Sorry for the brief hiatus. Smut warning for a reward in waiting. Cheers!

"Is that…blood?"

Melusine looked down at her coat and grimaced. She thought she'd gotten all of it off before returning to the ballroom. Looking back to Josephine, Melusine gave a sheepish smile and accepted the hurried offer of a handkerchief.

"Please tell me that isn't the blood of a courtier who asked the wrong question from Sera," Josephine shuddered when Melusine handed the soiled cloth back, "or that Iron Bull didn't allow the ignorance of the nobles here to drive him past his breaking point."

"Nope. It's Venatori agent blood, and this place was crawling with them." The door behind them opened, and Cassandra, Varric, and Vivienne each slithered into the ballroom quietly and inconspicuously. Melusine touched her own cheek and signaled to Cassandra. The warrioress touched her cheek then frowned at the blood she saw. Varric was already offering her a handkerchief with a fit of laughter. "Interestingly enough, however, Ambassador Briala met us and seemed to already know about the agents mulling about. She was quick to throw the Duke under the wheel with her accusations."

Josephine nodded, "That is interesting, indeed. I'll speak to Leliana. I believe the Grand Duchess was looking for you not too long ago. I suggest you make yourself visible."

Melusine sighed. She hated politics and intrigue. After so many years of existence, unlike Solas, Melusine didn't find them fun or stimulating. She found them a nuisance. Moving toward the railing, Melusine looked around the edges of the ballroom for her companions. Some were more readily seen (Iron Bull) than others (Cole), but one by one, she saw them. Except for-

"May I speak with you?" Melusine startled when Cullen whispered unexpectedly in her ear.

Melusine pushed away from the railing and followed Cullen away from the other guests. She continued to follow as he moved around the corner and disappeared up a flight of circular stone steps. Melusine glanced over her shoulder towards the ballroom. There was still no sign of the Grand Duchess, so she supposed there was enough time to have a DTR talk with Cullen now. Melusine took a deep breath before heading up the steps after him. No doubt he'd heard about the interlude with Solas.

Melusine kept her eyes on the steps as she continued up and around, "You had something you wanted to-"

Cullen moved quickly, pushing Melusine against the interior wall of the stairwell and leaning his torso against hers. It was a bit awkward at first, her left leg higher than her right on a higher step, but then as Melusine studied the look on Cullen's face, all awkwardness melted away, and a new feeling built.

"I needed to have a moment alone with you," Cullen's voice was roughened with desire as he leaned his head in, breathing in her scent, and pressing light kisses along her jawline and peppering her neck with equally light touches. His hands were no longer idly pressing her shoulders against the wall; they too began to wander up and down her sides, straying inward over her belly and upward to trace the outline of her breasts. "I felt a reminder was in order."

Melusine spoke between hurried breaths as her heart rate sped to catch up with Cullen's ministrations, "A reminder?"

Cullen's gaze held both a challenge and a promise. Without question or warning, Melusine felt Cullen's deft fingers undo her belt buckle. Still too stunned to do much more than widen her eyes at his audacious behavior, Melusine clenched her fists and waited. Cullen maintained eye contact as he shifted her trousers down and open. The air of the stairwell was cool on the growing wetness between Melusine's legs, but she didn't have time to shiver before Cullen's hand traced up her inner thigh then pressed firmly against her. Melusine gasped. Cullen leaned forward, his chest against hers, his lips again laying claim to her neck, her cheeks, her temple, as his fingers danced over her sensitive folds.

"Yes," Cullen pulled his head back to look at Melusine, "a reminder for us both." He watched her face carefully as his fingers continued their exploration. When Melusine whimpered, his fingers passing over her clit, Cullen's wicked smile of triumph, had her even weaker. "I know what you did with Solas," he kissed her, drawing her breath into his body. His fingers began a steady rhythm passing over, around, over, around on her clit. "And I know why you did it," Cullen kissed her again and pressed closer. Chest to chest, Melusine felt his erection against her right thigh and quivered. "But before something like that happens again," he paused in his movements just long enough to slip a finger inside her, eliciting a gasp from Melusine as she clutched at his shoulders, "I wanted to make sure you knew what I felt like," Cullen leaned his face against her neck and pressed a soft kiss below her ear, his finger pumping in and out of Melusine's slick heat, "and I wanted to know my scent was on your skin."

Melusine could stand no more. She bucked with her hips at the same time she pushed at his shoulders. Cullen stumbled backward against the exterior wall, but before he could question her, Melusine was on him. She sealed her lips against his, her tongue diving in and out of his mouth. Her fingers made quick work of his belt and trousers. Melusine had his naked erection in her hands within seconds, with Cullen's fingers quickly seeking her wet folds in return. They held each other intimately for a few moments, kissing deeply as their fingers moved in rhythm.

Pulling away to catch a breath, Melusine panted, "Fuck me, Cullen." She leaned forward and lightly bit his neck before licking away any sting. She reached up with her free hand and curled her fingers into his hair, "I need you now."

Cullen pushed forward until Melusine again felt the interior wall against her back. She helped lift her left leg to a higher stair, keeping her hands on Cullen's shoulders, while Cullen moved both hands to her hips. It took some addition shifting around, but Melusine's whole body tensed with anticipation when she felt the head of his erection at her entrance. Their eyes locked, and they both sighed out a moan of pleasure as Cullen slowly entered her.

It had been so long since she'd shared this sort of intimacy that the sensation of being so full again took Melusine's breath away. Cullen seemed to be in a similar predicament as, once he was fully engulfed in her warmth, he paused and leaned his forehead against hers. They stayed like this for a few heartbeats—each relishing the warmth and connection.

Melusine smiled, "I've wanted this for a long time, Cullen."

"I never thought," Cullen lifted his head, and Melusine saw her own emotions reflected in his gaze, "I never expected…"

Melusine shifted her hips forward and drew Cullen's lips to her own. As they kissed, Cullen began a steady rhythm, withdrawing almost to the tip before pushing back in to the hilt. They breathed in unison as his motions grew faster, harder. Melusine's hands grasped at his shoulders, scratched at his back, scooped into his hair. Her entire body was humming with pleasure, her mind clouded with it and blocking out rational thought.

"Yes," she gasped out repeatedly, "please," she whispered against his skin as she buried her face against his neck, drawing him as close to her as was physically possible, "more, Cullen, more," Melusine shameless begged in his arms, writhing between him and the wall as she sought release.

Cullen growled before kissing her hard, his hips slamming against hers relentlessly. It was a good thing he was kissing her as, without warning, Melusine's orgasm hit her, and she cried out into the kiss. She continued to hold him close, her fingers stroking through his hair and ghosting across the skin of his neck until she felt his body stiffen. Hot liquid filled her womb as Cullen's face fell against her shoulder, and he sighed out his satiation.

They stayed like that until the proverbial fog of fucking lifted, and when Cullen pulled his head away, Melusine giggled. His hair was all sorts of a mess, and his lips were swollen from her kisses. Melusine reached forward to help smooth it back into place again. But she paused and frowned when she felt his flaccid penis slip from her. That was always her least favorite part of fucking: the disconnection at the end.

"That was," Cullen took a deep breath before he shook his head and set about tucking himself away and pulling up his trousers, "not exactly what I meant to have happened. At least not here, or now."

Melusine smirked, "I have no regrets." She nodded at her work. There were a few strands still stubborn and upright, but for the most part, he looked presentable. It was obvious he'd had a tryst, but at least he was respectable enough to clean up after said affair before heading back into the ballroom.

"Neither do I." Cullen kissed her again, deep and thorough, before stepping back and helping her straighten up. True to his earlier explanation, Melusine smelled him on her skin every time she turned, and this made her smile. Once she was as cleaned up as expected for the moment, Cullen scratched the back of his neck and looked back down the stairwell, "Do you think anyone heard us?"

Melusine chuckled, "I don't care if they did." She grabbed the lapels of his jacket and pulled him close for another kiss. "I smell you on my skin, and I know how you feel inside me." She let go and grinned, "That makes anything consequences we reap back out there because of this totally worth it."

Cullen smiled before holding out his hand. Melusine placed hers inside his and let him lead the way back down the stairs. They emerged from the stairwell to find Iron Bull, Sera, and Thom standing there with grins on their faces. Iron Bull started it, but within seconds the trio was giving them a standing ovation for the show.