Chapter 14:
Han Solo grunted when his body hit the permacrete wall. Han started to reach for his blaster, but a substantial hand with rough, strong fingers wrapped around his throat, and a knee smashed into his wrist. Han's blaster fell from his hand. The former smuggler fought to wedge his fingers into the cramped space between his neck and his captor's hand.
"I don't think so."
Goroborian's henchman, Harisco loosened his hold on Han's throat. Han's heart dropped into his stomach when he saw Imgris pointing a blaster at Princess Leia Organa's head. She stared at Imgris with her large brown eyes opened wide.
"Goroborian let us go," Han croaked.
"How would you know that?"
Han said nothing. Harisco tightened his grip again. Han clawed at his captor's hand.
"We heard him. He told you to let us go."
Harisco stopped squeezing Han's neck, and looked at the princess.
"Goroborian may have lost interest in you, but we haven't."
"If you hurt her— "
"What are you going to do about it?" Harisco sneered and squeezed Han's throat again.
Han fought to breathe.
"If you know what's good for you, you'll let us go."
Imgris laughed. "What spirit she has, Solo. No worries we have ways to break her."
Leia's eyes narrowed her eyes. She grabbed Imgris's blaster. She slammed her hand into his wrist when she twisted the blaster in the opposite direction. Harisco's and Han's mouths dropped open as they stared at the princess. Imgris's blaster clattered as it hit the ground, and Harisco returned his attention to choking Han.
Imgris dove for his blaster. Leia shoved her body into his, and he hit the ground with a "huff." Leia fell with him. She then performed a summersault and snapped to her feet, brandishing the blaster. She hooked her boot under Imgris's chin as she pointed the weapon at his head. With lightning speed, Leia reached under her skirt with her free hand and hurdled her knife at Harisco.
Harisco yelled as the knife stabbed his upper arm. He let Han's neck go.
"Hand's up."
Gororbian's henchmen complied. Panting, Han retrieved his blaster from the ground and pointed it at Haricso. Han then pulled Leia's knife out Harisco's arm, wiped it on his pants, and held it out to Leia.
"I think this belongs to you."
Without removing her eyes on Imgris, Leia took the knife and slipped it into its sheath. Han ran his hands over Harisco's body and removed two knives, a hold-out blaster, and several flash bombs.
"Do you have any weapons other than this blaster?" Leia asked her captive.
Imgris shook his head. Leia raised an eyebrow.
"Search him, Han."
"Yes, Your Worshipfulness," he grinned.
Leia kept her eyes on Harisco as Han searched Imgris. He removed a vibroblade and an electro-projector.
"She's not too fond of liars."
Imgris's yellow eyes widened, and his mouth formed an "o"; Han's grin widened.
"Here's how this is going to work," Leia said. "I'm going to release your friend, and you and he will go on your way."
Harisco's facial muscles twitched. The princess pressed her foot down; Imgris began to choke.
"Understand?"
When Harisco failed to answer, Leia squeezed the trigger of the blaster. The bold hit the ground millimeters from Imgris's head.
"I wouldn't anger her if I were you."
Harisco looked at his partner, grimaced, and stepped back.
"Understood."
Leia lifted her foot from Imgris's throat but kept the blaster trained on him. The humanoid scrambled to his feet and put up his hands.
Leia gestured with the weapon. "Go on and don't turn back. If you do, you'll be dead."
"You heard her. Move."
Goroborian's men kept their hands up as they walked down the alley. The sky lit up before it cracked, and rain poured down, obscuring their view. Han held his hand over his eyes and squinted.
"At least the rain will clean us off."
Han dropped his hand and looked at Leia. Her dress clung to her body, exposing every curve. She lifted her head up to the rain and ran her fingers through her hair before moving her hands down her body. Frozen in place, Han watched her; she didn't notice. Leia continued to work on herself until most of the creature's blood washed away. She then glanced at Han and tilted her head.
"What?"
"Nothin'."
Han looked down at himself and brushed off the chunks of creature.
"Can you do my back?"
Han froze and his eyebrows rose. Leia stood with her back to him. She lowered her chin and gathered her hair in her hands, exposing the pale skin on the nape of her neck.
"Uh. Sure."
Solo put one hand on Leia's shoulder and looked her over. He lifted his other hand and ran it down her back. He stopped above her backside and repeated the action. As he worked, he slowed his pace, appreciating the strength in her muscles and the slight arch of her back. After the fifth time his hand passed over her body, he let his hand slide over her backside.
Leia shivered. Han held his breath, expecting the bombardment of harsh words, but she said nothing. He lifted his hand and placed it just below the nape of her neck then slid his hand down her back and over the curve of her backside. Again, Leia said nothing. Han couldn't resist; he repeated the action again two more times.
Solo exhaled and let Leia go. He stepped in front of her and discovered that her eyes were closed and her bottom lip was caught between her teeth. After a pulse, the princess opened her eyes, released her lip, and let her hair fall. Han gazed into her eyes; he couldn't resist. He brushed her hair back, cupped her cheeks, and wiped the rain from her cheeks with his thumbs.
Leia reached up, hesitated, and then brushed his hair out of his face. Her fingers moved down his temple and across his cheeks. So gentle was her touch… Han's eyes closed instinctively, savoring the soft skin of her fingers. Her hand moved to the back of his head, and Han opened his eyes. She licked her lips, and his muscles tensed. Han leaned towards her…
The sky lit up and cracked again. Leia jumped before stepping out of Han's reach. He deflated.
"We should get back to the hotel before we run into more trouble."
"Yeah."
Leia started toward the street, but Han grabbed her hand.
"It's best we take the alleys."
"Right."
Han swallowed down his frustration as he led her to safety.