The story so far:

It was the middle of the night, and Miriah was unable to sleep. She and Corso were locked in a small room on Taris, "For your protection" the soldier claimed. She was frustrated and slightly claustrophobic. She'd been turning this problem over and over in her head. What was she going to do about this man? She couldn't deny the reaction her body had to him, it was decidedly in the "for" column. It had been far too long since she'd enjoyed a physical relationship. And that was part of the problem.

Despite her reputation, she'd only known two men. Sure, she'd had occasion to know others, but regardless of what people thought they knew about her, she was careful and didn't trust easily, if at all. How could you love, even physically, without a degree of trust? She did trust Corso, he'd proven himself time and again. That brought the other problem to the front of her mind. How could she even contemplate a partial relationship with someone who affected her so much? She sighed in the night, the room was stuffy and hot. He deserved more than she could give him, she thought. If there were ever someone she'd consider a full relationship with, it would be someone like him, her brain argued. He only came along to begin with to get his damn blaster back, she thought, so why is he staying? Risha had told her he was crazy about her, but so far, he'd done nothing but get tipsy and ask to court her. How did you even answer that?

She was in the top bunk, being smaller, so she figured she was safe in sleeping in just her underthings. Corso was in the bottom bunk, snoring softly. Okay, she thought, I'm human, I'm attracted. Just having him that close was doing strange things to her. The lazy ceiling fan was stirring only the heat, she thought as she listened to it turn. The droning noise must have lulled her to sleep, because the next thing she saw was his face, as he was shaking her shoulder.

"Captain, wake up. It's okay, it was just a dream."

Yes it was, she thought, and you were the star. Her musings before sleep had manifest in her dream, and what he thought were gasps of fear were actually, in her dream, of pleasure. She stared at him, wide eyed, as she processed this.

"Are you alright? Can I do anything?" His concern only confused her more, and she bit her bottom lip. He was just staring at her, and she leaned toward him for their first kiss. He was surprised but quickly adapted, stopping her after only a few seconds and stepping back.

"Not here, not now. Your last first time should be special," he told her.

Change, she thought, just might be good.

Two weeks later:

Corso did his best to wring the water from his long dredlocks, but he knew that they'd just have to dry on their own. He only hoped that it would be sooner rather than later. Later, he had plans. Big plans. He ran his palm over his face, and decided to shave again. Of all the things he was hoping for, giving his captain a rash from his stubble wasn't one of them. He wrapped the towel around his waist and proceeded to get his razor out of his kit. He had just lathered his face when the pounding started. Risha was on the other side of the door, wanting in the 'fresher. Too bad, he thought.

"Corso!" Risha yelled. "I've got to get my bag from in there! I have a date, you know." He sighed and spotted the flowered bag hanging on the hooks beside the shower. He grabbed it, cracked the door open, and amid the steam that rolled out, saw Risha looking him over. "My, my," she said, her eyebrows raised. "All that time out running around Taris with Miriah must have been good for you." She grabbed the bag that he held high, so she had to jump for it. "Very good, indeed," she snickered, when his towel slipped. Corso blushed and covered himself, hearing Risha laughing as she made her way to the ship's ramp.

Risha saw Miriah at the navigational map. Always working, the Dubrillion queen noted. She watched for a moment, putting two and two together, and a pleased grin worked over her face. So, he's finally going for it, she thought. Good luck, both of them. She hummed a little as she sashayed down the ramp.

Corso turned his attention back to his shaving, but his thoughts wandered. To when he'd first met his captain, and she'd captured his heart with her grin. He'd been stunned when he'd seen her strut down the ramp of her ship. Skavak, of course, pulled out all the stops, but she merely brushed him aside. When he joined her in the hunt for her ship, he learned that she was funny, sweet, and loved kids. By the time they'd recovered their items, he already knew he'd follow her anywhere. He finished his shave, his fingertips confirming that his skin was as smooth as he could make it. With his other ablutions done, he made his way to his locker, where he'd put some casual clothes out. When he'd dressed, he sat on the edge of his bed and dug in the bottom of the locker. He'd stored some small treasures there, but he grinned when his hand wrapped around one of the best ones. He pulled out a vintage bottle of wine, one he'd been saving, and thumbed the layer of dust off the label. He knew a lot rested on the events of this night, and hoped that he'd be able to say and do what he'd rehearsed.

Miriah had eaten a little after her own shower, one much needed after Taris. When they'd boarded last night, she'd simply collapsed on top of her bed, too tired to do anything else. She noted that her blaster was on the nightstand when she woke, so she figured Corso had checked on her, but that was the only thing out of place. She'd slept until late afternoon, which was surprising, and was pleasantly relaxed after her meal. She pulled the galaxy map up, and plotted a course to Nar Shaddaa. They'd take off in the morning, she reasoned, since Risha had plans off ship tonight. Just as well, she thought. I'd like to be rested before we confront any more bounty hunters. She grinned when she thought of how well she and Corso had begun to work together. It was almost as if he read her mind. She sat in the captain's chair, lost in thought. Taris. They'd done some good there, she thought, and remembered the night they'd been locked in for their own safety. It had been hot and muggy, the swamps around them echoing with the cries of rakghouls. She and Corso had sought shelter, and had a small room with two bunks and a slowly rotation ceiling fan that did little to ease the stifling room. She recalled something he'd said then, after she'd pressed a kiss to his lips. Their first kiss, she noted. He'd told her that her last first time should be special. She'd admitted to herself, that statement frightened her.

She'd been aware of the young Mantellian since she'd first seen him on Ord Mantell. His charm had grown on her, and she'd found herself lowering some of the barriers she'd always had in place. Physically, he was a superior specimen, she mused. She'd had some rather explicit dreams about him, waking to find her self wanting him more and more. The thought that he might be her last lover had made her stop and think. About what she wanted from her life, her hopes and dreams. She was still thinking about that night on Taris, lost in her thoughts.

Corso was getting nervous. He wanted Miriah, so badly that he'd almost wept on Taris. That kiss was still searing his dreams, and he wanted more, so many more. It had taken all that he was to turn away from her that night. He blushed when he thought of seeing her, the thin tank top damp with sweat, her skimpy shorts showing those legs. He sighed. She was perfect. He wasn't at all sure he was good enough for her, but he wanted to be. He surely wanted to be.

He stood and hefted the bottle of wine. He'd figured out his approach, and since they were officially courting, it wouldn't be wrong to ask her to share a drink with him. Where it went from there, well, that was up to her. As much as he dreamed about making love to her, he would never force himself on her, or any other woman. He'd heard the rumors about spacers, and how they had men all over the galaxy, but he figured Miriah was different. She'd flirt, all right, and wasn't above showing a little skin to get someone on her side, but that's where it stopped. In the months since he'd joined her, she'd never brought a man back to the ship, and more than a few had wanted her to. Corso took a deep breath and started toward the bridge.

Miriah's sense of smell was very acute, and she was aware of his approach. Not that he smelled bad, not at all. He smelled….virile, she decided. Manly. She took a deep breath, smiling, before she turned. "Hey," she said softly, noting his appearance. He'd put on a long sleeved tshirt, and it stretched across his broad chest. His typical loose pants were replaced with something soft that molded to him. Her mouth watered, and she had to mentally remind herself not to stare. He started to speak, and she had to pull her attention from watching his mouth to his words.

"I've been wanting to celebrate with you, but most of our missions aren't the 'raise a toast' type," he said, a gentle smile on his face. "I've been saving this, a vintage Corellian red, for a special occasion. I was hoping we could share it." He moved closer, holding out the bottle. Miriah took it, looking at the label.

"Wow, this is a great bottle," she said, impressed. Corso moved closer, and ran his fingertips up her arms, feeling her respond.

"Maybe we can go somewhere...private," he said, close enough to feel the heat of her body, smell the peach scent she used in her hair. Just those things had him struggling to calm his body parts. Miriah grinned up at him.

"Come with me," she said, leading him to her quarters. He'd been there, briefly, before. Last night, even, he thought. But now, with the expectations lingering between them, it felt different. He looked around, the space was not opulent but comfortable. She led him to a small sitting area, and took two wine glasses out of a cabinet. When he'd uncorked the wine and poured it, she took a sip and hummed with pleasure, standing at his shoulder. "Very good," she told him, and put her hand on his arm. "But I have a feeling there's more to this." He looked into her eyes and saw the interest, but he knew they had to talk first.

"Captain," he started.

"I think, at this point, you can say my name, Corso," she teased gently. He blushed and continued.

"Miriah, I..." Her holo chimed, and she silenced it, glancing at the display. It was Risha, probably just to be annoying, she thought. She tossed the device onto the map table and turned her attention to Corso.

"Sorry about that, you were saying?" She stood and, stretching her arms up, pulled the tie from her hair, releasing the ponytail she usually wore. He blinked, taking in the sight of all that thick, long, ebony hair as it cascaded around her shoulders and down her back. He'd dreamed of putting his hands in that hair for months now. Instead of speaking, he stood, and stepped close, bending to gently kiss her, using all his control to move slowly.

"You are so beautiful," he whispered. "I know we're attracted, cap..I mean, Miriah. But we have to talk about this." She had her eyes closed, and her hands were inching up his back, exploring.

"Nothing to talk about," she murmured, pulling his head down to kiss him again. He resisted, and she finally opened her eyes, her desire clearly written in them.

"This won't be just a one time thing," he said, pulling her against him, and hearing her sharp intake of breath when her hips met his hardness. "I have to know that you are on board with that." She was lost in the sensation of him, and took a moment to respond.

"I don't know how to love, Corso. I don't know what I can promise you." She sighed and pulled herself from his embrace, missing his contact immediately. "I care for you, a lot. I could even say that I love you, but how do I know?" She turned so that he wouldn't see the sudden tears that sprang to her eyes.

"I need to know that you won't push me away. We could just scratch an itch, but that's not enough for me. I don't think it's enough for you, either. I thought I wanted to be that guy, but now that I've come to know you, we have the potential for so much more." He pulled her into his lap, as he sat down on the edge of the bed. "Let me show you how to love," he told her, bringing his lips to hers.

She was intoxicated with him, she realized, his kisses like a drug she couldn't get enough of. When he moved to kiss her neck, she felt her entire body melt under his mouth. She reached to pull her shirt off, but his hands stopped her. "Let me," he said. "I want to see all of you."

She never been with anyone who thought of her first. Her first lover was merely a boy, who had no idea about pleasing a woman. Her second, not much better. She'd learned, over the ensuing years, to pleasure herself, but she never experienced more than just getting things done with a man. Corso was igniting her, slowly, with just his hands on her back. She raised her arms as he brought her sleeveless shirt up and over her head, and lowered them around his neck.

Corso closed his eyes and touched the silky strands of her hair, gently at first, but when he finally cupped Miriah's head, he fisted his hands in the thick mass of waves, his mouth crushing hers. He'd longed to do this for so many months now! Her warm skin against him was good, but he quickly stripped off his own shirt, and the contact of their bodies made electricity race across him. He stilled her, the sensation of her weight on his groin was driving him crazy, and he knew if she moved against him, he'd wouldn't be able to hold back. He lifted her then, setting her on her feet in front of him. He hadn't known she only wore the thin shirt before, and now, with her perfect breasts on display, he struggled to maintain control. Her eyes were dreamy, and her lips slightly swollen from his kisses.

"Don't stop now," she whispered. "Please?"