Chapter 13 – Road Trip
"Pull over" Killian Said ten minutes into the drive.
"Why? What happened?" Emma glanced at him in wonder.
"It's urgent, just pull over" He said decisively as he unfastened his seatbelt.
Emma slowed the car and stopped at the side of the road, pulling on the parking brake as she turned to face him "What was so – " She began asking only to be cut off by his lips on hers, propped on one knee, leaning towards her, his hand in her hair, he pressed his lips to hers. His hand moved to stroke the back of her neck as he tilted his head, his lips hovering over hers, his tongue darts out to lick her lips, waiting for her permission to invade her mouth "Really?" She reared back slightly so she could look him in the eyes as she raised her brows at him in wonder "This is the reason you wanted me to pull over?" She jokingly scolded.
"Yes" He said as he leaned further still awaiting her approval, his mesmerizing blue eyes fixed on her lips, his mouth hungry for hers "Told you it's urgent" He whispered as he grazed his lips against hers, his hand tugging gently on her hair "There's no telling what I would have done if you didn't pull over" His tongue ran along her bottom lip before she finally complied, burying her hands in his hair, opening her mouth, granting his tongue permission to dance with hers, moaning softly into his mouth "You taste so good" He whispered when he pulled back for air.
"We'll get nowhere if we keep stopping every ten minutes" She smiled against his lips when he was about to dive in for another kiss.
"You're right" He nodded and stared at her lips "Just one more I promise" He said before he attacked her lips again, kissing her one last hot lingering kiss, leaving her flushed and breathless as he pulled away "Now you can go" He licked his bottom lip as he fastened his seatbelt and she smiled in embarrassment "You need a minute?" He mocked, smiling wickedly at her as she was trying to regain her composure, running her hands through her disheveled hair.
"Very funny" She rolled her eyes as she started the car "Sometimes you just need to know when to shut up" She glanced at his chuckling face before she got back to driving.
…
Over seven hours had passed and they were just about to reach Albuquerque "Take the next exit" He said as he glanced at his phone "It says the parq central is less than 2 miles off the interstate"
"You don't have to spend your money on hotels, we can sleep in the car you know" She glanced at him.
"I want to, and like you said we have a long road ahead of us, meaning we'll need a good night sleep, besides, you just saved me some flight money, remember?" He smiled at her and she glanced his way to give him a smile in return.
A few minutes later she parked outside this luxurious hotel, staring at it without turning off the car "Swan, the motor is still running" He pointed out.
"Yeah, we're not staying here, give me your phone" She said as she grabbed his phone without a second thought, browsing it for a while before she held it up in front of his face "We'll go there"
"Seriously? What's wrong with this one?" He protested.
"It's too expensive, the holiday inn will do just fine, it is also near the interstate and half the price" She said decisively as, to his dismay, she started driving away from his fancy hotel.
After they checked into the hotel that was an all suits hotel, clean, comfortable and at a reasonable price, she was the first to hit the shower, exhausted from the long intense day.
"You need something from me before I get in?" He asked warmly when she got out of the shower.
"No thanks, I really need to rearrange my suitcase" She answered dryly without looking at him as she turned to her suitcase "Neal left such a mess, he wasn't exactly the tidiest person in the world, and all my clothes are getting wrinkled" She said, a hint of annoyance in her tone of voice.
He noticed the change in her mood, assuming that the she had time to reflect on a few obviously painful memories while she was in the shower "Are you sure you're okay?" He asked softly as he looked at her in concern.
"Yeah, go ahead, I'm fine" She glanced at him and smiled slightly before she turned to the suitcase again.
…
He got out of the shower, wearing a simple T and shorts, towel in hand, watching her in wonder. Some of her clothes were scattered all over the bed as she was frantically searching for something in her suitcase "Swan, what are you doing?" He asked as he ruffled his hair with the towel, in attempt to dry it. She turned around to glance at him and he noticed that her eyes were moist and her face was red, it was obvious that she was on the verge of crying "What's wrong?" His face fell, asking in concern as he let go of the towel, letting it fall to the floor when he stepped in her direction, closing the distance between them.
"I can't find my shells" She kept tossing her clothes all over the bed.
"Your what?"
"My shells" She spat "I had a small bag with a few seashells in it and now I can't find it" She said in frustration "Son of a bitch" She clenched her jaw, holding back the tears.
"Love, what's going on?" He asked softly as his hand reached her back, stroking it gently.
"He probably took it" She said angrily "That's what's going on"
"They are just shells" He said carefully, not trying to disrespect.
"They are not just shells, I've had them with me since I was eleven"
"Then will just have to pick up new ones" He tried to reassure.
"We can't" She insisted.
"Why not?" He looked into her sad eyes as his hand stilled on the back of her neck, only his fingers moving, slowly grazing her skin.
"We can, but it won't be the same, I picked them up when I was at a beach for the first time"
She reflected on that memory, she was finally pulled out from the group home she had been staying at and was moved to stay with this foster family that had been living near the beach. It was the first time that her eyes laid sight on the ocean from up close, she marveled the sense of freedom it presented, the sky was clear, the sea was enormous and amazingly beautiful, she couldn't stop watching the waves lap along the coast, listening to the slow noise they made as they did, breathing in the fresh ocean air, her nervousness fading away with every breath until her body relaxed completely.
She loved their home and at first she wished she could live there forever, until she didn't, until she was given a reason to stop wishing that, when the father of the family kept glancing at her in a disturbing manner, shooting devious looks her way, looks that despite her young age she knew all too well, so she did what she had always done the moment she realized that something wasn't quite right with the home she had been placed at, she ran away, collecting a few shells on the road, a reminder to that mesmerizing vision that was called the ocean, a reminder that she too wished to have a home of her own one day, preferably near a beach.
She cringed in pain to the empty promise Neal had made her, the promise of a home, a home near a beach, the home she always dreamed of, just so he can turn around and leave her with a broken promise and a bleeding heart.
"Love" He said softly when his hand moved along her back, his voice and touch jolting her back to reality "You had a really long day, we forget that it was only this morning that you got out, it's a lot to process in less than twelve hours, you're probably overwhelmed – "
"Don't" She cut him off, seemingly on the verge of crying again.
"I just want to make you feel better" He said defensively.
"I don't think you can" Her voice began to crack as tears welled in her eyes "I don't think you get it"
"What is it? Tell me, what am I missing?"
"He took it from me" She said in pain as she broke down, her voice shaking through the tears she could no longer hold back as they streamed uncontrollably down her cheeks "He took the shells just like he took everything else from me, his love, his promise, my future, my freedom, he just went away and took it all with him"
"Come here" He said with a soft voice as he pulled her into his embrace "Everything will be okay, you're with me now" Was she really?
He held her close, rubbing soothing circles along her back and she suddenly searched for his comfort as she buried her head in his chest, allowing herself to sob against it, allowing herself to mourn the events that led to her time in prison. He already knew all about Neal, and still it took him a little bit by surprise. She mentioned him more than once back in prison, but back then she seemed pissed more than anything else, and now she seemed broken, it seemed that she used to care for him more than he realized, and he couldn't help but wonder if she'd ever get over him, if she'd ever give him a chance to mend that broken heart of hers.
"Let's just go to sleep love" He said softly as he kissed the top of her head when her sobbing voice and shaky breath finally silenced.
"I don't feel like sleeping" She looked up at him with her green puffy eyes.
"Then what do you want to do?" He asked as his hand gently stroked her hair.
"I don't know" She said on a sigh.
"I have an idea" His voice filled with slight enthusiasm as he pulled away and went over to his backpack that rested on the armchair by the bed "What do you say?" He smiled as he took out a deck of cards and dangled it in front of her "Feel like a game of fish?"
"Sure" She blinked slowly, a small smile lifting her lips.
…
He woke up to her delicious scent and warm body, her back pressed against his chest, his hand wrapped around her body, his face buried in her hair and his eyes closed as he nuzzled her hair, taking a deep breath, inhaling her scent as if it was an energy shot coursing through his veins before his eyes flew open to meet the look of the room.
A quick glance at the radio clock, revealing it was 4:14 AM, before his eyes continued scanning the messy room, the cards were scattered on the corner of the bed, next to her feet, her suitcase was open and practically empty, tossed aside against the wall, her clothes were everywhere, some on the bed, a few on the armchair, others on the nightstand and the rest on the floor.
He wrenched himself carefully from her warm body as he silently bustled around the room, picking stuff up, gathering the cards, folding the scattered clothes, eventually getting dressed and taking a seat on the armchair next to the bed, fiddling with his phone and glancing her way every now and then when she breathed heavily in her sleep.
She woke up about an hour later, it was still early and the room was semi-dark "Morning beautiful" He said quietly as he came to sit on the bed, leaning to kiss her softly on the lips.
"Morning" She yawned and stretched when a satisfied smile spread across her face "I guess we fell asleep" She said as she pushed herself to sit up on the bed.
"Yeah" He smiled and nodded.
"Thanks for last night" She said softly.
"Don't mention it" He waved a dismissing hand.
"I know you let me win" She continued as a guilty smile gave him away "I know you were trying to cheer me up"
"Did it work?" He took her hand in his, stroking her palm gently with his thumb.
"Yes" She smiled and her eyes sparkled along before she leaned to kiss his lips "It did" She nodded as her lips hovered over his before she pressed them to his once more.
"I'm glad" He smiled as he caressed her cheek "Now we need to get going, if we are to keep up with that tight schedule of yours" He gave her a nod of acceptance as she chuckled before she got up and her eyes met the two neatly folded piles of clothes that rested in her suitcase.
"You really know how to charm a girl" She joked when she stepped in the direction of the suitcase, suddenly stopping in her tracks, her mouth agape as she stared at the small plastic bag on top of one of the piles "You found it" She looked at him before she took the final step and reached for the bag, looking at it and fingering the shells before she turned to look at him again.
"I think it was in one of the pockets of your denim jacket, cause it fell when I picked it up"
"Thanks" She smiled and blinked heavily when he came closer.
"Come on, let's grab breakfast and hit the road, you know how strict our tour guide can get, and we wouldn't want to rub her the wrong way" He said as his hand reached for her shoulder, pressing her body towards his and giving her shoulder a squeeze.
"No" She shook her head "We wouldn't want that" She reached for his hand on her shoulder, tugging on it as she leaned up on her tiptoes to kiss his lips.
…
It was their second day on the road together and she was getting used to the fact that he was this touchy kind of guy, his hands constantly finding their way to her. On the first day she was a bit surprised to discover that this guy, who had seemed to be so reserved back in prison as he had been avoiding any kind of touch, and seemingly at all costs, suddenly wasn't able to keep his hands to himself, wasn't able to get his hands off of her.
As much as she had tried to deny the things his touch did to her body she just couldn't, and she gradually allowed herself to welcome his touch and take pleasure in the sensations it brought her, his different kinds of touch stimulating different sensations.
Sometimes, when his hand had found its way to the back of her neck to stroke it gently or when it toyed with a lock of her hair she smiled inwardly, finding comfort in it as her heart slowly filled with joy. Other times, when his hand had slid along her arm it sent shivers down her spine, and when it had found its way to her thigh she found herself getting aroused in a matter of seconds, as tremors of desire coursed through her.
So about three and a half hours after they had left Albuquerque, when he somehow managed to place both hands on her, one anchored at the back of her neck, the other slowly sliding up her inner thigh, shooting sparks between her legs, she pulled over at the side of the road.
"Okay, this has to stop" She swallowed hard as a flush of heat made its way to her cheeks.
"What are you talking about?" He wondered, his hands still on her.
"You know what I'm talking about, the touching and stuff" She said, trying not to sound too embarrassed "I can't concentrate like that, I can get us both killed" She continued, managing to sound coherent thanks to his hand leaving her thigh to unbuckle his seatbelt.
"It's a good thing you pulled over then" He raised his brows suggestively as he leaned to kiss her lips, his hand sliding up her inner thigh again, extracting a moan out of her lips as she could feel the tension building up inside of her, involuntarily causing her thighs to spread slightly and imagine what it would feel like to have him inside of her "Still want me to stop?" He asked against her lips, his hand tightens around her thigh, fingers digging deep into the denim fabric of her pants.
"Yes" She whispered unaware to her own words as she licked her lips, her eyes closing and rolling to the back of her head, feeling herself getting wet.
"Okay" He whispered as he slightly reared back.
"Okay?" She asked surprised as her eyes flew open to meet his.
"I'll stop if that's what you want" He said slowly as his fingers toyed with her belt loops, slowly threading through and tugging on them, encouraging her to come closer.
"What are you doing?" She panted on a smile as she obliged, climbing on top of him as she moved to straddle his lap.
"I don't know, what are you doing?" He replied mischievously as his hands anchored at her hips, pulling her closer, pressing her core against his bulge as his lips found their way to hers.
"Oh that's just not fair" She broke away from his lips and breathed heavily when his hands began rocking her hips against his.
"Give me your lips" He said when he buried one of his hands in her hair, tilting their heads and invading her mouth, relishing the sweet taste of her, his other hand on her hip, rocking her back and forth, grinding her sensitive fabric covered core against his throbbing bulge.
"What are you doing to me?" She asked when she gasped for air.
"I can ask the same of you" He whispered when his hand tugged gently on her hair pulling her head back, exposing more of her throat as his mouth trailed down, kissing her neck softly, licking slowly as his mouth searched for the sweet spot where shoulder meets neck, then sucking on it, at first gently then hungrily as she buried her hands in his dark thick hair and moaned with pleasure.
"Killian" She said softly as her hands trailed nervously along his broad shoulders. She wanted him, she wanted more of him, more touch, more contact, more skin and flesh, and it made her feel a bit nervous cause she was not used to want a man this way.
"What is it love?" He asked when he dropped his mouth to the vulnerable hollow of her throat, inhaling her scent.
"I want to feel you" She leaned to whisper in his ear when her hands anchored at his waist, trailing up his shirt, eager to reach his chiseled chest, eager to run her fingers through his crisp chest hair.
"Me too" He said, feeling his erect length hardening even more at the thought "But I guess for now this will just have to do" He said with his husky voice as his hands trailed up her thighs and reached her buttocks, pulling her closer as his hips bucked slightly, pressing his strained erection in between her legs.
"Now that's just being mean" She said seductively as she nibbled on his bottom lip and rocked along with his hands on her, desperate for more friction.
"We can't possibly risk getting arrested for indecent exposure or sexual misconduct, can we?" He said and she whimpered silently as she nodded reluctantly against his lips "I'll make it up to you tonight" He whispered enticingly and smiled against her lips "That's if you'll be up for it" His hand tugged on her hair pulling her back a little so his eyes could meet hers as he raised one brow suggestively and smiled in mischief before pulling her back for a kiss, not giving her the chance to respond, already picking up the pace, moving underneath her, one hand rocking her hips and grinding her heat against his rock hard length, the other trailing up her shirt, stroking up and down her back then moving to graze her flat stomach, slowly sliding up her waist, his fingers running along her smooth skin, reaching her bra line, gently slipping underneath, anchoring at the side of her breast as his thumb slowly trailed along her breast, grazing her nipple, causing the tension between her legs grow tenfold as her body grew hotter, aching for release.
Her mouth broke away from his lips as she gasped for air and his mouth moved to lick the shell of her ear before he whispered hotly in her ear "And tomorrow you can wear that dress of yours" Just the mere thought of her sliding down on him, feeling him inside of her, taking him deeper and deeper, sent her over the edge when everything tightened inside of her, burying her head in his neck, her lips hovering over his collarbone, her eyes rolling to the back of her head as an audible moan escaped her mouth. His hand kept grazing her breast while the other held her close, pressing her down on him, helping her ride out her orgasm.
It took her a minute to catch her breath, her chest rising and falling rhythmically, her hands trailing underneath his sleeves, sliding up his shoulder blades and anchoring at the top of his shoulders, her fingers grazing his skin as he slowly drew back his hand from her bra, reaching it up to cup the back of her head, pressing a kiss to her forehead before leaning it against his own, glancing at her flushed cheeks and smiling closed eyes.
"Should we get going?" He said softly when her body lazed and her breath evened out, his soft husky voice waking her from her haze.
What the hell? She was completely overwhelmed as she never climaxed being naked in bed with a man before, let alone being fully clothed.
"Yeah" She said when her body suddenly tensed against his and she ran a nervous hand through her hair, smiling in slight embarrassment before she began to pull away, trying to lift herself back to her seat.
"Come here" He stopped her, holding her by the waist, pulling her back as one hand reached to caress her cheek and they locked eyes. The three little words on the tip of his tongue as he bit them back, afraid it would scare her away. I love you. His bright blue eyes screamed the words, unable to prevent them from doing so when he pulled her in for a lingering toe-curling kiss, a kiss they both seemed to be struggling to break away from "Let me drive" He said softly when their lips eventually parted.
"Killian, it's fine" She slightly shook her head after she moved back to the driver's seat.
"Well you can't possibly drive for fourteen hours straight, so if you still want us to get to Memphis tonight you're going to have to let me drive eventually" He raised his brow at her in question "I think that now will be a good time, don't you think?"
"Yeah" She run her hands through her long ruffled golden hair and breathed "I guess it is" She glanced at him and smiled in slight embarrassment before he got out of the car and walked over to the driver's seat while she moved to the passenger's side "Just stay on the I-40" She instructed in earnest as he got in, her voice shifting back to work-mode "Straight to Memphis" She gave him a nod as she gestured with her hand to the road "And don't get tempted to take any side roads" She warned.
"Aye Capitan" He gave her a nod of approval before he smiled mischievously, winking at her as he started the car and she just couldn't help the big smile that weaseled its way onto her lips.