Author's Note: First off, there's smut in this chapter. I felt I had to warn you all. There's some implied femslash and a whole heck of a lot of blatant teasing. There's also implied drug use. And naked Malavai Quinn. Wow, when I start listing off the warnings, this sounds like a much more risqué chapter than I meant to write. And I wanted to thank all of you wonderful readers who have been giving me reviews and comments—you are truly the spark that keeps me writing. Please, if you like it or if you have suggestions how I can make it better, please review or PM me. I am compulsive about responding. Yeah, years of therapy. Now, on with the show. And, yes, I know I'm likely going to Hell for what I'm doing to these poor characters.
Disclaimer: See chapter One. I still own nothing and am making no profits from this story. Please-no flames.
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Chapter Nine: Games Grown Ups Play (Part 1)
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Drinks had turned into an afternoon of reminiscing and conversation, with a sumptuous meal that would have rivaled the best chefs of Nar Shadaa's Promenade. The Alderaanian salmon had been cooked to perfection and the Corellian white had been an excellent vintage. As they'd lounged in the suite that served as Juda's and Si'na's home, things had turned…interesting.
Apparently Juda had wanted to show the pretty pirate a more…personal…gratitude. To Malavai's surprise, the Twi'lek had all but dragged Caer into a room off the main lounge area for several long hours, sounds that left little to the imagination muffled by the door but still able to be heard by the two men.
"She really likes your girl," chuckled Hiram, setting his booted feet on the low table in front of him. Si'na had not changed much in ten years—though it was apparent that his copper hair had not seen an Imperial barber in at least that long. "I haven't seen Juda this enamored of a Human other than me since the last winner of the Great Hunt blew through here."
Malavai cast a glance at the closed bedroom door, images flashing unbidden in his mind of what the two women could be doing to and with each other. He shook his head, reaching for the wine that Hiram had poured him. "So how's civilian life treating you, Hiram?"
Si'na shrugged, massive shoulders moving like rounded mountains. "Same officious bastards to deal with but at least the scenery is different." He sipped his own drink. "Though working for the Cartel has its definite perks. And Juda's happy; can't say that she would have been on Drommund Kaas."
Quinn nodded, agreeing silently. While a dalliance with an alien might be overlooked, true intimacy with an alien by an Imperial was more than frowned upon. He cast another speculative glance at the bedroom door as it slowly opened. Juda, now wrapped in a thin, silky robe, strode towards Si'na. With a giggle, the Twi'lek dropped onto his thigh, kissing the copper-haired ex-Imperial deeply.
"I think I like pirates, Si'na. Can we become pirates?" cooed the Twi'lek, meeting Quinn's gaze.
Quinn smirked then winced, rubbing at his temple. Ever since they'd arrived at Si'na's room, his head had been throbbing. But he couldn't go back to their rooms for a hypospray—not without leaving Caer without backup.
Si'na stroked down Juda's lekku, enjoying the shudder that raced through her body in response to his touch. "For you, my dear, anything." Si'na watched Quinn squint in pain and allowed himself a tiny grin. "Hey, Mal, let me give you something for that." The copper-haired man stood, crossing to a chest near the door to fetch a bottle. Tipping the contents into Quinn's drink, he motioned for the Imperial to drink.
Malavai nodded, gulping down the drink, grimacing at the overwhelming fruit flavor that invaded his mouth. "What is it?"
Si'na chuckled. "It'll take care of that headache, guaranteed." He folded his arms over his chest, watching the dark-haired man. The Malavai Quinn he'd known ten years ago would never have taken any medicine from anyone else, regardless of the source. Interesting. "Now, I think I should get you and your lady back to your rooms so I can enjoy my own. Juda?"
The Twi'lek nodded, lavender eyes narrowed. She'd spotted the particular bottle that Si'na had slipped Malavai and knew, from experience, what that drug did to Humans. "I'll get her. "
Malavai nodded then blinked. There was something…odd…in how he felt. He wiped a hand down his face, trying to pinpoint what had changed. He started as he felt the warm fingertips of Caer close over his bicep, the touch seeming to burn through his tunic to the skin beneath.
Caer frowned, glancing back at Si'na. The older man had an innocent look and Juda sported a guilty expression of her own. "Thank you so much for your hospitality."
Juda nodded, walking with Caer towards the door and out of earshot of Si'na. "Blade, take care of him. He—" she started.
"Juda!" bellowed Si'na, striding towards the women before throwing a beefy arm around his lover's shoulder, drawing the Twi'lek back against him. "Thank you again, Mistress Blade. You've been most entertaining."
Caer nodded, tugging Malavai behind her. That the dark-haired Imperial didn't object to their intertwined fingers should have been her first indication of a problem.
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The walk back to their rooms was mostly silent. Fortunately, most of the people who otherwise might have passed them were engaged in other pursuits and Caer and Malavai arrived at the suite without incident. Caer palmed the door scanner, nodding to Quinn as they both stepped into the room. It took only moments to scan the room and deactivate the surveillance devices left in their absence, during which time Quinn was quiet.
"I'm going to get cleaned up," she advised, already toeing off her boots and pulling her shirt over her head as she headed towards the refresher.
Quinn nodded absently, blue eyes following a trail of clothing that led into the refresher room. He still tried to pinpoint the change that he felt within him. Then it hit him. No limits. No guilt. Nothing to color what he wanted with his ever-present self-control and better judgment—and what he wanted at this moment was the curvy woman stripping in preparation for a shower.
He reached for the buttons on his tunic, making quick work of the row of small silver buttons that dotted it from neck to waist. He wrenched the shirt from his shoulders and dropped it to the floor, the undershirt following with a barely contained snarl. He dropped onto the edge of the bed, pulling off his boots and socks. Now clad only in his trousers, he padded barefoot across the floor to the refresher room door. The shower had shut off moments before and he could hear the large sunken tub, the one that neither of them had used since obtaining the room, being filled.
He waited until he heard the unmistakable sounds of a body lowering itself into the water before pushing open the door to the bathroom. The lights within the bathing chamber were dimmed, casting long, deep shadows around the room. Steam frosted the mirrors that covered one side of the room. In the corner, sunken beneath the floor level, lay a stone-hewn tub, the sides seemingly having been formed from the same slab of rock as the rest of the room's floor. "Is there room for one more?"
Caer cracked a green eye open, a sarcastic reply poised to drop from her lips about the joys of debriefing when she stopped. Something was different. Surprise swept over her face as she watched, mouth slightly agape, as Malavai stepped into the room. Something in her brain snapped, leaving her feeling exceptionally stupid, as she watched the man who she'd admired from afar slowly unfasten his pants and let them drop on the damp stone floor. Her eyes widened as she swept her gaze over him from the tips of his toes to the top of his head, not quite believing what she was seeing.
"Caer. Are you quite alright?" If she didn't know better, she'd bet that was a teasing tone to his voice.
Caer swallowed, nodding dumbly as she watched Malavai stride towards her, only clad in his grey boxer briefs. She couldn't speak as she drank in the pale vision in front of him. Clearly he needed to see a bit more sun, she thought absently, eyes tracing the lines of his pectorals and abdominals. Other than his pallor, she could find no fault with the vision before her. "Fine." She stared down at the water, suddenly uncertain then took a breath. "I can't believe I'm doing this," she muttered softly before meeting his gaze. "Malavai, I'm going to try to do the honorable thing for once and give you an out. You are standing in range of a woman who would happily do very bad, very pleasurable things to you for hours on end and damn the consequences. If you are not interested, you can turn your very fine ass around and head back out of here."
Quinn smirked, fingers toying with the waistband of his briefs before he slid them slowly down. As he lowered himself into the hot water, he hissed. "Working on that speech long, were you?"
Caer swallowed, her mouth snapping shut as she got her bearings. She was in a tub. With a naked Malavai Quinn. And he was teasing her for trying to be honorable. "Fuck you."
A quick surge across the tub and Malavai had pinned Caer to the side of the tub, strong arms framing her prison on either side of her. Dipping his head down to rub his stubbled cheek against her throat, he chuckled darkly. "Oh, I plan to."
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