Isabela's POV

I drove up and down the street a second time, cursing the bastards who took my parking spot. Alright, so it was two spots, and they weren't technically mine… But I had parked there the last three times I had stopped by Hawke's dorm, and it was insulting that I couldn't keep the trend going. Frustratingly, I accepted my fate. I drove up past the dining hall and parked in the communal lot at the top of the hill. Since it was nearly empty, I decided to be an ass and park at an angle, taking up two and a half spaces. I pulled out my cell phone, tempted to text my girlfriend and make sure she was still free. The screen read 12:13. Dammit! I'm late! I decided against the impersonal means of communication. If she was available, Cassandra would already be at the coffee shop. And if she wasn't, I was going to have a lousy cup of java and check my email. I grumbled obscenities as I walked down the hill, hoping it wouldn't come to the latter.

I was delighted to see Hawke through the window as I rounded the front of the building. She was wearing blue jeans and a Doctor Who t-shirt, her knee bobbing as she sat and stared intently at a newspaper. I adjusted my own clothes (my standard white blouse/black pencil skirt combo that I knew made Hawke drool) and took a deep breath. I entered the structure, smiling politely as a young man held the door open for me. Once inside, I ran through scenarios in my head. What do I want to drink? What will we talk about? What is she reading so absorbedly? But, making my way through the coffee shop, I realized how little any of that mattered. My girlfriend sat in a tall chair, a messenger bag tucked underneath, with her back to me. I continued to move closer, allowing my presence to be a pleasant surprise.

My heels clicked quietly as I took a final step forward, my lips nearly brushing the piercing in her ear. "For someone who doesn't do caffeine, you're pretty jittery." Cassandra nearly sprang from her seat, turning immediately toward me, jaw slack with shock.

"Jesus!" She placed a hand on her chest, a few ragged gasps a testament to how well I had snuck up. A few other patrons looked on, but immediately went back about their chatter.

"Just me, I'm afraid. Sorry I'm late." I gave her a quick peck on the lips and she exhaled, finally relaxing. Fashionably tardy, more like.

She had a worried look on her face as I slid into the seat across from her. "I almost thought you wouldn't show." I just shook my head, grinning like mad.

"And miss out on coffee? Blasphemy." I put the fingertips of one hand to my lips, feigning appall.

"So you're only here for a cup of Joe?" Hawke raised her eyebrow inquisitively, but the slight curve at the edges of her mouth told me that she already knew the answer to that question.

I placed my hand on hers where it lay on the table, smiling with amusement. "Who's Joe? I'm here to meet Hawke. You know, 5'10", muscles of a thoroughbred and eyes of a wolf?" I glanced around as if to look for said person, but quickly trained my eyes back on my companion and those damned baby blues. I can have mediocre coffee anywhere. I showed up for the company.

Is that really how she describes me to people? Badass! Cassandra chuckled and tapped a thoughtful finger against her chin. "Sounds familiar. Let me see… Isn't she the one with the supermodel girlfriend?" She tilted her head and gestured back at me, failing horribly at looking uncertain.

"I hope not. She's supposed to be dating me." I pursed my lips and looked back at her, slowly walking my fingers up her forearm.

"Are you saying you're not a supermodel? Not even on weekends?" No time for photo shoots between sailing and having your Mustang waxed? Hawke smiled and shook her head, somehow finding it hard to believe.

"No, but it's charming that you think I should be." I grinned toothily as I ran my fingertips back down her arm, breaking the contact by sitting back in my chair.

Keep it together, Hawke. You've got class later. She shivered visibly before clearing her throat, her cheeks somewhat red. "How has your week been so far?"

I released a disappointed sigh. "Uneventful. Yourself?"

Cassandra gulped nervously. "Promise you won't get mad?" I just blinked back at her. Get mad about what? Her eyes panned the room and she whispered. "I got hit on a lot." Oh, Hawke, you adorable little teddy bear.

"Is that not a normal occurrence?" I tried to sound professional, but it was hard not to laugh at how embarrassed she looked. Even the tips of her ears were ruby red.

"Not at all. But once my rugby and debate teams found out about you, they started getting all… flirty. There are three offers for 'if things change'." She sat in her seat, looking utterly uncomfortable. I'll stick with my pirate, thank you very much.

"And they weren't offering before?" Hawke shook her head. Then they're blind, brain-damaged, or some combination of the two. "Did they assume you were deliberately celibate?"

Her lips scrunched to one side and she just kept shaking her head. "I'm not sure. You're not… angry?" She glanced continually around the room and back at me, as if waiting for me to leap from my seat and go King Kong on the nearest female. The thought escaped me in a chuckle.

I was smiling despite myself. I won't play the domineering partner. I just don't have it in me. But if you want me to ask the question, I might as well… "Did you fuck any of them?"

WHAT THE HELL? "NO!" Having caught the attention of half the room, Cassandra covered her mouth with her hand. Once everyone was distracted again, she whispered, "I most certainly did not."

Exactly. Nothing to worry about. "And did any of them actually touch you?"

She reached out to take my hands, her thumbs rubbing nervous circles around my knuckles. "Well… the one chick touched my arm, but I told her off something fierce. Oh, and one of my teammates slapped my ass, but it was all in good fun. We're just friends." Her eyes never met mine, focusing instead on her ministrations.

How very honorable of you to mention. I squeezed her hands, smiling as our gazes met. "Then it appears we're good." Having had what I thought to be the final word, I shrugged and settled back in my chair.

"That's it?" No branding or threats of violence? Hawke just blinked incredulously at me, her body frozen.

"Indeed. They can look, but they can't touch." I leaned forward on my elbow, my face growing instantly cold. I pointed an accusatory finger toward her chest, in reference to intruders. "But if they somehow forget, sweet thing, that's when you need to let me know." In a moment my harsh warning was over and I was grinning back at her.

The winger cleared her throat nervously and shifted in her seat. "I'll be honest; I halfway expected you to get all pissed off and possessive." That would be natural, right? I mean, I can't even stay quiet when someone looks at Isabela. In fact, she seemed almost disappointed that I wasn't throwing a fit.

"Had I seen it for myself, possibly. But I think the two of us both know you're mine." I brought her hand to my lips, placing a few chaste kisses there before flicking my tongue suggestively over one knuckle. Cassandra stared back at me, eyes wide, pupils dilated, mouth open, and face flushed.

"Totally…" She nodded eagerly, bringing out my toothy supercilious smirk. I set her hand gently back down on the table.

"Excellent. Now how about that coffee?" Coffee…right! Hawke blinked a few times before nodding again, finally broken from her trance. We slid from our seats and waltzed over to the counter. Hawke was grumbling about their lack of doughnuts as I ordered. I stepped back to pull cash out of my purse while she made up her mind. Before I could protest, she slapped a ten in front of the clerk and snatched up her chocolate muffin, not even asking for change. (Cassandra would later admit that the young woman was looking at her disapprovingly when I attempted to pay for my own drink, and she refused to take the hit to her ego). She placed a hand on the small of my back, ushering me to the pick-up area. "I could have paid for that."

She growled as she tore into her snack, scattering crumbs everywhere. "You can get me back later."

I politely thanked the barista as I took my latte. "Oh, I plan on it…" I swiped some smeared chocolate off of the corner of Hawke's lip and sucked it off of my fingertip, quickly turning back toward the table.

Father forgive me for my disrespect, but HOT DAMN! After a momentary delay, she joined me back at our seats. "What other things do you have 'planned' for the weekend?"

"I suppose that depends. Do you like art, Cassandra?" I sipped casually at my drink. Not bad, but my house blend is a thousand times better.

"What kind? Cubist? Post-modern? Baroque?" She spoke between bites.

"Contemporary. I've got a… friend with a gallery downtown." She raised her eyebrow to me, blinking and waiting for more information. I exhaled deeply and nodded my head. "It's Fenris."

Hawke crumpled the wrapper of her muffin in one fist, the veins in her arms starting to protrude. "The 'freak' Varric mentioned?"

I nodded solemnly. "One in the same." My girlfriend looked like she was about to stroke out, so I offered her a polite reprieve. "If you don't want to go, that's fine too." I shrugged nonchalantly and continued to drink my coffee.

Oh no, I'm not going to let you show up alone. I haven't even met this asshole. "Same rules as Sunday?" Cassandra asked as she tossed the garbage halfway across the room, somehow making it directly into the trash can. A random little kid clapped for her and she gave him a mock salute. Showoff.

"What do you mean?" I asked as she turned back toward me.

"I'll escort you to this Fenris' gallery, Isabela, but only if I don't have to keep things civilized." Hawke bared one canine, her body shifting forward just an inch. But with that animalistic look in her eye, it may as well have been a mile. I licked my lips and brought my latte back to my mouth, wondering when in Hell my hands started trembling.

"Exactly what are you proposing?" I gulped the coffee down quickly, releasing a long breath as I set the empty cup down. I had to re-cross my legs for the third time. I'm not sure which is worse, the way that Hawke can control my hormones, or the fact that she knows she can control my hormones.

The rugby player returned to smiling nerdishly. "Nothing too untoward. Just a little showboating."

I chuckled behind my fist. "You're not going to have a pissing match, are you? Because as much as I would love to see the two of you get into a tussle for my affections, it's a little redundant at this point. Furthermore, he's Merrill's size. You could crush him in a heartbeat."

That's too bad. I would've enjoyed clobbering the guy for sport. "I just want to make out with you and rub his nose in the fact that I won out." Cassandra's foot found its way to the support bar at the front of my chair and she possessively scooted me closer.

"I think I'm going to rather like vindictive Hawke." I smirked slyly and allowed my ankle to brush against her pant-leg. Her lips curled further (if that was even possible) and she laced her fingers with mine on the table.

Vindictive Hawke really likes you, too. "When will she get to make her first appearance?"

"Does Friday sound good? I could swing by around 5 and take you to this hole-in-the-wall Vietnamese place I like." Or we could skip all the peremptory foreplay and go straight to my apartment.

The winger rolled her eyes. "You can't keep shuttling me around, Ms. Rivaini. People are going to talk." My eyebrow rose curiously, and she suspiciously glanced around before continuing. "One of the girls on my rugby team referred to you as my 'sugar momma'." She seemed to cringe at the term, but I just shrugged coolly.

"A tad crude, but still an understandable conclusion." Short-sighted, but understandable.

Cassandra's body grew tense and she leaned forward to whisper. "That's not what this is though, right? You're not just spending time and money on me in exchange for sex? Are you?"Please don't let this be a game. I don't want Jess to be right about us. And I really don't want my heart toyed with. Not by you. Anyone but you. She looked clearly hurt and distressed, even close to the brink of tears. I squeezed her hands tightly, my own gut coiling itself into knots. You'd better fix this... No one deserves to be treated like an object; least of all Hawke.

"That may have been my original intention, but I've long since abandoned the idea." Her eyes flicked up to mine, glistening with moisture. I sighed deeply. "I like you, Cassandra. It's going to sound cheesy, but you make me feel… special." I cracked a partial smile, and before I could as much as blink, her lips were on mine. It was the softest, most passionate, genuinely tender kiss of my life, even if it only lasted but a second. My eyes lulled shut, remaining so as she sat back down in her seat. Wow…

"You are special. Isabela, you are the most amazing, fun-loving, unbelievably awe-inspiring woman I have ever met. And I'm going to be spending every moment we're together proving it to you." I slowly released a breath I didn't even know I was withholding and blinked back at her, a sincere smile gracing my mouth. My heart was pounding under my sternum, and I couldn't wait to hop back on that ride.

"I look forward to it." I bent forward and kissed the self-satisfied smirk off of her face, holding her firmly by the scruff of the neck. Hawke's surprise manifested in a gasp, which I took full advantage of. I ran my tongue along the back of her teeth, drawing her closer. She moaned deeply and we both quickly forgot where we were. At least, she did; I simply didn't give a shit. It wasn't until an eternity later, with the loud sounds of catcalls around us, that Hawke pulled away, her hand immediately covering her swollen lips.

Cassandra cleared her throat as she wiped a little excess drool and lipstick on a napkin. Her face was crimson and a few random jocks (who had apparently been watching us intently) patted her on the shoulder. "So Friday at 5? Should I wear something formal?"

I gave the men a casual wave as they walked past, pulling out a compact mirror to fix my makeup. "If you want. But Fenris' gallery is untailored, to say the least." It's actually kind of a dump.

"I'll have to play a game of 'Blend in With the Urbanites'." Coke bottle glasses, artsy-fartsy armbands, some hip and complicated t-shirt, maybe a funny hat? Something involving wool or tweed…? No way. I feel ridiculous just thinking about it.

"You couldn't blend into any crowd, Hawke. Not where I'm concerned." A house full of two hundred co-eds couldn't distract me. In fact, I barely noticed they were present at the time. I flashed Cassandra a smile as I tucked the cosmetics back into my purse.

She reached out to tuck a stray hair behind my ear, beaming brightly. "You can be quite sweet if you want to be. When you're not trying to drag me off to the nearest bathroom, that is."

We shared a quick laugh at the comment. "It's this new thing I'm trying out. It's called 'being a good girlfriend'." Besides, I don't know where the bathroom is in this building.

I never thought any less of you. Hawke just shook her head dubiously. "I'm familiar with the concept. But I think you're far superior to 'good'. Although… I can think of one minor improvement." I raised one eyebrow.

"Oh?" This should be interesting.

"Let me walk you to your car." The innocent look on her face had my eyes rolling. The cute just doesn't cease with this one.

I stood from the tall chair, sliding gracefully onto my feet. "Easy enough." Cassandra shook the crumbs from her lap as she dismounted her seat and tossed out my empty cup. She threw her bag around her shoulder and then politely offered her arm to me. I acquiesced, of course, allowing her to open the front doors for me as well. I quietly led her back to my Shelby, both surprised and elated when she stuck around. She chuckled at my childish parking job as I leaned against the hood of my car, tugging gently at the bottom of Hawke's shirt. "So… was that all you wanted?" Please say 'no'.

She set her bag down and permitted me to pull her close, shamelessly drifting my hands underneath the fabric and up to her ribs. "No. I've got a small request to make." I opened my mouth to make a remark about how very accommodating I can be, but she placed a finger to my lips. "But you have to swear not to laugh, because it's going to sound really stupid." With a nod of my head, she relinquished control.

"Ask away." I've heard it all.

"May I take a picture of you?" I was primed to ask if she wanted to go somewhere more isolated, but Cassandra cut me off again. "One of the guys on my debate team asked me what you looked like and I didn't know what to say. If I had a photo on my phone, I could just show people how beautiful you are, instead of butchering your description." I'd like to have one of us together, too, but I don't want to seem clingy by asking. She had that nervous and nerdy look on her face and I felt myself buckling.

I very much doubt you're 'butchering' my description. But how can I say no to intentions so sincere? "Well, according to you I'm a supermodel, so why would I mind having my picture taken? On one condition, of course." I purred against her shirt-clad collarbone.

Hawke smiled warmly down at me, her arms gently squeezing my shoulders. "Name it." Anything.

"I get to take one of you." I pinched the skin of her ribs, causing her to blush.

"Clothes on?" She asked coyly, though the hesitation never quite made it to her eyes.

I'll have to investigate that further. I smirked wickedly and sarcastically shrugged. "For now…"

"Deal." The rugby player took a step back and offered me her hand. Always the diplomat. I shook it professionally, then went about smoothing the wrinkles from my clothes. Cassandra moved our bags to the curb a parking space away, obviously wishing to have a picture of Shelly the '66 Shelby, as well. But hey, who wouldn't?

I combed my hair with my fingers, leaning just barely against the hood, my arms out at my sides and my legs crossed at the ankle. Hmm. I decided to up the ante, undoing an extra button on my blouse. Lord knows I already had ample cleavage to go around, but the extra half-inch seemed to be just right. It was risqué enough for Hawke to enjoy, without being too intentionally sexual as to be inappropriate to show her peers. I placed my hands just slightly back, making my curves a little more prominent. "Is this good for you?"

The winger was staring wantonly at me and I could practically see the mirage of heat coming from her skin. She was frozen in place a few feet away, the cell phone slack in her hand. Homina, homina, homina… I smiled and coughed none-too-subtly. Wha-? Oh, yes, camera… She rubbed at her eyes, then violently shook her head. I held back a snicker as she readied her phone. "Perfect." So utterly, entirely, perfect. Hawke took her initial picture, then moved forward, left, and right to get a few different angles. I'm gonna need an ice bath after this! I probably could have fried an egg on her flaming red cheeks as she was clearly enjoying the execution of her request. Tucking her phone back into her jeans, she just stood an arm's length away, grinning appreciatively as she handed me my purse. "Have I ever told you that you look astounding in white?"

Why do you think I'm wearing it? "I gathered as much." You're lucky we have a deal, sweetness; because as of now, I could have you coming with one crook of the finger. I pulled the cell phone out of my bag, motioning for her to take a few steps back. "Your turn."

"Should I pose, or what?" She took a few moments to lighten the shade of her face and I just rolled my eyes. She's cute when she's out of her element.

"Just say 'cheese'." Cassandra gave a weak, awkward smile and I snickered behind my screen. "It's not prom! Now have fun with it!" I nearly regretted that statement as I laughed continuously over the next ten minutes. Hawke first decided to throw up various hand signals (including the Vulcan 'live long and prosper') and other utterly ridiculous gestures. Second, she chose to flex and stretch like Arnold Schwarzenegger. Third, Hawke did what I could only assume was a recreation of Monty Python's skit 'The Ministry of Silly Walks', which nearly caused my sides to split. Her finale was engaging in a one-sided galactic battle, shooting (while making 'pewpew' laser noises) and dueling with an imaginary lightsaber (also while supplying her own sound effects).

I was barely breathing by the time she crumpled to the ground in a 'dramatic death', and scarcely noticed that I had snapped well over two dozen photos. When I came down from my cackling height, I picked out a picture and turned my phone to show it to Hawke, who was brushing herself off. "I think this one's my favorite." She looked rather like one of Charlie's Angels, her fingers forming a makeshift gun.

She groaned when she saw it, her eyes pleading mercy. "Delete that one! I look like an idiot!" This is much more Bethany's thing. I'd suck as a model.

Too bad. It's adorable and I like it. "My camera, my rules." She tried to swipe the phone from my grasp, but I held it over my head. I knew she could have easily overpowered me and erased the photo, but she was hardly putting any effort into it. She was mostly just pressing herself against me and batting playfully at my hand. "They all stay, Hawke, and that's final." She accepted her misfortune with poise, using the close nature of our bodies to her advantage. Her thigh slid between mine as her fingertips brushed like feathers from my wrists down to my hips.

"Whatever you say, baby." Her breath was hot against my neck and I quickly forgot about our disagreement.

"Could you please repeat that? I don't quite think I heard you the first time." I placed my phone on the hood of my concubine, my palms immediately finding purchase on Cassandra's shoulder blades, squeezing out what little air-space there was left between us.

"Whatever you say, baby." She punctuated her declaration with a drawn out kiss just under my ear and my eyes fluttered closed. Realizing that she would encounter no resistance, Hawke took a firm grip of my pelvis (which luckily had healed since our last encounter) and led an insurgency against my self-control, the full support of my every nerve at her beckon call. I awaited the fervent nips, sucks, and extra leg pressure that I had experienced the past weekend, but received none. I was almost disappointed at her restraint, but then I remembered why it was necessary. Hawke doesn't want to leave me needy and/or with a bunch of love-bites for my classmates to ogle at. Smart woman.

Some semblance of willpower regained, I voiced a reminder of our current situation. "Keep this up and we'll both be late to class." And mine isn't even until 3!

The winger groaned against my pulse, slowly pulling away enough to look me in the eye. "One more for the road?" I cradled her jaw in my hands, granting a series of kisses against her smiling mouth. Sure… that'll work. Her right hand began to withdraw, but I paid it no mind, content that she wasn't stopping me from redeeming a week's worth of overdue lip-locking (the coffee shop didn't count; that was a bonus). My eyes were only half-open and we were in mid-smooch when a 'click' caught me off guard. Cassandra slid her lips away with a smirk, her cell phone in hand. "Gotcha!"

"You're a cheeky devil, you know that?" I was beside myself with amusement. Despite me taking the kisses I had been wanting for days (I wanted other things too, but there was hardly time), she still found a way to get what she asked for. One more picture for the road...

"I try." Hawke grinned brazenly at her success, returning the phone to her back pocket and placing a final chaste peck on my forehead. 'So what's your girlfriend look like?' 'Here, take a peek at this picture. Do you see the person sucking at my bottom lip? That beautiful woman is my Isabela. Now don't you feel crunchy?!' 'Um…' 'Oh, and here's one of her and her car, in case you weren't jealous enough already.' Yeah… That'll be awesome…

"Do try and get to class on time." I pushed her away teasingly, smiling to relieve any undue bite from my words.

She stood precisely at attention, crisply saluting. "Yes ma'am!" I swatted playfully at her arm and, beaming, she dropped the act. Cassandra took a quick look at her watch before picking up her messenger bag. 13:46. Shit! I really gotta go! She backed slowly away and then broke into a jog. "See you in 27 hours, Isabela!" She called enthusiastically from a hundred yards away.

I couldn't help but chuckle at her excitement. "Less counting, more running!" We exchanged a wave before she darted down the hill, snaking in and out of various groups of people. Damn, she really is fast. I continued to laugh and smile, earning the disapproving attention of an older woman parked nearby. "Don't look at me like that, lady! She gives orgasms you can only dream about." Bitch! The passerby looked away and quickly retreated into her Honda. Tomorrow… I picked up my phone to send my ex-plaything a warning text.

"Fenris, I've got great news. It looks as if I'll be visiting your gallery tomorrow night. The bad news is: you might not like who I'm bringing along." And she really isn't going to like you!

Author's Note: You may be wondering, 'Why isn't Isabela halfway inside Hawke at hello? It's been nearly a week!' The two-fold answer is that no matter what, Hawke had no intention of being late to her lecture, and Isabela didn't know where the bathroom was. Don't worry, you'll get your dose of smut later.