Standard Disclaimer: These characters belong to G. Lucas and T. Zahn. In other words: not mine.
Dedication: To anyone who loves hot chocolate.
Rating: M
Spoilers/Timeline: After The Corellian Trilogy but before "Vision of the Future".
A/N: Do read and review.

Lightheaded
Chapter 18: Bring It On

They finished breakfast quickly, and Luke finished dressing as Mara showered. Deciding not to leave until she did, he used her comm. unit, logged on to his account and called Yavin.

"Kam, are you there?"

"Master Skywalker, is that you?" The picture reception was bad, and Luke decided to switch to straight voice transmission.

"Yes, Kam. Can you read me a little better now? I've switched to pure voice."

"Much better now." The static crackle had eased into a light buzz in the background. "Probably the solar winds that's been giving us problems recently. What may I do for you, Luke?"

He smiled. Kam. Ever helpful. "I called to inform you that I'll be on Coruscant a while longer. I have things here to attend to."

Kam paused before he replied. "Is it urgent?" he asked, a cautious note in his voice.

Luke frowned, and got the feeling that he was forgetting something very important. "It's not particularly urgent, but I'd like to take care of it before I leave. Did something happen?"

Kam hesitated a little before answering. "No, but the new initiates will be here in five days, and you always meet the new students when they arrive."

"Oh, you're right." Luke paused and thought hard. He had forgotten about the new initiates. Even if he left as planned the next evening, the journey to Yavin would still take three days, and that would give him barely enough time to reach Yavin before they arrived. He pursed him lips. Looks like I'll have to leave as planned, or even earlier.

"You're right, Kam. I'll be back as planned."

"Alright, Luke. Is everything fine? You could stay on Coruscant, and we could tell the initiates that you were busy with something…" Luke smiled at the doubt in Kam's voice.

Yes, you could tell them that, but then what would I tell the initiates once I arrived? 'I'm sorry everyone, but I had to beat Mara Jade into submission first, and you know how much time that takes.' He grinned ruefully at the thought, and scratched his chin.

"No, that's alright, Kam, I'll arrive back as scheduled. Any news?"

"No, everything's quiet here. The monsoon rains have just started, so we're in the midst of switching to the indoor exercise schedule."

I've been getting some indoor exercise on my own. "Alright then, see you in a few days. Skywalker out."

Closing the connection, he soaked in the silence of the apartment, taking his first real look at its interior.

Stark. The apartment was functional – one bedroom, one 'fresher, kitchen unit, living room, and not much in the way of furniture. He'd already become intimately acquainted with the couch and the carpet, but also noted the caf table that Mara had been sitting on the night before. Tasteful.

Then his brain caught up to him as he registered the silence. She must have finished with her shower while I was talking with Kam. He turned around, and caught her coming out from her bedroom, dressed.

Or partly dressed. She had left all her buttons undone on her regular black, no-nonsense jumpsuit, leaving her body open to his gaze, the front of her jumpsuit gaping all the way down to her navel. She was walking towards him, her face turned away from him as she was braiding her hair.

"Why don't you button me up, Luuuke?" She said in a low voice. "I'm a little busy at the moment."

A challenge, Jade? Luke walked towards her and started buttoning her up slowly. But not without teasing touches to her belly and her navel as he followed the button trail up her chest.

Not to be outdone, Mara walked him backwards into the back of the couch. He leaned against it and continued his job, thumbing the bottom of her breasts gently. She leaned in between his open legs, right onto certain excited parts, and started moving. Slow, circular movements which made Luke go cross-eyed for a few seconds.

"You could be arrested for indecent exposure today, Luuuke. I saw your pretty briefs in my 'fresher, and they don't seem to be dry yet." Finished with her hair, she flipped the end up and looped it from the top of her head, securing it with some unfathomable hair device that Luke could never figure out. Placing her hands on the sofa beside his hips, she continued the maddeningly slow movements.

"Thank goodness that I have an equally pretty Jedi robe to cover myself with, hmm?" Hoping that his voice didn't shake, he finished buttoning her up. "You, on the other hand, don't. Who's going to be the one arrested for indecent exposure now, Miss Jade?" He brushed his hands lightly against her hard points, clearly seen through the well-worn fabric.

She had stopped moving and closed her eyes when he started playing with her, but at that, her eyes snapped open and glared at him.

"I've got to get to work." And stepped away from him, leaving his pants badly tented, having no briefs to temper the angle of his excitement.

Watching as Mara pulled on a loose tunic and grabbed a couple of data pads from the table (fantastic, wonderfully stable table), Luke reached for his robe and put it on. Not a moment too soon either, because Mara thrust his boots in his arms, grabbed his arm and pulled him out of her apartment.

Hopping a little, he pulled on his boots quickly as she secured her apartment.

"'Bye Skywalker," she said irritably, and turned to leave.

He reached out and grabbed her hand, pulling her forcefully against his body. Not so fast, Jade.

"But I haven't had my morning kiss yet," he said, and bent to kiss her.

She bent away from him, and kept her mouth resolutely shut even as his tongue asked entrance against her lips.

Too public, perhaps? Let's try a change in venue. Keeping one eye out for obstacles, he half-dragged Mara's limp body towards the elevator, and called for it. I'm guessing that you're not as unaffected as you seem, Miss Jade. Or why are you suddenly so boneless? He could feel her hard again underneath her layers of clothing.

The lift arrived, and Luke pulled away from Mara. Seeing her sway a little made him smile. They stepped into the lift. As soon as the lift door closed, Mara grabbed his robe by the lapels and pushed him hard, causing him to slam into one of the lift walls.

Ow. Luke winced at the bump that was going to develop at the back of his head.

"You want to go down this route, Jedi?" She growled.

"What route, Miss Jade?" Playing innocent.

"You'll lose."

"That remains to be seen."

"Oh, I can see it alright." A hand reached between the folds of his robe and squeezed him, causing him to stand at complete attention again. Control, Jedi, learn control. The stakes are high.

He pushed her away. "Why not a relationship? We're already halfway there."

Her eyes glittered as she pushed him against the wall again. "I don't want any attachments, that's why. Just sex. And I'm determined to have plenty of it with you."

"I'm just as determined to have all of you, Jade."

"And that's the way you want to play it."

"Yes."

"Fine." She stepped away from him. "Tonight. At my place. Bring dinner. Then we'll see who wins."

He smiled.

"Bring it on."

The lift opened, and they went their separate ways.

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A/N: Once again, this has undergone some surgery - but don't worry, not as bad as the other chapters. It's mostly complete. Now press that button and write a love note to me, please.