without hesitation. She loved the way she felt so completely surrounded—safe—when she was wrapped up in his embrace.
“Something like that,” he murmured. “I say it’s the egg.”
“I say it’s the chicken.”
He sighed. “I don’t want to talk shop tonight.”
She didn’t either. Not really. After all, it was a path they’d traveled countless times before. And they always ended up at the same impasse.
Ordinarily after one of their workplace debates, they’d go their separate ways and she’d stew over it for a few days. When he took her in his arms, the familiar animosity vanished instantly. Once again she was surprised by how well they seemed able to put their many-faceted relationship—colleagues, friends, lovers—into such distinct boxes.
“How about a movie?”
She was slightly surprised by his offer. They’d spent most of the day wrapped around each other, and she figured he’d be ready to ring the bell on round eighteen in the bedroom.
A movie sounded very…platonic. And nice. “I’d like that. Star Wars?”
He narrowed his eyes. “Depends on which one.”
“The first one they made that is technically the fourth in the series. Because I can’t stand any of those Anakin ones. You know, only George Lucas could get away with that confusing shit.”
“A New Hope. That’s the best one.” He took her hand and led her to the living room. Then he escaped down the hall for a moment as she found a blanket for them to cuddle under.
When he returned, she spotted the strip of condoms in his hand, and she laughed.
“Five?” she asked. “Bit ambitious, even for you, isn’t it?”
He tossed the condoms on the coffee table. “You’ve taught me the error of my ways this weekend. I’m going to start stocking condoms in every room.”
Grabbing the remote, he claimed the corner spot on the sectional, found the movie, and then reached for her. She curled up in his arms, her head resting on his chest as he absent-mindedly stroked her back.
Sara considered everything the two of them had done since waking up, and realized that cuddling with Kellan on the couch as they watched their favorite movie was probably the best part of the day for her. And that was saying something, since it was shaping up to be one of the best days of her life.
“Did you know the word Ewok was never spoken in the original trilogy? Only reason we know the name of the species is because of the credits,” Kellan said.
“Seriously?”
“Yep. And Burt Reynolds was one of the contenders to play Han Solo.”
She crinkled her nose. “That would not have worked. Did you know George Lucas originally planned to kill Han Solo at the end of Return of the Jedi?”
They talked quietly, continuing to share trivial facts about the movie and discussing how closely the new one mirrored the first.
Then, out of the blue, Kellan cupped her cheeks and kissed her. It was clear he meant for the touch to be brief, but it felt too good, so she wrapped her hands around his neck and held on. Kellan kissed really, really good.
His tongue touched hers, and he turned them slowly, putting her on her back as he came over her. Their bodies lined up perfectly on the sectional, allowing her to wrap her legs around his waist. He was hard, a state she was beginning to think was permanent for him.
The night before, the clever man had found the tiny erogenous zone that existed just below her ear, and he used that knowledge against her, his warm kisses sending shivers down her spine.
His eyes met hers. Typically, they were dark, hungry, intense. Tonight, there was something else there, something harder to name. He was looking at her as if she was special. It took her breath away.
“Kellan,” she whispered, her chest tight—a mixture of fear and that emotion she didn’t dare call by its name.
He tugged the T-shirt over her head, and then he gently sucked on her nipples as she ran her fingers through his thick hair.
She stroked his chest as he shrugged off his shorts and put on the condom.
Then, mercifully, Kellan found a way to take away some of the intensity, adopting the voice of one of the characters from the movie. “You just watch yourself. I’m a wanted man on twelve systems.”
Sara laughed, even as he pushed inside her. Once he was pressed to the hilt, he paused.
“The Force is strong in this one,” she added.
“And don’t you forget it.”
They chuckled at their game, but rather than move, he bent