Pawn of Darkness

Chapter 9
Arianna tossed restlessly and tried once again to push the image of Obi-Wan sleeping in the next room from her mind. Several times she had dozed off and firmly convinced herself that he had been a dream, but as she made her way to the kitchen for a drink, a glance at the barstool where his royal blue uniform jacket still lay put that notion quickly out of her head. Once she had even tiptoed to the door of his room and listened to the soft sound of his breathing for several minutes. The temptation to simply turn the knob and slip quietly into bed beside him had almost been too much for her.
Even now she could still remember the heat of his body against hers, the weight of his arm thrown lazily across her waist, hear the sound of his hushed breathing in her ears and it made goosebumps form on her skin.
She was still awake, although she had long since stopped trying to block the images from her mind and instead let herself indulge in them when the dull grayness of dawn claimed the room. By the time full daylight played through the space, she heard the faint sounds of the water running in the next room. Her mind flew into overtime now, instead of images of him sleeping, the scene of him wet and naked in the shower played over and over again.
She was breathing a contented sigh and letting her imagination run away with her when she felt a tiny nudge at her unconsciousness, then the sound of his laughter filled her head.
I was hoping you were awake. His voice sounded in her head in a mirthful tone.
I thought we talked about this talking in my head. She sent back in the same tone, trying to block the embarrassment of being caught from her mind.
We did, but you started it this time. He answered.
She slowly threw back the blankets that covered her and stretched deeply. Selecting a low cut blue shirt and a pair of black pants she dressed quickly, ran a comb through her hair and made her way to the kitchen.
Upon opening the door, the sight before her made her knees weak. Obi-Wan stood at the cooking unit. Long sandy blond hair with red highlights was again pulled securely against the nape of his neck and hung almost past his bare shoulder blades. Hard, firm muscles rippled hypnotically as he moved in his food preparation. Reddish brown hair covered his upper chest and tapered off slowly over his abdomen until it trailed across his navel and continued u it it disappeared into his waistband. He hummed softly as he busily swept around the kitchen. Several pans made quiet hissing noises as the food inside them sizzled invitingly. The aroma of breakfast stirred her senses and made her realize how hungry she was.
" I hope you are hungry. " he said, cheerfully.
" I am starving. I can't believe you are making me breakfast. I can't remember the last time someone made me breakfast. " she answered, making her way to the bar.
She could swear she caught his smile fade and that look of jealousy mask his face for an instant, but it was gone too quickly to be sure. " Talius doesn't ever make you breakfast ? " he asked, trying to sound like he was making friendly conversation.
" No, he doesn't. " she said, as off-handedly as possible, letting him draw his own conclusion about their relationship.
" Well, I was always told breakfast was the most important meal of the day. " he said as he scooped various foods onto a plate and set it down in front of her, " So eat up. "
She looked at the plate and her mouth watered involuntarily. Everything there was cooked to its most perfect point. She greedily took the utensil he held out to her and began to devour the feast in front of her.
She hardly noticed him seating down beside her until his knee brushed gently against hers. The same now familiar jolt of electricity caught her off guard this time and nearly made her choke. She began coughing fiercely. Obi-Wan jumped up, quickly grabbed a glass and poured her some of her favorite Tanagio juice. He watched her closely as she took it and drank from it voraciously. His hand rested lightly on her shoulder and worried look slightly furrowed his brow.
" Are you all right ? " he asked, when she had finally finished coughing.
She waved him off with a quick, hoarse, " I'm fine. " and continued to drink her juice.
Neither said much else as they eat their breakfast hungrily. It took great restraint and concentration on her part not to reach out and touch him when she realized he was so close to her she could almost feel his body heat.
" I really should be getting back to my ship. " he announced finally as they were both clearing away the last morsels from their plates.
She tried desperately to hid the disappointment that twisted her chest suddenly. " I thought one of your men said you would be in port all week. "
" We are. I just need to make an appearance and gather up some things. I'll be back. " he assured her and the breath she hadn't realized she was holding was almost audible as it escaped her lips.