It was quiet in the room. Tessa knew the thoughts of both men. They both wanted her, for her power and for her body. She closed her eyes and took a couple of deep breaths.
"I am sorry, Tessa," Hux whispered. "This is my fault."
"No, Hux," Tessa softly said as she opened her eyes. She turned to face him, and added,
"It is my fault." The tears fell down her face. "I was not strong enough to stop him."
"No, don't say that! You didn't do anything wrong!"
"For once, I agree with Hux," Kylo uttered, placing his hand on Tessa's shoulder.
"I hate this!" Tessa moaned to herself. "How did I get caught in the middle of a power struggle between these two men?"
Taking a deep breath, Tessa placed her hand on Hux's cheek and said,
"I already have blood on my hands. I will not have yours on mine."
"No!" Hux pleaded with her. "Don't do it!" Tessa kissed him on the forehead. Kylo stood to his feet. She turned around and looked up to him, his gaze intense. She bowed her head and softly whispered,
"I submit myself to you, Supreme Leader."
She did not see it, but Ren had the biggest smile on his face when she said that. He extended his hand to her.
"Rise, my apprentice," he told her. She took his hand and he helped her to her feet. Hux bowed his head in shame. He knew what she did was to spare his life, and he could not be angry at her for that. But Hux knew that he had lost Tessa. She was now Ren's prisoner.
As Kylo walked over to the intercom, Tessa turned to face Hux. The Force Hold was released off of him, and she helped him stand to his feet.
"I'm sorry," she barely uttered, gazing into his blue eyes.
"You have nothing to be sorry about, my dear," Hux replied, a small smile on his face. "We will still see each other."
"But it won't be the same," Tessa thought to herself. Kylo approached both of them.
"The meeting has been rescheduled to 0900 hours tomorrow," Kylo told Hux. As Tessa turned to face Ren, she saw the handcuffs she had on earlier float into his hand.
"Give me your hands," he gently instructed her. He didn't want to handcuff her, but Kylo was concerned that she may try to escape. She offered her hands, and he put them on her. Then he linked his arm into hers.
"Goodnight, General," Kylo said with a smirk to Hux, before he escorted Tessa out of the room. As they headed towards his quarters, Ren knew Tessa's thought.
"He will be fine, Tessa. And so will you," he tried to reassure her. But Tessa was not sure. She was not sure about anything anymore.
They entered Kylo's private quarters. It was much more spacious than Hux's. After he closed the door, he waved his hand and the handcuffs fell off of Tessa. She turned and started to walk away from him.
"Before you lock yourself in the bathroom, please have some," Kylo told her. He pointed to his kitchen table. Tessa's eyes bulged in disbelief. On the table was a cake. Her birthday cake.
"Come," he whispered, as he led her to the table. He pulled out the chair for Tessa, and slid her in when she sat down. He sat across from her. As he cut the cake, Ren said,
"I know you are not happy right now. But one day, I hope you will be." He put the cake on a plate and slid it to her.
"Go ahead, eat it. It's chocolate. I heard most women like chocolate," he added. Tessa looked at the cake, but refused to eat it. Kylo tilted his head in curiosity. She wanted a cake for her birthday, and now, she wouldn't eat it! Then he realized why.
He cut a piece for himself, grabbed a fork and took a bite. Tessa just stared at him.
"It's not poisonous. Go ahead, have your birthday cake," he told her, a slight smile on his face. He was glad when she grabbed a fork and ate the piece of cake.
"Would you like another slice?" Kylo asked, already knowing her answer. Tessa raised her eyebrow at him, and he chuckled.
"Yes," she thought to herself, thinking it was silly of him to ask the question. He gave her another piece.
"Our communication does not always have to be non-verbal," Ren explained. "Besides, I like hearing your voice. It's pleasant."
When Tessa heard this, she blushed. Trying to not feel embarrassed, she asked Kylo,
"Why did you cancel the meeting?"
He gazed straight at her and replied,
"Because I wanted to spend time with you." Tessa blushed again. "That, and I wanted to avoid being bored."
"So I am a distraction..."
"Yes. A very lovely distraction."
Ren took their plates to the kitchen sink. He would wash them before going to bed tonight. But for now, he meant what he said to Tessa, about spending time with his new apprentice.