Chapter 4

Kylo woke slowly the next morning and blinked away the residual sleep. He didn't move however. He could faintly hear his men moving about, but the ship was on course and there wasn't anything he was needed for. So he stayed, lazily, in the warm bed next to the pretty girl with no name. He'd slept last night, dreamlessly. That's a first… He couldn't remember a night he hadn't laid awake his mind abuzz or left shaking disturbed by nightmares. He hadn't spent a night since Starkillers destruction without some horror haunting him... His father reaching out to touch him as the flesh rotted and pulled away from the old man's face. Kylos throat tightened and he swallowed painfully.

It hadn't worked… The pain hadn't stop. He hid it well enough from Snoke, but killing his father had only made things worse. The light hadn't left… if anything it entrenched itself further, defiant of his wishes. He said it would work… He said it would make it stop…

A soft moan drew him from his thoughts and he loosened his grip on the girl beside him. His arms had tightened around her and he hadn't noticed. Warily he watched her sink back into deep sleep. She was so serene. Once he was sure she was out again he gingerly climbed from the bed.

Kylo dressed quickly and avoided looking at his sleeping pet. Girl…Pet… He didn't know her name and he didn't want to. I'll be rid of her soon enough anyway. There was no point in bothering to learn her name or anything else about her. She's entertainment, nothing more. He marched from the room now once again fully Kylo Ren.


Kylo returned to his quarters close to noon to find the girl still asleep. He set down the tray of rations and glared at her through the dark visor of his helmet. She had thoroughly cocooned herself in his blanket and he could hardly tell where her head was in the mass of fabric. He prodded her side sharply and was rewarded with an unhappy moan. He prodded harder. The mass shifted and a little pale face with green eyes looked up at him groggily. She looked like a little black Hutt wrapped in that blanket. She blinked once, then twice. Then her eyes widened and dilated in fear at the masked knight standing over her. Kylo grinned beneath that mask. She was fun to torment, and delightfully responsive.

"Wake up. You should be up and dressed by now." The vocal distorter made him sound more menacing then he really intended.

He turned away from her and went to sit at the desk. Emma sat up quickly and looked around the room in confusion. Dressed? Sure enough beside the refresher door was a neatly stacked pile of dark clothing. She hurried over to it. She kept watch on the man out of the corner of her eye as she slipped the large black sweater over her head. It fell to just about her thighs. The pants fortunately fit marginally better, though a bit long. She didn't want to have to ask him for a belt. When she turned back Kylo had already removed his helmet and was chomping at one of the Kahar hearts with mild disgust. They were like white carrots that tasted of sap and tannin. Emma bit her lip but failed to hide the slight giggle.

He glared at her with narrowed eyes, "And what is so amusing?"

She pointed at the stuff on his plate, "Those are cattle feed."

Kylo's face was emotionless for several moments. Something dark flickered through his eyes and his face contorted in a disgusted scowl. He dropped the ration back onto the plate and gave it his most withering glare. Kylo made a mental note to make that planet the target for the next Starkiller bases test fire.

Emma chewed at her lip anxiously, "They are edible. Just...gross."

He pushed the plate away, his appetite suddenly gone. He could starve for another hour or so. They would be at the Finalizer soon enough. Emma wasn't nearly as picky. She wandered over and reached out to grab one off the plate only to have her hand slightly slapped away. Holding her hand to her chest, she looked at Kylo in confusion.

"If you want some you have to work for it," Kylo's grin was vicious. Someone was going to pay for his humiliation.

"W-work?"

He leaned back in the chair and let his legs fall open. Heat rushed up to her cheeks. He figured she would have expected it by now. She fidgeted with the overly long sleeve of her shirt. He watched her thoughtfully and pondered was sort of game to play today. The shirt she wore was one of his and it draped over her shoulders loosely, exposing her slender neck and collar. Her cheeks were softly flushed and her breathe came in quick little pants through lightly parted lips. I wonder what she tastes like… She shifted nervously under his gaze.

He smirked at her discomfort and pat his leg, "Come here."

Emma swallowed roughly and stepped close. Kylo reached out and eased her down to sit in his lap. A broad hand braced against the small of her back to pull her closer. Her eyes flickered with a cautious unease, but he ignored it in favor of exploration. His fingers traced the sagging edge of the sweater before following her collarbone up to her pale throat. The rapid fluttering of her pulse could be felt under his fingertips. He followed the vein up and tilted back her chin. Her wide emerald green eyes shined up at him with worry.

Her lips looked soft and contrasted a subtle pink against her pallid skin. Kylo moved his hand to lightly cradle her chin and grasp her throat. So small…so delicate… He could squeeze and take the life right out of those eyes with one hand. He watched soft black eyelashes brush against lightly flushed cheeks. Her eyes seemed impossibly wide and bright this close. He felt her hand tighten its grip on his thigh and the right side of her bottom lip slipped away to be caught by her teeth. Her eyes moved in small swift movements as she took in his face with the same intense scrutiny.

Kylo closed the short distance between them to press his lips against hers firmly. She gave a startled noise against him, and it allowed him to press onwards to slip his tongue past her lips. The girl moaned into his mouth as his tongue slid against hers. She was sweeter then he'd been expecting and softer to. She struggled to match his movements with her own, but was far too frightened to be effective. Kylo pulled back. Her eyes were wide, filled with confusion and more than a little excitement. Promising…

He smirked down at her and leaned in for more. He caught her lips gently this time and her eyes fluttered closed as she eased into the touch. She kissed him back slowly, the slower pace much easier for her to match. His tongue found entrance and she opened willingly to him with a gentle moan. That's more like it… A delicate hand gripped the fabric of his tunic as he delved into her with growing intensity. He wanted to devour her, and if the way she was kissing back was anything to go by she was beginning to share in that hunger.

He laced his finger through her dark hair and slowly broke their kiss. Force he wanted more of this. A still gloved hand snaked its way under the dark sweater draped around her and slid up to cup a breast. The soft warmth filled his hand pleasingly and she gave a shuddered gasp when his thumb brushed over its peaked tip. She's mine. He pinched it and she gave a sharp little cry and a whimper. Kylo chuckled softly and leaned in to drag his lips across her neck, letting his teeth lightly graze the sensitive skin there. All mine. She moaned and let her head fall to the side, giving him more to kiss and taste. My…my..

"What's… your name?" He breathed the question more than spoke it.

Emma blinked. It had been so soft she wasn't sure she'd actually heard it. His head lifted and she stared up into the dark abyss of his eyes. She wanted to touch him so badly. "What's your name?" He asked again and her fist clenched at the fabric on his chest. "E-Emma…" Her voice shook from a mire of emotions.

Kylo inhaled deeply, "Emma..." He breathed her name out slowly and it sent jolts through her. Just hearing him saying her name left her tingling. Burrowing his face in her hair, "My Emma…" he breathed once more. Emma shivered. Yes…yes…

"Y-yes…" Her voice hitched and trembled.

Kylo groaned softly and met her lips with his. There was something almost frantic in each other's movements. As if they truly desired to consume one another. Emma raised a trembling hand to touch his cheek as he leaned her back against the desk beside them, kissing her hungrily.

A heavy knock sounded at the door and Kylo jerked away from her as though burned. She followed as he separated, not yet willing to give up his touch. He took several shaky breaths just staring down at her as though stunned. Steadily he came back to himself.

Sparing her a soft smirk, he lightly caressed her flushed cheeks. She looked up at him with such want. And there was just something deeply satisfying about that. The knock sounded again, though hesitantly this time, and he glared at the door with an irritated growl. Looking down at her with a frown, he helped pull the girl to her feet and gestured for her to stay. What now…He snatched up his helm, put it back on, and opened the door. The Trooper standing outside staggered back in surprise but was caught by the invisible grip around his throat.

"I said not to disturb me until we have arrived at the Finalizer," The vocal manipulator warped his words in terrifying ways. This interruption was most unwanted.

The Stormtrooper wheezed a few desperate breaths, "We…have…sir."

Kylo held the man there gargling for a few more seconds before letting him drop. The Trooper crumpled gasping to the ground like a rag doll. That was quick…He glanced at the small clock on his desk with a thoughtful hum. It seems I lost track of time.

"Stay here," He said sharply and Emma nodded rapidly.

The door swished closed as he moved quickly towards the front of the ship. If they had arrived already he'd have to figure out what to do with the girl. He could just get rid of her and save himself the trouble…but she was his. No one takes something that's his. Kylo wondered uneasily just how much of a fight Hux would give him over this. And what he'd have to do to keep the man's mouth shut. Kylo snarled behind the mask and stalked up to the viewing window that opened out to the black expanse of space, and the steadily growing form of the Finalizer.

. . .