They might have to do this more often, Alistair muses, if it makes Cullen this happy. It's far from an unpleasant thought; that was...certainly something.

(It still disquiets him a little, after moments like this, if he thinks too long on how much he enjoys having Cullen at his mercy. It's for Cullen's benefit, he tells himself. It's a way to serve him. To give him peace he can't get elsewhere.

So, as always, he nudges the faintly disquieted thoughts aside.)

In time, his hand slows its path through Cullen's hair, and stops altogether as he drifts off.