A/N: Once more, thank you to all who are reading!

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When Rey woke, she became immediately disoriented, her head jerking up to look around her. She was in a bed, a real bed, for the first time in almost a week. Images of how she got there rushed into her brain: the shower, Poe's careful preparation of her body, the feel of him inside her… She took a deep breath and focused on the man spooned behind her, one arm wrapped tightly around her waist, one of her feet caught between his calves, his cock, firm and half aroused, prodding her in the ass.

She felt him shift and knew that her jerking awake had most likely woken him up, too. She blinked at the grey light in the room, wondering if it was dusk or dawn. It had still been daylight when she had gone to the bathroom to finish cleaning the blood off and use the toilet. She had then made her way back to the bed, just a tad self-conscious in her nakedness. He had removed the bloodstained bedspread by then and had drawn back the sheet, waiting for her. Once she had been under the sheet, he had climbed in behind her and curled up around her; it hadn't taken her long to doze off.

She felt him kiss the back of her shoulder, and wondered briefly how red her face and neck were thanks to that beard of his. "Hungry?" he asked, his voice a low rumble. Almost as if in answer, her stomach gurgled. She felt as well as heard his laugh. "I'll take that as a 'yes'," he said.

She turned her face to look at him. "What time is it?"

"Must be just after sunset," he told her. He had removed his watch before joining her in the shower, but his internal clock was probably much better than hers, so she took him at his word. He sat up, reaching over to the light on the nightstand and flicking it on. "I'll go down to the kitchen and ask them to bring something up."

Rey pushed herself up to a sitting position as well, pulling the sheet up under her armpits in an instinctive attempt at modesty. Yet, she watched Poe avidly as he walked naked over to his bag of clothing. She remembered her own bag was still in the bathroom. She hadn't even had a chance to look at what was in it much less put something on. Poe slid on a pair of jeans, commando, and she admired how snug they were on him, but as he moved toward the door, saying "I'll be right back," she called to him.

"You might want to put on a shirt."

He turned and grinned at her. "You want me to cover up around all those girls out there?"

She tilted her head at him. "If this place was full of young men, would you want me to go out there in nothing but panties and a cami?"

He stared at her for a moment, then walked back to the bag and pulled out a white button-up shirt. He put it on, watching her as he did so. She gave him a huge smile. He smiled back and shook his head, then turned and left the room.

Rey took a deep breath, feeling giddy all of a sudden. She stretched, feeling the pull of sore and aching muscles as she did so. Most of those aches, she knew, came from the long hike and the tension of the last few days, but there were a few new twinges that were the result of her recent activity in this bed. She smiled, reveling in those little bits of discomfort, especially the tenderness between her thighs. She slid out of the bed and headed for the bathroom, bringing the bag of clothes back to the bed with her when she was done.

She slipped back under the sheets and began to look through the items in the bag. There was an unopened package of panties and a couple of bras which were far too big for her. There was a pair of strappy sandals, more delicate than the sturdy leather ones she had been wearing for the last several days. There were two long skirts, both in different shades of blue, and three blouses. One in particular caught her eye. She pulled it out and looked at the intricate emerald-colored embroidery around the collar of the white peasant blouse.

The door opened and Poe walked in, closing it behind him. "They were just getting a meal together, so someone should be here in a minute or two." He walked to the bed, looking at the shirt in her hands. "I like that," he told her. "The collar will really bring out the green in your eyes." He sat on the edge of the bed, pulling the bag closer to peer inside.

Rey felt her heart stutter at his words. Most people thought her eyes were simply brown, not the ever-changing hazel they were, but he noticed the green. Why did that mean so much to her? She folded the shirt and put it back in the bag, then set the bag down on the floor next to the bed. She looked at him. "Did you hear anything about the SEALs?"

Poe shook his head. "I don't think Karé has even gone to see Snap, yet." He huffed. "Snap and Karé," he groaned. "I never saw that coming."

Rey smiled. "Why? Is this Karé not good enough for your friend?"

"No!" Poe explained. "It's just that they are so different." He shrugged. "I don't know Karé well, but she just doesn't seem like Snap's type."

"Sometimes, different is good," she told him. "I'm not a believer in the 'opposites attract' idea; I think people should have similar interests before starting a relationship. But a little diversity is good."

He looked at her. "Yeah?"

"Yeah."

He leaned in to her and kissed her softly on the lips, but the gentleness only lasted so long. Rey found herself opening up to him, inviting his tongue inside her mouth once more, and grabbing the hair on the back of his head to hold him to her.

There was a knock on the door. Poe pulled away slowly. "Hold that thought," he whispered.

As he got up to walk to the door, Rey pulled the sheet up to cover herself again. Poe glanced at her, then opened the door. "Well, speak of the Devil," he said to the person on the other side.

He opened it wider, and a woman who must have been the notorious Karé entered, carrying a tray covered with a wicker basket. She was not what Rey was expecting. Tall, lithe, more athletic looking than voluptuous, her short blonde hair done up in a spiky style, she was obviously not a native of Ajan Kloss. She wore a short, flirty skirt in teal, a matching tank top, and wedge heeled sandals; she looked like a normal young woman about to go out on a date. "What?" she said as she entered the room. "You been talking about me, Dominguez?" She had a slight European accent, German or Austrian, Rey thought.

"You and Snap," Poe answered as he stood holding the door.

Karé walked over to the end of the bed and set the tray down. "Afraid I'll ruin his reputation?" she asked, winking at Rey.

"No," Poe answered solemnly. "But you could break his heart."

Karé looked at him, her face serious. "How do you know he won't break mine?" she queried. "He's the one that will be leaving, after all."

They stared at each other silently for a long moment, and Rey could feel the tension. Poe was obviously trying to protect his friend, she knew, but Karé did have a point.

Finally, Karé shrugged. "I'm heading out to meet him right now," she said. "Is there anything you want me to tell him?"

"Nothing he and the others don't already know, I'm sure," he told her, then motioned to Rey. "She is their priority. Her safety supersedes everything. Me. The mission. All of it." He glanced at Rey, but wouldn't hold her gaze. Or couldn't.

Karé nodded and looked at Rey, then back at Poe. "I'm assuming you'll be leaving with them?"

"That's the plan."

She nodded again, then moved to head out the still open door. "I'll let you know when that plan is happening when I get back, but don't expect me anytime soon. If this is my last night…"

Rey swallowed. She knew exactly what Karé was saying.

With another nod to the both of them, Karé left the room. Poe closed the door behind her and flipped the deadbolt. Then he came back to the bed, taking a deep breath, as if trying to settle himself. He lifted the lid on the tray, revealing one huge plate that smelled divine. "Lechona!" Poe exclaimed.

Rey had heard of the regional dish, made from pork, chickpeas, rice and spices, and included several arepas. Poe picked up two bottles of flavored carbonated water and looked at her. "Grape or Cherry?"

"Grape, please." She took the bottle from him and resettled herself on the bed.

He sat opposite her, popping open his bottle, and then held it up tipped toward her. "A toast?" he asked.

She tilted her head at him then opened her own bottle and brought it up to his.

"To our last night in Ajan Kloss," he said, then tapped his bottle against hers lightly.

Rey smiled, but she couldn't help but feel her heart clench at his words. Yes, she couldn't wait to get home, to be safe and comfortable once again. But this place, and this man, had wormed their way into her heart, and she wasn't at all sure she would ever be the same again.

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