Previously on Fear and Loathing on Coruscant...
Tahiri kissed a Tarkin…
And
Thanks to Jacen's quick thinking Jag didn't have to explain a thing to Noya…
Season 1
Episode 4
I've been really tryin', baby
Tryin' to hold back this feeling for so long
And if you feel like I feel, baby
Then, c'mon, oh, c'mon, whoa
Let's get it on
Ah, baby, let's get it on
Let's love, baby
Let's get it on, sugar
Let's get it on, woo hoo
We're all sensitive people
With so much to give
Understand me, sugar (ooh ooh)
Since we've got to be here
Let's live
I love you
There's nothing wrong with me
Loving you, baby no no
And giving yourself to me can never be wrong
If the love is true, oh baby
Ooh don't you know how sweet and wonderful life can be ooh (let me love you)
I'm asking you baby to get it on with me ooh ooh (let me love you)
I ain't gonna worry (let me love you)
I ain't gonna push, won't push you baby (let me love you)
So c'mon, c'mon, c'mon, c'mon, c'mon, baby
Stop beatin' 'round the bush, hey
Let's get it on (ooh ooh)
Let's get it on (ooh ooh)
You know what I'm talkin' 'bout
C'mon, baby, hey, hey
Let your love come out
If you believe in love
Let's get it on, ooh
Let's get it on, baby
This minute, oh yeah
Let's get it on
Please, please get it on
I know and you know what I've been dreaming of, don't you baby? (ah, ah, ah, ah)
My whole body makes that feelin' of love, I'm happy (my body wants ya, my body wants ya)
I ain't gonna worry, no I ain't gonna push (ah)
I won't push you baby, woo (ah ah)
C'mon, c'mon, c'mon, c'mon, c'mon, darlin'
Stop beatin' 'round the bush
Oh, gonna get it on (ooh, ooh)
Threatenin' you, baby (ooh, ooh)
I wanna get it on (ooh, ooh)
You don't have to worry that it's wrong (ooh, ooh)
If the spirit moves ya (ooh, ooh)
Let me groove ya good (ooh, ooh)
Let your love come down (ooh, ooh)
Oh, get it on
C'mon, baby (ooh, ooh)
Do you know the meaning? (ooh, ooh)
I've been sanctified (ooh, ooh), hey hey
Girl, you give me good feeling (ooh, ooh) (so good)
So good, somethin' like sanctified (ooh, ooh)
Oh dear I, baby (ooh, ooh)
Nothing wrong with love (ooh, ooh)
If you want to love me just let yourself go (ooh, ooh)
Oh baby, let's get it on (ooh, ooh)
Let's Get It On/Marvin Gaye, Ed Townsend
Phelarion Embassy, Senate City, Coruscant
40 ABY
Ten Years After The Yuuzhan Vong War
Wilhuff Tarkin slipped into the bedroom he and Tahiri were sharing and looked around. The light was on in the dressing room and he could just hear the soft, silky voice he had come to love. He made his way closer and leaned against the doorframe for a moment to observe the woman who had captured his heart.
She sat at the dressing room vanity singing softly to herself as she removed her earrings, swaying gently. She had a grace of movement he had never seen in another woman. Watching her dance and sing was one of his favorite things, but only when she did it for him.
Tahiri stopped singing and smiled up at him as their eyes met in the mirror's reflection. He walked closer and placed his fingers on her neck, deftly unclasping the necklace lying there and allowed it to drop into her waiting hand, then began to run his fingers along her collarbone, much the way he had earlier that day while she had writhed under him.
"You threw a wonderful party tonight," he said as he bent down and replaced his fingers with his lips. Tracing a path up to her earlobe, he nibbled on it a moment before whispering, "and you looked exquisite doing it."
Tahiri leaned her head back onto his shoulder, allowing him better access to her neck and he nipped and licked at the sweet smelling skin, gratified when she began to pant slightly. She clearly had to struggle to get out her next sentence; "Your grandmother's jewelry helped."
Huff ran his fingers over her ribcage and cupped her with both hands, messaging his fingers over the lace of her bra and whispered, "those baubles have never had it so good."
Tahiri moaned and allowed her head to fall back further as his tongue continued a path up the shell of her ear. There was clear amusement in her voice when she asked, "Jealous of a pearl necklace, Governor?"
"Worse fates could befall me than being wrapped around any part of the natural wonder that is your body."
Huff continued to lavish kisses down Tahiri's neck and finally stopped at her shoulder. He opened his eyes when his hands wandered down her stomach and any progress to their desired destination was impeded by… pants.
"Tahiri?"
"Hmmm?"
"When you said you were going to slip out of your dress and into something more comfortable I assumed that would be bed. Why are you wearing pants with your bra?"
She chuckled at him. "As opposed to packing naked?" Then lifted her head and sighed when she met his gaze in the mirror. "Did you actually forget I was leaving for Tralus or convince yourself that if you ignored it it would go away?"
Huff worked to control his anger at the realization that she had never planned to join him in bed tonight. Standing upright, he returned his hand to her shoulder and squeezed just a little more tightly than he probably should have.
"I thought you agreed to stay here for the opening ceremonies tomorrow."
Tahiri lowered her shoulder, effectively loosening his grip and stood up and walked toward the door to the bedroom. Pausing and facing him she said, "No, Huff. I said I would think about it, which I did, but I can't cancel this concert. The tickets sold out ages ago and I made a commitment." She then turned away from him and walked into the adjoining room.
Huff followed her out and, reaching the bed, put his hand to the side of the case she was leaning over and shoved it away. It clattered to the floor and Huff took satisfaction in the startled expression on Tahiri's face as her clothes were flung around the room.
Vibrant green eyes met his and Tahiri crossed her arms over her chest and glowered at him, but Huff would not be dismayed by a glare.
"So, it's easy to commit to these frivolous shows, traipsing across a stage like a half naked whore in front of all those worthless creatures, but you can't commit to me?"
A small smile played at Tahiri's lips, infuriating Huff further, before she said, "Careful Governor, you're sounding a little anti-alien…"
The blow meant for Tahiri's cheek was blocked in mid air by her small hand and not for the first time Huff cursed her Jedi reflexes and physical strength.
They stared at each other for a long moment, Tahiri not letting his arm drop. Finally, realizing he better switch tactics if he had any hope of salvaging this night, Huff worked to rid his face of any trace of anger and dropped to his knees. He wrapped his free arm around Tahiri and pressed his cheek into her bare stomach. He turned his head slightly to kiss her exposed skin and then looked up and said, "I'm so sorry, Baby. Please forgive me… that was inexcusable. I don't know what came over me."
Another few tense seconds went by before Tahiri finally let go of the wrist and allowed him to wrap that arm around her, joining the other.
Huff heard her sigh as she placed her hands on his head and then began to run her fingers through his hair. The gesture eased the tension in him slightly, but he could still feel how rigidly she held her own body.
Her next words were spoken with so little inflection that Huff actually found himself wincing.
"I need to finish packing. Why don't you go sleep in the other room so I don't disturb you?"
Huff looked up, but she was staring off into the distance and would not meet his eyes.
"I'm really sorry, Tahiri."
"I know you are."
Huff squeezed his arms a little tighter around her and once again kissed her stomach then pressed his forehead to the same spot.
"Please, forgive me?"
"Go to bed. I'll come and say goodbye before I leave."
Huff knew that he would get no farther if he didn't give her space so he slowly released his hold on her and stood up. Once more trying to meet her gaze, and failing, he brought her hand up to his mouth and kissed her palm. "I'm truly sorry. I lost control and I shouldn't have."
Still not receiving a response, he allowed his head to drop, signaling his acceptance of defeat. "I'll go."
He slowly made his way to the door and turned once again to face her. She hadn't moved even slightly, yet another signal that she was furious and would not be giving him anything tonight.
Once in the hall outside their suite, Huff heard the locking mechanism on the door and figured she had used the Force to trigger it. He shivered slightly - he hated it when she did that.
Halfway to the next suite Huff pulled out his comm and keyed in the frequency for his assistant.
"Reba, I need something done tomorrow."
"Yes, sir."
Huff recognized the sleepy tone of her voice and realized he had woken her up.
"Find out Tahiri's schedule and have 100 yellow Ithorian roses delivered to her each day for the next three days. The first bunch should include a note reading 'I'm sorry.' The second 'I love you.' And the last enclosure should read 'Take all the time you need.'"
"Anything else I can do for you, sir?"
An image of soft, honey brown skin and sweet smelling thick black hair entered Huff's mind and he smiled to himself as he turned from the door he was facing and began walking in the direction of his staff's quarters. "Yes, tell me what you are wearing right now."
Parck-Fel Apartment, Senate City, Coruscant
"Oh gods, Ambassador Fel. You… are… amazing." Noya sighed out.
"Thank you, my dear. I do try." Jag replied as he flopped down on the bed beside her.
When his breathing began to slow to normal he sat up and reached for his sleep pants on the floor. He stood up and pulled them on and grabbed a light shirt from one of the numerous packing crates lying around the room. Noya propped herself up on her elbow and Jag could tell by the hungry look in her eyes that she was admiring his body while he dressed.
"Where are you off to?" Noya purred. "That was only the first course."
Jag smiled and ran his fingers through her hair. "Sorry love, there are some datacards that need my attention before tomorrow. Go to sleep, I'll be awhile."
Noya batted her eyes and started to give Jag a pouty face but he simply dropped his hand and walked away. He suspected that he was the first man she had ever been with who was immune to that particular trick of hers. He also suspected that she would be blissfully asleep within minutes.
Jag walked into the large room in the apartment that would be serving as his office and, reaching the desk, turned on the lamp and fell into his chair. The room was a mess, crates of books and files were stacked waist high all around. There were datacards that needed his attention, but gods knew where they were. No more unpacking could be done before the new shelving was mounted so Jag got up and poured himself a generous, very generous, drink. He was thinking about the sheer volume of liquor he had consumed tonight and was about to turn from the bottle.
Oh Sith, who am I kidding?
He grabbed the bottle and brought it back to his desk. He swung around to face the large transparisteel window behind him and gazed at the stars. This was his favorite spot on Coruscant. He had requested an apartment as high up in this apartment building as he could possibly get and had been delighted to arrive and find himself on the 96th floor. Because so little of the planet had been redeveloped there were still thousands of kilometers of wide open space around this building - he therefore had an unobstructed view of the heavens. It was as close as he could get to being back in the cockpit of his Clawcraft and the freedom he had always felt there. But right now he wasn't thinking about being inside his clawcraft.
Jaina.
She had looked so beautiful tonight. How was it possible for her to have this effect on him after so long? Dancing with her had been torturous. He'd fought the desire to crush her body to his own and taste her lips again. Run his fingers through her hair. Then caught himself, wondering if it was actually desire, or habit.
Once he and Noya had returned home he'd pushed all of the thoughts and memories of Jaina from his mind to focus on Noya, but it hadn't really been work that had propelled him out of bed in the middle of the night; it had been his self-disgust that Jaina had popped back into his head after he'd finished making love to his fiance. Jag thought about the irony of the situation as he emptied his glass and poured yet another.
He was stunned to learn that Jaina had been named Leia's assistant and wondered if that meant she would one day be the Jedi's liaison to Intel herself. And what had inspired her to join the diplomatic corps? Obviously it was good training for the Council, but not a necessity and he found it hard to imagine she'd be happy in an office job.
But then, he thought wryly, what did he know about making Jaina Solo happy?
K'hat, he missed her. Visions of her flashed through his head. In his mind's eye he saw Jaina jumping out of her X-wing after a battle, sitting in a conference room with the other Insiders, standing in the doorway of the Trickster, green goop on her face, indignant and defiant. Sitting at the house on Corellia with their friends playing 'strip, drink or pay the kriff up' Sabaac… but inevitably, these thoughts always led back to the end of their relationship.
Jag had spent years trying to figure out what exactly had gone wrong and always came to the same conclusion; nothing.
There were little issues here and there, but nothing that they shouldn't have been able to work through if they had wanted to badly enough, and that was what had made their breakup so painful. He knew Jaina had loved him, and after tonight, looking into her eyes, wondered if she still might. How had they done this to themselves?
Of course now it wasn't just about him and Jaina. Now there was Noya to think about. Noya: who had been so patient and supportive when he refused to discuss his time in Known Space. Noya: who had assumed that his refusal to talk about the war was due to trauma and didn't press him for information. Noya: who loved him unconditionally and put him and his career above all else.
Jag looked at the wall chrono and sighed. Dwelling on this now would get him nowhere and he had to meet Tahiri in three hours. He needed to stop thinking about Jaina and get some sleep.
Jag capped the bottle of whiskey and returned it to the bar and turned off the desk light. He crept down the hall and walked back into the bedroom where he could just make out the sleeping form in his bed. Noya really was a beautiful and caring woman and she deserved his full attention.
Slipping between the blankets, Jag smiled as Noya rolled into him and he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her temple before lying his head down next to hers. Yes, he decided, she deserved his full attention, and she would get it. He would not allow himself to think about Jaina anymore.
Next time on Fear and Love...
Tenel Ka talks to Jacen
And
Tenel Ka puts Cem to bed…