Blood & Ivy

Fury reigns

    Josephine woke up to the sun's early light that shined through a c***k in the heavy velvet curtains. She blinked to adjust her eyes, and finally saw Keeran's sleeping figure beside her to which she became breathless. His face was so beautiful, so peaceful, like a fallen angel beside her. She smiled slightly to herself, before she remembered the events of the previous night. Embarrassment and rejection washed over her; she had been so lost in her lust that she needed to feel as much of him that she could, to touch every inch of him with her lips. She hadn't even bothered to think that maybe Keeran did not feel the same as her, and her heart broke with the thought. She allowed herself to feel, to allow a c***k in her walls for him to come through. 'Foolish girl,' she thought to herself and she pushed back her tears while she quietly got out of the bed, so as to not disturb Keeran's sleeping form. She put on a housecoat and grabbed the pitcher to find water, so she could wash her face. She would wash her face to wash away emotions while living with Mistress Mary, and she would do so again. She felt foolish and ashamed, and she would not allow herself to feel like that again.

    As she made her way downstairs, the early morning sounds of the few workers at the docks floated in through the open doors. It was a perfect morning, warm with the mid-June sunrise and misty with the ocean breeze. Josephine found the fresh water to fill her pitcher, and started to return to the room. “Aye, aren't you a pretty little lass?” a loud voice yelled drunkenly across the tavern. Josephine turned, disgust all over her face. The culprit was a man who appeared to be in his late 20s, and by a quick glance at his clothing, was a pirate. His long, dirty, blonde hair was tied at the nape of his neck with a leather cord and his brown eyes were red from ale. His dirty shirt and breeches were simple, while his leather boots dusted white with dried saltwater. Josephine wondered how a man could be drunk so early, then she realized he must have never even been to sleep yet.

    Josephine ignored the man, and continued walking towards her destination. Once she was at the top of the stairs, a hand grabbed her elbow and roughly turned her around. She sneered up into the face of the intoxicated pirate, her temper raised at the man's action. “Oi, when a man pays you a compliment, it's only proper manners to acknowledge and accept it,” the man slurred, his face came closer to Josephine with each word. She pulled herself free from his grasp, “As it is proper manners to keep your hands off of a lady, sir.” Josephine's tone was sharp, yet polite, just like she had spoke for the last 17 years. The man smirked, “Oh you're a fiery one. I like that.” His whispered words made the bile rise in Josephine's throat, she turned to walk down the hall. Just 3 doors away, she was so close. “Where do you think you're off to? I now daresay have a vision for how my day is going to be, and it includes a fiery little redhead, who will soon be screaming my name, 'Thomas Sullivan' for the rest of the day,” he slurred, a devilish smile on his face. His arm grabbed Josephine's elbow again, almost causing her to drop her pitcher of water. “That's a bold assumption coming from a man who in all likelihood is incapable of spelling most of the words of that statement, Mr. Sullivan,” Josephine snapped again, she refused to allow another misogynistic pig push her around. The man now known as Thomas continued to smile that devilish smile, his yellow teeth showed behind his unkempt beard. His other hand went to slide around Josephine's waist, “Get your filthy hands off of me!” she yelled at which Thomas laughed at her.

    As he pulled her more towards him in the opposite direction of her room, Josephine's rage peaked absolutely to which she smashed the clay pitcher against the side of his head. The crash of the impact was loud, and water splashed the both of them. Thomas cried out in pain before his hands withdrew from Josephine as he stumbled backwards, then touched the spot on his head where he was struck. Blood coated his fingertips and flowed down his face and neck, the devilish smile replaced by fury. He stomped back towards Josephine, her rage not once faltering from her face and broken pitcher handle in hand, braced as he raised a hand to strike her. As his hand came down, before it could make contact, Josephine felt someone behind her and a hand grabbed Thomas Sullivan's wrist. Thomas looked above her head in confusion, then fear paled his face before she turned to look at the enraged Keeran who towered over her.

“Hello again, Thomas,” Keeran hissed.

Thomas swallowed, fear noticeable in his eyes, “M-M-Mr. M-Murphy! Wh-What a pleasure to see you again.” The look Thomas gave Keeran showed it was not a pleasure in any sorts. “No Thomas, it is not a pleasure to see you again, not like this. Were you going to strike my lady?” Keeran's voice was deep and threatening. Thomas's eyes grew wide, his face pale with terror and instant sobriety at the realization of what Keeran said. “Y-y-y-y-your lady? I hadn't the faintest idea! She struck me with a water pitcher!” Thomas stuttered and pleaded as he looked between Josephine and Keeran, stepping back from the pair. “Only after you refused to remove your disgusting hands and tried to forcefully take me to your room to do unspeakable and unforgivable things!” Josephine snapped. Keeran looked down to Josephine, her emerald green eyes stared at Thomas, rage etched on every feature. Keeran fought the desire to chuckle. She looked like a fairy, tiny and adorable with her anger lighting up her petite features. He was also impressed as he noticed the blood that had started to clot at Thomas' temple. Keeran narrowed his eyes at Thomas Sullivan, his voice low and threatening, “Maybe you should remember our last interaction on how to respect women and actually treat them how they should be treated, Thomas,” “Of course, Mr. Murphy. A thousand apologies to you both,” and with that Thomas took one last look at Josephine's enraged face with an awkward head bow and raced back down the hallway. Josephine turned to Keeran, her adrenaline still on a rise and now questions she needed answered. “How are you acquainted with him?” She questioned Keeran but received no answer. She then stomped her feet back towards the room, leaving Keeran in the hallway entertained by her display of emotions. He silently followed her back to the room, he caught the door before it slammed completely shut. He chuckled, which prevented Josephine from calming down. “And what, pray tell, is so damn hilarious?! The fact that I was almost r***d, again, or by the fact that it was a scum of a pirate, who you happen to know and won't divulge how? Or how you claim I'm your lady yet refuse to act upon the words?” Josephine's words raged on, leaving her breathless, her breasts heaving once she was done. Keeran stared at her quizzically, a ghost of a smile upon his lips. “My darling Jo, what is it that's truly bothering you? Because you woke up with fire in your features long before you were affronted by Thomas Sullivan,” his voice stoked the flames of her fury.

     He reached forward to stroked her pink cheeks, only for her to step back out of reach, her arms wrapped around herself. “Does my anger amuse you, Mr. Murphy? Do the questions of an 18 year old woman come across as some sort of game? A game in which you're the only winner and answers are not forthcoming?” Josephine asked, a tone which dropped all familiarity. Her proper address of Keeran caused him to lose all amusement in his face, and an eyebrow to raise in concern. “Of course not, Josephine. Why do you address me so queer?” Keeran questioned, and again tried to reach for Josephine, to which she only sidestepped the physical contact. “Mr. Murphy, if you could please refrain from acting so acquainted, as we are not married nor betrothed. It is not proper,” she whispered, her arms that were wrapped around around herself squeezed slightly to prevent her sadness from breaking forward, so desperate to reach towards Keeran. Keeran's brilliant light green eyes flashed for just a second with hurt, then confusion. “Josephine.... What are you saying? You are the only person outside of my own kin who I am so closely acquainted. Where is this coming from?” Keeran's hurt lacing each word, which made his accent that much stronger. He reached for Josephine again, her heart raced and stomach flipped, and his fingertips made contact to her cheek. The action caused the tears she didn't know were there to fall, and Keeran to wipe them away, heartbroken at her sadness. “Josephine, darling, I am so sorry for however I've hurt you. I swore I would never hurt, or reject-” and Keeran's words stopped. His eyes widen slightly as the realization clicked in his head. He almost slapped himself, he was such a fool.

    Last night Josephine drove him mad. He could feel the racing of her heart, the heat and moisture in her body from desire. That tiny nightdress she wore left almost nothing to the imagination, the sheer material dared him to rip it off her tiny frame. He almost lost control, and didn't even realize what stopping her meant to her. “God I'm a fool, “ he whispered, before he closed the distance between them, and smashed his lips into hers. She stiffened, taken aback by his suddenness, conflicted on continuing building her wall back up, or letting him kick it all down again. Keeran's hands went to her housecoat and ripped it from her, and a gasp escaped her lips. Keeran was on a mission, he threw the housecoat from Josephine's body and ran his hands over ever curve, a shiver ran down her body from the action. Once his hands reached her thighs, he grabbed each one and lifted her to wrap her legs around his waist. Her hands were on each side of his face, fingers lost in his hair and thumbs on his morning stubble. There lips danced effortlessly, savoring each others' taste. He finally pulled away, and looked into Josephine's still flushed face, her hooded eyes shone with lust. A small gasp again. “Keeran... Your eyes again...” she whispered, out of breath from the kiss. Keeran smirked, and kissed her neck. “That's why I stopped you last night Josephine. Please don't ever doubt how I feel for you, or how much I desire you. But there is something about myself, that I must now confess.”