Chapter Text
Ben
Leia: Ben, honey, can you confirm if you’re bringing your girlfriend to Christmas dinner?
Han: He’s not going to answer, princess.
Leia: Ben, it’s two months away and I’m planning with the caterers.
Han: We don’t even know her name.
Leia: We’re having brunch tomorrow at Café Luna if you’d like to join us, 11:30am.
Han: He hasn’t responded in two months, it’s time to give up hoping.
I groaned and scrubbed a hand over my face as the waterfall of texts cascaded across my phone screen. When my father’s comment about how long it had been since I last responded came through—nice jab by the way—I scrolled up, sure he was wrong.
He was wrong. It had been longer.
The problem was the last time I’d spoken to them, my mother had been hell bent on setting me up with one of her colleague’s daughters. Had it been wise to tell Leia Organa, New York Senator and world famous lawyer I couldn’t go out with Kayln Beckett because I was already seeing someone? Yes. So much so that I’d almost immediately shoved my head through the wall of my apartment.
Leia: Hope is all I have left, Han.
An unfamiliar pang sliced through my chest and I blew out a breath, surprised to see a white plume unfurl before me. For October in New York, it was unseasonably cold and I flexed my fingers a few times before tapping them across the screen.
Ben: I’ll see you tomorrow for brunch.
A hand clapped over my shoulder, shaking me roughly. “You ready, Organa?”
I grimaced, tucking my phone into the pocket of my trousers and bobbing my head in an approximation of a nod. Armitage Hux’s bright red hair gleamed in the twinkling lights overhead and the scent of whiskey poured out of him as he laughed, shaking me again.
“Poe, you might need to pull the stick out before we go in,” he called.
“I gotta be honest—not even sure why I’m here,” my friend answered, sidling up next to us with his hands shoved into his pockets while he shook a stray curl out of his face.
Behind him there was a ruckus cry of “let’s go” and “what are we waiting for?” from the others in our party. Elrik stumbled forward to grab Hux by the arm, all but dragging him toward the black lacquered door waiting for us. When they were gone, Poe and I exchanged a long look.
“No but seriously, why have you dragged me to the seventh circle of hell?”
I shrugged. “Hux doesn’t have enough friends to round out a proper bachelor party.”
Poe huffed a laugh. “And I was the first choice?”
The marquee next door flashed and I squinted against the glare. “I thought you might enjoy it.”
“Enjoy what? Watching Hux potentially give himself alcohol poisoning and throw up in a public place or tits?”
I shrugged again. “Both?”
Poe tilted his head back and forth. “Tits hold no fascination for me, but I’m excited about the prospect of the first.”
“Well,” I gestured toward the door, “hell awaits, I suppose.”
The sound of his grumbling died as the bouncer, dressed in a suit as nice as the one I wore, ushered us inside. I swallowed my groan when the heavy bumping of bass hit my ears and my eyes adjusted to the dark.
“Welcome to Velvet Night, gentlemen, may I take your coats?”
A woman dressed in a tight black dress stepped from behind a highly lacquered wooden desk, her black hair piled high up on to the top of her head. I shrugged out of my overcoat while Poe did the same, beaming at her.
“Tell me…” he trailed off in invitation.
“Crystal,” she supplied.
I bit back my laugh. Of course.
“Crystal,” Poe repeated. “On a scale of yes to go home now, how likely is it for there to be anything other than women dancing on the stage?”
Her lips pressed together as she suppressed her smile. “Unfortunately, I’d have to say go home now, but don’t tell anyone I said that.”
Poe made an X over his heart. “Your secret is safe with me.”
“But you should get a drink at the bar. Storm will take good care of you both.” She folded our coats neatly over her arm. “Enjoy your night.”
Another well-dressed bouncer waited at another door and I winced as it opened, the music growing even louder. We made our way along the back of the club and I eyed the tables and plush velvet chairs full of well dressed men all oriented toward a large center stage flanked by two smaller ones.
I barely caught Poe’s whistle over the music. “Damn this place is nice.”
“For a thousand dollar cover, it better be,” I grumbled.
He spun, eyes widening until his brows disappeared beneath his hair. “What?”
“Don’t worry, I covered yours.”
Poe fluttered his lashes. “You are the best sugar daddy ever.” His face fell. “But next time just buy me a car or something instead.”
I groaned and pushed him toward the table closest to the stage. Tierny stood from his seat and waved us over with all the excitement of a golden retriever. We passed a few women as we made our way, but I kept my head down suddenly very aware of where we were and what we were doing.
Could you be respectful in a strip club?
Was it more disrespectful not to look?
Elrik handed me one of shot glasses lined up across the marble table. “I didn’t think you’d actually make it in, Organa.”
Instead of answering, I handed the glass to Poe before falling into my seat, only for Hux to hand me another. “So, you put this to your mouth and then you tip it up and—”
“I know how shots work,” I cut across him, taking the glass.
He raised his hands in surrender. “Listen, I didn’t know if it’s been a minute. We practically had to cut the chains attaching you to your desk.”
I tipped the shot back, wincing at the burn scorching my throat. A cheer went up around us and I turned in time to see the woman dancing on the stage slide to the floor in front of our table, her blonde hair falling over the edge. Hux made a sound somewhere between a bark and a whoop and threw a handful of ones in her direction.
“The only way out is through now, buddy,” Poe muttered, handing me another shot.
This time the burn of tequila wasn’t as bitter. My head swam a little and I tried to remember the last time I drank. Was it in the summer? Or maybe New Years? But by the time the song changed and a new dancer took the stage, two more shot glasses were empty in front of me and I found I didn’t mind the thump of the bass so much. In fact, even Hux’s grating voice was a little more endurable. Poe whistled and clapped beside me.
“Damn that’s got to hurt,” he murmured.
I looked and had to blink a few times to get my eyes to focus.
Fuck.
Chestnut hair spilled down olive skin slowly rotating in and out of view. The dancer was halfway up the pole, her ankles crossed over the metal as she arched her back, shaking her head so her hair brushed the curve of her pert ass. I swallowed thickly while she adjusted her grip, reaching underneath her thigh and parting her legs before hooking one, somehow ending up in a split.
“You’re drooling, buddy,” Poe mock whispered.
I scrubbed a hand over my face and immediately regretted it when she was suddenly upside down and I’d had no idea how she’d gotten there. Poe was right—it looked painful as fuck and yet this woman was all coy smiles and winks. Hux whooped like he was at a sports game and when he turned to look at me, his face spit into a shit eating grin.
“See something you like, Organa?”
But I couldn’t respond, not when she was slowly sliding down the pole until her shins landed on the stage with her back to us. I bit back my groan at the way her heels framed her ass, the narrow line of her back, the black lace.
Fuck.
“Oh yeah, he likes it,” Elrik guffawed from the other side of Hux.
Instead of responding, I grabbed Poe’s drink, taking a deep sip before frowning. “Is this a Diet Coke?”
He shrugged and gestured to the empty shot glasses in front of me. “Someone has to have their shit together and it’s definitely not going to be you in approximately twenty minutes.”
I clapped him on the shoulder. “It’s good to see you, you know.”
Poe laughed. “Oh fuck, you’re already drunk aren’t you?”
Whatever response I’d had died as the woman crawled over to us. “Hello, boys.”
The British lilt to her voice did nothing to stop all the blood rushing south. Tierny placed a wad of cash carefully on the stage, his light brown skin darkening with a blush when she winked at him.
“Thank you, handsome,” she crooned, rising onto her knees.
“Fuck,” I muttered as she slid her hands up her waist, cupping her breasts through the black lace of her bodysuit.
Dark eyes slid to me and she raised a brow before Hux threw more money at her. He leaned forward, one hand extended toward her thigh. My stomach twisted but my body couldn’t catch up with my mind, it was like moving through mud to grab his arm but before he could touch, a dark hand appeared and pulled him back.
“Kira is beautiful but unfortunately we don’t allow touching.” A tall man with short cropped hair gave him a practiced smile. “But here’s another round, on the house.”
Hux shrugged, muttering something under his breath. The woman, Kira, gave us a dazzling smile but this time I was close enough to see the way it didn’t reach her eyes. Her attention shifted to me and something flickered there before the song ended. She blew us a kiss, gathered up her money into a small bag, and made her way off the stage. And, like an idiot, I watched her go until she disappeared behind a dark curtain.
“Come on.” Poe jostled me into standing. “Let’s get a drink at the bar.”
I frowned but allowed him to pull me toward the marble bar at the back where the man who had stopped Hux filled another row of shot glasses. He slid them over to the waiting party and turned to us.
“What can I get you?”
“Are you Storm?” Poe asked, leaning his forearms against the countertop and goddammit I recognized that look.
“I am,” the bartender answered, the corner of his mouth hitching up into a smile. “What can I do for you?”
Poe rolled his lips together while I steadied myself with a hand on the bar. “A glass of water for my buddy here and another Diet Coke if it’s not too much trouble?”
Storm laughed. “Nah, it’s not too much trouble.”
Their conversation bled away as the beat of the next song thumped in my ears. I blew out a slow breath, willing the numbness in my face to fade—or maybe to spread—to be honest I wasn’t quite sure what I wanted.
Poe’s voice finally broke through the white noise. “Five-fifty?”
“Yep,” Storm answered, sliding the water over to me. “That’ll get him thirty minutes.”
I had to concentrate in order to firmly grasp the glass but eventually made it to my lips. “This is cold.”
Poe laughed. “That’s how ice works, Ben.”
I grunted, draining the glass in one and replacing it carefully onto the coaster. “Ice is nice.”
I couldn’t remember the last time I drank a beverage that wasn’t room temperature from sitting out for hours forgotten.
“Another one coming your way.” Storm refilled my glass and I drank again. God. Water was so good.
“I should drink more water.”
Both men laughed and the bartender refilled my drink. “Me too, man.”
Poe rapped his knuckles against the marble top. “Well, we are officially at the no filter stage of the evening apparently. Stay here, Ben, I’ll be back in a minute.”
I nodded and took another sip, keeping my attention fixed onto the bar and not the women flitting around us. To my left the first dancer I’d seen laughed loudly at some joke one of the men gathered there had made while on my other side a woman with bright pink hair winked at me. When had my eyes wandered?
Suddenly Poe reappeared, handing a wad of cash to Storm with a shit eating grin on his face. “Here you go man, plus a little extra just to say sorry about before.”
Storm nodded. “Appreciate that. Come with me.”
I frowned as he ducked under a section of the bar and appeared on the other side. Poe nudged me to follow but I dug my heels into the ground.
“Where are we going?”
The bartender grinned but it was Poe who answered: “It’s a surprise.”
I groaned. “I hate surprises.”
My phone buzzed in my pocket but I ignored it, forcing myself to put one foot in front of the other so I didn’t make an ass of myself as I followed Storm through the winding tables and behind a velvet curtain. The music became a little muted as we made our way down the hall lined with similar curtains.
“There are cameras in every room,” Storm explained, gesturing to a bear of a man with a thick brown beard, “and Temmin here will be outside the entire time.”
“Is this…a private room?” I asked, trying not to slur my words.
Poe clapped me on the back. “It sure is, just for you.”
Storm pulled back a curtain to reveal a small room similarly outfitted to the main club, complete with a few loungers and a large tufted armchair. “Have a seat, man. She’ll be with you in a minute.”
When Poe made to follow him out, I grabbed his arm. “You’re not staying?”
“This is for you, Ben. Enjoy it and…” Poe sent a long look toward where Storm had disappeared, “you best believe I’m going to enjoy myself too.” He waggled his brows before disappearing.
I threw myself into the armchair. Thank god I’d drank some water—though the room still felt in danger of spinning, I was pretty sure I could still form full sentences.
That was, at least, until Kira slipped through the curtain.
She’d changed from the last time I’d seen her, black lace replaced with a deep burgundy two piece set. Her hair waved around her face, skimming the tops of her breasts. I wondered if it was as soft as it looked.
“Hi there, handsome,” she murmured with a small smile.
My mouth opened, then closed. “You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”
Her smile grew until the corners of her eyes crinkled. A soft chuckle slipped through her lips. “Drinks are that good, huh?”
The reality of what I’d just said crashed over me and I cursed under my breath. “Poe says I have no filter when I drink.”
She hummed, setting her black clutch on one of the low tables. “That must be overwhelming for you.”
With slow, sensual steps she made her way closer, head tilting to one side. The dim lighting from the sconces set behind me illuminated the planes of her cheekbones and the soft curve of her cupid’s bow.
“W-what?”
Kira shook her head. “Never mind. Have you ever had a private dance before?”
“I…uh…this is my first time.”
Something sweet curled around us in the air as she nodded. “Keep your hands on the arms of the chair, all right handsome? I’ll do all the work.”
My heart slammed against my ribs. “A-all right.”
Her mouth curled into a soft smile. “Don’t be nervous.”
Sober Ben wouldn’t have been nervous. Sober Ben would have known exactly what to say or do to impress this woman. Contrary to popular belief, I did actually leave my office occasionally. But unfortunately, sober Ben was not the one in control right now and drunk Ben had no idea what the fuck to do.
I groaned as Kira turned her back to me, bending down to give me a view of her ass and thighs, the dark strip of burgundy lace taunting me. My knuckles turned white against the arms of the chair as she slowly bent her knees, fluidly turning to face me and placing her hands on my thighs.
“Fuck,” I breathed.
Her tongue dragged against her bottom lip and this close, I caught another whiff of her perfume. Sweet, like vanilla with a tangy, earthy edge.
“You smell like fucking Christmas,” I groaned when her hair caressed my cheek while she slowly rose to her feet, sliding one knee between mine.
Her laugh was soft but it made all the hair on my arms stand on end and my cock throb against the placket of my trousers. I took a deep breath in an effort to control myself, but the scent of her was thicker now, wrapped around me until I was sure I’d be smelling her for days.
My phone buzzed in my pocket again and I frowned. When it buzzed a second, then a third time, I shook my head.
“Is everything okay?” Kira asked, her knee slipping across my thigh until she straddled me. My arms lifted as if they had a mind of their own. “Hands on the chair, handsome.”
I slammed my palms back onto the arm rests. “Fuck, sorry.”
“Just breathe for me,” she murmured, her knees pushing father apart until she rolled her hips against mine.
“I’m not usually like this,” I groaned, pushing my head back and gripping the chair tighter.
A furrow drew her brows together. “Like what?”
“Usually—” a soft groan slipped through my lips as she arched her back, holding onto my shoulders for balance and her breasts pressed against my chest. “Usually I’m the one in control.”
Slowly she pulled herself upright and tilted her head in question. “You’re not one for following directions?”
I shook my head. “No, I’m usually the one giving them.”
“In your line of work?” she clarified, pushing herself up and twisting until her ass hit my lap and she leaned back against me.
Another moan slipped through my lips as she rocked against my throbbing cock. I was going to explode in my pants if she kept this up and it was a monumental effort not to wrap a hand around her hip and grind her down onto me.
“Not just in my work.” My voice came out as barely more than a rumble and I wasn’t positive, but I could have sworn she shivered.
This is her job, I reminded myself. Don’t be a fucking creep.
My phone buzzed again and I sighed. Kira slipped off my lap, lowering to the floor and resting back on her forearms, knees pressed together.
“I’m sorry,” I murmured, pulling my phone out of my pocket.
Fifteen new text messages from Leia and Han.
Well. I supposed at the very least getting a text from my parents would stop me from making a mess of myself like a teenager. I groaned before turning off my phone entirely and slipping it back into my pocket.
“Everything all right?” she parted her knees slowly as I looked back at her.
I nodded. “Just my family.”
“Your girlfriend?” I shook my head. “Wife?” I shook my head again.
“No, and that’s the problem,” I muttered, unable to stop my gaze from sliding between her thighs as she did some sort of hypnotic move with her legs.
Kira laughed softly again, rolling up onto her knees. “What problem is that?”
I ran a hand through my hair before quickly putting it back on the armrest. “That I don’t have either and I told my parents I did. They expect me to bring my non-existent girlfriend home for Christmas.”
This time her laugh was louder and sounded a little surprised. She slid her delicate hands up her ribs and over her breasts. Fuck, I wished they were my hands. They were small but I knew they’d fit my palms perfectly. Time slowed down as she slid one strap off her shoulder, then the other, the lace fabric of her bralette gaping until it slid down her waist.
“Fuck,” I groaned.
Kira grinned, rising up until she settled between my knees and cupped her perfect tits in her hands. “You like what you see?”
I nodded. “Fuck, yes, sweetheart.”
My head swam as she ran her thumbs once across her rose colored nipples, her head falling back to expose the curve of her throat. And the words rushed out of me before I could stop them.
“Pretend to be my girlfriend for Christmas.”