Chapter 38
The Ties That Bind
"Are you sure?"
Sabé nodded. "I know what I saw, Obi-Wan. Anakin's eyes flashed as if he meant to do something. I felt almost... compelled to do something, but I don't know what."
He pulled her close as he settled onto the edge of his bunk, dragging her down into his lap. "Then he didn't actually control you. He thought about it, but didn't really try." He sighed, shaking his head. "I should talk to him. I don't appreciate him meddling in our affairs."
"Don't be too hard on him." She told him smiling. "Anakin is fighting with himself right now, he doesn't need us to add to his problems. I just thought you should know."
He smiled. "Thank you. I know it's still early, but it's been a long day. What do you say we turn in?"
She grinned mischievously. "Turn in? Now? I have a much better way to pass the time."
"Oh, and what's that?"
She looped her arms around his neck, shifting so that she could push him. They fell, stretched out across the bed, Sabé holding herself up on her elbows. "A thing or two I've learned from handmaiden school?"
Obi-Wan arched an eyebrow, his hands moving to her waist. She grabbed them, tugging them upwards and pinning them above his head with a laugh. "No touching."
"Then you'd better get off me."
She winked at him. "With your hands." She leaned down, her smile almost a smirk, "Think you can handle that one?"
His eyes sparkle and Sabé felt a soft caress as something without substance slid across her shoulder, teasing the flesh of her neck with an invisible touch. She shivered, her eyes darkening. "No fair. Jedi have Force tricks."
"You'll just have to be creative. Show me some of the things you learned in that handmaiden school of yours."
She turned her head as the caress slid up to her jaw, and then tucked her head down, lowering her body until their faces were inches apart. She shifted her head, slowly lowering her face until they were cheek to cheek, and gently rubbed hers against his, nuzzling the indentation where his jaw met his neck, gently kissing his earlobe before placing a soft kiss on his cheek bone. The caress continued as she slowly worked her way across his face, kissing and caressing with her cheeks, lips and nose, nuzzling him like a baby animal. Yet there was something achingly tender in the way she gently kissed his eyes closed.
Obi-Wan sighed softly, "Kiss me, temptress."
"I thought you'd never ask." She leaned down further, capturing his willing lips in her own. His tongue slid across hers, tracing the outline gently, almost tenderly as she angled her head. Their kiss deepened, becoming more than teasing and taking on a passionate undertone as she leisurely explored his mouth. He rolled, pinning her on her back before lifting his head and placing a gentle kiss on the tip of her nose.
"I love you."
She smiled. "I love you too, Jedi."
His head came back down, and he nuzzled her neck, playfully biting the soft flesh. "Jedi?" he asked, his voice muffled. "Is that all I am to you?"
Sometime during their kiss he'd freed his hands and now slid them onto her waist, tickling her. She shrieked, squirming under him to try and get away. "Obi-Wan!" she batted at his hands, trying to kick him to get him to stop, but it didn't work. Pinned beneath him, she struggled in vain.
He grinned as she laughed, redoubling his assault until she started to choke and had trouble breathing. He stopped, laughing slightly as he roll off her onto his side. She was grinning like an idiot as she regained her breath. "And they say Jedi don't know how to have fun."
He chuckled. "Oh really?"
She nodded.
"And you don't believe them anymore?"
She shook her head, her eyes twinkling merrily.
"Good." He grabbed her, rolling further onto the bed before pinning her down again. "We should do this more often."
"What, roll around like children?"
He chuckled. "No. But it's fun, regardless. I mean relax, tease each other. That whole no hands bit has some interesting possibilities."
She laughed. "Jedi don't play fair, you're supposed to talk or use another body part to tease the other person. The Force just takes the fun out of it."
"But think of the possibilities! Undressing someone with the Force. A touch while you're in the shower, or maybe changing."
She blushed, grinning. "We'll have to try that. For now I think I'll settle for my handsome dashing Jedi Knight who has me pinned to his bed. Of course, it's said a Jedi doesn't know what to do with a woman once he has one, but we all know that's not true."
He chuckled. "I'll show you, wench." He teased, lowering his head and kissing her quickly. Her arms went around his neck, holding him in place and the kiss, meant to be quick and teasing, turned into a long, passionate sharing of desires as Sabé curled one leg up and around his hip, arching into his body with a sigh. Obi-Wan thought about pulling back. Thought about taking the tension down a notch, but after nearly losing her, he wanted this. He wanted her. In his arms and in his bed, for just one more night. Regardless of what tomorrow brought, they could have tonight. And Sabé, feeling his surrender, smiled.
The sound of thunder crashing outside the window had Anakin bolting from the bed. He heard the wind whipping through the open windows and jumped without thinking. The shutters closed, the curtains coming down, before he was even really awake. The sound of shutters closing could be heard all over the cottage, their locks sliding into place. Anakin shook his head, trying to clear it. He'd tapped the Force without thinking, and he was still fighting off the last vestige of his dream. Something about a darkness, a huge cloud on the horizon just out of reach, but growing in strength. He shivered, finally coming completely awake.
"Anakin?"
He froze, his eyes going to the bed. [i]Padmé![/i] The sound of her voice slid through him, refreshing and powerful, washing away the memory of his dream. He stepped back to the bed, the sound of the storm raging outside muffled by the thick walls of the cottage. "I'm here, Angel."
She rolled over, her arms reaching for him, and Anakin slid back onto the bed. Her arms slid around his neck and Anakin couldn't help himself. His mouth sought hers in the darkness as his hands slid around her waist. Her kiss was passionate, intense, her hands running into his hair. He groaned softly as she bit his lower lip and rolled so that they were lying on their sides. His hands splayed, one low on her hip, the other across her back.
She finally pulled back, her breath feathering across his cheek, her heart pounding against his. "Feeling better?" he asked hoarsely.
She laughed softly. "Thank you, Anakin." She said before resting her head on his shoulder. He ran a hand through her hair, feeling her contentment, her appreciation for being without pain. Anakin felt his own exhaustion suddenly catch up with him as she curled into his body.
"Anything for you, Angel." He told her, gently kissing her forehead. "Watch over me while I sleep?"
Her head came up, and he could feel her concern in the dark room. "IS something the matter?"
"I had a dream."
"A dream? Or a Jedi vision?"
He paused, unable to tell which. "I don't know," he admitted. "But it was disturbing, almost prophetic."
She held him closer, rolling slightly until he was curled around her, his head on her shoulder. "Tell me?"
He sighed softly. "I don't remember it all."
"Then just tell me what you do remember."
Anakin was silent for long moments, unmoving, and Padmé began to wonder if he'd fallen asleep. When he finally spoke, his voice was barely a whisper. "I remember darkness. A huge cloud gathering on the horizon that was so impenetrable, so dark, it covered everything. It was beginning to come closer when I woke, but it had a menacing feel to it. Almost like it wanted something from me."
She ran her fingers through his hair, gently massaging his scalp. "I won't let it take you," she promised softly. "Whatever that darkness is, it can't have you. You're mind, Anakin."
He chuckled softly, hugging her tightly. "Thank you, Padmé." He placed a kiss on her shoulder, his eyes closing. "I'm so tired."
"Sleep, love," she urged him softly, "I'll guard your dreams and be here when you wake next."
Anakin shifted into a comfortable position, Padmé held securely in his arms, and allowed the soothing motions of her fingers on his scalp to lull him to sleep.
Padmé held him tightly, feeling the tension fade from his body as sleep took him, but knew she wouldn't sleep again this night. Connected to him in his sleep, she saw the remnants of his dream and blocked them away. Tonight she'd do as she said and make sure he slept soundly. Holding him close, she placed a gentle kiss on the top of his head and continued to run her fingers over his scalp. Anakin. Her Anakin. Nobody, and nothing was going to take him from her. Not in his dreams and not in life. Not if she had anything to say about it.
The Ties That Bind
"Are you sure?"
Sabé nodded. "I know what I saw, Obi-Wan. Anakin's eyes flashed as if he meant to do something. I felt almost... compelled to do something, but I don't know what."
He pulled her close as he settled onto the edge of his bunk, dragging her down into his lap. "Then he didn't actually control you. He thought about it, but didn't really try." He sighed, shaking his head. "I should talk to him. I don't appreciate him meddling in our affairs."
"Don't be too hard on him." She told him smiling. "Anakin is fighting with himself right now, he doesn't need us to add to his problems. I just thought you should know."
He smiled. "Thank you. I know it's still early, but it's been a long day. What do you say we turn in?"
She grinned mischievously. "Turn in? Now? I have a much better way to pass the time."
"Oh, and what's that?"
She looped her arms around his neck, shifting so that she could push him. They fell, stretched out across the bed, Sabé holding herself up on her elbows. "A thing or two I've learned from handmaiden school?"
Obi-Wan arched an eyebrow, his hands moving to her waist. She grabbed them, tugging them upwards and pinning them above his head with a laugh. "No touching."
"Then you'd better get off me."
She winked at him. "With your hands." She leaned down, her smile almost a smirk, "Think you can handle that one?"
His eyes sparkle and Sabé felt a soft caress as something without substance slid across her shoulder, teasing the flesh of her neck with an invisible touch. She shivered, her eyes darkening. "No fair. Jedi have Force tricks."
"You'll just have to be creative. Show me some of the things you learned in that handmaiden school of yours."
She turned her head as the caress slid up to her jaw, and then tucked her head down, lowering her body until their faces were inches apart. She shifted her head, slowly lowering her face until they were cheek to cheek, and gently rubbed hers against his, nuzzling the indentation where his jaw met his neck, gently kissing his earlobe before placing a soft kiss on his cheek bone. The caress continued as she slowly worked her way across his face, kissing and caressing with her cheeks, lips and nose, nuzzling him like a baby animal. Yet there was something achingly tender in the way she gently kissed his eyes closed.
Obi-Wan sighed softly, "Kiss me, temptress."
"I thought you'd never ask." She leaned down further, capturing his willing lips in her own. His tongue slid across hers, tracing the outline gently, almost tenderly as she angled her head. Their kiss deepened, becoming more than teasing and taking on a passionate undertone as she leisurely explored his mouth. He rolled, pinning her on her back before lifting his head and placing a gentle kiss on the tip of her nose.
"I love you."
She smiled. "I love you too, Jedi."
His head came back down, and he nuzzled her neck, playfully biting the soft flesh. "Jedi?" he asked, his voice muffled. "Is that all I am to you?"
Sometime during their kiss he'd freed his hands and now slid them onto her waist, tickling her. She shrieked, squirming under him to try and get away. "Obi-Wan!" she batted at his hands, trying to kick him to get him to stop, but it didn't work. Pinned beneath him, she struggled in vain.
He grinned as she laughed, redoubling his assault until she started to choke and had trouble breathing. He stopped, laughing slightly as he roll off her onto his side. She was grinning like an idiot as she regained her breath. "And they say Jedi don't know how to have fun."
He chuckled. "Oh really?"
She nodded.
"And you don't believe them anymore?"
She shook her head, her eyes twinkling merrily.
"Good." He grabbed her, rolling further onto the bed before pinning her down again. "We should do this more often."
"What, roll around like children?"
He chuckled. "No. But it's fun, regardless. I mean relax, tease each other. That whole no hands bit has some interesting possibilities."
She laughed. "Jedi don't play fair, you're supposed to talk or use another body part to tease the other person. The Force just takes the fun out of it."
"But think of the possibilities! Undressing someone with the Force. A touch while you're in the shower, or maybe changing."
She blushed, grinning. "We'll have to try that. For now I think I'll settle for my handsome dashing Jedi Knight who has me pinned to his bed. Of course, it's said a Jedi doesn't know what to do with a woman once he has one, but we all know that's not true."
He chuckled. "I'll show you, wench." He teased, lowering his head and kissing her quickly. Her arms went around his neck, holding him in place and the kiss, meant to be quick and teasing, turned into a long, passionate sharing of desires as Sabé curled one leg up and around his hip, arching into his body with a sigh. Obi-Wan thought about pulling back. Thought about taking the tension down a notch, but after nearly losing her, he wanted this. He wanted her. In his arms and in his bed, for just one more night. Regardless of what tomorrow brought, they could have tonight. And Sabé, feeling his surrender, smiled.
The sound of thunder crashing outside the window had Anakin bolting from the bed. He heard the wind whipping through the open windows and jumped without thinking. The shutters closed, the curtains coming down, before he was even really awake. The sound of shutters closing could be heard all over the cottage, their locks sliding into place. Anakin shook his head, trying to clear it. He'd tapped the Force without thinking, and he was still fighting off the last vestige of his dream. Something about a darkness, a huge cloud on the horizon just out of reach, but growing in strength. He shivered, finally coming completely awake.
"Anakin?"
He froze, his eyes going to the bed. [i]Padmé![/i] The sound of her voice slid through him, refreshing and powerful, washing away the memory of his dream. He stepped back to the bed, the sound of the storm raging outside muffled by the thick walls of the cottage. "I'm here, Angel."
She rolled over, her arms reaching for him, and Anakin slid back onto the bed. Her arms slid around his neck and Anakin couldn't help himself. His mouth sought hers in the darkness as his hands slid around her waist. Her kiss was passionate, intense, her hands running into his hair. He groaned softly as she bit his lower lip and rolled so that they were lying on their sides. His hands splayed, one low on her hip, the other across her back.
She finally pulled back, her breath feathering across his cheek, her heart pounding against his. "Feeling better?" he asked hoarsely.
She laughed softly. "Thank you, Anakin." She said before resting her head on his shoulder. He ran a hand through her hair, feeling her contentment, her appreciation for being without pain. Anakin felt his own exhaustion suddenly catch up with him as she curled into his body.
"Anything for you, Angel." He told her, gently kissing her forehead. "Watch over me while I sleep?"
Her head came up, and he could feel her concern in the dark room. "IS something the matter?"
"I had a dream."
"A dream? Or a Jedi vision?"
He paused, unable to tell which. "I don't know," he admitted. "But it was disturbing, almost prophetic."
She held him closer, rolling slightly until he was curled around her, his head on her shoulder. "Tell me?"
He sighed softly. "I don't remember it all."
"Then just tell me what you do remember."
Anakin was silent for long moments, unmoving, and Padmé began to wonder if he'd fallen asleep. When he finally spoke, his voice was barely a whisper. "I remember darkness. A huge cloud gathering on the horizon that was so impenetrable, so dark, it covered everything. It was beginning to come closer when I woke, but it had a menacing feel to it. Almost like it wanted something from me."
She ran her fingers through his hair, gently massaging his scalp. "I won't let it take you," she promised softly. "Whatever that darkness is, it can't have you. You're mind, Anakin."
He chuckled softly, hugging her tightly. "Thank you, Padmé." He placed a kiss on her shoulder, his eyes closing. "I'm so tired."
"Sleep, love," she urged him softly, "I'll guard your dreams and be here when you wake next."
Anakin shifted into a comfortable position, Padmé held securely in his arms, and allowed the soothing motions of her fingers on his scalp to lull him to sleep.
Padmé held him tightly, feeling the tension fade from his body as sleep took him, but knew she wouldn't sleep again this night. Connected to him in his sleep, she saw the remnants of his dream and blocked them away. Tonight she'd do as she said and make sure he slept soundly. Holding him close, she placed a gentle kiss on the top of his head and continued to run her fingers over his scalp. Anakin. Her Anakin. Nobody, and nothing was going to take him from her. Not in his dreams and not in life. Not if she had anything to say about it.