When Fate Summons (a Dragon Age fanfiction)

Need You Now

Thora's eyes traveled over Alistair. He wore comfortable linen trousers ... and nothing else. Her lips parted, her mouth suddenly dry. She thought of the taste of his skin, and she licked her lips. She said, "Something you need, Alistair?"

"You know what I need," he said, his voice ragged. And then something predatory entered his eyes. He moved purposefully across the room, and Thora retreated until her back was pressed against the wall. Alistair braced his palms against the wall on either side of her. "Or should I spell it out for you?" His head dipped, his mouth close to her ear, as he whispered slowly, deliberately, "What I need is to touch you, to taste you, to smell you all around me."

Thora closed her eyes, feeling the aching of her breasts, the moisture collecting between her legs. Each word thrust itself inside her as surely and deeply as if they were already coupled, as he went on, his lips close to her skin but not touching.

"I need to be inside you, hearing you call my name, watching your face as your pleasure overcomes you." His hands gripped the stones of the wall, fighting his desperate desire to touch her. If he touched her, she would melt into his arms and he would win the battle; but he would lose the war, because she would wake up with all her questions topped off with a big dollop of guilt. Alistair stayed where he was.

She took a deep breath, the heat between them nearly unbearable. "We can't," she said in a little moan. "You know we can't."

"Damn it all, Thora!" he groaned. "Why not?"
"Because ... of your wife," she said, her thoughts moving sluggishly.

"You mean the wife who is at this moment crafting rumors about you that are likely to land you in jail for treason against the Crown, if they're believed? That wife?"

"It's not her fault. She didn't deserve ..."

"Deserve!" Alistair shouted. He turned away from her now, and she shivered in relief and disappointment. "What about what I deserve?"

"You're the King."

"I am. I've been a really good King. The country is prospering, the people are happy. But I'm miserable." His voice broke. "I sit there in the castle, missing you with every breath."

Thora watched him, her heart twisting at the unhappiness in his voice.

Alistair took a deep breath, collecting himself. "Our time is running out, Thora. We've wasted ten years not being together. And I can't regret those, because they brought me my son, who I look forward to seeing again soon, and secured the succession of the throne. But there is no reason why we have to be apart any longer. None."

Her lips parted to speak, but he stopped her, his eyes flashing dangerously. "And don't you dare say 'duty'!"

"I was going to say Anawyn. How will she feel if there's a scandal?"

"What Anawyn wants is you and me together, and you know that as well as I do." He took a step back toward her, and Thora's breath caught in her throat. His voice softened as he looked down at her. "Love, the choice is yours—but you have to make it now. We can work out the details later ... much later," he added huskily. He went down on his knees in front of her, putting his face closer to hers. "But you have to decide right now if you want me or not. We both know it's everything or nothing for us, and I want ... everything." His eyes traveled over her body the way his hands wanted to.

Thora's breasts heaved. It was hard to breathe properly with him so close. She closed her eyes, trapped in indecision.

Alistair's voice came at her, tender and caressing. "I know," he said. "Nothing defeats you except what goes on in your own mind, the possibilities you imagine. Can you try to believe that the two of us together are stronger than whatever you're thinking? There's nothing we've ever tried to do together that we haven't succeeded at ... nothing except being apart."

Opening her eyes, she raised one trembling hand, running her fingers lightly over his flushed cheekbone. Alistair whimpered softly in relief, leaning into her touch. He caught her hand in his, kissing the palm. "Oh, love," he breathed, drawing each finger into his mouth, his tongue stroking delicately.

Thora shuddered. Her arm wound around his neck and she pressed herself against him, moaning at the contact.

Getting to his feet, Alistair lifted her, carrying her to the bed. He laid her down gently, stripping her shirt off. "Maker's breath, you're beautiful," he said. Thora held her arms up to him, and he went into them joyfully, his mouth meeting hers. Her hands stroked his back feverishly until her hunger for him overpowered her, and she pushed him over onto his back, stripping off the rest of their clothes before she climbed on top of him. She ground her wetness against his length, both of them gasping at the sensation. Bending, Thora ran her tongue over the side of his neck, nipping. Alistair arched off the bed with a cry as she hit just the right spot, his hands clutching at the covers beneath him. Slowly, Thora worked her way down his body, touching and tasting, each sound he made increasing the ache between her legs.

At last, Alistair couldn't stand it any longer. He caught at her hips, shifting her into position. Their eyes locked as Thora poised above him. She stopped, holding herself there, trembling, and Alistair moaned in protest. "I love you," she whispered, just as he had the first time they ever made love, and lowered herself slowly down until they were fully joined. Alistair's hands reached up, stroking her face gently before they found her breasts, cupping and squeezing the soft flesh as Thora began her rhythmic rise and fall. They had been without each other too long to take it slowly, and it was only a short time before Thora felt that tightening, the pressure building inside her. Alistair's eyes never left her face as it flushed red, her mouth falling open and her eyes closing, and when she cried out his name it sent him over the edge after her.

He caught her as she slid bonelessly off of him, cradling her, then caught his breath in surprise as he felt her tongue slowly move up the column of his throat. "You're crazy if you think once is going to be enough," she purred into his ear. "Kiss me." And he was more than glad to obey.