Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep - Being revamped!

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Chapter 15: Secrets Revealed

Lord Vader continued to prepare. They had been on Vjun for two standard months and still his preparations went on. When Ree questioned him, he merely shrugged and replied evasively. “The more I prepare now, the more likely I am to succeed. I have learned the mistake of impatience.”

Ree absorbed this bit of knowledge about him. It seemed hard to believe that the careful, calculating man who was her lover had ever been impetuous and reckless, but it seemed he had been, at least in his own view.

It was a stormy evening when he settled into the chair in front of the fire, the familiar brooding expression on his face. Ree continued to read, knowing that he would speak if he wished to, but willing to remain silent if that was what he needed. When he fell into these dark moods, she had learned to follow his lead. Sometimes he would speak, giving her little bits of information that she filed away, and sometimes he merely sat in silent contemplation.

He turned to her and for the first time she noticed a box – the box – in his lap. He held it up, his eyes locked on it. Then his eyes met hers; he swallowed hard and then offered it to her. “I think…” He cleared his throat. “I want you to see this,” he said. “You should know me before you risk your life for me.”

She stared at him, reluctant to take the offering. The source of his terrible sadness resided in that box, but she was not sure she wanted to know. He had loved, that she had surmised, he had loved very deeply and lost. Ree felt the deep stab of jealousy as she thought of him in another woman’s arms, though she knew it had been long ago. She did not care to contemplate what her jealousy might mean, so she thrust it away from her and reached out her hand, taking his box of secrets.

He got to his feet and put on his cloak. “I’ll be back later,” he told her, no longer meeting her gaze. “Take your time,” he said with a nod at the box.

Ree nodded in return, unable to speak.

When she heard the door close, she got up and went to the desk. She put the box down and looked at it without touching it for a moment. It was delicately carved, made of some type of dark wood that was not native to Vjun or any world she knew.

With a deep breath, she opened the box and stared inside. Two holocubes, a plait of hair, and a lightsaber hilt were all that rested within the box.

She lifted the braid, touching it softly, and recognized it at once as belonging to Vader. What it signified, she did not know, but it was precious to him for some reason and so it was precious to her. Putting it aside, she turned her attention to the lightsaber hilt.

Vader always wore a lightsaber at his belt. She had even been privileged to see him use it a few times in training sessions and had been awed at his fluid grace and deadly skill. The hilt in the box was of a different design, though by now she recognized his touch. The same stark beauty shone in this hilt as it did the one he wore now.

The two holocubes remained in the box. She picked up one and uneasily turned it on. Then she laughed in delight when she saw an image of a much younger Vader – Anakin – standing at the side of an older, shorter man with a beard and blue eyes. The two men seemed to be good friends, their eyes twinkling with some private amusement. Anakin was wearing the braid from the box, that saber hilt also resting on his hip. He wore a less severe version of the clothing he wore now, and the older man wore cream-colored tunics in the same cut. She recognized the clothing; she had seen some holos of Jedi Knights when she was a child and the older man looked very similar.

There was nothing to indicate the identity of the older man, but she knew he had been someone important to her lover. She wondered if he still lived, and if so, what he thought of Anakin. Would he support Anakin’s bid to gain the throne?

She turned her attention to the last holocubes. Gingerly she lifted it from the box and activated it. Immediately, the image of a beautiful young woman appeared. She had long brown hair, skillfully arranged in elaborate curls that swung about her shoulders. Her eyes were brown and her features delicate. A secret, smug smile tugged at her lips. The woman in the holo had been loved and she knew it. This, then, was Anakin’s love – the woman for whom he still mourned and called out for when he dreamed. This was the woman who had claimed his heart for all eternity, leaving only behind a shell for any other woman to enjoy.

Ree stared at the image for another moment and then turned it off, unable to bear it any longer.

Carefully, she replaced the four items in the box and closed it.

She vowed never to open it again.

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By the time Vader found the courage to return, it was well past the midnight hour. He opened the door, wondering if he would be greeted by a furious female or, even worse, tears. But neither awaited him when he walked in.

Ree was curled up in their bed, her hair loose in wanton waves that were draped over her own pillow and his as well. Her lips were slightly parted, as if in anticipation of his kiss. Her hand was reaching out to his side of the bed.

He quietly removed his clothing and slipped under the sheets that were warm with her body heat.

She snuggled up against him as soon as she sensed his presence. Throwing her arm over him, she murmured, “Anakin…”

He relaxed in her embrace, once again at ease. She could not be too angry if she was so warm and willing, waiting in their bed for him.

Suddenly, her eyes opened and she smiled sleepily at him. “I was wondering where you were.”

He brushed back her hair and smiled. “I was afraid…”

Ree laughed softly. “You fear nothing,” she replied.

“Everyone has fears,” he said solemnly.

The smile faded from her face and she pulled him into her arms. “Make love to me,” she pleaded.

Without answering, he groaned and then kissed her deeply. He felt her small hands trail down his chest to the erection that had been aroused merely by the sound of her sleepy, husky murmur. When her fingers closed around it, his hips thrust toward her, begging for more. Slowly, she stroked her hand up and down his flesh, lightly cupping him and then stroking once more.

He could do no more than moan out his approval of her methods. Anakin began to quiver as she began to kiss her way down his chest and belly. Her tongue swirled into his navel and then down the line of hair that led to his erection. She kissed all around his cock, but her lips did not touch the flesh that strained in her hand.

Soft laughter drifted up, teasing him, but he was beyond the point of caring. At last, he felt the heaven of her warm mouth close over him and he began to tremble anew.

Soft suction and the continued stroking of her hand threatened to undo him before he had given her pleasure, so with a last moan of contentment, he pulled her away and into his arms.

He moved so quickly that she barely had time to draw a breath. She was on her back, looking up at him. Anakin parted her legs and when his probing fingers were met with liquid heat, his eyes sparked wildly. Slowly, he inserted two fingers and let them brush that spot within her that made her crazed.

Avidly, he watched her respond to his touch; his eyes narrowed with concentration as he skillfully worked his fingers inside of her to bring her to orgasm. Just as she began to feel her climax ripple through her, he removed his fingers and pushed his cock inside; then the orgasm crashed over her, stunning her with its ferocity.

Grunting, he pulled back and then thrust in – hard. Lifting her knees, he opened her up to his fierce rhythm. Each stroke was precisely timed, hard and fast within her. His eyes rolled back in his head as he thrust into her over and over again. She arched up off the bed, meeting every thrust with one of her own.

His hand worked between them, teasing the flesh between her legs and before she had fully recovered from her first climax, another ripped through her.

This time he joined her and a triumphant shout erupted from him as his seed exploded inside of her.

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The next day, Anakin woke her up and grinned at her. “Wake up and get dressed,” he urged.

Blinking at him, she frowned. “Are we going somewhere?”

“No,” he replied, but would say no more.

Grumbling to herself, she reluctantly left the warm bed and threw on some clothes. Then she peered into the mirror and brushed her hair. He stood by the doorway the entire time, impatiently tapping his foot.

Ree scowled at him as she walked by. She heard him chuckle behind her and it did nothing to improve her mood.

Then they came to the study and he stopped her with a hand on her arm. “You should go in alone,” he said.

Puzzled, her heart beating fast, she shook her head. “No, I want you with me.”

The warmth in his eyes at her answer was worth any lack of privacy.

The door slid open and she immediately cried out. Her father was standing in the study, and by his side was her brother, Yantir. She threw herself into her father’s arms and he spun her around as he had done when she was a little girl. Then Yantir threw his arms around both of them, bringing them to a halt as he hugged them fiercely.

Anakin hung back, embarrassed and unsure by the doorway.

Ree finally stopped sobbing long enough to pull back and look at her father. He was a little pale, but otherwise looked good. Yantir looked no different, the impish gleam still in his eyes and his hair messy.

He reached out and ruffled her curls. “You look all grown up, brat!”

She stuck out her tongue, a habit from their childhood, while her father held her at arm’s length to get a good look at her. Slowly his eyes traveled up and down. “You look well enough,” he mumbled, as if surprised that she was not bruised and battered.

Ree turned and held out her hand to Anakin. “Lord Vader has taken good care of me, Da,” she said proudly. Then she grinned. “And I’ve taken good care of him, too.”

Her brother snorted in laughter and her father settled a quelling look on her that was ruined by the laughter in his eyes. “You’re just like your mother,” he scolded. “She never knew when to behave herself either!”

Her father turned his piercing gaze on Lord Vader. “I suppose we have you to thank for restoring our village,” he said.

“Except for Ylez,” Yantir remarked bitterly.

Vader’s cool blue gaze went to the younger man. “The persons responsible for her misfortune have been…taken care of,” he murmured.

Yantir’s eyes widened and then he nodded. “Good,” was all he said in reply to this bit of starling information.

Lord Vader bowed to both men as he would an equal. “And now, I must attend to other matters,” he said smoothly. Then he lifted Ree’s hand and placed a courtly kiss on the back of it. “I shall see you and your family at the evening meal?”

She nodded happily. “Yes, milord.”

His eyes twinkled. “Milord? I thought I had cured you of that habit,” he teased, ignoring the curious looks from her father and brother.

Ree shook her head, and then flashed him an impudent grin. “I fear I am quite stubborn, milord,” she replied, emphasizing his title.

He quirked one brow just before he turned to leave. He stopped at the door and looked over his shoulder at her. “We shall see about that, milady,” he promised.

And then Lord Vader was gone.


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