Possible Trigger warning, there is discussion of what happened on the beach. I tried to handle it as delicately as possible and there is nothing graphic. I just wanted to throw the warning out there just in case.

This chapter is pretty Eleanor and Max centric with a healthy dose of Blackbeard thrown in for good measure. Enjoy :-)

Chapter Seven

All of Nassau had come to see Blackbeard as he landed on the beach. Eleanor had never seen so many pirates wake so early. At the forefront was, as she expected, Captain Hornigold, Scott, Vane, and to her surprise Flint. Eleanor had been so caught up in everything that she hadn't noticed what Flint was up to. Looking at Blackbeard and seeing his infinite calm, his unflappable nature seemed to ease her anxiety.

The small boat ran aground at the beach and Blackbeard was the first to set foot on it. And then, he turned to help Eleanor onto the beach so that her feet wouldn't get wet. The rest of the crew followed in varying orders while Eleanor led Blackbeard to shore. Acutely aware of everyone's eyes on her Eleanor kept her expression meticulously neutral. A practiced expression she had perfected when she was a little girl. But in truth she didn't know how he wanted to play the whole thing. All of Nassau was terrified of him and she was more than willing to help him perpetuate that fear. Especially considering that the more fear he inspired the better help he would be to her.

"Is that the Demeter anchored there?" Blackbeard asked while they were still out of earshot of everyone else. Eleanor turned to see the ship that he was pointing at.

"I believe so, why?" Eleanor asked when he stopped.

"Unfinished business." Came his vague reply. Eleanor watched his hand raise slowly, almost as if he were about to wave at someone and then the thunderous sounds of cannons echoed through the morning air. Eleanor watched as the Queen Anne's Revenge seemed to tear the Demeter apart as if it was drift wood and it began to sink.

Eleanor turned to him, aware that everyone's curiosity had now turned to horror. Those who were not on the beach before now were coming out in droves to see why there was cannon fire. Eleanor's lips quirked upwards slowly.

"You're a bully." Eleanor teased. He laughed a loud booming laugh as they continued to walk towards the tavern. The streets were filled with people clamoring to get a look. Noonan's girls were lining the bridge to overlook the arrival of the men. Before turning into the building Eleanor's gaze met Max's and held it for as long as she could. Then she turned into the tavern. Blackbeard followed Eleanor's gaze and knew that it had to be Max she was staring at.

"Do you wish to convene now? I am sure you are quite tired." Blackbeard said once they were inside Eleanor's office.

"I don't sleep much these days." Eleanor answered as he walked around her office inspecting as he went.

"No rest for the wicked hmm?"

"So I hear. Please sit. Let me tell you my proposal." Eleanor said. He sat and waited patiently for her to begin. Eleanor was a mastermind, a schemer that was always three steps ahead of everyone else. Her contingency plans had contingency plans. He only wondered if she was willing to go as far as was needed.

"There are four Fences that operate out of the Bahamas aside from myself. Each of us are in it for our own profit, we operate independently. It is that independence that makes us vulnerable. I want to unify them." Eleanor said watching as what she said sank into Blackbeard. No one had proposed such a bold thing before. They were all in it for the money; they didn't want to share the wealth or the power that came along with what they did.

"Unify them how?" Blackbeard asked.

"Under me. The operation that we have here makes theirs look like a joke. If I can convince them to work for me then the British would no longer be such a large threat to us. Should the British blockade one of the Ports then there will still be a way to get our exports where they need to go." Eleanor explained. Blackbeard had to admire Eleanor's nerve for what she was thinking of attempting.

"And why would they want to work for you? When they seem to be doing alright on their own."

"I can be quite convincing when I want to be."

"Then convince me. Tell me why these men would agree to work for a woman."

"I don't intend on giving them a choice." Blackbeard watched as Eleanor's gaze grew hard, she looked at him with a look of stone cold determination and it unnerved him. From what he had learned of Eleanor's trading business and the iron fist that she ruled Nassau with, he knew that if she set her mind to something there would be nothing that could distract her from achieving it.

"Is that so?" He asked waiting to hear what she had in mind. Listening as she laid out her plan to him and explained what she needed from him he learned that there was no part that she hadn't thought about. No avenue that he questioned that she didn't have an answer for. Eleanor was setting out with the intention of ruling the world, and Blackbeard was beginning to think that she could do it.

"I am very proud of you." Blackbeard said looking at the woman that sat before him. Remembering back when she was a child, she had grown so much in the time that they had been apart.

Blackbeard left shortly after, the had agreed that discretion was best when it came to revealing their plan. Though it was expected Blackbeard would need to share what little information as possible with his crew so that they were aware of what would be expected of them, and Eleanor made no secret that she intended to share this information with Max. With such a big undertaking she couldn't not tell Max. Secrets like these had been what had nearly destroyed them before.

Though she knew that she owed the men some sort of explanation Eleanor's mind was buzzing with ideas and plans. All sorts of things that she needed to do to make her plan come to fruition. Before she knew it hours had passed and her hand was aching from all her writing. Evening was falling and it was the feeling of familiar hands easing the tension of her neck that broke her concentration.

"You are plotting something." Max said. It was impossible not to notice. She found Eleanor's focus, most of the time, endearing. There were exceptions. But Eleanor was always so breathtaking when she was lost in thought.

"I am." Eleanor answered abandoning her writing and leaning back into Max's hands, feeling Max's thumbs press into the tense knots that had formed over the long hours.

"Tell Max what brilliant plan you have concocted." Max said circling around Eleanor so that she could face the blonde. She still wasn't sure if Eleanor would tell her. Max was testing the limits of Eleanor's new found openness. Eleanor took a deep breath; this was the part that she had been dreading. She didn't know how Max would react. Whatever decision she made would now affect Max.

"I'm not sure it's brilliant. In fact, it might just be insane." Eleanor said running her hands over her face as she did when she was tired.

"Those two often go 'and in 'and." Max commented.

"So they say." Eleanor said distractedly. She had been scheming so long her head was throbbing. She didn't want to think about it anymore, she didn't want to worry about what Max was going to say or if she was smart enough to pull it off.

"Tell Max. You were in here a long time with 'im." Max urged.

"I want to secure Nassau's future. To do that, I need to expand the empire I have built to encompass all of the Bahamas. Make it so that no pirate is ever afraid to go into the water after seeing the British." Eleanor said daring to look up at Max to gauge the reaction. Max's face remained perfectly schooled, she couldn't tell what Max was thinking and the thought unnerved her.

"You can do that?" Max asked finally.

"They underestimate me because I'm a woman. But thanks to Captain Stephens and the new fleet of merchant ships we dwarf them in profit. It only makes senses for them to join forces under me."

"What of the British? Wouldn't that make you a larger target?" Max asked not being able to think about Eleanor coming to harm anymore.

"Yes. But an untouchable one. What part I play, at least as far as the British are concerned, is completely legitimate. I am the head of a shipping company." Eleanor knew that Max wasn't caring about the British she was caring about the other pirates that might come after her.

"Do you not have enough? Enough power, enough money? Must you always want more?" Max demanded.

"It's a…personal weakness." Eleanor confessed.

"This plan, what would you need to do?" Max asked.

"There are two fences in Port Royal and another two in Tortuga. Each of them run independently. They spend more time trying to kill each other than making profit. I can convince them of the benefits of joining forces."

"But can you convince them to follow you?" Max asked.

"I can be very convincing. I've had these delivered, invitations to Nassau. Once they are here then we can talk terms."

"Will they accept?"

"It is in their best interests. Then I will need Flint, Vane, and every pirate captain I can convince to blockade the island."

"Why?"

"Because with so many of us in one place at the same time all the British would need is to arrive on the island with a warrant for one and the rest are arrested for conspiring. We'll be hung." Eleanor said seeing Max's eyes widen.

"And this is a risk you are willing to take?" Max challenged.

"Are you? You told me to think before I did anything stupid because it was your life too."

"Max will never understand your need to always be the best. Why can you not accept you rule here and have peace?" Max argued beginning to pace the room, gesturing wildly.

"This could ensure the prosperity of this island for the rest of our lives."

"That is not going to be 'ard given how many enemies you are about to make." Her voice was rising and Max knew she was growing angrier than she should. Eleanor didn't like it when she was challenged like this. But Max couldn't help it.

"But if I succeed, if I do this, then that's it. No more fighting, no more fear of the British. I wouldn't wake up in the middle of the night and wonder if that was the day when the floor disappeared from underneath me. We will be completely free." Eleanor promised. She walked towards Max but knew better than to enclose in on Max's personal space when the woman was as angry as she was.

"What is to stop you from picking a fight with someone else afterwards?" Max asked arms crossed and hip slightly canted out as a last attempt at defiance.

"Hopefully you will. I mean, my God, if you allow me to pick a fight with the whole British Navy or the Spanish I'd have to question your sanity." Max knew that Eleanor was charming her, charm was rolling off of the blond woman in waves and Max hated that it was affecting her.

"And you would let me stop you?"

"Somebody has to be the voice of reason in this relationship and we both know it's not me. I dream of the stars Max. I can't help it. It's who I am." Eleanor's voice was pleading and she knew it. She was begging Max to understand and accept it.

"I know it is who you are. And I love that about you. But it also makes me worry for you." Eleanor inched towards Max unable to fight the urge to go to the brunette any longer.

"You don't need to worry for me."

"But I do."

Eleanor's eyes closed as Max caressed the side of her face; such a simple gesture was able to completely undo Eleanor. As much as Eleanor hated to admit it, she melted. It still unnerved Eleanor how Max affected her. If Max had told her not to do this Eleanor probably wouldn't have. Because if the events of the past few months had taught her anything was that she couldn't live without Max.

"God the power you have over me." Eleanor murmured leaning softly into Max's caress.

"What power?" Max asked curiously. Eleanor was the most powerful person Max had ever known. To think that she had any real power over Eleanor was heartening.

"Your very touch can my make knees go weak." Eleanor confessed, blushing slightly as she spoke.

"Max will never tire of your sweet talk." Max saw the blush that covered Eleanor's fair skin. Drawing Eleanor in for a deep, leisurely kiss. The kind that wasn't meant to lead anywhere, it was meant to express in action what neither of them seemed able to do with words.

They were interrupted by a loud knock on the door and Eleanor reluctantly moving away from Max. when the door opened it was one of Noonan's girls telling Max she should return to the brothel. Max nodded and the girl retreated, but Max felt the tightening of Eleanor's grip.

"Easy. Do not let Noonan see your anger."

"I will do my best."


Max stood with the other girls while Blackbeard looked them over. There had been talk that per her deal with Blackbeard, Eleanor would pay for the cost of any whore Blackbeard chose for himself. Or his crew.

"All of them are well trained, clean, and as you can see very beautiful." Noonan said making them sound like cattle.

"I'll take your ten best. Have them come to the beach for my men." Blackbeard said looking over the girls before setting his gaze on Max. "Except that one. I want her with me."

Max didn't know if she should be relieved to not have to go down to the beach or if she should dread it. She still remembered vividly the last time she was made to go down to the beach at the mercy of a barbaric crew. But she didn't want to be Blackbeard's either. Not when Eleanor put so much stake into her dealing with Blackbeard. Eleanor wouldn't allow this insult to stand and Max didn't want her involvement to hinder whatever plan Eleanor had already set in motion. They had already gone down that road before. This time, Max would do what Eleanor needed her to do.

Dutifully Max descended the stairs and stood beside the man giving him her very best smile. But she wasn't surprised that he didn't return it.

"Shall we?" Max asked. With any other client she would not have asked. She would have assumed and taken charge. Being with Blackbeard would be different. He silently followed her up into her room and allowed her to close the door behind her. She took extra time in securing the bolt while he shrugged himself free of his coat and set his hat down on table.

Catching sight of her hand Max found that it was trembling. This would be the first time that she had been made to sleep with anyone since returning to Noonan's service. He had wanted her to return to work right away but when the first pirate had come near her she had fallen apart on him. Noonan had assumed that he had tried to harm Max and had made the pirate suffer greatly for it. When she had explained to Mrs. Mapleton what had happened and why, the Madame had kept it so that Max would be free of work for the time being. It was the only kindness the two men had ever shown her. But she knew that against Blackbeard, that kindness was expired.

"Do I frighten you?" He asked when she turned towards him with a smile painted on her face so convincing he was impressed.

"No." Max lied. But she was so practiced at it, the words sounded convincing. She reached for the ties of her dress and began to undo them when he stopped her.

"Keep your clothes on. I want to talk." Blackbeard said once he saw Max attempting to remove her dress. She paused, eyes widening at the statement.

"About Eleanor?" It wasn't a question. There was little else the two could talk about.

"She fancies herself in love with you. Worse still, she thinks you love her too. What do you think it'll do to her when she finds out that you so willingly allowed me into your bed?" He asked words twisting Max's stomach.

"She understands the work that I do."

"How long do you think she's going to be understanding? How long do you think she's going to let you crawl between her legs knowing how many dirty pirates have been between yours? She may think she loves you now, but eventually Eleanor is going to tire of sharing you." The words cut at every insecurity that Max had ever tried to bury under the reassurances Eleanor was constantly giving her.

"Max does not need to discuss these matters with you." Max insisted firmly. Squaring her shoulders to show that she wasn't afraid of him. No matter how much she actually was. Eleanor couldn't protect her. Not here anyway.

"Here." Max watched him produce a large leather pouch and drop it on the table between them. From the sound it made it was full of coins.

"What is this?" Max asked.

"Enough gold for you to get off this island and start a life for yourself. It's yours if you go tonight." He said seeing the confusion and the insult cover her face.

"I do not understand."

"That is what you are after isn't it? Money?"

"I do not know what it is you think you know but I am not going to leave 'er. There is nowhere else I would rather be, because Eleanor is 'ere. And no amount of gold will convince me otherwise." Max said finally. Her tone leaving no room for argument.

"Even if it meant never having to sell your body? Do you think she'll still love you when you find yourself with a pirate's bastard inside your womb? You think you won't regret not taking my offer then? When you are alone and no one will support you?" Blackbeard saw the uncertainty once again cross Max's face. Max always took precautions, she was meticulous about it. But she had seen accidents happen and she did not know how Eleanor would react.

"She will love me still." Max said completely calm even if she wasn't entirely sure.

"Yes, I believe she would. You are willing to endure a life you hate even if it means never being able to be with her in the way that you want?"

"For one touch from 'er? Yes, Max would. And Max will not be a whore forever."

The two stood in a silent stand off for several long minutes. Max was unsure if Blackbeard's interrogation was done or not. And Blackbeard was trying to find out if Max was telling him the truth or not.

"How would Eleanor feel if she found out you bought me just to spite her? She would not take so kindly to the notion I think." Max said finally. She had been on the receiving end of his questions. Now it was time to ask some of her own.

"I have no intention of fucking you. I bought you for her. She told me what happened between you. That you have to sneak time together." Max saw no kindness in his face, no other sign to show that his words were at all matched to genuine emotion. But she wasn't going to question him. Especially if what he said was true and she would soon be able to spend time with Eleanor.

"Eleanor knows that I do not like it when she pays for me." Max said. She hated that she couldn't understand his motives. He was not the kindest person. His words to her had been proof enough of that but Max guessed that deep down, buried underneath the reputation, he cared very much for Eleanor.

"She told me the same."

"Still, you would let me go to her?"

"Eleanor means more to me than I can ever express. I am guessing that is a feeling that we share. You'll dine with us tonight, as my guest." He said turning to leave, when the door closed Max stood still utterly confused as to what had just happened.

Max could feel Eleanor's eyes upon her as if they were fingertips. They sat apart from one another at a large banquet table that had been set up on the second floor of the tavern. Eleanor sat at the head of the table, Blackbeard on her right and Hornigold on her left, Max sat beside Blackbeard. A few members of Blackbeard's crew joined them but they were not introduced and Max was not particularly interested in knowing them.

In truth Max was just more focused on Eleanor, the woman that sat before her was the personification of power. She had chosen a side braid for the occasion instead of her typical work bun that kept the hair out of her face, giving opportunity for golden locks to fall into her face. And she looked stunning. Eleanor never liked falling back on the feminine wiles that she possessed to get men to do what she wanted. But if she did, there would be no one alive that could resist her.

Eleanor was busy talking with both Hornigold and Blackbeard, making conversation easily but every once in a while her blue green eyes would flash up to meet Max's eyes and even in that brief moment when their eyes met Max would be struck still.

"You must be Max." The interruption in her musing caused Max to look up, the man sitting on her other side was now looking at her with a charming smile. She'd seen him before, knew him as James.

"I am." Max replied simply. She had the confidence about her that she always did, but there was something else in her tone now too, pride. She was sitting at a table with powerful people as an invited guest she was almost their equal and the thought of it alone was intoxicating.

"I'm James, Quartermaster aboard the Queen Anne's Revenge." He introduced.

"A pleasure."

"Eleanor, she's really something ain't she." James said looking at the woman at the head of the table.

"She is." Max replied unsure where this would be going. Pirates tried to glean information out of her all the time about Eleanor. Thinking that because she was privy to Eleanor's inner thoughts meant that she would go sharing it with the first person that asked.

"I knew her when she was little. We grew up together. Always knew that she would turn out to be something great." James said affectionately. Max's interest peaked at the mention of Eleanor as a little girl. Max had never asked Eleanor about her childhood, it was such a strange thought to think of Eleanor as a child and not the woman she had become.

"And you became a pirate?"

"The different paths people take in life. Take them for instance. Hornigold gave Blackbeard the Queen Anne's Revenge, now Blackbeard rules the sea and Hornigold sits on his ass on an island."

The two enjoyed a pleasant conversation to help pass the time. There wasn't much else for them to do. They wouldn't dare leave the table, not when everyone else was still sitting there. So they waited and Max was pleased she enjoyed the conversation.

When Eleanor stood finally it was close to midnight, she knew that Blackbeard would be retiring with Max to Max's room and that was not something she thought she could stomach seeing. So she decided to take her leave early. Max watched Eleanor go, fighting every urge she had to follow the blond but they had to keep up pretenses. As far as everyone on the island knew Blackbeard had bought Max especially for himself. So she would stay until it was safe to go to Eleanor.

Eleanor reached the bottom of the stairs and prepared to make towards her room when she saw Anne Bonny loitering about. She ignored the female pirate, walking past her casually enough.

"Dun do it." Anne said falling into step next to Eleanor.

"Do what?" Eleanor asked looking over her shoulder at Anne.

"Whatever you think you're going to do with Blackbeard. It's suicide." For a minute fear flashed through Eleanor like cold water. Did Anne know? How could she know of her plans when no one had breathed a word of it? But then looking closer at Anne's expression Eleanor saw that Anne wasn't privy to that knowledge. Whatever she was talking about was something else.

"I'm not doing anything or planning anything."

"Last man to fuck your girl, things didn't end so well for him. Just sayin' might wanna swallow your pride on this one." Anne thought that Eleanor was going to lash out against Blackbeard for buying Max. While the thought had definitely crossed Eleanor's mind she couldn't. She needed him too much, she wished she could even fault him for buying Max. While she had hoped, a foolish girl's hope that he might not, he was still a man and Max was very beautiful.

"If it were you? Would you swallow your pride?" Eleanor challenged her eyes boring straight into Anne's. And then she saw the flicker of Anne's eyes and she knew that if it were her and Rackham she would have killed whoever she needed to so that they could be together.

"What are you going to do then?" Anne asked.

"What I always do when I know I can't be with her." Eleanor said reaching for a bottle from behind the bar and making her way towards her bedroom. Anne watched, half tempted to follow Eleanor and make sure that she didn't do something stupid. But she stopped herself, they weren't friends, not entirely. They had a tolerance and a sort of respect for one another. But that was the extent of it.

Pushing open her bedroom door Eleanor wasn't surprised to find that it was already lit. It usually was. Those in her service had been trained well. What did surprise her was that Max was sitting on the edge of her bed waiting for her. Seeing the brunette waiting for her stopped Eleanor, she words failed her.

"I don't understand. I thought…" Eleanor started when she was able to form words again.

"Blackbeard bought Max for the extent of 'is stay in Nassau. At least that is what Mr. Noonan thinks." Max explained patting the side of the bed. Eleanor walked forward and sat next to Max.

"He didn't- I mean were you with him?" Eleanor couldn't even say the words let alone think about it.

"'e did not touch me. 'e only wanted to talk. Ask what my intentions were for you. He cares very deeply for you." Max saw the confusion begin to lessen only to be replaced by a look of surprise.

"He did what?"

"'e offered Max gold to leave Nassau. A small fortune in fact. To leave tonight and never return. Max refused 'im."

"He was testing you."

"Oui. Testing my devotion to you. I think 'e was impressed with what I 'ad to say." Max's lips curled up in a coy smile.

"I thought-"

"Max knows what you thought." Max said. Eleanor looked away, relieved beyond words that she hadn't been dealt that level of betrayal. It felt as if for the first night she could breathe again.

"I'm sorry, I thought I'd be able to compartmentalize it. I know it's just a fact of life, and your job that you have to do that sort of thing. I was better at this once." Eleanor rambled, and Max found she couldn't help but be charmed that she managed to still be able to make Eleanor ramble like a fool.

"But you have not 'ad to in a long time. Not since you made that deal with Noonan before everything 'appened. It's alright Eleanor." Max said reaching for her paramour though the blond had launched herself off the bed and begun pacing.

"Max has not been with anyone since…"Max said looking away briefly before turning her attention back to the blonde. Eleanor's surprise must have shone on her face because Max laughed softly and looked away. It wasn't unreasonable for Eleanor to assume that Max had been with some pirates since going back to Noonan.

"Nobody?" Eleanor asked.

"Mr. Noonan realized that it was bad for business to have one of his girls panic whenever one of the clients touched 'er between 'er legs. So 'e gave Max some time to sort things out." Max explained, making the whole situation seem far more casual than it was.

"Panic?" Eleanor asked now concerned, she crossed the floor and knelt down in front of Max, gathering Max's hands in hers.

"When they would touch me, my mind went back to the beach. To those pigs. Noonan only made me try twice before deciding to give me time." Max said embarrassment and shame lacing her words. She wasn't proud of the fact that she couldn't move past what had happened to her. She had been a prostitute for most of her life, blocking out unwanted and sometimes traumatic sexual encounters was what she did.

"What can I do?" Eleanor asked feeling helpless.

"There is nothing to be done. It is in the past." Max said.

"Max…" Eleanor started, she didn't believe Max when she said that it was all in the past. She couldn't just believe that Max had gotten over what Vane's crew had done. The thought made Eleanor want to go and make Vane pay for how he allowed it to happen. It must have showed in her face because Max's grip was suddenly firm on her wrists.

"You cannot. You 'ave just made peace with 'im. Do not jeopardize that for Max."

"You don't have to be strong with me. Not in here, where it can just be us." Eleanor insisted.

"I know."

Silence fell over the room, neither of them knowing what to say anymore. Eleanor stood, but only when sitting on the floor had grown uncomfortable. So she stood, and set about finding something to do around the room to keep herself busy. Straightening her papers on the table, and then taking up refuge by her window.

"I want you to 'elp Max remember." Max said suddenly, her words breaking the silence finally.

"Remember?" Eleanor asked curiously pushing away from the window towards the bed once again.

"Remember what it feels like to be touched out of love. Remember that not all touch can bring hurt." Max said looking up at Eleanor with eyes so vulnerable Eleanor's heart broke. She could only nod, what words could she say in response to such a heartbreaking request?

Max crawled back onto the bed, laying her head on the plush pillows and looking at Eleanor with both a look of welcome if not one of trepidation. She still didn't know if she was ready for something like this. If she would be able to go through with it. But they needed this. If they were going to rebuild what they had, make it stronger, then they needed this. Max could see the battle waging on within Eleanor. Whether or not she should give in, or if she should insist that they wait until Max was more ready.

But ultimately how could Eleanor resist Max laying on her bed, offering herself to Eleanor? Eleanor crawled onto the bed, up and up until she reached Max and she waited. Laying down beside Max her hand coming up to caress the softness of Max's cheek. Eleanor had her bottom lip ensnared between her teeth, a telltale sign that she was deep in thought.

Their first kiss was achingly tender, soft in ways their kisses hadn't been for a very long time. Eleanor was treating Max as if she might break, that was not what she wanted. Max took control of the kiss bringing her hand behind Eleanor's head and crashing their lips together while she rolled them so she now straddled Eleanor's waist. A surprised gasp provided Max to opportunity to claim Eleanor's mouth as her own.

Eleanor was giving control to Max, letting her set the pace and control what happened between them. The ever present desire they felt for one another began to build within them, making skin flush and soft sounds escape into the room. When their kiss broke it was because Max was sitting up again and pulling at the fabric of her dress until it was falling around her waist. Eleanor watched, breath catching in her throat as Max's upper body was revealed to her for the first time in a small eternity.

"So beautiful." Eleanor breathed unable to control herself. Max smiled, a true smile that reached her eyes. A smile that waned when she realized that Eleanor's hands were still laying by her side.

"Max will not break. But she will be very cross if you do not start touching her soon." Max scolded softly bringing Eleanor's hands up to cup her breasts.

"Let me know if you want me to stop." Eleanor said sitting up bringing their bodies ones again flush up against one another. Max's breath caught as he felt Eleanor against her, the swell of soft, supple breasts against hers. Her fingers busy lavishing attention upon Max's breasts, rolling Max's nipple between her thumb and forefinger Eleanor delighted in hearing Max moan. Her mouth soon replaced her fingers surrounding the hardened peak, flicking her tongue over it and watching Max's head fall back in pleasure.

Most people assumed that Eleanor was a selfish lover. One that only desired to be pleasured and cared little for her partners satisfaction. But Max knew the truth. Eleanor was by far the best lover that Max had ever had. Eleanor took the time to learn Max's body, knew just where to touch, how long and how hard to kiss or touch. Eleanor could bring Max over the edge without ever touching Max between her legs. It was a skill that Eleanor was getting very close to demonstrating as she continued her worship of Max's breasts. Max felt the throbbing between her legs, felt her desire dripping down her thigh as she desperately sought friction.

Eleanor felt the urgency in Max's movements, the erratic rhythm of the brunette's hips rolling against her. Releasing Max's nipple from her mouth Eleanor looked up at the dark haired beauty and was struck for a moment. There was something so breathtaking about the sight of Max's skin flushed, her chest heaving as she gasped for breath, the way that her eyes closed tightly just as she was about to orgasm.

"Eleanor." Max whispered hotly into Eleanor's ear before drawing the shell of it between her lips.

"Don't fight it Max. Let the pleasure take you." Eleanor said repeating the same words that Max had used on her many times. Feeling the first hints of orgasm begin to take hold Max let them sweep her away. Letting the sensation wash over her like the waves of the sea. For a small eternity Max was lost in pleasure, lost in how good it felt to be at Eleanor's mercy. To feel Eleanor's arms around her, holding her, while Eleanor's words encouraged her to enjoy it.

Eleanor watched the pleasure take Max, her satisfaction coming not in the form of ego but knowing that she could give Max the pleasure she deserved. Max had to fake enjoyment with everyone else, Eleanor wanted to ensure that Max felt every bit of pleasure she deserved. Eleanor looked up sharply when she heard a sniffle. Seeing tears now lining her cheeks Eleanor was suddenly alarmed, panic flooding through her entire body.

"Are you alright? Did I hurt you? What's the matter?" Eleanor asked in a rush. Reaching up to wipe the tears away and waiting desperately for a response. For some reason behind why Max was crying. Max never cried, nor should she ever. Not again. When her questions were met with silence Eleanor's mind started to race.

"Max? Talk to me please. Why are you crying?"

"Max is alright. You didn't 'urt me." Max said finally wiping at her tears, embarrassment more than anything else now shrouding her expression.

"I don't understand." Eleanor didn't. She had never seen Max cry during sex. In her mind tears were bad.

"It is just that it has been a long time since Max 'ad felt like this. She 'ad begun to fear she would never feel this again."

"Was it too soon? I shouldn't have pushed you. I'm so sorry Max." Eleanor exclaimed in a rush.

"No my sweet Eleanor, you did nothing wrong. I did not expect to feel such emotion. I should be the one apologizing for this." Max knew that the guilt over what happened to her still ate at Eleanor. And probably always would. She didn't blame Eleanor for jumping to the conclusion that she had somehow caused Max pain.

"Never apologize for what you feel Max. Are you sure you're alright?" Eleanor asked searching Max's face for any sign that the brunette wasn't. Aside from being out of breath, and flushed because of the orgasm that had just washed over her Max looked as she usually did after sex.

Eleanor gasped when Max pushed her back against the bed, there was a familiar spark back in Max now. A bit of the old Max, but it was coupled now with an added level of something else. Reaching her hands up to Max's hips Eleanor just wanted to touch her.

"Perhaps is Max who needs to be careful." Max said her smile soft but only to hide the sadness as she pulled at Eleanor's shirt, lifting it over Eleanor's head and then tossing it aside. It was impossible not to look at the wound. It was getting better every day, but the bruises were still angry looking and the skin hadn't quite healed together yet.

Feeling self-conscious Eleanor tried to pull a sheet over it, trying to hide it from Max. She didn't know why she was suddenly so self-conscious about it suddenly, she'd started to think of it as a sort of badge of pride. Something that she had survived even if it had reminded her in a harsh way of her own mortality.

"Do not hide it." Max said pulling sheet away and moving to lay next to Eleanor and ran her finger tips along the jagged edge of the wound until she felt Eleanor take in a shaky breath. Eleanor watched Max as she caressed the wound with a delicacy that made her touches feel pleasant and not painful. For as much as had healed from when she had first gotten the injury it still hurt when there was pressure upon it. Except, not so much right now.

"Max." Eleanor whispered bringing the brunettes attention back upon her and not on her chest. Max smiled and leaned down placing a loving kiss on Eleanor's lips and then on her cheek, down her jawline until she reached her neck and nipping at Eleanor's pulse point where she could feel the strong heartbeat begin to race.

"What would you like Max to do to you hmm?" Max asked pure desire dripping from her words and the very sound of them made Eleanor whimper in anticipation. Max was seducing her, even though it was unnecessary. Eleanor would have done anything Max asked of her but in that moment, using that tone and with that look in her eye Eleanor was powerless.

"W-whatever you wish." Eleanor said clearing her throat to try and cover for the way her voice cracked. How she was even able to form a coherent sentence was beyond her. Oh if the pirate Captains could see her now. The almighty Eleanor Guthrie reduced to a whimpering food. Where that might have bothered her once Eleanor wasn't bothered by it anymore.

"No, that is not how this works." Max said using the hand that had been caressing Eleanor's chest had moved down along her side, keeping her touch teasingly light and laughing when Eleanor tensed and tried to move slightly away from Max's touch. Eleanor was very ticklish, it was a weakness that only Max knew and Max enjoyed exploiting during more playful times.

"Tease." Eleanor growled.

"Do you want to know what I wish?" Max asked, and for a moment Eleanor wasn't sure if she was actually meant to answer that question. But the longer the silence stretched on the more confident she was that she was actually supposed to say something.

"What?"

"I wish to have you come undone for me." The statement was so full of promise that the rest of Eleanor's higher brain function left her and she could only pull Max to her in a crushing kiss.


Max began to stir around midmorning, Nassau had long ago woken and people were beginning to get on with their day. It was to the feeling of loving caresses along the side of her face that finally drew Max away from sleep and into the world of consciousness. Blinking against the brightness of the day for a moment Eleanor was framed perfectly with the golden sunlight and she looked every bit the Angel that Max knew she was capable of being. Eleanor's fingers paused in their caress when Max woke but then continued when Max leaned into her hand.

"Good morning." Eleanor greeted softly, her accent thick in the early morning and doing things to Max that should be impossible with how satisfied her body was. She had lost count of how many orgasms had been shared between them, her body would be sore later in the day but sore in the best of ways.

"'ow long have you been watching Max?" Max asked stretching leisurely letting the sheet slide down to reveal her breasts and didn't try and correct it.

"All night." Eleanor replied fingers tracing along the skin that was newly exposed to her.

"You did not sleep?"

"Wasn't tired, besides I couldn't think of a better way to spend my time." Eleanor replied her attention already beginning to get distracted by Max's body. Max laughed and swatted at Eleanor's hand, laughing when Eleanor gave her a slightly incredulous look.

"Did you not already get enough of that?" Max asked curling against Eleanor's side.

"Never. But if you're too tired…"Eleanor teased laughing in a totally carefree way that only Max seemed able to bring out in her.

"You are incorrigible."

"I prefer the term devoted." But Eleanor stopped attempting to convince Max with any seriousness. She just couldn't be this close to Max without touching it. It was impossible.

"And you are? Devoted to Max?" Max asked seeing Eleanor look down at her, letting the question hang in the air for a moment.

"Completely."