Pre-Warning, the chapter after this one will be SPICY
JL x
One day.
That's all she had left.
One day of comparative freedom, that was it.
Jay paced her floor restlessly, it had been impossible to stay in bed this morning, her legs were desperate to get moving. She wasn't sure whether it was simply a question of nerves, of if her flight response had finally set in. Either way, she could feel her heart beating at three times its normal rate and her stomach was in knots.
Letting out the breath she didn't know she had been holding, she decided that enough was enough and found herself tracing the familiar path to her main doors, prepared for another plea with her guards to set her loose. However, as she approached them, they flew open, revealing the all-too recognizable figure of billowing black material and leather.
He didn't even open his mouth before beckoning her forwards with his hand and setting off in front of her, she struggled to keep up with his massive strides as he practically raced her down corridors and shoved her into the office of her excitable wedding planner.
"Chamberlain will escort you back to your rooms" she turned at the sound of his voice. "I have things that need attending to"
And as quickly as he had come, he was gone.
She stood, paralyzed in her confusion and staring at the seam in the doors, before Chamberlains voice knocked her back into consciousness.
"So much to do! If you would ma'am, we really need to get started!"
Jay sat across from the petite redhead as she read through everything on her list, the girl was clearly in a panic and not without reason.
Her desk was piled almost a foot high with papers, data pads, folders and assorted diagrams, presumably all having to do with tomorrows event. Jay tried her best to help the poor woman organize everything into discernible piles and relative categories, but eventually conceded, settling instead for offering words of encouragement whenever Chamberlain took a breath.
The day passed in a flurry of paperwork, and it felt like minutes before Jay was being pulled from her slumped position and once again into the faceless corridor. Chamberlain led her back to her rooms, before pestering to listen to her vows for approval. As Jay recited them to her, the dress was delivered, then dinner, then a bombardment of questions over what she would need help with come morning. Jay denied needing any assistance and finally managed to discourage her helper from turning up at her door at 0500 to pack her into her satin gown.
Before long, she found herself in silence again, her entourage disappeared and her lights dimmed.
Where had her last day gone?
When did everyone leave?
What had she eaten for dinner?
Doubting the visitation of her husband-to-be, and not having the faintest idea about what time it was, Jay pulled herself up and into her bedroom. As she collapsed onto the mattress she spotted the dress hanging from her closet doors and groaned, turning away from the offending item and burying her face in her pillow.
She blinked, and suddenly heard the faint beep of the intercom to her rooms.
Stumbling towards the doors she inwardly cursed whoever had decided to visit her at stupid-o-clock, and prepared for an argument as she ran her fingers across the access panel. She stopped short when she saw who it was.
A young officer, holding a tray.
Her breakfast.
Eyes widening, she asked the young woman for the time
"0600 ma'am, I've been asked to inform you that you are expected in event room 001 at 0900 sharp"
3 hours. When had she fallen asleep? Had she fallen asleep?
She barely noticed the officer sidle past her to deliver her tray, and quickly leave again.
Jay sat in front of her food, the mere sight of it making her queasy. She slowly chewed down two mouthfuls of toasted bread and half of her glass of water, it was all she could manage.
The morning became a blur, but moving at an unforgivably slow pace. She showered and sat around in her towel for a long while, before finally admitting defeat and shimmying herself into the delicate fabric of her dress. It was perfect, though she doubted that any work the ships tailor ever put out was less than so. She admired the gentle slope of her hips as the material draped itself loosely over them, the material caressing her sides and meeting at her lower back. She hadn't asked for her back to be exposed, but it gave a certain degree of elegance to the overall creation.
She decided on piling her hair into a simple loose bun at the base of her neck, allowing a full view of her attire. Deciding against flashy jewelry or makeup, she pulled out the delicate silver circlet given to her by her grandmother just before her passing. It was designed to look like tiny vines, interlocking and weaving around the crown of her head and meeting in the middle of her forehead in an arrangement of tiny sparkling diamonds.
It was a formality, Chamberlain had specifically asked her to wear something that would represent her breeding and show the Order members present why she had been chosen for Ren. She had agreed to wear it on the understanding that she would then be able to bury it away as soon as the ceremony had ended.
All too soon it was getting uncomfortably close to 0900, and Jay needed to make her way to the event space. Her legs felt heavier than usual as she dragged herself through her entrance doors, but this time her guards did not stop her. One stepped ahead of her as they led her through the winding labyrinth, up a level, and stopped outside a large set of open doors.
Beyond the threshold Jay could see five or six rows of seating, settled in a c-formation around an open space. It was a sea of grey uniforms, all but a few seats taken over by the easily-distinguishable officers uniforms, the rest made up of a few high-ranking officials from god only knows where
Thankfully, Jay could not see her parents. Although they were in high standing within the Order, she doubted they would bother to show their faces. After all, their work was now done.
There was no music, no flowers scattered around or hanging from the ceiling as she was so accustomed to seeing on her native world. This ceremony was purely functional. She wondered why Chamberlain had spent so long fretting over the decoration of the space.
Suddenly she felt a large hand gently take hold of her elbow and tug her forwards. As she looked up, she found herself staring into the familiar hazel hue of Kylo's eyes. He was dressed, as usual, head to toe in his favourite colour. The clothing choice was less functional though, more formal. A silken shirt that overlapped his waist before doubling back and tucking into his belt, loose sleeves that tightened around his wrists. His trousers and boots were similar to those that he usually wore, though looked softer, less constricting.
He didn't speak, only guided her forwards and through the double doors. They walked quietly around the seating and to the right of the fairly small room, nobody yet observing their arrival.
Kylo dropped her elbow as they settled into the shadows and stared straight ahead and the focused space at the center of the rooms' attention. She barely heard him when he finally spoke.
"You look... beautiful"
She had to process his statement for a second before she responded with a simple
"Thank you"
The pair shifted uncomfortably, not knowing what to say to ease the tension. It was Kylo who decided to speak first, again
"I know you'll probably have already guessed, but this isn't a particularly romantic affair. There will be little ceremony or show, a simple matter of 'I do' and a short afternoon of polite conversation and food before we retire for the night. I'm sorry if its not what you expected"
Jay nodded, her eyes never leaving his. She had completely forgotten that she would most likely be returning to his quarters after this afternoon, and it's all she had focused on once he had mentioned them leaving the event. Her cheeks flushed with warmth for a second, but before she had time to allow her imagination to run wild, they turned to the sound of a throat being cleared and around fifty sets of eyes trained on them.
An elderly man beckoned them forwards into the clear 'staged' area, and they made their way, Jay following sheepishly after Kylo, who took confident strides forward.
The ceremony was short, and formal. No religious texts, no prayers for the happy couple. A quick exchanging of vows and symbolic rings was all that it took to convince the assembled personnel that they were madly in love, it appeared.
Jays vows were short and sweet, she had considered packing them full of feeling and emotion, but had decided against it in the end. How could she spill her heart to a man she barely knew? She promised to honor him, to remain loyal by his side and to offer him her strength should he ever need it. He, in turn, offered her safety and security, and a home by his side. His face was serious as he spoke, never allowing a flicker of emotion to cross his features, the mask may as well have been in place.
After sliding each others rings gently onto their fingers, the onlooking crowd gave a quiet round of applause, and it was over. Guests stood and filed out through the entrance doors and towards whatever room was to hold the next part of their ceremony, while the newlyweds followed at the rear.
Kylo gripped Jay's hand in his and led her along, not meeting her eyes and focusing instead on the sea of uniform caps ahead of them.
When they reached their next event room they were seated at the head of a long arrangement of tables, serving staff scurrying around to fill glasses and fetch plates of food. Still, Kylo refused to look in his new wife's direction. He ate slowly, eyes scanning over every one of his guests. Jay noticed him flinch more than once, usually when someone glanced in her direction, but thought nothing of it as he didn't react any further.
Again, there were no speeches or well-wishes. The celebratory dinner was over as quickly as it had begun. Jay could sense a change in her partner though, he was definitely becoming more agitated, more irritable by the moment, she was just thankful that everyone had now cleared their plates and the guests were beginning to disperse. Against her better judgement, she brought up the subject of his upset, trying to prod gently
"Is everything alright?" she began, hoping not to add to his apparent anger, "you seem... distracted?" It was the best she could do without pointing out his deep breathing and the fact that his teeth were practically bared in a snarl.
He still wouldn't look at her, but responded
"I can hear them"
Jay furrowed her brows in confusion, but he continued quietly without her needing to ask, his tone positively dripping with hostility
"The things they're thinking about you, its disgusting. The images inside their heads, their opinions of you, their desires, their prejudices. Everything"
Jay glanced around the room at the few remaining invitees, talking amongst themselves and ignorant to the newlyweds' conversation. Two of them turned towards Jay, leering at her before continuing their conversation, but she didn't need to be close to them to know the kind of depravities circling through their minds. Kylo's forearm twitched by his side as he glared ahead, desperately trying to restrain himself from diving across the table and breaking a few necks.
She noticed his flared nostrils and wrapped her hand delicately around his wrist
"Actually, I'm starting to feel a little tired, must be all the excitement of the day..."
Kylo snorted, still glaring with fire dancing beneath his skin, but allowed her to continue
"...do you think we could leave now? I can't think of anything more rewarding than exchanging this gown for a comfortable robe"
She tried to appear lighthearted, but desperately wanted to divert him from the anger that was soon likely to take over him.
Kylo flattened his free hand against the tabletop and drew it back to the arm of his seat, pushing himself up and taking her with him. He didn't say a word, but led her around the array of seating and through the doors they had used to enter the room earlier. His shoulders noticeably dropped as the blinding white light of the corridor hit the pair, and his stance became just a little less tense. Still, she doubted the matter was over and done with, and pitied the poor fools he would return for.
They made their way back towards their accommodation level, tracking back along the path Jay had taken that morning, slowly and in silence. As they approached her doors, Jay stopped instinctively, her hand raised to allow her access. Kylo carried on a few steps before he noticed she had stopped, and turned back to face her, confusion evident in his face.
She didn't register why he was confused for a moment, until she remembered. They were husband and wife now, she wouldn't be returning to her own quarters, her new home would be three doors down.
He held his hand out to her, silently. When she didn't immediately take it he flexed his fingers slightly towards his wrist
"Come"
It was the only command he needed to give. She reached out and placed her fingertips to his palm, before he closed his own around hers and gave a light pull to her arm until her feet followed his. They came to a halt before his doors for just a moment, before he swiped his free hand gracefully over the controls to allow them entry.
His quarters weren't either dissimilar to her own, but much larger and slightly darker. The walls were a deeper shade of grey, the lighting a little dimmer. It wasn't intimidating, if anything it felt... cosy, if still a little sterile. He didn't have many trinkets lying around, no decorations graced the walls, no cushions on his seats or rugs to soften the blow of hard heels hitting cold metal. It was very functional, it served a purpose, nothing more.
They still stood in the entryway, but she was the first to step forward, closely followed by her husband. The broad shaft of light emanating from the hall quickly evaporated, and any outside noise was immediately cut off, throwing them into semi-darkness and absolute silence, save for their quiet breathing and the blood pounding in Jay's ears.
She was alone with him, again
Only now, for the first time, there would be no hesitation.
She looked over her shoulder to find her newly-certified partner watching her closely, his breathing shallow. She could see the muscles running down the sides of his neck were tense, his pupils dilated like they had when he'd touched her last.
Jay pursed her lips together nervously and focused her attention on the room before her, stepping forward and lightly running her digits over the black leather upholstery of an armchair, all the while intently aware of his eyes burning into the back of her skull. She tried to ignore the thudding of her heartbeat and the prickle that traveled up her spine, and did so quite successfully, until she felt his forearm snake its way around her waist and his hard chest pressing against her back.
His breath sent the stray hairs falling from her bun tickling into her neck as he spoke in a barely-auible low whisper
"I need to know what you want"
He spoke slowly and deliberately, gauging her reaction while bringing his left hand up to rest on her collarbone
"I've tried my best, but I'm losing control quickly. I need to know if you want me, like I want you"
Jay shivered imperceptibly as he held her tightly against him, biting down on her bottom lip as the pad of his thumb lightly traced the dip of her collarbone and the nape of her neck. All she could do was nod, afraid that if she opened her mouth a moan might escape.
Kylo shook his head and tightened his grip
"I need you to tell me, wife."
A fist formed in the material on her hip
"Tell me that you want me."
Fingers curled around the front of her throat and held her securely
"Tell me to take you."
His voice had become a deep growl
Jay whimpered under his touch and felt her knees give way slightly, but her help her securely and refused to let her fall.
Again, his voice sounded in her ear
"Tell me"
Her prim and proper exterior crumbled, and she gave way to him, clasping her fingers around the wrist holding her neck she let herself speak freely
"I... I want you to take me"
He growled and spun her around, hand switching position and cupping the back of her neck, holding her face close to his
"Good girl"