ENJOY!
Elizabeth stood for a long moment in shock, heat spreading across her cheeks. Her gaze had locked on the man for only a moment and yet during that brief time her heart had increased its rhythm to an alarming pace.
She was held motionless, arrested by the masculine beauty of his face, a face which had clearly shown pleasure at seeing her again. Startled and disturbed by her own reaction to him after all these years, she had forced herself to look away with haughty disregard. Jack Sparrow was still magnificent to her and remained the most alluring man she had ever encountered.
When his gaze met hers, she felt the spark that passed between them as if it were a tangible force. An intense attraction had always existed between them, and she was profoundly disturbed to discover it had not abated in the slightest. There was no doubt she had loved Will Turner, but there was something about this particular man that always made her question just how deep that love went.
The truth was ten years was a long time. Elizabeth simply did not have it in her to wait for a man, no matter how much she loved him. The trust was… adventure and freedom had always been her calling, and it beckoned to her. After some serious thought and much reflection, she selfishly decided to do what was best for her and ended her marriage to Will in just a little under a year after the battle. Getting the letter to him was difficult enough, but knowing it was over for good was even harder.
Needing an immediate distraction after mourning the loss of her short lived marriage, Elizabeth set course on a new path, going to the only place where she knew she had one: Shipwreck Cove to resume her duties as King of the Brethren Court. For the last four years, Elizabeth had seen it all and life had never been more fulfilling. Throughout her escapades, she often thought about Jack.
She expected to see him on some of her travels. Hoped, even. He was, after all, once an important person in her life. Seeing him would have felt a bit like home. She'd be lying if she said she didn't want him to send word of his wellbeing. Surely he knew about her decision to remain King, so why had he never reached out? How even could he, she scolded herself. She very well knew he was alive; it wouldn't take long for the news of his death to reach her. After some time, she accepted that their paths may never cross again. Until now.
Looking away from the man who stared at her longingly from across the room, Elizabeth felt a hand at her elbow, jolting her back into the conversation she was previously having. She turned to find her first mate, George, at her side, his concerned gaze searching her face.
"Are you feeling unwell, Captain? You look flushed."
"It's rather hot in here, is it not?" Elizabeth asked. "Perhaps another beverage would help."
"Aye, I think you're right," George agreed, and she rewarded his thoughtfulness with a smile.
Once George left, Elizabeth directed her attention toward the group of gentlemen who surrounded her. Her crew.
"What were we discussing?" she asked no one in particular.
Remy, one of her crewmen, replied. "We was just pointing out that Jack Sparrow 'imself is here tonight! Surprised to see him, we are."
"Indeed." She feigned indifference, while her palms grew damp. She'd never shared her history with Jack Sparrow with her crew before, nor had she intended to. Ever.
As though she were being compelled by forces beyond her control, Elizabeth looked towards the front of the tavern once again, and saw Jack say something to Mr. Gibbs who had just appeared as well. She swallowed the lump forming in her throat.
George returned with her drink just then, blocking her view. She happily accepted the ale, and slowly altered her position to better secure glimpses of Jack navigating the crowded space. Even in a crowd, his presence was compelling. Commanding. Several people hurried to greet him. Women glided surreptitiously towards him. The influx of admirers moving in his direction shifted the balance of the entire room. To his credit, Jack looked mostly indifferent to all the fawning directed at him.
As he made his way through the tavern, he moved with the casual arrogance of a man who always obtained precisely what he desired. The crowd around him attempted to halt him, but Jack cut through it with ease, only attending to some, offhandedly to others, and to a few he simply raised an imperious hand.
Feeling the intensity of his regard, her gaze met his again. The corners of his mouth lifted upward as perception passed between them. The mischievous glint in his eyes and the warmth of his smile caused Elizabeth to fidget where she stood, forcing her to turn away yet again.
George looked easily over her head to scrutinize the scene. "Looks like Sparrow is heading this way. He's caused quite the commotion in the last several minutes."
Oh, no. "Are you quite certain?" Elizabeth asked, panic taking over.
"Yes, Captain. He's staring at me as we speak."
Shit. Her first time back in Tortuga after a year and he unerringly sought her out within hours of her reemergence, almost as if he'd been waiting all these years for this exact moment. The temptation to retreat was immense, but the moment when she could have reasonably done so long passed.
Squaring her shoulders for the inevitable, Elizabeth gulped her ale and took a deep breath. She passed the empty vessel to George without looking, Or, who she thought was George. Jack caught her hand before she could realize her mistake.
"Elizabeth Swann, in the flesh. Ravishing as ever." His voice was rich and warm, reminding her of crushed velvet. He narrowed his deep, brown eyes. "Or is that Mrs. Turner, I ought to be referencing you as?"
Elizabeth's mind scrambled, attempting to think of something cheeky to say back. His wickedly virile energy, potent even across the room, was overwhelming in close proximity.
"I believe that's King Swann, Mr. Sparrow," she settled on.
He smiled with devilish amusement, understanding the meaning of her words. "How've you been, love?"
Elizabeth couldn't help but be slightly distracted by his handsome face and sun kissed appearance before answering him. He remained perfectly gorgeous from the top of his head, where he wore his leather hat, to the soles of his feet. He was watching her studying him, fully aware that she could not help but admire his handsomeness. She lowered her eyes and stared resolutely at the sash around his waist.
Clearing her throat and looking back up at him, she responded. "Very well, thank you. And yourself?"
His mouth tilted into a sinful grin. "Ever so polite, I see. What say you to getting a drink with me? I'll tell you all about how I've been."
"I hardly believe that would be appropriate," she retorted. "I'm with my crew, you see."
He stared for a moment before answering. "Five years it's been, Lizzie," he finally said, with a faint note of bitterness. "I think you can abandon your post as babysitter for a few minutes, savvy?"
Elizabeth raised her brows. The audacity. "Whatever your purpose, please go about it and leave me in peace. You've done that well enough after all this time."
Ouch, he thought. "My purpose is you, Elizabeth."
Her stomach churned with heightened unease. "What do you want?" she asked when he didn't elaborate.
"If you come have a drink with me, I'll be more than happy to elucidate you."
Standing more upright and crossing her arms to assume her position as King, Elizabeth simply said, "Tell me now, then I'll decide whether to acquiesce your request."
Jack's gaze darkened. "As you command, your highness." He took a step closer to Elizabeth, who hadn't realized her entire crew was standing to the side, bearing witness to this strange altercation.
"What I want," he told her. "Is your skin against mine with nothing in between."
That slow burn is about to heat up.