A/N: Hello all! Chapter eight of 'In Your Light' is here and it brings with it some big, big steps. We have the joint bachelor/bachelorette weekends for Liam and Elsa, a Boston adventure for our CS babies, and yes, the move into the M rating so many of you have been patiently waiting for. Instead of just being one POV from Emma and one from Killian though, this chapter has two for Emma, just FYI. I hope that you all enjoy, and thanks for reading!
"This may just have been the longest two hours of my life," Ruby mumbled in the passenger's seat of the SUV. Emma couldn't agree more, and seeing as she was currently driving Elsa's car to enable her lovely sister a completely stress free weekend, she couldn't even day dream of pulling a tuck and roll out of the car.
Not that she wasn't happy to be going this weekend, or happy for Elsa and Liam's impending wedding. She was just getting a bit nauseous from all the gregarious wedding talk. Between Mary Margaret, Anna, and Elsa, there was a nonstop flow of prattle about plating designs and song placement and the horror that was a wedding DJ. Apparently one had two choices when tying the knot – a fantastic band, or a string orchestra. Elsa, luckily, picked both.
"Clearly you had the right idea eloping." Ruby smirked at the comment and glanced at Emma as if sizing her up. "What?"
"You better not let those three hear that. But trust me, running away is the way to go. It gets to mean more when you haven't bored Belle to sleep with flower details." Emma looked into her rearview mirror to see that Belle was indeed sleeping. She muffled a laugh at the sight. Oh Belle – she'd really taken one for the team subjecting herself to the back with them all. "You're still going forward with the plan right?" Emma blushed at Ruby's reminder.
"Jesus, Ruby, not so loud. If Anna or Elsa gets a wind of this, they'll never let it go." The 'plan' Ruby spoke of, included Emma finally convincing Killian to give her what they both wanted, which was the two of them together in bed finally. Emma had three things on the brain this weekend if she was honest – sex, sex, and sex.
"Let what go?" Elsa asked and Emma nearly groaned, but Ruby covered for her like a pro.
"Well Emma and I were going to keep it a surprise, but there's a club that just opened with a fire and ice theme on Newbury Street. We were thinking -,"
"Yes!" Elsa interrupted without hesitation. "Do you think there's snow inside? I miss the cold so much, I almost wish it was winter again." Emma shook her head, not understanding her sister, and clearly neither did Anna who loudly retorted that Elsa was crazy.
"Els, the sun is so much better than the snow! How can you possibly prefer blizzards to beach days?" As her sisters hashed out what weather patterns were indeed better, Emma looked over to Ruby.
"What happened to that place with the trapeze artists?" Ruby flipped her hair.
"That might just be a little too much excitement for this crowd." Emma grinned, and then let out a sigh of relief when the GPS announced that they'd arrived at their destination.
Once out of the car and in the lobby of their hotel, Emma stopped to marvel at how swanky this place was. She couldn't imagine how they'd managed to swing this, but hell if she was complaining. The ceiling alone held as much amazing detail as a cathedral, and the whole place gave off vibes of effortless class. What Emma wouldn't give to just curl up on one of the gorgeous looking couches tucked into Killian's side for the day, instead of returning to the fray of bridesmaid activities.
As if she'd willed him to appear, Emma felt Killian's strong arms wrap around her from behind, holding her close as he dropped a kiss to her cheek. In the instant that they touched, Emma felt everything else fall away. Gone were thoughts of wedding overload and the typical bridesmaids festivities, and instead the world was filled with just them.
"I missed you, love." Killian whispered in her ear and Emma couldn't resist turning around in his arms and bringing her hands to rest over his chest.
"You saw me two hours ago," Emma retorted, knowing full well that she'd missed him just as much.
"That makes no difference. That was two hours I would have rather spent with you." Emma smiled, unable to contain how his words affected her. She nuzzled closer, appreciating his closeness until their moment together came to a rather boisterous end.
"Alright lovebirds, in case you've forgotten, we are here this weekend for my lovely bride to be," Liam said to their group.
"And you too, silly," Elsa quipped, pulling a smile from Liam.
"Aye, and me too. That being said – you should all find something to entertain yourselves with for a few hours." Elsa's surprise at the words was almost comical.
"Liam, you promised -," Liam kissed his fiancé surely, quieting her sister in a way Emma had seen many times before.
"I promised you a night out with your friends Elsa, and you shall have it. But I want the day with you. I'm sure no one has any objections." Anna looked about to say something, but Kristoff whispered his own words in her ear causing a blush and Anna bit her tongue. "Alright then, we'll see you this evening."
"Well that kind of changes the day, doesn't it?" Belle asked and everyone nodded except for Killian. Emma noticed that instead of surprise, there was a distinct sense of happiness in her boyfriend's bright blue eyes and now she felt a bit suspicious.
"You totally knew about this didn't you?" Emma whispered as her friends hashed out a plan for their afternoon in Elsa's absence.
"I did, love. And I planned accordingly. Spend the day with me." Emma didn't hesitate for even a second.
"Yes." With that they were gone, promising to be back in a few hours so Emma could get ready with the girls, and hitting the streets of Boston.
Where she'd once made fun of the joint bachelor and bachelorette weekends, Emma now embraced it, and not just for the magic she planned to make later with Killian back at the hotel. This afternoon his presence saved her from a certain kind of torture – shopping while in the city. Her friends would simultaneously be touristy and sale hungry, and the mixture was one best avoided in Emma's experience. Killian's offer then to go explore together could not have been more appreciated.
"Let me guess, you're not going to tell me where we're going this time either," Emma said as they walked hand in hand down the gorgeous, upscale street. Ritzy townhouses lined the way, and a stretch of beautifully manicured park, with giant oak trees and beds of flowers separated the two lanes of traffic. They managed to traverse through the city while remaining in a wooded area. It was magical.
"I don't think you'd want me to, love. I believe you rather like my surprises." Emma bumped her arm against his, a silent acquiescence that she did indeed love his thoughtful adventures. Killian brought her the best memories this way, and she hoped that he never stopped giving her considerate gifts like this.
"Have you ever been to Boston before?" Killian nodded.
"Just the once. I flew in here to get to Storybrooke. I didn't spend much time in the city itself, but Scarlet was here on a holiday a few years back during leave. He told me what to see."
Emma knew Scarlet was short for Will Scarlet, and she smiled. Will was a good friend to Killian, and they spoke at least once a week despite the distance separating them. She didn't know their full history, but she'd gathered bits and pieces from stories Killian told about the man, like how Will was a bit of a troublemaker, and had some tendencies towards kleptomania. He always returned what he stole, but only when one of his fellow soldiers realized the item in question was missing. She also knew that Will was injured in the line of duty, and that he'd been discharged before Killian for it. Emma believed that Killian might have had something to do with Will being alive at all, but she didn't press, knowing that when he was ready, Killian would tell her.
Something Emma knew that Killian did not, however, was that she and Liam had been in touch with Will privately, asking about the chances of his coming over to Maine in a few months for Killian's birthday. He'd agreed immediately of course, and now Emma could hardly wait. They had to make it through the wedding and a few more weeks after that, but she knew her surprise for Killian would rival any of his grand gestures for her.
Emma and Killian strolled through the streets in companionable silence, and though Emma's mind wandered, her thoughts never strayed far from Killian. Finally they reached the gates marked Boston Commons and Emma smiled. He navigated the space like a champ, and Emma believed that in all likelihood, he'd checked out a map before this little voyage. That was a definite plus of dating Killian – he had an insanely good sense of direction.
They passed monuments to Boston's greatest figures, and people from all walks of life soaking up the beautiful weather, but they didn't pause until happening upon a set of bronze statues. It appeared to be a family of ducks, and there were kids playing all around them.
"Make Way For Ducklings," Emma said softly as she read the plaque beside the display and Killian furrowed his brow, his arms coming around to hold her.
"What was that love?" Emma looked up at him and then back to the statues.
"You know, the children's book, Make Way For Ducklings? It's about a family of ducks and all the babies have rhyming names." Killian merely blinked at her.
"I've never heard of it." Emma's jaw dropped.
"Seriously?! It's such a cute book. A childhood staple, and I don't have many of those." Killian kissed her temple, keeping his lips close as he held her tighter.
"Then I suppose I should acquaint myself with it. We may be needing that in future." Emma smiled at his eagerness to immerse himself in things she cared for, but only after he took her hand and began walking again did she realize what he might have been hinting at. Was Killian talking about them having kids? Is that why he would need it in future? The thought sent pangs of longing through her that she'd never felt before. She waded through the implications of his comment until he stopped again and posed a question.
"Have you ever been?" Emma followed his nod towards the pond and shook her head, looking at an image she'd often heard of but never seen in the flesh.
He'd brought her through the Commons, here to the Swan Boats, a quintessential Boston tradition, and it was… an experience. The crowd, thankfully, was limited, but the animals in sight were truly a trip. Here in the heart of a busy metropolis, amongst a full city of concrete and cement, were the strangest collection of water birds she'd ever seen. Ducks, geese, sea gulls, and even a few of the attraction's namesakes were in attendance. Only when she thought of that did she realize what he'd done.
"It's like both of us in one activity." Emma got choked up at the forethought of his plan.
"Exactly right, love. Though my experience with vessels like this is limited to say the least." Killian's grin at her figuring it out warmed Emma's heart and he pulled her hand along through the line, paying the attendant the fare and finding them a seat right in front. Killian held Emma close to him, his fingers running across bare skin on her arm just below her sleeves. She melted into his chest, feeling completely at peace despite the magical kind of mayhem around them. This was a completely different world for them to explore, a city after weeks in Storybrooke, but he'd started it with a symbol of what they were interpreted into something new.
"I gather from the smile on your face that I've done a good job this time." Emma kissed the corner of his mouth pulling back and seeing the desire in his eyes at how chaste she'd been.
"You're always making me smile, or hadn't you noticed?" His features softened and his hand came to cup her cheek.
"Aye, love. I had noticed. It makes you impossibly beautiful. You light up the whole world." His words set a flutter of butterflies through her. On a day like this, where the world was bright and sunny, he still thought she had some ability to brighten things, and she knew he did the same for her.
Because I love him, Emma thought to herself, and though she debated saying it aloud, she held it back. She'd never actually said the words to a man before, but she knew this was love. And not the kind of love she had for her sisters and her friends. That was so strikingly different than this feeling. This felt like she'd found the answers to all of her life's big questions while also stumbling upon a bundle of possibilities. All she knew for certain was that she wanted a future with someone else for the first time, and that person was Killian.
The rest of the afternoon passed in much the same way, with happy little stops throughout the city that he'd planned for them to see. Some places she'd been to before, and others were like hidden gems she'd never seen or thought about, but they all felt new with Killian by her side. It was all so lovely that when the time came for them to part again, Emma felt a pang of regret at their impending separation. Then she remembered what might happen when they found each other again and her mood lightened considerably. She kissed him goodbye in the hallway just outside her room, and when she closed the door she leaned against it, a happy thought running through her mind.
He's not gonna know that hit him. And that was all the motivation Emma needed to fuel the time until they came together later that night.
…
The sign on the door outside the club read Frozen Flame, and if the line outside was any indication, the girls had settled on the hottest (no pun intended) club in the city for Elsa's bachelorette party. Thank the Gods they were on the list and didn't need to wait in line, though how they'd managed to pull that was beyond Killian's comprehension. When he asked Emma earlier, she'd cryptically responded that 'Ruby knew people.' All the same, he appreciated it. This meant getting to Emma would be that much easier.
"Ruby certainly replied to you quickly," Liam said to Graham as they walked through the throngs of people to where Ruby texted that they'd be. Killian could hear the gruff intone of resentment in his brother's voice. Elsa, it seemed, hadn't been as forthcoming in her responses.
"He promised her sex," Kristoff said casually and Graham shot the man a look. Kristoff only shrugged in response. "What? You did, didn't you?"
"Anyone ever tell you it's rude to read over people's shoulders?" Graham asked, not truly angry, but clearly not pleased with Kristoff's more inquisitive tendencies. Killian couldn't blame him, since he would imagine correspondence between Huntsman and his wife would side on the racier end of the spectrum.
"Sure," Killian heard David laughing at Kristoff's response and he shot a look to his business partner and friend. They'd had many a conversation about the bizarre social habits of Emma's brother-in-law, neither of them any closer to understanding it.
"There they are." David said, and Killian followed David's gaze to see the most stirring thing he'd ever witnessed: Emma, dancing in a fitted black dress that clung to all her curves as if painted on her skin.
Killian felt his vision blur at the edges and all he could see was Emma and her luscious golden hair and shapely figure. Her easy sway to the music with her friends consumed him and all he could think was how bloody amazing she looked. He worried that if he blinked this might all be a dream, but still she remained, under the pulsing lights, laughing and easygoing. Emma was a siren, calling Killian forward, tempting him as no other person ever could. Then it occurred to him that to the men in this place, she might seem available. His fist clenched and without a word he stalked towards her.
"You're here!" Emma said when she saw him, and her happiness at his appearance soothed all his tensions. He knew it was ridiculous to feel this protective of her, but seeing as she was the best thing in the world, she was worth protecting.
"I am. And you look – well you look stunning, love." Emma smiled and ran her eyes down the length of him. He could feel it like a caress against his body and it drove him insane that she openly ogled him.
"You don't look so bad yourself, sailor. Dance with me?" Nothing would make him happier, for it gave him the excuse to hold her in his arms.
Killian didn't recognize the song blaring through the speakers, but the beat was easy enough to maneuver, and Emma grinding against him in the darkened space inspired him to continue dancing so she'd never stop. One song turned into another and on it went, but Killian couldn't get close enough to her, craving more while also never wanting things to end. Eventually they did though, when Emma looked to him with something other than the flirty determination he'd seen before.
"Is everything alright, Swan? Can I get you a drink, some air?" She shook her head and took his hand in hers, looking at where their skin touched as if trying to pull some sort of power from it. When she looked back at him, there was a seriousness in her gaze. His chest constricted in the beat of anticipation that passed.
"I have to tell you something," Emma said, and he ran his hand across her hip.
"You know you can tell me anything."
"I want you." Killian grinned at that.
"How very fortunate, love, for there is nothing else I desire more than you." Emma gave him that look that told him she was on the verge of an eye roll and he wanted to kiss her lips, which had pursed up slightly.
"No I mean I want everything." Understanding of her meaning dawned on him. She wanted him to make love to her, to take her as they'd been meant to. He wanted that too, but he also needed something more, and that was her understanding that this mattered to him. "I know what you're going to say, and I'm in this, Killian – all in, and I need all of you too."
How could he possibly hold back any more when Emma gave him so much? He never wanted to deny her anything, but he'd needed to be sure that she understood this wasn't going to be a one-time thing. This, between them, was forever.
"Say goodbye to your sisters and your friends, love. Tonight your mine." He could hear the charge in his own voice, and watched Emma's eyes widen and a beatific smile cross her face. She kissed his lips quickly and then told the others they were leaving, rushing back to him when she was done.
Hailing a cab back to the hotel took no time at all, and Killian thanked whatever Universal force might have caused the stroke of luck. They'd both waited long enough and though keeping his hands on Emma during the ride took some of the edge off, it wasn't nearly enough. They quickly made their way through the hotel, but when she moved to grab her key, he redirected her to his room, keeping his hold on her secure.
"Why do you immediately assume it'll be your room?" Emma asked with a fake pout and a hand on her hip. Killian shook his head, watching those sweet lips of her closely, basking in the glory that was Emma in such an unguarded state.
"I take nothing for granted when it comes to you, Emma, but I need you to trust me."
"I do. More than anything." He couldn't resist kissing her right there in the hallway, but broke away to open his door and heard her gasp in response.
"Killian – you did all this for me?" By all this she likely meant the flowers and candles that adorned the suite he'd procured for the evening.
"I had it in my head that we'd do this the first time in my bed, but I also knew that the girl I love has a bit of an impatient streak." Only when he saw Emma's eyes widen did he realize what he'd let slip. He waited for a reaction, a sign from her that he hadn't just messed everything up with this bit of truth.
"Say it again," Emma whispered as her hands came to clutch his shirt. Killian felt himself exhale, relief flooding through him.
"I love you, Emma. I've been in love with you since that first day, that first moment I saw you playing priates in the park." She smiled at that, her eyes getting a little misty at the words.
"I love you too, Killian. So much." With that, their lips came crashing together, a flash of heat sparked by their mutual feelings. Their roaming hands marked trails that inspired more hunger, both of them trying to pull closer as if famished for the connection between them. When they pulled apart, it was just to get the layers that still separated them gone.
Emma made easy work of getting him out of his shirt, and was already moving to his jeans when he put a hand on hers to slow her down some. He kissed her again, attempting to distract her before looking into her darkened eyes.
"We have all night, Swan," And the rest of our lives if I have anything to say about it, he thought to himself. Emma nodded, licking his lips and pulling a groan from him.
"I know, but I want you naked now."
"As you wish." The words were deliberate and only made Emma's motions more determined. She ran her hands across his body when his last article of clothing fell to the ground, and took all of him in. Killian heard her audibly gulp, her eyes firmly taking in his arousal in particular, he took her temporarily immobility and used it to his advantage.
Killian spun her around in his arms, and unzipped the scrap of material she'd called a dress, revealing inch after milky inch of her beautiful skin. He pressed kisses across her shoulder, up her neck, and moved her hair to the side to nip at her ear. He felt her startle a bit, but he held her close as the last of the zipper came undone. Wordlessly, she let the garment fall away, pooling at her feet, and Killian nearly lost her mind. Red lace – she'd been wearing red lace all night just for him.
Mine, the word rang out in Killian's head and his hands moved over her with it echoing in his head. In his heart he knew it was only fair that she belong to him when she owned him, body and soul. He loved her so fully that she had become his everything. Nothing compared to her and his want to make her happy and keep her safe.
Emma smiled at him, leading him back to the spacious bed the room provided, and moving back against the blankets. Killian hardly knew where to start, looking at her laid out before him, he felt completely caught up in her. He wanted everything at once, and yet more than anything, he wanted to savor every moment. This was the first time with the woman he hoped to spend the rest of his life with. He would remember this forever and he intended to make sure she would too.
"You just going to look all night, Captain?" Emma asked teasingly, but when he growled out in response, he watched a flush creep over more than her cheeks. The rosy color moved from her neck, to the valley of her breasts and he was drawn to it like a moth to a flame. This night between them was something best handled with care, for Emma was a livewire and he would like to live to tomorrow in the hopes that they could do this all over again.
"Much as you try, you won't rush me, Swan. I intend to spend all night worshipping every inch of you." He could so clearly see the lust in her eyes. His Swan wanted more, and he doubted patience would be her strongest suit in the bedroom, but she would have to learn. He'd help her through though, and planned to make her fall apart at least twice before finally giving her what she'd been begging him for all night at that bloody club.
"Killian," Even though he'd just said she couldn't rush him, the plea in her voice stabbed at him, and instinct moved him towards her to soothe the ache he knew she must be feeling too. Emma was a sensual creature, and the interludes they'd shared before this told him she was also responsive. He planned to explore just how much right now.
…
Finally, finally, finally! The chant sounded through Emma's head as Killian moved toward her. It felt like she'd been waiting for this and for him her whole life. Never one to believe in the power of fate or soul mates, Emma was now a convert. Killian flipped her world off its axis and left her with boundless hope like she'd never known before. He loved her, and he was about to make love to her. She almost pinched herself to see if she was dreaming.
She couldn't possible have dreamed in such vivid detail though, and as Killian's hands traced delicate shapes along her skin, leaving an inferno of lust in their wake, Emma lost herself to the sensation of him. She felt too much, with every nerve ending shooting out bolts of raw pleasure, but at the same time it wasn't enough. Killian though, read every movement towards him, and sound of need that passed her lips and continued the onslaught of perfection he seemed determined to bring her.
He undid the front clasp of her strapless bra with deft figures and she threw the expensive lace across the room. His hungry stare made Emma's whole body shiver, and then he was there with kisses along the flesh of her breast, some rough with nips and sucks aimed at marking her, and some sweet and tender as if to ease away the others. When she thought she couldn't stand the duality of pleasure anymore he took one of her nipples into his mouth and sucked, using his hand to ease the ache of the other and she let out an involuntary moan at how good it felt. When one of his hands made the trip lower, dipping past the last scrap of lace on her body and seeking out her needy clit, Emma thought she might scream out in victory. With one touch she was bucking her hips up towards him, pulling his mouth from her breasts. He came up to kiss her mouth again and then smiled against her lips.
"A little impatient, love?" She nearly clarified that she was beyond that, but the words never came.
"Oh God, keep doing that!" He rubbed her just the way she needed and then filled her with one finger, and another. Emma was losing her mind, climbing to that ultimate release she'd been craving as her hands clung to his biceps. They'd been here before, with his hands bringing her to climax, but the thought that they wouldn't stop after this, that tonight she'd have all of him once and for all, sent her over the edge.
"You're so beautiful when you come apart for me, Swan." Killian kissed her lips, then moved down her neck, trailing passed her breasts this time and then down lower. Emma nearly passed out from bliss from his fingers, the thought of his mouth on her made her so hot so fast that she couldn't help another moan. She'd always thought herself quiet in bed until him. Then again, she possessed a lot of misconceptions before meeting him. He removed the scrap of lace that stood as the only barrier between the two of them, and pushed her legs open wider, looking at her with a lust inspiring hunger.
"I've been dreaming of having you just like this for what feels like an eternity, love." Oh God how was she going to survive this? He lowered his head and licked her and she yelped loudly from the unexpected pleasure. He came away from her for a moment, breathing against her and only spiking her arousal. Then he was back between her legs and his mouth – Good Lord his mouth – worked her relentlessly into a frenzy that made her first release seem tame. With the addition of his fingers inside her while he licked and sucked at her clit and she was gone. So fucking gone that she couldn't fathom how she'd ever lived without him and without this. She tried to get her breathing under control after she came the second time but couldn't seem to manage.
"I love seeing you this way. Flushed with wanting me. The look in your eyes testament that you know no one else can give you this."
"Just you," she promised. When he smiled, and ran his hands up her body reverently, she took the opportunity to flip them over so that he was now the one laying beneath her, surprise and wanting written clear as day all over his face.
Emma followed his lead, kissing him first on his mouth, then down his neck. She was determined to get the same level of response from him as he'd gotten from her, and did she ever, hearing his approval as she nipped and sucked a wavy line down his torso until finally coming to see his cock. When she took him in her mouth she reveled at his uncontrolled response.
"Fuck, Emma!" She worked him just as much as he had her, showing no mercy and instead seeking out his pleasure before all else. This was so far from who she'd ever been when it came to sex, but she could feel herself getting heated all over again at getting him this riled up. It wasn't until he told her that he couldn't take anymore that she pulled back. He grabbed a condom from where he'd put them in preparation for tonight but stopped him.
"I'm on the pill." His eyes darkened at the words.
"You're sure?" She nodded.
"I've never done this before, but I want to with you." Killian flipped them over once more and pressed kisses along her mouth, her cheek, her jaw, all reverent reminders that he loved her.
"It'll be a first for me too, my love." Emma's heart fluttered at his words and what they were about to do.
"Please," the soft sound of begging didn't even sound like her, but it must have been, for his lips didn't move. He gave her what she wanted, pushing in slowly all the way to the hilt and Emma gasped. She'd never felt so full, so impossibly complete. Then he was moving and she was meeting him thrust for thrust. This time when she climbed back towards that divine high, he was with her too. She was inches away from release when he whispered in her ear.
"Let go, love. I promise I'll catch you." Just like that she did, knowing he'd been honest when he promised to be there. It was breathtaking and deeply moving and when Killian took her into his arms and held her close after they'd both let go, Emma had never felt safer or happier.
"I love you Emma."
"I love you too." And Emma knew in her heart that her love for him would remain this strong and undeniable as long as she lived.
Post-Note: When 'I love you' chapters overlap with the first bit of smut, it makes for a very feels-filled writing session. I only hope you guys enjoy reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it. Nothing compares to moments when they admit how much they mean to each other and then get to physically express it. For any of you worried about the future of the fic, rest assured I have so many more ideas I want to include and so many more steps in this AU still to track. Thanks for reading and let me know what you thought!