Chapter 14

"A Clouded Mind"

Evangeline was sobbing, oblivious to the fact that she was being carried away from what she had done. Jack ran into a dark alley and placed her on her feet. Her breathing was heavy and Jack saw that her face was still red where Cedric had slapped her. He tore the mask off his head, his hair spilling free, and put his hands on Evangeline's face…she was looking at the blood on her own.

"Are ye all right?" he asked. He felt Evangeline's body tense, then relax, at the sound of his voice. Slowly, she looked up, but didn't speak. "Evangeline?" Her eyes were locked with his as she leaned her body into him. Her lips met Jack's and the pirate was caught very much off guard. The lust he had felt around her earlier soon took over and he was kissing her back with a passion that felt almost forbidden. He gently pushed her up against the wall and continued to kiss her. His hands traced over the curves of her breasts and he felt her shiver.

His mouth found her neck next, kissing and lightly nipping at her flesh as his hands worked their way beneath her skirt. With his fingernail, he tore the seam of her breeches. He found her bare core and knew exactly what her body wanted. He stroked her with one hand while the other worked at untying his pants. After a few short moments, his bare arousal was brushing against hers, her skirt covering them both. He whispered hoarsely. "Is this what ye want, Love?"

"Yes," she said, her voice shaking and her mind not registering what was happening. Her hips bucked as the tip of his arousal teased her entrance.

You know damn well this isn't right, Jack. She's not a whore. She doesn't deserve alleyways… A moan escaped Jack's lips at the feeling of being so close to his original goal, but he pulled away. Trying to play things off a bit differently, he said, "Doesn't feel good when you want something that doesn' want ye back, does it?"

Evangeline opened her eyes. "What?"

Jack heard people approaching and picked Evangeline up again. "You have t' come with me, lass." He rushed to the boat that he and Jess came in on and pushed Evangeline's body down so she wouldn't be seen. Jack rowed her out to the Pearl and slung her over his shoulder one last time as he boarded it.

"What are you doing?" Evangeline asked, frightened, as Jack placed her on her feet once again.

Jack took her hand and led her to his cabin. He sat her on the bed instructing, his voice again slurring as it seemed to do in certain situations. "Ye will sit here an' not leave this cabin. Ye can' go back there, especially if 'e's dead – they'll hang ye, woman or not."

"So why am I here?"

"Yer only real chance is t' come with me," he said, his eyes sobering. "Nobody knows that it was me 'cept Will. Ye need t' trust me."

"Why?"

Jack's eyes were almost cold as he replied, "I could have ravaged ye in that alley then left ye fer dead, tha's why."

Evangeline knew Jack was right. He could have done as he wished with her, then left her to face whatever Port Royal had in store for her. Her mind had been so clouded once she reached that alley and Jack had been her savior. She would have given him anything at that point in time, and that was the only reason why she almost…

"M-my apologies," she said, tears threatening to fall.

"Apologies?"

"Yes, for making you think, well, for almost…you saved me, and I thank you for that, but you must realize that, had I been thinking more clearly, I never would have behaved…"

Jack interrupted her, his smile shining. "There's no shame in wanting a pirate."

Evangeline wiped at her tears. "I assure you – I don't."

Jack rolled his eyes. "Yer mind an' yer body don' appear able to see eye to eye." He dropped the subject. "I'm goin' back for me son – who's no doubt with yer cousin. Do not leave this cabin, savvy?"

"But…"

His voice cleared again. "Savvy? An' keep in mind that I'm the captain o' this ship an' I give orders, not suggestions."

"Fine." She crossed her arms over her chest and looked away from him. Jack left the cabin and Evangeline let everything hit her…what she'd done to Cedric, what she'd almost done with Jack…it was too much. She collapsed onto Jack's bed, sobbing.