Author's Note: So, after some discussion with emjalen, updates for this story will be Thursdays and Sundays. Enjoy

Mission Day Two - Morning

Her fingertips were gentle, almost whisper like in their caress as they trained over his chest, catching his attention. Sliding with deliberate purpose across the bare skin of his torso, they curved, tracing the indents and dips of his muscles. He shivered, turning into that touch and reaching for her all in one motion.

She came into his arms willingly, sliding against him, her breasts pressing into his chest, only a gauzy, indistinct barrier between them, his hand sliding down the bare skin of her back. Relishing the texture of her burnished skin, like shimmer-silk under his fingertips, he rolled to put her beneath him, making her purr, his hips settling between hers for a brief moment before he rolled again and drew her onto his chest so not to hurt her.

Her hips undulated against his, the barest scrap of fabric keeping them separated as she pressed down and Rex groaned as he felt her heat; the way she throbbed, aligning their bodies as he'd so longed to do.

Melting across him, hip to hip, she nuzzled his cheek and put her lips to his jaw line.

"Ahsoka…"

With a sigh that was her name, Rex turned towards the soft, damp pressure, his head tilting as his other hand, now free, slid down across the curve of her back. He encountered, and dismissed, the barrier of cloth keeping her from him, sliding his hand beneath the waistband and down over the smooth, bare skin of her buttocks, gripping her just as she nipped him.

Pain, sudden and unexpected, jolted him, disrupting the fantasy.

His eyes flew open.

Ahsoka lay atop him, her hands on his chest, her body cradled intimately against his, his hands on her backside and holding her close - and Rex froze. To his relief, as his gaze dropped to her features, he found Ahsoka was asleep, the covers having slipped to her waist. Her body was covered by a filmy, short dress from her collection of outfits rucked up around her hips, his bronzed arms and hands holding it down and covered by the sheets, but he didn't need to see her backside; he could feel it.

Every gloriously supple muscle as she twisted her hips and his hands flexed, holding her down, as he swallowed a groan. She was caught in the throes of a dream, her soft heat a pulsating against the rigid length of his body and Rex, as he tried to lift his hand, felt her start to move again.

Caught, he did the only thing he could think of; he woke her.

"Ahsoka."

A soft sigh was his response, her lips moving down as his head tilted, her breath feathering across his skin and making it prickle, chillbumps that had nothing to do with being cold spreading across his body.

"Ahsoka." He flexed his hands unconsciously, wishing he could move them – and contrarily glad he couldn't. It was the last that added a touch of desperation and command to his tone. "Ahsoka - wake up."

A crease marred her brow, her head shifting, twisting, her montral pressing against the side of his face as her fingers curled inwards.

"Ahsoka."

"No need to yell, Rexster," she murmured, her eyes still closed, her lips curling into a lazy smile before yawning. "Is it morning already?"

"Morning," he agreed, his voice slightly strangled. "Can you… get off me?"

Her eyes snapped open, her head jerking upwards and off his chest to look down at him with wide eyes. Fingers splayed across his chest, her unexpected movement made his hands flex as their gazes locked. Her skin darkened from the tip of her montrals to where it disappeared under the covers; to where her sudden shift in posture pressed her that much closer. "Rex."

He didn't answer.

"Rex... your hands are... they're..." she visibly swallowed. "You need to... to..."

His hands clenched along with his jaw before his fingers released and carefully, with agonizing slowness, he pulled them free. Lifting them, he held them out and open and, after a heartbeat of looking at one another, Ahsoka scrambled free, sliding backwards and off before going over the side of the bed. She rolled as she hit the floor and darted for the 'fresher.

Rex closed his eyes, appalled at his lack of self-control, his hands sliding immediately over his groin to shield the aching evidence of his enjoyment to her previous position. The sound of the 'fresher door closing, and the water running for the shower, brought no relief but neither would his unchanged position. Willing his body to quiet, to settle, to relax was normally enough, but this morning, it refused to cooperate completely.

Managing to quell it partially, he pushed himself to his elbows and looked cautiously around the room.

The door to the 'fresher was still closed, the water still running. Taking advantage of her departure from the room, he rolled to the edge of the bed, and, as he reached for the leather pants that were his cover, frowned. How had he and Ahsoka ended up asleep together in the bed? He'd left her with first watch, telling her to wake him when she was ready to turn in.

Why hadn't she?

Shaking off the thought, even though he knew he'd have to confront her on it, he quickly changed from his makeshift shorts, as the water shut off, to the leather pants. They were as difficult to get on the second day as the first and he managed to seat them properly, zipping them up, just as the 'fresher door opened.

Collecting the shirt he'd worn the day before, he tugged it over his head before turning to look at her.

Ahsoka had changed into one of the most covering of her costumes, thankfully, using one of the veils from another outfit, to make a makeshift cape. Her face looked freshly scrubbed but she wouldn't meet his gaze; he wasn't sure he could have held it if she had.

"I'm done, Rex," she stepped free from the door. "I'm… going to go practice. In the other room. You can…" she waved at the 'fresher door and scurried from the bedroom.

Probably unaware, as she did, that he was as covered as she. Shaking his head, he took advantage of that distraction and did exactly as she suggested. Cold showers, he suspected as he fought to get the leathers off once more, were going to be a normal part of this mission.

Late Morning

"So what're we supposed to be doing anyway?" Ahsoka asked as they shared a late breakfast.

There was still a tension between them, an unacknowledged embarrassment from that morning, but she was doing her best to ignore it. They needed to work as a team for this, whatever this was, because she didn't see how sitting in a posh room was a mission. Wasn't she supposed to be dancing?

"We need to get you hired into the cantina where the Seppie's been seen," Rex pulled out the datapad with the mission data that he'd been studying all morning, not looking at her. "The intel provided says they take girls on either as in house dancers or for freelance hustlers with a cut of their earnings to the house."

"So... audition?"

"Looks that way," he didn't sound too thrilled with the idea and finally glanced her way. "Are you ready?"

"Depends on the kind of dance."

"It's a stage show. Three five minute solo routines a night with improvised dances in between with the other dancers."

"And lap dances?"

"Only if the hustlers agree," his expression was closed, his tone hard. "Apparently they're dances that can be given to increase your earnings."

"And you're against this why?"

"You know why."

She did, but after waking to find herself pressed intimately down against his groin, his hands flush on the bare skin of her buttocks, she suspected there was another reason than just her own trepidation. His reaction to the idea was disproportionate to the reality and it thrilled her to know he wanted her. Could she get him to admit it?

"You just don't want me sitting in some stranger's lap."

"It's more than just sitting," he returned his attention to the datapad and Ahsoka frowned, not liking that he was using it as an escape. "It's sitting and… wiggling on some guy's lap."

"You never know, Rex; I might like it." His head whipped up, his eyes glittering dangerously and she continued. "I won't know until I try."

"If you want to practice, practice," he growled, the sound of his voice thrilling her; he wasn't happy with the idea at all. "I won't stop you."

"Like last night, you mean?"

"Right." He nodded once, sharply, pushing to his feet. "If you're going to audition tonight, I need to do a little recon."

"Rex-"

"I won't be gone long."

"Can't it wait?"

He paused, looking at her. "The sooner we identify our target and set up a plan of attack, the sooner we can finish this mission."

Ahsoka almost asked him if it was really so bad spending time with her, but managed to bite her tongue. She was still smarting and embarrassed from how she'd been draped across him upon waking that morning. At least she reflected, I know what it feels like if I do that lap dance right.Feeling the heat rush through her, Ahsoka knew she should have been appalled by the thought, but Rex didn't seem to notice as he disappeared back into the bedroom.

Into their bedroom.

The warm feeling that spread through her with the thought was both uncomfortable and welcome. She was sharing a bedroom with Rex. Something she'd never have thought possible. Of course, they were on a mission, and under cover, and that was the only reason Rex was sharing with her, but that he was made her heart trip over in her chest. She'd never dreamed…

Don't lie to yourself, Ahsoka, she admonished herself silently. She had dreamed of Rex, not quite in the context they found themselves now in, but certainly in ways she'd never dreamed about anyone else. Mostly… mostly she'd dreamed of things like that morning.

Maybe not quite that scenario, but certainly she'd found more and more of late she wanted Rex to touch her. The occasional and treasured hug was nice, but she found herself yearning for something… more. A kiss, maybe? Never having been kissed, she wasn't sure, but at the same time, she suspected a kiss from Rex would be something to be savored.

He emerged from the bedroom with a soft jangle of the ties on his boots, shrugging into the leather coat, and Ahsoka's mouth went dry. Decked out from head to toe in black, most of it leather, he looked menacing and dangerous and she had to swallow hard before finding her voice. "Wow."

Rex looked up. "Did you say something , Ahsoka?"

"Just admiring the view," she offered with a cheeky smile. "You look-"

"Like an idiot?"

Laughing at his dry tone, she shook her head. "Good enough to eat."

A flare of heat sprang to life in his eyes and he paused for a moment, staring at her, and Ahsoka wondered if he'd returned the compliment. She was to be disappointed. Rex, true to form, ignored it and set about adjusting the holsters under his armpits. "I'll be back in an hour or so."

"Rex," she sighed, exasperated, as uncomfortable as he with what needed to be done but insistent. "I need your help; I really do need to practice."

"Get warmed up," he suggested, striding towards the door. "We need recon to know what we're getting into if you're going to be going out dressed like… that," he waved at her outfit of choice.

Ahsoka glanced down at her outfit with a frown, looking up to ask what was wrong with it, but Rex was gone.

Alone and abandoned, Ahsoka sank back into her chair dejectedly. How was she supposed to practice if he was avoiding her? Without him,she decided suddenly. Rex would come back soon, or so he'd said, which meant she needed to be ready to hold him to his word.

Determined to be as prepared as possible, she went to find and cue up recordings of the dances they'd watched and set them on repeat. It didn't take long before the first of them began to play and, frame by frame, her jaw set, eyes intent on the holo, she focused on perfecting the moves. Starting alphabetically, she skipped through the moves she was already comfortable with and focused on what she didn't know, or hadn't yet tried.

If her role was to dance, she would learn them perfectly to prevent suspicion. It was the least she could do to hold up her end while Rex handled his.

Two hours later

Rex returned to the suite they'd been assigned via a series of interlinked skyways that attached the buildings together through the club district. Optimistic that Ahsoka could more than handle the audition, no matter what was asked of her, he keyed in the code and stepped in, to find the main room empty.

Where was-

"Rex?"

Ahsoka's voice came from the area of the bedroom as he shrugged out of the jacket and hung it by the door. The holsters went with it and he knew he'd have to change where he was wearing them. Blasters were mostly on blatant display, and his normal, comfortable hip bearing method seemed the most logical. "Were you expecting someone else?"

"Hardly. How did it go?"

"Should be easy; you're classier than any female there."

"Compliments, Rex?" Her tone was teasing.

"Should you be calling me Rex?"

She laughed as she appeared in the doorway and stopped, dressed in another filmy costume, this one even briefer than the last he'd seen her in. One of the ones Rex decided then and there, that he was going to veto beyond the walls of their little sanctuary. He didn't know if he should be thankful she was following her own advice and getting accustomed to her costumes, or curse and swear that she seemed intent on torturing him.

"Captain Rex isn't known here and since they didn't assign you a cover, I think Rex is probably a good underworld name."

"Thanks; I think."

"Better than mine."

"Kora isn't so bad."

"I just wish I knew how they'd picked it," she returned with a grin, motioning to a chair in the center of the room. "Take a seat, would you?"

"Why?"

"Because you promised," she told him with an exasperated sigh. "Just do it Rex."

He sat, slowly, watching her with a guarded expression. Once he was seated, nothing happened for a long moment and, as he observed her, he noted she seemed to be gathering her courage. "Now what?"

"Tell me if this works."

Rex's eyebrows nearly hit his hairline as her posture changed.

Lifting one hand, Ahsoka reached back towards the bedroom and softly, barely audible, music with a thrumming, heady beat began to play.

Ahsoka's normally straight backed, head angled proudly, almost soldier-like pose slipped into a type of liquid fantasy. She became loose, her walk changing into something that was a cross between a sashay and a slink, rolling her hips in a fashion he'd never seen. Hell, he hadn't known she could walk like that!

There was a bit of an undulation to her body that hinted at pleasures she looked far too young to even think about, but everything about her screamed experience. The knowing tilt of her chin; the smoky, almost come hither look on her face; the roll of her hips Rex knew wasn't from her Jedi training.

Ahsoka slunk towards him, the fabric of her skirt swaying with each movement, her steps appearing to be deliberately drawn out. She crossed the room straight for him, her expression one of purpose and promise, and suddenly his pants were too tight. Rex was glad he was sitting down. Her look was practically smoldering with heat and he had the distinct impression that if she stepped too close, he'd go up in flames.

Leaning back in his chair, Rex swallowed hard, his tongue sticking to the roof of his mouth, his initial amusement at the shift in her disappearing as she drew near, swaying to the music.

Ahsoka's hands lifted, the long line of her limbs smooth and direct, the move sensual and slow, like moving through space. She shimmied, twisting her hips and shoulders, drawing his gaze to the upturn of her breasts as they heaved within the top, straining against the fabric with the angle of her arms.

Too stunned to move, his gaze traveled over her from the top of her montrals, down over the intense look in her eyes, to the coquettish tilt of her lips, to the roll of her shoulders in an obviously practiced move that echoed from the holo they'd seen.

She slid forward, undulating her body and hips, stopping just beyond his reach as she bent at the waist, her torso straight, running her hands down, over her montrals and lekku as she straightened in slow motion, along the sides of her breasts, down along the sides of her stomach and stepped close, slowly turning with the beat.

A lap dance.

He swallowed hard, watching her, realizing what she was doing and his hands wrapped around the underside of his chair, his legs pressed together. He'd been in the door for all of five minutes and she'd ambushed him, forcing him to keep his promise. Yes, forcing,he thought caustically. Caught in a kind of sensual nightmare that was both torture and fantasy, he could do nothing but play along.

Ahsoka shot him an amused look, reaching down to touch his knees, her fingers curling over the fabric of his pants, applying a pressure as she leaned in, bent at the waist, giving him a straight view down her top. Leaning down, she pushed his knees apart, bending to lean between them and he stiffened impossibly further.

She straightened, the moves controlled and in time with the music, her gaze locking with his as she pushed his knees as far as she needed and slipped between them, spinning in a graceful move to put her back to him as she straddled one leg.

He could feel the way his muscles seemed to pop on the side of his neck as the bare line of her back registered in his brain, his jaw clenching. Her muscles flexed as she placed both hands on his knee and bent, almost like doing a push up, on his leg, not touching him but close. The fabric of her short skirt brushed tantalizingly, teasingly, against the fabric of his pants.

She turned, swaying off his leg with a point and hop before spinning so the tip of her lek grazed his chest as she settled between his legs, one hand on either knee, her back sliding down his chest, the curve of her montral against his cheek

He closed his eyes, tilting his head back as he ground his teeth together and struggled to resist grabbing her. Training, he admonished himself a touch desperately as she sashayed and undulated against him, this is training. Necessary practice; she needs to do this for the mission. To make sure it's just right; to ensure no mistakes. She needs my help; don't grab her. Don't grab her; hands on the chair!

The mantra running through his head, somehow he managed to get through her little dance until, mercifully, she slid away, leaving his lap like water leaving a basin. Not trusting himself, Rex took a moment to collect his control from the fire to whence it had been thrown. Inhaling deeply, he struggled to reign in his libido, concentrating on the ache in his fingers instead of the one behind his fly. When he opened his eyes it was to find Ahsoka standing a couple of feet from him, looking a touch uncertain.

"Was it that bad?"

He almost choked on his tongue. Bad? She thought it was bad? He would have laughed if he hadn't felt like screaming. He needed to escape and fast - but didn't quite know how to answer her question without seeming too enthusiastic. His voice wasn't quite as steady as he needed when he spoke. "Er... it was fine."

"Fine?"

He nodded decisively. "Fine."

Ahsoka's shoulders dropped before her expression became determined. "I guess I'll work on it some more. Thanks Rex."

Work on it more- oh boy; he was in trouble. He didn't trust himself to get to his feet just yet, though there was no doubt in his mind she knew exactly the effect she'd had on him. She'd been sitting in his lap moments ago and couldn't have missed it. "Will," he cleared his throat, trying to find ground that didn't feel like shifting quicksand, "will you be ready for tonight?"

"As long as I don't have to do a lap dance," she shot him a look he couldn't read. "I'm good on the rest I think; but I can't practice pole dancing. I won't know if I'm any good until I actually try."

The jab was unmistakable and he flinched. The hell with modesty; he had to leave the room. Pushing to his feet, he adjusted himself as she looked away, a flush on her skin, and headed for the bedroom. A cold shower would do him good; something to shock him back to reality. A reality where Ahsoka wasn't his, and they were just partners; a reality where they were on a mission and distractions would get them both killed.

He missed the wounded look she sent him as he exited the room, oblivious to the way she narrowed her gaze and straightened with intent that didn't bode well for him.

Fine. Ahsoka glared at the doorway where Rex had disappeared, fuming. Fine! The man is practically breaking free of his pants and he says it's fine? If that was fine she wanted to know what it would take to blow his mind.

Still... Rex wanted her.

Of that she was absolutely certain. He simply wouldn't admit it. Could she get him to? She wanted him; the certainty was like breathing. Admitting it to him wouldn't do her any good yet, but his physical reaction was one she relished, even looked forward to inducing again, but would he let her?

He'd promised to let her practice so practice she would. She'd perfect that lap dance until he couldn't help himself, until he couldn't keep his hands to himself; until he burned for her as she did for him.

The about face from her embarrassment earlier that morning wasn't lost on her. Performing that dance for Rex had brought a few things into startling clarity and one of those was that, before this mission was over, she would get what she wanted. Be it by admission or action, Rex wouldn't be able to hide from her any longer.

Ahsoka gave Rex his space for the remainder of the afternoon, focusing on preparing for the audition that would either make or break their mission. As it turned out, she needn't have bothered.

The audition went off without a hitch, the owner of The Catalyst taking one look at her as she set up for the fan dance he'd requested, and going to speak with Rex. She performed anyway, finishing as Rex was shaking the other man's hand and apparently having come to some kind of agreement.

Having the stage to herself, The Catalyst was still a couple of hours from opening for the evening, having closed after lunch; she'd come prepared to audition and wouldn't, until the following night, be shown the backstage areas for preparation and costume changes.

From what she glimpsed being in the wings of the stage, the luxury rivaled that of the suite she and Rex were in. It made her a touch uncomfortable to realize that this was actually happening, that the mission was going forward, that one day, as soon as Rex spotted their target and confirmed them, she'd have to perform the dance she'd only performed for Rex.

Her stomach knotted with the knowledge, nerves suddenly assaulting her and overtaking her earlier conviction to use this opportunity for more than it was. Suddenly everything seemed... real in a way it hadn't been before, and Ahsoka wondered if she was in over her head.

On one hand she wanted Rex; she wasn't going to waste this opportunity to know for sure if he wanted her too. On the other hand, they were part of a deadly serious game where a single slip could get them both killed. She couldn't chance distracting him like that... could she?

Returning to their suite, Ahsoka cloaked in Rex's jacket to indicate she wasn't for hire, she was quiet and Rex didn't break the silence. It wasn't until they were back inside and she stood huddling within the confines of the leather that had already started to smell like him that she realized she was undecided.

Rex, apparently, wasn't. "Get some rest," he told her, not unkindly, "you did good tonight, Ahsoka."

"I had good help."

"I'll take first watch."

"Rex-"

"Go; sleep."

Seeing he wasn't to be dissuaded, she turned and headed for the bedroom, letting him win until she could figure out exactly what her course of action was going to be. Tomorrow would be her first real performance and the revelation that this was actually happening had shaken her confidence in her appeal.

Yes, the proprietor of The Catalyst wanted her in his show, but that just meant he wanted a young, fresh face. She'd felt his desire from across the room and, while repulsed, hadn't let it influence her performance. She couldn't. Tomorrow they were walking willingly and knowingly into the gundark's nest - and Rex was only there to watch her back.

She pulled the jacket tighter around her as she settled on the edge of the bed. Curling into it, she wished she had the nerve to ask Rex to hold her and tell her everything would be okay; that they'd make it out of this in one piece and accomplish their mission. Lacking that, and knowing she wouldn't be getting it any time soon, she rolled onto the bed and closed her eyes.

His scent enveloped her, soothing her and eased her worries.

Rex was there; he would take care of her. He would ensure she could do the task set out for her by the Jedi Council and Republic Intelligence; he would keep her safe and ensure she didn't have to do more than the bare minimum her role required.

Focusing on that reassuring thought, she let it chase her into slumber.