Symmetry

Start a fire

Allowing Ben to go back to work had been a bitter pill of reality to swallow, and it'd taken a great deal of effort for her to let go of her own worries and to see him off on his first day back, albeit with plenty of clingyness and countless assurances that she would be checking in to ensure all was well. It had been a few days since then, and his regularly scheduled day off would come in the morning, which meant they'd mercifully trudged through the week uneventfully.

Getting back in to a routine with the twins had taken a bit of effort, particularly given that she was limited once again to two hands, but Rey made do as best she could. Today, she had taken them out to the lakeside to lay on a blanket in the grass and gaze at the clouds overhead. It had been a small thing, but just enough to exhaust them thoroughly for the remainder of the night - which had been her plan.

After feeding them, she had put them down relatively early before heating up leftovers that Ben had made from the night before, setting aside a plate for each of them. Ben had already passed a weary thought along to her that he would be home just a hair later than normal, and she had accepted that with a readiness to offer him an evening of relaxation - and, hopefully, an opportunity to reconnect.

In the days before his inevitable return to work, she had insisted on a trip to town to restock on some things. His absence had weighed on her more heavily than she'd fully established, namely in the small fear that a time would come when he would be taken and she'd have no means to get to him or to obtain resources. But Rey had also taken advantage of that trip to earn some additional money, leaving Ben to care for the twins aboard the Falcon, before purchasing him a variety of new, clean shirts.

That left his older, more worn ones in the dresser of their home; perhaps more at her disposal than his. Wrapping herself in the warmth of one of such shirt, deliberately electing to wear nothing but her undergarments beneath it, she settled their plates on the dining room table before stepping outside onto the front porch.

Wrapping her arms around herself as she leaned against the banister, she fortunately wasn't left long waiting for the tell-tale hum of the Falcon as it neared the lake. Barefoot, she padded over their lawn toward the place she knew the freighter would touch down, confident enough in the security of BB-8 and D-O stationed just inside the twins' bedroom, and she lingered beside a tree as she waited for the hiss of the freighter's ramp to open.

Ben was quick to follow, a little tireder in appearance than she cared to see him, and Rey smiled softly as she stepped over the grass and moved to catch his hand with hers.

"I've been waiting for you all day," she informed him playfully, a soft, affectionate smile curving her lips as she reached up to massage the back of his neck. "Have an alright day?"

Speech

you & i

Since returning to work Ben had done his best to be more vigilant of his surroundings while out.  He made sure to not let himself fall into the false sense of security that he had unconsciously grown to believe in after being able to disappear back into obscurity alongside Rey. He made sure that, simply because he was called Ben now, he didn't let himself believe he could truly avoid and remain one step ahead of everything that surely still trailed after him.  Somehow, Ben's mind had done that and it had been foolish on his part to believe that.

Ben used to always worry and think about that, but it seemed that the joys he had been mercifully given had erased such things from his thoughts.  That, of course, wasn't a bad thing but it had made Ben feel more secure than he should have felt.

Thankfully there had been no worrying instances that had occurred during his return to work, and Ben was grateful for that. Still, the days had been filled with extra work that, regardless of the hassle, Ben couldn't complain about.  Having given his word that he would do additional tasks to make up for any lost time, Ben had been charged with more cargo than he knows he would be on any regular day.  Every day Ben had been determined to see it dropped off where needed, and he had managed so far but for today.

Well, he was still going to manage, but it was going to take him longer than he would like.  Ben had been sure to let Rey know this when he realized, not wanting her to unnecessarily worry.  Once he had, Ben had repeated to himself several times that he only needed to finish this last thing before being able to return home, and that thought helped him more than he had thought it would.  The thought of being able to spend the coming day with just Rey and the twins was such a desirable one that it got him through his wearied state and made piloting the Falcon back to their home more bearable.

Looking forward to being close to Rey and the twins, Ben had already made a note to shower her and their children in as much love as possible come tomorrow morning.  He knew it wouldn't be possible to make up for the countless hours he was gone but he was going to give it his best shot.  His effort would also, hopefully, allow Ben countless opportunities to place a kiss on Rey for every day he had been gone and she had been on her own.  He had made up for many of them during the days he had stayed home before returning to work, but there was still well over 500.  Too many days unaccounted for in Ben's opinion.

Once the location of their house came into sight Ben felt his shoulder noticeably relax beneath one of the new shirts Rey had acquired for him.  Ben then directed the Falcon to the spot nearby where they always kept the starship with the expectation in mind that Rey would be waiting for him inside of their house once he landed.  Ben continued to believe that's where Rey was until the moment he exited the Falcon and was greeted by the sight of his wife quickly approaching him.

Barefoot and bare-legged, Ben felt a small unstoppable smile brighten his face as she grabbed his hand.  Wondering about her choice of outfit, Ben didn't comment on it as Rey brought herself close and affectionately greeted him with soft words and a massaging touch to his neck.

"It was fine," he hums out as he wraps his arm around her waist, slotting her close so that he can give her a warm, greeting kiss.  "But it's better now that I'm home."  Ben affectionately says after he pulls his lips away from hers, the words painfully true.  Already he feels better and more relaxed, and that's just from being here with her.

Finally, with an amused, curious look, he asks after what she's wearing.  "Not that I don't love seeing you in my shirts," Ben says, allowing his eyes to noticeably look her over from where he keeps her close, "But why are you only wearing that right now?  And how long have you been standing out here?"  A tinge of concern coats his voice at the last question.

"You might catch a cold for all we know."  He somewhat teases next, knowing it's highly unlikely she will but not being able to completely silence that ever constant worry he has in regards to her and the twins' well-beings.  "That is the last thing I want to happen."  Ben adds on, bringing his lips to hers once more to give her a chaste, affectionate kiss.




Speech

Start a fire

Releasing his hand in favor of wrapping both of hers around his neck, she returned the kiss he gave her, allowing it to linger for a moment before she reluctantly allowed him to pull away and speak. Even so, she kissed his jawline gently, stroking his nape and threading her fingers lovingly through the dark strands of hair that curled at the back of his neck.

“I’m glad. I’m sorry it was long,” she huffed softly, nudging her head against his chin.

A slow, sly smile curved her lips as he withdrew to give her a once-over, noting her choice of attire which less… recognition than she might’ve liked. What times Rey took to primp in anyway—which was usually still less than thorough or impressive—were stolen only for his benefit, and she couldn’t help the amused angle of her head at how clearly her intent seemed to escape him. Meeting him by the starship in nothing more than one of his shirts, showered and clean with her tawny hair spilling over her shoulders; Rey laughed at him, bewildered.

“Only for an hour or two,” she said with sudden seriousness, though the solemnity was wiped away as she sighed and shook her head at him, smiling affectionately. “I was waiting for you on the porch and watching the sunset, that’s all. I came out to the clearing once I felt you coming closer. And I’m not going to catch a cold,” Rey scoffed, rolling her eyes, but she hummed contentedly as he brought his lips down to hers.

Hugging him close to her as she withdrew, drawing their foreheads together as she peeked up at him, Rey’s smile thinned into something mischievous.

“As for the shirt,” she started, coyly angling her head to the side. “I thought it was obvious when I was seducing you… but I can walk you through it, if you need a reminder.” Rey ducked her head down to laugh against his skin, peppering slow, loving kisses along the sculpted line of his collarbone.

“But, before I do,” her voice was drawling and warm as she kept her hands linked together at the back of his neck, securing him to her as her lips mapped a path over his skin, nosing away the crew-neck of his shirt to reach for the points of bolt-shaped scars; to lay her featherlight attentions over his shoulder and then up the strong column of his throat.

“I heated up dinner for you. And the twins are asleep, but I don’t think they’d mind waking up for you.” Rey’s hands slid to his shoulders as she spoke, her words and her lips laving reverently over his neck.

“And then, if you’re not too tired,” she rocked back on her heels, sliding her hands down his shoulders to twine his fingers with hers and to tug him slowly toward the house. Despite her playfulness, despite how she nearly made fun of his obliviousness, she was no doubt sincere as she continued. “I thought we could spend some time together. I wanted to help you relax.”

Speech

you & i

His brows raised when she told him she had been waiting an hour or two, he almost even wanted to sigh.  Ben managed to keep from making such a sound, though.  He doesn't know why he should be surprised she decided to do such a thing.

Huffing out an amused breath, he made it easier for her to draw his head down to her own.  "If you say so," he grumbled with a curve to his mouth as he traced a hand over the side of her abdomen, keeping her nearly pressed against him with his other arm.  Basking in her presence for a moment, Ben watches Rey curiously as her expression visibly changes.  Ben's own expression then creases into confusion as she speaks.

"Wha—" his mind is trying to catch up as Rey laughs against him, and Ben instinctively presses her closer to him.  There is really nothing his mind need to catch up on, but Ben likes to believe he can't really be blamed for not catching onto what Rey was doing.

His obliviousness is amusing, even to himself, and Ben's mouth twists in wry amusement before he sighs at a relaxing breath that clearly makes his shoulders relax beneath Rey's secure hold on him.  As she laid her lips against his skin Ben curled his arms around her more protectively.  All of his attention and focus was on her completely by now, and a hum softly reverberated through his throat in response to her words as she pressed adoring kisses along the length of his neck.

"I... think I can wait until morning to see the twins," he muttered before she began to withdraw, causing his hold on her to loosen.  It would be easy, Ben knew, to keep her there and place his own kisses along her skin—a handful of them that would secretly erase the tallies he had stored away in his mind, but he was willing to erase those later.  

Allowing himself to be pulled along, he watched her with a lovesick expression as he moved after her.  "Alright, even though we always spend time together," he joked, waiting to make a comment on her last sentence that clearly portrayed just what Rey meant.  

When Rey, at last, turned away to lead him more easily to the house with a hand holding onto his own, Ben quickly lurched forward.  Wrapping an arm around her abdomen, he was quick to slightly crouch and get his other arm in a position to support her legs behind her knees before he effortlessly lifted her up.  Cradling her against him in the manner Ben knows he would have had they had a wedding night, he chuckles lightly as he keeps up the pace she had set before he had picked her up.  

"Anything specific you had in mind for helping me to relax?"  He asks, a faint smirk showing as he curls his arms closer so that he can place a kiss near her temple as she holds onto him.  "Because I have quite a few ideas, and they all involve showing you how much I love you." He murmurs close to her head as his feet easily cross the distance needed to reach the front door of their house.

Ben is careful as he opens the door, doing so quietly and easily.  Closing the door to their house with his back once he has brought them both inside, Ben gently lowers Rey back down until she's standing on her own two feet again.  "Can you be patient and wait long enough for me to take a shower and eat, or no?"  He questioned softly before placing the beginnings of a burning kiss against the pulse point on her neck, causing her head to tilt back.




Speech

Start a fire

She snorted gently at him at his assurance that he could wait until morning to visit with the children, a knowing, self-assured smirk playing along her mouth as she gently tsked and shook her head at him. Still, her thumb brushed his knuckles lovingly as she drew his hand into hers and guided him toward their house. Another, soft laugh left her lips as he continued, and an indignant huff made her glower at him playfully.

“Well, in that case, you’re more than welcome to spend some quality time with yourself,” Rey quirked a brow as she said it, sticking her tongue out at him before, laughing, she turned to watch her step as they headed inside, tugging him along behind her easily.

A yelp of surprise came, however, when his arm seized her around the waist. She gripped for his arm on instinct, and then she was gasping softly and laughing as he scooped her up, cradling her to the warmth of his chest with laughable ease. Rey narrowed his eyes at the smirk on his face, and she grumbled softly as she looped an arm around the back of his neck and reached to kiss his jaw, a noncommittal hum her initial answer to his words.

“I have plenty of ideas,” she murmured against his skin, and the door to her mind slowly swung open as she spoke the words against his chin. “And mine all involved thanking you thoroughly for all the hard work you do for us. You can show me how much you love me another night.” Her lips curved into a loving smile as she, for the first time in a long while, invited him into her thoughts.

Things were still in disrepair, but she had taken the grueling care—particularly since Finn’s intrusion—to sweep ruin and rubble to the side, filing them all away in neat corners, sorting through memories and wounds gradually. It was just warm and inviting enough to welcome him back in without fear, and she did so with a teasing surge of affection that trickled down the bond and through the black-pelted beast that lay on the other side, where she had spent one too many nights curled in its fur.

Rey had tucked her head against his collar to lave more kisses over his throat, some of them lingering longer than others as her teeth shaped short, harmless nips to the vulnerable patches of skin there. She barely noticed when the door to their house creaked open, and she was reluctant to disentangle her arms from him as he eased her carefully to the ground. Still, her head angled back slowly to meet his gaze, only to let her eyes ease shut as he bowed his lips toward her throat.

A soft, contented sound left her mouth as she arched into him and smiled in reply, shaking her head.

“I’m not the impatient one between the two of us,” she reminded him warmly, before both of her palms slid down to flatten against his chest, pushing him gently away. Her eyes found the warm brown of his within the lantern-lit darkness of their living room, and she only glanced away to focus briefly on the cooling plate of food she’d left for him on the small table in front of their couch.

“Go get cleaned up,” she murmured, catching his hand in hers and drawing it to her cheek. She turned her head in to kiss the thrumming pulse at the base of his thumb, withdrawing to set him free. “I’ll heat up your dinner.” Rey offered him a crooked smile as she stepped away, mindful of the bareness to her legs as she stretched her arms over her head, letting the fabric creep slow inches up her thighs as she stepped harmlessly away, grinning at him.

But she reached for the unattended plate innocently enough before pointing down the hall. “Go on, love.”

Speech

you & i

Her teasing reminder made him breathe out a warm puff of air against her neck before he was gently pushed away. Ben had managed to brush one last inviting kiss against the elegant column of her throat before relenting and rising to his full height with an amused curve to his lips.

"Better to be safe than sorry," he comments with a helpless shrug, his hands sadly falling away from where they had rested against the curve of her waist. One was stopped short from leaving her completely though, captured by her hand as it was. Helping her guide his hand to her cheek once Ben understood where she was directing it, he brushed his thumb over the line of her cheekbone reverently once his palm rested against the curve of her face.

Sighing in reluctant acceptance, Ben finally let the hand return to his side with a nod as Rey moved away. Ben made to do the same, his eyes tracking the movement of her rising arms and then, inadvertently, the motion of his shirt riding up the length of her bare legs. The latter made him stop short, and he was well aware of the fact she was purposefully doing that. Her grin said as much.

Working his jaw, he took in a controlled breath before releasing it heavily as she innocently artlessly told him to go on, acting as if she hadn't done a thing.

"That's really mean, cruel even, you now that?" He tells her, keeping a serious note to his voice as he begins making his way towards the hallway leading to the rooms of the house. "Try not to start a fire, sweetheart," Ben says to her after, gripping the neckline of his shirt as he does and pulling it off over his head right as he reaches the threshold of the hallway. "I'll be right back." He tells her over his now bare shoulder.

~
It never takes him long to shower, and while Ben knows he can be impatient a tinge of spite tells him to take his time and not rush as he does. Just like the shower, it also doesn't take him longer to get dressed into something comfortable and make his way, barefoot, out of their room.

Before returning to the kitchen, Ben finds that he cant help but chance checking in on the twins who have remained quiet this entire time. The amount of time they're sleeping has slowly grown, and he's thankful for that as he slips out of their room where D-O and BB-8 now rest themselves, keeping dutiful watch over the sleeping twins during their dormant states.

It's only after this that Ben makes his way back to Rey, returning to the kitchen and being greeted by her alluring figure that is currently hidden beneath the size of his shirt. Moving closer to her, he elects to ignore the plate of food clearly meant for him and instead engulfs Rey in an affectionate hug. With his arms snuggly around her waist, he holds her for a moment and soaks in her presence, her mind still wonderfully open to him and just as extraordinary as ever. Even with the yet to be cared for edges to it that he can see.

He places a kiss against her temple, laughing gently from the joy of being here. "Hi," he says childishly afterward, drawing his head away from her. "I see that you managed to not burn anything." Ben teases.




Speech

Start a fire

Her unwillingness to give him the satisfaction and the tapering scars that still glared at her from his body meant she had stolen only a fleeting glance at the bared skin of his back once he’d turned away and headed to shower. She had been quick to see to heating up his dinner, then, mumbling to herself out of playful spite at his remark—which might have been rightfully deserved, given the sparks that reared up when she toyed with the burner atop the stove.

She left it unoccupied to steal a chance to check in on the twins, too; barely cracking their door open to prevent the hallway light from flooding in. Both were still sleeping soundly by the time she padded back to the kitchen, just in time to remove his food from the hot stove-top and to place it carefully on the counter, turning the nob for the burner off. The hissing sound of the shower water had already turned off, but Rey only leaned idly against the counter, gazing thoughtfully out the kitchen window, even as she heard Ben approaching from behind her.

Rather than reaching for his untended plate, though, like she expected, she felt strong arms wrap tightly around her waist. Her touch was wholly innocent—this time—when a hand snaked up to reach back and wind fingers through his hair, her weight settling carefully against his chest as she closed her eyes and smiled, feeling the soft laugh that vibrated from his throat from where she stood flush against him.

Angling her head carefully into his kiss, Rey gasped in feinted offense and swatted him away, turning where she stood to lean back and gaze at him.

“Do you have any more jokes in mind? Did you want to take up that offer of spending some time by yourself?” she challenged, arching a brow at him as she let her hands settle over his chest. Rey narrowed her eyes as she gazed up at him, and she was slow to lean closer, letting her teeth express her discontent in the pinching nips she placed at the base of his throat.

Even so, her arms looped around the back of his neck for a moment, hugging him close before, just as before, she nudged him away and slipped out from where she’d been wedged between his body and the kitchen counter.

That didn’t mean she abstained from claiming her hand in hers, twining their fingers securely together before she snatched up his plate with her free hand. Balancing it on her palm, she guided him over to the couch, urging him to sit before releasing his hand and offering him the warmed plate of food.

“Eat,” she instructed, and this time, even she had to admit that there was a hint of impatience in the solitary word.

Sure enough, Rey didn’t hesitate before tucking herself into his side, curling her bare legs close to his warmth as she, without a hint of guilt, returned to laying affectionate kisses over his neck. One of her hands came to cup the side of his throat, her thumb gently stroking along the length of his jugular, and her lips shaped firm, lingering trails over the pale skin hidden away by his dark, curling hair.

“I’m starting to think I might have caught a bit of a cold.” Rey’s voice was soft when she spoke against his skin, her other hand painting lines over his upper back as her lips curved into a mischievous smile. “With any luck I’ll give it to you, and then you’d have to stay home for a few days,” her hand slid up the side of his neck to tuck his hair just behind his ear—the ears she knew, now, he kept hidden away. Rey, however, pointedly grazed the shell with her lips, letting her mouth linger as she continued. “And that would just be awful.”

Her head nudged gently against the side of his, her fingers moving to hold and massage the nape of his neck while the one half-encircling his throat moved toward his shoulder, where it then pressed flat. Rey only withdrew to slant her eyes toward his plate, quirking a curious, almost accusatory brow at him as she smiled. “Are you eating?”

Speech

you & i

The feeling of her fingers entwining themselves in his still-damp hair had been wonderful, but he was more than okay with the touch being removed if Rey's reaction was to his comment was that.  With a short laugh, he loosens his hold enough to let her turn in his arms. Regardless of the challenge in her expression, Ben's own remains entirely affectionate.

"I think it might depend on a few things," he playfully begins, oblivious to any intention Rey might have as she starts to bring herself back toward him.  "Are you going to hit me again or—" his words faltered and a hand he had on her back tensed as her teeth pinched the skin of his throat.  It was a clear sign of condemnation.  "Or biting me?"  Ben questions her pointedly, one of his brows raised up as he wordlessly bends to allow Rey to hug them close together.

What feigning indignation is immediately gone and Ben gives her midsection a gentle squeeze with his arms, hugging her in return before she gently pushes him away.  Ben willingly lets her go, breathing out a sigh and smiling lightly as Rey grabs his hand and begins to lead him out of the kitchen like a child.

Sitting down without complaint, Ben takes hold of the plate of food when Rey hands it to him, practically demanding him to eat. "Alright, alright," he concedes, not pausing for a moment before reaching for the accompanying fork and bringing a bite of the food to his mouth as Rey slots herself into the spot at his side.  He thought nothing of her doing so, at first, but Ben soon realizes he should have been more wary.

Swallowing involuntarily, the thought of eating was immediately gone from his mind as he instantly became distracted by the feeling of her lips mapping paths across his skin.  Having kept his plate of food suspended above his lap after being handed it, it now comes to rest carefully on his lap as Rey continued to lavish him with attention.

"Is that so?"  He off-handedly wonders aloud with a slightly rougher voice, his head slightly angling in Rey's direction as he does so.  Absently listening to her speak further, Ben hums, feeling a long forgotten shivering sensation travel up his spine as she brushes the shell of his hear.  Her voice is intoxicating, and it's the only thing he hears.  Just as her hands and lips are the only things he feels.  "You're right, completely awful—an absolute shame."  He mumbles.

Head remained angled towards Rey, Ben is practically drowning in the soothing and alluring touches she is placing on him. Lulled as much as he is, it's nearly dizzying the moment she stops, pulling slightly away and speaking up.

"What?"  He mutters, blinking his eyes open and glancing in the direction of his plate that rests close by.  He lets out a heavy breath, "I would be," he says, looking back towards Rey, "If you would stop being distracting."  He utters, voice taking on a feigned, scolding tone. His mind is slowly coming back to itself and a disapproving crease winkles his expression, "And you called me impatient.  I will push you away." Ben threatens, actually tempted by the idea but knowing he probably never truly would do that to her. Still, it's an amusing thing to imagine.

"Be patient," he tells her with a shake of his head before taking the second bite of his food.




Speech

Start a fire

She had smiled softly against his skin at his concession, a breathy laugh leaving her lips where she nudged against his neck. All that gave her pause was how he started in answer to her question, and Rey withdrew to angle her head at him curiously, arching a brow at the accusatory tone that lingered in his words. She narrowed her eyes at him, letting her arm drape over the width of his upper back as she leaned into him, her body turned into his and her bare legs curled close.

He had barely gotten the words out before she was scoffing, her indignation just as feigned as his, and yet Rey was all too willing to play into his request with the utmost dramatics. She sulked theatrically as she withdrew, sliding a couch cushion away from him and settling her legs beneath her, crossing her arms over her chest as she glowered at him from across the gap that she’d put between them.

“Fine then,” she mumbled, and her expression was nothing short of pouting as she scowled over at him. “It isn’t my fault that you can’t multitask,” Rey pointed out, and despite the finality of her fine, it was all too clear that she was nowhere near done expressing her displeasure at his lecturing. “I can be plenty patient, anyways—enough to wait until morning, maybe, or tomorrow evening. Or a week from now...” she stuck her tongue out at him. “And then we’ll see who’s pushing who away.”

She uncrossed her arms to stand up from the couch with a too-pointed sigh, stepping away and around the piece of furniture to redirect herself toward the kitchen. The lamp light there dimmed the moment she pinched the guttering flame painlessly through her thumb and forefinger, and then she was turning to head down the hallway and toward their bedroom.

Despite her words, and his, she paused by the back of the couch to lean over it slightly, lowering her head carefully toward the side of his. Her teeth lightly scraped the shape of his jaw as she left a burning, lingering kiss over the place where his pulse thrummed.

“I’ll see you in the morning, then. All that waiting around and being patient has been exhausting,” she murmured, a mischievous, punishing intonation tucked within her words as she withdrew. Her fingers threaded through his tousled hair as she spoke, before gently catching a handful in her palm and angling his head back so that she could meet his gaze.

“I wouldn’t want,” she lowered her head down to brush a kiss over his mouth, barely letting the nearly-chaste touch linger before she withdrew again. “To distract you.”

Rey released him to step away from the couch and wander down the hallway and toward the bedroom. “Goodnight, love.” She called, with more than just a hint of triumph shining victoriously in her voice.

Speech

you & i

Amused at Rey scoff, Ben finished swallowing down the bite he had taken with a glint in his eye as Rey made a show of scooting away from him.  Ben watched her every move, taking in the way she crossed her arms and how she dramatically pouted.  

A surprise laugh leaves him, and it would have been louder if there hadn't been two sleeping children not far away.  Ben managed to keep his outward expression of joy quiet though as Rey went on.  Ben listened on, entertained as he took another bite while remaining quiet.  He raised a pointed brow near the end, however, and hummed in doubt.

She sticks her tongue out at him and Ben playfully rolls his eyes in response.

"Okay, I will keep that in mind," he says after finished his bite, continuing to go along with this little game.  Absentmindedly taking another fork-full of his food from his plate, Ben watches Rey curiously as she gets up from the couch and walks around to the kitchen.  Ben follows her with his eyes for only as long as he can comfortably turn his head.  What she was doing became clear the moment the soft light in the kitchen disappeared entirely.

He had no idea as to what she could possibly be up to now, but as Rey approached him from behind the couch Ben found that that didn't particularly matter as she enticingly drew her teeth over the skin of his throat.  It made his breath hitch, and Ben both loved and hated how easy it was for her to render him entirely helpless.  Taking in a deep breath as she kissed a patch of skin, Ben huffed that very same breath out afterward as Rey made clear what she was planning on doing.

Staying silent, waiting for who knows what to happen, Ben's mind was only able to focus on the sensation of her hand in his hair as he gently angled his head back. Keeping ahold of his plate of food, he met her upside-down gaze with a slight furrow to his brow. Instinctively responding to the far too chaste kiss (in his opinion) Rey gave, Ben sighed in dismay.

"I appreciate that," Ben somewhat grumbles, head turned to watch Rey go with a slight scowl on his face.

A breath, one that feigns exasperation, is pushed out from his mouth as she bids him goodnight. "Goodnight, sweetheart," Ben pointedly replies, forcing himself to look away take a couple of bites of his food. A part of him wants to be spiteful and take his time, but Ben knows himself and he knows he won't be listening to that part of himself anytime soon. Not when he's completely in love with the woman that had practically just left him in the dark.

He's almost positive that Rey is going to push him away the minute he enters their bedroom and tries to get anywhere close to her. The image of her trying makes him huff out a laugh as he rises from his seat. Plate in hand, he scoops a few more mouthfuls of food into his mouth as he quietly walks into the kitchen. There's only a few more bite of his food left, and while Ben doesn't go rabid and consume them rapidly he certainly doesn't take his time.

"Can be plenty patient," he mocks, the words whispered out in a terrible knock-off of Rey's voice as he takes the final bite of food off of the plate. As he chews the bite, he works on carefully putting the plate away in the clear sink. He'll take care of the dirtied dishes in the morning. Checking to make sure that everything else is good for the night, putting away anything that might have accidentally left out, Ben extinguishes the last light illuminating the area before heading towards he and Rey's bedroom.

The door had been left open ajar, and it was clear that the room was dark. Pushing the door open carefully, it was easy to tell when he entered what with how how the door quietly made noise. Given that the room was already dark, Ben's eyes adjusted quickly enough that, once he quietly closed the door behind him, he had no issue navigating his way towards the bed that he knew Rey was laying down on with her back facing him.

It would be impossible to hide the moment he got onto their bed, and so Ben didn't hesitate to reach out for Rey with the arm closest to her. With the bedspread laying over her Ben couldn't reach for Rey and simply pull her towards him like he wanted, but he made do.

Regardless of anything Rey did in protest, Ben didn't stop his actions until he was hovering over her. Holding himself aloft by his forearms, he caged her in, lowering his lips to her neck and grazing her throat with his teeth before kissing the same spot.

"Thank you for getting a plate ready for me," he quietly murmurs in the dark, placing another kiss down near her collarbone and erasing away another tally. "And I hope you had a good day." He softly adds on, wanting to remove the cover over her body but willing to leave her be and continue lavishing her neck with dragging kisses and nips that he lets linger.

He pauses his reverent touches, "Would my wife be willing to let me show her how much I love her tonight? Or would she rather I go sleep on the couch?" He asks close to her ear, dragging his teeth gently over the curve of her jaw just below it while doing his best to keep his hands to himself for the time being.




Speech