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Stede was nude save for his robe. A flowing golden thing made of silk, embroidered with patterned twisting flowers. Flowers he was never allowed to love on land.
His hand moved between candles lighting them silently and watching their flames grow to a steady burn, eyes eventually wandering out the window to the moon-cast sea. The candles in his room reflected off the pane and made the sea look as if it were alight with millions of tiny dancing stars.
“Stede?” A voice called timidly from the doorway. Stede turned to face the auxiallry wardrobe door. Ed was nervous. His arm crossed his chest and the sleeve of his own silken robe pulled back to expose his tattooed skin. Stede’s eyes travelled up the tentacles on his arm to his eyes. Always so soft and expressive and currently darting quickly around.
Stede smiled softly and blew the match out. He walked over to his lover and rubbed a hand up his arm. Ed watched his hand move and his eyes softened further. Stede noticed the dark smudges of black just barely left in the deep creases of his face and it made his heart sink.
“I like this robe on you, it’s much more flattering than it ever was on me,” Stede joked coyly.
“Oh, fuck off,” but there was no malice in Ed’s voice, just a softness that Stede was once worried he’d never see again.
When Stede had first climbed aboard the ship in his sweat-soaked blouse hiding sunburnt skin, Ed had put a dagger at his throat and held him to the edge of the ship.
Those first few days were some of the worst of his life. Finding all his belongings lost to the sea, and with them the man he once loved. Ed wasn’t Ed. Ed wasn’t Blackbeard. Ed was the Kraken. Angry and hostile, willing to kill or maim at any moment. But Stede had found something in the sea a day earlier. A piece of worn red satin frayed at the edge like it had seen battle. Maybe hundreds of battles.
Stede remembered watching Edward’s face as he had given it to him. The tears welled in his eyes and streaked down his cheeks through the soot. Stede remembered the kiss they had shared. Stede remembered everything.
He still longed for his books and his trinkets, but none of that truly mattered now. Because he had Ed. And with Ed, the two of them had redecorated. Filling their newly found space with pillaged and stolen pieces, creating new décor. Décor for them.
Stede looked at his -their- room now. Books in all languages, rugs of every color, furniture made of mismatched woods. It was garish and disorderly, but it was theirs.
The only thing that had remained was that painting. The lighthouse atop the rocks. Stede swirled his glass and looked down to Ed’s head in his lap.
His eyes were closed as Stede ran a hand through his hair, brushing out the tangled strands. It was one of his favorite things to do. To feel the softness and look down as his hair flowed around him, dark and rippled, streaked with silver.
“Like the water at night,” Stede just barely whispered.
“What was that love?” Ed asked, eyes still closed.
Stede smiled and ran a hand down his cheek.
“Nothing, just admiring you,” he said and put his glass to Ed’s lips. He pulled his head up to take a sip and then back down in Stede’s lap.
“What shall we do tonight, my darling?” Stede asked pulling his limp form up. Ed crashed unceremoniously into his side causing Stede to giggle when his rough cheek met his neck.
“Could do loads of things," Ed said simply, resting his chin on Stede’s shoulder.
Stede looked into his dark eyes.
“Care to elaborate?”
Ed let out a long huff and thought for a moment, “Well, we could get drunk off our asses and make out, but we did that last night. Or we could go up to the deck and watch the stars, but I already told you all the constellations, so I think that leaves about one option mate.”
Stede quirked his eyebrow. The ship rocked gently to the left and pushed Stede into Ed’s side.
“And what would that option be?”
Ed kissed him, gently. Instinctively, Stede’s hand wound into his hair and Ed groaned against him. He pulled back, his mouth just out of reach.
“Third option is I take you to bed and fuck you crazy.” He whispered roughly.
Stede nodded, eyes wide, “I quite like that option, I have to say.”
Ed chuckled and pulled him back into a kiss. Suddenly, the nothing-but-robes rule was a brilliant idea on Ed’s part. Stede moved a hand under the pink silk to palm his skin and cling to his chest like he would disappear any second.
“You’re so good to me, Ed,” Stede breathed as Ed’s lips left his and travelled down his neck.
Ed just hummed, sucking on the spot where neck met shoulder which he knew drove Stede wild.
Stede screwed his eyes shut and tugged gently on his lover’s hair causing him to moan and bite softly on Stede’s neck.
“God, you taste so good,” Ed crooned pulling back and rubbing a thumb over the mark, “Like oranges and lemons and stuff.”
“That would be my soap, darling,” Stede laughed.
“Well, what do I smell like then?” Ed asked and Stede leaned forward. Ghosting over his lips, he breathed in.
“Like lavender,” Stede murmured, “And Sea salt. And sunshine.”
“My soap must be pretty fucking magical then,” he grinned and Stede laughed.
Wordlessly, they got up and Ed moved them to the window-set bed. Their covers were new too. Dark teal blue quilted with cream. Again, Stede found himself thinking of the sea.
His mind quickly tore away from that as he fell back onto the bed and Ed straddled him, opening his own fuchsia robe. Stede’s eyes roamed his bare body, feasting on the looming form. Half of his chest was coolly illuminated by the moon and the other half was warmed with candlelight.
“You’re like a statue Ed, stunning,” he said as Ed pulled Stede’s robe open and kissed across his chest.
“Only you would say that babe,” He chuckled and Stede couldn’t decide what was better, the little nips he felt as Ed travelled downwards or the warmth growing in his chest at the kisses that followed.
“I love your mind,” Ed mumbled as he reached his stomach and got up to get something from the dresser, “you think so... I don’t know, poetically? Is that the right word?”
“If it is, then thank you,” Stede smiled, and Ed hummed happily as he found what he was looking for.
“Here we go,” he sighed as he sat back down on the bed between Stede’s parted legs. But Ed paused and his eyes met Stede’s.
“Is this, ok?”
Even after all these weeks of nonstop fucking, Ed still asked every time, like Stede would suddenly decide he hated the feeling of a nice cock up his ass.
“Of course, darling,” Stede said instead, and he felt the warm, slick press of oiled fingers on his waiting hole. Ed concentrated by spreading it around first as Stede rubbed a hand up Ed’s thigh.
And when Ed’s eyes looked to his face and he felt the familiar press of a finger enter him, his mind cleared.
A content sigh left him as Ed rubbed methodically inside him. Pumping and curling slowly but deeply. It was exquisite, it was wonderful. Not overwhelming, but still obviously present.
“I’ll never understand how you got so wonderful at this,” Stede sighed happily as Ed curled his finger once more.
“Eh, I’ve had some practice,” He smiled slyly, “Think you can take another?”
Stede nodded and quickly, a second finger joined the first. The pleasure built slightly and Stede heard a soft moan escape his lips. His cock was hard now, but not so hard that it hurt. He looked down to see Ed in a similar situation.
“You should see your face when I do this,” Ed mumbled focusing back on his fingers and the scissoring motion they were now doing, “The faces you make. Fuck, mate, they’re mesmerizing.”
Stede laughed but it turned quickly into a moan as he felt fingers hit a spot inside him that made him see lights.
“Oh god, right there Ed,” He groaned, and Ed added a third finger, stroking that spot again. It was glorious being so full and satiated but needing more. Ed’s fingers moved like the tides, pulling in and out, high and low like Stede was a beach slowly being eroded by sea.
“I’m ready,” Stede burst, and Ed eyed him carefully.
“Please,” Stede asked as he felt the boat tilt again causing Ed’s fingers to move inside him and brush over that spot again.
Ed removed his fingers and paused to rub his knee, Stede noticed.
“Is it acting up again?” he asked. Ed just shook his head and crawled forward, but Stede put a hand on his chest.
“Not like this, I know it makes your knee worse.”
“I’m fine Stede, I’m not fragile.”
“Let me ride you.”
It fell from his lips before he could stop it.
“Are you sure? You... haven’t done that before.”
Stede chewed his lip. He was right, he had never done that and before, but that didn’t mean he didn’t want to.
“I want to, I just...” He trailed off and sighed, “I want to do it right. Do it right for you.”
Ed blinked and leaned down to kiss him.
“You’re fucking nuts, man,” He chuckled against Stede’s lips, “There’s not really a wrong way to do it.”
“Oh, well then, uh, here we go.”
He helped Ed flip over and lay down and from the look of relief on Ed’s face when he took the pressure off his knee, Stede knew he had made the right choice.
Ed guided him to hover over his waiting cock, pausing quickly to oil himself up.
“Ok, as you go down, just breathe and relax, love,” Ed instructed. Stede nodded and took a deep breath, positioning himself. Right as he began to sink, the boat tilted, sending Stede into the wall. He laughed; they both did. After the boat had righted itself again and the laughs had worn off, he got into position.
This time when he sank, there were no crashing waves, just the delectable feeling of Ed’s thick cock sliding into him.
His mind blurred and he felt his hips meet Ed’s, looking down, he saw Ed watching him again.
“How is it?” Stede huffed.
Ed was running his hands up and down, the thighs pinning him to the bed.
“Fucking incredible,” Ed grinned and Stede laughed. Slowly, he lifted himself slightly and sunk back down, causing them both to groan.
Stede was trapped. Hands pinning down his legs as he was speared on his lover’s magnificent cock. He felt utterly helpless, completely at the mercy of the pirate below him, and it sent arousal shooting straight through him.
“Now just like that, again,” Ed sighed, “And you can move your hips around and shit and find what feels best.” Stede nodded and slowly he fell into a pace that felt heavenly.
His eyes wandered from Ed’s face to his own neglected dick to the sea outside. He had never felt so full, so practically stuffed. Ed’s cock tugged and pulled on his insides and it felt so deliriously erotic, he could barely hear his own broken moans and whimpers.
“Look at you,” Ed groaned, breaking him from his own thoughts, “You take me so well, don’t you love? So fucking tight and wonderful.”
“All for you Ed,” He threw his head back and moaned as he ground his hips back and forth, “Fuck this is- fuck- so good.”
Ed nodded and then the ship lurched again, this time up and then down, dragging Stede with the waves. Stede held back a yelp. It felt wild and delectable to be moved like that. Ed clearly felt the same.
They stared at each other for a moment before, yet another wave repeated the motion, this time leaving Stede to practically slam back down. It hurt but it hurt wonderfully.
“Holy shit,” Ed groaned as the pattern continued. His fingers were digging into the soft meat of Stede’s thigh, fingernails scratching his skin in a way that was sure to leave marks.
Stede bounced, eventually placing his hands on Ed’s thighs behind him for leverage, trying to stay on despite the waves.
“I love you, Ed,” He nearly whimpered as he moved and Ed’s eyes were half shut, brows furrowed together in pleasure.
“I- oh fuck- I love you too,” He groaned, and the sea pushed him down once again, leaving them to moan in unison.
As Stede moved, he felt tears start to well in his eyes at the overwhelming feeling. A sob broke from his lips and then everything fell silent.
Ed stopped him moving and quickly sat up, pulling him off his wet cock, and into his lap.
“Stede, love, hey, what’s wrong?” He asked hurriedly, “Was it too much?”
Stede shook his head and kissed him deeply, “No it was just... really REALLY good.”
Ed looked unconvinced and Stede brought his hand down to feel his still stiffened member.
“Why were you crying then, mate?” he asked softly.
Stede huffed a laugh and wiped his eyes, feeling like an idiot, “Because of just how GOOD it felt... I guess. Oh, I’m not sure, God I’m such a fool.”
“Hey, you're not a fool, trust me that just boosted my ego,” he joked and Stede smiled softly, “To bring a man to tears through fucking? And while I was on the bottom?”
Stede kissed him and Ed brought a hand up to cup his face.
“Do you want to keep going?” he asked and Stede nodded.
“Let me get back on top though,” he mumbled, “Please.”
“How about this,” Ed put a pillow behind his own back and sat against the wall of the bed cupboard. Softly, he pulled Stede back onto his lap and lined him up again. They were chest to chest, legs tangled up in knots. Stede stared down at him, his eyes heavy and warm.
“This way we can be closer,” Ed mumbled and Stede just about died from the softness in his voice.
He sank back down watching Ed’s face this time and reveling in the way his lips parted softly. In this position, Ed could dig his heels into the bed and softly thrust up into his lover. Stede helped, of course, grinding back and forth as he felt himself close in on his release.
“I- Ed,” Stede sobbed again, not bothering to try and stop his tears raining down. He felt Ed wrap a strong, calloused hand around his cock and pull gently.
“Come on, come on love,” He whispered and bit down on Stede’s neck.
Stede came with a shudder and a cry, buckling forward onto Ed and shaking as cum shot out of him onto Ed’s tan chest. It felt like it lasted forever but it was over in an instant. Stede collapsed fully against his lover, tears drying on his cheeks as Ed continued to thrust up into him, getting closer.
“St-Stede, holy shit,” He groaned and Stede ignored the intrusion inside him to run a hand through Ed’s hair and mouth softly at his neck.
Ed’s rhythm broke and suddenly he stilled with a final groan. Stede fell silent as he felt himself become filled with cum. Shot after shot, claiming him as Ed’s.
“The waves calmed down,” Ed finally spoke after a moment of breath, wrapping his arms around Stede who was still seated fully on him.
“Sadly,” Stede whispered back. He pulled away and smiled at him. He was stunning, like the embodiment of the moon itself, glimmering with sweat and silver hair like a halo.
Ed watched him with those soft, curious eyes, god he would never tire of those eyes, as Stede traced fingers across his brow and down his cheek.
“I had an idea for the room,” Stede whispered, finally meeting his eyes and Ed scoffed.
“In the midst of THAT?”
“Hush, listen,” Stede said and turned his head to look at the couch in the library. The “couch” was more like a large wooden bench though. Hard and cold, like something from a schoolhouse or a church.
“What if we took that couch-”
“Pew,” Ed corrected him and Stede rolled his eyes.
“What if we took that pew and moved it up onto the deck?”
“Where would we sit then?” Ed asked him and Stede had to resist the urge to roll his eyes again.
“We could get a new place to sit,” Stede suggested nonchalantly, “One more comfortable...”
He trailed off, waiting for Ed to catch on, but in his post-orgasmic bliss, the only thing on his mind seemed to be rubbing a hand up and down Stede’s back.
“A real couch with a back, maybe that could accommodate two people,” Stede smiled and kissed his lover softly, “On top of each other.”
Ed hummed, deep in thought and met his eyes.
“I think that could be done.”
Stede smiled wider, a big goofy thing that he’d be embarrassed to share with anyone else. But with only one set of eyes on him and the gaze of the moon on the water, he felt safe. He felt right. He felt like he was floating on water.