Let the Light In

Chapter 66: Whole

Chapter 66: Whole

Ben was holding a storm in his arms, and he was more than willing to let it whisk him away. Rey was everywhere. Her lips danced on his face, her legs hugged his hips, and her hands were flying over his body, pulling clothes loose where they could. Ben was not sitting idly by, his hands exploring her of their own volition, but it was a rather difficult thing to direct a hurricane.

His jacket hit the floor, and his shirt followed. Ben turned his head to catch Rey's lips, and shivered when she moaned, running her fingers down his bare chest, over his stomach. Sweet Force he had missed her so much. What insanity had gripped him to want to forge forward with pursuing Snoke? Ben would easily exist like this.

"Help me-" Rey grumbled against his lips, gripping his undone belt tight and giving it a rough tug, "-Get this off!"

With ease, Ben crossed his arms under her, and lifted Rey up, kicking off his boots and pants. Rey snorted with indelicate mirth when his lightsaber clattered to the metal floor and bounced to join the discarded cloth. Ben smirked up at her before letting her drop back onto his now naked self.

"I think," he said with a broad smile, eyes caught by hers, "that this is entirely unfair."

"Oh?" Rey lofted a brow and tensed her knees around his hips, her fingertips teasing the skin of his stomach just below his navel.

He nodded, slipping her belt from her waist and letting the weight of her saber drag it to the floor, and roll towards the console, chuckling when the hilt clanked to a stop.

"Far too many clothes."

Rey giggled, and batted his hands away to take her wrap off by herself, throwing it behind her with an unnecessary flourish that had Ben grinning from ear to ear. Again he reached for her, and again she swatted his eager fingers, but this time Rey took his hands in hers and settled them on her hips. Rey pressed a gentle kiss to his forehead before leaning back and throwing him a wicked grin.

"See?" she snickered, gesturing to her body, "Got myself those standard underclothes."

Ben rolled his eyes and made to answer, but was momentarily thrown by the sight of her, bathed in the blue light of hyperspace and fixing him with a heavily loaded gaze that was in such stark contrast to the unsure pain from earlier. How could he have allowed himself to be blinded so easily by vengeance and other foolishness? He had promised her he would not leave her again, and yet he had been so ready to... Force-

And she loved him.

Rey loved him.

It was enough to make him laugh aloud in utter amazement.

"Laughing at me there Bennie?" Rey asked in mock offense.

He shook his head, still chuckling, "You love me."

It was impossible, unimaginable.

"I do," she said slowly, a smile making its way over her face once more. It was as if a weight was lifting from her shoulders at the continued admittance, and Ben wondered if, by some miracle, she had been mulling over such feelings for as long as he had.

It was his only salvation.

"You love me," his tone was incredulous, even to himself.

"I love you, Ben-"

He cut her giggled words off with a fervent kiss, tugging her flush against his chest. Ben was lost to her as they laughed into each other's mouths, only vaguely aware of the brief separation it took for Rey to whip her brassiere off and fling it away with as much panache as she had her wrap, causing Ben to chuckle harder. Likewise, his hands freed her from her leggings, but he was not conscious of the actions, being as focused on her lips as he was.