She lowered herself down the sturdy rope to the sand-covered floor. A newly lit torch awaited her, a single deep blue ribbon wound around the handle. She grinned slightly and, taking the torch, made her way down the cool stone passageway. Qui-Gon wasn't waiting to greet her when she returned to Tatooine from off-planet business. Instead left a cryptic message for her with Kala:

Come to me.

The main chamber was well lit, with blue ribbons adorning the torches and white flower petals littering the sands by the pool. Her smile grew wider.

"Jinn..." she whispered softly.

"Behold, thou art fair, my love." Qui-Gon slipped behind her and brushed his lips across her temple, his breath ruffling her hair. "Behold, thou art fair."

She turned her head slightly and met his lips for a light lingering kiss. "Qui-Gon?"

"Thou hast ravished my heart..." Cupping her face in his hands, he peered into her eyes, his own dark with desire. "Thou hast ravished my heart with one of thine eyes."

He bent his head again and caressed her lips again with his before raining soft kisses on her face, her neck and shoulders. "Gods Lil, I missed you. You shouldn't have left me."

"You didn't want to go with me," she countered. "And Obi-Wan..."

"Is quite capable. All he needed was a bit of time to relax." He tilted her chin up again and gazed into her eyes. "My place is with you."

She pulled him into another kiss. "As mine is with you."

Qui-Gon smiled warmly and took her hand. "Come my beloved..."

Leading her to the sand by the shallows, he slowly began to undress her, baring her skin then anointing every inch with his lips. Her skin was warm and the vanilla scent she wore always intoxicated him. He traced her tattoo with his tongue, overwhelmed by the simple surge of possessiveness he felt. She wore his mark on her skin. She was his.

As if reading his mind, she purred, "I'm yours love. Yours alone."

He responded, "I am my beloved's and her desire is towards me."

"Always."

She turned in his arms and let him move lower. He worshiped her body with soft touches and teases, his mouth mapping the landscape of her body, murmuring his poetry against her skin.

"Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth," he asked against her flat belly, "draw me; I will run after thee." He eased the soft leather from her skin, down her legs and off, then stroked the length of her legs with strong hands. "My beloved is mine and I am hers..."

She twined her fingers in his hair as he pressed soft kisses along her belly, burning a fire trail down along her skin before inhaling her musky perfume. She sighed her contentment for several moments, keeping her balance on shaky legs as he tasted her again.

"Let me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice..." he murmured, then drew another cry of pleasure from her lips.

Rising to his feet again, he slowly shed the thin robe he wore, letting it fall to the ground. His skin glowed in the torchlight, his muscles well defined by the shadows that played against his broad chest. Long legs and slim waist all but emphasized his proud shaft. He saw her emotions clearly in her eyes. He held his hand out to her. "Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away."

Shyly, she placed her slim hand in his and let him lead her into the waters and into his arms. He stroked her skin, washing the dust away and reacquainting himself with her curves with knowing fingertips. He laved her nipples again with his tongue, cupping her buttocks with strong hands and drawing her against him, her skin wet and tingling against his. He then loosened her hair, letting it fall in a silver curtain around her and into the water and ran shaking hands through and over its mass. "You are so lovely Lilith. My Lilith." Kissing her again, he pressed her body against his, his arousal hard against her belly, then allowed her to begin her own explorations.

She started at his shoulders, washing him as he did her then tasted the salty tang of the carbonics on each scar as she traced them with eager lips and tongue, sucking his nipples and nipping them lightly with her teeth. His breath became ragged as she licked his body, pressing her breasts against him and rubbing against his wet skin. One hand cupped him, slowly teasing him with knowing fingers, drawing out shudders that rocked him to the center of his being. "Don't tease me love," he growled, "it's been too long." She smiled and moved behind him.

"Qui-Gon?" she asked, brushing her hand lightly over the dark, exotic script that now decorated the skin just above his left hip. It was her own name written in her native language, two intricate signs that formed the name 'Lilith.'

"You told me Rez did your tattoo for you. I asked him for one."

"But why?" she asked softly.

"I am yours, as you are mine." He turned to face her. "I wanted to carry your mark as you carry mine."

Her eyes widened in surprise and pleasure and she pulled him into another passionate kiss. She stroked his tattoo with her nails and plundered his mouth with her tongue. Another surge of possessiveness went though him. He quickly lifted her into his arms and carried her through the falls and into their moss-lined retreat.

Drawing her into his arms again, "By night I sought her whom my soul loveth, I sought her but found her not." He drew his fingers down her cheek, across her lips. "And when I found her whom my soul loveth; I held her and would not let her go." He pressed a kiss to her forehead, "This is my beloved," another to the tip of her nose, "this is my friend."

She smiled at him and drew him to her. "You are my life, my love..."

"Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it..." He lowered his mouth to hers, his tongue dancing with hers to the beat of their hearts.

He stroked her again from shoulder to hip, dusting her skin with feather light touches that set her senses aflame. She purred against his neck, drawing her nails over his skin before clutching at him as he explored her soft curls again. Slowly he slid his fingers into her wet folds, taking her to the edge, then stopping quickly, ignoring her soft fevered pleas.

"Qui-Gon..." she purred as she arched into his touch. "I need you." Her shuddered breathing echoed against the cool walls, against the falling water.

He covered her mouth again with his, moving between her legs and slowly easing himself into her warmth. She moaned against his lips, wanting to move against him but being held captive in his large gentle hands. Now encased in her wet sheath, he moved in teasing motions, drawing her to the edge of her climax again and again with the tilt of his hips, the tensing of his muscles.

She'd been away from him too long. She wanted him now and clutched his shoulders, her eyes showing all the need she felt. "Love me please. I n-need you, need to feel you, Qui-Gon. My love, my life, please..."

Her breathy whisper almost undid his careful restraint, as she was not one to give her control away easily. She mastered him as he did her, their lives entwined in this dance. She met his slight movements with ones of her own, throwing her head back, pressing her body against his, all the while pleading to him.

"I need you, my love. Please..."

He thrust into her then, pinning her hands to the soft moss beneath them. She moved against him, matching him stroke for stroke. His breathing became as ragged as hers as he nipped her lips and skin. She reveled in his possession, knowing love and need in his arms. She lifted her hips, wrapping her legs around his waist, drawing him into her deeply, fully, finally pushing him over the edge with her. He roared his climax into her shoulder as she screamed her own, his body shaking uncontrollably in her arms. She held him to her, breathlessly murmuring words of love against his hair, her own heart racing with his.

Gathering his composure, he lifted his head slightly, and peered into her azure blue eyes. "Don't leave me again. My place-"

"Is with you," she finished. She brushed a lock of hair off his forehead. "I felt so alone without you, Qui-Gon. Where you go-"

"I will follow." He kissed her tenderly then, tasting salt tears from her skin.

He rolled onto his back and cradled her against his chest, absently weaving his fingers into her hair. She sighed contentedly, tracing circles on his cooling skin. "I missed you Qui-Gon."

"As I did you."

She wondered aloud, "Who would have thought my life would become so entangled with a Jedi, a Master at that..."

"No different than mine with yours." He took her hand in his and brought it to his lips. "But you complete me. You are my beloved. My own."

She smiled then. "You are rather eloquent today. I don't think I've ever heard those words before."

"It's an ancient Terran text. A song. From a bridegroom to his bride..."

"His bride?"

"My bride. If you'll have me."

She raised her head then, casting a soft glance at him. "Qui-Gon."

"You have me, Lil. I'm yours, heart and soul. Please, take my name as well."

She felt the tears prick her eyes again, and giddy laughter bubbled up in her. "Are you sure?"

"Very sure," he smiled. "My spirit is bonded with yours, my love. The rest is mere formality."

"But your council..."

"Will approve. Not that it would make a difference." He sat up slowly and pulled her into his arms and asked again, "Lilith?"

She smiled then and nodded slowly. "Yes..."

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Later that evening, they enjoyed a quiet dinner on the back balcony of their quarters. Soft music filled the air, coupled with the incense, and made for a sensual exotic atmosphere. Qui-Gon toasted her with his wine, then set his glass aside.

"I have something for you," he said quietly.

"Another gift?" She smiled knowingly. "You spoil me."

He returned her smile sheepishly. "Actually this is nothing compared to what you have. But as is custom with my people, we give tokens to our betrothed to symbolize our bond, our promise." He stood slowly and reached into an inner pocket of his tunic. He then held a small charm on a gold chain. "You know being a knight is not the most profitable occupation, but I wanted to give you something special to me."

She carefully studied the crystal charm, a script 'Q' and 'L' entwined and etched on a small starburst. The crystal had a faint green glow to it. "It's wonderful Qui-Gon..." she whispered.

"I carved it from a saber crystal." He looked at his hands then. "I didn't have anything else to barter with."

Her heart leapt into her throat then, and her eyes stung with unshed tears. She tilted her face to his and drew him into a soft, loving kiss. "You humble me Qui-Gon. This is more valuable to me than anything I could ever own." She brushed his cheek with shaking fingertips, her voice low and husky. "I wasn't joking that day we met. I must have truly pleased the gods to have you come into my life."

He returned her kiss, drawing her into his arms. He fastened the chain around her neck and slowly led her away from the tables and into an open area of the floor, Wrapping his arms around her, he moved slowly, swaying in time with the music, feeling her heartbeat match his, her soft breath on his neck. He breathed in the scent of her skin and pressed another soft kiss into her hair.

"Mistress Lilith Jinn," he whispered.

"Master and Mistress Jinn," she corrected.

He smiled. "As you wish..."