Lothal - Hidden Base of the Specters

As soon as the ship was on the ground, Hera had kicked everyone out. As she shut everything down, she sobbed with a maelstrom of emotions, not to mention the lingering truth serum in her system. She had almost lost Kanan and, quite possibly, everyone else as well. Whoever the strange and undeniably powerful force user at the fuel depot had been, she would have to find him and thank him some day.

After she had finally wrangled her chaotic emotions and locked the Ghost down, she sat in the lounge for several long minutes, just staring dazedly at the bulkhead.

Ezra sat on a stone, rubbing his temples as he gazed out over the Lothal plains. "Are you alright?" asked Kanan from behind him.

The young Jedi turned and demanded, "Am I alright? You had every intention of dying on that fuel dome, didn't you?"

Kanan nodded wordlessly as he strode up to beside his apprentice. Ezra only grew angrier. "You can't do that, Kanan. We need you! I need you!"

Kanan turned and gently placed a hand on his shoulder. The Jedi Knight's eyes, as blind and useless as they were, seemed to be looking at him with affection and with a little sorrow. "At the time, I was certain that it was the only way that all of you would survive, and with all of you, the chance of liberating Lothal, Ezra. Our cause, it's bigger than any one being."

Ezra shook his head fervently, the tears on his cheeks shaken loose by the movement. "No;" he said, refusing to accept it.

"Ezra;" said Kanan, "we all need to be willing to not only sacrifice our own loves but also allow others to sacrifice theirs. If that is what our cause requires, if that is the will of the force, then so be it."

Ezra looked as though he was going to lose it so Kanan hugged him. "I need to be able to count on you, Ezra;" he murmured quietly. "When the force calls me home, I need you to be able to step up, do you understand?"

With one shuddering breath, Ezra stepped back, wiped his face and set his jaw. "You can count on me, Master."

Kanan smiled and gripped his shoulder. "I know I can. Now, go on and get some food and some rest. I think we've all earned it."

Ezra nodded and hurried back towards the hideout. Kanan sighed and considered the events at the Imperial Fuel Depot. Whoever that Jedi who had saved him was had an important part to play.

Turning, he headed back towards the base, casting out with the force and sensing everyone. Zeb was just relieved and happy that they were all back safe and sound. Sabine probably wouldn't talk to him for a day or two. Ezra accepted the truth and necessity of the situation even if he hated it. But Hera...

Kanan frowned. There had always been something between them ever since they had first met. Before the fuel depot, neither of them had put a label on it. There was too much going on. There was no time for fanciful things like love during a galaxy-wide rebellion. But then Hera had said it. "I know what to say now. I love you."

Even though he was certain that he was going to die, Kanan had felt warmth and joy bloom within him, even as he tried to deny it. At some point, he would have to talk to her about it - whether it was wise or even possible.

As he stepped inside, the smell of food wafted over him and he smiled. He could tell it would be something simple, yet tasty as it usually was. "Kanan, over here;" called Zeb.

Allowing the force to guide his movements, he went and someone handed him a tray, already weighted down with food. "Thanks Zeb. It smells pretty good."

They ate in silence mostly. All of them were tired and relieved and just wanted the stressful day to be over. Suddenly, someone wrapped their lithe arms around him. "Uh..." he said after nearly choking on a mouthful of food.

"I'n glad you're okay;" said Sabine before letting him go.

Kanan smiled and said, "Me too."

They ate in silence before cleaning up and heading to their respective berths. Kanan headed back out into the night. He sat down on a flat rock and emptied his mind, seeking to calm it and meditate for awhile before going to bed. As he sat, he sensed a warm, familiar presence come and sit down next to him. She wanted more than anything else to speak to him but respected his desire for meditation Even so, he slowly brought himself out of his meditative state and asked, "How are you holding up?"

"I'm better than I was;" Hera answered, "when I was fairly certain either you or both of us were about to die."

Her voice was a little rough; she had obviously been crying, but it was steady and seemed to be in much better humor. "Listen, about what I said on the dome-"

"I love you, too;" said Kanan, interrupting her.

Even as he felt warmth wash through him, Kanan could sense her own joy and pleasure but even so, she said. "But would this be wise? We're in the middle of a war here, Kanan. How would it work?"

Kanan chuckled and stood, casting about in her direction to find her. A gloved hand grabbed his and placed it against her cheek. It was a face he knew all too well, strikingly beautiful and warm to the touch with strong cheek bones and soft, plump lips that usually smiled. "We can make it work. It won't be easy but we can do it."

Hera wrapped her arms around him and buried her face in his chest and he wrapped his arms around her in turn. For some time, they just held each other in silence, just enjoying being alive and being together. But then, with her good humor returning, Hera couldn't help but murmur, "I still hate your hair."

Kanan laughed and kissed her between her lekku. "I'll let it grow back, then."

Hera let go of him only to take his face in her hands and gently pull him downward until their lips pressed together. Energy jolted through Kanan's body and he pulled her against him. It felt so good in so many ways to finally be free with her, to hold her and to have her know how he felt and to know for sure how she felt.

Her lips continued to press and caress his before her tongue joined in. With a groan that was deep in his throat, Kanan willingly accepted it as both their kisses grew more insistent. Suddenly, someone cleared there throat and several other individuals chuckled in amusement. Ezra's voice, sounding all too amused, said, "You know, we cleared out of the Ghost. Why don't you go aboard there where we don't have to see... all of that?"

Kanan felt his cheeks color and was about to retort when he felt a tug on his arm. "You can scold them for being nosy later, Love;" said Hera. "Let's go to bed."

Another round of chuckles were heard as they both headed towards the ship. Kanan's heart was pounding. "At the ramp, watch your step;" said Hera.

Kanan chuckled as they headed up the ramp. He heard the click of the control and the ramp closed behind them both. Then she was in his arms again, kissing him ardently, even possessively. By the stars, he wished that he could see her again. She pulled him along again. "About to be at the ladder;" she said.

Hera's voice was low now and contained an impatience that Kanan wasn't familiar with. When he heard her clamor to the top of the ladder up to the ship's main section, he followed her. As soon as he was at the top, she was hauling him towards he quarters. "You're getting slow, love;" she said teasingly.

"Oh I'm sorry;" he retorted dryly. "losing one's sight does tend to slow them down, I guess."

Finally, they made it to Hera's cabin. As soon as the door shut behind them, she was in his arms again - kissing him again. He couldn't get enough of it and seemingly, neither could she. They were so intoxicated by one another that she was seeing stars when she finally separated for want of air. Gently, she ushered him over to the bed. Kanan felt the bunk beneath him and carefully sat down. There was the sound of several zippers and the rustling of cloth and Hera's voice whispering, "I'll help you in one moment, love; let me just get all of this out of the way."

Wanting desperately to see the woman that he loved, Kanan called upon the force and reached out. The Miraluka were said to be able to literally be able to see with the force. How they did so, he had no idea or even if it was an ability only they had. Even so, all he wanted was to see her one more time - and he did. Light caused him to blink a little and all around him, everything seemed subdued - except Hera. He could see her as if she were emitting a bright light. Through the inorganic matter around them, he could vaguely make out the others outside and inside the caves of their base, as well as the dim writings on the walls of the base. But before him, clear as on a cloudless summers day was Hera. She was in the middle of stepping out of her flight suit. Her head garb was gone as well and all she wore was the generic gray undershirt and underwear. Even as she seemed to glow, her smooth green skin looked soft and smooth. "Kanan, are you alright? Your eyes are glowing."

Kanan smiled and said, "Yes, I am. You're so beautiful, Hera."

"You can see?" she asked in wonder.

"Only for the moment but it will be one that I treasure;" he said.

Hera's eyes began to well with tears again but she smiled and said, "Well hold on to it for just a few more moments, Kanan."

In two smooth motions, she had discarded her last two garments and stood complete naked in front of him. Those flightsuits hid quite a lot too. Her body was toned yet curvy. The muscles of her arms, though not bulky, were well formed and lean. Her stomach was flat as a dancers, her legs molded and smooth. Her eyes were bright and even playful and her smile was a seductive one as she stepped towards him. Shuddering with emotion, Kanan closed his eyes and when he opened them, his vision was gone again. But even so, he had seen her one more time and the sight was enough to last him the rest of his life. He heard a series of snaps and felt his boots loosen. One at a time, they came off, followed by his socks underneath. "Stand up;" she murmured. "Let me help you out."

Kanan stood slowly and lifted his arms slightly outward. His weapons belt, blaster holster and lightsaber fell away and he heard her set it all on the nightstand. The belt beneath that held his trousers up went next and the lightly armor plated and armor-weave shirt was untucked from them. Slowly, it lifted off his body and as it did, he shivered. Soft lips pressed against his stomach.

Hera had always enjoyed seeing Kanan without his shirt on. It wasn't very common, usually only when he needed to be patched or stitched up after a fight. He was in superb shape, though. His Jedi training kept him lean, fit and wiry. His abdominal muscles were very well defined and, though she never would have said it before, very sexy. After kissing her way up his stomach and chest, she all but purred with desire, "I've always thought you had such a sexy body, Kanan."

He frowned and blushed adorably. "When have you ever seen my body?"

"Oh just a little here and there;" she giggled, feeling like a mischievous teen.

After years of suppressing it, her Twi'lek's promiscuous nature was begin to come out too and for once, she was loving it. "Whenever I could sneak a look when you didn't realize I was there to see. You have a butt to die for too."

His face turned even darker with embarrassment and he stammered, "Wait, what?"

"Don't worry about it, love;" laughed Hera, almost giddy with affection and arousal; "by the time we're done, I'll have seen every centimeter of you and hopefully not for the last time either."

She pushed his trousers and the garment beneath down as well and Kanan cleared his throat self-consciously. Hera gentle took his hands and spun him around. "Mind your head, love."

One of her hands rested on his head and guided it downwards and forward, slowly and easily. When his leg touched the bed, he carefully climbed onto his. Hera pulled him unerringly forward and down until he had covered her body with his. Her arms were around him and he was kissing her again. She moaned softly, enjoying the skin on skin contact as one hand brushed up and down his back and the other went through his short cut hair. As he kissed her, an idea came to her and he stopped. "What's the matter?" asked Hera.

Kanan smiled and said, "Nothing at all - but I want to see you the only way I can now."

He kissed her forehead and he cheeks, trailing downward to her chin and her neck. From there, he went across her shoulders and her collar bones, visualizing each centimeter as he kissed it and licked it and nuzzled it. Hera's breathing was hitching with every touch and it was quite satisfying to to hear it. Realizing that he could effect her was a very satisfying and encouraging thing.

He continued lower down her chest and up the swell of one of her perky, generous breasts, usually hidden under the baggy flighsuits and a compression bra. When his lips closed over the darker green peak and sucked the nub at the tip, she moaned, "Kanan! Oh stars!"

Her arms clutched his head to her breasts as he continued to pleasure them, sucking and licking, kissing and nuzzling as she writhed in pleasure beneath him. Kanan didn't stop there for long. He continued downward, down her ribs and her flat, firm stomach and the lower her got, the more her breath hitched and the more she writhed beneath him. His lips probed her navel just a little before he went down and to the left first. As he made contact with her hip bones, she writhed more and moaned, "Kanan, blast it, stop teasing me!"

He chuckled and didn't recognize his own voice as he said, "You're enjoying it and you know it. Patience, my love."

He crossed to her other hip and reveled in her continued exclamations of delight. The lower he went, the more excited she seemed to become. He kissed the soft thighs of one leg before kissing back up the other. By then, Hera was all but desperate for him. She spread her legs and her smell hit him. "Kanan, please;" she whispered, her hands gently urging his head forward.

Kanan had no real idea of what he was doing or how to do it effectively. But she clearly wanted him to advance and advance he did. As soon as his lips touched her lower lips, Hera gasped and flinched before saying in a trembling voice, "A little higher."

Using his fingers to help, he gently felt his way around her hot, slick womanhood. When his finger brushed against a tiny yet firm nub at the top of her slit, Hera cried out. "Gently! Do that again, just gently."

Rather than his finger, Kanan pressed his tongue against it and her response was everything he was hoping for. She had writhed and bucked when he had worshiped the soft green skin of her magnificent body but now, she didn't stop. He could see it but he could sense her back arching and her whole body trembling. Hera's legs wrapped around his head and upper back, locking him into place to continue his leisurely devouring of her, eventually attempting to add a finger to his activity. He slipped it into her now dripping and quivering slit and began to gently and carefully feel around. When he pressed upwards slightly, Hera grabbed a pillow and screamed with pleasure into it.

Grinning, Kanan pressed the spot again, a spot that was firm and slightly spongy in texture. Again she wailed with pleasure into the pillow. Setting to it, Kanan probed at the engorged nub on the outside with his tongue and used his finger to rub and caress her inside as well. Even though he couldn't see, he could feel that her body was in a constant state of tension. Eagerly, he increased his speed and insistence until she seemed to completely lock up, her back arched, he legs locking him into place and, if his ears didn't deceive him, not even breathing. Ceasing his ministrations, he placed his hands on her hips and murmured, "Hera?"

Hera's body was trembling violently. Clearly she was wracked by a powerful, intense orgasm that was not letting up in a hurry. With a little difficulty, he extricated himself and lay down beside her. With a gasp and a moan, Hera started to breathe again. Kanan chuckled. "I was worried for a second there - thought I had hit your off switch or something."

Hera gave a series of short gasps and said, "Ouch! Give me a minute or two before you make me laugh. It's hard to breathe right now."

Kanan began to kiss along her shoulder, her neck and her cheek again as her breathing returned to normal. "Trying to get me all riled up again?" she asked teasingly.

Kanan chuckled as he kissed the base of her right lekku. "Not necessarily. Your skin - it's just so soft and smooth. I love how it feels."

As he kissed her lekku again, Hera gave a light gasp and then said, "Well if you keep doing that, you'll drive me crazy again. My lekku are really sensitive, you know."

"Really?" asked Kanan before feeling around and finding one of the head tails.

Gently, be began to massage it while continuing to kiss along the base of it. Hera moaned and wriggled more before saying, "Stop! Lay back, love. It's my turn."

Kanan shifted as she ushered him to the center of the bed. He felt her legs straddle his hips and felt her lying against him. Her lips pressed against his as she began to grind herself against him.

Hera wanted to impale herself on his engorging manhood but she could tell he wasn't quite there yet. Slowly, she pressed and ground against him. Grabbing his hands, she placed them on her breasts and purred. "Touch me."

Kanan's mouth was slightly open and his eyes were wide as his hands gently began to feel and caress as if he was searching for something on her ample, perky breasts. The gentle, almost furtive movements caused Hera to bite her lower lip and let out a low moan as she continued to press and grind against him. When she was sure he war ready, she lifted herself up a little and grabbed him. Kanan twitched and inhaled sharply between his teeth. His hands squeezed her breasts firmly, causing Hear to gasp and smile. "Mmmmm. I like that."

He squeezed them again and she lined him up before slowly and carefully impaled herself on his shaft. He hissed again and his hands firmly squeezed her again as she slid down him. Her womanhood was still tight from the wonderful pleasure he had given her previously and she had to take it slow while his manhood penetrated her. Even so, it hurt just a little before her body began to adjust. As it did, it quickly began to feel very good. Experimentally, she raised and lowered herself and moaned as it touched and rubbed her in all the best ways. Kanan's sightless eyes were wide and he gasped and said, "Stars! Hera, what are you doing to me?"

"Feels good;" she giggled breathlessly. "Are you saying that you've never done this before?"

"When would I have had the opportunity? AH!"

She raised and lowered herself on him again and gasped. "I wish we had done this before. GAH! I love you so much!"

Kanan's hands moved from her breasts, which Hera had noticed he had become quite fond of, to her hips. To her delight, he urged her on and continued to groan with pleasure as she began to ride him faster and faster. To her surprise, she could feel her own climax coming on again. Suddenly, Kanan gasped, "Wait, wait;" and they slowed down.

"Everything okay?" she asked, wanting nothing more to ride him to completion.

"Yes. Are there other ways we can do this, though? I want to-" but he cut himself off, suddenly blushing and open mouthed as if surprised by his own desire.

Giggling, she leaned down and whispered, "You want to grab my hips and pound into me with all your might, don't you, my love?" and she nibbled his ear, causing him to buck and jolt again and grown.

She giggled and said, "If you say it, I'll show you how. Come on; just tell me what you want."

"I-" and he gulped, still blushing, "I want-"

Hera laughed and sat up, slowly pulling off him. "You want to kriff me. Say it."

"I do;" he said, sitting up and reaching out blindly to find her.

Giggling, Hera backed away, just out of reach. "Say it."

"Hera;" he groaned, still trying to find her.

"Say it;" she said as she circled him.

"I want to kriff you;" he murmured as he went after her.

"Couldn't hear you;" she said.

Frustrated, Kanan stretched out with the force and drew her to him, placing his hands on the sides of her face and kissing her passionately before growling, "You heard me just fine."

"This way;" she said, going towards the bed.

When they reached it, she turned her back to him and placed his hands on her hips before bending forward. "Okay now my back is to you and- hey!"

Kanan grinned and gave her rear another firm squeeze. "I like that too. Your regular clothing hides that you have quite the nice little butt."

"Stop it!" laughed Hera as she swatted backwards. "Get over here kriff me like you said."

Kanan placed one hand on her hip and used the other to locate his target - the dripping slit his lover. Hera gasped as his shaft probed against her before sliding in. Kanan also gasped and shuddered. Taking a deep breath and said, "Well? You wanted to kriff me. Kriff me, blast it!"

Slowly, he retracted his hips until the last inch of his manhood was still inside of her. Then, with one thrust, he was in to the hilt. Hera's head leaned back and she moaned with pleasure. He did it again and again before finding his rhythm and beginning to slam into her with gusto. Hera was supporting herself with her arms and was unable to cover her mouth as cries of pleasure came from her. Those cries only egged him on and he his thighs slapped noisily against the firm cheeks of her rear end. "Oh stars!" she cried, "Kanan, don't stop! I'm going cum again!"

Kanan didn't stop. On the contrary, he pounded into her faster and harder and when her legs began to shiver and she wailed her climax, he slammed into her one last time and his own body began to shake as he came as well. It took a call on the force to prevent them from collapsing in exhaustion and sensory overload. Carefully, they clamored onto the bud, snuggled under the blankets and recovered their whits. Just before Kanan could doze off, Hera murmured, "Why did it take you nearly dying for us to do this?"

Kanan roused himself a little and chuckled, "Sex. you mean? I mean, if you would have offered, I doubt I could say no to you."

"Not just that, you nerf-herder;" chuckled Hera, gently digging into his chest with her elbow. "I meant all of this: acknowledging and admitting how we feel about each other."

Kanan thought about that. For himself, he was holding on to his old Jedi philosophy and feared that the attachment would wind up being dangerous. "I don't know;" he murmured into the space between her lekku. "Maybe old Jedi instincts; maybe I was afraid in case one of us died. It doesn't matter anymore. I love you and I'll do my best to make sure you know it from now on."

He could sense Hera's joy and pleasure and satisfaction with that answer as she snuggled even deeper into his grip. "That;" she said, "was a wonderful answer, Kanan."

When they woke up the next morning and strode down the ramp, Hera saw Ezra, Sabine and Zeb considering them with amusement. The big hairy Lasat whispered something to the two younger humans and they both laughed. As Hera and Kanan grew closer, he wrinkled his nose. "Ugh! Did you two shower yet?"

Sabine and Ezra burst into laughter and hugged Kanan and Hera before leading them to breakfast, not saying a word about it but clearly happy that the two of them were happy together.