Ben’s arm settles across her lower back to pull her in, and Rey’s breath hitches as she feels the hard length of him press up against the apex of her thighs. It’s a completely new sensation, one that makes her feel the slightest bit nervous even as she gives into the urge to rock against him, just to feel more of that exquisite pressure.

It’s only when her lungs start to burn that she breaks the kiss, breathing raggedly against his mouth and letting out a small whimper as heat builds between her legs. She pulls back to look at him, eyes bright as she studies his face.

“You’re beautiful,” she says again, breathlessly sincere, and she leans back in to kiss along his jaw, using her thumbs to gently tip his chin up so she can kiss along the long, pale column of his throat, lips pausing over the flutter of his pulse. She lays the flat of her tongue against it, feeling the thrum of it reverberate through her as one hand slides up into his hair.