Title: Siren's Song- Chapter 4

Author: CaliScrapnMom AKA Nancy

Rating: R

Pairing: Katherine (OFC)/Jack

Feedback: Please or the muse goes into hiding again.

Disclaimer: all the PotC belong to the Mouse, Katherine is mine...all mine!

Author's Notes: No beta so any mistakes are mine.

Summary: Katherine and Jack spend a memorable evening together

After a while of dancing and some more singing the bed at the inn sounded increasingly appealing. Maire had found a young Marine to occupy her attention so I did not want to bother her to come back with me. Quietly slipping to the back of the tavern I had almost reached the door when I felt a hand on my arm. It was Mr. Norton with his hat in hand; putting it on his head, he offered me his arm.

"I'll accompany you Miss Swann."

"Thank you." I was grateful but growing weary of the constant chaperoning. I was not a child who needed constant supervision.

The short walk to the inn was a quiet one; Mr. Norton was never one for very many words. However, he always kept his, especially promises made to my father to watch out for my Mother and I. I figured he would be eager to return to the tavern so as we reached the door I mentioned my appreciation but that I could find my room on my own. Tipping his hat, he took his leave, with a bit of a smile on his face. That struck me as a little odd for he always seemed to have the same dour expression. When I opened the door to my room I saw the reason for his faint smile and almost squealed in delight. He had found my harp and had it brought to my room. Excitedly I ran my hands over the carved wood and touched the strings. I knew it had been no small task to bring this off the ship and I whispered a silent thank you to the air.

A light mist of tears blurred my vision, playing had meant so much to me in England. My usual audience was mother, she inspired me to continue to play and learn new music. Sitting on the edge of the chair, I smiled at the memory of myself as a little girl, just barely bigger than the harp, wondering how I was going to play something so beautiful. We spent multitudes of hours together, ones that I know now I will cherish forever. I felt a bit sad; Mother had not played since before her illness and I wondered if she ever would again. Soon my fingers were coaxing the notes from the strings and I felt myself relaxing.

I was so involved that I failed to notice that the door had not closed all the way or that a shadowy figure slipped in. The oil lamp flickered and that caught my attention. I stopped playing and realized that I was not alone. Picking up the lamp I reached for the washbasin on the table to use as a weapon.

"I'd hoped for a slightly warmer reception" Jack said stepping from the shadow by the door.

"What did you expect, sneaking in on a lady" I said coolly. At that moment, I wavered between elation and anger.

"My deepest apologies, I'm not properly educated in how to make an entrance. Most of my life is spent sneaking around."

"One of these days that just might be the end of your life" I warned.

Paying no mind, he stepped toward the harp and surveyed it almost as if he were sizing it up. The carving caught his eye and he ran his hand along the wood.

"She's beautiful" he murmured"And her song, mesmerizing, like the lure of a Siren. Her tune won't turn me into a pig I hope" he grinned and sat on the chaise opposite the harp.

"No, however I might consider it if you keep sneaking up on me."

"I will be more cautious." He laid back a bit and crossed his arms"Now please, play me something."

I sat there for a moment a bit unsure of myself; I had rarely played for anyone other than Mother. Then I remembered one of the songs she had taught me and figured Jack would appreciate it.

Oh, come by the hills to the land where fancy is free.
Stand where the peaks meet the sky and the loughs meet the sea,
Where rivers run clear, bracken is gold in the sun;
Ah, the cares of tomorrow can wait till this day is done.

Oh, come by the hills to the land where life is a song.
Stand where the birds fill the air with their joy all day long,
Where the trees sway in time, even the wind sings in tune;
Ah, the cares of tomorrow can wait till this day is done.

Oh, come by the hills to the land where legend remains.
The stories of old fill the heart and may yet come again,
Where the past has been lost, the future is still to be won;
Ah, the cares of tomorrow can wait till this day is done.

Oh, come by the hills to the land where fancy is free.
Stand where the peaks meet the sky and the loughs meet the sea,
Where rivers run clear, bracken is gold in the sun;
Ah, the cares of tomorrow can wait till this day is done.

As the last notes trailed off, I looked up and was pleased at the peaceful expression on Jack's face.

"That was breathtaking, Milady. You surprise me yet again."

"Me, surprise you"

"You caress the strings in a way that would make men melt where they stand" Jack said ignoring my statement.

I felt a flush creeping up on my face as he continued

"The look on your face, passionate, controlled, it spurs the imagination. For all your station and grace I sense something under your surface, Kate." He leaned forward a bit resting his elbows on his knees.

"You Sir, would be the pot calling the kettle black. So full of contradiction and mystery, I think you rather like it that way."

With a mock scowl Jack shrugged"I do what I have too."

"I'm surprised you are still here, the Marines and Royal Navy would love nothing more than to capture you."

"Ah, well you see, something caught my fancy. When that happens I have to investigate further, see where it leads." Jack raised an eyebrow at me.

I sensed a multitude of implications but did not respond. I looked back at him and then dropped my gaze to the floor. The edges of his lips turned up in a bit of a smile as he held his hand out for mine. In unison, we stood and stepped towards each other. He was just slightly taller than I, although his posture commanded the attention and respect of a much larger man. Draped lazily over his shoulder was the edge of my red scarf. Running my hand along it I smiled in return.

"It suits you much better than I."

"Beg to differ, luv. You wore it quite well, it was, ah, inspirational."

"Well it is a marked improvement over the old one. Although you can't see it much under that hat." I reached up to remove it from his head.

"Easy there, it's my hat and I'll be doing the removing" He said, dropping it gently on the chaise.

"Sorry" I replied and tried to pull my hand away. He kept a firm grip on it and pulled it to rest on his chest.

His shirt fabric did little to hide what I already knew lay underneath. On the ship I had touched him as little as possible, now I yearned to spend time burning the feel of his skin to my memory. I was quite unused to seeing skin that was so bronzed and dark. Tentatively, my fingers trailed across his chest, his breath caught just a bit. His hands found their way into my hair, making short work of the pins and sending it cascading around my shoulders. I closed my eyes; it had been too long since I had had a man's fingers entangled in my hair. I let out a soft breath and he chuckled at my response.

"I like hearing you purr, Kate."

"Expect to hear more, it has been far too long since I've felt a man's touch."

Saying no more I lifted up onto my toes slightly and brought my lips to his. Taking cue from my eagerness he pulled me to him, the length of our bodies pressed together. His arms, hair, and lips enveloped me. For a moment, it seemed we were still aboard the ship; I clung to him as my senses reeled. Pulling back for a moment to catch my breath I was secretly delighted to see the effect was the same on him. His dark eyes were half lidded yet seemed to reach into the depths of my soul.

Taking his hand, I led him over to the bed and urged him to sit on the edge. The oil lamp cast a shadowy glow across his face and highlighted the beads in his hair. Gently I ran my hand along the side of his head and he leaned into it, closing his eyes. With my other hand, I let loose the ties on my dress and let it slide to the floor. He started to say something but I pressed my fingers to his lips and shook my head. He raised one eyebrow in surprise and sat back a little. I stepped in between his knees and pulled at the hem of his shirt.

"This has to come off, all of it" I whispered, impatiently pulling the shirt off over his head.

"As you wish, milady."

Jack tugged off his boots and breeches and cast them aside in a pile next to my dress. As he lay back on the bed, I crept over him, looking at him in wonder. This time with no barrier between us, I pressed my body to his and my lips to his skin. Touching was not enough; I craved the taste of his skin on my lips. At their contact, he moaned and I felt his hips lift up slightly. In a fluid motion, he rolled me over onto my back and pinned my hands over my head with one hand.

"You don't get to have all the fun" he murmured into my neck.

His fingers and tongue trailed across my neck. I twisted my hands to remove them from his grasp to no avail. When he caught a nipple with his lips, I forgot about struggling to touch him and let out a soft moan. The soft skin on my belly felt the harder skin of his calloused hand as it made its way further down. Needing no encouragement, I readily arched upwards and cried out at the touch of his fingers. He released my hands as he raised himself up on one arm to look at me. My hands quickly moved down his chest and back as I moved with his fingers. As he leaned down to kiss me, I found his erection with one hand. I felt it grow in response to my touch and he inhaled sharply. As our tongues intertwined, I felt his beard rough against my cheek. With my other hand, I grasped his back and arched up to allow him to slip inside me. The sensation of this caused both of us to let out shuddering breaths. He rolled again, pulling me atop him with his hands on my hips. I leaned forward to tease him as he had my nipples, my hair falling around his chest. I traced the tattoos and scars with my fingers and lips, knowing I would found sensitive areas when his fingers would dig into my hips. Answering in kind, I started to move astride him, closing my eyes and rocking. The slow rhythm quickly changed with urgency.

"Bloody hell woman" Jack groaned trying to maintain some control.

"Now Jack, it's not nice to swear at a lady" I laughed softly and tightened around him.

"A lady doesn't do that" he growled and drove himself in deeper.

My nails dug into his chest as I balanced and tried to keep up with his movements. A whispered expletive escaped his lips.

"Please do" I whispered in response.

I was not sure where this abandon had come from but I was relishing it. He paused for a moment, searching my expression to understand what I had just asked. If there was any doubt, I erased it with a hungry kiss. Thrust for thrust I matched him, perspiration shining on our skin in the light. The wild sensations burst upon me and I cried out into his mouth. A few moments later, he joined me with a shuddering groan, buried deep inside. My heart pounding I tried to catch my breath. I could feel his chest heaving under me and I shifted slightly. His arms tightened around me and he pressed his lips to my forehead. Languidly I sighed and relaxed against him.

"Seems I was right" he said.

"About"

"Something lurking under the surface. Although I hadn't bargained on that" he grinned.

Rising up on one arm, I traced the line from his belly button upward, watching the muscles twitch in response.

"A pleasant surprise for both of us then" I smiled in return.

Jack pushed a few strands of hair back behind my ear and let his fingers linger. Slowly they caressed my neck and collarbone.

"Keep doing that and you will get more than purring from me."

"Promise" He kissed me again.

"Aye, Captain" I said between kisses, hands eagerly moving across his skin.

We spent the remainder of the night in similar fashion until falling asleep from sheer exhaustion. It was apparent it had been some time since either of us had enjoyed the company of another and we used it to our fullest.

The next morning I awoke to the sounds outside the window. I blushed a bit when I realized it had been open the entire night before. I turned and saw that Jack was still asleep. Gently I eased myself out of bed to attend to some rather urgent needs. Once done, I pulled on a shift from my trunk and a dressing robe.

A gentle knock came at the door. Nervously, I opened it slightly and saw Maire standing in the hallway with a tray of tea and fruit. Thanking her, I took it from her, trying not to show my unsteady hands. She winked and turned away without a word. No doubt, she knew exactly what had happened, I would face her inquisition later. Setting the tray on the table, I went and sat on the edge of the bed. Jack's eye fluttered open and he looked about for a moment. I caressed his arm and he smiled.

"Thought it 'twas but a dream."

"Tea" I offered

"You may have tamed me a bit, luv. But not that much" he teased.

"And here I thought I had you coming round to the bit nicely."

"Not familiar with that one."

"I have a passion for horses." I took a sip of tea.

"Ah, never ridden, handsome creatures though" Jack said slipping on his breeches.

"Maybe someday I'll teach you. Father has a fine stable of horses."

Picking an orange up off the tray, he deftly peeled it. I found myself watching his fingers as they brought the fruit to his lips. Biting my lip, I forced myself to take another sip of tea. I chided myself for acting like a virgin with her first lover. I needed to regain some sense of composure; I knew we had to part ways.

His eye caught something lying in the rumpled sheets; it was one of my earrings. The other still clung to my ear, although I am not sure how. Smiling he looped it into one of his long strands of beads. The silver ends twinkled in the morning light and jingled slightly as he finished dressing.

I had always hated this part of an encounter. Usually I was the one slipping out at first light. In part to avoid a tongue lashing from Josephine, the other because, I was at a loss for what to say. I set down my tea and handed him the baldric and belt that was lying on the chaise. I had not even noticed those the night before. Then I saw the compass that hung from the belt.

"Where did all this come from? You did not have it aboard the ship." I asked as he put it on.

"The man who met up with me after I left your ship brought it to me. Seems he'd come to possess it after I was kidnapped and was looking to return it to me."

"Quite a feat, to carry around another man's effects in the hopes of seeing him again. Lucky as well" I said.

"Indeed, Pearson might be a simple man, but has done well by me" Jack agreed, putting the hat back on his head.

"Yes he has" I said a bit wistfully.

I envied that Jack's adventures would continue. Mine was to be short lived, as we would be in Port Royal within a week. It would mean having to behave, as the daughter of the Governor should. Jack caught on to my reaction and took my chin in his hand.

"You will find excitement soon enough Kate" he smiled.

"There will be excitement enough if you do not make yourself scarce. Mother will be looking for me shortly."

"I shall be off then and relieve you of any need to explain my presence."

Jack headed for the door, looking a bit steadier on his feet than he had been previously. I reached out for his arm, stopping him. He turned slightly and I kissed his cheek.

"Thank you, and be careful."

"Always." He said clasping his hands together and giving a little bow.

I watched as he walked soundlessly away with a slightly heavy feeling in my chest. Shutting the door I leaned against it, I knew it was the right way. I could not help but feel that it would not be the last time I watched Jack Sparrow walk away.

TBC