Hook + Hair
He finds her in the thick of battle by the swing of her braid – her blonde strands glinting bright in the sun. She always wears her hair like this when they fight – piled high on top of her head, held back in a single thick plait. She moves quickly, ducking under swinging blades – using a combination of her strength and magic to fight off her attackers.
"Swan!" She knocks out the man sneaking up on her weak side with one careful flick of her wrist before swinging her head in his direction, braid swinging with her. She meets his gaze and her eyes are alive with battle, grin tugging at her lips. He watches her for a second – helpless not to – lost in the way sweat works its way down her neck, shirt clinging to her curves.
She manages to be a vision – even like this – especially like this.
She arches her eyebrow – no doubt noticing his perusal – and rolls her eyes slightly before pushing out with her hand, an attacker letting out a sharp groan of pain to his left. He chuckles and turns his attention away from her, cutting down another with a quick swing of his sword.
-/-
They barely make it back to their quarters before he's on her, fingers shaking as he pulls at her tunic, teeth closing over the juncture between her shoulder and throat. Battle always makes them heady for each other – the adrenaline of the fight mixing with anxiety for each other's safety to produce something truly desperate. She lifts her arms and falls into his lips as he wrenches off her shirt, flinging it to some far off corner of the room. She's frantic against him - mouth slanting, teeth nipping. He groans when her tongue slides against his, fingers tugging at his vest.
"Emma." Hand and hook on her waist, he backs her up until her legs knock into the large desk where he stacks his navigation books. They fall to the floor in a tumble as she pushes herself back, spreading her knees wide and tugging him forward by his belt buckle.
"Need you." She whispers and he growls low in the back of his throat, fingers sliding over bare skin, tweaking at her nipple. She's covered in blood and dirt and sweat, but he's never seen anything more beautiful.
She pants and arches into his touch, head falling back, body bending.
He dances his hand higher, slides along the smooth column of her throat. His lips find her sensitive peak as he wraps her long braid around his hand, tugging hard and arching her further. She moans – long and loud – and lets him shape her, knowing he needs this – that he needs this control.
He tugs her hair and relishes in the way she writhes for him, green eyes wide and needy. His hook anchors in her pants and he pulls them down, keeping them trapped around her ankles as he slides into her without ceremony.
She pants against him and he tugs her head back further, forcing her to arch her back as he pounds into her. Her legs scrabble for purchase against his hips as he slams her into the worn wood – again and again and again – and when she comes its tight and hot and fast and everything.
He follows quickly, head falling to her chest, hand releasing its grip on her braid. Her fingers come to soothe over his shoulders and her lips are gentle when they press against his neck.
"Love you." His voice is a broken whisper in the sudden stillness of the room. She smiles against his skin, fingers raking through his thick hair.
"Me too."
-/-
The water of the tub is warm against his bruised and battered skin, her body pressed up tight against his front. She takes his arm and pulls it in front of her, wet fingers scrubbing gently at his skin – washing away the blood and the grime. He smiles at her patient attentions, lips falling to her neck with a heavy sigh. He breathes her in and nuzzles further with closed eyes.
"Don't fall asleep in here, you'll drown." She lets his hand drop back to the water and he grins, tickling her side lightly.
"But how could I fall asleep with a deliciously naked Swan in my arms?" His fingers lightly graze her breast and she shifts, pushing back against him with a quiet moan. As if on cue, an enormous yawn shakes his body, jaw protesting with a violent crack. She chuckles softly.
"Enough of that, Romeo." She sighs and lets her head fall back against his shoulder. "It's been a day."
His fingers dig into the tender skin of her neck and she hums in appreciation. "Aye, that it has."
He slides his hand over her braid, loosening it at the bottom and working slowly with one hand to untwist the thick strands. She sighs as he works – careful not to tangle her hair further – taking his time to loosen her wild curls. He combs his fingers through her hair and gently removes the tie at the top of her head, sending her hair cascading around them.
His fingers massage her scalp and she practically melts against him, sliding further into the water.
"God, that feels amazing." He bites his tongue against the innuendo and she peeks open one eye, smile curling her lips upwards. "You must be tired."
He chuckles and pushes her forward gently, reaching for their towels at the edge of the tub. He presses a kiss against her hair. "Dreadfully so, darling. Let's go to sleep."
-/-
He falls asleep with his face buried in her hair – breathing her in, holding her close.