Excerpt from Across the Stars: Chapter Two

Ben got to his feet and ignited his saber as Rey backed off a few paces and lit up her own. They circled each other, and Ben flipped his lightsaber with a lazy flick of his wrist, warming up his joints. He swung a slow, predictable blow and Rey deflected it easily, then jabbed at his legs. He leapt out of the way. Rey was waiting where he landed. Their blades clashed through the forest, with no real desire to meet their targets.

Rey moved toward him, and Ben took up a defensive stance, both hands holding his saber close enough to his body. Rey's swing was wide and Ben's blade followed her feign as she dodged the way she had come, deactivating her lightsaber. She ducked and popped up inside the circle of Ben's arms as he was regaining his footing, grasping the hilt of his blade. In his surprise, he let her have it. Then somehow he was on the forest floor and Rey was straddling his chest, her saber crossed with his own over his throat.

"I yield." He could feel her breath on his face.

"Good fight," she said, deactivating both blades and clipping Ben's back on his belt for him.

"You were already warmed up," he grumbled.

"Someone's a sore loser," Rey responded, planting a quick kiss on his forehead.

"That's it." Ben wrapped an arm around her waist and flipped himself over, pinning her under him. She struggled half-heartedly.

"You can't make up for lack of skill with sheer size, Ben," she teased.

"Watch me," he growled, pressing her shoulder to the ground as she squirmed. He liked this side of her he was just getting to know, confident and teasing. Somehow, it was her insults that betrayed her feelings.

Rey gave up her struggle and placed her arms around her neck, pulling his head toward her. Oh yes, this was what Ben had wanted to do since he started doodling her in the dirt.

"Some days, I can't believe that you're real," he whispered, his voice husky.

"Well you'd better believe it," Rey shot back, "otherwise thin air just kicked your ass."

Ben stopped and made a face at her. "Wouldn't be the first time."

"Oh, just shut up and kiss me already." Ben didn't need to be told twice. His lips found hers instantly. Rey's arms snaked around him, pulling him down to her.

Ben pulled away to kiss the place where her jaw met her neck. Her skin was salty from sweat worked up while they sparred.

"Mmm." Rey stretched her neck, exposing more of her tender throat to him. When Ben reached her collarbone, he pulled back, hovering over her.

"Ben? You alright?"

"Yeah," he said, smirking slightly at her. "I just think we should take this back to the Falcon."

"Right."

He stood up quickly, scooping her off the ground before she had a chance to get to her feet and planting a light kiss on her cheek as he carried her up the ramp.

Onboard the ship, the comm was blinking urgently.

"Auugh," Rey groaned, throwing her head back and going limp with frustration in Ben's arms. He struggled to keep her flexible body from slipping.

"We don't have to answer it."

"No," Rey sighed, swinging her legs out of Ben's grasp and jumping to the floor, "it's probably—it's definitely the Resistance. And when they need me they need me."

Ben bit back an I need you and followed her to the comm. Rey tapped it and a small holographic Rose appeared.

"Rey! Oh, thank goodness, I've been trying to reach you for a while now. Wait—are you okay? Your hair's a mess and you're covered in leaves."

"We just got in from sparring." Rey reached up to pluck some leaves from her hair and unbent her collar, flipping it over the side of her neck.

Poe elbowed his way into the projection. "Oh," he said, eyeing Ben, who had also collected his fair share of leaves, "is that what they're calling it these days?"

"Shut up, Poe." Rey frowned. "What's going on, Rose?"

"Right. About six hours ago…Someone put a massive bounty on both your heads."

"What?!" Ben roared. He could understand a bounty on himself. Frizz, he probably deserved it. But Rey?

"Hold up, I'm sending you the info," Rose said.

The holo projection flattened into a screen, displaying crude drawings of Ben and Rey. The images were labeled with "Wanted: Kylo Ren and his Dark consort, Sith Empress Palpatine. 18,000,000 credits."

Author's Note: So here's a snippet of what's to come. Go check out chapter one of Across the Stars! The rest of chapter two will also be up soon! I might have to update slightly less often than I did with Binary Sunrise because of finals and because I'm trying to write longer chapters, but I figured two weeks was more than long enough to make you wait.