[sandbox]

[bringspeopletogether]

No Orlesian nobles pounded down their door to demand their hound back, so when Alistair and Cullen left Halamshiral, the newly-dubbed Gruyere happily trotted alongside their horses.

A few weeks after -- which included some quiet conversation, a few orders placed with a few merchants, and almost an entire extra pack of gifts slung over one of their mounts -- Gru just as happily trotted along as they turned for South Reach.

Years of correspondence led Alistair to build an elaborate image of Cullen's family in his mind; Mia, perhaps, more fully realized than the others, but everyone with a name and a voice to match their letters. They're...not wholly inaccurate? But Mia's definitely shorter than he expected, and one or two of the children a little louder.

(Mia's voice, however, adopts exactly the pitch he imagined it would when Alistair brings up the whole I'm-your-brother-in-law-now thing.)

It's a nice place. Just the right kind of rambunctious, with all the kids running around; just the right kind of homey.

If only Cullen weren't -- well, reacting more or less precisely how Alistair worried he'd react to the reunion.

Comments

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen takes in a great shaky breath. As Alistair moves, Cullen's exhale turns into soft moans. "Alistair," he manages, head thrown back, throat bare. "Alistair. Please. Yes. Yes."

He hadn't expected --

Nothing about the sensation is easy. But he hadn't expected it to -- feel so easy.

[bringspeopletogether]

"Good." Breathless; shaky. "Yes. Good."

He bends to nip at Cullen's neck, quick and sharp, without breaking his rhythm.

"Just like that, love. Ah -- " His grip tightens on the headboard. "Yes. You're doing so well -- "

[howtoactfereldan]

The world goes white for a moment when he feels Alistair's teeth. By the time Cullen is aware again, he's pulling at the restraints, muscles tensing. His moans are -- louder than he expected.

It's not as though Alistair seems to mind.

Why don't we always do this? he wonders, a little delirious.

[bringspeopletogether]

He can't resist: he runs his nails down one of Cullen's arms, over each ridge and knot of muscle, and buries his face against the damp skin of Cullen's throat again. Yes, he keeps saying, dizzy with want. Yes.

He's so close already, between the feel of Cullen around him and the sight of Cullen straining against his bonds and Maker's breath, the sounds in his ears --

Alistair fumbles for the oil again.

(All that time they spent getting Cullen ready. It'd be a shame to let it go to waste.)

[howtoactfereldan]

The sensation of Alistair's nails is very nearly too much. What comes out of Cullen then is a high-pitched cry. He squirms, which shifts Alistair's angle just enough that the pleasure is nearly unbearable.

Nearly.

"Finish," he begs Alistair, tight, hoarse. "Please. Come in me. Finish -- "

[bringspeopletogether]

Well, Alistair was having some trouble finding that damned vial anyway.

He laughs, even shakier, and grips the headboard so tight his fingers blanch. "Cullen, Maker," he gasps; he drives harder, a little more erratic now. "Yes, yes -- "

That's the last coherent word he manages to shape. It isn't long at all before his back arches taut, every touch and sound and sight burning a white-hot line of ecstasy down his spine, and he spills into Cullen with a shuddering moan.

[howtoactfereldan]

He can't touch Alistair, and it's driving him mad.

"Yes." The sound's a whisper, a little broken. "Yes. Thank you. Alistair."

His heart is in his throat. He feels wild. Feral. He hikes up his legs even further, brushing his calf along Alistair's flank.

[bringspeopletogether]

Every touch heats another path through him. Alistair shivers. He cups Cullen's cheek and bends to kiss him, but he's too breathless to keep it up for long.

With care -- and another soft gasp -- he lifts his hips to slide free. His senses haven't fully returned, but he can feel Cullen pressed hard against his abdomen; shooting him a quick, questioning look -- may I? -- he slips his hand between them to take hold.

[howtoactfereldan]

"You don't have to," Cullen manages -- barely. "Unless -- "

There: a helpless grin at the ceiling.

"At your order."

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair chuckles, a bit breathless still. "I do," he says, and picks up with a series of firm strokes. "I do order."

He kisses Cullen again, hungrier now.

[howtoactfereldan]

For just a moment, he catches Alistair's lower lip in his teeth and runs his tongue across.

But Cullen is also facing a significant distraction. He groans into Alistair's mouth, hips bucking into Alistair's hand. There's no rhythm -- just need, plain, raw.

[bringspeopletogether]

"Good," he breathes against Cullen's scar. "Yes. So beautiful."

He drags his fingers through Cullen's hair, tightening a little, and picks up the pace with his other hand.

"Come for me, love."

[howtoactfereldan]

Alistair is in control of him, and won't let him go too far. He's the safest he's ever been. Cullen doesn't even bother thinking about it -- just spills with a ragged cry.

(He couldn't think about it if he wanted to. Every bit of sensory input except the one that matters is an ocean away from him.

He's floating. Everything is quiet.

Slowly the corners of his mouth turn up as his arms go limp, dead weight. Eyes closed.)

[bringspeopletogether]

No sound but their ragged breathing.

Alistair stirs himself, eventually. Wiping his hand clean, he cradles Cullen's cheek; kisses him again, sweet and gentle.

Then, heavy-limbed, he reaches up to the headboard to untie Cullen.

[howtoactfereldan]

When his hands drop, Cullen makes a small whine of protest. He breathes out a small sigh.

"Stay here?" Slurred, a little. Cloudy.

[bringspeopletogether]

"Of course," he whispers.

Alistair finishes unwinding the rope from Cullen's wrists. That done, he gathers him close; resumes running his fingers through Cullen's hair, gentler now.

Cullen looks...peaceful. Truly peaceful. More content than you'd be from a mere romp in bed. And through Alistair's own contentment comes an aching fondness; an insistent need to protect this moment as long as he can.

"I've got you."

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen nods a little. "'Kay." Sleepy. "Good."

He leans his head into Alistair's hand, turning instinctively into him as close as he can get. "Stay," he mumbles again, and trails his fingers briefly down Alistair's chest.

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair shivers faintly, but doesn't let go.

"I will," he whispers a second time. He leans his cheek against the top of Cullen's hair. "Rest, love. I'll be here."

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen's smile lingers as he slides into darkness.

His fingers stay curled against Alistair's chest.

[bringspeopletogether]

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.

[howtoactfereldan]

His mind is blessedly clear, when Cullen wakes. Sunlight streaming in the window indicates it won't be too long before dusk.

He's sticky, and sore, and completely content.

So Cullen resettles his head on Alistair's chest and slowly starts tracing paths up and down his side.

Nowhere to be until tomorrow night.

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair mumbles something incomprehensible, but warm, in his sleep. He tightens his embrace a little as if hugging a stuffed toy.

This is nice. Maybe it can stay like this forever?

[howtoactfereldan]

In this scenario Cullen doesn't mind at all being treated like an inanimate object.

He stills his hand, and sighs, soft. No reason to disturb Alistair. Maybe eventually Cullen will even fall back asleep.

[bringspeopletogether]

"Are too," mumbles Alistair, still fast asleep.

(He's smiling.)

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen opens an eye.

Well. He's smiling. So it can't be bad.

Let's see what happens, he thinks.