Blackbeard

I had meant for it to be just a couple of hours, but Cian was interesting to talk to, and the one drink turned to several.

“Why are you so interested in pirates?” His words slurred some, but I understood. Or maybe it was my attention that was getting fuzzy. “It’s not just pirates, but I’m intrigued by the way history has made them out to be these romantic creatures; freedom-seeking, good looking men, who just needs that one special woman to tame them. They were monsters, they had to be. Think about it, if you got a reputation about you that you were the meanest bastard on the Seven Seas, maybe you didn’t have to fight. By raising your flag, the other part just laid down their weapons, because they knew they were dead people if they didn’t. Fear is a great weapon.”

Cian tried to focus on his glass, but it seemed he had trouble. “So, Jack Sparrow is just a stereotype?”

“Yes, but perhaps better than the pirates in the romantic books, like “The Pirate that stole my heart.”

Cian smirked, “You read that kinda books?” I blushed, “For research only, of course.” He smiled big now, “Of course.”

“Who is your favourite pirate then?”

I drank the last of my drink, and saw Cian was empty as well, I squinted at the time on my phone, nearing twelve. The bar closed soon — I was surprised, the time had gone by so fast. “Sh…Shall we continue this conversation at my own dwellings?”

What? Where did come from? I nearly groaned by my awkwardness. Cian, happy-go-lucky, just smiled and nodded. “Sure, m’lady.”

I struggled some to get my jacket on, and Cian helped me. I got goosebumps when his fingers graced my neck, I hoped he didn’t notice.

It was chilly outside, and I huffed, “Taxi?” I asked Cian. He agreed quickly, rubbing his hands together. It didn’t take us long to haul one, and I relaxed my shoulders inside the warm car. It was a short ride, but worth it in this weather. Cian looked at the building I lived in with interest, it was in stone, and my apartment was on the third floor overlooking the cemetery and the river. We stumbled up the stairwell, both drunk, laughing and hushing each other. Cian went straight to the window when I got the door unlocked, “Wow, what a view!” He leaned on the windowsill, “Do you see any ghosts?”

I slung my jacked over a chair, “Of course, they’re always walking. Drink?” I asked over my shoulder. “Yeah, you teased me with Talisker earlier.” Hmm, he was a good listener. I got the bottle from the cabinet and took out two whisky tumblers. I poured us both a drink and added a drop of water. I walked over to him and handed him the one.

“This is a really nice apartment.” He looked in awe at all the books, and the cosy furniture. The brick wall added to the ambience, and I had kept it pretty much as it was when my parents lived. “Yes, to my luck it was down paid, so I got to keep it after daddy died.” A little late, Cian realised that this was the apartment I had inherited from my dad. “Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to…” I shook my head, “It’s ok, I’ve gotten to the point where I can appreciate it.” He raised his glass, “To your father.” The gesture moved me, and my throat thickened, “To fathers”. We drank in silence, enjoying the smooth whisky.

I sat down in my regular spot as Cian kept looking out the window. “Now, you asked me about my favourite pirate, I have many; Every being one of them, but I’d have to say Blackbeard.” Cian smiled, “I’ve heard of him!”

“Most have, he is one of the most famous.” Cian sat down beside me, “Why is he your favourite?” “Ok, you have to stop me if I rant too much, it’s not often I get to talk about these subjects.” He laughed and promised. “I don’t mind, I love to hear you rant.”

“Edward Teach called himself Blackbeard, and he dressed himself in colourful clothes, his beard was long, black and braided into tales. When he was in a fight, he put hemp-rope in his hair which he set on fire, making it look like he was engulfed in sparks and smoke. Just imagine, this enormous man runs toward you, with a sword in hand, one at the hip and a bandolier over his chest stuffed with knives, he appears to be on fire.” I gesticulated with my hands as I spoke. “Many victims believed the devil himself had come to take them and dropped their own swords and surrendered. He was known to have a short fuse, supposedly he said that he had to kill a member of the crew now and then to keep them on their toes. One he just sat at a table with when he nonchalant shot him in the knee.”

Cian’s eyebrows were high in his forehead. “Yeah, he seems like a charming guy.” I laughed and turned to Cian in the sofa, trying not to think about the fire that shot through me when our legs touched. “If you see his story in retrospect, he was rarely mean without purpose. He did what he did out of necessity. There are many stories about him treating people – well, maybe not with respect, as he stole everything they owned, but he didn’t kill them. He just took what he wanted and let them live. He was a drunk, he ‘s known to have said that a drunken ship was a happy ship.” Cian’s laughter spread through the apartment; it was infectious.

I put down my glass, getting excited. “He had 14 wives, the youngest only 16. He was a charming man, and well-liked by other people, at least the ones he didn’t kill or steal from. He could read, write and had education. Teach was at his biggest around 1717, when he had the command over the largest pirate-ship, “Queen Anne’s Revenge.” When spring 1718 hit, he had the command over four ships and around 300 pirates.”

I was deep into my lecture, Cian didn’t speak, just had his stare locked at me. With a swift movement he put his glass down and leaned over to kiss me. Perplexed, I just sat there. I tasted the whisky on his lips and then he sat back, with a shocked look on his face.

“I am so sorry, Jamie, I didn’t mean to.” His wide eyes made the blue in them stand out. “Or, I meant to, but I…”

“Shut up and kiss me again.”

He did, and stars appeared in the living-room. The kiss was everything I didn’t know I needed, we moved our lips like we had rehearsed it, and when I thought I’d had it all, he bit my lip gently. I gave a moan and opened my mouth to taste him. His tongue slipped in, the Talisker tasted so much better on him. I felt his hand on my hip, he had it there for a while but when I pressed myself closer to him, it wandered up and touched the bare skin in the gap between my top and my jeans. My skin seemed to be on fire, and I was out of breath. He pushed me down till I hit the pillows, the weight of him pleasant. He mumbled a question without words, and I replied in the same way. His hand glided up my back, while his other tangled itself in my hair. I let out something between a whine and a moan when he tugged, and I pressed my pelvis against him.

“Hmm?” His mouth hummed against mine while his tongue explored, this was way different than the hooking up I’d did back at Uni. Not going to lie, it’s been pretty dry since then. I pulled at his sweater, and he lifted his face from mine just long enough for me to pull it over his head. I let my hands glide over his chest, my fingertips tingled at the connection. He swooped in and kissed me, “Your turn.”

He looked at me with reverence and all inhibitions I may have had about my body disappeared. “You’re a sight for the gods.” He let one finger follow the trim of my bra and I arched my back to get closer. Cian continued kissing me as he caressed me, and I wished for a wand so I could make our clothes be gone with just a flick and a spell. I let myself slide further down so I got more of him on top and I spread my legs so he could get closer. He grinded against me in an antagonizing way, I was losing my mind. He kept one hand on my breast, almost too rough, but it just made it perfect. The other was back tugging my hair, I had to bend my head backwards. Using the position it left me in to kiss himself down my neck, I was sure I would burst into flames. He plopped one finger under the edge of the bra and lifted out my nipple, just to take it his mouth and nibble on it gently. Just when I was about to moan out of pain instead of pleasure he stopped and used his tongue instead.

My hands moved on their own down to his jeans, eager to take this a step further. I felt him underneath the fabric, ready for me, and I had to close my eyes to stop the spinning. His voice broke through my concentration.

“Are ye sure about this?”

My hands stopped, and all you could hear was our loud breathing. I opened my eyes and flinched when I saw his just inches from mine. The world could have burned up around us, I wouldn’t have noticed.

“Yes.”

Then

“No”. I groaned. “I want to, fuck, I want to. But we shouldn’t.”

His hand moved still, gently caressing my erect nipple, as if he couldn’t help himself. Damn, if I had been more drunk, I would have said fuck it and fuck me. Now I was alert enough to realise that this might not be the best idea to start off a partnership, we didn’t need the drama. I kissed him with a smidge of anger, but it wasn’t his fault. He sensed my mood and pulled away slowly.

“Damn.” he said while looking at me, his eyes dark blue now. “That was…” he swallowed. “Unexpected.” he ended up saying.