All three of them ignored Zevran completely.

He found Megan sitting at a small table for four, together with Morrigan and a tall, muscular guy with an impassive face. Her backpack was on the empty seat next to her, but when she saw him coming, she lifted it off with a welcoming smile.

"Zev! Here you are! Honestly, I don't think I could have defended your seat much longer."

"Ah, I don't know." He glanced back over his shoulder at Vaughan's retreating back. "It seems to me you were doing a pretty good job."

"That jerk." Megan's nose wrinkled in disgust. "Ever so charming and full of compliments, until I told him I wasn't interested and he could shove it. Then he got obnoxious."

Zevran felt the hair on his neck rise. "Did he bother you?"

"Nah. Not with Sten here looking all menacing and quietly murderous." Megan flashed a playful smile at the young man in the opposite seat. Sten didn't return her smile, just nodded silently. He did have an ominous look about him.

Megan didn't seem fazed by it, though, chatting happily on. "Besides, it was easy enough to get rid of that idiot. I simply threatened to tell every single girl at the festival about that nasty rash he has if he wouldn't leave me alone."

Zevran felt his lips twitch in a smile. "And how would you know that he's suffering from that kind of ailment, cara?"

"I didn't." Megan shrugged. "Just a lucky guess. He kept scratching his balls while we were waiting for the train."

"Eugh." Zevran dropped into his seat with a sigh, stretching voluptuously. "Well, then. Wicked Grace, anyone?"

Megan loved the game. The rules had been easy enough to learn, and Maker, it was so much fun! Both Diamondback and Wicked Grace had been strictly forbidden in her parents' house, since her mother disapproved of any game that involved wagering money, even if it was only small sums. Or pumpkin seeds, like today. Zevran had brought a large bag, and had carefully counted out fifteen seeds for each of them.

Morrigan had raised a perfectly plucked eyebrow, but she'd joined the game eagerly enough, and even Sten had almost smiled once or twice. Megan wondered what his story was. She remembered seeing him at the hostel, and she didn't mind that Morrigan had brought him along. He was quiet and polite, and he'd been a big help with the heavy backpacks. But she wondered why he'd joined them. Somehow she had a hard time imagining him at the festival, rocking out to the music.

But that was neither here nor there. Now, she was really getting the hang of the game, and she could have gone on playing for hours. It was a pity that Zevran seemed to be getting restless.

"What's the matter, Zev?" Megan took care not to sound petulant when he yawned for the fourth time, fiddling with a strand of his silky long hair. "Bored already?"

"A bit." He smiled perfunctorily at her, but the real focus of his attention was on Morrigan who was facing him, long legs gracefully crossed to display a shapely ankle. "You know, this would be much more fun if we wagered our clothes."

"Yeah, well. Not on a crowded train." Morrigan sounded dry as dust. "Actually, scratch that. Not ever." She gave him her patented smoky-eyed glare. "No use getting your hopes up."

Of course, Zevran wasn't the slightest bit deterred. "Aw, don't look at me like that, sweet Morrigan. I bet you'd be even lovelier if you smiled, just once."

"Even lovelier, eh?" Morrigan snorted. "I'll smile when I'm in the mood for it, and not to please you. And your transparent flattery doesn't do it for me, I'm afraid. You can save yourself the trouble."

Zevran shrugged. "It's no trouble at all. And it's not flattery, but the truth. Surely you know you're beautiful. Such a gorgeous body, such flawless skin, and you have the most amazing eyes I've ever seen. Can you blame me for noticing?" His words were accompanied by graceful gestures, and the heated look in his eyes alone would have made most girls swoon.

But Morrigan clearly wasn't most girls. "Not for noticing, maybe, but for going on about it as if your opinion mattered. Look, maybe this works on other girls, but not on me. Really not." She got to her feet with another contemptuous huff. "Come on, Sten. Let's see if we can find some coffee."

Sten got up without a word and set off along the aisle, his massive presence making people scramble out of his way without the need to ask. Morrigan followed him without a glance back at them.

Megan laughed softly. "Awww, Zev. That didn't go so well, did it?"

Part of her applauded Morrigan's show of independence. Megan couldn't have put it into words quite so succinctly, but it was true that it bothered her, too, this casual assumption that every man had the right to judge a girl's appearance, that she had to be pretty and charming all the time, just to please the men around her.

But on the other hand Megan was honest enough to admit that she herself would probably have fallen for it, if Zevran had used his charm on her instead. He could be irresistible if he wanted to be. The way he'd looked at Morrigan, as if all he desired in the world was her, as if he would do anything in his power to make her his… Yup. Irresistible.

Either way, Zevran's cockiness deserved the occasional damper. He would get over it soon enough.

Megan elbowed him lightly in the ribs. "Morrigan is a tough cookie. You'll have to do better if you want to persuade her."

But to her surprise, Zevran shook his head. "Ah, no, cara. This is where you are wrong. You see…" He leaned back in his seat, idly reaching for a pumpkin seed to nibble on. "That is not what I want at all."

Megan raised a sceptical eyebrow at him. "It's not?"

"No." He flashed her a quick smile, but immediately grew serious again. "You see, I'm not interested in sleeping with anyone, man or woman, if I have to persuade them." His moue of disgust was almost comical. "What I want is for them to want me, to desire me. And if they do… When they do…" This time there was more than a hint of the predator in his smile. "Then I'll gladly let them have what they want. But until then…" He shrugged his shoulders in a gesture of pure nonchalance. "I can wait."

"But, why?" The words slipped out before she could stop herself.

His eyebrows shot up. "Why do I want willing and eager partners? The sex is much better, for one thing."

"No, I meant-" Megan felt her cheeks heat up. "Why so many? I mean, we've only just met, what, three days ago? And I'm beginning to lose count already. It seems like you're constantly trying to get into somebody's pants."

"Ah, but now you exaggerate a bit, no? I don't sleep with everyone I flirt with, not by a long stretch." Zevran shook his head decisively. He didn't seem offended, though. "But yes, I like sex, cara. Done right, it's the best feeling in the world. And I'm not hurting anyone with what I do. Why shouldn't I enjoy myself, hmm?"

Megan swallowed, unsure of what to reply. The best feeling in the world. He had that bit right, as far as she was concerned. The mere memory of how she'd felt in Nate's arms made her tingle all over. Still…

But before she could come up with a suitable answer, Zevran was already getting to his feet in a lithe, fluid motion. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll be back in time for our departure."

Stunned, she watched him make his way to the back of the carriage. A pretty girl with honey-blonde hair and freckles smiled at him as he joined her at her table. They chatted for a while, and it wasn't long before Megan saw him take her hand and run his thumb over her palm, his expression earnest and intense. The girl gasped in response, looking at him as if she wanted to roll over right there and offer herself to him. I don't believe it.

Megan had never met anyone like Zevran, and she wasn't sure what to make of him. But there was no denying she was intrigued. She really ought to persuade him to stick around a little longer.

Huggles and thanks to my wonderful beta suilven :)