Past All Reckoning

Author: Banaoire

Rated: PG or less, this time. If you like it I'll definitely turn up the heat.
Post ROTJ
Characters: Luke and someone new
Feedback: I'd love it--this is my first try at posting my fan fic, so be
gentle ;)
Archives: If it's found worthy.

Stillness refused to embrace Keely's mind. Her breathing labored, her
heart rate fluttering, she sat crosslegged on the boulder, trying to find the
Force. Around her the jungle of Yavin IV sang itself to sleep as the sun set
directly in front of her. She had just run over ten kilometers through that
jungle, but had barely acknowledged its lush beauty as she had tried to drive
the confusion out of her mind.
"Control..." She hissed to herself. It wasn't like she was some
first-year, without any experience or training. Keely stretched out again,
waiting for the power's embrace.
Still nothing.
Frustrated now beyond reckoning, she slammed her fists against the rock
and roared with a primal scream.
"Do you feel better?" A voice said from a meter behind her. Keely
startled yelp echoed into the trees and then she groaned. He was the reason
she was this way. Why was he here?
"No, I don't... Master." The title was difficult to say. Especially after
she had said his name so many times in her dreams. It would be so easy to
make a mistake and call him by name. Luke...
"Then why did you run away?" Luke Skywalker walked around the boulder to
face her. His hair and workout tunic damp with sweat. The setting sun behind
him made his face difficult to see. Not that she could look into his eyes any
more. Not after what she'd been thinking.
No, she couldn't think about that. It was completely ridiculous. Master
Skywalker was the rock that held up the Jedi Academy. His strength was
famous, his devotion to the rebuilding of the Jedi Knighthood legendary. She
had seen no hint that he had a passion for anything else but the school. And
she had looked.
Keely tried to reach out to the Force and this time she did find it
waiting. Pulling on it's comforting power, she raised her eyes toward Luke's
face.
"Master, I regret my failure." It was all she could say.
"Keely, you're being too hard on yourself." Master Skywalker stepped
closer. She could smell his sweat now. Not a bad smell, just a bit stronger
than it had been an hour ago when they had been exercising at the old temple.
The training had taken a decidedly physical turn in the last few months. She
was finding this to be the hardest part of her training since she had come to
the Academy three years ago.
"Master, it seems that I am only able to find the Force when I am at
peace." The admission came between her clenched teeth, remembering her
embarrassing lapse in the temple. She had lost focus and had tried to
compensate with brute strength. When he had caught her in a hold for the
third time, her mind had nearly betrayed her and she'd gone running from the
studio. Couldn't he tell what his nearness was doing to her, even now? Let
alone his body back at the training studio.
Keely tried not to think about the way the skin of his shoulders
glistened, or the grace with which he jumped and rolled onto the mat after
she had tried to complete a block. The way his pants fit, just so... Sparing
with him was at once terrifying and exhilarating. Though because of her
increasingly erotic thoughts, she had begun to dread it.
Hand to hand combat was the lesson of the moment. Each lesson began with
her (after having spent an hour in somber meditation) moving into the circle
and finding the Force at her beck and call. After their first close contact
though, her carefully constructed calm was shattered.
"You are a powerful woman, Keely. I sensed it from the moment you came
here. But, now I sense you don't trust yourself." Luke stepped closer, "I
sense potential, but you're holding it back. You must feel the Force."
I want to feel many things--the thought sprang into her mind, unlooked
for. Keely yelped again as if stung, and moved backward on the bolder, trying
to find a safe escape from his powerful presence.
She swung her legs around her and dismounted the stone.
"I will do better Master. But, I feel I must ask, is there anyway I can
train with one of the other Masters?" The question came out in a mumbled
rush. She'd been thinking about it for a long time, but the thought of not
spending time with him every day had been, until now, too painful to think
about. Now, it was too late. She knew her request would be seriously
considered.
Under the cover of her long lashes, she tried to look up and see how her
request effected the young Master.
He seemed displeased. "Um, well, yes." And then he turned away from her.
Keely's breath caught in her chest. Was he angry with her?
"May I ask why you think this would be best." His voice sounded strained.
And how was she supposed to answer this question? He must never know what she
felt for him. It was too embarrassing for one thing. For another, she wasn't
entirely sure she wouldn't be asked to leave the Academy if her feelings were
out in the open.
"Master, I feel that I'm wasting your time. You should be working with
the apprentices who show the most promise."
"That's for me to decide." He said turning around and stepping toward her
again. She instinctively stepped away. He could see that she was about to run
off again.
"Keely, stop! Tell me what's really going on here!" The Master ordered,
his voice ringing with the power he possessed.
"I... I can't Master," she turned to run, but his hand shot out and he
grabbed her wrist. They stood for a moment, Keely straining against his grip,
Luke refusing to let go.
His touch was the last thing she could take right now, and beyond all
sense a she whimpered.
She felt his surprise, sensed it through the Force, even though she had
slammed up her shields when she had first known he was there. Even through
those shields she could sense his surprise... and something else.
Then Keely felt her arm being gently pulled. He reached out with his
other hand and grasped her above the elbow, still pulling her closer. She
could break the hold without even thinking about it, but her mind and body
seemed frozen.
Luke pulled her even nearer. He stepped in front of her and placed his
hands on each of her arms--still holding her, but not in a way she couldn't
escape from. Then her body betrayed her even further as she trembled under
his touch.
His eye's (for now there was no where to look, except into his beautiful
eyes) startled wide when he felt her tremble under his hands. And then a look
she had never seen in his face.
Passion. Hunger, even.
Luke pulled her closer and before her mind had a chance to catch up with
reality, she felt his lips on hers. A deep kiss full of longing, and she
responded as if she were reliving one of her dreams.
He released he arms, hands traveling up her shoulders to her neck and
resting lightly on either side of her face.
Still he kissed her. She felt her knees begin to buckle and so reached up
to him and put her arms around his neck. He shifted his arms to hold her
around her waist and pulled her even closer against him. Again, she made a
noise without meaning to, a moan this time, against his lips.

Beyond All Reckoning, part 2

Luke's arms slid around her waist and he pulled her against him. His
mouth tingled from the delight of tasting hers. Then he felt her moan against
his lips and *his* knees began to feel weak.
What was he doing? How had he let it get to this point? The "Jedi Master"
part of his brain was screaming for attention. But the other side of him, the
lonely man was screaming even more insistently. Yes! it said. She wants this.
As much as you do.
Finally, he pulled away from the kiss. They were both breathing hard, but
this time it had nothing to do with Jedi training. Her eyes were still
closed, as if she were afraid of opening them, and he kissed her eyelids and
then her forehead. Tenderly, he rained kisses all over her upturned face.
Frozen images of her flashed through his mind. Her light chestnut hair
shining in the sun in the compound on the day she had arrived. Young, but
very talented. He'd been unusually curious about her from the start.
Then the joy on her face when she had completed her first telekinesis.
Sooner than the rest of her class, he remembered. Her storm grey eyes shining
with delight. He'd felt his heart skip a beat that day, but had told himself
that it was his own happiness in having a new and talented student.
Then, only four months ago, her group of apprentices and three of the
Masters had gone into the jungle for survival training. While most of every
day had been spent learning the fine art of staying alive without technology
or outside help, they had also found time to relax and enjoy themselves.
She had gone off alone during one of these breaks, and when Luke had
found her she had been swimming alone in a high mountain lake. The crystal
clear water streaming off her naked Jedi trained body put him quite over the
brink. With every skill he'd acquired he shut down his "male" emotions and
had returned to camp without her ever knowing of his voyeurism. But her body
was burned into his mind. And now it was pressing against him.
With redoubling heat he continued to kiss her face, then pulled the
opening of her knit shirt away from her neck and kissed her neck and
shoulder. Her hands were on his back, up and down, and when he found a
sensitive spot where her neck and shoulder came together he felt her hands
convulse and dig into his shoulders.
Oh, how he wanted this woman! His hands now moved away from her waist,
and were imitating hers, lightly at first, then more insistently moving up
and down her back and sides. He felt her tremble again, as he gently, almost
hesitantly ran his fingers over her left breast. Delighted to find the nipple
hard through her shirt.
"Oh, Master, I..." Her voice came from deep inside her, and he could feel
the rhythms building between them. But her use of his title shook him, and he
tried to catch his breath. Tried to clear his mind.
He placed his hands on her waist and then touched his forehead to hers.
They were still breathing hard, and Luke wasn't sure if she was shivering
from his touch or the cold of the new night.
Then he stood straighter, and pulled away from her a bit--one of the
hardest things he could remember doing for many years.
"Keely," his voice sounded strange in his ears, still modulated by
passion. When she didn't look up, he said again, "Keely."
"Yes?" She sounded frightened. The growing dread that he'd felt when
she'd called him Master became larger.
How was he going to ask her? How could he ask her if she wanted him? The
teacher-student relationship was powerful. How could he trust that she wanted
to make love with him for herself and not for the reasons he feared? That she
wanted to please him because he was her teacher. It was irritatingly
confusing.
It's why he'd never allowed himself to become involved with anyone from
Yavin; be they pupil or peer--they had all been his pupil at one time. That
bond of trust he worked so hard to build between him and his students had
always been the most important thing.
What was he doing to that trust now?
"Keely, you need to know that I'll understand if you want to stop this...
stop me." He wondered if he sounded as confused as he felt.
"Stop?" She sounded dazed. "You want me to stop?" She finally opened her
eyes. They were dark now in the dusk, and he had a difficult time fathoming
the code of her emotions that usually wrote itself in those circles of grey.
Her question hung in the air. Is that what he wanted? To stop? Gods, NO!
He wanted to lay her on the ground, here, now, and discover what would make
her cry out for more. The thought of it sent fire to his groin and a shiver
up his back.
Using the Force, he shook free of the image and looked back into her eyes.
"I didn't mean for this to happen." He conceded, his voice sounding lame
in his own ears.
"You... didn't mean..." Then a look of horror flashed across her face.
"Oh, no." She breathed. It seemed to Luke that she hadn't really heard him.
She looked past him on either side as if just now realizing where she was.
Suddenly, she slipped under his arms and past him, running wildly into
the brush.
"Blast!" He hissed to himself, dropping his head into his hands. What had
he done? Her future as a Jedi might be compromised. This was beyond sin; this
was betrayal. Luke began the slow walk home.

part 3

Slowly, Keely became aware that she had been asleep. She opened one eye
just a slit to make sure she was right, and finding herself in her room, she
closed the eye again and tried to understand why she felt so bad. And then
the events of the evening rushed at her. She rolled over, groaned, and pulled
the covers over her.
It didn't help. The gnawing feeling in her gut started to feel like a
small animal running through her intestines. What had she done?!
With an exasperated sigh she flopped over on the bed once more and
realized she was still in her exercise clothes. She hadn't even changed when
she'd returned to the academy the night before. She'd been exhausted and
heart sick. It didn't seem to make any difference whether she changed her
clothes or not.
The run through the jungle had been excruciating. She'd blindly fled his
arms (she couldn't even thing about that yet) and ran into the dark bush.
Normally, her Force sense would have guided her back, but everything was in
chaos. Her grip on the Force was as muddled as her grip on her emotions.
What had she done?!
It was past reckoning. She'd run away from the temple to keep herself
from exposing the desire she felt for him when he held her. But he had
followed, and found her. He'd been his usual quiet, caring, strong,
maddeningly sexy self. She'd been unable to hide her feelings.
Keely raised her right arm and smacked the wall next to her bed.
Frustration and embarrassment were new for her, and she did not like it one
bit. If fact, the feelings made her feel vulnerable. She could not afford to
be vulnerable now.
Any minute now, she expected one of the Jedi Masters to come to her
quarters and tell her that she must leave. Where would she go? What would she
do? How could she go on without him?
Then the sensations that she had tried to block floated dreamily to her.
His fierce kiss. The way his strong hands felt on her back. And hadn't he
touched her breast? Oh, yes. That thought brought on a burst of wetness
between her legs. He had most definitely touched her breast.
The strange part of it all was how it still felt like a dream. But being
in his arms had felt so much like she had dreamed it would, only better.
She was somewhat familiar with the touch of his body on hers from their
innumerable hours of training. But the feel of his body pressing against hers
in what she had thought was passion... that was something she would never
forget.
And the feel of his body under her hands! She'd dreamt of feeling his
strong shoulders and arms, but they had been even more solid, more muscular
that she had giving his compact frame credit for.
He'd been very warm. She remembered that too, with another little rush.
Very warm because he'd just run the 10 kilometers from the temple to find
her.
To find his apprentice who was acting so strangely.
What had she done?!
When Keely had left her homeworld she had been the second daughter of a
noble house. Talented in many things, it had still been a shock when the Jedi
had come to her planet and had found her to have Force abilities. Her older
sister Rehna had been a member of the Rebellion and her father had died for
his resistance against the Empire. She knew what the Jedi had been, and had
been thrilled and honored to have the chance to join their ranks. She was 15
when she had left her home to live at the academy.
Her first two years here had been intense but always rewarding. For the
first time in her life she felt that she really was more than she had
thought. More than a noblewoman waiting to find a niche in some bureaucrats
office or waiting to make a marriage of alliance. Becoming a Jedi was more
than she had ever dreamed of.
And now, she had probably thrown all of that away. Her cheeks flushed red
as she remembered her unwillingness to break Master Skywalker's hold her
wrist. And when he'd pulled her closer, why had she trembled? It was the last
thing she should have done.
Keely covered her eyes with her arm. Self pity... great... that will help
a lot, she thought.
She through the covers down and swung her legs off the bed. She went to
the small wardrobe that held her clothes and pulled out a fresh tunic and
pants. Today was a day of rest in the academy, but she didn't feel like
resting.
She grabbed a few more things and opened the door to her room. She had
never felt so nervous about walking around the school before. She actually
checked the hallway as if she were on a covert mission. When she saw that it
was clear she quietly and quickly jogged to the shower room. Once inside she
blew out the breath she'd been holding. She stretched out with the Force and
found the facility empty. Everyone was probably at breakfast, she thought.
Keely went deeper into the room and found a bench. She quickly peeled off
her filthy clothes--noticing that there was a scent to them that she'd never
smelled before, and the implications made her shiver. Was that him, his
sweat? She brought her shirt up to her face and inhaled deeply, then as if
stung, tossed the shirt away from her.
She stepped into the stall, closed the door behind her and turned on the
water. For a long time she stood in the hot water, arms reaching out to the
wall to brace her and she let the heat of the water soak into her. Trying to
still her mind.
But her body would have none of it. Her right hand left the tiled wall
and moved to her left breast. The nipple was already errect and the pink
around it was taught. She brushed it with her forefinger and wondered to
herself if this is what it had felt like to him?
She covered her breast with her hand and moaned into the echoing chamber.
She wanted to feel his hand here, covering her breast with his strong
hand--and perhaps with other things...
"Oh, by the Force, what am I thinking?" She moaned again, but this time
it was guttural and full of the pent up heat she'd been feeling for... for
Luke! for months.
Her left hand traveled over her stomach and to her curls. They were damp
from the shower and she ran fingers over their springy wetness.
With her middle finger she found the top of her slit. Still,
uncomprehending the waves of hunger that lapped at her, she slid the finger
further and further down, until she found her clit. She rubbed it once,
experimentally, and was rewarded with a pulsing shuddering sensation between
her legs.
Her need was building. She had never felt so out of control. She was 17
and never been with a man, but she knew what the sensations in her body were
telling her.
Slowly at first and then with her building need, faster and faster she
stroked the bud inside her slit. She slid down the wall, water still
cascading over her, and leaned against it. In her mind it was his hand, his
tongue, finding the right places, using just the right pressure.
She dipped inside and found the heat there. Wetter than the shower could
have made her. Faster and faster now. Dipping and rubbing.
Her climax made her cry out. Tears streaming down her face from her act
and from the fact that she wanted Luke to be the one to bring her to this.
She curled against the wall for a moment, trying to catch her breath. She
did feel somewhat better. At least the tension had been slacked a bit. But,
the image of his face and hands kept coming back to her. She stood up and
brusquely finished her shower.
She knew she had to find a way to deal with these thoughts. A Jedi's
control was legendary. Right now she had none. Where could she go, what could
she do?
Then she remembered the survival mission. It had been one of the most
educational experiences thus far at the academy. She had never felt so in
control, so powerful as she had in the jungle. Instead of running away,
perhaps the jungle was somewhere to run to--to find the peace she needed to
rebuild.
She went back to her room, this time passing several of her friends, but
not pausing to talk. She grabbed a knapsack and placed in it a few items:
thin metallic blanket, extra socks and a hat. Then she went to the room of
her group leader.
She knocked on the door.
"Hello, Keely." Ander said, the young man stepping aside, "We missed you
at breakfast."
"Yeah, I know." She said, unable to meet his eye.
"Is everything all right? Do you want to come in?" He had sensed her
disquiet.
"No, I just wanted to tell you that I'm going to be away for a few days."
She still couldn't look in his face, just in case he didn't know yet, she
couldn't take the chance that her expression would give her away.
"Going away? Where?" He didn't sound overly concerned. It was accepted
that with it's pressures, Jedi training sometimes became overwhelming. Many
of the apprentices took a short "sabbatical" from the temple in order to
re-center themselves. Just not for the reason Keely needed it.
"I'll go up into the mountains."
"Sounds good. It's not too cold up there this time of year." Then he
paused, and Keely was about to turn away. "Keely, you look pretty upset. Are
you sure you should go off by yourself right now?"
"I'll be fine." She lied.
"Well, if you say so. But I want you to take this comlink," he went into
his room and came back with the small communications devise. "If you get into
any trouble give me a call. All right?"
At this Keely did smile and looked up. "Thanks Ander. You've always been
there for me."
"And I always will."
"Bye."
"May the Force be with you, Keely." He shut the door.
She could only hope so. She needed it's strength now more than ever.

Part 4

Luke could not recall a night so unsettling. After his lapse in the
jungle, he watched Keely run, frightened, into the dark undergrowth. His
first instinct had been to follow her, but his own emotions were too out of
balance. Too uncontrolled. Hadn't he hurt her enough?
When he'd finally returned to the temple (well past the middle of the
night), he'd found the temple quiet. He stepped inside.
One advantage (or was that disadvantage--right now he wasn't sure) of his
vast power was the ability to focus his senses on a particular individual.
He'd felt Keely's confusion and dismay as she'd run through the jungle. He
hadn't been able to relax until he'd felt her mind finally reach the quiet of
sleep. He'd been near the old temple when he sensed her slipping into sleep's
oblivion.
Still, he wanted to make sure she was all right. He stood, uncertain for
a moment, and then walked toward the third year's corridor. When he reached
her room he stopped outside and reached out with his senses.
She was asleep. Safe. He sensed she was exhausted, and would probably
have a dream-free night.
At the same time he noticed the way her sense in the Force felt. It was
soft, but strong, just like her. If he had to attach a color to it he'd see
it as deep blue, verging on purple. He'd just begun to touch that side of her
along with her physical body when she'd called him "Master." When she'd done
that it had been like cold water thrown in his face.
He leaned his forehead against her door, closing his eyes. It was all
still so confusing and difficult--being a Jedi Master, responsible for over
one hundred lives every day.
He thought of his old masters. Had they ever put themselves in this kind
of situation? Or was he just weak?
He straightened when he thought he heard a noise, and moved away from her
door. Not seeing anyone, he reached out once more and touched her door with
his hand.
She was still sleeping, at peace. He let his arm drop to his side and
walked back toward the center of the temple, back toward his rooms. With each
step away from her room he became more and more certain that he could no
longer be a part of her education. He would have to assign one of the other
masters to. It was the only way.
Finally reaching his rooms, he found Artoo waiting quietly in a corner.
"Hi, Artoo." Luke walked past the faithful droid to the chamber beyond.
Once in his bedroom he stripped off his tunic, unfastened his belt and walked
into the bathroom.
Though not luxurious, Luke's rooms were not austere. Simple, comfortable
and functional. Three rooms: a main room for meals, meetings and relaxation;
a bedroom and a bathroom.
Outside his rooms, through glass doors in the main chamber, was the space
visitors were most likely to find the young master--the meditation garden he
had designed and built. Divided into four "rooms" he found each space
provided a different quality to his meditations and Force practice. Where the
four corners met, he'd had a fountain built. It's soothing sound filled the
outdoor space as well as the indoor. These three simple rooms and the gardens
beyond were the only home he'd ever been able to truly call his own.
Finishing with his shower he stepped back into his bedroom and looked at
the low mattress. He didn't feel sleepy even though it was only a couple of
hours until dawn. He pulled on a pair of drawstring pants and walked back
into the main room.
If he couldn't sleep, perhaps he could regain some peace with meditation.
He walked out into the night toward the portion of the space he called the
water garden.
Walking through the intentionally thick shrubs that secluded this space
he reached the cool confines of it's center. Before him was a dark pool,
eight meters in diameter. The setting moon shone on its surface.
Luke settled himself beside the pool and folded his legs into the
position he normally used for meditation.
He smelled the earth around him, and the sweet scent of the night
blooming plants. Unbidden, his thoughts turned to Keely and the scent of her
hair against his cheek.
No!
Reaching out again he steadied his link with the Force and drove toward
the calming state that he needed so badly.
The water in the pool lapped against its side. The sound of water
reminded him of her body as she'd stepped from the mountain lake. Heat rushed
to his groin, the muscles of his chest and abdomen tensing involuntarily.
NO!
Frustrated, he opened his eyes again. It had been a very long time since
he hadn't been able to meditate. Years and years. If Yoda had seen him like
this he'd have had to stand on his head for hours.
The maddening thing was he didn't understand why he'd been able to resist
all the other women he'd worked with but this one was different. He hadn't
been with a woman since the very early days of his joining the Rebellion--for
a variety of reasons. But there it was. And he'd begun to think, shortly
after the battle of Endor, that he was meant to live alone, celibate. It
seemed that the Force consumed almost all of his energy, and the need to
rebuild the knighthood sapped the rest. There was no time for relationships,
and no one he'd met that had made him wish otherwise.
When he stopped to think about it, it had been just over ten years since
he'd made love to a woman. Ten years.
Would he even remember what to do? He laughed aloud at that. He most
certainly had a good idea of what he wanted to do with Keely. Again, he tried
to turn the images away, but the feel of her skin under his hands was too
recent. He couldn't deny what his body was hungering for.
His penis became harder and harder at the thought of her body trembling
under his hands. His finger brushing over her nipple.
Blast!
Luke stood up and strained against the waves of desire he felt. Hand
clenched in frustrated fists. His body was aching for release... and he could
do that. But somehow he knew it wouldn't really help.
Luke returned to his rooms and in his bedroom he changed into his usual
uniform for exercise--dark knit pants and tunic. Strapping on his belt,
lightsaber clipped at his hip, he walked back out of the room.
"Artoo, I'm going to the gym. I'll be working out for a while. If anyone
needs me... tell them I'll be back in a couple of hours."
Artoo twittered back and he left his quarters.
The training facilities on Yavin IV were vast and varied. There were
large rooms for group lessons; there were smaller rooms for one on one
combat; there were rooms with special walls resistant to lightsaber cuts; and
rooms with obstacle courses of differing levels of difficulty.
Luke chose one of the swordcraft rooms. Seeing that it was empty, he
placed his hand over the locking mechanism, heard it softly click, and pushed
open the door. Stepping in, he locked the door behind him. Mostly he locked
it for safety--he could become quite oblivious when he worked with the saber.
But, he also locked it for privacy, he really didn't want to explain why he
was giving himself a stressful workout at this time of night.
From a cabinet built into the wall of the room, Luke selected a remote--a
particularly vicious remote. If he didn't block all of the robotic device's
fire, he'd soon be knocked unconscious. Perversely, he wondered if that
wouldn't be a bad thing.
He stripped off his tunic, hung it on a peg and moved to the center of
the room. Tossing the remote into the air, he activated it with the Force.
Immediately it began firing at him. His lightsaber activated at the same
moment it had begun firing, he deftly blocked each bolt.
For an hour he kept up a frenzied pace. At times feeling like he was
immersed in the Force, welcoming its power. Luke's swordsmanship skill had
grown so much since that day on the last Death Star. He was truly a master of
this skill. His compact body turning and diving. Parry and lunge. Grace and
power in his moves.
Then, his senses fully extended to be one with the Force, he felt Keely
wake. At first he wasn't sure, but he'd become attuned to the feeling of her
in the Force. Unfortunately, it was at this same moment that the remote
decided to fire. The bolt of stunning energy caught him in the shoulder.
"Sith!" Luke shouted into the empty room. His hand darting out, pushing
the remote away with the Force and deactivating it at the same time.
Rubbing his numb shoulder with one hand he switched off his lightsaber
with the other. Then, his Force sense recalled somewhat, he wondered if he
really had felt her.
Closing his eyes he reached out toward her again. She was awake. And
upset. Emotions tumbled over themselves as he seemed to see her sorting out
their encounter.
Then he could sense she was moving. There was determination in her sense.
He relaxed somewhat when he realized that she didn't seem self-destructive.
Suddenly different feelings. She was alone -- he felt her check, and
there was warmth. Oh, no, he thought.
Through her sense he knew she uninhibited and pulsing with sexual energy.
He tried to recall his probe, but the sheer power of her sense kept him
enthralled.
His body began responding in kind. There was no way he could ignore it
this time--her emotions left no option.
He loosened his pants and took out the straining organ. Taking it in his
in his hand he felt it's stiff rigidity. His Force sense told him that she
was exploring her own body.
Closing his eyes to delete all sensations except those he was feeling
from her, his hand moved in rhythm to the waves he felt. The pressure built
upon itself, until he felt her mind soar and the retract as she climaxed.
Very quickly he was there as well. With a cry he spilled onto the floor
of the gym. His breath loud and ragged in his ears.
When he was able to breath normally he turned toward the door and
retrieved his tunic. Grabbing a towel, he tossed it over the slickness on the
floor. He'd have a droid clean it up.
Sitting down on the single bench in the room, he tried to sort out what
had just happened. He pulled his tunic back over his head and wondered.
Had she just done what he thought she had? He imagined most girls and
women had the same needs as men, but this was different. She had definitely
been thinking about him. A shiver went up his spine. She had been thinking
about his hands and body as she had used her own hands to pleasure herself.
Did this mean she really did find him attractive? That she hadn't
responded the way she had last night because he was her teacher? That she
really did want him as much as he wanted her?
He wanted to go to her, now, and find out. But he sensed she was on the
move again. He stood up, fastening his lightsaber back at his waist. He left
the room, walking down to the maintenance computer and requested (with some
embarrassment) a cleaning droid be sent to the room.
Turning back to his rooms, he decided that he would find her. But later,
after he'd showered and changed.

part 5

Keely left the temple as quickly as she could. She had
no desire to run
into anyone--especially Master Skywalker, so she made her
escape as
stealthily as possible.
Once in the jungle she started to jog on the trail. Not
really paying
attention to where she was going, she just followed the
well worn path in
front of her. Her body started to loosen up and she felt
some of the tension
slip away as she settled into her pace.
She'd been running for over an hour. Sweat drenched,
but feeling so much
more centered than she had been for days. She knew that she
had made the
right decision. Keely slowed when she heard water ahead,
and turned off the
path to find the waterfall she remembered was there. As she
stepped into the
jungle clearing she startled a small flock of bright birds,
which burst from
the bush into the sky. She watched them for a moment and
then stepped closer
to the falls.
Cupping her hands she scooped up some of the cold water
and splashed it
over her face, then scooped up more and took a drink. The
water was sweet and
clean. It made her shiver from it's cold, but it felt good
after her run.
Keely sat down on a nearby fallen tree and pulled off
her knapsack. She
had remembered to pack a few energy bars, and she opened
one of them now. Her
stomach grumbled and she laughed when she heard it. The
sound of her laughter
was strange in her ears.
How long had it been since she'd laughed? Had she
really been so
preoccupied with the disturbing thoughts of her Master? Had
she forgotten to
laugh?
She loved to laugh. She had been told that her laughter
was beautiful,
and that compliment had been precious. It was one of the
last things she
remembered her father telling her before he'd been captured
by the Empire.
She bit into the energy bar again, sobered somewhat by
thoughts of her
father. What would he have thought of her behavior? Would
he have been amused
or disappointed?
For that matter, how did she really feel about the
whole thing? Had she
really behaved as badly as she had thought? Hadn't he been
the one pulling
her closer?
The thought sent a shiver up her spine, the hairs at
the back of her head
standing on end.
No, don't go there.
She had to figure out what was going on. She had worked
with four other
male Jedi Masters at the Academy, but she had not thought
of any of them in
the way she thought about Master Skywalker.
Luke. Why shouldn't she use his name? At least to
herself? "Luke." She
said it outloud to see what it would sound like. She liked
it. She could
imagine calling him that..
Like a sickness that refused treatment her thoughts of
Luke spiraled
toward that moment in the jungle. His hands, his body, his
mouth.
"Damn." She sighed, closing the knapsack and ramming
her arms through the
straps. She stood up and again continued down the path.
Two hours later she was completely exhausted. She'd
found the paths that
lead toward the shore and had been running on the dry sand
for the last 45
minutes. Her legs wobbled as she stood catching her breath
on the palm strewn
beach.
Looking over the water, struggling to catch her breath,
she realized she
was too exhausted to go any further. Once she'd caught her
breath, she walked
back into the jungle a few meters and looked for a place to
settle in for the
rest of the day.
Once again the sound of water drew her, and she found a
brook making its
way to the ocean. She found a level place between two palm
trees. In less
than a half hour she'd made camp.
Sitting against the trunk of one of the palms, she
looked again at the
ocean. It's rhythms soothing her raw psyche.
Breathing deeply of the clean, damp air, she thought
again about her
situation.
She finally realized that nothing condemning had
happened. They had
kissed. He had asked her if she wanted him to stop. She had
run away.
She hadn't admitted her feelings--hadn't told him that
she wanted to feel
every inch of his skin under her tongue. The thought made
her juices rush
between her legs.
She sighed. She had to get this under control. Slowly,
analytically she
dissected the problem from every angle. She figured she
could remain at the
academy if she kept her distance from him. How she was
going to do that,
exactly, she wasn't sure, but there had to be a way.
Perhaps she could ask
Ander for help? She didn't need to tell him the exact
problem; he was her
classes leader, he was supposed to be an advocate for his
group. She was only
working with Luke in the martial arts classes now anyway. A
number of the
masters could work with her there--even some of the
advanced apprentices.
Yes. That's what she needed to do. Keep her distance.
Not let herself get
in a situation where it was just the two of them. And if
that didn't
work...she'd have to leave. That's pretty much all there
was to it. There was
no way she'd become a Jedi if Luke knew the full scope of
her feelings for
him. But, she'd cross that bridge when she came to it.
Feeling more at ease with her problem now, she closed
her eyes and
reached out with her feelings. Drawing the Force in to
herself she spiraled
into a meditative state. Finally at peace for the first
time in weeks.

Luke had returned to his quarters to find a message
waiting for him. He
waved his hand in the direction of his com unit and the
message began to play.
"Master Skywalker, this is Ander Jorash, I am concerned
about one of the
third-years. Would it be possible to speak with you? The
sooner the better I
think. I'll be in my quarters until the midday meal."
Luke looked at the com unit. The pit of his stomach had
dropped suddenly
and he felt the color drain from his face.
Did Ander know? Luke was sure that the third-year Ander
was worried about
was Keely. What had she told him?
Luke went to the com unit, took a deep breath and
called the group leader.
"Ander?"
"Yes, Master, thank you calling me back."
"Of course, Ander. What's going on?" Luke hoped he
sounded more relaxed
than he felt.
"Master, Keely left the temple this morning. She said
she had to get away
for a few days, and I told her it was fine. But now I'm not
so sure. I've
been replaying our conversation in my mind, and I think she
was very
troubled."
Luke tried not to groan. This was not good.
"I see," Luke said when he trusted himself to speak.
"Do you know what
the problem was?"
"No, Master. She seemed tense, nervous. I couldn't
touch her with my
senses. Her shields were solid. I was hoping you could
help. Or, if not you,
one of the other masters. I really don't think she should
be alone."
Luke swallowed the lump in his throat. What had this
young man seen in
Keely's face to make him so worried?
"Right, I'll take care of it personally, Ander. Thank
you for telling me.
Do you have any idea which way she was headed?" Luke was
still talking but
he'd moved off to his bedroom to grab a few things and pack
them into a
knapsack.
"Well," and Ander sounded nervous about this admission,
"I did follow her
to the edge of the jungle master. She was headed east. I
have no idea if she
kept going that way, because I came back here to contact
you."
"Well done, Ander. I'm going to go out and look for
her. Don't worry,
everything will be fine."
Luke heard the young man sigh relief, "Thank you Master
Skywalker, I knew
you'd know what to do."
If only, Luke thought.
"May the Force be with you Ander."
"And you, Master." The communication ended.
Luke hefted the knapsack onto his back and looked
around the room. He
should contact his assistant Tyra and tell her he'd be gone
for a while.
Leaving his rooms, he headed for the main entrance. He
found Tyra and
several other of the Masters huddled over a computer
terminal.
"Master Skywalker." Tyra greeted him.
"Tyra. I'm going to be away from the temple for a few
days. One of the
apprentices has gone off by herself and her group leader
feels she shouldn't
be alone."
"As you wish Master, but," Tyra steady personality
always accepted his
sometimes irregular behavior.
"Yes, Tyra?"
"We have just detected a sizable storm off the east
coast. It should make
landfall in less than a day."
Luke's brows knit as he thought about Keely being out
in the elements
during one of the planets infrequent but dangerously strong
storms.
"Well, then I guess I'd better get going. Tell Kyp to
take over my
classes tomorrow."
"Yes, Master."
Luke turned on his heel and jogged into the jungle.

part 6

Keely felt the sand under her bare feet. It was almost
too hot here in
the dry sand, but the heat worked wonders on her bruised
emotions. She felt
relaxed and at peace. Dressed in shorts and a short sleeve
knit top, she felt
the ocean breeze against her skin, and sighed.
She stopped and stretched. Then twisted her upper body
a half turn and
moved through the patterns of her favorite exercise.
Feeling each muscle take
over from the one before. Spreading her feet farther apart
she reached one
arm above her and the other to her side. She balanced on
her feet as she
stretched further and further then released the position
and moved to the
other side.
The slow motion stretches and balance exercises were
often grumbled about
by her classmates, but she loved them. To feel her body go
just a little
beyond what she thought it was capable of, to find that
balance. She had
attended some of the advanced classes and found that she
had a natural talent
for this kind of exercise.
She felt the Force around her--in the wind, in the
sand, in the ocean
before her. It sang to her and she smiled and continued to
move. Each
stretch, each balance slightly more difficult than the
last.

Luke had followed her trail with little difficulty.
She'd made no effort
to disguise it, and he wondered about that. Either she was
too
distracted--too upset, or she didn't think anyone would
follow her.
He was surprised by how much ground she had covered
though. He'd been
running nonstop for three hours when he heard the sound of
the waves. When he
crested a bluff above the beach he could see the dark
smudge of clouds on the
horizon. His stomach tightened at the look of it.
Luke knew he had to find her soon. It wouldn't be hard,
he could see one
of her boot print in the sandy soil in front of him. Trying
not to think
about what he should do once he found her, he started off
again.
Luke had used his power to shield his presence from her
as soon as he'd
left the temple. He'd figured that if she felt his presence
that she'd run
again, and he didn't have the time to let her do that. She
had to know about
the storm. She couldn't be defenseless when it struck the
shore.
Luke looked up again and his breath hissed between his
teeth. The storm
was even closer now. It would be here in less than an hour.
Did she sense it?
Had she already found shelter?
He stepped onto the sand from behind a huge old palm
tree. There she was.
Her eyes were closed and she was poised like some elegant
bird, one foot
resting on the knee of her other leg, arms extended above
her then stretching
behind her. He'd never been able to master that stance, he
thought with some
amusement.
He started walking toward her again. His eyes drinking
in the definition
of her legs, her stomach (which was peaking through the
space where her shirt
had moved up during her stretch) her arms--so strong, yet
graceful. Her hair
was unbound and blowing in the wind.
He felt the pull on his body. The yearning he'd wanted
to ignore. He felt
the stiffness in his organ as he walked slowly up the
beach. He didn't want
to frighten her, and he didn't really want her to stop
doing what she was
doing.
By the Force, she was beautiful!
Luke tried to settle his mind, and gave up. He'd just
have to hope she
didn't notice.
"Keely." He was only three meters away.
She yelped and her eyes shot open. Immediately, her
face drained of color
and she stepped back.
"Keely, it's all right." He tried to soothe, hands open
in front of him
in the age old gesture of truce.
"What..gods, what are you doing here?" She was gasping
as if he'd kicked
her in the stomach.
"Ander was worried about you...I was worried about
you." He took a step
closer. He saw a new expression in her eyes, and wondered
what she was
thinking. He didn't dare try to explore her with the Force
right now--she'd
bolt.
"You were worried." The statement hung in the air.
"Don't you think I can
take care of myself? Don't you remember the survival
mission?" She sounded
accusatory, and he was concerned. Even more he was
flustered by the reminder
of the survival mission. He hardly needed any coaxing to
remember that!
"Of course I think you can take care of yourself.
You're very gifted." He
stepped closer, and she still stepped back.
"But after last night..." there he'd said it. Her eye's
went wider and
she looked like a stunned gondark.
"Last night!" She shouted. He could see she was angry,
or at least wanted
to be angry. "Last night was nothing. Nothing! Do you think
I'm going to fall
apart because you kissed me?! Not even close!" She turned
her back on him and
walked away.
Luke stood on the beach dumbstruck. Then he remembered.
She had brought
herself to orgasm thinking about him. He had shared it. She
didn't know what
he had felt from her, but he knew for a certainty that she
wanted him.
Then he realized, she was using anger as a way to push
him away.
He followed her up the beach to her camp and saw her
stuffing her things
back into her knapsack. Luke felt the wind swirl around
behind him and
turning saw the black clouds darkening the water just off
shore. He didn't
have time for this.
"Keely, we have to find shelter." She looked up at him,
curiosity in her
eyes. Then she saw it. The monster clouds behind him.
He stepped closer, picking up her blanket to hand to
her when their
fingers touched.

She hissed and stumbled back. He had felt the charge
between them but
nothing like what she'd apparently felt.
"Just leave me alone." Her voice was low, even brutal.
Then she turned
again and ran into the jungle.

She sped away from him, not even feeling the branches
and leaves under
her bare feet. The feel of his touch still on her fingers.
Tears streamed
down her face.
She couldn't even be *that* close to him without
loosing her composure.
It was impossible. She'd never become a Jedi. She'd never
fully embrace the
power she might have had.
"Keely!" He shouted behind her. He'd just run for three
hours and she was
fresh. She ran like a cat through the jungle, not noticing
the wind building
in the tops of the trees.
For more than 10 minutes she outpaced him, but he was a
Jedi Master. She
knew her strength was leaving her, and the sound in the
trees had finally
gotten her attention. Worried now that the storm was really
something to be
wary of, she turned toward the sea. She was standing on a
precipice, on a
point above the water. The rain smashed into her with a
power not unlike a
bantha's charge.
She staggered back and leaned against a tree, the wind
whipping at her
clothes and her hair. Water stinging her eyes and mouth.
She couldn't breath.
The wind had sucked the air from her lungs, the water made
it impossible to
catch her breath.
And then he was there. His hands grasping her by the
waist and turning
her away from the storm. She stumbled into his arms and
gasped for breath.
Luke felt her cold wet skin under his hands. Moving one
arm under her
legs he picked her up and ran away from the edge of the
precipice.
Deeper under the cover of the trees he stopped and
seemed to be
listening. She looked up at him, she could tell he was
using the Force to
find shelter.
He moved again, inland. She felt the muscles of his
chest, arms and
abdomen under his clothes; the warmth of his body on her
cold skin.
Involuntarily, she pressed against him, seeking that
warmth.
He moved with determination, as if he knew exactly
where he wanted to go.
Soon they were inside a cave. She blinked in the sudden
darkness.
Listening to the shriek of the storm outside, she
shivered. Luke was
trying to catch his breath, his chest heaving. His nearness
became all
consuming, and she shivered again.
Then his lips were pressing on hers. A short passionate
kiss. He pulled
back and gasped again as he still tried to catch his
breath. Her mind was
reeling. She could just see his eyes in the dim light of
the cave. His
expression was intense.
He leaned in to kiss her again and this time she
responded. Arms wrapping
around his neck, light exploding behind her eyes. This time
the kiss was not
short. He seemed intent on devouring her, and she knew that
she was more than
willing to feed his hunger. His tongue licked her upper
lip, as if asking for
permission, and she gave it with a moan. He slipped his
tongue in and traced
her teeth and then searched for her tongue.
He was still holding her. Pressing her slight frame
against his stomach
and chest. His hands stroked her hips and her shoulder.
Their kiss became
more and more erotic.
Luke pulled away again. "By the Force Keely, I want you
so badly." He
breathed against her wet hair. His eyes squeezed tightly
against the
overwhelming sensations her body was causing in his.
His words sunk in. He seemed in pain. She looked up at
his face and even
in this dim light she could see him struggling.
She had never even seen him loose his temper. And here
he was, Jedi
composure shattered, because of her.
The concept gave her a thrill, and excited her past all
reckoning. Her
left hand traveled up and lightly pressed against his
chest. He seemed to
stifle a cry, but she could feel it under her hand. Gaining
confidence by the
moment, her hand continued to move up to touch his neck,
feeling the column
of his throat and the knot of his Adam's apple. Her touch
was light,
inexperienced, and he was soon trembling from the
overwhelming waves of need
he felt.
His lips descended on hers again with more pressure and
more need. She
tried to keep up, but she had brought him to the brink. He
was trying to
absorb her with his hands, arms and mouth.
"Luke," she gasped.


It took a moment for him to realize she'd called him by
name--not by his
title. "Yes?" His voice whispered back, almost afraid of
what she was going
to say.
Instead of speaking he felt her mind brush against his.
She wanted to use
the Force to communicate. Curious, he let down his shields
and invited her in.
Her soft touch glided over his senses and he saw
images, feelings. She
was asking him to make love to her. His body shuddered from
the depth of his
response.
Looking around the cave, he saw a level spot farther
back. The storm
continued to rage outside, but the opening of the cave was
perpendicular to
the wind. They would be safe here through the whole storm.
Gently, put her down, still holding her to him. He
kissed her again, this
time with a hint of things to come.
Then he stepped back and moved away from her, to the
back of the cave. He
removed his knapsack and opened it. Inside he found the
blanket he'd been
foresighted enough to pack. It was thin, but soft. He
spread it on the ground
and then waved his hands over several nearby rocks. They
began to glow with
an internal heat. The Force was part of everything, and a
master could call
it's energy in many forms.
He looked back at her, silhouetted against the cave
opening. He gestured
and she walked toward him as if in a dream.
When she was back in his arms they both sighed, and
then laughed. Things
had gotten very serious, very quickly. Their laughter was
letting some of the
tension drain away.
"Are you sure." He asked, mouth against her ear,
nuzzling.
"You have no idea." She responded, tilting her head
back to give him
access to her neck.
He wondered if he should tell her about the
morning--that indeed, he did
have some idea of what she was feeling for him. But wisely
decided to keep
that information to himself.
His hands moved to her waist. He rubbed the cool flesh
there. Not as cold
as it had been in the storm, he was happy to find. Her face
was hot, and that
heat was traveling throughout her body.
He slipped his hands under her shirt and found her
unbound breasts. She
cried out for an instant as the tips of his fingers brushed
over her nipples.
Then he covered each breast with his hands and she leaned
into him. His
erection was becoming a throbbing distraction, and he
hadn't even begun what
he wanted to do.
Using the Force, and telling himself that he would be
rewarded, he
lessened the tension in his groin and continued to
concentrate on pleasuring
her.
His hand moved in light patterns around and over the
sensitive flesh.
Then he pulled the shirt up, exposing her, and continued to
pull the shirt
until it was over her head. He tossed it to the ground. She
stood, slightly
vulnerable in front of him, and he held her eyes with his
own.
*Trust me* he whispered in her mind.
She closed her eyes, and his hands reached out again,
but this time they
cupped the sensitive flesh under their curves as his mouth
descended on the
left nipple. Again she cried out. Delighted with her
response, he ran his
tongue around the hard round skin and then sucked, very
gently to begin with,
then harder. He felt her legs wobble, her breath ragged.
Placing his hands on her shoulders he guided her down
to the blanket. She
still looked a little frightened, though determined, and he
reminded himself
to go even slower.
He pulled his soaking outer-tunic off, and leaned down
next to her.
Placing a hand on her flat stomach he stroked the smooth
skin. She made a
noise like a purring cat, and he smiled.
What he wouldn't do for her.
His hand traveled up to the breast he hadn't tasted
yet. He cupped it,
then licked the nipple. She gasped, and he blew across it.
Her shivers were
all the encouragement he needed. His lips locked on the
nipple and it's
surrounding pink and he sucked with a pulsing rhythm. She
started to cry out
in rhythm to his mouth and he made it faster and faster. He
felt her Force
sense change and the pressure from her start to build.
Before she had time to
think, he'd slipped his hand into her shorts and stroked
her with two strong
fingers.
Her scream echoed off the cave walls.
He left the fingers pressing against the swelling, wet
bud between her
legs and let her feel the newness of the pressure from his
fingers for a
moment. Frozen in place, he marveled to feel her pulse
racing under his
fingertips. His mouth had even stopped it's ministrations.
Then he nudged the nipple with his tongue. She made a
sound like a growl
and moved against his fingers. She ground herself against
them. He lifted his
head away from her breast and concentrated on the feeling
of her slick petals
under his fingers.
He used the Force to pull her shorts over her hips and
down her legs.
Once naked, he gasped at her beauty. It was even more than
he had remembered.
He intentionally kept his fingers to their slow pace.
He felt the bud of
her lit swell and changed the pressure and stroked faster.
Once, twice, three
times, she screamed his name and he plunged the fingers
into her opening.
The feel of her folded around his fingers was
intoxicating. He reached in
as far as he could then brought the fingers back up and
over her clit--hard.
Her body convulsed and he did it again.
Her hands were reaching, grasping the blanket, and she
was throwing her
head from side to side.
"I need..." she moaned. "Need..." she moaned again, as
if she weren't
sure what it was she needed.
Luke knew.
He removed his hand from between her legs and tore his
shirt in his haste
to get it off. He kicked off his boots and peeled the tight
leggings off.
Tossing his belt with his lightsaber to the side. His
erection pulsing,
straining free.
He moved to her feet and kissed the tops of her knees.
She shivered and
he wondered if she was as ready as he had thought.

Part 7

His hands brushed past her knees and she shivered
again. Then she felt
his hand on top of her curls, pushing gently. She moaned
and lifted her hips
against his hand.
His other hand had slid between her thighs and was
trying to part her
legs. He reached out with the Force and enveloped her in a
feeling of warmth.
She relaxed and felt her body respond. She brought her
knees up, pulling them
apart and watched his expression as he gazed at her
intricate folds.
His eyes had gone dark and there was a hunger she would
never have
guessed he could possess. She watched him lean over and
place a kiss on her
mound. She felt his lips against the curls and slipped back
toward that mind
dizzying place she'd been moments before.
Just as he had slipped his fingers inside her before
she could comprehend
what he was doing, his tongue slipped down and into her
crevice. He lapped at
her pleasure center twice, she shouted the second time.
Then he placed a
long, delicious kiss on the lips of her opening.
She was throbbing. Clawing at the blanket again, trying
to push her hips
against him. A fresh burst of liquid between those lips and
he groaned
against the wetness.
His eyes opened as he moved closer to her. He still
seemed hesitant. She
saw his erection for the first time and quickly quenched
the shock she felt.
She'd never seen a man naked before. His organ was so
rigid, so hard looking.
It was difficult to believe it wouldn't hurt.
He reached for her right hand and brought it to his
penis. She touched
him gently, wrapping her hand around the shaft. He moaned
again and his head
flew back. Her fingers traced the skin, up and down,
finding the groove
around the glans particularly fascinating. What pleased her
most was how soft
the skin was--softer than any silk.
It twitched under her hand and she looked back at his
face. He was
fighting against something, she could tell. She opened her
mind to him again
and suddenly there were images of her body shaded by
unbelievable desire.
She laid back against the blanket, certain now that she
wanted to see him
inside her.
*Now* she whispered in his mind.
Luke looked at her again, and placing his hands on her
hips he slipped
the tip of his shaft inside her tight opening. Then, with
exquisite control
he pushed his way inside.
Farther and farther. She felt him stop and closed her
eyes. He was
filling her very nicely, but she knew there was more to fit
in.
She felt his right hand slide between her leg and his
hips. He began
rubbing her clit with quick deft motion. She was instantly
consumed by waves
of light and a roaring sound in her ears. Then swiftly he
was pushing past
her barrier and she felt his hips against the inside of her
thighs. They both
screamed each other's names.

He couldn't control it any more. It felt *so* good. All
thoughts of right
and wrong, his life as a Master, her life as an apprentice
flew from his
mind. He was filled with the primal need to move inside
her--to join his body
to hers.
His rhythm was slow to begin, but then, when she
started to lift her hips
and invited him deeper he thrust faster and faster. His
mind now completely
unshielded, as was hers. They moved together in that
ancient dance.
Luke felt the tingle at the tip, spreading to the rest
of his shaft. He
brought a hand up to her breast and gently squeezed the
nipple. Keely was
panting and moaning. Projecting this most intense of
feelings to her he
rammed against her body once more as ragged shouts came
from both of them as
he poured himself into her.

Keely reached up and grabbed his shoulders pulling him
down to her. Luke
buried his face in the side of her neck, struggling to
catch his breath. She
wrapped her arms and legs around him and squeezed tighter.
"mmm." he mumbled against the side of her neck. There
were tears
trickling down the side of her face, but he hadn't notices.
Then he heard her
stifle a small sob and he shot up off her body, alarmed.
"Oh, Keely, did I hurt you?" His voice full of
tenderness as he pulled
out of her and moved to lay beside her. His hand reached
out and brushed the
tears from her face.
"No, Luke." She got out even though she was trying to
swallow the urge to
cry. How could she make him understand that her tears were
from sheer
joy--the joy of joining with him. He'd let her see
something in him no one
else had. And, gods, she had felt sensations she'd never
even dreamed of. It
was too much, and that's why the tears had begun to flow.
"No, I'm fine," she laughed, "I'm better than fine."
She reached out and
put her hand on his worried face. Through the contact she
sent him all the
thoughts and emotions she'd experienced in the short time
since they'd
entered the cave.
He leaned into her hand and smiled. "Well, all right
then. That's
different." He said aloud. Then he leaned over her and
kissed her. She pulled
him back down against her and he snuggled against her
shoulder. Sweet sleep
enveloped them both.

------
finis?