Oh My God Bestie. How Do You Manage To Out Do Yourself With Every Thing You Write I Swear?! You Were

Oh my god bestie. How do you manage to out do yourself with every thing you write I swear?! You were 100% right when you said I’d love this chapter. I am in love it’s so beautiful and feral ugh. It may have took me like a million hours to read because migraines suck but I pushed through and I regret nothing.

Chapter 6 - Luminescence

Noctilucent: a Hunter Love Story

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Summary: Lav and Hunter are finally free from the Empire after the horrifying events on Geonosis. Perhaps the aftermath of trying to deal with it will finally allow them to better foster their relationship, as well as plan for possibilities of what could happen next.

Tags/Warnings: some light angst, mentions of death, minor hints to PTSD. Smut at the end, 18+ NSFW, minors DNI. Outdoor sex, vaginal unprotected sex (but please wrap it in real life please), oral sex (female receiving) and vaginal fingering, some praise, lots of romance and Hunter being a sexy hunk.

Word count: 8.7k

Playlist: Before you fall asleep by jhove, Like dust in space by Plastic Patina

(taglist at the bottom)

The whirring of the shuttle’s engines in hyperspace seemed to bring her peace. Lavender sat cross-legged on the large bed in the bedroom of the luxurious shuttle, a detail she and Hunter had only bothered to notice when the adrenaline and fright of their near-death sentence had faded. Fancy glassware, stocks of packed gourmet food and even fresh ingredients, recreational devices, music, alcohol… upon sight, this was clearly the shuttle of a rich Imperial, not that of a couple of fugitives running for their life. At least that would hide them for a while.

Hunter’s silhouette appeared under the door frame. He’d removed the Imperial armor he never liked from the waist up; his blacks, while still discreetly displaying the Imperial crest, made him appear more natural. The ingot necklace that dangled from his neck provided Lav with a safe spot to keep her eyes fixed on as memories and worries of what happened on Geonosis were replaced by good ones she’d spent with Hunter. His beauty provided some solace as well, and when she saw him smile, she knew it was a gesture directed solely at her, all for the purpose of making her smile too.

“That’s not a bad idea, actually,” Lav said, beginning to remove her armor. Unlike Hunter, she removed all of it, reaching for a large scarf she’d already noticed hiding in one of the closets, long and made of pale blue silk. She tied it around her waist in a makeshift skirt so as to not leave her hips exposed, a feeling often caused by only being in her blacks.

Hunter watched from the door frame, taking in every intricacy of her movements until she made her way to sit back down on the bed. With calm steps, he got in the bed as well and sat next to her, not thinking much as his instincts led him to wrap his arms around her once more and pull her close to him. His lips remained pressed onto her temple, kissing the soft skin from time to time, as the two remained in silence until Lav looked up at him.

She knew his eyes never failed to show any emotion, and at that time, despite everything going on, the only thing Hunter showed was concern for her. He tried, and mostly failed, to remain calm and strong, and instead his vulnerability showed. Despite that, Lav could see the love in it as well, and that made her smile for the first time since… well, she’d rather not think much of that again.

But some remnants of it did linger in her, and soon, her smile turned sad; she went from gently holding Hunter to clinging to him, throwing her arms around him. He gently cupped her face, stroking her cheek as she leaned into the warmth of his palm. Her eyes grew teary, but no drops fell from them—Hunter knew he’d crumble if he saw another tear come out of her. Instead, he just held her impossibly closer to him, pressing his forehead onto hers.

Lav then leaned in and kissed his lips softly, her hand now caressing the left side of his face where his intimidating tattoo contrasted with the sweetness of his heart. With a shaky breath, she looked him in the eyes with too many emotions for Hunter to decipher, although he did recognize the dominant one to be gratitude.

“Hunter…” Lav said between kisses. “Hunter, the way you leapt in…”

Hunter softly scoffed. “I know.”

“That was so brave,” she whimpered, kissing him again. “You’re so brave, Hunter… You’re insane, but you’re so brave.”

Hunter laughed softly and met her kisses halfway, looking softly into her eyes with that kind smile of his. He kissed her again and a flash of Geonosis went past his eyes, compelling him to envelope her with his figure. His broad shoulders covered her easily and his arms caged her, surrounding her with his warmth; only then would he be able to convince himself she was safe. His hand stroked the back of her head, her hair let loose down her back and wavy by the braid that was there before, and his fingers gently untangled some strands of her hair.

“I would have done that and more for you,” Hunter whispered. “I would do anything for you, Lav.”

Lav wondered if Hunter could feel the way her lips trembled as she nuzzled into his chest. Next to her rested the ingot necklace she’d come to love so much, the cool metal fogging up as her breath brushed over it. She then looked up at him as much as she could, refusing to part her body from his, resting her head on his shoulder as he continued to stroke the back of her head.

“How are you?” He asked her.

Lav took a deep breath to stabilize herself before speaking. “My head’s clearer now, which means I can finally think now.”

Hunter felt a bitter wave wash over him. “That’s not always good.”

“My point exactly,” she said softly, looking up at him. “Hunter, what are we going to do now?”

He sighed. “I’ve put in coordinates for the most remote planet I know of. Last I checked, it was inhabited by a few villagers, but there’s no Imperial presence there. We should be fine.”

“When did you last check that?”

“Shortly before leaving Daro.”

“Why?”

Hunter’s gaze drifted to the ground. “Remember that night at the forest?”

Lav’s gaze softened. “You know I do.”

And how could she ever forget how beautiful Hunter looked under the night sky, or the way the herd of bunnies surprised them? Much less the way Hunter primally held her, was less than inches away from kissing her, how he proposed her to run away with him.

“Well, I already had the routine of looking up remote planets not occupied by the Empire,” he explained. “Mostly to give myself an idea of where my brothers could be…”

Lav sighed. That was a whole other bantha in the room, but before bringing that up, she wanted to let Hunter finish.

“Even if I don’t know for sure where they are, or if I can’t act on any leads I get, I like to know,” Hunter said. “After that night, I did the usual checkup, just in case.”

Lav backed up a bit to better look at Hunter. “Remember why we stayed?”

“Because the Empire put us in a difficult position by giving us an important part in Geonosis.”

“No, I meant—”

“Lavender, no. I know what you’re thinking, it’s not true.”

She sighed again. “Hunter, I ruined everything we were staying for. Hasn’t it occurred to you that your brothers might be in danger? My family? I should have just kept my mouth shut about the slavery thing, I never should have sent that message. Who know if Grandma even read it?”

“Lav,” Hunter said softly as his hand traveled down to her neck, cupping sweetly as he pulled her close again. “Lav, it’s okay. It wasn’t worth it if they were willing to kill you, and they were.”

Lav felt her thoughts quieting down the longer she looked him in the eyes. It went from a turmoil of uncertainty and injustice to simply three faces living in her thoughts.

“I need to go to Pantora,” she said.

“Not now, it’ll be the first place the Empire will look for you.”

“How do we know they’ll even look for me?”

“They like to make examples,” Hunter said darkly. “They’ll want to find you if only to show everyone else what happens to deserters.”

“I have no choice.”

“I really don’t think they’ll go after your grandma and sisters,” Hunter comforted her. “Education and funding might be cut off, but they won’t hurt them any more than that. What you need to do now is lay low, got it?”

Lav knew Hunter was right about having to hide for some time, but the thought of not seeing her Grandma and sisters for a while devastated. She at least had to know that they were okay, give some sort of all clear signal so that they knew they had nothing to worry about even if they weren’t apart. She didn’t know if Hunter’s predictions would be right, but she’d cling to that hope for the time being. She thought about sending a message of some kind, but if her previous one had been intercepted, whatever she sent then would be begging for trouble.

Lav got up from the bed and made her way out into the shuttle’s main hall that led to the cockpit. The windshield and few windows on the shuttle all were full of the sight of hyperspace, and for a moment everything seemed still. She noticed Hunter had dimmed the lights; it didn’t surprise her he’d be more comfortable that way. Tiny flecks and highlights from the shuttle’s décor gleamed in the darkness like a small reminder of the good things that could come even of that, and the fact was, she and Hunter weren’t in the Empire’s hands anymore.

Hunter walked up behind her, his hands set carefully on her shoulders. She turned around and rested her hands on his forearms, looking up at him almost shyly.

“What about your brothers?”

Hunter shrugged. “If I don’t know where they are, neither will the Empire. They’ll be fine.”

“We can’t underestimate the Empire.”

“Lav, my brothers can do what an army can’t. Believe me when I tell you, they’ll be fine.”

“Have you thought of… you know.”

“Tracking them?”

Lav’s lips slightly tilted into a smile in approval, and in response, Hunter’s gaze drifted to the side, almost hopeful. With his hands, he gently held Lav’s waist before looking back at her, still clearly deep in thought.

“It’s a possibility,” he said.

Lav tilted her head, clearly dissatisfied by his response.

“I mean I really don’t know where they could be,” Hunter replied, partly amused by the way she reacted. “There are few things I’d love more than to see them again.”

“That’s more like it,” Lav told him. “We’ll figure it out, alright?”

“But first you need to lay low,” Hunter said. “Understood?”

“Is that what you were like as a soldier in the Clone Wars?”

“If you saw me back in the Clone Wars, you’d be amazed,” he chuckled.

“In a good way?”

“I hope so,” he said. “I was reckless. We all were. But we got things done better than anyone else.”

“Oh?” she purred at him, pressing herself more onto Hunter. “You’re right, I’ve never seen you in action, captain.”

Hunter chuckled, but his silence caught Lav’s attention. For a moment, she thought back to how he’d fought on Geonosis, but she didn’t want to bring it up now that both of their moods were starting to improve.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to remind you,” she said. “I don’t want to think of Geonosis anymore either.”

“No, it wasn’t that,” he said, his voice soft and deep like a warm caramel glazing over her. His arms around her tightened, and while Lav expected him to be upset, he directed her a smile instead. In that smile, she knew he was full of nostalgia.

“Well, what is it?”

“Don’t call me captain,” he said, the smile still prominent on his lips. “It’s sergeant.”

“Oh,” Lav’s hinting smile returned. Her fingers treaded lightly up Hunter’s chest, stopping just below the ingot necklace as she perked her nose up and brought her lips close to his. “Sergeant.”

The giggle she let out after saying the world riled him up; shaking his head softly, Hunter laughed softly, not only at her acceptance of the term but also because she was finally smiling again. Plus, her voice speaking his old rank continued hovering through his mind like a gift to his enhanced hearing, sweet and soothing to his troubled soldier mind.

“I should have known hearing you say it would do things to me,” he said.

“What sort of things?” Lav prompted him as her hands traveled up to his shoulders. With a low chuckle that sent sparks through all of Lav’s body, Hunter firmly secured her back and spun her around, tilting her body so he’d be supporting all her weight. She yelped in surprise, and Lav’s laugh after that was soft and playful as her arms wrapped around his shoulders.

“You’ll see,” Hunter said before pressing his lips onto hers, his kissing now passionate as opposed to the careful treading from earlier. Lav continued to giggle into the kiss as Hunter straightened them both back up. Their passionate kissing came to a stop and they looked each other in the eyes, their fire momentarily replaced by care, a very subtle hesitation they mutually took so as to make sure the other one was okay.

Lav smiled ever so softly at Hunter and made his heart melt; his grip on her tightened again, this time involuntarily as he smiled greater than ever at her.

“How long before we arrive to this planet?” Lav whispered.

“Oh, we’ve got time,” Hunter answered. “When I said this planet was remote, I meant it. We’ll even be able to sleep, how’s that sound?”

The words we and sleep lingered over them until they both realized what was happening, and just when Hunter was about to take back what he’d said, he felt Lav pulling on him, bringing his lips back down to hers. The kiss was no longer raw passion, nor was it fearful, it was rather a message that Lav wanted Hunter there with her. Carefully, Lav stepped back into the bedroom, never breaking contact with Hunter for fear of wasting another precious moment in which she could be with him.

She led him to the bed where they sat at the edge of the mattress, the only thought on her mind being that of finally spending a night in his arms, next to his warmth, guaranteeing no harm could come to her. Since she laid eyes on him, all she ever wanted was to hear his heartbeat and feel him close to her. At that moment, sitting on the bed, Lav finally felt like she could drown out everything else.

She lied down on the bed, her big eyes looking at Hunter with a gleam of innocence that made him hesitate. He knew himself really well and was all too familiar with his instincts taking over, and although Lav was doing much better, showing him she wanted him, and they both clearly wanted to get more intimate, Hunter didn’t want to make her think even for a second she was under pressure.

“Lav, nothing has to happen right now,” Hunter said softly.

“I know, sweetheart. I know,” she smiled.

“How much are you comfortable with?”

Lav took a moment to think, and while she was aching in more ways than one for Hunter, a part of her told her to hold back from the whole thing. A gut feeling, yeah, that’s what it was, and it told her to wait, like there was something better ahead. After realizing that, Lav directed her charming smile at Hunter and caressed his cheek, gently twirling a few strands of his hair in her fingers.

“At least kiss me,” she said.

Hunter chuckled and lied his body on top of hers, barely hovering over her lips. “I’ll never say no to that.”

His body molded itself to hers as gravity helped them become one for that moment; their lips continued their dance, and every touch and trace Lav brushed over Hunter’s clothed skin set him on a fire that craved more—not just in the physical sense. Hunter wanted everything with her, he couldn’t wait for the days ahead in which he could be a free man in her. See her at sunrise, kiss her at sunset, cradle her in his arms under the stars and the moonlight. Lav was that which he never pictured having, but now he couldn’t live without. He would never be able to live fully without Lav, and he was fine with that. He was determined to keep her.

All those thoughts swarming in Hunter’s mind drove his lips in stronger, determined movements. His tongue brushed past Lav’s lips and he enjoyed every drop of her, moaning into her lips, his low voice sending soft vibrations down her body. And Lav knew just how to handle Hunter; her fingers lightly tugged his beautiful locks, sending Hunter into bliss and only tipping his kisses from passionate to feral. No space was left between their bodies, they were all that existed to one another, and Lav’s tugging on Hunter’s hair drew low growls from him, only dipping her completely in him.

With time, the fires of their kissing faded to smoke, and a soft love and care replaced them. Lav barely noticed; she was already dosing off to sleep the moment Hunter’s movements became gentler. He could notice every change in her body and resorted to kissing her face after it, in a chain of sweet, tender kisses that drew the sweetest grin from his beloved Lav. He kissed her forehead, her cheeks, her chin, her nose, and a couple more times on her lips before lying beside her and wrapping his arms around her.

Lav’s eyes were closed, and her body fit perfectly in his as he enveloped her with his body. Whiffs of her scent filled his senses with every breath he took. It brought him peace, and he was happy to see she was at peace as well the more she dozed off to sleep.

Hunter could hear her breathing and how it had deepened now that she was deep in her slumber. Carefully, he let her go and set her down on the mattress; he got up to dim the lights of the room for both of them to sleep more comfortable. One more time, he went to the cockpit to make sure everything was okay. The coordinates were still set, and nothing suggested any tracking from the Empire. For the first time in a long while, at least for a short while, he had nothing to fear.

Leaving the cockpit the way it was, he made his way back into the bedroom where Lav continued sleeping soundly on the bed. He lifted the blanket to cover her with it and shifted around to lie next to her, briefly waking her up as she greeted him with a soft, inquiring moan.

“Shh,” Hunter soothed, running a hand through her hair. “It’s me. Go back to sleep, my love.”

The sweetest smile escaped her, so genuine and pure and it took every fiber of Hunter’s willpower not to kiss her again. She needed sleep and rest and all the peace she could get. She deserved it.

In no time, Lav fell back asleep in Hunter’s arms. Knowing she was there, safe and warm, in his arms, sharing a bed with him for the first time, Hunter fell asleep more peacefully than he ever had before.

*

Waking up in Hunter’s arms was divine, what with his whole body enclosing Lav, his scent engulfing her, his mere presence shielding her from the horrors the galaxy now knew due to its regime. Lav genuinely never felt safer, and returning to consciousness in the same bed as him had to be one of the best things she’d ever experienced.

But the news that they were now closer to their destination gave Lav a new sense of hope, even in view of their circumstances. A remote planet unoccupied by the Empire seemed like everything she needed, so she allowed herself to let whatever was coming towards her do so without thinking much of anything else. For the first time since Geonosis, she actually felt like she needed, and deserved, a break.

The planet that greeted them when they jumped out of hyperspace wasn’t very big, and a big chunk of its atmosphere was covered by puffy white clouds. From the pilot’s seat, Lav began protocols to descend into the planet, and Hunter put in coordinates within the planet in which they’d hide out for a while. Entering its atmosphere was gentle despite all the clouds, and underneath the thick layer of puffiness was revealed a forest world with mountains, lakes, and rivers. Nothing like Pantora and certainly nothing like Geonosis, it took Lav’s breath away at first sight.

Hunter took notice of the look in her eyes, trailed on the scenery so much he knew they wouldn’t fall on him at that moment, and he smiled at her softly, glad something else could bring her some comfort. Landing didn’t take long after that, and they took the shuttle down to rest at the shore of a large lake surrounded by forest and a few hills and, according to Hunter’s coordinates, not very far away from a village.

“Welcome to Répit,” Hunter told Lav as he powered down the ship’s engines.

“It’s so lovely,” she said, still in awe at the wonderful scenery before her. “It somehow reminds me of Daro, but tat the same time, there’s no comparison.”

“I like it better here, even if there are a few things I’ll remember fondly from Daro.”

Lav looked up at Hunter smiling, already knowing what those things were, but wanting to hear them nonetheless. “Such as?”

Hunter smiled at her. “You. Meeting you.”

Lav smiled softly at him. “I loved that too, Hunter.”

With a smile, Hunter held his hand out for Lav to take it. He got the shuttle’s door open and led her down to the firm soil, both of them taking deep breaths of much-needed fresh air. There was no noise of engines or commands being yelled out or of nearby facilities, only the chirping of birds and the occasional dripping of water as well as the sway of tree branches in gusts of wind that came and went. The air was cool and fresh, without a trace of fuel or chemicals or exhaust of any kind.

It was exactly what they both needed.

Hunter momentarily let go of Lav’s hand and he kneeled down on the ground, digging his fingers into the moist and fertile soil of the planet Répit. Using his heightened senses, he felt the vibrations of the earth, heard signs of life nearby, he could even tell exactly what time of day it was.

“That way is all forest and we’ll find several rivers there as well, but pretty much all around us is fresh water,” he said and pointed to a different direction. “Somewhere there is a lot of wildlife suitable for hunting, but I’d rather take my chances with whatever we can find with the villagers.”

“Won’t that be dangerous?” Lav asked him. “Aren’t we risking getting caught?”

Hunter smiled softly and got back up, wrapping his arms around Lav to comfort her as much as he needed. “If a planet isn’t under the Empire’s command at this point, it’s because they have no interest in it willingly. I don’t think we have anything to fear. And whatever happens, I won’t ever let any harm come to you again. Alright?”

Lav smiled sadly at him. “Hunter, you don’t have to take that burden on alone.”

“It isn’t a burden,” he answered as he gently caressed her cheek. “And I want to do it, Lav. Protecting you is my purpose now.”

“Hunter…” she was moved almost to tears and she resorted to kissing him instead, if only it would keep her from crying. Hunter lovingly returned the kiss and washed upon her that familiar sense of protection that she clearly needed at the moment.

“It’s going to be fine, Lav,” he whispered between kisses. “I promise.”

After a final hug, Hunter turned his head in the direction the village would be as though giving a heads up. Shortly after, a group of people showed up from behind the bushes. It wasn’t a large group, but it was diverse. Different races and sizes were there, eyeing the shuttle suspiciously as well as the imperial crests on Hunter and Lav’s blacks. No weapons had been pulled, but these villagers wouldn’t take their chances yet.

Hunter held his hands up softly, and Lav followed in the gesture.

“We come in peace,” Hunter said.

“You are Imperial,” the woman in the middle pointed out, elderly with thick gray hair and bronze skin, and kind eyes that contrasted with the tone of her voice.

“We were Imperial,” Lav said softly. “We’re deserters, both of us.”

“That’s quite a luxurious shuttle for a couple of deserters,” the woman said.

“We had to make a hasty escape,” Hunter added.

“What is that story?” The woman requested to know.

Lav sighed, but she stepped forward and untied the makeshift skirt she had, showing he had no weapons. “We were on Geonosis. The Empire began to take slaves there and we stood against it. I…” she hesitated before saying the words, fearing the effect it would have on her, even though she knew she didn’t have a choice if she wanted the villagers to trust her and Hunter. “I was sentenced to death because of my resistance. He saved my life,” she gestured to Hunter. “We got on the first ship we could find and came here.”

The woman leading the group seemed to hesitate, and Lav really couldn’t blame her. She of all people knew an Imperial crest was no sign of good news. But when it seemed her testimony would be dismissed, a young man walked up behind the woman. He shared some of her features, but was much taller than her, and he had a few gadgets on him that signaled he worked closely with technology.

“She’s telling the truth,” he said as he handed a screen over to the woman. “They’re the ones from the report.”

Lav tilted her head. “Report?”

“It was all over the news last rotation,” he took the holopad and took it to Lav for her to see, and indeed there she was with Hunter in the arena of Geonosis. She turned away, not wanting to see any more of it.

“We also made sure we wouldn’t be tracked,” Hunter said. “I knew about this place beforehand and know there is no Imperial occupation here.”

“You are correct,” the woman said. “Are you certain there is no way the two of you or the ship can be located?”

“We are,” Hunter answered.

Solemnly, she nodded. “The Empire is not welcome in this planet. Will your stay be permanent?”

“We’re not sure at the moment,” Hunter replied. “We both have family we’d like to track down before going into hiding for good. That won’t be immediately, though.”

“Hiding for a while would be the wiser choice,” the woman told him.

“We figured.”

The boy from earlier cleared his throat, once again rising above the conversation. “It’s likely you won’t have to worry much about being followed, just not being spotted. The reports stated you both had been killed.”

Lav and Hunter exchanged looks before facing the boy again.

“Really?” Lav said.

The boy nodded in response.

Lav turned to Hunter. “They won’t come after us like that. They lie all the time, but they won’t expose a lie blatantly created for show.”

“It does make things a bit easier for us, knowing we won’t be tracked, but if we’re ever spotted—”

“On sight. I know,” Lav finished for him.

“Why would they tell everybody we died?” Hunter questioned.

Lav looked down at the ground, deep in thought. Analyzing the Empire’s behavior, the answer became pretty clear in no time.

“Because if they let the galaxy know that a small engineer like me and a clone trooper like you could escape them, they’re going to look weak,” Lav said. “The Empire can’t afford that, not if they don’t want others to do the same. You said they wanted to make an example of me, and they did.”

Hunter looked at her somberly. “Yeah, that makes sense.”

Lav turned to the boy. “Thank you for letting us know about that.”

The boy nodded at her and then at the leader, only to look back at Lav with a dash of embarrassment. “I’m afraid I’ll have to search the ship now and make sure there are no weapons or trackers, or anything that could be of harm.”

“Please, go ahead,” Lav told him.

The boy walked past them along with a couple more villagers to search the ship. Meanwhile, the lady addressed Hunter and Lav.

“There are opportunities in the village if you’re looking for work. Feel free to stay in the hostel,” she said.

“Thank you,” Hunter and Lav answered together.

The woman then acknowledged them and regrouped with the rest of the villagers, leading them back home. Shortly after, the boy and the other villagers in the ship came out, also making their way with the others once they’d made sure there were no risks. Hunter and Lav were now left alone, but they were both relieved that they at least had the welcome of the locals.

Lav sighed. “So they told everyone we died.”

“Apparently so,” Hunter said. “At least we know they won’t come after us.”

“But we’ll have to be more careful whenever we do go out to find—” it all dawned on her at that moment, and her heart broke.

Her grandma and her sisters. What if they’d heard the news of the report? What sort of unimaginable pain were they going through?

As if Hunter could read her mind, he firmly took her shoulders and got her attention back on him. “Lav. Lav, listen to me. Believe it or not, this is a good thing. You said it yourself, the Empire won’t expose a lie they made up, which means your grandma and sisters won’t get hurt.”

Lav looked up. “On the contrary, they’ll be compensated.”

“It’ll be less, but the pension will be there for your grandma and your sisters won’t leave school,” he continued.

“But how do we know that’s what’s going to happen? I was regarded as a traitor, the Empire wouldn’t have a reason to continue looking after them.”

“It’s Pantora,” Hunter explained. “That system is really important to their senate. Maybe they don’t want to make any noise and cause uprisings. Think of it as them still setting an example.”

“An example of how good and merciful they can be even with the family of a traitor,” Lav added. “They wouldn’t kick out a helpless old lady and two young sisters.”

“It would be bad for their image,” Hunter agreed.

“Those lying bastards,” she said. “But if it means there’s a chance my family will be safe, I’ll be sane for now. But about your brothers?”

“If the news got here, it probably reached them wherever they are,” Hunter said solemnly. “They’ve most likely heard.”

“Aren’t you worried they’ll do something?”

“I told them to hide better if anything happened to me,” Hunter said. “It’ll make it harder to find them, which means I should probably hurry up and locate them.”

Lav sighed. “Okay, well, I have a plan. You told me to stay away from Pantora, and it makes even more sense now since showing my face anywhere will mean… well.”

“You don’t have to say it.”

“Thanks,” she said. “Anyways, we can track your brothers down now. By the time we’ve found them, it might be safer to approach Pantora then.”

“Sounds good,” Hunter said. “I’ll look around in the village for some way we could amplify a signal. In the meantime, we should find something to do, at least to get some fuel for that thing.”

Lav nodded. Hunter then took both of her hands and kissed her softly.

“It’s all going to be fine, I promise you that,” he said.

“Thanks,” Lav said, throwing her arms around him. “For everything.”

Hunter kissed the top of her head. “You’ll always count on me. Now come on, let’s find something more decent to wear.”

Taking her hand, Hunter led her down to the village to see what they could make of the time they’d spend there.

*

The days on Répit went by quicker than Lav ever remembered the pass of rotations could be. Things were peaceful and quiet, as if she could be certain the Empire truly had no more interest in finding her, as if being dead in the eyes of the Empire were a better option from the beginning. Lav tried to shake the thought, even though her current need to hide almost made things too easy.

It seemed that way, at least, until Lav realized the Empire knew she’d try to track her family down somehow. They’d expect that, and that was the hard part.

However that went down, Lav would have to wait. In the meantime, the young ex-engineer had to try and make a living of some sort in the village. The locals had been really accepting of her and Hunter; the two had been able to earn some currency and buy a bit of fuel for the shuttle. For a few days, Lav even repainted the shuttle from its opulent chrome silver to a neutral scale of greens, all after scrambling its signature and making necessary adjustments just in case.

The sun rose and fell on the planet day after day, and she was grateful that with every night she could return to Hunter’s embrace. He spent most of his time outdoors helping with hunting, gathering food, earning the acceptance of the villagers with his skill. Every night, both of them wound up incredibly tired, but it was an exhaustion not at all like what they’d experience with the Empire. For once, they were both at peace with what they were doing, so much they didn’t even have to keep each other constant company for it to be remotely enjoyable.

But in spite of almost always being tired when the night fell, a certain wish grew inside of Lav. They’d gone from staying in the shuttle to a small hotel at the outskirts of the village, right near the edge of the forest. He liked going out there for a while during downtime to relax; Hunter simply loved going outdoors. Normally Lav would wait for him without a problem, but on one night, when the stars gleamed in the night sky and the moon shone bright, she found herself staring out the window of the little hotel room, examining the forest in the night. She longed for Hunter even though he’d be there soon, and deep inside her, Lav felt something calling her out into the forest.

There was no need for any coats as the night was warm. Lav quietly walked out the hotel and made her way into the forest, taking in any and all detail nature offered, like the few plants and flowers that shone in the night, iridescent plants that seemed to light her way deeper into the forest. Hunter had shown her where he liked to cool off at night, and she remembered the way very well. Shortly, Lav arrived at a small bulb within the forest where the amount of iridescent flowers grew and surrounded a small pond, where Hunter already bathed, clothless, his lower body submerged in the water that seemed to steam around him.

He was so beautiful that Lav couldn’t help but stare at him; not only was Hunter a perfect man, with a great build, but the iridescent flowers and the faint glow of the moon through the trees illuminated his body such that he almost seemed ethereal, like a sprite whose beauty a mere mortal like Lav could never fully grasp. In the middle of her gawking, the only thing that made Lav snap out of her trance was the rich, deep sound of Hunter’s laughter, low and, dared she thought, seductive.

“The steam has made me so relaxed, my senses aren’t as sharp as they usually are,” Hunter said, his back still turned on Lav. He then turned around, facing her, with the dim light highlighting every one of his muscles. “But I do still know you’re there, you know that?”

“I-I-” Lav stuttered. She had to gulp to get a grasp of herself, but even then it was hard to speak. Hunter was just too stunning. “I’m sorry, Hunter. I didn’t mean to stare.”

“No harm done,” Hunter held his hand out, inviting her near the pond.

Bashfully, Lav approached him, trying her best not to drool at the way his muscles were highlighted by the flowers and the moonlight. Although Hunter was incredibly kind, he was still a guy, and Lav could almost touch his pride. She would have rolled her eyes had it not been for his immense beauty, and only then did she notice the way his hair fell gracefully over his sides. If there was ever a definition of a perfect man, it was Hunter.

“H-Hunter?” Lav stuttered.

“Yes, my love?”

“I… I’ve been wanting to tell you that I…”

“Yes?” He chuckled. “Would it help if I put a shirt on?”

Lav’s face flushed and she couldn’t help looking at his chest, only for Hunter to chuckle and direct her gaze upwards again.

“My eyes are up here, Lav. Now, what is it you wanted to tell me?”

Lav took a deep breath, determined not to seem like such a hopeless girl in front of Hunter, even if she was just that for him. “I’m just happy I can be with you.”

Hunter smiled kindly at her. “I’m very happy for that too, Lav. When the time is right, we’ll take care of everything else, I promise. For now, I’m just happy to be here with you.”

Lav’s soft smile said more to Hunter than her words ever could and, slowly, he started to wrap his strong arms around her. Feeling small and protected, Lav shyly rested her hands on his chest. His skin was hot and lightly damp from the pond’s water, and Lav felt her knees giving out beneath her. Lav tumbled and would have fallen into the pond had it not been for Hunter’s strong grip around her, and the smile he had on his face was enough to finish her.

“What do you want, Lav?” Hunter asked her softly.

“I want…” she said. “Stars, how are you so beautiful?”

Hunter chuckled in response.

“I’m serious, you’re stunning,” Lav praised him. “You’re so perfect, I don’t even know what I did to get with you, to deserve you.”

“Are you kidding?” Hunter said gently. “You are the single kindest person in the galaxy, and it’s just one of the many reasons I’m in love with you.”

Lav’s eyes widened at his expression, and then Hunter realized what he said. His eyes widened too, but then they softened to look at Lav with the same love they always had.

“I am, Lav,” he finished. “I’m in love with you.”

“Hunter,” Lav sighed as she got closer to him, kissing him like it was the first time. Longing, passion, love, all those things were present as their lips moved in perfect harmony and his arms wrapped perfectly around her figure as though her body had been made just for him. He parted the kiss for a moment to look into her eyes.

“I ask again, my love, what do you want?” He asked her.

As her eyes were trailed on the ingot necklace, Hunter’s fingers wrapped around the collar of her blouse.

“I want you to take me, Hunter,” Lav answered. “I want you to make me yours, here and now. It might be as perfect a place as any, but everything that matters to me is that I can be alone with you.”

Hunter smiled widely at her, as if he couldn’t believe how wonderful she was.

“I love you too, Hunter,” Lav finished before kissing him again.

While he kissed her, Hunter’s hands explored her body with glee. He could never get enough of her, and every time would be just as good as the first time when it came to her. He’d kissed her many times, held her many times, but there was one other thing that would be a first. He would see her skin glowing in the moonlight for the first time, become molded in her for the first time, and what better way to do it than in the eyes of nature herself? He helped remove her blouse, her trousers, any underwear she might have been wearing, never parting from her plump, warm lips.

In no time, Lav was bare as well. The cool night breeze made her quiver in his arms as he undid the hairband that secured her braid. With tender fingers, Hunter unweaved her hair until it fell gracefully down her body in smooth waves, reflecting the glow of the luminescent flowers around them. Her body pressed onto his for warmth, softening every corner of Hunter’s soul as he gazed at the young woman in his arms. Lav could go on and on about how perfect he was, but the one thing Hunter realized at that moment was how much she overlooked the beauty and perfection within herself.

“Lavender,” Hunter whispered so softly into the night, the sound almost blended with the sway of the trees.

“Hunter,” Lav reciprocated before kissing him again.

Slowly, Hunter pulled her towards him so she could be in the water as well. She inhaled sharply at the cool water, but Hunter huddled with her for warmth and let his kisses distract her, eventually letting her get used to the temperature. Lav wasn’t sure how deep the pond was; her arms around Hunter were what secured her. His hands ran all over her body, highlighting every curve, and his kissing went down to her jaw and her neck.

Up against her neck, Hunter could feel her veins pulsing faster with his kissing. He knew exactly where to nibble, where to suck, where to mark her as his own. He had a very primal instinct to mark her as territory, a statement that he’d be the only one to ever lay with her, that he’d protect her from everyone and everything that dared come her way. His markings made her moan into the night, and she was getting so aroused that her hips began grinding against his.

Their lips met once more; mutually, they tugged on each other’s hair, moaning their names and whispering their love for one another in between kisses. Hunter stopped it just for a moment, smiling brightly into Lav’s eyes.

“Hold your breath,” he said.

“Huh? Oh!” Lav yelped when she felt Hunter pulling her down with her.

Under the water, he kissed her again, and she could feel the way his lips curved into a smile as the two rose back to the surface. Completely drenched and with water dripping from their hair, Lav and Hunter giggled when they were back above the water only to press themselves onto one another to continue their passionate kiss. Gradually, Hunter took Lav up to sit on the bed of soft grass that surrounded the pond. He could see the way she shivered, and in a protective instinct, he lunged his body on top of her and caged her with his arms, looking with dark eyes at her figure, exposed and vulnerable to him.

And finally, Lav saw him for how he looked like as well. Earlier, he’d been covered by the water, but now there he was, naked above her. Her eyes inevitably lingered on his cock, long and proud with a slight curve to the left. Her mouth watered, hoping soon she could taste it, but she knew Hunter would want to make this first time all about her.

“I’m yours, Hunter,” she whispered. “Make me yours.”

“Oh, Lav…” Hunter answered as his eyes scanned her body. “You’re so perfect…”

Lav caressed his cheek softly. She didn’t speak, but her eyes showcased a soft, pure love that Hunter never saw himself having. She’d asked him to make her his, but deep down, Hunter knew it was he who was pledging herself entirely to Lav.

“May I?” He asked once more.

Lav smiled and nodded at him. “Yes, my king. You can do anything you want.”

Hunter chuckled. “King?”

“Do you like it?”

“I love it,” Hunter leaned down to kiss her lips once more. “My queen.”

He kissed from her lips down her neck and chest, where he rested his head for a moment to listen to her heart beating. It beated fast, yet another point of pride in him, and he planted a kiss to the center of her chest with a soft smirk before continuing his trail downwards. Despite the air feeling cold on her skin, Lav felt heat building up inside and around her, and Hunter could notice perfectly well. The scent of her arousal reached him, slick and sweet, his gaze darkening with lust as his most raw instincts threatened to take over.

Finally, he reached between Lav’s legs, staring with his lustful gaze at the soft skin that awaited his touch. He approached her folds and took in a whiff of her scent--perfect. Just before brushing his tongue over her cunt, he felt Lav’s fingers clawing his scalp and twirling a few of his locks. For just a moment, he looked up and met her gaze, taking in her soft beauty as she smiled down at him before he returned to his own task.

His lips kissed the sensitive bud of her clit before his tongue began to brush all over her folds. The sensation, the taste, the smell, it all made him growl; it was all intoxicating to Hunter as he sank further into her and let the sound of her moaning ring in his mind. His growling pushed Lav closer into bliss as he blew her mind, and it was only just the start. She felt her eyes rolling back when Hunter slipped his tongue past her entrance and drank up every last drop of her he could while his thumb rubbed slow circles on her clit.

Lav saw stars when he switched, returning his tongue to her clit and sliding a finger into her entrance. He curled it up perfectly to stroke spots so sensitive that Lav didn’t even know they existed; her hips bucked up and rubbed against Hunter’s face, once more drawing a growl from him. His tongue movements became faster, with more pressure, and Lav’s chest heaved up and down quickly as she began to lose herself in Hunter. She was already so close to being shattered by him, and then, Hunter slipped in a second finger that applied more pressure to her walls inside.

“Hunter…” Lav moaned as she felt dangerously close. She continued grinding her hips against Hunter’s face, which he loved immensely if only it made him taste her better. He could feel her pussy was already swollen, so close to release; he could hear her pulse, the desperation in her whimpers. He was drunk on her arousal. Knowing she was close, Hunter focused his fingers and his tongue on the spots he knew were most sensitive, and soon enough, Lav was squirming underneath him.

Her thighs twitched, her back arched and her moans nearly became screams; she tugged on his hair and sent shivers all over his skin. The cold from earlier had been replaced by pure heat and bliss as the words my king swarmed through her mind over and over again, so loudly that she didn’t even recognize when she spoke them aloud, only riling up Hunter’s ego. His name being moaned ecstatically by the woman he loved only made him crave more, kiss harder, even after her orgasm died down. She didn’t stop him, however. She wanted more as well, and Hunter kept up the licking and sucking until he gave her a second climax not long after that.

He had to force himself not to keep going so as to not overstimulate her. Still somewhat dazed by the sensations she caused in him, Hunter met Lav at eye level and hungrily kissed her lips, letting her taste herself in his tongue. Her arms wrapped tightly around him as though she were clinging to him, and in her eyes was a look of plea followed by the words, “Please fuck me, Hunter.”

Hunter helped spread her legs wide and positioned his already hard, proud cock at her tip. He slid the tip in carefully, giving her just an initial stretch. Before pushing in any more, Hunter took in the sight of Lav lying on the grass, her naked skin glowing in the moonlight, embellished by the glow of the flowers as if she were a goddess. The sight was heavenly, and he couldn’t picture any way it could have gone better. Hunter lied down closer to her, his lips barely hovering above hers, and he kissed her tenderly as he continued to push all of his length into her.

Lav bit her lower lip at the fullness she now felt inside her as the pain slowly faded into pleasure. Like many things she’d recently been through with Hunter, it was a necessary pain, one that would pay off eventually. She kept her gaze firmly locked on his as his cock reached the deepest corner of her walls and shivered with ecstasy at the very thought of her pussy wrapped around his girth, taking it in deliciously and waiting eagerly for him to start moving.

Hunter’s lips kissed Lav’s the moment he pulled out. Slowly, he pushed back in, his pace strong, passionate. Lav knew to expect something mind-blowing from having sex with Hunter, but he was deliberately exceeding every image she’d created for herself. He was strong, beautiful, romantic, and he could fuck. Firmly, he continued thrusting into her as his eyes remained trailed on hers, watching as the pleasure flooded her gaze again.

His enhanced senses only heightened the pleasure he felt, taking him dangerously close to a feral release. When Hunter felt her nails clawing at his back and fingers tugging on his hair, a guttural groan resonated from deep within his throat. As he kissed her, he continued moaning into her mouth, and his hands fisted around some of the grass for more leverage to pound deeper into Lav. His pace went from slow and passionate to inhumanly fast, craving, fearing he’d waste another moment. Every tiny moan and whimper that escaped Lav’s lips riled him up more, unleashing that animalistic instinct of his. He’d release soon, he’d fill her up, make her his.

His fast pace mixed with the lingering sensitivity from Lav’s previous orgasms made her walls clench around Hunter’s cock sooner than he’d expected, but the increase in tightness made him growl into the night. In that husky voice, he moaned out her name, pounding impossibly faster into her when his vision blurred and a string of curses mixed with declarations of love escaped him. At last, he felt Lav wrap her legs around his waist, only making herself tighter around him and finishing him off. His cock twitched inside her and shot out strings of hot cum that filled her to the brink.

Moaning softly, Hunter rested his body on hers and panted to attempt to recover his breath. He felt her fingers tracing soft patterns on his back, slowly stirring him back to consciousness. He tilted his head up and got a look at the wonderful woman lying next to him, who smiled at him with great love, and for just a moment, Hunter felt like he was in a dream.

“My king…” Lav whispered.

But that was about the last thing Hunter could hear before his senses took over and, without thinking, he wrapped his arms around Lav as he sat them both up. With his body, he cradled her, nuzzling her head to get a warm whiff of her scent.

“Let’s stay here a while,” Hunter said.

“Of course,” she answered quietly and looked up to kiss his chin. Hunter smiled at the soft contact of her lips on his skin and gently kissed her lips before hugging her tightly and remaining there, immobile and timeless, under the light of the moon and the glow of iridescent flowers.

------

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