SHATTERED DEFENCES

Rated: M / NC-17 (Sex scenes)

Category: Star Wars, Han and Leia romance

Description: Set within Empire Strikes Back, Leia struggles with her feelings for Han.

"Sir, it's quite possible this asteroid is not entirely stable."

"Not entirely stable? I'm glad you're here to tell us these things. Chewie, take the professor in the back and plug him into the hyperdrive."

"Oh!" Threepio said in dismay. "Sometimes I just don't understand human behavior. After all, I'm only trying to do my job in the most..."

The sliding door closed behind the indignant Threepio as Chewie and he moved back to the hold.

The ship lurched again, throwing Leia across the cabin. Han caught her and pulled her to him. Then, abruptly, the motion stopped.

It suddenly occurred to Leia that she was in Han's arms.

Oh no oh no oh no…

"Let go," she told him. It was hard enough being stuck with him in the Falcon, having to be this close to him was a little too much to bear.

"Sshh!" he hushed her.

"Let go, please." She flushed, averting her eyes. She desperately wanted to get free. At the same time, a small part of her hoped he'd never let go.

"Don't get excited."

The anger rose quickly in Leia, as it always did when Han was around. Why does he always have to push my buttons?

"Captain, being held by you isn't quite enough to get me excited."

"Sorry, sweetheart. We haven't got time for anything else," he said with a wickedly suggestive grin as he left the cockpit.

Leia, heart pounding, had nothing to say.

Leia finished welding the valves she was working on and attempted to reengage the system by pulling the lever attached to the valve. It wouldn't budge.

Han was suddenly behind her, his hands over hers. She shook him off immediately. God, why did he have this affect on her?

Damnit Han, why'd you have to bring me on the Falcon anyway? Could you just leave me with Vader? He couldn't possibly torture me as bad as you do.

"Hey, Your Worship, I'm only trying to help."

"Would you please stop calling me that?"

"Sure, Leia." He was so damn smug!

"Oh, you make it so difficult sometimes." The frustration in her voice was evident.

"I do, I really do," he said, with that maddening self-righteous tone of his. "You could be a little nicer, though." God he drove her insane. "Come on, admit it. Sometimes you think I'm all right."

She let go of the lever and rubbed her sore hand.

"Occasionally, maybe...when you aren't acting like a scoundrel."

He laughed. "Scoundrel? Scoundrel? I like the sound of that."

With that, Han took her hand and started to massage it.

Oh god what is he doing?

"Stop that," she ordered, though not entirely sure if she meant it.

"Stop what?" He was playing innocent.

Leia flushed, confused. "My hands are dirty." Oh yeah, good reason Leia.

"My hands are dirty, too. What are you afraid of?"

"Afraid?" Oh man, does he have my number. "I'm not afraid." Sure, Leia.

He gave her a piercing look. Leia's heart skipped a beat.

No, no, no Leia!

"You're trembling," he said in a low voice.

Every cell in her body was on fire. Her brain screamed at her to run. "I'm not trembling," she tried to tell him, with not much success.

To her horror, his face very slowly drew closer to hers. Is he doing what I think he's doing?

"You like me because I'm a scoundrel."

No I don't, no I don't!

"There aren't enough scoundrels in your life."

"I happen to like nice men." Leia didn't even know what she was saying any more.

"I'm a nice man."

You're not! You're a horrible cruel man who made me fall in love with him and torments me every day….

"No, you're not. You're..."

He cut her off with a passionate kiss. His mouth was hot, erasing every thought from Leia's mind except for the feel of his lips against hers. He pressed against her, pushing her body backward, as his mouth insistently searched hers.

Oh, god.

Leia had never been kissed like this before. Not even close. Her head was spinning, almost making her faint.

They were rudely interrupted by Threepio, speaking excitedly. "Sir, sir! I've isolated the reverse power flux coupling!"

The spell was suddenly broken. Horrified, Leia escaped Han's embrace and dashed way.

Han turned icily toward Threepio. "Thank you. Thank you very much." There was so mistaking the dripping sarcasm in his voice, unless however, you were a droid.

"Oh, you're perfectly welcome, sir!" said Threepio happily.