Pirates of the Caribbean: The Price of Freedom

Despite her best efforts, a tear broke free, and ran down her
cheek. Ayisha hoped he wouldn’t notice. “Yes,” she said, steadily. “I’m
sure. Casting the spell tired me, naturally, but I will be—”
“If you’re fine, why are you crying?” he interrupted, albeit quietly.
He put his hand up to her cheek, cupping it gently, then used his thumb
to wipe away the little bit of moisture. The tenderness of the gesture
completely undid her. She stared at him wordlessly.
“You were so brave,” he said. “To climb up there in the middle of a
battle, armed with nothing but a candle and some thread, with that
sloop coming around for a broadside. I know how to fight, when I can’t
avoid it. But I’ve never done anything like that.”
Ayisha looked down, leaning her cheek into his hand a little bit,
then shook her head. “I’m not brave,” she whispered. I can’t even face
my own feelings, without hiding away, ashamed and terrified.
“Yes, you are.” Jack smiled slightly. “I promised myself that as
soon as you were feeling better, I’d find you, and thank you from the
bottom of me heart, most humbly, for saving me ship. So, thank you,
darlin’.” Then he leaned forward, and some instinct told her he was
going to give her a chaste, grateful kiss on the cheek, or possibly the
forehead. She moved her head at the last possible moment, and his
mouth touched hers, instead.
Ayisha was not in the best shape for her first kiss. Her lips and
mouth were dry, and she was weak with hunger. But after the first
moment, she forgot all about that. She wasn’t really sure how one
kissed back, but she relaxed her mouth slightly, and that seemed to
work.
After a long, sweet moment, Jack drew away. He let his hand fall.
He looked a bit dazed, which Ayisha could well understand, because
she felt the same way.
Her hand flew up, two fingers covering her lips, to keep his kiss
there, on her lips, as though it might somehow slide off. She was
determined not to lose it. Jack misinterpreted her gesture; he ducked
his head, chagrined. “I’m sorry, love. I shouldn’t have done that.”
Ayisha let her hand drop into her lap. “Why did you do it? And why
shouldn’t you have?” She thought for a second. “And what should I do
about it?”