"I really, really don't like this, Luke;" said Mara for the sixth time.
They were surrounded by racers and racing groupies waiting for Wedge and whoever else was racing tonight to finish their car checks and line up. Luke put an arm around her and said, "I know. I have a really bad feeling about this whole thing. There is no way that a race should happen so soon after the last one. It's been less than a month since that one and I was expecting it to be closer to two months between them. I just hope Wedge's car can get him across the line quickly so that we can get out of here."
His own car was disguised from it's regular look. Magnetic strips the same color as his car's paint were placed over the cars painted on the rear bumper and over the racing stripes as well. The license plates were changed out for far more normal looking ones than the vanity plates the read 'RGUE LDR'. In short, it looked just like a regular car. Everything seemed to be going smoothly - until eight black SUVs with tinted windows pulled up and men in suits stepped out. Luke swore and immediately said in a low voice to the Rogues, "Get out of here. NOW."
He turned and walked quickly over to Wedge. Wedge was already hurrying to the drivers seat when Luke said, "We need to go, Wedge."
Wedge nodded, a look of frustration on his face. "I take it that means we're retiring tonight?"
Luke nodded. The majority of the Rogues drove away at a leisurely pace, avoiding the black SUVs. However, when Wedge tried to, three of the them took off after him. Luke cursed and ran back to his car. Han and Leia and Mara were standing there and Luke said, "Mara, I need you to go with Han and Leia. You two get her back to campus. I need to help Wedge."
As he spoke, he was pulling the magnet strips off his car, showing its true colors. Mara grabbed his arm. "I'm coming with you, Luke."
Luke's expression was one of pleading as he said, "Please, Mara, please go with them. I can't put you in danger like this. Those guys have no qualms about killing or mistreating anybody. I need to know that you're safe."
Tears were beginning to show in Mara's eyes. She squeezed them shut and nodded. Luke kissed her forehead and then ducked into his car, firing the engine. Mara took a step back and Luke tore out of there, heading the direction that he knew Wedge would take. They had several pre-determined routes that they would take and the route taken could be determined by which direction and which street was taken when the pursuit began. It was only a matter of minutes before Luke found the three SUV's had Wedge cornered. He pulled up between the men getting out of the SUV's and Wedge and rolled down his driver's side window. "Hey;" he called brazenly, even though his legs were wobbly.
One of them said, "Hey that's him! That's that Skywalker kid who keeps winning all the races!"
"That's right;" called Luke. "If you want me, come and get me."
As soon as he saw that several had ran back into their SUV's, he tore off at top speed. Wedge did the same thing at the same time, both heading in opposite directions. Luke knew that Wedge could loose one SUV with ease and he would have only a little more trouble with two. He zipped down the road, through alley ways, into and back out of parking garages until he found a hotel with a full parking lot. Fast as he could, he pulled out of sight of the SUV's and parked between two other cars. Quickly, he ducked out of his car and put the strips back on before going into his trunk and changing his license plates out for another two. Lastly, he added a couple bumper sticker magnets as well which he slapped on. He had to stop and duck behind a delivery van when one of the black SUV's came by. It slowed and seemed to stop by his car but then moved on after only a moment. Luke sighed with relief before finishing his work, getting back into his car and pulling onto the street at a leisurely pace. When as soon as he made it to the exit ramp getting onto the highway, he called Wedge. When Wedge answered, Luke sighed with relief. "Wedge, you made it out okay?"
"I did, Luke. Thanks for the save."
Luke chuckled. "No problem, buddy. I take it you're heading back to campus. When you get back, I suggest you double and triple check all your social media privacy settings. I know I am."
"Will do. Thanks again, Luke. You'd better call Mara."
Luke nodded and they both hung up. Immediately, Luke did as Wedge suggested. The phone didn't even make it through a full ring before she answered, her voice low, barely daring to be hopeful. "Luke?"
Luke smiled, "It's me, Mara. I'm on my way back and got off clean."
"Thank God!" she said. "When you get back here, I am going to KICK YOUR ASS! Don't you EVER scare me like that again, EVER, do you hear me, Luke Skywalker? Dammit, I am so messed up right now that I don't know whether to be upset or happy or what."
Her voice was choking with relieved tears. "I know, Babe. I know;" said Luke soothingly. "And I'll be so happy to be back that I won't even complain about it or try to stop you."
"Are you ever racing again?" she asked, her voice almost challenging.
Luke chuckled and said, "Nope. I'm officially retired from this moment forward."
"Good." she said.
They stayed on the phone until he pulled into Han's house parking lot. As soon as his car door was shut, the door to the house was opened and in the pool of light was briefly illuminated red-gold hair and pale skin. And then she was in his arms, holding him so tightly that he couldn't breath but he didn't care. He didn't need to breath. Then, just like that, she was angry again. She let go and began thudding her hands against his chest and growling at him. "Never, ever again. Do you hear me? You scared me to death!"
Luke let her get her frustration out before pulling her into a mind melting, sense stealing kiss. She gave low moan and leaned into the kiss. When they separated, she whispered. "Your place or mine?"
Luke looked a little confused. "It's past midnight. Aren't you afraid of getting caught?"
She shook her head and kissed him again with her own mind numbing kiss. "Your place or mine?"
Luke chuckled but before he could answer, Han and Leia and Wedge and several others piled out of the house. They all hugged Luke and slapped him on the back and it was clear to everyone that Mara was growing even more impatient. Wedge whispered in his ear, "I'm staying with Iella tonight, Luke."
Luke nodded and took Mara's hand, yawning into his free one for effect. "I'm sorry, you guys, but I need to go to bed. I'm exhausted."
As soon as the dorm room door shut behind them, Mara had Luke pressed against it, kissing him heatedly, her entire body pressed against his. After a moment, she backed away and grabbed the bottom of her sweater dress. She had it lifted above her waist when Luke said, "Woah, now. Wait a second, Mara. Are you sure this is what you want? Are you sure you're ready?"
Mara completed her movement and said earnestly, "Yes, Luke, I'm sure that I want this. I want YOU. It took a freakin' mob boss chasing you for me to figure it out, but I want you and I care very much about you."
Luke hesitated and Mara flung herself at him, kissing him again. Between kisses, she murmured, "Please, Luke. Please."
His hands on her smooth, warm skin, Luke returned the kisses. She smelled and tasted so good and he knew that he was as ready as she was. They separated and he smiled down at her. "My offer still stands from earlier?"
Mara cocked and eyebrow. "What offer?"
Luke ran a ringer along one of the shoulder straps of her pink bra which was still hidden beneath a white, thin strapped tank top. Mara smiled and turned around, lifting her tank top just enough. Luke took a deep breath, hardly believing that this was finally happening.
Mara woke the next morning and immediately, a foolish grin crossed her face. She shifted slightly and snuggled even closer to Luke, reveling in the feeling of his body against hers without the regular barrier of clothing between them. It was amazing. Her head lay against his chest and she contentedly listened to his heart beating the steady rhythm of slumber. After awhile and after she had drifted in and out of consciousness several more times, Luke stirred and his breathing pattern changed as well. Mara looked up into his drowsy blue eyes. They widened, narrowed and then widened again comically, causing her to giggle. "Morning, Sleepy Head."
Luke put a hand to his mouth and yawned before replying, "Good morning, yourself."
He was blushing and looked a little shy which Mara thought was absolutely adorable. She climbed up his body slightly so she could reach his lips with hers and she kissed him. "Sleep okay?" he asked.
Mara 'mmhmmm'ed' as she kissed him again. They both wanted to ask the same question - how was it? However, neither of them had the courage to ask for it first. Luke solved the problem by saying, "Have I ever told you that you're magnificent, Mara?"
She blushed and ducked her head. "Um... yes;" she said, her face bright red with embarrassment.
"Well I had no clue what I was talking about until last night."
Mara blushed deeper and looked back up at him. "You were pretty impressive yourself. I think I just found my new favorite thing to do."
Luke blushed and averted his eyes. Mara giggled again and used a hand to pull his face back towards her, kissing him again.
They didn't get out of bed until noon. This time, when anyone saw them walking by, they could tell something fundamental had changed in their relationship and it wasn't long before rumors began to spread. During lunch one day, Talon Karrde sat down across from Luke and Mara and said, "I'm dreadfully curious, you know. It's obvious to everyone that something is going on between you two but there is no real evidence of anything - just a very general sense picked up by the observant."
Mara glared balefully at him. To Luke's surprise, she shrugged and said, "It's simple, really. We had sex. There. Big mystery solved."
Talon was a little taken aback. "That's it? The first time you two had sex changed you both that much?"
Mara shrugged. "I guess so. If there is such a change, that must have had something to do with it. Is there anything else you wanted?"
Talon looked at Luke and cocked an eye. "I heard that you aren't racing anymore. That's a pity. I used to make quite a lot of money off of you. Can I interest you in some other less than legal yet less dangerous pass times that will also make you some nice cash on the side?"
Luke chuckled. "Information always costs something with you, Talon. Thanks, but I think I'll pass."
"It would be free, courtesy of the money I made off of you. Look, I have it all right here. If you don't want it, smash the thumb drive and toss it in a trash can. If you want in, just show up to one of the events."
Talon stood, leaving a small, red memory stick on the table. Luke looked at it like it was a venomous spider before scooping it up. Mara gave him a hard look. "It can't hurt to just look, Babe;" he mentioned before kissing her just above her right ear. She humphed but it didn't have a lot of force. She was still way too happy with life to care.
Updated 10/15/2018
