Misconception

Chapter 25

Isabella stood deathly still as the hand around her waist tightened, bringing her closer to the warm body behind her. She kept her eyes closed as she felt Jack’s breath on her shoulder. Fingers pushed the hair away from her neck and then she felt his mouth against her skin, his warm breath on the side of her neck. He nuzzled the skin there with his nose and gave a small sigh. She could feel his chest rising and falling with each breath he took and his knees were locked behind hers as he held her. She felt his fingers playing with her hair and she had a hard time remaining still.
As she lay there she started wondering when it had stopped being just a bet for her. When it had started becoming something else? And was it the same for him? She wasn’t sure.
His fingers tapped lightly against her stomach and she exhaled slowly through her nose without opening her eyes. She couldn’t really tell what he would gain from it all. So, she had started thinking that perhaps he wasn’t trying to gain something. Perhaps he was being honest. She hoped he was because she could already feel herself falling into the abyss that was him. And if she was consumed inside him, she wouldn’t be able to escape. Ever.
“I can tell you’re not asleep.” His husky from sleep voice suddenly broke through her thoughts and she gasped.
“Hmm?”
“I said I knew that you weren’t asleep.” He repeated and his soft chuckle vibrated against her back.
“Oh.”
“I have to get up in a few minutes.” He sighed and Isabella swallowed.
“Okay.” She whispered.
His hand gently rubbed her belly before he chuckled again, “Can you turn?” he asked and she opened her eyes fully.
“Um…alright.” She murmured as she rolled onto her back. Her eyes locked with his and he smirked.
“There you are. Aren’t you afraid that all that hair’s going to throttle you in your sleep?” he asked as he pushed back locks of her hair. She narrowed her eyes at him and he grinned when she slapped his chest. Her eyes widened slightly; it was naked. She had forgotten. Her hand tingled as she took it back but he seized it and placed it back against his skin.
“You still haven’t told me what was your question.” He murmured as he pressed her hand against his warm chest.
“Um…I don’t know if I should ask it.”
“Why?” he frowned and she grimaced.
“It’s not really my business…”
“Well, let me be the judge of that.” He said with amusement and she paused.
Don’t ask, stupid. Her inner voice warned her.
“Since we’ve…been like this…” she started and he grinned.
“Aye?”
“Um…uh, have you been with Joan?” she finally blurted and he paused, pursing his lips. He looked away and reached up to scratch his jaw. His fingers smoothed his beard nervously before he looked back down at her.
“Aye.” He replied at last and even though she knew it that he probably would have it still made her feel strange. Her stomach twisted into knots and she slowly removed her hand from his chest and placed it on her stomach.
“Okay. At least you’re honest.” She mumbled as she looked away.
“I don’t see why I should lie about that.” He murmured and she nodded.
“Okay.”
“But nothing has happened lately.” He said and she snorted.
“Lately? It’s just been a few days, Jack.”
“Almost a week.” He corrected and she laughed.
“Okay. I get it.” She pushed him back so she could slip from under him.
“Does it bother you?” he asked as he too sat up on the bed and looked at her as she moved around, looking for her robe.
“I don’t know. Should it?” she asked as she stopped and looked at him, “After all we were just playing a game. We still are.” The words sounded fake to her ears.
“A game.”
“Well, yes. A game you suggested.” She frowned.
“Bella-…”
“Don’t Bella me. It was your idea and I was foolishly naive to go through it. And I will go through with it. I just needed to know where we stand is all.” She said cutting him off.
“Yes, but now you feel uncomfortable.” He said quietly.
“I do not. What did you think I thought? That you’re a saint? Oh, please I know you’re not. Besides, I don’t think you could be anything else than what you already are.” She said and he narrowed his eyes at her.
“What’s that supposed to mean? You asked me a question and I answered it. Should I have lied?” he asked incredulously.
“No. You shouldn’t have.” She said softly as she looked at him, “I am sorry. I wanted you to tell the truth. So that I…” she stopped before she continued.
“So that you what?” he encouraged as he stood up as well.
“So, that I know what to expect.” She replied and he nodded slowly as he looked at her appraisingly.
“And what do you expect?” he asked and she smiled at him with sincerity.
“Nothing. I expect nothing.” She shrugged her shoulders and her answer felt like a blow to his gut, “I’m going to get dressed and then I’m going to get something to eat.” She said before she turned and walked away, leaving him standing there with a deep frown on his face.

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Bella had been pacing the cabin for over an hour, waiting but he never came. He was never late for a game. Just as she was ready to go and look for him the cabin door opened and he walked in. His hair was a bit wet because of the rain that was pouring down and he was holding a half eaten apple in his hand. Once he had closed the door and looked at her he frowned.
“Aren’t you in bed yet?” he asked and she gaped at him.
“I am waiting for you.” She replied and he frowned.
“You are?”
“Yes. Aren’t we…” she trailed off and he looked at her with a raised eyebrow.
“Aren’t we what?”
“I thought we were going to play?” she asked and he took a bite from the fruit, chewed it and then replied.
“Oh, that. I’m tired, love. Not tonight.” He gave her a quick- and very fake- smile before he walked around her and towards his desk.
Isabella blinked in confusion before she turned to face him.
“You could’ve told me so I wouldn’t wait like an idiot.” She said angrily and he looked at her from his chair.
“Sorry.”
It didn’t sound like he was and she wondered why he was acting like that. Was he mad at her? For what?
“Are you angry with me for something?” she asked boldly and he paused, mid-chew.
“Why would I be, love? I am just not in the mood.” He responded and she felt offended by the way he spoke.
“You think I was all those other times?” she snapped.
“I didn’t force you to play with me.” He cut her off and she fumed.
“Fine. Goodnight then.” She muttered as she left him alone.
She could feel his eyes burning holes into her back as she stormed away but she didn’t care.
The same thing happened the next night. He didn’t want to play and she didn’t push it. He didn’t touch her at all too. What had she done anyway? She thought about it all the time and she couldn’t figure out what she had done wrong. The logical part of her scolded her for all the energy that she was wasting while thinking about it. The whole idea was stupid anyway. She should be glad that they were running out of time but deep down she wasn’t. She wanted to know what his sudden change of heart meant. But how?


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“What are you doing?” she heard him ask as she kneeled in her nightdress- his nightdress- on the floor, looking under his desk. She jumped and bumped her head against the hard wood before she felt a hand wrapping around her arm. He pulled her up and she winced.
“Your desk is hard.” She complained as she rubbed the sore spot with her hand.
“Yes, well it tends to be.” He half smiled and she could see a warmth in his eyes that hadn’t been there before, “What were you doing under there?” he asked as he pushed her hand away and replaced it with his own. He patted the sore spot and he smirked.
“I think there’s going to be a bump…oh, there it is.” He chuckled and she frowned.
“I am glad my pain amuses you.” She muttered as she pulled her head back from his touch.
“Why were you bent so provocatively under me desk?” he asked curiously and she hesitated.
“I was looking for my ribbon…Why are you here? I thought you’d be up there.”
“I thought that too.” He muttered mostly to himself and she looked at him in puzzlement.
“Excuse me?”
“Want some rum?” he offered all of a sudden as he took a step towards his desk and grabbed for the bottle resting on top of it.
“No.”
“Okay.” He muttered as he took a long sip and looked at her with determination, “Come here.” He murmured as he reached out and pulled her to him. He buried his face in her hair and took a deep breath as his hands settled on her back.
“I don’t want to play the stupid game anymore.” He murmured into her hair and she blinked.
“What?”
“I call the bet off.” He said and she was more than just surprised.
“Why?” she asked, her voice muffled by his shirt.
“Because it’s unnecessary.”
“But you said-…”
“I’ll take you back to London. I ain’t going to take the money.” He said and she pulled back to look at him.
“You’ll what?” her eyes were wide as she looked up at him.
“You heard me.” He murmured as he touched her cheek with his fingers.
“Jack, that’s not funny.” She warned and he shook his head.
“It’s no joke, love.”
She stared at him in disbelief and he smiled before he slowly leaned down to her mouth. His lips touched hers and she shuddered. Her hands fisted his shirt as he pressed his lips against hers tightly. His hands got tangled in her loose hair and pulled her head closer. Her mouth fell open under his skillful kiss and he allowed a hand to press against her lower back. He pulled her flush against him and he snaked an arm around her waist, almost pulling her off her feet in an effort to bring her closer.
Isabella’s arms went around his neck as they kissed but when his tongue brushed over her lower lip in question she pulled back, shaking her head.
“Is that what you’ve been thinking these last couple of days?” she asked and he leaned his forehead against hers.
“Aye.”
“You acted like it was my fault.” She murmured.
“Nothing’s you fault, Bella. Everything’s my fault. Everything but one.” He whispered hoarsely.
“What?” she asked alarmed.
“I want you.” He murmured as he stroked her lips with his finger, “And it’s your fault.”
“My fault?” she asked and he nodded as he pressed his lips into a thin line.
“Because looking at you, I know that you’re something that I can never have.” He said as he reached back and threaded his fingers into her hair, “Because I know who I am and what I can offer and it’s…it’s not enough. It’s nothing. You said it yourself. You expect nothing from me. And you were right.” He spoke the words against her lips and she stood frozen.
“I didn’t even…” she faltered as he gently kissed her upper lip, “I didn’t even know what I was talking about. I was-…”
“Angry that I was with someone else while you’re here.” He finished for her and she had nothing to say to that. It was true. She was angry and hurt even though she shouldn’t be.
“That’s why I kept my distance. Because I know that this might mean more to you than it does to me.” He continued and her heart clenched at that.
“Does it?” she asked quietly and he swallowed hard as he gripped her tighter to him.
“I don’t know. But I fear that it might and it…it unsettles me.” He gritted his teeth.
“Why?”
“Because I hurt you once and if it is so…I might do it again by taking what I want.”
“What do you want?” she whispered and his eyes roved her face hungrily before he kissed her again. She allowed it but her brain told her that she shouldn’t.
“You. All of you.” He murmured in a barely audible voice, “I want you wrapped around me all the time.” He pressed another kiss to her parted mouth but then suddenly stepped back and released her abruptly.
“But for once I won’t take what I want.” He straightened and raised his hands up as if in surrender, “You won. Bet or not. I should have taken you back the moment I realized who you were. You don’t belong here.” He said with certainty and Isabella could do nothing more than look at him like he had grown two heads.
“You realized that now?...After everything? You will just let me go and return to your life while you’ve turned mine upside down?” she asked in a whisper and he looked away from her.
“Aye. Tomorrow evening we’ll dock. I’ll take you to the Stevensons’ meself. No one from me crew will stop you or hurt you. You have me word.” He said quietly and he placed his hands behind his back when she took a few steps towards him.
“I have your word? You know what your word means to me right now?” she asked and he stared back at her, his playful face now showing no trace of humor or mischief. It was a blank mask.
“What?” he spoke the word but if she hadn’t been standing so close she wouldn’t have been able to hear him.
“Nothing.” She said as she looked into his eyes, “Thank God, I didn’t get to trust you.” She whispered before she turned away from him and hugged herself protectively.
Much. Her inner voice corrected her but she ignored it.
“Bella-…” he started but she quickly whipped around to face him.
“Don’t call me that! Don’t ever call me that! You have no right. So, this whole thing was a game to you? You wanted to see how easy I would be this time? You found it too hard and you decided to stop? Well, I have news for you, I’d never let you have what you wanted! And you know why? Because I don’t trust you and I never will. I know you too well now.”
“It was not a game! Didn’t you hear what I just said?” he cut her off angrily and she laughed bitterly while shaking her head.
“Enough. It’s enough.” She muttered as she stepped around him and headed for the door, “I’ll see you in the morning.” She said before she closed the door behind her.
Jack turned to look at the closed door. He stood still for a few moments before he calmly reached for the bottle of rum on his desk. He looked at it for a few seconds before he snarled and hurled it against the door. It smashed into a million pieces and the brown-red liquid slid down against the door in thin trickles, staining the old wood.

End of chapter 25

Xxx Lina :)