gaydeviants

Stede has to admit, the next few days of the journey are rather nerve-wracking. They can still spot the other mermen tailing the Revenge, and he's quite anxious that this trip will be for nothing. He knows Lucius will be unbearable if it turns out he was right. It’s a rather uneventful voyage, though, all things considered, and it’s not long before they’re closing in on their destination.

They’ll know tomorrow, one way or the other.

The evening before they're meant to arrive finds Stede tucked away in Ed's room, perched beside the tub, reading aloud from his current novel. Ed seems to like listening. Stede had offered him books to pass the time, but Ed had chuckled, admitting that most merfolk don't bother learning to read human language. Stede had felt embarrassed for assuming, but it led to a fascinating conversation about language and the way merfolk communicate with each other underwater. Stede’s still not sure he completely understands. He continues to learn new things about Ed's world every day.

Ed's currently resting his head on his arms, gazing at Stede over the side of the tub. The warmth in his expression makes it hard for Stede to concentrate, and he finds himself stumbling over simple sentences. Ed pays it no mind, seeming content to listen and stare.

Stede somehow manages to make it through the chapter, before marking his place and putting the book aside. He turns to face Ed, and finds the merman smiling at him so fondly that he can't help but smile back.

"You have such a nice voice," Ed says dreamily, making Stede's face feel warm. "God, I could listen to you talk for hours."

"I've been known to talk for hours, at times," he chuckles. "People don't normally tend to find it so charming." Stede knows he can get a little carried away sometimes, and it’s such a relief that Ed doesn’t find it offputting.

Ed scoffs. "Idiots," he mutters, reaching out, dragging his hand down Stede's arm. "Some people don't know a good thing when they've got it. I mean, shit, look at you." He gazes up at Stede imploringly, as if he truly can’t find a single flaw. “You’re perfect.”

Stede leans closer, taking Ed's hand in his own and bringing it to his lips. He kisses each of Ed's knuckles, one by one, holding eye contact with him. "You’re perfect," he murmurs, thinking, not for the first time, of how foolish Izzy had been, not treasuring Ed as he deserved to be treasured. “And I am so thankful you’re mine.”

Ed exhales. “All yours,” he breathes, making to close the distance between them, and Stede meets him in the middle for a soft kiss. It’s slow and languid, and then Ed’s licking into his mouth, kissing him deeper. Stede’s never one to shy away from that, and he parts his lips in invitation, craving the intimacy.

He gasps when Ed slips his tongue past his teeth, dragging it along the roof of his mouth, before pulling back to take a breath. Their noses brush as Stede nuzzles their faces together, and Ed makes that little chirping sound, finding his gaze. Stede can’t help but stare.

Ed gives him another smile and a slow blink, before raising his eyebrows in question. "Join me in here before bed?"

Stede releases his hand and rises to his feet, already beginning to strip, making Ed grin.

"That's more like it," he purrs, shifting to make room. Stede throws his clothes to the side before climbing in behind Ed, who immediately makes himself comfortable between his legs. And then he's really purring, that low, rumbling sound in his chest, as he settles into Stede’s arms.

"Mmm," Ed exhales, closing his eyes as Stede presses a single, lingering kiss to his temple.

"I fuckin' love you," Ed whispers.

"I love you, too, Ed," he replies, holding him even closer. "Goodness, I feel so lucky to have you."

Ed rests his head on Stede's shoulder, making a satisfied noise as they curl around each other. "Shit, Stede, I’m the lucky one," he replies. “You–you saved me, in more than one way. You rescued me, not just from that ship, but from my old life as well. I owe you so much–”

“You owe me nothing,” Stede interrupts, uncharacteristically serious. “I mean it, Ed. Taking care of you has never been a burden.”

Ed gives him the sappiest look, exhaling a dreamy sigh. “You’re something else, you know that?”

Stede smiles gently at him. “This has always been a partnership, even before we were together. And I could never properly explain what you’ve done for me, but darling, you saved me, as well," he continues earnestly, kissing the top of his head. Ed tilts his face up before he can pull away, and Stede takes the hint, pressing their lips together instead.

They kiss slowly, really taking their time, enjoying each other's company. Stede licks into Ed's mouth this time, past his sharp teeth, their tongues brushing once more. Ed yields without a thought. Stede thinks he'd be content to kiss Ed indefinitely, but Ed seems to have more in mind. Not that Stede's complaining.

Ed breaks the kiss briefly, panting against Stede's lips. “I want you.” He pauses, before adding, “fuck, I always want you. I can’t get enough.” He kisses Stede again, cupping his face with one hand.

Stede understands all too well, the ever-present desire for his beloved, after being denied true companionship for his entire life.

“The feeling is quite mutual,” he murmurs between kisses, one hand grasping Ed’s hip, before sliding down, beginning to stroke his scales. “How would you like me this evening, though?” The tub limits their positions a great deal, which means they sometimes have to get rather creative.

“Hmm,” Ed breathes, dragging his hand across Stede’s chest, stopping to thumb at one of his nipples. “I think I’d like you to fuck me. Hard. Make sure I’m still feeling it in the morning.”

Stede’s mouth goes dry. “Oh?” he manages, trying to remain unaffected. It’s impossible. He feels Ed open up beneath his fingertips, and he wastes no time, slipping two carefully inside of him. Ed’s slick and welcoming, eager as always for more. He moans, tipping his head back, his eyes fluttering shut.

“Please,” he confirms, as Stede massages him from the inside, working him open with light, teasing touches.

“Anything you want,” Stede’s quick to agree, adding a third finger before long. “Mm, darling. You’re so wet for me already.” Making Ed feel good is addicting, and knowing that he’s the cause of Ed’s arousal makes Stede feel like the luckiest man alive. Ed whimpers, before gasping when Stede’s other hand gets involved as well, playing with his clit.

“Aaah, fuck,” he sighs, clenching rhythmically around Stede’s fingers, as if trying to pull him deeper still. “Harder, Stede, please.”

“Goodness, Edward,” Stede teases, doing as Ed asked, being more purposeful with each thrust of his fingers. “Like this? Or do you want my cock, sweetheart?”

Ed shudders, his hips rocking subtly to meet Stede halfway. “You know what I want.”

Stede exhales an amused breath through his nose, kissing Ed’s temple as they rearrange themselves, trying to find a good position. “That I do,” he murmurs, ending up mostly on top of Ed, half-straddling his tail. If he gets his angle right, he can sink into him with ease.

Ed gazes up at him from beneath his lashes, his lips slightly parted, while Stede reaches between them, taking his cock in hand, dragging the head teasingly up and down Ed’s slit. He can feel the slick evidence of Ed’s arousal, and it makes him shiver, a groan spilling past his lips. He closes his eyes for a brief moment, exhaling slowly. Turning Ed on might just be his biggest turn-on.

Ed groans. “Fuck yeah, put it in me,” he begs, beginning to sound desperate, and Stede decides they’ve both waited long enough. He lines himself up, pressing carefully forward, meeting no resistance as he slides into Ed with a practiced ease. It feels like second nature, being with Ed. Making love to him.

And fucking him senseless, as well, which is what he intends to do tonight. The noise Ed makes as Stede slips in, all the way to the hilt, is absolutely obscene. His hand coasts down Stede’s back, before grabbing a handful of his ass, as if to spur him on.

“Come on, captain,” he growls , nails biting into Stede’s skin, never hard enough to break it. “Fuck me.”

Stede groans. “Anything you want.”

He starts out slow, his thrusts shallow, giving them both a moment to ease into it. He breathes Ed’s name, kissing the spot behind his ear, whispering heated praises to him.

“You take my cock so well. And you feel exquisite, darling. It’s like you were made for this. Just for me.” He finds Ed’s clit, rubbing it in a slow circle, taking the time to focus on the tiny pleasure point.

Ed whines , his tail thrashing against the water. “Only for you,” he breathes. “God, Stede, please, fuck me–”

“That’s it,” Stede murmurs, watching Ed’s face. And as much as he’d like to keep playing with him, he also needs the use of both hands to fuck him properly. “You want to take over?” Ed nods, a hand snaking down between them, beginning to touch himself as Stede’s hands retreat to his hips, for added leverage. Ed wants it hard, and Stede is prepared to give that to him. He’d give Ed anything. They share a long, drawn-out kiss, one that leaves Stede almost light-headed by the time they part again.

He watches Ed for just a moment, the way he plays with himself, turned on by the sight. “There you go,” he purrs, “make yourself feel good, my love. It’s what you deserve.” He pulls almost the entire way out, pausing there, holding Ed’s gaze. Ed stares back, his eyes hooded.

“Stede–aah!” he gasps, as Stede sinks back into him without warning, snapping his hips forward. “Fuck! Like that, baby.”

“Just like that?” Stede teases, repeating the action, watching the beautiful way Ed responds. His back arches, muscles flexing alluringly under tattooed skin. Stede wishes he had more hands, more ways to touch him all over.

"Mhm," Ed manages, encouraging Stede to keep going. His head tilts back, his eyes fluttering in pleasure as Stede sets a slow and steady pace, fucking into him hard with each roll of his hips. "Fuck, that's good." His fingers are busy between them, moving independently of Stede’s rhythm.

Ed feels phenomenal, and they fit together so perfectly. It amazes Stede, every time, how right this feels, like he was meant to find Ed and take care of him this way. And in all other ways, too.

Loud moans spill past Ed's lips with each of Stede's thrusts, his volume steadily rising. He can be so vocal, and it drives Stede wild. "Yes, Stede–oh, god, like that. Fuck me just like that."

He loves when Ed asks for exactly what he wants.

"Mmm, Ed, take my cock, darling," he pants in response. He captures Ed's lips in a searing kiss, swallowing the whimper that spills out of him not a second later. Ed licks into his mouth with almost frantic swipes of his tongue. It's so much, being joined with him so intimately. The act is familiar by now, but it will never get old.

Ed breaks away from his lips for a quick breath, his chest heaving, his face flushed. "Faster."

Stede doesn't need to be told twice. He begins to pick up the pace, fucking Ed hard and fast, pleasure coiled in his gut as his release hovers just beneath the surface. The moan that he gets in response tells him Ed's close, too.

"Fuck, I'm gonna come," Ed murmurs, massaging his clit, contracting around Stede at regular intervals. And Stede can always tell, but he loves to hear it from Ed himself.

"You've done so well," he pants back, bracing one hand on the side of the tub, changing his angle slightly. The head of his cock nudges against Ed's sheathed arousal, making him cry out in pleasure. "Go on, sweetheart, I've got you. Come for me, Ed."

"Fuck!" Ed gasps, and Stede knows he's doing just that. "Oh, fuck yeah, Stede. Don’t stop."

Ed tightens around him, shuddering through his release, and that is more than enough to push Stede over the edge as well. He comes with a satisfied groan, his hips stuttering, before he loses his rhythm entirely, grinding into Ed and fucking his spend deeper.

"Fuuuuck," Ed manages, before the hand at his clit stills, tangling into Stede's hair instead, the other absently petting his back. "Oh, fuck, that was good."

He doesn’t give Stede a chance to voice his agreement, instead pulling him in for a needy yet delicate kiss.

Stede agrees wholeheartedly, but it's hard to respond when Ed's kissing him with such obvious care. He hums in satisfaction, teasing his tongue along the seam of Ed's lips. Ed yields without a second thought, and for a while, everything else falls away. The world outside of his bathtub ceases to exist .

They eventually drift back to reality and part for a breath, before Stede presses his forehead against Ed's. They breathe the same air as they gaze fondly at each other. He admires Ed’s face for a moment, marveling at his beauty, awed, yet again, that someone so lovely exists.

Ed smiles softly at him, looking as besotted as Stede feels.

"I love you," Ed murmurs, finally breaking the silence. "Fuck, that was just what I needed."

Stede smiles back. "I will always give you what you need," he replies, kissing the tip of Ed's nose. "And I love you, too. So very much."

Ed reaches up, cupping his cheek with one hand, stroking with his thumb. Stede knows he should probably feel nervous, with Ed's sharp nails so close to his face, to his eyes, but truth be told, he’s never been afraid of Ed. Never felt fearful in his presence.

He turns his face enough to press a kiss to Ed's palm, making his webbed fingers twitch. Then he shifts, carefully pulling out, leaving Ed leaking his spend. It’s so satisfying, watching the way Ed clenches around nothing, little aftershocks of pleasure still coursing through him.

"That's lovely," Stede murmurs, dragging one finger gently along the outside of his opening, just once, gathering some of his seed, pushing it back into him. Ed trembles, but doesn't stop him, watching him intently from under hooded eyes. “I’ve made quite a mess of you, haven’t I?” Knowing he’s the one that did this to Ed, with Ed, will never cease to amaze him.

“Mhm,” Ed breathes. “I love it.” Whatever Ed means to say next is cut off, though, by a sudden yawn, one that seems to take him by surprise. He laughs, closing his eyes briefly, letting his head rest against the back of the tub.

Stede chuckles, carefully beginning the process of untangling their limbs. "Did I wear you out?"

Ed smiles. "Guess so," he replies, as Stede rinses himself clean. He climbs out of the tub, but immediately leans back over to kiss the spot right between Ed’s brows, and the merman makes that pleased chirping sound, letting him know just how content he is.

Stede drains the bath while he dries off, and fills it with fresh water as he pulls on his robe. Ed watches him fondly the entire time, looking fucked-out and sleepy.

"Hopefully tomorrow you won't have to sleep in a bathtub," Stede says, as he begins to unfold his blankets and make his bed on the floor.

Ed smiles at him. "That'd be nice," he agrees, as he sinks down lower in his fresh water. Stede takes a moment to extinguish the candles before making himself comfortable, rolling onto his side. "Hopefully you won't have to sleep on the fuckin' ground, but who knows what we'll find."

Stede huffs out a quiet laugh. "Indeed," he murmurs, closing his eyes, exhaustion suddenly washing over him. "I don’t mind it, though. Really. I want to be with you. Besides, I’m sure you’re a great deal more uncomfortable than I am at most times.”

Ed's quiet for a moment, and Stede thinks maybe he's fallen asleep, until he hears him speak from the darkness.

"I know you think I'm unhappy," he says quietly. Stede frowns. "Not with you," Ed's quick to amend, "but with our situation. Circumstances, whatever. So I just wanted you to know, no matter what, being with you like this is preferable to whatever the fuck I was doing before. I’m still the happiest I’ve ever been. Seriously."

A knot of emotion forms in Stede's throat, making it hard to respond at first. He takes a deep breath, rolling over onto his back and staring up at the ceiling. "Oh, Ed," he sighs, clutching his blankets around his chin. "I must say, you're handling this much better than I would, if I was in your position."

Ed makes a curious noise, encouraging him to continue. "Sometimes I feel quite selfish, really. Because there is a part of me that wishes to keep you here, safe and sound and all to myself.” He blinks, pausing to collect his thoughts. “I know that’s awful,” he continues after a moment. Ed makes a noise clearly meant to express disagreement, but he doesn’t interject further than that. Stede appreciates it.

“And I would never actually do that to you,” he promises, still feeling guilty for even having the thoughts. “I want you to be free, Ed. I don’t want you to be a–a human’s plaything, locked away like an afterthought. I don’t want your world to be so small."

“Hey,” Ed says, the water shifting as his head appears over the side of the tub, barely visible in the gloom. “This,” he starts, gesturing vaguely to their surroundings, “this is all temporary. But what we’ve got, between us …that’s forever, man. You’re my world, you know? And that’s huge.”

Stede feels like he should protest, that Ed’s world should be bigger than their relationship, and yet he can’t seem to really form the words. Because at the end of the day, Ed is his world as well, isn’t he?

“And quit it with that human’s plaything shit,” Ed adds. “I should kill Izzy just for putting that in your head. Hell, there’s a part of me that wants to stay here forever, to let you take care of me and not have to worry about anything ever again. I love this shit, Stede. I love not being in charge, letting someone else make all the decisions. But we both know that’s not a life. And it wouldn’t be fair to you, either.”

Stede pauses, really mulling over Ed’s words. Perhaps he shouldn’t be feeling quite so guilty. They’re making the best of their situation. And Ed’s right. It’s not forever. He exhales, before murmuring, “I’m being ridiculous, aren’t I?”

“Your feelings are never ridiculous,” Ed’s quick to reply. He reaches out, finding Stede’s hand in the darkness, giving it a comforting squeeze. “And you can always talk to me, okay? It’s all okay. We’re always gonna be okay.”

Stede squeezes Ed’s hand in return and nods, before remembering Ed can’t see him, voicing his agreement as well.

"You're right, my dear," he murmurs. He's glad they had this talk, as though it soothed worries he wasn’t even consciously aware of. "You're always right."

Ed laughs. "Dunno about that," he replies, "but I know being with you is right. The setting doesn’t matter. I just wanna be with you.”

Stede’s eyes well up, as he drags his thumb over the back of Ed’s knuckles, not wanting to let go of his hand. “I know, Ed. And I want to be with you, too, darling. But I also want you to be free.”

“Never felt freer than I do when we’re together,” Ed answers. “The freedom to be myself is such a fucking luxury, man. And I know you understand that. So please. No more guilt. I think you carry more than your fair share already.”

Neither of them have to mention what, exactly, Stede feels so guilty about. The way he left things with his family on land is not something he’s proud of.

Stede sniffs. “It’s no less than I deserve, really,” he mutters, the familiar shame resurfacing. He hears Ed sigh and shift in the water, but he doesn’t let go of his hand the entire time. Stede’s glad. Sometimes he feels the need to anchor himself to Ed, or he’ll float away entirely.

“I think you’re being too hard on yourself,” Ed whispers. Stede doesn’t agree, but he doesn’t want to argue with Ed, either, so he stays silent, unsure how else to respond. “But I know how much this weighs on you. What can I do to help? I don’t want you to carry this alone, love.”

Stede blinks, realizing he’s started crying. Ed is so good. He doesn’t deserve him or his kindness, he’s only going to make a mess of this, too–

“Stede,” Ed murmurs, cutting off that line of thought, making him realize he never responded. He clears his throat, hoping his voice will be steady when he speaks.

It isn’t.

“I don’t know if there’s anything that can be done,” he answers, and Ed squeezes his fingers in response, letting him know he’s listening. “Sometimes I think about going back," he confesses, making Ed’s breath catch in alarm. “Not to live, of course,” he adds, shuddering at the thought, “but to apologize. To explain myself a bit better. And I guess to–to make sure they’re doing all right, without me. But I know I don’t deserve that. It would just upend their lives again, and for what? So I can feel better? That’s hardly fair.”

“You do deserve to feel better, honey,” Ed murmurs, his tone leaving no room for argument. “And, look. You’ve done all right for yourself in your new life. Maybe they’re not doing quite as bad as you think they are.”

Stede pauses. While there certainly was no love between himself and Mary, he had assumed that she would have a difficult time with his departure. And he hates knowing he failed his children, no matter his feelings on fatherhood.

“You could write to them sometime, maybe?” Ed suggests gently. “Tell them that you’re okay, and you hope that they’re okay, too.”

“Hmm,” Stede considers, thinking it over. Perhaps Ed has a point. It could possibly give Mary some closure, at any rate, and he owes her that much. “I could tell them about you. And our family at sea.”

“You certainly could,” Ed agrees. “Maybe don’t tell her about the tail, though.”

Stede laughs. “No, you’re right, that wouldn’t be a good idea. And perhaps I won’t start out with how unbelievably happy I am, either,” he replies, making Ed laugh, too.

“Probably for the best,” Ed agrees, sounding relieved. Stede lets go of his hand, only long enough to push himself up onto his knees, so he can give Ed a proper kiss. He finds him in the dark, tangling his fingers into his long hair, holding him close and breathing him in.

“Oh,” Ed whispers, into the break between kisses, before his tongue flicks out to meet Stede’s own. “Mmm.”

Stede agrees wholeheartedly.

Ed presses a hand against Stede’s chest, though, just for a brief moment, nudging him back enough to pause what promises to be a slow, sleepy makeout session. “Are you good?” he asks, rubbing a soothing hand over Stede’s chest, dipping between the folds of his robe to rest against bare skin.

Stede shivers. “I am,” he whispers, gasping when Ed’s thumb accidentally brushes against a nipple. “And I think, once things have settled down… I’d like to write to them. I don’t know if Mary will bother to read it, or if she even thinks I’m still alive, but I’d like to at least try.”

Ed kisses him again, softly, making a noise of approval. “I think that’s a good idea,” he murmurs against Stede’s lips, kissing the corner of his mouth. “And I can help you, if you’d like. You can run things by me, whatever you need. But I also understand if this has to be private.”

“I don’t want to keep anything from you,” Stede is quick to answer. Ed hums, and Stede turns his head, searching for Ed’s mouth again. “Plus, I’d scarcely know where to begin. I need your help to properly tell our story.” He finds his target, tangling his fingers into Ed’s beard and slotting their lips together once more.

Ed laughs into the kiss, but he doesn’t stop Stede again, seeming satisfied with his answer. Stede’s glad, and it’s so easy to get lost in the familiar, comfortable rhythm. Kissing Ed is one of his absolute favorite activities, and he scarcely knows how he survived without it for so long.

"Baby," Ed breathes, between kisses. "You're perfect."

"As are you," Stede pants, planting kisses on Ed’s cheek, the hinge of his jaw, the space behind his ear. Ed exhales a shuddering sigh, and Stede savors the quiet sound, his tongue playfully tracing the shell of Ed’s ear. He loves how vocal Ed can be at the height of pleasure, of course, but he also treasures these hushed, private sounds that are for his ears only.

“Stede,” Ed whispers, tilting his head to the side. Stede takes the hint, trailing kisses down the curve of his neck, dragging his tongue over his pulse point. “Would it be terribly inappropriate if I touched myself?”

“Fuck, Ed,” Stede breathes, “I thought you were tired.”

“I can be tired and horny at the same time,” Ed says, his voice completely serious, making Stede laugh breathlessly. “Those are some of my primary moods.”

Stede shakes his head fondly, wondering if he should light a candle, before deciding against it. The dark is thrilling in its own way.

“Be my guest, Edward,” Stede murmurs, finding his lips, sharing another lingering kiss with him. “It’s incredibly flattering to think I can rile you up like this, particularly after you’ve already gotten off once.”

“Mhm,” Ed replies, his breath coming out in sharper pants. The water shifts, the rhythmic sound alerting Stede that Ed’s already started. “Sure you don’t mind?”

“Oh, Ed,” Stede murmurs, using kisses as punctuation, “I insist.”

Ed laughs in response, the sound tinged with just a touch of disbelief. "God. I can't believe how good I've got it."

Stede can just barely make out Ed's form in the dark, and that somehow makes it all the more intimate, imagining what he’s doing. He’s familiar enough with the way Ed gets himself off to picture it clearly. "Talk me through it," he whispers. "Tell me how good you feel."

"Fffuck," Ed hisses, drawing out the beginning of the word. "I'm just–I'm so fucking gone for you, mate, all the time," he gasps, leaning in to capture Stede's lips again. He moans quietly into the kiss, and the sound is almost enough to get Stede going again. Almost, but he's perfectly content to let Ed take what he needs, without getting off himself.

"I understand that feeling all too well," Stede murmurs, nipping playfully at Ed's bottom lip, tugging at it with his teeth. "If I had the stamina you seem to possess, I'd be fucking you again right now."

Ed whimpers. "You do something to me, man," he replies. "Make me feel young again, like I could go for ages. It's so much, and it's so good." He breaks off, losing his rhythm for a moment, gasping, "fuck, I'm gonna come."

"Incredible," Stede breathes. "Go ahead, my darling." He kisses Ed again, breathing the next words against his lips. "There is nothing more arousing than your pleasure."

"Fuck!" Ed utters, the word resonating in the dark. "Oh, god, Stede, I'm almost there, keep talking–"

"Of course," he replies easily, leaning closer, cupping Ed's face with one gentle hand. "I bet you're aching for it, aren't you?" His words are whispered against Ed's lips, as Ed continues to touch himself. "I imagine you're nice and wet, too, hmm?"

"Mmm, yes, baby–"

Stede chuckles fondly. "And so sensitive ."

"Mhm," Ed manages. Water splashes from the tub, but neither of them pay it any mind, too caught up in the moment. Ed grabs Stede's hand without warning, giving it a tug, and Stede is already pushing up his sleeve as he lets himself be led. "Finish me off," Ed breathes.

Stede groans, shifting his position, feeling blindly through the water until he finds Ed's tail, tracing gentle fingertips up over his scales. "Anything you want."

"Right now, I just want you to make me come," Ed pants. Stede decides not to keep him waiting.

"With pleasure." He finds Ed's entrance, dragging two fingers along the outside, feeling the slick evidence of his arousal. "Oh, you are wet, sweetheart," he murmurs, sinking those same two fingers inside of him, his thumb going for his clit.

“Some of that’s yours,” Ed sighs, becoming steadily less coherent. "Oh, fuck, that's it."

"Feels good?" Stede murmurs, teasing his swollen clit. Ed's response is immediate, another moan spilling past his lips. Stede leans close enough to whisper in his ear. "You're doing so well, Edward. You should be rewarded for that." His movements are purposeful and fast, his fingers thrusting in and out, his thumb focused on that tiny pleasure point. He fucks Ed hard, making sure to teasingly brush the head of his cock every so often.

"Oh, god," Ed whines again. "Yes, Stede, fuck me…"

"I am," Stede murmurs, curling his fingers, stroking his slick walls. "I'm inside of you, Ed. I can feel how badly you want this." It's true, Ed's clenching rhythmically around his fingers, signalling to Stede that he’s just about there. "Go on," he urges, "you can come, my dear."

"I–mmph, fuck, Stede–"

"Go on," he whispers again, making Ed cry out and clamp down around his fingers, the walls of his passage spasming with the strength of his release. Stede groans in sympathy, making sure to wring every last drop of pleasure from his lover. "There we go…"

Ed's panting, and moaning, and being much too loud, and Stede loves it. He savors the moment, and the sounds he can pull from Ed, the sweetest noises he’s ever heard. Ed's body finally goes slack, and he slumps down in the water, webbed fingers wrapping around Stede's wrist while he tries to catch his breath. Stede takes the hint, slowing down considerably, massaging him through the aftershocks of pleasure.

"Beautiful," he murmurs, as Ed exhales a shuddering sigh, and then a breathless little laugh, too. Stede grins to himself, continuing to slowly work his fingers in and out. "Relax, now, darling. I'm right here."

"Mmm," Ed sighs, his breathing beginning to even out. "Dunno how you always manage to make me come so hard, but I'm definitely not complaining."

Stede chuckles. "My talents are being wasted as a pirate."

Ed laughs, too, making a noise of agreement. "I think this is your true calling."

They're both quiet for a moment, before Stede carefully slips his fingers free, wishing, not for the first time, that he and Ed could fall asleep curled around each other after such an intimate exchange. Ed groans, pulling Stede in for a slow, languid kiss, distracting him easily enough.

"Stede," he murmurs, one hand tangling into his hair. Stede kisses him back, tilting his head, chasing Ed's lips whenever they part.

"Yes, darling?"

"I'm definitely going to be feeling that in the morning."

Stede exhales an amused breath through his nose. "Well, that is what you wanted, after all."

He can hear the grin in Ed's voice when he responds. "Again, definitely not complaining."

Stede smiles to himself, before slotting their lips together once more. He doesn't know what tomorrow will hold, but the uncertainty doesn't feel quite so frightening with Ed by his side. And when he's kissing Ed, the worries seem to melt away completely.

Because it's like Ed said.

They're always going to be okay.