Proffitable Affairs

Disclaimer: I do not own Pirates of the Caribbean.

Chapter 22

“Can’t you just hurry up? I don’t have all day!” Jack said loudly as he stood in the middle of the deck with his hands on his hips, glaring up at the craftsman who was repairing the ship’s sail.
“If you were in such a hurry perhaps you should have gotten another ship, mate. Now shut your mouth and let me do my business.” The gruff man called back and Jack gritted his teeth before his eyes darted anxiously towards Vilmort’s ship.
He had no trust in that man. What if Elizabeth didn’t get his meaning? Would they leave and take the map with them? Jack sighed and ran a hand over his face. It was the second day that the craftsman had been fixing the ship and Jack was getting agitated.
“I need to get the bloody map back.” He murmured as he gazed ahead, a far away look on his face.
“Yes, you’ve been saying that for two days now.” He heard Mary’s quiet voice say from behind him and he sharply turned around to face her. Any biting remarks he had left him when he saw her dressed in a lovely midnight blue dress that made her pale skin even lovelier. He felt his mouth watering as his eyes swept over her curvaceous form before they settled upon her ample chest.
Mary didn’t notice as she was busy looking up at the worker. She came up next to Jack who quickly closed his mouth and swallowed hard. He forced his eyes away from his wife and he cleared his throat.
“I didn’t know I annoyed you.” He said although his tone wasn’t holding an ounce of sarcasm in it.
“I am not annoyed and you know it. I am just scared. All day upon this ship makes it worse.” She said the last part quietly as she placed a hand on her stomach and headed for the rail so she could lean over to look at the water.
“It’s not the ship’s fault. You just haven’t found your damn sea legs yet.” Jack snapped and Mary turned to look at him with a raised eyebrow.
“Just because you’re angry with my father and that woman, that doesn’t mean that you should take it out on me.” She said softly and a pang of guilt went through him. It was true; he had been rather short with her those last couple of days. Yes, it was because of the bloody map, but maybe the fact that she wasn’t responding to his advances did little to lessen his annoyance. He never had trouble luring women into his bed and Mary didn’t seem too keen on sleeping with him. Apart from heavy, passionate kissing and some fondling from Jack’s part nothing more had happened between them no matter how much Jack craved it. Every time he had tried to take it further she had pushed him away while looking up at him with those big wide eyes of hers that managed to render him defenseless. It was needless to say that his frustration was beyond limits.
Seeing that Mary was looking at him funnily, he tore his eyes away and looked up at the craftsman instead.
“How long will it take this time?” he called, silently dismissing Mary.
The young woman sighed, knowing perfectly well the second reason of Jack’s frustration but she couldn’t help it.
“Anyone to help me with the supplies?” A breathless Gibbs appeared on deck and since very little men were there no one volunteered. Mary stepped up towards him and smiled a bit.
“I can.” She offered and Gibbs grimaced.
“Not sure if the Captain will like it.”
“I assure you the Captain has no interest in protecting me at the moment.” Mary said as she shot a short glance towards Jack who was still avoiding her gaze.
“Oh? Why?” Gibbs asked as they made their way towards the supplies that lay heavily on the plank.
“He’s mad at me.” Mary said as she picked up a sack of potatoes, or at least she tried to anyway before she lost her balance and fell on the ground on top of the potatoes.
Gibbs couldn’t help but laugh as he helped her up while Jack observed with a frown.
“What the hell are you doing to me wife, Gibbs? There are crewmen to help you with that.” Jack called, but he did approach them and he did lift two sacks himself before he walked towards the hold. Mary gazed after him and she chose to ignore the fact that he had the audacity to call her his wife, but didn’t treat her as such. She picked a small cart of fruits instead and followed the two men down to the hold and then to the galley in silence.


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Later that night…

Mary looked out of the cabin door just in time to see Jack walking towards her.
“Is it done?” She asked as she fully opened the door to let him pass.
“Aye. We’ll be setting sail in the morning.” He said as he stepped into the cabin and removed his soaked vest and shirt. He had to help in order to fix the sail on time and he was drenched in sweat despite the cool night.
Mary nodded silently and took a seat in the chair next to the door before she leaned down to remove her shoes and then her stockings. The action made Jack pause in his actions of washing his neck and chest and his eyes fell on the exposed skin of Mary’s calves. He abandoned the washing cloth he had been using and turned to lean against his desk. Mary noticed his stare and quickly sat up covering her legs in the process. She turned to walk into the side cabin to change, her hands already on the back laces of her dress when his voice made her pause.
“That is a very nice dress, love…” His voice was deliciously low and she was surprised when it sent a shiver down her spine.
“Need any help with it?” His voice was suddenly next to her ear and without waiting for her reply, his hands were already pushing hers away to replace them. His fingers tugged at the laces slowly and methodically and Mary held her breath, not daring to speak or push back against him. Little by little she felt the pressure of her tight dress slipping away and she was able to breathe properly when he was done.
“You shouldn’t tie it so tightly. How can you breathe?” he asked as he brushed her ear with his nose while his hand slid inside the dress to find the soft material of her shift.
“I can’t.” she said lightly and she could feel his smile against her cheek as he pressed against it with his rough one. His hand rubbed her back for a few seconds, his previous irritation towards her vanishing at the fact that she hadn’t reprimanded him for his close proximity. Testing the waters, he delivered a firm kiss on her cheek while both of his hands slid into her parted dress to clutch at her sides gently. When she didn’t react negatively, he let his lips touch the side of her neck while his hands snaked around her belly to hold her against him tightly.
Mary could feel his bare chest pressing against her still clothed back, but she was still aware of the heat radiating from his skin. Her breath caught in her throat like the other times she had felt his mouth on her skin, but fear started creeping up on her. She didn’t know if she could trust him, she didn’t know what was expected of her and while he was so confident of his moves she felt like a stupid little girl despite her twenty four years.
She was so lost in her thoughts that she gasped out loud when she felt the dress hitting the top of her feet. She looked down at it and it was only when he pushed his body tighter against hers that she heard his fast, shallow breathing. His hands left her stomach to slide up her body and finally settle lightly on the underside of her breast. She gave a small involuntary jerk against him at the action and he softly moaned his appreciation before he slowly turned her around to face him. His lips came crushing down onto hers the minute she was facing him and his hands left her body to thread themselves into her long, soft hair. Mary melted against him and her knees almost buckled, but his right hand was quick enough to hold her up against him. His kiss became rougher and she moaned when he bit down on her lower lip. He broke the kiss and rested his forehead against hers in order to calm his harsh breathing. Once the kiss was broken Mary was released from his spell and she stiffened at the realization of what might happen.
“Choose. You either stay right here in me arms or you step back.” Jack’s voice was hoarse and his eyes were still closed as he leaned against her.
“I can’t choose…” she whispered and his dark eyes opened. His lips parted as if to speak, but he changed his mind. He quickly and sharply let go of her and he stepped back from her, almost causing her to loose her balance.
He cursed and turned from her, while she looked at him with wide red eyes. He grabbed a shirt and without taking anything else other than his coat and pistol he left the cabin and disappeared into the night.
Mary’s shoulders slumped in defeat. He didn’t even bother to convince her; he was fed up with her rejection. It was about time anyway. With that thought, she fell onto the bed and stared blankly at the cabin door.
I’m a fool. This was her last thought before she fell into a pitiful slumber with her head atop Jack’s pillow.

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Jack was leaning against the old table, drinking from a mug when the fourth prostitute made herself comfortable next to him. He felt rather than saw the woman’s hand touch his arm and he quickly jerked back. His eyes settled on her pale face and he sighed at the blonde woman.
“Perhaps you should choose another table to sit, love. I am in no mood for talking.” He said as kindly as possibly. He was getting rather tipsy and the last thing he needed was a woman’s nagging.
“I am not here to talk, Captain.” She said with a small smirk and reached for his beard, but he quickly moved back from her reach. Did he know her for her to call him that?
“I said I don’t need your company.” He snapped and the woman recoiled before she stood up and walked away. Jack looked down in his mug and drained the remains of his rum before he stood up. It was a mistake leaving Mary like that. It was expected of her to act like in such a way. He needed to be patient with her or else she’d never give in to him. And he wanted her to give in to him; badly.
He left some money on the table before he walked out of the tavern. When he was close enough to the Pearl he heard someone protesting loudly and he sped up his footsteps. His eyes widened and he froze when he saw Mary being pulled towards her father’s ship by a man. Right behind them, Vilmort was walking with his face scrunched up into a sneer of distaste.
“Mary, behave yourself!” He scolded and Jack watched with increasing fondness as Mary pushed the man away from her and stomped her foot as she turned to face her father. She was clad only in her shift, exactly like he had left her, and the moonlight cast a beautiful glow on her. Jack cleared his throat and started approaching them when he saw that the man had seized Mary again against her will despite her kicks and shoves.
“Going somewhere with me wife?” Jack asked once he was just a few feet away from them. Vilmort turned to him and snarled.
“It is better if she travels with me.” The older man said with defiance.
“She’s going nowhere.” Jack stated as he removed his pistol from his belt and pointed it at Vilmort with satisfaction.
“And unless you want a meeting with your dead wife, it’d be wise of you to tell your monkey to let her go.” He said lowly with a smirk on his face.
“You wouldn’t.”
“Yes, I would.” Jack answered quietly as he removed the safety and grinned widely, his gold teeth shining in the night.
Vilmort stared at him before he nodded to the man. Mary was released and sent forward towards Jack who caught her around the middle.
“Have a pleasant evening.” Jack said as he placed his gun away and walked towards his ship with Mary who looked at him wide eyed.
“You came back.” She whispered into his coat as they walked away from her father’s burning glare.
“’Course I did, love.” He said quietly, not looking at her.
“But…but I thought you were angry.” She stated and he smirked lightly.
“About what? Because of the fact that you’re not giving yourself to a worthless pirate like meself?” he quipped and she gasped.
“You’re not worthless!” She quickly blurted out and this time he did look at her, his dark eyes lighting up at her rushed words. He chuckled when she blushed and looked away before he kissed the top of her head.
“Thanks, kitten.” He murmured before he let her go. They stepped into the cabin and there was an awkward silence before Mary spoke.
“I need you to teach me.” She said seriously and Jack looked up at her sharply, his eyes narrowed in confusion.
“Teach you what?” he asked and she swallowed.
“To handle a sword.” She said quietly and Jack stared at her wide eyed.
His little kitten wanted to grow nails. He’d be damned if he’d let that offer pass by him.

End of chapter 22