Bravado

Chapter 3


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She was humming. Not so loudly to draw his attention, but Maul could hear her just the same. After she had given him food, she had fled to her quarters again. He let her go, disinterested for the time being.

Maul finished reading the ships' logs before his curiosity finally led him to the corridor. Da'Kota. She had her back to the doorway and was changing out of her flightsuit. He had been right - the markings continued over her shoulder and stopped after about a hands' width. Some of it was gray, most of it was blue and it looked more like writing than drawings. When she saw him, the fear was there, in her eyes for a moment. Clutching the suit against herself, she turned, never breaking her gaze. Maul was impressed that she held her ground. She seemed more frail than that.

"What is that?" he gestured, getting control of his heartrate and breathing.

It took her a moment to understand the question. "I was singing. Words put to music," she explained cautiously.

"Singing," Maul repeated. "Interesting."

Da'Kota was far from stupid, but was definitely out of her element. For the first time, she wished she had paid more attention to the tutoring she had once callously ignored. Men she understood, but this was no ordinary man. "Is that why you are here?" Da'Kota asked.

"No." He advanced into the room. "Are you going to scream?"

She raised her eyebrows. "Do you expect me too?"

"No." Maul had shed his outer robe earlier, the temperature on the ship too warm for his liking. It took him only two steps to move around her bunk and effectively block any way out she had. If she had indeed wanted to run. Maul gripped her wrist with one hand and took the flightsuit from her, dropping it to the floor.

Da'Kota didn't flinch or blink or hardly breath. She was here of her own free accord, she remembered why. Her fear was turning to something else and she knew how easily she could loose herself.

"Men find you pleasing to look at?" he spoke quietly.

"Yes."

The shadow of a smile passed over his lips. "So do I."

Da'Kota tried to stop the shiver that ran through her, but it was visible anyway. "What do you want?"

"I'll tell you what I want, when I'm ready," Maul informed her, running his fingers through her hair. Then he traced the markings from her shoulder down, over her breast, memorizing the patterns and the feel of her skin. This was his indulgence, something he rarely allowed himself. "Did these hurt?" Maul whispered.

"Yes," she managed, shivering still, reason fading.

"Good," was his reply. The thought excited him. "Untie my robes."

Da'Kota followed his instructions, fumbling with the belt until it loosened. He impatiently shrugged it off.

His tattoos were far more complete, covering every bit of flesh. Solid muscle, toned, taunt. If she had ever doubted it, the doubt was gone. He was a warrior, nothing more, certainly nothing less. The heat from him wasn't something she expected, and his eyes . . . like embers. They burned into her, yet she couldn't look away. "You are not putting up much resistance, Aurian," he whispered, leaning close enough his lips grazed over her jawline.

Maul put his hands on her shoulders and urged her down. The faint memory of something stirred . . . Sidious had demanded it of him on occasion but not in recent years. His Master seemed to find it pleasing, so he should as well.

Da'Kota sank to her knees. She supposed she should be afraid. She wasn't. He was already hard and she wrapped her hand around him, stroking evenly, carefully. Tattooed, yes, intricately. He tired quickly of her using her hands on him and tugged at her hair. She leaned up and took him in her mouth slowly, using her hand as much as her tongue, bracing herself against his hip. He urged her on, fingers tangling in her hair as she moved up and down the length of his shaft.

"You don't have to be so meek," he growled down at her when she released him from her mouth. "You can't break it."

Da'Kota engulfed him again, dragging her bottom teeth up the length of him as she moved. Maul groaned, his grip in her hair tightening. She used her top teeth next and flicked her tongue across the head of his cock as she paused and started over again. He was close, the hold on her shoulder becoming painful. Da'Kota used her teeth again, stronger this time and he lost his control, eyes shut, head thrown back, hips moving rhythmically.

She didn't stop until he told her to. "Enough," he breathed, taking his hand from her hair. He was panting. Then, after a brief interlude, "Stand up."

Da'Kota didn't know why her legs were shaky. Or maybe, she did.

Maul caught hold of her, gripping her by the back of the neck and the forearm, amused by her sudden adulation. "How did I taste?" he whispered, leaning close. It disturbed him, that she had evoked this sudden need in him.

At least this time, she had the sense to say nothing. She stared back at him blankly. It was forced, a mask, and they both knew it.

"You are learning," Maul observed. "Good."

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