The Kiss
"The decision to kiss for the first time is the most crucial in any love story. It changes the relationship of two people much more strongly than even the final surrender; because this kiss already has within it that surrender" -- Emil Ludwig
I never went back to sleep that night. Instead, I sat outside, tending to the roses, and waited for Belle to wake up. When she finally appeared she was beaming from ear to ear. She twirled around in my sister's dress before me, her cheeks pink with delight. Without warning, she threw her arms around my neck. "Thank you!" she giggled in my ear. I tensed. Everything stopped, I couldn't breathe, couldn't think, and I'm pretty sure my heart stopped it's racing for one brief second. It was like I had died all over again. A grunt escaped my throat and she quickly released me. She shuffled a few steps back and downcast her eyes. Her face was bright red and she rubbed at her arm in a bashful manner.
"E-excuse me. I…I shouldn't have done that." She whispered with shame tenting her voice. I cleared my throat (as if it would help), "I'm…um…glad the dress fits." I mumbled. It came out so incoherently that I was sure she hadn't understood but she smiled up at me again and touched the dress's silky skirt with her fingertips. "It's wonderful. Thank you so much. I've never worn anything this beautiful." Her eyes glittered in the bright sunlight that drenched the courtyard around us. She was always beautiful but today she was angelic. "You deserve something in return. Name something, anything at all, and I'll give it to you." She offered enthusiastically. I gaped at her. I could name quite a few things she could do for me. Bad idea; I kept my mouth shut.
She drew closer, mistaking my silence for bashfulness. "I can cook, clean, sew, whatever you like. Come on. Don't be shy. I owe you." The idiotic request of my innermost desires slipped out before I could stop it, "A kiss". She stared at me with wide horrified eyes. "A-a kiss?" she asked her small frame beginning to tremble. I tore away my hood and pulled her chin up so that her blue eyes were forced to look at me. "A simple kiss is all I ask. I know I'm hideous but…" "It's not that, Beast." She interrupted, "It's just that…I've never been kissed before."
"What a splendid little liar you are, Belle. I know damn well why you tremble at the mentioning of kissing me." I grumbled. Her eyes narrowed. "It's the truth." She said with ferocity. "Then prove it to me!" My growl was cut off by her lips. She kissed like a child. Her lips felt like soft rose petals against mine and I could feel no feeling behind them. I forcibly parted her lips and crushed her body against mine. She fought against my advances, hitting my chest and trying to tear her lips away, but I kept her firmly within my grasp. My head was screaming for me to let her go, but my body wasn't having it. A sharp pain ran up my spine as her knee connected with my groin. I threw her to the ground and fell to my knees.
When I finally came back to my senses I realized that Belle was no where around. I rushed through the castle, scouring the castle for her but found nothing. She'd escaped! Anger set my black heart aflame. I flew out the castle, my black cloak billowing behind me like the wings of a bat. I put two fingers in my mouth and whistled for my horse. Grim, my black stallion trotted to my side and I quickly mounted him and raced after my runaway bride.
It didn't take long for me to catch up with her. She gasped for breath as she ran; her legs and arms pumping as hard as they could go. I reached down with one arm and grabbed her. I pulled into the saddle with me. She punched me and flailed around in my arms, screaming for me to let her go.
Once we were back at the castle, I carried her inside with her thrown over my shoulder. I put her down on the floor and she ran to the other side of the room. We glared at each other for a long time. "How dare you try to escape from me!" I roared. "How dare you try to force yourself on me!" she roared back. I never would have imagined she possessed such a temper. "Have you forgotten that you are my WIFE! I can touch you anyway I please!" She bit her lip and when she parted them again flames spilled out, " I never wanted to marry you, you, you…" I closed the distance between us and glowered over her. "Go on, say it!" "You beast!" she spat and ran down the hall to her room. My body shuttered when I heard her door slam.
We refused to talk or come within feet of each other for days. But that doesn't mean I didn't watch her. One day, about a week after, I stood at my window, gazing at her while she sat reading in the courtyard. She looked up and caught sight of my figure. She shut her book and headed inside, out of my view. I figured she was going to retreat to her room and was caught surprisingly off my guard when she appeared in my doorway.
"Did you think I couldn't see you?" she hissed. "I've kept my distance from you." I replied. She gave me a suspicious look like she knew some dark secret about me, "You've been watching me like a hawk for days." I turned fully towards her, with my hands behind my back, "Is there some law that says I can't look at my wife?" I sneered. She was silent, her lips pressed together in anger. I turned away and sat at my desk. "I thought we weren't speaking." She rung her fingers nervously, "Yes well, we are alone here. You're the only person I have to talk to. I'm…lonely." The look on her face told me she hated to admit it. "Welcome to my hell." I said, looking at her through the holes in my mask. She ignored my taunting, "I've decided to give you another chance, on one condition." "And what is that?" I asked. She took a deep breath, "If you ever force yourself on me or hurt me again you must promise to set me free." Of all the things she could ask for, it had to be that! I nodded sadly knowing that it was only a matter of time before she left me. She curtsied, "Thank you Beast."
She started to leave but stopped in the doorway and turned towards me again. "Would you like to go for a walk?" she asked. I cocked my head to the side, "With you?" She giggled bringing a warm smile to her lips for the fist time in a week. It was glorious! "Yes, silly beast, with me." She extended her hand towards me. I was on my feet in an instant. I took her hand and headed towards the forest.
We walked along through the trees. The hand that she grasped tightly was scorching but I didn't dare remove it. We stopped to rest beneath a large oak tree. The sunlight broke through the branches and leaves of the tree to light up Belle's face. The wind blew her hair towards me, her scent hit me like a brick. I reached over and tucked a loose strand behind her ear. She looked at me with a startled expression but then it turned soft. "Forgive me for calling you a beast. I didn't really mean that…" I placed a finger to her lips. "Stop apologizing." I whispered. "You were right." She shook her head and placed my hand on her cheek, "You're not a beast. You're just an incredibly lonely man." Interesting thought, although it was wrong. A man, no matter how lonely, does not generally keep beautiful women captive for his own amusement. "I ruined your first kiss." I reminded her, looking away in shame. "Would you like to make it up to me." She whispered, pulling off my hood. I stared at her in disbelief. "Are you sure?" I asked, this had to be a joke. She angled her face towards me; her eyes bright and cheeks burned crimson, as she awaited my action. I gulped then softly pressed my lips to hers. It was a brief sweet kiss. She pulled away first. "Much better." She whispered. Her lips were still so close, I could have tasted them again but the possibility of having to let her go stopped me. She climbed to her feet and began her descent down the hill. I got up and ran to catch up with her.
