Knights and Eros Bound

Chapter 2

     Anakin checked the chrono for the forth time in almost as many minutes. Padmé had been tied up in meetings all day and had insisted on freshening and changing before they left, so Anakin was forced to wait. To make matters worse, Typhoo had insisted on once again going over the security for the evening, and Anakin was forced to portray the dutiful, yet stoic, Jedi Knight as opposed  to the anxious young husband who hadn't seen his wife in over four months.

    At long last, Padmé appeared. Her hair was done up in an elegant knot, which Anakin knew from experience would come down with the removal of three pins or less. Her dress was white and crimson. Innocence, power… and perhaps a touch of blatant lust, but as she approached the two men, Padmé maintained a formal and regal detached air. Anakin, however, almost forgot to breathe.

    "Good evening Jedi Skywalker," she said primly, yet there was a devilish look in her eye. She was hiding something... but what?

    When he found his voice, he replied with the same formal tone, yet the smile on his face was irrepressible. "Senator... Thank you for being my guest this evening. I trust you have been well?"

      "I have, thank you." She nodded to Typhoo, who was shifting uncomfortably in place. "Captain, you are dismissed for the evening..."

       "Senator..." he began, but Padmé cut him short. "Captain, I assure you I am in very capable hands. I'm sure my newly Knighted Jedi companion will take very good care of me…"

        The Captain seemed a bit uncomfortable, but nodded his assent. "As you wish, Milady.  Master Skywalker… I shall be down in my quarters in the Security Sector."

He added as almost an afterthought as he turned and left the room. "Goodnight, Milady, Master Skywalker."

Anakin and Padmé, Jedi Knight Skywalker and Senator Amidala, watched as Naboo's Security Chief formally took his leave. They stood there almost like frightened children, unsure what to do.

       "Padmé…" Anakin said at last, his voice barely a whisper.

        Wordlessly she threw her arms around him and buried her face into his neck, and her body was suddenly racked with quiet sobs.

        He pulled her closer, cooing her name over and over like a charm until her sobs subsided at last. Reluctantly, she pulled away.

         "I'm sorry…" she sniffed. "I've… I've missed you so much…"

         Anakin kissed her forehead, then slowly and tenderly on her lips. The kiss deepened as he reached for her hair with one hand, smoothing her back with the other slowly making its way down. When he reached her lower back, he hesitated, puzzled. This time it was he who pulled away.

          "Padmé?" he asked, unsure.

           "We have to wait," she sighed. "If we don't go… people will talk…" She sighed again, but now a playful smile touched her lips. "But I wanted you to know exactly how much I'm looking forward tonight…" Slowly, she moved his hand to the side of the dress and downward. "Lift…" she entreated, and as he did, his eyes widened.

            Now his voice became a croak. "Padmé… you're… you're…"

            "Yes…" she giggled impishly as she headed to the door. "I'm not wearing anything underneath…."