NOW we're talking. *ahem* It's no big secret if you look at my other fics that Rei and Jade are my fav, so I hope you guys enjoy this one. And speaking of other fics, shameless plug: check out my most recent one, Heart's a Mess.

Seduction: Part #3 - Workout

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Rei lunged forward, landing one swift punch, then another. Her hands moved in a blur of white too quick to match, and she eyed her defeated adversary with satisfaction, a fine sheen of sweat cooling her heated flesh. It had been a while since she'd practiced, but Rei had some serious…frustration to work out of her system, and she was glad her skills were still sharp. She padded over to the bench by the squat rack, toweling off as she took a deep swig of ice water.

His rich tenor rang out from the door. "Need an opponent?"

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Jacen hated the way his office looked at seven in the morning, particularly when he'd been there all night.

Last night, he'd come home just after dawn, kept at the office with work that his client abroad wouldn't let him put off. The past few weeks as a newly made partner, filled with unexpected travel and impossible deadlines…had been brutal. My first weekend off in…God knows how long?

He'd grabbed pajama pants at random and slipped under the covers. Only to find his wife agonizingly naked beneath them, and mostly curled up on his side of the bed to make matters worse.

It was not an unusual occurrence; far from it. Rei always slept in the nude, stubbornly avowing that she didn't do it for his benefit, that she'd always slept like this, long before they'd met. He didn't believe her. In fact, Jacen thought, staring blearily at those delicious curves, those enticing crevices, I think she probably has a good laugh to herself every night before she falls asleep, knowing I'm going to come back from work exhausted. Yet unable to sleep, thanks to my newly acquired blue balls.

Jacen had attempted to nudge Rei back to her side without waking her – and for his own sanity, without looking or touching too much. Predictably, his contrarian didn't move far, comfortably occupying the middle of their enormous California king. One long leg draped over his, and she made a soft, satisfied sound in her slumber.

Somehow, he'd still managed to sleep last night – succumbing to the strain of too many all-nighters. Jacen dreamed of happier times, wherein he came home around 9pm every evening and made Rei forget her name and scream his instead. More than once.

Had it really been – what, nearly a month since they last made love?

Rei fell on her back, gasping for breath, slicking wet hair off her forehead. Her sudden laugh echoed cleanly in the wood and glass-domed room, and she knew he was studying her, sticky and reddened as she was.

"Had enough?" came his cocky inquiry. Jacen reached from where he lay on his side to tuck a disobedient strand behind her ear. He didn't look much better, the taut lines of his chest and abdomen glistening, golden hair darkened with moisture.

She shook her head. "No. I want more."

He didn't look surprised in the least, his smirk widening. "Of course you do. If you're sure you're up to it…"

"I am," Rei said, adrenaline screaming through her veins, blocking the pain of the bruises on her arms and thighs. "Are you?" Jacen's eyes flashed steel.

He stood and pulled her up, a little too fast. Rei stumbled, her body pressed against his for a short, fiercely sweet moment. Jacen took her left hand in his, and his ring flashed brilliantly in the merciless July sunlight.

"Wearing this…it's unfair," she said calmly. And Rei did see more than a few scratches, angrily red on his chest and arms…but the way his mouth thinned with displeasure, she knew her fiancé didn't care about the wounds. "I'm going to take it off. Just for now."

"Like hell you are."

She shrugged and pulled it off, placing it carefully in the bag behind her.

Now he backed away from her, coolly appraising. She mirrored his ready stance. Jacen's smile remained feral, but the pride in his eyes was plain as he watched her lunge at him, her form perfect, light on her feet as a dancer.

"Let's go."

The sun was already red on the horizon as Jacen woke. He stretched widely, joints popping. Thought offhandedly about checking his Blackberry, and then thought again. The smell of her incense and lilies on his pillow instantly reminded him of his dream. He wished it could have continued for another minute or two, for Jacen vividly recalled the outcome of that long-ago match.

Jacen dropped her to the ground with a low kick, and then stood directly over her, grimly noting her mutinous glare. Provoking woman. He knelt, something sparkling in his grasp, and gently took her wrist. Rei watched quietly as he slowly slid the ring back onto her finger, her fiancé's normally roguish expression replaced by something rather frightening in its intensity.

"You're mine." Jacen brought her left hand up, directly into her line of vision, and Rei was mesmerized by the diamond's peerless fire. "Mine," he repeated simply. "With this or without it."

Tossing the sheets aside, he realized that the house was…strangely quiet. Maybe she had class? Didn't think MBA students swung Saturdays… Pausing by the garage, Jacen was surprised to suddenly hear the rhythmic thud-thud of somebody pummeling the punching bag in the studio outside.

They had built it a few years ago so that they could spar at home. Already putting in long hours at the office, he needed a physical and mental outlet. The martial arts had been his passion since he was a boy. Jacen could say without any modesty that he was good. He always regretted that he didn't have time to pursue it more seriously as an adult. It was convenient, then, that Rei wanted to learn, and he was constantly impressed by how fast she picked it up.

Jacen wandered out into a near-blizzard, belatedly realizing he should have brought a jacket. He could hear Rei in there, though, and curiosity drove him forward. She usually spent Saturdays curled up in bed with him, poring over a case study...not practicing her punches.

The image of his wife, clad in nothing but a sports bra, indecently short shorts, and boxing gloves would probably be forever burned into his memory.

Dry-mouthed, he watched Rei jab in staccato rhythm, short gasps audible with each hit. The lithe muscles of her arms tensed and loosened intriguingly. Her black mane swung just above her taut rear, tied up carelessly at the crown of her head. Jacen's eyes strayed admiringly downwards, skimming the rounded curves of her thighs and calves, all the way to her bouncing feet. Rei finished off her imaginary opponent in two quick strokes before she turned to the bench, near the rest of their gym equipment. Her husband swallowed in sudden thirst as she threw her head back to drink, the long arch of her throat visible for his inspection. He thought briefly, pruriently, of the flavor of Rei's sweat - and called out.

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Rei turned swiftly, the bottle still at her lips. There he was, striding into the room like a contemptuous god, fierce blue stare and mocking smile in sharp contrast. Dark eyes traveled with serene approval over his bare torso; he wore nothing but the dark silk pajamas she'd got him last year. Black was all too appropriate. Color did injustice to his tawny flesh, blond halo still mussed from sleep…Rei cleared her throat.

"Don't you think we'll end up late for Mina's party…?" she trailed off at the predatory glint in his eye. God, it's been so long since we…punching the shit out of this poor bag all morning definitely did not take the edge off.

"I could do with more practice, I suppose," her voice gone husky.

Stopping just a few inches before her, Jacen took her hands in his own, pulling off the boxing gloves with agonizing slowness. Rei shivered slightly as his bare fingers scraped across her palms. The room was unnaturally quiet until the mitts and bottle fell to the bench with a soft thwack, forgotten.

They backed onto the open floor.

Rei circled first, devouring the sight of his muscles bunching slowly in his biceps. Jacen maintained his relaxed position, not bothering to look at her. He knew it would irritate Rei. She nearly made a full circle, mouth tight with displeasure, before she leapt at him. He knocked her small fist away easily, and they now fought in earnest.

"Don't give me that look," Jacen said evenly, trying to keep his gaze above her neck. The task was more difficult than he would have hoped. Thank God she never used to train in a sports bra. I think I'd lose. A lot. "You make mistakes when you're annoyed. Come on, Rei." The barrage of blows lessened immediately.

"Right," Rei gasped, backing off. He pushed his advantage, refusing to let up. Jacen was fresh, and she'd been practicing in here for hours, trying to take the edge off a near-month of celibacy, some little voice laughed at her, and she flushed. His golden head loomed above, and she could feel the wall just behind her.

Her eyes darted about, frantically searching for an opening. Seeing a blow from above coming, Rei ducked quickly beneath his arm. As she passed behind him, her hand drifted over his rear, just slowly enough for Jacen to understand it was no accident. He whirled on her, eyes like a thundercloud, but Rei had already danced away, a rare, mischievous smile lighting her features.

By now, Rei had recovered her composure; when he met her in the middle of the floor, she was prepared. They fought, exchanging blow for blow, kick for kick, both of them failing to make real contact. Rei, in particular, avoided injury; one good smack from her considerably larger husband would probably knock her out. Jacen never went easy on her, not even when she'd begun learning from him years ago, and she appreciated his respect. Rei moved with infuriating speed, although Jacen's endurance more than compensated.

"You'll pay for that little feel-up," his smile was clearly Not Nice, and his wife noticed with some worry that he still wasn't out of breath. "All this dancing around won't save you." Jacen allowed himself to shamelessly leer at her heaving chest.

"Tired?"

"I don't think – I – can – do – this – anymore – !" Rei's words were punctuated sharply by the quickening rise and fall of her body on his. She splayed her fingers on his chest for support, but his skin was too slick to give her any traction.

"Yes, you can," Jacen growled at her, jaw tight with exertion. It was 5am, and he needed to be at work in a matter of hours…but he had his priorities.

"I – ah – "

Rei felt his hands curl around her hips, now forcibly moving her up and down, and she concentrated on his handsome features, contorted with effort. She forgot everything but that face, and the name it was attached to. That name…she was particularly fluent with tonight. Insatiable bastard.

A few minutes later, they lay in a perspiring heap, Rei still straddling his hips, her head on his chest as he stroked her matted hair. They were too exhausted to pull apart, as intimately connected as their bodies were. At least, Rei was too exhausted.

"Tired?"

"God, yes."

"But I'm not done with you," he said, and she felt immediately just how tired he wasn't.

Seeing her momentarily distracted, Jacen used the opportunity to firmly grab her arm, and jerk her toward him. Rei staggered, as expected, and he spun her around so her back hit his chest, right arm barring her escape. She struggled at first, and then immediately stiffened as his other hand ghosted over her flat belly, hovering at her shorts' waistband before delving in.

"Oh - !" the sound was somewhere between outrage and delight.

"You looked so faraway," his words rough against her ear. "I think I can guess what you were thinking about. In fact, I know…it's all I can think about, Rei."

That last time we made love…

His wife didn't deny it, curiously reticent, in fact – Rei was still panting a bit, but he suspected it was for an entirely different reason. Jacen shifted slightly, his left hand gaining improved access. He was instantly rewarded with the feel of her spine arching against his abdomen, so tight it seemed she'd snap.

Complacent in victory, Jacen couldn't have seen the throw coming.

Rei jerked suddenly and felt him lose his footing. She gripped and pulled his right arm for all she was worth – threw her hips back – and flung him cleanly over her shoulder.

Jacen landed on his back with an impressive thud. Rei turned away dismissively and tugged her bra over her head. She shook out her hair, leaning her forearm against the squat rack as she worked off her shorts. Seconds later, he was behind her, his arousal insistent at the small of her back. Her husband bit her nape, hard, and Rei couldn't stifle a cry. Her hands flew to the squat rack's reassuringly solid bars, and Jacen's hips nudged her forward, the cold metal of the barbell branding her stomach.

Her husband's fingers completely covered her own as he worked demanding kisses up the side of her throat, teeth marking her jawline. Rei turned her head as best she could, given her limited range of movement, meeting his lips with a bruising kiss of her own. She felt Jacen's hands drop from hers, skimming her arms, sides, hips. One curled purposefully around her upper thigh, pulling her legs apart. The other resumed its former position, where it proceeded to make Rei gasp erratically against his lips, the sound only slightly muted.

"Scream for me." Violet eyes flew open, clashing with the wicked glint in his. "Go ahead. You know how I like it."

His wife used her newly freed hand to reach backward and take him firmly in her grasp. She enjoyed watching the arrogant look slip completely from Jacen's face. Pulled him between her legs, teasing him with her softness, her nearness. And let go.

"No, you go ahead," Rei told him, her voice like velvet.

"You know how I like it."

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