A difficult start to the night...

Doubt crossed Korlen's face. Had he accepted the offer simply to take her thanks, or was he genuinely looking at her as no Jedi should--an attractive woman? Already his palms were damp from his nervousness, and he wiped them on his robes.

Though the Jedi had taught him his entire life to be stoic and ignore his emotions, recent months fighting the Nihil had made it nearly impossible. He had lost numerous friends in their battles, and all he could find solace in was one small positive experience - but even that joy was met with a warring inner conflict.

Lara wanted to thank Korlen, and he should honour that, but now he also knew how difficult it would be for him not to look at her like any ordinary man would. Not willing to break his promise and believing in the strength of the **** to guide him along the right path, he boarded a sky car to take him to Lara's apartment in Coruscant.

As the cab flew through the city, Korlen watched the lights fly past, Coruscant, the centre of the universe. The home of the Jedi order and the Republic. Yet threat surrounded all of them. The Nihil were everywhere, and the pressure of protecting these people weighed immensely on him, yet his confidence waned. He had become distracted today; he had to prove to himself he was still a Master Jedi the people of the republic could rely on.

Arriving, Korlen strode to the door to the apartment, tapping the buzzer, "It's Jedi Master Korlen Ferran. Is Lara there?"

"I'm so glad you came, Korlen."

The gold and white dress clung to her body like a second skin, showing every single one of her curves. The plunging V-neck pulled her full breasts even closer together, threatening to spill over the low neckline and lose their shape entirely. Her waist was impossibly small, a true hourglass figure. Her hips were wide and inviting, leading to a sinfully short hem of her dress that barely covered her plump, round ass. Her legs stretched on forever, thanks to the sky-high heels she wore, and it was clear from her confident strut that she knew every man in the room would be drooling over her curvaceous body. She was like a goddess of lust-made flesh; nobody could take their eyes off her.

"Thank you for inviting me," Korlen **** a smile, his heart racing as he took in Lara's beauty. He had to fight his urge to reach out and touch Lara. Taking a quick glance around the room, Korlen noticed the luxurious furnishings. It was miles away from the plain chambers of the temple where he stayed.

Lara gestured for him to sit, and she followed suit. "I'm sorry, it's nothing special. I just needed to thank you properly for today." She said, keeping eye contact, challenging Korlen to break it.

She knew of many things about the Jedi and their ways, one being that romantic relationships were forbidden, along with all attachment. And oh, how badly she wanted to test the man before her.

Lara had just turned twenty, and her first and only intimate partner, Xeck Bral of Mandalore, was placed on a bounty list due to his smuggling activities. As she heard the news of his demise at the hands of a Muun bounty hunter, it hurt for a short time, but she moved past him quickly. His strength couldn't fulfil her anymore as Lara grew beyond what he could offer.

Lara's self-belief had been strengthened by his ****. Before her time with the Mandalorian, she wouldn't have dreamed of influencing men so powerful, but as her sexuality grew to meet his desires. By the end, she held all the power; he would plead and beg for her affection and attention while Lara could give it, remove it, or manipulate him with a mere smile or tempting word in his ear, overpowering his rational thoughts. He yearned for her attention, craving the pleasure only she could provide.

Still, she couldn't help but think of him from time to time. Her thoughts often drifted back to the nights they would spend making love passionately until morning, his strong arms around her body providing her with comfort and security.

Almost a year since she'd Xeck had passed, Lara wondered if Korlen could offer the power she desired, the control she wanted.

"There are many worries at the moment, but the Jedi will not allow these marauders to continue with their plague on this galaxy."

Lara gazed into Korlen's naive eyes and smirked as she saw the vulnerability behind them. "You are all so brave," she soothed him whilst plotting how she could use his honourable qualities against him.

Korlen couldn't help but look down at the floor, feeling a little embarrassed. He had never been one to express his feelings openly, and he was still trying to get used to being around such a beautiful woman and controlling his emotions.

He cleared his throat before speaking, "I don't know if I'd go so far as to call us brave, but we are certainly focused on our mission: protecting the people of the galaxy from those who wish them harm."

Lara nodded and inched closer to him on the couch, which caused him to squirm uncomfortably. There were many obstacles in-between her and the Jedi, but she could work through them. After some time, she finally broke her silence.

"I'm sure you must be tired from your travels," she said softly. "Do you want me to make you something to eat?" Korlen smiled in gratitude and accepted her offer gratefully. He watched as Lara stood and moved around her kitchen with an ease he hadn't seen before -- clearly, she was comfortable in her own home. While she prepared their meal, Korlen found himself admiring how confident she seemed in this environment -- she appeared worlds away from the frightened young woman he had first met that day.

Looking over at Korlen, she noticed him watching her, taking her body in with his intense stare. Korlen's gaze dropped, face going slightly red. He had been embarrassed at being caught staring.

Lara continued making the meal; she felt so... powerful. The man who had saved many lives and planets brimming with confidence earlier in the day, yet not in her apartment. He couldn't keep eye contact without blushing with embarrassment. She knew he was tempted, but there was much to be done to entirely turn him, "One step at a time," she thought.

Once they were done eating, Lara suggested they sit in her living room, watching the nightlife fly by, sky cars flooding through the multitudes of skyscrapers. While in the distance, ships jump to hyperspace at every edge of the known galaxy.

Sensing she had to make progress before he got too accustomed to her company.

The corners of Lara's mouth curved up into a sinister smirk as she looked at Korlen.

"Korlen," she purred, "Tell me, what would you have been if life hadn't presented you with the ethereal gifts of the Jedi?"

Korlen shifted nervously in his chair but did not break eye contact with her. "What do you mean, Lara?" he said hesitantly.

She inquired with a low and precise voice, "Had you not been trained as a Jedi, would you have become a soldier? A diplomat? Or perhaps gotten married?" She attempted to uncover his innermost desires that had been obscured through years of Jedi indoctrination.

Korlen was dumbstruck by the inquiry, and he paused to reflect on it. What would life be like without the order? Was he relying on it and the **** too much? When he looked into Lara's eyes, he knew what he wanted-- to take her right now, protect her with all his heart. But that wasn't his destiny. It could have been, but fate had chosen Korlen for something else, hadn't it? "I... I am not sure, but I know what my purpose is now. The same mission all the Jedi carry out-- to fight for the Republic and its people. For light and life," Korlen said in a hush as if to himself.

Lara could see the turmoil in his eyes, the struggle between what he wanted as a Jedi and what he wanted as a man. She **** her voice to be inviting and coaxing, "Why must you restrain yourself so? Can't you find even a moment of pleasure?"

"Of course, I am enjoying myself, Lara," he replied stoically.

"But as a man--with all that power, don't you feel something more than this?" She brushed her hand along his arm in an effort to ignite some kind of passion within him.