A Thread of Gold

The Protection Racket

"Skywalker!"

Luke knew that tone of voice. He knew every little inflection she made. It was the 'come here this instant I'm not very happy about something' voice.

"Yeah," he sighed wearily, leaving Artoo Detoo in pieces to obey her command. As he walked through to the bedchamber he could see her slim form standing just inside the door to the 'fresher and his jaw dropped.

A Jedi was supposed to be prepared for all things. This one was not prepared for the sight that met his eyes.

Mara stood in front of him dressed in a frothy confection of black lace. It covered more than it revealed but oh, the promise was there. Her hair hung loose and curling around slender, creamy shoulders, a smooth leg peeped from between a slit in the side.

"Mara!" Luke stuttered in shock as his traitorous body began to react. He immediately dropped his hands to cover his erection, still shy in front of the woman he loved more than his own life. Their relationship was still new to him.

Mara glided forward, a small smile appearing and disappearing from her face. She liked keeping him off-balance and he was certainly that. His face was flushed as if he had a fever, beads of sweat appearing on his forehead and there was a suspicious bulge in the front of his black Jedi pants.

"We need to talk," she whispered as she entwined her graceful arms around his neck.

Luke stood afraid to move. "We do?" He coughed. "About what?"

Mara bent her head and bit his ear gently and he shuddered, a long groan emerging from his suddenly very dry lips.

"Talk?" he croaked. "We have to?"

"Mmm-hm," she said and she nuzzled his neck, her agile fingers unbuttoning his shirt.

"'Bout what!" his voice rose sharply as her hands found one of his flat male nipples and twisted sharply sending a streak of fire straight into his groin.

His own hands began to caress her, finding ways underneath the seductive black lace. "I don’t want to talk. I want to… Mara!"

Mara stiffened as his own deadly touch began to send messages to her very willing body. "Luke..." she moaned her head tipping back letting his mouth find the pulse points. This wasn't what she wanted at all... well maybe it was. Force, he was good once he got going and
she'd got him going. With wicked smile she made her fiery way to Luke's belt and began to very slowly; drawing out the torture as long as she could, undo it. Maybe the talking part could wait.

Luke's hips bucked against her hands and she could feel his hardness straining for its goal below the cruel back cloth covering his burgeoning erection.

With a cry of frustration, his eyes bright and fevered, Luke took a step back and completed the job himself, pulling his pants and briefs from his body until he stood straight and proud before her.

Mara's mouth curved in an admiring smile and she handed him something.

"What is this?" he asked, bewildered.

"I said we had to talk, my love. Forget the talking. This is a repress meds penile patch. Use it. Then we can..." the passion lit her green eyes again and she licked her lips her voice emerged in a husky whisper. "Play."

The Protection Racket

Part 2

By Ash Darklighter

Disclaimer: The characters and situations used in this story are the property of George Lucas and Lucasfilm Ltd. I am only using them for some entertainment and will not even make one republican credit from this endeavour.

Luke thought he was dreaming. He stood nude in front of Mara Jade, his erection straining to be inside her moist warmth and she’d mentioned something… medical?

"What did you say?" he asked, his eyes wild with desire as he stared at the semi-clothed beauty in front of him. His hearing must have been distorted by the way his body was reacting to his lover’s beauty and desirability.

"It’s a repress meds penile patch." Mara eyed his unclothed body hungrily. The wicked gleam lighting her green eyes showed that she knew exactly what she was doing to him.

Luke paused to let his beleaguered brain start working. It hadn’t been the part of him that had been ready for action at that point. His ardour cooled a little. Mara was still eyeing him like the main dish at a Hutt banquet but there was something not quite right about it all.

"What is it?" he asked carefully. "And what does it do, pray tell me?"

A little of the lustful fire in Mara’s eyes died. "What do you mean ‘what does it do?’"

Luke’s erection wilted and he started to feel a little cold. "I don’t know what it does – never heard of it before." He picked up his trousers and lifted one leg.

Mara took an indrawn breath. His body was impressive; the firm muscles rippling across his abdomen made Mara’s heart beat a little quicker. Not one surplus ounce of flesh shamed his physique as the muscles shifted under his skin. Irritated at his ignorance, yet drawn to his male magnetism, she pulled at the neckline of her negligee. She was feeling warmer.

Luke stopped what he was doing as a hint of an aroused rosy nipple peeped tantalisingly through the black lace. His temperature rose once more. "Force, Mara, tell me!" he demanded angrily as his erection began to stage a late revival.

Mara gave a little stretch and brought her hands slowly down her body accentuating her womanly curves. "Luke you can’t be that naïve?" she murmured in a low voice.

She was served with the Jedi Master’s opaque stare.

"Of course," Mara raised her eyebrows. "You’re Luke Skywalker - you can. I might have known." She pushed a lock of shining waist length hair over her shoulder and watched fascinated as Luke’s eye colour darkened to a storm tossed blue. "It’s a male contraceptive, farmboy. It’s quite clear what it does. It stops little Jedi babies from appearing prematurely."

Luke went scarlet, his trousers dropped to the floor and he immediately scrabbled after them. Mara’s gaze zeroed in on his taut, nude behind. What a good work out could do for the gluteus. Luke’s was a piece of art made flesh. There was a silence and then Luke’s constricted voice asked. "How does it work?"

Mara closed her eyes. ‘Why didn’t the Rogues teach him all about this when he flew with them? That’s what male squadron mates were supposed to do.’

He was on his knees, facing away from her and totally naked. Her mouth watered at the sight and she felt herself become more aroused. But duty called. "It’s placed on your lower abdomen near your… er… groin. Completely painless I assure you."

"My groin!" Luke yelped at the word. "I’ll go blind. You don’t mention… groins."

Mara watched as Luke’s face flooded with colour. "Oh for Sith’s sake, farmboy," she exclaimed. "Surely after years with the Rogues and then running all over the galaxy with nothing but an x-wing and an astromech teach you? He didn’t make love like an innocent farmboy, her stomach turned over at the memory of what his body had made her feel, but there was an innocence about him. He made love like a real man. She rubbed her tongue over her parted lips and shuddered. If he didn’t jump her soon, she’d forget the contraception and deal with the Jedi babies.

"Well," he muttered under his breath. "What’s wrong with a good old proton torpedo tube?"

Mara’s eyes went wide. "Innocent my …"

The Protection Racket

Part 3

By Ash Darklighter

Mara narrowed her stare on the helpless male in front of her. "What do you mean by a ‘proton torpedo tube cover’?"

Luke blushed redder than she’d ever seen anyone do in her life before. "Aw, Mara," he said. "That’s a man thing."

Mara rubbed her eyes. This was so not happening. "A man thing," she repeated incredulously. "Don’t start talking to me about ‘man things.’"

"It’s embarrassing." He stared down at his feet and shifted from side to side. "Not something we talk about to women."

The volatile red-head had heard enough. "Women!" she exclaimed. "As in plural?"

Luke scratched an itch just below his rib cage drawing Mara’s attention to that delicious spot on his body.

She swallowed as a wave of heat made her muscles clench with anticipation.

"Well, I never really had them plural, not like some of the other guys did." Luke muttered, dropping his head, hiding his eyes behind his untidy fringe.

"I see," she murmured silkily.

Luke’s head shot up and he glanced at her anxiously. "I’ve not been with anyone in years… and years. Even before then I didn’t… you know… much."

Mara tapped her foot. "Keep going, Skywalker. This is v-e-r-y interesting."

"Mara, I don’t want to discuss this." He pulled on his pants and picked up his shirt.

Mara ground her teeth at being denied the sight of the Skywalker body. How she could have missed how spectacular it was for all those years, she didn’t know? "I think you should. Pretend I’m just one of the boys."

"Pretend… Sithspawn, Mara, I could never do that."

She leaned in for the kill, her voice deadly. "You managed to do it for ten years, flyboy."

"I didn’t," he shot back. "You are the one person in the whole damn galaxy I could never ignore. Not really – not at all. Do you want to know the number of cold showers you made me endure? Okay, you didn’t know I was taking them. You would have killed me if I’d let on I was taking so many, but Force, Jade. Do you know what you look like half of the time?" He angrily pushed his arms into the sleeves of his shirt. "As for the other half you’re damn near impossible to resist."

"Pretend I’m one of the boys, Luke," she murmured throatily. "Tell me about the proton torpedo." She walked towards him and cupped his balls. "I hope it always hits its target."

The Jedi Master went white.

The Protection Racket

Part 4

By Ash

Usual disclaimers apply and of course. This is NC-17. The Skywalker Story board. The responsible group in the universe.

Luke ducked his head. "This is stuff for the pilot’s rec room, not my bedchamber."

"It is if I’m to be sharing it, farmboy," Mara announced loftily. "Now go on, explain." It was a challenge.

Luke couldn’t help it, he blushed. All this was so embarrassing. He was a responsible adult and was fully prepared to take his share. If he was to enjoy himself at all he’d decided that he would have to. "A repress meds penile patch?" Luke tried to sound as if he was used to talking about such things and failed utterly.

Mara’s smile was a mere baring of her teeth. "Why not?"

"Why not?" he repeated loudly. "I’m not some Coruscant bureaucrat who has never done a proper days work in his life and minces from bed to bed."

Mara bit back her laugh. He was getting annoyed and it took quite a lot to shake his composure.

"It sounds sissy. I bet no self-respecting spacer would use such a thing."

"Uh-huh," Mara encouraged. "What would a…" she lowered her voice to a sultry purr. "Real man use?"

Luke faltered as she ran her fingers over his chest and began unbuttoning the shirt he’d just buttoned. "I… ah… he’d…" The shirt again dropped to the floor.

"So eloquent," she bent her bright head and began dropped scorching kisses over his firm pecs."

"Mara… I… ah…" Firmly he put his hands on her shoulder and moved her away from him. Force, she didn’t know the effort it cost him to do that. The Death Star was easier to destroy. A drawer opened with the Force in the cabinet next to his bed and he backed carefully away from Mara towards it. A number of small wrapped packages flew into his hands and a foil covered box. "Since you’re so interested… Here."

Mara almost dropped them but curiosity, and her continuing need to see Luke squirm, made her read the brand name.

‘Proton Torpedo’

‘repress covers for the active man’

‘safe and discreet encouraging sensitivity’.

"Just as I said," Luke muttered. "They’re very popular amongst the pilots."

"And you have some…" Mara narrowed her eyes.

"It’s always best to be prepared, Jade."

Mara scanned the packaging. "These are eight years old."

"I wasn’t going to use them."

Mara saw red. "You weren’t?" She rushed at the Jedi Master but he was ready for her and she found herself pinned against him, his body hard and hungry for her own.

"They’re out of date. I bought them for you know…" He stopped, convinced that was enough on the subject of past lovers.

"Then why is this box unopened?" Mara demanded.

"She left me," he replied simply. "I bought a new supply for you," Luke bent his head to nuzzle at her neck. "I was going to throw these out."

"You what?" Stars, he was so distracting. Mara fought to keep her mind on track, but Luke’s touch was bringing her mood back to what it had been before they started this conversation. She wanted to throw him on his bed and straddle him - to mark him as hers. He brought out quite the appetite in her.

"How does this thing untie?" He was fiddling with one of the ties on her gown. "Oh, I think I’ve found out how." The gown slipped off her shoulder revealing its creamy smoothness. His mouth followed his questing fingers and Mara sucked in a breath as her nerve endings began to sing.

"You bought for me?"

"Of course."

From under the bed a rather large box floated towards her and she wriggled from Luke’s grasp to get it.

"I bought the extra large multi-pack. One look at you and I decided I would need hundreds."

Mara stood beside the bed holding the box with a bemused expression on her face. "Why?"

"Can’t get enough of you," he said. "You’re gorgeous, desirable and hot and I’m aching to be inside you." Hey lay back, clad in nothing but his black Jedi pants, his chest calling out for her touch. "But you started this, Jade."

Mara marvelled at Luke’s ability to recover his equilibrium. He was embarrassed but was hiding it. "I can’t believe you bought these?"

"Why ever not? They’re very reliable according to the boys in Rogue Squadron."

Lightsaber Prophylactics

For your average knight

(sized from ewok to wookiee)

Once a night or several times - whatever you desire – be safe.

Mara opened her mouth. "Are these especially for Jedi?"

Luke shook his head trying to keep his embarrassment at bay and talk like an adult human being. "No, you can get these anywhere. The boys…" he hesitated. "Call these Crank covers."

Mara dropped the box.

The Protection Racket

Part 5

By Ash Darklighter

Disclaimer: The characters and situations used in the story belong to Lucasfilm. This is a cautionary tale about how we as SW fanfic writers can aid in promoting safe sex.

The box Mara dropped rolled under the bed and he dived immediately to intercept. Force honed reflexes drawing the wrapped box into his outstretched hand.

Luke was somewhat irritated at his lover’s desire to embarrass him. They had made love tentatively a few times on the return trip from Niruan, but since their return to Coruscant, had rarely been alone. He’d been hoping for much more than a conversation on birth control when they’d finally managed to be together without half of the New Republic breathing down their necks. When Mara had appeared in her tempting, teasing outfit – he’d almost fired his laser early. He was no virgin and had enjoyed his few sexual encounters, but talking about them – no way. Not something that a man needed to do – what his tube did was his business.

Beru and Owen Lars had run a modest and reserved household. Some things were proper to discuss and others were not. Sex was definitely on the ‘not’ list. Luke remembered his ‘thranta and the glitterfly’ talk he had been given by his Uncle Owen when he’d hit an awkward puberty. He hadn’t understood a word his uncle had stammered gruffly at him. All he knew was that you didn’t do anything to a girl, even something as simple as touching her could have unexpected consequences. Luke picked up his most of his early sex education from reading books. Often he found himself an unwilling eavesdropper to the ribald conversations at Tosche Station or when he’d been stationed with the Rogues during the height of the Rebellion. Those discussions had been far worse. He remembered sitting in a dark corner clinging to his glass of lum and hoping that no one would ask him for an opinion or notice his intense state of mortification. Half the stuff the Rogues had debated – did people really do those sorts of things and that many times?

Now he was older and he hoped wiser. It was possible to do every one of those things if you had the urge, were perverted enough and as long as you had the stamina. As many times as you were capable. Mara, he had to admit to himself, made him want to be very able. Hell, one look at her and he was ready.

Mara stood in the middle of his bedchamber, the black lace outfit slipping from one shoulder, her hair tumbled and inviting. She gave him an uncertain glance from her bright green eyes unsure at his continued silence.

‘Force’, Luke thought. She could say anything, no matter how unsettling and he would listen although, he wasn’t about to let her stalk all over him. If he was lucky she might slither all over him later. She was now aware that he been ready to give her all his protection, but what would she have done for him?

"Mara," he hesitated.

His love being who she was picked up on his nervousness immediately. Why did she get the feeling that she wouldn’t like this at all?

"I heard once… well Hobbie and Janson mentioned it…"

To give herself something to do and plan her next move, Mara made her way to the large bed in the centre of Luke’s bedchamber. "I smell trouble. Ignore anything those two say." She draped herself modestly on the coverlet.

"Wedge says they know everything there is to know about such things."

His face took on the earnest expression she loved so much, but given that he was shirtless, his torso tormenting her with its smooth skin, his well defined pecs and flat, tight stomach… Mara blinked, she was not concentrating again. Given that he was half-naked, the earnest expression wasn’t doing her any good whatsoever. "Spit it out, Skywalker."

"I wondered about feminine sheaths… the boys call them aircraft hangars…"

It was Mara’s turn to feel a little uncomfortable and she frowned. That wasn’t something she had expected. Something else was coming. She could sense it. "Out with it," she ordered. Wishing that she was talking about his own little x-wing. All she needed to do was pull him towards her and slide her fingers to his waistband and…

Luke gave a nervous little cough. "Or cockpits."

The Protection Racket

Part 6

By Ash Darklighter

Disclaimer: The characters and situations used in the story belong to Lucasfilm. This is a cautionary tale about how we as SW fanfic writers can aid in promoting safe sex.

"Skywalker!" Mara turned away and walked to the window, gazing out at the Coruscant skyline and tried to get her thoughts in order. "Cockpits," she snorted. "You really are the limit."

Luke blanched at the idea he may have gone too far. He wasn’t used to talking about sex, didn’t consider himself to be sophisticated enough and felt rather gauche when trying to please his beautiful lover. Mara Jade was the most exquisite thing in his world and he wanted her very much. She stood facing away from him dressed in sheer, embroidered black lace. It left nothing to his imagination. She might have well been totally naked in front of him. He wanted to rip the frothy confection from her supple, sensuous body and bury himself inside her.

Luke made his decision or perhaps the tightness of his black pants made the decision for him. He would wear anything if she would forget her teasing and make love to him. Crank cover, penile whatsisname… anything. "Mara," he whispered, the sound emerging low in his throat.

"I’m not talking to you," she ground out. "How could you let Hobbie and Janson become your sex mentors?"

"Hobbie and Janson. They’re the last pair – you listen but don’t do anything they suggest. I resent that. S-s-sex mentors!" he stammered nervously his face flushing. Who was yours – Lando?"

"What!"

Luke winced. He knew that was the wrong thing to say as soon as the words had escaped from behind the knee high boot he’d stuck in his mouth.

Mara Jade gasped and then lost her hold on her temper and turned on him, rushing towards him, her eyes wild, her hair flowing like a fiery halo and…

Luke stared at her generous breasts and then braced himself. Her nails weren’t as short as he would have liked. But the sight of his lover’s anger didn’t quell Luke’s bodily urges. His own eyes darkened with arousal, he began to sweat with anticipation and his black pants grew even tighter.

Mara couldn’t remember feeling so angry. Her blood was pumping through her veins and the sight of the Jedi master standing bare-chested with an obvious increasing bulge below his waist was making her anger difficult to hold on to. In fact the anger had given way to the constant desire she felt when in the presence of Luke Skywalker these days. Force, she wanted him flat on his back with her on top or vice versa she didn’t really care. Her momentum carried her forwards and soon she had crashed into Luke and had tackled him to the floor.

They fell – hard in a flurried tangle of arms and legs. Mara felt her black lace robe give an almighty tear and suddenly she was wrestling the Jedi Master on the floor, levering for position and she was dressed in nothing but a pair of matching black lace panties. For a moment the air was filled with their grunts and cries until Luke gained the upper hand and lay on top of Mara. He could feel every contour of her curvaceous body - her naked breasts, their tips hard and aching against his own - his pelvis resting against hers.

Mara bit her lip and her eyes darkened. Luke’s eyes bore into her; they had turned to a dark, dark, stormy, passionate, blue.

"I thought you weren’t talking to me," Luke ground out between stiff lips. ‘Hell’ , he thought, ‘stiff everything’.

"I forgot," Mara replied and ran the tip of her tongue over her lips. Luke’s eyes changed again and Mara smiled, giving a little twitch of her hips. Heat surged throughout her body.

Luke took a deep gasping breath as his body and senses once again went haywire. "Mara… I’ll wear it. I don’t care how stupid…" His voice was hoarse. She had him where it counted. Her undulating hips brushed against his groin teasing, tempting, driving him mad with lust and desire. "The penile… Oh, sithspawn… forget it."

"Yes… forget it – no time. I want you inside me now," she demanded. Mara wriggled her hands to the fastening of his pants and began to undo them.

Luke swore loudly and rushed to help her. Then there was no need for any talking – just hot, hard and fast sex as they writhed together on the floor. Luke rose above her, pulled off her final covering and plunged between her legs. She was hot and wet, waiting for him, welcoming him into her warmth.

"Gods Luke, when you finally decide to act you don’t hold back do you," Mara exclaimed breathlessly.

Her lover picked himself off the floor and examined himself in the reflector. "Neither do you," he pointed to several livid scratch and bite marks. As he sauntered naked towards the refresher to shower his foot knocked against the large box of condoms. "Well," he said as he bent to pick them up. "We didn’t need these."

Mara was pulling on the tattered remains of her robe. "What!" her face paled as she saw what he was holding.

"Didn’t need them anyway. I got contraceptive shots from the medical droid when he checked us both over after we returned from Niruan."

Mara opened and shut her mouth. "Skywalker… you… you…"

"Thoughtful, sensitive, considerate…" Luke grinned wickedly and made a quick exit into the shower.

"Skywalker!" Mara said loudly.

Luke stuck his head round the refresher door. "Coming to join me?"

"I’ll join you to a block of carbonite."

"Now, now, I was only trying to do my share." Clouds of steam billowed out behind him and rivulets of water ran down his chest. He wrapped a towel around his waist and walked towards his lover. "Come join me", he murmured sensuously in her ear. "We’re safe. I’ve protected you and you promised me."

Mara stood warily in front of him. "I promised you? I didn’t."

Luke bent and took her soft earlobe in his mouth and bit down gently feeling her shudder. "You did. Just by standing there looking so beautiful and desirable you promised me everything."

"I…" He was getting too good at this. He deserved to pay and he would. Mara dropped her robe, grabbed Luke’s towel from around his waist. Leaving his wonderful physique bare and strolled sexily towards the refresher. His jaw dropped and she could see activity perking up lower down. "Since we’ve solved the protection racket I don’t see why not."

THE END