Note! Yes Finally! The Muse has taken over and I have written another chapter of Downtime. (Sorry I'm still bouncing coz I'm so excited that my year long writer's block is over). Anyway, someone commented in a review that the chapters are too short. My answer to this, they're the way they wanted to be written. It's a story with snack-sized chapters, not meal-sized ones. Sorry people, that's just the way the Muse wants it. And when the Muse is as sexy as Ton and Face, you don't complain about their whims. ;-)

The title comes from a song by Cream, which helped inspire my muse.

Chapter 22 "I Feel Free"

Why had she done it? Why hadn't she gone back to her hotel room to sulk and wish for things that couldn't happen? That was Erin's usual method of dealing with life. But not much of a life, is it?

She considered her life for a few moments. How her friends had drifted away as she focused more and more on college until Lisa was the only person she talked to on a regular basis. Her "boyfriend" had definitely been a boy and not a friend. He'd been more hurtful than helpful, belittling her until she believed every nasty comment that fell out of his lying mouth.

It'd taken a lot of time to deal with it all, to get her life together. But now, she realized it wasn't really together. How together could it be when she hid from everything and couldn't enjoy a wonderful vacation with two gorgeous men?

Yep, Erin. You are one sad puppy.She fiddled with a strand of hair while she and Face waited for the tram that would zoom them to the other end of the strip. Why can't I stop thinking and start enjoying myself?

"Credit for your thoughts?"

Erin's fingers stilled as she nervously turned to Face. "What makes you think I was thinking?"

Face smiled wryly. "You're always thinking, Red Leader. Your mind's always going light speed."

"That's not . . ." Her voice trailed off as the wry smile turned into a smirk. "Okay. Okay," she sighed. "I was thinking."

He slid his arm around her shoulders. A few women gave Erin envious glares, but she ignored the hostility and focused on the tingly feeling that was racing across her back. "Wanna share those thoughts?"

She began to speak, then reconsidered. Did she really want to tell him how lonely and pathetic her life had become? Did she want to linger on such dismal thoughts during this vivid dream-turned-reality. "No, I don't."

Loren tensed at her sudden abruptness. She quickly wrapped an arm around his waist. He relaxed slightly against her. "I didn't mean to sound so abrupt, Face. I just figure, why talk about depressing stuff on vacation?" She looked up at him and smiled. "Aren't we supposed to enjoy ourselves on vacation."

"Yub yub." He smiled at the woman that were staring at him and gave them THE grin. They alternated between near swooning and glaring vibroblades at Erin.

"Stop that," she hissed, lightly kicking his shin. "They're getting jealous."

"So what? Is it MY fault that you're the most beautiful woman here and that you have impeccable taste in men?"

She arched a brow at him, trying desperately not to laugh at the egotism of his words. Or melt into a puddle because he said she was beautiful. "Powering up those ego-powered shields?"

Face gasped, giving her a pained look. "How can you be so cruel? I am not egotistical. I am modest, humble, unassuming . . ."

"Ton bought you a thesaurus for your birthday, huh?"

"Two actually."

Erin shook her head. "The poor Squad."

"They really come in handy for annoying Wedge during meetings," Face grinned.

"I'm sure they do," Erin muttered. "So why'd you get motion sick?"

The grin turned into a half-hearted glare. "It's impolite to change subjects so quickly."

"A Wraith wouldn't know politeness if it bit him on the. . ."

Face kissed her temple and sighed. "You're wit is refreshing. You're beauty is inspiring. Though your tact is severely lacking."

"I already told you flattery would get you everywhere. Now why did a pilot get motion sick?"

"And as tenacious as a Jawa trying to steal an R2 unit," Loran muttered.

She ignored the jibe. "Why did you get motion sick?"

Face glared at her, causing Erin to giggle wickedly. "You're never going to let me live that down, are you?"

"Nope," she grinned.

"All right. All right. The only reason I can think of why I got sick was because I wasn't in control. It's one thing to pilot a ship; it's totally different to give up control to someone else."

A wicked little thought sprang to mind. "Dammit, there go all my dominatrix fantasies." Her grey eyes widened as she clapped her hands over her mouth. "Oh . . . my . . . Gawd! I can't believe I said that."

Face could almost feel the embarrassment radiating off of Erin. He really should let the comment slide, politely ignoring the delicious fantasies that had sprang to mind. But, as Erin had said, a Wraith wouldn't know politeness if it bit him on the. . .

"Ooooh, Pet," he purred against her ear. "I would LOVE to lose control with you."

Erin shivered. Told herself that Face's purring was NOT affecting her. That it was the cool desert air that was causing chills to ricochet through her body. Liar. You have FACE LORAN purring in your ear!

It took all her self control to remain composed. But the heat of his breath against her skin, the luscious sound of his voice short circuited something in her brain. Because in any other circumstances she would have been too shy to make any sort of flirtatious comment but somehow embarrassment was overwhelmed by some impulse she couldn't name.

"You remember that outfit I tried on at Vicky's?"

His breath hitched, caressing her neck. "The white one with the feathers?"

"Mmmhmm. That's the one. I bought it while you weren't looking."

Erin had never heard a more satisfying sound than the soft whimper that information caused. But it was the words that Face whispered against her skin that made her tremble. "I'll let you dominate me ALL night long if you promise to wear those feathers. What do you say, Luv?"

Erin was sure she forgot how to breathe as her mind supplied detailed images of what she could do to Face Loran if she had an entire night to live out her wildest fantasies. Feathers. Silk scarves. Chocolate sauce. And Face Loran naked and hers to command. .

She stuttered, unable to completely comprehend the fact that with one simple word, the Wraith would be hers for the night.

It was luck that the tram arrived before she could answer. She was still debating whether it was good luck or ill as she settled into her seat next to Face and the train zoomed away from the station.