A/N: Okay, here it is…another long awaited next chapter. Enjoy!
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Once Mara had thoroughly scrubbed her arms and legs, she handed the luffa back to her husband so he would be able to scrub her back.
"Hand me that gel will you?" He asked, indicating the bath gel.
Mara passed it back to Luke and he applied a liberal amount it. When he was sastified with the amount, he began to carefully rub her back and shoulders with it. He scrubbed in wide circular motions, one hand poised on her shoulder.
His wife practically purred. "Mmmm."
"Feel good?"
"What do you think?" She lifted her foot out of the tub, curling and uncurling her toes.
"I think I'm having a profound effect on you." He dragged the luffa downward, toward her lower back.
Mara arched slightly. "Don't." She gasped.
"Shhh," He leaned over, whispering in her ear. "Don't move." His breath was hot on her ears.
She turned her head to openly glare at him. "You are doing that on purpose."
Luke gave an innocent look. "Who me?"
"Yes, you. And if you don't cut it out, you can't join me in the tub next time." She threatened.
Luke brought the luffa back up to scrub at her upper back and between the shouldes blades.
"Well," His voice was soft. "Can't let that happen, can we?"
"Good thinking."
Luke switched over to her shoulders. Mara reached back and lifted up her hair so he could wash her neck. As he applied the luffa, he eyed the sleek column of her neck, noting the way her skin gave up a milky white sheen.
"Luke? Luke? Luke?" His name was being repeated over and over again.
"Hmm."
"I lost you there for a moment." She commented softly.
"There's…" Luke swallowed thickly. "A lot to get lost in."
"I see." She held out her hand. "Hand me the luffa."
He frowned. "What for?"
"Cause I won't get any bathing done with you scrubbing me." She chuckled softly.
"And that's a bad thing?
"Not usually." She turned around and laid on her belly, arms folded on the lip of the tub with her breasts pressed against the tub backing. "Tell you what, why don't you get us that champagne and bring over the desert. Then after that you can get me my robe and I'll let you help me get dressed."
He smiled slowly, his eyes held such adoration.
Mara reached a hand up and cupped his cheek and whispered, "I love you so."
Their gazes were locked on each other and the rest of the world was shut out. Luke reached up and placed his hand over hers, brushing aside a tendril of red-hair from her forehead with the other. After awhile, Mara dropped her hand down to his shoulder. "Now," She leaned up and kissed him. "Let's have some of that champagne."
"Right." Luke nodded and got to his feet. "Be right back, love."
Mara turned around and slipped back into a seated position. "I'll be waiting. Don't take too long." She watched him disappear beyond the refresher threshold.
Mara smiled. The man was absolutely besotted with her. It was a nice feeling, to know she was so loved by him. She'd never felt like this before about anyone. Nor had she'd anyone that felt about her the way Luke did.
She smiled and leaned over, reaching for the bottle of lavender shampoo. After dousing her hair with water, she started to wash it, rubbing the shampoo into a generous lather. She then rinsed the suds from her hair when she was done and lay against the back of the tub. Mara stretched contentedly, her feet dropped up on one side of the tub as she waited for her husband to return.
She frowned. What was keeping him so long?
The door opened and Mara could hear the score of soft music floating through.
'Oh, my love, my darling,
I've hungered for your touch
A long, lonely time'
There was silence as the door shut again. She squinted her eyes, making out her husband's dark silhouette in the candle light. He had the champagne in one hand and two glasses on the other. She walked slowly forward, his lips moving to the words of a song she couldn't hear anymore.
When he got closed, and kneeled down, setting up the champagne, it was clear he was singing some other song.
She smiled, endeared by the act. Luke singing? He was singing to her!
"Wise men say, only fools rush in
But I can't help, falling in love with you"
She grinned. "Singing, Honey?"
He shrugged. "I won't win any contests…"
"Actually, I think it's adorable." Mara was absolutely beautiful in candlelight. "You are adorable."
"Thank you." He smiled, picking up the champagne bottle. He stared at it as if expecting it to open itself, when suddenly the cork popped out. Luke picked up the glass and poured. "Champagne?" He offered.
"You used the Force!" She accused, indignantly.
"Then you don't want any?"
"You know very well I do. Hand me my glass, Attendant."
"As you wish, my love." He handed it to her.
Mara lifted the glass, muttering, "Cheater," before taking a sip.
"Perhaps, but you're worth it."
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When the water had begun to get cold and champagne a tad warm, Mara announced she was ready to get back to their bed. Luke raised an eyebrow suggestively, but fetched his wife a towel. She stepped up out of the bath tub, water running off of her alabaster skin. He gazed at her lovely form for a moment before wrapping her in the large towel, pulling her into his waiting embrace.
He felt Mara shudder.
"Cold?"
"Definitely." She muttered, shaking her head. "Never makes sense does it, you take a warm bath, but the second you get out, you're cold again."
Her forehead was wrinkled in that oh-so cute way he adored. He grinned at her frustration; holding her closer all the while.
"Is this better?" He murmured against her wet hair.
"Much." She responded, arching her body slightly. Almost as if she was trying to meld them together.
She buried her face in the crook of his neck, trying to soak up the heat. "You know for a man who wears black because "he's cold" half the time, you're actually very warm…hot even."
"Glad you approave."
"Glad you approve I approve." She retorted, still smiling. "Now, about that ro-"
But before she could say a word further, Luke bent down and scooped her into his arms, towel and all.
"Luke." She hollered in protest. "What are you doing?"
"Getting you to our bed," He explained. "I just thought this way, that I'd save you from the cold this way."
Mara glanced his way, tossing him a dazzling smile. "Good thinking." She wound her arms around his neck, pressing herself closer to him. "I know I married you for some reason."
"Hah, hah…"
She smirked. "I'm serious. You think I'd marry just any man." Mara Jade….marriage? "I assure you, I make sure he has a brain."
"So I pass all your tests," He quipped.
"With flying colors, Farmboy." She looked back. "What about the water?"
"Leave it; it'll still be there in the morning."
She smacked his shoulder. "Very funny."
"I do have my moments," He said with a smile and proceeded to carry her out of the refresher.
Luke walked the last few feet to their bed and placed her gently down on it then startled Mara slightly by going down on one knee.
"What're you doing?" Mara inquired.
"Going to help you get dry of course."
She rolled her eyes. "Skywalker," Mara ran her hand through his hair. "You don't have to do that."
Uh-uh uh. Mara, we've had this talk, and you promised me you weren't going to call me that anymore."
She smirked. "I did no such thing. I said, I'd think about it." She lounged back as if to let him proceed. "I still maintain right to call you that when you frustrate me or tick me off."
He gently picked up one foot with his hand and proceeded to dry her. "And do you plan to do that often?"
"Only if you plan on getting on my bad side," Her lips turned up. "Now's not looking too good for you, by the way. I suggest you hasten your drying efforts, I'm getting..." She lifter her other foot and rubbed it along his shoulder. "…cold."
"That's not going to work, Mara."
He ran a hand up her calf then up to her thigh.
Mara glared at him.
"That's how you do it."
"Tell me something, Farmboy," She made her voice low and sultry. "Do you want to play under the covers with me sometime in the near future?"
"Yes, Ma'am."
"That's better." Mara tilted her chin up. She was looking down her nose at him, her body practically revealed to his heated gaze.
"May I?" Luke asked, gesturing toward her.
She gave him a devilish smile, granting him permission. Luke got to work, gently rubbing at his wife's skin with the edges of the large bath towel. He inched further and further up, once he was satisfied with one portion of her body. He stopped bellow her breasts momentarily mesmerized by them.
"Ahem."
Luke turned his gaze up to star into his wife's startling green eyes. "Yes."
"Nothing," A smile. "You seemed distracted is all."
"Sorry. You're just…so beautiful." He breathed.
"So you've said before." She watched as a foolish smile graced his lips and said, "I can take it from her, Framboy."
"Are you sure?"
Mara pulled got up and continued to towel herself off. "Positive." She turned her head over her shoulder. "Do me a favor, Honey, and get me some fresh underwear and a nightgown."
"Sure."
Luke got up and crossed back over to the dresser rummaging in it as Mara dried herself. He found a ton of silken garments in the drawer, various shades of color: baby blue, dark blue, emerald green, red, and black. Some were lacy and yes a tad more risqué while others were plane silk.
"Luke, I'm dry. Where are my clothes?"
"Sorry," He picked the very first one his hand touched: baby blue ones. Luke next selected a black nightgown; at least he thought it was. It was awfully short. He held the two items together, feeling the temperature rising within him. "Oh, boy…"
Suddenly, he felt two arms wind themselves around his waist, a very naked body pressing against his. "So, can I have my clothes?"
"What? Oh, yes." He turned around slowly to face her and gazed upon his wife's nude body once more. He could feel his heart picking up speed and his body heating up.
Mara plucked the panties from his fingers and slowly slipped them on. Then, still watching him she slipped the nightgown on over head. The black gown was officially too short to be a nightgown; it was in fact a negligee—even he realized that. It had this straps and lace at the collar and along the hem. Luke could see her underwear, contrasting against the negligee. He'd always thought Mara had an exquisite body—even back when she had been threatening to kill him.
Truth be told, Luke would frequently find himself staring at her leather clad form, sometimes catching a glimpse of her back side as she bent down. Yes, she was gorgeous woman with a body that was simply stunning, and that was only amplified when she dress in sexy lingerie.
He gulped thickly.
Mara glanced down and grinned. "Getting excited are we?" She took his hand. "Come on, Honey, let's get back in bed. Let's talk."
Luke was finally able to speak. "About what?"
"Oh, your old girlfriends…"
He hesitated.
"You promised."
"I did no such thing." He protested.
"Well, if you don't tell me, I'll just go to sleep."
"That's blackmail."
"Maybe, but what's wrong if I want to know more about you?"
"Mara, why would you want to know about those women? They're in my past."
"It's because they're in your past that I'd like to know."
He looked at the floor as if contemplating this.
Mara's face fell. "I'm sorry, Honey. I pushed too far. Let's get to sleep."
"No," He gripped her hand, pulling her to him. "I'll tell you."
"Don't do it because you feel obligated."
"I'll tell you because I want to."
She searched his face. "Are you sure?"
"Positive."
"Allright. But first," She looked down bellow his waist. "We have to do something about that."
"I'm good."
She grinned. "Not yet, but you will be." With that, she backed him u to the bed, pushed him over, and straddled his waist, completely dominating him. She leaned down, whispering, "Oh, just to let you know. I prefer to be on top."
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Go, Mara… Well, there's a woman who knows what she wants. Lol Hope you enjoyed this! Please review!