Chapter Seventeen:

Mara breathed a sigh of relief when she and Luke were finally able to escape the reception. He led her to the suite at the pinnacle of the building reserved for the bride and groom: a perk for renting the reception hall below.

"I thought it would never end." Mara said with a tired sigh. "I'm glad to finally have some breathing room."

Mara felt her heart beat faster the higher they climbed, and her nerves began to tingle with anxiety. She had been happily awaiting the end of this day, grateful that she had reserved herself for this special occasion. But now that the time was here, Mara couldn't quite keep calm.

Her hands fidgeted of their own accord, betraying her state of mind.

"Hey, are you okay?" Luke asked softly.

Mara nodded, and they paused outside their door. Her heart thumped an extra loud beat at the sight. Her blood began to race, and she clenched sweaty palms.

Luke placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Mara?"

She turned to him, and nodded at the door wordlessly. He opened it, and she entered, Luke following and locking the door. Now that they had total privacy, Mara sat on the couch.

"I'm fine, Luke." She said quietly, but her voice quavered.

Luke sat beside her, gazing at Mara with concern. "We don't have to rush anything, if you don't feel ready."

She offered an ardent smile. "Only you would be so understanding." Mara whispered, leaning into him. "I have been looking forward to this for so long and now that it's finally here, I… I'm just nervous."

He touched her in the Force, assuring her wordlessly that he wasn't judging her in the slightest. Mara returned the gesture with a wave of determination, and then a pressing need arose to the front of her mind.

"Um, Luke?"

"Yes?"

"This is rather embarrassing, but… I haven't been able to use the refresher at all tonight because of this confounded thing." Mara indicated her dress. "Would you help me please?"

Luke chuckled lightly, but he stood, helping her off the couch. "What do you want me to do?"

"Well," Mara bit her lip, thinking.

It'll be a nightmare to try getting this gown off in a hurry…

"Would you get the zipper, please, I can't reach it." Mara decided at last.

Luke did as requested, and she slipped into the refresher, grabbing her duffel as she did so.

Mara slipped out of her gown, hung it up, and gratefully relieved her bladder. She had not realized how much pressure she'd been carrying until she felt lighter. Mara breathed a sigh of relief, and washed up. She scrubbed the makeup off, rinsed with warm water, and then brushed her teeth. Her hands were shaking; Mara spat out her mouthful of paste, rinsed, and sank to the floor.

She put her head in her hands, trying to sooth her mind.

This is going to be a wonderful night. She assured herself. So stop acting like a coward, and go spend time with your husband.

Mara breathed deeply, used a relaxation technique, and then grabbed her duffel. Still sitting on the floor, Mara withdrew her previously selected white garment. Mara remembered seeing herself in it, and a grin slowly played across her face.

She stood, feeling much more at ease, and changed into her lingerie. She stretched out her last nervous tingles, and brushed her hair, letting it down. It cascaded down her back and over her shoulders like a reddish-gold waterfall. Mara repacked her duffel, shoved it into a corner, and studied her image in the mirror.

Happy with what she saw, Mara stepped out of the refresher. The thick carpet felt good between her bare toes, and she took a moment to luxuriate in the freedom from her shoes. She didn't see Luke anywhere.

Stretching out with the Force, she touched his calm presence, deep in the suite's main sitting area. She smiled, and walked to the one-way window he stood before, watching the cityscape on the outside. She paused at the sight before her.

Luke had removed his formal suit, and now wore nothing but a pair of slacks and his tank-top style undershirt. Mara took her time studying his fit form; from his well-muscled arms and strong legs to his firm backside. His broad shoulders belied a hidden strength, as well as a gentle confidence. Luke's back was to her, so she couldn't see his front, but she imagined that the rest of him looked just as good.

Mara moved closer and snaked her arms around his waist. He put his hand over hers, and she pressed against him. They stood quietly for a long moment, simply enjoying that they were finally alone, and that they had all night to spend together… in whatever way they wished.

Mara smiled, and touched her lips to his neck. She ran her fingers lightly down the center of his chest, and he sighed contentedly, closing his eyes. She followed the outline of his shirt with her lips, lingering on the base of his neck, and then just between the shoulder blades.

I'm ready. She sent silently, opening herself to him fully in the Force.

She felt Luke's smile, and he turned in her embrace. His smile widened when he realized what she was wearing. He looked her up and down appraisingly, stepping back to do so. Mara half-expected to feel self-conscious, but to her great relief, Mara felt only delight in the way her husband's eyes gleamed. She loved how his gaze trailed over her frame, taking in every inch of her… and Mara saw something new enter Luke's cerulean eyes.

Desire.

He wanted to know what the rest of her was like, but he was willing to be patient. Mara waited quietly, curious to see what he would do.

Leisurely, Luke brought his hands to her body, and ran them very slowly down her sides. His sensual touch elicited great tingles in her, and she felt her pulse quicken again. When his fingers met the bare flesh of her thighs just below the hem of her sheer white mini-dress, he paused suddenly. His hands hovered, quivering just barely.

He ran his palms lovingly across her bare skin afresh, and Mara closed her eyes, fully enjoying the sensation.

"Oh Mara…" Luke breathed, coming closer. "Your skin…" He was so close now that his breath tickled her neck. "It's so… perfect. So soft!"

He drew his hands upward again, and they snagged the material of her outfit, ending up on the underside of her garment. She breathed sharply at the sensation of Luke touching her bare abdomen, and back. She had no idea why, but there was something incredibly intoxicating about him touching her under her clothes like this.

She groaned when he nuzzled her neck, kissing her with passion. She could feel the heat building in them both, and with great anticipation, she allowed Luke to continue his explorations. Mara brought her own hands up, and tugged his shirt off, impatient to see more of this man.

To say she was impressed was an understatement.

Stars my husband is sexy! Mara thought, not bothering to hide her thoughts from him now.

Luke answered her appraisal with his own.

No more than you, good-looking!

She smiled outwardly, and caught his face in her hands. His gaze met hers and he grinned; it was a new smile Mara had never seen before, and it sent a thrill through her. Mara trailed a thumb over his lips and the cleft in his chin. He lowered his face to hers, and their lips brushed softly. They shared multiple kisses, light and playful. Slowly but surely the light pecks became more passionate, and gradually more forceful.

Mara could feel the budding heat blossom into a flame, and with a sudden burst of pent-up desire, Luke drew her tight against him. He kissed her hard on the mouth, asking with his tongue to be let in even deeper. Mara willingly obliged, and he surprised her with the depth of his need for her touch.

She pressed against him, and he moved backward until his back slammed against the wall. He ran his hands down her frame again, reaching under her babydoll to caress her silky skin.

Mara, in turn, explored his bare chest and back with her fingertips, eliciting shivers along his body that even she could feel. He turned, pushed her to the wall, and pressed close against her.

Mara felt something explode in her mind when he really pressed against her, and her body responded with an internal bloom of awareness. Luke allowed his hands to stray outside her outfit to play with her chest. Again through the fabric, Mara relished the sensation.

A shared thought crossed their minds, and Luke responded by picking her up and carrying her to the bedroom. They broke apart, and Mara allowed him to lay her on the bed. He stood for a moment, gazing at her as she lay stretched before him. A playful grin tugged at the corners of her mouth, and Mara watched as Luke knelt beside her on the bed and reached for her panties.

He paused, glancing at her, hand poised on the waistband. When she didn't object, he smirked and tugged them off. He flung them with gusto across the room, and leaned down to kiss her. Stretching against her side, Luke again allowed his fingers to wander… and she gasped with pleasure when his fingers found a new area.

Mara moaned with delight, and Luke chuckled softly. He moved his hand to her top and she sat up enough for him to lift it over her head. He gazed at her with utter fascination, taking in the sight of her in all her glory.

"You are so beautiful." He murmured. "I am the luckiest man alive!"

She grinned openly, reaching down to loosen his pants. She lugged them below his waist, and then he kicked them off. Next, she pushed him onto his back so she could observe him, and he watched her in turn.

"I like what I see…" Mara appraised, drawing a snort of laughter from her husband.

She drew her hands down his body, watching as Luke closed his eyes to enjoy her touch. She lay down beside him, pressing as close to him as she could, and as he wrapped an arm around her, she allowed her hand to wander to just below his waist.

Luke rolled her onto her back after a moment, and captured her lips again, gently pressing his weight into her. She drew him close, twining her legs with his. He drew back enough to move to a position between her legs, and she made room for him.

Luke took her with such tender care that she had to love him for it. They rocked together, and Mara felt her body reacting in ways she hadn't known was possible. She shifted slightly, moving with him, and she could feel him building.

Mara's own body suddenly exploded with such amazing bliss, that her mind went crazy, and she felt Luke in a similar state before they collapsed onto the bed together.

Stars can this man make love! Mara thought ecstatically.

She panted, drawing him close for another round of kissing. She rolled atop him, and straddled his waist, looking down on him. Luke observed her with open love and admiration, and he reached up to caress her breasts once more.

Mara bent down, capturing his lips again. Luke brought his hands around to her backside, and Mara felt a slight tingle.

So this is true love. Mara thought. It's better than I had hoped!

Luke gently moved her back to the bed, and stretched out against her back. Moving his mouth close to her head, he playfully nibbled her ear, whispering things to her every now and then.

Sometime later, Mara whispered into the dark. "I love you, Luke."

She had lost all track of time, and now they lay in the embrace of love, nearly asleep, and physically exhausted. But Mara could feel Luke echoing her in the fact that this was the best night either of them had ever had.

"Luke."

"Hmm?"

"Promise me something?"

"Anything you want, Mara." Luke said softly.

"Promise me this is going to last. Don't leave me."

Luke hugged her closer. "I will never leave you, Mara. And this will last. Marriage will not always be easy, but I would much rather go through life with you by my side than alone." He loosened his grip slightly. "We both know what life was like on our own. I don't have any intention of going back to that."

"Neither do I." She agreed.