A/N: Many thanks, as usual, to FreedomOftheSeas for beta-reading for me again!
Chapter Twenty-Five
~o~
In an instant he had pulled me to him, his weight half over me, and he clung to me, whispering desperately in my ear. "Do ye know what thorns I've endured to have you?" he asked, his voice full of emotion.
"Yes," I said in his, even as I began tugging his shirt up.
He pulled away and tore it over his head in an instant, and reached for me again, pulling me against him once more. "May," he whispered, and then kissed my neck hungrily. "May, lass, tell me yer mine." He kissed my neck again. "Tell me."
I whispered in his ear, speaking words that I'd wanted to say to him for more years than I could remember. "I'm yours, Hector," I said with great emotion. "There's nothing I've ever wanted more, my love. I will always be yours."
He smiled at me for just a moment, and then pulled me into his arms and kissed me in a way that made me forget that I had ever been anything else.
~o`
Having dozed off on my side facing Barbossa, it took a minute for me to register that something was pleasantly tickling the skin over my hip. When I opened my eyes at last, the candles had nearly all burned out, but the room was brighter than ever thanks to the moonlight that shown upon the bed through a large window in the room.
Barbossa likewise, lay on his side, propped up on his elbow, and it only took me a moment to discern that it was his fingers on my skin that had woken me from my nap. Watching where his fingers traveled, I could see he was contentedly stroking my side, letting his fingers travel into the hollow of my waist, over the swell of my hip, and then along my thigh. He then reversed the gesture, slowly running his hand up and down along my body.
I sighed contentedly, drawing his eyes to my face for an instant before they returned to monitor his caresses.
"What are you doing?" I asked sleepily, hoping he wouldn't stop.
He didn't, and his eyes flicked to mine again as the slightest smile crossed his face. "Moonlight," was all he said in return, but it was all the explanation I needed. My lover was currently enjoying the feel of my skin, pleased that it was his own flesh that caressed mine as the moon shone upon his hand.
"Are ye well, M'lady?" he asked as he continued.
"Not really," I said quietly.
"No?" His hand paused in place on my hip as he sounded concerned.
"There are a lot of other places that you're currently neglecting," I said, offering him a tiny pout.
"Ah, well we can't be havin' that," he said slyly, pushing my hip to roll me as he moved to pin me to the bed. "Any places in particular that needs tendin', lass?"
"I can think of a few," I whispered back.
"So can I," he said, nuzzling into my neck. "My apologies if they not be the same ones as ye had in mind."
I can report that fortunately they were.
~o~
The next morning, dragging myself from where I'd been curled up contentedly in Barbossa's arms and leaving the comfort of the luxurious bed we laid together in, may have been one of the most difficult things I've ever done. I contemplated doing so only at his insistence that we had to finally return to the ship, and while he climbed to his feet and began dressing, I rolled onto my stomach and hid my head under the pillow.
"What?" he asked in reply to the muffled statement I'd uttered from where I'd burrowed.
I raised the pillow off my head a little. "I said, 'I don't want to go back to the bloody Black Pearl'," I pouted.
Barbossa, having done his best the night prior to start making up for twelve years without contact with a woman's flesh, was in fine spirits, and he wasn't buying into my pessimistic whining. "Up ye go, lass," he said brightly, "there's piratin' as needs be done this day."
I would have continued to ignore him from under my pillow if it weren't for the resounding slap he administered to my exposed backside, and I was off the bed and on my feet in an instant, hand plastered over my smarting rump and glaring at him from where I stood sans clothing of any sort.
"That hurt!" I scolded him where he was looking fairly amused.
"I don't ever recall seein' yeh follow an order that sharply," he said, gazing meaningfully at his palm. "I'll have to keep that in mind."
"You're not funny," I said, still irritated.
"Oh, but I am, and ye'd be quite fetchin' when yer angry," he said, shrugging into the brown frockcoat from the day before. "Course ye are naked, so I'd be willin' to bet ye'd catch my eye even if you were spittin' nails."
I huffed at him in exasperation, and yanked the sheet off the bed and wrapped it around myself, planning on heading for the door. Barbossa grabbed me by the arm as I stormed by, pulling me around to face him. He shook his head at me. "Yer already breakin' rule number one," he said, and he looked at me expectantly.
Of course I gave in and kissed him, and he gently tugged the sheet from my grasp and tossed it aside, wrapping me up in a passionate embrace as the kiss deepened. He continued to kiss me but shrugged back out of his frockcoat, dropping it on the floor, and as he backed me slowly towards the bed, it quickly became apparent that the Black Pearl and her crew were going to have to wait another hour for their captain.
~o~
We both did manage, on our second attempt at rising, to freshen up and get dressed before heading off downstairs, but before we left our room, Barbossa retrieved the rose from the nightstand. After cutting back the stem with his dagger, he made it a point to come to where I'd just finished putting up my hair and tuck it in place at the back of my head as his eyes met mine in the mirror I'd been using. As we sat together over breakfast, I lamented the fact once more that we couldn't stay ashore longer and had to return to the ship.
The innkeeper was pleased to hear that everything had been arranged to Barbossa's specifications quite well, and that I had been completely surprised with our intimate evening. I have to admit that I must have blushed a little at knowing that the innkeeper understood what the purpose of the arrangements had been for.
He must have seen the color in my cheeks, and he spoke kindly to me. "More husbands should take the time to treat their lovely wives to a romantic evening, don't you think?"
I smiled at him, despite the fact I wasn't actually anyone's wife. "I'm sure you're right."
I found out from Barbossa, after the innkeeper had left us, that I needn't have worried about any other guests witnessing me running about in a revealing dress, since he'd paid double what all the rooms in the inn would have brought in for the evening and then some, in order for them to remain vacant and to have me all to himself.
"I thought it best to be far from any of the crew," Barbossa said wryly, taking a sip of coffee, and I laughed, knowing that our record of interruptions meddling with our romantic moments was not good.
"You're right," I said, smiling at him warmly. "If it's not a battle at sea, it's Turk."
"Or fire...or worse," he said quietly, but with a smile, and meaning things like the curse and the maelstrom.
I pouted. "No more 'worse', do you hear me?"
"Aye," he replied, "'twould be fine by me." He watched where I grew quiet for a few minutes and picked at my breakfast. "What is it?"
"Nothing," I said. "It's just...I'm still trying to keep up with all that's happened in the past two weeks."
"'Twill all be fine, lass," he replied cheerfully. "A woman has to be made of sturdy stuff to be in love with a pirate, and I know not of one made of sturdier stuff than you."
"You think so?" I asked, pleased by his vote of confidence.
"Always have," he replied softly, causing me to smile, "and that's not all."
I smiled, realizing by the gleam in his eyes that he was flirting with me. "What else have you always thought, Captain Barbossa?" I whispered, since we were supposed to be posing as Mr. and Mrs. Cezar da Silva.
"That ye'd look quite fine parted from yer dress," he whispered back.
I smiled shyly and bit my lower lip a little. "And were you right?"
"Aye, then and now," he replied, looking at me across the table like he was contemplating parting me from my dress again, "minha flora encantadora."
I smiled again as we stood. "You're in a fine mood today," I told him as we finally left the Last Port to head for the docks.
"Aye, lass, and why not?" he said, offering me his arm. "The sun be shinin', I have a beautiful woman by me side, who looks a bit tired by the way," he said, obviously pleased with himself for seeing to it that I'd gotten almost no sleep. "I've had fine food and drink, bedded the loveliest lass in the Caribbean, and all that while Jack Sparrow has been rottin' in the hold of me dear old Pearl."
"Ah, so now the truth comes out," I said, scolding him just a little. "What is it he has that you want, anyway? You have the Black Pearl."
Barbossa grew more serious for a moment. "Twice the rum soaked blighter has stolen a map from me –both Morgan's and the charts to World's End. 'Tis my intent to see to it that he gives them back, one way or another."
"One way or another?" I asked, not liking the look in his eyes.
"Aye," was all he said in reply as we came upon the docks, and found Turk waiting for us with a small group of pirates he'd rounded up to bring a longboat ashore for us.
"Mornin', Cap'n," he said brightly, and then leaned closer to speak softly to Barbossa. "Where the bloody hell yeh been, Barbossa? An hour we've been waitin' on yer sorry arse to show up."
"Well, be glad it wasn't two," he said wryly, ignoring the scolding from his bo'sun.
"Yer in a fine state this mornin'," Turk said, grinning broadly, as we situated ourselves and launched the boat. He shot me a knowing look and a wink that caused me to blush as he spoke again. "Lucky thing fer yer prisoner."
Barbossa smiled wickedly at him. "Aye, mayhap I'll be feelin' more merciful toward him this mornin'," he said, and then appeared to mull the thought over for a moment. "Or not," he added wryly, causing Turk to chuckle.
~o~
I still wasn't feeling any great affection for the Black Pearl as I climbed back aboard and followed Barbossa to his cabin along with Turk.
"All the men have been accounted fer, and we're ready to sail on yer orders," Turk informed Barbossa.
"Good. Tell Gibbs to make way, and set a course West by Northwest," Barbossa replied.
"Instructions regardin' Sparrow?" Turk asked as he made to leave.
"Let 'im stew awhile yet," Barbossa replied, seemingly unconcerned.
By the end of the day he'd given the same reply to Turk's inquiry, and it dawned on me that Sparrow was probably being held in the dank brig without food or water. Barbossa merely shrugged, unconcerned when I asked if that were the case.
"What good does that do?" I asked, surprised at the irritation that had crept into my voice, probably from knowing what that experience was like.
"It makes me feel better," Barbossa said a bit sharply.
"Well, I can tell you from firsthand experience that it's not very humane," I said back with a meaningful look, reminding him that I'd gone more than twenty-four hours without food or water when he'd first kidnapped me.
Barbossa gave me a pointed look back. "We are discussin' the man who put a bullet in me heart yeh realize?"
I chose to let the matter drop, and Barbossa changed the subject, trying to lighten the mood once more. "Now that it looks like yer aboard on a more permanent basis, might I ask a favor of ye?" he inquired pleasantly.
"I am not cooking for the crew," I answered firmly, anticipating where the conversation might be going. Evidently Ragetti had accidentally let slip that I'd given him dinner and pie, and Pintel had made a stink while Barbossa was off the ship, getting the rest of the crew riled about missing out on home cooking while they suffered through what our current 'cook' was responsible for.
"Madeline," Barbossa started, but I cut him off.
"I will do whatever I have to in order to pull my weight while on board, and you know that I'll act as your surgeon," I replied, " but I am not going to..."
"Pull yer weight?" Barbossa asked, offended, but maybe in a manner that was a tad too contrived. "I'll not see yeh workin' like some common sailor on board me ship, lass. There ought to be some benefit to bein' the captain's lady, aye?"
"I don't want special treatment," I said firmly.
"Always bound an' determined to keep even with the men, are ye?" Barbossa asked, but his tone was affectionate if anything.
"I can in most things," I said a little defensively.
Barbossa stepped closer and ran his fingers across my cheek. "Aye, lass, and there be things ye do much better," he said, " but I'm afraid ye'll need to become accustomed to special treatment by yer captain."
"I don't want the crew to resent me," I said with a sigh. "It'll only make things harder for me to be on board where they already think I'm bad luck."
"Half the week, then," Barbossa cut me off, obviously going back to what he figured was the way to convince his crew not to harbor any ill will toward a woman on board.
"Hector, you are nothing if not persistent," I said with a laugh.
"Do this fer me?" he asked, tipping my chin up so that my gaze me his.
"You're trying to manipulate me," I accused him softly, as he leaned down to kiss my neck.
"Any way I can," he whispered, continuing what he'd started.
"Three nights," I whispered back, closing my eyes to enjoy what he was doing.
"Every other," he whispered back, still negotiating and still kissing my neck.
"Three," I gasped, as he continued but began to unlace the back of my dress.
"I could order ye to do it," he whispered.
"You could," I agreed.
"Would ye do it, if I ordered you?" he asked curiously, switching to the other side of my neck.
"I can follow orders," I replied just a tiny bit defensively.
"Can yeh, now?" he asked, somewhat amused. "If I recall, ye've not been quick to go below when I've ordered it."
"Try me," I said.
"Kiss me," he said.
"Is that an order?" I asked, trying not to giggle.
"Aye," he said, waiting.
"What sort of an order is that?" I teased.
"Apparently one yer not obeyin'," he scolded me. "Ye'll need to be followin' orders sharper than that if yer on my ship, Miss Gray."
"Sorry," I said playfully. "I'll try to do better. Give me another order."
I'd rather not repeat what the next order was that Barbossa whispered in my ear, but I will say that when he locked the cabin door and led me to his bed that I followed it sharply and to the letter.
~o~
The next morning, Barbossa was still in fine spirits, apparently pleased at the fact that he'd gotten me to agree to take galley duty every other night, as well as the fact that for the second night in a row, and our first aboard his precious Black Pearl, he'd managed to see to it that I hadn't gotten much sleep again.
I left him mulling over some sort of navigational chart in his cabin, and went on deck for a breath of fresh air, and immediately came across Turk.
"Good morning," I said pleasantly as I tried to cover up a yawn.
"Mornin', darlin'," Turk replied, failing at hiding the smirk that was appearing on his face. "How are yeh this fine day?"
"Lovely," I said tiredly, leaning on the rail to watch the waves stream past the ship, glad that apparently my seasickness was finally retreating, as I grew accustomed to being on a sailing ship again.
"Can I tell yeh somethin'?" Turk asked me, leaning on the rail next to me.
"Of course," I replied.
"Yeh look like arse," he said simply.
I frowned at him, not entirely pleased with his comment. "Thank you, Turk," I replied sarcastically.
He continued to smirk at me. "I'm jus' havin' fun with yeh," he said. "Yeh know I'm pleased as pie that yer with 'im, May. Yer exactly what he needs after all he's been through."
He looked out over the waves for a minute or two before speaking again. "Yer good fer 'im, Madeline. There are few people that understand jus' what those ten years took out of him," he said, glancing across the deck toward Pintel and Ragetti. "Someday I'll show yeh the letters he sent me, seein' as how yeh never got yers."
"I'd like to read them," I replied in earnest.
"They're not easy to read, especially as time goes on," Turk added quietly, while we stood together contemplating what Barbossa and his crew had gone through.
"Gah!" he said suddenly, pounding his fist against the rail. "Bloody friggin' peacock. Yeh'd think he'd 'ave let me help 'im."
I understood Turk's frustration of all those years. While there was nothing that either of us likely could have done to help undo the curse of the Aztec gold, it didn't stop either of us from wishing there was something we could have. I put my hand on Turk's arm affectionately. "You know you shouldn't feel guilty, he never would have let me help either, even had I known."
"Yer right, but still..." Turk sighed. "What done is done, and we'd best get on with livin' ay, darlin'?"
He gave me a sly smile. "Speakin' of gettin' on with livin'...yeh look like yeh need a little less livin' and a little more sleep."
I blushed furiously and looked out over the waves again to try to hide the flush of color rising in my cheeks.
Turk chuckled at my discomfort and put his arm around my shoulders affectionately. "'S all right, darlin'. I s'pose yeh still have twelve years to make up fer."
"Yes, well I hadn't planned on accounting for all of it in two nights," I said softly, eliciting another round of laughter from Turk.
At that moment Barbossa emerged from his cabin, having changed back to full pirate regalia, placing his beloved plumed hat on his head as he approached Turk and me.
Turk waited until he'd made it to where we were standing together before speaking, and I already knew, from dealing with the two pirates so much, years before, that he was going so say something about the infamous hat.
"I see yeh still have that friggin' thing," Turk said wryly.
"Of course," Barbossa replied, looking like he had clearly resigned himself to some sort of snide comment from his bo'sun.
"Huh," Turk went on, "looks as if the cat that swallowed the canary upchucked the whole thing on yer head."
Despite the insult to his hat, I could tell Barbossa was fighting not to smile. "Say what ye will," he said in return, "but May here, likes me hat, and that be good enough fer me."
Turk sniggered. "I've said it before, if I remember right, Barbossa. Judgin' by how worn out May looks, I'd say she likes more'n yer hat."
"Surely she hasn't been complainin'?" Barbossa asked, looking at where I was again red in the face.
"Jus' tellin' me that she wished an old dog like you could keep up with 'er," Turk said, stirring up trouble, obviously taking a swipe at Barbossa's prowess in bed and his ego. I must have looked horrified, as tired as I was, and I opened my mouth to refute what Turk had said, but Barbossa spoke first.
"What?" he asked, evidently distraught at the notion that he'd left me...well...unfulfilled in some way, I guess would be the most delicate way to put it. Never one to take bruising of his ego lightly, he immediately took me by the arm. "Come with me, lass," he said, dragging me helplessly back toward the cabin.
I managed to shoot Turk a dirty look for getting me into the predicament I faced again, but he merely chuckled and waved me off, calling the words 'twelve years' to me, and I swore I would find a way to get even with him.
~o~
A/N: Next chapter Captain Jack will be back!