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Summers on land were hot, summers at sea seemed to be even hotter.
Nobody slept on the main deck during the warm-seasons, the entire crew taking refuge below, where it was cool and dark.
Stede was no different. In the winter, he stocked up on blankets and bedding and everything good that kept him and Ed warm, but in the summer it would get so hot Stede wouldn't be surprised if he woke up some mornings alone, finding Ed asleep on the couch a few feet away.
Some nights, both men were too tired to move at all after crashing down on the bed, and simply slept through the insufferable heat, sleeping as far apart from one another as possible, with no blankets, and a thin sheet to cover them at most.
Other nights, the heat was simply too overpowering and neither man got much sleep at all, too immersed in how hot it was to fall asleep at all.
The moon shone a bright spot on Stede's curtains, and Edward was wide awake.
Stede had drifted off some time ago, falling into a light but welcomed rest. Ed lay awake, staring at the moon through a crack in the curtains. He was doubtful about believing in any sort of god, but if he did, he would worship the moon, for she saw everything that happened.
He sighed, giving up and got up to move to the couch, waking Stede in the process.
"Ed?" he mumbled, turning over and blinking, awake.
"Hey, I was just gonna move to the couch again, I couldn't sleep." he said reassuringly, looking over.
"Alright." Stede said rubbing his eyes and closing his eyes again. Yet, Edward stayed put, and Stede didn't feel him move away, and he opened his eyes once more to see what was going on.
"You alright mate?" Ed asked him, his expression almost mischievous.
"Yes, why do you ask." he frowned, suddenly awake enough to realize what was going on.
Ed nodded his head towards the part of the sheet between Stede's legs that was raised.
Normally, Stede was sheepish about this sort of matter, but being with Ed had managed to assuage some of those insecurities. Ed's assurances had allowed Stede to be comfortable with situations like this, and in that moment, he couldn't help but laugh a little.
"Bad timing." he joked.
Ed chuckled and leaned in for a kiss.
"You can take care of that yourself, I'm going to bed." he said, finally getting up. Stede's hand caught in his, and pulled him back a little.
"Maybe I can help you?"
"You, help me? Mate, I don't think I'm the one who needs help right now."
"I could help you get to sleep." Stede said, matter-of-factly.
"How are you gonna do that."
Stede shifted and kicked the sheet off, so the only thing between him and Ed was his nightgown.
"You help me, I help you."
"God, Stede, you know you can just ask me if you want your dick sucked."
"No, I'm serious! I think it'll help wear you out a bit."
"One round of sex isn't gonna "wear me out"". Ed rolled his eyes, sitting back down. Stede looked at him expectantly.
"Prove it."
Ed cocked his head slightly and moved his hand to Stede's leg, slowly moving it up his thigh, brushing the nightgown back as he did so.
"What did you say?" Ed said, something different in his voice.
"I said prove it," Stede said. "Show me."
Ed's hand found Stede and rubbed his hand around, and in between his legs warming him up.
"Yeah alright. I'll show you." Edward said, his voice soft but dangerous. "Open your legs for me."
"Well, if you're as strong as you say you are, you do it." Stede said brattily, not budging.
Ed clenched his jaw, moving so that he was on his knees on the bed. He twisted, reaching behind him and yanking the curtain shut, isolating the two of them off from the rest of the world. He turned back to Stede and roughly pulled the nightgown down, exposing the man's lower half, Ed pushed Stede's legs apart like he asked, spit in his hand and began rubbing Stede off, painfully slow.
"You better watch your tone, darling. Those words won't get you anything good, not with words that rude and dirty."
"You should hurry up, before you run out of energy." Stede had the audacity to reply with, though his voice was indicative of being pleased with the way Ed was touching him.
"Maybe I will. Maybe I won't. Maybe I'll go slower. Maybe...I'll stop all together." he threatened, slowing his pace even more.
"Well, don't do that, that's no fun."
"Awe, too bad. It's my hand on you, and I get to choose what happens, not you, like you thought." Ed smirked. "I'm in control right now, not you. Do you understand?"
"Yes." Stede submitted.
"Yes, who?"
"Yes sir."
"Good boy." Ed praised softly, focusing on his stroke, speeding up as a reward for good behaviour. He spit again, straight onto his hand and Stede, rubbing it all over, stroking easier now that everything was a little wetter and he allowed himself to speed up a little more, beating at a relatively fast pace. His free hand snaked up under Stede's gown, up to his chest, squeezing all the right spots, making the man feel more sensitive with every passing moment.
Stede gave up trying to hold it in and let obscene noises come out of his mouth, whimpers of pleasure, leaning into Edward's touch. He'd only gotten harder since the entire ordeal started and not a man of much stamina himself, felt himself getting close. The whimpers turned to quiet moans and Ed picked up on what was going on before Stede could let anything go.
The slow and painful pace was back and Stede groaned, shifting on his back, obviously frustrated. Ed let out a laugh, low and deep.
"No, no, no sweetie, you don't get off that easily. You wanted to know how long I could last." he reminded Stede. He leaned over and whispered into the man's ear, "Be careful what you wish your god for."
His pace sped up without warning and Stede leaned his head back in the pillow, the words Ed had whispered still reverberating in his head. His breathing quickened and he was so ready to let go, and jesus god it was so warm tonight, he just wanted to come and go to sleep. He regretted challenging Ed, and his dick started throbbing. He bit his lip and looked back at Ed who'd returned to an awfully slow stroke.
"Yeah, I'll bet you realized you mistake now honey, don't talk back to me."
"Yes sir." Stede gasped. His voice was pained and Ed ignored nothing, hearing the strain in Stede's voice and holding back immmediately. Any inkling of domination in his voice was gone, and he sat back on his heels. Gently, he rubbed the inside of Stede's legs.
"Are you ok?" he asked. Stede caught his breath a little.
"Yes, don't stop, just- let me- please." he almost begged.
"Alright love, we'll do that, you're doing so good for me." Edward said, returning to Stede and rubbing up and down quickly. A moan escaped Stede's mouth, and he felt his stomach flip.
"Ed-" he strained and the pace only got quicker and quicker.
"You can let go for me, love." Edward told him, unrelenting, and it didn't take long before Stede spilled all over his partner's hands, throwing his head back into the pillow, gasping in for air again.
"Good boy." Ed chuckled, milking out every last bit. "Such a good boy, good job." he smiled, leaning forward and kissing Stede. "Feel better?"
Stede nodded, sighing. Ed pressed a kiss to his forehead.
"Good."
"What about you?" Stede asked, gesturing to Ed, who was naturally, also aroused.
"Oh no, that's okay."
"No," Stede said, properly sitting up. "You deserve to feel good too, besides, there are other things you haven't done to me yet, and the night is still young."
"Are you sure?"
"Positive."
"Turn around for me." Ed said, the gentle seriousness present in his voice again. He took his own night gown off, spitting on himself and touching himself briefly before turning to Stede, squeezing the man's ass, earning a pleased hum from Stede.
Ed pushed a finger into his partner, and then two, and moved them around until he could comfortably press them into the man.
"You're still okay?" Ed checked.
"Yes." Stede reassured.
Ed grinned and landed a smack on Stede's right cheek, repeating the action a couple more times, seeing a red spot blossom in the moonlight. He lined himself up with Stede and pressed in, earning an ecstatic moan from Stede. Ed himself felt pleasure blooming in his lower half and he gripped the hinge at Stede's hips, moaning himself.
He didn't waste any time here, picking up the pace, moving in and out of his partner, groaning and feeling himself inside Stede.
"God, you were right," he gasped,
"Huh?" was all Stede managed to get out.
"I can't last long." Ed said, wrapping his arm around Stede's chest and pulling him up, so that Ed's chest was pressed against Stede's back, both men on their knees, Ed's hips moving frantically back and forth, his arm still wrapped around Stede for stability.
There was a ringing in Ed's ears and he shut his eyes tightly, pressing his forehead to Stede's shoulder, releasing into Stede, moaning into Stede's back, allowing himself to float in the bliss for a moment.
Once the ringing subsided, Ed sighed and pressed kisses along Stede's shoulder, and neck, and cheek, tipping the man's face toward him and kissing his cheek too.
"Thank you." he exhaled, pulling out and watching white drip from Stede for a second before pulling him back down into bed with him. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, that felt nice, are you?" Stede mumbled, sleepy and warm and full.
"Yeah I'm okay. I needed that." he said, holding Stede close, despite the heat. "We can clean up tomorrow love, for now lets just sleep."
The rocking of the boat lulled them both into a deep rest, the cool sea breeze nice against their bare skin, kissing them both goodnight and sweet dreams for the elysian hours to come.