Ben finds a handy solution to the goon squad and things get heated in a supply closet.


Ben Held her tight against his body, his heat seeping through the open back of her dress, warming her skin as he stood behind her and stared down the man before them.

"I think you three are in the wrong place. It's time to leave, isn't it?" Ben asked, voice so cold and full of menace that it even sent a shiver of fear through Rey. This was not the playful, careless Aristo she was used to dealing with.

A small voice inside reminded her that he was the son of a senator and a general, both war heroes, but there was something else simmering beneath that also made her pause. It was time to find out more about Ben than what the gossip holos provided, that was for certain.

Her would-be assailant twisted his lips indignantly before spitting to the side. Rey knew exactly what he thought of this whole situation, and he was not happy. His bluish lips parted, and Rey tensed as she waited for the male to tell Ben exactly what he thought of his demands, but before he could say anything, Ben's hand snapped off her chest, palm out, fingers extended.

"You're in the wrong place. Your message was received. It's a waste of time to be here now," Ben crooned, the tenor of his voice hypnotic as the male's face went slack. A tremor ran through Rey at Ben's words. Somehow, power flowed through him and into that declaration. It was more than just a demand, Rey could feel the insistence in what he said, the careful suggestion that could not be denied as he took control of the situation with some unseen power.

Is this magic…The power of the Force? she wondered. Was that what she'd felt from him? The goon before them shook his head and distracted Rey from her thoughts.

The male rubbed a meaty, blue-colored palm over his tech-altered face, jaw slack as he stood and stared into the distance before muttering, "We're in the wrong place… It's a waste of time to be here." He sounded like he was coming out of a daze and looked confused.

Ben gestured again, long fingers reaching out before curling subtly as he urged, "It's time to leave. You need to run along now."

The goon shook his head a little before, blinking slowly as he gave a lethargic nod. And Rey stared as, finally, the man stood down.

Why the fuck did that work? Just how the fuck did Ben pull this off? she thought to herself as Ben continued to stand at her back.

For whatever reason, the male wasn't willing to push the issue with Ben and seemed to be taking a step back—one halting step, and then another, before turning to face his group.

"We're leaving," the goon managed, ignoring the confused looks and grumbles from the males he was with.

And then, much to her surprise, they left. Rey was suddenly quite suspicious of Ben's abilities. Maybe there was a logical explanation for how easily he'd been able to dispatch the goons?

Like what? That he's just so intimidating that they ran off scared? Of an unarmed Aristo? Yeah, fucking right.

Rey sighed softly before stepping away and turning towards Ben. She didn't even know what the hell to say. Thank you? She probably should thank him, but she was feeling so uncharitable. Who was he to waltz in and save the day all the time? And, besides, she'd probably have been fine on her own, even if that little voice in her head chimed in that she really might not have been okay this time.

Ben shook his head, long dark locks falling into his eyes as he took her in.

"What?" she grumbled.

"How do you always manage to get yourself into trouble, smuggler?" he asked, lips quirking as his eyes traveled down the length of her body—ripped dress, leg exposed, hand on her blaster. "And always so quick to reach for that thing."

"How do you always manage to find me, even when I'm trying not to be found by you?"

Ben huffed softly. "Luck. Pure dumb luck."

Yeah, she didn't believe that at all.

"Well, I'm going to head back to my—" Rey started, but Ben reached out and took her hand, startling her into silence as he urged her to follow him.

"C'mon."

"Where?"

"I don't know. Somewhere private."

"Somewhere private, why?"

"So, we can talk."

"Talk?" Rey chirped back. "What could you possibly need to talk to me for?"

A loaded expression flashed across his face and Rey realized that he was holding his tongue, which only irritated her more. She liked him. She hated him. She wanted to be around him. She wanted to be away from him. He was too confusing and it, more often than not, just made Rey frustrated with herself, which also drew out her anger.

Still, he managed to mind his manners, even though Rey was being difficult. "Please, it would honor me if you'd do me the pleasure of spending a moment of your time with me."

"In private?" Rey finished.

"In private," he agreed softly.

Rey sighed before giving his hand a little squeeze. "Let's hurry then. Before your mother or Korr send out a search party for me—I am on the clock, you know?"

"I know," he assured her. "This shouldn't take long and, if you get in trouble, I'll take the blame."

Rey didn't have the patience to tell him that, even if he did take the blame, no one would fault an Aristo over a nobody like her. Aristo's were never accountable for anything. But still, she let him lead her out from the garden and further into the expansive building. Ben seemed to be searching for a place to take her and, after finding three locked panels, he finally found one that popped open without a passcode. Ben pulled her inside and hit the panel to close them in before really taking a good look around at where they were.

"This is a supply closet," Rey deadpanned as her eyes adjusted to the sparse light.

Ben blinked before laughing softly. "Evidently. It'll serve."

"For what?"

"Well, I needed to get you away from prying eyes so I can keep you out of trouble while we deal with your obvious attraction to me and your proclivity for getting into trouble to draw my attention."

"Excuse you? What does my—I mean, I'm not attracted to you! I didn't even know where you were! And, I was doing just fine until you came along!" she growled.

"Is that right? Was that before or after you alerted those thugs to your presence by managing to trip over garden furniture?" he asked, lips quirking with the smile he couldn't contain.

Rey hissed through her teeth. She was pissed and embarrassed that he'd seen her fuck up like that. "I'd have figured it out," she grated.

Ben hummed thoughtfully. "Of that, I have no doubt. But I do have some concerns as to whether you'd have made it out of there without blaster holes in your lovely dress—though, maybe they would match the rip?"

Rey glared down at the offensive skirt, slit obscenely high on her leg. She'd have to hold it closed for the rest of the evening to avoid showing off her blaster holster. Of course, he gave a shit about how her clothes looked, the vain, pompous Aristo that he was.

"But come now, enough about your dishabille, and back to what matters," he purred.

"And what the hell is that?" Rey asked while glaring up at his handsome face.

This close, she could see the little cosmetic enhancements better. The glimmer of jewels webbing across his lush, dark hair. Moles darkened and highlighted against his pale skin. His lush painted lips, with that audacious pop of red set against white. She was growing fond of the faint violet shimmer that he seemed to favor. Ben's dark long lashes fanned against his skin as he slowly blinked while looking down at her. Rey couldn't even properly glare at him, he was so close to her.

Has he always been this tall? She wondered as she tried to harness her anger and keep her wits about her.

"Why, dealing with your unruly attraction to me, of course."

"I'm. Not," she growled, jaw clenched as she fought for restraint. She was, and they both knew it, but Rey wasn't interested in making anything easy for a man who'd likely gotten used to everything in life being far too easy for him. He was going to have to work for it if he wanted the truth.

Ben smiled as if he knew her plan and was relishing the challenge. "That's a lie. Look at you, smuggler. Your lips are plush and slick, your cheeks are flushed, you're panting. And you can't take your eyes off of me."

"It's dark in here! And it's cramped. And I was scared, and now I'm angry!"

His lips curled into a smile. "It's alright. I can't take my eyes off of you either," he admitted, shocking her into silence.

She should be angry, should bust out and let Finn and Korr know about the goons, but she was in a closet with Ben Solo—and why were they in the closet, anyway? The goons had practically run out of the garden after Ben's little magic show, or whatever he did, so it wasn't like they needed to hide from them.

The gossip holos… Rey thought. Yeah, the last thing she needed was to get caught up in Aristo drama, so maybe it was for the best that Ben had pulled them both away from where they could potentially be seen.

But it was more than that. She'd gone with him because there was something strange about his presence, an uncanny feeling she hadn't felt since… No. He was not special to her. He was just super hot, strangely interested in her, and had kissed Rey senseless the last time he'd seen her. And, besides, the only sentients she ever got attention from were goons, spice smugglers or worse.

Rey mused that she'd upgraded from attracting thugs to attracting spoiled princes. Most other women would be thrilled, but given that she didn't trust him and knew exactly how Aristos treated their social inferiors, she was smart enough to keep her distance—emotionally! Physically, she couldn't possibly be any closer to him, at least, it was what she thought until his hand reached out and gently traced along the curve of her cheek.

"Tell me the truth, Rey," he murmured as she swallowed thickly.

She wanted to; it was so strange. Normally, lying was second nature to her and something that came as a result of her dangerous job and her past. But with him… she hated it. It was like they had some sort of strange connection and she couldn't pinpoint why it felt wrong to lie to him.

They couldn't have been more different. Yet, here he was. In a closet with her, making up reasons to be close to her. He was too much. Where she'd spent years spent honing first her scavenging skills and then her smuggling abilities, he'd spent years honing his skill set.

Seduction. Subterfuge. Rey could only guess at what kind of life this man led. His attention was dangerous and drew eyes when all she needed and wanted was to blend in and do her job without being seen. She was a ghost in the galaxy and for good reason. Not everyone wanted her alive and she'd made enough enemies—enemies that still tracked her—to know her fears weren't unfounded.

And with Crimson Dawn on the rise… Rey needed to play her cards right. Make a bunch of credits and then fuck off to somewhere remote and lie low for… the rest of her natural life, probably. She should cut this off, whatever it was, right away. But almost against her will, Rey found herself being drawn to the frustrating Aristo. His proximity was intoxicating, and she found herself resisting the urge to do very, very wicked things with this man.

He'd let you, her mind supplied unhelpfully. There's not much this man wouldn't let you do with him.

His fingers threaded into the hair at the nape of her neck as he urged, "The truth. Tell me."

Rey's eyes slipped closed. She ached to be touched like this and hated that he was the one giving her exactly what she wanted. But she couldn't afford to tell him the truth—that she wanted him, against her better judgment, more than she'd ever wanted anyone else. That there was a strange connection thrumming between them both. Did he feel it? That he was beyond desirable to her because of how unattainable he was. But there was too much that separated them. If she gave in to this man, he'd tear her heart out, Rey just knew it.

"Just because you're handsome doesn't mean I want you. Anyone with eyes can see what kind of person you are. And you want them to see you, which is a problem for me. Everyone looks closer when you're around, and I don't want anyone to see who I really am."

He leaned in close, lips brushing against the sensitive skin behind her ear. "And who are you, really?"

"I'm no one," she said, not for pity, but because it was the truth. The galaxy was safer for her when she was no one.

His laugh ghosted across her skin. "Is that so? Not to me. I've never seen someone with your… fire before. I want to know more about you. I want to know what makes you tick? What makes you angry, aside from me," he quickly added as Rey sputtered, before continuing. "What sparks your interest? What makes you moan?" His voice was a deep purr and cut right through to the quick of her.

Rey's legs felt weak, her body achy, as she tried to resist how badly she wanted him. But she made no move to distance herself and, as his fingers tripped over the much too thin fabric of her stupid, ridiculous dress, Rey felt herself pressing closer while her hands reached out to steady herself against his arms.

She felt drunk, with his hot his skin against her palms as she fought for control over her desire. She was going to have glitter all over herself again after this, she just knew it.

"Too bad you're never going to find out anything about me, Solo," she barely managed. The words sounded weak, even to her.

His lips pressed against the column of her throat, tongue darting out to taste her before he replied. "We'll see."

Rey let her head fall back, tongue slipping out to wet her lips in an invitation, but he didn't kiss her. Maker, she wanted him to kiss her again. Wanted him to fuck right off. Wanted him to fuck her. Her hands skimmed up under his robes, nails dragging softly against his forearms as she pressed tight.

"Wicked smuggler, where have you been hiding all this time?" he wondered as his lips trailed across her cheek.

"Nowhere, everywhere," she heard herself reply.

That made him laugh. His hands slipped over her hips, reaching up and tracing along the exposed skin of her back. This was so wrong for so many reasons, but there was something inside of Rey that wanted this. Would it be so bad to have the attention of a man like Ben Solo, if only for a moment?

Of course, it would be! she thought furiously, even as she rubbed against him, even as her hands skimmed up higher under his clothes and along his strong biceps. It was unfair how attractive he was, how he'd heightened his natural beauty—dark hair, broad physique, soulful eyes—with cosmetic enhancements that made him look otherworldly. He was dangerous. Tempting. And ultimately wrong for her.

But for a moment, Rey closed her eyes and pretended that she wasn't wanted in at least ten systems and that he wasn't the galaxy's most notorious playboy. Pretended that he was just a man and she a woman and that this was the normal course for two people who were obviously attracted to each other. Ben's arms held her tight as his leg gently eased between hers, the fabric of her dress splitting open as the thick muscles of his thigh ground into her.

Fuck… she thought as she forgot how to breathe.

Ben laughed. Had she said it aloud? She wasn't sure anymore. When was the last time someone had made her feel like this? Rey's body moved before her brain could catch up and she canted her hips against his leg. He was wearing thin breeches underneath his voluminous clothes and they felt whisper-soft against the skin of her inner thighs as she cursed herself for actually finding underwear that worked with her dress.

Ben radiated something like amusement and desire as he held her tight, big hand pressing against her lower back as he urged her to slip and slide against him. Ben helped her find a rhythm as Rey ducked her head against his chest, lip trapped between her teeth as she closed her eyes and just felt.

It was just the two of them, the sounds of their breaths, the staccato beat of her heart in her chest as Rey clung to him and barely kept herself from begging for more. She shouldn't have even been doing this, but she wanted more and, worst of all, he knew it. How could he not when she was so…

"Gods, Rey," he groaned, as if in answer to her harried thoughts. Rey whined piteously at that. It was too much now, he'd gone and wound her up so badly. And he hadn't even kissed her! Her body was trembling with need, and this asshole hadn't even deemed her worthy to place a kiss upon!

But this, surely this was something she could forget. It was a means to an end. She could keep her eyes closed and take a bit of pleasure for herself. With her eyes closed, he could be anyone…

If that's true… why are you thinking of his lips, his body, his mouth, his words?

She was so wound up, it wouldn't take much, and he probably knew it. "Come on, Rey. Let me watch you," he urged wickedly.

Rey bit her lip hard to keep from crying out. All she could think about now was how badly she needed—no, deserved—to have this pleasure. Would he deny her that, cruel and beautiful creature that he was? Or would he give her this moment to take as a memory before she sailed out of his life and into the galaxy?

Ben gently nosed behind her ear as he wondered, "When's the last time someone made you scream?"

Oh fuck. Never… she thought. He seemed to take her silence for what it was—an admission that her sex life, much the same as the rest of her life, had been terrible. She didn't want a one-night stand, she wanted connection, belonging. She wanted all the things the life of a smuggler would never let her have.

Ben's lips tripped against her skin as his voice rumbled, "How tragic. The things I'd do to you. I'd take you so completely that you'd never be able to get the memory of it of your mind. Let me show you…," he sweetly urged. And Rey let him.

He played her body like an instrument, tuned to his exquisite touch and wanton desires. And, through it all, Ben watched her, a smile on his lips as he held her tight, urging her on with his wicked words. Afterward, only their breaths broke the silence. Rey rested against him, too out of sorts to pull away and stand on her own.

His leg remained tight against her, each accidental brush against her sending a lingering shimmer of pleasure through her. It didn't have to stop here, Rey realized. She could take them both out of this closet, find a place with a bed, and a sonic and…

Abandon my post. Get kicked out of Maz's… And for what? One night with Ben Solo?

She knew it was a foolish thought, probably driven by her lingering desire and hormones, but she did consider it. And half of her thought it would probably be worth it. At least, until reality hit. The mood shifted as Rey started to realize what an idiotic thing she'd done but before she could disentangle herself from Ben's big body, the door to the closet sprung open, flooding the supply closet with harsh light.

A droid stumbled its way through an apology for interrupting them. A droid stumbled its way through an apology for interrupting them. The door slipped shut again as Rey tried to compose herself.

What a fool she was. Letting some Aristo seduce her in a closet when she knew better! She had rules for a reason! Get in, get out. Don't draw attention. And, most of all, don't get attached! She started to sputter out some excuses him while sliding off his leg and pulling away from the warmth of his body, but what he said next robbed Rey of her voice entirely.

Ben cocked his head as he looked at her and licked his lips before murmuring. "You taste like sunshine, do you know that?" he said, completely ignoring her gripes and, yet again, throwing her off of her axis.

"I… what?" she stammered as Ben smiled broadly, her senses returned at the smug look on his face. "It doesn't… matter what I taste like. You just… why can't you leave me alone?"

His eyebrow quirked. "I don't want to. Not even a little."

Just when she was about to finish disentangling herself from him, his arms shot out and he pulled her tight, body warm and strangely comforting against hers as he just held her close.

"I'll see you soon," he promised her quietly. "Try to keep yourself out of trouble until then."

Rey couldn't keep the pout from her reply. "I didn't start getting into trouble again until you showed up."

Ben chuckled softly. "I don't doubt that. I should let you go, you know that, don't you?"

Rey sighed. She did know. All of this felt so wrong and yet… so right. At least, she knew he was warring with himself the same way she was.

"Then let me go?" she suggested, though it was the last thing she really wanted. If the galaxy were a kinder place, if she'd been born a little less rough, not been hurt so bad, then maybe…

"Never," he breathed. "I don't think I can, now. But I know. I know better."

Something dangerously close to affection was blooming in her heart for him and not even the promise of heartbreak could keep it from taking root.

What a mess… she thought while looking up into Ben's face. What a stupid, beautiful, mess.

Finally, just when she'd thought he wouldn't, Ben dipped his head and placed a soft kiss on her lips. It was almost sweet, and so unlike him that Rey was shocked to feel herself getting a little choked up. She could blame it on the lingering emotions from being thoroughly wrecked by Ben Solo in a supply closet, but that would be a lie, and she'd know it.

"I have to get back to work," she said finally, though Ben had made no move to release her and, despite her complicated feelings, she enjoyed the warmth and comfort of being in his strong arms. He was… a very good hugger, she had to admit.

Ben sighed. "Must you?"

Rey puffed out a little laugh before ducking her head against his chest. "I must. Not everyone has a trust fund they can fall back on."

Rey thought, though she couldn't be quite sure, that Ben's grip tightened slightly at that, which was… so strange. His fortune was one of the many reasons that people would not leave him alone—maybe that hit too close to home for Ben? She'd not meant to hurt him, just state what was an incontrovertible truth.

"No, I guess you're right," he softly agreed. One of his hands came up to splay across her exposed skin, hot and broad as it nearly spanned the entirety of her back. He was remarkably gentle with her, despite his teasing, and it was just another complicated quirk about him that she couldn't quite resolve in her head.

Rey's fingers traced softly along the folds of his robes, tripping beneath until they found the skin of his chest. Before she could think better of it, she uttered a soft, "Thank you," though she couldn't keep the blush from rising in her cheeks. She wasn't in the habit of thanking anyone for anything, let alone thanking some Aristo for rocking her world in a supply closet.

Ben gently curled his fingers against her back, softly stroking as he replied, "Any time."

She knew he meant what he'd said, even if she had no intention of ever letting this sort of thing happen again—couldn't let this kind of thing happen again.

He's too much. People see too much. Feel too much. Want too much of him. I can't be in that place. He'll pull me into his orbit and I'll crash against the surface of his wild world until there's nothing left of me, she thought morosely.

Still, Rey lingered as Ben softly held her, petted her like she was a treasured thing and not some smuggler-cum-bodyguard who his mother had hired. Like she was someone. Ben made her feel like someone, and that was a beautiful lie that she could not afford to buy into. Rey started to shift in his arms, pulling away though every part of her wanted to linger.

Ben stared down at her, eyes skimming across her face as he seemed to search for something to say. "Stay with me," he eventually demanded. "Let's finish this somewhere more appropriate."

Rey shook her head. "No."

He smiled, and she knew he liked her defiance—her ire. Ben leaned in close, lips brushing against the shell of her ear as he murmured, "Do you want me to say 'please'?"

Rey swallowed thickly, breath coming up short as she let that word—that aching, needy, ferociously decadent little word roll right through her. Maybe that was exactly what she wanted to hear, but despite what they'd done together, she knew that there'd be no turning back from spending the night with Ben. Something like that would change a person, she was certain. Though, what she wasn't certain of, was whether it'd change her for better, or for worse.

She took matters into her own hands, showing him without words all the complicated feelings that were warring within her troubled heart. And he let her, leaned into Rey's touch as her fingers threaded into his long, thick hair, jewels and beaded threads tangling in her fingers as she pulled. Ben growled softly—he liked that.

Rey kissed him like she had all the time in the world, like they weren't in a supply closet and likely to be interrupted again at any point. She kissed him like she had every right to and he let her, strong arms pressed flush against her as he held tight.

His lips were divine, and he pulled her deep, submerged her in the exquisite pleasure that only he gave her with ever nip, suck, and sigh from his lips. She'd never really thought much of kissing until she'd been kissed by him, and now she knew why. She'd never been kissed the way Ben kissed her. It felt like an extension of his words, communicating his desire through his lips, tongue, and teeth.

Kisses had always seemed to be messy, awkward things before, but now… His lips robbed her of sense and made her want to break every rule in her book. His kisses made her reckless and, she hoped, this was at least slightly the same for him.

They pulled apart, breathless, bodies still entwined as the magnitude of her kiss settled on them both. It was a lot. Kissing him—really letting go and kissing him—was heady and addictive. If she wasn't careful, if she didn't act now, she'd end up doing a lot more than just kissing Ben on the mouth, of that she was certain. She'd already done more than enough with him for one evening.

So, while her mind was still hers and before the little of resolve she had left waivered, Rey let her hands fall from his thick hair, softly skimming over his chest one last time before she stepped away. And he let her, as much as she could see he didn't want to stop either, he let her. He was more than they said he was, Rey knew that.

Maybe, one day, she'd learn more about Ben Solo—the real Ben Solo, not the ones in her gossip holos, but not today. This time, Rey took his hand in hers and pulled it to her lips as she pressed a tight kiss against his palm. She offered him one final smile before releasing his hand to step around him.

"Goodbye, Ben," she said as she pressed her fingers against the door panel. She left him there in the dark, in a supply closet, while she walked back into the night and tried to forget that, if she wanted, the galaxy's favorite son, its treasured prince, and notorious playboy, Ben Solo, would have given her almost everything she wanted.

Rey reminded herself that this was for the best as she tried to focus on the party and her work. But destiny, it seemed, had other plans—as did Leia Organa, who absolutely didn't ever miss a gods damned thing. And the Senator sure wasn't the only one in the galaxy who noticed her son slink back into the party, not a few minutes after Rey did.

Not the only one at all, indeed.


Well, loves.

A source that will remain nameless has delivered, and what a night was had. Cake, presents, dancing and… secret rendezvous in a closet? No pictures, only rumors, but we have reason to believe that after one decadent and dashing space prince was caught slipping out of his own party that he found himself in the arms of a nameless sentient.

And you know what we say, they're never nameless for long, especially with the galaxy watching. But honey, if you were the reason Ben came back to the party with his hair askew, robes messy, cheeks flushed, and makeup smudged—drop the dirty details.

We're all dying to know if all the rumors are true, so be a hero and send up a comm to your friendly galactic gossip, Galaxy Glitter.

Everyone else, stay gorgeous! And, as always, if you don't have anything nice to say, send it to us first!

-GG out!


Heeeeeeeeeeavily edited! I'll do my best to post chapter updates here, but it might get a little hard as things move along in this story. I do recommend reading it over on Ao3 (here's the sort of link, just remove the (), otherwise, head over to Ao3 and search for "Butterscotch Goddamn," or CNichole, or Pacificwanderer, any of that should pull me up, but the first one will be the most direct). Also, in case anyone hasn't checked in a while, invites for that site seem to have come way down, so if anyone was thinking of getting set up over there, it seems like it's easier now than ever (no pressure, just FYI). Cheers! Thanks so much for the lovely reviews ? Take care in all of this. Any mistakes are my own and it's a big effin chapter, so please forgive me!