Chapter 5

Approximately thirty-seven minutes later (according to my MTM* military-grade watch I'd received from the Captain as a present on my birthday), Gauron and I returned back to our cabin. Dinner had been a complete disaster.

First off, I'd managed to attract many unwanted stares from around the dining room. Apparently, many of the wandering eyes were bewildered as to why the Captain himself would choose to dine with a boy who had none of the aura the rich gave off. At least, that was what Gauron said later. Personally, I didn't quite care what others thought of me, unless it was concerning comrades who would fight with me in battle, to which it would benefit me to at least act pleasant in order to avoid getting a knife stuck in my back.

Secondly, the food was much too rich. Rich for me meant strange. I mean, how was a normal person supposed to know what 'Consomme Olga*' was? Or what the chefs meant by making a dish called 'filet mignons lili'? The only food I'd managed to eat during the course of the meal was the lamb and the roast duckling, though why anyone would want to put that in applesauce was beyond me.

And the last complaint regarded Gauron. If he hadn't been there, perhaps the first two problems I had had with the dinner might not have been so bad. But apparently, he found some twisted pleasure in seeing my squirm and uncomfortable. Noticing how almost everyone in the room had their eyes turned on us, he made a pointed effort to dote on me while I was eating.

"Oi, Kashim, you shouldn't leave so much food behind. It's such a waste. Here, say 'aah'…" Gauron croons devilishly while simultaneously holding up a forkful of brownish whitish slime to my mouth.

"Stop that," I hiss under my breath. Already, people are whispering. I didn't quite care, but being treated like a baby was infurirating.

"Don't worry, it's just oyster. Nothing poisonous, I promise."

"I wasn't worried about that! Show a little restraint, would you?"

I surely was never going to eat with Gauron again.

We reach our room, and I reluctantly enter.

"Don't you have some…duties that you have to attend to as Captain?" I inquire, hopeful.

"Are you possibly trying to get rid of me for the night?" Gauron grins. "But no, my crew is skilled. They can handle it themselves. They were personally hand-selected by me, after all."

"Hmph."

We silently get ready for the night, going our separate ways. I'm done in a matter of minutes.

Gauron returns from the bathroom not long after to find me standing there, staring at the bed.

"Where do you suppose I…sleep?" There's only one bed.

"Why of course, you sleep with me." Gauron smirks at my face, which turns beet red after realizing the double meaning of the phrase.

"Shut up," I growl. "I'd rather sleep in the cargo hold."

Gauron coos in a singsong voice, "Kashim, have you forgotten how many passengers are on this ship? Should I remind you of the figure, as it seems you've forgotten?"

Coward. Devil.

"Fine," I spit. "I'll sleep in this room."

"Nice choice."

He flips the light switch, then climbs into bed, scooting over to the wall. He's obviously expecting me to join him.

Bending down carefully, I slide stealthily underneath the bed, which thankfully has plenty of space*, and better yet, a bed skirt, which provided me some privacy.

"Good night," I say, quite pleased with myself.

Gauron sighs. "Another one of your queer habits, I suppose? Honestly, you're so not cute." The bed frame creaks above me as he turns over.

My first victory since arriving on the ship.

I turn over on my side, facing the wall, then let my eyelids close slowly and peacefully, relief sinking into my bones, muscle, and soul. A rare, tranquil smile covers my face.

"Ungh!"

The shores of sleep were fast approaching a few moments ago. But suddenly, I'm jarred awake as a thunderstorm strikes in the form of Gauron. Rolling onto my side to face him, I see that he's rubbing his head in irritation.

"What are you doing down here? Go back to sleep!" I yell as softly as I can. I scoot closer to the wall and farther away from Gauron.

"So cruel, Kashim," Gauron chastises mournfully, "I was afraid that you'd be lonely."

"I'd rather die of loneliness that sleep beside you for a night."

Gauron smirks. "But you see Kashim, I can tell what you really want. Only I can give it to you." And he closes the distance between us, wrapping his broad arms around my shoulders.

I freeze in shock, my stomach clenching into a knot. Pull away, my mind screams. But my heart doesn't let me move a muscle. My breathing stops. Gauron's embrace grows tighter as he clutches me, pulling me into him until my back is pressed against his strong, firm chest.

"Kashim…"

And suddenly, I feel like crying. My heart is aching, like the indifferent shell around it is shattering. It makes me feel partly afraid, because never had I opened myself fully before anyone. Never had I made myself so vulnerable.

And yet, never had I ever felt so warm, so safe.

"G-Gauron," I whisper, softly.

His cheek is pressed against my neck, nuzzling it. His warm breath crawls along my neck and earlobes, sending a shiver up my spine.

Pressing closer against me, Gauron answers enticingly, "Kashim…"

"…I love you."

My heart stops beating.

"What?" I ask, stupidly. But he just smiles knowingly, running his tongue along the cross-shaped scar on my lower cheek slowly and deliberately, delighting in the sweet trembling it invokes from me. He bites my ear, nibbling on it like a cat. A flush of red spreads from my face to my earlobe, and I squeeze my eyes shut, secretly relishing every time we touch.

"Kashim," Gauron says, firm and resolute. His tone scares me for a moment. Had I gone too far? Had I exposed too much of myself?

I turn my head to face him. His eyes bore into me intently, piercing me straight through the heart as they shine with lust, even in the darkness.

"What is-" I start, but Gauron cuts me off with his mouth.

"Mmph…"

I catch my breath as he crushes his mouth against mine, kissing me with so much ferocity I struggle to regain control of my heart. My arms have gone limp, drained of all their former strength. My eyes gaze into his, wide-open, taking in as much detail as I can of his face up close. He stares back, just as intensely.

Gauron draws back slowly. I'm panting heavily as he does this, still overwhelmed by the passion of the kiss.

"Did you enjoy it?" Gauron croons. His hand disentangles itself from around me to reach up and stroke my hair, lovingly.

"As if," I lie halfheartedly.

Gauron laughs softly. "Well then, you're going to love this."

His lips lock against my own once more. Feeling slightly relaxed, I start to close my eyes and enjoy the kiss- because let's face it- by this time, resistance was no longer an option. Gauron had me trapped in the labyrinth of his affections, and I was just playing his game now. I press my mouth deeper into his, and, as if spiked on by this sudden response, a warm, moist foreign object slips its way between my lips. Was that possibly…his tongue?

Panicking, I bring my leg up to his groin and knee him sharply, a reflex.

"Agh!"

This attack takes Gauron by surprise, as he was so completely immersed in the mood. He grunts in pain and frustration.

"So you wanna play rough, huh?"

The weight of his body suddenly tramples me as he forces himself onto my chest.

"G-get off me!"

Gauron must've heard the uncertainty in my voice because he grins maliciously, replying in a syrupy-sweet voice, "You're the one who asked for this."

Then he leans into my shoulder and begins kissing my neck harshly.

A tingling feeling arises as attacks the nape of my neck with his mouth and tongue. Warmth spreads to my shoulder and the side of my neck as Gauron laps it with his tongue, tickling it. The sensation is almost too much for me to bear.

"Ahh…no…not there!" His ragged breath caresses my neck. He starts to suck on it forcefully, like a starving cat with a bowl of milk. Strangled and irregular, I struggle to inhale.

"Ungh…" My heart aches painfully from the overflow of emotions.

Gauron bends over my stomach. Lifting my shirt, he runs his tongue along the bare expanse of skin slowly, tantalizingly.

"S-stop it…" I grunt, trying to reach a hand up to bat his face away from my chest. He dodges it swiftly, grinning all the while like a Cheshire cat.

I feel a sharp bite.

"Agh!" Jolting forward, I squint through half-lidded eyes and find that Gauron has each of my nipples in his hands. He pinches.

Small pants and mewls escape from my mouth. I desperately try to hold them back, my hand covering my mouth, but to no avail. Gauron tugs with each hand before leaning over and giving one another bite.

"Delicious," Gauron smirks, licking his lips seductively, which only serves to make my chest flutter with butterflies.

"B-bastard…" I attempt feebly. By this time, my body has become so sensitive that even his touch against my chest causes a tightening feeling in my gut…that was my gut, right?

Knock, knock.

"Someone's here for you," I whisper, immensely relieved, and yet disappointed.

"Stay quiet," Gauron commands. He doesn't budge.

"But-"

There's a creak as the door opens, the sound managing to obscure the small, shocked outburst I make as Gauron presses his lips to mine to silence me.

"Captain Gauron? Are you here? I wasn't sure, so I knocked, but I didn't hear anyone…"

The crew member prattles on, but neither of us can hear him any longer. My lips are on fire as he runs his tongue along their outline before sinking into the depths of my mouth. The world stops around me; all I can feel is Gauron's mouth on mine.

Then he shoves his tongue inside.

This time, he's met with no resistance. Trying not to make any sounds as not to get discovered (under the bed with the Captain of the ship), I struggle to keep down the moans of pleasure that I want to let out as his tongue circles around mine. It explores every corner of my mouth, of my heart, to the point that when we finally part and I'm panting, trying to regain control of my spinning mind, I feel as if I have no more secrets, that I'm completely exposed. My chest feels warm, as does my flushed face.

"Devil. Fiend."

But Gauron's completely oblivious, beaming down at me from his position above. He peeks out from beneath the bed frame, lifting the bed skirt up as he does so.

Seeing no one in sight, Gauron crawls carefully out. I follow him shortly and see, too, that the crewman is gone.

Glancing sideways at Gauron's face in what I hope is an indiscrete gesture, I see a look of satisfaction on his face. Apparently he was pleased by the night's turn of events. And perhaps the expression on his face was what I was feeling on the inside, because it sure felt like it.

"Unfortunately, I can't escape my duties as Captain," Gauron begins after a short while, "so I'm going to have to leave you to yourself for a bit." He pulls on his white jacket, pants, and cap over his night clothes before strolling out of the room like a king in his palace.

Slowly, very slowly, I sink to the floor. Everything rushes to hit me in the face like a wave.

Had I really just made out with Gauron underneath a bed?

…What was Mithril going to do once they found out?

*MTM- A company that produces 'Special Ops' watches. I'm not quite sure if they are the genuine, military-grade watches, but they claim to be, and several of their watches range around $600. o_o;;

*Consomme Olga, Filet Mignon, Roast Duckling, Lamb, Oyster- Several foods I picked out after looking up the last dinner menu of the First Class passengers. This was the last meal they ate, and the final lunch menu which was recovered from the sinking was sold for more than $150,000.

*Bed- Look up pictures of the Titanic first class cabins. The beds actually do have plenty of space- and bed skirts. (Though I reckon many of the pictures taken were from the Olympic.