A Lesson to Learn

Chapter 18

"You are so dramatic! Come on, we're gonna be late," she chided, no real anger behind her words. She gave him an amused once-over, taking in his mussed hair and flushed cheeks from the exertion, the small braid he had taught her still holding on for dear life on the side of his head.

"Do you give up? Will you come quietly as my prisoner back to my master?"

"If I say yes will you come quietly to the party?"

"Maybe," was his huffed reply, which quickly turned into a quiet and reluctant "yes " when Rey shot him a look.

"Fine, I surrender," Rey answered, putting her hands up. Kylo smiled as he approached her with the lightsaber now at his side.

"Thought so," he murmured, crowding her against the door. Rey's breath hitched as he stole a kiss, and she blinked up at him when he pulled away, her breath knocked out of her by the only man who had ever had such an effect on her - the only man she had ever loved.

"Okay, now we can go," Kylo winked, moving to open the door before he shuffled back into the kitchen to grab some snacks and drinks they were tasked with bringing.

"You know, if you want to kiss me you can just do it. You don't have to make it such a sensational...," Rey started, gesticulating in the air to find the words. "... Event."

"I know - but where's the fun in that? Just trying to spice things up, sweetheart - you'll thank me when we're withered and old and you're still laughing at my dumb jokes. Anyway, you're always free to take out your anger on me after the party," Kylo teased with another wink, giving her a good-natured slap on her behind before they walked out the door.

***

The Christmas party was full of good food and better company, the drinks flowing freely and the games getting messier as the night went on. Kylo beamed inside every time someone complimented Rey or him on their braid, now something that those they were close to would look forward to seeing, wondering what new intricate design would grace their hair that day.

Rey, however, took great joy in all the compliments they received on their matching sweaters, especially knowing now how much Kylo secretly enjoyed the lightsabers and goofing around with the toys. He could complain all he wanted but Rey would chuckle to herself all the while, knowing the whole truth about her grouchy yet fun-loving manchild of a boyfriend.

The night truly descended into chaos, though, when drunk twister was suggested as the next game. Apart from playing in their already inebriated state, part of the rules were that you took a drink (or a shot if you were so brave) after your chosen color was played or after someone else fell. After Kylo mysteriously won three rounds in a row, still seemingly unaffected by the alcohol, a more than slightly drunk Rey confronted him, complaining that it wasn't fair.

"Sweetheart, I'm like three times your size. I think it's more than fair," he said, nuzzling his nose into Rey's hair.

Rey let her hand pound against Kylo's solid chest with a thump . "I want to win!"

Kylo chuckled as he grabbed her hand, bringing it up to his mouth so he could press a kiss across her knuckles. "Do you want some help?"

"Kind of," Rey mumbled, supporting herself on Kylo as she swayed a bit in her drunken state.

"Okay, I'll help you," Kylo said, the rumble of his deep baritone reverberating against Rey's body as she leaned into him. Rey nodded absentmindedly, wondering what he had in mind.

***

Kylo led himself and Rey back to the main group, proposing one more game of drunken twister to crown the victor. A tipsy Finn cheered, pulling a more sober Poe along for the ride as he grabbed another shot. "Alright, let's go, Ren! Let's see if we can't beat you yet!"