SMUT WARNING! Things get a little steamy ;3 and we seal our M rating. I managed to finish this chapter up, but haven't done much more than that. Still all writers blocked up ;p but here's a little consultation prize.

Chapter 31 – Forgivably Poor Form

Smee moved back and forth setting out what he needed to give the Captain a shave. Hook leaned back lazily in the long brass tub that had been moved to the middle of his cabin. He was deep in thought and ignored the old man's mindless chatter. The gears were turning in his head as plot after plot was weighted for its potential. He had an idea…but he wasn't entirely sure just how to implement it. He needed figure out where Pan had wandered off to or at least get the brats attention long enough to pit him against the other pack of cretins. If they kept each other busy they'd be out of his hair. Trying to contend with both groups himself was beyond even his ability at this point.

Despite his initial failure to capture the woman he was enjoying himself, but even he had to admit he'd lost a bit of his spry during his prolonged lethargy. Better to learn now then in the heat of battle. His short fight with Pan aboard the ship had been painfully humiliating. Hook was so caught up in his own thoughts that he jumped a little as Smee plopped the first bit of shaving cream on his face.

Smee paused his chatter at the startled jerk, "Ye alright Capt'n?"

Hook gave a mild grunt of annoyance in response. Smee wasn't put off by the man's odd mood and got back to work. Hook turned his head this way and that under Smee's guidance to give the man better access. His thoughts drifted and he hummed in turn to Smee's one sided conversation. A firm pat on his shoulder made him look up. Smee rose from his place in the chair behind him.

"Must have forgotten a towel...I'll just be a moment Capt'n."

The old man hobbled off out the room and Hook closed his eyes to enjoy the silence and warmth. A slight grin quirked his lips as his thoughts drifting to what he intended to do once he finally caught his prize.

Smee opened another cupboard and his brows furled in confusion. There wasn't a single towel or rag to be found. The last few had been barren as well. He scratched his graying beard and looked puzzled.

"Lazy lot must have shirked laundry duties..."

His search continued and his irritation grew. Nothing. Not a scrap of rag to be seen. With a final huff he headed for the decks bellow to give whoever had been assigned the job a piece of his mind. The faint sound of snickering behind the porthole went unnoticed.

Hook let himself sink down till the hot water touched his chin. Smee was taking a while, but honestly he was rather grateful for the silence. The faint creak of the ship and its motions coupled with the warmth made remaining awake a bit of an effort. He gave a yawn and let his head fall back against the lip of the tub. It was truly a rarity that he was allowed such peace. It rarely lasted more than a moment and tonight was no different.

The flooring behind him gave a soft whine and Hook eyes fluttered open with a start. His motion to turn and face the intruder was halted by a hands grip in his hair. Any other sudden movements were halted by the shining edge of a blade pressed lightly to his throat. He was sobered from his drowsy state in an instant.

"It's quite a lovely night tonight Captain… don't you think?" Ryo's familiar voice all but purred next to his ear.

Hook went stock still. The chair behind him shifted and creaked as she settling down behind him, but the blade never wavered from its place.

"Hand where I can see it Captain."

Hook scowled and his good arm came to rest along the tubs edge. The mangled stump of the other remained low and blurred beneath the water surface to hide his shame.

"I do believe this a breach of the rules you put in place," He hissed quietly in anger, "Bad form Miss Kesh."

"I found it critical to amend them and I needed to be sure I had your undivided attention," Her tone while still low and smooth held a threatening edge.

"You certainly have it now."

Ryo chuckled softly at his grumbling and the hand not holding him at knife point slid over his shoulders as she leaned forward. Her fingers dipped down to swirl over the top of the water. He watched it twirl little pattern over its surface with a raised brow. The tip of her nose was cold from the night air and he shivered when it brushed against the skin just below his ear. Ryo's voice was soft and airy against his neck.

"Goood..." Her lips tickled over his skin as she spoke sending gooseflesh prickling across his throat, "I just wanted to make it clear. This little game of ours only involves us..." The hand tracing ripples along the water's surface dipped down low to follow his chest, but her tone took on harsh hiss. "My boy's aren't bait. If you harm a hair on their heads to get to me you will not like the results."

Hook opened his mouth to speak, but it was broken off by a surprised gasp. Teeth grazed his collar and the hand strayed lower. He was getting some majorly mixed signals from the pale woman, but he was hardly in the position to complain. "I... hadn't considered it..."

The woman gave a sharp scoff and her breath washed warm over his neck, "Bullshit."

He couldn't help a slight chuckle of his own. Ryo leaned in a bit further till she was pressed firmly against his upper back. His breath caught in his throat and his hips gave a small involuntary buck. The wandering hand dipped past his navel to lightly brush his rapidly hardening length.

"It's not an unreasonable request..." Ryo whispered in his ear. Hook growled low as that hand slid around him and began a slow steady rhythm. "Games are meant to be fun after all. No need to sour it."

"You…" A particularly firm squeeze earned a low groan from the man, "You certainly have me at a disadvantage ma'am. This hardly seems fair."

"You're complaining?" Ryo chuckled softly, "I don't think there are many men who would complain about this."

His witty response was drowned out by a heady moan as her strokes came firm and swift. The hand that lay across the baths edge gripped it tightly. His breath quickly grew deep and stilted. Abruptly she stopped and Hook gave a puzzled groan.

Ryo's voice was deviously playful, "I didn't hear a yes…"

His eyes snapped wide, "You're not serious."

She giggled against his neck and bit her lower lip. Her motions returned, but at a painfully slow pace. Hook let out an agonized groan.

"Damned evil woman…"

He could feel her smile against the nape of his neck, "Damned evil man."

Those lips trailed up his neck and she tilted his head back so her lips could meet his. The rough scratch of his mustache tickled and her lips curled in a soft smile against his. When she pulled away his eyes were dark with desire. They narrowed to a glare.

"Fine…" Hook's voice was husky, "I won't go after your boys."

Ryo smiled softly down at him. The hand that held him resumed its quick pace. James gave a deep heady groan and his eyes fell closed. Ryo chuckled softly and pressed her lips against his neck to whisper softly against the flesh there.

"Your turn Captain…"

He came with a low moan and the pleasure that washed over him left him trembling. He took deep panting breaths and struggled to bring himself back to clarity as her touch fell away. Ryo slid her hand up his chest as it slipped from the water and she stood from the chair behind him.

"Sweet dreams Captain…" She whispered and smiled coyly. Her voice a little heavy as well, "I know mine will be."

She moved quickly to the open window she'd entered through and he watched her slip away before slumping back down into the slowly cooling water. Hook let his head fall back against the rim of the bath once more and stared up at the ceiling dazed and satisfied.

"She's a damned succubus…" He said breathlessly, "Some manner of devil for sure."

The room returned to its peaceful tranquility and as he drifted in and out of sleep he couldn't help but wonder if it had all just been a pleasant dream.