A little summer smutty one shot about Killian and Emma as whale research colleagues who have some unresolved feelings and sexual tension galore. Rated M for sure.
Emma wasn't really sure how long she'd been standing on the boardwalk, her stubborn feet glued to the wood as she tried to muster some buried enthusiasm. The waves were quite calm today, a huge contrast to the way her mind was raging and tumbling through the irritating task at hand. She really loved her job - truly she did - but she really, really did not want to be here right now.
In all fairness, this yearly trip to the bay just below the north Washington border hadn't always been the bane of her career. She was actually the one to first put the idea of a seaside wildlife report into her editor's mind a few summers ago. Growing up near the Vancouver coast had put a love for the water way down into the depths of Emma's soul and finding a way to include that passion in the work she did for the aquarium was something of a dream fulfilled. She never imagined being somewhat thrilled that being a field writer for several nature magazines would bring her back so close to home - after all, she'd spent plenty of time trying to leave this place.
That elated feeling had occurred over the past three years, but not this time. Now, hopping the boat out to the bay made her nerves spike and her stomach flip flop - and no, not in a seasick sort of way.
She'd been able to catch the early morning ferry out to the islands along with a handful of tourists anxious to observe the same breathtaking sight she'd come here to hopefully document - the Southern resident orcas on the move.
She'd only been lucky enough to catch a close up of the migration once before when she was a little girl at the helm of her grandpa's boat. Her own father was retired Navy and had joined a local fishing company very close to the small island she was headed for, making a life for her and her younger brother near the sea. Whale watching in general was a past time she'd learned to love very early on, even though the pod of native orcas - the ones she was always anxious to spot - were a little more tricky to pursue. She'd developed a fascination with them, following her interest to a degree in marine biology with a focus on whale and dolphin behavior. Her acquired knowledge had taken her far, allowing her to land a position as a part time professor while spending the rest of her time writing articles for various science journals. She'd spent over a decade building her career into what it was and she liked to think that perhaps her father was proud of what she'd accomplished - though she didn't really bother to ask during their infrequent phone calls and her very rare trips back to her childhood home.
Adjusting her backpack and the strap of her camera over her shoulder, Emma looked out at the harbor of the northwest island she'd landed on. It was such a beautiful place with its tall rocky cliffsides and smooth waves littered with boats of every kind. She didn't want to taint such a pretty picture with her begrudged spirit and she took a deep breath as she realized the only way around this little misfortune was to face it.
Damn you, Jones, she thought as she started the downhill jaunt toward the docks.
She usually made her own arrangements for this trip, selecting everything from lodging to rental car personally and expensing it accordingly. In the past, she'd called a month or so ahead to book a charter with a local guy named William Smee. He was the epitome of a longtime sailor, weathered by the sea but still cheerful with a contagious laugh that made her yearly work trip rather entertaining.
This year, however, the agenda hadn't exactly been of her own accord. She'd been invited - or perhaps summoned was more accurate.
Emma could still remember the morning she'd gotten the envelope with that familiar Washington postmark. She'd run her fingertips over it with furrowed eyebrows before tearing into it to find a copy of her recent article on the social grouping of whales in the wild - the one where she'd mentioned that she was looking forward to visiting the sea for further research soon. That particular line had been circled with red pen and a small note had been jotted off to the side. She'd never forgotten just who that fine, flourishing handwriting belonged to.
Whenever you're ready, Swan. -KJ
Those two initials had made her heart pound as she realized who'd sent the rather vague offer and she felt her face go hot when she noticed the business card he'd included for his new venture. Listed in red embossing were the letters that made up the name 'Jolly Roger Fishing & Boat Company' - and it didn't take long to spot the business sign with the same name hanging on the rickety wooden door of the corner boathouse.
It's not like she planned on spending her day of research with him. She merely wanted to prove a point that she did not stay indoors all day, wondering what it would be like to be out on the actual ocean. She'd tentatively scheduled this outing ages ago and she was going to spend it as far away as possible from the man who'd sent her his creatively criticizing correspondence several times since he'd abandoned his work for the sea. She could handle this without him, dammit.
Well, that had been her plan - but it collapsed in a matter of minutes under the guise of that taunting, tempting, completely tantalizing accent.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't Emma Swan," the voice said, hitting her harder than expected. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"
She spun around slowly, hearing her boots hitch slightly on the wood planks under her feet. It took only a moment to spot him as her eyes drifted several paces away to a boat that had apparently just anchored - one that had a very cocky and oh so expected captain.
"Killian," she nodded, keeping a somewhat straight face and hoping she didn't sound as breathless as she felt. "It's….nice to see you too."
It was a bit of an understatement really. Emma felt chills spread across her skin at the sight of him and that devastatingly handsome smirk. It had been quite some time since she'd laid her admiring eyes on her former colleague and while his appearance had shifted to fit this new lifestyle he'd undertaken, he was still well beyond attractive. His hair was longer, but still dark and begging to be pulled as it swooped across his forehead with the breeze. He'd always had a bit of scruff, but she had never seen his beard quite this thick and full. He'd always been good looking, but this was a new rugged sort of handsome - and god, it certainly suited him.
His attire was much more casual than the silk ties and argyle socks he'd worn back in the office setting. He'd obviously traded those long ago for his current threads - relaxed but fitted jeans, a navy blue henley, brown work boots, and a dark green jacket with heavy pockets that hung down to his waist. He had a gray scarf looped around his neck - a detail that almost made her laugh - and he tossed it aside before tying up the boat with dexterous hands. His eyes never left hers as he worked and she could almost feel him analyzing her motives for showing up.
Well, not that she really had any - and if she did, they didn't revolve around a happy reunion.
"I've got to say it's a bit surreal to see you here, love," he said, lifting an eyebrow. "I mean you don't call, you don't write…."
"I wish I could say the same, but unfortunately, I do still receive regular mail," she quipped, folding her arms. "Hence the reason I'm here. Oh and I was not wrong about the number of resident orcas in the wild-"
"I believe you wrote 'less than a hundred'," he glared, sighing in exasperation. "We both know that's quite vague, darling."
"Do not call me 'darling'-" she retorted. "-and do not tell me how to report my findings."
"Right, Swan," he groaned, rolling his eyes as he tossed the rolled up rope to the deck of the boat. "I forget you're the 'expert'."
"I never said that," she glared in return. "I'm just saying that I've studied whale populations and the lack of stability for a long time. I like to think I know a little more than your average out of towner."
"I'm sure you do, love," he smirked. "I'm also quite certain that you've got a framed fancy paper or two that says you know a whole lot more that some seaside fisherman too, right?"
"Is that all you are now? A first rate deckhand with sassy remarks? Or do you actually have anything of value to say?"
"I'm merely stating that it's foolish that some institution or organization will give you all the funding in the world so you can cozy up in your little office with your spreadsheets or textbooks pretending you know all about the ocean when really-" he paused, hopping down from the side of the boat to land right in front of her. "-you don't."
His tongue ran across his bottom lip as he gave her that challenging gaze, the one full of blue fire he seemed to keep on reserve for her. He smelled like the sea, the mist from the waves blowing that familiar salty and very Killian type scent toward her as she watched him consider her. He shook his head lightly, pushing the dark strands of hair that the wind toyed with up out of his eyes in a very distracting manner.
That's what this man was. He was a distraction - and one she didn't have time for.
"I can promise you that I do plenty of research while I 'sit in my office' and I know what I'm doing," she retorted, her hands finding her hips. "I've checked the facts with Graham, the guest speaker who was at the aquarium last week, and-"
"Humbert? Really? The man is an oceanographer who lives six hours from the water," he laughed, raising an eyebrow. "What could he possibly know that would be helpful to you?"
"He's accredited, Killian - people know who he is," she reminded him. "He's given several lectures at conferences near the coast and he's writing a book. Plus, he stuck around a lot longer than you-"
"Still doesn't mean he's got any idea, Swan," Killian cut in, giving her a stubborn stare. "You've got to live it to know it."
The slight tan lines marking his skin and his shaggy, sexy appearance confirmed that he'd committed to this life in a way many researchers never would. He had every right to remind her of his ability to go to passionate extremes, but the fact that he was doing so at the moment was a little irritating - especially when she'd come all this way to see for herself what he was up to.
Wait - no. She'd journeyed here for work. He was not part of her agenda.
"Oh, so you decided to become a beach bum and that suddenly makes you Jacque Cousteau?"
"Flattery has never suited you, love," he grinned. "But yes, I like to believe when it comes to knowledge of the water and wildlife, I can hold my own with you scholarly lot."
"So you're saying you want to….educate me or something?"
"Mmmm, well," he grinned, his stare landing on her lips. "That's one way of putting it."
Emma felt a blush cover her cheeks as she shook her head at his blatant flirting. Fighting off a smile that matched his rather victorious one was near impossible, but she took a deep breath while endeavoring to do so. Bastard, she thought as she ignored the seductive look on his face.
"I'm glad to see you've retained your arrogance."
"Arrogance and confidence are two very different things, Swan," he said, folding his arms with that sassy smirk. "Glad to see you've kept track of my more endearing qualities, even though we don't get to discuss them regularly anymore."
"Well, I'm not the one who left the university payroll to go play deep sea fisherman," she quipped. "So whose fault is that?"
She heard the sharpness in her tone the moment the sarcastic question left her lips. His shoulders slumped a bit as he seemed to process her near accusation and Emma wondered if her words hurt as much as the news that he was leaving their conservation project those few years earlier had. She didn't mean to destroy his ego, but scuffing it up a bit seemed like reasonable turnabout.
"Fair enough," he nodded after a moment, scratching at the thick scruff on his jaw. "I suppose that means we've got some lost time to catch up on."
"Actually I have some work to do," she replied, sliding her sunglasses back on. "So I'll have to pass on the heart-to-heart."
"Oh, come on, love. Let me make it up to you."
"No," she stated stubbornly, pausing as he gave her a challenging smirk. "Ugh, how?"
"Well, you're here to research for your article," he deduced, wiggling his eyebrows. "Let me help you."
He shoved his hands deep in his jacket pockets, the thin waterproof material holding strong against the breeze. His hair blew carelessly in a few wild directions, but it didn't distract from those navy blue eyes and the way they seemed to dare her to act. He had a way with this whole game between them. He'd always been able to win her over with that seaworthy stare and while she hated the idea of letting him succeed once again, the offer had her quite curious.
"I don't really need advice on where to catch the biggest salmon or how to cast a line, Killian."
"I'll make note of that," he chuckled, tilting his head toward the deck. "But I do have a boat and a fair knowledge of the wildlife here - and it looks like you're hoping to spy some…."
His sentence trailed off as he reached for her notes, a gesture that caused Emma to recoil quickly. He rolled his eyes at her skittish reaction and he stretched out his hands in waiting once more. She was fairly sure she didn't need him. She knew….well, sort of knew the area. She could probably find at least ten other boat captains who would take her out on the water minus the saucy attitude, but Emma knew Killian - and he knew the ocean like the back of his strangely seductive hand.
"Whales," she sighed, shoving her folder of findings into his grip. "I'm writing a piece on how food sources cause seasonal movement of marine life."
"So Emma Swan has come to see the orcas, huh?"
The question was far too specific the moment it hit her ears and her stance straightened with a rigid movement. He flipped through the papers she'd handed him with focused sight, seemingly oblivious to her silent state of panic. She'd never said a word about killer whales and her current notes were still rather plain, but he'd somehow pieced her mission together anyway.
"How did….umm, yeah," she said, clearing her throat carefully. "I guess that's my hope. I know it's hit and miss in those cases though. You don't see them often, do you?"
"Not as often as I'd like," he nodded, his fingertips landing on the business card for his company that she'd been storing with her papers. "But I do have a decent idea of where to look. Probably more than most anyone else who'd be willing to sail you out today and fortunately for you, my afternoon is all clear. So what do you say, love?"
Her eyes darted around the somewhat vacant docks as she considered him and the way the sunlight beat down on her skin. She didn't really have time to check out other options - if there even were any, of course - and even if he was a self assured ass at times, Emma knew he was being truthful about his acuity regarding the movement of oceanic animals. Her answer could only go one way.
"Fine," she conceded. "Let's go, Captain."
"So why orcas, Swan?"
His voice was a little louder now as he spoke over the splashing of water alongside the boat. Emma had spent their short trip out into the bay at the bow, staring down at the movement of the subtle waves and smiling at how predictable the patterns were while the misty air danced over her skin. Little had changed about this place since last year - well, at least that's what first glance suggested.
He was sure different now though. It had been just over four years since she'd seen him lock up the office across the hall from her own in all his stubborn glory, nodding with a slight smile before dropping his keys off at the front desk and leaving the building for good. He'd always looked so clean cut and well dressed at work, just like you'd expect the poster boy for the newest whale research project to be. His shirts were always pressed and his smile was almost always full of charm - unless it was drenched in that sexy smolder he'd offered her a few times when they ran into each other at office events or conventions.
It was that look which eventually led her to doing a little research of her own.
She wouldn't be able to find out much without actually speaking to him - a fact her numerous internet searches confirmed - but she'd uncovered the basics. He was Killian Jones, the lead biologist and lecturer from her alma mater and the man who'd single handedly launched several whale conservation efforts over the course of his still rather new career. He was smart, suave, very sexy - and as she soon found out, her new project supervisor.
It was hard to hide the blush on her cheeks as she remembered the embarrassment she'd felt when she had learned that news and she could only hope to high heaven that he didn't see it still plastered all over her face now. Being enthralled with your boss's sultry accent and his endless sex appeal was probably not the best way to start out the new job she'd been assigned to that day all those years ago.
It took some time to learn to squander those unwelcome thoughts about his studious blue eyes and to hide the affinity she had regarding his ass when he wore his dark gray slacks, but once she did, Emma found she truly enjoyed simply being around him. He was excruciatingly intelligent in so many areas of science and he seemed to possess a true, unyielding desire to learn more. They'd debated the causes of endangered marine animals increases and she spent hours listening to his stories of studying the sea, his words excited as he spoke a mile a minute. It was a comfortable and challenging career she found herself in - until the day he turned their compiled work over to be completely hers before leaving for the wild.
It was perfect - until he decided it wasn't anymore.
"I could ask you the same thing," she called back, sweeping her hair out of her eyes as she shelved the memory. "You've been chasing them longer than I have, Jones."
"Aye," he laughed, slowing the boat cautiously. "But I did ask you first."
His burning smile still had a way of making her heart race, even if she was still a little annoyed with him. She tried to focus on his question in lieu of fixating on his intense gaze, but soon found out that such a task might be the most difficult part of her trip.
"I've only seen them once before," she offered, continuing to watch him. "Even though I grew up pretty close to here, I've only seen them that single time years ago, but it was….one of those moments, you know?"
"The kind you never forget?"
"Yeah," she grinned, matching his current expression. "I guess I….want to remember the way that feels."
He nodded receptively at her response, the mischief in his eyes telling her she'd given him an answer he certainly understood. He was easier to read in that instance and it made her wonder just how kindred they were in this love for the black and white animals.
"So," she said, standing and walking toward where he stood behind the wheel. "My turn?"
"Alright, I'll play," he laughed. "Go ahead, Swan."
"Why did you really leave?"
He let out a heavy sigh, biting his bottom lip as he looked out over the water. There was something conflicted in the sound and Emma wondered if he was still sorting through the choice he'd made to bow out of the lecture circuit so he could pursue his field work full time. Lord knows she'd thought about his decision more than she should.
"Time for a new adventure I suppose," Killian finally answered. "You know, speaking on behalf of whale conservation was never about earning the spotlight for me. It's a cause I truly care immensely about. It was something I wanted to explore and simply help spread awareness. I still do that - I just do it here."
"By playing Captain Hook of the Harbor?"
"Hey, being a pirate is not necessarily a bad thing," he teased, winking in a manner that could possibly be called flirtatious. "Particularly a charming one like meself."
"It's good to see that your language is completely seaworthy," she laughed, sliding her sunglasses up on top of her head. "So why are we out here in the middle of the strait? I'm fairly sure we're not going to see them this far inland if they're journeying a long distance today."
"Oh, come on, Swan," he said distractedly, moving around the tempered glass windshield to the starboard side and focusing on the rippling water. "At some point, you've gotta trust me."
She heard them before she saw them - that subtle, quick slicing through water sound followed by a low humming call that she'd recognize anywhere. The noise grew as she turned to look over her shoulder, her eyes widening as her mouth dropped open. Her voice was gone in an instant as she counted the synchronized black dorsal fins appearing from a short distance. The world seemed to slow as she watched them move, a series of whistles and squeaks filling the air as they swam closer.
"Killian…."
"Bloody hell," he said quietly, his mouth curving into a disbelieving smile. "They are back."
Emma exhaled with a sound of complete astonishment, her vision locked on the scene in front of them as a pod of nearly a dozen resident orcas traversed the calm water. The space around them was nearly silent save for the communicative clicking and wailing the jet black and pale white animals emitted as they moved past the boat. She jumped slightly when one of the larger adults surfaced, letting out a sudden huff of air that sent a spray of mist upward. Killian laughed at her reaction, the grin on his face pure amusement at her action but also proof of just how amazed he was with the display before them.
"Killian, how did you know?"
"I heard report of them on the move this morning - a few fishermen thought they might be headed this way," he replied, his eyes still glued to the water. "It seemed like a slim chance as they've been hard to spot these last couple years, but I hoped-"
A quick tail splash caused them both to shudder with matching gasps and Emma had to shake her head at how such a breathtaking moment seemed to dissolve the slight negativity tainting the space between them since they'd faced one another at the docks. Seeing him in this natural enthralled state again was sure….something. Emma shoved the idea aside for the time being as she watched one of the juvenile whales breech with a small splash.
"They're so…."
Her voice hung in the air very absent of an adjective that would be appropriate as they stood on the deck, watching the dark fins break through the water and disappear below the surface. She caught a glimpse of the smallest member of the pod, her mind racing as she pointed the tiny orca out to him in a rather overly excited manner.
"Aye, that's the little one," he grinned widely, lending her his binoculars. "Gotta be almost six months old by now. He sticks pretty close to those two females on opposite sides of him - mother and grandma I believe."
"He's so cute," she laughed, fighting back the emotion of actually seeing what she'd been in pursuit of for years now. "They've got every right to be protective."
"Aye," he concurred. "You know, orcas actually-"
"Stay with their mothers their entire lives? Build amazing social bonds within their pods?"
"I should have guessed you'd already be aware of such things," he said with an amused chuckle. "It's easy to admire that strong sense of family. They might even outrank humans on that level."
Emma smiled softly at that, hearing the twinge of envy in his tone and wondering if the whales had a way of filling that void he must have had once upon a time in his earlier life. It was easy to be in the presence of such majestic creatures and feel anything but lonely yet she had to be a bit curious about what he was like when he wasn't witnessing the wonders of the world he'd carved out.
She hoped silently that he was happier now. Even though the thought of him not needing her company made her heart ache, the fulfilled smile curving at the corners of his mouth deserved to be seen.
"Yeah," she finally agreed, keeping her eyes fixed forward. "They're definitely quite the team."
He nodded, offering a quiet smirk as he seemed to swallow the words she knew were sitting on the tip of his tongue. She was positive they had to be because she wanted to say them almost as much as she hoped to hear them.
So are we.
"Suppose you've got what you need?"
His voice was slightly startling as Emma flinched against the cushions of his leather couch, peering behind herself at the man who'd played research partner alongside her all day. He was standing in the lowlight of the kitchen, stirring some pot on the stove that simmered quietly beneath the efforts of a wooden spoon. It smelled heavenly, the aroma rich and heady as it pulled her out of her half assed typing trance. She caught a quick glimpse of a variety of spices lined up along the counter, some uncapped as they helped create the wonderful scent filling her senses. She wasn't really sure what he was cooking, but the several cutting boards layered with fresh vegetables were evidence of just how much work he had decided to put into it. She couldn't help but smile subtly at him as she wondered if he'd be doing this if she wasn't present.
Something told her he might not take the time to undertake such detailed work if he was only cooking for one. It was a solemn thought - one she didn't like and she tucked it away quickly behind the sadness it made her feel.
She still wasn't sure why she'd agreed to come back to his house for dinner. The lodge just across the island had her reservation and she would have had plenty of time to round up something to eat at one of the small inland bistros. He'd teased initially that it was 'part of the all inclusive package he provided only to his most esteemed guests' - nothing short of a charming lie, of course - but there had been something quite genuine about the way he'd offered it. It was almost like he truly just wanted to spend more time with her. Accepting his proposition had been unplanned but she'd convinced herself that he was a good resource to have around while writing her little report.
Well, assuming that's what she'd be doing. She'd gotten very little accomplished on that front, but with a harbor view of the sunset and the somewhat frequent glances of him over her shoulder, it was very hard to focus.
"I think so," she answered, finally closing her computer and setting it on the coffee table before rising from the sofa. "I didn't realize that the low salmon population was having such a drastic impact. I guess you were right about seeing it firsthand."
"Hmmm," he smirked with a nod. "I do love being right, though I wish it didn't come at the expense of the animals. There's some new protection programs and fishing restrictions in debate right now so hopefully we'll see some positive results from that soon."
"Well, you might have to fill me in on how that goes," Emma replied, raising an eyebrow as she leaned on the high countertop across from him. "It would make an interesting follow-up article."
"Aye," he confirmed, holding the spoon up to his lips to taste with a wink. "Happy to help, Swan."
His hands were downright hypnotizing as she slid onto a bar stool to watch his efforts. He moved so precisely - tapping the side of the salt shaker as he seasoned their food, carefully retrieving two bowls from the nearby cupboard, holding his palm over the burner to test the heat rising off the stovetop. Emma found herself staring a little harder than necessary, her tongue grazing her lower lip as he located a silver corkscrew in one of the drawers and selected a bottle of wine from the wall rack near the fridge. She fully noticed then that he'd changed clothes, a pair of well worn jeans trailing down to his bare feet while a plain gray tee covered his chest. It was layered with a buttoned dark blue flannel shirt that looked extremely soft and Emma felt her fingertips ache a bit at the desire to see if it truly was. A silver chain of some sort dipped down under the neckline of the cotton and she couldn't help but wonder if such a trivial piece of his attire was more than just that. There were, after all, many things she'd come to notice about this man that she'd never seen during their past interactions - or arguments.
"It's a nice place you have here," she commented, beginning to glance around the room and noticing the nautical theme sparsely decorating the space. "Quite the home away from….well, everything."
"Something against solitude, love?"
"Not at all," she shook her head, watching him pour her a glass. "I just never imagined that the guy who used to lecture in front of hundreds of people at a time would like being alone so much."
"Ah, well," he laughed with a slight shrug, sliding the tumbler across the counter to her. "I suppose I like the sway of the sea and the alone factor is just a part of my choice that I have to tolerate."
"It's a big change from the life you used to lead," she returned. "I mean, at least from what I can tell."
"Aye, it is," he agreed, taking a swallow from his own glass and letting his tongue swipe across his lower lip. "I like to think there was a reason for it though. The job I do here isn't at all like what I was doing in the city, but I'm working in the natural environment of these animals - even if I'm often playing tour guide while doing so. Every day is different, Swan, and I can walk out on that dock with absolutely no clue as to what I might see once I'm out on the water. It's almost poetic in a way. There's the strangest type of beauty in that kind of unpredictability."
He gave her a sort of boyish half smile, one that warmed her right down to her mutually sea loving soul. His eyes were a darker blue than they'd been earlier in the summer sunlight, their seriousness making her wonder just how deep his affections actually ran. One thing she was certain about was that she'd known very few people to be as honest as he was with her - and such transparency was something she sure as hell never expected from Killian Jones.
"Yeah," she grinned, thinking back to their afternoon on the boat. "I know what you mean."
By the time the bottle was empty, darkness had surrounded them and Emma was having a truly difficult time remembering why she'd been so against the idea of boarding the boat with him that afternoon. The dinner he'd served her on the deck - the one he'd spent his first summer refinishing - had been phenomenal and the conversation they'd sunken into was uncharacteristically comfortable as Emma had relaxed in the white wooden chair that matched his. They didn't speak of her life in the city or the work he'd so suddenly left behind, but they talked endlessly about the waves and the whales who'd returned with them.
"So you mean to tell me that you're willing to give up a life of unprecedented academia for days like today?"
"Absolutely, love," he nodded, taking another drink of his second glass of wine. "You mean to tell me you wouldn't?"
He cocked his head sideways, putting on that knowing expression as he waited for her response. Emma snuggled back into the black and red plaid quilt she'd borrowed from his couch as she let her mind debate a moment. She could see the way he was daring her to be honest before he glanced back out at the darkening bay. Maybe it wasn't wise to be so open with him in such oddly intimate circumstances, but perhaps he deserved a truthful response. After all, he'd always been that way with her.
"I….don't know," she said after a moment. "Letting go of your entire life just to go chase whales seems like a pretty big sacrifice. For a guy who studies some of the most social animals in the world, you've kind of renounced society up here, Jones."
"Perhaps I had to travel out of the city to find company that's as emotionally evolved as I am," he taunted with a quick wink. "Not that the comradery I had before was all bad."
"Mmmm," she glared teasingly. "Right…."
His eyes hinged on the distant water as he squinted, looking for something she didn't need to ask about. There had been a boyish glint in his eyes all day and well into the night. It was a feeling she'd experienced since the moment they'd seen the pod from only meters away and her sight followed his as she wondered if observing the whales would merely be a one - well, two time thing.
"You know, the native people of the Pacific Northwest-" he explained, pausing to pull the silver chain over his head. "-call them 'blackfish'. They're a symbol of powerful strength and loyalty that some believe to be the spirits of hunters who've passed on. Wolves of the sea they say."
He stared down at the pendant dangling on the end of the necklace, running his thumb across it with a smirk before holding it out for her to see. The silver circle was flat and a bit weathered, but as Emma looked closer with help from the dull lantern light, she noticed the engraved picture - the Native American orca symbol she'd seen once in a book at the university library. Her thumb pressed softly against it as she wondered about the legend it held and the man she could probably persuade to tell it to her.
It was one she was fairly certain she already knew, but hearing him speak was soothing - and well, a bit spellbinding.
"It's beautiful," she commented quietly. "I've never seen one like this."
"Hmmm," he hesitated, looking at her with a sweet seriousness. "You should keep it."
"Killian - no," she retorted, shaking her head as she blinked rapidly. "I couldn't. I mean, it's yours-"
"Calm down, Swan, I'm not proposing," he laughed with a smile - that smile. "It's merely a gift for someone who I know might appreciate it as I do. I can always get another."
"Oh, can you now?"
"Aye, love," he nodded, doing that flirtatious wink thing again. "It was a gift from one of the chiefs of a nearby tribe. He's been helping a lot with consistent identification of the whales during migration times. I'll have to mention your work to him. I'm sure he'd be happy for a mutual enthusiast to have such a talisman."
He wasn't to be argued with in such a truthful moment, his deep blue eyes kind and inviting despite the lack of light surrounding them. Thinking back briefly, Emma found she couldn't recall the last time she'd received something so thoughtful and personal - or if she ever actually had.
"Well….then thank you," she grinned, holding tight to the pendant as she studied the symbol. "You know, my dad always said it was a 'momentous omen' to see them - a warning that something important was about to happen."
"Mmmm," he mused while arching his eyebrow. "You believe that then?"
He scratched softly at his thick beard, swirling the liquid in his glass as a certain sort of tension took hold between them. Emma bit her lip as she considered him and allowed herself to acknowledge the strange sense of chemistry they possessed. It always seemed to linger there in these inquiring moments, making her think perhaps it had always been part of this complicated dynamic they shared. She was in the middle of this enlightened wondering when she heard that well known distant call of the animals they'd seen earlier that day. The low hum and subsequent whistles were barely audible, but the muffled noise brought her to her feet. She peeked back at him with a surprised smile before she set the necklace down and ventured toward the edge of the wood planks, holding onto the railing with closed eyes to absorb the longing sounds as the borrowed quilt kept her warm. She noticed the way he joined her for the view - even as dark as it was - before she elected to share her answer.
"I do," she admitted, looking over at him in a tentative fashion. "We all have to believe in something, right?"
She caught a glimpse of the endearing disbelief on his face before closing her eyes again, letting her mind focus momentarily on the fading echoes coming from the shallow sea. It was almost like a song - one she could listen to over and over without ever tiring of the notes.
"Nature is a fair thing to put your faith in," he commented quietly, his arm brushing hers. "It astounds when other things disappoint."
"Hmmm," she said, peeking sideways at him while tightening the blanket around her body. "Like what?"
"Work, life, love-" he listed before matching her stare. "-and at times, people I suppose. But then again, you're here….so perhaps I'm wrong in that conclusion. I honestly didn't think you'd show."
"I'm glad I changed my mind," she admitted with a near silent sigh. "I….well, I'd kind of planned on avoiding you on this trip."
"I figured you might," he chuckled lowly. "Though I'm glad you chose otherwise, I must say I'm wondering what's changed your mind."
There were a thousand answers she could give him in a conversation like this - the sort of talk where silent apologies and a heated suspense seemed to thicken the air. He turned to face her and she followed almost instinctively, reaching up with a cautious sigh and without any real reason to run a careful thumb over the scar under his eye. He'd told her about it once - the faded evidence of a fishing mishap when he was younger. The event had left its reminding mark there on his cheek and the feel of it beneath her touch was unexpected, but as she pulled away, his vulnerable look her caring caress left behind made her heart beat a little harder.
"I guess I just had to know. I needed to see if you were….happier now. I wanted to see if….you missed it."
He tilted his head to the side, pressing his lips together before he reached for her hand. The way he brought it up between them with the fixation of his deep blue gaze was almost confusing, but the gentle kiss he laid over her fingers prompted her palm to rest on his chest without thought.
"Were you perhaps curious as to whether I miss you, Emma?"
The way he said her name made her body vibrate as she drifted toward him, falling a little more into his space until her forehead leaned lightly against his. She wasn't sure whether she wanted such a longing admission, but one thing was now abundantly true - she wanted him.
"Because I do."
A rush of adrenaline moved through Emma's body as she tried to process his response, but the opportunity was cut short rapidly as his tentative lips found hers. The kiss was diligent and passionate in a way that was so characteristic of everything he did. She felt the subtle breeze drifting across their space ruffle his hair and tangle hers as his hand took hold of her cheek, coaxing her closer as his mouth explored hers. Letting her fingers dig gently into the fabric of his shirt, Emma let him shift their positions so his back bumped against the railing - the one she'd been leaning on only moments ago.
The scene was surreal as his fingertips stroked her jaw and she let herself drown in the efforts of his certainly skilled lips, the soft quilt that had been keeping her warm not needed anymore as it fell from her arms. She'd wanted this for so long and it wasn't just because of the helpless crush she'd developed on this intelligent, intense, insanely good looking man several years ago. No, she wasn't kissing him because of basic attraction. She was kissing him because she needed to and because there couldn't possibly be words to describe just how she felt about him in that instant. She didn't know how his touch could be so calm while being so perfectly demanding, but Emma resolved her decision quickly when his lips began trailing from her ear down to her collarbone.
If this one kiss could summon such a sea of desire between them, she couldn't wait to see how he might be able to make them drown in those waves.
"Emma…."
Her name came in the form of a mumble against her neck as his free hand slid down her back, pressing lightly between her shoulder blades and back around to hitch her leg against his waist. His tone was low and permissive, his accent wrapping roughly around the syllables of his plea as his teeth grazed her throat. A tender kiss followed his teasing action and her mouth fell open with a barely audible gasp - one that definitely affected the man who was worshipping her like nobody else ever had.
Feeling his hot breath on her skin and his strained denim beneath her quickly made her realize the million different things she could do with that wanting desire - and like hell if she wasn't going to try a few of them.
Letting the hypnotic kiss reignite, Emma allowed her grip on his collar to dissolve into her hand's anxious fumbling over the flannel's difficult buttons. She whimpered stubbornly as she fought with them, a reaction that made him smile against her mouth. She nipped at his bottom lip while he finished the task for her, the shirt falling open and off his arms so she could divest him of the gray material he worn underneath. She watched his eyes glance down at her hands as they teased the thick dark hair on his chest before he pulled a line of kisses down along her jaw.
God, he was good at that - and she couldn't help but ponder how his talented lips might feel elsewhere.
She let herself focus on that thought - the idea of his mouth moving down the expanse of flushed skin between her breasts or how his tongue might feel as it traced her hipbone - while he shoved her jacket off her shoulders. It hit the deck without a sound and his grip tugged firmly on her shirt, pausing their kiss as he yanked it over her head. His hands fell to her hips and he pulled her closer, groaning softly when she rutted lightly against him. She knew the wood railing must be digging into his back, but she needed him naked. Kissing away the scratches that might be found as a result was something she wouldn't mind taking care of later.
"Bloody hell," he breathed, grunting as she tugged hard on his belt. "Emma, love..."
The buckle hit the deck with a thump as they both worked on getting rid of the other's remaining clothes. Emma let herself get lost in his lips while his fingertips outlined the lace she wore beneath her jeans and she moaned softly as he pushed it to the ground. The sensation of his bare skin pressing hot against hers was intoxicating in a way she didn't know to be possible, but as he pulled her leg back up around him, she wanted to feel the multiple other ways he could blur her reality.
"Swan," he paused, his hands continuing to explore her skin while his lips hovered over hers. "Are you….do you….want-"
"Yes," she cut in, digging her fingernails into his scalp as she lifted onto her toes. "I want you. So….much, Killian."
He pushed into her slowly, letting her sink down on him at a torturous pace. He braced his legs skillfully as she wrapped her own tight around his waist, the angle creating a firm friction as he started to thrust. He pushed her upward a bit, maintaining his position as her toes met the railing. The slight nod and fiery stare he gave her before continuing his motion prompted her to station her feet on the wood beam. She noticed instantly how much control it gave her when he moved, his hips snapping forward as she slid back down onto his hard length. The unexpected position gave her leverage while still allowing him to go deeper, hitting that spot that made her see even more stars than just the ones in the night sky.
"Oh….yes, I-" she gasped, her voice needy and full of lust. "-that's good. That feels so….good."
"God, Emma," he groaned, his hands gripping her ass. "So good when you ride me like this, love."
"Killian, oh….I need….I need-"
"I know what you need, love," he replied, rutting faster as he moved even deeper. "Like this?"
"Yes! God….yes," she cried, biting her lip. "Right there…."
"You are so beautiful, Swan," he told her, lowering his tongue to her breast. "Could watch you for hours like this."
She certainly wasn't opposed to the idea - sore legs and strained voice be damned. He was nothing short of sexy in the shadowy light of the distant lantern, his torso chiseled and his biceps strong as he pounded up into her. She rocked against him while following the pattern of his heaving breath and it took an almost embarrassingly short amount of time before she was pressing down hard on his deep length, waiting to shatter in his arms.
"Killian….so close…."
"Yes, love," he exhaled, slamming in and out with unreal stamina. "I want you to….need you to come, darling."
"With you," she begged, tightening her arms around his neck. "I want you to-"
"Tell me when," he nodded as his forehead rested against hers. "Need to feel you, love."
"Yes….n-now….now!"
He moved up then down twice more before he grunted loudly, pulsing inside her as she fell apart above him with a loud and nearly echoing moan. They rode out the waves of euphoria as the actual waves a short distance away washed up onto the shore, the night sea mirroring their dwindling rhythm. He fell to his knees after a moment, reaching to pull the thick blanket around them before laying down on the wood surface. Their piled clothes provided an awful excuse for a pillow, but in such a sated moment, he seemed willing to make do while she did the same with his bare chest.
"Gods, love."
She nearly laughed at his comment, but with energy in such short supply, she opted to snuggle against his skin instead. It was a fair trade as she took in the familiar scent of him - the freshness of the sea and that woodsy, tantalizing wildness that was all Killian. She didn't mind the slightly damp state of his flesh, knowing full well that she just as tinged with exertion.
"Gods? As in more than one?"
"Aye," he replied, still a bit out of breath. "Definitely."
Laying on the solid planks of the deck wasn't exactly the coziest thing she could think of, but the way her held her close convinced her it wasn't the worst either. His arms were warm and protective around her still quite boneless body, almost as if he was scared she might slip away. Breathing a deep sigh as he toyed with a long strand of her hair, Emma wondered it if was possible to capture a moment like this and submit it to memory. She'd done so earlier with her camera when they watched the whales breach the water and while that scene had been magical, it was nothing as heartstopping and soothing as this. Feeling him press a gentle kiss to the crown of her head, she decided silently to let herself hold onto the man beneath her while a light slumber overtook her. The consistent current he'd created in her mind was perhaps a bit treacherous, but if she could trust anyone to help keep her head above water, it was definitely this wildly wonderful man.
Waking up with the sunrise was strange and quite frankly unexpected given the strenuous night and very early morning they'd had. The blankets surrounding her were foreign as were the numerous pillows, but a slight warmth lingered on the sheets next to her, reminding her instantly of just how hot his naked body had felt pressed against hers.
Emma sat up, letting her mind focus as she remembered the night - their openly candid conversation, the confessing deep kiss, the calculated movements of his hips, and the way he'd all but braced her against the glass door after round one while he fumbled with the handle. She flashed back to the way she'd anchored her palm against that same transparent surface, letting her scorching touch fog the glass while she'd shivered at the touch of his tongue moving between her thighs. She glimpsed his dresser in the room's corner, recalling the way he lifted her to perch on the top of the piece of furniture while knocking several books and magazines - including one with her most recent article - to the ground. He'd been so attentive and caring over the course of the evening, ever the conscientious scholar as he studied her like some new subject that he wanted desperately to know more about.
It was enough to make her blush furiously while pulling the fluffy comforter off his bed and wrapping it around her shoulders as the weak rays of dawning sunlight filtered inside. She wandered curiously toward the double glass doors leading out to the wraparound deck and she was about to wonder where he was when she heard what sounded an awful lot like a harmonica.
Of course he'd have such an obscure talent - and it was quite likely that he probably looked far too attractive in the process of demonstrating it.
Emma leaned in the doorway, shivering slightly as the morning mist blew across the surface of the sea. He was sitting in the white deck chair, a pair of baggy sweatpants covering his legs though he was barefoot and missing his shirt. She bit her lip as she contemplated where exactly that piece of flannel had ended up after she'd removed it the night before. Neither of them possessed the strength to retrieve any of their discarded clothes from the deck once they'd found themselves tangled in his sheets and she'd since been forced to borrow a shirt from him as consequence.
Something told her he might not mind this particular ramification.
"Hey you."
His greeting was accompanied by a sweet, uncomplicated smile - one that made things feel blissfully right. She let her head tilt sideways against the doorframe as she considered him against the backdrop of the still slightly dim harbor. He set the harmonica down, beckoning her closer with a simmering stare and a widening grin. A laugh escaped her as she shivered slightly before stepping out onto the deck.
"Hey," she said softly, letting his hands guide her down into his lap. "So the harmonica, huh?"
"Aye," he smirked, kissing her cheek gently as she cuddled into his naked chest. "Did I wake you?"
"You didn't," she answered with an arched eyebrow. "But the Free Willy theme song you were just playing kind of did."
"Ah - that," he chuckled, tickling her ribs. "I guess it seemed….appropriate?"
"Hmmm," she countered as her fingernails scratched his thick scruff. "I suppose it is."
"I'm never going to be able to outwit you when it comes to anything regarding those whales, am I, Swan?"
"Probably not," she said after a moment, smiling wickedly. "But it's cute that you keep trying."
"I'm nothing if not persistent, love," he retorted. "I believe I've made that fairly obvious."
He kissed her sweetly, his lips lingering with a promise she wanted to test. Being here with him in the quiet of the seaside had taught her to feel again in many of the ways she'd forgotten. The way he was looking at her made her want to hold onto this - and she had to wonder if that's what he was hoping for as well. She'd come here for work and the whales, but she found herself wanting to stay for much more than just that.
"So, you're in this-" she started, brushing the hair off his forehead. "-for the long haul?"
"Well," he replied, his smirk as clever as always. "That's another way of putting it."
She smiled into a resumed kiss, noticing the way his answer mirrored the taunting flirt he'd given her back at the docks. Emma allowed herself to melt into the bright blue of his sated gaze as their morning began to unfold with ideas of how they might be able to spend the warm day together - though they both obviously preferred the sea to factor into the equation. She tried not to think about leaving as they drank coffee on the deck, watching the sun peek through the low fog. She reminded herself not to pay mind to the idea again as her scarf blew in the wind on the boat while they shared a handful of knowing glances and a few heated kisses, one of which got a little out of control when he abandoned the wheel of the still moving boat. The sound of his nervous laugh when he noticing the vessel floating wayward had made her skin tingle and the way he shook his head with a smile was all the distraction she needed.
When they anchored back at the docks just before sundown - sadly without locating the whales again although her focus had been elsewhere anyway - she finally allowed herself to feel the prodding pain of how difficult it was going to be to depart. She'd turned on her heel, watching him tie up the boat as she watched from the platform and it didn't take long for him to notice her sudden apprehension.
"Hey," he said softly, using a raised eyebrow and crooking gesture of his finger. "Come here."
She walked toward him with a defeated exhale, slightly amused at the way he jumped up onto the dock before pulling her into his arms. His hand found her cheek as he smiled, a sense of hope behind the soft stroke of his thumb across her skin.
"Stay."
Emma froze, tilting her head to the side with confusion. The word was unexpected and while it was exactly what she wanted to hear, the rational part of her mind quickly put up a fight.
"Stay?"
"Aye," he nodded. "Stay."
"Hmmm," she paused, leaning into his touch. "How would you propose I get away with that?"
"By telling whichever boss sent you up here that you've got more research you'd like to complete - or by mentioning the fact that need the expertise of a man who'd like to spend a little more time ravishing you. You could also throw in the fact that said man is truly having hell of a time allowing you to leave his sight."
"Mmmm," she laughed, finding her will to resist the offer quickly fading. "I suppose those are a few ways I could put it."
He grinned at her surrender, bending down slightly to kiss her with every ounce of fervor she could fathom. Her world moved into a hazy state of spinning as his lips pressed hard against hers and Emma had to wonder how she'd ever imagined she'd be able to turn down the idea of a little while longer in his embrace. The submitting moment made her knees go weak as he lifted her, the action making her believe that remaining there for a while was just what she and her work needed.
He truly did have a way with that.