Chapter 48
The Cheshire Cat

Eli didn't really know what Ace had planned to 'get under her skin', but she really didn't want to find out. The seductive threat was scary enough for her to avoid thinking about what he might do. Therefore, the rest of the day, and the next, the girl kept running away from him.

Thanks to her devilish speed, she reacted as quick as lightning each time that in the corner of her eyes he appeared. When that happened, Eli just disappeared like a flash in some other part of the ship, preferably farthest away as possible. Her reactions were so quick, and her fear so keen, that she didn't even wait to make sure it was really him. And consequently, fled some others crew-members like the plague; Zoro for his heavy footsteps, as well as Nami since the color of her hair reminded Eli of his flashy hat.

Yet, one can't be too cautious when dealing with the Portgas.

Of course the meals were a problem. Running all day long, the edgy girl needed her rations of energy more than ever. However, being with the whole crew gave her a certain feeling of safety, and she once again used her devil power to eat with all haste before fleeing away.

At first, the Straw Hats were slightly, and rightly, puzzled at her twitchy behavior. But soon, they got used to it, thinking that she was just on hyper mode because of either a sugar rush, or the feeling of seclusion that was getting on her nerves. In any case nothing really unusual, nor alarming, in their opinion.

And so the days went by. Eli managed to avoid the Portgas skillfully, at the mere cost of her mental health and her body fatigue. The nights were much more troublesome, though. Because once the sun had disappeared, and the other pirates gone to bed, Eli was left alone with her disturbing memories. Closing her eyes, she couldn't stop her mind from replaying, again and again, her porn moment in the hotel bedroom of Kusai.

So there she was; her eyes wide open, her hands tightly clutched on her blanket, and her legs ready to jump at the slightest sound, suspicious or not.

No, Eli had no idea what the flame user had planned to 'get under her skin', but why would he even trouble himself with doing anything since he was already within every last of her cells ?

It was a fact, the girl was going crazy. So why wouldn't she just give up ? After all, she wanted him too, so why was she fighting so hard...?

The truth was that Eli was utterly scared. Scared of the unknown. Scared of being defenseless before the man that was once her friend. Scared of what she might do under his smoldering eyes. Scared that if she finally surrendered, their precious friendship would be lost forever...

And somewhere deep, deep inside, Eli was scared of falling in love with him...

Maybe if she resisted a bit more, just a little bit more, he would just give up. And then, maybe, Eli could get back to the comfortable and securing position of the good friend.

Therefore, Eli couldn't let go.

Out of exhaustion, she finally fell asleep. But too soon, Ace joined her in her dreams. Tormented and sulfurous dreams; bare bodies intertwined... sweat and steam... whines and cries...

After less than a few minutes of restless sleep, Eli woke up with a start. Panting erratically, her body was on fire. Sweat rolling disagreeably from her forehead and in her nape, her heart pounding violently against her rib-cage; the whole state of excitation mixed with guilt, making her whole body shudder.

Oh, god... The nervous girl ran her trembling fingers through her sweaty bangs, and tried to breath normally while her erotic fantasy slowly faded away from her mind.

Her desire was eating her from the inside, and at that rate she wouldn't last long. She obviously had to find a way to deal with him. Making him reconsider his position, so that she could be at peace. After all she wasn't so special, merely a second class trophy for his collection. And so, maybe if he understood the pain she was going through, he would just let go and find an other victim.

But talking with him had proven itself completely useless. After all, now he knew that she wanted him, and that gave him the whip hand over her. He was slowly baking her, without even doing a thing, and soon, Eli would serve herself on a silver platter. Surrendering her needy body to him willingly.

With an agonizing sigh, Eli stood up, and quietly walked out of the bedroom.

The night breeze cooling down her heated skin, the star-lover gazed at the celestial bodies glistering brightly in the dark sky. Were her people looking at her right now ? If they were, they would surely glare down at her with reprobation.

Sighing again, Eli climbed up the stairs and, before entering the lounge room, checked the windows. Because with her luck, he surely would be there, and again, one can never be too careful when dealing with the mischievous Portgas. After all he seemed to be always there when she was the most vulnerable... Fortunately, and for once, the room was very empty. Her mind at ease, Eli entered the room and quickly served herself a glass of milk with a spoon of honey.

Sucking absently the spoon, Eli crashed her cheek wearily in the palm of her hand.

Why it had to be me...?

Turning over and over the situation in her mind, the girl couldn't understand how it had happened. Things were going so well between them. And then, within the space of an hour, everything was ruined... Eli missed his friendship, but she couldn't even blame him... She had outrageously made the moves on him, she had offered him to stay in the bed...

Wait ! HE brought me to HIS room ! Eli's eyes widened upon the realization of her, almost, innocence.

But even if it was utterly, or partly his fault; the things that she let him do to her... the things that she did to him...

Eli let her forehead hit the table and closed her eyes, wishing for a moment of peace within her tortured mind.

The strong and roasty smell of the coffee titillating her nostrils, Eli slowly awaken. The tea-girl had never managed to bring herself to like the taste of this bitter drink, but its subtle, yet fierce scent was one of the best thing one could wake up to, in her opinion.

Almost as nice as Ace's smiling face.

As her vision became slightly clearer with ever flutter of her eyelids, Eli returned the smile heartily. His lovely freckles, his tender gaze; yes, seeing Ace smiling at her was probably the best thing that she could wake up to. However, as her mind slowly restarted, a warning was heard within her drowsy self.

This man is dangerous. Do not let yourself be fooled by the childish freckles and the warm smile. I repeat: this man is dangerous !

Eli's eyes snapped open, her smiling face morphing into surprise, and soon into alarm as she became aware of the situation she was in. With a gasp, as she had been taken completely off-guard, Eli briskly straighten up and turned her head to avert the young man's charming gaze.

Looking forward, Eli was surprised, as well as relieved, to see that she wasn't alone with Ace; Robin was here too. Sitting across of her, a small and ever so lovely smile on her face.

What the hell...?

They were both looking at her, heartily, and that was somehow disturbing... Yet, she didn't mouth a word, and the three pirates remained silent, two of them apparently amused at the third one. For how long they had been here was completely unknown to Eli, but in any case, and even if it was only for a few minutes, that didn't lessen the awkwardness of the situation.

"What ?" she finally said with a creaked voice. Vigorously rubbing her sleepy face, the nervous girl shifted on the bench to create distance between Ace and her.

"You just looked so cute that we couldn't bring ourselves to wake you up," Robin said, and chuckled while looking at Eli with amusement.

Right...

Eli stood up with haste to walk out of the dangerous room, but she found herself held back as Ace held her wrist. On the spot, she jerked her head in the direction of Robin, and gave the woman a desperate look, hoping that she would help her out of the pinch she was in. But to her surprise, and utter disappointment, the archaeologist stood up with a little smile on her face and politely excused herself. Stunned by the raven haired woman's cruelty, Eli's eyes followed her as she walked out of the room, and gulped audibly when she slowly closed the door, leaving the poor girl and her torturer behind.

"So... How have you been ?" Ace asked from behind her, and Eli could almost hear the smirk on his face.

"Not bad, not bad." Eli slowly turned around and forced her lips into a casual smile. "How about you ?"

"Fine," Ace said. As the young man took a step toward her, Eli briskly took a step back, smiling stiffly. "I've missed you, you know ?"

Even though the words were sweet, the smugness of his tone made Eli swallow hard through her throat, tightened in fear and apprehension. For every step he took, she moved backwards, while trying to keep a straight face.

"Well... heh, I've been fine, you've been fine, everything's... fine... great..." The nervous girl sputtered the words rapidly and confusedly, making Ace's smirk grow even more devious. "Gotta go now !" How much she faked cheerfulness was very obvious.

"You're really pretty," he said, threateningly closing in on her.

However, staring at his mischievous face, Eli couldn't help but hear 'I'm gonna eat ya.'

"Thank-" Eli began to say, as if to ignore the dangerous situation she was in, but she was interrupted as her back hit the wall. Ace was extremely skilled into making the girl forgetting about the existence of these obstacles.

Her back to the wall, literally and figuratively, Eli rapidly looked around for an escape route while the Cheshire cat brought his hand to her shoulder to hold her firmly against the wall. And at that moment, she could swear she saw him lick his lips.

Oh, god... Even if she might had the strength to tear out of his hold, Eli was petrified in fear.

"You know, I tried to talk to you." The hand that was holding her wrist slowly slid up her arm, and rested snugly on her hip.

"But you're really stubborn Eli." Ace moved closer and Eli felt his dangerous warmth engulfing her, draining her from the flimsy strengths she still had...

"I've been patient..." His words floated to her ears, and barely reached her mind as Eli was mesmerized by his heated eyes. "But patience doesn't work with you."

Under his eyes, Eli's fragile will to fight gradually vanished. Those dark, burning eyes. They made her feel so weak... They were so deep, and so dangerous; the hell's pit... And her primal instincts were pulling her into them, pushing her to jump in for better, or more likely, worse.

Under his eyes, she wanted to let go and let herself be like any other girl. Just a normal girl, not the friend, not the crewmate. Just a girl who would let him play with her like he would with any other girl.

Her chest heaving slowly, her pants grew harder as the air around her turned hotter by the second. Eli felt herself simmering up under the flame user's smoldering eyes, and, without saying anything more, Ace lay his heated lips on her neck, earning a long, and agonizing gasp from her.

Gentle at first, his kisses quickly grew more passionate; sly and fierce, yet affectionate, just like him. His mouth skillfully lavished her skin where her pulse throbbed rapidly, sweat building all over her body as Ace's temperature rose several degrees hotter. Unresponsive, Eli kept staring absently forward, while her insides turned and twisted at the rate of her rapid heartbeats. Ace slid his large hands on her back, grabbed her hips, and pulled her closer, making Eli's body thrill as she felt bones and raw muscles pressed against her.

Melting slowly within his sovereign embrace, Eli wasn't quite sure if all her reasons to resist were valid. What reasons anyway ? She couldn't grasp them anymore as they slowly grew distant, disappearing in the heated darkness that surrounded her.

Maybe if she just let go, just this once, it could ease the excruciating pain her body was going through.

Just this once.

Closing her eyes, Eli let herself float absently feeling Ace's lips creeping firmly up her neck... behind her ear... She wearily arched her head on the wall, a deep sigh escaping her lips as she let go of her mental restraints. And silently, the pain vanished along with the air she exhaled.

Just this once...

Her eyes closed, Eli let her hands edge up along the delicious bare skin of his chest. The fabric brushing the back of her hands as they slid under his shirt, she savored every sensations without an ounce of guilt. Ace's hot breath was delightfully caressing her ear as he nestled his cheek on hers, in a moment of pure tenderness.

Eli felt his hands ghosting up her body to cup her cheeks, gently. She felt Ace pressing his forehead on hers, her bangs softening as his heat slowly diffused through her hair. Did he say something ? Eli wasn't sure since all of her senses had shut down in favor of her touch.

She felt his breath on the sensitive skin of her parted lips, and, at that moment, Eli and Ace shared the same air...

Ensorcelled, the girl did not notice that Ace was gradually falling toward the floor until she heard him hit the floor with a thud.

Eli gasped loudly, her eyes snapping open, and blinked while she stared at Ace with wide, green, and completely incredulous eyes.

Narcolepsy... It really catches you off-guard...

Gaping foolishly at Ace sleeping figure lying on the wooden floor, Eli surprisingly found herself chuckling at the stupidity of the situation, her desire instantly replaced by hilarity. But what was she waiting for ? She was free at last, and without wasting one more second, the girl ran away with all haste. As soon as she walked out of the room, Eli burst out in laughter, completely forgetting the fact that she had surrendered herself to him, even if it was only for a few seconds, and that it had felt divinely good.

to be continued

Yeah, I know... you hate me ! So does Ace I'm afraid.
Yet , yummy, wasn't it ? :)

See you next on Twig to see the hotness from the inside.