I have tried to get a Beta to check if this is within the rules of M rating, but most Betas labeled here are not active anymore it seems. Let me know if this is not OK, and I will take it Down. Be warned: slightly SM. Happy Reading!

(The Chapter is really nr 11 and will be moved there in a weeks time. I dont know how the liks and stuff Works, and fear you will not find it if I move it now. Do tell me if you know :)

The mood around the breakfast tables in the dining hall was sour. There had been a misunderstanding in the kitchen about who tended the fire and the pots, and the porridge was charred. There was no throwing away the food, and more than one of the Rooks were complaining. Mishaps like this was a rare occurrence and it shortly turned into a two-sided argument where the women defended the work done in the kitchen, against the men's complaints. It spiralled out of proportions.

"No one is perfect," a woman said

"Our work, safeguarding this compound is perfect," a Rook claimed.

"Our only demand is that our standard of food comes close to what we deserve," another added jeering.

"The food you are served is usually better than you deserve," a woman retorted.

"If we preformed less than perfect, how come Liz was not able to escape when she wanted to?"

"Not even a mouse could get in and out of this base, without us knowing about it."

The two sides parted grumbling to tend to the chores of the day, but the mood of the Base remained sour throughout the day.

Evie and Henry came around for dinner and were surprised to find the atmosphere less than friendly. It was an unusual situation, but Jacob expected it to blow over. Nothing that a little ale and an evening of dancing could not fix. It had been a hot day, and Evie stole under the water post to cool her head before walking into the shade and unbuckled the gauntlet to remove her coat. Both Evie and Jacob sometimes envied Henry's light cotton attire, for the comfortable, cool quality it offered on warm days. However, the leather overcoat Jacob usually wore, was more than clothing, it served as armour as well, offering protection against the enemies blades. His preferred style of fighting, facing the enemy head on rendered it a necessity. He would not exchange it no matter how warm it was.

During dinner, Evie filled Jacob in on their recent work, tailing a Templar in City of London. His hideout was hard to find, even the urchins had been unable to root out its location.

"I saw a couple of Blighters enter a building in that area a couple of nights ago," Jacob said. "There was a pretty fine carriage out front that seemed out of place. The buildings in the area were all run down and dilapidated. It would be the perfect hideout, though."

"Where was that?" Evie wanted to know.

"I've got a map in the office. I'll show you after dinner," Jacob said.

After dinner, the men started moving the tables from the dining-hall out into the yard. They had decided to have that evening's gathering outside, enjoying the cool summer night after the sweltering heat of the day.

Evie and Henry followed Jacob into the office. They were intent on going after the Templar as soon as Jacob had shown them where to search, using the limited darkness for cover in their investigation.

Having gone over the maps, Evie and Henry were about to take their leave, when there was a commotion outside in the yard, drawing Jacob to the window. Looking outside he saw the women standing in a cluster on one side of the yard, facing the gate. They were laughing and cheering. The Rooks and especially the guards gathering on the other side looked less than happy. In the middle of the yard stood Elisabeth facing the women. She was bending over, laughing and accepting their cheers.

Evie joined him by the window.

"I need to see what this is all about," Jacob said concerned. "Do you have everything you need?"

Evie nodded in confirmation, and all three walked outside.

The mood in the yard was no short of hostile.

"What is going on out here?" Jacob asked a Rook upon entering the yard.

The Rook glared glumly in Elisabeth's direction.

Seeing Jacob, Evie and Henry, Elisabeth walked closer, and took off Evie's coat. "Sorry Evie, the temptation was just too great," she said and held out the coat to her. "The lads were just so cocky this morning, and when you came along I could not resist borrowing this."

"They told us no one would ever be able to sneak past their noses without them knowing," one of the women explained.

"I just had to prove them wrong," Elisabeth said chuckling as she watched the Rooks provoked faces.

Evie and Henry exchanged concerned looks with Jacob, sensing the brewing uproar amongst the men, but he silently waved them off. This was his responsibility, and nothing he needed their aid to handle, so Evie and Henry took their leave and left to tend to their mission.

Jacob knew the situation was more serious than Elisabeth understood. She had used Evie's coat and walked out the gates with her face concealed under the hood. The guards had mistaken her for Evie, until she was well outside the gates, when she had turned around and let down her hood, just to walk back inside. She had deliberately shown the Rooks their flaw; moreover, she was rubbing their noses in it.

No one had gotten away with mocking the Rooks up until now, none of the Blighters and none of the Templars, not without a consequence. No one challenged the Rooks' pride unanswered.

Elisabeth did not understand what she had done and the Rooks were looking to him to deal with the situation, awaiting his reaction to her challenge.

"Are you making a mockery of my Rooks, Elisabeth?" he asked severely.

The yard fell quiet, save for a few hoots and chuckles. The Rooks watched Elisabeth, stern faced and awaiting.

"Can't have that, now can we, Boss?" said the Rook beside him. The Rooks standing around the yard started backing him up.

"No one makes fun of the Rooks."

"Think she was trying to run away from you again, Boss," another of the lads continued.

Elisabeth's eyes were darting from one to the other, her wide smile faltering fast and alarm raising inside.

"No, oh no… No!"

Everyone knew he would never hurt Elisabeth, but that didn't mean she would not suffer for her actions. The Rooks were playing along, their stern faces now lighting up in wry smiles and chuckles at Elisabeth's alarmed expression. As it dawned on her, what she had done and what was about to happen, she inadvertently stepped backwards.

It was what any pride on a hunt looked for, the moment the pray knew it was targeted and bolted. Jacob's eyes narrowed and a wry smile crossed his lips.

"Get her, Boss!"

Elisabeth turned and fled with a shrill cry, a mix of fear and thrill in her voice as Jacob plunged after her. She darted in between the crowd of onlookers trying to keep them between him and her, to little avail.

The crowd cheered and laughed, and parted for Jacob, running to catch her. Jacob rounded on her, pushing her away from the crowd and in the direction of the open yard, and Elisabeth fled the only way open to her, down the stairs to the kitchen. Jacob was hot on her heels as she entered the house. The large kitchen table, in the centre of the room, forced Elisabeth to go around along the wall. Jacob leapt mid stride; skidded across the tabletop and caught her.

"I told you I would catch you, if you ran from me."

A wry smile graced his lips as he pushed her up against the wall. Her face was flushed from running and her heart was racing as she let out a nervous laugh.

"You nearly scared me, Jacob," she said.

"Nearly?" Jacob cringed his brow in mock sternness. "That is not good enough, Love. You need to be taught a lesson". She drew her breath sharply and her eyes widened.

"This might actually play out to my advantage," he thought satisfied, as he tilted her head back and noted her soft breath on his skin quicken when he kissed her.

His hand caressed her neck, then trailed down to the buttons of her shirt, and started unbuttoning them one by one. She broke from the kiss and covered the collar with a hand, shooting a glance to the doors leading to the yard and the internal staircase before turning her uncertain gaze back at him.

"Shouldn't we go somewhere else?"

Jacob smiled at her and gently, but firmly brought her hand down. "All I need is right here," he said. She smiled unsure at him.

"But Jacob, someone might come."

"They won't Love," he said. "Trust me; they wouldn't dare walk through those doors right now."

The Rooks knew something would go down between him and Elisabeth after her display. They were perceptive enough to stay away from the kitchen, and stop anyone else from entering as well.

She looked at him, still unsure, but an anticipating redness spread across her cheek and nose.

His hand stole to the back of her neck, cradling her head while kissing and nibbling the soft skin of her jawline. Elisabeth apprehensively let him continue, still unsure of their location, but not quite able to stop herself from enjoying his caresses. When she slowly relaxed, he steered her around and lifted her onto the large kitchen table, sitting on the edge. Her hands trailed up to the back of his neck as she leaned in to kiss him, while his free hand continued to button down her shirt. Buttoned open, Jacob pulled the shirt free from her pants and let it slide down her shoulders. She shrugged her shoulders to help him remove it, but Jacob held on to the lapels and with a lopsided smile, he wrapped them around her arms behind her back.

If his plan was to work, he could not have her distracted by unnecessary sensory input. Her focus was not to be on her hands nor him, but on herself this time.

As he tightened the tie, he watched her expression turn from confusion to apprehensive understanding. She struggled slightly against the bond, only to find she was securely tethered. Jacob rested his arms against the table on either side of her and watched her inner struggle, on one hand the kindling desire, making her want to continue, on the other hand the insecurity and self-restraint holding her back. When her eyes met his, he could see she had reached no decision.

"Do you trust me?" he asked.

She seemed to have trouble finding her voice. Swallowing hard she nodded her head.

"I won't do anything to you, that you don't want me to, Love," he smiled at her, "however, you won't get anything either until you beg for it."

His words triggered her senses and like wind to the embers, desire flared. Elisabeth closed her eyes and a soft moan issued from her throat.

Grinning at her reaction, Jacob drew the shoulder straps of her chemise down off her shoulders, letting it drop to her waist. Her exposed skin prickled with goose bumps in the chill of the gloomy kitchen. Jacob cupped a breast in his hand and continued to trail kisses over her neck. Stroking and caressing her sensitive skin, Elisabeth's breath turned uneven and the unsure stiffness left her body once more.

He wanted her, but that would have to wait. Tonight, he was going to make her let down her guard and utterly loose her self-restraint. He was going to make her scream. That target held a price for him as well, but getting her there needed some preparation.

"Jacob, please…" she said, looking at him under half lidded eyes. Meting her gaze Jacob put his hands on her hips, rubbing circles with his thumbs.

"Oh, no Love, we are not nearly there yet."

"Aaahh," was her only reply as she leaned her head against his shoulder. Jacob cupped her cheeks in his hands and found her eyes.

"Do you want me to stop?" he asked in a soft tone. Her pupils were dilated, wide with desire when she met his gaze. Elisabeth shook her head.

His lopsided smile widened as he lowered his hands to her knees, his thumbs firmly on the insides of her legs. He held on to her gaze as his hands trailed up her thighs, noting how she arched into his touch. She leaned back on her arms and spread her legs for him as his thumbs travelled ever closer to the centre of her need. Leaning in, trailing kisses along her jaw he let his thumbs brush lightly past her pleasurable parts, before settling to rub circles on her hips once more. Elisabeth trembled under his touch and groaned softly in disappointment. Deprived of the prise she so dearly wanted, she leaned against his chest, her full lips seeking his. Her mouth was hungry against his, and when his tongue stroke against her lips for access, she angled her head and let him in willingly. Jacob savoured the feel of her tongue against his, the sweet taste of her mouth and her hot breath on his skin, whle kneading the flesh of her thighs.

When she broke from the kiss, Elisabeth held his gaze.

"Jacob, please…" she breathed silently.

"No, Love," he answered in a low rumble. "Around here, I decide how things go. It is a lesson you need to learn."

Her mind, dazed with want registered the assertive tone and the dual meaning of his answer. When she closed her eyes it wasn't fear nor sadness that made her whimper.

Jacob was satisfied. She was slowly giving in to the needs of her body, giving up her self-restraint one step at the time. With a hand behind her neck, he made her lie back on the table.

She complied meekly, her will like butter under his touch by this point, her concern about anyone entering the kitchen long forgotten. Then he undid her pants and underwear, lifted her hips off the table and yanked them down.

The sight of her, quivering on the table in front of him was a thrilling one, spiking his pulse and sending jolts of need through his body. He smiled in anticipation as he gathered her legs with one arm and let a finger slide inside her. Elisabeth arched her back off the table, her eyes closed and her hands clenching within the tethers. She tried hard to hold back and stifle her moans. Jacob knew she was about to lose that battle as he found her points of pleasure and gently coaxed her body on, raising the flowing tide within her ever higher.

Elisabeth's expression turned almost pained, her eyes closed and her brow furrowed in desperation.

"Ahhhh. Jacob, please, please take me. I need you." His lopsided grin returned as she whimpered under his touch. He had been anticipating her begging, and this time she would get what she asked for. He undid his pants, letting it drop to his knees and sheathed himself in her warmth.

She was wet and gorgeous and utterly under his control and it took him every ounce of self-control to keep from losing it as he started to move back and forth.

Elisabeth lost all sense of coherency, rapt in the feeling of their union. Jacob claimed the prize of his work, taking all he wanted of her while delving her more pleasure than she had ever experienced before. His hands dug greedily into her thighs as he drove them ever higher, ever closer to that magnificent end.

Her moans grew in time with his thrusts, her voice trailing up to the vaulted ceiling and ecoing through the room. Any reserve she had was long gone. Jacob felt the fluttering ripples of her rising surge and knew she was close.

"Aaa… aaah, Jaaacb!"

"Come for me, Love!" he said and drove her over that final edge.

"AAAAAAAAAAHHHG- AAAAH"

Her shrill voice filled the kitchen as ecstasy washed over her. Jacob marvelled in the sight of her body, sensual and arched against his movements in her moments of satisfaction.

Letting the ebb and flow of her coming steer him, Jacob reached the breaking point as well, release crashing down on him like a swell against the shore, and like waves the pleasure surged between them, back and forth until, utterly spent, they ley panting against each other on the table.

Resting on his forearms, either side of her body on the table, Jacob met her gaze.

"Bloody hell, Elisabeth!" he exclaimed, bringing colour to her already flushed face and a soft laughter from her throat. Kissing the curve of her smile Jacob pushed away and got up.

Elisabeth closed her eyes and remained lying on the table, collecting herself while Jacob sorted out his clothing. Then he helped Elisabeth down from the table and untied her hands. Leaning against the table, he crossed his arms and watched her with half a smile while she got dressed. She looked a glorious mess; a rosy flush to her cheeks and her lips deliciously sated, her hair all tangled and her shirt a bunch of creases and wrinkles.

Elisabeth remade the braid and coiled it on the back of her neck before looking dismally down her crumpled attire. Then she met Jacob's grinning face.

"You needed a lesson, Love. Don't ever ridicule my Rooks," he said collecting her into an embrace and kissing her brow. "Come on, let's go out and face them."

He knew she dreaded facing the Rooks after this, and put his arm around her. Looking down at her, she met his gaze and her nervousness broke into a small smile before they walked to the door.

Outside the rest of the household were gathered around the tables, enjoying their ale and the usual humorous stories. The sour mood from earlier was gone; Elisabeth's flight had sought to that, and the ale had done the rest to restore the good-natured atmosphere.

Jacob and Elisabeth were greeted with cheers and wolf whistling from the Rooks as they walked up the stairs from the kitchen.

"Jacob, did you chastise your woman?" one of the Rooks shouted.

"Yea, we heard somebody scream," another continued as the others laughed.

Elisabeth turned a bright crimson red and hid her flushed face against his chest. Jacob put his arms around her, laughing.

"What the hell did you do to her, Boss?"

Jacob looked down to meet Elisabeth's smiling face.

"A gentleman never tells, Lads. A gentleman never tells."