Moment of Decision
By
Rhea Jediknight & Ash Darklighter
Part Six
The sun was high in the sky when Mara awoke to find Cilghal and her apprentice leaning over her prone form. A gentle hand stayed her reflexive movement to pull a blaster from a holster that wasn't there.
"It's okay, Mara. Just relax." The Mon Calamarian healer intoned gently, her large eyes taking in every detail of her patient's appearance.
Mara took a deep breath and wondered why she ached all over. It took her a few seconds for her tired mind to ascertain a few facts. She was back in her quarters at the Academy. She felt like she was recovering from a stun blast, and Skywalker was nowhere to be seen.
"I'm sorry to intrude, but Master Skywalker said that you might be ill and after our repeated comms went unanswered, we decided to examine you."
"I didn't hear anything." Mara tried to sit up, groaning involuntarily as she failed to do so, and subsided back onto her pillows, her head spinning, "Where is Skywalker?"
"Master Skywalker has been told to rest. He's in his quarters - hopefully sleeping." Cilgahl's voice held a trace of fond amusement.
"I…" Mara attemped to rise again. The nerf hide blanket fell unheeded to her waist. She was still garbed in her black jumpsuit, but her boots were lying on the floor beside the bed.
"I'm fine," she said when the Mon Calamari healer leaned over her, checking her pulse and shining a light into her eyes. "Look, you don't have to do that. Quit shining that thing in my eyes."
"Master Skywalker was concerned about your condition after your recent ordeal, but you do appear to be in good health. However, I do recommend that you take it easy for a while. Exposure to the dark side can be debilitating. You will feel very tired for a day or so."
"Where's Skywalker? I want to see him." Mara repeated, her voice acquiring an edge.
"You can see him later. He's resting in his room, I should imagine. We suggested that he do so and we told him we would check on him later. I advise you do the same. We'll leave you alone for now. Braxis left a tray of food for you if you feel up to eating." They exited the apartment as silently as they had entered.
Mara channelled power into her body through the Force and this time succeeded in lifting her head from the pillow. She gingerly swung her legs to the floor and sat breathing heavily. Stars, she felt as weak as a day old pitten. As her world righted itself, Mara felt her energy return and carefully left the bed, looking at the chrono. Two days! She marvelled at having slept so long. No wonder the Jedi healers had come to check on her. Stripping off her jumpsuit, an act that almost made her crawl back into her bed immediately, she made her way to the fresher, holding onto walls and furniture until she got there. After a brief wash, she pulled on a light sleeping shift and thankfully crawled back to her bed.
As she pulled back the covers Mara reached out with the Force seeking Luke's presence. She felt the thin tendril connecting her to the other Jedi, become more solid. A familiar warmth infused her being, the essence of the man filled her. She wondered how many times she automatically reached out to Luke for reassurance when she knew he was near. She had the feeling that it was something she did often.
* Luke? * She projected the question into his mind.
He didn't respond, but she felt a reflexive upsurge of warmth from him. She realized that he was asleep. Of course, how else had they returned to the Academy unless Luke had driven the distance non stop? He must be exhausted too. She knew upon reflection, that he had been with her for the duration of her struggle with the dark side, ready to lend assistance if necessary. Instead of being annoyed by this knowledge, she found it reassuring. He hadn't abandoned her to her struggle. He'd watched over her all the while but let her make her own decision even if it had been one that pained him.
Mara withdrew from her contact with Luke, feeling his mind begin to stir and soothed him back to sleep. Once she was certain that the Jedi had once again surrendered to his exhaustion, Mara withdrew from the contact. Suddenly feeling tired again she nestled into her pillows, pulled her comforter about her ears and fell into a more natural slumber.
**********************************
Corran wandered into the Academy sickbay. "How are they, Cilghal?"
The Jedi healer's large eyes glinted. "Exhausted."
The Corellian nodded. "I came across Luke after he had carried Jade to her room. She was out cold then and he was keeping himself awake by willpower and the Force. In fact he was using so much power in the Force that I thought he might even start to glow."
"She has now awoken and was most determined in trying to arise from her bed. The will was there but the way was not. All the determination in the world won't get past the fact that she still needs more rest."
"She is determined." They shared a smile.
"And stubborn,yes, but when I checked a moment ago, she had fallen asleep again."
Corran looked worried. "But she's already been out for two days!"
"Yes, but she faced the dark side and it took more out of her than she suspected it would. She is now sleeping lightly and I would guess that she will awake far more refreshed in a couple of hours. She will be tired for a few more days, but she is young and healthy and will recover."
"What about the Master?"
"Also sleeping. He's awoken a few times for food and then gone back into a healing trance. Not only did he monitor the whole thing…"
"He was barely standing upright when I found him the night they arrived back. He'd driven back without stopping to rest."
Cilghal chuckled. "So I heard." She then shook her head. "He undertook this task right after a difficult mission. High Councillor Organa Solo threatened to detain him in the Coruscant medicentre unless he rested properly. She was worried that he wouldn't come to Yavin and relax."
"Which of course, he didn't."
"No, he didn't."
"If he could have, he would have camped outside Mara's door until she woke up."
"I think I heard that too."
"He was most insistent that I checked her over and I had to ensure that she did not leave the planet without first seeing him. I think Luke assumed she would wake up the next morning and leave immediately. At one time, I think she would have, whether she was able to drag herself to her ship or not."
The Calamarian sighed. "As you rightly stated, she was not physically able to get out of her bed and make it unaided to her ship. She has learned to face her fears and has grown as a Jedi. I didn't think she would bolt this time."
"Perhaps not, but she came to train when Luke was away. He came back early and surprised her. She was not comfortable when he arrived. That is not the actions of someone ready to involve themselves in a deeper relationship."
"So you noticed all that tension too. Something has happened between them." Cilghal was certain.
"Yes, I can feel it." Corran agreed. "There still may be problems ahead. They are the most stubborn people I know."
"And you know quite a few, don't you," Cilghal said easily.
Corran grinned. "I'd better go; I have one of Luke's classes to take."
Cilghal cocked her head enquiringly. "Telekinesis?"
"Advanced lightsaber technique actually," he retorted snippily and then looked rueful. "You know I can't lift anything worth a damn."
"Just teasing you, Corran. You have other strengths. I'm going to check again on the Master."
"Yeah! Tell him to get up and teach his own classes."
*******************************
Mara opened her eyes. Where was she?
The sun splashed brightly into her room.
'I'm in my room on Yavin 4. I slept the rest of the day away,' she thought. Suddenly recent events began to flood back into her mind. "I've slept for nearly three days," she mumbled aloud. "I've never slept that long in my life before. Unless you count the time I had neural reconstruction surgery done, but technically that wasn't sleep, that was sedation." Remembering her dizziness from the day before Mara carefully sat up and smiled with relief when this time she didn't feel any ill-effects from her experience at the ruins.
As she began to ready herself for the day, she realized that a very thin thread of awareness remained between her and Skywalker ready to flare to disconcerting life. She reflected on this new and not unpleasant sensation. She knew that she would be aware the moment he awoke, or even if his dreams began to trouble him. They were now connected on a far more intimate level through the Force, and Mara wondered if it was even possible to break this bond and debated whether she even wished to.
If someone had told her about the possibility of this happening, she would have never returned to Yavin, might have even avoided Skywalker indefinitely. She had tried to train without his knowledge and had only hurt him in the process. He had always insisted she had the right and the ability to become a Jedi Knight. It was only her irrational fear of being in the power of someone like the Emperor that had stopped her. But this bond was different from her connection to the Emperor. Whereas, the Sith lord's presence had been commanding and had sometimes overruled her own thoughts, Luke's presence was a comfort, a source of strength available for her to use if she so desired. It was non-intrusive, warm and caring.
It made her feel loved. She'd never felt such an emotion and certainly hadn't felt it directed at her with such open-minded farmboy honesty.
Her throat tightened with emotion as she grappled with this knowledge. What had she lost by staying away from Luke for so long?
Mara warred with two conflicting impulses and managed to restrain both of them with great difficulty. The first was to fire up her ship and leave while Skywalker was unaware, and the second more compelling impulse was for her to go to him. She wanted to enter his room, check on him, and stay with him. More than once, she walked by his room and looked longingly at his closed door. She knew she could enter without any difficulty, in fact she doubted he had even locked the door.
But something within her prevented her from making this move. She settled for repeatedly reaching out to him, his warm presence reassuring her that he was alright. She really didn't want to leave Yavin, but the more she thought about his proclamation of love, the more she wanted to flee. It was odd, really. She had no intent of pushing away her own growing feelings for the Jedi - it was just that she had been alone for so many years. She was so used to managing on her own – being independent that the thought of being so closely bound to another person was almost alien to her. But the vision she'd had of Luke's face as he'd faded away without her made her heart weep. It was hard to accept another option might be on the horizon. The option of being loved and in love.
She'd always had strong feelings for Skywalker, she finally acknowledged to herself. Always extreme but there had always been something there. Mara would die inside if he was no longer a part of her world as he would without her. He was her best friend and she would never, ever want to lose that. Was passion worth the risk? Is that what made her want to escape? Again she remembered her vision, and the slow demise of his spirit. Is that what would happen to them both if she left?
Since the time she had emerged from her room with the all clear from the healers, Corran Horn had dominated her continuing training schedule. He seemed determined that she not remain alone, keeping her busy. Every time she turned around, there he was. She had begun to suspect that he had an ulterior motive, but had yet to have an opportunity to question the wily Corellian. Mara sat outside one of the smaller Massassi ruins, going through a series of basic exercises at Corran's request.
"Concentrate, Jade," he said. "I know you've had an interesting few days but let's not forget the basics."
"I have been concentrating for the past two hours and I can lift rocks better than you can."
"That's true," Kyp commented from the edge of the clearing. "He never was one for lifting."
"Nasty, to pick on my shortcomings."
"I never mentioned your height," Mara quipped an evil glint in her eyes."
"I have a compact frame. Just right for a pilot," Corran shot back.
"Are you deliberately keeping me busy with trivial tasks?" she queried. Something was calling to her or someone.
Corran coughed. She had humoured him long enough and was now letting him know that she suspected his motives. "I… ah…" He had managed to distract her longer than he had hoped.
"No task which develops your use of the Force could be termed trivial, Jade," Kyp said smoothly. "For example. Would you recognise a cloaked Jedi if he was standing behind you?"
Mara closed her eyes and raised her face to the sun. Something lightly brushed her sense – lighter than a moth's wing, softer than an insect call, but to Mara it was louder than the mightiest shout. Joy surged within her as she recognized Luke's alertly seeking mind.
"Of course, I would." She opened her eyes.
Kyp smiled. He had never seen her eyes glow as brightly as they did at that moment. "Well then?"
"The cloaked Jedi Master, you mean?" she asked.
Corran laughed. "He's here?"
Mara welcomed Luke's light probe, relieved that he had finally contacted her. She could feel his quiet joy at her reception of him and his tension slowly ebbing away. *I know you're there, Skywalker,* she said through the Force. Still not turning around to see where he had hidden his presence. She would be with him soon enough. "He's around and about," she murmured. "About time he dragged himself out of bed."
*Eager to see me, Jade?* Luke teased
*Worried I wouldn't be here, Skywalker?* she said as a rejoinder.
*It is more convenient* he conceded.
*What do you mean?* she asked querulously.
*I'll be able to see you just that much sooner.* Mara read the implication in his words. He was saying that he would have come to her regardless of where she had been the moment he awoke.
*In that case, I'm with Corran outside the Massassi temple.*
*Where do you think I am?* he sent back teasingly.
*I know where you are,* she returned smartly.
*You do, do you?*
*I know exactly where you are… I think*' The Force illusion flickered. "Luke…" she began to stare around her, searching for his presence.
"Mara?" Horn's voice intruded on her mental conversation with Skywalker. "You need to remain focused if you are going to maintain the illusion," he reprimanded her lightly.
"Yes, Jedi Horn." She said impishly, her mood greatly lightened by the knowledge that she would be seeing Luke soon. The corner of her lip tugged upward.
"I thought I was Master Horn, to you, Jade?" Corran teased.
"Now, now, Corran," Mara chided with a smile. "I'm just getting used to the idea of calling Skywalker by that title, don't push your luck and expect me to recognize you as well." Her voice faded to a whisper. "I'm beginning to think that there's more than one way to earn that title, either through domination or through respect. Skywalker has earned my respect and that is why I will call him 'Master Skywalker' - at least once, or when the mood strikes me."
Corran nodded. He felt so proud of her and knew that Luke was too.
"He did not demand that I call him 'Master'. He said I had to have a master but that master would be the Force and not any one person."
Corran chucked softly wishing that Skywalker would quickly join them. He wouldn't be able to maintain Mara's interest in his teachings for much longer. He also knew that the red headed Jedi was entirely all too aware of their scheme to keep her from departing Yavin. If it worked – he didn't care that she knew.
Mara did not even need to look up to know the moment Skywalker revealed his presence. There was a rustle in the bushes behind Mara and out stepped the Jedi Master, dressed in his usual blacks, but with an expression on his face that lightened the most sombre of garments.
She was seated on a large
stone which must have been part of the Massassi
temple at one time. Her attention
focused on Corran Horn as he led her through an
exercise that involved projecting an image of a flying mynock
in the air above their heads. Mara just barely managed to maintain her
concentration so that the illusory bird remained visible. She included
Skywalker in her field of targets and she felt his unobtrusive pride in her
accomplishment.
*Not bad, Jade,* he sent to her
through the Force.
*Corran has already given me a hard time about my
lack of concentration,* she said wryly.
*Then my presence is good practice for you,* he replied. He remembered
suddenly her unguarded words in the hot springs that she could never concentrate properly if he was
around. It was the first inkling he'd had that she was attracted to him.
"I think that's enough for today." Corran Horn said
and the bird faded away into the air. "Hey, Luke!
About time you got up and trained your own students."
"I didn't mean to interrupt your lesson." Luke said walking forward to stand in
the centre of the clearing. "However I have been distracting your student for
the past few minutes."
Kyp grinned. "Thought so."
"Haven't you duties to attend to, Jedi Durron?" Luke queried a little formally and Mara was gratified to see Kyp's smug grin vanish.
"See you later," he muttered grumpily. Kyp had hoped to have some fun baiting his former master and Mara. Luke was wise to his games.
"Mara Jade is no longer a student of mine." Luke said with a smile.
"I'm sorry, Corran that my concentration wasn't all that it should have
been," Mara apologised, with a wary glance at Luke. His eyes were clear and
bright and he looked rested.
"If you were carrying on a conversation with Master Skywalker and producing mynocks from thin air, I think you have more than proved
yourself."
"All the same, I'm sorry," Luke apologised too.
"I don't think I have more to teach her anyway." Corran said standing up. Mara stood up as well, smiling slightly at the blond Jedi. "You were right, Luke." The Corellian was amused to see how quickly her gaze left him and fasten hungrily on Luke. It also made him miss Mirax more than ever. A sudden desire to speak to his wife gripped him. "I'm going to go and see if I can contact Mirax, Luke," he said.
"You do that and say hello from me," Luke murmured never taking his eyes from Mara.
Mara heard Corran speak but couldn't have repeated what he'd said. She was so incredibly aware of the Jedi Master. She watched Luke, her eyes shining with an all too familiar emotion. Luke gazed at Mara and his expression mirrored hers.
Corran's eyes went from Skywalker to Jade and a knowing grin
spread across his face. Yup, he definitely needed to speak with his wife.
"Well, I think it's getting crowded here, so I'll be on my way."
His words finally registered and Mara turned to address Corran,
"Thanks, Horn, for the lesson."
"No problem, Jade. I'll see you around."
The minute they were alone, the open and sunny clearing seemed to become
intimate as Yavin's sun began it's decent towards
night. There was an awkwardness that had never existed between the two before,
and there was a deeper awareness that was new between them as well.
"Hello, Mara," Luke said, his voice husky.
"Luke," she said and without mockery or malice. "Master Skywalker."
"Don't call me that," Luke's face twisted in pain.
"You deserve the title and I was wrong."
"I don't want to be your Master," he said stepping forward and cupping her soft cheek with his hand. "I'm just Luke."
Mara lifted her own hand to cover his and smiled at him, her eyes shimmering with tears. "Well, 'just Luke'?"
Luke dropped his hand and said quietly, his tone strangely formal. "You have recovered?"
"I think so. Cilghal said I would be tired for a few days."
"Then you mustn't overdo it."
"I won't," Mara murmured and then found their whole conversation incredibly funny. She laughed softly.
"Something funny?"
"Us," she answered. "We sound like acquaintances at a Coruscant ball."
"We're more than that." Luke's lips had curved into a gentle smile. "Much more."
"Yes."
"You're not my student any longer."
"You said that already," Mara felt her cheeks grow warm. "Suppose I want to continue training with you?"
"Then it would have to be as equals - as Jedi. I said I didn't want to be your master."
"You would refuse me?" she asked.
"I could refuse you nothing," he said.
Mara digested his remark and
nodded. "Okay."
"Come on. I want to show you something." Luke said as he took her hand and
guided her into the ruined temple through narrow corridors and ancient stone
steps. "Its alright, this place isn't like the Malignare
fortress. There are no remnants of the dark side lingering." They navigated
through a convoluted set of passageways slowly gaining altitude until they
stepped out onto the top of the ancient temple. The cool breeze was refreshing
after the stuffy corridors and the view was amazing. They could see across an
incredible distance and the entire way was carpeted with the green trees of the
Yavin jungle to the mountains beyond. Mara stood gazing at the panoramic vista
spread before her until she felt Luke's hand gently tap her arm. A blue blanket
was spread across the rough stone roof, and a simple meal of fresh fruit and
cheese was laid out on small plates.
"I thought you might be hungry." Luke said quietly. "You've been working hard
for most of today."
"While I waited for you to wake up."
"I was tired."
"This is wonderful, Luke," Mara breathed. "And yes… I am hungry."
Luke sat down on the blanket and gestured for Mara to join him. "I figured we
didn't have any restaurants, so this was the next best thing."
For a moment, Mara couldn't find anything to say, then
said simply. "This is better." Mara said and hid her sudden discomfort by
biting into a piece of fruit. He had remembered his promise to make it up to
her and had acted upon it at the first possible moment.
Luke was pleased by her comment and watched her surreptitiously while he sliced
the cheese for them. She darted quick looks at him out of the corner of her
eyes as she ate, pretending to be completely absorbed in the panoramic view
from the rooftop. The sun continued its decent and the
colours in the sky were spectacular but Luke was watching Mara and she was
watching him. The show put on for them by the heavens was largely ignored. She
could feel his nervousness and understood the cause as it so closely mirrored
her own. They had known each other for years, been the best of friends for so
long that she could not even imagine her life without him. Perhaps, that was
one of the main obstacles that stood between them. They both feared to try a
romantic relationship and fail, leaving their friendship in tatters. They would
only live half a life without the other – whatever their relationship developed
into.
With a decidedly nervous flutter in the region of her stomach, Mara decided
that they should bring this thing between them out into the open, "Luke?"
The sound of his name seemed to catch him unaware and his azure gaze flew to
meet hers. He smiled openly at her, the sight making her heart melt. "Yes?" he
asked.
"I want you to know how much you mean to me. How important you have always been
in my life. You know I'll always be there for you, Skywalker." Mara said
slowly.
He had the earnest expression on his face that always affected Mara to her heart's core. "And I'll always be there for you, no matter what happens," he continued, his expression growing intense. "What's wrong Mara? Is this where you tell me that you don't think we're right for each other?"
Mara shook her head, and before she could open her mouth to say anything Luke said quickly, "I really think we are right together. I know you feel it too. This is not just for a night or two, but for a very long time." 'Forever if I have my way,' Luke thought.
Mara
swallowed. "Can we both agree that if something happens, that if for some
reason, we decide that we don't want to make that final commitment, then we will always be friends," she whispered.
"There's no playing it safe here, Mara. We can't do things in halves. Do you
really want to do that?" Luke felt a stabbing pain in the vicinity of his
heart. "My life would be meaningless without you, but I don't think I could
take seeing you with another man. I'm sorry Mara, but you will always have a
place in my heart, but I'm not sure that I could take the pain. It would have
to be all or…" his voice broke and he turned away. "I have already made that
final commitment to you. I cannot go back."
"Luke…" she murmured softly.
The Jedi bent his tousled blond head and closed his eyes. It drove him crazy to even think of her with someone else. There was no playing at being cautious, there was no safety net if they failed. He raised his head and finally met her gaze. "We'll make this work. We have to, don't you see." He rolled onto his knees and crawled the small distance separating them. "I can't…" he stopped and took a deep breath. Mara felt him gathering his courage together. "I can't go on without you. I know you can feel my emotions; you know how much you mean to me."
Mara peered at his face in
the rapidly dwindling light. The sunset had been spectacular but the sight of
tears on Luke's face provided much more impact. Her hand reached up and
carefully wiped the moisture from his face. She was astounded. He cared for her
that much?
As her shaking fingers touched his cheek he pulled Mara toward him, so that she
fell into his lap. Her green eyes widened and with a fingertip he traced the outline
of her jaw moving up to her soft lips. Her mouth fell open at the gentle caress
and Luke groaned, pulling her into his embrace, kissing her fiercely. The
passion exploded within them. Instantly this was raw, open desire and they knew
that it was too late to retreat, to go back to the simple companionable
friendship that had marked the early part of their relationship. There was no
denying the physical need for the other, and the uncharted territory of their
turbulent emotions. They were caught in the same trap, and it was up to them to
decide if they wanted to break free, destroying something precious in the
process.
They kissed feverishly for a long moment, and when they pulled back to gasp for
air, Luke said, "I want you, Mara. I want you very much."
"I know." She responded, a satisfied smile on her face. "I could feel it."
Her humour made him love her even more.
'Love.'
Did he really love her? He
had to be sure this time because life without Mara was a long empty road. This
realization made him pause, he was motionless, searching deep within himself to
make certain of his heart. It was there. It had been there for a very long
time, buried deep under layers of insecurity. He could see that he had failed
to acknowledge his feelings in the past for fear of losing the safety and
comfort of the status quo. But there was no doubt in his mind or in his heart.
The two were united. There never had been doubt where she was concerned. He
loved her.
"Hey." Mara said, concerned by his sudden stillness, "I want you too," she
said, her face serious in the gloom.
His eyes focused on her again, and he viewed her with such tenderness that Mara
almost wept. He weighed his words, wondering how he could express the love he
felt overflowing his heart without frightening her away.
"I don't scare easy," she murmured, reading his mind.
He reached out to her through
the Force, letting her feel the joy at being with her brought to his soul. His
warmth enveloped her, making her sure that everything was right with the galaxy.
The sensation rocked her and she closed her eyes wondering if she would ever
feel anything more wonderful. Their Force senses swayed together becoming more
entwined than they already were.
Luke smiled slowly and said, "My heart is yours. I'm yours. Tell me what you
want. We'll move at whatever pace you want to set. I can wait a week, a month, the rest of my life for you, Mara Jade, but I told you this
before and I mean it. I will wait for you whatever you decide and if I can't
have you then there will be no one. I'm not giving up either,
you know how stubborn I can be. So get used to this face, you'll be seeing a
lot of it."
"Oh, Luke." Mara sighed. Her head rested on his
shoulder as he looked down at her. She was still splayed across his lap.
"I'll keep saying this until you believe me, Mara. I love you. There is no one
else for me. There will never be anyone else for me."
This statement brought both incredible joy and trepidation. He was committing
to her; she wasn't sure if she was able to give him what he deserved. She
wasn't the commitment type. She had never been involved in a long term
relationship, she wasn't even sure that she was capable.
The Jedi could sense her emotions, but not the thoughts that went with them. "I
know that you can feel it too. Don't be afraid, just let things happen," he
urged. She was afraid, had allowed fear to keep her from embracing her true
feelings. "How long have we been friends, Mara?"
"A long time… years and years."
"Who do you think of first when you're in trouble?"
Mara blinked. "You of course."
"Who stirs you up so that you're so angry at times you could scream?"
"Definitely you."
"Thanks," he muttered dryly. "Who makes you happy when you're with them? Who makes you laugh?"
Her mouth dropped open. "You do."
"Who do you want with you in the bad times and to celebrate the good?"
"You," she whispered.
"That's how I feel about you too," Luke said quietly. "Add to that the desire and the passion that burns between us when I kiss you. You can walk into a room fully clothed and I want to make love to you so badly that it hurts."
Mara was ashamed of herself;
she was not one to allow fear to rule her. "I can feel it, Luke. I seem to know
when you are near, what kind of mood you are in, whether you are upset or happy
or worried. I don't just suspect it. I know it. We have a bond in the Force,
Luke – a true bond between equals. You see me as your equal." She felt as if
she were falling into the blue depths of his eyes and confessed. "I do love
you, with all of my heart, Luke."
He released a breath he hadn't even been aware that he had been holding. She watched him expectantly. He closed his eyes with relief and offered up
some sort of prayer, muttering, "Thank the Force, thank you, thank you." Abruptly he lurched towards her, his mouth
descending on hers, claiming it in a demanding kiss. Mara responded instantly, spreading himself
out so that he lay across her, balancing his weight on his elbows. The feel of
their bodies pressed together was almost a shock, it was so pleasurable.
The commitment made, there was no going back for Mara. She wanted him more than
she ever desired another man. They were alone, well away from the other Jedi,
and she needed little else to convince her to let their passion overrule their
common sense.
Mara pulled back and smiled up at him. "You are wearing way too many clothes,"
she met his gaze.
He looked slightly surprised. "I don't want to push you into something you
don't want to do."
Mara arched a perfectly shaped eyebrow. "Who says I don't want to do
something?" She pressed his hand against her breast and the nipple hardened
under the layers of her clothing. "Does this feel like I don't want you? I'm
just taking your advice and letting things happen, and believe me this is
something I want to do." Mara said emphatically.
"Here? Now? On the roof of the
temple?" Luke's eyes had gone wide.
"You want to go someplace else?" She began to move her hands over his body,
watching with satisfaction as he leaned into her touch.
A confident smile spread across his face, "Well, now that you mention it. I
have it on very good authority that the hot springs are quiet this time of night."
"They are?" Mara questioned. "No little Jedi students to interrupt?"
Luke pulled her face down to his for a lingering kiss. "Nope!"
"You sure," Mara murmured breathlessly, as he released her lips.
"I posted it off limits. Said something about maintenance…"
"Master Skywalker!" Mara's eyes widened with assumed shock. "What kind of an impression will that make on your students?"
"There's only one student I want to make an impression on and she's not really my student any more."
"Oh, yes. I did hear that there was one Jedi you wanted to seduce and…"
"I haven't seduced her yet."
"Oh I think you have, Master Skywalker. I think you have."
"Not to my satisfaction," he winked. "Or hers."
Mara was stunned to find her face growing warm at his words.
Luke got up and pulled the blanket, causing the food to scatter off the surface. The roof was at a slight angle and small berries went tumbling down towards the ground far below their feet. He kept his gaze affixed to her own as he pulled her to her feet, grabbing various articles with his other hand. "Come on."
