Rose hurried down the hallway to her quarters, swearing under her breath. What had gotten into her? Making out like that right outside the base? Stars! But seeing him kneeling in the snow with Millicent made her want to touch him, to warm his cold hands. And his hands had been so soft and tender, she couldn't help but wonder how they would feel on her skin.

Just thinking about it made her blush. And the kiss… the kiss had been so good that she had almost forgotten herself.

Kriff! When did she get so horny?

She punched in the code to her quarters and stormed in, kicking her boots off and started to pace back and forth. Wait, why was she even angry? Her steps slowed. Hadn't she made her decision back in the forest when she kissed him the first time? And later when she kissed him again - it wasn't some silly 'accident' either. She'd known what she did when she accompanied him outside.

She wanted him. Simple as that - it was time that she stopped acting like a teenager and do what a grown woman would do when she feels attracted to someone. She should make a final decision - either do what she wanted to or stop it right here and now.

She chewed on her lip for a short moment before she picked her boots up and put them back on her feet.

The way to Hux's quarters was rather short, she rapped against the metal door. After a few moments the door slid open, Hux was still wearing his clothes from before but his shirt was half open. His eyes went wide when he saw her, then he stepped back and let her in.

As soon as the door had closed she tip-toed and gave him a kiss on his mouth. When he leaned down a bit she put her hands on his sides.

As they continued to kiss her hands wandered on his back and she pulled him closer. His kisses became more passionate. Then she grabbed his firm ass and pressed him against her, his crotch felt hot against her stomach.

She felt how he trailed her hips with his fingertips, wherever he touched her, her skin seemed to tingle. She could feel herself getting moist. When his left hand wandered further up and brushed her breast she moaned silently, a shudder of lust ran through her body. They broke the kiss and he watched her with parted lips as he slowly, so damn slowly cupped her breast and brushed over her nipple with his thumb. Even through the clothes it felt amazing. She bit her lip and stared at him, panting slightly. She reached up and pulled at his already unbuttoned shirt. He slid out of it and reached for the zipper of her overalls.

She nodded and he pulled it down, she wriggled out of the upper part while he cupped her chest again, rubbing his thumb again over her nipple. Stars, this feeling - she was already wet. Impatiently she grabbed her t-shirt and pulled it over her head, he did the same before he hastily pushed her bra aside and freed her nipple. He started to kiss her tit everywhere but the nipple - damn it, what a tease! She gritted her teeth and cupped the considerable bulge in his pants. He almost buckled and moaned, then he retaliated and started to kiss and suck her nipple.

She let go of him and focussed on the incredible sensation of the cool air against her skin and his hot mouth on her tit. His right hand moved from her hip between her legs and he started to rub two fingers against her clit. The unexpected spike of ecstasy made her grab him by his shoulders as he continued to caress her tit as well as her pussy.

Stars, it was too much - she wanted more. She grabbed her overall and pulled it all the way down, Hux let go of her, looking somewhat surprised but when he realised that she was stripping, he pushed her onto the bed so that he could help her get rid of her boots. In a matter of moments she lay on the bed with nothing but her panties.

He kneeled down in front of her and let his hands wander from her calves, over her knees to her hips, up to her breast and back down again. He hooked his fingers in her panties and pulled them down.

She propped up and spread her legs so that he could see her in all her glory. He grabbed her legs and pulled her closer to him so that she could put her legs over his shoulders.

Then he started to circle with his finger around her pussy, drawing closer until his delicate fingertips touched her moist folds. He trailed her lips and the sensation alone made her moan silently, knowing what would come next. She still gasped when he finally touched her clit, giving it a massage.

"Stars!" she almost yelled. "Just like that!"

He leaned down and started to suck her clit. A wave of pleasure rolled through her and Rose arched her back and let herself fall on her back.

"Kriff Hux!" she moaned. "Don't stop!"

Through the haze of her own arousal she realised that he had already entered her with two of his fingers, pumping in and out as he continued to suck her clit. She could feel pressure building up inside her, it felt so good, so kriffing good.

She felt that she was going to cum soon, she grabbed his head and pressed it against her pussy. Moments later she came with a loud "Kriff".

She came down and panted. "Stars! That was good."

Hux raised his head and smiled at her, wiping over his mouth with the back of his hand. He was panting too. She laughed, damn it - she had really needed that!

After a few moments she sat up, noticing right away the still impressive bulge in his pants. "Come on, it's your turn now."

He hesitated shortly before dimming the light slightly. He started to open his belt and took off his pants. Then he grabbed his t-shirt and pulled it over his head, he had lean muscles and long elegant limbs. A trail of ginger hair travelled from his belly-button down into his boxers. She smiled at him. "Come here."

"I just- dimmed light is more comfortable, don't you think?" he said in a low voice and he joined her on the narrow bed.

"If that's what you want." She kissed his hairless chest, then his neck while exploring his flat stomach with her right hand, before she put her hand on his ass and squeezed it a little.

Her left hand slipped under his boxers and grabbed his dick. His breath faltered for a moment and his eyes slid shut.

She stroked his dick once before she felt up his balls, brushing over them to see if he liked it. When her hand returned to his dick he sighed. She used both hands to pull his boxers down, revealing a proud cock nested in ginger pubic hair.

"I love your hair," she said and stroked him again. Seeing the cock made her realise that she was getting excited again. His fingers had felt amazing, this must be even better. She took it in her mouth and swirled her tongue over his tip, a loud groan was the answer. She could taste salty pre-cum on her tongue as she continued to suck his cock.

At the same time she started to rub her clit. After a few moments she could take it any longer and let go of his dick, it smacked with a wet sound on his stomach.

"Rose-"

She leaned back and presented her wet pussy. "Come on, Hux."

A wild gleam appeared in his eyes as he scrambled on all four and positioned himself over her. Then he let the head of his cock glide over her wet lips, brushing her clit before he adjusted his position and plunged in, making her moan at the pleasurable stretch.

She wrapped her leg around his hips, as he started to thrust. His pace increased as he fucked her until he came with a loud moan, he collapsed on her and peppering her face and her neck with hot kisses.

"Do you want me to suck it again?" he asked as he pulled out.

She could feel his hot cum inside. Seeing him coming undone was hotter than she had thought - his calm facade had dissolved with each thrust. "No, I'm schlicking off. I just want to watch you."

She reached down and started to rub her clit. Stars, he looked stunning with his hair all messed up, with sweat glistening on his naked skin. She bit her lip and rubbed her clit hard and fast until she came moments later.

She scooted closer to him and they kissed another again before they both rolled on their backs.

"That was hot," she said, still catching her breath.

"Stars, it was!" Hux laughed. "I didn't think that you would actually come back."

"Well, I have very poor impulse control. I just can't resist such a good-looking man. And stars, you really have a silver tongue."

"I had extensive oral lessons at the academy, believe it or not. And I'm a fast learner."

She chuckled. "So it seems." She cleared her throat. "I had my last protection shot just two months ago by the way, so I'm still good."

He was silent for a moment. "I had a vasectomy a couple of years ago, so…"

"Okay." The way he had phrased it made it seem that there was a story behind it. "Want to talk about it?"

He sat up. "There is not much to talk about. I simply do not want children, it's the easiest way to prevent that."

She got up too and started to collect her clothes from the floor. Only now she noticed that the wall from across the bed wasn't empty anymore. There were about five pictures of various technical items - one of them was the prototype weapons they had been working on.

"What are those?" she asked. Perhaps he put them up there to help him work on the projects, but it was a bit odd - the pictures weren't particularly good and details weren't visible.

"You told me that people take pictures and put them on their walls," he said, "pictures to commemorate important moments. So I started to collect some too."

Realisation crashed down on her, Hux hadn't understood that pictures she was talking about were supposed to show friends and loved ones. "Didn't you want to make pictures of people?" she asked in a throaty voice and glanced over her shoulder.

He blinked a few times and then he frowned. "No- I... what people?"

Rose gulped. "You know what - you're right. There is no rule that says what one is supposed to make holos off." He gulped the small lump down that had been building up in her throat. "Tech is more interesting anyway. Right?"

He looked from her to the pictures and back again. "I guess so." He sounded dejected.

Silence fell over them and she grabbed the last pieces of her clothes. She needed to take a shower and so did he.

He watched her dress herself. "Are you leaving already?" he asked in a low voice. He pulled his bedsheets up to cover himself.

She gave him a peck on the lips. "Just taking a shower."

He seemed to relax a bit. "See you tomorrow?"

Rose made an effort to smile at him and pulled the zipper up. "Of course."

.

-o-

.

Hux changed the damp bed sheets after she left. Then he put his clothes on and hurried to the common shower near his quarters, hoping that nobody would see him despite the relatively early hour. He usually waited until midnight.

The shower wasn't completely deserted of course but it couldn't be helped. He undressed himself and stepped under the shower, the other men and women continued to talk to each other about the upcoming huttball match and didn't pay him any attention.

It was unexpected, that nobody was staring at his slender frame. They didn't seem to mind his presence. He relaxed a little, realising that his shoulders had been tense. He made an effort to unclench and exhaled.

He dressed without being too hasty. Then he returned to his quarters, feeling quite tired. It wasn't an exhausted, worn out tiredness it was more like a calm fatigue. His limbs felt heavy but he was content, no doubt because of Rose and her loving touches.

This was how affection must feel like. A calm sense of feeling safe, as if- as if he wasn't disgusting. She had looked at him with so much tenderness in her eye that it gave him a stab in the chest just thinking about it.

Back in his room he climbed in his bed and turned the lights off. Moments later he had fallen in a calm, dreamless sleep.

"Ninety-six percent accuracy - just one percent to go."

Hux smiled at Rose. "At this rate, we'll be able to deploy the tracker in less than two days."

She put her hand on his arm and squeezed it lightly. "We're really a good team."

He had to resist the urge to give her a light kiss like he had done so in private moments in the past few days. "We are."

"I think we should give General Organa a heads-up that we're close." She grabbed her pad. "How about a break after that?"

"Alright, it's almost Millie's feeding time. I'll go get something from Sargeant Suta, he assured me that he still had enough leftovers. Caf or tea?"

Rose was already halfway out of the door. "Caf," she loudly said.

Hux turned the holo off and made his way to the Cantina. He got in line and greeted Ebrima who was standing in line before him. "Captain Ebrima, will you attend the sports event tonight?"

"Hi Hux," she nodded back at him, "do you mean the huttball game?"

"Yes."

"Yeah, I guess I'll watch it - nothing else to do so long we're grounded."

"Ah." Hux thought about what to ask next but nothing came to mind.

"What about you?"

"I haven't decided yet." Come to think about it, he was actually curious about the game itself - after all he had read up on the tactics and rules.

"What is there to think about?" asked Ebrima with a frown. "It's like the only entertainment we got - apart from the occasional round of sabacc."

"There is quite a bit of work I need to take care of." Hux shuffled forward, soon it would be his turn.

"Stars you sound like Rose!"

"She has an admirable work ethic," Hux replied a little too quickly.

Ebrima chuckled. "You just proved my point. But I shouldn't complain - you guys have fixed the sanitations droids, the energy grid, the heater - again - and of course made sure that we don't have to throw rocks at Ren's goonies." She took her caf and stepped aside.

Hux could feel the tips of his ears getting warm. "I'm only supporting Ro- Sergeant Tico." Before he had time to think about the slip of the tongue he stepped forward and said loudly. "A black tea, a caf and the leftovers please."

Suta flashed a grin and handed him a box, which Hux put in his bag. "The little thing sure has an appetite." He prepared the beverages and handed them to Hux.

"Thank you."

"What little thing?" asked Ebrima with a crooked eyebrow.

"A loth-cat, Hux is feeding it," replied Suta.

"Really? Well, good for the loth-cat I guess. See you, Hux."

"Good-bye Captain Ebrima."

Millicent was already waiting at the exit, she had lost some of her reserve and didn't wait in the forest anymore.

"Mrrrau!" she half-purred, brushing her head against his legs. Her tail trembled as she followed him to the tree trunks. He put the open box on the trunk and sat down next to it. Millicent jumped up in a fluid movement and started to devour the food.

"Hugs! So is this the famed loth-cat?"

Hux lifted his gaze and saw Commander Dameron standing in front of him, he was wearing a thick grey parka, he rubbed his bare hands together.

Millicent eyed him but continued to eat.

"We named her Millicent," Hux said while straightening his back. Only now he saw Captain Mircah and Captain Finn standing behind Dameron.

Finn chuckled. "Millicent? What kind of name is this? Sounds like an old lady."

"Etymologically it means 'Strong Worker' or 'Soft Raid', seeing that it survived until now I think it's an appropriate name," replied Hux and looked again at the small feline.

Mircah crossed his arms. "I don't know why you bother with it, it's just an animal. The forest is full of them - we can't feed them all."

"Wow, you're grumpy," said Dameron with a laugh. "Come on buddy, she's cute."

As if on cue Millicent finished eating and licked her lips, purring loudly. Hux scratched her behind the ears and she leaned into his touch.

Mircah scoffed. "All I see is an opportunist. She's only after the food because she needs to survive - she is nothing but a rabid animal." With these words he turned and left.

"I know," said Hux to no one in particular.

"Nah, I think she likes you, Hugs," said Dameron.

"Captain Mircah is right, it's a wild animal," retorted Hux. "And she's here because of the food." Which was logical after all. Despite all her purring and the way she headbutted his legs or his hand it was still a mindless animal.

Dameron put his hands into his pockets. "And why are you feeding her if it's just some animal?"

The question caught Hux off guard. He frowned. "I'm not sure."

"That's that supposed to mean?" said Rose and she brushed past Finn and Dameron and leaned down to pet Millicent. "She's your pet, you're feeding her because you love this little rascal. Isn't that right, Millie? You're a rascal! Yes you are!"

"Mrrrrau!"

Hux didn't know what to say to that and retracted his hand. He didn't love the loth-cat - what a preposterous assumption! He just had- he didn't know what had moved him to bring her food two times a day .

"Aww look at him, he doesn't know what 'love' even is. Read up on it, Hugs," chuckled Dameron and patted on Finn's back before they both went back inside.

Rose looked after them and turned her gaze back to Hux when they had disappeared inside. "That was mean."

He blinked. "What was?"

She searched his face for something. "That they said that you don't know what love is. As if you were a droid and not a human being."

He shrugged. "It doesn't matter."

"It matters to me," she picked her hands. "I should have said something."

Hux smiled at her. "There's no way you could've addressed this without getting compromised."

She gulped. "I'm sorry."

"There is nothing to be sorry about." He had known from the start that this was the best he could hope for, hidden affection in the dark of the night. He had made sure of that the moment he had ordered Starkiller to fire. His heart felt heavy. If he had any decency he would tell her to leave, but he was nothing but a selfish bastard.

"I feel like a coward," she said in a low voice. "I should be able to just tell them that I like you. Paige could have done that, she always was the braver of the two of us."

He took a look around and gave her a quick peck on the head. "True courage is to fight the battles worth fighting for." At least that's what he had told himself when he decided to swallow his pride and bent his knee to Ren. "There is no sense in fighting lost causes."

She sighed and scratched Millied behind her ear. "Sometimes there is."