Force Dyad
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A/N-thank you very much to everyone who kindly read and reviewed the last chapter.
Chapter Sixty-Eight-A Proposal
With her arms wrapped tightly around Ben's waist and with the wind in her hair, Rey had never felt so free. The humid air made perspiration glisten on her skin; it gave her pale complexion an almost ethereal glow. She rested her cheek against Ben's broad back and closed her eyes in bliss as she left him to guide the speeder through the thick jungle undergrowth toward their unknown destination. He had been very mysterious about it, refusing to answer any of her questions about where they were going.
Rey could feel the Force surrounding them like a comforting blanket. She reached out to it, let it flow through her like the blood in her veins, allowing it to calm her nervous anticipation about what lay ahead. With focus, and with delight, Rey found herself able to hear everything going on around her-she became aware of a tiny insect rubbing its mandibles together, whistling a sweet, high song. She focused on the sound. It was beautiful, pure-and she began to hum the same tune under her breath.
Sitting astride the speeder in front of her, Ben laughed, completely in synch with everything that was she was thinking and feeling. He found himself humming the same melody, a fond smile spreading across his face as he skilfully manoeuvred the speeder past the thick green foliage that surrounded them on all sides.
All things considered, Ben mused, there was nothing more perfect than this.
"Are you going to insist on carrying me everywhere?" Rey teased.
"Yes." Ben's answering laugh was like a low rumble against her ear. "You just concentrate on keeping your eyes closed."
"Okay." Rey sighed impatiently, already feeling her eyelids beginning to betray her. She resisted the urge to take a quick peek and tucked her head under his chin. Wherever they were, the air already felt much fresher. She breathed deep through her nose, reaching out to the Force again in an attempt to quench her gnawing curiosity.
Connecting to the Force came easily these days. So easy it was like breathing. But she had to admit, the peace, the calm often eluded her. It was only when she was with Ben that she was truly at peace. Like now.
From the trajectory, Rey sensed that they were moving up a slight incline. A slight breeze ruffled her loose hair. The fine strands kissed the delicate skin of her cheeks-a light pink blossomed along them, like the colour of a newly awakened rose. "Is it much further, Ben?" She whined.
"Patience, Rey." Ben chided her gently. "We're nearly there."
"I'm trying."
"I know." Ben's voice remained deep and soothing to her ears. "I just want you to enjoy the full experience when you see it for the first time, just like I did when I found the place."
"Fine." Rey sighed as she settled back in his arms. "I promise to be good."
Rey felt herself being lowered gently to the ground. Ben steadied her against him, his long fingers spanning her slim waist as he murmured in her ear. "Open your eyes, sweetheart."
Ever so slowly, she did as he requested. As soon as her eyelids fluttered open, she was blessed with the most wonderful sight. A small gasp left her parted lips as she drank in the virescent beauty that surrounded her. In the centre of all this beauty lay a disc of the brightest blue. Like a mirror on the wall, it was oval and flat, the surface forever guarded from the winds by the crown of lush hills that enclosed it. At the edge the land met and carried right on as a perfect reflection. Looking up into the sky and down into the water was just the same.
The lake was brighter than the colours her imagination would ever have been able to conjure up. It was stunning in its simplicity. The small body of water stood out in stark relief against the deep green of the hills, its mirrored surface glowing all colours-cyan, turquoise, shimmering blues.
"Oh, Ben!" Rey exclaimed in awe, her hazel eyes shining with delight. She wanted to imprint the image of the lake in her mind forever. "I didn't know such beauty existed."
"I did." Ben declared softly-his gaze trained not on the picturesque view that surrounded them, but on Rey's lovely face.
The bounty of food that Ben had brought with him became an extended moment to enjoy the playful light and soft grass, to let their eyes appreciate the stunning landscape that encapsulated them.
Ben was full of high spirits and roguish charm as he persuaded Rey to humour him and do a taste test. He had gone to a lot of trouble to replicate some of the Alderaanian recipes his mother had used when he was very young. Ben didn't have many happy memories of his childhood that included his mother. But there was one he always clung to-a rare day when Leia Organa had returned home early from her senatorial duties-she had found him alone in the kitchen with the kitchen droids, covered in baking flour. The sight of her small son attempting to bake touched her heart. She had dismissed the droids and had spent the rest of the afternoon happily teaching her chaotic son how to bake an Alderaanian birthday cake.
The cake Ben had made was proudly chocolate on chocolate. It had taken a lot of subterfuge to source all the ingredients he needed. He knew that Rey adored chocolate, it was a delicacy that she had tasted on only a few rare occasions in her life. The chocolate sponge was covered chocolate chunks and a chocolate ganache on top. It was sloppily made, but Ben wasn't bothered about that. Only the way it tasted mattered.
Ben carefully guided a slice of the chocolate cake to Rey's mouth. He swallowed thickly as his gaze became fixated on her lips. Her lips were a pale pink, the top lip was thinner, but not too thin, and it had a natural cupid's bow, the bottom one was larger and plusher. He couldn't stop staring. "Try this." He said, his voice husky.
The chocolate was smooth and crisp as Rey bit into it. It broke between her teeth with a soft crunch. The sweetness filled her mouth and for a moment, all fell still, then she moaned deeply. "Ben, this is positively sinful." She opened her eyes to find Ben staring dazedly at her mouth and she blushed a deep red. "Oops." She laughed nervously.
Ben blinked rapidly, as if he had just awoken from a daydream. He felt his cheeks growing warm and he gave her a soppy grin. "You like?" He didn't think he would ever look at chocolate cake the same way again, not without imagining Rey's divine lips wrapped around it.
"I love." Rey assured him, laughing again. "Can I have some more?"
All the food was gone. Diffused light filtered down on them, casting patches on the ground. Fine ripples marred the mirrored surface of the lake.
"This is beautiful, Ben." Rey whispered, as if somehow worried that speaking aloud would destroy the magic of the place.
Ben took her hand in his and kissed her forehead. She had no idea what real beauty was. She was the definition of beauty. He led her across the soft grass to a more sheltered spot.
"This grass is like a carpet." Rey murmured as she sat down abruptly, pulling Ben down with her.
Without much forethought, Ben lifted her onto his lap and kissed her. Rey responded eagerly, her tongue searching for his, skimming over his teeth before gently nipping his lower lip. That was new. She twisted in his lap, facing him and placing her hands on his wide shoulders.
"Thank you for today. I loved it. This has been the best birthday." Her hazel eyes were the softest green as she studied him.
Ben's smile spread so wide across his face it hurt. He wasn't used to smiling so much, but with Rey he just couldn't stop. "You're welcome."
Rey kissed him again, whispering breathily against his mouth. "I love you, Ben Solo."
"I love you, too."
They continued to kiss, the kisses becoming more passionate, more desperate with each passing moment. Rey was the first to break away to breathe, she pushed Ben onto his back. He lay there, raising his knees behind her as he slid his hands up her thighs, resting them on her hips and squeezing gently. She leaned on his chest, her weight barely registering.
Ben gazed up at her adoringly, his heart and mind so filled with love for her that he could barely contain it. So, when the question burst out of him, it felt so natural that he was surprised it had taken him so long to ask. "I want to spend the rest of my life making you happy." He said breathlessly. "Rey, will you marry me?"
A/N-thanks for reading! Please review.
