Chapter Seven: A Lover's Deal

Jennifer received a text message on her phone. She heard the small buzz as it vibrated on her night stand. She had been close to falling asleep, having already slipped into a bright red night slip with black trim. She had been waiting for Gold to arrive so she can truly show just how dark she was...her intention was to make him beg for her after he'd teased for hours and then she'd grant him mercy by making sweet, forbidden love to him. Obviously, he was late closing the shop and Jennifer smiled lightly when she'd heard the phone vibrate. Sliding her finger across the screen, her messages came up.

It read simply: Coming home.

Jennifer smiled, and then she waited. She was going to be the bait. After trying different poses that would make him want her just by the sight alone (not to mention what she was wearing), she started wondering just how long it would take for a man to drive home after receiving an illicit picture on his phone of his wife on display. Curiously, after she had sent the picture, Jennifer wondered why even after an hour, she hadn't even heard him come through the door.

Jennifer scowled.

Seriously…

She wondered now if he was making her pay for getting too defensive when he'd teased her about liking Regina. Granted, she admitted only to herself, she did find the witch compelling in both sight and sound, but her feelings for Regina extended to admiration at the most. Her love would forever be his.

Did you forget what a jealous man you married...already? He's probably just waiting for you to come to him.

Jennifer rolled her eyes. Of course, now would be the time her little dark voice would come to call. It couldn't have been a week ago when she was apologizing to the little Snow bitch for killing her kid. Nah..that would be too simple. Instead, that damn conscience was just nagging about holding grudges and being more compassionate to a woman who was only protecting her friends, Cinderella, Charming and the little Dwarf, Grumpy, from an ultimate brutal sacrifice.

Then again, it wouldn't have come to that if they simply let him go like she had politely asked…with her fingers around Cinderella's throat.

Don't get off the subject—your man is waiting for you to come to him and fall to his seduction. He knows just how much you want him—it's time to turn the tables. Make him want you.

Jennifer could have followed that voice all the way to her death and be just as happy, but her conscience nor her darker self could deny the unpleasant sensation turning in her belly, the constant nagging feeling that something else had happened. Gold had shown clear indication that he was going to come to her tonight and his absence was starting to bring out that overprotective-need-to-find-him-NOW feeling. It wouldn't have been bad if she hadn't felt this feeling before and, following it, had seen Rumple immobilized by squid ink.

That feeling was back again. That horrible, terrible nag that something was wrong.

He can take care of himself. Jennifer's thoughts were buzzing.

In a world WITH magic, he could. But now…

Jennifer scowled again. So much for surprising him with the lacy lingerie and bedroom eyes.

"So much for sex," Jennifer uttered, sliding out of the covers to pull on a pair of jeans, and pulling a sweatshirt over the night slip. "Overprotective Wife, he'll get instead."

Jennifer stepped into a pair of black high heels, and unlocked her phone again. She messaged Gold:

Where are you?

She hopped down the stairs two at a time, and then stopped for a second. Perhaps he was just late closing shop? Last minute curious customers...sometimes they came and they would keep him. Jennifer bit her bottom lip.

She wouldn't care to intrude and pull her husband out of that little deal if it meant just sparing their wait about 30 minutes and then letting him get back to their deal afterward. But that damn nagging feeling rolling around in her stomach made Jennifer walk into the living room and she placed her hand underneath the coffee table, palm facing up and felt around. Feeling it, Jennifer pulled out a pocket pistol.

She checked the chamber, smiling when there was a bullet inside of it already. She placed it in the back of her pants, folding her shirt over it and then left, locking the door on her way out, and jogged to the shop. Seeing the door standing ajar and the glass broken in, Jennifer frowned, and pulled out the weapon; she took off the safety and then cocked the gun, holding it tightly in her right hand.

Not exactly a sword, but it will do.

She'd rather run a person through than have a simple bullet do the job. It would give her more time to make them feel just what a pain it could be stealing from the shop, and then she could hear their misery as they cried out for a second chance, but would receive very little mercy in the end, only until they were killed by her hand and only her hand. After thinking this, Jennifer snickered.

The vampire side of her never left, apparently. Only dulled.

She pulled the door back and quickly stepped inside.

"Rumple…" Jennifer whispered. "Darling?"

She heard a noise.

Jennifer stepped further inside.

"Are you in here?" She said quietly.

Jennifer searched the shop for him and then stopped when she saw a body on the floor, obviously either unconscious or...worse. She moved closer and saw his cane, and then Jennifer saw Gold on his back.

"Shit..." Jennifer whispered. "Rumple…!"

He didn't stir.

Quickly, Jennifer moved to the back of the shop, searching for the perpetrator who had hurt her husband and—with a vengeance—she scurried around the shop, making sure they had gone…and wishing they had remained so she could do her own little knock-out party. Seeing no one, Jennifer returned to Gold's side, and placed the gun behind her back, pulling her shirt over it once more.

"Rumple..." Jennifer said more clearly although her voice slightly shook as her anger and protective side had been set aside for worry and fear. "Rumple!"

Jennifer touched his head, seeing the red scratch on the side. He was breathing at least. She heaved a deep sigh of relief, shaking her head. She started shaking his shoulders, and he muttered, "Jennifer", but she doubted he was completely alert. But it made her smile knowing she was the first on his fuzzy mind.

He opened his eyes and squinted at her as though his vision was blurry, but when she came into full view, he sighed.

"You never came home," Jennifer told him, helping him sit up. "So naturally...I came looking for you."

"Where is she?" Gold asked. He touched his head with two fingers, and realized he was bleeding.

"She?" Jennifer inquired.

"Ashley Boyd."

"Cinderella?" Jennifer returned curiously.

"Yes...she's Ashley in this land."

"Ashley—Cinderella—who the fuck cares. Why do you want to know where she is?" asked Jennifer apathetically.

He made the intention of standing so Jennifer handed him his cane and she helped him to his feet.

"She stole the..." Gold muttered, gesturing with his cane to the safety vault hidden behind one of the pictures on the wall behind the counter which was clearly open right now.

Jennifer chuckled.

"She stole the contract?" asked Jennifer. "You seriously had it still?"

"Not the one from the Enchanted Forest," Gold said. "I made a new one with Sean's father."

"Cinderella's boyfriend's father?" asked Jennifer.

Gold smirked at her (although he still looked he might die from a concussion if he fell asleep) and said in a familiar voice, "I told her that in no matter what land she went to or what life, I would get that first born baby of hers."

"Well, I have new admiration for you—taking your deals from one land to the next." Jennifer offered, smiling. "Come on…I can go find her tomorrow."

"No." Gold told her.

"'No'?" Jennifer repeated.

"I'll get Emma Swan to help—she used to be a bail bonds person."

"And I used to hunt people for fun," Jennifer reasoned. "I can find her faster."

"No." Gold said firmly.

Jennifer sighed, saying, "Fine. Get the swan to do it then." The obvious contempt eluded clearly because of his preference of Emma over his wife; that much Gold understood but he ignored it because of an oncoming headache.

And because of his headache, Jennifer didn't push the matter any further.

She walked with him back to the house and Jennifer opened the door with a key, letting him go in first as she closed and locked the door back on her way in. She passed him wordlessly, placing the gun back underneath the table. Gold watched her curiously.

"You were so worried you brought the gun with you?" asked Gold.

Jennifer shrugged, saying, "When it concerns you, Rumple, I can only think of the worst case scenarios."

Gold said nothing; he simply took an ice pack from the freezer and went upstairs to get ready for bed. Jennifer watched after him, scowling.

Her jealousy was as harsh as ever, and she couldn't believe that her husband didn't want her going after Ashley Boyd herself. She'd find her quicker—give it a few hours—and then cutting the bitch's throat for even touching her husband would be ample justification for her error. Some might think it a little harsh, but…

She could have imagined the scenario even further if her conscience wasn't getting in the way, telling her that the woman was also pregnant and only trying to look after her own child. Jennifer strained her neck, trying to rub off the stupid do-good thoughts...only admitting they were right.

Ashley Boyd was a pregnant first-time mother. She'd do anything to save her child and give herself the best chance possible. Stealing the contract would do just that. Jennifer still frowned as her darker senses took over.

Little miss thang got the best of Rumplestiltskin...again.

Little whore.

"Jennifer."

Jennifer startled in her thoughts, glancing at the stairs to see Gold at the top. His top half was a little disheveled—the collar and buttons of his long-sleeve shirt was unbuttoned and his tie was undone, giving him the look of an overworked businessman. Jennifer bit her lower lip when he appeared quite tense.

"I'm coming," Jennifer called to him.

She hadn't realized that her hands were balled into fists, her nails digging into the skin and her knuckles were whiter than snow. Jennifer sighed deeply. This conscience thing was bugging the shit out of her; if she couldn't relieve this flustering tension with a beautiful murder, then she had to get rid of it in other ways.

Jennifer went up the stairs and into the bedroom, watching Gold undress. Her eyes wandered, smiling when he sat on the bed, taking off his shirt and tie, revealing his toned arms and chest. He did not have a big muscular build like a soldier or a miner would possess, but over years of using magic, sword fighting, and other activities, he was a toned man with well-defined muscles. Jennifer bit her lower lip when he stood and undid his belt, pulling it out of the belt loops.

Wordlessly, she walked over to him, and stopped him. He looked at her curiously, about to question her intentions when she simply unbuttoned his pants and pulled them down slowly, then his boxers. He was naked in front of her, and his insecurities started to get the best of him until Jennifer pulled off the sweat shirt, and took off her pants. The red and black lacy night slip she wore underneath made him forget whatever shortcomings he might possess (which were none, in Jennifer's opinion) as he became distracted by the illustrious pale goddess before him.

"You can't go to sleep just yet," Jennifer told him quietly. She touched his temple where the scratch remained and said softly, "So you just have to stay up a while longer."

"And I can't imagine what you have planned in the mean time," Gold returned ironically.

"Shut up, darling." Jennifer said. "This isn't the time for jokes."

He gasped a little when she pushed him down on his back but from his lips exhaled a dark chuckle of amusement. He moved to the center of the bed and she crawled onto him, her legs straddling his waist.

"I was going to surprise you when you came home," Jennifer whispered as she cradled his body with her arms and legs, her head bowing as she kissed his chest from the sternum to the pale column of his throat. She heard him sigh pleasurably, and the sound made her body weaken.

"I'm still surprised," Gold offered.

Jennifer kissed his neck, her tongue licking his throat. She watched him become tense, but not out of fear that she might bite him. She knew he was more aroused than fearful—she could feel it between her legs as his bare member lengthened against the thin material of her panties. Jennifer trailed the kiss to his ear and purposely uttered a moan of wanting, and she bore witness to the hardening of his cock.

"We're doing something different tonight," said Jennifer lightly. "Something I know for a fact...you'll like."

"And what might that be?" Gold questioned, doing a grand job of hiding the urge in his voice—not so much between his legs.

"We're going to make our own deal," she breathed into his ear.

Jennifer smiled knowingly as his hands moved underneath the slip, his fingers tracing the thin silk of her panty lines from her inner thighs to her bottom; she could hear his breathing become shallow as he listened to her voice, which was a sound of low, feminine timbres.

He said quietly, "You have my attention."

Jennifer touched her lips along his jaw, and pecked his chin. He moved his head to catch her in the kiss, but Jennifer pulled back, smiling when his eyes reflected an unquenchable lust; she'd started something that Jennifer knew by the end of the night, she'd most definitely have to finish; otherwise, there would be a penance.

"You told me I'm going soft," Jennifer declared. "I'm prepared to place a wager."

"And what wager is that?" Gold asked curiously.

"The deal is simple, Dark One."Jennifer uttered. "Even you will agree without knowing what the stakes are."

"I doubt that," Gold responded.

"Do you?" Jennifer returned mischievously.

Her hips grind against him in the slowest of movements and Gold had to close his eyes and clench his jaw in order not to give in so easily. This was a challenge to see who could endure this taunt and tease the most, and Jennifer was prepared to gamble. Jennifer never gambled...so this would be interesting, indeed.

"What do you want?" Gold asked carefully, watching that smile of hers curve from ear to ear.

"It's not what I want," Jennifer responded sweetly. And darkly, she said, "It's about what you want."

Gold watched her sit back, and she allowed the small spaghetti strands of her lacy outfit fall down her shoulders, exposing her fine pale skin for all the glory that it was. Her breasts were ample, squeezed tightly together in this skin-tight night slip, so much that Gold was almost left breathless just by the sight of her beautiful body. Jennifer smirked at him, her eyes glinting mischievously.

Jennifer uttered softly, "If you don't fulfill the end of your bargain, you must allow me to kill this girl. She's done you wrong, and I want to return the favor."

"I told you not to—"

"I know what you've told me not to do," Jennifer resounded loudly. "But we both know how vengeful I can be. You tell me I have gone soft. So I'm prepared to prove you wrong. So, if you truly want to let this girl live, you'll do your part of the bargain."

Gold smirked at her saying, "You are so jealous of my picking Miss Swan over you that you'd gamble with a girl's life and the life of another?"

Jennifer said darkly, "You told me I am 'domesticated'. I'm prepared to alter your way of thinking. I'm not a tamed woman, Dark One, and the last thing I want you thinking is that I am. So yes...her life and child are in your hands."

Gold stared at her, a bit impressed.

"Don't worry though," Jennifer told him, smiling. "Your part of the bargain is easy. And you'll enjoy this."

"Really?"

"Yes. In exchange for the girl's life and her daughter—you have to make me beg for it. You can do whatever it takes." Jennifer told him. She stood on the bed, looking down at him. "If you can convince me to give in...I'll spare the stupid girl and her daughter."

Gold looked up at her from his back, and said carefully, "'Whatever it takes'?"

Jennifer nodded, saying, "Whatever it takes."

"Oh I do love it when you say that," Gold uttered quietly.

Jennifer felt her insides quiver at the low tone he used—she apparently peaked his interest.

She lowered herself to the bed, her face in a close proximity of his and she whispered in the sultriest of tones, "Do we have a deal?"

Gold smiled at her, saying, "You have a lot riding on this, Jennifer. Are you certain you are pleased with this agreement?"

Jennifer said quietly, "You want me to kill her?"

"Obviously not—I have a contract."

"Then for both of your interests...I insist you start trying to manipulate me into sparing her insignificant life." Jennifer uttered darkly.

Gold was impressed by the deal she offered, and he was more than happy to test her bearings. He was completely hooked on her voice, the way she whispered death threats about this girl, and he knew that Jennifer would be more than capable of killing her. Not that he personally cared—but it would be the only way (that he could think of) to get Emma Swan on board and eventually earn him a favor—if everything worked out the way he wanted.

Jennifer's knowing smile was alluring as ever; Gold moved her onto her back and she smiled when he was on top of her.

In the softest of ways, Gold folded their hands together and he moved them above her head. Jennifer chuckled lowly when she tried to move them but he had a firmer grip than she thought and they didn't even budge. Gold placed both of her wrists within his right hand; the free one caressed her face, moving her head at an angle so he had more access to her neck. He placed light kisses along her earlobe that made Jennifer's heart flutter, and as his lips trailed down to her collar bone, they became wet as he began tasting her skin with his tongue.

Jennifer kept her hands above her head as he let them go, so both of his hands could slide her night slip down her body and her legs; he dropped it to the side of the bed and without missing a beat, he kissed her mouth—hard.

Gold heard her moan softly into his mouth and she entangled her fingers through his hair as the kissing transitioned from soft and gentle pecks to deeper, passionate threshold. She parted her lips and he took her mouth. Adding to the manipulation of her senses, Gold moved his hands to her body, cupping each breast into his hands, then firming his hold so she moaned as he began massaging them. Jennifer was nearly a puddle of arousal; she was wet between her legs.

How her body was craving him! Jennifer dug her fingertips into his back, raking them down deep and smirking when she heard Gold hiss at the slighted pain but he didn't stop kissing her, nor did his hands stop groping at her breasts, and then along her hips. He moved her closer to the center of the bed as he separated her legs, placing himself between them. Her underwear was but a thin barrier, but he hardly thought it as such.

It was just something else to tease the temptress.

"What are you waiting for?" Jennifer asked, smiling at him. "You know you want me...you know you want to be inside me..."

"That, I do," Gold uttered, ignoring his own throbbing ache within his body. He said in a low, heavy voice, "But this is your bargain, your price. And I am more than happy to see you pay it."

Jennifer was about to retort but he shoved his mouth onto hers, stirring her into another heated passionate kiss. She inhaled sharply when she felt his hand cup her sex between her legs, his fingers felt just above the material. They stroked her in light circles around her clit; Jennifer pulled back, attempting to suppress whatever feelings of aching were already starting to come up, but Gold held her in place.

"Ah ah, dearie. It's not going to be that easy."

Jennifer groaned when he pinned her down on the bed, his knees against the side of her own, forcing them to stay open, so she couldn't escape. Gold smirked down at her, seeing her eyes pinched shut as she tried her best to ignore his advances, when he knew she only wanted it more.

"This is a deal I'm going to make you wish you never made with me," Gold told her.

He moved his fingers behind her underwear, feeling the warm flesh of her folds, the slick arousal between them having already wet her panties. Gold groaned inwardly, hardening at the thought of taking Jennifer right there, but he would make her beg for him first.

Jennifer whimpered when he slid a finger inside her only half way; the smallest of contact made Jennifer's lips part slightly in both pleasure and pain; her eyes remained shut, lest she open them and see just how little he'd done to make her want him already. She would be dreading the aching and throbbing pleasure to come.

"So beautiful," Gold said softly. He pulled her underwear down her thighs; he lifted himself from her so he could pull them off her body, and then straddled her again before she could escape. Jennifer nearly cringed with desire when she felt his cock touch along one of her innermost thighs as he crawled on top of her; his arms moved behind her back, cradling her in his arms but only making Jennifer want him inside her, to connect with him now and to be rid of the little distance left between them.

"You want me, Jennifer. I can see it." Gold told her quietly. Pushing himself just along her wet pussy, he growled, "I can feel it."

"You..." Jennifer managed. She licked her lips saying, "You have to try…harder than that."

Gold called her bluff. Her skin was sweating from the sexual tension built up within her, and her eyes were dilated dark blue. Her entire body was shaking from the need becoming so great, and the way she looked at him—as though she was daring him—Gold found her even more beautiful, and so alluring. She was, indeed, an urge that could never be cured.

"Say it, Jennifer." Gold whispered.

"Mm-mm," Jennifer protested, shaking her head.

He kissed her neck, just along the gray scars, then he licked her earlobe, and the skin just beneath. He watched her eyelids close, and her eyes rolled in the back of her head as he felt her shudder with pleasure.

"Say it." Gold urged.

Jennifer suddenly started to wriggle, trying to get away from him. Her will to get away, to win this bet, was almost admirable. But Gold knew he had her in the palm of his hand. She was simply attempting so she could have the say that she had tried and her efforts weren't lack of doing so. Gold snickered deep in his throat, and Jennifer's expression was a mixture of a scowl and arousal.

"You're not winning this bet, Rumple."

"Oh," he chuckled, "I think I already have."

"No, you haven't."

Jennifer winced as she felt pure agony and sweet suffering when he moved his cock against her sex, that painful need to have him inside, to bury deep within her so she could no longer have to deal with this throbbing in her body that was so strong. Jennifer could barely breathe as she was trying so hard not to give in.

Gold kissed her cheek, then the corner of her mouth. And when she had least expected it, he kissed her even harder, their lips locking. Jennifer returned it passionately and strongly, as though to convey and release what little desire she could so the pain of her need would slacken, but no such reprieve was given. Instead, it only isolated it further.

"Oh my god..." Jennifer cried.

"Say it," Gold told her. "And I can give you what you most desperately want."

"No..." Jennifer uttered.

"Damn it, Jennifer." Gold growled. Such a damn stubborn woman.

He pulled his arm out from beneath her back and with this free hand, he placed it between them, moving his hand between her legs. He shoved two fingers inside of her and Jennifer cried out in only pleasure and relief, but that relief was soon replaced by an even more wanton whimper. He fingered her only for a few seconds and when he withdrew, Jennifer was nearly hyperventilating.

"Say it, dearie," Gold beckoned to her. "Say it, and I will give you what you want."

"Not yet..." Jennifer returned.

Gold moved his hips against hers, and he could see her pining for him. She was biting her lower lip, and her hands were moving all over his body as though she couldn't get enough of him. As his lower body danced a slow tantalizing grind against her, Gold witnessed his wife slowly but surely falling apart in front of him. It was so damn beautiful.

Jennifer lowered her hand between them, her fingers wrapping around his rock hard cock and when she heard him moan with the same kind of need and his eyelids closed as he enjoyed the small release, that seemed to put her over the edge.

"Do it." Jennifer urged. "Please, Rumple. I need you."

"Say the words." Gold told her.

"Take me. I beg of you." Jennifer pleaded. "You win, Rumple. Now please..."

Gold smirked at her, and having no qualms with giving her what she and he both wanted so desperately, he shoved himself inside of her, feeding her desire and hearing her moans become amplified by five volumes. His moans correlated with hers. They became entangled in the sheets and Jennifer threw them off, her fingers digging into the mattress down to her nail beds, and the friction of the bed and her back left red burns on her skin, which were only ignored until they both moaned loudly, enjoying that sweet decadent release. Panting, sweating from head to toe, Gold and Jennifer lied next to one another; between their bodies, Jennifer and Gold's hands were interlaced, his thumb tracing the wedding ring on her left hand.

"Okay..." Jennifer muttered. "So...the girl can live."

Gold glanced at her and seeing her laugh, he couldn't help but laugh with her.

Jennifer pulled the blankets back on the bed, and Gold allowed her to move closer to him. He put his arm around her and Jennifer turned on her side, facing him, resting her head on his chest. Her leg lain in between his.

"I'll talk to Miss Swan tomorrow," Gold told her of his plans. "She'll find Miss Boyd."

"I could still find her," Jennifer muttered.

"I have no doubt that you could," Gold returned. "But I need the Savior to find her. No doubt, she'll try to make a deal with me to let Ashley keep her child. And in doing so, she'll owe me a favor."

Jennifer looked at him, saying, "Is that why you wanted her. Not me?"

"That's the only reason." Gold said kindly. "The next time I need someone killed, I'll ask you."

"Really?"

"Yes," Gold returned.

"How do you know I will take the job?" asked Jennifer, smirking at him.

"Because like I would with you—you'll do it just to see me smile." Gold told her.

Jennifer sighed, closing her eyes: "That's true. I love you, Rumples."

"I love you too, Jennifer."

He kissed her forehead, and with his hand trailing non-existent designs along her back, Jennifer fell asleep in his arms.