Welcome back...I told you all I had chapters coming. I have had this chapter in my head since the very beginning of the story, so I am incredibly nervous posting this...thank you for all the reviews and comments. Please, please review for this one! It was so hard to write and I really hope it works.
And since they haven't come knocking on my door for job offers, I own nothing...all rights to Disney!
Chapter 19
Ben lead Rey through the crowd slowly, eyes scanning as they made their way towards the front doors of the Grand Palace, the crowd getting closer and heavier the nearer they came. Ben pulled Rey in close to his side, keeping a tight hold on her hand as they made their way slowly forward.
A lady to her right leaned in to her, her large headdress bumping into Rey's braids, "Don't you just hate these crowds?" She said in a haughty tone.
Rey just smiled politely and continued forward, squeezing Ben's arm a little as they approached two very large guards at the door who demanded to see each person's invitations.
Ben stepped forward, showing no signs of nervousness and handed the guard on Rey's right the thin plexi-sheets with an air of disinterest.
The guard looked them over and brought out his holopad, inserting the corner of the sheet in the slot as it read the tiny chip embedded there. The holopad chimed and the guard handed back the sheets, waving them forward into the opulent hall.
Rey looked around the grand room in awe, the floating glittery globes lighting the gold gilded arches in a spectacular way. She had never seen such a fancy room. The light seemed to bounce off of everything, even the people who were dressed in the latest of fashions, women and men alike adorned with jewels and finery.
"Ben this is incredible." Rey whispered, leaning in to him a little as another waiter passed them and offered them both a tray with sparkling drinks on it.
They both declined and made their way to the far end of the room, Ben stopping them in a shadowed corner, pulling Rey to stand in front of him, his hands on her waist as his eyes scanned the room over her head.
Rey looked up at his face and slipped her hands up on his chest, resting them there lightly, causing him to glance down briefly at her, his eye brow lifting with light surprise. She felt his hands tighten slightly around her waist as he pulled her in a little closer, and reached up, pressing the coms button on her wrist.
"Finn, we are in the Welcome Hall. Start the scan." He said in a low tone, the bracelet emitting a low hum as it scanned.
It hummed for a few moments before Finn's voice came across crackled and broken with static, "All done, let me know when you are in the ball room."
Ben tapped it off and scanned the room again before tucking Rey's hand back on his arm and moving back around the room. He worked them through the crowd and towards the music that drifted out through two large doors that reached from the floor to the ceiling.
Rey paused, pulling on Ben's arm as they entered the massive room, her eyes wide and slightly fearful as the crowd cleared and she could see the couples twirling and spinning around the large open floor in time with the music.
Ben glanced at her as she stopped, "Rey?" He questioned her quietly, leaning in to speak in her ear.
Rey was suddenly sweating and she looked at Ben nervously, "I've never danced….like this before." She said the nervousness evident in her whisper.
Ben moved her leisurely off to the side as if they were watching the dancers, positioning her in front of him again, "The best way to get a scan of the room will be by heading out on the floor. This is where the auction will be held and it's to big to just scan from the corner." He said softly, sliding his hands around her waist again, and leaning forward to speak in her ear.
Rey stiffened at his words, "How is it that you know how to dance like that?!" She hissed surprised that yet again this life didn't seem to faze him at all.
Ben leaned back, looking her in the eye, Don't forget my mother was a dignitary. I was taught to dance at an early age. He said across the bond with a slight roll of his eyes.
Rey couldn't seem to reconcile the Leia, Han and Ben he referred to with this style of life. Ben's parents had always seemed so grounded to her that this type of posh and ceremony didn't seem to fit and she eyed the dancers wearily again as the music shifted to something a little slower.
Let me lead and just keep looking at me. Ben said, sweeping her hand up and pulling her in close with his arm wrapping around to the middle of her shoulder blades. This is just like a saber fight, I step you counter. He explained keeping an eye out for other couples and slipping his hand to her wrist to active the scanner.
Okay. Rey said doubtful as she followed the other ladies lead and held up a little piece of her skirt so she couple step in time with Ben freely.
Ben moved them smoothly around the room, the pressure on her back directing her subtly as to where he wanted to lead her, and she stared up at him, her darkened eyes shining brightly as she started to enjoy herself. He could feel her merriment filter through and he found a light smile playing on his lips as he watched her enjoy the new experience.
Rey felt like she was floating as he guided her through the couples and she tilted her head back a little as he spun her out and pulled her back to him, hand clasping on her back again to turn her. Her breathing picked up as they danced to the next three songs until she was out of breath and completely parched.
Ben lost himself in the dancing for the first time, ever, since being forced to learn when he was barely old enough to walk. He wasn't sure if it was the joy she was sharing with him through the bond, the smile on her face, or the fact of how he thought she looked stunning, the loose strands falling around flushed cheeks as she held the gauzy material out to the side as she stepped.
"Ladies and gentleman, please welcome our honored pod racers!" A voice said over the music and the crowd stopped dancing as a fanfare music announced their arrival. The crowd parted as they paraded into the hall, in all grand ceremony, and Ben steered Rey out a side door, onto the balcony.
The air was cool on Rey's skin as she walked, still smiling into the dark night as they headed to the balcony railing and stopped to take in the view of the start and finish line for the pod race. There were only minimal lights on in the late evening and the stars blanketed the sky over them.
Rey took a deep breath and felt Ben's eyes on her so she looked over her shoulder at him leaning on the railing.
His hand came up on its own and trailed his fingers lightly down her bare shoulder blade to the back of her arm, letting them slide slowly down her arm to her hand.
It was like he was tracing a path of liquid fire down her skin to her hand, and Rey was suddenly very warm again as he slipped his fingers between hers. She could feel the heat off him as he stepped closed to her, nervousness fringing her mind as he brought her hand up and placed a gentle kiss to the back of it. His eyes were all she could see and they were a confusing mix of fire, desire and uncertainty.
All of Ben's senses seemed to be on overload as the scent of her drifted on the night air to him. Her eyes, darkened with the makeup were shining, drawing him in and his gaze flicked down to glance at her lips as he leaned into her gravity.
Rey eyes fluttered shut on their own as his breath kissed her skin first followed by the feel of his lips on hers and she leaned further into him. His hand left hers to encircle her waist and pull her flush against him and she sighed into his mouth.
Ben couldn't help the desire that rose in him and he tilted is head to take advantage, sliding his tongue into her mouth tentatively. Her hands reached up in response and locked around his neck, fingers threading through his hair and tightening slightly, the fire becoming an inferno.
Rey felt his hands flex around her, crushing her to him, his one hand low on her back while the other one snaked up to the base of her neck. Her fingers flexed, tightening in his hair, nails gently scraping along the base of his scalp pulling a moan from deep within him and Rey was suddenly dizzy with the tightening feeling low in her belly, spreading out down her legs, making them weak.
"Oh, hrmph, pardon me." A low grizzlied voice shocked them apart.
Rey's face was on fire as she hid behind Ben's massive frame, his arms still around her protectively, and she rested her forehead on his chest while she tried to catch her breath.
Ben was breathing just as hard and an embarrassed chuckle rose up while he watched the elderly couple hurry back inside the double doors. "Kriffing hells." Ben muttered and rubbed his hands over Rey's bare arms as he looked out over the racetrack.
"I'm sorry." He said with a reproachfully tone into the night, refusing to look down at her face buried in his chest, but her arms slipped around his waist.
"Are you sorry we kissed, or that we were interrupted?" Rey asked shyly, her voice muffled in his chest, not daring to look up at him with her question.
Ben balked in slight shock as he processed her question and looked down at her, sensing her matched level of desire still singing through the bond, "That I waited till we were in public to kiss you like that?" He answered carefully.
Rey lifted her head to meet his fiery gaze, her pulse instantly kicking up again at the thoughts filtering through the bond to her and her cheeks flushed, eyes dropping back to his mouth.
Ben leaned forward just as Finn's voice crackled over the coms, "Guys, we just got the check in info, head to the main desk. Fahdar is on her way with everything for tomorrow. I'm sending the scans to your holopad."
Ben huffed in aggravation as Rey laughed nervously, putting her face in Ben's chest again, "Come on. Let's work our way back to the main desk." Ben ground out, his tone resigned that their moment was gone.
The progress back through the grand ballroom was much slower as more people had made their way in since the pod racers had been paraded into the room. It took Ben close to an hour to find their way through the stuffy crowd back out to the lobby that was almost as busy, people laughing and talking loudly as the drinks had been served for a while already.
By the time they reached the line for the main desk Rey could feel the sweat trickling down her spine and her head hurt from all the noise. She leaned on Ben's arm as people bumped and jostled them, oblivious to their boisterous behavior.
Ben finally reached the desk and presented his plexi-sheets, "Lord Brandes and Lady Bibble." Ben said formally, his voice firm and unwavering.
The reception droid scanned the sheets and handed them a card key and further plexi tickets for the pod races, "Room 8112 and box number 264, Lord Brandes." The droid said waving them to the elevators to their left. "Your luggage has been placed in your rooms." It added and Ben herded Rey to the elevators.
They entered with another group of people and Rey was wedged between Ben's solid frame and the corner of the lift. She felt his hand move slowly around her, coming to rest low on her back, his fingers wrapping around to her hip bone. She lifted her eyes up at him as the lift made its stops and slowly people emptied out, yet he kept her flush against him, his eyes the only betrayal of the fire that was raging inside of him.
Ben tried desperately to focus on something, anything other than her hand that had come up to rest on his chest, the smell of the perfume she had put on her, or the fact that the material under his fingers was so thin that he could feel the heat of her skin like a brand under his hand. He needed to focus on what they were there to do and not what he wanted to do.
With that thought drifting through his mind Rey swallowed hard and smiled, leaning in to his chest again, her cheeks flaming at his thoughts. The door opened on their floor and he guided her out, his hand giving gentle pressure on the small of her back as they continued down the hall to their room.
Ben swiped the key and opened the door for Rey, revealing a spacious suite with high ceilings and large glass windows that overlooked an expanse of the desert track. Fahdar was moving luggage into the master suite quickly and then came out to address them.
"Everything is in place my Lord." She said with a respectful nod and glanced at Rey, "My Lady, I will be back to assist you in the morning." She added before slipping out the door with hardly a noise.
Rey sighed with relief and sat of the large sofa in the middle of the room, quickly pulling the sheer material up her legs to unwrap the sandals that had bitten painfully into both feet. She dropped them on the plush carpet and sighed happily, wriggling her toes.
Ben watched her silently as she stretched out her long, bare legs and wiggled her toes with a small smile, before he reached up and unbuttoned his coat, slipping it off his shoulders and draping it across the arm of the chair. He was wearing a black button up shirt that was made with such a light material it seemed as if it should be transparent, but it wasn't. He followed Rey's example and toed off his boots before sitting heavily on the couch on the other side of Rey and leaning back.
"I had forgotten how stuffy those things were." He said off-handedly, looking over at Rey.
Rey looked over the back of the couch into the master suite and eyed the loose sleep clothes that were laid out on the bed for them. "Can you take my hair out of this ridiculous thing?" Rey asked with a slight pout.
Ben nodded eyeing it for a second, "I think I can figure it out." He said and Rey gathered the skirt, electing to plop herself down between his legs on the floor so he could see what he was doing better.
It took him a while to remove all the jewels, handing them to Rey, and carefully unwind her hair. Once it was all down she ran her hands through the mess with a content groan and got up to put all the jewels on the dresser in the bedroom.
"Um, I need you to undo me." Rey said from the other room.
Ben got up of the couch and padded into the bedroom silently, taking note that she had untied the belt and hung it on a hanger by the trunk of clothes Fahdar had brought into the room.
His pace slowed as she turned and moved her hair, exposing the clasps and closure in the back of the dress. He reached up, fumbling with the small closure at the top before getting it undone and pulling he zipper slowly down her back, revealing her perfect milky skin. He swallowed his emotions and took a step back.
"There you go." He said his voice sounding slightly strangled and he turned on his heal and padded back out of the room, closing the door before he changed him mind.
"Thank you." Rey managed to mumble as she heard the door close. She walked over and sat for a moment on the end of the bed, feeling the conflict roaring through their bond and confused as to whether it was hers or his.
She groaned and got up, slipping out of the gown and into the loose clothing that was on the bed for her. She hung up the dress, her fingers lingering over the material one last time before making her way to the washroom to clean off the eye makeup.
Ben tried his best to busy himself as Rey changed in the other room. He grabbed his holopad and started to review the scans Finn had sent him, comparing them to what he already had. It wasn't long before he was so engrossed in them that he didn't notice Rey had come out of the room until she sat beside him on the couch.
"You should change." She said gently, taking the holopad from him and nodding insistently in the direction of the room.
Ben glared at her for a moment, and when she refused to give back the holopad, he got up and stalked off to the room, practically slamming the door in frustration that she didn't realize he needed to keep his mind off her.
Rey rolled her eyes as his childish behaviour and lit up the holopad to view his plans. It was relatively simple, in terms of details. Before the auction started the holocron was kept in a high security vault that would be nearly impossible to access however, once the auction started, the holocron would be moved to be on display.
The general population had long since forgotten about the Jedi powers of control, so Ben's plan was to basically walk in and take it. From there they were to meet Finn out the back of the Grand Palace with a speeder and he would whisk them back to the ship and they would be off.
Ben had compiled exit plans, alternate routes if separated and the contingency of their sabers if they were unable to mind control any of the security along with a host of other back ups that Rey reviewed quickly. Ben exited the room and saw Rey reviewing his plans and he made his way over to he couch and sat down.
"Anything I missed?" He asked softly watching her chew her lip as she reviewed the plans.
Rey's eyes lifted to his, "Pretty sure you covered every possible option." She said shaking her head at his thoroughness.
Ben's brows knitted together, "I like to be prepared." He muttered.
Rey yawned as the coms unit sounded, "You guys settled in?" Finn's voice crackled over the tiny device.
She pressed the button he had showed her, "All good here. Are you set for tomorrow?" She asked anticipating Ben's question.
"We are good here too. Lando and Chewie are camped out on the orbiting moon for back up, and the speeder is ready to go when you have it." He said, pride filling is tone.
Ben huffed a little, "The race starts at 10 and the auction is after the presentation of the winner around early evening. We should be good to go then." He said, reaching over and taking the holopad from Rey again.
"Okay, Fahdar is heading to you by 8 and she said to advise you that your sabers are in a false compartment in the bottom of the largest trunk. Here's hoping that you don't need them." Finn finished laying out their timeline.
"Sounds good. Keep safe out there." Rey said by way of signing off.
"Yeah, you too, Rey." Finn commented and Ben glared at the devise at his blatant exclusion.
Rey yawned again and got up looking towards the bedroom, "Did you see the size of that bed?" She thought out loud as she walked around the couch.
"Yes." Was Ben's only response as he tried to stay totally engrossed in the holopad, and not on the large bed in the other room.
"Ben." Rey said a little more firmly, finally drawing his attention. "It's late. Come on." She ordered and he frowned at her, but got up and followed, bringing the holopad with him.
He turned off lights as he followed her into the room and crawled into one side of the plush bed, the only illumination coming from the minimal lights around the track. He stopped a moment to enjoy the feel of the soft mattress and the luxurious sheets. He turned to look at Rey, finding that he truly enjoyed watching her marvel in things he considered simple pleasures.
Rey's face was a picture of pure bliss as she slipped under the fluffy cover and bounced a little on the plush mattress with a small laugh. "This is so bouncy." She squeaked in delight.
Ben shook his head with a little smile and a sigh, setting the holopad down on the side table, "Come here." He said lifting the blanket a little for her as she bounced across the immense bed to him, settling beside him with a contented little moan.
"Tonight was kind of fun." Rey said wrapping her hand around his waist and stifling a yawn.
Ben smoothed her hair down with his chin and thought about the evening. He had enjoyed dancing with her, and the balcony…..his heart picked up with the memory, "It wasn't bad." He said trying calm his mind a little.
Rey felt the shift in his thoughts and started to feel the heat rise in her as she contemplated the same things. Ben made her feel things she never felt before, and it wasn't just because of their bond. It scared her, but even though she was scared, the feelings on the balcony were stronger, and it had made her incredibly curious. She twisted, pushing herself up a little to face him.
Ben felt her move and suddenly she was face to face with him, her eyes cautious with a small amount of fear behind them. Nervousness flooded every part of him and his hands were suddenly clammy on her hip.
Rey reached up and curled a short strand of his hair around her finger watching it wind around and slip between, to curl back out at the base of his neck. She looked back into his eyes and wound her fingers around the back of his neck, drawing his face forward.
Ben swallowed hard at the look building in Rey's eyes and the thoughts slowly making their way through to him across the bond. He couldn't concentrate on anything other than the feel of her under his hands and her hazel eyes studying his intently as she drew his face towards her.
His eyes automatically drifted closed as her lips brushed his softly, hesitantly. Her intent to be gentle, quickly going up with fire and heat when she shyly ran her tongue over his lips. His arms tightened automatically around her, pulling her on top of him and deepening the kiss, her weight barely noticeable, but the heat she radiated seeming to scorch him to his soul.
Rey's nails scraped his scalp like before on the balcony, praying for the same response. She was rewarded almost immediately with a low groan that rumbled against her chest and sent a tingling feeling down the length of her as their legs tangled in the sheets. She could feel her body connecting with his down the full length, his lean figure firm against her and his mind hazy with desire and desperate hopes for more.
Ben wanted more, he wanted her to his, completely and totally his, and he wanted desperately to show her what she truly meant to him. He rolled them over on the mound of pillows trying to keep the majority of his weight from crushing her and moved his hand around to her hip and froze, his forehead on hers, his breathing coming in short gasps.
His hand had connected with bare skin at her waist, her shirt having shifted up when they rolled. Ben moved tentatively, feeling his hand start to quiver with his nervous energy. He had never been so unsure of anything in his life, while wanting it with such intensity.
Rey panted, feeling his hand inch its way up her rib cage and her body was suddenly impatient for the contact, feeling like what he was doing was somewhere between immense pleasure and slow torture. Her hands seemed to move without her consent, and reached down between them, gathering the hem of his shirt in her hands, dragging it up to catch under his arm pits.
Ben moved, catching her eyes finally, unasked questions flowing through their bond as his heart felt like it would beat right out of his chest. He gulped, floundering for any kinds of words, "Rey…I…I.." he stuttered in a whisper, head shaking back and forth slowly unsure, so he closed his eyes letting the bond open between them, showing her everything.
Rey's eyes drifted shut with the intensity of what Ben was showing her. His deep fear that she wouldn't want him, the way he saw her in his eyes and the depth of how much he cared for her, how he had been ready since Exegol to lay down his life for her. But most of all how much he wanted her, like this, for a long time.
Ben opened his eyes and looked down at Rey, nestled in the mound of pillows, her hair fanned out around her like a halo, and tears trickling out down the sides of her face, "Oh, Rey, no, don't cry." He breathed, suddenly regretful.
Rey's eyes opened, unshed tears sparkling on her lashes, "I'm happy Ben." She said showing him that she felt the exact same way.
Ben's breath caught and he started to quiver with his restrain and he edged himself up, letting her lift his shirt up over his head before he captured her mouth again.
Her hands explored his hot skin, sliding over the silky smoothness, memorizing each shift of his muscles as they shifted under the skin. He seemed everywhere all at once, covering her with his weight, his mouth over hers, his hands shifting her shirt up, his mind winding through hers in a haze of desire and the sensations he was feeling.
It all blurred together, having her experience everything her senses were, mixed in with everything he was feeling, and it caused a heady mix inside of her. Before she realized it, she was lifting her arms up as he slipped her shirt off and laid back down over her, her eyes flying open at the shocking sensation of her bare chest on his.
Ben felt her stiffen below him and he leaned back suddenly concerned, "Is this okay?" He breathed trying to catch his breath and desperately hoping she would say yes, as he watched her face soften shyly.
"I just….no one's ever….Yes. It's okay." She whispered and took in his soft eyes and the way he was gazing down at her, his hair a mess, lips swollen from their kisses.
Ben leaned back down and scattered kisses across her jaw, working his way down her neck and feeling her pulse jump as she arched against him with the sensation of his warm breath, mixed with the cool air hitting the slight bit of moisture left by his training tongue.
Rey's hands flew to is hair, tightening through the strands, an, "Oh, hmmm…" of encouragement making its way out of her mouth. She kept applying an ever so slight pressure to keep him on his torturing trail across her collar bone, and down the center of her sternum.
Ben felt bolder as she arched against his mouths ministrations and he hesitated before shifting to the side and flicked his tongue over her right nipple.
Rey couldn't stop the electric jolt that shot threw her, ending between her legs as her back arched pushing her chest back towards her mouth as she breathed out, "Ben….."
Ben's body tightened suddenly as she breathed his name and he felt himself impossibly harden with his desire and he clamped is mouth over her left nipple, swirling his tongue in a circle, relishing in the feeling of it peak in response.
Rey's body felt like it was wrapped tight, a sensation building low between her legs, pleasant but unknown. All she knew was that the more Ben moved against her the more it seemed to build and drive her further to the edge of an unknown abyss, when her attention was drawn to a heaviness pressing against her thigh.
Ben felt Rey push against his painfully hard erection and all he could do was bury his face in her bare stomach and arch his hips away as the friction was almost to much, "Oh, stars, uhhh, Rey." He panted out desperately, pinning her hips to the bed for a moment.
"Oh, did I hurt you?" Rey asked confused and concerned, trying to look down her length at him.
Ben couldn't help but chuckle awkwardly into her skin, "Ah, not exactly." He said and looked up at her, his face filled with his longing and embarrassment as he struggled desperately to regain his control.
Holding her gaze, he carefully moved his legs between her knees and grasped the ties for her pants, pulling them undone and slowly working them down her legs. The only thing left on her, when he tossed to pants over the side of the bed, was her soft white under covering. He watched her nervously move her hands to grasp the edge of the blanket as he took in the sight of her sprawled on the bed before him.
Rey took a deep breath and swallowed her fear. She reached up and pulled him down over her, using the momentum to roll over in the massive bed ending with him under her, and her straddling his hips. She leaned down and repeated his actions, trailing gentle kisses down his neck and chest, stretching out her legs and letting her pelvis grind across his to create the intense friction that felt so good.
Ben grabbed her hips, locking them against his and bucked against her again with a low growl. She felt so good, the pressure was so much and he wanted release.
Her hands were on the ties of his pants, blindly trying to get it undone, finally pushing them down, and moving off him to get them all the way off. Rey faltered as she took in the sight of a naked male body for the first time in her life as she sat back on her heels.
"Ah, I don't know…..how…." She said, her mouth dry and the pressure between here legs causing her to shift a little, trying to release the feeling unconsciously.
Ben cleared his throat as his emotions shifted back into nervousness, and he sat up, wrapping his arms around her, kissing her slowly, tenderly, before turning and laying her on the bed beneath him again. He reached down and removed her final item of clothing, positioning himself between her legs again.
He dragged the full length of himself over her wetness, causing Rey to whimper into his mouth and he groaned back, his control beginning to slip through his grasp like he was trying to hold onto a handful of water. He repeated the motion, the tension inside building to a tipping point for the both of them.
"Mmmm….Ben….I need….hmmm." Rey found herself breathing out as he continued to torture her, her stomach tightening and a incredibly warmth spreading between her legs where he rubbed.
Ben lifted, placing himself at her opening, his body shaking now as he held himself there moving millimeter by millimeter forward, his body screaming at him for more until he felt resistance.
Rey felt the tension get pushed to the side as a burning pain flashed and she tightened her legs around his waist, suddenly unsure of if she wanted him to keep going or to stop when her body made the decision for her. Her hips shuddered with the pressure, pushing him past the point of no return.
They both felt the instant, but brief pain through the bond and Ben froze, panting as Rey's eyes flew open to meet his in surprise as she groaned with the shock of change, from desire to pain, th3n back again.
"I'm okay. Just give me a second." She whispered and Ben lowered his head to the hollow of her neck, arms starting to shake with the effort of not moving, but wishing to respect her request.
Rey reached up again around his ribcage and threaded her fingers in his hair again, the movement shifting him inside of her slightly causing a whole new jolt of pleasure to rock her hips against his.
Her hips rose again to clash against his, thrusting him fully inside of her, his body wound tight, and all control slipped away from him in that moment as their bodies took over everything.
Rey felt the edge of something rush forward and she squeezed her eyes shut against it as her body shuddered with each thrust Ben made inside of her. The pressure built and suddenly exploded as her insides shattered with pleasure, and Rey let out a long involuntary groan as it rippled through her, shaking her to the very core.
Ben felt her body tighten around him and her pleasure crashed over him, surging through his mind and body, pushing him over the edge as he let go of everything and melted with his release, groaning at the same time as Rey while he gave a few final thrusts, then slowìng to lower his sweat covered body over hers.
They were both left spent and panting in the tangled blankets, Rey trailing her fingers over his damp skin idly with her contentment as she tried to slow her breathing and comprehend what just occurred between them and in her body.
Ben carefully disengaged with a groan and collapsed beside her on the blankets, his heart rate still hammering in his chest from the enormity of the experience, Rey shifting in the bed to rest her head on his chest. He pulled the light sheet up over them both as the cool room air chilled them quickly.
Rey listened to his heart pounding, steady and slow and she couldn't help the smile that seemed to creep it's way across her face along with a small amount of embarrassment.
"That was…." She started quietly, then covering her face on his chest with the sheet as she thought of the feeling and how he had kissed her, her cheeks heating.
Ben rolled on his side, and looked down at her, a full grin spreading across his face as he had when she kissed him for the first time. "You are so beautiful." He stated, gently tugging the sheet away from her face.
Rey met his eyes, seeing the adoration burning in them, "Who are you?" She breathed mystified at the change in him over the last couple of months.
Ben's face became incredibly serious and he frowned just a little at her, "I am the man who loves you." He said simply, his voice filled with tenderness and slight confusion that she didn't know it.
Rey sucked a breath in at his words, blinking back sudden tears and pushed herself up a little to kiss him.
