{A/N this is the smutty part. it's okay to skip this chapter because it's ONLY the love scene, no big plot developments}

That evening, Poe was released from the medbay, cleared by Dr. Kalonia herself. His only instructions were to take it easy, under threat of demotion by the general.

Ellra, carrying the leather jacket over one arm, escorted Poe to his room in comfortable silence. BB-8 was running an errand for C-3P0, so Poe would be all alone that night and there was no way Ellra was letting that happen.

She helped Poe to the bed, taking care not to brush against his injury. He grunted softly as he settled in. She propped the pillows against the wall so he could sit up a little.

The nurses had thrown away his damaged shirt and given him a simple white t-shirt to put on when he left; the bandages shown underneath the thin material. He still wore his dirty pants and boots from the previous day's mission.

"Is it okay if I take these off for you?" Ellra asked Poe, gesturing to his pants and boots.

He nodded silently, angling his legs to make it easier on her. Bending at the waist would be excruciating for him right now, and Ellra knew this.

She tugged the heavy boots off and tossed them on the floor, moving to unbuckle the pants. This was different from the time she undressed him while he mourned. There was a nervous energy in the air she couldn't identify, but she didn't mind it, and she believed Poe didn't either.

"Wait, let me," said Poe, undoing his belt. "I'm not completely helpless."

"You could have fooled me," said Ellra, sticking her tongue out.

"Ugh, another bad habit you picked up from Ilya," he said, laughing, gently flicking her tongue with the tip of his finger.

She giggled, tugging on the legs of Poe's pants.

"Tell me if this hurts, okay?"

When Poe was in just the t-shirt and his boxers, Ellra kicked off her boots and climbed up on the bed beside him, gently stroking his hair.

"Are you comfy?" she asked.

"Couldn't be comfier," he said with a goofy smile.

"Is it okay if I stay with you tonight?" asked Ellra.

Poe was silent for a long moment before he said, "I can't think of anything I want more."

The pair had slept in one another's arms a few times in the past, usually when one was unusually upset or tired. But Ellra knew this was different. She was glad it was different. She was ready to be with Poe.

She lay on his left side so as not to aggravate the injury and wrapped her arms around his neck, covering his face with sweet little kisses.

Poe nuzzled into Ellra's embrace, kissing every part of her he could: her shoulder, her cheek, her lips, her neck.

"I love you, Poe," she said softly, looking into his eyes.

He swallowed and smiled. "I love you like I love the sunlight." After a pause, he added, "You know I can't do anything right now."

"You don't have to do anything. I've got this, love," said Ellra, shifting her weight so she straddled Poe's lap. "I won't hurt you."

"I know you won't."

It was permission. Poe's tone and the expression on his face said that it was alright.

Ellra took his face in both hands and kissed him, harder than she had before. He didn't hesitate; he kissed her just as fervently.

"Ow," Poe suddenly said against her mouth.

"What did I do?"

"Stole my heart," said Poe, clutching his chest. "It hurts."

"You…"

Ellra dragged her hands down Poe's chest, gently raking her nails over the fabric of his shirt, earning a soft groan from him.

She hadn't been this nervous since she first arrived on D'Qar. Her heartbeat was thudding loudly in her ears and she wondered if Poe could hear it as clearly.

If he did, he must not have cared because she could feel him stir against her thigh. Just the thought of turning him on made her breath hitch in her chest.

"Poe," Ellra whispered, nuzzling his ear, "I want you."

"I want you too," croaked Poe, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her closer to him. "I want to take you and fly with you across the galaxy."

"You will, love," she said, "but first, I'm taking you."

"Stars," breathed Poe. "Hearing you talk like that…"

Ellra shifted, putting her weight on Poe's thighs. She slid her hands up under his shirt, gently, lovingly caressing his skin, avoiding the bandage over his right ribcage.

In retaliation, Poe hitched up her tunic in the back, rubbing over her soft skin, making her bite back a whimper. He pulled it up enough that Ellra got the hint and shimmied out of her top,

She bit her lip, shifting her weight and grinding against Poe's hips. He sighed, reaching up to cup her bare breasts with his hands. They fit so perfectly, and Poe's hands were so warm, Ellra immediately felt like they had already done this a million times, that she had always been with Poe.

She smiled, laying her hands over his. The smile he gave her back said that he felt the exact same way she did in that moment.

"Wherever I go in the galaxy, the sun will always shine on me as long as you keep smiling at me, Ell," said Poe, laying one hand against her neck.

That felt like a lightning bolt through her chest. Poe was a little awkward sometimes, but now and then, he would string together words so beautiful that it hurt to hear them.

Ellra moved so that she could slip out of her bottoms, returning to her comfortable perch in Poe's lap. He gently gripped her hips and encouraged her to grind against him again.

"Impatient, Poe?" asked Ellra, grinning, moving her hips with his hands.

"I can't help it. I want you so bad," he croaked, laying back on the pillows and holding her tightly.

"I can tell," she whispered, reaching between them to caress him through his shorts.

"Oh, please, Ell," sighed Poe, lolling his head back on the pillow. "Please."

"Please what, my love?" she whispered, barely audible.

"Ugh, you're torturing me, and I'm injured!" said Poe, unable to hide his grin.

Ellra laughed, leaning down to kiss him. "Please what?" she purred in his ear.

"I want to be inside you."

Actually hearing it out loud snapped something inside Ellra that had been holding her back. She felt free now to do things she wasn't sure she could before.

She pulled him free of his shorts, gently stroking his hardness with calloused, loving fingers. The sounds Poe made caused Ellra to shiver; she had never heard anything so sensual.

Heart pounding like a drum, Ellra took him inside her. They both gasped at the warmth, the wetness, the closeness. They were so close.

"Poe," she sighed, "I can feel you."

"I feel you too, Sunshine."

"No, I mean… I don't quite know how to say it. Or ida ka te wa? I feel you. In my brain and in my soul. I feel us together. Isha ka washa no ka."

Poe closed his eyes and gripped Ellra's hips.

"I… I feel you too, Ell," he said softly. "I get it. I feel you here with me. In me, around me. Are you doing this?"

"It's not me," she said. "It's something bigger than me, bigger than us, pulling us together. It's beautiful."

"Yes it is," said Poe, reaching up to cup Ellra's face.

She smiled. She had never felt so much love at once. This was love, in its purest sense.

She moved.

Gently, of course. She wouldn't hurt Poe.

"Oh, Ell…" he whispered. "You feel so good."

As Ellra moved her hips over Poe, slowly, gently, feeling him deep inside her, the pair felt silent, simply watching each other's faces. Their hands moved over one another's hips and arms and chests, or clasped together. Then soft sounds of pleasure filled the cool, quiet room.

"Poe, you're so perfect," whimpered Ellra, her rhythm stuttering as she approached her climax.

"That's it, sweetheart. Come on, come for me," cooed Poe, running his fingers through her curls. "Come on…"

"Oh, Poe. It's good. Too good, love," she whispered, biting her lip. "Will you come too?"

"Not 'til you do, Sunshine. Come on."

With Poe's loving encouragement, Ellra climbed higher and higher, holding his hand tightly. She felt Poe following her into the sky, watching her fly above him.

"Please come, Ell," said Poe.

"I…"

She was close, so close.

Poe bucked his hips up into her once and the sky shattered.

Ellra cried out, calling Poe's name. She saw him meet her in space, smiling as he called to her.

Then suddenly they were in Poe's room, air conditioner chilling their sweaty skin, gazing at each other. They smiled. There were no words.

Careful of his wound, Ellra lay on his left side, wrapping her arms around him. Poe did the same, softly stroking her back. He pulled the blanket up over her bare shoulders, enveloping them both in softness and warmth.

In perfect peace, her heart full of love and contentment, Ellra fell asleep in Poe's arms.