A/N: Another huge thanks to my beta, aimeeloren, and to Stephanie with Just4FunVids925. These two are some of the greatest women I have met. Thank you so much for your time and effort.
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters as they belong to the franchise of OUAT.
Chapter 29 – I Want To Make You Feel Beautiful:
The first thing Kilian noticed upon waking was that he was completely sober. The second was the smell of bacon and coffee. After being alone and drunk the last several weeks both the smells and revelation were a novel experience.
Killian went downstairs in the sweatpants he wore to bed hanging low on his hips. He'd have to grab a clean shirt from the laundry room before he ate. Instead the smells emanating from the kitchen drew him there first. Inside he found Emma dressed in an oversized sweatshirt and leggings scrambling eggs.
He leaned against the doorjamb and watched her. It was such a domestic scene that it tugged at his heart because this is what he wished for when he first moved into this house. As she beat the eggs, her shirt slipped off her shoulder revealing that there was no bra strap underneath. Killian couldn't have held in the groan that escaped his lips if he tried. Desire pooled in his belly and his hands clenched wishing to wrap around her. Why the bloody hell did he have to have on sweatpants because there was no hiding his reaction to Emma's started gaze as she turned to stare at him.
"Hi," he said with a smile, straightening from his spot.
Emma gulped. Really? Here she had been up all night long trying convince herself that she and Killian couldn't do anything to distract from the friendship they needed to reestablish and now Killian walked into the kitchen half dressed, looking like he had woken up after having really good sex. It wasn't fair. Her hormones shot to high alert as her eyes drank him in.
His grey sweatpants hung so low on his hips that she could see his pelvic bones and a lengthening erection. Hair trailed up from his pants and trailed up to cover his well-defined pecs. Her eyes literally had to take a second glance at his tight abs and broad chest because it was definitely worth more than one look and if she could touch she'd be rubbing herself against him like a cat desperate for attention. Killian's arms looked as though he worked out or at least didn't shy away from the heavy lifting at the work sites. His face still sported the scruff that Emma found insanely sexy. And his hair looked like a lover arranged it in the throes of passion. His eyes pierced her with need that showed he wasn't unaffected by her perusal.
Dragging her eyes away was almost painful. However, she had to before she threw herself at him and begged for him to take care of all her parts that were crying for attention. Emma turned back to her eggs and stirred them before they burned, which was a good thing because food was limited in the house right now.
"I hope you like scrambled eggs. I couldn't remember," she told him apologetically, while trying to calm her erratic breathing.
"Scrambled eggs are fine." Killian walked over and reached across her for a mug, pressing his naked chest across her back.
"You're not playing fair," Emma mumbled with a sucked in breath.
Killian poured himself some coffee and leaned against the counter next to her. "Were we playing a game?"
"No, it's just… I told myself…"
Killian reached out and turned off the stove and turned Emma toward him setting down his steaming mug of coffee beforehand. "You just what? What did you tell yourself?"
"We can't... We can't do this." Emma waved between the two of them. "It's been three years, Killian. We've changed. I know I've changed."
"Funny, you seemed as interested in this as I was last night and when we saw each other in Boston."
Emma placed her hand on his chest before she remembered he was shirtless. "I was… I am, but…"
"But…"
"I can't think when you have no shirt on," Emma said exasperated. He grinned down at her. Damn him. He knew exactly what he was doing to her.
"Would you feel better if I put on a shirt?"
"Yes."
"Good." He crossed his arms and legs and continued to lean on the counter.
"Well?"
He raised an eyebrow. "You wanted me to do it now?"
"It would be the gentlemanly thing to do."
Killian stepped toward her and inclined his head. She honestly thought as they stood toe to toe that he was going to kiss her. "Never let it be said that I'm not a gentleman."
Emma finally felt like she could breathe once Kilian left the room, but her relief was short lived as he returned with a snug t-shirt that molded to his chest like a second skin. "I reiterate my earlier statement."
She watched as he looked down smugly at his shirt before he returned his heavy lidded gaze to her. "You wanted me to put on a shirt and I did."
Glaring, she walked past him. "I have a job interview after lunch. I'm going to go get ready."
"Don't you want any of these eggs?"
"I'm suddenly not very hungry." God she was lying. She wasn't hungry for food but she was definitely hungry and that was a very bad thing in Emma's book. Refusing to look at him again, Emma straightened her spine and drug her butt out of the kitchen to the relative safety of her bedroom.
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Killian arrived back to work for the first time in almost a month with a huge smile on his face. He hated to admit it but his employees almost seemed suspicious of this good humor. Killian wasn't even sure what they knew in regards to his absence to begin with. Trying to catch up, Killian spent the entire morning into afternoon reviewing with his personal assistant and lead managers and the entire process was uncomfortable for all involved, as it seemed they didn't want to bring up the reasons behind why he left.
By mid-afternoon, Killian was ready to go home and hear about Emma's day. If Tink was there he might have been able to slip out but she wasn't. He owned this company and it was about time he started to act like he did and that meant long hours and time spent away from home.
Just to get out of the confines of the four walls of his office, Killian grabbed his jacket and told his secretary he was heading out to a job site across town to check out the progress. He drove through town and spotted Emma's Bug outside of Granny's. Maybe he should stop for a quick coffee to keep him going the rest of the day, not to see Emma, or so he told himself. Okay, he lied and he knew it.
He parked along the road and proceeded inside to place his order. Killian couldn't see Emma anywhere. Maybe she was somewhere else and just parked there. Or maybe a room opened up at Granny's and she was moving in. He wasn't sure why that last thought bothered him so much.
"Here you go, Killian." Granny handed him his coffee.
"Thanks, Granny." He turned to leave but then he changed directions. "Granny? Do you have any vacancies by any chance?"
The grey haired woman shook her head. "Sorry, we're full up until the end of the week. Why? Something happen to your house?"
"No. It's nothing." Killian began to leave again. Before he could open the door, he looked back. "Granny? Did Emma Swan check in as one of your guests?"
The woman looked up from cleaning the counter. "No. We were already full when she came in a few days ago. There's a wedding in town and we are putting up some of the guests."
"Okay. Thanks." Killian held up his coffee in salute and finally left the diner.
Walking to his car, Killian spotted Emma sitting at one of Granny's outdoor tables talking to a man. Obviously they had only just arrived while he was inside or he would have spotted them on his way in. But it was Emma that really drew his attention to the pair. Her hair was curled and she looked beautiful. He needed to leave and head to the site before sundown but his feet had the same idea as his eyes and were drawn over to Emma's side.
"Hello, Emma," he found himself saying as he reached her table. "Who's this?"
Both sets of eyes rose to see who interrupted their conversation. Killian smiled at the man and held out his hand. "Killian Jones."
"Will Scarlet." The man shook Killian's hand. "How do you know Miss Swan?"
"She lives with me." Killian hated that he sounded so possessive but he knew nothing about this man who was sitting too close to Emma for his liking.
"Temporarily," Emma injected with haste. "Killian's a friend."
Killian crossed his arms and stared down at her challenging her statement with his eyes. Friends? They were friends? It might have been three years and only about forty hours of his life but after what they shared he'd classify them as more than just friends. Friends with benefits maybe. Friends with chemistry that could explode the whole town of Storybrooke, definitely. Just friends, hell no.
"Do you need something, Killian?"
Shaking off his internal conflict he smiled at her. "No. I don't need anything. I was just wondering what you were doing here."
Will stood up. "Maybe I should go get us some coffee before we finish your paperwork."
Emma reached out and stopped him, before she glared towards Killian. "No, that's okay. Killian was just leaving, weren't you?"
Killian raised his eyebrow. So, this was the guy who was supposed to be Emma's boss. They must have already had their interview if they were discussing paperwork. That must have been why they weren't there when he first walked into Granny's.
"I'll see you later tonight." And for no other reason than to prove they were more than friends, he leaned down and kissed her on the cheek and if his tongue quickly darted out to give her a small lick of possession, well that was her own damn fault for telling this cocky, good-looking man that they were nothing more than friends.
Killian walked away and drank his lukewarm coffee. He didn't even care that it wasn't as warm as he liked to have it. Killian was hot enough for the both of them.
For no other reason than to relieve some of the tension inside his body, Killian kicked his back tire with the steel-toed boots he had donned before heading out for the work site. Considering the force he used, he was glad he put them on because he would have either ruined his leather dress shoes or broken a toe or both.
Bloody hell, he had work to do and lack of concentration at a worksite spelled trouble with a capitol T. He'd have to set aside his feelings and take care of business, especially now that Tink was out of town. And letting Tink know he was committed to taking care of his own company had to come first right now even if he didn't want it to.
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Killian was disappointed when he returned home around seven that evening and noticed Emma's car missing. Then again it was past time for dinner and he had no groceries really left in his fridge. She probably went to Granny's to grab something to eat.
Setting down the box of pizza he brought home, Killian hung up his coat and kicked off his shoes at the front door. Taking his dinner, he went to the kitchen and looked in his fridge for something to drink with his food. Great. It looked like Tink had definitely been here. Most of the spoiled food had been thrown away leaving him with two containers of yogurt, one more egg, and goat's milk, because Tink couldn't even be normal enough to drink soy or almond milk like other people out there.
Hearing the front door close, Killian slammed the refrigerator shut on its depressing contents. When Emma walked into his kitchen her hands were full of books and a huge smile decorated her face.
"I did it," she announced. "I got the job."
"Congratulations."
Emma plopped her books down on the kitchen table next to his pizza. Next thing he knew she flung herself into his arms and hugged him. He breathed in the soft scent of her, his face buried in her hair.
She pulled back and he reluctantly let her go. "I need to study so I can get my license as a private detective but it's a done deal. I'm officially part of Wonderland Detective Agency."
"Ingenious name," he said with some mockery.
Emma punched him in the shoulder. "Hey. That's my new employers you're talking about." She glanced around and sniffed. "Pizza? I'm starving."
Killian pulled down a couple of mugs from his cabinet. "First, we should toast your good fortune." He opened the drawer he had stuffed his flask in the night before and tried to pour the last of his rum. Unfortunately, no matter how hard he shook, not even a drop poured out. Tink must have dumped it out and he never realized it.
"Bloody hell," he murmured.
"Something wrong?" Emma asked around a bite of absconded pizza.
"No. Nothing." That left them with the choice of goat's milk or water and to drink water for a toast was bad luck. With a deep sigh, Killian tugged open the fridge and poured the milk into the two mugs. He shoved the milk back and brought the mugs to Emma, handing her one. "Cheers."
They clinked mugs and Emma drank while Killian sipped. He tried to hold back his laughter as Emma sputtered.
"What the hell is that?"
"Goat's milk," he said with a straight face, biting his cheek to keep his smile hidden.
"Where's your rum?"
"It seems that I drank it all and it is bad form to toast with water which was our only other available option."
"I would've waited for the champagne," she told him with a grimace as she set the offensive liquid on the table and shoved more pizza in her mouth. "Gah! It's even ruining the taste of this."
He watched with mirth as she flung her half-eaten slice back in the box and went to his sink to wash out her mouth. Setting his own cup next to hers, he grabbed a slice of pizza. "So, who is Will Scarlet? Your new boss?"
After Emma gargled and spit, wiping her mouth with a napkin, she turned to him and nodded. "Yes. And despite your display of machismo this afternoon, he still hired me. Speaking of which, you licked me."
He shrugged. "Couldn't help myself. You looked good enough to eat."
Emma walked past him and picked up her slice of pizza. "Killian, we're friends."
"Are we?" he asked with a raised brow.
"Yes. At least, I hope so." She ate while her eyes searched his.
Killian placed his slice back in the box and turned back to her. "I was hoping for more."
"Can't we start from there?"
"Bloody hell, Emma. I feel like we are playing a childhood game of Chutes and Ladders, except we're never lucky enough to land on a ladder. Our relationship seems to keep being sent back to start." He took the pizza from her hands and grabbed her shoulders. "I want more. I want you."
"You didn't want me enough to come after me in Boston."
"You told me to stay away and I respected your decision. It wasn't like I forgot about you. I sent you flowers on Valentine's Day and a present at Christmas."
He saw her brow crease. "Those were from you?"
He heard her voice hitch at the end of her question. Her body stiffened under his fingers. Killian was unsure if he just pissed her off more or not, so he remained silent.
"Killian? The roses Ruby gave me every Valentine's Day were from you?"
He nodded. "Probably. I… I wasn't sure where to send it and the last place I knew of was Ruby's."
"I thought Ruby felt bad for me. She never said it was from you. And the presents? The gold hoop earrings and the books and the leather jacket?"
"Aye."
"Ruby joked that they were presents from Santa."
"Ho, ho, ho," he said solemnly.
Her hand reached up and ghosted over his face in a soft caress. "You didn't forget me."
"Never. There wasn't a day that went by that I didn't think of you."
"And yet you still agreed to marry Tink."
"No one else loved me. My walls were up too high to let anyone else in," he told her matter of factly. "Bloody hell. What am I saying? Those were just excuses I used to go to sleep at night. I was stupid to agree to Tink's plan at all."
"So, why did you?"
"I don't know." Killian ran a finger over his ear, subconsciously.
"Did you and Tink…?"
Killian's eyes shot to hers. "No. We never slept with each other, if that is what you are asking. Not that it didn't come up, it did. I mean we were involved years ago, but I just couldn't… We work together. I don't know if marriage was really in either of our best interest, to be honest. If I wasn't so blasé about the whole thing, I probably would have realized that."
"In other words, this was all Tink's idea to see if you would turn her down and find me."
"Probably." He leaned back on the counter and crossed his arms. "Why did you leave? Honestly."
"I loved you. It hurt so much to see you that day with Tink, especially after that phone call with you and that woman. It's why I asked you to stay away."
"Neither episode was what you thought it was. But what about now? How do you feel now?" He didn't dare hope.
"I never stopped loving you," she breathed out. She walked over and pulled his head down to hers, her hand tangling in his hair.
His hands slid down from her shoulders and hooked around her waist as he deepened their kiss. She tried to quicken the pace but he resisted. Killian wanted to take this slow and savor every moment that he had her in his arms. Brushing her books to the side, a few clattered to the floor, he lifted Emma and placed her on his kitchen table.
Pulling back, he rubbed his knuckles across her face. "You're so beautiful."
"And you're not kissing me, sailor," she said with a smile.
"Captain," he said with a small kiss to her lips. "It's definitely captain of this relationship and don't you forget it."
"There is about to be a mutiny," Emma told him as she began to unbutton his dress shirt. "So, you better hurry up, Captain."
"As you wish."
