#Cullen x oc

[picayune-artist]

WIP Wednesday of me being a one-ship pony. I continue to chip away at this! Smoochy smooch, now with keloid scar and Cullen with his ear in the right position.

[ayamikasai]

This is for the Cullenmancers!

For @enterthedreams for their fanfic ‘God Touched’ ❤️✨

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❤️ Timelapses!

[truffle-draws]

Another one of my Lavellan and Cullen from my fic “Something’s Gotta Give”

I just can’t get enough of them and their chaos 🥲

(Click the photo for better resolution cause Tumblr hates good resolution 👹)

[tired-truffle]

Something’s Gotta Give

A CullenxLavellan fic

Chapter Word Count: 8k

Part 24 - A Rematch

Tag list: @bloodoflathander

"You touch me like I am everything you asked god for. Underneath your hands I become poetry. This is the alchemy that you do." - T. James

Warning: NSFW in this chapter!

Masterlist

Ash's heart pounded as she paced her quarters, fingers twisting in her hair. Creators, why was she so nervous? It was just Cullen. Cullen with his stupidly handsome face and those arms that could probably bench-press The Iron Bull. She bit her lip, remembering how his scar curved when he smirked.

No. Focus. This was ridiculous. One ex-templar shouldn't reduce her to a blushing maiden.

But oh, the things she wanted to do to that man. Images flashed through her mind - pinning him against his desk, running her tongue down the long column of his neck, feeling those strong hands gripping her hips. Heat pooled low in her belly, a fire she couldn’t extinguish.

Ash groaned, flopping onto her bed. This was getting her nowhere. She needed to go to him and see where it led them. What was the worst that could happen? Maybe he'd reject her and she'd die of embarrassment. But maybe…maybe he wanted her too.

Fuck it. Or rather, fuck him. Hopefully.

Ash stood, smoothing her robes down over her curves. No more overthinking. She was going to march down to Cullen's office, grab him by that ridiculous fur mantle, and kiss him senseless. And if he didn't like it? Well, there was always more wine in the cellar. Josephine would understand.

She barely remembered making her way across the battlements and was at his office in the blink of an eye. With the tact of a wheelbarrow full of nugs, she opened the door, stepped inside, and shut it smoothly behind her. 

“Interested in another round?” she offered, a promise in the smirk adorning her lips. Cullen stood across the room with his back to her, his mantle obscuring his face from view. His body stiffened as she spoke, and the tension pulled taught between them. For a moment too long to be casual, he didn’t move. Ash swallowed around the lump in her throat, briefly doubting if her choice in attire - the robes she’d worn during their match - was too obvious. 

When he finally turned, his eyes darkened, bags staining the skin beneath, he remained silent, his jaw clenched. Oh, she’d really fucked up this time. 

Ash’s smirk took on a sheepish tinge, her stomach turning over. “I’ll take that as a no to a rematch then?”

He took carefully measured steps until he stood in the middle of the room, folding his arms over his chest and widening his stance. “Why would I be interested when you use such underhanded tactics.”

Finally, something she could work with. She remained where she was, leaning back on the door unconcerned, almost lazy. “Whatever could you mean, Commander?” she asked with saccharine sweetness. “I didn’t break any rules.” 

“Not technically,” he said, taking a few more torturous steps towards her. "But you used non-combat distractions, you…made a noise in my ear.” 

“What noise? I can’t recall what you’re referring to. Perhaps you could provide a demonstration to jog my memory.”

Ignoring her last request, he said, "You moaned in my ear.” His gaze flicked between her eyes, her lips, and down to the cleavage spilling out of her robes. The few feet of space between them begged to be closed, but Ash refused to be the one to do it. He needed to come to her. 

“Oh, right, of course. How could I forget? Would you like to hear it again?” 

The air shifted, becoming heady and thick. As she’d silently hoped he would, he closed the remaining distance, his chest plate inches from away her. He placed a hand beside her head, fingers splayed, effectively caging her in against the door as he leaned down. “Is this just a game to you, Ashvalla?” 

Ash's breath caught in her throat, a hitching gasp as she instinctively angled her face towards his. Frankly, it was embarrassing how badly she needed him and she was doing everything in her power to retain some semblance of control over herself. “Do you dislike this game?”

“I…” Hesitation crossed his face, though it succumbed to his frustration. “Yes, I dislike it.”

Ash placed a hand on his chest, watching as he tracked the movement. 

“Liar.” 

Cullen's eyes flashed, and before she could prepare, he grabbed her wrist from his chest and pinned it above her head. His other hand found her hip, fingers digging into the soft flesh exposed by the slit in her robe as he pressed her back against the door.

"Is this what you want?" he breathed, his lips ghosting over the shell of her ear and making her bite back a curse. "To provoke me until I break?"

"Maybe," she admitted, breathless and chest heaving. "Is it working?"

Cullen's grip on her wrist tightened, his breath hot against her neck. "More than you know," he growled, low and dangerous.

Ash's legs trembled, ready to give out beneath her. She arched into him, desperate for more contact, for his heat to seep into her. "Then show me," she challenged, her free hand sliding up to tangle in his hair.

With a guttural sound, Cullen crashed his lips against hers, claiming her, searing himself into her like a brand. The kiss was all teeth and tongue, messy and desperate, the intoxicating taste of him - the bitterness of elfroot and mint from the tea that sat cooling on his desk. Ash moaned into his mouth, the sound swallowed by his hungry lips - softer than she'd imagined, yet insistent, coaxing little gasps and whimpers from her throat. Ash tugged at his hair, pulling him closer. Cullen responded by releasing her wrist to cradle her face, his thumb stroking her cheekbone.

He pulled back and Ash followed with a needy whine. "I'm going to make you beg first. Payback for all your teasing."

"I'm not above begging," she panted, her fingers tightening in his hair.

"You beg? I'd love to see that."

Ash trailed her fingers down his neck, his hand clenched on her hip. "How should I beg? On my knees with your cock in my mouth?" She nipped at his lower lip. "Or perhaps you'd prefer me over your desk?"

Cullen groaned, his hand sliding up her waist, slipping under the fabric of her robe. "Maker's breath, woman," he muttered as he ducked his head down, placing open-mouthed kisses across her collarbone.

Ash's head fell back against the door with a dull thud as Cullen's fingers teased along the edge of her smallclothes. She whimpered, her hips canting forward, seeking more contact that he refused to give - a slow torture.

"Please," she whined, surprising even herself with how quickly she'd resorted to begging - but he had asked for it, and she was more than happy to oblige. "Cullen, I need-"

It was the first time she’d ever said his name - not his title or an honorific - and he silenced her with another fiery kiss, muffling her pleas, his weight pressing her into the door. She should say his name more often if that was the reaction she received.

Cullen's hand stilled, his fingers hovering just beneath the band of her smalls. "You deserve more than being bent over a desk.”

The tenderness in his words, so unexpected, cut through her bravado like a knife through butter. She felt exposed, more vulnerable than if she'd been standing before him naked. Her heart thundered in her chest, a flush creeping up her neck to stain her cheeks.

Cullen's brow furrowed slightly as he pulled back, noticing the shift in her demeanour. But before he could comment, Ash rallied, forcing a coy smile to her lips even as her pulse raced.

"How do you want me then, Commander?" she purred, her voice only slightly unsteady.

"On the bed," he rasped. "Now."

A shiver ran down Ash's spine at the command in his voice. How times had changed - where she would have once chaffed at any sort of order, she now found herself craving it, from him and only him. She nodded, her legs shaky as she stepped away from the door, Cullen reluctantly releasing his hold on her. "You'd better lock the doors," she said, glancing at the ladder leading up to his loft. "Wouldn't want any unexpected visitors."

As Cullen moved to secure the entrances, Ash approached the ladder. She paused, finding Cullen's eyes fixed on her. With deliberate slowness, she began to climb, making sure he got an eyeful of her legs as her robe rode up.

“Hurry up or I’ll get so impatient that I’ll have to start touching myself on your bed…without you.” She looked over her shoulder, giggling as he tripped and stumbled towards the door, keys jangling together in his haste.

She gave him no time to respond, and when she reached the top, she took a moment to survey Cullen's sparse living quarters. The large bed dominated the space, neatly made with simple linens.

Ash's bare feet - save for the strap of her stockings that looped around the arch - padded across the wooden floorboards as she made her way to the far corner. She gazed out through the gaping hole in his roof, the cool night air kissing her flushed skin. Stars winked at her from the inky sky, and the faint silhouette of mountains loomed in the distance. The hole was oddly charming, in a way - and she had dutifully followed his request to not have it patched up, though she could not for the life of her fathom the reason why he insisted upon keeping it.

She heard the creak of the ladder behind her, followed by Cullen's footsteps, anticipation coiling low in her stomach. She turned slowly, her breath catching as her eyes met his.

Cullen stood a few paces away, his gaze burning with an intensity that made her knees weak, her lips parting slightly as she drank in the sight of him. His usual composure was gone, replaced by raw hunger that matched her own.

A flurry of emotions swirled within her. Desire, certainly - that was a constant undercurrent whenever Cullen was near. But there was something else, something that made her heart clench and her stomach flutter. It terrified her, this feeling, so foreign to her. She knew what it was - Love’s constant beating at her ribcage whenever she felt it had ensured that - but she refused to acknowledge it. That would only make it real, and at least this way, she could pretend like this was nothing more than a casual dalliance.

Ash had always kept people at arm's length, using humour and flirtation as a shield. But Cullen had a way of slipping past her defences, of making her want things she'd never allowed herself to want before. She couldn’t have what she wanted, she would do well to remember that.

She swallowed hard. "You know," she said, her voice huskier than she'd intended, "with that hole in your roof, everyone in Skyhold will hear us."

A predatory gleam sparked in Cullen’s eyes. In three long strides, he closed the distance between them. His strong arms encircled her waist, pulling her flush against his broad chest.

"Let them.”

If he hadn’t been holding her up, she was sure she would have fallen to the floor.

His large, sword-roughened hand cupped her cheek, his thumb brushing over her cheekbone - a motion he’d done once before that she didn’t understand. It was so…tender.

Ash leaned into his touch, her eyes fluttering closed. When she opened them again, she saw both lust - as she had expected - and something softer in Cullen's gaze. It made her chest ache, but she quickly pushed aside the swell of forbidden feelings and reached for the fastenings of Cullen's armour. "Let's get you out of this, shall we?" she said, her fingers working at the buckles and straps. She’d done it once before with his instruction, but she was much too flustered to remember the details now.

His lips descend upon the non-scarred skin of her neck, nipping and sucking at the flesh there and making her squirm. "Impatient, are you?"

“Fuck, yes. Now get out of this armour before I rip it off.”

His low chuckle reverberated from his chest through to hers. "Impatient and bossy. But I wouldn't mind seeing you try.”

“One day you’ll have to teach me.” She bit back a curse at the implication in her words. She’d meant for this to be a one-time thing, but her mind had other ideas. “But I’m not in the learning mood today.”

“Perhaps another time then.”

Would it be so awful if this was more than a one-time thing? It may take a few tries before he was out of her system.

Cullen reached for the fur mantle first - that blasted monstrosity that Ash had grown to both love and hate - and tossed it off to the side and began removing his armour piece by piece. Ash's fingers itched to help, but she forced herself to stay still, savouring the gradual reveal of his muscular form. The heavy breastplate came off first, followed by his pauldrons and vambraces. Each discarded piece of metal hit the floor with a satisfying clunk.

Ash's gaze roved hungrily over Cullen's body as more of it was exposed. The thin linen shirt he wore beneath his armour clung to his chest, damp with a slight sweat. She could see the outline of his defined muscles through the fabric, and her mouth went dry at the sight.

"Much better," she said, leaning in to press a kiss to the hollow of his throat.

Cullen's hands found her waist, and before Ash could react, he hoisted her up with ease. She yelped in surprise, her legs instinctively wrapping around his hips as he carried her towards the bed and he all but tossed her onto the mattress. He smirked with self-satisfaction, the scar bisecting his lip pulled taught as she bounced slightly on impact.

Ash propped herself up on her elbows and quirked an eyebrow at him, fighting back a grin. "Proud of yourself?"

"Immensely," Cullen replied in a low rumble. He remained at the side of the bed between her splayed legs, making no motion to follow her.

"Well, don't just stand there admiring the view," Ash teased, her foot nudging his thigh. "Come here and finish what you started."

Cullen caught her ankle, his thumb tracing circles around the jutting bone. "So demanding," he chuckled, but obliged, crawling onto the bed with raptorial grace.

He hovered over her, his muscular arms caging her in as her legs bracketed his hips. The heat of his body seeped through the thin fabric of her robe, and she arched up, desperate for more.

"Patience." Cullen lowered himself until his mouth traced over hers like a light breeze. "I intend to take my time with you."

"Patience was never my strong suit," Ash retorted, her fingers tangling in his hair to pull him down for a kiss.

Cullen groaned against her lips, his hips grinding against hers with a delicious friction that had her whimpering like the ravaged mess she was soon to become. "Maker, you're going to be the death of me."

Ash grinned wickedly, her hand sliding down to palm him through his breeches, already hard and twitching. "What a way to go, though."

Cullen bit his bottom lip as he held back a gasp, his hips stuttering into her touch, his eyes fluttering closed for a moment before he regained himself. He caught her wrist, pinning it above her head as he had done earlier by the door. "You're an insufferable woman."

“You like it,” Ash shot back. “Now take your clothes off.”

Cullen's pupils widened in the low light - she hadn’t realized how much he would enjoy being told what to do - and he released her wrist. "As my Lady commands.”

Ash sat up with him as Cullen slowly peeled off his sweat-dampened shirt. The moonlight cast shadows across his muscular torso, highlighting every dip and curve. She traced the lines of his abs with her eyes, the broad expanse of his chest, the strong set of his shoulders.

But it was the scars that drew her attention most. They crisscrossed his skin like a roadmap of his past - some faded and silvery with age, others newer and still pink. A jagged line ran along his ribs, likely from a sword strike. Smaller, circular marks dotted his shoulder - remnants of arrows, perhaps. And there, just below his collarbone, was a starburst scar that made her heart clench.

Creators, he was gorgeous. A living work of art, that should be lovingly sculpted of rich clay and displayed in the most extravagant museums. But he was here, with only her, no one else could see him as she did.

Cullen's hands moved to the laces of his breeches, and Ash's mouth went dry. She watched, transfixed, as he slowly unlaced them, the fabric sliding down his muscular thighs to pool at his feet. He kicked them aside, leaving him clad only in his smalls, straining with evidence of his arousal.

Ash's robes felt impossibly constricting, despite how little they actually covered. The fabric clung to her overheated skin, the low neckline felt almost prudish compared to Cullen's near-nakedness. She squirmed, desperate to feel his skin against hers.

Without a word, he crawled back onto the bed and over her. Ash reached out, her fingers tracing the contours of Cullen's bare chest. She felt the steady thrum of his heartbeat, quick and strong, matching her own racing pulse.

Cullen leaned in, his lips brushing against her neck as kissed and licked his way down her throat, his stubble scratching lightly against her skin. His hand found the strap of her robe, pushing it aside to trail kisses down her shoulder.

Eager for more, Ash shrugged out of the loosened strap, quickly freeing herself of the other as well. She wiggled her hips, shimmying until the robe bunched around her waist, leaving her torso bare save for her breast band.

Cullen's eyes roved over her newly exposed skin like she’d given him the best present he’d ever received. His calloused hands skimmed up her sides and Ash pressed into his touch, a soft gasp escaping her lips as his thumbs brushed the undersides of her breasts. Agonizingly slowly, Cullen lowered his head, pressing kisses along the scarred side of her neck that she could hardly feel. His tongue darted out, tasting the salt of her skin. But as his mouth moved lower, ghosting over her collarbone and down to her shoulder, the tingling warmth she'd felt faded to a dull pressure.

"As lovely as your kisses are,” she murmured, her voice huskier than intended, “I can't really feel that."

He froze, raising his head, regarding her with confusion. Ash bit her lip, an uncharacteristic shyness creeping over her. She'd never hidden her scars before, but now, under Cullen's intense gaze, she felt oddly vulnerable.

"The burns," she explained, gesturing to the angry red scars that marred the left side of her body. "I lost a lot of feeling in the worst areas."

Ash held up her left hand, palm facing him. The skin there was twisted and mottled, a patchwork of scar tissue. Without breaking eye contact, Cullen gently took her hand in his. He brought it to his lips, pressing a soft kiss to her scarred palm. The tenderness of the gesture made Ash's breath stutter.

"Does it hurt?" he asked, his breath puffing against her skin, though she could hardly feel it.

"Not anymore."

Cullen nodded, his eyes never leaving hers as he placed another kiss on her palm, then her wrist. "Show me," he murmured. "Show me where you can feel."

Heart pounding, Ash guided his hand to her shoulder where the scarring on her arm began. "Here," she said. "I can feel pressure, but not much else."

Cullen's fingers skimmed down the inside of her bicep. "And here?"

"A little more. It's…different. Like everything's muffled."

His hand moved to her ribs, just below her breast. "Here?"

Ash sucked in a sharp breath. "I can feel that," she managed. “Thanks to your chestplate’s protection.”

A small smile tugged at the corners of Cullen's mouth. He leaned in, replacing his fingers with his lips. Ash gasped as he pressed a soft kiss to the discoloured skin, her back arching off the bed.

"And here?" Cullen murmured against her skin, his stubble scraping lightly as he made his way to the swell of her breast. One hand cupped the soft flesh, kneading gently, while his mouth found her other breast. Even through the fabric of her breast band, Ash felt the heat of his breath, the wetness of his tongue as he lavished attention on her nipple.

“Y-yes,” she answered, “I can feel that too.”

Ash's fingers tangled in Cullen's hair, holding him close and needing him even closer. She felt his hands slide around to her back, fumbling with the ties of her breast band. With a frustrated grunt, he tugged at the fabric - similarly to how she’d tugged at his armour minutes ago.

"Allow me." Ash reached behind herself to undo the stubborn knots. The breastband fell away, and Cullen wasted no time in replacing the fabric with his mouth.

Ash gasped as Cullen's mouth closed around her nipple, his tongue swirling around and flicking the sensitive bud and a wetness gathered at the apex of her thighs.

Needing to be free of everything left between them, Ash reached down to push her robes and stockings the rest of the way off. As she shifted, Cullen's mouth slipped from her breast. His hand shot out to grab her, keeping her from moving any further, and a low, possessive growl rumbled from his chest, startling them both.

Ash's eyes widened, her lips parting in surprise. Cullen froze, a flush crawling up his neck and over his cheeks. For a moment, they stared at each other, neither knowing exactly what to say.

A slow smirk formed on Ash's face as realization dawned. "Oh," she said silkily. "So you were thinking about them when you commissioned my chest plate."

Cullen's blush deepened and she thrilled at the effect she had on him. His eyes flicked down to her breasts and back up to meet her gaze. "I…yes. It’s difficult not to," he admitted roughly.

Ash's smirk widened into a grin. "I knew it," she said, running a finger down his chest.

Cullen's embarrassment quickly melted into determination as he lowered his head once more. His lips found the soft curve of Ash's breast, and this time, he didn't hold back. He nipped and sucked at her flesh, drawing a startled gasp from Ash as he left a trail of marks across her skin.

His mouth was hot and insistent, alternating between gentle kisses and sharp bites that sent jolts of pleasure straight to her core. Ash's head fell back against the bed, her fingers twisting in Cullen's hair as he lavished attention on her breasts. Each mark he left felt like a tattoo, a claim staked on her body that made her pulse quicken. It should have alarmed her how much she enjoyed the idea, but she wanted to be his, wanted everyone to know who had left those marks.

Cullen's hands slid down her sides, removing her robes as he went. The night air tickled her bare skin as he gripped her hips and pulled her flush against him, the hard planes of his stomach pressing against her center.

Ash rolled her hips, seeking friction, but Cullen's grip held her firmly in place. She whined, frustrated as she writhed against him.

"Cullen," she panted, tugging at his hair to get his attention. "Please, I need you."

But Cullen was relentless. His mouth moved to her neck, sucking hard at the sensitive spot just below her ear. Ash's pleas dissolved into a wanton moan, her nails digging into his shoulders as he marked her there too.

The room filled with the sounds of their laboured breathing and the rustle of sheets as Ash wriggled beneath him. She could feel the heat of his arousal pressed against her thigh, tantalizingly close yet too far away.

Ash's frustration mounted, a needy whimper pulled from her throat. She hooked her legs around Cullen's waist, trying to pull him closer, to get some relief from the ache building between her thighs. But Cullen remained stubbornly still, his mouth busy leaving yet another mark on the swell of her breast.

"Cullen, please," Ash begged, ragged with need. "I can't take it anymore. Touch me, fuck me, anything - just do something before I combust."

Cullen pulled back, his eyes roving over Ash's flushed skin and the constellation of marks he'd left across her chest and neck, her hair splayed out around her. His gaze was molten, filled with desire and that soft…something that had a flicker of panic igniting in Ash’s throat.

"Andraste preserve me, you are…" He breathed his reverence into words. "You are absolutely breathtaking."

Ash stared up at him, her heart pounding so hard she was sure he could hear it. The tenderness in his eyes, the gentle way his thumb traced her cheekbone - it was too much. Love fluttered wildly in her chest, beating against her ribcage like a caged bird desperate for freedom. She tried to ignore it, to focus on her aching cunt, but the spirit's presence was impossible to deny.

Cullen's hand cupped her face, his calloused fingers contrasting the softness of his touch. "I've never seen anything more beautiful than you," he whispered, leaning down to press a kiss to the corner of her mouth.

This wasn't supposed to happen. It was meant to be a quick tumble, a way to scratch an itch and nothing more. But the way Cullen looked at her, touched her, spoke to her - it was unravelling every defence she'd carefully constructed.

Ash felt exposed in a way that had nothing to do with her nakedness. Her wit and bravado deserted her, leaving her raw and vulnerable beneath his tender scrutiny.

Love surged within her, filling her chest with a heat that both terrified and exhilarated her. Ash swallowed hard, her throat tight. She wanted to tell him how he made her feel, how he'd wormed his way past her carefully maintained walls. But fear held her tongue.

Instead, Ash whimpered, her hips canting upwards in a silent plea. Cullen's large hand splayed across her abdomen, holding her in place as his other hand drifted lower. His fingers toyed with the edge of her smallclothes, tracing along the trim.

"Please," she whispered again, beyond pride or pretense.

Finally, mercifully, Cullen's fingers disappeared beneath the fabric and he slipped between her folds, gathering the wetness there. A low groan rumbled in his chest.

"By the Maker," he grinned, "is this all for me?"

But Ash was beyond words. She surged upwards, capturing his lips in a heated kiss. Her teeth nibbled at his lower lip as she rocked against his hand. Cullen's fingers circled her clit, and she moaned into his mouth, her nails raking down his back.

The kiss was messy and uncoordinated, all clashing teeth and searching tongues. Ash poured all her pent-up frustration and longing into it, her body pressing against Cullen's. His fingers continued their maddening exploration, teasing along her entrance before returning to her clit.

They broke apart, gasping for air, but Cullen rested his forehead against hers. The intimate gesture was not lost on her and she pushed her hips towards his fingers, her body aching for him. Cullen obliged, slowly inserting a large finger inside her. Ash's breath faltered at the intrusion, her inner walls clenching around him.

As he began to pump his finger in and out of her, Cullen's other hand came up to cradle her cheek with an impossibly gentle touch. The slow, steady rhythm stoked the fire in her belly without providing enough friction to satisfy.

When Cullen added a second finger, Ash couldn't hold back the moan that fell from her lips. He crooked his fingers, searching, and when he found that wonderful, perfect, spot inside her, Ash saw stars. Her hips bucked involuntarily, chasing the sensation.

Cullen's hand on her cheek moved, his index finger brushed across her lower lip, and without thinking, Ash took it into her mouth. Her lips closed around it, her tongue swirling as she sucked. She gazed up at him through half-lidded eyes as he lifted his forehead from hers, pupils blown wide with desire - desire for her, intoxicating and heady. His eyes were transfixed on her mouth, watching intently as she hollowed her cheeks and took him deeper.

His fingers inside her stilled momentarily before resuming their rhythm with renewed vigour. Ash's hips bucked as pleasure coiled tighter in her core.

When Cullen withdrew his finger from her mouth, a thin string of saliva stretched between her lips and his finger before breaking. A droplet landed on her cheek, glistening in the moonlight, but before she could wipe it away, Cullen dipped his head, his tongue darting out to lick away the moisture and place kisses there instead.

Cullen's now-free hand found her breast. His calloused fingers kneaded the soft flesh and lightly pinched her nipple, rolling it between his thumb and forefinger and making her keen.

She felt his muscles shift beneath her touch as he moved above her, his body a solid weight pressing her into the mattress. Cullen trailed kisses down her jawline and to her neck. When he reached the juncture of her neck and shoulder, he bit down gently before soothing the spot with his tongue.

"Cullen, I-please,” Ash babbled, "More, please. I need-"

Her words cut off in a sharp cry as his thumb found her clit, circling the bundle of nerves in time with the thrusting of his fingers.

Ash's world narrowed to the points where Cullen touched her - his fingers between her legs, his mouth on her neck, his hand on her breast. The pleasure built rapidly, coiling tighter and tighter in her core until she felt she might snap from the tension.

"Come for me, Ashvalla," Cullen commanded. While she’d normally balk at being told what to do, those words, combined with the relentless rhythm of his fingers, sent Ash tumbling over the edge. She cried out, her nails digging into Cullen's shoulders as she shuddered beneath him. Cullen worked her through her climax, his fingers slowing but never ceasing as aftershocks rippled through her body.

As she floated down from her high, panting and flushed, Ash came to the unfortunate - or fortunate, depending on how she was feeling - realization that she wasn't yet sated. The ache between her legs had dulled but not disappeared, and judging by the hardness pressed against her thigh, Cullen wasn't finished either.

With a surge of renewed energy, Ash pushed at Cullen's chest. He went willingly, removing his fingers from her cunt with a wet pop and rolling onto his back. She followed him, straddling his hips. Her smalls were soaked through and she wasted no time in shimmying out of them, tossing them carelessly aside along with her stockings.

Cullen's hands found her hips, his fingers digging into the soft flesh there as Ash rocked against him. The friction of his fabric-covered length against her heated core drew a gasp from her lips and a strangled curse from his.

A wolfish grin spread across Ash's face at his reaction. She loved seeing the usually composed Commander come undone beneath her. Leaning forward, she braced her hands on his chest, feeling the rapid beating of his heart beneath her palms.

"Something wrong, Commander?" she teased, rolling her hips in a particularly delicious way that had them both groaning.

Cullen's response was to thrust up against her, his hands guiding her movements. The head of his cock brushed against her over-stimulated clit, sending sparks running through her body.

Eager to feel more of him, Ash reached between them to tug at Cullen's smalls. He lifted his hips, allowing her to pull them down and off. When his cock sprang free, Ash's eyes widened. He was larger than she'd anticipated, thick and long and already glistening at the tip.

Ash wrapped her hand around him and Cullen hissed through his teeth, his hips jerking involuntarily as she gave him an experimental stroke. She marvelled at the feel of Cullen in her hand - hot and hard, yet velvety soft. She traced the prominent vein along the underside with her thumb, revelling in the way his cock twitched in her grasp as she explored, learning what made him gasp and groan.

She varied her strokes, sometimes long and languid from base to tip, other times quick and focused just below the head. Cullen's hips bucked upwards and his arms shook with the effort of holding himself back, but Ash kept her touch maddeningly light. She wanted to draw this out, to savour every reaction she could wring from him.

Her free hand roamed his body, nails scraping lightly down his chest and over his abdomen. She felt his muscles clench beneath her fingertips, watched the way his jaw tightened as he fought to maintain control. A bead of sweat rolled down his temple, disappearing into his hair.

“Ashvalla,” Cullen moaned, his hands gripping her hips hard enough to bruise, but she relished the sting.

She leaned down, her breasts brushing against his chest. "Yes, Commander?" she said, twisting her wrist on the upstroke and making him curse.

Cullen's eyes were melted gold as they met hers. "If you keep that up, this will be over embarrassingly quickly."

She laughed, kissing the underside of his jaw and ceasing her strokes. “If you insist,” she said as she positioned herself over him, the head of his cock nudging at her entrance. She slowly began to sink down onto him, gasping at the stretch. Cullen's hands gripped her hips tightly, his muscles taut with the effort of holding still.

"Maker's breath," he panted. "Ash, you feel…incredible."

Ash's hips stuttered, not just from the feeling of the stretch and fullness as she took him in, but from hearing her nickname on his lips for the first time. She loved when he used her full name, the way it rolled off his tongue like a caress, but there was something thrilling about him being so lost in the moment, so overcome with desire, that he couldn't manage more than that single syllable.

She paused halfway down, trembling as she adjusted to his size. His thumbs traced soothing circles on her hips as she willed her walls to accommodate him.

Ash met his eyes, her heart clenching at the affection she saw lying in his open gaze. She braced her hands on his broad chest, his skin flushed and slick with a fine sheen of sweat, muscles rippling as he fought to keep still and let her set the pace. She leaned down to capture his lips in a deep, languid kiss as she sank the rest of the way onto him - bottoming out, Cullen fully sheathed inside her, his hands tightening on her hip as he breathed raggedly.

For a moment, they stayed like that, foreheads pressed together, sharing the same breath. Ash indulged in the feeling of fullness, of being so intimately connected to him. When she finally began to move, it was with slow, shallow rolls of her hips.

Cullen's hands roamed her body, calloused palms skimming over her curves. He cupped her breasts, thumbs brushing over her nipples and drawing a sharp gasp from her lips.

As she lifted herself up and sank back down, Cullen met her with shallow thrusts. The sound of their laboured breathing and the slick sounds of their joining echoed around the room.

Cullen’s hands clamped on her hips, urging her to go faster, harder. Ash obliged, her thighs burning with the effort as she rode him with increasing fervour.

The moonlight streaming through the hole in the roof painted Cullen's skin in silver, highlighting the sheen of sweat on his chest and the furrow of concentration between his brows. Ash committed every detail to memory - the way his muscles tensed and relaxed with each thrust, the parting of his lips as he panted, the dark desire in his eyes as he gazed up at her.

Ash's thighs began to tremble, her muscles burning from the exertion. She struggled to maintain the rhythm, her movements becoming erratic as fatigue set in. Sweat beaded on her brow, her hair sticking to her forehead and neck.

Cullen noticed her faltering and pulled her down to him, kissing her like she was the air he needed to breathe. His strong arms wrapped around her, hands splaying across her back as he held her close. He planted his feet on the bed and spread her knees wider, opening her up to him. With a sharp thrust of his hips, Cullen drove up into her. Ash gasped against his mouth, her fingers digging into his shoulders as he set a punishing pace.

The change in position pressed Ash's body flush against Cullen's, her sensitive breasts dragging against the hair on his chest with every movement. The friction against her clit built the pressure in her core with each thrust.

Ash broke the kiss, panting heavily as she buried her face in the crook of Cullen's neck. His skin was slick with sweat, tasting of salt on her tongue as she mouthed at his pulse point. The bed creaked beneath them in time to the slap of skin against skin.

Cullen's hands gripped her ass, guiding her as he continued to thrust into her. His stubble scraped against her cheek as he turned his head, his lips brushing the shell of her ear.

"Come for me, Ash, one more time." She thought it a rather greedy thing to ask for seconds, but she was a giving person. "I want to feel you come around me."

Who was she to deny such an earnest request?

She cried out, muffling the sound against Cullen's neck as her finish pulsed through her. Her inner walls clenched around him rhythmically, drawing a deep groan from his chest.

Cullen's hips stuttered, his rhythm faltering as Ash's climax triggered his own. With a hoarse shout of her name, he came, spilling himself deep inside her as his arms tightened around her shaking body.

For several long minutes, they remained entwined, both panting heavily as they let the last of their climax ebb. Ash's body was boneless, utterly spent and sated. She nuzzled into Cullen's neck, breathing in the scent of sweat and sex and armour polish. Not once did he complain about taking her full weight, nor did he seem particularly keen to remove himself from her.

She attempted to push herself up, but the movement caused Cullen's softening cock to shift inside her. They both groaned at the overstimulation, and Ash collapsed back onto his chest, her cheek pressed against his sweat-slicked skin.

"Sorry," she said, hoarse from their illicit activities.

Cullen chuckled as his fingers traced lazy patterns on her back. "There’s no need to apologize.”

After a moment to catch their breath, Cullen carefully held her hips, lifting her slightly as he slowly withdrew from her. Ash hissed at the sudden emptiness, feeling bereft at the loss of connection. A warm trickle of his spend leaked onto her inner thighs as she slid off him, rolling onto her back.

Ash draped one arm over her eyes as she tried to regain her composure. If she couldn’t see him, she didn’t have to face what she’d done, right?

The mattress dipped as Cullen shifted beside her. She felt his gaze on her, heavy and searching. Ash's heart raced, unsure of what came next. This was the part where she'd planned to make a quip and saunter out, never to speak of it again. But the thought of leaving Cullen's bed made her chest ache in a way she wasn't prepared to examine too closely - and she wasn’t sure her legs had the strength to carry her all the way back to her room.

He propped himself up on one elbow, his other hand coming to rest on her plump stomach. His fingers swept over her skin, a gentle supplication. Ash peeked out from under her arm and wished she hadn’t so she could continue to ignore the tenderness in his honeyed eyes.

"Is everything okay?" he asked softly, his brow creased with concern.

Ash swallowed hard, her throat suddenly tight. "Yeah," she managed. "Just…give me a minute."

Cullen nodded, his thumb brushing soothingly across her hipbone. The gentle touch sent a pang of longing through her body, and Ash fought the urge to curl into him, to seek out his warmth and comfort. His fingers skimmed up her sides and traced along her collarbone, ghosting over the marks he'd left on her skin. His touch was soft, almost reverent, as he mapped the litany of bruises blooming across her neck and chest.

"You look thoroughly ruined," he said, a hint of pride colouring his voice.

Ash raised an eyebrow at him. "And whose fault is that, I wonder?"

A slow, self-satisfied grin spread across Cullen's face, his scar pulling taut. The sight of it made Ash's heart flutter traitorously in her chest. She rolled her eyes, hoping to mask the effect he had on her.

"Your hair's come undone," she noted, reaching up to run her fingers through his tousled curls. The product he ordinarily used to keep them tamed had been ruined, leaving his hair the way she suspected it naturally was.

Cullen's hand flew to his head, patting at the unruly locks with a frown of mild embarrassment. "Ah, yes. It tends to…do that."

"I like it," Ash said, surprising herself with her honesty. "The curls suit you."

"They're unruly. Unprofessional."

"They're charming," Ash insisted, twirling a lock around her finger. "Very dashing. Like a knight in shining armour."

A flush coated Cullen's ears at her compliment, but he seemed to relax under her touch. His hand dropped from his head, coming to rest on her waist instead.

Cullen's eyes softened as he gazed down at Ash. He hesitated for a moment, then slowly leaned in, his intention clear. Ash's heart raced, panic rising in her chest. This was too much, too intimate. A quick fuck was one thing, but tender kisses in the afterglow? That was dangerous territory.

He must have sensed her unease and he started to pull back. Disappointment flashed across his face, quickly masked but not before Ash caught a glimpse of it.

Something inside her snapped. Fuck it, she thought recklessly. She wanted to kiss him and so she would. It was as simple as that. Before she could second-guess herself, Ash sat up swiftly and pressed a quick kiss to Cullen's cheek.

She laid back down, a delighted giggle bubbling up from her chest at the pure surprise on Cullen's face. His eyes were cast wide, jaw slack as he stared at her in wonder. A slow smile spread across his face, crinkling the corners of his eyes and making Ash's heart skip a beat.

Following her lead, Cullen cupped her face in his hands and kissed her properly. His lips were soft against hers, the kiss achingly sweet. It was nothing like the heated, desperate kisses they'd shared earlier. This was slow, like they had all the time in the world, a promise of more to come.

She melted into the kiss, her hands coming up to tangle in Cullen's curls. The silky strands slipped through her fingers as she pulled him closer, deepening the kiss.

When they finally broke apart, both slightly breathless, Ash found herself smiling. Not her usual smirk or the coy grin she used to flirt, but a genuine smile that made her cheeks ache. This couldn’t lead anywhere good, but Cullen's answering smile was radiant, lighting up his entire face in a way that made him look years younger, and Ash would covet that forever.

"That was…" Cullen trailed off, seemingly at a loss for words.

"Nice?" Ash supplied

"More than nice," he said, laying his forehead against hers.

Despite how much she craved this, craved him, she found her eyes darting towards the ladder leading down from the loft. A familiar urge to flee tugged at her, whispering that she should leave before things got too complicated. She could still salvage this, keep it casual if she left now. But her body felt heavy, limbs sore and uncooperative.

Cullen caught her glance toward the exit, his face softening with understanding rather than hurt. Ash wondered if she should be offended by his lack of shock at her impulse to bolt. Was she really so predictable? Or did he simply know her better than she wanted?

"Stay," he said softly, his voice barely above a whisper. It wasn't quite a question, but not quite a command either. "Please."

The sincerity, the open longing in his eyes, broke down the last of Ash's defences. She nodded, unable to find her voice.

Relief washed over Cullen's features, and he pulled her closer. Ash allowed herself to be tucked against his side, her head coming to rest on his chest. She could hear the steady thump of his heart beneath her ear, feel the rise and fall of his chest with each breath.

Sighing contentedly, Cullen reached down and pulled a blanket up over them both. She snuggled closer, her legs tangling with his.

As they lay there, wrapped up in each other, Ash felt the tension slowly drain from her body. The urge to run faded, replaced by a sense of peace she hadn't felt in years - if ever. She knew she should be alarmed, should be putting distance between them before she got in too deep. But in that moment, with Cullen's steady breathing and gentle touch lulling her towards sleep, she couldn't bring herself to care.

Ash drifted into a deep, dreamless sleep. For once, her mind was quiet, free from the usual worries and responsibilities that plagued her nights.

Hours later, in the still-dark period before dawn, Ash stirred. She blinked slowly, disoriented by the unfamiliar surroundings. As awareness crept in, memories of the night before flooded back, bringing with them a surge of panic.

Cullen's arm was draped over her waist, his body curled protectively around hers. His breath tickled the back of her neck, warm and even in sleep. For a minute, Ash allowed herself to savour the feeling of being held, of being safe and wanted. But even if she wanted to stay - which she both did and didn’t - she had to go, she had a mission to join.

Extricating herself from Cullen's grasp, she moved slowly, carefully, holding her breath as she lifted his arm and slid out from under it. Cullen stirred slightly, a small wrinkle appearing between his brows, but he didn't wake. Ash paused at the edge of the bed, her heart pounding. She refused to look at Cullen, knowing that if she did, her resolve might crumble. Instead, she focused on locating her clothes in the dim pre-dawn light.

Her robe lay in a crumpled heap near the foot of the bed along with a singular stocking. Ash snatched them up, shaking out the wrinkles as best she could. She searched for her smallclothes and second stocking but couldn't find them in the shadows. After a few fruitless minutes, she gave up, unwilling to risk waking Cullen by searching more thoroughly.

Clutching her robe to her chest, Ash padded silently to the ladder. She descended with care, wincing at every small creak of the wood. When her bare feet touched the cold stone floor of Cullen's office, she let out a quiet sigh of relief.

Ash slipped into her robe, the fabric cool against her skin. She tied it hastily, her fingers fumbling in her haste to cover herself.

Her eyes landed on Cullen's desk, where a ring of keys lay atop a stack of reports. Uttering a silent apology, Ash grabbed the keys and unlocked the door. Before she could give in to her need to climb back into bed with him, she slipped out into the morning air and was gone.

Next Chapter

A/N: 8k of almost entirely smut as a reward for waiting for 24 chapters. There is plenty more where this came from! I hope you enjoyed their first kiss (among a few other things).

You can find the nsfw art for this chapter (*gasp* there’s boobs!) here if you’d like to check it out!

[nyx-nacks]

“I want—” he began, reaching for her.

Glass shattered as a bottle hit the floor. Anala gasped, turning to see what had fallen.

*

Inquisitor Trevelyan and Commander Cullen find out just how sturdy his desk really is.

[baldursgrave69]

Im playing Dragon Age: Inquisition right now so have some pics of my Inquisitor Eve and Cullen bc I’m obsessed with the two of them

[cullenssweatyballsakk]

kind of in love with your dragon age posting, my liege, please never stop

Can't stop won't stop

As Cullen once said

"THESE THOUGHTS WONT LEAVE ME"

But I really appreciate people liking my shit posts

[fereldxns]

-fake dai codex entry-

A note from Knight-Templar Ulisse Tannen

Several unsent letters, hidden amongst lyrium, nugskin and gold, found on the body of a red templar in the hinterlands. They appear to be old, and multiple drafts of the same letter, all singed to some degree by fire. They are dated 9:31 dragon. This version of the letter reads the clearest.

Ser Cullen,

I hear you’re leaving for Kirkwall. I’m proud of you, my friend. I hope It treats you well. I don’t know how to say this, and I wish I could have told you in person but I’m afraid I’m too much of a coward to face you while saying such things. I’m stalling, aren’t I. In a letter nonetheless. If it’s this bad in a letter, imagine me saying this to your face.

I enjoy your company, Cullen. More than a friend or brother-in-arms should by any Chantry standard. I’m guessing you don’t feel the same, judging as how infatuated you always seemed with the Amell girl, but that’s life in this Blighted world, isn’t it. I wish you the best. The remaining Kinloch templars are proud of you. Write me back if you wish. I’m guessing I’ll be right where you left me.

Love,

Regards

Cordially,

your friend,

Love,

Knight-Templar Ulisse

If the you choose to bring the letter to Cullen, he will become slightly flustered, and deny that it was meant for him, but takes the letter from you anyways. You can later find it tucked under his lyrium kit.

[uriellactaea]

Diplomatic Duties - Chapter XII

Summary: Uriell and Cullen's time at the opera didn't exactly go as expected. Cullen receives quite an exasperated pep talk from his friends while Uriell prepares to face the party Josephine and Leliana has organized in her honor, only as a way to gather all of her suitors in one room. Ser de Serault is here, and ready to win the lady Inquisitor's favors, but an unexpected suitor shows up and challenges the most elligible bachelor of the season.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/32957593/chapters/158550298

[andrastesacredknickers]

Rain and Jasmine

Summary: When he said goodbye to her at Haven he never thought he would see her again. Now there was a chance he could have more with her, to finally hold her in his arms, to be close to her. Eve told him that she cared about him.But she’d been drinking. Maybe she didn’t mean it. Maybe the rumors that she and Blackwall were still involved were true. Maybe this was all some elaborate idea he had made up in his head. But maybe…

While writing this I was listening to: Talk Too Much by COIN

'You know I talk too much. Honey, come put your lips on mine and shut me up'

Pairing: Cullen x Lavellan

Word count: 3.3K

Tags: fluff, comfort, first kiss, Cullen finally stopped fumbling

Find me on Ao3 here

“Well, I’m writing today off seeing as we’ve gone through,” Eve counted the bottles of wine on the table before her, swaying slightly. “Three bottles,”

“You and The Iron Bull went through three bottles. I had maybe a glass,” Dorian said with a huff, tracing his finger on the rim of his wine glass. Eve's head began to spin as she braced herself against the table, taking a deep breath. Perhaps drowning her sorrows in wine this early in the morning wasn't the best idea, considering she was the Inquisitor...

“You can put ‘em back, Boss. I’ll give you that,” Bull said with a hearty laugh, slamming a massive hand onto the table. Dorian shot him a nasty look, rolling his eyes and scooting farther away from the man beside him. 

“I think it would be best if you took the rest of the day off. I’ll tell Ruffles you’re sick or something,” Varric said, eyeing Eve as she stood up, watching her nearly fall over. He helped her steady herself, raising an eyebrow at her.

“That’s probably a good idea,” Eve admitted, adjusting her tunic as her head spun from the wine.

“Do you need me to carry you to your room, Boss?” Bull asked, readying himself to stand up.

“What? Of course not,” Eve huffed, looking at the three men at the table. “I’m fine guys, I can handle a few bottles of wine,” the elf said, doing her best not to slur her words.

“If you say so,” Varric said, raising an eyebrow at her. The three men watched as Eve walked out of the tavern, seeing her hesitate at the door. The elf took a deep breath before heading in the opposite direction of where she was meant to be going.

“She’s going to do something stupid,” Varric mumbled, moving to stand. Dorian grabbed his arm, causing the dwarf to turn and face him.

“Let her. Maybe this is what she needed to finally talk to the man,” Dorian said, tilting his head as he looked at Varric. Varric looked back towards the door, letting out a loud sigh.

“If this goes poorly, I’m blaming it on you,” Varric said, sitting back down at the table.

“Give her a chance, surely it’ll be fine,” Dorian replied, leaning back in his chair. Varric shook his head, letting out a loud sigh.

“I’m getting too old for this,”

Eve made her way towards Cullen’s office, her head spinning. If the commander wasn’t going to step up and make the first move, she was going to do it. Dorian was right, it was obvious that Cullen felt something for her. Why else would he have spent all that time caring for her as she recovered from the incident at Haven? He didn’t leave her side for days according to Mother Giselle, refusing to allow others to take shifts at her side. She remembered waking up to find him asleep across from her, a book in his hands. She'd watch him sleep, the candlelight illuminating his features. That was when she knew she felt something more for the commander.

She had always been fond of him, though his past as a Templar made her weary. She and Cullen didn't always see eye to eye regarding the mages assisting the Inquisition. They had argued when she recruited the Grand Enchanter and her mages for the Inquisition's cause. He felt it was dangerous to have so many mages around without the assistance of Templar's due to the threat of possession. Eve felt that the mages deserved freedom just as anyone else did, and they needed to find a way. Though he didn't agree with her methods, Cullen always respected her decisions.

Eve knew now that this wasn't just some momentary infatuation, she cared for Cullen. Deeply. She hoped he felt the same way.

The Inquisitor looked up to find herself at the commander’s office, her heart pounding. She couldn't wait any longer, she needed to tell him how she felt.

What was the worst that could happen?

She pushed the door to his office open, finding him leaning up against his desk looking over a map. Eve stood for a moment, watching him from afar. His brow was furrowed, one hand rubbing the back of his neck as he mulled over the map. Eve took in the sight of him deep in thought. She rarely got to observe him without him seeing her first. Any time she stole a glimpse of the commander, he was already watching her. He’d avert his gaze, cheeks and ears blushing red, trying to hide a smile. She could watch him all day, the way his nose wrinkled when he was focused, a single wave of blonde hair falling from its normally pushed back style.

“Well hello, Commander,” Eve finally said, swaying slightly as she leaned up against the door frame to his office. Cullen looked up, immediately setting down the map in his hand, smiling at the mage. After a moment his smile dropped, observing Eve as she tried to remain steady on her feet.

“Eve… are you alright?” He asked, taking a step closer to her. She smiled at him, pushing herself off of the door frame and stumbling forward. Cullen rushed towards her, catching her by the shoulders as she fell. Eve hiccuped, laughing to herself as Cullen held her.

“I’m wonderful, actually," she said, looking up at him. You’re just the man I was looking for, in fact,” she continued confidently, puffing out her chest and straightening her posture.

As her gaze met his she was hit with sudden regret. What was she doing here? It wasn’t even noon yet and she was 3 bottles of wine deep getting ready to tell Cullen how she felt about him. Surely this was not the way to do things, surely seeing her this way would sour any feelings he might have. Her eyes darted to the ground as Cullen's hand remained on her shoulders, gently holding her still.

“I… am?” He asked, confused as he watched her carefully. She smiled at him sheepishly, her cheeks red from the wine. “Eve… Sweet Maker, are you drunk?” He asked, trying to stifle a laugh.

“Perhaps,” Eve mumbled, looking up at him. His eyes were golden brown, warm like honey. Why had she never noticed how beautiful his eyes were?

“You have great eyes, did you know that?” She said, swaying a bit. Cullen huffed, furrowing his brow as he looked at the elf.

“I… I do? I, uh. Thank you…” Cullen said, his hands still resting on her shoulders. After a moment he pulled away, realizing that he was still touching her. “May I ask why you’re drunk before noon?” Cullen asked, cocking his head to the side.

“It was Bull’s idea, said I needed to let off some steam,” Eve said sheepishly, her face turning more and more red. Cullen shook his head, crossing his arms over his chest.

“I see,” he said, doing his best to hide a smile. Eve cocked her head at him, narrowing her gaze.

“What?” She asked, her hands resting on her hips. Cullen chuckled, shaking his head.

“It’s nothing, though I am disappointed that Iron Bull let you leave the tavern in this state on your own,” Cullen said, walking towards the elf.

“I”m not in a ‘state’,” Eve huffed, folding her arms over her chest. “And Varric and Dorian were there too,” she said. Cullen laughed, approaching her and extending his arm.

“May I escort you to your room?” He asked, flashing her a warm smile. Eve froze, her gaze falling to his lips. What would he do if she kissed him, she wondered. Would he kiss her back? Would he let his hand fall to her waist, or maybe thread one through her hair? She snapped her eyes up to meet his, taking a deep breath before hooking her arm with his.

“Yes… thank you, Cullen,” Eve said, trying to regain her composure. “Let’s not tell Josephine about this, hmm? She’d be so angry with me,” Eve said as she and Cullen made their way towards her suite on the other side of Skyhold.

“Hah, yes let’s keep this our little secret,” Cullen replied, smiling to himself.

“Thanks again, Cullen. I… I don’t really know what to say,” Eve said as they approached the door to her room. She turned to face the commander, looking up at him. She wanted nothing more than to kiss him, to feel his lips against hers, his hands on her body. 

“It’s nothing, really,” he said, adjusting his gloves. He smiled at her, dropping his gaze after a moment.

“It’s something to me,” Eve replied, taking a step closer to Cullen. She placed a hand on his cheek, rubbing her thumb against his cheekbone. He brought his gaze back to hers, taking a deep breath. Just as he was about to say something, Eve interrupted him.

“You mean something to me, Cullen. I just really care for you,” she blurted out. The mage felt her body grow cold, her eyes growing wide as soon as the words left her mouth. Cullen froze, looking down at her in shock. The two stared at each other for a moment, Eve’s hand still resting in the commander’s cheek.

“Creators help me,” Eve hissed, pulling away from him. “Thanks again,” she huffed out, quickly opening her door.

"Eve, I-" Cullen started, but Eve quickly slammed her door shut. She took a deep breath, resting her back against the door. The mage looked up at the ceiling, cursing to herself. “That was real smooth, Eve,” she mumbled, sliding down to the ground and pulling her knees up to her chest.

Cullen stood outside Eve’s room, his eyes wide as he stared at the door. Had that actually just happened? He had thought over and over how it might go for him to tell Eve how he felt. What he would say, how he would say it. Would he kiss her, embrace her? Would she kiss him back? Would she even want him? He wasn’t even sure she felt the same way, he was always convincing himself that he fabricated any possible connection between the two of them. And now here he stood, mouth hanging open as he replayed what had just happened. Cullen rested a hand against the door, letting his head hang. 

“Curly?”

Cullen jumped at the voice, turning to see Varric walking down the hall towards him. He straightened up, clearing his throat.

“I… uh, yes. What is it, Varric?” He said, awkwardly adjusting his armor.

“What’re you doing?” Varric asked, an eyebrow cocked at the commander. He observed Cullen for a moment, noticing how flustered he was. A sly smile crossed the dwarf’s face as he approached Cullen.

“I brought the Inquisitor back, she was… a bit under the weather,” Cullen said, running a finger through his blonde hair.

“Yeah… under the weather…” Varric replied, his arms crossed over his chest. “Is she okay? Does she need anything?” He asked, watching Cullen attempt to regain his composure.

“Uh, no. I think she’s fine,” he said, turning to walk back down the hall. Cullen stopped, dropping his head. “Varric… can I ask you something?” He mumbled, turning back to face the dwarf.

“This ought to be good. Lay it on me, Curly,” Varric said with a chuckle, arms still crossed as he eyed the commander.

“Hypothetically speaking, if someone says something to you when they’re not of the right mind, do you think that means anything?” Cullen asked, shooting a glance back at Eve’s door. Varric laughed, walking up to Cullen and clapping a hand on his back.

“You’ll just have to ask her, now won’t you?” Said the rogue, shaking his head as he headed back towards the main hall of Skyhold.

“Right… ask her,” he said, watching as Varric made his way back down the hall. “I can do that…”

Cullen paced before the tavern, his mind racing. He’d been up all night thinking about Eve. He played back all of the times he could’ve told her how he felt. Thought about the nights he spent by her side as she recovered from Haven, watching her as she slept, hearing her mumble his name in her dreams. He had been the one to find her in the snow, his prayers answered as he held her close to him. When he said goodbye to her at Haven he never thought he would see her again. Now there was a chance he could have more with her, to finally hold her in his arms, to be close to her.

Eve told him that she cared for him.

But she’d been drinking. Maybe she didn’t mean it. Maybe the rumors that she and Blackwall were still involved were true. Maybe this was all some elaborate idea he had made up in his head. But maybe…

“Good morning, Curly,”

The commander turned to see Varric approaching him, a wide smile on the dwarf’s face.

“What’re you doing anxiously pacing in front of the tavern? You usually do that in your offfice,” said the dwarf, resting his hands on his hips.

“I, uh. I’m looking for the Inquisitor,” Cullen said, shifting uncomfortably under the rogue’s gaze.

“Well, seeing as she has breakfast here every morning at the same time, I'm assuming she's inside,” Varric chuckled, shaking his head as he made his way into the Herald's Rest. Cullen took a deep breath before following the rogue inside. Now that Varric had spotted him, there was no getting out of this.

He scanned the tavern, his eyes landing on Eve, her bright white hair tied up in her usual bun, head resting in her hands. Cullen felt a knot growing in his stomach as he took a deep breath, gathering all of the courage he could. Compared to this, being the commander felt easy. Wielding a shield and sword, no problem. Making decisions for the Inquisition's forces, easy. The potential of being rejected by the one person he truly cared for? Terrifying.

He walked over to Eve, gently resting a hand on her shoulder. “Inquisitor?” He said, holding his breath as he waited for her response.

Eve turned to face him, smiling awkwardly up at the commander.

“Oh, hi,” she said, looking at the hand on her shoulder. 

She didn’t correct him for calling her Inquisitor. She always corrected him, even refusing to answer to Inquisitor at times. Cullen felt his stomach drop, nearly deciding to abandon his whole plan. He steeled himself, letting out a puff of air and squeezing her shoulder. 

“Eve would you… well, would you want to take a walk with me?” He finally said, his hand remaining on her shoulder. Eve nodded, the tips of her ears and cheeks beginning to blush.

“Yes, I’d like that,” she said as Cullen moved his hand from her shoulder. She turned her body in her chair to face him fully, smiling up at him. Cullen's face grew warm, he loved her crooked smile and the way her eyes glinted. He realized after a moment that she was staring at him, her head cocked to the side and an eyebrow raised.

“Oh… great!” he replied, letting out a sigh of relief. Eve chuckled to herself, flashing Varric a wide eyed smile as she got up from the table.

“I told you that you would be fine, Lucky,” Varric said, winking at the elf. She narrowed her gaze, subtly shaking her head at him.

"Shall we?" Eve said, looking over to Cullen. He nodded, taking a step back to allow Eve to get on her feet. She pressed her hand to her temple, groaning.

"Headache?" He asked, raising an eyebrow at her. 

"Something like that," she replied, making her way towards the exit to the tavern. Eve stood in the sun for a moment, raising her head to the sky with her eyes closed. Cullen watched her, feeling the knot in his stomach grow as he took in her features. Her freckles and blushed cheeks glowed in the morning sun, her eyelashes snow white and impossibly long.

"Sorry, I just love the sun," Eve said after a moment, looking over to Cullen. 

"I love... me too," he stuttered, his face growing warm. He was going to mess this up, wasn't he?

The pair walked in silence for a while, Cullen trying his best to nonchalantly lead them towards the armory. He didn't exactly want to have this conversation in front of everyone at Skyhold.

"Did you sleep well?" Cullen asked as he approached the door, turning to face Eve.

"What do you think, Commander?" Eve mumbled, rubbing her forehead. He chuckled to himself, resting his hand on the door handle to the armory.

"Can we talk? In private?" he asked, looking over to Eve. The elf's eyes darted to the ground as she kicked at a weed in the dirt. 

"I suppose," she mumbled, following behind Cullen as he walked into the armory. Cullen allowed Eve to enter, closing the door behind him.

“About yesterday,” Cullen said, awkwardly rubbing the back of his neck. Eve let out a sigh, pinching the bridge of her nose.

“Can we just forget that ever happened?” Eve asked, feeling her cheeks growing warm as she looked down at the ground.

Cullen didn't want to forget. He wanted to tell her he'd been waiting to hear those words for months. He wanted to tell her that before she spoke the night before, he was getting ready to say the same thing. To tell her that he cared for her, that he wanted something more. The commander approached her, lifting her chin so that she would look at him.

“What if I don’t want to?” he said, studying her expression.

“You… really?” She asked quietly, furrowing her brow. Cullen felt his stomach flip, the tension in the air thick enough to cut with a knife. The commander leaned down for a kiss, his hand now resting against the elf's neck. As he did, Eve dropped her gaze, his lips colliding his her forehead. 

"I, I'm sorry, I thought-" he started, a rush of embarrassment running through him, making his body feel warm. Of course he had misread things. How could he be so stupid as to think the Inquisitor truly felt something for him. Just as he went to pull away, his cheeks flushed red, Eve stopped him.

"You think too much," She whispered, grabbing his face in her hands and pressing her lips to his. 

Cullen felt a fire ignite in his chest as his lips were pressed to Eve’s. She smelled of fresh rain and jasmine, her lips warm and soft. He felt her tangle her hands into his hair, moving her lips against his. Cullen placed his hands on her hips, pushing her back against the edge of a table. He pulled away, gaze darting from her lips to her eyes.

“Wow,” Eve breathed, looking up at the commander through her long, white eyelashes. Cullen couldn’t help the smile on his face, feeling his heart beating heavily in his chest. He had wanted to do that for months, it felt unreal.

“I, uh. That was… really nice,” Cullen said, his hands still resting on her hips. Eve laughed, tilting her head to the side, her gaze falling back to his lips.

“I believe that was a kiss, Commander,” said the mage, pulling him towards her. He pressed his forehead to hers, laughing to himself, their noses touching. Cullen pressed his lips to Eve's once more, pulling her as close as he could. 

There was so much working against them. The fate of Thedas was resting on their shoulders. But together, he felt as if they could do anything.

[ar-lath-ma-cully]

and it slips through loose fingers Chapters: 32/? WC: 98.9k Fandom: Dragon Age: Inquisition Rating: Explicit Warnings: major character death, explicit depictions of violence and death Relationships: Cullen x OC, Solavellan, Blackwall x OC, OC x OC Additional Tags: character death, long fic, slow burn, characters start out young and age throughout the story, eventual romance, PTSD, trauma, hurt/comfort, growing up, Modern Girl in Thedas, canon divergence, recreational drug use, friends with benefits, *work in progress* Summary:

"Amaryllis wondered — not for the first time, nor the last — why misfortune seemed to follow her everywhere she went."

Amaryllis is nine years old when she dies and wakes in a forest naked, afraid, and alone.

DAFF Tag List: @rakshadow, @rosella-writes, @effelants, @bluewren, @breninarthur,

@ar-lath-ma-cully, @dreadfutures, @ir0n-angel, @inquisimer, @crackinglamb,

@theluckywizard, @oxygenforthewicked, @exalted-dawn-drabbles, @melisusthewee, @blarrghe,

@agentkatie, @delicatefade, @leggywillow, @about2dance, @plisuu

[truffle-draws]

Tarot card for my Dragon Age Inquisition Lavellan <3

If you’d like to read more about her (and her romance with Cullen) you can find it here!

[tired-truffle]

Something’s Gotta Give

A CullenxLavellan fic

Chapter Word Count: 6.8k

Part 25 - Morning Departures

Tag list: @bloodoflathander

Warning: NSFW begins at "I don't regret a single second." and ends at the second break.

Masterlist

Dorian had been shooting her smug looks all morning as she adjusted and readjusted herself atop her horse. The soreness between her legs had been a pleasant reminder at first, but once they’d gotten on the road it had been nothing more than a nuisance and she cursed Cullen’s name. 

“Someone had a fun night,” Dorian said when he could no longer hold himself back. Sera and Rae rode behind them, their giggling chatter skittering through the trees lining the path. 

Ash lifted her nose in the air, holding back a wince. “I don’t know what you’re on about.”

His grin turned impish and his eyes sparkled with delight, making her feel like a bird with its tailfeathers caught in a cat’s claw. “The mark beneath your ear says otherwise.” 

“Fenedhis!” she hissed, slapping a hand over her neck like it could erase his memory. She’d thought her high-necked robe had covered the multitude of marks Cullen had left behind - her breasts hadn’t escaped the imprint of his mouth and teeth either. Seemingly, she’d been mistaken. 

Dorian laughed, his horse whinnying in response. “Do not fret, my friend, there is no mark, but thank you for confirming it for me.”

“Confirming what?” The giggles had quieted, but Ash hadn’t noticed, and Sera and Rae had taken advantage. 

Baring her teeth in a growl aimed at no one in particular, her ears tilted down, she gripped tightly to her reigns - cornered as her companions shuffled closer with gleaming interest. 

Dorian waved her off with a huff. “Don’t be like that. I’m happy for you, we all are. It’s about time you ended all that fiery tension. Maybe now he’ll focus on our chess games again.” 

Her lips twisted into a scowl. It wasn’t like her to get so defensive, nor did she truly understand why. It was just sex, nothing to be emotional about. 

“Cully-wully finally got you over him,” Sera paused, thinking harder than was necessary, “or under him. Beside him?”

Ash was not going to answer that. 

“How do you know it was him?” 

The unimpressed look Dorian gave her and Rae’s scoff said all she needed to hear. With an exasperated sigh, she released her irritation. Maybe a small part of her had wanted it to remain secret for just a bit longer and maybe she didn’t trust Dorian not to confront her about her feelings.

“Fine,” she conceded, looking over her shoulder to scowl at Rae’s resounding grin, “you win. What’s your prize?”

Dorian placed the tips of his fingers on his chest. “As I was the one to first uncover the truth I am requesting the salacious details. Did he sweep you off your feet and bed you properly or did he succumb to the burning passion and take you on his desk?”

“The Commander is a private man,” she tossed her hair over her shoulder, “he would not approve of me divulging intimate information.” 

At Dorian’s exaggerated pout, Ash grinned. “But,” she said and watched with immense satisfaction as his eyes lit up, “I will tell you this one thing: Sera’s intel was correct.”

Rae made a disgusted noise in the back of her throat and Sera barked a giddy laugh, slapping her thighs as her horse whinnied its irritation. “I knew it!” she exclaimed. “He’s hiding something big beneath all that armour.” 

Dorian’s face scrunched up in confusion, glancing at the elves behind him for any hints. With a roll of her eyes, she chopped her hand on her inner thigh midway down. The gears turned in his head, and when they finally clicked into place, his mustache twitched with barely contained glee. "Oh my! Our dear Commander is truly blessed, isn't he? No wonder you're having trouble sitting comfortably."

Ash’s cheeks burned, and she spurred her horse onward, eager to put some distance between herself and her nosy companions.

"Come now, don't run away!" Dorian called after her, urging his own mount to catch up. "We have so many more questions!"

Questions she had no intention of answering. Let them squirm for a little longer, it's what they deserved after all their poking and prodding.

Ash hated the Storm Coast. She hated the constant rain that soaked through her tent, the hills that made her lose her breath as they traversed the landscape, and the red Templars swarming in their cave like ants in the dirt. 

Disgusting didn’t begin to cover how she felt. Hair plastered to her skull from the rain that had followed them home, sweat caked to her skin, and blood beneath her fingernails, all she really wanted was a bath. And Sweetpea. 

She refused to acknowledge the burning in her chest signalling Love’s disapproval of her ignoring what else she craved. Sword-roughened hands gripping her hips, lips caressing her neck, weakening her knees. 

Rae had to attend to her advisors and provide a debrief before she could wash the stench of travel from her body. Unfortunate for her, but a great boon for Ash who could steal into her sister’s bath while she was preoccupied. 

When her fingers started to prune, Ash hauled herself out of the tub, warm and smelling of lilacs, hair wonderfully clean of oil and grime. Sweetpea hadn’t been waiting for her in her room as she’d hoped, nor was she attempting to poach meat from anyone’s plate in the dining hall when Ash arrived. Strange, but not unheard of. Perhaps she’d found refuge with Cole in the Herald’s rest, or was hunting mice in the hay of the horse’s stables. 

“Looking for your paramour?” Dorian asked as she sat beside him. 

She didn’t take his bait. “I haven’t seen Pea around, have you?” 

Dorian shook his head. “I have not, but I’ll be sure to lure her your way should I spot her.” 

By the time she made it to her room, night had descended and the rain had become a light pitter patter. Exhausted from their journey, she changed into a spare nightgown that Rae had lent her, eyeing the ruined one on her dresser - another thing she hated about the Storm Coast, she’d love that nightgown. While Rae and Ash may have similar faces, their sizes differed drastically. Rae’s nightgown was much too short and thin, barely reaching Ash’s mid thighs and tight around her torso - she was surprised that she could get it over her head at all, but then again Rae had always preferred loose clothes.

The hole in her door that was made for Sweetpea’s ease of access remained unused as she readied herself for bed. Most likely the rain was keeping her away, but after a week apart, she missed the little creature. 

Sweetpea had taken some odd hiding spots over the years; once Ash had found her asleep with her upper half in an old boot, her butt sticking out and legs splayed on the floor. 

Getting on her hands and knees - though doubtful that she would be there and not have come out already - Ash leaned down, squinted into the darkness below her bed. As her eyes adjusted, a knock sounded at her door. 

“Come in!” Ash called without thinking, distracted by her search. 

The door creaked open, heavy boots halting in the doorway. “Sweet Maker! Ashvalla, what are you doing?” 

Ash popped up upon hearing Cullen’s exclamation, turning to glance over her shoulder. Blinking at him, she took in the blush on his cheeks as he tore his eyes off her raised backside, dressed in all his gear. 

“Looking for Sweetpea,” she pushed herself off the floor, brushing her hands against her stomach. “Have you seen her?”

Cullen’s gaze flickered over her body, his breath faltering as he took in the exposed flesh and the remnants of the marks he’d left during their…last encounter that still marred her neck and chest. They’d faded and some had disappeared, but the bruises were easily visible. 

He found great interest in her ceiling, his ears a light shade of pink. “I, uh, I believe she’s in my office, or at least she was the last time I was there.” 

Ash put her fists on her hips. “Missed me so much you had to kidnap my cat?” 

“No!” he protested too quickly, finally returning her gaze. “I would never—“

Ash strode towards him, her bare feet padding softly against the cold stone floor. “Relax, Commander, I’m not actually accusing you. Pea’s always been fond of you and I should have considered that possibility earlier.”

His shoulders lowered from around his ears, exhaling his tension. “It’s…been a long day.” 

Standing only a foot from him, she kept her hands at her sides, unwilling to be overly familiar and reach for his forehead without his permission. She’d done it before, but after sleeping with him and vanishing come morning, she wasn’t exactly sure where they stood. He’d left her door open, did he wish to get this over with quickly and make a break for it? “Headache?” 

“No,” he rested his hand on the pommel of his sword. “Just paperwork and nobles wasting my time. You’d think they’d have better things to do than enquire about my private affairs.” 

“I don’t know, I’m also pretty curious why you’re visiting the Herald’s sister so late at night.” 

Her comment seemed to catch him off guard, bringing another blush to his cheeks. While she’d enjoyed the side of Cullen that had pressed her up against his door and ravaged her, she was partial to his bashfulness. 

“Um, I, well,” he stammered as she leaned closer, her head tilted slightly to the side. “I wanted to see you. I mean, to ensure you were well after your mission is all. And to return these.”

Cullen reached into a pouch at his side and pulled out a small bundle of fabric. As he unfurled it, Ash's eyes widened in recognition. There, dangling from his gloved hand, were her smalls - the very ones she'd hastily discarded during their passionate encounter.

"Oh," she said stupidly, having forgotten entirely about them. "You found them."

Cullen cleared his throat, his free hand coming up to rub at the back of his neck. "Yes, well, they were, ah…rather conspicuously in the ivy."

Ash bit her lip, fighting back a grin at the memory of how they'd ended up there. She reached out to take them, but hesitated, noticing how clean and neatly folded they were. "Did you…wash them?"

His blush deepened, spreading down his neck and disappearing beneath his armour. "They were somewhat soiled. And I felt partially responsible for their…state of disarray."

A laugh bubbled up in Ash's throat, but she swallowed it down, not wanting to embarrass him further. Instead, she gently plucked the garment from his fingers, letting her hand linger against his for a moment longer than necessary.

"How very chivalrous of you, Commander," she teased, pitching her voice low and husky. "I do hope you didn't task one of your soldiers with the laundry duty."

Cullen's eyes widened in horror. "Maker's breath, no! I would never…" He trailed off as Ash's lips curved into a mischievous smirk. "Ah. You're teasing me."

"Always," she winked, tossing the cleaned smalls onto her bed. "Though I must admit, I'm a bit disappointed you didn't keep them as a souvenir."

His blush deepened. "That would be highly inappropriate."

Before she could respond, a familiar meow echoed from the hallway. Sweetpea trotted in, damp from the rain but otherwise unharmed, rubbing against Cullen's legs before making a beeline for Ash.

"There's my girl," Ash cooed, scooping up the cat and nuzzling her face. "Did the big bad ex-Templar steal you away?"

"She followed me of her own accord," Cullen protested weakly.

Ash laughed, scratching behind Sweetpea’s ears before the feline began squirming. Ash put her down, and with a flick of her tail, she darted out into the misting rain once more, her greeting accomplished - there were mice to hunt.

Ash rocked back on her heels. “Our goals have been accomplished then,” she strode towards the door, holding it open. “Other than a few minor scratches and a ruined nightgown, I am otherwise unharmed and both Sweetpea and my panties have been returned to me.” When Cullen glanced between her and the exit with the reluctance of a puppy thrown from the house, she added, “Unless there’s something else you wanted.” 

His jaw clenched and he shifted uneasily as he debated what he wanted to say. The borrowed nightgown suddenly felt far too thin, the fabric clinging to her curves and leaving little to the imagination. Cullen's eyes darted down, taking in the sight of her, before snapping back up to her face. A blush coloured his cheeks, but he made no move to leave. 

Ash closed the door, the latch clicking with a finality that had excitement vibrating through her bones.

“You mentioned a ruined nightgown?”

An easy way to sour her mood. She marched over to her dresser, holding up the torn fabric with a pout. “My favourite one, or my only one, I guess. I’m borrowing Rae’s, if you couldn’t tell by the size.”

Cullen reached for the hem, frowning as he inspected it. “What happened?”

Ah, that question she’d been hoping to avoid. In all honesty, she was surprised that Rae hadn’t told him in her debrief, intent on furthering her embarrassment. Ash must be on her good side after having saved her from stepping in a deep puddle when she wasn’t looking. Rae would have been beside herself if she’d gone up to her knee in muddy water.

“Promise you won’t laugh?”

“I wouldn’t dream of it.” The twitching at the corners of his lips betrayed his lie, but refusing would ruin this game they were playing, and she was reticent to give it up. 

Exhaling deeply, she tossed the nightgown back onto her dresser. “We were ambushed by bandits while we slept.” He nodded, signalling he had already heard that part of the story. “I didn’t have time to put on armour or anything so I had to fight them in my nightgown, but I was disoriented from waking up, and I tripped into a very thorny bush. When I got up it ripped the ass out and the bandits got an eyeful before they died.”

Like the liar he was, he laughed. Ash narrowed her eyes, stomping back to him to poke him in the chest plate. “You promised you wouldn’t laugh.” Her fist placed on her hips did nothing to improve her lack of intimidation, her too-tight nightgown undercutting her menacing. 

“I’m sorry—I’m sorry,” he managed to hold back his laughter, though her attempt at intimidating him seemed to only make it harder. “I—forgive me.”

“Rae and Dorian will never let me live this down, I don’t need you on about it too.” And as revenge, she had the perfect idea. Turning to the side, she lifted the hem of the nightgown up her hip until most of her plump backside was visible, and like she’d been attacked by a rapid squirrel, cuts scattered across her cheek. “Look at what it did to me.”

His eyes dropped to the soft flesh, his fingers twitching at his sides and his pupils expanding. Throat bobbing, he couldn’t tear his gaze away. “That seems…rather uncomfortable.” 

“It’s not so bad.” Ash shrugged, they’d stopped stinging days ago and had only been a mild irritant since. Pulling the nightgown higher until her hip was exposed, she watched with immense satisfaction as his jaw slackened and he inhaled a sharp breath. “It goes well with the bruises, don’t you think?”

Five fingertip-shaped bruises discoloured her skin. If she were to pull up the other side of her nightgown, there would be a matching pair. 

He inched closer, gaze fixed on her hip as guilt and desire warred in his eyes. “Are…those from me?”

Reaching for his hand, she tugged his leather glove off, tossing it carelessly onto the dresser. Guiding him, she lined his fingers up with the bruises - a perfect match. Looking up at him through thick lashes, she said, “Looks like it.” 

“I didn’t realize…” Cullen quickly pulled his hand away as if she’d stuck it into a roaring fire. “I didn’t mean to—I didn’t want to—“

Tugging the nightgown back down to cover herself, embarrassment hanging on a tentative precipice, she locked down her desire under a mask of nonchalance. “Didn’t want to fuck me or didn’t want to leave evidence behind?”

Cullen looked up sharply, her harsh words pulling him from her entrancing skin. “It’s not—I mean…” He pressed his lips into a thin line, breathing forcibly through his nose. “I know how I can get when I’m…That is to say, I shouldn’t have left any marks, not without asking at the very least.” 

It wasn’t exactly an expression of regret for sleeping with her, but her wariness was too difficult to shake. Slowly turning away from him, she took a few steps towards her dresser, her fingertips gliding over the smooth surface as if seeking comfort. Her gaze wandered down to her ruined nightgown, wrinkling her forehead in frustration as she tried to sort through the jumble of thoughts swirling in her mind. The silence was thick and heavy, punctuated only by the soft rustle of fabric as she fidgeted with the torn edges of her garment.

She wanted to fuck him again, but only if that’s what he wanted too. There was no room in her life for someone who was disgusted by how he wanted her - it had to be an enthusiastic willingness. She couldn’t bear to see any regret from him, and she hadn’t last time, but it could have been lost in the euphoria of after-sex bliss, clouding his thoughts and muddying his true feelings. 

She had to be certain, and beating around the bush would do them no favours. 

Keeping her back to him - unable to bring herself to face his potential rejection - she said, "I don't want you to regret anything, Cullen." His name again, not his title. Her fingers curled against the wood of the dresser. "If you'd rather pretend that night never happened, I understand. But I…" She swallowed hard. "I liked it. All of it. And I'd like to do it again, if you want to."

The silence stretched between them, taut as a drawn and quartered body. Ash's heart pounded in her chest, each beat echoing in her ears. She fought the urge to fidget, to turn and gauge his reaction. Instead, she fixed her gaze on the torn nightgown, willing her mind to be blank - though it never shut up.

Then, she heard it - the soft clink of armour, the whisper of leather and fur. Cullen's warmth radiated against her back as he stepped closer, close enough that she could feel his breath stirring the wisps of hair at her nape. His hands came to rest on either side of hers, caging her in without touching.

Slowly, she turned her head, meeting his gaze over her shoulder. His amber eyes were dark, pupils dilated with desire, but there was a softness there too - a tenderness that made her breath catch.

"I don't regret a single second," Cullen said, his words deliberate and measured. "And I want—Maker's breath, I want you."

He leaned in, his lips brushing against the point of her ear as he spoke. "I want to hear you cry out my name. To feel you come apart around me."

Slickness gathered between her legs. She pressed back against him, feeling the solid planes of his armour-clad chest as she leaned her head to rest against his shoulder. "Then what are you waiting for, Commander?"

Cullen's arms encircled her waist, one hand splaying across her stomach while the other cupped her breast through the thin fabric of her nightgown. His teeth grazed the edge of Ash's ear and she gasped, her knees nearly buckling as pleasure radiated from the sensitive tip down to her toes. Her reaction seemed to surprise him, his arms tightening to keep her upright as she sagged against him.

"Are you alright?"

Ash nodded, not trusting her voice. Cullen's hand left her breast, trailing up to ghost along the pointed shell of her ear. She shivered, biting her lip to stifle a moan.

"I've never seen you react like that before," he said, curiosity colouring his tone. His fingers traced the delicate curve, eliciting another full-body shudder.

Finding her voice at last, Ash managed a breathy laugh. "Elvhen ears are very, ah, receptive to touch," she explained, her words punctuated by small gasps as Cullen continued his gentle exploration.

She felt a wicked grin spread across his face. "Is that so?" he purred, his voice dropping to a low rumble.

He captured the tip of her ear between his teeth, applying just enough pressure to have her crying out, her legs trembling, ready to give way entirely. Cullen's arm around her waist was the only thing keeping her upright as he alternated between gentle nibbles and soothing licks.

Her hands scrabbled for purchase on the smooth surface of the dresser, knocking over bottles and trinkets in her desperation. The nightgown that had seemed so revealing before now felt stifling.

Merciful enough to give her a brief reprieve, his lips moved lower, pressing hot, open-mouthed kisses along the column of her neck. She sighed her relief, his stubble scraping against her skin as he worked his way down to the juncture of her neck and shoulder. When he bit down gently, then soothed the sting with his tongue, she whimpered with need, her chest heaving.

Cullen's hand kneaded her breast, his thumb brushing over her nipple until it peaked beneath the fabric. His other hand slid lower, tracing patterns on her inner thigh just below the hem of her nightgown. Ash whined, frustrated by the teasing touches that weren't nearly enough.

She pressed her hips back, wiggling against the hardness she felt there. Cullen growled low in his throat, his hips jerking forward instinctively, grinding his arousal against the curve of her ass.

"Cullen," Ash panted, breathy and desperate. "Please."

His teeth grazed her earlobe as he whispered, "Please what, Ash? Tell me what you want."

She squirmed in his grasp, trying to guide his hand where she needed it most. "Touch me. I need you to touch me."

His fingers inched higher, trailing along the delicate skin of her inner thigh. "Here?"

"Higher." She arched her back to press more firmly against him.

Cullen, ever eager to please, finally brushed his fingers against her core through her smalls. They both groaned at the contact, Ash from the thrill it sent shooting into her stomach, and Cullen at finding her already so wet for him.

Ash ground her cunt into his hand, chasing more friction from his palm, panting when he pressed against her aching clit. Cullen's fingers slipped beneath the fabric of her smalls, and she moaned, loud and wanton, as he touched her properly. His calloused fingertips explored her slick folds with agonizing slowness, circling her clit without providing the direct pressure she craved. Ash whimpered, her hips rocking desperately.

Coherent thought escaped her as he brushed over her swollen clit. A keening moan tore from her throat, her head falling back against his shoulder, looking up at the ceiling with glassy eyes.

Cullen tugged at the thin straps of her nightgown, sliding them off her shoulders. The fabric stuck around her waist - it was a miracle she’d been able to get into it at all - exposing her breasts. His warm palm cupped one breast, kneading gently before rolling her nipple between his fingers. Ash bit her lip, holding back a moan - though at that point, she wasn’t sure what good that would do.

Cullen's hand left her breast, trailing up her neck to cup her jaw. He gently tilted her head, angling her face towards his.

"Don't hold back, I want to hear you."

Before she could respond, he captured her mouth in a searing kiss. The angle was awkward, her neck craned back, but Ash didn't care. She melted into him, parting her lips to allow his tongue entry. He tasted of mint and floral tea, and she drank him in greedily.

As they kissed, his fingers resumed their teasing circles around her clit. Ash moaned into his mouth, the sound muffled. Cullen smiled against her lips, pleased by her responsiveness.

Ash felt utterly exposed, her nightgown bunched around her waist, breasts bare. Cullen loomed behind her, still fully dressed beside the mantle he’d removed. The sword at his hip pressed against her, yet despite her vulnerability, Ash had never felt safer. Cullen's arms around her were a fortress, his body a shield. She trusted him more than she had any other man, a realization that thrilled and terrified her in equal measure. This was more than just physical pleasure - it was a surrender of sorts, letting someone past some of her carefully constructed walls. But only some, there were many she refused to allow him passage through.

As Cullen's fingers found a rhythm that had her toes curling against the cold stone floor, Ash felt her release building within her. It was like a spring coiling tighter and tighter, a dam straining against the pressure of a raging river. Her breath came in short, sharp gasps, each exhale carrying a whimper or moan and Cullen moved back to kiss her throat, allowing her sounds to carry across the room.

The pressure built until Ash thought she might shatter from the intensity of it. She was a string pulled taut, vibrating with tension, ready to snap.

Then Cullen's teeth grazed her ear and she was falling, flying, shattering into stardust. Her body sang, every nerve alight with bliss. She floated among the clouds until gradually, awareness seeped back in. The steady thump of Cullen's heart against her back. The graze of his stubble on her shoulder. His fingers, still moving lazily between her thighs, drawing out the last tremors of her release.

When she whimpered from oversensitivity, he withdrew his hand, pressing a soft kiss to her temple.

Ash sagged against him. If not for his arm around her waist, she surely would have crumpled to the floor - for the second time that night. But it wasn't enough. The ache between her thighs only intensified, leaving her desperate for more. She pressed back against him, feeling his hardness through his breeches.

"Fuck me," she begged. "Please, Cullen. I need you inside me."

Cullen tensed behind her, his breath faltering. For a moment, Ash feared he might refuse, might step away and leave her aching and empty. But then she heard the rustle of fabric, felt him shifting. The clink of his belt, the sounds of laces being undone. Her heart raced, anticipation coiling tight in her belly.

His hand on her back gently urged her forward, and Ash bent over the dresser. The polished wood was soothing against her fevered skin, her breasts pressed to the smooth surface. She gripped the far edge, bracing herself.

He nudged her legs further apart with his knee, and the blunt head of his cock pressed against her entrance. She bit her lip, fighting the urge to push back and take him all at once.

He entered her, stretching and filling her inch by inch. Ash's mouth fell open on a silent moan, her eyes fluttering closed as she savoured the exquisite burn. When he was fully seated within her, he paused, panting, giving her time to adjust to his size.

She relished the feeling of fullness, of completeness. But it still wasn't enough. She needed more, needed him to move.

She rocked her hips experimentally, and he gasped at the slide of her slick walls around him. Encouraged, Ash began to move in earnest, fucking herself on his cock with increasing urgency. The wet sounds of their joining filled the room, lewd and intoxicating.

Cullen's hands gripped her hips, guiding her movements but letting her set the pace. His thumbs pressed into the fading bruises there, and she wished he’d hold harder - renew the marks he’d left.

Lifting her right leg, she planted the inside of her knee on the dresser. The change in angle had them both crying out as Cullen slid deeper.

It was too much for Cullen's restraint. With a growl, he snapped his hips forward, driving into her - his fingers digging into her hips hard enough to leave fresh bruises, just like she’d wanted.

Cullen's hand snaked around her waist, his fingers finding her sensitive clit. Ash gasped, her body already wound tight from her climax. His fingertips circled her clit, pleasure tingling through her limbs, bordering on too much, but the feel of his cock thrusting inside her grounded her.

"Cullen," she whined, nails digging into the wooden dresser.

He leaned forward, his chest plate cool against her back. "Let go, Ash. I've got you."

The coil of tension in her belly snapped without warning. Ash moaned, her inner walls clenching around Cullen's length as waves of pleasure rippled up from her cunt. Her vision blurred, spots dancing behind her eyelids as she rode out her release.

Cullen slowed his movements, but didn't stop entirely. As the aftershocks faded, Ash became acutely aware of the stretch of him inside her, the press of the dresser's edge against her hips, his fingers still circling her overworked clit.

She squirmed, whimpering as the pleasure edged into discomfort. "Too much," she gasped.

Immediately, Cullen stilled his hand and carefully withdrew from her. Ash's legs shook, but the dresser beneath her torso held her steady.

When she was able to support her weight, he pressed a soft kiss to her shoulder before stepping back. Ash turned, leaning against the dresser for support as she watched him begin to remove his armour. His movements were efficient, practiced, but there was an urgency to them that betrayed his arousal.

As each piece of armour fell away, more of Cullen's sculpted body was revealed. Ash's eyes roamed hungrily over his broad chest, tracing the scars that marked his skin. When he was finally bare before her, her gaze dropped lower, lingering on his still-hard length.

Cullen's cheeks flushed under her scrutiny, but there was heat in his eyes as he closed the distance between them. He cupped her face in his hands, kissing her deeply as he guided her backwards towards the bed.

Ash's legs hit the edge of the mattress and she allowed herself to fall back, pulling Cullen down with her. He braced himself above her, careful not to crush her with his weight. His cock pressed insistently against her thigh.

Feeling a renewed spark of arousal, Ash reached between them, wrapping her fingers around his length. Cullen groaned, his hips bucking as she began to stroke him languidly.

Ash's cunt ached, her clit throbbing with a sensitivity that bordered on pain. Yet as Cullen hovered above her, his amber eyes dark with desire, she felt a sudden surge of energy course through her veins. Love's presence pulsed within her, stoking the embers of her arousal into a roaring flame.

Despite her exhaustion, her body craved more. She needed to feel Cullen inside her again, to be filled and stretched to her limits. With trembling fingers, she guided his length to where she burned for him.

Cullen hesitated, his brow furrowing with concern. "Are you sure?" he asked. "We don't have to—"

"Yes," Ash breathed, cutting him off. She arched her back, pressing herself more firmly against him. A wicked grin curved her lips as she leaned up to whisper in his ear. "I want you to fuck me until I forget my own name, Commander."

Always happy to serve, his control snapped like an overstretched bowstring. He surged forward, sheathing himself inside her in one smooth thrust. Her body stretched to accommodate him, but it was easier this time, having already loosened herself with two climaxes and a quick fuck. The initial discomfort quickly gave way to pleasure as he set a relentless pace that had the headboard slamming against the wall.

Ash wrapped her legs around his waist, her heels digging into the small of his back to urge him deeper. Her fingernails raked down his spine and Cullen hissed at the sting, retaliating by capturing one of her sensitive ears between his teeth.

Skin slapped against skin, breathless moans, and half-formed pleas. She was burning from the inside out and still, she moved closer to the flames. She was distantly aware that she was babbling, a stream of elvhen and common spilling from her lips as she begged him to fuck her harder, deeper, faster.

Cullen's rhythm faltered, his thrusts becoming erratic as he neared his own finish. He slipped a hand between their bodies, his fingers finding her clit - it was too much for Ash's overstimulated body. She came with a keening cry, clenching around Cullen's cock. He buried himself to the hilt with a guttural groan, the hot pulse of his spend spilling inside her, prolonging her orgasm as aftershocks rippled through her body.

They collapsed together in a tangle of sweaty limbs, panting heavily. Ash’s mind had gone wonderfully blank, all her swirling, nagging thoughts shut out beneath her bliss. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d been so at peace, and while she should find that at least mildly concerning, she could only wonder when it would happen next.

As their breathing slowed, Cullen gently withdrew from her sated body. He rolled onto his side, pulling her into his arms. She didn't protest, nestling into him and pressing her face into the crook of his shoulder. She closed her eyes, weariness tugging at her tired limbs.

For just a moment, Ash allowed herself to pretend this was more than just sex. She imagined waking up to Cullen's sleepy smile every morning, sharing quiet moments between their duties, stolen kisses in shadowy corners of the keep. The fantasy was so vivid she could almost taste it - sweet as honey on her tongue, warm as sunlight on her skin.

But fantasies were dangerous, especially for someone like her. Ash knew better than to let herself hope for more. Still, as sleep overtook her, she couldn't quite banish the tender ache in her chest.

Cullen woke to sunlight streaming through the windows and an empty spot on the bed beside him. He blinked, disoriented for a moment before memories of the night before came flooding back. The passion, the tenderness, her warmth cradled in his arms.

He sat up, scanning the room for any signs of her. Her clothes were gone, the floor swept clean of any evidence of their encounter - his items arranged neatly on the dresser. If not for the lingering scent of her on the pillows and being in her bed, Cullen might have thought it all a vivid dream.

Discomfort settled in his chest as he realized she had slipped away while he slept. Again. Just like last time. Cullen ran a hand through his tousled curls, frustration warring with disappointment.

Was he doing something wrong? Had he misread the situation entirely?

He couldn't afford to dwell on it, not when he had duties to attend to. He began to don his armour, piece by piece, the familiar routine offering a sliver of calm.

As he fastened the last buckle, a soft meow drew his attention. Sweetpea had slipped in through the cat hole, her ringed tail held high as she trotted over to him. She wound herself around his ankles, purring loudly.

"At least someone's happy to see me." Cullen bent down to scratch behind her ears.

Sweetpea meowed again, butting her head against his hand.

"I don't suppose you know where your mistress has run off to?"

The cat blinked up at him, uncomprehending. Cullen shook his head, feeling foolish for talking to a cat. Not that it was the first time he’d done so, especially this past week. Should he tell Ashvalla that he’d set up a small bed of blankets for Sweetpea in his office, or would she just tease him mercilessly for it? Pathetically, he wished for the latter, if only to receive more of the attention he coveted. He gave Sweetpea one final pat before straightening up.

"Right. Well, I should be going."

He paused at the door, glancing back at the rumpled bed. For a moment, he considered straightening the sheets, erasing all evidence of his presence. But something stopped him. Let Ashvalla return to find the lingering proof of their night together. Let her remember what she'd walked away from.

With that thought, Cullen squared his shoulders and strode out of her room. He had work to do, after all. The Inquisition wouldn't run itself.

Ash flopped onto Rae's bed, wincing as her sore muscles protested the movement.

"Long night?" Rae's voice dripped with sarcastic amusement.

Ash groaned, turning her head just enough to glare at her sister. Rae sat cross-legged on the floor, sorting through a pile of reports. Her hair was dishevelled, as if she'd been running her hands through it in frustration.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Ash mumbled unconvincingly.

Rae snorted. "Please. I saw Cullen returning to his office this morning looking thoroughly ravished."

"He could have come from the training yards," she protested weakly.

"Training you to take his reportedly massive dick, maybe."

Ash grabbed a pillow and hurled it at Rae's head. Her sister dodged it easily, cackling.

"I hate you,” Ash grumbled.

"No, you don't. You love me."

"Debatable."

Ash flopped back down, her body still aching pleasantly from the night's thorough fucking. She allowed herself a small, secret smile. It really had been amazing. Cullen had been attentive, passionate, and eager to provide.

But then reality came crashing back. She'd left him sleeping, slipping away before dawn like a thief in the night. It was easier that way, wasn't it? No awkward morning-after conversations, no false promises or raised expectations. Still, the memory of his peaceful, sleeping face tugged at something in her chest. He’d looked so relaxed, his lips parted slightly as he breathed evenly, and she’d just…left him.

Ash sighed, pushing away her lingering guilt. She had more pressing matters to attend to. "So, what's got you scouring through missives before breakfast?"

Rae grimaced, holding up a crumpled letter. "News from our clan. Bandits near Wycome are harassing them. Keeper Deshanna is asking for our help."

Ash sat up. "Shit. How bad is it?"

"Bad enough that they're reaching out to us. You know how reluctant the Keeper is to involve outsiders in clan business."

Ash nodded, a knot forming in her stomach. Their clan had always been fiercely independent, preferring to solve their problems rather than risk entanglements with Shem politics. For Deshanna to ask for aid meant the situation was dire indeed.

"What are our options?" Ash asked, sliding off the bed to join her sister on the floor. She winced as her muscles twinged - maybe she should consider stretching beforehand.

Rae spread out three reports, each bearing the seal of one of her advisors. "Cullen suggests sending in troops to deal with the bandits directly. Leliana wants to send her skirmishers to take out the bandits while her agents gather more intelligence. And Josephine thinks we should appeal to the Duke of Wycome for assistance, since his forces are closer and could reach the clan faster."

Ash chewed her lip, considering each option. Cullen's plan was direct, but mobilizing their forces would take time. Leliana's was similar; it would take time to get her people there, though intelligence gathering was a plus. As for Josephine's suggestion…

"I think Josephine's got the right idea," Ash said. "The Duke of Wycome is our best bet. His forces are already in the area, and it would be a good opportunity to build some goodwill with a local noble, right?"

Rae nodded slowly. "You don't think he'd use it as an excuse to move against the clan?"

Ash shook her head. "Not if it's framed right. We could present it as a chance for him to prove his commitment to maintaining order in his territory. Plus, saving an elvhen clan from bandits would make him look magnanimous."

"Look at you,” Rae elbowed Ash’s side, “thinking like a politician. Josephine would be proud."

Ash rolled her eyes, but couldn't help feeling a little pleased. "I've picked up a thing or two hanging around this place. But what do you think?"

Rae nodded, her lips set in a resolute line. "Yes, I think you're right. It's our best chance of getting help to the clan quickly."

Ash nodded, happy that Rae agreed with her assessment. "Good. The sooner we can get help to the clan, the better."

Next Chapter

A/N: When will Ash face her feelings for him? Will she manage to avoid it forever? Find out next as Ash continues to try to sleep her way out of a confession. 

Also I posted an Alistair x Cousland one shot (with some smut at the end) called Ball and Chain if y'all wanted to check it out while you wait for *checks notes* more Cullen and Ash smut hehe

[littlelostmabari]

One of the Good Ones Chapter 24

Injustice (Part IV)

In which Saoirse makes it to the Gallows and, again, is told to run.

This is the chapter the title comes from 🤭

Fandom: Dragon Age 2 / Dragon Age Inquisition

Current Pairings: Cullen Rutherford x OC. Background F!Hawke x Anders

Rating: M (Canon-typical violence & behavior, check tags & CW on chapters)

Links: Whole Work | Chapter 24 | Saoirse Character Sheet

(Dividers by cafekitsune)

[baldursgrave69]

I’ve never felt anything like this

[haveyoureadthisfanfic]

Summary: After a bus accident, Liz wakes up in Haven, stuck in the fictional world of Dragon Age. How does a modern girl get by when she can't speak the language, and her expansive knowledge of the Blight and Kirkwall, but limited knowledge of Inquisition would only make her look more suspicious? Fake being deaf and mute, and hope not to get caught before she can find proof of her origin. But the best laid plans never work out as expected...

Author: @stormontheocean