transferred her angular momentum
back
to him via his chest, sending him flying. Before he had even hit the mat again, she had cart-wheeled back on to her feet and was standing, poised and at the ready, waiting patiently for him to recover.
He sat up, rubbing at his chest. “Sith spawn, Jaina!” His lungs felt like a clawcraft with a leak into vacuum. “That
hurt.
”
“It serves you right,” she said, barely breathing heavily. “My dad always said you should never let someone get away with calling you ‘scruffy.’ ” Seeing that he wasn’t in a hurry to get up and retaliate, she relaxed her posture. “Besides, I thought the Chiss never attacked first.”
“Yeah, well,” he mumbled, propping himself up some more. “You insulted my father.”
“I
also
thought they didn’t let their hearts rule their heads during combat.”
“That was for using the Force during an unarmed sparring match—”
“But I hadn’t used it yet,” Jaina quickly pointed out, stepping over to him.
“I could tell you were about to, though.”
“Really? Then you must have the Force, too, my friend.” She smiled down at him and offered a hand to help him up. “Can you tell what I’m thinking now?”
He took the hand and pulled her down onto the mat with him. “Can you tell me what
I’m
thinking?”
I want to be very much more than your
friend,
Jaina Solo
, he thought.
Her smile widened as she entangled her legs in his and leaned in closer to him. “I don’t need the Force to know that.”
They kissed—only briefly, but it was enough so that when they pulled apart again, her breathing had quickened. It pleased Jag to know that while she could kick him halfway across the room and not break a sweat, it took a simple kiss from him to set her heart racing. So he kissed her again, longer this time, enjoying the feel of her lips against his. He didn’t allow any thoughts of honor or propriety to get in the way of the moment, either. On this occasion he was more than happy to let his heart rule his head. Opportunities for the two of them to be alone were rare—
too
rare not to be taken advantage of.
He hadn’t told her yet that this was the main reason why he had fought for their inclusion on her parents’ mission. Yes, he was feeling like a finely spun wire, likely to break if stretched any tighter, but he knew he would keep fighting well beyond reason if the war demanded it. His Chiss training emphasized the need for regular rest in order to perform at one’s best. All of the members of the Chiss Squadron knew that, too. But he could see the fatigue in their eyes, and even he had made mistakes recently.His second in command had pointed that out. She wasn’t innocent herself, she had admitted, but it was his job to know better, she said. And, of course, she was right.
The diplomatic mission was a godsend, then—a way of making sure everyone got some rest while still performing a valuable duty, and at the same time it gave him a chance to spend more time with Jaina.
Jaina broke for air and sat back with her hands resting on his chest. Jag wondered if she could feel the beating of his heart through his thin training uniform.
“Duty calls,” she said after a moment. “And I’d like to see Tahiri beforehand.” She pulled a regretful face. “Sorry.”
“The only thing you should feel sorry for, Jaina Solo, is cheating.”
She playfully punched his shoulder before standing. “Winning is everything.”
“Do you really believe that?”
Her expression turned serious for a moment. “I think I did, once,” she said. Then she stretched out her hand once more. “Come on.”
He took her proffered hand, this time allowing her to help him to his feet. Halfway up, however, she let go and he fell back with a thump onto the mat.
“You’re far too trusting, Jag,” she said, smiling. With a wink, she headed for the showers.
They briefly reconnected again afterward. Side by side, not touching, they walked toward
back
to him via his chest, sending him flying. Before he had even hit the mat again, she had cart-wheeled back on to her feet and was standing, poised and at the ready, waiting patiently for him to recover.
He sat up, rubbing at his chest. “Sith spawn, Jaina!” His lungs felt like a clawcraft with a leak into vacuum. “That
hurt.
”
“It serves you right,” she said, barely breathing heavily. “My dad always said you should never let someone get away with calling you ‘scruffy.’ ” Seeing that he wasn’t in a hurry to get up and retaliate, she relaxed her posture. “Besides, I thought the Chiss never attacked first.”
“Yeah, well,” he mumbled, propping himself up some more. “You insulted my father.”
“I
also
thought they didn’t let their hearts rule their heads during combat.”
“That was for using the Force during an unarmed sparring match—”
“But I hadn’t used it yet,” Jaina quickly pointed out, stepping over to him.
“I could tell you were about to, though.”
“Really? Then you must have the Force, too, my friend.” She smiled down at him and offered a hand to help him up. “Can you tell what I’m thinking now?”
He took the hand and pulled her down onto the mat with him. “Can you tell me what
I’m
thinking?”
I want to be very much more than your
friend,
Jaina Solo
, he thought.
Her smile widened as she entangled her legs in his and leaned in closer to him. “I don’t need the Force to know that.”
They kissed—only briefly, but it was enough so that when they pulled apart again, her breathing had quickened. It pleased Jag to know that while she could kick him halfway across the room and not break a sweat, it took a simple kiss from him to set her heart racing. So he kissed her again, longer this time, enjoying the feel of her lips against his. He didn’t allow any thoughts of honor or propriety to get in the way of the moment, either. On this occasion he was more than happy to let his heart rule his head. Opportunities for the two of them to be alone were rare—
too
rare not to be taken advantage of.
He hadn’t told her yet that this was the main reason why he had fought for their inclusion on her parents’ mission. Yes, he was feeling like a finely spun wire, likely to break if stretched any tighter, but he knew he would keep fighting well beyond reason if the war demanded it. His Chiss training emphasized the need for regular rest in order to perform at one’s best. All of the members of the Chiss Squadron knew that, too. But he could see the fatigue in their eyes, and even he had made mistakes recently.His second in command had pointed that out. She wasn’t innocent herself, she had admitted, but it was his job to know better, she said. And, of course, she was right.
The diplomatic mission was a godsend, then—a way of making sure everyone got some rest while still performing a valuable duty, and at the same time it gave him a chance to spend more time with Jaina.
Jaina broke for air and sat back with her hands resting on his chest. Jag wondered if she could feel the beating of his heart through his thin training uniform.
“Duty calls,” she said after a moment. “And I’d like to see Tahiri beforehand.” She pulled a regretful face. “Sorry.”
“The only thing you should feel sorry for, Jaina Solo, is cheating.”
She playfully punched his shoulder before standing. “Winning is everything.”
“Do you really believe that?”
Her expression turned serious for a moment. “I think I did, once,” she said. Then she stretched out her hand once more. “Come on.”
He took her proffered hand, this time allowing her to help him to his feet. Halfway up, however, she let go and he fell back with a thump onto the mat.
“You’re far too trusting, Jag,” she said, smiling. With a wink, she headed for the showers.
They briefly reconnected again afterward. Side by side, not touching, they walked toward
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