Chapter 42: Divergence
Okay….so simple gossip was not enough to initiate contact nor was simply exhibiting her core traits and skills being effective either. A more aggressive approach was required, but what sort of approach would yield the desired result? Her lips twitched slightly when she caught sight of the fiery Celtic woman.
Of course….Killian was currently undercover as a blacksmith, specifically a cowardly blacksmith. If she could orchestrate an encounter between Rem and her rather obstinate captain, he would be forced into reacting like a coward to maintain his cover. Thereby enabling the Crimson Savior to swoop in and save him from the spitfire that was Remaria Beltone McCreedy.
The problem was creating a controlled situation without drawing the attention of the ogres, maintaining Killian's cover, and doing so in a timely manner because her time was extremely limited, the looming shadow of the Queen of Hearts ever present in her mind. She made certain that she had completed her self appointed mission...she now knew the names, faces, and stories of every man, woman, and child so she redirected her focus to the obstinate fool, trying her best to not think about what was to come...knowing that she would just end up in an absolute mess of tears.
The idiot was persistent and it felt like an eternity had passed before he finally disappeared, most likely answering the call of nature. She wasted no time in snagging Rem and Lily, both agreeing to help her get her man. Yep, that was what they called him; her man, her blacksmith, her captain (Rem), and every other variation imaginable. It was sweet of them to say that though she didn't honestly believe that anything would come of it.
The redhead knew that she wasn't giving herself enough credit but she was the Queen of self sabotage. No one could blame her for her utter lack of self-esteem given how she has been treated thus far. She just couldn't see anything substantial actually developing between them...she might be able to convince him to at least take her virginity. He was a man after all and by using everything she knows about him, she could manipulate him into doing what she wanted.
There was a problem with this rationality. The pirate captain had been exhibiting some very odd behavior. His persistence in learning more about her, the scope and depth of his inquiries, the complete lack of subtlety, his near constant vigil of her, his body language and facial expressions...but it was his eyes that caused her to have butterflies in her stomach and constantly fighting the urge to blush redder than a tomato.
His eyes were constantly raking over her physical body in what was definitely an appreciative manner, almost like he was genuinely pleased with what he was seeing. She felt completely exposed when his eyes dilated just from looking at her. She was honestly taken off guard by just how expressive his radiant blue orbs were. The Killian Jones she knew always hid his emotions, burying them deep within and slipping on a mask of sass and charm. It was a mask she was quite familiar with for she had her own mask to hide behind, but ever since she woke up in the encampment, that mask was noticeably absent.