**Chapter 476**
**Whispers in the Senate**
**Coruscant – Padmé Amidala's Apartment**
The door had barely sealed behind Anakin when Padmé was in his arms.
With a startled gasp, she instantly wrapped her arms tightly around his neck, pressing herself flush against his chest. Her heart hammered wildly as the familiar scent of him — ozone, leather, and something uniquely Anakin — filled her senses.
"Ani!…"
"Padmé!"
"Ani… I was so worried," she whispered against his neck. "They said you won at Bothawui, but I—"
Anakin silenced her with a gentle kiss, his hands sliding down her back to pull her even closer. The kiss deepened quickly, years of stolen moments and hidden longing pouring out between them. Padmé melted into him, fingers threading through his hair as she moaned softly into his mouth.
When they finally broke apart for air, Anakin rested his forehead against hers, eyes full of love and exhaustion.
"That was the luck of it," he murmured. "But… I was more worried about you. When I found out what happened on Coruscant, I was beside myself. You need to be more careful…"
"I haven't seen you in so long," Padmé smiled, stroking his messy hair. "You… aren't busy?"
"Luckily, I just got back from the Senate. The next session is in ten hours."
"And no one will stop us?"
"No. Mon is resting at home, Bail and Jar Jar went to Toydaria…"
"Excellent," Padmé breathed, her eyes darkening with desire. "Then… that's our ten o'clock."
Anakin's gaze was full of love and adoration. With a shuddering sigh, the Naboo woman reached for his lips again.
---
They barely made it to the bedroom.
Clothes were shed in a frantic trail across the floor — Anakin's Jedi robes, Padmé's elegant senatorial dress. By the time they reached the bed, they were both naked, skin flushed and breathing ragged.
Anakin lifted her effortlessly, laying her down on the soft sheets. He hovered over her for a moment, drinking in the sight of her — the curve of her breasts, the flush across her chest, the way her dark eyes begged for him.
"I missed you," he whispered, lowering himself to kiss her deeply.
Padmé moaned into his mouth as his hand slid between her thighs, fingers finding her already wet and ready. He teased her slowly, circling her clit before sliding two fingers inside her, curling them just right. She arched against him, gasping his name.
"Ani… please…"
He didn't make her wait long.
Anakin positioned himself between her legs and thrust into her in one smooth motion. Padmé cried out in pleasure, nails digging into his back as he filled her completely. They moved together in a perfect rhythm — slow and deep at first, then faster, more urgent.
Anakin buried his face in her neck, kissing and biting gently as he drove into her. Padmé wrapped her legs around his waist, urging him deeper, her hips rising to meet every thrust.
"Yes… Ani… just like that…"
Their lovemaking was passionate and intense, born of too many nights apart and the constant fear that each meeting might be their last. Padmé came first, clenching tightly around him with a sharp cry, her body trembling beneath his. Anakin followed moments later, groaning her name as he spilled deep inside her.
They collapsed together, sweaty and satisfied, limbs tangled.
---
A few hours later, Padmé lay curled against Anakin's chest, her finger lazily tracing patterns across his skin. He stroked her back in slow, soothing circles.
Then a thought occurred to her. She propped herself up on one elbow, looking down at his face.
"Ani… I was just thinking. You still haven't introduced me to your Padawan. And I haven't seen her either…"
Anakin chuckled, running a hand through her hair. "I wonder how I should introduce you to her?"
"Her?" Padmé asked with interest, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes. Her name is Etain Tur-Mukan. She's about four years younger than me. Her master died, so Yoda assigned her to me. It's definitely better than if they'd sent me a youngling. You know, she's quite funny — especially when she's carrying her rifle. It's almost bigger than she is, and certainly weighs more. She's an excellent shot, though. In the last battle, she took out a couple of droidekas from almost five hundred meters away…"
"Really?" Padmé frowned slightly. Anakin usually didn't like to talk about battles, but now, at the mention of this… girl, he suddenly became so animated.
"Invite her sometime," Padmé asked, trying to sound casual. "Let's sit and talk."
"No problem," Skywalker replied lazily, pulling her closer. "When does your meeting end tomorrow? We can drop by afterwards."
"Aren't you going to fly away somewhere?"
"No. We need to recover from our losses. I think I'll be on Coruscant for at least a week."
"That's good," Padmé whispered, snuggling back against his chest. "It feels like an eternity since we last saw each other. I'd like to be with you more often."
Anakin squeezed her hand in his.
"War…" he said softly, the single word carrying the weight of everything they couldn't say.
Outside, the lights of Coruscant continued to sparkle, oblivious to the lovers hidden in the Senator's apartment — and the gathering storms that threatened to tear their secret world apart.