Archive of Our Own

"I don't need a security detail," Ashvalla hissed into the phone. "I'm not you." She looked around her small apartment, which had been mostly put back together after the break-in. She touched the photo on the table. The photo showed two smiling elves, their blonde hair shining in the bright sunlight. No markings were on their faces yet; they had been far too young. The cracks on the glass ran through the bottom of the photo, but the faces of her and her sister were still clearly visible.

"One man is hardly a security detail," Rae corrected her. "I couldn't stand it if anything happened to you just because of me."

Anything else, Ash thought ruefully, touching the tiny scars around her lips. This didn't sound like her sister. "What's the real reason?"

"I can't just want to keep my big sister safe?" The silence after the question stretched long enough that Rae groaned. "Fine. I can't do my job if I'm worried about you being used against me. Is that honest enough?"

It was. It made sense, but Ash still didn't have to like it. "I can handle myself. You really ought to know that by now."

Rae's sigh could be heard clearly through the phone. "There's a difference between taking care of yourself and being able to handle a coordinated attack, if one comes. Cullen and his men have saved me more than once. Let him in, let him check out your security, give you some tips." Ash opened her mouth to object, but Rae's voice didn't stop. "It will give me peace of mind. You're always fussing over me and my safety. Let someone fuss over you for once in your life."

Ash frowned. "That's it? He's just going to consult?"

Rae gave a smug little laugh. "He's well paid. He'll do whatever I ask him to do. If that's all you're comfortable with, that's as far as it has to go."

"All right. I can let him in and have him check my wards," she agreed, sighing. "And…thank you."

"Of course, Ash. I love you. I have to go, I'm late for a meeting. Be nice to Cullen!" Ashvalla was taking a breath to respond when the phone beeped. Disconnected.

She set the phone on the table and picked up the photo again, tracing her sister's face with one finger. "Love you too, Rae."

An hour later, the doorbell rang. Ash peeked through the window and saw a tall man, his blonde hair starting to curl in the humidity despite whatever product he had been using. Rae hadn't told her that she was sending a cute bodyguard.

She opened the door. The man smiled at her, nervously, shifting a little on his feet as he spoke. "Miss Lavellan? I was sent here by, well, Miss Lavellan."

Ash laughed, just a small chuckle. "Cullen, yes? You might as well come in." She closed the door behind him and watched as he stood awkwardly in her living room. Was this the man her sister had hired to protect her? He didn't seem very impressive. Cute, yes, but would cute help in a fight?

Cullen looked around the room and frowned. "A lot of windows here, aren't there? That may pose an issue," he mused.

Ash crossed her arms and looked at him, amused. "So…Rae said that you're going to be examining my security?"

"Ah, yes," he confirmed, looking around the room. "I have promised Miss Lavellan that I would lend my expertise in any way that I can."

She considered the man carefully, judging what she might be able to get away with. "I'm sure there are a lot of things you can help me with," she said, batting her eyes innocently. He definitely caught her meaning, judging by the way his cheeks began to turn pink.

"Yes, well," he started, trying to regain his composure. "I'd better get started, Miss Lavellan. Can you tell me what happened yesterday?"

She flopped down on the sofa, leaning back in a way she knew would show off her breasts, and indicated for him to sit in the armchair. He did, sitting forward with his notebook open on his knees. He was doing an excellent job of looking anywhere except at her chest, she noticed.

"I was at work," she began, watching his pencil move across the paper.

"At the animal hospital, correct?" He made another note as she nodded.

"Yes. When I got home, the door had been busted open. My papers and things were scattered around. I don't think anything was missing." She frowned. "The police weren't very helpful."

Cullen nodded. "I understand, Miss. They often are not, in cases such as these."

He rose and began to walk around the room, his eyes roving thoughtfully over the books and decorations on the shelves. "Have there been any other occurrences I should be aware of? Anyone following you, any notes, anything else out of the ordinary?"

She thought back, trying to think of anything of note. "No, I don't think so. Just a few more hang-up calls than usual." She looked around the apartment. "I think it was just an ordinary break-in. I had wards around; they probably scared off whoever it was before they could take anything. I'm not sure why Rae thinks it's connected to her."

"Miss Lavellan has received notes and calls indicating that someone close to her may be a target. As for your apartment, I believe I have figured out the purpose of the break-in…" He stopped, considering. "Walk closer to me, Miss Lavellan."

Raising an eyebrow, Ash stood and took a few steps towards him. "You'd better start calling me Ash. It's getting a bit confusing."

"Quite," Cullen said with a smirk. "Ash, then. I know this is a strange thing to ask, but I need you to trust me. Put your arms around my neck, please, and look over my left shoulder."

"Well," she said, grinning, as she stretched up to follow his instructions. "This is one way to get close to me."

He chuckled, low and soft, very close to her ear. "Do you recognize the plant on the bookshelf, in the dark glass container?"

She blinked up at it, still wrapped around him. "I've never seen that plant in my life."

He nodded, bringing his lips near her pointed ear again. "There's a camera in the base," he said softly, putting his hands on her hips. "I'm attempting to shield you with my body so they cannot read our conversation, but there may be other cameras. I believe that was the purpose of the break-in."

Her blood went cold, and she took a step back from him. "What should I do? Can we get rid of them?"

Cullen shook his head gently. "Someone wants to watch you. If we get rid of them, they'll move on to something else. Another break-in and more cameras, if we're lucky, but if we aren't…"

She grimaced, showing that she understood. They may try something more drastic. "All right, Cullen, you've convinced me. What's our next move?"

"I want you to get whatever you would normally bring to leave the house. Keys, phone, wallet, nothing that you wouldn't usually bring for a trip to the shops, all right?"

"Will we be back? What about my clothes? What about my cat?" Her anxiety was starting to rise again.

Cullen blinked. "Cat?"

She rolled her eyes. "Yes, Cullen, my cat. Will we be back?"

He thought for a few seconds. "I'll send one of my men around to collect some clothes and your…cat. Bring a notebook to write down a list of anything you want him to bring and any important numbers from your phone; I'll be giving that to my associate as well." He gave her a wan smile. "Can't be too cautious."

Ash's mouth dropped open. Her phone? "You can't be serious."

"I am. Go on; get your things. I'll step outside to call my man. Meet me at the car as soon as you can." She watched his back as he walked outside, already dialing his phone.

"Guess I'll get my things, then," she mumbled.

Cullen refused to tell her where they were going until after they had met with his associate. About half an hour into the drive, Cullen pulled into a gas station. Instead of pulling up to a pump, he parked in front of the small convenience store attached to it. Almost immediately, a young man left the store and opened the back door of Cullen's car, sliding into the backseat.

He smiled warmly at Ash. "Afternoon, Miss. Name's Krem. The Commander here said that you'd have a list for me?"

Ash raised a curious eyebrow at Cullen. "The Commander?"

Cullen looked embarrassed and rubbed his hand across the back of his neck. "Ah, yes. It's a nickname. Cremisius here works for a private security company run by a former colleague of mine. I sometimes contract out with them when I need extra hands that I know I can trust."

"The Chargers will take good care of you, Miss," Krem confirmed.

Ash raised an eyebrow as she handed over the list. "You have any experience with cats, Krem?"

Krem nodded. "That's why the Chief picked me for the job. I've got one myself."

After confirming the details and receiving instructions on how to handle the cat, Krem left the car. He would meet them when they reached the safe house.

The safe house turned out to be another half-hour's drive from the gas station. It was an apartment in a quiet, nondescript building near the train tracks, on the outskirts of a small town. Cullen assured her that he had used the safe house before without issue.

The apartment was clean, but impersonal. No art or decorations hung on the white walls. The kitchen was gleaming, but held very little food. She'd have to go shopping…if Cullen would allow it, that is.

She sat down on the apartment's white couch and fixed Cullen with a stare that she knew would make him uncomfortable. It seemed to work, as he shifted on his feet before sitting on the edge of an armchair across a small table from the sofa. "Well, Cullen, are you going to tell me what's going on now?"

Cullen swallowed, but nodded. "Yes, Miss Lavellan. Ash. You must be aware that your sister's political leanings have earned her a certain amount of…ill will."

Ash snorted. It was a bit of an understatement. "She's fighting for what's right. That's always going to piss off people who are only out for themselves."

"Quite," he agreed, the scarred side of his lip pulling up into a smirk. "Miss Lavellan has had her share of threats to her person, but recently, the threats have been turned towards those she holds close. Her family."

Ash nodded, understanding. "I'm the only family she has left. So…what? I can't just stay away from my life for a few days while this all gets sorted out."

Cullen looked down at his feet, clearly not wanting to say the next part. "Miss Lavellan has requested that I, or one of my men, stay with you until after the election."

Her mind reeled as she tried to figure out when that was. "Three weeks?" She jumped up, beginning to pace. "I can't just stay here for three weeks, Cullen, I have a life. I need to work. My patients…"

"We have already made arrangements with the animal hospital. Your patients will be taken care of. You needn't worry."

"I worry a lot," she told him. "You underestimate how much I'm going to worry about this." She sighed deeply, sinking back into the sofa again. "I'm supposed to be protecting Rae, not being babysat by a…what's your story, anyway? Ex-military?"

"Ex-Templar," he said dryly. "Don't be alarmed. I already know you're a mage."

She sighed, her head falling back as she groaned. This was exactly what she needed. "Rae sent a Templar to watch me. Of course she did."

"Ex-Templar," he said again, with more emphasis this time. "You have nothing to fear from me."

Ash was staring at him, trying to figure out whether or not to believe him, when there was a knock on the door. He got up to answer it, leaving Ash to sit and think. A Templar. She wasn't even sure that someone could be an ex-Templar. Had Rae done this on purpose? Trying to keep her in check and out of the way?

She was roused from her thoughts by a familiar meow. "Sweetpea!" She jumped up and ran to the door, reaching it just as Krem opened the carrier to allow the cat to escape. She crouched down and allowed the small gray cat to run into her arms.

"Guess I got the right cat," Krem observed, grinning. "She's a beauty, Miss. Doesn't like the car much, though."

"No, she doesn't," Ash cooed, rubbing the cat's fur. "Do you?"

Cullen cleared his throat, and Ash looked up to see him staring down at her in amusement. She narrowed her eyes at him, and he started laughing. "I'm guessing you're not much of a cat person, huh, Cullen?"

Cullen shrugged. "I don't have much experience with them. I had a dog as a small boy, but I've not had a pet of my own in many years."

"Well, you'd better get used to this one," Ash told him brightly. "Seems like we're going to be spending a lot of time together, and she and I are a package deal."

Cullen bent down to try to pet the cat, but Sweetpea was having none of it and took off running. "I don't think she likes me," Cullen said wryly.

"She will," Ash laughed, giving Cullen a wink. "She's just suspicious of strange men…no matter how cute they might be." She noticed his faint blush and grinned. She had to admit, it was pretty adorable.

"She's hiding under the bed," Krem announced, peeking into the room at the end of the hall. "I might as well go get the rest of your things in here, and then I'll be off to the store."

The young man left the apartment, and Ash stood up and went back to the couch. "Don't worry, Cullen, she'll come around. Maybe. She can be fairly difficult."

Cullen smirked. "Takes after her owner, hmm?"

Ash threw her head back, laughing. "Oh, Cullen," she mused when she had recovered enough, "You have absolutely no idea."

Ash began exploring the small apartment while Cullen worked on his computer. There was one bedroom with one bed tucked against the wall. When Ash questioned this, Cullen assured her that he would be fine sleeping on the couch. Ash got the feeling that he likely wouldn't be sleeping at all, working late into the night. He seemed the type.

The kitchen was very clean and very empty. Krem had asked her for a list of food preferences and had promised to bring back some groceries, but at the moment, there wasn't much to eat. "Think we can get some delivery or something?"

Cullen frowned. "I don't like the idea of having a driver come to the apartment, but I'm sure I could have them leave it in the lobby and run down for it," he said after a moment. "What would you like?"

She gave him her order, and half an hour later, she was eating her pad see ew while Cullen ate his green curry and sticky rice. Feeling bold, she used her fork to reach across the small table and pick a bamboo shoot from his curry. She popped it into her mouth and winked at him.

Cullen frowned. "Didn't we get you enough of your own food?"

She shrugged, not bothered. "Yes, but I wanted to try yours. Would you like a bite of mine?"

He considered, then nodded, using his spoon to take a piece of chicken from her dish. "I suppose that's only fair." He ate it, then smiled. "That's very good. I've never had it before."

Ash raised an eyebrow. "Really?"

It was his turn to shrug, and he looked a little embarrassed. "I tend to find a dish that I like and stick with it. I'm not exactly adventurous."

She gave him her flirtiest smile. If she had to be stuck in this situation with a man who was practically a stranger, she was going to do her best to enjoy it. It didn't hurt that Cullen's sad, brown eyes were looking at her with a caution that she took as a challenge. She wondered how hard it would be for her to break down his defenses. "So…three weeks? I just…what? Put my life on pause for a while?"

He shrugged, nodding as he chewed a bite of his curry. "For your safety and that of your sister, yes."

"What if I had a date? Or a partner?" She asked innocently, pleased by the way Cullen's eyes widened.

"Do…do you? Have a partner?"

"No," she told him, her smile wolfish. "But I could have had one. No, no partner, no dates lined up." She took a sip of her iced tea, studying his face carefully. "What about you? Do you have a wife somewhere, waiting for you to come home?"

He shook his head, not looking at her. "No, I'm not married." He smirked. "No dates lined up for me, either. It's not easy to carry on a personal relationship in my line of work."

She nodded thoughtfully, considering. "I can imagine. So…since we're both single and available…what do you say you and I share the bed?"

Cullen started choking on his rice. As he turned more and more red, Ash wondered if she'd have to intervene. Thankfully, he recovered on his own, coughing and spluttering. "Maker, Ash, you can't just…" His voice was hoarse and a little weak. "No, Miss Lavellan," he said, starting to regain his composure. "That would be…completely inappropriate."

"Come on, Cullen," she said, using her most seductive voice and pushing her chest out, just a little, but enough that she could tell that he noticed. "I promise I won't tell anyone. It's got to be more comfortable than sleeping on this couch. I'm sure we could figure out a way to keep each other warm at night."

Cullen stared at her for several seconds. Ash could read the interest written plainly on his face. Suddenly, his expression turned stern, and he stood up abruptly. "Please excuse me, Miss Lavellan. I need to make a few phone calls."

She watched, sighing, as he left the safe house.

For the next three days, Cullen didn't come back to the apartment. Krem was there most often, playing cards with her and regaling her with tales of his group's past adventures. Once, a woman named Dalish came to sit with her for a while. They spoke of their clans and other things for several hours, and Dalish made a lovely traditional dish for dinner that Ash hadn't eaten since she was a child. There was also a mostly silent man, but Ash didn't manage to get any words out of him.

When Ash had just about given up on Cullen, he showed up. She glowered at him as he walked through the door. "Finally decided to come back?"

He smirked. "You've been in good hands, Ashvalla. You don't need me here all the time."

Maybe she didn't, but she wanted him there. "I'd rather be in your hands, Cullen."

He seemed to ignore her words. "I had some tasks to complete for your sister. I wanted to see if I could track down the source of the threatening calls she's been receiving. If we can find where the threats originate, we may be able to get you back to your life sooner." He sat down at the table and opened his bag, unpacking his computer and accessories.

Ash cocked her head to the side. She wasn't expecting this. "Did you?"

He frowned. "No. I have some ideas, but they haven't panned out yet. I've asked the Chargers to take over. With greater numbers, they may have a better chance at success."

She considered what this meant. "Does this mean you'll be here more often for a while?" He nodded, but continued setting up his computer. "Cullen, I have to apologize. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."

He raised an eyebrow, and she started to laugh. "All right, all right, I did." She sat down across from him, trying to catch his eye. "I didn't want to make you leave."

His brown eyes locked with hers, and she could see the conflict and desire in them. "I had to leave. If I stayed…" He smiled sadly at her. "I wouldn't have been doing my job."

She nodded, understanding. "Then why did you come back?" The question was soft, gentle.

"Keeping you safe is more important than…" He trailed off, embarrassed. "Than whatever feelings I may have on the matter."

She nodded and stood up. "I understand, Cullen," she told him quietly. "If you change your mind…you know where I am." She gestured around the small apartment, smirking. "Obviously."

A few days later, almost a week after she arrived at the safehouse, Cullen presented her with a phone. Not her phone, but a clean one that he had obtained for her. The numbers she had written down that first day had been carefully vetted and verified, and were programmed in. She considered calling Rae, but decided against it.

"Thank you, Cullen," she told him sincerely. He nodded, all business, and sat down at his usual spot at the table. He wasn't always there, but he had started taking all of the overnight shifts. She wasn't sure what that meant, but she wasn't going to complain.

Looking through the phone, she noticed a new contact on the list. Cullen. She smiled at him. "You gave me your number, huh? I'm flattered."

Cullen blushed a little. "In case you need me," he started, then tried again. "That is, if there is an emergency."

She looked curiously at the contact name in her phone. "Is this your first name or your last name?"

He laughed loudly. "My first name. I'm Cullen Rutherford."

Ash put the phone on the table and took a few steps closer to him. "Pleased to meet you, Cullen Rutherford," she said quietly. She reached across the distance between them and straightened the collar of his shirt. She expected him to pull away, but he surprised her by tucking a strand of her blonde hair behind one pointed ear. She responded by moving even closer. "You're awfully close to me, Cullen. I thought that was against your moral code?"

Cullen chuckled softly, letting his hand trail down to her neck. "Yes, well…" He trailed off and blinked, suddenly looking uncertain. "Would you like me to step away?"

"No," she said gently, stretching up to wrap her arms around his neck the same way she had done when they first met. He put his hands on the soft curve of her hips.

Just then, Sweetpea decided to weave her way in between them, twisting her lithe body through their legs. Ash looked down, giggling, while Cullen frowned. "Little menace," she said with affection, reaching down to pet the cat. "You hungry?"

Cullen looked very much like he wanted to complain, but he sat down on the sofa and watched her instead. Ash made two quick kissing sounds towards the cat, who dutifully followed her into the kitchen. As she opened the cabinet to take out the cat food can, Sweetpea wove around her ankles again. Ash bent down to scratch under the cat's chin. "Troublemaker," she said affectionately. She dumped the can into a bowl and set it down at her feet, scratching her furry neck one more time before standing and going back into the living room.

She saw that Cullen was still sitting on the sofa and smiled apologetically. "Would you like to watch a movie?"

"I should return to my work," Cullen told her.

Ash rolled her eyes. "What work could you possibly have to do at this hour?" She sat down on the sofa next to him, too close to be mistaken for accidental.

"Reports, orders, schedules, rotations…I have a lot of work, Ashvalla."

She pursed her lips and nodded her head thoughtfully. "Hmm…reports to my sister about my incorrigible behavior. Orders and schedules of who will be watching me and when…is that about right?"

"I didn't describe your behavior as incorrigible," he teased. "I believe the word I used was 'impossible'."

"I can work with impossible," she told him, trailing her finger along his thigh, the denim of his jeans rough beneath her touch.

He reached out and cupped her face with his calloused hand, his thumb brushing over her lower lip. "Good," he said softly. "You…" He trailed off, hesitation sliding over his features. "I…my work. I should get back to it."

Disappointment warred with amusement on Ash's own face. "Right. Of course."

"I do not want you to think I am not…I am…interested in you." He gave a helpless shrug. "If things were different…"

She stood up, walked towards the kitchen, and then turned on him. "What's stopping you, Cullen?"

He got up as well, but kept a safe distance from her. "I was hired to protect you, not to bed you. If I cross that line, if I let myself…"

She shrugged and leaned back against the wall, slipping her hands into her pockets. "It's just sex. Just fun. I'm not asking you for more than that."

"I'm not built that way," he protested. If I let myself…I won't be able to stop."

"Then don't stop," she said softly, reaching out for him again.

He frowned and took her hand in his, intercepting her before she could touch him. "But I must. You're only here for two more weeks, and for that time, you are in my care."

She let a mischievous grin sneak onto her face. "Then," she whispered, "take care of me."

Before she was able to take another breath, Cullen had pressed her up against the wall. "Ashvalla Lavellan," he said, leaning down to kiss her neck. "You are the most willful, headstrong, impossible woman," he teased, punctuating each of the words with a kiss. She laughed lightly, and he moved his hands to each side of her face before kissing her hungrily. She stretched up a little on her toes to deepen the kiss.

When he pulled back, she began to undo the buttons on his shirt. "So, Cullen…will you share that bed with me now?"

He chuckled softly, shaking his head. "I believe I will."

Abandoning the buttons for now, she grabbed his hand and began to lead him back to the bedroom. "Don't worry," she told him, teasingly, as she walked backwards down the hall. "This doesn't have to go in your report. Some things can be just for us."

"Good," he told her, smirking. "I'm not sure what I'd write about this." They stopped walking as the back of her legs made contact with the bed, and he leaned down to brush his lips over her collarbone again. "My charge, against all logic and good judgment, invited me to her bed?"

She frowned at that, but tossed her head back with a soft moan as he pulled down her tank top to kiss even lower on her chest. "My sexy charge," she corrected between panting breaths, "proved to be too irresistible for me, the uptight bodyguard."

"Hmm, yes," he said, a grin pulling at the scarred corner of his mouth, "I suppose that's more accurate." To her surprise, he hooked a strong arm under each of her thighs and lifted her into the air. With a startled yelp, she attempted to keep her balance by throwing her arms around his neck and wrapping her legs around his waist.

He carried her like that, kissing her fervently, towards the top of the bed. When he reached it, he set her down gently on the bed and knelt in front of her. Wordlessly, she lifted her hips, and he slid her shorts and underwear off. He tossed them into the corner of the room and grinned at her again. Ash thought about how good he looked between her thighs and lay back on the bed, relaxing as he began to touch and tease.

This was good. It didn't mean anything. It was just fun. Just sex. It wasn't like she had feelings for him, or him for her.

Absolutely not.