Her back hit the wall hard, and Red groaned as pain blossomed on the back of her head. She laughed, the bump breaking the passionate kiss between her and Killian. He chuckled and rubbed the back of her head, lowering her feet to the ground and kissing her lips softly.
"We've got to stop sneaking around like this," he noted with an amused smile.
Rubbing the back of her head, she glared playfully up at him. "You're the one who doesn't want your crew to know that you've got feelings for me," she pointed out, raising her eyebrows.
With a smile, Killian rolled his eyes and gripped her around her waist, hoisting her so quickly she shrieked excitedly. Her legs wrapped around his waist as he spun her so his back was against the wall now. The fabric of her skirts engulfed him, and she laughed as he shushed her and kissed her hastily on her lips.
"You're too stubborn sometimes," he remarked, holding her easily as she wrapped her wrists around the back of his neck and eyed him.
"And you're impatient."
"I just want you," he murmured lustily, lowering her so his scruffy face tickled her neck as he kissed her along her jawline. Her eyes rolled back in her head, and she felt those fluttering feelings in her stomach and waist, and she braced her arms against him but couldn't find the strength to push him away.
"And I want you..." she admitted in a whisper, her voice weak against his advances.
"Then what's stopping you?" he asked gently, already knowing the answer but always challenging her. Their whole relationship was based off of that challenge, always pushing one another to be better, to prove their worth. It made them both stronger, bolder.
"You already know that answer," she remarked, finally pushing back from him and stiffening her legs so he was forced to allow her to slip to the floor. Looking up at him, her green eyes filled with far too many emotions for him to decipher, she pursed her lips and reached up to touch his lips with her finger. He grabbed a hold of her wrist, and she sucked in a breath, a pleased smile coming to her full lips as he kissed the tip of her finger. It was such a simple gesture, but it was so sexy she felt her throat thicken with her want for him.
"I do, but that doesn't mean I like it," he finally acknowledged, releasing her hand with a mischievous smile.
Red's days were filled with him now. They met in the abandoned passageways of the massive pirate ship or in his chambers after the crew was asleep. They still hadn't had sex, and he'd used every ounce of his willpower to resist her. She couldn't get enough of him, but she felt guilty that she was so physically attracted to him. She wasn't giving herself a chance to get to know him, and she knew the reason. Deep down, she knew if she truly got to know him as a person, the walls around her heart would fully fall and she would fall in love with him. The way she had loved Peter, but this time would be different. If she allowed Killian to love her, if she allowed herself to love him, she admitted she loved him for all of his faults. That would mean she would allow him to love her for the monster she was underneath her human side, and she couldn't handle that. All she could see was the fear on Peter's face, the terror when she'd leapt at him to murder him. It disgusted her and instantly made her back away from Killian as the memories washed over her.
His brow drew down in confusion, but he didn't reach after her. He knew her well enough to know when to leave her alone. He saw the pain in her eyes, but he didn't understand it. She had never explained her misgivings to him, and he'd never asked, but he knew guilt and pain when he saw it. Watching her was like looking at himself in the mirror, except his guilt had long ago been masked by indifference. He longed to know what went on in her beautiful head, but he had never been a prying man. Patience was his tool to decipher people, and he would accept her explanation (if it was forthcoming) when the time was right.
The baser side of his nature wanted to pull her skirt up around her waist and fuck her every time he saw her (especially when she'd come to his room in the middle of the night, teasing him unwittingly), but he respected her enough to deny himself. Recently, he'd settled for masturbating when she was gone, but it was never enough. He was tense and frustrated, but his eyes feasted on her when she was around, and he forgot all of his frustration the moment he felt her luscious lips on his.
"I shouldn't do this to you," she chided herself, bringing him out of his daydreams. She looked up at him with her green eyes full of remorse. "I shouldn't indulge if I can't give you what you want."
He cast a penetrating gaze at her and shook his head. "If this is all I can have of you, then that will have to be enough."
The answer was so simple and romantic, her heart broke to hear it. She wanted to open up to him, confess all of her crimes, but her pride was too strong. What if he turned away from her, too disgusted to want her any longer? Perhaps she was being selfish, keeping the truth from him, but she despised the idea of losing this feeling of being alive that she felt with him.
"I have another surprise for you," he whispered into her ear, making her smile questioningly at him. He kissed her hastily beneath her jaw and then moved, heading for the deck. "You'll see soon." He winked and then was gone, leaving her to straighten her clothes and to get her thoughts in order.
Slumping back against the wall, she sighed heavily and shook her head. It really couldn't be as complicated as she was making it out to be. It shouldn't be so hard. If she could just cross that hurdle, just tell him that she was a mass murderer and he should hate her instead of looking at her the way he did, then she would be free. No talisman could ever bind her the way she'd bound herself: holing herself off from the world for fear she would hurt someone she couldn't protect from herself.
The cry of "Land, ho!" jolted her out of her thoughts, and her heart leapt. She raced for the staircase and onto the deck to see a gleaming city of gold on the shore, the sight of which took her breath away instantly. It was a pile of glistening treasure for her eyes, built up on the land a mile from the ship. Unlike the Port of No Hope, this place was obviously a bustling metropolis, and she knew this was the trading port where Killian had originally intended to sell her pelt. Now that that issue was far behind them, she didn't fear this place, but instead instantly fell in love with its mad beauty.
When she was able to tear her gaze away from the city, she searched for her captain and found him smiling slightly as he watched her. The rest of the crew gaped at the city, missing the exchange between the captain and the lady. Ruby smiled shyly, knowing this was the surprise he'd promised her only minutes before. This time, she would be allowed on land, and she would be with him. There would be no other women, she knew by that look in his eyes, and she could share the beauty of this place with Killian. Romance couldn't get any better than this, she mused.
The ship docked amid a plethora of other ships, some smaller and many others quite larger. Sails rocked in the wind and bells chimed on the docks, signifying each individual ship with her own ring. Birds cawed above them, and people of all shapes and sizes traversed the city's streets. Ladies glided through the sunset with their flowing gowns, children raced down the streets as they chased dogs and chickens, and men worked their muscles in the dying sun. The ship wasn't moored down long before the pirates leapt down the gangplank and disappeared into the bustling city with bags of their own treasure stashes ready to be traded and haggled and sold.
Ruby found herself alone on the deck much quicker than she'd expected, and she turned to watch Hook descend from the helm with a small smile on his face. He approached her, offering his elbow. "Shall we?"
She smiled happily and wrapped her arm around his, allowing him to show her the magnificence of the city.
They walked the streets until the sun fell below the horizon and the city streets glowed with lantern light. Never before had she walked so much in one day, and still there was so much to see. Killian took her to all of his favorite places - the bayside market where vendors sold pirate trinkets, jewelry, and exotic fish and vegetables traded from every corner of the world, a pub which served the most delicious smoked brisket she had ever tasted, and even a natural butterfly garden where hundreds of thousands of butterflies migrated this time of the year to fill every plant and tree with their sparkling wings - and the entire day was magical. She was as light as air as she walked down the dock toward the ship, leaning her head to sniff a handful of flowers they'd picked before the darkness set in.
Behind her, Killian watched her and smiled to himself. She glowed with her contentment over the day, and he felt that joy himself. Seeing her smiling after making her frown and glare at him for so long gave him a pleasant feeling that was foreign to him. He'd never experienced an honest boyish crush until now, but he could have watched her smile and been perfectly happy. Even if she didn't want to cross that intimate boundary to sleep with him, he was satisfied by her happiness for now. Anyone who'd heard the name 'Hook' wouldn't believe he had it in him to become enamored with a woman, but he was. He was hopelessly infatuated with Ruby, and he shook his head in disbelief as he realized this.
Of course, he couldn't deny that, beneath those fluttery feelings and rosy images, his animal urges still wanted to bed her long and hard. However, he'd survived this past week without pushing her too far, and although he doubted his lusts could resist much longer, he felt he must only hold out for a little while yet.
He was so lost in his hormonal musings that he almost ran into her before he realized she'd stopped at the end of the dock and was staring up at the moon. Its bright silver shape illuminated the clear night sky and reflected on the ocean in a rippling replica. Ruby was outlined against the silver light, standing so still she could be a statue at the end of the pier. Somewhere to their left, soft music floated out of the windows of a pub, making the moment simply magical.
Impulsively, he wrapped his arms around her, his hook pressing into the bodice of her dress as he hugged her gently to his chest. He buried his nose in her hair, smelling its clean sweetness, and sighed inwardly. He'd never been so relaxed and content as he was right now. Ruby leaned back into him, his familiar scent of sandalwood and leather enveloping her. She continued to stare up at the moon, entranced by its silver light. She felt so safe in his arms, but her guilt and worries never disappeared. Running her hands over his wrists, she rested her palms over his hand and hook, her fingers running gently down the curve of the silver hook where it rested on her belly.
Slowly, she turned in his arms to face him, and he looked curiously down at her, his eyes dark and hooded in the moonlight. That smoldering look sent delightful currents of heat rushing through her into the shadowy depths of her body that remained untouched until this moment.
"Killian...today was beautiful," she whispered ardently, her hands resting on his chest, her fingertips curving slightly as they dug into his shirt. A shadow crossed her face as she wrestled with her fears, and Killian wanted so badly to kiss her, but he sensed she needed to speak first.
"But?"
"But... I don't want to hurt you," she answered finally, looking down at the V of his black shirt where his chest peeked through the fabric. Her finger slipped over the hem of the fabric, touching his chest, and she thought he released a gasp of air at the contact.
"How could you hurt me, love?" he asked, the nickname holding so much more meaning now that he actually had feelings for her. She stubbornly refused to look at him, and swallowed heavily.
"If I lose control... I could..." she looked up at him then, and he saw tears shining in her eyes. His brow drew down and he pulled her closer, his hand touching her chin so she was looking up at him.
"You won't. You're not the monster here, Ruby. If anything, you should be afraid of me losing control."
The way his eyes glinted for a moment, revealing some deep dark thought, sent a desirable shiver through her. She shook her head and pushed away from him, needing the space to regain her mind since being close to him made her thoughts mush. You are the real monster. The naiad's words continued to haunt her even now.
"I was in love once," she bleated, holding her arms around herself until she realized she looked like she was huddling and straightened her arms so her hands knotted the fabric of her dress in distress. "And I killed him."
Killian frowned sympathetically and stepped toward her to comfort her, but she held him at bay. "I knew what I was doing, and I killed him. The man I loved. I can still see his face..."
A sob escaped her throat, and when he moved to pull her into his arms, this time she didn't resist. Tears ran unbidden from her eyes, pouring down her cheeks and wetting his shirt. He didn't respond; his only answer a soft rocking as his hand ran over her black hair. She could hear his heart beating beneath her ear as he held her to him, and she found her arms wrapping around his waist as she clung to him desperately.
When she was under control of her voice once more, she twisted to look up at him and wiped her cheeks furiously. "When I came to, I saw what I'd done to him... I couldn't live with myself if I did that to you. If I did it once, I'll do it again."
Killian shook his head, "No, you won't. You forget: I've seen you as the wolf. You wouldn't hurt me. I saw it in your eyes."
Ruby frowned at him, swallowing her tears as she examined his face. He was telling the truth, but she didn't understand how he could be unafraid of her. He smiled down at her then. "When you turned, I think you forgot who I was. You turned toward me and growled, and I thought for a moment I was a goner," he admitted with a chuckle. "But something changed in your eyes, and you turned away from me to attack those men. You consciously decided to protect me. I know you did."
A gush of air rushed from her lips, a mixture of relief and disbelief, and she automatically grabbed his face, standing on her tip toes to kiss him deeply on his lips. His arms wrapped around her waist, lifting her slightly from the ground as he kissed her back. She was breathless as he set her on her feet and she released him from the kiss. His eyes blazed hotly down at her, and she felt those deep shadowy places in the pit of her stomach combust once more.
His eyes flashed a question, Was she ready? His words had convinced her; she may be a werewolf, but he was right. She had chosen to protect him and hadn't touched a hair on his head that night she'd saved him from the thugs at the Port of No Hope. She had been fleeing from that truth since that night, and she'd allowed the naiad to convince her she was too dangerous to ever love him. But that wasn't true. She had control, and she wanted him.
She wanted him badly.
He recognized the approval in her eyes, and his stomach knotted with his desire to have her. Without a word, he grabbed her hand and pulled her after him onto the deserted pirate ship. The moment they climbed over the end of the gangplank, he released her hand and withdrew the plank onto the boat. The message was clear: he wanted her all to himself with no interruptions. That thought sent delightful shivers through her body, and she found herself biting her bottom lip in anticipation.
Killian faced her, his eyes smoldering as he looked down at her in the moonlight. He grabbed her hips as gently as he could manage and pulled her against him. Ruby gasped as she felt his hard-on press against her leg through her dress. He nipped at her ear with his lips, the stubble on his cheek tickling her jawline and neck. She leaned her head away from him, closing her eyes as she felt his lips hot against her ear. "I want to make love to you," he whispered, and she felt her knees go weak. Her fingers dug into his biceps, and she turned her face toward him as he stood.
Finding his lips, she claimed his mouth, the built up tension over the past months revealing itself in that kiss. He met her with the same intensity, growling passionately against her mouth as they kissed. His hand ran up her back, and he gripped her long, dark hair. Pulling back sharply, he forced her to bend her head back with a gasp. With her chin elevated, he kissed her neck, eliciting a whine of longing from her mouth.
Suddenly, he slipped his hands beneath her hips, hitching her upward so her legs wrapped around his waist and her dress spilled around them. He looked up at her as he carried her the few feet into his massive chambers, and she watched him, her eyes burning with open lust. The moment they crossed the threshold, he dropped her onto the bed with a squeal. Grinning wolfishly, he hooked his hook in the ties on the front of her bodice and snapped them effortlessly. Her dress surged open, and she released a rush of air as another wave of heat ran through beneath her waistline.
He was over her then, his hook tearing into her dress and her hands all over him. She dug her fingers into the lightweight black fabric of his shirt, and ripped it in her rush to pull it away from his skin. Their mouths crashed into one another roughly, his good hand tugging at her hair as he forced her head back once more so his hard mouth could dance along the skin on her neck and chest. Pushing her bodice aside, his mouth fell hot on her breast, and she gasped from the sensation. She felt him smile against her as his tongue played in circles around her nipple.
His boots thundered to the floor as he removed them and shifted his weight so he lay on top of her. The hook slid teasingly over her bare skin, sending a spike of hedonistic desire through her body. Her fingers fumbled over the leather ties at the front of his pants as he released her breast from his mouth, and she pushed them away. She didn't get time to admire his hard-on before he was back on top of her, his hot kisses sending moans of want from her lips. He pushed her legs open and slid between them so abruptly she cried out.
Killian pulled back from kissing her, looking down at her with a flash of concern on his face. He hadn't known she was a virgin, but he felt the resistance the moment he entered her. She clung to him, her head arched back into the bed as she recovered from the initial shock. The feel of her tightness around him made him dizzy, but he was conscious enough to assess her reaction. The second time, he slowed and reentered more gently. Her eyes had found him now, and that challenging gaze had returned, making him mad with desire for her. Although he knew the pain must have been as much of a shock to her as it was for him, he saw her eyes seethe provocatively.
Digging her fingers into his back, she pulled him down on top of her and kissed him deeply. She didn't want him to stop just because of that initial surprise. It had hurt, but the pain was fading, replaced by the more powerful desire that coursed through her. As he entered again, she moaned involuntarily, her back arching against him. He bent so his mouth met her breast once more, and her eyes rolled back in her head as all of her senses went into overdrive. A flash of euphoria thundered through her waist as her body fell into orgasm around him. He groaned in reaction as her fingers dug into his arm and the bed.
"Killian..." she whimpered, and his lips met hers as she reached her climax and clung to him desperately, wanting more. As she crested her peak, his appetite went wild and he rode her hard into the bed until he felt his own release. Her arms entwined around his neck as he fell against her, his breath short as his body jolted with the waves of bliss.
Exhausted, he lay with her for a moment deciding if he had the strength or desire to move. Ruby's fingers ran through his hair and he lifted his head to look into her green eyes. She stared up at him with a small, content smile on her face. Gently, he kissed her lips and she returned the kiss, her fingers twisting through his hair and her chest rising and falling in rhythm with his. She didn't want to stop kissing him, but they both had to breathe eventually, and she sighed sadly as he pulled away.
Pulling out of her sent a pleasurable gasp through her lips, and she squirmed to allow him room to lay beside her on the small bed. Torn strips of her dress littered the floor, along with his ripped shirt. He cinched up his pants and smoothed down her dress before rolling onto his side to look down at her, his hook resting on her belly beneath her destroyed bodice. The metal remained cold despite the heightened temperature in the room, but the heat in his gaze warmed her as she looked up at him.
"You didn't tell me," he stated finally, his voice soft and tender. Biting her bottom lip, she smiled a small smile.
"It never really came up," she pointed out, knowing he meant her being a virgin. She looked down at his hook, her fingers tracing the curve of it where it rested on her bare skin.
"You gave that to me," he stated quietly, his voice a confused mixture of disbelief, fear, and fascination.
Unable to respond, she sucked on her bottom lip and nodded, the corners of her mouth dancing upward into a shy smile. Automatically, he leaned and met her lips. Her anxiety released in that kiss, her fear that she wouldn't be as good as the other women he'd been with, that they would continue to live on in his head as a constant comparison to her: this woman who was so inexperienced and awkward. As before, he seemed to sense her apprehension, and he smiled as he leaned away from her, the fingers of his good hand running through her black curls.
"After everything, I don't deserve that kind of gift from you, Ruby," he murmured almost chidingly. Her eyes were bright and large as she touched the side of his face with her hand.
"You're the only one I want to give it to," she admitted, blushing slightly for the first time in years.
His eyes filled with an unreadable emotion, and he kissed her again before she could question him. His ever-present smell of leather and sandalwood engulfed her, and she breathed in deeply as his lips slowly left hers. Snuggling against his chest, she smiled to herself as she buried her face in the crook of his throat, falling asleep with the smell of the ocean.