I'm sorry! I neglected FF, so I'm posting them here now.

anon prompted: "The aftermath of the kiss in the library." AND westcoastmalone prompted: "Gold tries to ask Belle on a date".

My embarrassment increases when Rumford gives chase.

"Belle!" He calls my name the moment we're outside the library's doors, but I don't respond. I don't care. All I can picture is the scared look on Mrs. Trax's face when he'd quietly threatened her.

How dare he treat her with such contempt! The old woman doesn't deserve his crap. Plus she's my friend, one of the only people who talk to me now that I'm his Match, and I will not tolerate mistreatment of my friends.

"I hate it when you're an ass!" I mutter over my shoulder. He's about fifteen feet away and approaching fast. Luckily, the school is disserted and no one is mingling in the hallway. That's good because I don't want anyone to see me like this. Can you imagine the sight? My hair is mussed, my lips are swollen, and I think I might have a hickey on my neck. Anyone walking by would think we'd been canoodling.

I mean, we did 'canoodle' but no one else has to know.

Rumford doesn't respond. I hear his footsteps getting closer and just as I make it to the stairwell, he catches my wrist. I whirl, ready to give him a piece of my mind—and am thrown off guard when he kisses me. The kiss is so powerful that I have to hold onto his shoulders to keep upright.

Before I can react with proper anger, he pulls back. There is heat in his eyes and I can hear it, too, when he says huskily, "I can't change, Belle, but I will try to be more civil. For you."

Gah! If he'd argued instead of assuaging my anger, I'd have slapped him in the face by now. Yet he knows me too well. I'm not unreasonable or brash—although my little escapade in the library today might prove otherwise.

With an exasperated groan, I bury my face in my hands and massage my temples. "Don't do it again," I sigh, opening my eyes to see him watching. His stare is intense, and I squirm uncomfortably under his scrutiny.

Now that we're not kissing and the passion of the moment has died, I feel so confused and...unsure. I kissed Rumford to make a point. I didn't expect to feel a burning for him deep in my belly. For a moment it was like I'd needed him more than oxygen, and the idea of any feeling being so powerful, so able to cause reason to flee my mind, is startling.

And his response! He had definitely not lacked enthusiasm.

"Belle, would you join me for a picnic on Saturday?" He says it with deliberate slowness. Deliberate care.

"You mean a date?" I cringe at my response. Damn. I might as well bang my head against the stairwell's wall—I'm such an idiot.

He smiles with laughter in his eyes. "Yes, a date."

I think it over. It's a sweet offer and I'm inclined to say yes. But to be honest, spending time with Rumford completely alone and without some form of supervision seems daunting. Though...once we're married, we'll be alone together most of the time. It's time I start getting used to it. "Then yes, I'll join you," I tell him earnestly.

"Excellent. Would noon be all right? I'll pick you up at your house and we'll go from there. Don't bring anything; I'll have everything ready." He looks satisfied when I nod.

"That sounds fine." Without thinking I lay a hand on his chest, near to his right shoulder. "I'm sorry about your...back."

He sucks in a breath and stares at my hand on his body. "Feel free to do it again," he growls, attempting to pull me close. I stop him, feeling utterly wicked, and grin.

"Let's try and save our appetites for later, when we're married," I purr, knowing full well what I say is probably impossible if we keep going at this rate. It's just incredibly fun to tease him so.

Rumford stiffens and lets out low... was that a keen? The noise has me smirking when he grabs me and we end up kissing frantically against the wall. "Oh you cruel, cruel witch," he hisses against my lips. "You'll be the end of me I'm sure."

This new side of our 'relationship' creates a whole new playing field. A whole new dimension that has to be explored. And although I don't love him yet, I feel as if we are united in this dance of tongue and teeth and lips.

And it's enough. For now.