The routine customs check had gone well. The Starbird was retrofitted with covert smuggling compartments that the Coruscanti port officers didn't know to check for and the durasteel planks hiding compartments under the walkways were free of contraband, as planned.
Rey and Finn kept their illicit goods hidden and safe. The last thing they needed was to get their spice confiscated—they couldn't afford a loss of cargo like that or Maz would have their heads. There was a time when Rey used to feel bad about smuggling spice, but years in the Jakku desert had changed her and, besides, Maz was particular about who they worked for—namely that they take jobs from Aristos who could afford their services and not people who were dealing in the streets.
Not that there was any sort of moral hierarchy in spice running, but Rey liked to comfort herself that at least they weren't working for the syndicates. As much as spice could ruin someone's life, she didn't mind so much if that someone happened to be a wealthy Aristo. It was cruel, but so was the rest of the galaxy and a girl needed to eat.
Though nothing could stop her from dreaming about one day when maybe, just maybe, she'd be able to do something else—to be someone else other than a spice runner, but that would take credits, and she wasn't going to make much in the way of credits by being nice or waiting around for them to fall into her lap.
Finn jabbed her with his elbow when he noticed her daydreaming as he packed the shipment into dummy containers. "Head in the game, Rey."
"Right, right. I guess I'll stay with the ship. You going to be fine getting payment?" she asked as he finished up. Finn was resourceful and good at talking his way out of trouble, but she still worried. The Coruscant underworld wasn't known for being a friendly place and she'd gotten into no end of scrapes here over the years.
"Aw, warms my heart that you'd worry, pumpkin," Finn teased as Rey glared.
"Don't get shot and lose our credits, is all I'm saying."
"Sure, sure. I should be back within two hours. I'll comm if I have any issues," he said while checking his wrist, so Rey did the same. She marked the time and would wait for him to call if needed. Which meant she was going to be doing a whole lot of standing around, guarding, and being bored. Which she fucking hated.
Rey was a woman of action and she liked to move. Staying in one place just made her antsy, which Finn knew, so she wondered whether he was doing this on purpose to test her patience. After getting drugged on Cantonica, Rey thought she probably deserved it, but she'd still get him back for making her stay with the ship while he got to go out into the city and do the fun part.
She tried to behave, she really did, and stayed on the ship for as long as she could manage, but boredom and curiosity were a dangerous combination, and eventually, Rey found herself skulking around the port. It smelled like engine fuel, grease, and scalefish and, though the rest of the port was busy for this time of day, the dock they'd landed at was relatively quiet.
There were a few vessels aside from their own in the expansive area, and some even had their cargo half unloaded, Rey noted, as she poked around. It was beyond fucking foolish to leave cargo unattended in a place like this.
This was Coruscant, home to all and friend to no one. Kill or be killed on this planet, especially on the lower levels, and Rey was good at taking advantage of opportunities when they presented themselves. One merchant had carelessly left some Corellian whiskey crates out in the open, just waiting to find a new owner, and Rey wasn't about to pass up a chance like this as she loved Corellian whiskey.
And it'd all have gone swimmingly if she'd not spotted Ben Solo out of the corner of her eye, watching her from somewhere near the port exit, which distracted her so badly it sent her tripping and falling right onto the cargo.
"Fuck!" she cursed, just as an angry-looking Rodian merchant popped his head out from around some stacked crates.
"What is your business here?" he grumbled. Rey barely made it out, her Rodian was terrible.
"I was just…," she stumbled her way through an excuse. She was never this foolish. Even when she got caught stealing, which was hardly ever, she always had an exit plan. But somehow, the sight of that stupid Aristo had sent her mind reeling.
But more than that, it was like her body had reached out with awareness. Like finally taking a breath after being held underwater—the relief when she'd spotted him was...
Palpable. Overwhelming, her mind supplied as the Rodian started to yell. Rey's hand slipped to her blaster, which would be her last resort, but she still liked to know she was protected, especially when he started to shout that he was going to call the guards on her.
Shit. This was going south fast, but just as the Rodian started to get really mad, arms and green antennae flailing as he accused her of theft, the sound of shoes clicking against the duracreet ground interrupted the ranting sentient. The Rodian's eyes bulged a little as he seemed to recognize the infamous Ben Solo.
Does everyone in the galaxy know this fucking Aristo? Rey grumbled to herself as Ben reached out to take her blaster hand, a knowing smile on his face.
"There you are, beautiful. I've been looking for you everywhere," he murmured before pressing a kiss to her wrist, just as he had on Cantonica.
The Rodian before her immediately stepped back when he realized that she knew him and apologized profusely for the misunderstanding. There had been no misunderstanding, she had been planning on stealing his whiskey, but she was glad for the interruption, even if it had been an Aristo who'd saved her ass.
The Rodian merchant left with hardly another word, and about ten bows towards Ben before they were left alone together. She hadn't seen him since that day at Dev's, though he regularly featured in her dreams, which pissed her off to no end—waking up, flushed, body aching, fucking needy for a stupid Aristo who she'd met once. It was embarrassing. This was the first time she'd been near him on her own and Rey didn't like it or, more to the point, she didn't trust herself to be alone with him.
"There are easier ways of getting my attention than by stealing whiskey," Ben joked as a smile worked its way onto his handsome face once they were alone.
He was dressed more subtly today, dark robes cinched tight at the waist with a wide leather belt, but split to almost his navel to reveal a flash of color—ruby red—as another layer peeked out from beneath. His pale chest gleamed and her eyes were drawn to it, so of course, he noticed.
Rey forced herself not to be embarrassed as her eyes continued their descent. Dark pants and high leather boots finished off the look and Rey couldn't help but think that he could almost pass for a prince today, which was saying something considering how much of him she'd seen on Cantonica.
Almost all of him, really, her brain supplied unhelpfully as she glowered. "I don't want your attention," Rey lied. "And, I think can handle myself now."
His makeup was subdued, but a fine shimmer on his lips glinted in the light as he stared down at her. "I see that, but unless you want that Rodian to come back with friends, it would be best to indulge me for a little while, sweetness. They know better than to bother one of mine."
"Don't call me that," she grumbled. She wasn't his sweetness or his, and it was his fault she got caught, to begin with.
Of course, it didn't help that Rey looked like she'd been wrestling with a happabore, and she was sure there must be oil smudges on her normally pinkish, freckled skin. Her long hair was pulled back into a messy bun and her leathers were dull and dirty from her work. She looked every bit the smuggler she was. And here was Ben Solo, prince of sin, looking like a juicy shuura fruit. It wasn't fair, but the galaxy rarely was for someone like Rey.
His curled, glossy hair fell to the side, head cocked as he continued teasing her, "What should I call you? Starlight? Wicked temptation?"
"Rey. You know my name is Rey," she said before taking her hand back and making her way onto the ramp of her ship. If she thought he'd get the hint and piss off, Rey was sorely mistaken because Ben just followed her right up into the cramped hold.
"Who gave you permission to come onto my ship? And what are you doing on this level, anyway?" she growled while getting right up in his face, his stupid, handsome, smarmy face. No one aside from smugglers, merchants, and syndicate members normally hung out around these parts.
Of course, he ignored her entirely and focused instead on what he wanted. "You didn't answer me."
"Answer you what? My name is Rey. Use it," she said, punctuating her words with a tight press of her finger against his exposed chest.
He liked that, she could tell and, much to her dismay, so did she. She should have known better than to touch him at all. There was something about skin to skin contact that heightened everything between them and made her weak to his immeasurable charm.
Rey pulled back and started to turn, intending to walk away from him—run more like it—but instead she found herself being drawn closer to him as his strong arms reached out and gently enfolder her against him. Back to front, with nothing but their clothes to separate them, they shared space, heat, and air as Rey's head began to spin.
"Rey," he whispered against the shell of her ear. "What if I want a special name for you that's just between the two of us?"
She was weak, lacking control, there was no denying that, but there was also something about him that called to her. Beyond his looks and the feel of him at her back, there was something more… something strange that resonated with each and every one of her heartbeats.
Him. Him. Him. It's him, her heart seemed to say. It was uncanny and made her both uncomfortable and achingly curious. Rey's curiosity was always getting her into trouble. Always. And, this time, trouble had taken the form of a gorgeous, sensuous man.
"What makes you think I want anything special between us?" she asked softly even as she arched her neck to the side.
Ben laughed as his lips brushed against her skin obligingly. "Would you like me to describe what I saw when you were watching me at Dev's, or what I see right now?"
"How about you kiss my ass, Solo?" Rey grumbled, and she had every intention of pulling out of his arms, but Ben did the most curious thing. Slowly, so slow that she could have stopped him had she wanted to, Ben slipped a hand up and over her abdomen, sliding over the slight curve of her breast, before scraping across the exposed skin along her collar. Rey breathed deep, body pressing into that firm, hot touch, as she waited—barely breathing—to see what he'd do next.
His hand skimmed higher, pressing against her neck before a finger slipped up to angle her head back against his shoulder. She was pinned there, against his hard, broad body, with every inch of him pressed against every inch of her. And she found, much to her frustration, that she wanted more. She barely kept herself from whispering, "Please."
This was a dangerous game they were playing and one that wouldn't end well for either of them. Rey had too many secrets and had made too many enemies and Ben… As if the galaxy's favorite playboy would ever truly be interested in someone like her. But still, she waited for him to speak. But still, a strange hope bloomed in the dark recesses of her broken heart.
Ben let out a long breath as Rey relaxed into his touch as if that had been the catalyst he'd been waiting for. There was a deep desire between them both, something overwhelming and base, almost uncontrollable. But Ben seemed to enjoy edging them both. Getting close, but not quite close enough, to what they wanted. Pushing her higher before pulling back and denying them.
Finally, he continued, "I noticed you the moment you walked into Dev's receiving room, though you worked hard to be unnoticeable. If someone sees you, you're quick to duck your head and avoid their gaze or move behind a group. If you want to watch, and you do enjoy watching, Rey, you find a vantage point—behind another being, a column, and wait for the right opportunity. You're patient, so patient, and you're willing to wait for what you want. Did you like watching me?"
"No," she lied which earned her a low laugh.
"Did you want to come sit with me? Drape your body across mine like that Twi'lek did his? Did you wonder what it would feel like to touch me? To smell me? To taste me?" he purred.
"No," she lied again, this time sounding even more unconvincing than the last.
His hand was firm as he tipped her head away from him, exposing the sensitive skin behind her ear to his mouth. His lips pressed against her as he continued, "I imagined what it would feel like to have that tight ass of yours against my legs, to tangle my fingers in your hair and pull—just a little, just to see if you liked it."
Rey's breath hitched at that and he knew, she would have liked that, she would have liked that very much indeed. Rey swallowed thickly, jaw clenched as she fought to keep herself from admitting just how much she wanted this man.
This only ends in heartbreak. This only ends in heartbreak. This only ends in heartbreak, she repeated the words like a mantra as Ben's proximity and words picked at her resistance.
Rey knew that all she had to do was say the word, and he'd leave, take his body and his warmth away from her, but somehow, she couldn't the words to refuse him. If she just kept silent, maybe he'd give her what she wanted without her giving him anything in return.
Maybe, if she just kept silent, she could keep her heart in one piece. But silence, much like patience, was never her strong suit. And Ben was so good at pushing her buttons.
"What would you like? High-strung smugger with an alias list as long as my…," he paused and Rey could practically hear his smile as he finished, "arm."
Ass. Great, cocky, arrogant ass! She thought. Or maybe she said it because Ben was laughing at her back, lips against her skin as he sweetly urged, "More. Give me more of that filthy mouth, Rey. Tell me all the wicked things you want or lie and tell me how much you don't want them."
Rey took a breath, heart shuddering as she fought against the urge to press back and let him give her all of what he offered and more. "There's no way I'd ever let an Aristo like you have me."
"And why is that?" he murmured, voice low and dangerous.
"You're too rich. And spoiled. And wouldn't ever be able to understand me, let alone love me—" Rey finished with a gasp. She hadn't meant to say that—what had possessed her to mention something like love?
Ben either didn't notice or didn't mind and gently nosed along the curve of her jaw as he said, "I see more than you realize. I see a woman who is lost. A woman who wants to be found, but doesn't want to trust someone to find her. I see your fire, your intelligence, and the pain that you hide. I want to feel your fire. I want to enjoy your intelligence. I would make you forget your pain."
"The life you speak of isn't in the cards for me, Solo. Declarations or not, you are who you are and I… well, I'm not willing to get my heart broken again."
That was the truth, wasn't it? She was so tired. Tired of scraping by, tired of getting her heart stomped on, tired of the betrayal. And a tryst with someone like Ben Solo, if that was even what he wanted—what would that get her other than more heartache?
His body shifted, but he didn't release her, not at first. Just held her tight, hugging her, really. It was strange and unexpected for Rey. She felt and knew that this was just a hug. Nothing more. She didn't often receive comfort from others that was free from expectations and tears pricked the corner of her eyes in response. Was she so hard up for human contact that a mere hug sent her reeling?
"I can take no for an answer," he started softly. "But understand me, Rey, what I'm offering doesn't have to hurt. What we can have, doesn't have to come at the expense of your heart. I want you, this is undeniably true, but I'm willing to wait for you and, if that day doesn't come, friendship with you would never feel like I was settling for something."
"I don't know what I want," she replied honestly. "I don't trust people."
"With good reason," he finished for her. "You'd be wise not to trust someone like me."
Rey laughed at that. "Did you just move from trying to seduce me, to holding me, to warning me off? I really don't know what the hell to make of you."
He chuckled and the rumble of his chest rolled right through her. "What can I say? You bring out the worst in me."
"That's because you are the worst, Solo," she replied before pulling out of his arms, but her taunt wasn't as biting as it should be. He wasn't… well, he wasn't half bad, if she thought about it, which she decidedly did not because she did not need to be thinking about how nice Ben Solo might be if he wasn't himself.
"Kiss me goodbye?" he asked as she turned to face him. And, though it was foolish and she shouldn't have, Rey found that she did want to kiss him goodbye, wanted to do a great deal more than kiss him, and wanted to push him away all at the same time.
So, she gave in to the impulse to push him, except she pressed him hard and tight against the wall of her ship as she fell against him. Their bodies molded together, her stomach pressing into the hard length of his as she reached up and pulled his head down, meeting his lips with her own.
There was something uncanny in the way that Ben Solo kissed her. Rey had been kissed before, though she'd never been much interested in lovers. The part of her that was fighting to survive had a hard time with opening up enough to allow that much vulnerability, but with Ben, the last person she should have opened up to, it almost felt easy. Something about him was always too easy, and it made him a threat.
He kissed her sweetly, completely, as if they had nothing but time with which to stand there and enjoy each other. Not like Finn would be back any moment. Not like that Rodian could return and take his revenge. No, he kissed her like the moment was infinite. His lips gently sucked on hers before his tongue darted in as he deepened the kiss.
His hands skimmed along her arms before sliding back, one settling on her hip, the other low on her ass. She should have been offended, probably. Except her own hands were tangled in the fabric of his jacket, holding him tight, and she swore to all that was unholy that if he stopped kissing her, she'd kill him.
And he seemed to know it because he hitched both of his hands against her thighs and pulled her up against him, turning them both before pressing her back into the wall. She liked that. Liked the way he pressed between her legs, the slow friction driving her wild as she reached up to thread her fingers into his long, dark hair.
Today, he smelled like sin, a smoky masculine scent that intoxicated her so thoroughly that she almost thought it must be a spiced scent, but she didn't feel out of control. All that she wanted was the man who had his lips and body pressed against hers, which, of course, was the saddest thing in the galaxy for Rey.
Breaking her rules by falling into the arms of the last man she should ever trust, with his broad, tight body grinding hard into hers as she fought for air while pulling him closer, kissing him deeper.
No spice, but he's a drug all his own, she had the presence of mind to think as Ben clenched his hands against her ass before he shifted against her core. Rey whined against his lips and she felt his pull into a smile. He liked that, she knew. Liked her against him, weak, and wanton.
Weak, wanton, useless, a fool… she thought as her mind finally got control over her desires. This was a mistake and one that would cost her if she didn't keep it from going too far. Rey pulled back, forehead pressing against Ben's as she took one deep breath, and then another. And he held her there, body hard and straining, as he waited for whatever she would say next.
Sorry to disappoint you, Solo, she thought as she looked into his eyes. They looked darker today, little flecks of gold floating in and out of focus as he stared at her. They were beautiful, he was beautiful, too beautiful and tempting for someone like her.
"You need to go," she finally managed, though Rey didn't know how she found the strength to tell him to leave, especially when he was still pressed so intimately against her.
Ben swallowed thickly as his eyes darted from hers to her lips like he wanted nothing more to keep kissing her, but eventually, his jaw squared as he gave a tight nod before gently sliding her to the floor. Her traitorous legs almost dropped out from underneath her as Ben set her down, but he quickly reached out to steady her.
"Been a while since you've been kissed like that?" he teased.
I've never been kissed like that she thought, but what she replied with was, "I'm not talking about that with you."
The smile he gave her seemed to suggest that he knew the truth, but he didn't bother her about it again. Ben stepped back, arranged his cock in his tight clothes so that he was almost decent, and gave her a wink.
He really was the worst, but still, she smiled as she gave him a small wave while he stepped away from her.
"See you again, Sweetness," he assured her.
"Doubtful, Solo," she replied even as the taste of him lingered on her lips.
He turned slowly as if he was waiting for… Rey wasn't certain of what she wanted, but she was determined not to give it to him—whatever it was. With a wave, he turned and walked down the plank and left her ship, leaving Rey alone, which was best, she tried to assure herself.
He's only going to cause more trouble, and you have enough of that as it is, she thought, even though part of her wanted to call out and have him make good on the promise of that wicked body and sensual mouth.
But that wasn't in the cards for someone like her, no matter how much he seemed to be drawn to her. Alone meant that you didn't get hurt. Alone was what she knew best. Being alone was the only thing she truly deserved.
