The beat moves down his body as he starts to tap his foot. Her fingertips are still close enough- he can feel that pull to just take the leap and hold her hand. He wants nothing more than to watch the look of surprise on her face when he raises her knuckles up to his lips and kisses each and every one.
But he’s not that brave. Not yet. He feels that changing every single day he is in her presence.
“Perhaps. Or perhaps it is just the truth.”
She‘s quiet for a moment and he watches her wiggle her nose again. The action alone is enough to make him chuckle- deep, liquid-like laughter that compliments hers.
“Yes…Well… Yours are quite nice. Golden and bea-” She stops herself and clears her throat, leaving the word left unfinished and hanging in the air. Cullen’s desire to reach over and hold her hand is stronger than ever. He wants her to know that it’s alright but the moment passes him by.
Have her eyelashes always been this long? Has she always had that little scar just under her eyebrow? He wants to continue sitting there with an excuse to study every little detail.
Her voice breaks him out of his daydreaming. “Arbor Blessing.”
“Are we resorting to naming off herbs? Interesting choice, Inquisitor.”
“Oh just play the game, Commander.” She laughs and he feels her fingertips tapping near his hand.
“Black Lotus.” His hand slowly moves closer to hers and despite the nervousness inside of him, his voice remains steady.
“Crystal Grace.” Her hand is moving on its own, as if knows exactly where it needs to be… which is right with his. She bites her bottom lip then corrects the action in a second. Her heart is fluttering around in her chest and all she wants to do is get closer.
“Dragonthorn.” His voice is softer as his index finger brushes up against her pinky. He feels his heart leap up into his throat but he doesn’t pull away.
Neither does she. “Elfroot.”
Her hand is sliding under his little by little and he has to gulp, almost choking on the next herb- not that it matters anymore. “Em-Embrium.”
“Cullen...”
He forgets his name for a moment. “That’s not a… Oh…”
They’re both looking at their joined hands now. The competition long forgotten as his fingers and her fingers lace together. Complete. She looks up at him and tilts her head to the side in the way he adores. He can’t remember the last time he felt this happy or at peace before.
Time is frozen for them. No wars to fight. No politics to wade through. No missions or troops. Just the two of them for once.
“NICE ARSE!!” Sera’s loud laughter breaks their peaceful silence and then she’s off again- leaving the two of them silent and blinking in her wake.
Cullen groans and closes his eyes, wanting to shrink in on himself. Then he feels her hand gently squeezing his. Her eyes are crinkled up at the sides as she’s beaming at him- rescuing him from the moment.
She picks her cloak off of the ground and hands it to him across the table. She even averts her gaze. Cullen’s touched at the consideration and is quick to secure the cloak around his waist so that he can stand up and join her.
“Are you ready to go?” He offers his hand and she accepts it. When he guides it to rest on the crook of his arm, he feels as if his armor is on him once more. He stands taller and lifts his chin up higher as they walk arm-in-arm out of the tavern and into the night.