A Pirate's Life for Me

*****Disclaimer*****

I do not own the characters portrayed herein. The situations and dialogue, however, belong to me. I have earned no monetary recompense from this story.

******Author’s Note*****

This is my first POTC fic. It is rated for later chapters. Please review!

*****************************

CHAPTER ONE
A PIRATE'S LIFE FOR ME

“All right, boys, time to bunk down!” Captain Jack Sparrow stood on the deck of the Black Pearl, one booted foot propped on an almost-empty cask of rum. The night watch took his place at the wheel as the rest of the crew began heading towards the hold, where their hammocks waited. It had been a long weary day for the crew, even longer and harder than these battle-hardened pirates were used to.

At the captain’s words, Elizabeth Swann turned away from the railing, where she had been watching the last streaks of gold fade from the western horizon. “Captain,” she said, touching his arm. He glanced down at her hand before he looked at her face and she drew back, blushing. “Captain,” she repeated, more tentatively now, “where…where should I sleep?”

Captain Jack cursed softly as he realized that she was right to ask. She couldn’t very well sleep in the hold with the crew. She would just have to share his cabin. Quickly, he snatched the nearest crew member by the collar of his shirt and ordered him to hang a hammock in the captain’s cabin. The man rushed off to obey.

Elizabeth looked at Jack, confused. “Why do you need a hammock,” she asked, “won’t you be sleeping with the crew?”

Jack feigned shock. Spreading his arms in mock innocence, he cried, “I can’t sleep in the hold! I’m the captain! It’s simply not done.” He stuck his nose in the air, imitating the mannerisms of the high society of which Elizabeth had until recently been an active participant. Elizabeth giggled involuntarily, slapping her hand to her mouth. Jack smirked, offering her his arm. Elizabeth placed her hand on his and allowed him to lead her formally past the goggling crewmen to the door of his cabin, where she broke down in uncontrollable giggles as he opened the cabin door and bowed her in.

Elizabeth entered the room, still grinning. At the sound of the door slamming behind her, however, she whirled around, the smile fading from her face. Jack leaned against the closed door, his hands behind his head, and looked at her appraisingly. Elizabeth flushed as his eyes slid down her body. She was uncomfortable enough in the ill-fitting breeches and loose sailor’s shirt she had stolen the day before – now Jack was looking at her as if she was wearing nothing at all!

Elizabeth found herself growing angry as his gaze focused on her breasts, which showed slightly through the loosely-laced opening of her shirt. She clutched the two sides together and glowered at him. Jack grinned knowingly, angering her further. “I hope you’re not expecting anything,” she spat.

Jack raised his eyebrows and tried to look innocent, failing utterly. “Expecting anything?” he queried, “and just what, pray tell, might I be expecting?”

“You know very well,” she shot back, turning away from him. Unfortunately, this left her facing Jack’s bed. The white feather pillows and red satin coverlet were surprisingly clean and fine for what she had become used to seeing aboard the Black Pearl. Elizabeth tried to force her eyes away from the bed, but they kept returning to it. Unbidden thoughts kept coming to her, all involving herself, Jack, and the bed. Elizabeth covered her face with her hands, trembling slightly, shocked and ashamed at the strange longing she was feeling. She wasn’t supposed to be having feelings like this for Jack – it was Will she loved, Will she wanted, Will she was going to marry!

She jumped when she felt Jack’s hand touch her, caressing her lower back gently.

“Miss Swann,” he said softly, “Elizabeth. Are you all right?”

Elizabeth took a deep breath to steady herself and forced her voice to sound calmer than she felt. “I’m fine,” she said, turning to face him and knocking his hand off her back. She almost gasped aloud as she found herself almost nose-to nose with Jack. She stepped back quickly and looked away, twining her hands together nervously. “I need something to wear,” she demanded, trying to sound braver than she felt.

Jack nodded, moving to the trunk at the foot of the bed. He drew out a nightshirt and tossed it to her. She caught it and looked around for somewhere to change. There was no screen or curtain to hide behind.

“You’ll have to step out while I change,” she said finally, avoiding his eyes.

“What,” he said in mock outrage, swaggering toward her, “You’re kicking me out of my own cabin?”

“I can’t very well change in front of you!” Elizabeth cried, incensed.

He smirked, running his eyes over her body, clad in pirate garb, again lingering over her breasts. She felt her face growing hot and glared at him until he looked away. He sighed and turned to face the wall, his back to her.

Elizabeth undressed quickly, eyeing him suspiciously to be sure he didn’t turn around. She donned the large shirt, lacing the neck tightly.

“Alright,” she said finally, “you may turn around.”

Jack spun on his heel immediately, looking eager. His face fell when he saw that she was, indeed, clothed. He smiled again, however, when he realized his shirt only reached her knees. He eyed her exposed calves and feet admiringly.

Elizabeth, oblivious to the direction of Jack’s gaze, marched over to his desk. A pitcher of water and a basin stood there. Pouring some water into the basin, she washed her face and dried it on a folded hand towel she found tucked behind the basin.

“I don’t suppose you own a hairbrush,” she snapped, still wiping her face with the towel.

“Umm, no,” Jack said, lifting one of his thick dreadlocks and inspecting it.

Elizabeth sighed and began combing her hair out with her fingers. The motion lifted the shirt higher, exposing her knees and several inches of thigh. Jack stared, unable to tear his eyes away from the expanse of creamy white skin she had unknowingly presented to him. He caught his breath as he felt his penis begin to harden. God, she was beautiful!

Forcing himself to turn away from her, Jack perched on the edge of the bed and began to remove his boots, bending forward somewhat farther than was necessary, in order to hide the tell-tale bulge in his breeches. “What are you thinking,” he scolded himself silently, “she’s spoken for! I may be a pirate, but I have my honor!”

“I hope you’re not expecting me to sleep in the hammock.” Elizabeth’s voice took him off guard and he looked up to find her standing over him, her hands on her hips. Her breasts were right at the level of his eyes, thrust forward by her boyish stance, and he was unable to reply for a moment.

Suddenly, he jumped up and backed away a few steps. “ ‘Course not,” he said, gesturing broadly, “it is my duty as Captain to see to the comfort of my guests.”

“Well,” Elizabeth said formally, “good night, Captain Sparrow.”

Jack paused before responding. It took every ounce of strength he possessed not to kiss her at that moment. He knew that he had to allow himself some measure of surrender to this overwhelming urge or it would consume him beyond self-control. He reached forward and took her hand. He locked his eyes on hers as he lifted her hand – it was so soft! – to his mouth and kissed it gently. “Good night, Miss Swann,” he murmured.

Elizabeth was having almost as much trouble breathing as she had the day she’d worn that blasted corset – the day she’d met Jack Sparrow. Her hand felt cold when he released it. His hand had been so warm and strong. For all his swaggering, boasting ways, his was a hand used to real, honest work.

Elizabeth looked down at her bare feet, her face hot. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw his hand move again. Jack touched her chin gently, lifting her face to his. His lips were a hair’s breadth from hers, his eyes smoldering.

“Jack…” she breathed.

Unable to stop himself, Jack kissed her. She stiffened momentarily, then gave in to him, leaning into his body. Jack slid his left arm around her waist and buried his right hand in her hair. Elizabeth moaned softly as he opened his mouth and slid his tongue between her lips. She slid her hands into the open neck of his shirt, running her fingers across the surface of his chest. Jack shuddered with pleasure at the sensation at the sensation and tightened his arms around her, pulling her firmly against him. A shock of intense pleasure coursed through his body as his pelvis ground into hers.

Suddenly, Elizabeth stopped. She withdrew her mouth from his and looked up at him, breathing hard. She could feel his erection against her belly and knew that her body was similarly aroused. She was a virgin, but she had pleasured herself often enough to know this tingling and wetness for what it was. As Jack leaned down to kiss her again, she forced herself to turn her face away.

Elizabeth stepped back and turned away from him, trembling from the effort. “I can’t,” she whispered.

“What d’you mean, you can’t?” said Jack, confused. He had never before been refused by a woman – or a man, for that matter. Of course, all the women he knew were prostitutes and all the men were pirates, but still!

“I can’t do this, Jack.” She turned to face him. Jack caught his breath at the sight. Her face was flushed, her lips were kiss-swollen, and her hair was mussed. She was the most beautiful thing Jack had seen in his life. Jack gestured broadly, dismissing the pang of regret he felt at her words.

“You know,” he said, grinning, “they’re all gonna think we’ve done it anyway, so we might as well.”

Elizabeth gasped. Stepping forward, she slapped him hard across the face. He rubbed his injured cheek and smirked wryly at her. “I probably deserved that one,” he said quietly.

She sighed deeply and sat on the edge of the bed. “I can’t, Jack,” she said sadly, “I’m taken. I’m as good as married to Will.”

“I don’t see a ring on your finger, Elizabeth,” Jack said pointedly.

She looked away, ashamed of her behavior. “I can’t deny that I want you, Jack – “ God, how she wanted him! “—but it wouldn’t be right.” She looked up and said firmly, “Good night, Captain Sparrow,” before climbing into bed, pulling the coverlet up to her neck and turning her face away from him.

Jack swore loudly. Snatching up the lantern, he stormed out of the cabin, slamming the door behind him. Elizabeth let out her breath shakily, relieved. Slipping her hand between her legs, she rubbed herself to a quick, unsatisfying orgasm. She had always been happy with her ability to satisfy herself, but tonight it just wasn’t enough. Her body ached for more – for Jack.

* * *

Jack looked out over the black ocean at the full moon rising off the port bow of the Black Pearl. From his perch in the crow’s nest, he had a clear view of the entire deck. He had kept his eyes on the door of his cabin as he attempted, with minimal success, to relieve some of the pressure in his loins. He had hoped she would follow him, but when the door had remained firmly shut after ten minutes, he gave up and turned to the comforting, eternal expanse of the sea.