He lays her down on a velvet rug and thinks, instead of the treasure he is now exploring of the treasure he once held and coveted. He would never have allowed her back to touch the floor. He dressed her in the finest silks, gave her velvet, silk, or leather as she chose, and would have gladly done anything for her.
But he can not have her now. He can not reach her. He can only have this girl wearing her body, this trollop who, though he is glad to have her, still can not ever satisfy him. There's only one woman who ever saw through his beast, and she's the only one he'll ever want, need, or love.
She's the only woman who ever could love him. That thought used to bother him, but no longer for she is the only one he wants. It doesn't matter if everybody else in the whole, wide world and this time and that and every one in between thinks him evil. What matters is what she thinks.
She would not like this, he knows, and for a moment, he almost stops. He almost stops, but then Lacey calls out in Belle's voice and Rumpel plunges ahead. She may not be his beautiful, cherished, and beloved Belle, but for now, she'll just have to do.
The End