"Breakfast in Bed"

The Players: Paul Nighman, Jessalyn Valios

Introduction

Paul and Jessalyn have been together on Yavin now for several days.  Paul
has found it to be an interesting time.  Passionate and tempestuous,
gentle and soothing, and above all, surprisingly reassuring.  Jessalyn
seems indeed to be nearly a completely different person than when he knew
her on Palanhi.  But not all is well yet ... the truth about Shenner is
still a well kept secret that silently preys on Paul's subconscious.  But
this morning is one of quiet pleasure and dark delight, with no shadows
to mar the rising sun's light.

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It isn't certain to the Corellian what woke him before Jessalyn ... especially 
  considering her early hours. Perhaps it was the insomnia kicking in again. 
  He didn't like to conjecture on the ramifications of that assessment. It 
  suggested at pattern that Paul had no desire to propagate. Still, if he has 
  learned anything from these experiences, the main lesson is not to fight it. 
  Rising carefully so as not to disturb Jessalyn's sleep, the wee hours
  of the dawn were spent in quiet contemplation. Some of that reading
through a small archive he had picked up while on Duros ... the rest
gazing at Jessalyn as she slept. That study was decidedly worth his
while, and despite his assertions that he was no artist, he found himself
sketching her into his journal, along with his notes and sketches of
objects and places found on various digs. As the sun finally begins to
peek around the corner of the window, Paul stretches and places an 
  order with the kitchen, to be delivered upon request. He smirks slightly as 
  he disconnects the call, the origin of which was clear to the chef ... but 
  if the station didn't already have a pretty good idea of where he had been 
  spending his nights, well, it was too late now ...

The sunlight finally makes Jessalyn stir where she is sleeping. Turning over 
  onto her back and pulling the thin blankets with her, she stretches out her 
  long legs as her mouth opens in a yawn. She gradually becomes aware of her 
  surroundings, of Paul's rather awake presence nearby, and blinks her eyes 
  blearily open. "Mmm... you're up," she murmurs, sounding vaguely surprised.

Turning about, Paul smiles lopsidedly at Jessa, rising up to settle himself on 
  the bed by her side. He may have been up, but getting dressed hasn't 
  been of much interest, as he wears a green plush robe with the elegant 
  words, "Grand Palanhi Hotel" embroidered over the left breast pocket ... 
  clearly snitched. The sun streaming in the window illuminates him, causing a 
  glow about his outline as it skims his side and back. One hand reaches out 
  brush across Jessa's forehead, tugging stray red tendrils to each side. "So 
  are you," he murmurs softly.

Smiling slowly, Jessa concentrates for a moment on focusing her eyes, looking 
  up at him as her fingers curl around the blanket, pulling it up higher to 
  her chin. "Just barely," she muses, eyeing his sun-limned form and the way 
  his hair reflects the golden light. "What are you doing up so early?"

There is a small smirk at her unconscious gesture, Paul wondering to himself 
  it is due to shyness or a chill in the air. Resisting the urge to tug it 
  back down, his hand strokes across her brow one last time before returning 
  to his lap. With a nonchalant shrug he replies offhandedly, "Couldn't sleep 
  .... insomnia. It happens from time to time."

She nods her understanding, and suppresses an expression of worry, and finally 
  makes herself sit up, stretching her arms out in front of her -- a movement 
  which causes the blanket to drift back into her lap. "I understand," she 
  says simply, glancing at the window and widening her eyes. "I seemed to have 
  the opposite problem this morning," she adds wryly.

Smiling as her motions negate both of his suppositions, Paul murmurs softly, 
  "I better work on my deductive reasoning," his words more mumbled to himself 
  than spoken aloud. Leaning a touch closer a warm chuckle rumbles from deep 
  within him. "Oh, I don't know ... it isn't noon yet." Cocking his head to 
  one side, he watches the sunlight glint off copper highlights, glowing 
  against pale skin. "Ready for some breakfast?"

Too engrossed on pulling herself out of a groggy unawareness, Jessalyn doesn't 
  hear his mumbled words, and instead responds only to the request for 
  breakfast. "Yeah," she says quickly, already pushing back the blankets and 
  swinging her legs over the side of the bed. "Lemme order something real 
  quick."

There is a discreet knock at the door, and rising up, Paul plants a quick kiss 
  on her mouth before pushing her back against the bedclothes. "Don't bother, 
  it's here .... cover up," he suggests wryly as he pivots toward the door.

Jessalyn's eyes widen as he surprises her yet again, and she quickly climbs 
  back under the covers, clutching the blanket against her chest. "You ordered 
  food?" she asks accusingly yet playful, arching a brow and glancing toward 
  him. Her cheeks turn bright crimson.

Paul can't answer that question ... he's too busy answering the door. He has 
  at least the decency to only crack it open enough take the tray and thank 
  the invisible service person. He waits till the coast is clear, then opens 
  the door wider so the tray will actually fit through it. Pressing his back 
  against the control panel, the door shuts the rest of the way. Offering 
  Jessa that lopsided grin, Paul returns, "What, you think you're the only one 
  who knows how to order room service?" One brow quirks upward as he carries 
  the tray over, settling himself down in front and to the side of her once 
  again, the tray settling between them. He starts to remove the covers, 
  announcing each dish as it is presented. "Alright then, we have eggs 
  Florentine, some waffles with real trechet syrup, coffee, juice, bacon, 
  fruit .... did I miss anything? Oh, samol benedict. There."

She barely has time to recover her composure from being flustered at the 
  food's arrival, let alone at it's mere presence. Astonished at the rich 
  selection, especially of items Jessa's tried to deprive herself of in the 
  past, she can't help but feel her mouth watering. "Oh... my."

The smile grows devilish as that comment sounds like something she rasped at 
  him just the other night. "Well, I figured those cooked grains you seem so 
  fond of in the mornings should really be fed to the livestock ... thought 
  you deserved something a little more, ah, wholesome." Settling himself down 
  on his stomach, Paul smiles up at her winningly from the opposite side of 
  the tray, reaching for a piece of bacon and nibbling at it. "Delicious. Well 
  worth the bribe ...."

"Bribe?" Jessa inquires, brow arching as she reaches for a plate and begins 
  heaping waffles onto it. "And you call this wholesome, hotshot? This is a 
  big breakfast of suicide," she quips, delving into the meal rather eagerly 
  for one pretending to protest against it. She grins at him from across the 
  tray and blows him a kiss with her free hand.

Falling over backward, as her kiss impacts against him, Paul plays "dead" for 
  a moment before rising up on his elbows and winking. "You complaining about 
  my excellent culinary taste? I'll have you know that breakfast cost me a 
  bottle of pure imported Tretasta oil!" Brows rise dramatically, as if the 
  cost were too much to bear. "Besides, they say that breakfast is the most 
  important meal of the day ... might as well make it a decadent one as well."

After pausing long enough to swallow a mouthful of eggs, Jessalyn peers at him 
  curiously even as she reaches for a glass of juice. "Oh?" she asks. "And 
  what, pray tell, is Tretasta oil?"

Eyes widen, as if in shock. Shaking his head, Paul rises up, selecting one of 
  each of the Florentine and benedict, sliding them onto his plate and 
  subsequently into his mouth. He talks between bites, unwilling to spoil the 
  good food by talking while he chews. "It's only one of the most luscious and 
  rare cooking oils to be found ... located only on the deserts of Tamis, a 
  rare flowering tree that gives fruit only every five years, the essence of 
  which can be distilled down to the ambrosia ....." Golden brown hair swings 
  from side to side as he tsks softly at her ignorance, hazel eyes dancing 
  with humor.

Chuckling, Jessa shrugs, returning to her meal with a great deal of relish. "I 
  see, of course. I'm not any kind of culinary expert, so you'll just have to 
  forgive me," she teases, daring to bite into a sample of the bacon and 
  sighing with pleasure.

"Well, I'll think about it," he murmurs pensively, offering her a sample of 
  the eggs Florentine. "You know, maybe in a previous life I was a famous 
  chef?"

Jessalyn accepts the eggs Florentine eagerly, smiling over at him even as she 
  ponders that statement. "Maybe I was the princess you served," she adds 
  teasingly, her fork hovering in midair over the plate as she laughs at 
  herself.

Sputtering, Paul laughs richly, giving Jessalyn a dirty look. "Just so long as 
  I wasn't the chief eunuch, I guess I can deal with that ...." He picks up 
  the cup of coffee on his side, savoring it's flavor despite the fact that 
  caffeine is the last thing that he needs right now. He can feel the 
  weariness laying on him like a soaked jacket, but unfortunately there is no 
  way to shed it at the moment. He takes another draught of the potent liquid, 
  hoping that it will at least allow him to be somewhat alert if he has to be 
  awake.

"I'm sorry, I simply can't picture you as a eunuch," Jessa says wryly, arching 
  a brow at him as she finishes off her current plate of food. She leans back, 
  folding her hands over her stomach as if afraid it would explode if she 
  didn't. "You are so dangerous for me," she giggles, oblivious to his weary 
  struggle to remain alert.

Picking up the tray, Paul sets it aside, moving up the bed to settle himself 
  next to Jessa, one hand rubbing against her belly in a soothing gesture, 
  chuckling all the while. "Well, that was my dilemma too," he admits, not 
  able to conceive of being a eunuch, and grateful that he doesn't have to. 
  "You're with food," he teases lightly, his head settling on her shoulder 
  absently. He continues to rub gently before her words settle in, and raising 
  his head, one eyebrow quirks curiously. "Dangerous? Me? You jest."

Jessalyn tilts her head to return his gaze, her hands resting over his on top 
  of her belly, and chuckling softly at the jest, not allowing it to bring to 
  mind other painful memories. She nods affirmation, bending to kiss his 
  forehead. "Absolutely. Normally I can stay here and not worry about all 
  these wonderful temptations that seem to occur whenever you show up. You 
  might spoil me."

"Might? Might?! I think can and will are more accurate," he murmurs against 
  her arm. Hrrmmming softly to himself he adds, "Guess I better redouble my 
  efforts. You deserve spoiling." Weariness has his eyes fluttering closed, 
  but behind those lids, thoughts continue to run at a regular pace, not 
  slowing down for sleep or rest. He opens up those hazel eyes again, peering 
  up into Jessalyn's face and stifling a yawn. "I don't think that makes me 
  dangerous," he points out, "it just makes me a bad habit."

"That's merely your opinion, Dr. Nighman," Jessa says gently, smiling down at 
  him as she returns his gaze, reaching up a hand to brush the hair from his 
  eyes. "You're dangerous to me. You endanger me into actually enjoying life 
  for a change," she murmurs soothingly.

Paul simply gazes up into her face as Jessalyn's gentle fingers pass over his
  brow. "You don't enjoy life, do you ..." he says more than asks. It hadn't
  occurred to him before, but recalling her lack of personal pursuits other
  than work and now her training, it seems that the pronouncement must be true
  indeed if she confirms it so vocally.

Jessa's lips purse thoughtfully, not with any bitterness or regret, but simply
  a quiet self-evaluation as if she had not seriously thought about this
  before. She enjoys her work, her training, but she also uses them to drown
  out the fact that her life is so very empty of the other things she used to
  yearn for. Having given up her search for them, she's filled her life with
  other ways and found contentment... but not joy. She smiles, blinking slowly
  as her fingers linger against his forehead, and glances down at him once
  more. "Hmm... I haven't in a long while... no...."

His hazel gaze, golden and green, remains fixed to her face, watching the
  realization dawn palpably, and the ramifications and rationales thereof
  trickling down in it's wake. It's not that Paul has led such a joyous
  existence, but for the most part he found that he had taken the time to
  enjoy some of the pleasurable aspects that life had to offer, but the
  occurrences have been rare themselves, and often brief or shallow. "I'm
  sorry," he offers softly, in empathy and understanding moreso than being in
  any way at fault for this fact.

Not wanting a sullen mood to fall upon them, Jessalyn smiles softly at him and
  shakes her head, the backs of her fingers drifting down over his cheek as
  her pale green eyes meet his. "You certainly have nothing to be sorry for,"
  she chides, laughing softly. "If anything you've made me enjoy life more
  than I have in a very long time."

Her words bring a gentle flush to the Corellian's features, one hand reaching
  up to caress her arm lightly. "You'll make my head swell," he teases
  lightly, eyes both teasing and somber at the same time.

Jessalyn feels a tingle along her arm as his hand brushes her bare skin, and
  she winks at him, bending to kiss his nose and filling his vision with her
  own eyes as she peers into them playfully. "Is that what's getting all
  swelled up?" she giggles.

The Corellian's gaze warms and glints as one hand reaches up to hold her face
  close to his. "And you called -me- insatiable," he teases roughly, his lips
  toying with hers with sparked interest. "As for getting something other than
  my head swelled up, well, what are you gonna do about it?"

Jessalyn smiles against his lips and shakes her head slowly, her eyes having
  fluttered closed. "What would you like me to do about it?" she teases him
  lightly, her fingers cradling the back of his head gently. "Somehow I have a
  feeling you have something on your mind."

"Only you," he murmurs roughly, pulling her mouth back to his, this time
  securing her lips more forcefully as desire starts to thrum through his
  system. His hands delve into her hair and after a long lazy moment he draws
  back to breath there, "Surprise me ..."

Her hands drift down to rest on his shoulders and Jessalyn smiles almost
  shyly, her own breathing now growing labored, and her lips still brushing
  against his. "I'm... a bit out of practice on being surprising," she says
  wistfully, opening her eyes to peer into his. "I would hate to disappoint
  you."

Hands trail, one down her shoulder and back to rest against the side of her
  waist, the other along the side of her face to cup her jawline. His eyes
  scan soberly between hers, a warm smile his reassurance as he kisses her
  nose lightly. "You couldn't possibly."

Jessalyn's eyes grow thoughtful and distant, though they're still gentle as
  she returns his gaze, smiling as he kisses her nose. "I think... my big
  surprise is that I just want to be held for now," she whispers very softly.

While something in her gaze worries at Paul, the hazel eyes soften as well as
  the Corellian's smile, and wrapping his arms about her shoulders and waist,
  he pulls Jessalyn close to his side, the green robe soft and textured and
  warm from the heat of his body. "Works for me," he rumbles, his eyes
  fluttering closed as he dips his head to her hair, breathing in the scent of
  it peacefully. Beneath the surface of course, blood sizzles and nerve
  endings chide, but the Corellian merely ignores the hormones ..... they've
  been indulged more than enough lately.

Her dark red head rests against his shoulder, and Jessalyn closes her eyes as
  he cradles her against his body. She puzzles over her sudden change in mood,
  and relaxes for a while, finally tracing her uneasiness back to the comments
  about her not enjoying life. It bothers her now more than she thought it
  would, but she says nothing about it, simply melts into his arms, grateful
  for the comfort and understanding.

The hand at her upper back draws lines about the exposed shoulder beneath it,
  Paul absorbing the feel of her weight, her breath, her skin, against his
  own. For awhile he considers probing gently, to see what is troubling his
  sweet Jedi ... but as she melts slowly against him, Paul decides against it.

After a while Jessa eases her weight off him and looks up into his eyes,
  trying to quietly convey her thanks, her hands sliding up to rest against
  his shoulders as she leans her forehead against his. "I...." she stops
  herself, her cheeks flushing slightly. "Thank you," she says simply.

Brushing her cheek with his lips he rumbles deeply, "No thanks are needed ...
  but you're welcome." Hands shift again to trail up her long lean back,
  reaching into her auburn tresses and pulling the tendrils back and away from
  her face. "You don't have to get up on my account," he assures her with a
  wicked smile. Yes indeed, Paul didn't think he any problem with lying in bed
  with this woman all day long if she so desired.

Her cheeks warm slowly as she looks back at him, and she turns her head to
  meet those lips with her own, her arms sliding around his neck. "Are you
  kidding? You have no idea how grateful I am that you decided to come by and
  see me at all," Jessa murmurs, her lips still grazing his. "You might not
  believe me... but I thought of you often, Paul... I never wanted to presume
  anything, but I couldn't help but think of you."

"I'm here," he rasps. "I never break a promise .... thank the Maker ..." and
  with that he delves into the offered mouth, hands holding her head still as
  he explores slowly, sensuously. If anyone is grateful that he honored his
  word, it is Paul .... grateful ... and guilty. As Jessa tells him how she
  couldn't help but think of him, he cannot help but recall how he was
  thinking and involved with someone else. Not that Jessalyn wasn't in his
  thoughts .... there were nightmares and sleepless nights and frequent calls
  till he knew she was alright, but somehow it just doesn't seem the same.

She returns the kiss softly and eagerly, her lips yielding to his and her body
  trembling slightly as she presses closer. Unaware of the doubts troubling
  his mind and simply relieved to be in his arms now, she leans into the
  embrace, letting him fill up the emptiness in her heart.

There is no rush ... no need to hurry ... they have all the time they want and
  need. As the sun dances patterns against Jessalyn's bare skin, Paul's hands
  echo those sun traces, in a slower seductive mirror. The green robe dappled
  with beams scrapes tenderly against the skin of her belly and breasts.
  Paul's mouth, however, is content to feast at her lips, skimming the surface
  and then parting them to explore deeply, only to rise again and tease. The
  pace is slow, easy ... excruciating.

She can't help but respond to the evocatively slow kiss, and as Jessa begins
  exploring his own mouth, her fingers tighten against his back, grasping the
  robe's material tightly as her body shifts toward him, aching to feel him
  against her as she slowly slides her hands down his chest to part his robe.

He offers her no assistance, but no resistance either as she parts the opening
  of his robe. His mouth abandons her mouth, drifting over the edge of her
  chin to devote it's attentions to her neck. As with her lips, he is
  infinitely patient, unwilling to leave a patch of flesh unexplored, and
  wanting to learn all of the secret flavors hidden there. As she rises above
  him to peel back the robe, his hands trail to her front, brushing over her
  breasts curiously.

Her back arching slightly, Jessa inhales a sharp breath, smiling and letting
  her cheek rest against his hair as her breasts press into his palms. She
  busies her own hands by pushing his robe aside, grazing over his shoulders
  and savoring the feel of his warm skin beneath her fingers.

He cups the soft flesh, fingers tracing along the undersides before rising to
  circle and caress the tips. His mouth ranges lower, testing her pulse and
  grazing along the length of her collarbones with loving attention. Tanned
  muscled flesh greets her fingertips as the robe is pressed aside, flexing
  every so often as his hands shift and roam over her. A soft pleased sigh
  breaks from his mouth, feathering against the dip at the base of her throat.

One of her hands moves from his shoulder to curl in his hair, the heartbeat at
  the base of her throat throbbing faster now. Her other hand drifts over his
  shoulders, tracing the contours of his muscled flesh and feeling desire
  begin to course through her body at the touch of his hands.

... a little while later ...

Her hair splays over the pillow as Jessalyn tilts her head back into it, her
  skin quivering and slick with sweat. She allows her arms to wrap around him
  as he sinks against her, panting desperately for breath and finally
  beginning to relax beneath him.

Paul allows himself the luxury of lying against her heavily, his face buried
  against her as he tries to regain his strength and his sanity. It seems a
  very long time to him before he can lift his face to gaze anxiously into her
  eyes, worried that he might have been too rough ... that he might have hurt
  her. One hand reaches up to trail through her hair, touching her face
  tenderly.

It takes Jessa a long time to open her eyes, but when she finally does, a
  smile already on her lips, she's surprised at the fretful expression on his
  face, and she wraps her fingers around his wrist. Furrowing her brow, she
  tries to soften her smile, wondering wildly what is bothering him.

Her smile eases his worries, and dropping a kiss to her crinkled brow, he
  murmurs softly, "Fret not ... just thought I might have gotten a little
  rough there ..." He skims her mouth softly with a happy sigh before shifting
  his weight off of her and to one side, pulling her snugly against him and
  laying his head against her chest.

Jessalyn blinks slowly, finally chuckling to herself as it finally occurs to
  her happily dazed mind what has happened, and folds him in her arms, her
  hand sliding through his hair tenderly as her own cheek rests against his
  hair. "Ahhh..." she murmurs, inadequately but not caring.

Eyes fluttering shut, Paul squeezes Jessalyn gratefully, his body still
  tingling with pleasure and contentment. The sleep that had eluded him
  through the night finally begins to catch up with him, and snuggling against
  her he purrs richly, "Hope you weren't planning on going anywhere for the
  next two hours. Should I have called and made reservations?" His voice is
  deep and warm, loving and drowsy.

Drawing in a deep breath, Jessa chuckles, shaking her head and letting her
  cheek rub against his thick, golden brown hair. Her fingers slide through
  the strands soothingly, before they finally splay across his shoulders,
  cradling him against her tenderly. "I think we're safe right here for a
  while."

A sleepy smirk curls his lips, the sensation of that smile transcribed against
  her flesh. His hand rises to cup one of her breasts possessively. "Safe?" he
  mumbles as sleep surges over his head like a wave. "If I've told you once,
  I've told you a dozen times ... you are a dangerous woman .... no one is
  safe around you ...."