A/n- This chapter comes a few days belated to Valentine's Day and a short few days before the first publishing of this story. This is a raw chapter so there might be errors as I've had a bit of writer's block on how to get this chapter out right. Please review or follow- this let's me know, you the fans want to see more! - GP

Chapter 44

Location: Naberrie Residence, Imperial Center

Month 2 Day 1 Year 27 BBY

He repeats again, " P, please just forget it." He turns his back to her and begins to gather his things to leave. He's got a buzz, but not enough to handle this conversation which could easily bleed over into an argument.

She nods not accepting his cowardly answer. Her eyes narrow and she can sense her anger at his cowardice as he tries to leave. " Why can't you just admit that you still are in love with me?"

His Adam's apple bobs as he tries to come up with an excuse to leave-anything to halt the beating of his broken heart in his ears. To stop from turning around and giving in to this conversation with the one woman he wants and can't have. He had admitted he wanted to tell her the truth after he had been freed from prison to his father, but now that he's heard the words leave her lips in such a tone, his courage has all but evaporated into thin air.

He feels the gentle touch on his shoulder, but can sense the simmer anger in her aura. He closes his eyes and murmurs, " Because I didn't want to tell you like this."

He feels the hand move away from his shoulder as she questions, " And when would you have told me?"

The silence he allows to filter the space between them is enough for her to understand. He never would have told her. She backs an inch away from him, anger simmering at the surface of her soul. He always tried to be the martyr for her- to protect her even from him. To protect her from feeling guilty over his unrequited feelings for her. They hadn't been at one time, but she knew of all the people that she had been the one to tell him after what had happened with Rush that she couldn't see herself allowing any man to have control over her in any sort of way.

This is partially her doing- if she hadn't told him that, he probably would have told her eventually when he felt she might be ready to open her heart again to someone.

His back is still turned to her as her thoughts race with how to make this right between them. All she can muster is a simple apology for being such a dumb ass? No, Anakin deserved better than this from her of all people!

He turns to her then, his blue gaze pouring into her very core. " I can't help the way I feel P. I wish I could wish away from feelings, believe me I've tried."

She stares back into this blue eyes, and she senses his pain. His heart is broken from the years they've been apart. From the year he's been trying to mend their friendship and from having to stop himself from feeling anything other than their friendship. Her heart aches feeling through their bond as he allows her to feel the truth of his feelings. The torment she's creating by not allowing him to leave and leave this conversation from being finished.

She whispers, " Anakin-"

He smiles sadly at her. Her brown eyes stare back at him, shining with sympathy for the pain she caused him. He touches her cheek without her flinching and says, " This isn't your fault P, please don't feel sorry for me. I'm the one who's been holding on for far too long. I thought at some point I'd stop."

She leans into the warmth of his feeling tips and replies, " But you haven't, why?"

Anakin knew the simple answer to her question. He had known the truth since he realized he'd fallen in love with her. He'd thought he hadn't hidden that fact from her when they had been together, but apparently he had. Back then he had been so fearful of the future and what it might bring with Katrina's interference. Back then he had been trying to protect her heart.

He says simply, " Because you're the one. You're the one woman I want in this damn forsaken galaxy and a small part of me dares to hope one day you might be able to allow us a chance to find that happiness."

Her heart pounds in her head hearing those words out of his mouth. Why hadn't he told her this that summer? That innocent best friend of his would have melted at once with his confession. That best friend would have damned the consequences and not cared what her family had thought. Hell her sisters and cousin had known how he'd felt about her. How she had felt about him so long ago.

For those mere moments, peering back into those blue eyes reminds her of the time they had shared. Including that kiss they had shared last summer. She had to admit she'd never stopped wanting him, not for a second. She had yearned for those days when Rush had beaten her to a pulp. Anakin had never treated her in such a manner. He'd never tried to hurt her physically nor had meant to break her heart back then. They had been young and new to what was happening between them. Now- neither of them were the same. Neither of them were innocent and both had been through losing a child. Another time Anakin had been there for her. He had pushed through his own grief to make sure she had a companion, something a best friend does , but someone who loves someone more than themselves.

She whispers, " I want you to kiss me."

The words had come out of her mouth like a flash of lightning. She hadn't even disputed with her own brain before the truth had pushed through her lips.

" P- I don't want this to be out of pity-" He whispers back to her, even though she can hear the desire crawling through his tone.

" It's not. You can't say those wonderful things to me and not think for one second that I don't want to give this a chance." She stammers back, not even thinking her words through.

His eyes widened slightly in awe. " Pad, I don't expect this to go anywhere."

She laughs softly and touches his fingertips against her cheek. The fire crawling between their fingertips is brief and exciting. They both feel the heat against the others fingers. He brushes his fingers over hers in a swift gesture, feeling the heat increasing between them.

" Just kiss me already," She says through her chuckle.

He gulps watching the desire lingering in her own mirrored gaze. He murmurs quietly, leaning into the gravity between them. " As you wish, Milady."

His lips are on hers, gently. She moans softly feeling the familiar taste of his lips. His lips move slowly over hers, savoring this kiss. He didn't want to push her. She knows he's holding back for her sake and it fills her heart knowing he's holding back for her. She opens her mouth for him and their tongues entwine in a battle neither will win tonight. His hands are in her hair pushing those curls behind her ears. She tugs on his own hair as they continue to battle with their lips- the demand building up inside in them both will explode if they don't stop.

He pulls away from her lips and murmurs, " Force, you taste so good."

She smiles and pulls him towards the sofa. He notices her movements and follows her lead. His heart soars at having this chance to be with her again. He had dreamed about kissing her so many times on those long agonizing nights within the folds of his cell. But now she's here with him. She pushes him onto the golden sofa and straddles him.

Ani-" She pauses and kisses him in urgent need. He does as she requests and she tries to pull him closer. His hands are in her hair as he continues to kiss her. He tries to keep his hands away from the rest of her body without her accepting them in the places he knows he can drive her wild. She notices this and pulls his hands from her hair and whispers, " Make love to me,"

He watches her eyes as she says this- trying to be sure she wants this as much as he wants her right here, right now. She guides his hands to her hips and pushes up her dress.

His fingers slide up beneath her dress and on her thighs. His fingers find her core and begin their ministrations. Her eyes snap close in pleasure. Her head falls back enjoying every moment of pleasure. She bucks her hips against his hand. She whimpers as she feels the wave of pleasure wash over her. He turns her on her back then. He leans over her and kisses her neck, shoulders and she whimpers more as he continues to touch her in places she hasn't had touched in so long. He slides up her dress further so he can kiss the rest of her. She giggles a bit as he kisses her belly button and he smiles from her skin. He unhooks her panties and grins devilishly asking " A bit sexy for a lounging night at home."

She laughs at his joke and suggests, " Dear Inquisitor, that's what all my panties look like. They're comfortable."

He grins at her murmuring, " You know I'll be imagining them each time I see you, right?"

She shrugs and suggests, " I like them off."

He pulls them off her legs and she helps him pull his shirt over his head. She touches his abs and her hands fall onto his black pants. She bites her lip and this time, she doesn't fumble in helping him take them off. She smiles at her confidence as he situates himself between her legs. She allows him to grip her hips as he enters her core. She keeps her eyes on his as she watches pleasure wash over his face. She sighs feeling complete with him inside her. He moves again slowly, allowing her to adjust to the feeling of him.

" Keep moving, I need you Ani-" She whispers.

He kisses her and picks up the pace under her orders. They both moan in pleasure, feeling the ache and desire between them. He brushes against their bond in the force. Her eyes widen feeling the sensations coursing through her mind. His feelings.

Gods Ani-

P-

She touches his face, watching him as he continues his pace. She brushes their bond as well, allowing him to feel her through their bond. He can feel she is ready for a climax. He allows her to reach it and then continues to keep the pace for her. She cries out . His hand touches hers as she can sense his struggle to hold back his own climax. He hadn't been with her in so long and she was slick, and tight. He continues his pace until she cries out once more. He shudders and moans as the abyss washes over him.

Their faces meet as their breaths are uneven, both hearts beating in time with the other. Neither has to say anymore nor wonder about the others satisfaction in their lovemaking. His mind probes hers through the force as her focus comes across the scar on his chest.

She traces the scar on his chest which she knows is from an old injury from falling out of a tree at age 12. He had broken a rib and punctured the skin from a branch on his way down to the ground. The scar is not very wide, but she eyes it remembering every detail of it.

His fingers lace with hers as he whispers, " Gods, your beautiful angel."

She smiles slightly and murmurs, " Angel? I'm not Angel Ani."

" You're my angel," He replies back, planting kisses down the side of her neck.

She giggles at the feeling of his touch there. He smiles as he trails the kisses down her collarbone and across to the other side of her neck. She leans into his touch, feeling the growing bulge below her bottom.

" Stay the night," She murmurs, pulling away long enough before they plunge into each other's arms again.

" I will do whatever you ask of me, angel." He whispers against her lips before claiming her for himself once again.

To Be Continued.