Misconception

Chapter 23

Jack walked down the stairs and approached Isabella carefully, his face a frown of confusion.
“’Scuse me, love.” He cleared his throat and she looked at him, “Please, do remind me again which song I was singing last night.” He said to her and she gave a small chuckle.
“My Jolly Sailor Bold.” She replied and his eyes widened.
“Oh.”
“Yes, you were quite off key but it was rather amusing.” She said and he looked at her, his cheeks slightly flushed.
“Look at that!” she laughed and his eyebrows shifted upwards at her laughter, “You’re blushing!”
“I do not! It’s the sun.” he exclaimed and she looked at him incredulously.
“It’s overcast.” She stated and he sniffed indignantly.
“Trifles.” He waved her off and she snorted.
“Do you always sing when drunk?” she asked suddenly and he paused.
“Eh…no. I don’t think so. Maybe. Who knows?” he shrugged.
“Would you sing again?” she asked with a smirk and he blinked rapidly in puzzlement.
“You mean now? Right here?”
“Hmm.”
“Why would I do that?” he asked while looking at her like she was insane.
“To show what a great singer you are.”
“Bella, do you think I’m stupid?” he asked and she laughed again.
“The best part was…” she trailed off as she laughed again.
“Was what?” he asked secretly amused to see her laughing. She never laughed. At least not in his presence. So even if it had to be at his expense he would allow it.
“When you sang: My name it is Maria, a merchant’s daughter fair…” she laughed again and he tried to look angry.
“Are you saying that I am not pretty enough to be a Maria?” he growled and that brought more laughter.
“Well, I haven’t seen you in a dress.” She said and he narrowed his eyes.
“That does not answer my question but anyway. So, since last night we missed our game…” at that Isabella’s face lost any trace of smile.
“Oh, right. I forgot.” She muttered and then looked up at him accusingly, “It’s your fault anyway.” She scoffed and he frowned.
“It is?”
“Yes. You fell asleep.”
“Oh, that. Well that was not really me fault. ‘Cause you see, it was Grog who challenged me into a drinking game. He was the one who corrupted me into drinking last night!” he pointed at the oblivious Grog who was looking as if he was ready to fall asleep on the mast.
“So like you to blame others for your actions. Anyway so what now? I mean, can’t we just forget the whole bet?” she asked hopefully and he shook his head with a grin.
“No, no, love. You ain’t getting out of it so easily. You could loose your chance at making me keep me word. If you win our bet I won’t take the ransom. Besides, I wouldn’t want to loose the chance of winning the bet I arranged.” He pointed out and she glared at him.
“That is so insulting you know. Making such a bet with me! As if I’m a piece of property with a price. Is it all I am? A bloody bet?” she exclaimed and he hesitated. When he opened his mouth to speak she pushed her hand against his mouth and pushed him back while preventing his answer. Jack’s eyes widened at her action but he didn’t try to remove her hand from his lips.
“Never mind! Fine! We’ll play that bloody game!” she snapped angrily as she released his mouth and walked away.
Jack stared after her with wide eyes before he composed himself and turned to walk towards the opposite direction.

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Jack placed the deck of cards in the middle of the desk and looked at Isabella who had been silent since the moment he had stepped into the cabin that night.
“This is not about you, you know.” He started carefully and she looked up at him.
“Excuse me?”
“The bet. The bet was not meant to insult you. It was meant to give you a chance because I can’t always do what I want upon this ship. Me crew is not blind. When I took you, me goal was to get money from you. Back then I didn’t know who you were but when I did…” he trailed off and she waited with bated breath.
“Yes?”
“When I did I felt bad. Because the reason I wanted to find you after that night in Tortuga was... to make sure you were fine. And because you intrigued me.” He finished as he looked at her.
“So, you expect me to believe that because of a bet, your crew wouldn’t mind if you didn’t get the money after all?” she asked with shock.
“Love, we’re pirates. Our common sense is different.” He chuckled and she blinked slowly, trying to understand.
“So, you offered this because you wanted to give me a chance?” at his nodded she frowned, “That’s crazy.”
“It might be. But you gave me the impression before that you were under the misguided impression that I want to hurt you or…embarrass you or use you. But I don’t.” he said hoarsely and she locked eyes with him. His gaze penetrated her and she felt bare under his stare.
“You don’t.” she repeated and she was shocked at the blazing fire in his eyes.
“I don’t. I could kill the person who would dare to hurt you.” He murmured as his eyes roved her face.
Isabella stared at him at that but he quickly recovered and grinned at her, “Cut, love.” He said as he leaned back in his chair and smiled at her calmly, as if he had not just confessed something huge to her.
Did that mean…that he liked her?
Shaking that thought from her head she reached over and cut the deck. She watched as his bejeweled hands took hold of the cards and she stared at his fingers as he started handing out the cards. She could not look at his face, afraid that he would notice the hope in them.
“We’ll play two games.” He said quietly just before they started. If he noticed her blush he didn’t comment on it and she was glad.

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“Stop pouting like that, love.” Jack laughed as he gathered the cards and put them together, “You did won the first time. One more to go and you will win the bet. You should be proud of yourself. Very few people can play with me and win.” He said and she looked up at him.
“How do I know you don’t let me win?” she asked with narrowed eyes.
“Fine. Do you want to check me for any cards I might have up me sleeve? I’d be happy to ease your fears. I am not cheating. That would defeat the whole purpose of our games.” He said as he put the deck away and crossed his hands on top of the table.
“Which is?”
“Proving that I can be an honest man.” He said and she snorted.
“Fine. Maybe next time I will check you.” She said and he grinned suggestively.
“I would gladly let you fondle me if that would ease your mind.” He said with a wink and she flushed.
“Now what?” she asked uncomfortably and he paused before he stood up. She thought he would approach her, or she secretly hoped he would, but he walked towards the door.
“I’ll bring us some dinner.” He called just before he walked out of the cabin.
They ate in silence with Jack looking at her every now and then and she looked back sometimes. When she did, he would smile at her or simply watch her. She squirmed in her seat every time he smiled though.
Why are you acting like this? He’s just smiling, idiot. She thought every time but she couldn’t avoid the color that flushed her cheeks.
When she was finished she left the main cabin and headed for the side cabin to change her clothes. She stepped inside and slid towards the foot of the bed where he could not see her and started removing her dress. She managed to pull it off fairly quickly and she changed into the nightdress.
She didn’t hear his footsteps so when she felt a warm body behind hers she shrieked and tried to turn around. Hands on her hips prevented her from doing so and she exhaled loudly.
“Jesus, Jack. I jumped out of my skin.” She breathed as he pressed closer to her and leaned his face close to her neck.
“Sorry.” He murmured into her ear but by the grin in his voice she knew he was not sorry at all.
“I need my robe. It’s cold.” She said patiently but he did not release her only nuzzled her neck and ear. As he did so, his facial hair tickled her skin and she shivered.
“I’m warm.” He said against her skin as he ran his nose up her neck towards her cheek.
“What do you want, Jack?” she asked as she stood there, pressed against him.
“I want a lot of things, love.” He murmured as his hands gently rubbed her hips and pulled her back against him, leaving no doubt of what he felt, “Will you kiss me?” he asked as his hands left her hips and encircled her waist instead.
“Will this be your reward for winning?” she asked as she looked down at his hands, folded over her stomach.
He laughed and dropped his head down to kiss her shoulder, “Perhaps.”
“And what about me?” she asked and he paused before he continued kissing her skin, “I won too tonight.”
“Anything you want. It’s yours.” He replied huskily and his words send a shiver through her body.
“D-do I have to decide now?” she asked shakily as his tongue licked the skin behind her ear.
“No.” he replied between kisses and licks and she nodded.
At her nod he turned her around to face him and pulled her into his chest. His eyes moved over her face until they came to rest on her slightly parted lips.
“You’re trembling.” He noted and she blinked, forcing her eyes to look away from his lips. She remained silent though because she had nothing to say to that.
Jack tightened his hold around as if that would make the trembling stop before he slowly brought his lips to hers. Isabella closed her eyes as soon as his lips touched hers and leaned heavily against him. Since when had he started affecting her in such away? She had no answer to that either but all of a sudden she had the distinct feeling that someone was watching her. She slowly opened her eyes and she was surprised when she noticed that he was looking at her as they kissed.
Feeling self conscious she pulled back from the kiss, disconnecting their lips with an audible popping sound.
“What…what are you doing?” she asked and he frowned.
“It’s called a kiss, darlin’. One usually kisses another when they feel a severe attraction towards them.” He teased her and she flushed.
“No…you were watching me.” She explained and he smirked.
“So?”
“You do that often?” she asked as he leaned closer again.
“Hmm. Perhaps.” He murmured before he covered her lips with his own again. Isabella’s hands encircled his neck this time and he pulled her closer, smiling into the kiss. His hands rubbed her back as they kissed and he stepped backwards until his back hit the wall by the doorframe. He groaned slightly at the impact but didn’t move, enjoying the way her body was pressing him against the wall. His hands grasped fistfuls of her dress but he released the fabric so he could trail his hands down her back towards her bottom. Isabella gasped as his hands touched her there and she yelped when he used his grip to lift her up. Her feet left the ground and she could do nothing else but wrap her legs around him in order to steady herself. His hands gripped under her thighs to support her and he pushed away from the wall without breaking the kiss. Instead he kissed her harder, his tongue plundering her mouth as she gasped and tried to keep up with him.
Only when her back hit the mattress of his bed did she realize that he had moved them to the main cabin. Her legs fell from around his waist as he broke the kiss, and they fell boneless onto the covers. His mouth delved for her neck, not giving her time to recover from the smothering kiss. His hands supported him above her and his lower body was pressed snugly into the space between her parted thighs. She fought for breath as his mouth pressed wet kisses on her neck, his teeth biting the skin gently as he slowly moved his lips down her throat. One of her hands left the mattress and she slid her fingers into his hair, pressing him closer to her skin. His chuckles vibrated against her and she opened her eyes to look down at his amused expression. She tensed as she realized that she had been trying to smother him and she blushed.
“Sorry.” She murmured and he shook his head as he kissed her again fleetingly.
“It’s alright, love. It’d be a nice death.” He grinned before he placed a small kiss at the top of her breast. He pulled her neckline down and kissed the newly revealed skin as he slid down her body. His hands slid down to her thighs and her eyes closed shut as he touched the skin under her knees. He pushed the fabric out of the way and then slid up her body again. His lips found her panting mouth and he kissed her deeply before he pushed his hips slightly back and let his hand fall between her legs. His warm fingers skimmed up inner thigh until they reached the edge of her undergarments. He paused there briefly as he pulled back from the kiss and looked down at her, watching for any sign of fear before he allowed his fingers to slide under the fabric covering her. Isabella gasped as his fingers touched and explored her down there and she squeezed her eyes shut at the shivers his touch caused her. One of her hands curled around the fabric of his loosened shirt and the other grabbed at the covers.
“So wet.” She heard him groan as he buried his face into her neck and pressed his lips against her skin, his tongue flicking out to taste her. Isabella moaned softly in response as ripples of pleasure traveled up and down her body. Her entire body felt like it was on fire and when his finger slid inside her she arched towards him. He pulled back with a gasp from her neck and moaned as he brought his lips to her again, stifling her cries. Her legs parted further, reflexively, to ease his access and he growled into the kiss as he pressed his hips against her, trying to find some friction for his aching body. His free hand searched for the fastenings of his breeches and he tugged on them.
Isabella noticed and broke the kiss to look down at him. Her gaze flickered from the hand buried between her thighs and the one in his breeches. Her breath hitched in both fright and excitement but the fear must have been more prominent on her face because Jack groaned and fell to his side next to her. He kept his hand between her legs and the other stayed inside his breeches. His eyes focused on her face as he touched both himself and her and he groaned before he leaned over to reach her mouth. His breathing was harsh as he smashed his lips to hers and Isabella was overwhelmed with pleasure to be bothered with embarrassment. Her hands found his face and she cupped it, bringing his lips closer and pressing herself against his questing hand. If he was surprised by her response he hid it well for only a low moan escaped his throat as she stroked his face. One of her hands left his cheek and trailed down his neck to his chest. She felt his heartbeat under her hand and she gasped at how fast it was beating against his chest. She took a sharp intake of breath before she let her hand fall lower, towards his stomach.
Jack broke the kiss as her hand closed around his wrist. He looked down as she slipped her hand inside his breeches and covered his hand with her own. He groaned and bit his lip as they moved their hands together over him. He looked up in surprise and she looked back at him. He twisted his wrist and touched her from a different angle with renewed vigor and she closed her eyes.
A few touches later the knot in her stomach loosened and she gasped in pleasure as she fell over the edge. Her hand around Jack’s fingers relaxed but it took him a few seconds to join her in bliss. He fell next to her with a satisfied groan and she slowly opened her eyes. She hesitated before she turned to look at him and she found him watching her.
“I made a mess.” He stated breathlessly and she blinked at him before she slowly pulled her hand from his clothing and pushed some hair out of his face. They locked eyes and they both burst into laughter. Jack turned towards her and kissed her before he chuckled.
“We’re doing that again, love.” He murmured and she covered her face with her hand before she buried her face in his chest, muffling her laughter against his sweaty shirt.

End of chapter 23


Xxx Lina :)