Misconception

Chapter 15


Isabella frowned as she looked at the lock of hair between her fingers. She definitely needed to get her hair cut. It had grown to be too long and was getting tiresome to tame it. She sighed and let go of her hair before she crossed her arms over her chest. It was slightly windy but she was okay with it. She crossed her ankles as she sat stretched on the deck, her back against the bulkhead. It was comfortable sitting there just next to the cabin door and under the stairs that led to the helm. No one could really see her and she enjoyed the privacy and the clean air of the sea.
“Cap’n?” Gibbs’s voice rang in the air and Isabella looked up as the sound of footsteps made the ceiling creak above her.
“Aye?” Jack’s voice replied and she felt a smile forming on her lips at the sound of his voice. Once she had realized that she was smiling she frowned and shook her head. Okay, his voice was familiar now but why in hell did she smile like an idiot at the sound of it?
“I think someone’s following us. Whoever it is, is far behind but…”
“Aye, I know. I saw them.” She could even hear the smirk in Jack’s voice as she scowled.
“Any idea who it might be?” Gibbs asked and she strained her ears to listen.
“It’s Joan, Gibbs. She’s just trying not to lose us. Saucy wench.” Jack muttered and Isabella blinked at his words.
The female pirate captain was following them?
“Ah, of course. What’s with you and the ladies, Jack? Seems like no one has you on her good books. No offence.” Gibbs rushed to add.
“What are you talking about, Gibbs? The ladies love me! All except one…” he murmured the last words and Isabella wondered who that woman could be.
“Oh, yes that. Why doesn’t she like you much?” Gibbs wondered.
“Is it that obvious that she doesn’t?” Jack asked hoarsely and Isabella was confused. Who was she?
“Aye…I mean not so much now but before…Did you know her from before?”
“Um…not exactly. You could say that.” Jack answered after a lot of stuttering.
“What does that mean?” Gibbs asked and Jack groaned.
“None of your business, mate. Besides I hardly think that Bella would appreciate me revealing our secret.” Jack said firmly and Isabella’s cheeks flushed. They were talking about her!
“Secret? What secret? Now I am curious.” Gibbs said and Isabella gulped.
“Don’t you have business below deck?” Jack asked him suddenly and Isabella sighed in relief.
“Aye…” Gibbs muttered petulantly before he stomped away.
“I need…a heading…Cotton! Grab the helm for a while.” Jack barked before he climbed down the stairs. He came to a sudden stop when he realized that Isabella was sitting down just under the stairs.
“What are you doing?” he asked amused and she shrugged, trying to hide the blush on her cheeks by rubbing her temples.
“Sitting.”
“By yourself?” he asked with a raised eyebrow and she nodded. He stroked the compass in his hand gently before he plopped down next to her, one knee propped up.
“Love, you’re like a tomato. Are you alright?” he asked with a frown, totally clueless and she cleared her throat.
“I’m fine. How’s your hand?” she asked instead and he paused.
“Fine. Why the sudden desire to know about me well being?” he asked and she glared at him.
“I was just being polite.” She said and he chuckled.
“You’re so easy. I don’t even have to try to rile you up!” he laughed heartily and she scowled.
“I am glad I amuse you, Jack. Didn’t you need a heading?” she asked while looking at his compass.
“Heading? Oh, of course. I now have me heading. No worries.” He checked his compass and waved at her dismissively. Isabella was beyond confused by that.
“Don’t you need your maps for that?” she asked dumbly and he shook his head.
“Nope. So, why are you sitting here?” he asked with a cryptic smirk.
“Um…it’s quiet. Besides I am not in anyone’s way.” She shrugged as she looked at her lap.
“I see.” He murmured as he looked at her profile.
“So, what’s your history with the pirate lady?” Isabella asked to divert his attention from her.
“Pirate lady? Oh, love, Joan’s everything but a lady.” He chuckled and Isabella frowned.
“That doesn’t answer my question.” She crossed her arms over her chest. He licked his bottom lip before he grinned.
“What exactly was your question, Bella?” he asked as he shifted to rest his head against the bulkhead, “This is indeed nice.” He murmured once he had gotten comfortable.
“This woman seemed to be really cross with you the other day. I am curious to know why.” Isabella said quietly and he looked at her sideways.
“A few years back, Joan had gotten her hands on two merchant ships that were sailing to England from the New World. Let’s just say that their cargo was more than just tempting. They were filled with gold and money. At the time Joan and I were….close acquaintances and I heard about her successful pillaging. So I paid her a visit.” He grinned and Isabella blinked rapidly.
“Oh…so she…lent you some of the money?” she asked and Jack chuckled.
“Lent? Oh, darlin’…” he shook his head as he looked at her, his eyes dancing with mischief, “Let’s just say that she was too busy having her lips on me goods to pay any attention to the fact that me men were robbing her just a few walls away.” He chuckled and Isabella’s eyes widened.
“Oh, my God! That’s disgusting!” she exclaimed as more heat traveled to her cheeks and neck.
“Which one? The robbing or the fact that she was sucking me off in her cabin?” he asked boldly and she slapped his knee.
“Oh, both are disgusting! Believe me! But I meant you stealing from her while seducing her.” She scowled and he grinned.
“I don’t remember it being disgusting but yes. After that she’s been rather cross with me and I really need to give back her money before she murders me.” He said and she shifted nervously next to him.
“Right…God, you do have a dirty mouth.” She muttered and he laughed while trying to make eye contact with her.
“One of me best characteristics I assure you. Just out of curiosity while you and I where…you know back then, did I talk dirty?” he asked and she gaped at him.
“What…What kind of a question is that?” she exclaimed, her face totally aflame.
“It’s a yes or no question, love.” His eyes were intense as they took in her nervous posture.
“That’s definitely a no!...I mean I don’t really recall what you were saying. I was too busy trying to understand what you were doing.” She said in a hiss and he was ready to speak when Grog interrupted him.
“What were you doing to the lass, Cap’n?” he asked and Jack looked up at him while Isabella jumped.
“Nothing.” Jack muttered as he stood up and closed his fist tightly around his compass.
“But she just said that-…”
“Don’t you have to swab the deck?” Jack cut him off with a sharp glare as Isabella tried to sit up. She stumbled on her way up and Jack coiled a hand around her arm to steady her before he let go of her quickly.
“What? No!” Grog exclaimed and Jack grinned at him coldly.
“Now you do. Away.” He walked away from them and Isabella looked after his retreating back.
“Lass?” Grog was confused and extremely curious by then.
“I’ll just…yep.” Isabella made some hand gestures before she entered the cabin and closed the door behind her, her heart beating wildly in her chest.

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Isabella couldn’t sleep. There was a mild storm raging outside that made it even more difficult for her to sleep. She sat up and got out of bed, giving up on trying sleeping. She tiptoed barefoot to the door and peeked outside. The main cabin was empty and she frowned. She pulled on her robe and made her way towards the cabin door. She opened it and looked outside. The deck was empty but a noise to her left alerted her that she wasn’t alone. Her eyes widened a friction when she saw Jack sitting where she used to sit in the morning with a bottle between his legs. He was tapping his fingers against his thigh while his eyes were gazing ahead. He looked deep in thought.
“Um…what are you doing in my spot?” she asked and he inhaled sharply before he turned to look at her surprised. A slow smile appeared on his lips as he shrugged.
“I find it rather comfy.” He shrugged with a slight slur and he swallowed hard.
“Are you drunk?” she asked cautiously and he chuckled.
“Hmm…so and so. Care to join me?” he asked offering her his bottle but she shook her head. She eyed the wet floor just a few feet away from his legs and looked into his eyes then.
“Aren’t you getting wet?” she asked and he shook his head.
“No.”
She left the door and stepped closer to him, looking down at his relaxed, almost lazy form.
“What are you doing here alone?” she asked and he breathed deeply before he answered.
“Thinking.” He replied shortly while he eyed her.
“About what?” she asked as she fidgeted.
“You’re welcome to sit in me lap, you know.” He said suddenly and she shook her head.
“I’m fine.”
“Your feet are bare.” He pointed out with the same slur as before.
“I…”
“Oh, just sit down already.” He groaned as he pulled her down by tugging on her robe. Isabella lost her balance and ended up in his lap. He placed a hand gently on her back while he held his precious drink with the other.
“Ah, that’s better.” He sighed as he rubbed his fingertips against her back, “You’re warm.”
“So, what were you thinking about out here in the rain?” she asked, trying to ignore the fact that she was in his lap.
“You.” He replied simply and she frowned.
“Why me?”
“I was thinking about what you said earlier…And I’ve come to the conclusion that that night still bothers you. I want to know why you can’t just let it go.” He said and she squirmed.
“I am trying to but…” she trailed off and he cocked his head to the side.
“Yes?” he encouraged and she sighed.
“Seeing you reminds me.”
“Is it really that bad of a memory, love? Do you really feel like I used you?” he asked huskily and she paused.
“I know you didn’t mean to…I was in the wrong place at the wrong time.” She shrugged and she jumped when she felt his hand at the back of her neck just under her hair.
“You were my mystery girl back then. I kept asking about you but I couldn’t find you anywhere.” He murmured as his fingertips rubbed her neck.
“Jack…” she tried to move away from his touch but he placed a hand on her stomach and stilled her from moving away.
He leaned forward and breathed deeply, “You smell the same.” He said quietly as he shifted his feet by bringing up his knees, effectively bringing her closer to his chest.
“You too.” She said as she found herself looking into his almost black eyes, “You were drunk as well that night.” She said and he licked his lips.
“I’m not drunk, love. Trust me. I am just…relaxed.” He grinned as he trailed his hand down her neck to her shoulder.
“So,” her voice shook as she spoke and he smirked, “How many bottles must you drink in order to be drunk?’ she asked and he pursed his lips, causing her eyes to drift down to them for a moment.
“Why do you plan to seduce me?” he asked and she rolled her eyes.
“I’d be no good at it.” She muttered and Jack chewed on his bottom lip.
“You’d be surprised at how good you could be.” He whispered almost inaudibly and she blinked.
“Sorry?”
He breathed deeply through his nose then and his hand returned to the back of her neck, pulling her closer to his face.
“What if I wanted you to?” he asked and she froze.
“What if you wanted me to what?”
“Seduce me. What if I wanted you to. Would you do it?” he asked breathily and his hot breath fell on her lips as she tried to form words.
“What are you talking about? This is…” she trailed off and he leaned closer.
“You know I want you.” He said and she stiffened, “You know I kissed you. You told me.”
“And you denied it.” She said shakily.
“At first.” He shook his head as his lips brushed against her trembling ones, “Shh…” he murmured as he threaded his fingers in her hair and pressed his forehead against hers, “I don’t want you to be scared of me.” He murmured and she felt her throat constricting at his words.
“I…I’m not.” She denied and it was true to some extent. She wasn’t afraid of him. She was afraid of what he could do. What he had the potential to make her feel.
“No, you are. And I want to change that. Will you let me?” he asked and as he talked his mouth kept brushing against her lips.
“I don’t know what you’re asking of me.” She said as he as he rubbed his nose against hers.
“Yes, you do. You’re so upset over that night. I want to make amends. I want to make you feel good.” He breathed and she pulled her head back, her eyes wide and her mouth agape.
“You what…?”
“Of course I have me own personal reasons as well. Being a greedy bastard being one of them…but I want it all the same. What do you say, hmm?” his hand rubbed up and down her back and she let out a nervous laugh.
“You’re insane.” She shook her head as she pushed against his chest and stood up.
His hand flew out quicker than lightning and grasped the hem of her nightdress. He tugged forcefully until her legs were pressed up against his chest while he was kneeling on the floor.
“You have three weeks to think over me proposition. Until we reach London.” He murmured as his hand went under her clothes and stroked her calf gently, his touch almost burning her skin, “Don’t be quick to answer, love. I’ll be waiting. Run along to bed now. It’s cold out here.” He let go of her and sat back down, almost causing her to fall by the force of his release. She stepped back and he looked away from her while taking a sip from his rum. Isabella’s entire body was shaking and her belly was twisted into a tight knot. She watched as his lips drunk from the bottle and studied how his fingers were tightly wrapped around its neck. He didn’t look up at her again and she shook her head to clear it.
She stared at him like a frightened deer for a moment longer before she turned and walked back inside, slamming the door shut.
He was mad and she was even madder for actually already considering his proposal.

End of chapter 15

Xxx Lina :)