Obligatory disclaimer: The Mouse owns all, save my own original characters.
James crawled onto the bed, his body hovering over Julia's before nudging her knees apart and sinking himself within the juncture of her thighs. Despite knowing that she was no maiden, James was tender, almost reverent, as he entered her. Others liked breaking through virgin barriers, but James disliked knowing his passion caused pain. So he was overjoyed when he slid into Julia and she hissed in pleasure rather than whimpered in pain. James had to be careful that he not explode immediately for she was like a warm velvet glove around him, tighter than any other he could remember being with. Once James was fully embedded inside Julia, he buried his face in the ocean of her hair, relishing the moment.
James then began to tentatively slide out, then push back in. Letting him pick a slow, gentle pace, Julia lifted her hips to meet his. James' chest rested against her breasts and Julia was able to feel his heartbeat... his breath and hers in sync. It was like a dance between the two of them and she moved to his rhythm. Time dissolved as they went on and on, one flowing into the other until neither began or ended. Julia wrapped her legs around his waist, pulling James in deeper, wanting him to drown inside of her. As his thrusts accelerated, James ground himself deeper into Julia.
James felt the sudden tightening and then a jerk, the rush overwhelming him. "God's teeth!" He exploded, spilling forth in an unending release, unlike any he had ever experienced. A liquid heat roared through his veins and fireworks of all colors swirled before his closed eyelids as James collapsed upon Julia, burying his face in the hollow of her shoulder.
When they finally returned to normalcy, both lay on their sides, limbs intertwined, staring at each other. James tucked a stray lock behind her ear, smiling at the look of satisfaction that softened her features. In all the times he had been with a woman, none looked as sated as Julia. And for that, he was proud. But, James reflected, he was sure he wore the same look. Then a wicked smile curved his lips and he whispered, "Again," before rolling Julia onto her back.
Julia blushed hard and shook her head to clear the images from her head. She was suddenly back in the present, the consequences of the previous night's activities crashing down upon her. It was true that James made her body react with such desire she had never felt in all of her life but Julia could not believe how reckless she had acted.
How the Bloody Hell did I get myself into this… this… this situation?
Sighing, Julia stretched languidly, wincing as the dull aches protested in areas she did not even know existed until that morning, and looked out the window. The rain had ceased and the fuzzy rays of dawn were creeping above the horizon, casting the room into a soft glow. Sometime during the night – or morning – the quilt had been kicked from the bed and now only a worn sheet was the only thing providing Julia any sense of modesty. As if there is a reason for decorum at this point in time.
Julia rolled onto her side to better look at the captain next to her. In retrospect, Julia did not regret the events of the previous night – and morning – but there was no way it could ever happen again. As soon as he awoke, Julia would send James on his way and soon after, he would be but a pleasant memory. Unable to explain the twisting of her belly and the sudden hitch in her breath, she reached out, tentatively at first, and brushed a lock of hair back from his face, letting his fingers linger longer than was necessary. Do not make this more than it is. When James began to stir, Julia pulled her hand back, apprehensive to his reaction to her in the morning light.
Shifting, stretching, arching, James slowly opened his eyes, squinting against the sunlight sneaking into the room. Momentarily confused, James looked around the room, trying to get his bearings. When his gaze settled on Julia, a content, dreamy expression appeared on his face. Running his hand through his disheveled hair, James blinked sleepily, his lips curving into a content grin. Julia gave half-hearted smile back in return.
"Good morning." Julia's voice was barely whisper.
Still waking up, James pushed himself up and folded the pillow in half behind his head, his eyes dancing merrily. "Aye. That it is. That it is." James pulled Julia against him, reveling in the feel of her naked skin against his own. In the early morning light, her skin was luminous, as if lit from within. It took everything in his power not to take her once again.
Feeling shy, Julia looked down at the sheet covering them, readjusting the fabric and picking at imaginary lint, pretending that James's arms were not wrapped around her. "Sleep well?"
James had to consciously stop himself from furrowing his brow in confusion. After last night, he thought that he and Julia had crossed over to a new level in their relationship, but although he was still waking up, James could feel a coolness in his bed partner. He wet his lips before replying. "The few hours we were not… otherwise engaged, yes. Like a babe. I think it was due to you sleeping next to me." James' tangled his fingers through Julia's thick mane of hair, sighing against the tresses.
Julia relaxed against James slightly; the warmth of his body was intoxicating, causing her own body to react against her will. "And it had nothing to do with the fact that we were, as you put it, engaged almost all night long?" Julia was not feeling brave enough to look James full in the eyes, but she was able to turn on her side so she could better curl up against him. Her hand lightly rested on his chest, her head resting on his shoulder.
James laughed, his hand enveloping Julia's. "Fair enough. I cannot argue, although we both know I have tried many times in the past. And you? Were you able to dream?"
It was Julia's turn to wet her lips and James followed the path of her tongue with rapt attention. When her gaze flicked upward from their entwined hands to James' face, there was a sparkle in her eye that caused James' heart to skip a beat. He squeezed her hand a little harder. "A little. I did not have much time to dream, as you well know, but I did get some sleep. Thank you."
"Good." A wicked gleam glinted in his eyes. He dipped down and brushed his lips against hers. Almost instinctively, Julia responded, but then checked herself once she recognized her actions. But James let his hand return to her hair, holding Julia in place, refusing to let her break away. Helpless but to continue, Julia returned his kiss and whatever drowsiness that had lingered quickly dissipated and evolved into passion.
Julia felt his desire growing as well and smiled against James's mouth. "You are quite… hungry this morning, are you not Captain Norrington? Were your… appetites not sated last night?"
Chuckling, James rose above her and nuzzled her ear as he nudged her thighs apart with his knee. "When one has a… receptive partner such a you, it is not possible to refuse seconds… thirds… sevenths. Besides," James purred, "I would like to have one more memorable experience before I will not get the chance again."
Julia averted her eyes to hide the hurt his words caused, letting her lips curved into a wry smile. "Again? Of course you will again – and soon. After your business this afternoon, you could find any willing girl down by the wharf to warm your bed for this evening. And after your… attention to detail last night, I can bet you will not have to part with any coin to do so." Her hands pressed against his chest slightly, preventing him from getting any closer.
James paused, silent a moment, his eyes searching her face. He then rolled to Julia's side in a fluid motion. "I will not be warming anyone else's bed. Do you think that after last night, I would turn to anyone else?" Hurt etched his words.
The stark bluntness of his words caused Julia to hesitate briefly before responding. "I am afraid that I do not understand. What on Earth do you mean?" Bugger it all, what the Hell is going on?
Fighting the urge to laugh, lest he cry in frustration, James ran a hand over his face to cover his smile. Propping his head on his hand as he lay on his side next to Julia, James rested his weight on his elbow. "I was not aware that my words were confusing. Shall I rephrase?"
Julia mulled his words over for a long moment, trying to absorb what he said and figure out just what that meant. "What…?" Her brow furrowed and her nose wrinkled in confusion. Julia then sighed heavily, trying to formulate her words. Attempting to articulate herself once again, Julia said, "James… James, I just do not understand. A week ago, you accused me of being a whore and then, slowly, over the course of the voyage, we finally moved to a more neutral ground, although the previous sentiment was not forgotten. At least on my end."
Sniffling slightly, Julia looked away briefly, trying to fight back tears that were threatening to appear. She could tell that James wanted to speak, but he waited patiently for her to finish her train of thought. Filling her lungs with a deep gulp of air, Julia continued.
"I suppose I just expected you to push me away this morning. After the accusations, I expected that you would be disgusted with me. But instead of pushing me away, you wish pull me even closer. I…" Julia struggled to express herself. "I am confused. Plain and simple."
When she was answered with silence, Julia gently disentangled herself from James' arms and pushed herself so that she was sitting upright, refusing to make eye contact. The room was suddenly crushing down on her and she wanted nothing more to throw open the bedroom window, letting fresh air roll into the room. When she started to swing her legs off the bed, James grabbed her wrist.
"Do not go Julia. I meant not to hurt you… anger you. In fact, I quite meant the exact opposite." He gently pulled Julia back down next to him, settling her head back into his shoulder. Once she was arranged in his arms, James ran the side of his finger along her jaw line, silently studying Julia. She waited silently for him to continue.
It took everything in his power to not shake the teeth out of her head. While he could not explain his feelings her, as they were in the process of being formulated and thus were completely new and foreign to him, James did know that he wanted to explore this new dynamic of their friendship. Even if he had to keep his clothes on from this point forward.
His silence was deafening. But when Julia stirred restlessly, James blurted out, "Julia, I did not come here with the intention of seducing you. Please believe me when I say that. I truly wanted to make sure that you arrived home safely. And yes, I enjoyed your company and maybe, deep down, I was looking for an excuse to extend our time together. I felt like I was just getting to know you and the more I learned, the more I wanted to learn."
James paused, his eyes searching her face for some sort of agreement in her features, but her face was intentionally blank. Setting his shoulders, he pretended an acknowledgement from Julia. "And then when you stood by the window when the thunder shook the whole house, I was terrified that the glass would shatter, cutting you. So I went to your side. To protect you, I suppose. But then it felt right to not only take you in my arms to shelter you from the storm, but to… kiss you." James shrugged sheepishly. "I have to say, that it was one of my better decisions."
When Julia scoffed, James saw his advantage and rushed to shatter her argument. "I know that the turn of events last night was unexpected, but it was quite… fortuitous for me. And not because of the enjoyment I – and you – received. I… I had a bad taste in my mouth towards most women after my engagement was broken. She was… independent and headstrong, two qualities that I would use to describe you. So that immediate parallel put you at a disadvantage with me. But during the storm, it occurred to me that if I had asked, you would have helped. And in any way possible. I did not mean to dismiss you and send you away; I just did not have a task for you and did not want you to be in harm's way. When I sent you to seek shelter from the storm, I knew that you were not the selfish, manipulative wench that she was. Is." James paused, his mind racing ahead of his words. "I ask for no more than you can give, but since you will be ending your period of mourning in a few months…"
"What?" The question was practically a wail. Confusion overrode all cognizant thought, leaving Julia floundering for something to understand.
Taking a deep breath, James could hardly believe the words that he was speaking. "I… I would like to see you again. You cannot deny that there is passion between us. I think that worth exploring further, do you not agree?"
Of course he would! So he could pleasure himself when it pleased him…
"I will not be your whore!" Julia's eyes raged with blue fire.
