The Awakening - Chapter 3

Disclaimer: The characters and situations used in this story are owned by Lucasfilm Ltd. I'm only borrowing then for a short while. No credits changed hands. My thanks to Molly, JT and Mona. Comments would be welcome, but no flames please.

Ash

Luke Skywalker sat on his balcony and watched the constant stream of air traffic as it flowed by in the continuously moving lanes which made up Coruscant's unique transportation system. The patterns shifted and changed against the darkening sky, their seemingly random array of lines and shapes just part of the spectacle. The sun dipped lower and the sky began to turn to numerous shades of depth and beauty. The spires of the Imperial Palace rose blackly into the air in front of him - a huge monolith creating a dark stain against the crimson sky.

She was coming and this time something important was going to happen.

It was a Force hunch that had made him leave the comparative anonymity and peace of the fourth moon of the planet Yavin and make the long trek to the galactic Capital. But he had felt the call across space and time. He needed to be here. For what he didn't know, but he had come to see where the Force led him. Perhaps it had plans for him; maybe he was to help someone else. Luke used the Force less these days, but it still gave him as much guidance as it ever did - probably more. The power was there to be used when he needed it - or it needed him. He suspected the latter was what really happened.

He'd broken his old x-wing out of storage and made the long flight - most of it spent in a Jedi hibernation trance. Han had given him a fake transponder code for his birthday one year, much to Leia's disapproval, which meant he could slip into Coruscant without being noticed by the holo-reporters or the government. He grinned suddenly, his teeth white and even in his tanned face. Luke couldn't decide which was worse. He suspected the government. If he never saw Borsk Fey'lya again, it would be too soon.

Leia had sensed his presence as soon as he'd arrived, but Luke had gone to his apartment first. Artoo had settled himself down to chat with the computer while Luke showered and changed. A quick trip to one of the shopping complexes had resulted in food and some clothing. He'd taken one look at his non-Jedi type clothes and had realised he wouldn't be able to wear them in polite company. The sales assistant hadn't recognised him as he'd reluctantly donned a Force disguise, but she'd definitely steered him away from the neutral colours he preferred. Luke hadn't wanted to disappoint the woman who'd been such a help to him and had bought several of the items she'd suggested.

"I'm such a soft touch," he'd muttered. "Leia can get me things next time. She's used to buying things for Han and the kids."

He picked up the blue shirt the saleslady had been so insistent that he buy. Luke made a face at himself in the reflector. The shirt seemed a little bright, but it didn't look completely over the top.

"What do you think, Artoo? The new me?" Artoo sounded an admiring whistle. "What was wrong with the old one?"

If Artoo could have rolled his eyes he would have done so, but he couldn't so he settled for a pithy burst of static and a bit of head whirling. Luke took off the shirt and pulled on his favourite black tunic, the one with the hole at the hem. This was more like it.

When he'd returned to the apartment it had been too late to contact his sister. 'She knows I'm here. I'll see her tomorrow.' He'd unpacked his lightsaber and started working through the drill Obi Wan had taught him on the Falcon all those years ago until the weapon erupted in a shower of sparks.

Luke swore loudly as he dropped the crackling lightsaber and Artoo swivelled his head in disapproval. "Reign in your wheels Artoo. You've used much worse language than that."

The droid replied with a disdainful hoot.

"I could have lost another hand!" he yelled, blowing on a slightly singed finger. "Well, it's too late to look at it tonight, I'm too tired." He gingerly picked up the smoking saber and placed it carefully to one side. "By the Force, I'm tired," he yawned.

Pulling off his clothes, he grabbed his sleeping pants and readied himself for bed. With a last look at the impressive city lights, he climbed into his bed and closed his eyes. Sleep was a while in coming, but before he finally drifted off, he sent out a lazy Force tendril to check on his family. They didn't feel the stirring in the Force, but someone else had.

Mara Jade had returned to Coruscant, the place where she'd spent the first half of her life. She felt the tempered power just seep through the layers of the Force. Luke was back. He'd felt the same call of the Force that she had; perhaps he knew what it was about.

Luke had spent most of the following day fixing the lightsaber. One of the jewels had knocked itself out of alignment. It was time it had an overhaul anyway. Sinking deep into the Force he'd detached the spent power cell, replaced it and angled the multifaceted jewels so that he could adjust the length of the blade and it's intensity. Time had passed quicker than he'd realised and he was hungry.

"Artoo," he shouted. "Artoo Detoo!" Luke heard the whistling stop abruptly. "Sithspit!" He climbed the stairs taking them two at a time. "Artoo!"

"Leia!"

He'd then discovered his sister and Mara Jade seated in his reception room. Mara had stood there in front of him, her hair catching the dying light of the suns rays and he'd felt something tighten in his gut. He'd looked at her - really looked at her, and for probably the hundredth time in his life admitted to himself how much he liked her. But today there was just something extra that teased his senses and made him think things he'd no business thinking about – especially with Mara Jade. Pale creamy skin, sharp green eyes and hair with life and colour that he'd seen on no other in the galaxy. The woman was beautiful and deadly and she stirred his senses in ways they had never been stirred before.

"Mara."

Luke cleared his throat awkwardly and the word came out husky and indistinct. They'd exchanged inanities, and all the time their eyes fixed steadily on the other, their senses telling them something quite different. Then she'd called him Luke. He couldn't believe it - he felt like a teenager again in the middle of his first crush. Willing his body to behave, for it had suddenly come to life in areas he wasn't expecting, he arranged a meeting with Mara for the following evening. He could feel Leia's annoying smirk as she perhaps, sensed some of his discomfort.

His sister had mainly left well enough alone as he'd spent a pleasant evening in the company of her, Han and the children. It was good to be in the heart of his family, but a certain redhead kept interfering with his thinking processes. Leia had left well enough alone until Han had gotten involved. Trust a nosy Corellian not to keep his opinions to himself.

"Luke?"

"Yes, Leia?"

"Try and not fight with Mara tomorrow."

"I don't fight with Mara. She fights with me." This was said a little indignantly, his blue eyes wide and innocent.

Han grinned and winked at his wife. "She seeing anyone at the moment, Luke?"

"No!"

"You sure?"

The Jedi looked a little taken aback and the strong affirmative died on his lips. "No," he said quietly. "I'm not…. But she can't be…"

"Uh-huh." Han sat back and laid his hands flat on the dining room table as if he'd proved his point.

"Mara and I…."

"It's okay I get it," Han drawled. "You don't have that kind of relationship."

"Yeah, that's correct." Luke eyed his brother-in-law suspiciously. "We don't."

"Pity."

Luke left soon afterwards, his mind in a whirl. Han had managed to solidly plant ideas in his head that he'd not considered. 'Ah, to hell with it!' Who was he trying to fool - himself? He was a Jedi Knight, not a monk. To not think about Mara Jade in certain ways; he would have to be dead. Mara Jade was beautiful, strong in the Force and affected him in more ways that he cared to count.

'Just try not to think of her in that way, Luke my friend, especially when she could pick up on your thoughts. You wouldn't have to be a Jedi to pick up on my thoughts,' he grumbled. 'Jedi don't read thoughts, they can sense emotions.' In which case, he'd better not let Mara Jade pick up on his emotions either, for dead might very well come into it.

Solo Residence

"Han Solo! I don't believe you at times. What were you thinking about winding Luke up like that?"

"Worked didn't it?"

Leia slid into his lap and curled into his embrace. "I knew I married you for a reason, nerfherder."

"Hey!" Han sounded a little aggrieved, but relented when Leia kissed him warmly.

"You just did what I wanted to do, sweetheart, in your own clumsy, ham-fisted Corellian way. Luke is interested in Mara. He just needs it drawn to his attention and you did that perfectly. Otherwise, we'll be waiting for another ten years before those two get their act together"

"What are you going to do, oh wife of mine? And I'm not clumsy - I thought I was pretty subtle."

"Subtle for you, maybe. I'm meeting Mara tomorrow, for saber practice and then lunch. I can stir things up a little then. You should have seen them this afternoon. They couldn't take their eyes off one another. I just need to wake them up a bit more. Put certain ideas into their heads, so to speak."

Han brought her close and captured her willing lips with his own. "I knew I married you for a reason, Highnessness." Han drew Leia even closer, for she was warm and soft and willing. "I'll leave Mara Jade in your capable hands. Luke could do with the sex, if you ask me."

"Han!" Leia's eyebrows shot straight up in horror and then her lip quivered and she laughed into her husband's chest. "You're right," She chuckled, her eyes brimming with mischievous mirth. "He could do with loosening up a little. If sex with Mara does it, then fine by me. I just hope the sticklers Luke employs at the Jedi Academy don't ever catch me saying such things."

"They won't, they'll just think it was me. Now Madam wife, all this talking about extra curricular activities has got me all 'warmed up' so to speak."

Leia reached down to her husband's crotch and felt his readiness. "I think you're correct. I suppose we'd better go to bed before the problem gets out of hand."

"And here was me hoping the problem might be in your hands."

"I love you."

"I know."

Luke's Apartment

Luke examined himself in the reflector. He hadn't gone too formal had he? The suit was not black, but it was dark. The violet shirt he'd donned gave a hint of colour at his neck. It was just an evening between friends, nothing special. Mara often came round of an evening to talk if they were both on planet. But somehow he didn't think this evening would be as comfortable. Leia and Han had certainly got him thinking and his blue eyes held concern. He'd never thought about Mara being here to see someone else. There had been rumours about her and Lando at one point, but he hadn't believed them. They didn't suit. Mara would have throttled Lando or tossed him out of an airlock long before they got to anything physical. Besides the thought of Mara and Lando engaging in anything physical made his stomach turn. Mara was his… and Luke met his own eyes in the reflector. For the first time he admitted to himself one incontrovertible fact. Mara should be with him, not anyone else. He had a crush on Mara Jade - in fact it was more than a crush. He yearned for her. But it couldn't be love - could it? They'd known each other too long for that. Besides, she'd wanted to kill him. That surely would have a bearing on a future relationship.

Luke's hands stilled as he smoothed the midnight blue tunic he'd put on. A relationship…. with Mara Jade. Dare he take such a step? Was he ready to love again? He ignored the little voice which asked him if it wasn't already too late?

He surveyed his appearance critically. A man of medium build and height, with blue eyes and fairish hair. He noted the scars left by the wampa attack and thought about the prosthetic hand he no longer regarded as fake. Mara Jade knew him too well. Outer trappings such as a decent haircut and new clothes would not impress her, so why had he bothered?

He was being silly. Mara didn't think of him in that way, never had. She was his friend and one he trusted. Luke brushed an imaginary spec of something from his trousers and moved from the bedroom to his balcony to await the arrival of a woman, who for some reason now left him unaccountably nervous.

Mara's Apartment

Mara eyed her chrono with grave misgivings. Only two hours until sundown if it was to be believed. She sighed heavily and headed for the shower. She'd not backed down from anything in her life and she wasn't about to start now. Leia's parting words echoed in her ears. "If you're not interested in my brother, Mara, I'm going to find someone who is."

"That shouldn't be too difficult, Leia," Mara had choked out with difficulty.

"True. He's handsome, kind and a genuine hero of the New Republic."

"Not to mention stubborn, nerf-headed, over-protective, idealistic…."

"Keep going, Mara, and I'll definitely know you're interested."

Mara switched on the shower and relaxed as the water streamed over her. Rubbing cleaning solution over her slender body, Mara imagined what it would be like to have Luke's hands smoothing, caressing and touching her all over. The lump in her throat intensified and her eyes slammed shut as she tried to clear her mind of such traitorous thoughts. Luke was her friend, the slightly annoying one that she'd go through hell for because she knew he would do the same for her. But the picture of Luke, naked and wet, persisted in ruining her poise. She could see his muscular thighs and taut buttocks and almost touch his strongly muscled chest. Sinking against the shower wall, Mara's breath became shallow and panting. An ache between her legs and rock hard nipples were evidence of her arousal. Emperor's bones she wanted him - she wanted Luke Skywalker. Wanted his hands on her body, his lips crushing hers, his tongue tangling with her own. Mara wanted Luke to bury himself in her body, and take what she could offer him.

By the Force, how could she face him now?

Standing in front of her wardrobe, she pulled out a favourite jump suit, but her hand hovered over a long flowing dress in a deep sea green. It wasn't formal exactly, but it was beautiful. With her brain refusing to think about it she stuffed the jump suit back on its hanger and pulled out the dress.

Smoothing the folds down she gazed at herself in the reflector, her eyes dark and stormy. Braiding her hair, she coiled it like a coronet on her head. Mara didn't notice that it left her neck smooth, bare and vulnerable. The gentle arch of her neck topped by a crown of fiery hair. She was ready, her armour in place around her heart.

Luke's Apartment

Luke sat and waited. Something had awoken in him, finally - after years of knowing Mara Jade - this feeling of something old, yet incredibly new, fragile, but strong, trembling and springing inexorably to hesitant life. Was it this that the Force had called him home for? Rising stiffly to his feet, he patted Artoo on the top of his little domed head and climbed the spiral staircase. Selecting a bottle of wine he opened it to allow it to breathe and checked the meal he'd prepared. He was a competent cook. Years of being on his own and a healthy dislike of New Republic ration bars had seen to that. He didn't have the presentation of a master chef, but his meals were edible and Mara had never complained about them. Besides, he was always hungry, so being able to feed himself seemed like a good idea. She was coming; he could feel her presence ever closer. Had they always had so strong a connection in the Force?

Mara walked along the corridor that led to Luke's apartment door and wasn't surprised when it slid aside and he stood there silently watching her. Waiting for her.

**************************

They stood in complete silence, their eyes shuttered and all barriers up tight. Luke had felt a blow to his solar plexus as soon as the door had opened. She was so beautiful. Mara stood in silence waiting for him to say something, but he could not.

Mara surveyed Luke's appearance and frowned a little. He was not dressed in his Jedi tunic, but in a suit of midnight blue. He'd obviously gone to some effort for a casual chat between two old friends. 'As have I,' she realised. Still they said nothing, continuing to gaze at each other, striving to find some clue on how the other felt. Finally, Luke gestured with his hand, a move that clearly said. 'Please come in,' and with her heart in her mouth Mara moved past him and into the apartment.

Luke cleared his throat. "May I take your cloak?"

Silently Mara pulled at the strings at her neck and surrendered her cloak into Luke's hands. The Jedi Master smelled her perfume as soon as he moved towards her, the fragrance sharp, but fresh, not cloying or sickly sweet. Very much like Mara Jade herself. He busied himself putting away her outer apparel before finally turning to look at her.

If he'd been carrying anything he would have dropped it. Mara stood there in the sea green flowing dress, her creamy shoulders and slender neck rising from it, topped by her sunburnished hair. Luke's jaw dropped and his mouth hung open. "Mara…" He coughed and tried again. "Mara you look… good." Inwardly he cringed as soon as the words had left his mouth. She looked better than good, she was the most exquisite thing he'd ever seen and all he could say was 'You look good.' 'Sith Skywalker, he told himself. 'Go back to the farm.'

Mara hardly heard him as she watched him stow away her cloak in a cupboard. He was a good-looking man, she realised. Not tall, but perfectly formed nonetheless, his lean figure sinewy and strong. Surely Leia could see that he wasn't ready to become interested in a serious relationship with anyone. Besides, he was the Jedi Master. Luke turned and his eyes locked with hers. She thought he coughed a little and said something, but she couldn't have told anyone what he'd said. Had his eyes always been that colour? That clear blue which made you think of hot skies and burning sands. The tension rose between them as they continued to stare at each other.

"Luke?" Mara questioned quietly and rubbed her tongue over glossy full lips.

Luke's already fragile libido went into overdrive and he turned away, ashamed. Mara was his 'friend'. He had no right thinking about her in this way. All he wanted to do was to take her in his arms and kiss her long and hard, branding her as his own. But he did none of those things. She wouldn't be interested in a poor Jedi Master with a history of failed relationships. Besides, he wasn't smooth and charming like Lando, or funny like Han. He was just himself - awkward, flawed, impatient…. He sighed quietly and pulled himself together. His emotions were threatening to ruin the evening before it even started.

"Come on Jade, I think we both need a drink." The carefully cheerful quip went a little way in dispelling the strained atmosphere, but there was just something there, shimmering out of sight. Something potent and raw and animalistic and it held an element of fear for them both.

"You been cooking again, Skywalker?"

"I'm usually hungry…" He looked at her. "I hope you are too?"

The words should have come out in a flippant sophisticated tone, but the mood went darker and took on such meanings that both Jedi knew at their core what was going to happen. They were not ready to admit it yet.

"Yes, I'm hungry," Mara answered and saw something flare in his blue eyes.

"Come on then, Jade. Grab a glass and a plate."

"This is one of the more exclusive eateries then?"

"Of course. I only serve beautiful Jedi with green eyes and hair the colour of sunset." Luke blushed suddenly as if he'd not meant to say such things.

"Skywalker!" Mara warned her own face warming at his words, but her heart did a dive before righting itself inside her body.

Luke put down the bottle of red wine he'd been about to pour into a glass and walked towards Mara. The former Emperor's hand backed away as he came closer. "Now Jade," he whispered. "You know the Jedi don't lie."

"Perhaps not, but they do have their own way of looking at things and flowery compliments aren't usually part of it."

"They do…." Luke took a deep breath. What was with him tonight? He'd known Mara for years and they'd never had this problem before. He'd never had this problem. Her lips just called for him to cover them with his own. "But Mara, I was just speaking the plain and honest truth."

Mara quivered as she felt his breath on her cheek. Luke had moved so close to her that she could touch him and she wanted to - oh she wanted to. She calmed her racing pulse and tried to appear unaffected by the handsome man she'd always dismissed before.

The atmosphere in the kitchen was stifling with sexual overtones. Luke retreated to a worktop at the far end of the kitchen and finished attending to their food. Thrusting a plate of something and a glass of wine into her hands, he retreated to the far end of the kitchen. "Come on Jade," he picked up his own plate and glass.

"Where we going, Skywalker?"

"Outside. It's too hot in here."

Mara's expression was wry. "You can say that again."

Luke grinned at her and the temperature returned to a more normal state. That was until Luke made for the set of stairs. Mara's insides quivered. She'd never been in this part of Luke's apartment before. They'd always stuck to the upstairs, the reception room and the kitchen. 'Curious,' she thought. The stairs wound round and ended up in what might be called an unceremonious family type place with soft chairs and a large sofa. Sliding windows led out into the lower balcony. It was informal, cluttered and very Luke, decorated in browns and warm russet tones. Through a half open door she could see a dimly lit bedroom with a large bed. One of Luke's Jedi tunics was thrown over a chair and again, full-length sliding windows covered with filmy drapes led onto the balcony.

"Come on," Luke placed a careful arm around Mara and led her onto the balcony. Another bottle of wine sat on a low table with a bottle opener. He'd lit several lamps so she could see properly. The balcony was large with several tubs of various plants and flowering shrubs. More evidence of the farmboy and not the Jedi Master.

"This is nice, Luke."

She'd called him Luke again. He was beginning to lose count. "It is," he leant on the railing and peered into the night. "I'm not that keen on Coruscant, but I do like this place when I'm here. I've added a few things to make it feel more like home."

She scanned the solar, as Luke called it and smiled. "This is more Luke than the Jedi Master. I like it, but I've never been down here before."

"What, never?" Luke was surprised. He considered Mara to be one of his closest friends but she'd never been further than the formal  rooms upstairs.

"No, it's bigger than I imagined."

"I suppose it is, for one man. I was given a choice of a few apartments and this was the one that felt right. Being a New Republic hero can have its advantages." Luke's tone was self-deprecating and his expression wry. "Some of the other places were bigger, but I liked this one and it's not too far from Leia or from you. I have two extra rooms so I can have the kids to stay or guests. Still, I can't believe you've never been in this part."

She shrugged. "We usually started and finished in the kitchen, farmboy. Something to do with your appetite."

"What can I say, I'm a growing boy."

Mara sipped at her wine, its warmth easing her anxiety for a moment. "What made you return to Coruscant, Luke?"

"The Force called me."

Mara frowned, did it call him the same way as it had her?

"Why?" She asked. "Why did it call you?"

"I don't know, but it gives me a chance to see my family."

Mara joined him as they leant on the balcony, her glass clasped between graceful hands. Luke removed her glass from her hand and laid it on the small table he'd set up.

"Tell me what's wrong, Luke. This is not just about the Force calling you."

"No, it's not."

"Then tell me."

"I don't want to burden you with my pitiful whining. I have a good life and a loving family. I'm luckier than…"

"Just tell me," she repeated softly.

"I feel so stifled on Yavin," he burst out as he swung round and faced away from her. "Don't get me wrong. I love it there too. Teaching the next generation of Jedi is so important, but it's in danger of trapping me in bureaucracy. That isn't what I do - what I am." He pounded the marble edge of the balcony. Mara moved closer and placed a gentle hand on his arm. He turned to face her and covered her hand with his own, unconsciously stroking the soft flesh he felt beneath his fingers. "I'm hoping to have enough Jedi to let go a little. I need to let go. But because at one time I was the only person able to teach, it had to be done in one place with too many students. I set up the Academy on Yavin and just went ahead, ignorant of what I was undertaking and with people waiting for me to fail."

"You didn't fail; you had failures, but that happens everywhere."

Luke smiled briefly and continued stroking her hand, his thumb rubbing slowly across her palm. "It's taking my life from me, Mara. They have me on a timetable - every minute of every day. The Force is a living, breathing spontaneous thing, why can't I live? I've had to teach and pass on what Obi Wan and Yoda taught me. But I've done that and more and they still expect me to…"

"Responsibility has its curses, Skywalker. Do you think if you had all that freedom, you would want it? Do you long for the life of a moisture farmer, with no responsibility apart from seeing the vaporators work and the harvest come in?"

"No… but"

"You've taken the first step." Mara soothed. "Now deal with the rest of it, farmboy.

"I'm trying to," he looked up and into her eyes. "Yoda's little saying haunts me. 'Do or do not, there is no try.' Sometimes all I can do is try."

Mara moved a little closer in silent comfort. "So you lit out, Skywalker?"

"Faster than a bantha on spice."

"An interesting comparison," she muttered with a hint of amusement. "And not one I would ever want to see."

Luke grinned, momentarily lighting up his face. "I guess not. I told them I had to go to Coruscant on unexpected business. I had to come - something called me here. I gave Tionne my blasted timetable and told her to assign the best people for the job."

Mara chuckled, as she pictured Tionnes' strange silvery eyes growing as round as Tholatin moonstones. "How did she take that?"

"Tionne is a walking miracle of organisation. I swear that woman knows more about the Jedi than I do."

"Pity she lacks the ability, then," Mara put in snidely.

Luke grimaced. "I shouldn't say this, but in a way I'm glad she does. Perfection would be very hard to deal with and we all know I'm not quite perfect."

Mara groaned. "Skywalker!"

"Anyway, she made a few ineffectual protests…"

"Oh! We were being masterful then, were we, Master Skywalker?"

Luke flushed. "Stop interrupting, Jade."

"Yes, Master Skywalker." She bowed her head in a mocking show of deference. "I suppose having more than one perfect being on Yavin would be hard."

"Mara!" He humphed, and drained his glass of wine in a single swallow.

"Just in case I arrived there." She lifted a wicked eyebrow. "Sorry Luke, please carry on with your tale of heroic escape from the big bad Jedi Academy."

"Sarcasm, Jade, does not become you."

"Sorry." She grinned at him unrepentantly, not sorry in the least.

Luke glared at her. "As I was saying, Jade, before I was so rudely interrupted. Tionne made a few quiet protests, then set her mind to it. If I'm honest - it's now a better course. They don't need me there."

"You could function as a sort of artistic director." Mara whirled away and struck an elegant pose.

"It's not a frelling dance school," he returned shortly.

"Pity, I can just see you in the tights." Mara moved from her pose into a fluid pirouette and for a moment Luke watched, completely entranced as her graceful form spun, her dress flowing as she moved. "Just give overall guidance now and then, teach a series of lessons on meditation. Be the figurehead." Mara twirled to a stop in front of him, not even breathing hard.

"I could."

Mara gave him an exasperated look, all the earlier tension forgotten as they continued with their older, more familiar relationship. Although perhaps 'forgotten' wasn't correct. It had been merely put aside to be brought out later. "Wake up, Skywalker. Haven't you forgotten something? You can't do it all." Her tone mocked him.

Luke tore his gaze from her face and began to pace. "I know that, but up until now I've had to do it all."

Mara moved in front of him and brought his agitated movements to a halt. Placing her hands on either side of his face, she stared resolutely into his eyes. "Perhaps, that is why you were called away from Yavin. Maybe the Force recognises that you need to grow, as do some of your trainees. You do have a tendency to fuss, my boy. Perhaps all this is more about them than you."

Luke tried, he really did. He heard her words and it was something he had considered, but as soon as she touched him, the quicksilver in his veins turned his feelings to molten desire.

Mara sent out a careful probe. Luke depended on Mara for the truth he would get from no one else. When she'd touched him, it had been an instinctive need to offer comfort. As soon as her hands encountered warm male skin, comfort became the last thing on her mind.