A/N: Thank you so much to all of you who have reviewed, faved or followed. I've sort of played around with the timeline and the characters to get everything to fit with where I'm going with the story. Sorry it's not canon perfect, but I hope you enjoy it, nevertheless. Don't hesitate to let me know what you think. Enjoy!
II
A sharp pain in her bruised face brought Belle out of a sound sleep with a small cry, causing her to wince and sit up in the bed. She took in her surroundings and smiled. No, it hadn't been a dream. She really was in Gold's pink mansion on the edge of the forest, her position secure as his new housekeeper. She groaned as she rotated her neck, hoping to release some of the tension there.
She felt as though she hadn't slept at all and rubbed her eyes, trying to remove the grit of sleep so she could focus. The clock on the nightstand read eight thirty and she had to bite her lip to keep from crying out in frustration. First day on the job and she was still lying abed. Useless, Belle. Completely and utterly useless. He's going to send you away because you can't follow simple rules.
Belle flung herself out of the bed and tried the knob on the bathroom door, relieved it wasn't locked. She showered quickly, losing herself under the delicious spray of hot water. Her mind turned to the kiss she'd shared with Gold the night before. That was the part of the contract she had feared the most. She wasn't stupid. She knew what kissing could lead to. She'd read enough over the years to know a kiss could quickly escalate into heat and passion and mind-blowing sex. She couldn't allow herself to feel that way about Mr. Gold. She couldn't cross that line between employer and servant, not with a few kisses.
For years, she'd hated him, and she couldn't fathom the reason why. It could be as simple as her father's intense dislike for the man carrying over to her until she shared his feelings. And what about Gold? He'd always treated her with either cold disdain or sarcastic intolerance. What had brought about the change in his own feelings and why had he felt like that to begin with? Yet yesterday, he had cared enough to save her from her father's abuse, but that could just be because he didn't want his new property damaged.
That's all she really was to him, wasn't she? His new acquisition? Then why had it felt so incredibly nice to have his lips pressed to hers? She pushed the thought aside before she could dwell on it any longer. It was her first day and she had not one, but two kisses ahead of her. The thought of kissing him again just wasn't as easy to banish as she'd thought as she turned off the shower and stepped out, listening for a moment for any sound from his side of the bathroom door. She didn't dawdle, going through her morning routine and then returning to her room.
She chose a brown shift dress with a light blue trim around the square neckline and a blue leather belt which matched perfectly, finally slipping her feet into a pair of brown flats. She knew she'd never worn something of such fine quality, and she hated the thought of having to clean the house in something so nice. But this is what he had chosen for her, so who was she to complain. She pulled her hair back into a loose ponytail at her nape and left her room to see if she could scrounge something for breakfast, knowing the offerings downstairs would be pretty slim. But she stopped with her foot on the top stair.
Belle knew the noise she heard couldn't be Gold because when she'd pressed her ear to his door, she could hear him snoring. But the unmistakable sound of someone rummaging around downstairs in the kitchen was clear and she felt a shudder of fear race down her spine. She backed away from the stairs silently, slipping her feet out of her shoes and leaving them there on the landing as she padded silently but quickly in the direction of Gold's bedroom, praying he'd left his door unlocked. She knew it was wrong to invade his private domain, but this was an emergency. An intruder in his home was a definite cause to disturb him.
She crept into the dark recesses of his lair; yes, lair. It was the only term she could use to describe the bedroom of the beast of Storybrooke and it made her want to laugh at the thought. She bit back the hysteria threatening to spill forth from her lips and made her way to the far side of the bed. He really shouldn't be sleeping on his back if he was going to make such a god-awful noise. She put her hand to his shoulder and gave it a gentle shake.
"Gold," she hissed urgently, wanting to kick herself for the fear evident in her voice. Now was not the time to be a squeamish miss. "Gold!" She shook him again. In the dim light filtering from beneath the drapes, she could see him clearly, his hair tousled, his features soft and relaxed, and his lips parted. Focus, Belle! "Gold, wake up, damnit!" she lost her temper amidst the panic, shaking roughly this time.
Gold's eyes flickered open slowly, his mind fogged with sleep … or lack thereof considering that thoughts of Belle sleeping in the next room had kept him awake most of the night. The thought of her nestled safely in his home, mere feet away - so near, yet so far - was just agonizing.
He propped himself on an elbow and glanced down at his beloved crouched down beside the bed as if the mattress and bed frame were somehow her only protection. The sight of her panicked cerulean eyes helped to clear his head.
"What? What's wrong?"
Her hand slid down from his shoulder to twist into the silk sleeve of his pajama top. "There's someone downstairs," she whispered fearfully, and he had to bite his tongue to stop from grinning at her like a deranged fool.
"Belle, did you check to see who it was?"
She gaped at him as if he'd taken leave of his senses. "Are you insane? I'm not going down there if there's a burglar in the house!" she retorted indignantly.
He just knew she was going to whack him with his cane over this. "Belle, it's probably Dove with the groceries I called him about. I asked him to do our shopping for us this morning so you wouldn't wake up with no food in the house."
"You could have warned me," she said, slightly miffed, yet not quite ready to resort to violence.
He lifted his hand to brush his fingertips along her cheek. "Besides, I didn't think you'd want to go shopping with me, sporting such a spectacular bruise."
"More like you didn't want to go shopping with me because you know everyone would think you gave it to me," she teased, her lips turning up at the corners. She lowered her gaze and took his hand in hers, replacing it on the bed as she rose to her feet. "Are you going in to work today or are you taking the day off?"
"It's Sunday. I don't open the shop on Sunday."
"Well, try to go back to sleep. You have circles under your eyes and that just won't do," she said with an imperious air. He raised a brow at her for her audacity. "I'll have breakfast ready soon," she murmured, a blush rising in her face, and moved to the door.
"No more dry toast, I hope," he called after her.
She stopped at the door to peer at him over her shoulder, her bottom lip caught playfully between her teeth. "You'll just have to wait and see."
Gold watched her skip out the door and groaned as he swung his legs over the side of the bed. He glanced down and grimaced. He was already hard for her and she hadn't even kissed him yet. This deal was going to be the death of him. He could only hope her memory returned soon if at all and decided to add something new to his morning ritual … a cold shower.
*.*.*
Gold could hear it the moment he stepped out of his bedroom. It was blaring and raucous and grated heavily on his nerves. By the time he reached the kitchen, his head was pounding, and his good mood had receded into nothingness. However, the sight of his darling Belle dancing around the kitchen, her feet tapping and hips twitching in time to the music as she moved around the counters and stove preparing breakfast cleared every last thought from his head save one … how much he wanted to take her upstairs and have her ten ways from Sunday.
He ground his teeth together and groaned. Thirty minutes under the icy spray of the shower had been for naught and he sat down quickly at the kitchen table before she turned and noticed the evidence of his desire for her. "What is that god-awful noise, Miss French?" he asked, irritation evident in his tone and the firm set of his jaw. He was this close to covering his ears with his hands. She ignored him. Trying several more times to get her attention and failing, he rose from the table and pulled the plug on the radio which sat innocently on the counter. She merely raised her brows in the face of his anger, still refusing to answer him.
"Belle!"
"Finally," she grinned smugly. "I'll have you trained in no time."
"What?"
She waved the spatula under his nose as if she were trying to explain something to a five-year-old. "I told you last night I was not going to answer you if you called me Miss French," she said, wrinkling her nose at him. "And I'm sorry if the music was too loud." She filled a glass with orange juice and poured tea into his cup and shooed him back towards the table. "Go. Sit. Breakfast is ready."
He was so thrown by her bossiness, he didn't even ask what she had prepared. He resumed his seat and opened the paper she had placed on the table for his perusal, anything to distract him from his carnal thoughts. She set his tea and juice on the table before him and turned to retrieve his plate, but he was confused when she didn't sit down next to him with her own breakfast. "Aren't you going to join me?"
Belle could feel the heat of an embarrassed blush rising in her face. "I, uh … I didn't think you'd want to eat with the help."
Gold bit the inside of his cheek to keep from cursing. Their previous relationship of antagonizing each other for the past twenty-eight years was damaging to his present plans and his fingers itched to slip around Regina's pale throat and choke the life out of her. His features softened as he gazed at Belle and he could see her visibly relax. "I would very much like for you to join me, dearie."
He waited until she settled herself at the table before glancing down at his plate. The French toast and crisp bacon he'd wanted yesterday morning at the diner sat on the fine china plate and the smell made his stomach growl with anticipation and hunger. Belle hid her smile behind her napkin as she watched him from the corner of her eye. "Is everything satisfactory, Mr. Gold?"
Belle knew the food was good, but the look of absolute delight on his face made her happy, nonetheless. "You know good and well that it's delicious," he said as he poured just a bit more syrup over the already sweet toast.
"Thank you," she replied graciously, sipping from her own tea cup. "Um, why don't you … ah … tell me what you expect from me as your housekeeper," she suggested, trying to move the conversation along. Otherwise she was going to continue to sit there and think of kissing him. She was beginning to think she was obsessed with the idea.
"Nothing to strenuous, Belle. Simple housekeeping just as you did before coming to live with me. Frankly, I don't care what you do with the house as long as you continue to cook like this," he said appreciatively, meaning it as a compliment. He had forgotten how much he had enjoyed her culinary skills at the Dark Castle.
He remembered how surprised he had been that the little princess had possessed any knowledge of cooking at all, much less do it so well. She'd very much enjoyed rubbing that in his face the first time he'd asked her to cook for him and thinking she would burn the kitchen to the ground.
She eyed him warily. "I still think I'm getting the better end of this deal."
"I don't know about that," he said softly, his accent thick. "I have the pleasure of your company and I don't have to eat out anymore."
He would have said more if her phone hadn't broken the peaceful silence which had fallen with his last statement. She grimaced and looked down at the phone she withdrew from the pocket on her dress. "Sorry. It's probably Ruby again. I've been sending her calls to voicemail this morning. I don't want to violate the terms of our contract," she said, and she couldn't quite keep the edge of bitterness from her tone.
But it wasn't Ruby. "It's the hospital," she frowned, pressing the answer button and pressing it to her ear. "Hello … yes … yes … I don't know …"
Gold took the phone from her. "This is Mr. Gold … yes I understand … if there are concerns, you will notify me and leave Miss French in peace … thank you, doctor … goodbye."
He handed the phone back to her and pushed his empty plate to the side. She bit her bottom lip, hesitant to ask what the doctor had said, but her curiosity won out. "What did Dr. Whale have to say about Papa?"
"Nothing for you to worry over, dearie. He said your father has a mild concussion, a dislocated shoulder and a broken radius but he should be back on his feet within a few days. He was also concerned about your father's lack of insurance. Since his injuries are my fault, I assured Whale I would take care of the bill."
Belle simply nodded and began collecting their plates to stack in the dishwasher. She didn't say anything else, leaving him at the table to finish reading his paper as she busied herself with cleaning the kitchen. But her mind was in turmoil as she thought about her father. If it wasn't for Gold offering to cover her father's medical expenses, she would have had to find some way to help Moe pay for them. It didn't matter that she had begun a new life, he was still her father and she felt as though she was still responsible for him. Would she never be free? She couldn't help the tears which sprang to her eyes or hide the loud sniff.
Gold was at her side in an instant, offering her his handkerchief this time instead of the front of his silk shirt. "Hey," he said, cupping her face in his hands. "Are you alright?"
"Fine, I guess. I'm just not used to anyone taking care of me," she replied as she wiped away her tears. "I've never really even had anyone to confide in besides Ruby and now I don't even have her."
He released his hold on her face and tucked a stray lock of her hair behind her ear. Now he felt like an ass for taking her friend away from her. "Perhaps I was a bit rash when I said you couldn't see your family and friends." She finally lifted her gaze to stare at him, a puzzled frown creasing her brow. "I have reason to keep you away from your father, but I don't see why you can't have Ruby visit you here. And perhaps you can see her at the diner in your free time," he relented, bending enough to give her at least that. "I don't want you to feel like a prisoner here."
"Really, you mean it?" she asked hopefully. When he nodded, she couldn't stop herself from throwing her arms around his neck and hugging him tightly. It took a moment for the shock to wear off, but when it did and the feeling returned to his limbs, he wound his arms around her waist, reveling in the feeling of her body pressed so tightly to his, her floral scent wrapping around his senses and leaving him in a pleasant haze of contentment. She slowly let her hands slide from around his neck to come to rest on his chest, stunned by her own boldness. "I'm … I'm so sorry … I didn't …"
"You didn't do anything for which you need to apologize, Belle," he said, struggling to keep his voice even, afraid it would betray the wealth of emotion sparking through his entire being.
She was drowning in the deep pools of his eyes and she could feel the heat radiating from his body sink into her own. The butterflies in her stomach took to flight as she realized just how intimate was their embrace. "Mr. Gold?"
"Hmm?"
"You said I have to give you a kiss before you leave for work in the mornings," she breathed, her voice failing her slightly and coming out in a faltering whisper.
"I did," he nodded, trying to focus on anything but her perfect rosebud mouth which seemed to be beckoning him closer.
She steadily closed the distance between them, their noses nearly touching before she halted, unsure if she was doing the right thing. "You …ah … you aren't going to work today."
His breath fanned against her lips and the breath hitched in her chest, making her wonder why the room was beginning to spin. She twisted her fingers in the lapels of his jacket to ground herself as his fingers tightened about her hips. "I still get two, don't I?" he asked, refusing to budge that last inch until he had her permission.
"Yes," she breathed, closing her eyes and moving forward to meet his lips with her own. This kiss was different from the first they'd shared the previous night. This time she was standing in the circle of his arms, her body pressed flush against his. Where last time, he had been stiff as a statue, now he was yielding as he held her gently, his body molded to hers. Yet he didn't dare move, letting her have complete control and letting her take it as far as she wished.
His lips were soft beneath hers as she pressed her lips to his, brushing softly and then with more pressure. She could feel the heat pooling in her belly and a delicious pressure she didn't quite understand, but was fully willing to explore further. She wanted more, needed more, but in her inexperience, she didn't have a clue how to go after it.
Her hand rose from his chest to delve into the hair at his nape and he had to fight his baser urges not to crush her to him. She whimpered in frustration at her own lack of knowledge and pulled away, hiding her face against his neck.
Gold smoothed his hand over her hair and held her to him. "What's the matter, dearest," he whispered brokenly, letting the endearment slip from his lips without a thought to how it would sound to her.
"I don't know how to do this, Gold. I don't understand why you want me to kiss you, but it's part of the contract and I'm willing to do it, but I don't know what you expect and …"
Why? He couldn't just blurt out that he was madly and insanely in love with her. She'd think him insane and run screaming from the house. "Perhaps I just like to have a kiss from a beautiful woman. It doesn't matter that you have no experience. It's enough that you accept me despite your fear and loathing of who I am," he said lamely. But instead of making fun of him and teasing him or ridiculing him, she chuckled softly and leaned back in his arms to smile up at him.
"I don't hate you and I'm not afraid of you," she insisted. "I have gained so much through this deal and you so very little. I don't want you to be unhappy because I can't kiss you properly."
He was already kicking himself and the words hadn't yet left his mouth. "Then tonight, why don't you let me kiss you instead of you kissing me? Would that set your mind at ease?" Stupid, stupid, stupid! You're going to frighten her, you beast.
"I think that would be best," she agreed, smiling shyly as she stepped out of his arms. She wanted him to kiss her now, and damn the contract. The very thought frightened her and made her wonder if she hadn't already gotten in way over her head.
*.*.*
Gold gave her a quick tour of the house and then promptly locked himself in the library, the one room he hadn't shared with her yet. He needed to spin, to lose himself as he worked at the wheel. He thought he'd been so clever making this deal with her. He'd only meant to get her away from her abusive father, to have her safe and protected under his own roof. But who in the blue blazes was going to protect her from him? It hadn't even been twenty-four hours since she'd signed the contract and he was already thinking of ways to lure her into his bed. What everyone said about him was true … he really was a monster.
Belle sat at the center island in the kitchen where she'd shared the evening meal with Gold the previous day and wondered for the umpteenth time why he had wanted to make a deal with her. His house was clean and there was little for her to do, thanks to his previous cleaning lady who came three times a week. He'd of course had to let the woman go this morning, explaining he was no longer in need of her services. Her phone saved her from her ponderings, and she smiled at the caller ID on the display.
"Hey, Rubes, how …"
"Where the hell are you, Belles? Granny told me you quit. Why did you quit? What's going on? I heard Mr. Gold beat the crap out of your father and put him in the hospital …"
"Ruby! If you slow down a minute, I might be able to answer your gazillion questions," Belle huffed, trying to get a word in over her rather excited friend.
"Where are you? Please tell me you're not with Gold."
Belle could hear a gagging sound on the other end of the line. "Yes, I'm with Gold."
"…"
"Ruby?"
"…"
"Ruby, that's not funny. Say something."
"The men in the little white coats are going to come and take you away," Ruby warned in a low ominous tone which creeped Belle out. "Because you have seriously lost your mind, Belles!" and then she was back to screeching.
Belle bit her lip and rolled her eyes. "I made a deal with him."
"Yep. Bellevue bound, honey."
"…"
"I'm sorry, Belles. You want to tell me what happened?" Ruby asked, switching tactics to get some answers.
"He told me he would lower the rent and forgive my father's loan if I would agree to live in his home and be his housekeeper," Belle explained.
"Oh. My. God." Ruby choked, making each word drag out into its own sentence. "Please tell me you're not having sex with him. I just don't think I could bear the mental … damn, and there it is. I need to go scrub my eyeballs with bleach and then I don't think it will erase that picture completely. I'm going to have nightmares. I'm going …"
"Would you please be serious? I'm not sleeping with him, Ruby," she hissed into the phone, hoping Gold wasn't lurking about to overhear.
"What about your dad? What does he think about all this?"
"He uh … he didn't take it well," Belle said, her voice lowering in shame for her father and his actions.
"Did he hit you again?!"
"Yeah and if Gold hadn't come in and stopped him when he did, I would probably be the one in the hospital," Belle sniffled discreetly, trying to keep her voice from shaking.
"Serves him right," Ruby sneered with a hint of indignation coloring her tone. "Did Gold beat him with his fists or the cane of doom?"
"Ruby! Seriously?"
"Come on, I wanna know."
"Cane."
"Awesome!"
"You're awful."
"I know. So … is your dad going to press charges against Gold?" Ruby asked. In the background Belle could hear Granny yelling at Ruby to get off the phone and get back to work.
"Doubtful. If he tries, I'll threaten to press charges against him for hitting me. But I don't feel like talking about it anymore and I know you need to get back to work, so just call me tonight or come by and we'll talk."
"You want me to come to Gold's?" came Ruby's astonished whisper.
"He said you could visit me here whenever you like. He's really not as bad as everyone makes him out to be, Ruby. He's … nice," Belle said in his defense. She realized it was the truth. He'd been nothing but good to her since she'd signed the contract.
"What color do straightjackets come in? I think we'll get you a pretty blue one."
"Bye, Rubes."
"Later, looney … and, Belles?"
"Yeah?" she asked, trying not to let the hurt in her voice be heard over the phone.
"Love you."
*.*.*
Gold had driven Belle to the police station to make her statement and had been assured Moe French would not be pressing charges, thanks to Graham talking him out of it. She'd given her statement as to what had happened that night in her flat and convinced the sheriff she was in no danger from her father as long as she was living with Gold, although that had taken a lot of quick talking on her part.
"Belle, I'm asking you as a friend … are you certain this is something you want to do? Has Mr. Gold threatened you in any way? If he has something on you, I can protect you," Graham said, drawing her into his office and shutting the door so they could talk privately.
Belle ground her teeth together. Would she forever be defending her actions to everyone she knew? "Graham, I made a deal with Mr. Gold and I don't have to tell anyone the details of our agreement. All you need to know is that I'm his new housekeeper. He hasn't threatened or coerced me, and he hasn't hurt me in any way."
"And that could change in a heartbeat. Belle, he beat your father and sent him to the hospital," Graham insisted, trying to get the stubborn girl to see reason.
Her face flushed angrily, but she forced her voice to remain calm. "Gold gave me a place to live where I don't have to constantly fear I'm going to anger someone and suffer their abuse. He gave me a job where I don't have to work my fingers to the bone to pay debts which don't even belong to me. And he treats me with respect, Graham."
The Sheriff's brows disappeared into his hairline in surprise at her defense of the one man in town everyone feared and hated. "I'm sorry, Belle. I just want to make sure you're going to be alright."
Her hands unclenched at her sides and she picked up her purse from his desk, slinging the strap over her shoulder before she reached for the door knob. "Next time you want to accuse him of nefarious deeds, you might want to look at the man – the very man who saved me - instead of listening to what other people in this town think of him. God knows I had the same opinion until I took a closer look, but I thought you were better than that."
Belle had marched out of the station in a haze of fury, not stopping until Gold finally caught up with her and jerked her to a stop. "Belle, what's wrong? What did he say to you, dear?"
"It doesn't matter, Gold. Just take me home." That was the last she'd spoken to him and he was ready to drive back down to the station and beat some sense into the sheriff to make certain he never upset her again.
*.*.*
Dinner that night was a silent affair. She was still angry, and Gold was afraid to say anything which might further cause her upset. This was not how he'd imagined their life to be together. She'd vacuumed the entire first floor, dusted and only broken one trinket in her mad dash through the house, constantly mumbling under her breath about thick-headed men and their notions of butting into other people's business. He'd retreated to the library to let her work out her anger on the furniture.
Now, dinner over and a fresh pot of tea steeping away, he still couldn't think of a thing to divert her present mood to a happier place. "Belle, would you please talk to me? Have I done something to upset you?"
Belle's features softened as she met his gaze, instantly contrite. "No, of course not."
Gold turned the dishwasher on and gave her a relieved smile. "Come. Bring the tea tray and come with me," he coaxed, a mysterious air coloring his tone.
"Where are we going?"
He didn't answer her as she picked up the tray and followed him out of the kitchen and down the hall to the double doors he usually kept locked. They were standing open, and she couldn't help but gape at the sight before her. He took the tray from her and set it on the low coffee table before she became too distracted and dropped it. She turned in a circle, her eyes taking in everything, her lips parted on a gasp of surprise.
Shelves lined the walls in the room and the gallery above, lined with more books than she'd ever seen in one place. Two stories of books and he had decided to share it with her. Chairs and a sofa were arranged before a great stone hearth, a cheery blaze beckoning her to find a tome and settle before it. A table to her right was covered in maps and open volumes depicting travel and a spiral staircase was to her left leading to the floor above. Her gaze was drawn to him as he moved to stand beside an old antique spinning wheel. He'd gravitated toward it to give her time to herself to enjoy the sight before her.
"I take it you like what you see, hmm?" Gold asked softly, a faint smile on his lips as he ran his hand over the wheel as a way to keep his hands from fidgeting.
She tore her eyes away from the shelf she'd begun to peruse and flashed him a brilliant smile. "It's amazing. I've never seen so many books in one place before. At least not here in Storybrooke."
"I ah … I thought this might give you something to do after you've finished with your duties. And perhaps … if you are amenable, of course … you could read aloud sometime?" he asked, trying not to let her see how much it would mean to him if she would. It was one of his most cherished memories of her from their time together, her sitting next to him before the fire in the great hall of his castle, her voice soothing him as she read.
The anger - which had been with her all day - died a quick death to be replaced by true happiness. "I think I'd like that, Gold. Very much." Her heart fluttered in her chest and beat a wild tattoo against her ribcage as he smiled warmly.
Gold was surprised to find her taking his hand and pulling him over to the sofa. "I didn't mean you had to do it now," he amended quickly as she pushed him down on the cushions and took his cane from him to set on the floor beside the sofa.
Belle knelt at his feet and began to pour tea into their cups. "No time like the present," she chirped with a cheeky grin, handing him a cup. "Is there a favorite you would like to hear?"
"I would rather you read one of your favorites, dearie." He wondered if her tastes had changed with the onset of her cursed memories and was pleasantly surprised when she returned with the one tome she'd read many times to him before.
"I know you may think this a little corny, but this has always been one of my favorites," she said, settling next to him on the sofa and showing him the cover. King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table.
"Not at all, Belle. I'm certain it's a fascinating tale," he assured her, his voice ringing with sincerity. And then the imp in him reared his ugly head and threatened to destroy the comfort they'd gained with each other. "But you're going to have to sit close to me so I can follow along."
Belle quirked a brow at him and narrowed her cerulean eyes. She doubted she'd be able to concentrate on what she was reading if she had to sit next to him, her hip pressed against his, his arm around her shoulders … It was all she could do to stop herself from bringing a hand up to fan her face and a blush stole into her cheeks at the mere thought. She couldn't understand the attraction she was developing for this man and it frightened her. Do the brave thing, Belle.
"Okay," she murmured and sat down next to him, fighting to keep her voice steady as her heart took flight. He was so warm as she settled into his left side, his arm coming to rest along her shoulders and pull her close, his long slender spinner's fingers caressing her bare upper arm.
"Is this alright?" he asked, and it made her feel better that he seemed to be just as nervous as she was.
All she could do was nod, take a deep breath and open the book.
*.*.*
Belle closed the book when she felt Gold's head drop to her shoulder. His breathing was deep and even and she knew he'd fallen asleep even without turning her head to look at him. She felt wound tighter than a bow string as she sat there with him, unable to relax. Her head was in a quandary over what to do with him. He was so different from the man she thought she'd known. He'd changed towards her, no one else, just her. Why the sudden interest in her? She was no one special. She was just Belle French, daughter of the town florist, waitress at the diner. What did he really want with her?
She turned her head slowly to look at him. His features had softened with sleep, his hair falling over his eyes and his lips parted slightly. Those oh so kissable lips, she thought with a groan. He no longer looked like the stern unflappable business man who terrorized the town. In sleep, he just looked like an ordinary man, one deserving of happiness which had long since been denied him.
What had possessed him to put the kissing clause in their contract? Could it be he was just lonely and yearned for companionship and human touch? Whatever his reasons, she was glad he'd done it. She was unmistakably drawn to him. Not just because he'd saved her, but because of who he was. She was just afraid to give in to her newfound feelings on the chance he didn't return them. She could just hope for the best and continue on the path laid out before them.
Belle laid her book on the sofa beside her and hesitantly reached up to brush the hair away from his eyes so she could study him, the soft strands of his hair smooth as silk against her fingertips. She let her fingers trail along his face from temple to jaw, softly so as not to wake him, but her soft touch made him stir. The arm about her shoulders tightened and drew her closer to him as he burrowed into the side of her neck. Heat spread like a brush fire throughout her body and she found herself suddenly wishing she'd paid more attention to boys in high school. She had to be the only twenty-six-year-old virgin in all of Storybrooke.
The sensations spreading and making her limbs heavy made her think about all the romance novels she'd read over the years and she found the emotions described in books had no true bearing on the real thing. She wasn't completely innocent in the fact she didn't know the mechanics. She knew what went where and that it would hurt the first time and what she was expected to feel, but she'd never really imagined such an innocent act as him holding her close would have such an effect on her. And the knowledge that she wanted more from him was making her dizzy. That wasn't what she'd signed up for. Two kisses per day, no more, no less.
Then why was she sitting here wondering what it would feel like to have his lips pressed to more intimate parts of her body, to have his hands touch her, to see his eyes filled with the same emotions surely evident in her own?
When he burrowed deeper and pressed his lips against the smooth column of her throat, his other arm snaking around her waist, she knew she'd have to wake him. Either that, or she was going to melt right into him and start something she wouldn't be able to finish. Her nerve endings were on fire, just as much as the blood racing through her veins and she felt her face flame as she lifted a hand to his face and patted his cheek to rouse him.
"Gold? Gold, wake up," she said softly and felt him stir, his nose nuzzling against the before unknown sensitive spot below her right ear. She had to bite down on her lip … hard … to keep from moaning. "Mr. Gold, you really need to wake up." She moved her hand from his cheek to tug at the ends of his hair resting against his collar.
Gold grunted softly and stiffened in her arms, taking stock of his limbs and how inappropriate it was to be draped across his new housekeeper as though she were a stuffed bear. He jerked upright, his nose inches from hers. "Oh, I'm so sorry, dearie," he apologized, pulling himself away from her.
Belle immediately regretted the loss of his warmth. He looked so embarrassed and so uncomfortable, she reached out for his hand, taking it in her own, hoping the small gesture would soothe his discomfort. "You fell asleep. Are you just that tired or did I bore you?" she asked in a teasing tone, the sound coaxing a smile to his lips.
"I haven't been sleeping well. I assure you my falling asleep had nothing to do with boredom."
The smile remained on her lips. He looked nervous, like a kid getting caught with his hands elbow-deep in the cookie jar. Silence grew between them until Belle decided she'd had enough and rose to her feet. "Well, I will leave you to retire for the evening, Gold."
He rose from the sofa and grabbed her hand to stop her. "Come, I'll walk up with you," he offered, pulling her towards the spiral staircase. They emerged on the landing several doors down from their bedrooms. Whatever drowsiness which remained with him, quickly left him as he stopped in front of her bedroom door. The thought of kissing her goodnight had his heart thundering in his chest and all thoughts of sleep fleeing to somewhere in the last realm.
She knew he was waiting for her to step closer and press her lips to his, but he'd promised that tonight he would be the one to give her a proper kiss and she wasn't going to let him renege on that deal. He merely quirked a brow at her, a silent query to see if she would meet him halfway. Never one to back down from a challenge, she closed the distance between them and with gentle pressure to maintain her balance - because he did such damage to her fragile equilibrium - she placed her hands against his chest.
He propped his cane against her bedroom door and slipped his hands around the back of her neck to rest on her nape, his thumbs rubbing gently in slow circles along her pulse points. "Are you certain, Belle?" he asked, waiting patiently with bated breath for her permission.
Her eyes were heavily-lidded with desire, her pupils so dilated, only a thin ring of blue iris was visible. "I'm sure."
Gold took a deep breath and rested his brow to hers, trying to reign in his desire for her. His sweet, innocent beloved. He didn't want to frighten her. "Relax, Belle," he murmured softly, his breath fanning her face.
He had to remind himself to take his own advice. When he felt as though he'd calmed enough to keep from ravishing her, he tilted her head back and brushed his lips to hers, once, twice, before molding them to hers with a firm but gentle pressure. He ran his tongue over the seam of her lips and nearly stumbled when she jerked away in surprise, but not too far, his hold on her keeping her firmly in place. "Do you want me to stop?"
"You just startled me," she whispered against his lips. She drew in a deep shuddering breath before he felt her relax once more. "Show me."
He smiled to mask his nervousness and began again, brushing, pressing, molding until he felt her literally melt into his chest, soft and warm and pliant against him before he ran his tongue once more against the seam of her lips. "Open for me, love."
Belle gasped when his tongue slipped into her mouth to duel with hers. Never in her life had she ever felt anything like this as his tongue searched out every corner and crevice of her mouth which would bring her pleasure. Her hands fisted in the lapels of his jacket, pulling him closer.
Gold shifted his weight to his right leg, hoping the pain would help clear his head from the white-hot lust coursing through his body. He withdrew slightly, nibbling softly on her bottom lip, his thumbs continuing to rub circles along her pulse points. All his hard-won restraint nearly crumbled to ash as a small whimper issued forth from her throat when he pulled away.
"Breathe, Belle," he panted, equally affected, but unable to bite back the smug smile of satisfaction as he gazed down at her. Her face was flushed, her lips parted and swollen and her breath coming in short puffs. And it was because of him. He could have swept her off to his bedroom that very moment and she wouldn't have uttered one word of protest, but he wouldn't do that to his darling Belle. Not yet.
Belle blinked rapidly, trying to make herself focus before she threw herself at him and embarrassed herself. "Well … ah … that wasn't what I was expecting," she said, smoothing his jacket where her grasping hands had wrinkled the fabric.
His eyes were burning coals of want and need as he held her gaze. He trailed his fingertips along her jaw and fought the desire to pull her back in for another kiss. "Get some sleep, dearie. I'll see you in the morning," he murmured as he retrieved his cane and made his way to his room.
Belle reached blindly behind her for the door knob, her eyes never leaving him as she stood trembling. "Goodnight, Gold."
She waited until he entered his room and closed the door before she went into her own room and collapsed onto her bed. She had to bite her pillow to keep from screaming. She was breathing hard and felt as though she'd been set afire. But she knew one thing for certain. She wanted Gold and for much more than a mere two kisses a day. She wanted him to assuage the hunger he'd awakened inside her.
Her head turned in the direction of the bathroom door as she heard the muffled sound of the shower come on. She bit down hard on her lip to keep from giggling when she heard Gold step under the icy spray and yelp from the cold. Seems she wasn't the only one affected by their kiss.