AN- Not beta'd so get off my dick. Thank you Hallie for all the wonderful art you have been making for this fic. I love you to pieces and you deserve all the praise in the world for it. I also want to dedicate this again to Yahri, who is still going through a rough time. Let this bring you a little bit of happiness and solace from the pain in your life. We all love you. Enjoy folks!
Dashing Pirate Rescue
Chapter Seven
Emma rolled onto her side, tucking her hands underneath her head as she stared blankly at the wall in front of her. The wallpaper was peeling hopelessly from the wall, its dark sickly yellow hue driving her insane as the hours ticked by. It had been a few hours since Killian left the room without as much as indication of when he would be back.
She closed her eyes, a few tears absentmindedly rolling across her face at the memory of his desperate attempt to flee the scene of their coupling. Had she done something wrong to make him react the way he did or had she simply misread the situation? The thoughts raged within her, unable to focus on much else than the pain of his rushed retreat.
Her face creased, a pained expression on her face as she tried to will away her reservations for the pirate. She wasn't sure why she felt the way she did 一 it wasn't like she needed his attention or approval for that matter. She swallowed hard, pushing down the myriad of emotions crossing her face, but nonetheless they persisted, taking a hold on her and refusing to let go.
She could still for the chafe of his stubble against her skin, the brush of his lips against hers, the pleasant warmth of his body as he immersed himself inside her. The phantom of his touch on her skin tormenting her and teasing her until once again she was burning for him, her body crying out for him with need that only he could fill.
She felt her sex clench and flutter at the memory, her body craving him like an addict. She wriggled helpless against the sheets, whining at the ache between her thighs longing to be quenched. Her sensitive flesh yearned for him, beckoned and begged for the relief only he could provide.
She removed a trembling hand from behind her head, her fingertips trailing on her heated skin exploratively, humming expectantly as she parted her legs. Her mouth parted in ecstasy as her hesitant fingers made contact with her clit, dragging her fingers to collect the moisture seeping from her core and sweeping it toward her to where she needed it most.
She released a sigh of contentment as she began to experimentally circle the swollen bude at the apex of her thighs, manipulating the pliant flesh. She moved her fingers in slow methodical strokes, arching herself into the feel of it, her clit throbbing for more. She began to thrash, pushing desperately into the touch of her fingers.
She clamped her thighs together at the sensations surging through her as she cried, tears welling in her eyes at the unbearable throb that refused to submit to her ministrations. It wasn't enough 一 her fingers a poor substitute for his. How she longed to feel his long thick digits stretching her to completion, the cold bite of his rings against her fiery skin as he pleasured her.
She sucked in a heady breath as she concentrated on her self gratification. She let the sound of his intoxicating voice spur her movements against herself, hearing the rough promise of his words trying to coax her release from her. But even that wasn't enough to send her over the edge.
"Killian…" His name fell like a desperate prayer from her lips, her voice pleading for her to find her satisfaction, anything to quell the burning sensation in her body. Still her body still refused to yield itself to her desires, stubbornly fighting back against her as if she knew she wasn't him. "Killian… I need you…"
She dragged a finger through her sodden folds, parting herself to give her access to where she needed it most. She squirmed helplessly as she sank a single digit into her sopping sex, pumping in and out in time with her movements against her clit. She added a second finger, fucking herself as she curled them upward in search for that spot inside her that would no doubt send her careening toward her finish.
She let out an undignified moan as she stroked her curved her fingers toward herself to the thought of him penetrating her, branding her with his touch, the hot press of him inside her like an unspoken covenant between them. She continued to thrust inside of herself, riding her fingers as she diligently rubbed the delicate flesh above her sex. She would no longer be denied of its pleasure, she pressed her lips together in determination, feeling the pressure building inside of her, the muscles in her body flexing with the effort.
She howled his name in the throes of her orgasm, overcome by the sensations coursing through her body done by her own hand. She worked herself through her climax, her movements slowing and easing her down from her high until convulsions finally subsided.
She released her fingers from her body and rolled over, her back falling sated against the mattress as she pushed itself into his soothing embrace. She glared up at the ceiling, her chest heaving as the relief flooded through her. While she was able to bring herself to orgasm, it was evident more than ever that his promise rung true 一 he had sufficiently and irrevocably ruined her.
Speaking of the insufferable arrogant pirate, where was he?
She swung her legs over the bed, craning her neck toward the door in search for any sign of life but found none save the boisterous commotion coming from the bar below the inn. She stood to her feet, tiptoeing around the room as she looked at the packages containing clothing scattered around the floor.
Her eyes flashed back toward the door, knitting her eyebrows together in frustration. If he wasn't going to return, she would just have to go down and fetch him herself. She set her mouth into a thin line and bent forward, gathering the packages in her arms and dropped them down on the bed. Her eyes scanned over the packages before her 一 there were quite a few of them 一 in all shapes and sizes. He must have spent a small fortune to procure it for her.
She reached for the smallest parcel, wanting to begin with the least intimidating of all the wrapped burlap packages and dragged it toward her. Her fingers worked the knots of free and unfolded the burlap, slowly revealing its contents.
She was stunned by what she found 一 she knew there was just cause and a need for the cheeky garments staring up at her but the thought of their existence had barely crossed her mind 一 until now. Sitting before her was a pair of silky bloomers with delicate lace frills on the ends. However, they were far shorter than she was accustomed to.
She plucked it from the bed and held it up, inspecting thoroughly before folding it and placing it to the side. The package also contained a less formal pair of underwear constructed out of a fine white cotton.
The next item she pulled out was chemise, a single undergarment that consisted of thin white cotton shorts attached to a ruffled camisole with thick straps and held together at the chest with strings. She dug through the remaining articles of clothing in the package finding two identical white sheath dresses with a loose neckline that could be tied up.
She discarded the dressing gowns and retrieved another package, giving it the same treatment as she did its predecessor. Tucked away inside it was a plain white pleated corset meant to be worn over the chemise. Next to it were two pairs of stockings, one longer than the other. The long white pair with the ruffled hem and accented with a black bow went over the knee while the other intended to be worn at mid-calf and bore the same design as the other, only with a red bow instead of black.
After placing the corset and stocking with the rest of the clothing, she reached for the heaviest package and tore it open. Inside was footwear. The first item was a pair of delicate white linen slippers with an intricate flower design crocheted onto the top. She picked them up, turning them over in her hand, raking her eyes over them appreciatively. She had to hand it to him 一 he had good taste.
The next pair of shoes were a pair of ankle length brown lace-up boots. She glanced at them curiously and then set them aside to pull the final pair of shoes from its packaging. She raised the item above her head, dangling it away from her in obvious distaste. There they were 一 thick leather boots the folded at the knee that resembled those often worn by pirates. She should have known. The presence of the last pair of shoes gave her pause, filling her with dread at what the remaining parcels contained.
She drew the next one toward her, thrusting it open to find a thick brown linen travelling cloak complete with a large hood. She pulled it out the never ending fabric, noticing the matching leather gloves that unexpectedly fell from the cloak. At least he thought to provide her with gloves 一 that was rather considerate of him.
She set her eyes upon the final two packages, unsure of which one to select first. She ended up reaching for the one to her left, pulling it toward her and tugging it open. The first thing she saw was a teal linen skirt that would fall at her ankles. Underneath it was feminane looking brown leather doublet, a matching belt, and a white cotton shirt. She had never worn anything like it before but it suited her nonetheless.
She replaced that package with the final one and untied it, pushing the burlap aside to find several items tucked away inside it. She pulled out each item with hesitation and spread them out on the bed to take a good look at how the ensemble should be assembled and worn.
Each item she laid out confirmed her suspicions and the motives behind its selection. She drew in a sharp intake of breath at the sight of each article of clothing sprawled on the bed before her, regarding each item carefully as she ascertained its intended purpose. There it was 一 the dreaded pirate outfit that she had anticipated 一 however confronting it was far more disastrous than she was led to believe.
Everything screamed pirate to her 一 the skin tight black leather pants, the loose fitting soft linen shirt with exaggerated puffed sleeves and its deep neckline, the black leather corset that was meant to go around her waist and rested just below her breasts and the long dark green, almost blue suede overcoat with similar detailing to his and could be fastened at the waist.
"Predictable." She murmured, running her fingers over the material of the coat, admiring the fine craftsmanship that went into making it. It was gorgeous no doubt, but it was more apparent the more than she stared at what she believed to be traditional pirate garb. She imagined that this wasn't their everyday getup, but the only pirate she had any reference to dressed just as suave as he was dangerous.
Emma let out a long sigh and turned her attention to the silk bloomers, grabbing them and began slipping them over her legs. If she was going to confront his disappearance, she might as well dress appropriately.
She cautiously crept down the stairs, her hand gliding against the railing as she tiptoed on her descent. With one hand braced against the railing, she peered around the wall, taking stock of everything going on beyond her position. She glanced around, craning her neck to get a better look at the crowded room of the pub.
There were several people sitting at the long wooden tables, conversing among themselves as they shared a tankard of ale. She noticed the serving wenches carrying trays filled with mugs with beverages spilling over the rims of their glasses. The men seated in the pub were loud and boisterous as they indulged themselves in everything that tavern had to offer 一 including the women.
She turned her attention to a particularly noisy bunch that gathered around a single table as they engaged in whatever was going on in front of them. She couldn't make out what they were saying or what they were watching, their large bodies obstructing her view, but the jeers of the men surrounding the table piqued her curiosity.
She looked around, her eyes darting to the faces in the room from where she was standing but there was someone missing 一 where was Killian?
Hugging the wall, she slowly made her way out from the darkened stairwell to change her vantage point to find the pirate that evaded her. She averted her gaze from the men that sat at the tables she passed along her way. She was slowly narrowing her search and the farther she went, the more obvious her suspicions became.
Emma cut through the middle of the tavern, drawn to the chaos and searched for a way inside. She pressed her lips together in frustration as she jumped up and down between the men's shoulders so she could get a better look, but failed miserably. She pouted, her expression quickly turning into one of sheer determination as she pushed her sleeves up to her elbows and began to push her way through the crowd.
She squeezed between the large bodies, gritting her teeth as she used her hands to make a hole for herself. She stumbled forward as she met the other end, nearly hitting her knees against the bench and righted herself before looking up to see what the commotion was about.
Sitting at the table was none other than her pirate 一 his hand on the handle of a metal glass and his arm wrapped around the waist of a shady bar wench, holding her firming in his lap. Her mouth parted in shock at what she saw, wincing in pain at the sight of his arm around another woman as he moved to pick up a pair of dice, shaking it in his hand.
"Blow darling." He offered the dice in his hand to the wench grinding against his lap.
The wench bent forward, pressing her lips together, a steady stream of breath leaving her mouth and then pushed herself upright as Killian tickled her side eliciting a string of giggles from her.
Emma swallowed hard, her head bowed at the scene before her. Tears gathered in her eyes and she wrapped her arms around herself protectively to push down the painful feelings that threatened her.
The men cheered around him and he curled his lip confidently, meeting the stares of the audience gathered around him when his eyes fell upon Emma. His face dropped, his mouth hanging limply at the sight of her. He released the dice from his hand thoughtlessly, sending them hurdling over the table as the men applauded his good luck.
The wench followed his gaze, turning down her nose at the presence of the woman standing in front of them.
The words died in his mouth as he eyed her, noting her appearance. She was dressed in the clothing he had selected for her 一 a pair of leather breeches that hugged every curve of her body, the off-white linen shirt tucked at the waist, the material hanging loosely off her body and the neckline dipping low enough to give him a preview of her ample chest. All of it was synched at the waist with a leather corset showing off her sensual figure.
He could barely enjoy how impossibly gorgeous she looked because he couldn't get over the fact that he had blatantly disobeyed his order to stay in the room. He met her gaze, a dozen emotions crossing his face 一 shame, disappointment, lust, anger, fear. He clenched his jaw, the more prominent of the emotions surging through him and taking over.
She closed her eyes under his apparent irritation and let out a shallow breath before whirling around and fighting her way out of the crowd with her elbows, capturing the attention of everyone around her. Her lower lip trembled, her vision clouded with the salty tears pricking her eyes as she rushed toward the staircase and stomped up the stairs to get away as fast as possible.
Killian gripped the edge of the table, seething in anger where he sat. He was mad at himself for his neglect, mad at her for defying his orders to stay out of sight, and mad at the situation she had just walked in on. He grimaced, his eyes briefly closing as he cursed himself. He needed to deal with this.
"Up, love." He tapped the woman's side, urging her to move.
She pouted in disappointment and proceeded to wrap her arms around his neck, turning his head toward her to focus his attention. "Ignore her. I'll give you what you want." She promised with a suggestive tone.
Killian turned his head, his face nearly flush with hers, a dark and irate look in his eye. "I said move." He scowled, a low menacing growl emanating from his throat. He could see the look of fear in her eyes as she trembled in his lap. When she didn't move to get up, he pried her arms from around his neck and shoved her away as she squeaked.
He stood from the table, his eyes darting around the room to assess the wayward stares of the onlookers that had witnessed the exchange. Placing his palms firmly on the table, he craned his neck out to see a group of men leaning forward across the table, mumbling amongst themselves as they stared at him speculatively.
Bloody hell.
He fumed, hollowing out his cheeks as he swung his leg over the bench and rounded the group in the direction of the stairs. He stormed up the stairs, his forearm pressed against his lower back, lifting his leather duster from his body upon his ascent.
He turned the corner, stomping down the hall until he finally reached the door to their room. He thrust it open and slammed the door behind him. He noticed the way she flinched at his entrance, her back tensing in fear at his reappearance.
Emma tilted her head up, blinking back her tears, a hand perched on her hip. Wordlessly, she rolled her head forward, sweeping her palm against her forehead as she waited anxiously for the response she knew was coming.
Killian flung the jacket off his shoulders, letting it fall lifelessly to the floor as he pushed his hands through his hair to steel himself. He ran his hand down his face, holding his chin before launching a stern arm into the air. "What the devil were you thinking?" He hollered, his tone intense and direct.
He huffed in frustration, his jaw twitching in indignation as he strode toward her and gripped her waist tightly from behind. "Look at me while I'm speaking to you."
She bent forward, her eyes cast down against the floor, choking on a sob as she was roughly turned around.
"Do you have any idea what you've done? You just put us both at risk!" He exclaimed, leaning in so she could feel his hot angry breath on her face, his proximity making her shiver in dread. "How can you be so bloody selfish? This isn't just about you anymore. Your actions directly affect me as well." He lectured coldly.
"You are walking, breathing loot. Do you honestly think you don't have people looking for you?" He breathed rapidly, blood rushing to his face as he yelled. "These guidelines aren't meant to punish you. Everything I do is for your safety as well as mine." He drug his finger into his chest.
"You directly went against my orders!" He shook with fury, his accent getting thicker with rage. He walked back and forth, his hands thrown in the air. He stopped in front of her, placing his hands on his temples, a mystified expression on his face. "And for the life of me, I can't understand why…" He wondered, removing his hands from his face dramatically as he sighed in exasperation.
Emma stared at him blankly, peering up at him in shame as she swayed slightly. "I was worried when you didn't come back." She offered softly, her voice barely above a whisper.
"As if that is an excuse." He barked, berating her for her careless actions. "Do you hate me so much that you wish me dead? Because that will happen if you are found. They will take you and kill me and they will do it without a shred of remorse." He gritted out. "To them, you are the ultimate prize. Everything I've done is to keep you safe. Have I given you any just cause to doubt that?"
"No…" She stammered.
"Then what the blazes were you thinking?" He bellowed.
She pressed her lips together, scowling as she recalled the position she had found him in. She set her shoulders, straightening herself confidently in preparation of calling him out on his own indiscretions. "You dare lecture me about my place when I find you downstairs gambling and carrying on… a wench propped in your lap!" She asserted in accusation.
He curled his lip, the corners of his mouth twitching in acknowledgement. "So this is what this is about." He pondered, tilting his head. "Since when do you care what I do?" He pressed on, waving his hand.
She stared him down, glowering as she stood, unmoving and unyielding.
He sauntered over to her, leaning down to look her directly in the eye. "Last time I checked princess, I didn't need your permission." He growled. "Although I must say your jealousy is absolutely intoxicating." He flared his nostrils, breathing in her scent.
She snapped her head away from him, cringing as she held back her tears.
"If I didn't know any better, I'd say that you indulged in yourself while I was away…" He smirked in recognition. "It is nice to be missed." He whispered huskily before circling her slowly, glaring at her preditorially. "Did you bury your fingers in that sweet cunt of yours?" He leaned forward, his cheek brushing her hair. "Did you cry my name when you came? Imagining it was me bringing you pleasure rather than your hand?" He taunted, delighting in the way her eyes screwed shut and trembled at the sound of his words.
"What a naughty girl." He scolded. "I wonder what mommy and daddy would think knowing that their precious daughter fucks herself to the thought of a pirate between her legs?" He rasped, eliciting a concealed moan from her lips.
He chuckled in amusement at how she responded to him, shaking his head as he strolled away from her, leaving her a hot quivering mess where she stood. Killian plucked the buttons of his vest, and shrugged it off his shoulders letting it pool at the floor before whirling around and plopping himself in a chair near the door.
He curled his lip deviantly, his eyes as dark as night casting out an aura of unmistakable arrogance. Killian didn't take his eyes off of her, regarding her carefully as began to untangle the laces of his leather pants. He watched her eyes widen at his brazenness, reveling in her discomfort as he lifted his hips from the chair so he could push his pants until they bunched underneath the curve of his ass.
His cock sprung free, the hard flesh unabashedly standing at attention against the prominent muscles of his abdomen. "See something you like?" He directed her attention to the appendage between his legs, flashing her a cocky grin.
"What are you doing?" She murmured quietly, her words leaving her mouth slowly.
Killian adjusted himself in the chair, leaning back as he gripped himself in his hand and began to languidly stroke himself. "What does it look like I'm doing?" He mused, his eyes darting down to his swollen member.
"Is that absolutely necessary?" She fidgeted in place, her thighs clenching in desire at the sight of him touching himself.
"Turnabout is fair play darling." He reminded her slyly, his words rolling sensually off his silver tongue as he caressed himself. "You can watch if you'd like, I do enjoy a captive audience." He told her, the rough timbre of his voice unsettling to the ear as he boldly worked his hand up and down his shaft.
"Or if you'd rather join… you know speed the process along… that can be arranged." He canted his head to the side, enjoying the pink in her inflamed cheeks as she looked on intently. "I would love nothing more than your full and prompt participation. Why don't you come here so I can put that troublesome little mouth of yours to good use." He continued to fist himself in earnest.
"I am positively giddy at the thought of your lips wrapped around me." He hummed impudently, his mouth parting in pleasure as he rubbed his thumb over his sensitive tip. "The feeling of you swallowing me down your throat, choking on my cock." He thrust up into his hand, rocking forward against the movements of his fist. "Your lips are so ripe… so soft… so insatiable…" He snapped his hips up into his grip, sighing in pleasure.
"Does the thought of my cock fucking your delicious mouth excite you?" He taunted, jerking his hand along his rigid length. "Are you ashamed at wanting to be on your knees in front of me just begging for me to fill your greedy little mouth?" He deliberately gave himself a firm squeeze, his eyes gazing at her longingly from where he sat.
"Don't deny that you want it. I can see it in your eyes. The desire to be claimed and dominated. It must make you ill how desperately you want me." He tossed her a haughty smirk and licked his lips vulgarly at her expense. "I can smell the arousal wafting off you clear across the room." He remarked as he vigorously began to pump himself in his hand, the sounds of his pleasure tumbling from his lips.
"Don't you want to taste me? Feel the sensation of me pouring myself down your throat? I've spent time between those gorgeous thighs of yours, eating you, gorging myself on your cunt and your highly addictive taste." He baited her, his lithe hand jerking up into the movements of his hips. "Wouldn't you care to show me the same hospitality that I have given you? You are such a well-mannered and gracious royal host. You wouldn't want to disrespect your distinguished guest, would you?" He supplied tactfully.
"It is the honorable thing to do… dine with your company..." He said suggestively, his gaze piercing right through her. She blinked rapidly, pressing her legs together desperately trying to temper her exhausting labido.
"Come sit between my legs." He offered, tugging his cock tightly in his hand, groaning at the acknowledgement of how utterly wrecked she was by his erotic display of self gratification. He leered, his body positively aching and straining for her nearness as she approached him carefully.
"That's it." He waved her over, his cock twitching with excitement at the prospect. He lazily glided his hand along his aching member, watching with hooded eyes as she wordlessly sank to her knees in front of him. He groaned at the sight of her submission, rocking himself up into his hand as the pleasure coiled tightly in his belly.
She watched with rapt fascination as he pandered to her sense of sexual curiosity by speeding his thrusts, her eyes roaming the length of his heavy flesh.
He hissed at his impending release, his body bowing forward as he inched his cock toward her mouth, brushing it against her lips expectantly. His groans of appreciation reverberated in his chest, the need growing and buzzing inside him. He reached around her head, cupping the back of it to guide her to his waiting cock.
"Open for me love, I'm close." He bid her, his voice wrecked beyond belief. He adjusted his grip at the back of her head, stretching his hand so that he could brush his thumb against her quaking lips, silently begging for his admittance.
Emma gave in to his requisition, her keen interest getting the best of her and slowly parted her mouth for him.
"Wider." He moaned, his hips desperately craning for more contact as he pressed himself impatiently against her mouth. "Please." He begged. "You have no idea what seeing you like this does to me." He growled out.
Sensing his unbearable need, she complied, prying her mouth apart so that the head of his throbbing cock rested between her lips.
He felt his balls constrict at the sensation of her warm breath on his erect flesh. "Ah." The breathy moan left his mouth as he jerked himself hotly into her mouth, spurting his release down her throat. He held her against him, milking himself dry between her lips.
She nearly choked as his thick salty seed gathered in her mouth, her eyes opening and closing as she waited for him to eject himself from between her lips. She stared up at him, blinking rapidly at his darkened expression.
He tugged himself, marveling at how beautiful she looked at that very moment. His eyes narrowed as he watched the pained expression in her face and decided to pull himself away from her. He noticed the conflict rising inside her, unsure of what she was supposed to do with the substance sloshing inside her mouth.
She opened her mouth slowly, feeling his essence drip down her chin and was immediately caught off guard when he leaned forward and clasped her mouth shut by holding her jaw in place. A few strained tears leaked from her eyes, a confused expression crashing over her innocent face.
"Swallow, love." He beckoned, his hand holding her neck, as he delicately rubbed her throat encouragingly. "That's it." He commended, watching with captivating fascination as she began to gulp him down, his come sliding down her throat. "There's a good girl. Swallow… Swallow… Swallow." He caressed her throat, aiding her in her efforts as she dutifully drank down him until nothing remained.
He released his hold on her and she sank back, falling backward onto her butt as she gasped, looking at him skeptically 一 vaguely unsure of how she felt about the intrusion of his release flowing down her throat.
"Bloody marvelous." He mused, his eyes shining with mirth as he took in her state of upheaval. He pushed himself back into his leather pants and stood up from his chair, striding over to where she sat on the ground.
He crouched down beside her, searching her face and reached a tentative hand toward her chin. He swiped his thumb through the mess residing there and collected it on his finger before sucking it between his lips, tasing himself on his tongue. He hummed in appreciation at the taste, noting the way her eyes darkened with lust at the sight of him enjoying himself.
"You did well darling. Perhaps another day I can make good on my promise to fuck you…" He stroked her lips with the pad of his thumb, gently parting them. He staggered to his feet and stretched, rolling his head. "You should get some sleep. We will need to have an early start tomorrow thanks to your irresponsible actions." He proposed as he began lacing up his trousers.
"You mean you aren't going to take care of me?" She questioned, disappointment and frustration evident in her voice.
"Fraid not." He stroked her cheek, feigning a pout at her expense.
She growled and pushed him away from her. "You foul egotistical retch!" She seethed angrily. "You used me!" She shrieked.
"Oh, I'm sorry." He fake whimpered. "Did I lead you to believe that I was going to return the favor?" He paced around the room dramatically before coming to stand in front of her. He loomed over her, tilting his head to the side, inspecting her face as he tugged his lower lip into his mouth. "Consider this a reminder of the consequences if you were to further anger or otherwise vex me."
He seemed rather pleased with himself as he tugged her to his body and pressed his lips against her hair. "Goodnight darling."
Emma was surprised when Killian didn't join her in the bed. Instead, he situated him in the chair at the door, keeping a watchful eye out for intruders. He sat in silent vigil, one ear trained toward the door for any movement outside. He placed his pistol in his lap as he methodically cleaned and sharpened his cutlass.
She curled into herself, her body moving restlessly against the mattress as she listened to the faint sounds of the flattened stone grading against the sharp steel of his blade.
"You should really be asleep." He murmured from his chair.
Her eyes snapped open at the sound of his voice and she moved to cover her nudity with the sheet, drawing it around her chest to temper his gawking. "I could say the same for you." She countered. "You'll need your strength for the journey ahead." She reminded him.
"As much as I would love to sleep." He raised his blade and blew air against it to remove the fine shards of rock from its cold exterior. "Your safety is and will always be my top priority." He stated, inspecting the cutlass in his hand, admiring the freshly chiseled curve.
She rolled onto her back and arranged herself against the headboard, staring at him from the bed. "It is a lot of effort to protect someone you see as loot." She said callously. "I suppose you want to be praised for your courage and commitment then?"
"Someone is still quite bitter about earlier." He noted as an awkward silence drifted between them.
Emma pulled her knees against her chest, hugging them to her body and placed her head against them. "Did she mean anything to you?" She asked, her voice shaky and despondent. "The wench on your lap."
Killian's face slack at the mention of his tavern companion and paused for a moment. He relinquished his grip on his cutlass and set it down beside him for safe keeping. "Does it really make a difference to you?"
She popped her head out to face him directly. "What if I were to say yes?" She implied softly.
"Then I'd think it foolish to bother yourself with such trivial things." He responded, wondering if she could sense his hesitation along with the internal struggle waging within him.
"I think I have the right to know if you are bedding other women besides me." She spoke up.
"And what if I am? It is of no concern to you." He replied dismissively, side-eyeing her determination to stay on the subject. "I know I am a man and I have needs. But do I strike you as a man who relentlessly fucks anything that moves?" He supplied, his eyebrows knitting together at the implication of her words. "I wouldn't have just fucked myself in front of you had I just bedded the wench."
As if he would want anyone else but her, he thought to himself.
"Oh…" She acknowledged solemnly.
"Yes. Oh." He agreed gruffly.
She continued to hold herself protectively to her chest, chancing glances in his direction every so often.
"Go to sleep Emma." He chided. "One of us should be well rested for the day ahead."
"Can't sleep." She provided meekly.
"I am charged with your safety. Last time I checked, the job description didn't require a lullaby." He grumbled, leaning back into the chair, a long sigh on his lips.
"Will you hold me?" She murmured anxiously, fearful of his answer. "I know you have to stay awake but I was wondering if you might be able to do that here?"
"The proximity to the door gives me the best chance to defend us should we be attacked. Besides, the bed provides far too much temptation to sleep." He rebuffed her quiet request.
"Please?" She pleaded with him.
Killian inhaled sharply, closing his eyes briefly in turmoil. There was part of him that was invested in the task at hand and another part, a much larger part of him that was using his defense of their bed chambers as an excuse to distance himself from her.
"Fine." He relented with gritted teeth. He got up from the chair, his pistol dangling limply from his hand as he made his way to the bed. He stopped beside her, peering down at her longingly.
She blinked up at him, feeling vulnerable in his captive gaze. She curved herself into his touch as he stroked her face gently with the back of his hand.
"Scoot over, love." He whispered.
She complied, shoving herself to the side to make room for him as he took a seat on the edge of the bed before swinging his legs over to position himself on top of it.
He placed himself against the headboard, cracking his neck to the side as he adjusted himself comfortably. He lifted his arms slightly, watching intently as she snuggled herself into his body and placed her head on his chest.
She let out a satisfied breath, nestling herself against him on her side as she tucked her hands underneath her head. She breathed in his strong masculine scent, letting the fragrance of salt, sweat, and spiced rum wash over and comfort her.
He dropped his arm around her as she settled herself into his embrace and couldn't help the small smile tugging at the corners of her lips as she visibly relaxed. "Better?"
She nodded, humming contentedly as she began to drift off to sleep.
Killian tilted his head against her, resting his cheek against the top of her head as he listened to her steady breathing. "Sleep now, love." He advised, leaning back against the headboard and placed his pistol against his thigh, ready to strike at the first sound of danger.
They woke before dawn, dressing quickly and tearing through the room to pack their bags before quietly slipping out. Killian guided her down the hall and down the stairs, his head darting from right to left to make sure the area was clear before proceeding. He adjusted the bag on his back with one arm wrapped protectively around her waist and the other hoisting his pistol in the air.
The tavern was near empty when they emerged from the stairwell. The chairs were perched on top of the table and the staff was busy cleaning up after the long night, however, there were a few stragglers passed out at the tables. "This way." He gestured his head toward the back exit. "Stay close, love. We will stay off the main roads until we reach the stables."
She did as he instructed, not making as much as a sound as they ventured through the back alleys, stopping every now and then when Killian shoved them up against a wall to keep them in the shadows before continuing.
They made haste, quickly coming up on the stables at the farm where they had left the horse. They could make it out in the distance and sprinted toward it with determination. "Go. Go." He shoved her toward the stables, urging her to run ahead so that he could survey the area around them.
He trudged on behind her, slowed by the heavy pack on his back. He made it to the stable, dropping the bag with an audible thump and immediately bent forward, placing his head between his knees as he breathed hard.
He got up, still tired from the trek here and cracked his back before heading into the stable to saddle up the horse. "Emma?" He called out, his voice low as he held out his hand cautiously, looking into the stables for any sign of movement. He drew his pistol and cocked the barrel of the gun as he stepped quietly.
Emma could feel the stiff body digging into her back as he tugged her tightly to him, a hand firmly clasped over her mouth to muffle her terrified screams. With her hands curled around her forearm, she blinked a few tears from her eyes, struggling against her captor.
Killian pulled his lips together, summoning a whistle from his lips that caught the attention of several horses. They bucked and stamped inside their berths, giving him enough cover to rush toward the stall containing their horse. He thrust open the doors, weapon at the ready and tightened his grip around it as he took in the sight before him.
"Take one more step and I sever an artery" He threatened, a knife poised at her throat.
Killian watched Emma thrash and scream against him, her eyes wide with fear.
"Easy there, mate." He warned, pacing the entrance of the stall, never taking his eyes off the man as he sized him up. "Let her go. You and I both know you need her alive." Killian said assuredly, his hand drifting to the hilt of his cutlass.
The man scoffed at Killian's attempt to save the woman and tightened his grip around her, reveling in her screams reverberating against the palm of his sweaty hand. "You are a pretty one, aren't you?" He noted, inhaling her scent.
Killian took a careful step toward them only to have the man pierce her with the blade he wielded. "Don't!" Killian cried desperately, meeting her frightened eyes. "It's okay." He mouthed and she nodded tearfully. His fingers twitched against the trigger of his pistol and aimed it at the man, not allowing him a second to respond and fired.
The bullet left the gun, a plume of smoke rising from the barrel upon its ejection.
Emma screwed her eyes shut, grimacing as she waited for impact. She felt a warm splatter of blood hit her back and the side of her face. Her aggressors hand slid from her mouth as he fell backward and she stumbled forward toward Killian, sobbing with overwhelming shock as she tried to process what had just happened.
"Killian!" She screamed, she staggered backward, cupping her mouth as she watched another man launch himself toward him, a sword raised above his head to avenge the death of his comrade.
Killian looked over his shoulder, jaw set dangerously as he expertly unsheathed his cutlass. He whirled around and grasped the man's shoulder with the hand that contained his pistol. Using the hand on the man's shoulder to propel himself forward, he plunged the sharp end of his cutlass straight through his belly.
She gasped in horror at the violent display and blindly reached for something, anything to hold on to because she knew at any moment her legs would betray her and give out.
Aware that the rest of his hunting party was moving in on them, he kept the man upright, using his body to shield his own. Turning to the left he could see a man running toward him. Killian perched the body of his pistol over the dead man's shoulder, ignoring the gurgling emanating from his mouth as he choked on his own blood. Killian narrowed his eyes, lining up his shot and released it, sending the bullet flying through the air to make contact with his intended target.
He watched as the man clambered to the ground a few feet away from him but remained acutely aware of the sound of the steady footsteps of another one of the man's traveling companions. Killian withdrew his sword, the exit wound soaking his face and his chest with blood. He landed a kick to the center of his back, sending him to the ground and turned around to see another man bounding toward him.
Killian met the man's sword with his own, countering his every attack before he sought an opening. While he distracted the man with his cutlass, he raised a slanted elbow and connected it with the man's jaw jolting him backward giving Killian enough time to land a final blow.
Emma braced herself against the door of the stall, shaking, silently pleading for it to end. She watched on as Killian ran his blade into the other man with a converted grunt and removed his cutlass before pushing him to the ground.
He stood there, his chest heaving rapidly as he took in his surroundings, searching for a lingering threat. "They knew we were coming here." He evaluated, rubbing his mouth against the sleeve of his leather jacket before returning his cutlass to his scabbard.
He turned around to see Emma bent forward, tears streaming down her face as she struggled to stay upright. He thrust his pistol into his trousers and leapt over the dead bodies of their attackers, rushing over to where she was cowering against the door of the stall.
He cupped her face in his hands, searching her face. "Emma, love? Are you okay?" He asked, brushing her hair back to check for any sign of injury. "Are you okay!" He pleaded with her, his tone desperate and worried when she didn't open her mouth to answer him.
She nodded fervently, sniffling as she collapsed in his arms, sobbing into his chest.
Relief flooded through him as he wrapped her in his arms, holding her tightly against him. "It's okay, I've got you. I've got you. You're alright." He reassured her, rubbing soothing circles against her back as he placed his head on her shoulder.
"Let's get you out of here, aye?" He suggested, rubbing his hands up and down her sides to calm her. He released her and moved to stand beside her. Wrapping his arm around her waist to brace some of her weight against him, helping her to walk toward the entrance of the stables. "You're going to be fine, lass."
She knew she shouldn't look back at the carnage he had created, but she did so anyway. Looking over her shoulder she could see several bodies sprawled lifelessly on the ground, their life's blood flowing out onto the floor beneath them and staining the hay strewn about the stable.
She sagged against him, all the blood but drained from her face leaving her as white as a sheet. Her vision was hazy and she felt helplessly dizzy as she looked dead ahead, her mind heavy with what had just transpired.
She had just witnessed him kill four people all in order to protect her, but the part that bothered her the most was his reaction to it all. There was nothing. He felt nothing. No remorse. No dread. No culpability for his actions. He was completely devoid of emotion and entirely unphased by the entire ordeal.
The realization hit her like a ton of bricks 一 he was a survivor 一 killing before he could be killed and even worse took enjoyment from it. It was apparent now more than ever that not only had he killed, he was not afraid to kill again. He had revealed himself to her 一 showed his true colors 一 and they resembled that of a pirate's black flag.