The Kiss

by Aria

Chapter Four

She could feel his presence approaching her suite long before he arrived. Strong, vibrant and just a bit nervous…but overwhelmingly hopeful, just like the man himself. Unmistakably Skywalker! Vader might have been a strong presence in the Force but his son was nothing short of a beacon! He broadcasted his emotions openly for all to see most of the time, even when his face belied any expression, which was seldom.

Mara glanced at herself in the mirror and smoothed out the skirt of her dress. All the while she was getting ready, she had in mind exactly what she would wear. The simple, yet classic tunic and pants would suit the occasion perfectly. It was only at the last minute that her fingers had stopped at the teal-colored dress hanging towards the back of her wardrobe.

The dress was elegant, formfitting, and revealed a bit of cleavage. And the color set off her hair, or so she'd been told once. She held the dress up to her and twisted her torso to examine herself from each angle. She found that it flattered her figure and bordered on the provocative. Oh, hell! Why shouldn't she cause the Jedi Master some discomfort tonight? He had certainly been the source of many uncomfortable moments in her life!

Mara took a look in the mirror one last time and readjusted the neckline of her dress, all the while wondering why she even bothered checking her appearance. She would bet her ill-gotten fortune that Skywalker would be sporting his signature black ensemble tonight. The man was as predictable as a hot day on Tatooine!

Until the moment he kissed you! Her mind whispered. You didn't see that one coming, Sister!

She shook her head slightly and forced the memory from her mind. A simple lapse of judgment brought about by curiosity, she told herself. That was it! Curiosity as to what lay beneath the black clothes and calm demeanor.

And behind the crystalline azure eyes and a heart-melting grin, her mind added. But you didn't expect to find what you did, did you? Passion and a depth of emotion not ever alluded to nor often displayed. Not since Callista, that is!

The memory of that reunion just after the Eye of Palpatine exploded into oblivion came back to her in spurts. They had clung to each other, sobbing in between kisses and breathless reassurances. Mara had turned away, unable to bear the exchange of emotion between them, even as Leia and Han looked on, mesmerized. Why had she felt the need to distance herself from that scene? Why had she been unable to withstand the sight of the woman who was then the source of his newfound happiness? He was her friend, was he not? And if anyone deserved to be happy, it was Luke. He had sacrificed so much, so often.

Before she could formulate an answer, she felt his presence reverberate stronger, closely followed by the sound of her door chime. She sighed and stole one last glimpse at her reflection before heading towards the door.

The first thing that caught her attention was the flash of color. There he stood, his back to her, wearing a shirt of ocean blue with black piping that matched his black pants and boots. But the full impact did not hit her until he turned around and smiled. Blue eyes twinkled in perfect coordination with the color of his high-collared shirt. His hair had been trimmed too, and though shorter in back, his bangs still dipped below his eyebrows a bit, adding to the boyish quality of his appearance.

She smiled involuntarily at the man before her. Transparent as ever, Luke Skywalker had obviously put some effort into his appearance for their date. Her heart warmed at the realization before she quickly reminded herself of tonight's mission to discourage his delusions. She gathered her composure and toned down her smile, offering a wan expression in its place.

"May I come in?" he asked, catching the edge of her change in demeanor.

"Sure, Skywalker. I'll be ready in a moment." She tried to keep her voice flat and void of any enthusiasm, but her pulse began to beat a little quicker. She took in a deep breath as he walked by her, and then she quickly disappeared into her bedroom, leaving Luke alone to glance nervously around her suite.

Mara studied her expression in the mirror once more. Get a hold of yourself, Mara Jade! She whispered to her reflection. It's just Luke! You remember him, don't you? Unsophisticated, Jedi Code-reciting, accident prone Luke! As loyal as a Wookiee, and as annoying as a Jawa!

She had to find a way to affect disinterest, if not disdain, for at least a couple of hours! But how? Seeing him again caused her mind to flood with memories that she found almost impossible to control.

The taste of his kiss, the feel of his tongue seductively caressing hers, the warmth and strength of his arms as he carried her to his bed and held her firmly against him. Even the pain of his initial entry had been dulled by the sheer ecstasy of the feel of him inside her, hard and thrusting towards climax. His eyes had silently pleaded for her to succumb to him and she had, allowing her body to explode with waves of pleasure, over and over again.

She looked down at her hands and noticed that they trembled almost imperceptibly. I can't look into his eyes, she resolved. That was the key! Those blue eyes that acted as a portal to all of his feelings, while at the same time appearing to see right through to the depths of her soul. It was disconcerting, to say the least. Especially now that they had…

"Mara?"

"Blast that man!" she whispered to herself, then ran her fingers through her hair and stormed out of the bedroom.

"I'm ready, Skywalker. Let's get going."

As she breezed by him, he caught his first real glimpse of the clingy dress and the sleek curves it helped emphasize. He took a deep breath, and found it permeated with her perfume. Instantly, the scent invoked scenes of the night before to begin playing in his head. The way her body had molded to his, the soft swell of her breasts pressing against his chest and the sound of her breathless voice whispering in his ear. He knew then that he would have to call upon his Jedi Code more than a few times if he was to make it through the evening without attempting to steal at least one kiss.

***

Luke had chosen a rather upscale restaurant that was out of the way but not so hidden as to be characterized as discreet. He didn't want them to attract attention but didn't want to seem as if they were going to extremes to avoid being seen together either. Mara seemed to approve of his choice, or at the very least, didn't offer up any disparaging remarks. Luke interpreted that as a good sign and mentally recorded a point in his favor.

As he suspected, he and Mara received the customary glances from the other patrons as they were escorted to their table. A few of them whispered together, but no one stared outright and they were left to eat their dinner in relative peace and tranquility.

Luke managed to keep the conversation on superficial matters of mutual interest throughout their meal. Her business ventures, his continuing role as mediator between this Core world and that one, all the while noting Mara's reluctance to look him in the eye.

They also talked about the latest modifications Mara had made to the Fire's navigational systems and weaponry, and ultimately, about his sister's tactful yet persistent insistence that he expand his role in the political arena. Soon, Mara appeared well at ease even though she still seemed unable to meet his gaze.

"I think it's a good idea, Skywalker," Mara surmised, between sips of her wine. "It would get you away from that Gods-forsaken jungle planet once in a while. Not that my opinion means anything."

"I'm not a politician, Mara. You know that," he responded. "And actually, it does, you know," he added, moving forward. "Quite a bit."

She did her best to keep her expression blank, "Does what?"

"Matter. Your opinion, that is." He smiled, looking up from behind his bangs and Mara caught a glimpse of those brilliant blue eyes. Quickly, she diverted her attention back down to her plate.

"Hmmm."

That makes two! Luke thought to himself, smiling inwardly. And the evening was still young! If he could just keep the mood light, friendly and non-threatening, he might just be able to gain some ground with this woman who had suddenly become the center of his universe.

It takes a trillion grains of sand to make a desert, his Aunt Beru used to tell him. He didn't know exactly why his Aunt's motherly advice came to mind at this moment in time, but he knew the phrase fit. Mara would not be won over easily.

***

By the time they had completed their dinner and left the restaurant, Mara had all but forgotten her initial discomfort. They had conversed easily, just as they had in the past, and Luke had thus far, not made any romantic overtures to raise her hackles. She had no way of knowing just how much difficulty the Jedi Master was having maintaining his distance.

Once outside, he casually suggested they walk back instead of taking motorized transportation. And so they did, leisurely stopping here and there to glance inside storefronts and listen to the different types of music emanating from the various restaurants and cafes along the way.

Mara was amazed at how comfortable she felt in Luke's company and had begun to wonder whether it might not be possible to maintain an amicable relationship with the Jedi Master, given the events of the previous night. They might not be able to undo what had taken place, but that didn't necessarily mean they couldn't continue to be friends. Surprisingly, she found that the thought unsettled her.

She stole a sideways glance in his direction as he examined a number of crystals displayed in a store window, hands clasped behind his back. Maybe he, too, realized the impossibility of a deeper relationship and had settled on salvaging what was left of their friendship instead of forcing any further romantic involvement.

She was perplexed to find that the thought offered her little comfort. Instead, it brought about a pang in the pit of her stomach. She winced inwardly. He hadn't laid a hand on her all evening. They had walked side by side but not necessarily close to one another, and she found herself hoping to have the evening extended rather than having it end after a couple of hours, as she had originally anticipated. As friends, they had always been comfortable with one another, and Mara knew in her heart that she didn't want to give that up. So why did she suddenly feel so empty inside?

The streets and storefronts had begun to crowd as Coruscant's nightlife began in earnest, and they had to maneuver the sidewalk with some difficulty as more and more life-forms spilled out onto the streets. Luke reached for her hand and gently pulled her closer to his side as they picked up the pace.

"Come on, Mara. There's something I want to show you."

Amazingly, she didn't resist and her fingers wrapped comfortably around his hand.

I've seen it, Farmboy! her inner voice quipped, but she kept her silence and let him guide her along.

In a matter of minutes, Mara instantly recognized the building, if not his motivation for leading her to his sister's place of residence.

"Skywalker, isn't it a bit late to be making a social call?" she asked him sarcastically.

He offered her a broad smile, and she felt her knees weaken. Luke entered the code that allowed him access to the building's inner set of lifts which ran along the structure's center. Once inside, he again punched in a series of numbers. This time, she immediately recognized the code that would lead them to the Penthouse level where the Organa-Solo family had their suite.

Already annoyed and quickly losing her patience, Mara folded her arms across her chest and squared to face him.

"Look, farmboy, I don't think this…"

"Shhh!" he whispered, placing his hand on her arm. "We won't be disturbing anyone. They won't even notice we're here!"

She speared him with a look laden with skepticism and let out a sigh. What manner of scheme was rattling around in that blond head of his? And why did she always find herself going along for the ride?

The lift doors opened and she stepped out onto the courtyard, surrounded by the octagonal shape of the walls that composed the first level of his sister's suite. Mara had been in the Organa-Solo household several times in the past, but had never stepped foot onto their courtyard. She had always assumed that it was where the children's play set might be located. Instead, she found that it contained an elaborate greenhouse, whose transparent structure was partially clouded and speckled with beads of moisture.

Mara turned and gave Luke a wide-eyed glance.

"Go ahead," he whispered, smiling slightly at her surprise. "Step inside."

She pushed the sliding glass door to one side and let the chill and dampness of the air surrounding her caress her face. All around were plants, vines and topiaries of every species and variety. Some she recognized, others looked completely alien to her, but the effect was no less extraordinary. She took a few steps, surrounded by greenery on either side and let her fingertips brush against the dew-soaked leaves and multi-colored blooms. Every tree and flowering plant had been manicured to perfection and had been landscaped in intricate patterns. Plant life had long ago vanished from Coruscant and most structures did not allow for the space or the equipment to maintain a garden of any sort. Yet Leia Organa-Solo had obviously gone to a considerable amount of trouble and expense to keep a lavish, indoor garden.

"It's a moisture farmer's dream come true," she heard Luke whisper behind her. Mara turned to face him, reawakening from the delight of the sight around her.

"I don't think your sister would appreciate us trampling through her garden in the middle of the night, Skywalker," she whispered back.

"Oh, I don't think she'd mind much," he grinned. "Besides, it's not her garden. It's mine."

Her head snapped up and she stared at him, her mouth hanging slightly open. Would wonders never cease?

"You did this?" she asked incredulously.

"Well, I must admit that my expertise was limited to choosing and planting the seeds. I researched the nutrient needs and amount of moisture required for each plant too. But it's Threepio and the children that do most of the pruning and landscaping, much to Threepio's chagrin, I'm afraid! Still, it's something we enjoy doing together whenever I'm around and can find the time."

She nodded silently, amazed at how much she didn't seem to know about this man. Of course, upon further reflection it made perfect sense. Luke Skywalker had grown up on a desert world, completely void of any greenery and had spent his early life coaxing moisture from an unrelenting sky. It would stand to reason that he would be fascinated by plant life.

"Most of the plants have some medicinal uses; others are only rumored to have them," he continued as he walked a step behind her, motioning to one side or another.

He nudged past her and motioned for her to follow. "Here, look at these!" He pointed over to a small cluster of bulbs grouped in an out-of-the way corner and encased in a protective cover. A humidifier was attached and hummed softly as it sprayed a fine mist at various intervals.

"What are they?" she asked, dropping to one knee to get a closer look.

"Cyandria bulbs," he answered as he knelt next to her. "They reportedly sprout one of the most exotic flowers in the Core Worlds. Unfortunately, they're exceedingly fickle and only bloom under very specific conditions. I haven't had much success as of yet."

"What are they used for?"

"Nothing," he answered, his face just inches from her own. "They're just beautiful, I guess."

Locking eyes with her, he began to lean in, slowly. She felt his breath on her cheek and her pulse quickened in response. Suddenly conscious of his close proximity, and appalled at her body's apparent willingness to betray her again, she rose abruptly.

"Then why bother?"

Luke pushed out a sigh and reluctantly rose to his feet. "Does everything have to have a measure of value, Mara?" he asked softly.

"It all just seems like a total waste of time and energy, Farmboy. Not to mention expense!" she retorted, walking away and heading towards the exit, her fists clenched in anger. What was happening to her? She had almost lost control back there and allowed him to kiss her.

Stick to the plan, Jade! She whispered to herself through clenched teeth. A kiss… They couldn't share another kiss! Yet, in the very next instant, she subconsciously wet her lips and released a sigh.

Dejected, Luke followed her quietly, as they made their way back out onto the streets of Coruscant, walking silently towards her suite. Though the streets were no less crowded than they had been an hour before, he didn't once reach for her hand. It was an omission that she quickly noted then inwardly admonished herself for doing so. Various glimpses at his face did not give her any clues as to his mood and so she forced herself to look straight ahead and continue walking. What did it matter? The evening was almost over, and she had accomplished what she had set out to do. Or had she?

Did you set out to hurt his feelings? Her mind questioned. He shared with you something that obviously means a great deal to him and you took the opportunity to criticize him.

I didn't ask to be introduced to his hobby! She asserted without any real conviction. But in the wake of her initial anger, her heart began to ache with guilt and she felt her stomach tighten just a little.

As they neared the entrance to her building, Luke pressed for the door to open and allowed her to step inside but did not follow suit. His cheeks and the bridge of his nose were pink from the chill in the air, but otherwise, his expression was serene.

"Goodnight, Mara," he said, smiling warmly. "Thanks for your company tonight. I enjoyed it."

For a moment, her breath caught in her throat. She had expected him to escort her inside before curtly bidding her goodnight and storming off. Instead, his gentleness in the face of her rather rude behavior suddenly filled her with shame. Her insides began to spin tightly and she barely had enough time to swallow the lump in her throat before he turned and began walking away.

By the time Mara had found her voice, Luke had turned the corner and had disappeared from sight.

***

Luke Skywalker lay in his bed, staring at the ceiling above him and releasing a calming breath. He let his mind drift back a couple of hours and could once again feel the fit of her hand in his. It belonged there, he asserted. Of that, he was already certain. Now he had only to convince Mara of that fact.

He tried to capture the memory of the elusive scent of her perfume as she knelt by his side, surrounded by plant life, but he found it difficult to focus. Instead, his brain insisted on replaying the scene as it should have taken place. In his mind's eye, he had managed to caress her face and capture her lips in a soft kiss. He smiled and drifted off to sleep.

On to Chapter 5