In The Pink
chapter 3
The next four days passed uneventfully. Luke had to attend a tiring
series of meetings with the Governor and once he even ran into Lilian Nyn.
Luke thought it to be a mere accident. Lilian also pretended to be surprised,
but immediately took advantage of the situation, inviting Luke for a lunch
and questioning him about the Jedi, his family, being a hero and things
like that. Luke was a willing victim and answered all her questions.
“And what was it like to have blown up the Death Star?” the girl inquired,
sipping her orange juice.
“Um, it was nice... at first. Later on I got to know how peo people
I killed with that single hit, and from that time I started to feel the
other way about it.” Luke sighed at the bad memories. “Well, Lilian, this
was the 19th question. As we agreed, you can ask one more.”
“Ok, let me think...” The girl mused playing with her spoon. Suddenly
her pretty face lit up like a supernova, and her sparkling grey eyes boreepleeply into his. “How many women have you had in your life?”
“Besides my aunt and sister?” Luke tried to joke, hoping to escape this
awkward question.
“Nope. You exactly know what I mean.” Lilian smiled innocently.
“You are a cunning little one.”
“Of course I am. I inherited it from daddy,” the young woman agreed.
“But you still haven’t answered my question. You said you’d answer anything
I ask... so go ahead.”
“Ok, I give up!” Luke laughed. “Now let me see...” He seemed to be thinking
for a while, obviously counting, then finally said:
“Six.”
“Who were they?” Lilian continued inquiring.
Luke shook his head. “I said one question. You wanted a number. I told
you. Don’t want anything else, because you won’t get it. A gentleman never
speaks about his ex-lovers.”
Lilian looked disappointed. “Well, one thing is for sure, Luke. The
seventh will be a lucky one. I already envy her.”
“You shouldn’t,” the Jedi said. “I don’t think you should be thinking
about such things at your age, anyway.”
“Why? I bet you were not much older when you had your first,” the girl
replied.
“Got me.” Luke laughed then cast a glance at his chrono. “It’s already
15:00. I have to go. Mara’s waiting for me.”
“Oh, the little wife.” Lilian pouted. “I heard she was a fierce lady
who wouldn’t let you have your seventh, right?”
“No more question, no more answers.” Luke reminded her. “Thank you for
the lunch, Lilian, I liked the Asteranian cuisine very much.”
* * * * *
When Luke arrived at their apartment, Mara was nowhere to be found.
He decided to spend an hour in the bathtub. As soon as he sank into the
hot water, he fell asleep. No wonder, politics and governors’ daughters
were really tiresome.
That was how Mara found him half an hour later. He was lying fast asleep
in the tub, his boyish face cuter than ever, his hair tousled and wet,
his...
Uh-oh, Mara held her breath. I shouldn’t be here peeping him
like this... but how could I resist such a temptation? She shook her head.
No! What am I thinking again? The ex-Emperor’s Hand cannot be interested
in some nude farm boy! Especially not if that particular farm boy is called
Luke Skywalker! Get him out of your head, Jade! she shouted at herself,
then she cast a last glance at his tanned body, his relaxed muscles, his
large... Sithspit! she cursed and ran out of the refresher as if
a thousand krayt dragons had been chasing her.
* * * * * When Luke woke up in the tub, he remembered having had a very strange He dried himself, put on a peach-coloured bathrobe and exited the refresher. “Would you give me a hand?” she asked. “Why doyou you try it with the Force?” Luke wondered. “Because that would be an unnecessary use of the Force.” Mara turned “Ah, of course, turn around.” Luke ended the debate. When he started “That’s their problem.” Mara shrugged. “I went shopping today, but found “Okay, okay, I just mentioned it. Don’t take it to your heart.” “I won’t,” she answered, brushing her hair. She wanted to make a bun “No, please. Let it down,” he said. “Let it prevail and make all the “Wow! That was your first compliment as a husband, Skywalker!” Mara * * * * * The ballroom was larger than the New Republic Senate Chamber, all its When Luke entered the room holding Mara’s hand, all eyes focused on Where do they think they are? In some peep-show? If they don’t stop Calm down, Mara. Please, Luke sent her. It’s only because So you think that they don’t know black either? Mara referred The young Jedi couldn’t respond, because the governor rushed forward “What an honour to have you here, Ambassador Skywalker!” he greeted Yuck! Mara thought. “Thank you, Governor. It’s nice to be here,” “It is also nice to greet such a charming lady.” Nyn winked at Mara. Luke nodded. “Of course, Governor. I’m sure that Mara would gladly dance I’m going to kill you for this, Skywalker! she sent him, letting “Good evening, Miss Nyn,” Luke greeted her. “You look beautiful tonight.” “Thank you,” the girl replied. “But why are you calling me Miss Nyn? “I know, but I don’t want to attract any unwanted attention by being “I like being the cenof aof attention,” Lilian stated, then with a twinkle “I was just about to do so,” Luke answered with a smile. Meanwhile, Mara was desperately using the Force to maintain the image As soon as the orchestra stopped playing, Mara apologised and left the “A drink, lady?” an old valet asked her politely, holding a tray full “Why not? Give me one,” she replied and swallowed the drink in one gulp. * * * * * Twenty minutes later Luke realized that Mara was nowhere in the ballroom. As he approached Mara, he began to understand why she felt different. “Ah, Lukie!” she yelled at him and stretched out her arms. “My hubby “Mara, we are going back to the hotel,” Luke said seriously. “Whyyyyy? I’m just starting to enjoy myself!” she resisted. “You are drunk, Mara. If we stayed, you’d discredit yourself before When they got out of the huge garden of the Governor’s palace, they As soon as they entered their apartment, Luke helped Mara sit down on Shortly after that he called the room-service and ordered an extra-strong “Here, drink it.” He gave the cup to Mara. “No no no. I’m drinkin’ no caf. No way, farm boy.” She put the cup down. “Yeah? What?” Luke asked. “Youuuu,” she murmured, grabbing his tie and pulling his face to hers. Luke was struck by the realization that this woman wanted him. Truly “Hey, why don’t you kiss me, Lukie, I’m all yours,” Mara cooed. “Stop that, Mara. You don’t know what you are doing,” Luke replied. “I don’t want to!” Mara protested and tossed the cup back to Luke with “Then go sleep.” The man insisted and lifted Mara up. The woman took “Don’t leeeeave!” Mara pleaded, but Luke didn’t react. “I’m going to put you into a healing trance,” he said. “But I still
dream: it was Mara watching him while he was sleeping. Somehow Luke felt
as though it had been more than a mere dream. Nah! What am I thinking?
Mara would never be interested in me... In fact I’ve never met a person
more cold and indifferent than her. But why do I still feel as if she truly
had been here, watching me? I’m imagining things for sure.
In the adjacent bedroom he found Mara struggling to pull up the zipper
on the back of her dress.
around to face him, as if she had been lecturing him about the Jedi discipline.
“It is you who always insists that no one should use it for making their
everyday life easier. Now, would you help me or not?”
to fumble with her zipper, an electric jolt coursed through both of them.
They both stiffened for a second then pretended having felt nothing. “There,
you’re ready,” Luke muttered finally. “But you know... I don’t think that
our hosts will be pleased with your choice of colour. They would all be
wearing pink, violet or purple, and your green dress would be too conspicuous,
don’t you think?”
nothing appropriate for me... had I chosen a dress of pink or orange, those
terrible colours would only have ruined my evening. I want to enjoy myself
tonight, and that would be impossible in a pink dress!”
of it, but Luke took her hand and gently pulled the brush out of it.
ladies become green with envy. No one has such a beautiful hair... don’t
hide it.”
gave him a mischievous smile. “Okay, I’ll let it stay the way it is. Now
come on, farm boy, get dressed! I don’t want to be late for the party!”
walls painted light-orange. Rose garlands of all hues of pink hung from
the chandeliers, along with mauve ribbons of silk. The floor was made of
light pink marble polished to such a perfection that it mirrored the dancers’
swaying figures.
them, as though it had been Cinderella and her prince who had just arrived.
They looked exactly like a dream-couple of a fairy tale: Mara beautiful
like a princess, and Luke so handsome that it melted the present ladies’
hearts. They both had an inexplicable aura around them that made their
appearance even more enthralling.
ogling us like that, I...
of your dress. They don’t know the colour green.
to Luke’s outfit.
to welcome them with the biggesile ile Mara had ever seen.
him. “I’m so happy to finally have the chance to meet you, Lady Skywalker!”
He turned to Mara and kissed her hand.
she replied.
“May I have your first dance?” He glanced at Luke. “Of course only if your
husband agrees.”
with you.”
the fat and disgusting governor lead her onto the dance-floor.
As soon as Nyn and Mara started to dance, Lilian emerged from the crowd
having the intention of ‘entertaining’ Luke.
We’ve already agreed to call each other by our given names, right?”
too… intimate with you.”
in her grey eyes, she added: “When are you finally going to ask me for
a dance?”
of a woman enjoying herself. But amusement was the only thing she didn’t
feel. She became infuriated to see Luke having fun with the governor’s
little daughter. Sith! How dare he flirt with that adolescent little
tramp!
governor, saying that it was too hot in the room and she was too tired
to continue dancing. She walked out onto the huge terrace. The night was
cool, which she welcomed after having had to dance in the overheated hall.
She breathed deeply, trying to purge the annoying thought of Luke and Lilian
from her mind. She knew that her ‘husband’ was still dancing with that
shameless, spoiled brat. She turned around and looked into the ballroom.
Her anger rose every single second seeing Luke embracing Lilian tightly,
twirling her around. That son of a Sith!
How dare he? she fumed.
of crystal glasses.
Then her eyes wandered back to the Jedi and the Governor’s daughter. They
were actually laughing at something. They really seemed to hit if off well.
Too well - for Mara.
“Give me one more,” she told the valet.
He reached out to her with the Force and found her standing on the terrace.
Somehow she felt weak... somehow... different.
She was drunk.
is coming back for me! That can only mean one thing: you got bored with
sweet little Lilian, right?” Her arms encircled his neck, pulling his head
down to hers. “Kiss me, dear! Kiss me!” she pleaded.
the guests. If they see you like this, I’ll never live it down. Come on,
we are going through the garden. I really don’t want to attract attention.”
took a cab. In fact it was no easy task for Luke to get Mara into the cab,
since she stumbled by every step, but finally he managed it.
the couch, and rushed to the comm-unit to send an apologising message to
the governor for having left so early, telling that Mara had suddenly got
sick.
caf that was delivered in five minutes.
“But I’d like to have something else instead...”
“Kiss me, Jedi mine.”
wanted him!!! Had she been sane, she would never have admitted that to
him, but the drink loosened her tongue. Gods, she loves me, he thought
and suddenly felt an incredible desire to obey her and kiss her thoroughly.
But something held him back. I’d never take advantage of a drunk woman!
She’d kill me first thing in the morning!
“Here, drink this.”
a haste movement, which made the hot liquid land on Luke’s pants. “Oops.”
She started to giggle.
a few steps, then stumbled and fell into Luke’s arms chuckling, as though
nearly breaking her neck had been the most hilarious thing in the galaxy.
Luke picked her up and took her into the bedroom. “I said go sleep.” He
put her on the bed, pulled her shoes off and tucked her in.
can’t guarantee that you won’t have a hangover tomorrow.”