Sweetness floods my tongue as I drift between dreams and waking. My mouth works against something warm and soft, a taste so perfect it anchors me to this half-conscious state where pleasure exists without context. I don't want to wake up, don't want to lose this delicious sensation that's settled over me like a blanket.
A sharp knock interrupts my bliss, followed by Four Twenty's mechanical voice filtering through our quarters' door. "Ten minutes."
My eyes flutter open reluctantly, reality rushing in as consciousness takes hold. The source of that incredible taste becomes immediately, embarrassingly clear. I'm latched onto Vae's breast, my lips sealed around her maroon nipple like I've been nursing all night.
I jerk back, heat flooding my face as I meet Vae's gaze. She's propped up on one elbow, watching me with that predatory smile that walks the line between adoration and menace. Her free hand strokes my hair.
"You were sucking so hard I thought you were looking for milk," she says, her voice rich with amusement.
Heat rushes to my face as I realize what I've been doing in my sleep. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to…"
"No," she interrupts, one red finger pressing against my lips. "It was nice." Her smile widens as she motions to her chest. "You’re very fond of these, hmm?"
I can't help but glance down at them, perfect crimson curves that somehow manage to be both soft and firm in exactly the right proportions. "I mean, yeah. They're amazing."
Vae laughs, the sound warming me from the inside out. "I noticed. You were making the most adorable little sounds in your sleep."
I groan and bury my face in her shoulder. "Great. I'm a sleep-sucker.”
Vae's smile shifts into something more mischievous. "You just found it, didn't you?" She traces a finger along my jawline. "I woke up earlier, ready to pounce on you, absolutely turned on." Her eyes flicker with that dangerous light I've come to crave. "But you looked so peaceful and cute. I couldn't bring myself to wake you."
She sighs, her gaze drifting down to the obvious tent in the sheets. "And now we'll have to wait until after our mission."
I follow her gaze downward and grimace. "We have to wait, huh?"
"Yeah," she confirms, running a hand through her short black hair. "I'm almost disappointed.”
She slides gracefully from the bed, her naked crimson form catching the dim blue light from the viewport. "Come on, we're getting up and getting dressed."
Before I can even throw back the covers, I feel the familiar weightless sensation of her Force grip. My body lifts effortlessly into the air, hovering a few feet above our ridiculously oversized bed.
"Really?" I ask, unable to keep the amusement from my voice as I float helplessly.
Vae doesn't answer, instead focusing on dressing herself. Once she's clothed, her attention turns to me. My underclothes float from their drawer, sliding up my suspended legs as she manipulates them with invisible hands. My armor pieces follow, clasping themselves around my limbs with mechanical precision.
"This is always so weird," I comment as my chest plate secures itself with a satisfying click.
"Efficiency is important," she replies, guiding my boots onto my feet. "And I like dressing you. It reminds me that everything about you is mine to control."
The possessiveness in her voice sends a shiver down my spine that's equal parts excitement and trepidation. By the time my feet touch the floor again, I'm fully armored and ready for action.
"What's the mission again?" I ask, adjusting my shoulder plate slightly.
Vae steps over to the wall where my blaster hangs, retrieving it. She checks the power cell and sights before sliding it into my holster herself, her fingers lingering against my hip just a moment longer than necessary.
"We're silencing a witness," she says matter-of-factly while retrieving her lightsaber from its hidden compartment. "Some local on Poytta saw something they shouldn't have regarding an upcoming trial."
"Wait, silencing a witness?" My stomach drops a little. "Can't that get us in serious trouble?"
Vae's lips curl into that predatory smile I know so well as she clips her lightsaber to her belt. "No one cares about what happens on Poytta, Ty-Lar." She steps closer, adjusting my straps with unnecessary attention. "It's just a refueling stop with a single city. The galaxy is vast, and this rock is nothing but a speck in it."
I nod, swallowing my objections. This is the job. This is what we do now. I've killed before, and I'll kill again. It's just business in this galaxy.
‘Nothing Personal.’
"So what's the plan?" I ask, shifting mental gears into bounty hunter mode. "Quick in and out?"
"Exactly. Four Twenty will slice the door controls, we walk in, you put a blast him, I'll grab his head, and we're gone before anyone notices."
Something cold settles in my gut. The casual way we discuss ending someone's life. Not a criminal mastermind or slave trader this time. Just a witness who saw the wrong thing at the wrong time.
"Alright," I say quietly, unable to muster any enthusiasm. I try to rationalize it. Maybe this witness is some hardened criminal himself. Maybe he's done terrible things. But deep down, I know it doesn't matter. In this galaxy, being in the wrong place is reason enough to die.
Vae's eyes narrow slightly as she studies my face. She steps closer, her warm hand cupping my cheek. "What's wrong, my star?"
"Nothing," I lie, avoiding her gaze. "Just... tired."
Vae's eyes soften as she reads my expression despite my attempt to hide it. She leans in close, her breath warm against my ear.
"Once we get back to the ship and jump to hyperspace," she whispers, her voice a silky promise, "I'm going to take care of you all night. Every inch of you."
A shiver runs down my spine despite my moral reservations about the mission. Even though we literally just spent days in hyperspace doing nothing but having sex, some primal part of me still stirs at her words.
"I look forward to it," I manage, my voice rougher than intended.
Vae pulls back, satisfaction gleaming in her crimson eyes. She knows exactly what she's doing, using pleasure to distract me from my doubts. The worst part is that it works.
"Good, let's get this job done quickly, then."