Double Double Desire and Trouble
By Rhea
Part Ten
Luke was lost in introspection, unaware of his surroundings. Mara piloted the ship through the night sky, the multicolor neon lights illuminating their way. After a short debate, Mara navigated to Luke's apartment. She figured that if he were on familiar grounds, he might recover some of his equilibrium. Mara could feel his sorrow clinging to him like a cold blanket. She glanced repeatedly at him, and his expression never altered. He continued to stare unseeing into the night.
When the air speeder landed, the slight jolt prompted him to move from the speeder. Mara shut down the vehicle and followed the Jedi. Habit took over and he walked to his apartment. She was concerned for Luke. Mara had seen him depressed before, and the death of the noghri combined with the loss of the Jedi Trust was not something to be taken lightly. She followed him to his door, and after he entered his security code, Mara turned to leave.
Luke turned toward her and gave her a small apologetic smile, "Don't go." His eyes were clouded with emotion, his face haggard.
The red haired woman nodded slightly and followed the Jedi into the sparse apartment. R2D2 warbled a greeting and Luke patted the astromech's dome absentmindedly. The little droid rolled off to another room. Mara inspected her surroundings, as Luke turned the light down to a minimum. The furniture was functional and tasteful. There were no trinkets or art pieces on the gleaming glass tables. The carpet was a plush gold, and the walls a pale green. A large sand painting of Tatooine glistened above the couch in the central room. The Jedi turned on low instrumental music that seemed to fill the silence, but it remained unobtrusively in the background.
"Come look at the view. I've always enjoyed seeing the Manarai Mountains from here." Luke said as he opened the door onto the balcony.
Mara followed him without a word. It was remarkably quiet outside, far away from the regularly traveled skyways. "Are you going to be alright?" Mara asked, her eyes were full of concern.
Luke's mouth curved into a slight smile. "I just can't believe that it's all gone." He turned to gaze at the panoramic view of the city.
"We still don't know that for sure." Mara said without any real conviction.
Luke's smile became just a bit broader, "Come on Mara. I thought you were good at bluffing."
Mara smiled ruefully at him and said teasingly, "You still have yet to get the pot right."
Some of the coldness left the Jedi and his eyes twinkled, "That's right. I forgot that you're after my droid."
"That and other things." Mara said flippantly. She walked up to the edge and grasped the railing. It was cool to the touch. No longer protected by the building, the cooling breeze made the loose tendrils of her braid dance. It felt good against her flushed face.
Luke joined her at the edge and laid his hand over her own. She glanced down at the tanned hand, then she closed her eyes and lifted her face into the breeze. The warmth of the contact felt good on her skin and she felt little tingles of awareness shoot up her arm.
"Whatever I have to give Mara, it's yours." His voice was low and warm. Mara rolled his words around in her head and then opened her eyes to meet his gaze. Luke appeared tired, but his eyes were bright, and she thought he had never looked more handsome.
"I just might take you up on that." she said, as if she were try to warn him. The coldness disappeared from the Jedi at her words. His force signature flared to meet her own. His mouth tipped upward in a sideways smile.
"I wish you would." Luke said simply. Mara's mouth went dry. Skywalker seemed to have a knack for putting her off balance. She was a supremely confident and capable woman. She was deadly in a fight and cunning when the situation called for it. At times like these, when Mara was alone with him, he brought out her vulnerable side, a part of her she did not even know she possessed until she met this certain Jedi. She had no problem expressing the physical side of their relationship, but she was hesitant when it came to exposing her feelings.
Luke closed the space between their mouths and gently kissed her. She sank into the kiss, pressing against him. She laid her hands flat against his back. Their hearts thundered in unison, all their cares slipping away in this simple act of touching. It started as a gentle kiss, a mere caress of lip against lip. Mara felt Luke's force sense seeking more intimate contact and she lowered her barriers revealing her heart. Luke was surprised and gratified by her openness. The depth of her feelings astounded him. The Jedi could read her fears as well as feel her love. This knowledge eliminated the last of his doubts and made him determined to clear the air between them. He groaned pulling her hard against him. Their movements became more heated; the blood rushed through their veins. The kiss grew more intense, filled with longing and desperation. In the wake of this onslaught, Mara lost the ability to think coherently. Luke pulled away to gaze at her. Their gasps intermingled in the cool night breeze.
He closed his eyes, fighting for control. Mara watched him, momentarily confused by his withdrawal. She shuddered, and Luke tightened his grip on her. When his breathing slowed Luke said, "Stay with me."
Mara nodded, "Of course."
He clarified, "I don't mean just tonight. I mean always." He hurried to continue, "I don't want your answer now. Give it some time. Think about it." His eyelids dropped, and he seemed to be watching her from a distance. When he shifted uncomfortably, Mara knew he was shielding himself from her, afraid of her reaction.
Mara was unable to form words past the lump in her throat. After swallowing hard she asked, "Are you sure about this?" her voice was barely audible. She blinked hard, wondering at the growing dampness in her eyes.
"Absolutely certain." Luke said with complete resolve. He seemed to relax.
Her breath hitched in her throat. She extended her force senses trying to read the Jedi and where she normally encountered a barrier, her pathway was clear. His emotions shone clear and bright, painting a vivid picture of his trust in her. Mara was humbled by his willingness to share so much of himself with her. The Jedi was absolutely certain they were right together and he was unrelenting in his love for her. It was both beautiful and terrifying in its intensity.
Mara gasped and Luke took her face gently, showing her that he would not demand from her the absolute devotion that the Emperor had once expected. It was as if a mirage suddenly coalesced into reality. She suddenly understood her reluctance for a deeper relationship with Luke. She feared his potential, and wondered if she could ever withstand the raw power of him. She flinched. They closed their eyes swaying, staggered by her retreat.
A part of Luke wanted to cry out in anguish, but the moment Mara felt his pain at her mental recoil, she resurged forward. *I'll never leave you Luke.* Mara said through the force.
*I'd never hurt you.* Luke returned. Relief swept over him so powerfully that when they both opened their eyes they saw that they had slid to the floor of the balcony.
"I'm sorry, Luke." Mara said, ashamed of her momentary unwillingness to face the Jedi.
"Don't ever forget how powerful you are in the force, Mara. I could never do anything to you that you couldn't stop."
"I know." Mara looked up and saw tears streaming down his face. Already upset about the events of the day, this proved to be too much. Her heart clenched at the sight and she moaned, "Oh, Luke."
He lowered his head and repeated, "I'll never hurt you." She could feel the spike of fear within him, and Mara knew that he was thinking of his constant battle with the Dark Side. She put her arms out and he bent over, burying his face in her lap. Mara combed her fingers through his hair. Sorrow filled his soul and spilled over into her own. He wept silently and Mara's heart tore in two. She had caused this. She was responsible for this pain. She could feel the warm moisture spill from her eyes to land on his bent head.
"Listen to me, Luke." Mara said insistently, "You are not the Emperor, and you are not your father, either. You are the man I love, the one I want to spend the rest of my life tormenting with my bad temper and even worse cooking."
Luke started to shake, and Mara felt the anguish well up in her. Her hands clenched into fists. It took her a moment to realize that he was not crying but laughing.
"Stupid, Jedi," Mara sighed in relief.
He raised his head, smiling with quiet joy. All signs of weariness were gone from his features. He looked years younger as he chuckled until she felt uncomfortable at his continued laughter.
"You find this amusing?" she asked churlishly.
"I love everything about you, Mara. I love you so much that sometimes I'm sure I'll go supernova."
"That's hormones talking." Mara grumbled.
"No. Don't belittle what I'm saying. I know how I feel, and you can feel it too." His eyes were wide and his voice earnest.
Mara nodded, the smile on her face mirroring his own. "Yes, I can. You certainly don't do anything in halves do you, Skywalker?"
"There's no point in destroying only half the Death Star."
Mara cocked her head to one side, "I thought Lando's group did just that."
Luke began to laugh and stood up, pulling her to her feet. He flashed her a brilliant, boyish smile. He picked her up and spun her around and Mara laughed at his exuberance. "Put me down." Mara said, not really meaning it.
"Come on. Let's go inside." He said and instead of setting her down he carried her through his apartment. He did not stop until they stood beside the bed.
"Just what do you think you're doing, Skywalker?" Mara asked, her voice was light.
"I'm making love to you, Mara."
"Don't I have a say in this?" she teased.
"Nope." He replied simply and lowered her so that she slid across his body. He began to kiss Mara almost reverently. Mara began to shake and she leaned against him. They had made love before, but there was something different this time. There was a deeper hue of tenderness that colored their actions. It was as if each caress was an expression of devotion. Their force senses joined, multiplying the sensations ten fold.
Mara smiled at Luke and began to remove his tunic. Luke shrugged it off. She kissed his neck, slowly moving down the length. He griped her tightly, swallowing hard. Luke watched her through slitted eyelids. He reveled in the fact that she was taking the initiative. Callista never once touched him of her own volition. She would never even kiss him unless he started it.
As if sensing the name that had fluttered through his mind, Mara rose up to her toes bringing their faces closer together, and kissed him. This was a kiss of possession. It demanded complete surrender. All thoughts fled his mind and he reacted. He kissed her with utter abandon. They pressed tightly against each other, removing their clothing in a frantic urgency. Their passion quickly escalated and they fell to the bed, limbs entwined.
It was hours later before they fell asleep in each others arms.
Mara arose from the bed to find that she was alone. She pulled the sheet around her and sat up. He entered the room and she reached for him calling his name, "Luke."
"Don't you look inviting there." Luke said softly. He leaned against the open doorway, his eyes glittering slits.
Mara's felt a tickle at the back of her mind. "What's wrong Luke?"
The blond man smiled and walked slowly toward her. She felt as if a snake curled in her belly. "Nothing's wrong, my dear. Everything is perfect."
When he smiled, a shiver ran down the back of her neck. Then she knew with utter certainty, what had happened. Where was Luke? What had happened to him since she had fallen asleep? Because this wasn't Skywalker - Mara had gone to bed with Luke and woken up with his imposter.
Part Ten
Luke was lost in introspection, unaware of his surroundings. Mara piloted the ship through the night sky, the multicolor neon lights illuminating their way. After a short debate, Mara navigated to Luke's apartment. She figured that if he were on familiar grounds, he might recover some of his equilibrium. Mara could feel his sorrow clinging to him like a cold blanket. She glanced repeatedly at him, and his expression never altered. He continued to stare unseeing into the night.
When the air speeder landed, the slight jolt prompted him to move from the speeder. Mara shut down the vehicle and followed the Jedi. Habit took over and he walked to his apartment. She was concerned for Luke. Mara had seen him depressed before, and the death of the noghri combined with the loss of the Jedi Trust was not something to be taken lightly. She followed him to his door, and after he entered his security code, Mara turned to leave.
Luke turned toward her and gave her a small apologetic smile, "Don't go." His eyes were clouded with emotion, his face haggard.
The red haired woman nodded slightly and followed the Jedi into the sparse apartment. R2D2 warbled a greeting and Luke patted the astromech's dome absentmindedly. The little droid rolled off to another room. Mara inspected her surroundings, as Luke turned the light down to a minimum. The furniture was functional and tasteful. There were no trinkets or art pieces on the gleaming glass tables. The carpet was a plush gold, and the walls a pale green. A large sand painting of Tatooine glistened above the couch in the central room. The Jedi turned on low instrumental music that seemed to fill the silence, but it remained unobtrusively in the background.
"Come look at the view. I've always enjoyed seeing the Manarai Mountains from here." Luke said as he opened the door onto the balcony.
Mara followed him without a word. It was remarkably quiet outside, far away from the regularly traveled skyways. "Are you going to be alright?" Mara asked, her eyes were full of concern.
Luke's mouth curved into a slight smile. "I just can't believe that it's all gone." He turned to gaze at the panoramic view of the city.
"We still don't know that for sure." Mara said without any real conviction.
Luke's smile became just a bit broader, "Come on Mara. I thought you were good at bluffing."
Mara smiled ruefully at him and said teasingly, "You still have yet to get the pot right."
Some of the coldness left the Jedi and his eyes twinkled, "That's right. I forgot that you're after my droid."
"That and other things." Mara said flippantly. She walked up to the edge and grasped the railing. It was cool to the touch. No longer protected by the building, the cooling breeze made the loose tendrils of her braid dance. It felt good against her flushed face.
Luke joined her at the edge and laid his hand over her own. She glanced down at the tanned hand, then she closed her eyes and lifted her face into the breeze. The warmth of the contact felt good on her skin and she felt little tingles of awareness shoot up her arm.
"Whatever I have to give Mara, it's yours." His voice was low and warm. Mara rolled his words around in her head and then opened her eyes to meet his gaze. Luke appeared tired, but his eyes were bright, and she thought he had never looked more handsome.
"I just might take you up on that." she said, as if she were try to warn him. The coldness disappeared from the Jedi at her words. His force signature flared to meet her own. His mouth tipped upward in a sideways smile.
"I wish you would." Luke said simply. Mara's mouth went dry. Skywalker seemed to have a knack for putting her off balance. She was a supremely confident and capable woman. She was deadly in a fight and cunning when the situation called for it. At times like these, when Mara was alone with him, he brought out her vulnerable side, a part of her she did not even know she possessed until she met this certain Jedi. She had no problem expressing the physical side of their relationship, but she was hesitant when it came to exposing her feelings.
Luke closed the space between their mouths and gently kissed her. She sank into the kiss, pressing against him. She laid her hands flat against his back. Their hearts thundered in unison, all their cares slipping away in this simple act of touching. It started as a gentle kiss, a mere caress of lip against lip. Mara felt Luke's force sense seeking more intimate contact and she lowered her barriers revealing her heart. Luke was surprised and gratified by her openness. The depth of her feelings astounded him. The Jedi could read her fears as well as feel her love. This knowledge eliminated the last of his doubts and made him determined to clear the air between them. He groaned pulling her hard against him. Their movements became more heated; the blood rushed through their veins. The kiss grew more intense, filled with longing and desperation. In the wake of this onslaught, Mara lost the ability to think coherently. Luke pulled away to gaze at her. Their gasps intermingled in the cool night breeze.
He closed his eyes, fighting for control. Mara watched him, momentarily confused by his withdrawal. She shuddered, and Luke tightened his grip on her. When his breathing slowed Luke said, "Stay with me."
Mara nodded, "Of course."
He clarified, "I don't mean just tonight. I mean always." He hurried to continue, "I don't want your answer now. Give it some time. Think about it." His eyelids dropped, and he seemed to be watching her from a distance. When he shifted uncomfortably, Mara knew he was shielding himself from her, afraid of her reaction.
Mara was unable to form words past the lump in her throat. After swallowing hard she asked, "Are you sure about this?" her voice was barely audible. She blinked hard, wondering at the growing dampness in her eyes.
"Absolutely certain." Luke said with complete resolve. He seemed to relax.
Her breath hitched in her throat. She extended her force senses trying to read the Jedi and where she normally encountered a barrier, her pathway was clear. His emotions shone clear and bright, painting a vivid picture of his trust in her. Mara was humbled by his willingness to share so much of himself with her. The Jedi was absolutely certain they were right together and he was unrelenting in his love for her. It was both beautiful and terrifying in its intensity.
Mara gasped and Luke took her face gently, showing her that he would not demand from her the absolute devotion that the Emperor had once expected. It was as if a mirage suddenly coalesced into reality. She suddenly understood her reluctance for a deeper relationship with Luke. She feared his potential, and wondered if she could ever withstand the raw power of him. She flinched. They closed their eyes swaying, staggered by her retreat.
A part of Luke wanted to cry out in anguish, but the moment Mara felt his pain at her mental recoil, she resurged forward. *I'll never leave you Luke.* Mara said through the force.
*I'd never hurt you.* Luke returned. Relief swept over him so powerfully that when they both opened their eyes they saw that they had slid to the floor of the balcony.
"I'm sorry, Luke." Mara said, ashamed of her momentary unwillingness to face the Jedi.
"Don't ever forget how powerful you are in the force, Mara. I could never do anything to you that you couldn't stop."
"I know." Mara looked up and saw tears streaming down his face. Already upset about the events of the day, this proved to be too much. Her heart clenched at the sight and she moaned, "Oh, Luke."
He lowered his head and repeated, "I'll never hurt you." She could feel the spike of fear within him, and Mara knew that he was thinking of his constant battle with the Dark Side. She put her arms out and he bent over, burying his face in her lap. Mara combed her fingers through his hair. Sorrow filled his soul and spilled over into her own. He wept silently and Mara's heart tore in two. She had caused this. She was responsible for this pain. She could feel the warm moisture spill from her eyes to land on his bent head.
"Listen to me, Luke." Mara said insistently, "You are not the Emperor, and you are not your father, either. You are the man I love, the one I want to spend the rest of my life tormenting with my bad temper and even worse cooking."
Luke started to shake, and Mara felt the anguish well up in her. Her hands clenched into fists. It took her a moment to realize that he was not crying but laughing.
"Stupid, Jedi," Mara sighed in relief.
He raised his head, smiling with quiet joy. All signs of weariness were gone from his features. He looked years younger as he chuckled until she felt uncomfortable at his continued laughter.
"You find this amusing?" she asked churlishly.
"I love everything about you, Mara. I love you so much that sometimes I'm sure I'll go supernova."
"That's hormones talking." Mara grumbled.
"No. Don't belittle what I'm saying. I know how I feel, and you can feel it too." His eyes were wide and his voice earnest.
Mara nodded, the smile on her face mirroring his own. "Yes, I can. You certainly don't do anything in halves do you, Skywalker?"
"There's no point in destroying only half the Death Star."
Mara cocked her head to one side, "I thought Lando's group did just that."
Luke began to laugh and stood up, pulling her to her feet. He flashed her a brilliant, boyish smile. He picked her up and spun her around and Mara laughed at his exuberance. "Put me down." Mara said, not really meaning it.
"Come on. Let's go inside." He said and instead of setting her down he carried her through his apartment. He did not stop until they stood beside the bed.
"Just what do you think you're doing, Skywalker?" Mara asked, her voice was light.
"I'm making love to you, Mara."
"Don't I have a say in this?" she teased.
"Nope." He replied simply and lowered her so that she slid across his body. He began to kiss Mara almost reverently. Mara began to shake and she leaned against him. They had made love before, but there was something different this time. There was a deeper hue of tenderness that colored their actions. It was as if each caress was an expression of devotion. Their force senses joined, multiplying the sensations ten fold.
Mara smiled at Luke and began to remove his tunic. Luke shrugged it off. She kissed his neck, slowly moving down the length. He griped her tightly, swallowing hard. Luke watched her through slitted eyelids. He reveled in the fact that she was taking the initiative. Callista never once touched him of her own volition. She would never even kiss him unless he started it.
As if sensing the name that had fluttered through his mind, Mara rose up to her toes bringing their faces closer together, and kissed him. This was a kiss of possession. It demanded complete surrender. All thoughts fled his mind and he reacted. He kissed her with utter abandon. They pressed tightly against each other, removing their clothing in a frantic urgency. Their passion quickly escalated and they fell to the bed, limbs entwined.
It was hours later before they fell asleep in each others arms.
Mara arose from the bed to find that she was alone. She pulled the sheet around her and sat up. He entered the room and she reached for him calling his name, "Luke."
"Don't you look inviting there." Luke said softly. He leaned against the open doorway, his eyes glittering slits.
Mara's felt a tickle at the back of her mind. "What's wrong Luke?"
The blond man smiled and walked slowly toward her. She felt as if a snake curled in her belly. "Nothing's wrong, my dear. Everything is perfect."
When he smiled, a shiver ran down the back of her neck. Then she knew with utter certainty, what had happened. Where was Luke? What had happened to him since she had fallen asleep? Because this wasn't Skywalker - Mara had gone to bed with Luke and woken up with his imposter.