Josephine pulled out the pocket watch she kept in the voluminous folds of her clothes and glanced at it.

"The Inquisitor must have been detained."

"Perhaps she's falling back into old habits," Leliana said.

Cullen said nothing, no doubt to the ladies' surprise. Four months ago, he would have been the first to complain about her tardiness. He considered lack of punctuality to be the worst sort of arrogance and discourtesy, as if no one else had anything better to do than stand around and wait for the last person to show up. And before he'd promised to punish her for it, he could have counted on one hand the number of war councils that Evelyn had arrived to on time. He knew it was because she had trouble extricating herself from the clutches of all the people in Skyhold who tried to claim her attention as she made her way across the keep, but it irritated him nonetheless, and it was no coincidence that he'd chosen that particular offense as the one that would earn her a spanking.

Curiously, since they'd made that agreement, she hadn't been late once. Sometimes she'd turned up at the very last second, red-faced and disheveled, but she'd always managed to make it to the table on time. Cullen hadn't said a word about it and neither had she. At first, he wondered if she'd changed her mind about letting him chastise her, but as her arrivals grew closer and closer to the wire, he'd developed a different theory. Skittish Evelyn wanted to realize her fantasy, but she was nervous, so she kept putting it off. He'd be willing to wager that she'd taken to tarrying until her courage failed and then making a mad, last-minute dash through the corridors to stave off her punishment. The idea amused him to no end.

It appeared that either she'd finally decided to let him warm her bottom, or someone had managed to detain her despite her best efforts to get to council on time. Either way, her arse would be getting a taste of his belt, unless she genuinely didn't want him to do it. His cock stiffened at the thought of it, and he decided that the number of minutes she made them wait for her would determine the number of blows he'd rain down on her backside. She'd better hurry up or she wouldn't be fit to sit on her horse.

When she finally pushed through the door, her face was as red as a tomato and she didn't meet Cullen's eye.

"I'm so sorry," she said breathlessly. "I made the mistake of visiting Dagna on my way to council and she just would not stop talking! Maker's breath, I hope I didn't make you wait too long."

"Twenty minutes, Inquisitor," Cullen said sternly. She looked at him then, and understanding passed between them. She was still interested in their game. Josephine seemed surprised that he'd said anything at all – usually they'd blandly reassured her that it was quite all right. Leliana smiled to herself, and not for the first time, Cullen had the uncomfortable feeling that she could actually read minds.

The meeting was mostly focused on diplomatic concerns, which suited Cullen just fine as it allowed his mind to wander to what he planned to do to Evelyn once he got her alone. Originally, he'd intended to bend her over his desk and spank her with his belt, but the idea of taking her over his knee and applying his palm to her perfect rear end also appealed to him. Then she'd be wiggling in his lap while he walloped her… but the view wouldn't be quite as tempting. Or he could have her kneel on the bed with her arse in the air…so many options.

"Commander?"

"Hm?" His eyes snapped to Evelyn's. "Sorry, repeat that?"

"I wondered if you would help Maryden with her problem. I know it seems a little silly, but…"

Cullen glanced down at the note she'd pushed across the table at him and frowned. "No. This is ridiculous," he said dismissively, and handed it back to her. Evelyn sighed.

"But Cullen, she'll be really disappointed!"

"I said no, Ev – Inquisitor. I'm not wasting my time on a school girl's spat. Have you any other requests?"

Evelyn shook her head. "That's all for today. I suppose we're done."

"Excellent. Good day to you all." He nodded at Josie and Leliana, and then at Evelyn. "I'll see you in my office in an hour, Inquisitor."

She nodded meekly and bit her lip, and Cullen's cock went from half-hard to fully hard just like that. Maker's breath, how he loved her. He'd debauched her a hundred different ways in the months since she'd given herself to him, and yet she still seemed as shy and innocent as the first day they'd met.

Well, perhaps not quite that innocent.

He returned to his office with a spring in his step and immediately climbed the ladder to find their tattered copy of "Ser Vice." The poor book looked rather worse for the wear, as it had served as inspiration to them several times, and there were still passages Evelyn had dog-eared that they hadn't gotten to yet. Cullen flipped to the chapter in which Ser captured the thief and re-read it. It seemed the naughty knight actually punished the wayward woman several different times in several different ways, but he began by turning her over his knee, so Cullen would do the same. He grinned in anticipation and set the book aside, returning to his office to wait for Evelyn. If she took longer than an hour, he might have to employ some of Ser Vice's other methods of correction.

She showed up right on time, however, and while Cullen was a little disappointed, he felt an erotic thrill in knowing that she'd done exactly what he told her to do. Her desire for him to take the lead in their sexual relations had unleashed a controlling side of himself that he'd never explored. He was careful not to take things too far, but as of yet, Evelyn seemed delighted to play with him, and he loved her all the more for it.

"Lock the doors, Inquisitor," he said when she appeared from the east exit. He got up and walked around to the front of his desk, leaning against it and watching her obey his command. She stood in front of him once she'd completed her task, looking nearly as apprehensive as the first night he'd fingered her cunny. Bless her naughty, anxious little heart.

"Do you remember our agreement regarding war council?" he asked her. She nodded and swallowed nervously. "Well? What was it?"

"That if I came to council late, you would spank me."

"Exactly. And what happened today?"

"I was late." She blushed furiously, and he could see that she was trembling a bit. He wondered if she was too nervous to go through with it, although that seemed a little silly. How hard did she think he would hit her?

"And so?"

"You're going to spank me."

"Do you want me to, Evelyn?" he asked seriously, staring into her eyes.

"I don't know," she whispered.

"If you want it, you'll have to ask for it." He loved making her beg him for the very acts she was too embarrassed to initiate. She shivered and stared at him pleadingly, sucking on the inside of her cheek. "I can send you on your way if you've changed your mind."

"No," she said quickly. "I want you to punish me for being late."

"It's rude, you know," he told her. "You may be the Inquisitor, but we're all busy people. We shouldn't have to stand around and wait for you to grace us with your presence."

"I know, I'm sorry," she said, her cheeks burning even brighter. "It was badly done of me, and I deserve to be disciplined."

"You do," he agreed. "Unlace your leggings."

He watched as her fingers fumbled with the ties, but eventually she got them undone. She put her hands at her waist band hesitantly, but he shook his head, and then slowly tugged off his gloves finger by finger. He laid them on the desk and stood up, reaching out to caress her lower lip with his thumb.

"Stand in front of the desk," he said, and she did so, essentially trading places with him. "Face the desk, Inquisitor," he clarified tersely.

She turned her back to him and he moved behind her to tug her leggings and small clothes down below her arse, then tangled his hand in her hair and forced her head down onto the desk. She whimpered – whether in apprehension or excitement, he couldn't be sure – but when he slid his fingers between her legs, the moisture he encountered cleared the matter up.

"You're wet, Inquisitor," he said accusingly.

"You're touching me," she replied.

"You were wet before I laid a hand on you," he said, lightly rubbing his fingers against her slit. "Were you late to council on purpose?"

"No, I really did get detained by Dagna!" she insisted.

"How many conversations have you had with Dagna?"

Evelyn looked at him out of the corner of her eye, clearly confused. "Too many to count, Cullen. I have no idea."

"Commander," he corrected her sharply.

"Sorry. Commander."

"Of those many conversations," he continued, swirling the pad of his middle finger against her clit, "were any of them brief?"

"Well, no, probably not," she admitted.

"So you knew there was a good chance that Dagna would draw you into a lengthy discussion of whatever magical theory had caught her fancy at the moment, and you also knew you had an appointment with your advisors. Yet you met with Dagna anyway. Are you sure you didn't intend to be late?"

Evelyn frowned. "That's not fair. I needed to meet with her. I just thought I'd be able to get away before council started."

"You could have met with her after you met with us." Her lips were swollen and juicy as he pressed and slid his fingertips against them, amazed at how wet she already was.

"I suppose," Evelyn said, "but I wasn't trying to be rude."

"Oh, I believe you," he said lightly. "I don't think you ever mean to be rude, Inquisitor. It's just that sometimes you are anyway. Isn't that right?"

"Yes," she admitted, blushing.

"I do think that you meant to be late," he said. "And I think you meant to be late because you wanted me to spank you. Correct?"

"I didn't," she replied stubbornly. "It just happened."

"Then why is your cunt so wet?" He still had his fist in her hair and he tightened his grip, tugging on the silky locks just enough to cause a twinge of pain.

"Ah! Because once I realized I was late, I knew you'd do this to me." Her eyes were closed, and her dark lashes lay in a pretty crescent against her bright pink cheeks. She was so beautiful.

"Rub your quim? I do that every night."

"No, spank me," she admitted.

"You're not convincing me you weren't late on purpose," he said. "So you find the idea of me punishing you arousing?"

"You know I do, Cul-Commander." He smiled as she corrected herself and leaned over, drawing his lips close to her ear.

"What do you think is going to happen now?"

"I suppose you'll… you'll hit me on my bottom. And then we'll make love?"

"How close are you to coming right now, Inquisitor?" He hadn't penetrated her yet, but he'd given her pearl plenty of attention and he knew she didn't usually take long.

"Pretty close," she gasped.

"I could finish you now with my fingers and dismiss you from my office, if you like."

"Without spanking me?" She sounded so disappointed, it was all he could do not to laugh.

"Yes, if you want to come. You see, I'm not particularly interested in encouraging you to be late to council. It actually quite pisses me off. So it doesn't make sense for me to punish you and then pleasure you. Really, you should be the one pleasuring me, don't you agree?"

"Yes, but – "

"Then I should walk you over to Josephine and Leliana's desks, and make you pleasure them, too."

"Cullen! I mean, Commander," she corrected hastily. "You can't do that!"

"I can't?" he asked, a dark challenge in his voice. "I imagine I probably could, although I won't, at least not today. I'd think twice before you were late to many more meetings though."

"Yes, Commander," she said with a pout in her voice. Maker, he loved to tease her.

"So, what will it be, Inquisitor? Would you like to come now? Or would you like to take your punishment and see what happens?"

"You're not going to get me off if you spank me?"

He laughed in her ear. "I might. You'll definitely get me off."

She moaned a little. "I'll take my chances."

"Good girl." He kissed her cheek and then stood up, pulling his hands away from her hair and her quim. For a second, he admired the view of her glistening sex peeking from the opening between her legs, and then he snarled, "Get up!"

She did so with alacrity, startled by his tone, and stood straight as an arrow in front of the desk.

"Take your clothes off, except for your smalls." As she began to comply, he removed his belt and set it on the desk, watching with satisfaction as she eyed it with alarm. He sat down in his chair and freed his cock while he waited for her to undress. When she was all but naked, he motioned for her to come stand in front of him. He reached forward and dragged her smallclothes down to the middle of her thighs, and then patted his lap. "Lean across my legs, Inquisitor."

His cock pressed against her belly, smearing it with fluid as she trembled against his thighs. She was shaking from head to toe, and her nervousness filled him with mischievous glee. He loved it that she was willing to do the things he asked of her, even when they caused her so much anxiety. Of course, he wouldn't have asked it of her in the first place had she not already requested it of him, so her fear seemed oddly unnecessary, but her mind worked in mysterious ways.

Cullen passed his hand along the firm curve of her bum, admiring her shapely backside. The sight of her underthings pulled halfway down her legs turned him on even more than stark nudity would have. She looked just a little bit helpless that way, and it was intoxicating.

"Have I ever told you that you have the most beautiful arse in Thedas?" he asked.

She laughed and shook her head. "You haven't seen every arse in Thedas."

"I don't need to. This one is obviously the perfection to which all others should aspire."

Evelyn's giggles turned into a squeal as he brought his hand down sharply on Thedas' Most Beautiful.

"That's one, and nineteen more for every minute you made us wait," he told her.

"Commander, that hurt!" she complained.

"Did you think it would tickle?" he asked, and smacked her again.

Every time he hit her, her belly rocked against his cock and it was growing harder by the minute. He tried not to think about it and instead concentrated on punishing her, holding her shoulders down with one arm while the other thrashed her behind. As her arse cheeks grew as rosy as her face, he was almost overcome by the urge to plunge his dick inside her, especially when he angled his hand down to strike her across her cunt and his palm came back wet. Despite her vociferous protests, she was enjoying herself.

"Keep that racket up, and everyone in Skyhold will realize the Commander is chastening the Inquisitor," he told her, after a particularly loud shriek.

"Do you have to hit so hard?" she gasped.

With a smirk, he tapped her bottom very gently, more a pat than a slap. "Better?"

"Ugh, no, don't be ridiculous," she groused, and he laughed out loud and squeezed her shoulder before hitting her again, a little harder.

"Come on, Commander! Harder than that!"

"Only three left, Inquisitor, and I'm going to make them count." He struck her thrice in quick succession and each blow was more forceful than the last, earning him outraged squeals each time. When he was finished, they were both breathing hard and sweating.

"Apologize to me for being late to council," he demanded.

"I'm sorry, Commander. It was unforgivably rude for me to make you wait twenty agonizing minutes just to reject the one request I made of you."

Cheeky little minx! He smacked her again. "I should beat you black and blue for even bringing it to my attention! What nonsense."

Evelyn looked over her shoulder and smiled at him warmly. "I knew you'd hate it."

Cullen's heart squeezed at the sight of her pretty, happy grin and he brushed his fingers against her cunny, delighting in the erotic dampness. Her thighs were slick with her own juices and her lips were so swollen, he almost wondered if they hurt. She closed her eyes and moaned softly as he teased her, thrusting up her hips to give him better access to her center.

"I believe you should be pleasuring me, Inquisitor," he said, after fingering her quim for a few minutes. "Since your first apology was so deficient, offer me a better one."

She pushed off his lap and stood up, drawing her smallclothes down to her ankles and stepping out of them before kneeling between his spread thighs. Keeping her eyes on his, she grabbed his cock and swirled her tongue around the tip, before plunging her lips down to the base. Cullen hissed and wound his fingers in her hair again, gripping the back of her head and holding her steady as he thrust his hips up to fuck her mouth. They had been practicing this move and Evelyn had gotten pretty good at staying still and taking his cock, though he tried to be careful not to gag her. Sometimes, like today, he was too eager, and when he felt her choke and jerk her head back, he let go of her hair and allowed her to pull her mouth off his rod.

"Sorry," she whispered, wiping her mouth.

"My fault," he said. "Continue when you're ready."

He could tell by the slightly resentful look in her eye that she was hoping he'd fuck her now, but he intended to make her wait until he was nearly ready to come. She applied herself to his cock once again, drawing harsh moans from his lips as she sucked him hard and fast. She was trying to piss him off, as he usually preferred her to take her time, but today her speed job suited him nicely. When he felt his climax drawing close, he pushed her shoulders back and slid out of her mouth.

"Bend over the desk," he ordered roughly. She immediately complied, smiling broadly, and once again offered him a lovely view of her glistening, wet quim. "Put your hands on the desk in front of you, and keep them there the whole time."

She did as he asked, wiggling her hips a little bit to tease him, and he grinned.

"Here's how this is going to work, Inquisitor. I'm going to fuck you until I come, and I'm not going to do a single thing to help you get off other than ram my cock in your hot little cunt. If you can climax before I finish, bully for you. If not, you're out of luck and you'll have to come back later if you want help with that. Understood?"

"You're evil," she gasped.

"And you're rude," Cullen replied, pressing his swollen cockhead against her lips. "Rude, tardy, and undeserving." He thrust himself home, grunting when he felt his tip prod her womb. She gasped and clenched tight around him, clearly intending to milk him for all he was worth. She'd better work fast, for Cullen wouldn't last long.

He took her hips in his hands and pressed them hard against the desk, knowing the edge would dig into her pelvic bones uncomfortably. He didn't want her to come; he wanted her to return to him later, whining and needy, so he could make her work for it a little more. But Evelyn climaxed easily and she loved to be fucked from behind, so there was no guarantee she wouldn't manage, even if he purposefully arranged for some discomfort. He eyed the pucker of her arsehole and considered teasing her there – that might surprise her right out of her zone – but he didn't want to try something they'd never discussed. Instead, he just pounded her ruthlessly, driving his cock into her again and again as her slick, tight walls gripped him like a vise. Maker, she felt good.

Thinking about sliding his thumb into her arse had put him very close to the edge, so he concentrated on that idea as he rutted within her. It was nearly impossible to resist brushing his fingers against her tight, untried hole, but soon enough, his orgasm overtook him and he collapsed against her back, pressing his teeth to her shoulder as waves of pleasure crashed through his body.

"Void take you, I was so close!" she complained, shifting beneath him. He knew she was probably terribly uncomfortable, trapped between the desk and a fully armored man nearly twice her weight, so he stood up and pulled out, even though he'd liked to have taken a minute to recover.

"Sorry, Inquisitor. Better luck next time." He pulled a cloth from his desk drawer and cleaned himself up, then wiped up the gob of come dripping down her thigh. She stood up and turned around, facing him with a pout.

"I'm going straight to my quarters and taking myself with my hands," she announced.

"Not if you ever want to do this again, you won't," he informed her. "I want you to think about what you've done and come back later. If you seem sufficiently contrite, I'll finish what I started."

"I can't believe you!" she cried. He grinned and kissed her thoroughly, plunging his tongue into her mouth. She drew back, sucking on his lip, and then said, "Since I have a feeling you'll kill me if I'm frequently late to war council, perhaps we could add a few more punishable offenses to our list?"

"I think we could do that," Cullen said with a smile. Something occurred to him, and he began to laugh. "Breaking up with me, for example. Had I known you enjoyed having your bottom warmed, I would have just tossed you over my knee and paddled you when you came into my office with that nonsense. That would have fixed you."

Evelyn laughed against his shoulder and kissed him again. "I daresay it would have, and saved us a lot of time. I can't believe what a fool I was."

Cullen smiled. "Terribly foolish. In fact, I think that probably deserves a retroactive correctional procedure. I'll let you know what I come up with."

Evelyn grinned at him and pulled on her clothes. "You do that, Commander. See you later."

She headed for the door, and Cullen smiled as he admired the sexy sway of her hips.

"I love you, Evelyn," he said softly, as the door closed behind her.