Brilliant sunlight broke through the chiffon curtains, that billowed softly on the morning sea breeze that drifted through the ajar windows.

Softly, the draft caressed against your bare skin, and stirred you fro what had been a perfectly peaceful night's sleep. Sitting up slowly, you took some moments to come round – your mind collectively piecing together your environment, emotions and physical sensations to refresh itself on what had happened the night before.

It barely took any time before your mind had escorted you back there, and how you smiled to yourself. It made you look over your shoulder, to gaze down upon the man who was still fast sleep in bed beside you. Messy locks of golden hair, falling haphazardly into his handsome face. Your heart ached with pride at the intimacy you had gotten to share with him, and how there were no traces of shame nor regret.

Sliding back down in the soft sheets, you pressed a gentle kiss to Edward's ribs, smirking when he groaned a little, disturbed from the most carefree sleep – his blue eyes fluttering open, vivid and bright just like the new day that had dawned outside.

"Good morning to you..." he whispered, voice pleasantly breaking the morning silence. You adored hearing the husk of sleep laden on his tones.

Your lips curved into a giddy smile, as you wriggled up closer, tucking yourself into his side.

"Good morning." You responded, draping your arm over him. "Did you sleep okay?" you asked, drawing your fingertips in a passive and dazed circle slowly over his abs.

Edward caught your wandering fingers tenderly, and lifted your dainty hand to his lips, where he pressed a soft kiss to your knuckle; the action more than made your heart beat faster.

"I slept fine... wonderful, in fact." He smirked, and made a point and wrapping his arm around you, hand resting in the curve of your waist. "Especially after that wonderful night last night." His low tones purred, and a little spark of excitement shot right through you... God, right now, all you wanted to do was have him all over again.

Your hand trailed lower, a keen and confident smirk on your face whilst your fingertips ghosted teasingly down in the direction of his cock.

"We could have another shot, if you like Captain?" you grinned slickly, and your gesture had clearly made Edward think about it – but he rather disappointed you when he took your hand away from it's loitering position around his groin.

"I'd love to lass," he whispered, kissing your forehead tenderly, "But I can't stay here any longer... Thatch will be expecting me back. I'm lucky he even let me stay the night here... don't wish to push my luck." Edward explained, kissing you once more before slipping out of bed, leaving you lazing in the warm spot where he had been.

You watched keenly and with interested as your lover got himself dressed again, in the various layers of intricate clothing that fitted his athletic build perfectly. Still, you sighed at the skin vanishing  from your eyeline with each collective piece of fabric. It was sad to think you were losing him to the cause of Nassau, you didn't want to be on your own here – worrying daily whether he was alive.

Edward could see the look of increasing worry in your shining (eye colour) eyes, and he faced you with a reassuring smile.

"Don't worry lass, the next moment I get to be here with you... I will do." Edward told you, such an assured determination in his welsh accented tones.

Slowly, he walked over to the bed and knelt down beside you, cupping your chin between his thumb and index finger, smiling – drawing in the features of your face that he adored so intensely. If only he had known from the very beginning how much you would mean to him...

"And the moment this fight's all over... we can really start to focus on us..." Edward whispered, then leaning forwards to kiss your lips ever so softly, that the feeling seemingly had you flying. Those words he had uttered had filled you with such a hope.

"Just be careful." You replied with a delicate tone as he stood up, clearly ready to depart. "I love you." This was something that felt so right to say, you did love him. You had shared something special with him, shared emotions with him not previously known to you... well... mostly.

Slipping on your modest cover up dress, you walked Edward to the front door of the grand manor house, opening those double wooden doors as the sunlight poured in, and you welcomed it warmly. It felt beautiful against your skin, and seemed only fitting to counteract the bitter emotions you had now that Edward was leaving.

"I will see you soon, (name)." Edward said, pulling you tightly into his big arms, which always made you feel as safe as houses. You wrapped your arms around him too, much like a frightened child, holding him tighter than ever before it seemed.

"Please, just look after yourself for gods sake." You whispered into his ear, not a moment of hesitation before you let your lips loose on his, a lingering kiss that you wanted to last forever – something to treasure in your moments of worry or doubt.

And with this, you watching the shrinking figure of Edward as he walked down the hillside, towards the docks where The Jackdaw bobbed passively on the gentle waves.

All alone, you came to the realisation that this was what you could expect for a while now – and with a strong longing to follow Edward aboard the Jackdaw, you eventually forced yourself back inside the safety of the manor.

-------

Days of sailing over the azure seas, Captain Kenway was rather deflated at the sight of seeing Nassau, when really all he was longing for was a spot at your side in bed, at the Great Inagua.

"I know you miss her, captain." Adewalé sighed with a half smile, patting Kenway's shoulder. Edward was a little taken aback, had his expression really spelled his feelings?

"But the sooner we get things cleared up here, the sooner you can go back to her." Adewalé furthered, leaving his station to help address the crew, as the Jackdaw pulled up to the docks at Nassau.

As Edward's worn leather boots met the sand, he was only really grateful for the feeling of solid land under his feet. All around, it was clear Nassau was falling into more a dishevelled state than it already was – with everyone's mind clearly on a possible impending attack.

Well, you wouldn't think so – by the body of laughter and hollering from the tavern's decked porch. Edward frowned, wandering up the creaky steps to see various familiar faces, sat round a singular table, tankards of ale sloshing as they laughed uncontrollably at someone's joke.

"Busy are we, gents?" Kenway interjected the laughter, and suddenly the faces around the table fell, seeing Edward.

"Just taking a moment to enjoy ourselves amidst all this wild play." Thatch called, clearing his throat as he stood. "Successful trip, Kenway?"

Edward mentally shamed himself for immediately thinking back to the image of you atop of him when Thatch said those words, and his expression played him as Edward smirked, trying to mask it with a small laugh as he looked down.

"Yes... Yes, (name) is quite safe at the manor." he replied, but Thatch was no idiot, and he could read the faces of his friends.

"What's that smirk for boy?" Thatch started to chuckle, prodding Edward who just sat himself down at the table with a little smile and a shrug.

"Nothing at all." Kenway retorted, but now Rackham was leering over the table, shaking his tankard about whilst it messily sloshed about the place.

"That's the look of a man who's finally got himself some in months." Rackham jeered, and beside him, Vane looked on wordlessly.

Inside, the man was brewing up with white hot jealousy – hoping his words fears weren't being realised – that the thing between yourself and Edward wasn't that serious to merit you giving yourself to him.

"Don't be daft, lout." Vane chipped in with a growl, he wasn't smirking or laughing like the others, "(name) isn't stupid enough to give it up to someone like soppy bollocks here." Vane shot a look at Edward now, a gaze so piercing – as if to say 'surely she hasn't?'

Kenway sensed Vane was getting his guard up about it, and being proud of his achievement with you – Edward thought 'why should I have to hide it?'

"Aye well, she must be a bloody idiot then." Edward said it simply enough – but with a cocky and self-assured tone that Vane felt as if someone had just aimed a gun and shot him clean through the chest. Now it felt as if he really was losing you.

"A bloody idiot indeed." Vane parroted in a blunt tone, downing the last of his ale before excusing himself from the table.

He was sure that if he stayed there any longer, he would be sure to lose his patience with Kenway.

---

Days bright and sunny, they seemed to all blend together in this messy merge of loneliness and reading. The solitude was somewhat peaceful, but in the evenings and nights you sorely missed the times spent at the Tavern in Nassau, singing and laughing with your friends.

You couldn't quite figure how long you had been alone for, but you were dying for some company after around the second day of solitude. Laying about in the sun all day with nothing but a book was beginning to drive you insane.

One morning, you had been in the downstairs study – looking for something new and interesting to occupy your time with. Sat at the grand oak varnished desk in your simple china blue sundress, you filtered through the drawers. There were all sorts of trinkets in there from the previous owner. Beautiful spyglasses, prettily drawn maps and ornate fountain pens... but no real material that could occupy your attention.

However, you were very much drawn out of your task when you heard a loud knocking at the French doors. Your heart had practically froze in your chest, assuming the worst.

Shooting up from the chair, heart hammering fast like a herd of racing wild horses; your wide (eye colour) eyes set on a figure the other side of the glass.

The sweet that then flooded you was immense, followed by happiness and a rush of giddy footsteps as you ran to those doors and flung them wide open, wrapping your arms around the solid figure of a man who you had missed terribly dearly.

"Vane!" you cried, burying your face into his thick leather coat, smelling that distinctively cool musk of gunpowder and sea salt.

He soon then wrapped his arms around you incredibly tightly, doing well to mask his feelings of despondence.

"I... I had to come and see you." He said, resting his chin against your (hair colour) locks. Even then, as he held you in his arms – his mind was retreating to the many questions... why? Why did you have to let yourself sway to Edward's charm?

"I'm so glad you're here! Come on!" you cried joyfully, taking his hand and pulling him further inside the manor. You were so incredibly delighted to see Charles, you hadn't gotten to say goodbye to him properly when you had left Nassau.

As you led the captain inside the manor, he watched the way the hem of your blue sundress swung by the backs of your thighs, your pretty long legs – barefoot as you paced about the manor's cool wood floor. Vane found himself staring probably too intently, his mind picturing how you must've looked with nothing on at all. He was so angry Kenway had gotten to see your state of undress.

"Drink?" you asked, reaching the sitting room. Vane nodded wordlessly, pacing over to the window as you poured a glass of amber liquid, a whiskey you knew would be to his taste.

"So," you started, bending over at the drinks tray as you poured two glasses, "How on Earth did you manage to get away from Nassau? Is everyone ok?"

The Ranger's captain slowly looked back at you, heart wrenching at the way your hair frame your beautiful face. Even doing something as simple as pouring drinks, you looked so tempting and effortlessly gorgeous to him.

"Yes... they're all fine," he tried to hide the want to grizzle as he thought about Kenway's smarmy smile upon revealing he had slept with you. Vane continued past the thoughts that wound him up, watching the way you smiled at him as you listening intently to his story.

"I er, said I needed to get some supplies. A good excuse to slip away for a while." He took a few steps forwards, "But I wanted to come and see you, considering I never got to say goodbye to you, love." Charles explained, reaching out as you handed him his drink.

Eyes not leaving you, Vane took a slow sip of his drink and found himself deeply studying your face. He wasn't sure whether his love-crazed mind was tricking him, but you seemed to have matured over the space of barely a week. You seemed more womanly than ever, confident and graceful. Self assured, a goddess in front of him. Your doe eyes spelled this mesmerising enchantment that Vane felt, really stole his glance for every passing second he looked at you.

He quickly downed that whiskey, the small talk and his private thoughts were killing him – he had to know. He had to get this over and done with.

"Kenway came back safe, by the way." Vane started, setting the small glass down on the silver tray. Your heart leapt in relief at the news.

"Oh I'm so glad..." you sighed with a joyous smile, surprised to hear Vane scoffing. His personality appeared reflective of the very weather that traversed the oceans - rapid in their change and turbulent in their course.

"Oh I knew you would be, wouldn't want you to be without your lover now, would we?" he started, pausing by the large window again, "Yes... he was quite happy to tell us the exploits up here at the manor." Vane's head turned just slightly to look at you, his eyes reflective of pain and jealousy.

Your heart dropped, firstly because you were very shocked and increasingly angered by the thought of Edward going back to Nassau and bragging... you hadn't wanted for your intimate affairs to be called out across the entire of the West Indies. Secondly, you really hadn't wanted Vane to know... because of course, he was going to act like this.

And obviously you were upset because you too loved Vane... it had been rocky and confusing as hell, but the more time you had come to spend with him, it was clear there was affections running both ways. A predicament you had very much not wanted to be in.

"Vane..." you sighed, pacing up behind him and placing your hand on his shoulder, feeling the warmth of his leather longline coat under your shaky fingertips. "You know how much I care for you, but I can't deny my affections for Edward either." Your voice was injected with a heartfelt misery at the situation. "I love you both. Don't make me choose."

"It seems you already have, love." Vane scorned, turning around, making you jar backwards. The look on Charles' face was cool and contempt, a shadowing look of envy on his expression... It shattered your heart, you didn't want to have to go through that again.

Your brain faltered to a complete stop, and it seemingly felt like an endless few seconds where your brain scrambled ideas left, right and Centre. Reason clawed for dominance in one corner of your brain, desire chimed in another and guilt was dwindling to both. The thought of losing Vane again hurt you more than anything; and with him standing there before you with heartbreak in his eyes.... it was all too real.

"I don't want to go through this again... I can't lose you." You returned, taking his hands. "You were the one who was always there for me Vane... and for fucks sake, I hate myself for it... but I find myself caring immensely for the pair of you." you paused, to gather up these rushing thoughts. "I wish I could just co-exist in some wild world where I could be with both of you..." you scoffed at the idea of it being that easy.

Vane's stony expression didn't change at all, he did as little as blink.

"Well you can't... You've already let Kenway between your legs, so that's a sure-fire sign." Vane snapped crudely, and you grabbed onto the lapels of his coat in aggression.

"What does that fucking mean in the grand scheme of things?" you bartered back, "Everyone else seems to fuck who they want and it has no consequences... so why I am exempt, Vane!?" you cried up at him, the ferocity of a lioness about you.

Vane took his time, lips parted for a few moments before he actually said anything. Before you knew it, he had relaxed a little, and his hands were on your hips - a gesture alone and calmed the fires a little.

"Because you were always my sweet, innocent rescue." He told you, closing his eyes, "you were the one bloody good thing I did in this life." His expression screwed further, features creased with pure frustration. "I hate doing this to myself... and to you. It's not right, and not fair." His voice was filled with self loathing... You didn't want him feeling that way.

"For fucks sake..." you muttered under your breath, head a messy entanglement of thoughts and feelings. It was only when you looked back into Vane's sad looking eyes that you had consolidated yourself on a decision. Maybe it was the heat of another day, and the loneliness had set in but something in your brain told you that the rest of the world had ceased to exist for now outside of this manor, the world beyond and your commitments and responsibilities could surely go on unaffected by one simple indulgence?

"I'm tired of talking about this... All we do is go round in circles." You said, much softer now. Your hands rested on Vane's, which were still firmly planted on your hips.

"Then we'll stop talking." Vane replied, and the sudden spark that ignited in his eyes told you that he had read you like an open book. Maybe he too felt perhaps you two could go on in this private moment and everything else could be forgot for a moment.

He dragged you close, hands feverishly gripping at you – like he wanted to just absorbs you entire presence in his hands. Swift and fast, the captain picked you up - forcing you to twine your legs around his waist, an urgency about all of this that was totally different to the vibes you had gotten the other evening with Edward. You had a strong feeling Vane wouldn't be stopping to coddle you and check you were okay – and in some ways, you were wanting that - just heat, desire and unbridled lust.

With a thud, your back connected with the beige wall behind you. It hurt a little, but not enough to distract you enough from what was going on. You barely had a chance to breathe before Vane stole your lips for a kiss, the possessiveness of it all made you moan loudly against his mouth for more.

"It's time someone showed you what a real man can do..." he growled deeply against your fevered kisses, whisky tongue bossily charging into your open mouth. This was on another level, and right now you were way to preoccupied with the gathering heat between your legs to even begin to think about anything else.

"Fuck..." you whined, fingers beginning to lose themselves in the thick dark brown of Vane's hair, tugging maddeningly for more of his dominant authority.

"You're loving this, aren't you?" he snarled against your lips, that felt full and flushed from all of the harsh kisses. Vane suddenly forced you harder against the wall, and as he did so, thrust his clothed pelvis against your own, as if to give you a tease of what was to come.

"Please..." you sighed breathlessly, you knew by now you were more than wet and wanting for it.

"Please what?" Vane demanded an answer, you weren't surprised. He seemed to be the type who wanted to feel like the one in total control, as if he thrived off your desperate need and the fact he could be the only one to deliver satisfaction.

"I want you... please..." you repeated, further pulling on his hair to enforce your needy desires. He growled at you in that low timbre which was sending the blood racing around your body.

He stilled for a moment – like a predator ready to pounce. It was jarring then when he sent his hands underneath the skirt of your sundress, and found your underwear. With little regard for the fabric, it was ripped from you and discarded somewhere on the floor around you.

His crazed kisses then littered your neck, the senses there were on overdrive – every little kiss made your heart race faster and faster.

"I hope this is what you want, love," Vane whispered harshly into your ear, "Because I'm not going to treat you like soppy bollocks does."

You closed your eyes, thinking to yourself 'Treat me however you want, just please – fuck me'. That lingering, anticipating thought was shattered when you felt the shock and slight discomfort of the rough thrust Vane had just taken into you.

You were still a little sore from yesterday, but luckily enough, you overcame that and adjusted quite quickly to the feeling.

This certainly was very different to your experience last night...

Little time was given to you to think about this, as Vane pinned you to that wall and treated you with merciless regard, roughly thrusting up into you like it was the last thing he would ever do - and right now, you were fine with that.

You moaned loudly to each repetitive, brutal sensation – it was driving you closer and closer to the divine edge of pleasure. It was helped when you felt a hand slip between the connection of your bodies to tease you, in the hope of helping you along. You could feel he was close.

"Fuck..." Vane snarled like a beast, reaching his peak and leaning his weight into you slightly whilst he steadied through that blissful cloud of post-coital bliss.

You followed only moments after, gripping tightly to him. The orgasm that charged through you was perfect, it felt as if you had stopped breathing for a moment.

The reality then set back in, the pair of you panting and breathing heavily, spent from your passions.

Vane gently let you down, and the moment you ease off him and set foot on the ground you felt shaky with the after effects of your orgasm.

"I could use a lie down..." you suggested with some humour, legs trembling considerably, glad when he nodded in agreement. You were quite happy to return to bed after that...

And with Vane beside you, you sincerely hoped it would stop your mind from racing with guilt.

But you would have to face this sooner or later, no matter how much you distracted yourself.