Remember that new love is powerful and all-consuming, so it is very realistic for them to be as handsy as they are and why they tend to kiss quite often. Just putting this out there in case anyone is wondering why I have them act the way they do with each other, especially Anakin.

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2.6k words

"There's a difference between saying you love someone and saying you're in love with them."

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"We should probably eat before the food gets cold," I said out of breath while Anakin's lips were on my neck.

His hands squeezed my thighs as he left his mark again, "One more minute, please," He traveled his lips up my neck until he got under my jaw and placed his hand behind my head to hold me, while also slightly tugging on my hair.

His lips tickled and I breathed out a few chuckles, but it also felt good so those chuckles eventually turned into low moans, "How could I possibly say no?" I mumbled in bliss and closed my eyes with a soft exhale of pleasure.

After about a minute or two more of our heated moment of intimacy, he removed his lips from my neck. I dropped my head down and opened my eyes, he was admiring my features as he softly caressed my cheek. Then, he crashed our lips together as he cupped my face in his palms.

I thought that with time this feeling I get when I'm with him would start to subside or not be as strong, but no. I feel like every time I see him my affection for him grows stronger and stronger.

Finally, we stopped for air and Anakin pulled on my hips to get me off of the counter, "Alright, now that I got that out of my system, we can eat." He smiled down at me as he grabbed my hand and walked me to the table.

He pulled my chair out for me, "Such a gentleman," I smiled as I sat down.

He pushed my chair in and it squeaked against the tile floor, "What can I say? I'm trying to impress my date." He quickly kissed me on the cheek.

I raised a brow, "Is that what this is? Our first date?" The thought of this being a date made me both thrilled and nervous at the same time.

With a rosy tint to his cheeks, he backed away towards the kitchen, "I'm hoping it is — is it?" He added with a pause in his steps. His puppy dog eyes melted my heart, but I wasn't going to let him know the effect he had on me. That's one thing my mother taught me, never let a man know he is your weakness. Because if he happens to be the wrong one, he will know how to ruin you.

I swallowed down my nerves and smiled, "Let's see how everything tastes first. Then I'll decide if it is or not," I teased, earning me a smile from him as he made his way into the kitchen to fix up our plates.

He returned with his hands full and set my food down in front of me before he set his across the table from where I was. He pulled a wine bottle from under his arm and set it between us, the same wine bottle he gifted to me about two weeks ago, "I see you haven't opened it yet." He pulled out his chair and sat down before scorching forward.

"Never had an occasion to." And I also may have forgotten I even had it, but I wasn't going to tell him that. Surprisingly, he's sensitive.

He opened the bottle with a smile and popped the cork up with his thumb, something that looked difficult to the naked eye. But he made it look so easy, if I tried to do it I'd probably lose an eye, "That's the best thing about wine. An occasion is unnecessary."

He poured a small amount into the glass that was meant for me, and about double what he gave me in the glass that was meant for him, "Getting a little greedy there I see," I joked.

He chuckled once more and I was starting to wonder if the sound would ever get old to me. It left a beautiful ring in my ear, like church bells on a Sunday morning. And I wasn't religious, not even by a mile, but when I was a child I lived near a church and I used to wait for the bell to toll every Sunday. I liked the way it sounded and I loved to watch the bell sway with each ring.

"You told me you don't usually drink so I gave you a little just in case you don't like it," He explained what I already theorized. He set the open bottle back down between us, "Try it." He gestured to my glass before picking up his drink and taking a small drink, "It's sweet." He smirked as he licked the excess of the red liquid from his lips.

I picked up my glass as I swallowed down my desires that rose with his words. It was definitely an innuendo to the night in his backyard, a night I still think about every day. Sometimes when I shower, when I'm eating, dreaming, and even when I'm simply trying to watch television. It creeps up on me like my mind and body is reminding me of what I could have if I would just say fuck it.

I brought the glass to my lips and sipped on the liquid, "A real drink, not a child's sip." He reached across the table with his long arm and tilted the glass, causing some of it to spill over my chin as more poured into my mouth.

"Anakin!" I complained with a laugh after swallowing the sweet, yet slightly bitter wine and wiping my chin.

He covered his mouth as his laughter echoed throughout my dining room, "I'm so sorry I didn't mean to tilt it that far."

"Glad to see you find this amusing," I grabbed a napkin and wiped myself clean, including my neck where the wine had dropped down. I caught Anakin's gaze when I did this and watched as his breathing changed and his lips pursed. I didn't need to be a mind reader to know his provocative thoughts — he wanted to clean my neck for me, but not with a napkin.

I appreciate that he's patient with me and isn't pushing me to do anything I don't want to, despite how bad he obviously wants to rip my clothes off. It shows that he actually respects me, which is a rare trait these days, "Need any help with that?" He asked with his eyes snapping back up.

I shook my head, a smirk growing as I slowly wiped my own neck to tease him — karma at its finest, "No I got it," I tilted my head back and wiped the middle of my neck, once again slowly, "Thanks for offering though." I glanced down.

The moment he saw my sadistic smirk, he knew what I was doing, I could tell by the shift in his expression, "Well played Ms.Winters," He smiled as he picked up his fork, "Well played."

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"Oh my god, that was amazing." I leaned back in my chair, full from the exceptional dinner. It was better than going out to a restaurant and I also happened to like the wine. Not enough to get addicted to it like many others, but an occasional glass to calm my nerves doesn't sound like the worst thing.

Anakin looked more than happy that I enjoyed his cooking, "Believe it or not," He stood up and stacked our empty plates, "You're the only woman I've ever cooked for. That isn't my sister." He added with a shrug as he walked over to the sink. 

His hand hovered over the handle for the faucet,  but I stopped him before he could turn it on, "Don't worry about the dishes," I said without getting up, I felt like I was about a bite or two away from a food coma, "I can do them later."

He turned and looked at me, "I'm not leaving my mess for you to clean up, it's rude."

I rolled my eyes and snapped my finger at him when I saw him about to turn the water on again, "You bought my groceries and cooked, so I'll clean. And don't you dare turn on that faucet or this date will be cut short." I threatened. Not that I was serious but I learned that that's how to get to him, just a small threat is what he listens to — he's too stubborn to listen when told nicely.

With annoyed expression he set the plates down in the sink and came back to the table, pouting as he sat down, "I don't mind cleaning for you."

"I know you don't, but you were raised one way and I was raised another. The one who cooks should never wash the dishes, as long as they cook for others and not just themselves." I grabbed the glass of wine and finished it, it was still my first glass, and the only glass I plan to have.

His annoyed expression was already gone, he now looked content, "I can respect that."

"Good, I'll get to them later," I placed the empty cup down and raised my hand to stop Anakin who looked like he was going to pour me more, "I'm okay thank you." Now onto the subject he mentioned just moments ago, "So you said you never cooked for another woman before? Does that mean you've never had a girlfriend?" I raised a brow as he set the bottle back down, but not after pouring himself a little more — glass number two. I'm keeping count since he's driving home, so as long as he doesn't have another, he'll be fine.

"I didn't say that," He chuckled, "I had small things in high school that didn't matter and then," He paused for a moment as he glanced down, like a certain someone entered his mind, "There was one relationship that I would describe as real, but I ended that about a year ago. We're still friends though, there's no bad blood."

Could this be the woman I keep hearing about? "Was it Padme?"

His gaze snapped up, "How do you know her name?" He asked curiously.

"Clovis said it in your office," I reminded him, and I believe Piett mentioned her name at one point too when he asked Anakin how she was, "Remember?"

It took him a few seconds, but then realization crossed over his eyes, "Right," He nodded, "Well yes, we were together for..." He trailed off as he knitted his brows in thoughts, "About six months I believe. She was the dancer I had hired that Clovis tried to, you know," He revealed and my eyes widened a little in surprise — that I wasn't expecting, "After all that, I helped her get into school and find another job and then things just happened."

I felt an ugly knot in my chest, one made from jealousy, "Um why did you end things? If you don't mind me asking," I added quickly, starting to feel like I was being too nosey, "You don't have to answer if you don't-"

"Calm down," He held his hand up with a smile, "It's fine, this is what dates are for right? To learn more about each other."

I nodded in agreement, "Yeah I guess so," I breathed my unnecessary nerves away.

"It wasn't just me it was mutual, we started to come to terms that we were better off as friends," He explained as he twisted a butter knife in his hands, his eyes locked on the sterling silver, "We argued, disagreed on just about everything, and our schedules were completely opposite which made everything much worse. We just weren't a good fit. We knew we loved each other, but it took us a while to realize we weren't in love."

"Are you in love with me?" I need a muzzle, it's like word vomit right now and I can't stop it. This is something that happens sometimes when I get jealous, I crave validation so the ache can go away.

He tilted his head and eyed my features, "Are you in love with me?"

Involuntarily, my heart beat quickened as I nervously squeezed the fabric of my shirt, "I asked you first."

He smirked and subtly glanced down before flickering his eyes up. His ocean eyes were peering into my very soul, or at least that's how it felt, "I might be."

Silence fell between us and I knew it was because he was waiting for me to be the one to say something, and for a second I wasn't sure what it was I should say. But the longer I looked at him, the more I knew, "I might be too." Is it really possible to fall in love after knowing someone for only two weeks?

He laid his hand on the table and it slowly balled into a fist, "I'm dying to come over there and kiss you right now."

I chuckled and shook my head, "As much as I would love to, how are we ever going to learn anything about each other if that's how every conversation gets cut short?"

Anakin inhaled and exhaled before leaning his back into the chair and it creaked with his weight, "Good point, is there anything else about her you want to know then?" He asked smoothly.

I nodded slowly, "How often do you two see each other?"

"Not that often," He waved away my obvious worries that were hidden behind the question, "About once a month, sometimes twice. We just get breakfast or lunch, she tells me about school and her life, then we part ways, it's nothing special and nothing to be worried about."

"I'm not worried," I awkwardly laughed, causing him to raise his eyebrows at my lie. But hey, I just got cheated on, who wouldn't have this fear? I may not know what I plan to do about everything, but losing him in that way is still not something I want to experience.

"If you say so-" He paused and his head whipped towards my hallway where we both could hear a knock, "I think someone's here."

I sighed as I stood up, "Probably my neighbor again. He keeps accidentally getting my mail and knocks on my door to give it to me instead of slipping it under my door," I rolled my eyes. I suspect he's doing it on purpose but I have no proof, he's an old man in his sixties and will just say he's senile or something in his defense, so I just leave it be, "I'll be right back."

I left Anakin in the dining room and walked to my door that was only about ten feet away. He couldn't see due to a wall blocking his view of the door, but I know he can easily hear. And with him being as protective natured as he is, I know his ears are perked as his hand continues to twirl the butter knife.

I opened the door, expecting to see my neighbor as usual but froze as my heart dropped into my stomach when my eyes landed on the last person I wanted to see right now – Obi-Wan.

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Hope you liked it and sorry it took awhile. ❤️❤️
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