Belatedly found a new comment on this fic, which reminded me I have several chapters still written for this story that I just never posted. They haven't been edited in quite a while but are certainly worth posting!
"And I'd give up forever to touch you, cause I know that you feel me somehow. You're the closest to heaven that I'll ever be, and I don't want to go home right now."
'Iris,' by The Goo Goo Dolls
Captain Hook woke feeling a warm weight nestled against his pelvis very...nicely. Smiling, he opened his eyes to dark orange hair in front of his, tickling his chin.
Ah, yes, his sad little friend.
The memory of where he was and who was there did not make the feel of her any less nice, but it did throw the moment into focus.
Ariel. His Ariel...so sad and he couldn't fix it for her.
He had held her when she was weak once before. Guilt had practically eaten him alive, then, and he felt a prickle of it now, considering he could easily believe that Cora had a hand in all of this. But back then... then, it had been all on him...
Captain Hook paced the deck of his ship, skimming his fingertips along the smooth metal of his hook. There might be answers coming his way any moment now...
Ariel was spying on The Crocodile. She'd been reluctant, but he had no other leads- it was easy for The Dark One's trail to go cold- so she'd agreed. Especially once he'd emphasized he only wanted her to watch and listen, she ahd been more willing.
It did bother him that he couldn't accompany her. He'd even asked her to find some gillyweed, which he'd used years ago to find Medusa's cave. She had insisted, however, that it would take too much of the plant to last long enouh for what they needed to do- it wouldn't be safe.
So he paced the deck, imagining what she may, even now, be learning. His Ariel would make this work. She had known where to find Ursula, whom the Captain had found was sought by The Dark One.
"She is a witch," Ariel had scowled.
And so she was. What did the Crocodile want from her... There were so many possibilities..
Soon he was done pacing and sat on the rail...then he climbed to perch in the crows nest...then he was back on the deck pacing.
It was taking an awfully long time...it was already late and she'd been gone a long while. Too long.
He began to worry. Revenge, so important to him, fell second to the idea that she may not be okay. Could it be that The Crocodile had taken Ariel from him as well?! His longest and most trusted friend? An ally, in all things...
Gods! What had he been thinking in sending her anywhere near The Dark One?
Stupid!
Thoughtless!
The crew knew what he was so antsy for. They knew what his eyes waited to see, so those on the deck scanned the still waters, too.
"Captain!" someone shouted almost simultaneously with a quiet splash.
"Killian!"
The voice was hoarse - not quite right- and it worried him. He dashed to the starboard side and saw Ariel clinging to the rope ladder- she made no move to begin climbing.
"Walshe- rope!" he demanded.
They threw her a knotted rope she could hold tight to so the pair could hoist her up. She was panting lightly and she let herself collapse on the deck rather than sit up. It seemed that she realized how weak this appeared because she started to push herself up.
"Here..."
He took her shoulders to pull her up and knelt next to her so she could lean back on his knee.
"Ow," she hissed and had to ease back against his offered prop.
"What's happened? What is this?" he demanded.
Walshe had brought a lantern over and, in its light, he saw light red welts all over her. They wound around her, wrapping her torso, an arm, her neck, and even parts of her face...
"I told you," she said quietly. "The Sea Witch -Ursula- is half octopus..."
"Gods... ..."
"I thought I'd be fine... I found a crevasse near her lair and sunk-in, but the Dark One- Rumplestiltskin- he knew..."
Hook growled in his throat.
"He was fetching squid ink from her..." Ariel relayed.
"What?"
"Ursula's pet squid...she chose it because it is the only of its kind and its ink has magical properties."
"What sort of properties?"
"It could be for anything- I didn't hear him tell her why he wanted it," she blinked slowly. "When he was ready to leave, he told her I was there and she grabbed me before I could get away... she tried to crush me."
"But you got away"
"I had the blade you gave me in the back of my top. I stabbed one of her tentacles..."
"Good on you"
Ariel nodded, but she remembered the terror when she thought she wouldn't be able to reach the knife hidden in the fabric that bound her breasts. Her claws had not been long enough to cause the beast enough pain, but the blade had bit through more flesh.
"She followed me, but I used some of my magic to move faster. I was afraid I'd used too much to get through back here to Neverland, but I made it..".
"Thankfully...what will heal these?" he asked, at a loss for what to do about tentacle wounds from a sorceress.
"I'm fine...I need to see if I can get back home..."
"Captain," Walshe interrupted. "Should we be on the lookout for this witch?"
"No, Ariel said Ursula does not leave her realm...rarely does she even leave the caves of her bottomless dwelling..."
The man nodded, feeling relief.
"Ariel, you cannot leave tonight- you're too weak for a long trip..."
"I can't stay up here," she whispered.
"...I'll take you to the beach," he decided.
They freely sailed the waters of Neverland and were currently anchored in a warm lagoon. On the beach was a place they could both safely stay.
"You can swim?"
"Of course," she nodded.
"Hmm..."
Killian considered this and shed his shirt before he scooped her up. He toed-off his boots and looked to the tall man beside him.
"I'll be back in the morning, Walshe"
"We can man the 'Roger til then, Cap'n."
Killian nodded and jumped over the side. He heard Ariel hiss as she resurfaced. As he'd expected, scared energy had helped her reach the ship, but she'd have been in bad shape to get home.
She swam just beneath the water, keeping pace next to him into the shallows. She slid up the beach where the soft waves would still pool around her lower half. Killian sank next to her- it was no soft bed but he'd sleep there a week if he needed.
The moon lit the beach and he stood over her, surveying her damage again. He squatted next to where she lay, grazing a finger over a red circle on her stomach...he wasn't fully sure, but her skin seemed burned. He wanted to know but didn't want to ask...
"I'm very sorry. I should never have asked you to go. To do this on your own- I was foolish..."
"I chose to go," she reminded him hoarsely.
He eyed the raw mark over parts of her jaw and chin, marking her bottom lip...he supposed there were burns on her mouth...and throat. He could envision it, tentacles constricting her, making her immobile while another was thrust past her lips to suffocate... It was a grotesque visual. It enraged him.
"Don't," she brushed away his hand on her chin. "You don't have to stay out here. I'll be safe until morning."
"Shut it," Killian ordered.
"...can you lay on the other side?" she stopped him before he reclined. "My ribs hurt on that side..."
He cursed but hopped up to go to her other side. He lay on his back to mimic her and she quietly rolled on her side to face him. Her fingers curled around his forearm and her forehead lightly touched his shoulder...she wanted to feel him close by...
Such complete trust in him...he did not feel he deserved it just now. She must have disagreed because her breathing was soon even, though it sounded almost wheezy now and then due to her side.
Blast him...he cursed himself but took solace, however undeserved, in her faith in him. He carefully twisted his arm from her sleep hold so he could curl it under her neck and around her shoulders. He shifted closer to hold her properly as she deserved. She stirred slightly, enough to shift her head on his chest and doze again.
Sleep was farther away for him, so he heard the soft shifting of sand over the lapping of the waves- it was quiet but it was there...
His eyes slid sideways.
"I am not asleep, Pan," he growled when he saw the short form.
The figure froze for a moment but then advanced again more casually.
"No, Pan"
"You're on my beach, I'll do as I please..."
Ariel always insisted he humor the boy, pest or no, but he was in less of a mood than usual. Of course the insufferable child named the island his as it pleased him.
"Peter!" Killian snapped. "Not. Tonight."
This gave the mischief-maker pause again, for he was hardly ever "Peter" to the Pirate Captain. Killian thought it was enough to stop him off, but the boy simply hopped into the air to hover feet above them.
"...but what's wrong with Ariel?"
And he sounded so much like the child he appeared to be that Killian did not immediately snap back. He, the boy, had known Ariel a long while, too, for she'd spent much time here when she as young. Pan had perhaps thought she'd be one of the little mermaids who lingered there forevermore...until larger adventures had beckoned the redhead away.
"She's fine," Killian insisted, though the boy had obviously seen otherwise.
"I'm okay, Peter," Ariel spoke softly, though she had hardly stirred.
"Do you need the Natives?"
"No, your Captain Hook will make sure I'm fine," she promised quietly.
"Okay..." the curly-haired boy agreed and drifted up further. "Get well, Ariel," he bade, for the could ell he was not well...both adults were usually livelier than this.
"Thank you, Peter"
Ariel shifted against him and Killian rubbed her shoulder softly to lull her while one eye was trained on Pan's exit...he saw a small yellow glow up the beach and knew the boy was there with his silly pixie friend.
Ultimately, they were harmless and could be ignored. He focused back on Ariel, who as asleep once more. He held her through the night, allowing her all the rest she needed.
She claimed to feel better the next morning and, indeed, she looked it, so he did not protest her departure for home and medicines.
Almost predictably, the tow-headed boy flew right over to Hook before he even set-off back to his ship. He demanded answers, bossily planting his hands on his hips when Hook refused answers.
"But I can help!" he insisted.
He'd undoubtedly meant to sound grown up, but the effect was much the opposite. The words were right, but the pout in the voice, his childish face, and his drooping curly hair betrayed him.
Hook generally liked to focus on the fact that Pan was much older than he appeared- it helped him hate the pesky nuisance. Now...he was reminded, as Ariel always said, his mindset was forever unchanging and stuck at ten.
"Look," he sighed and squatted before the boy to reach his level. "I know you like her- I understand the feeling. But...some adventures are best left to adults."
"But she's my friend!"
"Aye, and she cares for you, too. But our business lies beyond Neverland, you know that."
"...then I shall protect her when she returns to Neverland."
"You do that, lad," Hook laughed and straightened.
"Don't laugh at me, Codfish!" Peter called and jabbed his leg with his child-sized sword.
The pirate caught his hook around the dagger and twisted it away so it fell in the sand.
"Better luck next time, boy. Come back after you've had some sleep and try again," he mocked lazily as he waded into the sea to swim back.
His little redhead stirred against him and he shifted away slightly lest he startle her.
"Good morning," she whispered, covering his hand on her stomach to give it a squeeze.
"Mornin', lass..."
"I have to go to a funeral today," she grumbled after rolling onto her back.
"Aye," was his only response.
Ariel sent the smallest of smiles to her friend, rolling her head towards him. His arm and his bare chest were above the blankets and she looked away. She didn't know what she thought of him in her bed. It shouldn't be a big deal, they'd held each other before- they were friends, they helped each other through rough patches. But, now, she felt different; it felt.. ..
She sighed and put it from her mind. She thought about what the day had in store...she needed to clean up, get ready, and last through a funeral.
They stayed in bed a little while longer before getting up. Killian accepted some breakfast and then took his leave. He couldn't go to the funeral; he'd let her gather herself and get going on her own.
By evening, Hooks day was shot. He hadn't had to stand through a friend's funeral, but he was far less than amused...
Again, he let himself into Ariel's building. In his head he repeated Cora's news over and over...he didn't want to have to be here. He had, inadvertantly though it may have been, caused Ariel strife already.
But he couldn't not. They did not lie to one other...they just never had. Hook had so long valued that (being able to really trust someone was so rare...especially for a pirate) so he didn't want to be the one to ruin it...
Tentative, he knocked.
The funeral was long over; he could easily assume she was home. Indeed, he heard movement beyond the door...then it creaked open.
"Hi, Killian," she smiled softly.
"Evening...you look stunning," he added.
Her black skirt was above the knee with a black, modest v0neck top with sleeves to the elbows. It was not the nearly-nude lack-of-attire he knew from their own world, bit it was striking...more obviously so than the casual jackets and post-work clothes he'd seen her in thus far.
"Thank you," she blushed. "Are you coming in?"
She stepped back, but he declined the invite.
"I...ought not stay..."
"Oh, did you just come to check on me?" she smiled like she found it quite sweet.
"Aye...that, and..." he shifted. "About this Archie. I'm afraid I learned something today that made my words the other day into...a bit of a lie."
"Cora..."
Her sweet smile fell immediately.
"Aye...but he's not dead..."
Her anger morphed swiftly to confusion. She choked on what she'd been about to say for she no longer even knew what to think..."
"What?" was her unintelligent response. "Wait, where is he?"
"I'm not certain- she didn't say"
"Did you ask?!" her voice rose.
"I didn't want to act too interested but I'll find out soon. She called him a gift for me..." he sighed.
Ariel's face scrunched up.
"What?"
"I do not know. She seems to think he would have valuable information about this Mr. Gold."
"Because he's a therapist," Ariel realized.
"A what?"
"A therapist...it's a kind of doctor. Someone you talk to and they help you...emotionally. Cope and whatnot..."
"So people tell him their secrets..." he nodded, unable to miss the fact that he was potentially to be gifted a proverbial goldmine.
It must have shown on his face because Ariel's look was withering- one he'd received few times.
"Oh, come on- I won't hurt him."
"Good because he's my friend," she told him firmly.
It was strange for their lives to overlap so. They both dwelled on land- the same land- so of course their businesses couldn't just be separate...
"...I'll tell Ruby. We'll get everyone and we'll find him," her eyes brightened.
"That's a lot of land to hunt without Cora getting wind- she may off and actually kill him," he reminded her. "Just wait it out, love..."
This made sense, but it was not pleasing.
"...who did we bury today?" she narrowed her eyes once this problem fell into place.
"No idea"
Ariel shook her head at him. It could've been a transformed animal...or maybe a townsperson, maybe someone else she knew...either way, it came down to Cora. It was all her: the town in turmoil, someone kidnapped and believed dead, someone or something actually dead, Regina angry and off the grid...
"Say something..."
"You're making it so hard," Ariel looked out at him sadly. "So hard to just...to just be happy my friend's here and not worry about anything else..."
Killian sighed and leaned against the doorjamb.
"Please, you don't need Cora. Let's tell everyone what's going on and make it right, so-"
"No, no...Ariel, I can't," he overrode her. "Rumplestiltskin cannot know that I'm back.
Revenge. Of course. She understood why but she hated it. She hated what it did to him...
She suppressed her tears and nodded a little.
"...can I still come in?" he checked, but he did not sound hopeful.
She was looking over him rather than at him, so he had little confidence her invitation was still good.
"I don't think so"
"Ariel..."
"Just...I need time to process all of this..."
"That's fine, but-"
"Not tonight, Hook," she snapped.
She squeezed her eyes shut after she said it, but she didn't take it back. Generally, this was merely a term of annoyance, not final dismissal.
"Aye," he muttered and turned to descend the stairs and go.
Ariel stayed in the doorway a while. Where was she to begin with all of this?
She felt uncomfortable with this secret concerning Archie, but Hook had a point- if Cora thought people were looking for the doctors, then she might kill him and she might know who'd spilled the beans...
She slammed the door and quickly changed for bed. It didn't matter to her that it was early- her bed was warm and safe. The sheets seemed to hold his scent- sea salt and something musky- but she told herself it was all imagination and ignored it. Her head span and she fell asleep wondering where Archie might be...
Until she bottled awake, sputtering and frantic. She scrambled from bed to turn on the light and look around.
"Damn," she muttered.
In a daze but running on habit, she changed into running capris, a bra, t-shirt, and fleece zip-up hoodie. By the time she pulled on her shoes her hands had stopped shaking and her mind felt clear.
This happened often and she found that the nightmare ordinarily came straight back if she went right back to sleep. So she'd taken up running...it both woke her up and used up her energy.
Her feet met pavement but she didn't set off in a jog. She was sure she'd emant to, but instead she walked towards the harbor ...to a very specific dock.
It was the middle of the night but she didn't care. She'd seen him descend these stairs; she'd find them.
Her ascent was haphazard for her blindness, but she made it to the deck. It smelled familiar...like home. Smiling, she climbed up past the wheel, grazing a finger along it, and moved to sit on the stern railing. The wood was thick and held her securely; she safely dangled her feet over the edge.
"And what makes you think someone can set foot on my ship and I won't know?"
Ariel looked over her shoulder to see The Jolly Roger's Captain crossing the quarterdeck towards her. His black shirt was on and buttoned but his red leather vest was pulled on as an afterthought. Likewise, his pants were done up but the laces of his boots were undone.
"Well, I've never actually set foot on your ship before."
"Fair enough," he agreed, stroking the helm in passing it, almost like he knew she'd done similar. "Everything alright?"
"Mmhmm," she turned back to look at the dark water once he came to stand next to where she sat.
"Then what brings you by at this sort of hours, sweetheart?"
"...a nightmare," she admitted. "I've always had the same one since I became Arianna."
"About what?" Hook reached over to squeeze her knee.
"Drowning... Sometimes dark, deep waters or light water like I'm close to reaching the surface...but I'm always drowning."
"Bit ironic," the pirate chuckled. "Considering who you are..."
Ariel smiled but there wasn't much funny about it. Maybe because she 'd always felt so at home with water- even in The Curse- but the nightmares always wound her up.
"Well, the dreams will be gone when we find ourselves back to our world. Your flipper will be back and no more drowning for you," he reminded her.
"...maybe," Ariel answered carefully.
"Will everyone not revert to their old selves? Fairies, The Crocodile...you?"
"I'm not sure, but...I didn't exactly have a tail when the curse hit," she confessed, pulling her knees up to her chest.
"Excuse me?" he rose one dark eyebrow high.
"I made a deal to have legs for a while to -"
"With The Dark One?"
"Of course not..."
"Who?" he demanded.
"Ursula"
"The Sea Witch!" he snapped and grabbed her chin tightly to pull around and face him.
"I just needed a few days to come find you- I thought I knew where you were and I had to warn you about Ahab. He was back and-"
"HIm I could handle, but a deal with her!"
His grip on her chin was too tight but she never got to tell him so.
"I do believe you're concerned- a sweet side of you," a voice tinkled behind them.
They both turned to see a woman at the other side of the helm. Her brown, curly hair was twisted up on the back of her head and her purple gown was a bit of an overkill. Ariel had never met this woman but knew who she must be...
"Cora," Killian greeted, sounding cautious as he righted himself and turned.
"Captain," the woman crooned.
But it sounded cold and Ariel absolutely didn't like the way she said it.
"Wasn't expecting you"
"So I see, but I'm not your first visitor... why don't you introduce us?"
"Ariel, this is Cora. Cora, this is Ariel," he introduced politely and then added, "as you already know."
Cora's head ticked towards him in a way that suggested she didn't like this moment of insolence.
"I've never met a mermaid out of water," the witch looked the redhead up and down.
"I'd say I've never met a sorceress, but I've met your daughter," Ariel dared. Staircase and
She thought Cora looked pleased that Ariel knew both who and what she was.
"...I can see why you like her," she simply stated and then proceeded to give Hook an expectant look.
"...Ariel, I think we need a moment," he extended her a hand to help her off the rail. "Why don't you go down to my quarters- feel free to sleep. It's right under us; you'll find it."
She nodded and did as he bid. It did not escape her that his hand guided her to circle around the wheel on the side Cora was not impeding.
She descended the small staircase and wandered back to the Captain's cabin. Never having been there before, she drank it in. It was a fair sized space, wide enough to house a couple large chairs and a desk on one side and a thick bed on the other. The space was lit by a lantern hung by the door, perhaps left by Killian when he came up to see her. The moon, as well, provided soft light.
The bed was more than a twin but not quite a standard double. It was ruffled on one side, so Ariel moved ot sit on the opposite side. She didn't think she wanted to make good on his offer to sleep- what if Cora was angry and she needed to go help? On the other hand, maybe they had business that would take a while...
She shivered at the thought of Cora and kicked off her shoes to curl her legs up beneath her. Her ears strained to hear what was going on above her...to no avail...
Eventually she laid down, though not too comfortably- she still felt a modicum of guilt about sleeping while lord only knew what was going on with that bitch.
"Ugh," she groaned and twisted to bury her face in a feather pillow.
Whatever, it was his decision to deal with her in the first place. And he told her off for her deal with Ursula...
At the thought of this she huffed again and squirreled her way under the blankets. It was about this time that she heard creaking wood and then the door swung in. She sat bolt upright.
"You're not supposed to be awake," he chastised.
"is everything okay? Was she mad I was here?"
"You worry far too much," he chuckled and tugged off his boots.
"Killian..."
He smiled, enjoying his name from her after Cora's condescending "Captain."
"She wasn't impressed but it's not an issue..."
"Well, I couldn't sleep because I was worried...I wanted to be awake to come save you," she smiled, only half teasing.
"My knight in shining armor," he grinned. "Now you can rest."
"It has been an eventful night..." she agreed.
"You mean you didn't like meeting Cora? Fooled me," he drawled sarcastically and extinguished the lamp.
Ariel watched his dark silhouette cross to the bed, which sand ask he crawled in.
"Sorry you had to meet her"
"You're here together- it was going to happen eventually," Ariel sighed and unzipped her sweater to set aside.
"Are you stripping for me?" he teased her.
She laughed and settled back under the covers.
"I'm sorry if I was rude this evening," she whispered.
"I'm sorry I had poor news"
"...it's just been a hard week," she sighed and rolled onto her side into him.
"Reuniting with me is hard?" Killian challenged.
"I meant everything with Archie, but...you make me worry a lot. It's all been emotional."
"Never my intention, love"
Ariel didn't want to talk about how it didn't have to be his intention, but he'd been a reckless worry to her once he got on a roll with his plots of revenge. She didn't want to think about the ways he'd changed. He was Killian, but...
She stopped thinking about it and scooted closer to him, hand resting on his chest...her fingers danced over short chest hair.
"If it means anything, I'm very glad to have found you," he promised.
"Me, too...despite the mess."
His hook grazed over bare skin on her back exposed between her pants and shirt.
"Sss, that's cold," she arched and reached behind her back to remove it.
"Apologies"
Ariel just laughed softly and replaced her hand where it had been with a sigh.
"What's wrong?'
"Nothing, just a lot to think about," she shrugged.
"Well, no more worrying tonight," Killian decided and ducked to kiss her.
His lips landed on her own, earning a quick inhale of breath.
"Should I not have done that...?" he asked casually but carefully- he could easily remember the only other time his lips had touched hers.
'No more worrying...'
She liked the sound of that...the idea warmed her. Her hand found the metal cross and skull hanging on his neck and her fingers curled around it... ...and then gave it a tug.
Her lips made the advance this time, finding his in the dark. He started but made no other sign of surprise and swiftly returned the affection. His hand slipped more securely around her waist, pulling her to him, and her own hand stayed tight in the necklace as if afraid he'd pull away and she'd need to reign him back in. When she was confident this was unlikely she released the jewelry and slid her hand up to the back of his neck.
The kiss was needy, yet it remained slow; it was not rushed and frenzied.
After some time, he twisted his hips to put pressure on hers to move with him. She rolled onto her back as he wished, pushing the covers out of the way since he seemed too preoccupied to care if they were tangle amongst them. It was a thrill to know she'd not been on the wrong track- he seemed as eager as she'd felt when she pulled him to her.
His kisses trailed down her jaw, stubble scratching along in the wake of his work. Ariel got busy unbuttoning his soft shirt... if he'd left it on in a fit of modesty for her sake, that seemed silly now. She pushed at the sleeves and, with a grunt of annoyance for the inconvenience of clothes, Killian sat back on his knees to shrug the shirt off and let it crumple.
She sighed when his weight returned to her. Her hands could now roam unhindered by fabric over his torso, taught but scarred from a rough life.
His fingers sought her skin as well; he held himself propped on his left arm, still kissing her while his good hand slipped up her shirt. Pleasure flittered within her as his calloused hand caressed all the skin it could manage...
"Sit up," he breathed and again sat back on his knees.
He slid his hook in one side of her shirt and fisted his hand in the other to pull it up and off of her. He eyed her bra next, intrigued but perplexed. The cool metal of his hook ran along the top seam and she shivered, both from the chill and the rush of where he was touching her.
"Oh, you like that," he purred and leaned into her, kissing her deeply while his hand slid behind her to tug at the clasps of her bra.
It seemed he was not going to get it. Perhaps undergarments were different in their worlds- Ariel had never worn human clothes, so she did not know. In any case, she took pity before he got frustrated and reached behind herself to do it for him.
She dropped the garment away and watched Killian greedily take in the sight he'd so long been held just at bay from. She'd never been covered by much, but always she had been covered...
He set upon her a moment later, rousing a delighted squeal as they fell back amongst the blankets again. His rough hand freely traversed her body, groping over her breasts, down her stomach, and then back to her breasts. He enjoyed the way she arched into his hand and the small noises he made when he manipulated the soft flesh.
Her own hands were exploring as well, traveling the planes of his abdomen, then his back, scratching lightly when her breath caught in soft gasps.
She squeezed his shoulder, massaging it gently, when he began to caress her hip; lazily, he travelled to her thigh while zeroing in on her mouth again. He began to rock against her more purposefully and she buried a hand tightly in his hair, but not with the intent to pull him away- her hips were rolling slightly to meet his. The hand on his shoulder slipped down, down...he stiffened when it reached the top of his pants and she began to fumble the buttons open.
Not to be outdone, he got his hand to her pants, which had no closing in them; they stretched slightly as he pulled at them. Her underwear of thin, green lace came into view and he groaned. He tossed the black pants away and palmed her through the flimsy material of her panties. This made her moan softly and her hands faltered where they'd been trying to get back at his pants. He grinned, enjoying the warmth of her against his hand. However, this also hit home just what they were about to do...and just who she was- more importantly, what she'd been...
"Ariel, have you done this before?" he whispered, calming for a moment.
"Yes," she breathed.
"As a human," he specified.
"Yes," there was a hint of a laugh in her voice nose, whether from slight embarrassment or genuine amusement he wasn't sure given that her face was cast in shadow.
A moment of strange anger fell over him for a moment-jealousy. But he swiftly realized this was silly-he, pirate captain, had had many a tryst so he couldn't be a hypocrite. Plus, he supposed she'd probably gotten up to something with a merman at some point (he had no idea what, exactly, they did since she'd always ignored his questions about how merpeople mated because she thought his intentions were perverse).
He dismissed all of this-if she'd done it before then she'd done it before, and it only meant that he didn't have to backtrack any of this. He pulled her underwear away without further hesitation.
Ariel got back to his pants, the blush fading off her cheeks from his questions about her sexual history- she supposed she should be glad he cared to check. The blush was replaced by a flush of pleasure as he began to touch her between her legs, teasing her...knowing, she thought, that it was making it harder to concentrate on her goal.
She got his panst undone and pushed them down, but it was about that time that he slid a finger into her, stroking her firmly. She released the leather and clung to his sides as he added a second finger; her fingernails bit lightly at his skin. He worked her this way with his hand, her hips finding his rhythm as the pressure built. His mouth explored her chest, for he didn't want to muffle those delicious little sounds escaping her lips...
"Killian!" she gasped, almost as if surprised.
Her hands clenched around the bedsheets a bit then released them to fist in her hair instead- he enjoyed the sting of pressure.
"Are you close, love?" he murmured, raising his head to speak into her ear and nip at it.
She just moaned, but she didn't need to use words. He could feel her tightening to the height of pleasure but he didn't stop...
He kissed her hard when she relaxed again. He removed his hand and shoved himself up; a small smirk adorned his face when she made a soft protest at the loss of contact. He stood from the bed to more easily remove his pants but he was upon her again quickly.
Ariel was exploring him even more intimately now. His breath was lower and growing more uneven than usual, and she took pleasure in that. She mirrored his trademark smirk when he thrust his hips forward into her hand with a frustrated sort of sigh. As she wet her lips with her tongue, she took hold of his necklace again to pull him down to her.
He happily melted into the kiss, his hooked arm propped above her while his hand held her face...then stroked down her neck. He lay half on top of her, one of her knees bent and rubbing his side slightly while the other lay flat under him. As he slanted his mouth to hers, he shifted his weight and skimmed his hand down her body to her leg, lifting it to crook at the knee. His hips parted her legs more fully so he could rest between them. His hand massaged her thigh, over he pelvis... between her legs again... ...then he was pushing into her.
She rested her head back with a sigh and Killian groaned as if he treasured each slow moment it took to move into her- he sounded appreciative.
He raised his head to see her biting at her lip, so he began torturously slowly to allow her to adjust to the need of accommodating him before finding a pace.
The night was slow. Some part of him wanted to fuck her senseless, yet he knew her and he knew, on some level, that he was comforting her...maybe they were comforting each other. Besides, after years and years of trust and hardships and heartbreak...this way felt right.
"Killian...Killian..."
Arial moaned his name over and again...desperately, like she was pleading for...well, for what, she didn't know precisely. She wanted to claw at him, to beg him to go faster, but she also never wanted this to end. This slow, unending pressure of rising pleasure...with him...this was more than enough.
"Killian..." she moaned again, wrapping her arms around his back and up to cling at his shoulder blades.
"Yes," he breathed hotly against her.
It felt like an answer, though she'd not actually asked a question.
She whimpered. She was close, and she pressed herself tighter against him, arching her back as she gasped.
Killian's hips became sporadic for a moment but he paused and then slowed back down again after a deep breath. He shifted his weight and leaned up to slip a hand down between them...
He came undone not long after she did, rolling his hips forward into her body that had become more lethargic before he, too, stilled and then shifted to the side.
Only their breathing filled the cabin for a while, along with the rustle of sheets as Ariel turned to lean against his side and kick the blankets away from their heated bodies.
"You...are lovely," Killian sighed.
She smiled and grazed her teeth lazily over his chest next to her head before softly kissing the spot. One of her her hands traced lines over his chest and his own fingers brushed through her mussed hair, lulling her. He was otherwise perfectly torpid and she, too, felt more tired...finally she felt like she may be able to sleep tonight.