Kindred Spirits

“For all knowledge and wonder (which is the seed of knowledge) is an impression of pleasure in itself.”
Francis Bacon

Chapter 27

“Knowing”

Devon recovered from her injuries far quicker and far better than any one aboard could have imagined to be possible. Naturally, this didn’t include Devon. She believed, or rather convinced herself to believe, that her recovery had only taken one night. Therefore she resented any extra time that she was forced to spend in bed and below decks. Devon wasn’t used to being pampered and she hated it. All this nurturing and pampering made her uncomfortable. I be better! Why can’t they see tha’! Me condition’s fine now, so I should be able ta be up an’ ‘bout, not be stuck in this damned bed goin’ out o’ me bloody mind!

She longed to be outside of these wooden walls that merely represented beautifully decorated prison cell to her now. Not to mention that Jack had become the gorgeous, overly worried, meddlesome prison guard. Devon needed to get back in the saddle… or back on her own two legs so to speak. She loathed the feeling of being useless and treated like some fragile china doll. Devon had asked – no pleaded – for Jack to assign her tasks. She tried to convince him that she was fine and even complained she how bored she was having to stay in this bed all day now that she was healed. Seeing that this line of pleading wasn’t getting her anywhere, she casually mentioned how good it would be to flex and use her muscles again… But Jack did not take the bait, and simply smiled sweetly back at her and gave her orders to follow alright. But they were not the ones she had hoped and longed for.

He gave her permission to leave his quarters, but that was only so she could go back to Ana’s cabin instead. Not only that but he gave her strict orders to stay below decks. Devon seethed. She tried reasoning with him and arguing with him, but when neither worked she nearly lost her cool and yelled at him, but restrained herself. He just wouldn’t budge. So now she found herself back in the quarters she shared with AnaMaria, where she sat on her cot. She was lost in the chart before her, studying it and trying to make any sense of it. Some of the lines had been smudged due to her “accident,” but there were smears in other places that she just couldn’t place … Well, at leas’ it’s still readable. P’haps I jus’ need ta concentrate harder on th’ blasted thing… Even though she was entranced with the map, tracing the lines that were still visible and studying the coordinates, her head snapped up and she immediately rolled the map back up when she heard heavy footfalls in the corridor.

She managed to roll the map back up just before the door swung open, but unfortunately she couldn’t hide it properly in time. Her eyes shot around the small cabin. If I hide it in th’ mattress now, I would only draw ‘is attention ta it. Best I just casually lie ‘bout it….

Even before he entered the cabin she had known who it was. She had come to know his gait. Those boots of his gave his footfalls since a unique sound. It was hard to miss. At least for her. She turned around knowing she would meet his eyes the moment she did. And there he was. Standing in the doorway, leaning heavily against the doorframe, arms crossed as he locked his eyes onto hers, a smile pulling at his lips all the while. After a few moments, Devon broke the gaze and allowed her eyes to roam his physique. My, it’s hot in ‘ere… swear ta God tha’ man looks better with ev’ry passin’ hour.

He had lost his weather beaten jacket and was only wearing his grey faded breeches and his once-white billowed-sleeve blouse with the buttons opened. And that attire revealed his tan decorated and scarred chest all the way down to his midriff… It went so far as to partially reveal the ship tattoo on his chest. Now Devon was in a bit of a delicate situation, since even the smallest flash of his naked skin made her uncomfortable. It wasn’t that she hadn’t seen ALL of him before… but seeing his naked torso like this at a time where they had finally sorted out their feelings made her a little uneasy. Of course the presence of some fading scratches above his right nipple that hadn’t been from her nails could’ve been part of the reason for her emotional upheaval. A flash of jealousy came over her again and she was able to shrug it off. That was in the past now. It was something she couldn’t change. When she looked at his bare torso again she felt that all too familiar feeling of arousal, and she found that had to fight that feeling very hard.

Part of her was still a bit uncertain about his true feelings, despite their talk and regardless of what she had seen while she was “near-death.” It was that side of Devon that still wanted to keep some form of distance between them. When they were both naked, everything came natural. But when he was working and the Captain of his ship, she was the inferior one and therein laid the problem. She needed to find a balance in the two Jack’s she had come to know and love.

Jack still stood in the doorframe, that slow sly smile on his face as he studied her. He twirled his moustache with his hands idly while he thought how he just couldn’t believe how good she looked. The colour had come back to her cheeks – leaving them glowing and rosy – and her curls brushed her bare shoulders. She wore one of his shirts since he had ripped her blouse and vest after he had rescued her. He had to admit that as he studied her, the shirt really looked good on her. She was one of the only ones, save him, that did that shirt justice. He grinned at the thought. Just the sight of her bare collarbones aroused him. He wanted to set his teeth in them, to nibble them and let his tongue swirl over them. As he risked a glance further down her body, he saw that his shirt had fallen off her shoulders, revealing just a small bit of cleavage. He felt himself harden as he raised his eyes back to hers. From the look she was giving him, he noticed that she was aroused as well.

The look Jack gave her made her stomach flip, but instead of acting on her urges, she managed to maintain a certain amount of control. ‘Sides, it’ll be so much more fun if I can make ‘im anxious fer once… And she just happened to know him well enough that she knew the right buttons to push to illicit that reaction. She casually stuffed the map down the back of her pants, and when she tried to arch her back onto the mattress a flash of pain from her ribcage raged through her. But it was when she saw Jack’s eyes gaze down her chest that she grinned and completed her task, casually wetting her lips with the tip of her tongue. She knew he wanted to see more of her chest, but it was still wrapped because Stitch had told her that he might have been wrong when he said she hadn’t broken her ribs. So to be on the safe side, he had wrapped her up. At the moment there was only a little bit of cleavage she could flaunt, but she knew how to work that to her advantage. Jack had wanted to remove them last night, on their secret rendezvous, but she had stopped him from undoing the wrappings. As she looked back at him, he was still staring at the little bit of skin showing on her chest. When she noticed his dark eyes darken even more and saw that familiar sparkle in his eyes, she knew for certain he hadn’t seen any of the parchment.

Then she lazily stretched out on her cot and then sat up again slowly.

‘Well, seems tha’ th’ Capt’n be gracin’ lil’ Dee with ‘is presence. My, what a glorious day this turned out ta be,’ she quipped with a smirk.

‘Ye still want ta be helpful ‘round ‘ere, darlin’?’ he enquired.

Devon piped up after his words. Did he really want to give her chores so she wouldn’t be stuck down here anymore?

‘Aye Jack! I do… what needs ta be done? Ye need me ta work th’ sails?’ she said eager and grateful for his trust in her as she swung her legs over the side of the cot.

‘Nay luv… not the riggin’…or the sails… cannons!’ he said sternly as he pushed her back down.

Jack didn't want her up in the rigging yet, because he knew she would do too much and too heavy work, stubborn as she was.

Devon pouted at first, since he was making it quite clear that he didn’t want her up on deck, but when she heard the word cannons, the pout on her lips curled into a small smile as she urged him to go on.

‘Cannons?’ she urged again, tugging at his sleeve.

‘Aye, it jus’ so happens I seems to be in desperate help o’ yer expertise in th’ armoury, tart. Ana told Mr. Gibbs ‘bouts yer skills an’ he needs ye down there, seems tha’ there be some problem wit’ th’ angle o’ me cannons….’

‘Aw…’ she purred, tucking the hem of her shirt inside the back of her pants. ‘An’ here ye ‘ad me thinkin’ tha’ ye needed me skills on a whole other level. I mean, I happen like th’ angle o’ yer cannon but I can help ye wit’ tha’ iffen ye need it…’ her eyebrow rose ever so slightly as she looked him straight in the eye. ‘I do hope I made that clear, Capt’n…’

Jack watched as she licked her lips with the tip of her tongue.

He grinned. She was such a tease sometimes. ‘Another level eh tart? Could ye mean a lower one, by any chance?’

‘Aye, a lower one…’ she repeated with a sparkle in her eyes. Her voice was in danger of dropping with her arousal, and since she couldn’t let him know, she balled her fists and let her own nails dig into her flesh to keep her mind on the task. Sustain yerself fer goodnessakes Devon! Do ye WANT him ta find out ‘bout th’ map?

‘Somethin’ bothers me though, luv,’ he said while he stroked his chin.

‘Wha’ might tha’ be… ‘sides th’ fact tha’ there be a lil’ grey hair growin’ out from b’neath yer bandana?’ He raised his hands to feel his locks, but then he saw the twinkle in her eyes and thought better of it. ‘Oh, shut it ye…. Nay, wha’ bothers me is tha’ it seems ye don’t really want me ta do this.’ He stepped forward and kissed her roughly. His experienced tongue searched for hers and when he found it he was determined to give her the most breathtaking kiss ever. Jack carefully wrapped his arms around her as he deepened the kiss. This elicited a guttural moan from Devon as she relished the taste of his passion. The pain flashed again as he wrapped his arms tighter around her, but soon Devon’s muscles started to relax in his embrace. Still, she kept her guard up, in spite of her enjoyment. Just as she was about to deepen the kiss, Jack’s hold on her got tighter and in one swift movement, he had pulled her off her cot.

‘Ouch Jack! RIBS remember?’ she huffed and punched him in his stomach.

‘Sorry, luv, I’ll be gentle, I promise,’ he whispered while he nuzzled her face and his hands travelled from her waist to her back.

That’s when it happened, that thing Dee wanted to avoid. She meant to distract him so she could hide the map from him. But she realised now that it had been nothing but a vain attempt to avoid having to explain the map and her possession of it. Devon had outsmarted many a man in her days, but Jack Sparrow… he was a sly fox that even she had trouble keeping tabs on.

She hadn’t expected he would kiss her or embrace her. Normally, she would have enjoyed this kiss, now she just wanted to break it as soon as possible, so his hands wouldn’t find… Damnit! Devon reached for the map in the back of her pants before he could, but failed.

‘Aha, an’ what do we ‘ave ‘ere, hmmm?’ Jack whispered close to her ear, while he tried to pry the map from her fingers.

‘Nothing! Jus’ recipes from me great grandmother. Dead woman. Great cook, great stew, well kept family secret…’ she said flatly, while she spun around, to escape his grip.

She desperately tried to hide the map. Somewhere. Anywhere.

‘Hmmmm, is tha’ so? Now, I really think yer lying ta ol’ Jack, darlin’. ‘Sides who in their right mind would hide recipes in their breeches?’ he said mockingly, while he tugged at the roll of parchment once more. Then he stared at her a bit, frowning, his head tilted to the side. He observed her for a moment until he continued, ‘Yer daft enough ta hide anythin’ down there come ta think ‘o it.’

‘We’re pirates, Jack, we’re supposed ta lie, cheat an’ weasel our way out o’ every given situation. Comes with th’ job description… Did ye not read th’ fine print?’ she mumbled while she attempted to escape his eyes, pulling the parchment back from him.

‘Doesn’t mean ye’ve gotta lie ta me, now lemme see it luv…’ he said as he tugged at the map again.

‘No!’ she fumed, while she made a run for it, unfortunately she still had problems with her reflexes, so she almost tripped, but managed to keep herself on her feet.

Within seconds he was right behind her and turned her around by her shoulder, Devon was now struggling even harder to keep herself from falling. His lips were curled in an incubus grin and his eyes gleamed dangerously. To Devon, he had never looked sexier she could feel the proof of that between her legs.

‘Ye know I smell something, luv…’ he growled low in his throat, his gold teeth shimmered as he spoke. He searched her eyes, wondering if they would betray her, but he saw nothing besides their dark ocean blue colour.

‘That would be yer breath…’ she dead-panned.

He was baffled for a moment, but he looked her in her eyes again, glaring at her and rendering her off her guard for only a moment. He grinned. ‘I smell treasure, luv.’

Damn, why can’t I hide things from him anymore? Devon cursed inwardly.

‘Odd,’ she stated emotionless. ‘I don’t smell nothin’ ‘cept yer odour.’ She tried throwing him off so she could hide the map from him again.

‘Well then let me break it to ye gently tart, ye don’t exactly smell like daisies or roses either. Now will ye just bloody show me tha’ map already!’

‘Map?’ she parroted unaffected.

‘Yes, map. Come on Dee, after what we’ve been through I think I deserve it…’ he pleaded her, a mock pout on his face.

Did ‘e jus’ call me Dee? ‘Th’ only thing ye deserve at th’ moment is ta be kicked in th’ groin. But I won’t do that, since I be th’ wiser person ‘ere. ‘Sides if I did tha’, it would kinda spoil th’ fun fer me down there. An’ did I not jus’ tell ye it were recipes, Sparrow?’

‘Horseshit, if that map contains recipes, then I suggest ye cook me a nice treasure.’

Devon bit her lip in quiet frustration. When ‘ave I become so transparent?

Jack sighed. ‘Why must ye always be so goddamn stubborn? Now show it ta me. I be yer Captain, ye sassy wench, I be entitled ta see it.’

‘Don’t go there Jack!’ her anger was pulsating in her veins as she spat the words out. When she saw how he drew back a bit from her anger, she sighed, but didn’t back down. ‘Ye’re jus’ me temporary Capt’n, this map belongs ta Drake.’

‘If it belongs ta him, as ye’ve just declared, then why don’t ‘e have it, eh?’ he said stroking his goatee idly, fondling with the beads in it.

Devon rolled her eyes at his sheer stupidity. ‘Well, I seem ta recall somethin’ happenin’ ta me after I stole it from tha’ Edwards bloke so I couldn’t give it ta ‘im quite yet. I be sure ye remember, Friar Brayden Gale…’

‘Edwards? Tha’ officer ye ‘ad ta visit after ye left th’ Turners?’

‘Aye. Now will ye please jus’ drop th’ subject, Jack?’ she almost pleaded him.

‘Nay, I will not. I wanna take a look at tha’ map ye’ve stolen. An’ why do ye still ‘ave it with ye? Didn’t they search ye when they apprehended ye?’

She grinned at the memory, instantly forgetting how much he made her blood boil just moments ago. ‘Tha’ they did. Jus’ not good enough.’ She winked. Then she was silent for a moment and tapped her index finger on her chin, contemplating, before she rambled on. ‘Funny thin’ is Jack, a few days after they searched me, ye “searched” me as well an’ ye ne’er found it either….’

He rubbed his chin, while a sly grin formed on his face. So she hasn’t noticed I found th’ map… she still thinks she can hide it from me… wonder when she’ll confide in me... or how long she’s gonna keep up this act…. An’ now tha’ I think ‘bout it, jus’ WHY is it tha’ I didn’t notice tha’ those nights we spent together? She was stark naked an’ I didn’t see it in ‘er boot then…. Suddenly it hit him, she had used her body as a diversion and it had worked like a bloody charm. Devon, ye sly little mix you…

As the memory of those steamy hot nights stirred up his emotions again, he quickly shoved it aside, determined to make her crack and confess. ‘Found it now though, did I not?’

‘Jack,’ she pleaded. ‘Don’t do this…’

‘Yer beggin’ me? Hmmm I like th’ sound o’ tha’.’

‘I’m not beggin’ ye, ye twit. I am merely endin’ this discussion. Since it seems I ‘ave better things ta do… like grace th’ guns o’ this pathetic ship with me presence.’ She said as she turned on her heel and made way to the armoury. She had riled up his anger by saying his ship was pathetic, and she knew it. But he had just hurt her, by trying to make her betray her own Captain. Regardless of the fact she was in love with Jack, he had taken one step too far. And she had already told him too much. Devon’s own temper surged through her body again when he ordered her to stop. Devon huffed and shoved him aside forcefully as she stormed down the corridor.


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‘DAMN, DAMN THA’ MAN!’ she hissed while she kicked the wall with her boots. She was livid. How could he put her on the spot like that? Did he not see that was he was asking her was close to committing mutiny against her Captain? She was too angry to notice the footsteps that were following her. So she was startled when she was pulled in to a stop by a hand on her shoulder and his velvet voice coming from behind her.

‘Ye really should learn ta control that anger, tart.’

‘Why are ye followin’ me, fruitcake?’ she scolded at him.

‘Enough with th’ pastries!’ he said waving his hands. ‘I happen ta have a proposition fer ye.’

He mus’ be serious. Don’t hear a hint of sarcasm… Dee mused, so she turned around and faced him. His face was expressionless: no evil grin, no wicked smile, no angry frown... all she saw was a slight wrinkle on his forehead, just below his bandana… He IS serious...

Devon put her hands on her hips and cocked her head, ‘Alright, I’m listening.’

‘Ye show me tha’ map an’ I’ll help ye get tha’ treasure.’

She snorted. ‘Oh what a generous offer, Jack! I suppose you’ll want no cut o’ th’ swag when we find it, right?’

‘Well,’ he paused, ‘ye know me better than that, luv.’

She gave him a venomous glare. ‘Aye, Jack, I do. An’ tha’ be exactly why I am not goin’ ta show ye th’ map an’ tha’ be exactly why ye’re gonna stop forcin’ me in a direction I don’ wanna go in, savvy?’

He narrowed his eyes at her, yet said nothing.

‘I said “Savvy?” Capt’n!’ she growled. “What’s ‘a matter, cat got yer tongue?’

He sighed in resignation. ‘Alright woman, savvy.’ God, I feel fer Drake. She must drive him out o’ ‘is mind. A thought popped in to his mind… She’d make a great Capt’n, she’s got what it takes…

‘Fine! Finally I got me point came across. Now kiss me, ye scumbag.’

Despite his disappointment earlier, despite her name-calling, or maybe it was just because of that, Jack smirked and leaned in to kiss her. Her tongue ravaged his mouth in an angry kiss. She kissed him so forcefully he felt her teeth on his lips. Jack couldn’t help but feel aroused again. She was dangerous, and they both knew it. It was because she knew what it took to drive him to the brink. His hands roamed her body, pulling her closer to him. When his ring clad hands travelled along her spine down to her buttocks, he felt the map again. For one tiny moment his fingers hovered over the parchment, as they itched to take it, but landed on her muscular bum instead.

After a breathtaking kiss, Devon pulled back and placed her hands on his broad shoulders. ‘If ye get me back ta me righteous Capt’n, Capt’n, I’ll ask Drake ‘bout lettin’ ye in on it, but don’t ask me ta show ye th’ map again. Ever. I might be a dishonest woman, but I’m loyal ta me Capt’n.’

‘Can ye be loyal ta this Capt’n?’ he asked teasingly while he licked her bottom lip with the tip of his tongue.

Regardless of herself, her heart jumped in her throat at his words. Was he insinuating what she thought he was? Dad, were ye right ‘bout ‘im? Is ‘e sayin’ wha’ I think ‘e is?

Devon looked in his eyes and shoved that thought away from her mind. ‘If ye can tame me, who knows, Sparrow…’

‘Could Drake tame ye?’ he asked while he played with one of her curls.

‘Drake’s a fine man an’ all, but he can’t tame me. No man e’er could an’ I doubt someone e’er will…’ she smiled.

‘Is that a challenge?’ he said with narrowed eyes, twinkling with pleasure.

‘Might be,’ she said flirtatious lilt in her voice. ‘Ye can try, like so many ‘ave… but no man has succeeded. An’ ye won’t succeed either.’ Ye sure ‘bout tha’ one Dee?

‘As long as I’m on yer Black Pearl I’ll consider ye me Capt’n, but as soon as I get home I’ll answer ta no one other than Drake, an’ still I don’t always answer ta him…’ she quipped.

‘Hmmm…’ he said deviously. ‘But this means I’ve still got a few more days ta order ye aroun’….’

Her smile grew wicked, ‘Ne’er said tha’, mon Capitan.’ And with that she turned on her heel and finally went to the armoury.

‘I’ll go ‘n see if I do anythin’ with yer guns. Assumin’ ye won’t use ‘em against Th’ Hazard that is…’

‘I give no guarantees, Duville…’ he smirked.

‘Neither do I, Sparrow.’

‘Captain!’ he shouted after her.

‘Ain’t no Capt’n yet, Sparrow, Duville will do fer now,’ she quipped, while she felt a wet mop flying past her head.

‘Ye should try an’ control yer temper, dear. At yer age, ye should take things easier, think ‘bout yer heart…’ she said loudly, trying to keep from laughing as she walked away.

She could hear him muttering and cursing while he walked back up the stairs, making the wooden stairs squeak from the force of his steps.


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AnaMaria popped her head round the corner and laughed.

‘Ye ne’er change, do ye, spitfire?’ Ana grinned.

Devon smirked. ‘Nah, I stick wit’ th’ things I do best…’

‘He hates it when ye do tha’, Dee. Ye should watch yer steps.’

‘I know ‘e does, tha’s what makes it so much fun.’

‘‘Ow long where ye standin’ there anyways?’ Devon asked with curiosity.

‘Long enough spitfire. There’s somethin’ goin’ on b’tween th’ two o’ ye. I knew it, I knew it, I knew it! Ye’re in love with ‘im! Just admit it already!’

‘Am not!’

AnaMaria glared at her friend with her eyes narrowed, ‘Are too!’

‘Am NOT!’

‘Devon, I’ve know ye since forever, an’ ‘sides tha’ I’ve seen th’ way ye two look at each other…’

Devon tried to put on a mask of ignorance, but that didn’t work as well as she wanted.

AnaMaria gave her a knowing smile. ‘Don’t try ta hide it, Dee. It’s worthless anyway, ‘cause even if I didn’t know ye as well as I do, last night told me all I need ta know. Ye talked in yer sleep after ye drank a few. An’ let me tell ye tha’ ye rambled quite a bit las’ night.’

Dee’s face flushed with crimson and she fled from her friend, tending to the ship’s guns, cursing the day Jack Sparrow had crossed her path.

Truth be told, Ana was dead right. There was an undeniable physical attraction between her and the kohl rimmed Captain, but in spite of all her efforts to keep it physical, her heart had betrayed her. It had started burning and beating for him. It was foolish, annoying and just plain stupid, but all her struggles to kill those feelings had been futile. They started without her knowledge and now she just couldn’t switch them off.

She had promised herself, a long time ago, that she would never fall in love again. That she would separate love from lust, and to subside only to the latter one, until her dying day. That had been her way of life for years now, different lovers in every port, just taking, never giving. She had felt with her body, not with her heart. But due to this man, her whole world was tossed upside down and her goals shattered. He had made her succumb to him, the bastard had made her long for his touch, he had made her erase the border, he had her break her own rules and that wasn’t even the worst of it. No, the worst was that the bastard had made her fall in love with him. She didn’t know when it happened. She didn’t know how or why, but regardless of the sign she had gotten while she was out of her body, she hated herself because she let it happen.

She was aware of the way Jack’s body reacted to hers, the way his hungry eyes looked at her, even in the midst of one of their almost constant fights. He wanted her physically. She could tell that easily by any one of the signs he gave off. But he was a man, he was able to separate lust from love, just like she had been able to before he had waltzed in her life. He had told her how he felt, but still a part of her didn’t believe him. Hell, a part of her still didn’t even believe her own feelings. Or maybe it was that she didn’t want to believe them….

The fact that she and Jack had talked things over, that he had apologized for his behaviour in the “Willing Wench,” and that they had spent the past two nights in each others company in secret… didn’t mean it was meant to be. They were both not the kind to let themselves get tied down. Jack wasn’t a one woman man and she wasn’t a one man woman either…


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By the time she finally made it into the armoury, Gibbs stood with his back turned to her and by the looks of things he was drinking. A wicked smile curled her lips and she decided it would be most delightful to scare the shit out of the poor man.

Oh yes, Devon Duville was ready to harass some more….

‘Gibbs, ye handsome bugger ye! Capt’n said ye wanted ta see me?’ she shouted, clapping poor Gibbs firmly on the right shoulder.

‘Curse ye fer breathin’! Ye nearly made me choke on me cork!’ the older man muttered while he turned around.

Devon grabbed hold of the flask he carried, ‘That’ll teach ye ta be drinkin’ alone. Frightful bad luck ta drink alone near th’ cannons, mate. Ye as an old seadog should know tha’. B’fore ye know it ye’re blowin’ holes in yerself or in me fer tha’ matter. Can’t ‘ave that now can we!’ with finishing her sentence she gulped down what was left in Gibbs’ canister in one long swig.

‘What th’ Devil...’ he stumbled.

‘Oh come now don’t fret gorgeous, I took care o’ th’ hazard fer ye... no danger anymore… now where be Jack’s big guns, eh? Or would ye rather like me ta take a look at yers?’ she quipped as she bent over to lift the hem of his shirt up.

His eyes widened as he struggled to focus on the woman in front of him, or Lucifer’s Daughter in his point of view. And then he fled. The poor man ran as fast as his old sea legs could carry him, straight into Jack’s quarters.

Devon simply shrugged her shoulders and searched for tools so she could get to work, humming and smirking all the while.

Jack had given her permission to inspect his cannons and guns and inform Gibbs and the rest of them what needed to be done with them. Little did he know that Devon just couldn't help herself while she was down in his armoury and took her time with her work. After she had scared away Gibbs, thus getting rid of her male chaperone, she embraced the opportunity to finally DO something, other than sitting around in her and Ana's cabin at day and getting frisky with Jack at night that was.

After Devon had studied Jack's cannons for a while, she had become even more impressed with the ship she currently sailed on. She had urged Drake a few years ago to invest some of the bounty in better cannons, and even though it took a bit of urging and smart mouthing on her part to wear him down, eventually he gave in. The comment that won him over was when Devon insisted that he use her part of the swag to pay for the cannons. But even with that The Hazard's cannons were nothing compared to The Pearl's. She sighed as she remembered the fit she had gotten Drake into back then. She missed him... the ship... the whole lot of them. Granted, there was the month or so each year that she would part with them when she stayed behind in Singapore to stay with Lee and hone her artistry on the skin of all those sailors that came in. But that was different. She was without them at those times by choice. Now she had been forced away from them and couldn't help but miss all of her crewmates terribly.

While reminiscing about old times, she let her hands slide over the barrel of one of the cannons. Sure, they were old, but they were beautifully decorated and she could tell they had a wide range. Two of the cannons she had inspected had been damaged. Devon wondered how that damage could have happened and how Jack could have escaped such a crossfire. She caressed the cool barrel of the cannon in front of her, letting her hands slide across it, grazing the fuse. More and more memories of her life aboard The Hazard found their way into her mind. When her eyes travelled across the armoury and fell upon the powder stash, she couldn't help but grin. She and Dacosta had checked the powder supplies on The Hazard a few years back and Devon couldn't get him to focus. Every time Devon stretched herself, he'd loose count. Dacosta had always been very uncomfortable around her, and Devon enjoyed getting on his nerves tremendously. Leading him on constantly... but then she'd turn him down. She was his superior and he just had to square with that some day. The grin on her lips faded as she sighed. Then she pulled herself together and rolled up her sleeves.

She tried to pull the cannon back a bit further, so she could inspect the barrel from the inside. Her muscles tensed as she put her strength into moving the heavy cannon, determined to do it herself since there would be hell to pay if Jack found out she was doing this. Her chest hurt as she braced herself for one last pull and a veil of sweat started to form on her brow as she hissed between her teeth. MOVE! Move just a bit more... Devon wouldn't admit to herself she had lost some of her strength after she had been swept overboard, so she kept struggling, determined to finish the job herself. She had done it countless of times before. It was hard and heavy work, but because all the men aboard The Hazard had told her it wasn't possible for a woman to do it herself and she wasn't fit to do it, she had trained herself and finally she had succeeded. Stubbornness and persistence would get you anywhere. Jus' put yer mind ta th’ task Dee... she groaned when she put all her strength into it and finally the cannon moved. She leaned back on it, breathing heavily and wiping the sweat off her brow with her sleeve. The muscles in her arms and shoulders tingled and the pain in her chest resurfaced. Devon let herself slide down, resting her head back against the cannon’s base.


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Joshamee Gibbs didn’t bother knocking, he just burst through the doors shouting, ‘Capt’n, great expertise or no, I don’t give a hoot! I ain’t working with tha’ woman!’

Jack smiled when he saw the frightened look in his quartermaster’s eyes. ‘Wha’ woman? I’ve told ye time an’ time ‘gain. Ana’s me first mate, woman or not, you’ll do as she tells ye.’

‘It’s not AnaMaria, it’s the spawn o’ Satan ye’ve brought aboard. Liked ‘er better when she almost drowned I did,’ Gibbs spat, his fingers trembled as he rubbed his evil eye charm.

‘There, there now Joshamee, ye don’t mean tha’... Wha’s she done this time?’ Jack couldn’t help but smile as he propped his feet on his desk to listen out what Devon had done to anger Gibbs.

‘She drank me rum ‘n tried ta seduce me!’

Jack couldn’t help himself and burst into laughter. Tears of laughter ran down Jack’s cheeks and he had to hold his stomach. When Gibbs cleared his throat he pulled himself together and wiped the black kohl smudges away.

‘Sorry mate, but what exactly did she do or say ta offend ye in such a manner?’ he encouraged Gibbs and pointed to the chair across from him. He had to bite the inside of his cheek in order to contain the laughter that was still tickling his throat.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Later that night…

The sky was painted with stars, twinkling and shimmering above the black ship that was sailing among the silvery waves of the vast ocean. A lonesome figure could be seen at the helm on the deck. It was Jack’s turn to take the night watch, while the rest of the crew had retreated to their quarters and their hammocks and Ana and Devon had gotten comfortable in the cabin they shared with each other. He had sent his bo-sun, Riley, away convincing him that he could manage without him. The water was still, there was a crisp breeze and a big moon. Jack made it clear there were going to be no interferences.

A smile formed on his lips as he thought of her. Devon. He didn't know if they could have a future together or how long it would last, but right now, at this particular point in time, everything was perfect. Once they found The Hazard and Devon reunited with Drake, then they'd figure out where they would go from there. But there’s no reason ta worry ‘bout tha’ now... He looked at the stars above him. She should’ve been 'ere by now… They had spent the last few nights in secret together. Devon would sneak out of her cabin and meet Jack on deck, in his quarters or wherever they could see each other without rousing suspicion.

As soon as Devon heard soft snores drift across the small room, she quietly slipped out of her bunk. She tiptoed over to AnaMaria to make sure her friend was really asleep. Devon poked her in the side with two fingers, but when Ana just mumbled and turned over in her sleep, she was reassured that her friend wouldn't wake up in the midst of her escape. Devon had done the very same thing countless of times before when she snuck out of others’ beds and bedrooms so she had become rather skilled at the routine. She tiptoed barefoot towards the door, dressed in a nightshift she had borrowed from Ana and quietly opened and closed the door behind her. When she reached the deck there was a silvery moon above her, lighting her way to the helm.

When she reached Jack, she threw her arms around his waist and buried her face in his unruly salty smelling hair... ‘I’m ‘ere an’ I missed ye…’

He turned around and hauled her closer to him by her waist ‘Ye did? Hmmmm, well I’ll have ta see what can be done ‘bout tha’. An’ jus’ in case ye wanted ta know, I missed ye too silly harlot!’ then his lips claimed hers and their tongues danced along the other. Devon enjoyed the little teases Jack gave her and moaned softly when he nibbled on her bottom lip. When his wet red tongue slid along the side of her neck, across the scar, towards her earlobes, Devon gasped and gently pushed him away. ‘Jack... what if someone sees us?’

Jack kissed the tip of her nose. ‘Who’s ta see us, luv? There be no one ‘ere ‘cept fer ye an’ I.’

‘Aye fer th’ moment there isn’t, but what if some one catches us? One o’ these days we’ll get caught, Sparrow.’

An incubus formed on the Captain’s lips as he waved his hand in front of her face. ‘I ne’er once pegged ye fer th’ type who’d care if someone were ta see ‘er in th’ stark or in action fer tha’ matter, darlin’.’

She slapped his arm away. ‘Ye know I don’ give a rats-ass ‘bout tha’, it jus’... I don't wanna been seen ‘ere, with ye... we ‘ad an agreement Jack!’

‘Jus’ teasin’ ye luv, don’t fret... c’mere,’ he whispered and pulled her in front of him, pinning her effectively between him and the wheel.

Automatically her hands found the pegs and there was a shiver going through her body for a moment... the wood was smooth and felt cool against her callused hands, and it felt so good to hold them. Jack kissed the side of her neck and lapped his wet red tongue over her collarbone. Devon gasped again, ‘Mmmmm… ye really ‘ave a talent fer tha’ Jack.’

‘I know luv... same as ye ‘ave a talent fer steerin’ me dark lady.’ He grinned, his teeth nearly shimmering in the moonlight. ‘An’ I also ‘appen ta know tha’ if I do this...’ he gently bit in the tender flesh in her collar and she couldn’t help but make a quiet moan. ‘it helps keep ye from talkin’.’

‘Wanker,’ she whispered smiling.

‘Harlot,’ he whispered back.

Devon let go of the wheel with one hand and patted Jack’s side until she reached the pocket in his waistcoat in which he kept his peculiar compass. Jack couldn't suppress a deep moan, when she "accidentally" let her fingers slide over his crotch, which was already pulsating in his breeches.

‘Vixen,’ he breathed.

‘Like tha’ eh?’ she taunted, while she flipped Jack's weather beaten compass open.

Then she blinked her eyes, ‘Jack?’

‘What luv?’

‘Yer compass be broken. How can ye keep course wit’ this thin’ when it ain’t pointin’ north…’ Devon shook it and held it upside down to see if the needle would move, but nothing she tried moved the needle back in the direction she was looking for.

‘It ain’t pointin’ north luv…’

‘Did I not jus’ say tha’ ye dense prick?’

He cleared his throat. ‘It doesn’t point north, ‘cause it points ta where we make berth.’

‘Ah,’ she said. ‘An’ tha’ would be where exactly?’

‘Isla de Muerta,’ he said while he let his hands slide underneath her thin shift. ‘An island tha’ cannot be found, ‘cept by those who already know where it is...’ he added mysteriously.

‘Or if ye’ve got this compass.’ she continued.

‘Correct.’

‘But we’re not plannin’ on goin’ there… we’re goin’ ta Bermuda. So how can ye keep course then, eh smartass?’

He spun her around, holding one hand on the wheel, ‘That’s why I’m Captain Jack Sparrow!’

X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X (start of X-segment)

Devon rolled her eyes and started to untie his sash. ‘I’m gettin’ sick o’ hearin’ tha’ constantly, so let’s give th’ infamous Captain Jack Sparrow another task eh?’ she said, staring deep into his eyes as she swiftly tied his hands to the wheel. The moonlight made her eyes sparkle even more and she grinned up at him. ‘Th’ lit’le one I mean.’ And she swiftly unfastened the ties in his breeches with one hand.

‘Something tells me ye do tha’ often ta be so good at it… undoin’ a man’s tying’s with one hand I mean…’ he whispered hoarsely, not being able to suppress a flash of jealousy while he gave that thought more consideration. But then he felt her tongue swirl underneath his bellybutton and shoved that jealousy to the back of his mind.

Devon smiled. ‘Let’s not talk ‘bout th’ past Jack, or rather... let’s not talk at all. Lemme just give th’ lit’le Captain a bit o’ me special treatment, eh?’

Jack smiled devilishly and felt his blood rush in his ears, but then her words caught up with him and he stared at her – wide eyed – as their meaning finally set in. ‘It AIN’T LITTLE!’

Devon skilfully revealed Jack’s – really not so little at all – little Captain and looked at it, then bent down and lapped the tip of her tongue across its tip. It was only a single stroke with the tip of her warm, wet tongue along the head of his little Captain, but to Jack… it was a teasingly long and slow lap and he… well, Jack nearly choked.

Then Devon looked up, to see Jack looking skyward, squinting his eyes shut and biting his bottom lip. ‘How would ye know it ain’t little, Jack, ever compared?’ Devon’s eyes blazed with mischief as she said the words that smacked Jack back into reality AGAIN. All the erotica surrounding them had vanished. Instantly. It was all because of that damned mouth of hers… Quite a talented one too… Gods this harlot really does know how ta push me buttons an’ drive me crazy.

‘Well?’ Devon urged, ‘Did ye?’

‘Nay! O’ course not!’ he hissed. ‘What do ye take me for?’

She smiled. ‘An idiot… an annoying pain in th’ ass… stupid… need I go on, darlin’?’ she teased.

When she saw Jack’s hands curl into fists and his knuckles turn white, she almost couldn’t hold her laughter. Darlin’ ye’ve such a fragile an’ abso-bloody-lutely HUGE ego… She bit her lip in an attempt to stop herself from laughing like hell and actually managed to swallow it down.

‘Well Capt’n, I ‘appen ta ‘ave seen many a cock in me time… and yers… well….’ she giggled. She knew that he was just an inch away from going over the edge. His fists were starting to tremble from anger.

‘What’s wrong with me cock, tart? Ye – an’ a whole lot o’ others I assure ye, A WHOLE LOT O’ OTHERS – ne’er complained ‘bout me size b’fore. In fact, I can recall ye referrin’ ta me as... an’ I quote: ‘Hung like a horse’!’ he almost shouted at her.

Devon brought her head up again and kissed him, or tried to, but Jack turned his head away.

‘Oh c’mon Jack, don’t be a pansy, I was jus’ teasin’ ye…’ she soothed him while she got on her knees. ‘Yer cock’s fine Jack, in fact if it were any bigger, I wouldn’t be able to do this….’ Devon moved closer and opened her mouth engulfed it in her mouth. Jack relaxed under her ministrations. She was gently rubbing his balls in one hand and stroking his length with the other. He could feel the back of her throat against its head and her tongue as it slid against and along it, sending horrifyingly pleasant feelings through him.

‘Evil… evil vixen ye are… Yer gonna be th’ death o’ me!’ Jack grinned raucously while his hands were trying to escape from the wheel, he wanted to run his hands trough her wild mess of curls so he could pull her head even closer to his hips, but he couldn’t since she had tied him so tightly to the wheel. He loved this about her, she could drive him up the wall with anger, but then she always redeemed herself. Things were sure as hell never dull with her. It was like there were more sides to her personality, each of them different, but he loved them all. Jack nearly choked when she took him in even deeper. It was so warm…. So narrow… so… heavenly. He was already on the verge of climaxing. He could sense that warm tingling sensation that started in the pit of his stomach as it spread its way throughout his body.

As he softly moaned her name and grinded his hips into the cave of her mouth, he suddenly felt a sharp flash of pain.

‘Damnit Devon ye BIT me!’ he snapped. ‘Ye BIT me fer chrissakes! Why th’ Devil would ye BITE me?’

Devon looked up at him, batting her eyelashes innocently, her lips still wrapped around his penis and then she sucked. Slow and gentle sucks, which were soon followed by harder, more devious ones.

‘Ohhhhhhhhhh Devooooooooooooooooooon!’ he shouted as he came, his knees buckled as he filled her mouth with his warm seed, forgetting he could wake the whole ocean up with his roar. The sensation of his prior pain made the climax even more intense. He couldn’t see or think straight.

Devon reached up and clamped one hand over his mouth, stifling said roar, before she swallowed his seed down. It was something she had never done before. Jack’s semen tasted a bit salty, a bit bitter and a bit like rum. She wouldn’t describe it awful, but it wasn’t going to be one of her favourite flavours either.

‘Don’t scream like tha’ ye pansy, ye’ll wake up th’ whole damned ship! Now get on yer hands ‘n knees an’ pay me back!’

The Captain in Jack should be offended, but the man in Jack liked a woman in charge. And the man in Jack loved this one when she acted this way. When Devon got up and kissed him zealously, Jack could taste his desire on her lips as she freed him from his restraints. Jack rubbed his wrists. They were slightly red from the burnings he had caused while trying to break free from them.

‘Alrigh’ ye sassy wench, let Capt’n Jack work ‘is magic on ye now…’ his voice was extremely low and husky as he put his hands between her legs and spread them. He could feel her arousal on his fingertips and he couldn’t prevent two fingers from sliding inside of her.

‘Ye want me don’t ye Duville?’ he grinned teasingly.

Devon didn’t answer, she felt his fingers sliding in and out of her and she sensed her body reacting to even the slightest touch he gave her.

‘Oh yes, Duville… ye want me…. Ye want me bad,’ he growled raucously.

He moved his lips towards the curls between her legs and blew softly on it. The warmth of his breath combined with his teasing fingers drove Devon wild. She felt her legs tremble and when Jack spread his fingers to reveal her glistening, swollen pearl and lapped his eager tongue across it. Devon’s knees now bucked and she gasped. She grabbed a hold of his hair, using him to support her.

He moved away from her for a moment. ‘Tell me how much ye want me darlin’…’ he growled as he looked up to her. A wicked grin formed on his lips as he saw both the blazing fire in her eyes and her biting her lip as she looked back at him.

Devon was breathing so heavily that she couldn’t answer him right away. ‘I want ye Jack… just don’t stop!’

He grinned as he leaned forward again. He could feel the damp warmth of her body on his lips as he licked her again. Briefly. Just another stroke. He was going to tease her like she had teased him. An eye for an eye, a lick for a lick. He stopped again, smelling her arousal and he could see a glistening trail of her desire slide down from between her legs.

‘So wet luv…’ he stated. Knowing he was driving her mad by holding back like this. Devon wanted things her way, she had made that clear from the first time he had bedded her, but now they were on his Pearl. He outranked her. Therefore he was the one in charge.

‘Jack go on! Go on!’ she urged him, grinding her pelvis toward his face.

‘So wet… so eager…’ he growled, his voice dropping even more. He could barely restrain himself either but he wanted to see her squirm first. Devon trigged the beast in him. He had bedded so many women before this raven haired one had crossed his path. He had enjoyed every woman in her own way, but no one, not even the ones he held special memories of, could match Devon in passion. She loved it as much as he did, and feeling the way her body responded to his and vice versa, he knew that making love to another woman would never get as good as this.

He licked her again delicately slow and she moaned loudly. It was a primal growl and it seemed to come from deep inside of her. He licked again, sucking, licking. Devon hold on his locks got tighter, and he could feel her nails digging into his scalp. He sucked again and then he let his tongue slide inside of her. He felt the warmth of her body on his tongue and the passion she felt for him.

‘Jack please…. Fuck me… Now!’

‘Yer beggin’ me again, luv?’ he smiled against her warm pelvis ‘I could get used to tha’…’

He slid two fingers inside of her again and licked harder. She curled in pleasure but when her body twitched and trembled he stopped. Devon craved him. Her heart seemed to pound its way out of her chest. She had long forgotten the pain her chest still caused her when she and Jack engaged in such activities. She couldn’t hold back, she needed to go on, come hell or high water, she needed to go on until gravity would claim her again. Jack could sense how close she was to coming, but it wasn’t time yet. He wanted her to come as he did and he was determined delay it… just a bit longer.

‘Turn around!’ he ordered. Devon grabbed hold of the pegs of the wheel, somewhere deep down, she knew they must have drifted off course due to their escapade, but now was not the time to correct the error.

Just as she wanted to ask him what he was about to do, he pushed her head down to make her bend and took her forcefully from behind. Jack couldn’t hold back any longer. He pulled her head back by her hair, he could hurt her, he knew, but he also knew she liked things rough. As he sped up his pace and thrusted harder into her, Devon’s hand went down between her legs to stroke herself. Faster and faster she went to keep up with Jack’s pace. She bent down further to take him in even deeper and she had to grasp the wheel with both hands to keep herself from collapsing when her release came. Jack felt her narrowing around him and groaned as he pounded into her once last time before he poured his warm passion into her. Then he fell forward and rested his head on her back, his dreads tickling the shivering skin of her shoulders.

X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X (end of X segment)

Devon’s legs almost gave away and she breathed rapidly. This man could turn her into putty in his hands. And for the first time in her life, she didn’t mind.

‘Jack?’ she whispered hoarsely.

Jack had to regain his breath, he had given her all he had and it was so intense… He felt empty yet so fulfilled.

‘What?’ he gasped. ‘What is it luv?’

‘I lov–’ she stopped mid sentence. She couldn’t bring herself to say it. Not yet at any rate. That did not mean Devon did not want to tell him. Had she said the words aloud that she had spoken in her mind so many times, she would have meant every word, but she just couldn’t. She doubted she ever could. She had realized she loved him and that was enough. There was no need to tempt the Gods.

‘Tha’ was amazin’ Jack…’ she said instead.

For a moment Jack’s eyes narrowed… She started ta say somethin’ else…

‘Aye luv… it was. An’ now I be needin’ a smoke…’ he whispered back as he gently pulled himself out of her. He kissed her nape and pulled her nightshift down gently caressing her bare bottom as he did so.

‘I didn’t know ye smoked,’ she said as she got back up, shaking slightly on her somewhat unsteady legs. She felt their fluids slide down her legs, leaving a small turbid puddle on deck next to her left foot.

‘Hardly e’er do darlin’. But I’ve been savin’ this one…’ he said while he took a Cuban cigar out of his vest pocket, sniffing the exquisite scent of the tobacco, ‘…fer a special occasion.’

‘An’ this would be a special occasion, why?’ she asked, straightening his clothes and taking out his compass again. She studied it for a moment, trying to figure out how it worked, but sighed and decided to save that conversation for another night. As she closed the compass, she gazed up at the stars. Then she turned the wheel about to correct their position. They had drifted farther off course than she had imagined….

Jack lit a match to light his cigar and the light illuminated her face, her beautiful face. There she stood, behind the wheel of his ship again, like she had always been there with him, with them. He looked down on the wooden floor of the deck. He saw the puddle next to Devon’s foot and he smiled genuinely at the sight. His two favourite ladies, joined together with him. He and Devon mingled with the black wood of his first love. And he knew. He knew for certain as he inhaled deeply, shaking the matchstick out and tossing it casually overboard.

‘Cause yer mine…’ he whispered next to Devon’s ear as he released a breath he didn’t realise he’d been holding.

To be continued….