Alethea swallowed hard, finding it hard to control the breaths that now came out uneven and shaky. Her eyes searched his as she waited... waited for him to do something, anything. She didn't want him to back away, nor to push her away, but it was better than waiting. At least then she would know. At least then she wouldn't have to wonder. She didn't think he would do that, but she wasn't certain and she grew more uncertain by the second as her heart continued to pound in her ears.<br/><br/>And then it stopped. Everything stopped. The unbearable torment of waiting disappeared. It was soft, and sweet, and so much more pleasant than she had imagined. His lips pressed gently against hers, soft, silky, and sweet. She felt like she could melt, and as though her heart had stopped for a brief moment before it resumed pounding with renewed vigor. She became even more aware of his touch, both his lips and his hands on her waist and neck.<br/><br/>It was only a kiss, soft, tender, and slow, as was his touch. Yet it seemed like so much more, and it ignited something in her, something she didn't know existed, and least of all thought was possible. Had she ever desired such a thing? Not to her remembrance. Had she ever felt such heat or passion? Certainly not. Yet it was there now, all the same. And it seemed far beyond her control, even if she had a mind to stop it, which she presently did not.<br/><br/>After what seemed like an eternity, he pulled away and she immediately felt the loss of his warmth. His head bowed and she gently chewed on her lower lip, fighting the rising heat on her cheeks. She might have wondered what he had thought, if he had pulled back because he hadn't liked it, but she knew that wasn't the case. He was nearly breathless, and he didn't look to be uncomfortable or unhappy. Quite the opposite, she thought. And if this was not enough, she felt him in the Force, ever-present, ever near.<br/><br/>When his eyes opened, she found her own warmth and desire reflected in them. What was she to do? She knew that this path could very well lead to pain far greater than either of them could possibly imagine. Yet there was also happiness to be found, she thought. It didn't matter now, though. She was afraid that she was quite caught, and quite unwilling to leave, or to step back. Perhaps it was now too late for her.<br/><br/>But for the moment, she didn't care. For her instinct, which she now chose to follow over her mind, brought her closer to him once more, until her lips again brushed his, this time with more than simple tenderness. There was something more now. Something deeper. Something quite captivating, or perhaps captivated. Or perhaps it was both, but it was, without question, more passionate and sensual than she thought herself capable of.