One Night on Rhinnal

4 Months Later

Shada draped a shimmering brocade shawl she'd bought earlier in the day around her bare shoulders. She gave herself one last glance in the mirror. She felt certain no one would recognize her as Mazzic's 'companion'. Her wine colored velvet dress was positively conservative compared to what she normally wore in Mazzic's company. She'd left her hair down combed out in soft dark waves instead of up in zenji needles and she only wore subtle cosmetics. The firefacet gems in the necklace she was to deliver glittered brightly around her neck.

She went down to the hotel bar where she was to meet her contact. She was glad they were meeting here so she didn't have to go outdoors. She hated slogging through the snow in evening wear. The bar was crowded. It seemed she wasn't the only one who didn't want to venture out into the frozen Rhinnalian night. She threaded her way through the crowd to the bar, luckily finding a vacant seat. She ordered a glass of Sullustan wine as she waited. She politely deflected several offers of companionship until finally she caught sight of her contact.

He came up to her, his eyes going unsubtly to the firefacets at her neck. He offered to buy her a drink and they sat together a while making small talk maintaining the illusion that he was picking her up so they could go up to his hotel room and make the exchange without drawing attention to themselves.

After a sufficient time had passed and she had made certain no one had them under surveillance, Shada walked with her contact toward the exit. On their way he recognized someone and approached a group of several men to speak to them. There was something a little familiar about the stance the one whose back was to her and she was instantly on guard. The man in question turned as they walked up to the group and she felt a wave of conflicting emotions cascade through her as she recognized Talon Karrde. She hadn't seen him since the night they'd spent together.

There was only the merest quirk of his lips to suggest that he recognized her. Introductions were made and she had a tremendously hard time not rolling her eyes when Karrde was introduced as Jhustin Tyme. He thought himself entirely too clever for his own good.

Karrde bowed politely over her hand when she was presented to him. "A pleasure to meet you, Sleena."

"Likewise," she replied. She wanted to snatch her hand out of his grasp but she forced herself to stay relaxed and allowed him to press a light kiss to it.

The men talked for a while and Shada affected boredom, while surreptitiously studying Karrde. He had made small alterations to his appearance to fit the role of the respectable businessman she had discerned he was playing. He had grown his goatee into a full beard though still kept neatly trimmed. His hair was slicked back and tied in a queue. He wore conservative but well cut formal clothes. To the untrained eye she doubted he'd even be recognized as the infamous smuggler chief.

After a few minutes, she and her contact took their leave and returned to his hotel room. She exchanged the jewels she was wearing for the cash credits. Then they waited around in his room, playing cards for about an hour in case they might have been watched.

When she exited the turbo lift on her floor she caught sight of the shadow of someone lurking in one of the adjacent halls. She slipped through the door of the service corridor and came out behind the lurker who proved to be Talon Karrde as she suspected. She move silently behind him and had a vibroblade at his throat before he knew it. "What do you want, Karrde?"

"My dear Shada, have I done something to make you cross with me?" his voice as calm and amused as it ever was.

"Yes. Why are you here?" She pressed the blade closer to his neck.

"On this planet or outside your room?"

"Both."

"Surely Mazzic has taught you that information is never free. Perhaps you have something to exchange for it?"

She couldn't believe the man was bargaining with her when she had a blade to his throat. What gall. "Alright, Karrde. How about I don't slit your throat if you tell me what I want to know?" She nicked his skin a fraction to show she was serious.

"It's not exactly a fair bargain, but I do so enjoy life. I am on the planet to negotiate a contract with the gentlemen you saw me with earlier. I assure you it has nothing to do with whatever it is you're here to do."

She was willing to believe it had been a coincidence that they were on the planet at the same time. The textile firms on Rhinnal often made side contracts with smugglers to avoid some of the more stringent tariffs. "And why were you waiting for me?"

"My business has concluded and I thought if you were similarly free you might consent to have a late supper with me."

"Supper?"

"Well, I had hoped the evening would extend past supper," he amended. "We enjoyed each other's company on Satyatwena, perhaps we might do so again. But I would be content with only sharing a meal."

"How did you know I wouldn't already be engaged for the evening? After all I did leave with another man."

"You're not his type. The man you were with is not completely unknown to me. My sources tell me he prefers his bedmates much younger and more helpless than you are, my dear."

Shada made a disgusted sound in her throat. She hated the kinds of people she was forced to associate with working for Mazzic.

She withdrew the vibroblade and released Karrde, slipping the blade back into the sheath concealed beneath her long sleeve.

"Is that a 'yes'?" He turned around to face her, his expression amused as he pulled out a handkerchief and held it to the cut on his neck.

"I shouldn't be seen out with you after I left with my contact."

He nodded in understanding. "Perhaps we could dine in my room then?"

"I'd prefer my room."

He shrugged. "As you like."

She opened her room and he followed her in. Karrde was close behind her and pulled the shawl from her shoulders. She turned, not stepping back, so close to him she could feel the heat from his body in the slightly chilly room.

His hand reached up and gently traced the area of her neck where the necklace had been. "You're missing something."

"Am I?" she said noncommittally and took a step back. "Make yourself comfortable. I'll be back in a moment." She took her shawl from him and walked toward the sleeping area. She hung her shawl in the closet and safely stowed the credits. When she returned Karrde was lounging in a chair perusing the room service display looking for all the world as if it was his room and she the guest. He certainly knew how to fill a space when he wanted to.

She had brought back with her a first aid kit from her bag. When he saw it in her hand he tilted her head back without her asking.

"Aren't you going to say you're sorry?" he asked as she cleaned the small cut from the vibroblade.

"No."

"Why not?"

"Because I'm not sorry," she told him, placing a small bacta patch on the cut. "You needed to learn a lesson about who you should toy with."

His hands went to her hips, his thumbs stroking the plush velvet. "I'm not sure I've learned it yet." She let him to pull her down on his lap. "Perhaps you can instruct me further."

"Perhaps." She felt that same flutter of nervous excitement in her chest she'd felt before with him.

His slid his hands up caressing her back until they made their way into her loose hair. He pulled her head down to his, their lips a breath away. "May I kiss you?"

"Yes."

By the time the food came they had made it to the bed but were restraining themselves to touches and kisses, enjoying the anticipation of the acts yet to come. Karrde had managed to divest her of her dress and had shed his own tunic and shirt. Shada had unbound his hair as soon as she could. She much preferred his hair unrestrained. When the door rang, Karrde passed her his shirt to put on and went to answer the door and paid for their meal.

Once she sat down to eat, Shada realized she was famished. The food was rather good and the wine Karrde picked out was excellent. During their meal, she was reminded that Karrde was very good company. He seemed to be able to converse on any topic in the galaxy, but carefully didn't mention what they were both onworld for. He was respectful, charming, and made her laugh. And she knew she felt entirely too comfortable with him than was good for her.

Shada couldn't seem to stop herself from yawning in the turbolift. Though that was probably to be expected, she didn't get much sleep last night. She smiled to herself as she remembered the night. It had started off much the same as before with Karrde trying to make her lose control while holding back himself. She was on to his ways now and managed to shift things into more of a mutual loss of control. Once they'd gotten past that, they'd spent the night losing themselves in each other in as many ways as they could until morning.

When she reached the lobby, she stopped by the hotel restaurant to grab a large cup of caf for the ride to the spaceport. She paused near the entrance of the hotel, setting her caf down on the table and her valise on the floor. She pulled the fur trimmed hood of her heavy coat up over her head before fishing her gloves out of her pocket to put on. Just then a man stepped up beside her pulling his own gloves on. She knew without looking at him who it was.

She turned and glared at Karrde.

He just smirked at her. "Why it's Sleena, isn't it?" he asked calling her by the name she had used as cover. "We met last night."

"Yes, of course," she replied politely. "How are you, Mr. Tyme?"

"Tired. Didn't get much sleep last night."

She looked away from him thankful her deep hood hid her flush. "That's a shame."

"Not really," he said, his voice was low and husky, the way it had been in her ear last night.

"Well, if you'll excuse me," she said picking up her things. "I'm on my way to the spaceport."

"As am I, perhaps we could share a taxi?"

She looked back at him wondering what he was about. They'd said their goodbyes in her room. She hadn't expected to see him again here, but decided to play along.

"Sure."

He went to the valet droid to request a taxi and then they stood together inside the transparasteel doors waiting for it. She saw him keep gazing longingly at the cup of caf she was drinking. She couldn't help but noticing that he looked as tired as she felt. He hadn't been exaggerating when he said he hadn't gotten much sleep last night.

When the cab came he took her valise from her put them both their bags in the back before sliding in beside her. Once seated she decided to take pity on him and passed the caf to him. "You can have the rest. You look like you need it. You worked very hard last night."

He gave her a grin that was decidedly wicked, but he said very politely, "Thank you. You're most kind."

They were mostly silent on the trip to the spaceport until he spoke. "I have a ship. I can drop you somewhere if you like."

"Thanks for the offer, but I already have a ticket for a stateroom on the transport." She knew Mazzic would have pittens if she actually allowed Karrde to drop her at the base. Besides, she suspected it would be dangerous to spend any more time in Karrde's company. Especially with several days in hyperspace alone together.

"Of course." He didn't seem perturbed by her refusal. He got out at the transit terminal with her instead of going on to the landing area. He carried her bag and walked her to her gate.

He bowed politely over her hand. "Thank you for the pleasure of your company. I greatly enjoyed our time together." With a quick deft motion he flipped her hand and pressed his lips to the silver of skin exposed between her glove and sleeve.

She couldn't stop the shiver that went through her and she said, "I had a very good time as well. Thank you for your assistance." She took her bag from him.

"Have a pleasant journey," he told her. "Perhaps we'll meet again," he seemed to add almost as an afterthought.

Was he really suggesting that they do this again? She hadn't expected there would be more than that first night, but this opportunity had presented itself. If another opportunity arose, she'd be tempted to take it even though she knew she probably shouldn't. Karrde was after all something of a rival of her employer's, not to mention Mistryl rules against such ongoing liaisons, but she couldn't stop herself from telling him, "Maybe."

Karrde nodded seemingly satisfied with her answer. He stood there watching her until she disappeared through the gate to her transport.

Mara was waiting for Karrde when he descended the ramp of the ship. "How'd it go?"

"Without a hitch," he told her. "Shipments start next month."

"Good." They started walking toward the main building. "Sudden Demise ran into a little trouble with pirates, but it was nothing they couldn't handle." She gave him a sidelong glance and asked far too casually, "So did you run into Mazzic?"

"No," he replied, wondering why she was asking, but not allowing his surprise to show. "Did you hear he was on Rhinnal?"

"So Shada was on her own then? Convenient."

"Hmph." He couldn't help but inquiring, "How did you know?"

"I can't miss the sense of satisfaction rolling off of you. It's a different flavor than the conclusion of a good deal or when you've had sex with someone else."

Karrde was glad it wasn't obvious except to a Force user, but still… "I liked you better before you became a Jedi."

"I'm not a Jedi," Mara growled. She looked over at him again studying him intently. "What I can't figure out is whether it's the infringing on Mazzic's territory part that's so appealing to you or if there's something else that's special about Shada?"

"I suppose it's just that we're very compatible in the bedroom and neither of us desire further entanglements. If an assignation is convenient, why not enjoy ourselves. If not…" he shrugged eloquently.

"Do you think she'll tell Mazzic she spent the night with you?"

"I don't see where it's any of his business. Or yours for that matter."

"His bodyguard is sleeping with his competitor," Mara pointed out. "I'd be a little concerned if I was him."

"Very little sleep occurs I assure you." He grinned at her, then unable to resist needling her, "So have you run into Skywalker lately?"

"Oh, go to hell, Karrde," she stomped off leaving him there grinning.

TBC

This may be the last update for a couple of weeks. I'll be going to DragonCon next week and may not have a chance to finish the next part befor I leave.