Here's to starting another crazy adventure with my favorite Star Wars duo. In my opinion, there aren't nearly enough of these stories out there!
Please, when you're finished reading, take a second to tell me what you liked (or what you didn't) by submitting a review.
Special thanks to my Beta-Buddy, Lauriana. You-da-best!
Cheers!
-Kiyral
Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars or its characters. I merely borrow them from time to time for my own enjoyment. I make no profit off this stuff.
Luke hadn't liked Mara's date for that evening, though it appeared Mara certainly did. He could tell by the way the fiery trader kept leaning in to whisper at the strikingly handsome Prince when she thought no one was looking. By the way she smiled and laughed, her green eyes shining, at everything he had to say. Perhaps Mara Jade didn't think anyone would notice, or perhaps she didn't care, but Luke had been watching every move. He had also noticed the frequency in which Mara had drained her glass of brandy; at least half-a-dozen times throughout the party. Not that he was keeping count, of course.
So when he returned home after dropping off his sister, he was surprised to see the red-haired beauty pacing near the door to his apartment. She was trailing her fingertips across the wall and her black shimmersilk gown glistened with every step. As soon as Mara noticed him, she stopped to lean clumsily against the wall and snorted.
"About time. What, did you crawl here?" Mara said impatiently.
"As a matter of fact," Luke countered as he keyed the door open, "I had to help Leia organize a few things after dropping her off." He glanced sideways at his visitor, "I wasn't really expecting company."
Mara snorted again. "Sure," she said, then raised an eyebrow and nodded towards the door that had remained closed, "You going to invite me in or what?"
"Of course." Luke signaled the door again and his cheeks flushed in embarrassment that it hadn't opened at his initial command. After trying his pass-key again, the door still refused to budge.
"It seems you and technology don't make the best bedfellows," Mara teased watching his flush deepen.
When his third and fourth attempts both failed, Mara deftly snatched the card from the Jedi's grip, and leaned across him to access the card reader. In mid-lean, her mouth paused by his ear and she teased, "Let me help you with that, Farmboy."
Luke was suddenly very aware of how near she was but found himself unable, or simply unwilling, to move. Rooted in place, he was hypnotized by her intoxicating scent; a mixture of warm ocean breezes and delicate jihill'ia blossoms blended with an exotically spiced brandy. Inhaling deeply, he closed his eyes and savored the fragrance unaware that Mara had opened the door on her first try.
"Ahem." Mara cleared her throat forcing Luke's eyes to snap back open, "You going to stand there all night sniffing me, or are we going to go inside?"
He shrugged, offering a silly apologetic grin, and gestured for Mara to head inside first. "You smell nice," he said simply.
Mara rolled her eyes and walked inside with Luke close at her heels. Once the door was closed, she permitted herself a glance about the room, but instead of choosing one of the inviting seats, she remained standing and turned back to the Jedi.
Regarding him for several seconds, Mara crossed her arms across her chest and narrowed her eyes, notably managing to keep her balance. "So what was with you tonight?"
Luke paled, "I don't know what you mean."
Mara cocked her head to one side and deftly raised a single eyebrow enticing a small sigh from the patient Jedi. "You were watching me all evening."
"I wasn't…"
Mara silently closed what little distance there was between them with one deliberate step. "But you were," she breathed.
Luke's vision clouded slightly and he could feel his pulse quicken. He didn't even realize he had been backing away until he collided with the wall behind him. Mara was still close enough for him to count the specks in her shining green eyes. Green eyes that seemed somewhat darker than normal.
"I didn't get a moment's peace tonight with you glaring at me. What's your problem?" Mara accused, blinking hard and frowning as if trying hard to keep her subject's face in focus.
"I just…Mara, I didn't mean to…"
"Damn it, Skywalker!" Mara slapped her palm against the wall beside Luke's head to emphasize her frustration, "Don't play coy with me! I was supposed to close this deal for Karrde tonight and now it's going to take another whole week because of you! Do you even realize how much you've set me back?"
It was Luke's turn to frown, "How was all that my fault?"
Mara pulled her hand from the wall and used it to massage her closed eyes and pinch the bridge of her nose. She sighed tiredly and took a few steps backwards, stumbling into the closest chair. "You were being so Sith-damned loud! It was a huge distraction…I just couldn't concentrate. I even tried drinking to drown it out, but it only seemed to compound the problem. I could tell that Prince Phialo was getting frustrated with me."
"How?" The Jedi asked dumbly.
Mara glared at Luke and adopted a sarcastic tone, "He sent me a candy gram." She rolled her eyes and shook her head in defeat, "He ducked out early before we'd closed the deal. Said something about discussing the issue when we could be alone, without my jealous lover hovering over my shoulder all evening."
A quizzical expression settled on Luke's brow and he absently rubbed his chin with the back of his hand. "…who?" He didn't seem to remember anyone bothering the two of them.
Bitter sarcasm changed to exasperation and the frustrated trader threw her arms up in the air. "You, Skywalker! He was talking about you! You and your skulking looks all night, what the Sith were you thinking?" Mara let out a deep breath and leaned back in the chair, pulling her hands slowly down her face, "Karrde's going to have a bloody conniption when he finds out, that's for damned sure."
Luke stood in stunned silence. He thought he'd been extremely careful not to be obvious about his 'surveillance' at the party. He knew full well just how infuriated Mara could get if and when she felt someone was invading her privacy. Had he really been that obvious?
A loud snort brought the Jedi out of his inner monologue.
Red hair spilled around the fingertips she was using to massage her temples, "Forget it," she said dismissively.
"Mara, I'm sorry." Luke apologized.
Mara gave him a dubious look. "I'm sure you are."
Her sarcasm enticed a reactionary wince. "No, really. Let me make it up to you."
Mara dropped her hands in her lap and raised an eyebrow, "I'm intrigued," she said with only a hint of her natural sarcasm, "Go on."
"Dinner. Tomorrow night," he paused to gauge her reaction and continued when she didn't refuse, "I'll cook…" Luke's voice trailed off as Mara's expression darkened. "I mean I'll take you out, someplace fancy."
"Alright," Mara agreed reluctantly, "but this place better be expensive."
Luke swallowed visibly. "Right, Tres Envieux?" He suggested the most exclusive place that came to mind, "pick you up at eight?"
"On the nose." She stood up carefully from her seat and looked the Jedi straight in the eye before making her way to the door, swaying only slightly. "Gods help you if you're even a second late, Farmboy." She palmed the internal release and the door flew open as she turned to leave.
Noticing her slight wobble and steadying hand trailing the wall, Luke scrunched up his brow and called out hesitantly, "You okay, Mara? Can I walk you home?"
"I'm fine, Jedi!" She snapped, not bothering to look back at him. "You just worry about tomorrow night."
With that, the door slid closed behind her and Luke was left alone feeling as if he'd just survived a swoop wreck. Exhausted, he sighed and found his way into the bedchamber. Without bothering to undress, the once-hero of the Rebellion collapsed face first onto his bed, defeated by an angry woman with an appetite that could rival a Wookiee's. He groaned when he imagined the waiter handing him the bill. She was going to wipe out his entire savings, he was sure of it.
