One Frozen Night

4 Months later

Shada wore a coat of luxurious silvery fur. Mazzic had won it in a sabacc game while ago when his opponent had run out of funds. She thought Mazzic had contemplated keeping it for himself, but it was really far too ridiculous coat for him to seriously wear. So he had given it to her, saying that it would indicate he kept the woman who was supposed to be his mistress in style. She wasn't sure it was exactly stylish, but it was ostentatious and she couldn't deny it was warm in this snowy landscape.

"Karrde sure knows how to pick his bases," Mazzic said as they got out of the snowspeeder that had been sent to pick them up at the landing area.

The deep hood of her coat prevented her from glancing to the side, instead she had to turn her body to see an equally bundled up, though less furry, Mazzic beside her.

"Perhaps you could learn something from him," she told him. Mazzic's bases tended to be backwater holes in the wall, nothing like the abandoned snow resort Karrde had apparently taken over for the time being. He seemed to have a penchant for the dramatic. She remembered the ancient fortress that had once been his base on Hijarna.

They followed the path to what was once the main lodge of the resort. Slightly off to the side of the main entrance, the snow was stained in several places with blood and imprints left where bodies had fallen. They both instinctively drew blasters. The doors opened and Karrde walked out on the veranda.

"You won't need those," he told them. "Please come in and warm yourselves."

"So what's this about?" Mazzic waved his blaster at the bloodstains.

"A reminder of how betrayal is handled in this organization."

"I understand I might need to make a similar display," Mazzic said referring to the vague summons he'd received from Karrde. He holstering his blaster and motioned to Shada to put hers away too.

"We'll discuss it after dinner. You've arrived just in time for our afternoon meal."

Shada climbed the steps and looked up into Karrde's face. It was stony without a trace of the usual sardonic humor, his body tensed with controlled anger. He offered her a tight smile.

"I hope dinner's hot," Mazzic said coming up behind her. "This place is as bad as Hoth."

Karrde led them into the foyer. "I regret the necessity of having you come here, but I thought this news was best delivered personally."

"No problem. I appreciate the heads up."

The door shut behind them and they began shedding the layers of their snow gear. Shada took off her gloves and began unfastening her coat. No matter what mood Karrde was in, he was still the perfect host and pulled the coat from her shoulders. "Thank you," she said glancing at him over her shoulder.

"You're welcome."

After dinner, Karrde and Mazzic closeted themselves away to discuss the information Karrde had uncovered about some of Mazzic's associates stealing from the organization. When Karrde had interrogated those that had betrayed his own organization he had apparently learned that the scheme extended through several other smuggling groups including Mazzic's.

Shada retired to the common room with the others after dinner. They were a much more subdued lot than she was used to. Karrde's organization was a close knit group despite its size and the betrayals had hit them hard. She played a game of dejarik with Aves, easily beating him. Aves was doing his best to entertain their guest, but his heart really wasn't in it. She decided to put them all out of their misery. "It's been a long day. If you'll excuse me I think I'll retire for the evening."

Mara Jade immediately stood. "I'll show you to your room."

"Thank you."

They walked in silence up the rather rustic staircase to the top floor and down a long corridor.

To her surprise Mara followed her into the room and closed the door behind her.

Shada raised a questioning eyebrow. "Mara?"

"Karrde won't ask you to spend the night with him tonight."

Shada turned away making a show of surveying the room. "Thank you for the notice." She tried to keep the irritation out of her voice but it was difficult. She hadn't been expecting to spend the night with Karrde. They were here on business after all, not to mention on his base surrounded by his people. She understood the unspoken rules of their relationship quite well. She didn't need him to send a lackey to tell her presence in his bed wasn't wanted.

"He won't ask, but you should go to him anyway," Mara continued.

"I don't go where I'm not wanted." Shada turned back to the other woman and glared at her.

"He wants you. Trust me." A little smirk twisted her lips. "He's just intent on punishing himself."

"That's none of my concern."

Mara looked at her as if she didn't believe her. "There's a balcony that goes all the way around the top floor." She pointed to a door set between the large windows making up one wall of the room. "That's the best way to access his room without being seen. It's on the opposite of the building."

"Is coordinating Karrde's liaisons part of your job?" Shada asked irritably, feeling like she was being maneuvered and she didn't like it.

"No, he normally does that well enough on his own. However, it is part of my job to prevent him from making mistakes."

"And having no one to warm his bed on this frozen planet is a mistake?"

"He normally sleeps alone, so, no, not really. But it would be a mistake if he continued on in this dark mood. It's affecting morale. Maybe you can clear his head."

"That's not how this thing between us works," Shada protested.

"Maybe it should." Mara glanced at her chrono. "Give him at least an hour. He should be done briefing Mazzic by then."

Shada sat on the edge of her bed in the room they'd assigned her. It was a very nice room. Karrde never scrimped when it came to hospitality.

She hated that she was in a quandary. She didn't owe Karrde anything. She wondered for a moment if Mara had used some sort of Jedi mind trick on her. But if she had then Shada wouldn't be sitting here debating what to do. Shada abruptly stood and stripped off her quilted jumpsuit and undergarments. She doubted that Karrde would just fall into bed with her if he was in such a mood as Mara described. She pulled the zenji needles out of her hair and shook her hair out. After that she pulled her snowboots back on and slipped into her fur coat, pulling it tightly about her.

She went through the door onto the balcony. It had started to snow a bit again. She walked silently to the other side of the building, She rounded a corner and was surprised to see Karrde sitting in a chair against the wall with a steaming mug in his hand. He had on a heavy padded tunic, which still seemed inadequate in this cold. He should have had a coat on as well. "Aren't you cold?"

He glanced up at her seemingly unsurprised by her sudden appearance and took a long sip from his mug. "Always," he said, bitterness coloring his voice. "I thought you knew that."

She moved closer to him, "Let me warm you."

"Shada," he said in a warning voice. "I'm not sure this is a good idea tonight."

She ignored him and sat down across his lap. He didn't try to dislodge her. "May I kiss you?" she asked.

There was a long moment as he studied her, his face still hard, and she thought he was going to refuse her. Eventually, he said, "Yes."

She leaned down and met his cold lips. She absently heard the mug he had been holding clatter to the floor a moment before she felt his hands in her hair holding her still as he thoroughly explored her mouth. His mouth was warm on hers and tasted of the caf and whiskey he'd been drinking.

She gasped when his cold hands found the bare skin beneath her coat. "Shada," he groaned in her ear. "You're going to kill me."

"I hope not. I've got plans for you."

The chill from the air and his cool hands caused her nipples harden and he dipped his head slightly drawing one into his warm mouth. Shada groaned at the sensation and her hands slid into his hair.

She tried to guide his head to where she wanted, but he stopped and pulled away, his hands going around her wrists, stilling her hands. She looked down at him curious. "Don't fight me tonight, Shada," he said quietly. "Let me have my way with you for once."

She studied him for a long time, but his expression was impenetrable. Finally, she nodded. "If you do anything I don't like, I'll kill you."

He smiled slightly. "I know." She thought her threat might have aroused him even further.

He pulled her hands behind her back, then firmly grasped her wrists together with one hand holding her in place. She could have easily broken free but she didn't try. His other hand reached up tangling in her hair drawing her down to his mouth. The kiss was long and hard and more possessive than any between them before. When she eventually tried to pull back for breath, he would let her, his hand tightening in her hair. She almost felt lightheaded as the kiss continued. Her first instinct was to push away fighting, but she forced herself to relax. He released her hair and trailed kisses to her ear. "Good," he whispered roughly. An involuntary shiver ran through her that had nothing to do with the cold. "Very good."

His mouth was hot on her cool exposed skin as he made his was down to her breasts again.

Karrde lost track of how long it had been since Shada had come to him. It felt at once an eternity and a moment. But the deep cold finally penetrated his aroused and heated body and he knew they needed to move this indoors. He slipped an arm under her legs holding her close to his chest as he stood.

He carried her into the warmth of his bedroom. He lay her down gently on his bed.

She was a vision he'd never forget lying there looking like some sort of wintery warrior goddess. Half revealed and half concealed by the fur of her coat. Her skin pale, but her lips and nipples swollen and rosy from his mouth. She lay there passively waiting for him, her eyes dark with desire and her breathing ragged. She held out a hand to him, beckoning him to her. Unable to resist, he joined her on the bed he peeled the coat from her warm body.

She was his completely for the night.

Karrde's hands had not left her body since he had slid his cold hands beneath her coat.

It was near dawn now and his fingers were lightly stroking the skin of her back. Her skin almost felt raw from the sensation overload, But she didn't move his hand or shift away from his touch. She had promised him complete control tonight.

It had been difficult at first. She'd never submitted to any man like this before. Not even to him. She'd always seen such submission as weakness. She had no idea it could be so freeing. There was a strange sort of relief to not have to think and not have to be responsible. To put her trust in him and just let him give her what she needed. And he had. Things she didn't even know she needed.

It was oddly like her time in Mistyl training when she had unquestionably followed instructions and had felt safe and not hungry for the first time in her life. Although the Eleven and her Mistryl sisters would more than disapprove of her allowing a man to so dominate her sexually, probably more than anything else about her recurring liaisons with Karrde. They might have understood her need for the occasional sexual release, but not putting such trust in any man.

Karrde's hand traveled up her back and sank into her hair, raking it away from her shoulders and neck. He kissed his way across the newly exposed area, his beard rasping across her skin. "I see your brain is working again," his deep voice rumbled in her ear. "Am I to meet my death?"

She rolled over and looked up at him. His eyes were cautious but his face was relaxed, no longer stony and hard. "No."

He studied her for a long time. His hand trailed down her bare arm his long fingers circled her wrist gently. "Did you like it?"

He had made her come so many times that night that she had lost count. But having an orgasm didn't necessarily mean that one liked how it had been achieved.

She felt her cheeks redden because she had liked it and she was embarrassed that she had liked to be restrained by him. "Yes," she whispered. "But don't expect this every time."

He smiled a bit and she could see the relief in his eyes. He brought her hand to his lips. "Thank you for your trust."

She couldn't help but inquire, "Would you trust me as much if I asked?"

"Yes," he answered without hesitation.

An odd emotion lurched in her chest and she knew they were on dangerous ground. They were in danger of becoming entangled. Something neither could afford.

She sat up in the bed and looked around for her coat and boots. "I should go."

"Of course."

She pulled her boots on and when she stood he wrapped that ridiculous fur coat around her. He held her close for a moment. "Thank you, Shada." He pressed one last kiss to her cheek. "You are a treasure."

Shada couldn't help but think that had been an odd thing to have said to her. She knew that she would spend many a moment trying to puzzle out what he meant.

TBC