Chapter Seventy-Five

Obi-Wan and Aalea entered their suite and walked into the bedroom. The room was awash with silver moonlight and full of velvety shadows. Candles burned in the sconces set about the wall and cast flickering gold patterns which deepened the shadows in the room.

The windows were open and the curtains made a silken music as a gentle breeze stirred them. The air was so heavy scented from the flowers that filled the room, it was almost dizzying and a heat seemed to shiver in the violet-gray darkness about them.

Aalea walked over, Obi-Wan behind her, to the windows. She looked out. The sky was a deep opal, gradually darkening to black, the full moon a silver coin. She felt Obi-Wan move behind her, then he slipped his arms about her and touched her hair with his lips.

"This reminds me of the night of the wedding feast," he murmured.

"Yes, except there's no aphrodisiac in the air," Aalea said. Then she stiffened and looked quickly about her as she searched for the large red candles that had been the source of the aphrodisiac at the wedding feast.

Obi-Wan laughed softly. "You are so suspicious."

Aalea shrugged. "I wouldn't put anything past the Sylvonnans."

Obi-Wan took her by the shoulders and turned her around.

"I'm sure they know by now that we don't need an aphrodisiac."

Aalea smiled. She then reached up and touched his face. He gazed down at her for a long moment, then kissed her hand as it moved across his mouth. She took her hand away and lifted her face to his.

When their lips touched, Obi-Wan covered her mouth hungrily with his. Aalea's heart skipped and she slipped her arms about his neck. And as his kiss deepened there was nothing in the universe but the touch of his lips on hers.

Obi-Wan slowly broke the kiss and moved his mouth against Aalea's hair, his breath warm in her ear.

"I want you so much," he whispered.

"And I you."

"What should we do?" he asked as his hands roved over her back.

Aalea shook her head. "I don't know. I'm so afraid."

Obi-Wan pulled back and looked down into her face, his eyes wide.

"Afraid? Of me?"

"No, no," she said quickly. "Not of you. Of the future. I fear..." She bit her lip. "I fear that if we don't love each other now, here, at this moment, we may never get another chance."

Obi-Wan gazed down into her eyes. "Do you truly love me, Aalea?"

"I've always loved you, Obi-Wan," she said softly. She smiled slightly. "Do you remember my padawan acceptance ceremony?"

He nodded.

"When I saw you at the ceremony, standing with Master Qui-Gon, for a moment I was so angry. I was thinking it should have been me standing next to him, not you."

"I remember that." Obi-Wan said. "I never knew why you were so mad at me."


"But, I was also thinking how handsome you looked," Aalea said. "I just didn't want to admit it. Not even to myself."

She took a short, shuddering breath, then looked deep into his eyes

"Do you love me, Obi-Wan" she asked in a small voice.

Obi-Wan smiled. "Oh, yes, Aalea. Very much so. I think I've always loved you, too."

He took her hand and led her to the bed. Aalea then turned and moved into the circle of his arms. He reached up and slowly drew his hand over her shoulder.

"Do you know," he whispered, "there were nights when all I could think of was your bare shoulder."

He leaned over and softly kissed it. Then he nestled his face deep into her neck.

"What is that scent you're wearing?" he murmured. "I've been wanting to ask you about it all evening."

"Why? Are you going to lecture me about Jedi decorum?"

Obi-Wan laughed softly as he moved his lips along the line of her neck.

"I'm tempted, but I don't think I will."

He inhaled deeply, then exhaled, his breath warm on her skin. "What is it?"

"A gift from Nadira. The Attar of Love."

"The Attar of Love?"

Aalea nodded, her breath sharp in her throat as Obi-Wan nuzzled her neck.

"Nadira said that when my heart and head were finally one, she would give it to me. For the longest I no idea what she was talking about. Now I do."

As Obi-Can continued to breathe in the perfume, his lips grazed across her skin. Aalea's heart hammered in her ears. She trembled as a frisson, delicious and sweet, thrummed through her. Obi-Wan drew away.

"Are you all right?" he asked.

"Obi-Wan, I'm a....I mean, I've never...."

"Do you trust me, Aalea?"

"Of course I do."

"Then don't worry. I would rather die than hurt you. But, there is something I need to know. Is this what you truly want? Because if you don't, I'll understand---."

Aalea reached up and threw her arms around his neck.

"Yes, oh, yes, I do want this. I do."

Obi-Wan cupped her face. "If I could, Aalea, I would make you my wife before we---"

Aalea stilled his mouth with her fingers.

"Shhh. That doesn't matter to me. I love you and I shall always love you. I want this night with you. I want it."

Obi-Wan said nothing, just nodded. They lay back on the bed, their arms around each other. Aalea's gown made a gentle swishing sound as it flowed across them.

"You are so beautiful," Obi-Wan said.

He then gently kissed the tip of her nose, then her eyes, and finally, her soft mouth. There was a dreamy intimacy to their kisses now.

Obi-Wan pulled away slowly. Aalea's eyes were still closed, her lips slightly parted. Obi-Wan leaned over and kissed her again. Then he sucked gently on her lower lip. Aalea squirmed against him.

He pulled away again, his lips just barely touching hers. Her breath flowed across his mouth and he could feel her trembling. He lowered his mouth to her again; he lightly and softly kissed her and, each time he kissed her, he lingered a little longer on her lips.

Aalea's breath came short and fast. Obi-Wan pulled away and cupped her flushed face, his thumb slowly stroking her moist soft lips.

"It will be all right, Aalea," he whispered. "Don't be afraid. I know what to do."

"I'm not afraid. Not when I'm with you."

Obi-Wan smiled at her, his eyes like jewels in the darkness. He kissed her again, as his hands roamed over her gown, his mouth warm and sweet on hers. Aalea returned his kiss, her lips lingering on his as dizzying waves of pleasure skirled down her spine.

Then, suddenly, she pushed him away.

"What's wrong?" Obi-Wan asked.

Aalea looked past him at the ceiling.

"She did not?" she cried, her eyes widening. "Why that little red-haired..."

"What?"

Aalea gestured with her eyes and Obi-Wan turned his head to look above him.

He groaned softly when he saw himself and Aalea reflected on a mirror above the bed.

"This suite was personally assigned to you by Princess Nadira herself," Aalea said mockingly, repeating Marni's words earlier in the day. "Yes, well now I see why. It's bad enough that we're basically sleeping in a seraglio, but this..." and she brusquely waved her hand at the mirror. "Just wait till I get my hands on her royal highness."

Obi-Wan said nothing. Aalea watched as he turned on his back and gazed up at the mirror. He tilted his head as he studied their reflections, then he slowly smiled.

"You know, Aalea, it's not that bad."

Aalea turned to him, her eyes wide.

"What? Not that bad? What about Jedi decorum? What about dignity and---"

He reached over and touched her lips with his fingers.

"You can always close your eyes," he said grinning.

"That's not the point, Obi-Wan, and you know it. I mean, for all we know it could be one of those two-way mirrors and someone could be watching us."

"Really, Aalea, in the ceiling? We're on the top floor."

"Well, there could be cameras or---"

He leaned over and kissed her.

"I seriously doubt that, Aalea. The Sylvonnans are decadent, but I can't imagine they're also voyeurs." Then he shrugged. "However, if by some chance they are, let's be sure to give them a good show." He grinned at her.

Aalea stared at him. She couldn't believed this was the same Obi-Wan she'd known most of her life. When they were out in public, he acted the way he'd always been; reserved and formal. But when they were alone, it was as if a mask came off and he become someone completely different; more at ease, relaxed, even playful.

"You're not serious, Obi-Wan?"

He laughed. "No, I'm not serious." He nuzzled her neck. "Don't worry, Aalea. No one is watching us."

She slipped her arms around him.

"All right, Obi-Wan, but I'm going to have a long talk with a certain green-eyed, red-haired princess first thing in the morning, I promise you that," she said hotly.

Obi-Wan laughed, then he slowly and gently moved his hands over her and she clung to him as he did, her skin on fire.

Then Aalea again grabbed his arms and pushed him away.

"What's wrong now?"

"I'm not on any kind of conception regulator, Obi-Wan."

He smiled. "Don't worry. I've taken care of that."

"You have? Then you had planned to..." She frowned at him, but her eyes were dancing. "Quite presumptuous on your part, don't you think?"

"Well, I still have my prize to claim," he said smiling. "And fairly won, need I remind you."

Aalea laughed. She slipped her arms about his neck.

"Remember when you asked me to yield when we sparred here?"

"Yes, and as I recall you refused."

"Ask me again."

He tilted his head at her. "All right. Do you yield?"

"Yield? To you?" She smiled. "Always, dearheart."

Obi-Wan laughed and kissed her; then tenderly, gently, heatedly, he made love to her.

To be continued...