Emma climbed the stairs leading to the top of the tower. "Ah, my dear, your young man is awaiting you inside," said Tink, known in the Rouge as the green fairy. "He's very handsome, Emma, devilishly so."
Emma smiled despite herself. Her heart pitter-pattered in her chest and she was suddenly nervous to enter the tower chamber. She had spent hundreds of nights with men who had paid for her company. It was not as if she liked it, but she was used to it. It was just a part of her life.
Why was it that spending the night with this man felt so different? He had barely spoken two words to her and she had done what she always did; dangled the bait only to spring the trap at a later moment.
Get a grip, Swan. You can do this. One night with Rumplestiltskin's son will buy you your freedom.
Emma took a deep breath before pushing the door open to reveal Lord Baelfire pacing back and forth, muttering nervously to himself.
Emma smirked and leaned against the doorframe, striking a seductive pose. "Hello there, handsome," she purred.
He practically jumped out of his skin. "Miss Swan," he said, turning red as his eyes raked over her body.
Emma glided towards him, her hips swaying. She could see that he was fallowing her movements. She smirked at the flustered man before her. She trailed a finger up his chest, following the fine golden thread of his shirt. Her hand caressed his cheek as he swayed closer to him. "You're rather good looking, aren't you?"
"If you say so," he stammered.
"Oh I do. I like what I see, very much," she said, huskily, into his ear. "How about you, my lord? Do you like what you see?"
"You are very beautiful, Miss Swan," he said.
Emma grinned. "Well, now that we have that covered, why don't we get started? I promised you a night you wouldn't forget, and I never break a promise." She grabbed his arm and pulled him over to the bed, which had been covered with fresh linens.
She laid down on the bed, "So my lord, tell me your preferences,"
"Preferences?"
"Of course," said Emma, trailing a hand up her body. "You paid for me for the night, and I want to give you your money's worth."
"I think you have me mistaken, Miss Swan," said Killian. "You see, I thought we could talk."
Emma's eyes widened. "Oh, so you like naughty words," she said, "Well, lucky for you, here I am lying on my back, and there are any number of pleasurable things to do with a woman on her back. Come here and I'll walk you through them, step by step."
Then she grabbed him and pulled her down on top of him. Their noses were brushing, and she could feel his warm breath on her cheeks. "So, aside from you royal duties, what do you do?"
"I'm a sailor," said Killian.
"Ah, well tonight I'm promoting you to Captain, and I must warn you, there are bumpy seas ahead."
Killian flushed at her innuendo. He shouldn't have come up here, and he most certainly should not be lying on top of Emma Swan. He quickly rolled off of her, and she pouted.
"Do I not please you, my lord?" she asked, sitting up, and looking at him with wide, and lost-looking green eyes.
"Emma," he said, "I'm not who you think I am," he said.
"Of course you are, from the moment I met you, I saw you for what you were, a young, handsome prince. The most handsome in all the realms, no doubt. Such a prince deserves everything that a proper lady of court would not deign to give him. That's why you're here isn't it? This is an escape from your royal duties, and a courtesan is always eager and willing to please for a hefty price."
Killian shook his head. "I really am a sailor. My name is Killian Jones. I'm a lieutenant in the Royal Navy. I come from the kingdom ruled over by King David and Queen Snow White. You shouldn't have to sell yourself for money. You can come with my brother and me. You can be free."
Emma stared at him. She had always had a thing with lies. This man wasn't lying. He truly was offering her an escape. An escape that she couldn't take. She didn't know this man. Her walls sprang up. She stood up. "What are you doing here then? You must leave immediately. I am expecting Lord Baelfire, and if he is anything like his father, he may very well be a vengeful man."
"Please, Miss Swan," said Killian.
They were interrupted by a knock on the door.
"Duckling, Lord Baelfire has arrived, are you decent? If so, can you get indecent in a hurry?" asked Lawrence from the other side of the door.
"Just a moment, Lawrence," she said.
She whirled around to Killian. "Get under the bed," she hissed.
"You can't be serious," said Killian.
Emma scowled at him and shoved him to the floor. "You have to hide," he said urgently, her eyes alit with worry.
Killian looked up at her and saw the truth. This was a woman who had lost everything. For some reason, she felt compelled to protect him, as is she was afraid of losing him as well. Killian pulled himself underneath the bed.
Emma shuffled to the door and opened it, to reveal a richly dressed man, who was in no way as handsome as Killian, and of course, Lawrence.
Lawrence pushed the prince into the room. "I'll leave the two of you alone so that the two of you may get better acquainted. Have a fabulous evening." Then he closed the door.
Baelfire looked her up and down, licking his lips, clearly enjoying the spectacle. "You look ravishing, Emma Swan," he said, running a hand along her body.
Emma's stomach twisted into knots as he touched her. This was going to be a long night, especially with Killian hiding underneath the bed.
No. She had to get him out.
She suddenly didn't want him to hear her throwing herself at the prince. Never had she been more ashamed of her occupation than she was right now, with Balefire's hands caressing her body, his lips trailing kisses along her neck and chest.
It felt wrong.
Emma stepped away from Baelfire. "Surely you must be famished, my lord," she said.
Balefire gaped at her. "Nothing that a taste of a delectable Swan won't cure," he said, huskily.
Emma cringed. The prince was certainly going to get his money's worth. His hands were back on her hips as he backed her up so her legs were against the bed.
As a celebrated courtesan, Emma was used to being in control. But this man was stripping her of her power, and of her choices. Emma laid a hand on his chest. "We have a whole night for that, my lord, but first you must eat and drink, otherwise you'll have no energy for other activities.
Baelfire leered at her, but then he stepped away. "You are quite right, Miss Swan," he said. "I'll need sufficient energy seeing as I plan to ravish you all night long."
Emma had heard these words, and others similar, a hundred times over, but hearing them from Lord Baelfire, with him shooting her lascivious glances, she wanted nothing more than to run. She thought of Killian's offer.
You can be free.
The man had known her five minutes and he had already offered her freedom.
Whereas Lord Baelfire wanted to take everything from her.
Emma was suddenly overwhelmed. She felt faint.
There was one trick that had saved her from the worst of her clientele, and Emma knew she needed to use it.
She began to fan herself. "Is it suddenly too hot in here? I can hardly breathe."
Baelfire walked up to her. "Let me free you of that corset, Emma, then you'll be able to breathe," he said, his voice dripping with desire.
"No, no," said Emma, quickly, her voice rising, as she feigned hysteria, "I'm seeing stars. My whole body is on fire."
"I haven't begun touching you yet," said Baelfire, silkily.
"No, no. Oh, I'm going to be ill. You must leave immediately or you'll catch it. I'll give you tomorrow night, free of charge, but for now, I must rest. I want to be at my best for you. Lawrence," she cried, "Lawrence! Lawrence!"
Emma was really laying it on thick, but it needed to be done. She needed to get the prince out of the tower.
"What kind of man would I be if I left an ill woman all on her own?" asked Baelfire. "I can take care of you."
His eyes flashed, and a twinge of fear entered her heart. The man looked like his father, who had previously been the Dark One. She saw that malice and it scared the hell out of her.
"Lawrence!" she cried again, hoping that he would swoop in to rescue her.
-/-
Killian clenched his teeth, as he heard Emma's frantic voice. It was clear to him that it was a charade, but even so, the prince was clearly not falling for it. Any honorable man would leave and not attempt to take advantage of an incapacitated woman. Lord Baelfire was clearly not a man of honor.
The thought of Emma having to do this night after night made his heart ache. They had only known each other for a couple of hours, but Killian knew that there was already an unmistakable bond between them. Was it love at first sight?
He didn't know.
He'd never been in love before.
But he did know one thing
He wanted to protect her, to keep her safe, and to rescue her from this terrible way of living.
Killian bit the inside of his lip so heard that it drew blood. She had told him to hide.
He would obey her.
-/-
"Duckling!" said Lawrence as he burst through the door. "Are you and the prince in need of more refreshments?"
Emma let out a sigh of relief. "I feel ill," she said, "and it would be terribly unkind of me to spend the night with the prince when I am not at my best. I want him to have his money's worth after all."
"You must forgive Emma, my lord," said Lawrence. "She is of strong constitution, and hardly ever falls ill. This is a great misfortune. Please come back tomorrow night. You'll not have to pay again."
Lord Baelfire narrowed his eyes. "Well, if she truly is ill, I suppose I can return tomorrow. But I shall take my gold back."
"Of course, your grace," said Lawrence. "Come below and I will return it to you. We will allow Emma to get some rest so she can be the bright, bubbly and smoldering temptress that she is."
Baelfire turned to Emma and kissed her deeply.
Emma wanted nothing more than to knee him in the jewels, but she resisted the temptation, and thanked the heavens when he pulled away.
"I will see you tomorrow night," she cooed, her stomach twisting into knots at the thought.
"That you will, Miss Swan," he said before following Lawrence out of the room.
Emma slammed the door shut and locked it before hurrying to the bed. "You can come out now, Killian. It's safe."
Killian slid out from underneath the bed and before thinking about his actions, he pulled her into his arms and held her tightly.
Emma had never felt safer in her entire life. Her walls began to crumble, and her disgust with Lord Baelfire manifested into tears, which she allowed to roll down her cheeks as Killian held her in her arms.
Here, in the circle of his arms, she felt something she had never felt before.
What was this feeling?
Love?
She'd never been in love before.
She was a courtesan, and courtesans couldn't fall in love.
