Cherish || BlackBonnet

3 [M]

Stede leaned down to kiss Ed, smiling as, yet again, the man's hair was caught in between their lips. "Sorry about that." Stede laughed, "It's no problem- here." He untied Ed's hair and gathered up all the loose strands, securing it in a low knot at the base of his neck. All the while, Ed watched him contentedly.

"You are so perfect."
"No, it's definitely you."
"I love you."
"I love you more."
Stede chuckled, "Must everything be a competition with you?" Ed loosened his cravat, the black one from Stede. "Only if you let me win." They kissed again, hungrily now, and Stede shimmied out of his pants in a hurry, desperate to be in Ed's hold again. Ed tugged on the hem of his silk boxers, but Stede reached for his pants insistently.

Sighing impatiently, Ed tugged off his trousers and stood ass naked in front of his lover. "Like what you see?" Stede hid behind his hands, "Ed that's not- I can't-!" Ed tugged off the silk, leaving them both panting and bare.

"Uh, Ed... what now?"

— — —

It was like a dance, a dirty, beautiful dance. Also, a dance neither of them knew. It was a lot of "what now?" and "that hurts!" but they finally reached a pace that fit their melody. "Ed, please!" Stede gasped as he felt something foreign inside. It hurt a little, but... in a good way. "I'm going to move now, ok?" It felt like fire whiskey in his blood, like the gods were lifting him up to heaven.

Their bodies moved in sync, a push and pull like the tides and moon, only sweatier and between, well, two middle-aged men. Stede's moans were breathy and high-pitched, mingling with Ed's deeper, throatier groaning like a song. Their pace picked up, leaving the music behind as he chased an ever elusive climax.

The throbbing ebbed and flowed, rising in their chests like a tidal wave until finally it came crashing down. Ed bit down on his lip as he spilled into Stede, wrapping a tight fist around the other's length and pumping up and down until his hand was sticky with release. Stede came with a squeak, bucking his hips forward once more before collapsing, exhausted.

He curled up against Ed's chest, relishing each gentle kiss and touch as though it was from the hand of God. And it might as well have been, with the love he held for him. Holding each other tight, as though the other might slip away while they dreamt, the two captains drifted off to sleep.

— — —

When Stede awoke, it was to an empty bed. In his daze, he glanced around for his partner sleepily. "Ed?" As his mind cleared, he began to grow a bit scared. What if last night wasn't as good for Ed as it was for him? What if he was just a fling? Ed walked in with a tray, wearing naught but trousers and a bright smile. "Hello, lovely."

Stede exhaled, scooting over on the bed to leave room for Ed to set down a tray of tea and toast. "Oh Ed it's marvelous, you shouldn't have!"
"I shouldn't have?"
"Figure of speech. I love you!"

He threw himself at the man, haphazardly hugging him with blatant disregard for the tea set. "Ooh- I love you too but careful, you'll burn yourself." They spent the better part of that morning in each others' arms, sipping tea as Ed regaled Stede with tales of miraculous fights and epic victories, since he seemed so enamored with them.

Around noon, a harsh clattering came from above deck. Ed kissed the tips of Stede's fingers, "Don't worry yourself darling, I'll check." Alas, before he could depart, a shout echoed down the corridor. Then, a gunshot.