Third Time's A Charm

Chapter: Seven

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There were more people present than Dormé had anticipated. There was the photographer and his assistant, make-up artists, hairdressers, various technicians, models and various others going in and out of the room. Her hopes of having a nice quiet photo shoot were dwindling by the second. She stood with Obi-Wan, watching as the background for the pictures was carefully reproduced. Val was sitting in a chair behind them with his legs stretched out just enough that he could kick Obi-Wan's boots whenever he shifted in the chair. Val kept saying it was an accident, but Dormé knew otherwise. He was being childish and she was pleased that Obi-Wan was not rising to it.

How quickly these people worked! She couldn't believe that only two hours ago, they'd discussed this with Resa. LeeLee had apparently thought this was a good cause...as long as Dormé paid the fees like any other client. She glanced up at Obi-Wan. He held the pictures in the crook of his arm. They were nearly ready to begin, or so they'd been informed.

Except for one little detail.

"Dormé!" Resa leaned through a doorway across the room.

For nearly half an hour, Dormé had been catching glimpses of the most beautiful male models LeeLee had to offer, all in various states of undress. Each glance she'd sent that way had made her cheeks feel hotter and she was wondering if anyone would miss Val if she killed him and hid the body. It was his bright idea for Dormé to pick out the male model. How was she supposed to do that when she'd never seen Anakin Skywalker the way Padmé had? The only reference she had were the pictures and to be honest, they weren't the best quality.

"Dormé? Come on in here! The guys are all ready."

She sighed. Think of it as art, nothing more than art. Okay, alive, breathing and fully reactive art, but art all the same. "I'll be right there."

Obi-Wan leaned down to whisper in her ear. "Would you care for some assistance? I used to have to go with Anakin to clothes fittings so he wouldn't duck out of them. He always considered them a waste of his time when he could be out doing something else. We used to argue the necessity. He insisted they had his measurements, so why did they need him?"

"I'd be grateful for any help right now." She turned her head to him and cheek to cheek, they spoke. "I've only a faint idea what his build really was."

"You saw the pictures." His breath was warm, tickling. "You did admit to looking at them."

Would her cheeks ever stop flushing? "Of course I looked. They were on the walls and there was nothing else in the room save the table and the cloth covering it. And then I thought I recognized..."

He laughed softly. "I'm teasing. Relax."

"I am relaxed."

Drawing back a little, he nodded, amusement in his eyes. "If you insist. Let's go get this over with. Then you can sit for a bit and I'll take over answering their questions."

Resa had six men lined up and was stepping along behind them, giving encouraging words. All but one of the young men seemed nervous, shifting where they stood. The calm man -- Rix he'd been introduced as -- stared right at Dormé when she looked at him, hands resting on his hips, a slow smile curving his lips. He held her gaze long enough to make her uncomfortable, then did a more thorough visual perusal of her than she'd noticed in a long time, not counting Palamon. Even Val had been more discreet than this man and Val was not particularly known for discretion at times. When he'd finished, he shrugged his brows and glanced behind him at Resa.

Dormé had the sudden idea that this punk thought he could compete with any man and win. His expression practically shouted, 'You want me, I know you do and if you're lucky, I'll let you have me'. Thoughtful, she smiled politely and exchanged a long look with Obi-Wan. His hand swept along her back. She had the first three models dismissed, then a fourth, leaving the supremely arrogant Rix and the less confident Cor remaining.

Val's voice carried in to them. "Yo, babe! Taking you long enough in there! It's not like you can sample the merchandise or anything. They're models. Pick one already."

Eight ways to kill Val slipped through her mind in a pleasing whirl. Within that mix was strangulation, knives and one particularly strange sort of poison that had to be rubbed into the skin and heated to kill.

A smile lingered on Rix's lips at Val's shout. He tilted his head back a fraction and squared his shoulders, as though waiting for a verbal affirmation that he was all 'that' and more.

Obi-Wan inclined his head to hers as she turned her head. They bumped together. "Sorry," Obi-Wan said, touching the spot on his head and leaning once more, taking care not to do it again. "I have a choice for you."

"I've got a good idea which of these two will work myself, without advice." She saw his attention turn briefly to Rix and nodded. "Could it be anyone else?"

"No. With Resa already having picked out models with the right build, attitude is everything that's left and this Rix has attitude. Splendid choice to portray Anakin in the pictures, Dormé."

"Ooh, have you decided," Resa asked, bouncing up and down on the balls of her feet. Her enthusiasm was infectious and Dormé nodded. Resa wiggled.

"Yes, I think I've come to a decision."

"Tell, tell!" Resa threw her arms around the two men waiting.

Rix was almost too cocky for his own good and for a second, Dormé was tempted to pick Cor instead of Rix, but Rix was absolutely perfect. The height, features...arrogance.... He was good and he knew it. "Rix," she and Obi-Wan said together.

Resa turned to Rix, hugging him with enthusiasm. Dormé noticed he took the opportunity to cop a feel. If pointed out, she knew he'd claim it an accident. His sort always did. By the look on Obi-Wan's face, she supposed he'd noticed that too. His brows v'ed down in a disapproving frown, but then he shook his head and gave her a nudge back towards the other room.

"Sit for awhile. You've had a long day."

"All right." Dormé went to sit beside Val and waited for the shoot to begin.

~~~~~~~~~~

As surreptitiously as he could, without Dormé noticing, Obi-Wan gave Val a kick the next time he felt the tap of Val's boot against his. The resulting hiss of pain was satisfactory and there were no more taps after that. He followed Dormé into the other room, trying to quell the feeling. He knew he was behaving like a child, but in all fairness, Val started it.

No, he told himself, it's time to behave. Quite acting like that. Grown men do not do childish things like that.

But grown men did all the time and he knew it. Just because he shouldn't be doing it didn't mean the urge to actually do it was any less. Human nature, yes? Besides, he hadn't felt this alive in a long time. Obi-Wan turned his attention to the models, immediately focusing on Rix. For a moment, he wondered if it was possible Anakin had blood relatives on Tatooine, for Rix reminded him so much of the teenager Anakin had been. Arrogant, cocky.... It remained to be seen if Rix was a smart-ass too. Somehow, Obi-Wan didn't doubt it. He could just imagine a smart quip coming from the young man's mouth as he made an innocent expression.

Dormé, it seemed, didn't really need his help. She'd noticed Rix was perfect as well.

The photo shoot progressed well, he thought, with little in the way of further questions. Still, he felt better being on hand, keeping an eye on Rix, who was completely professional as far as he could tell. He and Resa looked good together and it was obvious they'd worked with each other before. The rest of the afternoon and evening was taken up with the shoot and except for a second where Dormé and Val were sitting a little too close together for his comfort, Obi-Wan found himself enjoying the process unfolding before him.

It was educational.

~~~~~~~~~~

Dormé settled next to Val, leaning over close enough that they could talk properly. "So, Val, what's the deal with you and Resa? Are you --"

"Friends," he said, cutting off the query. His thumb and forefinger stroked his jaw. On Obi-Wan, the gesture appeared thoughtful and was sexy as all get out, but on Val it was merely nervous.

Hmm. How interesting, she decided. Val was nervous by this line of questioning. Amused, she pressed on. "Friends. Oh, I see. How did you meet?"

"Well, uh..." He crossed one ankle over one knee and jiggled his foot. "You see, her ship broke down and I...uh...I gave her a ride." He coughed, shifting again.

Remembering Obi-Wan's story, she laughed. A ride. Uh-huh. Poor Resa. Did that happen to her a lot? Funny how ships and speeders were always breaking down right when a man came by. Quite a coincidence.

Val scowled. "Trash mind. Just a ride. Nothing...funny."

"Of course." If there was nothing going on, then why was he behaving as though there was?

"We got to talking and now we meet sometimes when I'm here. You know, have drinks, talk...." He shifted once more.

Dormé struggled to keep her amusement in check. Looking over at Obi-Wan, she found him watching them with a displeased frown. She grinned and wiggled her fingers at him. The change in his demeanor was instantaneous. The frown smoothed out and he returned her smile.

Val became unresponsive on the subject of Resa, choosing to stay behind and wait for her before joining them for a late meal and drinks. It took him forever to show up and when he did, there was a gleam in his eyes Dormé had long ago learned to recognize and dread. He'd done something she was going to absolutely hate, but it would do her no good to try and force it out of him. She'd have to wait for whatever it was to happen.

He arrived with Rix and Resa, stayed out of Obi-Wan's way and hightailed it back to his ship the second the meal was over. Val not staying for a last drink was suspicious in itself. What, she wondered, did he have in store for her and Obi-Wan? Thinking on that, Dormé smiled distractedly at Rix in response to some quip he'd made. He smiled back, obviously delighted as he settled into his seat.

If Dormé hadn't been distracted by Val's behavior, she might have wondered why Rix became the perfect gentleman as the late night went on.

~~~~~~~~~~

Rix Xixerhas stretched the kinks from his muscles and threw on his clothes. He was glad the shoot was over. Kind of funny that the pretty little brunette wanted copies of pictures she already had, but who was he to ask questions? She'd chosen him, so he had no complaints. It was good pay and he'd had the time free anyway. Through the wall, he heard Resa chatting away with someone. Could she ever talk. The only drawback to working with her was that she rarely shut up if she didn't have to. Cute chick though. Nice rack. He liked that in a woman.

With a last check of his still perfectly styled dark blond hair, he tossed the last of his things in a bag. Stepping into the main room, he found a familiar face waiting.

"My man," Rix greeted Val warmly just outside the dressing area, clapping him on the back with one hand. He hadn't seen Val in ages. Must be nearly a year now. "What are you up to these days? Still in the local business?"

Val looked over his shoulder and nodded. "Yeah, still dealing in goods. Hey listen, Rix, take a walk with me. You're gonna be interested in this, I tell you." Val seemed nervous, but Rix knew that was his normal manner when on Tatooine. Nothing strange about it.

Curious, Rix shouldered his bag and followed. What Val had to say did interest him, a lot. He grinned, not quite believing. "You're kidding me, man, right?"

"Would I do that? Come on. It's me, Val Kallin." He pointed to himself with both hands. "Trust me."

"All right, all right. I trust you. I don't get tips like this every day. It's good to know, Val, thanks. I'll get on that then."

He spent every moment of the next hours figuring out the best plan of action. At last, it was time to make his move.

~~~~~~~~~~

While Val was pleased with himself, he decided not to stick around and watch the fireworks explode. Being close by could be dangerous for his health in a couple hours. Still, he couldn't help but think of what a stroke of genius his plan was. Ben was going to be so annoyed this time!

It never occurred to him that he shouldn't annoy Dormé.

~~~~~~~~~~

This evening ended on a high note, Dormé thought as she closed her door and headed for the refresher to get ready for bed. She'd borrowed a nightgown from one of Resa's friends and was happy to see that LeeLee's guest rooms were spacious and smelling of flowers. Obi-Wan had hugged her before going into his own room right down the hall across from her. It was nice to have him close and there were no windows in her room so she didn't fear being carried off again.

Dormé sighed and left the refresher, pausing mid-stride and stumbling. What the..? Stretched out on her bed in a state of near undress was Rix. He had a come hither expression on his beautiful chiseled features.

"Well hello," he purred, cocking a brow at her and maneuvering into one of the poses from that afternoon.

I do not have a nearly naked male model on my bed, she told herself five times before blinking and shaking her head. He remained, still wearing that expression. "Rix?"

"That's my name, sweet thing. Why don't you slip off that sexy..." his gaze dragged down her, words slowing as he saw what she had on, "...completely enveloping number that shows nothing of your kick ass figure." He raised up on one elbow, brow furrowing. "Wow, I didn't know they even made women's nightwear that covering."

She crossed her arms, wishing she'd borrowed a robe of some kind too. "What are you doing here?"

"Waiting for you, you shy thing." He stood, sauntering to her. "Not one word. That's cool. Shy is cool, baby."

"Get out," she told him, stepping back and raising her hands to ward him off.

"You don't mean that."

"Am I not speaking clearly? Get out, as in leave." Dormé grabbed his arm and dragged him towards the door. "Go away."

"Playing hard to get. That's cool too. However you want it, sweet thing, I'm game. He said you might protest just to be protesting. Sort of a making yourself feel better about your needs thing."

"What? Oh, leave!" She opened the door, pushed him towards it and began picking his clothes up and tossing them at him. "Get out!"

Rix stepped back, catching and clutching his clothes, completely unconcerned with his state of near undress in full view of the hallway. "No kiss or anything? What'd I do?"

The door wouldn't shut with him still in the way. "You have to ask?"

"Uh...yeah. He told me you were hot to trot, wanting to dance the horizontal, a merry widow..."

"Who said that?"

"Val of course. He said you were wild and up for a night of possibilities. He also said I resemble your dead husband."

More ways to kill Val went through her mind. "How do you know Val, Rix?"

"Oh, we're cousins."

Was that man related to everyone on this planet? Vaguely, she was aware of a door opening down the hall. "Get out!"

"But...passion flower...he said you were a sure thing. He promised me I'd have a night to remember." Rix was beginning to look displeased, though not half as displeased as Dormé was feeling.

Dormé rolled her eyes and flushed when she caught sight of Obi-Wan leaning against his own door frame watching them. He was stripped to his pants, chest bare.... He crossed his arms. Dormé couldn't tell if he was angry or amused. "You'll remember it all right if you don't leave because you'll be missing a body part I'm guessing you consider essential."

Rix started to laugh, then apparently thought better of it, running one hand through his hair. "You're serious."

"Quite."

"But you smiled at me earlier. Several times."

"I smile at lots of men," she informed him tightly. "That doesn't mean I want to...doink them all."

"Doink?"

Obi-Wan repeated the word just after Rix.

"I am not attracted to you Rix."

Disbelief settled in his eyes and eased quickly into puzzlement. "Why not?" He shrugged, dropping his clothes and posing once more. "What's wrong with me? I'm in the top five list of male models in this quadrant. Industry News Weekly rated me as both 'most desirable newcomer' and 'most likely to be fantasized about across the galaxy', but you're not attracted?" He made a sweeping gesture up and down himself. "I have to ask Dormé, are you looking at me? Because, sweet thing, I am...hot, if we're being honest, and I am fully willing to appreciate the experience of an older woman. I welcome the experience."

"You're too young for me." Was that a snicker from Obi-Wan? Yup, one after another. Very unlike a true gentleman.

"Stamina, baby. How can that be bad?"

"I prefer a mature man."

"Right. I'm mature. I get the whole action-consequence line of thinking mature adults engage in. Action: we have a fun night in this here room. Consequence: you get to...what was that word you used again?...doink...me and tell about. I brought a list of industry and entertainment mags for you to contact. Tell all. I don't mind. We can take some pictures if you want, like the ones we copied, just you and me. By the way, you are so blazin' in the originals."

"Blazing?"

"Oh yeah. Val told me. It's cool. Course, this modesty bit you've got going on now is sort of confusing me."

She could imagine Obi-Wan's comment on that.

"I'd have thought a woman who'd have pictures taken of her like that would be pretty comfortable with her sexuality." He was looking her up and down again in a way that made her wonder if Val's entire family was oversexed. "Unless we're like role playing here. Outraged maiden and persuasive suitor." He nodded, grin returning. "Is that it? Yeah? Uh-huh. I can do that. I can get into that, sweet thing. I can be persuasive. Just tell Rix what you want and he'll deliver in full with a bonus plan, baby."

Dormé burst into laughter, the sheer silliness of the situation hitting her. "Bonus plan? No, no, I don't think so. You need to leave. I don't know what Val told you--"

"I told you what he told me."

"Yeah, well, he was wrong. Sorry. You're not my kind of guy, Rix." He wasn't Obi-Wan. Not only that, but Rix was a little slow on the uptake. Obi-Wan started towards them.

"Well, why not?" Bending, he retrieved his clothes and began to slip them on. "Why would Val say those things...." Rix looked at Obi-Wan, then Dormé. He must have seen something on her face, because he ducked his head. "Uh...Let's just forget I was here, okay? No troubles, Ben. A little misunderstanding. Backin' away, man. No fight here. She's all yours." As he walked off, Dormé heard him mutter, "See if I bail him out the next time he's stuck in a Hutt dungeon, that slimy, good for nothing son of a...."

Obi-Wan chuckled and rested his hands on either side of her door. "Entertaining were you?"

"Not funny." A stern glance did nothing to dispel his mirth.

"I find it very funny. You are such the seductress, Dormé. You must write a book. Ten ways to drive men crazy. I had no idea." He struck a pose similar to one Rix had used. "Just tell me what you want and I'll deliver in full, with a bonus plan."

A giggle escaped her. "I'm going to kill Val and leave his body to rot in the desert."

Obi-Wan returned to a relaxed stance. "First thing tomorrow. After, of course, we pick up the new pictures and arrange the meeting with Palamon. Then, we'll deal with Valiant Kallin."

"It's a plan."

One hand stretched out, fingers grazing her cheek. "Sleep well. Try not to seduce any more strange men tonight, hmm?" He returned to his room and closed the door.

Dormé went to bed and dreamed of seducing Obi-Wan.