Chapter 4: Shared Embraces
Belle didn't know what to think as she stood within Rumplestiltskin's arms. It felt as if she were drowning and had no desire to rise for air. She had been kissed before. Gaston had stolen a few innocent kisses during their formal engagement. However, she was just now coming to realize how chaste those really were. Gaston may have been desired by females throughout her father's land, but he had never made her heart race the way Rumplestiltskin did. What with her fiancé had been a brief meeting of lips, now with the man standing before her was a conflagration of souls.
As the couple became engulfed by the flames, Gold reached to the side to feel for the leather chair sitting near the bookcase. While he'd love to stand entwined with Belle for hours, his knee had other ideas. Pulling away a fraction to sit down, Belle whimpered in protest.
"I need to sit," Gold said as he collapsed into the chair, bringing Belle with him. "My knee," he explained as he stretched it out before him.
"Do you want me to move?" Belle began to lift herself off of his lap in order to give relief to his pain.
Before she could disengage herself, he pulled her close to him and settled her over his opposite knee. "No," he said. "Don't go."
Arranged in a more comfortable position, Gold raised his hand and cradled Belle's face as he lowered his once again. Taking her lower lip between his own, he traced the inside before doing the same to its twin. Belle jerked in response to the intimate caress. It wasn't unpleasant, just unexpected. Eager to learn, she mimicked his action earning a groan from him in response. Emboldened by his reaction, she traced the seam of his lips before slipping inside to drink at him as he had done to her just moments earlier. Letting her set the pace, Gold gave Belle the reins to explore. He sensed her hesitancy and didn't want to frighten her with the intensity of his feelings. It had been so long that he couldn't remember ever feeling a fraction of this passion in his lifetime. Centuries of surviving had not prepared him for this encounter.
Feeling the tenterhooks of his control about to snap, he took back control of the kiss. While one hand rested against the nape of her neck, the other glided down her back. Feeling the flesh through her dress, Gold groaned at the thought of her exposing her back to him earlier. At the time he was in shock that she was undressing before him. For so long he lived with the guilt of casting her out and causing her pain. Then as he took in the meaning of her scar free skin, he couldn't resist caressing what had been bared. It was all the more erotic for the innocence behind her actions. He had been glad when she hastily covered herself once again.
Gold moved his mouth away from Belle's lip as his hand continued to travel the length of her back. Her immediate protest at his abandonment soon turned to whimpering as he traced a path across her jaw line to her hollow of her neck. Sensations bombarded her from every direction. She had never felt this many things at one time before, yet yearned for much more. As his lips continued on their journey, Belle tilted her head to allow better access. All the while her hands traced the lines of Gold's ears and scalp before coming to rest at the base of his neck, holding him against the spot where neck met shoulder.
As his hands moved forward to trace the lines of her ribcage, Gold knew they had to stop soon before it was too late. Soon he wouldn't be able to. He had never meant for the simple kiss to go this far, but once their lips touched all rational thought fled his mind. And inferno had erupted that he had no desire to extinguish. So many years of loneliness began to melt away as he held her in his arms.
Before leaving her completely he once again returned to her lips for one last kiss. Sensing his withdrawal, she tightened her hold on him in response. "We have to stop," Gold said as slowly pulled away from her.
"Why?" Belle had no desire to curb their activity. For so long she had been without human touch and with little interaction.
"Too fast," he said as he tried to collect his thoughts. "Remember when I said we had a time for everything. There will be. I promise. But we need to pull back and take a some breath." With a few quick movements he could be inside her, giving them both the relief they sought. But she deserved better than a quick fumbling in a leather chair. Even though they'd declared their love, she was still relatively innocent.
"You don't want to?" Belle asked, taking longer to come off of passion's high.
Groaning in response, Gold fingers tightened on her hip where his hand had come to rest. He resisted the urge to pull her leg over so she could straddle his waist and let her discover for herself just how much he really did want to continue. Not trusting himself to kiss her again without giving in to his desires, Gold rested his forehead against hers. "Do you really doubt it? You've been through so much. You deserve more than a quick tumble in the living room. You should have music and roses, satin sheets and a bed. Not some chair."
His words both aroused and doused her desire. She had been so consumed with passion that she didn't care about the where or when, all she wanted was now. The thought of them tangled in soft sheets of a large bed enflamed her. However, his words made her realize just how drunk on passion she had become. She didn't know this creature she had become. In his presence, all maidenly precepts and teachings flew out the window. "So what do we do next?" she asked.
"First, we need to collect ourselves. How about we get something to eat," Gold said as he moved for her to stand up. "We've been talking for hours. You've had a traumatic day. Why don't you go upstairs and rest while I find us something for dinner."
"I'm not tired," Belle protested.
"You might not be," Gold answered, "but you do need to relax. If you don't want to go upstairs, lay on the chaise. Just relax and let me take care of you."
Sensing his need to be useful, Belle acquiesced to his wishes. "Maybe I'll do a little reading," she said as she wondered over to the bookcase. It seemed like forever since she indulged in her previously favorite activity. Reading was an escape. Being of noble blood, Belle never had the freedom as a child as the peasants had. There was no running in the fields or sneaking off to the local creeks to fish or bathe in the sunlight. She was taught from an early age about proper behavior. Betrothed since birth, there were no young men vying for her affections. But when she read, all was possible. Maybe right now finding a good book would take her mind off of other activities she'd rather be doing.
"Good. You just stay right here and read" Kissing her forehead, Gold turned and walked toward the back of the house. The minute he entered the kitchen he collapsed in chair closest to him. Resting his elbows on the table, he tried to draw enough strength to resist marching back into the parlor and dragging her upstairs. He knew she wouldn't resist. She'd even be encouraging. But they needed to calm down and think things through rationally. How he was going to survive dinner and the rest of the night he didn't know.
A half-hour later, Gold leaned against the doorframe of the parlor watching Belle's chest rise and fall softly in sleep. He was tempted to let her rest. She had had a trying day. One most people would crumble under, but there she was, still with him, lying in repose. If not for the dinner on the table, cooling as he was watching her, he would have let her sleep. But she also needed nourishment. Regina's henchmen might have provided for her most basic needs, but she was much thinner than he ever remembered.
With the sound of his cane echoing on the wood floor, Gold made his way over to Belle. He took her shoulder in his hands as he gently shook her awake. "Wake up, Sleeping Beauty."
"Wrong tale," Belle smiled as she stretched and moved to sit up.
"Dinner's ready," Gold explained as he straightened and held out his free hand for Belle to take. Rising, Belle followed him to kitchen. Although the house had a formal dining room, the smaller table was more appropriate for just the two of them.
"Mmmm, something smells good," Belle said as she sat down at the chair he pulled out for her. "Who would have though the infamous Rumplestiltskin could cook."
"You forget," Gold reminded her. "I had a son before I became infamous. You learn to do a lot of things when you're raising a child alone."
The one thing Gold never touched on was his son's mother. It was the one subject Belle didn't want to bring up at this moment. She sensed he wasn't ready to talk of the situation, but she would be there for him whenever that day eventually came.
"Plus," he added. "Cooking isn't all that different than potion making."
"Then why did you make me do the cooking at the castle?" Belle laughed. "Those first few weeks I didn't even know how to boil water. I'm surprised either one of us survived my fare."
"Oh, it wasn't that bad," he lied.
"Alright," she responded although she knew the truth. "This looks absolutely wonderful. Much better than anything I ever made."
"Pasta isn't all that hard. If you can boil water and open a jar then you've got dinner. I've got this covered. I make a mean stew, also."
Picking up her wine glass, Belle took a sip as Gold served her a generous helping. "That's too much," she protested.
"You need sustenance." Gold stated matter-of-factly as he repeated the action with his own plate. "Eat up."
They talked little throughout the dinner, both absorbed in enjoying the experience of dining with another. Gold couldn't remember the last time he was truly relaxed in the presence of another. Today that tiny bit of humanness still left in him roared back to life.
"Did you find an interesting book," Gold asked as he twirled his spaghetti with his fork.
"You have quite a collection in there," Belle responded. "It's all so interesting. They're so different than back home."
"What did you finally pick?" he asked.
"It was called Pride and Prejudice. From what I gather it's a story about a family of sisters. The language is a little difficult to get used to, but I'm enjoying it so far.
Gold laughed as she revealed the title. It figures she would pick one of the only books he had to entice a female on his shelves. It was ironic that the first book she decided to read in this new world was about mistaken first impressions and the prejudices formed against others. Quite appropriate actually.
Hearing his laugh, Belle asked, "Have you read it?"
"Yes, I have," he responded. " It's a wonderful book for you to begin with." Considering some of the other titles in his collection, he was quite pleased with her selection. He was half afraid that after her stint in Regina's clutches she'd pick up his copy of Sun Tzu's The Art of War.
"It must have been so engaging, what with you falling asleep." Gold couldn't resist teasing her about her earlier comment of not being tired.
"I guess I was more exhausted than I thought," Belle acquiesced.
As they were finishing their dinner, Gold lifted the wine bottle to ask if she wanted more to drink. He didn't want her intoxicated, but after all she had been through she needed to unwind.
"No," she refused. "I'm stuffed." Looking down at her plate, Belle was surprised to see most of her food had disappeared. "I guess I was wrong about being hungry before, also."
Pulling away from the table, Gold reached into his inside coat pocket to withdraw the wand he had been using. He hadn't used it since earlier that afternoon, preferring to use the time making dinner to calm his mind and body.
"You didn't use that to make dinner, did you?" Belle asked as she nodded her head in the direction of the piece of wood.
"No, I didn't," Gold answered. "But I am going to use it to clean up."
"No you are not," Belle retorted. "You are going to let me clean. It can't be that much different than at the castle. And I need something to do. I'm sick of doing nothing."
Sensing her need to be useful, Gold put the wand back in his pocket as he watch Belle get up and carry the dishes to the sink. She had enough memories of her fake life to know the basic workings of the modern kitchen, even if she had never used any of the amazing appliances.
"I have to say," Belle admitted as she began to wash the plates they had used for dinner. "For a place that has no inherent magic, life isn't so bad here, is it? What wouldn't I give to have this kitchen back at the castle."
Gold chuckled at her remark and asked, "Do you miss the majestic castles of home? You literally went from one to another. They do have some here, but no true ones in this country."
Belle thought of her response as she searched the drawers for a drying towel. Finding one, she straightened and said, "You know, I truly don't. I haven't seen much of Storybrooke, but I think I could come to really enjoy living here." Pausing, she added, "Do you want to return?"
"Is there anything to return to?" He answered her question with another.
"You tell me. You created the curse." Taking the damp cloth in her hand to wipe off the small table, she continued hesitantly, "Would you be comfortable living here?"
Reaching across the table, Gold placed his hand over hers. "After I find Bae, I'll follow you anywhere."
As she pulled he hand from under his, Belle leaned across and lightly kissed him on the cheek. "So what is your plan for finding you son?"
"First we have to deal with a little problem called the Charmings, the couple you met earlier today. Emma's parents. They might be a little angry with me at the moment."
"You think," Belle retorted as she raised her eyebrows in response.
"And the townspeople might be a little upset. They're already are leery of me. For some reason, every time I try to talk to them outside of the shop they ask if the rent is due."
Rolling her eyes, Belle commented under her breath but still loud enough to be heard, "I'm really going to have a wonderful time making friends here."
"Get in good with Henry, Emma's son," Gold advised. "He's obsessed with the curse. That is one very smart child. The only one from the beginning who figured everything out. He worked it out even before I got my memories back. If I didn't know any better I'd swear he was …."
"Swear he was what?" Belle asked as she folded the cloth over the faucet and finished tidying up the kitchen.
"Nothing," Gold answered, a far away look clouding his eyes. "Just a stray thought I lost."
Not believing him for a second, Belle let it go.
"So, Henry" Belle asked as she leaned her back against the sink. "Did he have you figured out?"
"I don't think so," Gold answered as he rose from the table. "If he had, I don't think he would have talked to me much. He wasn't enamored of adoptive mother, I know."
"I can't see the Queen with a child," Belle commented.
"I don't think Regina was too happy to have her own son call her the 'Evil Queen' all the time," Gold responded with a smile on his face. "Even if it was true."
"And now?" Belle asked. Gold knew she meant in regard to Regina, but he intentionally mistook her meaning.
"Now we go to bed. We've had a long day and it's been a long time since I've had restful sleep." Gold said as he guided her out of the kitchen and toward the stairs, turning off lights as he went.
As they reached the upper landing, Gold stopped before a closed door. "Earlier today," Gold started as he stared at the door, "I had thought this room would be appropriate for you. You need space and time to heal. I should give it to you, but I'd be lying if said I didn't want you with me." Closing his eyes, he drew a deep breath. "The decision is yours."
Belle reached up and gently stroked Gold's chin as she answered, "I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to be with you."
"Are you sure?" he asked hesitantly. "Because once you're there, I don't think I can ever give you up."
"I don't want to be anywhere else," Belle responded with a smile on her face. "I did promise you forever once upon a time if you remember."
Grasping her hand, he guided her further down the hall. "Aye," he answered. "And I'm going to hold you to it."
Not much plot, but I had a hard time pulling those two apart in the living room. They did not want to get out of that chair, and I almost let them stay there. I promise I will return to some semblance of plot in the future. Although, morning might bring yet another diversion. I've always been partial to a little exercise in the morning. Oh, I also had to change the rating. I hope that doesn't upset anyone. Like always, please review.
Bonus points to anyone who knows the direction of his thoughts about Henry.