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The Antivan Crows don't discriminate when it comes to contracts.
A contract is a contract; if the pay is enough, The Crows will get it done.
To decline a contract, once assigned to you, is to forfeit your life.
To leave a contract incomplete is to forfeit your life.
No contract is beneath you.
These truths were burned into Fallon's brain on her first training day to become a Crow at fifteen. Not once in six years has she ever considered breaking these covenants. Becoming a Crow saved her life, and her loyalty and gratefulness for Viago de Riva are eternal.
Until now.
To be fair, Fallon isn't considering turning her latest contract down. No, she's concerned she won't be able to complete it. Fallon's latest mark is the recently promoted Madam for a well-known bordello in Antiva City, Angels of Andraste. Angelique Bordeaux made a name for herself as a customer favorite at Angels (they called her the Archangel), and when her boss mysteriously disappeared six months ago, Angelique was promoted.
Angels of Andraste is known for employing "the most beautiful women in Thedas." Its customer base is primarily made up of the social elite who can afford to pay for the company of an Angel for the night. Four months ago, the club's reputation took a nosedive when Angels began to go missing. Two months ago, the body of Angelique's replacement as the Archangel was found washed up on a beach in the Rialto Bay, ten miles from Antiva City.
Three weeks ago, a former Angel snuck out for the evening and went straight to her highest paying regular, the Governor of Antiva City, and confessed that the disappearances were Angelique's doing. She was selling Angels off to the highest bidder. Naturally, the governor did not want anyone to know about his connections to Angels of Andraste, so he contacted the Crows to take care of Angelique.
The Bordello Job is the highest-paying contract assigned to Fallon since her promotion from fledgling to assassin. She can't fuck this up. Namely because if her cover is blown, she might actually be killed, or worse.
"How am I supposed to do this, Teia?" Fallon panics as she paces back and forth in the Seventh Talon's bedroom, half-empty wine bottle in hand.
"The same way you do all your contracts, Fallon. Get in, kill your mark, get out," Teia laughs as she sits on the edge of her bed. "What is so different about this one that you're having a mental breakdown about it?"
Fallon would be posing as a potential new employee to get Angelique alone. Since taking over, Angelique's interview process included a hands-on demonstration of the potential Angel's skills, if the governor's informant is to be believed. Fallon needs to impress Angelique so the Madam will let her guard down. Doing that means Fallon would need to seduce her mark before eliminating her.
Fallon takes a long drag from her wine bottle. "It's not that simple, Teia. I have to seduce her."
"So? You went through seduction training, just like the rest of us. Viago wouldn't have assigned you the contract if you were bad at it. Also, I've watched you kiss random women in taverns on several occasions. How is this different?"
"Yes, kissed! I've kissed women. It's not that I'm not attracted to women— I definitely am, to be clear. It's that I've never done more than kiss a woman. How am I supposed to convincingly seduce someone who has made a whole career out of it if I have no idea what the fuck I'm doing?"
Teia's expression softens as she realizes the reason for Fallon's distress. "Then go out and find a woman to practice with. I doubt you'll have issues finding a volunteer."
"I leave in the morning. I don't have time. Vi is sending me to die, Teia—"
"No, he's not, don't be ridiculous."
"Either I'll die because my cover gets blown and Angelique's people kill me, or I won't impress her enough to make her want to keep me around long enough to kill her, I'll fail the contract, and then Viago will kill me. Actually, no, Vi wouldn't be able to stomach killing me, so he'd probably let Dellamorte do it." Fallon sets the wine bottle on a table and sinks onto the bed beside Teia.
Teia snorts with laughter at that. "You're being dramatic, de Riva. Not that I'm surprised, given who raised you. Vi is also a fan of catastrophizing the smallest things."
"This isn't funny, Tei." Fallon frowns.
"It's a little funny," she smirks. "Look, you're not going to fail your contract, and you're not going to die, because I'm not going to let that happen."
"How?"
"You're worried about being inexperienced, yes? So I'm going to give you experience. Tonight."
Fallon's entire body freezes, and the synapses in her brain cease to fire correctly as the weight of the Seventh Talon's words hits her in the face. She must be dreaming, because surely there is no way Andarateia Cantori is offering to sleep with Fallon for educational purposes.
Teia gently grasps Fallon's chin, pushing it upwards to close her mouth. "Lesson one: when a beautiful woman wants you to fuck her, don't stare at her with your mouth hanging open in disbelief. Men will fuck anything that moves. Women don't make offers like this unless they mean it. Or they're getting paid. And I'm not getting paid."
Fallon swallows hard as she stares at Teia, unable to laugh at the other woman's joke.
"What about Viago?" Fallon practically whispers when she finally finds her words.
"What about him?"
"Aren't you two like… together or something?"
Teia lets out a bark of laughter. "Maker, no. Viago is still in this bizarre state of denial where he can't admit to himself or anyone else that he's attracted to me. I can't force him to do anything about it, so until he gets over that, we're just friends with unresolved sexual tension. If you're worried he'll be upset if he finds out I helped you with your…problem, we don't have to tell him."
Fallon's mouth falls open again, and Teia pushes it closed. "You'd keep that from him? For me?"
"Of course. I don't want to be subjected to a lecture about how you're off limits any more than you probably want to listen to one about how I am, too."
It's certainly a good point. Fallon gets lectured enough by Viago as it is; she doesn't need another one.
"I mean…yeah. Okay. If you're sure." Fallon finally agrees with a sheepish look.
Teia smiles warmly at Fallon and cups Fallon's face in her hands. "I wouldn't have offered if I wasn't interested, hermosa. It is an honor and a privilege to be your first."
Without any further preamble, Teia leans in and gently presses her lips to Fallon's in a slow kiss. Fallon immediately reciprocates, kissing Teia back without any urgency and willing her heart rate to stop pounding so loudly in her chest that Fallon is pretty sure they can hear it in Tevinter. Just as Fallon's hands drift to Teia's incredible hair, Fallon pulls back from the Seventh Talon with a curious expression, turning to face her more directly.
"Wait, what do you mean, a lecture from Viago that I'm off limits? Is that what he's telling people?"
Teia chuckles, shaking her head. "Shh, forget about Viago, querida," Teia strokes Fallon's cheek affectionately. "The only person you should be thinking about right now is right here in this room with you."
Before Fallon can object or ask any follow-up questions, Teia's mouth is on hers again, and this time, she kisses Fallon with purpose. Teia's tongue traces the seam of Fallon's lips, and Fallon invites her in with a soft sigh. Teia tastes like the red wine they were drinking, and chocolate— decadent chocolate imported from southern Thedas that can only be purchased from the expensive confectionery next door to Cafe Pietra. Kissing Teia feels decadent, too, like Fallon is joining an exclusive club of people lucky enough to have experienced a kiss from this woman.
Her hands find their way to Teia's hair, and Maker, it feels as soft and lovely as Fallon always assumed it would, but since asking to touch her friend's hair out of the blue felt weird, Fallon never thought she'd find out for sure. Fallon loosely grasps a handful of Teia's curls and gives them an experimental tug, eliciting a quiet moan from Teia, and Fallon smiles slightly against Teia's perfect mouth. Fallon wants to hear that sound again, but louder.
She just hopes she'll be able to make it happen.
Fallon's hands want to wander, so she moves one to Teia's waist while the other slowly drifts higher. Though Fallon knows the entire point of this is to give her the experience she needs with a woman before leaving for her contract, Fallon still hesitates to go any further than just beneath Teia's breast.
Teia, bless her, picks up on Fallon's trepidation. "You can touch, querida," she reassures Fallon before tugging Fallon's lower lip between her teeth. "I'm going to have to insist."
Fallon exhales with relief, and her hand continues its ascent. She cups Teia in her hand over the soft cotton fabric of the Talon's shirt and smirks. "No undergarments? Andarateia, did you somehow expect this to happen?" Fallon teases as her thumb passes over Teia's hardened nipple, pleased with herself as Teia arches into Fallon's touch.
"Breastbands are flesh prisons, you know that as well as I do," Teia chuckles, her mouth moving to the crook of Fallon's neck. "I take that nonsense off the moment I'm done working for the day, regardless of who comes calling."
Fallon would have laughed, but Teia's teeth graze her skin when she opens her mouth to reply, pulling a whine from Fallon instead. She feels Teia's smirk against her skin, followed by another nip at her neck. "Take my clothes off. Slowly." Teia mutters just beneath Fallon's ear.
Even if Teia hadn't instructed Fallon to disrobe her slowly, Fallon would have done it that way to keep her hands from shaking nervously. The heat of Teia's soft skin beneath Fallon's hands almost burns, and as Teia gasps, Fallon realizes her hands are probably cold from holding the wine bottle. "Sorry." Fallon apologizes.
"No, don't apologize," Teia says, kissing her shoulder, then nipping at it gently. "It feels nice."
As Fallon's hands rise, Teia's shirt goes with them, pushing it higher and higher. Teia briefly detaches her mouth from Fallon's neck so that Fallon can complete her task. The cotton is tossed to the side, and before Teia can resume leaving gentle love bites across Fallon's skin, Fallon touches her shoulder to stop her. Taking in Teia's beauty in this new way steals Fallon's breath. Her mouth opens slightly in awe as her eyes drift over Teia's body. From the curves of her breasts and the lean, toned muscles on her torso and arms, to the hourglass figure rounding it all out, Teia is the most beautiful woman Fallon has ever seen— half-naked or otherwise.
Anyone who has ever rejected Andarateia Cantori's advances is a damned fool. However, Fallon suspects the only person that stupid is probably Viago de Riva.
"You are— fuck, Teia, you are so incredibly beautiful that it's almost unfair to the rest of us," Fallon praises her with a soft laugh, and Teia smiles.
"Hey now, don't sell yourself short. I've witnessed plenty of people nearly trip over their own feet when you walk by," She winks and takes Fallon's hand, guiding it towards the waistband of her pants before kissing her again. "You're only halfway there, de Riva. Keep going."
Teia does not stop at simply guiding Fallon's hand to her waistband. Fallon can't help the sharp intake of breath into Teia's mouth as she feels Teia guiding her fingers beneath her waistband. With Teia's hand over hers, Fallon slides further into Teia's pants, heart racing, knowing what she'll find.
Fallon lets out another gasp against Teia's mouth as her fingers graze over Teia's core, slick with need, because of her. The thought alone sends a jolt of desire through Fallon's body, her own arousal pooling in her underwear. Then Teia speaks. "Do you feel that, querida? That's— ah."
Teia's words dissolve into a surprised moan as Fallon musters her bravery, allowing her fingers to glide over Teia's clit. When Fallon's finger circles Teia's clit a second time, the Seventh Talon rests her head on Fallon's shoulder, half-laughing and half moaning. "You know the best part of being with a woman?" she kisses Fallon's shoulder. "You already understand how the anatomy works."
This epiphany hits Fallon over the head like a brick. She'd been so wrapped up in her anxiety that she genuinely did not even think about the fact that she's starting with an advantage because she knows what she likes and how to make herself feel good. At least this part, anyway. Teia tugs Fallon's hand free from her pants and holds Fallon's fingers up to her mouth. Teia's slick shines on Fallon's fingers in the light, and Fallon can't help but be a little proud.
"Open," Teia instructs, tapping Fallon's lips with her free hand. Fallon does not even think twice before obeying or before wrapping her lips around her own fingers when Teia inserts them into her mouth. Teia tastes faintly like salt and bitters. Fallon doesn't even know what she expected, but the fact that it's Teia's slick in her makes it the best thing Fallon has ever tasted.
Fallon licks her fingers clean before removing them from her mouth and proudly showing Teia. "Good girl," Teia coos, and boy, does that do things to Fallon. Fallon squirms in her seat with a closed-mouth whimper, desperate for friction. Teia observes Fallon's reaction and smirks. "Do you like being praised, little Crow?"
Fallon isn't even ashamed of how vigorously she nods her head— how it makes Teia laugh cancels out any embarrassment Fallon could feel. "Well, there's more where that came from if you keep listening to my instructions."
At this point, Teia could tell Fallon to walk into House de Riva, execute Viago in front of everyone, and walk out as casually as though she'd just delivered the mail. Fallon would probably do it if Teia called her a "good girl" again. Fallon only nods in response, and Teia reaches up to stroke Fallon's cheek with her thumb. "Now go on, querida. You still have work to do."
Right. Teia's pants are still on. All of Fallon's clothes are still on, but this isn't about her. It's about learning to make Teia sing Fallon's praises as she unravels with her thighs on either side of Fallon's face. And with Fallon's fingers deep inside her weeping cunt.
But Fallon is getting ahead of herself, so she reaches for the snaps on Teia's pants and opens them. Before Teia can even stand, Fallon is sliding off the mattress and sinking to her knees. Teia hums with approval as she smiles. The Seventh Talon reaches out and takes hold of Fallon's ponytail, pulling her head back so their eyes are locked. "Look at you. I didn't even have to ask."
Fallon slowly drags her hands and nails up and over Teia's calves and thighs until she reaches Teia's waistband. With a swift tug, Fallon brings Teia's pants and undergarments to her ankles. Fallon smirks. "Well, some things are the same regardless of who is about to come in your mouth."
Teia's eyebrows arch. "You sound pretty confident for a woman who's never eaten pussy before."
Fallon gently pushes Teia back into a seated position as close to the edge of the bed as she can get and spreads her thighs apart. Teia is glistening for her, and Maker, Fallon really hopes she didn't just make a promise she won't be able to keep. Fallon's thumb brushes over Teia's clit again, teasingly, and the other woman shudders. "Like you said, I just need to follow your instructions."
Then Fallon sits back on her heels and waits with her hands in her lap. The impressed look Teia gives her makes Fallon's ego soar, knowing that she's doing everything right.
"Well, go on." Teia permits with a nod as she props herself up on her elbows to watch. Fallon starts slowly, kissing the insides of each of Teia's knees. She takes her time running her mouth over the smooth skin of Teia's thighs, relishing in the little noises she makes every time Fallon bites down lightly and leaves a mark. It's not until Teia's cunt is directly in her face that Fallon hesitates, her anxiety about not being good enough bubbling towards the surface.
She must have visibly tensed because within seconds, Teia is sitting up and running her hands through Fallon's ponytail again, forcing her to look up. "Hey," she says softly. "You have nothing to worry about. Just think about what you like, do that, and if it's not working for me, I'll tell you what to do."
Fallon exhales shakily and nods, offering Teia a grateful look before returning to her previous position on the bed. Do what you like, Fallon reassures herself before pressing one more kiss to Teia's inner thigh.
The heady smell of Teia's arousal is encouraging in its own way, and with one final deep breath, Fallon leans forward and licks a long stripe experimentally from Teia's opening to her clit. Teia rewards her with a soft moan, and the sound makes Fallon moan against her folds. Her hands push Teia's legs out wider as she laps at Teia's cunt again, this time stopping to roll her tongue over the sensitive bud in slow circles.
Teia whines, and all apprehension that she might do a bad job fades from Fallon's mind. Desire surges through her so rapidly that she thinks there's a chance of experiencing an orgasm completely untouched, just from hearing Teia's pleasure alone.
Another long stripe across Teia's sex, another sigh of pleasure. Fallon is still going slowly, committing Teia's moans to memory, but Teia has other ideas as Fallon feels a hand in her hair once more. She pushes Fallon's face forward until it's buried in her cunt, and Fallon lets out a surprised noise. "Don't be afraid to get in there, querida. You're doing we-eelll, mierda."
Fallon takes Teia's instructions to heart and plunges her tongue inside Teia's cunt, licking her and swirling it around her insides like this is Fallon's last meal, and she's savoring every morsel. The Seventh Talon's grip on Fallon's hair loosens after a few minutes, and Fallon allows herself a brief second to look up. She is greeted by the delightful sight of Teia's hands gripping the sheets, her body arched toward Fallon, and her head completely out of view because it fell back in pleasure.
Fallon doubles her efforts, wrapping her lips delicately around Teia's clit, and she sucks. When her teeth lightly graze the bud, Teia involuntarily lifts her legs and drapes them over Fallon's shoulders, squeezing her thighs around Fallon's ears and reducing the oxygen flow to Fallon's nose and mouth.
If this is how Fallon dies, then so be it.
"That's good, Fallon, that feels so good. You're doing so well, little Crow, keep going." Teia pants as Fallon continues to lavish her clit with attention. Teia manages to compose herself just enough to drop her thighs from Fallon's shoulders, and Fallon grabs her thighs and pushes them apart as wide as they'll go as she inhales.
Teia's hand finds Fallon's again, and she squeezes it. "Keep doing that, but put two fingers inside of me. Yes, that's it, Fallon, just like that. Andraste, have mercy." Teia cries out her name, and Fallon finds herself moaning against Teia's flesh as she squeezes her thighs together. Fallon has half a mind to shove her free hand into her own pants for relief, but Teia hasn't given her permission, so she doesn't. Instead, she digs her nails into Teia's thigh to distract herself, and because Teia seems to like the dull edge of pain.
It's not long before Teia is babbling a bunch of words in Antivan that, for the most part, Fallon does not understand, but she's able to pick out a handful here and there. Most importantly, though, Fallon understands when Teia says "don't stop," as her thighs begin trembling.
One, two, three rolls of her tongue over Teia's clit later, as Fallon's fingers curve inside of her, Fallon is treated to the most beautiful noise she's ever heard: the sound of Andarateia Cantori practically sobbing with pleasure as she clenches around Fallon's fingers and comes with Fallon's name on her lips. Fallon continues to lap at her diligently, moaning as her hand and mouth are soaked with Teia's orgasm, and she doesn't stop until she feels Teia grabbing her ponytail to remove Fallon's mouth and hand away from her sensitive cunt with an overstimulated laugh.
Fallon sits back on her heels again and beams at Teia, never breaking eye contact as she puts her fingers in her mouth to suck Teia's come from her fingers. A dopey, proud smile spreads on the Seventh Talon's face, and within seconds, she's on the floor on her knees in front of Fallon, stroking her hair and peppering her face with kisses. "You did brilliantly, querida. What a good girl you are, making me feel so, so good. I have no idea why you were worried."
Fallon blushes, her body practically vibrating from the praise. "I was just anxious from not having done it before."
"Well, you were perfect, little Crow," Teia kisses her, long and hard. Knowing that Teia is tasting herself on Fallon's tongue makes Fallon squirm again and squeeze her thighs together with a soft whimper. When Teia pulls away, her eyes have an almost feral look. She places her hands on Fallon's shoulders before somewhat forcefully pushing Fallon onto her back on the floor.
Fallon's lips part as she stares up at Teia, who is busying herself with unbuttoning Fallon's pants. "What— what are you doing?"
Teia looks up and smiles at her, swiftly pulling Fallon's pants down. "You deserve a reward for being such a good girl, don't you think?" She tilts her head to the side curiously, raising one eyebrow, and Fallon nearly chokes on her breath. "Yes," Fallon croaks. "Please."
Teia tosses Fallon's pants and underwear across the room, and Fallon shivers as she feels the cool air hit her soaked, throbbing heat. She settles herself between Fallon's legs with a smirk on her face. "That's what I thought."
The way Teia's mouth descends onto Fallon's pussy causes Fallon to immediately cry out with pleasure, arching her back skyward as she grabs Teia's hair. "Teia, fuck!" She moans wantonly, already embarrassingly close to her peak from going untouched for so long.
Teia is relentless as she devours Fallon, sliding two fingers inside of her immediately, pulling a sob from Fallon as she tries not to writhe on the floor. And when Fallon comes less than two minutes later, Teia does not stop. She swallows everything Fallon gives her, and continues indulging on Fallon's sensitive clit and stroking her inner walls with her fingers until Fallon comes on Teia's tongue a second time, then a third. Tears stain Fallon's cheeks when Teia finally slows and removes herself from between Fallon's thighs.
Teia crawls up next to Fallon and holds her close on the floor, resting Fallon's head on her chest as Teia strokes her hair. "Such a good girl, little Crow. You were incredible. You did so well." Teia repeats softly into the crown of her head while they catch their breath.
They lie there on the floor like that until the moon is high in the sky, and Fallon knows she needs to go home and finish packing her bag for her trip tomorrow.
As they finish dressing, fixing Fallon's face so she no longer looks like a despair demon with how her mascara streaks her cheeks, Teia walks her to the main entrance to the now-empty Cantori Diamond and kisses her sweetly. "Good luck tomorrow, little Crow."
Fallon grins. "Thanks. And um, thank you. For that. For this."
Teia smiles back at her. "Believe me, the pleasure was as much mine as yours," She winks. "And if you ever feel like you need more…practice, you know where to find me."
Fallon chuckles, nodding in understanding. "Good night, Teia."
Fallon opens the door and walks into the night, the summer air warming her skin as she makes her short journey home.
Viago is still awake when Fallon returns to House de Riva, sitting in the parlor and reading a book with a focused expression on his face. "You were out late." He remarks without looking up as Fallon walks through the room.
"I was at Teia's," Fallon answers truthfully, then smirks to herself. "She gave me a list of the best places to eat out in Antiva City once the contract is done."
Viago nods and grunts in acknowledgment. "Andarateia has good taste, so I doubt she'll steer you wrong."
Fallon has to bite her lip to keep from snorting with laughter. "Yeah, you're probably right. G'night, Vi."
Good taste, indeed.