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The only light in the captain's cabin was the flicker of candle light, the ship's cat was curled up in a chair. The sounds of a quill scratching across parchment was heard as captain Cordelia delamare wrote down the list of materials, foods and other valuable items she needed to get tomorrow morning before she set sail again.
The sounds of squeaky floorboards was heard outside the cabin which was strange seeing as her crew were out enjoying themselves after a successful raid. Cordelia was however aware of a certain boat anchored not far from the tavern so it was only a matter of time before he showed up.
a shadow lurks outside the door getting ever so close. The door was already unlocked beforehand and the doorknob twists. Slowly creaking open Cordelia watches with unimpressed, slightly annoyed and secretly delighted eyes at who entered.
It was none other than captain of the ranger, Charles vane.cordelia's well known arch nemesis ( and a man she has been secretly harbouring feelings for ) Holding a razor blade, bits of shaving cream on his face along with a cut on his jaw. "Lady nemesis it appears I'm in need of your help" vane says earning a roll of the eyes from Cordelia.
However the young woman gets up from her chair, pats the seat for him to sit down in, whilst she goes to fetch a bowl with some water and a washcloth. "Sit down I'll be with you in a second" gathering up her things on the desk and putting them away Cordelia sets everything up on her desk waiting for him.
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With a big happy grin on his face the notoriously cold and merciless captain sits down obediently in the chair. Kicking up his feet on her dark wooden desk only for his legs to be lightly smacked and ushered back off of the desk again.
"I knew you wouldn't say no to this face" he knew he was being bold but he truly couldn't help himself when around her, the urge to tease and get on her nerves was just too strong. His smirk grows wider when she gives him the side eye.
Turning her face away with a "hmph!" Vane had to hold back a laugh with all his might at her reaction. A cold blade pressed against his throat in seconds and soft dangerous lips whispered in his ears.
"You are aware that you're trusting me with a sharp blade near your neck right captain vane?" Cordelia says but there was no venom behind her words. While he was busy looking at the knife to his neck with a raised brow and that stupid smirk still on his face, she couldn't help but notice he wasn't wearing his infamous red jacket but instead just a plain beige shirt, some trousers and leather boots.
His chest hair was poking out from the top of his shirt, his hair was a mess and his brown eyes were so- NO NO! She internally shakes her head at where her thoughts were headed and looks away from him. She couldn't stand him, the way he acted like he owned the place, the way he was always so confident, the fact he was so rude all the time, the way he'd always be there to save her or comfort her, the way he would smile at her.
The fact she got happy whenever he came back from tough missions which had him missing in action for some time. She hated him but at the same time hated whenever she had to be away from him and hated the times she cried and he wasn't there to hold her. She was daydreaming again and he was RIGHT THERE he made her feel like a silly teenager again, she despised it but by Davy Jones did she adore him. These were all thoughts going inside her head as she stared at him. All of these ranging from wanting to violently shake him by his shirt to doing something absolutely controversial.
To her at least .
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Vane noticed her hand shaking and looked up to see that she was in fact checking him out. He could see that something was going on inside her mind. If this was anyone else their head would be rolling across the wooden floors by now and painting it red, but this wasn't just anybody else this was a woman who he always had his eyes on from the moment they met.
Sure it started off as hate and a slight lust to warm the bed of a woman who he thought of as nothing more than a challenge. But the more he interacted with her, the more they crossed paths both on land and on sea. His feelings were starting to change. The day they were on that navy ship he saw her break down in front of him at the sight of her grandmother's painting. Something in him wanted to make all the bad things in her life disappear; he wanted to hold her close to him and tell her everything was okay.
Vane had to blink a few times and come back to his senses. What the bloody hell was he on about? His mind had been like this ever since that day but he couldn't really be sure whether this was his mind talking or if it was his heart. If it were both he was well and truly fucked.
"Oh please, I am far too wise and strong to be killed by some little blade. Besides, what would the people say if their famous pirate Captain had been slain by you? A pretty young thing with my blood on your hands" he makes an attempt to regain his senses and his composure, but her presence made it difficult. He knew she didn't really want to hurt him and posed no threat at all.
The way she was glancing at him made his chest feel all fluttery but he tried to ignore it, he can't let these girlish feelings get in the way of his pride can he?
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" But you forget yourself captain, I'm not just some pretty young thing. I've managed to run away from home, build my own crew, raid copious amounts of boats, face the navy, harsh storms, looked the kraken right in the eyes and outlived the words of mermaids I'm quite capable of ending you with just this small blade" saying this Cordelia gently places her hand under his chin to lift it up. The blade in her hands swiftly does its work to remove both the facial hair and the cream.
Cordelia had to roll her eyes when he looked up at her with wide eyes. He was completely smitten with this woman and how she carried herself, despite all the people telling her to go home and stop playing dress up she carried on going. He adored that about her.
Cordelia looked down at him as she went about shaving his chin, being careful not to catch his skin with the blade. She certainly preferred him over the despicable Thomas De Vere she had been arranged to marry before she ran away to become a pirate. She certainly preferred the way vane spoke and interacted with her over false plea tries and the façade of the perfect gentleman who sent her love letters and roses.
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Charles felt his face grow increasingly warm and tried his hardest to control himself when she placed her hand on his chin and lifted his head up.
Her face was so very beautiful as she slowly cleared away his razor cream. Why did she have to be so damn pretty? He tried to look her in the eye but couldn't, he would get too distracted by her soft features and emerald green eyes, truly the most beautiful of all gems.
While she was shorter than him he knew she could be quite the fiery spirit. Oh how he yearned to take her into his arms.
"Ahem.." he coughed to gather his thoughts. Damn it charles this is the worst time for you to act like a lovesick puppy, compose yourself .
"something the matter captain vane?" Cordelia asks, noticing him coughing. She had a concerned look on her face and placed the back of her hand on his forehead. She holds out the wet washcloth to him so he can wash off the remaining shaving cream. She also pulls out some antiseptic from a drawer and dabs it onto the wash cloth for the cut on his face from when he made a miserable attempt at shaving his face. She wanted to keep her hands busy fearing she'd do something she'd regret tomorrow.
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Charles takes the wet cloth from her, he didn't notice the antiseptic but thought perhaps a good scrubbing was needed anyway. He looks at Cordelia who had a face of concern on her face, she never was that nice to him before. Unless she was trying to win one of those contests for being nice.
"No... no...nothing" he mumbles, turning away from her so she doesn't see his blushing face so obviously. His thoughts still thinking of that hand on his face when she lifted his chin up. He wanted her to do it again. As if the gods above or whatever deity out there were listening, a small soft hand rests on his shoulder before moving to tilt his chin towards her showing the cut on his face.
"Stay still" in a quiet voice she speaks, brushing back strands of his face. While she didn't often show this side of her to him that doesn't mean she never did. He has saved her life countless times; he sat by her bed the entire time she was impaled by that bit of wood and had to get it surgically removed, not to mention throughout her whole recovery he was there for her. Any moment during her quest did she start to lose hope he'd always be there to help her out or her thoughts of him would keep her going.
Cordelia sighs exhausted from her long day of pirating and the conflicting thoughts going on in her brain but brushes it off "this is going to sting a little alright?" She tells him before putting the small cloth with antiseptic in it onto the fresh cut.
"Yes ma'am" Charles listens and stays still holding his breath until the pain is all too much causing a yelp of pain to escape him.
"Yes it stings and it stings a lot" he says looking away from her trying to be brave but internally he is a big baby.
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"This isn't too bad.." he says, his tone a little higher and more feminine than usual trying to suppress his pain.
Cordelia had to bite her bottom lip and stop herself from laughing but a quiet snicker escapes her. "My my captain vane~" she speaks up "to think the big, burly, scary and fearless captain of the ranger would act like this after one nip of a razor is actually quite humorous . I wonder what all your doting fans would say ~" her voice was playful but her other hand rubs his shoulder to help soothe him as she continues cleaning his cut.
He looked up to see that smile that he had started to think about in the dark times at sea. " Hmmm...very funny Lady nemesis, very funny indeed " his voice was playful, it appears he is a bit of a softy after all.
He had decided he may not be so bad off after all, at least she is tending to his wounds.
"Do tell me, what do you think of my face without a beard? I feel rather naked and I know you're staring." Vane says this but he really only had just some stubble growing. He looked into her eyes a mischievous gleam appearing on his own.
Cordelia was about to answer him until she realised what he was doing and pressed just a little harder with the antiseptic coated cloth. "Ow ow ow ow!!" Comes a hiss from vane wincing at the sting on his jaw.
"Hmm you're smart captain vane very smart" she says in the same tone voice he used with her. Though her other hand still rubs his shoulder, secretly she was loving how strong his shoulders felt but at the same time wanted to comfort him.
"And why does my approval of your lack of facial hair matter to you exactly?" She counters with a smirk and a raised eyebrow. Her long wild hair fell in her face, she herself dressed in clothes that made it appear she was just going to relax in her captain cabin tonight.
Charles winces but tries to maintain his composure as she pressed harder. "Why do you think Lady Delamare? I am a man and therefore I need to know what the ladies think." He was feeling flustered again, those gentle rubs on his shoulder made him feel things he shouldn't.
Dammit Charles, think of something quick!
"Besides, a lady's opinion matters the most, for it is in their hearts that I seek to win."
That earned a look from Cordelia, one that wasn't particularly a nice look either "oh so that's what this is?" She asks, pulling her hands away and crossing her arms over her chest. "And there are no other ladies you'd rather ask or was I the closest and easiest one for you?" She asks him this with a sceptic look on her face. She really hoped he didn't just see her as a number as a challenge to win.
"No, don't be silly Lady Delamare" his eyes followed her hands as they crossed her chest. "I only believe YOUR opinion is the most important." He looked into her eyes, don't fuck this up Charles.
She was no game to him or a prize of any kind. In his eyes she was his equal, while yes she was extremely beautiful watching her do pretty much anything could send him into a trance. He simply just wanted to know what she thought of his appearance.
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Cordelia had to pause, confused as to why her opinion mattered the most. Another part of her however was happy, excited, ecstatic that it was her thoughts that mattered to him most. Oh what was she thinking!
A red tint appeared on her cheeks and her eyes widened when he uttered those words. Vane couldn't help but find how adorable she looked. "What do you think about my new look? Tell me it's rubbish and I will grow my beard back." He speaks up wanting to hear what she thought. His eyes followed her as she began to move.
Cordelia just sighs and walks to stand in front of him. The cloth razor blade was placed on the table safely. She sits on his lap and reaches out to put a Bandaid on his cut. "whether there's peach fuzz on your face or not captain vane you will still never fail to infuriate me" saying this her voice held no venom unlike the first time they met when they both were ready to toss the other into the ocean and never look back.
She couldn't exactly point out what it was she was feeling or well she knew what the feeling was but just didn't want to accept that out of all the men in the world she just had to fall for him . Her hand gently caresses his jaw as she thinks about this stuff and goes into yet another internal monologue about this man.
Charles' heart was racing as Cordelia sat in his lap, he had to resist the urge to put his arms around her waist. She could probably feel his racing heart. He was looking at her lips when he heard her speak. They had become somewhat closer, maybe even enough to call each other friends, he was proud of himself for that and yet he still wanted more.
Maybe he should ask her? He'd never have the words though. He wasn't good at this romantic stuff, so he did the only thing he was good at, being a pirate. And he kissed her.
The cabin was silent after this. completely silent. Deathly silently. The wash cloth was dropped to the floor and for once in her life Cordelia's brain and body froze. Her face goes bright red and the shy young noble her family had tried to raise her into becoming was silently celebrating in her head.
With wide eyes Cordelia wasn't looking at anything and the touch of his lips felt so...she wanted to pull away and scream at him for doing such a thing. But...she didn't, as the kiss carried on Cordelia doesn't pull away once, in fact the captain finds her eyes falling shut and her head leaning in the kiss her arch nemesis back the same man she had been harbouring feelings for quite some time now. Her hands rested on his chest, her thighs lightly squeezing his waist.
His mind went blank. This was not what he was expecting. His hands wrapped around her waist and pulled her closer. The feeling of her thighs squeezing him was incredible but her lips were so delicious he couldn't bring himself to break the kiss and risk losing it.
He had to find something to say, this awkward silence was killing him but he didn't want it to end. "This isn't supposed to happen, '' Charles whispered as he kissed her once more. Her arms wrap around his neck and her body pressed flush against his. Lips collide unable to pull apart until "you started this" Cordelia between kisses utters those words coming out in a whisper.
Gods the way he kissed her was so... enchanting she couldn't find it in her to stop. It was as if the dam to her feelings had finally collapsed. "What we're doing is so wrong but hasn't everything we've done up to this point in our lives been somewhat questionable I mean we're pirates for heaven sakes" she could not believe those words were leaving her mouth.
Charles felt her body press against his, his hands running across her thighs, his fingers feeling her soft skin and her chest rising and falling so rhythmically. His mind went completely blank, he didn't want to question or over think what was happening he just wanted to feel everything. He was enjoying every moment of her soft lips kissing his.
He chuckled at her words. "You're right about that, but I couldn't let us sail away with me not having seen you or held you at least once " he whispered before pulling her closer and kissing her once more.
A look of sorrow fell on her face and she pulled away "you're leaving again so soon? When did you first arrive at the port?" She asks him, her hand coming up to rest on his cheek. She looked him right in the eyes now unable to tear her emerald green eyes away from his earthy brown ones.
She knows that they're both captains of different crews and that their schedules didn't always line up but that doesn't mean she didn't miss him when he wasn't near her.
"My ship is anchored just off shore, as is my crew. I came for the opportunity to spend some time with you." Charles eyes are locked onto hers, he had to resist touching those lips again.
"But... I don't think I'm able to leave you yet" he said as he gently kissed her once more. He had to hold back from kissing her more passionately, he knew if he did that they would be stuck in here for a while. God it felt so good.
"When are you leaving?" She whispers against his lips and holds onto him as if afraid he'll disappear from her sight. They were both busy people and as a pirate when you got the chance to relax you took it without hesitation. He chose to spend that time with her so she was at least grateful and honoured that he chose to see her.
More kisses were exchanged, short and sweet quick ones but by Neptune's beard did she want to stay like this in his lap forever "oh heavens vane" she sighs against his mouth.
To be continued -