Ben watched over the little group of women entering the small dining room. There wasn't a lot of space and Ben was already accompanied by Hux, so Rey was only followed by Rose Tico, and Kaydel had bought the girl's older sister, Paige. The other ladies, like other noble courters, were eating at a room for themselves.

I had been Poe's idea to scale things down, and he couldn't say he disagreed with it.

"Lady Rebecca," he welcomed her, taking her hand and kissing her knuckles.

She was in red now, certainly in one of the new dresses he'd gotten made for her.

"Your majesty," his bride curtsied. "I'm very grateful for your invitation. It's an honour to be here with you and her Royal Highness."

Behind Rey, Kaydel grinned and raised an eyebrow at him like she knew a secret they didn't, but Ben ignored her.

"Oh, Rey, just call me Kaydel," his cousin corrected her. "In just a few days it will be me curtsying to you."

Rey's cheeks darkened just a little bit, and he turned to his side, calling Mitaka – another one of his courtiers, who usually stood around for requests – with a hand.

"I have flowers for you," he told her, watching as the man brought the assembly of the most beautiful exemplars of those flowers. It was a very well-thought piece. When Ben was younger, his mother had been the one to teach him the meaning of flowers, and he was hoping his future queen knew of it as well.

Hibiscus flowers showed how he considered her the most beautiful woman he had ever lied eyes upon, the spread honeysuckle spoke of how he had devoted affection only for her. The red camellias – you are a flame in my heart –, carnations – my heart aches for you – and the yellow pansies – I'm thinking of you –, all said how he couldn't stop thinking of her.

Ben watched and could see how she slowly recognised them, smiling gently at the simple gift.

"Thank you, your majesty," Rey finally answered and giggled. "I wish I had some carnations for you, but you caught me empty-handed."

Ben smiled - carnations: my heart aches for you - and she turned to his servant once again.

"Please, tell one of my ladies I wish for those flowers to be set beside my bed. I want to fall asleep and wake up with them on my sight until our wedding."

Mitaka nodded and bowed respectfully before stepping back.

"Yes, my lady."

They sat down to eat, and she was right by his side as they were served. Rey never asked anything of him after her kneeling stunt, but Ben wanted to make at least the wedding feast something of her liking.

"My lady," he turned to his side. "If you find anything in his meal that is of your taste, please, tell me, and our kitchen will make sure it'll be plenty available at our wedding."

"Yes, your majesty."

Ben watched as she picked on some foods, still not really eating as much as she nibbled on the bits and pieces of what seemed to interest her, and he pressed his lips together. She had been so used to Palpatine limiting her intake of food. Did she think he'd be the same?

Before he could manifest his thoughts, one of the servers came by, laying a plate on the table and making him fix himself as he identified the dish he'd asked the cook to prepare especially for Rey.

Blueberry pies.

"My lady," he turned to her, and reached for the plate, taking a couple of pies from the planes and laying on his own plate. "May I?"

Rey raised her eyebrows in surprise, and nodded silently, parting her lips and leaning in, allowing Ben to feed her a piece of the delicacy. He watched silently as she bit into it, and he hardened in his pants when she moaned in response to the sweet taste.

Fuck.

"Do you like it?" he whispered, ignoring everyone else around them.

Her tongue came out to lick her plump and pink lower lip, and Ben rushed to clean up the side of her mouth with a finger before she was even finished doing it.

He swallowed down when her lips wrapped around his thumb, little tongue sucking out the blueberry treat from his skin and sending shivers all over his body.

Oh, to have those smart lips around him. She'd certainly be a quick learner.

Hux cleared his throat and Ben stiffened in his place, swallowing down as he realised how the whole room was staring at them.

"Eat, my lady," he spoke, looking back at her. "I know the things your grandfather put you through when you were in his hands, but my goal in our marriage is to make you happy, and I earn to start now."

Rey's cheeks warmed up in response but she confirmed with a short nod, and Ben quickly waved a hand at a server.

"What would you like, my lady?" he asked. "Ask away."