Chapter 7

"There's a hefty price on your head," the captain couldn't help but taunt her. "Perhaps I'll turn you in and claim the reward in exchange for your lies." He wouldn't, of course, but she didn't know that.

"Captain?" Fear overtook the green pools of Emma's eyes as they searched his face.

"'Crimes against the queen,' it says." He took the parchment from her shaking fingers and held it up. "I very much like to know what sort of criminals I'm harboring aboard my ship. You told me you were only a pickpocket." If he had known she was a fugitive from the queen, he might have avoided this port and made for land somewhere safer – somewhere farther from the town where she had committed her crimes. He knew perfectly well how to operate outside the law. He just had to know which ones he was skirting around.

"I am a pickpocket!" She insisted, her eyes wide. "Or, I was. I swear to you, I only snatched the wrong purse. I thought he was just a hunter. I didn't know he carried property of the queen."

"Well, whatever you nicked must have sold for a handsome sum to have warranted such a bounty."

"I never sold it." Her short hair brushed at her cheekbones as she shook her head.

He was angry enough to resist pushing the strands out of her face, but allowed the parchment flutter back down to the table, freeing up his hand. "And without informing me, you brought it aboard my ship? Is that what you are telling me? Bloody hell, love. If I need to avoid the Evil Queen's wrath, I would like to at least know about it." He saw the shame spreading across her face, and he softened. "Fetch it here. Let's see it."

As she darted out the door toward her bunk, he collapsed into his chair again, letting his head fall back with a sigh. This wasn't that much of a complication, truly. He knew there were similar posters with his own name and likeness plastered around King George's kingdom. He made his living evading the ire of monarchs. No, he was upset because she lied and he hadn't caught it. He'd been so smug in the knowledge of her identity that he hadn't thought to dig deeper.

He expected her to return with something larger than the velvet pouch she carried in her palm. His elbow on the table, Hook rested his chin on his fist as he watched her pull loose the drawstring. She poured out the contents of the bag onto the surface between them, shimmering trinkets clattering on the polished wood. His brow furrowed as he looked down at the small gems. He brought down his hand to the pile, spreading it beneath his fingers to examine it. "This is it?"

Emma nodded. "That's it."

It couldn't be. The poster offered more than a hundred times what this was worth for Emma's capture, but why? The point of his hook slipped into the ring of twisted gold. It was a thick, but rather plain circle, with no adornments or engravings. "It looks like a wedding ring."

"I guess it does." Her eyes narrowed in intent focus. "The queen isn't married, though, and there's been no announcement of a betrothal. What does she want with a wedding ring?"

The captain's head hunched down for a closer look. "Maybe it belonged to her parents?"

"She banished her mother, and murdered her father. I doubt she would be sentimental over some token of their union." Her hands wrapped around the edge of the table as she leaned down and forward. Together, they studied the pouch's contents in silence.

"Please, Captain." she whispered after long moments. "Don't give me to her. I'll leave your ship. I'll disappear. You'll never see me again."

"You'll do no such thing." Hook dropped the ring and stood, maneuvering around the table to stand before her. Emma straightened to her full height, taking her hat nervously into her hands. Her gaze flickered over him from beneath her dark lashes. "You are not going anywhere. You set a single foot on land in this port, there's a great risk that the guards will recognize you and snatch you up. You will stay aboard this ship if I have to lock you in the brig."

"So that's it, then?" Her sight traveled away from him and down to the floor between them. "I'm to be your prisoner until you can claim the bounty on my head."

"No, love." He sighed, placing his forefinger under her chin to turn her face up to his again. "Once we've finished conducting our business here, we'll sail south, beyond the realm of the Evil Queen. You'll be safer there."

Her smile creased dimples into her cheeks as gratitude crept across her features. Before he knew it, his thumb softly stroked over one of them. He was caught by surprise when she surged up onto her toes and kissed him, but he recovered quickly. He returned the gesture roughly, nipping at her lower lip after his tongue found hers. Her taste was rich and sweet on his lips, like a luxurious vintage of wine. His hand slid from her jaw into her mop of hair behind her head, and he gripped her locks between his fingers. His other arm snaked around her waist to pull her closer, tighter to him. Emma moaned softly into his mouth, one of her hands tangling in the hair on the center of his chest. Slowly, he turned them, and began to back her toward his bunk.

Three sharp knocks sounded down from the hatch as someone kicked a boot heel on the upper deck. Hook heard himself growl at the unwelcome distraction as his lips parted from Emma's. Still, he did not release his hold of her. "What is it?" He shouted toward the ceiling.

"Sorry, Cap." Smee's voice drifted down through the wooden planks. "It's just – should we make for the dock? I don't want to rush you, but–"

Hook let out a groan. Though he was loath to leave his quarters at right this instant, he did have business to attend to. The sooner he had offloaded and sold the wares he had stolen from the Blushing Maiden, the sooner Emma would be out of danger. "I'll be there in a moment, Smee." He licked his lips hungrily as he returned his attention to Emma, not letting go of her quite yet. "Best keep up your disguise with the rest of the crew, for now at least. Less trouble that way."

"Do you think they–?"

"Pirates, love." He reminded her. "Best not chance it. And one more thing – no more secrets from your captain."

"Yes, sir." She responded obediently.

He kissed her quickly one more time before heading up the ladder.