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Lucius had been extremely unhelpful.
As he had put it: “No. Absolutely not. Find somebody else to explain this to you. I am not being overdramatic. If I somehow scare you off same-sex relationships and Blackbeard finds out? He’s going to get very creative with his punishments. You know what. Here’s an idea. Go ask him.”
And well. Certainly Stede was capable of asking Ed. He wasn’t a coward. Ed didn’t think he was a coward. That was the important bit.
“Ed,” he said, swinging open the door to the cabin. “It seems like there are a few more options, when it comes to relationships between gentlemen, when one is in the seafaring life.”
Ed was sprawled out on the chesterfield, in his black leather seaman’s jacket cut at the waist, riding up to just enough to reveal the barest inch of skin. He was flipping through a guide to different sea birds, one of the books in Stede’s collection with the most detailed illustrations. The furrowed brow and stern expression rather suited him.
He looked up at Stede, squinting. "Relationships? What do you mean?"
"Just..." Stede swished the skirts of his coat inside. Closed the door. "It seems odd that I should be mistaken for a lady of easy virtue. When the ‘lady’ part of that equation is rather key. Or so I would have thought."
Ed shut the book and tossed it to the ottoman. He came up out of his commanding lion-like sprawl, and patted the cushion next to him. "Come on. Sit. What's this about someone calling you a lady?"
Stede felt himself blush, which was unacceptable. He was a pirate captain for god's sake! Pirate captains didn't blush!
"Not a lady ..." He did sit however, and this close one couldn't help but be aware of the kind of rough poise that radiated off Ed. Which sometimes made one a bit fizzy-headed.
Ed brought his arm to rest along the back of the chesterfield. Stede pressed on. “Lucius and I had a little misunderstanding back at the Republic of Pirates. He may have been projecting a different sort of energy than the kind I was going for."
"Someone thought Lucius was a lady?” Ed shrugged. “They were probably just drunk."
Stede had confused him. He was doing this all wrong. “No! Not a lady. A prostitute! Someone thought that I was a prostitute!"
Ed snorted. "Oh! Well that makes sense!" He patted Stede’s shoulder. “You’d be a bit high class for a place like that though." He left his hand there and squeezed, a strong warm grip. "Honest mistake. Wouldn't worry too much about it."
"But - " said Stede. And the question, the real question was forced out of him before he could stop it. "Um - how?"
"How does prostitution work?" Now Ed was looking at him with wide-eyed… concern? "Why, were you thinking of getting into the business?"
"No! What? This is a - this is a purely hypothetical question!" Stede’s face was hot and he couldn't do what he normally would have done, which was make his excuses and leave. The ship was too small and hiding from Ed was simply not practical as a long-term solution. "The question is how could a man be a prostitute for... other men? I imagine that if he really wanted, he could be a prostitute for ladies."
Ed looked at him. Quietly. Not saying anything. For a long moment, Stede had the sinking feeling that he'd said something so abominably stupid that Ed wouldn't want to be his friend anymore.
"You really don't know?" Ed asked softly.
Stede met those dark, dark eyes. Shook his head. A tight, tiny shake.
"There's a lot of different things men can do for each other,” said Ed. “Even without money changing hands."
Stede looked down at the knees of his breeches. Rubbed his hands over the silk. "Lucius... and Black Pete..." he said, pathetically.
"Did you walk in on them?" A little bit of that captain's edge was back in Ed’s voice. "I can have a talk with them. Tell them to be more careful."
Stede had not the slightest idea what he was meant to have walked in on Lucius and Black Pete doing. But Ed was already standing. "I'll tell them to keep below decks activities below decks from now on."
"The crew was playing a game," said Stede, miserably. "Someone would mention three people, and then the others would have to say which of the three would be their pick to kill, to marry, or to... do the business with. Only, they were listing off groups of men, and I made some offhand comment about that not making very much sense..."
Ed sat back down. Settled in.
"Lucius did say I should ask you." Stede kept looking at his hands.
Ed nodded. "Good lad. Remind me to thank him."
Stede did his best to make himself respond. He did his best to stop pulling at his cuffs. "The general consensus was that the smart move was kill Izzy, marry me and, well… play at Venus' game with you."
"Yeah, I could see that. Definitely marry you." Ed grinned, leaning in. Then back out again, thinking before offering up the rest of his answers. "Guess I'd have to fuck Lucius, as thanks." He gestured between himself and Stede. "And killing Izzy's fair. He's a good first mate but he knows better than to show his face around here again."
Stede gave him a watery smile. Relaxed a little. And then realized -
"Did you say fuck Lucius?! Do you mean to say that Lucius is a girl too ? Like Jim?"
"Mate, how many times do we have to go over this?! Jim is Jim. And no, Lucius is -" Ed stopped short. "No, Lucius isn't a girl. What's all this about?"
"I don't even know." Stede was flustered, and confused. "I don't even know - there's no reason you should have to put up with this, I’ll just -"
"Course there is," Ed nudged him. "I'm marrying you in this hypothetical. Figure we'd fuck like rabbits then."
All Stede's whirring thoughts simply stopped.
He stared at Ed. Lips parted.
Then he shook himself out of it.
"No, I'd - I’d be a terrible husband," he said. "Terrible in the bedroom. You'd deserve better."
"You'd learn." Ed nudged him again, with his shoulder this time. "I'd teach you. It's my last name, isn't it?"
Stede had to smile at him for that, and nudge him back. "You do teach me lots of things. You taught me how to sword fight."
"I did!" Ed lit up. "And you won your first sword fight! I'm sure you'd be just as quick a study at the other kind of sword fighting." He winked.
"The other kind...?" And then Stede’s brain…
Followed the visual through.
And it… clicked.
Sword fighting with… with…
The thought of doing... the thought of doing that with another man was so... so intensely... Stede couldn't think of it directly or else he might spontaneously combust or have some sort of nervous spasm. And he had a brief, intense image of doing it with Ed, and then was worried about passing out, since all the blood went downwards. If only he'd brought along some of Mary's smelling salts.
"So, who would you pick?” Ed’s grin widened. “Marry fuck or kill?"
Stede could not make his brain understand the question. Not when what it wanted to do was stare at Ed's bottom lip. And the bit of skin visible at his throat. There was a bird on it. A tattooed bird.
"Last I heard, Spanish Jackie's in the market for a new husband. So that's an option."
"I... uh...."
"Olu's a nice pick. Might marry him. But between you and me, I think his heart's already spoken for."
Stede's heart was going like mad.
"Or..." Ed trailed off.
Stede was going to do something stupid. He could feel it. He was going to do something even more stupid than running off to become a pirate. But he couldn't help it then, and he couldn't help it now. He needed to - he needed to feel what it was like. Needed to know if it felt right. Otherwise… he'd never be able to make sense of anything, ever again.
He needed to know.
He lunged across the couch, took Ed's face between his hands, and kissed him. Full on the mouth. Ed made a muffled noise of surprise, but adapted. Brought a hand to rest against Stede's waistcoat. Underneath his topcoat.
And that... that was all right, wasn't it? It felt all right. Stede leaned forward, unwilling to break the kiss, unwilling to stop feeling that scratch of beard on his face, and to stop smelling leather, and Stede's own lavender soap, that Ed had used earlier…
Ed pulled away from that kiss, but his entire face was smiling. Stede touched that soft smile, with a thumb. Ed kissed the thumb.
Stede smiled, himself. "You'll… teach me?"
"Do you want me to?"
"Oh god yes."
Ed put his hand to the back of Stede's neck. Brought him in for another kiss. This time, his tongue teased along the seam of Stede’s lips. And Stede parted them for him, eyes falling closed. Surrendering. It was enough to let Ed hook his tongue under his top lip, and pull him deeper into the kiss.
Ed's tongue was in his mouth, and that had never happened before, never happened with Mary. Stede kissed back hard, desperate, and used his own tongue while he was at it. This was like nothing, no other kiss that he'd had before. He found he wanted all of it.
He gripped the black jacket's shoulder. And then - couldn't help himself. Reached down to that strip of skin at Ed's middle. Stede realized that he'd been wanting to touch it since the moment he'd seen it. He hooked fingers under Ed's leather. Until he was - he couldn't believe he was - actually touching Ed's skin.
Touching that skin wasn't enough. Stede wanted to kiss it too, but that would have meant leaving Ed's lips, and that was totally unacceptable.
The hand on Stede’s waist moved, until Ed had a firm grip on his hips and was pulling him closer.
The chesterfield was made of shaped walnut. It could take both their weights. Stede flattened Ed to the curved armrest. The movement broke their kiss, and for a moment he saw Ed, smiling, hair fanned out over the brocade. Stede had to squeeze his eyes shut. It was too much.
But he couldn’t bring himself to pause for long. He was falling, connecting with those lips again, because somehow, it was allowed. Which meant that Stede was going to do this for exactly as long as Ed was okay with it.
The beard was rough. He burrowed in, rubbing his face against it. Diving back, finding Ed's tongue one more time. Sucking on it. Ed's hand left the back of his neck, and then suddenly both hands were underneath Stede’s topcoat. Taking a firm, possessive grip on his rear.
Stede’s heart stopped. Ed's devouring, searing kiss consumed him. He was pulled out of his body, holding on for dear life with fingers twisted deep in Ed's mane of hair.
Ed hummed into the kiss, then pulled away - but just as Stede thought things were slowing down, Ed brought one hand back up to nestle in Stede's hair and began to kiss Stede's neck.
Stede froze.
He had never before regretted wearing two cravats at the same time.
Ed was reaching up to play with the lace. "What's this about? Nervous all of a sudden?"
Stede's hands struggled with the thin piece of black silk. Why in god's name had he tied such complicated knots this morning? Ed wanted to kiss his neck!
Ed laughed. Then fell back against the cushions, and ran his hands over Stede's thighs as he watched him fumble.
It was desperately unfair. Because watching Ed's hands - broad, sea-weathered, decorated with tattoos, wrapped in black leather - watching those hands spread wide across the teal silk of his breeches, as Stede's knees slid to either side of his waist… How was he supposed to stop looking at that? How was he supposed to focus on anything else?
"You have nice legs." Ed commented. "They look good in silk. Feel good in silk too. Thought they would."
Stede had to close his eyes at that too. He somehow managed to get rid of the thin black cravat, and the French lace was tied much more simply. Ed just kept going, merciless. "Those little heels make your arse look great. Love all your little frills." He slipped the lace free. "Sexy as hell."
Without the collar wound around his neck, the top of Stede’s shirt fell open. He had to swallow once, before he could speak.
"I'm glad you, ah. Think so." It came out rather high pitched.
Ed propped himself up on an elbow, reached for Stede's hair, and brought him in for another kiss on the lips.
This one was gentler than the last, and meant Stede didn't feel too bad stroking his cheek. Even though this was technically the fearsome Blackbeard. Really it was just Ed.
Ed wrapped an arm around him, less exploratory this time, and pulled him close. Just holding.
"Ed ..." said Stede. And that was all he could say.
Ed lay back against the cushions, kissed Stede's cheek and held him in a loose embrace. Atop him, Stede combed fingers through his hair. Fuzzily thought that maybe he should take off his rings. That maybe they would catch on something. But he couldn't make himself stop what he was doing. That seemed to be a theme for this evening.
Gentle, relaxed, and loose was also a very good look on Ed. He had kissed Stede’s cheek, and that seemed like a good idea. So Stede bent down, and lay little butterfly-light kisses all along Ed's exposed skin.
"Aww," Ed looked away. And got - dare he even think it - a little shy?
That let Stede tuck his hair out of the way, and kiss behind his ear. Ed's breath caught a little, before he let it out in a sigh. A strong hand spread out at the small of Stede's back, and pressed him closer to Ed’s chest.
"Why don't we get you out of that coat?" Ed's whisper brushed across his skin. Stede nodded, sat up enough to slip the garment from his shoulders and to his surprise, Ed sat up too. Keeping Stede securely on his lap, providing unnecessary help stripping him out of his coat, until it fell to the floor. It would wrinkle, if Stede left it lying there. He did not care one bit.
Stede could feel the heat of Ed's touch through the finely-woven linen of his shirt. His hand crept back around Ed's waist, to touch the bit of skin between his jacket and trousers. Tried to dip his fingers up, because he did not dare to dip them down.
Ed followed his gaze, then met his eyes. How could a glance make Stede feel so.... so…
"Fair's fair. I got you out of a layer. Now it's my turn."
"But you..." Stede gulped. "Are you even wearing an undershirt beneath that?"
"Wanna find out?"
Ed's cheeky grin made something flutter in Stede's stomach, and he tried to keep his fingers from trembling, as he carefully slipped Ed's belt free. Then peeled apart the remaining toggle closures. Ed always left one or two carelessly undone, in a way that looked just so effortlessly cool.
There was an undershirt, actually. A short-sleeved cotton garment with a low neck, dyed an interesting purple. Maybe something he'd picked up in the tropics. Thin enough for Stede to make out the shapes of the muscles of his chest.
"Took your little neck thing off too. Reckon that means I gotta take two things off now."
"I...." Stede swallowed. "I'm wearing a lot more clothing than you are. A lot more... articles of clothing."
"Gloves count separately."
Stede picked up Ed's hand in both of his. Worked off that black glovelette. Kept holding the hand after. Massaged it between his fingers. Brought it to his lips, and kissed the palm.
"You always this sweet in bed?"
"I - ah - " Stede's brain went blank.
Ed played with his hair. "I bet you are." He surprised Stede with another kiss. Then resumed his position, sprawled out across the chesterfield. Manhandling Stede, to bring him along with him. "So, how do you want to do this? I figure we start with hands, yeah?"
"Haven't... haven't we been using hands?"
"Well, yeah. But... I was thinking about using them other places." Ed stroked up Stede's legs again, until his hands rested on the uppermost part of Stede's thighs. Curved in.
Stede felt his breath speed up. His heart beat faster.
"Or we could just keep doing this." Ed added.
"I want - " Stede had to work to make himself talk. "I want - everything."
"Everything?" Ed rolled his hips.
Stede whimpered. He was going to fall apart, because he'd be lying if he said that there wasn't something going on inside his breeches. It had been so easy. Like it wasn't - like it hadn't been before.
"Let's get that vest thing off of you, yeah?"
Stede fumbled with his waistcoat, too many buttons, far far too many buttons.
Finally, it was gone. And his shirt was quite, quite open around the neck.
Ed wasted no time in slipping his hand under the loose collar. His rough, calloused fingers traced along Stede's collarbone, over his shoulder, and came to rest at the side of his neck. Stede's eyelids fluttered. He clasped his hand over Ed's. Terrified, for one awful moment, that Ed would stop touching him. All he could think about was how that hand felt. How warm. How careful. How rough, over his too-soft skin.
"Fuck you're gorgeous." Ed's voice was as gentle and masculine as his touch. "How are you this gorgeous?" Caressing Stede's jaw with his thumb.
Stede could feel his neck and cheek getting red again. "I - I'm nothing to write home about. Just have an eye for fabrics. Know a few good tailors. While you're..." And there was no possible way to finish that sentence. Not when Ed was lying beneath him, wild and stunning and as handsome as a hero out of a book. All eyes turned when Ed walked into a room. He sucked the air out. Couldn't help it. People just wanted to be around him. Stede couldn't even blame Izzy really, for wanting him so much. Or Black Pete, for telling such fantastical stories.
Ed took his hand away from the side of Stede's neck, and before he could even fully mourn the loss, Ed was playing with one of the buttons at the front of his breeches.
"I like your clothes. They're good clothes. Bet I like you at least as much out of them."
All minor misgivings went clear out of Stede’s head.
Slowly. So slowly. Ed started to undo his buttons.
Stede's muscles tensed. His eyes scrunched shut.
Ed stopped.
Stede was trying to speak, but that was hard when you were trying to breathe. Ed's hand moved away from the buttons. Back to Stede's thighs. Closer to his knees.
"Hey now, what's this? Stede?" Ed sounded concerned.
"Why - why did you stop?"
"I - you - Now don't take this the wrong way, but you seem.... scared?"
Stede aggressively shook his head. "Not scared. Not scared of you."
"Well, that's good. Wouldn't want that. You'd tell me if you were?"
Stede just stared down at Ed. He wanted to wrap himself up in Ed, touch his skin, taste his skin, wanted to devour him - that was the word that felt most right. But he couldn't just say that. Ed might take it literally.
He dove down, to capture Ed's mouth again. And this time, he let his hands ride up underneath that undershirt, touching hot skin, and muscles, the hard points of the ribcage past his waist. Ed's hands found their way to his buttocks, pulling him close. Ground their hips together, and Stede felt like he'd swallowed a burning coal. Because between his legs, something woke up, and was immediately insistent.
"Arrgh - " the syllable felt ripped from his throat.
"Want to get my hands on you." Ed whispered. "Bring you right up to the edge, and make you beg."
Kissing Ed's ear had turned into kissing Ed's neck, hot and frantic. "Yes - yes - whatever - whatever you like - " Stede babbled. His hands slid up Ed's back, feeling the slight raised texture of scars.
"Hoped you'd say that." Ed angled his head to give Stede better access. Then swore. He got a hand between them, to start fumbling with Stede's breeches again.
Stede was determined to kiss that bird right at the base of his throat. He got a hand in Ed's beard - and Ed moaned. Stede had done that! He’d made Ed make that noise! This was fantastic. He needed to do it again, and wanted so badly to lick, and taste that collarbone. He grabbed a handful of Ed's shirt. Dragged the collar down to get more of him under his lips.
One of Ed’s hands was getting the buttons of Stede's breeches open, and working its way inside the flap. Only the long fabric of Stede’s shirt separated him from the warm caress of Ed's hand.
Stede stopped. Completely. And stared, trying to find Ed’s eyes. His lip trembled. He felt - oh no, he felt on the verge of crying, which he must not, he absolutely must not do.
Ed cupped him. Played with him. Made a deeply contented noise, as though having his hand in Stede's breeches was better than the best cup of tea or sweetest piece of confectionery.
Stede had to breathe. It was too new. It was too much. He didn't want it to stop, he didn't know what he would do if Ed stopped. But the fabric touching his skin was overwhelming, and then there was Ed - Ed's - his skin was on fire, alive and so good but painful too.
"Ed - Ed..." He went limp. "Ed stop, stop for a second..."
Ed held still. Didn’t take his hand away. "Hmmm?"
"Just - " Stede could do this. "Just give me a moment. It feels so good, just. Give me a moment."
"That good?" Ed smirked as he withdrew his hand from Stede's breeches.
Stede just nodded, against Ed's shirt.
Ed laced his fingers together behind Stede's back, his embrace loose and comfortable.
Stede exhaled. “Sorry. I don't mean to spoil the fun. It's only, I haven't done this before, and my thoughts are going - everywhere at once."
"Understandable. Can be kind of a lot the first time."
"Sorry," said Stede, again. "Would you mind - and you don't have to say yes - would you mind terribly if we moved over to the - bed? There's a little more room there. Not a lot more room - "
The softest smile made itself at home on Ed's face. Then Stede found himself being kissed again. "Course I don't fucking mind." Ed was laughing, and Stede felt warm, right from the top of his head to his toes. He rolled off Ed to stand on wobbly feet. Reached down a hand.
Ed took it, and stood. Then let go when he noticed he was standing on Stede's jacket. Stepped away like he thought the fabric might melt his boots. "Get in bed you sexy fucker." Ed patted his arm, then stooped to pick the jacket and waistcoat up off the floor. "Should I hang these somewhere or....?"
"Leave it. There are much more important things happening, at the moment."
Ed exaggeratedly rolled his eyes and draped the clothing haphazardly over a chair, before following Stede over to the lovely little sleeping nook. Stede drew the heavy damask curtains shut, wrapping the space in a cozy, rosy vibe. Light still came in from the large porthole windows, reflecting off the aqua sea beyond them.
Ed was here with him.
Ed thought he was sexy.
Ed placed a gloved hand on Stede's cheek, and slowly pulled him in for a kiss that started out soft and gentle. Stede followed suit. Grateful, for the chance to get familiar with Ed's body. The size of him, how he smelled. And - if he was being honest - giving him time to get familiar with his own body as well. He had never used it like this before, for pleasure. With Mary - that had been an embarrassing duty, and they both knew it.
They drifted slowly, until Stede felt the edge of the bed against the backs of his knees. He sat, which left Ed between his thighs.
Ed kissed his way from Stede's lips down the side of his neck. He took his time. Kissing as far down Stede’s chest as the shirt would allow. Dropping to his knees between his legs. At the perfect angle, for Stede to run fingers through his hair.
Ed paused in his kissing to stroke Stede’s thighs. "You have sexy fucking legs, you know that? Stockings are downright pornographic."
He was pornographic? When Ed was between his spread legs, looking up with eyes as black and compelling as the night sky, and barely wearing a shirt at all?
"They're silk," Stede said, weakly.
Ed smiled. Spread one hand over Stede's chest, and braced the other on a thigh while he gazed contemplatively at Stede's crotch. Bit his lip, then seemed to come to a decision. He stood, and climbed onto the bed with Stede, straddling him.
Surprised, Stede fell back into his pillows. But quickly thought to run his hands over the black leather covering Ed's thighs. Just like Ed had been doing to him.
"There's so many things I want to do to you, and you don't even know about half of them," Ed growled, and then kissed him fiercely. Like an ember of this same burning hunger Stede felt had caught his insides on fire as well.
"Expect it will take a while? To teach me all of them?" Stede grasped at Ed harder. Hands running up under his shirt, as he started to learn this glorious new sensation of Ed's weight on top of him. He couldn’t help but kiss, just like he couldn't help the way his hips pressed up.
"Yeah, yeah. Definitely." Ed agreed, breathlessly. Broke away, to undo another button on Stede's breeches. "We'll take all the time in the world. Maybe even invent a few new ways of doing things if we really work at it."
"You think?" said Stede, beaming up.
"Who knows?" Ed grinned. "Maybe?!"
And with that, the front of Stede's breeches was open, and Ed was kissing him again.
Stede's cock was hard, beneath the folds of his shirt, and Ed was sure to notice. But Stede couldn't bring himself to care. Not when Ed's mouth was right there, and his rear was in easy reach.
He bought a hand down to touch himself. It was firmer than he thought it'd be, and as he squeezed down, his cock got impossibly harder. He whimpered into Ed's mouth.
"Give me that." Ed muttered, as his hand came to replace Stede's.
Ed's hand was wrapped around his length. Ed's hand.
Stede felt vulnerable and invincible at once. Every nerve ending popping and vibrating. It felt nothing like touching himself. For a second the sensation was closer to pain, before the weight of Ed and the smell of that lavender soap made him relax. This was Ed. Stede found his lips, and this time the kiss was soft.
"You mind helping me with my pants?" Ed went back in for another kiss. "I'd do it myself, the thing is, I've got quite the handful right now." He slowly stroked Stede's length. "Very busy."
There was nothing Ed couldn't have, nothing Stede didn't want to give him, ten times over. Somehow he managed to find the buttons to make Ed's fly fall, and was rewarded when his fingers met slick skin, and soft dark hair.
“Stede! Fuck, your hands are soft.” Ed’s hips pressed forward.
He said that like it was a good thing, so all right. Stede wanted to hold Ed exactly like Ed was holding him. So after the briefest hesitation, he slipped his hand down to cup his balls, then up to encircle his shaft. Ed's mouth fell open. His eyes got wide. There was a quiet, still moment before he gently toppled them so they were lying diagonally on the bed.
And Stede felt - he felt strangely powerful, holding Ed like this.
Ed pressed up close and took both of them in his hand.
Stede bit his lip, without meaning to. Had to close his eyes, and anchor himself with Ed's shoulders. Before tentatively beginning to move his body. Against Ed's hand. And the intimacy, of pressing Ed's cock against his...
He sighed, a noise of pure relief. It took him until then to even notice the pleasure, and then the pleasure just bloomed and expanded.
"See? Told you you'd be good at it."
Stede had to kiss him in response, because no way would he be able to speak. Ed let go long enough to slip the other glovelette off, but didn't break the kiss. Stede tugged at the hem of his shirt, hoping that he'd get the message.
Ed peeled the shirt from his body. Revealing skin equally decorated with ink and scars. Stede didn’t see where the discarded clothing ended up. All he knew was that he wanted that chest. He wanted to press his face against the muscles, kiss the slight curve of stomach. He wanted to trace every scar and every line with his tongue, and he wanted to do it all now.
He settled for bending forward, and sucking one of Ed's nipples into his mouth.
Fingers curled into his hair, and a leg hooked behind his knee. "Fuck yeah. Just like that."
Stede sucked harder. He loved being tangled together like this, in this warm little pocket. No one here but Ed. He experimented with circling that nub with just the tip of his tongue - then biting slightly.
Ed shivered. Moaned. Stede felt drunk on that sound. He pushed a little at Ed’s shoulder, seeing if he would lie back down. And Ed did, pliant and curious.
Stede climbed over him, giving himself permission to explore that chest. Ed exposed, in front of him. Would take a while to get used to that idea. Might as well practice.
He used hands, but mostly lips, kissing and licking - sometimes sucking and biting - following the fascinating shapes of tattoos and scars. Stede sucked on the other nipple for quite a while. Dipped a tongue in Ed's belly button. Tenderly kissed the stab wound.
"Stede... " The fingers in Stede's hair tightened, and Ed’s cock twitched.
Stede cupped his hand over it, and it was so hard under his fingers. And his lips - his lips were mere inches from it, bent over Ed like he was. "Could I...?" He looked up at Ed, willing him to understand.
"Yeah, whatever you want." Ed answered. Breathless.
Stede touched Ed's cock with the tip of his nose, nestled in that thicket of black hair. Ed made a half strangled noise. Clutched at Stede's hair.
Clearly, Stede was onto something. So the next thing to do was touch that cock with his lips - a soft, long lingering kiss.
"Holy fuck! That's hot!" Ed blurted out into the silence of Stede's cabin.
Stede looked up at him, and smiled. Ed looked down at him, mouth slightly open, eyes wide and searching his expression. Stede smiled wider. "All right?"
"Fucking alright? Man's kissing my cock and asking me if it's alright ?"
Stede went back to doing just that, placing kiss after kiss along the shaft. So far this was the only skin he'd found that was soft, which just made him want to nuzzle, and delicately lick.
Ed moaned. Loudly. His head fell back against the bed. Stede's hand snuck up to the waist-button on his leather pants, and undid that too. So the whole front could just fall open and inviting, and he could touch that enticing bit of skin just between Ed's belly and his cock.
"Leather on skin," he observed. "Don't you find that chafes?"
"Looks cool though."
Stede couldn't really argue with that. He rubbed a hand along one leather-coated thigh.
"Come back up here you tease. " Ed sat up suddenly, and hauled Stede back up with him. The two of them were rolling together, legs twisting, until Ed was on top of him again, and Stede melted a bit under the weight, and the heat of that glorious expanse of chest pressing against him.
Stede sunk his hands deep into Ed's hair. Twirled little tendrils around his fingers. "Well?" he said, breathlessly. Just a little breathless. "What next?"
Ed swallowed. Equally breathless. "Whatever you want. Could get you off like this." He moved his hips in a way that rubbed a warm full cock against Stede's own. "Could go down on you. Could do anything. Just have to ask."
"Oh Ed." Stede had no words. Just took Ed's face between his two hands. He had no choice but to kiss away that crinkle between his eyebrows. Ed was looking remarkably unsure for a man so good at everything he'd done so far.
"I'm afraid I don't know enough to ask," Stede said, when he broke away. "But I will." He met Ed's lips properly this time, sighing a bit as he pushed his hips up. Up into that warm, sweaty, exquisite space. Made a long, shuddering noise as his cock tucked in close beside Ed's.
"Yeah, that's... That's it." Ed sighed, moving to kiss the side of Stede's neck again. Took a deep breath in, and then another slow sigh as he worked to untuck Stede's shirt. "Love the way you smell. Love your fancy clothes. Love every fucking thing about you."
Stede felt his stomach turn over. But in - a pleasant way. He brought his knees up, on either side of Ed, to get his hips more flush. Somehow, he was still wearing his shoes. He moved his cock - experimentally - against Ed’s, and all other thoughts went straight out of his head.
He gripped Ed's shoulders, bit his own lip hard.
"Like that, do you?" Ed grinned.
"Like it?" Stede's voice came out squeaky and high-pitched.
Ed finally got Stede's shirt untucked, and pushed it up out of the way so he could kiss a molten line down Stede's chest. His hands greedily felt up all the skin that had been hidden. Stede sucked in his belly. He was a little self-conscious about it.
"I know I'm not - not as slim as I was. Haven't been living the pirate life for very long, after all."
Ed looked at Stede like he was being stupid. "Um, Yeah? I know. And it's wonderful."
He spat into his palm, and dragged his hand down Stede's length. Stede cried out, and arched himself up. Fell back into the mattress with abandon.
Ed was straddling Stede's legs, practically sitting on his lap. Blinding, with his bare chest, his breeches falling open, the proud cock curving upwards flushed red with - desire. Desire for him.
"You're magnificent," Stede gasped out.
Ed brushed off the praise as he got both their cocks in his hand again. "I'm so hard it hurts is what I am."
"Oh - I - I didn't mean - "
Ed rocked his hips, sliding his length against Stede's. "Didn't mean what?"
Stede got a hand on the juncture of Ed's hip, to help. Dipped inside his trousers to cradle those lovely soft balls of his. "Didn't mean to neglect you."
"Nah, you haven't been." Ed groaned at Stede's touch. "Been taking my time with you is all."
Stede's eyelids half closed on their own, watching and feeling Ed play with his body. Stroking them together. A little faster. Stopping to spit on his hand again, then eagerly resume holding their cocks.
He didn't think he had ever been so stiff. Ever. Each tiny movement of Ed's wrist went through his cock, and through his body, making him pitch and thrash right there on the mattress.
"Fuck you're a nice handful." Ed's fingers played over Stede's cockhead.
Stede had thought the sight of those big rough hands on his thighs was mesmerizing, before.
"Can't wait to get my lips around that cock."
Stede's eyes popped all the way open. He hadn't even considered that. The image alone was so incomprehensibly hot that it caused his cock to stiffen impossibly more. Something hot was building at his core.
"Ed..." he wailed, brokenly.
"Fuck. Fuck yeah. Fuck. Look at you. You're so fucking hot, Stede." Ed's hand and hips moved faster. "Yeah. Say my name. Want to hear you."
"Ed!" Stede screamed, as his orgasm clawed through him, and he was spurting white and more white, and it was dribbling down the head of his cock and over Ed's fingers - it was on Ed's fingers. God if he passed out, he hoped Ed knew what to do.
His body felt light, and floaty, like he was made of cloud. He couldn't do much more than gaze goofily at Ed, rub right at the base of his cock. Using his own ejaculate to make the slide easier.
"Yeah. Fuck yes. Stede. Oh fuck. Oh fuck." Ed knelt over him, hand still moving on his own cock. Climbed slightly higher until his cock was hovering over Stede's chest. "Fuck I'm close Stede. I'm- I'm." Ed threw his head back with a loud moan as ejaculate spilled out the tip of Ed's cock, onto Stede's chest and shirt collar.
Some old, scratchy part of his brain was telling him that he ought to find that disgusting. Stede didn't listen. Whoever said that didn't know what they were talking about. This was Ed, and Ed was beautiful. He felt proud of the white stripes down his chest. Those were his. He'd earned them.
"Oh fuck." Sounding absolutely out of breath, Ed moved to lay beside him, partially draped over. Stede slipped his hand underneath Ed's hair, to cup the back of his neck. Ed blinked slowly up at him. A soft smile decorating his face.
"So. That answer your question?"
"Mmm," said Stede, softly. "What question is that?"
"Oh, playing coy are we?" Ed kissed his cheek. "Like a bit of playfulness in a man."
"If this is about what gentleman prostitutes might get up to, you've rather proved your point."
"I mean, this is just the cheapest item on the menu."
"Oh, but I'm not cheap. You said so yourself."
"True. Very true." Ed pretended to think. "Guess that makes this one of those tiny meals. You know. The ones fancy people have before the actual meal."
"Well, first you would have the hors d'oeuvres. Then the amuse-bouche. And then the appetizer." Stede smiled, where Ed couldn't see. "I guess that means we'll have to do this a few more times."
"Guess so." And Stede could hear the smile in Ed's voice. "Then a few more times after that to make sure you remember what you learned."
"That only makes sense." Stede reached down to squeeze Ed's thigh, still in black leather.
"Well, that was fun." And suddenly Ed was standing and doing up his breeches. "Let me know when you want to do it again sometime." He retrieved his shirt from the floor and pulled it over his head. Gathered up his gloves and leather jacket.
Stede found himself reaching out, and grabbing hold of his calf. "Ed - "
"Catch you later, yeah?"
"That was only a joke, about being a prostitute," Stede said, panicky. "I'm not - this isn't - ?"
Ed stopped in his tracks. Brow furrowed. "Yeah. Of course it was only a joke. It's... I just thought.... it's your room and all..." He halfheartedly gestured towards the door.
"Stay with me, a second."
"Sure. Sure, I can do that." He set his jacket and gloves back down.
Stede buttoned himself back up, and sat up on the bed. He still had streaks of ejaculate drying on his chest and his shirt.
"It's just…” said Ed. “I should probably go soon if we don't want the crew to get suspicious. And - and you should probably..." His eyes went to the mess they'd made.
"Let the crew be suspicious. I don't care." Stede pushed himself up on his hands. "Is everything... all right?"
"Yeah, I just...." Ed gestured at the door again. "Do you want me to stay or not? Because I've still got my boots on. And typically that means it's a one and done kind of thing. But...."
"But?" Stede prompted.
"You started out asking about hookers, but now you want me to stay. I'm just confused is all."
Oh! Did Ed think the dynamic was - and he was - Stede shuddered at the word - servicing him? Oh no. He had to set this right.
"Sit next to me for a minute.”
"On the bed?" Ed double checked.
"On the bed."
Ed joined him. Their shoulders brushed. Stede took both of Ed’s hands in his, squeezed them. Because… it seemed impossible definitely, but maybe the problem was that somehow Ed didn’t know?
"Ed," he said, seriously. "You are the most incredible, most intelligent, most beautiful and bravest man I've ever met. You've been quite patient with me, and I think you enjoy my company. And the thing is..." he blushed. "The truth is - I want you here, for as long as you want to stay. Don’t you - know that?"
"Oh." Ed was quiet for a long time.
Then. "You're sure? Could be awhile."
Stede carefully slid a hand over his cheek, and leaned in. "Yes. Yes I'm sure."
The smile that lit up Ed’s face would have put the sun to shame. "Really?!"
Stede nodded, once. "So hard to believe?"
"Kinda, yeah?" Ed still had that breathtaking smile. "That's serious matelotage stuff. I've only ever done friends with benefits. Are there - are there rules?"
"Whatever rules we want, I think. It isn't like there's some sort of template to fill out."
"Makes sense. I guess I take my boots off now?"
"Please," said Stede. "You stay - right there. I'll find us some tea. We could talk. Or not. Both is good." He exhaled, calming down. Disaster averted. "And maybe - " Stede wasn't sure about this, but he pressed on. "Maybe sometime later you'd let me... I could... I mean.... put my lips around your cock?" He looked away and blushed, at saying it like that, so out in the open. But - that was what he thought Ed needed, right this minute.
Ed raised his hand to cradle Stede's face. Brushed his thumb over Stede's lips.
"Can't wait."