Leia and Han sat around the dejarik table, tucked up against each other while she ate Chewie's stew and both sipped Han's good whiskey. Leia enthusiastically filled Han in on their upcoming mission to Ord Mantell. She was excited – it was a real mission to negotiate with a major medical supplier who was a big fan of Han and Leia's romance story and had expressed sympathy to the rebel cause. It was also an opportunity to showcase them in action and make a few more propaganda holos of their "fake" relationship. For that reason, the Rebel Alliance's top propagandist, Janray Tessime, would also join them. Chewie would go as co-pilot, but would stay on the ship since he was so recognizable as a known associate of both Han and Leia.
Mon had also asked for Luke since he was the main hero of the Rebellion, and they would get a lot of donations with propaganda videos of Luke and the three of them together. The only complication was that while Janray and Chewie knew their romance was staged, they hadn't yet told Luke, who had been surprisingly delighted they were "finally together and didn't kill each other first." Han and Leia had exchanged sideways glances when Luke disclosed that the Force had revealed to him, through a vision, their impending romance months ago. Luke's enthusiasm for their "coupling" had added so much credibility to the ruse they decided to keep it up through the Ord Mantell mission and apologize to him later. Leia felt like a traitor to her friend but justified the deception as in the best interest of their mission objectives. On the bright side, since they had to keep up the charade for Luke, Leia and Han had an excuse to be close to each other on the trip with no questions asked, which suited Leia just fine, even if she would never admit that to Han.
Han immediately objected to the location, citing the Imperial deep-dock on the planet, a major under-world culture of crime and smuggling that impeded predictability, and their level of celebrity and chances of being recognized at a vacation destination popular by core worlders as major risks to the mission. Leia knew his points were valid, but as she mentioned to him, the same argument could be applied to almost all their off-base covert missions. After 30 minutes of increasingly antagonistic and unproductive back and forth, she was just plain annoyed with his stubborn refusal to problem-solve the issue. As far as she was concerned this was spilled blue milk on the floor. The Mission was happening they just needed to plan for, and mitigate, the risks. She was impatient for him to accept it and move on so they could continue planning the logistics of the op.
Leia threw up her hands in frustration and glared at him. "Han, look I know it's not the safest location, but I'll have you and Luke with me, and I'm not exactly a damsel in distress. I can more than hold my own."
"I know you can, but for the sixteenth time, that's not the point. Janray is completely green on an op, Luke is great in a pinch but not so great at working an alias and cover story. Chewie won't be with us during the negotiations, and the chances of one of us being recognized is high. I don't like the odds, Sweetheart. I'm telling you, I have a bad feeling about this!"
"Damnit Han! How many times do we have to have the same circular argument? This is my mission. I'm attempting to work out the details with you so we can eliminate, as much as possible, the risks. Work with me, for kriff's sake!"
"Listen to me, Your Worshipfulness. I am telling you this mission is a mistake. We need to move the location. There are too many factors that we cannot control and that put targets on our backs."
"You are impossible! I should get a new fake boyfriend. Preferably one that doesn't challenge me on literally everything. Maybe Luke is interested." Leia stood up to leave, pleased to see her mention of Luke had the intended effect of making Han apoplectic.
Han grabbed her wrist surprisingly lightly and held her as she stormed past him on her way to exit the ship. He waited for her to look at him.
"You like that I challenge you. In fact, I'm the only one who does. I make you feel like a woman, not just a damn princess or a general." He growled at her as he stood up to block her exit.
Leia glared at him, eyes smoldering with a combination of anger and desire. Goddess this man drove her to the brink.
"Do not presume to tell me what I like," Leia ordered him as she grabbed Han's shirt and yanked him towards her mouth.
Han's hands and lips were everywhere as he kissed her into oblivion and the heat between ignited. While he was kissing down her neck towards her collarbone, she finally thought to confirm that this was technically "public."
She pushed on his chest a little, to get his attention, her chest heaving with need.
"Leia, please don't ask me stop," Han groaned.
"Is the ramp up or down?" Leia asked urgently.
Han gave her a look that clearly said Are you fucking kidding me with these questions right now?
"Down," he said gruffly, stroking his hands up her sides.
"Good enough" she said huskily, as she pulled his mouth back down to hers and walked him back a step until her back was against the dejarik table.
He pushed against her hips, his desire apparent. She let out a moan at the contact and snaked her hands under his shirt to explore his lean frame. There was still too much space between them. As they devoured each other's lips, Han hauled Leia up so she was sitting on the edge of dejarik table with Han standing between her legs. Goddess, he felt so good and she was desperate for more – more skin, more contact. She wrapped her legs around his thighs to pull him closer, moving her hips against his as she once again gasped at the contact - her system in overload. Leia moaned as one hand cupped her breast under her shirt and the other grabbed her bottom to pull her closer still to him.
"Leia" Han panted. "I want you."
"Don't stop." Leia was tired of fighting the attraction. She felt like she was going to explode with need for Han. She pulled him down into another white-hot kiss while she ground against him again. They both got so lost in the pleasure of pressing against each other, they didn't hear Chewie come in until he growled angrily.
[No mating on the table! This is where we eat food! Isn't this supposed to be a fake relationship?]
Leia dropped her hand from Han's still fastened belt and they scrambled apart, completely caught off-guard by the Wookie's stealth arrival.
Han cleared his throat and thought about flight equations to calm his desire. "It is Pal, we were just practicing for an upcoming mission."
[It doesn't look like just practice.] Chewie hooted, glancing towards Han's crotch before he could adjust himself. Han was going to kill the furball.
"Well, this has been awkward. I should go. Good night Chewie, thanks for the stew and I'm very sorry you had to see that. Han, I don't suppose you are in any condition to walk me back?" Leia stifled a laugh.
"I've been willing that issue away for years around you, Sweetheart. I'm good."
[That is disgusting! Do not use that language with the Princess! Princess, Cub, I would prefer not to witness such acts, but I am pleased that they are happening. Please consider conducting your mating in private next time.] Leia blushed as she patted Chewie on the arm in acknowledgement.
Han sniggered at Chewie's attempts to be polite to Leia as he and Leia grabbed their coats and made their way to her quarters.
XXX
When they reached her door, Han was intending to give her a quick kiss before returning to the Falcon to take his 20th cold shower of the week.
The walk over had been silent as they became lost in their thoughts and unsure what to say to each other. Leia knew she would have ended up in Han's bunk if they hadn't been interrupted. She detested her Ice Princess moniker, but it felt applicable when it came to intimacy the past three years. She had not felt capable – emotionally, physically, or mentally of being with anyone else since The Disaster. For reasons that continued to elude and confound her, she had no such misgivings or fears about being with Han. The notion of sleeping with him felt like a positive and monumental step forward in her healing and well-being, and one she would not hesitate any longer to take.
"Han, we should talk. Do you want to come in?" His eyebrow raised in surprise.
"Just talking?"
Leia rolled her eyes and grabbed his hand to pull him into her quarters. The room was more luxurious than the barracks, but small and simply furnished with a cramped desk, twin bed, and hastily constructed shelf that served as a wardrobe. Han once again admired Leia. He didn't know many folks that could transition from Princess of a Core World planet to rebel leader with almost no possessions and a wardrobe filled with practical work wear.
"Ok, I've been thinking. We are obviously attracted to each other, to the point where this is getting distracting. We are already pretending to be in a relationship. I propose we take it a step further – go all in. Complete discretion, no talk of feelings, no commitment, still part of the fake relationship mission…just…" She looked at him significantly as she gestured vaguely with her arms.
"Fucking?" Han supplied helpfully.
"Well, I wouldn't put it quite like that, but yes. Sleeping together."
"You're asking me to have sleepovers?" Han was enjoying winding her up.
"No, you idiot. Sex! We should have sex." She said with exasperation. Maybe this was a mistake.
"Sex! I'm scandalized! I'm in, but not if this is a one-time thing. Unless it's bad, then the one time is fine."
Leia laughed and smacked him on the shoulder. "It's been a long time for me. I suspect the one time won't do – unless you're bad. I'm open to continuing while we are both having fun." She was willing her cheeks not to go red.
"Hmm, interesting. How long is a long time?"
Leia looked anguished at the thought of sharing such personal information with Han. She took a frustrated breath.
"If you must know, it was before the Death Star."
"No wonder you can be grouchy! Anyone I know?"
"You can fuck right off with that comment, Flyboy. And it's hardly any of your business, but no one you know." Leia was feeling embarrassed approaching angry. She frankly was not expecting this to turn into a detailed conversation and confessional. She knew they had already had recent clean health scans and their contraceptive shots as part of the setup of their fake relationship mission.
"What about you? Yesterday? Last week?" She teased with an edge to her voice. Han had a reputation, possibly deserved, possibly base legend, of being a...well she wasn't thinking it judgmentally, each to their own, but he had the reputation of being a fuck boy.
Han scratched the back of his head in discomfort. The truth was, while he didn't discourage his reputation as a ladies' man, he hadn't looked at another woman with much interest in well over a year. None of them were Leia, end of story.
"Not so long ago as before the Death Star, but it's been a while, Princess. I dunno, maybe a year?" Han looked down and shifted uncomfortably, feeling much more exposed than he'd prefer. Leia's mouth dropped open in astonishment. If he hadn't slept with anyone in a year, what did that mean? Were the rumors false or was he waiting for someone else? Regardless, she found she liked his answer.
Leia looked sneakily pleased as a sly smirk quickly appeared and disappeared from her lips. Han decided to steer the conversation towards topics that could further serve as foreplay.
"Touching yourself isn't…doing it for you?" He asked as he leaned into her space, grazing his hand lightly up her side.
Leia lightly ran her finger across the broad expanse of his chest. "It helps…to a point. You?" She raised an eyebrow at him defiantly. Two could play this game.
"Barely making a dent anymore." Han admitted in that low rumble that made all the hairs on Leia's neck stand on end and lit her on fire.
"Do you think about me when you touch yourself?" Leia's heart was racing, and her body thrummed with desire. She ran both of her hands slowly up his chest and around his neck as she stepped close to him.
"Yes." He whispered before he kissed her hotly, their hands and lips finding new places to explore as they frantically removed each other's clothes and tumbled into her bed.