AN: Hello guys!
Thank you for returning to chapter #23! This time I tried to update a bit sooner, however the chapter is not too long again.
Do you prefer to wait longer and have longer chapters or would you like me to update more often with shorter chapters?

I have also gotten myslef a tumblr account: galaxytrueffle
Also I update the account with all the relevant information about updates and my other stories...
I would love to talk to you guys about Vadme, Anidala, TTEWAH or Reylo - so don't hesitate to say hi ;-)

Otherwise: ENJOY

Chapter 23

Padmé's P.O.V.

Inside the heaving chest of the former Senator a thunderstorm of emotions had erupted.

It felt good, almost right, to be wanted by this man. Vader. A man like no other.

Every place his demanding lips had touched so far were burning, butterflies made of fire were flying around in her stomach. She felt nervous, like it was the first kiss she had ever received on her skin… Special.

And what was even better: her ragged plan to seduce the monster clad in black was working…even if the brunette didn't know what she had done to achieve it.

Did the young dark sider fancy her because of her looks? Possibly. She was considered one of the most beautiful women in the Galaxy according to the yellow press… But there were tons of beautiful women at the disposal of the Emperor's right hand man. So this couldn't be the reason for his interest in her…?

Did he crave her power? No…she hadn't got any left.

Was she a piece in a chess game he wanted to use, too? Perhaps… everyone involved with the Senate and the Chancellor followed his or her political ambitions…

But the way he surrendered to her after she tried to assassinate him…it didn't feel like part of a scheme. Was it naïve to wanting to believe his sweet words?

And heaven she had never felt so desirable like in the moment she had shot up and reclaimed the force wielder's young lips! They did something to her. Perhaps he was even messing with her brain…

A propos messing with one's most intimate thoughts: "Will you tell me who provided you with the weapon?"

There.

He blew it.

All the mystical magic was gone…and the threat in form of the empire's fist returned.

"I would rather not" she answered with bitter honestly, unsure where this confession would lead her. She sounded ashamed and sad, not like the will strong Lady people thought her of.

A glance at the blonde with scarred face and the incredible deep blue eyes was enough to tell Padmé that Vader also fought an internal battle: "You understand that I need to look into such things…it is part of my job." The husky voice of the man whispered towards her as if justifying what was about to follow, just after he stepped a few steps away and began to chew on his sinful lower lip. The pout on his face awakened a longing inside the Senator to give in. Confess. But she never would…both of them knew that she was no traitor to the Republic and the ideals of a free Galaxy. And she was certainly a fighter for her allies, so she would do everything to avert danger from her handmaid…

But would it work?
Would Vader force her to tell how the weapon fell into her clutch?
Would her tall captor break his pledge and punish here with a strangulation of her neck, again?

No, he promised to not hurt me again… Somehow the Senator judged Vader to be a promise keeper, regardless of his association to dark side… Perhaps she was a hopeless lunatic…

Still it was possible that if she pleaded with her Sith captor and showed him vulnerability, he would let things slide?

It was a risky gamble. Padmé knew so much, but did she have a choice?
She needed to save Bemere. She deserved to continue living somewhere hidden from the wrath of the Empire… Her short term handmaid was deep inside a good person. No good person deserved to face their last breath in captivity and under torture…Padmé's determination to not spill Bemere's identity grew with every passing thought inside the clever brunette's head.

However using her feminine charms it didn't feel right…but what could a defenceless woman in captivity use as a weapon against her wooer than a silent plea? It was the primary weapon of every woman. More powerful than any sword or blaster if used in correct fashion…

The plea seemed to do something in Vader. Padmé was sure that she noticed how the warrior's face twitched and how his clear eye's got clouded. Somehow the fact that this ruthless man considered her plea caused a prickle inside Padmé's heart.

"If you don't wish to betray…whomever…I could take a look inside-" the conflicted subordinate of Palpatine offered, a hopeful gleam in his eye considering he found a perfect way to not make her betray anyone and extract the information anyway.

But woman didn't work that way.
She didn't work that way.
Vader needed to understand that if he wanted to…continue whatever they had, he would have to treat her differently.
Padmé only shook her head in silence, signalising her refusal towards the suggestion of the tall broad shouldered one.

At least now the pretty politician was sure that the dark sider really had some kind of chivalry side to him, trying not to break her while staying true to his master… Meanwhile Vader looked deeply in thoughts. Almost torn. Most probably torn between duty and desire… His eye-brows were furrowed in anger, while the dark sider was probably debating with himself. However only a second passed and Vader halted abruptly, looking into the darkness of the Galaxy like he wanted to spot something among the millions of stars. It was as if he had received a message. A signal only he could interpret…

"There is no need. I just felt your handmaid leave." Vader explained calmly. Although the voice of the blonde indicated that the speaker was in balance, Padmé instinctively knew that the cold statement came from the part inside Vader that was known as merciless military leader.

The former Senator of the bluest of all planets in the Middle-rim fought with her nerves not to gulp. Bemere's life was now really at stake. She needed to come up with something. Padmé knew she needed to act, if she truly wished to save her short term handmaid's life...

"Please don't do anything to her" Padmé heard a heart-warming plea leave her soft lips, trying to get the man to step down from his new mission to eliminate the traitor within his ranks.

Vader stopped right in his tracks while almost piercing the Senator with his intense gaze. His big hand that was fishing inside his long robes for a com didn't move anymore. Judging his facial expression, the force wielder with military ranks, had just bitten onto something sour, which made him pull his thin lips into a sneer.

"So I should do nothing? Waiting for them to try another attempt on my life…?" Vader dropped his flesh hand out of his robe once more and began to move. No, he began to circle. Padmé's breath got caught in her throat at the sight of the menacing man.

"Or will it be you again, who will try to end my life? Perhaps when we are in bed together?"

The words stung. Vader spoke the truth.
They were mortal enemies. Fighting for different causes.
Developing an intimate relationship with the heir to Palpatine… was dangerous. It could destroy them.
Vader the same way as the Senator…

But…? Padmé wanted to plead once more with him. A deep urge inside her wanted to let the Sith know that not everyone was twisted and a danger to him. But that would be a lie, wouldn't it?
So why did her heart beat so fast?

"She is meaningless. Don't harm her" the Nubian pressed further, a nervous tremble running through her spine as Vader's slowly approached her. His stare undressing her with every swing of his eyelashes.

"And what would I gain from letting her escape, Senator?" The low and sensual voice her captor used to whispered her title send a million of goose bumps down Padmé's milky skin.

"I will…"

"Yes, Senator?" Vader was now standing in front of the slender Nubian. His presence washing over Padmé, awaking a feeling of belonging inside the politician.

Padmé felt herself blush. She had always been weak for strong man, especially the ones that were at least two heads taller than her did something to her gut…

Following her instincts, which practically screamed at Padmé to put her hands on the mysterious warrior, the Nubian slowly stepped towards her captor and hesitantly placed a hand on his muscular chest.

Force... he is so trained. This is like touching marble...
But there was something else the slender brunette noticed. It was a beat. A restless sound. The heavy drumming of the dark sider's heart against his ribcage now throbbed against Padmé's hand, too.

Whatever Vader was trying to pull. He was truly interested in her. Even force user's couldn't cheat human anatomy…and Vader's heart clearly told that his desire was true.

It was a fatefull day. A day to seal her fate.

"I don't want to be reminded of certain aspects of our… relationship…so please don't act so harsh, my Lord…" Vader's eye's widened at the revelation. What Padmé had said so diplomatically with her misleading words were, for one that she wanted to continue whatever they had and second that she started seeing Vader as a real human being rather than a monster, so he better not blew it with killing Bemere.

Seconds passed like hours. The way Vader looked at her made Padmé's heart clench. She felt wanted. Needed. He looked at her like a starving man…

Finally the tall dark sider sighted: "Fine. I will leave her to escape…but…I want you to-" He cleared his throat while looking away from her face: "with me. Tonight."
Padmé couldn't help but smile encouragingly. Somewhere deep down in the merciless soldier a sweet young fellow was hidden... the same young man who had just invited her to have dinner with him.