I think you will enjoy reading this chapter. It has some really good moments.
Chapter 5
Early October
The next few days found Emma floating on a cloud, unable to tear her thoughts far from the remembrance of their first kiss. Being in Killian's arms and feeling his lips pressed against hers had felt right, perfect, in fact, and she was back hearing both of those voices in her head. Her inner heart was saying take it slow, enjoy the romance, and one day at a time, but her inner tart was saying, why didn't you invite him in? If he kisses well, what else does he do well? and Idiot, you're just an idiot.
Her problem lay in the fact that in her past relationships she had listened to her tart self, and look where that had gotten her - alone. This time she fully planned to listen to her heart side as it seemed to be telling her something. Making her feel that there was some reason why, after seeing him for a moment in time and exchanging merely a handful of words, he had never been far from her thoughts. That had to be significant and that was why it had been 2 1/2 days, she checked the time, exactly fifty-seven hours, but who's counting, since he had said goodbye after the most amazing kiss.
The next day they had exchanged a flurry of texts, but since both had previous commitments, had to settle for talking on the phone late into the night. Their conversation had run the gamut from small things like what they liked to read as children, or eat for breakfast, to stories about school including their plans for after they finished their graduate degrees the following year. His involved moving to New York City where a job working with his brother in a company owned by a family friend was already waiting. And while her dream involved opening a small gallery, she had never envisioned living anywhere but Boston. Was she listening to her wrong side? Should she listen to the other one to protect herself from pain?
Refocusing on the fact that she had a class to teach in a half-hour, she unlocked her classroom, flipped on the lights and moved to her desk to store her bags before she started setting up the room. Pulling the bottom drawer out with the toe of her shoe, she dropped her bag in and bent over to pull out her laptop when she noticed a Starbucks bag sitting in the center of her desk with a note attached. Detaching the note, she read:
Good morning Swan,
Thinking of you.
Killian
A smile curved her lips as she opened the bag and peered inside, the smell of cinnamon and yeast hitting her nose. Her stomach rumbled reminding her that she had run out of the house without grabbing anything to eat and before giving it too much thought ripped off a piece of bearclaw and popped it into her mouth. Groaning in ecstasy as the sugar and cinnamon hit her tongue, she pulled the cup of hot chocolate out of the bag and took a small sip, noticing that it was still warm. Realizing she hadn't missed Killian by much for it to be so warm was a bit of a bummer, but her curiosity was piqued by the fact that he was able to get into her locked classroom. Obviously, an accomplice, but whom?
Pulling her phone out, she sent a quick text,
E: Thank you for my sweet.
She didn't have to wait long for his response,
K: You're quite welcome.
E: I'm not complaining, but how did you get into my room?"
K: Pirate, love. You know we're always searching for treasure.
She smiled at his comment thinking if only he knew.
E: My very own pirate, huh? Any specific treasure you are looking for?
K: Your heart, Swan.
When he responded so simply, she just about melted into a puddle on the floor.
E: Oh Killian.
She sighed wishing that he was right next to her as she really wanted to kiss his sexy lips and once again feel his arms around her.
"Oh Killian, what?" She heard in a decidedly familiar British accent.
Looking up quickly, she watched him step into the room, pushing the door shut behind him. Without thinking she was around the desk, in his arms and kissing his lips before any more words were spoken.
There was no awkwardness in their kiss as was often the case when kissing someone new the first few times. Their lips meshed together as if one set had been made for other and at long last had found their mate.
The need for air finally won out and pulling away a little, she was finally able to satisfy her curiosity, "I thought you had a group meeting at 9:00?"
He kissed her nose, "I moved it to 10:00 am so I could see you." He grinned at the contemplative look on her face but didn't offer any other information.
She squinted her eyes at him, trying to read his mind, but he had a good poker face. "And what did you say to them?"
He pulled her closer and touched his forehead to hers. "I told them we needed to meet at 10 so I could kiss my girl."
Snaking her arms around his neck, she giggled, "Well, come here then." Going up on her toes, she sealed her lips to his and showed him with her mouth just how much she appreciated his surprise as well as his need to see her with a kiss that threatened to go on until a flurry of activity outside the door tore them apart.
"I'd better go. See you later." One last quick kiss and he left the room as her students started arriving.
She looked around, realizing she had gotten so distracted that she hadn't prepared for the day. Working quickly, she was able to get them started and made her way back to her desk to finish her breakfast surprise.
cs~cs~cs
Sitting in his IT class the next day, listening to Professor Malcolm go on and on, Killian barely contained the yawn that threatened to break free any moment. A full class load, his robotics group and those competitions, performing gigs with The Minors and his most important activity of courting Emma, often seemed to mean that sleep became an afterthought. Easy enough to handle in your early 20's but now in his early 30's his priorities had changed. He had reached that point where what he wanted most of all was to spend time with his girl and show her what she meant to him, which with each passing day was more and more.
Leaving tokens of affection had been something his father had done for his mother when they were students here at Harvard. He remembered his father sharing the story one evening after Liam had asked how to let some girl know he liked her. Funny how it had never entered his mind again until being on the same campus where his parents had met and fallen in love. He was ready to take the leap and tokens, according to his father, were a good way to give the woman a little nudge. And based on that kiss she had bestowed on him yesterday, he thought it had been a successful mission. Licking his bottom lip, he imagined he could still taste her mouth.
Phase two would be left for her to find tomorrow before class, thankful to his partner in crime, one of the Currier House cleaning ladies. A woman with wild red hair and a very odd laugh who said she enjoyed a good love story. After he had explained that the woman he was courting was Emma Swan, she had gotten a far-away look in her eyes and then deemed them the perfect match. He wasn't quite sure how she came to have that information since she had never seen them together, but he appreciated the thought and agreed with it whole-heartedly. All he had to do was put it all together and meet with the woman, Lena, and he was golden.
Back at his apartment later that evening, he printed out a photo of himself and Emma dancing and placed it in the picture frame. Staring at it made him feel nostalgic and shake his head at himself and the fact that he was so far gone over a woman after just a few times together. Printing another copy of the picture, he stared at it again, finding something about it hauntingly familiar, as if he had seen that scene played out before in another time, but unable to grasp the image that danced across his mind, he set it aside for later.
Pulling up the sound byte of the song that he sang the night they danced, he listened to it until he found the part that he wanted to include with the picture and finally settled on the last two lines:
"And the moment I can feel that you feel that way too
Is when I'll fall in love with you."
Playing it over once again, he decided he was happy with it and, placing it back in the box, he wrapped it carefully. Penning a note, he slipped it under the ribbon and sat back to admire his work.
He had just picked up the phone to adjourn to his bedroom and spend time talking with his lady when the door opened and Robin walked in with a disgruntled look on his face. "What's up? You look annoyed."
Robin quirked his mouth and rolled his eyes, "Nothing new, just grousing internally at you still for getting me involved in having to study again. Our lives were just fine when all we had to worry about was where the next gig would be and who would warm our beds if the need arose. Now it's," he dropped a pile of papers on the table, "homework, projects, grouchy instructors, deadlines," he hesitated and sat down in a chair, and sighed, "need I proceed?"
Having heard Robin's complaints before, Killian only half listened to him go on and on until finally winding down. "But if we hadn't moved here I'd be without Emma." His statement was meant to be made in jest but instead came out solemn, as if the thought of not having her in his life was too terrifying to consider.
Robin studied him quietly for a few seconds before tilting his chin in agreement, "I know, and I am truly happy for you. Think Emma has a friend for your old mate?"
Killian shrugged his shoulder, "Perhaps. You'll know when you see her though. Something about her will pull you in and one look might be all it takes."
Robin shook his head, "Boy, you're waxing poetic these days. However, the thought that one look and I'll be gone, well," he started laughing, "is just laughable. There are plenty of butterflies in the forest and I've a few to sample before landing on one."
"We'll see," Killian closed his computer, pushed up from the table and took a few steps down the hallway. "Something tells me, though, when you meet the right one, you're going to have to work to catch her." Leaving his friend to his own thoughts, he shut himself into his room wondering what tonight's conversation with the lovely Swan would bring to light.
cs~cs~cs
Emma woke with her face smashed against her phone. "Crap, did I fall asleep while talking to Killian?" She muttered as she pulled herself out of bed to get ready for class, but thinking back on the conversation, she didn't think so as she could swear that she had said goodnight. Hitting the home button, she grinned at his text,
K: Yes you said goodnight and we hung up. Hope you dreamt of me.
"Ok," she muttered to her phone, "that's just creepy how you do that." But as soon as it was out of her mouth her heart side corrected her with, No, that's a man who listens. Not only does he seem to listen to what you are saying, but also to what you don't say. He's a keeper.
Of course, as she proceeded to shower and dress, her traitorous body took her right back to how she felt in his arms and how he kissed and her tart side screamed, "Jump him!"
"Ugh, shut up," she scolded herself. "Feelings, so many good, no really great feelings."
Hurrying out the door, this time with a package of pop tarts in hand, she made it to the train station, wondering if a gift would be waiting on her desk. Not that she expected one every class period but it was exciting to walk in a door and realize that someone cared enough about you to plan a little surprise for you. She smiled, thinking it certainly added to the tingles that woke up whenever he was near.
With a few stops before she got off, her mind fell back on their conversation last night. She had talked a little about going to college but he had opened up about his family. The fact that his parents had met and fallen in love here on the Harvard campus after both were born and raised in England, was a miracle. There was also the age difference between them as eighteen-year-old freshman don't always have opportunities to come in contact with the graduate students on campus. And then the fact that his mother had been born with wealth whereas his father had grown up in an orphanage, just as she had done. An amazing coincidence for sure, but was something else at play?
Walking from the train to her stop, Emma had a little extra bounce to her step and couldn't wait to get to her class. Trying not to get her hopes up, she unlocked the door and hurried across the room to her desk. No Starbuck's bag waited for her. "Oh, well," she breathed out, "it's not like I expected anything anyway." Scolding herself for getting her stupid hopes up and then being let down again, she questioned her choice, "Heart side, right?" as she pulled opened the bottom drawer for her bag and spotted a simply wrapped rectangular box with a bow tied on the top.
Her eyes immediately teared and she had to bite her lip to keep from screaming with excitement, but picking it up, she set it on her desk. Wondering if she should open it or wait, she put her bag away, closed the drawer and sat back to stare at it. Her heart had picked up speed and she was in jeopardy of giggling like an idiot, knowing there was no way in Hades that she could wait until her students left. Trying to show a bit of decorum, she pulled out the note and slowly opened it. His note, so sweet and simple, turned her heart over in her chest, and she knew that, yes, her heart side was totally in control. He had written,
Emma,
There's a song in my heart for you.
Killian
"Oh boy," she mumbled, "I am such dead meat." Untying the bow, she laid it aside and gently slipped her fingers under the paper. Separating the sides, she pressed it out flat before turning the box to pull open the end and tilting it up so the frame could slip out.
She covered her mouth as her heart jumped inside her chest and, quickly dashing away the tears, pressed the button to hear what he had recorded. His voice crooned,
"And the moment I can feel that you feel that way too
Is when I'll fall in love with you."
"You are a pirate alright," she told the picture as she stared at the image of her held tightly in his arms swaying to the music. It had been almost a week, but just looking at the picture made it seem like yesterday. She could hear the music, feel their bodies touching and even smell his unique scent as if he were right here with her. Logically, she knew he wasn't, as he had class that he couldn't miss, but her senses were so in tune with him that the fact that she was still alone didn't feel real.
Placing the frame on her desk, front and center, where she could gaze at it anytime she came near, she reached for the wrapping paper. Picking it up to fold, she got a whiff once again of him, and brought it to her nose, inhaling a combination of his cologne and body wash. "Knew I wasn't crazy," she whispered as the students started arriving and she had to store it away for later. She'd thank him when they met at the library steps in a few hours. The same place his parents had first met and, according to Killian, the place where his father had taken one look and decided his mom was the woman he planned to marry. Was there a chance the son might follow in his father's footsteps? Her heart side was standing up and paying close attention.
cs~cs~cs
Killian had just finished lunch at the Burger Cottage and was on his way to the Widener Library where he planned to do some reading before meeting with Emma in an hour. The street was busy and he kept having to dodge others who would stop to text or stop to talk to someone coming the other way, which effectively blocked traffic from both directions. After the third or fourth time it had happened, he was considering stepping off the curb and walking on the road, but of course that presented another set of issues.
Finally, able to move around a particularly congested area, he looked up to see a skateboarder barreling toward him and prepared himself for impact when someone jerked him out of the way against the side of a building, "Bloody hell, what the devil are you doing?" He all but shouted at the unknown person.
"Saving your bloody ass, you big oaf," shouted Graham, who was staring down the sidewalk at the skateboarder, thinking of chasing him down, no doubt.
Brushing off his leather jacket and rubbing the palm of his hands against his jeans, he gave the detective a disgruntled look. "Just because you carry a gun doesn't give you a right to manhandle people," he spat out.
Graham, who had been standing there with his hands on his hips, held them up in surrender, "Sorry, man. I was coming out of the shop and just reacted." He gave him a cocky smile, "Didn't realize you would take issue with it."
Thinking he had possibly overreacted, Killian shook his head, "Sorry about that, mate. " He looked in the direction the skateboarder had gone but he was out of sight, "This sidewalk is not my favorite. Too many people and all in a hurry."
"Way of life," Graham responded as he turned in the direction Killian had been walking. "Where are you off to? I thought you had class."
"I had class this morning. Now it's to the library to do some reading then meeting with Emma in a while." They resumed walking and this time there seemed to be no issue, for people spotted Graham's holster and quickly moved out of the way.
"Ah," Graham chuckled, "congratulations on locating the elusive Emma. How did you finally find her?"
Killian explained to Graham about the twist of fate when Robin had seen her and she had dropped a drawing of him again. He went on to share how he had shown up as her model and they were in the getting to know each other stage. Parting ways at the corner, he promised they'd get together for drinks sometime soon and as he ran up the steps to the library in search of a quiet reading nook, he was already thinking of the possibility of a little party, inviting his friends so they could all meet his Emma.
cs~cs~cs
Walking across Harvard Yard, Emma stopped and stared up at the massive structure that was the Widener Library. Red brick, multiple stately columns and a grand staircase leading to the inside which was just as impressive as the outside. Climbing halfway up the stairs, she moved off to the right and hopped up on one of the ledges finding the cement a little cool on her behind, as expected on this October afternoon. Hoping Killian was finished with his reading, she pulled out her phone,
E: I'm out front waiting for you. ;-)
K: Good. I'm ready for you.
E: Shall I come to you?
K: No, Swan. Relax. Be right there
Tucking her phone back into her pocket, she swung her boot clad feet over the side while she waited.
Killian had been sitting staring at the same page of his Alternative Energies textbook for a while, not really comprehending what he was reading and so when Emma's text had pinged, he was more than grateful. Not only could he take a break from the grind of being a student for a short time, but he got to spend time with his girl. What more could a fellow want? Not lingering too long on that question, he packed his satchel, pulled on his jacket and wound his way through the cavernous study places of the library until he reached the front doors.
Pushing open the doors, he got as far as the columns before he saw her sitting up on a ledge swinging her feet like a school girl. She looks so pretty, he thought, sitting up there, her blonde hair shining in the low light of the autumn sun as it headed west preparing to set. Not wanting to wait any longer, he took the stairs as fast as possible. "There you are," he breathed her name, still a little in awe that they were together, finally.
She turned her head in his direction, her face lit by her beautiful smile. "Killian! I didn't pull you away from anything important, did I?"
"Nothing is as important as you," he grinned at her, "don't you know that?"
"Oh?" She smiled shyly. "You're important to me too, Killian."
Neither broke eye contact as fellow students moved up and down the steps around them, yet they only had eyes for each other. Killian moved closer, reaching his hands around her waist to help her off the ledge and into his arms where he aligned their bodies before pulling her in for a kiss. Just like every other time she kissed him, he lost track of his thoughts and surroundings, only able to focus on her. The softness of her lips as his explored the warmth of her mouth, as their tongues communicated in a language all their own and the way her body curved into his, a perfect fit.
Even through their layers of clothing, Emma could feel his body tightening, reacting to how she affected him just as her body was softening in its reaction to him. She didn't want to, but never being one for huge public displays of affection, she separated her lips from his and buried her cold nose in the V of his shirt where she discovered warm skin and sexy chest hair. Standing there, she allowed him to hold her as their breathing returned to normal and she thought she could string words together coherently. Once she felt sufficiently calmed, she backed away slightly, and looked up into his blue eyes. "Thank you for my surprise."
Looking down at her, his emotions there in his eyes for her to see, he kissed her once again, but this time very gently. A simple meeting of lips sharing of promise of more later, before helping her back up on the ledge and then moving up to straddle his legs around her. "I'm glad you liked it, Swan."
As they sat there on the ledge and talked about their day, she thought she would never tire of being this close to him. Exchanging stories of their past, hopes and dreams for the future. Periodically, conversation would veer in a direction and his eyes would darken with an emotion not yet ready to be named but for the most part, it was the joy of being together and happy.
As he turned to look out over the yard and she studied his profile, she had a vision of a small child learning about the first meeting of his parents. "So, this is where your parents met?"
He looked back at her and gave a gentle smile, "Aye, right here at the bottom of the steps is where my father ran right into my mum."
"It's so romantic. How long before your dad was able to 'court' your mom?"
The memory of the story reminded him why the picture of them dancing had been so familiar because he had seen a picture of his parents in exactly the same pose.
"They danced at The Burren," he told her quietly, before realizing it was getting cooler and they didn't have much time. "Care to walk?" When she agreed he hopped off the ledge and helped her down.
Tucking her arm in his, he led her down the stairs and they meandered through Harvard Square and around the campus. They talked about his parents and he admitted that he had gotten his idea to leave Emma tokens from his father.
"My mum was an art major," he smiled at her, "did I tell you that?"
"Really?" She smiled up at him, "That's, interesting. Did she paint?"
"Aye, she had quite the flair for water colors." As they walked, he continued to share stories of his family, including stories of him and his brother when they were younger. "We had some good times before my parents were taken from us far too early." His voice trailed off into nothingness.
"Maybe you can share the story of your parents' passing someday, Killian." There was hope in her voice as well as a little curiosity too.
Not saying anything immediately, Killian thought about sharing that time of his life with Emma and wondered what she would think of the fact that he had gone off the deep end for a time, even as far as wishing revenge on an already dead man. Would she think he was pathetic if she learned the full story?
"Maybe someday, Swan." He hugged her tighter against his side as they continued to walk.
When Killian had gone quiet, Emma worried that she had upset him, but when he answered and his voice was still tender, she relaxed as they continued walking. "What time is your meeting?"
He glanced at his phone before answering, "At 5:00. What do you have again?"
Emma explained how Thursday evenings, she and Ruby gave homework help to the children of the Home where they had grown up. "I usually get there by 6:00 and bring pizza."
They started walking towards the nearest T and talked about their schedules over the next few days. Killian backed her against a wall, settling his body against hers and covering her lips in a drugging kiss. When he lifted his head, Emma's was swimming and she felt as if she were floating on that proverbial cloud. "So, Swan," he kissed her again, "you promised to go out with me again. Saturday?"
Emma answered his question in the same way she had answered him when he had asked before and that was by covering his lips with hers. Their lips greedier for the others' created kisses that were more heated, their hands constantly roaming, moving from waists, to hips, to shoulders, tugging each closer. Hearing the T in the distance, knowing she needed to run, she tore her lips from his, leaving him dazed and so very desirable that her tart side said, screw the appointment and maybe him instead? But her heart side slapped her down when she saw the tender look on Killian's face. That she could cause this wonderfully, caring man, such an emotional expression on his face, one that scared her as much as it excited her, was powerful.
"I've got to run, as do you." She slowly pulled away, heading toward the gate.
Just before she disappeared, she heard him call her name, and turned quickly to hear him say, "I'll call you later."
With a nod of her head, she raced through the gate and he was lost from sight, but, like every other time they separated, she had already started counting down the minutes when they would be together again.
cs~cs~cs
Stepping out of her bedroom in tall black boots, black leggings and a long cream sweater, Emma was in the process of pulling her hair up into a pony when she spotted the look on Elsa's face. "What?" She gulped, as she tried to still her run-away heart.
Elsa wrinkled her nose, "I love that outfit but it's not very romantic." She stood up and walked around Emma. "This is your first 'real' date. Take advantage."
Rolling her eyes at her friend, she disappeared into her bedroom and flipped through her closet looking for a dress that said romance. Choosing her pale pink dress with the full skirt and fitted bodice, she slipped it on and stepped out for Elsa's inspection. One look at her friend's face and she knew she would probably end up changing all over again. "You said romance, this dress screams romance."
"I'll give you that, it does scream romance, but now that I see it, I'm changing my mind." She shrugged her shoulder and walked into Emma's room to choose a dress on her own. Sliding the hangers across the rack one by one, she narrowed it down between black or red, both form fitting and both sexy. "Here, choose one of these. You want sexy."
When she walked out of the room leaving her to dress, Emma thought about her last words, "I want sexy, huh?" She sighed as she slipped out of the pink dress, and into the black one before straightening her hair and slipping on her black heels. Looking in the full-length mirror, making sure there were no panty lines, she smoothed the dress down over her hips and turned each way. Her lips curved into a seductive smile as she imagined Killian's hands following the same path, but moving even farther down bringing her dress up as he tracked his hand along her silky thigh. The fact that the vision was so clear excited her but she was still determined to listen to her heart, even though it was the other side that was causing the sparkle in her eyes. "Behave," she whispered to it as she turned off the light and left the room.
"Better?" She asked Elsa who smiled and took a quick picture that she forwarded to someone. "Let me guess, Ruby?"
Elsa nodded her head, "Of course! I think she's probably sent it along to Ashley and several others too." She looked down to check the text she had just received and smiled holding her phone up for viewing, "You got the thumbs up. My job is done." She walked to the door, turning at the last minute, "You need anything else?"
"I'm good Elsa. Thanks." Emma closed the door behind her friend before checking her appearance in the mirror one more time. Hearing a series of pings on her phone, she wondered which of her friends was sending messages. Checking, she could only shake her head.
Elsa: Hang a scarf on the door if he stays over.
Ruby: Let your wild side out to play, honey.
Ashley: Love is worth it, Emma. You deserve love.
Such good friends, she thought blinking her eyes rapidly to dry the mistiness. Checking the time, she peered out the window as she heard a car in the drive.
cs~cs~cs
As he dressed for his date with Emma, he had to make a conscious effort to slow down because his bloody hands were shaking. Stepping out of the shower, he wrapped a towel around his waist and used a second one to dry his hair before draping it over his shoulder and studying himself in the mirror. He was over thirty years old, had been on more dates than he wanted to count and could never remember being this nervous. It was their first official date, sure, but they had spent considerable time together over the past week. He knew her and felt she was really getting a chance to know him. Why, then, were his hands shaking so badly he was afraid to shave for fear of harming himself?
Deciding against tempting fate, he left his scruff a bit longer than usual, brushed back his hair and tossed the towel aside. Pulling on his boxer briefs, he padded to the closet and paired them with a pair of black skinny jeans. He buttoned the jeans and reached for the tab to zip them, when half way up the zipper wouldn't move any farther.
Killian sat on the bed, spread his legs and tilted his hips up while he tried to figure out what the teeth had grabbed hold of, carefully as he was worried one wrong move and he could unman himself. Gently he teased the cotton away from the zipper teeth, however a wayward thought of Emma helping with the task, and the pressure and friction against a certain part of his body only served to create more of an issue as the space to work with became smaller. Thinking mundane thoughts and with continued gentle prodding, he was able to release his cotton brief material so the zipper slid right up. With a huge sigh of relief, he went to the closet to choose a shirt.
Taking one of his favorite long sleeve shirts off a hanger, Killian slipped his right arm into the sleeve and then reached around to slide his left into it, but bunching around the shoulders prevented it from sliding on smoothly. Thinking a little tug would unfold it enough, he pulled, except the extra adrenaline over the excitement of spending the evening with Emma proved to be too much for his favorite shirt. and with a rip, the shoulder opened up. "Bloody hell," he yelled, pulling the thing off and tossing it toward the bed.
Disgusted with his dressing mishaps and realizing he was running a little later than he liked, he didn't think, but just pulled one out of the closet, put it on and left his room while still buttoning it. When he reached the bottom, he realized he had skipped a button, and so unbuttoned them and started over. Sadly, in his haste, he had once again miscalculated, and had to repeat the process a third time before getting it right, much to Robin's enjoyment.
Robin quipped, "Do you need a lesson in how to use buttons, old man?" as he watched Killian finally complete the task and tuck his shirt tails into his pants, fastening his belt.
"Stuff it," Killian retorted back as he picked up his keys to go.
Robin sobered as he got a better look at Killian's face, "You're nervous, aren't you?"
Killian picked an invisible spec of lint off his shirt. "Aye, a bit," he admitted tugging on his ear lobe.
Nodding his head once, Robin gave him a sympathetic look, "It will be fine. Now shall I expect you home tonight?"
Shaking his head at his friend, Killian responded nonverbally, before shutting the door behind with Robin's laughter ringing in his ears.
cs~cs~cs
Emma watched him get out of the car, shut the door and straighten his shirt. Brushing his hair off his forehead, he started the walk toward the front steps. She sighed with how good he looked and forced herself to swallow the extra moisture in her mouth, to keep from becoming a drooling mess.
As he disappeared from sight, she ran to the mirror to check her hair and lipstick one more time. Pleased with what she saw, she took several deep breaths hoping to calm her erratic heart rate. With her hands on her stomach to keep the butterflies still, she waited for the knock on the door.
When it came, she forced herself to count to ten and walk methodically to answer it. Her hand trembled as she reached for the handle and slowly pulled the door open to reveal the man she felt she had been waiting for her entire life. When he didn't immediately say anything, she tracked from the tips of his black boots up his body to his blue, blue eyes and the look on his face stopped her heart. The way he was looking at her was unlike any she had ever seen and truly made her feel that she was the treasure for which he had been searching.
He breathed her name, "Emma," softly, reverently, but loud enough that it sent shivers up her spine, making her want to step into his arms and never let go.
When she could no longer resist the call, she took a step meeting him half way in a gentle kiss. "I missed you." Reaching up with her thumb, she wiped off the lipstick left behind, and complimented him, "The color looks good on you."
He wagged his brows at her and winked, "Feel free to share anytime."
He watched as she walked back into apartment in her tight, form fitting dress thinking that he had never seen anything more beautiful. Her heels added height and as he watched her walk there was a grace and elegance in her movements that turned him inside out. So moved was he by the sight that looking away became necessary, to regain control of the direction of his thoughts, lest they run away with him. If his mum had caught him thinking of taking a tumble with a girl before buying her dinner, she would have kicked his arse.
"What just flitted through your mind?" Emma interrupted his wayward thinking and he realized that his thoughts had traveled in other directions while she had moved up beside him and touched his arm.
He looked down at her, a tender smile on his face. "I was thinking how sexy you looked tonight."
"Uh huh," she studied him, "there was more, but I'll let you have your secrets for now." Her smile came easily as he followed her out of the apartment and down the stairs.
On the drive to Toscano's, an Italian eatery in Harvard Square, he asked about the house where she lived and she shared about its conversion to apartments and how it belonged to a rather eccentric lady who lived in one of the apartments downstairs. Their conversation flowed smoothly and he was surprised, but pleased, when she opened up about the area of Boston that she grew up in and how different it was from Cambridge. "I sometimes feel like a fraud or I'm living a dream." She shrugged her shoulder, "Weird, huh?"
He pulled into a parking place, shut off the car and, turning toward her, lifted her hand and kissed her fingers. "From where I'm sitting, Emma Swan you are very, very real." She gave him a little smile that encouraged him to continue, "And if we're living a dream, it's a really good dream, isn't it?"
"And it just keeps getting better and better." Her happiness was on her face for all to see as they left the car behind.
Walking into the restaurant, Killian kept her close, never letting her body stray far from his, happy to be seen and wanting to share that happiness with all.
"Have you ever eaten here?" he asked her quietly as they waited for the hostess to seat them.
"No, it's beautiful. Have you?" He shook his head as they were led to their table, giving Emma a chance to look around at the warm inviting room with its rich dark paneling on one side and brick on the other. The area they were led to had small, intimate tables, each decorated with white linens and crystal stemware. As she inhaled the garlic from the pasta dishes and the warm yeasty smell from the rolls her stomach growled in excitement and her mouth watered in anticipation.
Killian held her chair for her and as he pushed it in, he nuzzled he neck, bringing forth goosebumps that hadn't made an appearance yet tonight. "Mmm, you smell good," he whispered for her ears only.
She smiled at him as he removed his jacket, hanging it on the back and then settling in his chair. Leaning on the table, he seduced her with his eyes and a sexy smile until the waiter cleared his throat to bring them back to the present.
After placing their order, they allowed the staff to choose their wine and he brought them a bottle of rose, guaranteed to go well with both their meals. Emma watched Killian settle back in his chair while his fingers stroked the stem of the glass, almost hypnotizing her with their movement. Calling to her in a subtle, yet teasing manner. Making her want those same fingers stroking her in the same way.
Emma squirmed in her chair, readjusting herself, forcibly tearing her gaze away, looking for an innocuous line of conversation. "Tell me a story."
He immediately pushed his wine glass aside and leaned his arm the table, "A story, love? What type of a story would you like?"
Her mind was racing trying to come up with a topic that would interrupt this sensual haze that he kept pulling her into. But every time she looked at him, his eyes, his lips or his hands drew her right back, and the side she was trying to keep under control kept whispering in her ear, "Do it, do it, do HIM." Over and over again, almost drowning out her other side. "An eighteen-year-old's University story?"
He couldn't quite decide what the little vixen was thinking, but the fact that her pupils had dilated, she kept licking her lips and she couldn't seem to sit still in her seat gave him some idea. As he had been toying with the stemware with one hand, the other was in his lap, in a fist, fighting the way she was pulling at him. Their pheromones were proving almost too powerful and the constant struggle to keep his hands in neutral territory was almost overwhelming.
Logically, he knew the pace was too fast, but emotionally, the connection was there. He wanted her badly. When she asked for a story, he had felt relief, but waiting while she tried to come up with a suggestion and watching her squirm in her seat brought its own share of frustration. Knowing if he brought her into his lap and started kissing her as he longed to do, there was a good chance they both would get what they wanted. But with Emma he had decided to follow a new path, mind, heart and then body, but bloody hell, it was getting harder and harder, both figuratively and literally.
The waiter set their plates in front of them, refilled their wine glasses and left them alone.
He started his tale by explaining that as a lad he had a deep thirst for understanding how something worked. "You can imagine mum's exasperation with me when she would happen into a room and I had taken apart something but couldn't figure out how to put it back together. Tossed out a few appliances, as it was less money to purchase new ones instead of hiring someone to repair them," he finished as he shook his head at the memory.
Moving on with the conversation he talked about how he and Robin had met and become roommates in the freshman dorms, both engineering majors, both on their own for their first time. Smiling at a story from right after the new semester started, he added, "So, one night, or rather the middle of the night, we were just getting to sleep when we kept hearing doors open and close and the squeaking prevented us from going to sleep." He laughed at the memory going on to tell her that he had sat straight up in bed claiming Mr. Fix-It was needed. Turned out they had a can of oil in their room and so there they were in their skivvies at 2:00 am going up and down the floor of their dorm and oiling all the squeaky hinges. "Took us bloody forever," he groused.
Emma laughed, "And just how did you get all the doors open?"
"Well," he got a sheepish look on his face, "that was part of the problem, you see. We didn't want to knock and wake them so Robin picked the locks."
Her eyebrows went up in surprise at that comment, "Robin picked the locks?"
"Aye, Swan, he did. He'd make a terrific thief."
"Did everyone thank you for taking care of their squeaky doors at least?"
"You'd have thought," he groused at her, "called us arseholes, instead." He shook his head at the memory. "We got them back, though, when we souped up our electric car and it left theirs behind." A far-away look came over his face, "I haven't thought of that time in years," he told her quietly, "it was too painful, but this was nice." He gave her a gentle smile and squeezed her hand.
After leaving the restaurant, they walked around Harvard Square as long as Emma's feet weren't too uncomfortable in her heels. Killian held her tight to his side as they walked, stopping to listen to a street musician here and there until, finally, her feet protested in such a way that he led her back to the car and tucked her inside with promises of a foot rub.
On the short drive back to her apartment, he slipped in a CD of the songs they had played at The Burren and just before reaching her street, his song started playing.
The dark car, the haunting music and Killian's sexy voice wrapped around Emma bringing tears to her eyes. He reached across the console to take her hand while the song continued. Closing her eyes, she leaned her head against the seat and listened closely as he sang the words directly to her.
"When I fall in love,
It will be forever
In a restless world, such as this is,
Love has ended before its begun
And too many moonlight kisses
Seem to cool in the warmth of the sun."
She felt him pull into the drive and put the car into park. As the ending music started, Emma opened her eyes to meet Killian's, looking at her as if he could see into her very soul. Leaning over the console, he cupped her cheek and sang,
"And the moment that I can feel that you feel the same way too,
Is when I'll fall in love with you."
As the words faded, he covered her lips in a searing kiss that left her tingling from the top of her head all the way down to his toes.
"Emma?" He ran his thumb along her bottom lip, as he sighed her name softly.
Her eyes were so heavy, she almost felt she were drugged, but with effort, she lifted them toward him, "Killian." Repeating his name like a prayer, as if he was what she had prayed for and her prayers had been granted.
Killian was looking at her so seriously, she wasn't exactly sure what he was going to say, "Emma, if you invite me up, there will definitely be some of this," and leaning forward he gave her a hot but way too short kiss," and quite possibly some of this," he put his hand on her thigh running it up just under her dress, causing a slight hiccup in her breathing. "Anything else is up to you."
She didn't say anything but studied his face in the darkened car. He was in shadow but she could see his eyes studying her intently and the light from outside glistening off his bottom lip, still damp from their kiss. "I trust you Killian. Come up?"
The smile that lit his face was a sight to behold even in the dark space and before barely any time had passed he was out of the car, pulling her door opened and she was in his arms. Tightening her hold around his neck, she lifted her chin allowing him to sink into the kiss. She felt like a school girl who had brought her boyfriend home and any minute they would be caught necking. When a car drove by and their headlights illuminated them, eliciting a honk, they broke apart, both breathing heavily.
"Let's go up." She stated.
"With pleasure." Killian followed her upstairs to her apartment.
Did you enjoy it? If so, please let me know. Stay tuned for Chapter 6. What do you think is next for our couple?