A/N: I'M REALLY SORRY ABOUT THIS LONG WAIT! My muse still doesn't like to always work with me, even though I have all of the time in the world now. But, there is some sexiness in this chapter, so hopefully you'll forgive me for the long wait. Enjoy!
Emma was awakened by the strong arms wrapped around her middle and the soft snoring in her ear. She didn't want to move, in fear of waking Killian, but there was one issue with their sleeping arrangements.
She was sweating.
Not even a cute sweat, Emma noticed, but a drenched sweat-with a bead of sweat rolling down her neck and very noticeable sweat stains along the neck of her cami. She made a mental note to remind herself to buy a freaking fan because she really didn't have this issue when she was sleeping alone. She didn't want to move because she really did miss the feeling of a man spooning her, but damn it was far too hot to even be cute anymore.
Emma looked over at the clock sitting on her dresser and saw that it was nearing seven in the morning. Well, it was time for her to get up anyways to get ready for her shift at the diner. So Emma moved as slowly as she could from the bed, Killian's hands tracing her bare stomach as she slid from the mattress, and slowly stood on the ground. Emma looked down at Killian, smiling at how peaceful he looked while he slept. She just wanted to run a hand through his matted hair (probably damp from sweat, honestly), but Emma retained the urge.
Emma knew that if she did that, she would have quite the time getting out of her apartment on time.
She tiptoed over to her bathroom, in the far corner of the room, and took her usual ten-minute shower, which did wonders for removing the sweat and grime from her skin and making her feel as though she wouldn't melt as soon as she stepped outside of her air-conditioned apartment building. Emma went through her usual morning routine: tossed her hair up into a high ponytail, washed her face, brushed her teeth, and plucked the annoying stray hairs from her eyebrows. With her towel still wrapped snugly around her chest, Emma stepped back into the main area of the apartment, where she saw a newly-awakened Killian blinking sleepily at her from across the room.
"I was wondering where you went," Killian mumbled, his voice deep and throaty from his interrupted slumber.
(Emma had dreams about that freaking voice, and how it would sound coming from in between her legs first thing in the morning-)
"Just to the bathroom. I have to leave for work soon," Emma replied, walking over to her dresser. She gripped the top of her towel and before she unwrapped it, she decided not to be too evil to Killian (who would probably just spontaneously combust if she stripped in front of him without a warning). Emma looked over her shoulder and said, "Shut your eyes, Jones. Unless you want to get an eyeful."
Killian chuckled from his place on the bed, but Emma saw him flop onto his back and shut his eyes tightly. "It would be a pleasure, of course, but I feel as though that may be a bad idea, seeing as you have to go to work soon."
Emma blushed as she looked back to the dresser and dropped her towel. She waited to hear the sudden gasp from Killian, but it seemed like he was indeed being a gentleman and was continuing to cover his eyes like she had asked him to. Emma tugged on her normal work uniform-a white, v-neck t-shirt and a short red, pleated skirt-without a peep from Killian. She was honestly surprised; she was sure that being bare naked in front of a man whom she knew was very attracted to her would lead to him sneaking a peek or two. Lord knows that that's what Neal did, time and time again.
"Done?" Killian asked from his place on the bed and Emma turned around to see him still with his hand over his eyes, and with those stupid little duckling pajama pants peeking out from beneath the blanket.
(She was wondering how he hadn't just torn those off in this heat.)
(Frankly, she was sorta depending on it.)
(Wow, she needed to get laid.)
"Done," Emma replied and Killian looked over at her as his hand dropped from his face. His eyebrows raised and Emma rolled her eyes. "You've seen me in my work uniform before, Killian. It's nothing new."
"Doesn't mean I can't enjoy it each time I see it," Killian responded and his tongue did this stupid thing, trailing across his bottom lip and a hot jolt of desire settled in Emma's belly.
Oh shit, she needed to go to work before she did something dumb.
Emma rolled her eyes again. "Alright, Casanova. You need to get up so I can get to work soon. Are you gonna shower?"
Killian shook his head as he tossed the blanket off of him, standing from the bed and stretching his arms high above his head. (And damn his shirt from pulling up, exposing his stomach and the dusting of hair that trailed below the elastic band of the pants.) "I have to get home and get ready for a workout session with my trainer."
(And Emma did not imagine Killian fighting with the guy, with sweat dripping down his bare back and how his ass would look in those shorts-)
"Would you like to join me at my place for lunch after your shift ends at work?" Killian asked as he grabbed his jeans from the floor beside Emma's bed.
Butterflies fluttered in Emma's stomach because they hadn't really hung out at his place since the first date (and Emma didn't know if she could trust that her libido would remain in check). "Of course."
(Emma really was a freaking masochist.)
Killian smiled and made a little twirling motion with his hand. "Now it's your turn to give me privacy, love."
Emma rolled her eyes and turned around to face the wall behind her dresser. She heard Killian shuffling out of the pajama pants and pull on his jeans and damn she was tempted to see what he was packing-
Jesus Christ, Emma needed to get ahold of herself.
"What would you like to eat?" Killian asked as he continued changing into his pants.
"Chinese," Emma said far too quickly.
Killian chuckled and Emma heard the zipper of his pants being pulled. "You can turn back around, love." Emma did so as he ran a hand through his hair. "So, Chinese?"
Emma nodded, stepping to beside her dresser to pull on her black Converses. "Oh yeah. Chicken lo mein, crab rangoon, and wonton soup."
"I'll take note of that," Killian said, smiling at Emma. "I'll have it ready by 12:30. Is that fine?"
Emma nodded, hurrying over to her closet beside the bathroom to yank a black dress free from a hanger. "Yeah. I'll just bring my lounge uniform with me to change at your place."
Emma grabbed the knee-length, black cotton dress and a pair of black, pointed-toe flats, shoving them both into a small shoulder bag. It only took a few minutes to grab everything she needed (including her broken phone, which she would leave a little early from Killian's place to switch phones before work), but they were soon heading out of the apartment building and into the humid heat of early August. Killian pulled the bill of the old baseball cap Emma had grabbed on their way out of the apartment (a freaking Yankees hat-she didn't even watch baseball) and slid a pair of sunglasses over his eyes.
With the hat and sunglasses on, no one would be the wiser.
She quickly hailed a cab, which pulled to the curb rather quickly (she swore it was the skirt-it was always the freaking skirt). Emma heard Killian murmur "bloody perverts" under his breath, but she couldn't help but agree. She couldn't even count the number of times the cab drivers made obscene comments because of her outfits for both jobs.
(But hey, if it made it easier for Emma to hail a cab in this freaking city, she couldn't complain.)
(Alright, she could a little.)
It only took a few minutes for the taxi to reach the curb just outside of the diner. Emma grabbed her bag and looked over at Killian, who had taken to running his thumb over her bare knee while they sat together in the cab. She tried-really tried-to ignore the goosebumps that raised wherever he touched her.
But to no avail.
"I'll see you later," Emma murmured, aware that the clock was still running for the cab.
Killian nodded and smiled politely. "See you later, Swan."
Before she exited the car, Emma quickly leaned over and pecked a polite kiss onto Killian's cheek, feeling the scratch of his beard under her lips (which she could really get used to). She noticed a blush rising on his cheeks as she slid out of the car (her freaking thighs sticking to the hot leather of the car and damn she really hated the summer). The cab pulled away as soon as Emma stepped onto the sidewalk just outside of the diner and she hurried into the air-conditioned restaurant.
When Emma walked in, she saw Granny washing down the bar counter, which was probably already clean since the diner wasn't even open yet and wouldn't be for another half hour. Granny looked up from the counter and peered at Emma over her rectangular glasses. Emma stopped in her tracks because Emma knew that look-hell, she had faced that look during the few times she stayed at Granny's place with Ruby and would sneak back in at three in the morning after a busy night of drinking and dancing to find Granny waiting for both of them in her recliner.
Emma never liked that look.
"Emma, could I talk to you in the office, please?" Granny asked as she dropped the dirty rag into the sink behind the counter.
Oh hell.
Emma begrudgingly followed Granny to the back of the diner, waving at the cooks in the kitchen as they prepare for the day. Granny allowed Emma to enter the office ahead of her and loudly shut the door as Granny entered behind Emma. Emma gripped her bag tightly in her hands because she didn't knw what Granny was going to be saying and what if she was fired and holy shit Emma couldn't afford to look for another job-
"Elsa emailed me last night," Granny spoke as she walked around her desk and shit Emma knew where this was going. "She said that you weren't yourself and that you left early."
Emma sighed and her grip loosened slightly on her bag. "It was just an off-night for me, Granny. It's nothing to worry about."
"'Nothing to worry about' my ass, Emma," Granny grumbled out, peering over her glasses in that motherly (or grandmotherly) way. "What's going on?"
"Nothing, Granny. I promise," Emma replied. "Everything's fine now."
"I swear, if it has something to do with this guy you're seeing-"
Emma stepped forward immediately and shook her head. "Granny, it has nothing to do with him. In fact, he helped me last night with it."
Granny raised an eyebrow because she was clearly still unbelieving of Emma's story, so Emma took another step and placed her hands on the desk in front of her. "I promise, Granny, that everything is fine. The guy helped me deal with it. I'm completely fine now."
Emma found herself smiling as she thought about last night and how Killian had reassured her over and over again that Diane was full of shit and that he would never leave her. He would be there if she ever made something of herself, which Killian strongly believed would happen. He wanted her to be happy.
She may have only known him for a month, but it wasn't too hard for Emma to picture a future with him.
(Engagements and weddings and children-)
"Alright, I believe you," Granny responded, huffing as she shuffled around papers on her desk. "I was thinking I may have to cut back your hours here, which I did not want to do."
Emma shook her head wildly because she couldn't afford to have her hours cut. "Please don't. You know I need as many as I can get."
"I won't cut them, but if you start to worry me, I won't hesitate to do it, Emma," Granny told Emma, stepping around her desk to stand beside Emma. "You're like a second granddaughter to me. I don't want to watch you crash and burn."
Emma nodded and wrapped her hands around the handles of her bag as she stepped away from the desk to stand across from Granny. "I understand."
"Good," Granny said walking toward the door just behind Emma. "Now get to work. We'll be opening soon and we gotta finish getting everything ready."
"Yes, ma'am," Emma murmured as she shoved her bag into her usual cubby behind the door.
It was nearing one and Emma was of course running late to Killian's. But Aurora showed up a half hour late and Emma couldn't just leave Granny in the middle of their rush, so Emma had to cover until Aurora showed up (with red-rimmed eyes and she wondered if there was another fight with Philip about Mulan).
But now, she was standing outside of Killian's apartment, hoping to God that he didn't think that she ditched him because Lord knows she would never fucking do that. Not to this extremely gorgeous guy that made her believe that she could actually be successful at anything she put her mind to.
(Not to the soul mate that she was slowly falling in love with.)
(Not that she'd admit to it.)
Emma knocked on the door three times and she could hear the television in the background, so she was aware that Killian was definitely home and it was just a matter of whether or not he would allow her in because she was so late-
"Come on in," Emma heard Killian call from inside of the apartment and she let out a deep breath that she didn't know she was holding.
Emma stepped inside of the apartment, still alarmed at the utter grandeur of the place and damn this apartment's rent was probably more than she earned in a freaking month. She sighed (and groaned internally because ddaaammmmnnn) when she saw Killian standing by the island in the kitchen as she stepped down into the living area, wearing sweatpants-tight sweatpants-and a loose t-shirt.
"I was afraid you backed out on me," Killian said from beside the mountains of Styrofoam boxes on the island.
Emma shook her head as she dropped her bag on the living room chair, just in front of Killian. "No, no, no. A coworker showed up late, so I had to stay until she got there."
"Was everything alright?" Killian asked, furrowing his eyebrows as he turned to face the island with Emma at his side.
(And her heart swelled because Killian cared, not only about her but about her coworkers and her friends and dammit she really was falling in love with him.)
Emma shrugged as she snagged a set of chopsticks from beside the plastic container of wonton soup. "She didn't say. But I know she's been having issues with her boyfriend/soul mate."
"Why's that, if you don't mind me asking, love?" Killian asked and Emma actually enjoyed that Killian was being so interested by her rather dull life.
Emma chuckled under her breath as she grabbed her box full of crab rangoon and lo mein. "Well, Aurora-my coworker-sorta has two soulmates." Killian's eyebrows shot up as he grabbed his own food from the counter. "Yeah. One male and one female. Philip and Mulan. Aurora really wants to try to be in a polyamorous relationship with both of them because she does love both of them. But Philip is a bit traditional."
"Who would've thought soul mates would be complicated?" Killian murmured and Emma rolled her eyes at the sly wink Killian shot at her as he began walking over to the large leather couch.
"It's been a big issue with them, especially recently since Philip was offered a job upstate and Aurora doesn't want to leave Mulan behind," Emma explained as she took the opposite end of the soda, leaving plenty of room for Jesus between her and Killian.
(She did not need the temptation.)
"Has Philip talked to Mulan on his own? Just the two of them?" Killian asked, arranging his food on the coffee table just in front of them, a large ornate oak table that was without a single speck of dust.
Emma shrugged. "I don't know. Aurora keeps most of it close to the chest, honestly."
"Well," Killian began saying, lifting a half-empty glass of water from the coffee table in a toast, "here's hoping it all works out in the end."
Emma's mouth quirked into a small smile as she held her hand up as if she was holding an invisible cup. "Cheers."
Killian furrowed his eyebrows as he placed his glass back down onto the table. "I should probably get you something to drink."
Emma laughed as Killian stood from the sofa. "That'd be nice."
Killian walked over to the fridge (and Emma definitely stared at his ass in those sweatpants) and quickly grabbed a drink from inside of the door. He looked back over at Emma and made a motion to throw the bottle over to her. She held her hands open after she placed her piles of food onto the coffee table and Killian gently tossed the bottle across the room. Fortunately, it landed in Emma's hands-only after an awkward almost-miss and some bobbling to not have it fall to the ground. Killian laughed loudly and Emma shot him a look, to which he only laughed louder at. She looked down at the bottle and saw that it was Dr. Pepper.
"You remembered," Emma murmured, oddly touched by the small favor. It's the small things that got to Emma. It was always the small things that reminded her that maybe-just maybe-she was loved and cared for.
"Of course I did," Killian replied with a smile as he walked back to the couch and sat beside her, planting his feet on the wooden beam going across the coffee table's legs.
And her heart stuttered because it really was the small things that counted.
When she was with Neal, he'd remember how she liked her coffee (just a dash of vanilla creamer) and how she couldn't sleep unless all of the doors were closed in her apartment. He remembered how she'd always choose onion rings over French fries and how she liked a back massage after particularly long days at work.
She always thought that those things meant he loved her. But he just left without a second look. So what did Emma know about love?
"All right there, Swan?" Killian asked and Emma jerked her eyes to meet his, his brow furrowed in concern.
Emma cleared her throat and scooted to the edge of the couch to begin eating her food. "I'm fine. Just starving."
Killian chuckled and moved up to match Emma's position on the couch. "Well, I hope I purchased enough food for you, then."
Emma dug into her wonton soup without another word and they ate in silence for the next half hour or so. She didn't dare look up to meet Killian's eyes because she didn't want to see the concern in them, the absolute worry for her. It had been a while since anybody other than her close group of friends and her bosses had actually cared for her well-being. Emma knew that she needed to get used to it because Killian wasn't going anywhere, but it was still hard.
It was hard to unlearn years of feeling like nothing and lower than shit, to finally feel like she actually deserved this life with Killian.
That she deserved happiness and love and everything that came with it.
Emma was just slurping the last of her chicken lo mein when Killian flicked on the television, a soap opera immediately popping up. Emma rolled her eyes and sighed indignantly, to which Killian chuckled at.
"Apparently nobody approves of my taste in television," Killian murmured, relaxing back against the couch and crossing his leg on top of the coffee table.
"Does that honestly surprise you?" Emma asked, raising her eyebrows as she slid her empty Styrofoam container back onto the coffee table and patting her now-full stomach.
"Not exactly," Killian replied, glancing over at Emma. "Liam always told me that I had poor taste in television."
"Gimme," Emma said as she reached over and snatched the remote from Kilian's hand and she really tried to ignore the way electricity shot up her arm when their skin met. She didn't meet Killian's eyes because she knew that all her restraint would go out the fucking window if she looked into those deep blue eyes. "As the guest, I get to choose what we watch, and it isn't this shit."
Emma began flipping through the channels, staring intently on the television while Killian watched on. She eventually chose The Princess Bride, which she had nearly missed while moving through the channels at a fast pace. Emma smiled as she recognized Westley and Inigo's swordfight on the Cliffs of Insanity, and she curled her legs underneath her to watch intently.
"Did Liam tell you?" Killian asked, sitting up straight and Emma looked over at him with her eyebrows furrowed. "The Princess Bride is one of my favorite movies."
A smile spread on Emma's lips and she let out a gentle laugh. "Really?"
Killian lifted his eyebrows as he looked at Emma. "He didn't tell you? You just picked this movie of your own will?"
"Yeah. It's my favorite movie," Emma replied, continuing to smile because Killian continued to surprise her. "Ever since I was little."
Killian smiled genuinely, wide and carefree and Emma found herself falling even more in love with him.
(Not that she'd ever admit it to anybody.)
"It was the one constant I had in my life when I was younger, so it's kind of a special movie for me," Emma murmured quietly and Killian reached his arm out to her, leaning across the entire couch. She furrowed her eyebrows at him as his hand reached hers and her skin burned when he laid his hand over hers. It was such a small and simple contact, but her heart pounded and she tried to keep her breathing normal.
She didn't want Killian to know that she actually had a thing for small gestures of affection like this.
Killian lifted his hand from hers after a few moments and Emma felt the loss instantly. But instead of pulling his hand back, he lifted his arm and gently curled his fingers in a beckoning gesture. Emma gulped because she was sitting on the opposite side of the sofa for a reason and she did not trust her restraint to remain intact if she moved any closer to him.
"I won't bite," Killian smirked and a shiver shot down Emma's spine as he repeated the words back to her that she said all those weeks ago when he first stayed the night with her. "Unless you're into that."
Emma let out a breathless chuckle and scooted down the couch into Killian's arms, relaxing her head against his shoulder and his scent (the one mixed with cologne and leather and just him) invaded her senses and she never wanted to move from this spot. His hand lightly rested on the bare skin of her arm and his thumb moved in gentle circles, soothing Emma and keeping her memories of the unstable childhood at bay.
"Oh I almost forgot to tell you," Emma said, sitting up slightly to look up at Killian and wow she should not have done that because he was only a few inches from her and his gaze shot down to her lips and man she was not leaving today without tasting him again-
"Mary Margaret is having a dinner next Friday," Emma continued on, shaking her head free of the hypnotizing thoughts. "And you're invited. And I know you might be filming, so don't worry about it if-"
"I'll be there," Killian responded simply with a smile.
"But what if you have to film?"
"I'll be there. Recently, I haven't been filming Friday nights," Killian replied and Emma found that very intriguing, as most of the scenes on the show for James Hook were night scenes at the gym or at the ring or at his regular bar. Killian must've seen the curiosity in Emma's face because he chuckled with a wide smile. "No spoilers, remember?"
Emma sighed and groaned at the same time. "Yeah, yeah, yeah."
"So, I'm assuming it won't only be us two and Mary Margaret at this dinner," Killian stated, running his hand through his hair as he looked down at Emma.
Emma shook her head, snuggling closer to Killian's side (and she didn't hear his sharp inhale at the movement). "Nope. Ruby will be there with her husband, Victor, as long as he doesn't get called into the hospital. And then Mary Margaret's husband, David, will be there, who's more of an overbearing father than anything else. So prepare to be interrogated."
Killian chuckled and looked back to the television, watching Westley fight with Fezzik. "I take it that I won't win him over with my impeccable wit and charm?"
Emma rolled her eyes as she laughed under her breath. "Probably not. He's very overprotective of me. It'll be nice when Mary Margaret gives birth because then I might finally get him off my ass when he has a real child to be protective of."
"Oh it won't change a thing. My older brother is still an overbearing prat and Amelia was born two and a half months ago," Killian explained and Emma internally groaned because she didn't need David on her back for the rest of her life.
"Well, David's borderline insane when it comes to checking out boyfriends or whatever. He's gonna ask you your favorite color, the toothpaste you use, and maybe even ask for you medical records."
Killian laughed, his arm tightening around Emma's shoulder. "I think I can handle myself."
"Oh I'm sure," Emma replied, looking back to the television. "You've probably dealt with plenty of parents and friends of girlfriends. Right?"
"Not particularly. Milah was the first woman I was that serious over," Killian said solemnly and Emma wished she could take back her words. "For reasons I've already explained, I couldn't exactly meet her family or friends."
"If it makes you feel any better, you won't be meeting my parents, so you won't have to worry about that," Emma told him with a wry chuckle, folding her hands in her lap.
"To be entirely honest, Swan, I don't think I would like to meet the woman who told you all of those horrendous things last night. If I ever had the displeasure of meeting her, I think we would have quite the exchange of words."
Emma snorted and looked up at Killian, who was gazing down at her. "What? Are you gonna defend my honor to Diane?"
"It would be my pleasure," Killian murmured back and Emma felt her face flush and she needed to distance herself from this bastard because her restraint was gonna fly out the goddamn window.
Emma took a deep breath and push herself up from the couch, leaving the warmth of Killian's arms. She began cleaning up the numerous Styrofoam boxes and plastic bowls from their takeout to throw away. Even though she was a guest at his place, Emma felt as though she should at least do something for him, since he had already done so much for her.
And there was a little bit of something that she wanted to do to him.
Emma picked up the mess and carried it over to the kitchen, reaching the trashcan that was stationed beside the doors that led out to the balcony. The hairs on the back of her neck tingled, telling her that Killian was staring at her. And with this short skirt on, Emma knew exactly what he was staring at.
"Could you not stare at my ass?" Emma asked as she dropped the trash into the trash can, and then turned around to see Killian relaxing on the couch and his tongue doing that fucking sinful thing with his lip.
"It's quite difficult not to when you're wearing that skirt," Killian replied, his eyes dragging over Emma's body and she felt herself blush. It felt like she wasn't wearing a stitch of clothing, with how he was leering at her.
(She enjoyed that way too much.)
Emma raised her eyebrows and stepped forward slowly, placing her hands on her hips. "Oh, you should see the tips I get from the guys. Granny knew what she was doing when she enforced this as our uniform."
Killian raised his eyebrows for a moment, an emotion crossing his face. But he schooled it back to just a slight interest in his eyes. "I see."
Emma raised her eyebrows as she walked a few steps closer to Killian. "Is that jealousy I sense in your tone?"
"What if it was?" Killian asked and Emma's heart pounded because she could nearly see his eyes darken as his tongue poked against the inside of his cheek in that obscene gesture. "What if I was jealous of the men you serve at work, who leer at you and think indecent thoughts about you with that short skirt and low-cut shirt?"
Emma wanted to respond that he would just have to deal with it, that it was simply part of her job to wear skimpy outfits in order to get tips and that wasn't going to change. But her heart pounded and well…two can play at this game.
"Well," Emma began saying, stepping forward again as she smoothed her hands down her skirt and looked Killian in the eyes, "I'd have to say that it's just natural to feel that way. Especially with how you look and how you wear those tight, spandex shorts and no shirt when you fight on the show." Emma stepped closer again and noticed Killian gulp as his eyes ran over Emma's form again. "And how you look when you just walk out of the shower, with a towel wrapped tightly around your hips. I swear, I nearly came at just the sight of you in the pilot."
Emma saw the way his eyes darkened as her shoes brushed his socked feet. Her eyes shot down for just a moment and she could see what her words were doing to him, a slight bulge burgeoning within his sweatpants. She gently bit down on her bottom lip and placed her hands on her hips again, her tongue swiping across the seam of her lips when Killian nearly groaned at the sight.
"I've seen what women say online. What men say about you. About how you're just so gorgeous, with a body that could turn a nun into a prostitute and a face that could a straight man gay," Emma said as she stepped forward again, her legs widening to stand on either side of Killian's legs. "I've seen what they said about how they just wish that the show was on HBO, just so they could see just a little bit more of you."
Emma sighed and tilted her head to the side slightly, noticing the reddening of the tips of Killian's ears and the high blush on his cheeks. She smiled gently because she was doing this to him. "Even before I met you, I was jealous of the women in the magazines, the ones hanging on your arm and the ones who had the pleasure of marking your skin. But now, since I know just how our lives weave together, I find myself even more jealous than before. Because now, when I see what the men and women are saying online, I know they're talking about my soul mate and well…I don't exactly share well with others."
(A side effect from her time in the various foster homes and being pushed around by the bigger kids, who would steal her toys and food and she would go to sleep with a growling stomach-)
Killian's Adam's apple bobbed up and down with a large gulp. "You don't have to share me, Emma."
She raised her eyebrows. "Why not?"
"Because I'm yours."
Her heart pounded and everything froze because he said what?
Killian's tongue darted and wet his bottom lip in a subconscious move, his hands reaching out toward Emma's hips and tugging her down onto his lap where she now straddles him. "I'm entirely yours and you don't have to worry about anybody else because nobody else even compares to you-"
And Emma didn't allow him to finish his sentence because she was surging forward, pressing her lips against his because even after the month of knowing him, she felt as though she was complete and loved and she knew it was too soon to tell but-
But she was falling hard.
Killian wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her tightly against him. He groaned into her mouth as she nibbled down on his bottom lip and the sound sent a bolt of desire straight down, where it rested deep within her. Her hips ground down against Killian's and she gasped because Jesus Christ-
"Is this a bad idea?" Killian asked, grunting it out as his fingers dig into Emma's back.
"Probably, but fuck it," Emma replied against his lips, grounding her hips further into his and oh yeah this was a bad idea. But with how Killian's hardness hit her exactly where she wanted him, Emma couldn't find any reason to stop.
And Killian seemed to agree with Emma's response, lifting his hips up to meet hers and Emma gasped into his mouth. Killian swallowed the sound and swept his tongue into Emma's mouth, groaning when Emma responded in earnest. His hands creeped up the back of Emma's shirt and her skin burned at the small of her back, where his hands flattened against her skin.
It didn't take long for them to begin losing their breaths, but Emma couldn't stop. Not with how his beard rubbed against her lips and how his nails scraped down the long expanse of her back (not too high to hit her bra-after all, Killian was still a gentleman) (even if they were dry-humping like teenagers on this couch). She could feel his thick erection resting in between her legs as she rubbed herself against him continuously, and she could hear his groaning with each thrust (which did not help her libido at all). At this point, all Emma wanted to do was rip his clothes off and just give in to the utter attraction between the two of them.
But she couldn't do that just yet.
No. Just as Killian had said before, they should save the big moment and make it meaningful, given their track records with one-night-stands. They shouldn't waste it on just fucking on the couch.
(Even if she was extremely tempted to do just that.)
But she'd be insane if she didn't at least take advantage of this little encounter first.
Emma moved her lips down Killian's jaw, kissing her way to his neck, where she began to suck a large mark. She felt her panties grow wetter at his low moans and how his fingers dug into her lower back with each graze of her teeth. Emma could feel his cock grow harder with every movement of her hips against his and the feeling of her mouth hot against his skin.
"Not too hard, love," Killian grunted out, his voice gravelly and low (which sent shivers down Emma's spine and she was really impressed with how she hadn't just torn his pants off by then).
"Oh? Why not?" Emma asked, pulling away from his neck and pressing her hips against his again. Killian dropped his head against the back of the couch with a groan. "You seem to enjoy it."
Emma saw the bobbing of his Adam's apple as Killian gulped, staring at the ceiling as Emma nibbled on her bottom lip innocently. "Because then, the makeup artists will notice it when they have to cover it up for filming. And we both know that'll start some rumors."
Killian lifted his head from the back of the couch and noticed Emma chewing on her lip. His eyes fell shut at the sight. "Bloody hell, don't do that."
Emma giggled (giggled-what the hell was wrong with her?) and slanted her mouth back over Killian's, drawing out a long moan from Killian. Their teeth clattered against each other as Killian wrapped his arms tightly around Emma's waist, bringing her closer and closer to him. Every inch of Emma felt as though it was on fire and she didn't know she could feel so alive. With Neal, every little thing was different. Everything felt muted. But with Killian-with her soul mate-it felt as though she was sensitive to every little thing he did to her.
Which is why she gasped when Killian's hands moved to her upper thighs, cupping her just below her ass from underneath her skirt.
And why she gasped when his lips closed over the pulse point on her neck.
And why she barely noticed the ringing of a phone in the background.
Killian mumbled against Emma's neck, "Shit, that's my phone."
Emma made to move off of his lap, but he tightened an arm around her waist as Killian reached for the coffee table with his free hand. Emma tightened her hands on Killian's shoulders as he moved to reach for his ringing phone, afraid that she would fall off his lap as he leaned to reach his phone.
"Don't worry. I won't let you fall."
Emma smiled at Killian's words and she was happy that he couldn't see her face at the moment because of course he meant he wouldn't literally let her fall, but Emma couldn't help but think about how he meant that for other instances in their relationship. He won't let her fall without being there for her. Killian won't run away.
He wasn't going to leave her.
Killian sighed as he sat back on the couch and swiped the screen of his phone to answer the call. "Hello, Regina."
Emma's eyes widened because his publicist must be on the phone with him and she had heard many stories from the tabloids that she was actually the Devil.
There was a reason that the tabloids had dubbed Regina Mills as "The Evil Queen."
"Yes, I know…Yeah, I'm about to do that…Regina, now is not a good…"-Killian sighed and Emma swore she could hear Regina raving about something related to a wedding-"Can I call you back in a few minutes?...Yes, she's right here. Just give me a minute, alright?"
Killian rolled his eyes and ended the call, tossing his phone to the other side of the couch. "I suppose you're curious about what that was about."
"I mean, only if you want to talk about it," Emma replied, her hands sliding from Killian's shoulders down to his stomach.
Killian took a deep breath and scratched that spot behind his ear (which still killed Emma every time he did it because it was just so endearing). "As you may know, Regina is getting married."
Emma nodded. Every magazine had been talking about it for the past six months, ever since the pictures of Regina wearing the engagement ring had been leaked. "To Robin Hood. The lead singer of The Merry Men."
Killian nodded back. "Yes. And since I'm her most favorite client"-Emma rolled her eyes and laughed-"I was invited to attend the wedding. And I'm allowed to bring a date."
Date?
Emma's stomach churned because holy shit.
"And I was wondering if you would like to be my date to the wedding?" Killian asked quietly, turning his gaze downward to look at their now tangled hands.
Emma gulped. She wanted to say yes-God, did she want to-but it would be their first outing together and this was a big outing. Nobody knew about their soul mate status and she wanted to keep it that way for a little bit longer. They had only been together for just over a month and Emma was scared to go public. He was this big shot actor, who has men and women thrown at him from all sides and there was no way she could compete with that, even if Killian said earlier that he was all hers-
"Emma, you don't have to go if you don't want to," Killian told her and Emma could hear the disappointment in his tone.
She didn't want to let him down. And she knew that there would be hundreds more of these kind of events since her soul mate was a celebrity. Emma had to suck it up. She had to shove her nerves away and dip her toe into the life of stardom.
"I want to go, Killian," Emma replied steadily and Killian lifted his head to look at Emma again, his eyes bright and she wanted to make him happy. "I'm just nervous."
"I won't leave your side, darling," Killian stated, squeezing her hands in his. "I promise you."
"That's not what I'm worried about," Emma responded and Killian tilted his head slightly, asking her silently to continue. Emma sighed and shifted around on Killian's lap, trying to regain feeling in her legs. "Nobody knows about us being soul mates, Killian. And everyone is gonna see that you have a date and it's gonna get out that you had a girl with you at this wedding and nothing is gonna be the same-"
"Emma," Killian said as Emma began to ramble, releasing her hands to cup her face in his large hands. Emma gulped and looked Killian in the eyes (oh those eyes). "You don't have to go if you don't want to. I'm not going to force you into a situation where you're uncomfortable."
"No, I want to go, Killian," Emma repeated, fisting her hands into the fabric of his t-shirt. "I just don't want this to get out yet. It's only been a month and I need more time than that."
"I'll tell you what: I'll go see Regina tomorrow morning and talk to her about all of your worries. But to do that, I have to tell her about our relationship. Is that alright?" Killian asked.
Emma nodded. "But I don't want her to feel pressured to fix all of these things for me. I've read what they say about her in the magazines and I know she's kind of a lot to handle."
"I'll just have to butter her up, is all," Killian replied, rubbing his thumbs along the apples of Emma's cheeks. "I'll take care of it, love. Don't worry. She'll understand wanting to keep the soul mate thing quiet for now. She'd do anything for soul mates."
"Thank you, Killian," Emma murmured, smiling politely at him. He smiled back just as gently and leaned forward, pressing a small kiss to her lips. When Killian's lips left hers, Emma leaned her forehead against his and took deep breaths. "I have to go soon. I need to change my phone and everything before work."
Killian nodded and sighed. "I know."
But they didn't move. Emma didn't move from his lap, even though her legs were officially numb, and Killian didn't make a motion to help her off of his lap. They just sat there together, breathing their shared air and just sitting in silence. Emma had missed the comfort of just sitting quietly with someone, without feeling like she needed to fill the space with empty words.
It was a while before Emma decided that she really needed to get going, not knowing how long it would take to switch phones before she had to head to work. She edged herself off of Killian's lap, planting her feet onto the floor before she allowed herself to stand up. Emma ran her hands over the wrinkled fabric of her skirt, and she noticed how Killian followed her hands' movements.
Emma laughed and placed her hands on her hips. "If you look at me like that, I'm not gonna be able to get my phone fixed."
Killian smirked at her and she hated how her heart pounded inside of her chest. "It's difficult not to when you're wearing that skirt."
Emma chuckled under her breath and stepped away because that's exactly how their entire dry-humping session began. She mumbled about going to change into her work uniform and she grabbed her bag from the coffee table. Emma headed up the short steps into the foyer and turned down the short hallway beside the kitchen to sneak into Killian's bedroom, the third door in the hallway. She locked the door behind her as she tossed her bag onto the bed, dropping her head against the door. Emma took a deep breath because holy shit her heart was still hammering.
Her skin still tingled wherever Killian's hands touched her and Emma wanted to keep that sensation in her memories for the rest of her life. She wanted to remember his deep groans and how his bulge hit her exactly where she needed him, creating delicious friction which nearly drove her insane. Her core was still throbbing with how much she wanted him-needed him-but Emma knew that she wouldn't be able to look him in the eye if she did that here.
(She'll save that for when she's locked in her apartment late that night, with only her memories and her hand for company.)
Emma shook her head free of the memories and hurried into her work clothes. She really had no idea how long it would take to switch over everything from her phone to the new one, so she wanted to give herself plenty of time before she had to go to work. And well, Emma also just needed to get the hell out of this apartment before she jumped Killian and threw her self-control out of the window.
Emma ran her hands over the black, cotton dress as she looked in the mirror, rearranging her hair so it didn't look like she had just been thoroughly fucked (and dammit she wanted to be). She pulled her hair up into a half-up hairstyle and arranged her blonde waves over her shoulders. Once she decided she looked presentable, Emma gathered her things in her bag and exited the bedroom, walking through the hallway and back out to the living area, where Killian stood with a phone in his hands.
"Here's one of my old phones," Killian told Emma, taking the steps up to meet Emma by the foyer. He handed her the phone and Emma looked down at it, noticing that it was a relatively new model that had only come out about six months ago. Emma guessed she shouldn't be surprised when her celebrity soul mate had already replaced this still somewhat new phone. "I keep a drawer of them in the kitchen, in case I break mine or something happens."
Emma nodded and looked back up at Killian, smiling gratefully at him. "Thank you."
Killian nodded and scratched that spot behind his ear. "It's not a problem, Swan. I have a drawer full of phones and I'm not doing anything with any of them. It's in better hands with you."
Emma laughed under her breath as she dropped the phone into the bag of her clothes. "As long as Diane doesn't decide to call me again, the phone will be safe."
Killian stepped closer and Emma's heart shot up to her throat. Even after their dry-humping session, she was still affected by his proximity to her.
(She hoped that never went away.)
"I'll see you again soon," Killian said to Emma, his hand reaching out and grabbing Emma's. His thumb stroked the back of her hand and butterflies began flapping around in Emma's stomach. "I can't make it to the lounge tonight because I've been somewhat neglecting my workout schedule, but I'll be there tomorrow night."
Emma nodded and smiled, leaning close and brushing a gentle kiss against Killian's lips. With her lips thoroughly on fire, Emma pulled away and noticed Killian's darkened eyes. "I'll see you tomorrow then."
And then Emma left the apartment with Killian staring at her ass, yet again.
Bloody buggering hell.
That woman was going to be the death of Killian. He was sure of it. With her tight and revealing uniforms and that heart-stopping smile, Killian was surprised that he hadn't dropped dead already. He continued standing in the foyer, looking at the door as if Emma was going to walk through it again. Even though she had left not two minutes prior, Killian already missed her golden hair and how it tumbled over his hands when she was writhing on top of him on the couch-
Killian felt his sweatpants tightening yet again and he dropped his head back, staring at the ceiling because even though he had imagined that exact same situation, his dreams had completely paled in comparison to the real thing. Killian thought he could handle how Emma moaned and moved against him, but he was wrong.
Killian rushed back to his bedroom and through it to his attached bathroom. It wasn't two seconds later when he pulled his pants down and freed his growing erection, hardening from the memories of Emma straddling his hips and how her mouth felt against his neck-
He cursed under his breath as he wrapped a hand around his length, beginning to slowly stroke himself while remembering how Emma felt against him and he only imagined she would feel with him buried deep inside of her. His hand began moving quicker, his fantasies taking on a life of their own. Killian could see Emma taking him into her mouth, making him come with only her tongue and that's what did him in. His release spurt into the toilet and he breathed heavily, trying to ease the pounding of his heart.
"Fucking hell," Killian murmured under his breath as he ripped himself a few pieces of toilet paper and cleaned himself off.
After he tucked himself back into his pants and washed his hands, Killian could hear the distant ringing of his cell phone from the living room. He grumbled under his breath and hurried back out to the living room before the call went to voicemail. He knew it was more than likely to be Regina and he made the mistake of not answering one of her calls before.
It took him a month and about twenty apple turnovers to win her over again.
"Hello," Killian answered the phone, a tad too breathlessly for his liking.
"What happened to calling me back, Jones?" Regina asked and Killian sighed because shit. "I have a hundred guests coming to this wedding and I need your date's name so I can get these place cards made."
"I'm sorry," Killian replied and she was not going to like this. "Would you be able to meet me tomorrow morning to talk about it, by chance?"
Killian heard the creaking of Regina's office chair as she probably stood in her office. "Killian, just tell me her name."
"Regina, I need to talk to you about it before I tell you," Killian told her. "It's important."
Regina sighed over the line. "Because I had an actually decent day and my manicure has yet to be chipped, I'll be nice and listen to you. But first thing in the morning. If you are not here at ten sharp, then we're not talking and I'm sending off the names without you or your date's names. Got it?"
"Understood. Thank you, Regina," Killian responded, letting out a deep breath. "I'll be there first thing tomorrow morning."
Regina hung up the phone without another word and Killian tossed his phone onto the couch, just hoping that Regina will agree to hear him out and help him bring Emma to the wedding.
(And if he drifted off to sleep on the couch with the image of Emma in a flowing white dress, that was his business.)