Runaway- CaptainSwan AU

• Chapter 12 •

Emma's eyes widened in realization. She swallowed thickly, her heart suddenly beating ten times more erratically than it already was. Her breath began to come shorter.

"Y-you wanna kiss me?" Emma managed, suddenly almost unable to catch her breath. She swallowed heavily and took a slight step back.

Killian gently took her hand back in his and carefully closed the distance between them once again.

"I know you're scared," Killian whispered. "I won't let you down. I won't hurt you, I promise you, Emma."

"They all say that," Emma breathed.

Emma swallowed again. Her throat was dry. Why was her throat so dry?

"I won't force you to do anything, love... tell me you don't want this and I'll leave you be," Killian said, refusing to let her break eye contact.

Emma opened her mouth then shut it again. Three times, she tried to say it, and three times, she failed.

"Damnit, Killian, you can't do that!" Emma exclaimed, getting anxious as she avoided his eyes.

"What, love?"

"Y-you can't ask me say something that isn't true."

Killian's mouth twitched into a slight smile. So it was true. She wanted this too.

"Do you trust me?" Killian whispered, caressing her arms.

Emma had to keep reminding herself to breathe. But he was so close, so intoxicating, and all she could wonder was how she hadn't exploded yet.

"Of course I trust you..." Emma managed.

In. Out.

"Then let me in, love. Let me past those walls."

He was so damn close. His touch on her arms alone was already driving her crazy. Breathe. She wanted so badly to give in and press her lips to his. She could feel his warm breath hitting her skin in steady puffs as each second made his gaze more intense and brought his lips closer to hers.

"It's just you and me," Killian whispered.

She'd fantasized about this moment countless times, though she'd never admit it to Killian. And now, the fantasy was somehow becoming a reality and she had no idea what to do.

"I can't," Emma breathed, moving her face sightly to avoid his lips. It took every once of her being to turn away. She didn't want to turn away.

"Why's that, love?" Killian asked, refusing to let her break eye contact.

He could feel her want, he could see the care and desire in her eyes. He knew she wanted this, so why was she pulling away?

It was too hard to even think about that. Not when she was right there in his arms, inches away. He wasn't going to go back to the start when he'd gotten this close, already.

"B-because, I..." Emma trailed off, looking away.

Killian gently tilted her chin back up so she'd meet his eyes.

"Because what?" Killian whispered.

She wanted to tell him. God, she wanted to tell him so bad. And the pleading look in his eyes... how could she not? But then she'd have to go and explain further into her past, and then the exact thing she was afraid of happening would come true. She'd scare him off and lose him.