WriterFreak001:
I really struggled writing this chapter. :/
On another note, I would like to thank Chiara (cckia27 on FFN) for designing my NEW cover art for The Scorpion. :) It was such a pleasant surprise! I smile every time I see it! :D If you are reading this story from FanFiction and not AO3, you can find the link to the HQ version of the cover photo on my profile page. :D
The Scorpion
Written by WriterFreak001
Chapter 7:
Fire
~ SCORPION ~
In his attempt to escort her back to the First Class Gate, Walter had only gotten as far as underneath the docking bridge before he suddenly whirled Paige around and pinned her against the pillar facing away from the rest of the ship. Paige's fingers floated from his neck to his hair, clutching and crimping and grasping his dark curls as their mouths clumsily moved together. Paige, even in her wildest dreams, had never been kissed so deeply and so passionately, and as Walter's lips pressed harder against hers, she moaned softly, not wanting to stop feeling the soft caress of his tongue fluttering against hers.
But the Irish inventor, as though he was teasing her, suddenly popped his mouth off of her pulsing lips and sweeping light kisses along her jawline, down her neck and across her shoulder, tugging slightly on the fabric of her strap, exposing just a little more skin for him to kiss before she threaded her fingers through his hair as he paused to look at her, pulled lightly on his curls, and leaned forward to kiss him gingerly.
"I have to go back, Walter," Paige mumbled against his lips before slowly pulling away. "If I don't turn up soon, someone will surely look for me."
"Then let them look," Walter muttered, pressing his lips firmly against hers. Paige, against her better judgement, did not protest, never wanting to leave his arms. His palms glided over her shoulders, and his fingers pushed down the other strap of her dress until all he could feel was her smooth skin melting underneath his feathery touch. Paige shivered from the chilly ocean air kissing her bare skin, but she didn't want him to stop touching her and kissing her as his lips trailed down her throat to her collarbone, stopping just above her cleavage, daring to move lower.
"Walter," Paige panted quietly, her velvety voice encouraging him to pepper kisses over the tops of her rounded breasts, sending electrifying shivers straight to her toes. Paige whimpered lowly as his lips tickled her soft skin, and it took nearly every ounce of her willpower to utter his name again, but more firmly. "Walter." She suddenly gripped his shoulders and lightly pushed him backwards. She smiled and giggled and cupped his cheeks out of playful aggravation before kissing him one last time. "I really, really need to go. If my mother… or Drew… finds me… finds us here, they'll lock me away in my room. I wouldn't put it past them – my mother's done it before, and I'm certain Drew will do anything to impress my mother. We can't be seen together."
"We won't be," Walter muttered in confidence, but Paige shook her head.
"You don't know that," she sighed loudly and leaned forward, pressing her cheek against his chest as she embraced him. She pulled away slowly and gazed into his deep brown eyes. "I have to go back…. As much as I want to stay here… as much as I want to continue kissing you and… and holding you," she bit her lip and sighed quietly. "I have to go back."
Walter gripped her cheeks and kissed her once more. "After breakfast, meet me here tomorrow, okay?"
Paige nodded as she readjusted her dress and smoothed down her hair before resting them on top of Walter's shoulders. "I'll try."
"I'll, uh, I'll see if I can convince Toby's new lady friend to collect you in case you need an excuse to leave." Walter whispered, unable to look away from Paige's absolute beauty. Her hair was falling from its pinned braid, her lips were slightly pinker than their usual rosy color, and her eyes, her hazel, sparkling eyes, dazzled under her long, dark lashes. Walter had never seen anything more beautiful.
"I'd like that," Paige smiled, gliding her hands off of Walter's shoulders. "Until tomorrow, then?"
"Until tomorrow," Walter nodded with a small grin. "But can I at least escort you back to the gate?"
Paige shook her head and laughed. "As much as I would love to spend more time with you, I think it would be best if I go alone. I… I can't trust myself to behave when I'm with you." She bit her bottom lip and fluttered her lashes at him as sidestepped away from the docking bridge pillar and took a step backwards. "Good night, Mr. O'Brien."
Walter licked his upper lip as his eyes flickered at her in the darkness. "Good night. Miss Dineen."
Paige slowly spun around on her toes and took a few steps forward only to spin around abruptly, sprint back to Walter, and kiss him hard on the mouth. The inventor stumbled backwards a bit as Paige slammed her body into his, but before he could wrap his arms around her and hold her close to him, she was already gone, running off to the First Class Gate.
Walter inhaled a deep breath and ran a hand through his thick curls as he absentmindedly sank down onto the bench underneath the docking bridge and sighed deeply.
"Oh boy."
…
Paige found a mirror on her way back to her suite and fixed her appearance, desperately needing to hide all evidence of Walter O'Brien before making her presence known to her mother and Drew. When she thought she looked presentable, she pushed her way inside the door to her suite and found it to be empty. Good. Her mother and Drew had not returned yet. Paige cautiously tiptoed to her chambers and closed the door behind her before letting out a loud sigh.
"How was your night?" Megan asked as she appeared around a corner with Paige's nightgown in her arms. "Did my brother survive living like royalty?"
Paige bit her lip at the memory of Walter's tongue fluttering against hers, and she blushed deeply. "My night was very pleasant," she couldn't stop smiling. "Walter was perfect."
Megan cocked an eyebrow. "Oh?"
Paige's body tingled as she smiled at Megan. "Everything about tonight was absolutely perfect."
Megan laughed as she helped loosen Paige's evening gown. "And which part of tonight will you be sharing with me?"
Paige giggled and visibly licked her lips as she stepped out of her dress. "Which part do you want to know?"
"All of it," Megan beamed while unfastening Paige's corset.
"Well…"
… ~ SCORPION ~
April 14, 1912
It was a bright, clear day, and the sunlight was splashing across the promenade, twinkling off of the crystals adorning parlor as Paige and Drew ate their breakfast silently. Megan gave Paige a knowing smile and poured some coffee for both of them before going inside. Paige avoided Drew's laser eyes as she forked at her eggs, not wanting to speak to him as she looked forward to meeting Walter afterwards.
Drew inhaled a deep breath and eventually said, "I was hoping you would come to me last night."
Paige pursed her slightly swollen lips and glanced up at her fiancé emotionlessly. "I was tired."
"Yes," Drew nodded and hummed as he placed his fork down and leaned towards her. "Your exertions below deck were no doubt exhausting."
Paige locked her jaw and folded her hands into her lap as she frowned at him. "I see you had that undertaker of a manservant follow me." She just hoped Drew's manservant didn't follow her to the stern of the ship last night. She would never hear the end of it!
"You will never behave like that again!" Drew snapped as he slammed his hands on top of the table. "Do you understand?!"
Paige rose to her feet and punched the table with her fists as she leaned towards Drew with a scowl on her face. "I am not some foreman in your mills that you can command! I am your fiancée –"
Drew suddenly smacked her hard on the jaw, before shoving all of the breakfast dishes to the floor. Plates and glasses and platters shattered upon impact. He grabbed her shoulders and shook her violently. "YES, YOU ARE!" His nails dug into her shoulders, and Paige froze, mortified by his anger. "And my wife… in practice, if not yet by law! So you will honor me, as a wife is required to honor her husband!" He slapped her cheek again and glowered at her. "I will not be made a fool! Is this in anyway unclear?!"
Paige trembled, and he pushed her away from him, storming out of the parlor into the stateroom as Megan rushed towards Paige after she had bent down to start cleaning up the mess.
"We…," Paige wanted to vomit, "We had a little accident." Paige's fingers were shaking, and Megan cupped her hands, pulling them away from the broken glass. "I'm so sorry, Megan."
"It's okay," Megan smiled and squeezed her hands. "Why don't you go and rest. I'll clean this up for you."
"I'm…," she stopped herself, afraid that Drew was somewhere near, listening to her. "I'm supposed to m—"
"It's okay, Paige." Megan gave Paige a pointed look. "I'll take care of it, okay?"
Paige inhaled a deep breath and blinked back her tears. "O-Okay." Paige slowly rose to her feet and sauntered out of the parlor towards her chambers, not daring to look at Drew as she passed him.
She truly was trapped with no way out.
It would seem that even Walter O'Brien, a man she might be falling for, wouldn't be able to save her from her misery.
She was and will forever be trapped.
~ SCORPION ~
WriterFreak001:
Let me know what you think!
By the way, for those of you asking, I am not going to kill off Walter in the story from the sinking of the ship like the movie did with Jack. What I plan on doing with him, though, towards the end of the story will most likely create an equal amount of angst. When I started this idea, I was planning on following the movie route, but I changed my mind. HOWEVER, in present day, during the first chapter of the story, Walter has passed away, but his death comes later, after the tragedy.
Anyway, you didn't come here to read my babble.
