The campsite in the Brecilian Forest was one of the nicest places Megan had seen in her travels so far. There was little undergrowth in the ancient forest, and people had put up their tents all over the place, in the open spaces between the old trees. Tall oaks surrounded a central meeting place, their branches forming a perfect canopy overhead. The ground was covered with a colourful carpet made from fallen leaves, and a big fire had been built right in the middle. Everyone gathered around it at night to sing and chat and just enjoy each other's company.

Even Zevran seemed less restless than usual. Normally, at this point in the evening, he'd likely have disappeared into the darkness with a willing partner. After three weeks in his company, Megan was quite familiar with the process. A quick flirt, a few suggestive looks and well-placed touches – that was usually all it took. And even if it didn't, Zevran tended to be undaunted by rejection. He would just try his luck elsewhere, or adapt his strategy. It was quite interesting to watch, actually, and Megan had secretly been taking mental notes for a while. Not that she was looking for an affair, but if she could pick up some tricks from an expert…

Tonight, he seemed quite content to stay and listen to the guitar player, a tall, pale girl who'd introduced herself as Marjolaine. She was well worth listening to, Megan conceded, even if the Orlesian chansons that made up most of her repertory were a bit tacky. But it was nice to sit here and enjoy the unseasonable warmth of the autumn night, taking the occasional sip from the bottle of wine she and Zevran were sharing. She had grabbed one of the last free seats, on a fallen log, and he was sitting at her feet, leaning against her legs and humming along with the music.

It was perfect and relaxing – until a large, wet drop hit her bare shoulder, quickly followed by a second one.

"Oh, damn it!" Megan got to her feet in a flash, gazing up at the sky. She hadn't even noticed the upcoming rain clouds.

"What is it?" Zevran just about managed to catch himself and avoid toppling gracelessly to the ground.

"My tent." Megan added a few more colourful invectives. "I haven't put it up yet," she called back over her shoulder, already well on her way to her chosen spot. If she hurried-

But when she arrived at the site, it was already too late. The rain was coming down in thick sheets, almost blinding her, and it was all she could do to gather up her things and head for the shelter of the trees.

"Megan!" Zevran's warm hand encircled her wrist, pulling her in the opposite direction. "Come on. My tent is up. We can share."

Moments later, they were out of the rain, kneeling on the tent floor, and Zevran was lighting a small lamp, cursing under his breath when he saw the small puddle forming under her. "You're drenched. And so am I." He looked down at himself with a disgusted grimace.

Megan followed his gaze, but the feelings the sight of him elicited were about as far from disgust as they could be. He was wearing thin cargo pants, and the way the soaked fabric clung to his muscular thighs made her swallow. She had gotten so used to having him around that for the most part she didn't even notice his looks anymore, but seeing him like this was different. Megan was pretty sure she could see the outline of his cock through his pants, and… Maker, is that all him? Just then he turned and presented her with the perfect curve of his ass, and she gasped involuntarily. Really, he might as well be naked. Naked might be less enticing, actually.

"We need to get out of these clothes before we catch a cold." His words echoed her thoughts so closely that she almost blushed, but of course he was right.

"I… I don't think I have anything dry left." She carefully fished for her backpack, but it was just as soaked as she was. "Damn it. What-"

"You can have one of my shirts." Zevran was already digging through his things, tossing her a towel and a green t-shirt. "It's my last one, though."

They didn't look at each other while they dried off and changed, though he must have gotten a good eyeful of her breasts through her wet white shirt earlier on. Ah, well, nothing to be done about it. Fortunately, the shirt he'd given her was long enough to reach down to her thighs – she'd been soaked through and her panties needed drying off just as much as the rest of her clothes.

When she turned, he was sitting cross-legged on his air mattress, motioning for her to join him. He had put on a pair of tight jeans, but he was still bare-chested, and it was… distracting, to say the least. Megan had wondered if he had more tattoos on his chest and back, and she couldn't quite keep her eyes off the dark lines twirling all over his body in intricate patterns, brought to life by the flickering light of the camping torch.

He noticed her looking, of course. "You like my tattoos?" He was practically preening under her regard.

"They're gorgeous." Her throat was far too dry. "And you know it very well." It was a relief to take her refuge in sarcasm.

"I do." Zevran grinned, raising an eyebrow at her rather pointedly. "Just as you're no doubt aware that you have lovely legs."

"You-" Instinctively, she pulled her legs closer to her body, but he stopped her with a gesture. "It is fine, cara. Don't worry. Just because I admire your body, doesn't mean I want to sleep with you."

"You don't?" Megan could have slapped herself the moment the words left her lips.

Zevran's grin widened. "Well, if you put it like that…"

Suddenly, he was right in front of her, so close she could feel the heat of his skin, so close she was breathing in his scent, spicy and delicious, so close it would take only the smallest move to touch him. Slowly, teasingly, he ran a finger along her cheek, brushing it over her lips, then trailing it down her throat.

"Zev." Megan's nipples were tingling with want, and they were so hard he was bound to notice it. "I told you I don't want complications, remember?"

He laughed softly. "Who says there have to be complications? Just because you sleep with me… If you want to, of course, and I think you do." His fingertip wandered lower, lazily circling her nipples without actually touching them. "It wouldn't necessarily mean you'd fall in love with me. I'm good, but not even I am that good."

"So you're saying…" Megan found it increasingly hard to string words together into coherent sentences. "You're saying we could still be friends. Just friends. Even if we-"

"Absolutely." Bending down, he flicked his tongue against her stiff nipple, just once, but it was like an electric shock, racing all the way down to her core.

Megan didn't bother holding back her needy moan anymore. Burying her fingers in his long hair, she pulled his head closer, whining when he sucked hard through the fabric. It felt so good, and she'd missed this so much, a hot mouth driving her to distraction, strong hands claiming her body. Maker, but she'd missed sex, plain and simple.

For a heartbeat, the memories threatened to overwhelm her, the thought of Nate's hungry kisses, of Carver's eager lips, but then she shook them off impatiently. That was the past, and now she was in Zevran's arms, and it was Zevran she craved, beautiful, luscious Zevran, who knew just how to touch her, and-

His lips found hers, and the world went away for a while. Oh sweet Andraste, and he knows how to kiss, too. Zevran's kisses were pure sex, hot and deep and demanding, stripping away all her defences and leaving her full of sheer, naked need. Megan whimpered in his mouth, completely overcome, and he responded with a small soothing noise, deep in his throat. But she didn't want to be soothed, anything but that. Taking his hand, she guided it lower, between her legs, in a mute plea for more. More touch, more stimulation, more of that delicious heat his hands created.

Zevran was more than ready to give her what she wanted. Without hesitation, he dipped his fingers into her wet heat, no panties to stop him from going straight for the kill. And all the time, he kept kissing her, greedily plundering her mouth as if he couldn't stop himself. Again and again, his tongue entangled with hers, stroking the inside of her mouth intimately, then thrusting deep, mirroring the motion of his fingers inside her.

She was so wet and open that she was ready to beg, and she could feel him against her thigh, thick and hard and hot, even through his jeans.

Reluctantly, she tore her mouth away from his. "Zevran! Get your pants off!"

"As you wish." The torchlight was too dim to make out his expression in detail, but the smile in his voice was audible.

He had a condom in his pocket, no surprise there, and he rolled it on with quick, practiced moves. Kneeling between her spread legs, he took hold of himself and stroked the head of his cock softly along her opening, visibly enjoying the way she shuddered at the caress.

"How do you want me?" The velvet softness of his voice soothed her frayed nerves momentarily, even as his words made her arch up in renewed arousal. "Tell me, cara."

"I don't care, just-" She was trembling all over now. "Just, please…"

"Shhh." Realizing she was beyond teasing, he pushed inside her, ever so slowly, carefully adjusting the angle.

Megan completely forgot how to breathe. With Nate, they had never had enough time to work out the subtleties. It had been sweet and intense and overwhelming, but at the same time awkward and clumsy. This… There was no hesitation with Zevran, no fumbling. He moved with perfect assurance, watching her face with an intense concentration that was somehow both exciting and endearing.

When he was all the way inside her, Zevran paused for a moment, giving her a chance to adjust to the sensation of it, so thick, so hard, so wonderful. Instinctively, she pulled her legs up and spread them wider, and he slid even deeper, impossibly deep, straight to her very core. He responded with a small stifled noise, then he pulled back, kissing her again and thrusting inside her at the same time, hard and fast.

Megan cried out, clenching tightly around him, and he pulled back again with a shaky laugh. "Ah, but you like that, don't you?"

"Maker, yes." And she did, Megan realized, she liked it so very much. She liked the feel of him inside her, liked what he was doing to her, and she wanted more, harder, faster, now.

There was no need to tell him. Arranging her body just the way he wanted it, Zevran quickly sped up the pace of his thrusts, his eyes locked with hers, his cock hitting that perfect spot inside her with unerring precision, and she was so close already, so close to coming, and she wanted to come so badly and-

"Come for me. Now." There was no trace of doubt in his voice as he reached down and found her clit, his touch combining with the rough rasp of his voice to send her over the edge.

Her orgasm hit her like a whip, sharp and intense, with smaller waves of pleasure resonating all through her body. Zevran laughed triumphantly, then withdrew, only to flip her over and enter her from behind. In that new position, it took him only a few more thrusts until he came as well, jerking hard against her, fingers digging deep into her flesh.

With a contented sigh, Zevran rolled over on his back and pulled Megan into the nook of his arm, solicitously covering her shivering body with his sleeping bag. He'd wanted her for quite some time now, and he was sincerely grateful for the rainstorm that had sped up things a bit. He'd been sure it would be good with her, and tonight had been all he'd hoped for, and more.

"Zev?" Megan glanced up at him, her tone unusually subdued. "Was I… was that okay?"

"What?" Shaking his head, he pulled her up so he could look into her eyes. "Do you want me to review your performance now?"

She actually blushed. "No. It's just… I haven't really done this very often and-"

"What do you mean, 'not very often'?" He frowned as he painted the quotes in the air with his fingers.

Megan squirmed a bit. "Well… Once. Just the one guy." Her eyes looked large in the dim light, making her look young and vulnerable. "Could you tell?"

He forced himself not to smile, though he was a bit tempted. And rather mad at himself for not noticing earlier just how inexperienced she really was. Just one guy. Damn it. Next thing you'll be seducing schoolgirls. Still, it was a bit late for regrets now."No. But you should have told me before. I would have been more considerate, I think."

She pouted a little, and it was an adorable look on her. "But it was fine. I loved it, Zev. All of it. I liked you… less considerate."

"Did you now?" This time he didn't bother to hide his smile. Young maybe, but not all that innocent, for all her lack of practice. Softly, he ran a hand down her spine, relishing her answering tremble. "I'll keep that in mind."

"So are we-" Megan broke off, clearly unsure how to phrase it. "Do you want to do this again?"

"I most certainly do. And you?" Zevran held his breath. He was fascinated by Megan, more than he cared to admit, and he wanted more.

She took her time answering. "I… do, yes, but…" When she met his eyes again, all hesitation was gone from her gaze, and her lips were set in a firm line. "Not if you keep sleeping with everyone we meet. I don't want to end up as your fall-back solution on the nights you don't score."

Zevran chuckled. "Fair enough. I promise I'm all yours - as long as we're travelling together." He watched her carefully as he added that last proviso, but she didn't flinch.

"So, no commitment beyond that." She nodded slowly, chewing her lip thoughtfully. "You think that will work, Zev? It's all very rational, isn't it?"

"Not romantic enough, you mean?" Zevran shook his head. "Come here." Slowly, gently, he pulled her into a long kiss, making it as soft and sweet as he could, though even so it turned heated at remarkable speed. When it ended, he pulled back just enough he could look into her eyes, resting his forehead against hers. "I like you very much, Megan, and I want you. Would it be better if I pretended I was in love with you?"

"No. Of course not." She sounded genuinely appalled. "I like that you're honest, and I'm not ready to fall in love again either. It's just… It seems weird to be so cool and clear-headed about sex."

He let his voice drop deliberately. "Ah, cara, but you'll be anything but clear-headed when I'm done with you." A flutter of quick kisses down her throat had her arch up in his arms, moaning helplessly. "Want to bet?"

As Zevran lost himself in her warm, eager body once again, he wondered briefly how long their little arrangement would last. A good long while, he hoped. There was so much he wanted to show her.

Many thanks to suilven for all her help with this. :)