"Corellia: Making Up"
By: Elisia Melouet
Yelara Neerou

Location: Vengeance of Corellia, space
Date: Saris 4, 3 ABY

***

Elisia had promised Kace that she would at least attempt to make right what she had done. She knew that her actions had been extreme and provoked by anger and not a true wish to share her past. She let Kace know she was going to try to make amends and left him in the pilot's seat. She moved back to Kace's cabin and knocked on Yelara's door.

"Kace? Is that you?" Yelara called out as she walked over to the door and opened it. The smile gracing her face turned into a frown as she saw her young nemesis standing before her. The memories Elisia had implanted into her mind came flooding back, causing Yelara to look away in shame. "Elisia? What...what is it?" she asked gently.

"I came to apologize. I should not have thrust my memories upon you. It was rude and childish and an action of anger," she said carefully, having rehearsed the words for over an hour.

Yelara looked back at Elisia, stunned and almost wary of the apology. "You...I should be apologizing for my actions. I'm older and I should have known better." Yelara sighed and let the terse expression on her face relax into a smile. "Do you wanna come in?"

Elisia didn't want to, but she had promised Kace to smooth the waters. "Okay," she said quietly. She moved in, instantly regretting it. Yelara's touch was everywhere and it reminded her of what she had mentally witnessed.

Yelara stood by the door, wringing her hands nervously and trying to smile pleasantly. "Would you, uh, like anything? A drink, something to eat, even though I don't cook as well as you, I'm sure I can fix something edible."

"No," Elisia said and forced a smile to her face as she turned to face Yelara. "Listen, I know we both said some awful things. But we both love Kace and I know that at least for me, that is why. I...I didn't want to share him. He is the only one who has ever liked me for who I am, not for what I might be trained to do," she explained softly.

"I'm sorry I was so hurtful. I had no idea about your past!" Yelara walked up to Elisia, staring down at her with sorrowful eyes. "I'm glad you and Kace found each other. I may have been jealous myself, knowing his attentions would now be divided among the two of us, but you need him more than I do." Yelara placed a friendly hand on Elisia's shoulder, hoping touching her wouldn't send a rush of the dark memories through her again. "I won't stand in the way of what you and Kace have. I promise you that."

"What Kace and I have?" Elisia asked carefully. Kace had asked her not to say anything of his declaration of love. Had he changed his mind and told Yelara anyway?

"Yes. He's your master, and friend. I would never stand in the way of that," Yelara answered, pulling her hand off of Elisia's shoulder, noticing her hesitation. "You do consider him a friend, don't you? I mean, I assume a master and student must develop some sort of relationship, being together so much and for so long."

"Yes, I guess it is kind of symbiotic," she said thoughtfully. "I need Kace. I can't be trained by a Sith lord for I would be something awful. A Full fledged Jedi would never train me," Elisia said, trying to steer the conversation to safe waters.

"All this Jedi, force thing is foreign to me. I do know that it is a powerful gift you have. You've given me that firsthand knowledge yourself," Yelara said, her face growing tense as she recalled the memories of a young Elisia encountering suffering and tortures that should have been inflicted upon no one, especially not a child. "How old were you when...when all those things happened?" Yelara asked gently, hoping the question wouldn't stir up the same memories in Elisia's mind that were now in hers.

"Which thing?" Elisia said quietly sinking into a chair.

Yelara swallowed hard and reluctantly said, "The beatings...the rape." Yelara didn't want to look into Elisia's eyes; she didn't want to see the pain that would show through them as the events of her past surfaced in her mind. "You don't have to tell me anything if you don't want to. I just thought, well, I thought we could confide in each other...like friends."

"I was not yet thirteen," Elisia said with no emotion. "I was caught by slavers and sold to a small brothel that caters to...less accepted tastes." She looked down at her hand as if she could still see the ring.

Yelara furrowed her brow, disgust settling in her stomach and guilt as well. The disgust was from knowing that Elisia's life was shaped by her traumatic childhood, shaped in a way that would no doubt affect her always. The guilt was from knowing that she had fought so bitterly with the girl without first getting to know her, or realizing the struggles she had been through. Yelara would not have been so combative if she had known how much some of her words would hurt Elisia. "You're safe now, though. You don't ever have to worry about that happening again, especially now that you have Kace...and myself," Yelara said hesitantly, not knowing if Elisia was ready to accept her friendship.

"That unfortunately, does not seem to be true," Elisia said remembering killing the mercenary in the warehouse. Only Kace's arrival had prevented her eventual attack. The men had not had time to stun her. If Kace had really been meeting Yelara, she would have most likely suffered the fate again.

"I don't understand? Kace would never let you out of his sight; he'd protect you at all costs," Yelara answered, her hand reaching for Elisia's shoulder again, but she pulled it away slowly.

"He would for you," Elisia said, the feelings of hurt and anger rising quickly. She forced them back down. "He left me alone to find you," she said more carefully. "Only an observation link he was carrying warned him in time. If you had been in the bazaar, he would have taken the goggles off and would not have known."

"I...I tried to push him away, Elisia. I've tried to keep some distance between us but...I just can't do it anymore." Yelara walked over to the couch. She sat down slowly and stared blankly at the wall. "I didn't mean for your life to be put in jeopardy or your...body. I didn't know I had that effect on him."

"Well you do. He loves you. I wish I did not know this, but I do," she said quietly. She sank down beside Yelara. "I don't suppose you would share him?" she said half heartedly.

Yelara stared at Elisia, a small grin tugging at the corners of her mouth. "I know you care for him too, I mean, more than just as a friend or master," Yelara said gently.

Elisia nodded. "He is all I think of," she admitted softly.

"Me too," Yelara answered, placing her hand on Elisia's knee. "I don't want us to fight over him, Elisia, not anymore. I mean, if you think about it, we could sort of be like...sisters," Yelara said hesitantly, trying to judge what Elisia's reaction would be.

"What do you mean?" she asked. Her face showed her confusion.

"Well, I mean, if you need anyone to talk to, ever, I...could be that person," Yelara answered, glancing sideways at Elisia. "I mean, if you don't mind confiding in 'the other woman'."

"That does not solve the issue of Kace," Elisia pointed out.

Yelara pulled her hand away slowly and stared down at the floor. "Should we all have a little meeting of sorts? Would that solve things? It is always good to talk, even if it'll make all of us uncomfortable."

Elisia turned pale. "No, no we cannot do that," she said hurriedly. She had promised Kace to say nothing.

"Alright, we don't have to if you don't want to Elisia," Yelara said, trying to calm Elisia who seemed ready to panic. "We can just keep this whole thing to ourselves. I mean, that is what confidantes do," Yelara said with a reassuring smile. "He won't hear any of this from me."

Elisia breathed a sigh of relief. "We cannot be sisters. We love the same man," she pointed out.

"Well, can we at least try and be civil, even if it's just around Kace? I can see how much it pains him when we quarrel," Yelara added, almost pleading with Elisia. "I understand now why you were so hostile towards me, but...I can see now you are more mature than your years. I should never have insulted you about being a child. If you can love a man like Kace, then you are far more than just a child. I'd even go so far as to say, you're a young, beautiful woman," Yelara said, with a grin.

Elisia thought for a long moment. "I can be civil," she finally agreed. "I am sorry that I gave you my memories. I really am, they are not good memories." She had finally begun to feel remorse for such an action.

Yelara stiffened as the memories resurfaced, but she managed to push them back and relax her tense muscles. "It's quite alright, Elisia. At least now, I understand you better." Yelara rose from the couch and walked towards the kitchen to get a drink, as well as to ease the tension that had just been created. "Are you sure you don't want a drink?"

"No, I should go before Kace returns." Elisia stood. "I hope the rest of your journey is pleasant," she said quietly and headed out of the room.

Yelara tried to stop Elisia, taking a deep breath and preparing to call out her name, but she thought it best to let her leave while they were still on good terms. She knew now that Elisia's jealousy was not merely because of an infatuation, but that she truly loved Kace, or believed she did. She also realized that Elisia's hatred towards her was because she standing between them. Yelara began to worry for a moment. Elisia was a beautiful, intelligent young woman, one Kace could easily fall in love with. She feared that, even though her and Kace had proven their love physically, she could still lose him if she pushed him away even once. If she did, he now had someone to run to. That frightened Yelara most of all.

---

"New In Town"
By: Oot Kovan, Crimelord

Location: Space
Date: Saris 4, 3 ABY

***

"We are nearing the coordinates, Dame Kovan."

Oot Kovan, wearing a fitted black bodysuit despite her usual aversions to such style as she strode through the central section of her starship, smiled at the announcement. She ran a hand along one of her tails, the weave of gems adding an additional tactile sensation to the touch. She knew she was beautiful, even by human standards. She took great pains to maintain her appearance, and it usually paid off. There was still the odd human or near-human who would not succumb to her wiles, but they were easily dealt with in other ways.

The xenophobic needs of those wishing intimacy with only their own species was still an oddity to Oot. There was so much to be had at the hands, and other body parts, of those who were different. While her sexual needs and desires were still strong, she at least was able to present an air of self control to those around her. Unlike some. Unlike one of her competitors operating in the sector where her fleet was about to appear.

She knew of Dargus Kandran. One did not run a criminal organization without such knowledge. She knew of his appetites and needs. And, she knew that they would be his weakness. He would no more pass up an opportunity for a business venture that offered a lucrative payoff than he would a bared thigh offering a different sort of payoff. The rumors indicated that Kandran could lie with women without end and never tire. The thought made Oot smile. She had never met a man who could last that long, even with genetic manipulation and libidic enhancers. She doubted that Dargus Kandran was any different. He was just a man, like every other man. But, as a crimelord, he had to project an image of deification to those around him. She knew he would, as she had in the past, cycle the rumors to enhance image and appearance. She had to wonder if the rumor of Dargus' grafting had been started by Dargus himself, or someone else. Though, it would be intriguing to see a mere man with the genitals of a Hutt.

"Leaving hyperspace now."

Oot turned to the droid speaking and nodded once. She didn't need to nod more than once. She didn't even need to nod. Around her, the sounds of mechanical life whirred and clicked as the ship dropped free of hyperspace. Her droids were efficient. And, it was hard for anyone to slip spies into her ranks. The droids were wiped and reloaded with specific programming each cycle. Any droids behaving in a manner inconsistent with their designed software were immediately removed and wiped.

There were few flesh and blood beings working for Oot. But those who were, offered infallible loyalty. She made certain they never had a reason to look elsewhere.

"Once the fleet is clear of hyperspace, set a course for Tae'Karada," Oot ordered. "Establish orbit on the far side of the planet from the Drogen shipyards. We don't want Lord Kandran getting jumpy." She knew the droids wouldn't appreciate her sarcasm, but it wasn't for their benefit.

Oot flashed a sign to Kambra Gant, her second in command and chief enforcer. He moved to her side as she retired to her office. "We must discuss our plans for deployment, Kambra. I want this to progress flawlessly."

---

Corellia: Training Session
By: Kace Mordin
Elisia Melouet

Location: Vengeance of Corellia en route to Corellia
Date: Saris 4, 3 ABY

***

Kace glanced at the time on the cockpit display. They would be arriving on Corellia today, but it would be later. They were making good time. And, it would be very nice to get out of the ship once there. Things had been feeling a little too close of late. He left the cockpit, their course still set, and headed toward the cabin Elisia was staying in.

He knocked on the door. "It's me," he said softly.

Elisia turned off the saber as she called. "Come in. Door's open." Her hair was wet from exertion. She had been pushing herself hard in her training, partly from boredom, partly to distract herself from the situation they all found themselves in.

Kace stepped through the door and smiled at Elisia. "Working hard, I see," he said. "How are you doing with the remote?" He couldn't help feeling the familiar pull toward her. Things still felt awkward after yesterday's admissions, but only because the three of them were still together on the ship. Once he and Elisia were alone again, he had a feeling things would feel normal again.

"I can't get the servo to work," she admitted. "I am not good with things of a engineering nature. I never went to school and I...I just don't seem to get along with things that have circuits." She was very aware of him. She couldn't enter a room he was in without remembering the warmth of him.

Kace nodded and moved to sit on the corner of the bed. "We can work on it together later," he said. "I'll walk through the steps with you. You pick things up easily, so you will probably learn quicker with me explaining." He looked around, fighting back the sudden urge to pull her into his arms. "How's your lightsaber work coming?"

"I think it is improving. Would you like to see?" She smiled up at him. "Or care to test me yourself?" She knew she had been able to go up three levels at least on the practice ball since he had last worked with her.

Kace smiled. "Let me see you with the remote first," he said. "And, then if you're up for it, we can cross blades." He pushed the bed back into the wall and moved to the corner. There were still four remotes left since his bout with the two unfortunate ones Elisia was trying to rebuild. He picked one up and set it into motion. "Show me what you've got," he said.

Elisia's saber came to life in her hands and her focus immediately moved from him to the ball. She opened her mind a little and focused strictly on the task. The ball always started out slowly and built the level depending on her defections. She did not move with the ball but let it circle around her. As the small bursts came from it, Elisia easily deflected them away, her body in a fluid motion. As the level built, she knew she had passed where last he had seen her work. She smiled and got rewarded for her distraction. A small yelp of pain was enough to focus her. She did not begin to have problems till the practice sphere began to fire out two rapid shots. She could not recover from the first quickly enough to deflect the second. Finally, she turned off the saber and looked up at him.

Kace nodded, a look that definitely conveyed that he was impressed clear on his face. "You're improving faster than I expected," he said. "I'm not sure if I want to go up against you." He moved out closer, igniting his own blade as he moved. "I think I see your problem with the two bolts at once. Step back and watch." He instructed the probe to return to the level where it stopped, and quickly dropped into a ready stance.

The probe circled around, similar to how it had with Elisia. It fired. Kace moved quickly, but not so fast she wouldn't be able to see. He crossed the blade across his body, catching both bolts together on the blade. He countered the next three with similar movements and then stepped back. "See?"

"That has to look easier than it is. How do you move your blade so quickly?" she said with a frown. She had struggled to keep her eyes on his movements and not on him.

Kace glanced at the lightsaber and then to Elisia. "Practice partly," he said. "And, I also use the Force to enhance my speed. If you keep the blade close to your body, your movements will be quicker than if you're extended."

"Show me." She lit her saber and stepped in front of him. She placed her saber in her fighting position, which now on observation was indeed not as close to her body as his. She waited for him to place her correctly.

Kace moved behind Elisia and positioned her hands and arms into the correct form. The close proximity of their bodies was distracting, and with his arms around her almost in an embrace, he wasn't sure if the move was a wise one if they wanted to get anything completed. But, he couldn't deny that he liked it. "Like that," he said gently into her ear.

Elisia was totally focused on where he was placing her hands until he spoke. A tremor ran down her spine at the soft timbre of his voice. She swallowed quickly and tried to concentrate. Her words kind of stumbled out more than were spoken. "That feels awkward. I mean, having my hands so close. Doesn't it interfere with movement?" She turned her head to look up at him and she would have sworn her heart flipped over as their eyes met.

"You get used to it," he said, his eyes holding hers. "And, you really only need it when you have to block rapid shots. The rest of the time, you're doing great." He fought back the urge to touch her, to caress her cheek or her hair, to pull her close and kiss her. "I'm impressed."

"Really? I have been practicing hard. I...I don't what to disappoint you." She triggered off the saber and turned to look up at him. "I...I want you to be proud of me." She wanted more than that but was afraid to ask for it.

Kace smiled. "I am very proud of you," he said. "I just keep getting more proud of you."

A smile lit her face. For a moment, the youthful glee that she had constantly carried before the warehouse returned. She looked up and again felt like breathing was really hard. She went up on tip toe and kissed his cheek. It was not very satisfying and found herself trailing kisses to his lips.

Kace smiled as she kissed his face, but then responded hungrily when her lips met his. He slipped his arms around her and pulled her close, giving in to his love for her.

Elisia always felt safe close to Kace. When he returned her kiss and pulled her close, her arms slid around his neck. Being so much smaller than he, she was forced to remain on her tip toes. She could feel his love emanating from him and that fueled her own heart. Her tongue caressed his lightly, as if testing the water.

Kace let his tongue brush against hers, letting the passion of the kiss build until it nearly overwhelmed him. It was as if he couldn't get enough of her, couldn't bring her close enough, couldn't kiss her deep enough. The kiss finally broke, leaving them both gasping for air. He looked down into her eyes, his own shining brilliantly in the light of her room. "Wow," he said softly.

"I think I like that," she whispered up at him. Her heart was racing. Whenever they kissed, they connected not only physically, but she swore they embraced mentally as well. It was a strange and overwhelming sensation.

"I know I do," he said. "And, I know I want to do a lot more of it with you."

"I am not doing anything," she whispered. Her eyes were locked with his, lost in the smokey essence that seemed to swirl there when he was close to her.

Momentary confusion flashed across Kace's face as he tried to make sense of her words. He wasn't sure if she was trying to tell him she didn't want to do anything, or if she were admitting that she wasn't doing anything that was making any of what was happening happen. He leaned close and kissed her gently, loving the gentle touch of her lips against his.

Elisia returned the kiss, wanting more and fearing that same need. However, the kissing she liked. She had never been kissed until Kace. She liked the gentle feel of his lips, the firm control when his kiss deepened. The feel of his hand, hot against her back. Her hand tangled in his hair as she deepened the kiss once again.

When the kiss finally broke several moments later, many very passionate, heart-pounding moments, Kace found himself smiling again. "I could do that all day," he said. "If my whole day could be just kissing you and holding you close, I'd be a very happy man."

"We have no where to go," she pointed out with a mischievous grin. She got down off her toes. "It sounds much more fun than working with a practice ball servo."

Kace grinned. "We should be getting to Corellia later today," he said, "but that's not for awhile. And, it does sound much more fun. I would rather spend time close to you than watching you practice with the remote, even though you look very very nice practicing with the remote."

A thought brought a frown to her face. "I forgot, Yelara might come looking for you." She stepped back, she had forgotten Yelara until he had mentioned Corellia. She took the practice ball and put it on the table. Maybe they should work on the servo after all.

"Yelara knows we're training," he said. "We'll be okay in here for at least three hours or so." He grinned, hoping she wasn't completely turned away from the idea of being close to him for awhile.

"Really?" She looked at him hopefully. She had liked him holding her. When they had slept in each others arms, it had been the first time that dreams did not haunt her sleep. She moved back to him. "You really do want to be with...me?" Her eyes held the insecurity she was feeling. "I mean, Yelara is a woman and...I am just learning."

Kace smiled. "And, you're doing a good job learning," he said. "And, yes, I want to be with you. I do love you both, but I want to be with you. I really want to be with you."

She smiled again and moved back to him. She kissed him with youthful exuberance and relief. She wanted to wipe any longing for Yelara away. She wanted him to only want her in his life and in his arms. She never thought that just kissing someone could be so pleasurable. She could do this for the whole three hours.

After the kiss broke again, Kace pulled the bed down. He looked at her and grinned. "I hope you don't mind," he said. "I think we'll get tired if we're standing and kissing for the next three hours."

Her heart leaped when he pulled down the bed. But his point was well made. It was hard to stay on her tiptoes. "Okay." She moved over to the bed and sat down. It seemed different with the bed somehow. The memory of his hands on her body as Yelara caused a shiver of pleasure to run through her. Then again, it might be better.

Kace sat next to her, his eyes on hers. He smiled and leaned close to kiss her neck and throat, and then up to her lips. His hands went around to her back to pull her gently to him again. Sitting on the bed was a little awkward, but not so much as her standing on her tip toes just to reach him.

Elisia loved the feel of his hands and lips. She moved around so she was sitting in his lap. She returned his kisses and more tentatively his caresses. Her heart was pounding. The more they kissed, the more she lost all other thought but of this time, this place, this moment.

Kace had decided to keep his hands in the safer places, to not push things too far. But, the more he lost himself to what they were doing, the harder it was to keep his hands from just going wherever they ended up. He closed his eyes and brought his hands to her face, caressing Elisia's cheeks and chin, feeling safe that his hands wouldn't be going where they wanted to go. Not yet, he told himself through the fog, as much as you want to, not yet.

Elisia's hands found their way under his shirt. Her hands moved across the smoothness of his chest, loving the warm masculinity of him. When his hands cupped her face, she smiled and pushed him backwards on the bed. Their position made it hard to touch and hold him.

Kace looked up into Elisia's eyes, loving the feelings her hands were creating as they touched his skin. He allowed his hands to move down her body, touching her sides and arms, and then across her stomach. His heart was beating so hard and fast, he knew she had to be able to feel it. He loved her so much, she was sure he was going to burst. "I love you," he whispered.

"I love you too." She loved this. This being close, this touching one another. She knew what this led to, and a part of her was terrified. But now she had the sensations from Yelara to help combat that. She knew Kace wouldn't hurt her. "I - I didn't know that touching someone could be so wonderful," she admitted shyly before nibbling on his ear gently. Her hand ran across his stomach, feeling the muscles move under her touch.

Kace sighed softly, his eyes closed tight against the pleasurable sensations she was causing. "I didn't either," he said. He let his hands drift closer to the edge of her breasts, barely brushing against them as he ran his hands down to her hips, then over across her stomach again.

She moved so she laid across him. She looked down at him with a smile. "I am glad you don't know much more than me. Somehow, it makes me feel better," she confided. She liked his body against her full length. She felt warm and strange. Her body seemed to hum. She had never felt so alive.

Kace smiled, and smoothed her hair before kissing her. "I like it too," he said. It was amazing how light Elisia was, yet her weight pressed down against him was such a wonderful, tangible, amazing feeling. It was like being smothered with sheer joy. As she lay on top of him, her body pressed against his, he had to wonder if she had any doubts about how much he wanted to be with her. He knew he couldn't hide that from her.

"I want to be with you," she answered his thoughts and hers too. "But I am scared too. I know...that I shouldn't be. I mean, I know you would never hurt me, but..." She kissed him rather than saying anymore. Her heart was beating so rapidly she thought it would jump from her chest.

When the kiss broke, Kace looked into her eyes. "We'll go slowly," he said. "We don't have to do anything you don't feel comfortable doing, or ready to do."

She nodded and kissed him more gently. She let down the barriers they both kept in place and just experienced his hands, his lips. She wanted to be his in all ways, she wanted the memories to be her own.

Kace let his hands move closer to her breasts, touching gently, hesitantly. He kissed her lips and face, throat and shoulders. He couldn't believe how wonderful being just this close with her felt; he couldn't even imagine what making love with Elisia would be like. He knew he wanted that, but knew he didn't want to rush it. If she was ready, they would...if not, they would just enjoy touching and kissing. He definitely liked touching her, the feeling of her skin, or even her tank top, was wonderful.

Elisia moaned against his lips. She wanted more but she didn't know what she should do or what exactly it was that she wanted. She sat up straddling him and looked down. Her lips felt swollen from his kisses and parts of her actually ached. She smiled down at him and slowly helped him remove his shirt. She slid back down slowly, trailing kisses up his chest to his lips once again.

Her kisses against his bare skin sent a shiver down his spine. Kace looked down and saw that Elisia was looking up into his eyes as she kissed his chest again. He gave her an approving smile. He trailed his hands up her sides again, this time moving them to her breasts to touch and caress. He looked to her eyes to make sure she was still okay.

Elisia loved the feel of him. When his hands reached her breasts, a moment of panic hit her, but the feel was so luscious that she pushed it away. Wanting him to feel as good as he was making her feel, she trailed kisses back to his own nipples and kissed them experimentally to see if it elicited a response. She could feel the hardness of him between her legs where she straddled him. It felt right somehow.

Kace gasped as Elisia's lips touched his nipples. He heard himself moan against the sensations she was making in him. He brushed his fingers over her nipples, feeling them stiffen beneath his touch. Every movement she made went through him like fire, every touch threatened to send him to new heights of pleasure. The heat being generated by their bodies was intense. He moved his hands to the base of her top, brushing a hand along the hem, lifting it slightly to touch her stomach and belly button.

Elisia's eyes closed from the echoing sensations. However, she grinned at his soft moan. She became a little braver and sucked the nipple into her mouth as his hand moved to her top. She did not tense and she did not move his hands. She was lost in the building sensation. She squirmed against him, the ache between her thighs growing more intense.

Kace lifted the shirt higher when he knew that Elisia was okay with going further. His fingers played across her skin as he lifted it up to her breasts. He stopped there, not wanting to stop her from what she was doing to his chest. The feelings were wonderful. He let his hands continue to caress and touch, his movements bolder than before.

Elisia trailed kisses back up his neck and to his mouth. Her hips squirmed against him, liking the feel of him there. She moaned at the movement and at what his hands were doing. "I don't know what to do," she whispered in his ear before nibbling on it gently.

Kace kissed her gently, and then lifted the shirt away. He moaned as she shifted her weight, sending a wave of pleasure through him. He looked at her, straddling him as she was. He touched her breasts, enjoying the feel of them. He could tell that Elisia enjoyed the touch as well. He pulled himself up and kissed them tenderly, sucking in her nipples and sending noticeable waves of pleasure through her. He looked up into her eyes. "I want to make love to you," he said, barely a whisper. "If that's what you want."

Elisia moaned in delight as his lips touched her breasts. Her hands unconsciously had tangled in his hair holding him close. When he finally looked up at her and spoke she was so lost in the sensations it took a moment to answer. "I want to. But...I am a little scared," she admitted. "I am afraid I will disappoint you." Her words felt strange against the sensations coursing through her body.

Kace smiled, and kissed her gently. "Not a chance of that," he said. "Nothing you could do would ever disappoint me. We don't have to if you don't want to, if you're not ready. We can just stay here and hold each other."

"I think I will explode if we just keep doing this," she pointed out with a breathless laugh. "And it isn't like...like you haven't made love to me before. I just don't know what I am supposed to do." She didn't realize that what she was doing already was really part of making love to him.

"You're doing a wonderful job so far," he said. "And, I want to make love to you, to you in your body. I want it to be just us together, joined as one."

She leaned down and kissed him passionately. It was the only answer she was capable of giving him. Words had failed her utterly. Her hands tangled in his hair as her tongue caressed his. She pressed her young body to his, loving the feel of his chest against her bare breasts.

As they kissed, Kace slid a hand down Elisia's body to gently caress her inner thighs. His mind was swirling with need and desire, his body filled with his love for her and soaking in hers for him. He let his fingers brush tentatively between Elisia's legs.

Elisia moaned softly against his ear. His hands felt so delicious. Warnings were screaming at the back of her mind. She tried desperately to force them away. She knew that unless she could, they could not finish what they had started. She desperately wanted to finish what they started. She slid off his body to lie beside him. Her own hands wandering a little more bravely.

Kace let his hands be a little more assertive, touching and caressing with need, to fill Elisia with pleasure their sole goal. He shifted to where he could kiss her again, alternating between her mouth and breasts. They would need to remove their clothes soon. He felt his arousal increase even more as he thought about making love to Elisia, to be inside of her, joined with her, to be able to share his love with her so intimately.

Elisia felt she was going mad. So much pleasure from the smallest of caresses, the lightest of touches. His mouth at her breast caused soft moans to escape and she pressed his head to her. The warnings faded away as the sensations continued to build in her. Her hand slid along the inside of his waistband. She slowly slid down across the outside of his pants to touch him hesitantly.

Kace moaned as he felt Elisia's touch. He was ready to explode, mind and body threatening to burst in a shower of light and energy. He kissed her again, letting their tongues dance as he moved his hands to the waistband of her pants. He eased the fabric down her hips, wishing it were possible to just make their clothes disappear.

Elisia closed her eyes as he removed her clothing. She trembled both from pleasure and a touch of reoccurring fear. His hands felt like fire even as they trailed down her body removing her clothing. Taking a deep breath when he suddenly was still, she opened an eye. She lay naked before him and very very aware of it.

Kace moved close, his touch careful and gentle. He kissed Elisia slowly. "You are a very beautiful young woman," he said. He could see the hesitation and fear in her eyes. "Are you still okay with this?"

"I - I don't want to stop. But...I am having a hard time keeping the other memories at bay," she admitted. "Isn't there a way to shut them off?" She squirmed against him, not wanting to lose the heat that was building between them.

Kace held her close to him, feeling very much over dressed as he did. He kissed her. "I could try to block them for you," he said, "but I've never done something like that before. Or we could try to continue, and if anything happens, or you get afraid, just let me know."

"I don't want to stop," she whispered. Her hands tugged at his waistband to make her point. "Besides, I think that sharing you completely will get rid of them."

Kace kissed her again as he slid his hand between her legs again. She managed to unclasp his pants and pull them open. He heard himself gasp, just as she did when he found a very sensitive spot.

The feel of his hand on her mound brought a gasp from her lips followed by soft moans at his touch. She managed to push his pants down and his hand aside long enough to remove them. She looked at him appreciatively. Her hands came up his inner thighs and then with timid touch, she reached out and grasped him gently, exploring him with curiosity and passion. Her own breath caught in excitement as she heard his moan.

Kace kissed Elisia deeply, his hand still working between her thighs as she sent warm feelings through his body with each touch to his phallus. He could tell that she was physically ready, but he still wasn't sure about mentally. Though, with each moan that escaped her lips, he was more convinced of her readiness. "I think it's time," he said softly. "Are you ready?"

She nodded, unable to speak. His hands seemed to be producing pure magic and her body seemed to move against his hands of its own volition. She liked the feel of him, her hands wandering over him and caressing him. Her fingers learning how to touch him to evoke moans of pleasure from him as well. The ache inside had grown to the point where she would have agreed to most anything.

Kace kissed her again, a long, passionate kiss. Then, he moved himself so he was on top of her. He looked down into her eyes, his own filled with all his love for her. He kissed her again, enjoying the feeling of their bodies so close together. Then, as the kiss broke, with his eyes still held in hers, Kace slowly entered her.

Elisia arched against him and then froze. Her body went stiff. Her body was small and tight around him but it didn't hurt. However the weight and position forced the memories to surface and she froze. Her eyes clamped shut as she tried to push the memories down. The pleasure of his slow movement competed with the memories. She clung to him and moaned a strange combination of pleasure and fear.

Kace closed his eyes as the slow rhythm continued. The lovemaking felt wonderful, and was taking him places he hadn't expected to go again so soon. He loved that he was going there with Elisia. He could sense her fear. He leaned close. "I'm here with you," he whispered. "You're safe with me. I love you, Elisia, and I'll never hurt you."

His words and slow careful movements worked to help her push the fears away and slowly the sensations took precedence again. She relaxed and slowly her body began to move against him as the sensations began to build again. She reached up and pulled his lips down to hers, unable to speak still. She let her kiss convey her love and her legs wrapped about him. She felt suddenly as if she could not get close enough.

From her kiss and her movements, Kace knew that she was in the moment and not living in the past. He sped their pace a little more, kissing her lips and breasts, making sure she felt his love. He could feel things building, he knew a climax wouldn't be that far off, especially with her moving as she was. He gasped and let a moan of pleasure escape his lips. He knew his relationship with Elisia had changed again, but he liked the change. He liked how close she felt to him, as if she were practically a part of himself.

Elisia opened up not only her body to him as their lovemaking became more frenzied. She opened up her soul, touching his mind with her pleasure. She wanted him completely: Mind, Body and Soul. She moved in a frenzy, her soft moans only echoing the pleasure she was feeling and letting him touch mentally. She used her legs to move against him fully, pulling deeply with each thrust. It was as if the universe had stopped in that moment. The only thing there was was him and the pleasure he was creating within her. She had thought the sensations while attached to Yelara were intense, but it barely prepared her for the pleasure that was shooting through her body. Her young body pushed against him harder as the tension coiled within her, wanting something she did not yet understand. When the spring broke, her cries were barely silenced against his kiss as her body arched in pleasure and the universe became a spiral of colors and brilliant lights of pleasure.

As Elisia reached her climax, Kace was drawn right along with her, reaching his own. The experience was so much more powerful than he'd expected. The connection they shared, a connection much deeper than their physical joining or intense love for each other, magnified the pleasure to levels that could drive a being insane. The pleasure was so intense, for a nanosecond, it threatened to consume Kace. He nearly cried out, but the kiss kept him from making much more noise than moaning. His vision was filled with sparkles of light and streaks of color. He pulled Elisia to him, as close as he could get her.

Elisia clung to Kace, trembling. Speech was still beyond her at the moment. Her body clung to him in every way. Her legs and arms pulled him as close as she could. Her mind swirled with pleasure and emotions that she could not put words to. If ever she was asked, she would never be able to describe what she felt. Tears slowly began to trickle down her cheeks, though she had yet to open her eyes.

Kace held her close, not wanting to let go. He saw the tears, and kissed her gently. "I love you," he whispered.

"I love you, too," she whispered. Her eyes opened and she stared at him in wonder. "I didn't know it could be like that. I mean, with Yelara...I thought...I thought it was almost as good but this was..." She still couldn't find words.

Kace smiled and kissed her. "You are a beautiful lover," he said. "I didn't realize it could be like that. I...that was amazing."

She pushed him sideways so she could lay beside him. She laid her head on his arm. "You realize, you are stuck with me now," she whispered up to him. Her eyes were shining with love. A part of her had healed in the lovemaking and for the first time, a constant weight she had lived with seemed gone. It was replaced by a sense of fulfillment and love.

Kace smiled, his eyes glowing softly. "You mean that?" he asked. "I kind of like that idea."

She kissed him again, slowly and tenderly. "I have nowhere in the universe I would rather be." She snuggled tightly to him.

Kace smiled and let her get as close as she possibly could "I don't care where I am in the universe as long as you're there with me." He kissed her gently and wrapped his arms around her.

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