Author's Note: Please notice the change of rating! I also hope you have read closely the warnings and the hints I have dropped along the story regarding Anakin's condition, and won't be too surprised/shocked.

The next morning Anakin and Obi-Wan went to visit Toradiur.

First Anakin announced he would leave his job in two weeks, then the Jedi master made his offer to the brothel's owner, an offer that could not be refused.

Credit chips changed hands, a contract was drawn and signed, then Obi-Wan left the room, so that Anakin and Toradiur could talk in private, as the older man had expressed the wish to do.

"Are going to live with him?" Toradiur asked as soon they were alone.

"Not really. Or better, not yet. He has offered me a job as pilot on Coruscant, but I hope with time he will become more than just my employer," Anakin answered with sincerity.

"I hope it will be so, kid. I would hate to know you ended up selling yourself on Coruscant."

"I won't! He will never let me down!" Anakin exclaimed, wishing he could tell the other man why he completely trusted Obi-Wan.

"You love him, Anakin. That's all too clear. But does him love you back? I confess I find him very cold. Maybe he is just taking advantage of your feelings."

"He is just very reserved, Tor, but I know he cares for me deeply." Anakin took a deep breath and continued, " As for taking advantage of me, we never had sex, Tor. He never used me."

"What!"

"You heard me. We have never been together. In fact we have never even kissed."

Toradiur was stunned. "Then tell me, what did you do all those evenings?"

"We talked," Anakin smiled. "We talked and came to know each other."

"Oh…well. Then maybe this is really love." Toradiur smiled and patted Anakin's shoulder. "I wish you luck, Anakin. I wish you happiness, for you deserve it, kid."

They shook hands, then Anakin left the office. A few minutes later, the young man and Obi-Wan walked away from the brothel for the last time, determinate to never again put a foot inside one.

The days before the departure were full of activity for Anakin. He had to pack the stuff they wanted to bring with them, buy travelling bags and clothes for himself and his mother, check that he had all the drugs Shmi might need for the trip and so on.

Anakin's mother had been delighted to know that her son had quit his job and that they would soon move off of the planet to work as pilot.

"Oh Ani," she had exclaimed upon hearing the news. "I am so happy for you! Because your talent as a pilot as been recognized and because you have finally found somebody to love. When you will bring Ben here? I wish to know him."

"I will ask him to come here for lunch one of these days. But first there is something you must know: Ben's real name is Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan Kenobi."

"Like the famous Jedi Master?"

"He is the Jedi Master we heard so much about."

Shmi used her hands to sit straighter on the bed. "You mean you are going to work for the Jedi Order?"

"Yes, Mon."

"But this is wonderful! Every one knows the Jedi are honourable and honest. He will never let you down!" Shmi was ecstatic.

"That's true, Mom, but there is also a downside. Jedi are not allowed to love."

The woman's eyes widened in shock, "You mean he doesn't love you? That he is just helping you out of friendship or compassion?"

Anakin shook his head. "No, Mom. I sense he loves me too. It's just he cannot bring himself to admit it. He is very confused now, and also reserved. So, when I invite him here for lunch, please don't touch the subject of love, all right? Thank him for helping us and for being my friend, but nothing more."

Shmi nodded, "As you wish, Ani."

Anakin embraced his mother then returned to his packing, his mind lost in thoughts of Obi-Wan.

He had managed to sound very calm and composed with his mother, but in truth he was everything but that. He was desperately in love with the Jedi and longed for his kisses and caresses and for hearing his low voice murmur "I love you" in his ear.

Anakin had never been in love in his whole life, nor had he ever felt sexual desire. Yes, he had experienced pleasure with those clients that had bothered to take the time to make him come, but never before he had burned with the need to feel a man's hand caress him nor had he felt the desire to rip someone's clothes away as he did with Obi-Wan.

Anakin had often heard people speak of "making love", and now he wanted to know for himself how lovemaking was different from having sex.

"You must be patient," he said to himself for the umpteenth time. "You cannot jump on Obi-Wan like this. You would just scare him away, for no man would like to be eaten alive as you're planning to do. Give him time."

Anakin sighed. He knew he was doing the right thing, but he did not know for how longer he would be able to restrain himself.

Two days later Obi-Wan accepted an invitation to lunch at the Skywalkers' place.

Anakin had made sure the little hovel was in perfect order and had asked his mother to help with the cooking, for he wanted to prepare something different from the simple dishes he usually made.

His mother had teased him gently as she had given him instructions, but it was clear she was very happy to see her son behave like a man in love, to see him smile so often and leave behind the brooding expression he had sported for so long.

When Obi-Wan finally arrived, Shmi understood immediately why her son had fallen for him.

The Jedi master was indeed an attractive man, but what caught her attention more was his calm, his control and the kindness transpiring from each of his gestures and words.

Anakin had always had the tendency to be impulsive but he had become calmer, more relaxed and less ready to burst since the older man had appeared in his life. Shmi thought they complemented each other perfectly and knew, in her heart of mother, that Obi-Wan would soon admit aloud he loved Anakin, for it was evident in the way he looked at her son.

A couple of hours before the sunset, when Obi-Wan was about to leave, the sky clouded and a strong wind started to blow.

"A storm is approaching," Anakin announced, peering from the window before blocking the shutters. "You cannot travel with the this weather. You must stay here for the night."

"I can find a room in town," Obi-Wan commented.

"Nonsense. I will sleep with my mother and leave you my bedroom," Anakin answered, even if his heart screamed to ask Obi-Wan to share the bed with him.

"If you are sure I will not cause troubles…"

"I am quite sure. And now that is settled, let's return to our sabacc game, I want to beat you at least once."

Obi-Wan smiled, "It is not easy to beat me, young one."

Anakin grinned, upon hearing the endearment Obi-Wan had started to use more frequently. "Because you are a Jedi?"

"No…because you have the habit to let your tongue peak out your lips when you are planning something," Obi-Wan answered all serious, but with his eyes full of mirth.

"I don't do that!" Anakin exclaimed, outraged.

"Are you so sure you don't?"

"Well, maybe once or twice…"

"Six or seven would be more a accurate account."

Anakin laughed, basking in warmth of Obi-Wan's companionship as they both sat back at the table, ready for another round of sabacc.

Later that night, as Anakin prepared to go to bed, he realized he had forgotten his sleep clothes in his bedroom when he had made a fresh bed for his guest. So he went to his chamber to retrieve them, without bothering to knock on the door for he thought Obi-Wan was still in the 'fresher.

He was not.

Anakin froze when his gaze posed on the almost naked form of his beloved. His hungry eyes drank in the sight in front of him, trying to fix every detail in his memory.

Obi-Wan was slender, but clearly strong. His well-formed chest was covered by hair, hair that his fingers longed to touch. His skin was fair, but not too pale and Anakin found enchanting the way it turned pink under his burning glance.

"Do- do you need anything, Anakin?" Obi-Wan asked, as his right hand checked he had tucked well the towel wrapped around his hips.

"Yes," answered the young man, with a voice he barely recognized as his own. "I need you."

Before Obi-Wan could reply or protest, Anakin covered the distance between them, and embraced the smaller man, pressing their bare chests together, and lowering his head to put his lips over the other's.

Obi-Wan's lips were everything he had imagined them to be, soft and hard at the same time, surrounded by whiskers that caressed his skin in a most pleasing way.

Anakin moaned in delight when the Jedi opened his mouth and allowed his tongue inside and, taking it as a capitulation, he let go of Obi-Wan's back. He used his hands to unfasten and push down his trousers and underwear, pressing his soft member against the hard one he could feel beneath the towel.

The feel of Obi-Wan's desire, made Anakin growl in triumph, but the feeling was short lived, because the older man pushed at his shoulders hard, obliging him to back away several steps to keep his balance.

They stood one in front of the other, both panting and flushed. Anakin watched as Obi-Wan's eyes swept over his body, taking in the details of his broad, smooth chest, of his flat, hairless belly, of his strong thighs and the limp sex between them.

Anakin watched as the Jedi narrowed his eyes, then blinked as he observed his groin, seemingly not believing what his brain was telling him.

When finally their eyes met again, Anakin saw the unspoken question in Obi-Wan's.

"I am a gelding," Anakin murmured, then continued before Obi-Wan could say anything, "Tatooine's local breed of human males have a special physiology that makes them highly prized as pleasure workers... If-if they are castrated when still boys, their body changes to compensate the mutilation. Our...prostate develops differently, making it possible for us to achieve a greater sexual satisfaction than a normal man, but only if we are ... penetrated.

I was seven years old when Gardulla the Hutt, my owner until she lost me and my mother in a bet with Watto, had me operated. She owns several brothels here in Mos Espa and Mos Esley and planned to send me to work there as soon as I was old enough. We geldings are becoming very rare, for a certain degree of humanity and respect toward the slaves has arrived here too, thus I suppose Gardulla planned to make a lot of money with me. As far as I know, I am the last one ever submitted to this operation. That's why I am…I was so expensive. My pheromones make me attractive to straight and gay men alike…thus I was very popular."

Anakin fell silent after this stream of words, and waited for Obi-Wan to digest what he had heard. His heart constricted when he noticed that the older man's erection no longer pressed against the fabric of his towel.

"Are…are you repulsed by me?" He whispered, his eyes filled with pain.

"What?" Obi-Wan blinked, as if he had been lost in thought, then shook his head. "No, of course not. You are a wonderful young man, with a great and generous heart. You have managed to stay pure and full of light even despite everything happened to you. How could I ever be repulsed by you?"

"Then why do you no longer want me?" Anakin's voice almost broke as he pointed at Obi-Wan's groin.

"It's not that. I want you Anakin—but I can't act on my desire. I can't give you the commitment you deserve. Should I take you now, I wouldn't feel any different from those men in the brothel. I would use you and give nothing back." There was quite finality in his words, and Anakin knew he would not change his mind.

The young man growled as he pulled up his trousers. "I can't understand how a man as intelligent as you could ever say something so stupid! Use me! How is it possible you don't see the difference? I love you! I want you! You are the only one I have ever wanted and you would honour me by sharing your body with me! I don't expect you to marry me, I just want to feel your love!"

Anakin burst out the room before Obi-Wan could see the tears threatening to escape him. He grabbed a shirt and a cloak and left the house, desperately needing to be away from the source of his greatest delight and frustration.

It was already dark outdoors, but the storm had calmed down, leaving behind dunes of sand in the streets.

The air was cool, fresh and Anakin breathed it deeply as he walked, head lowered, hands in his pockets, trying to sort out his feelings.

Perhaps he had been wrong to make his move over Obi-Wan so soon or so aggressively, but boy, how could he resist the sight of that naked chest and trusting face?

He should have sensed Obi-Wan's discomfort at his actions. Was not that what he was famous for? But, at least, the evening had not been a complete disaster.

First of all, Obi-Wan had not been repulsed by his condition, something that was very important.

Second, how could he really be upset when the man he loved had refused to take him out of love and respect? He could not. In fact, now that he thought more about it, he felt quite touched and moved by it.

Sure, he knew Obi-Wan's stubbornness would be difficult to win, but at least he had admitted aloud he loved Anakin, and it was a step forward.

The young man raised his head and smiled. It was time to return home. Maybe Obi-Wan would be still awake and he would be able to apologize-

"Well, well, well, look who we have here."

The voice coming from somewhere near him made Anakin freeze.

He knew it.

Darnell.

Anakin looked around for a way out as the miner stepped out of the darkness and the young man felt a shiver run along his spine as he noticed he was not alone.

Six other men flanked him, looking at Anakin in a way that made his skin crawl.

"Good evening, Darnell. A nice time for a walk, huh?" Anakin said, forcing himself to stay calm. "I was just going home…"

"Oh no, whore, you aren't. At least not yet. I have heard you left Toradiur's place for you found a rich lover boy ready maintain you. Good for him—but I hope he likes to share, for this evening I will finally have that nice piece of ass of yours."

The miner gestured with his hand and the six thugs surrounded Anakin…

evil laugh in the background Cliffhanger!