How do these humans stand it? Selari asked herself, she must have smelled a dozen different perfumes trying to cover the odor of unwashed bodies. And they call me 'filth', she scowled as she examined her well-trimmed claws. Cathar were fastidious to a fault and she was certain she was cleaner than most of the patrons in the cantina.

At least it's quiet here, she thought, surveying the cantina of the Nar Shadda hotel where she'd been staying: the bright lights and loud machines of the casinos had pummeled her sensitive eyes and ears. But they hadn't hindered her luck, she reminded herself with a sly grin. The smuggler she'd gambled against was outraged when Selari had won his ship but it served him right for betting what he didn't want to lose. Of course it hadn't hurt that he'd been studying her slim legs instead of his pazaak cards, and she'd made sure that the shapely limbs grazed his every now and then, contributing to her victory.

She and her big brother Te'ig were finally ready to fly and the idea filled her with glee. They'd been itching for their own ship for some time now, he'd apprenticed with a bounty hunter and had promised as soon as they had wings they could strike out together. Well, with some company. Now that their plan had come to fruition Te'ig had asked about having an old friend team up with them; Taren.

Selari sighed nostagically at her memories of the Mandalorian. Growing up on Taris, his clan had resided in one of the encampments close to her pride's settlement, the two peoples sharing a tenuous peace despite their tumultuous history. Te'ig and Taren crossed paths one day while hunting bogwings and had been impressed with each other's skills, becoming fast friends. Since she'd always dogged her twin's footsteps it wasn't long before the three became inseparable despite his clan's misgivings and insults.

'Cathar trash!' She remembered overhearing the hurled epitaph amid a tirade of Mando'a when she'd snuck into his encampment hoping to surprise him and lurked outside of his home. Then she'd heard a blow land and fled before anyone knew she was there. The next day his cheek was swollen and she couldn't help herself, she gave him a hug and gently kissed the bruised area.

'What was that for?' he'd asked in shock and she shrugged, not wanting him to know what she'd heard.

'Thought you needed one,' she'd said glibly. She'd been completely surprised when he'd smiled and dipped his face down to kiss her cheek in return.

'Thought you needed one too,' he'd chuckled before Te'ig had called for them and they'd shared a laughing glance.

Ahhh kids. She sighed as she shook her head, remembering when they'd been gawky adolescences. That had to be almost ten years ago, right before Taren turned thirteen and was sent off on his verd'goten, the Mando rite of passage. They'd shared one last bittersweet kiss the night before he left, but then he was gone and she'd never heard from him. Life was too short to pine for phantoms though, and she'd decided to tuck away those treasured memories and move on.

Imagine her surprise though when Te'ig said he'd run into their old friend. Sounded like he was looking for a new venture and her brother was convinced that he'd be the perfect addition to their team. It was just after she'd lucked into her ship - hers, she wasn't letting Te'ig forget that - and the timing seemed perfect.

Speaking of timing, she thought, where was her errant brother? He wasn't known for his punctuality but this was late even for him. He'd probably found Taren early and decided to have a few drinks before meeting her. Hell, it wouldn't surprise her if Te'ig was introducing Taren to some of the seedier cantinas around Vertica. Well if they were going to keep her waiting who said she couldn't have some fun too? She could take advantage of the fact that she still some time before she had to check out of her private room, maybe go find some entertainment of her own.

Looking around the cantina she met the eyes of the Mirialan barkeep. The woman gave her a wink and Selari winked back, but as attractive as the short curvy woman was it wasn't what she was in the mood for. She sneered at the scattered Imperial officers she saw, she'd had to deal with their petty xenophobia more than once. Then she saw a likely candidate, a broad shouldered man in billowing trenchcoat sitting at the opposite end of the bar.

Stay Back radiated from him like a neon sign but she still slid from her stool and ventured closer. She noticed that despite his shoulder-length silver hair he was about her age. There were fine scars peppering his forehead, as if he'd been caught up in shrapnel, and his dark eyes were focused on his drink.

She glided into the seat next to him, turning so she was leaning with her back on the bar and making sure to stretch her lithe body carefully, knowing how to maximize the effect of every graceful movement of her tight, toned body. She'd been complimented more than once on the fine black stripes that laid stark against the pale silver fur of her face, looking like they'd been painted on by an artisan's hand. They highlighted the peculiar white diamond-shaped mark on the bridge of her nose and rimmed her large ice-blue eyes more effectively then cosmetics.

In spite of the admiring looks she'd still had to deal with the stigma of not being human. Such a shame, she sighed inwardly, even pretty aliens were still just aliens to so many. But hopefully the fella she was currently watching wouldn't have those small-minded prejudices.

"Hi Sexy," she purred, "How's your night going?"

He shot her an offhand glance as short as courtesy would allow, then jerked and turned back to her. She saw the other side of his face and was impressed by the intricate red thorny-vine tattoo covering it. His eyes narrowed as he looked her over but his mouth quirked as if fighting a smile as his gaze traveled from her tousled charcoal mane, down her tight metallic silver top to the short black skirt that showed plenty of her sleek legs in spite of her knee high boots.

"Peaceful," he said, "And yours?"

"Painfully boring, they can't even serve a decent drink here." His mouth quirked again.

"So why stay?"

"Oh, I'm waiting for someone," she pouted, "He's running late, again." This time the quirk stretched into a smile.

"Not going to cause trouble is it, me talking to you?" he asked and she smothered her laugh with her hands.

"Gods no," she chuckled, "It's just my fuzzhead brother." He started chuckling along with her and she knew she had his attention. "Since I have time and a room, care to make my waiting less boring?" She smoothed a hand along the side of his leg lightly and he glanced down at it before covering it with his own.

"Maybe I'm not that easy. Try buying me a drink first." The gleaming dark eyes were oddly appealing and she found herself smiling at him.

"Alright then."

She motioned for the barkeep to bring two over. The cute Mirialan raised an eyebrow and tilted her head at Selari's companion, but shrugged as if to say 'another time' as she dropped off the glasses.

"To not being bored," she toasted as she clinked her glass to his and tossed back her drink. Hiding a grimace at the rotgut they were trying to pass off as Corellian rum, she smiled again at her companion.

"So, what's your name?" he asked and she shook her head.

"Nope, no names. This is a one-time offer, no-strings-attached."

He raised an eyebrow and she wondered if he disapproved but he leaned in closer to her ear. "Then what name would I call out if we spend some time together?"

She repressed a shiver at his rich voice, turning to look at his face up close and the intricate tattoo work curling over his cheek and forehead. Her hand twitched, itching to trace it, but instead she gave him a sultry grin.

"Silvermoon," she purred, giving him the alias she'd decided on for her hunting career. "And what name would you like to hear cried out?"

He looked thoughtful before smiling that knowing grin again. "I'll settle for Ghost," he murmured with his face still close. With his pale skin and silver hair the name made complete sense.

She closed her eyes briefly and parted her lips, taking in a subtle whiff. Her sense of smell was exceptionally astute even for a Cathar, and as silly as it may have seemed to others, she trusted it explicitly to appraise people. The stranger smelled clean, none of the foul odor of a spice user or the lingering smell of another female or male. In fact the only scent she could pick up was his, meaning if he had a lover it'd been a while since they'd been together.

She'd chosen well, she could even detect the rich hormones indicating his desire mingling with his fresh, clean scent. On the hook, just need to reel him in.

"So Ghost, would you prefer another drink here or in my room?"

The gleam was back in his eyes and the hand still covering hers squeezed lightly. "Are you always this direct?" He side-stepped her question but she grinned as she leaned in closer.

"Khan is always nipping at our heels." She referenced the Cathar deity of Death. "When I meet him I don't want to wonder what I missed out on."

His shoulders bobbed up and down as his chuckle became a laugh and there was genuine pleasure on his face. "I like that," he chortled before his eyes flashed with heat. "Just let me check one thing."

He closed the distance between their faces, meeting her lips with his. She was caught off-guard for just a moment before she returned the kiss, drawing it out sweetly and letting her fingers graze the vines adorning his face.

When he pulled back his eyes glowed like dark jewels and he sighed, "So, it's not a dream." She smiled brighter at the sweet statement, following him as he rose, still holding her hand and tugged him to the cantina's back exit.

Rushing up the single flight of stairs and down the hall to her room she noticed the urgency in his movements, as if he was afraid she'd change her mind. She tried smiling reassuringly but when she squeezed his hand he paused, pulling her to him. He slid his arm around her and brought his mouth to hers in a hotter version of the kiss they'd just shared in the cantina. She moaned in delight as her tongue joined his and when he broke off to kiss down her throat she wondered if they were going to make it to her room.

"Just a few doors more," she murmured as they clutched at each other and she heard a muttered agreement as he released her but kept an arm around her waist. When she finally stopped at her room and fumbled for her key he leaned over and nibbled at her sensitive ear. Shivers of anticipation tickled her spine and when the door swung open she turned to give him a playful grin.

"Last chance to say no," she teased as she watched the heat flare in his eyes that matched the flame in her blood.

"To you, never," he growled as they entered her room.

As soon as the door closed they rushed at each other, their mouths meeting heatedly. She was surprised how in synch they seemed, and how hungry, practically devouring each other. Threading a hand through his hair loosened the silver locks and they fell around his face, tickling her cheek. His fingers dug into her back as his lips moved on hers, kissing deeply while avoiding her delicate fangs.

She dropped her hands to his coat, helping him shrug it off then pull his sleeveless shirt over his head. His bared torso was well muscled but heavily scarred, evidence of a hard-lived life. There were slick ones from blaster shots, more peppering from shrapnel and a large gnarled burn scar on his shoulder. She murmured in sympathy, tracing it before moving her mouth down to kiss it. He jolted at the soft touch but cupped her cheek to bring her lips back to his.

"That was the past," he groaned. "This is the future."

She didn't have time to think about his words as he captured her mouth again, lifting her so that her legs wrapped around him as he took her the short distance to the bed. He laid her down still holding their kiss, only stopping to stand next to the bed, unfastening his pants and boots and hurrying out of them. But as he moved towards her, she quickly got up on her knees, placing her palm on his torso.

She leaned forward, tracing a long lick up the muscles of his abdomen, feeling him shiver from the semi-rough texture of her tongue. Moving higher to his chest she did it again, kissing and licking both unmarred skin and scars. He was a statue under her attention, completely frozen except for a random shudder. She moved back down still tracing his muscles, then nuzzled the slight patch of pale hair above his arousal before she gave his member the same treatment

A ragged groan escaped him as she licked gently around the tip and down his shaft. She would have continued if he hadn't suddenly sunk down onto the bed, covering her body with his. His mouth caught hers again as his fingers found the zipper of her top and pulled it down, then moved to the fastenings of her skirt, removing it quickly with her underwear. His lips tore from hers and sped to her breast, suckling at the sweet nub that stood from the sleek fur of her chest as his hands traveled over her, rubbing the velvet texture of her body.

One of his hands glided between her legs and she arched as his fingers explored her folds, his thumb rubbing her sensitive cluster of nerves as a finger slid inside her center while she writhed under him. He kept his hand moving, stroking until her body felt like it was sizzling then finally shattering as she cried out in ecstasy.

She heard his urgent murmurs as he shifted between her legs, moving his hand from her and using it to position himself to her center before sliding in hard. They gasped in unison as their bodies joined and she arched again, then reached up to cup his face and bring his mouth to hers. He moved in deep rolling thrusts, groaning each time he filled her while she held their wild kiss.

Her hands clung to the hard muscles of his back, feeling them shudder from the demands of his movements. She was mewling in response, thrashing like a creature possessed under the onslaught of pleasure. Her body shook as another tidal wave of rapture washed over her and she yowled into his mouth.

Suddenly he reared back, bringing her up with him as he knelt and let her straddle him, grasping her hips to assist her. The change in position had her trilling in delight as she moved above him. Now controlling the pace, she moved in fast hard strokes while his fingers dug into the soft furred flesh of her rear, urging her on.

Swiftly swept up by a crushing climax, she broke their kiss screaming "Ghost!" as her body tightened around him. Her reaction seemed to trigger his, she felt his mouth hot on her throat as he shouted in completion, his body spasming into hers. Time froze as they remained joined and their bodies trembled while she rubbed her cheek to his shoulder.

There was a sense of disorientation as they slumped to the bed and he adjusted so she was sprawled over him. She felt like they'd melted together, their labored breathing slowing as one while she listened to his heart race under her. Purring in satisfaction, she slid to his side still enjoying the feel of him close to her and a chuckle vibrated against her ear.

"You sound less bored," he rumbled and she giggled in response.

"Guess I have you to thank for that," she replied breathlessly, rising to meet his eyes and walking her fingers over his chest. "You always so enthusiastic?" He chuckled louder, rolling to keep them face to face.

"I've only been waiting ten years," he murmured as he stroked her cheek.

Unsure what he meant she tilted her head at him and her confusion seemed to amuse him. "You really don't know, do you Kitten?" He stroked her cheek again as he gave her a light kiss before whispering, "It's me, Taren."