The Kiss

By Aria

Chapter 6

Luke could feel her anger tail away from him as Mara distanced herself further and further from the gymnasium. He continued to track her presence through the Force in the hopes that he would feel her rage dissipate, if only marginally, but it only continued to escalate until he felt sure that every Force adept on Coruscant could sense her fury.

He ran his hand through his damp hair and sat back down, letting go of a sigh of frustration. With a single sentence, he had managed to give Mara the impression that his attraction to her was merely physical, and while there was no denying the effect her physique had on his vital signs, he knew that his attraction was based on much more than that.

Luke Skywalker was certain that beneath Mara's thick armor was a girl too scared to follow her heart. Her desire to prove her worth at every turn made it near impossible for her to express any affection or tenderness. To Mara, anger meant power and strength, and she used them both as a shield against any other emotion that threatened her independence. Unfortunately for Mara, she had already dropped her guard on several occasions and although it hadn't happened often, it had served to convince Luke that she had a heart and soul worth fighting for - and fight he would.

"Your body can't lie to me, Mara," he whispered, letting his body relax and resting his head back on the lounger to stare out at the night's sky. "And neither can your heart."

He closed his eyes and tried to extend his senses to her once more. Suddenly alarmed, he leapt from the lounger and sprinted towards the door, towel in hand. Mara was leaving Coruscant.

***

Mara ran towards her suite as fast as her long, sleek legs could carry her, alternately swiping locks of hair from her face and wiping tears from her eyes. Slowing to turn a corner where she thought she would be alone, she threw her back against the wall and let herself slide down it, comm unit in hand.

"Coruscant flight control," she bit out, her voice breaking, "Jade here. Requesting departure clearance code for the Jade's Fire, docking bay 2986-B, at 2100 hours."

As she waited for confirmation, she drew her knees close to her body and rested her chin on them, trying to catch her breath, regain her composure and slow the rapid-fire beating of her heart. After a couple of minutes, she gave up on the effort and allowed the tears to flow freely. She tucked her chin onto her chest and began to sob uncontrollably. She found it almost inconceivable, but her heart ached physically, sending shards of pain to the very core of her being. She placed both hands on her chest and pressed hard, trying in vain to stop the anguish she felt.

How could she have misread him so? Ten years she had known this man! And even though their one night of lovemaking had revealed a side of him she had never seen, she had still believed him to be a gentle, well-intentioned man. Her anger mounted anew. Luke Skywalker, with all of his boyish good looks, was a man like any other and years spent alone on Yavin after Callista's departure would have certainly wreaked havoc on his libido.

How could she have been so stupid? She had merely been an outlet. A substitute for the woman he could never have, she now realized, and the realization caused her heart to constrict even tighter in her chest.

"I should have killed him," she whispered hotly, wiping the tears from her eyes with so much force that she left angry, red tracks on her lids and cheeks. "If not seven years ago when I had the chance, then the night he gathered courage enough to kiss me."

After a few long moments, she managed to calm herself and began determiningly making the trek back to her suite. She would be off system in a couple of hours and in that fact, she found an immeasurable amount of comfort.

As she exited the lift, a strange sensation began nagging at the edges of her consciousness and her danger sense prickled the back of her neck. It gripped her, slowing her gate and alerting every nerve in her body. She continued walking to the entrance of her suite slowly, expecting for someone to pounce on her at any moment. She looked around her as she walked and fingered the blaster at her side nervously. Everything was not as it should be and yet, she could hear nothing and detect no one around. She unsnapped her holster and gently gripped her blaster, slowing her pace even further as she came closer to the recessed door of her suite. At the last minute the presence revealed itself, confirmed a half a second later by her own eyes.

"Luke Skywalker, if you've ever feared for your life, you'd do well to do so now!" she hissed angrily at the man before her.

Luke stood still clad in his swimming trunks, back resting against her door, arms folded at his chest and glared back at her, unshaken by the threat. "Mara, I need you to hear me out," he stated calmly, suddenly appalled by her disheveled appearance. Her eyes were swollen from crying and bright red streaks marred her cheeks. His heart melted, but he resolved to remain unmoved. If he were to convince Mara of anything right now, it would be best to meet strength with strength.

"Leave, Skywalker!" she spat, squaring her body and lifting her blaster to chest level.

Luke shook his head slowly, not breaking eye contact and held his breath. The sight of him shook her to her foundations and she could feel her anger slipping away from her, even as her mind bellowed for her to pull the trigger, if only to stun him and watch him fall to his knees.

Not saying a word, she reached for the access code panel and punched in the series of numbers that opened her door. She then walked past him, roughly bumping his shoulder with hers in an effort to push her way in. Luke followed her silently then watched as she unbuckled her belt but continued to hold the blaster in her hand.

They stood in the center of the common room, face to face, neither daring to utter a word as the silence hung heavy around them. The sight of her, so much affected by their misunderstanding pulled heavily on his heartstrings and he had to fight the urge to rush towards her and pull her into his arms. Of course, the blaster she held squarely in front of her might have made that task a bit difficult to execute, but at that moment, he would have gladly risked his life if it meant that he could convince her of his sincerity.

He let the moment pass, prompting Mara to be the first to speak.

"You self-absorbed, manipulative son of a Sith!" she whispered through clenched teeth, barely containing her rage. "I will not be a replacement for someone else, Skywalker."

Luke's eyebrows came together in confusion then snapped up suddenly as the realization of what she was saying began to dawn on him.

"Callista?" he asked tentatively.

It had been several months since he had thought of Callista at any great length. Years since he had spoken her name aloud and even longer since he had stopped wondering what had become of the woman who had once held his heart in her hands. Standing in front of Mara now, he found it difficult to believe that he had ever thought himself in love with the woman who inhabited Cray's body.

"Yes, Skywalker, Callista!" Mara shot back, forcing him out of his reverie, contempt lacing her words. "You remember Callista, don't you? The woman who you found it necessary to scour the galaxy for? The one who caused you to turn your back on your family and friends? The one who drove you to hide out in that jungle-moon you call a planet for months on end?"

Her eyes began to sting with the threat of fresh tears, and the hand holding the blaster shook slightly. She no longer cared whether or not he knew that she had taken note of his self-imposed sabbatical or of the changes Callista's departure had had on him. Her anger spiraled inside her like a dust storm, eclipsing any other emotion and affecting her ability to think clearly.

"Mara, its been years…" he began, shocked by the fact that Mara could have ever been affected by his relationship with Callista. Even more surprising was the thought of Mara being jealous of a woman who had disappeared from his life so long ago.

"Years," she repeated mockingly, green eyes blazing, "which would dissolve into thin air if she were to walk in here this very minute, Farmboy."

Again, an awkward silence filled the room. Afraid to put his feelings into words again, Luke decided on another way.

Slowly, while still holding her angry gaze, he took a step forward and reached for her empty hand. Mara took in a deep breath; her right hand was damp with sweat and she readjusted the blaster into a more comfortable position. In her heart, she knew that she was no more capable of killing him now than she ever had been, but her anger and humiliation continued to brew inside her, preventing her from giving in. She continued to hold the weapon in place until its barrel lay pressed against his chest.

Gently, he ran his fingertips down her left arm until he reached her hand then grasped it, palm outstretched, and placed it against his chest just centimeters from where the barrel of her blaster pointed.

"Look inside, Mara," he whispered, his voice barely discernable, "what do you see?"

Mara closed her eyes and focused on the feel of his heartbeat beneath her palm. Like the pull of a strong magnet, she let herself be drawn in by the warmth and comfort radiating from his soul. Pain and heartache filled his heart as well - there was truth there too, she realized. And in the midst of it all she could see…herself. His presence cried out to her and she found herself almost powerless to resist. Unconsciously, she lowered her blaster until it fell from her hand and tears began to flow from her eyes once again. In a single step, Luke bridged the gap that separated them and gathered her in his arms, cradling her head beneath his chin.

"I'm sorry," he said softly, kissing away the tears and abrasions on her face. She leaned in to him and wrapped her arms around his waist before he led her to her sofa and sat her down, keeping her pressed tightly against him. "I'm so sorry, Mara," he repeated, running his fingers through her hair, trying to pull back her thick mane from her tear-stained face.

Mara wrapped her arm around his bare mid-section and rested her head on his chest, releasing a sigh. She was exhausted now, both physically and emotionally. Her shoulders continued to tremble slightly but she found an immeasurable amount of comfort in his embrace. She released her anger in a short exhale of breath and closed her eyes.

They sat in a tight embrace for a stretch of time - neither saying a word. His heart and soul were still open to her and she allowed the emotions that flowed from him to soothe and calm her while keeping her own emotions safely guarded. She silently chastised herself for having doubted him, but she was still thoroughly confused and discomforted by the new twist their relationship taken and her mind would still not allow her heart to override the barriers that were firmly in place.

Afraid to speak, Luke simply took pleasure in having her in his arms once again. He placed a couple of light kisses on her forehead then nuzzled her face softly, but was overly careful not to have his affection be misconstrued as overtures to make love - even if his body thought differently. Mara buried her face further under his chin and the feel of her warm breath on his collarbone caused goose bumps to form up and down his arms.

"And if she did come back, Skywalker," she asked, so softly that he wasn't sure he had heard her at all.

Luke took a minute to respond, unsure of what to say or how to say it. A life with Callista was simply no longer an option. "Things are not the same," he responded just as softly, "I'm not the same."

Mara nodded her head imperceptibly. "No, you're more accident prone than you ever have been," she answered; suddenly wishing she hadn't asked but unable to keep her curiosity from getting the best of her.

Gathering a deep breath, he found the courage to continue. All the while offering a silent prayer that he wouldn't ruin the moment with his fumbling.

"I couldn't be convinced of it at the time," he added, "but her decision was the right thing to do…for both of us." He held his breath and waited, but Mara didn't stir. Encouraged, he released his breath and rushed in with both feet, in typical Luke fashion. "Besides, there's…someone else now, I think."

Mara tried, but couldn't keep the smile from her face. She might have been sexually inexperienced, but in situations such as these, where verbal sparring was the weapon of the day, Luke was most decidedly outgunned. "You think, Skywalker?"

His cheeks flushed bright pink and Mara could feel the heat from his blushing on her skin.

"Well, I'm not sure how she feels about me," he answered meekly, sounding more and more like schoolboy.

Mara's smiled widened, enjoying the sophomore undertones of their conversation. It was a lot nicer than fighting, she realized and as always, she enjoyed having the upper hand.

"So, what is she like, Farmboy?" she asked, a little embarrassed but willing to continue their game for a while longer.

However, her heart began to hammer in her chest and her mouth went dry when he lifted her face to his and gazed at her longingly.

"She's the most amazingly beautiful woman I have ever met," he whispered, looking into her eyes, "Strong, resourceful, intelligent…" he finished, his voice trailing off.

Mara lowered her eyes and stared at the dimple in his chin. What had started as a game, now took on a different meaning and she found it impossible to hold his gaze.

Swallowing the lump that had formed in his throat, Luke pressed on. "She takes my breath away, Mara, and I lay awake every night just trying to figure out a way that I can earn her love and trust."

His lips were now a fraction of a centimeter from her own but her eyes remained downcast. Luke caressed her cheek with his fingertips and raised his lips to her forehead, but didn't kiss her. Instead, he rested his cheek on the top of her head and resumed speaking, his voice husky with emotion.

"But the odds aren't in my favor, I'm afraid," he whispered, causing her to suddenly glance up to meet his eyes, which were now a dark, impenetrable blue.

"There isn't anything I wouldn't give her," he went on, "and yet, I have nothing to offer her. Nothing but a life of hardship and the residual pay of a former X-Wing fighter pilot."

He sighed, and her heart felt as if it would burst in her chest. "Not merely enough to win over a woman so beautiful and so deserving of a better life."

Mara blinked and tried to keep the tears from slipping past her lashes. Luke Skywalker, hero of the New Republic and Master of a new order of Jedi - who was worshipped and adored by an entire generation of sentient beings, didn't consider himself worthy of her love. For the first time in her life, Mara Jade was moved so deeply, that words failed her.

She reached up and wrapped her arm around his neck, pulling his face towards her. She placed a soft kiss on his cheek, then another on the corner of his mouth. Once their lips had met, neither had the will nor the desire to pull away. As their kisses deepened, both eventually slid to lie side by side, entangled in each other's arms.

With each passing kiss, Mara could feel herself growing increasingly light-headed. Luke parted her lips and she welcomed his tongue which caressed hers languidly. He savored the feel of her against his bare chest. His body craved to press her tighter against him, but he feared sending her the wrong message again. So, amidst their passionate kisses and sighs of pleasure, Luke concentrated on keeping his hands in check and his desire from overtaking him completely.

Mara's hands were not so idle. She ran her palms down his muscled chest, and slowly around to his back, luxuriating in the feel of his smooth, warm skin. She then entangled her hands in the hair on the nape of his neck and let the silky strands lace between her fingers over and over again. Unwittingly, her hips gyrated against his thigh and he could feel her hardened nipples grazing against his chest. By the time they finally paused for breath, Luke's body was near the breaking point. His erection pressed painfully against his swimming trunks, begging for her touch. He placed a light kiss on her nose and gently coaxed her to lay her head on his chest, hoping for an opportunity to dampen his body's reaction to the woman in his arms.

Mara complied and snuggled into his side, but disappointment and frustration were etched on her face. Her body was inflamed with desire. She yearned to feel his strong hands on her…stroking, caressing, teasing. Wanted to feel his body atop hers. Craved to feel his hardened shaft pulsating deep within her.

Gods, was she losing her mind?

'…to have you in my bed every night for the rest of my life.'

She had fled like a frightened Bantha when he had spoken those words, yet now, her body responded with an ache she found difficult to ignore and his heartfelt admission no longer seemed so threatening.

She concentrated, and forcibly brought her pulse to match his own. Reaching out tentatively with the Force, she allowed her senses to mingle slightly with his. His presence caressed hers lovingly and silently transmitted all of the emotions he had never before been able to put into words. Mara closed her eyes and settled comfortably in his arms, leaving herself open to receive the expressions of love and affection that emanated from his heart and soul.

Luke smiled inwardly. Her heart was still closed to him, but he knew without a doubt that he had gained some ground. It was a small victory, but one that lifted his spirits and filled him with boundless joy and happiness.

In a matter of minutes, both drifted off to sleep.

On to Chapter 7