this chappie is dedicated to Manson who celebrated her birthday recently :) sorry for the late update and thank you readers for reading!
Chapter 7: The Chest
I climb out of Jack's bed - that sounds odd - and see that I still have my dress on. Phew. It just slipped off a shoulder a bit. I pull it back up and make my way for the door. And freeze. What am I going to say to him? I don't know, but I don't want to walk around ignoring him. I open the door and walk down the hallway and up onto the deck.
I can see people, probably Jack's crew all carrying things onto the ship. Some people are rolling barrels onto the ship, others are holding bottles, some carrying fruit and some people are passing things to the next person and then the next, until it gets to the person on the ship. Items such as bags, sacks, boxes - all probably containing provisions.
I can see Gibbs further down the ship ordering where the barrels should be placed. And then I spot Jack. He's almost right in front of me. He's leaning over the side of the ship, doing what, I don't know, and he's only a couple of yards away. I approach him cautiously; he has his back to me so this will be easier, and stop a few yards behind him. I don't know what I'm going to say but I take in a deep breath.
"Jack, I don't know how I'm going to say this, but-"
"Crystie!"
Jack swirls around and sees me and then hugs me. As he comes closer I get a very strong whiff of rum. Oh no. He draws back and I see that in his hand he's clutching a bottle. A very empty bottle.
"Lovely to see you! Thought you might've flown away!"
Ok. I wanted to be able to talk to him easily - but not this easily. He's so drunk he probably won't remember what I say! He's probably just as bad as me. Well, if he is, that means that at this moment he's prone to be honest...
"Jack, how many of those have you had?" I ask, pointing at the bottle.
"Only a few love!" He answers, stepping back and then swaying forward. "There's still plenty more! Want some?"
He offers me the empty bottle and I take it and chuck it over the ship. Jack blinks at me.
"You're very... very... very..." Jack sways and then puts a hand on my shoulder. "Beau... Beau... Beaul... Beaut, erm-"
"Jack," If he says what I think he wants to say, it won't matter to me. How many times have men called me beautiful when they're drunk? As many fish that have swam the ocean. He's drunk. It won't apply to me whatever he says. "I think you've had too much."
"Of course I have, love. The vase says so!"
What?! He's completely lost it.
"No, I mean, you've had too much to drink. Why did you start drinking anyway? You need to organize this ship."
"Well, lass," Jack whispers to me, stinking of rum, "There's a girl in my cabin who unnerved me. Said some stuff about me ship."
"Oh?" He recognises me, but he doesn't know that he's talking about me. This is weird.
"Doesn't like my black sails."
That's not true. I never actually said that I didn't like black sails. They're alright.
"So, I shouted at her 'cause I was mad, ye see, I didn't mean it, I didn', an' now I think she doesn't want to talk to me."
Aww! He's so sweet.
"Is there any other reason for her not to talk to you?" I got to know. I want to know if he's aware about how I felt when he questioned me talking about Will.
"No, jus' 'cause I yelled at her."
Damn. He only knows half of the reason to why I'm angry. Was, angry. He's too drunk for me to still be angry with him.
"Do you know who Will is?" I ask.
"Will? Will. Aye , I do- hang on, no, I don't."
He always confuses me.
"Do you know who Will Turner is?"
"Will, no. Turner, yes."
I don't think I can make sense of him when he's drunk or when he's normal.
"Are you going to apologise to the girl in the cabin about how you shouted at her?" Ok, I know I'm taking advantage of him 'cause he's drunk but I really want to know where this is headed. I want to sort this out.
Jack puts a finger to the left edge of his lips and looks as if he's considering. Why does he have to look so hot when he's considering something?!
Suddenly, without warning, his eyes close and he collapses on top of me, all his weight landing on me. He's just passed out. I manage to catch him just in-time but I need help otherwise I'm going to collapse under his weight. His head is on my shoulder and my arms are around his back, trying to hold him up.
"Gibbs!" I call; he's the only person I know who can help me.
"Gibbs!" I yell again, still no answer. I swear he was still sorting out the barrels. Jack is very heavy. And warm. His cheek is really warm...
"GIIBBBSSS!!" I scream, with all the volume I can produce, while a human sack is dragging me down. I hear running footsteps and Gibbs appears in front of me.
"Oh no." He says, staring at Jack's collapsed body.
"Oh yes." I say, I'm going to fall, I just know it. I might as well fall on the floor now.
"We were supposed to leave tonight!"
"Gibbs, could you help me, please!"
"Oh! Aye, sorry, miss." Gibbs grabs Jacks' legs.
"No! We're going to have to turn him around!"
"Put him on the ground first."
We slowly put Jack's body onto the floor and Gibbs rolls Jack around so that he's lying on his back. Jack's face looks so peaceful and tranquil. Like he's dreaming...
"You're going to have to drag him by the arms an' I'll have to carry his legs..."
"Right."
I pull at Jack's arms and Gibbs pulls at his legs and I pray that we don't stretch him. We carry him down to his cabin and I manage to open the door and carry him onto the bed.
"We should put him into the bed..." Gibbs says, looking uncomfortable. I wonder why. We put Jack on the floor, throw back the blanket and sheets, where I'd just been, and just as I reach for Jack's arms Gibbs interrupts me.
"Miss?"
"Crystal, erm, I don't know how I should say this, but... you have to undress him an' then put him in the bed."
Ok, I don't know how I should say this but;
"What?!"
"Jack doesn't like going to bed wearing clothes."
"What?!" I say, even more surprised with the second statement than the first.
"An' I can't undress him, 'cause, well, look I'm a man." Gibbs looks really really uncomfortable. "What would people say if they saw me undressing' Jack? What if Jack woke while I was undressing' him? I'd have him to answer to. And we're pirates, so we must abide the code. And-"
"Why can't we just leave Jack in the bed with clothes?" It does seem a good idea and I must say it to make it sound like I'm not keen, but truthfully, my mind and body has been racing ever since he's said that I have to undress Jack. I, have to undress Jack. Me.
"Jack doesn't like sleeping with clothes on and he'll be angry when he wakes up. I don't want a grumpy Captain on our first day at sea. Undress him and then we'll put him in the bed. Or jus' take off his jacket, shirt an' shoes."
Gibbs leaves not letting me say anything else and my mind stirs. Still, just his jacket, shirt and shoes are enough for me. I study his face for a moment, while I can, making use of the fact that he's drunk and that he'll never know whatever I do. I look at the closed door, and then back at Jack. I can do anything I want and the thought is very tantalizing but Gibbs is going to come back soon to help me lift him on the bed so I really should get started. But, I just want to stroke his face...
I put a hand on his warm cheek and feel his heat pass to my hand. I take off his hat and chuck it onto his desk. I stroke his hair the way he stroked mine not so long ago. I closely inspect some of his beads. I then remove his brown boots and place them at the foot of his desk. I look at his body just lying there and I wonder what would happen if I knew Gibbs wasn't going to come back. The thought is enough to stimulate something inside me, which shouldn't be stimulated, not now anyway, and so I dismiss the tempting thought.
I pull off his long jacket, helping his arms out of the sleeves. I can feel the muscle in his arms beneath his shirt as I place them by his side. He has such beautiful hands. And such beautiful fingers... My thoughts drift back to when he thought I was asleep and used one of those gentle fingers to outline my lips. I shudder. Half from memory and half from realising that he is in exactly the same position I was and that he too could be pretending. I fold the jacket and place it on his desk. If he's not asleep and he knows that I've touched his cheek I'm going to jump into the sea."Jack?" I whisper. "Jack?"
He doesn't give any reaction. I put a hand in his shirt and on his heart and feel it beat. I then lean over him and stretch his shirt so that I can put my ear on his heart. I have never heard anything so soothing and beautiful. And I never felt anything so warm and soft. I sigh. I could get caught at any moment. Jack might wake, Gibbs might come in, Will might burst in - so many things could happen at this very moment and I would have to explain myself but I don't care. This is worth the risk. I sit up and look at his face. His kohl closed eyes. I take a finger and draw his crow black eyebrows. Then his black moustache, only slightly darker than my dark brown hair. I stare at his lips. His soft supple lips. He outlined mine. Shouldn't I repay the favour?
I'm just about to when the door opens and Gibbs sees me kneeling beside him.
"An' whattabout his shirt?"
Gibbs! Reluctantly, I pull off his shirt slowly, helping his toned arms through again. Now, I wish I wouldn't have said reluctantly. I stare in amazement at his golden tanned chest. It's so perfect. Its like-
"We should get him in the bed now."
Thanks a lot Gibbs. I fold the shirt and place it on the desk trying very hard not to look at Jack's chest. I grab his muscular arms, now exposed, and Gibbs grabs his legs, still covered. We slot him into the covers and lay him on his back, with his arms on top of the blanket but with the rest of his body, and chest, covered.
"You better keep watch of him, Crystal. I'm going to have to organize everything now and put the crew on hold. Call me when he wakes."
I don't even object to Gibbs orders. Gibbs leaves and I'm left standing alone in a room with Jack. I look at his golden-brown arms and wonder how they can be so provocative. I think back to me being angry with him but I don't think I can be angry with him. Not now. Not like this. I mean, I upset him myself and hit a raw nerve about his ship. And, after all, he went through a lot to get it.
I look at Jack's arms again and find that they tempt me too much. I have to get this over with. I sit down next to him on the bed and put a hand on his muscular shoulder. I run a finger all the way down his arm to his slender hand. This is excessive. His body just seems to possess me with such an arousing feeling and all he's doing is sleeping. He's just lying here asleep. It's not even his fault. I look at his face again. And his neck. His body brings out so much in me. I think Gibbs shouldn't have left me here. I lean over and kiss Jack's neck. I can't resist. He's just lying here. I've never ever seen something so fascinating. I place my cheek on his warm cheek; glad I can do this while he's asleep and without anyone knowing or without having to feel embarrassed. I draw back, looking at his beautiful structure. I let my mind wonder back to today...
He only questioned me about Will because he was jealous. Jealous. Only according to Gibbs. But Gibbs seems to know him well... I walk over and sit on the chair opposite Jack that I've always seen other people sitting in. I stare at Jack, asleep in his peaceful world. He can't be jealous. And, I suppose that if he is, it's quite flattering... I sit back on this squishy chair, close my eyes and contemplate all this. We'll have to figure it out when he wakes up... I wake to find that I'd fallen asleep. Funny. I wasn't tired. I open my eyes and see Jack in a different position to how he was before I'd fallen asleep. He's sleeping on his side with his back to the wall. One of his muscular, toned, arms is rested bare on the bed. If he's moved, then I suppose he's not in his drunk concussion anymore.
I fell asleep while I was contemplating and I've decided that I'm not going to exploit him because he's drunk. No matter how tempting it is. It would be really bad if I did because I'm making use of his body while he doesn't know about it. That actually sounds wrong.
Anyway, I'm not going to exploit him because he wouldn't exploit me. When I was drunk and I passed out, he didn't exploit me. He just caressed my lips and shoulder but he didn't exploit me. At least, I don't think he did...
I slowly get up off the chair and walk in front of him, around the bed. His arm is just there. Ok, how can I not exploit this guy? He's asleep. He's beautiful. He's unaware.
No. I mustn't. I mustn't I mustn't I mustn't. This is wrong.
But I really want to...
I know what I'll do... I'll bind my hands together... That's it! That's the only way I'll be able to keep my hands off his arm. I know its rash, but that's the only thing I can think of. Now, I wonder if this cabin has any rope anywhere... I go through draws, the cabinet, his desk, under the bed... and none of these places have rope. Damn. I'll just have to not look at him. Keep my eyes away from that tanned, strong, muscular, exotic, golden, tight - alright! I can't take my eyes off him! I think I've gone mad! I keep staring at his arm, then his hand, then his fingers. And his rings. His rings really bewitch me somehow. They just seem so precious like they have a tale or story behind them. I probably just think that because they're on Jack's hand. Actually, I can confirm that I think that they're special because they're on Jack's hand. I crouch down in front of the hand, studying the silver rings. The one with the round black stone in the middle immediately catches my eye and I suddenly have the urge to try it on. Shoot. I really want to try it on. If I try to take it then that will mean touching him. But touching him will mean that I risk waking him up... I ever so carefully slide his hand down so that it grazes the bed covers until it almost reaches the floor as it dangles off the bed. I very gently, very gently, hold his wrist and pull at that ring on his forefinger. It eases off easily which is such a relief. I happily try it on my left hand's middle finger - too small. How slender are his fingers? I then try it on my wedding finger, unintentionally honest, and it fits perfectly. And looks lovely. I stretch out my hand and admire it. Yes, it definitely will have a strong kind of history to it.
My eyes staring at my hand stray to the right - to Jack's sleeping face. I look at his face remembering how I stroked it yesterday. I actually never got a chance to touch his lips. Oh yeah... I was about to, but Gibbs stopped me. I was supposed to repay the favour. But it might wake him up. But if I managed to get a ring off his finger I'm sure I'll be able to just prod his lips? If he wakes up I'll just say that... that... that there was hair on his face or something... yeah...
I reach out with my left hand, still admiring his ring on my finger, and am about to touch the honourable lips of Captain Jack Sparrow when---
"You better put that back, love."
I fall back onto the wooden floor, horrified, mortified and terrified. Yes, terrified. My mouth is hanging open in disbelief as he opens an eye. Ohmigod. He knows? He knew? He knew what I was going to do? He was awake? No, this is awful.
I'm just aghast. I was just about to touch his lips and then I saw them move!! It was shocking enough that I thought he was asleep!
"Crystie,"
I was caught? I was caught?! Oh no!
"Crystie." He opens his other eye.
This is humiliating. And I was going to touch his arm?
"Crystie...?"
I can just stare at his two mesmerising eyes in utter shock. Do I have to apologise? He'll know that I like him! I don't want to lead him on now! I've only known him a few days!
"Crystal?" His voice takes on a more serious tone. "Crystal, ye alright? Its jus' a ring..."
My blood pressure eases. What? Ring? Just a ring? Is he just talking about the ring? I'm trying to think but Jack grabs my wrist and I feel a tingle as he pulls my hand towards him by his sun-kissed, strong arm. I try not to blush as he studies my hand, with his ring on my wedding finger. He raises his eyebrows at me.
"Tell me wha' ideas go on in that 'ead of yours, lass?"
I do blush now. But it really was unintentional!
"No, Jack, it's not what you think! I just wanted to try it on and it happened to fit on this finger!"
I try to explain desperately, hoping he doesn't think that I really really like him (which I do) or that I'm moving on him too fast. I'm just about to pull it off when Jack says:
"Nah, keep it on, love. You can 'ave it."
I'm shocked at his generosity - its Jack's ring.
"I can't keep this! It must be special! Like have a tale to it or something! It's yours Jack."
I start to pull it off again but Jack's empty-ring finger comes close and tilts my chin up making my eyes meet his. Of course this would stop me whatever I was doing.
"Borrow it. Til the time sees fit, to give it back."
Jack drops his finger, and I'm just about to ask what he means, when Jack flings back the covers and swings his legs around so that he's in a sitting position on the bed and facing me. He stretches his arms with his full torso fully exposed.
Oh. My. God. This guy's chest is like a treasure in itself. I swear it came from heaven or it's a promise from another world, because I don't seem to be able to take my eyes off it! It's just so... so... so... perfect. Blemish less, hairless and priceless. Muscles, a tan, golden, pure, syrup-ish... If there even is such a thing... It's just so tanned and has so many muscles-
"Crystie."
I think I need to count those muscles! How is his body so tanned? It's so beautiful and exotic, like the sand on a beach-
"Crystie?"
And even though he's dropped his hands to the side and he's looking at me with concern, his chest just sort of beams. Glows. Sun-kissed. Lucky bloody sun to be kissing that-
"Crystal?"
I'm blown away. Speechless. It's just so captivating, enchanting, fascinating-
"Amazing," I say in awe. What? What?! Did I just say that out loud? Shoot! I thought I was speechless!
"What is?" He asks, looking around and at the wall behind him.
How many times have I given myself away today? How many? How did I let that slip? Jack looks around then at my eyes and follows them back to his chest. He grins.
"What's so amazin', Crystie?"
He knows. He bloody well knows. I actually don't think he knew about the lip thing today... he never mentioned it. I suppose I got away with that. Can I get away with this?
"Nothing," I mumble, still staring at his chest.
"Nothin', eh?" Jack slides off the bed and kneels in front of me.
Thanks a lot Jack. Just make yourself even more irresistible than you already are, why don't you? We're sitting very close.
"Ye know love, I think I 'urt meself the other day." Says Jack with a nasty grin. "Around 'ere."
He then takes my left hand with his left hand and places it on his left, muscular, rib. I can feel his muscles against my palm and it doesn't help the fact that his hand is on top of mine. He's smiling at me wickedly but I can't even look at him. I'm staring at my hand. On his sacred rib. I can't breathe. If I open my mouth I'm going to gasp. I can't even snap back 'what's it got to do with me?' because I feel so weak at this very moment. He could put my other hand on his foot and I would still feel even dreamier than I feel now.
He's just playing with me. He knows how much I admire his chest but I'm not going to admit it. I can't even open my mouth for goodness sake. He puts the hand which was on top of mine back onto the floor but my hand is still on his bulky muscular rib. I think I'm stuck like this. I don't know whether to pull my hand away from this bliss or to enjoy it longer no matter how obvious this seems to be. Jack looks satisfied.
His expression stirs in my mind and I quickly draw my hand back, as if it had been scorched. I look at him grinning at me and I breathe in.
"Next time, love, we can play a game. We'll both stand in our under clothes facing each other, an' we'll see who can stare at the other person's chest the longest. Whoever wins, undresses the other person."
WHAT?!
"An' then it gets really intresting." Jack winks at me.
Is he for real? He gets up from his kneeling position and walks around me to his wardrobe. I don't know what to say. Should I say something? He's joking right? What if he's not? I turn around to look at his gorgeous back.
Actually, I think I'd win that game.