Chapter 3: A Snag

As he kissed her, he wondered how he could have stayed away from her for so long. All those lonely nights she could have cured. All those aching moments when he needed her in his arms that could have been avoided if she was with him. He hadn't realized when he left just how much the pretty blonde had affected him: she might as well have his heart in a glass jar for as much as she controlled it.

He could feel Belle tensing, attempting to break the kiss, and while it killed him to do so, he knew he had to be a gentleman and give her what she wanted. Breathless, he looked down at her, aware that his longing was portrayed perfectly on his face as he lost himself in her eyes. Her fingers moved slowly to her lips, which were swollen from the pressure he'd applied, and her eyes were wide in shock. His feelings instantly switched to concern, wondering if he did something wrong.

"That…it…you…" Belle stuttered, then closed her eyes and took a deep breath, reaching out for the nearest chair and holding onto it. Her eyes popped open and a spark of anger flashed within the blue orbs. "That was highly inappropriate." The anger vanished and her flabbergasted look returned. "We're not even courting anymore." One of her hands went to her forehead, gripping it tightly. "Oh, thank heavens we weren't in public. What would my students have thought?"

Vin was confused. She had done nothing but fight for them to be together in the past, no matter how inappropriate the behavior. Did she have a new suitor he wasn't aware of? Did she not love him anymore? He stood there awkwardly, wondering if he should speak or if he should just leave. He felt like a fool, kissing her like that after a year of barely any contact, but he couldn't fight the urge a second longer. She smelled like honeysuckle and it drove him crazy. His senses were in overdrive with her so near. He was resisting the inner longing he had at that moment to run his fingers in her hair and loosen it from its restricting style.

Belle finally opened her eyes and looked over at the flustered Vin Tanner. "Oh, Mr. Tanner- I mean, Vin- I'm sorry. Please understand. It's not that I didn't enjoy…" Her voice trailed off and she looked at him in a mixture of pleasure and awkwardness. "It's just, I have to think of how my behavior looks now. I can't risk upsetting my students' parents. I'm so fond of them all. They're what got me through…" she bit her lip and quietly finished the sentence. "Through your leaving."

Comprehension dawned in Vin's eyes. "I'm sorry, I didn't even think about your public image." He understood, but he couldn't understand what that had to do with the fact that they were obviously alone…in her home…after twelve months apart. He fought down his hungry frustration and took a step toward the door. "Should I go?"

Belle's face went from pleading with him to understand to desperation at the thought of him leaving. "No, please stay for dinner."

Vin closed a little of the space between them. "I don't know if that's a good idea. It's hard enough not being too forward right now." He stood a few inches from her, just the chair she was holding onto between them. "If I'm alone with you much longer, I don't think I could control myself." He raised his fingers and let them stroke her cheek. "I've missed you, Belle."

Her heart sped up when he touched her. She closed her eyes, losing herself in his touch. Just as quickly, she thought of her reputation and her students, and she was stepping away. "Was it this difficult for us to control ourselves before you left?"

"I'm not sure how it was for you, but the instant I realized you were here for me, I went crazy," he admitted, thinking back to their first kiss in Mary's guestroom. He grabbed side of the chair closest to him and squeezed, trying desperately to hold onto his sanity and not pull her into his arms. "There's always been this pull between us."

Belle nodded. "Like a magnetic attraction." She sighed and moved around the table, putting a few more chairs and the oak plank that was the dining table between them. What she didn't realize was that he could move it easily if he wanted to get to her bad enough. "What should we do?"

Vin shrugged, the hungry longing he felt for her returning as he tried to decide the best way to get to her before she could get away. "You're the smart one. What are your thoughts?"

Belle noticed the look in his eyes and wondered if she should be armed to talk about this in the small dining area of her home. At least he wouldn't try anything with a knife at his throat…could she get to the kitchen without him pouncing? She silently shook herself. She was being silly, this was Vin, and he could behave himself. Couldn't he?

"What are you thinking?" His voice was low, and close.

Belle looked for him and found him making his way slowly around the table, almost to her. She'd been so lost in her thoughts she hadn't noticed him getting closer. She swallowed with difficulty. "Should I be armed?"

"Might not be a bad idea," he stated simply.

Belle was indignant. "I believe you were the one who wanted to end things until we got to know each other better. You were always the well-behaved one." She moved closer to the kitchen, away from him.

Vin smiled at her, enjoying the cat-and-mouse game. It reminded him a lot of tracking: you had to be stealthy and patient, biding your time for the pounce. "You're better behaved now. I can be the wild one." He shrugged. "Besides, we've been apart a year. I could have changed my mind."

Belle's cheeks flushed darkly. "I'm not going to be a fallen woman."

Vin's blood ran cold. "I don't want you to be. A couple kisses won't make you lose your virtue."

Belle, still unsure if he could control himself once he started, made a mad dash for the kitchen drawer. Vin was on her heels, pulling her into his arms just before she could get the drawer out. He whirled her around and lowered his lips to hers again. Belle, still trying desperately to hold onto her one shred of restraint, tried to push him away. Her hands slipped on his broad chest and ended up by his neck. Her resolve broke and she couldn't fight any longer as she let her arms lock around his neck. She leaned into him, kissing him deeply, her happiness at having him back guiding her decisions.

Vin, not wanting to end the lips-to-lips contact, did his best to fight the low moan bubbling up through him. He didn't know why it felt so right being with Belle when he still didn't know her any better, but at the moment he didn't care. He wanted to satisfy the longing he'd been feeling for so long…too long.

Kettle was whistling on the stove, but they ignored it, losing themselves in the heated passion that was their kiss. They only stopped when they heard footsteps on the porch. They stopped kissing and looked over at the door, pulling apart as they saw the person outside start to rap on the door. Belle straightened herself as best as she could and went to answer it.

"Hello, mah dear," a familiar Southern drawl said from behind her. "For you."

"Thank you, Mr. Standish." She turned around and walked back toward the kitchen, a look that clearly said, I'm sorry; I didn't invite him on her face as she searched for a vase for some wildflowers, removing the kettle from the stove as she did so.

Vin's eyes narrowed. The look on Belle's face and her distant courteousness told him the answers to her questions about Ezra: he might still be trying, but she wasn't interested. He looked up as his friend and adversary entered. He looked surprised to see Vin there, but he smiled at him nonetheless.

"Mr. Tanner, I had heard you returned. And I'm intruding on reacquaintance with Miss Isabelle."

"That's all right. Just dinner with a friend," Vin muttered, trying not to sound completely furious like he was.

"I am truly sorry. I came to invite Miss Isabelle to dinner at the opening of mah restaurant tomorrow night." He looked hopefully at Belle.

Belle smiled at him kindly. "That sounds very nice, Mr. Standish."

"Ezra," he corrected.

She nodded as if she would acquiesce to his preference of title in the future. "I believe my sister and Mr. Larrabee will be needing me tomorrow night, unfortunately. With Mr. Tanner's return, they can finally go forward with the wedding and who is to know how quickly that will be."

Ezra nodded. "Perhaps we could have the whole wedding party as my special guests at the opening."

"I'll tell Mary. She'll be thrilled." She showed him to the door. "Until tomorrow."

His face glowed. "Yes, mah dear." He kissed her hand, bowed to her, and left.

"Still tryin to weasel his way in, I see." Vin was somewhere between amused and furious.

Belle exhaled loudly and leaned back against the door. "You have no idea how hard it's been to appear polite while fighting off his advances. He's a sweet man, and I care for him as a friend, but it's so hard to discourage him."

Vin closed the space between them and placed his hands gently on her waist. "Now where were we?"

Belle smiled up at him. "I believe I was going to make dinner, feed you, and send you home." She stood on her tiptoes so she was inches from his ears. "No more kissing."

Vin's ego deflated, but he let her go about her work. He was sure that this night would be the first of many in her company and if he'd waited twelve months to kiss her again, he could wait a little longer…

A/N: yes, or no? R/R ~Nelli~