Mergers and Acquistions
by Susan Zahn
art by Kristin Brown and Kate
PART 7
PART 5 PART 6 PART 8 PART 9 PART 10
The dark room was full of shadows and silvery highlights, just enough for Leia to see her plush surroundings. She was immersed to her shoulders in the whirlpool, her bare arms resting along its edge. She floated in utter luxury, feeling her muscles ease and relax like she never thought they could. With a sigh, she sank deeper, allowing her head to rest on the rim of the sunken tub as the natural buoyancy of her body and the bubbles from the powerful jets lifted her into near bliss. It was an unreal setting, the beautiful vista of the Ord Mantell skyline spread out before her on a backdrop of diamond stars, and she could imagine drifting through space as well, unconfined and warm.
But not alone. A dark silhouette emerged at the edge of her vision and moved across the room. It was Han. As he closed the distance, she realized he was naked. She felt a rush of excitement, of tension, as she realized that she was also naked.
Without a word, Han paused at the edge of the pool, gazing down at her. Even in the darkness she could see the definition of muscle, the curve of flesh, and she felt a surge of desire that made her inhale sharply. Her body temperature escalated as though she'd absorbed all the heat from the water in which she was submerged. She should feel embarrassed, or furious for his boldness, but she didn't. She should make some attempt to hide her own nakedness, but she didn't do that either.
Still silent, he finally moved, stepping into the pool and dropping deeper into the water until he rested across from her at eye level. "We're all friends here," he said, breaking the silence that had enveloped them. His deep voice rumbled across the rippling water, the vibrations not stopping at her skin but penetrating her, his baritone timbre resonating throughout her electrified body.
Leia could feel her breathing grow shallow, more labored. She closed her eyes for a moment, wondering if the compulsion she felt to move closer was real. The urge was too much to resist. She opened her eyes again and met his gaze, dark with a fire all their own. Her heart pounded so hard that she could feel her blood rush throughout her body with each pulse. No one, nothing, had ever excited her as much as his look, his body, his being so close.
Again without a word, he held out a hand and she automatically grasped it. Not moving, he instead pulled, easing her away from the edge. She was floating, drifting, all resistance gone now. She found herself in his embrace, warm and powerful limbs enfolding her, drawing her against his solid chest. Without thought, she wrapped her arms around his neck and straddled him, such a natural position. She reveled in the sensations of his bare flesh against hers.
Their lips then met in a mutual kiss of passion. His tongue was slick and strong as it invaded her mouth, then aggressively explored; she wrestled him in turn, almost laughing with joy, just as excited to discover new territory. She could feel the evidence of his own arousal nestled between her legs, as hot as the water around them. Wanting to feel every centim of his body rubbing against hers, she rocked easily in the water. The friction was divine and she fell into a rhythm that was hypnotic and ancient. He seemed to have other plans, however. Even as he continued to perform the most erotic exploration of her mouth, his hands came to rest on her hips, slowing and controlling her movement in his lap, gently torturing her. She ran her hands through his hair then, giving in to the wild and restless feelings that had taken over. She throbbed, ached with an intensity she'd never known before. She wanted him. She wantedhim! Her breathing became heavier as his hands began stroking up and down her sides, her back, then around to glide across her wet breasts and brush against her hard nipples. He pinched one between his fingers, then ducked his head to take it into his mouth and gently catch it between his teeth. With a shiver and ragged, inarticulate cry, her back arched and she closed her eyes as the delicious feelings his teasing evoked skittered through her body. Then his lips pressed against her bare shoulder and his teeth dug in a little--just a hint of animal hunger--before his tongue smoothed over the spot and ran along her collarbone and up the side of her neck to her earlobe. The tremor that shook her caused a feral groan that she barely recognized as her own. One of his hands slid down to cup her behind, then down along the smooth skin of her thigh to pause behind her bent knee. With a gentle pull, he adjusted her position in his lap, then moved his hand along her inner thigh until he found what he'd seemed to be leisurely searching for.
"Han," she exclaimed, her voice cracking. She opened her eyes, needing to see his shadowed face reflecting the same smoldering lust she felt, but instead his smile was forced, weak, scared. Suddenly she was being drawn away, even as she reached for him, trying to hold on to him. Steam--white, red, and orange, billowed up around them, obliterating their surroundings, fogging her vision, chilling her to the core. "Han!" Frantic, she reached out to him again, this time in desperate fear.
"Han...!"
With a strangled gasp, Leia jerked awake. Shivering, her heart beating at a frightening pace, she stared at her dark and foreign surroundings. She was huddled in the center of her hotel bed, the sheets a tangled heap at her feet, very much alone. Had she cried out Han's name? She could almost hear her outburst echoing in her spacious quarters, and waited with some trepidation for the smuggler to burst into her room to investigate. But there was no noise from outside.
Memories of the day just past filtered back into her mind and, if only for a few moments, that fine line between the reality of what they'd done and the surreal events of her dream seemed to blur. She had to think hard to sort out fact from fantasy.
Trying to calm her shattered nerves, Leia curled up tighter and scrubbed her face with still-trembling hands in an attempt to scrub away the remnants of her dream--both the good and bad. As if erotic dreams of Han weren't disturbing enough, why did they always end like that? The settings were always different and the words a new script--what few words there were--but the endings were still the same. There was no closure. No explanation. No happiness.
She uncurled and rolled over onto her other side, wondering how she'd ever get to sleep again.
As mornings-after went, Leia realized this one could've been a lot worse. At least she hadn't drunk enough to earn a hangover.
She stood in front of the vanity in her room, brushing out her long hair. She'd made the decision to leave it down; there were few opportunities to do so and she wasn't going to lose this one. Her appearance was casual, relaxed, and closer to her real age than she'd felt in years.
She picked up her chrono from the little table in front of the mirror and strapped it around her wrist, then looked again at her reflection. She wore a light pink blouse with a high, folded collar and short sleeves, tucked into black slacks. It was a simple outfit, comfortable and loose. Now who's on vacation?
Her feelings were still muddled and she wished she could just erase all the false starts in their relationship and start over. She wanted to be angry with Han for making the first move, or regretful of what they'd done, or at the very least mad at herself for enjoying it as much as she had. All she could muster, however, was embarrassment at having backed out at the last moment like some coquettish teenager. An Organa simply did notabandon the field mid-battle.
But then, an Organa didn't neck on a couch with baffling but irresistible smugglers, either.
Maybe Organas didn't know what they were missing...
Leia felt a sappy grin flicker across her face and sighed as she sat on the edge of the bed to pull her boots on. She was stubborn to a fault, but she wasn't a fool; they'd come very close to consummating their relationship last night, and she'd relished every moment. The wine had been little more than an excuse to do what she'd always wanted to do. She supposed she should be shocked by that fact, but she wasn't. She couldn't remember a reason now for having suddenly stopped the encounter, other than maybe some remnant fear of the unknown or of giving up control. He'd been charming, funny, and attractive--the perfect gentleman. And he'd finally committed himself to the Alliance in more than deed. All the reasons she'd ever concocted for keeping her distance had disappeared yesterday, clearing a path for those repressed desires.
Why does everything seem so obvious now?It was as though some veil had been lifted. The cliche made her wince, but it was the truth. Wouldn't this just make Kristin's day?
Leia stood, retrieved the vibroblade from her case, and slid it into the hidden sheath within her boot. She still felt a little trepidation about the fallout. Would Han treat her differently now? Would he act as though nothing had happened, or had she unleashed something she might regret? There was nothing to stop him from blabbing about their little indiscretion to the entire population on base on Argus, and the very thought made her light-headed. While she couldn't help but take this event seriously, was this just another dalliance for him?
She wasn't sure she wanted to go out and face him, but staying locked up in her room wasn't an option, either. Gathering her courage, she triggered the door and stepped out. A quick glance told her that he'd already ordered breakfast. He was dressed in casual black pants, a royal blue shirt with the same V-neck and sleeves as the green one from the day before, and tall black boots. He was so handsome that she forgot to breathe.
He was removing the silver dome from the room service platter when he looked up and smiled. "Morning, sweetheart. Hey, there's enough food here for four people...Guess I'll have a roll and leave you the rest, huh?"
His good-natured jibe at her recent appetite was so unexpected that she let out a little squawk of habitual outrage before laughing. "Another crack like that and I won't leave anythingfor you, flyboy."
Oh, he's good,she realized with admiration. He knew how to dispel any awkwardness that might've lingered from last night, and with a single smart-assed comment, at that. She had to applaud such diplomacy, even if she were the butt of the joke. She felt a certain amount of relief at their seeming resumption of the status quo. She'd been worried that he might be angry or disappointed with her, or worse yet, that he'd decided she was a tease and given up on her.
He chuckled and set the cover aside, then picked up a piece of cut fruit and popped it into his mouth. "Well, you'll need fuel today--we're hitting the inner levels and I feel like exploring."
Leia walked over next to him and looked down at the breakfast, nodding in approval. This was a whole different category from the mush they got back at base.
"Help yourself. I'll be right back." He turned on his heel, but then paused and landed a kiss on her cheek before striding away toward his room. She turned to watch him leave, her hand automatically rising to touch where he'd kissed her. Something deep in her chest ached from the casualness of the gesture. They were definitely in strange territory.
She looked back at breakfast, then her eyes drifted to the scene of last night's adventure. Her abandoned shoes, an unfinished glass of wine, and an empty bottle lying on its side told the tale, or at least some of it. She frowned. How long had he stayed there after she'd fled?
"Was there any place in particular you wanted to go today?" Han queried as he re-entered the main sitting room.
A pastry now in hand, Leia turned and watched him as he neared. He was fiddling with something and it took her a moment to recognize the device. It was a stinger, a palm-sized one-shot projectile weapon, favored in espionage for its silence and easy concealment. If a spy needed more firepower, chances were he was already as good as dead.
"Did you have that yesterday?" she asked.
"What? This?" He held up the gun, then tucked it into what appeared to be a tiny holster inside his waistband at the small of his back. "You didn't think I was totally unarmed, did you?"
"Of course not. A fine bodyguard you'd be without something."
Dropping his arms to his sides, he smiled at her. "Is that what I am?"
"Among other things," she quipped, but softened the blow with an answering smile, then took a bite of her pastry to avoid elaborating.
He grunted, apparently willing to let her win that round, then reached around her to grab a roll.
Han was pretty sure he'd go out of his mind before this little trip was over. While he'd willingly chosen to pursue Leia at all costs, he'd had no idea it'd be such a mental and physical strain.
Last night had been the culmination--and with any luck the turning point--of nearly two years of suppressed lust. There was no better way to describe it. And now she was fresh and vivid in his mind: her flushed face and swollen lips, her weight and heat pressing him into the couch, her surprised gasp of pleasure as he'd tasted her skin, and the way she'd felt as she writhed on top of him. His fingers still tingled from the smoothness of her flesh. The very thought of it was nearly enough to send him over the edge, and it'd been a near superhuman effort to let go of her last night.
If I'm gonna function at all today, I gotta think of something else,Han told himself.
He'd taken them on the most direct route to the inner levels of Ord Mantell, via one of the core lifts located a short distance from the hotel. In no time their lift door slid open to reveal the high-ceilinged, brightly-lit halls and walkways, lined with stores, restaurants, and more spots of entertainment. It wasn't quite as luxurious or airy as the outermost level, but wealth was still evident in every detail, from the goods for sale to the layout of the structure. At regular intervals the levels opened up and became expansive solid balconies, granting views of the levels above and below, and preventing the sense of claustrophobia that might otherwise have resulted from the lack of open space.
They'd paused at one of the railings lining a catwalk and peered down at the bustling crowd that flowed around the open circle. They could see three more levels below them and then a small sitting park decorated with trees and a water fountain.
He rested his elbows on the railing and leaned over further to get a better look, then glanced at his companion and saw that she was content to hold onto the rail and watch the moving people across the way.
Despite her occasional snappy comments during breakfast, she'd been a little subdued and it didn't take a university degree to figure out why. Maybe they'd bothbeen surprised by the zeal of her response last night.
Idiot.He could kick himself for trying to take things too far too fast. But the combination of wine and her new willingness had caused him to rush like a teenager. He was damned sure that things would be very different if he ever got a second chance--and if the vibes coming from her were any indication, a second chance wasn't out of the question anymore.
He couldn't stop looking at her, and for probably the first time since he'd known Leia, he didn't feel a need or desire to mask or mock his fascination. She seemed very conscious of this attention and for once didn't try to deflect it. Perhaps some of that renowned Organa confidence had finally seeped into the shy girl she'd hidden and protected for so long. He suspected that if he just keep gently tapping at her barriers, they'd collapse from simple fatigue now. Over a year of earned interest,he reminded himself, but a worthwhile investment.
The sidewalk café was busy. Seated at one of the tiny round tables, a young man sipped his kaffe and tried not to fidget. Considering what they were about to attempt, the fact that his partner was late set him on edge.
Finally, through the passing crowd, he spotted his older friend and waved to get his attention. The man headed toward the table and pulled out a chair.
"Did you get them?" the youth asked in a tight whisper.
"I got them." He slid the package across the surface of the table, then rested his elbow on the edge.
"You're sure this is gonna work?"
The older man scowled. "If it's who you sayit is, it'll work. And if we don't take advantage of that, somebody else will and we'll be shut out."
The younger man nodded hard, not about to give up now when they were so close to sudden wealth. "I know what I heard."
"All right, all right. Just be careful with that thing. Anyone catches one of us with these and that's it--goodbye job, goodbye Ord Mantell, hello detention cell."
"I know, I know. But, we do this right and we'll never have to work again."
"That's the idea, kid."
"So now what?"
"Now we wait."
Leia had to admit being flattered, and a little amused, by Han's solicitous behavior. If she'd known a year ago that giving him a little "encouragement" could make him so congenial, life on base could've been so much more pleasant. It was a powerful lesson that she'd have to remember.
He'd just consulted her yet again as to what they should do next, but she had no agenda for shopping today. All she could think about was going back to that couch with him and giving it the old Academy try. Now having a much better idea of what to expect, not to mention a taste of what she'd been missing, she was sure she wouldn't flee like a startled chenik this time.
And maybe that was the signal he seemed to be waiting for.
You're enjoying this too much,she mused, knowing he was at her mercy in that respect. At the moment he was debating over a selection of music diskettes that had caught his eye and she took advantage of his distraction to watch him. She didn't bother hiding a sappy grin; she indeed had him where she wanted him--a true first. Kristin had been right about that dress and Han's inevitable reaction. It was a new and potent facet to their relationship. Maybe this time alone with him could be a test run for something much more serious after all.
"What do you think?" he broke in on her thoughts, holding up a diskette for her inspection.
"'Exotic Drums of Tellilli'?" She gave him a look that implied he was crazy and he surprised her by giving an exaggerated version right back. She laughed out loud. Gods help her, she was having fun.
"We'll have to work on your musical background some other time," he suggested as he replaced his selection and caught her elbow in his palm. He steered her out of the alcove and back into the flow of pedestrian traffic.
"I look forward to my edification."
He opened his mouth, probably to make some smart-assed yet endearing remark, but his gaze locked onto something off to her side and she glanced to see what had stopped him mid-sentence. She didn't spot anything out of the ordinary; just the usual string of expensive shops. Before she could comment, he cut across the traffic, pulling her along in his wake. It took her a moment to realize he was heading for a jewelry store. Some of her initial amusement faded as a variety of scenarios played through her mind. He'd made a threat the night before, and clearly he intended to carry it out.
And then she found herself staring down at a black velvet-covered palette liberally decorated with an assortment of precious stones and metals. All of them were masterfully crafted and rivaled anything she'd seen in her days as royalty. Time seemed to slow as she watched Han pick up one necklace, made of gold, then hesitate. He set it down and picked up another, and she felt a tightening in her chest upon seeing the one he'd chosen. It was beautiful--a delicate three-tiered set of platinum threads that would drape at just the right height when accompanying her dress from the evening before. Under the watchful eyes of the shopkeeper, he turned to meet her gaze, the silvery ornament stretched out between his pinched fingers. While there was still a hint of humor in his eyes, the most dominant emotion was something she wasn't sure how to label; it reminded her of those old romantic holovids she'd indulged in while at university. The word "love" came to mind and she felt that constriction in her chest increase another notch. Is this really happening?
He seemed to take her silence as approval. He reached around her neck, drawing the cool metallic threads up along the exposed skin of her neck and under her hair. She felt him press up against her, filling her senses, as he peered over her shoulder and secured the fastener. Then he leaned back, his hands straightening the collar of her blouse before coming to rest on her shoulders. His eyes dropped to check his work before meeting hers again. She felt weak, as if her knees would buckle, right there in the middle of the store.
"We'll take it," he said in a soft voice. His gaze never left hers as he reached into his pocket and handed the shopkeeper a credit chip.
"Yes, sir!" the man responded with a subservient bow before hurrying away to process the transaction.
"Thank you," she whispered. The words sounded so inadequate and Leia struggled to think of something better to say, but all her lessons in oration were useless in such a situation. All she wanted to tell him was that he somehow made her feel as though she were the center of his universe and that she didn't want to be anywhere else. Why were the words so difficult? "My pleasure," he said with a little grin that hinted at some secret he wasn't ready to share yet. "Today I can afford this."
Her own smile grew at that. Leave it to Han to dispel some of the wonder of the moment. "You're very good at spending other people's money."
"And you're always thinking the worst of me, sweetheart."
She felt his thumb graze her cheek, running along the line of her cheekbone, then he bent to kiss her and this time she was ready for him.
PART 5 PART 6 PART 8 PART 9 PART 10