"Go away. I'm still mad at you."
Dorme would have been worried had she not seen the grin that slowly snaked its way across Padme's face. She released a sigh and sat on the bed facing her friend and employer. "How was I to know that your intended was allergic? How much time did you get to spend with him?"
"About two minutes! I kissed his cheek and then he started sneezing, coughing...his eyes swelled. His face broke out in a rash!"
Dorme envisioned the scene and could not suppress her giggle. Her head was immediately thumped with a soft bed pillow.
"Dorme! It wasn't funny! And then Anakin said I stunk! You know...on second thought. That pheromone stuff might have worked better than I thought. Anakin didn't come near me all day!"
The two women laughed hysterically and suddenly Dorme looked away thoughtfully.
"Now what are you thinking?"
"You know...my mother always says, the way to a man's heart is through his..."
"Stomach? You know I can't cook! The last time I tried, Security burst into my apartment in response to the fire alarm."
"I was going to say...through his...groin."
Padme playfully slapped the arm of her friend and mockingly gasped before bursting into giggles. "Dorme!" With one curious eyebrow raised, she decided she just had to ask. "Your mother says that?"
"Well, she's had her vows read five times already."
"I see."
Dorme's face soon revealed a smile and Padme looked at her with worried anticipation.
"We need to go shopping Mi'Lady."
The following day found Padme, Dorme, and two very uncomfortable-looking security guards in "Neftalli's Naughties" on the far east end of Coruscant. Padme could hardly conceal her blush as Dorme rushed her past the array of sexual devices on display in order to rummage through layers of erotic lingerie and evening gowns at the back of the store.
"How about this?" Dorme held up a black leather piece, complete with whip, that would barely cover Master Yoda.
"I don't think so. Get serious!"
Padme finally gave in and decided that the quickest way out of this store was to cooperate and buy something. She wandered to another aisle and a shimmering material caught her attention. She reached over to it and ran her hands along its satiny smoothness. "Hey Dorme! I think I found something."
- - - - - - -
The walk to Senator Amidala's apartment from the Jedi Temple was quite a trek, but Obi-Wan felt he needed the time to compose himself before coming into her presence again. The last time she was near him, he had the strongest urge to grab her and kiss her, but then his sneezing fit began and he ended up leaving her once more in the hands of his apprentice. The Medic said it was anallergic reaction to some type of environmental aggravant. Probably some alien species' scent left on the shuttle, he supposed.
She had requested his presence once more through the Jedi Council in order to report the results of her negotiations with the spice miners on Naboo, claiming to be suffering with a cold and not up to traveling to the temple to report the findings herself.
What if something had happened again with Anakin? What if their time spent together had led to an escalation of his feelings, and she had responded? A brush of worry cross his brow, and he quickly chided himself. Kenobi, you are acting like a child. A child. She was almost a child herself! Eleven years his junior. But she certainly didn't look like a child.
His memory began to dwell on her arrival to the shuttle platform four days ago. She was wearing a long velvet gown in red, his favorite color, that fit snugly against her slim waist and opened across her chest, exposing the swelling of her...Blast! Why were these thoughts plagueing him now? He was supposed to be using this time to focus, not getting himself worked up!
The turbolift finally reached its destination, the 102nd floor, and for all 102 floors, Obi-Wan had been mentally repeating his favorite mantra, taking deep breaths and preparing himself for their meeting. As its doors hissed open, he saw Padme approaching him and the mantra disappeared, he stopped breathing entirely, and his heart rate increased dramatically.
As she walked toward him, time seemed to stand still. His gaze took in her beauty from head to toe. She was dressed in a shimmering gown of red satin that flowed gracefully. It wasslit in its center, revealing the bare skin of her legs as she walked, before once more draping and tapering to her small waist, which was completely exposed up to her bustline. Once more the red satiny material continued, clinging to her supple breasts that lightly swayed with her movement. The dress continued onto her upper arms, which were wrapped tightly and adorned with three gold rings on either side. And just then he noticed what had stolen his breath.
The dress was beautiful, but not as beautiful as the woman who was wearing it. She seemed to radiate as she approached him. Her hair was hanging down in loose curls all around her face. He had been used to seeing her in various odd hair arrangements, and to Obi-Wan's pleasure and dismay, he found that he preferred her this way. The silky dark locks fell softly on her bare shoulders, their tendrils brushing against the swell of her breasts. Her eyes were dark and glittering, her mouth was red and pouting and she had a slight blush to her cheeks. She simply radiated.
Obi-Wan had the sudden urge to run to the turbolift and go back the way he came. He was in danger, and he knew it.
"Master Kenobi. It's so nice to see you again." She purred.
This time, she held her palm down and out to him and his Jedi manners allowed him to do only thing. He took her hand and placed a gentle kiss on the soft pale knuckles. The contact with her skin sent an electrical shock through his body that seemed to release itself out through his eyes.
There! Padme almost said aloud. I saw that, Master Jedi! Just for an instant, there was spark in those stormy blue eyes of his. There was no mistaking it. A pleasure coursed through her at that knowledge and she quickly decided that Dorme needed a raise.
"Would you care to have a seat Master Kenobi?"
"Call me Obi-Wan." Now why in the Force did he say that? His mind began a quick psychological study of a possible reason, when he then noticed the back of Padme's retreating form and he suddenly lost all train of thought. The bottom of the dress was intact, but her back was completely exposed to him. Attempting to gain some composure, he cleared his throat and slowly followed her to the seating area.
Obi-Wan...Padme silently mouthed the words, enjoying the feel of them on her lips and tongue. She sat on the sofa and patted the place next to her. Obi-Wan hesitantly complied and seated himself.
Concentrating on his reason for the visit, he questioned Padme about the success of her negotiations.
Padme began to tell her long story of her trip to Naboo, explaining her coolness to Anakin and how he had pretty much stayed away from her for the duration of the trip.
"He seemed to be in a bad mood. I don't know why. I didn't say anything to him about his feelings for me." Padme continued her report, turning to place an arm on the back of the couch and turning her body to facehim. She did not miss his quick glance down to her now exposed legs.
Dorme soon entered the room, carrying a tray with two glasses and a bottle of Alderaanian champagne.
"Would you care for a drink, Obi-Wan?"
Obi-Wan rarely drank, but on this occasion, with every sense in his body reeling from the sight of her, the smell of her, the sound of her voice, he soon found himself gulping down the tangy bubbling liquid.
Padme sipped from her own glass, a look of concern on her face as Obi-Wan reached to the tray and poured himself another glass. She continued with her long version of the details of her trip, intending on keeping Obi-Wan here as long as possible, when the lights in the room suddenly dimmed.
"Sorry. Everything is set on a timer."
Obi-Wan glanced at Padme once more as the now dim lighting seemed to make her skin glow, and he took another long drink.
Dorme peeked her head in the room and announced she was going to bed and if they needed anything, to simply buzz the comlink. Padme smiled at her and Dorme secretly winked before she left the room.
In a few minutes, the sound of slow, soulful, seductive music filled the apartment. Obi-Wan looked at Padme curiously.
"Dorme likes to sleep with music playing. I don't mind."
Filling his now fourth glass of champagne, Obi-Wan looked at Padme and began to wonder why she suddenly seemed so out of focus. He rubbed his eyes as she continued talking, dismissing it to his own tiredness. As her hand lightly touched his knee to emphasize something she just said, he quickly took another gulp and soon emptied the glass.
Padme began to wonder if she was boring Obi-Wan with her story as she noted this hazed look to his eyes.
"Obi-Wan, are you alright?"
"I'm fine, Mi'Lady."
She was surprised when she heard him speak. His words seemed slurred.
"I think I need to go now." All at once he stood up.
Padme gasped and attempted to grab onto him as he immediately fell to the floor. She quickly knelt down to him.
"Obi-Wan?" She lightly tapped his cheek with her hand. "Obi-Wan?"
"Dorme!"
Dorme came running into the room, still completely dressed, having hoped for a positive report of the evening before she went to bed. She was surprised to see Padme stooping over what appeared to be a sleeping Obi-Wan Kenobi lying on the floor next to the sofa.
"Well, you've finally got him where you want him." She teased, but quickly erased her smile as Padme glared up at her.
"He's drunk!"
"Oh." Dorme smirked, disguising her grin. "Time for Plan C." She mumbled to herself.