Note: This chapter contains (mild) mature sexual content. If you are not into reading such smut, please skip it. It's not hard to find.
"The lusts and greeds of the body scandalize the Soul; but it has to come to heel."
-Logan Pearsall Smith
Chapter Six
"How do ye feel, darling?" Jack runs his fingers through my long hair, edging me to close my eyes.
This question is easy for me. "Like I was thrown off that horse again, but this time he trampled me a few hundred times before he was satisfied." All right, so maybe being sick has caused me to be a little more dramatic than usual.
Jack chuckles quietly. "What horse, Andie?"
"My brother had a horse," I explain to him. "I fell off it." My sentences are soft and choppy. I feel like I'm plummeting face first into death itself.
The pirate seems to take my fevered state as a window of opportunity to ask me questions about my life. "Where is he? Your brother," Jack asks.
I hate to talk about Loyal. I hate to think about him. "I don't know," I whisper. "Probably dead. He left. I haven't heard anything since." I gaze at him through hazel eyes. His fingers graze my cheek as cold water drips down my neck.
"Jack," I whisper, "Don't listen to anything I say." For some reason, visions of Harrison and the others creep into my head, haunting me with my past, and of things that don't make any sense.
"Why not?" He asks gently, but he's not looking for an answer. He's just curious of what I'm going to say in return.
"Nothing made sense. Everything they said. . . it meant nothing. I might do the same. Whatever I say. . . just don't listen."
But this seemed to make Jack want to pay attention to every clause and exclamation. "What did who say, Andie?" He sits down beside me on the bed.
"AnaMaria. Harrison, Nolan. All of them." I close my eyes and wish for the pain in my head to suffice. "They accused me of stealing something. What would I want to steal, Jack? I can't remember."
He inhales this. "I don't know. What else did they say?"
"Loyal gave me something," I reply.
"Loyal? Is that your brother?"
I nod. My entire body aches and I close my eyes as a distraction.
"Yer tired. Rest now, all right? Sleep, love," he demands gently.
But I can't. I try, but this haze creeping through my head does not let me trail away into slumber.
"Why are you staying with me, Jack? You have a job to do. Get out of here," I order gently. I don't really want him to leave. I want to lie here with him forever, to fall asleep in his arms. But most of all, I don't want him getting sick.
"I can't do that, Andie." He says quietly.
With those words bedded deep into my mind, minutes later I tumble into much needed sleep.
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Hot, sun kissed flesh rises beneath my lips, my fingertips, as I fervently stroke his well-toned physique. I love the feel of the taught muscles beneath my palms. My heartbeat pounds loudly in my ears, and his groans and sighs are delicious against my neck. As Jack exhales through his longues, the puff of air causes loose, damp strands of my black locks to flutter away from my flushed face. Every nerve ending in my body is aflame.
Abruptly, the pirate grabs me closer, my breasts pressed full to his chest, and being none too gentle, just as I need him. He couldn't be any more perfect beneath me. I gasp as his lips catch mine greedily and his tongue expertly tangles with mine. He tastes every inch of my mouth, everything that is me, everything I want to be. He and I move together so swiftly, our movements so passionate that I cannot tell where he ends and I begin. With every rock of his hips I fear that it's all too much.
My hazel eyes open. Coal rimmed depths gaze back at me, never looking away. He dares me to break. The sounds of our sweet coupling echo against the cabin walls of the Black Pearl, which only drives him further. Jack's mouth is salty from the sea and sweat, as is his tanned skin. I can't seem to have enough; I nearly suppress whimper as I grow to the point where I'm ready to plead with him to stop and yet beg him for more.
The coal around my own eyes has smudged most delicately, and my hazel orbs appear darker than his own chocolate ones. Jack whispers huskily into my ear that I look the mystery, and the tone of his gruff voice sends shivers down my spine. He's filling me so completely, in such a way that I've never felt before. It's overwhelming, but yet his hips rise to meet mine, over and over and over. . .
Calloused hands slide gently along my stomach, and my lashes batter as I hiss between pain and excitement when Jack's rings scrape unforgivingly against my nipples. Beads of blood surface through the tiny cuts he leaves there, but the crimson is gone as he laps it up with his swirling tongue, the plaits of his coarse beard awakening every inch of my skin. My moans and gasps fill the hazy room. The air is thick with sweat and sex.
With long fingers, he grabs my black locks tightly and pulls my head back so roughly that I almost wince. But with that pain I feel a coil snap inside me, a sharp jolt of pleasure causing my thighs to grip him that much tighter. His movements stop for a long moment, seemingly an eternity; one hand still holds back my head as his tongue and lips wreak havoc upon my neck. I can barely catch my breath. His other hand slides to the swell of my hips, his fingernails digging into the flesh as he picks up the pace. . .
A loud crash sends me into reality, my dream and pleasure disappearing completely. My eyes open to see the rough wood walls of Jack's cabin, my breath is heavy and near panting.
"Ye all right, darling?" said pirate asks. He's standing at the foot of the bed, a smoking black pistol in his right hand.
"What the hell?" I curse quietly.
As I look down, the remains of the largest ebony cobra I have ever seen have stained the white of Jack's bed sheets and the fair skin of my left calf.
"You could have shot my leg off!" I exclaim, but instead of sounding angry, I sound more sick and tired then anything.
Jack smiles. "Course not, love! I'm an expert with a pistol!"
I raise an unbelieving eyebrow and sigh as I fall back down onto the bed.
"Well, it's a good thing ye didn't move then, isn't it?" He chuckles.
I gaze at him, most exhausted. "You wanna tell me why there's snake guts all over my leg?"
His hands are animated as he speaks. "I was sittin' there, going over a couple maps," he signals to the table across the room, "When I hear this hissin' noise. So I look over at ye, still sleepin', but there's this movement at your feet. . ."
"And what you found was a large cobra in your bed?" I ask.
He nods. "Didn't want to wake ye, love, I know ye need yer sleep, but I didn't want ye to be bitten by some poisonous snake neither." For some strange reason, this comment makes me smile.
He looks at me, his eyes wavering awkwardly. He sets the pistol down on the tabletop and moves his hand to rub the back of his neck, as if he's nervous about something. I can still feel those calloused hands on my skin. "Ye feelin' any better?" he asks.
"Considering I now have dead snake embedded into my skin, yeah, Sparrow, I feel great." I groan sarcastically.
The ring from the shot still lingers in my ears, along with every sigh and breath from between his lips. I run my hands through my hair. I cannot wait until my body fights off this fever; it's putting crazy thoughts into my head!
Suddenly Jack touches my forehead. "It's not goin' down," he frowns.
"Just my luck."
He glances down to the foot of the bed, where the blood and guts still remain from the snake. "Well, let's get ye cleaned up, then." His eyes remain for a heated moment on my exposed leg, the fair skin open to the cold air of the cabin. I adjust myself on the mattress, frowning when I feel a dampness between my thighs. Bloody fantasy!
Jack gathers up the sheet and throws it, still balled up, towards the door. "This happen to ye a lot?" he asks gently.
"More or less."
"How'd it get here? We're in the middle of the bloody ocean!" Jack exclaims.
I pick up a cloth from the bedside table to wipe the blood from my leg. Disgusting. "It's the curse, Jack."
"And this fever that's got ye and me crew? Is that the curse as well?"
I nod. "It's not like I do it on purpose," I say quietly. Once my skin is clean, I pull the other covers over me and lay back. My head is swimming dangerously.
"Andie, I gotta be honest with ye," I look up to meet his dark eyes. "I don't know how to make this better. Yer just gettin' worse." He really looks worried. The Captain Jack Sparrow, is worried. And over me; a woman. This has to be a joke!
"You're doing the best you can, Sparrow. And I don't even ask of that." I brush hair back from my forehead. "If you leave me here, I'll manage. It'll be better for you in the end."
He just shakes his head as though I'm speaking nonsense.
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I'm not aware of how long it's been. Three, four days, possibly more. My fever continues to get worse and I float in and out of sleep from time to time. Jaden has fully recovered since he had fallen ill, along with the other five members of the crew, and now watches over me, considering he is the doctor on the Black Pearl. He tries his best to keep Jack away from the room, but somehow I keep hearing the pirates slurring voice from beside me.
"Drink this," Jaden lifts me to a sitting position with one strong arm.
"What is it?" My voice is just above a whisper. I feel too weak to even move.
"Simmered blackberry roots." Jaden replies. I do as he asks but I can't even taste the hot liquid. "Drink all of it. It'll do you some good, Andie."
"Where's Jack?" I can't help but wonder and somewhat wish he was here with me. It's selfish, I know.
Jaden checks my pulse. "At the helm, where he belongs. He's lucky he hasn't fallen to bed himself!" He frowns at me. "Damn, but your heart is pumping fast!"
I hand him back the tea, the cup nearly empty, as good as I can do at the moment. "I'm exhausted."
And before I know it, my eyes are closed and I'm back to a slumbering bliss.
88888
The same seductive dream. Again.
His movements stop for a long moment, seemingly an eternity; one hand still holds back my head as his tongue and lips wreak havoc upon my neck. I can barely catch my breath. His other hand slides to the swell of my hips, his fingernails digging into the flesh as he picks up the pace. . .
Something crushes against me. Freezing water covers every inch of my body and burns my lungs. Suddenly I'm lifted up by strong arms, half out of the abusing water, and I inhale the sudden oxygen greedily.
When I open my eyes, I have to swipe sopping strands of my dark hair from my face. Jaden and Jack stand before me, both holding onto my form with strong hands and worried eyes.
"Bloody hell," I groan, "What was that for?"
"We thought we lost ye there for a moment." Jack explains.
I lean my head back against the side of the ivory tub I find myself in, and close my weary eyes. My head is throbbing as I shift my legs in the water, shivering at the freezing temperature.
Jaden sees this. "Cold water is good for you," he explains. "Gets your blood pumping. It's a rush to the head."
"Good enough," I say, "Can I get out now?"
Jack leans over and gingerly helps me from the tub and wraps my chattering form in a towel. His eyes won't meet mine.
"It's the same fever as you had a few months back, Captain. The one you caught before all that mess in Helena Port." Jaden sees me back to Jack's bed and hands me more of the blackberry root tea. It's hot and feels good going down.
"Is that so?" I say, shooting Jack a glance. Considering the look on his face, he hadn't put two and two together. "Maybe that's why he hasn't caught it."
Jaden nods. "I was considering that. It's possible that if you catch it once, you won't get it again. Your body builds up resistance against it."
This gets me thinking. If I caught an entirely different illness than the others, and Jack had it months ago, before I even knew him, there is a reason why I do now. I could be physically reliving something Jack went through.
He senses my deep thinking. "What's going through that pretty head of yours?" Jack asks.
"Nothing," is my reply. I don't want to say anything until I'm more sure of my assumptions. "Just plotting my revenge against the both of you for throwing me into a tub of ice cold water," I smile.
"Had no other choice, love. It was either that, or losing ye. And what would I be without me faithful stalker?" he asks with his infamous grin.
"I'm not your stalker," I say strongly, "I'm not your anything. I'm just here to do a job, and unfortunately you're included." In return, Jack presses his palm to his chest and feigns a look of pain. "Oh, right through the heart!" I laugh.
Jaden chuckles in amusement. "Why don't you two just jump in that bed and get it over with?" Jack and I are indeed surprised at this comment, which sends Jaden into more heartier laughter. "I'll be right back. Andie, get back in bed, all right? Before you collapse; all this talking can't be good for you." And with that, he leaves.
"Talking is always good for you," I say, although Jaden can't hear me. "I feel like new already." But my voice doesn't sound as alive as normal.
Jack smiles and throws me one of his shirts to change into. "Thanks," I say, wiping the last of the water off my skin with the towel. All though I'm ill, I'm not feeling any less confident than normal. I don't even bother to ask Jack to turn around. Instead I dispose of my soaked shift and toss it to the floor, my back facing him. I'm about to lift his shirt over my head-
Jack's hand connects with my flesh. The heat of it, the feel of it, it almost makes me gasp. His fingers trail lightly along my back. I know what he is seeing there; with the most ebony of ink, are two beautifully tattooed wings drawn permanently into the delicate milky skin across my shoulder blades.
He traces the outline of each wing. "Darling, I see some impressive markings from time to time," he says quietly, "But I've never seen anythin' like this." I cannot help the barely audible sigh that escapes from my lips as he bends to place butterfly kisses down my spine. And just as in my dream, his fingers slide lower to grasp my hip.
It's only when I hear footsteps outside the door that I step forward and drop the shirt over my head. Thankfully, the off-white hem reaches my knees.
"Andie," Jack begins, but the door swings open.
Jaden takes a look at me as I begin to crawl in bed. "Ah, seems that cold water did you some good, girl. The colors coming back to your cheeks."
"Yes, ye all right, Andie? Yer lookin' a bit flushed." Jack comments with a knowing grin.
I glare at him. "Now that you mention it, Sparrow, I am feeling a bit peevish. Maybe you should run back up to the helm before I grab my sword, aye?"
He laughs, a genuine rumble from his chest. "Ye think ye could beat me in a duel now, missy, even in your condition?"
My smile is cunning and most assured. "Without a doubt."
"All right, all right," Jaden cuts it, "I don't know what's going on between you two, but you won't be doing anything under my watch, Andie."
"Let the lass flaunt, Mertz. It's entertaining how conceited she is, even with a fever. Keep going, love, I'm waiting for your next move," Jack says.
I glare at him from across the room. My headache is now eating away at my goddamn brain! "I'm conceited? Have you heard yourself speak?" I snap.
"Ye better watch that tongue of yers, Andie, or ye might find a cobra in your bed."
"I mean it, Captain, get out of here," Jaden warns, signaling toward the doorway. "If you want her to get better anytime soon, she needs to get some rest."
"Fine, I'm gone," Jack says, holding his palms up in surrender, "But only because I want my bloody cabin back!" he yells as the door closes behind him.
Damnpirates!
CHAPTER EDITED SINCE FIRST POSTED
Halfway while I was writing this chapter, I caught the flu! Strange, right? Well, I've been out of school all week, and I feel like shit, but writing every night has become such a habit that it was driving me crazy not to! Be proud. Yet, There's something with this chapter that I'm not satisfied with. . . it's driving me up a wall.
Reviews, please. They'll make me feel better.
Terradaina: Tre Fucking Cool! Yep, Of course I know who you're talking about; Green Day is everywhere. I'll tell him you said that, but it'll probably go to his head!
Cap'n of the Deep: It's all just plot, my dear, just plot. She'll be better next chapter, I promise.
A Depp Girl: Haha, this cracks me up. Everyone was like, "GASP! Don't let her get Jack sick!" But I had no intention of it in the first place. It would be boring if that was the case.
Lyra Potter: Thank you! It's great that you pointed out specific things in the story that you like. Most people just review and say, "Hey, this is good. Keep going.", but it's nice when good (and bad) things are pointed out. That way, I know what I'm doing right. And if there's something you don't like, be sure to tell me then as well. Then I know what I'm doing wrong.
Dotty: Enjoy!
Super monkey289: AnaMaria didn't see those things, and she didn't exactly know them either. It was the fever talking (and the curse causing it, as well). A "Tori Touch"? Haha, awesome.
Jadeddreamz: Haha, I love that about her too.
CaptainMarySparrow: I'm glad to give you goose bumps! Maybe it does have to do with the mysterious mission. . . keep that in mind, my dear.
Orlando's Hot Chick: The parts about her brother and such aren't there because I was bored. There will be more about them later.