Title: Love & Lies
Author: Steph aka CaptainSwanLuver
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Killian/Emma
Characters: Killian, Emma, , August, Belle, Robin, Gold, Regina
Category: Romance/Drama/Humor
Disclaimer: I do this out of a love for this couple. No infringement is intended.
Spoilers: Nope!
Summary: Emma Swan is the star of the failing soap "Love & Lies". Killian Jones is the star of their rival soap. In order to raise ratings, Killian is hired to star on Emma's soap. They immediately clash. Will sparks fly too?
Note: Thanks for your responses to the last part. Hope you enjoy this part. ~Steph
…Love & Lies: Part 3/11…
Killian entered the dressing room the following day and found Emma on her couch, reading the script.
"You're late," she said without looking up.
He glanced down at his watch. "Two minutes late."
Emma shrugged. "You're the one who insisted on us running lines. If you're not going to take it seriously then-…
Killian held a bag up to her. "I'm late because I stopped to get you this."
Emma stared at him for a long moment and then hesitantly took the bag. "Oh…thanks."
She looked inside. It had a chocolate chip muffin and a cup of hot cocoa with cinnamon in it.
She looked up at him. "How did you know these were my favorite?"
He shrugged. "I pay attention. I spot you over at Kraft services every morning getting them. I stopped at this bakery by my house this morning. I thought they might make a better muffin."
Emma nodded. "Wow, that was uncharacteristically thoughtful of you."
Killian shook his head. "A simple thank you would have sufficed."
"I said thank you."
"True, but you felt the need to follow it up with an insult."
Emma let out a huff and put the bag on the table. "Forget it. Let's run our lines before we have to get to set."
Killian sat down next to her. "I think we should practice the kiss first," he said.
"Excuse me?" she said.
"Our first kiss. I mean, Eva and Tyler's first kiss. We don't want it to look awkward. We must convey their undeniable attraction."
Emma swallowed hard, as he scooted closer to her. "I...I don't think that's a good idea."
"Why not?"
Emma searched her brain for some reason that would make sense. "Because I think it needs to look spontaneous. It can't seem like my character has been planning to do this. She is married after all. It just needs to happen."
Killian nodded, his eyes scanning her face as she refused to meet his gaze. "As you wish."
…
Emma and Killian took their places in Eva's office, as Gold approached them.
"Alright, dearies, this is an important scene. There's no turning back for Eva after this. Unfortunately, we're running late again, so we don't have time for rehearsal. We're going straight to shooting."
Emma and Killian nodded, their eyes meeting. Emma flashed back to their dressing room where they had rehearsed the scene. She hadn't been able to kiss him in the privacy of their dressing room for a reason. She wasn't sure she would have been able to stop herself. She wasn't sure she would have been able to separate herself from her character.
"Action!"
Emma turned away from Killian and moved to her desk, sitting on the edge.
"I was very impressed with your photo shoot today, Tyler. I think you really sold the clothes."
Killian came to stand in front of her. "The clothes certainly aren't hard to sell."
Emma reached up, running her hand over his shirt and the tight muscles of his chest. She kept going until she reached his tie and then yanked it, pulling him down towards her.
"There's only problem with these clothes," she said.
"What's that?" Killian asked, licking at his lips.
"They're preventing me from getting to what I want," she breathed.
Emma pulled him closer to her, his lips an inch away from hers. The script called for her to kiss him, but instead Emma scrunched up her nose and then pushed him away.
"Your breath reeks!" she said, shaking her head.
"Bloody hell, Emma! What the devil is your problem?" Killian said.
"You've got to be kidding," Gold muttered. "Cut!"
Emma glared at Killian. "I am not kissing you smelling like that. What did you have for breakfast after we ran our lines?"
Killian shrugged. "Onion bagel with lox."
Emma raised her brow. "Are you kidding? You knew we had to do our first kissing scene today and you chose to eat fish and onions right before? What is wrong with you?"
"I had a craving."
"A craving? Would you like a garlic clove to suck on too?"
Gold approached them. "Emma, just kiss the man so we can move on please."
Emma shook her head. "He needs some breath spray and to eat 2...or 200 hundred mints…and then I'll consider kissing him."
Gold rolled his eyes. "Will someone please get me some breath spray and a roll of breath mints?"
One of the interns hurried over to Gold, handing him the breath spray and mints. He, in turn, handed them over to Killian.
Killian rolled his eyes at Emma, as he popped a bunch of mints in his mouth. He chomped on the mints until they were gone and then squirted the breath spray into his mouth.
Emma took her spot back at her desk, as Gold returned to his chair. Killian walked up to Emma, getting close to her face.
He let out a little puff of air at her. "Does the lady approve?"
Emma tried not to stare at his lips. "It'll do."
"Take it from grabbing his tie," Gold instructed.
Emma grabbed Killian's tie and pulled him towards her.
"There's only problem with these clothes," she repeated.
"What's that?" Killian asked.
"They're preventing me from getting to what I want," she said.
Emma brought her lips close to Killian's. She watched his eyes scan hers, before she crashed her lips into his. To say they both felt electricity would be an understatement. Killian moved between Emma's legs and grabbed her waist, pulling her body close to his. Emma shoved her tongue into Killian's mouth.
There was an unwritten rule on soaps that you don't use tongue when kissing. The network gets upset if they see tongue since it's daytime and they have the censors to worry about. But Emma didn't care in that moment. She just wanted to feel him.
Killian was surprised by the feel of Emma's tongue sliding against his, but eagerly responded with his own. Emma's hand moved to grip the hair at the nape of his neck, as she nipped at his lower lip with her teeth.
"Cut! Okay, great, got it," Gold said, apparently missing the tongue action.
Emma and Killian were so caught up in each other that they didn't hear Gold yell cut. Killian ran his tongue along Emma's lips before diving back in.
"Cut! I said cut!" Gold yelled.
Emma felt her heart racing and she was struggling to breathe. She knew this was completely unprofessional, but she couldn't help herself. Killian was feeling much the same way.
They finally parted in order to breathe, not because they heard Gold yelling cut. Their foreheads remained touching for a moment, their gazes holding, as they processed what had just happened. They suddenly became aware of their surroundings.
Gold marched up to them. "What the devil was that? I yelled cut and you just kept going!"
Killian stepped back, reluctantly breaking contact with Emma. He ran his fingertips across his lips. He finally shook his head.
"Apologies, just got caught up for a moment," he said.
Emma nodded, her cheeks reddening. "Sorry."
Gold simply shook his head and walked off set without another word.
Killian opened his mouth to say something, but Emma dropped her eyes.
"Don't," she whispered.
When she lifted her eyes, she saw August standing just off set. From the look on his face, it was clear he had witnessed the entire thing.
Emma tried to move past Killian, but his hand on her waist stopped her.
"We need to talk about this," he said softly.
Emma shook her head. "I have to go."
Emma walked toward August, as Killian's eyes followed her.
…
August didn't say a word to her all the way back to his dressing room. He entered and then slammed the door shut behind her.
"Please say something," she said. "You know I hate this silent rage thing you do."
August stared daggers at her. "You know what I hate? Watching my girlfriend making out on stage with her costar."
"It's called acting," she replied weakly.
August shook his head. "No, that wasn't acting."
"We just got caught up in the moment for a second. It happens," she replied.
"Really? It does? Because you and I have been together off screen for five years and onscreen for three, two of which we've been married, and that's never once happened to us. If it would happen to anyone, you would think it would happen to a couple that is in a relationship and has real feelings for each other."
Emma dropped her eyes. "I'm sorry. I don't know what else to say."
August waited a few moments before speaking, his voice lowering, "Do you have feelings for him?"
Emma's head shot up. "Are you serious right now? He drives me crazy. You know that."
"Many a great love story has started with two people driving each other crazy, Emma."
Emma swallowed hard and came close to him, putting her arms around his neck. "Why would I want him when I have you?" she asked.
August let out a sigh. "Okay," he replied softly.
He stared at her for a long moment, before placing a kiss to her cheek and pulling her to him in a hug.
Emma stared straight ahead, as she put her head on his shoulder, her mind still reeling from that kiss. Her tongue darted out and flicked at her lips. She could still taste him.
Emma squeezed her eyes closed. What the hell was wrong with her?
…
A few hours later, Emma entered her dressing room, hoping that Killian would be gone by now.
"I was wondering when you were going to grace me with your presence," he said the moment she walked in.
He was lying on her couch, tomorrow's script in his hands.
She waved her hand at him, saying simply, "Off."
Killian sat up, but didn't move off the couch. Emma sighed as she came to sit down next to him.
"Are you ready to talk?" he asked.
"About what?"
He smirked. "Don't play dumb, Emma. It doesn't become you."
"Look, what happened out there was a mistake. We got caught up in the moment because we were trying to sell the scene."
Killian tilted his head at her.
"What?" she asked, her face growing red.
"I can't tell if you're just lying to me or to yourself too."
"I'm not lying at all," she said sharply. "It didn't mean anything."
"Did your boyfriend believe you when you told him that?"
Emma moved her eyes to her lap. "I've told you before. My personal life is not your business."
"Emma, I've been doing this for over ten years now. I've kissed many a woman."
"I bet," she muttered.
"On set," he clarified. "And never, not once, has that ever happened. We didn't even hear Gold yell cut."
"I don't want to talk about this anymore," she said, as she moved to get up.
"There's something between us, Emma. You can deny it all you want, but that won't change the truth."
Emma met his eyes, her jaw clenched. "I have a boyfriend. He is a good man. I would never hurt him like that."
"So this is about not wanting to hurt August? And how do you think he's going to feel when he realizes his girlfriend of five years has feelings for another man but refuses to be honest with him? That is, if he hasn't already realized it."
Emma shook her head sharply. "You don't know what the hell you're talking about."
She then turned on her heel and walked out of the room. Killian sank back into the couch.
…
"Whoa, slow down," Belle said, as she watched her best friend down her second martini in less than ten minutes.
"I wish people would stop telling me what to do," Emma said.
They were at their favorite bar in L.A.
"I assume your current mood has something to do with a certain British hunk."
Emma squeezed her eyes closed and rubbed at her temple. "Please don't mention him to me right now."
"I also assume your current mood has something to with what happened between you two on set today."
Emma's eyes flew open. "You know about that?"
"Emma, everyone knows about it. It's all anyone could talk about for the rest of the day."
Emma dropped her head onto the table. "This is a disaster."
Belle reached out and covered Emma's hand with hers. "Do you want to talk about it?"
Emma sighed and lifted her head. "I lost control. We started kissing and all of the sudden it wasn't Eva kissing Tyler it was me kissing Killian. And it felt so good, I couldn't stop myself. Neither one of us even heard Gold yell cut."
"Wow. Do you have feelings for him, Emma?"
Emma's eyes widened. "Why does everyone keep saying that? I can barely tolerate the man."
"You're a professional. You've been doing this for sixteen years. I've never once seen you lose control like that, not even with August. What's your explanation for it then?"
Emma sighed. "Okay, so maybe I'm attracted to him a little. I mean, who wouldn't be? Just look at him. But that's where it ends."
"How did August react?"
Emma groaned. "He asked me the same thing you just did."
Belle nodded. "I see. I wonder if he believed you more than I do."
Emma glared at her best friend. "You know, you're supposed to be helping me feel better, not making it worse."
Belle shrugged. "Sorry, but I'm not the kind of best friend who just tells you what you want to hear."
"Okay, so where can I find that kind of best of friend then?" Emma asked.
Belle laughed. Her laugh quickly subsided though as her eyes landed on two figures entering the bar.
"Uh oh, don't look now," she said.
"What?" Emma asked, as she followed Belle's gaze. Her eyes landed on Robin and Killian, as they took a spot at the bar.
Emma placed her hands over her face. "You've got to be kidding me. Could this day get any worse?"
…
Robin downed his Scotch, as he watched Killian staring at his rum like it held the answer to the meaning of life.
"What's the matter, mate?"
"Nothing, I'm fine," Killian said as he finally took a sip.
"Ah, so this preoccupation of yours has nothing to do with a certain blonde lass then?"
Killian sighed in defeat. "Is it that obvious?"
"Well, yes, but I also heard about what happened on set today. Everyone did."
"Bloody hell," Killian said, as he downed his rum.
"I've known you for a long time, Killian, but I've never seen you like this. You don't usually let a woman get to you."
"Emma's different," he said softly.
"She's got a boyfriend, mate."
"I know and I also know that the woman kissing me on set today didn't act like she had a boyfriend. What can you tell me about them?"
Robin shrugged. "August treats her like a princess. Emma has always seemed rather disinterested in him, like she's only with him because he was a safe choice."
"Safe choice?"
"Aye. He won't break her heart."
"He told me he's asked her to marry him and move in with him multiple times, but she's always refused. Why do you think that is?"
Robin took a swig of his drink. "I think she knows he's not right for her, but she doesn't know how to break it off, so she keeps leading him on. August is a good man and he truly loves Emma. He believes one day she'll be ready to take the next step with him." Robin paused for a moment. "You said Emma's different. For as long as I've known you, you've never been with the same woman twice. You take what you want and move on."
"You make me sound awful."
"I know you have your reasons for not seeking a relationship with a woman."
"Aye, that I do."
"So then what's different about this woman? What's different about Emma?"
"Who said I want a relationship with her?"
Robin laughed heartily. "It's written all over your face. Plus, most men who are only interested in a woman for sex don't care about her relationship with her boyfriend."
Killian shook his head. "You know what? None of this matters anyway. She drives me mad most of the time. And she can't stand me."
Robin looked over Killian's shoulder and gestured. "Is that why she can't take her eyes off of you right now?"
"What?" Killian said, his brow furrowing.
Robin gestured again and Killian whipped his head around, his eyes meeting Emma's.
"Bloody hell," he whispered.
Emma turned her head toward Belle. "Damn. They saw us. Don't look."
Belle brought her hand up and waved at them. "Hey guys!"
"What are you doing?" Emma asked through clenched teeth.
"Emma, we work with them and they already saw us. We can't just act like we didn't see them. It would be rude."
"So?"
Robin made a move to get up, but Killian's hand on his arm stopped him. "What the devil do you think you're doing?"
Robin nodded at the women. "I'm going to say hello. Where are you manners, mate?"
Robin made his way over and Killian sighed heavily before following him.
"Great!" Emma muttered. "They're coming over. Look what you did."
Belle smiled at Robin and Killian as they came to stand in front of them.
"Why don't you guys join us?" she said, as Emma threw her an icy glare.
"We'd love to," Robin said, pulling a chair out and then reaching up and grabbing Killian's arm to get him to sit too.
Killian sat down next to Emma, trying to avoid her gaze.
"So, Killian," Belle began, "How do you like working on 'Love & Lies' so far?"
"I'm quite enjoying myself. Most everyone has been very welcoming."
Killian shot Emma a look at that one.
"Glad to have him on the show," Robin said with a slap to his back. "We've been mates for a while now."
"Lucky you," Emma mumbled.
Just then, Belle and Robin's phones buzzed at the same time.
Belle sighed. "My call time just got moved up to 6 am. Looks like I'm going to have to call it an evening."
"Same here," Robin said. "Ah, the life of a soap star." He turned to Belle. "Share a cab?"
"Sure," Belle said.
Emma stood up quickly. "I'll go with you. I'm tired anyway."
Belle waved her hand at her, giving her a pointed look. "No, stay and finish your drink. Enjoy yourself. You and Killian can get to know each other better."
Emma slowly sat back down.
Killian smiled slightly. "I'll make sure she gets home safely."
"Great," Belle said as she and Robin turned to leave. "Enjoy the rest of your night."
"See you tomorrow," Robin said, ignoring the irritated look Killian gave him.
Once Belle and Robin were out of earshot, Emma threw Killian a look. "I don't need you to baby-sit me. I am a grown woman who is perfectly capable of taking care of herself."
"I am sure you can, but I'm a gentleman and I believe in good form. And that means I always make sure the lady in my company gets home safely."
Emma rolled her eyes. "Oh, I'm sure you do."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Well, it's no secret that any woman that goes out with Killian Jones ends up in bed with him."
"I enjoy the company of women. I won't apologize for that."
Emma took a sip of her third martini. She didn't usually drink much and she hadn't had anything to eat since breakfast, so she was really beginning to feel the effects.
She leaned toward him, his lips suddenly distracting her as she recalled how they felt against hers.
"Why are you like this?" she asked, her speech slightly slurred.
Killian licked at his lips nervously. "I thought you didn't want to know anything about me."
"I'll make an exception just this once. So have you ever been in a relationship? Ever been in love?"
Killian nodded, his eyes focused on the table. "Once, long ago. I got my heart broken."
Emma's brow arched in surprise. "What happened?"
Killian sucked in a breath. "Her name was Milah and we attended university together. We were 19 years old. We attended a party at a friend's house and on the way home, a drunk driver crossed over into our lane. I attempted to swerve, but I was too late. We were hit head-on. I suffered a few broken ribs and a concussion. Milah was killed on impact."
Emma's mouth hung open, as she stared at him in shock. It was the last thing she expected to come out of his mouth. Her hand reached out and covered his. He was surprised by her touch.
"Oh, my God. I am so sorry," she said.
"It was a long time ago. That's when I decided to come to the states to finish school. I blamed myself. She didn't want to go that night, but I begged her to come with me. I couldn't escape my guilt or her. There were too many memories of Milah there, so I left."
"I…I don't know what to say." Emma paused for a long moment, her eyes sweeping across his face.
"I've never told anyone about the terrible guilt I felt over her death before," he said softly.
Their eyes met and held for a long moment. For the first time, she saw him as more than a womanizer with a pretty face.
"So after that you decided to swear off relationships?" she asked.
He nodded. "Aye. I'm a man and I have needs, so I knew that I could not give up women entirely. But I swore I would never risk my heart again. I am always upfront with every woman I'm with. They know from the outset that things will never go any further between us."
"I feel sorry for you," she whispered.
"Why?" he asked, cocking an eyebrow.
"Because love can be wonderful," she said.
"You mean like what you and August have?" he asked.
Emma dropped her eyes. "I was speaking in general terms."
"I don't think you and I are that different, love," he said.
"Excuse me?" she replied, nearly spitting her martini out.
"You've had your heart broken too. I can see that. But instead of running away like I have, you've settled for a man who can never break your heart because he's never had it to begin with."
Emma felt her jaw clench. "Why did you have to do that?"
"Do what?"
"Ruin the moment. For a second, I actually thought you might be a halfway decent guy."
"Emma."
"You don't know anything about me, Killian."
"You've made damn sure of that!" he snapped.
Emma stood up. "I'll see myself home, thank you. But you're welcome to pay my check. Make sure you leave a generous tip. You can afford it."
Killian watched as she marched to the door. He threw some money down on the table and then followed her outside.
"Let me see you home," he said, when he found her standing on the curb trying to wave a cab down.
"If you think that just because I have a few drinks in me that I'll be another notch on your bedpost, then think again."
Killian's eyes flashed with hurt. "Is that really what you think of me? You think I would take advantage of you?"
Emma's expression softened. "No, I'm sorry."
Just then a cab pulled up. Killian opened the door and gestured to her. "After you."
Emma took a deep breath, slid into the cab, and then watched as he slipped in beside her.
…
End of Part 3
Thanks for reading! If you could take a second and let me know what you thought, I'd really appreciate it. ~Steph