Round of applause for JustAnotherLoneWolf (you amazing beta you).
Author's Note: Get ready for the Feelz, Dearies. Don't forget to check out my new fanfic, Southern Nights. It begins as Rumbelle but the series will encompass Captain Swan and characters from Firefly (including Serenity personified!). Thank you for all of the follows, reviews, and favorites! You light up my life.
Side Note: I GOT A JOB. I'm going to leave the US and work abroad in China in a few weeks. Super excited and needed to share with you.
Killian woke with a shock and pulled Emma closer. She lay across his chest with her head tucked into his neck, her breath a butterfly against his racing pulse. Looking around he saw Robin in the doorway, stun giving way to anger.
"Mate," Killian whispered. "Let me explain." The door slammed, knocking Emma awake.
"What was that?"
He rubbed a hand over his face.
"Robin getting the wrong idea. You should shower while I talk to him."
"And say what? I found your homeless best friend drunk off her ass and took her back here before Neal could, could—"
In an instant he knelt beside the bed and placed a hand on her cheek. She was close to hyperventilating.
"Swan, you've got to breathe. It could have happened, you're right, but it didn't happen. You got lucky where a lot of women don't. Fate crossed our paths for a second time," he said with a smile and twisted a strand of her long blonde hair around a finger. His eyes pierced her, pinned down all the riotous thoughts until the chaos dimmed. "As for Robin, he needs to know you don't have a place to stay; he would let you crash here in a heartbeat."
"I don't want that on him, Jones. The car is fine—"
"No, drop that idea right now. That man would give anything to help you out. Go shower and get cleaned up. We can talk more downstairs."
She grabbed his wrist when he rose to leave her side. "Promise me you won't tell Robin."
For several moments, Killian stared at the strong, proud, and stubborn as hell woman in front of him. Pulling out of her grasp, he said, "I promise not to tell him today." Venturing downstairs to deal with Robin's ire, he left her to her thoughts.
As soon as he entered the living room Robin shoved Killian against the wall.
Robin hissed words through clenched teeth. "You have ten seconds to explain yourself before I punch you for taking advantage of Emma. The girl is practically my sister, Killian. How could you even think about—"
"Easy there, attractive the lass most certainly is, I haven't taken advantage of anyone. We ended up at the same party last night. She was too drunk to drive home."
"Then what the hell were you two doing in your bed?"
"She spent all morning and night sick, mate. I was trying to get her back to sleep. Nothing happened." Robin looked skeptical; his grip on Killian didn't relax but his face lost some of its anger. Killian took that as a good sign and continued, "Trust me, if I were with Emma it isn't something I'd hide. She is the type of woman you show off and let the world envy. Savy?"
Easing back Robin nodded. "Then I suppose I owe you thanks for taking care of her."
"No need; simply good form."
Emma chose that moment to race down the stairs.
She looked between the two men and said, "Good, you haven't killed him yet."
"I let him explain things first. Why didn't you call me or Regina or Ruby? We would have been over in a flash. You're lucky Killian was there to drive you back safe and sound."
"Right, well, you know how it goes when you're drunk," she said, shrugging her shoulders and not meeting Robin's eyes, choosing instead to look at Killian. This morning he wore dark jeans and a red tight fitted V-neck complete with silver necklace and a single ruby gemmed earring. The word dashing came to mind, especially when paired with those kissable lips. Killian's kissable, off-limits lips she reminded herself because she was not going to hook up with Robin's irritating roommate.
Robin stalked off to the kitchen while Emma went upstairs to fetch her belongings. Without realizing it the morning had faded into afternoon and if she didn't leave soon Emma would be late for work. When she noticed Killian following her, she picked up the pace, not wanting to discuss her life with him again.
He leaned against the door frame, arms crossed. "You going somewhere?" he asked.
"Work." She needed to keep their conversation short and sweet. Where was her jacket?
"And then?"
"I hadn't thought that far ahead. I'm working a double." Purse repacked she looked around the room for the jacket he'd held hostage.
"What about tonight?"
"Tonight?" Emma faced him while slipping on her shoes; she was still down one leather jacket. "Tonight I won't be out partying. No need to for you to look out for my drunk self."
"You and I both know I meant where are you planning on sleeping?"
Shoving past him she ignored the jolt of heat from shouldering him. That could be a problem. Killian breathed down her neck all the way to her car where she finally whirled around and faced the towering man.
"Look here, Jones." Emma jabbed his chest. "I have been taking care of myself before I met you; I don't need you acting the white knight every time I run into a hint of trouble. And how do you do that by the way?"
"Simple case of right place, right time, Swan."
"Every time?" She asked. "Because I don't buy it."
"Kismet."
"God bless you."
"No," he laughed, "Kismet is the only explanation I have for you. Fate. Destiny. Some things are simply out of our hands." When she didn't say anything he spoke again. "Don't make me break my promise and tell Robin."
"If I call Ruby and plan a sleepover will that get you off my back?"
He nodded. "For now."
"Fantastic."
The call didn't take very long. It ended with plans for pizza and wine: an all-out girl's night. She was supposed to call Regina on the way to work and invite her as well.
Off the phone, Emma glared at Killian and said, "Now mind your business, pirate."
Killian raised an eyebrow. "Pirate?"
"C'mon, with the earring, tight pants, boots, and threats you're a modern day pirate. All you're missing is the hook."
Invading her space, Killian forced her to back up against the driver's side door. He placed hands on either side of her head and brought their faces together, but she felt safe instead of trapped. His presence drowned out the rest of the world. She could feel the heat of him on her skin; his lips waited for her to capture them; all she had to do was lift up onto her tip toes. Their noses nudging each other, Emma wavered between shoving him away and pulling him in for a kiss, for a taste of that damnable smirk he always wore.
"Don't forget dashingly handsome or my hypnotic accent." With a wink he left Emma, panting and more confused than ever. Hopefully working to the point of exhaustion would get Killian off her mind.
Blasted woman needed a keeper. How could she be this stubborn? There was no shame in asking for help when you needed it; being homeless was one of those times. More frustrating was the fact Killian was sure Emma had more secrets than simply living out of her car.
He felt like pulling his hair out because he understood her mentality. After all, Killian had been down a similar road growing up, until Liam finally knocked some sense into him. It hadn't been pretty but it had been necessary. Perhaps that's what Swan needed. Shaking his head, Killian went in search of Robin and put aside thoughts of his past and the girl entwining herself with his present.
Author's Note: Thanks for reading! I hope you're enjoying my writing. I want as much feedback as possible: the good, the bad, and the ugly.
-Cade