And Vega Lights My Way
Chapter 11
Oh, love to some is like a
cloud, to some as strong as steel.
For some a way of living, for
some a way to feel.
And some say love is holding on and some say
letting go.
And some say love is everything and some say they
don't know. – John Denver, Perhaps Love
Luke went to the training center expecting to be early, but to his surprise, he found 'Nails' there waiting for him.
No, he thought. Not Nails… or my student.
Just Aubé.
"I hope I'm not overdressed," she said shyly, fingering the small ornament that was so tantalizingly close to her breast. "I didn't know where you wanted to go tonight."
"I was thinking, perhaps we could dine in." Luke replied softly. "I've had enough of staring eyes tonight. Would you… would it be alright if we just went to the apartment I have here in the city?" He lowered his eyes, feeling oddly ill at ease, and yet…
He didn't notice that she had walked up to him until he caught a light breath of her perfume. Just a whiff of Naboo wildflowers mixed in with the clean scent of her hair.
It was intoxicating.
Luke looked up to see her smiling at him. Shyly he extended his hand and returned her smile as Aubé clasped it in her own.
"Let's not go home just yet," Schurke mumbled in Kampher's ear as the speeder left the reception and the delegation broke up. To Kampher's slight dismay, his hand was already pushing its way past the hemline of her dress.
"What's come over you?" Kampher cried in mock exasperation. "You're acting like a rancor in season –you have been since we made planet fall!"
His hand pushed higher, more urgently. "You…"
"Kay'leb…"
"Needs sleep…" Schurke finished for her, now rubbing his nose down her cheek. "In fact, you've already checked on him haven't you? You felt him through the Force and he was still unconscious…"
Kampher nodded her assent, returning his touch. "He probably wouldn't even wake if we were at home."
"Don't want to chance it." Schurke turned his attention to the droid driver. "The Imperial Ambassador Hotel, driver," he cried joyfully. "And don't spare the eopies!"
Supper was as light as Luke had promised. A small plate of meat and some biscuits, and some wine, and as the evening had mellowed, so had they. From sitting at a supper table, they had moved to a couch where they sat together, almost, but not quite close enough to touch.
"You don't like the City, do you?" Aubé said as a matter of fact. "So many…" she searched for the words.
"Flimsy plast beings?" Luke laughed, bouncing his knee against her. Aubé joined him then stopped, flinching, Luke's eyes widened in alarm.
"Are you all right?" he asked, placing a hand on her shoulder. "I didn't know my knee was so hard!" He teased.
Aubé groaned "Just stiff." She put her hands on her neck, rolling it. Tentatively, Luke put his hands there also and began to rub. Aubé's groan became a sigh as he inexpertly but with great enthusiasm began to knead her shoulders. The room seemed to be uncomfortably warm.
Aubé flopped herself around, giving Luke her back in full, enjoying the attention.
"Where do you want to go?" she mumbled into her chest. "Aren't you needed here?"
Luke ran his hands slowly down her back then up again. "My sister can handle the politics," he said absently, intent at the matter at hand. "I just want to… you know, see if there are other Jedi out there…"
He pulled her back and she rested easily into his embrace, hands clasped lightly together. "How about you?"
He swallowed hard. Aubé gently rubbed his cheek with her own, her eyes closed. "Not sure," she murmured squeezing their arms closer, very aware of his warm breath on her ear.
She brushed his cheek with her lips, and whispered softly into his ear, her voice low and breathy. "I'm not sure about a lot of things… Luke…"
Luke began stroking her upper arm with his fingertips. "Me either… Aubé," he murmured, his own eyes closed. Feather light, he began brushing her chin with his nose. She laughed lightly, huskily, and moved her free hand to his thigh, resting it there.
"But some things…" he said softly, his lips lightly caressing the edges of her mouth. She tilted her head downward, ever so slightly so that their lips were almost touching.
"Some…" Aubé tried to agree but Luke's lips were already upon hers, and the word died in her mouth as he kissed her.
"Schurke, I want to go back to the apartment," Kampher called to her husband, who was in the shower. She was already half dressed the tattered remains of her clothes. "Or at least have someone check on him. I'm really worried about Kay'leb."
"Do you think Aubé is back yet?" Schurke asked, stepping out of the shower. He shook his head. "No. it's early."
"It's probably all for naught," Kampher sighed. "But it's just a feeling…"
Thoroughly dry but completely undressed, Schurke embraced and kissed his wife. "Just a feeling for you my love is not something we should ever take lightly. Give me five minutes, and I'll be dressed."
"Thank you Schurke," Kampher replied as she made her way to the com control to call a cab. "I'm sorry to cut this evening short, I can make it up to you later."
That you will," Schurke grunted, puling on his trousers. "And after we find your son safe in his bed we can discuss exactly how..."
Kampher blew him a kiss, and then contacted the front desk. Her feeling of relief was palatable.
At first Aubé was too shocked to do anything but return the kiss, allowing Luke to keep the lead. Then, delicately, she parted his lips with her tongue, deepening the kiss. Slowly, Aubé pushed him back, wrapping her arms around him, Luke easily followed suit. Her hands caressed his back, then reached under his shirt, determined to find bare flesh. When he was completely on his back, she carefully straddled him, her hands behind his head. Aubé moaned softly as Luke pulled her closer, his hands massaging her back through her shirt. She raised herself up, giving his lips access to her throat and collar bone.
"I want you…" she whispered into his ear. "Luke…"
He pulled her close, breaking away from her momentarily. "I… I want you too…" he gasped between kisses. "Aubé..." he gasped between increasingly frantic kisses. "You… you should know something…"
"Luke… Luke!"
He heard his name, but it wasn't from Aubé, who had shot up as if she'd been stung.
"Luke!"
It was the com. The one line he couldn't turn off.
Trying to keep the shake out of his voice, he hit the reply button.
"I'm here…
Leia's voice rang almost franticly over the line. "Luke, Representative Koeien says you just left his daughter at the reception and he's furious!"
"Can't this wait, Leia?" Luke asked plaintively, casting a glance at Aubé, who was already straightening herself out.
"No it can't," his sister snapped. "I needed you here yesterday…"
Luke sighed. "All right, I'll be there as soon as I can."
"I'm sending a speeder to collect you, I don't care if you're in your sleep pants!" And with that, the com snapped off.
He turned to Aubé sheepishly, not knowing what to say other than "I'm sorry…"
Aubé smiled back, pulling on her jacket. "Don't worry about it," she replied simply, as if they had been doing nothing more than discussing some arcane tidbit of Jedi lore. "I'll see you later." And with that she slipped out the door.
