The Bet

Authors Note: Since i can't seem to write anything im happy with for New Horizons, i figured i'd play with this idea i had instead. Hope you enjoy it. Thanks to my Beta DesiringPirates for her help, it is always appreciated.

THE BET

“Four Threes.” Jack spit out.

“Five Threes.” Elizabeth straightened in her chair and stared him down. “Just keep in mind Jack if you lose this time what’s at stake.”

”Funny.” He grumbled. “Six Threes.” He stated quite sure of himself even though this time he was in fact lying. She had been too, so she had to know he was.

Lying had become second nature to him around her. He couldn’t tell her how he really felt about her, or why he had been refusing to bring her back to Port Royal after Will’s death. He was pretty certain she was picking up on something. When she came in and challenged him to liars dice she merely confirmed it. The stakes were very high, more so for his pride than anything else. If she won he would have to tell her why he had been acting so oddly around her and then return her to Port Royal. Which meant confessing his adoration for her only to lose her. There wasn’t much point in that for him. If he won, well, he got her for the evening. Something he had wanted since they had met. Some how that idea didn’t excite him much, there was something wrong with winning her. Sure he wanted her, but not that way. If it were any other woman he would have been all for it, but not Elizabeth. He wanted her to offer it up to him because she wanted him as well not because of a silly bet she had made for other reasons.

He needed some game plan other than refusing to call her a liar. That would only get him so far. He needed an explanation that wouldn’t destroy his ego, but maybe could get her into his arms without a fuss. A million thoughts of how he got to this moment ran through his head as he stare her down.

She kissed him to feed him to a beastie. Girls usually don’t kill men they are romantically interested in; she couldn’t possibly want him. That kiss said otherwise. He treasured that memory, bizarre as it sounded, and he’d die again if only for one more taste of her.

She had come to rescue him, so maybe there was really something there. Maybe she felt the same fire he had. Maybe, like he, she didn’t realize how much he meant to her until it was too late. He tossed that up to wishful thinking, she probably just felt guilty.

But then there was that little incident where he called her some rather not nice things and she merely stood there waiting until he let her speak her peace. Of course he had just been brought back from purgatory and a rather painful almost death. So he did have a right to be a little irritable didn’t he? But she had come to him understanding he would be angry and withstood his browbeating to apologize to him for her betrayal. A few weeks later he even managed an apology himself, since he didn’t really mean anything he had spat at her. The fact that he apologized to her had meant a lot, she told him that. She also told him that he hadn’t really owed her one.

It took some time for them to heal after that but he was there when she needed him. When the silly eunuch stabbed the heart of Davy Jones thinking it would save his father he ended up finding an end for himself, Jones, and Bootstrap in a rather unceremonious fashion. She had cried on his shoulder many a night, and he didn’t even mind. He was more bothered that she was distraught and missed her smile. Another sign that she had vexed him for sure.

Then came that horrid day when she’d asked him to go back to Port Royal quoting that there was ‘nothing’ for her on the Pearl. That had actually pissed him off. “Not like there’s anything in bloody Port Royal for ye either,” He had shouted at her without thinking, but when does Jack Sparrow ever think before he says things to women. She cried for a few hours that day as she remembered in vivid detail Beckett’s cold-blooded murder of her father. He was hurt that she would think about leaving, he hadn’t meant to cause her any more pain. He knew better than anyone just how much she had been in since his return. He had invested so much of his time in their friendship; something he didn’t have with, well, anyone. He couldn’t lose it.

Until he heard she may leave, he hadn’t so much has ever envisioned her not being around to offer up a challenge to him. It wasn’t until then that he actually thought about what life without Elizabeth would be like. That scared the infamous pirate. He actually loved her, everything about her. She could push him, challenge him, and arouse him with merely words or a smile. She had long been the subject of his midnight fantasies but lets face it, they were just fantasies. There was no way she would drop into his lap without some serious dedication from him. No matter how badly he wanted her, even Captain Jack Sparrow couldn’t just take that treasure. But then again, she had offered her body to him in barter. Maybe he did stand a chance. He was just not well enough versed in women’s behaviors. Whores he was good with, but women, they were different. And this one…she was nearly impossible to figure out.

But now Elizabeth sat across from him with a fire in her eyes. That same fire he first saw the day she kissed him and flipped his world inside out. Something wasn’t quite usual with her.

“Lizzie, I don’t have all night.” He grumbled at her, growing tired of his minds endless debate, he would figure it out as he went. Something he had become quite good at over the years.

“Neither do I…. LIAR!” She smiled triumphantly at him.

He felt a twitching in his loins when she had said that. But now he was screwed. Destined to get his heart trampled on if he admitted how he felt and crushed when she left. Why had he agreed to this little game when he knew what he was risking? “Not like you aren’t in fact one too.” He stated as he showed her his dice. He wanted her to know that he knew she was lying. Maybe she would take some pity on him then.

“Ah, but you neglected to call me on it,” a look of slight confusion registered on her face as she thought about why he would have possibly passed on having her after all the innuendo he sent her way over the years. She wanted him. Didn’t he want her too? He may not have been certain of it, but she was secretly hoping to lose, but she’d never tell him that. She trusted him, but she didn’t want to become another notch on the captain’s belt either. “Your loss Captain Sparrow. Would you like me to go instruct Gibbs of our new heading?” She hoped pushing him about leaving would get him to admit that he wanted her to stay. She could sense it. Jack Sparrow actually seemed to care about her. After all why else would he always check up on her and offer her as many comforts as a ship could provide. That couldn’t be all a ruse.

“I’m the Captain and I will tell Gibbs when we are to make heading for Port Royal.” He snapped at her, not entirely meaning too but he couldn’t deal with losing her. He removed himself from his desk where he sat and paced the room to deal with his discomfort.

“Jack.” She tried to get his attention but he seemed to be ignoring her. “Captain!” She finally yelled breaking him of his trance.

“What?” He grumbled coming across as a sore loser instead of emotionally distraught. He didn’t want her to know why he was so moody, but he longed to be able to tell her.

“Why are you so against my return to Port Royal?” She asked as she rose to stand face to face with him now aware she needed to challenge him directly or he would just continue avoiding her.

“Doesn’t bloody matter now. You won your passage back so leave me to me onesie.” He picked up a bottle of rum from the nightstand and started chugging it in typical Jack fashion, trying to shut out the world and the emotions she brought out in him.

“I believe an explanation was also part of the terms Captain Sparrow.” She stepped into him and lowered the bottle from his lips and back to the nightstand. A shock surged through him as she touched the skin on his hand, she had to feel it too as she pulled back quickly. “And it better be good because I know you chose to lose our little game, Jack.”

After a moment, “You sure you want to give up this freedom, Lizzie?” He tried changing the subject back to her desires because his own were starting to spring to life.

“The freedom, no…the loneliness, well that’s another story.” She frowned and sat back down at the desk staring at him. She was starting to realize he wasn’t going to answer her honestly no matter how hard she pushed him.

“There are plenty of people around for ye to talk to on board. Gibbs, Marty, Pintel…. me” he raised his eyes to look at her sitting at his desk. The cunning her eyes held before somehow disappearing into a melancholy.

“Jack.” She sighed, “you know it’s different. I know your only real experience with women is with whores, but believe it or not some of us need more than that.”

He knew what she meant. It had been many a month since a whore had been able to cure Jack Sparrow of his desire and he knew it had a lot to do with her. She was the first woman he’d ever known that he actually enjoyed being around. That meant something for him. No woman lasted that long around Captain Jack. He couldn’t envision not having her around to exchange quips with, to laugh with, and to tease. “What about me?” he asked coming off a little selfish.

“This isn’t about you Jack. God. Why does everything have to come back to you!”? She snapped at him. It never ceased to amaze him how her mood seemed to change like the breeze. “I need more than a friend. Life at sea isn’t going to offer me that is it?”

He had to come out with it, but how could he express in words what he had fought to suppress for so long. “Elizabeth. You can’t leave me…err…. the Pearl.”

Suddenly her ears perked up and she looked at him, the fire growing in her eyes again. “Why?” she challenged clearly sensing a hidden truth.

“Cause um…. the crew…. they like having ye around as it were, enjoy your company and all.”

She felt bold in that moment. “Liar.”

“Fine. Its me who likes having you around.” He admitted with a strange sense of truth to his words.

“Why?” She stood now standing eye to eye with him. Something resembling lust in her eyes but Jack fought to ignore it.

“I don’t have to tell you that.” He taunted coming off a little childish.

“Yes you do. You want me to stay give me one good reason why I should.” She pointed her finger into his chest burning a hole through him, his breeches getting tighter by the minute and his heart moving to fill his throat.

He squirmed in his boots. He was more uncomfortable than he had ever been and he needed an escape.

“An answer would be nice Jack.” She stated having quickly grown impatient with his antics.

He wasn’t sure what overcame him but in that instant he grabbed her and pressed a kiss to her lips. Her lips parted. Still unsure of whether his advance was a good idea or not he decided to risk it and dive his tongue into her mouth, searching and entwining it with hers while he pulled her tighter into his arms. He didn’t want to let her go. He could have either just made his situation worse but he felt so at ease with her in his arms. When he released her, he immediately put his hands up in defense against the impending slap. It never came. Elizabeth just watched him, eyes hungry and gleaming. He lowered his arms and looked at her.

“I’m not going to get smacked for that?” He questioned biting his lip and looking at her like a he was unsure.

She stood there a few more moments before she stalked after him as he backed up into a corner sensing danger.

“Bugger” he mumbled as he hit the cabin wall. Then it happened. He felt her body against his and their tongues collided in another passionate embrace.

It all occurred so quickly. Jack was in bewilderment. Elizabeth was in his arms and he hadn’t exactly forced her there. If anything she had forced her way into them. Of course he had provoked her, but this was her choice. She wanted him.

She had wanted him all along; in fact that was why she claimed to want to head back to Port Royal in the first place. Even though everything she had known was gone she couldn’t bare being on the ship with him anymore if he wasn’t going to make a move. The only way to get Jack to move was to back him into a corner. Jack Sparrow was on his game when all odds were against him. This was her way of getting him to admit what she hoped to be true. He was never going to be a loyal and traditional suitor, but he could at least send her some definitive sign instead of hinting at everything in such a vague manner. Who was she kidding though? This was Captain Jack Sparrow and when was he ever clear about his intentions? Right now though she didn’t care. She wanted him and she would worry about intentions later.

He lifted her up and walked towards his bunk. “Ye sure about this Lizzie?” he asked as he moved. She merely nodded her head and kissed him again. That was all the encouragement he needed. He sit her down and looked at her a moment before he moved to take off his effects. He was fiddling with his belts, which suddenly became quite difficult to unfasten, when he noticed that she had removed her shirt and was staring at him bare breasted. As he struggled and pulled at the leather bands trying ever so diligently to get them off quickly, she laughed at him and offered her assistance. For which he was very grateful. She pulled his shirt over his head and ran her hands over his masculine form all the while kissing him.

His hands moved from her back slowly, as to not startle her by his hunger. He cupped her breasts and rolled his thumbs over her nipples as he trailed his lips down her body to join his hands. She couldn’t help but moan as he worked his magic and made her feel things she had only read about in books she wasn’t even supposed to have been reading. She moved her hands to the waist of his breeches and began pushing them down his legs. Sensing her eagerness he finished the task and moved to slide hers off as well. Then for some reason it dawned on him that this may be her first time. He slid himself up her body leaning on his elbows above her.

“Lizzie. Have you ever…”

“No.” she cut him off, “does it matter?” She looked concerned that he was going to stop.

“Not in the least.” He lied. While he had never experienced the thrill of being a woman’s first he didn’t want to hurt her either. He figured he’d better make sure she was ready and forgo entering her for a bit.

He slid back down her body positioning his mouth at her entrance. He ran his hand over the light puff of hair there and separated her legs. He then flicked his tongue out and tasted her. She was better than he’d ever imagined and hungered for more. He probed his tongue deeper all the while having to hold her hips in place as she squirmed and moaned from his ministration. He introduced one finger and then two exploring her making her body buck and toss around. As her wet heat clenched down around him he knew it was now or never. He crawled back up to her lips kissing her hungrily as he positioned himself.

“Ready Lizzie?” he asked.

“Yes!” She screamed needing him back where he had been.

He quickly trust himself into her, holding as still as he could until she adjusted to him. It broke his heart to watch the tears build and escape her eyes but he knew he had to do it. Finally she leaned up and kissed him as she began moving experimentally below him. He took the hint and started at a slow, steady pace. He couldn’t believe how tight, how right, she felt around him. He would never so much as speak to another whore if he could have her like this forever. As he thrust himself deeper and deeper he couldn’t help but wonder where this would leave them. But he pushed those thoughts from his head as he felt himself building to a breaking point. She was clearly approaching hers. He dipped his head back to her breasts and took one in his mouth swirling his tongue around the nipple teasingly as his pace increased and became somewhat erratic. She started chanting his name as her body began shaking and trembling underneath him. He couldn’t hold any longer and screamed her name as he climaxed with her. They lay entwined together for a few moments before Jack slipped out of her and wrapped her up in his arms. They lay silently staring at one another, neither really sure what to say, as they fell asleep.


Jack awoke some hours later, finding a sleeping Lizzie still in his arms and sun shining brightly into his cabin. He couldn’t believe he hadn’t dreamt the night before. Then it hit him. She was going to hate him as soon as she realized what had happened and he’d better go somewhere with witnesses. She’d be less likely to kill him again if the crew were around. He went to swing out of the bed but was stopped as a hand grabbed his arm.

“Don’t leave.” She said pulling him back, “We need to talk.”

Too late he was certain he was done for. “I have to go instruct Gibbs to change direction.” He commented.

“Don’t.” she replied pulling at him again. Why was he so bloody stupid sometimes?

“Why? You’re the one that wants to go back?” He sounded somewhat saddened by the words he was speaking.

She realized that she had to tell him since he was too damn stubborn to admit anything on his own accord. “Jack, I want to stay with you.”

Was he hearing this? He had to find out more so he lay back down. She reached for him and wrapped an arm over his torso as he lay on his elbow looking at her without a clue as to what to say. “You don’t have to change direction Jack, I want to stay on the Pearl with you. So long as you want me around still?” She bit her lip waiting for a reply, part of her fearing that he had gotten what he wanted and part of her believing he sincerely wanted her there.

He leaned over and kissed her. “I want you around Lizzie.” Kissing her again, “I’ve always wanted ye. Just never thought I’d actually get ye.”

“You got me Jack.” She kissed him. “You could have had me for a while.”

She kissed him again, “What took you so bloody long?”