Chapter 13
Naboo
Valin moved around the perimeter of the ballroom discreetly watching as the guests milled around waiting for Queen Violetta to open the festivities with a speech. He had an uneasy feeling about tonight's ball, the closing event to the two week long celebration. He had wished he had evidence that would have convinced the queen to cancel the ball but he didn't, all he and Anakah had was feelings of impending danger.
He walked past a group of Gungans and human Naboo discussing a local election and greeted one of the humans with a nod. Most of the party goers were Naboo politicians and business beings along with their individual guests. Valin and Anakah were still undercover with the queen being the only one knowing who they really were. Valin wondered if his increasing feeling of disquiet was also due to the fact that two days ago the Naboo Technologies rep that met with them had been found dead in his bed. The medical authorities proclaimed that the cause of death was heart failure but Valin wasn't so sure. He had the uneasy feeling that their cover had been somehow breached, just another factor that made tonight even more disconcerting.
He then felt a gentle feather touch from Anakah, turning he found her moving across the massive room from the other side. Valin suddenly had his breath taken away. She had come to the party before him to mingle with the palace security. Her guise as a bodyguard allowed her that privilege; after all, she had to make sure the ball was a secure environment for her ward. He hadn't seen her before she left and he had an odd feeling that she had planed it that way. Now as he gazed at her coming toward him, he could guess why.
She was dressed in a gold shimmersilk gown of Naboo design. It was off the shoulders, had a low bodice and was backless. The long sleeves were fitted to the elbows where they ended in bell-shaped flounces at her hands. The skirt did a similar thing; it was fitted to mid-thigh and then fell to the floor in an incredible flounce of skirts. Her black hair was left down and laid in long curls down her back and over her shoulders. Valin finally found his breath and smiled, she was absolutely beautiful.
He thought about the past few days and realized that he never dreamed he could find such bliss, such contentment again. He loved her plain and simple. He loved her charm, her personality, her beauty, her sensuality, and he craved her touch. They had spent every night since that first unbelievable time locked in each others arms. She had an incredible body and she nearly drove him wild with what she could do with it. He honestly never expected to feel this much desire after those first several years of marriage had passed. He and Tahiri had had a very satisfying marriage and he never even looked at another woman while she was alive, but there was something about Anakah that simply set him on fire.
However, he knew it couldn't last. He knew once they set down again on Ossus, he could never think of her in this way again. It nearly broke his heart just to think about it, but he realized the impracticality of their affair. She deserved someone who would love her forever, not an old man who was more than twice her age and who already lived half his life. Anakah assured him that she felt that one of the reasons she fell in love with him was just that. She loved his maturity and his strength of character that only came from living, she had told him. But she too, had faced the sad fact that in seven days after they first went to Bespin they would be back on Ossus and the magic they had found together would have to end.
"So, did you find anything out?" he grinned and asked after finding his voice again and pushing the depressing thoughts away.
She smiled that disarmingly stunning smile, which had a way of making his heart skip a beat, and replied as she grabbed two glasses of wine off a passing serving tray, "Not really." She handed one of the glasses to him and he looked at it quizzically, he didn't like to drink when he was on a mission and besides she was enough distraction already. But she ignored his look and sipped hers delicately with perfect red lips as she discreetly peered around the room as he felt her open to the Force. "But I don't suspect any of the guards. At least, not the ones I talked to. But I feel something is going to happen tonight. There is a lot of animosity in here."
He gave in to the temptation and took a sip from his glass, then he said, "Me too. I just don't like the fact that there are so many people here. It's hard to determine which feelings of animosity are directed toward the Queen and which are directed toward others."
"Well, we will just have to stay sharp," she grinned at him and added, her tone turning mockingly reproving, "That means, Master Horn, less goggling at me. As well as, being careful with your wine consumption, of course."
Valin mockingly defended himself with, "That is very hard to do, Miss Durron, since you are the most beautiful woman in the room with several admires, I might add, and you are the one who provided me with the wine in the first place. I'd have been content to refrain from all drink."
Her smile turned into a lopsided grin and Valin could see the mischievousness in her eyes, "Touché." But he knew Anakah, despite her levity, was very much in control, she was very professional and took the disturbing sensations from the Force very seriously. And in many ways she was more apt than he when it came to protecting someone. She had made herself a reputation of stopping several assassinations and catching the would-be assassins.
Finally, their attention was drawn to the dais that was set up near the orchestra pit, as the elected queen of Naboo, Violetta, climbed the steps to give her speech. She wore the traditional garb of the Naboo monarch including the white face and makeup markings, ancient symbols that dated back hundreds of years. However, their attention was not undivided as she spoke of unity and what it meant to the Naboo peoples. They scanned the crowd including the mass of people who were gathering above the ballroom floor at the three balconies. Valin sighed, he hated balconies. He instantly knew there was where their trouble would come from if there was any to be had and by the intense gaze Anakah gave the people there, she felt the same way. Without even saying a word to each other they began to move closer to the dais.
The queen continued in her slightly affected voice of authority. To listen to her one would never guess that she was a mere twenty years of age. Valin shook his head; he never understood Naboo's peculiar custom of electing teenagers as their heads of state.
He looked back up to the balcony on the left; he wasn't sure what drew his attention there but he thought he saw something or felt something. Suddenly his hand itched to have his lightsaber in it.
His was elaborately dressed in a tuxedo with a long black cape over his shoulders. There was a reason for his attire. He had a blaster tucked into his belt behind his back along both his and Anakah's lightsabers clipped to that same belt. The long coat and cape hid them from view. He slowly reached around under his coat and the cape and felt for the familiar cold comfort of the metal hilt of his saber.
Anakah must have felt something too because she looked over at him and she opened up to a battle meld with him. However, before she could say anything to him she turned toward the balcony on the right and reached out with her hand toward him. He felt the tug on her saber and he instantly pulled them both free. He let hers go to fly into her awaiting hand as she leaped toward the dais. She had it ignited just in time to deflect the blaster bolt that would have hit the queen up into the vaulted ceiling. Valin then had his saber ignited to take the bolt from the left; his blaster in his other hand.
X
The queen and many of the guests screamed. Anakah hopped onto the dais proper and pushed the young woman down and stood over her. The young queen cowered on the floor with her arms around her elaborate headdress and screamed again as Anakah reached under her skirt and pulled the small blaster she had tucked there. She deflected another shot this time directed at her from the balcony above her. She looked up and seeing the black attired form that didn't seem to be as panicked as the other beings on the balcony, she took aim and shot with a stun blast. She hit the human in the chest but he must have been wearing some sort of protection because it never seemed to faze him. He simply took aim at her again. She deflected that shot and finally realizing they were going to get someone killed she yelled at the two stunned guards who were mesmerized by her as much as they were by the firefight.
"Get her out of here! Now!" When neither of them moved she pulled on the queen's robes and shoved her towards one of the guards. Giving the young man a pointed look she yelled again with enough Force persuasion to get her point across, "Move!"
That seemed to shake him and the other one out of their stupor, because they quickly surrounded the young terrified queen and whisked her away. However, Anakah was only partly aware of this. She deflected another shot and then leapt the distance to land on the balcony near the assassin. He shot at her again as she came down in a crouch but this time she deflected the shot directly back to him. It hit him in the head and he instantly fell dead.
She ignored the terrified screams from the beings trying to get as far away from the dead form on the faux stone floor who had the top of head blown away, and the pain in her ankle from the awkward landing. She felt Valin reach for her and she called back to him that she was okay. Then she looked around to the other sides of the balcony. She saw the other two assassins and immediately headed off toward the one on the left at a dead run. She called to Valin through the battle meld, Get the one on the right!
She made her way to the left sided balcony and felt a sudden spike in the Rodian's fear. He looked at her and began to run toward the balcony exit at the end of it. She used the Force to increase her speed. He flung two careless shots at her over his shoulder, one of which she was able to deflect upward. The other one unfortunately went wild and hit an elderly man who was trying to get his wife away from the chaos. Anakah felt his life wink out and she winced as his wife screeched his name.
She reached the massive wooden doors just as they slammed closed. She hit the control but nothing happened. "Kriff!" she gritted out between her clenched teeth. She then stood back, waved her hand before the door and it immediately slid open. She ran through the opening and stopped as she reached out with the Force to find her quarry. She easily found him and headed off in that direction.
The corridors were long and curved and she felt herself coming closer to Valin. Where are you? She heard in her head as Valin sent his question through the battle meld.
Coming toward you, I think, she sent back. She rounded another corner and saw the Rodian take another turn, she raced after him. She had more experience then most of her female Jedi counterparts in running full throttle in ball gowns and high heels but she found herself wishing just once assassins didn't always attack at formal events. She shunted the shooting pain in her ankle away again as she chased after him getting close enough to let go of a stun shot from her blaster. She aimed for his head and was rewarded when she heard him groan and jerk as the electric volt rendered him unconscious.
She passed him and paused long enough to send another shot into him before running toward Valin and the last assassin. After two more convoluted twists she caught sight of Valin passing by the adjacent hallway. She caught up with him and he spared her a concerned glance. She met his eyes with concern of her own. She was still having a bad feeling about this.
Finally, they chased the human to a dead end and Valin said as the assassin turned toward them, a strange leer to her expression, "It's over. Throw down the blaster and no one further will be hurt."
The dark skinned woman laughed and Anakah, feeling her danger sense spike, simply reached out and grabbed the weapon out of her grasp using the Force. She then said, "Put your hands above your head and face the wall." Still holding her own blaster on the thug she took a step toward her.
Suddenly, Anakah felt a tremendous sense of danger and at the same time felt her self pushed to the floor with Valin's voice coming to her ears sounding like it was from a distance away.
"Anakah!"
Then she heard the explosion. Valin was on top of her and she felt the sudden heat of fire but none of it seemed to get close to her. She felt Valin's presence in the Force through their meld become incredibly strong, much stronger than he normally felt. That was when she realized what he was doing. He was absorbing the blast and diverting it through the window and wall away from them. It seemed to take an eternity for the noise, heat and brightness to dissipate but in realty it was only a few seconds.
She heard screams and other noise of people running toward them but Valin didn't budge. She opened her eyes which she had closed to the flash and was immediately frightened. Valin's weight was pinning her down and he wasn't moving. She gently pushed at his chest and was amazed at how warm he felt. "Valin?" she quietly said. When he didn't move she repeated the name with more concern painting her tone.
She heard a masculine voice say, "I've never seen anything like that. You think they survived that?"
"Look," answered an exited voice, "the woman did at least." Then Anakah felt Valin's form lifted from her and cold fear gripped her.
She sat up and looked up at four palace guards as they rolled Valin's unconscious form over. She looked into her lover's face and instantly moved to kneel beside him. "Valin?" she said as she touched his pale face. "Valin! No!" She gently shook him and franticly looked him over. His suit was burned away in places and his skin beneath was scorched as well. She reached out into the Force and tried to touch him. He was alive but unconscious. She looked up at the anxious guards and nearly screamed, "Get a medic. Now!"
She then turned her attention back to Valin. Reaching to cup his handsome, too peaceful face, she let the first sob go, "Don't you, kriffin' die on me, Valin Horn. I love you too much." Then she laid her head on his chest, finding some comfort in the sound of his heart beating there, although, weaker than she knew it normally did. She knew what he had done. He saved their lives, well, hers for sure. He absorbed the massive thermodetonator blast and released the energy out the window away from them but at that close the energy was too great for Valin to channel without overloading his body. She knew the Horns had that ability but she had never seen it done before.
"Valin," she sobbed again, speaking directly to his heart, "don't leave me. I need you."
X
Aboard Han Solo
Cherith sat at the only indulgence she allowed herself: the vanity that her grandmother, Syal Fel had given her for her sixteenth birthday. She took it with her when she deployed; and although, many Chiss captains were not happy to have something as non-military as a Corellian vanity set on board, they put up with it because she was one of the best pilots they had on board and none of them wanted to feel the sharp tongue of the Admiral's daughter. But she wasn't thinking about the beautifully crafted piece of dark wood furniture as she brushed her long black hair and stared absently in the mirror. She was thinking about the one person who inflamed her spirit, caused her world to tilt and, yet grounded her all at the same time.
She still couldn't believe how much she loved him. How did a Jedi Knight she sometimes could barely stand to be in the same room with steal her heart? Not just any Jedi Knight but the one who enjoyed enraging her as much as she did him?
She thought about their latest argument. It happened just that mid day as they met with Gabe Darklighter to discuss the new replacements for Rogue Squadron. Rogue Squadron was not an easy squad to be chosen for. Many young pilots wished to have the chance to be ranked among the hundred or so pilots who lived and died as famous Rogues. Each candidate had to submit their latest academy test scores and/or actual or simulation kill rates. From that information the three commanders chose pilots to interview and to try out. If there were more candidates than actual positions they would be put on a list to be called when they would be needed. There always seemed to be a need.
The reason for the argument: a very attractive blond, blue-eyed Corellian female whose scores were good but they weren't that impressive. She knew why she bucked against signing her up so intently and it really had nothing to do with the young, fresh academy grad's scores, because, the Rodian she had chosen had scores worse than she did. Fact of the matter was she really didn't like the way the woman looked at Zeth. And it angered her that with his "all knowing Jedi wisdom" he couldn't see through her. Or, what really set Cherith off, the thought that he did see through her and liked it.
They coolly broke for evening meal and Zeth followed her to the officer's mess. Outside in the corridor they had it out. "I can't believe it! You're jealous!"
She turned on him, her breathing hissed as she sucked it in, "Don't be absorb, I am not jealous. She is not right for the Rogues and you know it."
She could have smacked him and the smirk off his face as he leaned against the wall on his shoulder with his arms crossed over his chest. He chuckled, "Yes, you are, Commander Fel."
She had glared at him, she could feel the heat on her face and she knew she was flushed. "Zeth Durron, you are full of your self. I am not jealous. If you really want someone like that. Fine. I can handle it. I am not that desperate that I don't think I could find someone else to share my time with."
And with that she turned and stalked off, not toward the mess but to her quarters. The last person she wanted to eat with was that arrogant Jedi. Ration bars never looked so appealing.
But now as she had time to calm down and time to think about it, she was jealous, very jealous. The last thing she wanted to do was find someone new. However, the worse part was that Zeth was scheduled to leave that night to return to Ossus for the Jedi conclave. She had wanted to apologize for her behavior but when she tried to call him he wasn't answering his commlink and he wasn't in his quarters. She had asked his room mate where she might find him and he told her that last time he saw him he said he was going to the training room. Cherith had made her way to the gymnasium and entered. Zeth often went there to practice his lightsaber with a few remotes that he had brought with him. She looked around and saw the glimpse of a male passing the open door way of the small back room that he used. She headed in but stopped dead when she saw her. The blond was wearing a skimpy workout outfit and was laughing at something the other had said.
Cherith's heart still hurt when she thought of it. Maybe Zeth did want that type of woman after all. She abandoned her idea of confronting him and nearly ran back to her own quarters. She had spent an hour crying after returning, something she hated doing. Chiss did not cry, she reminded herself again as she felt the sting of tears behind her eyes as she thought of the memory. And I am a Chiss.
But that didn't stop the tear that escaped. Damn him to the nine Corellian Hells, she thought as she slammed the brush down and stood up from the delicate cushioned stool. She had readied for bed after the hour of senseless crying. She had showered and donned another frivolous item that she allowed herself, a short lace and silk nightgown. She had suddenly needed to feel feminine and beautiful even if no one was to see but her reflection in the mirror.
She sighed and turned toward the bed. Tomorrow she had work to do. She still had three pilots to choose, training to start on the three already selected and she had another meeting with the judge advocate regarding the findings from the board the other day. She wasn't worried, because her mother had already eased her mind. Sometimes it was a good thing having her parents as her commanding officers; she had to admit to herself. They never would let her suffer too long, whether it is for good or bad.
She was pulling the coverlet down when her door chime beeped. Sighing, she reached for her robe and was tying the belt as she opened the door. She was about to remark about the lateness of the hour and the appropriateness of commlinks when she looked into a handsome sharp featured face with intense brown-flecked green eyes.
"Cherith, I need to talk to you. May I come in?" his voice and eyes seemed to plead with her.
Her surprise turned into a glare and she was ready to shut the door on him when he stepped over the threshold. She turned away from him and snapped as she crossed her arms over her chest, suddenly aware of what she was wearing, "What do you what, Lieutenant Durron?"
He stepped toward her but stopped. His voice held a tone she hadn't ever heard before, "Cherith, I'm sorry. I didn't realize how much this hurt you. It was cruel of me to taunt you today."
She slowly turned and faced him. His eyes met hers and she was shocked by the intensity there. But she didn't let that stop her from spitting out, "Did you have fun with her in the training room?"
Zeth stared at her with a puzzled expression furrowing his brow, "What are you talking about? I wasn't in the training room tonight."
She gasped and looked at him wide eyed, "But Dellik said you were there. I went to find you and saw you with…" She let the sentience trail as she remembered what she actually saw. She only saw someone who she assumed was Zeth but she didn't see him completely.
Zeth smiled then and stepped directly before her. He was so close that she could breathe in his familiar scent and see the gold flecks in his green eyes. She sucked in her breath as he reached up to gently brush her hair from the side of her face. "Cherith, I was intending to go to the gym but when I saw her there I left. I didn't want to be with her. I wanted you. I thought I'd find you in our obs deck but when you weren't there I decided to meditate on what exactly you mean to me." Zeth paused and slipped his other hand around her waist, pulling her closer. He was so close that she felt his hot breath on her lips as he gazed into her eyes. She held her breath as he went on in a voice so full of emotion it caused her heart to flutter, "I love you, Cherith Nuruodo-Fel. I love you more than anything in this Force forsaken universe and I want you just as much." Then he claimed her lips in the most passionately searing kiss he had ever given her.
She wrapped her arms around him and he entwined his hand into her hair, pulling her even closer. She felt his lean body through the thin robe and nightgown and she felt her own desire flare to burn in her center. She ached to have him closer. She moaned and he deepened the kiss even further. Finally, the need for air forced them apart and she moved her hands to rest on his chest. Her fingers idly grazed the fasteners of his flightsuit.
As she slowed her ragged breathing she whispered in a voice that was husky from passion, "I love you also, Zeth. I do not know how you did it but I cannot imagine my life without you in it." She then reclaimed his lips in a kiss that was as searing as the one they just completed. Neither one of them could get enough of the other. Her fingers worked at the fasteners as if they had minds of their own while his caressed her back through the gown.
She heard his own soft moan as she broke the kiss to extend her neck to his hot kisses and nibbles as he found her pulse point. She wanted to feel his touch, she wanted to touch him. She had undone several of the fasteners to his suit and slipped her hands underneath. She heard his hiss as she caressed over thin fabric of his tee-shirt feeling his toned chest beneath.
He pulled at the collar of the robe, pushing it away to reveal more of her soft skin to brand with his kisses. Suddenly he stopped his ministrations and met her eyes, "Cherith, I—I had better…"
She gently laid her fingers on his lips to stop his flow of words. She knew what he was going to say. She didn't want him to go. She smiled and huskily commanded, "No. I want this as much as you." She paused and swallowed, she knew once she said the words there would be no turning back, "Make love to me."
X
Zeth caught his breath at her words, "Chertih, are you sure? I don't want to do this if you only want it to prove to me that you love me." He smiled then to disarm her sudden flicker of hurt, "I know that you love me. I've felt it for a while." He let his smile turn into a grin as he caressed her face again. She was so beautiful and he was drawing on all of his Jedi training to stay calm. He wanted her so badly.
"I am doing this because I want to feel you with me." She reached up and cupped his face, her hand was soft and warm against his roughened cheek. Her eyes were intense as she said, "Zeth, either one of us could die tomorrow. We are warriors and we are at war. I do not want to wait for that 'right time' or that 'perfect moment' because it may never come." Then she smiled and said her voice so full of desire it caused him to shudder at what it promised, "I love you and you love me." She let go of him and stepped back. Zeth watched mesmerized as she untied the belt of her robe and pushed it off her shoulders to pool around her feet. He groaned as he saw the lace and silk pale yellow gown that clung to her every curve. Its low bodice revealing more of her chest and its shortness exposing more of her long slender legs then he had ever seen. He ached to have her. "Love me, Zeth."
He needed no other prompting. He stripped off the flightsuit and his boots amazed at the enthralled expression on her face as she watched him. Then he took her into his arms and gently pushed her back onto her narrow bed. He claimed her lips again and kissed her as his hand slipped up under the lace hem of the gown to caress the curve of her smooth hip. Her hands pushed at the bottom of the standard military grey tee-shirt, pulling it up to expose more of his bare skin.
He broke the kiss and grinned as he shifted to allow her to completely push the shirt up over his head. He helped her remove it and she suddenly blushed as if her boldness embarrassed her, but she couldn't pull her eyes away from his tanned torso. She watched as the corded muscles moved under the taunt smooth skin. Zeth only had a scattering of black hairs over his chest and she gave into the temptation and moved her hands up over his hard abdomen and chest. Her timid gentle caress forced Zeth close his eyes and inhale sharply.
He opened his eyes and looked down at the vision lying on the stark white bedding. Her black hair was splayed over the pillow and the low light from the dim lamp on the vanity played over the paleness of her skin. He noticed the deep blush on her cheeks and smiled. "Sweet Force, Cherith, you are driving me crazy," he whispered, his passion and desire deepening his voice.
He suddenly felt her apprehension as she encircled his neck and entangled her long fingers into his curly hair, pulling him down to her again. His green eyes met her passion darkened blue and he couldn't help but feel her hesitation. Finally, he realized, "Cherith?" he softly asked, "you've never…"
She closed her eyes and shook her head. Then she met his gaze again, "No, it isn't the Chiss way. It's not that sex is seen as holy or unnatural, it's just—"
He smiled and finished, "It would be giving into ones passions to have it outside of marriage."
She nodded again and swallowed. Zeth suddenly was fearful that he had made a mistake. But her words stopped him from moving away from her, "Zeth, I may not be experienced but I know that I want you. I want you, and only you, to take me to edge of insanity. I want you to show me what being human is really all about."
He stared at her and then leaned over her again and kissed her passionately. He pushed up the gown exposing her to his exploring fingers. As his mouth kissed, licked and nibbled their way from her lips down her slender neck to the exposed tops of her firm round breasts, his fingers found their way to her womanhood. She moaned and arched her back as he gently ran his forefinger over the superfine hair of her pubis. The feel of it intrigued him and he pulled away to look at her.
She shifted to sit up wondering what he was doing; he looked back at her face and smiled. "I think its time to get rid of this, Commander. You are beautiful in it but I want to see the rest of you."
She blushed, but she didn't advert her gaze and she said just as seductively, "Emmm—Lieutenant, I could say the same for these." She flicked her fingers over the fabric of his shorts. "Fair is fair. If I remove my nightgown I'll be nude." Her sultry tone and the thought of seeing all of her caused a shudder to move through Zeth.
He grinned and nodded as he moved to kneel between her legs. "You have a deal. These are getting rather restrictive anyway." Then he reached down and pushed the tight shorts off his hips. He watched her face as an even deeper rosy hue colored her cheeks as she looked upon his hard manhood. She quickly drew her eyes to his and swallowed. Her expression told him everything and he snickered as he leaned over and kissed her nose. "Don't look so shocked, Commander."
She regained some of her composure and countered, "I just never expected it to be so—so—"
Laughing, Zeth nuzzled her neck and whispered in her ear, "Big?" He pulled back to see the glare she gave him which was all the answer that he needed and went on to say, "You had better watch it, Commander, you will make my already over-sized ego even bigger."
He wondered if she got his double meaning, but she responded in the manner he expected, "I honestly don't see how that is possible, Jedi. You already are too arrogant for your own, and everyone else's, good."
He kissed her again, getting them back on track of what they both wanted. She moaned and he pulled the gown up. She shifted, allowing it to come away from her freely and they broke the kiss long enough for him to pull it over her head. Then she laid back down and he over top of her. Zeth moved his mouth down to her breasts and pulled away to look at them. He cupped each of the soft pale blue mounds in a hand and marveled at how well they seemed to fit in his palms. He then flicked his thumbs over the slightly hardened pebble of her dusky nipples, inciting a sharp hissing moan from Cherith as she arched her back up to him. He smiled and leaned over to take one of the nipples into his mouth, nibbling and gently sucking on the hardness.
Her nails bit into his shoulders where she was grasping him. "Zeth—" she moaned again as he continued in his ravishing of her breasts.
He then moved a fiery trail of kisses down her flat toned belly, stopping to lick the indentation of her navel. Then he moved further down until he brushed the soft fuzz of her pubic area. Still between her legs, he kneeled up again and looked upon her in her naked glory. He groaned at the sight of her pale skin in the dim light. He caressed the fine soft straight hair of her womanhood and then gently separated the folds hidden within. Looking up at her, he found her eyes closed and smiled at the sight of her moaning his name and raggedly breathing. Zeth wasn't as overly experienced as he knew Bail or Marko was in sex; however, he wasn't an innocent either. He just never found much pleasure in meaningless lust. But he knew he would never see a more enchanting sight as Cherith and as he felt her desire and love, it drove his nearly to the brink.
He then looked back down at her hidden treasures. He brushed his finger over the slick nub of her being and she called out, "Ahh—Zeth." He leaned over and replaced his finger with his tongue. He watched for her response and grinned against her folds as her eyes flew open and met his. "Zeth?"
Hehuskily said, "It's okay. Relax and enjoy it. I wanted to taste you." Then he continued in his feasting. She tasted as sweet as honey and he knew he'd never get his fill. She finally relaxed and let herself feel the pleasure he knew he was giving to her. As he added a finger into her opening, he increased the gentle pressure on her nub by sucking on it. She groaned and began to thrash from side to side, while her hands moved into his hair. She was close and he knew it. Adding another finger to her opening, he reached up and found her breast with his other hand. As he caressed the sensitive peek, it was enough to send her over the edge.
He felt her convulse around his fingers and mouth while she nearly screamed his name. He stayed with her until the end of her trembling and then he moved to lay over her. She met his gaze and he kissed her breathless. He was readying himself to enter her when he felt another sudden flicker of apprehension. He smiled reassuringly as he whispered in her ear, "Do you trust me?"
He was rewarded with a shudder and she grasped his shoulders tighter as she rasped back into his ear, "With my life."
With that he entered her as tenderly as he could. He claimed her lips again and willed himself to stay still within her as her moment of pain was replaced with pleasure. When she began to move her hips against his and she wrapped her legs around him, he then began to slowly thrust within her.
They soared to the edge of the galaxy on the tide of sweet burning passion. She found her release first and as she shuddered beneath him, her nails bit into his shoulders where she clung to him. She called out his name followed by something he couldn't understand and he assumed it was Cheunh, but he didn't care. He was lost in his own ecstasy as his desire and passion exploded, unable to hold back any longer. He buried his face in the warm, sweet smelling softness of her graceful neck and groaned her name.
After a moment of catching their breaths and regaining their sanity, he moved to lie beside her but continued to lean over her on his elbow, watching her face and gazing into her passion darkened blue-violet eyes. Finally, he reached up and brushed a lock of her soft black hair off her forehead. He smiled and said in a soft voice, "I was wrong."
Her expression became worried, but before she could question his meaning he went on as he traced his fingers over the high ridge of her rose colored cheek, "I often wondered if you were as beautiful flushed in the afterglow of passion as you are when you're enraged." His smile became a grin as her blush became darker and her eyes narrowed, "But I was wrong. You are even more beautiful. I didn't think that was possible."
She gasped and breathed, "Zeth—" but her words were silenced when he captured her lips in a tender kiss. Zeth knew he had found the woman he'd spend the rest of his life with. She was everything he could have ever dreamed of and much, much more.
X
Cherith awakened to find she was alone. She looked around and wondered if it had been all a wonderful dream. She had never experienced anything like that before in her life. Zeth had taken her to a place she had never been before and she wondered if anyone else ever could take her there again. Then her eyes fell upon a datapad lying on the cushion of the stool of her vanity.
She slowly got out of bed, instantly aware of the unusual aches that protested her movement. She smiled, and blushed as she remembered how she got those aches. She reached the vanity and picked up the pad and turned it on.
My Dearest Cherith,
Please be safe and know that you are always first in my heart and my thoughts. I love you and always will.
Zeth
Cherith reread the short note over again and sniffed at the sudden emotion she felt as it stung her eyes. But she felt no shame in the tear that fell. "You stay safe, my arrogant Jedi," she whispered to the air, somehow knowing that he would hear her, "I love you." Then looking at the words again she smiled and hit the save button.
--------------------------------
All reviews are welcome...
Thanks for reading...