Hope you enjoyed the deviations. If you have requests for other characters POV, or a return to certain characters, let me know. Back to our regularly scheduled mayhem (Iron Bull and Harding approve this message). Oh, and shameless sexuality toward the end of this chapter. You've been warned. Cheers!

A Little Unorthodox Perhaps

Melusine followed the guard's instructions and made her way to Cassandra's receiving room. Though not as elaborate as the War Room, it was an area she met with Cullen and their captains often, and it was where the guard indicated Cassandra and Cullen would be. She wasn't sure if what she'd heard regarding Blackwell's disappearance a few hours ago was true and wanted confirmation.

Stopping just outside the open door, Melusine hesitated when she heard Cassandra raise her voice, "You asked for my opinion, and I've given it, why would you expect it to change?"

Melusine peered around the edge of the door and watched Cullen pace back and forth in front of the fire. He looked rough, his face pale, his hand clenching and unclenching in front of his body. His hair was a mess from running his hands through it in frustration. Melusine noticed with each passing day this week he'd been growing more distant again, but for an entirely different reason than before. This seemed much more severe and deadly.

Cullen whirled to face Cassandra, "I expect you to keep your word." He threw his hands up toward the ceiling and groaned, "It's relentless. I can't-"

"You give yourself too little credit." Cassandra shook her head and looked like she wanted to say more, but thinned her lips and crossed her arms over her chest.

Cullen went back to pacing, "If I'm unable to fulfill what vows I kept," he heaved a heavy sigh and stared into the fire, "then nothing good has come of this." His voice was filled with such pain, Melusine couldn't stop herself from walking into the room. Cullen faced Cassandra again, "Would you rather save face than admit-" He caught sight of Melusine. His face was a mix of embarrassment, frustration, and pain. He took another breath then passed through the room, muttering, "Forgive me," as he went.

He was gone but a moment before Cassandra uncrossed her arms and shook her head, "And people say I'm stubborn. This is ridiculous." She stepped toward the fireplace and used the poker to stir up the logs. She spoke over her shoulder, "Cullen told you he's no longer taking lyrium?"

"Yes," Melusine looked out into the darkness of the corridor where Cullen went, "and I respect his decision." She peered back to Cassandra, "What was that about?"

Cassandra replaced the poker, "Cullen has asked that I recommend a replacement for him." Melusine's eyes widened, and she opened her mouth to protest, but Cassandra's head shake stayed her words. "I refused. It's unnecessary. Besides, it would destroy him. He's come so far." She sighed.

Melusine thought over all the conversations they'd had since their kiss. Mostly, he'd been warm, though they hadn't kissed since. There hadn't really been the time. Either she'd been out in the field questing, or they'd been surrounding by the companions and advisors in the War Room. She'd even been set up to sit in judgment on individuals who were brought before her ranging in petty crimes to "treason" against the Inquisition. Melusine still found it challenging to find someone treasonous against a movement, but that was her issue.

"Why didn't he come to me?" she asked aloud, though not in particular to Cassandra.

Her friend answered nonetheless, "We had an agreement long before you joined us. As Seeker, I could evaluate the dangers." Cassandra looked away as she added, "And he wouldn't want to risk your…disappointment."

Melusine snorted. Her disappointment? What a dweeb. After all the past life stuff they'd shared already, how could he think something as ridiculous as that? She thought they were on far more solid ground in understanding one another, but apparently, she'd made an ass of herself by assuming things.

"Do you think we can change his mind?" She glanced back into the corridor, already wanting to chase after the blonde-haired dufus she crushed on.

"If anyone could, it's you." Cassandra turned toward her desk and walked around it to sit down. She had a mountain of correspondence to work through, and Melusine got the feeling she was about to be dismissed. "The mage's made their suffering known, but the Templars never have. It binds them to the Order, mind and soul, and someone is always holding their lyrium leash." Melusine nodded, a surge of anger spiking. It still pissed her off that even Thedas struggled with this form of stupidity and recklessness. "Cullen has a chance to break that leash. To prove to himself and anyone who would follow suit that it's possible to do this. I knew that when we met in Kirkwall." Cassandra picked up the closest letter and nodded towards the door, "Talk to him; decide if now is the time for him to step down or keep going."

Melusine nodded and left Cassandra to her work. She emerged into the central courtyard area only a few minutes later and looked around. He could be any number of places, but given his high emotionality of the moment, Cullen had most likely sought solitude. He was like her in that regard. So that left either his receiving room near the battlements or his quarters. Melusine frowned. She didn't want to waste time playing hide-and-go-seek.

"Hey, Varric," she waited until the dwarf altered his course across the yard and came to stand beside her, "have you seen Cullen?"

Varric raised his eyebrows, "That depends."

"On?"

"Have you seen Cassandra?" Varric winked, and despite her concern for Cullen, Melusine laughed.

"She's in her receiving room." She jerked a thumb over her shoulder, "Do I dare ask if there's been any movement toward a physical consummation of your mutual interest in one another?" Varric had told her of the increased number of times Cassandra sought him out for cordial conversation and how ever since the "Bianca" incident, things had dramatically warmed between them.

Varric feigned shock, "A gentle dwarf never kisses and tells." He pointed up toward the battlements, "Last I saw, Curly was making a beeline for his receiving room. Looked pretty awful too."

"Thanks, Varric. And good luck." Varric hesitated in his movements and raised an eyebrow. "She's not exactly in a bad mood, but she is concerned about Cullen and has a shit ton of paperwork to do."

"Ah, so perfect timing for a few jokes I've meant to try out on her." He waved to Melusine before walking into the lion's den, leaving Melusine to chase after her own lion.

Melusine took the stairs two at a time. Cullen's door was open, confirming Varric's assumption, and Melusine walked through the doorway without hesitation. Only to duck and roll when, in her peripherals, she saw something fly at her. Seconds later, she looked up from her crouched position to see a shattered box with random paraphernalia broken strewn on the ground where she'd just been standing.

"Maker's breath!" Cullen rounded the desk to look at her. His eyes studied her long enough to see she was unharmed before glaring at the remains of the object he'd thrown. "I didn't hear you enter." He seemed to lose track of himself as he stood still and silent long enough for Melusine to stand, dust off her pants, and move closer. He startled at her light touch on his shoulder. Cullen's eyes were bloodshot when he looked at her, "I-" He sighed and moved away. "Forgive me."

Melusine moved back to the doorway, kicking away the contents until she could close the door. Leaning against the wood, she watched Cullen pace behind his desk. "Cullen, we need to talk."

Cullen gave her a look she'd seen before from prey when in her Taninoui form. He wasn't shaking yet, but there was anxious energy radiating from him that was near putting Melusine on edge. During her study of his features, Melusine saw blood coming from his right hand. She went to his side and took his hand into her own before he wiped the cornered look from his face. It seemed he'd cut himself in destroying that object. Melusine sighed. She pulled out her dagger and cut a swath of cloth from the bottom of her shirt. It was a lousy shirt, anyway.

"You don't have to-" Melusine gave Cullen a look that silenced him as she bandaged the cut. It wasn't a severe one, but best to stop the blood flow and prevent infection. Cullen watched her actions in silence until she pulled her hands away. He sighed and shook his head, speaking in a whisper, "I never meant for this to interfere."

Melusine laid a hand on his shoulder, "I believe you."

"Whatever good it does." He walked out from under her touch and stood in front of the slit window that overlooked both the battlements and courtyard below. "Promises mean nothing if I cannot keep them."

Melusine looked to the shattered items on the floor, then back to Cullen. She remained where she was and leaned against the desk, crossing her arms over her chest. She would have to approach this carefully, but without hesitation. "Are you going to be all right?" she asked.

"Yes…I don't know." Cullen looked over his shoulder, "Remember what I told you about Ferelden Circle?"

"Yes."

Cullen began to pace again, his movements temporarily bringing him close enough to feel his warmth and then leaving her feeling alone again. She wanted to pull him into an embrace but knew it wasn't yet time.

"Those thoughts won't leave me. I thought I would regain some control over my life by doing this." Cullen crossed to the other side of the desk, making Melusine stand as she tracked his movements. He reminded her of a caged predator, and she knew he had just as much chance of showing violence as one. "How many lives depend on our success?" He wrenched his hands together as he paced between a heavy wooden chair and his bookshelf. "I swore myself to this cause! But…" He pressed a hand to his forehead and swayed. Melusine moved quickly, but quietly, around the desk until she was next to him as he added, "I will not give less to the Inquisition than I did to the Chantry! I should be taking it!" His fist slamming into the bookshelf didn't startle Melusine, but it caused a few books to fall to the stone floor, and it left a nasty dent in the wooden frame. Cullen's eyes remained on his fist, on the damage he did to the shelf.

"This doesn't have to be about the Inquisition," Melusine risked it and reached out to touch his forearm, "Is that what you want?"

She felt his muscles flex through the layers of clothing, but then they relaxed, and his arm fell back to his side, "No, but these memories…" He looked defeated as he trained his eyes to her face. "If they become worse, if I cannot endure this…" He shuddered.

Melusine knew it was time. She glanced at the chair and nodded her head toward it, "Take off your armor and sit down."

"What?" Cullen's eyes widened, more in confusion than shock.

"You heard me. Take off your armor." When Cullen still didn't move to do as she bid, Melusine put her hands on her hips and sighed, "Do you trust me?"

Cullen barely hesitated in his reply, "Yes."

"Then," she reached out and unclipped his cloak, "do as I say," she pulled it from his shoulders and tossed it onto his desk, "and take off your bloody armor." She crossed her arms over her chest and waited until Cullen eventually did as she said.

His movements were stunted out of confusion and caution. Even though they'd never addressed it, Melusine was certain he had only marginally more or less experience with the opposite sex than she. Where they differed was at least whom ever he'd had sex with had known he was a templar and so any experience he'd had would have been more serious than what Melusine had gone through. She would have to proceed with kid gloves. Cullen Rutherford was a bit of a prude, and sexually shy, but she believed he was worth being patient with.

Once he was seated, clad in a shirt and trousers, but with no more armor creating a barrier, Cullen looked at her with curiosity. Melusine saw the trust there, though, and she relished it. Though he was far outside his comfort zone already, Cullen was willing to trust her, and that meant a shit ton to her. Melusine cracked her knuckles and stepped closer.

"I'm going to go out on a limb here and assume that what you're experiencing is similar, in a fashion, to what happens to my body when I shift back into human form." She placed a hand on his shoulder and traced it across to press her fingers against his skin. "Obviously, there are unique differences, but yours is not the first substance withdrawal I've been privy to."

Melusine stopped when she stood behind him. It wasn't too much of a high-back chair, and she still had access and a good range of motion for his neck and shoulders. She had every intention of playing with his hair.

"What are you suggesting?" Cullen turned his head to the side and looked up at her. No doubt, his conversation with Dorian was running through his head, and Melusine had to fight against her desire to show him a rapacious smile.

Relaxing into an expression of open neutrality, Melusine pointed to the bookshelf, "Since I'd rather not rebuild every shelving unit in Skyhold, I'm suggesting that you keep your bum in this chair and close your eyes."

"When I close my eyes I see-"

"Okay," Melusine cut him off, though she knew he wasn't about to go into detail, anyway. She bent and picked up two books from where his knock had thrown them. She handed both to him, "Then keep your eyes open and here." Melusine pointed to each book. "Look at the colors of these books, or the gold embellishments of these words," she pointed to the title of one book.

Cullen looked at her as if she'd gone mad, "Why?"

She wasn't about to go into the details of color theory and the depths of relaxation techniques and psychology. Melusine instead told as much truth as applied while going back behind his chair and starting his massage.

"Because of our unique physiology, er, body requirements, the Taninoui have done centuries of studies on techniques to use for relaxation and meditation." She did a preliminary "study" of his muscles and frowned. The man was wound up like a jack-in-box about to spring. "Certain colors, sights, sounds, smells, and tastes can all be used to ease anxiety, fear, anger, and even the pain of traumatic memory."

"So you're saying green and blue are two such colors?" Cullen held up the books.

"Yes," she smoothed her fingers up his neck and into his hair, "and if you weren't in such a heightened emotional state, I'd suggest we go to a river or stream nearby, or somewhere we could feel the mountain breeze in silence." She scratched her fingers over his scalp, wanting to relax him more before she set to work on his muscles. "But maybe next time, for now, here will have to do."

Cullen's hands returned to his lap, and Melusine didn't have to see his face to know his eyes were open. He still held himself tensely, most likely because of the novelty of the situation. It made Melusine curious how often massages happened in Thedas. As she worked on his neck, taking her time to work on every tight spot and knot she found before moving on, Cullen eventually relaxed until his head lolled forward and gave her easier access.

"Oh," he sighed, "that feels nice."

Melusine smiled. Neither one of them said anything as she continued working on his neck. Then as she switched to his shoulders, she groaned, "It feels like I'm massaging a rock."

"This doesn't feel as good as what you were doing, but I get the sense you will tell me it'll feel better after." She could hear the pain in his voice, and she lessened, marginally, the pressure she was putting on the knots.

"You know it." She shifted her position to get better access, "Damn, Cullen, please don't isolate yourself anymore." Melusine switched to the other shoulder, intending to do multiple rounds on both. "You're far too valuable to the Inquisition and," she chuckled, "on a selfish note, I only just got you to kiss me less than a week ago." She felt the rumbling response of his laugh through her fingers. "If you throw yourself into the depths of despair, I will have to start the wooing process all over with some other victim."

Cullen was silent for so long, with Melusine starting the next round on his shoulders, that she thought he wouldn't comment on her joke. Had she gone too far? Did sarcasm not translate for him still?

"I was unaware that I'd been wooed." Cullen's own fairly sarcastic remark had Melusine grinning as she returned full energy to her massage efforts.

She grinned at the top of his head, confident now that his eyes were closed as she moved off his shoulders and stood at his side, slowly massaging down the muscles of his left arm. "I'm just that subtle and experienced at it." He opened his eyes, and she smirked at him. "Swept you right off your Templar feet before you realized what was happening."

"Melusine, you shouldn't-" Cullen's eyes closed again as her fingers massaged his left hand, tugging at his fingers, and pressing into the fleshy part of his palm, "oh, that feels good." He relaxed further into the chair, his legs splaying apart. "Very good."

"I'm glad." He opened his eyes and smiled. He did not have the anxiety radiating off him anymore, though he still winced occasionally as a wave of pain from internal issues hit him. "Now, close your eyes again." He complied more now and sighed when she switched to his right hand. "And don't worry, Cullen, I know my worth. I just like to tease myself before others have time to." He hummed his understanding and dutifully kept his eyes closed. That made it easier for her to add, "And it is still so new to me, this whole, having reciprocated feelings with someone who knows about my Taninoui form."

Her comment got one of his eyes opening, "You've never…told anyone?" She shook her head. Cullen opened both eyes and observed her as she massaged his wrist on her journey back up to his shoulder, "I thought only Taninoui lived in your homeland."

"There are other races, not unlike Thedas, though unique in their own right." Sometimes Melusine wished it was harder for her to lie because then maybe she'd be a better person. "While some know of us, even to them, we are more legend than fact." Her vague words seemed to appease whatever spike of curiosity Cullen had, and his eyes closed. "There were a few from among those races I felt attraction for, and we even exchanged some intimacy," his eyes opened again. Melusine felt a blush warm her cheeks, "but I never felt they would accept my true form, so I always ended the relationship before it could become too serious."

Thankfully, Cullen's expression held no judgment. Empathy, for sure, and acceptance. The breath Melusine had been holding internally released, and she shot him a smile as she finished his right arm. She knelt in front of his chair and pointed to his boots. Cullen's eyes widened, but after another moment, and further insistence on Melusine's part, he caved and helped her take them off. She sat on the floor, further surprising Cullen, and pulled his right foot into her lap.

"How is this?" She started with his ankle ligaments, working down to the fleshy part of his foot. "Still okay?"

If he drooled in his sleep, Cullen's facial current facial expression told her he might start. "Mm." He smiled while he kept his eyes closed, "Yes. Very good."

They lapsed into silence again. It was comfortable instead of hectic, and the longer Melusine massaged him, the more collected and at peace Cullen seemed. Perhaps her theory on his needs during this time wasn't so far off.

"In a way, I understand." Cullen picked up their conversation trail when she switched to his left foot. "Grey Wardens have the taint of darkspawn, mages the responsibility of their powers, and we Templars the lyrium. Regardless of location in this world, there will always be something we feel we cannot share."

Melusine nodded, "Well, Cullen, you know about my true form, and I know about your struggles with a traumatic past and your current plight with lyrium withdrawal." He opened his eyes, and she smiled up at him as she continued her work. "Whatever you need of me to support you in this, you've got it. That's what friends do for one another."

"Is that all we are, Melusine?" Cullen sat up straighter in the chair and leaned his elbows on the armrests as he studied her. "Friends?"

"No, it isn't ALL that we are." She saw his smile take on a different quality. It was one of physical awareness, and she was also keen to notice his eyes travel down her face to her lips and further to take in the way her shirt gaped in the front near her bustline. Maybe she could move further now? Melusine moved her fingers from his foot up his ankle, pushing them under the hem of his trousers and tracing his soft skin as she spoke, "In fact, may I try something completely unorthodox?"

Cullen's eyebrows rose as he took in the change. He wasn't a fool, though he was shy, and Melusine knew without having to ask that Cullen had noticed her shift into a more sensual tone of voice. Melusine also felt the rapid change in his skin, the goosebumps rising and falling in an instant. She leered at him as she awaited his answer.

"I have no reason to say no." Cullen rested into the chair, his smile one of indulgence. "In fact, I'm curious what you'd consider unorthodox after all that I've witnessed of your 'coping' and recovery behaviors."

"On a lascivious note, I've wanted to do this ever since we played Wicked Grace, and you lost all your clothes." Melusine moved to a kneeling position and ran her hands up Cullen's trousers.

She watched his eyes widen, his cheeks redden, and his mouth drop open. It seemed he'd caught on. Good. If he had any prudish protests, now would be the time to make them. Melusine pressed her fingers more firmly into the muscles of his thighs. She slowed her ministrations up and down, every round edging closer to the ties of his trousers. Cullen was watching her, mesmerized, and utterly unaware of anything but her. Melusine felt her confidence build from the way he watched her. She couldn't think of a time when someone had ever looked at her quite like he was now. She edged her fingers closer again, this time stopping as they touched the stays.

"What?" Cullen's voice was deeper than usual, and the sound of it sent heat straight to her core. Oh boy, this would be difficult. She had no intention of pushing for full sexual intimacy, not so quickly, and not while he was in a "compromised" situation. But her offering sexual satisfaction, expecting nothing in return, that she was committed to; it would just be grating on her nerves to hold back and not let him see how much she wanted him.

Melusine sat up and pressed her chest against his knees as she leaned into him, her eyes darting between his face and the ties of his trousers. She looked up at her through her lashes as she asked, "May I?"

"…yes?" Cullen shifted in the chair, but not to escape her. More so, he could see her better, and what it was she was about to do. "What…what are you going to do?" He gulped as her fingers pulled at the strings, one at a time, unraveling the front of his trousers and revealing bit by bit the hardness of his erection, apparent even through his small clothes.

"Remember," Melusine peeled away the front of his trousers as if she were unwrapping a treasured present, "unorthodox."

A mewling sigh came from his lips when her fingers first brushed over him. He fell against the back of the chair and fought to keep his eyes open as Melusine tenderly pulled him free from his small clothes. She didn't stop with his erection and was careful as she freed his testicles, knowing that both areas were equally in need of attention. She didn't rush this, and Cullen didn't seem to mind. Though vaguely curious how many women had seen what she was looking at, Melusine didn't ask. Instead, she traced her fingers over the length of his penis, memorizing its unique ridges, the pounding heat of the vein that ran the length of him, and the girth and length of it. Melusine weighed his balls, lightly rolling them between her fingers.

She glanced up at Cullen as she further explored, feeling her femininity soar and preen at the way he responded to her touch. His eyes went from wide and astonished to closed, his mouth open as he sucked in his breath, occasionally biting his lower lip. His skin was flushed, warm, and she felt his blood building as she continued to touch him.

Melusine started with long, slow, light touches. Almost more like tickles. Switching from his balls and inner thighs to his penis and tracing through the hair that framed it. Gradually, she increased the pressure, the time she took in stroking him, all the while relishing the sounds her touch elicited from him. She didn't know, yet, if he was the type to be turned on further with encouraging talk and so kept silent. Melusine maintained eye contact any time she noticed him open his eyes, her expression one of mutual desire, and her smile assured. The times his head fell back and his eyes closed, she turned her focus back to his erection, her innate curiosity drawing her closer without realizing it.

She nuzzled her lips against the head of his penis and waited, looking up at his shocked expression. His whole body was tense, though for an entirely different reason than when she'd first found him. Melusine maintained eye contact as she slipped her tongue between her lips and tasted him. Cullen stopped breathing when she then open-mouthed kissed him, drawing the head between her lips and licking a full circle around him. She repeated the gesture then pulled away, her fingers returning to stroking him.

"Cullen," he looked from her mouth to her eyes, and she smiled, "don't forget to breathe."

Cullen let out his breath in a rush at the same time she dipped down and licked from the base of his erection to the tip. He cried out, and his fingers dug into the armrests. Melusine continued these long, slow licks from bottom to top, teasing his head. Cullen was desperate to keep his eyes open, but his body was rebelling against him as his head slumped back and forth on his shoulders in response to her touch.

Employing both hands, Melusine cupped his balls and took to light squeezes and strokes while her other hand smoothed up his stomach and traced across the skin of his torso. She left light, lingering kisses up and down his erection, taking time to press her lips and nibble gently at the base of his penis, right over the vein. Cullen was making noises that at any other time he'd most likely deny and undoubtedly would blush at the memory of, but Melusine loved them. He was unabashedly into this, no longer holding on to any shred of "propriety" as she brought him closer to release. Melusine hadn't a clue how templars viewed masturbation, or casual relationships, so it was a genuine mystery when it was the last time he'd had an orgasm.

Melusine leaned forward, moving her hand from his torso back to his penis, as she pressed soft kisses along his hip bone, tracing her tongue in the dip that led to his pelvis. She felt Cullen shuddering beneath her. He would not last much longer; she was certain. Melusine lifted her face and pressed her cheek against his penis, nuzzling it as she cradled his balls in one hand and went back to tracing her fingers across the skin of his hips and abdomen with her other.

"Mel-" Cullen's voice was strained, and his expression was one of longing.

Melusine smiled before she pressed her lips again against the head of his penis and drew him into her mouth. She wrapped a hand around the base and moved it in slow, long strokes, her head moving up and down. She alternated between pressing her tongue flat against the underside of his erection and tracing around the head as she created gentle suction within her mouth. Cullen was panting now, his hips moving up and down without his bidding them, more moans of need mixed with her name tumbling out of his mouth.

Melusine gave a few more long, deep sucks before she leaned up and pressed her lips against his throat. Her hand sped up, and she kept up her pressure and attention on his balls. Tucking her head against his shoulder, Melusine continued to press soft, nipping kisses against his throat. She felt his tension build and then snap, his whole body convulsing then coming to a stop as jets of white cum shot out, coating her hand and spreading across the skin of his abdomen. Melusine continued to stroke him, softly, each round getting softer and softer until she let go and moved her hand to the warm skin of his thighs.

They remained like that for some time: Cullen catching his breath, and Melusine enjoying the feeling of satisfaction at having reduced Cullen to such a state. When she felt him stir beneath her, she raised herself off him. He was staring at her with such warmth and appreciation that Melusine felt, not for the first time, her heart swell in response. Cullen framed her face, moving his fingers through her hairline to smooth wayward strands away.

"That was," he grinned, "quite unorthodox." Cullen kissed her forehead, her temple, her cheek, and finally, he lingered on her lips, tasting her and drawing out the moment. "Entirely unexpected, but definitely not unwelcome." He pulled back with a laugh.

Melusine watched as he stood, shed his trousers and small clothes, and used his small clothes to clean up his flaccid penis and the surrounding area. He reached for her hand, and Melusine stood so he could clean it up. Once satisfied with his job, Cullen tossed the small clothes away and hesitated but a moment longer before pulling Melusine into an embrace. He smelled of his usual scent but now mixed with it was the heady scent of sex, along with herself on his skin. Melusine tightened her hold on him.

"I'm uncertain," Cullen's lips moved against the skin of her neck as he spoke, "does one say thank you for something like that?"

Melusine laughed and pulled away, "Do you feel better?" She grew serious and touched his temple, "Is the pain still as bad as before?"

He paused and fell into thought. When he came back, he shook his head and gave her a smile of relief, "For the first time in weeks, I feel no pain. In fact, I just feel tired." He let go of her, and she stepped only far enough away for him to redress. She took to scratching his back as he dressed, loving how easy it was to give and receive affection with him now. "How did you know that, um, technique would help?"

That he could still be shy after a blowjob only further endeared him to Melusine. She kissed his neck again before answering, "Well you remember what Dorian told you," he nodded, "I figured your body was probably going through something vaguely similar. So if sex helps me, figured something similar would help you."

"So that was only because-"

Melusine kissed him, tasting him deeply as she pulled him against her. She kissed him with all the passion she'd kept to herself moments before. She poured into her embrace, into the kiss itself, all the desire she had for his heart, mind, and body. By the time she pulled back, Cullen was seated in the chair, and she was leaning over him, half in his lap and half on her feet. They were both breathless, and Cullen's eyes were wide.

"No," Melusine smiled, "that was not ONLY because you daft Templar." She kissed him again before standing, "I would very much like a repeat, a reciprocation, and much, much more in the future. Regardless of your lyrium withdrawals, or my Taninoui issues, I desire you, Cullen. And for more than your body. I hope I've made that clear."

Cullen's smile was soft, and his eyes bright with joy, "Oh, you have indeed."

"Good." Melusine turned on her heel and made for the door. "Let me know if you need another massage or," she looked over her shoulder and pointedly stared at his lap, her smile growing when she saw a blush creep up his neck, "something more unorthodox. For now, I'm off to chase down Blackwall before he does something stupid."